e-bulletin 6 July 2006

News & Events

Chairman's Message

This is my final e-bulletin as your Chairman. At our AGM on 19 July, I will be handing over to Sarah Gee. I know Sarah has some great plans for her year as Chairman and I know she will do an outstanding job. I'd really like to thank Sarah for all the support and ideas she has given to me in my year. I'd also like to thank all of you for the support you've shown Birmingham Future over the last year. With membership now over 500, our events routinely fully-subscribed and our campaign teams making progress on a number of key areas, I feel the organisation is in excellent shape.

I think it also appropriate for me to record thanks to those members who have participated on one or more of our committees in the last year, in particular those who have led teams and therefore sit on the Leadership Team. We are always conscious that you do this on a voluntary basis, balancing your Future involvement alongside your day to day work responsibilities. This, to my mind, is one of the main strengths of the organisation but something we always need to remember and acknowledge.

My final thanks go to the Birmingham Future office team - Jo Sollom, Parmi Gill, Sam Sandbrook, Halina Bromberg and Karen Richardson. Much of the day to day running of Future's activities are organised and managed by this small team. Without their hard work and dedication we would only achieve a fraction of what we do.

Thanks again and I look forward to seeing many of you at the AGM.

A Warm Welcome

Birmingham Future's Membership Team would like to welcome all our new members on board and to let you know that we are available to answer any questions you may have about your membership.

As a new member, you will be invited to a new members lunch (free of charge), which is an opportunity for you to meet other new members. Members of the Birmingham Future Leadership Team will also be there so it is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions about Birmingham Future and to find out more about how you can get the most out of your membership.

The next new members lunch in on 5th July. If you cannot make this lunch don't panic as you will be invited to join the following one, which will be held in three months time.

Be a buddy...

As our longer serving members will be aware, Birmingham Future operates a ‘buddy’ scheme. This scheme pairs up new members with more established members so that they have a 'contact' within the organisation before attending their first event! If you are interested in taking part in this scheme, please contact the Membership Committee chair Amanda Shearer or the deputy chair Carla MacLeod.

Do you have what it takes to be a mentor?

Birmingham Future is proud to run a mentoring scheme. However, demand for mentors is currently greater than supply, so if you think you would like to become a mentor please contact the Mentoring Committee chair Madeleine Reeves for more information.

Divercity

At the Meet & Mix lunch on 5 June 2006, we launched Birmingham Future's own community programme. The programme is the result of a collaboration between Birmingham Future, Birmingham Professional Divercity and Education Business Links. Our aim is to raise the aspirations of the city's youngsters with a view to encouraging them to consider our sector as a career choice.

We are asking our members to spend time with large or small groups of school children in and around the city on either a one off activity such as a "What's my Line?" event or practice interview panel through to ongoing projects such as giving business advice.

We are absolutely delighted to report that nearly 40 Birmingham Future Members have already signed up to the programme and are now busy volunteering in local schools. We thank you for your support.

If you are interested in signing up to the programme but have not yet done so, please click here for a copy of the sign up sheet. Please complete and return to Peta Goodman at Education Business Links
If you would like to find out more, please do look at the Education Business Links website at www.eblinks.co.uk or contact Zoe Ayrton at Education Business Links on 0121 248 8051

Top Award for High-Flying Solicitor

Congratulations to Carla MacLeod a family law specialist with Midlands law firm Needham & James, after winning one of Birmingham Law Society’s prestigious legal awards. She scooped Assistant Solicitor of the Year Award at the Birmingham Law Society Awards this year.

Carla is Vice-Chair of Birmingham Future's Membership Committee and is actively involved in running the committee with its Chair, Amanda Shearer. Carla joined Birmingham Future 3 years ago and highly values being part of the organisation.

Dates for your diaries!

AGM - Birmingham Future’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 19th July at BT, Brindleyplace followed by buffett & drinks at the Sealife Centre. As well as an opportunity to meet and mix with fellow members, Chris Robertson, the current chairman of Birmingham Future will be handing over the reign to his deputy, Sarah Gee. Chris will be reflecting on his time in post, while Sarah will be looking forward to the year ahead, outlining her aims and objectives as incoming chair. Please click here to view further details and to book online

Meet & Mix - Be sure to book your place early for the ever popular Meet and Mix lunches. The next lunch will be held on Monday 7th August at Bank Restaurant, Brindleyplace. The guest speaker at the lunch is Christine Braddock, Principal and Chief Executive at Matthew Boulton College and winner of this year’s BYPY ‘Inspiring Leader’ award. Invitations will be sent out shortly, however in the meantime please click here to reserve your place.

Committee Vacancies

Birmingham Future currently has a number of committees that require new members. If you are ambitious and enthusiastic, and would like to join one of the following teams, please contact the chair as indicated below.

BYPY Committee - Following the huge success of BYPY this year, the committee responsible for organising Birmingham Future’s flagship event is looking to recruit new members. Please contact Joy Stefanicki for further information.

Business Strategy & Constitution Committee - The Business Strategy & Constitution committee currently has four vacancies. Anyone interested in joining the team should contact Suzannah Woods-Scawen

Annual Ball Design Competition

Be part of Birmingham Future's Chinese New Year Ball
Do you have creative flair? Are you looking for an opportunity to show off a hidden talent? Do you have a friend or colleague who is a designer?

Birmingham Future is looking for a talented individual or company to design the menus and tickets for the Annual Ball 2007, a highlight in the events calendar. Please click here for further details.

New members

We would like to welcome on board new Birmingham Future members that joined us in May:

• Rachael Richards, Kinetic Communications
• Jamie Sangster, Sir Robert McAlpine
• David Williams & Nayan Patel, UCE
• Sarah Evans, Grant Thornton
• Carly Payne, Cobbetts LLP
• Mark Jones, Martineau Johnson
• Claudia Santillo & Leona Beach, Aldestrop Consulting
• Claire Edwards, Learning & Skills Council

Birmingham Future, One Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD
Telephone: +44 (0)121 632 2200 Fax: +44 (0)121 632 2201