I was thrilled to be invited by Birmingham City Council and Urban Initiatives to take part in the launch of the Big City Plan Charter last month. There was a real buzz around this exciting and bold initiative to develop a Masterplan for our city and it was a great privilege for me to have the platform to talk about some of the issues which you have told us are important to you – such as family housing in the city centre, more amenities like schools and public spaces and better transport links. It is worth having a look at the website www.bigcityplan.org.uk if you are interested in finding out more. Our city centre team will be looking at putting on an event around the Masterplan later this year. It was also a real honour for me to be part of the judging panel for this year’s BYPY Awards. I was truly humbled by the calibre of the candidates this year who were really put through their paces by the judges. Huge thanks to all those who put themselves forward this year, whether or not you have made it to the shortlist. The competition was really tough and I applaud you for going for it! Winners will be announced on the night. My lips are sealed!
Best Wishes Alex Bishop, Chairman
News & Events
Future Focus
Future Focus is an opportunity for us as an organisation to approach those leaders and influencers in the City who have already made a mark and continue to do so through their work and contributions to civic or business life.
This month we caught up with Sir Bernard Zissman. Sir Bernard Zissman is a Director for Advantage Business Angels, he is Chairman of CDI plc and serves as a Non-Executive Director for a number of Midlands small to medium companies. He is a member of the Council of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry and served as a leading member of Birmingham City Council from 1965 to 1995, during which time he was elected Leader of the Conservative Group and Lord Mayor of Birmingham.
- During both your civic and business life - which role have you enjoyed the most? Serving the City of Birmingham as Lord Mayor
- Having played a significant role in shaping Birmingham in the recent past how would you describe your own vision for the Future of Birmingham? Providing the citizens with a city of which they can be proud – and happy to proclaim that pride – by high quality education, excellent shopping facilities and friendly host population
- If you had one hour to show a visitor around the city where and what would you do? Symphony Hall, Millennium Point, Bull Ring, Council House... and if we’re quick, Birmingham University
- What are the key characteristics you think makes Birmingham a great place to live and work? Its people, its industrial heritage and spirit of enterprise and commercial drive
- What is the most memorable experience you have had in Birmingham? Being elected a young City Councillor and then 25 years later elected Lord Mayor
- What was the key motivation for you to enter public life in the city? To serve the citizens and to use what skills I had to improve their quality of life
- What do you feel sets Birmingham apart from other cities? See answer to Q4 plus opportunity
- If you had to summarise Birmingham to an international visitor in three words, what would you say? Exciting, friendly, historic
- What role and influence do you feel an organisation such as Birmingham Future can play/have in the city as it continues to develop? You represent the next generation and you will have a real influence if some of your members seek election to the City Council – that is where the power lies!
- Villa or City? Warwickshire County Cricket Club!
BYPY tickets on the verge of selling out... before they go on sale!
While we’re not entirely sure what a hot cake is, and why they’re so popular, tickets for this year’s Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Awards are certainly selling like them! Before any tickets have officially gone on sale, we have been inundated with enquiries. It’s officially the most popular BYPY awards ever.
Tickets go on sale Monday 7th April, to purchase tickets call Martina Fajksova on 0121 632 2203 or email her on mfajksova@birminghamforward.co.uk to avoid disappointment. This is one night you won’t want to miss....
Stay tuned to www.birminghamyoungprofessional.co.uk for regular updates, to find out who has been short listed for this year’s awards, and to find out our compere for this year’s awards.
Member survey
Now we have had time to review and consider the feedback from the Annual Survey, we have included a summary of the main findings and our suggested actions on the website by clicking here.
Overall, we were really pleased to hear from your general feedback that Future is continuing to provide the services our membership is looking for. Members’ comments and views are vitally important to make sure we continue to focus on the right areas. As such, whilst we would again say a huge thank you to those who filled in the Survey, please feel free to contact any member of the Leadership Team at any time during the year, as two way communication is vital for an organisation such as ours!
The Diversity committee call for support...
The Social Entrepreneur Community Programme is an extension of our current schools engagement programme. Working with UnLtd, we are asking our members to spend time with social entrepreneurs from different backgrounds. This can range from being a critical friend, presenting workshops or seminars, giving specialist knowledge and/or a potential secondment.
UnLtd is a charity which supports social entrepreneurs - people with vision, drive, commitment and passion who want to change the world for the better. Unltd do this by providing a complete package of funding and support, to help these individuals make their ideas a reality.
Please go to www.unltd.org.uk for more details or click here to sign up!
The search is on for the next Graduate Apprentice...
The Graduate Apprentice sets out to select an exceptional graduate each year, and offer them a structured, salaried twelve month placement that provides three diverse work experiences in the professional and financial services sector in Birmingham.
It is managed by the Graduates into Employment Committee in conjunction with Graduate Advantage. For 2008, VC Consulting joins big four accountancy firm, Deloitte and property management company, LMM, to offer three distinct placements for the Graduate Apprentice. Ruth Ward, chair of the Graduates into Employment Committee commented; "The scheme has already supported two fantastic Apprentices, Darvinder Kang and Jason Norris, and the successful candidate for 2008 will be rewarded with another incredible experience. We're looking forward to receiving a flood of applications from exceptional graduates hoping to experience the wealth of opportunities that Birmingham offers by becoming the next Graduate Apprentice!"
More details can be found on the www.thegraduateapprentice.co.uk and the closing date for graduate applicants is Friday 2 May 2008.
The Big Green Debate - Follow Up
Birmingham Future will be working with Birmingham City University to develop research and thinking on green issues, following on from our big debate in January. The initiative, entitled 'Grrreen', builds on the reduce, re-use, recycle philosophy to assess how individuals can review their individual behaviour and creatively lobby for changes in thinking.
Research will commence in May and will focus on respondent's previous, current and future behaviour to create stimulus to help develop core arguments to feature in a major debate, hosted by the NEC and Birmingham Post on 15th September, with a panel of experts from retail, politics and design. Birmingham Future members will shortly be invited to participate in this research, which will be key to ascertaining Birmingham opinions to influence future policy focus and lobby opportunities. We hope that our members will proactively participate in this process - and put the lunch of the 15th September in the diary!
Dates for your diary... Future's future events
Monday 7 April from 12noon - Another one of the ever popular Meet and Mix Lunches will be held at Wongs restaurant with Jean Nicholson as guest speaker. These events are always booked up heavily so visit the Future website for more information and to book on-line.
Wednesday 23rd April from 12.20pm - A first for Birmingham Future as we take to the streets of the city for the start of a series of guided walks – Birmingham Walks will be unearthing things you may never have noticed or realised as you hurry about your busy daily lives in the city. Online booking is available for this event here and numbers are limited.
Thursday 24th April from 12noon - Roger Bootle is hosting a Keynote Lunch on the matter of – What lies in store for UK plc - at the ICC. Again these events are always well attended and to avoid disappointment we advise booking online here or email the events team in the Future office.
What are the Congestion Hotspots that blight your business?
Congestion on the West Midlands’ roads costs an average of £20,000 per business per year – a total of £2.2 billion. Journeys are getting slower and travel times are getting more and more unpredictable.
Birmingham Future, working in conjunction with business partners from across the region and local highways and transport authorities, is encouraging companies, employees and their contacts to take part in the West Midlands Local Authorities survey of congestion areas in the region.
This is your chance to ensure the West Midlands road networks are working for your business, employees and customers – not against them. Taking part in the survey and making sure your voice is heard is easy: visit the website at www.westmidlandsltp.gov.uk for further details.
This is a joint initiative that has been undertaken by the Metropolitan Area’s elected councillors in partnership with the region’s business community. Once collected, the highlighted schemes will be analysed and measures identified for potential implementation by the appropriate District Highway Authority.
Little steps for a bettre future...
ACTION 50 - Do something for nothing - People will do something they really believe in for nothing. It's not for nothing you see. They've all got back much more than money. Try it sometime.
ACTION 52 - Recycle waste paper - There is no 'away' - that is a profound thought. Someone like Chris Martin should turn that line into an album title and before you know it, they'd have a huge hit on their hands and be able to fly away to the Bahamas. Paper sticks around, for thousands of years. Every year we need a forest the size of Wales to provide all of the paper we use in Britain.
Birmingham... did you know?
Five Ways, Birmingham’s well-known road junction at the end of Broad Street is actually the meeting point of six roads! The apparent anomaly is because one of them was once a private driveway leading to Edgbaston Hall and as such “didn’t count”.
Information courtesy of Ian Jelf who is a professionally-qualified 'Blue Badge' tourist Guide for the Heart of England, specialising in Birmingham tours.
New members...
The Membership Committee would like to extend a warm welcome to all 9 new members who have joined us so far in February!
We are pleased to offer a membership benefits card and membership pack to all our Birmingham Future members. Details of the participating companies in the scheme are available on the website here. The membership cards will be posted out very soon so look out for those when they arrive on your desks!
Birmingham Future, One Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD
Telephone: +44 (0)121 632 2200 Fax: +44 (0)121 632 2201
_1.jpg "The Cube")
