News & Events
Festive Greetings from the Chairman
Can you believe another year is nearly over?
2007 has been a great year for Birmingham Future! There is no doubt we are now recognised as the voice of young professionals in this city. Your responses to our epolls and surveys regularly feature in the local press and inform some of the key decision makers in the city.
Of course, we also put on some of the best events in town from our regular “Meet and Mix” lunches to our Annual Ball and the awesome BYPY (speaking of which, nomination forms for BYPY 2008 will be coming out very soon. Is 2008 your year?).
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Birmingham Future office, Leadership Team and all of you who are committee members for your tremendous hard work and commitment in 2007. And on behalf of Birmingham Future’s Leadership Team, thanks to all of you for your continued support this year. We look forward to seeing you again in 2008!
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Alex Bishop, Chairman
Joy steps down and Matt steps up!
As some of you may already be aware, there have been some exciting changes with regards to the leadership of Birmingham Future.
Deputy chairman Joy Stefanicki has stepped down from the role, with Matt Taylor taking over the position with immediate effect.
After several years working in the professional services sector in Birmingham, Joy has been tempted by the bright lights of New York and has left the city for an exciting new job in the Big Apple.
Joy has been one of the leading members of Future’s Leadership Team and in particular the driving force behind the highly successful flagship event BYPY.
Matt, an account director at Birmingham-based PR and marketing consultancy Headline Communications, has been a dynamic and committed member of the Leadership Team for several years. In his role as chairman of the Marketing Committee, he has been pivotal in ensuring that Birmingham Future’s brand and promotional activity continues to develop successfully.
Both Matt and Alex are always keen to hear the views of the members so please do not hesitate to contact either one of them at any time. (alex.bishop@shoosmiths.co.uk or matt@hline.co.uk)
Suit Amnesty Theft
You may have seen in the news that sadly around 300 suits donated by Birmingham’s business community as part of the “Suit Amnesty” have been stolen from an Edgbaston lock-up. The suits were being stored before being dry cleaned and sent to various charities across the city for people to use for job interviews or when starting new jobs. A staggering 650 suits had already been cleaned and distributed but there are still a number of charities who will miss out because of this awful theft. That is, unless you can help?
If you/your organisation did not get involved back in October and/or if you have found another old suit which you no longer need, please contact Kate at Mailwash on 0121 454 5885. Your help is much appreciated!
Birmingham Future Annual Ball
Preparations are well underway for the 2008 Birmingham Future Ball, which once again will be held at The Botanical Gardens, on Friday 22 February.
The theme for the event will be ‘Fire & Ice’, with decorations and entertainment to make it an authentic and spectacular evening.
As part of the preparations for the event, Birmingham Future is running a design competition to find a talented individual or company to design the menus and tickets. The winner will receive two complimentary tickets to the event, a free bottle of champagne, a mention in the menu and will have the opportunity to have their design seen by up to 320 guests.
All designs must be received by Friday 14 December 2007.
For a copy of the design brief or for further information, please contact Isabel Drabble at the Birmingham Future office on 0121 632 2200 or email Isabel@birminghamforward.co.uk
Christmas Karaoke!
There’ll be a few sore heads and strained voices around Birmingham today following last night’s Birmingham Future Christmas party.
Around 70 people revelled the night away at Chung Ying Gardens in another evening of festive fun and frolics.
And for those brave (or drunk) enough it was an opportunity to pretend they were stars for the night by taking to the stage to sing their hearts out on the karaoke.
For the less adventurous (or sober), it was a chance to relax and enjoy a taste of the Orient.
Thanks to everyone attended for making the event a huge success. Roll on Christmas 2008!
Member Benefits
If you haven’t already done so, now’s the time to renew your Birmingham Future membership and take advantage of the exclusive benefits on offer, including discounts and special rates at some of the city’s top bars, shops, restaurants and leisure facilities.
For example, members can enjoy ten per cent discount at Bar One Ten, Colmore Row. Offering the finest wines, spirits and beers, One Ten is the ideal place to relax and unwind after a hard day at the office. Members can take advantage of the ten per cent discount either in the bar or the restaurant, Sanctum.
To make sure members get the most out of their membership, we are constantly updating the list of places that discounts are available. To view the current list, please click here.
Members Survey
The views and opinions of Birmingham Future’s members on how the organisation is being run on their behalf are vital to ensuring it keeps providing what the membership wants and needs, whether it’s more networking events or lobbying on key issues.
The annual members’ survey is your chance to tell us what you think. All responses are anonymous, so you can be as honest as you like. In fact, the more honest you are, the better. The survey only takes five minutes, but as an added incentive for filling it in we’re offering five free memberships to Bar One Ten on Colmore Row.
Membership, which normally costs £300, includes: the opportunity to bring up to three guests to the members' bar free of charge; an extended birthday guest list; 10% off your food bill in Sanctum, the restaurant below Bar One Ten; invitations to private Alhambra events and priority booking.
To fill in the survey click here and look forward to winning!!!
Members' News - Reshma is No 1 Employee
Reshma Sheik, a solicitor at Eversheds and chairman of Birmingham Future’s Diversity Committee, has been named the ‘Best Female Employee’ at the British Asian Hafta Awards.
Reshma was singled out for her hard work and fighting the odds, as well as her desire to help others through her involvement in a number of voluntary projects.
As the chairman of Birmingham Future’s Diversity Committee, Reshma has been instrumental in developing our community engagement programme, working with schools in and around the city. Click here to find out more.
Search is on for legal high fliers!
Calling all members from the legal sector! The Birmingham Law Society is currently scouring the city for the best legal talent in Brum. Nominations are currently being sought for the 2008 Legal Awards, which will be held on Thursday 20 March, at the ICC. If you think you or someone you know has what it takes to be a winner contact Becky Lynch at Birmingham Law Society on 0121 609 6900 for a copy of the nomination form. But be quick, as time is running out!
Committee Vacancies
Birmingham Future’s Debates Committee is looking for one new member, preferably with some marketing experience, to join the team. For more information about the role contact Committee chairman Hannah Martyr at Hannah@viti.co.uk
Dates for your diary...
Preparations are well underway to bring you another bumper events schedule in 2008.
We are kicking off the New Year on Wed 16 January with 'The Big Green Debate'. The first of many interactive discussion forums organised by Future on the key issues facing our city.Click here for more information and to book your place!
We're looking forward to working in conjunction with the Young Directors Forum to bring you an exciting Fashion Show introducing the seasons new collections on Thursday 7th Feb. Watch this space for further information!
Preparations are well underway to bring you another exciting Annual Ball in 2008. With a 'Fire & Ice' inspired theme, we are feeling a little hot (and cold) under the collar! Further information and tickets will be available shortly! In the meantime - make use of those diaries you receive over Christmas and pencil Friday 22nd February in!
Little steps... big difference!
No.39 - Plant a tree - Trees are amazing things. They take in stuff we don't like (carbon dioxide and pump out stuff we do (oxygen). And yet we get rid of these amazing things every year. In fact, 33 football pitches of trees are cut down every minute worldwide. You can do something to help. And you don't need to be able to tell your Dimmocks from your Titchmarsh to do it. Plant a tree. Each one you plant will provide enough oxygen for two people for the rest of their lives. So where to start? You can visit www.woodland-trust.org.uk or why not get hold of Scots pine seeds and grow your own Christmas tree?
No.40 - Smile when you answer the phone - You can hear a smile. And we don't mean that in any kind of hippy 'I can sing a rainbow' kind of way. It's just one of those commonsense, makes-the-world-better, makes-business-better kind of way.
Did you know... facts about Christmas?
- Christmas pudding was originally a type of soup with fruit in it!
- The Queens Christmas speech was first shown on TV in 1957.
Birmingham Future, One Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD
Telephone: +44 (0)121 632 2200 Fax: +44 (0)121 632 2201
_1.jpg "The Cube")
