Word from the Chairman
Got the January blues? Need something to look forward to? Well Birmingham Future might just have the answer. The Birmingham Future Annual Ball is on Friday 22 February - you know the score; party, network, boogie, fun! Click here to book your tickets now! And whilst we are on the subject, the build up to the best party in town has started! Nomination forms for this year’s BYPY are out so go on, give it a go! It could be you! I am thrilled to announce that Cobbetts have agreed to be our main BYPY sponsor this year. Huge thanks also must go to our BYPY sector sponsors Crosby Lendlease, Deloitte, Lloyds TSB, Matthew Boulton College, Pertemps and West Bromwich Building Society. And if you want something to look forward to in the next few weeks, I am really excited about our first joint event with the Young Directors Forum on 7 February at Harvey Nichols - Dressed for Success (more details below). I look forward to seeing you there for that 2008 makeover! As ever, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to drop me an email and let me know what you want Birmingham Future to do for you in 2008 via alex.bishop@shoosmiths.co.uk. Here’s to a happy and successful 2008 for all Birmingham Future Members!
Best Wishes Alex Bishop Chairman
News & Events
Annual Ball – Tickets on sale and plans in place
Ladies and Gentlemen the time of year is upon us and the long awaited Annual Ball is in sight; – go dust off your DJ’s and posh frocks and get ready to party! Be sure to book your tickets as soon as possible to avoid any tears or tantrums. To book tickets Isabel in the Future office is the one to call on 0121 632 2204 or you can email her here.
There are also some sponsorship packages available for the ball, so if you think your work place or a client might be interested – get in touch with Isabel.
Design competition winner for the Annual Ball As many of you will be aware, some months ago a challenge was set for the Birmingham Future members to come up with the design and visual identity for the Birmingham Future Annual Ball which this year has the theme of Fire and Ice. A number of exciting designs were submitted so thank you to all who took part. After much deliberation the decision has been made… and the winner is: Nick Page from Hot House Marketing, who will receive 2 complimentary tickets to the ball and will see his work come to life as tickets and menus using his designs are printed!
Cobbetts bag main sponsorship of Birmingham's most glamorous event
Top 50 law firm, Cobbetts LLP, has pledged its support for the biggest event on Birmingham’s business calendar, taking main sponsorship for the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (BYPY) Awards 2008.
Graham Muth, partner in charge of the Birmingham office, commented, “We are delighted to be involved in such a big way this year. The awards are one of the real highlights of the Birmingham business calendar and we are very aware of the kudos they carry given that our own Nick Dawson won the legal award last year. We wish all the nominees luck and look forward to a great night toasting the cream of the business community.”
Get Nominating for BYPY 2008!
With Birmingham Young Professional of the Year, our flagship event, barely four months away, this year’s brand spanking new nomination forms have been released; your chance to put yourself in the running to be crowned the next BYPY!
Forms have been winging their way out of the office throughout January, but if you have not recieved one, please contact the Future office on 0121 632 2203 to get one posted out to you, or visit www.birminghamyoungprofessional.co.uk to nominate on-line.
You can nominate yourself or why not put forward one of your colleagues, chums or clients for an award? You have until 1 March to hand your forms in, so get your proverbial skates on!
There are a few conditions to remember: you must be 35 or under and work in a professional services capacity in the Birmingham post code area. All nominees MUST be available for the BYPY judging day on Thursday March 20th. Check the BYPY website for more details.
Roula Samaha, BYPY Committee Chair, says: “You have to be in it to win it, so we’re urging anyone who is interested to nominate themselves for one of the city’s top business awards.”
Survey success and thanks
Thanks to all of you who responded to the 2007 Annual Survey last year. We had over 180 responses which is fantastic! Thank you for taking the time to complete it. We are now busy collating the feedback and will communicate a summary of the responses and our proposed actions over the next few months.
The winners of the prizes of membership at the Alhambra are:
- Nicholas Ball - Wragge & Co
- Joanne Burchell – Fortis
- Andrew Hulbert - Harris Lamb
- Darren Mee - Baker Tilly
- L O'Brien - HBJ Gateley Wareing
Birmingham Future/BCU Mentoring Scheme, March to September 2008
An opportunity for Birmingham Future Members to make a real difference for the next generation of young professionals
Birmingham Future’s Mentoring Committee has liaised with Birmingham City University (formerly University of Central England (“UCE”)) to run a pilot mentoring scheme, whereby Birmingham Future Members will be afforded the opportunity to mentor Birmingham City undergraduates. It is envisaged that the pilot scheme will run from March to September of this year, with a view to rolling out a wider mentoring scheme on the basis of the pilot scheme during the following academic year.
This exciting opportunity will allow volunteers to have a taster of the mentoring role while offering valuable insight and experience of professional life to undergraduates. Volunteers should not have any concerns about the time commitment, as although mentees and mentors should keep in touch on a regular basis, this is entirely flexible and up to the individuals involved.
Birmingham City University is keen to improve the employability of its graduates and, on this basis, sees the link up with Birmingham Future as a golden opportunity to access a pool of potential mentees from our membership to do just this. On this basis, Birmingham Future would be delighted to hear from members who are interested in taking up this role over the course of the next 6 months commencing March 2008, or indeed, members who are interested in mentoring schemes for the future. It is fully anticipated that it will be rolled out during the next academic year on a more widespread basis.
If you are interested in being a part of the pilot scheme, you should contact either Kate Onions at KOnions@hbj-gw.com or Claire Elaine Arthurs at CEArthurs@hbj-gw.com or call on 0121 234 0185 or 0121 234 0149 .
Territorial Army (TA)- Career promotion starts here
The TA is seeking highly motivated, able and skilled individuals with career aspirations. In return you get world class leadership and man management skills – putting you ahead of the field.
The TA is currently recruiting young officers in the West Midlands aged 17 – 33. There are hundreds of young professionals who balance a full-time career with life as a TA officer. You will travel, take part in adventure sports and become part of a team with a unique camaraderie.
The TA are staging two taster weekends at Bramcote, near Rugby, on March 29-30 and April 5-6 2008, where you can go along and find out how you can benefit. more. . If you decide it’s not for you – fine. To learn more or register interest for the event visit www.areyoualeader.co.uk and test your leadership credentials. Alternatively contact Richard Courteney-Harris direct on (01743) 262074.
Future Debates
Voice your opinions on the big issues facing Birmingham at our new debating forum, and help influence the change that you want to see in the city!
A new committee has been created by Birmingham Future to organise and devise our debates programme. The series launched on 16th January with The Big Green Debate – hosted by DLA Piper -with over 50 members debating with our expert panel on the key environmental issues facing our city.
It was clear from the debate and the votes taken at the end of the evening, that Future members take green issues very seriously and want to support both the public and private sectors.
Each debate will focus on a topical issue facing Birmingham and will offer our members the opportunity to engage with key stakeholders within the city and for their voice to be heard. Following a Question Time format, a panel will be carefully selected for each debate. The Debates Committee is committed to providing the platform for Birmingham Future to have their say on the key issues we face as a city. To ensure your voice is one of those being heard - be at our next debate in June. Watch this space for more details...
If you would like to join the Debates Committee, or simply suggest a topic for a Future Debate, please contact Hannah Martyr at hannah@viti.co.uk
The all new ‘Advised in Birmingham’ directory is in production
Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future’s annual ‘Advised in Birmingham’ directory has become renowned throughout the Birmingham business infrastructure and beyond, with positive feedback being received from as far a field as Kenya.
All member companies will have now been contacted with details on how to ensure their listing is correct for the 2008 publication. In addition to the free 1/5 of a page listing which all member companies are entitled to, there are a number of other opportunities for advertising and sponsorship as well as the enhanced listings allowing your organisation to include photographs of key personnel and more detailed business information.
To take advantage of these opportunities please contact Birmingham Future member Rob Langley on: rob-l@clarke-associates.co.uk
Dates for your diary – Future’s future events
Tuesday 5th Feb - Where to Buy in Birmingham - Back by popular demand, one of Birmingham’s best known estate agents, Stuart Flint from Knight Frank LLP, will present his views on eight popular places to settle in central and suburban Birmingham. With a steer towards first time buyers and newcomers to the city, the Birmingham Future City Centre team is putting on this event to provide a real insight and a spot of humour to the ‘where to buy’ debate that haunts so many of those wanting to make their first steps onto Birmingham’s property ladder. Click here to reserve you place now!
Thursday 7th February 2008 - Dressed for Success - Birmingham Future and the Institute of Directors Young Directors’ Forum have teamed up with Harvey Nichols to present Dressed for success! Our new Deputy Chairman Matt Taylor and the Chair of our events committee Imogen Noons will be posing as Guinea Pig Models for the event which is surely reason enough not to miss this one! The event will focus on advice for both men and women regarding shopping and dressing in today's business world. First impressions count, this is definitely an event not to be missed, book early here to avoid disappointment.
Do you work with the brightest, the boldest and the best?
Insider – the Midlands’ biggest business magazine – is looking for entries for its ever-popular 42 Under 42 programme, which names and profiles entrepreneurs and business leaders outside of the professional sector aged 42 and under from across the region. Who do you know who’s really shaking things up in the world of business? Send your suggestions and contacts to Insider’s editor Kurt Jacobs kurt.jacobs@newsco.com or call him, on 0121 232 0987.
Little steps... big difference!
ACTION 44 - New Years day! - The perfect moment for a challenging resolution or commitment to achieve something you've always promised yourself you would. Who says you can't? We all can't do something. Quite a lot of things actually. We're not all good at fire eating or Boimechanical Engineering. But, we could be. We just need to try it. That's the fun thing. How do we know we're not great at say, synchronised diving, without trying it first.
ACTION 45 - Avoid Waste - Over Christmas we probably thought hang the waistline. But what about the WASTEline?! We generated an estimated 3 million tonnes of waste this Christmas, 83 square km in wrapping alone (enough to wrap Guernsey). Click here to find ways you can help Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Rewrap!
Did you know?...
The game of lawn tennis was first originated and played in Edgbaston in 1865.
Nigel Mansell, the former F1 Grand Prix World Champion winning 31 Grand Prix events, lived in Hall Green and worked for Lucas Aerospace.
New members
The Membership Committee would like to extend a warm welcome to all our 18 new members who have joined us so far in January
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
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