Message from the Chairman
Hello again, It’s been another busy month for Birmingham Future. My highlight has to be our first ever Welcome to Birmingham event on 3 October (more detail on that below) and the Thrive event on 9 October 2007 when we highlighted opportunities for Future members and new graduates to use their skills and energy to make a real difference to a variety of different charities and community organisations in the City. As you may know, one of my key themes this year as Chair is personal social responsibility so I was delighted that so may people not only turned up but also signed up there and then to do their bit. It was inspiring. Speaking of inspirational, huge congratulations to everyone involved in the Suit Amnesty on Friday 12 October. staggering 723 suites were collected from 37 firms in the city centre. Those suits have already gone to charities such as St Basils to help young or homeless people look the part at their next job interview. Thank you to the many Future members who helped the Suit Amnesty team make this such a success. If you have an idea as to how Future members can make a difference, please let me know by clicking here.
News & Events
Welcome to Birmingham - a resounding success
Over 200 graduates, who recently joined firms within the city’s professional and financial services sector, joined members of Birmingham Future at a “Welcome to Birmingham” reception held at the Banqueting Suite of Birmingham’s Council House on October 3rd.
The event was hosted by Birmingham Future’s Chairman Alex Bishop who introduced former Lord Mayor of Birmingham Sir Bernard Zissman. Sir Bernard who officially welcomed the new employees to the city and BYPY winner Clare Edwards told the audience of her own experiences of working and living in Birmingham.
Commenting on the success of the event Alex said: “Around this time every year the city’s professional firms employ new graduates from all over the UK to work for them. Birmingham Future felt that it should mark this with an official welcome event.
“Our first one, held in the wonderful surroundings of the Council House, was a tremendous success. There was a terrific atmosphere and the evening gave young professionals new to the city and in most cases new to the sector an opportunity to make new friends and swap experiences of joining the city’s business community.”
And the winner is…. On the evening of the graduate welcome event there was a free raffle draw where the winner won dinner and an overnight stay at Hotel du Vin. The winner was randomly selected from all who attended and the prize went to Natasha Bingle, Mills & Reeve.
Future members are environmentally friendly
Birmingham Future members are keen to play their part in environmental issues in the workplace according to our latest members’ survey. The survey specifically asked about views around recycling. The results have made interesting reading.
78% of respondents said that they did recycle at work and of those respondents, 100% recycled paper. Other everyday items such as glass and plastic are beginning to be recycled in the workplace but the percentage is still well below 50%.
Answering the wider question around the responsibilities of business to play a part in protecting the environment, 99% said they thought business needed to do more to help the environment. As a result of the great interest shown by members in this issue, we will be holding a debate in January looking at how we can Birmingham greener, watch this space for more details!.
Your right to decide
Earlier this year Birmingham Future asked its members if they would support a referendum on an elected mayor. Overwhelmingly, 70 per cent of respondents said they would. Clearly this is an issue that the city's young professionals feel passionately about, which is why we are continuing to promote the campaign.
On the 20th October the Birmingham Mail held its 'Day of Action' to generate support for the campaign and to get as many people as possible to sign the petition. If backed by enough registered voters in the city it will force the council to hold a binding referendum on whether or not they want an elected mayor. This is NOT a vote for an elected mayor, just the right to choose in a people's poll.
If you haven’t already signed the petition and would like to, please visit www.birminghammail.net/news/mayordebate to download a copy.
We want your views!
As an organisation run by its members, for its members it’s important that you feedback back to us your thoughts /comments on how you feel Birmingham Future is being run on your behalf. To do this, every year we conduct a members’ survey, which we encourage you to fill in and send back to us. This is your opportunity to tell us what you think! The online survey will be sent out via email in November.
Forthcoming Events...
November sees the return of Gigbeth, the UK's most diverse music festival and conference, to over twenty venues in Birmingham. On Thursday 1st November, Gigbeth will be closing Digbeth High Street and Birmingham Future members are invited to the grand opening ceremony, which will feature live performances from Mr Hudson and the Library, Soweto Kinch, Nizlopi and the Orchestra of the Swan.
A weekend wristband costs £15.00 will allow you access to 45 gigs over 3 days with 500 musicians*. Click here to book your ticket!.
*subject to venue capacity
Gala Dinner
The Chairman's Gala Dinner draws ever closer and plans for a spectacular evening are well underway. The Gala Dinner kindly sponsored by AWM is taking place at the ICC on Friday 9th November where the evening begins at 7pm with a drinks reception followed by a superb 4-course dinner. Members and their guests will be entertained by after-dinner speaker, Matthew Parris, political sketch writer and former Conservative MP.
Places are available at £80.00+vat per person. To book your place for what promises to be another outstandingly entertaining evening, please click here to book on-line or by e-mail to isabel@birminghamforward.co.uk.
Want to raise your profile within Birmingham’s professional and financial services sector? If so, Birmingham Forward could help. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for this year’s event. For more information please contact Jo Sollom on 0121 632 2202 or by e-mail here.
Golfing Around – join a corporate league
Those of you who attended Birmingham Future’s Living Golf taster event back in June will know what the indoor golf centre has to offer. For those who weren’t there, and to celebrate its popularity with the young professional crowd, Living Golf is launching its Corporate League.
Each year, novice and experienced golfers from firms across the city battle it out for the coveted Corporate League Trophy, which last year was taken by law firm HBJ Gateley Wareing after a nail biting final with PricewaterhouseCoopers.
With 56 team spots this year, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. There are two spaces per team, with two more as substitutes, and taking part couldn’t be easier; simply get in touch with Living Golf on 0121 456 5533 to register your interest. Registration costs £250 per team, guaranteeing a minimum of six matches. Teams will also receive an invitation to the Masters Cup Final Night at Living Golf.
Visit www.livinggolf.co.uk for more information about the range of corporate packages Living Golf can offer; with board room facilities and private hire available, it certainly gives a business function the edge.
Events around Birmingham...
03 Nov - The IAB Annual Dinner is the most prestigious occasion within the events calendar for the Asian Community. Previous dinners have enjoyed an impressive list of key speakers such as Ann Widdecombe MP, the Rt Hon Margaret Beckett, Rt Hon Paul Boetang MP Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Neena Gill MEP, Sir Gulam Noon MBE, Dinesh Dhamija (CEO ebookers) & Mike Jatania Chief Executive of Lornamead. In 2006 the guest of honour was Lord Bilimoria CBE, DL, Founder and Chief Executive of Cobra Beer. This year also there will be a high level speaker. Please click here for further details.
Committee Vacancy
Do you want to play more of an active role in Birmingham Future? If so, we would like to hear from you! Birmingham Future's Marketing & Communications committee is currently looking for two new members to join the team. No previous marketing experience is required, just bags of enthusiasm and a 'can do' attitude. To find out more about the role e-mail committee chair Matt Taylor matt@hline.co.uk or deputy chair Bina Ganatra bina.ganatra@lloydstsb.co.uk.
New Chairman sought to head diversity work
The search is on to replace the chairman of Birmingham Professional DiverCity, who is to retire after completing two full terms in the role.
Norman Gascoigne has been at the head of the organisation – which helps the city’s professional services sector manage and value diversity – since it was created in 2002. And now the organisation – based in the city centre – is beginning the process of replacing Mr Gascoigne, who steps down in 2008. It is anticipated that his successor will play an ambassadorial role as they will be speaking to a national audience about what Birmingham has achieved and spreading the word about the great work being done in the city.
Applications should be made in writing for the chairman’s role by 15 November 2007 to Sangeeta Chauhan, Birmingham Professional Divercity, Cornwall Buildings, 45-51 Newhall Street, Birmingham B3 3QR. For recruitment pack information please email Sangeeta@birminghamdivercity.co.uk or call 0121 222 4115
BYPY Sponsorship Packages Available
Birmingham Young Professional of the Year is gearing up for its most successful ceremony yet, and what a standard it has set over the past 7 years! Watch this space for news about BYPY 2008, which will be bringing the ICC house down on May 22nd next year. Each year, some of the city’s biggest businesses pledge their support for Birmingham’s best and most glamorous night through sponsorship.
The likes of Deloitte, Lloyds TSB, Pertemps and West Bromwich Building Society have already climbed on board for next year’s awards, but there is still a chance to grab a piece of the action.
There are just two sector sponsor slots remaining; sponsors not only receive a complimentary table at the hottest awards ceremony in town, but benefit from a barrage of promotional and branding opportunities throughout the year.
To find out more about what benefits a BYPY sponsorship package might bring to your business, please email Martina Fajksova by clicking here.
Little steps for a better future...
No.29 - Learn to be friendly in another language - We're rubbish, we brits. How many of us make an effort to speak a foreign language? Not even the basics like hello and thank you. Is it really that difficult? Just by learning a few words of a foreign language it's amazing to see how much genuine warmth you can create. We have compiled a few phrases here to get you started!
No.30 - Take public transport when you can - is this a joke? Public transport sucks. I have a car, I love my car and i'm going to use it. This action tends to bring out extreme reactions. We love cars too, it's just a question of balance. How many car journeys are really necessary? If everyone with a car took just one car or train journey a week how much our carbon emissions would be reduced! And if you are driving to work or school share the journey with a friend. Click here for more details.
Birmingham... did you know?
George Cadbury began making chocolate in Birmingham in 1824. At that time chocolate was considered an aphrodisiac and therefore not suitable for a lady's diet!
The famous ODEON chain of cinemas was first opened in Birmingham in 1930 by Oscar Deutsch. ODEON stands for Oscar Deutsch Entertains our Nation.
Birmingham Future, One Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD
Telephone: +44 (0)121 632 2200 Fax: +44 (0)121 632 2201
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