e-bulletin October 2008

A word from the Deputy Chair...

With Matt just returning from honeymoon, it gives me great pleasure to write this, my first e-bulletin. Huge congratulations to Matt and his new wife, Ruth!

As ever, Birmingham Future's calendar is bursting with events and this month saw Future's second Welcome to Birmingham take place at the Council House with around 250 people attending. This provided us with a great opportunity to show what a fantastic quality of life Birmingham has to offer our new joiners and, from the positive feedback we have received, it's clear we didn't disappoint.

I am delighted to announce that Future members will be offered the chance to make a real difference to local school children by getting involved with Education Business Links' program of events, including practice interviews and "Guess my Job" workshops. From personal experience, I know that these events are extremely worthwhile and would encourage all to sign up.

Good luck to all our members who have signed up for Birmingham's first half marathon which is taking place on 26 October. If (like me) running just isn't for you, then please show your support to those who are by sponsoring them. Details can be found at www.justgiving.com/birminghamfuture

Details of other forthcoming events are provided below and will be on the website but Future members are now also able to visit the brand new Birmingham Future blog, set up by our outgoing Graduate Apprentice, Jason Norris. Please visit www.birminghamfuture.wordpress.com to keep up with all the latest news.

Until next year! Amanda Shearer

News & Events

Future focus with Phil Brown:

Phil Brown is probably most famous for his glittering athletics career spanning more than two decades and gaining him World and Olympic gold medals in both the 400meters and the 4 by 400 metres relay. As half marathon preparations are under way for many Future members, we thought we’d catch up with one of Birmingham’s finest ever runners, who now works as the Midlands Regional Director for The Duke of Edinburgh Award.

During both your athletic and business life- what has been your greatest or proudest moment? My proudest moment in my athletic career would have been winning Silver at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic games, this was truly a young man realising his dream! My proudest moment in my business life is a reoccurring one and always the same. The moment a young person, who you have seen come through so many challenges, collecting his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award at the Palace in front of HRH Prince Philip.

What is the key role of your job as regional director of the Duke of Edinburgh Award? The key role of my position with the Award is to support and develop the programme and sustain the current activity of all those groups within the region; to support the license holders of each group and to enable Young People to achieve their awards.

What was the key motivation for you to take on your role in the Midlands? For any retiring athlete there is a time needed to sit back and take stock of everything you have achieved and been through. I looked back at all those people who supported me, family, friends, financial supporters, training coaches, fans etc and it really compelled me to want to give something back and to help people. Many athletes go in to training and coaching themselves and give something back to future generations of athletes. The opportunity came up for me to help and develop young peoples lives and this was just what I had been looking for. I started as a Development officer for the Award, working with disadvantaged young people and it really suited my racing ethos also – pulling victory out of difficult races – The Award was a tool for me to help others – pull victory out of difficult life situations! I’ve never looked back.

What do you feel sets Birmingham apart from other cities? In terms of The Award, Birmingham is one of the biggest operations in the Midlands and the most diverse – culturally and the richness of experience and opportunity for young people. As a city, Birmingham has vast opportunities for young people to take skills and use them in the working environment also.

If you had one hour to show a visitor around the city where and what would you do? I would start by taking them to Lickey Hills to see the greenery between the hills and the city and to marvel at the panoramic view of a forward thinking, diverse and developing urban city… from there I would drive them into the city via Sarehole Mill and all the scenes that influenced Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, passing his birthplace on Hagley Road and finishing off with a drink at one of the bars in the wonderfully regenerated Brindleyplace.

What role and influence do you feel an organisation such as Birmingham Future can play/have in the city as it continues to develop? Young professionals, such as those who are members of Birmingham Future have the ability to really take hold of the baton from the past generation of City leaders, business leaders and influencers in the development and betterment of the city, in this long relay race. Soon it will be their turn to run the race and they need to be ready, by learning now the mistakes of the past and by absorbing what is going on around them in this ever changing climate.

In short how might young professionals in the city become involved with the Award? There are a number of ways in which Future members can be a part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award – if they are under 25 and have not yet completed the award themselves they could actively get involved as a participant by contacting the local Birmingham centre (details below) or perhaps they have a skill or a certificated qualification to lead young people in. In which case they could become a volunteer – the award is wholly reliant on volunteer adults to carry on going. Another way in which Business professionals can support The Award is through corporate sponsorship and we are always looking for ways to involve corporate companies in this way – you could adopt a whole centre or school who are participating in the award.

What is the most memorable experience you have had in Birmingham? My most memorable experience in Birmingham has to be earlier this year when the CBSO hosted an evening of Classical music in honour of past Olympians with Birmingham origins. It was a fantastic evening in a packed out Symphony Hall and I was invited on stage to lead the audience singing Jerusalem – I was so proud to be a Brummie that day.

Villa or City? Albion – I’m proud to say!

If you would like to become involved with the Duke of Edinburgh Award in any way please contact Phil and his colleagues via: midlands@theaward.org

The Graduate Apprentice transition

In September Jason Norris handed over the Graduate Apprentice reigns to the new incoming Graduate Mayur Murali. Jason was extremely positive about his year on the scheme:

“In all, as I come to the end of my year as the Graduate Apprentice, I can look back at the invaluable new skills I’ve learnt, the huge range of experience that I now have, but most importantly, the fantastic people that I have been fortunate enough to meet and work with. I know that being the Graduate Apprentice has been the first step on a vibrant and challenging career within Birmingham.”

Jason has now started work on a full time basis with Deloitte, back to the first of his Graduate Apprentice employers. Mayur is now in his first placement at Deloitte and coincidently working with Jason: “It’s been a bit of whirlwind to say the least! I’ve learnt that although University is over, my days of learning certainly aren’t! But of course, that’s what this year is all about. I know there’s a long way to go, with much more to discover and I will keeping people updated via my blog.”

Birmingham Future’s Half Marathon team…

A number of Future members have signed up to run the half marathon with the Future team, with numerous other Future members running for their own nominated charities throughout the region and the event is shaping up to be a spectacular occasion with 8,900+ people registered to join the race.

The Future team are running for The Birmingham Foundation and hope to raise a total of £5,000. So if you are not able to run yourself, please give generously to support those that are running and why not pack up a picnic and head in to the Centre of Birmingham on the morning of Sunday 26 October to show your support. If you're not planning on running but would like to sponsor us, visit the Birmingham Future 'Just Giving' sponsorship web page at www.justgiving.com/birminghamfuture

The new Birmingham Future blog has arrived…

A new initiative has been set up by Jason Norris, the outgoing Graduate Apprentice, which will hopefully help to keep all Birmingham Future members in touch and in tune with everything that is going on in Future-land. The Birmingham Future blog - http://birminghamfuture.wordpress.com is now up and running and will be updated on a regular basis, with news, event information and special interviews, the first of which is with BYPY 2008 winner Anthony McCourt. We’d encourage all of you to visit and keep yourselves familiar with the blog, we’d also like your feedback and involvement, if there is anything you would like to be included on the blog.

2008 Birmingham Suit Amnesty campaign…

The second Suit Amnesty took place on Friday October 10 at the Town Hall with more than 450 suits collected in one day and a promise of a further 60 to be collected over the next few days. The event was superbly executed by the team, which included Future Board member Graham Nicoll and Future member Fideylis Hynam.

A big thank you to all who contributed to this event, either with time or the donation of a suit, it was a huge success and the suits collected will help a great deal of people through a number of Birmingham based charities.

What’s been happening in the Future camp?

On August 28th around 50 future members gathered at ‘the studio’ in central Birmingham for an exciting and eventful evening – The Wii Olympics! Not many knew what to expect from the evening, but everyone who attended seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Eight teams were drawn and battles commenced in swimming, sprinting and trampolining. The expressions of concentration on peoples faces were a picture to be seen and as the evening went on, one team became victorious to be crowned champion Wii-Olympians.

On Wednesday, 1 October the latest Meet and Mix lunch took place at the new-ish Café Rouge on New Street, where once again a sold out restaurant were mixed up by business sector and forced to integrate and network on their dining tables. Guest speaker – Peter Rees-Steer gave a motivational talk about how to go out and do the things that are close to your heart in your working life and also make sure that the extra curricular activities which you are a part of, are working to your benefit also.

Dates for your diary – Future’s future events

Please take this opportunity to visit our website to check on forthcoming events, we are still busy providing networking opportunities for all of our members in the lead up to the Christmas period and beyond and don't miss out on the more 'social' opportunities too.

Meet & Mix Lunch: 3rd November - Del Villagio. Derek Inman, Chief Executive of Birmingham Foundation will be joining us to speak about the Birmingham Community Foundation. Set up via the Charity Commission in 1995 and officially launched in 1997 to satisfy a desire amongst Birmingham's business leaders to 'give something back' to the community, the Birmingham Community Foundation provides a vehicle for both companies and individuals to invest in the city's community infrastructure and support its social entrepreneurs in a convenient, tax-effective and rewarding way. We will also be officially launching the Future Foundation our Chairman's charity and guests will also receive complimentary copies of the new look Birmingham Post. For bookings please email Martina.

Future Diversity Quiz night: 19th November at HBJ Gateley Wareing. Will you be one of the first to achieve gold in Birmingham Future's first ever Annual Diversity Quiz Award? Do you know the difference in the number of gold medals Team GB's able bodied and paralympics teams brought home? Can you tell the difference between Bhangra and Bolero? There is no need to enter a team - come on your own and we'll team you up to challenge other young professionals to be in the first team to be crowned Birmingham Future's Diversity Team of the year - you'll receive an award that everyone can be proud of. As the leaders of tomorrow this fun evening will give you a better understanding of how diversity can be embraced and why it makes good business sense. For bookings please email Martina.

Christmas Party: 4th November, Red Bar. Further details will follow in due course but please put this date in your diary as this years event should be a Cracker! No pun intended!. For bookings please email Martina.

Birmingham Future Ball: 20th February 2009, Botanical Gardens. Start the year off in a fun way and put Christmas and New Year behind you. Birmingham Future will transport you back in time to the medieval era - knights and maidens, kings and queens and a few jesters thrown into the mix will add to what is always a lively event. Ed James and Heart FM will be back to host the evening and tickets are already selling fast. For bookings please email Isabel.

Out and about in Birmingham…

Hey Pesto! 35 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 2BS www.heypestouk.com Billed as Fresh Food….Fast, Hey Pesto has arrived on Colmore Row offering a selection of pasta dishes, salads, sandwiches and soups, as well as a range of breakfast items. I paid an early morning visit on my way to the office this week to pick up some lunch, I was expertly informed of the various choices available from the lunchtime range and decided to go for the Designer Salad option, available in medium £1.05 or large £1.45.

My salad was delicious (naturally as I designed it!) If you’re lacking inspiration there is a selection of ready made salads, or you could opt for the Pasta dishes all of which can be served normal, wholemeal or gluten free, there are also daily soup, pasta and risotto specials.

Hey Pesto also serve breakfast with hot and cold options available, including bacon sandwiches, porridge and a full yoghurt bar where you can build your own breakfast pots. All in all the experience was very satisfying and my Hey Pesto lunch made a welcome change from the usual stodgy baguettes!

Alternatives For some nice sarnies and soups: Eat – www.eat.co.uk For the more upmarket handmade sandwich: Philpotts – www.philpotts.co.uk

Education Business Links.

Future members are asked to sign up for a series of interesting events, where they will help interview year 10 students for practice job interviews and answer questions from year 9 students about your own jobs. If you would be interested in taking part and helping with this activity please contact Lyn Shields directly – lyn.shields@bxlworks.org.uk

The events are to be held on Thurs 4 and Fri 5 Dec at Shenley Court School, Northfield B29 4HE between 9am and 1pm and on Wed 17 Dec at Park View School, Saltley B8 3HG between 9am - 11am - Guess My Job for Year 9 (13 - 14 yrs old).

Birmingham City University launches Birmingham Professional Legal Training

The Law School at Birmingham City University has announced the launch of Birmingham Professional Legal Training, offering a series of external training programmes designed to meet the needs of the local business community.

Birmingham Professional Legal Training seeks to actively engage with business, the professions and the community in the West Midlands by offering high quality training programmes at competitive prices and promoting professional development and standards.

Birmingham Professional Legal Training is hosting a launch event on Monday 17th November 2008 at 6pm at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Our Guest Speaker for the evening will be Councillor Randal Brew, Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham. This will be an opportunity to meet the teaching team, discuss our courses and opportunities to develop bespoke training programmes to meet the needs of the business community.

Places at the launch are limited so to find out more about Birmingham Professional Legal Training and book you place visit our website at: http://www.bcu.ac.uk/legaltraining/ , e-mail us at: Legaltraining@bcu.ac.uk or call Sarah King on 0121 331 5265 / 0121 331 5235.

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