IMPORTANT NOTICE - The offices of both Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future were damaged as a result of flooding on Monday 1st September. The team have re-located to temporary offices at Regus, 3 Brindleyplace, Birmingham where they are in suite 621. The main telephone number 0121 632 2200 is operational but is routed through Regus so you need to ask for Birmingham Forward when your call is answered.
News & Events
Word from the Chairman
A month in to my chairmanship and it seems my feet are well and truly under the table. It’s been an interesting few weeks since I took on the top job. If ever there was a popularity contest I’m sure the chairman of Birmingham Future would win hands down.
My diary now has very little white space left in it and my email inbox has reached breaking point. I’ve also just opened an account at Starbucks on Colmore Row as I now spend more time in there than I do in the office. But while this may sound a little negative, it’s actually really positive. Already I’ve got to meet a whole host of new and interesting people, from senior figures within local business to key decision makers in the political arena. This is testament to the role that Birmingham Future plays in the city. We have a voice and people want to hear it. This will be the case at the forthcoming Birmingham City University Big Grrreen Debate, when Birmingham Future members will be expressing their views to an influential panel on all things ‘green’ (see ‘Dates for your diary’ for further information).
September also sees Future hosting a number of other excellent events, which again you can read more about further on. My final plug is for the Birmingham Half Marathon, which takes place on Sunday 26th October. A team from Birmingham Future will be joining thousands of other runners on the day to raise money for Birmingham Community Foundation. If you want to join me and other Birmingham Future members, see below for further details.
See you on the start line!
Matt Taylor
Birmingham Half Marathon – Join the Future team!
On Sunday 26th October 2008, Birmingham will stage its first ever half marathon. Billed as the 'Race Against Climate Change', the 13.1 mile race around the city has been organised by Birmingham City Council and is sponsored by EDF Energy.
Thousands of runners will be taking part in the race, and among them will be a team from Birmingham Future, who will be running to raise money for the Birmingham Foundation. In total, we are hoping to raise £5,000 for this very worthy cause. For more information about Birmingham Foundation, visit www.bhamfoundation.co.uk
To help achieve this goal we need the support of Birmingham Future's members, which can be done in one of two ways. The first is by sponsoring us and the second is by donning your running shoes and taking part. We are hoping to get as many members as possible to sign up to the Birmingham Future team, so if you have already signed up for the half marathon and would like to join us to help raise money for the Birmingham Foundation, just send an email with your name and contact details to info@birminghamfuture.co.uk. A confirmation email will then be sent to you, followed by further information as the race day approaches.
Alternatively, if you haven't yet signed up to run in the race but would like to do so, visit www.birminghamhalfmarathon.com. Once you have registered, let us know (as above) and we'll add you to the Birmingham Future team.
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
(Please note that you cannot sign up to the half marathon through Birmingham Future)
Birmingham Future/BCU Mentoring Scheme
Birmingham Future has recently taken part in a pilot scheme with Birmingham City University in which Future members acted as mentors for final year students. Following the initial success, the scheme has received funding and is to be expanded to include over 100 students for the academic year 2008/09.
Acting as a mentor is a fantastic way to develop your own leadership and coaching skills, which can be applied day in day out in your professional life. If you would like to find our more about becoming a mentor please contact Claire-Elaine Arthurs – CEArthurs@hbj-gw.com
Birmingham Future’s Annual Ball – design competition launched
It hardly seems two minutes have past since many of us were enjoying Future’s Fire and Ice ball 2008. However, as with all these things, months of planning and preparation go in to making such an event a success.
Planning for the 2009 ball is well underway and a new competition has been launched for the design and branding of the event, which will have a Medieval Banquet theme. If you are a budding designer and would like to win two tickets to the ball and have your design used then click here or call the Future office team on: 0121 632 2200 for more information.
The competition closes on November 21 2008.
Colmore Business District BID
Birmingham Forward & Future, working together with the City Centre Partnership (CCP), are promoting a Business Improvement District (BID)to cover the central business area in the city.
The Bid area has now been extended to include Paradise Street and Birmingham Future members who fall linto the Bid area are encouraged to attend the next BID event on Monday 22nd September at 5.30pm. Please click here for more details.
Dates for your diary – Future’s future events
Developing Emerging Leaders – ‘Practical tips for mentors’. Tuesday, September 16th – from 17.30, Mills & Reeve 78-84 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 2AB A practical and interactive session run by Dr Andrew Bass aimed at helping managers develop their own leadership skills and those of their associates.
Birmingham Breakfast Connections. Tuesday September 16th – from 7am, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, ‘An Economic update – Where to next?
To book places on any of the above events please contact Isabel at the Future office – Isabel@birminghamforward.co.uk
The Big Debate
On the 15th September from 12-2.30pm, Birmingham City University, Birmingham Future, NEC and Birmingham Post invite you to the "Big Debate"
Looking at Grrreen, life and the workplace. The debate features an influential panel, led by Richard Bilton, previously BBC's social and environmental correspondent and now special correspondent for BBC, who has covered a wide range of issues from 9/11 to the foot and mouth crisis. Richard will be joined by shadow environment secretary, Peter Ainsworth, influential design expert and blogger of treehugger.com Leonora Oppenheim and Marks and Spencer's General Merchandising Manager, Sarah Savoury.
The Big Debate will be held in Hall 5 at The ICC on Monday 15th September. The event is free but attendees must register for tickets by clicking here.
Productivity: Why and how to support lesbian, gay and bisexual staff. The performance return on investment in LGB equality and inclusiveness
This event is for decision makers, senior managers and staff who are genuinely committed to an inclusive workplace. It will help you to understand some of the specific issues that your LGB (lesbian, gay, bisexual) staff face every day and show you how to practically support all of your staff.
The event will be held at 5.30pm on Wednesday 17th September 2008. The event is kindly hosted by Pinsent Masons, 3 Colmore Circus, Birmingham, West Midlands B4 6BH. Places are available at £10.00 + VAT (£11.75inc) per delegate, with payment to be received prior to the event. FREE places are available to Midland LGBT Network members: please indicate if you are a member on any area of the free text on the booking form Email: sangeeta@birminghamdivercity.co.uk or complete the online booking form here.
Showing Your Company Ethos to the World
Birmingham Future members are invited to this year’s Employers’ Corporate Social Responsibility Conference on Wed 24th September 12-4.30pm. The event to be held at The Malmaison Hotel in the Mailbox has been organised by Education Business Links. The aim of the conference is to inform businesses on how they can develop a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Plan in their own business and get involved in the local community. This is for absolute beginners at CSR and those have started implementing some ideas. You will learn how your business will benefit from having a policy to engage with the community.
The day will be a great opportunity to learn how other businesses implement their CSR policies in the West Midlands area and to take some ideas back to your business on how you can greater impact in the local community. You will get a chance to learn more about latest developments in the educational sector, including the new qualification - the 14 to 19 Diploma, which young people in our area will start studying from September 2008.
The cost of the event is £70 + VAT. Please contact Hannah Atkins at Education Business Links directly on 0121 251 1032 if you would like more information.
Wragge & Co City Challenge 2008?
Have you got a taste for adventure? Then why not sign up for the Wragge & Co City Challenge 2008? It's all in aid of KidsOut, Wragge & Co’s charity of the year, and is taking place on Thursday 18 September between 1 and 7.30pm in and around Birmingham. Teams of 5 will test their agility in a daring abseil, feel the pressure in a canoe relay in the Gas Street basin, test their taste buds in a curry tasting at Asha's Restaurant and put their heads together to complete our mind-bending "Urban Adventure". So, grab 4 of your colleagues and step up to the challenge!
KidsOut is a national charity which brings fun and happiness to the lives of disadvantaged and sick children by providing positive experiences, toys and specialist play equipment. We are hoping to raise enough money to buy a mobile sensory room which allows children with learning and physical disabilities to play and learn in a safe and stimulating environment.
Team places are limited so sign up as soon as possible to avoid disappointment! There is a £550 entry fee.
If you would like to know more please visit www.wragge.com/citychallenge where you can apply online.
Hello Digital/Hello World
Discover the future at The Midlands’ first digital festival, Hello Digital, taking place at Millennium Point from Oct 23rd-26th. Celebrating the awe inspiring possibilities of the modern world, Hello Digital is an electrifying showcase of sights, sounds and dreams turning into reality.
Meet life sized robots, walk around a field of light, control a giant wall of sound & reach the four corners of the Earth at the touch of a button, Hello Digital is an unbelievable adventure to be experienced by people of all ages.
Running alongside the Hello Digital festival is the Hello World conference, being held at Millennium Point from October 23rd – 24th. Hello World will have talks, presentations and seminars from high ranking industry leaders from organisations including Channel 4, Pixar Animation and social networking phenomenon Bebo.
Admission is free to both Hello Digital and Hello World. For more information, or to register your place at the Hello World conference, please visit www.hellodigital.net
Hello Digital and Hello World are funded by Birmingham City Council and Advantage West Midlands, with support from Screen West Midlands, Arts Council England West Midlands, Business Link and Marketing Birmingham.
Birmingham's Creative City Awards 2008 Announced
4th Creative City Awards comes to the ICC on Saturday November 29th. Birmingham City Council proudly announces its plans for the Creative City Awards 2008.
The Creative City Awards 2008 is a prestigious award ceremony that recognises the cream of Birmingham's creative talent, and the influential business directors who bring in millions of pounds each year to the city's swelling economy. The ceremony will take place on Saturday November 29th at the ICC in Birmingham City Centre.
Candidates are invited to nominate themselves through the Birmingham City Council official website. Full details can be found by visiting: www.birmingham.gov.uk/creativecityawards.bcc
The deadline for nominations for this year's Creative City Awards will be 17 October 2008, and the winner will be announced at the prestigious dinner and ceremony on 29 November at the ICC. Companies are urged to submit their entries as soon as possible.
Out and about in Edinburgh…
Howies, 10 – 14 Victoria Street, Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2HG. www.howies.uk.com
As it is the time for summer holidays this months review looks at places to eat should you find yourself away for Birmingham. My get away took me to the infamous Edinburgh Festival, a trip that would not have been complete without some Haggis Neeps and Tatties! However, as I discovered to the cost of my blistered feet, finding a restaurant that actually serves such a thing was no easy task!
After reading numerous travel guides, and walking what felt like every inch of Edinburgh, I finally found my oasis in the desert, in the guise of Howies! A small chain of restaurants scattered across Scotland, with four locations in Edinburgh, Howies in Victoria Street is situated in the historic heart of Edinburgh's Old Town. A two-minute walk from both the Royal Mile and the Grassmarket it sits quietly in the shadows of the great castle.
As my travelling companion had returned home earlier that same day I was dining alone, so armed with every solo diners essential - a good book, I arrived at Howies ready to enjoy some traditional Scottish fare. I was presented with the menu and was glad to see my desired dish featured as both a starter or main course option. Other choices included traditional Cullen skin, Grilled fillet of sea bass with a bloody mary gazpacho or Venison roe deer burger, to name but a few.
Despite the tempting alternatives on offer I stuck with my original choice of Haggis and my loyalty was richly rewarded. My meal was presented as 3 ice cream ball scoops, one scoop of haggis one of neeps and one of creamy tatties, all covered in a light whisky and shallot gravy. The haggis was beautiful, perfectly cook so as to showcase its rich flavour to perfection, the neeps and tatties were smooth and creamy and complimented the main event perfectly.
I found plenty of room to choose a dessert from the sweet menu, which changes on a monthly basis. A slice of orange and almond cake with Mackie’s ice cream, apparently the best in Scotland! Proved to be the perfect way to follow my main, as it was light and fluffy with a wonderful citrus tang. Some other features of the sweet menu were, Gin & Tonic Jelly and traditional Cranachan. My meal was washed down with a large glass of Malbec and a cappuccino to end. To top it all the bill left me change from a £20 note!
So next time you find yourself north of the border don’t be shy like my fellow foreign dinners, who upon learning what haggis was decided not the brave it, instead pop along to Howies for some excellent relaxed traditional delights. Alternatively you could take your taste buds on a culinary getaway without having to leave the comfort and vibrancy of Birmingham…..
Go Spanish in Moseley: La Plancha - www.laplancha.co.uk
Or try a carribean feast in town: XE - Xaymaca Experience - www.xerestaurant.co.uk
Birmingham Future, One Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD
Telephone: +44 (0)121 632 2200 Fax: +44 (0)121 632 2201
_1.jpg "The Cube")
