News & Events
Chairman’s Message – Sarah Gee
I hope that you’ve been enjoying a good summer, whether you’ve been away or at work.
One person who has had a little more time to relax than over the previous 12 months is Chris Robertson, our out-going Chairman. Chris was a great Chair, and I’d like to thank him, on behalf of the membership, for his work and achievements.
For those of you who weren’t able to join us at last month’s AGM, here’s an outline of Future’s priorities for the year:
- Increasing and widening the membership
- a NEW series of Future City Debates, offering high-level access to Birmingham’s decision-makers and
- Cross-city discussions on work-life balance, which has been highlighted as the key issue for employee retention
To download a copy of the report from the AGM please click here.
We’re also keen to make Birmingham Future the true voice of the young professional and will be spending more time building a regular dialogue with our membership (look out for the web poll being launched next month) so that we can tell the world what the city’s young professionals think.
For instance, our most recent survey – carried out in association with Caret, one of the UK’s leading specialists in leadership and management development, and based in Birmingham - looked at attitudes to the workplace and showed that 61% of you plan to be in the same career in ten years’ time. However, only 26 % thought that you would be working for the same company at that point, and a quarter of you are currently seeking a new job (don’t worry; we don’t know who you are).
84% of you who don’t currently have children hope to be raising a family within the next 10 years. And nearly a quarter of all respondents said that if their current organisations could make provision to allow them to pursue a career and raise a family, you would stay with them. Click here to view the whole survey and results.
We’ll be following up these findings over the next few months – watch this space!
Musical Chairs
Following the AGM there have been a few changes regarding the committee chairs.
- Jo Slade has taken over from Sarah Cartwright as the Events Committee Chair
- Praveen Gupta as the Diversity Committee Chair from Alex Bishop – who is now Birmingham Future Deputy Chair
- Zanna Woods-Scawen has officially taken over from Ben Browning as the Business Strategy and Constitution Committee Chair.
We would like to wish them all good luck in their new roles!
Mentoring Matches
This autumn, Birmingham Future will join forces with the University of Central England (UCE) to deliver a new mentoring scheme. A pilot will run with mentoring matches made between Future members and UCE undergraduates. We are currently looking for people to take part in the scheme, which will run from October 2006 for a minimum of one academic term. Full training is provided. If you’re interested in finding out more, please call Kate Onions on 0121 234 0209.
Graduate Apprentice
Graduate Apprentice winner Darvinder Kang has already completed his first couple of months at business advisory firm Deloitte and is enjoying every minute. He will spend four months there before moving on to his second placement at NHS Finance.
Darvinder is part of Deloitte’s IT Audit team and has so far participated in two audits in Birmingham and Leicester. He is taking part in a range of on-line training and has received his first appraisal.
One month in and Darvinder is a very happy Graduate Apprentice. He said: “ I have really enjoyed being part of the IT Audit team and experiencing first hand the work they do. I am not just an observer but totally involved in all aspects of the work. I am learning so much. My only regret is that my year feels like it is flying by; I am already a quarter of the way through my time with Deloitte.”
Future>pro events
Future>pro is a key strand of the Graduates into Employment Committee, spearheading Future’s graduate retention strategy.
The first Future>pro event – sponsored by Advantage West Midlands, in partnership with North Staffordshire Finest, has been confirmed for 9 November.
The event will take place at the Ashley Centre, Stoke Campus, Staffordshire University and will attract students from both Staffordshire and Keele, as well as local business in the professional services sector for a series of workshops and networking opportunities. A targeted campaign kicks-off in mid-September. Similar events in Birmingham and Coventry will follow early in 2007.
Institute of Public Policy and Research
In July the City Centre team held a private event with significant property figures within Birmingham to discuss the various factors impacting on city centre living.
Max Nathan from the IPPR Centre for Cities and Clive Dutton, Director of Planning & Regeneration at Birmingham City Council, both spoke at the event, which was attended by representatives from organisations including Urban Splash, Jewellery Quarter Regeneration Partnership, Fair Cities and Birmingham University.
The conclusions from this event are available to anyone who may be interested by contacting Peter Gallimore, Chair of the City Centre Committee at pgallimore@deloitte.co.uk.
Welcome from The Membership Committee
Birmingham Future's Membership Team would like to welcome all 46 new members who have joined since June. We are available to answer any questions you may have about your membership. We hope to see you all at the new members lunch, which is being held in October. Look out for further information and your invitation in the next few weeks.
Upcoming Events
Events in August
Diversity Event – Winning “The War For Talent” – Student Perceptions of Birmingham’s Financial & Professional Services Sector, Thursday 31 August - 12:30pm, PricewaterhouseCoopers. This event is now SOLD OUT
Events in September
Facing Challenges, with David Jones, former Chairman, Next Retail Plc, Thursday 28 September - 12:30pm. Aston Villa Football Club. Event tickets available at £41.13 inc, book on-line here.
David will talk about his guts and glory story and his rise to fame from the early days at WH Smiths, from delivery boy to being offered the Chairmanship. He will also talk about his personal struggle after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and how he managed to continue working whilst keeping this from his colleagues for so many years. A charity draw will also be held at the lunch with all the money raised going to The Cure Parkinson’s Trust.
Events in October
Meet & Mix Lunch with Ruth Ward, BYPY Winner 2006, Monday 2 October - 12.30pm. The Copthorne Hotel. Tickets available at £19.98 inc, book on-line here.
Successful Development with Jeremy Brown, Innergy, Monday 16th October - 6.30pm, Eversheds. Tickets available at £17.63, book on-line here.
Committee Vacancies
The following committee is currently looking for new members. If you are interested in joining please contact the committee chair for further information. Marketing & Communications – 2 vacancies. To register your interest please e-mail the Chair - Matt Taylor, matt@hline.co.uk.
Non-Executive Director Opportunity
Next month University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Queen Elizabeth and Selly Oak hospitals, will be starting the recruitment process for a new non-executive director.
The purpose of the role is to work as a member of the Trust’s Board of Directors to ensure the effective delivery of agreed health services in line with established objectives and priorities and in accordance with the highest standards of corporate governance and public accountability.
Specifically, it is seeking individuals with proven backgrounds in financial investment and strategy, commerce, and customer service. The individual must be a current or past patient of the Trust or live in the Parliamentary/electoral wards of Birmingham.
If you are interested in finding out more about the role and wish to request an application pack, please contact Foundation Secretary Margaret Godfrey on 0121 627 2881 or email her at margaret.godfrey@uhb.nhs.uk
Birmingham strikes a pose
Birmingham is stepping out in style this year with a dazzling collection of fashion-focused projects that will highlight its stylish new image and status as the best retail destination outside London’s West End. Birmingham City Centre Partnership, Bullring, The Mailbox, House of Fraser and Harvey Nichols are behind the campaign which aims to showcase the city’s fantastic fashion, jewellery and shopping scene – including designer labels, funky High Street brands, independent boutiques and local designer/makers.
The Show takes place on Friday 20th October 2006. Celebrities already committed to Style Birmingham include Channel 4 presenter, Nicky Hambleton-Jones who will host the fashion show and athletes Ashia Hansen and Nathan Douglas who will take to the catwalk as Style Birmingham models. Click here for more details.
Corporate Arts Club
Corporate Arts Club (CAC) is a new link Birmingham Future has forged to provide benefits for our members. As mentioned at the AGM, the Corporate Arts Club is an opportunity for people working in the private sector to have special FREE behind-the-scenes access to the city’s artistic offerings. Originally set up with Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, CAC has extended its reach and is particularly looking forward to working with Birmingham Future members. Click here to find out more information.
And finally...
If you have a story about yourself, your firm or your discipline which you think might help to promote Birmingham’s professional and financial services sector or contribute to the voice of the city’s young professional community, then contact Future’s PR consultancy, Urban Communications, at: communicate@urbancomms.com or 0121 237 6016.
We hope you all have a wonderful ‘sunny’ bank holiday weekend!
Birmingham Future, One Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD
Telephone: +44 (0)121 632 2200 Fax: +44 (0)121 632 2201
_1.jpg "The Cube")
