Forward eBulletin - July 2010

July 2010

Welcome from the Chair

Welcome to the July edition of the e-bulletin. As you will all now be aware, the last month has seen a number of changes and a very busy calendar. On Monday (19 July), our former CEO Richard Brennan passed away after a six month battle with cancer.  Richard died on his birthday, aged 58, with his wife, Grace, and their two daughters, Vicky and Lise-Ann, at his bedside. Richard was truly passionate about Birmingham and his work to boost the city’s reputation and inward investment to the region has ensured that Birmingham is now firmly on the map for business and professional services. In the last few weeks, since Richard stepped down as CEO, we’ve received an overwhelming number of messages of praise for Richard and support for his family from members of the city’s business and professional services community.  Richard has done a fantastic job for Birmingham Forward and the city as a whole.  He will be sorely missed. Details regarding Richard’s memorial service are available on the Birmingham Forward website. Photo: Jackie Hendley, Chair of Birmingham Forward

Latest News

New Interim CEO

In early July, Mary Daunt, formerly of Browne Jacobson and Hammonds, was appointed as the interim CEO.  The business environment has changed dramatically over the past two years and we have further changes ahead with the abolition of AWM and the slow economic recovery. As a result, and to ensure we continue to provide the offering our members expect, Mary and I are now carrying out a strategic review of the organisation.  We are liaising with our patrons, affiliates, members and local business leaders to ensure we adapt to the ever-changing business environment.  Mary and I continue to be committed to the themes and objectives of ‘collaboration’, ‘networking’ and ‘reaching our potential’.  Please contact Mary or Jackieif you would like to discuss any matters.

Lord Mayor of the City of London visits Birmingham

Birmingham Forward recently played host to Nick Anstee, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, on his visit to the city. Having already visited regional centres at Glasgow, Edinburgh and Manchester, Birmingham Forward members were keen to hear the Lord Mayor’s views on how Birmingham compares. Jackie Hendley, chair of Birmingham Forward, said: “While the Lord Mayor was keen not to play favourites, he did comment on Birmingham’s strength of talent and the opportunity to really build up business and industry in the city.  He also mentioned he had been asked to write Manchester’s business plan and declined!” The Lord Mayor focused on the launch of TheCityUK – an independent membership body promoting the UK financial and related professional services industry.  TheCityUK has three key strands: overseas promotion; domestic promotion; and regulatory reform and trade policy.  These come together to create new opportunities for the industry as a whole. Birmingham Forward is working with TheCityUK to ensure that members are involved in these new opportunities and that the region is included in both the overseas and domestic promotional activities. Jackie continues: “The work of TheCityUK is complementary to the work we’ve already started with the Birmingham Forward Ambassadors programme.  As well as inviting the Lord Mayor of the City of London to Birmingham, we’ve also carried out four overseas delegations in the last two years.  We will continue to focus on inward investment and the promotion of Birmingham as a city of excellence over the coming year.” Photo: From left to right; Jackie Hendley, chair of Birmingham Forward, Nick Anstee, Lord Mayor of the City of London & Mary Daunt, chief executive of Birmingham Forward.

An Update on HS2

As many of you will no doubt be aware, Birmingham Forward has been highly vocal in its support for HS2 coming to the city.  Earlier this year, the previous Government published a Command Paper setting out the detail of their proposed route for high speed rail between London and the West Midlands.  Following the general election, the Coalition Government has confirmed its full support for the development of a high speed rail network.  High speed rail is a transformational once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Birmingham and the West Midland region as a whole.  The benefits high speed rail will bring are highly significant and numerous, particularly the opportunities for encouraging regeneration, economic development and inward investment to the region.  But a key challenge will be to ensure that everyone from across the region is able to access the proposed stations easily. Join us at The McClaren Building on Tuesday 24th August for an update on proposals from Geoff Inskip, Chief Executive, Centro (West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority); Julie Mills, Director, Greengauge 21; and Councillor Tim Huxtable, Cabinet Member for Transport and Regeneration, Birmingham City Council and Lead Member for Birmingham on the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority.  This event is kindly being sponsored by Bruntwood. Tickets for this event, priced at just £20 +VAT, are available from Theresa Meek on Theresa@birminghamforward.co.uk / 0121 632 2204.  Numbers are limited so early registration for this event is advised. Photo: Geoff Inskip, Chief Executive of Centro (West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority).

The Future for City of Culture

On 15th July, Derry-Londonderry was named the first UK City of Culture.  Eve Smith, chair of the Birmingham Future marketing committee and Individual Giving Manager at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), comments on what this means for the city:    “Birmingham is a diverse and vibrant cultural centre with a long heritage.  We don’t need a title to tell us that.  But, losing out does pose a challenge – and it is one to which the city must rise.  Birmingham is still perceived by some as ‘ugly’ and ‘tasteless’; we have the hangover of our industrial roots and a ‘cultural’ stereotype which does not accurately reflect the real goings on.  "Visitors do leave the city with positive impressions and yet, nationally, there seems to still be a stigma in connection with our city’s reputation.  The business and professional services community must realise that Birmingham’s cultural offering is not just a sideline to their activities.  The most successful business centres are those which engage with their surrounding environments, which get involved in their local communities.  And, once the dust from this campaign settles, that is what we must try to build on.”

Online Dragon & Top 30 European Business Women to Speak at AGM

Outgoing Birmingham Future chair, Amanda Porter of Mills & Reeve, is delighted to welcome Julie Meyer – online Dragon and one of the top 30 most powerful businesswomen in Europe – to Birmingham for the organisation’s AGM on Tuesday 10th August. As an entrepreneur, advisor, investor and industry commentator, Julie has earned countless awards, such as ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ by Ernst & Young and ‘Global Leader of Tomorrow’ by the World Economic Forum. Julie is founder and Chief Executive of Ariadne Capital, celebrating its 10th birthday this year, which backs entrepreneurs in life services, media and communications and was first set up to build the market leading companies of the new millennium. She also founded First Tuesday, the largest global network of entrepreneurs, which many credit for igniting the internet generation in Europe and has most recently founded Entrepreneur Country, a dedicated community for leading and emerging entrepreneurs, investors and media and corporate partners who service the start-up industry across the UK and Europe. Finally, Julie is an online Dragon for the BBC’s Dragons’ Den and writes for City AM, the business daily in London, as well as Business Week and FT Digital Business. Incoming Birmingham Future chair, Darren Walker of Cobbetts LLP, is passionate about promoting and strengthening entrepreneurialism within Birmingham.  “Julie is a fantastic role model,” he said, “and we hope that she’ll be imparting some of her top tips for entrepreneurial success over dinner.  We’ll also be celebrating the achievements of Birmingham Future over the last year – including hosting the 10th Birmingham Young Professional of the Year awards – and sharing our aspirations for 2011 and beyond.” Tickets for the three course dinner at Crowne Plaza, which is being sponsored by Mills & Reeve, cost just £22 +VAT and are available from Claire@birminghamforward.co.uk / 0121 632 2209. Photo: Julie Meyer, Chief Executive of Ariadne Capital

Exclusive Discount for Forward Members at this Year's PSMG National Conference

PSMG are delighted to confirm details of our 15th PSMG National Conference, which will take place on Wednesday 13th October 2010 at One America Square Conference Centre, London, EC3. The Conference theme is "It’s all about the Client - The game has changed and this time it is for real!" and we have been fortunate to attract a galaxy of leading names to help us all fully understand clients' thinking. The PSMG National Conference is the largest and most prestigious professional services marketing conference in Europe and provides a forum for delegates to learn, discuss and share information on key issues in the professions.The Conference will be chaired by Allan Evans, Head of Marketing, Sales & Clients and Partner at BDO International and our keynote speakers are David Gold, ex-senior partner at international law firm Herbert Smith in the morning and, in the afternoon, Jeremy Barton, global general counsel at Boston Consulting. The morning keynote will be followed by a Question Time style debate on how buying professional services is changing, chaired by Simon Slater of Intelligent Office Consulting with a high profile panel session that will, in true Dimbleby style, stretch both delegates and panellists. A comprehensive series of breakout workshops will then be held by leading professional marketers and we will then conclude with a summary by the Chairman and the Conference Cocktail Reception from 5.30pm onwards. PSMG are delighted to offer Birmingham Forward members the discounted members’ delegate rate of £499.00 + vat instead of the non-member rate of £599.00. Please quote “Birmingham Forward” when booking to take advantage of the special delegate rate.   Early bird discounts are also available!  Full information and programme is available at www.psmg.co.uk.

Need an Extra Pair of Hands Over the Summer?

It’s not always possible to find the time or resource to complete the projects that could make a real difference to your business.  In this very competitive market recruiting a student on a short-term placement is a low-cost and low-commitment way of boosting your workforce. Using their skills, your business can assist you in getting ahead of the competition with research into new markets and product lines, diversifying your client base, implementing a business development plan, designing and launching a new website, the choice is yours. Businesses can benefit from: •  Free front-end recruitment services to find suitable candidates for you to interview •  A subsidy of up to £750* to pay your new recruit •  A flexible, low cost recruitment solution lasting from 5 weeks over the summer, 30 hours a week •  An injection of new ideas/skills To register your interest for this please call Tamsen Poole on 0121 204 5103 or Dan Davies on 0121 204 4425.  *Full terms and conditions Offer available to private sector and third sector organisations, based in the West Midlands region, subject to criteria.  Your student recruit must be in post by no later than 30th September 2010.  You must invoice Graduate Advantage for up to a maximum of £750 (this equates to £150per/wk graduate bursary for 5 weeks).  £200 per/wk is the minimum level of remuneration your company is able to offer your student recruit. Payments made by Graduate Advantage will be processed and paid by BACS transfer into the business bank account approximately 6 weeks after all paperwork is received.

Emirates to Increase Flight Capacity from Birmingham

Emirates, the award-winning international airline, will increase passenger capacity by 22 per cent at Birmingham from 1 September 2010 when it introduces a larger Boeing 777-300ER onto one of its two daily services to Dubai.   The carrier will introduce the 442-seat Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) aircraft on its evening flight – offering 78 more seats per day than the aircraft currently operating this flight.   The modern aircraft, with 42 seats in Business Class and 400 in Economy Class, will boast Emirates’ award-winning ice entertainment system, which offers passengers an unrivalled choice of up to 1,200 channels of the latest movies, TV programming, music and games on demand.   Business Class passengers flying with Emirates will also benefit from the airline’s new lounge facility at Birmingham International Airport, which opened in March this year and is the first dedicated lounge to be offered by a long-haul airline at the airport.  It offers luxurious facilities including leather armchairs, gourmet dining, a complimentary bar service, full shower facilities and a well-equipped business centre.   The new 777-300ER aircraft will operate Emirates flight EK038 which departs daily from Birmingham at 21.20, arriving in Dubai at 07:20 the following morning.  Emirates’ second daily flight, already operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, departs from Birmingham at 14:15, arriving Dubai at 00:15 the following morning.   For information and reservations, contact Emirates on 0844 800 2777 or visit www.emirates.com/uk   Photo: Emirates's new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

New Members

Birmingham Forward is delighted to welcome the following new members: HSBC - HSBC helps over 41 million people worldwide to manage and save for their futures with a complete range of personal financial products. They also assist over 3.2 million businesses across the globe to start-up, develop and grow through a comprehensive range of commercially specific products and services. Emperor Design - Emperor is a design and communications company, specialising in corporate, marketing and investor communications. They deliver outstanding results for clients by combining creative design, thought provoking advice and exceptional service. They are passionate about building long-term relationships with clients, based on listening, understanding and trust.

Recent Events

For a full list of recent events, have a look at the Birmingham Forward website.

Economics Update with Mark Miller of Lloyds TSB

Over 60 leaders from the city’s business and professional services community gathered at the ICC to discuss the impact of the recent budget on the region’s economy.  The event, organised by Birmingham Forward, saw chief UK economist for Lloyds TSB Mark Miller speak on what the budget measures might mean for the West Midlands and the global economy as a whole. The lunchtime event was sponsored by Emirates. Photo: Mark Miller speaks to the assembled guests.

New Tricks - Social Media Briefing Sessions

Birmingham Forward members attended the recent series of breakfast briefings on social media which included an introduction to blogging, LinkedIn and Twitter.  The events saw Rob Muir of The Bottom Line Marketing and Communications impart his knowledge and answer questions in an informal round table discussion at St Phillips Chambers. Rob is a keen believer in the value of social media in helping businesses increase sales and strengthen customer loyalty.  If any members missed out on these events and would be interested in similar sessions going forward, please do get in touch.

Forthcoming Events

For a full list of forthcoming events, have a look at the Birmingham Forward website.

Tuesday August 17th - "The Business we call 'Show'..." Lunch at the Hippodrome: Ever wondered what it takes to run the most successful single theatre in the UK?  Birmingham Hippodrome can lay claim to that title as it welcomes over 500,000 visitors annually to an enticing programme of opera and ballet, musicals and drama, comedy, international dance and the world’s biggest Pantomime. We are delighted to be able to invite you to find out more about the Hippodrome, with a drinks reception and networking buffet lunch in their Circle Restaurant and (for those who have time) a short backstage tour, treading the boards. You can also discover how you and your business might be able to ‘play a supporting role’ in the continued development of the Hippodrome as Stuart Griffiths, CEO, highlights some of the challenges and successes it expects in the coming months, including the Southside Business Improvement District bid, and the results of the City of Culture bid. To book your place on this event please contact Claire Hawkins.

Thursday August 26th - A "Rare" insight into Microsoft & Fazeley Studios: Rare Games caused lots of excitement earlier this year by choosing Fazeley Studios in Birmingham as its second location, supplementing its main base in Twycross, Leicestershire. Fazeley Studios is set around breathtaking common spaces and comprehensive facilities for businesses to deliver the Digital & Creative way of working.  It is also the new home of Ikon Eastside – we are at the hub of the burgeoning Digbeth creative quarter which is redefining our city. The lifeblood of this revolution is entrepreneurial Digital & Creative enterprises. This unique event will provide opportunities to view this creative space, gain an insight into Microsoft’s subsidiary - Rare Games, experience a tour of Ikon Eastside gallery who are exhibiting works by Sergio Vega and enjoy a superb buffet. To book a place for this event please contact Theresa Meek. Photo: Fazeley Studios in Birmingham

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