Business News

Midlands hospitality venues are showing positive signs of a return to growth as lockdown restrictions ease, according to two leading accountancy experts with Azets, Europe’s biggest regional accountancy and business advisor to SMEs. However, the top 10 accountancy firm forecasts long-term challenges for the sector amid unpredictable market conditions.

Citing the re-opening of two significant venues in Birmingham, James Martin, Restructuring & Insolvency Partner with Azets Birmingham, believes the region’s most popular hospitality businesses are primed for an accelerated recovery, with reduced capacity re-openings starting to make a difference.

Iconic Birmingham landmark The Grand Hotel re-opened its doors in May after 18 years closed. The 141-year-old building in Colmore Row has undergone a £45 million investment, bucking the trend of hotel closures in the wake of COVID-19. Another popular venue just off Colmore Row, South American restaurant Fazenda, reopened in May after agreeing terms on its former site - weeks after announcing it was shutting permanently following the extended lockdown.

James Martin believes current social distancing measures are preventing hospitality businesses from accelerating a recovery quickly but predicts a buoyant sector once all COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. However, he has urged cautious optimism due to continued volatility and the uncertainty of these timelines.

James said: “There are plenty of examples of closures within the hospitality sector and no doubt more to follow – particularly venues without an existing reputation or prominent location. However, the signs are good for the region’s most popular restaurants and hotels, and those with higher footfall in city centre locations, with reduced capacity bookings filling up and the country due to unlock in July.

“The re-opening of The Grand Hotel after nearly two decades and last-minute reversal of the decision to close Fazenda demonstrate opportunities exist – but market conditions do remain challenging and unpredictable, and there are no guarantees businesses that have survived this long will continue to do so in the future.

“Hospitality operators that rely on fixed cost premises may already have substantial rent arrears and other COVID-19 related debt. UKHospitality recently reported that the sector has £2.5bn in rent arrears alone due to the pandemic, further compounding the millions of pounds borrowed through the various COVID-19 loan schemes made available last year.”

Mark Selby, National Head of Corporate Finance with Azets, has called on hospitality businesses to seek professional advice to understand their financial position early, with uncertainty across the sector likely to remain for months and even years.

Mark said: “Businesses of all shapes and sizes in the hospitality sector need to undertake a financial health check to assess the viability of their models in the context of their new balance sheet structures, which look significantly different now than they did 15 months ago. It’s important these businesses seek professional corporate finance advice early, rather than wait until more challenging restructuring steps are needed.”

US fashion giant Gap has confirmed it plans to close all its 81 stores in the UK and Ireland and go online-only.

The firm said it would close all its stores "in a phased manner" between the end of August and the end of September. This includes 19 stores that were already scheduled to close in July as their leases were expiring.

The company has not disclosed how many employees the closures will affect, but will shortly start a consultation process with the staff. The firm said it was "not exiting the UK market" and would continue to offer a web-based store when all the shops had closed.

A Gap spokesperson said the decision followed a strategic review of its European business. As a result, Gap is also looking to offload its stores in France and Italy.

The company said it was in negotiations with another firm to take over all of its French stores. In Italy, Gap said it was in discussions with a partner for the potential acquisition of the stores there.

"We believe in Gap's global brand power. We are executing against Gap's Power Plan and partnering to amplify our global reach," the spokesperson said. "We are not exiting the UK market. We will continue to run and operate our Gap e-commerce business in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland."

A source close to the company said that it had seen rapid uptake of internet shopping for its clothes in the UK since the pandemic-enforced lockdowns. The move comes as the latest blow to UK High Streets, already reeling from the collapse of the Debenhams and Arcadia retail empires during the pandemic.

The Debenhams brand continues online after being bought by retailer Boohoo for £55m in January - and now Gap has added to the ranks of bricks-and-mortar clothing chains that have moved to cyberspace.

Switch Hospitality Management has been named the 16^th best place to work in hospitality in the UK just one year after its launch in January 2020.

The Birmingham based business, which employs 110 people across the four-star Park Regis hotel and the Holiday Inn Express Birmingham South hotel, was awarded 16^th place by leading hospitality publisher The Caterer in its annual list of the Top 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality.

The Best Places to Work in Hospitality Awards serve to highlight employers who demonstrate exceptional skill at employee engagement, with a key focus this year on those who looked after their staff during the pandemic, which has been catastrophic for the industry.

The awards list is compiled purely on the basis of survey responses completed anonymously by all company employees, adding particular weight and kudos to any business named in the prestigious list.

John Angus, managing director of Switch Hospitality Management said: “This is a fantastic accolade for us to have achieved in not only our first year of operation as Switch Hospitality Management, but a year which has proven so detrimental to our entire industry.

“What makes this award so special and important is the fact that it is voted for our own teams across our hotels. Our people are the cornerstone of our business and delivering exceptional service to our customers, so to be recognised by them means we are doing it right and of that, I am incredibly proud.”

Women retiring in 2021 expect average retirement incomes which are 25% or £4,600 per year lower than their male counterparts, new research from the UK’s leading independent equity release adviser Key shows.

Pensions Gender Divide:

Its unique “Retirement Ready 2021” study into the finances and ambitions of over 1,000 people expecting to finish full-time work in 2021 found men expect their annual income to be £23,646 while women expect theirs to be £4,655 lower at £18,991. 

This gender gap is even more stark if taken over a 20-year retirement period, when men can expect to receive £93,000 more than women. That said, 2021’s crop of retirees have seen the gender gap close slightly from 2020 when men (£22,876) expected 29% more income than women (£17,762).

Nearly a third of women (29%) expect to retire on less than the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s (JRF) Minimum Income Standard of £12,500 – a proportion that has risen since 2020 (27%).   Men’s retirement income was more stable with less than one in five (17%) expecting to be below this minimum standard in both 2020 and 2021.

Worryingly a large proportion of women retiring this year don’t know what their retirement income will be, with a fifth (20%) unsure about their finances, more than double the proportion of men (9%).

Attitudes towards retirement:

This lack of understanding may explain why over a fifth (21%) of women feel unprepared compared to 15% of men.  Covid-19 may have also played a factor with the proportion of women saying they are ‘really not prepared and worried about it’ rising from 10% (2020) to 14% (2021) while the number of men who felt this way stayed consistent at 6%.

Sources of retirement income

Income from company pension schemes make up the greatest proportion of men’s income in retirement (34%) followed by the State Pension (30%). Women on the other hand expect to receive the greatest proportion of their income from the State Pension (34%) followed by company pension schemes (29%).

Across both genders, 2021 has seen a decrease in reliance on company pension schemes with more looking to the State Pension for income.  Women (15%) remain more likely to look at accessing their housing equity than their male counterparts (10%).

Table one: Sources of retirement income

Will Hale, CEO at Key said: “With women typically earning less over the course of their careers, more likely to work part-time or need to juggle their career and caring responsibilities, the gender pay gap quickly becomes the gender pension’s gap at retirement.  It is disheartening that in 2021, women still expect 25% less than their male counterparts and nearly a third expect their income to fall below Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s (JRF) Minimum Income Standard.

“There is no quick fix to this situation but it does illustrate how important it is to consider all your assets at retirement.  In 2021, more women (15%) than men (10%) said they intend to release equity from their home to support their retirement income needs. Given the significant shortfall that many men and women will face, this figure should be higher – especially as modern equity release products boast flexible features which makes managing this borrowing in line with changing circumstances far easier than ever before.” 

“Planning your finances for retirement is important for everyone – but especially those who are either facing into the impact of the gender pension’s gap or a find themselves retired and struggling on less than the minimum income standard should speak to a specialist adviser.   Making the most of your income in retirement is about knowing your options and getting good advice will ensure you consider how assets such as the equity you have in your home might allow you to live a more comfortable and fulfilling retirement.”

Managed IT service provider, Superfast IT, has become the first IT company to gain the West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre Business Start membership. The affiliation forged between WMCRC and Superfast IT as a part of the centre’s broader strategy to form partnerships between regional policing, academia and businesses.

The West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre (WMCRC), which opened in June 2020, is a part of a national network of police led, not-for-profit centres offering cybersecurity services and consultancy across the West Midlands.

Superfast IT, which provides IT support and cybersecurity services in Birmingham, will gain access to the centre’s security resources as part of the membership, keeping abreast of security developments and tools whilst improving the security of their 70-strong client base. Both organisations are hosting a joint webinar later in the year to raise awareness of cybersecurity fundamentals for small businesses. All organisations in the West Midlands may attend.

James Cash, Founder and Managing Director at Superfast IT, explained: “I am delighted to be working alongside the West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre. We take our client’s security seriously, which the membership demonstrates. Forming alliances with reputable, government-backed expert organisations is one of several measures to keep at the forefront of cybersecurity.

“We must not forget that business owners are ultimately liable for the security of their data and systems. A perfect storm is brewing: the growing reliance on the internet, remote working, IoT devices and digitalisation, combined with the increasing sophistication of cyber-crimes and a lack of understanding about cybersecurity. Without intervention, the business risks are huge.

“Those who are not cyber aware, or lack an understanding of their responsibilities, risk being left vulnerable. This is where the WMCRC’s valuable knowledge and resources can bridge the gap, while our managed cybersecurity service complements WMCRC services to make the implementation of security measures easy for busy business owners.”

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) are working together to support the establishment of Regional Cyber Resilience Centres (CRCs). The CRCs represent a significant opportunity for the NCSC to expand the reach of its guidance and services to smaller organisations across the country and provide an extra level of practical support to enhance their impact.

Alison Hurst, WMCRC Director and West Midlands Police Superintendent, said: “I am delighted that Superfast IT has joined the WMCRC and I look forward to working together to not only share Government approved cybersecurity resources and tools, but also to collaborate in hosting an event jointly on 23rd September, 2021.

“We have the means to take pre-emptive action in cyberspace, should we choose to do so. Cyber-attacks are not necessarily sophisticated or inevitable, and they are most often preventable. It is the victim’s vulnerability, rather than the ingenuity of the attacker, that is most often the deciding factor in the success of a cyber-attack.

“Our free and paid memberships can help individuals and organisations, regardless of size or sector, to take appropriate steps to protect themselves and their customers from the harm caused by cyber-attacks.

“It is our vision that businesses and members of the wider community have the skills and knowledge to protect themselves, making the region one of the safest places to live, work and do business. We achieve this by providing education, testing, and training delivered by our team of trusted partners, seconded police officers and Ethical Hacking students studying at local universities.”

The UK Government has invested a total of £1.9 billion in transforming the UK’s cybersecurity as a part of their National Cyber Security Strategy 2016-2021, with the regional centres forming an integral part.

According to a recent survey, just 29% of the UK’s manufacturing and engineering workforce is made up of women. Now, while this highlights a step in the right direction when compared to figures from previous years, leading multi-disciplinary engineering firm, adi Group, believes more must be done to secure the industry’s workforce for tomorrow.

And with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continuing to present challenges and cause shifts for organisations and employees alike, the Group welcomes this year’s Women in Engineering Day theme, Engineering Heroes, as a chance to celebrate its contributions thus far, as well as set the tone for the industry moving forward.

James Sopwith, Group Strategic Account Director, explains the progress: “At adi Group, we are continuing to make it our mission to ensure that women in engineering is the norm. Some of our most talented engineers are women and that alone is a cause to celebrate.

“We now live in a world where women can do just as good a job as a man, and we shouldn’t be seeing or hearing about any woman, or anybody for that matter, experiencing discrimination or inequality.”

With that in mind, adi Group provide accessible educational programmes for young girls seeking a career in the field. The firm now offers two apprenticeship programmes, a Pre-Apprenticeship Scheme and the Apprentice Academy, helping the younger generation become the engineers of tomorrow.

As part of its 2018 intake, adi welcomed its first female trade apprentice, Abbie Beaver, who now works as a mechanical engineer.

Beginning her career in fabrication and welding, Abbie was one of the youngest people in the workplace and has continued to have a positive impact on both the business and aspiring female engineers.

So much so that she was previously recognised as one of the Women’s Engineering Society’s top 50 women engineers in the UK. Now, Abbie hopes to inspire other young girls and women to pursue a career in the field.

She said, “We grow up constrained to the idea that engineering is a man’s job. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are so many opportunities to grow both personally and professionally within the field, which women are just as capable of pursuing.

“I think it all comes down to debunking any myths and false perceptions early on in our education, which is why I am a strong advocate of the company’s apprenticeship opportunities. They enabled me to see to the reality of life as an engineer, which was far from the oily rags and labour-intensive images I had in my head. Thanks to this opportunity, I am now a qualified mechanical engineer who loves what I do.

“I would highly recommend the job, and in particular the apprenticeship scheme, to any girl out there.”

Abbie isn’t the only success story to come from the firm’s commitment to the industry’s inclusive future either. In fact, Caitlyn Kett-Davies, another apprentice taken on through adi’s educational scheme, is playing an instrumental role in the automotive wing of the business, working with household names across the country with the approval process of their equipment.

Similarly, Melissa Britchford, works for the Group as a test and inspection engineer. With numerous years of experience as a female in the field, Melissa has some advice to offer prospective talent.

“A career in engineering can be incredibly rewarding, but you do need to have thick skin. The job is still seen as something only men do by society, so site visits can sometimes evoke unpleasant comments from people who don’t think you belong or know what you are doing.

“However, with adi’s full support when it comes to training and development, you know you can always look forward to that feeling of satisfaction once you prove these people wrong by getting the job done - and to a high standard at that.

“There are also many aspects of the role where being female works in our favour. For example, I have worked on projects for vulnerable women, who appreciate having a female they can call on, as well as others where my smaller body frame has enabled me to get into spaces an average sized man couldn’t.

“So, like most roles, there are pros and cons, but don’t let the false belief that engineering is a man’s job stop you from pursuing a career in the field.”

adi hopes that by celebrating the success of its female engineers of the present, it can set the tone for the industry going forward. Fortunately, there is demand in the field when it comes to jobs, however, its skills gap is no secret.

James explains, “With the STEM skills gap looming over us, adi’s apprenticeship programmes are a step towards securing a sustainable future for the industry. However, if more focus isn’t given to female careers, we are essentially, missing half of the potential pool of talent. And this will only delay any headway we have made with attempting to close the gap.”

This notion is one that is backed by Boris Johnson as he spoke at the recent G7 summit, with a statement that suggested the post-covid world needs to be more feminine if it is to avoid intensifying any gender inequalities within society.

James adds, “While all attention is turned to rebuilding the pandemic-stricken workforce, females cannot be ignored. We urge our colleagues and industry peers to make similar commitments, too. Women have a lot to give and should be encouraged to follow their ambitions like everyone else.”

Cumbria is the county with the biggest pay gap in England, as workers in South Lakeland earn half as much as those in Copeland.

The analysis of median gross weekly earnings for full time employees in more than 300 local authority areas in England found that the North West county has the largest disparity in salary, with an 111% increase to the highest wages – £949.50 per week in Copeland – from the lowest wages – £450.70 per week in South Lakeland.

The study by money transfer experts RationalFX found that Merseyside placed second on the list, with a £403.50 gap between the weekly wage in Knowsley, where it is £909, and St Helens, where it is £505.50 – an 80% increase.

East London is third on the list, with a 77% increase from the lowest wage of £541.80, in Bexley, to the highest salary, of £956.30 in Tower Hamlets.

At the other end of the scale, the county with the smallest earnings discrepancy is Dorset, where the difference in median earnings between those in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (£536.60), and those in the unitary authority area of Dorset (£537.00) is just 40p, or 0.1%.

It’s a similar story in the county of East Riding, where the median wages in the unitary authority areas of Kingston upon Hull (£527.90) and East Riding (£522.90) are just £5 different – around 1%.

Third lowest on the list is Bedfordshire, where there is just a 2% increase between the lowest earning Central Bedfordshire on £574.90 per week, and the highest earning Luton, on £584.80.

Commenting on the study, a spokesperson for RationalFX said: “It’s very interesting to see how much pay can vary between different parts of the same county or the same region. Many might expect parts of London to top the list for the biggest wage gap, so it might come as a surprise to see Cumbria has the largest difference.”

Considering wider English regions, the North West has the biggest wage discrepancy, with an increase of 122% between the area with the lowest weekly median wage, Pendle in Lancashire, which at £427 is the lowest in England, and the highest earning area, Knowsley in Merseyside, where the median weekly wage of £909 is the fourth highest in the country.

London as a whole is the region with the second largest wage gap, going from a median weekly wage of £519.20 in Harrow, to £1,103.10 in the City of London – an increase of 112%.

The most equal region is the North East, where the increase from the area with the lowest median weekly wage and the highest weekly wage is just 21%, with £99.70 a week separating Gateshead on £475.30, and Newcastle upon Tyne on £575.00.

The research was carried out by RationalFX, which is one of Europe’s leading international payment providers, helping businesses and individuals to streamline their bank-to-bank transfers with smart global payment solutions.

The lift and escalator consultancy arm of a multi-disciplined engineering business is set to deliver a first in industrial and warehouse lift training after spotting a gap in the market.

And the service offering boost follows a year in which the firm also bolstered its operations with the appointment of a key engineering resource, who has been in the sector for 30 years.

The adi VT Lift & Escalator Consultancy, based in Birmingham, has been in hot demand over the past year, as Britain’s manufacturing sector seeks to continue operations in a tough economic climate.

And after putting its services firmly on the map with appointment of senior consultant Richard Arnold last August, coupled with its association with some of the biggest food manufacturers around, adi VT MD Vance Cunningham now has his sights set on elevating his businesses’ potential even further:

“All too often we see industrial and manufacturing lifts being used incorrectly,” he said.

“These types of machinery are made to withstand immense pressure and weight loads, yet you’ll often find this as an excuse for forklifts, personnel or other types of equipment being loaded incorrectly.

 “What staff don’t realise is that not only are they putting themselves at substantial risk of injury, but they are also potentially risking a massive loss of downtime if repairs are needed, costing manufacturers millions of pounds every year in the worst case scenarios.

“Of course, industrial and warehouse environments are subject to regular health and safety checks, and operators will have received some kind of training in lifting equipment operation, but there doesn’t appear to be a formal training programme out there. This is why I’m looking at the possibility of coupling the expertise we have in installing this equipment, with the knowledge that goes alongside it, for the benefit of others.”

The adi VT division is well versed in delivering mechanical handling, refurbishment and replacement support and maintenance programmes, alongside complete project line services across the manufacturing industry, as well as retail, commercial, educational, healthcare and leisure industries.

Its offering has supported these sectors throughout the coronavirus pandemic, as organisations sought to manage workflows, through traffic and adapt environments based on COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

Throughout the last six months, the team at adi VT has travelled up and down the country, visiting sites and showcasing videos. The business has provided in-depth demonstrations as part of this new adi VT lift training service.

“Manufacturers now realise that it’s unlikely the country will return to the old ways of working – the pandemic has clearly been a huge wake-up call to the cost of downtime,” added Vance.

“Businesses utilising our services will be taking a positive step towards protecting their employees, as well as improving service efficiency. This will be achieved by increasing lift availability and reducing the cost of potential, expensive repairs,” he continued.

With workplace injury and ill health costing employers approximately £3.2bn a year, adi VT’s new offering looks set to strike a tone with operations and facilities managers.

And with one of the most common work-related injury causes being contact with objects and equipment, Vance feels it is a poignant time to be formalising industrial and warehouse lift training within the facilities sector.

“The past twelve months have been hard for everyone, but with some kind of normality on the periphery, businesses should be reviewing their latest health and safety measures, and maintenance inspections, as well as ensuring their workforce know how to use and manage lifting equipment in a safe and appropriate way,” he added.

“What I’m hoping is that this kind of training can be certified, and with over 70 years of experience in the division, I’m sure that adi VT will be at the forefront of this programme.”

The adi VT business is always on the lookout for talented individuals to join its ranks as it expands its consultancy services across the UK.

New Health Secretary Sajid Javid says that he wants to see a return to normal as quickly as possible after replacing Matt Hancock. Mr Javid said he would do all he could to "deliver for the people of this great country".

His appointment comes after Mr Hancock stood down for breaching Covid rules by kissing a colleague. Bromsgrove MP, Javid, who has had several key government roles, said his predecessor had worked incredibly hard.

His return to the cabinet comes 16 months after his shock resignation as chancellor. But Labour criticised the appointment, saying he had been an "architect of austerity" that weakened the NHS.

Hancock announced his resignation after pressure had been building for him to quit following the publication of pictures and a video of him and Gina Coladangelo, who are both married with three children, kissing. The (Sun) newspaper said the images had been taken inside the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on 6 May.

Following the revelations, a number of Conservative MPs, as well as Labour and the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, called for Mr Hancock to go. Following him (Hancock) breaching his own social distancing rules, Prime Minister Boris Johnson accepted the then Health Secretary's grovelling apology  but was never going to firing Matt Hancock over his secret affair and, according to Downing Street, considers the matter closed.

Ms Coladangelo is also leaving her role as a non-executive director at the DHSC.

Mr Hancock has ended his 15-year marriage to his wife, Martha, and the relationship with Ms Coladangelo is understood to be a serious one. Javid's return to a senior cabinet role comes after he abruptly left government in February last year, a month before he was due to deliver his first Budget.

At the time, the prime minister ordered him to fire his closest aides and replace them with advisers chosen by Number 10 if he wanted to remain in post - conditions he said he was unable to accept.

Retail trade union Usdaw is part of a coalition with major retail businesses that is urging MPs to back an amendment to a flagship Government crime bill, which would offer frontline workers greater protection and is expected to be debated in a House of Commons bill committee.

Usdaw, retailers, and trade bodies are standing together, calling on the Prime Minister to accept that legislation is needed to protect the UK’s three million retail workers. However, the Government is so far rejecting the calls and is being urged to change its mind by accepting an amendment to its Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which would deliver greater protection for all frontline shopworkers.

A petition launched by shopworkers’ trade union leader Paddy Lillis, which attracted 104,000 signatures and is backed by major retailers, was debated this month by MPs and received strong support from all sides of the House of Commons, but the Government was left unpersuaded.

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “It has been a terrible time for our members, with almost 90% of shopworkers suffering abuse, two-thirds threatened and nearly one in ten assaulted. Retail workers, their friends, family and loved ones, are saying loud and clear that enough is enough, abuse should never be just a part of the job.

“Despite overwhelming evidence, the Government continues to refuse to support a specific law to protect shopworkers, which is backed by many retailers. So, we are pleased that a protection of shopworkers amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has been tabled and we hope it will be supported by MPs in the bill committee.

“Usdaw is looking for a simple stand-alone offence that is easily understood, not just by the legal profession, but by the criminals who are assaulting, threatening and terrifying shopworkers. A separate offence for assaulting a retail worker would encourage prosecutions and provide the deterrent effect that our members are desperately looking for.

“A clear message that violence against someone working to serve the public is not acceptable. When retail employers, leading retail bodies and the shopworkers’ trade union jointly call for legislation, it is time for the Government and MPs to listen.

“In Scotland, MSPs voted through a new ground-breaking law to give shopworkers the protection they deserve. We are now looking for MPs to support key workers across the retail sector and help turn around the UK Government’s opposition.”

Culture Central has announced today the launch of the first ever West Midlands Music Board (WMMB), with an ambitious plan, led by a diverse board of high-profile West Midlands industry insiders chaired by Nick Reed the CEO of B:Music (formerly known as THSH), to foster the recovery and growth of the region’s music sector, through the ongoing restrictions and beyond the lockdown.

Until now, there has been an absence of a dedicated music board to provide the West Midlands with a collective strategic voice to advocate for, compile data on and lead the local music sector. The development of the West Midlands Music Board has been created in close consultation with local stakeholders, in recognition and response to the significant adverse impact of the pandemic on the music sector in West Midlands - which comprises festivals, music educators, record labels, venues, production, large scale and commercial stakeholders, and contributes a significant portion of the UK’s £5bn industry, with a music tourism sector that supports over 3500 jobs.

Respected West Midlands artists Lady Leshurr, Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) and Joan Armatrading have all championed the new board with some words of support:

Lady Leshurr said: “There is an amazing music scene in the West Midlands, and we need to shout about it more. We need investment, training and opportunities for our talent to break through. It’s great to see this board come together to make that happen.”

Tony Iommi said “The West Midlands has an incredible musical history, and it is still bursting with new talent. I’m pleased to see this new board come together to make sure that music is recognised as a key part of the economy and gets the chance to thrive.”

Joan Armatrading added: “The West Midlands has always had a great music scene, but the sector has never before had a unified voice. I’m delighted to see the formation of this new board, which will ensure that the region’s musicians, fans, venues, labels, managers and freelancers are represented in every conversation about strategy and investment. Music gives the region its soul and identity, and it needs to have this voice.”

The WMMB will operate independently and cover the whole of the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Herefordshire, Sandwell, Shropshire, Solihull, Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton and Worcestershire. The WMMB board members include (in alphabetical order): 

Lawrence Barton – Venue Manager, Chair of Southside BID, organiser of PRIDE festival in Birmingham

Danni Brownsill – Regional representative for Music Venues Trust, music promoter, runs The Sugarmill, Stoke on Trent

Guy Dunstan –NEC Group MD for Ticketing & Arenas (The Ticket Factory, Resorts World Arena and Utilita Arena Birmingham)

Bobby Friction – Radio broadcaster, BBC Asian Network, regional talent development programmes

Holly Hollister – founder of Selextorhood  and co director of BABMAG, DJ, promoter, music communicator and connector with focus on women and emerging talent

Pete Jordan – MD, MADE Festival and Weird Science (Large scale festivals and Events)

Alicja Kaczmarek – Founder and Director, Centrala, independent arts venue
Lisa Meyer – Home of Metal and Capsule, with focus on Festivals and Music Heritage

Sarah Morgan - Tin Music and Arts in Coventry – representing Coventry Music Board

Nick Reed – WMMB chair and CEO of B:Music (formerly known as THSH)

Reuben Reynolds – Artist, producer, mentor, band leader, arranger, director and teacher, working with bands and songwriters

Despa Robinson – Talent manager, label owners, Founder & Director BE83 Music, management, recording and publishing

Louise Stamp – General Manager of O2 Academy Birmingham / O2 Institute Birmingham (Academy Music Group)

Nick Reed, WMMB chair & CEO of B:Music said: “The board aims to represent a unique identity, by placing music and the wider night-time economy in the West Midlands at the heart of national and regional strategy. We will work to ensure that decisions around investment, training, planning and skills allow our incredible music sector to flourish and grow, creating jobs and sustainable careers here in the West Midlands. A key part of our work will be ensuring that these careers are open and inclusive to all. From the national levelling up agenda to local transport policy, the WMMB will speak with a unified voice for music in the region. We are coming together at a time when the postponement of Stage 4 is causing profound and extended hardship for everyone in our sector. There has never been a more important time to unite, and I am delighted to chair the board, and to be working with such a talented group of people.”

Bobby Friction, WMMB board member and broadcaster added "It's an absolute honour to serve the city and region that’s given me so much over the years, and welcomed me as one of its own. Birmingham is without doubt THE British city of the future. The future success of the United Kingdom and our brilliant city are inextricably interwoven with each other and by working with my other board members, we will ensure the economy, the arts and the people of the West Midlands make the next few decades a UK success story."

The WMMB’s mission is to champion the region’s music industry and ecosystem, protect and promote music industry development at grassroots level and work with local authorities, institutions and government to develop regional data, policies and advocacy. It has prioritised four key objectives: 

ECONOMIC GROWTH AND RECOVERY: Increase the value of the West Midlands music economy and advocate for support across recovery conversations.

INCLUSION: Support equity, diversity and inclusion across the music ecosystem in all forms and functions and be deliberate and intentional in these aims. 

REPRESENTATION: Representation of the West Midlands music industry and ecosystem locally, regionally and nationally.

ADVOCACY: Collect and compile relevant data to support increased investment in the wider music ecosystem and industry in the region.

In its latest ambitious move to enhance local environments, Severn Trent has today announced the launch of River Rangers, a brand-new team dedicated to protecting the region’s waterways and keeping rivers healthy and thriving.

The team of ten rangers will work closely with partners across the region to focus on improving river health and boosting biodiversity along stretches of the Midland’s rivers, as well as educating customers to prevent wipes and sanitary products from reaching rivers, while engaging with community groups and partners. They will also carry out vital operational, monitoring and sampling activities, allowing the company to understand the quality of rivers in its region better than ever before, and what’s needed to protect and improve them.

The launch of the new Rangers team, who are expected to be in place by the end of Summer, follows the recent announcement of an extra £565m investment on environmental projects the company will deliver as part of its Green Recovery programme to support the country’s post-pandemic recovery. This next innovative step of introducing the new team, will further accelerate Severn Trent’s ambitions of delivering environmental improvements across the Midlands.

Liv Garfield, Severn Trent Chief Executive, said: “We are always looking at what more we can do to support our communities and to enhance the local environment. Finding new and innovative ways to do this is a key component of our environmental strategy and it’s one of the reasons we frequently achieve the Environment Agency’s highest four star rating for environmental performance. That said, we know we can always do more, which is why we’re so excited to announce the launch of our brand-new team of River Rangers. 

“This new team will help us strengthen our industry-leading environmental position and support our partners to help our region’s rivers to thrive, bringing us closer to our rivers than ever before. The team will be embedded within the community talking to customers, farmers and everyone else who has a role to play when it comes to protecting rivers and the environment. The River Rangers will also help build on all of the other great things we’re doing, such as our Great Big Nature Boost campaign, and now, our ambitious Green Recovery programme.”

Severn Trent’s Green Recovery programme, given the go ahead by industry regulator Ofwat recently, will help the company to introduce wild swimming on parts of the River Leam and the River Teme by creating the UK’s first bathing quality rivers stretches, as well as improving 500 kilometres of rivers across the region five years earlier than planned. The programme will also look to use nature-based approaches to reduce the risk of flooding in Mansfield while creating a green environment, something never previously seen on this scale in the UK. The project will minimise the amount of surface water from entering the network that ultimately reaches the river.

“We don’t own rivers, but we want to play a leading role in looking after them,” adds Liv. “The creation of new initiatives like our River Rangers, our Great Big Nature Boost and the Green Recovery programme reinforce our industry-leading position and demonstrate that we’re totally committed to doing everything we can to ensure that our rivers are healthy and thriving, and can be fully enjoyed by our customers and communities for generations to come.”

Retail trade union Usdaw is disappointed that the Government has yet again rejected an attempt to provide greater protection for frontline workers by opposing an amendment to their flagship crime bill. Usdaw now hopes that the amendment will come back later in the bill’s passage for a vote of all MPs.

The amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which would have provided a specific offence of assaulting a shopworker, was debated in committee. Usdaw, retailers and trade bodies are standing together, calling on the Government to accept that legislation is needed to protect the UK’s three million retail workers.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary says: “We thank Sarah Jones MP for tabling this important amendment and remain deeply disappointed that the Government continues to reject the need to offer shopworkers greater protection.

“It has been a terrible time for our members, with almost 90% of shopworkers suffering abuse, two-thirds threatened and nearly one in ten assaulted. Retail workers, their friends, family and loved ones, are saying loud and clear that enough is enough, abuse should never be just a part of the job.

“It is frustrating to hear the Government yet again claim that existing offences and Sentencing Council guidelines are enough when they clearly are not, as the problem continues to grow. Usdaw is looking for a simple stand-alone offence that is easily understood, not just by the legal profession, but by the criminals who are assaulting, threatening and terrifying shopworkers.

“A separate offence for assaulting a retail worker would encourage prosecutions and provide the deterrent effect that our members are desperately looking for. We need to send a clear message that violence against someone working to serve the public is not acceptable.

“When retail employers, leading retail bodies and the shopworkers’ trade union jointly call for legislation, it is time for the Government to listen. In Scotland, MSPs voted through a new ground-breaking law to give shopworkers the protection they deserve.

“We hope that this amendment will be brought back at the ‘report stage’ of the bill and we are looking for MPs to support key workers across the retail sector and help turn around the UK Government’s opposition.”

Full service content marketing agency, HDY Agency, has moved into larger office space to mark its third year in business after a bumper period of new client wins and growth in the team. 

Based in Birmingham’s creative quarter, the fast-growing agency has moved into a new space in The Custard Factory, which is more than triple the size of its previous base. The office move is part of its long-term growth strategy to win global work and continue to create job opportunities for creatives in the region. 

HDY spans a full spectrum of creative services and expertise which is split into three core areas: Creative Content Studio, Performance Digital Marketing and Organic Content covering digital, social media and email marketing, design, brand development, PR, experiential, influencer marketing and search engine optimisation.

In the past three months, HDY has secured seven new client wins and has welcomed 10 new people to its team, which now boasts 35 of the country’s best creative and strategic marketing talent.  

Angel Gaskell, co-founder of HDY Agency, said: “As we move out of lockdown restrictions and into the ‘new normal’, it was important for us to welcome in a new era of HDY for both our team and clients, with the move to our brand-new home kickstarting our exciting plans for the future. 

“We’ve always had a flexible, adaptable and dynamic approach to working and lockdown took away some of those vital elements of our culture - which has always had being social and having fun at its heart. Our new home represents bringing our team back together as we look forward to our exciting plans for the future.” 

Lord Robin Teverson, The Earl of Devon and leaders of top UK universities join the Lord Mayor of Birmingham to unite with the committee behind one of China’s new smart cities to announce joint research and innovation projects.

The team leading development of the Nanjing Jiangbei New Area, one of 13 new technology hubs and free trade zones in China, will be outlining plans for the new research centre, called the ‘Nanjing Jiangbei New Area Sino-UK Innovation and Development Centre’. In recent years, the Nanjing Jiangbei New Area committee has been working with key players in the UK’s innovation space to develop the new centre for collaboration at both national and regional levels.

The plans are being discussed at the ‘Nanjing Jiangbei New Area - South West UK Cooperation Forum’ during Nanjing Tech Week, a leading event promoting international innovation cooperation, hosted by the city of Nanjing. The forum gives entrepreneurs from China and the UK the platform to brainstorm opportunities and ways of working together.

Nanjing is currently twinned with Birmingham, UK, and the cities have a long-term working relationship. Muhammad Afzal, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, says: “These recent disrupted years have caused our world to re-think engagement strategies. Events like this provide pathways for innovation and technology to take the lead in building our futures.

“The establishment of the ‘Nanjing Jiangbei New Area Sino-UK Innovation and Development Centre’ will strengthen opportunities for us all to work together for the common good.”

Nanjing Jiangbei New Area is growing quickly. In 2020, the new city saw an increase of 300 new technology companies set up in the area, 1,543 science SMEs registered, 7,906 invention patents requested and the establishment of 12 universities.

So, to promote growth between two regions showing strong technological development, the Nanjing Jiangbei New Area is announcing a collaboration with The South West Business Council, an economic partnership representing the interests of businesses across the region of the UK, at the forum. Insight from the council’s board members, including Tim Jones, Chairman, Charles Courtenay, Earl of Devon, and Lord Robin Teverson, member of the House of Lords and former MEP, has highlighted the development taking place in the South West, positioning the region as a strong partner for cooperation.

Discussions of business and educational collaboration are taking place at the forum, alongside plans to set up the ‘South West Business Council China Office’ within the Nanjing Jiangbei New Area.

Tim Jones, Chairman of the South West Business Council, says: “The UK leaving the EU has been difficult, but we are determined to develop global relationships. So, this is an important step in that direction and a huge statement for partnership working. We have strong academic links with Nanjing through our universities. Now we want to translate that into business activities, so that all of our businesses, big and small, can work towards the future together.

“Technology is the future, it is the way which growth will be achieved. Our view is that partnership working is the key, but we need to take the next generation with us so that they can maintain a sustainable relationship with growth economies like China.”


Charles Courtenay, Earl of Devon and board member of the South West Business Council, says: “There is a vast array of cutting-edge technology companies here in the South West of the UK. We are able to produce environmentally sustainable and healthy food that both sequesters carbon back into the soil and produces an incredibly healthy and varied diet. Indeed, it’s through the work of the Universities in the region that the South West has become the natural powerhouse that it is.

“It’s therefore with real pride that I'm able to talk about the amazing work in environmental and agricultural science and invite further strong and close relationships with China in these important growing market sectors.“

Lord Robin Teverson, member of the House of Lords, former MEP and board member of the South West Business Council, says: “There is a focus on the South West at the moment following G7. We are a successful region which is growing in the food, technology, tourism, environmental and higher education sectors. We are also set to become a beneficiary of the UK government’s levelling-up process, with increased investment in research and development.

“Internationally, regional connections are even more important than national ones. They allow close cooperation between individuals, joint programmes that are practical rather than theoretical and SMEs on both sides can involved. This is an important initiative – may our cultural and economic relationship continue to grow.”

David Underwood, Associate at Exeter College and board member of the South West Business Council, says: “This new opportunity will broaden our collaboration and provide more opportunities to work together, venturing into wider society and business areas, both within the Nanjing Jiangbei New Area and within the South West of the UK.

“The South West Business Council brings together many businesses in the South West, so this will provide tremendous opportunities to engage with people in Nanjing Jiangbei New Area in developing capabilities and new technologies, so that we can mutually benefit for the future.”

Invited to participate in the forum by the South West Business Council, Lisa Roberts, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Exeter, board member of the Russell Group, is signing a memorandum of cooperation between Nanjing Jiangbei New Area and the Innovation Centre of the South West University Alliance in the United Kingdom⁽¹⁾. She says: “The University of Exeter is constantly seeking new ways to engage with partners across the world to build productive relationships to tackle global challenges.

“We have researchers who are working in partnership with researchers at Nanjing University’s School of Earth Sciences and Engineering to develop a deep-time digital earth program. Delving into the earth’s deep-time history helps our geoscientists in our two regions work out the rates of mechanisms of climate change. This is but one example of how Exeter and Nanjing researchers are already working together in areas of innovative strength for both of our regions. And I know there is great potential for other areas of collaboration in the future.”

Stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) expert, Tracker, is strengthening its anti-crime capabilities with the appointment of Steve Whittaker as Police Liaison Manager.  Working with the Head of Police Liaison, Clive Wain, Steve’s more than 30 years’ knowledge and experience of organised crime, brings invaluable insight to the Tracker team.

Steve joins Tracker having spent 32 years in the police, in Leicestershire and South Yorkshire Police, achieving the role of Detective Chief Inspector. During his time as a Detective, he worked as the crime manager in Sheffield, where he was responsible for dealing with firearm cases, serious and complex investigations, burglary, robbery and vehicle crime.

Steve implemented massive changes in the restructure of the District and CID working practices. He has also led numerous multi-agency crime reduction initiatives, including creating and delivering a department that dealt with all firearm offences and discharges across the South Yorkshire force, reducing firearm discharge by 35%.

Steve, was also a Senior investigating officer in charge of numerous Homicide investigations, leading to numerous convictions for murder / manslaughter, where offenders received over 220 years imprisonment.

More recently, Steve worked for the National Crime Agency managing a team of investigators on historical child abuse cases.

Commenting on his new role, Steve said: “This is a new chapter in my career, where I can bring the wealth of my experience to assist Tracker in tackling the problem of vehicle crime. Working under the leadership of Clive Wain, I look forward to using my expertise in the area of vehicle crime and organised crime networks, as well as help build on already successful partnerships with UK police forces.”

Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison at Tracker added: “The appointment of Steve Whittaker is a great asset to the Tracker Police Liaison team. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to help support the innovative ways we are building new commercial partnerships as well as broader collaboration with the police at a local, regional and national level. This appointment marks our continued commitment to help identify and close the net on organised vehicle crime networks.”

Tracker is the only stolen vehicle recovery provider offering vehicle tracking systems that are supported nationwide by UK police forces. Over the past 27 years Tracker and the police have successfully recovered 26,777 stolen vehicles with a total value of £561m, recovered 2,545 other non-Tracker-fitted stolen vehicles and made 2,801 arrests.  

Working like an electronic homing device, a Tracker covert transmitter is hidden in one of several dozen places around the vehicle. There is no visible aerial, so the thief won’t know it’s there. The combination of VHF with GPS/GSM technology, unique to Tracker, makes its units resistant to GPS/GSM jamming, confirming Tracker as a superior security defence against determined thieves.