Business News

Birmingham-based contractor, Willmott Dixon, has collaborated with Offsite Solutions, the UK’s leading bathroom pod manufacturer, to maximise the time, cost, quality and sustainability benefits of offsite manufacturing during the build of its two plots worth £78m, as part of the wider £500m Perry Barr Residential Scheme. 

The development, commissioned by Lendlease on behalf of Birmingham City Council, will see Willmott Dixon create 430 apartments in the dual four to six-storey blocks, on the site of the former Birmingham City University campus. The two apartment blocks will make up a crucial part of the Perry Barr Regeneration Scheme’s plan to deliver 1,400 much-needed homes for north-west Birmingham - the apartments will be made available for rent and sale, with homes being occupied in 2023. 

Working in collaboration, the contractor and offsite manufacturer are completing two contracts totalling £3.5m, to supply 692 steel-framed bathroom and en-suite shower pods. The use of innovative offsite manufacturing not only provides programme certainty and increases quality due to factory conditions, but also increases time efficiency by 30%.

Dan Doyle, operations director at Willmott Dixon, said: “The recently launched Construction Playbook has put standardisation and the use of modern methods of construction at the heart of public sector building progarmes to enable us to build ‘better, greener and smarter’, and that’s exactly what we’ve done on this scheme. The benefits of using offsite manufacturing during a project of this scale are unmatched. In one day, we can install approximately 20 pods.

“Traditionally this would involve a number of trades across several weeks. For our customers, this means additional project certainty and added programme benefits, along with assured quality. The benefits don’t stop there. The use of the pods helps to reduce the project’s carbon footprint while also supporting the compliance of Covid-19 safety guidance on-site. 

“This project also features a lightweight steel frame and a unique brick-like Corium cladding – both of which further demonstrate our use of offsite manufacturing techniques to support with time and cost efficiencies for our customer, while also adapting to ensure our workforce remained safe on-site during the Covid-19 pandemic.” The bathroom pods feature contemporary grey floor and wall tiles, a wall-mounted D-shaped hand basin, heated towel rail and a bath with a hand-held shower on a sliding rail. The shower rooms are fitted out with a hand-held rain shower, a large shower tray and sliding glass door, with an accompanying single bar towel rail adjacent to the shower or bath.

James Stephens, managing director of Offsite Solutions, said, “We are very pleased to be working with Willmott Dixon on a project that will provide much-needed homes for local people. The use of bathroom pods will improve the programme by maximising work offsite. By moving the fitout of bathrooms into a factory setting, we offer much greater certainty of completion on time, on budget and consistency of quality”.

These dual housing blocks, designed by Corstorphine & Wright, were designed to be part of wider residential development that will create new activity and vibrancy for the area whilst providing much-needed housing provision. The steel-framed bathroom pods in these blocks support the ambitions of the design, offering a premium aesthetic with traditional porcelain wall and floor tiling and a high-quality finish.

Anna Evans, project director at Lendlease, said: “We’re pleased to see the innovative use of bathroom pods at Perry Barr. This is another excellent example of the work taking place to ensure this development will be completed efficiently, safely and sustainably.” 

Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council said: “We have an urgent need for new and high-quality housing in this city.

“The Perry Barr Residential Scheme is making a significant contribution to meeting this demand – so it is really pleasing to see the innovative approach being used to equip the homes on these plots with excellent facilities.

“The completion of the bathrooms for these homes represents another significant milestone for the wider regeneration of Perry Barr.”

As part of Willmott Dixon’s commitment to leaving a legacy in the local community, working in collaboration with Lendlease and other contractors on the Scheme, the business will be contributing towards delivering a wide range of community and economic activities that will benefit local people both during the development and in the future. These benefits include supporting community projects and engaging with local schools as well as the creation of 400 new jobs - 50 of which will be apprenticeships. 

Contractors operating on the Perry Barr Residential Scheme will be working in collaboration to support 1,000 pre-employment training places and contributing towards hosting 10,500 work experience hours during the development. The contractors' support of the local community will also see them working in collaboration with Birmingham City Council’s employment access team to promote jobs and training opportunities through a variety of initiatives including the Construction Skills Hub and the Women in Construction programme.

Nominations have officially opened for the Black British Business Awards (BBBAwards) ahead of its digital awards ceremony in October. Now in its eighth year, the BBBAwards celebrates the outstanding achievements of Black British professionals and entrepreneurs, identifies role models and mentors across a number of sectors and highlights the community’s commercial contribution to the UK economy.

Since 2014, the BBBAwards has been a driving force promoting diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. As the Black Lives Matter movement swept across the globe in 2020, the fight against systemic racial injustice and for equality took centre stage in society. This year, it is vital the conversation continues. By spotlighting Black talent, the BBBAwards helps ensure diversity remains at the forefront of business and debate.

From managing partners to master tailors, commercial property entrepreneurs to creative producers, the BBBAwards champions talent in all sectors.

Melanie Eusebe, BBBAwards Co-founder said: “Amidst the unprecedented challenges we have all faced during the past twelve months, we are delighted to once again open the nominations for the 2021 BBBAwards. Building on last year’s increased public consciousness of racial equality, we are proud and will continue to be the leading organisation platforming Black talent, addressing racial disparity in the workplace and providing companies’ strategic solutions to improve the career experiences and representation of minority ethnic professionals at senior levels”.

Fellow BBBAwards Co-founder, Sophie Chandauka, addedd: “Reward and recognition is critical to retention of the best and brightest. The BBBAwards is the most prestigious programme in the UK that shines a light a on the very best of British talent in business from the Black community. We look forward to an avalanche of nominations in this seminal year because this is a community that has remained resilient and focused on contributing to the UK economy in the face of a pandemic, racial unrest and personal pain. This is our time to reward and recognise these unsung heroes”.

The six categories open for nomination for both rising stars and senior leaders include:

·         Arts and Media (includes media, design, fashion, performance art, publishing and advertising)

·         Consumer and Luxury (includes food, beverage, retail, travel, cosmetics and luxury goods)

·         Entrepreneur (business must have been operational for 18+ months prior to 12 April 2021)

·         Financial Services (includes banks, brokers, payment services, insurance and finance regulators)

·         Professional Services (includes law, accounting management consultancy)

·         STEM (includes health, industrial, telecoms, pharmaceuticals, construction, transport and energy)

In addition to the awards themselves, the BBBAwards has contributed to the progress of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic talent advancement in the UK through a range of important initiatives including the Talent Accelerator, Executive Sponsor Roundtables, BAME in the Boardroom, Action Research, Employee Network Leaders Series, and School of Uncertainty, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement.

China is now the EU's biggest trading partner, overtaking the US in 2020 as it bucked a wider trend, as trade with most of Europe's major partners dipped due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Trade between China and the EU was worth $709bn (€586bn, £511bn) last year, compared with $671bn worth of imports and exports from the US.

Although China's economy cratered in the first quarter due to the pandemic, its economic recovery later in the year fuelled demand for EU goods. China was the only major global economy to see growth in 2020, stoking demand for European cars and luxury goods.

Meanwhile, China's exports to Europe benefited from strong demand for medical equipment and electronics.

"In the year 2020, China was the main partner for the EU. This result was due to an increase of imports (+5.6%) and exports (+2.2%)," according to Eurostat, the EU's statistical office.

The figures were similar to China's official data published in January, which showed trade with the EU grew by 5.3% to $696.4bn in 2020. The EU's trade deficit with China also grew from $199bn to $219bn according to Eurostat figures.

Although the US and the UK remain the EU's largest export markets, trade with both countries dropped significantly, the statistics showed. "Trade with the United States recorded a significant drop in both imports (-13.2%) and exports (-8.2%)," the data agency said.

Transatlantic trade has been hit by a series of tit-for-tat disputes that have resulted in tariffs on steel and products such as French Cognac or American Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In 2020, the US had a trade volume of $671bn with the EU, down from $746bn the previous year.

It's not year clear if new US President Joe Biden will re-evaluate the US approach to trade with Europe. The EU and China, however, are trying to deepen their economic ties, with both sides seeking to ratify an investment deal that would give European companies better access to the Chinese market.

Analysts are tipping global trade to turn around in 2021 after a lacklustre 2020. The real value of global trade is set to rise by 7.6% after an an estimated contraction of 13.5% in 2020 to $16.4tn, according to research firm IHS Markit.

Wolverhampton has welcomed the historic government announcement that it has chosen the city as the location to house the first ministerial department based outside of London.

Councillor Ian Brookfield, Leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, has welcomed the news that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is to create a new dual headquarters in the city, which will include the presence of ministers and senior civil servants. 

Cllr Brookfield said: “This is a huge vote of confidence in the City of Wolverhampton and we are delighted to have been chosen to host this historic move away from Whitehall. The kudos of being the first place outside of Whitehall to host a Government department will create a real buzz and interest in our city, attracting further investment which is exactly what we want to be able to ‘relight’ Wolverhampton after the pandemic.

“When the idea of MHCLG moving out of London was first discussed last year, the council, local MPs and other stakeholders lobbied hard to make it a reality and that has paid off. This move could even inspire the next generation of homegrown Civil Servants and I look forward to developing a long-term partnership with Government that can maximise our plans for the City Learning Quarter, potentially leading to an academy for the Civil Service.”

Wolverhampton is ideally placed to benefit from HS2 which will cut journey times to London and elsewhere dramatically. It is also becoming one of the most digitally connected cities in the UK, with 5G and gigabit speed, full fibre broadband being rolled out at pace. 

Cllr Brookfield added: “It wasn’t hard to sell Wolverhampton as the ideal location in the heart of the country, with enviable connectivity to the rest of the West Midlands and beyond, the city’s connectivity is being further boosted by the soon to be completed £150m single integrated city centre transport hub including a brand new railway station and creating an attractive commercial gateway to the city. 

“We are currently enjoying record levels of private and public investment with £4.4 billion pounds being injected into regeneration projects citywide, including a brand new 43,546 sq ft grade A office building in the heart of the city centre which would make a fantastic home for the new HQ. All things considered, we made a compelling case to Government and they have made the right decision to move from Whitehall to Wolverhampton.”  

More than 6km of railway track is being replaced across the West Midlands as the rail industry works together to build back better after the coronavirus pandemic. Network Rail is investing more than £3m to renew track along key routes to get the railway is in the best possible condition for passengers ready when coronavirus travel restrictions can be eased.

The work will take place during this latest period of national lockdown - when only essential journeys are permitted – so fewer passengers will be affected the railway closures needed for the new track to be built. As old track will be torn up and new modern railway lines laid, some routes will be shut and rail replacement bus services will be in operation instead. 

Dave Penney, Network Rail’s Central route director, said: “While passenger numbers are still low, we’re making sure the railway across the West Midlands is in the best possible shape ready to welcome passengers back when lockdown measures can be eased.

“For those who are still travelling by rail for reasons permitted by government, I’d urge people to check National Rail Enquiries before they set off on their journey so they know what to expect.”

Chair of the Grand Rail Collaboration, representing train operators across the West Midlands, Alex Warner, said: “This investment in the West Midlands rail network will allow us to welcome passengers back to comfortable and reliable journeys as soon as we’re able.” 

Those using the rail network for essential journeys should leave more time to complete their journeys and check before travelling.

Almost 2,000 privately-owned properties in Wolverhampton, that had stood empty for years, have been transformed into family homes thanks to the efforts of the city council.  The figures have been revealed during what is national Empty Homes Week, which runs from 15 to the 21 February 2021. 
 

City of Wolverhampton Council’s Empty Property Strategy, launched in 2010, has seen more than 1,900 houses which had been left unoccupied – often in poor condition – brought back into use over the last 11 years. The council aims to ensure that rather than the properties becoming a blight on their neighbourhood, they are either sold to new homeowners or rented out to tenants. 
 

Specialist housing improvement officers from the council’s private sector housing team have worked with the owners of properties left empty for a long period of time to encourage and support them to carry out any required works and get them occupied once again. If necessary and as a last resort, the authority can use enforcement action to ensure this work takes place. 

The council also offers grants of up to £500 to encourage more owners of empty properties to act. The grants either help owners with legal/agent fees to sell their property or provide an incentive to rent it under the Private Sector Leasing (PSL) Scheme - a hassle-free property management service run in association with Wolverhampton Homes. 

Councillor Jacqueline Sweetman, Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, said: “Our action on empty homes is providing more affordable housing to people in the City of Wolverhampton. The properties we have become involved with have often stood empty for many years and, as a result, the condition of them has deteriorated dramatically. 

“Our strategy is helping to put these houses back on the market – either to sell or rent – and this in turn is having a positive effect in the areas they are in. In addition, it means landlords are once again seeing rental income come in and the value of their properties increase, while local shops and services are benefiting from new residents occupying the houses – providing a significant boost to the local economy. 

“This ongoing work is the equivalent of us building hundreds of new houses across the city -and we’ll continue to focus our efforts on empty houses in Wolverhampton.”  The work to bring back into use empty properties in the city aligns with the City Housing Strategy’s three key objectives of more and better homes, safe and healthy homes and access to a secure home.  

A ‘super network’ of global connectors has been created by Victoria Beale, Founder and CEO of Business Live UK, now renamed Business Live Global. The group includes networkers, influencers and the super-connected across businesses both here in the UK and overseas. “The aim of the group,” says Victoria. “Is to really help businesses grow by exposing them to this ‘super network’ and their contacts and connections.

To that end we’re holding our first event on the 19th February from 12noon to 2pm and already have over 130 people registered to attend including our guest of honour, Jojar Dhinsa, a self-made, UK-based billionaire. That event has already attracted global sponsors including Tweebaa, Elite Live Group and Kylie Anderson.”

The ‘super network’ includes the seriously well connected:

• Sheila Smith of Your Business Expo
• Matt Youdale of Arch Communications
• Simon Cox of Poppy Design Studio and North Northants Business Network
• Lance Haggith of Sports Traider
• Rachel Hargrave of RDZ PR and The Awards People
• Philip Brooks-Stephenson and Stephen Goddard of KuKu Connect
• Samantha Poole of Mum 2 Mm
• David Johnson-Rayner of Koi Sports
• Tim Lee of Collaborate MK
• Kylie Anderson a Speaker and Entrepreneur

“Together these business owners have over 100,000 global connections and this event, the first of many, is an amazing opportunity for attendees to make new connections in new areas.” The event has proved so popular that Victoria has already had to extend the number of places available. “I absolutely expect this event to be a sell-out so if you want a spot book on soon.

Attendance is absolutely free for the first event and we have the amazing Kylie
Anderson speaking on how to monetise your knowledge. Having done through her VIP Experience Day I can say, wholeheartedly, that this is not a talk you want to miss!”
Plans for the ‘super network’ include the imminent launch of a brand new e-commerce shop providing products and services exclusively for business owners.

Azets, the UK's largest regional accountancy and business advisors to SMEs, is pleased to announce that its Corporate Finance team has advised the leadership team of specialist bi-fold door manufacturer, Slide and Fold, on its sale to acquisitive privately-owned business Orchestra Group.

Slide and Fold Limited, together with sister company Weathershield Limited, is a long-established Great British business specialising in the manufacture and supply of bi-fold doors and high-quality double-glazed windows. The family-owned business, led by husband-and-wife Darron and Eve Cooke, is based in Coventry. Under Mr and Mrs Cooke’s ownership, Slide and Fold has achieved substantial growth and become a leader in its industry. As a tech-enabled business, Slide and Fold has a significant online sales focus, which was a key enabler for attracting interested parties.

Azets was appointed by Mr and Mrs Cooke after Mark Selby, National Head of Corporate Finance at Azets, had provided initial advice on a sale strategy and timeline, building trust with the client whilst demonstrating Azets’ specialist expertise. Also advising from Azets was Corporate Finance Senior Manager, Simon Hopkin. Azets identified Orchestra Group as a potential buyer in March 2020, just as the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis was taking hold in the UK. All negotiations and project management through to completion was conducted during the pandemic, adding significant challenges to the multi-million-pound deal.

Commenting on the sale, Darron and Eve Cooke, said: “As a long-held family-owned business, it was important we were able to identify the right time to sell and the right buyers. We are thankful to Mark and the team at Azets for helping us achieve this. We appointed Azets to advise on the sale of Slide and Fold following a number of discussions with Mark, during which his openness, honesty and transparency filled us with confidence. We are pleased the deal is now complete and, despite the additional complication of a global pandemic, Azets maintained a personal and professional approach throughout.”

Mark Selby, National Head of Corporate Finance at Azets said: “’We are delighted to have assisted Darron and Eve with the sale of their business. Conducting this transaction under lockdown restrictions presented some highly unusual logistical challenges. However, the desire of all parties to get a deal done meant that we were able to navigate these successfully and achieve a great outcome for our client.”

Director at Orchestra Group, Steve Rhodes, added: “It was a pleasure to deal with Mark and Simon throughout the acquisition process. We found them to be extremely responsive and they were helpful in finding solutions to the inevitable hiccups that occur in the deal process. They were always looking to get the right deal for their client and were dedicated to making sure the deal got completed as quickly and smoothly as possible.

“We have worked with multiple vendor advisors’ and we found Azets to be amongst the most professional and easy to work with of any that we have encountered. If I am selling a business in the future, I would not hesitate to approach Azets as advisors.” Also advising Slide and Fold was legal and professional services business Knights plc.

Jon Start, Partner in Knights’ Corporate team, said: “This transaction marks the successful completion of another high-quality deal for our team during a disrupted year for many. It was a pleasure to support the sellers on this project alongside Azets, their accountants and corporate finance advisers, and we wish Darron and Eve all the best for the future.”

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) have announced that their luxury Jaguar brand will be entirely electric by 2025, with the carmaker set to launch e-models of its entire line-up by 2030. As it joined a global race to develop zero-emission vehicles, JLR, owned by India's Tata Motors, said its Land Rover brand will launch six pure electric models over the next five years, with the first one coming in 2024.

As it faces the challenge making the transition to electric vehicles - as many other carmakers are – as it seeks to retaining the  ideals of a luxury combustion engine model, JLR said it will keep all three of its British plants open as it electrifies its range. Chief Executive Thierry Bollore said: "It's time to re-imagine the next chapter for both brands."

Known for its iconic, high-performance E-Type model in the 1960s and 1970s, JLR said its electric plans for Jaguar would be centred at its Solihull plant, but dropped plans to build the XJ, the brand's flagship full-size car, at its Castle Bromwich facility in the West Midlands,  England. Bollore said the Castle Bromwich plant would focus instead on "non-production" activities in the long term. He provided few details.

JLR said it will spend around £2.5 billion ($3.5 billion) on electrification technologies annually and the development of connected vehicle services. Luxury car brand Bentley Motors, owned by Volkswagen, said its model range will be fully electric by 2030, and last month General Motors Co said it aimed to have a zero-emission line-up by 2035.

An innovative new prison has scooped three awards on behalf of the East Midlands at the national Constructing Excellence awards. HMP Five Wells – built by Kier Construction for the Ministry of Justice – was designed and built using modern methods of construction (MMC), and picked up wins in the Digital Construction, Offsite Project of the Year and Client of the Year categories.

The trio of awards for the Wellingborough project recognised the innovative approach in using both MMC and building information modelling, as well as the integration and collaborative working between the design and build team and the client. Meanwhile, the South West region also saw success with Shire Hall winning in the Integration and Collaborative Work category, celebrating the cohesive approach taken by Kier, Gloucestershire County Council, Quattro Design Architects and Adams Fletcher & Partners.

Taking place over 165 weeks and 82 phases, the transformation of the part-listed building from a tired and inefficient eyesore to an elegant and highly sustainable workplace earned the team the award, recognising its well-considered and well-executed solutions throughout a complex project. The region also received two further ‘Highly Commended’ recognitions, with Seaton Beach credited in the Sustainability category for the UK’s first Passivhaus Plus certified apartment block, and Callum Yeowell of Gilbert & Goode named as runner up in the G4C Young Leader award. Keystone Group, on behalf of Construction Excellence Midlands, was also ‘Commended’ in the Innovation category.

Andrew Carpenter, chief executive at Constructing Excellence Midlands and South West, said: “While we are delighted that the HMP Five Wells project has picked up three awards, we aren’t surprised. From start to finish, the project has been a shining example of how to integrate a modern approach with real collaboration, and it’s great to see our members’ contribution to this have been recognised with these three awards.

“The Shire Hall project shows just what can be achieved with a forward-thinking, cooperative approach, and we’re thrilled to see those efforts being rewarded. This year’s awards have been brilliant for the region and have shown how much amazing work is being done by our members, despite the challenges faced in 2020.”

In response to the ongoing challenges faced by communities across the UK, leading rural insurer NFU Mutual has today announced £2.75m of funding for local and national charities in 2021. The insurer will be donating £2m to local charities through its Agency Giving Fund and pledging £1m to the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust to support national organisations.

As the challenges of the pandemic continue, the funding looks to offer ongoing support to charities and the communities they serve. The £2m Agency Giving Fund will help local charities and communities across the UK to stay strong and resilient. To ensure these donations reach all corners of the UK and are directed where they’re needed most, NFU Mutual’s Agents, with over 300 offices nationwide, will be given the opportunity to nominate local charities to receive a share of the fund. The funds will be distributed over 16 weeks from the end of February, offering support as lockdown measures continue to impact our communities.

Additional funding of £750,000 to the Charitable Trust will enable donations of up to £1m to support more national organisations, reaching the isolated and vulnerable, those experiencing mental health issues, and families facing financial challenges, some of those due to coronavirus. These latest donation announcements follow NFU Mutual’s circa £1.8m of charitable funding in 2020, allocated across the UK in response to the pandemic.

Alongside this funding, NFU Mutual will also be supporting ‘mental health in farming’ training sessions for NFU Mutual Agents and farmers. These will be run by the Farm Safety Foundation, a charity founded and funded by NFU Mutual.

The one-hour sessions will offer attendees insight into the impact of poor mental health in the agricultural industry. Farmers work long hours and often in isolation. These sessions will encourage those living and working in the industry to look out for each other, recognise the signs that someone may be struggling and gain the confidence to start conversations or signpost available support.

Commenting on the community support measures announced by NFU Mutual for 2021, Lindsay Sinclair, Group Chief Executive of NFU Mutual, said: “Sadly, the increased demand for support services as a result of the pandemic remains, as do the fundraising challenges caused by cancelled events. Recent NFU Mutual research told us that 82% of our members gave to charity in 2020, with over a third saying they increased their charitable giving last year.¹ Like our members, we recognise that these are difficult times and understand the importance of extending our heightened support during the ongoing crisis.

“NFU Mutual has been supporting communities for over a hundred years. Our Agents are part of those communities and the Agency Giving Fund allows them to use that local knowledge to direct support where it’s needed most. Last year saw the highest value of support provided by the Charitable Trust since it was formed in 1998. We’re proud to match the same level of funding this year as national charities strive to meet the demand for their vital services.

“British farmers and growers have also played a vital role during the pandemic, working long hours to look after their land and livestock to feed the nation. In recent years, the Farm Safety Foundation has offered education and support to protect the mental wellbeing of farmers. The new awareness sessions will extend that support at this difficult time.”

Southside District BID has named its new Chair as Southside business owner and Pride Festival director, Lawrence Barton, who will oversee the BID’s third term, which was secured following a record voter turnout and a 94% approval rate.

With multiple businesses residing in the district, including the iconic Nightingale club, Lawrence has been an integral part of Southside BID, working with the wider team as a board director for the last decade. Lawrence will take over the role from James Wong, who has held the role of Chair since 2018. James will continue to support Southside BID as a board director.

Established in 2011, Southside BID works tirelessly to support businesses across Birmingham’s most vibrant and unique district, making it a safer, cleaner and more welcoming destination. As Chair of the BID, this will continue to be a core focus for Lawrence throughout the next term.

Lawrence said: “I’m incredibly proud to step up to the role of Chair for Southside BID, the next few months are certainly going to be challenging as the district starts to reopen, following nearly a year of closure. My key focus is to continue in the BID’s lobbying efforts, shining a light on our businesses which have been devastated by the pandemic and ensuring that we are delivering the vital support they need to recover.

“Southside District is such a unique and dynamic part of the city and we want there to be a connected vision for everyone who calls the area home, creating an inclusive and accessible area for everyone to enjoy. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders from across the city to secure Southside’s place as a destination that is welcoming to all.

“I would like to give my sincere thanks to James Wong for his total dedication to Southside District BID. He has worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to support businesses in the area and drive our successful reballot, whilst also doing so much for local communities and the NHS through his own business. They are big shoes to fill, and I’m delighted that he will continue to serve as a board member, to ensure we can continue to build on the successes to date.”

Southside District Manager, Julia Robinson, says: “Lawrence has played such an important role in the BID over the last decade, he was the natural choice to become our Chair. We have exciting plans for the area that we will implement over our third term, with the Hippodrome Square redevelopment set to start soon, plus the arrival of the Commonwealth Games next year, which will really help to drive awareness around this vibrant part of the city. We feel that Lawrence is perfectly placed to help us accomplish all of our ambitions and more.

“The BID would also like to thank James for all of his incredible work as our Chair, his lobbying efforts and dedication to the district led to us securing our third term with a record approval rating and voter turnout, securing 20% more votes than our previous ballot, which is an incredible achievement. So thank you James!”

The English Core Cities have joined forces to come together in a UK industry first, to support the conference and events industry as it continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, with the launch of Hybrid Events Solution UK (HESUK); a free-of-charge initiative open to all business audiences across the country, that will provide a solution for delivering national hybrid events in Covid-secure venues.

The conference industry has been heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, with questions still hanging over us as to when the industry will start to meet face-to-face or in a live environment. In a solution to rebuild confidence within the industry and in light of the national lockdown, the Core Cities and their convention bureau teams are working together in a collaborative effort to help facilitate national business events to take place again, whilst taking Government guidelines into account.

Including the convention bureaus for Birmingham and West Midlands, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, NewcastleGateshead, Nottingham and Sheffield, the Core Cities have created HESUK as an initiative to provide a single point of contact for event organisers who are looking to organise or restructure national and regional conferences.

HESUK will allow delegates to attend the same national event at different Covid-secure venues within those regional hubs, enabling delegates to network and meet those within their field, whilst remaining in adherence to Government guidelines at the time of the event. Through live-streaming technology, each hub can be linked together, so speakers and contributors can be in different cities whilst still attending the same event and any delegates who can’t attend in-person will still be able to experience the event in a virtual way.

Stephanie Mynett, Visitor Economy Business Development Manager at the West Midlands Growth Company – which operates the region’s Convention Bureau – said: “In response to the ever-changing business tourism landscape, we’re continuously looking for innovative ways to support our local partners and wider industry with virtual or hybrid event solutions.  

“We’re pleased to be partnering with Hybrid Events Solutions UK, to offer a free-of-charge advisory service on how to navigate this sector during a period where travel confidence will be low or travel corridors may be closed. 

“The West Midlands has lots to look forward to, with exciting global sporting and cultural events such as the Coventry UK City of Culture this year and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games showcasing the very best of the region to the world. If you are planning an event in the region, please do not hesitate to get in contact with our team at meetbirmingham.com.” 

In ICCA’s Market Intelligence on Covid-19 Affected Meetings Report (Nov 2020) evidence suggests that in a post-pandemic world, the meetings and events industry will look very different to the one that we have all been so accustomed to, where both offline and online meetings will thrive together as the industry discovers new ways to connect.

The report also highlights the important role that hybrid event solutions will play in the future, with 84% of association planners intending to include hybrid and digital elements to their events moving forward.

Recognising this fundamental shift to the way organisers will be approaching event delivery, and in what is believed to be a UK industry first, the eight convention bureaus teams will be working together operationally. HESUK brings a fresh, out-of-the-box concept created to help the industry overcome the hurdles that lie ahead. Through one contact, the organiser will be able to work with Covid-secure venues across the network of Core Cities, as well as destinations outside of the Core Cities group.

On the initiative, Heather Lishman, Association Director of the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) said: “The Hybrid Events Solution UK is a glowing example of how the conference and events industry is innovating and working together to support each other through this damaging period. It’s wonderful to see this level of collaboration from the English Core Cities. 

“Live conferences and events have ceased as we continue the fight against COVID-19. Going into 2021 there is a strong desire to get live events back, to have people meeting face to face, networking, sharing and learning together. Creating a hybrid event is a solution to enable this, as the world navigates its way through the pandemic with rapid testing and vaccines on the horizon. The biggest challenge is confidence; organising a series of live event hubs across several destinations is a big logistical challenge, therefore we welcome this solution which seeks to make the process easier for organisers, which should get people meeting as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Simon Hughes, Chairman of Business Visits Events Partnership (BVEP) said: “The Hybrid Events Solution UK is a fantastic concept, and it is inspiring to see these cities working together to help instil consumer confidence and get the conference and events industry up and running again.”

Any organiser interested in using the service simply has to contact any one of the Core City convention bureau teams: Birmingham and West Midlands, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, NewcastleGateshead, Nottingham and Sheffield.

The founder and former trustees of the collapsed charity Kids Company have won a High Court battle against being disqualified from other organisations. The Official Receiver argued they were "unfit" to hold directorships because of their handling of the charity. But the ruling cleared former chief executive Camila Batmanghelidjh and the others of personal wrongdoing.

The judge added the charity may have survived had it not been for unfounded allegations of criminal activity. A plan to restructure the organisation's finances had been agreed with David Cameron's government. But the charity closed its doors in 2015 after the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into sexual assault allegations, following the broadcast of a TV news report.

The police investigation concluded in 2016 after finding no evidence of criminality.

In her ruling, Mrs Justice Falk said the charity, which worked with hundreds of vulnerable children in London and Bristol, may have survived financially to continue its work had it not closed. During the lengthy court battle, the Official Receiver - a body that looks into potential wrongdoing by company directors - had alleged that the charity's former leaders should be disqualified as directors because the organisation had been so badly run.

In the run-up to its collapse, the charity was spending around £20m a year, up to a quarter of which came from the government. The Official Receiver alleged that Kids Company's business model had become unsustainable from around September 2013 and its failure was inevitable. It also alleged that the defendants knew or ought to have known that and should have planned to avoid financial collapse.

The charity's chair at the time of its collapse, who was also cleared by the ruling, was former BBC executive Alan Yentob. Mrs Justice Falk said the case was not proven.

"There was no allegation of dishonesty, bad faith or personal gain," said the judge. "There was no allegation of inappropriate expenditure in relation to any of the children assisted by Kids Company.

"The allegation is not made out against any of the directors and they are not unfit. The case against them fails. While aspects of the charity's work were high-risk, the business model was not unsustainable."

Mrs Justice Falk said the charity had grown rapidly from its south London base as demand for its specialist support services for vulnerable children grew. Despite having a substantial and stable government grant, it also needed to raise additional funds from private donors - and by 2015 it was in talks with Whitehall over how to do that amid concerns about its cash flow and staff costs.

"That restructuring plan was agreed and a further government grant was awarded," said the judge. However the charity was forced to close after sexual assault allegations the same week. The charity was exonerated following a police investigation - but by that time it was too late.

Ms Batmanghelidjh said the ruling was "justice" for the "thousands of staff, volunteers and donors who created Kids Company over nearly 20 years". But she said Kids Company would not have had to "carry that burden of child protection if the child protection system in this country was fit for purpose".

A statement issued on behalf of former trustees said: "Kids Company was forced to close in August 2015 following what the judge records as 'unfounded allegations' of child abuse, which made fundraising from private and government sources impossible. We are pleased that finally the facts have been gathered and assessed in a court of law."

MPs have given the go-ahead to the next phases of Britain’s high-speed rail network, with the Bill approving the building of HS2 Phase 2a north from the West Midlands to Crewe achieving Royal Assent. Parliament’s approval for this new phase of HS2 plugs the line into one of the country’s principal rail hubs in Crewe. It also means the 58km (36 miles) route will be built earlier than originally planned, enabling towns and cities across North West England, North Wales and Scotland to benefit sooner, with the opening now planned to coincide with Phase One between London and the West Midlands.

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said: “This is a landmark moment in our infrastructure revolution. HS2 is the most significant expansion to our national railways in a generation – transforming connectivity between our towns and cities and vastly increasing the capacity of our rail network. By proceeding full steam ahead, we are delivering on our commitment to unite and level up the country. The construction of Phase 2a will support thousands of jobs and create opportunities for local businesses as we build back better.” The decision means HS2 is set to deliver another major economic boost to UK PLC, by supporting around 5,000 jobs to build Phase 2a, with many more in the supply chain. In addition, the railway will support 140 permanent jobs at its maintenance base near Stone in Staffordshire.

Welcoming the decision, HS2 Ltd CEO, Mark Thurston, said: “Parliament’s approval for extending HS2 beyond the West Midlands to the North is a clear sign that MPs recognise the enormous potential of this scheme and continue to give their strong support.As the first major railway built in the North for over 100 years, HS2 will spur massive economic growth for our towns and cities, help to level up the country, and provide cleaner, greener public transport for millions.

As construction starts, this new phase of work will very quickly support 5,000 jobs in the North, with many more in the supply chain, further cementing HS2’s critical role in Britain’s economic recovery from the pandemic.” Once operational, high-speed services operating between London, Birmingham and Crewe will use the newly-constructed high speed line – delivering extra capacity, improved reliability and reducing journey times. These services will then join the existing network to create direct services to places including Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow. Crewe is also the station for connections to North Wales and Shrewsbury.

Dr Kieran Mullan, MP for Crewe & Nantwich, said: “Extending the HS2 line to Crewe is a major step towards levelling-up the north. It is crucial to bringing new jobs and opportunities to our town and for creating better local rail connections as we free up the currently overly congested line West Coast Main Line. This reaffirms Crewe’s status at the heart of the rail network and just as we were a crucial part of the previous rail revolution, HS2 will cement our place as a vital part of the next.” Passenger services will start between HS2’s stations at London Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street between 2029-33. Phase 2a’s opening will be aligned with the London – Birmingham route.

Sara Williams, CEO of Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “HS2 brings potential benefits for Staffordshire businesses, both now and in the future. Extending the high speed line northwards will generate thousands of contract opportunities for local businesses of all sizes and their involvement will provide a vital boost for the Staffordshire economy in the years ahead.”

The first phase of HS2 between London and the West Midlands is already well underway, with the start of construction announced by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson in September 2020. There are 240 sites now active along the Phase One route, employing over 13,000 people and over 400 apprenticeships, with tens of thousands more jobs supported through the supply chain. Almost 2,000 companies have worked on the project to date, with 98% of them based in Britain.

After 130 years on kitchen tables, Aunt Jemima products will have a new name: Pearl Milling Company. The announcement from PepsiCo-brand comes almost eight months after the company said it would remove the Aunt Jemima name, acknowledging it was "based on a racial stereotype".

The new name is a nod to the original mill that began producing the self-rising pancake mix in 1889. The rebranded products will be available starting in June 2021. The new Pearl Milling brand was "developed with inclusivity in mind", PepsiCo said. In images released by the company, the new products bear the familiar red and yellow colour scheme of the existing products.

They include a printed label that says, "New Name Same Great Taste, Aunt Jemima". The original image used on Aunt Jemima products - a smiling Black woman with a bandana in her hair - had been widely criticised for romanticising the antebellum South, a time before the US Civil War.

The first Aunt Jemima character was based on Nancy Green, a storyteller, cook and missionary born into slavery in Kentucky in 1834. The name itself was taken from a character from minstrel shows in the 1800s that mocked African-Americans.

Quaker Oats, a division of PepsiCo Inc, bought the Aunt Jemima brand in 1925 and updated the image over time - replacing the kerchief on the character's head with a plaid headband and later adding pearl earrings and a lace collar. The changes were "intended to remove racial stereotypes", the company said in a press release.

This summer, as racial justice protests swept across the US following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died in police custody, the brand was faced with renewed criticism. In June 2020, it became one of the first major brands to announce it would change its name to avoid racial stereotypes.

The company also pledged a $5m (£3.6m) "commitment to support the Black community". It announced an additional $1m (£720,000) investment aimed at Black girls and women.

Mars Food recently announced it would rename Uncle Ben's rice products to Ben's Original and remove the image of a smiling, grey-haired Black man from its packaging. Uncle, like aunt, was used in southern US states to refer to Black people, instead of the more formal "Miss" or "Mister".