Community News

The executive director of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) Anne Shaw has been recognised with an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list. She has been honoured for her key role in spearheading the successful transport planning and operations during last summer’s Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

It involved bringing together multiple authorities and transport operators to deliver a complex travel package.

REPT BATTERO, a leading energy storage solution provider, participated in the industry-leading event, Th the European Smart Energy Exhibition, which took place from June 14th to 16th. The company showcased its latest innovation, the Wending battery series, at booth C3-220 during the event, known commonly as The Smarter E Europe.

The main objective of REPT BATTERO's participation was to introduce and promote its Wending battery 320Ah and 340Ah products.

At June’s meeting of full council, Birmingham City Council became the first local authority to vote for a roll-out of Bleed Control Packs across the city, ensuring that there was a kit within 3 minutes of every local area centre.

The motion, put forward by Birmingham Local Conservatives, also called for education on the use and availability of “bleed kits” to be produced, and for formal recognition of the work of the Daniel Baird Foundation. The Daniel Baird Foundation was set up by Lynne Baird, whose son Daniel tragically died after suffering a stab wound, but who – professionals told Lynne – could have survived if a basic bleed control kit had been available to the public.

A Jamaican National from Elderslie, St Elizabeth, Jamaica, Dr Neslyn Watson-Druée, CBE has been awarded the honour of  Dame Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE)  by King Charles III of The United Kingdom and Commonwealth in the 2023 Birthday Honours.

Dr Neslyn has made significant contributions in the fields of leadership, personal and career development for staff in the public, private and third sectors through voluntary organisations, local government, banking and commerce. She has been selfless in supporting young people in the black community to move away from the influence of gangs and crime and she has donated from her own savings to provide employment and to establish Colourful Radio (a community radio station intended to help young black people).

Community, arts and heritage groups across Birmingham have been awarded £62,465 in grants to fund a range of events to mark the 75th anniversary of Empire Windrush’s arrival to Britain.

On 22 June 1948, the first passengers disembarked at Tilbury, in Essex, all of whom would play their own part in helping to rebuild after the Second World War and help shape modern Britain. Community groups, projects and organisations were invited to apply for grants of between £750 and £2,000 earlier this year – and the 35 successful bids were announced during an event held at Soho House, in Handsworth.

A new report released by the University of Wolverhampton shows that young people’s participation with heritage can build strong cohesive communities, promote social inclusion, and cultivate a sense of civic pride and belonging.  

The Young People’s Engagements with Heritage: Tackling Inequality & Other Opportunities for Public Policy report has also shown that engagement with heritage can support the goals of government policy in terms of its ‘Levelling Up’ agenda. 

Young entrepreneurs are taking part in a London borough’s first ever Young Traders Market as residents aged between 17 and 30 who have crafts, clothes, food and drink, jewellery or other business ideas will be part of its first Young Traders Market.

Organised by Camden’s markets team, the event is part of the National Young Traders Market campaign aimed at supporting young traders to get into the markets industry. Participants will get their own pitch and stall at one of two popular market destinations in Camden, including Leather Lane Market and Inverness Street Market.

Hotel industry sees gradual return to normality, but over half of top 50 hotel brands remain below pre-pandemic values. After two years of global travel restrictions and economic uncertainty, the past year has witnessed an increasing return to pre-pandemic travel patterns.

However, hospitality sector analysts find that the hotel industry is slow to recover from the pandemic’s long-lasting effects, as 27 out of 50 hotel brands (54%) remain below their pre-pandemic values. Hilton delivers exceptional service as the reigning champion of hotel brands, valued at US$11.7 billion

It’s the most important public vote of the year - it’s time to name the Commonwealth Games bull before it comes to its new home at Birmingham New Street station.

Nearly 2,000 people submitted name suggestions during the first stage of a competition launched by Network Rail and the West Midlands Combined Authority which ended last week. Since then judges have poured through the entries and shortlisted them to just four names in the final cut. Now they’re being put to a public vote which opened on Tuesday 13 June so the famous bull can be named once and for all - so it’s time to make your vote count!

Residents will be empowered to take direct action to improve air quality in their local area as part of a West Midlands-wide campaign to tackle pollution.

To coincide with Clean Air Day 2023 today, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is announcing plans to go into communities to improve their knowledge and understanding of the main sources of pollution and the impact on their health. The results of a survey by the WMCA to gauge public awareness and attitudes to air pollution show that while most residents are concerned about air quality they are also unsure about where it comes from and what they can do to improve it.

An Evesham-based haulage and distribution business has completed a management buyout with support from HSBC UK, paving the way for the company’s fast expansion. Superior Freight has utilised a six-figure funding package from HSBC UK to fund the purchase of 80 per cent of the shares from the company’s inactive shareholders, giving Managing Director Andrew Johns sole ownership.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will organize the annual ‘Grand Hajj Symposium’ on June 20th, in Jeddah, coinciding with Hajj season. The Symposium, which was launched in 1970, tackles various issues of concern to the Islamic world, such as upgrading the procedures of Hajj, development of the Islamic world, enhancing the human communication between pilgrims during the Hajj season…etc. as well as releasing research papers on technical and humanitarian issues.

Experienced rail industry leader Mal Drury-Rose has been appointed to the twin role of Director of Rail for Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and Executive Director of the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE). The job involves leading on delivery of region’s Rail Investment Strategy, including development of new stations and services and overseeing the West Midlands Railway franchise. 

Parents and carers across the city are being urged to carry out important checks before hiring vehicles for Prom night.

City of Wolverhampton Council’s licensing team is working with schools and other councils across the region to alert families to potential risks. Officers warn that not all companies that advertise the services of stretched limousines and other luxury or performance vehicles are licensed.

WMG at the University of Warwick is celebrating the completion of a major funded programme this week which has helped to add £220m to the Midlands economy.

Over the last five years, WMG’s Digital Innovation for Manufacturing (DI4M) has helped create 660 jobs and digitise 370 businesses – supporting hundreds of small and medium sized manufacturers across the Midlands. New products have been taken to market through the programme including a novel electric charging point that attaches to lampposts, ultra-high speed 3D printer, and a wall climbing robot to undertake important maintenance work on tall buildings.

Rail passengers are being encouraged to show their local railway station some love during Better Transport Week - a national week-long celebration of sustainable transport organised by Campaign for Better Transport – for a chance to win a £100 rail voucher. 

In partnership with Community Rail Network, which supports those working and volunteering in community rail, Campaign for Better Transport is asking rail passengers to share what they love about their railway station by sending a comment, photo, artwork or even a poem about what makes their station great. The winning entry will receive a £100 voucher to use on Britain’s national rail network.