Community News

A University of Wolverhampton academic has been awarded an MBE in the Birthday and New Year Honours List 2018.

Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, Director of the recently launched Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies at the University and Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies in the Faculty of Arts, will receive the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) later this year at a ceremony being held at Buckingham Palace.

The New Year Honours list recognises the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom. An MBE is an award given by the Queen to an individual for outstanding service to the community or local 'hands on' service.

Dr Takhar, from Derby, undertakes a variety of research, specialising in subject matter that relates to the Sikh community as well as topics including caste and gender balance. She is well-known in the region for her research work – especially in the Sikh community in and around the West Midlands.

A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Dr Takhar is also an Editorial Board member for The Journal of Understanding Sikhism in Canada, on the editorial board of the Journal, Sikh Formations, she sits on the Steering Committee of Special Interest Group on Teaching Religions of South Asia and is a Board Member of the Inter faith Wolverhampton Network.

Dr Takhar has presented her research in Universities across the world, she has produced textbooks and a Teacher’s guide for the OCR GCSE syllabus on Philosophy and Ethics, used in secondary schools across Britain and she has written numerous educational resources for RE Today Publications, a national resource for teaching Religious Education across schools and colleges in the UK. Her 2005 book on Sikh Identity is used as a key text in Universities across the world.

She is a regular participant on discussion programmes and panels on Sikh media channels. She has regularly contributed to the British Sikh Report, as well as the UK Sikh Survey, and is also one of the authors of the Sikh Manifesto, produced by the Sikh Network (UK) in preparation for the 2015 British Parliament elections.

Dr Takhar said:  “I am absolutely thrilled and humbled to have been nominated for such a prestigious award.  I am committed to bringing faith communities together whilst at the same time raising the profile of the Sikh community.

“Working at the University of Opportunity, it is essential that we all make a valid contribution to promoting equality and diversity and I hope that my research is enriching the lives of our students as well as our communities.”

Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “On behalf of everyone at the University of Wolverhampton, I would like to congratulate Opinderjit on this prestigious and very well deserved honour.

“Engaging tirelessly with local, regional, national and international community groups and governing bodies, Dr Takhar is consistently raising awareness of issues that affect the Sikh community in the UK and abroad.

“The West Midlands has a large and well-established Sikh community as well as people from all faiths and none.  Dr Takhar’s research, combined with her personal high-profile, is consistently having an impact on people’s lives by bringing communities together as well as helping to raise the profile of the University.”

The University of Wolverhampton launched its new Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies earlier this year - the first of its kind in the UK.

The Centre will offer PhDs and Master’s level courses in Sikh studies, as well as continuing professional development (CPD) courses for teachers and managers of diverse workforces such as national and local government, the NHS and the emergency services.

Kids all over the UK have just three weeks left to enter National Express’s summer art competition and be in with a chance to see their work splashed over the side of a coach.

With the Colour the Coach competition deadline fast approaching, the UK’s largest coach operator is urging youngsters to pick up their pens and design a poster promoting their home town – those selected as winners will see their entries turned into a special National Express coach liveries.

The national competition challenges youngsters aged 5-15 to design a summer-themed poster advertising the place they live to encourage people to visit some of the amazing locations on National Express’s unrivalled coach network.

The six winners - whose designs will be whittled down to a shortlist by a panel of judges - will be selected by an online vote.

And to encourage the development of their creative talent, each winner will also receive a quality art set including a range of brushes and paints.

The competition closes at midnight on the 25^th June. To enter youngsters simply need to design a poster on a sheet of A4 paper and post it or scan then email it to National Express.National Express Coach Managing Director Chris Hardy, who is on the judging panel said:

“Colour the Coach is an amazing opportunity for youngsters to show-off their artistic talents by creating a show-stopping poster to go on a moving billboard for thousands to see. With only three weeks to go until the competition closes, I’m encouraging children all over the country to grab sheet of A4 and design us a winner. With our unrivalled coach network reaching more than 900 great UK locations, the winning designs will be on display all over the country.”

Now in its fourth year, the competition has seen 15 winners with their designs touring Britain’s motorways on National Express’s coaches.

In past years children have been asked to design their ideal holidays or favourite landmark. Now National Express is bringing summer back home by asking youngsters to promote the place where they live in a bid to encourage people to visit it this summer.

A winner will be chosen from each of the following UK regions: the North, South and East of England, plus the Midlands, Wales and Scotland, and each one will see their picture boldly displayed on one of the many daily coach services that drive on the roads around everyday.

Tributes have been paid to former councillor and Mayor of Sandwell Alderman Bill Archer who passed away over the weekend.

Alderman Archer was the one of the longest serving councillors for Sandwell after being an elected ward member for Wednesbury North from 1975 to 2011.

He served as mayor from 2005 to 2006 and was given the honour of becoming an Alderman of Sandwell in 2011.

Known affectionately as the ‘singing mayor’, Bill raised a record £35,500 for his chosen charities Prostate Cancer Research and Guide Dogs for the Blind - no Mayor before or since has matched this.

Bill Archer had often said how immensely proud he was of his daughter Elaine Costigan who is a councillor for Wednesbury North and cabinet member for public health and protection.

Councillor Costigan described her father as an “amazing character” and said she was overwhelmed with the response to the news from people far and wide.

“It’s absolutely amazing the amount of messages I’ve had.” she said. “They’ve come from as far as America and Australia and from many different communities. We knew he was popular and a rare breed but as a family this has really blown us away.

“He did a lot for the older generation and was inspiration to young people as well. Years ago he ran surgeries from the old swimming baths and I remember kids who were five or six years old would run past and shout ‘hello Bill’. Those same kids have grown up now and have been getting in touch over the weekend to say how much he inspired them.

“He was my inspiration too. I’ve definitely got some of his traits which has stood me in good stead and I feel responsible to carry on the good work he did for Wednesbury and Sandwell.”

Councillor Steve Eling, leader of Sandwell Council paid tribute to Bill. He said: "Bill was always a lively character who will be remembered fondly for his role as mayor as well as his long service to the people of Wednesbury. We would like to express our condolences to his family and friends."

Deputy Leader Councillor Syeda Khatun offered condolences on behalf of everyone at Sandwell Council.

She said: “Bill will be missed – not only was he a close colleague over many years but I had the pleasure of calling him my friend too.

“Bill was well known across Sandwell and had a great personality. My thoughts are with his family at this incredibly sad time."

Brighton based Meaningful Travel company, Rickshaw Travel, left the office behind today and headed to Brighton beach to carry out a huge clean-up operation, removing two bags full of litter from the shores.

Working with Brighton & Hove Cityclean, Rickshaw Travel's team of warriors took to the beach this morning to collect litter, from needles and used nappies, to discarded plastic bottles and bags.

Whilst today two full bags of waste were collected, on a sunny bank holiday, beach cleaners at Brighton Beach can expect to pick up 40 tonnes of rubbish in as little as two days, and a maximum of 400 kilos on a normal day. This beach clean takes place ahead of World Oceans Day on 8th June, a national awareness day that celebrates the world's oceans, with a particular spotlight on preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean.

An independent tour operator, Rickshaw Travel specialises in providing enriching experiences for travellers across the world, taking them off the beaten path and into the heart of local communities. Protecting nature and wildlife whilst encouraging travellers to do the same is at the core of Rickshaw Travel's company ethos.

Blanca Balaguer, Marketing Communications Specialist at Rickshaw Travel, said “Although it was upsetting to see the amount of rubbish on the beach, it was extremely rewarding to remove two bags' worth that ultimately would have ended up in the ocean. As a company, we pride ourselves on providing responsible travel experiences in the countries that our travellers can visit and it is right that we do our best to lead the way with similar regard to our beautiful environment here at home, in Brighton.”

More than 12.2 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into the world's oceans each year. It is believed that only 1% of this is seen floating on ocean surfaces, while 94% of this waste ends up on the sea floor. The highest concentration of plastic waste is found on beaches, threatening 31 species of marine mammals and 100 species of birds.

Join Pete Waterman OBE for a fascinating night talking about his career from Stock Aitken Waterman to Pop Idol. Pete has experienced a lot and shares stories in a creative and appealing way - one not to be missed.

Pete Waterman’s fascinating career has given him the opportunity to talk about almost anything. Pete is the most successful British producer-songwriter in pop history, an author, DJ, Pop Idol judge and television presenter and a lifelong entrepreneur. His career began as a part of the successful Stock Aitken Waterman team and for his world-famous PWL label and production company. During his time in the music business, Pete has sold in excess of 500 million records around the world over five decades, launching artists such as Kylie Minogue, John Travolta, Rick Astley and Steps, and has been rewarded with many different awards and honours over the years.

Pete’s biggest passion is the railways and his professional knowledge in reference to railways is highly regarded. Since the 1990's he has successfully invested in railway companies and forms part of several committees and taskforces for the procurement of the railways in Great Britain.

As a keynote speaker Pete is charismatic and multi-talented. He can give speeches about how to become a successful entrepreneur, how the music business works or what it is like to be a Pop Idol judge. Furthermore, Pete is a magnificent host and is always one hundred percent attentive to the needs of his audience.

https://www.thsh.co.uk/event/an-evening-with-pete-waterman

Unsung community heroes from four organisations across the City of Wolverhampton are celebrating after learning they are to receive the highest award for volunteer groups in the country.

Compton Bereavement Centre, Beacon Centre for the Blind, Positive Participation and Wolverhampton Wheelers Cycling Club found out they had been given the royal seal of approval after being handed a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) on Saturday (JUNE 2).

The QAVS recognises outstanding work done in communities and is the equivalent of the MBE for volunteer groups.

With four groups receiving the QAVS, City of Wolverhampton has the second highest number of award-winners in the West Midlands.

Compton Care Bereavement Visitors:

Compton Care’s volunteers help hundreds of people every year to come to terms with their experiences of grief by providing friendship, emotional support and the opportunity to talk openly without judgement. They offer one-to-one support or group sessions to people either in the hospice or their own homes.

Beacon Centre for the Blind:

This registered charity which, with the help of 90 volunteers, supports more than 3,000 service users is the main provider for visually impaired people across the Black Country and Staffordshire. It has been doing so for more than 140 years. Volunteers help out in areas including mentoring and befriending, retail, hospitality, front of house, community-based activities and day centre provision.

Wolverhampton Wheelers Cycling Club:

This group, based at WV Active Aldersley, encourages and develops people of all ages to enjoy cycling. It is run entirely by 90 dedicated volunteers and members aged from 8 to 90. Volunteer tutors are qualified to a national standard and there is a strong emphasis on safety and healthy lifestyles. Wolverhampton Wheelers recently celebrated its 125^th anniversary.

Positive Participation:

This group aims to prevent and improve mental ill health and reduce isolation which can be caused by mental health problems primarily within the Asian community thorough the provision of culturally sensitive community support services.

Mayor of the City of Wolverhampton, Cllr Phil Page, congratulated all the city’s QAVS winners. He said: “The QAVS honours all those unsung heroes and heroines in our community who work tirelessly making a huge difference to the lives of so many. They are the MBE for the voluntary sector and to receive a QAVS is the highest honour a volunteer organisation can receive.

“Our four winners and their army of volunteers truly deserve their accolade and I congratulate each and every one of them. The theme for my year in office is ‘service over self’ and our QAVS winners really embody that spirit.”

The QAVS were created in 2002 to mark the Queen’s golden jubilee. Every year the winners are announced on June 2 which is the anniversary of the coronation.

The Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands presents the awards on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen.

With our lives getting busier and having more and more things to juggle daily, stress is something that can affects all of us, this can even include our pets. Feelings of anxiety or stress can occur in both cats and dogs. Stress as an immediate response to threats is healthy for our cats as it enables their ‘flight or fight’ response to get them away from danger quickly. However, ongoing stress can be harmful to their overall health and wellbeing.

Most cats tend to mask their inner turmoil, so it’s important to monitor their behaviour and look at ways to maintain their health and wellbeing. With over 25 per cent of UK’s population owning cats* and as part of their “Don’t Fret Pet” campaign Lintbells, manufacturers of natural premium pet supplements has looked at some useful tips that can help your cat get through trying days, and maybe help you in the process.

Understanding body language

As with most things in life, to start to create a solution you need to identify what the cause of the stress is. This will keep your cat’s best interests at heart and you can set the stage for small successes.

Cats have poker faces and may express signs of stress in a subtle way. Some of the most common ones are toileting around the house, sleeping under the bed, hair loss or excessive self-grooming, aggression, dietary changes and excessive vocalisation (growling, hissing or spitting). It’s important to remember that if you notice any behaviour that is out of the ordinary, consult your vet to rule out any underlying conditions.

The power of touch

Most of us already know that hugging someone, be it our friends, pets or partners makes us feel cosy, safe and warm - the same applies to our feline friends. Why else do they purr when petted? Simply spending some quality time with your cats giving them the kind of affection they like best, can go a long way in easing their tension. Reassurance that things are okay can-do wonders to their behaviour. Plus, who doesn’t love a cosy cuddle after a long day?

Refresh their facilities

If you’ve bought your feline companion a scratchpad when he/she was a kitten, its probably time for an upgrade. Follow the same principles as you would with children and their clothes. It’s also important to note that your pets litter tray should be at least one-and-a-half times the length of your cat, from nose to tip of its tail. In multiple cat households allow each cat to have their own litter tray and their own area/space.

Supplement their diet

Calming supplements are created to help your cat relax, stay calm, and to reduce anxiety in stressful situations. Lintbells new YuCALM Cat is designed to do exactly this, it helps reduce stress, support calm behaviour and ease anxiety. It is a natural solution that will not sedate your furry friend. The natural unique triple-action formula is made with scientifically proven ingredients for a calmer and happier cat. It’s important to double check with your vet before introducing a supplement to your cat’s diet.

Veterinary advice

If you do spot any unusual changes in their behaviour or anything out of character always remember to speak to your vet to rule out any underlying conditions

It is important to remember that a little bit of stress every now and again is completely normal. What you should focus on is making sure that your cat’s stress level is controlled and that it never climbs to a level where it impacts their overall behaviour and health..

Employees at A Perry & Co Ltd, a leading independent, family-owned, British manufacturer and supplier based in Cradley Heath, will climb Snowdon on 9 June 2018 to raise money for Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity, its annual chosen charity. The trek is supporting the charity’s ongoing mission to raise vital funds for new ways to treat and cure childhood diseases and make the hospital feel just like home.

The climb will be undertaken by 10 staff members, including Will Dougan; Grant Esp; Ashley Armstrong; Patrick Corcoran; Chris Chater; James Dale; Chris Rowley; Lee Crosby; Phil Harvey; Martin Hinton, who’ll be picked up at 3am to begin the adventure. To date, the mission has generated £912 out of the £1,000 target. To support the fundraising efforts, people are invited to visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/perrys-snowdon-challenge and get involved with the hashtag #PerrysSnowdonChallenge2018.

This initiative is part of an ongoing series of activities for A Perry’s Charity of the Year. Company members are currently taking part in an internal challenge called ‘Perry’s Biggest Loser’ to donate the equivalent weight loss i.e. pound (lbs) for pound (£) by the end of the second quarter.

Guy Perry, managing director at A Perry & Co Ltd, says “We don’t miss any opportunity to be involved in raising money for local causes and charities that are close to our hearts. Our employees are local to the area and go the extra mile for the causes they believe in. The Snowdon Challenge for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity is a great teambuilding opportunity while staying active and lending a helping hand. We hope to win the support of our local community as well to reach our fundraising targets.”

In addition to supporting Birmingham Children’s Hospital, staff also raised £2,765 on a successful Pink Day in aid of Breast Cancer. This was achieved through raffles and other fundraising activities, as well as Steven Perry, son of owner Guy Perry, running from his home in Romsley to the firm's premises in Doulton Road.

Patients from the Teenage Cancer Trust Young Person’s Unit (YPU) at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) enjoyed an exciting morning at Escape Live, Birmingham’s number one escape room venue that sees participants enter a themed room with a series of clues and puzzles that they must crack in order to ‘escape’ within the time limit.

YPU is a dedicated ward for young people aged between 16 and 24 who are being treated for cancer. QEHB Charity is proud to support the ward by providing ‘added extras’ such as music lessons and pizza nights that allow the young people on the ward to maintain a sense of normal life throughout their treatment.

Thanks to the generosity of Escape Live, which is based in Henrietta Street in the Jewellery Quarter, young people from the ward were able to experience the fun of solving themed puzzles as a team, and escaping the rooms before the time ran out.

Split into two teams, young people tackled the challenges of The Lab and Time Machine. They were given an hour to escape and both successfully completed the fun task with minutes to spare.

In The Lab, players enter a scientific research facility where a toxic gas leak could spread and be a danger. Teams work together to isolate the affected areas, make the facility safe save the world.

In Time Machine, teams have been lost in time travel loop hole that takes them to different moments through history, they have to discover clues to find their way back to the present day or risk being lost in the past forever.

One of the successful escapees was Luke, who said: “It was a great day out. It was nice to work as a team with others who have had similar experiences to me. We all really enjoyed our time at Escape Live, I’d love to come back in the future!”

Will Amott, Venue Manager at Escape Live Birmingham, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to welcome the teams from YPU, QEHB and the young people to take on the challenge of our rooms at Escape Live Birmingham.

“We are very pleased they had a great time. The two teams did extremely well working together to solve the clues and get out of the rooms with minutes still on the clock.

“Escape Live has become one of the most popular escape games room venues in the UK and is earning rave reviews on TripAdvisor. Our escape rooms are for between two and six people and we currently have four rooms in Birmingham which include The Lab and Time Machine.”

Senior Fundraiser at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, Rachel Learmonth, said: “QEHB Charity is incredibly grateful to Will and everyone at Escape Live Birmingham for their generosity in inviting the young people along for a really fun morning. It was great to see the young people enjoying themselves and taking on the brilliant challenges.

“The hospital charity works to make the hospital experience as easy as possible for young people who are receiving cancer treatment. Thanks to the generous donations it receives, the Charity has funded ‘added extras’ such as DVDs and games, pizza nights and ‘grab bags’ filled with essential items, all of which have meant that we can be there every step of the way to support young patients with cancer.”

If you would like to learn more about how QEHB Charity supports young people with cancer , please visit hospitalcharity.org/teenagecancer.

Businesses in West Bromwich are to put some colour into the cheeks of the High Street – by putting in 40 hanging baskets through the shopping centre.

The organisers of the West Bromwich BID team are to arrange for the baskets to be erected down the busy High Street, from Birmingham Road down to Carters Green.

The project has been back by the BID board, which represents all sectors of the town centre, including the private sector and Sandwell Council.

Councillor Paul Moore, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “This is an excellent gesture which will help to brighten up the town centre area.

“I am sure that traders and shoppers will appreciate a brighter, more colourful town centre through the summer months.”

Rebecca Jenkins, chair of the West Bromwich BID said: “We’re really excited about getting the new hanging baskets in and around West Bromwich, from the High Street through to Carters Green.

“We are sure that the baskets will add a lot of colour and make a significant improvement to the look and feel of West Bromwich Town Centre, with a view to making them a permanent fixture.

“We have consulted BID businesses and listened carefully to what they wanted. Improvement to the look of the High Street was high on the agenda."

Citizens Advice and Trading Standards are joining forces to give people in Sandwell the knowledge to spot scams.

The two organisations will be providing information as part of Scams Awareness Month, a national campaign encouraging people to report and talk about scams.

Scammers can strike at any time, from cold-calling people with a fake investment opportunity to posting online adverts for products which don’t exist.

Anyone can be a victim of a scam it does not matter what age, gender or social group you are from it can happen to you.

Throughout June officers will be urging people to report scams so the authorities can chase down fraudsters. Reporting being scammed also means that people can receive advice on how to try and get their money back or any other steps they should take to protect themselves.

Councillor Elaine Costigan said: “Knowing how to spot a scam is the best line of defence against being scammed.

“While scammers will always use tactics like cut-price deals and pressure selling to draw people in, there are more ways for scammers to reach people with different bogus offers - from texts and emails to social media and online adverts.”

Bob Charnley, Sandwell's trading standards manager said: “People are also often reluctant to talk about scams so we want to highlight the issue and bring it out into the open.

People can  follow the campaign at @SandwellTS #scamaware

If anyone has been scammed or knows someone who has can contact contact officers 03454 04 05 06.

Young bookworms will be flocking to Wolverhampton's libraries during National Bookstart Week (4-9 June, 2018).

The annual event aims to raise awareness of the importance of reading and sharing books with young children, and there are a host of activities for pre-school children throughout the week.

There will be special Baby Book Time sessions with the Bookstart Bear and the Bookstart Bird Boogie at the following times:

• Ashmore Park Community Hub, Monday 4 June, 11am-noon
• Wednesfield Community Hub, Monday 4 June, 2.30pm-3pm
• Central Children's Library, Tuesday 5 June, 10.15am-11.15am
• Pendeford Library, Tuesday 5 June, 10.30am-11am
• Warstones Library, Tuesday 5 June, 2.30pm-3pm
• Bilston Library, Wednesday 6 June, 11am-noon
• Finchfield Library, Wednesday 6 June, 10.30am-11am
• Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wednesday 6 June, 2.15pm-3pm
• Tettenhall Library, Thursday 7 June, 10.30am -11am
• East Park Library, Thursday 7 June, 2.30pm-3pm
• Springvale Library, Friday 8 June, 10.15am-11am
• Whitmore Reans Library, Friday 8 June, 2.15pm-2.45pm
• Central Children's Library, Saturday 9 June, 12.15pm-1pm.

Each event is free, and there will also be a Book Start display within the maternity unit at New Cross Hospital from Monday.

Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: "Getting into the habit of sharing stories, books and rhymes every day – even if only for 10 minutes – can transform a child's life, as they explore their world and make bonds, while building skills and a life-long love of reading.

“We're looking forward to welcoming families to join in the National Bookstart Week celebrations at our libraries."

To find out more about Wolverhampton’s libraries, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/libraries.

The theme for this year is Bookstart Bird Boogie and the chosen book is A Busy Day for Birds by Lucy Cousins, a wonderfully colourful rhyming book about being a bird for a day. A small number of free copies will be available at each National Bookstart Week event. For information about National Bookstart Week, please log on to www.bookstart.org.uk.

Birmingham and West Midlands Women Economic Forum (WEF) – All Ladies League starts with a Bang with a conference on 20 and 21 June 2018 the Theme of the conference is “Enhancing Women’s Economic Power”. Dr Julie Nugent – Director at the West Midlands Combined Authority, will open the conference.

Birmingham and West Midlands WEF will be a powerhouse for change, there will be mega peer exchange and learning with diverse women from across the globe within an interdisciplinary framework.

This is an opportunity for Birmingham and the West Midlands to show case the diversity and innovation and rich culture of the City and the region; underpinned with local women making massive connections and networking with other women across the globe.

Birmingham and West Midlands WEF welcomes All Ladies League along with 26+ Awardees inclusive of Jacqueline O’Donnovan and Beverley Nielson – Women of the Decade in Enterprise and Leadership; Tanya Abraham, Dr Arpinder Kaur, and Patricia Lorde – Iconic Women Creating a Better World for All; Jess Phillips, Jennette Arnold OBE– Women of the Decade in Public Life; Rt. Hon Sajid Javid, Andy Street CBE, Dr Paul Sabapathy CBE – Leader of the Decade in Public Life; Zina Arinze, Taha Coburn-Kutay, Parveen Hassan, Evelyn Teiko Asenih, Getrude Acheampong, Tausi Suedi, Maggie Stubbs, Waheeda Bhamani Rahim, Zoe Bennett, Melody Sakala-Makore – Exceptional Women of Excellence; Mindu Hornic – Women of the Decade in Courage and Healing; Dame Betty Kershaw; Catherine Nelson-Piercy – Women of the Decade in Healthcare; Raman Bulsara – Leader of the Decade in Community Service; Dr Elizabeth Nelson OBE, Dr Kathryn Hinchliff – Women of the Decade in Community Leadership.

The conference will empower women to expand their business opportunities and increase global influence.

The two days are packed with exciting topics not to be missed. Speaker Participants at http://www.wef.org.in/speakerparticipants-wef-birmingham-uk-2018/

We wish to welcome even more women within the West Midlands Region to register and experience this historic event. Registration form for the conference follows:

http://www.wef.org.in/wef-birmingham-registration-2018/

For more information contact:

Dr Neslyn Watson-Druée CBE

Chair of Birmingham and West Midlands WEF

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Business leaders in Greater Birmingham today urged the UK and the US to avoid a “tit-for-tat” trade war following President Trump’s decision to impose massive tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.

And they called for an “open and frank” discussion at a key transatlantic conference in Birmingham next week.

The British American Business Council’s (BABC) annual conference takes place at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on Thursday when delegates from the UK and the US will look to build trade between the countries.

Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), of which the BABC Midlands division is part, said: “A trade war with the US should be avoided at all costs and if necessary it should bring our ‘special relationship’ into play especially with Brexit in mind.

“President Trump has imposed the tariff on EU countries so that raises all sorts of questions about what it will mean after we leave the EU – now less than one year away.”

Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president and France’s trade minister, has already warned that the EU would go ahead with plans to impose its own duties on US products like motorcycles and peanut butter.

Mr Faulkner added: “The EU is well known for its aggressive actions over trade but the UK should bring the special relationship into play given that we will not be part of Europe after March 29 next year.

“The impact will be felt world-wide and this will addressed in depth at the BABC conference on Thursday when the key guest will be Robert ‘Woody’ Johnson, appointed US ambassador to London by President Trump.

“Business people with a long and wide knowledge of trading across the Atlantic will be speaking and their views will have added resonance because of that.

“The timing of the BABC conference in Birmingham could not be better, giving us the opportunity to address at first hand the issues that the tariff will bring.”

Key figures at the conference, at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on Thursday, will include Midlands Engine chairman Sir John Peace and West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.

Top economist Joe Brusuelas, from RSM, will talk about the renewed economic challenges facing business and industry in the UK and US in the wake of President Trump’s decision.

Another speaker will be Priya Guha, of RocketSpace, is a San Francisco company that helps innovators bring their ideas to the market.

The conference’s “annual interview” will feature a panel including East Midlands Euro MP Emma McClarkin and Steven Bridges, from Grant Thornton in Chicago, who will respond to questions from the floor about the future of the relationship between the UK and the US.

Ambassador Johnson is the guest speaker at a gala dinner at Birmingham Town Hall in the evening.

UK International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, who will be addressing the conference via a video link, said the 25 per cent levy on steel was "patently absurd", adding: "It would be a great pity if we ended up in a tit-for-tat trade dispute with our closest allies."

The transatlantic economy is the world’s largest market and supports 15 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. Aggregate US investment in Europe totalled more than €2 trillion in 2017.

In a statement Susan Danger, chief executive of the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU), said: “American companies in Europe oppose the US government’s decision to impose tariffs on EU imports of steel and aluminium.

“We urge the US government to revisit its plans and the EU to take a balanced approach in responding to these measures. We are very concerned by the damage a tit-for-tat dispute would cause to the transatlantic economy and its impact on jobs, investment and security across the Atlantic.

“We continue to believe that the EU meets all the criteria set out for a permanent exemption. The EU does not pose a national security threat to the US and therefore should not be the target of such measures.

“This move puts the global trading system at risk. We hope both parties can work together to reduce tensions immediately. The EU and the US should cooperate to solve the core issue of global overcapacity. In addition, they should collaborate to address third countries’ unfair trading practices and to improve the functioning of the World Trade Organization (WTO).”

The US Chamber of Commerce Executive vice-president and head of international affairs Myron Brilliant, said:  “Months ago, the US Chamber warned that alienating our strongest global allies by launching a tit-for-tat trade war would harm the U.S. economy and undermine American leadership.

“This is even clearer today: The U.S. must not expand tariffs or quotas on steel and aluminium imports to additional countries on June 1, as has been threatened.

“Such a move would hit American manufacturers with higher costs, slow the growth of the U.S. construction sector, and put the brakes on job creation in both of these key industries. U.S. steel prices are already nearly 50 percent higher than those in Europe or China, and aluminium prices have been extremely volatile; this move would add substantially to these challenges.

“Extending the reach of these tariffs and quotas to additional countries is certain to provoke widespread retaliation from abroad and would put at risk the economic momentum achieved through the administration’s tax and regulatory reforms. We urge the administration to take this risk seriously.”

The US Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

Its International Affairs division includes more than 80 regional and policy experts and 25 country- and region-specific business councils and initiatives. The U.S. Chamber also works closely with 117 American Chambers of Commerce abroad.

The BABC, which incorporates BritishAmerican Business, is the largest transatlantic business network, with 22 chapters and 2,000 member companies, including many of the world’s largest multinationals, based in major business centres throughout the North America and the UK.

New research by mobile current account Monese has revealed young people in the UK are calling for country borders to be banished, with 77% of those aged 24-35 believing we’d benefit from their removal. Keen to enable more freedom of movement and increased diversity, over a third (37%) of UK millennials say the removal of borders would improve work opportunities, whilst 36% say it would make for a more culturally aware workforce.

This demonstrates a generational shift in attitude, as only 41% of 45-54 year olds in the UK would opt for the removal of borders, whilst even fewer (36%) of those aged 55 and above agree.

By banishing borders, young people in the UK are hoping to transform traditional work life, in order to live with more freedom. A considerable 85% say they have considered developing transferable skills to enable them to work anytime, anywhere - in a bid to escape the 9-5 office routine. Additionally, 81% would travel up to 4,000 miles to take up a post in North America – with the promise of an improved salary enough of a draw for 42% of the young Brits polled.

The vast majority (90%) of the generation would also like to be their own boss, with 71% aiming to manage themselves within the next 5 years. This further proves the drive amongst the millennial generation, as only 37% of over-55s share the same ambition, and only 56% of those aged 45-55.

Norris Koppel is the CEO and Founder of Monese, he says: “What the research shows is a real need and want for freedom amongst young Brits. With modern day advances in technology – there is no longer a need for working life to involve being present in one place, town, or even country. Young people want to be able to travel, see the world and live independently of geographical restraints – whilst still developing as a professional and offering their brilliant expertise to businesses across the world. The ‘digital nomad’ generation is very much the future for business – companies would be well advised to be as embracing and hospitable as possible to attract the best talent!”

The independence and ambition of this generation is evident, with emerging digital industries providing young Brits with the work-life they desire - over a third (37%) would like to work with Virtual Reality or Cyber Security.

Nearly 2,000 children and young people from schools across Haringey will gather in the Royal Albert Hall to perform a concert that will showcase musical talent across the borough.

"The musical extravaganza will celebrate youth, culture, the natural world, and all the things which make Haringey our home."

It will include items from the participating ensembles including Symphony Orchestra, Big Band and Senior Guitar Groups, as well as our Haringey Young Musicians Training and Intermediate groups. The highlight of the concert will be world premieres of two new compositions commissioned from local composers Kate Stilitz and Laura Forrest-Hay which celebrate the natural environment and wildlife in Haringey.

There will also be premieres of new pieces by local composers Thomas Gregory and Ty Lowe.