A new sculpture celebrating Scotland's national animal will be unveiled one of the country's leading art attractions this week. The 7ft unicorn sculpture, designed and created by willow artist Woody Fox, takes pride of place within the 55-acre Crawick Multiverse artland in Dumfries & Galloway as Scotland's links to the mythical creature are celebrated across the country as part of National Unicorn Day tomorrow (9 April).

The fabled creature is a proud symbol of nobility and power and has been the nation's favoured beast since the 14th century.

Unicorns were written about by the ancient Persians, Romans, Greeks and Celts, and were often described as an elegant white horse-like creature with a single horn capable of magical properties.

They've been linked to Scotland for centuries and were used as an early form of the Scottish coat of arms by William I in the late 1300s.

VisitScotland Regional Director Doug Wilson said: “We are delighted to have been involved in bringing this sculpture of Scotland's national animal to Dumfries & Galloway and have no doubt it will be a great draw for visitors to the region.

“The Crawick Multiverse artland offers a unique and exciting experience for visitors and is the perfect backdrop for this distinctive sculpture in the year that we are celebrating Scotland's history, heritage and archaeology.

“2017 is the year to delve into the past and discover Scotland's fascinating stories, including those myths and legends about the unicorn.”

Duncan Mackison, director of Crawick Multiverse Trust, said: “We are thrilled to join forces with VisitScotland to play our part in National Unicorn Day by displaying this beautiful sculpture at Crawick Multiverse.

“This is a truly unique location which celebrates art, making it the perfect choice for this special installation.  We look forward to welcoming visitors to the site to see the unicorn which will be on display throughout the coming months."

Artist Woody Fox said: “I was thrilled to be asked to create this unique sculpture of a unicorn to mark National Unicorn Day.

“My previous work includes deer, badgers, foxes and rabbits which bring homes, gardens, parks and public spaces to life. It has been very inspiring for me to work on this noble and spiritual animal for the first time and to help promote Scotland at the same time.”

A group of apprentices from Severn Trent have had the opportunity to meet and chat with the Princess Royal. The meeting took place when the Princess Royal opened EEF’s new Technology Hub in Aston which is one of the centres used by Severn Trent’s apprentices for training purposes.

Georgia Brown, one of the Severn Trent apprentices who met the Princess Royal, said: “With more than 100 of our apprentices using EEF’s facilities it was a great opportunity to show off some of the activities they take part in, as well as highlighting the skills that they’re developing.

“We’re by no means alone in using the EEF for training purposes as they’re really great facilities right on our doorstep.”

As part of the event The Princess Royal received a tour of the centre from Neil Withey, EEF’s Director of Training, and Peter Winebloom, EEF’s Technical Director.

She met a number of Severn Trent’s first year apprentices who talked to her about their apprenticeships, the skills they are learning and their future career ambitions.

Other VIP guests at the opening included the Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham and Dame Judith Hackitt, Chair of EEF.

The EEF is the voice of UK manufacturing and engineering and a leading provider of business support.

A regular car boot and market is returning to the West Midlands with the Oldbury Sunday market and car boot sale back on for the rest of the year.

Operated by Groupe Geraud, the market, at the West Bromwich Street car park, will open to car booters and traders from, 6am until 2pm, every Sunday, with entrance off the A4034 slip-road to West Bromwich Street. Entrance for stallholders and car booters is off Dudley Road.

The NEC Group was recognised for its ‘Excellence in People Development’ at the 2017 Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Awards at the ICC, Birmingham.

The event – which was a sell out with over 1,000 guests in attendance – was hosted by broadcaster Gyles Brandreth and the NEC Group celebrated success against tough opposition including A-Plant, Common Purpose Birmingham, Creative Alliance and Rock Power Connections.

“I am immensely proud of our team,” said Jane Jarvis, NEC Group HR Director. “The success of the NEC Group is entirely down to the excellence of our people and how they support our clients and customers.  Developing our people to realise their potential to be the best they can be in their current role and to prepare for future growth is a key focus of our business strategy. This award is deserved recognition of the team’s efforts across the business to make that happen.”

Russell Jeans, Chief Operating Officer, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and Chair of the Judges, said: “Judges were impressed by a vastly professional and structured programme of induction and continued employee development which is tailored to individual roles.  People development is a key pillar within the overall business strategy and creates clear development paths for employees. This includes an in-house Learning and Development team who provide tailored plans for every stage of an employee’s career.”

Completing a successful week for the NEC Group, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) - the UK’s number one venue - won ‘Best Venue Over 8000sqm’ at the prestigious Exhibition News Awards, also on Thursday 30 March.

The venue was up against key competitors including London’s ExCeL and EventCity (Manchester).

City of Wolverhampton’s first ever Housing Fair proved a big hit with more than 550 visitors dropping in for free help and advice. The event was held at Wolverhampton Art Gallery as part of Residents Week (April 1-7).

There was a host of information available on new homes, homes to rent, help to buy and shared ownership schemes, mortgages, over 50s options, home improvements and energy efficiency.

Exhibitors included Butters John Bee, Connells, David Wilson Homes, Whg, Wrekin Housing Trust, Abbeyfield, L&A Lettings, TSB, RBS, Mortgage Bureau, Complete Advice Services, and Wolverhampton Citizens Advice.

City of Wolverhampton Council’s Rent with Confidence, Affordable Warmth, Housing Improvement Service and planning teams were also on hand.

WV Living, a council-owned housing company, sponsored the fair and showcased new plans for ‘homes you will love’ in Ashmore Park, Bilston and Ettingshall.

Rose Edwards from Penn Fields potentially found a new home to rent at the housing fair. She said: “I’m really happy. The housing fair has come at just the right time for me as I need to move out of my current property.”

James McCue, Manager at Butters John Bee estate agents, said: “The housing fair was a resounding success. We took over 40 new client registrations and we are already looking forward to attending next year’s event.”

Councillor Peter Bilson, City of Wolverhampton Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing and Assets, added: “Supporting residents into housing, jobs, and improving the health and wellbeing of local people are top priorities for the city.

“The Housing Fair has proved a great addition to our Residents Week offer and we hope the next one will be even bigger and better.”

A Birmingham service for children and adults with complex needs received a sneak peak of the new production from leading theatre company Oily Cart. The show, titled ‘Kubla Khan’, has been developed in partnership with the national disability charity Sense, and is aimed at young people with complex disabilities. It is Oily Cart’s first ever production with a version for children and young people who are deafblind; there are also versions tailored to young people on the autism spectrum, and for young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Over 20 people, across two performances, experienced the new show which is inspired by the acclaimed Coleridge poem.  The audience of children and adults were invited into a multi-sensory pleasure dome that they could touch, taste and smell. From the sounds of a sitar to the feel of a flowing river, they experienced the temperatures, textures and aromas of their journey to meet the Emperor.

Stephanie Tyrell, National Arts Manager for Sense, said: “Oily Cart challenge accepted definitions of theatre and audience, to create innovative, multi-sensory and highly interactive productions for young people with complex needs. It was a pleasure to work them and contribute towards a final production, which has special consideration to a deafblind audience.

Kubla Khan is a vivid, multisensory, interactive performance, incorporating touch, taste, smell, sight and sound. The audience today loved it and it will appeal to youngsters with a wide range of abilities.”

Tim Webb MBE, Artistic Director of Oily Cart, said: “One of the key reasons why I chose to work with this text, apart from the fact that it is filled with verbal descriptions crying out for multisensory interpretation, is that it is written in a rich and intricate style, featuring rapidly shifting points of view and characters and situations that defy ready definition. It offers a multitude of facets that can be appreciated both by the brain and the senses and is therefore perfect for deafblind audiences.”

Earlier in the year, Sense and Oily Cart developed a set of workshops with  the production company and some of the people Sense supports, with the learnings and experience contributing to the final production.

Kubla Khan will tour from August.