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A series of workshops aimed at West Midlands businesses that want to start exporting their goods or services are to begin later this month.

Organised by West Midlands Chambers of Commerce’s ERDF SME International Growth Project, the You Can Export series includes four half-day, morning sessions that cover: market research and selection; routes to market; export pricing; and how to internationalise your website. Businesses can attend one or all four.

Andy Smith, International Relationships Manager for the SME International Growth Project, said the free workshops, which will be held at the Hotel Novotel, in Wolverhampton city centre, are ideal for companies that have little or no experience of exporting but are looking to spread their wings globally by learning about the fundamental topics of exporting.

“Many businesses don’t realise how much help and support they can receive, so either put off their export plans or struggle on their own when they start trading outside of the UK for the first time,” he said.

“However, we offer a huge range of assistance to businesses and can guide them, provide advice and help them with everything from the documentation to digital and from financial support for overseas visits to putting them in contact with our Embassy experts.

“SMEs based in the West Midlands can attend these workshops free of charge and are the ideal starting point if they want to dip their toes into the export market. There will also be opportunities to speak to an array of advisers and experts who can support them on their journey.”

The first one, which focuses on market research and selection, takes place on Tuesday, June 26.  It is designed to help companies prioritise overseas markets using market research and will cover topics such as modelling for effective and time-saving desk research using the internet; important factors to consider when visiting an overseas market to conduct research; and how to select and commission professional research.

The second takes place on Wednesday, July 11 and will examine routes to market, covering topics including the different ways that businesses can sell into an overseas market common pitfalls and advice on how to avoid them

The third workshop, on Tuesday, July 24, is about setting and managing export prices for products and services across international markets and will focus on a range of topics, including the importance of local customs with regard to pricing; negotiation; establishing contractual terms; identifying alternative pricing strategies; and increasing the opportunity for export profitability. This workshop will also introduce services offered by the Department for International Trade (DIT) and UK Export Finance.

The final workshop on Tuesday, August 7, will be run by a DIT digital adviser and will advise businesses on how to develop their websites so that they have international appeal. Participants will learn how to localise an e-commerce website; how to use online tools to gain market insights; and how to use social media with an international audience.

A new comprehensive study by The Mammal Society, which reveals that a fifth of Britain’s wild mammals ‘at high risk of extinction1, reaffirms that urgent action must be taken sooner rather that later otherwise Britain stands to lose its precious species. But now, a ground-breaking idea from the southern hemisphere may offer a lifeline.
Ever heard of the Isle of Hedgehog? Or how about the Island of Red Squirrel or Mouse-Eared Bat? Maybe not, but if 82% of Britons2 get their way, a vision inspired by a conservation project in New Zealand may result in the British Isles becoming predator-free safe havens for endangered animals in order to preserve iconic national creatures.
This aligns with a new initiative by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation is protecting its national icon, the kiwi bird, by creating predator-free islands where the birds can roam free without being harmed by animals that hunt them, Old Mout commissioned a survey on British attitudes on wildlife conservation. The research of 1,000 Britons found that over 82% would be in favour of similar drastic action to help save its vulnerable or endangered creatures in Britain, including relinquishing land to create safety haven, sanctuaries or even go as far as the introduction of predator islands to preserve the likes of hedgehogs and red squirrels.
Similarly to New Zealand’s iconic kiwi that has declined by 99% over the past 50 years and could go extinct in the next 50, the nocturnal and solitary hedgehog’s numbers have dwindled to 522,0001. While despite living in the UK for an estimated 10,000 years, the grey squirrel's population has declined to 140,0003.
What’s more urgent is, despite the kiwi evolving over the past 50 million years, New Zealand’s indigenous bird could soon go the way of its prehistoric ancestor, its dinosaur cousin, without the introduction of predator free islands.
The kiwi’s best chance of survival now lies in the hands of the charity Kiwis for kiwi who are undertaking a remarkable feat – creating predator free islands. But they need support and New Zealand-born, Old Mout Cider, is once again inspiring Brits to help save this vulnerable bird – plus for everyone who signs up to the mission at https://www.oldmoutcider.co.uk/help-save-the-kiwi 20p will be donated to the cause.
To highlight the important work being done, Old Mout teamed up with wildlife-expert Michaela Strachan, and charity, Kiwis for Kiwi, to create a short documentary film called The Forgotten World. The short film follows Michaela traveling to New Zealand’s Kapiti Island - an isolated sanctuary for the nation’s most endangered birds - which mirrors the prehistoric conditions of the time that the kiwi’s ancestors, the dinosaur, roamed the land.
While in the remote and wild Forgotten World, Michaela witnesses first-hand, the positive results of the predator-free island initiative, with a kiwi population thriving in the absence of predators, which were once brought to the country by man. As a result of these predator-free islands, the kiwi survival rate has increased from 1 in 20, to 14 in 20 on these islands.
The thought-provoking three-minute documentary film follows Michaela’s journey – both day and night – and gives an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at an extraordinary project to restore the forest and freshwater ecosystem as closely as possible to their pre-human state. She joins a Kiwis for kiwi ranger as they trek through the exotic terrain, seeking out wild kiwi in burrows and discovering positive signs of a recently hatched kiwi egg.
Michaela Strachan said: "It's staggering to think that a bird that has been around for 50 million years could go extinct in the next 50. We need to do everything we can to save as many species as possible. In New Zealand, conservationists are working tirelessly to protect the kiwi from predators that have seen its population plummet. We are a small world and must take threats to species extremely seriously before it’s too late.
“I hope this documentary film helps people understand just how precious the kiwi’s history is, and more importantly how its future is hanging in the balance. Let’s not be the generation that says goodbye to species, but be the generation who rallies together to look after our environment. So join Old Mout’s mission, and together, we can save the kiwi.”
Old Mout’s Emma Sherwood-Smith said: “As New Zealanders, our epic landscapes and great wildlife inspire our adventurous spirit.  If we are to enjoy it in the long run we desperately need to look after it. Yet, the kiwi, the symbol of our country, is in great peril. The work to create predator-free islands has become a beacon of hope for the people of New Zealand, and we want to spread the word to help save this vulnerable bird from the brink of extinction. 
“Our Kiwi roots mean this little bird is close to our hearts which is why we’re making the plight of the kiwi famous to people in Britain – a nation of animal lovers. We hope people will fall in love with these captivating, clever and charming little birds.  No one wants to see a species go extinct and we hope our documentary film will have a halo effect to get everyone who enjoys our cider in Britain to think a little more about the impact they have on their own environment while supporting our mission.”

West Midlands Politician Neena Gill MEP joins international entrepreneurs, investors, CEOs, political figures including former Presidents and Prime Ministers, academicians, media giants, sports and film personalities in London for the second edition of Power Brands Global and London International Forum for Equality (LIFE) Summit.

Neena Gill MEP is currently serving her third term as a Labour member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands, having spent over 18 years working in social housing in a variety of inner-city areas across the UK to tackle issues of social deprivation and homelessness. She hit the headlines by setting up the country’s first Asian only sheltered accommodation.

Discussing her career’s story at the event, she said: “Thank you for this honour. I’ve been a campaigner for equality since a young age, ever since I felt that the Indian and Asian communities were discriminated against, particularly in housing. That’s why we set up Asian housing providing Black and Asian people with equal access to housing. Sometimes all it takes to make a difference is a good idea.”

Hosted by sports journalist, author and broadcaster Ian Stafford, and model-actress Ellie Torrez, with India’s leading 24-hour English-language news channel TIMES NOW supporting the event as Media Partner, the evening saw some of the most recognisable brands in the world receive an award including Lamborghini, Pirelli and Best Western. The evening also saw the unveiling of the Global Wage Equality Vision Document based upon a forthcoming book by Dr. Malay Chaudhuri and Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri, launched to fight for a just world which has a 3:1 ratio of wages between the highest paid worker to the lowest paid.

Power Brands Global also provided much attention from 10 global leaders inducted into the Power Brands Hall of Fame. Experts in their respective fields, each awardee was commended for building a brand that has promoted faith, hope and commitment to spreading equality, and were honoured with their induction into the Power Brands - Hall of Fame.

This year’s inductees featured figures from the Charity/ Not for Profit sector, Sports, Politics and Business, including:

  • Helen McEachern, CEO Cherie Blair foundation – their work focuses on strengthening the capability, confidence and access to capital of women entrepreneurs in countries where they lack equal opportunities
  • Dominique Airey, CEO, Khulisa -  a crime prevention and offender rehabilitation charity based in North London with roots in South Africa
  • H.E. Mohamed Waheed Hassan, 5th President of the Maldives - recognised as one of the most influential voices on foreign relations, democracy, and human rights in the Maldives.  With dedicating his life to increasing humanity both at home and abroad, his Excellency has worked in a number of UN agencies. He played a key role in reconstructing Afghanistan and has helped to enroll over 5 million children in schools, vaccinate 6 million and provide health services, water, and vaccination.
  • Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson – one of UK’s most successful Paralympian -
  • Mr. Zlatko Mateša, PhD - the 6th Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia & current President of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce - Croatian Olympic Committee -
  • Claude Ajit Moraes MEP - UK (London) - Labour Member of the European Parliament for London and Chair of the European Parliament's Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE)
  • Virendra Kumar Sharma MP - UK (Southall) - vocal humanitarian activist and is a member of the Council of Europe Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights. Chairs the Indo-British All-Party Parliament Group leads APPG for Gurkha Welfare and Co-chairs APPG on Nepal, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis Group
  • John Atwal OBE -  His brainchild Premier Decorations started almost 30 years ago from nothing and now employs 250 people at its peak in the year
  • Mike Tobin OBE - serial technology entrepreneur and philanthropist. As the former ‘maverick’ CEO of Telecity Group, the FTSE 250 data centre operator he took from £6million to £3billion, Michael is known across the globe as the leader who created the data centre industry in Europe.
  • Bright Simons - Ghanaian social innovator, entrepreneur, writer, recognised by the World Economic Forum as a young Global Leader. President of the mPedigree Network, a system that empowers consumers to instantly verify with a free text message whether their medicines are safe and not counterfeit.

Staff from JD Parties recently visited Ronald McDonald House Charities in Birmingham to unveil their bedroom sponsorship given in recognition for raising over £17,000 for the Charity. A bedroom sponsorship for JD Parties will also be held at the Ronald McDonald House in Manchester.

JD Parties, is part of one of the country’s leading events companies, C & H Catering. They raised funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities at their shared Christmas parties in Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. Funds were raised at each of their parties through the silent auction and charity fun casino on the night.

Ronald McDonald House Charities provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation which enables seriously ill children to have their families close by when they are undergoing treatment to maintain a degree of normal family life. The Charity’s dedicated teams of staff and volunteers welcome families to stay for days, weeks and even years, and help them to feel as at home as possible.

Natalie Wood, Corporate Fundraiser at Ronald McDonald House Charities, says:

“We are thrilled to be able to commemorate JD Parties support with a room sponsorship. Their donation of £17,000 will make a huge difference to us. In 2017 Ronald McDonald Houses across the UK provided accommodation to over 8,000 families across the UK, supporting them when they needed it most. We simply could not provide our vital service without the wonderful support from companies like JD Parties.”

Andrew Gentles MD of JD Parties added “We are delighted to support such a worthy cause and to see that the money raised will be put to such good use. Having worked closely with Ronald McDonald House for a number of years we appreciate the service they offer to families at what are most difficult times. We are proud to announce that they will also be the beneficiary from our fundraising activities from our Christmas Parties at ICC, Birmingham, Tatton Park & Aintree Racecourse this year!”

31 people from Birmingham and the West Midlands abseiled 200ft down the Holiday Inn Express, Snow Hill in Birmingham, and raised over £6,000 for the charity Parkinson’s UK.

Amanda Cresswell from Walsall did the abseil for her mum, who has Parkinson’s, and has raised £430 so far.

Amanda said: “A few years ago my mum was diagnosed with Parkinson's, but I had no idea how much more there is to this horrible condition and just how debilitating it is. I really want to try and raise more awareness.”

Emma Tromans from Lichfield did the abseil in memory of her dad who sadly passed away in 2016 after living with Parkinson’s for nine years, she has raised over £220 so far.

Emma said: “I had a truly fantastic day.  I felt very emotional on the way down thinking about my dad, but I know how happy and proud he would be.

“When people asked if I was scared about the abseil, all I thought was this is my choice - my dad didn't have a choice, and he lived day to day not knowing how his future was going to be.

“I had a fantastic experience even when I was thinking I was about to plummet to my death!”

The event was sponsored by Recycling Management Ltd, from Aston, Birmingham, with Director Yvonne Hawkeswood joining with staff members and her family to take part, and raising a staggering £3,000 between them.

Yvonne said: “The day was such fun and although I was very nervous there was a great team who made me feel like I could get through the worst bits and make it to the ground safely.  All in all, a brilliant day for a brilliant charity!”

 Gayle Kelly, Regional Fundraiser, Parkinson’s UK, said:

“It was an amazing day - blue skies, sunshine, tears, laughter, an impromptu Zumba session on the roof, and as the last person was abseiling we had the Salvation Army brass band playing below us - fantastic.

“We had a great turnout from family and friends, and community spirit was alive and well as we had 10 volunteers helping us out with the event too.

“Now every penny raised by our brave fundraisers will go towards finding better treatments – and one day a cure - for people living with Parkinson’s.”

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition for which there is currently no cure and Parkinson’s UK estimate that there are more than 40 symptoms.

As well as the most widely known symptom - tremor - these range from physical symptoms like muscle stiffness to depression, anxiety, hallucinations, memory problems and dementia, but Parkinson’s affects everyone differently.

Parkinson's UK is the leading charity driving better care, treatments and quality of life for those with the condition. Its mission is to find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson's through cutting edge research, information, support and campaigning.

The nation's favourite coffee shop, Costa Coffee, is proudly displaying its true colours with the launch of the first ever limited-edition rainbow coffee cups to celebrate Pride across the UK.

With Costa Coffee a founding partner of GLOW (Gay Lesbian Out at Whitbread) the activity has strong support from staff, with many Costa team members taking part in Pride parades across the country for the third year running.

GLOW is a group of over 1,000 members that champion equality and inclusion in the workplace, ensuring all employees feel strong and supported in the company, no matter their background or personal preferences. This reflects Costa Coffee's commitment as an employer that provides equal opportunities and inclusivity to give colleagues courage and pride in who they are.

The limited-edition Pride cups will be available for a short time in selected stores across the UK* in Edinburgh, Essex, London, Glasgow, Brighton, Leeds, Manchester and Cardiff – with Edinburgh and Chelmsford first to proudly offer them from today. Available a week ahead of and on the day of Pride marches in each location, the cups help to spread the messages of celebration and inclusivity.

The cups will be ordered in place of the red for each store to reduce waste and will be recyclable in the same way.

Jason Cotta, Costa Coffee's Managing Director UK & Ireland commented: “Our all new rainbow cups are a fun way to celebrate Pride and reflect Costa Coffee's values of equality, and diversity. We are passionate about championing team members rights to work in an inclusive, supportive environment.We're so proud of the achievements of the GLOW team and look forward to seeing them marching at the many of the Pride Parades across the UK.”

In previous years, Costa Coffee has shown its support of Pride with the launch of limited edition Rainbow Lattes as well as changing its iconic red sign at key stores to rainbow. This activity all ladders to Whitbread PLC's commitment to being the most inclusive employer in hospitality.

Employees from the City of Wolverhampton Council and the city’s schools have raised over £3,300 for former Mayor Councillor Elias Mattu’s charities by taking part in a dress down day.

The Proud To Be Wolves event last month was organised by the council’s education team and invited schools, their pupils and council employees to celebrate everything positive in the city. Participants were encouraged to wear bright clothes and share what makes them proud of Wolverhampton using the hashtag #Proud2BeWolves.

In doing so, they raised £3,314.57 for the late Councillor Mattu’s chosen charities – Street Pastors, Sickle Cell Care, Interfaith Wolverhampton, the Alzheimer’s Society, Central Youth theatre and Acorns.

His widow Councillor Asha Mattu said: “I’m absolutely thrilled by the amount raised by the city’s schools and employees at the council.

“The money raised will make such a difference to the charities and the local people that they support.

“The statements shared by the young people of what makes them proud of their city were heart-warming, and their parents and schools should equally be very proud of such positivity displayed by their children.”

All schools that took part were entered into a prize draw with St Luke’s CofE Primary School winning a class visit to the Mayor’s Parlour and Rakegate Primary School scooping a visit from Wolverhampton Wanderers mascots Wolfe and Wendy.

Others who took part included Bantock, Castlecroft, Fallings Park, Field View, Grove, St Andrew’s, Stow Heath, Oak Meadow and Westacre schools, and a slideshow of Proud To Be Wolves charity day activities can be seen at https://youtu.be/nkH9tyUJ-9Y.

Councillor Lynne Moran, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “It’s great to see so many of our fantastic schools taking part in this very worthwhile event, having fun, celebrating their City and raising lots of money for charity in the process.”

The City of Wolverhampton is gearing up for a whole programme of events as part of the national Armed Forces Day celebrations taking place at the end of the month.

Armed Forces Day, which this year takes place on Saturday June 30, is a chance for people to show their support for the entire Armed Forces community - from currently serving troops to service families, veterans and cadets.

City of Wolverhampton will be marking the occasion with an action-packed programme for both the day itself and during the lead up to it.

Celebrations will begin with a flag-raising ceremony on June 25 outside the Civic Centre when the Armed Forces Day flag will be proudly flown.

On 26th June there will be a free interactive workshop looking at the role of faith in the armed forces at Light House Media Centre from 7pm-9pm with guest speaker the Rt Revd Clive Gregory, area bishop of Wolverhampton.

On 28th June there will be a guided tour of the city centre’s various war memorials, incorporating both public and private tributes to the fallen. The event, which will last approximately two hours, is free and people should meet outside the main entrance to the Civic Centre, St Peter’s Square ready for a prompt 2pm start.

On Armed Forces Day itself, the city centre will be buzzing with activities for people of all ages as it becomes the focus of family celebrations.

In Queen Square between 11am and 4pm, the stage will be set for a host of lively performances following a welcome by the city’s Mayor, Councillor Phil Page, featuring retro harmony singing trio the Miss Fortunes, Cosford  Military Wives Choir, Joe James Thomas (George Formby tribute act), the Royal Air Force Air Cadets Military Band, City of Wolverhampton Council and Royal Wolverhampton Hospital Trust choirs and many more.

In Dudley Street, people can test their aerodynamic skills when the Royal Air Force host a paper airplane challenge and the University of Wolverhampton’s School of Sciences will be bringing mind-blowing experiments and fun challenges. There will also be the opportunity to chat to veterans and gain information about becoming a cadet or joining the armed forces.

Meanwhile, the city’s award-winning Central Youth Theatre will be joined by Wolverhampton Orpheus Male Voice Choir to stage three individual performances at  separate venues looking at how the First World War effected the people of the city. ‘Down Our Street’ will be performed at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield Street at 10am, ‘Roses of Wolverhampton’ will take place at The Courtyard, Living @ Sunbeam, Paul St at 11.15am and 12.45pm and ‘The Forgotten Returned’ at St Peter’s Church at 2.30pm and 4.30pm. Tickets are available by calling 01902 572091.

The day will finish with a military parade and flag lowering ceremony in Queen Square at 3.15pm.

Mayor of the City of Wolverhampton, Cllr Phil Page, said: “As a city, we have a special relationship with our armed forces. Armed Forces Day is an opportunity to celebrate all that the forces do to defend the nation at home and abroad.

“We have a fantastic programme of events and entertainment lined up to mark this year’s Armed Forces Day. I would love to see as many people as possible come along and have a great time while showing their support for the forces.”

Stars including Kristin Scott Thomas, Damon Hill and Paul Simonon from The Clash joined together at Abbey Road Studios June 13 for the annual “End the Silence” charity gala in aid of Hope and Homes for Children. Guests were treated to a “five Michelin star” dinner by chefs Paco Roncero, Óscar Velasco and Chris Naylor from NH Hotel Group along with performances from Fun Lovin' Criminals, Tom Odell and Snow Patrol. The event raised a massive £600,000 to help rescue millions of children suffering silently in dangerous overseas orphanages.

A stunning “five Michelin star dinner” was prepared by three of NH Hotel Group's renowned chefs – Paco Roncero (2* Michelin, La Terraza del Casino), Óscar Velasco (2* Michelin, Santceloni) and Chris Naylor (1* Michelin, Vermeer). NH Hotel Group's gastronomic offering in its establishments amounts to a total 13 Michelin stars including The White Room (1* Michelin) at NH Collection Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky in Amsterdam led by Arturo Dalhuisen and under the signature of Jacob Jan Boerma (3* Michelin) and DiverXO, the only 3* Michelin in Madrid, led by David Muñoz, among others.

Hope and Homes for Children's “End the Silence” charity gala helps to fund the closure of orphanages by preventing child abandonment, developing family support services and establishing foster and adoption care networks.

More than £600,000 was raised for the charity on the night through a spectacular “money can't buy” auction. Lots ranged from 18 holes of golf with Thomas Bjorn at the British Masters, to a five-star weekend in Madrid for six people with NH Hotel Group, dining in two of the Spanish capital's finest Michelin starred restaurants – Paco Roncero Taller by multisensory Chef Paco Roncero and Santceloni, from renowned chef Óscar Velasco.

“As a company that is deeply committed to corporate and social responsibility, we are delighted to support this worthy cause through the End the Silence gala. We have a long-standing record of charitable collaborations around the world, and it has been our pleasure to be part of this extraordinary event to help millions of children as we do in the communities where we are present”, said Ida Gutiérrez de Escofet, Corporate Affairs and CSR Officer of NH Hotel Group.

Sky Sports F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham - one of the organisers of the End the Silence fundraiser - said it was overwhelming to see some the world's biggest stars come out in force to help some of the world's most vulnerable children. “The idea of End the Silence is to bring together top musicians, sportspeople and businesspeople with those who have grown up and suffered in orphanages.  By sharing their experiences of growing up without a family, they are helping to raise awareness and funds so Hope and Homes for Children can condemn orphanages to the history books and support children to move into loving families.”

YOUNG crime fighters have been pounding the beat to keep their Middlesbrough community safe.

The budding sleuths at from Year 4 at North Ormesby Primary Academy formed their own Mini Police team in a pioneering scheme that could be repeated across the town.

The ten-strong team embarked on a six-week training programme based on a model first piloted by Durham Constabulary.

Aimed at nine- to 11-year-olds, the fun and interactive scheme promotes positive diversion from crime and anti-social behaviour and helps to build honesty and trust.

The young officers – with their own uniform of dark baseball cap and hi-vis vest - gained an insight into the opportunities and challenges of policing through active participation in local community engagement events.

At the end of the six-week course the pupils will graduate, becoming official NOPA Mini Police members, continuing in the role for the rest of the school year.

They will take part in local events and crime prevention initiatives, promote community engagement and eventually deliver what they have learned to their peers.

The school then takes over the running of the scheme through a Mini Police Morning Club’, with officers and PCSOs dropping in as often as duties allow.

Lindsey Blackburn, School Liaison Officer for Cleveland Police who has been leading the initiative, said: “The NOPA Mini Police programme is a great way of establishing strong community links, promoting our policing priorities and reducing crime.

“It challenges pupils, adds new strands to their learning and encourages respect for others, both in their community and beyond.”

Councillor Mick Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Culture and Communities, said: “Our primary school pupils are the citizens of tomorrow, so initiatives like this give them a fantastic grounding in the things that matter in a civilised and law-abiding society.

“The programme increases their knowledge and awareness of the issues that matter, and that in turn builds confidence and aspiration.

“It’s also a great way of strengthening the relationship between our neighbourhood police teams and the local community.

“The initial feedback is overwhelmingly positive, and I’m sure this pioneering pilot in North Ormesby will become a role model for the rest of the town.”

Forge Mill Farm at Sandwell Valley Country Park has welcomed two rare new additions – a duo of young Shire horses.

Members of the public are being invited to choose names for the two fillies, aged two and three. Shire horse numbers are in rapid decline – with only around 1,500 left in the whole country.

The farm is hoping to continue with a regal theme for the horses’ names – as the last pair of shires at the farm were called Duke and King.

Names in the running include Duchess & Princess, Lady & Queen and Madeleine & Julie - after local acting royalty Madeleine Carroll and Julie Walters.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for leisure Councillor Bill Gavan said: “The horses have only been at Forge Mill for a couple of weeks and they are settling in well.

“The younger one is still a little nervous and the older girl is very friendly.

“Shires are majestic creatures and we’re looking forward to them becoming a real attraction for our visitors.

“We’ll be looking at the possibility of breeding them in the future to keep the line of Shire horses going.”

The Shire horses join Forge Mill’s rare Bagot goats. The council is part of a scheme run by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust to breed the rare goats as there are fewer than 200 registered breeding females left.

To suggest a name for the horses, go to the Sandwell Valley Country Park Facebook page www.2343ec78a04c6ea9d80806345d31fd78-gdprlock/sandwellvalley and choose your favourite from the following:

  • Duchess and Princess
  • Lady and Queen
  • Madeleine and Julie (after local actresses Madeleine Carroll and Julie Walters)
Forge Mill Farm can be found on Forge Lane, West Bromwich, B71 4SZ. Admission to the farm is free. There may be a small charge for admission and activities during school holidays and on some weekends, including Bank Holidays.

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) construction of dams is the only way to generate electricity at economical rates which can reduce the cost of doing business for the business community. The biggest expenditure of the industrial sector is the energy bill which if reduced will result in improved production which will not only benefit masses but also trigger exports, it said.

High energy cost increases the cost of agricultural and industrial production which not only hit masses but also leave exports uncompetitive pushing the government to announce export packages which are seldom useful, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

He said that increased cost of energy discourages local and foreign investors which reduce the chances of industrial expansion, job creation and increased revenue. Murtaza Mughal said that costly electricity is linked to high trade deficit forcing the government to borrow to repay loans which is very damaging for the economy.

Pakistan can never improve production, exports and stabilize its currency as long as 67 percent of the electricity generation comes from thermal sources while the share of hydel energy remains at 27 percent, he said. Pakistan is way back in utilizing the alternative energy resources while in India these sources contribute almost 15 percent to electricity generation. The neighbouring country has solar, wind and biomass generation installed capacity of over 50,000 megawatt which is the double of our entire installed capacity.

Visitors can now take a guided tour of Lightwoods Park using their smartphones or tablets – thanks to an audio guide app.

The Bearwood park, in Adkins Lane, now has its very own GeoTourist tour.

It means visitors can download the app to listen to a spoken tour around the historical parkland and its features.

The tour takes in the Shakespeare Garden, the water fountains, aviary, the restored bridge, bandstand and other landmarks. It's narrated by Julia Morris, Lightwoods' community engagement officer.

The park and the stunning Lightwoods House has been transformed thanks to a £5.2million restoration funded by the council, Heritage Lottery and the BIG Lottery Fund.

Staff are now looking at expanding the tour to cover other landmarks and history of the park.

Sandwell Council Leader Councillor Steve Eling said: “The new app is yet another great reason to visit Lightwoods Park.

"The history of the park and house is fascinating and the audio tour means visitors can access that and learn about the park’s historic features at any time.”

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for leisure Councillor Bill Gavan added: “So many people visit the park but might not know, for example, that it was used as Red Cross military hospital in the great war, or that the plants in the Shakespeare Garden all feature in the bard's plays.

"I hope people will download it and learn something new about the house and park on their next visit."

To hear the tour, simply go to www.geotourist.com or your app store and download the GeoTourist app for iPhone/iPads or Android phones and tablets. Simply open the app when you next visit Lightwoods Park to enjoy the tour.

Every home and business in the UK could be set to add another recycling bin to their collection as recycling costs skyrocket.

Research by the Uks waste management agency, BusinessWaste.co.uk, shows that the cost of sorting ‘dry mixed recycling’ (DMR) materials in the UK is rising, meaning households will see yet another bin added to their collection - and costing businesses thousands of pounds in waste sorting.

DMR, which consists of paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, drinks cans and glass bottles, is generally separated at specially-designed plants before being recycled. Previously, the cost of this type of recycling was 20% - 50% lower than general waste collection - but the low quality of the plastics used in the UK have caused a hike in prices.

China, previously the world’s biggest importer of household recyclables and just about all of the UKs plastic, introduced restrictions in January which mean that they will no longer accept over twenty kinds of recyclables by the end of 2018, including certain types of plastic drinks bottles and all mixed paper.

This means these materials may have nowhere to go – (other than land fill) as this will cause the price of recycling them to soar. This could mean a knock-on effect for households and businesses, as recycling services are cut back to accommodate the lack of demand from the Chinese market.

Many local councils and waste management companies are already considering downgrading their DMR services to include paper and cardboard only - which are much easier to recycle - and could mean the environmental costs of plastics become much more sinister.

The extra household waste bin designed for specific plastics has been suggested to help reduce the processing time for plastic recycling as sorting the various types of plastics can be complex for recycling plants. Due to this, many of the plastics in the average weekly shop - from sandwich packets to ready meal containers - are ending up in landfill.

BusinessWaste.co.uk is a leading expert in recycling and waste disposal for businesses of all kinds - and they are on a mission to reduce plastic waste.

Mark Hall, Communications Director of BusinessWaste.co.uk, noted:

“The environmental impact of plastics are obvious - just this week, a whale has died in Thailand despite efforts to save it, and was found to have 80 plastic bags in its stomach. We can’t allow this to continue - the damage we are causing to wildlife and the environment is unacceptable. An extra bin might be a stop-gap for now, but there needs to be a longer term way to tackle recycling in the UK.”

Not only are the costs to wildlife and the environment high, but the costs of adding additional waste bins for each household and business could be astronomical, too.

Mark Hall from BusinessWaste.co.uk concluded:

“Something must be done about this sooner rather than later. The cost of an extra bin per household will run into double-digit millions, which will put pressure on already stretched local authority budgets. Not only this, but then we have to consider some of the biggest consumers of plastics - businesses. Ensuring an environmentally friendly and effective solution for recycling business waste needs to be a priority.”

“A short term solution would be to have a separate bag or container in which plastic waste would be placed to help plants sort them more efficiently and ensure that we recycle as much as we can.”

“It might seem ambitious, but in an ideal world we would ban plastics immediately. From reusable bamboo coffee cups to the ban on microbeads, it has been proven time and again that corporations can be creative and adapt when it comes to cutting plastic out of their production. We’d like to see that become the norm in society so we can avoid further damage to our environment and our wildlife.”

A Midlands' based Army nurse, midwife and educator, responsible for training the military nurses of the future, has been recognised for her work in the latest Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2018.

 

Major Karen Jamieson, 54, originally from Wigmore, Herefordshire, now living in Shobdon, is to receive an Ordinary Associate Second Class Royal Red Cross (ARRC) in the list published yesterday (FRI 8 JUNE).

 

The seasoned medical professional, who has traversed the globe on numerous operations during her long career, is currently Officer Commanding the Department of Healthcare Education at Birmingham City University, where she is responsible for the support, training and welfare of just under 300 undergraduate military student nurses and AHPs.

 

With the distinction of being the very last midwife ever to be trained by the Army following the closure of military hospitals, she was also awarded a QCVS for her work during a tour of Kosovo in 2000, and says that “basically, everywhere the Army has been, I have been.”

 

Major Jamieson’s citation states: “Her remit covers the Command and Control of Phase 2 training of all Defence Registered Nurses, Operating Department Practitioners, Radiographers and Biomedical Scientists, with additional responsibilities for all Nursing and Allied Health professionals within Phase 3 training.

 

“Deployments delivering care in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan have added a rich flavour to her experience. Her highly effective engagement with senior partners sets the conditions for future exploitation of education opportunities across the Defence Medical Services.”

 

Reacting to news of her latest award, Major Jamieson added: “It was amazing when I heard about my award - though to be fair I sometimes feel like I am only doing my job.

 

“During my career, I have also received my LSGC (Long Service and Good Conduct) and last month I also received the BAR  - I do feel really pleased and honoured and it’s nice to be recognised as I’m actually getting ready to retire from the Regular Army - not just yet - but soon.”

 

The medic, who joined the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps in 1984, has worked in a variety of hospitals and field units both in the UK and abroad, including Cambridge Military Hospital, BMH Munster, Hong Kong, Duchess of Kent Hospital, Catterick, and TPMH in Cyprus.

 

Her most recent tour was of Afghanistan when she deployed with Birmingham based 202 Field Hospital on Op Herrick four years ago.

 

After being commissioned from the ranks as a Late Entry Officer in 2001, Major Jamieson was assigned to MDHU Frimley Park Hospital - and after qualifying in 2004, became the last midwife to be trained by the Army.

 

She added: "34 years of service has gone so fast and I don’t regret one minute, the Army is great and it’s a privilege to be a member of the QARANC.

 

“Being an Army nurse has also definitely given me the opportunity to travel, it also encourages everyone to be the best that they can, supports professional development and encourages nurses to specialise, which is why I am now an educator.

 

“It is a privilege also to be the OC at DHE and train the military nurses of the future and I would encourage any nurse who is considering a change to join up - either the Regulars or the Reserves - there are just so many opportunities.”

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