PARTNERS SOLIHULL CHAMBER PATRONS PREMIER MEMBERS
Commerce employee awards lunch. Tim has worked at the hotel for only 14 months and was recognised in the career advancement category, having achieved the position of night auditor supervisor and also acting as night manager and duty manager. Tim’s achievements are even more impressive
considering he supports his severely ill parents and his younger sister who is still in education and Tim takes a two-hour bus ride each way to work. First place in the category which recognises
exceptional self-motivated career advancement was taken by Yusef Ahmed, the lounge manager at the Hilton, who achieved the highest score ever in the annual employee awards. Alan Volkaerts, president of Solihull Chamber,
said: “Touching stories of determination against the odds as well as employees who had shown innovation and hard work beyond the call of duty were among the many employees who
Employees honoured T
im Samson, 23, from Hilton Birmingham Metropole took second place at the Solihull Chamber of
were applauded by Solihull businesses.” Business person of the year went to Mark
Thompson, who this year was named runner up in the Barclays One Step awards entering a product that he has invented called Solar SDS, a solar docking station.
Other winners include Andrew Tipping, meeting place supervisor at the Arden Hotel & Leisure Club, who, judges said, stood out as a ‘Future Face’. Future Faces is a new support group for young people launched by Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group. The customer care award was won by Kerrie Lucas, payroll manager for Prime Chartered Accountants. Paislei White-Grantham, tax assistant with Prime Chartered Accountants won the professional development award and winner of the outstanding employee award is Hanna Wolinska, guest relations manager at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole. Mr Volkaerts said: “The more I carry out the
role of president, the prouder I get. The employee awards are what are special about Solihull and everything that is good about this region.”
JOINING FORCES TO FIGHT CRIME
BY SALLY BOURNER CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT, SOLIHULL POLICE
Stamping out firework misuse
Incidents of anti-social behaviour in Solihull over the Halloween and Bonfire Night period have been kept to a minimum in recent years as Solihull Police and our partners work to ensure a fun, safe event for everyone. Last year, we received 50 calls from members of the public between 24 October and 8 November relating to nuisance behaviour – the majority of these concerned with firework misuse. Responsible retailing plays a key role in helping us tackle seasonal anti-social behaviour and this year I’d again encourage shop keepers and store managers to make sure all staff are familiar with the law covering firework sales.
‘Certain fireworks are banned from being sold to the general public regardless of age’
Winners and sponsors of the Solihull business awards 2011 Shaping up in Chelmsley Wood BY SUE COOKE
Ex world champion kick boxer, Kirkwood Walker (pictured), has opened a second new gym in the Midlands. The ex-Thai boxing champion launched FW Fitness in the Lower Mall in Chelmsley Wood in August. The health and fitness centre
will concentrate on overall health and will offer nutrition and well- being advice as well as providing an extensive range of gym equipment. General manager Nick Kitching
says the area was crying out for a family and community orientated health and fitness centre. He said: “A lot of people are dropping in to exercise who
wouldn’t normally exercise. Our personal trainers have a vast amount of experience within the health industry varying from muscle development, well-being and strength and conditioning. “One of our other benefits is that we
are able to offer affordable membership in an area that suffers from health inequalities and people find it difficult to access services. We took this into consideration when looking at the business model and so far it has been a great success.” FW Fitness also offers
vascular and free weight training and holds weekly classes which include spin, circuit training, boxing classes and the new zumba craze. Twelve people are employed at the gym which is creating jobs for local people.
The Fireworks Regulations 2004 cover the sale, purchase and use of fireworks; they are intended to minimise the risk from the use of fireworks and the potential harmful consequences for people, animals and property. It is illegal to sell fireworks, including sparklers, to anybody under the age of 18, whilst caps, crackers snaps, novelty matches and party poppers can only be legally bought by over-16s. The regulations also state that firework
retailers must display these age restrictions on a poster at least A3 in size. Certain fireworks are banned from being sold
to the general public regardless of age – they include bangers, air bombs, mini-rockets, any fireworks with erratic flight such as ground spinners or jumping crackers, aerial shells, or fireworks intended for professional use only. As part of our seasonal operation we’ll be carrying out test purchases at retailers, alongside colleagues at the council’s trading standards department, to ensure retailers are adhering to the regulations. We will also be clamping down on anyone
attempting to supply illegal, potentially dangerous, fireworks and removing fly-tipped material from unauthorised bonfire sites. With the support of retailers and our partners I’m
confident we can continue reducing the number of Bonfire Night-related anti-social behaviour.
NOVEMBER 2011 CHAMBERLINK 17
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