BUSINESS NEWS LATEST NEWS FROM GREATER BIRMINGHAM CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE


Chamber warning on skills shortage


Cuts in spending could badly harm progress in tackling the UK skills shortage, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has warned the Chancellor. The comments follow a demand by British Chambers of Commerce director general John Longworth for a renewed effort during Parliament’s lifetime to close the much- criticised skills gap. Business leaders have long


complained about this situation, which has led to thousands of youngsters leaving school or further education every year without any of the skills required by industry and commerce, including literacy and numeracy. The Government has admitted


there is a problem, with Chancellor George Osborne pointing out that Britain is one of only three Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD) countries where the skills of those leaving education are no better than their grandparents.


‘We need schools, colleges, universities and businesses to work together’


Mr Longworth said: “By the end of the Parliament, we want to see a workforce with literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills that rank in the top ten in the OECD measures. To help businesses thrive, they need access to a pipeline of skilled young people. To deliver that, we need schools, colleges, universities and businesses to work together to bridge the gap between education and work.” David Tomalin, manager of the


Chamber-based Skills Hub, agreed about the need for skills, but warned that cuts in education spending could badly harm progress. He said: “David Cameron is also


talking about the need to upskill British people to enable them to be more employable in today’s current labour market. However, this has to be contextualised against a background of continuing cuts, including a potential 24 per cent cut in adult skills funding in the next academic year. This would seem to imply that the aspiration will not be matched by reality unless there is a clear commitment to fund skills development beyond apprenticeships, maths and English.”


6 CHAMBERLINK JULY/AUGUST 2015


Rupi awarded MBE for services to global trade


T


ributes have been paid to the dedication and work of Rupi Nandra (pictured), head of international


programmes at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, who has been awarded the MBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to international business. Chamber chief executive Jerry Blackett said: “Rupi


has been unstinting in promoting overseas trade for British companies and particularly those in the West Midlands. She has never shied away from working in some of the world’s most challenging areas, particularly in Africa, Pakistan and India.”


‘A richly deserved accolade for her hard work over several years’


He said that Rupi had been heavily involved in identifying procurement opportunities, adding that the honour had been a richly deserved accolade for her hard work over several years. “We are all delighted


for her,” added Jerry. Rupi originally


joined Birmingham


Chamber’s international trade team in November 2003 as a part-time employee to cover maternity leave for six months before being taken on full-time. Since then, she has progressed from being an international projects co-ordinator to become the head of international programmes. Rupi led on the creation and managed the


Regional and National Centre of Excellence for South Asia – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. The India Pakistan Trade Unit was the leading portal for trading with South Asia and at its height attracted over two million hits a month. In her role as head of international


programmes she is responsible for the new Enterprise Europe Network contract (six years), which she helped write with the national consortium led by Innovate UK. The EEN is the European Commission’s official business support network. The network has expanded into


emerging markets including Brazil, India, Russia and China and will continue to expand


in new markets, becoming truly global. Rupi has also been working as a project manager for UKTI's Aid Funded Business Service where she helps companies to win contracts from the world’s aid organisations including the UN, World Bank and other donor agencies.


Media awards ready for take off


Birmingham Airport is to be the main sponsor of this year’s Birmingham Press Club-organised Midlands Media Awards. The airport’s decision to support


the awards for the ninth successive year was revealed at a Press Club Editors Lunch, held at Bournville College, to officially mark the launch of this year’s awards. Airport chief executive Paul


Kehoe said: “We’re delighted to be the main sponsor for this year’s Midlands Media Awards, celebrating the achievements of the region's journalists, broadcasters, photographers and bloggers over the past 12 months. This is the ninth successive year we have supported the event and over that time, we have seen the standard get higher and higher. This year’s awards hold extra significance as the Birmingham Press Club celebrates its 150th anniversary, which is a cause for celebration in itself.”


Entries will be initially scrutinised


by a panel of 50 professionals who will then submit a shortlist to the final judging panel under the chairmanship of Peter Lowe managing editor of Sky News. Peter, who will be acting as


chairman of the judging panel for the third year, said: “If the last two years are anything to go by, then the standard is likely to be even higher this time. “Earlier this year, The Media


Guardian reported that 150 local newspapers had closed down in the


UK since 2008, which underlines the challenge facing the industry. But despite those difficulties, good journalism in the Midlands continues to thrive and to diversify.” The awards will take place at The


Holte Suite, Villa Park, on Thursday, 10 September.


For further information regarding the awards, contact Paula Kelsey at Cloud 9 Event Management by calling 0115 933 3811 or e-mailing paula@cloud9em.co.uk


Headline sponsor: Paul Kehoe of Birmingham Airport


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