Solihull
All the latest news, advice and events for the Solihull business community
Contact: Joan Smith T: 0845 603 6650
New director will tackle the skills gap
Joan Smith has officially taken over the reins as divisional director of Solihull Chamber. She took over from former director Jane Jackson on 1 April, after a lengthy period of
working in tandem with her predecessor. She said: “I am really excited at the opportunity to take the Chamber forward and I look
forward to working in partnership with Chamber members, local businesses and other stakeholders. “Whilst I will be representing the benefits and specificity of the local Chamber to the immediate business environment, I will also be emphasising and proving the greater benefits to be leveraged by being part of a larger group with a wider geographical, political and economic footprint. “I want to ensure that Solihull Chamber is seen as the leading voice of business as well as
the ‘epicentre’ of signposting and substantive business support through both or Growth Hub and Skills Hub. The Chamber must be seen as a good partner and citizen. “I already have excellent collaborative working relationships with Solihull College and
Solihull Council but I want to build on this at a strategic and tactical level. “I will be looking at expanding and improving our local joint events over the next 12
months and these will cover topics which members have told us are important to them, such as ‘Access to Finance’, ‘How to Market Your Business’ and ‘How to Write a Press Release’. “For me, the skills gaps and the skills agenda will be a high priority in my new role as I will
be working closely with other key players in the borough, to include Solihull College, Solihull Council and the Sector Skills Councils and local schools. “I want to immerse myself in the economic life of the area acting as a conduit for
connectivity and an antennae for changes in the business environment as well as the actions and plans of local business.”
A practical challenge for young engineers
Would-be engineers at The Sixth Form College, Solihull, rolled up their sleeves for an industrial challenge set by engineering design specialists the PM Group. Youngsters visited the group’s Solihull offices
after Martin Murphy, project manager at PM Group, set students in the College’s Engineering Academy a project to design a kiosk. The students were asked to present their
ideas on how the kiosk would be used and explain construction and cost details. The students worked on the project in groups
and then presented their ideas at PM Group’s Solihull offices near Birmingham International Station. Martin Murphy said: “The students had all put
a lot of effort into a varied range of technical and costed responses to the challenge. We were delighted with the quality of the designs and presentations and are sure they will benefit from the experience and constructive feedback given. “PM Group continues to encourage boys and
girls of all backgrounds into what we know will be exciting and rewarding careers in engineering."
36 CHAMBERLINK May 2016
Solihull is in the spotlight
A team of volunteers from the tourism industry made the most of a major NEC exhibition to showcase the town and its attractions. The show was the British Tourism & Travel
Show, and members of the voluntary Solihull Tourism Forum took the opportunity to greet visitors at a prime pitch at Birmingham International train station. Over the two days of the show,
visitors were given information about places to stay, to dine and to shop – and among the attractions being promoted was the inaugural Solihull Fashion Week in Solihull town centre. Information also included 2016’s ‘16 things
you didn’t know about Solihull’ and a borough wide calendar of events aimed at drawing visitors into the area. The promotion at the station was in
partnership with Virgin Trains, and followed a series of other events with the rail operator, including a ‘pop up’ stand at their new look First Class Business Lounge at London Euston, and the recruitment of a series of
‘ambassadors’ who work on the London to Birmingham International route. Sally Bowen (pictured), chair of the Solihull
Tourism Forum, said: “Solihull’s tourism and leisure sector is incredibly important to the area. In 2015 it contributed over £965 million to the local economy and supported over 10,000 jobs. With visitor numbers increasing year on year, it is important that we, as a Forum, work together to promote the borough as a
fantastic place to shop, dine and
stay.” Simon Greaves, Virgin Trains station
manager, said: “There’s so much to see
and do in Solihull. It’s only a stone’s throw away from International Station with great connections to London and the North. That’s why we jumped at the chance to partner with the Solihull Tourism Forum.” Solihull Chamber divisional director Joan
Smith said: “Solihull Chamber works very hard with all our local partners to bring businesses together in all sectors to raise awareness to what’s going on locally.”
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