Chamber Patrons Chamber Patrons Greater Birmingham Chambers’ leading supporters In Brief


Birmingham City University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government’s Department for International Trade (DIT), in a bid to support West Midlands businesses to thrive in the global trading environment. Working with the DIT’s West


Midlands team, the partnership will see Birmingham City University generate opportunities to engage with the local business community. Professor Julian Beer,


deputy vice-chancellor at Birmingham City University, said: “I'm delighted to enter into this relationship with DIT. “The university is an


international institution, bringing students together from over 80 countries across the globe to advance our shared knowledge, and to enhance learning and teaching. By allying our reach with that of DIT, we can now create great opportunities on a truly global scale not just in teaching and learning but in business communities globally as well.”


Transport giant National Express, the biggest bus operator in Birmingham, gave nearly £13,000 to local charities last year. During the year, the firm


donated £12,800 to 56 different charities and community groups supported by the company’s UK employees, via its Employee Charity Panel. Since it was launched in


2009, the panel has awarded more than £113,500 to charities and groups across the UK. The Charity Panel itself is


made up of employee representatives from across National Express Group’s UK bus, coach and rail businesses who meet quarterly to review applications for donations. Some of the charities and


groups that received donations in 2016 include: Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Daybreaks Trust, The Archie Foundation, Balsall Heath CATS, 20th Walsall Scout Group, Ronald McDonald House and Arbroath United Cricket Club.


22 CHAMBERLINK February 2017


Residents, business owners and community leaders met to begin shaping the future of the area surrounding the planned HS2 station in Birmingham city centre. The ‘Curzon Symposium’ took place at Birmingham


City University and looked at how the arrival of HS2 is set to spark a new wave of growth and development around the Curzon terminus station. Attendees were shown a video commissioned to


showcase the area’s identity, given tours of the key assets and took part in discussions about how to shape the area’s future. The event was organised by Birmingham City Council,


Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) and the recently-formed Curzon Delivery Board, chaired by regeneration expert Liz Peace.


Contact: Henrietta Brealey T: 0121 607 1898


The arrival of HS2 puts Curzon in the spotlight


She said: “There is real momentum around this


incredibly dynamic part of the city centre. The local community is integral to the future of this historic area and it’s important that they play their part in what the future should look like.”


‘This is about so much more than fast trains to and from London’


Councillor John Clancy, leader of Birmingham City


Council, was one of the key speakers at the event and said: "This is about so much more than fast trains to and from London and the Curzon Investment Plan is a very clear signal of intent that our confident, ambitious city will use HS2 as a catalyst for inclusive growth.” Dr Umar Daraz, director for innovation at Birmingham City University said: “The Curzon Symposium marks the start of an exciting journey to build and develop a simple plan that brings together the enormous strengths of world leading academic, scientific, entrepreneurial and cultural brilliance that already exists in the heart of Birmingham. “It’s about connecting new developments of the


Curzon and Big City Master-plan and the HS2 terminus to create a world-class innovation district, ‘the Knowledge Hub’ using it to ignite the regeneration of and transform the Eastside of Birmingham.” The symposium follows the recent announcement of


the £1bn Curzon Investment Plan in October and the region’s commitment to maximise opportunities.


Walk with dinosaurs at the NEC


A new multi-million attraction which promises to showcase dinosaurs in a way they have never been seen before will come roaring into Birmingham’s NEC. ‘Dinosaurs in the Wild’ will take


up residence at the exhibition centre from 24 June to 24 August. The unique, immersive live


adventure combines theatre, theme park fun and the very latest scientific research. It will be the first time an event of


this kind has been hosted in the UK. Ian Taylor, venue sales director,


NEC Group Conventions & Exhibitions, said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming ‘Dinosaurs in the Wild’ to Birmingham this June. “We are experts at helping event


owners bring their shows to life and we are confident the NEC will be a great launch venue for this experience.


“We are also delighted our venue


– which currently welcomes 2.1 million visitors a year - will be the first place for families to experience dinosaurs in a way that nowhere in the world has offered before.” ‘Dinosaurs in the Wild’ has been


created by the award-winning producers of the most successful dinosaur productions of all time, Walking with Dinosaurs. Creative director Tim Haines


produced the landmark BBC TV series which was seen by 800 million globally and producer Jill Bryant headed the spin off arena show of the same name. Jill Bryant said: “We were keen


to create something new that raised the bar for live action experiences. “We are confident ‘Dinosaurs in


the Wild’ will do just that and we are equally confident the NEC will be a fantastic launch venue.”


Visitors will be able to experience what it was like to be around millions of years ago


The 70-minute adventure will


transport families back over 60 million years on an exciting journey by time machine to witness live dinosaurs as they have never been seen before.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68