Sector Focus


BIRMINGHAM BUSINESS SCHOOL


Birmingham Business School named Training Body of the Year


By Kirsty Smith Marketing Officer, Birmingham Business School


Birmingham Business School has been named Training Body of the Year at the 2016 West Midlands Finance Awards. Held on Wednesday 30


November and hosted by Robert Walters, the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and the ICAEW, the awards promote and celebrate the outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals within the West Midlands' finance community. This achievement


recognises the value of Birmingham Business School’s ability to produce excellent finance graduates and highlights the success of the KPMG School Leavers Programme in Accounting, which enrols 56 school-leavers annually, as well as the unique online MBA, which is the first in the world to be accredited by the Association of MBAs. Both of these programmes show that although Birmingham Business School may be the oldest in the UK, it is very much at the forefront of training the next generation of financial leaders and putting students at the heart of business. Professor Glyn Watson, Dean


of the Birmingham Business School stated: “The award is important not just because it recognises the quality of our graduates, the innovative nature of our programmes and our commitment to widening participation; but also because it acknowledges the critical part that we play in supporting the region’s economy.”


For further information on the awards please visit www.robertwalters.co.uk/ finance-awards.html For further information about Birmingham Business School please visit www.birmingham.ac.uk/ business


50 CHAMBERLINK February 2017


Finance


Sponsored by: University of Birmingham


Ready to roll: Headlam Group has obtained the finance to expand


Five-year funding plan supports firm’s growth


Floorcovering distributor Headlam Group has secured funding from Barclays and HSBC, to support the continued development of the company over the next five years. The Coleshill-based company is involved with the


marketing, supply and distribution of an extensive range of floorcovering products and has operations in the UK, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The company’s operations are focused on providing


customers in the residential and commercial sectors, who are principally independent floorcovering retailers and contractors, with a comprehensive and up to date range of competitively priced floorcovering products, supported by a next day delivery service. The approach provides the company’s suppliers with


an opportunity to achieve extensive and, in some territories, unparalleled market access backed by cost effective distribution. This latest funding will be used to support growth in


the UK and on the Continent and in particular, help drive the company’s continued outperformance of the


UK market which, accounts for 88 per cent of total revenue.


Headlam CEO Steve Wilson said: “The funding will


assist with Headlam’s continued outperformance of the growth in the UK market and enable us to move our businesses in continental Europe markets towards improved profitability.” Jim Quantrill, relationship director at Barclays


Corporate in the Midlands, said: “We have enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the company and have a high regard for Headlam’s operating model and its ability to trade well through the economic cycle. “We are pleased to be providing additional funding


to help the company with its medium term objectives.” Sean Horner, relationship director at HSBC, said:


“We’ve been speaking with Headlam and their management team for many years to see how we could best support their growth ambitions. They have a clear strategy for growth and we’re pleased to provide the support and funding that will be pivotal to their plans in the UK and Europe over the next five years.”


Al Rayan hits billion pound mark


Al Rayan Bank (UK) has become a ‘Billion Pound Bank’, as the value of its retail and commercial assets surpassed £1bn for the first time. This significant milestone highlights the success of the growth strategy which was implemented following the bank’s acquisition by Masraf Al Rayan QSC (MAR) in February 2014. Al Rayan Bank’s robust growth is


evidenced by an almost 400 per cent increase in its retail and commercial asset book in the last three years, with 47.7 per cent growth in the last 12 months alone. Sultan Choudhury, CEO of Al Rayan Bank


(pictured), said: “We are delighted that the value of the bank’s retail and commercial asset book has surpassed £1bn for the first time. l “The bank’s recent progress validates the strategic


growth plan which was put in place following its takeover by MAR in 2014.


“This is a substantial milestone and an important


step in the long-term objective to establish Al Rayan Bank as an enduring banking brand.” Al Rayan Bank’s recent success has been


fuelled by major asset growth across three of the its main business lines – retail, commercial and private banking. The value of the Bank’s retail asset business, driven by its Home Purchase Plan (HPP) and Buy to Let Home Purchase Plan (BTLPP) products, has increased by 24 per cent in the past 12 months, while the


commercial asset book has increased by 44.7 per


cent. In addition, the bank has seen a 118 per cent increase in the value of its private and premier asset book, boosted by the opening of its flagship branch in Knightsbridge. In total, Al Rayan Bank has provided real estate financing of almost £1.3 billion since it commenced this line of business in 2008.


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