Business News Beer champions Birmingham By John Lamb


Professor Julian Beer, Cornwall born and bred and a devoted Everton fan, is now turning his talents to the promotion of Greater Birmingham and the West Midlands. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University (BCU) is an academic through and through but is now throwing himself with huge enthusiasm into the well-being and the future of his adopted region. His has not only taken up the


cudgels of trying to “Make a Success of Brexit” by championing a new university initiative but, he has also nailed his colours firmly to the international mast by being elected president of the Midlands Chapter of the British American Business Council (BABC), part of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC). He leads on the university’s


research, innovation, enterprise and business engagement strategy, forging links between business, government and higher education as well as leading on developing the university’s distinctiveness and positioning through developing large strategic initiatives. Professor Beer was previously


Pro Vice-Chancellor at Plymouth University with a similar role in the South West of England and was professor of knowledge transfer. He has extensive experience of the private sector, as well as transferring higher education knowledge into commercial and public policy outcomes. As leader of its research,


innovation, enterprise and business engagement strategy and on government and employer engagement, Julian strengthens Birmingham City University’s connection with the city and region. He has significant experience of higher education and the private


The building that rocks: Professor Julian Beer (left) on a tour of the new Conservatoire taking shape in Birmingham city centre. It will relocate from Paradise Forum, now being redeveloped, and become part of Birmingham City University, the first purpose-build Conservatoire in a generation. The new building, located near Millennium Point, is set to open its doors to students in September. The building will have five public performance spaces - including a 500-seat concert hall - for orchestral training and performance, private rehearsal rooms and dedicated teaching spaces for musicians plus a bespoke jazz club. And it will be headed by principal Julian Lloyd Webber (right), the internationally-renowned cellist.


sector, as well as successfully transferring research and learning from one to the other. One of the most pleasing


highlights of his career to date at BCU has been the recent wide acclaim and media interest BCU has received for creating the Centre for Brexit Studies (CBS). The Centre will provide a forum for all perspectives impacted by Brexit and it will undertake research, host conferences, workshops and seminars to share ideas and knowledge. It is also developing a portfolio of practical and applied training and professional development such as trade negotiations and the law. The university along with the


West Midlands Economic Forum has also launched a discussion paper called “Making a Success of Brexit” as one of CBSs first outputs. It is believed no other region in England has come up with a similar set of recommendations and potential plan, which demonstrates


Professor Beer’s and his colleagues’ mission to present Brexit in a pragmatic and practical light “irrespective of politics”. He added: “We are trying to


ensure the university plays its part by working together with everyone, academics, government, business and the community to understand the implications, issues and opportunities that Brexit represents. There is nothing political in this but we want to offer policy and decision makers’ information and ideas going forward and provide a platform for debate.” Professor Beer’s role with the


BABC will be huge bonus for the Midland’s relationship with the US as the prospect of new trade deals with the Trump administration emerge. So the eclectic professor is firmly embedded in Midlands’s life and is determined to bring his skills and expertise and those of his academic colleagues to the benefit of the region.


So how does a man of Cornwall


also become an Everton fan? He says: “It was entirely to do


with the fact that Everton’s colour represents the blue of the sea surrounding Cornwall depicted in Cornish Tartan and since there was no Premier League team in the area there seemed no choice for someone born in Redruth and living in Bodmin. And given that the


Conservatoire, headed by the internationally renowned cellist Professor Julian Lloyd Webber, is part of BCU, what are the professor’s musical tastes, I ask. “The whole spectrum,” he


answers. “I like most things from dance music, mainstream and, of course, jazz but not much rock and roll.” Representing a university being


only one of a few in the country with a Conservatoire seems a perfect arrangement for Professor Beer because it will include a jazz club with a bar nearby.


8 CHAMBERLINK February 2017


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