Chamber Patrons Chamber Patrons Greater Birmingham Chambers’ leading supporters
A global expert on cities urged the West Midlands to “bang the drum” to ensure that the area made the best of devolution and an elected mayor. Alexandra Jones, chief executive
of think-tank Centre for Cities was speaking at a Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) patrons’ lunch hosted by the Park Regis Hotel. She said: “You should be pushing
the mayor, the combined authority and national Government to deliver what is best for the region in the months ahead as Britain negotiates a new role in the world. “Business has a huge role to play
in making devolution a success. You should be spelling out, as a group, what priorities you think the mayor should have and what changes you would like to see.” “Mayors matter, not just because
of their formal powers but also their ‘soft’ powers - to convene people
Show of support for covenant
A leading Midlands housing organisation has shown its support for Defence personnel and their families by signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant. Ruth Cooke, CEO of Midland Heart
put pen to paper to show the Birmingham-based organisation’s commitment to those who serve or have served in the armed forces. The Covenant recognises
organisations across the UK that are armed forces-friendly, and actively work with former service personnel and members of the Reserve Forces. Ruth said: “As a large employer
across the Midlands region, we create a wide range of employment and training opportunities and will be working closely with the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association to recruit members of the armed forces community.”
Sheldon Ward councillors, park rangers, Birmingham Airport representatives, BTFL representatives and school children from Stanville Primary School and Perry Beeches Academy ready to start planting trees at Sheldon Country Park
Airport’s green approach
Birmingham Airport has given support to the Birmingham Trees for Life (BTFL) charity, by funding tree planting to help enhance the environment in the local area. The registered charity, part of the
Birmingham Civic Society and city council, spreads awareness and understanding of the value and importance of trees. Its members raise money to enable more trees to be planted, more than 50,000 since 2006. One of the latest plantings was at
Signing time: Ruth Cooke with Wing Commander Paul Bell and Captain Hazel Ashton
28 CHAMBERLINK March 2017
Sheldon Country Park, where BTFL members were joined by local councillors, park rangers, airport
representatives and school children from nearby Stanville Primary School and Perry Beeches Academy. In total ten standard trees and 1,000 smaller whips were planted. Andy Holding, corporate
responsibility manager at Birmingham Airport, said: “The trustees decided to award Birmingham Trees for Life with this funding as the work they do doesn’t just bring enormous environmental benefits but also brings together local community groups to help increase awareness of the importance of trees in urban environments.”
and change conversations. Mayors have the ability to get organisations working together.” Ms Jones added that devolution
was about making the most of the West Midlands economy. “The region needs to be clear that
a big focus of devolution is making the most of businesses, economic growth and sharing prosperity. “The West Midlands is not as well-
known as it should be, despite its strengths and successes. Skills are a real issue for this area. You need to improve skills as that will make the area more attractive to businesses. “You have made a lot of progress
on working in partnership and gaining devolution in a short space of time. From May the West Midlands will have greater control over transport, roads and housing and other areas. You are in a good position to make the most of this to support growth in the years ahead.”
Contact: Henrietta Brealey T: 0121 607 1898
Banging the drum for devolution
L-R: Stuart Broster (Park Regis managing director), Alexandra Jones, Robin Ford (Park Regis general manager), Greg Lowson (immediate past president, Birmingham Chamber) and Paul Faulkner (chief executive Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce)
Arup get on board with HS2 A team led by Arup has
been named environmental overview consultant of the phase 2b of the proposed HS2 (high speed rail) project. The Arup + team will also
provide civil and environmental engineering services for the Nottinghamshire to Leeds and York section of the line. As the environmental
overview consultant, Arup+ will support HS2 Ltd by overseeing and bringing together the assessments of all three geographic route sections (Crewe to Manchester, Birmingham to Nottinghamshire, and Nottinghamshire to Leeds). Arup+ will then support HS2 through the Bill process.
* Mark Thurston has been named as the new chief executive for HS2. Mr Thurston began his career in the rail industry as an apprentice with Transport for London, before a series of roles with The Nichols Group, Metronet, the London 2012 Olympics and Crossrail.
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