Solihull
All the latest news, advice and events for the Solihull business community
Contact: Joan Smith T: 0121 678 7488
In Brief
The charity adopted by Solihull Chamber for the next 12 months is hoping to open new premises in the borough, after its current building was threatened with closure. The charity is ‘Help Harry Help Others
Cancer Charity (HHHO)’, which was founded as a registered charity by Georgie Moseley five years ago. The charity continues with the work started by her son, Harry, before he lost his battle with cancer, at the age of 11. Harry launched a fundraising campaign
to help children suffering from cancer, and managed to raise an incredible £265,000. Today, the charity has three objectives: HelpCURE, to fund vital brain tumour research projects; HelpCOPE, to give grants to families suffering financial hardship directly as a result of a Cancer diagnosis; and HelpCARE, to offer support to a patient or their families who might need help via the charity’s Birmingham Drop In Cancer Support Centre. Its activities run from a former council neighbourhood office in Stechford, which is threatened with closure, as it stands on land that Birmingham City Council wants to redevelop as part of a regeneration scheme. The charity has to vacate the premises by
December, and has now brought forward plans to open another centre in Solihull, which will now serve as their main base. Georgie Moseley said: “We are really saddened that a service that offers such a lifeline to over 300 patients faces imminent closure. My focus is to ensure that none of our services are disrupted to patients and their families and as one door closes we have a new door opening in January 2018. “Any support that Chamber members/Solihull Council could offer would be really welcomed. HHHO doesn’t receive any funding whatsoever, and we are determined to keep this lifeline service open and get through this difficult period.” Solihull Chamber director Joan Smith said:
“HHHO touches so many charities. It is such a worthy cause and it is crucial that we work with our local businesses, communities and Solihull Council to find them a new home before the end of the year.
Human resources specialists from all over the region are getting together on 24 May for a major conference to address the key issues facing their industry. The conference, at Solihull College’s
Blossomfield Road campus, is being hosted by Solihull Chamber and local recruitment agency Plum Personnel. The event will feature an impressive line-up
of speakers headlined by Kevin Green, chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), who will talk about the future of recruitment in the UK.
28 CHAMBERLINK May 2017
New vice presidents: Joan Smith with (left) Andrew Cole and Robert Elliot
New appointments to Chamber committee
Solihull Chamber has appointed two new vice- presidents to help drive the organisation forward in the coming years. They are Andrew Cole, who has been general manager at the town’s Touchwood shopping centre for the past five years, and Robert Elliot, sales manager of Hogarths Hotel and Restaurant. Andrew Cole is a former chairman of Solihull
Business Improvement District (BID), and said he was looking forward to helping the further development of both the town, and its Chamber.
‘I am very much looking forward to working with the board for the next two years’
He said: “I see the Chamber as having
transitioned significantly in the last twelve months and I am keen to see this change and evolution continue to ensure maximum representation and benefit for members. I am not afraid to question or promote change and will work hard to ensure that the Chamber develops to match the changing face of business.” Robert Elliot began his career in the hotel
industry after graduating in 1991, and his first position was at the famous Belfry golfing hotel. After working at a number of hotels around
the country, Robert joined Hogarths in Solihull three years ago, and one of his key aims is to encourage tourism in the borough. He said: “I am a firm believer that if a visitor,
be it family of corporate comes to Solihull we should do everything we can to get them to
return, again and again. I see the development of further hotels, and attractions such as Resort World as an opportunity, and not a threat. I believe that if you can offer something different you will enjoy different opportunities from a wider client base.” Robert and Andrew have taken over from
former vice presidents Stuart Baker of Rolls Royce, who is continuing as a Chamber board member, and Kevin Johns, who is the organisation’s new president. A third vice-president, Sue Yates, is continuing
in her role. Also joining the Chamber, as board members, are Howard Rose, Susie Ankrett and Mick Westman. Howard Rose has run his own business for the
past 15 years, but also has a role at Balsall Common Primary School, where he helps raise the profile of the school and also build relationships with local businesses. Mick Westman is from Westman Consulting,
and draws his expertise from a career at telecoms giant BT which lasted 35 years. The result of this is Quick Code Labs, a Solihull
College based not-for-profit venture which is aiming to help find the apprentices of the future for local businesses. Last but not least, Susie Ankrett is well known
in Solihull business circles, and is a director of Plum Personnel Ltd, a leading recruitment consultancy based in the town. Solihull Chamber director Joan Smith said: “I
am very much looking forward to working with the board for the next two years with all the growth opportunities and investments we will see coming to the borough.”
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