Solihull
All the latest news, advice and events for the Solihull business community
Contact: Lillian Elekan T: 0121 678 7488
In Brief
Expanding recruitment agency Morgan Parkes has moved to new premises in Hockley Heath. The fast growing firm has also opened a
new satellite office in St Paul’s Square, in Birmingham city centre. The agency was set up four years ago by
Kate Morgan and Bonny Parkes, who together can call on more than 20 years’ experience in the recruitment industry. The two owners spent their first two years
working from home, at which point they acquired their first office in Solihull. Today, they have added two more staff to
the team, and are actively recruiting a third, which has meant a further office move, this time to Old Warwick Road, Hockley Heath. The agency specialises in commercial
recruitment, including finance, legal, HR, customer services, and sales and marketing. Kate said: “We are very excited about our
recent move into new, larger offices in Hockley Heath. We feel that it is a positive step forward in
our business growth and with the office being in a prime location, it will make it more accessible for meetings with our clients and candidates. “We are busy working mums who are
determined to offer our clients and candidates a great recruitment experience.”
‘Supernetwork Expo’ hailed a huge success
Solihull’s ‘Supernetwork Expo’ has been hailed as a massive success by businesses across the region. The event, hosted by the Solihull Chamber of
Commerce at the Forest of Arden Hotel Marriott Hotel & Country Club, saw more than 300 delegates and 45 exhibitors make connections, expand their network and raise their business profile.
Delegates and exhibitors had the chance to
hear from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Growth Hub, which gave businesses insight into its objectives and how businesses can grow. Astute Media was on hand to provide expert
insight and advice on the use of digital marketing and social media. Virgin Trains also gave a presentation on its
technology partnerships, the changing nature of how people travel to work and how they are working with SMEs on their travel management systems. Lillian Elekan, head of Solihull Chamber of Commerce, said: “The expo has been highly
Expanding: Kate Morgan (left) and Bonny Parkes
Solihull Metropolitan Council has launched a ‘free tree’ initiative, aimed at protecting and enhancing the rural character of the borough. The Arden Free Tree Scheme, in partnership
with Birmingham Airport, is aimed at boosting the planting of traditional native trees in the borough, restoring features typical of the wider local landscape, whilst also reducing carbon in the atmosphere. The scheme is open to any individuals or
groups wishing to create hedgerows or small woodlands on their own land, within Solihull. Proposed projects will be taken forward for
selection in September, and successful applicants will then receive free trees and plants in time for the planting season (November – March).
44 CHAMBERLINK September 2018
‘It’s been fantastic to see such a variety of businesses connecting with each other’
anticipated by Chamber members, and it did not disappoint. “It’s been fantastic to see such a variety of
businesses connecting with each other, establishing new relationships that may prove to be fruitful in the future. Robert Elliot, director of sales at Hogarths and Chamber vice-president, said: “This has been as much about networking as it’s been about business generation. You are never going to measure business generation at these sorts of events, it’s all about meeting people and raising awareness in your local business community. “The business community in Solihull likes to do
business with organisations in Solihull. Within the borough of Solihull you can do business with a great variety of organisations, as a large majority of sectors are represented in this region.”
‘Tuk’ into handcrafted cakes By Jessica Brookes
Dreams of winning TV’s Bake Off: The Professionals were shattered for two Solihull chefs when their incredible sugar swan sculpture toppled over and smashed to pieces. Darryl Collins and Bharat Chandegra, head
pastry chef and sous chef at Resorts World, took on their biggest and most intense baking challenge yet, competing on The Great British Bake-Off’s spin off competition, where professional chefs battled it out to be crowned the best patisserie chefs in the country. The pair made it all the way through to the
final, going up against Sam and Emmanuel London Hilton Park Lane and Theo and Hideko from Sweet Art Lab to claim the winner’s crown.
But disaster struck when their swan sugar
sculpture toppled and smashed in the middle of the challenge. However when reflecting on the challenge, the pair remain positive and proud of their efforts. Bharat said: “Although we didn’t win, we were
still extremely proud of how far we came in our first competition.” Now away from the Bake Off kitchen, Darryl
and Bharrat have brought their masterpieces to Birmingham. At Tuk Cakes, the chefs’ pop up shop in a tuk tuk van, they serve a range handcrafted patisserie delights, including mega macaroons, chocolate bon bons and ‘ultimate’ eclairs. Tuk Cakes can be found in the atrium at Resorts World, open Thursday to Sunday.
Sweet success: Hannah Francis-Smith and Phil Sexton from exhibitor BizSpace serving up a sweet treat for Pushpa Alexander from Headz Up Business
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 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
