1813 Club and Premier Members


We are the champions: Jane Jackson (centre) and other members of the winning ‘Business for Birmingham 3’ team


In Brief Midland-based airline BMI Regional has joined the aviation industry’s campaign to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. Last month, the airline took


part in ‘Fly Pink’, during which pilots and cabin crew wore pink lanyards, badges and epaulettes during flight duty. BMI Regional chief commercial


officer Jochen Schnadt said: “BMI Regional is proud to support Fly Pink. Cancer is an illness that affects many people and to be able to raise awareness for such a worthwhile cause is of great importance to us. Cancer Research UK


Charity quiz night tests Birmingham’s brightest


A team of leading local businesses romped to victory in the latest Marie Curie’s ‘West Midlands Brain Game’, which took place at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham. The celebrity hosted quiz-night


saw almost 500 guests gather together for an event which raised £180,000 for Marie Curie, which is the UK’s leading charity for people with any terminal illness. Celebrities helping out by


hosting a round at the quiz included local historian Professor Carl Chinn, Luke Tipping, top chef at Simpsons, former rugby star Chris Bell and singer Ruby Turner. Charlotte Lindley, Marie Curie


West Midlands Hospice Manager, said: “Thank you to everyone who joined us for the West Midlands Brain Game 2017. It was a wonderful


‘The funds raised from this event will keep it going for a month’


evening and we are thrilled to have raised such a significant amount which will go directly to supporting people living with a terminal illness and their loved ones, at the Marie Curie Hospice, West Midlands.” Winners for 2017 included


‘Business for Birmingham 3’ a team made up of representatives from Axa, Shoosmiths, Seddon Construction, Gleeds, Brindley Group, St Paul’s, Claremont Planning and also the Chamber. The winning team included the


Chamber’s Jane Jackson, who is also on the event’s organising committee. She said: “It was a spectacular event


which went way beyond the expectations of the committee. “The important thing is that the


money is raised for the local hospice, which is in Solihull and is the only one of its kind in the region. “It costs more than £7,000 each


day to run the hospice, so the funds raised from this event will keep it going for a month, which is a fantastic achievement.” Gary Church, Brain Game event


committee chairman, said: “I am very proud to play a part in this special event and I am delighted with the astonishing amount we raised this year. It is a pleasure to see so many companies from across the West Midlands come together for such a worthy cause.” Next year’s event will held be on


11 October. SMEs embrace cloud computing


Around three-quarters of small businesses are looking to ‘cloud solutions’ to boost business efficiency, according to new research by accountant Smith & Williamson. ‘The cloud’ is a network of


servers, which allow businesses to store data or access a range of online services, and among its advantages is that companies don’t have to buy their own software. Research of nearly 200


businesses and entrepreneurs by Smith & Williamson has revealed that more companies are looking to take advantage of the cloud. Tom Edwards, associate director


Tom Edwards: Businesses flocking to the cloud


at Smith & Williamson’s Birmingham office, said: “Businesses, particularly smaller and scale-up ones, are noticing the


vast potential that working in, and using, the cloud can offer them. “The cloud and software-as-a-


service solutions are revolutionising the way businesses operate, for everything from enhancing individual accounting functions to full IT infrastructure. Costly IT servers, hardware and software solutions are becoming a thing of the past. We’re barely touching the surface of what cloud computing can offer and yet the measurable impact it is having on business cost are extraordinary.” “SMEs and scale-ups are at the


forefront of this. Perhaps by their nature the individuals involved are more likely to experiment with new products and ideas. Potentially, entrepreneurs find it easier to implement new structures and ways of working in one swoop.”


fundraising manager Kate Constance said: “Every donation made will help save lives by funding research to accelerate the charity’s progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. “Cancer survival has doubled


since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress – but every step our doctors, nurses and scientists take relies on donations from the public and the tireless fundraising of our supporters.” Fly Pink is a global aviation


initiative launched by an Australian pilot to support those suffering with breast cancer.


Homeless charity Crisis Skylight Birmingham & Coventry held an employment fair to try and help its clients find work. Employers, training providers,


volunteering organisations and colleges were invited to the event, at the Rep, to showcase current vacancies and opportunities. Those attending included DHL,


Fortem, Business in the Community, Shelter and the NHS. Crisis director Matthew Green


said: “Sustainable employment that improves financial stability, confidence, skills and self-worth is a crucial part of homeless people ending their homelessness for good. Crisis is a national charity that supports homeless people throughout the UK and in Birmingham.


A Birmingham firm that allows customers to produce sweets embossed with their own messages, using special 3D printers, has struck a deal with retail giant John Lewis. This will see Katjes Magic


Candy Factory’s printers installed at the John Lewis store in London’s Oxford Street. The food safe printers are an American invention, and were brought to the UK two years ago by Katje founders Melissa Snover and Bastian Fassin.


November 2017 CHAMBERLINK 31


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