Member Section ...any other business A roundup of news from Chamber members
...any other business is a new page designed to help satisfy the huge demand the Chamber gets from members seeking to publicise their activities in our publications. We have now moved company appointments to our daily bulletin, ChamberlinkDaily, which goes out every morning to nearly 17,000 business and individuals across the West Midlands.
In Brief
Hotel Chocolat is opening a new store in Birmingham city centre. The upmarket chocolatier
chain has agreed a 10-year lease at an annual rent of £102,500 on Unit 5B 117 New Street with landlord Hortons’ Estate Limited. Hotel Chocolat was co-founded
by entrepreneurs Angus Thirwell and Peter Harris in 1993. The first store opened in North London in 2004. There are now more than 80 stores across the UK. The New Street store, as well
as selling a range of chocolates and gifts, will also serve food and drinks in Hotel Chocolat’s new Cocoa Bar Café. Steve Tommy from Hortons’
said: “The new store on New Street will be a great addition to the retail offer in this part of the city centre, which has been reinvigorated thanks in part to the opening of the new Apple shop and the extension of the Midland Metro.”
A Birmingham charity that has helped more than 280 women get back into work is celebrating its first anniversary. Recently named Social Action
Charity of the Year 2017, Smart Works helps unemployed women get work ready, by providing them with smart clothing, interview coaching sessions and confidence workshops. Since opening in the city last
August, Smart Works’ support has helped more than 60 per cent of its clients go on to succeed in securing jobs. Smart Works is a UK charity
that is led by Lady Juliet Hughes-Hallett, and leading fashion designer and patron, Betty Jackson, who said: “We help women transform their looks and you see them blossom in front of you. But it’s not just their clothes that changes. “When you make a woman
look great and feel great, their confidence rockets. It’s this confidence that goes on to help them secure that job. It has a ripple effect on their lives and their families lives.”
70 CHAMBERLINK November 2017 Viola takes on marathon
Running came home to Birmingham after the city’s biggest ever weekend of activity saw world records broken and more than 20,000 people take to the streets for the half-marathon Great Birmingham Run and inaugural Birmingham International Marathon. Among those taking part was the Running Viola, aka
Alistair Rutherford, a student from Birmingham City University’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Donning a custom-made viola costume, Alistair ran
the marathon in three hours, 20 minutes and 33 seconds, the fastest ever for someone dressed as a musical instrument. His musical costume was created by Merseyside-
based designer Brian D Hanlon, and is made from lightweight foam. Alistair hopes to raise at least £4,000 for a
collaborative UK-South African project, Cape Gate MIAGI Centre for Music & Birmingham Conservatoire – or ARCO, also the name for the technique of playing a stringed instrument with a bow. He said: “Running the Birmingham International
Marathon wasn’t easy, particularly in my costume, but it was great to have them cheering me on along the route – whether in person or virtually – as well as the people of Birmingham, who came out in force to support all the runners.” “I am planning on resting The Running Viola for the
moment, unless someone breaks my records. I’m looking forward to my work coming to frutition though, when my ARCO student comes to Birmingham in November.”
On the run: The Running Viola
Family firm to open flagship store
Family firm Deakin & Francis is opening a flagship store in London, its first. The 230 year-old Birmingham
firm – which designs and manufactures cufflinks and accessories – is opening the store in the capital’s trendy Piccadilly Arcade. The store will stock the firm’s
classic and quirky cufflinks, jewellery and luxury accessories. Deakin & Francis is run by
brothers Henry and James Deakin, the seventh generation to do so. The firm uses tools and traditions passed down from one generation to the next. Henry, who is managing director, said: “We are immensely proud to
be opening our first flagship store – it’s taken 230 years to get to this point. “Our brand is going from
strength-to-strength and we are incredibly grateful that our customer base is growing every day all over the world, so there really couldn’t be a better time for us to open a store. “We want to make visiting our
store an unforgettable, welcoming experience –offering a mix of luxury, sophistication and of course, some unexpected Deakin & Francis twists.” “There are even plans to have a
unique gin bar upstairs – it wouldn’t be a Deakin & Francis shop without a good tipple.”
Flagship store: James Deakin of 230-year-old Deakin & Francis
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