Chamber Patrons


Businesses are urged to encourage STEM careers


Birmingham Chamber and its members have been challenged to encourage more children to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) – as businesses face a drastic shortfall of around 70,000 workers a year. Judith Armstrong, chief


executive of Millennium Point, told a business audience that it was one of the most significant challenges facing the UK and without a radical change, key growth industries in the UK risked stalling. She said: “Seventy thousand


jobs in the sector are each year going unfilled. It’s harming British industry and the UK economy. We all have to take responsibility for encouraging more young people to take an interest in occupations requiring study of STEM subjects. “Only a fifth of those working


in core STEM occupations are women – and they only represent 14 per cent in science, engineering and technology management. “Fifty thousand girls are


turning away from STEM related education every year. If we don’t reverse the trend then the labour force skills shortage that we hear so much about will only deepen.”


new shared office space targeted at smaller organisations and start- ups with interests in STEM. It will also shortly unveil


improvements to its ground- breaking young innovator scheme that has already funded three young people through Birmingham City University to study STEM related subjects – as part of the trust’s commitment to encouraging education in these fields. Ms Armstrong said: “Birmingham has always embraced the spirit of hard work and innovation. We were here at the start of the Industrial Revolution with the industry greats walking on our streets. “But if we are to maintain and


Judith Armstrong: STEM problem can’t be ignored


Speaking at a breakfast


organised by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, she called on Chamber members and businesses to start engaging with primary and secondary schoolchildren, as well as universities. Millennium Point Trust has


contributed more than £4m in STEM related initiatives over the past four years and is developing


grow the automotive sector and leading IT businesses, and support technology and engineering developments such as HS2, we have to convince young people that studying STEM offers great career opportunities. “We have to ignite the minds of


children. It is up to us – the Chamber, business and all of us as parents and grandparents – to drive this forward. “We will be failing our young


people – and the country – if we simply ignore the problem.”


City schools in college link-up


West Midlands mayor Andy Street joined more than 300 students from secondary schools across Birmingham to mark a new collaboration between the city and two Oxford colleges. Mr Street opened the event at


King Edward’s School’s Ruddock Performing Arts Centre, which celebrated the link-up between Birmingham schools and Merton and Keble colleges. The event provided an insight


into what life is like at Oxford as well as providing information on the admissions process. Heath Monk, executive director


of the charity, said “This was a valuable opportunity for these pupils who may not have had an opportunity to engage with these outstanding colleges.” Mr Street, a former King Edward’s


pupil, provided the welcome address before current senior tutors, undergraduates and graduates addressed to the audience. He said: “We must do everything


we can to make sure that everyone has the chance to access the very best education whatever their background. I am delighted to support this excellent initiative." Rachel Buxton, senior tutor at


Merton College Oxford said: “This is a terrific opportunity for us to meet hardworking students from the Birmingham area who are interested in applying to Oxford. “We are looking forward to


talking with them about what it is like to live and study here.”


Chinese contractor praises our ‘beautiful city’


The head of China’s principal organisation for international investment has described Birmingham City University as “beautiful and impressive” following a visit. Fang Qiuchen, chairman of the


China International Contractors Association (CHINA) was shown, from the fifth floor balcony of the university’s £63m Curzon building, the site where high speed trains will be arriving in to the city from 2026. With 3,000 members, CHINA is


responsible for one in five infrastructure projects being undertaken across the globe. In 2014, the newly-signed


contract value of China’s contracted projects abroad amounted to $191.8bn, with a turnover of $142.4bn, and covered 190 countries and regions around the world. Fang Qiuchen, chairman of


CHINA, said: “It is a pleasure and an honour to be here.


Delegates from China and Hong Kong, including Fang Qiuchen (centre, back), visit Birmingham City University


There are so many opportunities


for investment in Birmingham and the wider region, and we have all been impressed by the Midlands’ ambitious infrastructure plans. “Furthermore, partnerships with


institutions such as Birmingham City University will enable us to understand local cultural and legal environments.


“As construction of high speed


railway station progresses, it will be fantastic to see the area around the university develop into a modern place for the international community to gather – just like in the University’s classrooms today.” Fang Qiuchen visited the


university as part of a distinguished delegation led by Sun Tong,


director-general of the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs. A senior official from China’s


Ministry of Commerce, the director- general was accompanied by more than 40 other senior delegates from mainland China and Hong Kong. Birmingham City University’s


fast-developing campus offered the director-general and his delegation the best possible view of the proposed HS2 terminal. The visitors also heard a presentation from the university’s deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Julian Beer, while Birmingham’s economic growth was mapped out by James Betjemann, regeneration manager and Richard Woodland, principal capital investment officer, both from Birmingham City Council. The visit forms part of a


nationwide tour organised by the UK’s Department of International Trade and the delegates spent the day exploring potential investment opportunities.


December 2017/January 2018 CHAMBERLINK 21


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