Business News
Sponsored by: Trinity College London
Trinity College London is approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) & Transport for London (TfL) to provide Secure English Language Tests (SELTs).
By Lisa Donald Head of Business Development Trinity College London
SELTs are taken by people who need to demonstrate their required English language level for the purpose of obtaining British Citizenship, Settlement or a visa for work or study. The SELTs Trinity offer are:
• GESE: Graded Examinations in Spoken English – a 6- minute (A1), 7-minute (A2) or 10-minute (B1) face-to- face conversation with a Trinity examiner for British Citizenship, Settlement and Further Leave to Remain visa applications.
• ISE: Integrated Skills in English – a contemporary four-skills qualification widely recognised by UK universities for Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 4 visa applications.
Trinity’s ISE I (B1) SELT is also approved by TfL for new and renewal private hire driver licence applications. Trinity has 10 SELT centres
across the UK in Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, London Croydon, London Hammersmith, London Holborn, Manchester and Peterborough. Further information about
the tests Trinity offer can be found at
trinitycollege.com/ SELT. We have a wide range of free learning resources and preparation materials available to help candidates prepare for their test.
Our friendly advisers are available on 0333 358 3183 from Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm, and Saturday from 9am-4pm.
12 CHAMBERLINK February 2018
Report launch (L-R): Paul Faulkner, Richard Kirkham, Clair Mowbray, Joanna Birch, Julian Beer and Raj Kandola
Exporters lead region’s drive for success in 2018
Increased orders for manufacturers are set to lead Greater Birmingham confidently into 2018 after all businesses showed “remarkable durability” in 2017, a new survey reveals. The figures are in the final
quarterly report of 2017 from Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) but uncertainty over the future direction on the local economy persists. In the light of that, the GBCC has
called on the Government to demonstrate they are on the side of the business community. The report is produced by the
GBCC in conjunction with Birmingham City University and was discussed at a launch breakfast at the BCU. Respondents in both the
manufacturing and service sectors reported strong performances in domestic and export sales and looking ahead to next year the
overall balance score for advanced export orders rose from 60 to 62. And there was encouraging news
on the skills front. The balance score of the number of firms from all sectors reporting an increased workforce rose from 58 per cent to 61. The domestic demand balance
rose by one point to 69 – the highest figure seen since the start of the year. However, there were acute differences in the individual sectors. Service firms saw a two-point increase in the balance score for UK sales, as the number of companies reporting decreased domestic sales fell from 16 per cent to 11 per cent. Paul Faulkner, chief executive of
the GBCC, said: “The year brought both unexpected and expected political and economic developments, in the form of a snap General Election, continued fallout from Brexit negotiations and the first interest rate rise in almost a decade.
“Throughout it all, our firms
continue to demonstrate a remarkable durability in light of ongoing uncertainty. “The latest results revealed that
healthy levels of domestic and international output were upheld as we head into the New Year. It was pleasing to see concerns over accessing the right talent lessen and a slight upturn in the levels that firms were investing in training their staff. “And strong projections around
profitability and turnover were also maintained as firms across Greater Birmingham continue to exhibit an air of optimism.”
For more information, visit the Chamber website or contact Emily Stubbs, policy and patron adviser at
E.Stubbs@Birmingham-
Chamber.com or by calling 0121 607 1783.
Skills development in spotlight
Skills development and sourcing the right talent to deliver some of the region’s biggest infrastructure projects came under the microscope at the launch of a major Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce report. The launch of the Quarterly Business Report for the
fourth quarter highlighted the challenges in bridging the West Midlands’ skills gap and finding people with the wide range of skills required to work on projects such as HS2. Delegates at Birmingham City University heard
from Clair Mowbray, CEO of the National College for High Speed Rail, who outlined how the college, which has campuses in Birmingham and Doncaster, can be part of the region’s skills gap solution.
Richard Kirkham, project director at LMJV (Laing
O’Rourke/Murphy Joint Venture) which will deliver the Area North Enabling Works for HS2, spoke about the changing face of construction and how engineers working on major infrastructure projects are at the cutting edge of technology. Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “A lively and engaging discussion highlighted a number of challenges and potential solutions to the skills gap issue facing the region. “A key point that shone through was the need for
strong collaboration between business and the education sector to understand each other’s needs – something the Chamber is actively encouraging.”
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