Business News


GBCC set to tackle the hot topic of reforms


New briefing information on apprenticeships is scheduled to be released by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) during National Apprenticeship Week from 5-9 March. Since plans for the apprenticeship levy were


announced, businesses have expressed concerns about uncertainty surrounding reforms to the apprenticeship system. The levy is mandatory for employers with a pay bill over £3m a year, and funds paid can be used for training and assessment for apprentices who work at least 50 per cent of the time in England within the funding band. From next month, the government plan to allow


levy-paying employers to transfer funds to other employers, including those in their supply chains and apprenticeship training agencies. The amount transferable will initially be capped at 10 per cent of the annual value of funds entering levy payers’ apprenticeship service account. A British Chambers of Commerce Survey in 2017


revealed that 27 per cent of businesses in the West Midlands had limited or no understanding of the apprenticeship levy, and 38 per cent didn’t know what changes they would make as a direct response to the introduction of the levy. The GBCC has added ‘hot topic’ pages on the


GBCC website, summarising key issues and policy changes affecting businesses, useful information for businesses and the GBCC position on them. This hot topic is sponsored by Aston University,


and aims to clarify the full scope of apprenticeship reforms and what support is available to businesses. Aston University has over 100 years’ experience


working in close partnership with enterprise, learners and communities to nurture professionals with relevant skills as well as knowledge that can be directly applied to business and industry.


Businesses have expressed concerns over the reforms


‘Aston was founded to produce graduates with skills businesses are asking for’


Professor Helen Higson, deputy vice chancellor of


Aston University, said: “As the UK’s first university to offer degree apprenticeships, we have the most experience with helping businesses to take advantage of the levy. “Aston was founded to produce graduates with


skills businesses are asking for, and that guiding purpose is just as strong today.” A briefing will be published on the GBCC website, along with information on other hot topics.


Sponsorship opportunities remain available for a number of hot topics. Interested organisations should contact Henrietta Brealey on H.Brealey@birmingham- chamber.com


• See the Griffin Report – pages 20-21 Stars support charity book


Two of Birmingham’s famous faces are backing a charity book project which aims to help children with anxieties as they start secondary school. Heart FM presenter Ed James and award-winning TV


chef Glynn Purnell are supporting the Look at our Book project, run by specialist financial services mutual Wesleyan, which will feature a story written by Year 8 children from Four Dwellings Academy in Quinton, Birmingham. Wesleyan supports doctors, dentists, lawyers and


teachers to make the right financial choices, and launched the project to help support the work of its chosen charity Partnership for Children – which helps create school materials that will improve the mental health and wellbeing of school pupils. Pupils from Four Dwellings have been working on


their story pitch since December, creating characters and a fun adventure story that will concentrate on the move to secondary school. Ed and Glynn will join a judging panel to select the


final story that will be written by renowned children’s author BB Taylor, and feature colourful and quirky illustrations by Holly Bushnell. The book will also feature ‘Words of Wisdom’


messages from celebrities and role models such as Sir Chris Hoy, who wrote: ‘Never put limitations on what you think you can achieve’.


Brexit case studies wanted


Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) are searching for business Brexit case studies, including firms who have started preparing for Brexit (by changing key strategies or reviewing current arrangements) or are going to be heavily affected by it. The case studies will be included


in a new resource pack being launched on the 29 March marking the one-year countdown to Brexit. The work is being supported by


the GBCC Brexit Advisory Group, a panel of expert Chamber members steering the GBCC’s activity in this space. Director of policy Henrietta


Brealey said: “Brexit is going to be the most fundamental change to trading relationships for a generation. It is vital that businesses prepare and stakeholders listen to their needs.”


For more information contact Henrietta on H.Brealey@Birmingham- Chamber.com. Case studies can either be anonymous or named.


Regenerating the inner city


The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and Soho Road Business Improvement District are hosting an event on 26 April for local residents, social enterprises and businesses in order to explain the Use It! Project, which will help regenerate a number of rundown inner city areas. Use It! is a three-year project


funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) that aims to create social and economic regeneration opportunities for residents from Ladywood, Soho, Victoria and Smethwick. The programme will do this by providing support for social entrepreneurs and community businesses. Anabela Ferreira, head of new


Support for schoolchildren: Glynn Purnell (left) and Ed James The exciting adventure story will be engaging and


fun and one children will want to read again and again. But it will also help reduce their anxieties around their move to secondary school and help them cope better with challenges they may face. All net proceeds from the book are going to Partnership for Children.


Find out more about the project by visiting www.lookatourbook.co.uk and following the Wesleyan on Facebook Look at our Book


enterprise at GBCC, said: “We are looking to build on the successes that the programme had in 2017. This event is a great opportunity to showcase the talented, meaningful work that these local social enterprises do, as well as gain the much needed support of the Use It! Programme.” Businesses and individuals that are


interested in learning more about social enterprise and what Use It! can offer are invited to the free event at the BID office on 144A Soho Road between 12.30pm and 3pm.


For more information or to book a place please contact Anabela on a.ferreira@birmingham- chamber.com


March 2018 CHAMBERLINK7


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