Chamber Patrons ‘Mr McDonald’s’ in double delight
Doug “Mr McDonald’s” Wright has been enjoying a double celebration. After becoming one of the latest
regional organisations to support the Armed Forces community, he has won a major award for his work at Ronald McDonald House, which provides accommodation for the families of children being treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Wright Restaurants Ltd, trading
as McDonald’s, signed the Armed Forces Covenant at their newly refurbished restaurant at Reedswood Retail Park in Walsall. Chamber patron Doug, the
owner of Wright Restaurants, started his career with McDonald’s on the shop floor and worked his way up through the company’s acquisition and construction teams until he was granted his first franchise, and learned the skills of running his own business. The McDonald’s franchisee, who
employs more than 1,700 people across the West Midlands, said: “I have always tried to make sure that my business makes a positive contribution to the communities we serve. As my business has grown I
employment of veterans, Reservists, Service spouses and partners through their voluntary pledge. For more information on
Joining up: Doug Wright (centre) with Colonel Richard Green and Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Hitchman from the employer engagement team at 11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade
‘I have always tried to make sure that my business makes a positive contribution to the communities we serve’
have widened that scope to enable my employees to make their own contributions. “It makes me very proud to be
able to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and formally commit to creating the right conditions to
Wesleyan gets WISE to promoting gender balance
Birmingham-based financial services firm Wesleyan is aiming to propel more women into senior positions at the business. Wesleyan used International Women’s Day to announce it has linked
up with WISE, the campaign for gender balance in the UK science, technology and engineering sectors. Wesleyan will work with WISE to prioritise the recruitment, retention and development of women. Caroline Hill, Wesleyan’s director of HR, said: “We want to have a
truly diverse workforce as we believe it will make us a stronger business and more reflective of the customers we serve. We are committed to progressing more women into senior positions
and I’m looking forward to working with WISE to develop robust plans to achieve this.” WISE chief executive Helen Wollaston said: “We are extremely pleased
to be working with Wesleyan as addressing gender balance in all industries is vital. By announcing their commitment to a five-year membership with WISE on International Women’s Day, Wesleyan are making a powerful statement to their sector that we wholeheartedly endorse.”
New electric car from JLR outpaces the rest
Jaguar Land Rover has unveiled its new electric I-PACE – which the automotive giant say will propel them to the forefront of the electric car revolution. The I-PACE is available to pre-
order now, priced from £63,495 in the UK. The all-wheel drive vehicle will
deliver an impressive zero to 60mph in 45 seconds and operates on a 90kWh Lithium-ion battery that delivers up to 298 miles. Rapid public charging will see
the battery power go from zero to 80 per cent in 85 minutes, with 30 minutes charging offering a range of around 80 miles. JLR say the I-PACE will also be
Link up (L-R): Helen Wollaston, Anne-Marie Tuck (WISE) and Caroline Hill
fully-compatible with 100kw chargers as the technology is rolled
out across the UK. In addition, vehicles smart
setting use artificial intelligence algorithms to tailor the I-PACE to individual drive preferences. An eight-year battery warranty
and 21,000 mile/two-year serving intervals offer customer peace of mind. Dr Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar
Land Rover, said: “Where other companies talk about the future, we build it. “We have torn up the rule book to
create the newest member of the PACE family, the all-electric Jaguar I- PACE. With zero tailpipe emissions, no CO2 and no particulates, it moves us dramatically closer to our vision of a clean, safe and sustainable future.”
April 2018 CHAMBERLINK 31
support my employees to continue to make the incredibly valuable contribution to this country as Reservists.” Wright Restaurants currently
employ two Reservists and are aiming to further support the
Car of the future: The I-PACE
covenants, contact Debra Barton, regional employer engagement director for the West Midland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association on 0121 427 5221 ext.242 or
wm-reed@rfca.mod.uk The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) recognition award given on an annual basis was presented to Doug at the charity’s national gala dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. He said: “I would like to thank all
of the GBCC and ABCC patrons and members who have helped us raise the profile of the charity nationally and many of whom have taken time to visit our special house in Birmingham. “I think the award signifies how
far Birmingham has come and is further recognition of the great region we operate within. “The house team in Birmingham
and our board of governors were an integral part of me winning this award.”
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