The Hub The Hub What’s on at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce


Key figures to speak at breakfast events


One of the key figures behind plans to regenerate Burton will be discussing the town’s future at a special breakfast speaker event on 25 September at Burton Golf Club. Julia Jessel has been an East Staffordshire


Borough councillor for the Needwood ward since 1999 and a cabinet Member since 2003. In this time, she has held responsibility for a


range of portfolios and is currently the deputy leader for regeneration, which covers physical, economic and social regeneration, including the Burton Town Regeneration Programme. At this briefing, Cllr Jessel will discuss the


Council’s ambitions for regenerating Burton through improving the town centre and wider area. Phase one of the initiative to improve Burton town centre was launched last autumn. The main aim was to introduce a number of


projects, including measures to improve traffic flow. Improvements were also announced to areas of the Memorial Garden, and the greening of the town centre, including the commissioning of new, public art. Burton’s railway station will also be the subject of improvements. The second phase of the programme – announced last May – involved the commissioning of consultants to help produce the Regeneration Strategy for Burton upon Trent masterplan. The whole scheme is being carried out by East


Staffordshire Borough Council (ESBC) and Staffordshire County Council, and it is being delivered in partnership with the Chamber. Cllr Jessel said: “We are committed as a


partnership of local authorities and businesses to improve our town centre. We want to secure a successful future for Burton’s town centre by making it more attractive, bringing in more people and encouraging inward investment.” Burton Chamber director Chris Plant, who sits


Councillor Julia Jessel


on the programme board as an independent business representative, said: “We are committed to improving the overall experience of visiting Burton and make it a town centre that local people and visitors want to shop and spend time in, both during the day and evenings. “The Chamber working in partnership with


ESBC and the county council are focused on regeneration, business support, employment and skills. These projects will enhance the vibrancy of Burton, help support economic growth and act as a catalyst for wider ongoing investment, employment and development.” In addition, Cllr Jessel will discuss the council’s


plans for encouraging inward investment for East Staffordshire.


In another speaker breakfast event, guests will hear from Councillor Bob Sleigh, leader of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. This event takes place at the Arden Hotel on 27 September. Prior to becoming Solihull Leader he was deputy leader for


eight years and cabinet member for health and wellbeing. Mr Sleigh is also deputy mayor of the West Midlands and a member of the West Midlands Combined Authority. He holds various other positions, and has also managed various non- executive roles with the NHS. He has a long business career, principally with SMEs. He was


awarded an OBE in the 2017 New Year’s Honours for services to local government. At the event, he will talk about his time as leader and upcoming events/ projects that will have an impact on the area.


Councillor Bob Sleigh


• See page 40 for event details. Your four-page


pull-out guide to recent and forthcoming Chamber Events


‘Ice Maiden’ to join Women’s Lunch


An ‘Enterprising Women’s Lunch’ event is to be held at the Chamber which will feature Sandy Hennis (pictured) who is one of the six ‘Ice Maidens’, the British Army team who became the first women to cross the Antarctica. Sandy is a Reservist officer with 37 Signal


Regiment based in Redditch and works in an employer support role. The ‘Ice Maidens’ battled their way across


icy plains in 60mph winds and temperatures as low as -40C, using only skis and their own muscle power to drag sledges of equipment weighing up to 176lb each. Sandy started her Army career as a radio


technician before commissioning back into the Royal Signals. After completing tours of Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan she left the Regular Army to join the Reserves in 2014. She splits her time between leading


overseas expeditions, outdoor instruction and team building/leadership development. Sandy has participated in a number of


military and civilian expeditions, climbing and mountaineering in the UK, Spain, the Alps, Nepal, USA, Norway and Peru.


• See page 40 for event details.


September 2018 CHAMBERLINK 39


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