Business News
Symphony Hall redevelopment is music to our ears
Birmingham musicians have launched the £13.2m redevelopment works at Symphony Hall. Jaki Graham, alongside Birmingham rapper Lady Sanity and acclaimed
pianist, songwriter and globetrotting side man to Sam Smith, Reuben James, were at the world-renowned music venue in the city centre to celebrate the start of the £13.2m redevelopment. The Making an Entrance project will create a performance space in
Symphony Hall’s public foyer, for talented local artists to perform, as part of a daily programme with free and affordable performances.
‘There is an incredible amount of local, talented performers and musicians who will benefit from these new spaces’
Jaki Graham said: “I have had the privilege of performing on stage at
Symphony Hall and, as a Birmingham-born artist, it filled me with pride. “I’m honoured to be invited to launch this major transformation, which
will provide many more talented local musicians the opportunity to perform in this incredible venue.” The first British black female solo artist to have six consecutive top 20
hits, Jaki headlined Jamaica’s 50th Independence Cultural Extravaganza at Symphony Hall in 2012. In addition to a foyer performance space for free and low-cost activities, there will be dedicated spaces able to host learning and participation
Dig this (from left): Lady Sanity, Jaki Graham and Reuben James celebrate the Symphony Hall redevelopment
projects, enhanced food and beverage offer, refurbished toilets, additional disabled WCs and a Space to Change facility. Paul Faulkner and Helen Bates, chief executive and chief financial officer
at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) are board members for Town Hall Symphony Hall. Paul said: “There is an incredible amount of local, talented performers
and musicians who will benefit from these new spaces in this iconic Birmingham venue. This development is yet another indication of Town Hall Symphony Hall’s continued commitment to promoting the local community, and making its spaces accessible to all.” Helen said: “Symphony Hall is a long-established performance venue that
has relentlessly been banging the drum for local talent. The new facilities will not only enhance visitors’ experience of Symphony Hall, but also provide major benefits and opportunities for local performers.”
New accountancy portal gets the presidential treatment
Partnership: Sir Vince (left) with Professor Julian Beer
Visiting professor role for Sir Vince
Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable has joined Birmingham City University’s Centre for Brexit Studies as a visiting professor. The former business secretary has
been appointed to the think-tank to offer insight and analysis, and brings with him decades of experience working in frontline politics. Sir Vince, who has served as the
Member of Parliament for Twickenham since 1997, will also join up with the University’s Institute of Design and Economic Acceleration (IDEA). Professor Julian Beer, deputy vice-
chancellor, at Birmingham City University said: “Sir Vince joining and supporting both the Centre for Brexit Studies and IDEA is fantastic news for Birmingham City University. His impressive background and knowledge will bring a huge amount to the university.”
22 CHAMBERLINK September 2019
A Lichfield-based web development agency has helped to transform a Birmingham accountancy firm’s way of working. Cocoonfxmedia Ltd – whose managing partner is Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber president James Blackman - designed a new software system to fully digitalise the internal processes at Younis Bhatti & Co Ltd, the firm of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce president Saqib Bhatti. The new system has resulted in
a more streamlined and efficient service. The development and digital marketing agency built the online accounts management portal from the ground up, hosted on its fast servers. The new portal has fully digitalised and automated all processes carried out by the firm to create a centralised system through which all tasks are created and managed. James said: “Saqib prides
himself on his firm’s approach to customer service. He wanted to modernise and standardise the way they work to improve customer experience by providing
Chamber link: Saqib Bhatti (left) and James Blackman
a more streamlined process. We created a cloud-based system built on our specialist web development service and hosted on our super- fast and completely secure web hosting. We innovated on absolutely every aspect of this system, which involves a series of very complex rules.” Saqib, who is also honorary chairman of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce, director of the Westside Business
Improvement District and director for business support and diversity at the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP, said: “Customer service is at the heart of everything we do. We have hundreds of clients because we try and make the experience of accounts and taxation as painless as possible. “This means timely work to a
high quality. This system allows us to take this to the next level.”
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