Chamber Patrons Chamber Patrons Greater Birmingham Chambers’ leading supporters Round-up
Mondelez International has launched its Cadbury Energy bar in new packaging made from 100 per cent recyclable and sustainably sourced paper. The bar was trialled in
Auckland, New Zealand and is designed to test the durability and effectiveness of the paper packaging in transport. It is the first time the
company has used a paper material that doesn’t include laminates, foils or plastics.
Curium Solutions has appointed senior consultants Phil McGrahan and Jane Fisher. Phil joins the change
consultancy’s business transformation practice having gained a wealth of experience delivering transformation programmes, while Jane – who has spent many years in operational management and improvement – has been appointed to the operational excellence team. Director and co-founder
Andy Dawson said: “We continue to look for top talent to join our team and ensure that we are well placed to meet the future global needs of our customers.”
A group of vulnerable teenagers who turned their lives around have visited the Ricoh Arena to share their stories – in the hope of inspiring others. Students from the Midlands
arm of Dallaglio RugbyWorks – a charity set up by rugby legend Lawrence Dallaglio to help 14 to 17-year-olds to get into education, employment or training – attended Wasps’ clash with Northampton Saints. Dallaglio RugbyWorks is an
intense skills development programme combining rugby with class-based learning, CV workshops and career days.
Malmaison Birmingham has opened a new deli and bar at its home in The Mailbox. MalBox is located in the
Urban Room on Level 2 of the hotel and offers a selection of cakes, pastries, salads, soup and baguettes, alongside drinks.
50 CHAMBERLINK February 20200
More than £3m will be invested to create a new virtual reality and technology hub in the heart of Birmingham. Birmingham City University has landed £3.4m
funding to create the new technological centre which will be based at its STEAMhouse facility in Digbeth. The funding will be used to purchase state-of-the-art equipment such as virtual reality development packs, computer hardboards and the latest design software. A new Digital Design Suite will also open at the site. Funding for the project has been secured from the
European Structural and Investment Funds, Birmingham City University and Eastside Projects. The project will provide training for businesses on
some of the newest and emerging technologies, providing a platform for innovation, the development of new ideas and the creation of new start-ups. New facilities will allow access the latest in virtual,
augmented and mixed reality technology, as well as new digital circuitry and digital design services, alongside a full programme of business support. Professor Julian Beer, deputy vice-chancellor at Birmingham City University, said: “This funding will allow us to provide a new wave of state-of-the-art equipment which will have a major impact on how businesses work in the future and the creation of new industries. Technology like virtual reality, augmented reality, 5G and digital design will pave the way for the business of the future and now is the time for us to look at how we can harness this for the benefit of the economy.” The project has been tailored to meet the priorities of the region’s Local Enterprise Partnership.
Contact: Henrietta Brealey T: 0121 274 3266
Virtual reality hub to open in Birmingham
‘A major impact on how businesses work in the future’
Julian Beer: Tech hub will have a major impact
Podcast tackles workplace stress
A happy and healthy staff can increase the success of businesses and organisations, according to a leading expert in the psychology of work at Aston Business School. Dr Wladislaw Rivkin is a lecturer
in the Work and Organisational Psychology Department at Aston Business School where he studies how stressors, leadership and other resources can impact employees’ health, well-being and performance. Speaking in the latest edition of
‘Aston means business’, he revealed that in the UK around 600,000 employees suffer from clinically diagnosed mental health and well- being problems, losing about 12.8 million working days a year. Dr Rivkin said better sleep
patterns and avoiding distractions such as mobile phones can all help individuals to enjoy more
Talking business: Dr Rivkin with podcast host Steve Dyson
commitment to their jobs and gain more self-control over their emotions at work. He said businesses can also help
by granting staff more autonomy, allowing flexible hours and providing positive leadership. An example of how mental
health challenges were created and
how they can be tackled was highlighted by Dr Rivkin’s own recent research on the negative impacts of commuting. He said: “During the commute, individuals get depleted from traffic jams or being around unfriendly or annoying fellow passengers. These demands during the commute translate into impaired work engagement and productivity at work.” The ‘Aston means business’
podcast is presented by Steve Dyson, a business journalist, former daily newspaper editor and BBC HARDtalk interviewer. It can be listened to on Aston’s
website at
www.aston.ac.uk/podcasts and is downloadable from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play Music and a number of other services.
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