Business News


East Ends Food founder dies


Don Wouhra, a member of the family which founded the successful East End Foods business, has died at the age of 59, after a short illness. He was the youngest of five


brothers - Trilok, Tony, Jas and David - who launched the wholesale business in 1972. He went on to play a significant part in the company’s development and focused on its cash and carry interests in Birmingham. The firm also has a spice manufacturing plant in West Bromwich. East End Foods has for


many years been a member of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce. Chamber chief executive


Paul Faulkner said: “We are greatly saddened by Don’s passing. He was instrumental in making East End Foods a significant part of the Greater Birmingham and UK business scene. “His was part of a family


that are a shining example of the vital role the Asian community plays in the economic success of the region. “We offer his family our


deepest condolences. He was a larger than life character known for his hard work, caring nature and strong family values.” Mr Wouhra leaves a wife,


Ravinder, and two sons, Rohit and Simran, and his family have set up a ‘Just Giving’ page to raise money for the medical staff at Good Hope Hospital in thanks for the ‘brilliant and relentless’ care they provided for him.


Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/fundraisi ng/thedonwouhra


Chamber backs campaign that warns of loan sharks


The Chamber is backing a campaign warning businesses about the dangers of loan sharks. Loan sharks are unregulated, often give cash loans


without any paperwork, and charge extortionate interest rates, according to the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT). They may offer what appears to be a quick-fix small


loan, but in the long term, any money borrowed will come at a very high price and may lead to violence, threats and intimidation.


‘The Chamber is throwing its support behind this initiative’


Employees could be at risk of falling prey to these opportunistic loan sharks if they are struggling financially due to the Covid-19 crisis, and the Chamber is working in partnership with the IMLT to highlight the issue. The IMLT is Government funded and was set up in Birmingham in 2004, as a pilot project. It operates under the name ‘Stop Loan Sharks’. A survey conducted by IMLT has revealed 10 per cent


of loan shark victims met the lender in the workplace. Nearly 80 per cent of borrowers said they were in a


state of worry, stress, depression or severe anxiety because of their involvement with a loan shark. A massive 44 per cent said they had been abused


verbally and/or threatened with physical harm by the loan shark. In such cases, victims may need the confidential


help, advice and expertise of the dedicated ILMT team, who work closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), local Trading Standards and the police. The IMLT has already prosecuted loan sharks for


illegal money lending, blackmail, threatening behaviour, violence, kidnap, drugs offences and rape. The team has had nearly 400 successful prosecutions, resulting in 480 years-worth of custodial sentences, and more than 29,000 victims have been helped. Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner said: “The


Covid-19 crisis has provided countless examples of businesses and individuals coming together to support each other. However, it has also created a window for opportunists to strike and take advantage of those who are vulnerable. “That’s why the Chamber is throwing its support


behind this initiative to help protect the physical, mental and financial wellbeing of citizens across the region by raising awareness of the dangers of loan sharks.”


Emergency transport plan must be flexible


The Chamber has urged transport chiefs to ‘stay flexible’ in rolling out emergency traffic measures in Birmingham. Birmingham City Council’s new


Emergency Transport Plan includes a range of initiatives to support walking, cycling and public transport, following the impact of the Covid-19 crisis. It also sets out the short,


medium and longer-term actions that can be taken to enable a ‘low carbon, clean air recovery’ from the pandemic. New proposals include more cycle lanes, the introduction of ‘low traffic neighbourhoods’, and more road space given over to walking or public transport.


Chamber policy adviser Raj


Kandola said that although the speed of council’s reaction plans to keep the city moving during the Covid-19 crisis was welcome, the council would need to more flexible over car usage once people started returning to work. Mr Kandola said: “It’s reassuring


to see the speed at which Birmingham City Council have updated their plans following the announcement made by the Transport Secretary relation to supporting active travel – essentially encouraging more people to walk and cycle to work. “However, flexibility is going to be key once these measures are


Raj Kandola: Council needs to be flexible over car usage


rolled out, particularly as more people start returning to work. “As we emerge from this


unprecedented crisis, its now more important than ever that the council work in harmony with businesses to make the path to economic recovery as smooth as possible.”


Work begins on autonomous vehicle trial route


Work has begun on a project trialling autonomous vehicles on West Midlands roads. The trial, known as the 300km Midlands Future Mobility test


environment, is being run by a consortium made up of private and public businesses and organisations. It is estimated that the autonomous vehicle sector will be worth up to


£62bn to the UK economy in just a decade. Autonomous vehicles will be trialled along the ‘Midlands Future Mobility route, which has been developed by, the route has been developed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) in collaboration with local councils. The route will include around 186 miles of inner city, suburban and rural


roads stretching from Coventry to Birmingham, on which to assess vehicle performance in a range of real world locations and situations. The first types of vehicle to be trialled along the route will be ‘connected’ vehicles, which ‘talk’ to each other and warn of traffic, crashes and hazards.


22 CHAMBERLINK June/July 2020 The vehicles on the Midlands Future Mobility route will initially have a


driver and occasionally a second person monitoring how the vehicles are working. Autonomous vehicles will appear gradually once the technology behind them becomes more sophisticated. John Fox, project director, Midlands Future Mobility said: “It is great to


see that work has begun in making roads a more connected place, where drivers can make their journeys more safely and where goods can be delivered more efficiently.” West Midlands mayor Andy Street said: “Connected and autonomous


vehicle technology has the potential to radically change our lives, and I am pleased the West Midland is leading the way in this sector with research facilities and production plants already in place. “I am determined our region will become a global leader in electric and


autonomous vehicle technology, as I know we have the skills, facilities, and drive to compete with any other city or region in the world.”


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