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Competition ...any other business A roundup of news from Chamber members


Baby Yoda makes a splash


An epaulette shark has hatched at the National Sea Life Centre Birmingham. The species is noted for its


unusual appearance and uses its dorsal fins to ‘walk’ along the sea bed. The new arrival is currently


in a special nursery tank receiving dedicated care from the aquarium’s animal care experts. Once grown the species can reach up to three feet in length. Curator Jonny Rudd said:


“We named him Yoda, which quickly became Baby Yoda given his newborn status – and very small size. Sharks have to be extremely happy in their environment to successfully breed so we are really proud to have another baby shark.” It’s not the first shark


breeding success for the aquarium this year, with six rare endangered Blackchin Guitarfish recently being born. Visitors will be able to meet


Yoda and the guitarfish at the Sea Life Centre’s ‘Behind the Scenes’ area, where tours will soon be resuming.


Bulls-eye for new sponsorship


One hundred and eighty: darts star Yozza Hughes


Black country-based forklift truck manufacturer, Flexi Narrow Aisle, is aiming to hit the bulls-eye by sponsoring local darts star, Jamie Hughes. The partnership was launched at Narrow Aisle’s head


office facility in Tipton, where 34-year-old Jamie hails from. The darts star – known as ‘Yozza’ - was introduced to the company’s production and administrative staff and management team. Yozza – who walks on stage to Joy Division’s ‘Love


Will Tear Us Apart’ - will also serve as a Narrow Aisle ambassador, making personal appearances on behalf of the company at major trade events. He said: “Darts has become a global sport in recent


years so this really is the perfect partnership.” Narrow Aisle’s managing director John Maguire said:


“Darts has seen a huge surge in popularity in recent years and televised events are now watched by many millions of people globally. We are very happy to be associated with Jamie and wish him every success for the coming year.” Narrow Aisle manufactures the ‘Flexi’ range of


articulated warehouse trucks. They are designed and built at Flexi Narrow Aisle’s production facility in Great Bridge, and are used in more than 60 countries, where they help customers save at least 30 per cent more space in their operations.


CBSO wins top award Gardens grant joy


The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and its music director, Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla, have won the


‘Recording of the Year’ award at the classical music Oscars, the Gramophone Awards. The orchestra won the award for


its recording of Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s Symphonies Nos 2 and 21. The win means that the CBSO are now one of only three orchestras – alongside the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra - to win the ‘Recording of the Year’ four times throughout the history of the Gramophone Awards. Weinberg (1919-96) is a Polish


composer whose music is enjoying something of a renaissance following the CBSO recording. Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla said: “Seven


years ago I hadn’t heard of the name of Mieczyslaw Weinberg. During the years since he has become one of the most important


70 CHAMBERLINK November 2020


composers for me. Every score I’ve encountered so far is a masterwork.” The ‘Recording of the Year’


award comes as the orchestra celebrates its centenary. Its 100th birthday, on 5 September, was marked with a landmark celebration led by former music director Sir Simon Rattle, streamed from a warehouse in Longbridge. CBSO chief Stephen Maddock


said: “We’re delighted and honoured to receive this award, particularly as it comes at such an important time for the orchestra. “While many of the CBSO’s


centenary plans have had to be changed due to the pandemic, we’re working extremely hard to find new and exciting ways for us to share the joy of music-making with our audiences again. “This award is a fitting tribute to


the hard work and passion of the orchestra and our wonderful music director, Mirga.”


Birmingham Botanical Gardens has been awarded £188,000 from the National Lottery Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage as it looks to weather the financial storm caused by the pandemic. The award – the largest the


independent charity has received for 22 years – is part of the Government’s £1.57bn ‘Here For Culture’ campaign that is supporting performing arts, heritage sites, independent cinemas, music venues and museums across the country. The Gardens, a 15-acre site in


Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, is one of 445 heritage organisations across the country set to receive the financial boost. The site, which is located just


two miles from the city centre, closed its doors in March when the country was put into lockdown, reopening 12 weeks later.


Despite a healthy number of


visitors returning to the Gardens since then, the nationally important heritage site has received no revenue income from schools, events, weddings or conferences. Elizabeth Frostick, development


director at the Gardens, said: “The award, which we won following a rigorous competitive process, gives us much welcome breathing space after losing most of our income over the past few months and gives us the funds for vital work.” Martyn Liberson, chairman of


the Birmingham Botanical Gardens trustees, added: “This is a hugely significant and most welcome funding stream for the Gardens. “This grant enables us to focus


on recovery as we redouble our efforts to secure the gardens for future generations.”


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