Member Section
Competition ...any other business A roundup of news from Chamber members
Staff raise vital hospital funds
Staff at EiB Professional Services, based in Great Charles Street in Birmingham, are putting their best feet forward to raise vital funds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital charity. The team set itself the ambitious task of ‘virtually’ walking the distance of the Highways England and Transport Scotland strategic road network – more than 6,000 miles and 13.2 million steps between 22 members of staff. The fundraisers have until 31
March to complete the challenge. Chris Geyton, managing director of EiB Professional Services, said: “Following a safety moment in December, we decided it was time to ‘step up our game’ in 2021 and increase our daily step count. “We know the Strategic
Road Network well and how long it is, so we knew it would be a challenge, but what a great way to raise money for an incredible local charity.” Money raised will support
and enhance the services of the hospital by helping to fund additional facilities and equipment, supporting medical research and providing the extras that make being in hospital a more comfortable and less distressing experience for children and their families. Beatrice Sayer, corporate
fundraiser at Birmingham Children’s Hospital charity, said: “We’re so thankful to the team at EiB for supporting our brave patients and families through this incredible challenge. “Like many others, the last
year has been really tough for our charity with many of our events and fundraising activities cancelled. “That’s why it means so
much to us that EiB are going the extra mile for us – literally – via this amazing feat. Thank you EiB and good luck.”
Support their fundraising efforts visit,
justgiving.com/ fundraising/eib-group
70 CHAMBERLINK March 2021
Rourke’s Pies named Lloyds’ Small Business of the Year
An amateur chef from Birmingham has been named ‘Small Business of 2020’ by Lloyds Bank after cooking up a storm with his home- made pies. Gary Rourke started making pies
after being made redundant from his IT job when lockdown started last March – in the same week his daughter Faith was born. Realising there could be a
market for Gary’s brilliant baking, his partner – social marketing professional Leanne – set up Facebook and Instagram accounts to promote the pies. Their initial aim was just to sell
enough pies to pay a looming £200 council tax bill, but word quickly spread and soon customers were queueing up for Rourke’s Pies, selling out across farmer’s markets. Rourke’s Pies has now taken a
shop in King’s Heath to sell his tasty wares. The shop, at All Saints Centre, opened in October and has created four jobs. He said: “Since then we have
never looked back. We’re supplying other retailers in the region and I would eventually like to open more shops in Birmingham. “But it’s really important that we
keep control of quality as we grow. Our pies won’t ever be mass produced, they will always be made with love and care.” Now Rourke’s Pies have been
named a winner in the Lloyds Bank
Cooking up a storm: The Rourke Pies team, including Gary (second left)
Small Business of 2020 awards, in recognition of how creatively and quickly they adapted to the challenges of 2020, and how they went over and above expectations. The prize is a business mentoring
session, which will provide insight and advice to help Gary navigate opportunities and grow his business in the year ahead. The Lloyds Bank Small Business
of 2020 competition celebrates the small and local businesses across the UK and their inspiring energy and resilience in meeting the challenges of 2020. Almost 900 businesses up and down the
country were nominated by their local communities and 24 winners were picked based on how creatively and quickly they adapted to events since March, and how they went over and above expectations. Gareth Oakley, managing
director of Business Banking at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “So many inspiring stories have emerged from the shadow of the pandemic. Behind Rourke’s Pies lies a clear pride in heritage, family and tradition – the hallmarks of many great enterprises – and Gary is truly deserving of this award.”
Design collaboration is dino-tastic
An interior design studio has joined forces with a Birmingham-based illustrator to create a funky new wallpaper, using one of the artist’s prints. Studio Sculpt has produced the dinosaur themed
wallpaper using one of Tom Woolley’s chart prints. Creative director of Sculpt, Ash Wilson, arranged the individual prehistoric creatives into a repeatable pattern, and has sourced a printing firm to produce the wallpaper. The project was sparked after creative director of
Sculpt, Ash Wilson, first met Tom when sharing an office space at The Coffin Works in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter. Tom’s signature style has become well known in the
area, particularly for his colourful map prints of various towns and villages. The recent flurry of home renovation projects
spurred by the national lockdown inspired the duo to embark on this project.
Beware of dinosaurs: The funky wallpaper on show in a child’s room
The wallpaper is printed onto high-quality fabric
backed vinyl with a linen texture and is suitable for both commercial and residential applications. It is available to buy from Tom’s Etsy shop in a standard width (52cm) at £30 for a 3m roll.
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