Colors: Purple Color

Architect HOKO Design has shown Prime Minister Boris Johnson that £30,000 is more than enough to create a dream Downing Street dwelling. The talented team at HOKO drafted a mood board for Number 11 Downing Street – packed with a host of high-end practical features to match the demands of private and public life as the nation’s premier. 

 

Stand out features in the design – of course deliverable on time and on budget – include an ‘oven-ready’ kitchen, perfect for delivering on promises of a top-notch dinner; door closers to ensure those important conversations remain private; and a sound-proofed walls to ensure neighbours aren’t disturbed at any time day or night. There is also the option of a zip line next door to Number 10 – but be sure to wear suitable safety equipment. 

 

Danny Campbell, founder at HOKO, a full-service architecture to interior design firm which opened a studio in Birmingham this year, said: “The Prime Minister could have saved himself a lot of time and hassle had he come to HOKO.

“As an architect I am always on the lookout for ways to help make the most of space and that of course extends to our nation’s leader. Like many in the UK I was shocked at the suggestion £200,000 be needed to refurbish any flat – even in one of London’s most exclusive areas – and we are more than willing to show what is possible for the very generous £30,000 afforded by the people of this nation. 

 

“As with every project, we have carefully taken the personal and professional requirements of the client into consideration, and created a design fit for the lifestyle of the Prime Minister and his family. We will of course be able to deliver it on time and on budget, and with all aspects of the project from concept to completion delivered by HOKO and its partners. Mr Johnson will be able to sleep easy in our hands, free from nightmares of any kind.” 

 

Other homeowners wondering what an architect’s eye could bring to their interior design desires also need wait no more thanks to the latest innovation from HOKO – described as ‘Uber for architecture’. 

 

‘Homeowner’s architect’ HOKO’s innovative new online shop offers clients free access to a specially curated collection of hidden interior design gems all in one place. The new platform ­– which features locally sourced high-end ranges curated by HOKO’s Architects – will allow users to create and complete a fully customisable look for their project with the ability to manage budgets more easily.   

 

The online shop contains myriad décor, furniture, fixture and fittings options for any project from kitchen, living room, and dining room to extensions and even the garden. More than 50 suppliers including Caddisfly Kitchens, Castrads, Moda Ceramics, Corston Architectural Detail, Porcelanosa and Astro Lighting have already signed up, with more to be added as the service grows.

 

HOKO Shop is not limited to clients undergoing a HOKO design project and will be fully accessible to anyone looking to upgrade their interiors and reinvigorate their environments with “cool new stuff” they would never have dreamed of. It is part of the architecture firm’s pursuit of the ‘perfect’ client experience from project start to end.  

 

Danny Campbell, the Service Industries Entrepreneur of the Year for Scotland and Northern Ireland at the 2020 Great British Entrepreneur Awards, added: “Home improvement projects are a big thing for anybody, and everything we do is geared towards making the process smoother, easier and less stressful. We design the space, we build the space and now we can fill the space.”

HOKO looks after every stage of the process, from design to delivery using a range of trusted regional contractors to ensure the consistently highest quality service throughout the process all with one point of contact. It recently expanded across the UK, opening new studios in the North of Scotland, North and South London, Bristol and the South West, Birmingham and the West Midlands, and Brighton and the South East complementing the firm’s Glasgow headquarters.

Avianca Holdings S.A. has announced that Adrian Neuhauser has been named the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.  Mr. Neuhauser succeeds Anko van der Werff who has resigned from his role at the company to take on a new CEO role at a company in Europe. Mr. Van der Werff will join the Company's Board of Directors and, to help ensure a smooth transition, he will also serve as an advisor through the middle of June.

Mr. Neuhauser joined Avianca in 2019 as Chief Financial Officer and most recently served as President, with direct reports including the Chief Operating Officer, the Legal Vice Presidency and General Counsel, the VP of Purchasing and the Architecture Department. 

During Mr. Neuhauser's tenure, he has also overseen the Company's corporate restructuring process. He has more than 20 years of experience in the financial sector with a focus on investment banking as well as extensive experience working with transportation companies, including airlines, railroad, and trucking companies. 

Prior to joining Avianca, Mr. Neuhauser was Managing Director at Credit Suisse covering airlines throughout the Americas. Previously, he held senior positions at Deutsche Bank, Bank of America as well as Merrill Lynch where he was responsible for M&A and capital markets transactions in Chile and the Andean Region. Mr. Neuhauser holds an Economics Degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica.

SCC, Europe’s biggest independent IT solutions provider, is pleased to announce it has renewed its partnership as a Patron of The Prince’s Trust for the next three years. As a patron for the past seven years, SCC has supported several of the Trust’s regional and national schemes and campaigns, most notably a significant investment in 2018 to help create a brand-new hub in Birmingham City Centre that will help thousands of young people.

Sharon Arbuckle, Senior Head of Corporate Partnerships at The Prince’s Trust, welcomed SCC’s continued support, with the renewal taking SCC to a decade of patronage. She said: “Youth unemployment rates are rising, and young people across the UK have been heavily affected by the pandemic.

“We must support young people to upskill, retrain and access job opportunities, or else we risk losing their ambition and potential to long-term unemployment, to the detriment of their future and to the recovery of our economy. SCC is already showing amazing dedication when it comes to helping turnaround the lives of disadvantaged young people.

Through their new patronage of The Prince’s Trust, and membership of our Technology Leadership Group, we hope we will be able to empower thousands more young people to transform their lives and give them the confidence and skills to succeed in life.”

SCC CEO Mike Swain is delighted to commit to further support of the Trust, saying: “The pandemic has been a huge blow to all of us in many different ways and it will take a long time to recover.

“In the IT sector we have been in a more fortunate position, but sadly, the same cannot be said for everyone. The youth demographic has been severely hit, and those already disadvantaged now face even bigger obstacles.

“Young people are the future and we’re so pleased to be able to help those more affected by the crisis through our partnership with The Prince’s Trust. The work this charity does with young people is outstanding and they’re making a real difference to many lives. We look forward to seeing how we can continue to support them.” 

Britain’s resurgent jobs market is being led by cities and towns in the North and Midlands, according to new research by global job site Indeed and the Centre for Cities think tank.

Hiring gathered pace after the government's reopening roadmap was announced on 22 February but new analysis shows job growth is unevenly spread across the country.

Indeed and the Centre for Cities analysed job vacancies in 63 cities and large towns and found that in some parts of the country job postings now exceed their pre-pandemic level with those in the North and Midlands having so far witnessed the strongest recovery in job postings.

In total, nine cities or towns – led by Barnsley (+21%), Mansfield (20%) and Stoke (17%) – now have more job postings than before the pandemic started.

In contrast, Aberdeen (-53%), Belfast (-39%) and Crawley (-39%) are the three places where job postings have recovered the least, together with other cities and large towns predominantly in the South East of England.

London too is among the places with the slowest recovery: job postings in the capital are still 26% below their level before the pandemic, making it the 11th city with the slowest recovery.

The improving jobs landscape in the North and Midlands is partly driven by the mix of available jobs. Recoveries have been strongest in areas with a greater pre-pandemic share of postings in occupations related to the production and distribution of goods, such as manufacturing, driving and loading & stocking, as well as essential services like healthcare, social care and education.

On the other hand, places with a higher share of pre-pandemic job opportunities in food & beverage service and hospitality & tourism are lagging behind.

New analysis of claimant counts and job vacancies points to which jobs markets were hardest hit by Covid-19 and might take longest to return to their February 2020 level.

Places with high claimant count and low job postings include Brighton, Crawley, Slough as well as London in the south and Blackpool and Manchester in the north. These cities and large towns -- which have a dependency on tourism and bustling workplaces -- are the hardest hit by the pandemic as recruitment activity is lagging and more people are looking for jobs.

In contrast, places with low claimant count rates and whose job postings have mostly recovered to their pre-pandemic level - such as Mansfield, Swansea and Warrington - appeared to have been relatively sheltered from the economic impact of Covid-19.

Pawel Adrjan, head of EMEA research at the global job site Indeed, comments:

“As hiring activity picks up across the country it’s clear there is a two-step jobs recovery underway in Britain.

“Cities and towns in the North and Midlands that have been buoyed by rising manufacturing, distribution, healthcare and education jobs but at the same time areas reliant on hospitality, tourism and higher paying jobs that can be performed from home have seen only sluggish growth.

“Just nine urban areas out of 63 have back above their pre-pandemic level and while the partial reopening of the economy earlier this month rode to the rescue of many businesses and workers our research shows that it alone was not enough to lift ailing area’s jobs levels significantly.

“We’ve seen how quickly the jobs market reacts to policy and public health announcements and policy makers will hope the eventual unwinding of Covid-19 restrictions will help level up the jobs recovery.”

Elena Magrini, senior analyst at the Centre for Cities, said: “Not everywhere is seeing yet the beginnings of post-pandemic recovery. Places reliant on tourism, aviation and office workers have been particularly hard hit and still have high shares of people who are unemployed or on furlough.

“Despite this, we have reasons to be optimistic, particularly given the pace of the recovery in the North and Midlands. Once we have reopened the economy, policy makers need to focus on building back better – growing the economy by creating better paid, higher skilled jobs for people right across the country.”

It is the fourth year of this exciting, annual two-week event, which this year will run from 4 to 15 October.

Event organisers will be able to choose how to run their events. Although it is hoped that in-person events will have resumed by October, the digital route is also an option again and may still be preferred by many.  Last year’s Business Festival was predominantly on-line and successfully saw 96 registered events and nearly 900 businesses involved, despite taking place in the height of the pandemic.

The Black Country Business Festival remains one of the largest and most established business events in the region and BCBF2021 is predicted to have a strong impact as the country emerges from the pandemic.

This year will see some changes to the structure. New themes have been established, which represent key areas within the Black Country that have either thrived or been impacted over the recent months, or where support and assistance can be offered to businesses to help them bounce back. 

The new themes are:

·         Inclusive Growth - to include events such as leadership, selection and recruitment, diversity, HR, sustainability in the workplace, training, mental health, education etc.

·         Innovation – covering manufacturing, vehicles, strategies, dealing with the impact of COVID 19, collaborations etc.

·         Business Growth – exploring such elements as support, training, education, legal, finance, bounding back after Brexit, marketing and advertising.

·         ‘This is the Black Country’ – events which place the region at the forefront including for example, created and made by local businesses, tourism, arts, culture, leisure etc.

·         Regeneration – where development and growth is key, covering retail, office space, transport, construction, zero carbon economy events etc.

As well as fitting into the themes, events must fulfil certain criteria to be able to take part. Each event application will be assessed and scored on how well it meets the conditions set. 

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce said, “Black Country businesses have faced the most challenging time over the last year, but the Festival remains a constant feature in the calendar and will certainly offer a variety of opportunities to reboot and reconnect.

“This year we have taken steps to develop the BCBF by bringing in new themes and a process to assess the event applications. This will help us to ensure the events are of the highest quality so the Festival remains beneficial to the business community as well as meeting the objectives that it was originally set up to achieve.”

The application form along with information on the criteria, application process and themes will be available on the BCBF website from Wednesday 28 April.

The final deadline to submit event applications is Friday 13th August 2021.

A landmark development scheme for Digbeth has been unlocked thanks to investment of over £5 million from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). Stone Yard will deliver 995 homes on 1.37 hectares of brownfield land in the centre of Birmingham with work set to start on site in 2022.

The deal announced will pay for the clean-up of the site, which has stood vacant in recent years, so it can be brought forward for residential development. The scheme will include 20% affordable housing, using the WMCA’s unique definition of affordability, which is linked to real world local wages rather than property prices.

The investment has been made possible under the WMCA’s ‘brownfield first’ policy, which unlocks derelict industrial sites for new development, helping to protect green belt land in the process. Within a five-minute walk of the future Curzon Street HS2 Station and a number of existing rail links including Moor Street Station, the new development has excellent transports links and is located in the heart of Digbeth.

Known as Stone Yard, the project is the largest ‘build to rent’ scheme in Birmingham and built across seven blocks, with the tallest standing at 32 storeys, offering new residents fantastic views of the city skyline. Without this critical investment by the WMCA, using housing and land funds it has secured from Government, the Stone Yard scheme could not have proceeded. 

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair or the WMCA, said: “It really is brilliant news that another 995 homes on brownfield land are to be built in the region, creating more local jobs and helping to protect precious greenbelt land.

“I am particularly pleased that this development is in Digbeth, which is undergoing a radical transformation. With new housing, HS2, an expanded Midland Metro, the BBC relocation, and Stephen Knight’s film studios all on the way – along with so, so much more - Digbeth is fast becoming one of the real jewels of the West Midlands.

“Despite the pandemic the WMCA has continued to use the money we have secured from Government to unlock and transform brownfield sites, helping to build new high-quality homes that people need whilst protecting precious greenbelt land. That is exactly what we are doing once again with this Stone Yard development.” The multi-million-pound investment, from the WMCA’s Land Fund, will support the construction of a range of much needed housing types alongside amenity space for residents.

Councillor Mike Bird, WMCA portfolio holder for housing and land and leader of Walsall Council, said: “Stone Yard will be one of the largest projects the WMCA has supported to date.

“It’s regeneration is the latest in a series of WMCA investments that have continued throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, helping to provide market confidence and put in place the building blocks required to drive the region’s post-Covid economic recovery plans. The proposals will regenerate a key city centre brownfield site bringing much needed homes and helping to complete the regeneration of the southern side of High Street, Deritend, historically used for trade counters and car dealerships.”

Hundreds of local construction jobs will be created throughout the building phase and on completion the housing operator will become a new employer in the region, bringing in staff to manage the buildings. The scheme will be built around two landscaped courtyards and is being led by Birmingham- based residential developer Court Collaboration. The housing is designed by Glancy Nicholls Architects, alongside services consultant Couch Perry Wilkes and structural engineer CWA.

Anthony McCourt, CEO of Court Collaboration, said: “We’re delighted to have secured this investment from the WMCA and look forward to starting on site in the coming months.

“The Stone Yard is one of several fantastic developments coming forward in the heart of Birmingham and we’re immensely proud to be at the forefront of ambitious, innovative and thoroughly modern development in our beloved city.” The Stone Yard will also include around 30,000 sq ft of commercial space for uses such as a gym, cinema and co-working space.

With planning permission already given, the project is aimed to complete by 2026. The scheme will deliver transformational placemaking, affordable housing and innovative construction techniques. It will also address growing city centre housing demand with mixed tenure options.

Stone Yard will provide the opportunity to utilise modern methods of construction alongside the WMCA’s new Design Charter, ensuring quality design is embedded in all WMCA funded projects.

Iain McKenzie, CEO of The Guild of Property Professionals, says: “The resilience of the housing market in the face of coronavirus has seen house prices repeatedly hit new highs, and we expect this trend to continue in the coming months.

“There is the danger that first-time buyers could be increasingly priced out of the market, and this government scheme goes some way towards helping young people. 

“The work of employment has changed beyond recognition during Covid, and first-time buyers who can work from home could use this opportunity to find themselves a home in a cheaper part of the country.

“Do shop around if you’re tempted by taking out a 95% mortgage, as some of the rates on offer for a two-year fixed deal are 3.9% - more than 2% higher than the cheapest deals on the market.

“It is also worth checking whether the property you have your eye on is suitable for one of these new mortgages, as Halifax and Barclays have said that new-build properties will not fall under the scheme.

“While this is good news for property owners and first-time buyers, these measures could be like pouring gasoline on a roaring fire, potentially propelling house prices to higher and higher heights into the summer.”

The eSkootr Championship (eSC) has announced its first Global Sustainability Partnership with world-leading materials technology and recycling group Umicore.

The partnership will see Umicore develop and implement a circular design strategy for batteries used in the eSkootr series with the ambitious aim of applying potential insights to the real world of micromobility products and services.

The partnership will also use the promotional platform of the new sport to deliver educational programmes and advocacy campaigns for a new generation of mobility consumers demanding a more equitable and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.

Umicore will work closely with the eSC Commission and its team of sustainability, technical and policy experts in the implementation of the partnership, ensuring that best practice on battery recyclability is dialled into the rulebook of the sport from the outset.

Hrag Sarkissian, eSkootr Championship CEO said: “We recognise and applaud Umicore’s strong commitment to cleaner mobility through new technologies and techniques. The use and reuse of battery materials at every point in the value chain has enormous implications for micromobility. We’re excited that Umicore shares eSC’s vision for the series as an innovation lab for knowledge transfer in this vitally important area.”

Chair of the eSC Commission Sustainability Working Group, Dr Cristiana Pace,  added: “Our Umicore partnership underlines how important circular design is for eSC and the meaningful and measurable achievement of our environmental mission. Although a new sport, eSC is already demonstrating its robust approach to sustainability through the programmes and partnerships it’s developing. I’m thrilled that Umicore is joining us on this new journey.”

Tom Van Bellinghen, VP OEM Sales and Marketing at Umicore Rechargeable Battery Materials said: "We are excited to be the first Global Sustainability Partner of eSC, the world’s first eSkootr Championship™. As a key player in rechargeable battery materials, Umicore is a proud contributor to a sustainable battery value chain. We strongly support eSC’s commitment to a net-zero carbon footprint in this exciting clean mobility solution and we look forward to sharing our expertise related to a closed battery loop design with eSC’s sustainability team."

Hundreds of Stoke-on-Trent residents are backing calls for the City Council to work solely with companies that pay ​full sick pay to care staff ​that need to take time off work because of Covid, says UNISON today (Tuesday). 

More than 400 people have signed a UNISON petition calling on councillors to ​better support staff who’ve battled to keep vulnerable ​and elderly people safe for the past year, UNISON says. The petition is to be delivered to the Civic Centre at noon tomorrow (Wednesday)*. 

More than thirty local care providers are only paying staff £96.35 a week if they need to isolate, the bare minimum the law allows, adds UNISON. This is despite local care employers receiving more than £6m from the Council to make sure low-paid staff aren’t out of pocket. ​

The cash is from the government’s £1.3bn social care infection control fund, specifically created to compensate low-paid staff, UNISON says.

Among the petition supporters are Stoke FC personality Neil ‘Nello’ Baldwin, who’s backing the call for fair pay, says UNISON.  

UNISON Staffordshire community health assistant branch secretary Steve Jones said: “Care workers putting their health and that of their families on the line deserve more than the shabby treatment they’ve received from some employers. 

“The people of Stoke want the Council to do more to support care staff and make sure they don’t lose out financially for doing the right thing.   

“The Council must act now to make it a contractual requirement for all commissioned care employers to pay care workers their normal wages when they have to self-isolate. Payments must be backdated so staff ​don't lose out for keeping the people they care for safe.”  

Rail passengers are being urged to travel either side of the early May bank holiday when hundreds of railway engineers improve the West Coast main line.

Millions of pounds is being invested to improve future journeys for passengers and freight on Network Rail’s West Coast South route.

Between Saturday 1 and Monday 3 May, Euston station will be closed to main line train services while track upgrades take place in London, Watford and Milton Keynes.

The best time to travel will be on Friday 30 April and Tuesday 4 May.
Passengers needing to travel on the days in between will have longer journeys, fewer available seats, and may need to use rail replacement buses.

People should continue to follow Government guidance around the use of public transport and minimise the number of journeys they make where possible. Those needing to travel during the railway improvements should plan ahead by visiting: www.nationalrail.co.uk/westcoast.

James Dean, Network Rail’s West Coast South route director, said: “There is never an ideal time to shut the railway and we have worked hard to minimise disruption across the spring and summer – including a safe and reliable railway for the future. “The scale of work planned this May will mean changes for passengers, but we’re working with train companies to minimise disruption to people as much as possible.”

Elsewhere in Network Rail’s North West and Central region, further essential work taking place between May 1 and 3 includes:

• Track upgrades take place at various locations between Preston – Penrith
• Signalling upgrades continue in Trafford, Manchester.
• Work at Euston station to prepare it for HS2, Britain’s new high-speed railway.

The early May bank holiday will also be a major milestone for the East West Rail project - as work continues to reinstate a rail route between Oxford and Bletchley for the first time in more than 50 years. Huge steel beams will be lifted across all four lines of the West Coast main line as a flyover is rebuilt. It involves the dismantling of the 25,000 volt overhead line system which powers electric trains.

Robert Nisbet, director of nations and regions at the Rail Delivery Group, said: “Rail staff will be working hard to upgrade the network over the May bank holiday to make future journeys more reliable, so we’re asking anyone travelling between 1 and 3 May to check before they travel.

"While extra cleaning and better information will help people travel with confidence, we ask passengers to wear their face masks and to consider whether their journey is really necessary if it will be affected by engineering work.”

This spring Network Rail brought forward some planned bank holiday projects and did the work while fewer people were travelling during the national coronavirus lockdown. This included carrying out projects in record breaking time in North London and Northamptonshire, saving taxpayers millions of pounds.

This super-fast approach meant Euston would not need to close at Easter or the late May bank holiday. However, the scale of the upgrades further up the West Coast main line meant the closure over 1-3 May was unavoidable.

Reviews into other planned summer upgrade work is underway to reduce its impact on passengers as the country emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.

Centre for Cities think tank has called upon all of the candidates vying to be the West Midlands mayor to prioritise boosting economic growth and the post-Covid economic recovery ahead of next month’s election. The West Midlands entered the Covid-19 pandemic with levels of unemployment well above average, and the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits has increased by a further 77,000 – enough to fill the Hawthorns three times over – since March 2020.

To address this challenge and build back better from the pandemic, Centre for Cities’ policy paper (link active from 00:01 on Monday 19 April) sets out three key areas for the election winner to focus on.

1. Help Birmingham and Coventry city centres recover from Covid-19

Birmingham city centre’s economy has been hit particularly hard by lockdown. The ease with which many people have switched to homeworking has meant that the city centre’s footfall levels have been among the lowest in the country in the past year – with negative consequences for hospitality and retail businesses. City centre footfall and spending needs to increase avoid more job losses.

The next metro mayor should launch a campaign, similar to Sadiq Khan’s ‘London is Open’ campaign, to encourage a return to city centre working and public transport usage once it is safe to do so.

At the same time, the metro mayor should seek to increase the amount of high-quality city centre office space and new homes close to railway stations to ensure that the West Midlands remains affordable for workers.

2. Get unemployed people back to work

Unemployment is a particularly bad challenge for the West Midlands; almost one in ten adults are now claiming unemployment related benefits – the highest of any English city region.

The next metro mayor will need to implement targeted programmes to get people back to work, particularly those who have been out of work for a long time. In addition, they should assess the effectiveness of how money is currently being spent and streamline the training provision available to people – for example through the number of apprenticeships being offered.

3. Introduce congestion charging and boost bus ridership

Peak time congestion is a serious challenge that limits economic growth in the West Midlands. The next metro mayor should address this by introducing a congestion charge in Birmingham city centre. Congestion charging is politically controversial but is proven to have reduced congestion in other cities. The money raised can be invested in public transport.

In addition, the next metro mayor should bring the West Midlands’ buses under public management, as the Mayor of Greater Manchester recently announced plans to. This would improve services, reduce fares and unlock millions of pounds of extra central government funding.

Centre for Cities’ Chief Executive Andrew Carter said: “The last year has hit the West Midlands’s economy very hard and the next metro mayor has a big job ahead of them to repair some of this damage.

“Whoever is elected on May 6 needs to support Birmingham and Coventry city centres’ recoveries and work with local stakeholders, businesses and the Government to open up employment and education opportunities to anyone who needs them. Without these, employment will rise even further and thousands more people could find themselves locked out of the labour market.

“This is not a job that can be done from Whitehall and the Government should listen to the substantial majority of people in the West Midlands who back giving more powers to the West Midlands Mayor.” Recent Centre for Cities/Savanta ComRes polling found that 80% of people in the West Midlands back giving more powers to the metro mayor.

Almost half (46%) support giving the Mayor more responsibility for providing affordable housing, while significant numbers back the Mayor having a bigger role in supporting business (42%) and providing access to skills and training (40%). Just 5% of the public oppose further devolution to the West Midlands Mayor.

A business in Solihull, in the West Midlands, has raised money for food banks after committing to a virtual charity 5K and donating £100 worth of food to charity every month.

UVA UK is set to launch its new app-based ride-hailing service in Birmingham soon and has pledged to donate 3% of its overall profits to charities in the UK. Making good on its promise ahead of its launch, six UVA employees laced up their running shoes for The Trussell Trust’s Race Against Hunger 5k to raise money to help the charity on its mission to end poverty and destitution. The event saw 851 runners take part, raising more than £116,000.

The charity recently revealed that in the first six months of the pandemic, food banks in its network gave out 1.2 million emergency food parcels to those who needed them, which equates to one food parcel every 13 seconds. Alongside the 5k, UVA has committed to donating £100 a month to The Trussell Trust to support its network of food banks. The ambitious ride-hailing company, which has long-term plans of becoming a UK wide operation, has also launched its Local Heroes initiative to reward and celebrate incredible acts of bravery and generosity to individuals in the regions it operates in. 

Its first Local Heroes prize has been awarded to Turki Al-Shammari who jumped into icy waters to save the life of a dog walker who appeared to be drowning. UVA sent him a personalised letter along with a £100 voucher to celebrate and mark his courageous act. 

Ayesha Rees, CEO of UVA UK, said: “Giving back to our local communities is at the heart of our business model. These recent charity donations mark the start of a long term commitment to support those who need it most. It’s going to be an exciting month for us. The team have been training hard for The Trussell Trust 5K and it’s been brilliant to name Turki who recently saved a dog walker from a river as our first UVA Local Hero.”

Turki Al-Shammari, said: “I am humbled by the nomination for the UVA Local Hero Awards. Many things have crossed my mind since the incident, the praises and kind words I hear from people has really touched me. 

“Being physically able to help someone in need is a blessing, the letter I received from the UVA showed me the value of recognition as a form of help. I’m glad we all still see some positivity in such tough times.”

Following a strong March sales result, Jaguar and Land Rover retailers across England and Wales reopen today, nearly 100 days after the last national lockdown was announced.

Having operated virtually throughout lockdown, Jaguar Land Rover has achieved 5.3% of UK registrations in that last 12 months, an increase of 0.2% on the same period last year, which equates to 23.7% of market share in its competitive segments – all from behind closed doors. Now, customers nationwide can fully experience new Jaguar and Land Rover models in the metal for the first time.

COVID-safe procedures remain in place for full customer confidence including floor markings to aid social distancing, extra ventilation and sanitisation throughout and staggered appointment times to reduce the number of visitors in the showroom at any one time. Test drives will be unaccompanied and documentation will be exchanged digitally where possible to reduce contact points.

Jaguar and Land Rover’s lockdown ‘Click and Collect’ service for new vehicle handovers remains in place so customers can be confident that the same strict cleaning and sanitising procedures are in place ahead of handover.

In the past few months Jaguar has significantly updated the E-PACE and F-PACE with the introduction of new plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid variants, along with updated interior, exterior and technology. Likewise, the Jaguar XF has received a fresh new look inside and out for 2021 with mild-hybrid engines and a range of advanced technologies, including the acclaimed Pivi Pro infotainment system.

Land Rover has also updated its Discovery seven-seat SUV with enhanced design, Pivi Pro and a range of efficient mild-hybrid powertrains. Customers have not had chance to see the refreshed ranges until now, so presenting these new models to customers marks a significant and exciting moment for retailers.

The essential introduction of Jaguar Land Rover’s digital sales model kept customers moving throughout each of the UK’s national lockdowns but test-drives and first-person experiences remain an integral part of the customer journey. AutoTrader data shows that, of the consumers in England and Wales looking to buy a car after mid-April surveyed, 55% want to buy in person at a showroom and 25% would like to reserve the vehicle online and visit their preferred showroom to complete the purchase.   

Rawdon Glover, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover UK, said; “With showrooms across England and Wales re-opening, there is a huge sense of excitement and potential in our outlook. We have learnt a lot in the last 12 months about how our customers want to buy cars, be it digitally, in person or as a blend of both. Now, with an enhanced portfolio with brand new models, and the inevitable demand has built since showrooms closed, we’re ready to showcase these wonderful vehicles and provide tailored experiences for our customers.

“Special thanks to our teams who have been working during lockdown to prepare for the safe reopening of showrooms, this is an important step in the strengthening of Jaguar and Land Rover, and the UK car industry as a whole.”

With 198 Jaguar and Land Rover retailer showrooms across the UK, customers can book their visit and/or test drive immediately – Jaguar customers can also benefit from an extended test drive option from early April until the end of June, designed to give customers optimum time behind the wheel.

Reflecting on International Women’s Day, two female entrepreneurs currently working with Higher Level Skills Match (HLSM) at Birmingham City University (part-funded by the European Social Fund) over the last two months have been highlighted. And they are going from strength-to-strength in the face of the challenges faced when growing a business and the support available through HLSM to help provide support.

Vanessa Kelly runs 2 Much Passion CIC, a non-profit organisation that teaches, trains and provides creative cooking classes that boost individual and family well-being by supporting them out of poverty. 

“We’re a non-profit organisation built on the sole purpose that food can bring people together” she says. “Our project’s Let’s Get Culture Cooking and Young Foodeez provides an online platform for growth and develop of cooking courses and events. We work from cooks to chefs and allow them to reach their full potential.” 

Muneerah Dubidat, who runs Transform Coaching & Events, whose enterprise supports hundreds of women online by offering coaching, mentoring, group workshop facilitation and events. The aim is to take women from a place of low confidence and low self-esteem to confident decision-makers and action takers. 

Reflecting on the last 12 months, Muneerah says “Transform Coaching & Events has supported hundreds of women online, building a beautiful community of empowered women seeking positive change in their lives.

“By focusing on ‘Self-Love’ and ‘Self-confidence’ the women gain the self-belief needed to take action, so they can achieve the life they want, whilst confidently owning their power and uniqueness. The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is #ChooseToChallenge and that is exactly what we do as an organisation.

We challenge women’s thinking and help them to remove their perceived limitations so that they can create the change that they want to see.” 

Fast business growth hasn’t come without its challenges. Finding the time and knowledge to develop her brand online, and transition her mindset from an employee to a business owner were just two of the many challenges Muneerah faced. That was as well as the ongoing financial pressures. 

“Firstly, starting my business with very little capital during a pandemic presented challenges around balancing the needs of my family and the financial pressures to generate income to build a successful business. 

“I would have loved to employ a Digital Marketing expert to help me stand out and reach my niche, but that wasn’t an option for me at the time. But what it did give me was the opportunity to access a range of free training on-line, which opened more doors and opportunities to learn.” 

As well as access to knowledge and resource, Muneerah found she needed a mental shift in her approach to work. “Another business challenge was the transition in my mindset from an employee to a business owner. From the basics of registering my business and meeting Statutory Obligations, to decision making on a level that I had not yet experienced in my previous day to day roles. 

“Also, maintaining personal motivation and not being so hard on myself remain a daily challenge, especially being a high achiever. But I continue to draw upon my ever-growing network to help me make my mission a reality.” 

With this in mind, Vanessa also spoke about the challenges as a female entrepreneur and balancing overseeing all aspects of running a business through the different stages. Vanessa reflected on the importance of learning quickly the difference in work ethic and passion within the industry and the importance of the different skills individuals can bring.  

“My biggest challenge as a female entrepreneur is having to wear many different hats throughout all the different stages of my business” Vanessa stressed.  However, the importance of embracing new opportunities as business owners isn’t to be forgotten.  

“There is never one-hat-fits-all, it’s really important to be adaptable and allow yourself to be open to new opportunities. At times you’re the accountant, the social media manager, the admin, the driver, cleaner, it important to be prepared to work in all the different parts of the business. Until the day you are ready to expand and take staff on.”  

Similarly to Muneerah’s transition from an employee to a business owner, being familiar with changing mindsets was something Vanessa also felt was important for her when it came to business growth and taking on your first employees.  

“Once that happens you have to learn quickly not everyone has the same work ethic or passion as you do, everybody has different skill sets so appreciating individuals for being different and bringing something different to the table is a very valuable mindset.”  

When it came to supporting the development and management of individual and team skills within a business, both women sought out the support of Higher Level Skills Match – our Account Managed Skills solution. 

Asking both Vanessa and Muneerah on how approaching Higher Level Skills Match (HLSM) helped them and their business, Vanessa says: “The support on offer and the quality of the placement students has been amazing, it has meant that our business will grow and will continue to grow.” 

During a difficult year for business, students and graduates, and the community as a whole. The great collaboration between business and universities is incredibly valuable. HLSM enabled Vanessa and Muneerah to get access to students who were able to support their small businesses in specialist areas, as well as giving the students the opportunity to gain valuable skills to support with their career journey.

Muneerah also echoes the access to support from students “HLSM provides a fantastic opportunity for businesses like me to make connections with new talent wishing to establish themselves and gain experiences to springboard their careers. I was in the exact same position a few years ago, and as a new business owner, I’m excited and honoured to be able to offer growth opportunities for the students of Birmingham City University. 

“Being able to access the HLSM programme, allows me to develop my business, whilst giving the individual supporting me the much-needed business knowledge, exposure and experience to develop themselves and their career, which is a win-win for everyone.”  

Aside, to the additional access to student talent both businesses found the upskilling support helped them improve their own business management skills and become more confident in their own skillset.

Muneerah mentioned; “another advantage of being a part of the HSLM programme is having the opportunity to strengthen my current knowledge and skills, allowing me to take my business further and faster. I’m currently in the process of getting the valuable support needed and can’t wait to see the direct impact that being on the programme has on my business growth.”

Asking both Vanessa and Muneerah on the advice they would have for other business owners, especially on steps to growth.  

Vanessa says: “The best advice I would give to other businesses is to utilise the services that are made available, sometime you may think you don’t have the time to train a placement student or wonder if they are going to bring any value. The answer is YES, the new opportunity you open for them could be the new lease of life your business was looking for.”

Muneerah added: “My biggest piece of advice for other business owners looking to grow would be to invest in getting the right support for you and your business as soon as possible.

“Yes, you have done an amazing job taking your business this far (and possibly on your own) and you should be proud of everything you have achieved. But imagine how much further you could go with the advice, support and expertise of organisations whose sole focus is ensuring the success of your business. 

“Whether that’s business support through a service like Higher Level Skills Match, a collaboration with another complimentary business or having a conversation with a friend who runs a successful business. It will always be beneficial for you to get someone outside of the business give you their non-judgement feedback to help you grow your business in ways that you would not have thought were possible. 

“And most importantly, enjoy the journey, look to the future with excitement and continue to influence and create change in your industry, using your uniqueness. As after all, that is your superpower and what you offer is exactly what the world needs right now!”  

Both businesses are looking to continue to grow and inspire more and more each day.

Aston Martin Cheltenham has handed over a brand new Vantage Coupe to professional racing driver, Jamie Chadwick.

The reigning W Series champion, Jamie – who also competes in Extreme E and is a development driver for Williams Racing in Formula One – collected the Aston Martin Vantage Coupé, finished in silver with striking black and silver alloy wheels, from the showroom, managed by the H.R. Owen Group. Aston Martin Cheltenham is now able to host customers, by appointment only, in line with government-led COVID-19 lockdown easing.

The Vantage Coupe is an icon of performance sports car by Aston Martin, with Jamie’s car updated for 2021 and representing a dramatic step forward in sharp handling and eye-catching design. Powered by the sensational 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, the new Vantage is lighter and stiffer than before, focused on form and functionality with clear hints of evolution from the Vantage nameplate.

The taut and muscular-looking sports car is shaped with a sculpted bonnet that tapers to two slim LED wraparound headlights and a low, shark-like grille. The classic shape is highly expressive with its single falling shoulder line that connects front and rear with one swooping design line. This Vantage represents class-leading aerodynamics while the rear of the car is dominated by a diffuser that keeps the Aston Martin pinned to the road at high speeds – every detail about this car centres around performance.

Jamie Chadwick, professional racing driver, said: “Aston Martin Cheltenham was one of my first ever partners at the start of my car racing career back in 2015, so I am especially delighted to rekindle this relationship. The Aston Martin brand aligns perfectly with my current ambitions within motorsport and I am looking forward to working with the H.R. Owen team to encourage more young women to enjoy their amazing cars!”

Craig Davison at Aston Martin Cheltenham, said: “We are delighted to work with Jamie in supplying this incredible Aston Martin Vantage, fit for a professional racing driver. We know Jamie is local to us in Cheltenham, and it is important for us to support nearby talent as best we can. We have watched Jamie’s career progress over the last 5 years and we look forward to a continuing our relationship with Jamie as she races during 2021 and beyond.”

The Aston Martin showroom site in Cheltenham 2020 Aston Martin UK Dealer of the Year and Aftersales Customer Satisfaction Index Dealer of the Year, is joined by sister site in the H.R. Owen network, Aston Martin Reading, in stocking all models by the iconic British marque. Both showroom sites re-opened their doors to customers by appointment on 12 April, in line with government guidelines on easing lockdown rules. Throughout lockdowns the showrooms were closed to physical visits but continued to operate with virtual walkarounds and new digital sales processes – always with a customer-first approach.

Two new categories to reflect changing times are to be included in this year’s Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) annual awards, which will again take place on-line.

The awards, again supported by headline sponsors Birmingham City University (BCU), will be revealed on the evening of Wednesday, July 28. They are open to all businesses and include new categories for the hospitality and retail sectors and a special one for companies showing excellence in sustainability.

It will be the second year the Chamber awards,  have been digital because of Covid-19 restrictions but plans are already underway to return to the ICC next year for an awards night bonanza with up to 1,500 guests.

Steve Allen, president of the GBCC, said: “We are, of course, disappointed that we can’t all gather at the ICC the normal way. However, we proved last year that it is still possible to have an evening of excitement and drama on-line.

“We shall still dress up for the occasion as many of our guests and viewers did last year. And we shall be announcing shortly the additional attractions we are arranging to make the evening go with a swing.”

The GBCC’s chief executive, Henrietta Brealey, said: “We are really looking forward to championing the local business community with our 2021 Awards. This well-loved, high-profile celebration is a brilliant platform for businesses to showcase everything they have achieved during the past year.

“Our awards reflect the major business trends of the day with the excellence in hospitality and retail award aimed at recognising those firms on the front end of pandemic restrictions. The sustainability award reflects another pressing issue for our time - the climate crisis - and aims to recognise businesses leading the way on addressing their environmental impact.

“The event will build on last year’s digital celebration - with a few tricks up our sleeves that we are looking forward to sharing closer to the day. We are delighted to once again have the support of BCU as headline sponsors and we look forward to working with them on what we know will be a fantastic celebration of the region’s business community.”

Professor Julian Beer, deputy vice-chancellor at the BCU, said: “It is a privilege to again join with the Chamber for the most prestigious business awards in the region.

“And we look forward to sharing the digital stage in July when the winners will be revealed. Last year’s event had all the pomp and ceremony of the awards dinner at the ICC and represented a fitting reward for some amazing businesses.”

Award categories

·         Excellence in Contribution to the Community 

·         Excellence in Customer Service

·         Excellence in Hospitality & Retail  

·         Excellence in International Business 

·         Excellence in Manufacturing

·         Excellence in People Development

·         Excellence in Responsible Business

·         Excellence in Sales & Marketing

·         Excellence in Sustainability  

·         Excellence in Technology & Innovation

·         Excellence in Third Sector

·         Excellence in Training & Education

·         Greater Birmingham Business of the year (picked from the category winners)