Business News

For the third year running, Ecclesiastical Insurance Group is giving away £1million to charities through its Movement for Good awards. Members of the public were invited to nominate causes close to their hearts, with 500 awards of £1,000 available for donation. 

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, Church Pastoral Aid Society and Little Hearts Matter are some of the local charities set to benefit from the money, following overwhelming public support in the county. 

More than 6,700 kind-hearted residents voted for charities across the county. In total, more than 210,000 people around the UK supported the Movement for Good awards, with over 13,000 charitable causes up and down the country receiving votes. The 500 winning charities were picked at random from those nominated.

Amazingly, a huge 86% of those who nominated a charity said they’ve donated the same amount or more during the past year, showing just how kind-hearted West Midlands residents are despite challenges posed by the COVID pandemic. Additionally, 52% said they are more likely to support a local charity than a national one, as the country emerges from lockdown. 

It’s perhaps no surprise that health causes topped the list with the most nominations, while community and animal and wildlife charities were also front of mind as popular choices. 

Thanking supporters in the West Midlands, Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive at Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, said: “We have seen an overwhelming public response to our Movement for Good awards for a third year in a row and I would like to thank every single person who took the time to nominate a good cause. It’s clear that people care deeply about those in need in their region during what has been an incredibly testing time for many. We know that £1,000 can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do and we’re looking forward to seeing how this financial boost will change lives for the better.

“Ecclesiastical, the fourth largest corporate donor in the UK, is a unique financial services group. We are owned by a charity which means all available profits can be given to the good causes that are so important to our customers. As a company whose purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society, charitable giving is at the heart of our business.”

Later this summer, a further 30 charities will also be chosen by a panel of judges to receive £10,000 from Ecclesiastical Insurance Group to be put towards the advancement of heritage and arts, education, rural and community, climate, human rights and equality. What’s more, two charities will benefit from an additional £50,000 each and another will receive a life changing £100,000 award.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding 440,000 tax credits customers they have one month left to renew their tax credits claims ahead of the 31 July deadline.

More than 2.5 million annual tax credits review packs were posted to customers between late April and early June. Customers will have either received an ‘auto-renewal’ reminder or a ‘reply required’ notice. All ‘reply required’ customers must renew their claims or contact HMRC to notify them of any change in circumstances ahead of the deadline to continue receiving tax credits payments.

Renewing online is quick and easy. Customers can log into GOV.UK to check on the progress of their renewal, be reassured it is being processed and know when they will hear back from HMRC. Customers can also use the HMRC app on their smartphone to:

·         renew their tax credits

·         check their tax credits payments schedule, and

·         find out how much they have earned for the year.

Customers do not need to report any temporary falls in their working hours as a result of coronavirus. They will be treated as if they are working their normal hours for up to eight weeks after the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme closes. Any self-employed individuals, who have claimed a Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant, will need to declare the grant payments. Search ‘working out your income for tax credit/self-employment’ on GOV.UK.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:

“We know how important tax credits are to our customers, so we’ve made it quicker and easier to renew claims online. There’s no need to wait for the 31 July deadline – do it now by searching ‘tax credits’ on GOV.UK.”

If there is a change in a customer’s circumstances that could affect their tax credits claims, they must report the changes to HMRC. These include changes to:

·         living arrangements

·         childcare

·         working hours, or

·         income (increase or decrease).

Post Office card accounts will close on 30 November 2021. HMRC is reminding any tax credits and Child Benefit customers who use this account to receive their payments that they will need to notify HMRC of their new bank account details. HMRC is encouraging customers to act now so they do not miss any payments once their Post Office account closes. To find out how to open a bank account, visit Citizens Advice.

HMRC is urging customers to be careful if they are contacted out of the blue by someone asking for money or personal information. There are a lot of scams around where fraudsters are calling, texting or emailing customers claiming to be from HMRC. If in doubt, customers are advised not to reply directly to anything suspicious, but to contact HMRC straight away – search GOV.UK for ‘HMRC scams’ for more information.

Low-carbon manufacturing and goods are now the West Midlands’ fastest growing sector, latest research has shown, boosting the region’s ambition to lead a new, green industrial revolution. Figures show that the region’s low-carbon industries grew by more than 7% in 2020 despite a 9% downturn in the wider West Midlands economy as a result of the Covid pandemic.

The sector now employs close to 100,000 people across the region, which also has a far greater concentration of workers in certain low-carbon industries than many other parts of the UK. Coventry and Warwickshire alone employ 28 times the UK average in electricity transmission jobs, the Black Country five times the average in securing recycled materials, and Birmingham and Solihull five times the average in building management systems and activities.

This new research, commissioned by the West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC), found one of the reasons the West Midlands is proving so successful in developing its low-carbon industries is because many of the region’s traditional sectors, such as manufacturing, automotive and energy supply, are looking to reduce carbon in response to the climate emergency. It comes as the region gears up for a pre-COP26 conference on July 13, which is being co-hosted by UK100 and the WMCA. The International Net Zero Local Leadership Conference is aimed at strengthening the powers of regions to deliver net zero.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “The West Midlands is already the manufacturing heartland of the UK and is world-leading in the automotive and energy storage industries. Now we’re ready to seize the initiative and become the home of the Green Industrial Revolution.

“This research suggests that’s exactly what we’re doing, and shows that by reducing carbon across the region we’re also creating significant economic opportunities for businesses to thrive, invest, and create new jobs for local workers. Given the jobs we’ve lost to the pandemic, this is critical.

“Our regional ambition is to be net zero by 2041, and that means growing our low-carbon sectors even faster and creating even more jobs and opportunities for local businesses. But in order for our green sectors to flourish we need to create the right environment, which is why the Net Zero Conference in the West Midlands on 13th July is so important. We need to come together as local authority partners, alongside central government, to set out the policies that will generate even more opportunities for innovation, commercialisation and new jobs.”

The research released by the West Midlands Growth Company also pointed to the role of the WMCA in setting out a clear ambition and roadmap to achieving net carbon zero by 2041, helping to create business opportunities for those green industries. The WMCA’s own research shows that a further 21,000 new jobs could be created over the next five years and 92,000 more by 2041, mostly in new carbon-cutting green industries and technologies.

CEO at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, Henrietta Brealey, said: “It’s great to see rapid growth in the low-carbon technology sector. Local businesses and industry are grasping the opportunity that the net zero transition can bring. By utilising wherewithal from the region’s industrial past, these businesses are positioning the West Midlands as the home of the new, green industrial revolution.

“The region is home to world-leading innovation and manufacturing capability and key sectoral strengths. This makes it well-placed to meet the challenges that come with the net zero transition and build on its competitive edge to increase economic growth.

“In the run-up to COP26, the Greater Birmingham and Coventry and Warwickshire Chambers of Commerce have partnered to support businesses on their decarbonisation journeys, through ‘The Sustainable Business Series: Net Zero’ campaign and raise awareness of the opportunities available. As part of this, we will be gathering further insight into the policy direction and support needed for businesses on this agenda and working to influence Government thinking accordingly.”

The WMGC research found particular strengths in a number of key areas:

·         Future Mobility – as the UK’s automotive manufacturing capital, a rapid transition to electric will be critical alongside an acceleration of the region’s cutting-edge research and development into new forms of low-carbon transport propulsion.

·         Energy Systems & Built Environment – the region is already the UK’s leading location for the development of large-scale energy innovation zones. These take a whole system approach to energy and the environment – from generation to consumption and management.

·         Energy Generation, Distribution & Storage - through its manufacturing expertise, the region has become a key player in the supply chains for wind, solar PV and biomass renewable energy, employing 37,000 people locally. Even more significant is its world-leading battery storage technology and range of energy distribution providers and their supply chain companies.  

·         Resource Management – a focus on making best use of the materials and resources available, reducing waste through remanufacturing and recycling. Not only local businesses, but also the region’s university research centres, are developing ground-breaking solutions that maximise every last piece of material.

·         Low-Carbon Solutions - with extensive academic, research and consultancy expertise, the West Midlands has been identified as being ideally placed to provide private businesses with the solutions and collaboration opportunities they need to help reduce carbon and move to net zero.

Councillor Ian Courts, the WMCA portfolio lead for environment and energy and Leader of Solihull Council, said: “This latest research from the WMGC is incredibly positive and confirms that our region is ideally placed to lead in the drive towards net zero. Our low carbon and environmental goods sector is bucking the trend elsewhere in the economy and spearheading the region’s post-Covid economic fight back.

"Our region has a proud history of industrial ingenuity and innovation and it’s only fitting now that we find ourselves once again at the forefront of a new green industrial revolution.

“We have the industry and skills to lead the way towards a greener and more prosperous future, and help take us towards our net zero target of 2041. Our task now is to make sure we remain at the cutting edge of this exciting sector and continue to capitalise on the huge economic opportunities associated with decarbonisation.”

Virtually There, a virtual office and services provider, is empowering young entrepreneurs and early-stage start-ups in Birmingham with £5000 worth of business support and services to get their ideas or fledgling enterprises off the ground. 

The Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES) launched on Thursday, 17th June, with applications closing on Thursday 12th August. It is open to any entrepreneur aged between 16-25 years old who has a business idea or a pre-existing start-up that could benefit from Virtually There’s services and support.

The scheme follows the devastating effects Covid has had on youth unemployment, which hit up to 15% compared to pre-pandemic levels in the past year. This has nonetheless been coupled with a boom in young entrepreneurship, with many business-savvy individuals using their free time over the lockdowns to start an enterprise.

Virtually There’s scheme will empower those who are seizing this moment to take a leap into entrepreneurship. Successful applicants will attend a free start-up 101 workshop, delivered in partnership with highly-reputable business incubator Enterprise Orchard, and receive a free year of virtual office space, virtual receptionist or assistant services, as well as 1-2-1 mentoring with leading industry experts. 

Virtually There Co-Founders Edgar Thoemmes and Jack Head started their joint venture in order to assist other business owners and help them grow. “As serial founders ourselves, we know just how tough it can be starting out,” added Jack.

“We want to offer the next generation a helping hand in reaching their entrepreneurial goals” said Edgar of the new scheme. “Many young people have had to rely on their creativity and initiative to unearth opportunities. We feel it is our responsibility to empower them.”.

A record 85 companies are vying to be named Greater Birmingham’s top business in the region’s biggest virtual awards extravaganza next month.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s annual awards will take place online in an evening of drama and entertainment on Tuesday 27 July.

Supported by headline sponsors Birmingham City University and Inspired Energy PLC, the free-to-watch ceremony will be hosted on the Chamber’s website where the winners of 12 categories will be named before the overall Business of the Year is revealed.

Birmingham City Council are also supporting the event.

As well as the 12 sector awards and the Greater Birmingham Business of the Year, Chamber president Steve Allen will announce the winner of his President’s Award.

The 85 shortlisted firms were chosen by a judging panel including Inez Brown (president, Birmingham Law Society), Stuart Thomas (head of BBC Midlands), Ian Reid (CEO, Birmingham 2022), Kelly Haslehurst (marketing director, NEC Group) and Jodh Dhesi (CEO, The Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham).

Chair of the judging panel was the Chamber’s chief commercial officer Katrina Cooke (pictured), who said: "Despite the challenges facing businesses over the past year, we still received a tremendous number of entries for our annual awards. This presented our judging panel with an unenviable task.

"The quality of entries really highlights how businesses have shown resilience and, in many cases, adapted their offering in the most challenging of environments."

The shortlist - from which the category winners and the Greater Birmingham Business of the Year - will be crowned is:

Excellence in Contribution to the Community
(Sponsored by South & City College Birmingham)
5UP CIC
ACE Dance and Music
Birmingham City University
Digital Innovators
Gro-Organic CIC
Midland Sailing Club
Millennium Point
Services For Education

Excellence in Customer Service
(Sponsored by runyourfleet)
Evac+Chair International
Inform Accounting Ltd
Intercity Technology
Lloyds Bank
Midland Health
National Memorial Arboretum
Unique Venues Birmingham
Urban Body

Excellence in Hospitality & Retail
Caviar & Chips
Millennium Point
Selfridges
The Barn at Berryfields
The Night Owl
Touchwood Solihull
Unique Venues Birmingham
United Carpets

Excellence in International Business
Flexeserve
International Synergies Limited
Lakeside Products Ltd
Y International UK Ltd

Excellence in Manufacturing
Deakin & Francis
Evac+Chair International
Hardy Signs Ltd
Selwood Pump Company Limited
Shelforce

Excellence in People Development
(Sponsored by Aston University)
Acorn Analytical Services
Curium Solutions Ltd
EiB Group Ltd
Entec Si Ltd
Fortem
Grant McKnight Ltd
Mills & Reeve
PI-KEM Ltd
Shelforce

Excellence in Responsible Business
Creative Active Lives CIC
Ebikebrum CIC
FareShare Midlands
Lapal Canal Trust
Legionella and Fire Safe Services
Sustainability West Midlands
Unity Trust Bank
Wesleyan

Excellence in Sales and Marketing
Ark Media Productions
Digital Ethos
EiB Group Ltd
Finance 4 Business
Flexeserve
HDY Agency
Lakeside Products Ltd
Midland Health
Osborn Communications Ltd

Excellence in Sustainability
Advanced Engineering (UK) Ltd
Enzen
International Synergies Limited
Northern Gas and Power
RMF Installation & Services Ltd
Sustainability West Midlands

Excellence in Technology and Innovation
(Sponsored by RSM)
Adoption Focus
Air IT
Ark Media Productions
INFINITY IT Solutions
Innovating Minds CIC
Jumar Technology
Mills & Reeve
Northern Gas and Power

Excellence in Third Sector
Beating Time
FareShare Midlands
Forward Carers
Gro-Organic CIC
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
Sense Touchbase Pears
Sport 4 Life UK
The Haven Wolverhampton

Excellence in Training & Education
BMet College
Digital Innovators
Open College Network West Midlands
Oxbridge
Services For Education

Midlands hospitality venues are showing positive signs of a return to growth as lockdown restrictions ease, according to two leading accountancy experts with Azets, Europe’s biggest regional accountancy and business advisor to SMEs. However, the top 10 accountancy firm forecasts long-term challenges for the sector amid unpredictable market conditions.

Citing the re-opening of two significant venues in Birmingham, James Martin, Restructuring & Insolvency Partner with Azets Birmingham, believes the region’s most popular hospitality businesses are primed for an accelerated recovery, with reduced capacity re-openings starting to make a difference.

Iconic Birmingham landmark The Grand Hotel re-opened its doors in May after 18 years closed. The 141-year-old building in Colmore Row has undergone a £45 million investment, bucking the trend of hotel closures in the wake of COVID-19. Another popular venue just off Colmore Row, South American restaurant Fazenda, reopened in May after agreeing terms on its former site - weeks after announcing it was shutting permanently following the extended lockdown.

James Martin believes current social distancing measures are preventing hospitality businesses from accelerating a recovery quickly but predicts a buoyant sector once all COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. However, he has urged cautious optimism due to continued volatility and the uncertainty of these timelines.

James said: “There are plenty of examples of closures within the hospitality sector and no doubt more to follow – particularly venues without an existing reputation or prominent location. However, the signs are good for the region’s most popular restaurants and hotels, and those with higher footfall in city centre locations, with reduced capacity bookings filling up and the country due to unlock in July.

“The re-opening of The Grand Hotel after nearly two decades and last-minute reversal of the decision to close Fazenda demonstrate opportunities exist – but market conditions do remain challenging and unpredictable, and there are no guarantees businesses that have survived this long will continue to do so in the future.

“Hospitality operators that rely on fixed cost premises may already have substantial rent arrears and other COVID-19 related debt. UKHospitality recently reported that the sector has £2.5bn in rent arrears alone due to the pandemic, further compounding the millions of pounds borrowed through the various COVID-19 loan schemes made available last year.”

Mark Selby, National Head of Corporate Finance with Azets, has called on hospitality businesses to seek professional advice to understand their financial position early, with uncertainty across the sector likely to remain for months and even years.

Mark said: “Businesses of all shapes and sizes in the hospitality sector need to undertake a financial health check to assess the viability of their models in the context of their new balance sheet structures, which look significantly different now than they did 15 months ago. It’s important these businesses seek professional corporate finance advice early, rather than wait until more challenging restructuring steps are needed.”

US fashion giant Gap has confirmed it plans to close all its 81 stores in the UK and Ireland and go online-only.

The firm said it would close all its stores "in a phased manner" between the end of August and the end of September. This includes 19 stores that were already scheduled to close in July as their leases were expiring.

The company has not disclosed how many employees the closures will affect, but will shortly start a consultation process with the staff. The firm said it was "not exiting the UK market" and would continue to offer a web-based store when all the shops had closed.

A Gap spokesperson said the decision followed a strategic review of its European business. As a result, Gap is also looking to offload its stores in France and Italy.

The company said it was in negotiations with another firm to take over all of its French stores. In Italy, Gap said it was in discussions with a partner for the potential acquisition of the stores there.

"We believe in Gap's global brand power. We are executing against Gap's Power Plan and partnering to amplify our global reach," the spokesperson said. "We are not exiting the UK market. We will continue to run and operate our Gap e-commerce business in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland."

A source close to the company said that it had seen rapid uptake of internet shopping for its clothes in the UK since the pandemic-enforced lockdowns. The move comes as the latest blow to UK High Streets, already reeling from the collapse of the Debenhams and Arcadia retail empires during the pandemic.

The Debenhams brand continues online after being bought by retailer Boohoo for £55m in January - and now Gap has added to the ranks of bricks-and-mortar clothing chains that have moved to cyberspace.

Switch Hospitality Management has been named the 16^th best place to work in hospitality in the UK just one year after its launch in January 2020.

The Birmingham based business, which employs 110 people across the four-star Park Regis hotel and the Holiday Inn Express Birmingham South hotel, was awarded 16^th place by leading hospitality publisher The Caterer in its annual list of the Top 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality.

The Best Places to Work in Hospitality Awards serve to highlight employers who demonstrate exceptional skill at employee engagement, with a key focus this year on those who looked after their staff during the pandemic, which has been catastrophic for the industry.

The awards list is compiled purely on the basis of survey responses completed anonymously by all company employees, adding particular weight and kudos to any business named in the prestigious list.

John Angus, managing director of Switch Hospitality Management said: “This is a fantastic accolade for us to have achieved in not only our first year of operation as Switch Hospitality Management, but a year which has proven so detrimental to our entire industry.

“What makes this award so special and important is the fact that it is voted for our own teams across our hotels. Our people are the cornerstone of our business and delivering exceptional service to our customers, so to be recognised by them means we are doing it right and of that, I am incredibly proud.”

Women retiring in 2021 expect average retirement incomes which are 25% or £4,600 per year lower than their male counterparts, new research from the UK’s leading independent equity release adviser Key shows.

Pensions Gender Divide:

Its unique “Retirement Ready 2021” study into the finances and ambitions of over 1,000 people expecting to finish full-time work in 2021 found men expect their annual income to be £23,646 while women expect theirs to be £4,655 lower at £18,991. 

This gender gap is even more stark if taken over a 20-year retirement period, when men can expect to receive £93,000 more than women. That said, 2021’s crop of retirees have seen the gender gap close slightly from 2020 when men (£22,876) expected 29% more income than women (£17,762).

Nearly a third of women (29%) expect to retire on less than the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s (JRF) Minimum Income Standard of £12,500 – a proportion that has risen since 2020 (27%).   Men’s retirement income was more stable with less than one in five (17%) expecting to be below this minimum standard in both 2020 and 2021.

Worryingly a large proportion of women retiring this year don’t know what their retirement income will be, with a fifth (20%) unsure about their finances, more than double the proportion of men (9%).

Attitudes towards retirement:

This lack of understanding may explain why over a fifth (21%) of women feel unprepared compared to 15% of men.  Covid-19 may have also played a factor with the proportion of women saying they are ‘really not prepared and worried about it’ rising from 10% (2020) to 14% (2021) while the number of men who felt this way stayed consistent at 6%.

Sources of retirement income

Income from company pension schemes make up the greatest proportion of men’s income in retirement (34%) followed by the State Pension (30%). Women on the other hand expect to receive the greatest proportion of their income from the State Pension (34%) followed by company pension schemes (29%).

Across both genders, 2021 has seen a decrease in reliance on company pension schemes with more looking to the State Pension for income.  Women (15%) remain more likely to look at accessing their housing equity than their male counterparts (10%).

Table one: Sources of retirement income

Will Hale, CEO at Key said: “With women typically earning less over the course of their careers, more likely to work part-time or need to juggle their career and caring responsibilities, the gender pay gap quickly becomes the gender pension’s gap at retirement.  It is disheartening that in 2021, women still expect 25% less than their male counterparts and nearly a third expect their income to fall below Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s (JRF) Minimum Income Standard.

“There is no quick fix to this situation but it does illustrate how important it is to consider all your assets at retirement.  In 2021, more women (15%) than men (10%) said they intend to release equity from their home to support their retirement income needs. Given the significant shortfall that many men and women will face, this figure should be higher – especially as modern equity release products boast flexible features which makes managing this borrowing in line with changing circumstances far easier than ever before.” 

“Planning your finances for retirement is important for everyone – but especially those who are either facing into the impact of the gender pension’s gap or a find themselves retired and struggling on less than the minimum income standard should speak to a specialist adviser.   Making the most of your income in retirement is about knowing your options and getting good advice will ensure you consider how assets such as the equity you have in your home might allow you to live a more comfortable and fulfilling retirement.”

Managed IT service provider, Superfast IT, has become the first IT company to gain the West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre Business Start membership. The affiliation forged between WMCRC and Superfast IT as a part of the centre’s broader strategy to form partnerships between regional policing, academia and businesses.

The West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre (WMCRC), which opened in June 2020, is a part of a national network of police led, not-for-profit centres offering cybersecurity services and consultancy across the West Midlands.

Superfast IT, which provides IT support and cybersecurity services in Birmingham, will gain access to the centre’s security resources as part of the membership, keeping abreast of security developments and tools whilst improving the security of their 70-strong client base. Both organisations are hosting a joint webinar later in the year to raise awareness of cybersecurity fundamentals for small businesses. All organisations in the West Midlands may attend.

James Cash, Founder and Managing Director at Superfast IT, explained: “I am delighted to be working alongside the West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre. We take our client’s security seriously, which the membership demonstrates. Forming alliances with reputable, government-backed expert organisations is one of several measures to keep at the forefront of cybersecurity.

“We must not forget that business owners are ultimately liable for the security of their data and systems. A perfect storm is brewing: the growing reliance on the internet, remote working, IoT devices and digitalisation, combined with the increasing sophistication of cyber-crimes and a lack of understanding about cybersecurity. Without intervention, the business risks are huge.

“Those who are not cyber aware, or lack an understanding of their responsibilities, risk being left vulnerable. This is where the WMCRC’s valuable knowledge and resources can bridge the gap, while our managed cybersecurity service complements WMCRC services to make the implementation of security measures easy for busy business owners.”

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) are working together to support the establishment of Regional Cyber Resilience Centres (CRCs). The CRCs represent a significant opportunity for the NCSC to expand the reach of its guidance and services to smaller organisations across the country and provide an extra level of practical support to enhance their impact.

Alison Hurst, WMCRC Director and West Midlands Police Superintendent, said: “I am delighted that Superfast IT has joined the WMCRC and I look forward to working together to not only share Government approved cybersecurity resources and tools, but also to collaborate in hosting an event jointly on 23rd September, 2021.

“We have the means to take pre-emptive action in cyberspace, should we choose to do so. Cyber-attacks are not necessarily sophisticated or inevitable, and they are most often preventable. It is the victim’s vulnerability, rather than the ingenuity of the attacker, that is most often the deciding factor in the success of a cyber-attack.

“Our free and paid memberships can help individuals and organisations, regardless of size or sector, to take appropriate steps to protect themselves and their customers from the harm caused by cyber-attacks.

“It is our vision that businesses and members of the wider community have the skills and knowledge to protect themselves, making the region one of the safest places to live, work and do business. We achieve this by providing education, testing, and training delivered by our team of trusted partners, seconded police officers and Ethical Hacking students studying at local universities.”

The UK Government has invested a total of £1.9 billion in transforming the UK’s cybersecurity as a part of their National Cyber Security Strategy 2016-2021, with the regional centres forming an integral part.

According to a recent survey, just 29% of the UK’s manufacturing and engineering workforce is made up of women. Now, while this highlights a step in the right direction when compared to figures from previous years, leading multi-disciplinary engineering firm, adi Group, believes more must be done to secure the industry’s workforce for tomorrow.

And with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continuing to present challenges and cause shifts for organisations and employees alike, the Group welcomes this year’s Women in Engineering Day theme, Engineering Heroes, as a chance to celebrate its contributions thus far, as well as set the tone for the industry moving forward.

James Sopwith, Group Strategic Account Director, explains the progress: “At adi Group, we are continuing to make it our mission to ensure that women in engineering is the norm. Some of our most talented engineers are women and that alone is a cause to celebrate.

“We now live in a world where women can do just as good a job as a man, and we shouldn’t be seeing or hearing about any woman, or anybody for that matter, experiencing discrimination or inequality.”

With that in mind, adi Group provide accessible educational programmes for young girls seeking a career in the field. The firm now offers two apprenticeship programmes, a Pre-Apprenticeship Scheme and the Apprentice Academy, helping the younger generation become the engineers of tomorrow.

As part of its 2018 intake, adi welcomed its first female trade apprentice, Abbie Beaver, who now works as a mechanical engineer.

Beginning her career in fabrication and welding, Abbie was one of the youngest people in the workplace and has continued to have a positive impact on both the business and aspiring female engineers.

So much so that she was previously recognised as one of the Women’s Engineering Society’s top 50 women engineers in the UK. Now, Abbie hopes to inspire other young girls and women to pursue a career in the field.

She said, “We grow up constrained to the idea that engineering is a man’s job. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are so many opportunities to grow both personally and professionally within the field, which women are just as capable of pursuing.

“I think it all comes down to debunking any myths and false perceptions early on in our education, which is why I am a strong advocate of the company’s apprenticeship opportunities. They enabled me to see to the reality of life as an engineer, which was far from the oily rags and labour-intensive images I had in my head. Thanks to this opportunity, I am now a qualified mechanical engineer who loves what I do.

“I would highly recommend the job, and in particular the apprenticeship scheme, to any girl out there.”

Abbie isn’t the only success story to come from the firm’s commitment to the industry’s inclusive future either. In fact, Caitlyn Kett-Davies, another apprentice taken on through adi’s educational scheme, is playing an instrumental role in the automotive wing of the business, working with household names across the country with the approval process of their equipment.

Similarly, Melissa Britchford, works for the Group as a test and inspection engineer. With numerous years of experience as a female in the field, Melissa has some advice to offer prospective talent.

“A career in engineering can be incredibly rewarding, but you do need to have thick skin. The job is still seen as something only men do by society, so site visits can sometimes evoke unpleasant comments from people who don’t think you belong or know what you are doing.

“However, with adi’s full support when it comes to training and development, you know you can always look forward to that feeling of satisfaction once you prove these people wrong by getting the job done - and to a high standard at that.

“There are also many aspects of the role where being female works in our favour. For example, I have worked on projects for vulnerable women, who appreciate having a female they can call on, as well as others where my smaller body frame has enabled me to get into spaces an average sized man couldn’t.

“So, like most roles, there are pros and cons, but don’t let the false belief that engineering is a man’s job stop you from pursuing a career in the field.”

adi hopes that by celebrating the success of its female engineers of the present, it can set the tone for the industry going forward. Fortunately, there is demand in the field when it comes to jobs, however, its skills gap is no secret.

James explains, “With the STEM skills gap looming over us, adi’s apprenticeship programmes are a step towards securing a sustainable future for the industry. However, if more focus isn’t given to female careers, we are essentially, missing half of the potential pool of talent. And this will only delay any headway we have made with attempting to close the gap.”

This notion is one that is backed by Boris Johnson as he spoke at the recent G7 summit, with a statement that suggested the post-covid world needs to be more feminine if it is to avoid intensifying any gender inequalities within society.

James adds, “While all attention is turned to rebuilding the pandemic-stricken workforce, females cannot be ignored. We urge our colleagues and industry peers to make similar commitments, too. Women have a lot to give and should be encouraged to follow their ambitions like everyone else.”

Cumbria is the county with the biggest pay gap in England, as workers in South Lakeland earn half as much as those in Copeland.

The analysis of median gross weekly earnings for full time employees in more than 300 local authority areas in England found that the North West county has the largest disparity in salary, with an 111% increase to the highest wages – £949.50 per week in Copeland – from the lowest wages – £450.70 per week in South Lakeland.

The study by money transfer experts RationalFX found that Merseyside placed second on the list, with a £403.50 gap between the weekly wage in Knowsley, where it is £909, and St Helens, where it is £505.50 – an 80% increase.

East London is third on the list, with a 77% increase from the lowest wage of £541.80, in Bexley, to the highest salary, of £956.30 in Tower Hamlets.

At the other end of the scale, the county with the smallest earnings discrepancy is Dorset, where the difference in median earnings between those in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (£536.60), and those in the unitary authority area of Dorset (£537.00) is just 40p, or 0.1%.

It’s a similar story in the county of East Riding, where the median wages in the unitary authority areas of Kingston upon Hull (£527.90) and East Riding (£522.90) are just £5 different – around 1%.

Third lowest on the list is Bedfordshire, where there is just a 2% increase between the lowest earning Central Bedfordshire on £574.90 per week, and the highest earning Luton, on £584.80.

Commenting on the study, a spokesperson for RationalFX said: “It’s very interesting to see how much pay can vary between different parts of the same county or the same region. Many might expect parts of London to top the list for the biggest wage gap, so it might come as a surprise to see Cumbria has the largest difference.”

Considering wider English regions, the North West has the biggest wage discrepancy, with an increase of 122% between the area with the lowest weekly median wage, Pendle in Lancashire, which at £427 is the lowest in England, and the highest earning area, Knowsley in Merseyside, where the median weekly wage of £909 is the fourth highest in the country.

London as a whole is the region with the second largest wage gap, going from a median weekly wage of £519.20 in Harrow, to £1,103.10 in the City of London – an increase of 112%.

The most equal region is the North East, where the increase from the area with the lowest median weekly wage and the highest weekly wage is just 21%, with £99.70 a week separating Gateshead on £475.30, and Newcastle upon Tyne on £575.00.

The research was carried out by RationalFX, which is one of Europe’s leading international payment providers, helping businesses and individuals to streamline their bank-to-bank transfers with smart global payment solutions.

The lift and escalator consultancy arm of a multi-disciplined engineering business is set to deliver a first in industrial and warehouse lift training after spotting a gap in the market.

And the service offering boost follows a year in which the firm also bolstered its operations with the appointment of a key engineering resource, who has been in the sector for 30 years.

The adi VT Lift & Escalator Consultancy, based in Birmingham, has been in hot demand over the past year, as Britain’s manufacturing sector seeks to continue operations in a tough economic climate.

And after putting its services firmly on the map with appointment of senior consultant Richard Arnold last August, coupled with its association with some of the biggest food manufacturers around, adi VT MD Vance Cunningham now has his sights set on elevating his businesses’ potential even further:

“All too often we see industrial and manufacturing lifts being used incorrectly,” he said.

“These types of machinery are made to withstand immense pressure and weight loads, yet you’ll often find this as an excuse for forklifts, personnel or other types of equipment being loaded incorrectly.

 “What staff don’t realise is that not only are they putting themselves at substantial risk of injury, but they are also potentially risking a massive loss of downtime if repairs are needed, costing manufacturers millions of pounds every year in the worst case scenarios.

“Of course, industrial and warehouse environments are subject to regular health and safety checks, and operators will have received some kind of training in lifting equipment operation, but there doesn’t appear to be a formal training programme out there. This is why I’m looking at the possibility of coupling the expertise we have in installing this equipment, with the knowledge that goes alongside it, for the benefit of others.”

The adi VT division is well versed in delivering mechanical handling, refurbishment and replacement support and maintenance programmes, alongside complete project line services across the manufacturing industry, as well as retail, commercial, educational, healthcare and leisure industries.

Its offering has supported these sectors throughout the coronavirus pandemic, as organisations sought to manage workflows, through traffic and adapt environments based on COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

Throughout the last six months, the team at adi VT has travelled up and down the country, visiting sites and showcasing videos. The business has provided in-depth demonstrations as part of this new adi VT lift training service.

“Manufacturers now realise that it’s unlikely the country will return to the old ways of working – the pandemic has clearly been a huge wake-up call to the cost of downtime,” added Vance.

“Businesses utilising our services will be taking a positive step towards protecting their employees, as well as improving service efficiency. This will be achieved by increasing lift availability and reducing the cost of potential, expensive repairs,” he continued.

With workplace injury and ill health costing employers approximately £3.2bn a year, adi VT’s new offering looks set to strike a tone with operations and facilities managers.

And with one of the most common work-related injury causes being contact with objects and equipment, Vance feels it is a poignant time to be formalising industrial and warehouse lift training within the facilities sector.

“The past twelve months have been hard for everyone, but with some kind of normality on the periphery, businesses should be reviewing their latest health and safety measures, and maintenance inspections, as well as ensuring their workforce know how to use and manage lifting equipment in a safe and appropriate way,” he added.

“What I’m hoping is that this kind of training can be certified, and with over 70 years of experience in the division, I’m sure that adi VT will be at the forefront of this programme.”

The adi VT business is always on the lookout for talented individuals to join its ranks as it expands its consultancy services across the UK.

New Health Secretary Sajid Javid says that he wants to see a return to normal as quickly as possible after replacing Matt Hancock. Mr Javid said he would do all he could to "deliver for the people of this great country".

His appointment comes after Mr Hancock stood down for breaching Covid rules by kissing a colleague. Bromsgrove MP, Javid, who has had several key government roles, said his predecessor had worked incredibly hard.

His return to the cabinet comes 16 months after his shock resignation as chancellor. But Labour criticised the appointment, saying he had been an "architect of austerity" that weakened the NHS.

Hancock announced his resignation after pressure had been building for him to quit following the publication of pictures and a video of him and Gina Coladangelo, who are both married with three children, kissing. The (Sun) newspaper said the images had been taken inside the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on 6 May.

Following the revelations, a number of Conservative MPs, as well as Labour and the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, called for Mr Hancock to go. Following him (Hancock) breaching his own social distancing rules, Prime Minister Boris Johnson accepted the then Health Secretary's grovelling apology  but was never going to firing Matt Hancock over his secret affair and, according to Downing Street, considers the matter closed.

Ms Coladangelo is also leaving her role as a non-executive director at the DHSC.

Mr Hancock has ended his 15-year marriage to his wife, Martha, and the relationship with Ms Coladangelo is understood to be a serious one. Javid's return to a senior cabinet role comes after he abruptly left government in February last year, a month before he was due to deliver his first Budget.

At the time, the prime minister ordered him to fire his closest aides and replace them with advisers chosen by Number 10 if he wanted to remain in post - conditions he said he was unable to accept.

Retail trade union Usdaw is part of a coalition with major retail businesses that is urging MPs to back an amendment to a flagship Government crime bill, which would offer frontline workers greater protection and is expected to be debated in a House of Commons bill committee.

Usdaw, retailers, and trade bodies are standing together, calling on the Prime Minister to accept that legislation is needed to protect the UK’s three million retail workers. However, the Government is so far rejecting the calls and is being urged to change its mind by accepting an amendment to its Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which would deliver greater protection for all frontline shopworkers.

A petition launched by shopworkers’ trade union leader Paddy Lillis, which attracted 104,000 signatures and is backed by major retailers, was debated this month by MPs and received strong support from all sides of the House of Commons, but the Government was left unpersuaded.

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “It has been a terrible time for our members, with almost 90% of shopworkers suffering abuse, two-thirds threatened and nearly one in ten assaulted. Retail workers, their friends, family and loved ones, are saying loud and clear that enough is enough, abuse should never be just a part of the job.

“Despite overwhelming evidence, the Government continues to refuse to support a specific law to protect shopworkers, which is backed by many retailers. So, we are pleased that a protection of shopworkers amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has been tabled and we hope it will be supported by MPs in the bill committee.

“Usdaw is looking for a simple stand-alone offence that is easily understood, not just by the legal profession, but by the criminals who are assaulting, threatening and terrifying shopworkers. A separate offence for assaulting a retail worker would encourage prosecutions and provide the deterrent effect that our members are desperately looking for.

“A clear message that violence against someone working to serve the public is not acceptable. When retail employers, leading retail bodies and the shopworkers’ trade union jointly call for legislation, it is time for the Government and MPs to listen.

“In Scotland, MSPs voted through a new ground-breaking law to give shopworkers the protection they deserve. We are now looking for MPs to support key workers across the retail sector and help turn around the UK Government’s opposition.”

Culture Central has announced today the launch of the first ever West Midlands Music Board (WMMB), with an ambitious plan, led by a diverse board of high-profile West Midlands industry insiders chaired by Nick Reed the CEO of B:Music (formerly known as THSH), to foster the recovery and growth of the region’s music sector, through the ongoing restrictions and beyond the lockdown.

Until now, there has been an absence of a dedicated music board to provide the West Midlands with a collective strategic voice to advocate for, compile data on and lead the local music sector. The development of the West Midlands Music Board has been created in close consultation with local stakeholders, in recognition and response to the significant adverse impact of the pandemic on the music sector in West Midlands - which comprises festivals, music educators, record labels, venues, production, large scale and commercial stakeholders, and contributes a significant portion of the UK’s £5bn industry, with a music tourism sector that supports over 3500 jobs.

Respected West Midlands artists Lady Leshurr, Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) and Joan Armatrading have all championed the new board with some words of support:

Lady Leshurr said: “There is an amazing music scene in the West Midlands, and we need to shout about it more. We need investment, training and opportunities for our talent to break through. It’s great to see this board come together to make that happen.”

Tony Iommi said “The West Midlands has an incredible musical history, and it is still bursting with new talent. I’m pleased to see this new board come together to make sure that music is recognised as a key part of the economy and gets the chance to thrive.”

Joan Armatrading added: “The West Midlands has always had a great music scene, but the sector has never before had a unified voice. I’m delighted to see the formation of this new board, which will ensure that the region’s musicians, fans, venues, labels, managers and freelancers are represented in every conversation about strategy and investment. Music gives the region its soul and identity, and it needs to have this voice.”

The WMMB will operate independently and cover the whole of the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Herefordshire, Sandwell, Shropshire, Solihull, Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton and Worcestershire. The WMMB board members include (in alphabetical order): 

Lawrence Barton – Venue Manager, Chair of Southside BID, organiser of PRIDE festival in Birmingham

Danni Brownsill – Regional representative for Music Venues Trust, music promoter, runs The Sugarmill, Stoke on Trent

Guy Dunstan –NEC Group MD for Ticketing & Arenas (The Ticket Factory, Resorts World Arena and Utilita Arena Birmingham)

Bobby Friction – Radio broadcaster, BBC Asian Network, regional talent development programmes

Holly Hollister – founder of Selextorhood  and co director of BABMAG, DJ, promoter, music communicator and connector with focus on women and emerging talent

Pete Jordan – MD, MADE Festival and Weird Science (Large scale festivals and Events)

Alicja Kaczmarek – Founder and Director, Centrala, independent arts venue
Lisa Meyer – Home of Metal and Capsule, with focus on Festivals and Music Heritage

Sarah Morgan - Tin Music and Arts in Coventry – representing Coventry Music Board

Nick Reed – WMMB chair and CEO of B:Music (formerly known as THSH)

Reuben Reynolds – Artist, producer, mentor, band leader, arranger, director and teacher, working with bands and songwriters

Despa Robinson – Talent manager, label owners, Founder & Director BE83 Music, management, recording and publishing

Louise Stamp – General Manager of O2 Academy Birmingham / O2 Institute Birmingham (Academy Music Group)

Nick Reed, WMMB chair & CEO of B:Music said: “The board aims to represent a unique identity, by placing music and the wider night-time economy in the West Midlands at the heart of national and regional strategy. We will work to ensure that decisions around investment, training, planning and skills allow our incredible music sector to flourish and grow, creating jobs and sustainable careers here in the West Midlands. A key part of our work will be ensuring that these careers are open and inclusive to all. From the national levelling up agenda to local transport policy, the WMMB will speak with a unified voice for music in the region. We are coming together at a time when the postponement of Stage 4 is causing profound and extended hardship for everyone in our sector. There has never been a more important time to unite, and I am delighted to chair the board, and to be working with such a talented group of people.”

Bobby Friction, WMMB board member and broadcaster added "It's an absolute honour to serve the city and region that’s given me so much over the years, and welcomed me as one of its own. Birmingham is without doubt THE British city of the future. The future success of the United Kingdom and our brilliant city are inextricably interwoven with each other and by working with my other board members, we will ensure the economy, the arts and the people of the West Midlands make the next few decades a UK success story."

The WMMB’s mission is to champion the region’s music industry and ecosystem, protect and promote music industry development at grassroots level and work with local authorities, institutions and government to develop regional data, policies and advocacy. It has prioritised four key objectives: 

ECONOMIC GROWTH AND RECOVERY: Increase the value of the West Midlands music economy and advocate for support across recovery conversations.

INCLUSION: Support equity, diversity and inclusion across the music ecosystem in all forms and functions and be deliberate and intentional in these aims. 

REPRESENTATION: Representation of the West Midlands music industry and ecosystem locally, regionally and nationally.

ADVOCACY: Collect and compile relevant data to support increased investment in the wider music ecosystem and industry in the region.