Colors: Purple Color

A shopkeeper from Handsworth pleaded guilty of dumping waste from their Nechells-based store in a road half a mile from their own home – and has been made to pay almost £1,400 for their offences.

During a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, the court heard that approximately 40 bags of waste and cardboard was found on Stafford Road in Handsworth by a member of the council’s Waste Enforcement Team on 11 November 2019.

A search of the waste found till receipts and invoices linked to Subi Supermarket on Revesby Walk in Nechells, in the city, about three miles away.

The investigator then went to the supermarket and was told by the shop owner’s husband that they had no waste contract but gave their rubbish to a man who collected it on Sundays.

The shop owner, Mohanampal Sutharsan, aged 40, Handsworth, was interviewed under caution and repeated what her husband had said about waste being collected on Sundays. She had no receipts for transfer of waste or a commercial waste contract for her business, which is a legal requirement for firms.

She confirmed that she had disposed of 2-3 bags of commercial waste at home with her domestic waste for two-and-a-half years and had only deposited her waste once on Stafford Road – a short walk from where she lives.

Sutharsan now has a commercial waste contract as requested, but despite this and her other mitigation, she was still guilty of two charges under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Magistrates handed her fines totalling £350, a victim surcharge of £32 and costs of £1,000 – a grand total of £1,382.

Councillor John O’Shea, Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Parks, said: “It is shocking and saddening to hear of cases like this.

“We all have a shared responsibility to look after our environment, so it is staggering to think that somebody has allowed for their waste to be transported over 3 miles across the city to be dumped in a road a stone’s throw away from where they live themselves.

“Businesses like this are taking advantage of the vast majority of other firms that operate legally and fairly. I’d urge every business to check that they have a waste contract in place to safely dispose of all the trade waste that they produce. Don’t think you can save a few quid, because when we catch you, we will prosecute.

“We won’t stand back and allow this to happen – court cases like this prove that we are determined to get to the root of problems with the street scene in Birmingham and where we have credible evidence, we will continue to prosecute. If there is one positive, it is that the shop keeper now has a legitimate waste contract in place.”

The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) has released new figures that show Birmingham tops the list of the UK’s 30 worst-affected postal districts for ‘Crash for Cash’ scams.

‘Crash for Cash’ is a common insurance scam which sees fraudsters invent or deliberately cause road traffic collisions, often involving innocent people, to try and get compensation.

IFB analysis of 2.7 million motor insurance claims made across the UK in between 1/10/2019 to 31/12/2020 has identified over 170,000 claims which could be linked to suspected ‘Crash for Cash’ networks.

The hotspots analysis confirms Birmingham remains the most prevalent area in the UK for the dangerous scam, with the B25 postal district ranking highest in the country. 

Rank

PC

Location

Rank

PC

Location

Rank

PC

Location

1

B25

Birmingham

11

B33

Birmingham

21

WS2

Walsall

2

B34

Birmingham

12

WF13

Wakefield

22

BD2

Bradford

3

B8

Birmingham

13

BD15

Bradford

23

BD5

Bradford

4

BD7

Bradford

14

OL8

Oldham

24

B11

Birmingham

5

BD3

Bradford

15

HX1

Halifax

25

HP12

High Wycombe

6

WS1

Walsall

16

M8

Manchester

26

B28

Birmingham

7

BB9

Blackburn

17

LS8

Leeds

27

RM8

Romford

8

BD8

Bradford

18

N9

North London

28

LU4

Luton

9

B27

Birmingham

19

WF16

Wakefield

29

IG3

Ilford

10

RM18

Romford

20

LU3

Luton

30

BD9

Bradford

‘Crash for Cash’ scams can range from paper-based fabrications, or vehicles being damaged behind closed doors, through to the most dangerous where collisions are being caused by fraudsters with innocent road users.

IFB investigations have found single gangs can be behind thousands of orchestrated collisions in some areas, with the combined value of their fraudulent claims running into the millions.

In the top hotspot area of Birmingham, the IFB recently worked with City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) to convict a serial ‘Crash for Cash’ fraudster who had spent over two years luring innocent people into car crashes. 

Stephen Dalton, Head of Intelligence and Investigations at the IFB, said: “Our year-round work with West Midlands Police and the insurance industry helps to prevent a great number of ‘Crash for Cash’ scams throughout Birmingham, but the city sadly continues to be a hotspot for insurance fraud. We’re calling on the public’s support to help us stop these dangerous scams. We encourage everyone on the road to be vigilant and to report any suspicions of a ‘Crash for Cash’ scam to the IFB’s Cheatline on 0800 422 0421.”

It is hoped that the announcement of the UK’s top ‘Crash for Cash’ hotspots will encourage communities to be vigilant as more drivers start to take to the roads.

Freddie Lovejoy, an LV= General Insurance customer, fell victim to a ‘Crash for Cash’ after his Land Rover was induced into a collision on the A1. A court case was successfully fought after the fraudsters attempted to claim for compensation. He said: “You never expect a crime like ‘Crash for Cash’ to happen until it does, and I would strongly recommend drivers read up about it. There can be physical and mental impacts when involved in a car incident, and to think criminals do it on purpose is scary.

“At the time I was using a dashcam which provided crucial evidence for the case, so that would be my top tip to anyone. I was lucky to get support and justice, but others might not be so fortunate, so creating more awareness for the public is important.”

Gareth Homer, Detective Constable at West Midlands Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “For the last two years we’ve been running an investigation into a gang suspected of involvement in dozens of ‘Crash for Cash’ scams in the West Midlands that have cost insurers around £100,000 – but possibly much more as part of an organised nationwide scam. We’ve arrested three men so far, executed warrants at several addresses, and our enquiries continue. These frauds bump up people’s insurance premiums and also risk injury to innocent motorists. We’re working with the Insurance Fraud Bureau to tackle these offences.”

Detective Chief Inspector Edelle Michaels, Head of the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), said: “‘Crash for Cash’ fraud is damaging to the public in many ways. Most critical is the threat it poses to the safety of road users, as criminals target innocent drivers by deliberately crashing into them. These induced collisions could have potentially grave consequences and the traumatic experience could have a lasting effect on the victim. We have seen time and time again that ‘Crash for Cash’ fraudsters do not care about the safety of their victims, with a trio even targeting a pregnant woman in 2019.

“The staging, or fabrication of collisions is often seen as a victimless crime. In reality, this fraud costs everyone by increasing the price of insurance premiums, meaning that honest policy holders are faced with higher costs.

“IFED is committed to keeping the people of Birmingham safe by combatting ‘Crash for Cash’ criminals, whether they are opportunistic fraudsters or part of a wider Organised Crime Group. In December 2020, a successful IFED investigation led to the sentencing of a Birmingham-based fraudster who had executed multiple ‘Crash for Cash’ plots in and around the city. This type of crime will not be tolerated and IFED will continue to work with industry and local police forces to bring offenders to justice.” 

James Dalton, Director of General Insurance Policy at the Association of British Insurers, said: “These criminal gangs are often highly organised and put lives at risk. The amounts that they fraudulently claim can be huge, and can impact on the motor premiums paid by honest motorists. With more vehicles on the roads as we emerge from the pandemic restrictions, so the potential targets for these criminals increases. This is why it is so important for all motorists to be on their guard - if you suspect an incident is suspicious do not put yourself at risk, but report your suspicions to the IFB's confidential Cheatline." 

Clare Lunn, Director of Financial Crime at LV= General Insurance, commented: “Crash for Cash’ creates serious risk for the public and their safety, and our top priority is to protect our customers and consumers from fraud. As we come out of lockdown and more traffic returns to our roads, drivers need to be ever more vigilant.

“Threats like ‘Crash for Cash’ continue to evolve, and it’s vital motorists understand how to spot the signs and report it. As a major insurer, working with the industry including the IFB means we can collaboratively identify and convict criminals who attempt this type of activity, to keep our roads as safe as possible.”

Induced car collisions are often caused by fraudsters who slam on their brakes on busy junctions and roundabouts in the hope that the driver behind won’t stop in time. Some fraudsters also do this with an accomplice that drives erratically in front of them, so they can divert the victim’s suspicions by blaming the driver in front.

In addition, there have been rising reports of innocent drivers being crashed into by fraudsters after being encouraged to pull out of side roads, or when creeping forward for a better view.

Keep a good distance

Always keep a good distance from the vehicle in front. According to the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) the time required to safely stop is:

·         2 seconds in dry conditions.

·         4 seconds in wet conditions.

·         20 seconds in icy or snowy conditions.

Stay alert

·         Drive safe and stick to the highway code.

·         Look ahead to spot any potential hazards including unusual driving behaviour.

·         Focus on vehicles and not just their lights, as fraudsters often disable brake lights.

·         Be cautious when pulling out of a side road, especially if encouraged by another driver.

·         If other drivers or their passengers are behaving suspiciously, or the condition of their vehicle is poor (such as rear dents), stay calm and keep back.

Know the signs of a ‘Crash for Cash’

·         The driver or their passengers appear to be unphased after the collision.

·         The driver or their passengers appear to exaggerate injuries.

·         Pre-written insurance information is handed over.

Remember to note as much information as possible about the driver, any passengers and circumstances of the collision. This can include written information, pictures, dashcam footage and noting CCTV in the area.

Evidence of a ‘Crash for Cash’ scam can be reported to the IFB’s confidential and anonymous Cheatline (powered by CrimeStoppers).

Gilbarco Veeder-Root, the worldwide technology leader for retail and commercial fuelling operations, is accelerating its transition to e-mobility, boosting Europe’s charging infrastructure roll-out.

Through a series of strategic investments and innovations in the past 18 months Gilbarco Veeder-Root now has the ability to offer any fuel retailer, business or organisation a complete solution for electric vehicle charging. It removes barriers many businesses face when offering an electric vehicle charging infrastructure to customers or employees.

Gilbarco Veeder-Root offers a smart and safe end-to-end system, including compact, powerful, and low maintenance chargers, along with a full network of support services including paying and billing mechanisms. These systems are modular and scalable, allowing retailers and businesses to keep pace with the growing demand for electrified vehicles. There is also the added peace of mind of being backed and supported by Gilbarco Veeder-Root and its 150 year history of advanced energy distribution technologies, know-how and service.

Vice-President Gilbarco Veeder-Root Global eMobility, Kevin Hughes “Gilbarco Veeder-Root has been keeping the world moving for over 150 years and as we rapidly transition to a world of e-mobility we are intent on supporting and boosting the charging infrastructure.

Our advanced technologies, honed from decades of fuel distribution experience, are the ideal off-the-shelf solution to any business wanting to offer electric vehicle charging. These advanced systems are designed to take away the issues in running a charging network. Crucially, they employ the same proven customer service and widespread support ecosystem that Gilbarco Veeder-Root is famous for.

We also know that it’s not just fuel retailers that need to offer a hassle-free charging operation. Many businesses have many pain points around transitioning to electrification in order to offer a seamless service to their customers and we have all of the answers.

The race is on to grow Europe’s charging infrastructure and we are already on track to being a front-runner.” 

Gilbarco Veeder-Root’s e-mobility roll-out will now continue at pace and there will be many developments and innovations to be announced shortly. 

Business leaders in Greater Birmingham pledged today to work with Andy Street (pictured) to help the region get back on its feet after being “shaken to the core” by Covid-19 and Brexit.

The Conservative candidate will begin his second term as mayor after it was announced that he defeated Hodge Hill Labour MP Liam Byrn in Thursday’s election.

Before being elected mayor in 2017, Mr Street was boss of retailer John Lewis for more than a decade. He also led the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership as chairman from 2011 to 2016.

Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), said: “We congratulate Andy on his re-election as West Midlands Mayor – it’s been a hard-fought campaign which has taken place in the most extraordinary circumstances.

“Having worked closely with Andy and the senior team at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) for a number of years, the Chamber look forward to building on that spirit of collaboration and ensuring that the voice of business is central to the mayor’s plans for revitalising the region.

“During the election campaign, the Chamber worked to get businesses’ needs front and centre on candidates’ agendas with our manifesto, produced with and for our members: Rebounding for Business: Vision for the West Midlands Mayor.

“It was great to see Andy back a number of the actions we called for around getting the region back on track as we emerge from the pandemic, green growth opportunities and maximising the impact of two once in a generation opportunity: HS2 and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“Between Brexit and COVID-19 it has been quite the year for the business community to put it mildly. As a Chamber we stand ready to work with the mayor and ensure that the West Midlands emerges from the pandemic ready to drive ahead on jobs, investment and innovation, re-establishing our place in the country and the world.”

Customers trading in a petrol or diesel car will be given an extra £750 towards their new electric purchase in May via participating MG dealerships.

The £750 contribution towards any new MG ZS EV, MG5 EV or MG HS Plug-in Hybrid applies to retail buyers who are making the switch from petrol or diesel to plug-in motoring and is in addition to any other retail or finance offer, as well as the part-exchange price offered by the dealer.

Simply place an order for a new electrified MG for delivery this month and the extra £750 discount will be applied to the deal.

MG’s Commercial Director, Guy Pigounakis, said: “In order to make the switch to electric as simple as possible for those considering a plug-in car as their next purchase, MG is committed to giving customers an extra £750 incentive while taking away their old petrol or diesel car without any detriment to its trade-in value.

“We want as many customers as possible to join the electric revolution by making EV and plug-in hybrid models as affordable as possible, offering excellent specifications, terrific value, great driver appeal and an impressive battery-powered range across the line-up.”

MG currently offers three plug-in models in the UK – the established MG ZS EV, the game-changing All New MG5 EV and MG HS Plug-in Hybrid, all backed up by MG’s incredible 7-year warranty and fast-developing dealer network.

The latest summary judgement decision has been handed down by the High Court on whether commercial tenants are obliged to pay rent whilst their premises have been closed due to Coronavirus restrictions.

In the case of Bank of New York Mellon v Sports Direct and others, the judgement stated there was no justification for the tenants to withhold rent as a result of pandemic closures and loss of business.

This judgement closely follows the ruling earlier this month which saw the High Court order retail business The Fragrance Shop to pay more than £160,000 in unpaid rent and service charges to Westfield London’s owners.

Graham McIntyre, partner and property litigation specialist at national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP, said: “For the last year some landlords have complained about the raft of tenant protections brought in by the government which have restricted a landlord’s ability to forfeit, use CRAR (bailiff recovery) for non-payment of rent and restricted winding up petitions and statutory demands for most arrears. 

“This case is the latest in a run of cases where the Court has in effect refused to acknowledge a specific Covid defence which would have required words being added to the lease by implication. This is helpful to landlords. 

“The position taken by the legislature (legislating to protect tenants) and the judiciary (refusing to ‘create’ a Covid defence out of case law) creates an interesting tension. While the tenant protections on forfeiture, CRAR and insolvency remain in place, there is nothing to stop landlords from issuing proceedings for arrears. And we are seeing landlords increasingly lose patience with uncommunicative tenants and take this step.”

The tenants in this case were unsuccessful on all grounds. The judge felt sympathy for them whilst also noting that the landlords are, in effect, trustees for others, including pensioners.

The government has published a call for evidence which will ‘support the government’s decision making on the best way to withdraw or replace these measures while preserving tenant businesses and the millions of jobs that they support’.

If there is evidence that productive discussions between landlords and tenants are not taking place, and that this represents a substantial and ongoing threat to jobs and livelihoods, it is likely the government will intervene further.

Graham continued: “Landlord and tenant collaboration is clearly the government’s preferred answer.  The government published a voluntary Code of Practice for commercial property relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic encouraging landlords and tenants to work with each other to ensure viable businesses survive.  

“Now the government has published a call for evidence on the landlord tenant relationship and how the Code is working in practice. The results of this will inform what action it takes after the various tenant legislative protections end. In times of uncertainty the law must provide a solid, practical and predictable foundation and it is for Parliament to change the position.

“In the meantime, our repeated advice is always to keep an ongoing dialogue where there are financial difficulties. While landlords hands are tied to a large extent in terms of forfeiture, CRAR and insolvency, in the usual course landlords will succeed at Court for contractual rent arrears claims.”

The Vice Chair of West Midlands Housing Association Nehemiah Housing Association, Professor Martin Levermore MBE DL, has been appointed by the UK Government as the new Independent Person to advise on the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

The appointment comes after a competitive selection process and on appointing Martin to this important role the Home Office said “Professor Levermore brings a wealth of professional and personal experience to the role and will provide crucial independent oversight and reassurance on the Windrush Compensation Scheme’s operation, policy and effectiveness.”

Launched in April 2019, the Windrush Compensation Scheme aims to ensure that the Windrush generation are fairly compensated for difficulties they may have faced in establishing their lawful status in the UK.

Commenting on his appointment Martin Levermore said: “I am very pleased and also honoured to be appointed. Whilst my role is to oversee the scheme, ensuring its governance and financial remit remains consistent with the aims and objectives of the scheme, I consider part of my function is to build confidence and trust within the community and to encourage as many from the Windrush community that have been wronged to obtain restitution.

“I will be participating in a range of community engagement events with stakeholders and community groups and I will ensure the Home Office proactively seeks out and encourages affected individuals to apply to the Compensation Scheme in order to maximise uptake and improve the interaction between the Home Office and communities through measurable and lasting improvements. It is vitally important to me that we make a positive difference.” 

Nehemiah Housing Association Chief Executive Llewellyn Graham says: “On behalf of Nehemiah Housing Association, I offer Martin many congratulations on this well-earned appointment. It is testament to his dedication and commitment to working with and helping where possible the BME community.

“We look forward to working and assisting Martin with community engagement events and identifying potential claimants in our community.”

As well as being Vice Chair of Nehemiah Housing Association, Professor Levermore is visiting Professor for Health, Education and Life Sciences at Birmingham City University and an Honorary Consultant for Health Innovations with the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. He has been published widely in several academic and medical journals; he holds a Senior Associateship with the Royal Society of Medicine.

He was also appointed as Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands in 2018 and holds various other positions including National Lay-leader for the Church of God Prophecy, Chair of Trade and Business Group for Birmingham Commonwealth Association, Chair of Medilink West Midlands, Patron of the National Caribbean Monument Charity, Executive committee member of Greater Birmingham Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce, Chair of specific project task force of Jamaican Diaspora UK and committee member to the Association of Jamaican Nationals Birmingham.

The Minister of State for High Speed 2 will be one of the keynote speakers at the downtown in business parliamentary reception in October.

The MP for Pendle, Andrew Stephenson will be among a range of parliamentarians from the commons and the house of lords who will be in attendance at the event. He will be one of the keynote speakers at the Downtown in Business Parliamentary Reception later this year.

The MP for Pendle, Andrew Stephenson will be among a range of parliamentarians from the Commons and the House of Lords who will attend the event.

DIB chief executive Frank Mckenna said: “This reception will enable our members to engage with a range of politicians on the big issues that interest business.

“Transport and infrastructure are clearly priorities in terms of our economic recovery and so we are delighted that Andrew Stephenson has agreed to join us to give an update on the crucial HS2 project.”

The reception will take place on the Westminster Palace Terrace at the House of Lords on Monday October 18.

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."