Community News

A survey for the Social Market Foundation of more than 2,000 HR managers revealed that 19% said their organisation hired at least one Ukrainian national in 2022. 12% said they had employed a Hong Kong British national, and the same proportion had hired a refugee. 

The survey was carried out for an SMF report (see notes) on immigration and employment that proposes significant simplification to Britain’s migration system, granting work visas simply on the basis of wage levels, not occupation groups. The SMF report on migration and labour shortages in the UK economy was sponsored by Fragomen. The SMF retained full editorial independence. 

The University of Wolverhampton’s National Brownfield Institute dug deep when it hosted the British Society of Soil Science (BSSS) Midlands Soil Discussion Group Meeting recently. 

The National Brownfield Institute (NBI), based at the University’s £120m Springfield Construction Super Campus, is a world-class research centre that provides the facility to develop modern methods of building through innovation and partnership with the construction industry, focusing on the practical application of future brownfield regeneration and remediation through the work of research teams, leading policy development and commercial services. 

Nearly one century has passed since King Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud founded Saudi Arabia after conquering Mecca in 1924, since then a series of rapid developments took place until present day.

King Abdulaziz's first ordered the maintenance of the Grand Mosque of Mecca and the introduction of electricity at the holy site, a vision of continuous improvements that never seized until the Kingdom's very recent third expansion project of Mecca's Grand Mosque with a cost that surpassed 200 billion Saudi riyals.

The Chancellor met the UK's principal mortgage lenders and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to agree support for people struggling with mortgage repayments. The following quotes are a snapshot of their reaction. 

Ian Stuart. Chief Executive Officer, HSBC UK said: “We're firmly focused on supporting our customers in this challenging economic environment, so we welcome the meeting with the Chancellor today, and with the support of the regulators, the concerted efforts across our industry to help customers through these measures.

Londoners are being warned of a widespread network of crash for cash fraudsters on mopeds who are targeting innocent road users, and are thought to have attempted £27 million worth of bogus claims (nearly £40,000 a day).

A multi-agency investigation led by the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), and several insurers, found an estimated 2,250 people in London were victims of crash for cash moped scams in the past two years. Many of the suspected fraudsters are believed to be couriers delivering items such as take-aways and are predominantly targeting drivers in North London’s most affluent areas.

Councillor Nicky Brennan speaks on how the findings of the Birmingham Pakistani Report are already familiar to her and the citizens of Sparkhill ward – and how the council is working to address them:

“Birmingham is a super-diverse city, home to more than 1.1m people and Sparkhill – the ward I represent – is home to the largest Pakistani population in our city. So it’s fair to say that many of the issues raised in the Birmingham Pakistani Report – a timely report focusing on the needs and wants of this community - are already very familiar to me.

The huge mechanical bull which was the main attraction at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony has been named after Black Sabbath star Ozzy Osbourne.

The 33ft. tall sculpture, which was due to be dismantled at the end of the Games, is now set to have a new permanent home at Birmingham New Street railway station and will be housed under the atrium of the station after a large, ongoing petition – which exceeded over 28,000 public votes - was cast to save and name the sculpture. Previously known informally as Raging Bull it won a reprieve after the public outcry.

A brilliant bunch of students from St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School in Northfield spent the night sleeping out to raise money to support people who have experienced or are at risk of homelessness in Birmingham.

The future fundraisers set out to raise £250 to support SIFA Fireside, but instead beat their target by 600%, bringing their total to £1,500. The group of Year 6 students, led by Millie, set up a JustGiving page, organised the Campout and sought out sponsorship themselves as part of their Sacrament of Confirmation.

Caroline Rae has been named in His Majesty the King’s birthday 2023 Honours List of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). Newham’s Libraries and Community Assets Manager, Caroline Rae has been awarded an MBE.

This follows the announcement made on Monday 19 June on the OBE awarded to Beverley Halligan for her services to the public sector. Caroline who has led Newham’s library service for 7 years has been awarded the honour for her commitment to library services in Newham and across London.

Nearly 12,000 people have signed up as members of WV Active, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s leisure service, latest figures show. With memberships starting at just £10 per month the service has been encouraging healthy lifestyles with a whole range of facilities designed to suit all ages and abilities.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “WV Active has three fantastic venues across the city, WV Active Central, WV Active Aldersley and WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams, offering our residents access to facilities and exercise classes that are second to none.

Geezer Butler, the legendary bassist and lyricist of Black Sabbath, has posted a picture of his grandchildren sitting on the bench named after the band in Birmingham. The children, who Geezer lists as being called Isadora, Lina, Pippa and Guy, were pictured on the heavy metal bench on Broad Street yesterday.

Publishing the image on his @geezerbutler Instagram channel, Geezer said: “The new generation of Butlers [my grandkids] on the Black Sabbath bench!! #isadora #lina #pippa #guy #birmingham #england”.

Women in engineering will be inspired and empowered at an event to celebrate their place in this dynamic sector. Sellafield Ltd Women’s Engineering Society is hosting the day at Energus today (June 21) ahead of International Women in Engineering Day on Friday (June 23).

The theme for the event is safety and security with a number of speakers lined up. There will also be self-development sessions on assertiveness delivered by the Centre For Leadership Performance, and the event is also an opportunity to network. 

A new commemorative 50p coin marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush in the UK has been released by the Royal Mint.

Designed by artist Valda Jackson, the coin depicts two Black people standing against a backdrop of the Union Flag. The coin pays tribute to the British Caribbean and Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK from 1948-1973.

Exceptional employers have been celebrated today as Working Families, the UK’s national charity for working parents and carers, announced the winners of the 2023 Best Practice Awards. The annual awards, taking place at Vintners’ Hall in London, give deserved recognition to pioneering employers whose standout cultures and working practices are blazing a trail for flexible and employee-friendly workplaces.

King Charles IIIs first Birthday Honours List 2023 saw 1,171 people across the UK have been recognised for their contributions to UK society.

Of those recognised, half are women, 11% come from a Minority Ethnic background, 13% are disabled or have a long-term health condition, and 23% consider themselves to come from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

Speaking about the Birthday Honours, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said: “This year’s honours list is a testament to ordinary people who have demonstrated extraordinary community spirit, and I pay tribute to all those who have been recognised.

A £30 million project to restore rail services to Aldridge for the first time in almost 60 years have taken a major step forward after securing Government backing. The Department for Transport has given conditional approval to start work on an outline business case to build and open a station on the Sutton Park line to provide direct passenger services to Walsall.

This means that funding can now be drawn down to take the project, which is being led by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE), to the next more detailed design, and development phase.