Community News

Latest research from global real estate advisor, Colliers International, reveals that even in the face of continued economic uncertainty and the woes of Brexit, Central London remains a prime destination for international brands and interest is still growing, as currently, over 50 per cent of stores on core shopping streets are international brands and 30 new retailers have arrived in the last year alone.

In addition, demand from Chinese shoppers shows no sign of waning with average spend up 30 per cent (YTD) to £1,663*.

Paul Souber, Head of Central London Retail at Colliers International commented: “Following the Brexit vote, sterling devalued significantly, making London more attractive to tourists; particularly those from China, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, who quickly began taking advantage of the ‘Brexit bargains’ on offer. Of these, Chinese tourists were the biggest contributor to international sales, accounting for 35% of tourist spend*.

“As a result of the currency-led tourist boom, many retailers noticed an escalation in shopper footfall and we initially saw a rise in the number of active requirements as a result. However, with shopping habits increasingly moving online and an uncertain UK economy slowing the rate of consumer spending, many retailers are feeling financially squeezed and are subsequently focusing more on controlling their overall occupational costs.

“The focus on the bottom line coincides with a recognition from brands that their bricks and mortar stores must be repurposed so that they seamlessly connect and enhance all parts of their retailing platform, be that online or instore.

“In practice this translates to retailers being more discerning over the number, size and location of physical stores and, in turn, these stores become more experiential and personalised.

“As consumers become more time challenged, it is essential that the locations they visit provide them with a convenience led menu of experiences, from great shopping to a huge array of dining and entertainment options, cultural experiences, health and fitness pursuits, relaxation and leisure, all easily interconnected and accessible by transport and digital infrastructure.

“London is naturally suited to meet these challenges as they are already being embraced and executed by the major landowners and stakeholders in the Capital who are curating, enhancing and future proofing the capital so that it remains the best city in the world.”

Spectacular new images have today (Wednesday) been revealed at MIPIM in Cannes showcasing City of Wolverhampton’s Interchange Commercial District vision.

City of Wolverhampton Council, working in partnership with leading developers Ion, unveiled the ambitious plans during the World Class Developments hotspot at the global property forum.

The commercial district will deliver one million sq ft of grade A office space over strategic sites at the heart of an integrated regional road, rail and tram hub.

It follows on from the success of the award-winning i10 office development – home to major brands Countryside, Ovivo and Tarmac.

Works are also due to start on site later this year on the £12.3 million, eye-catching i9 building.

It will provide 50,000 sq ft of stunning grade A office space for a national or regional headquarters for a major business when completed in 2020.

The commercial district proposition has also been endorsed by the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, CBRE.

The strategic sites are Banana Yard, Cornhill, Steam Mill, Sack Works, i9, Broad Street Hub, and Urban Park.

Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “Our vision for the City of Wolverhampton Interchange is rapidly becoming a reality.

“We now need to take advantage of having state-of-the-art facilities at the heart of the UK’s high-speed rail and motorway networks, with an international airport just 30 minutes away.

“Since i10 was completed we have seen increasing demand for quality office space in that location of the city, particularly from large space users.

“i9 will now follow, and developing a wider city-centre commercial district makes perfect sense to boost the city’s economic future.”

The Interchange project will make big strides in 2018 – providing an attractive commercial gateway to those entering the city by national rail, bus or tram services.

The Midland Metro city centre extension will connect the tram directly to the front of a new railway station, allowing easy interchange between different modes of public transport.

Works on the demolition of the current station have started, and train services will remain fully operational while a new state-of-the-art railway station emerges adjacent to it by 2020.

All this will move the City of Wolverhampton towards a thriving commercial district at the heart of Wolverhampton Interchange - bringing further investment and jobs.

Steve Parry, Managing Director of Ion, added: "The commencement of works on the new railway station building is bringing into focus how well connected the new Commercial District at Wolverhampton Interchange will be.

“We are convinced that it will become a popular location for business."

MEMBERS of the public are being given the opportunity to have their name added to the wings of the iconic Vulcan XH558, as part of celebrations to commemorate the 25^th anniversary of XH558’s final RAF Flight in 1993.

In a fitting tribute to one of the RAF’s longest-serving aircraft, in the Centenary year of the RAF’s formation, the Vulcan to the Sky Trust has opened up this opportunity for the public to place any chosen name on a set of plaques that will commemorate the 25^th Anniversary of Vulcan XH558’s final flight with the RAF.

Dr Robert Pleming from Vulcan to the Sky Trust said: “Following her last RAF flight some people thought that they would never see Vulcan XH558 fly again. Fast-forward 14 years and after perhaps the most complex and demanding private aircraft restoration project ever completed – anywhere in the world, XH558 returned to the air once more in October 2007.

“The restoration allowed eight more years of incredible displays in front of millions of people, and a huge fan base developed a real love for XH558. She took to the sky for the last time on October 28 2015 for her final flight.”

As an icon of British aeronautical design excellence she is will spend her ground-running life as the centre-piece of an new inspirational Heritage Hangar which will be built at Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

“We’ve continued to be amazed by the generousity of people who want to see this historic aircraft preseved for future generations to see and the Trust is looking forward to her new home being built so that she can once again wow the crowds,” added Robert.

Support for the 25^th anniversary plaque will contribute to the Trust’s work to secure the new home for XH558

and to build a brighter future for heritage aircraft preservation, restoration and operation. XH558 will help provide inspiration for a whole new generation of engineering and technical talent by enthusing youngsters with the excitement of aviation.

Names will be added permanently to the underside of Vulcan XH558’s Wing and each dedication comes with a personalised certificate that acts as a commemorative receipt for the requested donation of £30.

“This is a great way to support XH558 and is an ideal gift or memoriam of a lost loved-one, having their name inscribed under the wing of this British Icon,” said Robert.

To secure a place on the plaque and to place your desired name on Vulcan XH558’s Wing visit www.vulcantothesky.org

Attracting an audience of over one million for a single concert in India, Babbu Maan is making a return to UK with a stop at Arena Birmingham on Saturday 29 September 2018!

Internationally acclaimed music mega star Maan returns to UK soils to perform a one-off concert at Arena Birmingham that’s guaranteed to leave audiences breathless.  Winner of the World’s Best Indian Male Artist at the recent World Music Awards, Maan will perform a mix of old school classics alongside his latest songs from his new album, Ik C Pagal with a full live band.

Speaking about his return, Maan said "I'm really excited to be coming back to the UK, and I promise my UK fans that Babbu is back, bigger than ever and ready to rock Birmingham! I receive messages every day from my UK fans showing their support and now l will reply to your messages to show you how much they mean via my music! l look forward to meeting and seeing you all soon."

Business leaders in Greater Birmingham have welcomed news of a £100m housing boost for the West Midlands in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement. A deal has been agreed for the West Midlands Combined Authority to receive £100m from the Land Remediation Fund towards the build of 215,000 homes per year. The Land Remediation Fund enables the release of surplus or unused land to develop for new housing. Elsewhere in his Spring Statement, Chancellor Phillip Hammond also said the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) expects inflation to fall from 3 per cent back to the target 2 per cent over the next 12 months. Growth is expected to be unchanged at 1.3 per cent in 2019 and 2020 before picking up to 1.4 per cent in in 2021 and 1.5 per cent in 2022.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce chief executive Paul Faulkner (pictured) said: “Many businesses will have breathed a sigh of relief as the chancellor stuck to his word and did not announce any major changes in this Spring Statement.

“Instead he focused on updates on how funds already earmarked are being allocated.

“There was good news for the region the West Midlands Combined Authority’s housing deal was announced. “We are well aware that having an affordable and attractive place to live with good links to employment opportunities is a vital part of being able to attract and retain talent and staff in the region. Kick-starting further housebuilding in this way is a welcome move.

“There was also good news on the economy performing better than expected and the announcement of new funds on preparing employers for T Levels and helping SMEs take on apprentices. We will be informing our members of how they can best benefit from these opportunities as the detail becomes clear.” However, business leaders are calling for more decisive action on business rates in the Autumn Budget to avoid further strain on high street retailers. The Chancellor vowed to reduce business rates by £10bn and bring forward the first wave of triannual revaluations to 2021. Mr Faulkner said: “The Chancellor has not gone far enough on business rates. We have seen consistently in recent weeks just how hard hit our high streets are by rising rates.

“Many other businesses reliant on physical space also share retailers’ pain. The time for tweaks around the edges on business rates is over, in this digital age businesses need a fundamental overhaul of this outdated input tax based on bricks and mortar if we are to retain and grow vibrant business and retail centres. “We urge the Chancellor to make this a priority in his Autumn Budget.”

Plans to keep major entertainment events in the City of Wolverhampton that attract thousands of visitors and generate hundreds of thousands of pounds have been announced.

The move comes following the news the Civic Halls will be closed until the Autumn of 2020 for a major £38 million full restoration to create a state-of-the-art venue.

In the meantime, councillors were determined to keep high-profile events in the city rather than risk losing them to other venues.

Full Council has approved that key events already booked in at the Civic Halls for 2018 will now be switched to City of Wolverhampton Council-owned Aldersley Leisure Village (ALV).

This includes the Grand Slam of Darts and a number of premier comedy acts.

The Civic Halls are crucial to the cultural and economic life of the city. The current venue brings in thousands of visitors, directly supports 360 jobs and contributes £4.3m to the local economy.

The ability to switch these events to ALV gives these big acts a home in the City of Wolverhampton until they can return to the Civic Halls.

Cabinet Member for City Economy, Councillor John Reynolds, said: “The Grand Slam of Darts puts the city on map, is watched by millions of people across the globe, attracts thousands of visitors to the city and brings in thousands of pounds.

“Following the announcement about the Civic Halls, many people told us it would be a disaster to lose these events from the city. We have listened, secured their future, and with it further investment.

“It is great news that we have been able to keep this key event in the city.

“We’re also engaging with local councillors and residents to ensure the events runs as smoothly as possible and any disruption, mainly traffic related, is kept to an absolute minimum.”

PDC Chairman Barry Hearn said: "The bwin Grand Slam of Darts is synonymous with being held in Wolverhampton, and though the Wolves Civic is currently closed it's great that we can keep the tournament within the city.

"We've received great support from fans in the West Midlands and the City of Wolverhampton Council over the past decade, and I'm sure that the Aldersley Leisure Village will prove a popular new home for the event this year."

Customers who had already purchased tickets for Civic Halls events are being kept fully informed about their options. Ticket information for the bwin Grand Slam of Darts will be confirmed in due course.

With innovative thinking, leadership and continued public-private sector collaboration, the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) has a good opportunity to further develop its cruise tourism sector, reports Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty.

However, Commissioner Nicholson-Doty - who held bilateral talks with a number of cruise line executives during last week's Seatrade Cruise Global cruise industry convention - warned that the landscape of the tourism industry continues to be challenging as lines reposition itineraries to the Western Caribbean and passengers demand a greater diversity of experiences.

She noted that during a meeting with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association's (FCCA) top brass, the Ports of the U.S. Virgin Islands was commended for the progress made to implement harbor transportation in the Charlotte Amalie Harbor, which they described as "the single most important thing we can do for cruise tourism on St. Thomas."

The Commissioner reported that the U.S. Virgin Islands was preparing to respond to the trend of purpose-driven travel and voluntourism by rolling out a number of projects that will be available for both cruise ship passengers and stayover visitors.

The Territory will also continue to prioritize providing authentic Virgin Islands experiences for visitors, such as food tours, historical site visits, educational rum distillery tours and the ability to purchase locally made art and products.

A new free exhibition revealing the hidden story of how civil engineers transform lives and help safeguard our future is on show at the award-winning Institution of Civil Engineers Infrastructure Learning Hub in London this Easter.

Unveiled to celebrate the ICE's 200th anniversary, 'Invisible Superheroes' uses cutting edge technology to highlight the unsung heroes behind some of the world's most amazing engineering projects.

Designed to appeal especially to young people, the exhibition features real-life engineers as cartoon superheroes on their mission to save the planet from dangers such as climate change, flooding and the spread of disease.

Films, animations, interviews, quizzes and games help bring the untold stories behind incredible feats of civil engineering to life.

There's also the chance to experience a virtual reality dive into world of engineering and visitors can put their own skills to the test by building a bridge or tunnel boring machine.

Earlier this year the Infrastructure Learning Hub (ILH) was recognised as a 'Hidden Gem' visitor attraction by VisitEngland in recognition of the quality visitor experience on offer.

Open to the public at the ICE's One Great George Street headquarters in central London, the ILH is the UK's first learning centre to focus on engineering achievements and its role in tackling global challenges.

“We're proud to bring civil engineering to life at the ILH, not only providing a rich educational experience but a fun and memorable one for visitors of all ages,” said Nathan Baker, Director of Engineering Knowledge at the ICE.

The year-long exhibition is part of ICE's bicentenary celebrations - ICE 200 - with events planned around the UK to showcase and explain civil engineering to the public.

The wait is almost over! Group travel expert Red7 has come one step closer to crowning Britain’s Best Bridesmaid and the competition is fiercer than ever, with nearly 500 nominations received in total.

Brides from across the country nominated the top team players from their #wedsquad and the judges carefully examined every entry. Now, Red7 reveals its seven regional winners in the race for the title.

Not only will the ultimate winning bridesmaid receive the prestigious title of Britain’s Best Bridesmaid (and major bragging rights!), she will also be whisked away on her very own ‘BridesmaidMoon’, a fantastic Red7 cruise to Bruges and Amsterdam.

Introducing Jamie Leigh Branston, the winner for the Midlands. Jamie, from Leicester, earned her place in the final seven by stepping in to save little sister Rachel’s wedding day from disaster.

“Honestly, the day would never have happened without her,” says Rachel, whose wedding day had not one, not two, but three disasters. Jamie, a mum of five who knows how to run a tight ship, was there for her sister every time fate threatened to ruin the special day.

First, the bridal party were left confused when no photographer arrived. Realising that it had been overlooked, Jamie kept her cool and quickly paid for a professional to arrive at the last minute.

Next, Rachel faced every bride’s worst nightmare when her dress tore right before the ceremony. “I was in full scale meltdown mode!” she confesses. It took some time to calm Rachel down, but Jamie was the perfect bridesmaid for the job. After the (understandable) bridezilla moment had passed, Jamie came up with a way of repairing the dress.

With the bridal gown in tact and the photographer booked, Rachel and her bridesmaids set off to the late wedding at speed, hoping that the drama was over for the day. Unluckily, they were so late that the venue tried to refuse to marry the couple.

Rachel thought that her dreams of a happy wedding day were forever dashed, but her big sister was not about to let that happen. Jamie used her gift of the gab to talk the venue into allowing the wedding to go ahead, performing her third miracle of the day. “Not only is she a fantastic sister but she was my absolute outright lifesaver,” says Rachel.

Red7 founder Ian Lucas commented: “Congratulations to our magnificent seven! 

“We are confident that we have selected a dream team that represents the best of British bridesmaids. 

“Jamie’s bridesmaid story stood out for her quick thinking and ability to make the impossible happen – she reminded us of ourselves!”

Almost 17,000 people across the UK have followed in the gravity-free footsteps of Major Tim Peake thanks to the ground-breaking Space Descent VR experience. Samsung provided its technology and created a fully immersive VR lounge that transports visitors into space before the VR experience has even begun. The VR technology allows users to take the magnificent 400km descent from the International Space Station (ISS) to Earth, aboard the legendary Soyuz TMA-19M module.

To date, two-thirds of the 549 intrepid souls to have travelled beyond the Earth’s atmosphere are American, but Samsung and the Science Museum Group continue their task to make space travel in the UK accessible to all through Tim Peake’s spacecraft national tour.

Tim Peake’s iconic Soyuz capsule is on a two-year UK tour that is presented by Samsung & the Science Museum Group, which has to date attracted almost 200,000 visitors to see the spacecraft alone, experiencing space travel for themselves.

Having previously landed in Bradford, Shildon and York, the tour continues from Saturday 10th March at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry. As part of this ‘first of its kind’ tour, Samsung is also working closely with the Science Museum Group on a national schools outreach programme, aimed at engaging young people in STEM subjects. Over the coming six weeks, surrounding Manchester schools will be visited by the Space Descent with Tim Peake VR experience tour bus, designed to look like the ISS. Students will undergo a space training programme and have the opportunity to experience Space Descent VR, inspiring a new generation of burgeoning space explorers.

Sam Grant, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland, says, “It’s incredible that we’ve brought the Soyuz capsule to its fourth UK city now. There’s clearly an appetite for using technology in ways that transform how we learn, given that so many people are engaging with our Space Descent VR experience. This truly is an unforgettable experience for museum visitors, one that we hope sparks curiosity beyond the day-to-day.”

Astrophysicist and TV presenter Danielle George MBE supports the Manchester leg of the campaign. “I’m thrilled to be part of such an exciting exhibition. It’s crucial that children have access to these kinds of resources – it expands their education and interest in STEM subjects, and is key to defining the career choices that children go on to make. Samsung and the Science Museum Group will no doubt continue to inspire young people as they take the Soyuz spacecraft around the nation.”

The Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft will be on-site at Manchester’s Museum of Space and Industry until 13 May 2018.

Dayna Landsborough, from Plymstock, in Devon, has won The Cinnamon Trust’s Young Volunteer of the Year Award for 2018.

Dayna, aged 21, was given the award – supported by Fish4Dogs and in association with the Young Kennel Club – on the penultimate day of Crufts (Saturday 10 March) at the NEC, Birmingham.

The Plymouth University sociology undergraduate has been walking 12-year-old, black Labrador, Jet, for four years now having volunteered her services to the Cinnamon Trust at the age of 17.

Her love of dogs prompted her to apply but over the years she struck-up a deep and meaningful relationship with Jet’s owner Meg Gray and late husband Charlie.

For the first two years, she walked Jet three-times a week and not even the pressures of starting university, and studying for exams could deter her commitment. Dayna and Meg, who is now 87 and battling cancer, have become such good friends that Meg considers her “family”.

Dayna helped Meg when she lost Charlie in 2016, visiting her regularly and taking her small gifts to cheer her up.

Meg was unable to attend Dayna’s presentation but said: “Dayna spreads sunshine wherever she goes.  She is a real treasure to me and Jet and we are so lucky to have her in our lives.

“I have cancer now but I have had a good innings and do not intend to have chemo, I have had curly hair all my life and I do not intend to lose it! Knowing that Dayna is there for Jet means a great deal to me.”

Dayna was presented with ceremonial plate, silver brooch pin and a goody bag, plus a hamper of pet food and treats provided by Fish4Dogs.

Cinnamon Trust founder, Averil Jarvis MBE, said that all the shortlisted candidates demonstrated a heart-warming commitment to looking after the companion animals of those in need but that the bond between Dayna and Meg shone through.

“Despite the age difference, they are genuine friends and say such lovely things about each other. It is clear to see that there is a very real affection that has grown through Dayna’s desire to give something back and help in Jet’s care.”

Following the presentation, Dayna paid tribute to her friend Meg: “I never imagined that, when I started walking a dog in the community, I would not only gain a furry companion but a genuine friend in Meg. She is a woman who has done it all, and that is no exaggeration. A former WREN and mother – a strong woman who is a force to be reckoned with.

There are signs of positive local wildlife conservation efforts to protect the natural resources in Tanzania through community involvement, mostly in wildlife protection.

Wildlife is the leading source of tourism and the biggest attraction, pulling about one million tourists as the past year numbers show. Wildlife populations have suffered in recent decades from poaching and clashes with people involved in other economic activities, such as farming and mining.

A new study had found that community-based wildlife conservation can quickly result in clear ecological success, with the largest and smallest species being among the winners.

A paper published recently by the scientists from the Wild Nature Institute, documented significantly higher densities of giraffes and dik-diks, and lower densities of cattle in a community Wildlife Management Area (WMA) relative to an unprotected control site in Tanzania.

The positive ecological effects were clearly the result of the WMA, because the study found similar wildlife and livestock densities in the WMA and control sites before WMA establishment, when both were managed by the same authority.

Dr. Derek Lee, lead author of the study and Principal Scientist at Wild Nature Institute said: “There have been social and economic critiques of WMAs, but the ecological value or success of WMAs for wildlife conservation had never been quantified.

“Our data demonstrated that WMA establishment and management had positive ecological outcomes in the form of higher wildlife densities and lower livestock densities. This met our definition of ecological success, and hopefully these results will encourage more community-based conservation efforts.”

Community-based natural resource management, established on the transference of resource management and user rights from central government agencies to local communities, is promoted as a conservation tool and has become the dominant paradigm of natural resource conservation worldwide.

Unfortunately, the ecological success or failure of these projects is rarely rigorously assessed.

In Tanzania, efforts to decentralize wildlife management to local communities occur through the creation of WMAs, whereby several villages set aside land for wildlife conservation in return for the majority of tourism revenues from these areas.

Nineteen WMAs are currently operating, encompassing 6.2 million hectares of Tanzania’s land area, with 19 more WMAs planned.

The Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) has been supporting community projects for villages neighboring the national parks and the public at large through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program known in Tanzania’s lingua franca Kiswahili as “Ujirani Mwema” or “Good Neighborliness.”

The “Ujirani Mwema” initiative had shown a positive trend, bringing reconciliation between the humans and their natural enemies – the wild animals. Now, people in villages realize the importance of wildlife and tourism to their lives, keeping away the old notion that wild creatures had no value to humans.

Under this program, the National Parks management release a big amount of funds accrued from tourism for community projects, mostly schools, health facilities, clean water supply and support to poor children in designated areas.

At the national level, the national parks have successfully maintained a competitive advantage over other tourist destinations. They stand as the leading tourist attractions, while adding a value to other attractive sites outside the parks including the Indian Ocean beaches, historical sites, cultural tourist sites and other such tourist attractive places.

As a result, the parks have become tourist selling points for Tanzania. The National Parks had raised tourism to an important sector of the economy for Tanzania’s development.

The University of Wolverhampton has launched a new Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies which will be the first of its kind in the UK.

The new Centre was officially launched by Dr Satinder Sartaaj, renowned Punjabi singer and poet, in the Chancellor’s Hall at the University’s City Campus at a celebratory ceremony attended by members of the local community, University staff and students as well as local dignitaries.

Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, Course Leader in Religious Studies in the School of Humanities and an internationally-recognised researcher in Sikhism who has published extensively on the Sikh and Panjabi community, has been appointed Director of the Centre.

The Centre will offer PhDs and Master’s level courses in Sikh studies, as well as continuing professional development (CPD) courses for teachers and managers of diverse workforces such as national and local government, the NHS and the emergency services.

It will also offer training for Granthis and Gianis, individuals taking the religious lead in Gurdwaras, short courses in religious literacy and language to address the loss of the Panjabi language in younger generations, as well as teaching in English to promote bilingualism and skills for life.

The Centre will be involved with the exchange of knowledge on an international platform using the links it has already established with Sikh Studies scholars across the globe.

Opinderjit said: “The Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies will be based around a nationally-leading research hub, with large-scale research projects into Sikh history, art and literature, diaspora, identity, inter-religious dialogue, culture, community and place, all within the context of a 21st century global society.

“To highlight our research we will create an open access peer-reviewed scholarly journal, an annual Sikh Studies research conference, a public lecture series and research-informed exhibitions.

“We aim to be a centre of academic excellence by becoming the national voice for academics active within Sikh and Panjabi Studies and through links with overseas institutions, particularly with universities in Panjab, we will provide opportunities for student exchanges and other collaborative projects to encourage understanding around the world. The focus will be on lifelong learning from both inter-faith and inter-disciplinary perspectives with an aim to increase knowledge and promote dialogue.

“Our aspiration is to create a space for current and future generations in which they can feel comfortable in enquiring about their faith, its principles and ethos. The Centre will be a ‘go-to place’ for any individuals or organisations wanting to know more about the Sikhs and their faith, and it will be the first of its kind in the UK.”

Ninder Johal, Chief Executive Officer of Nachural Group and Independent Governor at the University, said: “The Sikhs are an important part of the United Kingdom and play a substantial role in the global economy. But too often this young religion has not had a voice that represents its views politically, economically and theologically.

“The Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies will correct this with both academic and real-world rigour. It will offer everyone an opportunity to work with a leading university so that we all have a better understanding of this fantastic and globally sympathetic religion.”

Anyone interested in getting involved with the new Centre should contact Dr Takhar by emailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and if you would like to make a charitable donation to the Centre contact Terry Gibson, Development Manager, by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Three West Midlands apprentices received a special accolade when they attended the House of Commons for an event showcasing the vibrant pub, bar, brewing and casual dining sectors during National Apprenticeship Week.

Over 100 apprentices aged between 16 and 59 were invited to attend the event, but only nine of those were nominated by their employer to receive a Certificate of Outstanding Recognition for making a significant impact during the course of their learning.

Three of those were from the West Midlands:

·      Ben Shaw, apprentice kitchen manager at owned Toby Carvery in Norton Canes was nominated by his employer Mitchells & Butlers

·      Vickie Craig, from JJ's in Coventry, nominated by Deltic

·      Dave Albon, a 59 year old apprentice chef from the Brasshouse in Birmingham, nominated by the Stonegate Pub Company

The apprentices were presented with their certificates by Andrew Griffiths MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility.

Delighted to receive his award, Ben said: “I want to do my level four, work my way up in the business and get myself to a place where I can open my own restaurant.

I have real career aims and goals. Every day I wake up with a bit more of a drive to do better in life.

"When I first started my job, I was 21 stone. I worked for a year and I lost 10 and a half stone. It made me feel 100 per cent better and more confident in what I wanted to do with life. It just made me feel like a better person in general. Once I had done all my courses I realised I wanted to do cooking. I am hands on and hospitality was right for me. My mum has worked in the hospitality trade for 10-12 years and she is now in a team leader role at the same place as me. I work with my sister as well.

“The passion of wanting to be better has made me work harder, more efficiently and has made me lose my weight. I just worked harder. Instead of scrubbing the floor in 10 minutes, I’d do it in five; instead of pot washing down in 20 minutes, I’d do it in 10. That intensity of going faster and harder made me lose my weight.”

At 59, Dave was the oldest apprentice at the event. He said: “We're learning about back-of-house leadership and it has definitely improved what I am doing. It brings everything back and hones in on the major things. I would recommend becoming and apprentice to both junior and senior colleagues because it is something you are doing to learn and being paid to do it at the same time.”

This was the second Apprenticeship Showcase event organised by the Perceptions hospitality industry group, which saw over 100 MPs in attendance, as well as 30 employers from the hospitality industry and Great British Bake Off star Candice Brown, who challenged MPs to 'have a go' at whipping, whisking, pint pulling and wine tasting.

Chairman of the Perceptions hospitality industry group and CEO of multi-award winning Beds & Bars, Keith Knowles, said: “Showcasing our industry to government and demonstrating the vast opportunities from kitchen and bar roles to those in marketing and finance, highlights the diversity of our vibrant sector.

"It is not unusual for our apprentices to start at grass roots on minimum wage and progress to senior management positions. For young people, career progression can be rapid, with many progressing to a management role within three years.”

The hospitality sector supports 2m jobs, represents 10% of UK employment, 6% of businesses and 5% of GDP. It is the third largest private sector employer - double the size of financial services and bigger than automotive, pharmaceuticals and aerospace combined. The sector is forecast to grow by 4.3% creating 19,000 more jobs by 2020.