Community News

World-renowned cellist Jian Wang has taken up a new role at Birmingham Conservatoire as International Chair in Cello.

Born in Xi’an, China, and today splitting his time between Shanghai and London, Jian Wang has an international career that has seen him perform with many of the world's leading orchestras.

On taking up his new position as International Chair of Cello at Birmingham Conservatoire, Jian Wang said:

“Birmingham Conservatoire is one of the leading institutions in the world for learning music and it attracts many talented students and wonderful teachers.

“The UK is one of the most vibrant centres for music and I am very excited and looking forward to working with the cello students at Birmingham Conservatoire, and to collaborating with and learning from my colleagues.”

The appointment will see Jian visit Birmingham Conservatoire on a regular basis, where he will lead a class of both undergraduate and postgraduate students, as they seek to lead the next generation of great cellists.

Professor Julian Lloyd Webber, Principal, Birmingham Conservatoire, noted:

“I am delighted to welcome Jian Wang to Birmingham Conservatoire as our International Chair in Cello. Jian Wang is one of the finest solo cellists in the world today and he will be a great inspiration to all our students.

“Jian’s appointment is another step on our journey as we head towards opening the first purpose-built conservatoire in a generation in September!”

Part of Birmingham City University, the new Birmingham Conservatoire will be a unique contemporary building, incorporating five public performance spaces including a new 500 seat concert hall for orchestral training and performance, private rehearsal and practice rooms, and teaching spaces for musicians from a variety of disciplines.

Furthermore, as the first purpose built conservatoire in the UK since 1987, it will be the only one of its kind in the country designed for the demands of the digital age.

Following the news of Jian Wang’s appointment, Dr Louise Lansdown, Head of Strings, Birmingham Conservatoire, commented:

”We are thrilled to welcome the iconic cellist Jian Wang to our staff and cannot wait for him to begin work with our cellists just in time for our new Conservatoire opening later this year!”

Eighty per cent of drivers really do enjoy driving and at least half of all drivers will drive to their holiday destination this summer, according to an AA Populus poll of 21,850 members.

But the renewed love affair with the car is not about what is under the bonnet but more about what goes on inside the car.

The comedy, the singing, the quiet contemplation. The games, the rows, the entertainment, gossip and the quiet confessions in this private space. In a world constantly on display, with every thought and emotion analysed on a smart phone, and social media intruding even into one third of children’s meal times, the car has become the last great social space.

Due to social interactions in the car, almost one half (49%) admit they have a strong emotional attachment to their car. The car is not about mundane journeys as three quarters (76%) like exploring new places by car. It is as much about the journey as the destination.

The AA/Populus research also found:

• Half (47%) of families taking their car into mainland Europe this summer consider the ferry to be ‘a part of the holiday’ rather than just a means of reaching their destination
• 58% drive when on holiday
• 50% drive to the holiday
• 45% take a holiday in the UK that involves driving there.

New research from the AA shows that over a third of us feel being in a car allows for quality bonding time, with nearly 41% saying some of their fondest memories are of family road trips. Important conversations are somehow made easier on car journeys, with more than 1 in 5 admitting to making up after arguments in cars.

Many life changing moments have happened in a car. Indeed, 1 in 20 Brits have proposed or been proposed to in a car, 14% have shared their first kiss in a car, and 2% of the nation have even given birth.

Cheryl Calverley, head of group marketing at the AA, said: “As drivers enjoy their time in the car we want their journeys to flow smoothly so that they never miss a beat.

“Our job, if we are needed, is to keep our Members on the road with first in class repair rates, our breakdown app and even our new Car Genie device that can predict and prevent up to one third of breakdowns.” ***

To illustrate how the AA helps members ‘never miss a beat’ a new ad by the multi-award winning agency of the year, adam&eveDDB, features a strong soundtrack by Tina Turner and a quite incredibly clever singing baby, and maybe, just maybe a small amount of post-production magic from the Mill (of John Lewis fame).

Calverley added: “We are sure our new ad will inspire the nation to look at their journeys a bit differently. They can stop worrying about traffic jams, petrol prices and potholes, and start to really enjoy those precious, precious moments.”

A Birmingham care provider has revealed its plans for an £8 million dementia-friendly nursing home for the elderly in Erdington, which will provide up to 80 new jobs in the area.

MACC Care has submitted a planning application to Birmingham City Council to develop an 80-bed care home on the site of the Hare and Hounds public house in Marsh Hill.

The provider, which already runs five high-quality care facilities for the elderly across the city, said the much-needed home would be the only purpose-built residential home for the elderly and vulnerable within a two-mile radius.

Dr Naz Nathani, director of MACC Care and MACC Living, said as well as residential care, it will offer rehabilitation care, which will help to relieve pressure on hospitals by reducing bed-blocking. This, in turn, will enable recuperating elderly patients to get better quicker so they can return home.

“We are a small, local company that specialises in providing superior, evidence-based care and dementia-friendly accommodation that caters for the elderly and vulnerable and our research has identified the need for a purpose-built facility in Erdington,” he said.

“We want to work closely with the council, councillors and the local community to assure them about our proposals and to listen to them about their needs. We pride ourselves on our values, which are consistent with maximising the quality of care for elderly, vulnerable people from all sections of society – not just the privileged.”

As part of its plans for the new Erdington care home, MACC Care will incorporate a hub that will include a gym specifically designed for the elderly; a library/quiet area with a cafe; a hair salon; cinema; and chapel-prayer area – all of which will be open to local residents over the age of 65.

“We are acutely aware that local residents want to have replacement facilities open to them, following the closure of the public house, and we have proposed a number of options that we would be happy to discuss with community leaders,” said Dr Nathani.

“These will enrich the lives of the local elderly people and enable them to socialise, meet or make friends in safe, modern surroundings, and somewhere that will have a significant positive impact on their wellbeing.

“Our investment in Erdington is not just in providing exceptional care for local elderly people, it will also bring about jobs and training positions. We are committed to making this a community facility and look forward to engaging with local people and councillors about our plans.”

As well as the immediate employment opportunities that the new MACC Care home will provide, the organisation will also be in a position to offer health care worker training and nursing training by linking up with nursing schools to provide nurse assistant placements and training. A training/seminar room within the facility will also provide regular professional development seminar and assessments for the staff and trainees.

MACC Living, the organisation’s development arm, would also deliver excellent apprenticeships for up to six local people during the construction period.

MACC Care, which acquired the former public house site in April – eight months after the premises was put on the open market – runs two other care facilities in Erdington: Abbey Rose in Orchard Road, and Priestley Rose in Bromford Lane – both of which were rated good by the CQC when inspections were carried out earlier this year.

It aims to create a facility similar to its Austin Rose care home, in West Heath, which will open in August.

With an array of activities on offer for all guests, Lane Head is a Lake District home like no other. A fantastic & unique base to come together and enjoy outdoor education courses, activities, celebrations and much more. Perfect for corporate and independent groups, friends and families alike (stag and hen groups are more than welcome). In essence a large and versatile space in an amazing setting.

Standing in an elevated position overlooking Coniston Water, the village and the dramatic fells beyond, Lane Head, is superbly situated for those who wish to explore the delights of the UK's #1 holiday destination. Lovingly refurbished, Lane Head offers its guests simple, spacious, comfortable & practical accommodation, adequately sleeping up to 35 within eight roomy en suite bedrooms.

Historically this impressive home was once owned by William Collingwood, secretary to John Ruskin and a renowned artist in his own right. Furthermore it is believed that Arthur Ransome, a close friend of Collingwood and author of the world famous Swallows & Amazons, spent much time at Lane Head and taught Collingwood's grandchildren to sail on the lake.

We are coming to that time of the year again to dust off our toolboxes and get spring cleaning. A new report from Satsuma titled ‘Room for Improvement’ suggests that quite a few Brits will be putting their DIY skills to the test.

The survey quizzed 1,850 Brits about their knowledge of DIY and the financial implications of getting DIY wrong.

With the average DIY disaster costing £63 it raises the question of where budding DIY wannabes learn their skills, if they do at all!

Is DIY a dying trait?

With 28% of the UK admitting to not owning a toolbox, it would appear that the modern home would rather pay a professional than get their hands dirty. However, when asked where respondents learnt their DIY knowledge, a surprising 76% said YouTube or Google.

25% of the UK admit to guessing when it comes to DIY tasks with less than half (42%) saying it was a knowledge passed on from their family.

DIY disaster’s costs

With the above knowledge on DIY, it’s no wonder that it can sometimes go wrong.

Brits have been found to have an average of 4 DIY failures per year at an average cost of £63 per task. This means that the average house in the UK can expect to spend £239 per year in fixing their home improvement attempts!

Regions that know how to DIY

When asked if respondents knew how to do the following DIY tasks, it was clear that not all regions of the UK were as DIY savvy!

% of population who know how to fix the following:

Full data and information can be seen here

A Kings Heath volunteer has been praised for more than a decade of dedication to a children’s charity.

Yvonne Yates was a store associate at the Barnardo’s store in Kings Heath for ten years, until her retirement in 2007.

But she enjoyed her work so much that she returned as a volunteer for a further ten years.

Now she is sharing her story in advance of national Volunteers’ Week which runs from June 1-7, after being presented with a certificate of appreciation, a badge, a celebratory cake and flowers on Tuesday afternoon.

Barnardo’s manager Julie Collins said: “Yvonne is very committed to the charity and to the Kings Heath team of staff and volunteers.

“It’s so heartwarming that she believes so passionately in our work that she continues to support us even after retiring from the store.

“She’s always smiling and always happy, and such a help to the rest of us.”

Yvonne, aged 70, was a teacher for 29 years, working at Billesley and Alston primary schools.

She said: “After retirement I wanted to volunteer to help others. I went into Kings Heath and walked up and down the street looking at the charity shops.

“I was really impressed by the amazing window display at Barnardo’s, and I liked the idea of continuing to support children, so I went inside and applied to join.”

Yvonne was soon promoted to the role of sales assistant and spent the next years in a paid role with the charity.

When she retired from Barnardo’s she wanted to return to volunteering again, and decide to stay at the Kings Heath store.

She said: “I wouldn’t have dreamed of going anywhere else. Obviously I don’t get paid anymore but I enjoy not having the responsibility of helping to manage the shop.

“There’s a lovely atmosphere, we’ve got lots of really nice customers, and we all get along so very well.

“Every day is different. You never know what you’re going to find among the donations – I remember one of the volunteers opened a cardboard box and found a glass eye staring back at her!

“It’s great fun, and it’s good to know that we’re all working together to raise money for such a worthy cause.”

The Barnardo’s store is open Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm and on Sunday from 10am-4pm.

The team always welcome donations of good-quality clothes, books, toys, games, homeware and accessories, as well as offers of help from potential volunteers.

Birmingham Hippodrome’s annual free festival Summer in Southside returns on Sat 17 & Sun 18 June with country capers, animal encounters and free farmyard fun presented by local, national and international artists.

Escape to the countryside on the streets of Southside this June in a two-day celebration of the great outdoors, where wildlife roams, adventures are born and live music fills the air.

Watch in wonder as Hippodrome Square is transformed into a temporary Village Green complete with live Sheep Racing, Mini Farm, live performances and a host of colourful country characters. Say "ooh arr" to Farmer Giles on his travels through Southside, enjoy storytelling, music and song in the company of The Fabularium’s Reynard The Fox, the woodlands’ most infamous scoundrel – and move your hips to the beat of Bhanghra with Midlands based dance troupe; The Lions of Punjab.

Visitors to The Arcadian can look forward to a live performance from Folk Dance Remixed, a colourful and quirky collision of maypole, clog dancing, breakin’ and street dance. Bringing a taste of the South Asian subcontinent to Southside are Jaivant Patel Dance with a high-energy dance piece incorporating Gujurati and Raas Garba folk, performed to a soundtrack of contemporary Bollywood dance. Joining them are the Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band with their vibrant celebration of the music and dance of rural Rajasthan and Secret City Arts Country Fayre Picnic – an interactive storytelling adventure inspired by Olde English folk takes with a contemporary twist.

Festival-goers are invited to carry on celebrating into the night-time with live music from Birmingham mega-folk band The Destroyers who will be bringing their trademark energy and madcap performance style to The Arcadian on Saturday evening.

Russian performance-artists Cardboardia will be taking over Ladywell Walk with their amazing cardboard farmyard display complete with animals, fences and tools and the opportunity to create your own cardboard sculptures inspired by your favourite country-scape.

Returning to Summer in Southside for the second year running, Highly Sprung are back with their daring and imaginative live staging of Roots, telling the story of two refugees living in the branches of a towering tree. They will be joined by Imagineer Productions who present Operation Migration, a beautiful and heart-warming tale of one man’s extraordinary endeavour to teach a gaggle of geese to fly, told through a combination of puppetry, dance and inventive design.

On Sun 18 June, visitors can take a stroll through the country without leaving the Hippodrome Foyer with free activities, arts and crafts, miniature petting farm and a costume exhibition from Birmingham Royal Ballet. VR experts from Freemotely and South and City College will also be on hand to guide visitors through the landscapes of virtual reality.

This year’s festival will also feature a special performance from resident partners Birmingham Royal Ballet who present 'The Chicken Dance’ from La Fille Mal Gardee, the sunniest of summer ballets. They will be joined by The Black Eagles from Tanzania who present their high-impact acrobatic show set to a lively soundtrack of African music and Rogue Play with Taking Flight, an enchanting aerial display set to a soundscape of word and music.

Alongside a jam-packed programme of live events, festival-goers can also take advantage of a Vintage Fairground complete with swing-boat rides, coconut shy and hook-a-duck, animal-themed Face-painting  and a mobile brasserie serving freshly made crepes, galettes, gourmet burgers, ice creams and barista coffee.

Seeing Summer in Southside off in signature style on the Sunday, visitors to the Showground can look forward to an action-packed Grand Finale featuring the most hotly-anticipated event in the countryside calendar, the Southside Sheep Race!

Fiona Allan, Chief Executive Birmingham Hippodrome said: “We’re very proud to be a part of Southside district and relish bringing the theatre’s surrounding streets to life with a whole two days of free activities and family-friendly fun. This year, we’ll be getting to grips with all things countryside, from welly-wanging, to sheep racing, cardboard tractors to giant maypoles. As ever, we’ll be welcoming artists from across the globe to join in the festivities, giving people from all areas of Birmingham the chance to experience the fun of the great outdoors right here in the heart of our wonderful city.”

As the campaign season comes toward its conclusion with the election on 8^th June, members of Parliament are stepping up their game and campaigning across the country to build support for themselves and their fellow party MPs. One such event took place at the Premier Training College in Erdington today (31^st May, 2017) with dozens of committed members of the local community turning up to listen to Erdington MP Jack Dromey and Tottenham MP David Lammy speak.

The crowd hung onto the two MPs every word, as they spoke passionately about why Labour was the party to vote for in the upcoming general election. Both MPs stated time and time again that it was Labour who had introduced the NHS, that it was Labour who had worked hard when in government to ensure that there was greater social cohesion and inclusiveness and that it was Labour who had worked hard to ensure that those from less well-off backgrounds had access to ladders to future success. Both MPs admitted that Labour had made mistakes, but that the party was willing to face up those mistakes and learn from them, and avoid repeating them, something they were both convinced the Conservatives never would.

Shortly after the two MPs had finished speaking, the floor was opened for questions. A businessman named Anthony asked what Labour would do to ensure proper support for the local community in Erdington and why Labour was worthy of his and others vote. Mr Dromey responded that he had done much to help improve the local community in Erdington and had campaigned tirelessly to help members of his constituency, he promised more of the same if elected. Mr Lammy stated that Labour was the only party that sought to represent everyone, and to truly protect the interests of the many, not the few.

Another businessman asked what Mr Dromey would do about the increased parking charges he was having to pay for his business. Mr Dromey gave a clear and concise answer that he would seek to work with the council if re-elected to ensure that every voice was heard and a proper and well thought out solution could be heard.

The event was rounded up with a lady named Hannah asking a pressing question about immigration and tuition fees. Both Mr Dromey and Mr Lammy were insistent that if Labour won the election they would seek to abolish tuition fees and to ensure that immigration was managed in a fair and reasonable manner.

Afterwards, Mr Lammy gave a final speech about why Labour could do a lot of good for the people of Erdington and the people of the United Kingdom, pointing to their record as the bringers of social inclusion and opportunity, and being the proponents for a fair and just society. The event ended with applause from the audience and a real sense that come 8^th June, Erdington might well vote Labour.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) has made three new appointments to its board – including a new vice president.

Saqib Bhatti, who has served as president of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce for the last four years, is to become the vice president of Birmingham Chamber.

He will be joined on the board by Steve Allen, head of the Birmingham office of law firm Mills & Reeve, and Liz McKenzie of financial services firm Wesleyan.

Saqib is a director at Younis Bhatti & Co Chartered Accountants. Among other interests, he is also a director of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) with responsibilities for promoting diversity and business support, and joint Secretary General of Muslims for Britain, a non-partisan campaign group set up to engage British Muslims in national debates.

He has also worked with a number of charities in Pakistan and locally, where he is a trustee of the Lord Mayor’s Charity in Birmingham.

Saqib said: “It is a great honour to be the new vice president for the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. I follow in the footsteps of many great people and I look forward to working with the board.

“This is a really exciting time for the region and the Chamber is essential to the future development and success of the region. I look forward to serving our members and helping to guide that journey.”

Steve is former winner of the Birmingham Law Society’s ‘International Solicitor of the Year’ award and is recognised in both the Chambers UK and Legal 500 UK as a ‘Leading Lawyer’ specialising in commercial litigation.

He is also the chairman of the New York-headquartered British American Business Council, which has 22 chapters in the UK, USA and Canada.

Steve said: “I’m delighted to have joined the Chamber board. From working with the city-region's burgeoning SME community to large corporates, the Chamber’s mission to connect, support and grow all local businesses has never been more pertinent.

“I particularly look forward to working with its diverse mix of members to explore and develop new markets and opportunities for their businesses.”

Liz is the chief operating officer of financial services firm Wesleyan in Birmingham.

She joined Wesleyan in October 2010 as head of corporate planning.  Prior to this she spent 19 years at Toyota in a variety of roles in production control and manufacturing.

In 2015 Liz was appointed chief operating officer with responsibility for Wesleyan Financial Services, General Insurance, Practice Plan, Life & Pensions, the Transformation and operational excellence functions and IT.

She is also chair of DPAS, which was acquired by Wesleyan in 2015. In June 2016, Liz won the IoD West Midlands Director of the Year Award for a Large Business.

She said: “The Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce has a long history of putting the needs of local businesses first and giving its members a collective voice both locally and further afield.

“I am delighted to have been appointed to the board and look forward to helping the Chamber deliver its ambitious plans on behalf of members and patrons alike.”

The University of Wolverhampton’s International Academy has announced its Summer Programmes for July and August.

The International Academy Summer School  is based in Priorslee Hall at the Telford Innovation Campus and offers accommodation, facilities and services for the University’s international students.

The Summer Programmes focus on developing international students’ spoken fluency and confidence through practical activities and project work. Students also take part in a comprehensive social programme which includes visits to places of cultural and historical interest around the UK.

A Science and Engineering Careers Summer Camp will take place from 1^st July until 15^th July and provide an opportunity for international students from all regions to experience Science and Engineering enhancement at the University of Wolverhampton (UK).  Students will be taking part in engineering workshops and activities in Environmental, Mechanical and Chemical engineering as well as studying English language with the International Academy.

From 23^rd July until 6^th August 2017, ‘The Wolverhampton Experience’ offers students from the UoW partner institutions the chance to develop their communication skills and experience English culture as well as taking part in visits to London and places of local historical interest.  Students also have the opportunity to develop business communication skills and take part in interactive workshops.

Nikhil Goyal Agrawal from Nepal, said:  “The Wolverhampton Summer School last year was a great time for me, it was learning with fun. I attended different types of classes which enhanced my skills and personality.  I enjoyed the sports activities with the other international students and also the trips to London and Cambridge as well as the visits to all the different places in the UK.

“London was a beautiful city with lots of attractions.  The staff at the International Academy are amazing and they made me feel very comfortable.  I really enjoyed my stay and I want to come back again soon.”

Struggling to find the perfect gift this Father's Day? Why not set your dad and his mates the challenge of stepping up to one of HF Holidays' new for 2017 Outdoor Escapes: and make the outdoors your playground. We all know that dads can be really hard to buy for, so this Father's Day, the leading walking and outdoor activity holiday provider is encouraging you to give your dads an experience they'll never forget.

Outdoor Escapes are HF Holidays new UK guided walking holidays. With fantastic walking, through outstandingly beautiful countryside, exclusive accommodation, good food and the company of a small group of like-minded travelling companions. It's a great opportunity for dads to catch up with their friends, get outdoors and show everyone what they are really made of; all whilst taking in some of the UK's most breath-taking walks.

Whether it's a challenging scramble in the Lake District, scaling the high peaks of Snowdonia or discovering hidden gems in the Yorkshire Dales, HF Holidays offers the chance to push the limits and distinguish the men from the boys! With both guided and self-guided walking holidays at destinations across the UK and Europe, there is plenty to choose from. The holiday will, of course, not just be about the challenging hill walks, as there will always be a bar at the end of the day where your dad can enjoy a well-earned cold beer!

Since March of this year, Nicola Sturgeon, the leader of the SNP has been leading calls for a second independence referendum, either to be held in mid or late 2018, or the beginning of 2019. This would coincide with the conclusion of Brexit talks, and has been seen by many as Sturgeon’s attempt to bring her agenda to the forefront of political discussion and to ensure her mandate is used to full effect. However, in the SNP manifesto, launched in Perth, Scotland today, it appears that Sturgeon and the SNP are now softening their stance, a little.

The manifesto states: “At the end of the Brexit process, when the final terms of the deal are known, it is right that Scotland should have a choice about our future.” With such phrasing, it is implied that a referendum would likely only be held in late 2019, after talks over Brexit are believed to have finished, or if one were to follow Theresa May’s thinking, several years after this date.

Following her previous adherence to a referendum being held during Brexit talks, this change in opinion has led many to wondering what exactly has brought the change on. Some, are beginning to think the change in stance must have something to do with the declining support for the SNP. Recent polling figures have put support for the SNP at 41%, down from 55% in April, 2015. Support for independence currently stands below 45%, a further indication that perhaps independence is not at the forefront of many Scottish voters’ minds, and therefore, the SNP has had to change pace to stay relevant.

Consequently, during the launch of the SNP manifesto, Nicola Sturgeon stressed repeatedly that the SNP were the only party who could seriously stand up to the Tories, on welfare and NHS funding cuts. Sturgeon also said that the SNP would support a 50p top rate tax, but only if it were applied across the whole of the UK, they would also support protection of the triple lock on pensions.

However, though Sturgeon shifted focus to other issues during the manifesto launch, she concluded proceedings by stating that the elections to Holyrood last year had given the SNP a clear mandate to call for and hold a second independence referendum. Evidently, though the focus is elsewhere, independence is still a clear talking point, and will remain so for the SNP and for Scotland.

Academics and industry partners in Birmingham are developing a new device that will ensure newborn babies could survive in the event of a crash in an ambulance at up to 40 miles per hour.

Product design experts at Birmingham City University have teamed up with Evac+Chair International – makers of the world's most popular stairway evacuation chair – to develop the first-ever stretcher interface device (SID) for neonates.

The universal device for neonatal equipment will be securely attached to European Ambulance Loading Stretchers (EALS) and those in other markets worldwide, complementing the existing range of goods and services offered by Evac+Chair International.

With the newborn contained within an incubator, the partners are devising a quick attach/release mechanism that will see the device disengage from oxygen, power and other survival supplies in the event of a road traffic incident, to be then transferred quickly to another ambulance vehicle.

Through Birmingham-based Evac+Chair International’s ParAid brand, the company already produces an award-winning ambulance child restraint (ACR) – a flexible and fully adjustable harnessing system for the safe and effective transport of infants and children. What makes SID unique to previous designs is that it will isolate the baby from sudden accelerations and decelerations to reduce the stress of road transport.

To test the effectiveness of the design, SID will be impact tested at 40 miles per hour in a similar manner to how the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) verifies the fit and protection offered by child restraints in the event of a front or side crash.

More than 78,000 lives have been saved since Euro NCAP’s crash safety tests were launched in 1997, and the Birmingham team hope their SID and related products will achieve a safety rating similar to those given on child restraint systems.

The project has been made possible due to a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) which has been agreed between Birmingham School of Architecture and Design, part of Birmingham City University, and Evac+Chair International. The terms of the programme will see a recent graduate from the University’s Product and Furniture Design course employed to work on the two-year project. Research findings from the collaboration will also be fed in to the University’s curriculum, ensuring that its teaching is informed by industry practice and innovation.

Dr Panch Suntharalingam from Birmingham City University is the lead academic on the partnership programme. He said:

“The major challenge in this project will be the development of a stretcher interface device with impact-resistant fixing points and ports for oxygen, power and other survival supplies situated around what encapsulates the newborn.

“In order for the product to be desirable, it needs to be compatible with any European ambulance trolley, so this adds an additional complication, as the variation in emergency vehicles and their components differs across the continent.

“However, our work is vital in guaranteeing the safety of newborn patients in ambulances and giving their families piece of mind – something that will be at the forefront of all our minds throughout the project.”

There is a lack of research in recent ambulance accidents in Europe but in the USA, between 1992 and 2011, there was an average of 1,500 crashes involving an ambulance that resulted in an injury, with 2,600 incapacitated as a result. 29 per cent of the deaths caused in these incidents were ambulance passengers

Ges Wallace, Managing Director, Evac+Chair International, said: “Working with Birmingham City University will enable us to develop a world-class innovative safety conscious products to complement our existing range of specialist patient and casualty handling equipment.”

There are approximately 16,000 transfers of premature and sick babies each year in Britain, according to the UK Neonatal Transport Group. Many of these transfers are needed so that babies can be cared for in the correct type of neonatal unit.

44 per cent of neonatal transfers in 2014/15 were of babies who were moved to a more specialist unit. For example, this happens when a baby needs complex, long term intensive care because they are very premature or sick. Another 44 per cent of transfers were of babies moved to a less specialist unit when their condition improved.

World-leading Swedish engineering group Atlas Copco has started the build of a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at i54 South Staffordshire.

It is the third major business in recent months to begin construction at the advanced manufacturing hub.

The development will be the new headquarters of Tentec Ltd which is one of the leading providers of bolt tensioning solutions globally.

The bespoke facility will provide 46,000 sq ft (4,289 sq m) of high quality production and office space for 80 employees and Tentec expects this number to grow as the operation expands.

Midlands property company Mucklow Group Plc is developing the property on behalf of Atlas Copco and Tentec.

Tentec Ltd, part of the Atlas Copco group, was formed over 28 years ago and the company designs, manufactures and distributes a wide range of class leading hydraulic bolt tensioning tools from their existing site in West Bromwich.

The tools it makes are renowned for their reliability and accuracy and they are used both on land and in deep sea applications.

The Tentec development follows hot on the heels of Eurofins, the food testing company, beginning a £1.5 million major expansion last month. More than 10,000 sq ft of laboratories will be added to its UK headquarters. The Belgian-owned company moved its operations onto i54 five years ago.

ERA, the leading British security hardware and electronics business, are also four months into the construction of a state-of-the-art product development, manufacturing and distribution facility at its new i54 South Staffordshire headquarters. The new purpose built 135,000 sq ft facility will include design, prototyping, testing, manufacturing, assembly, warehousing and a customer training centre.

The three councils behind the success of i54 - City of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire County and South Staffordshire - are delighted with progress on the site, which is also home to Jaguar Land Rover, MOOG, and ISP.

Tim Johnson, City of Wolverhampton Strategic Director for Place, speaking on behalf of the i54 South Staffordshire Partnership, said: “Our joint investment in i54 has already secured hundreds of millions of pounds of further investment and brought thousands of jobs to the area. Tentec’s expansion plans come on the back of significant investment by ERA and Eurofins. Most importantly, these are high-end businesses providing skilled local jobs and research and training facilities. All this furthers i54s reputation as a leading regional hub for advanced manufacturing and engineering.”

Tentec Director and General Manager, David Jones, said: “The new Atlas Copco facility will further enhance our UK footprint with a global centre of excellence to support our worldwide client base within the Energy segment business area. It will also provide the platform to further grow the business where our standard products are used extensively in the oil and gas, power generation industries. The company also has the ability to design and manufacture hydraulic tooling for special bespoke applications in most industries where controlled bolt tightening is required. Operations within the facility will encompass R and D development, training and demonstration areas, engineering design, sales and logistics support, extensive manufacturing and assembly processes thus enabling us to provide world class Atlas Copco and Tentec branded products based on sustainable productivity.”

Development Director at Mucklow, Mark Vernon, said: "It has been great to work with the Tentec team to ensure this state-of-the-art production unit meets its exact requirements.  This is the first of up to four manufacturing facilities which we can accommodate on this high-profile site and we are able to offer fast-track delivery to occupiers."

The full impact of congestion on drivers’ commuting times has been revealed for the first time in an investigation by insurance specialist Admiral.

Drivers are losing an average of 10 days a year sitting in their cars during rush hour with journey times tripling on some routes.

Admiral compared the travel time of various routes into the centres of 13 major cities for a 9am arrival on a Monday, one of the busiest times to be driving, with 9am on a Sunday, when the roads are at their quietest. A central landmark in each city was given as the destination.

The figures reveal the full picture of congestion across the country, uncovering the shocking amount of hours drivers lose as they make their way to work. And this can mean more than just inconvenience – more bumps occur during rush hour than at any other time of day.

Unsurprisingly, London is the worst city for congestion, with commuters spending three times as much time in the car during rush hour, compared with the quieter day. That adds up to an average of 53 minutes more in the car for just one journey, which is a staggering 398 hours each year, or 17 days.

Manchester is the second most congested city in the UK – where drivers will spend an average of 45 extra minutes per journey in rush hour, compared to the same journey outside of peak times. This adds up to 335 hours, the equivalent of nearly 14 days every year.

Bristol comes third in the list, followed by Glasgow and Birmingham. Leeds is the city where congestion affects drivers the least – adding an average of 28 minutes on a journey but still doubling the time it takes for drivers to get to their destination.