The first apprentices have joined the University of Wolverhampton’s Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills – with focus on building skills for the future.

The Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills (ECMS) is a new employer-led training facility for the Black Country designed to enhance productivity in the region’s high value manufacturing sector.

Apprentices have been recruited from a variety of companies including Grab Management Services, George Dyke Limited, CCR Wednesbury Ltd and Phoenix Pattern Tool Company and are currently studying Machinist and Pattern Making Pathways at the ECMS Spoke at Dudley College’s £12 million Advance II Centre.

The project is a collaboration between the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Dudley College, Cast Metals Federation, Confederation of British Metalforming and the Institute of Cast Metals Engineers.  The ECMS Hub will be based at the University’s £100 million Springfield Campus and will deliver skills training through short courses and apprenticeships at three spoke locations in the Midlands – Tipton, West Bromwich and Dudley.

Professor Ian Oakes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the first of our new apprentices and to get a glimpse of the new building at Dudley College where some of our learners will be undertaking their exciting apprenticeship journey.

“Building on the region’s renowned industrial heritage, the ECMS Hub and Spokes will drive economic growth in the Black Country – and further afield - by providing specialist training to upskill the current and future workforce, helping to close skills gaps identified by employers.”

Lowell Williams, Principal of Dudley College, said:  “Dudley College of Technology is delighted to be part of the partnership.  We are providing a pipeline of highly skilled apprentices across a range of engineering disciplines, ready for further specialist upskilling through our collaboration with the ECMS.”

Will Rees-Hull, 21 from Coventry, is an apprentice on the Machinist Pathway with Grab Management Services.  He said:  “The facilities are great here at Dudley College and I’m getting the opportunity to learn new things and move around the different workshops, focusing on developing new skills.”

The switch to contactless cards is costing charities with nearly two out of five adults admitting they give less to street collectors as they do not carry as much cash, new research from Consumer Intelligence shows.

Its nationwide study found 37% who regularly donate money to charity collectors say they have cut back in the past year – and on average they estimate they have donated £14 each less.

Consumer Intelligence’s research shows a rapid switch away from using cash – 58% of adults say they are using less cash than a year ago.

The trend is accelerating among younger people – 71% of 18 to 24-year olds say they use less cash than a year ago, but even over-65s are changing with 49% cutting back on cash.

Just a third of those questioned prefer to use cash for purchases worth less than £30 – the limit for contactless cards – with 39% preferring to use contactless and 27% using chip and PIN and 3% using other devices.

However, cash is still very important for charities – the Charities Aid Foundation** says cash is still the most popular method of donating to charity with 55% of donations coming in notes and coins.

“But there must be some concern that it is hurting charities with so many people admitting they have cut donations simply because they do not carry cash.

“Technology can help however and charity collectors need to adapt. The Church of England is trialling contactless technology for collections so it can be done.”

Consumer Intelligence’s study shows around one in 10 people still carry £50 or more in cash on a day to day basis.

The Mayor and Mayoress of the City of Wolverhampton are inviting people to a glittering masquerade ball to raise money for their charities.

Cllr Elias Mattu and his wife Asha have organised the evening of masked fun for Saturday October 28.

Guests are encouraged to don Venetian-style masks for the event which will take place at the Diamond Banqueting Suite, in Skinner Street. A three course sit-down meal and reception drink is included in the ticket price.

Entertainment will be provided by professional fire-eaters and a DJ will get people moving on the dancefloor.

The Mayor’s chosen charities this year are  Acorns Hospice, Street Pastors, Sickle Cell Care, Interfaith Wolverhampton, the Alzheimer’s Society and Wolverhampton Central Youth Theatre.

Cllr Mattu said: “My wife, the Mayoress, came up with this idea as a wonderful way to raise money for charity.

“This will be a fun, relaxed evening open to everyone. We would like all our guests to enter into the spirit of the ball and wear Venetian-style masks.

“Not only will people enjoy a fun evening with lots of entertainment, they will also help raise money for charities that are very close to my heart.”

The global deafblind charity, Sense International, has launched a new appeal, to fund a pioneering new programme that will transform the lives of children and young adults with deafblindness in Bangladesh. The ‘My Turn to Learn’ appeal, which will improve access to education and opportunities for work for these young people, is supported by the UK Government, which will match, pound for pound, all public donations made between 18 October and 17 January 2018.

In Bangladesh, children with deafblindness face huge challenges. Most are excluded from school, often because teaching staff don’t have the skills to support them and families are overwhelmed by the emotional and practical challenges. Without access to education, the children remain at home, and will not develop the vital communication and life skills they require to achieve basic independence.

The ‘My Turn to Lean’ appeal will support a programme of inclusive education and vocational training, which will include recruitment and training of specialist teachers who will work with dozens of families to support the children at school; training for mainstream teachers; the creation of a model school to promote best practice; and targeted meals so that children with deafblindness are well enough to learn.

The face of the appeal is Morium Begum from Narsingdi in Bangladesh. When Sense International first met Morium, deteriorating eyesight and hearing loss meant that she was on the verge of being taken out of school. Aged nine, her future looked similar to that of many children with deafblindness across Bangladesh – a lifetime of social isolation.

Today, aged sixteen, with the support of Sense International, Morium has become one of the first children with deafblindness in Bangladesh to pass her primary school exams. She has grown into a confident young woman, and hopes one day to become a teacher.

Morium Begum said:  “Ms Asma Bagum [Specialist Teacher] spent time with my parents and teachers to help them understand how I can be supported to stay at school. Without this I expect I would have had to stay at home and not have the opportunity to learn and develop, to communicate and be part of my community.

I now wish to one day become a teacher.

I know that there are many other children with problems with their sight and hearing who are not as lucky as me. I hope that this appeal can help them.”

Director of Sense International, Alison Marshall, said:  “Less than ten per cent of children with a disability in Bangladesh are in primary school. Currently, those with deafblindness rarely get the opportunity to learn vital communication and life skills, leaving them isolated and at greater risk of poverty.

No child should be left behind, which is why Sense International is launching the ‘My Turn to Learn’ Appeal.

UK Aid Match will double the impact of public donations, which will be used to improve access to education and opportunities for work, transforming the lives of children and young people with deaflindness across the country. There has never been a better time to support our work.”

International Development Secretary Priti Patel said:  “In countries around the world, children with deafblindness are not getting the education they deserve, but Sense International is providing the life changing help that’s needed. The My Turn to Learn appeal will fund training and support to help thousands of children and young people with deafblindness in Bangladesh to get the educational support to which they are entitled.

“Every donation made by the generous British public to the My Turn to Learn appeal will be matched pound for pound by the UK government, meaning we will double the difference Britons can make to ensure deafblind children and young people in Bangladesh have the brightest possible future.”

Sense International Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, will launch the ‘My Turn to Learn’ appeal at a special reception held at The Banqueting House in Whitehall, this evening.

A massive 65 per cent of local businesses believe that traffic congestion is a major problem in the Greater Birmingham region - and is costing an estimated £407 million a year. That is according to a new survey by the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC).

Nearly half of those surveyed (47 per cent) said the volume of commuter traffic was the main cause of congestion, but roadworks (43 per cent) and school traffic (41 per cent) were also cited as key factors.

Businesses surveyed said that the congestion problem was throwing up major issues, and among those were staff punctuality (28 per cent), reduced productivity (21 per cent) and increased costs (19 per cent).

The findings of the Chamber survey mirrors recent research into traffic congestion, one of which (Inrix Global Traffic Scorecard 2016) found that the city was the third most congested in England, and that on average, motorists in the city spent nine per cent of their total journey time in traffic.

In turn, this costs the city a massive £407 million in lost revenue. The report found that nearly half (41 per cent) of journeys in the region were less than two miles in length, a figure slightly higher than the national average (38 per cent).

The Chamber says that the new survey was a response to growing dissatisfaction among members about traffic congestion and the problems it causes.

The organisation says that many of the region’s problems are ‘deep rooted’ and go back to when the current key transport networks were designed, in the early 1960s. This placed the car at the heart of transportation, but half a century later the wheels have literally fallen off this solution.

In the Chamber survey, more than 70 per cent of businesses surveyed wanted to see some form of investment in the region’s transport infrastructure to deal with the congestion crisis.

In particular, just over a third wanted to see greater spending to create more capacity on the roads and a similar figure wanted to see money being spent on creating new railway lines, bus lanes, cycle paths and metro extensions in order to boost public transport usage.

GBCC chief executive Paul Faulkner said: “The issue of congestion has long blighted the West Midlands and is estimated to cost the region billions of pounds per year in lost revenue.

“Nevertheless, over the last few months, it is great to see the Mayor working closely with regional partners such as Transport for West Midlands and various local authorities to ensure the foundations are laid to manage demand, increase capacity and improve traffic efficiency across the region.

“It is vital that the views of the business community are absorbed by local and national stakeholders in order to overcome these long standing problems.”

Senior policy and patron advisor Raj Kandola (pictured) said: “This report shows there is an appetite amongst the business community to tackle and alleviate congestion.

“In particular, our members have made it clear that they want to see greater investment in the transport networks and modernising payment systems to get more people to use public transport. There is also a willingness for firms to consider implementing flexible working policies to help ease traffic flows.

“In the long term, it is clear public sector bodies need to work closely with the business sector to tackle this problem and unlock long term prosperity for the region.”

Among the Chamber’s recommendations for tackling the congestion crisis is urgent investment in the local transport network, to take advantage of the new high speed rail line between the Midlands and London (HS2).

The Chamber said this investment must include significant spending on the ‘ailing road network’ and has demanded similar spending levels to the £2.2bn committed to London and the South East.

However, the Chamber says that this investment alone will not suffice, and is calling for a range of technology led improvements, including an increase in Active Traffic Management systems across the local motorway network.

Better use of technology is also needed to increase usage of public transport, for example the new integrated transport app announced this week by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM).

This is the ‘Whim’ app, which encourages people to use transport other than their car by enabling them to pay for their transport over the course of a month as they need it.

Following the recent release of the film It starring everyone’s favourite clown Pennywise – it’s clear we’re a nation that loves to be scared.

And as we head towards Halloween, houses will be adorned with scary spooks and costumes will be donned as people hide behind masks in order to shock their friends and neighbours.

Whilst this is a bit of fun for many people, our pet dogs can sometimes find this distressing – especially if they are part of the outfit! If your dog is nervous around strangers imagine opening the door to a masked ghoul or being around groups of excited youngsters or being dressed as a walking pumpkin!

As part of its “Happy Dogs, Happy Days” campaign, Lintbells, manufacturers of premium pet supplement YUCALM, is working with dog behavioural expert Dr. Emily Blackwell to help owners spot - and deal with – anxiety in their pet around Halloween.

“When it comes to celebrating Halloween it’s important to remember that it should be fun for the whole family – and of course this always includes your pet pooch,” said Dr. Blackwell PhD, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Welfare and Behaviour at University of Bristol.

“So this Halloween consider these three areas of possible concern to your pet dog.”

Dr Blackwell’s top three areas to consider this Halloween:

Ghouls at the door

“If your dog is nervous around new people then groups of people in fancy dress at your door could be terrifying.

“If you anticipate anxiety in your pet then why not shelter them from this by keeping them away from the frivolity and giving them a tasty treat or fun game to play. These fun pastimes can also be used to create a positive association with sounds such as the doorbell.

Things that go bump in the night

“Unusual new items may be presented during times of fancy dress – for example, expect an influx of broom sticks at your front door! If a new item evokes fear or unusual behaviour in your dog it’s a good time to tackle this.

“If your dog does show signs of anxiety try introducing new things gradually in a calm environment and associate them with something good.

“And if or when your pet reacts to a new object or noise outside, never tell them off - even if they are barking - this will simply increase their fear.

Doggy dress up

“Before you decide to create an elaborate costume for this Halloween involving your pet, ask yourself if your dog really likes dressing up.

“Although your dog may appear to ‘tolerate’ being dressed up, a motionless, passive dog may in fact be “freezing” because they are frightened. Dogs restricted by clothing will often show a reluctance to walk and sadly this anxiety is sometimes misinterpreted as ‘calmness’.

“Some Halloween headwear can also make it very difficult for dogs to communicate using their ears and facial expression. Other dogs may behave strangely towards them too as they ‘look’ peculiar.

“Remember to be aware of these signs and do not carry on dressing up your dog if they appear anxious.

“If you remain concerned that your dog may be experiencing anxiety you should contact your vet or a Qualified Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) for advice.”