The biggest British Army Corps is launching a new base in Birmingham.

159 Regiment, a reserve unit of the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC), will raise the regimental flag over its new ‘B Troop’ in Dawberry Fields Road, Kings Heath on Wednesday 2 May.

The troop is an extension of the RLC squadron based in West Bromwich, with ten soldiers transferring to the new site, and will make it easier for potential Army recruits from Birmingham to access training on their doorstep.

The Birmingham-based unit has already attracted interest from people living in the city and has capacity for up to 30 soldiers. Combat logistic specialists, drivers, chefs, medics and HR advisers are some of the roles that the regiment is currently seeking to fill.

Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Pat Allen said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to fly the flag of the largest Corps of the Army in the second city. There are some brilliant opportunities available to reserve soldiers including travel, sport and adventure.”

The Kings Heath location is already home to another Army reserve unit, 202 Field Hospital, who will remain the lead unit.

159 Regiment provides logistic support to the regular Army, such as vehicle parts, tools, ammunition, rations and water. The RLC maintains the Army’s operational capability by providing constant support and sustaining units by land, sea and air.

As well as developing their trade skills, the regiment’s soldiers travel the world on training exercises, deployments or to take part in sporting competitions. In the last two years, soldiers from the regiment’s six detachments in the Midlands have travelled to Canada, Afghanistan, Kenya and Cyprus.

Teachers, police officers, fitness trainers and students are some of the civilian careers held by the regiment’s reservists who train in their spare time with many employers granting time off for Army commitments.

Reserve soldiers receive pay and allowances and attend a minimum of 27 days a year to qualify for an annual tax-free incremental bounty which rises to £1,759 after five years’ continuous service.

This summer the regiment will be offering an Access to Logistics course which will equip people with the skills to become a fully trained soldier, including driving qualifications, in just nine weeks. New recruits will receive a joining bonus of up to £5,000 on completion of the course.

Delicacies of the Amazonian culture and cuisine are mysteries and flavours still unknown by Brazilian and foreign tourists in the state of Pará. In the itinerary Secrets and Spices of the Amazon, tour operator Vivejar invites travellers to immerse themselves in the multisensory universe of the Amazon, with significant encounters with the local community and an inspiring approach to the region's gastronomy and crafts.

The 6-day trip takes travellers on a cultural and community-based journey, where local communities are responsible for tourism activities and get from them their sources of income, development and cultural preservation. It is also the opportunity for an incredible exchange of experiences with strong and empowered women who have transformed their opportunities and realities through tourism, handicrafts and gastronomy.

The journey begins in the historic capital of Belém, with the first food immersion in the popular Ver-o-Peso market and its variety of unique regional products. The group also takes a cultural tour through the capital, that still preserves patrimonies and stories from the beginning of its foundation by the Portuguese, 400 years ago.

The trip follows to Cotijuba Island, the main of the 42 islands that are part of the Belém archipelago, and an Environmental Preservation Area with 15 kilometers of fresh and warm water beaches bathed by Marajó and Guajará rivers. In Cotijuba, the local community, organised by MMIB – Belém Islands Women's Movement, is responsible for receiving the visitors, presenting some of the island's traditions, crafts and its reality.

For 4 days, travellers have the opportunity to live close together with strong and leader women, artisans and cooks, farmers and tour guides. The transformative experience and the connection and the bonds created during the journey inspire profound and enduring changes in the travellers.

Through hands on cooking and handicraft workshops, tourists discover how to make bio jewellery with typical seeds of the region. To get even closer to the culture of Pará, activities include a scented bath ceremony and a lot of Carimbó dancing. MMIB guides also take visitors through a trail in the middle of the incredible Amazon Forest and free time can be spent on a river beach bath.

Business leaders in Greater Birmingham say it is time for the Government to “be bold and fix the foundations of the economy”, after the UK suffered its weakest period of GDP growth in five years.

According to figures released today, UK gross domestic product increased by 0.1 per cent in quarter one (January to March), compared with 0.4 per cent in quarter four of 2017.

The Office for National Statistics’ estimate showed that construction was down by 3.3 per cent in the first three months of the year, while manufacturing growth slowed to 0.2 per cent.

Production, which includes electricity and gas supply in addition to manufacturing, rose by 0.7 per cent as a result of households using more energy during the cold weather. Services increased by 0.3 per cent.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce chief executive Paul Faulkner (pictured) said: “Today’s results make for disappointing reading as we witnessed the slowest pace of GDP growth for almost five years mainly predicated on a fall in manufacturing growth – a trend we saw mirrored in our latest Quarterly Business Report as local manufacturers revealed a drop in their domestic output.

“While it would be convenient to blame the slowdown on the period of bad weather we saw in February, it’s worth bearing in mind that this was likely to have been offset by an increase in energy production as people kept their heating on for longer periods during the snap blizzard.

“Only last month, an interest rate rise seemed a certainty – however, given the fact we are seeing a drop in inflation levels and a slower pace of economic growth, any projected uplift must surely be put on hold.

“In light of these results, we would urge the Government to be bold and fix the foundations of the economy by investing in first class infrastructure projects and upskilling our workforce – the future prosperity of our country depends on it.”

Severn Trent is looking for bright ideas that could change the way the company works in partnership to improve the water environment across the region in the future.

The company, which serves more than eight million people across the Midlands and mid-Wales, has launched a new scheme called ‘Cash for Catchments’ which will provide funding to support water environment improvements.

Applications are now open to landowners, farmers, community groups and non-governmental organisations to submit ideas that could make a real difference in the future.

Zara Turtle, who is leading the scheme for Severn Trent, explains: “We hope that the best of the ideas will be real game changers that can have a massive positive effect on the water environment right across our region.

“Submissions could cover anything from natural flood management and river restoration to improving river water quality and preserving the region’s biodiversity.

“We’re really excited that the window for ideas is now open and we’re looking forward to reviewing some really innovative projects that we can collaborate on in the future.”

The groups with the best ideas will be invited to Severn Trent’s Coventry HQ to present them to a panel of experts, ‘Dragons Den’ style, and they will then be allocated funding to take the projects forward.

Jess Phillips, MP of Birmingham Yardley, took to the streets of Birmingham this week to get a taste of life as a Big Issue vendor.

Jess Phillips joined Big Issue vendor Michael Hadley, 25, on his pitch on Piccadilly Arcade in the second city on Thursday April 26th to experience the challenges of selling the magazine first-hand.

Phillips admitted that she “felt invisible” after spending an hour on the pitch, selling two copies of the magazine.

“It was a good experience and the sun was shining throughout,” said Phillips, who was first elected to the Birmingham Yardley constituency in 2013. “I managed to sell two magazines – the first person I sold to had no idea who I was but I think the second one knew that I was an MP.

“Michael was very nice and he gave me a few tips on how to sell, which was very helpful.”

Phillips, who featured in The Big Issue’s Letter To My Younger Self section in February, admitted that the eye-opening experience has changed her perspective on the challenges involved in selling the magazine.

“After the experience, I’ll always buy The Big Issue. I know a lot of people walk past vendors – I have done it in the past – and I will make sure, as a politician, that I will do all I can for people on the streets,” said Phillips.“I found it to be a fascinating experience to see how people ignore you and how you can feel invisible. I felt a lot of people were looking away from me.

“Selling the magazine first-hand showed me the challenges that people face and the level of independence that they get when they are doing something gainful with their life like this.”

Big Issue West Midlands team leader Jon Hyde said: “It was a pleasure to have Jess sell the magazine as she really engaged with the vendor and got stuck in to the whole process without any pretention.”

“The sell-off experience was a great opportunity to show Jess, on a small scale, what everyday life selling the magazine on the streets of Birmingham is like for Big Issue vendors.

“The vendors that supported Jess were fantastic ambassadors for The Big Issue, showing Jess the ropes, providing sales tips as well as sharing their experiences of homelessness and poverty.”

“I’d like to thank her for taking time out of her busy work and family life to sell the magazine and it was certainly interesting that Jess felt invisible while wearing the tabard, I hope it was an enlightening experience for her.”

The Big Issue, the magazine sold by vendors to lift themselves out of poverty, is available to buy from now across the UK for £2.50.

Join Great British Bake Off winner and author of three cook books, Edd Kimber (@theboywhobakes) for a special charity brunch of sweet and savoury bakes on Sunday 13th May at Good & Proper Tea in Clerkenwell.

The deliciousness begins at 12:45pm with a still-warm sticky pecan bun and a cocktail created by Our/London. Unlimited premium tea and filter coffee will flow as you feast on his signature baked eggs, sourdough and spreads, chocolate babka and then complete your meal with a seasonal fruit crumble served with clotted cream or yoghurt. You'll also go home with a tote and a treat.

All of the profits of the event go to raise money for awareness and care for people with mental health challenges, a cause close to the heart of Taste Tripper founder Jennifer Earle. The Taste Tripper team have chosen the Hackney Centre for Better Health as a local charity making a big difference on the ground in their community. The bread will come from bakers they've trained as part of a programme to get people back in employment.

This Baker's Brunch is part of a series of events to be hosted by Taste Tripper throughout the year as part of their mission to help connect people to delicious food and makers in the most enjoyable and sustainable ways. Look out for feasts by cookbook authors Chetna Makan and Georgina Hayden later in the year.