Prosper Spring

Black Country Chamber membership magazine. Business news, advice, events, training. Black Country Chamber membership magazine. Business news, advice, events, training.

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27.03.2023 Views

NEWS Apprentices backed to ‘future-proof’ top law firm Freeths proud to encourage black students into law National law firm Freeths was proud to host the Birmingham Black Lawyers’ (BBL) Student Empowerment Conference recently. The conference is designed to provide information, inspiration and empowerment for college students from African and Caribbean backgrounds who are interested in a career in law, as well as offering guidance and support to 16–18-yearolds and equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed for those important first steps. Becky Egan, Freeths’ Head of D&I, said: “We were delighted to be able to host this event on behalf of BBL. “The students learnt about being a barrister, a judge and a solicitor and had the chance to find out more about different routes into a career in law. “Students reported feeling empowered and excited about pursuing a legal career, and the team at Freeths is proud to have been a part of this.” A whole generation of apprentices is helping to ‘future-proof’ business for one of the West Midlands’ leading law firms. FBC Manby Bowdler, which has offices in Wolverhampton, Redditch and across Shropshire, has 10 apprentices learning on the job towards becoming solicitors or paralegals. HR Director Sarah Bond-Williams said The Merry Hill shopping centre has welcomed independent footwear brand, Soley Grail Soley Customs, which specialises in restoring and customising trainers. It is the latest addition to Merry Hill’s thriving lifestyle clothing and accessories offering. It follows on from the opening of global lifestyle brand Ted Baker, leading fashion brand H&M, luxury footwear and accessories specialists Kurt Geiger London, and global retailer Lids last year. apprenticeships were a key part of the firm’s employment strategy. She said: “We are working hard to grow the company, and to do that we need a full complement of skilled and talented staff. “The apprenticeship scheme allows us to ‘grow our own’ which, given the skills shortage across all UK industries, is helping to future-proof our workforce.” Independent Halesowen footwear brand is a good fit for Merry Hill shopping Wired for Good gives charity funding boost A Black Country charity that predominantly supports men with their mental health has received a funding boost thanks to a kind-hearted local business. Tough Enough To Care, which was formed by Stuart Bratt after he lost two friends to suicide in four days in 2019, has secured £5,000 from Alloy Wire International’s ‘Wired for Good’ campaign. The money will be used to cover the operating costs of the weekly support groups it runs across the country, as well as inspirational presentations and trips they organise to help men, and now women, talk about their issues and get the right support. Located in Kingswinford, the charity has grown from a simple Facebook page encouraging men to talk into an organisation that has worked with over 6,000 people and delivered mental health training to more than 1,500 individuals. 10 PROSPER SPRING 2023

NEWS Thursfields awards four work experience scholarships in new inclusion project Four aspiring law students have won a work experience scholarship with Thursfields Solicitors as part of the second phase of an inclusion project at the firm. The scholarship includes a guaranteed interview for a training contract with the leading Midlands law firm on the successful completion of the Legal Practice Course. The work experience will take place over two years during each student’s degree and will include mentorship and a cash prize. The four scholarships, were awarded to: • Elice Homer-Walton, at Wolverhampton University • Inderjeet Sandhu, at Birmingham City University • Nisha Bagga, at Aston University, and Beacon course is accessibility boost for sight-loss sufferers Businesses across the West Midlands can now sign up for a new training course designed to make their organisation more accessible for people with sight loss. The Beacon Centre has designed the course to help companies better meet the needs of the almost 200,000 blind and partially sighted people who are living in the region. The Sight Loss Awareness Training Course helps staff to understand the emotional impact of sight loss, learn about different eye conditions, and how to guide someone with a visual impairment. The course takes place over half a day and can be delivered onsite at business premises or the Beacon Centre’s Sedgley base. • Shukry Ali, at Birmingham City University. Jade Linton, HR Director and Chair of Thursfields’ Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, said: “We are delighted to announce this programme, which is part of our commitment to inclusion and widening access to the legal profession for individuals from all backgrounds. “We recognise that access to the legal profession is harder for students from lower social economic backgrounds, particularly those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.” The work experience would be taking place across Thursfields’ five offices in Worcester, Kidderminster, Halesowen, Solihull and Birmingham. To find out more and to book, contact 01902 880 111 or email enquiries@beaconvision.org Chamber welcomes Lauren as digital content creator The Black Country Chamber of Commerce expanded its external affairs team in February with the arrival of Lauren McGowan to the role of content officer. Lauren, a former University of Wolverhampton graduate, brings her creativity and digital marketing expertise to the established and award-nominated external affairs team, who lead on all member and external communications for the region’s longest running business support organisation. Lauren, who lives in Telford, Shropshire and who previously looked after content creation and social media for Wolverhampton-based BCRS Business Loans, brings extensive digital marketing and copywriting skills to the role, which sees her report directly to digital communications and marketing manager, Shahanaz Rahman. Lauren told Prosper: “Having previously worked for a business that is a member of the Black Country Chamber, I understand its work and the value that membership can bring to businesses across the region. “My role here will continue to help spread the message that we are the go-to place for business support in the Black Country. “The team have welcomed me with open arms, and I’m excited to get stuck in and help continue to spread the Chamber name and reputation far and wide.” Chamber CEO Sarah Moorhouse said: “Lauren brings with her a wealth of experience and I am so very pleased to welcome her to the Chamber team. “As our members are at the heart of everything we do, having Lauren on board will only amplify our support on offer to showcase and champion what businesses in the Black Country are all about!” PROSPER SPRING 2023 11

NEWS<br />

Thursfields awards four work experience<br />

scholarships in new inclusion project<br />

Four aspiring law students have won a work<br />

experience scholarship with Thursfields<br />

Solicitors as part of the second phase of an<br />

inclusion project at the firm.<br />

The scholarship includes a guaranteed<br />

interview for a training contract with the<br />

leading Midlands law firm on the successful<br />

completion of the Legal Practice Course.<br />

The work experience will take place over<br />

two years during each student’s degree and<br />

will include mentorship and a cash prize.<br />

The four scholarships, were awarded to:<br />

• Elice Homer-Walton, at Wolverhampton<br />

University<br />

• Inderjeet Sandhu, at Birmingham City<br />

University<br />

• Nisha Bagga, at Aston University, and<br />

Beacon course is accessibility<br />

boost for sight-loss sufferers<br />

Businesses across the West Midlands can<br />

now sign up for a new training course<br />

designed to make their organisation more<br />

accessible for people with sight loss.<br />

The Beacon Centre has designed the<br />

course to help companies better meet the<br />

needs of the almost 200,000 blind and<br />

partially sighted people who are living in the<br />

region.<br />

The Sight Loss Awareness Training Course<br />

helps staff to understand the emotional<br />

impact of sight loss, learn about different<br />

eye conditions, and how to guide someone<br />

with a visual impairment. The course takes<br />

place over half a day and can be delivered<br />

onsite at business premises or the Beacon<br />

Centre’s Sedgley base.<br />

• Shukry Ali, at Birmingham City University.<br />

Jade Linton, HR Director and Chair of<br />

Thursfields’ Equality, Diversity and Inclusion<br />

Committee, said: “We are delighted to<br />

announce this programme, which is part of<br />

our commitment to inclusion and widening<br />

access to the legal profession for individuals<br />

from all backgrounds.<br />

“We recognise that access to the legal<br />

profession is harder for students from lower<br />

social economic backgrounds, particularly<br />

those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic<br />

backgrounds.”<br />

The work experience would be taking<br />

place across Thursfields’ five offices in<br />

Worcester, Kidderminster, Halesowen,<br />

Solihull and Birmingham.<br />

To find out more and to book, contact<br />

01902 880 111 or email<br />

enquiries@beaconvision.org<br />

Chamber welcomes<br />

Lauren as digital<br />

content creator<br />

The Black Country Chamber of Commerce<br />

expanded its external affairs team in<br />

February with the arrival of Lauren<br />

McGowan to the role of content officer.<br />

Lauren, a former University of<br />

Wolverhampton graduate, brings her<br />

creativity and digital marketing expertise to<br />

the established and award-nominated<br />

external affairs team, who lead on all<br />

member and external communications for<br />

the region’s longest running business<br />

support organisation.<br />

Lauren, who lives in Telford, Shropshire<br />

and who previously looked after content<br />

creation and social media for<br />

Wolverhampton-based BCRS Business<br />

Loans, brings extensive digital marketing<br />

and copywriting skills to the role, which sees<br />

her report directly to digital communications<br />

and marketing manager, Shahanaz Rahman.<br />

Lauren told <strong>Prosper</strong>: “Having previously<br />

worked for a business that is a member of<br />

the Black Country Chamber, I understand its<br />

work and the value that membership can<br />

bring to businesses across the region.<br />

“My role here will continue to help spread<br />

the message that we are the go-to place for<br />

business support in the Black Country.<br />

“The team have welcomed me with open<br />

arms, and I’m excited to get stuck in and<br />

help continue to spread the Chamber name<br />

and reputation far and wide.”<br />

Chamber CEO Sarah Moorhouse said:<br />

“Lauren brings with her a wealth of<br />

experience and I am so very pleased to<br />

welcome her to the Chamber team.<br />

“As our members are at the heart of<br />

everything we do, having Lauren on board<br />

will only amplify our support on offer to<br />

showcase and champion what businesses in<br />

the Black Country are all about!”<br />

PROSPER SPRING 2023 11

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