HEADLINES

New Police Partnership Officer Appointed

Match Hospitality at St Andrew’s

News from the Better Together team
Brumcan
Enterprise Week
Cares at Christmas Launch
Childline Football Tournament
Film: An Inconvenient Truth

Heartlands Business Forum Members - Who We Are.
With in excess of 200 members throughout the West Midlands (and beyond !) Heartlands Business Forum represents businesses offering a wide range of products and services. Visit www.heartlands.co.uk for links to a small business directory, a full list of members in alphabetical and business classification listings, and links to our useful business grants and support and employment and training sites. All members qualify for full page listings on this web site which is fully searchable. Many of these businesses offer discounts to fellow members, please email mikew@heartlands.co.uk if you are able to offer similar benefits. Here is a selection of the products and services offered by a small cross-section of our members - all can be found on our alphabetical and classified lists of members

*LDV Ltd.
LDV is Britain's specialist Van Maker producing a wide variety of vehicles
tailored to operators' needs. Visit www.ldv.co.uk for full information about the company's products and to find your nearest LDV dealer.

*Aston University.
Situated at the Heart of Birmingham's vibrant city rapidly becoming the meeting place of Europe, Aston University is the perfect venue for all your conferencing and hospitality needs. For more information contact Nemone Ryan on 0121 359 7293, email n.j.ryan@aston.ac.uk or visit www.aston.ac.uk/conferences

*Aston Business School based in the Management Development Centre, Nelson Building at the University are also members and tell us they are Birmingham's specialist conference venue with 20 meeting rooms for between 8 and 80 people with full technical support available. They have 83 en-suit bedrooms, a First Class Restaurant and a relaxed lounge bar. For full details of facilities contact Lynne Snow on 0121 359 3011, email l.r.snow@aston.ac.uk or visit their web site www.meetings.abs.aston.ac.uk.

*Chemiclean Products. The company manufactures and distributes a wide range of cleaning and paper products, janitorial equipment, protective clothing and wipers. For more information visit their web site www.chemiclean.co.uk or contact John Carr on 0121 523 8833 or email sales@chemiclean.co.uk Chemiclean are one of the growing number of businesses offering discounts to fellow members. If you are able to offer similar benefits to fellow members please email mikew@heartlands.co.uk

*B Mason & Sons Ltd. of Wharf St., Aston, Birmingham B6 5SA. The company is the UK's leading producer of Precision Cold rolled Strips of Brass, Copper, Nickel, Silver and Phosphate Bronze. Contact 0121 327 0181, email sales@bmason.co.uk or visit www.bmason.co.uk for more information.

*Birmingham City Mission based at 75 Watery Lane Middleway, Bordesley, Birmingham B9 4HN. The Mission is involved in Christian social work focusing on the homeless, disadvantaged, families, elderly and youth. Contact Wesley Erpen on 0121 766 6603, email mission@globalnet.co.uk for more information

*W Wing Yip plc of 375 Nechells Park Road, Heartlands, Birmingham B7 5NP. The company is famous for its import and distribution of Chinese groceries and provisions. For more information contact Mr Wing Yip or Barbara Grainger on 0121 327 6618, email wing.yip@wingyip.com Their web site www.wingyip.co.uk is well worth a visit but why not visit the superstore itself at the above address.

*Business Post Ltd. Express House, Wolseley Drive, Heartlands, Birmingham B8 2SQ. Business Post is one of the largest independent UK parcel and express mail delivery companies, providing collection and delivery services throughout the UK and worldwide. They provide a wide range of services with full details on www.business-post.biz or contact their Marketing Department on 0121 335 1190.

*Bulmers Birmingham Ltd of 106/9 Rea Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 6HB. Bulmers are wholesale florists and can supply all types of artificial flowers, plants & trees, display products and commercial Christmas decorations. For full details contact Managing Director, Michael Bulmer on 0121 622 4266, further details can also be found by going to www.bulmersflorists.co.uk will, incidentally offer discounts to Heartlands Business Forum members.

*DALEN LTD of Valepits Road, Garretts Green Industrial Estate, Birmingham B33 OTD
Dalen manufacture & marketing of a wide range of Computer Security Devices
(some LPCB approved). For more information contact Josef Merrix, on 0121 783 3838
neil@top-tec.co.uk or visit www.top-tec.co.uk

New Police Partnership Officer Appointed.

A new Police Partnership Officer has been appointed to replace Mrs Jean White who served on the Heartlands Business Forum Board for the past 8 years. John Hawksworth recentlyretired after serving 30 years with the West Midlands Police and took up his new post inOctober 2006. John is keen to continue the excellent relationship that Jean established withthe Forum and will be attending their next Board Meeting in December. John is alsoresponsible for a new Voice Connect system which has recently replaced the old Ringmasterfacility which allows the Police to send out messages to Forum Members on crime issues,

meetings etc. this new system will be available to existing members.

John said "I am looking forward to re establishing the links with the Forum and continuingJean's good work,she will be a tough act to follow ! "

John can be contacted at Queens Road Police Station on 0121 322 6062 or Email j.hawksworth@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk

John has kindly updated the “Dark Nights are here again” guidance notes that have provedhelpful in the past as the darker evenings again descend upon us - please click here.

Match Hospitality at St Andrew’s

Season 2006-2007

WANTED: CORPORATE CLIENTS TO PURCHASE HOSPITALITY SPACE FOR INDIVIDUAL MATCHES. ALSO AVAILABLE DISCOUNTED PRICES FOR PACKAGES OF MATCHES

Ideal for entertaining or networking with clients, informal business meetings, rewarding staff, special occasions.

LOCATION: MAIN STAND BOX 18 (Just left of centre circle) offers atmosphere with comfort. There is no dress code and this casual and relaxed environment adds to the experience. Ideal for sharing the match with colleagues, clients and/or friends and family.

OPTION 1: PURCHASE BOX SPACE ONLY (up to 9 persons)

OPTION 2: PURCHASE FULL EXPERIENCE TO INCLUDE BAR MEAL PLUS DRINKS (up to 9 persons)

Both options also include:

• FREE CAR PARKING TICKET
• MATCH PROGRAMME AND TEAM SHEET
• SKY TV AND LIVE IN HOUSE PICTURES OF THE GAME
• FULL WAITRESS SERVICE
• ACCESS TO GILL MERRICK BAR

BOX PROMOTION

For more informal discussions or to book please call

Dave Tyers 07751-693-461 or email DavefromDTA@aol.com

News from the “Better Together” Team.....

BRUMCAN - VOLUNTEER DRIVERS and ADMIN PERSON NEEDED URGENTLY
http://www.brumcan.co.uk/
Brumcan, a recycling charity and one of the Charter's delivery partners, is in need of volunteer driver/s.  In terms of hours even half a day a week would be very helpful.   Also required is volunteer admin person/s to answer the telephone and undertake general clerical duties.  If you know of anyone (colleagues, friends & family) who may be interested in these worthy community volunteering roles, please contact Rina Guddu on 0121 451 2227.



ENTERPRISE WEEK 13 -19 NOVEMBER
Enterprise Week is an annual UK-wide week of activities inspiring people in their teens and twenties to be enterprising - to turn ideas into something real.
http://www.starttalkingideas.org/enterpriseweek/2005/
To celebrate Enterprise Week, CARES, the employee volunteering initiative of Business in the Community will be organising workplace and/or school based team challenges for companies to engage with school pupils and other young people in the West Midlands on the subject of Enterprise .

William Barker, Managing Partner of law firm Martineau Johnson, welcomes the scheme as a way to nurture the next generation of UK business, saying:

"Television programmes such as The Apprentice and Dragon's Den, have meant that more young people have shown an interest in business and schemes like this are important to encourage their creativity and entrepreneurial minds at a young age."

Enterprise Week will help to bridge the gap between school and the world of work, providing a superb opportunity for students to get involved in work based learning whilst developing their employability and enterprise skills.   It also provides an opportunity for business to have a positive impact in the local community and raise their profile with pupils who could be their next generation of employees.  Team Challenges contribute to staff development, team building and is a learning opportunity that works both ways.

To submit a team of 11 people for this team building opportunity costs £850+VAT.  Further details are attached and/or contact Rina Guddu.

CARES AT CHRISTMAS LAUNCH
Christmas comes early to Birmingham this year as on 20th Sept Business in the Community launches its annual Cares at Christmas campaign for 2006.  While many hold onto the end of summer for as long as possible businesses are being asked to think ahead to the festive period to spread a little cheer to the more disadvantaged people in the area.

Cares at Christmas asks businesses and employees to provide gifts for local people, perhaps instead of sending Christmas cards to colleagues or business partners.  By joining the Cares campaign, businesses will receive a matching-service to ensure their gift donations are sent to relevant community groups in their local area who are working with clients including children, older people, disadvantaged families or the homeless. 

Business in the Community's Regional Director, David Darlaston said, "Last year's campaign was tremendously successful with over 2,000 packs donated to a value of over £32,000.  One of the organisations that benefited was the Front Door project, which supports homeless people, who received a number of packs from local companies including National Grid, Welconstruct and HMRC."     

"This campaign is unique in that it focuses businesses on giving something back to a range of different groups in their local community at Christmastime. This is an easy way for local businesses to get involved, by simply registering and encouraging employees to take part."  

Getting involved is simple and there is no charge.  Just email caresatchristmas@bitc.org.uk or ring 0871 230 0335 for an information pack.  The pack tells you how the whole scheme works, including how to register and what community organisations in your local area are in need of your support.

CASE STUDIES
http://www.bettertogether.org.uk/main.php?section=Case_Studies|Business
Latest case study to be submitted to the Better Together website is by BHSF, a health insurance company, who have done some wonderful work and created a Prayer and Reflection Area at Oratory RC Primary School.



CHARITIES............
Childline's 5 A-side Football Tournament - Sunday 19 November from 2pm
ChildLine Midlands & East Anglia is hosting its very own World Cup football tournament, 'World Cup Replay', giving your organisation an opportunity to bring together a 5-a-side football team, raise money for a local charity, have fun and win some great prizes.  Could your team be crowned World Cup Replay Winners?  Please see attached invitation for tournament details and contacts.

FILM - AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
http://www.aninconvenienttruth.co.uk/
You may be interested to know that there is an environmental documentary film, An Inconvenient Truth, out in the cinemas on Friday 15 September.  The film brings home Al Gore's persuasive argument that we can no longer afford to view global warming as a political issue - rather, it is a moral challenge facing our global civilization. The film has a profound effect on those who see it and aims to make the viewer think about the positive steps that they can take to tackle climate change.

What's happening at the Chamber?

- don't forget to regularly visit our website www.birmingham-chamber.org.uk for details of the wide range of services and support we offer, as well as a full listing of all our events and online booking facility.

Making contact with other Chamber members could be a lot easier than you think, with help from DataSearch. DataSearch also offers a complete range of fulfilment services. To find out more call 0121 450 4218 or e-mail datasearch@birminghamchamber.org.uk

BUZZPAGES TO CHANGE SITE FORMAT

The Heartlands website is to have a new look.

In order to develop its position on the web the Heartlands website is to undergo a re-structuring to place it in a much stronger position on the Internet and to offer its contributing companies immediate promotional value

All businesses renewing their memberships, and all new businesses will now be entitled to a Buzzpages Superlink as a part of their Benefits Scheme. Please contact Mike Wilkinson at this link for more details.

Mike Wilkinson

The Buzzpages Superlink
Data pages in the Heartlands Directory which are currently automatically offered to new members are now to be offered in a highly optimised text focused and linked format. The linked page, termed the"Buzzpages Superlink", will have a very strong web presence in its own right, and the potential to be developed into a website, and to hold its own against much larger sites. The Superlink page, worth £120 plus VAT, will be available as a part of the Heartlands subscription fee paid annually. Examples of the new Superlink will appear below over the next six weeks. As they take their position on the search engines, ranking information will appear here, so that members can see the level of success of the new pages!

Aston Science Park

For details of how to join the Heartlands Business Forum, please contact mikew@heartlands.co.uk

Feature pages on the Heartlands site are still to include the following:
Heartlands welcomes sponsorship or contributions to any of these pages which have a prestigious and promotional effect for the Heartlands Business Forum and its membership.

Home Page
Welcome to New Members 
Business Support and Advice 
News
Employment and Training  
Midlands Business Directory 
Legally Speaking
Business Watch - security issues for your business  
Money Matters
Why join?  Enrol now!    
Disclaimer and Copyright  
Contact Us
Members' Alphabetical
Members'Classified
discounts directory
About us
Chairman's Foreword
Board Members
Company Details
Exhibitions Page

Why not make www.heartlands.co.uk your home page so that we can keep you up to date each time you log on?

Simply:
Go into Control Panel
Go to internet options
Click on General
Key in http://www.heartlands.co.uk for the HEARTLANDS home page
or http://www.birminghambuzz.co.uk for THIS page

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This newsletter has a posted circulation of approximately 500, and a large web readership. If you wish to contribute, please email mikew@heartlands.co.uk.

If you wish to be removed from the mailing list, again email me to that effect.

Mike Wilkinson
Editor.

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