Welcome to Birmingham Big Boy.

Emirates launch a daily A380 service out of Birmingham Airport. Jas Sansi went along to the unveiling of the world’s largest passenger airline.

You know that new car smell you experience in a vehicle fresh from the dealer, a heady mix of leather, walnut and new carpet, well imagine that smell on an aeroplane. The Emirates A380 had only 300 miles on the clock when it landed at Birmingham Airport. An overcast day stole nothing as it sat airside ahead of the inaugural flight this Sunday. 

 

How do you begin to describe a plane like A380? Sure it’s big, holds a lot of passengers and even needed a £1 Million new footbridge to be constructed at Birmingham Airport to ferry passengers on and off, but it’s more than that. A daily A380 service out of Birmingham is a huge story.

 

Birmingham Airport is the second smallest airport in the world that can boast a daily A380 service, Mauritius is the smallest. With record breaking passenger numbers for the past 11 months, a dozen new airlines being announced in 2016 and HS2 on it’s way, size is not something Birmingham Airport needs to worry about. The airport has heady ambitions and who would dare stand in it’s way?

 

CEO Paul Kehoe pilots the airport as well as his own aeroplane, a 1947 magnificent yellow flying machine. He showed me some pictures of it on his mobile. He’s relaxed about the Prime Minister’s decision on a new runway at Heathrow. Such a decision, if it goes ahead as expected will take a decade to deliver and in ten years, Birmingham Airport will be a very different place.

 

Birmingham Airport has the capacity to double the number of passengers it presently carries. Partner that with next generation passenger jets such as A380 carrying between 700 and 1000 customers, and an extended runway, the only way is up.

…the renaissance of Greater Birmingham and the Midlands Engine.

HS2 places Birmingham Airport 38 minutes from London Euston. It takes 14 minutes longer to travel from Euston to Heathrow. Proud Brummies may be uncomfortable with a notion of ‘Birmingham Airport, London‘ but we should embrace the opportunity of being so close to the world’s favourite city.

 

Back to the A380, there’s a link below to a series of images taken in and around this engineering marvel. Some quick and dirty facts; the wing span is the size of ten tennis courts. If you lay the onboard wiring end to end, it would stretch from Birmingham to Paris (320 miles) but would seriously inhibit the ability of the plane to take off. A380 is 7 stories high and can boast a maximum flight range of 15,000 km. A fuel load, the extended runway at Birmingham can now accommodate. Las Vegas non stop anyone? 

 

The arrival of A380, providing a daily service between Birmingham and Dubai is a big story but its part of an even bigger story; the renaissance of Greater Birmingham and the Midlands Engine. The confidence Emirates have demonstrated in their investment in the region should be saluted. It is confidence mirrored by Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Codemasters, HS2, TATA, John Lewis, Selfridges, Network Rail, Genting, Qatar, Mondelez, the list goes on and on and on.

 

It’s my 44th birthday today but the region’s success story is the gift that keeps on giving. As a region, we’re neither brash nor the first to boast about our achievements. But don’t you think, we’ve earned the right to inject a little swagger in our walk, a spring in our step and just a little bit of quiet confidence that we’re not simply keeping up with the pack, we’re leading the march. I don’t think we’ll start shouting from the Lickey Hills anytime soon, I don’t even think we need to. All I know is, if we wanted to, we could.

 

Welcome to Greater Birmingham, Emirates A380. Its good to have you on board. 

 

Enjoy the images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jassansi/albums/72157666339699425

 

Birmingham Airport: birminghamairport.co.uk @bhx_official

Emirates: emirates.com @emirates

 

 

Jas Sansi is a freelance photographer based in Greater Birmingham and a trustee of LoveBrum @LoveBrumUK

@jassansi      07930 837 505      sansi1@btinternet.com

 

 

 

Odds on Favourite for a Great Night

The Summer Business Ball & Awards 2016 is to be announced tomorrow. Jas Sansi looks ahead at what guests can expect.

I’ve always suspected the title ‘President’ falls short in describing Ninder Johal’s relationship with the Black Country Chamber of Commerce. ‘The Maharajah of Business’ is a much more colourful expression for what he brings to the role.
Tomorrow sees the launch of The Summer Business Ball & Awards by Ninder’s company Nachural Events. It promises to be a dazzling showcase of the region’s success stories. You are invited to The Wolverhampton Racecourse for a warm summer evening of business excellence. 

 

There are relatively few business awards at that time of the year. I’m confident it will be very successful just like previous ones organised by the Nachural Events team. The Black Country Asian Business Association and Signature Awards enjoyed completely sold out venues under the leadership of Ninder.

 

What can we expect from The Summer Business Ball & Awards? First of all, a great night out. The awards will be entertaining and informative with uber networking thrown in for good measure. You can safely bet, a lot of business will be done at the racecourse.

 

First out the gate will be a drinks reception allowing you to meet your fellow guests. Dinner, a keynote speech and the awards presentation will all be jockeying for position as your favourite part of the evening.

 

Best of luck to all those nominated for an award. As a nominee, it’s important to manage your profile pushing your personal brand out there. It’s equally important to be confident, to enjoy the process of nomination, short listing and hopefully winning your category. But you have to be in the race to win the race, so reach out to The Summer Business Ball & Awards and practice that winner’s walk to the stage.

 

I look forward to seeing many of the region’s business thoroughbreds at the racecourse. I’ll be there to ensure a photo finish of the whole evening. You can look forward to waking up on Saturday with the images waiting for you across social media platforms.

 

Book those tickets soon for an event that will quickly sell out. Everyone loves a winner. 

 

The Summer Business Ball & Awards Friday 15th July 2016, Wolverhampton Racecourse.

Contact Ninder Johal on ninder.johal@nachural.co.uk www.nachural.co.uk 

Jas Sansi is a freelance photographer based in Greater Birmingham and a trustee of LoveBrum @LoveBrumUK

@jassansi      07930 837 505      sansi1@btinternet.com

 

Gluten Free Henry Wong Harborne

I don’t know what the statistics are surrounding coeliac disease, the inability to digest wheat, but I do know this, if one person in your family needs a gluten free menu, then the whole family needs a gluten free menu. 

 

Restaurants who understand this are tapping into a potentially huge market. Not only do you attract those who are allergic to wheat, but you get their family and friends as well. It’s a complete no brainer. 

 

I went to Henry Wong Harborne for dinner last night. Now Chinese food is not easy for those who require a gluten free option, Soy Sauce contains gluten, but because I know the chef, I was confident he would be able to accommodate any dietary requirements. What delighted me when I told Marianne, the front of house manager, was the availability of a gluten free menu. We decided, given the breadth of options on the gluten free menu to order all of our meals from it. We were informed the restaurant even uses gluten free soy sauce. 

 

The gluten free menu does not compromise on the quality at this gem of a restaurant in Harborne, an affluent suburb of Birmingham. We ordered crispy Cantonese chicken, lamb with spring onion and ginger, chilli pepper king prawns and egg fried rice. It was awesome. The only thing we struggled with was finishing all the food. 

 

The service, ambience, and off course the food was all on the money. I’ve never had a  meal at Henry Wong Harborne which was anything other than excellent. The restaurant was completely full so don’t forget to reserve a table to avoid disappointment. 

 

A huge thank you to Ricky Wu, Marianne, and all of the team for putting the gluten free menu together. It was very much appreciated. 

 

Henry Wong Harborne 283 High Street, Birmingham B17 9QH 0121 427 9799

www.henrywongharborne.co.uk 

On twitter @HenryWong_Harb

Jas Sansi is a freelance photographer based in Greater Birmingham

@jassansi 07930 837 505 sansi1@btinternet.com

 

 

Stability and Trust. MIPIM 2016.

In 1973, travel writer Paul Theroux (father of Louis) set off on a train journey around the globe. From London, to Istanbul via Europe and into the Middle East. The world’s largest train network in India carried him across the Subcontinent. Next stop was the Far East and into Russia. The 5 day trans-Siberian journey returned him safely back to Europe and home.

 

He produced a book about the adventure, ‘The Great Railway Bazaar.’ A remarkable account of an extraordinary journey. I’ve read it a dozen times in the past 30 years since stumbling across it as a teenager. In 2007, considerably older, Paul Theroux retraced his tracks in ‘Ghost Train to the Eastern Star.’ His closing chapter, reflecting on the changes across the planet in 40 years includes these words, ‘…Most people on earth are poor. Most places are blighted and nothing will stop the blight getting worse…No one on earth is well governed.’

 

If you catch the headlines of any news programme, you may be inclined to agree with Mr Theroux. There exists instability in all parts of the world. Instability is more pronounced in some regions, I’m thinking Syria but do not ignore last week’s disturbances in Chicago where Trump protesters clashed with Trump supporters.

 

Stability yields prosperity. Most countries in the world have some form of pension infrastructure. The ability to squirrel away funds that one day will support you in retirement. These pension funds are collated by the investment services industry who seek to invest and watch them grow. Investors place a premium upon stability.

 

Stability is a key attribute when it comes to placing pension funds. The UK enjoys stability. Successive governments here in the UK are democratically elected without violence. The Police maintain law and order without the creation of a police state. The Army is the backbone of the UK which can claim the fourth highest defence budget on earth,  but there is little risk of it taking charge of Parliament. The UK is relatively well governed. Little surprise, it has harvested the fruits of stability, positioning itself as the fifth largest economy in the world. We are expected to claim fourth place in the near future.

Investors place a premium upon stability.

With stability comes the question of trust. The UK is trusted. It is home to the largest insurance industry in Europe and the third largest in the world. The degree of trust enjoyed by the UK is further illustrated by inward foreign investment. Purchase a home in Dubai, the absence of a land registry system means you own it in faith. Purchase a home in the UK, land registry means you literally own a castle. With increasing instability around the world, the UK is a beacon for safe investment.

 

Representatives from Greater Birmingham and the Midlands region are at MIPIM this week. MIPIM is a property and investment conference which brings together the world’s most attractive development opportunities and presents them to the world’s money men and women. It offers a forum for local policy makers and regeneration initiatives to meet financial decision makers. 

 

I would like to wish Greater Birmingham’s representatives all the very best in their endeavours to attract investment to our region. It’s a very exciting time for the Midlands Engine. To the world’s investors, thank you for visiting the Greater Birmingham Stand at R7.B12, I’m confident you will be assured of our region’s stability and trust here in the heart of the United Kingdom.  

 

Paul Theroux’s book ends on a positive note, he asks himself ‘Is there hope? Yes. Most people I’d met, in chance encounters, were strangers who helped me on my way. And we lucky ghosts can travel wherever we want. The going is still good.‘

 

Good luck at MIPIM 2016. 

Jas Sansi is a freelance photographer based in Greater Birmingham and a trustee of LoveBrum @LoveBrumUK

 

@jassansi 07930 837 505 sansi1@btinternet.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bowled over by Region’s Success

Tommy Sandhu, Paul Bassi CBE and Ninder Johal

Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham, an excellent venue for sport and business is no stranger to seeing people bowled out and others bowled over. The second chapter in the story of Signature Awards was penned on Friday and like the best novels, left readers hungry for more.

 

Signature Awards celebrates the success stories of Asian Professionals in the region. For a community recognised for their business acumen, the new generation is making headlines in professional roles. Lets not forget, many of these professional roles are incorporated in business. Signature Awards is a product of this evolution.

 

Signature Awards is headed up by Ninder Johal, President of The Black Country Chamber. Ninder, mindful of John Longworth’s sharp exit from the British Chambers after sharing personal opinions on the EU in a public forum, opened the awards evening making no such mistake. It would have been an easy way of creating a media storm and with Ninder about to complete his tenure at the Chamber, could afford to inject a little controversy. Oscar Wilde once commented ‘there’s only one thing worse than people talking about you, and that’s people not talking about you.’

 

There was a impressive array of local influence in the room. Movers, Shakers and even a popular macaroon maker, Rosie Ginday, owner of Miss Macaroon.

 

Paul Bassi CBE, one of the world’s sharpest minds in property spoke at the event. He was bullish about the outlook of Brum’s residential market which he suggested would move upwards from it’s current £300 a square foot to £500 a square foot in light of recent announcements from HSBC and HS2. When Paul speaks, investors listen.

 

Paul described his humble beginnings and explained it isn’t harder to get on the property ladder or launch a business now, adding ‘if you have a sound business plan, the investors can be found.’

 

Tommy Sandhu, BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast presenter injected his infinite energy reserves into the evening. Me and Toastmaster Raaj Shamji grabbed a Cobra Beer with Tommy backstage whilst starters were being served. I told Tommy our team’s, West Brom (me) and West Ham (him) encounters would be a derby game in a decade once HS2 is operational. Birmingham is zone 5 on London’s Underground map in a post HS2 world.

 

Tommy shared with me the challenges of getting up at 4am to present the breakfast show. He’s an extremely intelligent guy, after only one rehearsal at Signature Awards, he was good to deliver the show. Super sharp mind, in a super sharp suit.

 

And what of the award winners themselves, Chan Nandhray kicked of the walk of fame winning Excellence in Finance. Anurag Singh won Excellence in Law and Kavita Bachada demonstrated the old adage that perseverance is always the secret of success. Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Mr Sewa Singh Mandala, who received a standing ovation for his contribution to the community. An inspired choice and one I was personally delighted to see.

 

The one to watch and winner of Young Professional was Jatinder Paul of Irwin Mitchell. Jatinder is a rising star in the region, he often represents his firm on local and national media. Accompanied by family, friends and work colleagues, Jatinder clearly illustrates the importance of a support network in the pathway to success. Jatinder also wears his LoveBrum badge with pride.

Tommy Sandhu, Jatinder Paul (Irwin Mitchell) and Tim Andrews

Thank you to the judges who worked tirelessly in the background ensuring worthy finalists and winners.

 

A massive thank you to Signature Awards for choosing LoveBrum as the charity of the night. Chair Tim Andrews was accompanied by BBC’s Phil Upton in explaining how LoveBrum casts a spotlight on projects in the city region. LoveBrum’s band of Brummies, who pay £20 a year for membership vote on which project they want their money to go to.

 

A huge thank you to all who helped raise £2500 to help LoveBrum support the work it does. More about this and a remarkably kind gesture by Paul Bassi soon.

 

If you missed Signature Awards, try and attend Nachural’s next event, The Summer Business Gala Dinner and Awards on Friday 15th July 2016 at the Wolverhampton Racecourse.

 

By this date, the EU Referendum will be settled, we’ll know who the Regional Mayor candidates are and how England have fared in the Euro Finals. We’ll also be in a position to see if the new President of Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Kevin Rogers,  has successfully taken on the crown or should I say turban.

 

Information for sponsorship and table booking at Summer Business Gala Dinner: ninder.johal@nachural.co.uk, follow on twitter @ninderjohal and on Linkedin and Facebook

 

LoveBrum membership: www.lovebrum.org.uk,  follow on twitter @LoveBrumUK

 

Enjoy the images from Signatures Awards 2016: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jassansi/albums/72157665747337806

 

Jas Sansi is a freelance photographer based in Greater Birmingham, and a trustee of LoveBrum.

@jassansi 07930 837 505 sansi1@btinternet.com

 

 

 

 

adiEU would be painful

Infinite shades of grey, cloud our ability to make difficult decisions. Logic and gut instinct rarely sit comfortably. 

The decision to stay in or leave the EU is complicated. The resignation of the British Chambers of Commerce Director General, John Longworth illustrates the tension in this issue. Mr Longworth speaking to the British Chambers gathered in London suggested the “UK’s long term prospects could be brighter outside of the EU.” These comments flew in the face of the Chamber’s position of staying neutral on the subject. Little wonder there was no sign of him at the evening drinks reception.

Like any relationship, there are always reasons to stay and there are always reasons to leave. My instinct for voting to stay in the EU is as much of the heart as it is the head. The UK’s relationship with the EU is not perfect. Show me any relationship that is. But here’s the deciding factor for me; you can only work on a relationship if you’re in that relationship. Sitting on the sidelines muttering about the actions of others is a waste of time and energy. 

…you can only work on a relationship if you’re in that relationship.

One of the key arguments to leave is the price the UK pays to be a part of the EU. £50 Million pounds a day is an eye watering amount of cash but we get £35 Million of it back. If we left the EU, we would still have to pay that sort of money to trade with our neighbours. Here’s the crunch, we still have to pay but not have a seat at the table, nor will we contribute to the direction Europe moves. And don’t forget, to trade with the EU, we will have to accept the free movement of people. All the taxation, none of the representation.

The UK is the world’s fifth largest economy. We punch above our weight given our country is only the 22nd most populated. We are relatively small but we matter. Under Labour, the UK was the fourth biggest economy in the world and it’s expected to regain that position in the near future. 

What I’m trying to say is, the UK isn’t doing bad as part of the EU.  Uncertainty about staying or leaving has knocked currency markets. The strength of UK sterling is temporarily diminished.

I visited Venice with my family last year. I purchased 1.4 Euros to the pound. This made it possible for us to have a coffee in St Marks Square and a Bellini cocktail in Harry’s Bar. If we travelled there today with the current exchange rate rocked by uncertainty, these two experiences may not happen. Ok, they’re micro examples in a macro argument but the point is, strong sterling as a result of confidence in our relationship with the EU gives UK families options, options that would otherwise not exist.   

I had a photography assignment in Geneva recently. Everything was very expensive. Switzerland isn’t part of the EU. If we leave, we will either be unable to enjoy the culture of Europe because of weaker sterling or, even if sterling strengthens above and beyond the Euro, we end up like Switzerland and no one will be able to afford to holiday here. We do not want to be Switzerland. The 3 million job losses quoted by the stay campaign will certainly include those in leisure and business tourism; the hotels, restaurants, visitor attractions, airports and conference centres will all take a hit.

The UK is the fifth largest Conference destination in the world. Here in Greater Birmingham, being at the heart of the country gives us a geographical advantage of attracting national conferences, all 2 hour trips lead to Brum. Our region would suffer heavy casualties in the event of Brexit. Suddenly £15 Million a day no longer feels eye watering. 

There are 99 days until the EU Referendum. Those who have decided to stay and those determined to leave will pretty much cancel out each other’s vote. Its the undecided who will decide. This is about 30%. 

I’m an active member of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and it has been instrumental in helping me develop my company. The Chamber is neutral on whether we stay or leave but I say stay in the relationship, work on the relationship and enjoy the benefits of the relationship. Let’s not grow old on our own.

 

Jas Sansi is a freelance photographer based in Greater Birmingham and a trustee of LoveBrum

@jassansi      07930 837 505      sansi1@btinternet.com

Its a Date…

Yesterday outside Number 10, the PM announced the date for an EU Referendum to decide whether we remain a part of the European Union or cut the umbilical chord and break away. In four months, the British electorate decide ‘do we stay in or are we out?’

I ran a quick poll on Twitter asking Stay, Leave or Undecided. I was surprised how few are undecided, 5% had yet to decide in or out. 41% opted to Stay but the biggest percentage at 54% were those opting to bid au revoir to our continental cousins. 

158 Twitter users voted but it’s important to reiterate David Cameron’s comment following his unpredicted victory in the 2015 General Election, ‘Britain isn’t Twitter.’

Six cabinet members including Priti Patel have joined the Leave EU campaign. 

One of the key discussion points 24 hours after the date was announced is where Boris Johnson stands. He has admitted being torn in different directions like a shopping trolly. His announcement is due this evening at 10pm.  

It’s a politically calculated move for Boris. It’s been widely reported he will support the Leave EU campaign. If Britain does vote to leave, he’ll be in a very strong position to lead the Conservatives in the 2020 General Election and trouser the keys for Number 10. 

It’s not without risk. The canals and waterways of the UK are littered with discarded shopping trolleys. 

 The EU Referendum. Stay or Leave. Thursday 23rd June 2016. Save the date.  

 

Jas Sansi is a freelance photographer based in Greater Birmingham.

@jassansi      sansi1@btinternet.com      07930 837 505

 

 

 

Hs2, The Future is Now

High Speed 2’s imminent release of £7 Billion represents the biggest tender for procurement in the history of the UK. £3 Billion is ring fenced for Greater Birmingham. 

The coming of HS2 places Greater Birmingham in Zone 5 on the London Underground Map. West Brom against West Ham will be a derby game in a decade.

I’m trying to put into context the opportunity this once in a generation project offers. HS2 is like winning the Olympics, The World Cup and then winning the Olympics again. 

HS2 expects 700 Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 and SME (Small and Medium sized Enterprise) companies in its supply chain. Consider the opportunities for businesses servicing this supply chain; the restaurants, hotels, retail, media, conference centres and entertainment. 

HS2 is an injection of confidence and investment creating and safeguarding 100,000 jobs. There is a California gold rush on the horizon and fortunes are there to be made. 

HS2 is like winning the Olympics, The World Cup and then winning the Olympics again.

HS2 links London to Birmingham Airport and Birmingham, then North in a Y shaped formation to Manchester and Leeds. The UK will enjoy increased capacity and connection at high speed. 

For Greater Birmingham, commuter belts will expand to include Bearwood to Barnet, Erdington to Ealing, Handsworth to Wandsworth, but this is a future opportunity. The opportunities for the next decade are those in and around engineering and the injection of funds into the region from those jobs in engineering. 

London Euston to Birmingham Airport will be 38 minutes. This effectively makes Birmingham Airport a London airport. There is little appetite for a third runway at Heathrow. Boris doesn’t want it neither do either of the next London Mayor candidates, Sadiq Khan and Zac Goldsmith. An inspired solution for increasing airport capacity in the South East is the 38 minute HS2 journey from Euston to Birmingham Airport. 

It will take 14 minutes longer to get from Euston to Heathrow than from Euston to Birmingham Airport. Little surprise, Birmingham Airport is announcing 11 new airlines this year. 

Birmingham Airport presently serves a million passengers a month but has the capacity to carry double that number.  With increased connectivity, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), celebrating its 40th birthday this year will attract increasing conference footfall. The NEC is already the busiest exhibition hall in the UK. It has been for its entire 40 year history.

HS2 will serve both Birmingham Airport and The NEC before gliding into an evolved Birmingham city centre at Curzon Street. And in a decade, what will our city centre resemble? For that you need to close your eyes and imagine. An expanded Metro System will link Curzon Street to Birmingham New Street, the redesigned train station giving Brum the gateway it has long deserved. 

A short walk to Paradise, a redevelopment where the demolished Central Library once occupied. Paradise links Victoria Square and Centenary Square. Here the Library of Birmingham stands shoulder to shoulder with The Birmingham REP and the International Conference Centre linked to Hyatt Regency. Centenary Square will also be home to HSBC’s UK Retail Headquarters with 2000 people. 

Broad Street, now part of Westside BID will continue the Metro line towards Five Ways where Seven Capital have a portfolio of property investments including The Park Regis Hotel and a Residential Tower. 

HS2 will serve a city that not only has more canals than Venice but more seats of learning than Florence. There are six Universities in Birmingham, vital for a city with the youngest population in Europe. 

177 different nationalities call Birmingham their home. Little surprise the St Patrick’s Day Parade is the third largest in the world, the Chinese New Year celebrations attract 39,000 in Southside and the Vaisakhi Mela in Handsworh Park is the largest Sikh festival in the world outside India. HS2 delivers connections to people who are no strangers to connecting. 

…the Skyscrapers are coming

The two Trillion dollar corporation, Deutsche Bank has moved its back office support to Birmingham. These decisions are not made lightly and are fueled by confidence in what a city like Birmingham is and what a city it can grow to be. 

Birmingham is home to almost 10% of the UK’s Michelin Star Restaurants outside London.  It has five. The Michelin Star status is a platform in a city not short of truly great restaurants. Each of these establishments will be one of many beneficiaries in the economic expansion HS2 will bring. 

The construction phase of HS2 will increase residency in the city centre. Demand for apartments allowing city workers to walk to their desks will inspire Birmingham to look to the skies. The Skyscrapers are coming.

Royal ascent for HS2 is expected towards the end of 2016. The skyline of Birmingham city centre will be peppered with cranes in 2017. The 48 minute journey between Birmingham and London departs in 2026. The next chapter in Birmingham’s story is waiting to be written. Is your pencil sharpened?  

 

Jas Sansi is a freelance photographer based in Greater Birmingham and a trustee of LoveBrum.

@jassansi       07930 837 505      sansi1@btinternet.com

 

Are SMEs on track to benefit from HS2?

I’m an unconditional supporter of HS2 (High Speed 2). It’s been labelled a ‘Game Changer.’ The term underestimates the impact HS2 will have, not only here in Greater Birmingham but across the UK. HS2 doesn’t just change the game, it brings a whole new game to the table. 

HS2 offers a vision for rebalancing an economy irresponsibly skewed towards the South East. High Speed train links between Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and London may not balance our economy, but it does promise an era of regeneration.  It will attract further investment to regions outside of Greater London.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce organised a breakfast event this morning with HS2’s Programme Director Mike Lyons. Mr Lyons spoke about a number of developments but I’ll be focusing on what HS2 means to SMEs (Small and Medium sized Enterprises), namely the business backbone of the UK. 

HS2…the largest ever procurement for civil infrastructure in the UK.

At the end of February 2016, HS2 will release a formal invitation to tender for £7 Billion of civil engineering works. This is the largest ever procurement for civil infrastructure in the UK in its history. 3 Billion of the 7 Billion will be for this region from Leamington Spa in the South, through Birmingham and up to Lichfield. This will be a huge milestone for the project. There is also a £300 Million Enabling Works Contractor tender. This money is allocated for work in the region to alter highways, creating fences, taking key bits of land, movement of utilities, creating storage compounds and logistics, all to make sure the land is ready for the beginning of HS2 construction in 2017.

HS2 envisage there will be over 700 businesses engaged as part of their supply chain. HS2 is about how those Billion pound Tier 1 Contractors engage with Tier 2, Tier 3 and SMEs to make that supply chain coherent in delivering this project. Mike Lyons explaining to a Chamber audience made up of many SMEs “I would encourage you to talk to those Tier 1 contractors and engage with them in a way you may not have done before. HS2 will be looking very hard at those Tier 1 contractors on how they engage with SMEs in a positive way making sure they develop those businesses as well as themselves.”

Royal Ascent for HS2 is expected at the end of 2016 laying the path for construction to begin next year. 100,000 jobs will be created or safeguarded. The HS2 College will create over 2000 apprentices. Over 2 million people in this region will be able to connect via public transport to the high speed network within 30 minutes.

HS2 will be operational between Birmingham Curzon Street and London Euston in 2026. For the Midlands Engine, the landscape and economic prospects will never be the same.

Jas Sansi is a freelance photographer based in Greater Birmingham

@jassansi 07930 837 505 sansi1@btinternet.com

Flying into the Eye of a Storm

I photographed a conference in Istanbul two years ago. Four days to capture an international gathering of 5000 people. The challenge was not the photography, it was the logistics of carrying heavy equipment around conference. The days stretched from breakfast meetings at 7:30am to midnight canapés at evening receptions.

The conference centre was underground. Walking in at ground level, the lift options were -1, -2, -3, -4 and -5. There was no natural light. It meant having to balance the camera light settings so the fluorescent ambient lighting didn’t give delegates a yellow complexion. This was not an episode of The Simpsons.

Additional challenges included avoiding Taksim Square where riots erupted at the time following a Government proposal to build on Taksim Park. This prevented many of the American delegates from attending. I learned, if a country has a Foreign Office warning flag, the United States shy away from sending their people. The British, the Indians and the British Indians had no such qualms.

Delegates were advised not to use the Taksim Square Metro station. I was waiting for a taxi outside a hotel near to Taksim Square on the second night of conference.  A gun fired in the near distance and delegates glanced at each other. I remembered a line from Michael Caine’s autobiography when he was doing National Service, he wrote ‘…you never hear the bullet that hits you.’ I chose not to share this knowledge.

Hard work always pays off and the resulting set of images reflected the success of the conference. I then had half a day to enjoy Istanbul before taking a flight to New Delhi. After a week of glorious weather, the heavens opened and I spent five hours touring Istanbul in the rain.

Istanbul cannot be experienced in half a day whatever the weather is, so I’m looking forward to going back in a few weeks. On the positive side, the British Pound is very strong against Turkish currency. In 2013, a quid got you 2.8 Lira, it’s now almost double that.

On a less than positive note, Turkey neighbors Syria where Russia is attacking Assad Rebels, Assad Rebels are shelling the Bashar Al-Assad regime, Nato is targeting ISIS, and ISIS is bombing everyone and everything. Back in Turkey, a bomb went off this week in the country’s capital extinguishing 97 lives. There are protest rallies in Istanbul. And to cap it all off, I’ll be flying into a week of national elections!

Enjoy the images from 2013, I look forward to posting the 2015 ones soon.

Jas Sansi is a freelance photographer based in Greater Birmingham 07930 837 505 @jassansi