All posts tagged Fair Brum
Typewriters, computers, innovation and change!
Typewriters
Watching the BBC TV news on Tuesday (20th November 2012) I was struck by several items. The first, at around 6.15 am, was a short ‘magazine’ piece on the end of the typewriter, which showed the very last Brother typewriter being produced at Brothers’ factory in Wrexham.
What a remarkable device the typewriter turned out to be from the very first successful commercial model produced by Remington way back in 1870 to the last one produced on Tuesday. (Not many products can boast of a 142 year life cycle or produce such an amazing production curve.)
In our attempt to increase the level of Economic Inclusion the Green Paper made the following recommendation:-
1.5 Foster and develop the entrepreneurial spirit of our young people and our migrant communities
In promoting this we are also promoting the need for innovation that lies behind it.
Sometimes It’s Hard To Think Outside The Box
Would it not be truly wonderful if, as a result of the Green Paper initiative (soon to be White Paper), someone from Birmingham went on to invent and develop the next device which will revolutionise our world in the way the typewriter did (and to some extent continues to do)?
A second news item, later in the day (about 6 pm) was the announcement by Hewlett Packard (HP) the American computer and printer giant, that it was reporting a $6.85bn net loss.
Here we see the speed of change our world is subject to. On the same day that the typewriter becomes obsolete, we also begin to see the dark clouds of obsolescence hovering around the laptop and the computer, as smart phones and tablets begin to ‘elbow’ them out.
Strangely enough yesterday morning (21st Nov) we learn that plastic electronics, also known as organic and printable electronics, is an emerging field, which some experts say will revolutionise the electronics industry. (As one printer dies an new one is being born!)
It is in this new, rapidly changing world, that our young entrepreneurs and innovators will have to live and breathe. So we need to consider not only what kind of skills an individual requires to be able to operate in this way, but also what kind of ‘person’ they need to be, to be flexible and adaptable enough to cope with such speed of change.
Innovative organisations and market leaders like Google and Facebook have introduced radically new work environments and management methods to foster the creativity they need to help drive their business.
[Check out the Google office at CA with its gym, idiosyncratic work spaces, amazing restaurants etc.]
Is this the model our schools and colleges should be looking at to help foster the level of confidence, creativity, and courage required to deal with the rapid speed of change in the modern business world?
At the end of the recent Social Inclusion Summit the Bishop urged us to
let the radical change begin!
Are we ready to be this radical?
Let us know!
Posted by johnbbrum on 22nd November 2012
http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/typewriters-computers-innovation-and-change/
Interview with the Bishop about Social Inclusion Process
Following on from yesterday’s successful Social Inclusion Process Summit on the Green Paper the Birmingham Post conducted an interview with the Bishop.
Bishop of Birmingham – (photo from the Birmingham Post)
This helpful and informative interview recaps many of the key points that the Bishop made and picks up on his view that businesses need to engage more fully in the process.
Worth a read!
Posted by johnbbrum on 15th November 2012
http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/interview-with-the-bishop-about-social-inclusion-process/
Thanks and concluding remarks
Finally it was the opportunity for the Bishop to bring the proceedings to a conclusion, firstly by thanking all the speakers, those who had facilitated Action Groups and all those working in the background to make the event a success.
He then went on to thank the Steering group, the KLOE Groups, University of Birmingham and Aston University along with all the many organisations big and small that had engaged in the process as well as the many individuals who had contributed so much.
In summing up he urged those present to:
- Stick with us.
- Work with us to make it happen for Birmingham.
- Work together to uncover the wellsprings of trust.
And
let the radical change begin!
Posted by johnbbrum on 14th November 2012
http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/11/14/thanks-and-concluding-remarks/
Action group sessions
After David Cox finishes the delegates are urged to move on into their ‘Action Groups’ and the Bishop has urged them to come back with ‘Headlines’ from the future of how the city has improved in keeping with David’s approach.
People are now spilling out from the main hall eagerly seeking to locate their Action Group.
The Action Groups are based on the 7 commitments. The first commitment has been split into two making eight groups in total.
1.1 Support families and children out of poverty – helping socially excluded families
1.2 Support families and children out of poverty – inclusive growth approach
3. Protect the most vulnerable
5. Create a city that values children and young people
6. Empower people to shape their neighbourhood
7. Address safety, isolation and loneliness
Once in their Action Groups members of the group will be asking questions such as:-
- What is the key “news” headline for 2020 in relation to this commitment? This headline will be fed back to the closing plenary.
- What’s the key elements of this commitment?
- How to deliver the recommendations?
- What will the measures of success be?
- Who needs to be involved?
- What is going to make a difference
- What are the cultural/behavioural changes needed?
Notes are being taken and flip charts
used to record the myriad ideas that are tumbling forth.
People in the groups are also being urged to make a commitment indicating how they can help implement the Green Paper recommendations.
Posted by johnbbrum on 14th November 2012
http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/11/14/action-group-sessions/
A view from the Future
In a bold move Professor David Cox, a member of the Social Inclusion Steering Group, has decided to give us a view from the future: 2020 to be precise.
Professor David Cox
He is somewhat iconoclastic in his views and opinions, and his strong views are laced with a generous helping of humourous comments.
Looking back from the future he tells us about a negative report that appeared in the Economist back in 2012. He reminds us that in 2011 we had riots across the city and that Birmingham was considered a second class city.
He then goes on to envisage how the City might look after the commitments and recommendations in the Green Paper have all been implemented.
Looking back at Birmingham from 2020 he highlights what we have achieved. He points out that even in 2020 Birmingham cannot compete with China and the emerging markets economically, but we have been able to compete in terms of Social Inclusion and Social Cohesion.
He then begins a long and impressive list of the positive outcomes that have resulted in the implementation of the Green Paper commitments. The city is successful in attracting new industry and jobs, it is better connected and its citizens live vibrant and social fulfilling and inclusive lives.
A wonderful new vision of the City has emerged and David relates it in a stimulating and amusing way and concludes by reminding us that it all started here this very same CBSO Auditorium back in 2012.
Posted by johnbbrum on 14th November 2012
http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/11/14/a-view-from-the-future/
Making Birmingham a more inclusive city: Birmingham Social Inclusion Summit – 14th November 2012
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Today we will be updating the blog live from our summit at the CBSO Centre, here in the heart of Birmingham.
The purpose of the day is to share the commitments and recommendations from the Social Inclusion Process and to encourage individuals and organisations to take up the “social inclusion challenge”.
The Green Paper, which outlined seven key commitments, has been out for consultation for several weeks and many people have provided feedback and comment on it.
Today we aim to:-
- Obtain stakeholder “buy in” to the commitments and recommendations
- Identify who needs to do what to turn the recommendations into action
- Start to develop action plans around each commitment and the recommendations that underpin them
- Consider how to put into practice the recommendations for the cultural change needed to achieve the social inclusion vision
Your views count! Please join us by contributing to the conversation on twitter by using the #fairbrum tag and following us @fairbrum
Posted by johnbbrum on 14th November 2012
http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/11/14/making-birmingham-a-more-inclusive-city-birmingham-social-inclusion-summit-14th-november-2012/
Is the economic activity and community life in Balsall Heath, Castle Vale, Sparkbrook, and Sutton Coldfield really different in any meaningful way?
As part of the Social Inclusion Process the Inclusive Economic Growth Key Line of Enquiry (KLOE) reference group came up with several recommendations which have been incorporated into the Green Paper under “Commitment one: Support families and children out of poverty”.
It was argued that different parts of the city had different approaches to community and economic development (were in fact different ‘locales’) and that this fact not only needed to be recognised, but should be built upon. This ‘locale’ approach would ensure that investment, infrastructure development and the way the community operated in that locality would be incorporated into any development plans and policies to ensure they were the best possible match for that area. (Green Paper – 1.2 Develop an approach to “locales”.)
Sparkbrook
This is a very important new approach to community and economic development but is it true? Do you think the economic activity in Castle Vale is different from that undertaken in Balsall Heath? Do the residents of Sparkbrook engage in economic activity so different from those in Sutton Coldfield?
Sutton Coldfield
Posted by johnbbrum on 18th October 2012
http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/is-the-economic-activity-and-community-life-in-balsall-heath-castle-vale-sparkbrook-and-sutton-coldfield-really-different-in-any-meaningful-way/
Wellbeing – Table discussion and workshop at the Social Inclusion Process Birmingham
The aim of the discussions is to discuss the outcomes and the expectations that have been worked out based on the evidence gathered during the social inclusion process, the table I am sitting on is looking at the outcomes for “Wellbeing”
The wellbeing of a city is the responsibility of everyone examples:
Care of children: Every adult a child comes into contact with can shape a child’s wellbeing – we shouldn’t just defer to people of supposed authority i.e. teachers, social workers etc, Every adult should set an example and be responsible.
Dementia: We should identify problems early on to help with early intervention, if people who came into contact with recognised vulnerable adults and had better links with services this could work better, i.e. banks if there is unusual activity on elderly persons accounts could this be a trigger to look if there needs to be extra support.
Posted by Steph Jennings on 20th July 2012
http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/wellbeing-table-discussion-and-workshop-at-the-social-inclusion-process-birmingham/
Lisa Trickett – Birmingham Social Inclusion Process
These are just some of the things Lisa Trickett has said in her opening to today’s summit;
“I think it has been on of the most learning processes that we have been part of it in the last 20 – 25 years I have worked in the city. It has been good because the willingness of people to admit where we made mistakes previously to take this process forward.”
“What have we tried to do
- Understand where we’re at, as a place and as a people
- Where we’ve come from – how have we come to be here
- Understand we are not creating jobs fast enough and the strains this has on public services.
- We have celebrated the city, we’ve celebrated our youth and our diversity
- We’ve looked at where our strengths are to look at what we can build on.”
“What we’ve ended up with is an understanding that as a city we have massive potential, but we’ve also had a reality check. There are some influences that we can’t control and we need to look at what we can control, what we can influence and what we just have to accept. But equally we need to identify what we will not tolerate in the city, what we can not accept.”
Throughout today we will look at talking through and looking through our findings and priorities, we’re looking to gain a common understanding and a common collective responsibility – formal partnerships don’t fix things but people will – we need to work together to make things better. We wont end today with the solutions but a framework for us to work from to work together to learn together to make things happen.”
Posted by Steph Jennings on 20th July 2012
http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/lisa-trickett-birmingham-social-inclusion-process/
