Dear #SubscriberFirstName# #SubscriberLastName#,

EVENTS UPDATE

LBV TV COMMUNITY INFORMATION ROADSHOW

Bullring Shopping Centre Birmingham

Monday 22nd October - Sunday 28th October 2007

ebns is to feature in a short promotional film, which outlines what the Regeneration Zone has achieved so far, and what the Zone plans to implement in the future. The 3 minute film has been shot in High Definition by LBV TV and will feature projects from all over the Zone area.

The film is to be screened to the public for the first time at a Community Information Roadshow, to be held in the Upper Mall West in the Bullring Shopping Centre, running from Monday 22^nd October until Sunday 28^th October.

ebns hopes that by screening this promotional film in a busy centre such as The Bullring, it will promote general awareness of the exciting regeneration developments that are taking place in East Birmingham and North Solihull.

For any further information, contact Natalie Hodson on 0121 776 5732

A NEW BME THIRD SECTOR SUPPORT PROGRAMME FOR THE WEST MIDLANDS

Advantage West Midlands (AWM) has developed a programme to impact the position, growth and performance of the West Midlands BME (Black & Minority Ethnic) Third Sector. The R2O programme, which stands for Routes to Opportunity, has the primary objective to enable the Third Sector organisations in the West Midlands region to be better positioned to successfully access public sector procurement opportunities.

The programme, managed by brap, is the first of its kind in the region, and over the next two years will enable BME organisations and individuals to have improved access to a range of targeted training, coaching, mentoring, business support, finance and advice.



Alison Lawson, of Advantage West Midlands, said: "This is an important milestone for BME organisations across the region that deliver public services but lack the capacity to move away from reliance on grant funding."

"R2O will provide bespoke support to help BME organisations move away from asking for funding to successfully securing contracts. The enterprise culture of the future will be one of earning instead of asking."

For more information, please go to: www.brap.org.uk/r2o

Or contact Cheryl Garvey 0121 456 7403

Email: r2o@brap.org.uk

BUILDING BETTER PROJECTS FASTER

From September 26^th 2007, a new and revised documentation to aid the project development process will be introduced by AWM, to include a new Outline Proposal Pack; a Full Application Pack and a Project Development Pack.

The Outline Proposal Pack will focus on four main criteria:

• Project Definition
• Strategic Fit
• Value for Money
• Deliverability

The new application forms have been designed to ensure information is requested in a logical order to enable a greater understanding of what a project is intending to achieve for the region. The new system will also prevent duplication of information between the Outline Proposal and Full Application. AWM hopes that the changes will help to improve the quality of the project and make the appraisal and decision making processes more consistent.

The new/revised Outline Proposal documents can be found on the AWM website:

http://www.advantagewm.co.uk/Images/ADV-GN-11%20Outline%20Proposal%20Guidance_tcm9-7992.pdf

http://www.advantagewm.co.uk/Images/ADV-83%20Outline%20proposal%20Form_tcm9-7991.doc

Previous versions of the Outline Proposal can be used until 31^st October, with the Full Application available until 21^st December.

If you have any queries please contact us on info@ebns.co.uk

THE BIRMINGHAM BEST BUSINESS AWARDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE 2007

Businesses all across Birmingham are being invited and encouraged to apply for the prestigious 'Birmingham Best Business Awards for the Development of Work-Life Balance 2007'. This award gives any Birmingham based business the opportunity to be recognised as one of Birmingham's Top 30 Companies to work for.

It's widely recognised that by encouraging a good work-life balance policy, businesses can create a more motivated, committed and satisfied workforce. This is also a key factor in retaining employees and in recruitment.

The application is a straight forward process and focuses on four main areas:

• Work patterns
• Leave provision
• Communication
• Additional Work-Life Balance Activities

The closing date for entries is 26^th October 2007

For more information on the award or for an application form, contact the Employer Team on 0121 303 9838

WMSEN OFFER FIRST MARKETING GRANT TO UNITY FM

The West Midlands Social Enterprise Network (WMSEN) has given their first marketing grant to Unity FM - a Birmingham based collaboration consisting of Unity FM, Ulfah Arts and Enterprising Communities (Unity Plus).

The project 'Options to Enterprise' has been awarded a £3,700 grant from WMSEN to produce and broadcast six high quality radio programmes, that will promote social enterprise as a viable business option.

This project targets the South East communities of Birmingham, including Sparkbrook, Sparkhill, Aston, Nechells and Bordesley Green, with the primary focus on supporting ethnic minority women.

Project leader, Naz Kozer said: "We aim to address the issue of enterprise development in hard to reach communities. Social Enterprise is a viable option for our communities, but awareness of this approach is very low."

Programmes are scheduled for broadcast in March 2008, and will provide an introduction to:

• Basic social enterprise principles
• Start up
• Finance
• Support

For more information about the Options to Enterprise Project, contact Naz Kozer, Unity FM, on 07861 385147.

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Thank you for your time.

ebns
www.ebns.co.uk