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New material offers better protection
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Greater Birmingham Chambers’ leading supporters
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Judges revealed for scholarship
An impressive line-up of influential professionals from a range of STEM industries will be a part of the judging panel for this year’s Millennium Point Trust Scholarship final.
Now in its seventh year, the Millennium Point Trust Scholarship has already funded six inspiring young people from the region through their degrees at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment.
Previous winners of the scholarship include Sagal Qodah in 2017, who has since gone on to graduate with a first class honours degree in Civil Engineering.
The distinguished judging panel, which will be headed by Abbie Vlahakis, CEO of Millennium Point, also features Professor Hanifa Shah, associate dean research, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, at Birmingham City University, Kari Lawler, founder at Youth4Code and Youth4AI, Mike Ridler - head of Business Development and Education at Learn by Design and Sam Gibbs, CEO at IT specialists 81G.
Abbie saidd: “The calibre of finalists for this year’s scholarship is impressive as ever, so it’s only right that the quality of our judging panel is equal to it.
“This is a phenomenal opportunity for all five students - not just the winner of the lifechanging scholarship, but the advice and support they all receive from the Trust, both before and after the final.”
The judges will hear presentations from five selected finalists during a special assessment day on 21 May; seven days later, the winner will be announced during a closed ceremony at Millennium Point on 29 May.
The event will be streamed live from the newlyrefurbished Auditorium in Millennium Point across the multi-award-winning venue’s digital channels.
New material offers better protection
Soldiers, athletes, and motorists could lead safer lives thanks to a new process that could lead to more efficient and re-useable protection from shock, impact, explosion, and vibration, according to a new study.
Researchers from the Universities of Birmingham and Oxford, together with Ghent University, Belgium, have published their findings on the pressurised insertion of aqueous solutions into water-repellent nanoporous materials, such as zeolites and metal-organic frameworks, in the Nature Materials journal.
The international research team experimented with hydrothermally stable zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) with a ‘hydrophobic’ cage-like molecular structure – finding that such systems are remarkably effective energy absorbers at realistic, high-rate loading conditions, and this phenomenon is associated with the water clustering and mobility in nanocages.
Dr Yueting Sun, lecturer in Engineering at the University of Birmingham, said: “Rubber is widely used for shock absorption nowadays, but the process we have discovered creates a material that can absorb more mechanical energy per gram with very good reusability due to its unique nanoscale mechanism.
“The material has great significance for vehicle crash safety for both occupants and pedestrians, military armoured vehicles and infrastructures as well as human body protection.
“Soldiers and police could benefit from better body armour and bomb suits, athletes might wear more effective helmets, knee pads and shoe insoles as the material is liquid-like and flexible to wear.”
Researchers also say that the material could also be incorporated into machinery to reduce harmful vibrations and noise - reducing maintenance costs.
Effective absorbers: Process could provide athletes with enhanced protection
Businessman helps Aston students
Former chief executive of price comparison website GoCompare, Matthew Crummack, has made a six-figure donation to Aston University, to help students in financial need.
Matthew’s own experiences of studying at Aston University in the 1990s were, he says, formative, and his significant donation will be used to support students via scholarships and the institution’s student hardship fund.
Matthew has been a long-time supporter of Aston University and is an enthusiastic spokesperson for its achievements, especially the university’s focus on employability.
He himself graduated from a BSc in International Business and French at Aston University in 1993. His career to date has taken him into well-known companies such as GoCompare, lastminute.com, Expedia, Nestlé and Procter & Gamble.
In April 2020 he was appointed as senior independent director on the main board of National Express plc.
Matthew was awarded an honorary doctorate by Aston University in 2016, in recognition of his professional achievements and service to the university.
He said: “I count myself as fortunate to have had the opportunity of a good education, as it opened so many doors for me.
“My time at Aston University gave me confidence to go out, find a job and be motivated to work hard and do well. It also gave me lifelong friendships and a whole collection of happy (and funny) memories.
Giving back: Matthew Crummack
“I hope this gives young people who are struggling financially the opportunity and confidence to build a strong future for themselves.”
Aston University’s director of development and alumni relations, Kerrie Holland, added: “We are delighted to receive this donation and so grateful to Matthew for his support. Thanks to his generosity, many Aston University students with financial difficulties can stop worrying about making ends meet and stay focused on achieving their ambitions.”
Development potential: The current NEC site
Homes to be part of NEC development
Part of the NEC site in Solihull could be unlocked for a major development.
The NEC Group says it is working with Birmingham City Council to “unlock the development potential of the NEC site” for a mixed-use scheme.
Already home to the National Exhibition Centre, Resorts World, and the Resorts World Arena, the NEC Group says that the 140-hectare site presents one of the best development opportunities in the region to deliver new homes, commercial space and leisure attractions. Birmingham City Council sold the NEC Group in 2014 but has retained a freehold interest in the land at the site.
Paul Thandi, CEO of the NEC Group, said: “I am delighted to have a shared ambition with Birmingham City Council to unlock the full development potential of the NEC site. Not only is the site home of the country's premier destination for exhibitions and events it is also an unrivalled opportunity to deliver a major mixed-use development with leading edge sustainability credentials.
The NEC Group is also a long-standing patron of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC).
Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of the GBCC, said: “The further development of the NEC is an exciting prospect for one of the most important destinations in the country.
“The plan by the NEC and the city council to include homes in the development represents a huge step by creating living space in the heart of the country along with existing assets and major developments, like HS2.”
British Chambers support forces
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) are the latest organisation to sign the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Chambers signed the pledge during a virtual event attended by the assistant chief of defence staff, Major General Simon Brooks-Ward.
The Armed Forces covenant is a promise that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated with fairness and respect in their communities, economy and society for which they serve with their lives. Major General Brooks-Ward said: “This is a very important step which brings together the supportive pledges of many individual Chambers across the network.”
Apprenticeship funding available
Employers are being urged by University College Birmingham to take up ‘significant’ new apprenticeship funding, which has been made available by Government.
Businesses can now receive up to £3,000 from the Government, per apprentice of any age which join their organisations.
Gail Tipper, director of the university’s Centre for Apprenticeships, said: “This is really significant incentive, but, as part of the Covid- 19 support package, it only lasts until September, so employers need to go for it if they want to take advantage of this opportunity and do something great.”
