Following the appalling act of terrorism that happened yesterday in Manchester, I wanted to start my message today by saying that my thoughts and that of fellow councillors and officers are with the Jewish community. I would also like to pay tribute to the bravery of those at the scene who prevented even further horror. Hate has no place in a civilised society. We are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive and respectful borough and working together to promote unity across our communities.
The next edition of our ever-popular Apprenticeship and Pathways Show will be taking place at Cranmore Park in Shirley on Wednesday 22 October. Registration is open now. We run a couple of these shows every year and they’re always packed with young people finding out about all the different options they have after their GCSEs. There will be loads of great employers there too, and chances to meet lots of current apprentices so you can hear about what it’s like to learn on the job and ask questions. I’ll provide more details closer to the time about which companies and training providers you can expect to see, so get yourself or your child registered now and get it in the diary.
This week I was pleased to see the announcement that the Caledonian Sleeper will call at Birmingham International Station from January 2026. This is fantastic news for Solihull and the wider West Midlands – the station is a key gateway for our region. I have fond memories of travelling to Scotland on the train when I was a child, I certainly would have been thrilled to try out the Sleeper! Welcoming it to Birmingham International strengthens our role as a vital transport hub and opens up exciting new possibilities for travel, tourism and business between the West Midlands and Scotland.
I was pleased to see the news that JLR are resuming some manufacturing after the awful cyber-attack they suffered, and I welcome the support the government has offered in the form of a loan guarantee. They aren’t out of the woods yet though, and whilst the credit line offers some assistance to their supply chain, there may need to be more support to ensure those businesses and the jobs and skills they represent will survive this difficult period.
Finally, I want to congratulate our brilliant Education Participation Advisory Service (EPAS) on their recent success at the West Midlands Association of Directors of Childrens Services awards. They received the Team Excellence Award in recognition of the significant impact they’ve made supporting children, young people, and families as they help get more pupils regularly into school. Well done!
Thanks for reading, enjoy your weekend.
Karen