Hopefully there are still some of you out there to read this and not everyone has melted in the heat this week. It should be a bit cooler over the weekend so enjoy the sun or even the rain if it comes!
Seriously, I hope everyone has managed to stay safe and cool during this record-breaking heatwave. Thank you to everyone who has been checking in on older or more vulnerable neighbours. Don’t worry, I know the heat has been pretty much the only thing people have been talking about this week, so I’ve got some other things to tell you about in this column.
Firstly, Armed Forces Week. It was an honour to attend the flag raising ceremony in Shirley on Monday morning. It’s always important to recognise the important role of our Armed Forces but it seems particularly relevant in the increasingly uncertain world we face. They are the ones who choose to spend their lives keeping the rest of us safe. To every service member past and present, thank you.
We’ve had a number of events across the borough this week, from afternoon teas to exhibitions and there are a few taking place tomorrow, including musical performances in Solihull town centre. I went along to the vintage afternoon tea in Solihull yesterday, and it was lovely to see so many people there to celebrate our Armed Forces.
If you’ve not had a chance to get along to an event yet, the big band playing in the sunshine on Solihull High Street should be a fantastic occasion.
We had some good economic news this week, with the release of Foreign Direct Investment figures showing the West Midlands is the third most attractive place in the UK for overseas businesses, behind only Greater London and Scotland. I saw an example of the money and jobs flowing into our region this week, when I went to visit the new offices of a UAE based fintech company called Offa. I welcome them to Solihull town centre, and I’m pleased but not surprised they’ve chosen to expand their operation here.
Our borough is so well connected with the airport, HS2 coming in addition to the already extensive rail connections and our key position in the motorway network. We’re also served by great schools and close to top-tier universities and training providers which leads to a steady supply of well-qualified candidates for jobs. All this and more make Solihull a great place to do business.
Finally, after that pretty flat game on Tuesday let’s hope England get back to winning ways on Saturday. It’s been a long, hot, busy week and plenty has happened. The Prime Minister resigned on Monday, and it already feels a long time ago.
Thanks for reading, enjoy your weekend,
Karen