As chief executive of Birmingham’s One Thousand Trades Group of companies, my business ethos mirrors my personal mantra: “Imagine a world where your benefit to others is the measure of success rather than the accumulation of wealth.”
June 2025 was marked by business success, community milestones and the growing global footprint of Birmingham and the wider West Midlands.
International outlook
Across the One Thousand Trades Group, each business reported strong positive performance, driven by team resilience, creativity and shared ambition. We also accelerated our international engagements, exploring new markets and expanding partnerships to position Birmingham as a global player in innovation and enterprise.
This progress echoes broader regional success. The West Midlands has emerged as the UK’s top-performing region outside London for foreign direct investment, securing over 130 projects and nearly 6,000 new jobs in the past year – a testament to the region’s infrastructure, talent and rising global relevance.
200 plasma donations
I also celebrated a personal milestone – my 200th plasma donation. Meeting Michelle Pouton, a plasma recipient from Coventry who credits her life to this medicine, reminded me why we give and who we give for. It was deeply personal and I won’t lie, speaking with Michelle made me emotional. Emotional for all the right reasons.
I was honoured to receive a letter from Veterans Minister Al Carns thanking me for giving plasma – and promising me that he’d Jin me for his first donation in July. Al Carns is a class act.
Mission Everest artwork
Complementing these efforts, a charitable artwork – initially created to honour the UK’s Armed Forces – has now been completed and is being transformed into a fine art piece in support of the Mission: Everest campaign. The team of Special Forces veterans, including Al Carns, who successfully completed a world-record-breaking ascent and return from Mount Everest in just seven days, raising over £100,000 to support bereaved military children.
Meanwhile Birmingham City Football Club marked a leadership milestone with the permanent appointment of Jeremy Dale as CEO – a move which cements Knighthead’s transformational vision for the club and its role in the city’s wider regeneration.
Life Sciences Week and Innovation Awards
June also saw growing momentum around Life Sciences Week and the Innovation Awards 2025, with both initiatives drawing national attention and reinforcing Birmingham’s role at the forefront of biotech, sustainability and health innovation.
Hotel du Vin wins big
In the culture and hospitality sectors, Birmingham is hitting new highs. Hotel du Vin Birmingham was this week named Boutique Hotel of the Year, a shining example of the city’s excellence in hospitality. And this weekend alone, over 300,000 visitors are expected for a festival of music, sport, food and culture – from Black Sabbath’s farewell at Villa Park to the England vs India Test at Edgbaston and the Colmore Food Festival.
Birmingham isn’t just surviving. It’s thriving. Our city is showing the world that when we lead with purpose and collaborate with conviction, there are no limits to what we can achieve. I can’t wait to see what July brings.
