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Events, News

MNA leads way with Black Country Business Festival

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17th April 2019

- Events, News

The MNA has played a leading role in shaping the Black Country Business Festival 2019, the second annual showcase for local industry.
 
The programme for the fortnight-long festival, which includes more than 100 live events across the region, was officially launched by editor-in-chief Martin Wright at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton on Tuesday.
 
The celebration will include large expos and gala dinners through to factory tours, small workshops and networking events.
 
The events will take place at venues all over the Black Country. Most are free to attend, but tickets must be booked in advance and are available on a first come, first served basis. 
 
Kim Hazel and Darren Griffin, who partnered the Chamber to organise the publication and the advertising, both attended Tuesday’s launch.
 
Martin Wright said: “It’s fitting that as the biggest-selling regional daily newspaper in England we are supporting one of the country’s largest business events. 
 
“This is a region that is really going places and we at the Express & Star are delighted to support the festival and to be part of this wonderful success story.
 
“The 52-page brochure is packed with useful information about the festival, not least that all-important calendar of events, and it showcases the thriving business community we have here.”
 
 
The MNA is staging two events for the festival, which has eBay as the headline sponsor. 
 
The Star Public Relations “escape room” challenge on May 17, which will see delegates test their PR skills in real-time at the Grand Theatre, is fully booked.
 
Colleagues from across the MNA will take part in Content is Key: How to share your business news, which will be held at the Express & Star on May 21. 
 
John Corser, Express & Star business editor, will give his insight into how companies can ensure they get their messages to multiple audiences at once.  
 
He will also explain how he has adapted to the digital world and in particular, how his social media presence has developed a whole new audience. Delegates will be given guidance by Sundeep Sehijpal of Star PR.
 
 
At Tuesday’s launch, Corin Crane, Chief Executive of Business Festival founders the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, said: “Things are really starting to heat up now. 
 
“We’ve got an extremely strong programme of over 100 useful, interesting, thought-provoking, exciting and engaging events that will benefit businesses across the Black Country and beyond, helping them to learn, share, interact, engage and grow. 
 
“Tickets to events will be flying out the door from now, so it’s important that everyone registers for the events they want to attend as soon as possible.”
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News Titles

Winning chip shop was family’s saviour

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16th April 2019

- News Titles

A chip shop which became “a saviour for a family” has been named the best in an area – for the third year running.
 
The Blue Submarine in Middlepark Way completed a hat-trick after it claimed the top prize in the Express & Star’s Chip Shop of the Year for Dudley.
 
Chippies were rated by the number of tokens handed in by readers, while there was also a mystery shopper element which saw the takeaway taste tested.
 
Owner Antonio Andreas, said it had been in the family for 37 years. He said: “My parents owned the shop for 12 years and I’ve owned it for 25 years.
 
“Although I’ve done other things in-between owning the shop, I’ve always kept it and loved the shop because it saved the family when we moved there in 1982. They initially rented the shop and later bought the freehold. 
 
“It was like a saviour of the family and 37 years later I’m still there.
The owner, who lived in Birmingham before moving to Dudley, said: “I love the fact I know people’s children and their children – some of them have got grandchildren and it’s a lovely thing to be part of the community.
 
“We’ve won it the last two years and I thought someone else would win it this year because there’s some really good shops out there. When I received the call I was quite pleased. It’s quite rare for any shop to win it three years in a row.” 
 
The 51-year-old, who now lives in Stourbridge, said staff “try really hard” to provide a good experience to customers. He added: “I think we try really hard to get it right and I always believed I would never serve something I would never eat myself.”
 
Nicki’s Fish Bar, in Woodbury Road, Halesowen, finished runner-up – but the owners say they are determined to claim the title next year. 
 
Owners Nicki Andreou, who runs the shop with husband Pani Andreou, said: “It was down to the staff and the loyal customers.
 
“Hard work pays off and hopefully next year we’ll come first. If it wasn’t for the customers and staff we would not be here where we are now.
 
“Plus selling fresh fish pays off. Not many fish shops sell fresh anymore because of the cost and I would much rather keep the customer happy than my own pocket.”
 
The 44-year-old has a total of 30 years in the industry – following in her parents’ footsteps, who used to own a chip shop in the area.
Pensnett Fish Bar, in High Street, Pensnett, finished third in the annual competition.
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News

Feeling chipper after hat-trick of awards

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16th April 2019

- News

A family-run chip shop has been named the best “plaice” for the cuisine in Sandwell – for the third year running.
 
The Port chip shop in Dudley Port saw off fierce competition to be named Chip Shop of the Year for Sandwell in the Express & Star’s competition.
 
Chippies were rated by the number of tokens handed in by readers, while there was also a mystery shopper element which saw the takeaway taste tested.
 
Manager Manny Dhariwal described the hat-trick of awards as “amazing” – and put his success down to customers, staff and quality products.
 
He said: “It’s amazing. It’s great to win it three times on the bounce and the fact we can repeat the quality and the success of it is amazing.
 
“The chip shop is owned by three brothers – I’m the nephew to two of them.
 
“I would like to give a huge thank you to the customers more than anyone else – especially over the years. For them to keep coming to us and helping us grow as a small business is incredible.
 
“The one thing that we emphasise is using quality products – that we don’t negotiate on. We get the best fish, potatoes and kebab and we keep that quality.
 
“The staff are brilliant and their relationship with the customers is fantastic. Without them, we wouldn’t have a smooth sailing ship.”
 
Mr Dhariwal’s family reopened The Port in 2015, marking 30 years since the previous owner shut the doors of former chip shop Guest Fish and Chips.
 
And since then, the chippy has aimed to create a sense of nostalgia among its older customers by offering an unusual 
dish. 
 
“The main thing is that we cook our battered chips in beef dripping to create nostalgia – especially for the older people and that’s a recipe that’s worked for us,” he said.
 
“The heritage of the chip shop is close to 50 years. It was a chip shop then and when we reopened, it’s always had an attraction and a heritage there and to continue that success is fantastic.
 
“It’s like with everything – things are always going up and trading is so hard and the fact we can still run a success business through this time is amazing.”
 
Family-run chippy The Codfather, on Brades Road, came runner-up in the competition. Raan Kandola, manager of the Oldbury-based business, said: “We would like to thank the customers. They are very very loyal.”
 
Despite finishing second, the 52-year-old said it had been a “nice experience” to take part. She added: “We tried really hard this year. But we said at the beginning to all customers, even if we don’t win it’s been an experience.”
 
George’s Fish Bar, on Great Bridge Street in West Bromwich, finished third.
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News

Fast moving Kim gets back on bike to ride to Paris for charity

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15th April 2019

- News

An MNA production team member is preparing to cycle from London to Paris to raise money for an Alzheimer’s charity.
 
Pre press assistant Kim Fawcett, who works at the Wolverhampton head office, will pedal 300 miles between capital cities in July to collect funds for the Alzheimer’s Society.
 
Kim said she agreed to take part because she “likes a challenge”.
 
She said: “All the funds I raise will go directly to the Alzheimer’s Society. Like many families, my family has been affected by Alzheimer’s so I would love to reach my target of £750.”
 
Kim will cycle around 80 miles per day over four days to reach her destination, with all those who complete the challenge getting to see the Tour de France pass through Paris.
 
She said: “I am training every weekend and during the week, which has been intense.
 
“This challenge will take over my life over the next few months.”
 
Kim will take part in the ride with her friend Jen Morris, who she cycles alongside as part of the Wolverhampton Wheelers group.
 
Click here to visit Kim’s JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kimfawcett
 
The London to Paris adventure is the latest in Kim’s series of fundraising exploits.
 
In 2013, she took part in the Aberdovey 100 mile bike ride and raised more than £300 for local charities only to have a serious accident 70 miles into the journey which resulted in her breaking her knee.
 
A year later she managed to get back on her bike to do the challenge again and finished what she had set out to do 12 months before.
 
In January 2015 Kim was undergoing treatment for a serious illness and decided to raise awareness for breast cancer. With the support of her family and friends she took part in the Race for Life held at Wolverhampton’s West Park to raise money for breast cancer.
 
September 2015 she rode tandem in the Carvers Wolverhampton Marathon Bike ride to collect funds for the same cause. In 2016 Kim took part in the Prudential Ride London 100 and raised over £1500 for Breast Cancer Care.
 
In 2016, Kim was named production person of the year at the MNA Real Awards.
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News

MNA gender pay statement

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3rd April 2019

- News

The MNA can confirm its gender pay gap results.

Under the UK Government’s Gender Pay Gap Regulations, employers in Great Britain with more than 250 employees are required to report their gender pay gap.

The results uploaded to the GOV.UK website show female staff receive an hourly rate which is, on average, 13.2% lower than male staff. On average, bonus pay for female staff is 21.2% lower than for male colleagues.

We will continue to promote equality and inclusion at Midland News Association Ltd and are committed to reducing the gender pay gap.

To see the MNA’s GOV.UK website statement click here

To download the MNA statement PDF: click MNA gender pay gap 2019

I can confirm our data is accurate.

Graeme Clifford, Managing Director

The Midland News Association Ltd

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