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Events, News

BBC presenter is delighted to be involved in this year’s awards

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25th April 2019

- Events, News

Winners of the Great Big Thank You Awards will be invited to an awards ceremony hosted by BBC Radio Shropshire breakfast presenter Eric Smith.

He explains why he is delighted to be involved in this year’s Great Big Thank You Awards campaign:

“It means such a lot when people say thank you!

“It’s quite humbling to meet people featured in The Great Big Thank You Awards – they don’t do things for reward, or to receive your thanks, but they certainly do make a difference in their local community. It’s easy to think that someone else will get involved and do something, but there are those who just get in there and get on with it! Maybe you know someone who deserves a great big thank you for a job well done.

“It certainly brings communities together, and with your help, it’s nice to say ‘thank you’.”

Eric, who has fronted BBC Radio Shropshire’s breakfast show for the past 22 years, is one of the most familiar and best-loved broadcasters in the county. He is also well-known for his star turns in the Christmas pantomimes at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn.

Eric, 67, took over the breakfast show in 1997, and over the past eight years has forged a popular double act with co-presenter Clare Ashford.

He moved to Shropshire in 1988, when appointed to an off-air role at the station, having previously worked as a nightclub DJ and record librarian at BBC Sheffield.

When he first took up his post, as assistant station manager, he was not expecting to stay around, but quickly fell in love with the county.

He says: “I was expecting to be in Shropshire for a couple of years as a stepping stone before moving on.

“I am from Yorkshire and had been job hopping around local radio stations and expected to keep that going.

“But I stayed and have fallen in love with the county. It is beautiful, there’s nowhere else I would prefer to be.”

Go to the website here to make a nomination: https://www.starthankyou.shropshirestar.co.uk/

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Events, News

MNA leads way with Black Country Business Festival

By on

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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Events, News

Shropshire Star 2019 STEM Challenge launched: Students get thinking caps on

By on

11th January 2019

- Events, News

Young engineers of the future have been given the chance to put their classroom lessons to the ultimate test in a challenge launched for school pupils in Shropshire.

The Shropshire Star has launched the STEM Challenge 2019 – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths – in order to boost student engagement with these key topics and also to give them an understanding of how what they learn in the classroom will play a vital role in future careers.

The competition is forging valuable links between local businesses and schools, while also providing students with an insight into the world of industry and the opportunities it provides.

This is the second year Midlands News Association (MNA), the publisher of the Shropshire Star, has held the challenge.

Last year, a joint initiative was run between the Shropshire Star and sister title the Express & Star – but the scheme proved so successful that challenges are now being held from both newspapers.

Each Shropshire school signed up to the challenge is partnered with a mentor from businesses or organisations involved in the industry.
Schools have been asked to design a product using the elements of STEM that has a positive benefit to an individual/group and the environment, or just the environment.

The teams of pupils will then need to demonstrate their product or prototype as a working model at a presentation on July 4, 2019 at the Marches Centre of Manufacturing and Technology, the associate sponsor hosting the event.

There are seven team prizes to be won including: Best Work Plan, sponsored by EPSON; Best Presentation, sponsored by Avara Foods; Best Team Work, sponsored by Telford & Wrekin Council; Best Operating Model, sponsored by Protolabs; Best Entrepreneurial Team, sponsored by Ironbridge Gorge Museums; and Business Champion, sponsored by Hitachi Capital Invoice Finance.

There will also be a Mentor Recognition Award, sponsored by The Careers and Enterprise Company as well as an award for the overall winner, judged by the headline sponsor, DENSO.

The mentors, who have all been given formal STEM training, will visit the schools regularly between now and July to work with the teams to monitor progress and also provide support where needed.
Each school involved in the challenge will receive £100 to help buy materials and fund their design.

This year’s challenge was announced by Martin Wright, editor of the Shropshire Star, and Malcolm Eyre, of Entrust STEM educational support and the lead ambassador of the STEM Challenge, at a launch event held at Marches Centre of Manufacturing and Technology yesterday.

Mr Wright, said: “The last campaign was a huge success so we decided to do it again, but this time we split it into two, one for the Shropshire Star and one for our sister paper, the Express & Star.

“For a number of us we really did not know what to expect from the teams taking part in last year’s competition but the standard of work produced blew us away – we were expecting cardboard boxes and elastic bands and how wrong we were.

“We’re sure that our next group of inventors will produce work of a similarly high standard.

“The challenge starts running now right through until the summer where our teams will be judged in all of our categories.

“Over the six months we want the teams to plan their project to manufacture a product or prototype reflecting the challenge.

“In the design and manufacture we need to see the real application of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths – after all, this is what the campaign is about, and teams must make sure the product has a positive benefit. We look forward to seeing everyone back here at Marches Centre of Manufacturing and Technology on the judging and awards day in July where teams will showcase their projects to all of our judges.”



Among the schools taking part is Mary Webb School and Science College, in Pontesbury, which has been partnered with Western Power Distribution.

Teacher Chris Thorley, said: “We’ve worked on STEM projects before in our school and it has had an obvious benefit for the students. We’re delighted to be part of the challenge this year and we can’t wait to get started on this and find out what our students are capable of given the opportunity.

“It’s important students are given that vital link between learning in schools and applying what they have learnt to industry related projects and real life ideas, without it many students may not really know what’s ahead of them and what the industry can offer and provide.”

Malcolm Eyre, of Entrust STEM educational support, said: “Our STEM ambassadors are the key way of enthusing young people into working in STEM careers in the future and we are looking to bring real life projects into the school curriculum.

“This is important because if children are stimulated by something, find it interesting and find it’s connected to real life, their endeavours are so much better.

“What this challenge is going to provide over the next six months is exactly that, a real life scenario, real life support from the industry outside of schools and a link and mentor that will help these young people – along with the funding that a lot of schools can’t afford at the moment to provide something extra. As far as we’re concerned, this marks the start of something very special for the young people in our care.

“It’s something that we as a group will be proud about and we will know that we’ve made an impact among these young people and I know those who have not been involved previously will enjoy the experience.

“Young people will get a tremendous amount out of this and they will give us all a lot back as well.”

Schools will now put together teams of students to work with their industry mentors and come up with a design to fit the given challenge.

Reports and updates of teams’ progression and ideas will be monitored by their mentors throughout the project before the final judging on July 4.
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Events

Skills put to the test as Express & Star STEM Challenge launched

By on

5th December 2018

- Events

Young engineers of the future can put their classroom lessons to the test in a new challenge launched for schools across the Black Country and Staffordshire.

The Express & Star has launched the STEM Challenge 2019 – Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths – in order to boost student engagement with these key topics and also give them an understanding of how what they learn in the classroom will play a vital role in future careers.

The competition is also forging valuable links between local business and schools – and will provide students with an insight into the world of industry.

This is the second year MNA, publishers of the Express & Star, have held the challenge.

Last year, a joint initiative was run between the Express & Star and sister title Shropshire Star – but the scheme proved so successful that challenges are being held for both newspapers.

There are 21 schools signed up to the challenge, with each one partnered with a mentor from business or organisation involved in the industry.

Product design
They have been asked to design a product, using the elements of STEM, that has a positive benefit to an individual/group and the environment, or just the environment.

The teams of six pupils will then need to demonstrate their product as a working model at a presentation on July 11 2019, at Dudley College of Technology – the campaign’s main sponsor.

Their product will be judged according to four criteria – Best Work Plan, sponsored by Entrust; Best Presentation, sponsored by the University of Wolverhampton; Best Team Work, sponsored by KUKA Robotics; and Best Operating Model, sponsored by Laser Process.

During the challenge, the schools will have the opportunity to visit Dudley College of Technology to see the facilities and use their equipment to help create the product.

The mentors, who have all been given formal STEM training, will visit the schools regularly between now and July to work with the teams to monitor their progress and also provide support where needed.

‘Best event in education’
The challenge was announced by Shaun Hunt, assistant principal at Dudley College of Technology, at a launch event held at GTG Training Academy, in Wolverhampton, last Thursday.

He said: “What we did last year was a prolonged engagement with a lot of young people and culminated in probably the best event I have been to since I have been in education. The event last year where we celebrated the award winners was absolutely fantastic.

“It is really important that our young people understand the benefits of being in STEM related curriculum and STEM related subjects because the careers, the pay and opportunity is immense in the Black Country.

“Over the seven months we want the teams to plan their projects and manufacture a product or a prototype reflecting the challenge.

“We need to see the application of STEM science, technology, engineering and maths – after all, this is what the campaign is all about.

“We have a responsibility to promote STEM curriculum and the opportunities available locally.”

Community impact
Among the schools taking part is Moseley Park School, in Bilston, which has been partnered with Jenks & Cattell Engineering, based in Willenhall.

Teacher Andriane Usherwood-Brown said: “The school’s enterprise advisor is heavily involved in STEM and he made me aware of the Express & Star challenge.

“This challenge is a proactive approach to STEM, as opposed to them being in the classroom – they can actually see how STEM has a huge impact on the community in general..”

Mentor Ryan Clark said: “We wanted to get involved as the STEM industry is booming at the moment especially in the Midlands and it is an exciting time to get young people involved.

“A lot of people, especially at a young age who we are looking at doing this challenge with, might not know as much about it – engineering is quite perceived as getting your hands dirty with a machine. But there is so much more at the moment.”

Benefits
Jayne Guest, from In-Comm Training which has been partnered up with the Barr Beacon School said the STEM challenge was a good way to entice young females students to consider engineering as a career.

She said: “We are a training provider which offers advance level engineering apprenticeships. We wanted another platform to entice the young people to go into engineering.

“Working with a local school for us such as Barr Beacon is the perfect opportunity for them to use our facilities and use our talents and skill base to hopefully win this project.”

Challenge sponsors have also spoken about why they wanted to be involved in the scheme and the benefits they hope it will bring.

New sponsor for this year, Jonathan Horne, from Laser Process, said: “I am always keen on getting youngsters involved in manufacturing and engineering. We wanted to get more involved with younger people and the STEM challenge is an ideal vehicle to do that.”

Initiative
Katherine Nowill, marketing manager at KUKA Robotics, said: “It was a really good scheme last year. There is such a huge range of skills and it is encouraging youngsters to get involved with those subjects.

“We are really looking forward to the results of the challenge this year, based on the successes last year.

“We could not believe the amount of initiative and thought that went into the end result products.”

Express & Star editor, Martin Wright, added: “The last STEM campaign was a huge success so we decided to do it all again – but this time split it into two, one for the Express & Star and one for our sister paper the Shropshire Star.

“For a number of us, we really did not know what to expect from the teams taking part in the 2018 competition. The standard of work they produced completely blew us away.

“We we were expecting cardboard boxes and elastic bands – and how wrong we were. We are sure our next group of inventors will produce work of a similar high standard.

“We are grateful to our 21 mentor companies and the schools will be able to draw upon their expertise over the coming months.

“We look forward to seeing everyone at the judging and awards ceremony on July 11 where the teams will showcase their products.”



Ambassador
Overseeing some of the STEM challenge team projects will be Malcolm Eyre.

During the challenge, Malcolm will be working with schools and their mentors in the Staffordshire area.

His role will include providing support to the mentors as they monitor the progress of the pupils’ projects. He is based at the Staffordshire STEM Centre.

He has more than 20 years of teaching experience in high schools across Staffordshire specialising in design and technology.

He said: “We are repeating the challenge again this year, based on the success of last year. We are trying to give young people the opportunity to work with industry professionals, solve real life problems and improve their knowledge of the careers that are on offer in the industry.

“It is a fun way for the students to experience things they would not normally work on in school. It encapsulates so many aspects of life as well as teaching them skills.

“We are able to give students much better experience and showing them the careers that are available in STEM related subjects.

“It gets ambassadors from companies to work with students and more importantly we get teachers and students to understand what careers are available.”

Helping the Black Country schools and their mentors will be lead STEM ambassador Liz Smith, who works at the West Midlands STEM Ambassador Hub based at the University of Worcester.

Mentor
Kira Edwards from the Petford Group was the successful mentor for last year’s challenge winners Thorns Collegiate Academy.

The Quarry Bank school team was named the overall winners for their My Stand device, which was then sold to help raise money for Sedgley-based Beacon Centre.

The team, named Little Einsteins, designed a stand for a mobile phone or tablet that enables blind and visually impaired people to make the most of a talking camera app called Seeing AI. As well as holding a tablet or phone, it has an extra shelf so that a document can be paced at the ideal height and position in front of the device’s camera enabling the app to read the text out loud.

Kira said: “We have a massive skills gap going on. The children don’t know what is available to them and we are looking at closing that skills gap and working with local schools.

“The challenge was a refreshing way to show it is not a dirty industry or job. It was really great to work with the school and see their ideas.

“It was really enjoyable and I loved working with the students. We had lots of fun and also collaborated with a local charity – they created and designed a product which has now gone into production.

“It gave them a new insight into engineering jobs. The students worked hard and because they were studying their GCSEs at the time they were meeting us outside of school – their dedication as terrific.”

Sponsor
Dudley College of Technology’s assistant principal said he hoped the STEM challenge 2019 would help young people realise the value of studying in one of the related subjects and the opportunities that are available in the Black Country.

Shaun Hunt, who previously worked as a building surveyor, said: “My role at the college is to lead on technology and all technical vocational training which tends to be engineering, construction, science and motor vehicle.

“What we have done at Dudley College in the last two years is invest £14 million in STEM-related curriculum. Last year I was standing here talking about a building that had been open for two months for STEM curriculum around manufacturing and modern construction.This year that building is at capacity – all new curriculum, all new learners. We under-estimated the demand. Last year’s project was very successful – we had lots of engagement with schools coming along to the college to use our equipment.

The products that were produced were absolutely amazing and the technology that was used in the development of those projects at the school was really impressive.

“People put in a lot of their own time and there was a lot of employers who put time aside to make the project work – it was a true collaboration.”

During the last few years, the college opened the £9m Dudley Advance centre for manufacturing and engineering technology and more recently the £12m Dudley Advance II, which focuses on building technologies.
















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Events, News

Express & Star hosts Young Chamber of Commerce event

By on

5th December 2018

- Events, News

Students from schools across the Black Country came together for a Young Chamber of Commerce event held at the Express and Star on December 4.

Sixteen pupils from Q3 Academy in Great Barr, Walsall Academy, RSA Academy in Tipton, Pegasus Academy DAT in Dudley, Aldersley High in Wolverhampton, Moreton, George Salter in West Bromwich and Bloxwich Academy worked on ideas and produced articles for the latest issue of the Chamber’s Prosper magazine, which is published by the MNA.

The session started with a welcome from Darren Griffin, advertising sales manager, followed by a talk from careers and enterprise coordinator at the Chamber, Vikki Haines, at the offices in Queen Street, Wolverhampton.

The pupils shared ideas and discussed their ideas for the Young Chamber pages in the upcoming issue of Prosper in an editorial meeting, with director of policy, marketing and communications at the Chamber, Lisa Broughton, press and communications officer Sarah Thompson and Prosper co-ordinator, Heather Loat. They were joined by Express & Star head of production Heather Broome.

Vikki Haines, who co-ordinated the event, said: “The Young Chamber really enjoyed their visit to the Express & Star.

“They have worked extremely hard on their articles for Prosper and asked engaging questions about the newspaper and journalism.

“Thankyou to the Express & Star for hosting such an interesting visit.”

The meeting was followed by a tour of the Express & Star news rooms by political editor Pete Madeley, where the students were given the opportunity to look at the different areas of editorial and see an example of how a newspaper is put together.

MNA communications executive Rebecca Heyes, who oversaw the event, said: “The students enjoyed their visit to the Express & Star and were given the opportunity to ask questions during the tour of the newsroom.”
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Events, News, Press Release

Wolverhampton Building Supplies score sponsorship with Express & Star Wolves podcast

By on

30th November 2018

- Events, News, Press Release

A local construction provider has scored itself a sponsorship win with the infamous Express & Star Wolves football podcast.

Wolverhampton Building Supplies, based on Bilston Road in the city, has bagged the position of headline sponsor for the Wolverhampton Wanderers podcast with Tim Spiers and Nathan Judah.

The sponsorship will run for the rest of the season, and has coincided with live recording at Molineux for the 100th episode.

Sports writer duo, Tim and Nathan, will be recording the centenary special live and uncut at Molineux’s WV1 bar on Thursday December 6 at 7pm.

Tim and Nathan will be chewing the Wolves fat with plenty of fan interaction throughout the night, including a special ‘Abuse of the Week’ live edition and a live Q&A.

Simon Patron, who owns Wolverhampton Building Supplies, said he is excited to be part of this opportunity.

Simon, who is a lifelong Wolves fan, said: “My business has been going for four years and we are official partners with Wolverhampton Wanderers and are lucky enough to have a company box.

“The club has been instilled into my family and I even worked as a steward there for 20 years previously, so to now be a part of the podcast is an exciting opportunity.

“The reason we got involved is because there is such a large number of listeners and viewers. The popularity of the podcast is what attracted us to be part of it.

“It is about brand awareness for us and our company can grow with the podcast.”

We have a dedicated team on the trade counter who can offer you guidance on your project as well as excellent customer service.

Wolverhampton Building Supplies have three delivery vehicles in operation with reliable drivers who will provide you with fast and efficient deliveries.

The team supply products, plastering, tools, timber and much more.
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Events, News, Press Release

Martin Wright appointed Editor-in-Chief for MNA

By on

20th November 2018

- Events, News, Press Release

MNA Print managing director Graeme Clifford writes: I am pleased to confirm that Martin Wright has been appointed as Editor-in-Chief for the Midland News Association.

Martin will take overall responsibility for the MNA’s daily newspapers Express & Star and Shropshire Star, as well as our weekly portfolio and the monthly magazines. He will also lead on digital editorial content moving forward.

Martin joined the MNA as editor of the Shropshire Star in 2013.

His new role will see him lead a refocused editorial department to ensure greater collaboration takes place while our journalists continue to deliver the high standard of news coverage which readers expect from our titles.

On behalf of the MNA, we wish Martin every success in his new role.
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Events, News, Press Release

Chronicle Week launches as Britain’s biggest free weekly newspaper

By on

1st November 2018

- Events, News, Press Release

A leading regional publisher is to launch Britain’s biggest free weekly newspaper for readers in the Black Country and surrounding areas.

On Friday (Nov 2) the Midland News Association, publisher of the Express & Star, will deliver new print title Chronicle Week to more than 200,000 homes following a major rebrand.

With five editions covering Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Cannock, the title has been given a modern look to appeal to the target 272,000 readers, with the aim of generating a stronger response for advertisers.

Building on the heritage of the MNA’s free Chronicle series, which it replaces, the newspaper will be distributed to households with demographic profiles aligned with advertisers’ target audiences.



With a contemporary design and fresh advertising shapes, the Chronicle Week launch will see 210,000 copies delivered through door to door distribution. It will also be on sale in more than 250 newsagents across the area.

Local stories will feature throughout each edition, complete with a comprehensive round-up of the week’s regional news.

Express & Star Editor Keith Harrison said: “We are delighted with the new Chronicle Week and the prestige of laying claim to being the biggest free weekly newspaper in the UK. There is a focus on positive stories with human interest, alongside the hard news which readers expect from us, plus eight pages of leisure features.”

MNA advertising director Louise Burns said: “The new print title has an improved offering for advertising which we feel will help to engage with readers in a more targeted way. Conversations are already under way with advertisers to update them on the changes and the new opportunity to accelerate coverage at a lower cost per thousand, which have been received positively.”



The launch of Chronicle Week coincides with a marketing campaign to promote the new title to local advertisers. Alongside the new product, the MNA will continue to publish the free weekly Stafford Express & Star.

MNA print MD Graeme Clifford said: “The launch of Britain’s biggest free weekly newspaper is a prime example of the MNA’s commitment to continuing to invest in print. A lot of time and hard work has gone into making this product what it is, and we are very excited about its launch.”

The MNA publishes two of the UK’s biggest regional newspapers, the Express & Star and its sister paper the Shropshire Star.

Contact: Rebecca Heyes, MNA communications executive, 01902 319448, rebecca.heyes@expressandstar.co.uk

NOTES: Readership figures based on current JICREG Chronicle Series readers per copy
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Events

E&S Wolves Podcast with Tim Spiers and Nathan Judah is being recorded live at Molineux for 100th episode

By on

1st November 2018

- Events

The E&S Wolves Podcast with Tim Spiers and Nathan Judah is being recorded live at Molineux for its 100th episode – and the lads want YOU to join them!

The duo will be recording the centenary special live and uncut at Molineux’s WV1 bar on Thursday December 6 at 7pm.

Tickets are on sale now for just £5 and are strictly limited on a first come first served basis

To purchase downloadable tickets for the event, click the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/live-wolves-podcast-100th-episode-special-tickets-51966355769

Tim and Nathan will be chewing the Wolves fat with plenty of fan interaction throughout the night.

All your favourite segments will be on show including a special ‘Abuse of the Week’ live edition and a live Q&A.

Wolves play Chelsea at Molineux the night before so the boys will be analysing a famous Wolves win (!) and previewing the trip to Newcastle.

There’ll be a host of surprises on the night for what’s sure to be an unforgettable evening.

Wolves Podcast 100th Episode LIVE Itinerary
6.15pm – Doors open (full bar available)

7pm – 100th Wolves podcast live – Part 1

7.45pm – Interval

8pm – 100th Wolves podcast live – Part 2

9-10.30pm – Have a post poddy drink and a chat with the lads

The definitive book of Wolves’ title-winning season, On Our Way Back: Story of the Season 17/18 will be on sale during the evening priced at just £9.99.

So don’t delay, book your tickets now (which include free parking at Molineux) to avoid disappointment.
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