Posts Tagged ‘ Birmingham Future ’

I was surprised, and a little bit flattered I’ll admit, to be asked to be on the panel for Birmingham Future’s (Big Brand) debate “Is Birmingham A Second City?”, along with Ian Taylor, commercial director of Marketing Birmingham and David Clarke. Exalted company, but both very nice as it turned out. Here’s the ‘debate’ proposition (much longer and more detailed version here in the Birmingham Post): “Birmingham was the original hotbed of entrepreneurialism, innovation and cutting-edge technology, our ‘City of 100 Trades’ was a proud forerunner in the Industrial Revolution. Since then, we have suffered an image crisis – maligned in the media and the butt of many jokes despite huge strides in improving the built environment, infrastructure, amenities and leisure offer for the city’s inhabitants and visitors. So what can we, the next generation of city leaders, do to change these outdated perceptions of our city? Is the Second City banner, coveted by a number of other English cities, a positive or negative for Birmingham? If not the Second City, then what are we? The First City for Innovation? The Youthful City? Diverse City? International City? In this, the second Big Future Debate, you decide! Join your fellow...

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