Birmingham Post

Louise Is Delighted with New Rics Role

City planner Louise Brooke-Smith is set to become the youngest ever President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors - and the first woman - after being elected as one of its three new vice- presidents. As the managing director of Birmingham-based BrookeSmith Planning, Louise is also the first person from the West Midlands to take such a senior role within the RICS. Her post begins in July this year and it is expected that she will take over the presidency in 2014.

; Gva's Charlie Toogood On the Rise and Rise of the Hot Desk

Desks are significantly smaller, open plan offices are now regarded as the norm for even the most senior fee earners, hot- desking is commonplace, and non-stop improvements in technology are making it effortless to work from home. However, property heads at large corporates are not slashing the amount of office space required in their forecasts. The city centre office remains vital, but the way the internal fit-out is planned and configured is changing radically. There is much recent evidence...

There's Always a Market for Quality

The publication of the annual "Rich List" announced that there are 20 more billionaires in 2011 than 12 months ago, with 73 people owning assets worth in excess of pounds 1,000 million. This figure almost matches the prerecessionary record of 75 UK billionaires reached in 2008 and is evidence, according to some speculators, that "in some quarters it's as if the recession never happened".

Deals Aplenty at Percy Business Park

Atrio of deals have been completed at Percy Business Park in Oldbury. The latest deals have been completed by Knight Frank and joint agent Bulleys on behalf of client Coltham Developments. Stuart Franks from Coltham Developments said: "Percy Business Park is one of the most successful developments in our portfolio. We know that location and quality play a major part in why occupiers choose to locate here, but its flexibility is also very attractive to potential tenants. Some of our smaller oc...

The History of a City

e all know moving house can be a bit of a nightmare. WIn fact alongside getting married and getting divorced, upping sticks frequently ranks as one of the most stressful times of a person's life. S

Drivers Jonas Deloitte Birmingham Crane Survey Breakfast Event

Property consultants Driver Jonas Deloitte held its annual Birmingham Crane Survey event at its office in Brindleyplace. Property developers and advisers from the city turned out for the breakfast event to hear the results of this year's survey.

Deloitte Midlands Property Dinner

Pete Redfern, group chief executive of Taylor Wimpey plc, one of the UK's largest housebuilders, was the guest speaker at Deloitte's Midlands Property Dinner in Birmingham. Mr Redfern talked abou the state of the UK housing and land markets and the geographical variances, the current buyer mix and recent government initiatives to encourage new build development.

Dtz Host 'Money to Property' Event

Global real estate services firm, DTZ welcomed over 120 property and finance professionals to Austin Court, Birmingham, to hear the latest research findings in DTZ's flagship 'Money into Property' report. Tony McGough, Global Head of Forecasting & Strategy Research and Hans Vrensen, Global Head of Research presented the findings of the annual report which found that a"recovery in the UK property investment market is now a reality, with invested stock increasing by 1 per cent in 2010 and forec...

Winning the Battle of Independents

The property sector is in something of a state of flux at the moment. After more than three years of significant pain, consolidation is now flavour of the month with the of local operators Bigwood and Curry and Partners joining forces as well as big names such as King Sturge disappearing into the Jones Lang Lasalle stable and DTZ almost certainly about to merge with BNP Paribas. But, for all the corporate manoeuvring, there are companies like Birmingham's Harris Lamb that are continuing to th...

Credentials, Writes Edward Stephens

To date, the appeal of hybrid cars has not really tempted young motorists looking for a sporty drive to get them noticed. Perhaps that's because most hybrids tend to be saloons and hatchbacks designed with the family in mind.

Gadgets

Tefal Toast N' Egg pounds 59.99 from www.tefal.co.uk or 0845 602 1454 It sounds like a creation of Caractacus Potts from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,but this is one of the best kitchen gadgets we've seen. The premise is simple - it's a toaster with the addition of tray to poach or boil your eggs.

Lofty Friends Taking to the Night Sky ... ; Nature Notes

Midsummer is the peak time of the year for seeing bats. Once the stars of horror film nightmares, these furry fliers now seem to have a place in people's affections, as well as in their lofts. They certainly need this because over the last few decades their numbers have fallen as our activities (development, farming, disturbance) have reduced their living space.The good news from the Bat Conservation Trust is that now at least the numbers of a few species are stable or increasing.

Endangered Turtle Species

mdeep Sanghera wakes up and surveys the view from his apartment. AThe clear blue waters of the Caribbean ocean are less than 15ft away and the 32-year-old conservationist enjoys his breakfast porridge watching eagle rays jump and sharks circle.

; Garden Watch

Fuchsias are one of the most popular and recognised plants, with their beguiling flowers earning them a nick name of ladies eardrops. One of the reasons that they are so popular must be the fact that they are so easy to grow. Fuchsias are very versatile, with plants to suit borders, hanging baskets and summer containers, where they will reward for months into autumn, with their two-tone flowers and attractive leaves. The original ladies eardrops, Fuchsia coccinea, is from Brazil where it grow...

Hard Questions of Loyalty in the Trenches

John Boyne was catapulted into our consciousness with his Second World War fable The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas, writes Diane Parkes. Aimed at younger readers, it went on to become a worldwide success with both children and adults and was adapted into a Hollywood film with David Thewlis.

Birmingham That Is Hard to Put Down, Writes Diane Parkes

After seven novels featuring the hard-bitten police woman Detective Sergeant Bev Morriss, Birmingham-based writer Maureen Carter has tried her hand at creating a new character. But lovers of Bev need not worry as Detective Inspector Sarah Quinn comes from the same mould. Here we have a policewoman with a spiky nature, 1 of putting her foot in it as soon as she opens her mouth and prepared to break the rules when it suits her.

Business Focus Discusses Ageing

Making the best use of the skills of our ageing population was the subject for debate at the recent meeting of Birmingham Business Focus. Hosted by ExtraCare at its new retirement home in New Oscott, speakers were Nick Abbey of ExtraCare and Steve Randall of Robert Walters Recruitment.

Acutec Clients Meet the Team

In an era of Twitter, Facebook and apps, IT experts Acutec still occasionally like to do it the old-fashioned way. The West Midlands-based company held an open day for clients at its Coleshill-based headquarters, which is home to its 20 staff. It was a chance for clients to meet face-to-face with members of the Acutec team and also to attend a social media seminar run by Annmarie Hanlon, of Evonomie.

Quiz of the Day

Conference for Farming Advisors