This one's just for the Gents. Sorry Ladies...

If you're currently working on building the stadiums and training grounds in preparation for the Olympics 2012, then this is most definitely the product for you. It's not specifically Olympic related and it's most definitely not the most glamorous of products, but it is extremely practical and will come in handy in all sorts of situations. In fact, it would be safe to say that every Olympic-stadium-building super hero needs one.

Gentlemen, please behold, The Cape of Convenience.



Image courtesy of Dalvie Storage Systems



An interesting invention. Especially if you're an Olympic enthusiast and are planning on being glued to the television set next year. You never know, you might just need one of these!

I found this product in the Dalvie Storage Systems catalogue. If you are interested in buying one, or want to know more, then visit http://www.dalviesystems.co.uk/ or call 0845 0178866.

The Olympic Torch is comin' to town

30th June 2012 - a very special date for your diaries. This is the date when the Olympic torch will be calling in at Birmingham as part of it's 8,000 mile journey across the UK and staying overnight before travelling on towards Coventry. The torch will be stopping off at four places in the West Midlands including: Birmingham, Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent and Worcester.

Hundreds of local people will have the opportunity to carry the Torch through the streets of Birmingham to celebrate such a prestigious, global event.

The visit will be part of the Torch's long, yet celebrated, journey across the UK to get to it's final destination in the hosting city of London!

If you want to nominate a friend, family member, colleague or deserving boss (yes, you heard correct) to carry the Torch during it's brief visit next June, then visit the official website http://www.london2012.com/

Employees at Hartman prepare for the Olympics

The Olympic games is probably the next biggest thing to happen to the UK since the Royal Wedding this year. Excitement is mounting and it is no secret that everyone who works at Hartman is very excited about 2012. Several employees have put their names forward for tickets and if they succeed will have maxed out there credit cards for the next few months, if not years!

Hartman Outdoor Products UK Ltd are based in Shropshire, a hop skip and a jump away from Much Wenlock which is the home of the modern Olympic games. It was William Penny-Brookes, in 1850, who introduced physical education into British schools and inspired the fore-runner of the modern Olympic Games for the "promotion of moral, physical and intellectual improvement." Although the Game's venue is now decided by an international committee rather than by the Wenlock Olympian Society, William Penny Brookes vision for the Olympic Games is hailed as one of modern sports greatest achievements. 

It was Baron de Coubertin who was inspired by William Penny Brookes to create the global event after a visit to the games in Much Wenlock. This resulted in the Frenchman organising the first games of the modern Olympics which took place in Athens in 1896. Sadly, Doctor Brookes died in 1895 aged 87, just four months before the modern Olympic Games began in Athens. It is without a doubt that the company wouldn't be anticipating this great event next year if it hadn't of been for William Penny Brookes. 

Established in the Netherlands, Hartman has been producing quality garden furniture since 1971. Knowledge, which has been built up over the past 40 years, has translated into unrivalled product ranges.  Hartman UK, based in Telford, Shropshire, offers a wide selection of quality garden furniture including tables, chairs, benches, loungers and parasols in materials including resin weave, cast aluminium, teak, aluminium and resin. Hartman have decided to name a set of furniture to celebrate the Olympics in 2012 and what better way to celebrate than with a Fire Pit Set with its very own Olympic torch in the centre! 

Hartman's Jamie Oliver Fire Pit Set

Hartman's Fire Pit Set for Tesco

The set will be available to purchase in stores from February 2012 and Hartman would very much like to donate a percentage of the profit towards the Olympic Society or a sporting charity to support the cause. The company are currently in the process of contacting charities to honour this pledge. 

Faster, Higher, Stronger with Birmingham Royal Ballet

2011 and 2012 will see the build-up to a great sporting endeavour in the UK, the hosting of the London 2012 Olympic Games. 

Birmingham Royal Ballet will demonstrate that this tradition of endeavour, perseverance and attainment is not just confined to the world of sport. Ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games, Birmingham Royal Ballet's Director, David Bintley, is creating a brand new ballet for the Company- FASTER, HIGHER, STRONGER- the title of which is taken from the English translation of the Olympic motto CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS. 

Left - David Bintley | Right - Performance of The Four Seasons 

The new work will capture the spirit of the pre-Olympics period with hope, aspiration and sheer determination to perform as it receives its world premiere at Birmingham Hippodrome from 27 to 30 June 2012. 

FASTER, HIGHER, STRONGER comes from the award-winning team behind E=mc². After winning the last ever South Bank Show Dance award in 2010 with E=mc², David Bintley embarks on a second collaboration with renowned Australian composer Matthew Hindson. This ballet of speed, power and athleticism will be a fitting creation for the lead-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

For more information about the Birmingham Royal Ballet company, visit http://www.brb.org.uk/.

Keep your eyes peeled for the first collaborative post...

... from Birmingham Royal Ballet who will be discussing their new, Olympic themed production for 2012. And it's being produced by their very own Artistic Director, David Bintley. Exciting news!

Stay tuned for more info.

Interested in doing something different?

Birmingham Business 2012 is looking for local businesses who would be interested in becoming collaborators of this blog. Not only will you be able to post your ideas and thoughts regarding the Olympics in 2012 and how it will affect your business but you will also be able to gain more interest from members of the public who will be directed to this blog through the BhamBiz2012 Twitter account. (@bhambiz2012)

Who can post?
If you are an employee, employer or freelance professional from a local business in Birmingham then you can post.

What can you post?
You can post pretty much anything as long as it relates to your business and how you will be preparing for the Olympics in 2012. Some ideas include:
+ What is your business doing in order to prepare for the Olympics?
For example, are you making plans to buy in extra stock? Are you going to be creating a new product with the Olympics in mind?
+ Will you be holding any Olympic related events?
+ What aspects of the Olympics is your business excited about (if any)?
+ How do you think the Olympics will help or hinder business in 2012?
+ Are you looking to recruit extra staff for this time?
For example, what sort of people will you be looking to employ? How will you deal with extra work pressure?
+ What are your previous experiences of the Olympics in terms of business?

All media types are welcome in the forms of text, photographs, video, animation, illustration, etc.
You could even choose to create your post using the media form which best portrays what your company does. For example - a design company could produce an illustration to highlight what the 2012 Olympics means to them.

When can you begin posting?
If you are interested in collaborating then please do not hesitate to contact me at tashahinde@aol.com and I will ensure that you can post to this blog as soon as possible. All blog posts will be moderated prior to publishing to ensure that content is suitable for anyone to read. There will also be a set of house rules which will be posted at a later date that collaborators are advised to follow in order to post successfully.

How will this benefit your business?
Not only will your business be able to see what other businesses are getting up to in the run up to the Olympics but members of the public will be able to gain a greater knowledge of your business. You will be able to form relationships with other businesses and become more aware of other local companies and what they do. At the end of this project there will be a print copy of the blog in magazine form available to all collaborators as a keep sake and a thank you from myself (Natasha Hinde) for helping me with my University project.

Thank you for your time,

Natasha Hinde

DISCLAIMER - This is a project which is solely run by Natasha Hinde - a Media & Communications student from Birmingham City University - and in no way is this blog going to be profitable to me.