People: Sandwell Business Ambassadors; Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber; Astute Media

Paul Hull

A programme set up to support Sandwell’s business community has welcomed KMB Shipping Group owner Paul Hull to its group.

Hull has joined Sandwell Business Ambassadors, a group of high-profile local business leaders who act as advocates for companies in the borough.

He said: “I’m so proud to be a Sandwell Business Ambassador and give my support in raising the profile of Sandwell even further.

“I’m looking forward to meeting local businesses and contributing towards the success of the Sandwell community.”

The key objectives of Sandwell Business Ambassadors are to engage with the business community, establish links between different sectors, help with fixing skills gaps in the workforce, and promote Sandwell as a great place to work.

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Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber’s membership manager Hazel Pilling with Richard Merkl (QPL) and new recruits Alex Kerr and Pui-Lin Raposo

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has appointed two people to its membership team, after being helped by an existing member firm.

Coventry-based QPLtalent worked with the Chamber to recruit Alex Kerr as its membership adviser and Pui-Lin Raposo as membership account manager.

Hazel Pilling, the Chamber’s membership manager, said: “We were looking to recruit two new people into the membership team but, as our survey work with companies keeps telling us, it’s difficult to find the right people because of a mix of both a shortage of skills and low unemployment.

“The whole process has been very smooth and we are delighted to have Alex and Pin on board in the membership team as the Chamber goes from strength to strength.”

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Solihull marketing and brand communications agency, Astute Media, has appointed Stephen Furlonger to the newly-created role of client development director.

Furlonger’s previous agency experience has seen him work with brands such as Fiat, Diageo, WH Smith, McDonald’s, Vodafone, Shell, Chrysler and Unilever.

Jeremy Bailey, managing director of Astute Media, said: “We are obviously pleased to have someone with Stephen’s experience to join us at this key moment in the agency’s development, he will play a leading part in raising the agency’s profile and focusing the team’s skills to enable us to take advantage of the opportunities that will be generated in the coming months.”

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