Merger creates unified young professionals network

Future Faces – the young professionals’ arm of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce – and BPS Birmingham are joining forces to create a larger, unified professional network for the region.

The move will bring members of BPS - including its Birmingham Aspire, Birmingham Future and Birmingham Leaders sub-sections - under the Future Faces brand.

And the region’s two biggest awards dinners for young professionals – the Future Faces Annual Dinner and Awards and the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (BYPY) – will come together in 2021 for a huge joint celebration of all young professional talent across the region at the ICC in Birmingham.

Members of Birmingham Aspire and Birmingham Future will be enrolled into Future Faces - which already has a membership of more than 500 individuals from over 20 sectors across the region - to further strengthen the network and create an unrivalled package of membership benefits and opportunities.

The GBCC also plans to fund Future Faces memberships for existing Birmingham Aspire and Birmingham Future members for 12 months.

Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “The Chamber and BPS are two organisations who are always looking to add value and increase networks and opportunities for our members. This unified approach, under the umbrella of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce group, will do just that.

“The integration of Birmingham Aspire and Birmingham Future into the Future Faces brand is particularly exciting for the region’s young professionals, with an expanded network and contacts, adding to what is already an extremely popular and vibrant offering.”

Anna Assinder, senior marketing manager at the GBCC and manager of Future Faces, said: “We’re extremely excited by this opportunity to unite these organisations in order to further strengthen the offering to professionals across our region.

“Future Faces has more than doubled in size over the past three years, and welcoming Birmingham Aspire and Birmingham Future into our community allows us to unite these great networks together.

“Members of all three organisations will continue to receive the same benefits with an even broader and larger multi-sector network and professional development package, as well as an even bigger awards event to recognise their talents and achievements.

“This merger of, course, comes at a time when the future leaders and talent of our businesses are going to need to unite and be stronger than ever before.”

Ian Barnes, chair of BPS Birmingham Ltd, said: “Now more than ever it is essential that the regional business community comes together to build opportunity across our economy. This unified approach means we will be able to provide more support for members whilst still ensuring that the region’s business professional services sector has its own national and international voice.”

Pictured: Anna Assinder