Lions and Tigers and Bears with Gordon Buchanan
Join Gordon as he recounts thrilling encounters with pandas, grizzlies, tigers, jaguars and more. Learn about the heart-stopping moments, the mud, sweat, and tears, and the tender interactions that have shaped his extraordinary career.Gordon Buchanan has dedicated his life to exploring the untamed beauty of the natural world, from the bamboo forests of China to the snowy landscapes of Russia, from the towering Himalayas to the depths of the Amazon. His mission: to capture the majestic big cats and bears on film and reveal their secrets to a global audience.
Connected for Growth: West Midlands Business Festival
Join us for an inspiring evening of ideas, insights, and networking at Hotel du Vin on Wednesday 4 February. This free event, part of West Midlands Business Festival, will bring together thought-leaders and innovators to explore what it takes to thrive in a world of accelerating technology, uncertainty, and limitless possibilities.What to Expect:Our café conversation format creates space for meaningful dialogue with four dynamic guest speakers, each sharing their expertise on growth, networks, and resilience.Speakers:Denise Morris – Founder of TAG NetworkTopic: The Power of NetworksAndy Bass – Managing Director, BassClusker ConsultingTopic: Navigating a World of Accelerating TechnologyIan Harrison – Director, Growhouse Growth Business LimitedTopic: Growth MindsetFinal Speaker TBCCompere: Louise Teboul, Common PurposeSchedule:17:30 – Event Start18:00 – Café Conversations19:30 – Final Words19:45 – Networking20:00 – CloseComplimentary drink provided. Secure your place today via Eventbrite.
Salon in the City: Feeling good, caring for the future
This event will address the ways in which Birmingham can care for its population across all ages.How can Birmingham care for its people, across all ages, while meeting growing social and cultural needs?Join us for an insightful conversation exploring community health, wellbeing, and the future of care in our city. We’ll look at what these demands mean for residents and the workforce, and how we can create urban lives rooted in support and connection.In Conversation With Kalvinder Kohli, Assistant Director, Prevention and Early Intervention, Birmingham City Council.Kalvinder brings over 30 years of experience across the voluntary sector and local government. Her work has focused on prevention, early intervention, and asset-based community development, always with a passion for tackling deep-seated inequalities and improving outcomes for the most vulnerable.She has led Birmingham’s Prevention First Agenda, including the award-winning Neighbourhood Networks Schemes, and currently drives the Council-wide Early Intervention and Prevention Programme, transforming Birmingham into a prevention-led organisation.Why Attend?Gain insights into Birmingham’s approach to community health and careExplore strategies for tackling inequalities and supporting wellbeingNetwork with professionals and community leaders over a free breakfastReserve your free place today and be part of the conversation shaping Birmingham’s future.Date: Thursday 5 February 2026Time: 8:30 – 10:00 amLocation: Primitivo, Barwick StreetCost: Free to attendExtras: Complimentary breakfast providedAbout Salon in the CitySalon in the City is an innovative event series that investigates how Birmingham’s changing population, evolving behaviours, and shifting expectations are reshaping the city’s economy, its places, and its broader culture. This programme offers a platform for open, in-depth conversations that go beyond surface-level discussion, addressing the profound changes occurring across the city.Each conversation will examine how globalisation, alongside demographic and behavioural shifts, is influencing not only Birmingham’s marketplace but also the fabric of everyday life and work. The series will explore changes in how people travel, eat, and socialise, as well as the evolving ways in which they consume, create, and anticipate services. For local businesses and institutions, these salons aim to highlight both the emerging challenges and new opportunities that arise from these transformations. Topics will include the financial impact of shifting consumer habits, the cultural adjustments necessary within workplaces, and the changing expectations of staff and citizens who increasingly value purpose, wellbeing, and a sense of belonging.Curated by Lara Ratnaraja and Helga Henry and funded by Colmore Business District, the BID representing over 650 businesses in the city’s commercial heart, the Salon in the City series is designed to foster practical insights, encourage collaborative thinking, and inspire a renewed sense of Birmingham’s identity and ambition during a period of significant change.