NEC Group

This has been another year of change and challenge for staff at the NEC, but the company appears to be coping well in what is an increasingly competitive marketplace. Perhaps the ability of employees to cope is partly due to their willingness to embrace new ideas and new ways of working.

There have been many changes at the NEC. In particular, the Group is now managing the Dublin Conference Centre. Performances Birmingham have successfully reopened and begun to operate the Town Hall alongside Symphony Hall. In the meantime, NEC House, which has been the Group’s base for many years is going to be an hotel, and the staff who were housed there have moved to the heart of the NEC’s operations in the Piazza. This has corresponded with the chaplaincy office moving into the Piazza, and the opening of a new prayer room, with washing facilities, next to the chaplaincy office.

My support of employees continues and I am able to offer space for people to share their feelings on a wide range of issues.

Beyond the NEC Group, I continue to work with the Methodists (District and MIBIC) and within CIGB. I lead worship on a regular basis and have led study groups and reflected with church workers. I am involved with a group looking at Human Trafficking, which has led to meetings in Sheffield, Birmingham and Bucharest. I have also been involved in conversations about casinos and casino chaplaincy.

Another involvement with a different aspect of the economy is with the Cold Weather Response Team, which provides warm drinks and food to homeless people in the city centre during the winter.