Political leaders and business heavyweights are among the speakers at a huge business convention being held in Birmingham next month.

Kenneth Clarke, shadow Secretary of State for BERR, Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, and Minister for Trade and Investment Lord Davies of Abersoch, will be joining the president of the British Chambers of Commerce, Neville Rayner, and Christopher Banks, chairman of the Learning and Skills Council at the Business Convention.

Subtitled The Road to Recovery, the April 27 event at the ICC will feature free business surgeries, policy forums, networking and discussion opportunities.

Mervyn Davies, Minister for Trade and Investment, will be interviewed by the BBC journalist, Martha Kearney, on how the government is handling the recession.

He will answer questions on why the UK's export sector is not fully benefitting from the falling value of sterling, and will provide details on the help government is offering businesses during the current economic downturn.

Speakers at the policy forums will speak on such topics as transport infrastructure, the changing workforce and creating growth and revival.

Birmingham City Council will be supporting the procurement zone, where delegates can network with buyers from the public and private sectors.

For more information about the event, visit http://www.neilstewartassociates.com/bn133/

The Government has introduced a simplified framework for publicly funded support for businesses.

 For the first time, the streamlined Solutions for Business with enable all companies to find the right products to help them with common business issues such as getting started, growing, finance, export, skills, innovation and the environment.

From April 1, Train to Gain and Business Link brokers will come together in a new service under the Business Link brand to offer advice on skills, reinforcing Business Link's role as the main route to government support.

It is estimated tighter targeting of schemes will collectively add up to £1.4bn per year of value for businesses. 

Minister for Business, Ian Pearson, said: "To succeed in a competitive global environment UK businesses need ongoing access to help and support. The streamlined Solutions for Business portfolio makes it simpler for businesses to access the help they need, providing long term, sustainable, support to business."

 The products, which can be found online, are starting up; growing your business; employing people; finance and grants; exploiting your ideas; environment and efficiency; international trade.

Martin Temple, chairman of the Solutions for Business Transition Management Board said help for businesses has been too complex and confusing to understand.

 "This programme will simplify access, make clear what is available and improve the quality in order to match business needs. The benefits of the new system will soon become apparent.," he added.

 For details, visit Business Link at www.businesslink.gov.uk/solutions or telephone 0845 600 9006.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy announced the winners for the 2009 Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards at a gala dinner at the International Convention Centre last week.

 The ninth annual event attracted nearly 150 nominations in the nine categories.

 The winners are: 

Legal Executive of the year: Alexandra Loxton of Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP

Trainee Solicitor of the year: Gemma Bell of Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP

Assistant Solicitor of the year: Jacob Robinson of HBJ Gateley Wareing LLP

Commercial Solicitor of the year: Peter Hubbard of Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP 

Solicitor of the year: Gurjit Atwal of Eversheds LLP

Law Firm Manager of the year: Peter Davies of HBJ Gateley Wareing LLP

Barrister of the year: Christopher Bright of No 5 Chambers 

Law firm of the year (15 partners or fewer): The John Hughes Law Practice 

Law firm of the year (16 partners or more): Martineau