BrumPod031: Midlands COVID Update, New iPhone Launch & 5G Expansion PLUS How To Support Local Small Businesses

In this episode, we're offering up more of a slightly shorter and snappier 'updates episode', just to give you the heads up about the latest news re. COVID19 in the Midlands, and what West Midlands Mayor's latest announcement is.

We also talk about the impact the local lockdowns and new Tier system is having on the region as a whole - with hospitality being hit quite hard yet again. 

Apple have also recently announced the new iPhone 12 series of phones, with launch happening Friday 23rd October. Why is this relevant? Because this is Apple's first foray into the realm of 5G - which can only mean that because iPhones are arguably the world's most popular phone, it is now likely that now is the time 5G sees much greater expansion of availability, meaning we will all get to benefit from what 5G can offer. Not just in the sense of faster download speeds for movies and music; but what it means for the bigger picture - i.e. enhanced capabilities for autonomous vehicles, reducing the latency/lag which is prevalent with 3G/4G technologies. Lots of exciting developments are heading our way over the next 12 months or so.

We also give a shoutout to Midlands company BCRS Business Loans, who have launched a LinkedIn challenge to encourage everyone to support local small businesses by taking part in simple challenges - from leaving a SME you've used a great review, or giving them a public shoutout on your social media - and whatever else you can think of to give a leg up to any great small, local and/or family run businesses near you that you love. It's these little things that can make such a positive impact on a small business, and they'll really thank you for it!

References from this episode:

https://twitter.com/andy4wm/status/1318616191997534214

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2020/10/750000-uk-hospitality-jobs-at-risk-survey-reveals/

https://www.bcu.ac.uk/research/collaborate-with-us/5g/how-5g-will-change-birmingham-in-real-time

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=bcrssmechallenge

Brought to you by Brummies Networking, the home of free, stripped-back business networking.

https://brummies-networking.co.uk

Brummies Networking on Twitter: @brummiesnet

BrumPod on Twitter - @brumpod

Produced by Happy Content Co. https://happycontentco.com

Twitter: @happycontentco

Music by Birocratic - birocratic.com

Twitter: @birocratic

BrumPod - The UK Small Business Podcast. BrumPod is designed for small businesses, because 2/3 of the hosts are small businesses! Our goal is to bring you topics that affect you as a fellow small business owner directly; everything from website tools and technology, changes in regulations, business networking tips, business growth; plus we talk to regular guests from all walks of life, discussing their journeys in working with small businesses to make other people’s lives easier.

BrumPod Hosts:

Richard Heathcote (Voice Over Artist) - https://www.richardheathcote.co.uk

Iwan Thomas (Business Coach) - http://www.iwanthomasassociates.co.uk

Jason Jones (Self Storage) - https://www.accessstorage.com