A McDonald's franchisee who has created thousands of jobs in the West Midlands, a champion of apprenticeships and a local TV stalwart are among the business figures to be recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
Doug Wright, Rob Colbourne and Bob Warman have all been named in the 2022 list alongside stars of sport and screen, politicians, community champions and members of the emergency services.
The award for Mr Warman is particularly apt as he announced in April that he would be making his final news broadcast on ITV on July 4 after half a century of service.
Mr Wright has been awarded an MBE for services to the economy and charity.
He started his working life as a 16-year-old cleaner earning 93p per hour at McDonald's in Bedford but has gone on to amass a stable of 21 restaurants across Birmingham, Staffordshire and the Black Country as a franchise operator since 2002.
They now employ over 2,000 staff and contribute more than £44 million each year to the regional economy. He is also a member of the board at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and is a mentor to those at the start of their careers.
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He is a champion of inclusion and diversity, a supporter of grassroots football by providing kit and equipment to 18 local teams and advised business during the pandemic on issues such as furlough and managing staff.
His charity work includes a six-year stint as chairman of Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham and he is a West Midlands Deputy Lieutenant.
Mr Wright, 57, said: "I am very grateful to get such a national honour. What makes it even more special is that it's in the jubilee year. I'm really proud that my entrepreneurial and philanthropic approach has been recognised by somebody.
"Thank you to everybody who has worked for me and supported my charitable efforts. Without your support, we couldn't help people in the West Midlands."
Chamber chief executive Henrietta Brealey added: "Doug has made, and continues to make, a phenomenal contribution to the business, civic and charitable communities of the West Midlands.
"I know many across the region, whether it be those at Ronald McDonald House that he's helped drive incredible fundraising support for, the entrepreneurs he's mentored, the communities he's engaged with, his fellow board members at the chamber or his own team within his business, will be delighted to see him recognised with this great honour."
Mr Colbourne, 52, has been awarded an OBE for services to skills and apprenticeships.
He has been the chief executive of Performance Through People for 18 years, a West Midlands training provider which works with employers to train staff and apprentices in fields as diverse as dental nursing and engineering.
In addition, he is also a member of the Ladder campaign which has been creating jobs across the region by matching up apprentices with employers and training providers.
He is part of the partnership team which launched and ran the Ladder for Greater Birmingham initiative which has created thousands of new roles across the two areas.
A key element of the campaign, which is run in partnership BusinessLive publisher Reach plc, is an annual apprenticeship awards which has recognised the tireless work of employers and training providers as well as celebrating the next generation of apprenticeship stars.
He previously worked as a training manager for both Walsall Chambers of Commerce and Debenhams and has chaired a number of boards such as the Association of Employment and Learning Providers in the West Midlands, the Staffordshire Provider Network and more recently the Greater Birmingham LEP Education & Skills Board.
Mr Colbourne has also represented training providers in groups such as Wordskills, Ofsted and the government’s National Provider Panel.
He also coached young players at a cricket club in the village of Pelsall for several years and organised for a defibrillator to be available at the pitch.
Mr Colbourne said: "I am really humbled with this award and extremely grateful to have been nominated.
"The work I have done with education and skills over 30 years, or the coaching in the community, has been hugely satisfying with contributions from many for any success I may have achieved, be it at Performance Through People, the Ladder or at the cricket club - they know who they are.
"My biggest thrill will be breaking the news to my parents who will be immensely proud."
Bob Warman has been awarded a MBE for services to broadcasting and journalism in the West Midlands.
The 75 year old is one of the country's longest-serving TV news broadcasters and a veteran of the West Midlands media community, having first started work at what was ATV in April 1973 and going on to become a firm fixture of the ITV Central News show ever since.
He has covered major stories including the Birmingham pub bombings and the closure of the MG Rover plant in Longbridge.
Following an early career as a local newspaper reporter on the Walsall Observer and the Birmingham Post and Mail, his broadcasting work started on Radio Birmingham before switching mediums to TV.
He also spent three years in the 1970s with Yorkshire Television during which time he presented Britain's first breakfast programme Good Morning Calendar in 1977.
In 1979, he returned to Associated Television which then became Central News in 1982, and even hosted the Sky TV version of The Price Is Right.
Alongside his media career, he runs a PR company, has been widely commended for services to many local charities including Acorns Children's Hospice and is president of the Birmingham Press Club.
