Chamber announces BBC radio presenter as host for Solihull Awards night
Solihull Chamber of Commerce has announced BBC West Midlands Breakfast Show presenter PJ Ellis as the host for the Solihull Awards 2024.
Well-known in the West Midlands for his entrepreneurial and philanthropic feats, PJ (pictured) is the co-founder of LoveBrum, a local charity that reaches out to Birmingham-based projects that are delivering real change to Birmingham.
PJ read Law at the University of Birmingham and then practised as a solicitor for seven years.
He set up the social media agency, Blake7, which merged with Lightbox Digital in the summer of 2018. He exited that business in July 2023.
An advocate of all things Birmingham, PJ was a founding trustee of the cancer charity, Help Harry Help Others in 2012, and was responsible for establishing, and organising, the Harry Moseley Charity Ball which raised over £230,000 in its first two years. The annual event continues to this day.
PJ then co-founded LoveBrum in 2014, which shines a light on the “hidden gem” projects of Birmingham.
LoveBrum has since funded over 300 local charitable projects addressing vital issues and serious challenges the city faces, including homelessness, serious crime, drug addiction, social injustice, art and culture, and education.
The charity has connected hundreds of volunteers and businesses along the way.
PJ has mentored entrepreneurs, helped raise over £1m worth of funding for start-up businesses, and sat on the advisory boards of the Birmingham Law Society, BPS Leaders, TedX, and the English Schools Football Association.
Having taken the stage at TedX to discuss the intricacies of unconscious bias, he is also an Associate Lecturer at Aston University and a visiting guest lecturer at BCU and Warwick Business School.
A school governor at Little Sutton Primary School, he was recently announced as the first-ever Charity Ambassador for the Birmingham Dogs Home.
Having helped raise nearly £1m for charity, PJ received a Points of Light award from the Prime Minister in 2018, which recognises outstanding UK volunteers in their community, and was selected to be a Batonbearer for the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
He is currently also working as a roving reporter for BBC Radio WM.
Speaking about hosting the awards, PJ said: “Anything celebrating local businesses, charities, community projects and individuals, always gets a massive tick from me. So, I am delighted to be involved with the upcoming Solihull Chamber Awards and cannot wait to be your host. Bring it on.”
Samantha Frampton, head of Solihull Chamber, said: “I am excited to have PJ host the awards this year. PJ himself is an award winner and as a successful business owner in his own right understands the importance of business success, recognition and the accolade being shortlisted alone brings.”
The Solihull Awards 2024 are being held on Friday, 13 September at Hilton Birmingham Metropole. For more information on the awards, tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit HERE.
