Community
Press
News & opinion
Lawrence is an active contributor to a range of national, regional and specialist media publications and is regularly approached for comment on topics including politics, business, skills and education, and equalities. Here you can find a selection of his recent articles and news coverage.
- Commentary
- 18
- In the news
- 74
- Since
- 2019
Most recent · 24 May 2025 · Rayo
Birmingham Pride returns with biggest parade yet
Showing 92 articles
Community
Community
Community
Community
Community
09 May 2023 ITV Central
Brummies brave hours of rain to watch the coronation of King Charles III in Centenary Square
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Community
06 Mar 2023 BBC Politics Midlands
Lawrence discusses anti-knife laws on BBC Politics Midlands
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Business
03 Feb 2023 BBC Midlands Today
Lawrence discusses business listening events on BBC Midlands Today
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Business
03 Feb 2023 BBC Newsnight
Lawrence discusses impact of strike action on BBC Newsnight
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Birmingham
25 Jan 2023 BirminghamLive
Plans to ban cars from parts of city centre in bold new Southside cafe culture proposals
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Community
23 Jan 2023 OK!Magazine
Watch: Beyoncé’s Movements During Dubai Concert Spark Rumors She Recently Underwent Foot Surgery
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Community
04 Jan 2023 BirminghamLive
211 fined in Gay Village as cars cover pavements on 'lawless' street in Birmingham
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Community
25 Nov 2022 ITV Central
Why some Birmingham bars are boycotting the World Cup over Qatar's LGBT stance
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Community
22 Nov 2022 BirminghamLive
Why the BirminghamLive masthead is getting a rainbow makeover for the World Cup
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Community
Community
18 Nov 2022 BirminghamLive
Birmingham LGBT clubs and venues will boycott World Cup 2022 - as Pride director says he's 'outraged'
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Birmingham
14 Nov 2022 Birmingham Live
A champion of Birmingham's nightclubs and bars during the night is named
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Community
Birmingham
11 Nov 2022 I Am Birmingham
Pride director Lawrence Barton appointed as Birmingham’s first Night-Time Economy Champion
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Birmingham
10 Nov 2022
Birmingham City Council appoints nightlife business leader as ground-breaking Night-Time Economy Champion
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Business
Community
02 Nov 2022 Birmingham Live
Shameful homophobic incidents still show 'struggle for equality far from over' - Pride chief
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Birmingham
11 Sep 2022
Lawrence Barton opens proceedings at the proclamation of King Charles III in Birmingham
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Business
19 Aug 2022 Birmingham Live
Save our nightclubs plea - hospitality boss calls for 'immediate' action to save struggling sector
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Birmingham
01 Jun 2022 BBC Today on BBC Radio 4
Interview with Lawrence Barton talking about Birmingham's preparations for the Platinum Jubilee
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Birmingham
25 Nov 2021 Gay Times
Birmingham Pride announces “biggest” celebration yet for 25th anniversary
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Birmingham
25 Nov 2021 ITV News
Steps to headline Birmingham Pride's 25th anniversary as 'fight against injustice' continues
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Business
Community
11 Oct 2021 BBC Midlands Today
Lawrence Barton, Director of Birmingham Pride, is interviewed on the recent attacks in Birmingham's gay village
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Community
20 Sep 2021 Birmingham Mail
Birmingham LGBT community must 'stand together' in face of rising homophobic attacks
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Community
29 Aug 2021 The Guardian
Spate of attacks across UK sparks fear among LGBTQ+ community
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Business
20 Aug 2021 Yahoo! Finance
'16 months of hell': UK clubbing industry braces for COVID passports
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Birmingham
08 Aug 2021 BBC News
Pop-up vaccination centre opens at The Nightingale Club in Birmingham
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Birmingham
06 Aug 2021 ITV News
Birmingham's oldest LGBT club becomes 'country's first nightclub Covid vaccine centre,' says owner
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Birmingham
30 Jul 2021 ITV News
Birmingham's oldest LGBT club becomes 'country's first nightclub Covid vaccine centre,' says owner
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Business
Business
21 Jul 2021 BBC News
Covid: Sutton Coldfield restaurant 'lost £100k' due to isolating staff
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Birmingham
16 Jul 2021 Culture Central
West Midlands Music Board launches to boost post-pandemic recovery of region’s music industry
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Birmingham
21 Jun 2021 Access All Areas
West Midlands Music Board Launched to Boost Recovery of Region's Music Industry
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Birmingham
01 Jun 2021 Metro
Birmingham becomes third city in UK to charge owners of older cars to drive through centre
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Birmingham
31 May 2021 Sky News
'Shockingly bad': Businesses condemn timing of introduction of Birmingham clean air zone
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Business
03 Mar 2021 BBC Midlands Today
Lawrence is interviewed on the implications of the Chancellor’s Budget on the UK’s hospitality industry
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Birmingham
Birmingham
25 Feb 2021 ITV News
Covid: Birmingham Pride to go ahead following announcement of lockdown roadmap
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Birmingham
24 Feb 2021 LBC
Reading and Leeds festivals to return for 2021 following 'roadmap' announcement
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Business
Birmingham
17 Jan 2021 Birmingham Live
'We will survive' - how City entertainment zone can't wait to welcome Alan Carr back with open arms
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Birmingham
14 Jan 2021 Birmingham Live
Legendary city nightclub the Nightingale offers venue to NHS as covid vaccination centre
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Birmingham
Community
12 Nov 2020 BBC Midlands Today
Lawrence discusses knife crime on BBC Midlands Today
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Birmingham
07 Sep 2020 BBC Midlands Today
Business owner discusses terrible knife attacks in city centre
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Business
Community
Birmingham
07 Jul 2020 Express and Star
Long road to recovery for sector and economy, says hospitality boss
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Birmingham
06 Jul 2020 The Gay UK
Birmingham gay pub says Saturday’s takings “in line” with an average weekend
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Business
06 Jul 2020 Express and Star
Lawrence Barton urges hospitality industry to "remain vigilant"
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Birmingham
Skills
01 Jul 2020 Daily Express
Government issued with urgent warning over Britain falling behind in one job industry
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Community
23 Jun 2020 BBC Radio 4
Lawrence highlights the devastating impact of Coronavirus on the apprenticeships sector
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Business
05 Jun 2020 ITV Central
INTERVIEW: How will our nightclubs survive in a world of social distancing?
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Birmingham
05 Jun 2020 Midlands What's On
Lawrence Barton appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands
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Community
28 May 2020 Birmingham Pride
Festival Director, Lawrence Barton, delivers Pride update
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Community
Community
Business
07 May 2020 Comment Central
Our European neighbours offer a vision of a more enlightened lockdown approach
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Skills
Skills
15 Apr 2020 FE News
Apprenticeship tutors step-up for frontline service to ensure Birmingham NHS Nightingale Hospital remains operational
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Birmingham
06 Apr 2020 WMCA
Adult education providers adapt training to help learners during Covid-19 outbreak
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Community
01 Apr 2020 The Gazette
Lawrence Barton appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands
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Skills
31 Mar 2020 FEWEEK
Supplier relief: Deal to pay private training providers with no course delivery for next three months
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Skills
Business
Business
Birmingham
25 Feb 2020 Birmingham Live
Cheryl to headline 'biggest and best yet' Birmingham Pride 2020
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Birmingham
Skills
22 Jan 2020 FE News
£1.2 billion wasted on ‘fake apprenticeships’ - Sector Response to EDSK 'Runaway Training' report
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Skills
Skills
12 Nov 2019 FENEWS
Labour plans to “throw open the door” for adult retraining and education.
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Skills
Skills
Skills
Skills
03 Sep 2019 Ed Exec
Association of Colleges gives cautious welcome to chancellor’s FE funding boost.
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Skills
02 Sep 2019 FENEWS
Chancellor announces £400 million investment for 16-19 year olds’ education - Sector Response
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Skills
31 Aug 2019 FEWEEK
Association of Colleges gives cautious welcome to chancellor’s FE funding boost
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Skills
14 Aug 2019 FE News
College Assistant Principal to join Lawrence Barton's apprenticeships firm
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Skills
02 Aug 2019 FE News
Lawrence Barton comments on Government appointment for Further Education and Skills
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Skills
02 Aug 2019 FEWEEK
Williamson has his work cut out if he’s to get Britain’s skills system up to scratch
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Skills
08 Jul 2019 FENEWS
Boris Johnson pledges £100 million “retraining fund” to boost #apprenticeships and vocational qualifications
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Skills
Community
28 May 2019 Birmingham Mail
Birmingham Pride parade declared BIGGEST in event's 22-year history
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Skills
26 May 2019 FEWEEK
Devolved budget could drag adult education out of the doldrums
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Community
Community
04 May 2019 I am Birmingham
National Express gets city transport rainbow-ready ahead of Birmingham Pride
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