Business News

A fall in trade between the UK and EU shows SMEs are shunning EU exports, a leading Midlands tax expert is warning.

Latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows a second consecutive monthly fall in trade, with the effects of Brexit and the global pandemic resulting in the total exports of goods, excluding precious metals, falling by £1.3 billion (4.6%) in August 2021.

Commenting on the strategies, Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, said: “As the home of the green industrial revolution we are already developing the solutions to achieve our own ambitious target of becoming a net zero region by 2041.

“So, we welcome the announcement of these two new strategies in which government sets out a clear path on how the UK can reach its national net zero target by 2050.

Green jobs need to be created at 25 times the current rate if the Government is get its 440,000 new jobs target in green industries by 2030, according to new analysis by the job site Indeed. The UK’s low carbon and renewable energy economy is in the spotlight as it prepares to host the COP26 international summit on climate change in November.

The Leader of City of Wolverhampton Council has called on the Chancellor to make the future of local government funding a priority at the forthcoming comprehensive spending review. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, is due to deliver details of future Government spending plans on October 27.

Council Leader, Cllr Ian Brookfield said he wanted to see a clear commitment that enough money would be made available to councils to fund essential local services and level up their communities as the country emerges from the pandemic and after more than a decade of austerity.

The UK government, trade bodies and multinational corporations must offer greater support to smaller businesses around making the transition to green manufacturing, academics have warned ahead of COP26 and following the publication of the UK’s net zero strategy today.

Steven McCabe and Beverley Nielsen, Associate Professors at Birmingham City University and co-editors of a new book featuring contributions from leading industrialists, industry body representatives, political commentators and academics on the topic, suggest much more must be done in order to enable and support SMEs in a UK-wide switch to environmentally sensitive production across sectors.

Severn Trent is opening its doors to its state-of-the-art Academy in Coventry to provide free employability sessions to its communities to support with more people getting back into work following the pandemic. To coincide with this year's National Family Learning Festival (16-31 October) the company is launching its employability offering, and now anyone can have free access digitally or in person, to valuable skills and training to support with those needing to find work, or who’s circumstances may have changed.

A Birmingham butcher's was ordered to pay £17,181 after being pleading guilty to using a band saw without a safety guard, at Birmingham Magistrates Court. Hong Keen (Midlands) Limited, based at Unit 129 Bullring Indoor Market, Edgbaston Street, Birmingham, was prosecuted under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and fined £13,500 as well as being ordered to pay £3,500.95p costs and £181 victim surcharge.

Birmingham City Council brought the prosecution after an Environmental Health officer observed an employee using a band saw without the adjustable blade guard and the push guard tied up with an elastic band.

Kid Kreations, a British company who specialise in the design and development of childrens toys and the makers of award-winning doll brands DesignaFriend and Tiny Treasures, are thrilled to announce the launch of their brand new Sindy Play range, available now at Sainsbury’s and Argos. Following the success of the 2020 Sindy Collectors range which was aimed predominantly at the adult doll market, Kid Kreations, who are working under license with Pedigree Toys, have designed the Sindy Play range with young children at the very heart.

A young couple who were previously homeless have been handed the opportunity to buy their brand-new home for just £1 under a pioneering scheme aimed at helping key workers and others get a foot on the property ladder. The Help to Own scheme has been set up by City of Wolverhampton Council, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and fund management business Frontier Development Capital Ltd (FDC) for working families struggling to save enough deposit to fulfil their dream of home ownership.

There was a relatively even split of in-person (44 percent) and digital (56 percent) events this year, which included an interesting mix of interactive webinars and workshops as well as exclusive tours and the return of the BCBF Golf Day. 

Nearly 70 percent of attendees had not been to a business event in the 12 months leading up to the BCBF, which is a great demonstration of how the Festival has been able to bring the local business community back together after a challenging period. Interestingly, around 30percent of attendees were from outside the region, which highlights how accessible digital events are, and the benefit they bring to the programme. 

James Thomas-Horton, Commercial Director at Casino36 said “Casino36 are delighted to have been part of the BCBF 2021 again this year. The Festival has once again showcased the best the region has to offer and we are proud to be part of that.”

Over 85percent of attendees said that the events they had attended had positively impacted their business. This is more important than ever, after the difficulties faced recently. Initiatives like the BCBF provide a great opportunity to encourage inward investment and economic growth in the region. 

Corin Crane, CEO of Black Country Chamber of Commerce reflected on the BCBF said: “This year’s festival was set in a backdrop of genuine business challenges around supply chains, energy costs and staff and customer safety and it has addressed all these issues through knowledge sharing, networking and a wide range of events.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the way that businesses have once again risen to the challenge and run brilliant events across the area. Thanks to everyone who has been involved – you’ve been amazing.

“We’ll be back again next year – bigger, louder and with even more energy.” The BCBF will be returning in 2022, further information will be shared on the website.

The BCBF relies on sponsorship from organisations across the region. Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Talbots Law and Dudley Business First are Partners for 2021.There is further support from Festival sponsors Thomas Dudley, Walsall Council, Casino36, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and Sandwell Business Ambassadors.

Over 500 people attended this year’s BAME Apprentice Network Annual Apprenticeship Awards with HS2 apprentice, Bintou Keita, among those recognised as a rising star in the UK’s BAME apprenticeship community.

The event, held at the Edgbaston Cricket Club, signalled a welcome return to in-person gatherings, with organisations across the West Midlands in attendance.

The Black Country is full of exciting and innovative businesses and the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise is a great way of celebrating their success. Whether a small business with a great innovative product or service, or a larger company running an impressive social mobility programme, this award is a prestigious way to recognise your contribution to enterprise.

Shakespeare Martineau’s Birmingham office has supported engineering and manufacturing company Avingtrans plc with its £2.5m participation in a £12.9m fund raise by emerging medtech leader Adaptix.

In return for the investment and post the closing of the fund raise, Avingtrans – which designs, manufactures and supplies critical components, modules and systems to the energy, medical and industrial sectors – will own approximately 5.9% of the total issued share capital of Adaptix, which focuses on transforming radiology by allowing low-cost, low-dose 3D portable imaging.

An instore scheme to help wilko customers recycle their masks has proved so successful that the home and garden retailer will further extend it until the end of the year. The scheme, which allows shoppers to drop off used, disposable face masks so that they can be recycled, will now be in place until the end of December 2021.

This further extension of the scheme, following an initial three-month pilot in April, sees the service remain in place at the retailer’s original 150 participating stores. 

To celebrate CISI Financial Planning Week 2021, wealth manager Charles Stanley is offering free one-hour consultations with a financial planner. Advisers in the Birmingham office will be on hand to help people understand how they can achieve financial wellbeing and identify what steps they need to take to help reach their future goals. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused much disruption to consumer personal finances, working patterns and the wider economy.

The 2021 seasonal hiring spree is failing to live up to Christmases past as employers struggle to attract candidates amid a glut of jobs, according to new analysis by the world’s largest job site Indeed. With official data recording that there were 1.1 million vacancies in the three months to September[2], Indeed’s research reveals the huge challenge faced by employers battling to hire extra staff in the run-up to Christmas.