Business News

A Wolverhampton business has announced multi-million-pound expansion plans following support from City of Wolverhampton Council’s business growth team.

Metal Spraying (UK) Limited (MSUK Group), a privately-owned Bilston-based manufacturer and distributor of construction and scaffolding products, has acquired Cannock-based Scaffolding & Construction Products Limited (SCP) from Alumasc PLC.

The MS UK Group, located in Meadow Lane, was established by Wolverhampton-born entrepreneur Ranjit Dale in 1999, and its acquisition of SCP creates one of the largest independently owned distribution specialists for construction products in the UK with a combined turnover of £20 million.

Dale said: “We’ve worked closely with Alumasc for almost 20 years and have made this investment to safeguard jobs and ensure long-term certainty of supply for the construction industry.

“SCP is a perfect fit with the range of products we produce at MS UK Group, and, together, we plan to expand the range of products and services we offer to help our customers improve performance.

“Our growth plans for the next five years will also generate additional business and employment opportunities in the Wolverhampton area, and we are grateful to City of Wolverhampton Council for the support they have shown for this venture.”

The council is providing business support through ERDF-funded programme AIM (Black Country Advice Investment and Markets), helping with growth potential, inward investment, and market development.

AIM pools the resources of the four Black Country local authorities, University of Wolverhampton, and Black Country Chamber of Commerce, to provide specialist consultancy to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) via the Black Country Growth Hub.

City of Wolverhampton Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Bilson, said: “It is excellent news for the city and the Black Country, in terms of investment and jobs, to see Metal Spraying (UK)’s growth.

“It demonstrates the business environment in Wolverhampton remains buoyant.

“There is an excellent business support structure in the Black Country accessed through a wide-range of partners and programmes such as the AIM programme.”

A multitude of issues have the potential to force a landlord to deduct money from a tenant’s deposit to pay for repairs, with a new study revealing broken furniture to be the most common cause of all.

Breaks to chairs, tables and other items are the most common reason behind landlords withholding cash from a deposit return, with 29 per cent of tenants claiming to have experienced this.

Marks on the walls have led to a deduction for 24 per cent of tenants, while 21 per cent of those renting a home have been penalised for carpet stains, 12 per cent for redecorations and nine per cent for the presence of mould.

Allison Thompson, managing director at property specialist Leaders, says: “Deposits are essential for landlords as they provide security that any damage caused by tenants can be repaired at no financial loss.

“However, deposit deductions can cause disputes between landlords and tenants, so it is important to understand what causes them and how both parties can reduce the likelihood of such issues occurring.”

Leaders’ figures for its managed tenancies show that just over 45 per cent of tenant deposits are subject to a deduction at the end of the tenancy, but less than three per cent of those progress to a dispute.

Allison adds: “The figures clearly underline the benefit to landlords of using a professional letting agents as, if a tenancy is well managed with a detailed inventory drawn up and a proper check in and check out process, there is a much smaller chance of a dispute over the deposit arising when a tenant moves out.

“In a typical month just 2.9 per cent of our deposit returns result in a dispute, while 33.5 per cent are returned in full and a further 41.5 per cent are returned after a partial deduction.

“Disputes are less likely to arise because of the thorough inventory and schedule of condition that we draw up at the start of the tenancy and the comprehensive checkout we undertake at the end. Any loss or damage to the landlord’s property that may occur during the tenancy can be easily detected and the necessary evidence provided to support a claim from the deposit. This is just one of the ways in which we minimise risk for landlords.”

For more information or advice on letting a property or holding a deposit contact your local Leaders branch.

For the third year running, Sandwell Council has published details of the borough’s 50 fastest-growing businesses – giving a snapshot on firms that employ more than 6,500 people and have a combined revenue of £1.5 billion.

The Top 50 list celebrates the companies’ achievements, as well as the economic contribution they make to the West Midlands.

The Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies Index 2017 was released with a networking breakfast at The Hawthorns in West Bromwich yesterday (Thursday 27 July), where representatives from nearly 100 businesses and partners gathered in celebration of Sandwell’s latest success stories.

The index lists the 50 top-ranked companies in Sandwell in terms of rate of growth in turnover.

Collectively the companies employ 6,500 people and have a combined revenue of £1.5 billion.

Twenty-seven of the 50 companies listed have shown growth of 10% or more in the past year. The 12 fastest growing companies have enjoyed growth of 20% or more, while the highest revenue growth rate – from transport operator Diamond Bus – is 44%.

More than half of these businesses are engaged in manufacturing, while 22% operate in the wholesale and retail sector.

Transport and haulage contractor Sheldon Clayton Logistics is at number 43 in the index with a solid 3.8 per cent growth in turnover.

The West Bromwich company started life around 40 years ago, servicing the North Sea oil boom. Today its strategy of “better business not more business” helps maintain stability and steady growth even through times of economic difficulty.

“We are a tough lot in the Black Country,” said group chairman and founder David Sheldon, referring to the entrepreneurial spirit of the region.

Councillor Steve Eling, Leader of Sandwell Council, said the UK’s economic and political circumstances are making trading tougher than usual and that the companies that made this year’s Top 50 index should feel prouder than ever.

“The success of Sandwell’s Top 50 can only reflect hard work, great leadership, commitment and foresight.

“Their growth also demonstrates Sandwell’s position as a profitable place in which to operate. Our borough is ideally located at the heart of England and well connected by road, rail and air. We have a highly skilled workforce and a strong heritage of manufacturing,” he said.

“The wider West Midlands’ spirit of innovation has always helped us ride out waves of political and economic uncertainty.”

At the networking event, local business people networked with like-minded professionals (including representatives from the Top 50), made new contacts and heard from Sandwell Council about its work to support local businesses, and its vision for the future of the borough.

House prices across the UK continue to head upwards, with the latest figures showing there was a 4.7 per cent increase in the year to May.

The Office for National Statistics said the average price of a property in the country now stands at £221,000, up by about £10,000 in comparison with the same month in 2016.

However, the results also showed a significant disparity in the levels of growth being achieved in certain regions, although all parts of the UK once again recorded an increase in values during the year in question.

The east of England enjoyed the most rapid rises in house prices in the year to May, with a typical property adding 7.5 per cent. It was closely followed by the East Midlands (7.2 per cent), while the south-west (5.5 per cent) and the West Midlands (5.3 per cent) also saw large gains.

In the north-east, house prices increased by 1.6 per cent, while the figure was only three per cent in London.

Kevin Shaw, national sales director at property specialist Leaders, says: “Although a 4.7 per cent annual rise in the year to May was slightly down on the 5.3 per cent growth recorded in April, it proves the UK housing market is robust and continuing to grow at a reasonable pace.

“The regional variation in evidence in the market right now is particularly intriguing. A variety of factors – including wage growth, buyer demand and inflation – are having a differing impact in certain locations and mean the experience of selling a home varies greatly depending on where you live.

“That is why I believe it is incredibly important for people to work with a local estate agents that has great understanding and insight into the relevant town and region.

“It is also wise to set a realistic asking price for a property in order to maximise interest and increase the chance of achieving a quick sale at a great price. Sellers should be wary of using estate agents that promise inflated figures simply to win their business and instead trust those that recommend an attractive but realistic price.”

All of Leaders’ 124 branches across the UK are staffed by local experts and offer a dedicated, tailored service to those looking to sell their home.

For more information on selling or buying a property contact your local Leaders branch or visit leaders.co.uk.

Lead international concert industry and trade body, Pollstar, has released its 2017 mid-year results, with the City of Birmingham selling the second highest number of event tickets in the world, compared to other arena city counterparts.

In the ‘Mid-Year Worldwide 2017 Ticket Sales Top 200’, Birmingham’s Genting Arena achieved eighth place, and Barclaycard Arena 12th, with their combined ticket sale figures out-performing other arena cities including Glasgow, Cologne, Mexico City and New York for events played between January and June.

Head of Sales for the NEC Group Arenas, Ian Congdon, said: “This is a time of considerable growth for the NEC Group Arenas.  We are now selling for a wider range of events - everything from Céline Dion, G-Dragon, and Stone Sour to HelloWorld and the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships- and these results reflect the efforts of the whole team here, to book and deliver innovative and world class content.

“To have both our venues in the top 20 proves that there is the demand to sell for two arena venues in Birmingham, and that the city continues to be a destination of choice for live event goers.”

Nicola Hewitt, Commercial Director for Visit Birmingham, the city’s leisure tourism programme, added: “More than three-quarters (76%) of recent visitors to Birmingham agree that the city is a great place for music, gigs and concerts - and that’s testament to the quality and variety of shows on offer here throughout the year.

“Birmingham continues to attract record tourist numbers, with more than 39 million people choosing to visit the city in 2016 - a 17% increase over the past five years. Together with our popular cultural, retail and food scene, the NEC Group Arenas play a key role in the region’s compelling leisure offer.”

For more than 35 years, Pollstar has provided music professionals with the most reliable and accurate worldwide concert tour schedules, and ticket sales results, and maintains the world’s largest database of international concert tour information.

Business leaders in Greater Birmingham have hailed another huge step forward for the HS2 project after the award of £6.6bn worth of contracts was announced.

Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling today confirmed the contract awards that will create up to 16,000 jobs.

It means work on Phase One of the HS2 route, from London to Birmingham, will begin on schedule.

UK companies Carillion, Costain and Balfour Beatty are among the consortia who will build tunnels, bridges and embankments on the first stretch of the new high speed rail line.

In addition, the Phase Two routes to Manchester and Leeds are set to be announced later today, placing Birmingham at the heart of the national HS2 network.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce chief executive Paul Faulkner said: ““It’s great to see the main works civil contracts being awarded for Phase One of the project.

“Not only will construction of the project start on time, it will also create a raft of new jobs and supply chain opportunities for our local firms.

“We also welcome the news that the final routes for the Leeds and Manchester branches are due to be announced today.

“It means that Phase Two of the project will embed Birmingham at the heart of a modern and innovative transport network which will help rebalance the national economy and bring greater prosperity to the region as a whole.

“On a wider point, the news will only add to the air of confidence that we are seeing in the region at the moment. We will be analysing this and other key trends at our Q2 Quarterly Business Report launch event on 18 July, focusing on investment in Greater Birmingham.”

The 23rd Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair's Belt and Road Initiative as one major theme, the local fair becomes more global thanks to a string of B&R economic and trade exchange activities.

This year’s Lanzhou fair increased exchanges with countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in addition to those related with the Silk Road Economic Belt. The fair invited Nepal and Malaysia as guests of honor for the first time in its history, according to Zhang Zhengfeng, deputy secretary with Gansu Provincial Government and vice executive director of the organizing committee of the Lanzhou fair.

The Lanzhou fair attracted representatives from 36 countries and several international organizations, with 27 foreign ministerial officials and ambassadors attending the event. A total of about 32,000 people at home and abroad registered for the event.

The number of foreign guests set a record high this year, up over 30 percent year on year, making the local fair a more global event, Zhang added.

Gansu Province selected 206 major investment projects with investment volume totaling 211.6 billion yuan before the fair opened. Many of these projects were signed during the fair, with 12 percent, 30 percent and 58 percent of them being in the agriculture sector, industrial sector and tertiary sector respectively. A batch of major investment projects were signed at the closing ceremony on Monday afternoon, covering sectors in equipment manufacturing, Chinese traditional medicine, non-ferrous metal and metallurgy, modern agriculture, general health care, ecological tourism and others.

A new UK company is taking on leading cola brands with Green Cola, a revolutionary drink that offers all the great cola taste that consumers expect, without all of the bad stuff. It contains: NO sugar, NO Aspartame, NO Phosphoric Acid, NO preservatives, NO calories.

The drink is sweetened with Stevia, a natural plant extract and caffeinated with green coffee beans, which is why it's called Green Cola.

Green Cola was conceived in Greece in 2013. It has been a massive success with the Greeks and millions of British holidaymakers who pushed for it to be brought to the UK. It is being launched here by Green Room Brands, a small business setting out to make a healthy difference.

CEO Paul Woodward says: "It took over two years to perfect our cola, with literally thousands of attempts and recipe tinkering. One-by-one, we took out ingredients like aspartame, phosphoric acid and the ordinary caffeine used by mainstream brands, until we were left with a healthier cola that doesn't compromise on taste.

"There is nothing else like Green Cola on the market. Most low calorie colas contain aspartame, an artificial sweetener that many consumers have growing concerns about. This is an untapped market set to take off on the back of the sugar tax next year and we see a long-term opportunity to drive sustainable growth."

A growing proportion of landlords in the UK are opting to use the services of a professional letting agents in order to assist with the management of their property portfolio.

New figures from the National Landlords’ Association (NLA) show 61 per cent of landlords currently work with a letting agents, up from 54 per cent in the final quarter of 2016.

It noted the significant increase of seven per cent is a break from the norm, following several years in which the quota of landlords using a letting agents has remained relatively stable. The body also found there has been a 10 per cent fall in the proportion of landlords who self-manage their property in the last year.

Allison Thompson, managing director at property specialist Leaders, says: “A rising number of landlords are relying on the expertise, knowledge and resources of professional letting agents, which proves the majority of agents are delivering a great service.

“A good letting agents will help landlords to achieve the maximum possible return on their investment by setting the optimum rents, minimising any void periods, letting only to quality tenants and ensuring an efficient response to any required repairs or maintenance works.

“Just as importantly, a quality letting agents will strive to help landlords overcome the latest challenges, such as the ever-changing legislation they must comply with, the tax regulations that have recently come into effect and the uncertainties of Brexit. Professional guidance has never been so vital.

“Landlords seeking the best return while relieving themselves of many of the responsibilities of letting a property are advised to use a letting agents. However, as with any industry, it is important to work only with an experienced, reputable and trustworthy company, so landlords should choose their agents carefully.”

A number of regional variations were clear within the NLA’s results, with landlords in the north-east the most likely of any in England to use a letting agents.

Greater London, the south-west and Wales also witnessed sharp increases in the number of landlords seeking professional help with their property.

Businesses throughout the Black Country have reported a rise in domestic sales for a second consecutive quarter according to the results of a recent survey conducted by the Black Country Chamber of Commerce. Of the businesses that took part in the Q2 2017 Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), 49% reported an increase in domestic sales, amounting to a rise of 7% on the previous quarter. Furthermore, 42% of survey respondents indicated a rise in domestic orders, thereby highlighting continued prospects for future growth.

In addition, this growth in both domestic sales and orders has seen a rise in confidence amongst the region’s business community, with 70% of those having taken part in the survey anticipating that their turnover will increase over the course of the next 12 months.

Corin Crane, Chief Executive of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, commented: "Uncertainty has continued to dominate the political landscape in recent months, yet despite this businesses across the Black Country have remained steadfast in their ability to thrive under challenging conditions. The fact that almost half of businesses surveyed within the region have seen a rise in sales and orders is testament to their tenacity and great news for the economic growth of the local area.

“With the General Election having taken place and Brexit negotiations now underway, it is now important to focus on harnessing a stable environment that is conducive to the growth and development of the local business community. Therefore, over the coming months we will be working closely with our colleagues at the British Chambers of Commerce and throughout the national Chamber network to ensure that there is clarity coming from Government in relation to Brexit and the impact that will have on businesses moving forwards.”

The Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) is a survey that is conducted each quarter, the results of which contribute towards and are compiled by the British Chambers of Commerce to form one of the largest independent economic surveys of businesses in the UK.

Home owners should book in their builder at least four months before their project begins or risk working with a cowboy, new research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has revealed.

The research also shows that an alarming number of consumers don’t ask their builders for essentials such as a contract or references when embarking upon a major piece of building work.

Key statistics from the research show:

• More than 40% of builders need at least four months’ notice from consumers who want to hire their firm;
• 90% of builders say that the majority of home owners do not ask for a written contract;
• 80% of builders report that most consumers do not ask for an agreed payment schedule;
• Fewer than 10% of builders say that clients normally request to see vital insurance policies such as public liability or employer’s liability insurance

Berry concluded: “There are also indications that home owners are leaving themselves vulnerable to problems in terms of how they approach their building work. The vast majority of builders say that most clients fail to ask for references and even fewer ask for a written contract on their work. There is a similar trend when it comes to asking for critical things like an agreed payment schedule and key warranties on work, as well as checking whether the builder has any external accreditation or recognition from professional trade association like the FMB. These protections really are essential to helping clients weed out the cowboys and mitigate against any issues that could crop up during the build. A quality builder will insist on these things and if they don’t, consumers ought to question why.”

Black Country business’ is gearing up for a new and dynamic two-week Festival that will head up the annual business calendar from 2018.

The inaugural Black Country Business Festival, will take place from 23rd April to 4th May 2018.

It is set to bring the region’s business scene to life through a packed fortnight of events - all run by local organisations.

More than 100 business leaders joined the Black Country Chamber of Commerce – the driving force behind the Festival, at a prestigious launch this morning (Friday 30th June) at the Light House in Wolverhampton. They heard how the Business Festival will benefit Black Country businesses and showcase the region’s outstanding innovation, culture and commerce to ultimately attract investment from outside the Black Country.

Adrian Wright, president of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce said, “The Business Festival will provide a stage for the Black Country to showcase the unparalleled opportunity that our economy has to offer. This is a growing region that has seen massive investment. New industries have established themselves and are growing and thriving because of this commitment to regeneration.

“We now need Black Country businesses – large or small, who share the same desire to see the region reach its full thriving commercial potential to get behind the Festival and get involved.”

The Business Festival is open to everyone and there are many ways to get involved - from becoming an event partner or hosting an event to offering venue space or attending one, two or several of the events in the programme.

Any business can apply to run an event – which can take any shape from a seminar or workshop through to a trade show or major conference.

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce said, “The Business Festival will showcase the colourful range of businesses that proudly make up the Black Country.

“The events that take place will reflect the strengths of the Black Country’s sectorial business and economic mix. So, the programme will be structured to reflect the breadth of new and existing, traditional industries with a focus on key sectors that have been identified as key areas for growth.

“Every event will have one thing in common: it is being organised to ultimately benefit the people and businesses in the Black Country, to help them grow and ultimately have a positive impact on our local economy.

“There will be hundreds of opportunities for the local business community to connect, share best practice and collaborate for the benefit of the region and for their own business.”

A lack of accountability and investment in cyber-security measures has been blamed for the recent Wannacry virus that hit NHS IT systems last month, a report released today by The Chartered Institute for IT has found.

The report comes following a similar, but more limited attack that hit UK based companies.

Whilst doing the best with the limited resources available, the report suggests some hospital IT teams lacked access to trained, registered and accountable cyber-security professionals with the power to assure hospital Boards that computer systems were fit for purpose.

The healthcare sector has struggled to keep pace with cyber-security best practice and with a systemic lack of investment, ultimately, the Wannacryy attack was an, ‘inevitability’, David Evans, Director of Community & Policy at The Chartered Institute for IT says.

Mr Evans continued: “Patients should be able to trust that hospital computer systems are as solid as the first-class doctors and nurses that make our NHS the envy of the world.

“Unfortunately, without the necessary IT professionals, proper investment and training the damage caused by the Wannacry ransomware virus was an inevitability, but with the roadmap we are releasing today, will make it less likely that such an attack will have the same impact in the future.”

The Chartered Institute of IT has joined forces with the Patient’s Association, the Royal College of Nursing, BT and Microsoft to produce a blueprint that outlines steps NHS trusts should take to avoid another crippling cyber-attack. Top of the list is ensuring there are clearly laid out standards for accrediting relevant IT professionals. NHS board are being urged to ensure they understand their responsibilities, and how to make use of registered cyber security experts. And the number of properly qualified and registered IT professionals needs to be increased.

Almost 50 NHS Trusts were hit last month by the Wannacry cyber-attack. It meant computers were encrypted and unusable in many areas of the health service, with hackers threatening that valuable files would be lost forever unless a ransom was paid. It led to operations and appointments being cancelled, and patients were still being diverted from accident and emergency departments six days later.

Black Country Chamber of Commerce are celebrating BCRS Business Loans as our Member of the Week after the not-for-profit lender has received national recognition for the way in which it leads, manages and supports its people.

BCRS Business Loans, which supports businesses across the West Midlands with access to finance, has been accredited as an Investor in People after surpassing the standard for better people management set out by the body.

Sarah Moorhouse, Operations Director of BCRS Business Loans who oversaw the process, said: “We are delighted to have received Silver accreditation as an Investor in People, especially as it’s the first time BCRS has ever been through the process.

“We have worked hard to implement a new employee benefits programme, focusing on both personal and professional development, and an improved employee review system in recent years.

“Aside from operating to have a positive impact on local businesses and the regional economy, we understand the importance of supporting the very people that make it happen – our employees.”

Sarah further commented: “Being a member of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce ensures that we maintain strong links with the local business community, which is vital for us as a business loan provider.

“In particular, since joining The Platinum Group Service Sector we have been able to form strong working relationships with like-minded businesses in the local area, sharing best practice that will help to support our future ambitions for growth.”

With a range of dedicated Business Loan Funds available that provide loans from £10,000 to £150,000, BCRS Business Loans offer support for viable small and medium sized businesses that are struggling to access finance from traditional lenders. Over the course of their 15 year history, businesses throughout the region have been able to generate an extra £300 million for the local economy as a direct result of funding from the prominent regional business lender.

Their sole purpose is to provide finance to promote the growth and prosperity of local businesses. A loan from BCRS Business Loans can be used for a wide range of projects, including purchasing equipment, employing additional people, investing in marketing, working capital requirements and much more.

Black Country Chamber of Commerce wants to support businesses to grow and succeed, and Member of the Week is an initiative to celebrate the great work that our members are doing and to highlight the success stories in the local area.