Business News

Hundreds of workers across the West Midlands are being given the opportunity to upskill thanks to a new initiative by The Black Country & Marches Institute of Technology (IoT). Companies can now access specialist training for members of staff aged 19+ on one of three Level 4 technical courses in Automated Machining, Robotics and Quality Assurance.

Midlands housing association, Nehemiah Housing has kicked off 2022 by recruiting a new member of staff for a key role within the organisation.

Marcia Cunnison has been appointed to the role of Customer Engagement Officer. She brings to the role an extensive background totalling over 25 years in customer service, 13 years in quality management and six years in both the social and private housing arena.

Full service content marketing agency, HDY Agency has welcomed fine jewellery, luxury cufflinks, and accessories brand, Deakin & Francis, to its portfolio of clients after winning a competitive pitch process.

As Britain's oldest family jeweller - established in 1786 in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter - Deakin & Francis has forged a name for itself as a leading manufacturer of ladies’ fine jewellery, and gentlemen’s luxury accessories.

A new podcast series that delves into the stories of some of the region’s leading and up-and-coming CEOs has been launched by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce today.

CEO Stories is hosted by Henrietta Brealey, who last year became the youngest chief executive in the Chamber’s history.

XPO Logistics, Inc. has announced that Troy Cooper has stepped down from his role as president, effective December 27, 2021. Mr. Cooper will continue working with the company as a senior advisor through June 30, 2022.

“With the spin-off of GXO earlier this year, and in light of the progress we’ve made transforming XPO into a pure-play transportation company, Troy and I agreed this was a natural time for him to step down,” said Brad Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer.

A convenience store in Northumberland Park has been issued with a three-month licence suspension after council Trading Standards officers found that it sold alcohol to a minor and stocked illegal tobacco and alcohol products.

Tiger Food & Wine on Lordship Lane will also have to fulfil a string of extra conditions once the licence is restored.

A new consumer behaviour change campaign named ‘Planet Pledge’ is inviting every household in the UK to sign up to a 66-day environmental pledge starting on 17th January with the ambition of encouraging long-term pro-planet habits that will get the nation to net zero as much as two years before the Government’s 2050 target.

The campaign is based on research revealing that 79 per-cent of people in the UK would like to do more at home to tackle climate change but can’t get into the habit of doing so.

Two thirds of professionals have stated that they will actively be seeking work in the New Year – with 59% feeling ‘very confident’ about job opportunities in their sector, despite fresh calls from the Prime Minister to work from home.

Contrary to popular belief that the Great Resignation has already taken place in the height of the pandemic, recruitment firm Robert Walters believes that a large majority of white-collar workers have in fact held on to their jobs in anticipation of their December bonus and January pay rise.

Every UK household will have to pay extra on their energy bills in 2022 – just to pick up the tab for more than £130m of FREE energy given out by Britain’s biggest energy failure.

That’s according to Bill Bullen, Founder and CEO of Utilita Energy, who has slammed Bulb’s strategy of giving new customers a £50 free energy credit – and another £50 to friends who referred them – in a bid to drive growth.

The demolition and redevelopment of an outdated housing estate in north Coventry is underway following the completion of a £1 million investment by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

Houses off Milverton Road on the Wood End estate are being knocked down in order to pave the way for developer Keepmoat Homes to build 94 high quality new homes on the 5.5 acre site, of which 20 will be available for social rent in partnership with Citizen Housing.

Network Rail has completed upgrades to the railway between Euston, the Midlands and the North West over Christmas. From Friday 24 until Wednesday 29 December, hundreds of railway engineers carried out vital work on the railway.

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has awarded £9 million funding for job training packages aimed at getting unemployed residents back into work quickly to support the region’s post Covid-19 economic recovery.

The funding will be delivered through the Sector Based Work Academy Program (SWAP) and is designed to quickly train up people with the skills the region’s businesses need in sectors such as care, construction and warehousing.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), which is headquartered in Edgbaston, has unveiled a new COVID Workplace Champion scheme. The scheme seeks to recognise those who have continually gone above and beyond to keep their colleagues safe during the pandemic. Nominations are being sought to recognise those individuals who have not only made their workplaces safe, but in doing so indirectly protected hundreds of thousands of people and their families.

RoSPA, known for its prestigious health and safety awards which impact on the working lives of more than seven million employees, is now seeking to highlight the contributions of those who have used their expertise, passion and unwavering commitment to help limit the transmission of COVID in workplaces.

Errol Taylor, RoSPA’s Chief Executive, said: “We know only too well the huge effort that has been required to keep workplaces functioning over the past 18 months. We also realise that this vital work must continue for the foreseeable future. Importantly, for each and every one of us, there are COVID Workplace Champions out there and this recognition scheme is for them. We simply want to say thank you, and keep up the great work!

“All businesses and organisations, big or small, have people who are working tirelessly to keep us safe - and often do so in the background and with little or no recognition. This is why we want to say to them: we see you; and we want to celebrate you.

“Making a nomination is free and anyone from a CEO to a caretaker can be put forward as a COVID Workplace Champion. We would like to see nominations from all sectors, irrespective of whether they are small businesses or large multinationals, from the public or the private sector, it’s time to show our gratitude to the people who are keeping us safe every day.”

Anyone can nominate a colleague or someone in their professional network, who they think deserves praise for keeping employees COVID safe during the pandemic. It is completely free of charge to nominate someone and RoSPA welcomes submissions from anywhere in the world.

Successful nominees will receive a certificate and will be invited to attend a celebratory event in 2022.

Worcester based business founder Lorri Delahunty the founder of VEGAN Happy Clothing has been named as Entrepreneurial Spirit Winner for the Midlands at this year’s Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

In partnership with Starling Bank, the ceremony was held at Grosvenor House in London recently and saw 159 entrepreneurs across the UK recognised for their entrepreneurial stories and achievements over the last year.

2021 is a special year for BSA, as they celebrate 50 years in the business. They are known for their extensive experience and expertise in the fire safety and security sectors. 

The company ‘BSA Security and Fire’ was started by Tony Willert in 1971 operating as part of a division of ‘Willert Electrical’. Starting his days working as an apprentice for ‘Lowestoft Electrical’ he later decided to go it alone, working from his garage at home and doing jobs from his estate van. 6 years later he bought his first business premises and to add to the growth, a couple of permanent staff member’s.

Severn Trent has issued a reminder to customers that teams will be on hand to fix burst pipes and unblock sewers this festive season.   

Rob Taylor, who will be working on Christmas Day in Severn Trent’s control centre, making sure any leaks or burst pipes are dealt with, explains: "Christmas time is no different for us - we’re here to help with any water or sewage issues that happen over the festive period.