Business News

As the clocks go back tonight (Saturday) to mark the beginning of winter, the TUC is calling for better pay and conditions for night-workers – including the 264,000 workers who regularly work night shifts in the West Midlands. Analysis published by the union body reveals that 1 in 3 (33%) night-workers earn less than £10 an hour. This is despite the heightened health risks that come with night work and the disruption it causes to workers’ lives. 

The founder of a Birmingham-based charity that has helped hundreds of people to recover from alcohol and drug addiction has been named as Barclay’s 2021 National Social Entrepreneur of the Year.

Steve Dixon, who started Changes UK in Digbeth in 2009, beat off competition from all over the UK to claim the prestigious prize, with judges praising his pioneering approach to recovery that has seen 85% of the people it engages with complete rehabilitation and move on to independent living.

With less than 60 days to Christmas Day, Selfridges unveils its Christmas of Dreams theme through iconic window displays and a new campaign. 

Christmas of Dreams launches across Selfridges stores in London, Birmingham and Manchester, and on selfridges.com, with a digital campaign starring actress Jane Horrocks.

A Lichfield business is delighted to have achieved its ‘net zero’ goal ahead of target - and is now helping its clients do the same. Cocoonfxmedia is now officially carbon neutral, having undertaken a range of activities such as carbon offsetting, for example through the planting of more than 1,000 trees, giving up company cars, switching to permanent home working, going paperless – and much more.

Rishi Sunak's Spending Review and Budget announcement signals the Chancellor's leadership ambitions, Birmingham City University Associate Professor Steven McCabe has suggested.

"Chancellors delivering budgets have a tricky line to tread in trying to keep everyone happy,” he said. “The budget was, as many suspected, intended to serve multiple audiences. 

According to a newly released major economic report, Birmingham is said to be on the precipice of exciting opportunities for economic growth - despite the impacts of Covid-19 and Brexit.

The Birmingham Economic Review, published by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) and the University of Birmingham’s City-REDI, reveals promising signs for recovery across the city-region even though well-documented challenges such as talent shortages and inequality remain.

In his Budget speech, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said that the UK's spending watchdog expects the economy will return to its pre-Covid level at the turn of the year. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has lifted its prediction for economic growth in 2021 to 6.5%, up from its previous forecast of 4%. It has also reduced its estimate of the long-term effect of Covid-19 on the economy from 3% to 2%.

A storyline on BBC soap The Archers has highlighted the importance of succession planning for owners of family businesses, particularly farming businesses.

The storyline centres around Brian Aldridge who is fretting about the future of Home Farm as there is currently no one in a position to take over.

A review of the state of the nation’s workplaces reveals people who have a disability are the unhappiest at work, citing difficulties with management and wellbeing. 

People who live with a disability are 12% more likely to be a Flight Risk than those who are not disabled. 

Angus in Scotland has the biggest Mansion Gap in Britain, with the most expensive house currently for sale costing more than 72 times the price of the region’s average home, reveals research by home move platform Just Move In. £11 million Careston Castle, boasting more than 1,500 acres of land, makes the Scottish region of Angus the most unequal region in the country, costing 72 times more than the average £157,026 home in the area.

Work is set to start within weeks on the Binley Cycleway in Coventry following confirmation of £8.6 million funding. The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) board approved the money for the 6km safe cycle route - the latest in a series of cycling and walking projects due to get underway in the next few months.

The first-ever double decker hydrogen bus tour of the UK stopped off at National Express West Midlands to see the strides being made to decarbonise public transport in Birmingham.

The UK Hydrogen Roadshow, a partnership between bus manufacturer Wrightbus, hydrogen distribution firm Ryze Hydrogen, and hydrogen production company INEOS through its INOVYN subsidiary, set off from London on Monday October 18 on a 600-mile journey to Glasgow ahead of the UN’s climate conference, COP26.

More organisations have been officially recognised by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) for their work in actively promoting the health and wellbeing of their staff.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, and Councillor Izzi Seccombe, WMCA portfolio lead for Wellbeing and Leader of Warwickshire County Council, joined a virtual event at which 32 employers received accreditation for their work under the Thrive at Work scheme.

In preparation for the construction of the northern section of HS2’s Phase One route between London and the West Midlands, main works civils contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) have successfully demolished a disused bridge in Saltley near Birmingham.

The Heartlands Parkway bridge originally connected the A47 with a nearby industrial park, crossing over the busy Birmingham to Derby rail line and had been decommissioned for some time.

The Freemasons have signed the Armed Forces Covenant during a ceremony at Freemasons’ Hall in Covent Garden on 20 October led by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent.

The partnership aims to support members of the Armed Forces community and ensure they have the same access to government as well as commercial services and products as any other citizen.

A new partner has joined the Birmingham office of national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP.

Kim Klahn joins the corporate and commercial team and will advise on a broad range of corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, private equity transactions, family investment companies and general company law and corporate governance issues.