Business News

Businesses are being urged to have their say in a survey to inform City of Wolverhampton Council’s new business support programme. The council is keen to understand in more detail the sort of support measures that will be of most help in overcoming the current economic challenges and enable them to thrive in the future.

The IoD (Institute of Directors) has launched a major initiative to highlight and support the UK’s thriving Asian business community.

The British Asian Business Community Special Interest Group (SIG) is led by insurance broker Abid Khan, chair of IoD Coventry and Warwickshire. Businesses led by ethnic-minority entrepreneurs contribute £74 billion a year to the UK economy according to a report by OPEN, a London-based think-tank that focuses on migration and diversity issues.

FlyBe – which has just stopped operation and gone bankrupt - was the largest independent regional airline in Europe before 2019 It has 1931 staff. For anyone whose ticket was paid for on American Express, Diners Club, Discover, VISA, or MasterCard, are advised to contact their card issuer and dispute the charge – and get a refund.

The City of Wolverhampton Council has been backed for the way it manages public funds by independent auditors. An annual report into the council’s financial statements has revealed it provides value for money with strong governance procedures in place and no significant weaknesses over its financial sustainability.

The chief executive of Manchester City Council Joanne Roney was in Birmingham this week, urging the city’s business community go get behind Manchester’s calls for the government to provide a high-quality link between the Midlands Engine and the Northern Powerhouse.

Speaking at an exclusive Downtown in Business event at the EY offices in the heart of Birmingham city centre Roney said:

The head of the Windrush inquiry has expressed disappointment after the home secretary confirmed the government was dropping three key commitments made in the wake of the Windrush scandal.

Suella Braverman said that she will not be implementing all of the accepted recommendations from a review into how the scandal unfolded, including establishing a migrant's commissioner.

Birmingham based global content marketing agency, HDY Agency, has bolstered its creative team with the appointment of award winning Creative Director Jon Sharp.

Sharp brings 17 years of top tier talent to HDY, specialising in branding and advertising. Sitting on the leadership team at HDY, Jon will be responsible for a studio team of 15 combining art directors, copywriters, designers, motion graphics and an in-house video production team.

New homes provider Bromford is sharing some of the top reasons why Shared Ownership is an ideal option for property seekers on a budget when compared to private renting.

Shared Ownership gives first-time buyers and those who do not currently own a property the opportunity to secure a new build home with Bromford. Homebuyers pay a mortgage on the share they own, and pay rent on the remaining share, meaning only a smaller deposit is required.

The recently appointed government minister, Gillian Keegan MP, has been confirmed as the latest keynote speaker at the Downtown in Business ‘Change Makers Live 2023’ national conference. She has been confirmed as the latest keynote speaker at the national conference, which takes place at the award-winning Spine Building in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter on Thursday 2nd March.

The ground-breaking Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) transport system is to be showcased on the streets of Coventry as part of a real-world testing programme following the approval of funding by regional transport bosses.

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Board today agreed the first instalment of an expected £72 million investment in the emerging VLR technology – designed to be both faster and cheaper to build than traditional tram and rail systems.

Professor Alex de Ruyter, political economist and Director of the Centre for Brexit Studies at Birmingham City University has said that a move by UK Gov to revise or erase EU legislation is represents an erosion of individual freedoms fundamental to democracy. The academic’s comments follow the passing of the controversial ‘post-Brexit bonfire plan’ bill in the House of Commons last night.

Businesses in Greater Birmingham are demonstrating resilience against a host of economic challenges – with many predicting an upturn in profits during 2023, according to a new report released. Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Business report for Q4 reveals “cautious optimism” across the region – despite the impact of the war in Ukraine, unprecedented cost pressures and ongoing recruitment challenges.

New homes provider Bromford is encouraging West Midlands homebuyers to get financially fit in 2023, by sharing its top tops on how to get mortgage ready. Bromford has teamed up with independent financial advisors Mortgage Advice Bureau to offer new property seekers helpful advice on how to get mortgage ready before buying a home, helping first-time buyers to take their first steps onto the property ladder. 

A judging panel featuring some of the region’s most respected leaders and entrepreneurs will select the winners of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s 2023 awards.

Ahead of the Chamber’s annual dinner and awards, which take place at the ICC on 16 March, a panel of experts from business and the public sector has been announced to select the shortlist and winners in 12 categories. One of the sector category winners will go on to be crowned the Greater Birmingham Business of the Year.

For more than a century the scramble for oil unleashed wars, forced unusual alliances and sparked diplomatic rows. Now the world's two biggest economies are battling over another precious resource: semiconductors, the chips that literally power our daily life.

These tiny fragments of silicon are at the heart of a $500bn industry that is expected to double by 2030.

New data from leading flatshare site SpareRoom reveals that the current chaos in the UK rental market shows no sign of resolving itself, with rents in Q4 2022 reaching an all-time high yet again as housing supply continues to dwindle, with little sign of things changing anytime soon*.

In a year dominated by the cost-of-living crisis, data reveals UK rents increased by 13%, comparing Q4 2022 with Q4 2021. As of December 2022, the average UK room rent was £731**.