Business News

Hundreds of properties in Wolverhampton that stood empty for years have been transformed into family homes thanks to the efforts of City of Wolverhampton Council. Its Empty Property Strategy, launched in 2010, has seen more than 1,000 privately-owned houses which had been left occupied – often in poor condition – brought back into use in the last five years.

A trade and investment deal being negotiated between the European Union and the United States – which is not expected to be finalised before next year – stands to bring massive benefits to the automotive industry in the West Midlands.

Business leaders in Greater Birmingham today called for additional measures from the government to support the growth of the economic recovery. This followed the announcement that GDP grew by 0.5 per cent in Q3 2015, compared with growth of 0.7 per cent in Q2. Services output increased by 0.7 per cent on the quarter, production grew by 0.3 per cent, but construction output plunged by 2.2 per cent

The arrival of HS2 in Birmingham will bring a “generation change” to the city and the wider West Midlands must start shouting more loudly and positively for itself to ensure the region is not passed over for future opportunities.

A charity which supports the life-saving work of babies and children suffering from some of the most severe immune conditions, today launches its biggest ever fundraising appeal – ‘Bubbles for the Bubble’. The Bubble Foundation UK works in partnership with the Children’s Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, and supports families from across the world out of its base at the Great North Children’s Hospital, Newcastle.

West Midlands companies with ambitions of going global or that want to expand their international reach are invited to a series of events during Export Week this November. Tickets are already being snapped up for the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) Export Week events, which run from November  9 to 13 and aim to offer advice on how to build contacts in new markets and boost export sales.

PwC in the West Midlands has welcomed 82 new recruits to its office in Birmingham, predominantly in the firm’s Tax and Assurance areas of the practice, including graduate level roles, student business placements, and undergraduate internships.

Birmingham was the national leader for approving applications to convert offices into flats under relaxed permitted development rights (PDR) between April 2014 and June 2015, refusing the fewest of any local authority outside London. These findings come on the heels of the government’s announcement that these relaxed permitted development rights will be made permanent.

Work is under way to demolish four underused maisonette blocks in Shard End to make way for 12 new family homes built by Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust (BMHT), Birmingham City Council’s award-winning house-building programme. The three-storey maisonette blocks, built in 1955, have been in low demand and are considered to be economically unviable to refurbish.

UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) West Midlands is running a masterclass on German culture and language for businesses that are looking to export to this European giant. In 2014, exports of goods to Germany from the West Midlands were worth £2.6 billion, up five per cent on the previous year, making it the region’s third largest export market.

Birmingham City Council today confirmed the appointment of two new senior officers as part of the ongoing Future Council programme. Angela Probert has been named Strategic Director for Change and Corporate Services, while the new Assistant Chief Executive (two-year fixed term contract) is Piali DasGupta.

Research reveals that local people are being priced out of their towns, as average wage earners could be looking at saving for more than 100 years to afford an average priced property where they live.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, today brought a lively debate to the IATA World Passenger Symposium in Hamburg, when interviewed live on stage by BBC correspondent Mr. Rajan Datar.

Hollywood Monster has once again lived up to its reputation as an industry titan, winning yet another award last week. The Birmingham-based signage company, led by Managing Director Tim Andrews, is celebrating after it scooped ‘The Soyang Wide Format Project of the Year’ accolade at the 2015 British Sign Awards.

England may have crashed out of the Rugby World Cup, but the West Midlands continues to fly the flag for the sport that was invented in the region. UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), which has hosted a number of exporting events in the region to mark the fact that two of the games were held at Aston Villa Football Club, has supported the production of a short film to celebrate the region’s connections to the game.

The key winner of the 12^th Solihull Chamber awards is Melanie Palmer, who is the director of the town’s Business Improvement District (BID). Melanie was named ‘Solihull Business Person of the Year’ at the awards, which took place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole last Friday.