Jun 2009
WM Asian business stars recognised at awards ceremony
30 Jun 09 04:41 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Asian business stars recognised at awards ceremony
Birmingham Post 30 June 09
Some of the brightest stars of the Asian business community are to be recognised at an awards ceremony in Birmingham next week. The seventh annual Lloyds TSB Jewel Awards is taking place on Saturday July 11, at the NEC Hilton, celebrating talented individuals in the public and private sectors and reinforcing the Midlands reputation as a hotbed of Asian talent...
Lloyds TSB Jewel Awards Home
West Bromwich Building Society was so close to bail-out, admits chief
29 Jun 09 17:06 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
WBBS was so close to bail-out, admits chief
Birmingham Post 29 June 09
Troubled lender West Bromwich Building Society was within a “close call” of being bailed out by the taxpayer in a Dunfermline-style rescue. The full scale of the crisis facing the Black Country society and its fight for survival has been revealed by chief executive Robert Sharpe. Mr Sharpe said: “It was a close call. We could have gone the same way as Dunfermline – that was a possibility”...
Express & Star 12 Jun WBBS saved in £182m deal
B'ham Post 15 Jun Blog: Time to go local again
B'ham Post 12 Jun WBBS keeps independence
B'ham Post 12 Jun Plan to safeguard WBBS
BBC News 11 Jun WBBS in debt deal talks
Express & Star 11 Jun WBBS will have to be rescued
B'ham Post 11 Jun WBBS confirms debt deal talks
B'ham Post 8 Jun WBBS linked to rescue deal
B'ham Post 8 June Worrying times for West Bromwich
Express & Star 8 June West Brom society fears
E & S 25 May No takeover talks at WBBS says boss
B'ham Post 18 May WBBS assurances after FSA rumours
West Bromwich Building Society Home
Marston's facing potential shareholder rebellion
29 Jun 09 03:08 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Marston's facing potential shareholder rebellion
Birmingham Post 29 June 09
West Midlands pub company Marston’s could be facing a shareholder rebellion after trying to raise £176 million to buy more cheap pubs...
Express & Star 18 Jun Marston’s unveil £140m pub plan
Express & Star 22 May Marston's sees 20 % profit drop
Express & Star 15 Apr Meals & real ale boost for Marston's
Marston's plc Home page
"Scrappage" buyers can make "tidy profit" by selling new cars
29 Jun 09 02:56 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
'Scrappage' buyers can make 'tidy profit' by selling new cars
Birmingham Post 29 June 09
Consumers who buy a new car under the Government’s scrappage scheme can make a “tidy profit” by selling them immediately, according to Glass’s. It says healthy demand for certain second-hand cars coupled with low levels of availability in the used car market means buyers of new cars can cash in...
Glass's Used Car Prices Home
B'ham Post 25 Jun Scrappage scheme boosting car industry, says CBI survey
CBI 24 Jun Retail sales remain weak in June
B'ham Post 22 Jun UK car prod smallest monthly fall this yr
B'ham Post 22 Jun Crude steel production falls 21%
B'ham Post 22 Jun JLR gets Gov't empty promises
Society of Motor Manufacturers 19 Jun UK production figs
B'ham Post 20 Jun Car industry downturn bottoming out?
B'ham Post 4 Jun Steep fall in new car reg's in May
B'ham Post 25 May UK car output falls 55pc in April
B'ham Post 15 May Scrappage scheme loses shine
B'ham Post 8 May New car sales -24% lowest since '91
Research money would stop Jaguar land Rover becoming the next MG Rover
29 Jun 09 02:51 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Research money would stop JLR becoming next MG Rover
Birmingham Post 29 June 09
A deal on crucial research and development money for Jaguar Land Rover needs to be done by the end of the summer – or the firm could suffer the same fate as MG Rover. The claim from an industry expert came as bosses at JLR owner Tata Motors said job cuts were a possibility and ramped up their war of words with the government after the Midland firm announced it had made a loss of £281 million in just ten months...
B'ham Post 26 Jun JLR plans cuts after £281m losses
BBC News 26 Jun Jobs warning at JLR
B'ham Post 26 Jun Blog: JLR needs urgent Gov't support
B'ham Post 25 Jun JLR fightback clouded by strike threat
B'ham Post 24 Jun JLR night shift workers in strike threat
B'ham Post 23 Jun JLR part pioneer low carbon transport
B'ham Post 22 Jun JLR gets empty promises from Gov't
B'ham Post 11 Jun Loans 'failure' blamed for research axe
B'ham Post 8 Jun JLR 'new XJ' under a psychedelic swirl
Jaguar Land Rover Home
Tata Motors Home
Bostin Heroes proves a real comic book story
29 Jun 09 01:56 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Bostin Heroes proves a real comic book story
Birmingham Post 29 June 09
West Midland entrepreneur Donato Esposito is gearing up to release his latest online story in the Birmingham and Black Country-themed comic book series Bostin Heroes. The ‘webcomic’ has had so much success that print editions will soon be stocked in Birmingham’s legendary Nostalgia & Comics book shop...
BBC Black Country 2 Oct 08 Profile: Donato Esposito
B'ham Mail 27 Jun 08 Bostin comic book heroes flying flag
BBC BC 10 Jun 08 Ordinary people doing extraordinary
Facebook Bostin Group
iBostin Home
Bostin Heroes Home
MG Rover report is ready at last, after £16 million and four years. Let's hope it's finally worth it
27 Jun 09 18:31 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Automotive business blog
MG Rover report is ready at last, after £16 million and four years. Let's hope it's finally worth it
Blog Birmingham Post 27 June 09
David Bailey, Coventry University Business School
It was originally set up by the then DTI in 2005. Nearly four years and £16 million later, the DTI has had two name changes (BERR and now BIS), and the long-awaited MG Rover has - at last - been completed...
MG Rover report is ready at last, after £16 million and four years. Let's hope it's finally worth it
Blog Birmingham Post 27 June 09
David Bailey, Coventry University Business School
It was originally set up by the then DTI in 2005. Nearly four years and £16 million later, the DTI has had two name changes (BERR and now BIS), and the long-awaited MG Rover has - at last - been completed...
Government has MG-Rover findings
26 Jun 09 20:30 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Government has MG-Rover findings
BBC News 26 June 09
A long-awaited official report into the collapse of MG-Rover is now with the government, an MP has been told. The independent report, costing over £15m, has taken three years to compile. Some 6,000 jobs were lost when the firm went into administration...
MG Rover.org Forums
HSE urges more safety after 12 workers killed in West Midlands
26 Jun 09 16:55 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
HSE urges more safety after 12 workers killed in West Midlands
Birmingham Mail 26 June 09
Companies have been warned to put their workers’ safety first, despite new figures showing the number of people killed at work in the West Midlands has almost halved. Data from the Health and Safety Executive showed there were 12 fatal injuries reported in the region in 2008-09...
Health & Safety Executive News
Scrappage scheme boosting car industry, says CBI survey
26 Jun 09 16:27 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Scrappage scheme boosting car industry, says CBI survey
Birmingham Post 25 June 09
The Government’s scrappage scheme subsidising the replacement of old cars has given motor traders their best month for more than a year...
CBI 24 Jun Retail sales remain weak in June
B'ham Post 22 Jun UK car prod smallest monthly fall this yr
B'ham Post 22 Jun Crude steel production falls 21%
B'ham Post 22 Jun JLR gets Gov't empty promises
Society of Motor Manufacturers 19 Jun UK production figs
B'ham Post 20 Jun Car industry downturn bottoming out?
B'ham Post 4 Jun Steep fall in new car reg's in May
B'ham Post 25 May UK car output falls 55pc in April
B'ham Post 15 May Scrappage scheme loses shine
B'ham Post 8 May New car sales -24% lowest since '91
Jaguar Land Rover plans cuts after reporting £281m losses
26 Jun 09 14:51 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Jaguar Land Rover plans cuts after reporting £281m losses
Birmingham Post 26 June 09
Jaguar Land Rover made a loss of £281 million in the first 10 months after it was taken over by Indian firm Tata Motors, it emerged today. The Mumbai-based firm said it planned to cut costs drastically after reporting its first annual loss in eight years as it was hit by slumping demand and losses at the Jaguar and Land Rover unit it bought in 2008...
BBC News 26 Jun Jobs warning at JLR
B'ham Post 26 Jun Blog: JLR needs urgent Gov't support
B'ham Post 25 Jun JLR fightback clouded by strike threat
B'ham Post 24 Jun JLR night shift workers in strike threat
B'ham Post 23 Jun JLR part of pioneer low carbon transport
B'ham Post 22 Jun JLR gets empty promises from Gov't
B'ham Post 11 Jun Loans 'failure' blamed for JLR research axe
B'ham Post 8 Jun JLR hides 'new XJ' under a psychedelic swirl Jaguar Land Rover Home
Tata Motors Home
British industry fear as Corus cuts more jobs
26 Jun 09 14:12 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
British industry fear as Corus cuts more jobs
Birmingham Post 26 June 09
The steel industry has been hit by a fresh jobs blow with news that Corus is to axe over 2,000 posts following a slump in demand...
Daily Telegraph 26 Jun Corus job losses as BA staff volunteer for pay cuts
Corus Group News
DSG falls into red despite Wednesbury store boost
DSG falls into red despite Wednesbury store boost
Birmingham Post 26 June 09
Currys and PC World owner DSG International racked up losses of £140.4 million last year despite a boost from the UK’s largest electrical store in Wednesbury...
DSG International Investors
LDV-reliant warranties in crisis
26 Jun 09 13:14 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
LDV-reliant warranties in crisis
Birmingham Mail 26 June 09
A new LDV jobs crisis was signalled yesterday after more than 230 dealers and suppliers owed millions of pounds by the Birmingham factory were told no warranties would be honoured. Businesses across the UK, the majority of them totally reliant on the vanmaker, face a grim battle for survival with some individual debts of tens of thousands of pounds...
B'ham Post 25 Jun Bidders come forward for LDV
B'ham Post 25 Jun Blog: LDV bids offer some hope
B'ham Mail 18 Jun Welsh firm’s bid could save many jobs
B'ham Post 18 Jun Buyers line up to save LDV
B'ham Post 18 Jun Accelerate help for LDV suppliers
B'ham Post 17 Jun 'Up to nine' co's interest in saving LDV
B'ham Post 15 Jun Mobile phone tycoon linked to LDV
BBC News 14 Jun Tycoon's 'small interest' in LDV
B'ham Post 9 Jun Weststar lining up bid to buy LDV
Express & Star 9 Jun 4,000 jobs could go with LDV
BBC News 8 Jun LDV goes into administration
B'ham Post 8 Jun Byrne 'LDV can still be saved'
B'ham Post 8 Jun LDV applies for administration
B'ham Post 8 Jun Closure could cost Treasury £53million
B'ham Post 8 Jun Mandelson under fire over loans wait
B'ham Mail 5 Jun Weststar ‘waits for LDV to go bust’
B'ham Post 5 Jun LDV makes last-ditch plea for help
BBC News 5 Jun Lobby cancelled due to cabinet reshuffle
Express & Star 5 Jun Nightshift returns at Land Rover
B'ham Post 3 Jun Administration as LDV's rescue fails
Express & Star 3 Jun Future depends on Gov't cash
B'ham Mail 3 Jun 5 days to save 7,000 jobs
B'ham Post 3 Jun Comment: Not the time to pull the plug
B'ham Post 3 Jun Business, political and union reaction
BBC News 2 Jun Weststar pulls out of LDV rescue
Express & Star 2 Jun LDV facing the end
B'ham Mail 2 Jun LDV back into administration
B'ham Post 19 May Workers back but 20pc redundo fear
Express & Star 7 May Darlaston's relief at LDV rescue
B'ham Post Mail 6 May LDV saved with Gov't £5m loan
Express & Star 29 Apr LDV going into administration
B'ham Post Mail 29 Apr LDV timeline of events
Weststar LDV Home
Last ditch jobs plan for GKN Aldridge jobs is rejected
Last ditch jobs plan for GKN is rejected
Express & Star 26 June 09
Last ditch efforts to save a doomed West Midland vehicle components factory from closure have failed after bosses rejected a new business plan. It has today emerged that a total of 23 jobs have been axed at GKN Driveline, in Middlemore Lane, Aldridge...
B'ham Post 19 June GKN to tackle debt mountain
GKN Investor relations News
B'ham Mail 23 Feb GKN staff vow to fight closures
B'ham Post 23 Feb Open letter to Lord Mandelson
B'ham Mail 19 Feb Battle on to save plant
Walsall Advertiser 19 Feb Loss of 264 jobs
Birmingham Mail 18 Feb Strike warning
BBC News 17 Feb Plant closed, jobs axed
Times Online 17 Feb GKN cuts 550 jobs
GKN plc 17 Feb GKN restructuring plans
Water efficiency savings of £900k missed daily – survey
25 Jun 09 17:27 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Business environmental news
Water efficiency savings of £900k missed daily – survey
Birmingham Post 25 June 09
West Midland businesses are collectively missing out on combined cost savings of as much as £900,000 per day by ignoring the potential of water efficiency, sustainable business experts Envirowise have said.
B'ham Post 25 Jun Staffs firm Cauldron Cement in line for water efficiency award
Cauldron Cement Home
Water efficiency savings of £900k missed daily – survey
Birmingham Post 25 June 09
West Midland businesses are collectively missing out on combined cost savings of as much as £900,000 per day by ignoring the potential of water efficiency, sustainable business experts Envirowise have said.
B'ham Post 25 Jun Staffs firm Cauldron Cement in line for water efficiency award
Cauldron Cement Home
West Midlands road pricing debate is back on agenda
25 Jun 09 17:18 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Road pricing debate is back on agenda
Express & Star 25 June 09
A pay-as-you-drive scheme would help tackle congestion hotspots in the West Midlands, one of the region’s transport chiefs has told Parliament...
B'ham Mail 25 Jun WM hints at congestion charge
Telegraph 24 Jun Road pricing killed off by Transport Sec
Company bosses in training cash call
25 Jun 09 17:14 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Business news
Company bosses in training cash call
Express & Star 25 June 09
Business leaders in the Black Country today called for more Government action to help stave off redundancies. They want more cash for training staff. It is hoped schemes could be backed to enable medium-sized manufacturing firms to move workers from the production line to training schemes, rather than having to lay them off because of the current slump in orders.
Company bosses in training cash call
Express & Star 25 June 09
Business leaders in the Black Country today called for more Government action to help stave off redundancies. They want more cash for training staff. It is hoped schemes could be backed to enable medium-sized manufacturing firms to move workers from the production line to training schemes, rather than having to lay them off because of the current slump in orders.
Brownhills Castings lash out at Government after sales fall
Brownhills Castings lash out at Government after sales fall
Birmingham Post 25 June 09
Brownhills manufacturer Castings has axed 350 staff after pre-tax profits plunged 78 per cent last year – and pointed the finger of blame at the Government...
Express & Star 24 Jun 350 jobs go at Brownhills foundry
Financial Times 4 Jun Castings down but not out
Castings plc Home
Card chain axes 750 jobs
25 Jun 09 12:41 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Card chain axes 750 jobs
Express & Star 25 June 09
Around 750 jobs were today lost at the card chain Birthdays with the closure of 136 stores – many of them in the West Midlands. In Walsall, just one of three Birthdays stores – at the town’s Crown Wharf shopping centre – survives the cull, having been bought back from administrators by the parent company, Clinton Cards...
B'ham Mail 25 Jun Clinton step in to save 70 jobs
Brithdays Home
Ikea axes 5,000 workers
Ikea axes 5,000 workers
Express & Star 24 June 09
Scandinavian furniture giant Ikea has axed 5,000 jobs as it struggles in the toughest market in living memory. About 500 people work at its massive 185,000 sq ft superstore beside the M6 at Wednesbury...
Walsall Council staff pension black hole of £268m
24 Jun 09 11:45 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Council staff pension black hole of £268m
Express & Star 24 June 09
A £268 million shortfall has been uncovered in Walsall Council’s workers’ pension fund. The figure emerged in the authority’s newly-released draft statement of accounts and has been described as “worrying”. Despite the deficit, the annual report says the borough’s shortfall has reduced from £290 million last year. It also suggests the fund will “continue to generate” more cash...
WM Metropolitan Authorities Pension Fund Home
350 jobs go at Brownhills foundry
350 jobs go at Brownhills foundry
Express & Star 24 June 09
Metal bashing firm Castings has axed 350 staff – around a third of its workforce. The Brownhills-based company has already seen production slashed by 60 per cent over the past year. Profits have plunged from £16.7 million to just £3.6m...
Financial Times 4 Jun Castings down but not out
Castings plc Home
Bank of England economist sees easing of credit crunch
24 Jun 09 11:29 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Bank of England economist sees easing of credit crunch
Birmingham Post 24 June 09
The Bank of England sees signs that its immense programme to feed invented money into the economy is starting to ease the credit crunch. Spencer Dale, the Bank’s chief economist, said yesterday the Bank has deployed £96 billion of the £125 billion it plans to commit by the end of July and that initial indications are encouraging...
Bank of England Home
Setanta in administration with loss of 200 jobs as rescue bid fails
24 Jun 09 11:18 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Setanta in administration with loss of 200 jobs as rescue bid fails
Birmingham Post 24 June 09
Struggling sports broadcaster Setanta Sport has gone into administration with the loss of 200 jobs after efforts to rescue the business failed. The firm, hit by the loss of football television rights in England and Scotland, will go off-air to viewers in Britain shortly but administrators said Setanta’s international and Ireland businesses would continue to trade while talks with possible buyers are under way...
BBC News 21 Jun BT vision stop selling Setanta
B'ham Post 16 Jun Blavatnik's £20m 51p% stake hope
Guardian 12 Jun Billionaire offers Setanta £20m lifeline
B'ham Post 11 Jun Setanta blocks new customers
The Times 11 Jun Switch-off may cost clubs £500m
B'ham Post 10 Jun Ailing Setanta's board meets
B'ham Post 8 Jun Setanta facing administration
Setanta Sport Home
Up to 20 jobs under threat at Kerrang! radio station
23 Jun 09 07:29 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Up to 20 jobs under threat at Kerrang! radio station
Birmingham Post 23 June 09
A major shake-up is under way at Birmingham-based radio station Kerrang! which could see some of its presenters caught up in the latest round of redundancies...
B'ham Post 25 Jun Three presenters leave Kerrang!
B'ham Post 24 Jun Kerrang! writes open letter to listeners
B'ham Post 10 Jun Kerrang! to close Brum news room
Willenhall's Wedge Group's new £6 million plant
Willenhall's Wedge Group's new £6 million plant
Birmingham Post 23 June 09
A new £6m state-of-the-art plant has been built for Willenhall based Wedge Group’s subsidiary East Anglian Galvanizing Ltd in Cambridgeshire and is the newest of the Wedge Group’s 14 UK-based hot-dip galvanizing facilities...
Wedge Group Home
Good news for Walsall home owners
22 Jun 09 13:41 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Good news for Walsall home owners
TheYamYam 22 June 09
House prices in Walsall are on the up, according to figures released by the Land Registry.
The average cost of buying a home in the borough was £147, 275, a rise of 4.1% during January and March with only Bromsgrove at 5.2% recording a higher rise in the West Midlands while Dudley rose by 1.8% and Solihull saw an increase of 1.1%.
In the last 12 months Walsall’s house prices stayed static, compared to the seven other metropolitan authorities in the region which all registered a fall.
Homes in Birmingham saw the biggest drop of nearly 12 per cent.
The average final sale price in Walsall was also higher than elsewhere in the Black Country and also topped Birmingham and Coventry, but trailed significantly behind Solihull at £219,480 and Bromsgrove at £236.161.
B'ham Post 12 Jun Mortgages on rise again
B'ham Post 10 Jun House prices rise
BBC News 11 May House prices in depth
The Land Registry House prices
UK car production's smallest monthly fall this year
22 Jun 09 01:20 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
UK car production's smallest monthly fall this year
Birmingham Post 22 June 09
The car industry can take some heart from the May vehicle production figures which showed the smallest fall so far this year...
B'ham Post 22 Jun Crude steel production falls 21% in May
B'ham Post 22 Jun JLR gets empty promises from Gov't
Society of Motor Manufacturers 19 Jun UK production figures
Rise in revenue and workforce for Walsall-based Barhale Construction
22 Jun 09 01:09 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Rise in revenue and workforce for Barhale Construction
Birmingham Post 22 June 09
Walsall-based civil engineering contractor Barhale Construction has announced growth in revenue and its workforce for 2008. Barhale reported turnover of £157.7 million for the 12 months to December 31, an increase of 7.2 per cent over the previous year...
Barhale Home
Contract Journal 18 May WM contractors braced for public spending cuts
Biz blog: Car industry downturn bottoming out?
21 Jun 09 02:09 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Car industry downturn bottoming out?
Birmingham Post 20 June 09
Prof David Bailey, Coventry Business School
New figures show that the number of cars assembled in the UK last month fell by 43% year-on-year. Dreadful as these figures sound, these are actually the best so far this year, and may suggest that the worst downturn ever seen in the car industry in the UK has bottomed out...
Final day for Brownhills market after 37 years
Final day for Brownhills market after 37 years
Express & Star 20 June 09
Traders on the long running Brownhills Market today hit out at owners after revealing their disappointment and anger at putting up stalls for the last time...
Blog Brownhills Bob 20 Jun Tesco development off?
Express & Star 19 Jun Market may be rescued
Express & Star 18 Jun Brownhills Market comes to an end
Blog Brownhills Bob 7 May Market not quite doomed
Express & Star 6 May Brownhills Market traders reprieve
Spook Erection Ltd Home page
Walsall Council Home page
Birmingham Airport expansion plans revealed
20 Jun 09 16:09 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Birmingham Airport expansion plans revealed
Birmingham Post 20 June 09
Birmingham Airport is aiming to knock two terminals into one and double passenger figures to 20 million in ten years, in a massive expansion programme to challenge the likes of Heathrow and Gatwick...
B'ham Post 15 Jun Long-haul subsidies for airport
B'ham Post 15 Jun Comment: BIA runway extension must be pro-actively marketed
B'ham Post 12 Jun B'ham airport strike threat over pay
Express & Star 12 Jun Airport passengers fall 5%
B'ham Post 8 May Runway extension gets Gov't approval
B'ham Post 8 May No intervention over runway plans
Birmingham International Airport Home
Wilting exports dash tentative hopes of revival
19 Jun 09 05:56 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Wilting exports dash tentative hopes of revival
Birmingham Post 19 June 09
Wilting export orders have taken the gloss off signs that British industry might have come through the worst of the recession – although steadier demand at home is cushioning the blow...
CBI Industrial trends survey
GKN to tackle debt mountain with £423m rights issue
GKN to tackle debt mountain with £423m rights issue
Birmingham Post 19 June 09
Car parts and aircraft engineering firm GKN yesterday announced plans to raise £423 million in a rights issue as it looks to reduce its debt mountain...
GKN Investor relations News
More West Coast trains run late
19 Jun 09 05:43 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
More West Coast trains run late
BBC News 18 June 09
More trains now run late on the West Coast Main Line than before the track's £9bn upgrade, the BBC has learned.
About 20% of Virgin Trains are failing to arrive on time on the route, which runs between London and Glasgow...
BBC News 15 Jun Operators call for new rail lines
B'ham Post 6 Jun Network Rail face big penalties
BBC News 4 Jun West Coast rail delays condemned
Network Rail Home
Make sure you're covered for Glastonbury
19 Jun 09 04:54 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Make sure you're covered for Glastonbury
Birmingham Post 19 June 09
An army of about 180,000 music fans will head for the Glastonbury Festival at the end of June – and many won’t notice they have gaping holes in their insurance policies as they set off...
Glastonbury Festivals Home
Moneysupermarket Insurance
uSwitch Home
Welsh firm’s LDV bid could save hundreds of jobs
18 Jun 09 13:14 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Welsh firm’s LDV bid could save hundreds of jobs
Birmingham Mail 18 June 09
A Welsh-based group of former Jaguar Land Rover executives is bidding to rescue LDV from extinction – with a pledge to keep jobs in Birmingham by developing new green vans...
B'ham Post 18 Jun Buyers line up to save LDV
B'ham Post 18 Jun Accelerate help for LDV suppliers
B'ham Post 17 Jun 'Up to nine' co's interest in saving LDV
B'ham Post 15 Jun Mobile phone tycoon linked to LDV
BBC News 14 Jun Tycoon's 'small interest' in LDV
B'ham Post 9 Jun Weststar lining up bid to buy LDV
Express & Star 9 Jun 4,000 jobs could go with LDV
BBC News 8 Jun LDV goes into administration
B'ham Post 8 Jun Byrne 'LDV can still be saved'
B'ham Post 8 Jun LDV applies for administration
B'ham Post 8 Jun Closure could cost Treasury £53million
B'ham Post 8 Jun Mandelson under fire over loans wait
B'ham Mail 5 Jun Weststar ‘waits for LDV to go bust’
B'ham Post 5 Jun LDV makes last-ditch plea for help
BBC News 5 Jun Lobby cancelled due to cabinet reshuffle
Express & Star 5 Jun Nightshift returns at Land Rover
B'ham Post 3 Jun Administration as LDV's rescue fails
Express & Star 3 Jun Future depends on Gov't cash
B'ham Mail 3 Jun 5 days to save 7,000 jobs
B'ham Post 3 Jun Comment: Not the time to pull the plug
B'ham Post 3 Jun Business, political and union reaction
BBC News 2 Jun Weststar pulls out of LDV rescue
Express & Star 2 Jun LDV facing the end
B'ham Mail 2 Jun LDV back into administration
B'ham Post 19 May Workers back but 20pc redundo fear
Express & Star 7 May Darlaston's relief at LDV rescue
B'ham Post Mail 6 May LDV saved with Gov't £5m loan
Express & Star 29 Apr LDV going into administration
B'ham Post Mail 29 Apr LDV timeline of events
Weststar LDV Home
Brownhills Market comes to an end
Brownhills Market comes to an end
Express & Star 18 June 09
The long-running Brownhills Market once one of the biggest in the Midlands will come to an end on Saturday. Talks between owners Spook Erection Ltd and Walsall Council broke down and the remaining stall holders, totalling around 50, will pack up for the last time this weekend...
Blog Brownhills Bob 7 May Market not quite doomed
Express & Star 6 May Brownhills Market traders reprieve
Spook Erection Ltd Home page
Walsall Council Home page
Marston’s unveil £140m pub plan
18 Jun 09 11:15 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Marston’s unveil £140m pub plan
Express & Star 18 June 09
Banks’s brewer Marston’s have unveiled a £140 million scheme to build new large family pubs that could create more than 600 jobs a year...
Express & Star 22 May Marston's sees 20 % profit drop
Express & Star 15 Apr Meals & real ale boost for Marston's
Marston's plc Home page
Murdoch's MySpace to cut 30pc of staff
18 Jun 09 09:25 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Murdoch's MySpace to cut 30pc of staff
Birmingham Post 18 June 09
MySpace – the social network owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp – is to cut 30 per cent of its staff to lower costs as it struggles to stay popular in the face of rising competition. MySpace will be left with about 1,000 employees and it is believed that about 400 people will lose their jobs...
MySpace Home
Would-be buyers line up to save van maker LDV - Accelerate help for LDV suppliers
18 Jun 09 09:17 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Would-be buyers line up to save van maker LDV
Birmingham Post 18 June 09
Hopes that LDV could rise from the ashes have risen with up to nine firms already throwing their hats in the ring for the collapsed van maker...
B'ham Post 18 Jun Accelerate help for LDV suppliers
B'ham Post 17 Jun 'Up to nine' co's interest in saving LDV
B'ham Post 15 Jun Mobile phone tycoon linked to LDV.
BBC News 14 Jun Tycoon's 'small interest' in LDV
B'ham Post 9 Jun Weststar lining up bid to buy LDV
Express & Star 9 Jun 4,000 jobs could go with LDV
BBC News 8 Jun LDV goes into administration
B'ham Post 8 Jun Byrne 'LDV can still be saved'
B'ham Post 8 Jun LDV applies for administration
B'ham Post 8 Jun Closure could cost Treasury £53million
B'ham Post 8 Jun Mandelson under fire over loans wait
B'ham Mail 5 Jun Weststar ‘waits for LDV to go bust’
B'ham Post 5 Jun LDV makes last-ditch plea for help
BBC News 5 Jun Lobby cancelled due to cabinet reshuffle
Express & Star 5 Jun Nightshift returns at Land Rover
B'ham Post 3 Jun Administration as LDV's rescue fails
Express & Star 3 Jun Future depends on Gov't cash
B'ham Mail 3 Jun 5 days to save 7,000 jobs
B'ham Post 3 Jun Comment: Not the time to pull the plug
B'ham Post 3 Jun Business, political and union reaction
BBC News 2 Jun Weststar pulls out of LDV rescue
Express & Star 2 Jun LDV facing the end
B'ham Mail 2 Jun LDV back into administration
B'ham Post 19 May Workers back but 20pc redundo fear
Express & Star 7 May Darlaston's relief at LDV rescue
B'ham Post Mail 6 May LDV saved with Gov't £5m loan
Express & Star 29 Apr LDV going into administration
B'ham Post Mail 29 Apr LDV timeline of events
Weststar LDV Home
'Up to nine' companies show interest in saving LDV
17 Jun 09 16:31 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
'Up to nine' companies show interest in saving LDV
Birmingham Post 17 June 09
Hopes that LDV could rise from the ashes rose today – with up to nine firms already throwing their hats in the ring for the collapsed van-maker. The prospect of a takeover at the mothballed Washwood Heath plant grew after administrators revealed that the firms had signed confidentiality agreements to examine the firm’s books...
B'ham Post 15 Jun Mobile phone tycoon linked with move to save LDV.
BBC News 14 Jun Tycoon's 'small interest' in LDV
B'ham Post 9 Jun Weststar lining up bid to buy LDV out of administration
Express & Star 9 Jun 4,000 jobs could go with LDV
BBC News 8 Jun LDV goes into administration
B'ham Post 8 Jun Byrne 'LDV can still be saved'
B'ham Post 8 Jun LDV applies for administration
B'ham Post 8 Jun Closure could cost Treasury £53million
B'ham Post 8 Jun Mandelson under fire over loans wait
B'ham Mail 5 Jun Weststar ‘waits for LDV to go bust’
B'ham Post 5 Jun LDV makes last-ditch plea for help
BBC News 5 Jun Lobby cancelled due to cabinet reshuffle
Express & Star 5 Jun Nightshift returns at Land Rover
B'ham Post 3 Jun Administration as LDV's rescue fails
Express & Star 3 Jun Future depends on Gov't cash
B'ham Mail 3 Jun 5 days to save 7,000 jobs
B'ham Post 3 Jun Comment: Not the time to pull the plug
B'ham Post 3 Jun Business, political and union reaction
BBC News 2 Jun Weststar pulls out of LDV rescue
Express & Star 2 Jun LDV facing the end
B'ham Mail 2 Jun LDV back into administration
B'ham Post 19 May Workers back but 20pc redundo fear
Express & Star 7 May Darlaston's relief at LDV rescue
B'ham Post Mail 6 May LDV saved with Gov't £5m loan
Express & Star 29 Apr LDV going into administration
B'ham Post Mail 29 Apr LDV timeline of events
Weststar LDV Home
Jobless toll hits new high - W Mids worst hit - Walsall up 7.3%
17 Jun 09 15:15 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Jobless toll hits new high
Express & star 17 June 09
Unemployment today rose to 2.26 million, the highest level for 12 years - as the West Midlands was confirmed as Britain’s worst-hit region. In Walsall the number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance rose by 7.3% to 10,947...
B'ham Post 18 Jun WM dole queues head towards 250k
B'ham Post 17 Jun WM jobseeking ratio worst in UK
B'ham Post 17 Jun Jobless have six-month window to avoid 'stigma'
Jobless have six-month window to avoid 'stigma'
17 Jun 09 08:02 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Employment
Jobless have six-month window to avoid 'stigma'
Birmingham Post 17 June 09
Redundant workers only have a six-month window to find a job before the stigma of being unemployed kicks in, according to a new report. A survey of more than 1,000 managers showed that many employers are less likely to hire someone they consider to be long-term unemployed...
Jobless have six-month window to avoid 'stigma'
Birmingham Post 17 June 09
Redundant workers only have a six-month window to find a job before the stigma of being unemployed kicks in, according to a new report. A survey of more than 1,000 managers showed that many employers are less likely to hire someone they consider to be long-term unemployed...
£30m boost will help West Midlands firms in digital world
17 Jun 09 07:57 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Creative industries
£30m boost will help West Midlands firms in digital world
Birmingham Post 17 June 09
A £30 million investment to help small businesses explore new online business models was announced yesterday in a parallel report to the main Digital Britain study...
£30m boost will help West Midlands firms in digital world
Birmingham Post 17 June 09
A £30 million investment to help small businesses explore new online business models was announced yesterday in a parallel report to the main Digital Britain study...
Digital Britain report: few surprises, many fudges
17 Jun 09 07:50 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Digital Britain report: few surprises, many fudges
The Guardian 17 June 09
Lord Carter's long-awaited final report presents some new measures but fails to solve thorny issue of the BBC
B'ham Post 18 Jun Enormous scope in report
Daily Mail 17 Jun Exit Lord Jargon, leaving digital Britain in a mess
B'ham Post 17 Jun Digital Britain
Jobseeking ratio in West Midlands worst in UK
17 Jun 09 07:45 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Employment
Jobseeking ratio in West Midlands worst in UK
Birmingham Post 17 June 09
There are 11 official “jobseekers” for every vacancy advertised at jobcentres in the West Midlands, according to an analysis by Conservatives. As the Government prepares to publish the latest unemployment figures today, Tories accused Ministers of doing too little to help the unemployed get back to work...
Jobseeking ratio in West Midlands worst in UK
Birmingham Post 17 June 09
There are 11 official “jobseekers” for every vacancy advertised at jobcentres in the West Midlands, according to an analysis by Conservatives. As the Government prepares to publish the latest unemployment figures today, Tories accused Ministers of doing too little to help the unemployed get back to work...
Grim outlook for newspapers says Trinity Mirror chief
17 Jun 09 05:40 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Grim outlook for newspapers says Trinity Mirror chief
Birmingham Post 17 June 09
Newspapers should get a share of the profits made by internet search engines linking to their stories, media executives said yesterday, amid warnings that half of local papers could fold within five years...
B'ham Post 16 Jun Express & Star to axe sporting 'pink'
Brand Republic, 30 Mar Walsall Observer publisher to close four Midlands free titles
Daily Telegraph 23 Mar Walsall Advertiser publisher cuts 1,000 regional newspaper jobs
Walsall Housing Group's £6m plan to move offices
16 Jun 09 17:23 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Housing group's £6m plan to move offices
Walsall Advertiser 16 June 09
Walsall's biggest landlord has submitted plans for a £6.5 million town centre office to relocate the majority of its staff to the corner of Littleton Street East and Hatherton Street...
24dash 11 Jun WHG doubles customer satisfaction
Brownhills Blog 4 June The tower block time forgot
Contract Journal 29 May £66m worth of contracts at WHG
Walsall Housing Group 2008-11 corporate plan
Frank Haslam Milan News
Wates Group Press releases
Gap closing on asking price and actual cost for homes
16 Jun 09 17:12 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Gap closing on asking price and actual cost for homes
Birmingham Post 16 June 09
The gap between property asking prices and the price homes sell for is narrowing, according to new research. Nearly 60 per cent of surveyors nationally but only a third in the West Midlands said the difference between what homeowners hoped their property was worth and what buyers were prepared to pay was reducing...
Royal Inst of Chartered Surveyors Market Surveys
17,000 are left without milk
16 Jun 09 17:00 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
17,000 are left without milk
Express & Star 16 June 09
About 17,000 youngsters in Wolverhampton went without their daily milk today after the supplier for the city’s primary schools and nurseries went into receivership...
B'ham Mail 16 Jun Dairy in court over rival data theft
Farmers Guardian 16 Jun Further milk production fall
Scarborough News 16 Jun Milkworkers lose jobs
BBC News 15 Jun Uncertain future for dairy farmers
Report lays out UK digital future - 50p per month tax on land-line phones
16 Jun 09 16:02 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Report lays out UK digital future
BBC News 16 June 09
50p per month tax on land-line phones
Culture secretary Ben Bradshaw has been outlining the main strands of the Digital Britain report in parliament...
Job fears grow at WM engineering group Metalrax
16 Jun 09 03:08 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Job fears grow at WM engineering group Metalrax
Birmingham Post 16 June 09
Hundreds more West Midland jobs have been cast into doubt after well-known engineering group Metalrax warned it could be at risk of collapse. Just a week after LDV crashed with the loss of 810 jobs and thousands more in the supply chain, Metalrax revealed its future was in jeopardy, including units in West Bromwich...
Metalrax Group plc Home
Express & Star to axe sporting 'pink'
16 Jun 09 01:51 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Express & Star to axe sporting 'pink'
Birmingham Post 16 June 09
The last remaining sports “pink” in the West Midlands is to shut next season as evolving readership habits and changes in match timings have spelled the end of the Express & Star’s Saturday evening sports paper...
Brand Republic, 30 Mar Walsall Observer publisher to close four Midlands free titles
Daily Telegraph 23 Mar Walsall Advertiser publisher cuts 1,000 regional newspaper jobs
Lord Mandelson on why business and education links are vital
16 Jun 09 01:45 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Lord Mandelson on why business and education links are vital
Birmingham Post 16 June 09
On a visit to the West Midlands, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Lord Mandelson explains why links between business and education are more important than ever...
Blavatnik’s £20m for 51pc stake latest hope for Setanta
16 Jun 09 01:40 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Blavatnik’s £20m for 51pc stake latest hope for Setanta
Birmingham Post 16 June 09
Sports broadcaster Setanta began taking subscriptions from new customers again yesterday as rescue hopes for the business increased...
Guardian 12 Jun Billionaire offers Setanta £20m lifeline
B'ham Post 11 Jun Setanta blocks new customers
The Times 11 Jun Switch-off may cost clubs £500m
B'ham Post 10 Jun Ailing Setanta's board meets
B'ham Post 8 Jun Setanta facing administration
Setanta Sport Home
WBBS saved in £182m deal
15 Jun 09 15:31 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
WBBS saved in £182m deal
Express & Star 12 June 09
West Bromwich Building Society was today dramatically rescued in an 11th hour £182.5 million finance deal that saves it from a potential break-up...
B'ham Post 15 Jun Blog: Time to go local again
B'ham Post 12 Jun WBBS keeps independence
B'ham Post 12 Jun Plan to safeguard WBBS
BBC News 11 Jun WBBS in debt deal talks
Express & Star 11 Jun WBBS will have to be rescued
B'ham Post 11 Jun WBBS confirms debt deal talks
B'ham Post 8 Jun WBBS linked to rescue deal
B'ham Post 8 June Worrying times for West Bromwich
Express & Star 8 June West Brom society fears
E & S 25 May No takeover talks at WBBS says boss
B'ham Post 18 May WBBS assurances after FSA rumours
West Bromwich Building Society Home
Lord Carter to make regional launch of Digital Britain in Birmingham
15 Jun 09 00:58 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Lord Carter to make regional launch of Digital Britain in Birmingham
Birmingham Post 15 June 09
This week sees the unveiling of the Digital Britain report which aims to position the UK at the forefront of the digital economy. And Birmingham will host the first regional launch of the report with its author, Communications Minister Lord Carter, set to come to the city on Wednesday...
The Guardian 15 Jun What will the Digital Britain report bring to various sections of the media – and will they get what they're looking for? Broadband, online piracy, media ownership, C4/BBC Worldwide, provision of regional news...
The Guardian 15 Jun Digital literacy and improving take-up of online access - not least because the government wants to migrate more public services online - will be a key area of Carter's report...
Daily Telegraph 15 Jun The long-awaited report from Lord (Stephen) Carter on Digital Britain will be delivered this week. Here, David Elstein, the former CEO of Channel Five, looks ahead at what to expect...
Financial Times 15 Jun
Lord Carter will be unable to declare agreement this week between Channel 4 and the BBC over a proposed joint venture because the two sides are still some distance apart..
Dept of Culture Media & Sport Digital Britain
Digital Britain Summit 17 Apr British Library - Live Stream
Digital Britain Forum Home
B'ham Post 15 Jun As Lord Carter speaks at the ICC, a fringe event for those shaping the region’s digital landscape at grassroots level will take place at Fazeley Studios. Digital Birmingham and Aquila TV are organising an "unconference" on Wednesday which coincides with the main Digital Birmingham event as well as with Fazeley Studios' Fazeley Digital 09 festival...
Digital Britain Unconference
Mobile phone tycoon linked with move to save LDV
15 Jun 09 00:32 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Mobile phone tycoon linked with move to save LDV
Birmingham Post 15 June 09
Staffordshire-based mobile phones tycoon John Caudwell was reported yesterday to be considering a bid for LDV, the Birmingham van company that went into administration a week ago...
BBC News 14 Jun Tycoon's 'small interest' in LDV
B'ham Post 9 Jun Weststar lining up bid to buy LDV out of administration
Express & Star 9 Jun 4,000 jobs could go with LDV
BBC News 8 Jun LDV goes into administration
Airlines may get subsidies to fly long-haul from Birmingham Airport
15 Jun 09 00:09 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Airlines may get subsidies to fly long-haul from Birmingham Airport
Birmingham Post 15 June 09
Airlines could be offered cut-price deals to operate from Birmingham International Airport when an extension to the main runway has been completed...
B'ham Post 15 Jun Comment: BIA runway extension must be pro-actively marketed
B'ham Post 12 Jun B'ham airport strike threat over pay
Express & Star 12 Jun Airport passengers fall 5%
B'ham Post 8 May Runway extension gets Gov't approval
B'ham Post 8 May No intervention over runway plans
Birmingham International Airport Home
Tycoon's 'small interest' in LDV
14 Jun 09 19:44 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Tycoon's 'small interest' in LDV
BBC News 14 June 09
Billionaire businessman John Caudwell says he will approach administrators who are trying to find a buyer for LDV, which went into administration. But the former Phones4U chief said he had a "small amount of interest"...
B'ham Post 9 Jun Weststar lining up bid to buy LDV out of administration
Express & Star 9 Jun 4,000 jobs could go with LDV
BBC News 8 Jun LDV goes into administration
B'ham Post 8 Jun Byrne 'LDV can still be saved'
B'ham Post 8 Jun LDV applies for administration
Winners of Children's Hospital Great Trade-Up Competition
12 Jun 09 22:15 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Winners of Hospital Great Trade-Up
Birmingham Post 12 June 09
The charity trade-up competition raising money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital came to a dazzling close amidst the glamour of the Bentley and Lamborghini showroom with the team from lawyers Beachcroft named as winners...
B'ham Post 11 May Amey storms to top of Great Trade-Up table
B'ham Post 3 May Lloyds makes latest move
B'ham Post 19 Jan Business backing contest
Birmingham Children's Hospital Home
Billionaire offers Setanta £20m lifeline
12 Jun 09 22:01 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Billionaire offers Setanta £20m lifeline
The Guardian 12 June 09
Setanta has won a dramatic stay of execution after finding a potential saviour who may take a controlling stake in the Irish pay-TV company. A billionaire US businessman, Leonard Blavatnik, has offered £20m for a 51% stake in Setanta and discussions between the two parties look set to continue over the weekend.
B'ham Post 11 Jun Setanta blocks new customers
The Times 11 Jun Switch-off may cost clubs £500m
B'ham Post 10 Jun Ailing Setanta's board meets
B'ham Post 8 Jun Setanta facing administration
Setanta Sport Home
Plan to safeguard West Bromwich Building Society
12 Jun 09 04:25 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Plan to safeguard West Bromwich Building Society
Birmingham Post 12 June 09
The West Bromwich Building Society has said it is near to striking a capital restructuring deal that would enable it to remain independent...
BBC News 11 Jun WBBS in debt deal talks
Express & Star 11 Jun WBBS will have to be rescued
B'ham Post 11 Jun WBBS confirms debt deal talks
B'ham Post 8 Jun WBBS linked to rescue deal
B'ham Post 8 June Worrying times for West Bromwich
Express & Star 8 June West Brom society fears
E & S 25 May No takeover talks at WBBS says boss
B'ham Post 18 May WBBS assurances after FSA rumours
West Bromwich Building Society Home
Mortgages on rise again
12 Jun 09 04:14 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Mortgages on rise again
Birmingham Post 12 June 09
The number of mortgages for house purchase continued to climb during April, but still remained well short of that in April last year. The Council of Mortgage Lenders, speaking for both banks and building societies, said its members lent 35,600 house purchase loans in April worth a total of £4.5billion – up 16 per cent on March in both number and value.
B'ham Post 15 May No of new mortgages rises
B'ham Mail 2 May Mortgage Rescue Scheme has not helped one West Mid's family
The Mercury 14 Apr Number of home loans rises by 4%
Council of Mortgage Lenders Home page
Sainsbury's Midland distribution centre drivers face axe
11 Jun 09 19:35 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Sainsbury's Midland distribution centre drivers face axe
Birmingham Mail 11 June 09
About 80 drivers face redundancy at Sainsbury’s main Midland distribution centre at Hams Hall - a cut by nearly a third under radical streamlining proposals...
Sainsbury's boss picks up £5m
B'ham Post 11 Jun Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King landed £5 million in pay and share bonuses last year for helping to turn around the supermarket chain...
B'ham Post 14 May Sainsbury profit boost
Sainsbury's Home
West Bromwich Building Society in debt deal talks
11 Jun 09 18:52 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
West Bromwich in debt deal talks
BBC News 11 June 09
The West Bromwich Building Society is in talks with debt holders over a deal that could secure its future. The society said it was in "advanced discussions" over a debt conversion that would boost its balance sheet.
Express & Star 11 Jun WBBS will have to be rescued
B'ham Post 11 Jun WBBS confirms debt deal talks
B'ham Post 8 Jun WBBS linked to rescue deal
B'ham Post 8 June Worrying times for West Bromwich
Express & Star 8 June West Brom society fears
E & S 25 May No takeover talks at WBBS says boss
B'ham Post 18 May WBBS assurances after FSA rumours
West Bromwich Building Society Home
UK recession may have ended in March
11 Jun 09 03:08 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
UK recession may have ended in March
Daily Telegraph 11 June 09
The economy's gross domestic product grew by 0.1pc in May following a similar increase in April, according to estimates released on Wednesday by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR)...
B'ham Post 11 Jun Slower rate of decline for manufacturing output
B'ham Post 11 Jun Britain's trading position takes turn for the worse
Nat Inst of Economic & Social Research Home
Crisis-hit Setanta blocks new customers
11 Jun 09 03:08 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Crisis-hit Setanta blocks new customers
Birmingham Post 11 June 09
Ailing pay-television firm Setanta has suspended all new customer subscriptions as the fate of the company hangs in the balance...
The Times 11 Jun Setanta switch-off may cost clubs £500m
B'ham Post 10 Jun Ailing Setanta's board meets
B'ham Post 8 Jun Setanta facing administration
Setanta Sport Home
West Mids businesses urged to attend India exhibition
11 Jun 09 03:08 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
West Mids businesses urged to attend India exhibition
Birmingham Post 11 June 09
Businesses in the West Midlands are being urged to explore new and growing overseas markets in the automotive sector by attending a key exhibition in India early next year...
Advantage West Midlands News
Auto Expo Home
Minister calls for education on sell-by dates
11 Jun 09 03:08 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Minister calls for education on sell-by dates
Birmingham Post 11 June 09
The Government was set for a collision course with retailers as it announced sell-by dates could be a thing of the past as part of its “war on waste”...
British Retail Consortium 9 Jun Scrapping best before dates won't reduce food waste
Sainsbury's boss picks up £5m
11 Jun 09 03:08 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Sainsbury's boss picks up £5m
Birmingham Post 11 June 09
Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King landed £5 million in pay and share bonuses last year for helping to turn around the supermarket chain...
B'ham Post 14 May Sainsbury profit boost
Sainsbury's Home
Smokers cost West Mids bosses up to £173 million a year
11 Jun 09 03:08 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Smokers cost West Mids bosses up to £173 million a year
Birmingham Post 11 June 09
A new study shows smokers are costing employers in the West Midlands up to £173 million every year through 'fag breaks' and sickness...
NHS Stop Smoking Services Home
Darlaston hopes for a delayed general election
Darlaston hopes for general election delay
TheYamYam 10 June 09
Walsall’s Tory run council has its fingers crossed that Gordon Brown waits and leads the Labour Party into a May 2010 general election - because it needs time to get the money to help create 4,500 jobs.
Regeneration chiefs in the borough are planning for a £30 million transport project to link the deprived area of Darlaston to a major regional transport route. The council is preparing a business case for Department of Transport funding to build two new roads into the deprived area. The plan will be submitted in October with a decision expected in March.
Privately regeneration chiefs are worried an autumn general election would return a Conservative government committed to cut public spending. They hope that if the scheme gets approval before an election it will help tie-in any new government to supporting the project.
A regeneration officer who did wish to be named, said; “It will make life a lot easier if the scheme get’s the go-ahead before a new government orders a possible review of major public sector projects.”
The plan would build improved links from the Black Country Route, avoiding the congestion hit junction 10 of the M6, giving easier access to Darlaston Green and the 28 acre former IMI James Bridge copper works site either side of the M6.
That site has a legacy of extensive mine workings - there are more than 250 recorded disused mine shafts - and metal contamination. It was bought by the regeneration agency, Advantage West Midlands, in 2007 and multi-million pound reclamation works are expected to start this month. AWM has awarded Morrisons Construction the pilot study in a deal worth £500,000.
Express & Star 10 Jun Wait ahead for new business park
The Times 10 Jun Tories would cut budgets, says Cameron ally
Contract Journal 18 May WM contractors braced for Tory cuts in public spending
Advantage West Midlands News
Morrison Construction Ltd News
Bids set for combined council project
10 Jun 09 12:57 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Business news
Bids set for combined council project
Express & Star 10 June 09
Contractors are being invited to bid for a £20million deal to repair roads in the Black Country. Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton councils are working together in a bid to cut the costs...
Bids set for combined council project
Express & Star 10 June 09
Contractors are being invited to bid for a £20million deal to repair roads in the Black Country. Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton councils are working together in a bid to cut the costs...
Savers flock to Dudley Building Society
Savers flock to Dudley Building Society
Express & Star 10 June 09
While High Street banking giants suffered near collapse after plunging profits, the Dudley Building Society revealed it is on track to return a £1million profit for 2008 – in one of the worst year’s in banking history...
Cannock travel firm axe 80 jobs
Cannock firm axe 80 jobs
Express & Star 10 June 09
A Cannock-based travel company has gone into administration with the loss of around 80 jobs. Harvey World Travel UK Limited has lost 16 of its 57 outlets, including its UK head office in Cannock...
House prices rise
10 Jun 09 02:59 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
House prices rise
Birmingham Post 10 June 09
The Department of Communities & Local Government has joined Nationwide and Halifax in reporting a recovery in house prices this spring. It said the average across the UK rose by 1.1 per cent to £189,215 between March and April, lowering the year-on-year drop to 13 per cent, from 13.6 per cent in the 12 months to March...
Dept of Communities and Local Govt 9 Jun House price index
Nationwide House prices home page
Halifax House price index
Survey suggests rental market is starting to stabilise
10 Jun 09 02:52 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Survey suggests rental market is starting to stabilise
Birmingham Post 9 June 09
The number of new properties available to let nearly halved during May in a further sign that the rental market is stabilising.
New research showed only 34,088 new rental homes were put on to the market during the month, down from 62,765 in April – the highest figure for nearly 18 months...
EasyRoommate.com Home
Ailing Setanta's board meets
10 Jun 09 02:49 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Ailing Setanta's board meets
Birmingham Post 10 June 09
The board of Irish sports broadcaster Setanta have met after reports the group was close to going into administration...
B'ham Post 8 Jun Sports TV firm Setanta facing administration
Setanta Sport Home
IBB launches premium Islamic banking for wealthy savers
10 Jun 09 02:43 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
IBB launches premium Islamic banking for wealthy savers
Birmingham Post 10 June 09
The Birmingham-based Islamic Bank of Britain has launched a premium banking service after seeing a strong demand from high net worth savers looking for sharia-compliant accounts...
B'ham Post 2 Apr How Islamic banking operates within sharia law
B'ham Post 18 Mar Islamic Bank's interest rates warning
Islamic Bank of Britain Home Page
Recession and demographics causing a 'perfect storm' for pensioners
10 Jun 09 02:36 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Recession and demographics causing a 'perfect storm' for pensioners
Birmingham Post 10 June 09
People’s retirement plans are set to be derailed by a ‘perfect storm’ of demographic, individual and financial conditions, a global survey carried out HSBC has claimed...
HSBC Future of retirement
West Midland driver agencies accused of employment law breaches
10 Jun 09 02:32 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
West Midland driver agencies accused of employment law breaches
Birmingham Post 10 June 09
A recruitment industry body has launched an inquiry after Government investigators accused 18 West Midlands driver agencies of contravening employment laws.
B'ham Post 8 June Employment agencies supplying drivers warned
Dept for Business Innovation & Skills Employment Agency Standards
Gangmasters Licensing Authority Home
Taxman could pay £500m on Rank Group’s VAT bill
10 Jun 09 02:27 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Taxman could pay £500m on Rank Group’s VAT bill
Birmingham Post 10 June 09
Experts are predicting a High Court ruling on Rank Group’s VAT bills could cost the taxman up to £500 million. Pub landlords, bookmakers and other leisure bosses throughout the Midlands were put on red alert when Rank, which runs casinos and Mecca bingo halls, triumphed in a civil case to prove it had overpaid on games of interval bingo and certain gaming machines.
Rank Group 9 Jun Latest news
Shell settles execution lawsuit in £9.7m deal
10 Jun 09 02:20 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Shell settles execution lawsuit in £9.7m deal
Birmingham Post 10 June 09
Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell is to pay out only £9.7 million to settle a lawsuit over its alleged complicity in the 1995 execution of several Nigerian environmental activists, including playwright and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa...
Shell 10 Jun Shell settle Wiwa case
BT offers Bloxwich faster broadband connections
BT offers Bloxwich faster broadband connections
Birmingham Post 10 June 09
Thousands of homes and businesses in the West Midlands including Bloxwich, are to get a free broadband boost after BT announced it will more than double the top speeds for its residential and business customers...
BT 21st century network
Lloyds in four figure job cuts
09 Jun 09 12:37 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Lloyds to close Walsall C&G branch
Express & Star 9 June 09
Banking giant Lloyds is to close its Cheltenham & Gloucester branches, including the one in Walsall, as part of a fresh wave of cuts which will see more than 1,000 jobs axed...
B'ham Mail 9 Jun C&G branches to shut
Weststar lining up bid to buy LDV out of administration
09 Jun 09 03:30 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Weststar lining up bid to buy LDV out of administration
Birmingham Post 9 June 09
The tangled story of crashed vanmaker LDV took a new twist when it emerged that Malaysian company Weststar was bidding to buy the Birmingham business out of administration. It was Weststar that precipitated the lastest crisis last week when it pulled out of a last-ditch deal that could have seen the company...
Express & Star 9 Jun 4,000 jobs could go with LDV
BBC News 8 Jun LDV goes into administration
B'ham Post 8 Jun Byrne 'LDV can still be saved'
B'ham Post 8 Jun LDV applies for administration
B'ham Post 8 Jun Closure could cost Treasury £53million
B'ham Post 8 Jun Mandelson under fire over loans wait
B'ham Mail 5 Jun Weststar ‘waits for LDV to go bust’
B'ham Post 5 Jun LDV makes last-ditch plea for help
BBC News 5 Jun Lobby cancelled due to cabinet reshuffle
Express & Star 5 Jun Nightshift returns at Land Rover
B'ham Post 3 Jun Administration as LDV's rescue fails
Express & Star 3 Jun Future depends on Gov't cash
B'ham Mail 3 Jun 5 days to save 7,000 jobs
B'ham Post 3 Jun Comment: Not the time to pull the plug
B'ham Post 3 Jun Business, political and union reaction
BBC News 2 Jun Weststar pulls out of LDV rescue
Express & Star 2 Jun LDV facing the end
B'ham Mail 2 Jun LDV back into administration
B'ham Post 19 May Workers back but 20pc redundo fear
Express & Star 7 May Darlaston's relief at LDV rescue
B'ham Post Mail 6 May LDV saved with Gov't £5m loan
Express & Star 29 Apr LDV going into administration
B'ham Post Mail 29 Apr LDV timeline of events
Weststar LDV Home
Lloyds to pay back taxpayer
08 Jun 09 16:23 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Lloyds to pay back taxpayer
Daily Telegraph 8 June 09
Part-nationalised Lloyds, which is 43.4 per cent owned by the taxpayer, has raised £4 billion from selling shares to investors and will use the money to buy back special Government-owned preference shares...
How award-winning entrepreneurs made it - including Walsall's Harpin
08 Jun 09 14:33 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
How award-winning entrepreneurs made it
Financial Mail 8 June 09
A week ago, accountancy giant Ernst & Young celebrated the world's leading entrepreneurs at an awards ceremony in Monaco. Financial Mail talked to some of them including Walsall's Richard Harpin founder of HomeServe, the domestic insurance firm that has sold eight million policies...
Express & Star 28 May High-flyer proving Britain’s got talent
Apprentice Ambassadors Network Richard Harpin profile
Homeserve Home
Indoor market for Walsall Woolies
08 Jun 09 11:47 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Indoor market for Walsall Woolies
Express & Star 8 June 09
Walsall’s former Woolworths store could be transformed into an indoor market with the creation of 60 jobs. Plans featuring shops, a restaurant and café in the building in Park Street have been submitted to Walsall Council by Plaza Malls Walsall Ltd...
Express & Star 17 May Outdoor market move may be back on
LDV applies for administration
08 Jun 09 11:37 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Vanmaker LDV goes into administration
BBC News 8 June 09
Washwood Heath Vanmaker LDV has gone into administration, threatening up to 850 jobs and many further jobs at distributors and suppliers in the region...
B'ham Post 8 June Byrne 'LDV can still be saved'
B'ham Post 8 June LDV applies for administration
LDV closure could cost Treasury £53million
B'ham Post 8 June Closure of LDV would cost the Treasury up to £53 million in unemployment benefits and lost taxes in one year alone...
Lord Mandelson under fire over auto loans wait
B'ham Post 8 June Conservatives have accused Business Secretary Lord Mandelson of being “all talk and no action” after it emerged that no British car firm has been helped by a flagship Government scheme, four months after it was unveiled...
B'ham Mail 5 Jun Weststar ‘waits for LDV to go bust’
B'ham Post 5 Jun LDV makes last-ditch plea for help
BBC News 5 Jun Lobby cancelled due to cabinet reshuffle
Express & Star 5 Jun Nightshift returns at Land Rover
B'ham Post 3 Jun Administration as LDV's rescue fails
Express & Star 3 Jun Future depends on Gov't cash
B'ham Mail 3 Jun 5 days to save 7,000 jobs
B'ham Post 3 Jun Comment: Not the time to pull the plug
B'ham Post 3 Jun Business, political and union reaction
BBC News 2 Jun Weststar pulls out of LDV rescue
Express & Star 2 Jun LDV facing the end
B'ham Mail 2 Jun LDV back into administration
B'ham Post 19 May Workers back but 20pc redundo fear
Express & Star 7 May Darlaston's relief at LDV rescue
B'ham Post Mail 6 May LDV saved with Gov't £5m loan
Express & Star 29 Apr LDV going into administration
B'ham Post Mail 29 Apr LDV timeline of events
Weststar LDV Home
West Brom Building Society linked to rescue deal
08 Jun 09 05:11 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
West Brom Building Society linked to rescue deal
Birmingham Post 8 June 09
West Bromwich Building Society has refused to deny speculation that Treasury advisers were on standby for a Government-backed rescue following the alleged failure of merger talks with its counterpart in Coventry.
B'ham Post 8 June Worrying times for West Bromwich
Express & Star 8 June West Brom society fears
Express & Star 25 May No takeover talks at West Brom says boss
Birmingham Post 18 May West Brom assures members after FSA rumours
West Bromwich Building Society Home
Slump predicted in high rate taxpayer numbers
08 Jun 09 04:33 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Financial news
Slump predicted in high rate taxpayer numbers
Birmingham Post 8 June 09
The number of higher rate taxpayers is forecast to plummet by 24 per cent by 2010 – five times more than during the 1990/91 recession...
Slump predicted in high rate taxpayer numbers
Birmingham Post 8 June 09
The number of higher rate taxpayers is forecast to plummet by 24 per cent by 2010 – five times more than during the 1990/91 recession...
Interest rates slashed on top-paying ISAs
08 Jun 09 04:33 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Financial news
Interest rates slashed on top-paying ISAs
Birmingham Post 8 June 09
A flurry of banks and building societies have withdrawn their top-paying tax-free ISA accounts during the past week...
Interest rates slashed on top-paying ISAs
Birmingham Post 8 June 09
A flurry of banks and building societies have withdrawn their top-paying tax-free ISA accounts during the past week...
BBC puts brakes on digital tv Project Canvas
08 Jun 09 03:29 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
BBC puts brakes on digital tv Project Canvas
Birmingham Post 8 June 09
A proposed joint venture between the BBC, ITV and BT combining the internet with Freeview TV has hit a snag after the BBC Trust said it needed more information before giving it the green light...
B'ham Post 21 May BT out to Canvas public opinion
Media Guardian 11 Dec 08 BBC, ITV and BT plan broadband freeview service
Fazeley Digital 09 brings WM creatives together
08 Jun 09 03:22 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Fazeley Digital 09 brings WM creatives together
Birmingham Post 8 June 09
A two-week digital festival bringing together Birmingham’s creative sector for an eclectic mix of seminars, debates, swap shops, Twitter forums and networking events kicks off today in Digbeth...
Fazeley Digital 09 Home
Sports TV firm Setanta facing administration
08 Jun 09 02:53 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Sports TV firm Setanta facing administration
Birmingham Post 8 June 09
Cash-strapped sports broadcaster Setanta could be forced into administration this week after failing to make payments due on TV rights, reports have claimed...
Setanta Sport Home
Employment agencies supplying drivers warned
08 Jun 09 02:43 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Employment agencies supplying drivers warned
Birmingham Post 8 June 09
Investigators have found that 18 employment agencies in the West Midlands broke the law a total of 80 times between them, including failing to confirm the identity of drivers, not checking health and safety risks with hirers, failing to issue terms and conditions and not providing written agreements on pay...
Dept for Business Innovation & Skills Employment Agency Standards
Gangmasters Licensing Authority Home
Rare year-on-year petrol price fall
08 Jun 09 02:42 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Business news
Rare year-on-year petrol price fall
Birmingham Post 8 June 09
A record plunge in fuel costs sent factory gate prices to their first annual fall in almost seven years during May. Manufacturers’ output prices were 0.3 per cent lower than a year earlier last month for the first time since July 2002, the Office for National Statistics said. This was spurred by the sharpest year-on-year fall in prices since records began in 1992, a plunge of almost 20 per cent...
Rare year-on-year petrol price fall
Birmingham Post 8 June 09
A record plunge in fuel costs sent factory gate prices to their first annual fall in almost seven years during May. Manufacturers’ output prices were 0.3 per cent lower than a year earlier last month for the first time since July 2002, the Office for National Statistics said. This was spurred by the sharpest year-on-year fall in prices since records began in 1992, a plunge of almost 20 per cent...
Iceland to repay UK depositors
06 Jun 09 15:16 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Iceland to repay UK depositors
The Mercury 6 June 09
Britain has secured agreement from the Icelandic authorities to repay the £2.3 billion paid out by the Government in compensation to UK depositors in the failed Icesave bank, the Treasury said...
Brighthouse to open soon in Bloxwich
Brighthouse to open soon in Bloxwich
Bloxidge Tallygraph 5 June 09
For the past couple of weeks the former Woolworths store in Bloxwich High Street has been undergoing conversion work and shop fitting to turn it into a brand new BrightHouse shop...
Express & Star 12 May Empty Woolies shop to reopen
Express & Star 9 Apr Woolies could be new shop
BrightHouse Home
Steep fall in new car registrations in May
05 Jun 09 13:46 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Steep fall in new car registrations in May
Birmingham Post 4 June 09
Sales of cars made in the West Midlands continued to fall sharply last month as the industry at large remains in the doldrums...
B'ham Post 25 May UK car output falls 55pc in April
B'ham Post 15 May Scrappage scheme loses shine
B'ham Post 8 May New car sales plunge 24% to lowest since 1991
Weststar ‘waits for LDV to go bust’
05 Jun 09 13:13 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Weststar ‘waits for LDV to go bust’
Birmingham Mail 5 June 09
Malaysian group Weststar is waiting for LDV to go bust with the potential loss of 7,000 UK jobs – and will then table a new bid for the van-maker, it was revealed today...
LDV makes last-ditch plea for help
05 Jun 09 12:22 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
LDV makes last-ditch plea for help
Birmingham Post 5 June 09
Managers at van maker LDV have issued a last-ditch plea to the Government to help rescue the company or see thousands of jobs axed at a huge cost to the economy...
BBC News 5 June LDV's parliament lobby cancelled due to cabinet reshuffle
Brownhills Castings down but not out
Castings down but not out
Financial Times 4 June 09
Making heavy goods vehicles has been among the global sectors worst hit by the recession, which has led to a severe drop in demand for the output of Brownhills based Castings plc, causing it to cut its employees by a third around the end of last year...
Castings plc Home
Chuckery foundry falls into the red
Chuckery foundry falls into the red
Express & Star 4 June 09
Chuckery-based foundry firm Chamberlin has plunged into the red after being hit by “exceptionally difficult trading conditions”. The company, which runs Chamberlin & Hill foundry, announced a pre-tax loss of £498,000 for the past year, compared to a £585,000 profit the year before...
B'ham Post 4 June Chamberlin optimism despite loss
Chamberlin plc Home
Bank holds interest rates at 0.5%
04 Jun 09 14:01 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Bank holds interest rates at 0.5%
The Mercury 4 June 09
The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held interest rates at their 0.5% record low for the third month in a row, with no increases in its £125 billion programme to boost the money supply after its two-day meeting...
The Mercury 7 May £50bn cash boost as rates are held
BBC News 9 Apr Bank keeps interest rates at 0.5%
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee
Construction index gives grounds for optimism
03 Jun 09 02:14 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Construction index gives grounds for optimism
Birmingham Post 3 June 09
Confidence in the hard-pressed construction industry is recovering along with that elsewhere in the economy, as the decline in construction activity eased up markedly last month. The headline index for construction published by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply and Markit Economics, came in at 45.9 in May – the fifteenth month that it has been under 50, the break-even point between growth and a fall...
CIPS 2 Home
B'ham Post 27 May WM construction slowdown abating
RICS 26 May Construction Market Survey
B'ham Post 21 May AWM spotlights cost-savings of Constructionline
Contract Journal 18 May West Mids contractors braced for cuts in public spending
Ryanair plunges £145.9 million in the red
03 Jun 09 02:11 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Ryanair plunges £145.9 million in the red
Birmingham Post 3 June 09
Low cost airline Ryanair has dived into the red by £145.9 million in the year to March after being hit with a 59 per cent hike in its fuel bill...
Daily Mirror 3 June Queen's £13 Ryanair trip
B'ham Post 2 June Ryanair profits hit by fuel costs
B'ham Post 27 May Virgin Atlantic's profits boost
B'ham Post 18 May Aer Lingus rubbish 'bankruptcy' claims
B'ham Post 14 May Ryanair to end check-in desks
B'ham Mail 23 Apr 'Fat tax' sparks debate
B'ham Mail 22 Apr Ryanair unveils 'fat tax"
Ryanair Home
Warm weather boost for B&Q
03 Jun 09 02:04 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Warm weather boost for B&Q
Birmingham Post 3 June 09
Consumer demand for outdoor products in the warm spring weather helped DIY chain B&Q double its first quarter profits. B&Q parent Kingfisher – the world’s third largest home improvement business – said retail profits for the UK arm of the chain rose to £58 million in the 13 weeks to May 2, from £29 million in the same period last year...
Kingfisher Group plc Home
B&Q Home
Administrators called in as LDV's last-ditch rescue fails
03 Jun 09 01:56 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Administrators called in as LDV's last-ditch rescue fails
Birmingham Post 3 June 09
The future of cash-stricken van maker LDV looks bleak after a last-ditch rescue deal was called off due to lack of funds. Fresh doubts have been cast over up to 850 jobs at the Washwood Heath plant, and 6,000 more in the supply chain and dealerships, after directors revealed they would have to call in administrators...
Express & Star 3 June Future depends on Gov't cash
B'ham Mail 3 June 5 days to save 7,000 jobs
B'ham Post 3 June Comment: Now is not the time to pull the plug on LDV
B'ham Post 3 June Business, political and union reaction to LDV blow
BBC News 2 June Weststar pulls out of LDV rescue
Express & Star 2 June LDV facing the end
B'ham Mail 2 June LDV back into administration
B'ham Post 19 May Workers back but 20pc redundo fear
Express & Star 7 May Darlaston's relief at LDV rescue
B'ham Post Mail 6 May LDV saved with Gov't £5m loan
Express & Star 29 Apr LDV going into administration
B'ham Post Mail 29 Apr LDV timeline of events
Weststar LDV Home
Confidence of consumers improves but only modestly
03 Jun 09 01:33 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Confidence of consumers improves but only modestly
Birmingham Post 3 June 09
The feel-better factor detected by Nationwide with a sharp increase in its consumer confidence index in April persisted into May, albeit with only a modest improvement...
B'ham Post 28 May Nationwide profits blow
B'ham Post 7 May Retail gloom as insolvencies grow
B'ham Post 30 Apr Consumer fall hits Homebase
Nationwide Home
Victim of two collapses of car parts firm in just over year
Business news
Victim of two collapses of car parts firm in just over year
Birmingham Post 3 June 09
A Birmingham businessman who is owed about £50,000 following the collapse of Bloxwich Engineering has seen his losses double – when the firm’s new owners also went bust...
Victim of two collapses of car parts firm in just over year
Birmingham Post 3 June 09
A Birmingham businessman who is owed about £50,000 following the collapse of Bloxwich Engineering has seen his losses double – when the firm’s new owners also went bust...
Willenhall-based Poundland to open more stores
Willenhall-based Poundland to open more stores
Birmingham Post 3 June 09
Bargain-hunting shoppers helped profits surge at Willenhall-based Poundland as the firm said it was ploughing ahead with a string of new store openings – many in former Woolworths stores...
B'ham Post 2 June 09 Poundland buoyed by the downturn
Express & Star 2 June Poundland is quids in
Express & Star 16 Apr Record sales for Poundland
Express & Star 6 Apr Poundland enjoy £50m turnover
Poundland Shop online
Texas Chicken expands presence in UK and Walsall
02 Jun 09 18:52 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Texas Chicken expands presence in UK and Walsall
Response Source 2 June 09
Texas Chicken®, an international brand of Atlanta-based Church’s Chicken® and the world’s third-largest quick service chicken restaurant chain, will expand it’s portfolio of restaurants in the UK when it opens new locations in Walsall and Huddersfield this quarter... Texas Chicken Home
60 jobs go at Cannock caravan dealership
60 jobs go at caravan dealership
Express & Star 2 June 09
Around 60 workers have been made redundant after the caravan and motorhome dealership Discover closed its branch in Cannock...
Discover Caravans
Weststar pulls out of LDV rescue
02 Jun 09 12:23 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Weststar pulls out of LDV rescue
BBC News 2 June 09
Malaysian firm Weststar has withdrawn from its planned deal to acquire LDV vans, forcing the firm to apply for administration. Last month Weststar agreed a deal to acquire the Birmingham-based van maker and the government pledged a £5m four-week loan until the deal was sealed...
Express & Star 2 June LDV facing the end
B'ham Mail 2 June LDV back into administration
B'ham Post 19 May Workers back but 20pc redundo fear
Express & Star 7 May Darlaston's relief at LDV rescue
B'ham Post Mail 6 May LDV saved with Gov't £5m loan
Express & Star 29 Apr LDV going into administration
B'ham Post Mail 29 Apr LDV timeline of events
Weststar LDV Home
Poundland buoyed by the downturn
Poundland buoyed by the downturn
Birmingham Post 2 June 09
Profits at retail chain Poundland - which sells all its goods for £1 - have more than doubled after shoppers sought bargains in the downturn. Pre-tax profits at the Willenhall-based firm for the year to 29 March were £8.6m, up from £4.2m last year...
Express & Star 2 June Poundland is quids in
Express & Star 16 Apr Record sales for Poundland
Express & Star 6 Apr Poundland enjoy £50m turnover
Poundland Shop online
Ryanair profits hit by fuel costs
02 Jun 09 10:58 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Ryanair profits hit by fuel costs
Birmingham Post 2 June 09
Low-cost airline Ryanair has revealed that it dived into the red by 169.2 million euros (£145.9m) in the year to March after being hit with a 59% hike in its fuel bill. The loss compares with a profit of 390.7m euros (£336.8m) the previous year and comes after Ryanair faced record oil prices and a hefty writedown on the value of its investment in rival Irish carrier Aer Lingus...
B'ham Post 27 May Virgin Atlantic's profits boost
B'ham Post 18 May Aer Lingus rubbish 'bankruptcy' claims
B'ham Post 14 May Ryanair to end check-in desks
B'ham Mail 23 Apr 'Fat tax' sparks debate
B'ham Mail 22 Apr Ryanair unveils 'fat tax"
Ryanair Home
Homebuy Direct 'faring well' in Darlaston
Homebuy Direct 'faring well' in Darlaston
Property Talk 2 June 09
The government-backed Homebuy Direct scheme in Darlaston is proving a success for Persimmon Homes. Based in Wolverhampton, the homebuilder is said to have been inundated with enquiries from new buyers wanting to snap up a new home on the Keep development site.
Persimmon Homes The Keep, Darlaston
Smart New Homes Darlaston
Communities & Local Gov HomeBuy Scheme
Business and culture collaborate for annual JLR arts awards
02 Jun 09 09:55 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Business and culture collaborate for annual JLR arts awards
Birmingham Post 2 June 09
Nominations have opened for the annual awards aiming to celebrate the best collaborations between the region’s businesses and cultural organisations...
Arts & Business WM JLR Awards
Jaquar Landrover Home
Funding for Birmingham City University journalism website
02 Jun 09 09:52 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Business news
Funding for Birmingham City University journalism website
Birmingham Post 2 June 09
An investigative journalism website created by a lecturer at Birmingham City University is one of the online initiatives to have won funding from Channel 4 and Screen WM. Help Me Investigate, which is being set up by online journalism lecturer Paul Bradshaw, has secured funding from the regional screen agency and 4iP, Channel 4’s project to encourage investment in public service digital media...
Help me investigate Home
Funding for Birmingham City University journalism website
Birmingham Post 2 June 09
An investigative journalism website created by a lecturer at Birmingham City University is one of the online initiatives to have won funding from Channel 4 and Screen WM. Help Me Investigate, which is being set up by online journalism lecturer Paul Bradshaw, has secured funding from the regional screen agency and 4iP, Channel 4’s project to encourage investment in public service digital media...
Help me investigate Home
Manufacturing activity at its highest for a year
02 Jun 09 00:35 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
Manufacturing activity at its highest for a year
Birmingham Post 2 June 09
Recession-battered manufacturers could be “close to turning the corner” after a key survey showed activity in May at its highest level for a year. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply’s activity index posted a reading of 45.4 in May, still below the neutral mark of 50 but an improvement on the revised 43.1 seen in April.
Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply Home
West Midlands industry sees first signs of recovery
01 Jun 09 12:00 Filed in: Business | business-walsall
West Mids industry sees first signs of recovery
Birmingham Post 1 June 09
Tentative signs emerged this morning that West Midlands industry is pulling out of the deep gloom of the winter months and could even be poised to lead the way out of the recession...
The Mercury 29 May Credit crunch hell for the West Mids
The Mercury 17 May Jobs march attracts 7,000
EEF Home