Business News

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**. 

Leading developer David Wilson Homes is answering the needs of homebuyers seeking properties with character at its New Lubbesthorpe development on the outskirts of the city of Leicester. The housebuilder is currently building new homes at the development, which are being developed in accordance with a range of unique designs.

Looking for the ultimate UK getaway to cure those January blues? Good news, as there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Fantasy Island this year.

The award-winning theme park, located in Ingoldmells, is offering its visitors 15% off on all holidays booked before 14th February. This means guests can bag a bargain with a UK staycation packed with adventure.

Sherene Headley got a big surprise when she checked the invoice from her manufacturer in China this past autumn.

The founder and chief executive of Mokkah, a London-based company that makes shoes in large sizes for women, had ordered 57 pairs of black suede boots to sell to customers.

Twenty-seven businesses and individuals are vying for awards success at next year’s Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield & Tamworth and Cannock Chase Chambers of Commerce annual dinner and awards.

The eight category winners will be announced at the awards dinner, taking place at the Drayton Manor Hotel on Friday 3 February 2023. Amazon is supporting the event as headline sponsor.

The UKs leading manufacturer of prefabricated reinforcement steel has invested £4m into a new 220,000 sq ft facility in Cannock, with 57 new jobs created so far.

Total Construction Supplies Ltd, which was founded in 1998 by Craig Gibbons and Matthew Hague, has seen turnover double after securing major new contracts with HS2 and a host of highways, housing and nuclear infrastructure projects.

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt met with business leaders at the Treasury.

He confirmed that the Treasury will announce the conclusion of the review of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme in the House of Commons next week, which will outline support for businesses when the current six-month scheme ends in March 2023.

Leading housebuilder David Wilson Homes is hosting a view home event for property seekers at its Burnmill Grange development in Market Harborough this weekend (7th and 8th January).

Homebuyers will have the opportunity to take a tour of the popular four bedroom Holden style home at the development on Burnmill Road.

Climate action NGO WRAP recently announced the appointment of Harriet Lamb as its new CEO.

Ms Lamb is an experienced CEO including having built the global movement Fairtrade which fights for better conditions and fair prices for smallholder farmers and workers across the developing world.

Entrepreneurs and innovators from across the West Midlands will have a unique opportunity to develop and grow their businesses by meeting with potential investors and other cutting-edge companies at a free event next March.

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is co-sponsoring Venturefest WM 2023 to connect innovative growth businesses with investors and other support organisations who have specific expertise in innovation.

The past year was a story of steady recovery for Birmingham Airport (BHX). 

Following the lifting of Covid travel restrictions in March, BHX moved from 34% of pre-Covid (2019) customer volumes in January to 88% in October. 

The number of new homes being built in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) area has bounced back from Covid to such an extent it is now higher than before the pandemic first struck, latest figures have shown.

In the 12 months to March 2022, there were 16,730 net additional homes - 203 more than in the year up to March 2020 when Covid first took hold and lockdowns came into force.

New research from Pushfar, one of the UK’s leading mentoring platforms, shows that the competition for a career change is at a crunch in Birmingham, with 11,782*** job vacancies for the population of 1,092,330** people. With the new year fast approaching, many people are already starting to plan their new year’s resolutions and thinking of ways to better themselves.

As millions of people enjoyed Christmas festivities this year, for 3,275, Christmas Day was the perfect time to file their Self Assessment tax return, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed. A total of 22,060 customers went online to submit their form for the 2021 to 2022 tax year between 24 and 26 December, and 141 opted to file between 23:00 and 23:59 on Christmas eve, meaning they could enjoy celebrations knowing their tax return was complete.

A unique converted Wesleyan chapel in Camden Town will become London's newest boutique hotel when it opens on Friday 30th December. With a £9m investment and following a two-year period of construction, The Wesley is a brand new addition to the growing accommodation offering in one of the capital's up and coming neighbourhoods.