Business News

Severn Trent and Octopus Energy Group, the fastest growing energy supplier in the UK, have pledged to develop together renewable energy projects across the Midlands. It is the first time two major utility companies in the UK are teaming up to produce renewable power generation.

The two companies have agreed to explore potential opportunities to generate clean, green energy at Severn Trent sites and other third-party locations throughout the region. The collaboration agreement will support Severn Trent’s triple carbon pledge of reaching net zero carbon emissions using 100 per cent renewable energy and transitioning to a fleet of vehicles that are entirely electric by 2030.

The following changes to the city council’s cabinet have today been announced:

• Councillor Sharon Thompson becomes Cabinet Member for Vulnerable Children and Families.
• Cllr Shabrana Hussain joins the cabinet as Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods
• Cllr John Cotton, Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Community Safety and Equalities, will now take on the responsibility for Bereavement Services and Registrar Services.

Historic manufacturers and diversity champions, Shelforce, have been crowned the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) Business of the Year. Shelforce were presented the award, sponsored by SCC, during the Chamber’s second online awards ceremony.

PVCu window and door manufacturers, Shelforce, claimed two awards on the night, taking home the Excellence for People Development award and also being crowned as the overall Business of the Year.

Having recently revealed an exciting 50th Anniversary Season, today Birmingham Repertory Theatre is thrilled to announce the appointment of seven new board members.

Local inequality campaigner Atif Ali, accountant Andrew Chiduku, lawyer Mike Hibbs, CEO Lucy Marcus, environmentalist Victoria Marsom, entrepreneur Brandon Relph and theatre producer Rachel Roussel-Tyson are welcome additions to the Board of Trustees.

Viewers unable to watch television for more than a month due to the Bilsdale transmitter fire are to be offered a partial refund to their TV Licence. A million people were impacted by the blaze across Teesside, North Yorkshire and County Durham.

The majority of homes affected - more than 400,000 - have had services restored. All services were due to be completed by today but a legal wrangle has led to delays.

NHS staff working in IT services at two health trusts in the West Midlands are willing to take industrial action over plans to transfer them to a private firm, says UNISON. Almost 150 IT staff at George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (GEH) and South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) face being transferred to a new wholly owned subsidiary company (subco) against their will, says the union.

UNISON says this is an attempt to bring in ‘backdoor privatisation’ in the NHS and that managers at SWFT set up the subco months ago, before they even held discussions with staff. 

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has confirmed a multi-million-pound investment package to kickstart the development of nearly 400 homes and new commercial premises at three derelict sites, supporting hundreds of jobs.

The brownfield regeneration schemes in Coventry, Nuneaton and Wolverhampton are the latest from the WMCA’s nationally acclaimed devolved housing and regeneration programme which, in partnership with industry, is providing new homes, jobs and commercial spaces while supporting the region’s economic recovery from the Covid pandemic.

Four “superheroes” are about to embark on a unique fundraising challenge to raise vital funds for the Live and Work Village, a building project in Sandwell, West Midlands that will create new homes and employment opportunities for local young homeless people.

Tom Johnson, Karen Allen, Lee Ward-Poulton and Janice Perkins from international law firm Pinsent Masons (aka the “Legal Eagles”) in Birmingham will be taking to the skies on September 9 for a truly hair-raising Wing Walk to raise money for the LandAid Midlands-backed Live and Work Village that is currently in development by youth homeless charity St Basils.

Make UK is backing a new initiative by support platform Next Gen Makers to help manufacturing and engineering employers retain apprenticeship talent and maximise their investment in young people.

As official training provider partner, Make UK will help to promote and develop the Engineering Apprenticeships: Best Practice Programme - an initiative designed to support firms to overcome skills challenges and build talent for future success.

Dale Edwards, a Green Energy Strategic Consultant with national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP, comments on the UK Government’s eagerly awaited launch of its hydrogen plan.

Following on from the Government’s 10-point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, significant prominence has been placed in the role that hydrogen could play in driving the growth of low carbon economy. In the Energy White Paper, a stated objective of producing 5GW capacity by 2030 was announced, along with Government analysis suggesting that 20-35% of the UK’s energy consumption by 2050 could be hydrogen-based, raising expectations.

Interior designer Jane Clare has announced the launch of her new range of animal art sculptures.

Clare created the new range in response to a simple request by an interior design client, close to where she lives, to create a sculpture to adorn her living room wall. Currently the range encompasses 12 pieces of tailored art such as:

Network Rail is advising passengers planning rail travel over the upcoming bank holiday weekend to ‘look before they book’ ahead of major railway upgrades taking place between 28-30 August.

The work will improve future rail journeys for passengers and freight on the West Coast main line in Cheshire, and some routes in the West Midlands and North West. While much of the network in Network Rail's North West and Central region will be unaffected, some journeys will be impacted by the essential improvements.

A graffiti hit squad which will target tags and vandalism on the railway has been launched in the West Midlands. Network Rail and West Midlands Rail Executive are investing over £700k to clean-up lines, bridges and all things railway-related to improve the look and feel of tracksides for passengers and communities.

Graffiti can give the impression of an uncared-for environment as well as making people feel unsafe. The new hit squad's aim is to make the railway and surrounding areas more appealing.

Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System (BSol ICS) have announce the appointment of Dr Patrick Vernon OBE as its new Non-Executive Director for Inequalities.

Dr Vernon is a prominent equality campaigner with more than two decades of experience in the voluntary and public sectors. With expertise in developing and managing health and social care services, public health, grant programmes, regeneration and employment projects, he was awarded an OBE in 2012 and an honorary doctorate from Wolverhampton in 2018.

With less than one month until Logistics UK’s Fleet Engineer – the essential one-day conference for anyone responsible for maintaining commercial vehicles – the business group is urging fleet engineers to book their places now to ensure they are up to date with the latest developments in technology and enforcement.

Taking place at the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire on 7 September 2021, keynote speaker Kevin Rooney, the Traffic Commissioner for the West of England, will be explaining to attendees the consequences of failing to keep pace with vehicle technology, in addition to sharing some of the new practices that operators need to have put in place to improve their maintenance regimes.

The automation division of a multi-disciplinary engineering firm has been chosen among a select few to partner with technology giant Siemens. And the venture coincides with the launch of the engineering firm’s new 5000 sq.ft. facility, as it increases its operational footprint in the UK, now having in excess of 9,000 sq.ft. of manufacturing in total. 

Awarded a Siemens Solution Partner Certificate, adi Automation, based in Birmingham, has been chosen alongside seven other firms in the UK & Ireland for its expertise in automation and drives, after being selected as Siemens Food & Beverage Expert Solution Partners, sitting alongside just one other engineering firm in England.