Business News

Key powers and decision-making abilities must be devolved to those who best understand the West Midlands if the region is to achieve its “bold and ambitious” plans for the future. That was the message from Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), when he addressed a fringe meeting of the West Midlands Combined Authority at the Conservative Party conference.

After the number of new property listings fell off a cliff in July and August, there are signs that sellers are waking up from their summer slumber. The latest Property Supply Index compiled by online estate agents HouseSimple.com, reveals that new property listings across the UK rose 9.1% between August 2015 and September 2015, and in London by more than a quarter (27.1%).

Craig Errington, Chief Executive of Wesleyan Assurance Society and Chair of Community Development Finance Institution ART Business Loans, called on the public and private sectors to offer more support for the community finance sector as he addressed members and guests at ART’s AGM.

The Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) results for quarter 3 for the Black Country have been released. 36% of respondents said that UK sales had increased (the same as quarter 2). 25% of companies completing the survey said that their workforce had increased over the last 3 months and 30% said that their workforce would increase over the next 12 months (up 4% and 2% from last quarter).

G20 finance ministers and central bank governors are gathering for their third meeting during Turkey's presidency. These meetings give the G20 an opportunity to confirm 2015 outcomes and demonstrate that the G20 remains the premier forum for international economic cooperation.

Seven of the UK's hottest foodies were crowned winners of this year's Virgin StartUp Foodpreneur Festival, each winning a tasty mentoring package with routes to market and the chance to raise their business profiles.

Employees working in leisure, culture and sport roles take more sick days than any other industry, a new study reveals. Nationally those employed in this field scored highest (3.8) with workers in telecoms, marketing and education also featuring high in the sickliest professions. Teachers take above the national average at 3.17 days per year, while those working in the manufacturing industry or industrial labour take the fewest days off sick a year (1.59).

Sales at home and abroad for Greater Birmingham manufacturing companies have increased to levels not experienced for over 18 months. According to figures from the latest quarterly economic survey by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), half of the businesses surveyed increased sales and orders over the past three months.

A talented cluster of top Tottenham independent traders are boasting stunning new shop fronts after the finishing touches were done to Haringey Council project to transform them with bespoke designs. Around 25 shopkeepers on Tottenham High Road and West Green Road worked closely with architects to design the funky frontages – and are already reporting a boost in trade.

Developers at Wolverhampton Business Week this morning got first sight of what the City of Wolverhampton Council’s ambitious regeneration plans for Westside could look like. The ‘Developers Conference - Investing in the City’, at Molineux Football Stadium, focused on some of the key partners who are helping deliver new developments to regenerate the city.

A revolutionary, hi-tech system to help businesses report crime has been extended today by Birmingham Community Safety Partnership with the support of a range of partners to help businesses reduce crime and report incidents on-line. 11 of the city’s Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are set to receive the system which will then be made accessible to businesses within the individual BID areas.

Following the recent announcement of the stepping down of Black Country Chamber Chief Executive Margaret Corneby, the search is on for her replacement. Chamber President, Ninder Johal said: “We are embracing an outward facing culture focused on delivering our aim, growing our membership and working closely with our stakeholders.

City of Wolverhampton Council’s Civic Centre is playing host to Private Sector Housing Week this week. Council officers and representatives from partner agencies will be on hand to offer help and advice to tenants, landlords and home owners. The week of action is sponsored by local authorities from across the West Midlands. Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “This event proved extremely useful to a great number of people in Wolverhampton last year.

Business leaders in the region today welcomed the “outstanding” figures that show the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) is second in the UK for creating private sector jobs. The GBSLEP has already created 85,200 jobs, 72 per cent of its target to create 119,000 jobs by 2020. This gave them a 6 per cent higher growth rate than in any other core city LEP area, apart from the West of England.