Business News

The Black Country Chamber of Commerce Awards 2016 deadline is fast approaching, celebrating the best in business from across the region. The Black Country Chamber is striving to double the size of the Black Country economy by 2023, with the success and continued growth of the local business community being an integral facet in helping us to achieve this aim. Furthermore, our Awards are an ideal platform upon which to showcase your company and celebrate your success, as we recognise those who truly contribute towards the local economy.

First time buyers are finding themselves increasingly reliant on the Bank of Mum and Dad as they struggle to find deposits or negotiate bridging loans to secure their dream home. But family law specialists at Clarke Willmott LLP have warned that reliance on parents could backfire badly in the event of a relationship breakdown – whether yours or theirs! Rayner Grice, family law specialist and partner at Clarke Willmott, says doing business with the bank of Mum and Dad requires the same degree of attention to the small print as any professional financial transaction.

The Commonwealth has announced that Dr Willy Mutunga, Chief Justice of Kenya, will take up the role of the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Maldives. The appointment was made at the request of the Government of Maldives. Over the last few years, the Commonwealth has become increasingly concerned about the political situation in the country. This has included the arrest and detention of senior political figures, constriction of space for civil society and the media, and weakening of the separation of powers.

The British Safety Council is holding its Annual Conference ‘Health and work in a changing world’ on Wednesday 5 October 2016 at The Kings Fund, London. The conference will attempt to de-mystify the meaning and place of health in the workplace. The speakers will address the pertinent and still controversial issue of responsibility for health in the workplace: what should employers be doing and how can they encourage staff to manage and improve their health? How can this responsibility be best shared?

More landlords in London intend to vote to remain in the upcoming referendum on the European Union (EU) than anywhere else in the UK (45 per cent), according to a recent poll. By contrast, more landlords in the North East intend to vote to leave than anywhere else in the UK. The news comes before the referendum, taking place on June 23, which will decide whether or not the United Kingdom will remain a member state of the EU.

The City of Wolverhampton Council has demonstrated its commitment to the health of its workforce by receiving the prestigious Workplace Wellbeing Charter – and it is now encouraging other local employers to follow suit. Organisations which achieve the Workplace Wellbeing Charter, endorsed by Public Health England, have shown that they provide a workplace which offers good health and wellbeing to their employees – which in turn brings considerable benefits to their business.

Business leaders welcomed the £47 million award of Local Growth Fund money to projects across the West Midlands – creating 32,000 jobs and paving the way for 10,000 new homes. Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Chief Executive Paul Faulkner (pictured) hailed the announcement by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership as a ‘tremendous vote of confidence in the regional economy.’

POP, the new low-cost, long-haul airline set to fly the only current non-stop flights between the UK and two of India’s key secondary cities, is also breaking new ground in terms of corporate social responsibility. Established on a ‘caring capitalism’ business model, POP (an acronym for People Over Profit) will donate a minimum of 51% of its profits to fund social projects in both the UK and India.

A host of residential developers are queuing up to build homes on the Bilston Urban Village site. City of Wolverhampton Council has now completed its extensive advanced works programme – and has received more than ten expressions of interest. It hopes to make a final decision in the autumn on who will develop the 27 acres of land available.

Black Country Chamber of Commerce held a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) event to highlight the work businesses can do to engage with charities, sponsored by E R Grove. They have a blend of qualified accountants and business advisers with years of professional experience. For charities, in addition to the audit, accounts, tax and VAT requirements, there is a need to understand the latest developments in governance and trustee responsibilities.

In honour of Heathrow's 70th anniversary, Qantas is offering 70 people the chance to win 'The Ultimate Trip': a five-night stay in Sydney, Australia, travelling from Heathrow on the award-winning Qantas A380. Qantas is celebrating a long-standing partnership with the airport that has played host to several memorable moments, such as the world's longest non-stop non-commercial flight for which Qantas set the record in 1989.

The building of a new multi-million pound Wolverhampton railway station came a step closer today. The Interchange partnership has submitted plans to demolish the existing station and replace it with a new one. Work is due to begin on the new railway station next year following the extension and refurbishment of the railway station multi-storey car park, which is expected to be completed by Christmas 2016.

Retired homeowners have seen their property wealth grow by £9.24 billion since the start of the year as house prices continue to climb earning the average pensioner more than £500 a month, new analysis* from leading over-55s financial specialist KeyRetirement.com shows. Pensioners who own their homes outright have earned an average of £2,096 tax-free each from their houses since the end of January taking their property wealth to a new record high.

Responding to the suggestion in a Department for Transport consultation -  on the replacement of the West Coast Main Line franchise - to cut the number of inter-city trains at stations like Wolverhampton, Birmingham International, Sandwell and Dudley and Coventry, Colin Leighfield, Chair of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce Transport Group said: “We agree with our colleagues at the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority: the Department for Transport does not understand how important these services are in linking the key economic areas of the region together."

People heading out in their car to enjoy a picnic at a local beauty spot during National Picnic Week (which runs from 11th – 19th June) should make sure they lock valuable items away and out of sight of opportunist thieves warns insurer NFU Mutual. After a spate of thefts from cars parked at beauty spots across the UK, many regional police forces have issued warnings to motorists and NFU Mutual has revealed that its own claims data showed that thefts from cars rose by 16% between 2014 and 2015.