Business News

Local councils, of all political parties, have agreed that the Government’s Starter Homes policy will hinder rather than help to tackle the growing need for genuinely affordable housing in England. They have also raised concerns about the impacts of the Government’s plans to reduce social rents by 1% a year for the next four years and the extension of the Right to Buy to housing association tenants.

Businesses in the West Midlands were urged by Jajid Javid to “get engaged” in order to make the most of the opportunities offered by the government’s devolution programme and the Midlands Engine. The secretary of state for business, innovation and skills was speaking to business leaders as guest of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) hosted by Mondelez International at their Cadbury headquarters.

Simplicity and forward planning must be at the heart of the Government’s pensions taxation reform, or future generations could be put off saving towards their retirement – according to PwC.  The Chancellor looks set to announce his long-awaited changes to pensions taxation in the Budget, with two key alternatives to the current system being considered.

Retired homeowners have seen their property wealth grow by nearly £13.7 billion in the past three months as house prices continue to climb earning the average pensioner more than £1,000 a month. Pensioners who own their homes outright have earned an average of £3,106 tax-free each from their houses in the past three months taking their property wealth to a new record high.

Responding the announcement that the EU referendum will take place on 23 June 2016, Black Country Chamber of Commerce President, Ninder Johal said: “The most important issue for us as a Chamber is ensuring that our business leaders understand the implications of remaining in or leaving the EU. Our latest survey shows that only 3% of manufacturers and 28% of service sector organisations in the Black Country have enough information to assess the potential impacts on their businesses."

Kaspa’s Desserts has become the latest business to sign up as a tenant of the multi-million pound i10 office and retail development. The dessert house chain has agreed a deal to take over two units to house its 31st UK branch. It will employ ten to 12 people, with the aim to open in mid-April. The new showpiece i10 building next to the train station was completed in December and forms part of the city’s £120 million Interchange plans.

Visitors from around the globe have been singing the praises of the Library of Birmingham. Simply click on the map above to see what people think. Councillor Penny Holbrook, cabinet member for learning, skills and culture, said: “Since the Library of Birmingham opened it has been attracting visitors from within the city, around the UK and around the world."

A series of events to help business leaders form a view on the EU referendum is to be organised by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC). Chamber surveys have indicated that businesses in the region are divided on the in-or-out issue. Paul Faulkner, chief executive of the GBCC, said: “The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce will be working hard to deliver clarity and cut through the biases in this highly emotive debate.

UK holidaymakers have been urged to "do their homework" on currency values before choosing where to go this year. Sterling fell to a 13-month low against the euro earlier this week, but research by Post Office Travel Money has found that currencies at many popular long-haul destinations – such as Mexico, Malaysia and Thailand – have weakened in comparison with the pound. The biggest gain for sterling has been against the South African rand.

Work to transform a popular Tottenham market into a modern and bustling shopping space is set to begin. Holcombe Road Market, opposite Bruce Grove Station, will be kitted out with new kiosks, pedestrian routes and modern paving, as part of an ambitious regeneration plan. Better signage will also be installed, improved car parking facilities will help attract more shoppers, and a new CCTV camera will enhance public safety in the area.

At loop 2016, luxury hotels and tourism products from around the world will be introduced to the best buyers from the German-speaking as well as Central - and Eastern European countries – all in one place. Only few peoples in the world are said to be as keen travelers as the Germans. Despite any crises or catastrophes, travelling is one of the Germans' favourite pastimes and they pack their bags year after year.

The new norm among this years retirees - "The Class of 2016" is to take a period of 'pre-tirement', delaying retirement plans, changing jobs or going part time instead of giving up work altogether.  Over half of people planning to retire this year are already working past their state pension ages, or would consider doing so when reaching that landmark.

Nottingham's newly opened boutique Lace Market Hotel has reclaimed its position as a unique dining and leisure destination. During an extensive £300k refurbishment programme, the Hotel's restaurant, cocktail bar, and 42 individually styled rooms and suites were revived, ready to wow guests.

Birmingham Airport has started the year on a high recording a healthy 9% passenger growth rate year-on-year for January 2016 and the busiest January on record. Last month the Midlands airport handled a total of 666,681 passengers, 55,000 more than the same month the previous year. Demand for seats has increased on both long and short-haul routes, with the most significant growth again recorded on long-haul services which were up by over 18% compared to the same month last year. 

People in the West Midlands are more likely to spend time thoroughly researching household handymen than cosmetic surgeons or healthcare professionals. With negative stories pervading the headlines about dubious procedures, a new survey reveals that over 77 per cent of participants quoted word of mouth as a source of information when seeking advice on health matters such as cosmetic surgery or dentistry rather than speaking with consultants directly and reading specialist professional media.

Jonathan Webber, director of international trade at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 58. Jonathan, who joined the Chamber in April, 1999, was awarded the MBE for services to international trade and development in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2011 and was made a deputy lieutenant in the West Midlands in 2014.