Fast broadband, at least two toilets and off-road parking are among the features that have become essentials for many property buyers.

A new survey has revealed the top 20 things people look for in a new home, with central heating, double glazing and a garden unsurprisingly leading the way.

But more modern factors – such as a strong internet connection, clear mobile phone signal and enough living space for a large flat-screen television – are also priorities for buyers.

Kevin Shaw, national sales director at property specialist Leaders, says: “New technology and modern design standards have changed the way people think about the place they live and what they expect when buying a new home.

“Many people are looking for a property that boasts fast broadband and a good mobile phone signal, meaning sellers who can offer these should realise these factors have become a major selling point.

“It is also interesting to note that a strong performance when it comes to energy efficiency is another must for buyers. This shows the importance of investing in eco-friendly solutions such as solar panels, cavity wall insulation and a high-specification boiler.”

Other issues that were named by respondents to the Gocompare.com survey as among the 20 most important things in a new home included ample electric sockets, friendly neighbours, a driveway or dedicated parking space, secure doors and windows, a dining room and a bath.

Despite the modern feel of many of the answers, buyers still insisted that a landline telephone is also essential in any new property.

Kevin adds: “Efficiency, security and connectivity have overtaken aesthetic issues such as period features. How a home performs in these areas is likely to sway modern buyers so sellers are advised to prioritise such matters.”

John Taylor Hospice is holding an open day on Friday 9 June for Registered General Nurses interested in joining the team.

The open day is a chance for nurses to learn more about current job vacancies at John Taylor, take a tour of the hospice and speak to existing clinical staff. There will also be an opportunity to interview on the day.

“We have exciting opportunities available for nurses,” explains Modern Matron Gale Clarke. “If you’d like to come to our open event to find out more there’s no need to make an appointment – just pop in and see us between 10:30am and 8:30pm on 9 June. We’re a friendly, welcoming and supportive team and we’ll be happy to answer any questions that you have.”

Today more than 600 people and their families will receive the care they need from John Taylor Hospice. That may be 24-hour care at the hospice in Erdington, support at their home, in the day hospice, counselling and well-being and a range of specialist services including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy and complementary therapies.

“We’ve cared for generations of families when they’ve needed us most, providing high quality and compassionate care,” added Gale. “Our patients are at the heart of everything we do. If this sounds like a team you’d like to be a part of then please drop by to speak to us.”

The West Midlands Genomic Medicine Centre (WMGMC) has appointed Insignia Medical Systems to provide an ambitious region-wide image sharing solution to support delivery of the pioneering 100,000 Genomes Project.

WMGMC, led by University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust, is one of 13 GMCs established to deliver the NHS England initiative – uniquely bringing 17 acute NHS Trusts across the West Midlands together in collaboration.

The 100,000 Genomes Project, the largest of its kind in the world, aims to improve understanding, diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases and cancer by combining the genomic data of participants with their medical records, also producing a ground-breaking resource for future research.

Working with all 17 partner Trusts, UK-based Insignia will provide their industry-leading InSight Sharing Service to deliver real-time regional clinical viewing of images.

The Regional Image Sharing Project is being led by a core team from UHB, working closely with Insignia and the regional IT, picture archiving systems, information governance and clinical teams. The first Trusts are going live in the summer of 2017 and the complete project across all 17 Trusts, is expected to be completed by March 2018.

Hilary Fanning, Director of Research Development and Innovation at UHB, said: “The primary purpose of this image sharing and transfer infrastructure is to support the work of the WMGMC delivery partners.

“However, the region-wide infrastructure it will create has the potential to extend beyond the life of the 100,000 Genomes Project, improving patient care and clinical outcomes, for example, by facilitating wider multidisciplinary clinical decision making and diagnosis in oncology, rare diseases, and other clinical specialities.

“We are delighted to be working with Insignia to bring these added benefits to patients across the West Midlands.”

Richard Dormer, Managing Director of Insignia Medical Systems, added: “We are exceptionally proud to have been awarded the contract to provide this ground-breaking sharing service to such a large number of West Midlands Trusts.

“Sharing is an area we excel in and we are looking forward to deploying this solution, which will help provide a much-enhanced service to patients in the West Midlands.”

The Trusts involved are University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Wye Valley NHS Trust, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

An exhibition of photography and film charting the construction of British Airways i360, the world's tallest moving observation tower, is now open in the beach building.

Images by British Airways i360 official photographers Kevin Meredith and Gary Eastwood, who documented the build process, are being displayed alongside additional shots by Paul Raftery and a short film by Latest TV.

The exhibition, called 'British Airways i360: How it was Built' takes up a permanent home in the Austen room in the British Airways i360 beach building and is free for members of the public to enjoy during spring, summer and autumn months*.

During winter months or inclement weather, when pod flights board from inside the beach building, access to the exhibition is for British Airways i360 customers only.

British Airways i360 chairman David Marks of Marks Barfield Architects, which conceived and designed the attraction, said: “British Airways i360 is an engineering tour de force and a wonderful symbol of British design innovation. 'How it was Built' provides visitors with an insight into one of the aspects that makes this landmark project a world first.

“I would like to pay tribute to all the architects, engineers, designers and contractors who made it a reality as well as to the photographers and filmmakers who recorded the whole process from beginning to end.”

West Pier Trust chairman Glynn Jones said: “The West Pier Trust is truly delighted to have been closely associated with Marks Barfield Architects in the planning and construction of British Airways i360.

“This iconic structure enhances the site of the former Grade I listed West Pier and re-states the importance of first class design and its ability to lift the spirits”.

The exhibition was assembled by Real Studios. Director Alistair McCaw said: “Real Studios are pleased have been responsible for the design of the exhibition 'British Airways i360: How it was Built'.

“From text-writing to production, we have worked closely with Marks Barfield Architects in the delivery of this stunning pictorial record.”

Sandwell has a new Mayoral team for the year ahead – with Councillor Ahmadul Haque MBE as Mayor and Councillor Susan Eaves as Deputy Mayor.

Councillor Haque, who has served the Tipton Green ward since 1996, has chosen his wife Surma to be Mayoress, while Rowley ward’s Councillor Eaves has her husband John as her consort.

They were inaugurated at a special ceremony at tonight’s annual meeting of the council, where a vote of thanks was also passed to retiring Mayor Councillor Julie Webb and Deputy Mayor Councillor Susan Downing.

Councillor Haque announced his two charities for the year will be:

• Midlands Air Ambulance Charity; and
• Your Trust Charity, run by Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, specifically raising money for cancer services and research.

Councillor Haque said: “This is the proudest moment for me to be honoured with the position of the Mayor of Sandwell and I pledge to serve the residents of Sandwell with all sincerity."

Amanda Winwood, Your Trust Charity membership academy manager, said: "We are thrilled to be one of the Mayor of Sandwell’s chosen charities this year and we look forward to working with him and enhancing the experience of all people using our services including staff, patients and their families."

Adam Williams, fundraising manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity in the West Midlands adds: "Midlands Air Ambulance Charity receives no government or National Lottery funding, so the support from the Mayor of Sandwell will help to raise vital funds."

Fresh calls for improved economic growth were issued to all political parties by Greater Birmingham business leaders today after inflation rose to 2.7 per cent in April – the highest figure since September 2013.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) said that with interest rates being held at a record low, everything points to a contraction in real wages and a general slowdown in the UK’s economic output.

Rising air fares (up 18.6 per cent from the month before) were partly due to a later Easter  and were blamed as a major contributor to the increase in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI).

The price of clothes jumped to the highest level for six years, with a rise of 1.1 per cent between March and April. Electricity and food prices also went up, but there were falls in the cost of gas, petrol and diesel

“The lower value of the pound continues to make it more costly for UK firms to import goods, which in turn, will impact levels of consumer spending; a key driver behind economic growth in this country.

“With the Bank of England holding interest rates at a record low level and wage growth stagnant, it all points to a contraction in real wages and a potential slowdown in the UK’s economic output.

“However, we must not lose sight of the fact that the sharp rise was predicated on higher air fares (which came about as a result of the Easter holiday being pushed back to April) and tobacco and alcohol duty also going up more than it did 12 months ago – a unique set of factors unlikely to be repeated anytime soon.

“In light of the latest figures and ahead of the General Election, we are calling on all of the political parties to provide detailed answers on how they plan to boost economic growth to offset business concerns around price pressures.

“Today’s results also reflect some the underlying themes which emerged from our last Quarterly Business Report– with local manufacturers particularly squeezed by the increase in factory gate costs, but also exhibiting high levels of optimism when it comes to turnover projections for the next 12 months. We will be starting the surveying for the next report on Monday and it will be interesting to see whether these trends continue into the second half of the year.”