Business News

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.

With well over 500,000 Brits now employed in franchising across the UK and industry turnover amounting to £13.7 billion, there has never been a better time to adopt one of the UK’s most successful business models. In the West Midlands specifically annual turnover from franchising in 2015 was £1.5 billion, up 15% on the last 5 years.

Qatar Airways was officially unveiled as KidZania Singapore’s latest industry partner at a press conference and special preview of the KidZania Singapore establishment on Sentosa Island. Visitors entering KidZania Singapore will be welcomed at the Qatar Airways branded airport terminal, complete with check-in desks and personnel dressed in Qatar Airways uniforms. The facility is also home to the Aviation Academy where kids can immerse themselves in the world of aviation and travel.

Business leaders in Birmingham welcomed an up-beat report from the company which part-owns Birmingham’s Grand Central and Bullring shopping centres. Property giant Hammerson this month acquired Grand Central shopping centre for £350 million and has reaffirmed its “strong commitment” to Birmingham.

Birmingham City Council has guaranteed there will be no school crossing patrol job losses next year after launching the School Crossing Safety Trust. And council leader, Cllr John Clancy, is continuing talks with businesses and other potential partners to fund the service in future years. Cuts to the service were among budget proposals published in December but Cllr Clancy stressed his preferred option was to launch a trust to fund crossing patrols in future years.

Facewatch, the revolutionary, hi-tech system launched last year to help businesses report crime is already seeing success following a string of arrests.  The first success saw ‘report to arrest’ within five hours where a prolific shop lifter responsible for 2 thefts from Selfridges totalling £210 was remanded in custody due to the high quality footage available.

Cabinet is set to approve the adoption of a plan to tackle the long-standing issue of low skills in Birmingham by ensuring people of all ages are equipped with the skills they need to secure sustainable and well-paid jobs. Developed in conjunction with partners, the Birmingham Skills Investment Plan (BSIP) sets out the challenges relating to low skills and unemployment in the city and how these will be addressed in the long-term.

Wolverhampton's Youth Offending Team is working well to protect the public and prevent young people from reoffending, according to inspectors. They gave the City of Wolverhampton Council-run service top marks in four of the six inspection areas, and the second best rating in the other two, making it one of the best performing Youth Offending Teams in the country.