Business News

With organisations and purchasers under pressure to pay attention to sustainable procurement, there continues to be an increased interest in more sustainable IT products. During March, a record-high number of products were certified according to the sustainability certification TCO Certified. More certified products make it easier for purchasers to make more sustainable choices.

IT products are a source of greenhouse gases (GHGs) throughout their entire life cycle — from manufacturing through to distribution, use and disposal. With improvements in design, manufacturing, technology and user behaviour it is possible to limit the impact.

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice have announced the appointment of seasoned technology executive Mittu Sridhara as an Operating Principal. Mr. Sridhara will play a key role in evaluating investment opportunities and driving value creation at the Firm's portfolio companies.

"We are excited to welcome Mittu to CD&R as we continue to strengthen the breadth and depth of our Operating Principal team, who we believe serve a critical role in the growth and transformation of our portfolio companies," said David Novak, Co-President of CD&R.

Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes North Midlands has made a £1,000 donation to a Hucknall-based resource centre which houses a variety of groups and services to the local community. Under One Roof is run by a management committee made up of volunteers who look after foodbanks, furniture projects and community cafés for those living in the area.

Rebecca Wells, Centre Co-ordinator at Under One Roof, said: “We were thrilled and very grateful to receive the donation from Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes North Midlands.

Bremont, Britain's largest manufacturer of luxury watches, have announced that it has appointed industry veteran Davide Cerrato as CEO and a member of the Board.

Bolstering Bremont's in-house capabilities, Cerrato brings with him extensive experience in branding, product design and development, supply-chain management, and production. Cerrato has a proven track record, having worked with some of the most notable brands in the watch industry including Tudor, Montblanc and Panerai.

Tata Communications, a global digital ecosystem enabler, today announces completion of the acquisition of The Switch Enterprises LLC (The Switch) through its wholly owned international subsidiary Tata Communications (Netherlands) B.V. The US $58.8 Mn (₹486.3 Crores) cash transaction has been closed post customary adjustments and regulatory approvals.

Businesses from across the West Midlands can now submit entries for the prestigious West Midlands Finance Awards. Entering its sixth year, the West Midlands Finance Awards is the only accolade of its kind to recognise the work and achievements of the region’s top finance professionals and businesses.

Bigger than ever, the awards will feature a new category – Finance Transformation and Change – casting an eye to those at the cutting edge of the industry, approaching change with innovation, as well the hotly contested Rising Star of the Year award. The deadline for entries is Friday 9 June 2023, applicants will then be judged by a panel of the region’s industry leaders.

An insolvency practitioner of one of the UK’s leading accountancy firms predicts the number of company insolvencies in England and Wales will set new records during 2023. The warning comes as latest quarterly insolvency statistics for January to March 2023 (Q1) reveal there were 5,747 company insolvencies in England and Wales, 18% higher than in Q1 2022.

Demand for housing remains sky high, yet homebuilders seem to be slowing down construction. Based on a National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) survey of roughly 440 builders, most seem cautiously optimistic about this year’s new build market.

Labour shortages and rising material costs continue to plague the industry from the pandemic, but the construction backlog is steady.

Property seekers looking to reside in a stylish new home in Oxfordshire are being encouraged to look no further than Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ developments in Abingdon. Located under a mile away from each other, the developments offer residents the chance to reap the benefits of both town and country living, situated in an ideal town for those who enjoy having a mix of urban and rural surroundings.

As the cost of living crisis continues, employers must recognise the importance of supporting their employees during these challenging times.

From both a business and human perspective. Financial stress can significantly impact employee wellbeing, job satisfaction, and productivity.

The Gothenburg Port Authority will become a partner in Eolus’s Västvind offshore wind power project, outside Gothenburg. The farm will be able to generate renewable electricity corresponding to the current electricity consumption of all of Gothenburg.

The Port of Gothenburg is facing a green transformation that will entail a sharp increase in the port’s electricity needs already during the period up until 2030. The port’s forecasts for future electricity consumption show a multi-fold increase in the need for power.

Responding to the ONS (Office for National Statistics) public sector finances stats for March 2023, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt said: “These numbers reflect the inevitable consequences of borrowing eye-watering sums to help families and businesses through a pandemic and Putin’s energy crisis.

This week is Administrative Professionals Week (April 24-29) and new research from Robert Half reveals top priorities for these professionals and how to best retain them – happy to connect you with a Robert Half workplace expert this week to discuss how businesses can better support and recognize their administrative professionals.

French luxury group, controlled by billionaire Bernard Arnault, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, reported a 17% jump in sales in the first quarter of 2023 – more than double market expectations, which enabled it to become Europe’s first firm to exceed $500 billion in market value.

After LVMH reported a spike in revenue in Q1 2023, shares of the holding company of Louis Vuitton, Moët & Chandon, Hennessy, Givenchy, Christian Dior, Bulgari and Sephora surged on the news, climbing 0.3% to €903.70 ($996.19) and raising the market value of the Paris-listed luxury group to €454 billion ($500.5 billion).

Frank McKenna hosted a special event at the House of Commons, on Wednesday April 19, when he was joined by shadow Business Minister Bill Esterson MP to discuss the future of manufacturing in the UK.

April is National Stress Awareness Month in the UK and new homes provider Bromford is marking the occasion by sharing its top tips on dealing with the stress that can come with moving home. Catherine Jarrett, Director of Sales and Marketing at Bromford, said: “Buying a new home and making the move to a new community is very exciting and wonderful experience.