Business News

With the Bank of England having just announced a fifth consecutive interest rate hike, I have a comment below from my client, the co-founder of ZIPZERO, about the need for businesses to react. Namely, he is calling on David Buttress, the Government’s new ‘cost-of-living tsar’, to work with energy providers and retailers to double down on the support provided to customers right now, rather than leaving it up consumers to manage the challenging economic climate alone:

The StartUp Awards National Series debuted this year to highlight the dynamic startup scene across the country that skyrocketed during the pandemic, and has been rolled out in nine UK nations and regions, supported nationally by BT, Clearco, Moblox, Fearless Adventures and with regional support from Moja Group.

Millions of people will be protected through strengthening regulation of interest-free Buy-Now Pay-Later credit agreements, under plans announced by the government today (20th June).

Buy-Now Pay-Later credit agreements can be a helpful way to manage your finances, allowing people to spread the full cost of a purchase over time.

With limited spaces remaining for Logistics UK’s Fleet Engineer Conference 2022, the business group is encouraging delegates to book – or complete existing bookings – now to avoid disappointment. Taking place at the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire on 23 June 2022, the conference will prove to be an unmissable event for anyone with responsibility for specifying commercial vehicles, ensuring roadworthiness and compliance, and maintaining fleets. 

The Social Market Foundation responds to the Government’s Private Rented Sector White Paper.

Amy Norman, Senior Researcher at SMF, said: “The SMF welcomes many of the proposed reforms published to ensure a renewed sense of security and standards for renters.

A new survey from Acas has found that three in five employers (60%) have seen an increase in hybrid working for staff compared to before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Hybrid working is a type of flexible working where an employee splits their time between the workplace and working from home or remotely.

One of the biggest Black business events in the UK – showcasing the skills of more than 100 entrepreneurs – is set for Birmingham this weekend.

The UK Black Business Show will help create exciting new workplace opportunities for Black talent.

The Booksellers Association (BA) has announce additional events and bookshop openings ahead of this year’s Independent Bookshop Week, the annual celebration of independent bookshops in the UK and Ireland taking place between 18-25 June 2022 and with Hachette as the headline sponsor.

A former nurse at Selly Oak Hospital was the guest of honour at the official opening of a contemporary redevelopment of the 125-year-old building.

Valerie Arthur, who worked in the Rheumatology Department and is now author of a fascinating book on the history of the hospital, cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the last eight apartments at Ellis Court, bespoke one and two-bedroom properties within the original central block of the former infirmary.

Works on a major extension to a Midlands business park have been completed – with new occupiers expected to be announced in the coming months.

A further 60 acres of land has been added to the west side of i54 South Staffordshire, which is on the county border with Wolverhampton.

Birmingham City Council has appointed a major design and engineering firm to deliver the next phase of Our Future City Plan which will look at the city’s development to 2040. Arcadis will work with the city council and partners to look at how Birmingham will evolve as a city as it continues to transform into a location for sustainable regeneration. 

Charity law and governance expert Catherine Rustomji has been elected to sit on the Charity Law Association executive committee. As head of charities at Midlands-based law firm Shakespeare Martineau, Catherine’s position on the executive committee will see her play a leading role in improving knowledge and awareness of charity law issues, as well as working closely with the Charity Commission to pursue both technical and practical issues facing the sector.

Howes Percival has expanded its Commercial practice with the appointment of Max Windich, a commercial contracts lawyer specialising in the IT, technology, life sciences and academic sectors. He joins the leading regional law firm as a partner within its Corporate, Commercial, and Banking (CCB) practice.    

West Midlands businesses can find out how they can benefit from the huge opportunities presented by HS2 at a special online summit this week.

HS2 is the largest infrastructure project in Europe and the most important economic and social regeneration project in decades, with the West Midlands at the heart of the new high speed rail network.

Women who have a baby miss out on almost £70,000 in wages over the following decade, according to a new analysis of the impact of Britain’s childcare provision. The Social Market Foundation revealed the new figure as it launched a cross-party commission on childcare led by Conservative and Labour MPs. 

Residents across Haringey are set to benefit from better housing services after Homes for Haringey moved back under the direct control of the council.

From Wednesday 1 June, Homes for Haringey employees and services will be directly managed in-house after an overwhelming 81% of residents backed the move last year.