Updated 5:10am 23 May 2013

Powered by Google

Anna Blackaby

Retail Birmingham keen to seek removal of 'chuggers' from city centre

Human signs and “chuggers” are in the line of fire for the body set up to improve Birmingham city centre as traders get set to go to the polls to decide whether to keep it for a second term.Read

Scawdi turning Birmingham's empty buildings into homes for start-ups

A Birmingham woman is on a mission to unleash a new generation of entrepreneurs while at the same time breathing life into the city’s empty buildings.Read

Tributes to 'inspirational' housing boss Sarah Webb

Tributes have been paid following the death of a housing boss whose life has been described as an “inspiration” to others.Read

Pensions wrangle leaves Wedgwood Museum with £156,000 bill

The collapsed Wedgwood Museum Trust has paid thousands of pounds in administrators’ and legal fees ahead of a hearing to determine whether its priceless assets can be secured for the nation.Read

New charitable fund to keep Ronnie Bowker's memory alive

The creators of a new charitable fund have vowed to keep alive the legacy of one of the “true gents” of Birmingham’s business community.Read

Staffordshire University awarded £4.8m to support start-up businesses

Staffordshire University has been awarded £4.8 million to help local businesses and boost economic growth across the region.Read

Staffordshire University in £4.8m funding boost

Staffordshire University has been awarded £4.8 million to help local businesses and boost economic growth across the region.Read

Female managers earn £11k less than male counterparts

Women managers in the Midlands earn an average of £11,346 less than their male counterparts – the second largest gap in the UK’s nations and regions.Read

Ocean Finance profits hit by PPI compensation payouts

Tamworth-based Ocean Finance and Mortgages remained in the red last year, dragged down by a £1.6 million hit for Payment Protection Insurance.Read

West Midlands high streets suffering most in England's retail slump

New figures show the West Midlands’ shopping centres have seen the highest drop in footfall in England. Anna Blackaby finds big differences across Birmingham’s high streetsRead

Tech entrepreneur takes helm at Warwick Ventures

The University of Warwick’s spin-out arm has appointed a new chief executive.Read

Birmingham rail ticket website sees turnover rocket to £19m

A Birmingham travel firm with a new rail ticket website to rival giants such as TheTrainLine has doubled its turnover – and is predicted to double it again next year.Read

Tech entrepreneur takes helm at Warwick Ventures

The University of Warwick’s spin-out arm has appointed a new chief executive.Read

Union slams plan to axe 350 jobs at Shropshire pudding factory

Union leaders have labelled the decision to axe 350 jobs at a Shropshire desserts factory “a devastating blow to the local economy”.Read

Unions slam plans to axe 350 jobs in Shropshire

Unions have labelled the decision to axe 350 jobs at a Shropshire desserts factory “a devastating blow to the local economy”.Read

Birmingham advisers work on £18.8m Promanex sale

The Birmingham offices of Deloitte and Eversheds have advised the shareholders of industrial support services specialist Promanex on its £18.8 million sale to London-listed Costain Group.Read

How Midland Bank went from its Birmingham roots to giant HSBC

It is 175 years since Midland Bank opened its doors in Birmingham. Anna Blackaby looks at how it became one of the biggest names in finance before succumbing to takeoverRead

Birmingham riots: Businesses fear insurance nightmare

Traders in riot-hit parts of Birmingham are waking up to an “insurance hangover” with fears higher premiums may prevent many taking out cover for their stock.Read

Edgbaston Priory's Davis Cup tennis hopes given £6.4m boost

Edgbaston Priory’s ambitions to stage international tennis events like the Davis Cup have taken a step closer to reality thanks to a £6.4 million loan from Handelsbanken.Read

New lease of life for the Custard Factory's Medicine Bar

A once legendary entertainment venue in Birmingham has a new lease of life.Read

Author Profile

Anna is the Finance Editor of the Mail's sister title, the Birmingham Post. For the Mail she reports on a wide range of business topics. She joined the business desk in May 2008 after a stint on a corporate finance magazine and freelancing. Before this she lived and worked in Italy as a teacher of English. On her return to the UK, she made use of her language skills to work as a translator and writer specialising in European business and green technology.