Duncan Tift

Mailbox architects moving in

The architects behind one of Birmingham’s most successful developments will be able to admire their work up close after deciding to make it their new home. Read

BP has selected Birmingham-based regeneration specialist St Modwen as its preferred developer for a 2,500-acre portfolio of brownfield sites situated across South Wales, Scotland, the Midlands and South East England. Read

Nick Paul to stay chairman of AWM for another year

The crisis surrounding the next chairman of regional development agency Advantage West Midlands has taken a fresh twist after Business Secretary Lord Mandelson revealed that current incumbent Nick Paul is to remain in post for a further 12 months. Read

Top Banana chief tells of China challenge

SOME businesses have been trading with China for years, others have just started, but either way most are still daunted by the plethora of issues and cultural differences the country poses. Read

Manufacturers are urged to ‘look abroad’ for survival

Manufacturers must continue to look overseas for sales if they are to survive the current economic downturn, the Black Country Chamber of Commerce has said. Read

Award for see-saw which will help power African classrooms

A see-saw that could solve some of remote Africa’s energy problems, a famous Stoke-on-Trent fine china producer and a biomedical specialist pioneering new treatments for genetic diseases have celebrated success at this year’s Lord Stafford Awards. Read

London could be hit hard by loss of 52,000 jobs at Citigroup

The deepening banking crisis worsened with an announcement by Citigroup it will shed 52,000 jobs, with losses heavy in London and New York. Read

Worcester web services firm wins top award

Postcode Anywhere going places with nominations Read

Cannock guitar shop sales rocket

Red Planet in tune with left-handed guitarists Read

Mandelson’s £4m may be just a drop in the ocean

While not always desirable, Government intervention is sometimes necessary in order to stabilise the economy. Read

Carmakers to appeal for help from Government

Britain’s carmakers are to make their first appeal for direct financial help from the Government, new reports have claimed. Read

Mandelson talks to the Birmingham Post about how the West Midlands can survive recession

Duncan Tift talks to Business Secretary Lord Mandelson about how the West Midlands can weather the current climate. Read

Business tax cuts needed to kick-start economy, says chamber

Industry leaders in Coventry and Warwickshire are calling for a series of business tax cuts in order to stimulate the economy and save jobs. Read

Coventry and Warwickshire business leaders seek tax cuts to help economy

Industry chiefs want tax Read

West midlands manufacturing body seeks new boss

REGIONAL manufacturing support body the West Midlands Manufacturing Consortium is recruiting a new chairman. Read

Midland plea for £1bn car industry bail-out

THE Government has been urged to mount a £1 billion-plus bail-out of the credit crunch-hit car industry. Read

Region leading way with business–university links

The Midlands is ahead of the game when it comes to business and universities working together to include the skills of the workforce according to director of Warwick Manufacturing Group Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya. Read

Ruth Badger launches DVD on being a real apprentice

One of Britain’s most famous apprentices, Ruth Badger, has returned to the screen to star in a new DVD promoting the real value of being a trainee. Read

Steadfast duo see hard work rewarded in new business

Two Black Country engineers who ploughed their life savings and 20,000 man hours into their business have seen their hard work pay off with a 100 per cent increase in sales in two years. Read

JCB workers agree to reduced hours to save jobs

Workers at Staffordshire excavator manufacturer JCB have agreed to reduce their working week in an attempt to save their jobs. Read

Author Profile

Duncan Tift is a Business Reporter on The Birmingham Post with special responsibility for Emerging Markets and Manufacturing. He has recently visited India as part of his research into the acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover by Tata Motors and has also done extensive work recently on the relaunch of car production at the former MG Rover factory at Longbridge. He is an accomplished journalist with more than 20 years experience in the West Midland newspaper industry, where he has worked for some of the largest titles in the sector.

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