Updated 9:10am 20 May 2013

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Richard McComb: More must be done to help independent cafés and restaurants

It’s the end of the road for smoked salmon bagels, Lapsang Souchong in fine bone china and waiters in coat-tails. Afternoon tea will never be the same in Birmingham.Read

Reggae Reggae Sauce king Levi Roots out to inspire young entrepreneurs

Reggae Reggae Sauce entrepreneur Levi Roots wants to inspire a generation of Birmingham youngsters to follow in his footsteps and go into business.Read

West Midlands firms pick up Queen's Awards at Buckingham Palace

Directors of ten of the most enterprising firms in the West Midlands have been rewarded at a reception at Buckingham Palace.Read

Expecting Staffordshire couple launch pregnancy nutrition drink

For most people preparing for your first baby is more than enough to think about – but a Staffordshire mum- and dad-to-be have launched a new venture which they hope will revolutionise the pregnancy nutrition market. Read

Two new startups join e4f technology incubation scheme in Birmingham

Birmingham Science Park Aston (BSPA) added two new startups to its technology incubation scheme.Read

Long-lost brother and sister set up Birmingham boutique together

Two long-lost siblings who were separated at birth but were reunited after an extraordinary sequence of events have gone into business together in Birmingham. Read

Investbx to advise on SME fundraising service Sharemark

The recently privatised Birmingham stock market Investbx has struck a deal to advise on a new funding initiative which can help firms raise up to £4.5 millionRead

£75,000 award on offer to tech start-ups

An entrepreneur has put up a £75,000 prize for the most improved tech start-up company on a new “boot camp” programme in Birmingham.Read

Women's business club launched

A Birmingham-based young entrepreneur has launched a new venture to boost the number of women running their own businesses in the region.Read

Sweet start for Birmingham's Miss Macaroon

A young pastry chef from Birmingham has launched her own social enterprise producing macaroons – and orders have started flocking in.Read

£6m for Birmingham City University to share innovation with businesses

Birmingham City University has been given more than £6 million to help share its expertise and innovation with local businesses.Read

A beautiful welcome as Wolverhampton entrepreneur looks east

A Midland beauty therapist is preparing to open new stores and salons in Hong Kong and New York following the success of her Far East flagship store in Taiwan.Read

Hadrian Garner's business idea goes down the toilet – and it's a major success

The man who was Britain’s youngest ever special forces soldier is carving out a new career with an environmentally-friendly portable toilet fluid he hopes will become a global brand. Read

Vince Cable threatens banks over lending to small businesses

Business Secretary Vince Cable has told MPs the Government is prepared to increase taxation on UK banks if they fail to back small businesses.Read

Business Link scheme aims to create 600 jobs in West Midlands

A new initiative will be launched this month aimed at supporting 300 expanding companies in the West Midlands.Read

Signs of encouragement over business lending, according to EEF

There are tentative signs that more SMEs are securing loans according to a new survey by the EEF.Read

Firms 'missing out on billions' by not embracing green agenda

The region’s smaller firms are missing out on a potential share in billions of pounds of growth in the coming years because they are not tuned into the sustainability agenda, according to new research.Read

SMEs still waiting for some understanding by the banks

With the launch of the Business Growth Fund and disappointing lending figures, Anna Blackaby finds that West Midland firms’ number one plea is simply to be understood by lenders.Read

Ex-engineer gets kick out of a career move

A former engineer has given up his career just for kicks – and is hoping to spark a new craze by offering Tai Chi classes.Read

Business leaders disappointed with banks' Project Merlin failure

Business leaders in the Midlands have urged banks to be more pro-active in promoting Project Merlin after figures were released showing they were on course to miss lending targets.Read