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CBI warns of sluggish recovery

The UK’s economic recovery will not pick up pace until the middle of next year, the CBI has warned.Read

Little Chef boss hails power of television

The man who helped rescue Little Chef has told other businesses you won’t get fried by reality television.Read

Birmingham businesses get behind City of Culture bid

Birmingham’s business community has thrown its weight behind the city’s bid to be the UK’s City of Culturefor 2013.Read

Unite calls for BA board to intervene in dispute

The chairman and board members of British Airways have been urged to “use their influence” in a bid to resolve the cabin crew dispute, which descended into a bitter war of words after a weekend of strike action.Read

Insolvencies continue to fall

The number of companies declared insolvent fell during February, according to new research.Read

Struggling farmers could swing rural vote in General Election

Anna Blackaby looks at the big issues facing UK agriculture and its political importance ahead of the General Election.Read

Aga Rangemaster on the attack and thinking big

Editor Alun Thorne talks to the boss of one of the region’s most important manufacturers about surviving the recession and the search for future growthRead

Marston's to start brewing vegetarian real ale

West Midlands brewer Marston’s has developed a new technology that will make real ale suitable for vegetarians for the first time.Read

Budget: Backs to the wall time for Alistair Darling

The region’s business leaders have called on the Alistair Darling to make clear his plans to reduce the deficit when he stands up in the Commons on Wednesday.Read

Success story continues for Key Technologies

A specialist engineering firm headed by one of the region’s top industrialists has maintained its positive run of results by posting a further increase in half-year profits.Read

Hilton Hotel proposed on site of former HP Sauce factory in Birmingham

The new owners of the former HP Sauce site in Birmingham have been in talks with the Hilton group over proposals for a 14-storey hotel on the site.Read

Poundland eyes 50 more stores as owners seek to sell business

More “sensible” high street rents have strengthened Poundland’s plans to add 50 new stores next year – giving a boost to its private equity owners in their bid for a sale of the Willenhall-based business.Read

Business Profile: Jonathan Webber

Birmingham Chamber’s Jonathan Webber criss-crosses the globe to help companies win overseas business. Ian Halstead sees what makes him tick.Read

Wesleyan Assurance back in the black

Birmingham-based Wesleyan Assurance Society said its investment strategy and financial strength helped it deliver a 20.1 per cent investment return on its main with-profits fund last year.Read

Birmingham jobs go as Yell Adworks closes all UK offices

Up to 41 jobs are being lost in Birmingham after an advertising firm announced it was closing a site in the city.Read

More fleet cuts at Accident Exchange as Autofocus legal battle continues

West Midlands car crash support firm Accident Exchange has revealed it is planning more cuts to its fleet as it continues a legal battle over inflating insurance costs.Read

Profits halve in turbulent year at Headlam Group

Carpet and tiling distributor Headlam saw its profits drop by nearly half in 2009, and said the market was still looking challenging.Read

Jobs go at taxi-maker Manganese Bronze as it ships body production to China

Black cab manufacturer Manganese Bronze revealed plans to axe 60 jobs by shipping chassis production to China – and is poised to be under the control of a Far Eastern car-maker.Read

Birmingham taxpayers facing legal costs for row over Longbridge

Council tax payers may be saddled with hefty legal fees over a bitter row involving the former MG Rover car works at Longbridge.Read

Petrol prices soar ahead of tax hike

Average petrol prices have risen 4p a litre in the last four weeks, taking them to the highest level since July 2008, new research shows.Read