Updated 4:55am 26 May 2012

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Jewellery Quarter

Jewellery Quarter firms vote for business improvement district May 25 2012

COMPANIES in the Jewellery Quarter have voted in favour of creating a business improvement district for the area.Read

Car giant takes wraps off £300k Jaguar XJ Ultimate May 25 2012

Midland car giant Jaguar has taken the wraps off its new Jaguar XJ Ultimate for its public viewing debut in Hong Kong, where it will sell for almost £330,000.Read

University of Warwick

£3.5m supercomputing hub MidPlus to help boost Midland growth May 25 2012

A £3.5 million supercomputing hub is set to help power growth and innovation in the Midlands and London by opening up its vast number-crunching power to local firms.Read

MG Motor UK

Chinese owners plan more investment into MG Motor UK at Longbridge May 24 2012

Chinese-owned MG Motor UK has benefited from £450 million worth of investment to steer Longbridge back on the road to success – and more funds are on the way.Read

Cash, money

West Midlands insolvencies dropped ten per cent in April May 24 2012

The number of West Midlands businesses declared insolvent fell to 144 in April – a drop of almost ten per cent compared to the same month last year.Read

Birmingham Post publisher Trinity Mirror appoints David Grigson as chairman May 24 2012

The board of Birmingham Post publisher Trinity Mirror has announced the appointment of a new chairman.Read

An artist's impression of Aero Engine Controls' new £60 million facility

Aero Engine Controls to create new £60 million headquarters May 24 2012

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (MBC) has granted planning consent for Aero Engine Controls’ (AEC) new advanced manufacturing and technology facility at Birmingham Business Park, Solihull - opening the way for AEC to invest £60 million in their new headquarters.Read

Shakespeares

Law firm Shakespeares in merger talks with Harvey Ingram May 24 2012

Law firm Shakespeares has announced it is in merger discussions with Leicester-based Harvey Ingram in a move which would see it become the second largest law firm in the Midlands after Wragge & Co.Read

More appointments at Hotel Indigo owner Sanguine Hospitality May 23 2012

A Birmingham hotel and restaurant has announced further members of its new senior management team.Read

Manufacturing

Manufacturers 'failed by the coalition' May 23 2012

Most manufacturers do not believe the Government's policies are helping them, with many accusing the coalition of lack of support, according to a new study.Read

Profits rise at Paragon Group after first loan book growth since recession May 23 2012

West Midlands-based lender Paragon Group has revealed a 13.4 per cent rise in profits after continuing to keep bad debts under check.Read

Ben Reid

Profits rise for Midcounties Co-operative despite tough climate May 23 2012

Retailer Midcounties Co-operative has revealed a 15 per cent rise in operating profits despite the tough climate on the High Street.Read

Other UK business news

£15.2m Medicals Direct Group sale advised in Birmingham May 23 2012

Midland-based Catalyst Corporate Finance has advised on the sale of Medicals Direct Group to Capita for up to £15.2 million.Read

Foundry group Chamberlin grows sales as exports rise May 22 2012

Rising export sales have helped engineering group Chamberlin to report a 14 per cent rise in annual revenues.Read

Another large profits and sales rise for HomeServe May 22 2012

Repair and insurance group HomeServe has revealed another giant leap in profits and sales after growing the business internationally.Read

Midland business leaders welcome inflation falling to 26-month low May 22 2012

Business leaders in Birmingham have welcomed a 0.5 per cent fall in inflation – a 26-month low – but warned against complacency.Read

Birmingham Post

Law firms in West Midlands 'at risk from slowdown in deals' May 22 2012

Law firms throughout the West Midlands are being put at risk by a dramatic slowdown in deals, a business expert has warned.Read

Aston University car wins Eco-Design award at Shell Eco Marathon May 22 2012

A futuristic hydrogen powered car created by students from Aston University has won one of the top awards at an international environmental motoring challenge.Read

Manufacturing

Majority of West Midlands manufacturers report rise in sales May 22 2012

West Midlands small and medium sized manufacturers are optimistic for growth after reporting a rise in turnover in the last six months, according to an industry survey. Read

Midland engineering firm Titan Europe's Italian plant damaged by earthquake May 21 2012

A Midland engineering group has been hit by the powerful earthquake that left thousands of people homeless in Italy.Read

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Business Comment

Chris Tomlinson: Innovate to be the next Zuckerberg May 25 2012

  • Trevor Law: Beware - retirement income could be set for a fall
  • Legal Advice
  • Jon Griffin: Scratching the seven-year itch an eighth time
  • John Clancy: Don't let drachma confuse it - banks are the problem
  • Simon Purkess: No shop can afford to give poor service
  • More Business Comment