Birmingham Post - Business News - Other UK business news

Struggling farmers could swing rural vote in General Election

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:54:00 GMT

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

Marston's to start brewing vegetarian real ale

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:31:00 GMT

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

Budget: Backs to the wall time for Alistair Darling

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:24:00 GMT

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.

Budget: Austerity the watchford as election looms

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:21:00 GMT

Roger Bootle, economic adviser to Deloitte, gives his view on what we can expect from next week’s Budget

Poundland eyes 50 more stores as owners seek to sell business

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:38:00 GMT

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.

Business Profile: Jonathan Webber

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:06:00 GMT

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

More fleet cuts at Accident Exchange as Autofocus legal battle continues

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:44:00 GMT

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.

Birmingham taxpayers facing legal costs for row over Longbridge

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:30:00 GMT

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

Petrol prices soar ahead of tax hike

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:55:00 GMT

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.

West Midlands jobs blow as Ethel Austin and Au Naturale stores close

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:40:00 GMT

Dozens more jobs are set to be axed in the Midlands after administrators confirmed further store closures at retail chains Ethel Austin and Au Naturale as administrators today confirmed further store closures.

Graham Taylor to attend Birmingham networking event

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:05:00 GMT

Former England manager Graham Taylor will attend a networking event for businesses across the region focusing on the topic of leadership under pressure.

Cider makers fear a new crunch as political parties chase populist votes

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:35:00 GMT

Tom Scotney sees how the war on binge drinking could create an unexpected Midlands victim in the brewing industry.

More Midland job losses at Ethel Austin and Au Naturale

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:40:15 GMT

Marks & Spencer chairman agrees to pay cut

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:15:15 GMT

Marks & Spencer has bowed to pressure from investors after chairman Sir Stuart Rose agreed to a 25% pay cut for his final months with the high street giant.

Business leaders and union chiefs clash over Budget

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:50:00 GMT

Business and union leaders will today be making last-minute presentations to the Government ahead of next week’s Budget, with differing views on how to lead the country out of recession.

West Midlands unemployment still highest in UK

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:59:00 GMT

Unemployment is again higher in the West Midlands than any other part of the country despite 17,000 fewer people in the jobless queue.

Spanish airline Spanair to launch new service from Birmingham Airport

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:30:00 GMT

Birmingham Airport has pulled off a major coup by attracting one of Spain’s biggest airlines.

Survey shows fall in recruitment confidence

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:15:00 GMT

Confidence among employers about recruiting new workers in the coming months has fallen, new research shows.

Diamond Bus company rejects claims advert is sexist

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:20:00 GMT

A bus company has rejected calls for it to remove an advert featuring a sexy “matron” from its vehicles amid claims that it demeans the nursing profession.

Dispute between St Modwen and Birmingham City Council hits Longbridge project

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:19:00 GMT

Job creation at the flagship £750 million Longbridge regeneration scheme is in danger of grinding to a halt following a protracted financial dispute between developers St Modwen and Birmingham City Council.