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Jerry Blackett: Birmingham's diversity makes it the USA of Europe

Birmingham creates jobs but not enough of them are filled by residents. Of all the English core cities, we have the largest percentage of working age population with no qualifications. Read

Fergal Dowling: Can tribunal fees work?

2012 will be a landmark year for employment reform – not least as we could see the introduction of fees for employment tribunals.Read

Kumar Bhattacharyya: The frantic pace of too much change

The focus on growth is being lost. And that is not good for the West Midlands or the country.Read

Russell Luckock: We already have the infrastructure for airport expansion

London Mayor Boris Johnson knows a thing or two about publicity. His idea for a new airport in the Thames estuary is getting people talking, and he says that he is very serious about the project.Read

John Clancy: Why our dream of a return on RBS will be shredded

A knighthood freshly shredded, bonuses dumped (well, two bonuses), – RBS/NatWest is back to centre stage again where it would rather not be. Because therein lurks the real problem that won’t go away.Read

Jon Griffin: Vinyl hero who lived for the revolution...

After all these years, it’s still the soundtrack to the lives of millions of people, the artform which changed the world...Read

Trevor Law: Make most of tax-free options

We can make a long list of taxes that we may pay – income tax, national insurance, VAT, capital gains tax and inheritance tax to name a few.Read

Dan Clifford: Brands battle to win over social media

The past few weeks have provided a fantastic insight into big brand perspectives of social media, as well as offering some valuable PR lessons.Read

Guy Hinchley: Vetting new providers of legal services

Last month the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) finally began processing applications from businesses looking to provide legal services through an alternative business structure (ABS).Read

Steven McCabe: Kodak predicted the digital threat in 1979 - so how could a global giant destroy itself?

Kodak was the one of the world’s top five most valuable brands until the 1990s. Now it will become a classic case study in what can go wrong.Read

Keith Gabriel: We're all in it ... but I'm not sure we're together

I feel sorry for rich people. The poor things, if you pardon the contradiction. They’re like a portly schoolkid, resigned to their fate as last person picked for any team game (except, naturally, the only thing that’s obscenely fat is their wallets).Read

Jon Griffin: Invasion of the geeks has won the high street

The geeks are taking over the high street – and that’s official.Read

Helga Henry: Values are key when looking to the future

I have just attended an inspiring residential training weekend on business leadership run by the Centre for Women’s Enterprise and Leadership at Birmingham University.Read

Jim Wood-Smith: Europe isn't going bust - you heard it here first

Is Europe going to go bust? The answer is – no.Read

Peter Mathews: Time to look past Europe

The UK, and especially the West Midlands and its manufacturing base, is an integral part of today’s global market, not just in Europe, but especially in Asia where growth and demand remain strong in comparison to a weakening European base and a weakening European economy. For there is no doubt about it, Europe will decline during 2012 and probably 2013.Read

Trevor Law: Flat prospects for the property scene in 2012

Who would have thought it? The UK property market in 2011 showed considerable resilience at a time when other asset classes and markets have been volatile.Read

Russell Luckock: Red tape that isn't just hot air for once

The Energy Act 2011 has now received Royal Assent, and some wise landlords will be exercising their minds as to how they are going to comply with the new legislation.Read

Russell Luckock: A few rules to keep a firm sweet

One of the main effects of the Bribery Act 2010, is to cause every company to construct procedures that all employees must rigidly adhere to, in order to put up a full defence should the organisation suffer a prosecution.Read

David Bailey: Still waiting for a Plan A for the growth strategy

Each week seems to bring more gloomy news on the economy. This week, two leading economic forecasters stated that the UK could already be back in recession.Read

Jon Griffin: Remaining in Manor born reaps rewards for attraction

In an increasingly volatile world, some things somehow manage to remain certainties, and we’re not just talking Benjamin Franklin’s oft quoted death and taxes here.Read

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