Beer duty escalator takes its toll

3 million fewer UK adults visit the pub on a regular basis

Batter by Far!

Local residents have welcomed the return of their favourite chippy with the reopening of Shards Fryer at the All Saints Square shopping centre , Shard End.

Selling Birmingham to investors

Ten influential advisers to global investors toured Birmingham last week to see the city’s increasingly compelling offer for themselves.

Birmingham ranked second in the UK

Birmingham has been ranked as having the highest quality of life of any UK city outside of the capital in a new study by Mercer, a global HR firm.

The economics of regeneration

Alan Clawley writes: “We are not alone in being sceptical about the ability of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the RZ to rescue developments like Paradise Circus.”

Fit for the Future

Queen Alexandra College’s ‘Fit for the Future’ appeal was launched this month – aided by a celebrity former student.

Warning Call by Ambulance Service

With winter approaching, make sure your home is safe.

New name for business park

A science and business park in Wolverhampton is changing its name to reflect a greater focus on support for enterprise initiatives.

Whittlebury Hall a winner

Whittlebury Hall Conference and Training Centre, Hotel and Spa has been announced as WINNER of the 2013 Condé Nast Johansens MICE Award.

Crest Nicholson hosts open weekend to raise awareness of FirstBuy

Crest Nicholson is encouraging people hunting for their first home in Birmingham to visit its Park Central development for a special open day which aims to raise awareness of the government’s FirstBuy scheme.

Minister attends Property Breakfast Briefing

Brandon Lewis outlined the Government’s proposed changes to planning regulations at a Breakfast Briefing

Top conference facilities unveiled at St John’s Hotel Solihull

Conference goers at St John’s Hotel, Solihull, will benefit from the latest projection equipment, which has been installed in its premier conference venue as part of a complete refurbishment.

Lee Longlands celebrates 110 years in business

One of the West Midlands’ best-known retailers is celebrating a special birthday in style, with the launch of exclusive new ranges and plans to roll out a new e-commerce facility.

New Solihull hotel general manager has conferences in his sights

Establishing Solihull as the conference centre for the area will be the focus for Darren McGhee, the new general manager at St John’s Hotel in the town.

Midland Co-op doing well

Midlands Co-operative Society’s business performance has produced a robust performance in the first half of 2012, in spite of the lengthy economic downturn.

60th tech start-up created at Birmingham Science Park

Birmingham Science Park’s Entrepreneurs for the Future tech incubator (e4f) has accepted three new start-ups, taking the total number of companies who have benefited from the programme to over 60 in less than three years.

First time buyers encouraged to make their ‘FirstBuy’ at Park Central

Crest Nicholson is encouraging those people hunting for their first home in Birmingham to visit its Park Central development and find out how the government’s FirstBuy scheme could help them purchase a new property.

Bold expansion plans create 100 jobs

Birmingham-based engineering company Systems adi Group is to create 100 new jobs as new contracts bring expansion.

Entrepreneurs unveil self-designed workspace at Birmingham Science Park

A refurbished 4,500 sq ft workspace has been unveiled at Birmingham Science Park. Designed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs….

Trees, buses and vistas – Welcome to Paradise

Alan Clawley has spotted that plans for the redevelopment of Birmingham’s Paradise Circus seem to be lacking something.

Two new show apartments at Park Central, Birmingham

Two new show apartments will be launched at Crest Nicholson’s Park Central development in Birmingham city centre, at a special open day this weekend

Free home insulation for those who need it most

There is a Government scheme to insulate people’s homes to protect them from the cold and to save them money on their heating bills.

Exclusive living is in reach for first time buyers

Home ownership is no longer just a dream for one young couple who have now bought their first property together at Taylor Wimpey Midlands’ stunning Highfield Gardens development in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Midland architect doing well down south

Involvement in a state-of-the-art simulation suite at the Royal Free Hospital in London is the latest in a long line of high-profile healthcare contracts secured by midland architects Johnson Design Partnership (JDP).

Staffordshire company with big plans for expansion

Expansion into global markets, streamlining of supply chains and a growing desire from customers to source from the UK will all be key factors in helping a Cheslyn Hay manufacturer more than double its turnover in the next three years.

New U: How good old buildings survive

“Given an owner who is minded to do so, any sound building can be adapted to a new use”, writes Alan Clawley. Here are some examples.