A NEW funding initiative has benefitted almost 100 SMEs across the Black Country. The businesses have all been recipients of the Black Country Gold scheme, backed by the European Regional Development Fund.         The Gold initiative is backed by Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall councils, together with the University of Wolverhampton. In […]

Hundreds of millions of pounds has been awarded to local enterprise partnerships (LEP) across the West Midlands by a European fund in a bid to stimulate job creation and skills across the region. The cash will be provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and distributed by LEPs to businesses to support innovation and […]

The directors of historic West Midlands group Rubery Owen are aiming to make the most of its positive future outlook by increasing turnover and profit “significantly”, newly filed accounts have revealed. It comes after a multimillion-pound growth in sales and pre-tax profit.             Once a component manufacturing giant, the Rubery […]

A £3.3 billion vision for HS2 was today revealed that would create 52,000 jobs, extend the Midland Metro line and bring super-fast electric buses to the Black Country.  How HS2 could lookBosses want the Government to inject extra cash into the West Midlands and fund dozens of projects linked to the high-speed rail line. Called […]

A NEW £1.9m bus and rail interchange at Cradley Heath will open this weekend. From Sunday passengers will benefit from a new waiting area with toilet facilities, seating, CCTV, and improved access to train services. Within the main building there will be four connected bus stands, each with a passenger information totem to show when buses […]

Will you lend a hand to individuals setting up new social ventures in Sandwell? Sandwell Council, UnLtd and SWEDA have come together to offer financial and mentoring support to local social entrepreneurs in the Sandwell Social Entrepreneur award programme.                   These entrepreneurs have uncovered issues and problems […]

The management team at Smethwick aluminium extrusion company LA Metals has bought out the company’s founding partners. The management buyout (MBO) was led by managing director Joe Mullally and sales director Andy Wolliscroft and supported by a commercial finance package from NatWest Structured Finance in Birmingham.     Mullally said: “From a very solid base, […]

Sandwell Council, an award winning local authority is celebrating after winning two major industry awards for its pioneering work on the West Midlands Virtual Hospital (WMVH). The digital representation of a real-life hospital embedded with a 3D BIM (Building Information Modelling) learning platform was recognised at the Celebrating Constructing Excellence Awards (West Midlands) 2015 on […]

Guidance for Business The Government is keen to keep business informed of the situation with Greece and these are the latest key points             KEY POINTS  Greece announced the introduction of capital controls on the movement of currency on 29 June. Following the “No” vote in the Greek referendum on […]