Birmingham Post

Deal of the Year Winner

Brierley Hill based Hampson Industries' pounds 158million acquisition of a Michiganbased Odyssey Industries and Global Tooling Systems was last night hailed as the Birmingham Post Deal of the Year for 2008. The aerospace company scooped the top accolade at the awards event at Birmingham's Hyatt Hotel which also saw prizes awarded for the year's best private equity deal, the best newcomer to the sector, listing of the year and a spcial award for one of the region's serial deal-makers.

Take-Off for Birmingham Airport Plan

Controversial plans to extend the runway at Birmingham International Airport finally got the go-ahead last night from Solihull Council. News of the successful planning application came as a massive transport boost was announced on the region's railways. Network Rail unveiled improvements with pounds 90 million invested in the West Midlands as well as funding for the pounds 600 million New Street Station project. The funding allows for more train services in Bromsgrove and Redditch, longer pla...

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Well On the Road to Better Transport Links ; Comment

Rail expansion plans - page 14 The West Midlands has been pushing hard for improvements to the region's transport network for many years.

Key Figure

Brown Must Convince G20 of Threat of Protectionism

Build-up to G20 summit - page 21 Gordon Brown has delivered an upbeat message about the impact the G20 Summit will have on the West Midlands' economy.

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Tomorrow in the Birmingham Post

APRIL 2009 THE DEVIL, YOU KNOW Why Marti Pellow's having a wicked time LEADING LIGHT Rambert designer Michael Howells WIN! WIN! Warwick Castle family pass or meal for two at Metro Bar & Grill HOME& GARDEN | DINING | POST PEOPLE | BEAUTY BUSINESS SECTORS CULTURE MAGAZINE Les tunes out Les Ross has been broadcasting for almost as long as local radio has existed. But, after almost 40 years of ruling the airwaves, he's about to retire. Again.

01.04.2009

BUSINESS NEWS 4-13 March planned A major national march and rally in Birmingham was announced today to bang the drum for manufacturing - as LDV called for pounds 1 million a week from the Government to keep afloat. Page 4 KPMG opt-out More than 1,000 people at financial giant KPMG in the Midlands have opted to work four-day weeks or take reducedpay sabbaticals after the firm launched a cost-cutting drive. Page 5 Grim picture Birmingham Chamber has painted one of the grimmest pictures of the l...

National Rally to Bang Manufacturing's Drum ; Automotive

A major national march and rally in Birmingham was announced yesterday to bang the drum for manufacturing - as LDV called for pounds 1 million a week from the Government to keep afloat. As the Birmingham van-maker threw down the gauntlet to Downing Street for a two-month cash lifeline, senior figures in business and industry revealed plans for a national protest march in the West Midlands. The Rover-style rally in the city will be held on May 16 - backed by a host of national industry figures...

565 Jobs Lost As Components Firm Visteon Goes Into Administration

Nearly 600 more automotive jobs were lost yesterday when a UK subsidiary of American components manufacturer Visteon was put into administration. Administrator KPMG said it was making an initial 565 staff redundant out of a total workforce of 600 in the operation, with the remaining employees being kept on to help wind the business down.

Telecoms Anger ; Update

A union yesterday attacked telecoms giant Nortel after staff were told they were being laid off immediately without any redundancy pay. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said the company's action was "heartless" and had surpassed its "lowest expectations." Staff said they believed more than 220 workers at sites in Maidenhead, Berkshire, Harlow in Essex and County Antrim in Northern Ireland were being laid off after the firm went into administration.

Employers Try to Redeploy Staff to Avoid Redundancies ; Survey

Employers in the Midlands have been redeploying their staff in an attempt to avoid further redundancies. The 2009 National Management Salary Survey, published by the Chartered Management Institute and CELRE, has also shown that other measures businesses are taking to re-motivate staff during the 'salary slow-down' include an increase in holiday allowances, time off in lieu of work and greater training support.

Relief As Increase in Business Rates Is Spread Out Over Next Two Years ; Economy

Business leaders last night welcomed a Government move to limit a planned rise in business rates to two per cent instead of the five per cent originally announced. The move was announced by chancellor Alistair Darling, who said the remaining three per cent increase will be spread out over the following two years to offer "real and genuine help" to firms.

Accountants Cut Costs with a Four-Day Week ; Accountancy

More than 1,000 people at financial giant KPMG in the Midlands have opted to work four-day weeks or take reducedpay sabbaticals after the firm launched a cost-cutting drive. KPMG said 80 per cent of its 1,500-strong Midlands workforce, based around the firm's Birmingham office on Cornwall Street, had signed up to a voluntary scheme aimed at cutting back on personnel spending without making redundancies.

Us Follows in Uk's Footsteps ; City View

Contemplating the present agonies and absurdities of Motown anyone of a certain age may be struck by the echo of events in the West Midlands motor industry 30 years ago. We never had a chief executive who worked for a dollar a year like General Motors' Rick Wagoner - though none of ours enjoyed his corporate jet-lined perks - but at least three were appointed and disappointed by desperate Governments in the belief that what became British Leyland eventually Rover was too big to fail. We had t...

Chamber's Grim Message - but There's Some Signs of Hope ; Economy

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry has painted one of the grimmest pictures of the local economy ever in its latest quarterly survey, with business in almost every sector struggling. But the chamber said there were still some small signs for optimism in the worst financial conditions for decades.

Exports Struggle Despite Weak Pound ; Background

The Birmingham Chamber survey also dispelled one myth that had previously been thought to be one of the few good things about the current financial conditions. It said that contrary to expectations, the export market had been struggling.