Birmingham Post

College Plans Face Cash Crisis

PAGE 14 College expansion plans threatened by a funding crisis have very little chance of going ahead - because almost all the money has been spent, it has emerged. Bournville College's ambitious plans to relocate to the former Rover factory in Longbridge is among those facing the axe.

Ftse 100

Today's Event

What: Black tie dinner with all four managers of the area's major football teams. Where: Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel, NEC.

Sharewatch

In the Spotlight

Funding Fiasco Questions Need Answering

College plans threatened - page 14 The failure to manage funding for Britain's further education sector effectively is a disaster for colleges across the country including 16 in the West Midlands.

Twenty Nations, One Day, Agreement? ; Comment

G20 summit build-up - pages 20 & 21 Another summit, another riot. The violence seen on the streets of London as world leaders gather for the G20 summit is as predictable as it is pointless.

Travel Check

M5 Narrow lanes between J4 Lydiate Ash (junction with A38) and J4A Bromsgrove (junction with M42) in Southbound direction. M40 Narrow lanes between J16 Hockley Heath (junction with A3400) and J14 Royal Leamington Spa South (junction with A452) in Southbound direction.

Key Figure

02.04.2009

BUSINESS NEWS 4-13 Air India links Air India has said it is "trying its best" to restore the direct link to India that was withdrawn from Birmingham towards the end of last year. Page 5 Football finances As Southampton look like it could become the latest football financial casualty, Tom Scotney looks at why the number of failing clubs is on the rise. Pages 6 & 7 HP operation Hewlett-Packard has unveiled its new pounds 50 million operation in Rugby that will play a key role if the region is h...

Tomorrow in the Birmingham Post

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Us President

Key Words

Mp Spells Out Threat to Major Firms in Region ; Automotive

The West Midlands could lose "strategically significant" companies after suffering more than 5,500 automotive job losses in just three months, the House of Commons heard. Northfield Labour MP Richard Burden, who praised the Birmingham Post's campaign in support of Jaguar Land Rover, spelled out the grim impact of the downturn in the region as he revealed the fall in output was the worst of any area of the UK.

'Appropriate Step' Says Ex-Rbs Chairman As He Quits Bp Board ; Banking

Former Royal Bank of Scotland chairman Sir Tom McKillop resigned yesterday - from the board of oil giant BP. Sir Tom - caught up in the row over former RBS chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin's pounds 703,000 pension - will step down at BP's annual meeting on April 16.

Uk Opt-Out Fight ; Update

The Government was standing firm last night in defence of Britain's opt-out from Europe's maximum 48-hour working week. As last-ditch talks began in Brussels to thrash out a new working time deal, a spokesman for the department for business said there was no question of bowing to European Parliament demands to phase out the UK's flexibility to exceed 48 hours.

High-Speed Rail Link Is a Must for Birmingham ; Transport

The head of Eurostar has thrown his weight behind a high-speed rail link between London and the West Midlands. Chief executive Richard Brown said the region is highly likely to get England's second high-speed railway.

Strong Response to Bid Appeal

An appeal for directors to join the board of the newly created Colmore Business District BID has received an enthusiastic response from local businesses. Eighteen applications have been received for the ten business director board positions, a response which has been welcomed by Colmore BID director Richard Brennan.

Air India Plans to Restart Direct Flights Are Still Up in the Air ; Aviation

Air India has said it is "trying its best" to restore the direct link to India that was withdrawn from Birmingham towards the end of last year. The Birmingham International Airport to Amritsar route was withdrawn by Air India last year, leaving the city without a single direct, non-stop route to India.

Time for Football Clubs to Put Their House in Order

FINANCE As Southampton look like it could become the latest football financial casualty, TOM SCOTNEY looks at why the number of failing clubs is on the rise.. Football is not so much the beautiful game as ugly business, according to research by a sports businesses research centre at a West Midlands university.