Birmingham Post

Jlr Staff Asked to Delay Wages On the Day New Range Revealed

Thousands of salaried employees at Jaguar Land Rover have been asked to agree to delayed wage payments to "smooth out cash-flow" at the loss-making group. As the 4x4 manufacturer today prepared to fight back against the recession with the production launch of its crucial 2010 model range, pounds 200 one-off payments were on offer to staff who agree to salary swaps.

Rotary Convention: City Coffers Boostedby [ ... ]

Pounds 25m Key Figure [ ... ]

No More State-Subsidised Second Homes ; Comment

MPs should rent one-bedroom flats - page 14 Despite all the scandal, all the public outrage and all the resignations, some MPs still don't understand what the problem is with the expenses arrangements in the House of Commons.

Council Should Have More Powers to Refuse Late-Night Plans

Row over kebab shop opening - page 15 The case of Village Kebab Shop in Moseley is really about more than one fast food outlet.

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02.07.2009

BUSINESS NEWS 4-11 LDV dealers 'working for nothing' Around 200 employees at LDV dealerships across Europe have been forced to work for nothing following the vanmaker's collapse with debts of pounds 75 million. Page 4 Rotarians add pounds 25m to city's coffers The international Rotarian convention that came to Birmingham last week pumped nearly pounds 25 million into the city's coffers. Page 5 Credit insurers taken to task A West Midland automotive supply chain firm has challenged the Governm...

Key Words

Trinity Mirror to Close Titles ; Media

Birmingham Post owner Trinity Mirror Midlands has announced plans to cut a number of newspapers to secure its long term future. About 94 redundancies are anticipated across the Midlands businesses and the company has now entered a period of consultation with all affected staff.

M& S's Smaller-Than-Expected Sales Decrease Boosts Ailing Sector ; Retail

Retail giant Marks & Spencer has provided a boost for the ailing retail sector by announcing a smaller-thanexpected fall in sales. Chief executive Sir Stuart Rose, who has been criticised over recent trading and corporate governance issues, said there were signs of an improved trend in M& S's performance but added he remained cautious about prospects for this year and next.

Ldv Dealers in Europe 'Working for Nothing' ; Automotive

Around 200 employees at LDV dealerships across Europe have been forced to work for nothing following the vanmaker's collapse with debts of pounds 75 million. Staff at the crisis-torn Birmingham van maker's dealer network in Holland, Belgium, Spain, Denmark, Poland and France are still at work despite the closure of the Washwood Heath factory.

Why We All Need Better Value ; City View

Every four years I deride the Americans for taking 18 months to elect a President. We do the job in a three-week campaign, don't we? And there is no shilly-shallying afterwards. The removal van calls at No 10 next morning for the loser's knickknacks. Well, this time the British election campaign is up and running 11 months before Gordon has to call it.

Rotarians' Pounds 25m Lift to City Coffers ; Conference

The international Rotarian convention that came to Birmingham last week pumped nearly pounds 25 million into the city's coffers. The influx of 20,000 to the conference held at the NEC was worth huge amounts of money to local hotels, shops, attractions and businesses - at least 20 per cent more than originally predicted, according to Marketing Birmingham.

Short-Term Gain Is No Way to Run a Railway for the Nation ; Analyst Howard Wheeldon Considers National Express's Struggles and the Future for the Rail Industry

In the face of falling passenger demand on its East Coast main line and in anticipation of running up first-half losses of around pounds 20 million, it seems that National Express has effectively walked away from the important and seemingly valuable franchise it was awarded back in 2007. Back to coaches and of National Express problems can probably be put down to over- expansion, a failed or questionable management and strategy over very many years - right back to when the big coach operator ...

National Express Goes Off Rails On East Coast ; Transport

Debt-ridden transport firm National Express made up to pounds 20million in firsthalf losses on its East Coast franchise before hand of the London to Scotland rail route yesterday after National Express defaulted on its franchise. Meanwhile, chief executive Richard Bowker announced he was stepping down from his position after three years in the role.

Union Leaders Call for Action to Save Two Shipyards From Closure ; Maritime

Union leaders have urged politicians and shipbuilding bosses to act now to prevent the closure of yards with the loss of thousands of jobs. A leaked memo has reportedly revealed plans which could see two British shipyards close.

Cineworld Reports Blockbusting First-Half Sales Figures ; Leisure

Blockbusters including Slumdog Millionaire, X-Men and Transformers drove half-year box office sales up by 17.9 per cent at Cineworld. The UK's second biggest cinema chain reported on a "healthy" first half, thanks to the strong line-up of films, with director Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire becoming the unexpected hit of the year so far, grossing more than pounds 31 million for the industry in the UK and Ireland.

New Bank Deal Secures Future of Metalrax ; Engineering

The jobs of hundreds of workers have been secured after engineering group Metalrax arranged a crucial refinancing deal with its banks. Just a week ago, chief executive Andrew Richardson said the West Midlands firm would be unable to continue if it could not arrange a deal.