BusinessLive

Santander to close Midlands branches https://lnkd.in/esCWZWBt

Siblings convert former art gallery into new optician https://lnkd.in/ep4a7kY5

Funding pulled for Midlands Engine after a decade https://lnkd.in/e4yHAwJA

New plans in for 29-storey 'green' Birmingham apartment complex #propertynews https://lnkd.in/erjPS2z5

Hard to believe, but it’s been five years since the country went into lockdown. To mark that anniversary, we want to hear from you about how your business was changed. Here at BusinessLive, we moved to home working and from our kitchen tables and home offices we brought you all the latest updates from Government and businesses, from the regular live ministerial press conferences to updates on lockdowns, furlough and social distancing. While the pandemic may feel like a distant memory, it actually changed many businesses forever, as home and hybrid working are now more common than ever. Now we want to know how you found lockdown, and how you think it was handled.  Please take part in our survey - link below

Applied Nutirition is one of Merseyside's biggest business success stories of recent years - now it is looking for more growth after securing four key deals. The Knowsley group has agreed a joint business plan with Holland & Barrett to expand its ranges at those shops - including making its Coleen Rooney range available in 500 stores. Meanwhile it has signed a deal with three US retail groups, including  the largest regional grocery chain in the Midwest. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/e-5a-Y_K

You’d expect big announcements and amazing artist’s impressions during MIPIM week – but the biggest announcement today came in London rather than Cannes as Manchester United unveiled plans for “the world’s greatest football stadium”. The club’s £2bn plans, unveiled at architecture firm Foster + Partners' headquarters in London, would see a 100,000-seat stadium built as part of what world-famous architect Lord Norman Foster said would be “a mixed-use miniature city of the future”. The stadium and public plaza would be covered by what Mancunian Lord Foster calls a “vast umbrella”, One of the masts holding up the canopy would be 200m high - making it the tallest structure in Manchester, and meaning it might even be visible from Liverpool on a clear day. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe vowed the project was not just about the arena, saying: “Just as important is the opportunity for a new stadium to be the catalyst for social and economic renewal of the Old Trafford area, creating jobs and investment, not just during the construction phase, but on a lasting basis when the stadium district is complete.”

"Manchester is super hot right now, the city seems to be buzzing, and when you see other brands coming in, like W Hotels in the same development, it helps you take that leap of faith" - why cult coffee chain Grind is opening in Gary Neville's £400m St Michael's development

Construction completes of new £32.9m logistics park GMI Construction Group PLC CANMOOR Tristan Capital Partners #propertynews https://lnkd.in/eTvqiFXx

Charity Canal & River Trust offloads Birmingham warehouse #propertynews https://lnkd.in/eYwEDtP7