The Business Magazine - South West & West Midlands

Banking at the Heart of the Business Community 🏦💓 Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the UK economy and play an essential role in boosting economic growth, locally and nationally. Metro Bank (UK)'s prominent position across Britain’s high streets, and its focus on building lasting relationships in business, see it tapping into this market. With more than 70 stores across England and Wales, Metro Bank has had a presence on Britain’s high streets since 2010, not only because of its bold and fresh identity, but because it pitches itself as a bank at the heart of local communities. Whilst other competitors are transitioning their offering away from physical banking to a digital offering, Metro Bank’s management team view its store network and Relationship Managers as vanguards for the bank’s products and services. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/ej7KMkNh #banking #finance #economics #growth #community #deals #SME #smallbusiness #businessnews #businessintelligence

New PhDs to look at how to sustainably support British hop growers 🍺🤔 Gloucestershire's Royal Agricultural University (RAU) is inviting applications from people wanting to complete two PhD research projects concerning developing sustainable approaches to British hop production, which is on the decline. Interviews are set to take place in November and the two successful applicants are expected to start in early 2025. Asahi UK and the Worshipful Company of Brewers, the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) and the University of Warwick are funding the PhDs. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/eneUZUFY #education #sustainability #agriculture #brewing #growth #research #glosnews #gloshour #businessnews #businessintelligence

Trio of director promotions at Gloucester's Quattro Design Architects Ltd 🤝🏗️ Gloucester-headquartered Quattro Design Architects has revealed the promotions of three of its own to the position of directors on the board. They will join Richard Fellows, Robert Walder and Mark Robins on the board of directors as of this month (October). The trio of new directors are Kate Da Costa Greaves, Jonathan White and Colm Coyle. Kate has been at Quattro since... Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/eszMJjDu #recruitment #careers #jobs #architects #property #construction #glosnews #gloshour #businessnews #businessintelligence

Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd shares gain ground as losses narrow 🚗🪙 Shares in Warwickshire luxury carmaker Aston Martin revved up almost 5% yesterday (Wednesday) as the firm reported a narrowing of losses and said it was on track to achieve its revised guidance for the full year, helped by production of new models. Last month, the FTSE-250 company warned of a lower annual profit and cut its production forecast for 2024 by around 1,000 vehicles due to supply issues and also weak demand from China. In a statement for the nine month period and the third quarter to end-September, the firm told investors its Q3 performance had improved "in line with revised expectations" and that it was "on track to deliver revised FY 2024 guidance, as supply chain disruptions are proactively managed". Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/eB4VpCE4 #finance #investing #shareholders #growth #automotive #cars #warksnews #warkshour #businessnews #businessintelligence

Airbus says it saw strong demand in first nine months ✈️📈 Aircraft giant Airbus reported a 5% increase in revenue in the nine months to end-September compared to the same period last year and repeated its guidance for full year 2024. The company, which has major hubs in Farnborough and Bristol, said consolidated revenue for the nine months was €44.5 billion, up from €42.6bn in the year-earlier period. A total of 497 commercial aircraft were delivered (9m 2023: 488 aircraft), comprising 45 A220s, 396 A320 Family, 20 A330s and 36 A350s. Revenues generated by Airbus’ commercial aircraft activities also increased 4%, the company said, mainly reflecting the higher number of deliveries. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/eS-UfU4j #technology #innovation #finance #growth #aviation #travel #bristolnews #bristolhour #businessnews #businessintelligence

Local business benefits from Halesowen College digital bus 🚌🙌 Halesowen College in the West Midlands recently delivered digital skills training to over 60 members of staff from the furniture repair firm Emmiera Group on its new digital training bus - called CEDRIC. Launched earlier this month, CEDRIC was designed to support communities to enhance their digital skills and to encourage employers to invest in the development of their workforce. The name of the bus CEDRIC is an acronym for Creating Engaging Digital Resources in the Community. John Murray, director of operations and stakeholder engagement at Halesowen College, who led on this project said... Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/eH5UvwtE #education #technology #innovation #travel #ukbusiness #local #westmidsnews #westmidshour #businessnews #businessintelligence

Advances in AI help Rugby firm launch new tool to help job seekers and businesses 🤖💼 A Rugby company is poised to launch an artificial intelligence (AI) tool it has developed, supported by University of Warwick Science Park's business support service Business Ready, which will help candidates find the right jobs and companies hire the right people. CareerFit was founded by experienced HR professional John Kilvington and uses advanced psychometric testing to understand what motivates people and their competencies. "I looked into psychometric testing in the early 1990s after my company was tasked to build teams for IT companies in many different emerging markets at that time in Europe, Africa and the Middle East," said John. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/gmGMy5as #AI #technology #innovation #launch #recruitment #careers #warksnews #warkshour #businessnews #businessintelligence

Breedon Consulting strengthens team with two new franchisees 💪🔍 Midlands-based HR Breedon Consulting has expanded its reach across the region with two new franchisees, it was reported. Helen Dinsdale will cover South Birmingham, including Redditch, Solihull, and Stratford-upon-Avon, while Maralyn Kitchingman will focus on Warwickshire, covering Warwick, Leamington, Coventry and Rugby. Managing director Nicki Robson, reportedly said... Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/e8H4ywNH #consulting #strength #recruitment #careers #jobs #HR #midlandsnews #midlandshour #businessnews #businessintelligence

Café opportunity is served up at Warwickshire country park ☕🌳 Property agent Bromwich Hardy is marketing an opportunity to launch a new café at Newbold Comyn Country Park on the edge of Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. The Cycle Hub Café is available to rent for £20,000 a year. Nearby are new cycle trails and the Newbold Comyn Arms pub, with walking areas leading to the Leam Valley Nature Reserve - part of the 300-acre country park. David Penn, partner with Bromwich Hardy, explained that the property formed part of the former Newbold Comyn golf course, where work to create a series of family friendly cycle trails was completed last summer. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/eVgmU4ku #cafe #property #opportunity #launch #countrypark #realestate #warksnews #warkshour #businessnews #businessintelligence

Engineering group Blackburn Starling & Company Limited chooses Bromsgrove for new base ⚙️🏢 East Midlands engineering firm Blackburn-Starling has opened a new premises in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire to house a new innovative arm of the business. The new unit is home to the group's new instrumentation, control, automation and telemetry (ICAT) operations. Steve White and son Chris, who head up the new ICAT team, went to Redditch-based commercial agency John Truslove Chartered Surveyors when looking for premises and the firm has now taken a five-year lease on 2,748 sq ft at unit 7 at West Court on Buntsford Park road at a rent of £25,950 per year. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/eHMngZhC #manufacturing #engineering #property #realestate #technology #innovation #midlandsnews #midlandshour #businessnews #businessintelligence