The Business Magazine - South West & West Midlands

Summit up for Creative industries in Birmingham 🎨👀 More than 220 people from across the West Midlands’ creative industries will convene in Birmingham’s The Bond on 30 January. The Big Creative UK Summit: Investment in the West Midlands is billed as a celebration of the businesses that have completed the DCMS Create Growth Programme delivered by Creative UK in partnership with West Midlands Combined Authority and Create Central. The Create Growth Programme which supports creative businesses to become investment-ready, has recently had its funding for 2025 confirmed by Lisa Nandy as part of a £60 million boost for creative industries. The West Midlands programme will once again be delivered by Creative UK who have already supported over 50 businesses in this region. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/efser2gR #creative #arts #events #westmidlands #networking #careers #brumnews #brumhour #businessnews #businessintelligence

Sales down at WHSmith's UK High Street division 🛍️📉 Swindon-headquartered WH Smith told investors it was confident of "another year of good growth in 2025" despite "some economic uncertainty" and as it reported falling sales in its UK high street stores. Updating on trading for the 21 weeks to January 25, the company said that like-for-like (LFL) revenue at its UK High Street division, for which it is exploring a potential sale, was down 3% compared to the prior year - in line with its expectations. Conversely, it reported a 7% increase in sales at its travel business (those stores in railway stations, airports and hospitals). Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/eZnwfDhr #retail #sales #finance #investing #economics #property #wiltsnews #wiltshour #businessnews #businessintelligence

Butcombe Group cheers strong full-year results 🍺🎉 Butcombe Group, which has dozens of pubs across the south west and a presence in London, has reported strong results for its year to January 25. The group employs over 1,800 people and comprises over 120 pubs and inns with around 400 rooms. It also has Butcombe Brewing co - one of the original craft brewers, which has a brewery in Bristol and a distribution and bottling plant in Somerset. The company said full year like-for-like sales were up 7.8 percent with growth of 9.5 percent in the second half - driven by strong December and festive bookings, which were up 18 percent. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/emzaKn7e #brewery #brewing #growth #finance #investing #property #londonnews #londonhour #businessnews #businessintelligence

TV personality Burton-Race becomes head chef at Cheltenham restaurant 🧑🍳🎉 John Burton-Race, the celebrity chef and TV personality, is poised to inject his culinary expertise into 'The Nook On Five' - Cheltenham's only rooftop restaurant. The chef, who appeared on the Channel 4 series 'French Leave' and its sequel 'Return of the Chef', as well as ITV’s 'I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!' has joined the Cotswolds venue as its executive head chef. "The Nook is a family run business with fine dining quality; I think that really shines through when you visit, but it’s also evidenced by its reputation and unique roof top setting," said Burton-Race. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/efGqu2Py #TV #celebrity #cooking #chef #realitytv #restaurant #cheltnews #chelthour #businessnews #businessintelligence

Gloucestershire “on brink of giant step to new nuclear energy” ⚛️⚡ Gloucestershire is on the brink of a giant step forward in developing new nuclear energy with the potential of thousands of skilled jobs and millions of pounds flowing into the regional economy. In an exclusive question and answer interview, Simon Bowen – Chair of the government’s arm’s length body, Great British Nuclear, talks to Ian Mean, Director at Business West. They discuss, for the first time how land next to the two decommissioned former nuclear sites at Oldbury and Berkeley Green, will now be the sites for nuclear development and hold the key to becoming a major part of the South West Regional nuclear hub. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/eBxPmTCX #energy #technology #innovation #nuclear #manufacturing #engineering #glosnews #gloshour #businessnews #businessintelligence

Major new office scheme launches in Bristol 🏢👀 A major new scheme has been launched in Bristol by Skelton Group Investments Limited aimed at bringing the highest standards of office space and sustainability to the city, with JLL and Knight Frank supporting as leasing agents. JLL are acting in conjunction with Knight Frank to bring EMBARQ to market, which will offer between 3,000 and 60,000 sq ft of open-plan workspace, excellent on-site amenities, full height internal atrium, public realm, end-of-journey facilities and sustainability at its core. Prominently positioned at Redcliff Quay, EMBARQ is a 100,000 sq ft office building overlooking the Floating Harbour, offering views across the city towards Bristol Bridge, King Street and Castle Park. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/eXH6y-NK AWW #property #realestate #commercialproperty #workplace #launch #construction #bristolnews #bristolhour #businessnews #businessintelligence

WHSmith puts travel business in driving seat 🚗🤝 Venerable retailer WH Smith, which has its headquarters in Swindon, has confirmed that it is exploring a potential sale for its traditional high street business. Over the past decade, WHSmith has become a focused global travel retailer. The Group's Travel business has more than 1,200 stores across 32 countries, with three-quarters of the Group's revenue and 85 per cent of its trading profit comes from the Travel business. The retailer was established as a news vendor in 1792 in Little Grosvernor Street, London, by Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna. It became WH Smith in 1846 when their only son, William Henry, took over. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/egcjkxNr #sales #deals #travel #retail #growth #finance #wiltsnews #wiltshour #businessnews #businessintelligence

West Midlands Mayor appoints more than 50 experts 👋👀 The Mayor of the West Midlands has appointed more than 50 experts from the region’s housing, transport, economic and skills sectors. The 56 experts will make up four dedicated taskforces, to help guide policy and actions that tackle some the region’s biggest challenges and deliver the Mayor Richard Parker's key priorities – Growth for Everyone – Jobs for Everyone – Homes for Everyone and Journeys for Everyone. The first to meet, last night, was the Growth Taskforce, at the West Midlands Combined Authority office in Birmingham. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/eQkrMQp9 #government #recruitment #careers #jobs #skills #economics #westmidsnews #westmidshour #businessnews #businessintelligence

Herefordshire hospitality business experiences most successful year yet 📈🎉 A Herefordshire-based hospitality business says it has experienced its most successful year yet with new openings, business ventures, investments and refurbishments. The year 2024 was one to remember for ART Hospitality Group (previously known as A Rule Of Tum), with more plans for regional expansion soon. Launched more than 10 years ago, the group now employs 120 staff across three cities and is planning to bring another 30 team members on board to help set up and run a new venture in Birmingham, working with chef Pete Dovaston, and increasing their total workforce to over 150 employees. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/er7Rj-th Hereford Food #art #hospitality #success #growth #finance #investing #herefordnews #herefordhour #businessnews #businessintelligence

Gloucester manufacturing facility acquired ⚙️🏢 A 95,000 sq ft office and manufacturing facility in Gloucester has been acquired by rotory-lobe compressor manufacturer. Roots Systems has purchased Spinnaker Works on a self-contained 4½ acre site. The company had outgrown its facility at Upper Mills Industrial Estate, in Stonehouse and has been using space at sister companies to cope with demand. Its origins can be traced back to the 1930s as one of the early manufacturers of rotary-lobe compressors, designing and supplying blowers, particularly to the energy sector. Managing director Sean Swales said... Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/eKkhBkpd #manufacturing #engineering #acquisitions #deals #property #realestate #glosnews #gloshour #businessnews #businessintelligence