One in 10 small firms do not believe they are ready to meet new social distancing rules to safely get their businesses back up and running, a report has revealed. The latest coronavirus business impact tracker by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) found that 10% of companies believe…

A new report has revealed that a fund set up to help small firms across the Midlands grow has so far invested almost £65 million in the region’s businesses. The £250 million Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) was launched by the Government’s British Business Bank three years ago to…

Major plans have been submitted for a new five-storey office block in Stoke-on-Trent. Genr8 Developments, the developer behind Hanley’s multi-million pound Smithfield scheme, has lodged plans for the next phase of the development. A reserved matters application has been submitted for the 62,000 sq ft ‘3 Smithfield’ office building.…

A hearing centre is taking on a second premises as it attempts to overcome the challenges brought on by the coronavirus outbreak. Ridgways Hearing Care is set to open a second base at Station Buildings, in Endon, on July 1 as part of efforts by the company to protect…

A property development and investment business has undergone a change of ownership following a management buyout. Kevin Sharkey has acquired full control of Birmingham-based Key Land Capital after buying the 50 per cent share owned by his former business partner and co-founder Alex Sutherland. Mr Sutherland has now in…

Premier Inn owner Whitbread has revealed plans to raise £1 billion through a rights issue in moves to emerge from the Covid-19 crisis in a strong position. Whitbread made the announcement as the vast majority of its hotels and all its restaurants remain shut in the face of coronavirus.…

Budget airline easyJet has confirmed it will be restarting flights next month – but with “enhanced safety measures” in place. The carrier said a small number of routes will resume on June 15 to locations with “sufficient demand” to support profitable flying. The initial schedule will mainly involve domestic…

Listed law firm Knights is forecasting an increase in full-year revenue for 2020 despite the impact of coronavirus. In a recent trading update, the professional services business – which has 15 offices across the UK including in Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford and York – announced it expects turnover…

New flexible working arrangements have been drawn up to help protect hundreds of shop floor jobs at digger-maker JCB. The company has agreed to introduce a new working pattern for factory staff at its UK plants in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham in a move which is expected to safeguard…

Plans to bring new rail passenger services to south Birmingham have taken another step forward after transport chiefs lodge an application to build a new station. The proposed site in Moseley is one of three new stations to be constructed on the Camp Hill line. The green light has…