Midlands Business News

More than 200,000 new manufacturing jobs could be created in the next decade as mid-sized manufacturing businesses end the process of outsourcing to Asia according to new research from the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce and supported by Lloyds Banking Group. The ‘Making at home, owning abroad’ study found that [...]

Read the full story

Islamic Bank of Britain plc (IBB), the UK’s only wholly Sharia compliant retail bank, is hosting an event in Birmingham dedicated to improving the local community’s understanding of Zakat (alms-giving). The event is being held with support from the National Zakat Foundation, (NZF), a charity which promotes knowledge and understanding of Zakat, and collects and distributes funds to Muslims in the UK.

Read the full story

A West Midlands company is pioneering a system designed to help the scrap metal industry to comply with new legislation that outlaws cash deals.

Read the full story

The first Barclays apprentices have today graduated in a ceremony to recognise their achievements.

Read the full story

The UK’s largest independent parcel network, APC Overnight, has recently completed the building of their new 138,000 square feet premises in Cannock

Read the full story

The West Brom has completed a wide-ranging programme to upgrade 36 of its branches across Birmingham, the Black Country and parts of Shropshire and Mid Wales.

Read the full story

Marriages Specialist Foods Ltd, a manufacturer of animal feed, has nearly tripled the number of staff it employs following the purchase of a new processing plant.

Read the full story

A Nottinghamshire-based company that produces materials used in the creation of steel is investing almost £10 million across its two plants to help drive its international expansion. Steetley Dolomite has secured a £5 million funding package from HSBC’s Nottinghamshire Commercial team to support the investment. The company, which specialises in supplying dolomitic lime and dead-burnt [...]

Read the full story

TFM Networks Ltd, the Aylesbury-based internet and telecoms business, has acquired internet network provider Globalwave Communications Ltd, in a deal supported by Yorkshire Bank. Yorkshire Bank’s Acquisition Finance team in the Midlands provided senior debt and working capital facilities in support of the shareholder restructuring of TFM simultaneous acquisition of Globalwave. TFM and Globalwave operate [...]

Read the full story

Latest findings from the Barclays Youth Barometer have revealed that 23% of 14-25 year olds in the West Midlands want to run their own business when they leave school, which if realised, would create a potential source of innovation and productivity. However, this generation expect to face barriers in starting their careers, with 65% thinking [...]

Read the full story

With mortgage fees at an all-time high, one smaller lender continues to buck the trend via a simple mortgage product with consistently one of the lowest standard variable rates available in the UK.

Read the full story

Yorkshire Bank has enhanced its agribusiness team in Stafford with the promotion of Louise Tomkinson to agricultural relationship manager.

Read the full story

Local manufacturing support group Made in the Midlands has announced a new partnership with Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking that will see the bank work closely with the private sector group to fuel the growth of the region’s manufacturing industry. Lloyds Bank will work with Made in the Midlands to support the group’s 250 regional members [...]

Read the full story

Leading mid-market private equity firm LDC has further strengthened its Midlands operation with the appointment of Richard Whitwell as Investment Director at its Birmingham office, with effect from 13th May 2013.

Read the full story

SME businesses in the West Midlands are failing to make plans for their long term future, with over a third (35 per cent) of firms currently having no plans for after the main directors or owners retire, according to research carried out by Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking. This compares to over a third of companies [...]

Read the full story

Consumers across the West Midlands continue to watch the pennies and seek value for money as the impact of the recession continues to influence consumer spending, according to new research from Barclays. Figures from Barclays 6 million customer database show that consumer spending across the West Midlands via credit cards, debits cards, cash and cheques [...]

Read the full story

Barclays in Burton-on-Trent today announced they will hold a market day event at the Barclays branch, High Street, Burton-On-Trent on Friday 26th April from 9.30 am until 1.00 pm. The market day event allows Barclays Business customers to promote their business in the banking hall to prospective new customers and is a local initiative to [...]

Read the full story

Barclays gave football fans in Coventry the opportunity to see first hand the ultimate prize in English football – the Barclays Premier League Trophy.

Read the full story

Local charity, The Children’s Air Ambulance recently benefited from the services of Barclays Business Assistants Shoni Davies and Tracey Stoddard

Read the full story

The Barclays Job Creation Survey 2013 has revealed that 60% of businesses in the West Midlands are creating jobs this year – a slight increase on 2012 when 58% stated they had plans to create further employment. There is also positive news in that the majority (78%) of businesses are not planning any job losses [...]

Read the full story

A leading tools manufacturer in Redditch is creating an additional eight local jobs and expanding into new export markets after securing a £950,000 funding package from Lloyds Banking Group.

Read the full story

A Leicestershire based import company has moved to new premises with financial support from Barclays.

Read the full story

A local building society has offered its support to a charity that helps those living with dementia in Dudley.

Read the full story

A sports bar based in Stafford has re-opened under new management bringing new jobs to the area, with support from Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking.

Read the full story

Lending where the banks won’t, Earl Shilton Building Society has demonstrated their nationwide appeal after one Bristol-based couple praised their services when their bank of over 20 years let them down.

Read the full story

A Midlands engineering firm has its sights set on further expansion after investing £250,000 on new machinery with funding from Yorkshire Bank.

Read the full story

A supplier of hairdressing equipment and products will remain a family business, after being purchased using a funding facility from Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking.

Read the full story

Worcestershire-based engineering group Tricorn PLC has moved its full business banking to HSBC to support its growing international operations. The company has secured a £10 million finance facility with HSBC, which includes a significant invoice finance line and working capital facilities. In addition, the AIM-listed tube manipulation specialist has opened a Renminbi (RMB) currency account [...]

Read the full story

The Property Partnership in Hilton has extended the services offered to patients from its Medical Centre site by providing a purpose built physiotherapy unit after securing a £160,000 loan from Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking.

Read the full story

Athletics legend Steve Cram gave an inspiring talk to Birmingham professionals about breaking throught ‘the wall’ to succeed in business.

Read the full story

A Nottingham banker has gone back to school to talk to students about employment.

Read the full story

Businesses looking to expand into overseas markets are being encouraged to book now to attend a free international trade workshop on 1st May in Leamington Spa, hosted by Barclays.

Read the full story

Lincolnshire-based Specialist Heat Exchangers (SHE) has secured a £4.6 million finance package from HSBC’s Leicestershire Commercial team to support the company’s expansion into the US, Middle East, South America and China. The finance facility will also enable the company to develop new products, widening the markets it can serve. SHE provides specialist thermal solutions for [...]

Read the full story

Staff at a Sutton Coldfield building society have raised a cracking £255 for local charity Breast Friends thanks to an Easter raffle.

Read the full story

Students at Park View School in Birmingham have demonstrated their entrepreneurial skills after taking part in a chocolate-themed ‘Apprentice’ style challenge supported by Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

Read the full story

West Midlands SMEs face an average seven-week wait for invoices to be paid, according to new statistics from Yorkshire and Clydesdale Banks. Not only does this put pressure on cash flow it can also threaten the survival of thousands of SMEs across the UK. In a bid to support small businesses facing invoice delays, Yorkshire [...]

Read the full story

Coventry-based, family-run accountancy firm Shah & Co has made its first move into Leicester with the acquisition of well-known practice, Pinnacle Accountants, in a deal financed by HSBC’s Birmingham Commercial Centre. The deal was led on behalf of HSBC by Senior Commercial Manager Lance Jeavons. Shah & Co owner, Haren Shah, has joined forces with [...]

Read the full story

A businesswoman in Shrewsbury has purchased a home care service franchise after securing a £70,000 Enterprise Finance Guarantee loan from Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking.

Read the full story

A West Midlands based business has recently been honoured at the prestigious annual Institute for Turnaround (IFT) Awards, receiving the award for SME Company Turnaround.

Read the full story

One of Warwickshire’s brightest entrepreneurs is set to represent the Midlands at the Lloyds TSB Enterprise Awards final on 23rd April, after winning the regional heat in Coventry yesterday.

Read the full story

Affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC (collectively with its subsidiaries “Apollo”) have today completed the acquisition of AURUM Holdings Limited, the largest prestige and luxury jewellery retailer in the United Kingdom with financial support from Barclays. The banking facilities have been supported by Barclays alongside a number of other providers. As one of the lead [...]

Read the full story

HSBC today reveals that in 2012 it provided over £1.9 billion of gross new lending to small and medium-sized businesses in the Midlands, helping more than 36,500 customers to expand and develop their business. Roy Harris, HSBC Regional Commercial Director for the Midlands, said: “HSBC remains committed to helping small and medium-sized companies in the [...]

Read the full story

HSBC has announced the appointment of Stephen Breen to the key role of Area Commercial Director for Birmingham.

Read the full story

A residential property developer has begun the final stages of work on a new housing development in Shrewsbury, which has been supported by a £360,000 loan from Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking.

Read the full story

Forward Ladies is joining forces with Barclays to inspire enterprising business women in the West Midlands to take their businesses from good to great.

Read the full story

A bus refurbishment specialist has secured a £5 million contract to supply new seats for 600 London double-decker buses, thanks to support from Yorkshire Bank.

Read the full story

A start-up nursery has opened in Leicestershire in premises the business purchased and refurbished with funding support from Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking.

Read the full story

Nottingham-based Monarch Education Furniture has undergone a management buy-out (MBO) with founders Andy and Sandra Harrhy selling the business to their daughter Emma Neath and co director Stuart Hopkin.

Read the full story

When the tough economic environment hit Reynolds Recruitment, Director Rod Harris turned to NatWest to explore new ways of working.

Read the full story

Over a hundred professionals from Birmingham’s business community attended the launch last week of Handelsbanken’s branch at 35 Newhall Street.

Read the full story