Business News

Opening season at The Halls Wolverhampton is estimated to have boosted the local economy by almost £1.6million – and supported over 250 people into employment.

The new look Halls burst back into life in May as Britpop legends Blur marked the official reopening of the iconic venue with a sell-out show. Opening season saw 25 shows staged between 26 May and 13 July, attracting more than 50,000 visitors to Wolverhampton, with 20% of sales coming from WV postcodes, 60% from the wider region and 20% from other UK and international visitors.

In 2021, FDI flows to Africa reached a record-breaking $83 billion – more than double the previous year.

Despite challenges such as poor infrastructure, limited transparency and complex legal frameworks, multinational companies recognise Africa as fertile ground for business growth. Although administrative barriers and legislative complexities may result in excessive costs, it is important to appropriately address these factors.

RateGain Travel Technologies Limited (NSE: RATEGAIN), a global provider of AI-powered SaaS solutions for the hospitality and travel industry, today announced its financial results for Q1 FY24 ending on June 30, 2023, reporting robust revenue growth and improving profitability as the companies continue to build on a record year last year.

RateGain continues to witness strong revenue growth 79.8% YoY to INR 2,144.8 Mn and substantial improvement in operating margins to 17.6% for Q1FY24, up from 10.0% in the same period last year: on the back of operating leverage playing out with improved operating metrics driving performance across different verticals.

With 14 or more mega projects in the making in Saudi Arabia based on its Vision 2030, competing Dubai Public Relations is hard at work to tell the world the city’s economic result for the first 1/2 year of 2023.

Emirates and other international airlines flying to Dubai brought in 8.5 million international tourists to the city, making DXB the busiest airport for international flights. The consolidated update released provides key updates on how this city of 3.6 million people is doing and the progress made in delivering against the goals laid out in the Emirate’s D33 Economic Agenda. 

Following the urgent review into the matter of de-banking in the UK, speaking to broadcasters, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, said: “Free speech is a fundamental human right.

“You can agree or disagree with Nigel Farage, but everyone must be able to express their opinions. In today’s society, you need a bank account function and so a threat to be de-banked is a threat to your right to express your opinions.

The former home of rock star Dave Hill from legendary band Slade in one of the most prestigious areas of Solihull, in the West Midlands, is being marketed by DM & Co. Premium. The four-bedroomed, detached house at 37 Brueton Avenue neighbours Solihull Preparatory School on the old Saint Martin’s campus, a 20-acre site in the grounds of the historical Malvern Hall. 

Israeli workwear management company Polytex Technologies today announced it has achieved ISO 14001 certification, an important milestone in its commitment to sustainability.

The certification recognizes Polytex's implementation and maintenance of effective environmental management systems and confirms its compliance with international standards. Organisations that adopt the Polytex solution are by default choosing an environmentally friendly option for their workwear management needs.

Green Globe, Ltd., owner of the Green Globe brand and licensee of all Green Globe programs worldwide, has appointed Juergen Steinmetz to its advisory board.

Juergen Steinmetz is the founder, publisher, and CEO of the TravelNewsGroup, which owns 11 publications. The brand will align with eTurboNews to distribute information about its activities to the travel and tourism industry, and partner with the World Tourism Network.

The United States and India’s economic partnership is flourishing, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs in both countries and spurring technological innovation. Trade between the U.S. and India increased 98% between 2013 and 2022, reaching a record $191 billion.

That bilateral investment drives clean energy advancements, enhances medical treatments and diagnostics, and responsibly develops emerging technologies while also deepening cultural understanding. “Our economic relationship is booming,” President Biden said during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit last month.

Yodaplus, a Mumbai-based IT services firm, is at the forefront of empowering organizations worldwide with advanced technological capabilities. Today, the company sheds light on the evolving global landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its growing adoption within its service portfolio.

With its wide range of services and deep industry knowledge, Yodaplus has been a game changer – enabling organizations to focus on their core operations and achieve sustainable growth. And now, by integrating AI into services, Yodaplus helps businesses navigate the complex digital transformation landscape more efficiently, creating a competitive edge.

SAUDIA Airlines is placing its guests’ choices and feedback at the forefront as it retrofits its current fleet of aircraft. SAUDIA unveiled a range of cutting-edge seat models for its upcoming fleet, and to retrofit its current fleet, as part of an array of innovative initiatives aimed at revolutionizing the travel experience.

The United Kingdom places eighth in the index, however, the country scores highly for its net-gross turnover of OTC foreign exchange instruments – which was the highest worldwide in 2022 at $3,755 billion. This is 98% higher than in nearby France, where turnover was just $214 billion in the same period.

A new briefing from the Social Market Foundation, authored by Will Henshall – a researcher at the Harvard Kennedy School – warns that without a change in course, the UK faces the prospect of having to pay ever more for breakthroughs or having to accept slower rates of progress and economic growth.

Self Assessment customers could take advantage of four key benefits when filing their tax return early, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed. The Self Assessment deadline for the 2022 to 2023 tax year is 31 January 2024. Customers who file early will have more control over their financial affairs and beat the January rush.

Birmingham full-service law firm Shakespeare Martineau has welcomed new partner Natalie Owen to launch and lead its social housing securitisation team.

Natalie is a trusted adviser to a range of not-for-profit and for-profit registered providers, advising them on complex large-scale residential portfolio funding and acquisition projects to maximise their assets. With 18 years’ post-qualified experience, Natalie has joined the firm from Trowers & Hamlins, where she headed up its Birmingham real estate finance security team.

The Future Faces division of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has announced the shortlist for the Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year awards.

The winners will be announced at the annual dinner and awards, taking place on Friday 22 September at the Eastside Rooms.