Business News

NHS staff working in IT services at two health trusts in the West Midlands are willing to take industrial action over plans to transfer them to a private firm, says UNISON. Almost 150 IT staff at George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (GEH) and South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) face being transferred to a new wholly owned subsidiary company (subco) against their will, says the union.

UNISON says this is an attempt to bring in ‘backdoor privatisation’ in the NHS and that managers at SWFT set up the subco months ago, before they even held discussions with staff. 

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has confirmed a multi-million-pound investment package to kickstart the development of nearly 400 homes and new commercial premises at three derelict sites, supporting hundreds of jobs.

The brownfield regeneration schemes in Coventry, Nuneaton and Wolverhampton are the latest from the WMCA’s nationally acclaimed devolved housing and regeneration programme which, in partnership with industry, is providing new homes, jobs and commercial spaces while supporting the region’s economic recovery from the Covid pandemic.

Four “superheroes” are about to embark on a unique fundraising challenge to raise vital funds for the Live and Work Village, a building project in Sandwell, West Midlands that will create new homes and employment opportunities for local young homeless people.

Tom Johnson, Karen Allen, Lee Ward-Poulton and Janice Perkins from international law firm Pinsent Masons (aka the “Legal Eagles”) in Birmingham will be taking to the skies on September 9 for a truly hair-raising Wing Walk to raise money for the LandAid Midlands-backed Live and Work Village that is currently in development by youth homeless charity St Basils.

Make UK is backing a new initiative by support platform Next Gen Makers to help manufacturing and engineering employers retain apprenticeship talent and maximise their investment in young people.

As official training provider partner, Make UK will help to promote and develop the Engineering Apprenticeships: Best Practice Programme - an initiative designed to support firms to overcome skills challenges and build talent for future success.

Dale Edwards, a Green Energy Strategic Consultant with national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP, comments on the UK Government’s eagerly awaited launch of its hydrogen plan.

Following on from the Government’s 10-point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, significant prominence has been placed in the role that hydrogen could play in driving the growth of low carbon economy. In the Energy White Paper, a stated objective of producing 5GW capacity by 2030 was announced, along with Government analysis suggesting that 20-35% of the UK’s energy consumption by 2050 could be hydrogen-based, raising expectations.

Interior designer Jane Clare has announced the launch of her new range of animal art sculptures.

Clare created the new range in response to a simple request by an interior design client, close to where she lives, to create a sculpture to adorn her living room wall. Currently the range encompasses 12 pieces of tailored art such as:

Network Rail is advising passengers planning rail travel over the upcoming bank holiday weekend to ‘look before they book’ ahead of major railway upgrades taking place between 28-30 August.

The work will improve future rail journeys for passengers and freight on the West Coast main line in Cheshire, and some routes in the West Midlands and North West. While much of the network in Network Rail's North West and Central region will be unaffected, some journeys will be impacted by the essential improvements.

A graffiti hit squad which will target tags and vandalism on the railway has been launched in the West Midlands. Network Rail and West Midlands Rail Executive are investing over £700k to clean-up lines, bridges and all things railway-related to improve the look and feel of tracksides for passengers and communities.

Graffiti can give the impression of an uncared-for environment as well as making people feel unsafe. The new hit squad's aim is to make the railway and surrounding areas more appealing.

Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System (BSol ICS) have announce the appointment of Dr Patrick Vernon OBE as its new Non-Executive Director for Inequalities.

Dr Vernon is a prominent equality campaigner with more than two decades of experience in the voluntary and public sectors. With expertise in developing and managing health and social care services, public health, grant programmes, regeneration and employment projects, he was awarded an OBE in 2012 and an honorary doctorate from Wolverhampton in 2018.

With less than one month until Logistics UK’s Fleet Engineer – the essential one-day conference for anyone responsible for maintaining commercial vehicles – the business group is urging fleet engineers to book their places now to ensure they are up to date with the latest developments in technology and enforcement.

Taking place at the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire on 7 September 2021, keynote speaker Kevin Rooney, the Traffic Commissioner for the West of England, will be explaining to attendees the consequences of failing to keep pace with vehicle technology, in addition to sharing some of the new practices that operators need to have put in place to improve their maintenance regimes.

The automation division of a multi-disciplinary engineering firm has been chosen among a select few to partner with technology giant Siemens. And the venture coincides with the launch of the engineering firm’s new 5000 sq.ft. facility, as it increases its operational footprint in the UK, now having in excess of 9,000 sq.ft. of manufacturing in total. 

Awarded a Siemens Solution Partner Certificate, adi Automation, based in Birmingham, has been chosen alongside seven other firms in the UK & Ireland for its expertise in automation and drives, after being selected as Siemens Food & Beverage Expert Solution Partners, sitting alongside just one other engineering firm in England.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding parents and carers they have until 31 August 2021 to confirm whether their teenagers are staying in full-time education or training beyond 16.

Last week, teenagers across the UK received their GSCE or Scottish National Certificate results and many are now considering their future. If they decide to continue their full-time education or training, parents or carers will be eligible to continue receiving Child Benefit payments for their child.

Budding business brains have successfully shared their talents with shoppers across Wolverhampton this summer – with two of the entrepreneurs making their way through to the national finals of a young traders' competition. 

Special young trader markets were held last month at Bilston Indoor and Outdoor Market, City Centre Market and Wednesfield Market to offer young people aged between 16 and 30 the opportunity to kickstart or grow their own business. 

The on-going regeneration of Perry Barr ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has taken another step forward with the approval of plans for a new bus interchange. The scheme is part of the overall £30.9m transport interchange development which includes the neighbouring Perry Barr railway station.

This is also undergoing a major redevelopment and will be the principal station for Alexander Stadium – the focal point of next summer’s games. Plans for the new bus interchange, which have been drawn up by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) with support from Birmingham City Council will see an overhaul of how services pick up and drop off passengers.

New research from Utilita - the UK’s only energy company created to help households use less energy - has today revealed that if consumers have their way, energy companies - or the regulator itself - will be made to backpay green premiums of up to £144 per year to customers as a result of misleading ‘100% renewable energy’ claims.

Almost three in five ‘green’ energy tariff customers - of which there are nine million in the UK - say they would claim back the premiums they have paid over time (58%), and even more said they would take action against their energy supplier if they had been misled about the energy they have received. (61%) The research was conducted by Utilita, the energy company that has taken a stance by not offering a ‘green’ tariff and focusing on innovating state-of-the-art technology that helps homes to reduce energy waste by up to 20 percent, instead. 

The Christmas Day and New Year's Day Trading (Scotland) Act 2007 gives the Scottish Government the power to make an order by statutory instrument to close large shops on New Year's Day. Usdaw has called on the Scottish Government to apply the relevant section of the Act for the last 14 years and welcomed the decision of the Government to consult on this matter.

New Year's Day in Scotland is a special day, but this is not reflected in the experience of many retail workers, who are often required to work on this day. Usdaw surveyed 1,473 of its Scottish members on their experiences of working over New Year 2018/19, and the results were clear: