Innovative waste strategy launched at the House of Commons
An innovative waste strategy, which could become a blueprint nationally, was today launched at the House of Commons. |
€120 million European climate change programme to drive business innovation
Businesses, academics and public agencies in the West Midlands gathered today to find out how they can benefit from a new €120 million Europe-wide climate change programme. |
New plan helps to secure local jobs for local people, says Austin
A new plan that could help local people benefit from £16 billion of government spending in the West Midlands was launched by Regional Minister, Ian Austin, today. |
Major investment puts cream on strawberry crop
A decision to invest more than £250,000 in their soft fruit growing venture is 'berry' good news for Herefordshire-based company Freshfield Fruits LLP. |
New £8 million investment fund for the West Midlands launched
Advantage West Midlands' £8 million Early Advantage fund is open for business. The new investment fund has been created to support the region's brightest and most innovative companies. |
Regional innovation to drive digital success in Texas
Some of the region's brightest minds in interactive digital media are visiting Texas next week (12-21 March) as part of the UK presence at South by Southwest, a film, music and interactive festival. |
Rare Games' new Birmingham base is major opportunity for region's talent pool
Rare Games, a Microsoft Games Studio, has signed the contract to take some of the last remaining space at Digbeth's latest creative and digital hub, Fazeley Studios. |
Westfield iRACER breaks cover at Geneva motor show
The new Westfield iRACER - an all electric race car destined to form the basis of the world's first one make electric race car series - is being displayed with its new, dynamic bodywork at the Geneva motor show. The new vehicle is proof of the advanced engineering solutions being developed in the West Midlands. |
West Midlands manufacturers optimistic, says survey
As Manufacturing Week launches today, a new national business survey on behalf of Advantage West Midlands reveals that manufacturing companies in the region are more positive about the business climate in the coming year compared to other sectors. |
New European project aimed at bringing benefits to innovative West Midlands SMEs
Advantage West Midlands has been announced a key partner in an international, multi agency, €2,063,419 project aimed at fostering eco-innovation and sharing good practice. |
Region speaks with one voice on High-Speed Rail
Advantage West Midlands has welcomed the findings of a new study which shows that a network of high-speed rail lines across the country will boost national annual economic output between £17 billion and £29 billion by 2040. |
Bridge To Growth helps bring Irish technology company to Birmingham
A growing Irish technology company, Capricorn Ventis, has set up new offices in the heart of England at Birmingham Science Park Aston with help from Advantage West Midlands' innovative Bridge To Growth programme.amp;lt |
Food business experts move into state of the art centre
COMPANIES wanting to start up a food or drink business in the West Midlands now have expert advice on hand at the state of the art Shropshire Food Enterprise Centre. |
Austin announces £3.9 million grant boost for Michelin in Stoke-on-Trent
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has agreed a grant of £3.9 million for Michelin Tyre plc in order to safeguard manufacturing jobs. |
Low carbon transportation project set to ensure Britain's place at the heart of the next industrial revolution
Full details of the £29 million West Midlands-based project that will ensure Britain's place at the heart of the low carbon vehicle revolution were revealed at a launch event held at the Heritage Motor Centre in Warwickshire today. |
UK's largest and most accurate steel press and cutter roll up in Bilston
Bilston based Irvon Press and Sheer Limited has installed the UK's largest and most accurate plate rolls and bevel cutting plasma machine, bringing pioneering technology to the region. |
Worcestershire MP sees care farming in action
A groundbreaking health and social care project which will see a network of working 'care farms' established across the region has been showcased to Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff. |
Green light for Agriculture and Horticulture Board's green office in Stoneleigh
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board's plan to build an extremely energy efficient office building on Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire has been approved. |
London 2012 appoints Waterford Crystal, Wedgwood and Royal Doulton as ceramic and crystal licensee
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today announces the appointment of WWRD (owner of Waterford Crystal, Wedgwood and Royal Doulton) to produce commemorative and souvenir merchandise for the London 2012 Games. |
Fit for the Future
A unique programme to train 600 residents across the Midlands in Climate Change and installing green technology has been launched. |
West Midlands businesses are growing green
West Midlands firms can find out about the enormous potential of joining a low-carbon supply chain at a major event next month. |
West Midlands manufacturers set to benefit from innovation service
Manufacturers looking to become more 'innovative' are being urged to tap into a service that will help them develop new products, processes and unique technologies. |
Sir Roy addresses RegenWM's West Midlands Regeneration Convention
RegenWM's West Midlands Regeneration Convention held on 11th February looked into the future of regeneration, the challenges that lie ahead and how organisations can prepare for the changes 2010 will bring. |
Midlands declared Low Carbon Economic Area for advanced automotive engineering
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has today announced the creation of a Low Carbon Economic Area for Advanced Automotive Engineering in the Midlands. |
Big freeze firm good news for Telford
A Telford manufacturing company has doubled the size of its premises, safeguarding more than 40 jobs and creating a handful of new positions with support and advice from One Telford and Advantage West Midlands. |
All-electric taxi a revolution in passenger transport
A revolutionary all-electric taxi with the potential to transform the way people use public transport was unveiled in the West Midlands this week by Regional Minister Ian Austin MP. |
Latest PMI data shows growth at start of 2010
The latest PMI data shows the West Midlands' rate of output growth eased as the poor weather took its toll while employment fell at its slowest pace since June 2008. |
Rural Enterprise Grant offers Packington Moor Farm a taste of things to come
An award-winning Staffordshire farm is boosting its business and creating new jobs after securing support from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). amp;lt |
Taskforce boost helps Citizens Advice meet rising demand in market towns
Citizens Advice is rolling out extra support for rural communities and market towns in order to meet a 20 per cent rise in demand on its services during the recession. |
Pride in Camp Hill wins prestigious national Community Partnerships Award
The partnership transforming one of Warwickshire and the UK's most impoverished areas into a thriving community has received national recognition at the prestigious Community Partnership Awards 2010. |
First Chinese rep for Heart of England, the West Midlands Region
For the first time, a representative for the Heart of England, the West Midlands Region has been employed to engage with China's emerging market. |
Science Park boss named as new Chair of the Enterprise Board
The new Chair of the Advantage West Midlands Enterprise Board was announced today and immediately signaled his intentions to help the region become more enterprising by focusing on its strengths. |
More than 5,000 ways to strike Olympic Gold
CompeteFor, the online 'business dating' website which provides business opportunities for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, is celebrating its second birthday |
Signs of economic recovery welcomed by Advantage West Midlands
Advantage West Midlands Chief Executive Mick Laverty has given a cautious welcome to the news that the UK economy has officially emerged from the recession |
Social Enterprise growth could lead to West Midlands jobs boom
Taking social enterprise to the next level could create hundreds of new jobs in the West Midlands over the next few years and have a major impact on how we run our public services it was revealed yesterday. |
South Staffordshire District Council approves i54 planning application
South Staffordshire District Council's planning committee unanimously approved Advantage West Midlands' application to vary the current planning consent for the flagship i54 development site triggering an £11 million road improvement package. |
Regional finalists announced in Cluster Mark competition
Advantage West Midlands has announced the nominees chosen to represent the region in the national Cluster Mark competition. |
Advantage West Midlands enjoys double success at Midlands Excellence Awards
Advantage West Midlands is celebrating a double awards success at the prestigious Midlands Excellence Awards 2009/10 |
First Birmingham live/work units get funding green light
A £2.5 million funding package has been agreed to create a unique live/work scheme in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter |
West Midlands takes major role in 750m euro climate change programme
The West Midlands is taking a major role in Europe's new world-leading programme to tackle climate change through investments in technology, innovation and people. |
New vision for Social Enterprise set to be unveiled at major event
Entrepreneurs, business support agencies and local authorities will be told 'the time is now' for social enterprise to drive the West Midlands forward at a major event later this month. |
Sterling Pharmaceuticals Forging Ahead
Sterling Pharmaceuticals Ltd, a brand new Birmingham based pharmaceutical manufacturing company, are going from strength to strength, winning contracts and developing new services following a £150,000 Grant for Business Investment (GBI) from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands. |
Dame Joan Bakewell opens new Health Design and Technology Institute
Dame Joan Bakewell, Government's official voice for older people, has helped to launch an innovative research institute which is championing a national initiative to provide better community healthcare products and services. |
Multimillion pound boost for West Midlands small med tech businesses
A new multimillion pound medical technologies support programme has been launched to boost small companies in the West Midlands. |
Young People's Enterprise Partnership set to tackle youth unemployment
The West Midlands has gained a noticeable UK first after the Young People's Enterprise Partnership was officially launched. |
Bromyard set to benefit from new £1.3m Multi-Use Facility
Access to essential community services in Bromyard has been given a major boost today, with news that a new £1.3m Multi-Use Facility for the market town has been given the green light from Advantage West Midlands. |
Far Gosford street redevelopment reaches next milestone
The transformation of Coventry's Far Gosford street into a vibrant hub for the area's creative talent has reached another milestone with the opening of the Creative Hub |
Bill Wiggin to speak at business support event for Leominster firms
Local companies and potential entrepreneurs are being urged to attend the first business support lunch of 2010 when it takes place at the Rural Enterprise Centre in Leominster on Friday (Jan 15th). |
Redditch manufacturer celebrates 35 years in business with new spring
A specialist manufacturer from Redditch is celebrating its 35th birthday by pioneering a new solution to producing springs for the pharmaceutical industry. |
New forum boost for West Midlands' social enterprise specialists
The West Midlands growing social enterprise scene received a significant boost recently with the launch of the first ever Forum designed to increase the skills and knowledge of the sector's specialist advisers. |
Multimillion pound boost for Herefordshire's rural communities
Rural communities across Herefordshire have received a multi-million pound boost with the extension of a successful Europe-wide programme to promote sustainable economic and community development. |
Regional innovation to drive automotive success in Delhi
Advantage West Midlands is heading up the regional delegation of industry experts and business leaders attending this year's AutoExpo 2010 in India. |
HEFF wins contract to run £7m Food Enterprise Centre
Heart of England Fine Foods (HEFF) has won the contract to manage a new £7 million Food Enterprise Centre, the West Midlands' first enterprise centre specially designed for companies in the food and drink industry. |
Stoke automation experts diversify to target sea pirates
A Stoke machinery specialist has landed a deal to help a Canadian shipping giant repel pirate attacks after moving to purpose fitted premises with help from Advantage West Midalnds. |
City of Stoke on Trent sixth form college celebrates topping out ceremony
The City of Stoke on Trent Sixth Form College's £33 million relocation development has reached a key milestone, as the symbolic final piece of the roof has been fitted and the building made watertight. |
West Midlands fights recession with creative graduate talent
Despite having the highest unemployment rates in the country, the West Midlands is fighting back with many businesses in the creative sector seeing an upturn in sales and employment opportunities, particularly for graduates. |
Work underway on new city facility for Olympus Engineering
Work is now well underway on a new purpose built facility on Garner Street, Stoke-on-Trent, for local manufacturer Olympus Engineering thanks to £1.4 million of gap funding from the regional development agency, Advantage West Midlands. |
£28 million secured for transport projects in the West Midlands
Advantage West Midlands has secured £28 million from the Department for Transport (DfT) on behalf of the region's shadow Joint Strategy amp; Investment Board, to boost investment for key transport projects in the West Midlands. |
More new jobs in Stoke as Burslem insurer defies recession
Hundreds more new jobs have been created at a rapidly growing Stoke insurance company which continues to defy the recession and has now moved into new, purpose fitted offices in Burslem. |
New £8m Early Advantage fund announced
A new £8 million early stage equity fund, the Early Advantage fund, was announced today to provide another source of investment for the region's SMEs. The fund, financed by Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund will be delivered by Midven Ltd, one of the West Midlands' most successful equity fund managers. |
West Midlands launches largest UK electric vehicles trial
The first stage in a Government-backed UK-wide trial of electric and ultra low emission vehicles begins in the West Midlands. |
£3 trillion reasons to 'go green' for West Midlands manufacturers
Manufacturers in the West Midlands are being urged to embrace the low carbon agenda and take advantage of a £3 trillion marketplace in the process. |
Cool investment in green tech helps manufacturer turn up heat
A successful West Bromwich based manufacturer is facing down the recession and diversifying to produce the next innovation in sustainable combined heat and power systems, which have the added benefit of providing cooling when heat is not required. |
£275m shopping centre agreement approved
A development agreement for a £275 million regional shopping centre in Stoke-on-Trent city centre has been given the go ahead. |
Advantage West Midlands wins award for Browns Lane deal
Advantage West Midlands has scooped the Property Deal of the Year award at the West Midlands' Insider Property Awards 2009. |
£4 million invested in flood alleviation scheme for Hereford
Over £4 million has been awarded by Advantage West Midlands to fund a new scheme that will end the misery of flooding for homes and businesses in Hereford. |
BT signs up for All Saints - and major regeneration of West Bromwich
Stoford has signed a new agreement with BT for 75,000 sq ft of office space at its stunning new £55 million All Saints office development in West Bromwich. |
Royal opening for West Midlands Regional Food Academy
Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal has opened the new West Midlands Regional Food Academy (WMRFA), based at Harper Adams University College in Shropshire. |
£1m investment secured for future transport priorities in West Midlands
The Department for Transport has confirmed that four transport studies in the West Midlands are set to share £1m from its 'Delivering a Sustainable Transport System' (DaSTS) programme. |
AWM support enables Modec to take on America
Modec, the Coventry based manufacturer of commercial electric vehicles, is joining forces with America's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer Navistar by setting up a US joint venture company to exploit Modec's cutting edge technological innovation in the Americas, thanks to AWM's financial support |
West Midlands Textile industry fights back
A seminar focusing on the region's textile industry brought together leading manufacturers, Advantage West Midlands business experts and members of the West Midlands Taskforce to debate the issues facing the industry as companies look to survive and capitalise on new opportunities post-recession |
Enterprising women could hold the key to thousands of West Midlands jobs conference told
Closing the 'enterprise' gender gap in the West Midlands will create thousands of new jobs and add billions of pounds to the regional economy it was announced yesterday. |
City Centre Campus plans approaching final hurdle
Exciting plans to build Birmingham City University's flagship campus are gaining real pace with the announcement of two significant milestones. |
Top appointments bring fresh experience to Advantage West Midlands' Board
Advantage West Midlands has strengthened its board with the appointment of four talented individuals, Professor Madeleine Atkins, Kumar Muthalagappan OBE, Jonnie Turpie, and Councillor Roger Phillips. The new board members will take up their three year appointments on 14 December 2009 until 13 December 2012 |
Advantage West Midlands joins regional partnership to help Ericsson workers
Advantage West Midlands has confirmed its role as a key player in the newly formed Ericsson Partnership, set up to help those affected by the closure of the company's site at Ansty Park. |
Loan package supports leading ceramic firm's £6.7m new factory
Wade Ceramics' move to a new £6.7m factory has been secured after finance for the project was hit by the recession. |
New business hub opens for North Staffordshire's growing army of home based entrepreneurs
The potential of home-based entrepreneurs in North Staffordshire was boosted last Friday, with the official launch of the first ever Home Business Hub in the County. |
Camp Hill's multi-million Bluebell development is under way
Building work has started on the multimillion pound Bluebell development in Camp Hill |
RIF money for City bus station is a first for Wolverhampton and the West Midlands
The redevelopment of Wolverhampton bus station has become the first project in the West Midlands to be awarded money through AWM's Regional Infrastructure Fund, administered on behalf of the DfT. |
Planning application for Birmingham Gateway project
The next step in the transformation of Birmingham New Street station was taken today with the submission of the detailed planning application to Birmingham City Council. |
Goodman gets green light for Lyons Park
Strategic partnership with Advantage West Midlands secures full planning consent for former Jaguar site in Coventry |
The best of West Midlands innovation celebrated at Lord Stafford Awards
A device which can change the lives of multiple sclerosis sufferers, a groundbreaking stop tap and a pioneering insulin pen which records data on injections are among the winners of the 2009 Lord Stafford Awards. |
Region's economy won't recover without higher skills, warns Austin
The West Midlands will not build a stronger economy unless it makes boosting skills its top priority, Regional Minister Ian Austin has warned. |
West Midlands company scoops national business award
West Midlands company Forensic Pathways and its industry partner Cambridgeshire Constabulary scooped the Orange Best Use of Technology in Business category at the National Business Awards recently. |
West Midlands regeneration successes make a capital appearance thanks to RegenWM
The best in West Midlands' regeneration was on show in London last Friday when RegenWM led a delegation of MPs, including Gisela Stuart, Joan Walley and Richard Burden, to a parliamentary reception at the House of Commons. |
Black Country leisure project wins double regeneration prize at RegenWM Awards
A groundbreaking Black Country initiative designed to improve the health and fitness of hard-to-reach groups in the area has capped a memorable first year by winning a prestigious double regeneration award last night. |
Ericsson to withdraw from Ansty Park
Today's announcement by Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson to withdraw from Ansty Park, near Coventry, next year - with the potential loss of around 700 jobs - is a real shock to the region, said Advantage West Midlands Chief Executive Mick Laverty. |
New centre for start up businesses in Warwickshire market town
A new Business Centre has opened in Coleshill, north Warwickshire offering a wide range of support to entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their own business. |
West Midlands region urged to work together
Following Sir Roy McNulty's speech at Advantage West Midlands' annual conference on Friday 6th, a question and answer session heard many delegates express their wish and determination to find more effective ways of working together to secure the region's long term economic prosperity. |
Pioneering Severn Trent building tops out in Coventry
The building of Severn Trent Water's new £60m operational centre in Coventry reached a new milestone last week, marked with a topping out ceremony. |
New AWM chair to invite region to debate its future
Sir Roy McNulty will be challenging partners across the region to find better ways to work together to improve the long term economic prosperity of the West Midlands region when he speaks at Advantage West Midlands' annual conference, Friday 6th November, 9am -12:30pm at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham. |
Heart of England Awards Inspires Excellence
The cream of the Heart of England's tourism industry was celebrated at a glittering awards ceremony in Birmingham. |
West Midlands secures a 'Euro first' for female enterprise
The West Midlands is set to play a major role in developing the future of female enterprise support it was revealed this week by the Women's Enterprise Centre of Expertise (WECOE). |
£40m confirmed for Manufacturing Technology Centre
The world class Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), to be built at Ansty Park research and development site , received public funding approval from Government today. |
Aerospace suppliers urged to access £1m support
A leading international spring manufacturer was named one of the first West Midlands companies to receive a recognition award within the 'World Class Supply Chain' programme (SC21) at a major conference for aerospace and defence suppliers held recently. |
Crucial final phase of Camp Hill's transformation under way
The 10-year transformation of Camp Hill, once Warwickshire's most impoverished area, took a huge step forward today with Barratt Mercia and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council signing a deal to take forward the final phase of development work. |
Stoke-on-Trent, the World Capital of Ceramics
Stoke-on-Trent is to announce itself as the "World Capital of Ceramics", at an event on Thursday, October 15. |
UK first from innovative Birmingham graphics firm
A Birmingham-based graphics firm specialising in large format digital printing has defied the recession and improved competitiveness by becoming the UK's first company to install a state-of-the-art printer that will increase productivity six-fold. |
IOD Director General impressed by Worcestershire companies
Top Worcestershire manufacturing firms have been praised by the director general of the Institute of Directors, Miles Templeman, during a tour in the Region. |
Heart of England Awards Celebrate Sponsorship Support as Final Approaches
Organisers of one of the most prestigious tourism awards in the West Midlands have welcomed the support of leading organisations as the awards ceremony approaches. |