|
Top story
|
Coventry confident on major retail scheme
A development scheme that could help unblock Coventry city centre’s £1bn regeneration plans has taken a large step forward, Insider has learnt. The city council and landowner Aviva are pushing forward a planning application for a large chunk of the southern part of the city centre for a large retail scheme.
|
|
Deals
|
Dechra swoops for Genitrix
Dechra Pharmaceuticals, based in Stoke-on-Trent, has made its second acquisition in as many months after purchasing rival brand Genitrix. Billinghurst-based Genitrix was bought for £5.4m as the veterinary pharmaceutical company continues its acquisition trail.
|
Blue Eskimo acquires Abbey Recruitment assets
Worcestershire-based recruitment firm Blue Eskimo has acquired the assets of Dorset-based e-learning specialist Abbey Recruitment for an undisclosed sum.
|
|
Property
|
£75m construction funding pot unveiled
Birmingham-based property consultant Wakemans have welcomed the news that voluntary building projects are set to benefit from £75m of funding. Voluntary and community sector organisations are now able to apply for up to £500,000 of funding from the BIG Lottery Fund investment.
|
Carillion starts £15m school scheme
Wolverhampton-based Carillion has begun work on a £15m academy building in Southampton. The construction company will build The Oasis Academy from an existing school on the site.
|
Hemp house wins construction prize
Lichfield-based building contractor Linford Group has won a national award for its “ground-breaking” Renewable House. The contractor lifted the top Innovation award at the Constructing Excellence National Awards for the property, which is located at the Building Research Establishment (BRE) Innovation Park in Watford.
|
Rents rising as tenant demand soars
Rents are rising at their fastest rate for three years, with tenant demand increasing "significantly" in the Midlands. Research by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) released today reveals that demand for homes to let continues to soar.
|
|
Business
|
Laverty wraps up Advantage West Midlands at final AGM
The chief executive of Advantage West Midlands has described the past 12 months as “the most challenging year to date”. Speaking at the regional development agency’s final AGM, Mick Laverty thanked the staff and partner organisations, telling the audience, “I believe Advantage West Midlands will be a hard act to follow”.
|
Birmingham agrees £300m outsourcing deal
Birmingham City Council has extended and expanded its existing contract with outsourcing company Capita in a deal worth about £300m. The original contract, delivered through the organisations’ joint venture of Service Birmingham, has been extended to provide ICT and contact centre services by five years to March 2021.
|
Wesleyan expands into the South
Wesleyan Assurance Society, based in Birmingham, has announced plans to extend its financial planning service for lawyers and law firms into London and the South East of England. The expansion will create an additional 11 jobs at the financial adviser.
|
