Wow! Stuff plays with LA expansion

The Wolverhampton-based winner of HSBC's Business Thinking competition has spent the company's cash prize on opening an office in Los Angeles, California. Richard North, managing director of toy manufacturer Wow! Stuff, told Insider a 20-second conversation led to a £20m distribution deal in the United States and the decision to set up shop there.   READ MORE...

Setting realistic exit expectations

Carl Houghton, partner at Clearwater Corporate Finance, explains how realism can help business owners to maximise value.

Willmott Dixon to build on profits hike

Willmott Dixon, the capital works, regeneration and support services company which has offices in Birmingham, has experienced a profits rise for the year ending 31 December of 46 per cent. Its Midlands-based construction division has a 100 per cent order book for this year, Peter Owen, managing director of Willmott Dixon Construction told Insider.   Read More...

Town centre overhaul planned for Telford

Telford town centre could be home to a new multiple retail store and cinema complex after the area's owner said it was reviewing its current retail and leisure operations.   Read More...

Park Central application submitted

Crest Nicholson has applied to renew its planning consent to build more than 400 apartments inside a 20-storey tower block in Birmingham city centre.   Read More...

University to relocate within Eastside

Plans finalising a revised location for the new Birmingham City University campus are set to go before the city council on Monday.   Read More...

Minworth grows with site extension

The latest phase of Minworth Trade Park has been completed, extending the site by ten units. Two businesses have also signed leases on units within the estate.   Read More...

'Balls are in our hands', says Aldridge

Clients and suppliers can help businesses cut their costs and stimulate ideas from employees on how to keep expenditure down. That's the view of Jason Aldridge, the managing director of Coventry-based Arrowsmith Engineering, who said his business had "put its balls in its hands".   Read More...

West Mids manufacturers sought for Latvian ventures

Manufacturers from the West Midlands are being targeted by a Latvian delegation next week in a bid to help foster closer ties between the two countries.   Read More...

Something for the weekend

This week's selection of Insider's off-diary stories includes: Work 'til you're musclebound; sisters are doing it for themselves and iron in the soul.   Read More...

Forces Recuitment moves into Cannock

Britain's largest forces recruitment organisation has set up its Birmingham North office in Cannock.   Read More...

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