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Top story
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City centre zone plan "very clever", says Hollis
An enterprise zone in Birmingham city centre would be "win-win" for the region, according to the deputy chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP. Steve Hollis, also chairman of KPMG in the Midlands, said the proposed location for the enterprise zone was "very clever". He added: "Think of the money and investment that can be generated with a city centre zone – this can then be redistributed on two fronts; back into the city centre and among the more disadvantaged areas in the region."
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Deals
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Insider's April Deal of the Month
Midlands Business Insider editor Andy Coyne has selected the management buyout (MBO) of construction company Leadbitter Group, which has a base in Coventry, for Insider's April Deal of the Month.
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Clearwater sources Jojo Maman Bébé investor
Clearwater Corporate Finance's Birmingham team has advised the founder of nursery and maternity retailer Jojo Maman Bébé on securing an equity investment for a minority stake in the business. The firm's consumer team supported Laura Tenison in sourcing an investor.
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Shoosmiths advises Solihull wine merchant
The Birmingham office of law firm Shoosmiths has revealed it advised the buyout of 37 Oddbins stores. The team supported Solihull-based Whittalls Wine Merchants on the deal which saved about 200 jobs.
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Property
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Hines confirms Two Snowhill scheme
Property group Hines has ended months of speculation by confirming it will forge ahead with plans to develop Two Snowhill in Birmingham alongside Ballymore Group. The 14-storey office building was acquired by Hines’ European Development Fund II.
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Pensons Chambers up for sale
Oswestry bar and restaurant 35 Pensons Chambers has been put on the market. The three-storey premises in Willow Street has a guide price of £350,000.
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Business
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HBJ Gateley Wareing to rebrand
Birmingham-headquartered law firm HBJ Gateley Wareing is set to rebrand. From this week the firm will be known as Gateley in England and Dubai and HBJ Gateley in Scotland.
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Record shopping share for Aldi
German-owned retailers Aldi and Lidl have record market shares of grocery shopping, according to figures from Kantar Worldpanel. Aldi, which has its UK headquarters in Warwickshire, is leading market growth with year-on-year sales increases of 15 per cent.
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Entries open for Family Business Awards
Entries for this year’s Midlands Family Business Awards open today. The event, for which Insider is media partner, has launched three new awards for 2011.
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ROC Furniture in administration
A buyer is being sought for Birmingham-based ROC Furniture after it called in administrators from FRP Advisory. Fifty-four members of staff at the furniture supplier have been made redundant after the company began to face "severe cashflow difficulties".
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Allports drives home £1m retail deal
Stoke-on-Trent-based Allports has secured a contract worth £1m to supply vehicles for retailer Pets at Home. The logistics solutions supplier will deliver ten vehicles to the company.
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