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Chinese manufacturers to target the Midlands?
Two major Chinese manufacturers are looking at setting up in the West Midlands. Sany Group, which makes plant and machinery for the construction sector, is looking to buy land and build a 200,000 sq ft logistics and parts centre, while Zhejiang Wanfeng Auto Wheel Co, one of the oldest private companies in China and reportedly the largest maker of motorcycle wheels in the world, is also looking at the region. Both have been in talks with Birmingham city council, according to council leader Mike Whitby.
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Stairlift boss rises to top 42 Under 42
Mike Lord, the chief executive of stair lift manufacturer Minivator, has received Insider's 42 Under 42 Overall Entrepreneur Award. Lord won the trophy at the gala dinner, attended by his fellow 42 Under 42ers - the Midlands most promising young business leaders as chosen by Insider - at Birmingham's Hyatt Hotel. The judges said the way Lord had built the Kingswinford business, achieving annual double-digit growth for seven years and making major investments in product development, marketing and training, was an example of how Midlands manufacturing ought to be. Winner of the West Midlands Entrepreneur of the Year was Tony Neill, European vice president of Navman Wireless - the country's largest manufacturer of tracking, messaging and navigation equipment for commercial fleets. The judges were impressed with how Neill had led his company from a turnover of £500,000 to £26m in six years. 
Birmingham gets umbilical air link with Chinese sister city
Birmingham is to get a new air link to its sister city Guangzhou following airline Emirates' decision to fly there. Emirates, the main intercontinental carrier from Birmingham International airport, is to start running services four times a week from its hub in Dubai to Guangzhou, which connects with BIA, from 1 July 2008. Birmingham city council signed a sister cities agreement with Guangzhou, which has a population of ten million, in 2006.
Engineer of JCB's huge growth steps back
JCB's chief executive John Patterson, who has led the digger company through major growth, is stepping down. Chief operating officer Matthew Taylor will take over from Patterson, who will continue as chairman and chief executive of JCB's American business and remain a main board director. The moves come as JCB announced record pre-tax profits of £187m - the most successful year in its 62-year history. The result was achieved in a year when machine sales rose to more than 72,000 and turnover reached £2.25bn.
Indian trade body for Birmingham
Birmingham city council is looking at setting up an Indian Business Forum later this year to replicate the success it has achieved with its Birmingham-China Business Forum. Council leader Mike Whitby said the city needed to use its natural links with India.
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Promanex sent to Coventry with acquisition
Promanex, the facilities management group for the power industry, has acquired Coventry & Co, the Yorkshire engineering operation that specialises in mechanical maintenance. The deal will enable Warwickshire-based Promanex to take over well- established contracts such as the Scottish and Southern Energy account. Promanex will also inherit Yorkshire-based Coventry's workforce.
Millennium goes Direct
Millennium Insurance, the Telford insurance group, has been bought out by Direct Group, a business process outsourcing provider to insurance Direct Group, for an undisclosed sum. Yorkshire-based Direct went through a management buyout in August 2007 with backing from private equity firm LDC. The company has grown rapidly since its launch in 1990 and plans to treble in size over the next three years through a combination of acquisition and organic growth.
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Carlyle Group closes mega fund
Private equity firm Carlyle Group, which owns Colmore Plaza in Birmingham, has closed its third European real estate fund at £2.2bn. With leverage, the team will have maximum funds of £9bn to invest. Mark Harris, director at Carlyle, said: "One of the focuses for this fund will be the continued investment in properties such as Colmore Plaza where we have a best-in-breed office development located in a prime location in one of the UK's regional capitals. Birmingham is seen by national and international companies as a serious alternative to London and we've supplied a building that has set a new standard in high-quality premises, services and sustainability."
Derwent Foundry first phase completed
DBK Back has delivered the first sectional completion on MCD's £23m redevelopment of Derwent Foundry in St Paul's Square, Birmingham. The development includes the refurbishment and conversion of the existing former foundry into 98 one and two-bedroom apartments as well as 9,000 sq ft of new-build offices with underground parking. The first 21 apartments have been handed over, with the remainder of the 68,000 sq ft mixed-use project nearing completion.
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Wagg's tale of return
Allied Irish Bank in Birmingham has strengthened its commercial and private banking teams with three appointments. The bank has appointed Jeremy Wagg and Simon Keane to its commercial team while Steve Sisson has joined the bank's growing private banking team. Wagg is a well-known face in the city's financial sector having worked as a merchant banker in Birmingham for almost 20 years. he has spent the past two years in London as investment director for Futurebuilders England, government-backed loan fund that invested in the third sector.
PRCA promotes new chairman
Nathan Lane, Golley Slater PR's managing director, has been appointed as the new chairman for the Midlands Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA). Lane is taking on the role after a two-year stint as deputy chairman and will be working closely with Midlands-based member companies and the PRCA's central headquarters in London to raise the profile of the organisation in the region and promote best practise.
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