Templeman urges investment and diversity to West Mids businesses

Businesses in the West Midlands are being warned that "very few companies will survive" if they concentrate only on the UK market. Miles Templeman, director general of the Institute of Directors (IoD), told Insider that companies needed to start looking further afield if they were to expand on their success. Templeman also said the government needs to act to help businesses seeking investment.

Trio deal joy for Network Group Holdings

Listed recruitment and outsourcing business Network Group Holdings has made three acquisitions in recent weeks, it has announced. It comes as the business announced rises in revenue and profit in its financial year to November 2010 this morning.

Glide secures cash injection

Energy and telecommunications business Glide has raised development capital to fund its growth plans. The Birmingham company secured £735,000 from private investors.

£630m contracts follow Carillion deal

Carillion Energy Services has won contracts worth £630m, it has been announced. The news comes weeks after Wolverhampton-headquartered Carillion took over Newcastle-based green energy business Eaga in a £306m deal. Carillion Energy Services is the new name for Eaga.

Coventry medical centre work to start

Wildgoose Construction is to start work on building a Coventry medical centre that will serve 8,000 patients.

San Carlo names cities for Cicchetti expansion

London and Birmingham are firmly in the sights of San Carlo Group as the Manchester-headquartered Italian dining business looks to expand its Cicchetti brand.

Eason joins Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton in Birmingham has appointed Ben Eason as its new business development manager. Eason joins the firm after seven years at law firm Wragge and Co.

Birmingham businesses losing £1.2bn tax

Commercial property owners in Birmingham could be missing out on almost £1.2bn in tax returns, according to research.

Something for the weekend

In this week's round-up from the West Midlands: On the bake; The right prescription and Newcastle Brown day.

Bank interest rates held

Interest rates have been held yet again by the Bank of England. The record low rate of 0.5 per cent follows recent figures showing a slowdown in growth for the manufacturing, construction and services sectors.

In Focus: Funding fault

Andy Coyne calls on banks to help businesses by being more transparent about their lending criteria.

Dealmakers wrap: Primary education

In our latest Dealmakers Wrap - contributed by winners of our Dealmakers Awards 2010 - Matt Caffrey of ISIS reflects on the opportunities presented by the government’s shake-up of healthcare provision.

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Ask the Expert: Sustaining a healthy bottom line after cost cutting

Rob Allison, managing director at Expense Reduction Analysts, shares his views on how organisations can sustain a healthy bottom line in the year ahead with economic recovery predicted to be some way off yet.

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