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Top story
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Cut VAT to boost tourism, says rollercoaster tycoon
The boss of Merlin Entertainments, the international leisure operator behind Alton Towers and Warwick Castle, has called on the government to cut the red tape that is hampering the growth of the tourism sector in the UK. Nick Varney, the company's global chief executive, told Insider that a VAT cut for tourism businesses would boost domestic and inbound tourism and had the potential to create 80,000 private sector jobs.
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Deals
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Boparan builds Northern stake
Birmingham poultry tycoon Ranjit Boparan has reported to the Stock Exchange that he has acquired or has agreements in place to increase his stake in Northern Foods to 48.25 per cent. The news follows rival suitor Greencore's decision to bow out of the race for the Leeds-based food manufacturer.
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Mazars helps bakery rise again
The Birmingham office of accountant Mazars has advised the sale of a Warburtons bakery site in Newport. Crumlin-based Brace’s Bakery has now purchased the factory, securing the future of the employees currently working there.
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EFG scheme lending sinks to new low
Lending under the government’s small business lending scheme - the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) - has fallen by a further 31 per cent in the last three months. Figures are down from £144m in the third quarter to £99m in the fourth quarter of 2010, according to Aldermore.
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Property
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New Street station pictures unveiled
Images of Birmingham’s New Street station have been released, showing how the building will look when John Lewis opens at the site in 2014. The new artist’s impressions were unveiled by Birmingham City Council leader Mike Whitby at property conference MIPIM.
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Handelsbanken opens Birmingham HQ
Handelsbanken is continuing its UK expansion by opening a regional bank in Birmingham. The bank, which is Sweden’s oldest listed company, also said it would invest in new branches throughout the Midlands.
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Work starts on Cube hotel scheme
Work is underway at Sanguine Hospitality’s £12m development in Birmingham. Builders from Denizen Construction have begun work on site at the multimillion-pound hotel, Marco Pierre White restaurant and health spa at The Cube scheme.
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Toolstation signs up to Great Western
Building supplies distributor Toolstation has opened a trade counter in Worcester. The company agreed a ten-year lease with Birmingham developer St Modwen at the Great Western Business Park.
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Business
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Business leaders call for HS2 scrapping
Twenty-one business leaders have written an open letter to the Daily Telegraph slamming the HS2 high-speed rail project as "a white elephant". Signatories, including Next chief executive Lord Wolfson, described the multibillion-pound scheme from London to Birmingham as "a vanity project".
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Book now for Insider’s Sustainable Workplace Breakfast
Time is running out to book your place at Insider’s latest event. ‘The Sustainable Workplace’ breakfast will take place from 7.30am until 9am on Thursday 31 March at the City Gate Toll House Hill, Nottingham, with a panel including Mike Taylor, director of regeneration at Nottingham Regeneration Limited, and Mark Bielby, development director at Miller Birch, which is building the new E.ON offices in Nottingham city centre.
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Insider Membership – Communicate with Midlands Top Companies
Looking to develop your business? Want to expand your commercial reach? Try a sample of our Midlands Top 500 Companies marketing data list. Insider membership provides its members with up to date local business data, editorial, advice, networking events. Request a free data sample and membership information today.
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