Pub schemes to face planning committee

A trio of Birmingham pub sites are set to go before Birmingham City Council to bid for planning permission for various housing schemes. The combined locations would create a total of 52 apartments as well as a 62-bed care home. All three schemes, one of which has been suggested for refusal, will be put forward to the authority's planning committee on Thursday (19 May).

Jobs saved with Blue Cedars sale

The company behind the Mount Hotel and Conference Centre in Wolverhampton has been sold out of administration, saving 56 jobs. Blue Cedars Leisure had appointed Tony Barrell and Matthew Hammond at PwC in the Midlands as joint administrators earlier this week.

RGF tour to hit Dudley

A series of roadshows has been launched to give businesses advice on how to tap into the next round of funding from the government's Regional Growth Fund (RGF). The roadshow will come to Dudley on 23 May.

Relocation debate still alive, says Lyons

Former BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons, who led a review into the relocation of government ministries from London to the provinces, said he does not believe the issue is dead in the water. Lyons was speaking at an event attended by Insider in Birmingham.

Brazilian flavour for The Cube

Brazilian restaurant Rodizio Rico has signed up as a tenant at The Cube in Birmingham. The eatery will open its first site outside London in The Cube early next year.

UK Coal sells Staffordshire land

UK Coal, which has operations across the Midlands, has disposed of land in Staffordshire to reduce its levels of debt. The company said it sold a total of 1,500 acres of land for £10.5m in the first quarter of 2011.

Formula One set for Shrewsbury expansion

Telford-based window retailer Formula One has announced plans to open a showroom in Shrewsbury. The expansion, which will create 12 jobs, comes after the company secured a financial package from NatWest.

Worcestershire LEP appoints chairman

The director of Midland Heart has been appointed as the inaugural chairman of the Worcestershire LEP. Peter Pawsey, who was also deputy chair of Business Link West Midlands, takes up his new role immediately.

PwC grows Midlands team

PwC in the Midlands has expanded its pensions team with six new recruits and promotions. Among the appointments is Jeremy May, who has been promoted to head up the firm's human resource consulting team.

Something for the weekend

This week's pick of the best Midlands off-diary stories include: Building for the future; adding up to three-quarters of a century and to Wales with wheels.

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Talking Point: A time for change

Service Birmingham’s Stewart Wren on the holy grail of improving public services while at the same time reducing costs.

In Focus: Support act

Andy Coyne looks at initiatives intended to help SMEs to help themselves

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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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