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Top story
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LEPs may merge, says Hollis
West Midlands LEPs could merge to give themselves more scope, according to Steve Hollis, senior partner and chairman of KPMG in Birmingham. Talking to Insider, Hollis said: “The Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP needs to be a big and bold organisation. My idea about LEPs is that they should be as big as possible, and eventually I think that will mean merging with neighbouring organisations.”
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Deals
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Wragge & Co closes CBPE investment
The Birmingham office of law firm Wragge & Co has advised CBPE Capital on its investment in insurance management company Kane Group. The deal included a reorganisation of the Kane Group and its $27.5m (£17m) acquisition of HSBC's insurance management businesses.
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Finance package paves way for £2.9bn contract win
Freeway Surfacing, based in Wolverhampton, has successfully tendered for its largest ever contract after obtaining financial support from NatWest, Lombard and the government’s enterprise finance guarantee (EFG) scheme.
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Solus shines with Lloyds funding agreement
Garden and leisure products supplier Solus has agreed a multimillion-pound trade finance deal with Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets. The Halesowen-based company said the deal would allow it to maximise future growth.
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Davis Decade expands with finance loan
A Black Country manufacturer has received a £45,000 financing deal from the Sandwell Business Loan Fund. Davis Decade has now relocated to the Percy Business Park in Oldbury after securing the loan.
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Property
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Stoke business district gets green light
A new business quarter is to be developed in Stoke-on-Trent. Planning approval has been granted for the first 50,000 sq ft of the development. The move is a step closer for the Central Business District development, which will comprise office, retail, leisure and public space to the city centre.
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JP Dillon markets care homes scheme
Property consultant JP Dillon has been appointed to market a site in Bromsgrove town centre for redevelopment as a care village. The 2.3-acre site on the corner of Recreation Road and Market Street is being marketed for a residential scheme suitable for retirement living.
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Business
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Tough year for Manganese Bronze
Manganese Bronze has reported a 4.8 per cent fall in turnover to £69.6m for the year to 31 December 2010. The Coventry-based taxi maker posted a pre-tax loss of £6.3m, slightly lower than the £7.3m posted last year.
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Something for the weekend
Insider's new weekly column takes a look at the week's quirkiest stories. This week, a chat with one of Colin Firth's Birmingham friends...
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Prisk says Budget will deliver for businesses
Business and enterprise minister Mark Prisk has vowed that next week’s Budget will have business at its heart and help to strip away the red tape that holds companies back. He said the Chancellor would deliver the most “comprehensive, pro-enterprise Budget in a generation”.
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Amey part of £900m contract win
Public services provider Amey has won three new contracts with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The company, which has offices in Colmore Plaza in Birmingham, said the contracts were worth up to £900m over a ten-year period.
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LEP business board chairman revealed
Tony Hyde, the managing director of Worcestershire construction giant Thomas Vale Group, has been announced as the first chairman of the Worcestershire local enterprise partnership (LEP) business board.
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The Top 500 Companies marketing database
Looking to source new clients? Insider’s new Midlands Top 500 Companies 2011 database is our accurate and comprehensive business marketing list, providing you with the contacts for the region’s biggest companies. Order it today or request a free sample now.
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Midlands Business Insider editor Andy Coyne on the necessity for pro-HS2 campaigners to make their voices heard.
