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Top story
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LEPs yet to convince, say business leaders
Confusion still surrounds local enterprise partnerships (LEPs), suggest Birmingham business leaders. The comments of the panellists taking part in Insider’s Business Agenda breakfast at 35 Newhall Street in Birmingham revealed the government’s chosen structures to replace the regional development agencies (RDAs) have some way to go if they are to convince business leaders that they can succeed.
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Deals
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Book now for the East Midlands Dealmakers Dinner
Time is running out to book your table for the East Midlands Dealmakers Dinner. This year’s gala event celebrating the region's dealmaking community will be held at the East Midlands Conference Centre on Thursday 5 May. Book your table now, or nominate a fellow professional for the awards.
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Property
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Aggora Group cooks up expansion
The Aggora Group has taken an extra unit at the Centech Park industrial estate in Redditch. The company has agreed terms on a three-year lease worth £10,000 a year at the Thornhill Road premises.
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Academy launches with engineering event
Warwickshire College’s Power Industry Academy is set to launch to industry next month with a ‘Powering the Future’ business conference. The academy is part of the £33m Rugby centre development and was funded with a £6.2m investment from Advantage West Midlands (AWM).
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Business
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£48m money laundering gang jailed
Four West Midlands–based criminals who laundered more than £48m of other organised gangs' criminal profits have been jailed. The men, from Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham, ran an online busineses called R2PK.com.
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Sales down but profits up at National Express
The chief executive of National Express has described the coach, bus and rail service as “a renewed company” after seeing pre-tax profit jump 38 per cent to £160.5m in its year-end results this morning. However, despite a rise in profit, revenues at the company were down 22 per cent to £2.1bn.
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US support group launches in Birmingham
A support group has been set up to help West Midlands businesses link up with their American counterparts. Overseas Connections Group will establish two bases in Birmingham and Washington DC to give companies the opportunity to expand their offerings.
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Simworx signs 4D French theme park deal
Kingswinford-based Simworx, which provides 3D and 4D effects, theatres and simulation attractions, has completed its largest contract to date after joining UK Trade and Investment’s (UKTI) export scheme. The €1m deal includes the creation of a 4D cinema at France-based theme park Futuroscope.
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Empty business rate tax must stay, says government
The government has told Business Voice West Midlands (BVWM) it will keep the issue of empty property relief under review, but for the moment cannot afford to act. The pledge came in a letter to the lobbying group from the Department for Communities and Local Government.
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Boost your client base – Request a free Insider Membership Pack
Our Insider Membership Club offers fantastic benefits for anyone doing business in the UK regions. Valuable sales leads, vital information, networking opportunities, competitor analysis and much more. Request your free Membership pack now.
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