Lloyds' Business Barometer shows West Midlands confidence fell 17 points in April to 49%, but firms remain resilient, focusing on growth through innovation, training, and AI adoption.
AstraZeneca invests £300m in UK after pausing plans in 2025, citing tariff exemption and increased NHS spending on innovative medicines as key factors.
Dorothy Edwards, 102, who loaned £6,000 in 1972 to start Harlech Foodservice, has died. Her family says without her, the award-winning firm would not exist.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces backlash over plans to increase fuel duty by 5p, potentially costing families £150 per year and hauliers £2,000, amid Middle East tensions.
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FEC, the developer behind Victoria North, has taken 4,992 sq ft at Bruntwood SciTech's Pall Mall. Architect Sheppard Robson also moves into the building it designed, taking 9,956 sq ft.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed a change to car tax rules, exempting electric vehicles priced between £40,000 and £50,000 from the £425 luxury car tax, saving owners over £2,000 in five years.
Chris Davies confirms interest in signing Jhon Solis permanently after the Colombian's impressive loan spell, with an option to buy clause in his deal.
Exeter-based Swanky, a Shopify Plus partner, secures £7.6m investment to fuel growth, hire staff, and pursue acquisitions. New chair and finance chief appointed.
Octopus Energy announces world's largest Zero Bills site in Wisbech, providing 300 homes with no energy bills for at least 10 years, using heat pumps, solar panels, and batteries.
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PC Joseph Whant failed to disclose financial difficulties during a vetting review, leading to his dismissal from Nottinghamshire Police for breaching standards.
Ptzewan Majeed, 44, from Birmingham, was a driver for a gang that smuggled 150 million cigarettes, evading £41m tax. He received a suspended sentence.
Octopus Energy surpasses 8 million UK customers, leading in low-carbon tech with 103% heat pump and 78% solar sales surge. Trust ratings top rivals.
Wolves are planning for next season with summer departures expected. The key is not just replacing players but building a squad capable of winning promotion back to the Premier League.
NatWest has launched NatWest Venture Banking, a dedicated venture banking business to support the UK’s most ambitious high-growth companies and their investors.
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Yorkshire-based hair and beauty brand Cloud Nine has secured a major £19 million finance facility from HSBC, marking its largest funding transaction since its 2009 launch. The deal will support international growth and product innovation.
Lidl reveals ambitious plans to open 50 new UK stores and its first pub in Belfast, aiming to overtake Morrisons as Britain's fifth largest supermarket chain with £600m investment.
Sheffield-based AI asset management firm IntelliAM has acquired Scottish maintenance specialist RBM Lubrications & Monitoring Solutions for £25,000, expanding its presence in Scotland's central manufacturing belt.
County Durham industrial group Hargreaves Services will net £10 million in cash following a fundraising by Devon mining partner Tungsten West, accelerating payments from a previous mine sale.
Defence giant Babcock reveals plans for a new Capability Centre in Plymouth city centre, housing 2,000 staff to boost the local economy and support regeneration efforts.
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Chester-based identity verification specialist GB Group has completed a £175 million refinancing deal with a syndicate of banks, extending its credit facility to 2030 to support strategic growth objectives.
Off-road driving firm Dalesway Yorkshire has secured an £850,000 funding package from HSBC UK to acquire and develop a new base at Coniston Hotel Country Estate, safeguarding 35 jobs and forecasting 10% turnover growth.
North Wales life sciences firm Reacta Healthcare is doubling its workforce and opening a second facility in Deeside, driven by a 400% revenue increase since 2023 and 100% export-based sales.
Global private equity firm EQT has purchased a 42% stake in Kelda Holdings, parent company of Yorkshire Water, joining existing overseas owners GIC and TCorp. The deal supports Yorkshire Water's £8.3bn infrastructure improvement plan amid ongoing scrutiny
Global tech company LogChain is moving its headquarters from Singapore to Liverpool, investing £4 million and creating jobs, as part of a wave of international firms choosing the city.
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Redditch-based supply chain specialist AMCO has invested approximately £2 million in twelve new Mercedes Actros trucks, expanding its fleet to 73 vehicles and 95 trailers to enhance customer service and driver safety.
Apple and Google have committed to avoid discriminating against competing third-party apps in a voluntary agreement with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority.
Liverpool-based wellness firm Applied Nutrition sees Coleen Rooney substantially increase her investment as the company expands its appeal to working mothers and broader demographics.
Plans to secure a major data centre and renewable energy investment to help fund the £400m Global Centre of Rail Excellence project in Wales have been pushed back as the search for private funding continues.
Motor insurance group Admiral invests in HSBC's UK Direct Lending Fund, supporting mid-market companies like Impact Food Group and TXO to expand operations and drive economic growth.
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Fintech venture Sidekick has raised £7.8 million in Series A funding, led by Eos Ventures and the Development Bank of Wales, to accelerate expansion of its Cardiff operational hub and make sophisticated investment tools more accessible.
