Nearly every business has to go to the bank for funding assistance at some point, so I thought it would be helpful to outline some of the key ways to help yourself in getting the bank manager to say “yes”. Banks are the major source of finance for small business in the UK. When applying for finance from you bank it helps if you follow procedures. Firstly, always have a business plan. The main areas to be covered in a business plan are the management team background with details of qualifications and experience, the type of business and previous trading…

Getting too deep in debt before you are even out of your twenties is a very bad. Learning how to plan for your future right now by understanding how not to get too deeply in debt is your key to a much more successful financial future. Understanding how severely debt can damage your adult life is very important because it is real, it is something that can happen when you least expect it, there is no doubt about that. Those credit card payments that are draining you each and every month are going to be the death of you. Not…

Bentley Motors has welcomed three exceptional, world-leading musical artists to its Crewe headquarters to design a one-of-a-kind Continental GTC, commissioned to honour female empowerment and collaboration. Celebrated organist and conductor Anna Lapwood MBE, world-renowned virtuoso cellist and composer Tina Guo, and Sister Bliss of legendary dance music group Faithless, joined forces to create a bespoke Bentley that embodies creativity, craftsmanship, and inclusivity. This special commission is part of Bentley’s Extraordinary Women programme, an initiative dedicated to championing gender equality, fostering inclusion, and empowering women globally. Bentley Motors invited these exceptional artists to join the programme in recognition of their remarkable…

Litter busting volunteers have been thanked for their dedicated work to help keep a city beauty spot clean and tidy. Members of the Friends of Smestow Valley in partnership with the Severn Rivers Trust and other local community volunteers met on Saturday (1 March) to clear along the banks of Smestow Brook and surrounding areas of the nature reserve. Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for resident services, joined in the clean up and council officers helped litter pick and arranged to collect and remove the bags of rubbish. Also joining the event on Saturday was Tracey…

The first stage in preparing a new Local Plan for Solihull has begun, through a call-for-sites exercise. This was an opportunity for site owners, promoters or other stakeholders to identify what land is available in the borough for potential inclusion in the Council’s Local Plan. The exercise was conducted over a two-month period, from the end of November 2024 to the end of January 2025 and resulted in over 300 sites being suggested for potential development. It is important to note that this is a land availability exercise, and it does not necessarily mean that these sites are suitable for development. …

ABB Robotics’ third Automotive Manufacturing Outlook Survey, in partnership with the leading publication Automotive Manufacturing Solutions, has highlighted how moving to the “Smart Factory” is viewed as a critical next step by global manufacturers and major suppliers. “Automotive manufacturers are acutely aware that advanced robotics, Artificial Intelligence and digital twinning technology are positive drivers of change,” said Joerg Reger, Managing Director of ABB Robotics Automotive Business Line. “Together, these technologies are forming the building blocks of ‘Smart Factories’ which will help carmakers introduce new models more quickly and cost-effectively, while greatly reducing energy consumption and costs and meeting sustainability targets.”…

Sandwell Council’s 2025/2026 budget has been approved by full council. At a meeting on Tuesday (25 February), councillors approved: £366million of spending on services that serve 344,000 residents, plus £140million of investment on capital projects, and a further £78million of investment in the council’s housing stock. Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance Councillor Paul Moore told the meeting: “Almost 60 per cent of our budget is spent on Adult Social Care and Children’s Services and Education – supporting the elderly, the vulnerable, the disabled and our children and young people. “This is a budget that makes sure we are…

Subaru UK has announced the development of its dealer network, with five new strategic retailer appointments across England and Wales. The appointments during Q1 2025 enhance the brand’s coverage in key regional areas, building on Subaru’s momentum of recent years, and reinforcing its commitment to future growth. The latest additions to the retailer network – which has built a reputation for sustained excellence and dedication over decades – will enable more customers than ever before to have easy access to Subaru’s personalised dealership experience. This strategically planned network development follows a successful 2024 for the brand, which saw Subaru pass…

Image from go.walsall.gov.uk People of Walsall are set to benefit from a transformative programme of regeneration and growth in their community with £20 million of government funding confirmed on Monday 3 March. As part of the national Plan for Change to ensure people in every corner of the country benefit from the government’s ambitious growth agenda, Walsall’s local leaders have been working closely with the Department on the Community Regeneration Partnership programme to develop a bespoke package of funding that will kickstart a range of projects to boost the community, tackle local issues and address inequalities. The town centre…

Deputy Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Craig Collingswood (front), the Leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council Councillor Stephen Simkins (standing left), councillors, youth councillors and other young people came together in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre Members of the City of Wolverhampton Youth Council and other youth groups found out about local politics at a replica Full Council meeting. Deputy Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Craig Collingswood, the Leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council, Councillor Stephen Simkins, councillors, youth councillors and other young people came together in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre. The mock Full…