Latest local news-in-brief...
Jaguar Land Rover announces 150 new jobs
Car maker JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) has announced 150 new jobs across two of its factories in the West Midlands. The firm said 50 maintenance technicians would be recruited at its site in Solihull, while the remaining 100 would be based in Wolverhampton. The roles would support the production of JLR's next generation of electric vehicles as part of its drive to become net zero across its supply chain, products and operations by 2039.
https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/articles/cqjd1rqwkq7o
BYD rules out UK factory as conditions "not friendly"
Chinese car maker BYD, which recently overtook Tesla in global EV sales, opening new UK showrooms in Bristol and Warwick, says it is not considering setting up a factory in the UK despite needing extra capacity to support its rapid expansion plans. The company, which has increased its global sales tenfold in just five years to become the world's sixth-largest car maker, is increasing its global footprint with its first European factories, in Hungary and Turkey. This move reflects its desire to become as localised as possible in the markets where it operates. Yet despite the UK being a "very high priority" for the sales success and expansion of BYD in volume terms, the firm's executive vice president, Stella Li, told Autocar that a UK plant is not under consideration.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business-manufacturing/byd-rules-out-uk-factory-conditions-not-friendly
Aldi considering head office shake-up with 350 jobs on the line
Aldi is considering a restructure at its HQ in Atherstone, with up to 350 roles potentially at risk of redundancy. The proposed changes could impact positions in buying, finance, and back-office functions, as reported by the Grocery Gazette. It comes just days after Aldi announced a wage increase for store assistants, who will earn £12.75 an hour nationwide and £14.05 within the M25 from March, as it battles to be the UK’s highest-paying supermarket.
https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2095153-aldi-considering-head-office-shake-up-with-350-jobs-on-the-line
£230m DHL hub in Baginton which can handle one million parcels a day and will create 600 jobs opened by business minister
A £230m DHL distribution hub for online orders has officially been opened in the Warwick District by Business Minister Justin Madders. The 270,000 sq ft facility at SEGRO Park Coventry can handle up to one million parcels a day and will create up to 600 jobs.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/230m-dhl-hub-in-coventry-which-can-handle-1m-parcels-a-day-and-will-create-600-jobs-is-opened-by-business-minister
Battery recycling firm powers ahead with new testing site
A battery recycling and repurposing company is launching a new testing facility in Warwickshire.
Green Tech Industries has secured a five-year lease on a 3,100 sq ft unit at Sucham Park to serve as a base for disassembling and testing battery components. The company also plans to expand its workforce to ten staff members. The lease completes the nine-unit, 42,200 sq ft development by Warwickshire Property & Development Group (WPDG), making the scheme fully occupied.
https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2095659-battery-recycling-firm-powers-ahead-with-new-testing-site
Marine Propulsion Company Sets up HQ in Coventry
Cauldwell Marine has secured the lease for Unit 1 at Swallowgate Business Park in Coventry, the largest unit on the site. The 23,947 sq ft light industrial warehouse, will become Caudwell Marine’s UK HQ, with a growing team as it launches a new outboard boating marine engine system, with the backing of billionaire entrepreneur, John Caudwell.
https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2095605-marine-engineer-snaps-up-warehouse-at-coventry-business-park
Nuneaton Among Santander banks to close
Santander has announced plans to close 95 branches across the UK, putting around 750 jobs at risk.
The Spanish-owned high street bank will also reduce operating hours at 36 locations and convert 18 branches into counter-free sites. While a full list of branches that will close has been published, dates for all closures have not been confirmed yet, but will include the Nuneaton branch.
https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2096026-santander-banks-on-digital-closing-95-branches-and-750-jobs-at-risk
Warwick journalist launches new venture with podcast series
Warwickshire Means Business editor Brian Halford has launched a series of sports podcasts. The interviews, which tell the back-stories behind the stories in sport, have hit the ground running: "Lovely interviewing style, allowing the guest to speak. Different and illuminating."
https://www.reportsfromarbroath.com/podcasts
Headlam pins hopes on major restructure, after £34m loss
A major restructuring by the UK’s largest flooring business is positioning the group for “long-term success” according to its CEO. Coleshill based Headlam’s CEO Chris Payne is driving an ambitious two-year transformation plan, consolidating 32 businesses into a single, more efficient operation known as Mercado. He believes the reorganisation of 13 distribution centres, its logistics network and the integration of acquired businesses will mean the country’s biggest flooring firm “can now act as one”.
https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2095566-headlam-pins-hopes-on-major-restructure-after-34m-loss
Warwickshire pub and restaurant reopens after refurbishment
A pub and restaurant in Warwickshire has reopened following a six-figure refurbishment. The Fish at Wixford, which is operated by new tenant The Honeybourne Pub Company, reopened on 1 March after being closed since the new year. It has undergone a £320,000 upgrade by Dutch owned Heineken-owned Star Pubs.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/warwickshire-pub-and-restaurant-reopens-after-refurbishment
Leamington and Coventry Among Bistrot Pierre Restaurants to Close
Bistrot Pierre, the Nottingham-headquartered chain of restaurants, has been sold in a pre-pack deal to investment vehicle Cherry Equity Partners in a deal that will see 158 jobs lost and the closure of eight restaurants. The venues closing are in Mere Green, Newport, Kidderminster, Southport, Preston, Leamington Spa, Birmingham and Coventry.
https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2095506-bistrot-pierre
Expertise from south Warwickshire and Brazil join forces in new business
A PR and her client have launched a business collaboration after just one year of working together, bringing together a combined 50 years of experience in a new marketing agency in south Warwickshire.
https://chalmersnewspr.co.uk/international-womens-day-client-becomes-partner-in-new-south-warwickshire-business-venture/
Ilmington Named Among Sunday Times Best Places to Live in the UK 2025
A 72 location list, published by The Sunday Times, was ranked by judges who visited the locations and assessed factors including schools, transport, broadband speeds, access to green spaces, the health of the high street and, for the first time, mobile signal. According to the guide, Warwickshire village Ilmington is "pretty as a picture, with its twin village greens, winding lanes and ancient church." The judges described the area as a "blissful example of village life as it should be.
https://www.timeout.com/uk/news/the-uks-72-best-places-to-live-in-2025-full-sunday-times-list-including-overall-and-regional-winners-032525
Rugby Among West Midlands Top-performing Areas for Growth
According to the latest EY Regional Economic Forecast, Redditch and Rugby are among the region’s top-performing areas, benefiting from high-value sectors and seeing 1.6% growth. Despite a drop in manufacturing employment, growth is set to be driven by high-value knowledge-based sectors positioning themselves across the region, alongside an uplift in construction.
The Midlands is projected to see an annual Gross Value Added (GVA) growth rate of 1.5% between 2025 and 2028, slightly below the UK average of 1.6%. In the West Midlands, GVA is expected to grow by 1.5% next year, alongside a 0.6% increase in employment opportunities.
https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2096006-high-value-sectors-and-construction-to-drive-midlands-growth-says-report