Business News i54 gets go-ahead
for expansion An extension to a major Midlands business park - which could generate around 1,700 jobs and lever in up to £300m of investment - has received the go-ahead. Work to extend i54 South
Staffordshire by around a third of its current size is expected to begin in Spring after South Staffordshire Council gave plans the green light. Council chiefs say the extension
to the west of the current site, on the border with Wolverhampton, could release up to £3m a year in business rates. It is hoped that the expanded
site will be fully occupied by 2024. In addition to investments from
the councils, there will be significant financial contributions from the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership. Staffordshire County Council
leader Philip Atkins said: “This was a logical move for us as we know there is high demand from businesses from a range of sectors.” City of Wolverhampton Council
leader Roger Lawrence said: “i54 is one of the UK’s premier advanced manufacturing business parks and this major news means we can now build on it success.” Brian Edwards, leader of South
Staffordshire Council, said: “There has been considerable engagement and consultation with local people and stakeholders and the committee was satisfied that the plans represent a considerable economic opportunity.” More than £1bn has been invested
in i54, with 2,700 people employed by multi-national companies including Jaguar Land Rover.
President supports Prostate Cancer UK
Saqib Bhatti, president of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), has chosen Prostate Cancer UK as his charity of the year. The charity was established in
1996 by Professor Jonathan Waxman and was the UK’s first national organisation for prostate cancer. Over the past 20 years, Prostate
Cancer UK have invested more than £37m into prostate cancer medical research and continue to provide support for men and families. In the UK, one in eight men will
get prostate cancer in their lifetime - but for black men the risk is one in four. Current research suggests that a man dies from prostate cancer every 45 minutes. By 2030, it is predicted to
become the most common cancer in the UK. Saqib was keen to support
Prostate Cancer UK and raise awareness of the disease after GBCC chairman David Waller and past president Greg Lowson were affected by it. Both successfully fought prostate cancer in the last year and are now in remission. Saqib said: “We, at the Chamber, are a family. When two of our own were diagnosed, we reached out to Prostate Cancer UK. The fact that this kills one man every 45 minutes shows the magnitude of the problem. “I am determined to do
everything we can to raise awareness and raise funds for
Double contract win for Tang Interiors
Tang Interiors have won two major fit-out contracts – with a national regulator and a motor racing team. The UK’s communications regulator Ofcom has chosen Birmingham-
based Tang to deliver the fit-out of its 600 square metre office in Cambridgeshire. The project is expected to take 10 weeks to complete and includes specialist mechanical and electrical works. This is Tang Interiors’ second fit-out for the regulator, following the
success of their first project in the Midlands. Tang have also been appointed to fit out a 750 square metre research
and development facility for an unnamed Formula 1 team. Carl Hubbard, operations director at Tang Interiors, said: “Kicking off
2019 with two new projects is a great start to the year, especially with these two high-calibre and prestigious clients. “We’re thrilled to have been chosen to deliver the fit out of a new office
space for a world-renowned Formula 1 team, while being chosen once again by Ofcom to deliver a fit-out of its offices is testament to the quality of scheme we delivered on our first project.”
8 CHAMBERLINK February 2019
Contracts boost: Carl Hubbard
Leading the fight: Back row – Saqib Bhatti (left) and GBCC chief executive Paul Faulkner. Bottom row – Prostate Cancer UK’s head of community fundraising Gabriella Bailey (left) and Tracey Pritchard.
‘The fact that this kills one man every 45 minutes shows the magnitude of the problem’
medical research so we can beat this.” Tracey Pritchard, executive
director of engagement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Prostate Cancer UK is really grateful for the opportunity to join forces with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce to raise funds and awareness of the disease across
this crucial business community. “Right now, we’re funding
innovative research in Birmingham. “Being able to combine our
fundraising and awareness activity with the GBCC members’ events programme will help us to stop prostate cancer being a killer among men and families in the area.”
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