Top Business News

Hi-tech Derby 'has nation's fastest-growing economy'

Derby's economy has grown the fastest of any city in England during the past decade, according to new research.And the city has the second fastest economic growth in the UK, behind only Belfast. more »


British Seed Houses opens £900k testing centre 03/07/2008

Purpose-built facilities, costing £900,000, have been officially opened by a Lincolnshire seed specialist. more »


Troubled Barratt merges East Midlands offices as 1,000 jobs go 03/07/2008

Troubled Leicestershire housebuilder Barratt Developments today said it was merging its Barratt and David Wilson offices, costing 60 jobs. more »


Creative Business Awards set for launch in Nottingham 03/07/2008

The city's most creative businesses are being urged to stand up and be counted in this year's Nottingham Creative Business Awards. more »


Derby fashion icon Limeys is rebranded Cruise 03/07/2008

The name of an independent fashion chain which first appeared in Derby almost 40 years ago is to disappear as part of rebranding by its new owners. more »

ACCA's Richard Aitken-Davies on start-ups. See Advice columnists

National Business News

Fuel prices blamed for collapse of haulage firm Macfarlane Transport
03/07/2008 14:54:07: Administrators today blamed rising fuel prices for the collapse of a haulage firm which threatens to put 300 people out of work. more »

Shareholders lose out as ScS trading arm bought out of administration
03/07/2008 14:00:44: Shareholders in struggling furniture chain ScS Upholstery are set to be left empty-handed after the group was placed in administration today and its trading arm sold to private equity. more »

Mortgage 'drought' to worsen, says Bank of England
03/07/2008 13:54:53: The mortgage drought looks set to worsen during the coming months as banks further rein in their lending in the face of falling house prices, a report showed today.  more »

Graduates 'earn average salary of £20k'
03/07/2008 11:51:47: Graduates leaving full-time degree courses are earning an average salary of £20,000 and 64% are finding jobs when they leave university, according to statistics released today. more »

CIPS says service sector is shrinking fast
03/07/2008 11:14:33: The deluge of economic woe continued today as data showed the UK’s dominant service sector shrinking at its quickest rate for nearly seven years during June. more »

US & UK finance chiefs issue economy warning as oil prices surge
03/07/2008 10:11:12: Soaring world oil prices risk prolonging the world economic slowdown, US Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson warned today. more »

Fuel price means shoppers travel less, says M&S boss
03/07/2008 09:46:13: Shoppers are making shorter and less frequent journeys because of the high cost of fuel, according to the Marks & Spencer boss. more »

Computer games growth boosts Game
03/07/2008 09:44:08: Computer games retailer Game today said a strong market and a raft of hit games releases had helped it beat expectations in the first half of the year. more »

Worried consumers not crying into beer, reveals Greene King
03/07/2008 09:42:17: Greene King revealed the current pressure on the brewing and pub industry today after sales fell nearly 3% in May and June. more »

Oil reaches $145 a barrel
03/07/2008 09:41:11: Stock markets were expected to come under more pressure today after oil prices surged to a new record above 145 US dollars a barrel. more »

Mark research firm TNS snubs another WPP approach
03/07/2008 09:39:57: Taylor Nelson Sofres today fended off a third attempt from advertising and media giant WPP to muscle in on its planned £1.5 billion merger with German rival GfK. more »