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Jon Griffin

Jon Griffin

Park boss blames weathermen for Bank Holiday washout

THE boss of Drayton Manor Park has criticised weather forecasters after the popular Midland theme park suffered its worst May Day Bank Holiday in living memory. Read

Rock star's career has stood the test of time

IT'S a mighty long way down rock and roll, Ian Hunter famously sang, and few other artists can know better just what it takes to survive in the pressure cooker of the music business. Read

Milestone Land Rover is simply AbFab for star

ABSOLUTELY Fabulous! Lucky workers got the chance of a lifetime to meet legendary TV star Joanna Lumley as the four millionth Land Rover left the factory. Read

Crash threat to jobs

MORE West Midland jobs have been plunged into jeopardy with the collapse of a major food and drinks group and a babywear retailer. Read

Workers baffled by boss quitting

A HIGH ranking Midland-based executive at Europe's biggest motorhomes retailer has left his job in mystery circumstances after seven years with the group. Read

Rising prices hit charity race night

ONE of the Midlands' longest-running charity nights is in danger, after 28 years. Read

Shopping centre plan is hit by delay

BIRMINGHAM'S newest shopping centre is still up to four years away from a potential launch date. Read

Whitby in rail rallying call to Blair

BIRMINGHAM council leader Mike Whitby today threw down the gauntlet to Tony Blair over the £500 million revamp of New Street Station and said: "Put your money where your mouth is." Read

Land Rover's 4 x 4 millionth!

MIDLAND motor giant Land Rover is set to clock up another major milestone - with its four millionth vehicle. Read

Longbridge workers in legal victory

MORE than 20 former Longbridge workers struck down by breathing difficulties have won the fight to lodge disability claims. Read

By George, staff stage a walkout

STRIKING workers at a Birmingham firm took to the streets to stage their own St George's Day protest as a pay and conditions dispute hardened. Read

Royal award for city firm

A SMALL Birmingham company which has developed a £5 million a year order book with a unique blood test to fight bone cancer was today honoured by the Queen. Read

£300m scramble for the Mailbox

ICONIC Birmingham landmark the Mailbox is on the market for £300 million - triggering the city's biggest ever commercial property deal. Read

Setback in lost pensions fight

TORY plans to bail out 125,000 workers facing pensions heartache, including 2,000 West Midlanders, were thrown out after a fiery House of Commons debate. Read

Nanjing pledge on production

NANJING is aiming to produce 50,000 MGs a year at Longbridge within two years, with a workforce of up to 800, it emerged today. Read

Rally to remember the death of Rover

A MASS convoy of hundreds of cars is to descend on Longbridge to mark the second anniversary of the loss of more than 6,000 jobs following the collapse of MG Rover. Read

Jobs boost in £4.5m complex for Hagley Road

BIRMINGHAM'S Hagley Road district is to undergo a major £4.5 million facelift - with a new hotel and restaurant creating dozens of jobs. Read

Famous regulars enjoy the ultimate takeaway

A TOP Indian restaurant is providing the ultimate takeaway service - sending curries across the Channel to far-flung corners of Europe. Read

Blair in New Street pledge

TONY Blair today guaranteed Government support for a £500 million plan to transform New Street Station and pledged: "We are prepared to put the money in." Read

Prime Minister hails spirit of Brum after MG rebirth

PRIME Minister Tony Blair today praised the "amazing, can-do" spirit of thousands of ex-MG Rover workers and applauded Nanjing's plan to bring Longbridge back from the dead. Read

Author Profile

Jon Griffin has been Business Editor of the Birmingham Mail since 1998. He began his career at the Peterborough Evening Telegraph in 1975 then worked from 1978-79 for the Birmingham Evening Mail. He later joined the Coventry Evening Telegraph as a trainee sub-editor then the Wolverhampton Express and Star from 1980 before rejoining the Mail in April 1996.

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