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Jon Griffin

Jon Griffin

Mike Whitby

New construction just keeps on coming to Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM Council leader Mike Whitby today said the city was rocketing up the Premiership of European locations with £17 billion worth of construction projects on the horizon. Read

Tony Hancock

Paul Henry to play Tony Hancock for Birmingham's Maverick Theatre

BENNY is to make a comeback - in the legendary shoes of Birmingham's best-known comedian Tony Hancock. Paul Henry, the actor behind the loveable simpleton who became a Crossroads star, will be in the spotlight again as tortured genius Hancock. Read

ITV News

The end may be near for Central News

IT'S almost Christmas 2009 - and Bob Warman is reading the regional headlines from ITV's Birmingham studios. Read

The Great Western Arcade

£1m to make Great Western Arcade great again

BIRMINGHAM'S historic Great Western Arcade is in line for a 21st century facelift of up to £1 million, restoring it to its Victorian glory. Read

eBay

Boeing 747 fuselage is sold on eBay by Redditch firm

THE only Boeing 747 airliner fuselage ever put on eBay is finally leaving the Midlands after being sold by Redditch firm DesignQ. Read

Touch of Midas for city jewellers Rex Johnson

BIRMINGHAM jeweller Rex Johnson and Sons is enjoying a once in a lifetime "gold rush" as bracelet and necklace owners cash in on the record value of the precious metal. Read

Digbeth Institute to get multi-million pound refurbishment

THE much-loved Digbeth Institute is making a comeback, with the UK's largest promoter of live music converting the site into a "major world-class" music venue. Read

'Striking' landlord gives in

ONE of Staffordshire's longest established pubs has closed for the first time in nearly 175 years. Read

Get buses back in the fast lane!

THOUSANDS more passengers are using Birmingham's buses - but many more could join them if bus lanes were introduced across the city. Read

House's new look is worthy of note

A BIRMINGHAM building firm is quids in after giving a new lease of life to the Midland Bishop's home which graced the nation's £20 note. Read

Cadbury to increase prices

CADBURY today warned the High Street that increased commodity costs of up to six per cent would force up its prices for consumers. Read

The former Beatties store in Corporation Street

Old C&A store is born again

THE former Beatties store in Birmingham city centre is being brought back to life at last – with New Look, JJB Sports and Mothercare signed up for the prestige site. Read

Raymond Blanc

Top chef Blanc quits Brum

FAMED international chef Raymond Blanc is severing his links with Birmingham - forced out of the city's restaurant scene by "high rents". Read

Jaguar XF

Jag's Xtra Factory staff

JAGUAR'S new XF is already such a success the luxury car firm has had to meet demand by borrowing extra production workers from sister company Land Rover. Read

Jon Griffin

Taking the rough with the smooth

JON GRIFFIN takes a personal look back at the fast moving commercial climate, its casualties and success stories. Read

Cyprus

There's trouble in paradise

SO which Mediterranean paradise celebrates the Greek god of love - and has its very own ghost town for curious tourists? Read

Artist impression of New Street station

Project to create work for more than 5,000

THE £550 million transformation of Birmingham's New Street station will create at least 5,000 jobs. Read

'Misuse' of cash blasted

THE Government body which decides how public money should be used to develop the West Midlands spent nearly £118,000 of taxpayers' money on a one-day conference. Read

Cadbury's staff end battle to save jobs

UNION leaders said today that the odds against saving a Cadbury's factory were always against the workers following a vote to stop fighting the closure. Read

100 may lose jobs at firm

A KEY West Midland car parts supplier whose customers include Land Rover and LDV is being sold after three months in administration - but over 100 jobs are now at risk. 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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