West Midlands

This page will feature all the latest news and events taking place in the West Midlands.

News and events

Postgraduate course scholarships available at Harper Adams - open to allaspiring professionals in the rural economy. Read more...
West Midland poultry producers must act now to access funding before the new 'Broiler Welfare Directive' comes in. Read more...
Sheep and beef producers in the West Midlands are being offered a significant opportunity to improve their businesses by attending practical events being staged as part of a new regional advisory initiative. Read more...
Funds for West Midland Woodland Workforce. Read more...

Women and Work Awards 2010

The first ever Women and Work Awards luncheon took place on 10 March 2010 at Nailcote Hall, Warwickshire. Click here to find out more about the finalists...

Celebrating women growing a career in horticulture - Michelle Dale from Stratford picked up the Women and Work Award for Horticulture.

Funding

LandkSkills West Midlands delivers sustainable business benefits to the regions agricultural, horticultural and forestry industries. Click on the box below for more information on how you could benefit from up to 80% funding...

Women and Work offers a £450 training grant to women working in male dominated industries such as agriculture. Click the box below for more information...

Funding available to women working in male dominated industries in the West Midlands...

Useful links

Regional Partnership Manager: Ros Burnley

Ros is currently on maternity leave. Madge Moore, National Directro for England will continue with Ros' work with employers in the West Midlands to encourage investment in skills and with regional agencies to help them understand the needs of the diverse industries in the land based sector.

Skills assessment

In October 2009 Lantra revealed its latest research report: A Skills Assessment for the Environmental and Land-based Sector.

The research sets out the skills gaps and shortages of the current workforce and identifies the projected skills needs through to 2017.

Download the West Midlands factsheet here

Birmingham Post

Bra banks for Birmingham as city supports recycling and charity

19 August 2010 14:05:00 A city-wide network of bra recycling banks is set to initially be rolled out at 11 sites across Birmingham.
Ocean Power Technologies wins grant for work in Cornwall

30 July 2010 06:57:00 The Warwick-based subsidiary of a US tidal energy firm has been awarded a £1.5 million grant to develop its technology at a major wave energy farm in Cornwall.
Environmental firm caught polluting Birmingham water system

28 July 2010 07:28:00 A company created to help the environment by producing an alternative fuel source allowed polluting oils to seep into the water system in Birmingham, a court heard.
West Midlands suffers poor start in electric cars race

23 July 2010 07:30:00 China’s bold approach and sense of environmental urgency mean it is set to “clean up” in the electric vehicles market long-vaunted as a major hope in creating West Midland jobs.
Sustainability West Midlands names Top 50 green leaders for the region

22 July 2010 07:00:00 Carillion’s chief engineer, the boss of the West Midlands Fire Service and a Gardener’s World presenter all feature in a newly-published list of the region’s Top 50 Green Leaders.
New Shropshire company to help firms sell electricity to the grid

20 July 2010 06:30:00 A group of West Midland businessmen have launched a new company to help homeowners and businesses sell renewably generated electricity to the grid.
Renewable energy holds key to CO2 battle, says BMW chief

18 July 2010 12:23:00 The UK Government needs to speed up investment in renewables so the push for electric vehicles does not simply shift CO2 emissions from cars to power stations, according to a senior BMW boss.
Birmingham can lead the green revolution says European leader of climate action

18 July 2010 12:17:00 This week delegates will gather at Aston University for a conference on the green industrial revolution. Here Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action, explains the challenges ahead for a low carbon future
Birmingham Post Business Awards - Manufacturing, Science & Technology, plus Environment & Sustainability categories

16 July 2010 06:29:00 Birmingham Post Editor Alun Thorne introduces the Manufacturing, Science & Technology and the Environment & Sustainability categories.
Birmingham Post Business Awards - meet the sponsors: Jaguar Land Rover

16 July 2010 06:26:00 Dr Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, explains why the luxury car manufacturer is sponsoring the Manufacturing, Science & Technology and Environment & Sustainability categories at the Birmingham Post Business Awards.
£2m project helps divert two million tonnes of West Midlands landfill waste

13 July 2010 16:05:00 Grants and support worth nearly £2 million are enabling businesses in the West Midlands to divert an additional 2 million tonnes of commercial and industrial waste from landfill by 2014.
Digbeth cycle courier firm scoops low carbon prize

05 July 2010 11:27:00 A Digbeth firm which offers a zero-emission courier and postal service was among the winners of the 2nd West Midlands Low Carbon Economy Awards.
Carbon reduction website launched for Birmingham

02 June 2010 07:11:00 A new website which calculates the value of carbon reduction pledges has been launched in Birmingham for residents who want to help the environment.
Profits swell at Severn Trent

28 May 2010 10:40:00 Water company Severn Trent said it was pumping £2.5 billion worth of investment into the Midlands over the next five years as it announced a surge in earnings.
Carbon neutral Birmingham house in line for national award

27 May 2010 19:13:00 A house in an inner city Birmingham street has been shortlisted for the UK’s most coveted architectural prize.
Bioenergy boost for Aston University

25 May 2010 12:13:00 Aston University has strengthened its world-leading research into bioenergy with the opening of its new £650,000 state-of-the-art chemical engineering laboratories.
Couch Perry & Wilkes gain PassivHaus recognition

04 May 2010 13:44:00 Two sustainable technology specialists at Birmingham-based environmental consultancy Couch Perry & Wilkes have qualified as PassivHaus consultants.
Linford C-Zero makes green move to Birmingham city centre

16 April 2010 06:11:00 Sustainable housing provider Linford C-Zero has made a green move of its own by relocating to city centre offices.
Ocean Power Technologies lands £1m US funding boost

13 April 2010 07:24:00 AIM-listed Ocean Power Technologies, the US firm whose European operations are based in Warwick, has won a £1 million award from the US government to develop its next-generation wave power system.
Green campaigner blames 'elitist' attitudes for delaying wind farm developments

06 April 2010 14:39:00 Green campaigner Jonathon Porritt has slammed the “elitist” mentality of middle-class people protesting against wind turbines, which he believes is hampering the UK’s chance to tackle unemployment with low-carbon jobs.