Deloitte calls on West Midlands entrepreneurs to share their views

Business advisory firm Deloitte has opened its annual survey of UK entrepreneurs for its report ‘Entrepreneurship UK: 2011/12’ and is calling on businesses in the West Midlands to take part.

Now in its fourth year, Entrepreneurship UK has become a leading report reflecting the current attitudes, performance and objectives of entrepreneurs and their businesses.

Ashley Hollinshead, entrepreneurial business partner at Deloitte in Birmingham, said: “The Entrepreneurship UK survey is an opportunity for the region’s entrepreneurs to give their views on how they are feeling and their plans for the future. It’s about getting a better understanding of what makes entrepreneurial businesses tick.

First deal done at Cortex

Xylem Developments, the development company owned by Robert Birch and Tony Milner, has completed its first deal at its Cortex development at Hartlebury Trading Estate, near Kidderminster.

Anderman & Company has contracted to purchase a unit of 8,060 sq ft and will relocate its entire Midlands operation to Cortex later this year to form the new company headquarters. It also has an option to acquire a further unit of 5,590 sq ft.

Andrew Collyer joins Colliers International

Colliers International has appointed Andrew Collyer as associate director in its Birmingham based Accurates division.

Andrew has more than 20 years experience in the administration and collection of local business taxation charges. He previously worked for Shropshire Council as revenues manager, where he was responsible for managing three teams, administering and collecting council tax and national non-domestic rates. He was also responsible for determining applications for discretionary rate relief.

Trio of accolades for CBRE

CB Richard Ellis Group Inc, has been named in the FORTUNE 500 list of the largest U.S.-based companies for the fourth consecutive year.

CBRE, which has an office in Birmingham, is the only commercial real estate services firm ever to be included in the influential listing, which ranks companies by total revenue.

CBRE was placed 440^th on the list, up nearly 60 places from last year.

Deloitte launches employment tax school

The Cambridge Global Employer Services (GES) team of business advisory firm Deloitte has launched a unique Employment Taxes training school to provide organisations with an interactive training and learning forum for their employees.

The GES team will be running a year-long programme of training and knowledge building designed to help in-house accounting, payroll and HR teams get to grips with all of the main areas of Employment tax.

Scholarship scheme supports local disability athletes

“On guard!” Wheelchair fencers Thomas Hall-Butcher (left) and Alan Sheriff (centre) with Deloitte Midlands practice senior partner Chris Loughran.

Business advisory firm Deloitte is providing financial support to a group of elite disability athletes from the Midlands as they pursue their ambition of competing at the Paralympic Games.

They are part of a group of nearly 100 athletes to receive funding this year through the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS).  TASS is funded by Deloitte and managed by SportsAid and has provided more than 500 financial awards to disability athletes over the last five years.

The current TASS athletes come from all over the country and compete across sixteen different sports, including wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, wheelchair fencing and disability snowsports.

Tradewind Recruitment breezes into Birmingham

Pictured outside Blucher Street is (left to right) Philippa Pickavance, David Lester, sales manger at Tradewind Recruitment, and Bill Andrews.

London-based recruitment firm Tradewind Recruitment Limited has chosen Birmingham as the location for its first venture outside the capital.

The company, which specialises in providing recruitment services to the education sector, has taken 1,423 sq ft /132 sq m of office space at 2 Blucher Street, in the city centre, on an all inclusive basis.

The building, which is located opposite The Mailbox, is owned by Shrewsbury-based Morris Property, who were advised by Drivers Jonas Deloitte.

Tax duo boost Deloitte’s Cambridge team

Christine Harris (left) and Lizzie Hill have been appointed directors at business advisory firm Deloitte

Business advisory firm Deloitte has boosted its tax offer in Cambridge with the appointment of two directors.

Christine Harris and Lizzie Hill both move from the firm’s London office.

Christine, who has been with Deloitte since 2005, will work in the firm’s private client services team. She specialises in advising high net worth individuals and their families on income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax planning. She provides UK and cross-border planning for clients living in the UK or overseas.

A Ryall appointment

Graham Ryall, Colliers International

Graham Ryall, a director in Colliers International’s rating team in Birmingham, has been appointed as President of the Rating Surveyors’ Association (RSA).

Mr Ryall takes over the role from John Elcox and becomes the 102^nd president of the Association. He is also the first rating surveyor practising in the West Midlands to be elected to the position.

Mr Ryall has more than 40 years’ experience in rating valuation, having worked in both the public and private sectors, predominantly in the Midlands. He specialises in large industrial complexes with associated plant and machinery and other specialist properties, such as shipyards, hospitals, leisure centres, crematoria and universities.

Two Snowhill deal a major boost for city’s property sector

The announcement that Hines and Ballymore Group are to jointly develop Two Snowhill in Birmingham is a major shot in the arm for the city’s commercial property sector and will help alleviate the looming office supply crisis, according to Colliers International.

Craig Satchwell, head of office agency at the firm, who advised Hines on the deal, described it as “a very significant regional transaction for the UK property market”.