Recruitment drive under way for 1,700 new jobs at Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull Plant

Jaguar Land Rover has signalled the start of its next phase of growth by opening the application process for 1,700 new jobs at its Lode Lane plant. The new roles, which were announced last year, will support a £1.5 billion investment in manufacturing, which will see the production of a new Jaguar mid-sized saloon based…

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Holiday Inn hotels in Solihull and Stratford-upon-Avon have been put up for sale

A collection of 11 Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Best Western Plus hotels, including two in the Midlands, have been put up for sale. The hotels, which include Holiday Inns in Solihull and Stratford-upon-Avon, are operated by QMH UK. Other hotels include Crowne Plazas in Chester, Glasgow and Nottingham, Holiday Inns in Doncaster, Harrogate, Luton,…

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Solihull girl is having her hair cut for the first time in her life to raise cash for Help Harry Help Others

Six-year-old Brooke Higgins has never had her hair cut but she has been so inspired by the example of brave Harry Moseley that she’s going under the scissors. The Marston Green Infant School pupil, who’s hair reaches her knees, has now decided to have it cut to shoulder-length for the Help Harry Help Others charity…

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A mum-of-two died of cancer after the disease returned following treatment by suspended surgeon Ian Paterson

Michelle Flavelle was just 47 when she lost her fight against the illness. She was treated by Ian Paterson at Solihull Hospital after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 – but she fell ill again five years later, as the scandal over the surgeon’s “cleavage-sparing” mastectomies began to break. Tests revealed Michelle, from Castle…

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Driver has lucky escape as high winds return

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called shortly after 7.15pm yesterday evening (14th) to Truemans Heath Lane in Hollywood, when a tree fell on a passing car. An ambulance, a paramedic area support officer and the Trust’s MERIT rapid response vehicle, carrying a critical care paramedic and a trauma doctor, were dispatched to the scene. On…

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The Ring and Ride service in the West Midlands has been saved from the axe

It was feared the door-to-door minibus service might be scrapped due to government cuts. However Centro, which funds Ring and Ride, said it would make £8.5m available next year. The charity said it was pleased with the money but would not be able to continue Sunday services under the new funding arrangement. Operating hours will…

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Marie Curie worker gets award for her fundraising

Occupational therapist Jackie Brooks has received a national award for her ‘tireless fundraising’ for the Marie Curie Hospice in Solihull. Despite spending all her working hours at the new centre in Marsh Lane, Jackie has also devoted her spare time to raising much-needed funds for the cause so the hospice can continue to support terminally…

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Baby had a lucky escape after tree falls on chapel in Solihull

A tree crashed into a bridal shop on Warwick Road yesterday and it has emerged that a young baby narrowly avoided injury. When the tree crashed into the 100-year-old chapel, a child was lying in its carry-cot just moments before it hit. http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2014-02-13/baby-makes-lucky-escape-in-chapel-tree-fall/

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Double-crewed ‘traditional’ ambulances could be stationed at Solihull Hospital

West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) agreed to put the ambulances back into the borough after a series of problems created by its Make Ready scheme to base traditional ambulances at a new hub in Erdington and rapid response vehicles in communities. Among the key problems experienced during the switch were delayed response times which led…

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The National Motorcycle Museum is planning a number of events to mark its 30th anniversary

The museum first opened its doors on the Coventry Road near the NEC in 1984 with just 200 bikes. Three decades later its collection has grown to 950 machines and 250,000 people a year visit there. The region was an ideal place for the museum because of the Midlands’ proud manufacturing record of making motorbikes….

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