The UK’s new car market grew for the second consecutive month in June, as registrations rose 6.7% to 191,316 units, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It was the best June since 2019, helping lift first half performance 3.5% above the same period last year, although the market remains -17.9% behind pre-Covid levels.1 Despite a positive June performance, it too remained behind pre-pandemic levels, -14.4% lower than in 2019, and driven mostly by fleet activity with uptake climbing 8.5% to 114,841 units.2 Private retail demand grew 5.9% to 71,616 units…

As we take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Black Country Day on Monday 14 July, Sandwell Council wants everyone to look to the future. Black Country Day has been celebrated for over a decade to honour and celebrate the heritage, history, culture and uniqueness of the people of the Black Country. Whilst inevitably the festival looks back on our proud industrial heritage, this year Sandwell Council looks forward to the future. Our region cradled the industrial revolution which powered first Britain and then the world. So, what will our role be in the future? That is the question…

An Amber heat health alert has been issued for Wolverhampton and the West Midlands with temperatures forecast to climb to more than 30C this weekend. It will be in force from 12pm today (Friday 11 July, 2025) until 9am on Tuesday 14 July, 2025, with the warmest weather forecast to climb to over 30C over the next 48 hours. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warns that the hot weather is likely to bring increased pressures on health and social care services, could lead to a possible rise in deaths – particularly among those aged 65 or over or with…

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker went back to school to announce a new education programme that will help thousands more schoolchildren improve the air quality where they live. The Mayor visited Corngreaves Academy in Cradley Heath on Clean Air Day to speak to a class of seven, eight and nine-year-olds about air pollution, how it affects them and what they can do to limit their exposure. The new schools’ programme will provide every school in the West Midlands with specially written lessons and assembly plans, hands-on classroom activities and workshops that link into the National Curriculum. Primary schools will also…

Companies House starts to verify identities The introduction of identity verification is one of the key changes to UK company law under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. The introduction of identity verification is one of the key changes to UK company law under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. This landmark legislation gave Companies House new and enhanced powers to help disrupt economic crime and support economic growth. Identity verification will provide more assurance about who is setting up, running, owning and controlling companies in the UK. There will be the same level of assurance…

left to right, are Alison Baggs, Participation Officer, Sarah Reynolds, SEND Early Identification, Helen Taylor, Head of SEND and Inclusion, Shama Hussain, Chloe Lambert, Ellie Parker Brewer and Ne-yo Makombe, all HY5! ambassadors, Alison Hinds, Co Chair SEND and Inclusion Partnership Board, Ellis Lees Griffiths and Dhiren Kumar, both HY5! ambassadors, Andrew Scragg, Participation Officer, Megan Baynham, Kieran Smith-Mills and Harman Kambo, all HY5! ambassadors, Paul Tulley, Co Chair SEND and Inclusion Partnership Board, Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, Dr Cathy Higgins, Divisional Medical Director/Consultant Paediatrician, Pate Tate, SEND…

Annual fundraiser held on 17th June at The Kia Oval, London £17,266.10 raised in total, surpassing the £15,000 goal Proceeds to benefit BRIGHT Cancer Care and Skcin Support from sponsors, including headline sponsor Kia, and generous prize donors made the event a resounding success Women On the Move Against Cancer (WOMAC) held its annual fundraising event on Tuesday 17th June at The Kia Oval, London. Thanks to overwhelming support from the automotive industry and its generous guests, the event raised an impressive £17,266.10 in aid of its 2025 chosen charities – BRIGHT Cancer Care and Skcin. The evening, which brought…

Renault has secured a trio of impressive wins at the 2025 Business Motoring Awards, including the overall award of ‘Business Car of the Year’ for the Renault 5 E-Tech electric. The emotive electric supermini was also named the ‘Best Small EV’ while the Renault Clio was crowned the winner in the ‘Best Small Car’ category. Judged by a panel of experts, the Business Motoring Awards recognise excellence in the automotive and fleet sector, specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and company car drivers. On selecting the Renault 5 E-Tech electric as their overall ‘Business Car of the Year’, as…

Bookings have gone live for Walsall Council’s successful Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme. Eligible families can book activities for the summer programme that will take place for four weeks this summer: Monday 28 July – Friday 1 August Monday 4 August – Friday 8 August Monday 11 August – Friday 15 August Monday 18 August – Friday 22 August The council works with over 75 providers in the borough to offer children and young people aged 5 to 16 years old, fun, local activities, while providing the opportunity for learning and developing new skills. The programme enables children…

His Majesty’s Ofsted inspectors described Walsall Council as a place where children are at the heart of, in a report published today, Tuesday 8 July 2025. The accolade builds upon the council’s previous rating of ‘good’ in 2021 and puts Walsall firmly on the map of excellence as the only outstanding local authority for overall effectiveness in the Black Country. Since 2018, children’s services have been on a transformational journey of improvement to provide better outcome for children, young people and their families, which is set out in the council’s Walsall Right 4 Children approach. Following an inspection in May,…