The £1.5m mass spectrometer will enable the study of proteins, lipids and metabolites in cell membranes in exceptional detail The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) awarded the funds and Dr Ivana Milic leads the Aston University research team The spectrometer will be a resource for the Midlands membrane and bioscience communities. Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME) and Aston University College of Health and Life Sciences have installed a cutting-edge mass spectrometer to study biological membranes, following a grant of £1.5m from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The research team is led by Dr Ivana…

Two Black Country councils are at the forefront of a nationwide children’s social care reform. Walsall and Wolverhampton Councils are two of 10 areas in England piloting the new ‘Families First for Children’ programme, designed to keep more children in safe and loving homes. Both councils will work with central government to test and develop a new approach to children’s social care, which in the future, will be rolled out nationwide. The Department for Education (DfE) selected Wolverhampton to pilot the programme in 2023, and Walsall followed in the second wave of funding announced in April 2024. In January 2025,…

The Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Anthony Harris, speaking at the 2025 Commonwealth Day  The event, hosted by the Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Anthony Harris, took place at the Council House Forecourt on Lichfield Street, Walsall. Dignitaries including the Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands, Kevin Davis, we’re also present for the occasion. Students from Castlefort Junior and Mixed Infants School, along with Walsall Wood School, took part in reciting the Commonwealth Affirmation. Aidan from Walsall Wood School and Silas from Castlefort Junior and Mixed Infants School were honoured to raise the Commonwealth Flag on behalf of Walsall. “ We are…

Left to right: Councillor Wazma Qais – Cabinet Member for Communities, Joe Butler – Solihull Moors Foundation, Khaled Ayad – Robocode and Councillor Karen Grinsell – Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Deputy Leader Solihull Council are pleased to confirm that the HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) programme will continue this year, with the Easter holiday programme kicking off in mid-April. The announcement comes following the Department for Education providing confirmation of funding for the year ahead. The HAF programme provides funded places for families eligible for free school meal benefits with a free nutritious lunch. The programme consists…

Funding of £503,974 received through Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund, alongside a commitment of £40,000 from Walsall Council, has been used to deliver the project, which will see site’s annual carbon footprint reduced by an estimated 61.32 tonnes of CO2. The installation of these solar panels will reduce carbon emissions while increasing the sustainability of the centre. Work at the centre is expected to be completed by April, with panels already installed on the roof of the pool. Those who make use of the centre’s facilities are advised that operations are unaffected by this work. “ As a council,…

Solihull Council is hosting its first Electric Vehicle (EV) Experience Event, “Solihull Going Electric”, in Solihull town centre on Saturday 5 April. The open event will showcase the growing range of EVs now available and allow residents to explore some of the benefits of EV adoption. Visitors will have the opportunity to test drive a range of exciting new electric cars and bikes, speak to dealers, ask questions and learn from industry experts about the latest advancements in EV technology. Exhibitors confirmed for the event include: BYD, Vauxhall, BMW, Citroën, Mercedez Benz, Skoda, Smart, Peugeot, Fiat and Tesla, while many…

Families are being urged to take some simple steps to make sure they safely enjoy visits to farms and petting zoos this Spring. To avoid illness and enjoy a fun day out the UK Health Security Agency advises people to: always wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm running water immediately after contact with animals (including touching pens or fencing) and before eating or drinking – remember, hand gels and wipes do not kill these types of germs. if a dummy drops on the ground, it will need sterilising. when leaving a farm, boots, shoes and pushchair wheels should…

Work to build a new state-of-the-art Household Waste Recycling Centre and Waste Transfer Station in Walsall has ramped up on Middlemore Lane in Aldridge. In the last few weeks, tarmac has been laid to create the bays where residents will be able to recycle their waste for years to come. External cladding has also been fitted to buildings on the site, with both the waste transfer station and reuse shop now taking shape. Work at the site is expected to be complete by summer 2025, with a view to operations starting later in the year. “ The site is progressing…

Bentley Motors has honoured its UK retailer network in the luxury marque’s annual Scorecard Awards, a celebration of the sales, aftersales and marketing achievements of its 17-strong UK retailer network. Crowned Overall Retailer of the Year , Bentley Leeds picked up three awards, with Bentley Belfast also winning the coveted Sales Retailer of the Year trophy. The Scorecard Awards celebrate high performing teams in Bentley’s home market using a distinct set of measures based on sales, profitability, service loyalty and customer experience. The winners all received a prestigious trophy that was handcrafted in Bentley’s wood shop in Crewe, created in…

Pop Voices and Boogaloo Babes member Anya Small, The Mayor of Solihull Councillor Shahin Ashraf MBE, and Solihull Council Councillor Wazma Qais A variety performance showcasing the best musicians and performers that Solihull has to offer will help celebrate the grand reopening of The Core Theatre. ‘We are Solihull’ will be the first performance in the main auditorium since August 2023, following the completion of remediation works to the roof. Hosted by The Mayor of Solihull, Cllr Shahin Ashraf MBE, to celebrate her year in office, the variety performance brings together an eclectic mix of music, dance and spoken word…