The success of the City of Wolverhampton Council’s pioneering Technology Enabled Care (TEC) project was celebrated at a prestigious international awards ceremony on Monday night (16 March, 2026). The council and its partners were shortlisted for one award at the International Technology Enabled Care Awards at the ICC in Birmingham, while Alcove, which delivers the service in Wolverhampton, was triumphant in another category. TEC is helping residents in Wolverhampton access innovative technology that provides everyday support, enabling them to live the independent lives they want. It offers a wide range of products tailored to people’s eligible care needs, such as…

Sandwell Council is delighted to announce it has been awarded nearly £300,000 from the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Cultural and Creative Investment Programme. The funding will support and upgrade cultural and heritage infrastructure across Sandwell, with the aim of increasing cultural activity and participation for residents of all ages. Investment will be directed towards a wide range of cultural spaces and initiatives, including enhancements to digital infrastructure, improvements to high streets, and upgrades to museums, archives and libraries. A portion of the funding will also be distributed as grants to grassroots and community organisations, helping to strengthen the borough’s…

Works will begin in sections of Lichfield Street and Queen Square early next month (April) as delivery of the major £19million Wolverhampton city centre transformation scheme progresses. There will be a short pause to operations on upper Darlington Street, between the Waterloo Road and North Street junctions, while the new locations are set up, after technical designs were finalised. First stage works on lower Darlington Street were completed in November ahead of the busy Christmas period. The overall scheme across all 3 locations remains on track to be completed in 2027 and will deliver high quality improvements such…

On Friday 27 February the owner of Boss Mart 4, which was formally operating out of premises on Stratford Road in Shirley, was fined almost £7,000. In his absence at Birmingham Magistrates Court, Mr D Kharoty of Ferguson Road, Oldbury was sentenced for selling illegal vapes and ordered to pay £1,100, plus a victim surcharge of £440 and £5,189 towards costs, totalling £6,749. Solihull Council seized the illegal vapes during raids of the premises in 2024. Boss Mart 4 ceased trading from the premises in October 2025 but it was subsequently occupied by another company, operating under the name Boss…

Solihull’s flagship low‑carbon energy network is entering its final stages of delivery, with construction and fit‑out of the new Energy Centre at Tudor Grange Park now nearing completion. Landscaping works around the site are set to begin shortly, marking another visible step toward the network becoming fully operational. All pipework for the first phase of the scheme has now been successfully installed, creating the spine of the new town centre energy network. With the underground infrastructure in place the next phase of works includes final connections to customer buildings, and testing and commissioning of the system. Once complete, the…

Wednesday (11 March) is no smoking day, when smokers across the country are invited to kick the habit and go smokefree. No Smoking Day reminds smokers that the best thing they can do for their health is stop smoking. This year’s campaign aims to highlight that “a smoke-free life starts with a smoke-free day”. An image of a heart on a yellow background, with the text Smokefree Solihull, stop smoking support Quitting smoking is easier with support. Anyone who lives or works in Solihull can contact the Smokefree Solihull team for free personalised support. The team…

Residents are being thanked by Sandwell Council after recycling a record amount of quality paper, card and food waste since the borough’s new waste and recycling service launched last September. In just a few months, residents have increased the amount of paper and card recycled, while cutting non-recycling grey bin (residual) waste by around 16% compared with earlier in the year – a major step forward for recycling in Sandwell. The improvements mean the council can now collect higher-quality recycling, ensuring materials are reused rather than wasted. Paper and card collected separately can be turned into new cardboard…

Walsall Council was delighted to welcome the Mayor of the West Midlands to Bloxwich Launchpad this week, marking a significant moment as the centre continues to support local people and entrepreneurs since opening in September 2025. The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the impact of the Launchpad a dynamic digital skills and incubation hub created as part of the £21.3 million Bloxwich Town Deal investment and to hear from users, partners and local leaders about how the facility is helping to shape economic and community opportunity in Bloxwich and across the borough. Since opening its doors, over 1,100 visits…

Demolition has begun on the first of a number of brownfield sites on Moat Street in Willenhall, clearing the way for new homes. The project, which is a key part of Walsall Council’s long-term Willenhall Framework plan, will see over 100 new homes built to breathe new life into the area. The dilapidated industrial unit on Moat Street is the first of six sites that will be cleared in the area, many of which have been derelict for some time. A swathe of sites were acquired by the council in 2025 following a Compulsory Purchase Order, and plans will see…

As part of the West Midlands Business Festival, a business-focused We Are Walsall 2040 event will take place on Wednesday 11 February 2026 at Bescot Stadium. We Are Walsall 2040 is a long-term plan for the borough of Walsall that aims to accelerate growth and investment across the borough. How will this plan benefit local businesses and what can businesses looking to grow in Walsall expect over the coming years? As part of the West Midlands Business Festival, a business-focused We Are Walsall 2040 event will take place on Wednesday 11 February 2026 at Bescot Stadium. The event will give…