The fourth and final part of our West Midlands business review of 2024 starts with news that top Birmingham
In business for 17 years, it was founded and run by local chef Glynn Purnell and won rave reviews for its high-end offer and made Mr Purnell a household name as his profile rocketed both in the industry and wider society through his TV work.
The restaurant in Cornwall Street was awarded a Michelin star just a year after opening and was also named Craft Guild of Chefs New Restaurant of the Year winner and the AA Restaurant of the Year.
He said at the time that "things have moved on" and the pressures faced by the hospitality industry had contributed to the decision.
"The world doesn't stand still. In this current climate, no-one is bulletproof," he said, vowing to focus on his other ventures - Plates by Purnell's in Birmingham and The Mount by Glynn Purnell in Henley-in-Arden.
Around 3,000 construction and supply chain jobs would be created if a new rail link were built between Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham, according to newly published analysis in October.
This would peak in 2031 at around 850 and averages at around 400 every year, says regional transport body Midlands Connect.
The majority of these roles would be high-skilled occupations such as engineering, operatives and project management while 70 apprentices would be recruited and trained over the course of the programme.
Regional transport chiefs are hoping to win government backing for a seven-year project to create a new link between Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham which they say could generate an additional £68 million in economic value as a result of jobs created and £11 million in social value benefits.
There is currently no direct service between Coventry and Leicester or Nottingham.
Almost 1,000 apartments are set to be built as part of a major new mixed-use scheme on vacant land in Birmingham city centre.
Student accommodation, commercial space and a food hall are also proposed at the Goods Station project on land in Holliday Street next to the city's iconic Mailbox complex.
Cheshire-based property and business services group Vita is leading the scheme, having acquired the site in 2023 from government-owned development company London & Continental Railways.
The project had been going through a design and consultation process since then but firm details of the proposals were available after a planning application was lodged with the city council.
University of Warwick announced the most-ambitious programme of redevelopment in the institute's history.
With a budget worth £700 million, the university, which was founded in 1965, said it wanted to "equip our students, researchers and partners to tackle the urgent global challenges of today and tomorrow".
Called the 'Connect Programme', its aim is to support innovative research, learning and collaboration in order to address global challenges, with a focus on social sciences and STEM subjects.
The investment will also support expansion of the university's collaboration and partnerships regionally, nationally and internationally.
The university said it believed around 1,500 jobs would be created in connection to the construction programme over the lifetime of the overall project.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery reopened after more than four years.
The famous city centre attraction closed in March 2020 for major renovations to its heating, electrics, lifts and roofing its first phase of new displays.
Alongside the exhibits, the Edwardian Tearoom and shop reopened. Among the work carried out during the closure was a deep clean of its glass ceiling and preservation of the tiled floor.
Displays and exhibits include a look at some of Birmingham's historical buildings such as signs from the old HP Sauce factory and Eagle and Tun pub where UB40 filmed its Red Red Wine video.
Stunning images from the 16th Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition are also on display until the spring.
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To some, it is just another shop selling beauty and skincare products but to others, predominantly young female fans, it is a worldwide phenomenon which finally came to the Bullring in November.
Retailer Sephora, which has boutiques in glamorous locations like Paris, New York and Sydney, launched its latest º£½ÇÊÓƵ store in a huge top-floor unit in Birmingham's famous shopping centre.
for launch day, with many camping out overnight to secure that coveted spot near the front of the queue and the interest has continued ever since.
While the hype is no doubt derided in some quarters, the French brand's investment in Birmingham shows there is still plenty of life and interest left in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ high street and that can never be a bad thing.
And finally, Birmingham's night-time economy was handed a big boost when three brand new venues launched in the same week.
opened in the former Vinoteca unit at Two Chamberlain Square on the Paradise estate.
It was swiftly followed by yet another bar tapping into the burgeoning competitive socialising sector - - which has launched in the old Cotswold store in New Street.
And completing the new venues is also opening on the Paradise estate.
Clays and Cow & Sow have both chosen Birmingham to launch only their third venues and their first outside their respective heartlands of London and Bristol.
