Current Affairs
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Dec- 2014 -22 December
New retail quarter to be developed in Sheffield city centre
Plans for a new retail quarter in Sheffield city centre are well underway with the city Council announcing that it is currently seeking a strategic development partner. Sheffield City Council has said that this brings plans ‘closer to realisation’ and on target to deliver the first phase of the scheme…
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18 December
Coloured stones in high demand, says Bonhams
Following its fine jewellery auction, Bonhams has reported that coloured stones, notably rubies and sapphires, are experiencing high demand and performing better than expected. At the auction, a pair of Cartier Art Deco ruby and diamond clip brooches, circa 1930, smashed its pre-sale estimate of £80,000 to £120,000, selling for…
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10 December
Panama Diamond Exchange and Fiera di Vicena announce partnership
Fiera di Vicena, the Italian jewellery trade fair organiser, and the Panama Diamond Exchange (PDE), have partnered to organise events to help promote the trade in gemstones and jewellery in Latin America. The announcement follows the signing of a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MOU) on Friday, December 5, which outlined the…
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10 December
Britain’s Shop Vacancy Rate remains at 13.3% in November
Britain’s shop vacancy rate has remained at 13.3% in November, according to The Local Data Company. Analysis of vacancy rates by occupation type shows that Shop vacancy in November is 13.3% (0.0%), Leisure vacancy was 7.8% (0.0%), and All (Retail & Leisure) vacancy rate was 11.8% (0.0%). Matthew Hopkinson, director…
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3 December
Osborne to reveal business rates review in Autumn Statement
According to reports from BBC News the Chancellor, George Osborne, is expected to reveal an overhaul of business rates to help high street retailers compete with internet retailers in his autumn statement. The 400 year-old taxation system has long been under criticism from businesses and it has often been blamed…
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3 December
Congo arms funding: jewellers urged to join the fight
Non-profit organisation The Enough Project has urged jewellery retailers to “develop transparent policies about their gold sourcing practices” to prevent funds going to armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The group has called for jewellers to commit to sourcing from only certified conflict-free gold refiners and to invest…
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Nov- 2014 -28 November
NPA launches UK wide trading standards scheme
Business Secretary Vince Cable MP has approved a new Primary Authority Coordinated Partnership between the National Pawnbroking Association (NPA) and Surrey County Council. The partnership will give assurance to those across the UK who opt-in to the scheme that the policies and procedures in place in their premises cannot be…
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28 November
Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall visit Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter
HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall made a visit to Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter after being invited by the group tasked with its regeneration. The visit, organised by the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT), saw the royal couple welcomed to Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery where…
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18 November
Body found in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter
West Midland police officers are investigating the discovery of a man’s body found in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter on Monday morning. The man, believed to be in his 40s, was found with serious injuries in Icknield Street, Hockley on Monday morning at 4am and was pronounced dead at the scene. West…
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18 November
VIDEO: Axe-wielding raiders smash into Beaverbrooks
Three axe-wielding masked men who smashed their way into Beaverbrooks have been caught on video by an eye witness. The raid took place in broad daylight in the Potteries Shopping Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, at 10:50am yesterday, Monday November 17, and the raiders are believed to have made off with a quantity of…
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