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2012: The year that?

2012 has been a year of highs and lows, and despite a rocky economic climate this year, there have been some positive changes in British business.

Bdaily takes a look back at some of the major moves this year. In the technology sector, the unveiling of a speedier and more efficient 4G broadband spectrumwill have unlimited benefits for business.

One business story that gained a plethora of media attention was the failed merger between British defence firm BAE Systems and EADS, after a political deadlock halted the deal.

Meanwhile, the UK high street has not been one of 2012’s success stories, with many retailers closing their doors.

News of Cometand JJB Sports’ closure gave details of two stores that had a particularly bumpy ride.

Despite a series of blows to the retail sector, online sales are rapidly on the rise, and purchases through mobile devices have had a major impact on consumer trends.

Sir Richard Branson’s win over the Department for Transport for the West Coast mainlinecould be viewed either way, as monumental mistakes made in Government led to DfT revoking the decision to award the franchise to FirstGroup, and awarding a further 23 month contract to Virgin Trains.

And questions over Scottish independence have sparked debate about how the North, and the rest of the UK, could be impacted by such a move.

Predictions for 2013 so far seem much the same as the past 12 months, but with Government schemes in progress like the Green Deal, Funding for Lending, and Vince Cable’s Business Bank, who knows where the year will take us.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .