Swindon firms are being urged to check whether they have to pay for their staff’s travel time to and from customers’ business premises after the latest ruling from the European Court of Justice. The move confirmed the Advocate General’s earlier opinion that employees with no fixed place of work – such as carers, cleaners...
A scheme to give free information, resources and support to businesses across the UK is to be launched next week as the latest initiative from Royal Wootton Bassett-based entrepreneur Warren Cass. Champions of Small Business is designed to support the small businesses that are at the heart of the UK’s economy and aims to plug...
Annual sales at Swindon-based franchised motor retailer Cambria have passed the £500m mark for the first time, driven by a spate of acquisitions. The group bought TH White’s Land Rover franchise in Royal Wootton Bassett in May for £7.56m – the latest in a series of takeovers that helped lift turnover up 16.4% to...
The Chancellor’s pledge to build 400,000 homes over the next five years was warmly welcomed by property firm Bilfinger GVA regional senior director Jo Davis. But she added: “In the South West the ability to deliver these targets will depend on the availability of suitable land. The location of new housing is key and...
High-growth businesses in the Swindon area are to be offered specialist support under a scheme launched by Barclays. Called ‘Barclays High Growth and Entrepreneurs’, the initiative is in direct response to what the bank sees as Britain’s ‘scale-up gap’, and will also help the UK compete on the global stage. Barclays believes that by...
The CBI welcomed the spending review’s commitment to longer-term investment in the economy but said there was a sting in the tail in the size and scope of the £3m apprenticeship levy. Director-general Carolyn Fairbairn said: “Businesses will be pleased to see the Chancellor staying the course on deficit reduction, his commitment to an...
Swindon business experts have given a mostly positive reaction to this week’s Autumn Statement and Spending Review. Ian Larrard, director of the Swindon and Wiltshire Initiative – part of Business West – said it contained some good news for the region. “Once again the ‘builder’ Chancellor has used the tools at his disposal to...
Chancellor George Osborne today delivered his Autumn Statement and Spending Review. These are the main points: Chancellor says five years ago UK economy was in crisis. Debt will fall this year. £12bn of welfare savings will be delivered in full. Britain has grown faster than any other G7 countries since 2010. Economy is predicted...
Director of Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Isobel Brown is to leave her role at the end of December when her current consultancy agreement comes to an end. As director of partnership and programmes, Isobel, pictured, has co-led the LEP since June 2013. During that time it has secured £141m of central...
Chippenham-based recruitment company 24-7 Staffing’s decision to open an office in Amesbury has paid off, with it beating its targets by more than 60% within months of its launch. 24-7 Staffing, which also has a branch in Yate, near Bristol, decided to open in Amesbury because of the town’s growth potential. But bosses have...
