Efforts to get more South West firms to export are being stepped up after new figures showed the first fall in overseas sales from the region for more than a year. Exports by value dropped by 3.3% in the third quarter to £3.32bn, sparked by a fall-off in h a fall in trade within...
Outline planning permission has been granted for a major redevelopment scheme that could transform a large part of Chippenham. Central Chippenham Partnership (CCP) wants to redevelop much of Langley Park – the town’s original industrial centre – and refurbish Hathaway Retail Park. Its plans will regenerate the 54-acre site of existing retail and dilapidated...
Forward Swindon, the town’s regeneration agency, has appointed Alan Shepherd as its new chairman. Mr Shepherd, lives north of Swindon, has extensive private sector experience working Kraft Foods, Sainsbury’s and LloydsTSB. He is currently director of products, services and strategy at the UK Hydrographic Office in Taunton. He replaces Robin Bailey, who has decided...
Swindon-based chartered accountants Banks said last week's Autumn Statement had some good news for business, but the devil will be the in the detail. The firm’s head of tax, Paul Gosling, welcomed the 2% cap on business rates increases, the new occupancy rate relief and the rates discount for small businesses and retailers along...
The CBI welcomed much of today's Autumn Statement but said Chancellor George Osborne had missed the opportunity to tackle the impact of soaring energy prices on business. It also said the Mr Osborne could have done more to encourage housebuildng. CBI director-general John Cridland said: “We have always advocated the dual approach of tackling...
The property industry expressed concern over plans to charge capital gains tax on foreign residential investors from April 2015, but has welcomed the Chancellor’s decision to at least consult on the proposals before their introduction. The British Property Federation (BPF) had warned the Treasury that the tax hike would raise little money and risked...
Marks & Spencer is to open a Simply Food store in Swindon, creating around 70 jobs. The 9,000 sq ft store Mannington Retail Park will sell more than 4,500 quality food and drink lines, including fresh produce, meats, beers, wines and spirits. It will also include a deli, a 48-seat café selling Fairtrade hot drinks,...
The Chancellor confirmed in his Autumn Statement that the State pension age will rise to 68 in the mid-2030s and 69 in the late 2040s. Mark Packham, head of pensions for accountants PwC in the West of England, said: “Linking the State pension age to life expectancy means we could easily see people having...
Chancellor George Osborne extended small business rate relief in his Autumn Statement today and capped next April's rate rise at 2%. He also introduced a re-occupation relief for vacant town centre shops and a £1,000 rates discount for small shops, pubs and restaurants. “We are backing British businesses all the way,” he said. The...
Key points in Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement: Next year's fuel duty rise will be cancelled Big expansion of start-up loans which will help create 50,000 new businesses Film tax relief will be extended Investment in social enterprises will be encouraged Office of Budget Responsibility says 3.1m more jobs will be created by business...
