The team behind Swindon’s new University Technical College (UTC) is inviting parents and young people to come along to its launch event and first open evening tomorrow evening. The information and fact-finding event at the STEAM Museum in Kemble Drive will give them a chance to hear more about the UTC’s plans, including its...
The region’s economy has made further progress, but that there are still some risks at home and abroad that could derail the recovery, according to the latest Business West Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) released today. This survey, made up of responses from more than 400 businesses across the West, shows that most key indicators...
Business West’s Quarterly Economic Survey for the second quarter of this year suggests that the economy will continue to strengthen gradually over the next year, with growth slowly improving. Business confidence remains positive with 73% of respondents confident about their business prospects. Figures for exporting show a dramatic improvement on the first quarter with...
Building a brand – why bother? is the red-hot question at this Friday’s Swindon Chamber of Commerce Swindon Business Breakfast. Allison McSparron-Edwards, managing director of Blunsdon-based consultancy Consultrix, will ask “Is your brand brave enough?” and go on to examine who engages with attendees’ brands, how they have evolved and do they have “personality”?...
A lack of funding is holding back West firms as they struggle to overcome tough market conditions, according to a new study. Improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is is high on the Government’s agenda as it tries to stimulate economic recovery. But according to research carried out for Bibby...
Fast-growing Swindon construction firm Beard missed out on landing the region’s most coveted business accolades at an awards ceremony that resulted in Cornish firms winning the double. Family-run Beard, which focuses on innovative building solutions and collaborative working styles across the west and central England, was up against five other firms in the large...
Kelly Richardson from South Western Ambulance has won the coveted title of South West PA of the Year in the awards scheme staged by Swindon Business News and its sister titles. Kelly, who has worked with deputy chief executive/executive director of finance Jennie Kingston since 2008, was nominated by fellow PA Joanne Payne. Joanne said...
We thought BrandSoup was alone in having opinions about the advisability or otherwise of government agencies getting “creative” with logos (see our recent blog – Bonfire of the Quango Logos). But following revelations of the US NSA’s acquisitive attitude to everyone’s emails and Facebook postings, this thorny topic is now global headline news. The...
Business confidence continued its upward trend this month and reached its highest point since May 2012, according to the latest Business Trends report by West-based accountants and business advisers BDO. BDO’s optimism index, which predicts business performance two quarters ahead, moved up for the fifth consecutive month from 93.6 to 94.3, a 13-month high....
Directors and managers can gain tips on some of the most-common challenges of running a business through a new range of electronic booklets available for download on the new-look website of M4 corridor law firm Thrings. The booklets, written by commercial lawyers at the firm, which has an office in Bath, shed light on some...
