Swindon and Wiltshire’s joint bid for a private sector-led Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been approved by the Government – ending a drawn-out saga that put them among the last parts of the country to set up one of the job-creating bodies. The green light came from business minister Mark Prisk and decentralisation minister...
The government’s decision to develop a military technical training centre on the RAF Lyneham base is expected to fuel demand for a large number of new homes in the area. Although the decision to retain the Lyneham site in a long term military use is widely supported, property specialist Louise Seaman of Colliers, said: “A review...
Councils will get to keep their own business rates under new local government financing proposals that will benefit those that grow financially, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles announced last week. The Government has published proposals to allow the local retention of business rates by councils and to let them borrow against future rate income....
Swindon hotels enjoyed a positive May with the three main indicators showing an increase in comparison to the same period last year. The figures have been release by the South West office of PKF Accountants & business advisers with occupancy, average room rates and rooms yield all up. The May figures show that occupancy...
Malmesbury-based recycling specialist Futur has been acquired by Spanish group SAICA for an undisclosed sum. Futur was founded in 1994 by sales director Tim Bostwick and managing director Simon Dymoke with the aim of bringing a European model of waste management through partnership to the UK. It has since grown a wide customer base by...
With education once again at the top of the political agenda, Swindon Business News is publishing an Independent Schools feature in its September issue. This feature will look at the choice for parents in the Swindon area and will highlight a number of independent schools, as well as reflecting on the provision of local...
The number of businesses going bust in the South West dropped from 241 to 196 in the second quarter of 2011 – a decline of 19%, according to analysis by business advisor PwC. But when compared with the second quarter of last year, the level of insolvencies was up by 24%. Rob Lewis, partner...
Entrepreneur Jamie Murray Wells, founder of Swindon-based online retailer Glasses Direct, has shared the five lessons he has learnt from launching his successful business seven years ago. Speaking at the South West Entrepreneurs Forum in Bristol, Jamie, who launched Glasses Direct while a student at the University of the West of England, said he...
Emnico Technologies, the Swindon-based IT support and software services company, has been awarded a substantial grant from the Technology Strategy Board (www.innovateuk.org) to develop a new IT product that could help to improve the competitiveness of small and medium-sized companies across the UK. The Technology Strategy Board – the UK’s national innovation agency –...
Swindon-based specialist paint supplier Holman is being promised a bright future after its acquisition by local businessman Paul Hague. The 25-year-old business, based in Old Town, supplies specialist paints and coatings such as wood treatments, industrial and fire-resistant finishes and furniture lacquers, and is the exclusive distributor for several leading manufacturers. Mr Hague, who...
