Swindon-based books and stationery retailer WH Smith today said its chief executive Kate Swann will step down next June as it revealed sales of the Fifty Shades erotic fiction trilogy had helped it combat tough high street trading conditions. Mrs Swann, pictured, took the helm of the business nine years ago at one of...
West businesses are being warned to prepare for the biggest shake-up in payroll procedures for almost 70 years. From April, all but the largest companies will have to tell the taxman every time they make a payment to employees under HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) new Real Time Information (RTI) system. Currently, records only...
Monday October 01 FINALS Pure Wafer, Sabien Technology Group AGMS Begbies Traynor Group, City of London Investment Group, Swan (John) & Sons, Zetar TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS Andor Technology, ITE Tuesday October 02 INTERIMS Walker Greenbank FINALS Antisoma, St Ives, Ultimate Finance Group, Wolseley TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS Babcock International Group Wednesday October 03 INTERIMS Tesco Q4 Sportingbet...
The Swindon branch of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has announced it will actively support the Swindon Mindful Employer Network fourth annual conference next month. The network conferences, which focus on mental health and well-being in the workplace, have rapidly built up a reputation for excellence and are free of charge to representatives...
Half-year sales and pre-tax profits have fallen at Chippenham-based specialist drugs firm Alliance Pharma after sales of its Deltacortril steroid were hit by a new competitor and changes in doctors’ prescribing trends. Sales in the six months to June 30 were down 10% to £22m which pushed won pre-tax profits during the period from...
Neil Sherreard, a non-executive director of Swindon-based construction group Beard, has been appointed to the board of The Building Safety Group, the national health, safety and environmental consultancy. Neil, pictured, was previously on the board of the consultancy, based near Bristol, between 1998 and 2008. At that time he was managing director of Bristol-based...
West firms are being urged to explore trading opportunities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia as the countries continue to experience steady economic growth with a strong demand for UK goods and services. High-value investment opportunities exist in many sectors – from science, innovation, defence, security, energy and power, to education, training, food, drink...
The CBI today revised down its forecast for the UK economy this year from plus 0.6% to minus 0.3% but said growth should return to towards the end of the year. In its latest quarterly economic forecast released today, the influential business lobbying organisation also said there will be “a little pick up” in...
Barclays Business has appointed Fiona Harrison as its new regional development manager for the South West. Fiona, pictured, will be responsible for developing and managing relationships with independent brokers to generate, package and place new commercial mortgage lending propositions of between £50,000 and £3m for businesses seeking finance. She will also work closely with...
The search to find the brightest of the Swindon area’s rising female stars has begun with the launch of the Women of the Future Awards 2012. Founded by food guru Pinky Lilani OBE in 2006, the awards celebrate the next generation of Britain’s high-potential women aged 35 and under who are breaking the mould...
