Just over half of West of England firms are either ‘negative’ or ‘very negative’ about the UK leaving the single market and customs union, according to the latest survey by the region’s largest business organisation. Released to coincide with today’s triggering of Article 50, the results of the Business West survey reveal a widespread...
The clock is ticking for Swindon directors to enter the region’s top award scheme recognising excellence and enterprise in the boardroom. The deadline for the Institute of Directors’ (IoD) South West Director of the Year Awards 2017 is March 31 and organisers are urging Swindon’s top executives to get their skates on and submit their...
Chippenham-based specialist pharmaceutical firm Vectura’s chief operations officer Trevor Phillips is to leave the business in May, it has announced. Mr Phillips, pictured, who joined Vectura in 2010 and is also president of Vectura’s US Operations, has played an integral leadership role in the firm’s development in recent years, including the €130m (£108m) acquisition...
A Swindon-based firm supplying digital and tech services to farmers has been acquired by major Irish agri-services group Origin in deal worth up to £16.2m. Dorcan-based Resterra owns a number of businesses involved in soil testing, project and data management, software and technical advice to major farms across the UK and Southern Africa. Its...
Small business support group Enterprise Nation is to head west again to stage its flagship female-focused event, the Festival of Female Entrepreneurs. The event, the largest of its kind in the UK, has been held in Bristol since it was launched six years ago. Taking place this year on October 20, it will attract...
Swindon firms are being invited to attend the successful Bath Business Expo, which returns to the city this week. One of the region’s largest general business exhibitions, it offers unrivalled exhibition and networking opportunities for firms across the West of England. The Expo takes place on Thursday March 16 between 10am and 3pm in the...
Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, described Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Spring Budget as “underwhelming” but warned there were some measures that will make firms nervous. These included the National Insurance increase for the self-employed – which it feared could dampen entrepreneurship – and the impact of business rate rises, despite help for some...
Business organisation the CBI’s director-general Carolyn Fairbairn described today’s Budget as a “breakthrough for skills”. She said: “There has never been a more important time for the UK to sit at the global top table of technical education for young people. “Firms will be looking for ongoing partnership with the government as they try...
Chancellor Philip Hammond announced new funding to help the UK compete in science and innovation in his spring Budget, including: £300m for research talent, including 1,000 PhD places for STEM subjects £270m for robots, driverless cars and biotech £16m for a 5G mobile technology hub £200m for fibre broadband
