Swindon businesses will be able to learn how to boost their online overseas sales from successful women in eCommerce at a virtual conference next week. The free ‘Women in Global eCommerce’ event on Tuesday is being hosted by the Department for International Trade (DIT) in collaboration with Business West, the organisation behind the Swindon...
The South West’s largest business organisation has said many of its members will be “disappointed” with the government’s roadmap for taking England out of national lockdown. Business West, which runs Bath Chamber of Commerce, said following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s statement in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon the onus was now on ministers to...
The Institute of Directors in the South West has appointed Wiltshire-based experienced tech sector independent director James Savage as an ambassadors James, pictured, who has spent 30-plus years in the sector, will be the IoD’s regional ambassador for high-tech industry and tech ventures, having been an independent director on the boards of 10 tech companies since 2004,....
Business confidence among South West firms has slumped to the lowest in England as the latest lockdown pushes sales down further and puts more pressure on staffing levels. Just 11% for businesses in the region expect trading levels to have returned to pre-pandemic levels by this time next year while one-in-five expect to have...
Investment group BGF’s South West team overcame challenges sparked by the coronavirus pandemic to invest a record amount last year. Some £67m was injected into businesses in 2020 – up on the £37m achieved in 2019 and overtaking the previous record of £50m in 2018. The new investments take BGF’s total funding in the...
Small and medium-sized manufacturers in Swindon are being encouraged to have their say on trading beyond Brexit as part of an influential industry survey. The quarterly Manufacturing Barometer is the UK’s largest survey of its kind and is looking to find out how companies are coping with the early months of life after leaving the...
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been urged to extend business rates relief beyond its March 31 cut-off point to avoid further pressure on firms struggling from lockdown restrictions. The call has come from Business West, the region’s largest business group and the organisation behind the Swindon & Wiltshire Initiative. Businesses in the retail, hospitality and...
Swindon firms struggling with post-Brexit trade complications are being urged to get expert advice and support by Business West, the region’s largest business organisation. With the UK now outside of the European Union as of December 31, businesses must adhere to new rules and regulations when trading with the EU. As reports emerge of how...
Regional alternative finance lender SWIG Finance has strengthened its board again with a non-executive director appointment as it prepares for its new chair to take up her role. The arrival of Chris Butters, pictured, who has considerable non-executive director and senior executive experience, comes ahead of Christine Allison taking over from current chair Malachy McReynolds. ...
Directors at Chippenham-based specialist pharmaceutical firm Vectura expect its 2020 financial results to be better than they expected following approval of its latest asthma treatment in the US. The firm will also benefit from millions of dollars in royalties and damages paid by pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) following a US court case over infringement while...
