Honda’s giant Swindon car plant, where production ends this summer, has been sold to an industrial property developer in a move that could create thousands of jobs. The new owner Panattoni, Europe’s largest developer of industrial and logistics facilities, said it will invest £700m into the sprawling 370-acre site on the outskirts of the...
Cyber technology, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy and the green economy should be harnessed to drive recovery and growth in the Western Gateway, the regional powerhouse that includes Swindon, the West of England and South Wales. The recommendation comes in an independent report published this week which also suggests the region should focus on raising productivity...
Swindon business leaders have given many of the measures in today’s Budget a warm welcome – especially the previously-trailed furlough extension – but there was also concern over the delayed Corporation Tax increase. Business West, which runs the Swindon & Wiltshire Initiative, said businesses would welcome the extension of the full range of Covid-19...
The CBI said Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s decision to hike Corporation Tax to 25% in one leap – the first increase since 1974 – would “cause a sharp intake of breath” for many businesses. It also warned that the move – which is planned to come into effect in 2023 – sent a worrying signal to those...
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has delivered his Budget this afternoon. The main points are: No rise in VAT, income tax or national insurance Corporation tax to rise from 19% to 25% from 2023 but only 10% largest companies will pay, Chancellor claims Two-year ‘super deduction’ in tax for companies that invest in innovation Eight ‘Freeports’ established...
Brexit is causing the South West’s small and medium-sized manufacturers ‘significant disruption’ as they try to recover from the economic effects of Covid-19, according to the results of a new survey. The latest South West Manufacturing Barometer shows firms are being hit by more red tape, higher input prices and shortages of raw materials...
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...
