Passion, innovation and creativity are essential for any business start-up, Rob Law, designer of the Trunki child’s ride-on suitcase, told the audience at the keynote session at today’s Business Show Swindon. The Bristol-based entrepreneur took delegates on his journey from student designer to Dragon’s Den reject to highly-successful and award-winning business owner. Rob, pictured,...
Swindon’s diverse economy is providing it with good growth prospects after a difficult 12 months, the Influence Swindon conference heard today. While the town has suffered from jobs losses by major employers such as Honda and Triumph International, the mood was now more positive, Influence Swindon chairman Nicky Alberry said. And with major projects...
The Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP) has appointed Barry Dennington as its new chairman. Barry, pictured, who has spent most of his career working in the advanced electronics industry, replaces Paul Johnson, who stepped down in March. He was appointed by the SWLEP board yesterday. Barry most recently worked as deputy chief...
Swindon firms are lining up to take part in an employment fair at which Honda workers affected by the car manufacturer’s recent job cuts will be able to find out about vacancies. Some 14 firms have so far pledged to attend the event, at the Stanton House Hotel in South Marston on May 23...
Specialist software and IT group SciSys has landed a €1.2m (£980,000) contract to work on the next generation of planetary rovers and robots for future space missions. The Chippenham-based group, whose roots are in the space industry, is to work with the European Space Agency on the Harwell Robotics and Autonomy Facility (HRAF) Pilot...
Honda’s Swindon-built cars – regular winners of awards for reliability and build quality – have also this week emerged as the models most likely to get through their MOTs. Consumer champion website Honest John named Honda as the top-performing manufacturer in its comprehensive analysis of MoT pass rates. The honestjohn.co.uk site’s analysis of 24.5m...
The Pitch, one of the UK’s longest-running competitions for small business owners, has opened for applications for the seventh year. Founded in by West-based BusinessZone.co.uk and UK Business Forums, it has helped thousands of entrepreneurs secure top-class business support and access to investors. Having been launched as a local event in the city, it...
Pre-tax profits at specialist Wiltshire manufacturer Avon Rubber have risen by 43% after it won a series of major orders. The Melksham-based group, whose products span respirators for the army and emergency services to equipment for the dairy industry, said recent investment in new technology and products had also contributed to the 43% profits...
The economic recovery is on a “firm footing” and Swindon businesses are reaping the benefits, according to Business West, the organisation that runs the Swindon & Wiltshire Initiative. Its managing director Phil Smith said yesterday’s official figures showing the UK economy grew by 0.8% in the first three months of this year were reflected...
A trade mission to China to help unlock opportunities for small and medium-sized West businesses has been announced by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) South West. While China is well known as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, with growth rates averaging around 10% over the past 30 years, and the largest exporting nation, it...
