Chancellor Rishi Sunak is delivering his much-anticipated Spending Review, outlining how the government will tackle the huge economic challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The main points so far are: The government is spending £280bn on tackling Covid-19 But the Chancellor says: “The economic damage is likely to be lasting.” Forecast for UK borrowing...
The government has been warned that it cannot “keep switching businesses on and off like a light switch” through Covid-19 related national lockdowns and regional tiers without expecting severe consequences. Instead, firms need a plan that keeps them, and the economy, open throughout winter and beyond, according to Business West, the organisation that runs...
Boosting skills and developing the physical and digital infrastructure will be vital for South West to build back better from the economic ravages of coronavirus, the CBI said today in a major new report. Called Reviving Regions, the paper highlights long-standing regional inequalities across England which have inhibited growth, opportunity and productivity for generations. These economic disparities, both...
Swindon firms trading in Europe have been told that it is ‘almost too late’ if they have not planned for a worst case scenario following the end of the Brexit transition on January 1. The 50-day countdown to that date was on Wednesday and Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, fears many firms...
The Covid pandemic has reduced levels of economic activity across the UK this year. Households and businesses have generally been spending and investing less than they were before the pandemic struck. This fall in spending and investment risks significant job losses as many businesses face much lower demand for their goods and services. Although...
The Institute of Directors South West has named Robert Lloyd Griffiths OBE as its new regional director, replacing Simon Face, who had been in the post since 2003. Robert, pictured, will perform the South West job alongside his existing role as the IoD’s national director for Wales, a position he has held since 2009. He...
Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, has welcomed the latest extension to the governments’ furlough scheme, but urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to come up longer-term measures to protect firms. Mr Sunak, pictured, this afternoon announced the furlough scheme would now run until the end of March, with the Treasury continuing to pay 80% of...
Swindon-based automotive manufacturers could soon be collaborating with South Korean innovators to develop next-generation hydrogen vehicles under a new agreement signed by Business West, the region’s largest business group. South Korea is on course to becoming a world leader in hydrogen mobility, with a clear strategy to have 6.2m hydrogen powered vehicles on its roads by...
The new lockdown measures announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the weekend will be devastating to many Swindon firms despite their best efforts to make themselves Covid-safe, the region’s largest business organisation warned today. Most businesses will have to close from Thursday as the country enters its second lockdown, with staff being urged to...
Swindon firms are being urged to prepare now for the end of the Brexit transition period on January 1 next year, despite many questions of how it will work in practice remaining unanswered. The government has launched a campaign for businesses with the strapline ‘Time is running out’ as talks with the EU over...
