Key points from today’s Spring Statement: Next spending review will take place in 2019 UK economy grew by 1.7% in 2017 OBR has increased forecast for growth next year but downgraded those for 2021 and 2022 Investment programme of £44bn to raise housing supply to 300,000 a year by the mid-2020s. Extra £1.7bn to...
Time is running out for Swindon’s best business leaders and entrepreneurs to enter the region’s top awards for boardroom excellence. This year’s Institute of Directors (IoD) South West Director of the Year Awards 2018 have already proved the most successful yet, with a record number of registrations to enter. And with next Wednesday’s deadline...
Energy management firm SMARTech energy has been awarded accreditation for achieving excellence in health and safety in the workplace. The Corsham-based firm gained the award from Alcumus SafeContractor, a leading third-party accreditation scheme which recognises extremely rigorous standards in health and safety management among contractors. SMARTech energy, founded by Stuart Pearce in 2014, offers...
Swindon businesses have been urged to engage with their local communities to create programmes that help disadvantaged jobseekers into employment. The call to action came from a meeting of some of the South West’s most influential executives hosted by Business in the Community (BITC). The event drew on existing programmes that support inclusive employment...
One of the West of England’s greenest office buildings has been put up for sale following the decision by iconic office furniture maker Herman Miller to centralise its UK operations. The showpiece 20,000 sq ft building in Chippenham, pictured, known as VillageGreen, was designed as the European headquarters of the US-owned firm by renowned...
Airline easyJet has signalled a quiet revolution in its operations in the West of England by showcasing one of its new-generation Airbus aircraft at Bristol Airport. The airline, the airport’s largest operator, has taken delivery of the first batch of its A320neo (new engine option) planes from Airbus. While the aircrafts’ new energy-efficient engines...
Renewable power firm Good Energy has completed the sale of two solar farms as it continues to switch from developing production sites to new opportunities. The Chippenham-headquartered firm, which supplies 100% renewable electricity and green gas to homes and businesses across the UK, recently made its first move into the fast-growing battery storage market...
The digital innovator credited with the success of Moneysupermarket.com is to join Chippenham-based renewable energy group Good Energy as an independent non-executive director. Tim Jones, chief information officer of Moneysupermarket.com Group, has more than 20 years’ experience in using digital to drive change in organisations. He is widely regarded as one of the UK’s top...
One of the UK’s largest battery-based electricity storage sites could be developed in Swindon under plans drawn up by local firm Public Power Solutions (PPS). The company, wholly owned by Swindon Borough Council, has submitted a planning application to build the facility on the former Mannington Depot. It said the scheme would provide the...
Swindon’s economy could benefit from aspects of the government’s long-awaited Industrial Strategy, announced this week, two key figures in the town’s business community have said. But there was also disappointment at the lack of detail in some of initiatives and a need for more engagement with the business community. Ian Larrard, director of the...
