The annual search for the region’s best companies has started with the launch of accountants PwC’s widely-respected West of England Business of the Year Awards 2015. Now in their 27th year, the eagerly-contested awards are the most prestigious in the region by far – previous winners read like a who’s who of the West’s...
The Chancellor produced a balanced Autumn Statement that addressed business concerns around rates reform and finance, Swindon business leaders have said. Ian Larrard, director of the Initiative in Swindon & Wiltshire, part of Business West, described it as a “crowd-pleasing” set of proposals for business, particularly its pledge for a major review into the...
Stands for The Business Showcase South West – the major business event which celebrates the best of the region’s innovation, creativity and enterprise – are now on sale and pre-registration for delegates has also gone live. Following the huge success of the inaugural event in April this year, The Business Showcase South West returns...
A Government scheme aimed at encouraging homeowners to invest in carbon-saving biomass boilers has led to a boom in business for installation firm Wessex Biomass. The firm, based near Malmesbury, says it has seen a surge in inquiries since the Government extended the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme to domestic properties earlier this year....
Good Energy, the Chippenham-based renewable electricity supplier and generator, has received planning permission for three new solar farms totalling more than 25MW. Two of the solar farms (5.8MW and 4.9MW respectively) are in Dorset and are expected to be commissioned within the first half of next year. The third, a 15MW site in Wales,...
Swindon’s recently-opened UTC, which is equipping young people with the modern skills needed by its advanced engineering firms, epitomises the town’s ‘can-do’ attitude, MP Robert Buckland told its first business partnership event yesterday. The £10m UTC (university technical college) welcomed the first students to its state-of-the-art building in September and last night it took...
Swindon brewery Arkell’s Bee’s Organic Ale, which is made with organic honey, has created a buzz among judges at a major show and claimed another award. The premium beer collected the top award in the Honey Beer class at this year’s National Honey Show – the latest in a series of trophy wins since...
Swindon has strengthened its standing as a leading centre for innovation in low-emission motoring by officially opening the UK’s first refuelling station that produces ‘green’ hydrogen on site. The new state-of-the-art facility at car giant Honda’s manufacturing plant at South Marston will produce hydrogen from solar power by electrolysis for use in hydrogen commercial...
Community First, Swindon and Wiltshire’s rural community council, has been awarded nearly £10,000 to help social enterprises and the voluntary sector access European funding. It will work with the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and other partners to run training workshops, set up a knowledge hub and bring together European funding experts...
Swindon’s economy will get a boost from the £24.5bn Hinkley Point C nuclear power station approved this week by the European Commission, according to experts. The controversial plant, on the Somerset coast near Bridgwater, will be Britain’s first new nuclear reactor for nearly 20 years and could create around 25,000 jobs across the region...
