TV show The Apprentice is giving young people a great appetite for business, Nick Hewer, Sir Alan Sugar’s right-hand man on the programme, told West business leaders. Speaking at the annual Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) West of England dinner, he said whenever he spoke at schools and colleges the...

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Smiths News, the Swindon-based specialist distribution firm, has acquired a number of academic library services contracts from book retailer Blackwell UK for £2.1m. The acquisition of the European and African interests further strengthens Smiths News UK book supplier Bertrams’ established international footprint. Smiths News said the deal “brings with it a complementary customer base...

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You can’t get a better illustration (forgive the pun) of the power of a brand than the recent abortive sale in Miami of a Banksy which had last been seen attached to the wall of a north London Poundland. Setting aside the furore over who actually owns the work and who has the right...

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Fed up with flip charts, PowerPoint and pie diagrams? Swindon Business News’s sister site Bath Business News is presenting an antidote this evening to business seminars as part of Bath Comedy Festival. This free and unique event is for anyone who has ever dozed off during a motivational seminar. Or been late for a...

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Swindon-based redheadPR, the independent public relations, digital and design consultancy, celebrates its 10th anniversary in style at Christ Church, Old Town, this evening. The historic church’s bells will ring out at 6.45pm to open the event, which will be attended by high-profile guests, including the Mayor and Mayoress of Swindon, Mick and Ruth Bray,...

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A pilot photography day staged by Swindon-based communications consultancy Quicklearn to provide businesses with bespoke pictures and avoid relying on stock images has been hailed a success. Four companies took part in the trial event, which was led by Quicklearn managing director Charlotte Mannion and professional photographer Matt Miller. The aim of the day,...

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The South West Design Forum has re-launched itself as Design South West with a new identity, website and the mission of ‘Design, Better Connected’. The organisation, which is run by the industry for the industry, continues in its role as the regional body bringing together seven locally-based design forums. Chairman Tim Burley said: “We’ve...

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