Business leaders from Swindon and across the West of England will get their first chance to hear the views of the CBI’s recently appointed president and its incoming regional chair at the organisation’s annual dinner next week. The event is traditionally a high point of the region’s business calendar, attracting hundreds of senior businessmen...
The Festival of Female Entrepreneurs returns to the West of England next month for its fifth year, with a jam-packed programme featuring amazing entrepreneurs and inspirational start-ups. Among those taking part will be Julie Deane of The Cambridge Satchel Company, tech entrepreneur Alex Depledge and Oliver Bonas founder Oliver Tress. Panels will cover subjects...
The Festival of Female Entrepreneurs (FFE) is on the look-out for up-and-coming female business talent to enter its annual awards as it prepares to return to the West of England for a fifth year. The FFE, organised by small business support group Enterprise Nation, stages its high-profile annual event at At-Bristol on October 21....
Influencers UK, the organisation that inspires good people to create good businesses, is to hold its biggest bootcamp outside London this year in Swindon next month. The Influencers Business Bootcamp will bring together world-class thinking to inspire business owners and start-ups. The free event on October 6 at the Hilton, Swindon, will feature Influencers founder...
Independent retailers are being given the chance to open pop-up shops in Swindon town centre – potentially boosting their business and improving the area’s retail mix at the same time. Swindon’s central shopping area has a higher-than-average number of empty store units while also lacking shops selling artisan goods and gifts, medium to high-end...
Confidence among West of England firms has slumped to its lowest level since 2012 as they continue to react to the EU referendum, according to a new survey. The latest quarterly ICAEW Business Confidence Monitor (BCM), which gauges how businesses view the economic prospects facing them over coming year, shows confidence falling into negative...
Arkell’s Brewery has renamed one of its most successful beers to underline its unique, healthy ingredient – honey. The historic Swindon firm has been brewing Bee’s Organic Ale for more than 10 years. But it now wants to highlight the beer’s special taste and colour by renaming it Honey Pale Ale. The beer is...
Swindon design agency Hot Pepper is to create a studio, art gallery and design shop in Old Town to showcase local and international artists. The firm is to relocate from its base at Wyvern Theatre to the vacant 1,500 sq ft unit in Victoria Road – the latest arrival in the area as it...
Swindon-based bookings agency Venues and Events International has taken on four new recruits as its rapid expansion continues. Holly Vallerius, Venetia Harding, Katie Venner and Edward Werrell have joined the agency, bringing a mix of youth and experience into the business, which has targeting staffing of 20-plus before the end of 2016, with a...
The Institute of Directors South West regional chairman Nick Sturge has been appointed to the organisation’s national council as it seeks to ensure that a range of voices from across business are heard as Brexit unfolds. Nick Sturge, pictured, the co-founder and director of Bristol’s Engine Shed innovation hub, is one of a number of...
