Global accountancy group PwC has continued to strengthen its financial services and deals teams in the West with three senior appointments. The firm said the arrival of Sam Flitman, Andrew Keenan and Camille Sixsmith would make it even better placed to support financial services clients and businesses through debt and equity transactions. Sam, pictured, will...
Firms in the South West are among the most pessimistic in the UK about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with many expecting to shed jobs when the government’s furlough scheme ends, according to a new survey. The Lloyds Bank Business Barometer, which takes the pulse of 1,200 firms across England every month, shows...
Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, has welcomed the launch today of the government’s Kickstart scheme, which offers subsidised job placements to out-of-work young people. Under the £2bn programme, 16 to 24 year olds claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment, will be able to gain six-month work placements. The government...
A steep rise in corporate insolvencies linked to the coronavirus pandemic is being predicted for this winter – and could start as early as October. New research from insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 indicates that lack of funds to pay their rent is likely to be the biggest cause of firms getting into...
Regional alternative finance lender South West Investment Group (SWIG) has made two appointments to its growing team while also saying farewell to Brian Steer, one of its longest-standing employees, who has retired. Nicki Kimberley has joined as start-up loans officer, a role that involves supporting applicants to the Start Up Loans scheme and helping...
Changes to legislation that will mean individuals can have their Wills witnessed via video links have been welcomed by law firm Royds Withy King, which has been using WhatsApp to liaise with clients in this way during lockdown. The government this week said that it will introduce a retrospective law to reassure thousands of people...
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed up the number of profit warnings issued by South West listed businesses to a 20-year high, with those in the travel and leisure sector hardest hit. According to new figures from accountancy group EY, profit warnings soared by 73% year-on-year in the first half of 2020 to 26 – with 85%...
Government figures showing another monthly fall in corporate insolvencies are hiding the true picture of the damaging effect of the coronavirus pandemic on businesses, according to the South West branch of insolvency and restructuring trade body R3. Insolvency Service statistics for June show 732 company insolvencies in England and Wales, lower than May’s figure...
Bringing Capital Gain Tax (CGT) rates in line with those for Income Tax could hit buy-to-let landlords, portfolios, second homeowners and people with inheritances, according to an expert at regional law firm Royds Withy King, which has an office in Swindon, Earlier this week Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a review of CGT, with many commentators...
The CBI said Chancellor Rishi Sunak was “absolutely right” to prioritise jobs in his summer statement this afternoon. Director-general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, pictured, said: “Flattening the daunting unemployment curve about to hit our country could not be more important. Joblessness scars lives and hits the young and most disadvantaged hardest. “Today’s jobs plan is an...
