The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met last month to decide on the appropriate level of bank rate – the official base rate of interest in the UK. The MPC also updated its forecasts for economic growth and inflation – these show UK economic growth picking up steadily over the next few...
The region’s largest business organisation has called on the government to ensure firms get essential support and guidance for life outside the EU as the UK today marks its official departure from the world’s biggest trading bloc. While the UK is leaving the European Union at 11pm after 47 years, an 11-month transition period...
The South West Fair Trade Business Awards are returning for an eighth year, with The Great British Bake Off star Briony Williams lined up to host the presentation ceremony. The awards, which celebrate ethical organisations of all sizes and from any sector across the region, have recognised hundreds of organisations that support Fair Trade...
Insolvency and restructuring lawyer Philip Winterborne has been appointed the South West and Wales chair of R3, the recovery trade body. Philip, pictured, an insolvency and turnaround partner at Bristol-based Temple Bright solicitors, was formally appointed to the role at R3 South West and Wales’s AGM. He takes the reins from previous chair Louise...
The region’s top annual business award scheme recognising excellence and enterprise in the boardroom has been launched. The Institute of Directors’ (IoD) South West Director of the Year Awards 2020 aim to champion outstanding leaders and entrepreneurs while also focusing UK-wide attention on success in the region. Nominations – which opened this week – can be...
Renewable power firm Good Energy has promoted its finance director Rupert Sanderson to the executive director role of chief financial officer. Rupert, pictured, joined Chippenham-headquartered Good Energy in February 2017 in an interim role and was appointed finance director 11 months later. Now a member of the London Stock Exchange-listed firm’s board, he is...
Mid-market private equity investor LDC has further strengthened its South West & Wales team with the appointment of Oliver Schofield as an investment director. Oliver joins the office in Bristol from Goldman Sachs in London, where he was part of its leveraged finance team, supporting clients across the TMT (technology, media and telecoms) and...
Two thirds of small and medium-sized firms in the South West took steps to make their businesses greener last year with roughly the same percentage saying they want to improve their environmental sustainability in 2020. Some 43% believe becoming more environmentally sustainable is important to them while just over a fifth (22%) claim doing...
Assetz Capital, the specialist small business lender, has appointed Tony Kear as relationship director as it looks to help more firms across the region access growth funding. Tony, pictured, has 34 years’ experience in banking having worked for NatWest and RBS as head of healthcare and financing businesses across the South West. He most...
Lloyds Banking Group has appointed long-standing director Jeremy Hayward as its ambassador for the South West to help support social and economic prosperity across the region. Jeremy, pictured, will take the lead on delivering the group’s Helping Britain Prosper plan in the region. The plan, launched in 2014, sets public targets in areas such...
