Chancellor Philip Hammond has been accused of hitting entrepreneurs and freelancers in the pocket in the Spring Budget after he announced National Insurance increases for the self-employed. The Chancellor announced he is raising National Insurance (NI) bills for self-employed workers by 1% to 10% from April 2018 and to 11% by 2019. Hargreaves Lansdown,...
Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, described Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Spring Budget as “underwhelming” but warned there were some measures that will make firms nervous. These included the National Insurance increase for the self-employed – which it feared could dampen entrepreneurship – and the impact of business rate rises, despite help for some...
Chancellor Philip Hammond has delivered his spring Budget. He said the aim was to “build an economy that works for everyone” and prepare Britian for a brighter future. In the light of intense lobbying from business groups concerned about the impact of this year’s business rates reform he announced: No business losing small business rate...
Swindon businesses looking to expand into high-growth global markets will receive enhanced advice and support following the signing of four new international partnership agreements by Business West. The organisation, which runs the Swindon & Wiltshire Initiative, is the largest international trade support body in the South West. The four new agreements are with business bodies across China, India,...
The UK’s most active provider of growth capital to small and mid-sized businesses, BGF (Business Growth Fund), is continuing to expand its team covering the South West with the appointment of James Skade as an investor. Before joining BGF, James, pictured, spent five years at accountancy group EY, most recently in the corporate finance...
Rural businesses across Swindon and Wiltshire targeting higher growth and innovation are being encouraged to apply for grants from a £3.9m fund secured by Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). The LEP sees the fund as a huge boost to the rural economy through job creation and driving growth. Rural businesses engaged in...
By Donna Kehoe, the Bank of England’s agent for the South West of England What should we make of the prospects for the UK economy just over a month into what promises to be another eventful year? On the face of it there’s much to be positive about. Growth has proved surprisingly resilient since...
Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, is calling on Chancellor Philip Hammond to use his Spring Budget next month to bolster confidence amid fears that higher inflation and skill shortages will combine to hit West of England firms hard. While latest official jobless figures show unemployment continuing to fall, the strength of the...
Directors from Swindon and across the West of England are being invited to enter one of the region’s top annual awards schemes that recognises excellence and enterprise in the boardroom. The prestigious Institute of Directors’ South West Director of the Year Awards 2017 will showcase outstanding leaders and entrepreneurs as well as focusing UK-wide attention on success in...
Former Lloyds Banking Group head of equity investments Fiona Gibson has joined BGF (Business Growth Fund) as a portfolio specialist to support its growing portfolio across the South West. At Lloyds, Fiona, pictured, was responsible for the bank’s portfolio of more than 250 legacy equity assets. She delivered a number of significant exits including the...
