Further evidence of an impending skills shortage among West firms that could threaten to derail the economic recovery have emerged from a report predicting the strongest jobs growth since 1998. The national survey by accountants BDO shows businesses’ hiring intentions rose sharply last month to surpass their pre-recession figure and reach their highest level...
A Wiltshire garden centre business owned by the same family since opening in 1884 is future-proofing itself against spiraling energy costs and enhancing its green credentials after securing £400,000 funding from Barclays. Whitehall Garden Centre at Lacock near Chippenham, which also owns and operates a site near Bristol, is installing three biomass energy cabins...
Wiltshire-based specialist coach and holiday tour operator Hatts Coaches has gone into administration with the loss of nearly 90 jobs. Up to 1,000 customers who booked trips with companies in the Hatts group now face an anxious wait to see if they will get refunds or if another firm will take on the bookings....
Family-owned Blunsdon House Hotel near Swindon has secured a £500,000 finance package from HSBC to support renovation of its main restaurant and upgrade other areas of the property. The hotel, which dates back to the 1950s and was Wiltshire’s first to gain four stars, is launching the new restaurant – to be called Flame...
The Government has announced funding of £12.8m for Swindon and Wiltshire under its Local Growth Deal. This money is for projects which start in 2015/16 and 2016/17. It also announced £116.3m of possible future funding. Key projects to benefit from the first round of funding include: Swindon’s Eastern Villages infrastructure. A package of road...
Swindon and Wiltshire are to receive Government funding worth £12.8m to create jobs, generate economic growth and accelerate much-needed housebuilding over the next two years. A further £116.3m could be invested in the area beyond 2017 under the Local Growth Deal including £23m for a new road tunnel under the M4 linking the Wichelstowe...
Law firm Thrings, which has its largest office in Swindon, has completed the sale of Swindon financial management firm Intrinsic’s entire network of 3,000 advisers – the UK’s largest – to Old Mutual Wealth. The Thrings team, led by senior corporate partner Jonathan Payne, pictured, and associate solicitor Elaine Meyrick, provided advice on all...
National business rescue and recovery specialist Begbies Traynor has opened an office in Swindon as it continues to grow across Wiltshire and Oxfordshire. The firm, which has more than 30 offices across the country, had been covering the Swindon area from its regional headquarters in Salisbury. It also has offices in Oxford, Bath and...
A team from Swindon accountancy firm Banks is going down to the woods this Saturday to take part in a sponsored walk for charity. The team will undertake an 11-mile hike in Savernake Forest to raise money for TWIGS, the Swindon-based charity supporting people with mental health problems, with a focus on a community...
Issues facing academy schools across the UK are to be tackled at a seminar staged by West accountancy firm Monahans next month. The event, at the Stanton Manor Hotel, near Chippenham, on July 9, will look at fraud indicators and internal controls, capital maintenance funding and year-end procedures will all be up for discussion....
