Karen Kirkwood has been appointed as global accountancy group EY’s new managing partner for the South West and Wales as it continues its growth in the region. Karen, pictured, takes over from Andrew Perkins, who has successfully completed a four-year tenure in the role. He is staying in Bristol as EY’s regional corporate finance partner. Karen joined EY...
Swindon firms struggling with post-Brexit trade complications are being urged to get expert advice and support by Business West, the region’s largest business organisation. With the UK now outside of the European Union as of December 31, businesses must adhere to new rules and regulations when trading with the EU. As reports emerge of how...
Regional alternative finance lender SWIG Finance has strengthened its board again with a non-executive director appointment as it prepares for its new chair to take up her role. The arrival of Chris Butters, pictured, who has considerable non-executive director and senior executive experience, comes ahead of Christine Allison taking over from current chair Malachy McReynolds. ...
Swindon’s small businesses can access help and advice to grow internationally through a new, free, post-Brexit programme. The Export Academy involves overseas trade experts from the Department for International Trade (DIT) hosting a series of online workshops and events offering advice and support directly to business owners. The programme has been designed for businesses...
Malachy McReynolds, the chair of regional alternative finance lender SWIG Finance, is to step down in March after five years in the role. He will be replaced by Christine Allison, a former lead economist for the World Bank, who has been a non-executive director of SWIG Finance for the past three-and-a-half years. During that...
The latest lockdown will be another “body blow” to Swindon firms, coming after the uncertainty caused by Brexit and lost trade in the run-up to Christmas, the region’s biggest business group warned today. Business West, which runs the Swindon & Wiltshire Initiative, said firms that had survived so far with Covid-related support from the...
Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, is aiming to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and has introduced three new steps to help it – and firms across the South West – reach the ambitious target. The organisation, which runs the Swindon and Wiltshire Initiative and represents 23,000 businesses across the region,...
Just 2% of the South West’s small to medium-sized manufacturers think Brexit will have a positive impact on their recovery, while more than half admit they still cannot predict how the transition out of the EU will affect their business. And with the UK-EU talks entering their final hours with no sign of a...
West of England Firms have slammed government financial support for businesses forced to close during the most recent lockdown as grossly inadequate. Some 54% of businesses that were shuttered during November – including restaurants, cafes and non-essential retailers – said the financial assistance covered less than a quarter of their overheads, a new survey...
A third of South West firms still do not know if they will be impacted by Brexit with less than four weeks to go to the end of the UK-EU transition period, according to a new survey. At the same time 46% are worried that Brexit could have a bigger impact on them than...
