Lloyds Bank’s commercial real estate team has appointed David Willock as relationship director for the South West and Wales. He joins from RBS, where he was a senior director in its Bristol real estate team. During his 10 years with RBS he was responsible for loan origination and client management for real estate clients...
Before the Budget Business West – the organisation that runs the Swindon and Wiltshire Initiative – called for a focus on infrastructure, exports and the skills gap. Managing director Phil Smith said: “Our nation’s roads and apprentices got a cordial mention , international trade was almost utterly absent. “Also missing was a...
The CBI described the Budget as double-edged for business and branded the Chancellor’s flagship introduction of a National Living Wage of £7.20 next April as “a big gamble”. It also called the apprentice levy “a blunt tool” to force more businesses to take on trainees. Director-general John Cridland said: “Firms will welcome measures to...
Many of the measures in Chancellor George Osborne’s Summer Budget received a warm welcome from Swindon experts – but there was concern over the impact of his flagship National Living Wage. Dominic Bourquin, corporate tax partner at Swindon accountancy firm Monahans, said the Budget had been good for business and had taken away some...
Confidence among Swindon and Wiltshire firms has fallen with fewer expecting to increase sales or take on more staff compared to a year ago, according to the latest survey by Business West. The organisation, which runs the Initiative in Swindon & Wiltshire, described the indicators as a “cause for concern” after the local economy...
The first of Bristol Airport’s two major terminal extensions opened to passengers today following a 12-month build programme and £8.6m investment. The east terminal extension includes a significantly enlarged departure lounge featuring hundreds of additional seats as well several retail and catering brands new to the airport. A stand-out feature is an outdoor terrace...
Wiltshire recruitment firm CMD has opened an office in Melksham as it continues to expand its services across Wiltshire and into Bath. The firm, which already has offices in Devizes and Calne, has moved into a 1,700 sq ft office on Melksham’s Bowerhill Industrial Estate. It is now seeking six recruitment consultants to work...
Swindon independent estate agents Castles Residential Sales & Lettings is to host a 12-hour static cycling challenge to raise money for The Salvation Army and support local GB triathlete Kev Tonner. Kev, who will compete at the 2015 Geneva ETU Triathlon European Championships, will take part in the challenge at Castle’s Commercial Road office...
More than 80% of West of England firms fear leaving the EU would pose a risk to the UK economy, according to results of a survey among nearly 1,000 businesses in the region. Two thirds also believe it would be bad for their own business. The survey by Business West, the organisation that runs...
Bristol Airport is to build a £24m extension to its terminal featuring state-of-the-art technology aimed at streamlining passenger security checks and ending peak-time bottle necks. The airport, the UK’s ninth largest and one of its fastest growing, is holding talks with security firms to install the industry’s most-advanced equipment to speed up queuing times...
