Shareholders in Chippenham-headquartered green power supplier Good Energy have seen off an attempt by arch-rival Ecotricity to oust its chairman and prevent the sale of all its wind and solar farms. Ecotricity, which holds a 26.8% stake in Good Energy, had requested a general meeting of shareholders to vote on removing chairman William Whitehorn as...
The first major event staged by the Western Gateway economic partnership takes place next month to bring together key figures from business, academia and local and national government on both sides of the Severn to explore the potential of the cross–border powerhouse. Called Green Growth within the Western Gateway, the day-long conference will discuss ways businesses,...
Wiltshire opticians Haine & Smith is thanking the generosity of individuals across who donated more than 1,600 pairs of glasses to help the homeless in a pilot scheme. The firm, which operates 20 practices, including in Swindon, Wroughton and Royal Wootton Bassett, partnered with regional homeless charity Alabaré in September to pilot a ‘pop-up’ eye-testing centre at...
More than six tons of laptops, PCs and other tech items have been saved from landfill, thanks to a Wiltshire-based scheme started in lockdown to redistribute unwanted devices to schools and charities. Community interest company Wiltshire Digital Drive asked for donations to help students with their learning and to provide technology to those who...
Communications agency founder Natalie Sherman has been named as one of the UK’s most inspirational and dynamic female entrepreneurs. Natalie, pictured, who launched Corsham-based social-first consultancy Naturally Social in 2015, is among the businesswoman in the f:Entrepreneur ‘#ialso100’ campaign. Staged by Small Business Britain, a leading champion of UK small firms, f:Entrepreneur was launched...
The war of words between rival green power suppliers Good Energy and Ecotricity has flared up again with Ecotricity trying to sack Good Energy chairman Will Whitehorn from his role as a director. It has filed a motion seeking Mr Whitehorn’s removal along with a resolution directing Chippenham-headquartered Good Energy’s board not to dispose...
With the ongoing impact of the pandemic, climate change and Brexit, 2022 will be another tough year for many Swindon businesses. Phil Smith, managing director of Business West – the organisation behind the Swindon & Wiltshire Initiative – looks at the needs and challenges for this year? What do Swindon businesses need from the government as...
Leading lights in Swindon’s higher education, innovation and research communities are being invited to apply for posts representing the sectors on the board of the Western Gateway as it starts to ramp up its work. The gateway is the cross-border economic partnership on either side of the River Severn stretching from Swindon to Swansea. The...
Renewable energy company Good Energy has marked the 30th birthday of the UK’s first wind farm by commissioning international artist Luke Jerram to produce a celebratory artwork. The Bristol-based artist, who has produced numerous major works of art highlighting the impact of climate change, created an experimental light projection, pictured, for Chippenham-headquartered Good Energy. ...
Business West, the region’s largest business group, said many firms would “remain muted in their enthusiasm” for a Budget that failed to address the scale of the post-Covid challenges they face. The organisation, which runs the Swindon & Wiltshire Initiative, also claimed the West of England had again missed out when it came to...
