Just over half the owners of small and medium-sized businesses in the West are in favour of the Living Wage, according to a new survey. A quarter of these believe the policy will be implemented in their business in the near future, the latest Close Brothers Business Barometer reveals. The Barometer is a quarterly...
Businesses are being invited to take part in the annual Bath City Conference, which acts as a showcase for the area and an opportunity for the public, social enterprises and community groups to discuss key issues. The day-long event in The Guildhall on April 30 will include an exhibition, workshops and fringe events. A...
Fascia Graphics, the Chippenham-based specialist printing firm, has continued its expansion into new markets by appointing Mark Anderson as sales manager for the Midlands, North Wales, North West and East Anglia. Mark, pictured, worked for Fascia, which makes graphic overlays and membrane keypads, between 1996 and 2010, becoming UK sales manager in 2005. The...
Bath-based media group Future is predicting double-digit earnings growth this year as its digital products continue to perform strongly. The group, whose titles span the tech, gaming, leisure and music markets, said digital and diversified revenues were up by 9% in the period from 1 October to Monday of this week. Revenues in its...
Actor Robert Powell, best known for the title role in Jesus of Nazareth, played a starring role of a different kind when he re-opened top jewellery designer Nicholas Wylde’s Bath shop. Nicholas, one of Bath’s best known independent retailers, had been working from temporary locations around the city after a fire caused by an...
YTL Hotels, part of the Malaysian YTL conglomerate that owns Wessex Water, has taken over the operating contract of Bath’s Thermae Spa. The deal, announced last summer, comes ahead of YTL Hotels opening its nearby 5-star Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel later this year. Bath and North East Somerset Council will continue to own the...
Bath city centre is to get the South West’s fastest broadband with the launch of GigaBath – a scheme pioneered by the city’s internet telephony, broadband and web hosting firm Gradwell Communications. In a move that could lead to new jobs and give a much-needed boost to the economy, Gradwell has teamed up with...
Nearly two thirds of West firms plan to increase wages this year as the region’s economy bounces back from recession, new research shows. This is despite half of the businesses taking part in the Barclays Employers Survey 2014 saying wage pressure from employees was not an issue. However, some 29% said it is a...
Electric vehicle charging points are to be installed at railway stations in the Bath area as part of a campaign to promote low-carbon motoring. Train operator First Great Western (FGW) has been awarded £315,000 to install the chargepoints at 44 of its 210 stations, including Frome, Chippenham, Trowbridge, Pewsey, Warminster and Westbury. Bath Spa...
Monday 3 February Final: Rangold Resources, SThree Trading statements: Creston, Future, Mitie AGM: Future EGM: Darty Economics: Hometrack housing survey, Purchasing managers' index – manufacturing, Halifax house prices Tuesday 4 February Interims: Alumasc, Kofax Finals: ARM Holdings, BG, BP, Low & Bonar, Ocado, St Modwen Properties Trading statements: Electrocomponents, TalkTalk Telecom, Victrex AGMs: Numis...
