Shares in Future, the Bath-based international media group, rose sharply this morning on an upbeat trading statement and a promise to give shareholders their first dividend for two years. The group, whose titles range from TechRadar to Simply Knitting, said advertising bookings for the first quarter of its 2014 financial year were up by...
Alliance Pharma, the Chippenham-based speciality pharmaceutical company, has negotiated new £55m enlarged bank facilities partly to help it hit the acquisition trail. The group signed the deal with Lloyds Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland on improved terms. The new facilities, which replaced earlier facilities and will be available until June 2018, are made...
Manufacturing company Watson Gym Equipment is expanding into new premises after a securing a commercial mortgage with Barclays. The £328,000 loan has helped the Frome-based firm, which specialises in handmade bespoke professional gym equipment, move into a 6,400 sq ft site on the town’s Commerce Park Industrial Estate to support its growth strategy. Launched in...
Solicitor Becky Ricards Small, a partner in the private client team at Bath-based Withy King, has been appointed chair of the B&NES area of the Quartet Community Foundation. She takes over from Richard Hall from Bath food and drink consultancy Zenith International who has chaired the organisation, which provides a long-term source of support...
Barclays has officially launched its new-look Bath city centre branch with MP Don Foster cutting the ribbon and performance artists, drummers and dancers adding to the party atmosphere. Barclays spent around £1m on the branch, which employs 30 staff and is its latest flagship outlet to be launched in the South West. New-look branches...
Business recovery specialist firm Begbies Traynor has scooped the title of South West Regional Insolvency Practitioner Firm of the Year in the national Insolvency and Rescue Awards. The accolade was presented to partner and head of the South West Regional team, Julie Palmer, at a packed ceremony at the Lancaster London Hotel. The company’s...
Monday 14 October Finals: Nanoco, Tristel Trading statements: Essentra, McBride AGMs: Greenko, McBride EGM: Phytopharm Tuesday 15 October Interim: Lombard Risk Management Finals: Bellway, dotDigital, Utilitywise Trading statements: Burberry, Carpetright, e2v Technologies, Hargreaves Lansdown, Michael Page International, Rio Tinto EGM: LXB Retail Properties Economics: Producer prices, ONS house prices, Consumer price index, Retail price...
Bath-based asset-backed finance provider 1pm has expanded into the small business loans market. The firm, quoted on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market, will initially lend between £1,000 and £15,000 which can be repaid over any period from three to 36 months. It announced completion of its first loan to a Leicester wholesale business...
Nearly two-thirds of West firms are optimistic about their prospects as the region’s economy starts to improve, with most expecting turnover and profits to increase over the coming year. Some 65% of the 550-plus businesses from across the region that took part in the latest British Chambers of Commerce quarterly economic survey expressed confidence...
West firms are showing some significant signs of recovery as the economic upturn gains traction, according to the upbeat results of a new survey. Domestic sales for the region’s manufacturing and services sectors have climbed strongly over the past three months while other measures including employment and business confidence, are equally positive, some showing...
