Julian Alexander has joined Santander Corporate Banking as regional director from Barclays, where he was the head of real estate in the Midlands with responsibility for the region’s main property accounts. In his new role, Julian, pictured, will be based at Santander’s corporate business centre in Bristol, leading the bank’s South West team of...
Trowbridge-based furniture group Airsprung has received a surprise £6.5m takeover bid from a property investment company. The offer emerged earlier today after Airsprung was noticed that Portnard Ltd, a Jersey registered investment vehicle, had acquired shares giving it a 29.95% stake in the historic business. Portnard’s principal shareholder Andrew Perloff, a well-known figure in...
Major contract wins from the BBC, the Environment Agency and the European Space Agency helped push up half-year sales and profits at specialist IT services group SciSys. The new business also helped the Chippenham-based group improve its margins at a time when public spending cuts are impacting on many of its markets. Pre-tax profits...
Melksham-based Avon Protection has received a further award under its existing 10-year sole source requirements contract with the US Department of Defense (DoD) for the supply of its M50 JSGPM masks valued at approximately $19m and for delivery in its 2012 financial year. The contract is in addition to the 100,000 masks per annum Avon...
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles this morning called on banks to play a greater role in spurring economic recovery by helping small firms and entrepreneurs. Give the keynote speech at the West leg of a national roadshow explaining how the UK’s major banks can provide finance for small and medium-sized businesses, he said: "I don't...
West-based motor dealer HSH is set to unveil its new Bath Honda showroom. The dealership in Prior Park changed hands recently as part of a flurry of deals involving major motor manufacturers jostling for the best roadside positions as the industry attemps to recover from the downturn. William Jolly, director of Colliers International’s Bristol-based...
Response One, the fast-growing Bath-based data marketing group, has been acquired by marketing and printing firm St Ives in a deal reported to be worth up to £19m. Response One, established in 1998 and now employing around 70 staff, produces specialist media buying and sales services, as well as data insight, print management and...
Government spending cuts and the tough economic climate may have impacted on the legal market but a number of Bath firms have performed well despite these conditions. In the education sector, the Legal 500 ranks Stone King in the second tier of this category. The firm has acted on many academy conversions and defended...
The University of Bath was named Employer of the Year and won a gold medal for the third year running in recognition of its efforts to reduce its dependence on car travel at today’s 10th annual West of England Travel Plan Awards. Bath Spa University gained silver in the awards, which recognise the efforts...
EasyJet is to introduce flights from Bristol to Naples, bringing to 43 its number of destinations from the airport. The budget airline, which today raised its full-year profit guidance, said fares on the route would start at £31.99 (one-way, including taxes). The three-times-weekly service will operate from May 12 to September 1 next year....
