The region covered by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been rated as the best of the 39 LEP areas across the country for its record on business start-ups. Research by information agency BankSearch shows 5.7% more businesses were launched in West of England during the first eight months of this...
Specialist manufacturer Avon Rubber has acquired a thermal imaging camera business for £3.5m to strengthen its protection and defence business. Melksham-based Avon said Argus, which it has bought from UK technology firm e2v, would “modestly” boost its earnings this year and lead to longer-term product development opportunities. Argus, based in Essex, designs and manufactures...
More than a third of the South West’s small and medium-sized manufacturers are having their growth plans jeopardised by skills shortages, according to a new survey. The annual Manufacturing Survey by MHA – an association of independent regional accountancy firms – reveals that recruitment issues are acting as a “significant barrier” to expansion for...
Intellectual property law firm EIP has been named as a ‘national champion’ for the UK in The European Business Awards 2015/16 in recognition of its growth strategy. The firm, which has a base in Bath, was one of only 54 UK companies and 678 throughout Europe chosen as national champions from more than 32,000...
Shares in Vectura rose today after the Chippenham-based specialist drug developer announced it will receive multi-million pound cash payments as two of its projects reach development milestones. The firm is to receive €5m (£3.6m) from the development of a treatment for serious lung disease by an unnamed partner firm. The VR876 programme uses one...
Continued growth at Bath-based digital supply chain management firm Actual Experience has led to it appointing non-executive director Robin Young to the newly created role of chief operating officer. Robin, who joined Actual Experience’s board a year ago, has extensive CIO, COO, technology and operations experience, previously holding positions at blue-chip public companies including...
Manufacturer Avon Rubber has appointed Rob Rennie as its chief executive officer with effect from December 1. Rob, pictured, joins from UK engineering group Invensys, where he has held a number of senior positions and was part of the team that sold Invensys to French giant Schneider Electric for £3.4bn in 2013. He replaces...
Confidence levels for firms across the West of England have fallen on the back of lower sales, fewer new jobs and worsening cashflow, according to the results of Business West’s latest survey. The figures, released this week, show how susceptible the region is to shifts in the world economy, said James Durie of Business...
Bath-based mini-conglomerate CEPS has significantly increased its indirect shareholding in one of its portfolio firms, the fabric and wallpaper pattern books producer CEM Press (CEMP). The deal takes CEPS’ holding from 21.4% to 71.5% and is in line with the group’s strategy of acquiring interests in established, cash-generative businesses. Nottingham-based CEMP makes fabric and...
Rotork, the Bath-based global engineering group, has announced two international acquisitions as it seeks to broaden the business in the face of tough trading conditions. The firm, which manufactures specialist valves and flow control equipment for the oil and gas sector, has paid $12.4m (£8.17m) for US firm Roto Hammer Industries and €1.4m (£1.04m)...
