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)...
More than 80 of the South West’s top clinicians, academics and businesses attended the launch of a membership group tasked with stimulating the growth of the region’s life science industry. Medilink South West provides knowledge and support to businesses in the key sector, helping them grow and maximise opportunities within life sciences and healthcare....
Bath and Bristol’s future as a vibrant business centre will be debated by three of the region’s leading business women at the UK’s biggest gathering of female business owners next month. They will take as their starting point the creation of a so-called Western Powerhouse to unite the region and claw back vital powers...
SciSys, the Chippenham-based specialist IT firm, has plunged into a £1.1m half-year loss after being hit by problems with a large fixed-price project. Sterling’s strength against the euro also dragged down earnings at the firm, which has its roots in the European Space Agency and has operations in Germany. Revenues for the six months...
Business West, the organisation that runs Bath Chamber of Commerce, has launched a project to help the local firms benefit from the development of Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. Nuclear South West will bring together firms already operating in the sector with academics and other businesses to maximise opportunities linked to Hinkley Point...
Sustainability is firmly on the agenda for 80% of West of England boardrooms with nearly a third considering it one of their business’s top three priorities, according to an exclusive survey conducted by executive search firm Moon Consulting and Bath Business News. Just 5% are not currently engaged in sustainability activities or do not...
Small business network Enterprise Nation has announced the final line-up for its major event next month aimed at helping female-founded businesses to grow. The Festival of Female Entrepreneurs (FFE) in Bristol will hear from successful women in their field to inspire and advise those setting up on their own or wanting to take an...
Shares in Bath global oil and gas engineering group Rotork tumbled yesterday after it warned that “challenging” market conditions would hit its annual profits. In a statement to the London Stock Exchange, the specialist valves and flow control equipment manufacturer said the trading environment in the second half had been challenging across most of...
Small and medium-sized businesses from the Bath area are being encouraged to apply to a £4m fund that aims to help them develop new products and services and create jobs. The University of the West of England’s (UWE Bristol) Innovation4Growth (I4G) programme part funds research and development projects with grants of between £25,000 and...
