Business West, the organisation behind Bath Chamber of Commerce, has called on the Chancellor to strike a balance between eliminating the deficit and stimulating growth in next week’s Budget. And while George Osborne is likely to focus on the cuts and reform, he must also concentrate on infrastructure, boosting exports and tackling the skills...
Somerset-based fashion brand Mulberry has been recognised as one of the UK’s most responsible businesses for the second consecutive year in a prestigious awards scheme run by Business in the Community (BITC). The firm, which has its global headquarters and a factory at Chilcompton, was reaccredited for the Inspiring Young Talent category in the...
The recent ninth annual Institute of Directors Director of the Year awards, staged at Bordeaux Quay, Bristol. Photos by Clint Randall www.pixelprphotography.co.uk All the awards winners with ceremony host Laura Rawlings, centre Director of the Year Award winner Julie Moore with ceremony host Laura Rawlings and Mark Bennett of sponsors HSBC Stephen Jackson of...
Specialist drug development group Vectura has appointed a senior director of pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca as it new chief executive, replacing Chris Blackwell, who steps down next week after 12 years in the role. James Ward-Lilley joins Chippenham-based Vectura, which licences its innovative technology for the treatment of airways diseases to other pharmaceutical companies, on...
More than 80% of West of England firms fear leaving the EU would pose a risk to the UK economy, according to results of a survey among nearly 1,000 businesses in the region published today. Two thirds also believe it would be bad for their own business. The survey by Business West, the organisation...
The largest fully refurbished industrial/warehouse building in Chippenham – the former DTR VMS building on the Bumpers Farm industrial estate – has come onto the market. The 90,000 sq ft building, pictured below, now rebranded as The Hub, has been empty since the automotive components manufacturer relocated to a larger site in Trowbridge. Owner...
Manufacturing group Avon Rubber has taken over one of its US suppliers in a $5.1m (£3.2m) deal. Melksham-headquartered Avon said the acquisition of Hudstar Systems would “modestly” boost earnings in its next full financial year. Florida-based Hudstar designs and makes electronic control systems used in powered and supplied air respiratory protection systems – largely...
Accountancy and investment management group Smith & Williamson has launched a free tax calculator to enable businesses to work out how much tax they could be saving on their research and development (R&D) costs. The online tool has been set up in the light of research suggesting that thousands of businesses could be missing...
A pioneer of bomb disposal technology and two stalwarts of the University of Bath have received awards in the Queen’s Birthday Honours Sidney Alford, pictured, the founder of Chippenham-based Alford Technologies – which has developed innovative bomb disposals techniques – gets the OBE for services to explosive ordnance disposal technology. University pro-chancellor Peter Troughton...
Clinical trials of a new treatment for asthma that uses an innovative inhaler system developed by Chippenham-based specialist pharma group Vectura have started. The move follows successful pre-clinical tests for the product, known at this stage as VR942, which has been developed with Belgian biopharma giant UCB. The two firms have been collaborating on...
