Advanced manufacturing

Budget 2024: Regional business reaction

October 30, 2024
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Budget 2024: Regional business reaction

Tax rises in the Budget aimed at companies could slow much-needed economic growth and undermine investment decisions, the region’s largest business organisation fears. Business West, the organisation behind Bath Chamber of Commerce, said it recognised that the Chancellor faced a tight fiscal position and had to make hard decisions. But it added that it was...

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Budget 2024: The main points at a glance . . .

October 30, 2024
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Budget 2024: The main points at a glance . . .

Chancellor Rachel Reeves started her Budget speech by saying the country voted for change on 4 July. As a result, the Labour government could now “fix the foundations”. The way to ensure growth was to “invest, invest, invest”, she added. In total, the Budget will raise taxes by £40bn. The key points from the Budget...

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Bath Business Blog: People against Poverty – looking ahead to 2025

October 29, 2024
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Bath Business Blog: People against Poverty – looking ahead to 2025

People against Poverty (PaP) has just held its 2023-24 AGM and annual celebration for supporters at which it presented a bold strategy for growth for 2025. Despite being small charity, PaP supports 18 projects across six countries – the UK, Haiti, India, Malawi, Romania and Tanzania – and has helped thousands of people on...

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Growing optimism among region’s firms tempered by their pre-Budget fears over rise in the tax burden

October 24, 2024
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Growing optimism among region’s firms tempered by their pre-Budget fears over rise in the tax burden

Business confidence in the South West has improved and remains firmly in positive territory amid strong domestic sales growth, according to new research. Published less than a week before one of the most important Budgets for a generation, the quarterly survey of chartered accountants in the region paints a more upbeat picture than many...

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Frasers Group’s latest £111m offer for Mulberry roundly dismissed by its directors as ‘untenable’

October 24, 2024
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Directors at Somerset-based fashion brand Mulberry have rejected retail group Frasers’ increased offer to take over the struggling business, calling it “untenable”. Instead, the board at Mulberry – best known for its luxury bags – said the company should focus its attention on “driving the commercial performance of the business”, as it looks to...

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Solar group-buying scheme opens again for businesses looking to save cash and cut their carbon emissions

October 23, 2024
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Solar group-buying scheme opens again for businesses looking to save cash and cut their carbon emissions

Businesses across Bath and North East Somerset are being offered the chance to take part in a group buying scheme to invest in solar panels and battery storage. The scheme, which is also open to residents, offers a way to save money and cut carbon emissions by investing in solar panels, battery storage and...

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Now it’s handbags at dawn: Battle for Mulberry continues with bidder and majority owner digging in

October 18, 2024
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Now it’s handbags at dawn: Battle for Mulberry continues with bidder and majority owner digging in

The tussle for ownership of struggling Somerset-based fashion business Mulberry descended into a war of words this week, with retail group Frasers upping its offer but the brand’s majority owner insisting it had no interest in selling up. Frasers, which is controlled by billionaire Mike Ashley, increased its cash bid for Mulberry from £83m...

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Funding now available to help innovative Bath businesses protect their intellectual property

October 17, 2024
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Funding now available to help innovative Bath businesses protect their intellectual property

Small and medium-sized firms in the innovation hotspot of the West of England can tap into funding worth thousands of pounds to protect their intellectual property (IP), such as trademarks, patents and designs. Under the scheme, launched by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), businesses that meet a number of criteria can access...

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Science and tech firms emerging from region’s universities to be backed by new £300m fund

October 11, 2024
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Science and tech firms emerging from region’s universities to be backed by new £300m fund

A £300m investment vehicle to help create and grow the West of England’s next generation of innovative science and technology spin-out businesses has been launched with the backing of the University of Bath. The fund aims to drive a much-needed step change in the early-stage capital, expertise and support available to university spin-outs and...

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Frasers Group looking to bag loss-making Mulberry as iconic brand warns of tough retail market

September 30, 2024
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Frasers Group looking to bag loss-making Mulberry as iconic brand warns of tough retail market

Struggling Somerset-based fashion business Mulberry has rejected an £83m takeover bid from Frasers Group, the retail business controlled by billionaire Mike Ashley that already owns 37% of its shares. The offer was made as Mulberry, which has manufacturing sites at Chilcompton, south of Bath, and in Bridgwater, faces some of its tough trading conditions since...

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