Bath-based spectacles designer and manufacturer Inspecs has launched its own sustainable range in what it has described as a massive step forward for its industry. The collection, called Botaniq, has been designed by the firm’s in-house technical experts using biodegradable natural, recycled and recyclable material in direct response to consumer demand for sustainable products....
Nearly 2,000 businesses across Bath and North East Somerset forced to close as a result of the third national lockdown have received more than £12m in support grants. Bath & North East Somerset Council had processed 1,825 applications by Wednesday of last week, paying out a total of £11m in support grants and £1.4m...
The Institute of Directors in the South West has appointed experienced tech sector independent director James Savage and Steve Hill, the former managing director of defence contractor SEA, as ambassadors. James, pictured, who has spent 30-plus years in the sector, will be the IoD’s regional ambassador for high-tech industry and tech ventures, having been an independent director on the boards...
Bath-based law firm Mogers Drewett has launched a campaign to collect and donate 50 laptops this month to help bridge the digital divide made worse by the coronavirus pandemic. ‘Fifty in February’ will support the work of Wiltshire Digital Drive (WDD), which was set up last year by a group of businesses in Bath and...
In a surprise move and with only a week to go until the 2019/20 tax return filing deadline, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) announced on January 25 that it would not be charging the usual automatic late filing penalties of £100 for any 2019/20 tax returns that were not filed by January 31, 2021....
China’s booming Shandong province will be the subject of the next webinar to be staged by the West of England China Bureau. It has set out a year-long programme of online events co-ordinated and hosted by Hewlett Rand, a long-term bureau member. Having focused on the vibrant tech and start-up ecosystem of the Greater Bay Area - which...
More than 370,000 small businesses in England and Wales could be eligible to claim via their business interruption insurance policies for disruption during the first Covid-19 national lockdown, following the Supreme Court’s important ruling. This ruling substantially allowed the appeal brought by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and campaign groups Hiscox Action Group and...
Bath-based spectacles designer and manufacturer Inspecs today said it was in a strong position to take advantage of weaknesses in its industry despite a 32% drop in revenue. The firm made two major acquisitions last year, using part of the £23.5m it raised when it floated on the London Stock Exchange’s junior Alternative Investment...
An aerospace manufacturing group based just outside Bath has been sold out of administration, safeguarding the jobs of all its 126 workers. AVPE Investments, based in Bitton, which made parts for global aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus, Magellan and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, suffered a 60% fall off in orders as a direct result of...
Business confidence among South West firms has slumped to the lowest in England as the latest lockdown pushes sales down further and puts more pressure on staffing levels. Just 11% for businesses in the region expect trading levels to have returned to pre-pandemic levels by this time next year while one-in-five expect to have...
