Firms in the South West are among the most pessimistic in the UK about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with many expecting to shed jobs when the government’s furlough scheme ends, according to a new survey. The Lloyds Bank Business Barometer, which takes the pulse of 1,200 firms across England every month, shows...
Major challenges for employers ranging from managing remote staff to changing the way entire organisations work post Covid-19 will be tackled head-on in a webinar to be staged next week by Bath-headquartered law firm Royds Withy King. Called Workforce of the Future: The New Norm, the event will give insights from practical futurist and...
Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, has welcomed the launch today of the government’s Kickstart scheme, which offers subsidised job placements to out-of-work young people. Under the £2bn programme, 16 to 24 year olds claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment, will be able to gain six-month work placements. The government...
Bath tech and creative businesses seeking equity investment of between £100,000 and £2m are being invited to take part in the next Silicon Gorge showcase. Taking place on November 12 as part of Bristol Technology Festival, the event will give up to 12 start-ups or scale-ups the chance to pitch to a virtual room...
The coronavirus pandemic has hit profits at more than 60% of firms in the West of England – with nearly one-in-seven fearing they will never return to pre-Covid levels of activity, according to the largest business survey in the region. Just under a quarter of firms have, or plan to, axe jobs with a...
A steep rise in corporate insolvencies linked to the coronavirus pandemic is being predicted for this winter – and could start as early as October. New research from insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 indicates that lack of funds to pay their rent is likely to be the biggest cause of firms getting into...
Researchers at the University of Bath are to work with engineers from luxury carmaker Bentley Motors on a three-year study that promises to transform electric vehicles. The project, which will be among the first to be undertaken in the university’s new £70m state-of-art automotive research centre scheduled to open next year, aims to develop...
Regional alternative finance lender South West Investment Group (SWIG) has made two appointments to its growing team while also saying farewell to Brian Steer, one of its longest-standing employees, who has retired. Nicki Kimberley has joined as start-up loans officer, a role that involves supporting applicants to the Start Up Loans scheme and helping...
Most firms in the South West remain cautious about their prospects as the coronavirus lockdown eases, according to the results of three business surveys released this week – but the region’s small manufacturers appear to be leading the bounce back. The surveys paint a mixed picture of the outlook over the next few months,...
Somerset-based fashion label Mulberry has appointed a digital media agency specialising in major luxury brands to target wealthy Chinese consumers. The firm, best known for its upscale leather bags, said ForwardPMX would spearhead brand awareness by using hugely popular Chinese social media platforms such as Weibo and WeChat. Founded in 1971 by Somerset-born designer...
