With the general election now taking place on 4 July, Business West – the region’s largest business organisation – has issued a 10-point plan for the long-term prosperity of the West of England. Through its Quarterly Economic Survey, which acts as a barometer of business sentiment across the region, coupled with its ongoing conversations...
A series of “significant” new contract wins in the first half of this year have lifted defence manufacturer Avon Protection’s order book to a record high. The 50% increase in the value of its orders combined with double-digit improvements in revenue and productivity combined to underpin a strong recovery for the Melksham-headquartered group. Avon Protection,...
Chemical engineers at the University of Bath have modelled a new way of recycling polystyrene that could become the first viable way of making the hard-to-recycle packaging material reusable. The team, who are working with Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, US, say their technique could be the first to make recycling polystyrene both economically...
Academics from the University of Bath are to help cut the chemical industry’s significant carbon emissions through the re-use of waste and by harnessing renewable electricity. They are teaming up with colleagues from five other UK universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, in the £13.75m government research project. The Sustainable Chemicals and Materials Manufacturing Hub...
Ultra-athlete Dion Leonard, who runs distances of 250-plus miles in some of the world’s toughest conditions, has told West of England business leaders they too can overcome huge challenges – if they are determined. Dion, pictured, was guest speaker at accountancy body ICAEW West of England's annual dinner. He entertained the audience with his life...
Bath firms are being urged to link up with the UK’s biggest nature festival taking place in the city next month, when they will be able to get involved in a host of activities. Among events targeted at businesses during the 21st annual Festival of Nature will be roundtables on biodiversity and creative industries, nature-focused...
Shares in international healthcare group Alliance Pharma slumped to a 12-year low after its chief executive spooked investors by announcing he is to step down from the business. Peter Butterfield, who joined the Chippenham-headquartered group in 2010 and has been CEO for the past six years, will leave on 30 June. In a...
Defence manufacturer Avon Protection’s technological leadership in designing and making respirators against chemical attacks has landed it a contract worth up to £38m with the MoD. The group, which specialises in protective gear, masks and breathing equipment for the military and first-responder markets, will produce the equipment at its UK manufacturing plant near Melksham. ...
Another business survey has pointed to a dramatic bounce back in confidence among South West firms as the outlook on inflation and interest rates improves. Results of the quarterly survey by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) show optimism levels soared by 40 percentage points to their highest level since October 2021. As a...
Bath-based legal and financial planning firm Mogers Drewett is to host a special HR event next week to highlight the important relationship between physical activity and mental wellbeing at work. Called Move On Up, the workshop is being staged on 16 May as part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2024. It is aimed at leaders...
