Confidence among the South West’s firms has fallen once again and is now significantly below the national average, according to two new surveys. The latest quarterly report from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) reflects a level of SME pessimism among members across the region not seen since the aftermath of the financial crash...
The Institute of Directors has appointed Bath businessman Muir Macdonald as its next South West regional chair. Muir, who was managing director of Bath-based BMT Defence Services and is a former Ministry of Defence senior project manager, takes over in January from Nick Sturge, director of Bristol’s Engine Shed innovation hub, who is stepping down at...
Rotork, the Bath-based specialist manufacturing group, has appointed two new non-executive directors. Ann Christin Gjerdseth Andersen and Tim Cobbold will both be members of the audit, nomination and remuneration committees of the board at Rotork, the world-leader in the design and manufacture of specialist valves for the oil and gas industry. Ann Christin has...
The latest work of art at Crest Nicholson’s Bath Riverside development has been unveiled – a sculpture that aims to connect the past with the present and the land with the river. Designed by Bath artist Anna Gillespie and created through collaborative work by two local companies, Maid of the Bridge, pictured, sets out...
West of England businesses with ambitious growth plans will be able to get grant funding and relevant, high-quality support and training under a new programme launched by the University of the West of England (UWE), NatWest and regional law firm Foot Anstey. S4G (Scale Up 4 Growth) is open to businesses in any sector...
Bath-based Olympic gold medallist Amy Williams MBE will be the keynote speaker at the West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF) gala dinner next week. Skeleton bobsleigh athlete Amy, pictured, was the first British female individual Winter Olympics gold medallist since 1952, the first British individual gold medallist at a Winter Olympics for 30 years...
Shares in Bath-based engineering group Rotork tumbled by more than 11% when it reported a fall in new orders in a third quarter trading update. The world-leader in the design and manufacture of specialist valves for the oil and gas industry blamed the drop on the difference between the timing of project orders...
The differences between Bath and Bristol should be celebrated as they can be key factors in making the West of England one of the world’s leading centres for innovation, according to a major study. The region is already among the UK’s most exciting innovation clusters based on its vibrant tech, creative, advanced engineering and...
The West of England’s largest business organisation has urged “calm compromise” from politicians over Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plan to avoid what it said would be the “tremendously damaging” impact of the UK crashing out of the EU with no deal. Business West – which runs Bath Chamber of Commerce and the Bath...
Businesses and philanthropists from across the South West will come together this Thursday to help raise vital funds for its young people. The annual Prince’s Trust Red Dinner has raised more than £650,000 since it was launched seven years ago, with all the proceeds going toward helping young people across the South West. This...
