Nearly two-thirds of West firms are optimistic about their prospects as the region’s economy starts to improve, with most expecting turnover and profits to increase over the coming year. Some 65% of the 550-plus businesses from across the region that took part in the latest British Chambers of Commerce quarterly economic survey expressed confidence...
West firms are showing some significant signs of recovery as the economic upturn gains traction, according to the upbeat results of a new survey. Domestic sales for the region’s manufacturing and services sectors have climbed strongly over the past three months while other measures including employment and business confidence, are equally positive, some showing...
Consumers in the South West are continuing to shrug off the tough economic conditions by spending more in the shops and online, new data out today shows. Spending by families and individuals in the region grew by 2.8% last month – the sixth month in a row that it has been above inflation. Restaurants...
Strong trading in its protection & defence division is expected to lift manufacturer Avon Rubber’s full-year profits higher than current market expectations, the group has told shareholders. The boost has come from orders from the UK Government and customers in the Middle East, together with a high level of operational flexibility, which has allowed the Melksham-based group to deliver products...
Monday 7 October Final: Waterman AGM: City of London Investment Tuesday 8 October Trading statements: Robert Walters, Victrex Economics: British Retail Consortium year-on-year sales, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors – house prices data Wednesday 9 October Interim: N Brown Trading statements: Centamin, Greggs, Vedanta Resources AGM: Goodwin Economics: British Retail Consortium shop price index,...
Halsall, the Bath-based construction firm, has been appointed to build a sixth form centre at Norton Hill School in Midsomer Norton. Work will start on the 800 sq m, £870,000 building this month and complete next May. The project will give the school improved sixth form accommodation and four additional classrooms and will link...
The Government must show ambition and get moving on economic expansion, Business West, the organisation that runs Bath Chamber of Commerce, said this afternoon. Responding to David Cameron’s speech at the Conservative Party conference today, Business West managing director Phil Smith said: “It is encouraging to hear the Prime Minister put enterprise, wealth generation...
Good Energy, the Chippenham-based renewable electricity supplier, has launched its first corporate bond to finance production of its own green energy. The Good Energy Bonds offer investors a coupon of 7.25% a year, paid half-yearly. Any Good Energy customer or generator investing in the bonds will also be paid, at maturity, the equivalent to...
Bath’s top lawyers have been named in the latest Legal 500, the annual guide that gives a region-by-region breakdown of the UK’s best-performing legal firms and individuals. The respected publication says this year law firms across the South West have on the whole continued to thrive in an increasingly challenging market dominated by highly-competitive...
Divorce lawyer Gwyn Randolph has become a partner in Withy King’s rapidly-expanding family team in Bath, joining from rival firm Thrings’ office in the city. Gwyn, pictured, who has more than 20 years’ experience as a family lawyer, had worked at Thrings for nearly five years, advising on all aspects of relationship breakdown and...
