One of the government’s boldest and most effective interventions during the coronavirus has been the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (or furlough scheme). It is also, undoubtedly, one of the most important for businesses. Many businesses have suffered a massive shock to income, and furloughing has offered an ability to keep outgoings to a minimum,...
In our article last month, we set out some of the emergency measures which the government had introduced to financially support businesses and individuals adversely affected by the outbreak of Covid-19, writes Pearson May partner Matthew Rutter. As the situation changes almost daily in some respects, it can be hard to keep up with...
Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s decision to extend the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to October will be a “huge relief” to firms in the West of England, according to the region’s largest business group. Business West, which runs Bath Chamber of Commerce, said its research showed the scheme, launched by Mr Sunak, pictured, in March,...
1pm, the Bath-based specialist finance provider, has been accredited to take part in the government scheme to help firms trade through the coronavirus pandemic following a campaign to widen it to non-bank lenders. 1pm had said that while lenders like itself provided a third of all UK consumer credit and a third of funding...
The owner of a luxury hotel group is looking for hoteliers and hospitality partners to join a new fundraising initiative for NHS staff and carers to give them much-deserved breaks once the Covid-19 crisis eases. The care4carers appeal is the brainchild of Nick Dent, owner of the Original Collection group of hotels based at...
A Bath architectural firm responsible for working on some of the UK’s most historic houses and hotels has been bought by its employees. Simon Morray-Jones Architects was established more than 30 years ago by Simon Morray-Jones. Over that time, it has renovated and remodelled many listed and historic UK buildings as well as projects...
Strong trade links with the US could help the West of England’s small firms recover from the impact of coronavirus, the region’s leading business group has suggested. Business West, which runs Bath Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the start of formal post-Brexit talks between the UK and US on a future free trade agreement and...
Regional law firm Thrings has strengthened its private wealth team in Bath by appointing Kathryn Bew and Jermaine Smith as senior associate and associate respectively. A specialist in family law, Kathryn, pictured right, has more than 26 years’ experience of advising UK-based and international clients and also offers non-adversarial approaches to the resolution of...
The devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on businesses in the West of England has been highlighted again in the results of two more surveys – with one showing two-thirds of firms suffered a fall in orders while the second reveals productivity is down at 80% of the region’s small manufacturers. Unsurprisingly, confidence levels...
A family-owned garden centre group which celebrates its half-century this year is continuing to trade through the coronavirus crisis after securing funding from Barclays under the government’s business support scheme. Whitehall Garden Centres, which has its headquarters at Lacock, near Chippenham, was forced to close its three outlets at what would have been a...
