One of the UK car industry’s most respected figures, former General Motors UK chairman Bill Parfitt, has joined accountants Grant Thornton’s automotive advisory team as a consultant. Mr Parfitt, pictured, is now working with team members including director and automotive manufacturing specialist Neil Barrell, who is based in the firm’s regional office in Bristol. The...
Bishop Fleming Independent Financial Advisers, part of fast-growing West accountancy firm Bishop Fleming, has appointed Darren Steadman as a financial planning consultant to serve clients across Bath and Bristol. Mr Steadman, who was educated in Bristol, spent 20 years with AXA Sun Life in the city, rising to implementation manager. More recently, he was...
Young entrepreneurs are to benefit from a new support and advice service launched yesterday as a partnership between Virgin and Business West, the organisation that runs Bath Chamber of Commerce. Virgin StartUp will offer financial support, mentoring and business advice to thousands of young people across the country who want to follow Virgin founder...
Superior, the fast-growing design, print and fulfilment group, has secured a £1m investment from its long-term bankers Barclays to support further expansion. The funding comes a year after Barclays supplied £2m to fund a purpose-built design studio and increase printing capacity at Superior’s Melksham headquarters. Superior, which has doubled its turnover to £15m in...
Independent West of England-based financial consultancy Jelf, which has an office in Bath, has shrugged off what it admitted were “challenging” market conditions to enjoy a positive start to the second half of the year. As a result it expects its results for the year to September 30 to be in line with market...
South West accountancy firm Bishop Fleming is hoping to gain another two national awards next month to take its tally for the year to a record of six. The firm, which has an office in Bath, is shortlisted in two categories in the National Accountancy Awards – Best Mid-Tier Firm and Best Employer. The...
Bath-based Independent Financial Adviser Chase de Vere has set out to help professionals cut through the confusion surrounding long-term care with a unique planning tool. The issue of long-term care and funding for individuals is never far from the news agenda. But as an increasing number of people need help so the range of...
Barclays has officially launched its new-look Bath city centre branch with MP Don Foster cutting the ribbon and performance artists, drummers and dancers adding to the party atmosphere. Barclays spent around £1m on the branch, which employs 30 staff and is its latest flagship outlet to be launched in the South West. New-look branches...
Business recovery specialist firm Begbies Traynor has scooped the title of South West Regional Insolvency Practitioner Firm of the Year in the national Insolvency and Rescue Awards. The accolade was presented to partner and head of the South West Regional team, Julie Palmer, at a packed ceremony at the Lancaster London Hotel. The company’s...
Bath-based asset-backed finance provider 1pm has expanded into the small business loans market. The firm, quoted on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market, will initially lend between £1,000 and £15,000 which can be repaid over any period from three to 36 months. It announced completion of its first loan to a Leicester wholesale business...
