Regional alternative finance lender South West Investment Group (SWIG) lent a record £14m to ambitious small and medium-sized businesses across the region in the past year, new figures show. The non-profit group, which supports viable businesses that cannot secure sufficient funding from their bank, provided 559 loans to 478 start-ups and growing firms in...
An innovative scheme to ensure young people now in schools in Bath and across the West of England consider working in the green jobs of the future is to be expanded. A recent survey found more than half of young people wanted to have environmentally sustainable careers. But for many, the range of jobs is...
Relocating its head office to a modern, energy-efficient building meant renewable energy company Good Energy reduced its carbon emissions by a third in just one year. The Chippenham-headquartered firm said by moving to the new office in the town, which is powered by renewable electricity and green gas had been the biggest contributor in...
A national research hub led by the University of Bath has been awarded £11m to help the UK reach net zero by harnessing the power of hydrogen and alternative liquid fuels. The funding, from the government’s UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) organisation, aims to make UK-HyRES, the UK Hub for Research Challenges in Hydrogen...
Small and medium-sized firms in Bath with growth potential can apply to a new £200m fund aimed at boosting innovation and prosperity across the South West. Launched by the British Business Bank yesterday, the South West Investment Fund (SWIF) will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for new and growing smaller firms....
Ben Veal, founder of purpose-driven communications consultancy Second Mountain, has been named as the UK’s top independent PR practitioner. The title, conferred on Ben, pictured, at the 2023 Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Excellence Awards, is the latest in a string of accolades since he set up the agency in Bath during the...
‘Tech for good’ agency Digital Wonderlab has become the latest to firm in the Bath area to achieve the coveted B Corp status while also pledging to donate at least 1% of its sales to environmental causes. Digital Wonderlab founder and CEO Nathan Baranowski said the double commitment was the culmination of 15 years...
A lack of interest among the West of England’s politicians in its tech sector, despite its strength, is holding it back compared to other regions, according to a major new report. At the same time, the government’s ‘levelling-up’ agenda is steering funding towards parts of the country with strong and supportive political leadership. As...
Renewable electricity provider Good Energy has made another strategic acquisition as it looks to move into complementary markets. The Chippenham-headquartered group is paying £2.5m for Wessex EcoEnergy, an established UK-based solar installation business. Good Energy said the acquisition represented a further milestone in delivering on its strategy to expand its capability in decentralised energy...
The University of Bath’s commitment to fostering innovation and enterprise in the city will step up a gear next week when it hosts a major business show. The two-day Bath & North East Somerset Business Show takes place in the university’s new School of Management next Tuesday and Wednesday, 27-28 June. will feature exhibitions, workshops,...
