A taskforce bringing together businesses, universities and the West of England’s local authorities is being set up to ensure the region’s economy recovers as quickly as possible from the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The new group will also represent the region in discussions with central government to make sure its needs are heard...
The government’s £1.25bn funding package to support innovative start-ups and research-intensive firms impacted by the coronavirus pandemic has been welcomed by business and civic leaders in the West of England. The measures include a Future Fund – a new £500m loan scheme for high-growth firms – and £750m of targeted support for small and...
More than 740 businesses in the Bath area have received urgent support grants from Bath & North East Somerset Council totalling £11m to help them stave off the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The council’s Invest in Bath business support team worked throughout the Easter weekend to continue processing applications for the central government-funded...
Small charities in Bath have received much-needed finance from an emergency fund set up by region’s community foundation to help them cope with spiralling demand as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Quartet Community Foundation, which covers Bath and across the West of England, has distributed more than £250,000 to local charitable organisations since...
As the city’s leading independent online business news provider, Bath Business News is stepping up during these challenging times to ensure that Bath remains a successful, innovative and forward-looking business hub. Next week we will launch the Bath Business News Coronavirus Knowledge Hub, a unique source of essential news, information and advice as the...
A top accountant is warning Bath firms hit by the coronavirus crisis not to rush into seeking financial help through the government’s newly-amended package of business support. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced changes to the measures yesterday amid widespread criticism that they were not assisting enough businesses and that some banks were putting too many...
Bath area hospice Dorothy House is urgently seeking support from city businesses to help it step up its response to the national health emergency triggered by coronavirus pandemic. It has launched its Stepping Up Support appeal to raise funds for its clinical teams to provide extra care for the community in response to rising...
Three-quarters of South West firms were hit by the coronavirus pandemic in the first two weeks of March, according to a new survey which also shows the outbreak has triggered a marked fall in businesses confidence in the region. Lloyds Bank’s Business Barometer – a monthly survey of more than 1,000 companies carried out...
The latest moves by the government to support businesses, including relaxing the insolvency laws and removing some red tape, have been given the thumbs up by the region’s largest business organisation. Business West described the measures, announced by Business Secretary Alok Sharma on Friday evening, as sensible steps that would help protect companies weakened...
The UK government’s reaction to the coronavirus pandemic and its financial support for businesses has been ramping up daily. But Jon Miles, tax director of Bath-based chartered accountancy firm Richardson Swift, says that while the headlines may seem clear cut, the detail of how to claim any assistance is still to be released in...
