Bath firms have slammed government financial support for businesses forced to close during the most recent lockdown as grossly inadequate. Some 54% of West of England businesses that were shuttered during November – including restaurants, cafes and non-essential retailers – said the financial assistance covered less than a quarter of their overheads, a new...
A third of South West firms still do not know if they will be impacted by Brexit with less than four weeks to go to the end of the UK-EU transition period, according to a new survey. At the same time 46% are worried that Brexit could have a bigger impact on them than...
Businesses in and around Bath have less than two weeks to give their views on the type of employment spaces, vital transport links and homes the region needs over the next 20 years. The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has already received almost 1,000 responses to the survey it is running on its...
Law firms must embrace remote working and new technology while also continuously adapting and responding to change if they are to succeed in the post-Covid world, according to research conducted by Bath consultancy Nine Feet Tall. Staff are increasingly seeking autonomy around their working arrangements, wanting to ‘blend’ remote working with time in the...
Given the unprecedented challenges all businesses have faced over the past six months, there is no doubt that 2021 is going to be an important year. Add to this the UK leaving the EU on December 31 and the uncertainty of more lockdowns and for many businesses 2021 could be a make or break year....
Bath’s Tier 2 restrictions when it comes out of the national lockdown next week will have a “chilling impact” on its economy, with much of its hospitality sector remaining “frozen” in the vital run-up to Christmas, business groups have warned. Bath Chamber of Commerce group Business West said despite having escaped being put in...
The innovative design of Bath Spa University’s Locksbrook Campus has been recognised in a prestigious regional property awards scheme. The campus topped the Heritage Project of the Year category in the 2020 Michelmores’ Property Awards. Now in their 18th year, the awards recognise the best property and construction schemes across the South West, as well...
The award-winning Trading Through Brexit service run by Business West has been relaunched to help companies make crucial last-minute adjustments to the way they operate ahead of the end of the UK-EU transition period. Regardless of whether or not a deal is reached between UK and EU negotiators ahead of deadline on December 31,...
Business West, which runs Bath Chamber of Commerce, was disappointed with the lack of capital investment promised by the government for the West of England. Policy manager Claire Ralph said: “Some minor funding has been allocated to the West of England Combined Authority for local transport improvements through the Transforming Cities Fund. “Elsewhere it...
Business groups have welcomed the investment in infrastructure and jobs in Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Spending Review but said many firms still needed more help from the government. The CBI praised the Chancellor for making “some bold autumn decisions” to power a spring recovery even as the stark forecasts pointed to tough times ahead. But...
