People against Poverty CEO Belinda Wadsworth took over the reins of the registered charity in late 2022. We caught up with her about her time with the charity so far and its plans for the mid-term future. Q: What drew you to People against Poverty in the first place? Belinda: People against Poverty, although...
Nearly half of all small shops in the South West could be forced to close down without business rate relief, according to a major new report into the state of the region’s high streets. Business rates remain a “huge burden” on small retailers, says the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which commissioned the research. ...
Bath-headquartered publishing group Future’s chief financial and strategy officer has officially stepped down from the role after eight years, during which the business has been transformed into a global multimedia concern. Penny Ladkin-Brand, pictured, who joined Future from automotive online marketplace and classified advertising business Auto Trader, announced in May she was joining international...
More than £11m has been lent to start-up firms across the South West ranging from a sewing café to a mobile cocktail bar over the past year under a programme run by the British Business Bank. Since its launch in 2012, the Start Up Loans scheme has supported more than 9,000 businesses through £90m in loans...
The West of England’s economy is forecast to grow faster over the next five years than any other part of the UK outside London, according to two new reports. The region, along with South Wales, will achieve economic expansion of 1.4% a year between now and 2029, according to the analysis commissioned by the...
Bath is in the running for the prestigious title of Best Small City in the UK, Europe and Beyond in a major national awards scheme. It was chosen as a finalist by a panel from the Academy of Urbanism, a not-for-profit organisation committed to creating, sustaining, and learning from great cities, towns, and neighbourhoods,...
The CEO of Bath’s oldest charity, St John’s Foundation, is to step down after six years in the role. David Hobdey, pictured, who retires later this month, joined the community organisation, which celebrates its 850th anniversary this year, in 2016 as finance director. He became CEO two years later and in 2020 was instrumental...
The CEO of iconic Somerset-based fashion business Mulberry quit the group last week after nine years in the role – with the firm naming the former CEO of Danish womenswear label Ganni as his successor. Andrea Baldo, who has more than 20 years' experience leading brands in the global fashion industry, replaces Thierry Andretta, who...
Specialist UK semiconductor maker Graphcore, which has its roots in Bath, is poised to take on the global giants of the industry after being acquired by Japanese investment group SoftBank. The idea for Graphcore was born in 2012 when co-founder Nigel Toon and Simon Knowles met in Bath's Marlborough Tavern to discuss their next...
Bath’s top tech talent was again among the winners at the West of England’s most prestigious awards scheme for the sector. Three firms from the city triumphed in The SPARKies, the annual awards that champion the best of the region’s tech and digital community. The awards were handed out at a ceremony at the...
