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...
Future, the acquisitive Bath media group, is to offload three titles to clear a competition hurdle that was blocking its £140m takeover of Country Life and Chat publisher TI Media. Last week the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ruled that it would clear the takeover on competition grounds subject to Future selling some closely-competing...
In these challenging times, it’s sad to learn that cyber criminals are only increasing their activity as they look to capitalise on the Covid-19 crisis, writes Isabel Thompson, commercial director at cyber security and resilience firm Warner McCall Resilience. With the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) issuing warnings of such activity on a daily...
Business organisations have backed government help outlined last night to support the self-employed and sole traders affected by coronavirus, describing them as a lifeline for around 5m people. The measures announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, pictured below, provide a grant worth 80% of profits up to a cap of £2,500 a month and are targeted...
Bath Building Society has said it expects the coronavirus pandemic to have “minimal” impact on its overall financial position despite the three-month mortgage holiday announced by the government. The society, which has more than 20,000 savers and 1,200 mortgage customers, has also introduced penalty-free access to deposits for members to reduce financial hardship caused...
Bath’s small and medium-sized manufacturers are being urged to take part in a major survey to gauge the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on industry. The resected quarterly Manufacturing Barometer – the largest survey of its type in England – has just gone live and is inviting companies to highlight the issues they are...
Bath businesses needing up-to-date information, advice and guidance to help them trade in the current unprecedented market conditions are being encouraged to turn to a new web portal launched by Business West, the region’s largest business organisation. Called Trading Through Coronavirus, it aims to help businesses navigate their way through the crisis by enabling...
One of the biggest distribution parks on the M4 corridor is taking shape as demand for large units shows no sign of easing. Steelworks for the first speculative unit on the St Modwen Park at junction 17 near Chippenham have recently gone up, pictured – although construction work has now ceased due to the...
Bath-based fitness subscription firm MoveGB has launched a platform with free live-streamed classes for members to keep fit at home during the coronavirus crisis. At the same time, to help its thousands of self-employed fitness providers and independent venues, it has also set up a fund enabling members to continue to pay them –...
National business organisations have welcomed the government’s drastic measures putting the country into virtual lockdown in a bid to combat the rapid spread of coronavirus. The CBI said the action presented “great challenges” while the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said it made it even more vital that support for businesses was delivered quickly. ...
