West of England business leaders have called on the Government to make a speedy decision and approve the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station after it forced another delay of the £18bn project at the 11th hour last week. The plans were thrown into chaos by the Government last Thursday just hours after being...
The go-ahead for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point is expected to be announced this evening, triggering a multi-billion pound boost for the West of England’s economy. The board of French energy company EDF is expected to approve the £18bn plant – which will take 10 years to build – later today...
The growing popularity of Bath Ales’ flagship Gem bitter has helped the brewery achieve its best ever year for grocery sales. Its supermarket sales grew by 14% last year to £3.5m as demand for craft beer continued to spiral. The increase put Bath Ales in third position in a table of the top 20...
The Institute of Directors South West regional chairman Nick Sturge has been appointed to the organisation’s national council as it seeks to ensure that a range of voices from across business are heard as Brexit unfolds. Nick Sturge, pictured, the co-founder and director of Bristol’s Engine Shed innovation hub, is one of a number of...
Merger and acquisition activity in the South West climbed by 4.3% in the first half of this year as the economy continued to recover and cash-rich businesses hit the takeover trail. However, the total value of 267 deals was down 15% at £3.08bn against the same period in 2015. And some experts are warning...
The region’s largest business organisation, Business West, has called for “stability, clarity and action” from the Government after official figures showed a small rise in unemployment across the South West and fears grow of an economic slowdown. The number of people out of work and claiming benefit edged up by 8,000 – or 0.2%...
The bitter EU referendum campaign and fears over its outcome hit Bath firms’ confidence and impacted on the wider economy even before the result to leave was announced, according to the latest survey by Business West, the region’s largest business organisation. On all major indicators, the poll of more than 550 businesses across the...
Property services firm Ian Williams and bakery Ministry of Cake are the winners of the region’s most prestigious business awards. The firms came out top at accountants PwC’s annual West of England Business of the Year Awards, which were announced at a gala dinner this week. Chipping Sodbury-based Ian Williams provides a range of...
Curo, the Bath-based housing and support organisation, and Corsham-based pharmaceutical manufacturing company Bath ASU will next week find out whether they have won the region’s most prestigious business awards. The firms are competing against some of the South West’s top companies in accountants PwC’s annual West of England Business of the Year Awards, which...
Key facts of the West of England devolution deal approved by the area’s three councils this week: The deal would secure £900m of investment over 30 years, with the potential to leverage in additional funds, such as transport funding linked to the emerging Joint Transport Plan. So it is expected to be worth more...
