Manufacturing group Avon Rubber is predicting a strong performance next year as its two recent acquisitions and a number of new orders boost earnings. In an update to shareholders, the Melksham-headquartered group – a world leader in products for the protection & defence and dairy industries – said it expects trading in its current...
Bath’s ambitious medium-sized businesses are being held back by gaps in the provision of long-term lending, according to a new report. With improved bank lending, an increased flow of invoice finance facilities and huge growth in peer-to-peer lending over the last few years, much of the finance landscape is on the mend. But for...
Yurt and tipi manufacturer and hire firm Hearthworks is intent on more expansion following a year in which it has achieved strong growth. The Pilton-based firm, which started as a hobby in 1999 and has nearly doubled turnover every year, now attends 25 festivals a year, hiring out 115 yurts, more than 200 tipis...
First-time exporters from the Bath area are being invited to explore opportunities in the fast-growing Central and Eastern Europe markets by taking part in a trade mission to Poland in October. The trip to Warsaw between October 6 and 8 is dedicated to building connections and learning on how to sell goods and services...
Bath Ales’ flagship bitter Gem – the first beer produced by the brewery when it launched 20 years ago – has lost none of its thirst for awards, earning a silver medal at the International Beer Challenge. The trophy is the second in consecutive years scooped by Gem – last year it struck gold...
Zenith International, the Bath company that provides corporate information to the global food and drink industries, has acquired US news, data and conference company Beverage Digest. The New York-based firm publishes one of the industry’s most influential newsletters covering the non-alcoholic drinks industry and holds two conferences a year. Its newsletter was launched in...
More than half the businesses in the South West fear they will not be able to recruit enough high-skilled workers for their future success, according to an alarming new report. The annual CBI/Pearson Education and Skills Survey – which gauged the views of 101 firms across the region – found that 68% say they...
Manufacturing group Avon Rubber has acquired an Italian firm making specialist milking products for €29.75m (£20.7m). Melksham-based Avon said InterPuls would broaden its product range, client base and geographic reach and boost growth opportunities for its dairy division. The acquisition is expected to significantly enhance earnings in its 2016 financial year. Family-owned InterPuls, based between...
Cardok UK, the Bath-based firm aiming to revolutionise parking, has agreed a distributor deal with Harrington Generators International (HGI) to provide home standby generators for its underground home car parking systems HGI – a leading supplier of generators to the rail, defence, oil, gas and water industries – will supply 8kw and 14kw standby...
Bath-based global engineering group Rotork has hit the acquisition trail, snapping up Italian valve manufacturer M&M International for €9.7m (£6.9m). The deal was announced as the firm unveiled falls in half-year pre-tax profits and revenues due to what it described as a challenging trading environment. Pre-tax profits during the six months to June 30...
