A rebound in its European markets and continued growth in others gave Bath-headquartered spectacles designer and manufacturer Inspecs a positive end to 2022, with its chief executive describing it as a year of two halves. The group, which produces a wide range of spectacle frames and lenses, including sunglasses and safety glasses, for markets...
Bath area firms are being urged to join more than 125 firms across the UK that have already signed a pledge to never support or promote blood sports such as hunting or shooting. The plea has come from West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who is also chair of the League Against Cruel...
The reopening of the Chinese economy after three years of Covid-related lockdowns combined with higher UK sales and an end to discounting to boost revenues at iconic Somerset-based fashion business Mulberry. The firm, best known for its high-end designer bags, revealed sales were slightly ahead of last year in a trading update for its...
Confidence among West of England firms has recovered sharply from its slump last year, according to the latest research by the region’s largest business organisation – but continued staff shortages are now adding to their problems. The quarterly survey by Business West, which runs Bristol Chamber of Commerce, shows firms’ confidence in both the...
A scheme has been launched by Bath Spa University to help tackle the city’s digital skills gap with fully funded courses over the next 18 months. The university has partnered with the Institute of Coding (IoC) – a national consortium of industry, educators and outreach providers led by the University of Bath - London-based not-for-profit social...
SWIG Finance, the non-profit company that supports viable South West businesses that cannot secure sufficient funding from their bank, has become the new regional business support partner for Start Up Loans. SWIG will work with the programme to deliver funding and support to help unlock the potential of small businesses in the South West...
Work has started on a hydrogen innovation centre being developed by the University of Bath which will help put the West of England in the fast lane for research into alternative low carbon fuels. The centre, which will be housed in the university’s £70m Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS) building on the...
Business confidence in the South West has bounced back this month, rising for the first time this year – but the region still remains one of the least optimistic parts of the UK. The latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking shows confidence levels among firms in the South West increased by 18...
Ambitious small to medium-sized businesses in Bath and across the West of England are being offered support to buy new products and equipment to increase production and help them grow. The funding is from a new round of Business Growth and Adaptations Grants launched by West of England Combined Authority (WECA). Businesses can apply...
Bath-headquartered law firm RWK Goodman has advised the shareholders of an industry-leading car parking systems manufacturer by a tech business specialising in automatic number plate recognition. Bristol-based Newpark Solutions has more than 15 years’ experience in supplying bespoke parking software and is the UK’s only manufacturer of ticketless parking systems. Its equipment is used in places...
