Business organisation the CBI “warmly welcomed” Chancellor Philip Hammond’s commitments to boost research and development, housing and infrastructure. But it said these must be acted on. Director-general Carolyn Fairbairn, pictured below, said: “The Chancellor has prioritised a pragmatic down payment on future productivity growth. “His emphasis on R&D, housing and local infrastructure will help...
Chancellor Philip Hammond his presented his first Autumn Statement: Here are the main points, as announced: Office for Budget Responsibility says growth this year will be 2.1%, 1.4% next year (down from 2.2%), 1.7% in 2018 (down from 2.1%), 2.1% in 2019/20 (down from 2.1%) and 2% in 2020/21, (down from 2.1%). As expected, the...
An innovative asthma treatment developed by Chippenham-based specialist pharmaceutical firm Vectura is to go on sale in the US in deal that could earn it more than $1m. Under the licensing agreement announced this week, the VR730 product – which uses Vectura’s groundbreaking dry powder inhalation technology – is to be manufactured and commercialised...
Bath area business leaders have called on Chancellor Philip Hammond to go all out to boost confidence ahead of Brexit as he prepares to deliver his first Autumn Statement on Wednesday. With the economic climate expected to get decidedly chilly next year as the UK works towards leaving the EU, commentators are expecting the...
Acquisitions, innovation and the weak pound boosted specialist manufacturer Avon Rubber in the year to September 30, with bosses saying it ended the period a more robust business than when it started. The Melksham-based group, which makes gas masks and respirators for the military and emergency services and rubber products for the global dairy...
Bath is to stage a new multi-arts festival next May as it looks to position itself alongside Edinburgh and Cheltenham as a major UK centre for the arts. Under the ambitious plan the city’s existing music and literature festivals will be merged with the new 10-day-long event also aiming to shake off Bath’s ‘elitist’...
Specialist IT group SCISYS has landed a contract to play a pivotal role in the launch of the world’s largest satellite constellation which aims to provide connectivity to billions of people around the world. The OneWeb global satellite system will consist of 648 orbiting mini-satellites which together will connect billions of people around the...
Shares in Bath area companies listed on the London Stock Exchange came under pressure this week as markets reacted to the election of Donald Trump as US President. Many took their lead from the FTSE 100, which fell by 2% on opening on Wednesday as it followed stock market turbulence overnight across Asia as investors digested Mr Trump’s...
Specialist manufacturer Avon Rubber is looking for a new finance boss following the announcement by its current group finance director Andrew Lewis that he is to leave the Melksham-based group. Andrew, pictured, will oversee the preparation of Avon’s 2016 financial statements and step down on November 30 after eight years at the group, which...
The Bath area is a strong national hub for leading design – with iconic examples including its Georgian architecture – according to a new report. Research conducted by the Bristol and Bath by Design (BBxD) project reveals that the area’s design prowess also plays a key role in its much-lauded creativity and innovation. As...
