NatWest has appointed Andrew Houchin as director of commercial banking for the Bath and North Wiltshire areas. Andrew, pictured, who spent six years in the Army as an Infantry officer, joined NatWest’s parent company RBS in 2011 as a programme manager, overseeing a £2.4m data distribution programme designed to support the improvement of the...
Confidence among West of England firms has dropped significantly following the vote to leave the European Union, according to one of the first regional surveys conducted since the historic referendum result. A third of businesses expect sales to flatline over the next 12 months while more than half plan no new recruitment over the...
Expolink, the contact centre that operates confidential whistleblowing hotlines for major employers, has been acquired from its founders in a management buyout. The Chippenham-based firm, which was launched in 1995, employs more than 200 people at its contact centre. Over the past few years it has had an annual growth rate of more than 12%. Its...
No other news service in the Bath area can compete with Bath Business News for authoritative, independent online business news and information. Here are 9 reasons why Bath Business News is essential reading for anyone serious about business. 1) We have a strong track record of quality journalism and news coverage dating back more than 30 years. Our award-winning editor Robert Buckland...
By Donna Kehoe, the Bank of England’s agent for the South West of England We are entering what is likely to be a period of significant change for our economy, with the vote to leave the European Union ushering in a new era for the UK’s relationship with the rest of the world. Some...
The Bank of England today cut interest rates from 0.5% to 0.25% – their lowest ever level in the UK – and warned that unemployment will rise by a quarter of a million as Brexit hits the economy. Bank governor Mark Carney described Brexit as “a very large identifiable supply shock” and did not...
Haydn Thomas, NatWest’s South West regional managing director – business banking, has been appointed as the bank’s head of business development – business banking, for the whole of the UK. As well as overseeing the bank’s business development strategy for business banking, Haydn, pictured - who has worked for NatWest for more than 21 years –...
Another Bath hotel has changed hands as cash-rich investors flock to the city to buy into its continued growth as an upmarket tourist destination. The sale of the Aquae Sulis hotel on Newbridge Road is the latest in a series of deals that has brought new buyers into the market. And according to hospitality...
The £1bn devolution deal and the West of England combined authority formed by it would increase control and resources for business including: Integrated and locally relevant inward investment and trade services, led by Invest in Bristol & Bath Support for developing the West of England Growth Hub Increased support for the Bristol & Bath...
Bath area businesses are being urged to give their views on the West of England devolution proposal, which would bring extra powers to the area along with additional funding worth up to £1bn. Business organisations in the region, including the Institute of Directors (IoD), CBI, FSB and Business West have come together to encourage...
