The BBC must evolve to meet the challenges of an increasingly digital media landscape but must also be valued for future generations, one of its senior managers told West business leaders at the annual CBI regional dinner. Jenny Baxter, pictured, who as chief operating officer, BBC England, is in charge of the BBC’s Bristol...
Historic Somerset aggregates and asphalt firm Wainwright is to extend its reach across the South West with the construction of an £8.5m state-of-the-art plant. The asphalt production facility on a 4.5-acre site at Avonmouth, near Bristol, is set to launch early next year. Funded through finance from Barclays, it will give Wainwright, based at...
Specialist lender Together, which provides growth finance to niche markets, has appointed a regional development director to help West of England businesses and entrepreneurs gain vital access to funding. Paul Chadney, pictured, has more than 27 years’ experience in the finance industry and will cover a region stretching from Hampshire to Cornwall. He previously...
Long-standing automotive learning and development agency RTS Group has changed hands in a management buyout (MBO). Managing director Malcolm Miller, along with fellow directors John Brannigan, Alison Noble, Kat Searle and Jess Starley, have bought the Chippenham-based business from founder and chairman Richard Wells. They plan to grow the company, including relocating it to...
Firms will want assurances that the business rates reform announced by the Chancellor this week will not more higher taxes. That’s the view of Business West, the region’s largest business organisation representing 16,000 firms and which runs the Bath Chamber of Commerce. George Osborne made the surprise announcement at the Conservative Party conference that...
More than a third of the South West’s small and medium-sized manufacturers are having their growth plans jeopardised by skills shortages, according to a new survey. The annual Manufacturing Survey by MHA – an association of independent regional accountancy firms – reveals that recruitment issues are acting as a “significant barrier” to expansion for...
Intellectual property law firm EIP has been named as a ‘national champion’ for the UK in The European Business Awards 2015/16 in recognition of its growth strategy. The firm, which has a base in Bath, was one of only 54 UK companies and 678 throughout Europe chosen as national champions from more than 32,000...
IT support specialist Systemagic, which has bases in Monkton Combe and Trowbridge, is looking to double in size over the next two years after receiving new investment. Experienced financier Martin Spiller, who works with London-based financial consultancy Jenson Solutions, has pumped an undisclosed sum into Systemagic in a personal capacity to take the business...
Confidence levels for firms across the West of England have fallen on the back of lower sales, fewer new jobs and worsening cashflow, according to the results of Business West’s latest survey. The figures, released this week, show how susceptible the region is to shifts in the world economy, said James Durie of Business...
Bath-based mini-conglomerate CEPS has significantly increased its indirect shareholding in one of its portfolio firms, the fabric and wallpaper pattern books producer CEM Press (CEMP). The deal takes CEPS’ holding from 21.4% to 71.5% and is in line with the group’s strategy of acquiring interests in established, cash-generative businesses. Nottingham-based CEMP makes fabric and...
