The coronavirus pandemic has dealt a severe blow to confidence levels among South West firms – with the region now the UK’s least optimistic, according to the gloomy results of another survey. Overall confidence slumped by 16 points during the past month to minus 51% – an unenviable record for Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking’s...
Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, is launching a series of expert webinars and virtual networking events to help small firms bounce back from the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The webinars will address key practical issues and challenges facing firms as lockdown measures are eased while the online networking sessions will enable...
One of the government’s boldest and most effective interventions during the coronavirus has been the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (or furlough scheme). It is also, undoubtedly, one of the most important for businesses. Many businesses have suffered a massive shock to income, and furloughing has offered an ability to keep outgoings to a minimum,...
Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s decision to extend the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to October will be a “huge relief” to firms in the West of England, according to the region’s largest business group. Business West, which runs Bath Chamber of Commerce, said its research showed the scheme, launched by Mr Sunak, pictured, in March,...
The devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on businesses in the West of England has been highlighted again in the results of two more surveys – with one showing two-thirds of firms suffered a fall in orders while the second reveals productivity is down at 80% of the region’s small manufacturers. Unsurprisingly, confidence levels...
A family-owned garden centre group which celebrates its half-century this year is continuing to trade through the coronavirus crisis after securing funding from Barclays under the government’s business support scheme. Whitehall Garden Centres, which has its headquarters at Lacock, near Chippenham, was forced to close its three outlets at what would have been a...
Business organisations have welcomed new measures by the government to help small firms survive the coronavirus pandemic, reflecting the fact that around half are being rejected for loans under the existing scheme. Business West, the organisation that runs Bath Chamber of Commerce, said Chancellor Rishi Sunak, pictured, had listened to complaints from struggling small...
Bath-based fitness subscription firm MoveGB has generated more £1m for the fitness, yoga and dance instructors across the country since launching its lockdown-inspired Move At Home service. In less than a month more than 40,000 classes have been streamed through the service and the number of classes and providers continues to grow by the...
Bath charities helping the city cope with the coronavirus crisis are benefiting from a share of more than £400,000 handed out in just a month by the West of England’s community foundation. Some £413,000 has been given in grants by Quartet since March 23. From a standing start, its Coronavirus Response Fund has helped...
Three Bath businesses are taking on the national 2.6 Challenge in aid of city charity Julian House to help people experiencing homelessness during the coronavirus crisis. Bath-headquartered law firm Royds Withy King, The Royal Crescent Hotel and advanced analytics company Actual Experience have signed up for the challenge, which takes place this Sunday, April...
