A surprise fall in the number of corporate insolvencies could herald the ‘calm before the storm’, the South West branch of insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 has warned. Figures published by the Insolvency Service show a 30% drop in companies going bust at the height of the coronavirus crisis in May compared to...
Unemployment has soared by 145% in the West of England since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to figures published today, with just nearly 40,000 people claiming jobless benefits. At the same time, around 22% of the region’s workforce – 132,600 people – have been furloughed while job vacancies have fallen sharply, down...
With the lockdown easing and more businesses re-opening, the workplace psychologists and designers at Interaction have developed an in-depth guide to help companies prepare for their return to the office safely, confidently and responsibly. Safely It doesn’t need to be complicated. But you do need to be thorough. It starts with following government and HSE guidance, developing policies and communications....
Rural broadband provider Truespeed has started to build its network in Wells – with a pledge to present the historic city with gigabit-capable broadband connectivity in time for Christmas. The Bath-based firm got the green light at the start of this month. The goal is to connect people who have signed up to Truespeed’s...
A University of Bath civil engineering student is to represent the South West at the national Women in Property Student Awards after the regional heat was staged virtually. Lobbying and networking organisation Women in Property South West decided not to let social distancing get in the way of its 2020 Student Awards. Families, friends...
A bakery chain based near Bath is to reopen its 45 branches after securing £1m in funding through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). The Cornish Bakery, which has its headquarters at Paulton and an outlet in Abbey Churchyard in Bath, closed the doors of its bakeries to customers on March 23 and...
Three buildings from the Bath area – a new university campus, a community hub and an architects’ office – are in the running for a major regional architecture award. Bath Spa University’s Locksbrook Campus, the community hub at the city’s Mulberry Park housing development and architecture firm Stonewood Design’s office in Corsham are among...
Logistics company Wincanton has partnered with charity Mates in Mind to provide all its employees with support and guidance on mental health. The Chippenham-based group said the move was part of the ongoing commitment to support its 17,700 workers, including 4,000-plus drivers, with their mental wellbeing and was an important step towards breaking the...
Small and medium-sized Bath businesses investing in digital innovation to address challenges arising from Covid-19 can access grants of between £10,000 and £40,000 under a new scheme started by UWE Bristol. The university’s £1m Digital Innovation Fund is aimed at helping firms ranging from start-ups and micro businesses to more established organisations as they...
The West of England’s commercial property market could receive an unexpected boost from the coronavirus pandemic as London-based occupiers look to the regions to cut costs, according to one of the sector’s top economists. Dr Walter Boettcher, UK chief economist at global commercial property services company Colliers International, said that while many investors viewed...
