Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled an emergency £330bn package to support businesses during the coronavirus crisis. Mr Sunak, pictured, said the move was equivalent to 15% of the UK’s GDP and added that if demand was greater than the initial £330bn he would go further and provide as much capacity as required. Measures include:...
Bath-headquartered specialist media group Future has postponed two public events as the coronavirus outbreak continues hit businesses across the city – but it said overall the impact on its day-to-day financial performance had been limited. The group has due to stage The Photography Show and The Homebuilding & Renovating Show at the NEC in...
Public transport in Bath could come under the control of a new regionally-led Transport for London-style body with far stronger powers to coordinate services and hold operators to account. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a £4.2bn boost for regional transport services in this week’s Budget – with the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) promised...
The battle of the bats returns to the West of England in May when the region’s third Ping Pong Fight Club takes place – and Bath businesses are being urged to sign up to enter teams for the unique, all-action event. This year the popular table-top challenge moves to the larger venue of Walkabout...
The corporate team at Bath-headquartered law firm Royds Withy King has provided equity investment support to the local entrepreneurs behind a new kitchen, food market and lifestyle store due to open this summer. Called Teals, the venture on the busy A303 at North Cadbury in Somerset aims to connect local communities to local producers....
Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s spending commitments on major infrastructure projects received the thumbs up from the region’s industry – but the fact that the West of England was again overlooked in favour of the ‘powerhouses’ of the North and Midlands did not go unnoticed. Tim Davis, head of property agents Cushman & Wakefield’s South West...
Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, has welcomed Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s response to the coronavirus crisis in his Budget – but warned that its commitment to funding big-scale ‘levelling-up’ infrastructure projects through borrowing could unravel if the economy goes into recession. Managing director Phil Smith, pictured, said a strong statement of intent from...
The CBI described Rishi Sunak’s first Budget as “bold” in combining the much-needed immediate response to the coronavirus crisis with longer-term measures to boost the economy. Director-general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, pictured, said the Chancellor had worked against the clock in deeply challenging times to deliver two Budgets in one – the first for national...
Key points from the 2020 Budget so far . . . Growth forecasts updated to 1.4% for 2020 and 1.6% for 2021 Planned rise in alcohol duties cancelled Fuel duty frozen Government to abolish business rates for small shops this year levy on electricity frozen and increased on gas Tax on plastic packaging to...
Key points from Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s first Budget . . . Chancellor started speaking at 12:35pm He says public services are well prepared to tackle coronavirus There is likely to be a "significant" impact on the UK economy but it will return to normal There will be a funding "bridge" for business to help...
