The first major event staged by the Western Gateway economic partnership takes place next month to bring together key figures from business, academia and local and national government on both sides of the Severn to explore the potential of the cross–border powerhouse. Called Green Growth within the Western Gateway, the day-long conference will discuss ways businesses,...
Harbourside, the South West’s newest corporate finance boutique, has completed its first significant deal – helping a specialist UK roof tile firm on its sale to a major Belgian supplier. Harbourside was spun out of regional accountancy firm Milsted Langdon, which has offices in Bath and Bristol, last November. Its team was brought in by...
Investments by the South West team of growth finance group BGF passed the £100m mark for the first time last year as it continued its strong run of funding ambitious businesses. The team injected £115m of equity into firms in 2021 – a 72% increase on 2020’s total and more than three times that...
The South West office of LDC, the UK’s leading mid-market private equity firm, is to increase its support to businesses this year after completing transactions with a combined value of more than £280m in 2021. LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, said it is aiming to invest in at least 100...
More than three-quarters of manufacturing firms across the West of England have been affected by delays or other disruption when importing supplies or goods, according to the latest economic survey by the regions largest business group. Two-thirds of all importers have also been affected, triggering a fear among many firms that their prospects will...
With the ongoing impact of the pandemic, climate change and Brexit, 2022 will be another tough year for many Swindon businesses. Phil Smith, managing director of Business West – the organisation behind the Swindon & Wiltshire Initiative – looks at the needs and challenges for this year? What do Swindon businesses need from the government as...
Leading lights in Swindon’s higher education, innovation and research communities are being invited to apply for posts representing the sectors on the board of the Western Gateway as it starts to ramp up its work. The gateway is the cross-border economic partnership on either side of the River Severn stretching from Swindon to Swansea. The...
Swindon firms thinking of exporting or taking their international expansion to the next level can sign up to a week of special events hosted by experts. The Department for International Trade (DIT) will stage the first International Trade Week next week, with events – most of them virtual – including business and sector-led activities,...
Two-thirds of small firms in the South West have no active plan to reduce their impact on the environment, according to a new survey, with many arguing they should receive tax breaks, grants or low interest loans to help them go green. The report by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) – issued to...
An insolvency expert has urged Swindon’s directors to seek advice at the first signs of business distress following the release of statistics showing corporate failures have risen by more than 40% over the past year. Philip Winterborne, South West chair of trade body R3, made the plea after third quarter figures from the Insolvency...
