Ascent Scientific, a specialist provider of biochemical reagents which has a production and analytical facility in Bristol, has been acquired by fast-growing firm Abcam for £10m. The deal comprises an initial cash payment of £6m and £4m in Abcam shares which will be issued at 345.58 pence per share....
MITIE, the Bristol-based outsourcing and energy specialist, has been appointed by Essex County Council as preferred partner on a contract that will save the authority an estimated £3.1m a year. Details of the contract which is described as ‘transformational’ are being finalised and will be signed in the coming...
Business confidence among UK firms has slumped to a 26-month low, triggering fears that the economy will go into reverse over the next three months. The gloomy outlook comes from the latest Business Trends report by accountants and business advisors BDO, and reinforces a spate of downbeat surveys over...
The Crown Estate has sold a third of its Cabot Park site at Avonmouth to AXA Real Estate for £10.5m. The deal was sealed on behalf of Midland property specialist Gallan and Stoford which is developing a major regional distribution centre on the 33-acre site. Gallan and Stoford had...
Bristol's position as a leader in robotic innovation will be enhanced next year when it hosts the six-day FIRA RoboWorld Cup – the first time the event has been held in the UK. The cup involves robots playing football and basketball, climbing or running a marathon – but it...
Oil exploration veteran David Bramhill has succeeded again with Wessex Exploration, his Bristol-based company which floated on AIM earlier this year. Its shares were up more than 25% this morning following an announcement from Tullow Oil that the Zaedyus exploration well – in which Wessex has a share –...
Accountants and business advisers Grant Thornton have made two top-level appointments as the firm embarks on a new phase of growth in the South West. Simon Moore, one of the region's leading bankers, joins as a senior consultant from Barclays Corporate, where he was chairman and managing director in...
From Bristol 24-7 www.bristol247.com A £25m waste plant in Avonmouth has been officially opened by Olympic gold medal-winning rower Sir Steve Redgrave. The mechanical biological treatment plant began operating in April and is one of two giant recycling centres in Avonmouth aimed at reducing the amount of waste going...
Firms seeking business opportunities in China can gain first-hand advice from experts in international trade at a conference later this month. Speakers from UKTI, China-Britain Business Council, Institute of Exports, Bristol China Partnership and University of the West of England will look at ways to expand into the world’s...
The first of the three Bristol-made iFeatures films to reach completion, In the Dark Half, is to have its world premiere at the Raindance Film Festival in London on October 3. The ghost story, starring Tony Curran, Lyndsey Marshal and Jessica Barden, is set in Bristol’s southern suburbs and...
Top 100 law firm TLT – which has offices in Bristol and London – has offered roles to almost 90% of its trainee solicitors qualifying this month. Being retained by the firm after completing their two-year training contracts are Duncan Coats, Kate Langton, Fiona Leitch, Alex Mills, Alex Murdie,...
Friska, the Bristol-based healthy fast-food restaurant, has been chosen as the caterer for the first phase of SPark, the Bristol and Bath Science Park under construction at Emersons Green. The firm, which specialises in healthy, tasty, locally-sourced food, will open in the 11,000 sq ft Forum building later this month....
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has again pegged interest rates at 0.5% – maintaining them at the same historic low rate since March 2009. Some economists predict the Bank may be forced to keep rates at this level until 2013 to avoid derailing any recovery in...
