Fewer than one in six West of England firms believe they will be able to cope if the coronavirus crisis lasts for more than six months, according to the results of the first major survey highlighting the impact of the pandemic on the region’s businesses. More than 70% of...
A taskforce bringing together businesses, universities and the West of England’s local authorities is being set up to ensure the region’s economy recovers as quickly as possible from the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The new group will also represent the region in discussions with central government to make...
The government’s £1.25bn funding package to support innovative start-ups and research-intensive firms impacted by the coronavirus pandemic has been welcomed by business and civic leaders in the West of England. The measures include a Future Fund – a new £500m loan scheme for high-growth firms – and £750m of...
More than 2,900 businesses in Bristol have received urgent support grants from the city council totalling nearly £40m to help them stave off the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The council has received around £88m from central government to pay small business grants. However only 35% of an estimated...
A Bristol business developing a reusable manufacturing satellite that will enable materials to be developed in space has secured £250,000 in funding from a group of established city-based entrepreneurs. The finance will enable Space Forge, which started in a garage in Bradley Stoke, to expand into laboratories in Bristol...
More than 40,000 businesses have sought advice and guidance on how they can survive the coronavirus pandemic from a special service set up by Business West, the organisation behind Bristol Chamber of Commerce. Trading Through Coronavirus, which went live exactly a month ago, provides expert information and guidance to...
Small charities in Bristol have received much-needed finance from an emergency fund set up by region’s community foundation to help them cope with spiralling demand as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Quartet Community Foundation, which covers Bristol, South Gloucestershire and across the West of England, has distributed more...
A career and coaching scheme set up to boost the skills of workers in Bristol has been expanded to help people whose jobs and income have been affected by coronavirus. Future Bright was set up two years ago by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to improve the...
Nearly nine out of 10 South West manufacturers expect the coronavirus pandemic to hit their sales over the next six months, with half saying they will need to axe staff to stay in business. And despite action by the government to support businesses during the crisis, three-quarters of manufacturers...
The entrepreneur behind two of Bristol’s most successful invoice finance firms is claiming the government’s newly-amended package of business support will still not be enough to save many small firms. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced changes to the measures yesterday amid widespread criticism that they were not assisting enough businesses...
Bristol firms with staff working from home as a result of the coronavirus outbreak are being urged to help them ‘donate their commute’ to city centre hospitals charity Above & Beyond. They can set up a virtual collection tin via the JustGiving app for their team to give the...
Louise Somerset, partner and head of private client tax services at Smith & Williamson in Bristol, explains the government’s self-employed income support scheme. The Chancellor has announced an income support scheme to help the self-employed through the current financial crisis, designed to be on a par with support for...
Three-quarters of South West firms were hit by the coronavirus pandemic in the first two weeks of March, according to a new survey which also shows the outbreak has triggered a marked fall in businesses confidence in the region. Lloyds Bank’s Business Barometer – a monthly survey of more...
