Measures included in the King’s Speech aimed at boosting housebuilding and devolving more powers from Whitehall to the regions have been widely welcomed by key business figures. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill – one of the 40 included in the speech that will shape the first year of the...
The West of England’s economy is forecast to grow faster over the next five years than any other part of the UK outside London, according to two new reports. The region, along with South Wales, will achieve economic expansion of 1.4% a year between now and 2029, according to...
International sustainable development and engineering consultancy Arup has relocated its Bristol office into flexible space in one of the city’s greenest new buildings. The firm, which has had a presence in Bristol for around 50 years, has taken the 27,000 sq ft second floor of the state-of-the-art EQ building...
Bristol-based specialist semiconductor maker Graphcore, the city’s first tech ‘unicorn’, is poised to take on the global giants of the industry after being acquired by Japanese investment group SoftBank. Graphcore, which launched in Bristol in 2016, said its head office would remain in the city and become a launchpad...
Bristol’s top tech talent has again won big at the West of England’s most prestigious awards scheme for the sector. Firms and individuals from the city triumphed in 12 of the 17 categories of The SPARKies, the annual awards that champion the best of the region’s tech and digital...
The new government’s pledge to devolve more powers from Whitehall to the West of England offers “a really exciting opportunity” for the region, according to the organisation behind Bristol Chamber of Commerce. Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, said the move could trigger more jobs, homes and infrastructure...
More than 6,000 jobs were created in Bristol and across the South West last year as investment by overseas firms in the region recovered to its strongest for six years. The South West attracted 43 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects in 2023 – a 23% increase on the previous...
An historic pub managed by Bristol craft brewery Butcombe has been named as the best in the UK in a major industry awards scheme. The George Inn at the village of Norton St Philip, near Bath, landed the prestigious Pub of the Year title at the National Pub & Bar...
Stage Electrics, the Bristol-based entertainment technology products and services provider, has strengthened its senior management team with two new appointments. The firm has grown into the UK’s leading specialist stage lighting & performance equipment supplier for theatre, live events and broadcast since its launch in 1979. Operating from and...
TouchWood Play, the Bristol firm behind ‘purposeful playgrounds’, has created a nature-inspired kids’ immersive experience at an historic UK zoo. Called The Hangout, the playground at Paignton Zoo caters to a wide age range – from toddlers to older children, including families with special educational needs (SEN). The space...
Bristol-based specialist PR agency Meeting Place has updated its senior structure to capitalise on growth opportunities. The move follows on from an increase in staffing from 29 in 2021 to 48, with its annual turnover doubling over the same period. Established in 2006, the agency works with clients across the...
Irish premium chocolate brand Lily O’Brien’s has appointed Bristol-based specialist consultancy Anything But Grey to handle its UK PR to bring its campaign ‘For the ones you really know’ to life. Anything But Grey was launched in December 2022 to help brands engage with an over-50s, Generation X audience. It is...
Bristol’s status as a hotbed for innovation could be strengthened if the new Labour government sticks to commitments over support for research and development made ahead of the General Election, according to a city-based accountant. Sam Wood, pictured, a tax specialist at Albert Goodman, said Labour had pledged to...
