The funding holding arm of regional alternative finance lender South West Investment Group (SWIG) has appointed Malachy McReynolds as its new chairman. Malachy, pictured, who spent 12 years as managing director of Bristol-based chocolate manufacturer Elizabeth Shaw, joined the SWIG board in January. He takes over as chairman from...
Opposable Games, the Bristol-based computer games developer and organiser of the UK’s largest virtual reality (VR) conference, has launched a new company focused on this growing area of technology. Based in the Bristol Games Hub in Stokes Croft, Opposable Games have been developing VR experiences into its own games...
Bristol’s status as a laboratory for green ideas will be strengthened when it hosts three sustainable conferences in the space of a week. The 52nd International Making Cities Liveable (IMCL) conference (June 29 – July 3), the National Sustainable Schools conference (July 2) and the 9th International Fair Trade...
More than 80% of West of England firms fear leaving the EU would pose a risk to the UK economy, according to results of a survey among nearly 1,000 businesses in the region. Two thirds also believe it would be bad for their own business. The survey by Business...
Sky 1 comedy Trollied has returned to Bristol’s Bottle Yard Studios for its fifth series – with the show’s production head describing it as a “great place to shoot”. The show, produced by Roughcut TV, has been made at The Bottle Yard in Hengrove since it launched on TV...
The founder of international microfinance charity Deki, the CEO of Opus Recruitment Services and the boss of family-owned Jeff Way Electrical Services were among the Bristol winners at this year’s coveted South West Director of the Year Awards. Deki director Vashti Seth secured the South West Third Sector Director...
By Barbara Davies, chief executive, West of England Local Enterprise Partnership. Our newly refreshed LEP board met for the first time on June 17. There are some new faces following the local elections and a business-led selection process. Great news that Colin Skellett has been reappointed as chair of...
A new series of online maps celebrating Bristol’s rich movie heritage have been launched to help tourists and residents explore the city’s famous film and TV locations. From Only Fools and Horses’ Nelson Mandela House to key Casualty and Skins filming hotspots, and taking in Clifton Suspension Bridge –...
Accountancy and investment management group Smith & Williamson has launched a free tax calculator to enable businesses to work out how much tax they could be saving on their research and development (R&D) costs. The online tool has been set up in the light of research suggesting that thousands...
Bristol’s economy will get a £12m boost this year from its biggest-ever Harbour Festival, organisers said this week as they unveiled more details of the ever-popular event. The festival, which takes place from July 17 to 19, is forecast to attract more than 250,000 visitors to the city –...
Bristol’s vibrant music scene and major festivals on its doorstep such as Glastonbury add nearly £300m a year to the regional economy, a major new report out today shows. The study by industry body UK Music shows more than 772,000 visitors came to the South West last year specifically...
Bounders cider, which is made just outside Bristol, has won an international award as it prepares to go on sale to thirsty music lovers at festivals this summer for the first time. Medium-dry Bounders, which is produced by Bath Ales entirely from Somerset apples, secured a bronze medal at the...
The chief executive of Bristol-based alternative transport group Sustrans, Malcolm Shepherd, has been awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. The accolade is in recognition of his contribution towards protecting the environment and improving people’s health. Sustrans’ vision is that by 2020 four out of five local...
