Award-winning Bristol caterer, delicatessen and cookery school Papadeli has re-opened its doors with the support of a government-backed Bounce Back Loan secured from Barclays. The £50,000 loan will support the firm’s 14 staff, who have been furloughed during the lockdown and cover day-to-day costs as well as enable the...
Bristol-based technology-focused investment bank ICON Corporate Finance has opened an office in San Francisco to capitalise on merger & acquisition and investment opportunities between the UK and US. ICON acts exclusively for innovative tech companies across the globe, securing funding and realising maximum value when they come to sell. ...
Tributes have been paid to entrepreneur Richard Pepler, the founder of three Bristol-based asset finance firms, who died earlier this month. Richard, pictured, was well-known and respected in the financial services sector having set up Bibby Factors, Ultimate Finance and, latterly, Optimum Finance. Born in Newent, Gloucestershire, in 1960...
Unemployment has soared by 145% in the West of England since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to figures published today, with just nearly 40,000 people claiming jobless benefits. At the same time, around 22% of the region’s workforce – 132,600 people – have been furloughed while job...
Managed IT services firm Bristol IT Company has merged with a Wiltshire-based tech business as both benefit from increased demand linked to home working during the lockdown. Bristol IT Company provides IT services such as IT support, cybersecurity and connectivity to the private small and medium-sized business market with...
More support must be given to protect Bristol’s retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, the city centre Business Improvement District (BID) has said amid a growing threat to jobs in these sectors. The BID fears the government’s furlough scheme is concealing the true picture of unemployment while many city centre...
Bristol’s We The Curious has joined more than 40 other science centres across the UK to call for emergency help from the government as they fight for survival during the lockdown. The Science Centres For Our Future campaign is being supported by some of the UK’s leading science advocates...
Key current themes in pensions were explored in a question-and-answer webinar with an executive director of The Pensions Regulator hosted by Bristol-headquartered national law firm Burges Salmon. David Fairs, who leads on regulatory policy, analysis and advice at The Pensions Regulator (TPR), was joined by Burges Salmon partners Richard...
Broadband provider Glide, which specialises in getting student accommodation and house sharers online, has been acquired by a US infrastructure investor. Clevedon-based Glide designs, installs and manages fibre networks required for broadband connectivity together with other critical products and services. Its sale to Alinda Capital follows a six-year period...
Small and medium-sized businesses investing in digital innovation to address challenges arising from Covid-19 can access grants of between £10,000 and £40,000 under a new scheme started by UWE Bristol. The university’s £1m Digital Innovation Fund is aimed at helping firms ranging from start-ups and micro businesses to more...
Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, has joined bodies representing business, education and employment in urging the government to rethink its controversial quarantine rules for travellers arriving in the UK. In an open letter to the home, foreign and transport secretaries, Business West, UK Hospitality, Universities UK and...
South West accountancy group PKF Francis Clark has made two senior appointments as it continues to grow its Bristol office. Audit partner Paul Putnam and corporate tax senior manager Rob Meredith have joined the office, which PKF opened last year to fill what it saw as a gap in...
A new support programme has been set up to help Bristol firms whose employees’ mental health and wellbeing have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) is investing £100,000 to develop Thrive West, which aims to address some of the key mental health...
