Up to 100 businesses in Bristol city centre – including high-profile bars and restaurants – are at risk of closure unless the government raises the threshold on one of its schemes to ease the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new campaign. Called #RaiseTheBar, the national...
The Bank of England’s role is to maintain UK monetary and financial stability by keeping inflation sustainably low and ensuring that the financial system can serve the people of the UK in bad times as well as good. To achieve these aims through the Covid-19 crisis we have put...
Bristol-based corporate finance boutique firm ICON has strengthened its team with two appointments. Thibault Dujardin, pictured right, becomes an analyst after successfully completing his internship. He previously gained experience working in mergers & acquisitions (M&A) and private equity in Belgium and as a corporate finance intern in San Francisco....
One of the government’s boldest and most effective interventions during the coronavirus has been the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (or furlough scheme). It is also, undoubtedly, one of the most important for businesses. Many businesses have suffered a massive shock to income, and furloughing has offered an ability to...
For the time being, many businesses are firefighting – deciding who to furlough, chasing debtors and shoring up cashflow by raising short-term funds. However, there will be a point at which business starts tentatively to adjust to a new normal. At that point, it may be worth reflecting how your...
Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s decision to extend the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to October will be a “huge relief” to firms in the West of England, according to the region’s largest business group. Business West, which runs Bristol Chamber of Commerce, said its research showed the scheme, launched by...
Michelle McGurl, a partner in the Bristol office of international law firm Osborne Clarke, has been appointed as the new head of its projects, real estate and finance (PREF) practice group. Michelle, pictured, has worked at Osborne Clarke for 13 years, having joined in 2007. She was promoted to...
Strong trade links with the US could help the West of England’s small firms recover from the impact of coronavirus, the region’s leading business group has suggested. Business West, which runs Bristol Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the start of formal post-Brexit talks between the UK and US on a...
Regional law firm Thrings, which has an office in Bristol, has strengthened its private wealth team by appointing Kathryn Bew and Jermaine Smith as senior associate and associate respectively. A specialist in family law, Kathryn, pictured right, has more than 26 years’ experience of advising UK-based and international clients...
The devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on businesses in the West of England has been highlighted again in the results of two more surveys this week – with one showing two-thirds of firms suffered a fall in orders while the second reveals productivity is down at 80% of...
Fast-growing Bristol search engine optimisation (SEO) firms upUgo and GoRank are poised to enter new markets, including opening a joint office in the US, after receiving £500,000 from an angel investor. Both businesses, which have a combined value of £10m following the deal, are supporting clients moving to online...
International law firm Osborne Clarke has made three promotions in its Bristol office made up of the appointments of two new partners and one legal director. The promotions are among six appointments at the firm which, when taken as a whole, strengthen its corporate team – with a focus...
Bristol-based professional advisors have overcome the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the South West’s food sector by helping a long-established, family-run foodservice firm sell parts of its business. The corporate team at accountants Mazars and a cross-sector legal team from law firm Thrings acted for Somerset-based L&F Jones...
