The Bank of England today cut interest rates from 0.5% to 0.25% – their lowest ever level in the UK – and warned that unemployment will rise by a quarter of a million as Brexit hits the economy. Bank governor Mark Carney described Brexit as “a very large identifiable...
Bristol fashion designer Jennifer Hamley has secured the financial backing she needs to launch her award-winning luxury workbag range on the market. Jennifer set up her business Jennifer Hamley, England while jobless and on a scheme that helps the unemployed set up their own business. Now a little more...
The £1bn devolution deal and the West of England combined authority formed by it would increase control and resources for business including: Integrated and locally relevant inward investment and trade services, led by Invest in Bristol & Bath Support for developing the West of England Growth Hub Increased support...
Bristol businesses are being urged to give their views on the West of England devolution proposal, which would bring extra powers to the area along with additional funding worth up to £1bn. Business organisations in the region, including the Institute of Directors (IoD), CBI, FSB and Business West have...
Bristol’s innovation hub Engine Shed is staging the third in its finance series with an expert panel session assessing the state of maturity of crowdfunding. There has been significant growth in crowdfunding over the last few years – with many of the pioneers coming from the innovation-rich Bristol area and across...
West of England accountancy firm Bishop Fleming, which has a large office in Bristol, has been named as one of only a handful of accountants in the region registered to work with ATOL-covered travel businesses. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recently toughened up its rules relating to financial reporting...
The Institute of Directors South West regional chairman Nick Sturge has been appointed to the organisation’s national council as it seeks to ensure that a range of voices from across business are heard as Brexit unfolds. Nick Sturge, pictured, the co-founder and director of Bristol’s Engine Shed innovation hub,...
Accountancy, investment management and tax group Smith & Williamson has made three senior promotions in its Bristol office. Faye Hall has been made a director while Helen Bassett and Jane Grimsted have been promoted to associate director. Faye Hall heads Smith & Williamson’s forensic services team in Bristol and...
A group of Bristol start-ups have been awarded a total of £30,000 to propel their business growth and take them to the next level. The Entrepreneuring Awards were presented to ‘chiclets’ (entrepreneurs) in Bristol’s Entrepreneurial Spark business accelerator – or ‘hatchery’. They received between £1,000 and £10,000 in the...
Bristol’s growing reputation as a centre for financial technology (fintech) has attracted a major industry event to the city. Bristol FinTech 2016 will take place in November and will be hosted by national law firm Clarke Willmott’s office in the city. The firm announced the event today with partner Cheshire...
Bristol and the West of England are being promoted as a financial services hotspot capable of attracting major international investment while also playing a lead role in the UK’s emerging financial technology (fintech) industry. The area is being showcased as one of nine UK ‘financial centres of excellence’ by...
Merger and acquisition activity in the South West climbed by 4.3% in the first half of this year as the economy continued to recover and cash-rich businesses hit the takeover trail. However, the total value of 267 deals was down 15% at £3.08bn against the same period in 2015....
Three bosses of Bristol area firms have been selected to compete at national level in the coveted Institute of Directors (IoD) 2016 Director of the Year Awards. The three – Mark Crutchley of Circadian Trust, James Piper from Ecosurety and Almeda Facilities’ Brady George – were winners in last month’s regional...
