Facilities management firm Almeda has officially opened its first client restaurant as it seeks to reinvigorate the traditional staff canteen at businesses across the region. The launch of the restaurant at Hanson UK’s shared service and IT centre in Chipping Sodbury, was the culmination of months of hard work...
Volunteers are being sought from Bristol businesses to support schools careers and enterprise strategies across the West of England. The West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is taking part in the first wave of a new government-led national programme to unlock the potential of young people aged between...
Estate agency and property group Andrews has paid out a record £633,000 in dividends to the three charitable trusts that own it. The trusts will use the payments to fund a range of community projects, with a number aimed at young people. The Keynsham-based group, which has branches stretching...
More than 20% of West of England firms still have no plans in place for the auto enrolment of staff in workplace pension schemes, according to new research. This is despite the risk of being fined if they fail to provide a scheme. The latest position was revealed by...
The Bristol office of accountancy, investment management and tax group Smith & Williamson got into the swing of last weekend’s Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival by hosting its launch party for VIPs and musicians. The party, held at the festival’s main Colston Hall venue, was attended by around...
Bristol’s go-ahead firms are being encouraged to follow in the tracks of Aztec West-based skateboard distributor Shiner and show the benefits of creating a great workplace culture. Shiner collected the top prize in last year’s inaugural Happiest Workplace competition, attributing its success to being “laid back with no egos”....
Bristol guest houses, cafes, printers and retailers were among the winners at this year’s South West Fairtrade Business Awards. Minuteman Press Bristol won the Best Fairtrade Office category, UWE’s Full of Beans cafe walked away with the title of Best Fairtrade Cafe or Restaurant and Sophie Luxton from Computershare...
Label producer Bristol Labels is on track to achieve double-digit year-on-year growth after increasing productivity by installing more efficient machinery. Supported by a working capital facility from RBS Invoice Finance, the company is on track to secure a 15% increase in turnover for the year ending March 2016, up...
Accountancy firm BDO has appointed Daniel Bond as a new transaction services director in its Bristol-based corporate finance team to focus on advising businesses in the South West. Daniel, pictured, has relocated from BDO’s Southampton office, where he spent 10 years working on a variety of private equity, corporate,...
More than twice as many West businesses want the UK to stay in the EU as leave, according to the hotly anticipated results of a major regional survey. Some 57% of business people said they will vote to remain part of the EU, compared to 26% who say they...
The long-awaited devolution deal giving the West of England a £1bn boost for investment in infrastructure and skills has been announced by Chancellor George Osborne. The move would represent a major change, transferring decisions on transport, investment, funding, skills training, business support, housing and strategic planning from Westminster. But...
The Budget heralded a mix of changes for businesses: some good news for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) but restrictions for larger businesses. Mike Lea, managing partner at the Bristol office of Smith & Williamson, the accountancy, investment management and tax group, looks at the key changes: More...
National business leaders welcomed a number of moves in this afternoon’s Budget, particularly those aimed at helping small firms. But there was concern over how the Chancellor will meet his deficit reduction target. The CBI called it a “stable Budget” for business facing global stormy waters. Director-general Carolyn Fairbairn...
