Big Four accountancy firm EY has appointed Karen Kirkwood as a partner to lead its Bristol tax practice as it continues to expand the team in the region. Karen, pictured, has 20 years’ experience providing tax advice to a broad range of companies and private equity backed businesses. She...
Specialist restructuring firm Quantuma has expanded into the South West by opening an office in Bristol headed by former BDO practice head Graham Randall. The firm, which operates from bases in Southampton, Marlow, London and Brighton, provides specialised restructuring advice on all forms of insolvency procedures. Until recently Mr...
The former managing director of Bristol-based chocolate manufacturer Elizabeth Shaw has been appointed by alternative finance provider South West Investment Group (SWIG) Capital as a non-executive director to the board of its fund-holding arm. Malachy McReynolds, pictured, join the group, which since 1996 has invested £15m in to more...
Businesses are increasingly falling victim to fraud – most of it committed by their own employees, new figures show. The number of cases in the South West soared by 136% last year to 33, from 14 in 2013, according to accountants KPMG’s latest Fraud Barometer. Thirteen firms in the...
Confidence among West of England businesses petered out at the end of 2014 and has started the new year lower than at any time over the previous 12 months, new research shows. Domestic sales, cashflow and recruitment expectations all fell during the fourth quarter, according to results of the...
Bristol’s standing as a centre for innovation in financial services has been boosted with the decision by fast-growing Blue Speck Financial to relocate to a larger base in the city and nearly double its workforce. The company, acquired last May by South African financial services giant MMI, is to...
Phil Smith, managing director of Business West, the organisation behind Bristol Chamber of Commerce and the Bristol Initiative, looks back at the past 12 months and considers why next year’s General Election is set to be one of the most important in recent memory. “The noise and glare of...
Children at the NSPCC’s Bristol service have been receiving special Christmas treats this year, thanks to the generosity of Santander and a representatives from a number of Bristol businesses. Santander staff from across its Thames Valley and South West region organised a Santander Treat campaign, raising money throughout the...
The Bristol office of accountancy and investment management group Smith & Williamson has completed two private equity deals in one week, signalling a resurgence of interest from both businesses and investors. The firm’s Bristol tax, advisory and corporate finance teams worked closely with Bristol-based specialised advanced engineering firm Stirling...
Confidence among law firms in Bristol and the South West is at its highest since 2006, according to new research, with a third planning to open new offices next year. However, most also say that competition has got tougher with cashflow management a particular challenge. The snapshot of a...
Solicitors in Bristol are being urged by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to bring their tax affairs up to date or face tougher penalties. A new UK-wide tax scheme, the Solicitors’ Tax Campaign, is the latest voluntary disclosure opportunity from HMRC that gives specific groups of taxpayers the chance...
Bristol’s innovation hub Engine Shed has celebrated its first year by revealing that it has created 128 jobs and contributed £8m to the West of England’s economy. The building, a unique collaboration between the University of Bristol, Bristol City Council and the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP),...
Accountancy firm Grant Thornton has appointed Adina Watt as business development manager for the South West. Adina, pictured, moves to the region from the North West where she was the firm’s business development manager in its Manchester and Liverpool offices. Prior to joining Grant Thornton she held the same...
