Inflation remains a concern for West businesses despite November’s small decrease, according to the region’s largest business organisation. The annual rate of inflation dropped from 2.2% to 2.1% last month as falls in the cost of food, gas and electricity prices took effect. But Phil Smith, pictured, managing director...
Shares in Bristol specialist insurance broker Brightside Group fell earlier this week following a statement in which it admitted its earnings would be around a fifth lower this year. The group said it had been hit by further capacity restrictions in the final quarter of its financial year. As...
Business confidence is running at its highest level for more than three years as the recovery gathers pace and firms put austerity behind them at last. Manufacturers in particular are upbeat about their prospects going into the new year, according to the latest Business Trends report by accountants BDO....
Ideas on the best way to create sustainable jobs and growth across the West of England are being invited from Bristol firms. The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) today launches a six-week public consultation on its Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) – a blueprint for growth over the next six years....
Property insurance group ACE has appointed Ian McFadyean as business development manager for the South West and Wales as it continues to invest in its UK regional offices. In the newly-created role, Ian, pictured, will be responsible for developing new and existing business across the region as well as managing...
Asset finance provider Lombard has appointed Paul Jenkins as business development manager for its South West and South Wales regions. Paul, pictured, who will be based in Bristol and report to director of asset finance David Connolly, will draw on his extensive experience in the vehicle rental sector to...
West cheese maker Alvis Brothers is increasing production by nearly a third after receiving a seven figure finance package from HSBC. The funding will support further growth at the Redhill, North Somerset firm, including expansion of its milking and packing facilities to meet growing demand in the UK and around...
Investors are keen to get involved with Bristol’s ambitious media and creative businesses, a high-profile panel discussion led by some of the city’s best-known names in the industry has heard. The event, staged by the Bristol office of accountancy and investment management group Smith & Williamson, attracted film-makers, animators,...
Efforts to get more South West firms to export are being stepped up after new figures showed the first fall in overseas sales from the region for more than a year. Exports by value dropped by 3.3% in the third quarter to £3.32bn, sparked by a fall-off in h...
The property industry expressed concern over plans to charge capital gains tax on foreign residential investors from April 2015, but has welcomed the Chancellor’s decision to at least consult on the proposals before their introduction. The British Property Federation (BPF) had warned the Treasury that the tax hike would...
The Chancellor confirmed in his Autumn Statement that the State pension age will rise to 68 in the mid-2030s and 69 in the late 2040s. Mark Packham, head of pensions for accountants PwC in Bristol, said: “Linking the State pension age to life expectancy means we could easily see...
An ambitious plan is being drawn up to harness Bristol and the West of England’s creativity and innovation to potentially create more than 100,000 jobs over the next 17 years. The emphasis will be on five key sectors spanning digital to aerospace, and in which the area is already...
By day Bristol-based accountant Steve Ashworth dishes out advice to firms on employment tax. But in his spare time he swaps his suit for an apron and his laptop for a ladle as a budding chef. Now his culinary hard work has paid off and he has scooped first...
