Bristol Energy Cooperative has signed agreements that add funding of £3.95m for its community energy projects – taking the total raised since its November launch to £9m. The new funding – from Bristol-based ethical bank Triodos, Bristol City Council and Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC) – is being used to add...
The Bristol Food Card – a scheme to incentivise shoppers to support local, independent retailers – has been launched ahead the city’s pioneering Food Connections festival. The project is a unique collaboration of more than 90 food and drink business from across the city – all offering promotions to card...
Unemployment has continued to fall in the South West, bucking the national trend and pointing to a brighter outlook for the region’s businesses. But Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, warned the national rise signalled a slowing economy and could impact on firms in the Bristol area if...
Blue Badge Company, the innovative Bristol firm that designs and makes a range of stylish living aids, is in the running for one the UK’s most prestigious and respected awards championing responsible business. The firm has been shortlisted for the Employment for Excluded Groups category in the regional Responsible...
Bristol’s tech and creative sectors today called on the city’s next elected mayor to help build its global profile as a hotbed of innovation. Bristol Media and TechSPARK, the region’s digital tech network, launched the city’s first tech manifesto to ensure the importance of the sectors are recognised in...
South West law firm Ashfords has appointed UK and European patent attorney Kaya Elkiner as its new head of patents to mark the start of its international patenting service aimed at companies developing new technology. Kaya, pictured, joins from London patent lawyers Keltie. The launch of the new patenting...
The region’s four largest business groups and some of its biggest companies have called on local councils to give the go-ahead to plans to win devolved powers and funding from central government. Business West, the CBI, IoD and the FSB – along with the bosses of some of the...
One of the West of England’s most influential business and academic leaders, UWE vice-chancellor Professor Steve West, has said it is “critically important” the UK stays in the EU. In an emphatic backing of the ‘remain’ campaign, Prof West said being in the European Union was vital not just...
Engineering consultancy Grontmij, which has an office in Bristol, has this week rebranded as Sweco, marking the completion of its acquisition by Europe’s leading architecture and engineering consultancy. Dutch firm Grontmij was bought last October by Swedish firm Sweco. The enlarged Stockholm-based group has 14,500 employees, sales of approximately...
Free guidance sessions for small firms on the latest pensions minefield are being staged in Bristol next week by a national pensions group. All small business owners have been required to enrol their employees into a pension scheme by law since the start of this year – but many...
A Bristol-based tech start-up is calling on the city’s businesses to lead the world in ending modern slavery. Semantrica was launched as a social enterprise today by Bristol tech entrepreneur Jaya Chakrabarti MBE, pictured, and award-winning city charity Unseen, which has become a leading campaign group against human trafficking....
Long-forgotten stories of Bristol music venue St George’s will be retold as part of an ambitious project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The funding announcement comes as the Grade II* listed Georgian building celebrates its 40th anniversary year as a world-class performance venue and calls on Bristol...
Support for Brexit has increased markedly among South West business leaders over the past year, according to a new survey, leaving the region’s bosses sharply divided on the vital issue of EU membership. The business poll, conducted by growth capital firm BGF (Business Growth Fund), shows 52% of the...
