Bristol’s ambitions to attract more inward investment and boost exports were highlighted this week with the visit of trade and investment minister Lord Francis Maude. Lord Maude met a cross section of small and medium-sized firms and recent investors in the city along with representatives from aerospace giant Rolls-Royce,...
Neighbourly, the innovative Bristol-based internet platform that connects community projects with companies wishing to make a difference, has raised more than £1m from angel investors. The funds – its third round of investment – will be used to grow the firm’s engineering team and accelerate its development and international...
Bristol car dealership Wessex Garages has become the official vehicle sponsor for Bristol Green Capital 2015 and has supplied five zero-emission electric Nissan Leafs to transport staff and visitors around the city. Bristol is gaining a high international profile during its year as European Green Capital and Bristol 2015...
Bristol law firms Thrings, Burges Salmon and CMS Cameron McKenna have advised on the sale of a solar farm that will be one of the UK’s largest when it starts generating power next year. The 165-acre Wroughton Airfield Solar Park, on a former Second World War RAF air base...
Royal West of England Academy (RWA), Bristol’s original public gallery and regional centre of arts excellence, is invigorating its offer to businesses that are seeking to promote their brand and services, or are looking for a distinctive venue for hosting corporate events. “Great art continuously inspires. Great business leaders...
The three Bristol bosses who last month won prestigious regional Institute of Directors (IoD) Awards are in the running for national IoD accolades. Vashti Seth, pictured, the founder of international microfinance charity Deki, (Third Sector Director), Opus Recruitment CEO Darren Ryemill (Young Director), and Neil Way, managing director of...
The tables were turned on a team of solicitors from the Bristol base of commercial law firm Thrings last week when pupils they have helped under a year-long reading scheme were given the chance to find out what goes on at their office. Almost 20 eight and nine-year-old Whitehall...
A number of city firms have joined UWE as the lead partners supporting Bristol Pride, the week-long celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities. It is the sixth year running UWE has sponsored the event, the largest free Pride Festival in the UK which last year...
Ambitious plans for a new international automotive research facility at Bristol & Bath Science Park were revealed today. The facility, along with more space for growing businesses and improved training provision for the UK composites sector, were announced by a newly created steering committee set up to deliver phase two...
Business leaders across the West of England have turned up the heat on the region’s local councils to work together to gain greater economic powers as the Government’s devolution plans gather pace. They pointed out that Chancellor George Osborne announced in his Budget this week that more autonomy will...
The first direct flights between Bristol and Nantes – officially two of Europe’s greenest cities – started this week as airline bmi regional launched its latest service from Bristol Airport. The twice-weekly service – flights are on Saturday and Tuesday – has highlighted the similarities between the two cities...
Before the Budget Business West – the organisation that runs Bristol Chamber of Commerce – called for a focus on infrastructure, exports and the skills gap. Managing director Phil Smith said: “Our nation’s roads and apprentices got a cordial mention , international trade was almost utterly absent....
The CBI described the Budget as double-edged for business and branded the Chancellor’s flagship introduction of a National Living Wage of £7.20 next April as “a big gamble”. It also called the apprentice levy “a blunt tool” to force more businesses to take on trainees. Director-general John Cridland said:...
