Showing results 307–315 of 544
As we celebrate the first anniversary of Dr. Justin Morris as President of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce & Initiative, we took the opportunity to sit down with him and discuss how he feels about the past year.
Anonymous Author
6 November, 2024
Business West
Did you notice that mention of the South West was sadly lacking in the Chancellor’s Big, Big Budget?There were lots of mentions of the North and the North West as the recipients of help from government but just one quite vague mention of the aerospace sector in the South West.I noticed a mention of Derby but that, in geographical terms, was the nearest to us. Did I miss something?Missing out in government recognition, in my view, is becoming far too frequent for this region.I was hoping that Gloucestershire might get a mention for the exciting plans for the development of the mini nuclear reactors, or SMRs, on the decommissioned nuclear power station sites at Berkeley and Oldbury.No mention at all. But we got name checking of railway line investment around Manchester and in Yorkshire.The lack of government focus on this region must give us a wake-up call that more than ever it will be important for our devolved local and regional leaders to make the case for government and the private sector to invest here and grow Gloucestershire’s economic potential.Business West welcomes the government’s mantra to “Invest, Invest, Invest” through our key areas of economic growth, particularly with a commitment to supporting our region’s vital industries such as aerospace, advanced manufacturing, creative industries and clean energy.We recognise that the government faces a tight fiscal position and have had to make hard decisions. However, we are really concerned that raising the tax burden on the business community could hinder the government’s much sought after growth and undermine company investment.And we also welcome measures for small business such as changes to the employment allowances and business rate relief for our region’s retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.But such fine margin industries, where employment costs form a large share of their cost base, will be disproportionately impacted by these extra employee contributions.We are now promised an industrial strategy by the new government. The next steps following this big Budget will be vital if real growth is to be delivered.
Ian Mean
5 November, 2024
Business West
The Rise of Green Careers: A Growing Landscape of Opportunity Written by Chloe Barratt Green jobs are expanding rapidly, contributing £74 billion to the UK’s economy last year alone. With an estimated 700,000 new green jobs expected to emerge across the UK in the next decade - and 140,000 green jobs anticipated in the South West by 2050, primarily in energy, housing retrofit, and green infrastructure – the sector is only set to grow.
Chloe Barratt
5 November, 2024
Business West
In this edition of our Bristol Initiative member spotlight series, we’re thrilled to introduce Simon Wales, the new CEO of Bristol Beacon. Since joining in August 2024, Simon has taken the helm at Bristol’s iconic music charity and performance venue, which holds 800 events and community programs annually across the city.
Jenny Ablett
5 November, 2024
Business West
Phil Smith, Managing Director, Business West said:
Phil Smith
30 October, 2024
Business West
Recently, Business West was pleased to host an insightful international trade roundtable at Leigh Court Business Centre, in partnership with South West Business Insider. This exclusive event brought together leaders from a diverse range of sectors—including manufacturing, food and drink, science and tech, e-commerce, TV and film, and engineering—to discuss the future of international trade. The discussion identified several common challenges and opportunities shared across industries. Attendees voiced concerns about the impact of Brexit on trade, noting that while demand remains strong for goods made in Britain, government support is still needed to drive this forward effectively. Many participants expressed frustration with the complex barriers and delays introduced post-Brexit, with some companies even setting up EU-based offices to simplify trade with Europe. One business shared that they’ve increasingly shifted focus to markets like the USA, which they’re finding easier to navigate despite the lack of formal trade agreements.
Fiona Parsons
25 October, 2024
Business West
New Report Unveils Its Enduring Distinctiveness
Eleanor Ferrari
24 October, 2024
Business West
Released today, Business West’s Q3 2024 Quarterly Economic Survey reveals cautious optimism among businesses in the South West, with confidence levels holding steady despite a challenging economic environment. The survey shows business confidence at a resilient net balance of 35%, while confidence in the UK economy has seen modest improvement, rising to a net balance of -12% from -21% in the previous quarter. However, ongoing concerns around workforce skills shortages, profitability, and economic uncertainty persist. This quarter’s report also sheds light on businesses' progress toward Net Zero, highlighting both awareness and the need for further action.
Anonymous Author
24 October, 2024
Business West
As part of our ongoing series spotlighting members of the Bristol Initiative, we had the opportunity to speak with Alan Swan, Regional Operations Director for the South West at Stantec.
Jenny Ablett
23 October, 2024
Business West
