Strong Leadership & a Voice For Business

Strong leadership is so very important to ensure that the voice of business is heard loud and clear by government and our MPs in Gloucestershire. Even more so as this is General Election year. Companies cannot be expected to shoulder the lion’s share of the messaging to government as they are at full stretch trying to survive and grow.

BCC Press Release: Mixed Signals On Labour Market Continue

Responding to the latest labour market data from the ONS, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, of which Business West are key players, said:

Business West attends BCC Trade Facilitation Forum

Recently, two of my colleagues and I attended the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) Trade Facilitation Forum – the first since the COVID pandemic. The forum brings Chamber colleagues from across the network to hear about how BCC is supporting members across the country with their International Trade. With a wide range of speakers on topics such as Digital Carnets, ChamberCustoms and Origin and Preference, the focus was very much on how we can continue to support companies through the new and often challenging hurdles faced in today’s international climate.

BCC Press Release: Scale of Workplace Equity Challenge Revealed

Polling for the British Chambers of Commerce reveals a quarter of surveyed employees (25%) believe that not everyone in their workplace has the same access to opportunities. Over a quarter (28%) of employees surveyed aren’t aware of the term ‘workplace equity’ or have no understanding of what it means. 28% of respondents say they believe they’ve unfairly missed out on a workplace opportunity in the past two years On International Women’s Day, new polling carried out for the British Chambers of Commerce, of which Business West are a key player, by polling agency ‘Find Out Now’ highlights the scale of the challenge to make workplaces across the UK more equitable.

Meet the Local Skills Improvement Plan Team - Bella Manara Santos

Bella is one of the Business Engagement Executives in our Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) team. She is a key link between businesses and skills providers and is responsible for gathering intelligence from businesses on their future needs from the skills sector, whether that is through a 1-2-1 discussion, focus groups or other roundtable events.

Initiative Member Spotlight: Brian Swallow, Managing Director at Enterprise Mobility

Business West Reacts to March 2024 Budget

In the wake of today's budget announcement, our MD Phil Smith had this to say:

Celebrating International Women's Day 2024 with women in international trade

As International Women's Day (IWD) approaches on Friday, March 8th, we embrace the theme of 'Inspire Inclusion.' In celebration of this significant occasion, we've engaged with two inspiring women who are pioneering paths in the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of international trade. Their stories and insights spotlight the invaluable contributions of women in shaping global commerce and underscore the importance of fostering inclusivity within this sector.

International Women’s Day: Interview with panellist Adam Bradley

We’re excited to be hosting a wide range of activities to celebrate International Women’s Day, aiming to inspire conversations and changes to make a real impact for women all year round. Our first activity of the year is our International Women’s Day panel event, taking place at Leigh Court on the 8th March.