The go-ahead for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point is expected to be announced this evening, triggering a multi-billion pound boost for the West of England’s economy. The board of French energy company EDF is expected to approve the £18bn plant – which will take 10 years...
The growing popularity of Bath Ales’ flagship Gem bitter has helped the brewery achieve its best ever year for grocery sales. Its supermarket sales grew by 14% last year to £3.5m as demand for craft beer continued to spiral. The increase put Bath Ales in third position in a...
The Institute of Directors South West regional chairman Nick Sturge has been appointed to the organisation’s national council as it seeks to ensure that a range of voices from across business are heard as Brexit unfolds. Nick Sturge, pictured, the co-founder and director of Bristol’s Engine Shed innovation hub,...
Merger and acquisition activity in the South West climbed by 4.3% in the first half of this year as the economy continued to recover and cash-rich businesses hit the takeover trail. However, the total value of 267 deals was down 15% at £3.08bn against the same period in 2015....
The region’s largest business organisation, Business West, has called for “stability, clarity and action” from the Government after official figures showed a small rise in unemployment across the South West and fears grow of an economic slowdown. The number of people out of work and claiming benefit edged up...
European aerospace giant Airbus has emerged as the winner in the traditional dog fight between it and giant US rival Boeing at this year’s Farnborough Airshow – with a total of 279 sales against 182. Airbus’s haul is worth $35bn (£26.4bn) at full list prices and was made up...
Engineers from aerospace giant Airbus’s Filton plant are leading a £17.7m project to develop an innovative way of designing and manufacturing aircraft wings. The team is working with world-leading engineering and scientific technology firm Renishaw, based near Bristol at Wotton-under-Edge, on the project, which aims to reduce development time....
UWE Bristol has named its flagship development in the West of England University Enterprise Zone as Future Works ahead of it opening next month. The 4,100 sq m innovation centre will sit at the core of the zone – one of the first enterprise zones linked to a university...
The bitter EU referendum campaign and fears over its outcome hit Bristol firms’ confidence and impacted on the wider economy even before the result to leave was announced, according to the latest survey by Business West, the region’s largest business organisation. On all major indicators, the poll of more...
Property services firm Ian Williams and bakery Ministry of Cake are the winners of the region’s most coveted business awards. The firms came out top at accountants PwC’s annual West of England Business of the Year Awards, which were announced at a gala dinner in Bristol this week. Chipping...
A new team of 21 regional business figures has been unveiled by UWE to look at how the new Faculty of Business and Law and its new £50m building can best serve the needs of the region and its economy. The advisory board is made up of representatives of...
UWE Bristol is leading the market for graduate employability, according to a new report, with 96% of last year’s graduates in employment or further study. The latest Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) figures also show 78% are in professional roles. This compares with UK market averages of 94% and...
Brewer and pub company Bath Ales has been acquired by Cornwall-based St Austell Brewery, with the new owners promising investment in its brands, brewery and pubs. The deal, financial details of which have not been disclosed, includes Bath Ales’ brewery and bottling plant at Warmley, near Bristol, its portfolio...
