A series of inspirational talks by high-profile business women is to be launched next year by Bristol Business School in conjunction with one of the region’s top hotels. Called Phenomenal Women, the bi-monthly events will be staged from February to November at the five-star Gainsborough Spa Hotel in Bath...
The CBI has appointed Susan Davy, chief financial officer of environmental infrastructure group Pennon Group, as the next chair of its South West region. Susan, pictured right, will replace Andrew Livingston, CEO of Yeovil-based DIY and building equipment supplier Screwfix, who is leaving the post early. Andrew, pictured below,...
A team of Bristol advisers has helped Cornish nursery group Happy Days secure £8m funding to develop up to 10 new nurseries over the next three years. Accountancy firms Smith & Williamson and BDO and law firm Foot Anstey advised on the deal with the funding coming from Santander...
Lawyers from the Bristol office of international legal practice Osborne Clarke have helped on the €22.5m (£19.8m) refinancing of a portfolio of six UK solar farms. In the deal Aberdeen Standard Investments provided a long-term, 18.5-year debt financing for Pensions Infrastructure Platform (PiP) – the specialist manager established to...
Bristol’s economy could benefit from aspects of the government’s long-awaited Industrial Strategy, announced this week, three key figures in the city’s business community have said. But there was also disappointment at the lack of detail in some of initiatives and a need for more engagement with the business community...
Bristol advisers from law firm Burges Salmon and wealth management and broking corporate firm WHIreland have advised FB Investors on its recommended partial cash offer for Devon-based property group Sutton Harbour. The offer from FB Investors values Sutton Harbour, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market,...
The UK’s first ‘angel hub’ to support and encourage early stage investors has been launched in Bristol as one of a series of initiatives aimed at making it the country’s ‘scale-up’ capital. The opening of the hub, based at Bristol’s Engine Shed innovation centre and backed by the UK...
Senior lecturer in economics at UWE Bristol, Dr Jo Michell, believes the Chancellor offered little of substance in a Budget to forget. “It is unlikely that Chancellor Phillip Hammond was looking forward to his Budget speech. He would have seen the latest economic forecasts from the independent Office for...
Budget measures affecting the housing market, business rate reform, infrastructure and city development gave the region’s property sector plenty of food for thought – with many commentators saying the Chancellor could have done much more. David Westgate, chief executive of Keynsham-based estate agency and property group Andrews, welcomed the...
Ellen Green, managing director of Bristol-based Blue Badge Co, which makes design-led independent lifestyle products and travel aids, said the Chancellor could have offered more support to small businesses. “While the Chancellor announced some measures designed to please small businesses, such as holding the VAT threshold at £85,000, there...
Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees welcomed Budget measures supporting investment in infrastructure and housebuilding but warned that more funding is needed to support the continued economic growth of cities and tackle issues faced by their communities. He said the £15.3bn for housebuilding, particularly a further £2.7bn expansion of the...
Chancellor Philip Hammond’s support for the tech sector – a vital part of Bristol’s economy – and his commitment to devolve more funding for infrastructure and skills to the West of England in Wednesday’s Budget have been welcomed by business figures across the city. However, there was criticism that...
Chancellor Philip Hammond pledged more than £80m to invest in new transport infrastructure across the West of England in the Budget. The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) said it has been told it will receive the funding for schemes to improve connectivity, reduce congestion and encourage new technology...
