A taskforce bringing together businesses, universities and the West of England’s local authorities is being set up to ensure the region’s economy recovers as quickly as possible from the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The new group will also represent the region in discussions with central government to make...
The government’s £1.25bn funding package to support innovative start-ups and research-intensive firms impacted by the coronavirus pandemic has been welcomed by business and civic leaders in the West of England. The measures include a Future Fund – a new £500m loan scheme for high-growth firms – and £750m of...
More than 2,900 businesses in Bristol have received urgent support grants from the city council totalling nearly £40m to help them stave off the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The council has received around £88m from central government to pay small business grants. However only 35% of an estimated...
Bristol indoor farming pioneer LettUs Grow is fast-tracking the development of two vertical farm modules in the city to help feed vulnerable communities during the coronavirus outbreak. The award-winning firm wants to ensure the produce grown gets to those who need it most. LettUs Grow expects the first of...
A Bristol business developing a reusable manufacturing satellite that will enable materials to be developed in space has secured £250,000 in funding from a group of established city-based entrepreneurs. The finance will enable Space Forge, which started in a garage in Bradley Stoke, to expand into laboratories in Bristol...
More than 40,000 businesses have sought advice and guidance on how they can survive the coronavirus pandemic from a special service set up by Business West, the organisation behind Bristol Chamber of Commerce. Trading Through Coronavirus, which went live exactly a month ago, provides expert information and guidance to...
Bristol firms with staff working from home as a result of the coronavirus outbreak are being urged to help them ‘donate their commute’ to city centre hospitals charity Above & Beyond. They can set up a virtual collection tin via the JustGiving app for their team to give the...
Louise Somerset, partner and head of private client tax services at Smith & Williamson in Bristol, explains the government’s self-employed income support scheme. The Chancellor has announced an income support scheme to help the self-employed through the current financial crisis, designed to be on a par with support for...
Three-quarters of South West firms were hit by the coronavirus pandemic in the first two weeks of March, according to a new survey which also shows the outbreak has triggered a marked fall in businesses confidence in the region. Lloyds Bank’s Business Barometer – a monthly survey of more...
The Centre for Modelling & Simulation (CFMS), the Bristol-based specialist body aiming to transform digital engineering, has made a senior appointment to help it complete its pioneering projects. Dr James Osborne, pictured, joins CFMS, which is based on the Bristol & Bath Science Park, as technology programmes manager. He...
The latest moves by the government to support businesses, including relaxing the insolvency laws and removing some red tape, have been given the thumbs up by the region’s largest business organisation. Business West described the measures, announced by Business Secretary Alok Sharma on Friday evening, as sensible steps that...
Bristol firms have been coming to terms with a new and unprecedented way of doing business against a backdrop of a complete lockdown of the city and the cancellation of all events. But as a city built on innovation, many are looking at new ways of doing business –...
In these challenging times, it’s sad to learn that cyber criminals are only increasing their activity as they look to capitalise on the Covid-19 crisis, writes Isabel Thompson, commercial director at Bristol-based cyber security and resilience firm Warner McCall Resilience. With the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) issuing warnings...
