Advanced manufacturing

University-business partnership will aim to power West of England’s economic growth and devolution

November 20, 2024
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University-business partnership will aim to power West of England’s economic growth and devolution

Pioneering ways of meeting the West of England’s economic challenges while building on its strengths are to be explored by a new data and research project. The Brunel Centre, which will officially launch next year, will bring together businesses and universities with policymakers to support regional growth and industrial strategy.  It...

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Start-up loan gives Trunki inventor’s new kids’ sleep aid product a dream start as sales surge

November 15, 2024
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Start-up loan gives Trunki inventor’s new kids’ sleep aid product a dream start as sales surge

Bristol serial entrepreneur Rob Law, best known for his Trunki ride-on kids’ suitcase, has launched his latest venture – a sleep training clock. Called Zeepy, it is aimed at children aged between two and six and uses melatonin-friendly lighting to help foster a more restful sleep.  To complement the...

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Burges Salmon works with global optical components firm as it focuses on another acquisition

November 13, 2024
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Burges Salmon works with global optical components firm as it focuses on another acquisition

The corporate and mergers & acquisitions team from Bristol-headquartered national law firm Burges Salmon has advised world-leading specialist optical components manufacturer Gooch & Housego on its most recent takeover. The £6.75m acquisition of Phoenix Optical will accelerate Ilminster, Somerset-based Gooch & Housego’s expansion into the UK and European aerospace...

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Bristol’s £100m state-of-the-art plastics recycling plant to be axed after just two years

November 8, 2024
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Bristol’s £100m state-of-the-art plastics recycling plant to be axed after just two years

A world-leading plastics reprocessing plant in Bristol touted as being an essential part of the UK’s move to a circular economy when it opened two years ago is to close. Operator Viridor blamed challenging market conditions and a lack of pro-recycling legislation for the shutdown.  The firm, owned by US...

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Preserves maker in a jam over bank finance secures funding from regional lender to help it grow

November 6, 2024
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Preserves maker in a jam over bank finance secures funding from regional lender to help it grow

A Bristol fruit preserve and chilli jam manufacturer is to double its capacity to meet increasing demand after receiving £200,000 from a specialist South West funder – having had its previous applications for growth finance rejected by its bank. Single Variety Co, which mostly sells to individuals via its...

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Budget 2024: Rob Chedzoy, tax partner, Milsted Langdon. SMEs squeezed despite Reeves’ ‘balance and stability’ message

November 1, 2024
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Budget 2024: Rob Chedzoy, tax partner, Milsted Langdon. SMEs squeezed despite Reeves’ ‘balance and stability’ message

The sweeping fiscal changes announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Budget will hit SMEs and business owners hard as the government seeks to plug a ‘£22bn black hole’ in the public purse. In one of the most hotly anticipated Autumn Budgets in recent years, the Chancellor announced the...

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Takeover of 20-year-old Bristol safety equipment firm helps US group build its portfolio of brands

November 1, 2024
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Takeover of 20-year-old Bristol safety equipment firm helps US group build its portfolio of brands

A Bristol-based manufacturer and supplier of safety lifting equipment has been acquired by a specialist US group as part of its continued international expansion. Tacklestore, which was launched 20 years ago and has its head office in Avonmouth, is now part of Vertical Supply Group (VSG), a leading supplier...

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SETsquared event will tackle future funding for spin-outs while offering firms chance to pitch to investors

October 31, 2024
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SETsquared event will tackle future funding for spin-outs while offering firms chance to pitch to investors

Three Bristol deep tech spin-out businesses will be vying for investment of up to £2m at a high-profile event aimed at shaping the tech investment landscape. The innovative firms will line up against 17 other businesses at Investment Futures in London, which will also feature panel and roundtable discussions on...

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Budget 2024: Adele Clapp, tax director, Bishop Fleming. Double whammy of tax rises for employers

October 30, 2024
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Budget 2024: Adele Clapp, tax director, Bishop Fleming. Double whammy of tax rises for employers

Employers have been heavily impacted by this Budget. Employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will increase by 1.2% to 15% from April 2025. And the threshold at which it becomes payable has decreased from £9,100 to £5,000. That double whammy of tax rises is partly offset by the Employment Allowance increasing...

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Budget 2024: Peter Ball, tax partner and head of private client, Bishop Fleming. Reeves springs immediate changes in Capital Gains Tax

October 30, 2024
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Budget 2024: Peter Ball, tax partner and head of private client, Bishop Fleming. Reeves springs immediate changes in Capital Gains Tax

As widely expected, the Chancellor has increased the rate of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) from Budget Day itself, so any transactions occurring on or after today are affected. That means that any potential window that could have arisen, had the increase been delayed until April 2025, has been closed. ...

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Budget 2024: Zoe Martin, partner, Bishop Fleming. Owner-managed businesses are facing a squeeze

October 30, 2024
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Budget 2024: Zoe Martin, partner, Bishop Fleming. Owner-managed businesses are facing a squeeze

Businesses have been heavily impacted by this Budget, with several key changes being introduced, adding to their tax and operational costs. The rise in employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will impact employers significantly, particularly small businesses.  Employers’ NIC increases by 1.2% to 15% from April 2025. And the threshold...

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Budget 2024: Andrew Browne, partner and head of tax, Bishop Fleming. Tax rises and higher costs for businesses are on the way

October 30, 2024
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Budget 2024: Andrew Browne, partner and head of tax, Bishop Fleming. Tax rises and higher costs for businesses are on the way

Rachel Reeves’ first Budget is the largest tax-raising Budget since 1993, with around £40bn being raised for government programmes of ‘national renewal’. Following months of speculation, we finally know the details of what this Budget has in store. While it will take some time to fully examine and understand...

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Budget 2024: Regional business reaction. Increased tax burden could stifle Bristol firms’ growth

October 30, 2024
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Budget 2024: Regional business reaction. Increased tax burden could stifle Bristol firms’ growth

Tax rises in the Budget aimed at companies could slow much-needed economic growth and undermine investment decisions, the region’s largest business organisation fears. Business West, the organisation behind Bristol Chamber of Commerce, said it recognised that the Chancellor faced a tight fiscal position and so had to make hard decisions....

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