Nearly nine out of 10 South West manufacturers expect the coronavirus pandemic to hit their sales over the next six months, with half saying they will need to axe staff to stay in business. And despite action by the government to support businesses during the crisis, three-quarters of manufacturers...
The entrepreneur behind two of Bristol’s most successful invoice finance firms is claiming the government’s newly-amended package of business support will still not be enough to save many small firms. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced changes to the measures yesterday amid widespread criticism that they were not assisting enough businesses...
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...
Warnings about future profits made by South West companies listed on the London Stock Exchange have soared by 75% compared to this time last year – with most of them blaming the coronavirus pandemic. The latest analysis from international accountancy group EY shows there have been 14 profit warnings...
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...
Business organisations have backed government help outlined last night to support the self-employed and sole traders affected by coronavirus, describing them as a lifeline for around 5m people. The measures announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, pictured below, provide a grant worth 80% of profits up to a cap of £2,500...
Bristol’s small and medium-sized manufacturers are being urged to take part in a major survey to gauge the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on industry. The resected quarterly Manufacturing Barometer – the largest survey of its type in England – has just gone live and is inviting companies to...
Aerospace giant Airbus is to reduce production at its Filton plant for three weeks and extend the Easter holidays for its employees as it becomes the latest major UK manufacturer to take drastic action in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. The group employs 4,000 people on its Filton...
