Western Daily Press | Business Guide 2021

Business guide Western Daily Press

2021

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COMPANIES IN THE WEST PLUS: RURaL GiantS adaPt to Covid; YtL aRena on tRaCk and teCh to UndeRPin ReCoveRY

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Succeeding in 2020 Throughout the Western Daily Press Business Guide 2021 there are stories of businesses that defied the gloom of the coronavirus pandemic to succeed.

Thanks to their dedicated staff achieving incredible things in adversity thousands of businesses have continued to trade strongly.

Some of the best examples of companies succeeding in 2020 are highlighted on this inside cover.

They operate in vastly different markets and are companies of different sizes – but what they have in common is that they have weathered the pandemic better than most.

Charles Baughan from Westaways

Sausage maker targets Chinese middle classes

Funding puts firm on right road

» Artificial intelligence chip maker Graphcore has been valued at $2.8billion (£2.05billion) after raising $222million in its latest funding round.

The Series E funding round was led by Ontario Teachers’ Pensions Plan Board as well as new investors Fidelity International and Schroders. Existing Graphcore investors, including Baillie Gifford and Draper Esprit, also joined the round.

The Bristol-based company’s latest investment – announced between Christmas and New Year – brought the total funds raised by the business to more than $710million since it was cofounded by Nigel Toon and Simon Knowles in 2016.

Graphcore, which also has offices in London, Cambridge, Palo Alto, Oslo, Beijing, Hsinchu, Seoul, New York, Seattle and Austin, has developed one of the most advanced intelligence processing units in the world.

The technology is used globally in machine learning to help power driverless cars and robots.

Mr Toon said: “We’re delighted to announce that Graphcore has raised $222m of investment to help support the company’s continued global expansion and further accelerate future IPU silicon, systems and software development. “ The business achieved ‘unicorn’ status in 2018 – and has continued to grow rapidly in the last two years. In 2019, Mr Toon, Graphcore’s co-founder and chief executive, was named the UK’s entrepreneur of the year.

The company says it expects 2021 to be another “big year” with advances in artificial intelligence moving apace.

Graphcore’s next fundraising step could be an initial public offering, Toon told the Guardian in December. However, he said this would be “unlikely in 2021”.

» Devon sausage maker Westaways is rolling ahead with major plans to start manufacturing at a state-of-the-art mega factory in Hong Hong.

Charles Baughan, managing director of the Kingsteignton-based firm, which sells to major supermarkets and globally in places including Barbados and Malta, has held ambitions to supply the Far East for 15 years.

The emerging middle classes in China are leading a 25 per cent increase in meat eating across the population and Charles believes that the classic British banger will go down a storm.

Westaways has been building relationships in Hong Kong since 2005 but the Chinese market has been hard to break into for processed pig products.

But by manufacturing directly in Hong Kong, rather than importing the products, is a way round the problem, Charles says.

He explained: “I have built longstanding relationships in Hong Kong since 2005 and now we have a factory built in a skyscraper where each floor is the size of as football pitch.

“By employing Chinese people in Hong Kong, we can get Westaways as a brand into China which we would not have been able to do otherwise.

“We have seen an issue and developed a workaround.”

The plan is to start manufacturing Westaways Sausages under license at the skyscraper factory Meat Lab Hong Kong.

Taking up one floor for manufacture with space for 300 lorries on the floor above and a cold storage facility, it means Westaways sausages will be made in the heart of the Pearl Harbour Delta ‘Megacity’, an area the size of Devon with a population of 125million

people and where five per cent of all the world’s products are made.

Charles said: “We will be putting our brand in front of people who are increasingly affluent and discerning and we are taking something that originated in Newton Abbot onto a global scale.”

Around 30 miles worth of bangers are currently made every week in Newton Abbot.

“I estimate that the number of sausages made in Hong Kong will be ten times that – but we’ve get to get production going first.

“2020 has been a shoddy year but 2021 has got the potential to be really good,” he said.

Charles said he welcomes the certainty of the Brexit trade deal. There has been some concern about the EU no longer accepting fresh sausage products under the new agreement but Charles said that most are transported frozen anyway.

He said: “In reality, very few chilled UK sausages are sold to the EU, we supply frozen, to be sold frozen, or sold defrosted and chilled.”

“The EU isn’t a huge export market for us. We don’t sell to Spain but we do sell in Malta, France, Algarve, Lisbon, places where British holiday makers like to have a Great British fry up.”

Domestically, repeated lockdowns and restrictions on hospitality has seen wholesale sales drop by 60%, but with a retail uplift of 38%.

“We have seen a different profile of customer, overall our net sales are down by 10% but we have adapted, reduced our expenses and we have most importantly, continued to innovate, you’ve got to keep moving forward as a business.”

Inside

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Fusion power The South West is the natural home for the next generation of atomic energy

24

Technology The region is becoming one of the UK’s most dominant technology clusters

30

Hinkley C Progress continues despite the pandemic at Europe’s largest construction sites

Aerospace The UK’s aerospace sector is attempting to navigate the road to recovery

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24

Events

The sector is determinded to ensure that the shows will go on

32

Free ports Two bids have the potential to be a major boost for the area’s economy post Brexit

Top 150 The economic outlook for the year ahead for the West’s Top 150 companies

Hospitality The sector has been hammered by the pandemic and is in a fight for its survival

Black owned As the West looks to build back better, the economic response must reach everyone

Young people Whether in education or work, young people need support to bounce back BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 1

Foreword Richard Bache introduces the Western Daily Press Business Guide 2021

I

T would be easy to introduce this publication saying that the region’s economy faces its sternest challenge in peacetime history.

And while that might not be wrong, it doesn’t come close to telling the entire story.

For there are genuine reasons for optimism and it is almost certain the economy will grow in 2021, with some forecasters predicting growth of above five per cent.

Above all though, it is the resilience, commitment and operational excellence displayed by businesses across the region in 2020 that gives us confidence that the West can emerge strongly from this pandemic.

Companies were tested as never before last year, with almost all having to change the way they work overnight.

Large, long-established and somewhat traditional companies impressed by acting as nimbly as the most agile start-up to ensure their businesses not only survived but are in a position to thrive.

In many cases, extremely difficult decisions had to be taken, with many firms accelerating strategies for change.

Some of these were painful, but the rewards of tough action last year should be reaped this year as the vaccination programme continues and restrictions on business start easing.

It is something of a business cliché to say that ‘our staff are our greatest asset’. It was truly borne out in 2020, though, with workers from all sectors of the economy responding magnificently to the countless challenges of a pandemic.

While visible appreciation for some sectors of the workforce was made, many other heroes of the pandemic have gone about their vital work without fanfare. How businesses reward, recognise and retain frontline staff is a major issue going forwards.

Compiling this guide has been a reminder of the incredible companies operating in the West Country. There are dozens and dozens of stories within the guide’s pages of businesses responding brilliantly to unprecedented challenges.

It would not be possible to publish this celebration of the West’s economy without the generous support of all of our sponsors, particularly our headline sponsor EDF Energy.

Read about the incredible progress made at Hinkley Point C on pages 10-11.

It, like so many companies – of all sizes – had to respond overnight to a changing world.

It is not yet clear how many of the changes that were forced upon us over the past 12 months may become permanent. Will sacred cows like the nine-tofive and the five-day week be challenged? Office space requirements will certainly be re-assessed and challenged.

Prior to the pandemic, many senior

2 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

Greta Thunberg lead a huge climate protest in Bristol

Businesses set to bounce back leaders were somewhat suspicious of the productivity of people working from home. Prolonged exposure to it has certainly changed some opinions.

I am probably not alone in not missing my commute.

But I do miss my colleagues and I do wonder how many opportunities have been missed due to staff working remotely? Be they sales opportunities, network effect opportunities and the creative spark engendered by being together physically.

It is clear that the world of work is continuing to evolve and the pace of change may yet accelerate in 2021.

This is not the place to critique the government’s handling of the pandemic – but it is no exaggeration that the next couple of months are particularly crucial economically. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has probably been one of the better ministerial performers, but he almost certainly can’t wait until the Budget in March to offer businesses more support.

If he wants to avert an avalanche of job losses on top of the 800,000 that have already been lost, he needs to act now.

Three common themes have emerged talking to businesses while producing this guide – the need to extend the fur-

lough scheme and probably gradually taper it off as trade improves rather than have a cliff edge, particularly for badlyhit sectors such as hospitality, travel and non-food retail; an extension to the Business Rates holiday and an extension to the VAT cut for hospitality.

Mr Sunak faces difficult choices and his fiscal arsenal isn’t limitless, but cutting government support too soon risks undermining the recovery.

We have already massively increased public debt and cutting off support too soon may defeat the objective of many of the measures already delivered.

One of the key aims of the recovery has to be that it is truly inclusive. The pandemic has reinforced the inequalities present in our society, with the economic impact of it being felt disproportionately by those in BAME communities and among the young.

Young people have been far more likely to have lost their job or be furloughed – a key priority must be to provide meaningful programmes to rapidly help young people into employment.

The South West is in a prime position to capitalise on moves towards a greener economy and significant investment in this field could be the answer to our

prosperity and the future of our talented young people.

If the vaccination programme roll-out happens as quickly as possible then a strong economic recovery should be possible and we hopefully avoid the damage of truly horrific mass unemployment.

Businesses in this region are ready to capitalise on the opportunities of life returning to something like normal. But the new normal has to be better than the old normal.

The international spotlight was shone on the West several times in 2020. Firstly, when Greta Thunberg and thousands of young people marched around Bristol in February. Climate change is not going away and rebuilding the economy in a far greener and more sustainable way is non-negotiable.

And the toppling of the statue of Edward Colston focused attention on the inequalities present in the West’s biggest city. These were exacerbated by the pandemic. The economic recovery must be open and accessible to all.

Finally, I would like to again thank our sponsors, particularly headline sponsors EDF and hope that 2021 eventually turns out to be a much better year than 2020.

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The way in which we live, work and shop was evolving before the outbreak of Covid-19, but the pace of that change has now been dramatically accelerated

Bristol City Centre during the third national lockdown

Crisis quickens retail revolution W

HILe some stores have been closing down, others have been opening up. It is all part of an ongoing process of retail evolution that has been accelerated by Covid-19.

The old saying that when one door closes another opens has a particular resonance at present in Bristol city centre, where the closed doors of the former H&M fashion store on Union Street will be reopening later this year when a new Lidl supermarket is launched.

The opening of the 13th Lidl in Bristol, and the first in the city centre, underlines some key themes highlighted in the recently-published UK Retail Market Update from Colliers International.

These were the strength of supermarkets and the rise of retail restructuring, both of which have been accelerated by Covid-19.

Lidl’s move into the premises previously occupied by the Swedish fashion retailer came about after H&M decided in October 2020 to shut down 250 of its stores globally. Lidl has committed to investing £1.3 billion to enable it to reach

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JANUARY 21, 2021

The changing face of retail in the West Country highlights a wider shopping revolution that is underway, according to Nick Turk, out of town retail director at Colliers International a target of having 1,000 stores in Great Britain by 2023.

H&M had been located for more than a decade in the building, which also houses the Odeon Cinema complex and was constructed on the site of the original Fry’s chocolate factory in Bristol before the company moved in 1921 to new premises in Keynsham.

The opening of a supermarket on the site of a former fashion retailer brings into sharp focus how lifestyles and shopping habits have changed over the last few years as products which are easily sold on the internet make way for essential stores – especially convenience food shopping.

These stores performed well throughout the Covid-19 crisis, leading the way in terms of sales growth when lock-

downs and tier restrictions were limiting the ability of people to go shopping in other retail premises. Other winners included DIY and some homewares stores, with Dunelm continuing to show strong sales as people spent more time at home and hence more time thinking about improving that environment.

At the end of both of the 2020 lockdowns there was a bounce back in spending and footfall across all retail types. Retail analysts at Colliers anticipate similar positive growth after this current lockdown ends, but we also expect to see investors continuing to seek defensive assets as they did in 2020.

Their wish lists will be topped by supermarkets and out of town retail warehouses, where operators have benefitted from car-driving customers seek-

ing click-and-collect purchases and drive-thru food premises.

Whilst John Lewis have sensibly – and in my mind responsibly – stopped click and collect recently, that will be reversed when the vaccine starts to take effect.

The accelerated change brought about by the pandemic will leave many shopping habits ingrained and unlikely to change.

In addition to boosting supermarket and retail warehouse performance, Covid-19 has also been driving retail repurposing with mixed-use schemes and new uses for existing premises. This focus on retail reinvention looks set to continue in the medium-term.

The transformation of the H&M fashion store in Bristol’s Union Street into a Lidl supermarket is an excellent example of this shift, which was underway before the pandemic. In the past 18 months, Bristol has seen both The Galleries and Clifton Down shopping centres sold to LaSalle Asset Management and Sovereign Housing Association respectively. Whilst some retail will remain at both sites, the main driver will be new residential.

The move away from predominantly retail is very much in keeping with the advice that the retail team at Colliers has been giving to our clients, including at Regent Arcade in Cheltenham, where our client is keen to move away from a pure retail offer.

Their aim is to provide a mixed-use, experience-led scheme which will attract high levels of footfall for all the future tenants and with this in mind Colliers recently agreed terms with the upmarket Tivoli Cinema. The way in which we live, work and shop was evolving before the outbreak of Covid-19, but the pace of that change has now been dramatically accelerated. This is bringing interesting innovations – for example, a company called Space Republic is launching a remote working office solution called Pluto which will be based on the high street and operates on a gym type membership where office workers could take 500 up to 3,000 sq ft on a flexible basis facilitating meetings and collaboration, yet allowing home working for the majority of the time.

This structural change in the high street will be challenging in the short term for people coping with the restrictions of lockdowns and the uncertainties of a highly-contagious virus as well as for landlords having to face dramatic changes in the sector in which they operate. However, in the long term we will all hopefully benefit immensely from a rapidly changing retail world which is bringing a balance of retail, leisure and residential uses into our towns and cities together with greater vibrancy and footfall.

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 2019 3?

Ordinary working people have delivered for the region going during the pandemic

Heroes of the pandemic D

eSPITe the difficulties and grief of the coronavirus pandemic, we have seen our region’s collective resilience and community spirit in true form. And we continue to express our gratitude for the workers keeping us going during this public health crisis.

Because in these extraordinary times, ordinary working people stepped up to do their jobs.

From those in health and care, to the delivery drivers and warehouse workers, retail staff and cleaners, teachers and child carers, bus drivers and telecoms engineers and so many more occupations that still go out to work, this government must not forget their efforts and sacrifices by ensuring they all receive a proper pay rise.

Boosting the national minimum wage to £10 an hour and scrapping the government’s plans to impose more public sector pay freezes is one step in the right direction. If the previous decade has taught us anything, it is that cuts and austerity do not work.

The chancellor must take inspiration from previous British governments and other developed nations who have proven that investing in the economy, creating jobs and nurturing new and existing sectors in our local towns and cities is the best way out of an economic crisis.

4 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

Nigel Costley, regional secretary of the TUC South West, reflects on the incredible efforts made by people across the workforce during the coronavirus pandemic and argues for more government support The South West is full of opportunity and hopes of recovery – but we need the right level of investment to succeed.

Ministers must wholeheartedly focus on securing and creating full and decent employment, with regions firmly at the helm – and not cut back when businesses and workers have already suffered more than enough.

We cannot afford the cost of mass unemployment. It is never a price worth paying. And no one can afford yet another lost decade of falling wages and rising personal debt and insecurity.

As the voice of workers, the TUC have been fighting hard to ensure working people are protected. From the beginning, we lobbied the government to protect the income of workers through quality income support schemes. And despite its shortcomings, the furlough scheme helped. More than half of those initially furloughed were able to return to work when restrictions eased, avoiding millions more people being added to unemployment figures.

It is why the furlough scheme must

extend beyond April, like other countries have done, until our economy is recovering and we are no longer subject to restrictions.

It gives workers and local businesses the security they need to weather yet another difficult year. And importantly, it means putting money straight into the pockets of working people which goes right back into our businesses and communities.

And we must ensure that those who have unfairly missed out are brought into the scheme too.

The Prime Minister has used war-like terminology throughout this pandemic.

But despite the grandiose language, economic interventions remain weak and inadequate to achieve the bounce-back we need.

Our region is proudly home to some of the most vibrant hubs of art, culture and heritage as well as a reliance on tourism and hospitality, not to mention hightech engineering like aerospace. The lack of support for many of these workers and businesses is disappointing, to

say the least.

Local councils have spent money to tackle the virus and support local people despite limited funds provided from national government.

Several councils are now looking at a deeper black hole that simply cannot be filled through council tax and business rates increases. National government must recognise the vast efforts local administrations have made to support the impact of the virus through better funding for our communities.

For those who have lost their jobs, the Universal Credit system remains woefully inadequate. And for workers being asked to isolate, they are still caught between a rock and a hard place by having to choose between accepting paltry sick pay of just £95.75 per week or their normal wages if they ignore the advice and go to work.

The TUC believes nearly 600,000 jobs in our public services could be filled right now if the government directs stimulus to support and train people to take up these much-needed jobs. At the same time, the government can invest in the future by bringing forward investment in creating greener jobs and boosting local infrastructure like broadband, housing and transport.

There is so much more investment needed to reset and revive our economy.

We hope ministers are listening.

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In 2021, SW business leaders need to be ready to tackle the carbon challenge, say Alan John and Caroline Saul of Osborne Clarke

Time to take action L

AsT year may be remembered not only as the year of the pandemic but also as the start of a decade of extreme weather – extensive wild fires, extreme temperatures and devastating floods and droughts represent just some of the threats climate change poses to our planet and populations.

Recent years have seen pressure mounting on businesses to take action on climate change and report on carbon emissions. But setting and implementing a clear business strategy on environmental sustainability and emissions reduction may understandably not have been a top priority for many of our local businesses engaged in addressing the immediate and unprecedented challenges of the pandemic and Brexit.

However, in 2021 the pressure to do so from customers, investors and employees, and increasing regulation, will continue. The UK government’s ambitious commitment to achieve net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 (with challenging intermediate milestones along the road to that date) requires every business to play its part.

Businesses will increasingly need to set and deliver against their own targets, not only to achieve compliance but to retain business competitiveness. The last year has seen many more global and leading UK businesses announcing voluntary emissions reduction and other sustainability commitments. Delivering against these will be vital both for the businesses concerned and for the many nations who, like the UK, have announced and will be monitoring progress towards net zero or similar reduction targets.

Regulation will play an important role in supplementing voluntary sustainability ambitions, penalising carbon intensive products and practices and helping businesses on effective decarbonisation journeys. Businesses will need to underTHURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

bon footprint over the past decade, despite having doubled our headcount during this time. Next year we will be moving into our new Bristol office at the Halo building in Finzels Reach, designed to be one of the most sustainable buildings in the UK. » To find out more and how we can help you contact one of our experts today or visit www.osborneclarke.com Alan John alan.john@osborneclarke.com www.osborneclarke.com/lawyers/alan-john Caroline Saul caroline.saul@osborneclarke.com www.linkedin.com/in/carolinejsaul stand and navigate the evolving and complex regulatory and policy frameworks that govern the emission, capture, reporting and taxation of carbon. The drive towards decarbonisation of energy, construction, transport and supply chains will require extensive technological and behavioural change, a range of fiscal measures and new business and finance models.

Having the right legal and technical advisors will be crucial. At Osborne Clarke, we have experts who can guide you through the complex and rapidly changing regulatory and business practice landscapes and help harness the many opportunities they present.

Environmental sustainability is

embedded in our own business strategy. We’ve had an engaged and active employee sustainability group for over 20 years which has helped us implement a wide range of building management, resource use and efficiency and travel initiatives. These in turn have contributed to a near halving of our UK car-

Osborne Clarke’s new Halo office

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 5

The UK is considered a world leader in fusion power

Fusion power a huge step for South West Y

oU might be forgiven for thinking that 2020 has been a year of respite for the environment, yet, while Co2 output was eight per cent lower than in 2019, we’re still a long way off our 2050 net zero carbon target.

To achieve it, we will need to advance all the different types of low-carbon energy technologies, including a transition from the nuclear power we have today to fusion power.

Fusion is the power that drives our sun, forcing hydrogen ions together to produce huge amounts of energy.

It’s a technology where the UK is considered a world leader and the UK Atomic Energy Agency now seeks to harness its power here on earth. Known as STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), this programme is strongly supported by government to the tune of £220 million for the first five years, with the aim of building the world’s first fusion power station by the 2040s.

For the next 20 years, STEP will capture international attention and establish a new fusion power industry, attract6 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

Nuclear fusion expert Professor Tom Scott says the South West is the natural home for fusion power ing companies and investment across a raft of advanced technology areas from advanced materials, to sensors, robotics, digital innovation and even hydrogen production. The STEP ecosystem will generate jobs, training and, most importantly, huge export opportunities.

Many communities will vie for the opportunity to host this project and the South West Nuclear Hub believes that our region is best placed. We stand alongside Nuclear South West, powered

by Business West, the purpose driven organisation that enables businesses to successfully start, grow, export and innovate. So why is the South West uniquely capable of delivering fusion?

» Firstly, if you want to build a fusion power station, you need people and a supply chain that know how to do it. The South West is the only region of the UK with this capability due to the Hinkley Point C project in Somerset and previously Berkeley Nuclear Power station in south Gloucestershire.

The region is familiar with the benefits of such an investment in terms of economic growth, improved infrastructure and generations of skilled people. Additionally, the region has unique resources to make STEP a locally sustainable proposition, from the redundant Magnox power station sites across the region, to the steel foundries of South Wales and the Lithium extraction ventures in Cornwall. This is nationally unique. » Secondly, if you want to build a power plant that operates at very high temperatures (hotter than the sun), you’ll need people who are experts in running such a plant. This is exactly the expertise currently housed at EDF’s fleet headquarters in Barnwood, Gloucestershire, responsible for overseeing the operation of our existing nuclear power stations,

the only high temperature reactors in the world. As the existing nuclear power stations start to come offline from 2023 onwards, it will be nationally important to preserve this unique expertise. Building STEP in the South West would secure this unique expertise for the UK. » Finally, history and rebirth should be invoked. Berkeley was the world’s first, purely civil, nuclear power station and the region is proud of its nuclear heritage, partly because it was pioneering and partly because of the prosperity that came with it. Bringing STEP to the South West, to a birthplace of nuclear energy, would represent a beautiful circular evolution for atomic energy in the UK and drive the levelling up agenda in a region that is all too often overlooked.

What I’m calling for now is a groundswell of support from industry, local government, the public and South West politicians to make the strongest possible case for STEP to come to the South West. » Professor Tom Scott is RAEng Professor of Materials at the University of Bristol and director of the South West Nuclear Hub THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Funding the West’s bounce back

A

S we enter 2021, it’s worth pausing for a moment to look back at a year that has truly warranted the epithet “unprecedented.”

Bristol Private Equity Club (BPEC) has invested around £7 million in local startup and scale-up businesses over the past four years and now has around 100 members.

Among others we have provided finance to subsea technology company Rovco, which operates in the offshore renewables and oilfield decommissioning industries, AutonoMe, which uses technology to deliver and measure independent living skills for people with learning disabilities, Okko, which is developing smartphone software for the home monitoring of eye health, and FluoretiQ, which is using novel technology to find faster and cheaper ways of identifying bacterial infections in hospitals, clinics and care homes.

But as the Covid-19 pandemic struck the UK early last year the deals market - a crucial barometer of the wider economy – ground to a halt overnight.

For the next six months, the value of local transactions and investments was THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

The West of England is well positioned to scale-up growth over the coming years, says Jerry Barnes, founder and CEO of Bristol Private Equity Club down by over 75 per cent following the national lockdown and the economic shock which followed.

From October the situation began to normalise as people and businesses became used to operating differently.

There was a rapid process of catching up, to some degree due to pent-up demand, but also thanks to great technology like Zoom that had previously been overlooked by far too many businesses.

One key facet of entrepreneurs is that they never stand still, and as deal activity recovered rapidly, BPEC succeeded in sealing eight transactions in the final few weeks of the year.

The value of these investments total over £1 million, and we have a further 15 in the pipeline for this year. In terms of sectors, technology is very much at the forefront, particularly the fast-moving world of medical technology, as well as

sustainability and the green agenda.

Many of the young businesses that we deal with benefit from the strong spinout culture that exists at Bristol’s two universities and its excellent incubation and mentoring ecosystem. A huge amount of intellectual property emerges from the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England, and the two establishments have an increasingly commercial attitude that feeds into local incubators such as SETsquared and Unit DX. If these businesses go on to prove themselves in an incubator they can then roll out to the production stage, and this is generally the point at which BPEC becomes involved.

There is no doubt that access to finance is still far more difficult for ambitious early-stage ventures based outside the “golden triangle” of London, Oxford and Cambridge, and the number of

really substantial investments involving businesses based in this region – Graphcore and Ziylo are two notable examples – remains rare.

Nonetheless, the recent success of BPEC and Newable Ventures in securing funding for early-stage businesses from British Business Investments (BBI), a commercial subsidiary of the British Business Bank, will go some way to redressing the balance. The £10 million commitment from BBI’s Regional Angels Programme is great news and will be used to jointly deliver a total of around £25 million of new funding in the coming months and years.

This initiative, taken together with the launch of the Science Creates “deep tech” incubator and Venture Capital fund, along with additional government R&D funding for tech research, positions Bristol and the wider West of England in a great place for scale-up growth over the next three or four years. » Bristol Private Equity Club is actively seeking new members and businesses who are interested in applying for funding to fuel their growth and ambition.

For further details please visit www. bristolprivateequityclub.com BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 7

Tech to underpin recovery Hannah Baker, South West editor of our sister website Business Live, picks eleven tech firms which can lead the region’s economic recovery

T

he West Country is fast becoming one of the UK’s most dominant technology clusters outside of London.

The region, stretching from the Isles of Scilly in Cornwall up to Bristol and Gloucestershire, is now home to tens of thousands of tech firms, generating billions of pounds of turnover between them each year.

Bristol is, arguably, the region’s prime tech hub. The city alone employs 8,000 people in the industry and has some 430 tech firms, including big-name brands such as Nokia, BT, Vodafone, Oracle and Amazon. exeter is another tech hotspot, with the city growing to become a challenger to Bristol’s position. According to Tech Nation, there was a 47 per cent rise in tech jobs in the city between 2014 and 2018.

It’s not just the larger South West cities that are home to the tech influencers.

There are plenty of innovative technology firms – from emerging start-ups to multinational giants – based throughout the region.

Tech giant Dyson is based in Malmesbury, in Wiltshire, while Dorset is home to Silicon South, a not-for-profit entity which helps people in the creative digital sectors to grow.

There are also tech hubs and accelerators right across the region, with more developments in the pipeline too, including a new £5 million innovation 8 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

centre set for Taunton, expansion at exeter and Plymouth science parks, and a new Centre of Technology and Innovation excellence in North Devon.

Despite a year blighted by the pandemic and Brexit uncertainty, technology was the key to survival for many businesses last year, driving innovation and, for some, growth.

What does the future hold for the tech sector in South West england? here, we take a look at some of the exciting tech companies in the West of england to

The Dyson Institute

look out for in 2021.

Dyson, Wiltshire Sir James Dyson’s company looks set for a big year in 2021 as it turns 30-yearsold.

The business, known for its vacuum cleaners and air purifiers, announced a number of major developments for growth in 2020.

In November, the company said it was planning to double its product range with a £2.75billion investment, vowing

to grow research into robotics and artificial intelligence at its hullavington Airfield Campus in Wiltshire.

The site has become home to Dyson’s large and growing robotics and machine learning hub. With its existing campus in nearby Malmesbury, Dyson employs some 4,000 people in Wiltshire working on new technologies and new products.

The company’s education institute – The Dyson Institute of engineering and Technology – is also being given the power to award its own degrees from September.

It will mean the technology company is able to deliver and award every aspect of its degree programme (it currently partners with Warwick University).

Dyson is also progressing plans to open its new global head office complex in the historic St James Power Station in Singapore. This will be accompanied by an expansion of its advanced R&D facilities and research labs.

Just Move In, Dorset The Bournemouth tech company handles admin and bills, such as council tax, water, energy and broadband, for people moving house – but the service is also used by estate agents, conveyancing firms, banks and retailers.

The business was among 31 UK businesses to be selected for a special fintech programme being run by Tech Nation in 2020.

The certified B Corp business, which is

also a Living Wage employer, was chosen by a panel of judges to join Fintech Cohort 3.0 – a six-month scheme for business founders.

According to Tech Nation, the programme is aimed at helping companies grow and covers topics such as sales, partnerships, and expanding internationally. It also includes “insight sessions” with fintech entrepreneurs, investors and partners.

Ross Nichols, co-founder of Just Move In, said the opportunity to join the

Jurassic Fibre

scheme would be “incredibly valuable” to the business.

Ultraleap, Bristol Fast-growing touchless tech company Ultraleap is predicted to be one of Bristol’s next unicorns.

The business was formed when Bristol University spinout Ultrahaptics and San Francisco-based computer hardware device manufacturer Leap Motion merged in 2019 – and it secured some major deals in 2020 for its hand-tracking THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Last year, the company secured £140k equity investment from the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSIF), which the co-founders are planning to use the funding to expand the business and hire more staff.

Bowimi, Somerset The Bath-based company was named among the UK’s best new tech companies in 2020.

The firm, which is owned by Dom Bowcock and Dan Ghadimi, was a regional winner of Tech Nation’s annual Rising Stars competition, which recognises Britain’s most innovative technology businesses.

Bowimi allows brands to get products to its target audience by sending free samples to a person’s mobile phone at the point of sale.

The company uses WiFi, QR codes and weblinks to secure consumers and send them free products to trial alongside digital experiences, with no app download needed.

Dom said: “It’s been a tough year for most people, not least for those working in hospitality and live events. We know that tech like ours can be the catalyst for recovery.”

Touchless tech company Ultraleap is predicted to be one of Bristol’s next unicorns

and mid-air haptic technology, including with a US cinema advertising business.

It also signed a five-year agreement with the Aquarium of the Pacific in California for its technology and was named one of the top 50 most innovative technology companies in the West of England.

In 2020, Ultraleap developed a way to make public touchscreens touchless in a bid to stop the spread of germs. Its application – known as TouchFree – lets companies retrofit existing kiosks and touchscreens so people are able interact with the screen without touching it.

The company uses camera technology and hand-tracking software that means the screens can work with touchless gesture control.

Jurassic Fibre, Devon Exeter-based Jurassic Fibre has ambitious plans to extend the roll out of its full-fibre network across the West Country.

The company, which was founded in 2018 by Michael Maltby, a resident of Sidmouth in East Devon, is part of the Fern Trading Group. It is spending more than £250million building its fibre network in Devon, Dorset and Somerset to bring ultrafast broadband to 350,000 homes.

Most recently it expanded its roll-out to Barnstaple, Wellington, West Hill and Marsh Green.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

In the past year, Jurassic Fibre has recruited more than 175 staff from Devon and Somerset to ensure it can roll out its network ahead of the government’s 2026 target for full-fibre broadband to be universally available across the UK. Glas Data, Cornwall The Truro agri-tech company was founded in 2018 by Rob Sanders and Colin Phillipson, who met on Falmouth University’s Launchpad course.

Glas Data

The duo noticed data fragmentation issues in the agricultural sector so decided to come up with a way to help the industry become more productive.

They established Glas Data and developed a platform, known as GlasCore, which helps farmers automate and bring their data together for better and more informed production.

Among its uses, the system can alert farmers when animal feed silos are almost empty and automatically place an order with a feed supplier.

Graphcore, Bristol Bristol-based artificial intelligence chip maker Graphcore is now valued at $2.8billion after raising a whopping $222million (£162.5million) in its latest funding round in December 2020.

The Series E funding round was led by Ontario Teachers’ Pensions Plan Board as well as new investors Fidelity International and Schroders. Existing Graphcore investors, including Baillie Gifford and Draper Esprit, also joined the round. Graphcore’s latest investment brought the total funds raised by the company to more than $710million since it was co-founded by Nigel Toon and Simon Knowles in 2016.

The business has developed one of the most advanced intelligence processing units in the world. The technology is now used in machine learning globally to help power driverless cars and robots.

Graphcore achieved ‘unicorn’ status in 2018 – and has continued to grow rapidly in the last two years. The company says it expects 2021 to be another “big year” with advances in artificial intelligence moving apace.

Ripjar, Gloucestershire The Cheltenham-based data intelligence company raised $36.8million (£27million) in Series B funding from Long Ridge Equity Partners in 2020.

Since the company was founded in 2013 by five former GCHQ employees, it has raised more than $60million, with Long Ridge joining existing investors Winton Capital Ltd and Accenture plc.

According to Ripjar, the funding will accelerate new product development and facilitate the expansion of the firm’s ground-breaking data intelligence platform, Labyrinth.

Ripjar is also planning to expand its sales and marketing presence in Asia, North America, it said.

In a sign of the company’s growing momentum, Ripjar recently reached the 20,000 user mark and signed six new customers during the lockdown. During this difficult period, the company also

became profitable.

Ocean3D, Cornwall The 3D virtual reality photography scanning businesses was set up by former army reservist Chris Wood in 2019 to make it easier for people to navigate places such as airports and train stations.

His company, based in Penzance, creates virtual reality scenarios of public spaces, with the idea of improving customer experience, in particular for people with disabilities.

According to the company, it was the first UK 3D tour creation business to be awarded the National Autistic Society ‘Autism Friendly’ award and it was also named the Innovation Gateway winner at the New Civil Engineer Future of Airports conference in 2020.

Chris says the company is in the process of developing a number of “exciting ideas” in 2021, including planning to integrate chat bots into its tours for partially-sighted people, or people who speak a different language.

Moortec, Devon Plymouth-based Moortec provides monitors and sensors for silicon chips and has customers in the US, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Russia and Israel.

In early 2020, the company, which also has a branch in Gdansk in Poland, opened its third office in Bristol.

The business has been scaling rapidly since private equity firm Altitude invested in the firm in 2016.

In November last year, Altitude exited the business after Moortec was bought up by Synopsys Inc, a US-based EDA and semiconductor IP vendor.

Synopsys Inc said Moortec’s technology would provide a “key component” to its new Silicon Lifecycle Management Platform and would allow the business to grow further.

Gapsquare, Bristol Software company Gapsquare helps businesses comply with gender pay gap regulations.

The company, which was founded by Dr Zara Nanu in 2017, has been growing during the pandemic and took on three new members of staff in 2020.

It also launched an interactive workforce management dashboard last year Gapsquare founder Dr Zara Nanu

that uses data to help employers make decisions around managing people in crisis.

The new platform helps global businesses track changes to business operations, compare across industries and plan ahead..

The company has also moved its services to a “pay-what-you-can” model, rather than setting a fixed price, in a bid to help organisations worried about budget.

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 9

Hinkley C progress continues despite pandemic Hinkley Point C’s delivery director, Nigel Cann, explains what 2020 was like for one of Europe’s largest construction sites

T

He speed of the pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to South West businesses in 2020 – and the length of the crisis has tested business resilience like never before.

As a major business in the region, building a piece of nationally-important infrastructure, we have multiple responsibilities to balance – to the community, to workers, suppliers and shareholders.

It was clear from the outset of the crisis, therefore, that we could only continue construction by creating a safe place to work and protecting workers and the community. We took rapid action to reduce numbers on site to enable social distancing and introduced many measures to prevent the spread of infection.

We hired 80 extra buses to reduce numbers on transport, brought in temperature checks and our own COVID testing capability. We reconfigured canteens and made masks mandatory. We changed shift patterns and focussed on reinforcing a culture of personal responsibility among employees.

The success of these measures allowed 10 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

us to avoid the huge disruption and economic damage of a total shut down.

We also thought about our relationship with the community and our impact on the local economy. We decided to keep employing our many local suppliers as normal – even though there were fewer construction workers on site to support. We remained committed to employing and training young people and apprentices from the South West.

In this context, it is a remarkable achievement that so many of our 2020 milestones have been met and we continue to make good progress on site. Of the 20 key targets that we set ourselves last year, we achieved 18 and we will reach the final two in the coming weeks.

Like many other businesses, we also found that the pandemic was a catalyst for change and a test of character. We discovered that many people could successfully work from home with the right IT support. We trusted people to juggle their responsibilities as they needed. We learned to adapt and innovate to overcome problems.

This year, more than ever, we owe our continuing momentum to our people.

They’ve kept cranes lifting, apprentices learning, the jetty moving, sites connecting, tunnels boring, designs arriving, factories manufacturing and deliveries moving.

Our people are our greatest asset and they helped us continue with our mis-

Milestones achieved in 2020 » Completion of the base for reactor unit 2 on time » Tunnel 1 finished » Unit 1 cooling pipes completed » Unit 2 liner cup lift achieved » Turbine steel supports erected

» 700,000 lifts in 2020 » 400,000 tonnes delivered by sea » Over 700 apprentices trained so far » £2.7 billion invested in our region

sion to fight climate change by helping Britain reach net zero We are now focused on the next phase of the project as more of the power station rises above ground. Teams have already started installing hundreds of miles of pipes and cables.

Hinkley Point C is also strengthening the South West’s regional skills and expertise with the creation of a new national welding centre of excellence in Somerset, a UK nuclear technical services organisation in Gloucester and an engineering design centre in Bristol.

In December, the Government announced that negotiations would start for Sizewell C – a near identical copy of Hinkley Point C. This was a huge moment for new nuclear in Britain and a vote of confidence in progress on our project. It will bring opportunities for many of the 2,500 British companies already supplying Hinkley Point C. Success at Sizewell C is underpinned

by Hinkley Point C and the learning and innovation from Somerset. It will be great news for jobs, skills and careers for thousands of workers across the country.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Progress at Hinkley Point C was maintained in 2020 despite the challenges of the COVID pandemic

Investing in the regional economy The hinkley Point C supply chain team has continued to play a key role in ensuring that regional businesses benefit from the opportunities that are still available across the project. The team has continued to grow and develop its capabilities in line with the project’s development.

This adaptability, coupled with detailed knowledge of the project, means they have helped more than a thousand South West companies secure over £2.7 billion in contracts so far.

A locAl compAny supporting globAl projects Based in Portishead, Osprey, has just won a new multi-million pound contract to build on its existing work at hinkley Point C. Using its expertise and local knowledge, the company will now provide logistical support for transporting all of hinkley Point C’s largest equipment via a dedicated port facility at Avonmouth. In addition to safely delivering the tunnel boring machines, Osprey has already handled thousands of tonnes of structural steelwork for the 500m-long jetty that has been built into the Bristol Channel.

Osprey has also undertaken work packages for Sizewell C, transferring expertise and learning from hPC to benefit the development of the next fleet of the UK’s nuclear power stations – demonstrating how local companies are supporting global projects.

Osprey has delivered some of the largest equipment used at Hinkley by sea

Strengthening Britain’s nuclear expertise A nEW engineering design centre in Bristol has been created to support the next phase of construction at Hinkley Point C. The UK EPR Design Centre at Aztec West brings nuclear designers and engineers together from EDF and British engineering partners and suppliers.

Led by EDF, around 700 people from different companies from the UK and abroad will be employed at the centre. It will bring an additional 300 jobs to Britain to support the design, construction and commissioning of UK EPR nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point C in Somerset and Sizewell C in Suffolk.

The UK EPR Design Centre will play a vital part in the delivery of Britain’s ambition to fight climate change and reach net zero emissions.

It brings together a number of supply and engineering firms including EDF, Framatome UK, Atkins, Jacobs, Assystem, Anotech and Vulcain.

Blackburn-based nuclear engineering

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

firm Assystem recently announced the creation of 100 jobs in the UK to support construction at Hinkley Point C. For Sizewell C, much of the design of Hinkley Point C will be replicated, reducing risk to cost and schedule. The UK EPR Design Centre team will use its experience of the Hinkley Point C design to ensure success of the replication strategy for Sizewell C. Tilly Spencer, director of Edvance UK, is leading the UK EPR Design Centre.

She said: “The UK EPR Design Centre creates a collaborative environment with key strategic partners to grow the UK’s design engineering long-term capability and skills.

“We are bringing together a diverse group of people with the right skills and experience of the UK context and global nuclear industry which will help us as we move into the next phases of construction at Hinkley Point C and look ahead to replicate not only the design, but also the learnings, at Sizewell.”

The EPR Design Centre will play a vital role in helping Britain achieve net zero emissions

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 11

Arena project still on track Conor Gogarty speaks to the man behind plans for one of the most exciting development projects on the horizon in the West

Y

TL Arena managing director Andrew Billingham believes “very early 2024” is the “absolute latest” its massive new arena project will open its doors, he revealed in a wide-ranging interview with the Western Daily Press.

He spoke about the progress expected to be made in 2021 and how coronavirus is likely to impact the development.

The 17,080-capacity venue in the Brabazon hangars at the former Filton Airfield is set to become the third largest arena in the UK. One of Bristol’s longest-running and most hotly-debated sagas, plans for the arena were first unveiled in 2003. It seemed destined for a city centre location before Mayor Marvin Rees scrapped those proposals in 2018.

YTL, a Malaysian investment firm, finally secured planning permission for the Filton site last year.

Mr Billingham is used to leading major projects, having overseen the 2014 launch of Bristol Sport, which brought together Bristol City and Bears football and rugby clubs.

He said: “We’ve been working through 12 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

the details in technical design. Projects of this scale take an immense amount of time, but we anticipate we can start enabling work this spring or early summer.

“We’ve got 70-year-old hangars where enabling work will happen internally and externally, in preparation for the main construction to begin.

“Overall, we’re looking at around a three-year build from now. We think it will be late 2023 for opening.

“I don’t think we can be certain about anything. It may slip into 2024, but we absolutely anticipate with a strong wind it will be ready by the end of 2023 – at the absolute latest, very early 2024.”

When will passers-by start noticing the development taking shape?

“I’m not sure they’ll visibly be able to see big changes in 2021,” said Mr Billingham.

“There will be enabling works this year, with internal demolition and preparation, but the main construction is going to be in 2022.

“I’m really proud of how we’ve worked through the last 10 months to make sure coronavirus doesn’t really affect us. The team has worked incredibly hard.

continue to be a problem in years to “It has to have affected us slightly, as it come. Could this mean a change to the has everyone, but the team has shown arena’s planned capacity of 17,080, to real desire and will to make sure we’re ensure social distancing? on track with this long-awaited arena for “It’s too early to answer that question,” Bristol.”

Mr Billingham said.

He believes YTL is fortunate to be able “Clearly stadiums and arenas are to shape its arena with coronavirus in going to need soft launch openings over mind. a period of time, with a reduced “Ultimately our primary objeccapacity which will then tive is customer safety and increase. experience,” Mr Billingham “I hope and think that added. by three years from “Live entertainment now, we will be able to is constantly evolving. have full capacity.”

If you look back at the There was controterrorist attack on versy in January over Manchester Arena, reports the governchanges were then ment rejected a deal implemented there, with the EU which and I have no doubt would have given musithings will be different cians visa-free touring after coronavirus. across Europe.

“I think there will be posiDoes YTL have concerns tives. It will accelerate contactless payment, and we can adapt Andrew Billingham Brexit might lead to bureaucratic difficulties for European acts now. With toilets, bathrooms and sanitibooked to perform in its arena? sation, we can take learnings.”

“We don’t,” Mr Billingham replied. “Of England’s chief medical officer Chris course, with any processes there needs Whitty has warned coronavirus could THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Bristol and the South ❝ ❝ West is a huge catchment area in desperate need of a worldclass live entertainment arena

Project timeline

A CGI of YTL Arena

to be an ironing-out period. In three years’ time I don’t feel there will be an issue at all.”

The managing director is optimistic the period after coronavirus will be a time of huge success for live entertainment.

“The industry anticipates a huge surge in ticket sales once people can be out and about. We think in circa three years’ time, there will be a real upward curve and surge.

“Bristol and the South West is a huge catchment area in desperate need of a world-class live entertainment arena. It’s a catchment area of 16 million people, which is larger than Manchester’s.

“We expect to have around 130 live events a year, not just music, but sports, comedy, family entertainment, things like the Strictly Come Dancing tour.”

Mr Billingham believes the venue will be vital to Bristol’s economic recovery from the pandemic.

“You only have to look at the hospitality industry to see that it’s really on its knees, and the levels of support have not been as significant as for other sectors.

“The arena’s going to be incredibly THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

important towards driving tourism, overnight stays, sourcing products locally. We want to concentrate as much employment locally as we can.

“The latest figures are the arena will push £1.5billion into the region over 20 years.”

YTL is also behind Brabazon, the huge neighbourhood being built near the arena. The estate will eventually accommodate 2,675 homes, 62 acres of employment space, three new schools, a park, health centre and retail and leisure, as well as a new North Filton railway station and a dedicated MetroBus. A brochure circulated to potential buyers announced the first 302 homes will be collectively known as the Hangar District, featuring a range of one and two-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses.

Residents are expected to move into the first cluster of homes in the Hangar District before the end of March, though the number of homes ready by that time is yet to be announced.

The brochure says: “Set among peaceful, tree-lined streets across a south-facing hillside, the Hangar District will be a

haven at the heart of Brabazon.

“With the historic aircraft hangar 16U reborn as a local, social hub, and with its café spilling out onto the green space, picnic spots and playground in Brabazon Park, the Hangar District is a new urban quarter that’s set to become one of the best addresses in Bristol.”

A three-bedroom home at the Hangar District will start from £436,250, while the prices for the apartments and twobedroom houses are yet to be revealed.

The 380-acre development will be split into seven districts: Brabazon West, West Lake District, Hangar District, East Lake District, Eastern Quarter, Enterprise District and Learning District.

It is boldly described in YTL’s marketing as “the most exciting place to be in the South West”, as well as “Bristol’s bestconnected new neighbourhood”.

The pitch to prospective residents reads: “You’ll be able to wander around independent stores, artisan cafés and creative pop-ups, or watch artists take the stage at the supersonic new YTL Arena complex”.

YTL says the development will take at least 20 years from now to completion.

The key stages of YTL’s project since the start of 2019, when the developer revealed details of its plans for YTL Arena – named in honour of Yeoh Tiong Lay, who founded YTL in Malaysia back in 1955. » March 2019 Massive Attack performs two shows at Steel Yard, a custom-built venue on Filton Airfield with a capacity of 14,000.

Many see the events as a test run for how the city would cope when tens of thousands of people try to get to a concert on the edge of the city during rush hour. » April 2019 YTL announces its design team for the arena project.

Grimshaw Architects – the company who designed The Eden Project and Thermae Bath Spa – will be working in partnership with Manica Architecture Landscape architects Grant Associates and planning consultants Avison Young are also appointed. » July 2019 YTL gives the public its first chance to see the arena plans for Filton.

The firm hosts a number of roadshows across Bristol and South Gloucestershire, and also opens up the hangars for public tours. » November 2019 YTL formally submits a planning application to Bristol City Council to build an arena complex at the Brabazon hangars in Filton. » March 2020 The plans are officially approved by Bristol City Council. Linked applications across the local authority border are approved by South Gloucestershire Council. The decision is put forward to the Secretary of State for the final say. » April 2020 The Secretary of State confirms that it will not call in the application, providing the final approval YTL needed to push forward its plans. » October 2020 Former Bristol mayor George Ferguson raises doubts about the future of the arena, claiming the project has “doubled in cost due to construction complications within the old hangar”.

YTL responds: “Our programme was to start construction in mid-2021 and we are still on target, which means we are on track to open our doors in 2023.”

Mayor Marvin Rees accuses his predecessor of “scaremongering”, and says the city had not just “dodged a bullet, we dodged a missile” by scrapping the Temple Island site.

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 13

Hannah Baker assesses the West’s critical aerospace sector

T

HE UK’s aerospace sector is attempting to navigate the road to recovery after the collapse in air travel caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Sector heavyweights, such as Airbus and Rolls-Royce – both major employers in the South West – made huge reductions to their global workforces last year, including jobs across the UK. According to analysis by Deloitte, slow recovery in passenger travel could continue to impact Britain’s aerospace industry in 2021, including aircraft deliveries and revenues.

Deloitte said the development of a vaccine could result in short-term growth in passenger traffic, driven by pent-up demand, but is unlikely to offset the damage to lucrative business travel.

ADS, the aerospace trade body, has also warned the aviation and aerospace industries are facing a “deepening crisis” – and said “urgent action” was required to prevent longer-term damage.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of ADS, said travel bans and fragile consumer confidence had left airlines, airports and aerospace manufacturers uncertain about future demand.

According to ADS, there were only 27 orders globally for commercial aircraft in November 2020 – a 91 per cent decrease on the same period in 2019. When compared to delivery numbers over the last decade, ADS said it was the worst November for deliveries on record.

A no-deal Brexit – previously also a major concern for the sector – has now been avoided however. Airbus said it would “analyse the consequences” of the Brexit deal on its operations – but welcomed the news.

“We are pleased that the potential disruption from a no-deal scenario has been avoided,” an Airbus spokesman said. “A strong partnership will generate benefits right across Europe.”

But what does it mean for the future of the aerospace industry in the West of England?

What will happen to the South West’s aerospace sector in 2021?

The South West has one of the largest concentrations of aerospace and defence capabilities in Europe, and is the biggest aerospace cluster in the UK. The University of the West of England’s Dr Steve Wright, an aerospace expert who previously worked for Airbus in Filton, predicted in March last year there would be “a lot of pain” for the sector, which he suggested would probably last for a couple of years at least.

Fast forward to 2021 and it looks like those predictions are being realised.

Despite the doom and gloom within the commercial aerospace sector, however, there are glimmers of hope for the longer term, says Dr Wright.

He believes there will be a shift within aerospace – once dominated by a handful of major global corporations – that will allow exciting new companies to emerge.

“The South West has always had a tra14 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

Navigating the recovery dition of aerospace and we don’t want this to slip through our fingers.

“In the region we are lucky because the industry has been around so long.

The good news is because of that it is baked into our local economy.”

Dr Wright says although bigger sector employers, such as Airbus or RollsRoyce, might spring to mind when thinking of the South West, there are plenty of “Fred in the shed” operators too.

By this he means small companies, often with just a handful of people, based in small industrial sites, who are working on future technologies.

“There are two new threads of aerospace – drones and electric flight,” he said.

“That’s really interesting for the South West because different areas of the UK are jockeying for this new piece of industry. Everyone wants to be the next Apple of the skies.”

According to Dr Wright, drones, in particular, are becoming a major market.

“The military is taking a huge interest in unmanned drones because they see the opportunity – and the threat – of using them.

“Then there are also companies that are using these drones to deliver goods by air.

“Everybody is wondering whether this is going to be a thing – but nobody knows how much it will take off.”

Dr Wright points to Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace, which was founded in 2016 by green energy giant Ovo’s Stephen Fitzpatrick and is leading the race to develop the world’s first all-electric ‘flying taxi’.

Last year, the company unveiled its designs for what it said would be the

world’s first certified all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

According to its website, Vertical Aerospace’s VA-1X will be able to carry four passengers for 100 miles at cruise speeds of 150mph. It is currently in development with flight testing taking place in 2021, followed by certification in 2024 and initial commercial services starting shortly afterwards, the company said. “eVTOL technology will revolutionise travel, combining the safety of commercial airlines with the disruptive environmental and cost benefits of the electrifi-

Airbus and Rolls-Royce made huge reductions to their global workforces last year

cation of flight,” chief executive Michael Cervenka told Bristol Live.

“At Vertical Aerospace we believe that people should be able to quickly and affordably get from A to B without sacrificing the planet – with the VA-1X, this vision will start to be realised in under five years,” he added There are other small companies emerging too, such as Manna, which is based on the Welsh side of the Bristol Channel in Pontypool.

The business uses custom-developed aerospace-grade drones to deliver directly from restaurants to people’s homes, flying at an altitude of 80 metres and a speed of more than 80kph – and, according to the company, can do it in less than three minutes.

“The bigger aerospace giants are at risk so that’s why it’s good to have these smaller companies being developed,” added Dr Wright.

“Young companies behave like young people and old companies behave like old people, and because of that, from an investment point of view it’s not for the faint hearted.

“But it gives young businesses a chance to compete.

Dr Wright says history has shown that world aviation is able to recover from crises.

“The ones I remember are the Gulf Crisis, 9/11 and the 2008 global recession,” he said.

“Every 10 or 12 years the world airline industry is hit by some major shock [but] the world aviation economy always catches back up.”

He added: “Until 2020 the aerospace industry had been consolidating – and now it’s starting again.”

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Regional employment experts are trusted recruitment partner for challenging year Russell Smith, managing director of Bristol-based Hunter Selection, explains why he thinks the West’s tech and manufacturing economy will quickly rebound from the coronavirus pandemic

Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace is leading the race to develop the world’s first all-electric ‘flying taxi’

Headquartered in the South West, Hunter Selection is the uK’s leading recruitment consultancy for engineering, manufacturing, service and technology.

Our experienced consultants work in dedicated teams to find skilled engineers, manufacturing professionals and It specialists. this year will be a unique year for us all as we seek to recover from the financial and social effects of the global coronavirus pandemic. economic growth will be at the core of that recovery and no more so than in the manufacturing and technology sectors.

We expect unprecedented demand for skilled staff in 2021 and are already seeing an obvious uplift in new vacancies despite national lockdown restrictions.

Business confidence will recover quickly, and the challenge will be to meet the needs of ambitious companies looking to grow.

It is expected that the demand for tal-

ented, skilled and experienced candidates will continue to exceed the available supply in many areas. a capable and trusted recruitment partner will be a greater asset than ever. delivering the level of service and professional processes normally associated with executive selection, Hunter Selection offers a ‘fee on success only’ approach to the recruitment of hard-to-find technical personnel.

For permanent or contract vacancies, from service engineers to technical directors, from business analysts to CIOs, Hunter Selection can help.

By understanding your business in depth and as regional employment experts we are able to represent you effectively and attract the best applicants in a competitive market. this is why Hunter Selection is the recruiter of choice for so many of the uK’s leading employers.

We care passionately about the engineering, manufacturing and technology sectors and are active supporters of local and national SteM and apprenticeship initiatives. the Western daily Press has always been a great advocate for the region’s engineering and manufacturing businesses and we are pleased to continue our support for the Western daily Press Business Guide in 2021.

Opportunity on the horizon With a laser focus on minimising risk and enhancing efficiencies, Vistra provides expert advisory and administrative support for Fund, Corporate, Capital Market and Private Wealth clients.

Find your next opportunity www.vistra.com Data suppliers for the Western Daily Press Business Guide 2021 DISCLAIMER: This document is subject to, and must be read in conjunction with our Legal Notice (including Disclaimer) at http://www.vistra.com/notices.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 15

U n d e r st a n d m y e h t e k a m , s e g n e chall complex s imple.

Uniquely placed in the industry, Smith & Williamson has been combining: • • • •

tax; accounting; financial planning; and investment management services for over a century.

As everyone’s financial needs are different, we work closely with our clients to provide a bespoke service — with direct access to a team of professionals from each service area, who can give specialist advice on a wide range of financial issues.

To find out more, please contact: Nigel Hardy, Managing Partner — Bristol Smith & Williamson LLP nigel.hardy@smithandwilliamson.com 0117 376 2261 smithandwilliamson.com

You &

The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and investors may not receive back the original amount invested. © Tilney Smith & Williamson Limited 2021. Smith & Williamson LLP regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of investment business activities. A member of Nexia International. Smith & Williamson Financial Services Limited authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Smith & Williamson Investment Management LLP authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate all of the products and services referred to in this document, including Tax, Assurance and Business Services.

16 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

I

Get your business fit for the ‘new’ future

T has been great to see many businesses adapt and thrive throughout the pandemic, while for those facing ongoing uncertainty and challenges, the roll-out of the Covid vaccines now provides some welcome light at the end of the tunnel.

However, the future still remains uncertain for many. These businesses still have time to take action and it is vital that this window of opportunity is used wisely. Relying on a return to business as usual is a high-risk strategy, and now is the time to future-proof your business.

Here are some of our top tips about what business owners should be doing: » Have a sharp focus on where you make and lose money It sounds simple, but many businesses do not have a clear picture of this. Analyse your data from different angles and challenge your assumptions and beliefs about the business. When this is clear, the root problems can be identified and solutions developed. » Either fix or exit the loss-making elements Exiting contracts, customers, divisions or subsidiaries can reduce your risk and allow you to focus on maximising your core business. Allow sufficient time to implement this as there can be bumps along the road. Make sure your stakeholders are on board and think about all of the implications to ensure that this does not damage the core business. » Collaborate Increased collaboration has been a key

Now is the time to futureproof your business, say business turnaround and recovery experts Claire Burden and Tim Sloggett, of Smith & Williamson

positive theme to emerge during the pandemic. This has not only been within organisations, but externally in different ways between business owners, industries, suppliers, customers, lenders and professional advisors.

Don’t underestimate the power of collaboration and relationships. » Have a deep understanding of your customers Consider how you can widen your customer base, as the loss of a key customer is a common cause of business failure. If you are currently unable to provide your product/service without making a profit, can you raise prices? Can you improve your offering, enter new markets or provide it more efficiently? » Develop a deep understanding of your supply chain The loss of a key supplier is a common cause of the failure of good businesses, which could often have been avoided.

Understand whether your suppliers could be at risk and have a plan to replace them or mitigate the risks. » Optimise your working capital Improving debtor collections, stretching

creditors and changing your terms is the first place to look. This is not always as simple as it sounds and can have an impact on relationships. It’s amazing what analysing your data in a different way can do to unlock tied-up cash without impacting supplier and customer relationships. » Put the company first No one likes taking difficult decisions such as making redundancies. However, we have already seen some businesses burn through Covid-19 funding packages and go into liquidation because they did not want to lose good staff that they felt would be difficult to replace when demand returns; but now they have no business and all the jobs have been lost. By putting the company first and fully assessing the downside scenarios and all the options, these decisions can become clearer. » Open up your options Even if you think there may be a risk that you cannot repay debts or will run out of cash, there may be other options. The government has introduced new rescue tools to help businesses (the Moratorium

and Restructuring Plan to help buy the business more time and compromise its debts) and we have access to specialist funders that may be able to help. » Scenario plan and create contingency plans Having a clear timeline of the potential scenarios, potential actions that can be taken and when they need to be taken, including fall-back contingency plans, can give business owners peace of mind and renewed control when there is uncertainty. » Don’t forget the wellbeing of you and your employees Last year was a tough year for all. Everyone understands this and now is the time to support each other, be open and get help without any fear of stigma.

O

f course, there are many other actions that businesses can take, and Smith & Williamson can help to get you match fit and battle ready for 2021.

Initial conversations to consider how we may help are free of charge. Our focus is always to provide a clear return on investment. As such, our approach to fees is flexible and transparent, and we can discuss a suitable fixed fee to provide you with the certainty that you need. » For further information please contact Claire Burden on 0117 376 2283 or claire. burden@smithandwilliamson.com, or Tim Sloggett on 0117 376 2269 or tim. sloggett@smithandwilliamson.com

Disclaimer: Tax and Government legislation is that prevailing at the time, is subject to change without notice and depends on individual circumstances. Clients should always seek appropriate tax advice from their financial adviser before making financial decisions. By necessity, this briefing can only provide a short overview and it is essential to seek professional advice before applying the contents of this article. No responsibility can be taken for any loss arising from action taken or refrained from on the basis of this publication. Details correct at time of writing. Smith & Williamson LLP is part of the Tilney Smith & Williamson group.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 17

Steve Blacker, head of business information at Vistra, which provided the data for the Top 150 companies in the West, considers the economic outlook for 2021

W

E are once again delighted to be working with the Western Daily Press on the 2021 Business Guide.

What a year 2020 was, and far removed from any prediction that we could have imagined. The vast implications of Covid-19 and the repercussions will be felt well into 2021 and beyond. Additionally, the last-minute Brexit deal was secured on December 24 just as a nodeal scenario was looking likely.

Only time will tell how these two events will shape the future of business in the South West, and the UK as a whole, for many years to come.

Top 150 Companies A familiar pattern is seen in list of the Top 150 companies in the West, with UK-based international companies and foreign subsidiaries dominating the region. The top slot again is taken by Imperial Brands, which globally employ more than 30,000 people.

Energy suppliers and technology companies are a major force in the top 20.

Still, it’s also good to see locally built businesses, such as Dyson, holding their own among such prominent names.

As we look to the other entries, Viridor Limited is a new entry at number 30.

Viridor provides recycling, renewable energy and waste management solutions, tackling a problem that has become increasingly topical over the past few years.

Once more, the Business Guide shows some strong performances across the region even in the current climate, but what is the general economic outlook for 2021?

Outlook for 2021 The pandemic has created a huge global shock and delivered the deepest global recession in decades.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stated that the global economy is climbing out of the depths it had plummeted during the lockdown of March and April. However, the pandemic continues to rage in many countries. While China has started to recover faster than expected, the global economy still has a long way to go to return to pre-pandemic activity levels.

Closer to home, the UK economy continues to be constrained by the strict lockdown measures imposed early in 2020 and 2021.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has shown that the UK gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have increased by a record 16.0% in Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2020, revised up from the first estimate of 15.5% growth.

18 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

Yeovil-based Screwfix moved up one place in this year’s Top 150 list

Region’s firms show resilience Though this reflects some level of growth/optimism, it is still 8.6% below where it was at the end of 2019, revised from an initial estimate of 9.7%.

Compared with the same quarter a year ago, the UK economy fell by a revised 8.6%.

While output in the services, production and construction sectors increased by record amounts in Quarter 3 2020, the level of output remains below Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2019 levels, before the impact of the coronavirus pandemic was seen.

If we look at the IHS Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, this finished the year on a revised rate of 57.5 in December; the index is a measure of how well the economy is performing and is often closely linked to GDP rates. The indexes fall between 0 and 100 with scores above 50 indicating expansion and those below indicating contraction.

The increase is primarily due to rising new orders as clients brought forward orders to guard against potential disruption caused by the end of the Brexit transition period.

The latest Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) survey carried out by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in

England and Wales (ICAEW) is still in negative territory. The result reflects the coronavirus pandemic and, for many businesses, the recent uncertainty at the end of the EU transition arrangements.

However, it is interesting to note that at -19%, the confidence index’s current level is similar to the very low level of Q4 2019, when businesses faced uncertainty over both the general election and the possibility of the UK leaving the EU without a trade deal.

The BCM notes that GDP is rising after its collapse earlier in the year, but it has much ground to recover.

The furlough scheme has been important, protecting jobs and household incomes. Other measures have supported individual sectors, but there are concerns about the “second wave” of infections and the lockdowns and restrictions introduced in the UK. In 2021, a lot will depend on how quickly vaccines can be made available.

Business opportunities in turbulent times As we look at the list of the Top 150 companies in the region and the current market situation, it is more important than ever to monitor for early signs of negative events that could impact your

business.

As one of the world’s leading trust, fiduciary, fund and corporate service providers, we help businesses, both locally and globally, tackle uncertain market conditions and seize opportunities wherever they arise.

With a laser focus on minimising risk and enhancing efficiencies, Vistra provides expert advisory and administrative support to fund, corporate, capital market and private wealth clients; helping capital flow, protecting investors and safeguarding assets across multiple industries. Vistra is present in 46 jurisdictions and employs over 4,600 professionals.

Vistra also offers a comprehensive anti-money laundering and global monitoring solution to protect companies against reputational and financial risk.

Our Bristol team has provided business information and compliance product insight for over 30 years to over 25,000 companies per year. » To find out more about these services or the many other legal, regulatory and compliance services offered by Vistra in Bristol, and globally, please visit www. vistra.com or email me at steve.blacker@ vistra.com. I would be happy to arrange a call to discuss.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Top 150 businesses 2021 2021 rank rank

2020 2020 rank rank

Company name name Company

City City

1 1

1 1

IMPERIAL BRANDS BRANDS PLC PLC IMPERIAL

Bristol Bristol

1,690,000 1,690,000

31,594,000 31,594,000

2

3

AIRBUS OPERATIONS OPERATIONS LIMITED LIMITED AIRBUS

Bristol Bristol

518,000 518,000

5,525,000 5,525,000

8,469 The The design design and andproduction productionof ofwings wingsand andassociated associatedequipment equipmentfor forthe the 8,469 Airbus range rangeof ofaircraft aircraft Airbus

66

3

2

INTEL CORPORATION CORPORATION (UK) (UK) INTEL LIMITED

Swindon Swindon

425,343 425,343

5,105,708 5,105,708

665 The The sale, sale, marketing marketingand anddistribution distributionof ofIntel Intelproducts productsfor forcomputers. computers.

665

44

4

4

DYSON TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY LIMITED LIMITED

Malmesbury Malmesbury

544,000 544,000

4,760,400 4,760,400

5

6

TECHNOLOGIES SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES HOLDING PLC

Swindon Swindon

275,689 275,689

2,600,717 2,600,717

6

7

NUCLEAR EDF ENERGY NUCLEAR LIMITED GENERATION LIMITED

Gloucester Gloucester

159,000 159,000

2,465,000 2,465,000

5,535 The The generation generationand andsupply supplyof ofelectricity. electricity.

5,535

-7 -7

7

11

NORTHERN LIMITED LIMITED NPOWER NORTHERN

Swindon Swindon

629,000 629,000

1,886,000 1,886,000

3,327 Marketing Marketing and andsupply supplyof ofelectricity electricityand andnatural naturalgas gasand andrelated related 3,327 services to to domestic, domestic,commercial commercialand andindustrial industrialconsumers. consumers. services

-1 -1

8

9

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS SOLUTIONS Swindon ALLSTAR BUSINESS Swindon LIMITED

73,413 73,413

1,876,821 1,876,821

259 The The sale sale of of out-sourced out-sourcedback-office back-officemaintenance maintenanceand andfuel fuelprocessing processing 259 to the the automotive automotivemarket. market. to

9

10

(UK) LIMITED LIMITED PUMA ENERGY (UK)

Bristol Bristol

-14,304 -14,304

1,730,227 1,730,227

137 To To operate operate and andexpand expandthe thefuels fuelsstorage storageand andwholesale wholesalebusiness business 137 throughout England Englandand andWales.

Wales. throughout

10

11

POWER WESTERN POWER PLC DISTRIBUTION PLC

Bristol Bristol

749,700 749,700

1,723,500 1,723,500

6,574 AA group group engaged engagedin into toimprove improvethe thereliability reliabilityof ofelectricity electricitysupplies. supplies.

6,574

11

12

DIRECT LIMITED LIMITED SCREWFIX DIRECT

Yeovil Yeovil

170,128 170,128

1,683,798 1,683,798

12

8

U.K. HONDA OF THE U.K. MANUFACTURING LIMITED LIMITED MANUFACTURING

Swindon Swindon

7,615 7,615

1,546,863 1,546,863

13

15

LIMITED C&J CLARK LIMITED

Street Street

-84,400 -84,400

1,468,800 1,468,800

14

13

PLC SMITHS NEWS PLC

Swindon Swindon

-37,600 -37,600

1,467,900 1,467,900

5,026 Leading Leading UK UK specialist specialistdistributor distributorand andaaleading leadingplayer playerininnewspaper newspaper 5,026 and magazine magazinewholesaling wholesalingand andmixed mixedfreight freightdeliveries. deliveries. and

-8 -8

15

14

WESTCON GROUP GROUP EUROPEAN EUROPEAN OPERATIONS LIMITED LIMITED

Cirencester Cirencester

-11,095 -11,095

1,332,479 1,332,479

1,249 1,249 The The distribution distributionof ofnetworking networkingand andcommunications communicationsequipment equipmentfor for leading leading technology technologyvendors. vendors.

55

16

17

FIRST GREATER WESTERN WESTERN LIMITED

Swindon Swindon

55,961 55,961

1,257,285 1,257,285

6,161 6,161 The The operation operationof ofpassenger passengerrailway railwayservices. services.

88

17

19

SPIRAX-SARCO ENGINEERING ENGINEERING PLC

Cheltenham Cheltenham

236,800 236,800

1,242,400 1,242,400

7,833 7,833 Provides Provides engineering engineeringservices services

18

20

WINCANTON PLC PLC

Chippenham Chippenham

43,800 43,800

1,201,200 1,201,200

18,390 18,390 Provider Provider of of logistics logisticsand andsupply supplychain chainsolutions solutionsin inthe theUK UKand andIreland.

Ireland.

19

18

NEW LOOK RETAILERS RETAILERS LIMITED LIMITED Weymouth Weymouth

-296,364 -296,364

1,177,994 1,177,994

14,281 14,281 The The retail retail of of women's women'sfashion fashionwear wearand andrelated relatedaccessories. accessories.

20

21

ARVAL UK GROUP GROUP LIMITED LIMITED

Swindon Swindon

53,257 53,257

1,159,072 1,159,072

21

22

OVO GROUP LTD

Bristol Bristol

-53,897 -53,897

1,042,048 1,042,048

22

16

WH SMITH PLC

Swindon Swindon

-280,000 -280,000

1,021,000 1,021,000

14,514 14,514 Retailer Retailer in in convenience, convenience,books books&&news newsfor forthe theworld's world'stravelling travelling customer, customer, && high highstreet streetstationer, stationer,bookseller bookseller&&newsagent. newsagent.

-6 -6

23

25

THE MORTGAGE WORKS WORKS (UK) (UK) PLC

Swindon Swindon

285,997 285,997

1,017,970 1,017,970

The The provision provisionof ofresidential residentialmortgage mortgagelending lendingservices. services.

00

24

23

MATTHEW CLARK CLARK BIBENDUM BIBENDUM LIMITED

Bristol Bristol

4,415 4,415

1,010,288 1,010,288

25

24

ST. JAMES'S PLACE PLACE WEALTH WEALTH MANAGEMENT PLC PLC

Cirencester Cirencester

-79,605 -79,605

985,798 985,798

26

27

MEARS GROUP PLC PLC

Gloucester Gloucester

25,201 25,201

905,084 905,084

27

28

ALD ALD AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMOTIVE LIMITED LIMITED

Bristol Bristol

46,714 46,714

877,764 877,764

589 589 The The provision provisionof offleet fleetmanagement managementservices, services,including includingthe the arrangement arrangement of ofvehicle vehiclefinancing, financing,and andthe thesale saleof ofused usedvehicles. vehicles.

88

28 28

29 29

SAFRAN SAFRAN LANDING LANDING SYSTEMS SYSTEMS UK UK LTD LTD

Gloucester Gloucester

106,809 106,809

825,327 825,327

896 896 The The design, design, manufacture manufactureand andproduct productsupport supportof ofaircraft aircraftlanding landinggear gear for for civil civil and and military militaryaircraft aircraftand andhelicopters. helicopters.

55

29 29

15 15

C. C. & & J. J. CLARK CLARK INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED LIMITED

Street Street

-27,200 -27,200

790,000 790,000

9,268 9,268 The The manufacture manufactureand andretail retailof offootwear. footwear.

-5 -5

30 30

NEW NEW

VIRIDOR VIRIDOR LIMITED LIMITED

Taunton Taunton

105,800 105,800

757,800 757,800

2,899 2,899 AA group group engaged engagedin inthe theprovision provisionof ofwaste wastemanagement managementservices. services.

-2 -2

31 31

26 26

SUPERDRY SUPERDRY PLC PLC

Cheltenham Cheltenham

-166,900 -166,900

704,400 704,400

3,216 3,216 Design, Design, production production&&sale saleof ofclothing clothingand andaccessories. accessories.

-2 -2

32 32

34 34

DELPHI DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED LIMITED

Stonehouse Stonehouse

86,192 86,192

672,489 672,489

1,828 1,828 The The manufacture manufactureand andsupply supplyof ofdiesel dieselautomotive automotiveproducts productsand and technology technology to tocar carand andcommercial commercialvehicle vehiclemanufacturers. manufacturers.

18 18

33 33

31 31

ROTORK ROTORK P.L.C. P.L.C.

Bath Bath

124,057 124,057

669,344 669,344

3,612 3,612 Designs Designs && manufactures manufacturesactuators actuatorswhich whichare areused usedfor forthe theautomation automation of of industrial industrial valves valves&&flow flowcontrol controlproducts. products.

34 34

35 35

IVC IVC ACQUISITION ACQUISITION MIDCO MIDCO LTD LTD

Bristol Bristol

-191,408 -191,408

667,265 667,265

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Profit (Loss) (Loss) Profit before Taxation Taxation before Last avail. avail. yr yr Last (£000s) (£000s)

Turnover Turnover Last avail. avail. yr yr Last (£000s) (£000s)

Number of of Trade Trade description description Number employees employees Last avail. avail.

Last yr yr

Compound Compound Annual Annual Growth Growth Rate(%) (%) Rate

32,300 Creating Creating aa portfolio portfolioof ofhigh highquality qualitynext nextgeneration generation&&tobacco tobacco 32,300 products for for the theworld's world'ssmokers. smokers. products

3,194 The The research researchand anddevelopment developmentand andsub-licensing sub-licensingof ofpatents patentsand and 3,194 design rights. rights. design 21,050 AA group group engaged engagedin inthe theother otherbusiness businessactivity. activity.

21,050

55

138 138 DataNA NA Data

11,786 The The sale sale by by mail mailorder orderof oftools toolsand andfixings. fixings.

11,786

55

67 67 11

17 17

3,168 The The manufacture manufactureof ofmotor motorvehicles, vehicles,engines enginesand andvehicle vehicleparts. parts.

3,168 13,218 AA group group engaged engagedin inthe theretail retailand andmanufacture manufactureof ofshoes. shoes.

13,218

-11 -11 -1 -1

18 18

690 690 AA group group engaged engagedin inthe theprovision provisionof offleet fleetmanagement managementservices. services.

2,110 2,110 AA group group engaged engagedin inthe thesale saleof ofelectricity electricityand andgas. gas.

22 -6 -6 33 27 27

1,665 1,665 The The distribution distributionof ofalcoholic alcoholicand andnon-alcoholic non-alcoholicbeverages. beverages.

The The provision provisionof offinancial financialservices. services.

44 99

6,890 6,890 Provision Provision of of aarange rangeof ofoutsourced outsourcedservices servicesto tothe thepublic publicand andprivate private sectors. sectors.

11,768 11,768 AA group group engaged engagedin inthe theprovision provisionof ofveterinary veterinaryservices. services.

-1 -1

44 Data DataNA NA

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 19

2021 rank

2020 rank

Company name

City

35

NEW

YTL UTILITIES (UK) LIMITED

Bath

97,300

658,600

3,082 A group engaged in the supply of clean water and the treatment and disposal of waste water.

5

36

37

WESSEX WATER LIMITED

Bath

116,500

658,200

3,042 A group engaged in the treatment and disposal of waste water and the supply of clean water.

5

37

38

CAMBRIA AUTOMOBILES PLC

Swindon

12,495

657,777

1,076 Sale & servicing of motor vehicles & the provision of ancillary services.

2

38

45

DICK LOVETT COMPANIES LIMITED

Swindon

8,164

617,652

39

36

GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LIMITED

Cheltenham

103,374

614,996

2,924 The development and manufacture of aerospace systems. Accounts data converted from US Dollars.

40

41

KERRY INGREDIENTS (UK) LIMITED

Bristol

14,920

596,941

1,677 The manufacture and sale of food ingredient products.

41

40

REDDE LTD

Bath

41,654

589,724

2,220 Provision of non-fault accident management assistance and related services, fleet management & legal services.

42

44

NUTRICIA LIMITED

Trowbridge

14,408

559,274

43

46

HARGREAVES LANSDOWN PLC

Bristol

378,300

550,900

1,599 Investor investment services, including ISA, SIPP & investment accounts.

44

37

WESSEX WATER SERVICES LIMITED

Bath

109,700

540,800

2,552 The supply of water and the treatment and disposal of waste water.

45

32

COLT CAR COMPANY LIMITED (THE)

Cirencester

256

532,104

221 Import, distribution, wholesale and retail of motor vehicles and parts.

-1

46

50

LIBYA OIL ETHIOPIA LIMITED

Bristol

3,482

517,464

The purchase, sale, and otherwise dealing in, petroleum products and chemicals.

22

47

113

FREEMANS OF NEWENT LIMITED

Hereford

1,055

517,047

2,472 The supply of poultry meat.

48

42

RENISHAW P L C

WottonUnder-Edge

3,208

510,215

4,797 Metrology company operating in two key business areas, metrology and healthcare.

-2

49

39

MAGNOX LIMITED

Bristol

10,700

487,820

2,196 Services related to the generation and supply of electricity, and the de-fuelling & decommissioning of non-generating sites.

-3

50

58

NOKIA UK LIMITED

Bristol

17,570

480,969

27

51

33

BAKER HUGHES ENERGY TECHNOLOGY UK LIMITED

Bristol

-227,681

694,806

1,072 The distribution and maintenance of communications equipment primarily manufactured by the group together with related products and services.

2,307 The design, manufacture and sale of drilling and completion equipment used in oil and gas exploration and production.

52

48

MAN TRUCK AND BUS UK LIMITED

Swindon

7,948

453,939

53

51

THE OASIS HEALTHCARE GROUP Bristol LIMITED

-30,675

446,964

5,481 A group engaged in the operation of dental practices.

54

49

CORIALIS GROUP LIMITED

Bristol

8,124

433,951

1,971 A group engaged in the design, manufacture and distribution of architectural.

55

52

NISBETS PLC

Bristol

12,949

414,188

2,164 A group engaged in the sale of catering equipment.

56

47

ASPIRE DEFENCE HOLDINGS LIMITED

Tidworth

27,055

398,436

57

53

OPENWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED

Swindon

26,881

385,949

58

57

ALLCHURCHES TRUST LIMITED

Gloucester

71,538

367,674

59

55

COMBINED INDEPENDENTS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED

Andover

1,434

355,080

69 A group engaged in purchasing electrical goods on behalf of its shareholders who are independent electrical retailers.

-3

60

61

NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO UK LIMITED

Stonehouse

12,742

346,750

1,628 The provision of manufacturing, wholesale and servicing of equipment and accessories to the offshore oil and gas industry.

7

61

60

MASSTOCK ARABLE (UK) LIMITED

Cheltenham

12,126

342,829

62

53

OPENWORK LIMITED

Swindon

21,385

329,052

63

65

CENTAUR SERVICES LIMITED

Castle Cary

180

326,149

317 The supply of pharmaceutical products to the veterinary profession.

12

64

77

HERITAGE AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS LIMITED

Salisbury

208

322,553

758 A group engaged in the sale of new and used cars, repairs and servicing.

33

65

56

KK DAYTONA HOLDING LTD

Gloucester

5,991

298,317

1,198 A group engaged in the supply, installation and servicing of gas engines for power generation.

Data NA

66

58

STANNAH LIFTS HOLDINGS LIMITED

Andover

10,216

279,492

2,214 A group engaged in the manufacture, installation, repair and maintenance of stairlifts, lifts, escalators and moving walkways.

6

67

124

NUVIAS GLOBAL SERVICES LIMITED

Cirencester

-3,237

277,132

68

67

MONAGHAN MUSHROOMS LIMITED

Bristol

-1,091

272,819

2,206 A group engaged in the production and sale of fresh mushrooms.

47

69

66

PATHEON UK LIMITED

Swindon

73,336

272,063

368 Provision of manufacturing and development for prescription and over-the-counter drugs to the pharmaceutical industry

33

70

108

MURRAY & ROBERTS UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED

Swindon

16,579

269,290

2,038 A group engaged in the property letting and the provision of consultnacy and management services

YEO VALLEY PRODUCTION LIMITED

Bristol

3,937

251,416

1,556 A group engaged in the production, distribution and wholesale selling of dairy products.

ZURICH EMPLOYMENT SERVICES LIMITED

Cheltenham

-22,546

247,078

1,351 The provision of human resources and administration services to group companies.

71 72

63

20 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

Profit (Loss) Turnover before Taxation Last avail. yr Last avail. yr (£000s) (£000s)

Number of employees Last avail. yr

Trade description

Compound Annual Growth Rate (%)

940 A group engaged in the sale and maintenance of bmw, mini,, ferrari,, lotus and vehicles.

660 distribution, sale and marketing of specialist nutritional products for babies, young children and people with specific nutritional needs.

9 -3 3 16 -2 13 1

113

794 The import and distribution of trucks, buses and related products and services.

19 A group engaged in to carry out work related to the mobilisation of the or project.

521 A group engaged in financial planning, insurance broking, franchising, human resources and administration.

1,414 A group engaged in the other business activity.

-10 -1 12 Data NA 9 11 15 5

665 The provision of agronomy advice and the sale and distribution of crop production products.

A multi-tied financial services distribution company.

111 The distribution of computer networking accessories and hardware and the sale of networked storage solutions.

6 16

40

11 Data NA -9

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

2021 rank

2020 rank

Company name

City

73

74

NATIONWIDE COVERED BONDS LLP

Swindon

-36,300

243,300

74

69

QUALASEPT HOLDINGS LIMITED

Corsham

17,211

239,612

270 A group engaged in the supply of pharmaceutical products.

75

112

M AND M DIRECT LIMITED

Leominster

11,274

238,314

701 The retail of sports and fashion wear via mail order.

76

70

RYGOR GROUP LIMITED

Westbury

759

235,081

702 A group engaged in the commercial vehicle dealers and in distribution, warehousing and contract hire.

77

71

TAYLOR MAXWELL GROUP (2017) LIMITED

Bristol

5,735

229,066

195 A group engaged in the distributors of brick and cladding materials.

78

75

ECCLESIASTICAL INSURANCE GROUP PLC

Gloucester

69,876

225,986

79

73

DEREK RAPHAEL (HOLDINGS) LIMITED

Cirencester

13,445

225,200

80

80

LEIDOS EUROPE, LIMITED

Bristol

12,875

222,968

184 A contract to manage and improve their logistics, commodities and services transformation program.

81

84

SIGMA-ALDRICH COMPANY LIMITED

Gillingham

219,514

221,798

601 The import, manufacture and distribution of specialised chemicals for research purposes.

12

82

140

FUTURE PLC

Bath

12,700

221,500

989 Global platform business for specialist media, driven by technology, with diversified revenue streams.

55

83

72

SIMPLYHEALTH GROUP LIMITED

Andover

-9,900

212,300

1,143 A group engaged in the provision of health and private medical insurance.

84

NEW

AIRLINE INVESTMENTS LIMITED

Cheltenham

3,203

212,202

1,066 A group engaged in the commercial aviation, operating as a scheduled service airline.

85

76

ETEX BUILDING PERFORMANCE LIMITED

Bristol

39,969

211,352

86

NEW

TI MEDIA LIMITED

Bath

-3,180

209,431

87

77

HERITAGE AUTOMOTIVE LIMITED

Salisbury

1,302

205,932

88

82

TYCO ELECTRONICS UK LTD

Swindon

19,116

205,366

89

136

SANDERSON MANAGED SERVICES LIMITED

Bristol

4,324

202,901

90

92

ECOTRICITY GROUP LTD

Stroud

-4,812

201,424

91

64

UNITE INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS Bristol PLC

5,275

198,999

1,324 The design, construction and management of student and NHS keyworker accommodation

92

85

TELEPERFORMANCE LIMITED

Bristol

3,640

189,702

8,084 The provision of multimedia marketing services comprising communication centres, mail handling and packing

93

79

OUTDOOR AND CYCLE CONCEPTS LTD

Malmesbury

-20,150

187,375

2,071 The retail of outdoor pursuits clothing and equipment.

94

96

QUILTER FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED

Swindon

565

184,931

The provision of financial planning advice and related services through a network of intermediaries.

95

97

GALLOPER WIND FARM HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED

Swindon

52,846

184,866

A group engaged in the construction of the galloper wind farm.

96

91

COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY EUROPE LIMITED

Melksham

-8,883

180,478

699 The manufacture and distribution of tyres and related products and processed materials.

6

97

78

KINGSPAN INSULATION LIMITED

Leominster

20,579

179,976

558 The manufacture of flexible faced insulation boards, and insulated cavity closures.

2

98

106

AVON RUBBER P.L.C.

Melksham

13,700

179,300

854 Specialises in Chemical, Biological,Radiological, Nuclear & respiratory protection plus milking point solutions.

8

99

105

EURONICS LIMITED

Andover

39

179,051

100

111

VECTURA GROUP PLC

Chippenham

-26,100

178,300

101

102

DAC BEACHCROFT SERVICES LIMITED

Bristol

6,423

174,271

102

115

YANKEE CANDLE COMPANY (EUROPE) LIMITED

Bristol

13,036

173,616

103

107

HAPPOLD LLP

Bath

15,576

173,300

104

95

COTSWOLD MOTOR GROUP LIMITED

Cheltenham

2,651

170,841

371 Selling and repairing motor vehicles.

105

99

HARDING BROTHERS RETAIL LIMITED

Bristol

604

169,923

162 The provision of retail outlets on cruise ships.

26

106

156

INTRADO SOLUTIONS LIMITED

Gloucester

34,096

169,811

384 The provision of audio, video and web based conferencing services.

-2

107

93

FORAY MOTOR GROUP LIMITED

Salisbury

-381

168,406

475 A franchised motor dealership.

108

103

WESSEX GARAGES HOLDINGS LIMITED

Bristol

-262

166,934

329 The sale and service of new and used motor vehicles, together with the sale of parts and accessories.

109

143

LOUNGERS PLC

Bristol

-14,781

166,502

110

109

MOLSON EQUIPMENT SERVICES LTD

Bristol

5,492

165,094

128 Sale and repair of new and used construction plant and equipment.

31

111

90

KNORR-BREMSE RAIL SYSTEMS (UK) LIMITED

Melksham

21,925

163,910

508 The design and manufacture of braking systems and related products for rail vehicles

11

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Profit (Loss) Turnover before Taxation Last avail. yr Last avail. yr (£000s) (£000s)

Number of employees Last avail. yr

Trade description

Compound Annual Growth Rate (%)

The acquisition of mortgage loans and their related security from Nationwide Building Society.

17 Data NA 20

1,414 A group engaged in the underwriting business.

7 Data NA 5

8 A group engaged as traders in ferro alloys, metals, ores, minerals and steel.

496 The manufacture and supply of plasterboard and accessories.

1,057 The publication of magazines.

17 1

-5 8 12 -7

428 Sale, servicing and repair of motor vehicles.

12

1,322 Manufacture of electronic components

12

26 The provision of Recruitment Process Outsourcing solutions for permanent and contract recruitment.

850 A group engaged in the operation of wind farms.

35 17

Retail of electrical appliances.

-1 2 11 16 Data NA

1

480 Industry-leading inhalation device, formulation, development for human use.

2,232 The provision of administration services.

12 5

401 Selling and distribution of candles and associated products.

1,746 A group engaged in the engineering consultants.

0 3 7

4

4,478 The operation of café bars and café restaurants.

-5 Data NA

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 21

2021 rank

2020 rank

Company name

City

112

119

FORD FUELS LIMITED

Bristol

2,322

163,660

169 The sale and distribution of petroleum products.

19

113

83

OPTIMAS OE SOLUTIONS LTD

Gloucester

1,700

162,537

486 The provision of products and services.

-1

114

118

LANGDON GROUP LIMITED

Bridgwater

7,985

160,863

115

98

INTERNATIONAL PLYWOOD PLC Gloucester

-9,501

158,928

116

101

SCOTTISH WIDOWS UNIT TRUST MANAGERS LIMITED

Andover

209,598

158,754

117

117

EW BEARD (HOLDINGS) LIMITED

Swindon

4,955

158,683

330 A group engaged in building contractors and in the rental of investment property.

5

118

122

JISC

Bristol

-22,407

155,111

663 A group engaged in the to support of UK research and education by delivering affordable, relevant and sustainable online content.

6

119

143

LOUNGERS UK LIMITED

Bristol

8,071

152,999

120

129

FISH BROTHERS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED

Swindon

2,769

150,737

121

104

MULBERRY GROUP PLC

Radstock

-47,866

149,321

1,433 Design, manufacture or sourcing of luxury accessories, clothing, footwear and their subsequent sale

-4

122

123

HERMAN MILLER LIMITED

Melksham

19,086

148,738

525 A group engaged in the manufacture and sale of office furniture.

12

123

121

BLADE MOTOR GROUP LIMITED

Salisbury

-1,285

147,651

372 The sale and service of new and used cars and motor cycles.

3

124

128

PROJECT PEOPLE LIMITED

Bristol

92

147,226

518 A group engaged in the provision of consultancy services, including recruitment & resource management to the it.

8

125

94

AMCOR EUROPE GROUP MANAGEMENT

Bristol

8,699

146,726

877 The provision of corporate services to other group companies.

126

131

APETITO LIMITED

Trowbridge

22,503

146,281

1,220 The supply of frozen meals and pastry products to the cost sector and food service markets, and delivery to consumers' homes.

6

127

138

COMPUTERSHARE INVESTOR SERVICES PLC

Bristol

18,940

146,158

1,448 The provision of computer share registry services, employee share option plan administration and associated professional services.

6

128

89

DENTSPLY IH LIMITED

Stonehouse

10,804

142,952

270 The sale and distribution of medical devices to hospitals, the community and the dental profession.

129

126

HOWARD GARAGES (WESTON) LIMITED

WestonSuper-Mare

1,108

141,657

275 The retail sale of motor vehicles and accessories and the repair and servicing of vehicles.

130

81

BRADFORD AND SONS LIMITED

Yeovil

-602

93,792

131

127

G-TEKT EUROPE MANUFACTURING LIMITED

Gloucester

21,260

140,064

132

137

AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION P L C(THE)

Andover

56,766

140,030

133

146

ALLIANCE PHARMA PLC

Chippenham

31,076

135,637

134

New

CSX LIMITED

Radstock

2,458

135,355

135

159

T. H. WHITE HOLDINGS LIMITED

Devizes

380

133,379

580 A group engaged in the supply and service of agricultural, construction and professional grass machinery

136

132

ZIMMER BIOMET UK LIMITED

Swindon

8,381

133,369

292 The sales and marketing of medical devices and other orthopaedic products.

137

new

UNITED OILSEEDS MARKETING LIMITED

Devizes

1,445

130,709

138

new

SPECIAL METALS WIGGIN LIMITED

Hereford

6,356

130,565

139

114

SODRA WOOD LIMITED

Cirencester

4,721

130,095

140

new

MPS HOUSING LIMITED

Gloucester

-4,669

127,719

823 The provision of a full housing management service.

Data NA

141

new

DOPANO LIMITED

Cheltenham

2,818

126,906

370 Holding company.

Data NA

142

136

GS YUASA BATTERY SALES UK LIMITED

Swindon

3,751

158,233

143

new

BRENT CARS LIMITED

WestonSuper-Mare

443

121,309

185 The operation of a car dealership.

24

144

new

LYONS SEAFOODS LIMITED

Warminster

5,600

120,324

327 The sale of prawns and speciality seafood to the retail, catering, manufacturing and wholesale markets.

-1

145

new

AMCOR PACKAGING UK LIMITED

Bristol

6,428

119,782

345 The manufacture of packaging materials.

-6

146

144

KEENWORK LIMITED

Bristol

-1,174

119,606

473 A group engaged in the manufacture of caravans.

147

new

INTERCEPT PHARMA EUROPE LTD.

Bristol

-175,406

119,533

148

148

HALL & WOODHOUSE LIMITED

Blandford Forum

5,944

116,569

1,488 A group engaged in the brewing and packaging of beer, and the ownership and management of pubs and hotels.

3

149

156

BRISTOL AIRPORT LIMITED

Bristol

34,189

116,407

355 The ownership, operation and management of Bristol Airport, including the provision of services and facilities.

9

150

new

SMART SYSTEMS LIMITED

Bristol

29,842

115,496

315 The wholesale supply of aluminium and PVCu extrusions and the manufacture of aluminium windows and doors.

22 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

Profit (Loss) Turnover before Taxation Last avail. yr Last avail. yr (£000s) (£000s)

Number of employees Last avail. yr

Trade description

Compound Annual Growth Rate (%)

1,518 A group engaged in the provision of temperature controlled haulage facilities, distribution, cold and chill storage and transport services.

77 A group engaged in the timber merchant.

7 4

The management of individual savings accounts, personal equity plans and open ended investment company sub funds.

3,656 A cafe bar business.

-4

31

285 A group engaged in the sale, service, body repair rental.

715 A group engaged in the commercial activities

1

-9

38 6 -20

860 The manufacture and sale of pressed steel body parts for the automotive industry, and the supply of associated tooling.

69 The provision of long-term mortgage finance to farmers and growers in the UK. 219 Acquisition, marketing and distribution of pharmaceutical products.

A group engaged in the distribution of agricultural tractors, farm machinery.

28 Commodity merchants and brokers.

30 4 12 Data NA 3 12 6

578 The manufacture and sale of nickel alloys.

17

36 A company engaged in the distribution of softwood and engineered timber products.

95 Wholesale trade of motor vehicle parts and accessories

43 Research and development.

4

19

0 Data NA

10

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Cyber rosy Richard Bache looks at how the West could be as well known for cyber as it is cider

T

HE first positive coronavirus case was scarcely reported before cyber criminals sought to take advantage of the pandemic.

As even more aspects of our lives transferred to the digital and virtual worlds so it opened up new opportunities for nefarious actors.

More people working from home on less secure networks, more people shopAn innovative partnership between police, the private sector and academia to help regional businesses and charities protect themselves against cybercrime is inviting business in the region to join it.

The South West Cyber Resilience Centre (SWCRC) is part of a network of centres across the country which provide businesses with free guidance and affordable cyber services.

Businesses of all sizes across the region are facing an increase in cyber-attacks. It’s essential that micro

ping online, test and trace schemes and vaccine rollouts are only a few of the areas targeted by fraudsters.

Cyber crime was a growing problem before the pandemic – one report estimated it has cost British business £87 billion since 2015 – but the changes in how we work, shop and socialise has been leapt upon by criminals.

On the front line of Britain’s defences is Cheltenham-based GCHQ, which also operates the national Cyber Security Centre.

And the town’s long-term hosting of GCHQ has also made it one of the economies best suited to developing a lucrative private sector cyber industry.

Cheltenham Borough Council last May launched plans for ‘Cyber Central’.

Cyber Central in the Golden Valley will look to build on Cheltenham’s international reputation for leadership in cyber security and the development will see the Cyber Innovation Centre, bringing together GCHQ’s innovation programmes, academia, business and event space; offering up to two million square feet of commercial floor space for this rapidly growing sector.

Free resources to bolster cyber security businesses, SMEs and larger organisations take practical, proactive steps to better protect their businesses from a costly attack.

Businesses in the South West can sign up for free Core Membership online and receive a welcome pack full of practical resources and tools to help them identify their risks and vulnerabilities and the steps they can take to increase their levels of protection. They’ll also get regular updates on new threats, so that

they can stay safer.

If they want, they can also access inexpensive and bespoke advice via the links which the centre is forging with top academic talent, and with nationally-recognised cyber companies located in the region.

Mark Moore (pictured), director of the SWCRC and also a superintendent with Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “We know that any system is only as strong as its weakest link, and that is why we want to help improve protection for networks and supply chains across the region.

“Being a not-for-profit organisation

The site will be the commercial and innovative heart of the wider Golden Valley Garden Community with more than 3,000 homes.

It is hoped that work will begin on site in the 2021/22 financial year, with the cyber park operational 2023/24.

In October it was also announced that the University of Bristol will lead a team of the UK’s world-leading cyber security experts in the creation of a new, £8.6 million centre to protect citizens online. with clear policing links, we can add value without adding cost, and where you need detailed or bespoke advice, we can help you to access it inexpensively and from sources that you know you can trust.

“Cyber security often feels technical and complicated, so it gets left as something which only happens to other people. The reality is, almost 50% of businesses have reported attacks or breaches in the last 12 months, so if we can provide you with help and guidance for free, becoming a member feels like a bit of a no-brainer to me.” » Sign up for free core memberships at www.swcrc.co.uk/membership

Working in partnership to support businesses and third sector organisations in the region against cyber-crime.

FREE

CORE MEMBERSHIP Become a member of a national network of police-led not-for-profit centres which offer a range of services through our fantastic partners.

Connect with us @southwestcrc_ THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Find out more about our services at swcrc.co.uk BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 23

The show will go on Robin Murray speaks to people who create some of the live events that the West is famous for and how they have coped with business essentially drying up overnight

B

RISTOL simply wouldn’t be the city it is without the wealth of fantastic events it plays host to.

The likes of Harbour Festival, Bristol Balloon Fiesta, Upfest and Loves Saves The Day attract hundreds of thousands of people to the city and provide a significant boost to the local economy.

St Paul’s Carnival alone contributed £5.1 million in 2018, according to the event’s UWE-commissioned impact report, and organisers of the recent #WeMakeEvents protest say there are 40,000 people working behind the scenes in live events in Bristol alone.

Across the wider West there are tens of thousands more – arty communities such as Frome and Glastonbury in Somerset, plus Stroud in Gloucestershire, have been particularly hard hit.

But in 2020 the various green spaces and other areas across the city that usually come alive in the summer months were abnormally quiet, with the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc on the sector.

Due to its nature, the events industry was one of the first to get shut down when the virus started to spread and is likely to be one of the last to fully return.

This has placed it in jeopardy across the country, highlighted by the fact the UK live events industry was forecast to lose up to £58 billion last year in a Visit Britain proposal document given to the 24 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

Government’s Cabinet Office Recovery Team back in May. But because Bristol is so synonymous with live events – and is home to many of the creative teams who make mega events such as the Glastonbury Festival what it is – the hit has been felt particularly hard.

Festival organisers and others associated with the scene in Bristol are understandably downbeat following a summer of cancellations and an uncertain year ahead, but they are also resilient by nature and are doing their best to cling onto hope for the future, buoyed by the recent roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines.

Conal Dodds is the co-founder of nationwide promotion company Crosstown Concerts, which stages Bristol Sounds and co-organises The Downs, alongside putting on gigs across the UK. He said the immediate future of the industry lies in the hands of the vaccinations process, but isn’t confident any full capacity gigs will be able to take place before the summer.

“We can’t see any gigs happening this side of May and we think shows from June onwards are fifty-fifty at best,” he said.

“Our industry is pretty much in the hands of the vaccination process, and I think the government’s estimation of having 15 million people vaccinated by mid-February is incredibly optimistic.

“I don’t think the majority of people will even have the confidence to come

St Paul’s Carnival contributes millions of pounds to the Bristol economy

back to gigs until we’ve got lots of people over 30 vaccinated.”

Crosstown Concerts, which has only managed to stage two socially distanced live shows and two online gigs since the pandemic began, will turn its attention to streaming more shows online over the coming months until live music returns.

The company, which was founded in 2016 and has offices in Bristol and London, received a grant of £212,000 from the government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund which will sustain it until the end of March, but after that it will need to fend for itself unless it can secure further funding.

“Trying to keep the business afloat and keep staff motivated is as much a job as trying to bring in any money, and that’s probably what every concert promoter in the country would say,” added Conal.

“We were one of the first industries to be hit and we’ll be one of the last to come back because we rely on crowds and people being close to each other indoors.

“It’s going to be a tough year and we’re

all going to have to try and eke out whatever money we can to try and survive until live shows return.

“But we’re trying to stay positive and keep the wheels turning as much as we can. We hope it will be boom time for the industry when events can return as people will be desperate to go and see live music.”

In 2019, Upfest took a fallow year to give its vast team of volunteers a rest.

Organisers of the major street art festival, which attracts around 50,000 visitors annually, had planned to return with a bang in 2020, filling Greville Smyth park near Ashton Gate as well as its usual south Bristol painting locations.

But their plans were scrapped due to the pandemic, forcing them to instead stage a virtual edition of the event in September.

Festival founder Stephen Hayles said the most difficult challenge for festival organisers across the country right now, including himself, is trying to plot the 2021 event in a hugely unpredictable landscape.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

The Upfest street art festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Bristol

“The biggest issue for the year ahead is definitely planning,” he said. “The contingency plans we had six months ago have already been blown out of the water over the past month.

“Since September we’ve been working towards holding the event in early June 2021 but even now we’re wondering if there are other scenarios we need to consider, like splitting the festival up into two or three smaller events.

“Trying to plan but not knowing whether you’ll be able to fulfil your plans is really challenging and has a knock-on effect on everybody.”

Stephen said he is “keen to deliver some kind of event in June” but is not yet sure what scale it will be, and likely won’t know until March when the impacts of the vaccination process begin to reveal themselves.

The ramifications of one event being cancelled can be devastating and widespread, added Stephen, impacting a range of different people behind the scenes who offer their expertise to ensure the event can run smoothly.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

This applies to numerous companies across Bristol, which all play a part in the setting up and delivery of events.

One such firm is SLX Hire & Events based in Avonmouth, which supports high-profile TV broadcasts including the Great British Bake Off, sporting events and experiential and corporate projects.

With technical savvy and creativity, SLX transforms ideas into events with full event solutions including design, planning, logistics and delivery.

Alastair Currie, CEO of SLX, said the loss of events for a city like Bristol is “palpable” and is concerned many of the freelancers who make up the industry will have moved on to different roles during the pandemic, resulting in a dearth of personnel in the sector when events eventually return.

“There’s no doubt the pandemic has been a hammer blow to the creative sector and, for a city like Bristol, which is home to so many stand out events, festivals and productions, the loss is palpable,” he said.

“One of the biggest concerns nation-

ally, and for me as a business owner of a company which provides full technical production and hire to the industry, is whether the talent and expertise of people will still exist when we come out the other side of this pandemic.

“This industry runs on having a host of brilliant freelancers, but many professionals have had to move to different roles to make money during this time and the concern will be whether they choose to return to the creative sector once this is over.

“It truly is the people that make this industry, so I do hope that in 2021 we begin to see that talent and expertise return to it when it becomes safe to operate the kinds of in person events and productions we so love working on.”

Alastair said SLX has managed to weather the storm so far “largely due to our willingness and ability to adapt”.

He was hopeful in 2020 that events with live audiences would be able to resume early this year, but that was before the arrival of the new variant, which has “brought a sobering reminder that the pandemic is unpredictable and may not conform to our timelines”.

Like so many others in the industry, however, he is remaining optimistic about the future.

He added: “One thing the creative industry does well is adapt and my predictions for 2021 are that some of our most loved annual events – both in Bristol and nationally – will come up with some brilliant ways to still be a part of our year.

“I also remain confident that beyond the pandemic Bristol will retain its reputation as a hub for creativity and culture.

“The city’s identity is so strongly interwoven with all the incredible events it plays host to and I don’t see the people of Bristol, or all the businesses in the city who support these events, just letting that disappear.”

While there’s no question it’s likely to be another bruising year ahead for the events sector in Bristol, there are some

developments within it to look forward to.

Construction work at Bristol Beacon – which unveiled its new name in September 2020 after much anticipation – is entering a key stage, with a new roof set to be installed by the summer.

While the Beacon itself won’t be opening to the public anytime soon – with a reopening date yet to be announced – the team behind it are hopeful of presenting various shows at other venues across the city this year.

One such planned gig is Nile Rogers and Chic, which was due to take place in summer 2020 but has now been rescheduled for mid-July at the Lloyds Amphitheatre.

Todd Wills, Bristol Beacon’s artistic director, said he hopes to help get the industry back to work “as soon as possible”.

He said: “Live music is certainly on the agenda again as we look to spring and summer 2021.

“There are few industries better able to deal with stringent health and safety measures and many in the sector have already proven that we are able to put on capacity controlled, safe events.

“We are hopeful that with the vaccination, rapid testing and Covid control measures in place, we will be able to start helping musicians, techs and the wider industry get back to work as soon as possible.

“The Beacon programming team is busy rescheduling our January and February events and we think it is vital for the survival of our industry to work together to stage these as soon as we can, as laid out by the plans from UK music in their recent report.

“The impact of lockdown on the culture sector has been difficult to navigate for everyone and impossible for some, so we’ll be working with our other venue colleagues, promoters and artists in Bristol to do everything we can to ‘Let The Music Play’, whether that’s outdoors or indoors.”

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 25

A fight for survival The hospitality industry is among those that have suffered the most during the pandemic, Robin Murray assesses the challenges it faces in bouncing back

I

N November 2019, Bristol was crowned the best culinary destination in the world.

The Food Trekking Awards praised the work of Destination Bristol, which used a portion of the Government’s £40 million Discover England Fund to develop specific programmes around food and beverage tourism.

The accolade followed a string of other gongs for the city’s food scene and its finest restaurants, with several of them being named among the best in the UK. But there was hardly any time to celebrate as only four months after the city earned global acclaim, the hospitality industry was thrown into jeopardy when coronavirus forced businesses to shut their doors.

Pubs, restaurants and cafés received government support in the form of business grants, the furlough scheme and, later, the “Eat Out To Help Out” boost, but many business owners argue that more support is needed to save the embattled sector from catastrophe.

Now approaching one year since the first nationwide closure was enforced, and with England recently entering a third lockdown and cases spiralling out of control, there lies a rocky path to recovery ahead.

So what does it mean for Bristol’s renowned and award-winning hospitality scene? Will the industry be able to bounce back and regain its place on the world stage when all of this is over?

26 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

rants operate on “just aren’t good Like many restaurateurs in the city, enough”.

Dominic Borel, owner of Pasta Loco, Dominic said he is “haemorrhaging Pasta Ripiena, Bianchis and La Sorella, tens of thousands of pounds at the doesn’t know what the future holds – but moment” as a result of his sites being one thing he is certain about is that hosclosed but “just about hanging on in pitality will never return to how it was there” thanks to the loyal following his pre-Covid. restaurants have built up over the years.

“I don’t think it will ever be the same The hardest aspect of the pandemic, again,” said Dom, who has been heavily he said, is that the goalposts are coninvolved in projects aimed at feeding stantly moved by the government, which Bristol’s most vulnerable people and comakes it “impossible to plan ahead”. ran the Breaking Bread pop-up bars and “The rules and regulations change so restaurants on The Downs last summer. often and being given such a “The human aspect will be short amount of time to turn completely diminished and things around has been we won’t have the same really tough,” he said. contact we previously “We took the decihad. sion not to open “Face masks will be before Christmas a thing for a very long when Bristol was time, not just in the moved down to Tier 2 months after restaubut a lot of our friends rants reopen again, did. and I think the whole “This meant they had experience will become to close just a week later, far more clinical – almost cancel all their bookings mechanic – as a result of and waste all their produce the pandemic.

“We’ll no longer see people Restaurant owner when the city returned to Tier 3.

Dominic Borel “Having to do something sitting on the same benches like that is absolutely devastattogether or having that pering as a business owner and we’re seeing sonal interaction with waiting staff; all of the impact mentally. that is out the window.”

“There are so many people in the Dominic also expects menu prices to industry struggling with anxiety and increase so restaurants “have more of a depression right now. We’ve dedicated safety net if we have to close again”. He our entire lives to this industry but now said the current margins most restau-

we’re in a position where we have no idea what’s happening from week to week.”

A silver lining of the ongoing crisis, said Dom, is that it has raised awareness of those in the city who are most at need and how to ensure they are properly looked after.

Soon after the first lockdown was announced, established charities across the city set up initiatives to feed the vulnerable and a new group, Bristol Food Union, was launched to cope with growing demand.

With a range of chefs and restaurants across the city chipping in to help, the scheme has so far produced 12,500 ready meals for NHS workers across the city, 2,000 weekly provision boxes for foster care leavers, 1,000 weekly boxes for refugee charities and 1,000 Christmas food hampers families with low incomes.

Using more than £40,000 donated by the public and a donation of £108,000 from Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja, which he raised through an art sale, Bristol Food Union has also helped fund community meals made by the team from Breaking Bread on The Downs.

As if trying to survive in the midst of a global pandemic wasn’t hard enough, restaurateurs have also been blighted by a myriad of other issues.

Most notably, there was a spate of no shows during the period in which restaurants were able to welcome dine-in cusTHURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Graham Faragher of Berthas in Bristol has criticised the fees charged by delivery platforms

Bristol curry house Urban Tandoor was one of many eateries hit by no-shows

tomers – adding to the financial woes of strict restrictions and the 10pm curfew.

Head chef at the Cloak and Dagger, Sebastian Merry, said people who book a table but fail to show up without warning are “signing our death certificate” after his Cheltenham Road restaurant lost out on around £400 in takings in October after 20 diners no-showed.

Sebastian was by no means alone in suffering at the hands of no-shows in the crucial period when restaurants had a few months to try and earn enough money to see them through the impending second and third lockdowns.

Urban Tandoor in Small Street, a multi-award winning curry house, had 45 no shows on the night before it closed for the second lockdown.

Restaurant owner Sujith D’almeida estimated the 45 diners who failed to show up without cancelling would have spent about £20 each, resulting in lost revenue of around £900.

On top of that, restaurants’ profits from takeaways have been limited by sizable cuts taken by major food delivery platforms such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats. A number of restaurants across the city have decided to stop using these services having grown fed up at seeing around 30 per cent of each order swallowed up – as well as having to pay the delivery fee for every order.

The most recent business to vent its frustration at the size of the cut taken by major delivery operators was Bertha’s THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Pizza, which is getting around it by teaming up with top chefs in the city to launch limited edition pizzas that can be purchased through click-and-collect rather than delivery.

Co-owner of Bertha’s, Graham Faragher, said: “It’s no secret that being in hospitality has been a real struggle in the past nine months or so – and what’s added to that pain is the cut that many delivery platforms take.

“The commission they take varies from business to business but it’s typically around 30 per cent on gross sales before VAT. “Businesses that make it work are very high volume with low overheads, but as we’re neither of these it’s marginal whether we’ll cover costs.”

Delivery firm Deliveroo though defended its operations. “It’s important to be very clear that Deliveroo charges different levels of commission depending on each individual arrangement with a restaurant partner and every penny goes directly towards covering operating costs and investing in the Deliveroo platform to improve the service we offer riders, resBristol mayor Marvin Rees

taurants and customers.”

Earlier this month Rishi Sunak announced further financial relief for hospitality, retail and leisure businesses to the tune of £4 billion. The Chancellor confirmed that businesses across the UK in these three sectors could receive a one-off grant worth up to £9,000 depending on their rateable value.

Businesses with a rateable value between £0 and £15,000 a year will receive a one-off payment of £4,000 and £1,334 a month, while those with a value between £15,000 and £51,000, the most common bracket, will receive a £6,000 one-off payment and £2,000 a month.

While the news came as a muchneeded boost to the sector, many connected to it feel the level of support still isn’t enough to stave off widespread closures.

One of these is Brendan Murphy, cofounder of BARBIE (The Bristol Association of Restaurants, Bars and Independent Establishments).

“The recent support announced is an improvement but it still doesn’t go far enough if we want to have independent bars and restaurant when all this is over,” he said.

“The government keep saying businesses are getting £9,000, but that doesn’t tell the whole story as only the large operators will get that amount because the grants are worked out on rateable value.

“Monthly outgoings are around £8,000 a month for businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000, so £2,000 is a bit of a help but it’s not even close to full support.

“We [BARBIE] anticipate that at least 30 per cent of venues across the city will close. Of course, some of those will likely be reopened by new operators but what we don’t want to see is empty units being taken on by property developers and soulless chains.

“There’s going to be casualties for sure. We just hope there won’t be too many.”

Brendan thinks the government should keep hospitality venues shut until at least April, providing they receive adequate support, as having to close and reopen over a short period of time is “hugely costly”.

As well as larger amounts given to businesses, Brendan would also like to see an extension of the business rates holiday, which is set to come to an end in April, and for the Government to bolster its furlough scheme.

Businesses are currently having to pay National Insurance contributions for furloughed staff, which can add up to be a significant amount.

Mayor Marvin Rees said: “The past ten months have been devastating for those working in hospitality. The start to 2021 sees those challenges continue as we face a critical point in the pandemic and need to limit social interaction.

“Whilst the additional business support announced by the Chancellor is welcome it will not prevent many businesses struggling through this period and it is critical we protect jobs and livelihoods.

“We estimate the shortfall in support to be at £24m and will see over 10,000 Bristol businesses and sole traders fall between the financial gaps. Many of these businesses, whilst not categorised as within the hospitality sector, are intrinsic to supporting that sector and the supply chain.

“We must ensure that people and businesses can have access to further financial support and share the concerns of local businesses about gaps in support. The financial pressure we face drives us to focus our help in more practical ways such as lobbying government for the support the sector needs.

“So far, the council has helped to deliver 7,400 grants totalling more than £94.3m across the city and we are working to process further applications for the government grants available.

“Working closely with BARBIE, Bristol Food Union, Business Improvement Districts and the Bristol@Night panel, we will use their insights to help us highlight the difficulties they are dealing with and lobby for more funding.”

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 27

The Bristol Port Company is a key partner in Bristol’s free port bid

Free port bids to ‘turbocharge’ region Hannah Baker and William Telford look at a potential major boost for the area’s economy that could emerge post Brexit

T

Wo separate bids for free ports are being made in the South West as the government attempts to “turbocharge” trade post-Brexit.

Free ports are designated zones where the normal tax and tariff rules of the country do not apply.

It means goods can be imported, manufactured and re-exported without being subject to customs checks, paperwork or import taxes.

There could be up to 10 in Britain, the government has said, with bids being made across the country.

Bristol has brought together a strong coalition to submit a bid that is being led by the West of England Combined Authority (Weca), with a range of public and private partners including The Bristol Port Company, Bristol Airport, West of England LEP and supporting partners including chambers of commerce Business West.

The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSW LEP) and South West Business Council 28 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

(SWBC) have also been working on plans for a free port bid that would cover Plymouth’s docks and Exeter Airport.

James Durie, chief executive of Business West, believes Bristol and the West of England is “very well placed” to gain free port status in the post-Brexit trading environment given the area’s geographical position, deep-water port, land availability, innovation capability and cluster of universities.

He said: “The objectives of establishing free ports are to create national hubs for global trade and investment across the UK, to help promote regeneration and job creation and further drive innovation, including funding into R&D and increased productivity.

“These align very closely with the city region’s ambitious industrial strategy to drive long-term, sustainable growth.”

Meanwhile, the Plymouth/Exeter bid would encompass more than a million square feet of port, airport, high-value manufacturing, innovation and knowledge-intensive space.

It would combine assets from a range

of potential partners such as the universities of Exeter and Plymouth, Associated British Ports and regional and city airports, to Yeovil helicopter manufacturer Leonardo and Devonport Dockyard operator Babcock International Group Plc. Tim Jones, chairman of SWBC, said a “consortium” of interested organisations is due to discuss a potential bid imminently, but prefers the term free trade zone to free port.

He said the benefits to the region could be vast, particularly for its important manufacturing sector, which

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Our new free ports will create national hubs for trade, innovation and commerce, regenerating communities across the UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak

already has a well integrated supply chain, and could leverage in new investment.

He said: “There is the opportunity for the whole peninsula to start being a supply chain to a free trade zone. From this we would expect to generate business to the tip of Cornwall. This is mega stuff.”

Coalitions will submit bids by February 4, with the first free ports being established this year.

Seen as an opportunity to boost the economy and create thousands of jobs, at least seven will be created in England.

The government is also working with the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to establish at least one free port in each nation of the UK, in addition to those allocated in England.

Areas given free port status will benefit from a wide package of tax reliefs, including on purchasing land, constructing or renovating buildings, investing in new plant and machinery assets and on Employer National Insurance Contributions.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Academy can help small firms export

Exeter Airport is part of another South West free port bid

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “Our new free ports will create national hubs for trade, innovation and commerce, regenerating communities across the UK and supporting jobs.

“They will attract investment from THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

around the world as we embrace new opportunities following our departure from the EU and will be a key driver for economic recovery as we build back better post coronavirus.”

The UK has had seven free ports in its

history, but none since 2012 when the Statutory Instruments which allowed ones in Liverpool, Southampton, Port of Tilbury, Port of Sheerness and Prestwick Airport expired.

Bids will be assessed by a panel chaired by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government ahead of a decision in spring.

Robert Jenrick, secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, said: “Our free ports will be international centres for trade and investment, powering regeneration, job creation and entrepreneurship.”

Tim Morris, chief executive of UK Major Ports Group, added: “Port operators all across the UK are developing ambitious proposals to respond to the Freeports opportunity.

“The UK Major Ports Group and the port operators themselves look forward to working closely with the Government to build ever stronger gateways for the UK’s global trade, boost prosperity for coastal and inland communities and maintain high standards.”

THE Department for International Trade has introduced a new Export Academy to support small businesses in the South West of England and provide them with the know-how and confidence to sell to customers around the world.

The end of the Brexit transition period – exacerbated by some cross-border transport difficulties that have arisen due to Covid – had made exporting more complicated.

The programme has been designed for business owners who already have international customers, or those who are considering exporting in the future.

The course, which will be offered to businesses free of charge, will provide companies with the opportunity to learn directly from experts in international trade and fellow exporters through webinars, round table discussions and mentoring sessions.

Business owners will leave the course with a customised export action plan to help grow their business in international markets.

The programme has been designed for both goods and services businesses, with sessions covering everything from selling online to managing international payments.

Phil Winton, operations director at Yeovil based Griff lvd Limited, is taking part in the Export Academy. Phil said: “The broad range of topics covered were really useful as we have never worked in export before and we were led through each part of the process, which gave us an in-depth knowledge of each of the stages involved.

“We were also signposted during the sessions to a variety of different information sources which have been tremendously useful.

“As was the fact the courses were in bitesize hour chunks, so it was easy for me to fit into my schedule.”

Paul Shand, DIT’s head of trade in the South West, said: “The Export Academy is perfect for smaller businesses wanting to take their first steps into exporting and for those looking to further grow their export sales.

“By supporting SMEs in the region, we hope they will be able to look ahead with confidence and reach their full potential in overseas markets.”

For further information on the DIT’s exporting support and international opportunities, visit www.great.gov.uk.

Companies in the South West can find out about their export options and contact one of DIT’s international trade advisers by visiting www.businesswest. co.uk/department-international-tradesouth-west

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By supporting SMEs in the region we hope they will be able to look ahead with confidence Paul Shand

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 29

Economic response must reach everyone Hannah Baker looks at a campaign to support black-owned businesses in the West

B

lACK-OWnED businesses in the South West are being hit “particularly hard” by the pandemic, with the virus and social-distancing rules exacerbating pre-existing socio-economic inequality in the region.

Cash flow and liquidity are the biggest problems for business owners, according to the report published last year by the Black South West network (BSWn).

The research found there was a lack of access to government support and overrepresentation of black self-employed workers and businesses in the hardesthit sectors such as food, retail, arts, culture and low-income and insecure employment.

With the vaccine now being rolled out and the West of England looking to its recovery, the region “must ensure” the economic response reaches everyone, says Sado Jirde, director at BSWn. “Covid-19’s impact on loss of income is commonplace but it has hit family-run BAME businesses particularly hard, rippling out into whole supply chains,” she said.

30 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

“As we emerge from the crisis, we must ensure that our economic response reaches everyone equally and equitably.”

Companies owned by people of African and Caribbean origin generate more than £10 billion for the UK each year, according to the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME).

But a new report by the British Business Bank has found that black business owners are still facing “persistent disparities” compared to white counterparts, with “systemic disadvantage” at the root.

The Western Daily Press’s parent company, Reach Plc, has launched a campaign

to help support the growth of the country’s black economy.

The campaign, called #IAMBOB, is part of the work Reach and its titles are doing to represent all the communities they serve and highlight the importance of black-owned companies to Britain’s recovery, including in the West region.

As part of that campaign, we have highlighted some businesses in the South West to watch out for in 2021.

Blak Wave, Bristol Blak Wave was set up by Michael Jenkins and Dr Mena Fombo (inset) in 2019, and is the only black-owned television production firm out of 140 in Bristol.

In 2020, the company secured four one-off and one mini series commissions with BBC, C4 and ACE, as well as two partnership deals with the British Film Institute to develop more black filmmakers.

It was also selected for Channel 4’s Emerging Indie Fund, which is designed to help small, new or emerging independents to break through key stages of growth.

According to its Facebook page, Blak Wave will be working with the broadcaster on some “new and fresh ideas” in 2021.

The company is also hoping to hire a new production manager and a development producer over the coming months, it said.

Mr Jenkins, a filmmaker whose documentary about St Paul’s Carnival won wide acclaim, said: “More often than not, when I enter a commissioning room, I’m the only black person in it.

Blak Wave is a huge opportunity to invest in developing new narratives and tell untold stories that reflect the population.”

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Celebrating black-owned businesses This month, Reach Plc, the parent company of the Western Daily Press, is launching a newsletter all about UK blackowned businesses.

Once a month, it will share news, features and comment from companies led by black business leaders – from start-ups and sMEs to blue-chip corporations and household names.

The newsletter is for anyone who wants to support the black economy and find out more about the work of different black-owned businesses in every region and nation of the country. it follows on from Reach’s #iAMBOB campaign, which launched in October, and is part of the work the company is doing to represent all the communities it serves and highlight the importance of black-owned companies to the UK’s economic recovery. if you want to find out about blackowned businesses across the country, please visit businesslive.co.uk/ newsletterpreferencecentre The South West’s famous Black Farmer, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones

The Black Farmer, Devon The South West’s famous Black Farmer took advantage of the growth of home deliveries in 2020 to launch an online farm shop.

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones said the shift to home-working for thousands of people during the coronavirus pandemic was a key driver for online sales.

“I am really excited as this is the fruition of a long-held ambition of mine. The direct-toconsumer business has seen huge growth during these Covid times and it’s something I have always wanted to get involved in,” said Mr EmmanuelJones, who previously stood for election in Chippenham in 2010 and received an MBE in December 2019 for services to farming.

The Black Farmer’s shop offers produce from across the West Country including free range, grass-fed meats THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

and local deli produce, as well as Mr Emmanuel-Jones’ new beer Brigg Stowe 1155 and Yokel Gold Cider, which he launched in celebration of Black History month last October.

Madia & Matilda, Gloucestershire Shalize Nicholas (inset) founded her zero-waste luxury sustainable clothing brand after spending time working in the fashion industry after university.

Her Stroud-based business upcycles old material and turns it into new designs, which are all handmade. It also offers an alterations and repairs service.

Founded in 2013, the company now supplies major retailers including Silk Fred and ASOS Marketplace.

With movements such as Greta Thunberg’s ‘Friday for the Future’ shining a spotlight on climate change in the last

couple of years, many consumers are turning to more sustainable brands such as the one Shalize has established.

“Just by listening to the stats, and reading more and finding out about sustainability, you will learn how badly we have damaged the planet in the past, so it makes you not want to do it in the future,” Shalize told Western Daily Press’s sister website Gloucestershire Live.

In 2021, she is hoping to launch a rental service to allow customers to hire sustainable clothes for special occasions.

The Social Detail, Bristol When a career in recruitment didn’t align with her values, Joyann Boyce (inset) decided to set up a company helping small businesses and charities grow using social media.

She founded The Social Detail in 2017 after taking part in an enterprise course

run by the Prince’s Trust in Bristol and now employs a team of five.

Joy, as she likes to be known, said the everyday running of a business was a “real learning curve” for her.

But she has also faced barriers to the business world, which she believes are to do with her gender and race.

“When I walk into a networking event I am often either the only woman or the only person of colour, unless the event is about BAME people. People question my knowledge,” she said.

Joy says her ambition is to make inclusive marketing the industry standard. ”In order to achieve this we’re going to be working with a number of large corporations to support them in their inclusive marketing strategies, showing how this can be beneficial not only for them and their bottom line, but for society.”

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 31

Support for young people is vital Beth Cruse looks at whether the government is doing enough to support young people through Covid-19

T

HE economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic is regarded by many as one of the biggest crises the UK has faced since The Great Depression, claiming the livelihoods of hardworking people, forcing businesses to shut and turning high streets to ghost towns.

In Bristol alone, more than 8,000 jobs have been lost since the start of the pandemic, with the retail and creative arts sectors among the worst hit.

While the full economic impact of the pandemic has yet to be felt, what is becoming increasingly clear is that young people are taking the brunt of the financial downturn due to Covid-19.

In September 2020, it was reported that young people had been hit hardest by unemployment during the first few months of the pandemic, which had risen to the highest level in two years according to data from the ONS. Now in the 11th month of the pandemic, figures from HMRC show under25s are more likely to be furloughed than any other age group, due to sectors like retail and hospitality having a disproportionately young workforce.

Young people also remain the most likely to lose their job, with almost double the amount of 18-24 year olds made 32 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

redundant in the first six months of the pandemic than 50-65 year olds.

And those leaving university, school or college have the near impossible task of finding work in the most ‘unprecedented’ times some have ever lived through; graduate job vacancies have fallen by 60 per cent, apprenticeship schemes halted, graduate programmes postponed and work placements cancelled.

Mike Staines, from Trowbridge in Wiltshire, graduated with a Masters in September and says he’s applied for “a few hundred jobs since.”

“I’ve not been counting but there’s been weeks where I’ve applied for nearly 50,” he said.

“I’ve found bits of temporary work here and there but it’s hard to find anyone who wants to commit to a full-time contract in the middle of changing lockdown rules.

He says he feels there has been little government support given to young people trying to find work.

“I don’t really feel like there’s been any government support available to me, there’s obviously furlough and self employed schemes to help people in work, but there’s nothing really out there to support people looking for work or people who would have had irregular

work.

“Normally over summer I teach English at summer camps and language centres, obviously all of that was cancelled for last year, and probably next year, but as it’s seasonal work I wasn’t able to claim any support, because all the jobs were cancelled.

“Like with most things during the pandemic the help feels a bit erratic, but you’ve just got to focus on the positives.”

Young people aren’t only facing unemployment but also the realisation that they might not find work in the sector they’ve studied in and are so passionate about.

It’s causing young people to feel anxious and unmotivated for their future.

In November, Bristol Live spoke to 26-year-old graduate Yesmain Mirreh, whose hopes of building a career and gaining further qualifications had been “put on hold” because of the pandemic.

Yesmain, who studied Politics and International Relations at UWE, said because of the pandemic she “doesn’t know what to do with her life,” and is reluctant about returning to study a

masters in such unprecedented times.

“Going back to university to study a masters right now doesn’t even seem like an option in Bristol,” she said.

“I’m in a flux.”

And what about the gig economy?

Information from the Economics Observatory tells us gig economy workers have no job security so that when demand falls during a crisis, workers’ incomes fall immediately.

Many employment rights are less secure for gig workers, many of whom are classed as ‘self-employed’ rather than properly protected employees.

In Bristol, a large number of young people have taken up gig work thanks to the flexible hours.

Gig work can be unpredictable at the best of times, but what about during a pandemic?

An NHS worker at Southmead Hospital said that despite the government’s website saying any contract is eligible for the furlough scheme, she is not because of her zero-hour contract.

It’s a situation that has left staff “struggling for work,” she said, at a time with THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

West’s best among future innovation leaders SEVEn South West entrepreneurs have been named as Young Innovator Award winners, by Innovate UK and The Prince’s Trust.

The winners from the South West were among 64 inspiring young people who receive a £5,000 grant, one-on-one business coaching and an allowance to cover living costs as they pursue business ideas from the creation of biochar to the development of prosthetic limbs.

The Young Innovators Awards recognises young people from across the UK

with great business ideas who have the potential to become successful entrepreneurs and future leaders in innovation.

There has been an 87% increase in applications year-on-year and recent research shows more than a third of 18 to 34-yearolds want to launch an independent enterprise in 2021, compared to 28% of 35 to 54-year-olds.

This year, 49% of the winners are female, nearly a third are from a BAME background; 17% have a disability and the projects cover all regions of the UK.

The South West winners » Kieran Devlin, 23, Revive Innovations, Bristol Kieran wants to reduce the impact of waste materials on the environment.

His company creates innovative materials and products to recycle waste CDs, DVDs, games and software discs.

Young people are taking the brunt of the financial downturn due to Covid-19

soaring demand for nHS services.

And for young people currently in higher education, the situation is just as bleak. Many students have expressed outrage in recent weeks at having to pay full tuition fees this year despite not being able to access university facilities, meet with their tutors or be taught inclass.

Students across the country are also required to continue paying rent this term, despite being told not to return to university for the foreseeable future unless they are studying certain practical courses, including nursing and social work, although some universities, including Bristol and Bath, have recently announced schemes not to charge students in halls of residence.

Last summer, the government announced its Kickstart Scheme, which provides funding to create new job placements for 16 to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of longterm unemployment.

Following the announcement of a third national lockdown in England, the government extended the furlough THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

scheme until the end of April 2021, continuing to contribute 80 per cent towards people’s wages. It has also extended its Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

But Youth Employment UK says there are further steps the government needs to take to ensure young people are protected during Covid-19.

These include ensuring businesses can thrive through recruitment and training plans, protecting young people studying apprenticeships through incentive payments, protecting young people ‘furthest from the labour market’ by ensuring traineeships are in place if they leave school with no qualifications, as well as protecting those still in education.

There have also been calls for more support for young people in their final year of secondary school – many of whom were expecting to complete their GCSEs this year and start an apprenticeship or A-levels.

It comes after the government announced the cancellation of this year’s GCSE exams, and instead focus on ‘school-based assessments,.

» Charlotte Hawkins, 25, Earthly Biochar, Appledore, North Devon Charlotte cofounded Earthly Biochar after designing the first domestic biochar kiln for eco-conscious gardeners.

Biochar improves soil health, increases crop yields and is a form of carbon storage.

Charlotte aims to set up the UK’s first carbon-negative biochar production facilities to turn ‘waste’ wood into biochar. » Alaya Holloway, 20, FirstGens, Bristol Alaya is a firstgeneration student and wants to help others who are the first in their family to go to university. Her company FirstGens aims to boost social mobility in the UK and support diversity and inclusion within higher education and professional establishments. » Diana Kviatkovskaja, 30, Chisel Robotics, Bristol Diana has created a state-of-the-art wearable device and an app, that can be used with any prosthetic leg for lower limb amputees. This will eventually allow an amputee to have maximum control over their mobility and quality of life.

» Ilham Said, 23, Engineer 2 Engineer, Bristol Engineer 2 Engineer is a fastgrowing peer-topeer communication platform which generates analytics-driven feedback and provides targeted support for students.

Within eight months the platform has already grown to support over 700 students and academics. » Jake Street, 22, Bristol Jake is developing an app, to be installed on children’s devices, which is able to identify social attacks such as cyberbullying, grooming and exposure to distressing content. » William Testeil, 23, Bristol William is creating the first mobile app specifically designed to help families improve their wellbeing in a fun and simple way. The Family Well-being app will help children and parents collectively keep healthy, while spending more quality time together.

InnoVATE UK’S Emily nott says: “With 2020 proving to be an incredibly difficult year, maintaining our focus on Young Innovators was a priority for Innovate UK since finding the great entrepreneurial minds of the future is more important than ever.

“Working alongside this year’s winners, we will help them grow and develop their business idea to make the world a better and more innovative place.”

Science minister Amanda Solloway said: “While the past year has brought significant challenges, it has also shone a light on the best of British ingenuity, with young people across the country harnessing their entrepreneurial spirit to help the UK respond to these challenges.”

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 33

Learning vital lessons from the crisis Emma Elgee speaks to leading figures at two of the biggest and oldest firms in Somerset’s rural economy to find out how they adapted and overcame the severe challenges of 2020

“E

vERYWHERE we looked there was another challenge,” says Richard Clothier, managing director of Wyke Farms, the largest independent cheese maker in the UK. Like every county, Somerset has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. It has lost big employers such as Oscar Meyer, which closed its factory in Chard making hundreds at risk of redundancy, and seen Clarks, a previously family-run firm, be taken over by venture capitalists after 195 years.

But amid the pandemic and Brexit uncertainty, many businesses have overcome huge obstacles to survive and even thrive.

Richard Clothier is managing director of Wyke Farms, which has been producing cheddar for the last 150 years. Based in Bruton, the business has more than 300 employees and ships 18,500 tonnes of Somerset’s finest cheese annually to approximately 160 different countries.

The business embraced the motto ‘keep calm and keep eating cheese’ for the pandemic, and it appears the rest of the UK followed suit as “cheese flew off the shelf”.

Mr Clothier said that it had been an immensely challenging year, but that the business was able to keep going, in part, thanks to their local farmers who kept up supplies of milk for cheese and butter.

He said: “We have 150 local farmers

34 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

ucts as that market has just not returned. who provide us with milk and cheese “We have managed to sell a bit of that and they kept going throughout so we now but we are stockpiling – that’s one of could keep going too – we were incredithe hidden costs of this. bly fortunate in that way.”

“Initially, cheese did fly off the shelves Reflecting on the effect coronavirus which I can’t moan about and the chalhad on his business, Mr Clothier said it lenges we faced on the catering side of acted as a “catalyst” for any existing things were more than made up by the problems with supply. retail side.

He said: “Covid-19 become the cata“Same for the overseas market – our lyst for any problems or issues that were retail sales in Europe are strong but in already there. If there was a problem the first March lockdown some with supply they suddenly become stock had to come back as it big problems, so one of the wasn’t needed and some things we tried to do was had to be destroyed, risk assess everything as which was a shame.” there was suddenly so As the pandemic much pressure on progressed Mr Clothbusinesses. ier explained that “What we saw was some big retailers an instant polarisastreamlined their tion – grocery retail stocks, prefering fastand shops got really moving products, busy, as people were which meant some of panic buying so that put the premium vintage the pressure on but at the cheddars Wyke produce same time catering side was weren’t being restocked. really slow.

He said: “The cheaper stuff “So we saw a collapse on the Richard Clothier of Wyke Farms was flying but not the premium food services which is mainly vintage cheddar as people were panic grated cheese and suddenly found we buying big blocks of cheddar, so that was had loads of extra offcuts and bits and challenging.” bobs.”

Only a handful of Wyke Farms staff Mr Clothier estimated that Wyke were furloughed, those with underlying Farms lost five to 10 per cent of business health conditions that may make them on the catering side. more susceptible to having a bad reacHe said: “That just collapsed immedition to coronavirus. ately, we’ve ended up stockpiling prod-

Approximately 70 per cent of staff at Wyke Farm have been working there for over 10 years, showing the real family ethos the business has.

He said: “On the staff side, luckily in the first lockdown we didn’t have many illnesses and we managed to socially distance people in the workplace. We worked hard to create a safe environment for our incredible staff.”

Mr Clothier said he considers Wyke Farm incredibly fortunate when compared to how some other businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector.

“It’s heartbreaking to see fantastic businesses be decimated. I’m really thankful to my colleagues as everyone’s been so helpful and flexible.”

Yet he said perhaps we can all learn lessons from the pandemic that could help improve the UK’s supply chain in the long term.

“The lesson we’ve all learned is that the food supply chain needs work – we’re not self-sufficient enough in the UK and the pandemic has exposed that.

“There used to be so much more flex in the system as people would hold onto more stock but what we’ve seen is that efficiency doesn’t mean resilience.”

He also said his business has learned that using programs like Microsoft Teams is truly the way forward in communication.

“It’s allowing more time for people to spend with their families, which is only a good thing in all of this.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

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The lesson we’ve all learned is that the food supply chain needs work – we’re not self-sufficient enough in the UK and the pandemic has exposed that Richard Clothier of Wyke Farms

Martin Thatchers of Thatchers Cider

“It’s also greener as our employees don’t have to cover huge distances and it has made communication as a whole so much stronger.”

Looking ahead, Mr Clothier said Wyke Farms is planning to expand into new overseas markets as well as expand into more retail products.

He said: “We’re looking to expand into retail like Holland Pies, and supply more cheese into retail food like quiches and pies.”

He also said he was looking for any positives that may come out of Brexit.

“Brexit is a big thing, it’s caused some disruption on borders and there is already a lot of extra paperwork with licensing.

“One of the things I’ve realised with Covid-19 is having a really diverse customer base, geographically and demographically, is a big asset for the business.

“If the UK market dipped it would pick up in European countries.

“So we’ll be looking to expand more now, into South America, North America, Asia etc – that’s the real target for us.

“Both coronavirus and Brexit have happened, all we can do is try and get the positive bits out of them.

“There’s no doubt that trade in Europe now is more costly and is changing, but now they have got to get trade deals with Asian regions, China or South America and the USA, because if we can get that we can get something positive out of Brexit.”

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Opportunity to learn Thatchers is one of Britain’s oldest cider businesses but is a comparative youngster next to Wyke Farms, having ‘only’ been formed in 1904.

Based in Sandford, North Somerset, the business sells to 22 countries and is a global name.

Martin Thatcher, a fourth-generation cider maker, gives his reflections on the past year.

He said: “These continue to be very uncertain and challenging times for us all.

“In 2020, like all cider makers, we saw a whole portion of our market reduce dramatically, indeed this is continuing into 2021, as half our sales would normally be to pubs and bars, which have been and continue to be subject to tight restrictions.

“During the restrictions, we did see a rise in sales in supermarkets, convenience stores and online for our ciders as people created social experiences at home.

“As a team we have pulled together throughout, but, like many companies, we took the difficult decision to ask a number of our staff to take part in the government’s job retention scheme.

“That’s affecting around 75 of our staff at the current time, including those at our pub in Sandford, The Railway Inn, which is closed due to national lockdown.”

Mr Thatcher also said that a number

of positive lessons have been learnt from the pandemic.

“Navigating a business through a global pandemic has given us an opportunity to learn a lot of lessons. We’ve all had to do things differently by changing the way we live our lives and the way we do business.

“We’ve spent more time on Zoom, less time travelling, and in fact I think this has helped us strengthen relationships and work practices as we’ve all become adept at adapting.

“As a family business we know that our staff, our community and our customers are very important, so our first job was to make sure that Myrtle Farm was a safe place to work.

“Our team here at Myrtle Farm have worked tirelessly throughout the year to make sure the business has continued to run smoothly and efficiently through challenging times.”

The family run ethos behind the firm ensures quality is assured because the packaging and cidermaking is still done on site, like it was over a hundred years ago.

Mr Thatcher explained that the cidermaking is still done on the original Myrtle Farm meaning they can quickly respond to an increase in demand.

Whilst the firm ships to approximately 22 countries worldwide, they haven’t forgotten their local roots and have always worked to support the local community.

This has continued in the pandemic with the firm teaming up with the village shop.

Mr Thatcher said: “From day one we’ve been working hard in our local community to support our neighbours.

“Working with our local village shop in Sandford, we introduced a community phone number for surrounding villages to help local people with everything from delivering essentials, school dinners and vital prescriptions.”

In addition, the team gave away over 10,000 bottles of Thatcher’s cider to NHS workers and another 7,000 kegs to pubs and bars up and down the country in July.

Looking ahead, Mr Thatcher said while no “crystal ball” will show the future they know cidermaking will continue.

He said: “Cidermaking has been a core industry in the West Country for hundreds of years and it will continue.

“We’re of course looking forward to seeing a resumption of business as normal and we will continue to produce brands that we’re proud of.

“So we’ll continue to change and adapt to the different needs of a constantly changing trading environment, with our core purpose of producing premium-quality cider sustainably.”

Mr Thatcher also said the firm was becoming more environmentally friendly.

He said: “We’re making great strides in cutting carbon, reducing plastic and supporting biodiversity across our business.

“We’ve introduced new, lighter weight cans saving the equivalent of 5.9 million empty cans a year – that’s 70 tons of aluminium and approximately 381 tons of CO2 saved annually. Our glass bottles use up to 77 per cent recycled glass.

“And back in 2016 we were the first cider maker to get rid of the plastic rings on our four packs of cans, replacing them with new recyclable cardboard outers.

“Our core belief is that quality comes first and that we only do the things that we feel are absolutely right, ensuring exceptional service levels in such difficult times.”

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 35

‘Devastated’ sector keen to move forward Jack Colwill discovers that tourism businesses in Wiltshire hope that it can benefit from pentup demand when lockdown ends

C

ovID-19 has caused widespread problems across the world throughout 2020, but the “devastated” Wiltshire tourism sector has felt more hurt than many.

With lockdown measures in full force through much of 2020, the industry ground to a halt with people around the country confined to their homes and unable to travel, depriving the county of the thousands of visitors it welcomes on a yearly basis.

Estimates suggest that the UK as a whole will see tens of billions of pounds lost to the economy through the inactivity of the tourism industry, and in Wiltshire alone the sector is believed to be worth £1.5bn.

Plenty of businesses that capitalise on tourist trade went under during the lockdown, with many more still only just managing to stay afloat.

However, as much as it is fighting the realities of the present, the industry is already turning towards the future, with Wiltshire primed to be one of the counties best-placed to capitalise when the world opens up again.

The CEo of visit Wiltshire, David Andrews, said that while the pandemic was “completely devastating” to many in the sector in 2020, he felt that the county was still well-placed to take advantage of the “pent-up demand” that will come out when the pandemic eases.

He said: “It goes without saying that the time since March has been completely devastating to a lot of people.

36 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

A prime example of one of the big “It’s been well-documented that the players to have suffered greatly is Salistourism and hospitality industry has bury Cathedral, with estimates suggestbeen one of the hardest-hit sectors, and ing the first lockdown alone cost the site that is definitely true in Wiltshire. £2 million.

“However, there are still places that However, the cathedral’s managemanaged to do well. ment say it maintained a steady visitor “When restrictions were eased in the count despite the suspension of group summer, places like tourist cottages, and guided tours. camping and glamping sites and places Even though it has now experienced that offered a different, more remote three lockdown closures, director of option for travellers did well, and some communications and development even had record years.

Jane Morgan said the organisation in “When people were able to travel charge “remains optimistic” about 2021. again, they wanted to go remote, and She also said the opportunity to that is something Wiltshire is welldevelop the offering at the catheequipped to offer. dral and improve the visitor “There is so much pent-up experience would be a demand for holidays and bonus for the whole city experiences now with and area. the pandemic. People She said: “In 2020 were wanting to go on our visitors were holiday in July when largely domestic, with the restrictions were people coming either lifted and it showed – on day trips or visiting the same will be true as part of a staycation, in 2021. and there were times “The current situawhen we were close to tion means people want our ‘new normal’ capacity. to go off the beaten track “This changed towards the when they can travel again end of the year, of course, and that bodes well for WiltDavid Andrews, because it is low season and shire.

CEO of Visit Wiltshire the various local restrictions “Even the biggest players leading to this national lockdown were massively affected and impacted, reduced visitor numbers. but Wiltshire definitely did better than “Despite this, we remain optimistic. some other places and I think the We are using the time to develop our county is well-placed to benefit moving offer, so that when we do re-open we are forward. offering an even better experience that “We are certainly looking forward to will bring visitors back, not just to the what is hopefully the great recovery.”

cathedral, but to the city.

“Talking to our clients and colleagues in the visitor and travel business, it is clear that everyone is keen to get going again when it is safe to do so.

“Salisbury has a lot to offer – a beautiful cathedral, wonderful Close with other attractions including Salisbury Museum, a historic town and proximity to Stonehenge, Bath, Bournemouth, Southampton and London.

“There’s plenty to do and plenty to see.”

Despite an immensely difficult year in 2020, there are definite signs that support the idea that tourism is ready to get back on its feet in 2021.

English Heritage, which holds the Stonehenge monument as its crowning jewel, said it saw less than 10 per cent of the international visitors it would expect to see in a year at the Wiltshire site in 2020 but that the sector was “raring to go” in making up for lost time in the coming year.

The organisation’s director for Stonehenge, Nichola Tasker, said that increased demand for domestic staycations and a renewed interest in domestic sights would see the shoots of recovery begin, despite admitting it may take two to three years for the industry to fully recover.

She said: “Last year was a challenging one for English Heritage. The temporary THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

❝❝

Wiltshire definitely did better than some other places and I think the county is well-placed to benefit moving forward

Stonehenge saw less than 10 per cent of the international visitors it would expect to see in a year in 2020

closure of all our paid-entry sites meant a substantial loss of income for the charity, from visitor admissions, memberships, catering and retail.

“Once the pandemic has finally eased, we imagine that a large number of British holiday makers will prefer to staycation this year, and as we saw last summer after the first lockdown people were very keen to visit Stonehenge.

“The expectation is that overseas tourism may not be back up to 2019 levels for the next two to three years, but we are really looking forward to welcoming our international visitors back when they can travel safely again.

“The tourism industry in Wiltshire is raring to go, so many people and businesses rely on tourism and there’s a huge enthusiasm to see a full recovery as quickly as possible.

“At Stonehenge we are continuing to improve the experience for our visitors – in 2021 this will include the opening of a refurbished café, a new special exhibition and a new audio tour.”

David Andrews concurred that there was enthusiasm to get the industry back up and running again, but also conceded that it would be important to win the confidence of visitors and consumers to make that happen.

He said: “Our marketing and messaging now needs to be about encouraging people to think about when they are THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

able to travel again and considering Wiltshire as a destination.

“We also need, in light of the pandemic, to reassure people that they will have a safe experience as that is going to be a continuing concern.

“Our biggest challenge is going to be consumer confidence – that will be a real key.

“If that happens, I think we have an amazing tourism product here in Wiltshire that will appeal to people who want to travel.

“It looks quite likely that current social distancing measures will remain in

place possibly until the end of the summer, which is going to continue to impact the capacity at attractions and destinations for a while.

“But what that does mean is that the rural locations, openness and space we have here in Wiltshire puts us in a good position when it comes to giving people the confidence to return.

“A lot also depends on the speed of the vaccination programme and how quickly that takes effect, as it will dictate the extent to which we can maximise business.

“But what it still does represent is a fil-

Salisbury Cathedral looks set to benefit from the development of the Great West Way

lip to consumer confidence, which will hopefully lead to a recovery as we move down the road.”

One of the major developments that could see significant implications for Wiltshire, as well as the surrounding areas, is the Great West Way. The government-funded project is an emerging tourist route between London and Bristol, which has been backed as part of the government’s £40m Discover England Fund.

The latest round of funding, which included the Way, was awarded in October 2020 as part of the tactics to aid tourism recovery in light of the pandemic.

While highlighting the project as a positive for Wiltshire going forward, Mr Andrews said that the sector needed further government help if it was to truly recover from the lingering effects of lockdown.

He said: “We are still lucky enough to have funding for the Great West Way and we will be looking to launch campaigns focusing on that when lockdown comes to an end.

“It speaks well to the ‘off the beaten track’ rhetoric that people are looking for, and we are also trying to tailor that to people who can experience these kinds of sights and experiences in their local areas – the tourism version of the ‘shop local’ brief that we have seen.

“But having that one string to our bow is not enough, and the sector will need more help.

“There have been grants given out to affected business, but given the losses tourism businesses have seen already, these have only really been small, sticking plaster solutions.

“We are in a position where no-one is investing in planning or marketing and thinking longer-term because they are just trying to make sure they survive the next month or two.

“That is why the government needs to be supporting the tourism and hospitality sector. It will disappear if they do not do more and then it could go as far as there not even being pubs in villages.

“Tourism for many years has been calling for more joined-up governmental support, and the fact it has recognised that need and is developing the Tourism Recovery Plan is encouraging.

“The key is getting a properlyresourced plan that is also embedded as it used to be in local authority plans.”

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 37

D

orSET’S beaches made national headlines last summer when thousands swarmed the coastline in June, after enduring months of restrictive lockdown measures.

As temperatures hovered in the mid20s, cars of eager sun-seekers became congested on coast-bound roads, including those around Durdle Door.

Those looking at the pictures from afar could have concluded that tourism operators were rubbing their hands in glee as the revenue came flooding in.

But they’d be wrong.

James Weld, owner and manager of Lulworth Estate, described it as “pretty trying circumstances”.

Lulworth Estate’s security costs went up by £65,000, as it was forced to put in place 24 hour surveillance to move on those trying to camp on the beach.

It also needed additional staff to clear the litter and mess left behind by the crowds that arrived each day. Many were starting work at five o’clock in the morning to begin the clear up.

While the images of crowded Dorset beaches suggested they would tally record numbers of visitors in 2020, Mr Weld noted this was not the case at Lulworth and given the additional costs of

Tourism is particularly vital to the economy of Dorset. Rebecca Cook discovers that operators are ‘optimistic’ for 2021 managing the crowds, they were not profiting from the massed throngs.

Visitor numbers were actually down 30 percent from the previous year, which forced it to shelve certain areas of the business, such as education services and voluntary conservation work.

Mr Weld said this decision turned out to be “the sensible route to take”.

“We did it fairly early on, so all of those we did make redundant had as much time as possible to find some alternative positions,” he said.

During the periods Lulworth Estate’s car parks, holidays and retail businesses were allowed to open, Lulworth Estate still managed to achieve an overall profit last year. This has supported other debilitated areas such as the wedding and castle businesses, which are “shot and costing quite a lot”.

Mr Weld said: “We depend on summer revenue, much of which we didn’t have, so the knock-on through the winter is quite difficult.”

The estate is now preparing for their busiest season, conducting repairs and improving structures, despite the uncer-

tainty around when they will next be able to operate.

Despite the trials the coronavirus has created, Mr Weld’s outlook for Dorset’s tourism in 2021 is “hopeful”, as he concluded: “We think we will just about get through until we open.”

Since the third national lockdown announcement, Martin Cox, director of West Dorset Leisure Holidays (WDLH), which consists of five family-managed holiday parks, has been involved in discussions with other tourism businesses in the South West to plot a recovery plan.

Mr Cox is hoping the recovery from the pandemic can be aided by the uncertainty of international travel as well as the increasing popularity of the UK ‘staycation’.

“If the vaccine is in place and there’s no lockdown, we think there will be a reasonable, if not a very good, demand for holidays in the south west of England in 2021, because people will be possibly reluctant to go abroad,” he said.

“The economy is not as buoyant as it was, so people will be looking for a UK

holiday.”

Mr Cox described how the main objective of this tourism recovery at present is to ensure Dorset’s small businesses can survive this next lull, thus guaranteeing visitors have the entire holiday experience once the sector does reopen.

He said the three components of this are business rates, VAT and the job retention scheme.

The government implemented a business relief holiday last March for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, however it is currently unclear whether this will extend beyond April 1. In a normal year, business rates provide the government with a net tax take of roughly £26 billion, with retail providing the largest chunk of this.

Mr Cox says businesses need another holiday or a delay in the payment, as an April business rate bill could otherwise be lethal for some seasonal businesses, who have essentially suffered three winters in a row.

In terms of VAT, Mr Cox hopes it will remain at the lower level for a longer period of time. It is currently due to end on March 31.

He said: “What we really need is for that to be extended into 2021 because

Ready to welcome back visitors 38 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

that gives us more flexibility with pricing, and if we can get the market price it means we retain more of the money.

“Furlough would be the third element of the recovery plan: that flexible furlough stays in place perhaps a little bit longer.”

During the first national lockdown, WDLH furloughed half of its staff, only retaining those necessary for the maintenance of the grounds.

WDLH lost roughly 45 percent of its income last year and Mr Cox says he is keen to stress to local politicians that, despite the perception of thriving Dorset tourism during the summer, they could not recover the income lost earlier in the year.

He said: “It’s impossible to regain that in a limited period. People did return but we had to bring in a Covid-19 safe environment and we ran on lower numbers in our bar and restaurants.”

In order to be Covid-compliant, WDLH spent £8,000 on the screens for the bar alone. It had to reorganise the kitchen, and reduce chef numbers from four to two in order to allow for social distancing, which then necessitated a change to the menu to accommodate for what only two chefs could cook.

It was forced to reduce the bar and

restaurant seating from 250 to 130, but did see pockets of success in other areas of the business, in particular camping, which was busier than normal.

Mr Cox believes that this is a trend that could carry on into 2021, particular if the weather is as good as it was last year.

“The great outdoors is the most popular thing and one thing that we can describe a caravan park or holiday park as being is natural social distancing,” he said.

“Unlike a hotel, where you have to walk through a bar and reception and narrow staircase and corridors to get your room, once people are in the park, they’re in their own caravan, all of which are six metres apart. They’re in their own family bubble.

“We encourage a lot of touring caravans to bring their own toilets with them, so they’re self contained. Obviously we have the walks, we have the countryside, we have the beaches and we have space.”

WDLH will be reviewing its plan for reopening in February, but is not expecting to welcome visitors back until the end of March.

Mr Cox said: “I think we’ll have a good year through to 2022, although we’ve

still got a long way to go to recover the losses we’ve already had.”

The Dorset Chamber of Commerce has voiced similarly hopeful prospects for 2021, particularly with the coronavirus vaccination programme underway and the long-running Brexit question now clearer.

Ian Girling, chief executive of the chamber, described this as a “light at the end of the tunnel” after Dorset “braved the slingshots of 2020”.

“Clearly Covid continues to have a major impact and there will be some adaptation required to adjust to life outside the EU, but we have a positive direction of travel,” he said.

“Some firms and sectors have been hit harder than others but for many businesses, 2021 will be a bounceback year of recovery, consolidation and then growth.”

Anthony Woodhouse, chairman of the historic North Dorset brewery Hall & Woodhouse, said: “One of the biggest issues now facing Dorset’s economy is unemployment, particularly for young people.

“Hospitality can offer great employment and social mobility opportunities and relieve some burden as a result of the lack of opportunities in other sec-

tors.”

A portion of the economic bounceback could result from pent-up public demand after months of being constrained at home, Mr Girling believes.

He projected that Dorset will profit from this, as a county that has “always punched above its weight”.

Mr Girling concluded that, while challenges remain, it is crucial to look into this year and beyond with “energy and optimism”, predicting that Dorset businesses “will carry the spirit of resilience and innovation built up over the past year through into 2021.”

While hospitality and tourism have been battered by the pandemic, it is clear that Dorset is ready and waiting to welcome visitors once again, as and when it is safe to do so. Dorset Councillor Tony Ferrari said: “When the Government says it’s safe, Dorset is ready to welcome back visitors again.”

Mr Ferrari said: “We all hope that, as more people get vaccinated, the tourism industry and associated businesses in Dorset will start to show signs of recovery.

“We know the demand for people wanting to visit Dorset is high, but for now, we are asking people to obey lockdown rules and stay at home.”

Lulworth Cove

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

BUSINESS GUIDE 2021 39

Richard Bache assesses the impact of the pandemic on the finances of the region’s sporting economy

W

HEN Al Boum Photo held off Santini to claim the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, March 13 last year in front of 68,859 people it was the last time a major sporting crowd gathered in the West Country.

The festival had – fairly or unfairly – become a lightning rod for criticism after going ahead in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

Whether it was right to do so remains contentious. But a potential cancellation was probably a matter for the government rather than the course owner, the Jockey Club, which can hardly be blamed for following official guidance.

It is exceedingly unlikely that whoever wins the Gold Cup this March will though be cheered home by anyone other than, possibly, the winning owner and trainer.

And having a festival run behind closed doors is going to take quite a toll on the economy of Cheltenham. Not having the annual invasion of fans from Ireland and across the rest of Britain could see a loss to the Gloucestershire economy of £100 million. Pubs, hotels, restaurants and taxi drivers are among some of those who will miss out on their best week of the year.

Last year, a Cheltenham Borough Council spokesperson said: “Cheltenham Festival is by far and away the largest event of the year here in Cheltenham and its importance to the local economy, and to that of the wider region, cannot be underestimated.

“It provides a huge boost to the town’s hotels, bars and restaurants for the whole week but so too to all of the supporting businesses and supply chains, with a multiplier effect that extends way beyond Cheltenham alone.

“Figures from The Jockey Club/Cheltenham Racecourse suggest a countywide economic impact figure in the region of £100m.”

Dozens of other businesses from across the rural West which have stalls at Cheltenham will also miss out on one of their must lucrative events of the year and the on-course bookmakers continue to lose out to the online giants.

Horse racing itself is a major employer in the rural West Country and yards across the region will be feeling the pinch with a decline of revenue across the industry.

Professional football, rugby and cricket clubs have also been performing – bar a couple of weeks in tier two in the autumn – behind closed doors ever since last spring.

As a Bristol Bears season ticket holder I’m all too aware that since I was last allowed through the turnstiles at Ashton Gate Bristol have signed world-class talent such as Semi Radradra, Ben Earl, Kyle Sinckler and Max Malins, plus won the small matter of the European Challenge Cup. The empty stands have severely dented the bottom line for all profes-

40 BUSINESS GUIDE 2021

Empty stands at Ashton Gate

Sports feeling financial pain sional sports clubs – even those whose owners have deep pockets.

The Bears, which like Bristol City FC are owned by billionaire Steve Lansdown, are better able than many to withstand the financial challenges.

But clubs are every bit as desperate as fans and players for crowds to once again pile into the region’s sporting grounds.

Ashton Gate is one of seven vaccine super-hubs across Britain and the stadium has also offered parts of its site for NHS testing and as a catering site to feed the vulnerable during the pandemic, demonstrating its role in the heart of the community.

Somerset County Cricket Club was the latest to appeal to supporters to back them during this difficult period. It launched its membership drive for 2021 last week.

CEO Gordon Hollins wrote: “I have no doubt that our great club, which has survived two World Wars, will come through these extraordinary times.

“With your unwavering support and the continued commitment of our commercial partners and stakeholders, it will.

“However, your club has never needed

you more than it does now. With this in mind, I would encourage you to renew or purchase your memberships as soon as possible. Your membership fee is absolutely vital.

“If government restrictions prevent members entering the Cooper Associates County Ground on matchdays, you will be given the option of claiming a proportionate refund or donating your membership fee to the club.”

West Country rivals Gloucestershire, meanwhile, will be celebrating the interrupted 150th anniversary year with a new-look 151 Not Out Events programme.

Gloucestershire chief executive Will Brown said: “The club is looking forward to hosting many events during the course of the year.

“It was a shame that our 150th anniversary was cut short, but we are excited to be celebrating this year with our members, supporters, players and staff.”

One of the longest-running stories in West sport has been the proposed redevelopment of Bath Rugby’s historic home at The Rec. Work on the Stadium for Bath was paused in May due to the pandemic and a High Court defeat in

October regarding a legal covenant about the land was a further blow.

Whether 2021 sees movement on the club’s ambition to build a stadium fit for the 21st century in the middle of a UNESCO World Heritage City remains to be seen.

However progress is anticipated on land near Ashton Gate, where Bristol Sport’s plans to build 500 homes on the edge of the city to fund a new arena and hotel complex have taken a step forward.

Late last year it published the first images of the new development called Longmoor Village, which is on a green field site between Ashton Vale and the Long Ashton Park and Ride.

The £118million project will see money made from the housing development fund ambitious plans for a venue next to the existing stadium that will provide a home for the Bristol Flyers basketball team, as well as be a conference centre and indoor events venue. Plans for the Sporting Quarter have been scaled back following feedback from the community and city planners.

A pre-application for Longmoor Village has now been made to Bristol City Council.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Succeeding in 2020 Golf boom tees up record sales

Books the background stars of the Zoom era » Scrutinising the bookcases of politicians, business executives and media pundits became something of an obsession during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

The pivot to Zoom and the vast majority of television interviews happening remotely rather than in a studio led to something akin to a 21st century revival of ‘Through the Keyhole’. It even spawned the viral Twitter account Bookcase Credibility (@BCredibility) One company to benefit from the new ‘craze’ was Somerset-based Bookbarn International. Its Books by the Yard service had previously largely been used by TV, film and theatre set decoration businesses – including for the BBC, National Theatre and the Marvel movies – as well as businesses

in hospitality such as Rick Stein’s restaurants.

In 2020, though, many talking heads also needed to up their bookcase game.

Hallatrow-based Bookbarn International stocks more than a million used and new books in its warehouse and is run by the great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin.

It is currently on a fundraising push to raise £1 million for expansion and acquisitions.

It sells hundreds of thousands of books online through its website and other platforms such as Amazon, Ebay and Abe Books.

It also sells rare and antiquarian books, and stocks more than one million used and new books in its ‘barn’ at Hallatrow Business Park, near Bath.

According to chairman William Pryor, Darwin’s great-great-grandson, the company is seeking an initial £250,000 through Crowd for Angels before aiming to raise a further £750,000 later this year.

He said: “We are passionate about books and know from our experience that the demand for physical books is steadily growing.

“We are selling the ancient technology of the book via the 21st century technology of the internet.”

Mr Pryor said the company had “ambitious plans” for growth.

“Our local customers love our Somerset barn where they can browse thousands of books,” he added. “We have ambitious plans to grow both organically and by acquisition.”

» Golf courses enjoyed a boom in 2020, with the sport suffering less from coronavirus restrictions than most other leisure activities.

And a West-based manufacturer of golf trollies benefited from thousands returning to the sport and investing in new equipment.

Gloucestershire-based Stewart Golf said its business nearly doubled in size in 2020. Not only did it pick up business from the army of amateur footballers, cricketers and rugby players who dusted off their golf clubs while their own sports were suspended, but with some courses restricting the use of two-seat golf buggies, it also sold to those who usually travelled between lies on four wheels.

It said total sales increased by an incredible 93 per cent in 2020.

It built 65 per cent more of its X Series electric trolleys than in 2019 (including the industry leading X9 Follow), and production of the R1-S Push increased by 51 per cent.

The company also successfully launched the new Q Follow to critical acclaim after four years of design and development.

Business nearly doubled in 2020 for Gloucester-based Stewart Golf

Crisis has ‘catapulted’ logistics firm years ahead »A South Gloucestershire-based e-commerce and fulfilment business is creating more than 100 jobs after “extraordinary” growth during the coronavirus pandemic.

Huboo, which is based at Vertex Park in Emersons Green, near Bristol, has expanded from two employees, 60 clients and £20,000 in monthly recurring revenues (mrr) just 18 months ago to 120 employees, more than 500 clients and £800,000 mrr in 2020.

Martin Bysh, co-founder of Huboo, said the company was seeing “great growth” before the pandemic, but the business was “catapulted years ahead” after Covid-19 created huge demand for online shopping.

To cope with the increasing demand for e-commerce orders, Huboo has expanded into two more warehouses, adding to the two it already occupies.

The company is also looking for a permanent office in Bristol city centre, where it will base its HR, finance and marketing teams.

According to Huboo, this will free up space at Vertex Park South for the ware-

Co-Founders of Huboo, Paul Dodd, left, and Martin Bysh

house and logistics teams.

Speaking in November, Mr Bysh said: “We’ve just added two more local warehouses in Bristol to meet demand and are actively seeking out both UK and EU expansion options for post-Brexit.

“The growth of online shopping has led to a boom in demand for third-party logistics solutions. They’re the quickest

and cheapest solution for e-commerce and high street retailers looking to grow or diversify.

“This growth is resulting in scores of new employment opportunities in the South West – offering job opportunities and career progression to many in the area who may have faced redundancies or lost their jobs due to the pandemic.”

Stewart Golf builds its machines by hand in Great Britain, meaning that it was able to react to the surge in demand rather than wait for the next container to arrive from the Far East.

Staff numbers at Quedgeley-based company has increased by more than 50 per cent to facilitate the growth, with this number set to grow further in 2021 and its factory will also expand by 50 per cent to 10,000 square feet in February.

While UK sales grew by 33 per cent, exports soared and now account for almost 75 per cent of sales. Stewart Golf sold to 45 countries throughout the world including the USA, Canada, South Africa, Singapore, and South Korea.

European sales also increased by 16% despite Brexit uncertainty throughout the year.

CEO Mark Stewart said: “Clearly we’re thrilled with our 2020 performance. It’s been a crazy year in so many ways and we consider ourselves very fortunate that our business has been able to blossom during the pandemic.

“The team have been nothing short of spectacular. Doubling in size would be a tall order in any year, but to do it with such significant obstacles in the way is exceptional.”

Business guide Western Daily Press

2021

Your essential guide to business across the West including the region’s top 150 companies and how businesses are adapting and recovering from the pandemic