introduction VIEWPOINT


WELCOMING YOU TO insight MAGAZINE


BUSINESS WEST Leigh Court, Abbots Leigh, Bristol BS8 3RA T: 01275 373 373 E: andy.grey@businesswest.co.uk W:www.businesswest.co.uk


To let us have your member news, email: membernews@businesswest.co.uk


FOLLOW BUSINESS WEST AT:


The South West is powering through


W @bw_businesswest


www.facebook.com/businesswest www.linkedin.com/company/business-west www.youtube.com/user/GWEBW


FRONT COVER Bristol unveiled as the first city in the UK outside of London to host a Social Media Week. Image courtesy of Dan Taylor.


PUBLISHERS Kemps Publishing Ltd 11 The Swan Courtyard, Charles Edward Road Birmingham B26 1BU W: www.kempspublishing.co.uk


EDITOR Laura Blake T: 0121 765 4144 E: laura.blake@kempspublishing.co.uk


Please send press releases and articles, including images for possible inclusion to: laura.blake@kempspublishing.co.uk All material is used at the editor’s discretion.


DESIGN Lloyd Hollingworth


ADVERTISING Jon Jones T: 0121 765 4144 F: 0121 707 3821 E: jon.jones@kempspublishing.co.uk


PRINTERS Buxton Press Buxton, Derbyshire W: www.buxtonpress.com


Business West Insight is produced on behalf of Business West by Kemps Publishing Ltd and is distributed without charge throughout the South West of England. The publisher is committed to achieving the highest quality standards. However, views expressed in the magazine are independent and while every care has been taken to ensure that the information it contains is accurate, the publisher cannot accept any responsibility for any omission or inaccuracies that might arise. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in print or electronic format without the prior written permission of Kemps Publishing Ltd.


hat a tumultuous couple of months it’s been. Team GB took the Rio Olympics by storm, achieving a record number of medals


and Hinkley Point C, Europe’s biggest construction project has had a roller coaster ride. As insight goes to press we are still waiting for


the new prime minister to give the go ahead for work to start on Hinkley as the benefits of this £18bn project to our region are potentially enormous with an estimated 25,000 jobs and huge supply chain opportunities for local companies. In the medium term, I believe Hinkley will give the


South West the opportunity to develop a world class, exportable nuclear industry through the expertise developed in the design, construction and operating of this plant. Because for too long, I feel that the regions of


the UK have been somewhat forgotten, as London became too dominant, both politically and economically. Thankfully, and not before time, the political autonomy pendulum is swinging towards devolution - increasing power for regional communities - away from London. We’ve all heard of the so-called Northern Powerhouse but what about the South West Powerhouse? I am pleased to say we too are seeing local government following the devolution path


‘I believe Hinkley will give the South West the opportunity to develop a world class, exportable nuclear industry ’


and looking to appoint elected Metro Mayors. Though it gets on with its business quietly, I would say that the South West is already a powerhouse in its own right. Location is also a factor. Take Bristol for instance, soon to be just over an hour from


central London via a new electric train service. Boasting a vibrant regional airport and within an hour of Heathrow, it sits at the confluence of the M4 and M5 motorways - its sea port enabling 50 million of the UK’s population to be reached within a 2.5 hours drive. I also think that Brexit gives the South West region, with more than its fair share of


Britishness in its quality product range, a great opportunity to take advantage of a new global trade order. We have fantastic food, drink and clothing brands selling all over the world. For these reasons, and more that I comment on in page 14, I think that the South West


is well positioned to build on its powerhouse capabilities. We need the ambition and confidence to trade throughout the world and the control from local devolution to drive change for the better in our region.


PHIL SMITH MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS WEST


SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 insight 3


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32