• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Thursday February 27 2025
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Swindon business leaders optimistic about prospects in 2025

Swindon business leaders have expressed optimism about their business prospects going into 2025.

Plan Your Business 2025 was the theme of the monthly Swindon Chamber of Commerce meeting held this month at New College.

A panel discussion chaired by Lucy Paine of Tech Spark heard from experts in the fields of law, finance, and communications.

Most business owners in the room said they expected turnover to increase this year, with a good proportion saying they intended to hire new staff – despite the worry most bosses expressed about the looming increase in employers’ NI.

Vicky Schollar from law firm Gardner Leader led the discussion on forthcoming employment law changes and what they meant for small businesses, while Joe McGowan of Metro Bank and Confident Cashflow’s Nicki Kinton explored the financial pressures on businesses – especially around contracts and late payments.

Social butterfly Tracy Marland and Peter Davison of Business Biscuit led the discussion on brand values and ways in which businesses could get their message across by using trusted platforms and engaging in real-world conversations.

There was also a discussion about recruiting and up-skilling staff – with insights from Darran Marks of Swindon Institute of Technology around the importance of work experience and apprenticeships in spotting talent early.

The event was held at SWITCH – the Swindon and Wiltshire Innovative Technology Care Hub – at New College. Health and social care students learn in a high-tech mock hospital ward.

Lifelike mannequins can look around, scream, and cry. One – called Lucy – is programmed to give birth.

Meanwhile, virtual reality suites immerse students in situations ranging from hospital wards to road traffic accidents.

The zone is also a base for the college’s first aid courses for employers. Every workplace with 100 employees must have one qualified first aider. In high-risk environments, the bar is raised to one first aider for every 50 members of staff.

Image courtesy of Brand Photography by Elizabeth