Swindon & Wiltshire Economy 20.08.2026 Pay rises outpace hiring slowdown, jobs report says Pay is finally moving in the right direction for jobseekers across the South of England, even as employers keep a tight grip on permanent hiring, according to a new report. The latest KPMG and REC Report on Jobs showed […]
British Business Bank backs 2,800 South West firms as £500 million economic boost forecast Read more 22.07.2026
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy 18.08.2026 AI has created new jobs, say South West businesses AI is helping South West firms create new jobs and build the skills needed to stay competitive, according to research from the Lloyds Business Barometer. Forty-eight per cent of South West businesses already using AI say it has created […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy 12.08.2026 Crackdown on vape and betting shops welcomed by West leaders Sweeping new powers to block the spread of vape shops, betting outlets, and adult gaming centres have been welcomed by West leaders. The measures – set out by Andy Burnham yesterday – are designed to give communities greater control […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy 12.08.2026 South West businesses return to growth South West businesses made a positive start to the second half of 2026, with both business activity and new orders returning to growth in July. The latest NatWest South West Growth Tracker showed the region’s Business Activity Index rose […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Thursday August 20 2026 Pay rises outpace hiring slowdown, jobs report says Pay is finally moving in the right direction for jobseekers across the South of England, even as employers keep a tight grip on permanent hiring, according to a new report. The latest KPMG and REC Report on Jobs showed […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Tuesday August 18 2026 AI has created new jobs, say South West businesses AI is helping South West firms create new jobs and build the skills needed to stay competitive, according to research from the Lloyds Business Barometer. Forty-eight per cent of South West businesses already using AI say it has created […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Wednesday August 12 2026 Crackdown on vape and betting shops welcomed by West leaders Sweeping new powers to block the spread of vape shops, betting outlets, and adult gaming centres have been welcomed by West leaders. The measures – set out by Andy Burnham yesterday – are designed to give communities greater control […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Wednesday August 12 2026 South West businesses return to growth South West businesses made a positive start to the second half of 2026, with both business activity and new orders returning to growth in July. The latest NatWest South West Growth Tracker showed the region’s Business Activity Index rose […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Tuesday August 4 2026 EY upgrades UK economic outlook, but warns Iran conflict may halt growth The UK economy has demonstrated continued resilience despite disruption from the conflict in the Middle East and is now forecast to grow at a slightly better-than-expected pace in 2026, according to the new UK Economic Outlook from Bristol-based accountancy […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Friday July 31 2026 South West business confidence falls in July Business confidence in the South West fell 14 points during July to 30 per cent, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds – a sharp drop that reflects significant headwinds facing businesses in the region. Companies in the […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Wednesday July 22 2026 British Business Bank backs 2,800 South West firms as £500 million economic boost forecast The British Business Bank supported 2,800 smaller businesses across the South West in 2025/26, with the funding expected to generate a £500m uplift in regional economic output. Figures from the Bank’s third annual Impact Report show the backed firms […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Tuesday July 21 2026 Cooling cost pressures offer encouragement in the South West despite softer June trading South West businesses faced a tougher trading environment in June as weaker customer demand weighed on activity and new orders, according to the latest NatWest Growth Tracker data. The headline South West Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Monday July 13 2026 HR Dept urges incoming Prime Minister to support SMEs Swindon-based HR Dept is calling on incoming Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, to consider the challenges currently facing small and medium-sized enterprises in the wake of sweeping employment law reforms and rising employment costs. SMEs across the UK, including Wiltshire, […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Monday July 13 2026 Jobs: temp billings continued to climb in June Recruitment activity across the South of England showed tentative signs of stabilisation in June, as temporary hiring strengthened and the decline in permanent placements eased, according to the latest KPMG and REC UK Report on Jobs. The survey, compiled […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Thursday July 9 2026 Swindon town centre to undergo massive clean-up this summer Swindon town centre is to undergo a massive clean-up this summer – with the owners of commercial properties told to tidy up their premises. Street cleaning, graffiti removal, paving repairs, weed clearance and bench refurbishments will all form part […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Monday July 6 2026 Devolution could boost rural economies – report English devolution could unlock billions in extra tax receipts and level up long‑overlooked rural economies, according to a new report from countryside charity the Campaign to Protect Rural England. Devolution has hit the headlines again this week, with Manchester […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Thursday July 2 2026 Megadeals drive South West equity boom, but deal numbers fall The South West saw the biggest percentage rise in equity investment of any UK nation or region in 2025, with funding for smaller businesses more than doubling to £687 million, according to the British Business Bank’s annual Small Business […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Thursday July 2 2026 Business West presses case for Thames Valley devolution Business West has pressed the case for Thames Valley devolution after Oxfordshire County Council pulled the plug on a deal that that would have brought billions of pounds of investment to the Thames Valley. Councils from Swindon to Reading […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Wednesday July 1 2026 £700,000 scheme to boost market towns launched A £700,000 plan to drive economic growth in Wiltshire has been agreed by Wiltshire Council leaders. At a meeting of the council’s Liberal Democrat-led Cabinet last week, members voted in favour of the package, which includes a £250,000 small […]
