Swindon & Wiltshire Economy 17.04.2026 Iran war takes toll as output falls amid decline in new orders Companies across the South West have signalled renewed falls in both business activity and new orders in March, according to the latest NatWest Growth Tracker. At 48.7 in March, the headline South West Business Activity Index – a seasonally […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy 15.04.2026 Permanent staff appointments fell at quickest rate for six months in March A steeper fall in permanent job placements across the South in March highlighted continued caution among employers as uncertainty over the economic outlook weighed on hiring, according to the latest KPMG and Recruitment & Employment Confederation UK Report on […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy 14.04.2026 Civil engineering firm MJ Church lands multi-million pound M4 contract Wiltshire-based engineering firm MJ Church has been awarded a multi-million pound contract to improve Junction 17 of the M4 by Wiltshire Council. If approved by the Department for Transport, the £31 million scheme will see the slip roads at […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy 13.04.2026 Number of households to grow by fifth in West by 2040 The number of households in the South West is set to grow by 20 per cent, adding more than 498,800 households to the region by 2040, according to the latest research by socio-economic experts at planning, design and development […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Friday April 17 2026 Iran war takes toll as output falls amid decline in new orders Companies across the South West have signalled renewed falls in both business activity and new orders in March, according to the latest NatWest Growth Tracker. At 48.7 in March, the headline South West Business Activity Index – a seasonally […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Wednesday April 15 2026 Permanent staff appointments fell at quickest rate for six months in March A steeper fall in permanent job placements across the South in March highlighted continued caution among employers as uncertainty over the economic outlook weighed on hiring, according to the latest KPMG and Recruitment & Employment Confederation UK Report on […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Tuesday April 14 2026 Civil engineering firm MJ Church lands multi-million pound M4 contract Wiltshire-based engineering firm MJ Church has been awarded a multi-million pound contract to improve Junction 17 of the M4 by Wiltshire Council. If approved by the Department for Transport, the £31 million scheme will see the slip roads at […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Monday April 13 2026 Number of households to grow by fifth in West by 2040 The number of households in the South West is set to grow by 20 per cent, adding more than 498,800 households to the region by 2040, according to the latest research by socio-economic experts at planning, design and development […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Monday March 30 2026 South West business confidence rockets in March Business confidence in South West rose 30 points during March to 48 per cent, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds. Companies in South West reported higher confidence in their own trading outlook month-on-month, up 19 points at […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Monday March 23 2026 Recruiter welcomes National Minimum Wage as positive step The National Minimum Wage is a positive force for both employees and employers and sets the foundation for loyalty around recruitment and retention according to a recruitment expert. April will see the National Minimum Wage rise by 4.1 per […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Thursday March 19 2026 Jobs still down in Wiltshire — but signs of a turnaround in recent months There are signs of returning confidence among employers, with organisations reporting an increase of 259 on payroll over the past month, according to analysis of the latest Office for National Statistics payroll data by the employment and pay app […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Thursday March 19 2026 Unleashing West of England could power UK’s growth – report Unleashing the West of England from its structural constraints could see the region reach its potential and power the UK’s growth. That’s one of the key findings of a the first report from research and insight hub The Brunel […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Thursday March 12 2026 South West businesses adopting AI see strong gains in productivity and profitability – survey AI is helping South West firms work more efficiently and unlock new opportunities for growth, according to findings in the latest Lloyds Business Barometer. South West businesses integrating AI into their operations are reporting significant financial benefits, with 70 […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Thursday March 12 2026 Fall in permanent job placements slows – but reverse is some way off There was a softer reduction in permanent staff hiring across the South West region in February, according to a major jobs market survey. Data from the latest KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs revealed the fall in permanent […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Friday March 6 2026 Swindon set to be UK’s capital of drone technology Swindon is set to be the capital of the UK’s drone technology and manufacturing sector – with nine companies either already established or heading for the town. At a meeting of Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet this week, council leader […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Thursday March 5 2026 Businesses react to Spring Statement Chancellor Rachel Reeves presented her 2026 Spring Statement on Wednesday, using the financial update to emphasise stability for businesses, avoiding major tax or spending announcements while reinforcing the government’s broader economic strategy. The update focused primarily on economic forecasts […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Tuesday March 3 2026 £2.3 million Chippenham station transformation complete A major £2.3 million transformation of Chippenham station has been completed, delivering – says Network Rail – significant improvements for passengers, cyclists, and the local community. The improvement works were made possible by the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Friday February 27 2026 South West business confidence plummeted in February Business confidence in the South West plummeted 10 points during February to 18 per cent, bucking the national trend. Companies in the South West reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down four points at 35 per […]
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Thursday February 26 2026 Average South West wage revealed in new report The average wage in the South West has been revealed in a new report. The average salary in the South West stands at £37,195, according to Wiltshire- and Bath-based recruitment firm CMD Recruitment. The firm’s 2026 Salary Guide says […]
