Small businesses in the UK are increasingly confident in their ability to grow and power the economic recovery, although many still have fears about the ongoing impact of Covid restrictions.

Fresh support is needed for small businesses as a confidence survey posts a record ninth consecutive negative reading, says business support group the Federation of Small Businesses.

The FSB’s latest survey of 1,500 small firms shows confidence has been in negative territory since July 2018, and the organisation is calling on the government to introduce new support measures amid signs that the UK’s nascent economic recovery is stalling and ahead of an incredibly difficult trading period in the run-up to Christmas and the end of the transition period.

Small businesses will benefit from a new drive-in cinema experience coming to Trowbridge next weekend.

Cinema Retrow will take place at Innox Mills, near Trowbridge station, from August 7 to 9. It will feature eleven popular movies shown on a supersized 60 sq m LED screen, with sound broadcast via hi-tech in-car speakers.

Civic leaders in Swindon and Wiltshire are urging firms to apply for grants to help them weather the coronavirus pandemic, as the value of grants awarded to small businesses reaches £20 million in Swindon and £50 million in Wiltshire.

Last month the government announced that grants would be available to some small businesses and organisations, and some of those in retail, leisure and hospitality industries.

Business owner Rachel Terry has been shortlisted as finalist in the upcoming Chippenham Business Improvement District Awards 2020.

The 61-year-old, who has run the Citadel Hall in Chippenham town centre for more than six years and who is also well known as founder of the town’s popular belly-dancing group The Sahara Sisters, is nominated in the Customer Service category at the awards.

Politicians aren’t the only ones rolling out battle buses. With 11 days to go until Small Business Saturday, the campaign’s own bus rolled into Salisbury Market Place yesterday (Tuesday).

The bus featured a special Blue Sofa interview series, where small businesses, entrepreneurs and leading local figures shared stories about their business or local area to a Facebook live audience.