TBE Swindon & Wiltshire Issue: 78

THE TEAM

Editor & Founder

Anita Jaynes anita@tbesw.co.uk

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Ben Carey & Nick Batten

press@tbesw.co.uk

Special Features

Fiona Scott fiona@fionascott.co.uk

Design

Juicy Designs

www.juicy-designs.co.uk

Artwork

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ESP Colour

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On the cover

TBE Award winner The National Self Build & Renovation Centre

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Anna O‘Shea

Email: anna@tbesw.co.uk

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©The Business Exchange South West Limited 2025.

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that adverts and articles appear correctly, The Business Exchange South West Limited cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of this publication. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editor. All rights reserved. This publication is copyrighted and no part of this publication may be used or reproduced without the written permission of The Business Exchange South West Limited.

2025: A year that connected, inspired and delivered

KEY STATISTICS

Readership: 15,000

Our audience:

56% business owner/ director level

44% partner, manager or senior executive

As we close the chapter on 2025, it’s clear this has been a year of transformation and ambition for our region. From major infrastructure projects to standout business achievements, the South West continues to prove its resilience and creativity.

Swindon has been at the heart of the headlines, with the Fleming Way regeneration now complete, creating a modern, accessible transport hub and public space that sets the tone for future town centre redevelopment. Alongside this, plans for a Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority are gathering pace, a move that could unlock billions for housing, transport and skills.

This issue celebrates the businesses and individuals driving progress. We look back

at the second annual TBE Awards, where innovation, growth and creativity shone at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre. From Best Start-Up to Leader of the Year, the evening showcased the talent and tenacity that define our business community. You’ll also find our Business Review of the Year feature, packed with insights from local leaders on lessons learned and priorities for 2026.

Looking ahead, there’s plenty to be excited about. Preparations are underway for key dates in 2026, including TBE South West Charity Conference & Expo in June and TBE Show returning to the University of Bath School of Management in September.

Thank you to everyone who has supported TBE throughout 2025, from

Thames Valley leaders pursue devolution deal which could unlock billions of pounds

Leaders from across the Thames Valley – including those at Swindon Borough Council – are progressing plans to pursue a mayoral strategic authority (MSA) for the region, a new combined authority made up of a number of council areas, which would be led by a directly elected mayor.

Through an expression of interest letter to government, leaders will set out a shared ambition to secure new powers and funding. This would enable local councils to plan and deliver more integrated and effective transport, infrastructure and the right type of housing – with an emphasis on social housing – creating the conditions for faster, more inclusive growth across the region.

The MSA will make decisions locally and closer to the communities and businesses affected, with local councils continuing to deliver critical and wider public services for the benefit of all residents.

Councils will debate the expression of interest in their meetings during November and December. If agreed, this will be submitted to government at the end of the year.

If agreed by government, devolution has the potential to unlock up to £18.7 billion for the Thames Valley economy by 2040, generating £7 billion in additional annual tax revenue*, and create new opportunities for residents and businesses.

It will also support coordinated investment of housing, roads and public transport, expand skills and training, and ensure research and innovation translate into jobs and growth across every part of the region.

Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said, “This is a game-changing opportunity for Swindon and one we need to grasp with both hands.

“Our dynamic economy makes us an ideal partner for the Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority, creating one of the UK’s leading powerhouses and strengthening the region’s outstanding reputation for world-class research and advanced manufacturing, underpinned by a highly-skilled workforce.

“By linking our own strengths with those of Oxfordshire and Berkshire we will create deeper labour markets, stronger supply chains, and faster innovation with

independent analysis suggesting that together we can boost our economic output by an extra £18.7bn by 2040.

“This will allow us to plan strategically for decades to come and ensure we continue to deliver the jobs, infrastructure, housing and investment to continue Swindon’s success story.”

Councillor Gary Sumner, Leader of the Conservative Group, said, “The Government has made it clear that it wants to see more Mayoral Strategic Authorities and we need to make the best decision for the future of our town.

“The economic argument for joining the Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority is compelling. We know, having talked to our local business community, that building on our links with our partners along the M4 corridor would boost their supply chains and create significant opportunities for growth.

“This new strategic authority provides a chance to build on our current strengths and become even stronger.”

Liberal Democrats Councillor, Adam Poole, added, “An alliance with our fellow authorities in the Thames Valley region gives us a chance to really push on as a town and secure economic growth well into the future.

“We cannot afford to be left behind and this partnership will benefit both our local businesses and residents, increasing Swindon’s prosperity.”

*Figures taken from the expression of interest document (This estimate is based off the ratio of GDP to national taxation (UK taxation as 37% of GDP) established by Institute for Fiscal Studies research).

For more info: www.reading.gov.uk/devolution

“This is a game-changing opportunity for Swindon and one we need to grasp with both hands.”

Swindon Business Improvement District set for return

Work to re-establish a Business Improvement District (BID) in Swindon has reached a significant milestone with a new Shadow BID Board of local businesses and organisations now steering the project through its development phase.

Re-establishing the BID was proposed by Swindon Borough Council and is being supported by council officers, however, it is now being led by a business-driven Shadow Board representing sectors across the town centre and Old Town. The group is meeting regularly to shape priorities, outline the proposed programme and oversee the next stages of consultation.

The original Swindon Business Improvement District (known as inSwindon BID) folded in 2023 after 16 years.

Swindon and Wiltshire Growth Hub has been commissioned to carry out initial engagement, including door-to-door visits with levy-eligible businesses across the proposed area. Feedback so far has been highly encouraging. More than 65% of respondents have said “definitely yes” or “yes” when asked whether they would support a new BID, signalling strong early momentum for the development phase. This mirrors themes identified in the feasibility work carried out by The Means, which highlighted an appetite for improvements to safety, place activation and business support. Leadership for the developing BID has now been confirmed. Laura James, Theatre Director of the Wyvern Theatre has been appointed Chair of the Shadow Board while Kris Talkowski, has taken on the role of ViceChair to help guide the project’s formation.

Discussions are also underway regarding the potential inclusion of Old Town within the BID boundary. The Old Town Business Association has contributed actively to the early stage work and has proposed an 80% ringfence model for any levy collected in that area so those funds remain in Old Town. An online poll of Old Town businesses will take place in the coming weeks to gauge support for inclusion before any decisions are made.

Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said, “Our Heart of Swindon vision aims to breathe new life into the town centre and re-establishing the BID is an important step in making the improvements we all want to see.

“The Shadow BID Board is now leading the development of the BID, and the early feedback from businesses shows there is genuine appetite for a coordinated approach to improving safety, vibrancy and confidence. This is a positive moment for Swindon, and we will continue to support businesses as they shape what the BID could deliver.”

Laura James, Chair of the Shadow BID Board, said, “Swindon’s business community has shown real willingness to engage with this process, and that has been reflected in the strong early feedback. Our role now is to listen carefully, understand the priorities that matter most, and build a proposal that genuinely supports businesses across the

town centre and Old Town. The enthusiasm we are hearing gives me confidence that a well-designed BID can make a tangible difference.”

Kris Talkowski, Vice-Chair of the Shadow BID Board, and Chair of the Old Town Business Association, added, “The message we are hearing from businesses is consistent: they want a safer, more active and more confident town. A BID gives us the opportunity to work together and invest in those improvements collectively. The Old Town Businesses Association have been part of this conversation from the start, and the upcoming poll will give a clear indication of how they want to be involved. Our focus is on building something credible, accountable and genuinely business-led.”

The project is currently around halfway through its planning stage with a ballot of all eligible members set for the new year.

“Our Heart of Swindon vision aims to breathe new life into the town centre and re-establishing the BID is an important step in making the improvements we all want to see.”

Fleming Way: A year of transformation for Swindon

Back in our autumn issue, we shared the vision behind the Fleming Way Improvement Scheme—a project set to redefine Swindon’s town centre. As 2025 draws to a close, that vision is now reality. The scheme has delivered a modern, accessible and welcoming environment that enhances how people move through and experience the area. Real-time passenger information is back, giving residents and visitors up-to-date travel details, while extensive landscaping and high-quality public spaces have transformed Fleming Way.

Liam Hill-Davis, Project Manager, reflects...

“Delivering the Fleming Way Improvement Scheme represents a significant step forward for Swindon’s town centre regeneration. The re-introduction of real-time passenger information provides residents and visitors with up-to-date travel details, improving the overall journey experience.

“Alongside this, the extensive landscaping; featuring new trees, planting and high-quality public spaces has transformed Fleming Way. Following the transfer of services from the bus station, it’s great to see the scheme come alive as residents go about their journeys and enjoy the new spaces that have been created. It has been a great pleasure working alongside colleagues, as part of the delivery team responsible for completing this transformative project.”

Chris Roberts, Construction Manager, added...

“I’m proud to have successfully completed the Fleming Way project, where I managed daily contractor operations and collaborated closely with designers to ensure accurate execution of plans. I coordinated utility companies with clear communication and flexible planning, overcoming slight delays through proactive problem-solving and schedule adjustments. The teamwork and professionalism throughout made this a truly rewarding achievement.”

Looking ahead

Attention now moves to the former bus station site and its adjoining land, where the continuation of redevelopment looks to bring the benefits gained from the redevelopment of Fleming Way to a larger area. A new square and adjoining streets and spaces will continue to better connect the train station with the town centre by way of further planting, seating and areas to socialise. Ultimately, plans include establishing a public square alongside a new events arena—versatile and large enough to host both sporting events and theatre productions.

To find out more email: FlemingWay@Swindon.gov.uk

A landscape designed for resilience

Hyland Edgar Driver (HED) joined the project in April 2020 to create a landscape that reinforces Swindon’s vision for the Great Western Community Forest. Their design introduced a hierarchy of spaces, forming a linear park unique to Swindon.

Species were carefully selected for biodiversity and climate resilience:

• Platanus x hispanica for structure and rhythm along the boulevard.

• Ulmus as focal points in North and South Plazas.

• Medium-sized trees like Betula Jacquemontii and Pyrus Chanticleer to soften scale.

• Multistem species such as Acer palmatum, Amelanchier, and Prunus serrula for human scale and lightness.

• SuDS areas feature Betula, Alnus, and Salix, complemented by pollinator-friendly species near crossings.

Carly Kershaw & Akash Wadhawan, HED, said...

“Overall, the mix of species used on Fleming Way is telling of how far we have come from the traditional ‘avenue’; a nostalgic gesture so grand and yet so lacking in diversity and resilience. This typology has gracefully given way to a more biodiverse, climate-resilient approach that mimics natural ecosystems. We hope it will be a cherished new part of the Great Western Community Forest for many years to come.”

www.HEDUK.com

LET’S CHOOSE TO BE POSITIVE!

By Fiona Scott, Features Editor

Each year we ask movers and shakers in the business community across our patch to share their views on the outlook for the year ahead.

It’s not been easy to remain positive with the stresses and challenges faced by the SME sector, and the Budgets of 2024 and 2025. Yet despite these pressures, the positivity and resilience of the business community never fail to inspire.

The latest Business Barometer from Lloyds suggests that businesses across the South West are choosing to be positive. Business confidence in the South West region rose by six points in October 2025 to 43% up from 37% the previous month. We have to take heart from this.

Looking ahead for the next six months, those who took part in the report said their priorities were:

Investing in their teams through training and/or recruitment

Introducing new products and/or services

Investing or at least investigating new tech, including AI services

What do those on the ground think?

We asked Tim Major, Membership Executive at the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce (which includes Swindon).

He said, “This year has been a landmark one for Swindon’s Chamber community. We’ve welcomed 898 attendees across our events so far, with three more still to come, meaning Swindon is on track to surpass 1,000 attendees at events. Personally, I celebrated seven years working with the Chamber in Swindon, a journey that continues to be both rewarding and inspiring.

“We also completed 400 Quarterly Economic Surveys, ensuring the voice of Swindon businesses is heard at the highest levels of government. As the accredited Chamber for the region, we’ve remained a consistent voice for local enterprise, advocating on key issues such as the National Insurance increases, changes to workers’ rights, and the rising minimum wage, which present such a challenge to business.

“We’re also delighted to see the new bus boulevard finally open and loving the new EV centre at New College.”

What’s new for 2026?

“We anticipate another year of change and opportunity. We will be watching closely to understand the implications of the latest Budget for our members. We hope to see the town building on its growing defence reputation and some first tenants

at Panattoni Park. We will also be asking: what’s on the devolution agenda for Swindon? Will it cement its decision to look east?”

Performance coach John Lewis has been the Chair of Swindon’s most established independent business referral group Business Wise for the past two years. He said, “My biggest win is the feedback from members and visitors! We have created an amazing culture which underpins our meetings which has strengthened in 2025 in my opinion. We have such fun but also offer a safe space for members to say how they are truly feeling about things personally, professionally, the good, the bad and the ugly! The fact we are nearly at capacity is the evidence to support this.”

What lesson have you learned in 2025?

“One lesson learned is that you should never assume that people hold the same values and moral compass as you do.”

What’s coming up in 2026?

“I think our members are looking to 2026 with optimism. The fact we as a group are doing what we can to support, refer and pass business to each other just proves that with the right team around you, we are stronger!

“We could all get bogged down in the negativity that can sometimes get spouted, however, we need to approach this new year in a positive way, open new doors and seek new opportunities.”

Andrew Wells is Head of Inward Investment and Inclusive Economy at Swindon Council. He shares his highlights of the year.

What was the council’s biggest win this year?

Swindon made its first-ever appearance at UKREiiF, the UK’s largest inward investment forum, showcasing the Council’s Heart of Swindon regeneration vision, which was launched at a hugely successful event at the House of Lords earlier in the year.

This raised Swindon’s national profile and attracted interest from investors for town centre redevelopment and housing projects. We also secured Tekever’s investment in Swindon, with plans for a major UAV manufacturing facility creating over a thousand jobs through the company and the wider supply chain, reinforcing Swindon’s position to become the UK’s leading hub in advanced engineering and defence tech.

What lesson are you taking into 2026?

Visibility drives investment – it’s that simple. By proactively engaging in national forums and strategic partnerships with anchor institutions, this has proved critical in driving interest in Swindon with investors.

Were there unexpected challenges?

Labour market pressures: Employment declined by 1% since 2018, despite productivity gains. The employment fall was mainly due to the closure of the town’s Honda factory and, although Swindon has bounced back well, this reinforced the need for the Council to develop strategies to bring skills, investment and inclusive growth to Swindon.

Town centre viability – the contraction of retail in the town centre has accelerated our plans for regeneration. Our £33m new bus interchange and public realm improvements are already kick-starting investment in the surrounding areas and we are prioritising mixed-use development and housing to transform the wider town centre.

What’s new for 2026?

The launch of Swindon Economic Growth Strategy, a new Investment Prospectus for Swindon and a Place marketing brand. Major inward investment projects, including Tekever’s state-of-the-art UAV facility opening in summer 2026, and completion of over one million sq ft of speculative build units at Panattoni Park which will bring new business and jobs. We have aspirations to develop AI-based business rates forecasting to support council finances and opportunities and we have reintroduced the Inclusive Economy and Inward Investment functions at the local authority to deliver on an ambitious growth agenda.

What community impact will you be delivering in 2026?

We will be continuing to deliver on our Swindon Plan missions of: Fairer Swindon: Tackling inequality through youth hubs and housing initiatives. Better Swindon: Advanced town centre regeneration and homelessness prevention. Greener Swindon: Planted 10,000+ trees and rolled out energy-efficiency retrofits.

2025: A year that connected, inspired and delivered

2025 has been a landmark year for TBE and the South West business community. From inspiring events to international recognition, it’s been a year defined by collaboration, innovation and growth.

TBE South West Charity Conference & Expo

On 5th June, Bath Racecourse hosted a truly standout Charity Conference & Expo, proudly sponsored by Salocin Group and Milsted Langdon. The event brought together charities, not-for-profits and businesses for a day dedicated to community, collaboration and practical insight. With over 50 exhibitors and a dynamic programme, highlights included headline speaker Deborah Hale MBE, who shared lessons from her work on the London 2012 Torch Relays and

TBE Show

September saw TBE Show debut at a new venue, the University of Bath School of Management, marking the start of a fantastic partnership. Sponsored by Salocin Group, the event attracted over 300 attendees and 50 exhibitors, creating a vibrant hub for networking and learning. The day opened with a breakfast and a panel on regional growth, featuring leaders from Swindon, Wiltshire and Bath. Topics included talent retention, infrastructure and regeneration.

TBE Awards

In October, the second annual TBE Awards lit up the National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon. Sponsored by Thrings, the evening celebrated excellence across categories from Best Start-Up to Leader of the Year.

Guests enjoyed a VIP Drinks Reception, Innovation

International recognition

A standout moment of 2025 was TBE and Founder Anita Jaynes being shortlisted for three international Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Anita was recognised for her work championing women in business in the Achievement in Developing and Promoting Women – Advertising, Business Services, Marketing & PR category. TBE’s International Women’s Day Celebration, which empowers and showcases the region’s most inspiring

What’s next?

2026 promises even more opportunities to connect and celebrate. Key dates include:

Facebook EMEA, and Alastair Greener, who explored bridging generational gaps.

Sessions ranged from fundraising success stories to governance and financial planning, with experts from Stephens Scown and Milsted Langdon offering practical advice. Feedback was exceptional, reinforcing the event’s role as a vital platform for knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

Conference sessions tackled some of the most pressing issues for businesses today: AI enablement, generational communication, and purpose-driven culture. Fireside chats explored innovation-led redevelopment and values-driven leadership, leaving delegates inspired and equipped for the future.

This collaboration was such a success that TBE Show will return to the University of Bath School of Management in 2026.

Boulevard and a live mural by local artists Judy and Morgan Guillery.

The atmosphere was electric as we honoured individuals and organisations making a real impact across Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Somerset.

women, was a finalist for Event of the Year. Completing the hat-trick, TBE was shortlisted in the Magazine/Online Publication of the Year category, acknowledging its role as a leading B2B publication.

In November, Anita travelled to New York for the glittering awards ceremony – and returned with three Bronze Stevie Awards, a proud achievement for both Anita and the TBE team.

• TBE Awards entries open 13th April

• Charity Conference & Expo

11th June at Bath Racecourse

• TBE Show

17th September at the University of Bath

Thank you to everyone who supported TBE in 2025 – from sponsors and speakers to exhibitors and attendees. Here’s to another year of collaboration, innovation and success!

Working as a team has made the difference in 2025

By Paul Holmes, Managing Director, PCH Business Consultants

As 2025 draws to a close, it’s hard not to reflect on what a rollercoaster the year has been. The business world has once again been watching the horizon — with clouds gathering in some directions and sunshine breaking through in others. Questions around the economic climate, interest rates, and tax changes have kept many on their toes.

For PCH, last year ended on a wave of optimism. A raft of new clients were lined up to start in January — but then Christmas came, the world paused, and much of that optimism shifted into a mood of financial caution that lingered through much of 2025.

Despite that, our existing clients have continued to perform strongly in a challenging environment. They’ve been balancing growth and development with maintaining revenue in tight markets — using the tools and processes that encourage reflection rather than constant busyness. New clients have come on board more slowly and steadily, but they’re exciting prospects for the future.

One standout success has been a client who has just completed a record year, growing to four times their original size since I first began working with them three years ago. That success has come through a clear focus on building their management team, systems, and processes — and maintaining financial stability while growing fast.

Personally, after forming a holding company in 2024 and acquiring our first manufacturing business at the end year, 2025 has been equally exciting. It’s brought all the highs and lows — periods of high and low demand to respond to, close cashflow monitoring, and a huge focus on developing the commercial side of the business. We’ve been raising our profile, opening new markets, and strengthening systems and processes to support future growth — all while planning the next acquisition.

Perhaps the best part of 2025, though, has been working as a team. Collaborating, sharing ideas, and dividing responsibilities with colleagues, advisors, friends, and associates has shown that what we teach and implement with PCH clients truly works for our own business too.

Personally, I don’t think I could have been busier this year — and maybe that’s a note to carry into 2026: to follow my own advice and work smarter, not harder.

A huge thank you to all our clients, business partners,

BUILDING A LOYAL TEAM STEP BY STEP

It has been an amazing year of growth and development for Wiltshire’s Southby and Co Financial Planning.

Founder and owner Dave Southby has steered the Wroughton-based business through a year of expansion, all while supporting and sustaining local charities and community projects. The business has seen incredible growth in turnover, reach and impact in their community over the past twelve months.

At the beginning of 2025, Southby and Co was named St James’ Place’ Responsible Business of the Year. With this accolade, they were gifted £5,000 to be donated at their discretion to charities and projects. The beneficiaries of this prize pot were: The Kelly Foundation, Swindon Night Shelter, Avon Needs Trees, The Platform Project, and Vision for Wroughton.

The team then participated in a 24-mile tortoise walk (Dave was the tortoise!) for Swindon-based, Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Movement charity, CALM. Dave chose to dress up to match the charity’s mascot, a tortoise.

Another change for Southby and Co came when they moved into a new office on Wroughton’s High Street. Additionally, they’ve welcomed new trainee financial Advisor, Jenny Ashfield, as well as Deanna Broocks (Office Manager), and Cristina Ellenico (Business Administration Apprentice). Among reaching these milestones are the multitude of

awards Dave himself and Southby & Co have been nominated for this year. The business was nominated for Charity Champion of the Year at the Money Marketing Awards and shortlisted at The Business Exchange Awards 2025 in the Going for Growth category.

Midway through the year, Dave Southby was himself recognised and names as one of the 42 Under 42 Class of 2025 – a prestigious list of rising talent in business across the region. This programme recognises talented young business leaders across the UK who are making a real difference in their industries and communities.

With 2026 round the corner, Dave said, ‘’This year has been incredible for us, not only have we been able to continue our support to local community incentives and charities, but we have also doubled the size of our team. Our aim in 2026 is to build on the success we have had in recent years, the addition of Jenny to the advising team will allow us to support more clients, whilst Deanna and Cristina will add expertise and support to the back office. 2026 will see the business turn five years old, and we have some exciting announcements to come with it!’’

friends, family, and associates — everyone I’ve had the pleasure to work with through PCH, HSH, and Rossco Site Services in 2025.

Here’s to continuing our growth and long-term planning into 2026 and beyond.

To get in touch email: paul@pch-consultants.co.uk or call: 07715 008 521

Pangea: 10 years on and still talking about protection... and yes, it’s still exciting

By Jo Lund, Protection Consultant, Pangea Life

2025 has been a big year for us at Pangea Life – we’ve officially celebrated our 10th anniversary. Looking back, it’s remarkable how far we’ve come, from those early days of explaining to business owners why ‘we’ll

sort that later’ isn’t a strategy, to now working with hundreds of clients across the UK who understand that planning ahead really is the best protection policy.

This year, we’ve supported a record number of clients with the aim, as always, to make complex topics simple.

For those who aren’t already familiar with us, Pangea Life is nationally recognised as one of the few brokers with an expertise in Business Protection. These insurance policies are more commonly known as Key Person and Shareholder Protection. They are designed to protect businesses from the loss of their most valuable, yet often overlooked, asset – its people.

To ensure we can support business owners with all of their life and health insurance needs, we also provide a range of other policies including Group Life, Group Income protection and Private medical.

More recently the hot topic we’ve been working on with business owners and farmers is the Inheritance Tax liabilities their families will face due to the impending changes to both Business and Agricultural Property Relief.

It’s an area where the right planning can make a huge difference, and with the right insurances you can make sure you don’t need to liquidate your assets or take on new debts to pay the tax man.

As we look ahead to 2026, we’re excited to grow the Pangea Life brand across the South West. The business started in the Southampton area, which is where its Head Office is, but for the past two years, we have been working hard to establish partnerships with other professional services and build a client base across the region.

We’re looking forward to continuing this mission, working with more and more business owners in Wiltshire, Bath and surrounding areas throughout 2026.

A year of giving back and growth for PPS

By Sally Holland

who is a partner with PPS

Accountants

based in Old Town, Swindon offering a full suite of holistic services for businesses both large and small. The team is 16 strong, including four partners and looking to grow.

As 2025 draws to a close and 2026 beckons, at PPS we’ve been reflecting on an amazing year both within our team and also supporting our clients and contacts.

Like many ethical small businesses, we believe in building relationships and we’re very proud to have worked with some of our clients for many years. We’ve been by their side navigating any change – from impacts in the Budgets to supporting them to deal with high growth.

We’ve always operated in an holistic manner, providing support and guidance regularly and helping our clients to understand their numbers, understand any movements in legislation and to handhold them where necessary.

As a team we’ve grown and we’ve welcomed Elaine Thompson as a new director.

During the year we’ve also held to one of our core values which is to give back to the community including to local charities. We hold business-led breakfasts several times a year and this year we’ve raised over £1,000 for SANDS, Wiltshire Treehouse and for the community project Crofton Beam Engines.

This is alongside other personal challenges. For example,

as a keen runner, I took part in a 50km ultra marathon raising a further £1,000 for Wiltshire Treehouse, which supports bereaved children and young people in Swindon and Wiltshire. In May this year the PPS team also completed a steps challenge to raise funds for Swindon be-friending charity Best Mates, adding another £180 to our fundraising total.

We will embrace the same commitment in fundraising in 2026 as we recognise that many charities and community projects are in desperate need of support from individuals and local businesses. We also encourage our clients to do this when they can, so it’s important to us that we ‘walk our talk’.

As 2026 dawns, if you feel that you are not clear on your numbers, your vision for your business is foggy and you need more support than an occasional catch-up then please feel free to get in touch.

To find out more about PPS visit: www.ppsacc.co.uk or call: 01793 488544

To get in touch call: 07774 807 861

Or email: jo.lund@pangealife.co.uk

Visit Pangea Life online at: www.pangealife.co.uk

The Pursuit Agency’s review of the year

By Rob Curtis, Founder, The Pursuit Agency

This year has been all about momentum. Personally, launching my podcast Marketing Unzipped has been a huge milestone – it’s given me a platform to share real conversations about what’s working in marketing today.

We’ve also continued to deliver exceptional work for our clients, helping them grow and adapt in a fast-changing landscape.

Our beta launch of MyMarketr, our new SaaS platform, was another proud moment. It’s built to help those businesses that aren’t yet ready to work with agencies but still want access to the tools and strategies that drive results.

We’ve also stayed close to our roots by supporting local causes, including Best Mates. I even ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon to raise money for them –something that’s been both personally rewarding and a reminder of why community matters.

My biggest surprise of 2025 has been the sheer speed at which AI has entered mainstream conversations. Clients, business owners, and marketers alike are asking how it fits into their strategy – and I’ve loved being part of those discussions. But there’s a big opportunity to move beyond

just talking to ChatGPT; it’s about how we integrate AI meaningfully into our marketing systems and decisionmaking.

Coming up in 2026

We’re building on the success of our MyMarketr Beta launch, expanding its features and making it even more accessible to small businesses who want to take control of their marketing.

AI will continue to evolve, but I’m watching how it integrates into day-to-day marketing – from creative ideas to data interpretation. There’s also a growing shift towards joined-up marketing strategies, where everything from SEO to paid ads to content that actually works together.

We will stay ahead of the curve by staying curious. We experiment, test, and learn constantly – and we never stop talking to business owners about what’s working for them. We will also continue to try to make an impact in the

CHANGE FOR THE BETTER: 2025 WRAPPED UP

By Emma Carter, CEO at WestSpring IT

2025 is coming to an end and as everyone begins to look towards the new year, at WestSpring IT, we’ve been reflecting on the positive year of growth and change both within our team and in supporting our clients.

We are a managed service provider (MST) and we work with clients who are proactive around IT, seeing us as an extension of their own team working productively to solve businesses everyday challenges. We’ve been supporting customers around the country to build tailored IT strategies and look forward to developing and continuing these positive relationships in 2026.

We have embraced a lot of change as a team in 2025. We welcomed Victoria Parker as Chief Operating Officer, we saw James Phipps become our as our Executive Chairman and I stepped into the position of Chief Executive Officer in May. This marks an incredibly positive year of change, where our restructuring has benefited our team and clients massively and paved the way ahead. As a company, we plan to grow organically and unlike what we are seeing at other mid-size MSPs in the region, we’re not going anywhere. We are not planning to sell up. We plan to grow alongside our clients.

Our core ethos is to provide an excellent client experience and service and to provide a wonderful workplace for our team. We’ve further strengthened our team by acquiring more experienced people in our service desk.

To support our whole team in delivering the high calibre of customer service our clients expect, we’ve also invested

My key tip for 2026

Marketing is evolving fast, yet the fundamentals haven’t changed – know your audience, tell your story well, and stay adaptable.

To find out more visit: www.thepursuitagency.com or call: 01793 292085

in new systems such as HubSpot and Smartsheet, and we’ve invested in our staff so that they feel supported, listened to and valued.

Another fantastic step 2025 has seen our collaboration with a new HR partner. This has allowed us to review staff pay, resulting in 80% of our staff having a pay rise, and we are committed to being a Living Wage Employer.

Recently we undertook an employee satisfaction survey, highlighting areas for development and encouragement for our team. Therefore, in 2026 we’re will be implementing our People Plan, which will focus on staff’s personal and professional development. Additionally, looking to introduce a new ticket and project management system to ensure our communication and our data is even more efficient and seamless.

In the new year we will also be introducing more partnerships and products to drive additional expertise & experience in our teams. New collaborations with market leading Partners like CybaVerse, Gamma and Truebird AI mean, we’ll be able to boarden the support we provide to clients. We recognise the areas where we are not experts so we are aligning ourselves and our clients with those who can provide meaningful and dynamic solutions for those who

concern.

In 2025 we started fundraising for Bristol-based charity Gympanzees, in their mission to deliver multiple fully inclusive leisure facilities that are easily accessible for disabled children, young people and their families. Next year will be no different and we hope to continue our fundraising efforts.

If you planning for the year ahead, looking for an IT partner which cares and wants to support your journey of technology as an enabler of growth, please feel free to get in touch.

Based in the South West but working across the UK, WestSpring IT offers tailored IT strategies for businesses across the UK.

To find out more visit: www.westspring-it.co.uk

2025: A year in review for SWBF

As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect with pride on another year of growth, collaboration and community impact at South West Business Finance.

We’ve continued to live our values of family, trust, experience and relationships, supporting businesses, property professionals and introducers across the South West and beyond.

“2025 has been about strengthening relationships, deepening our knowledge base and continuing to make a real difference to the businesses and communities we serve.”

Steve Barrett, Co-Founder, SWBF

Supporting local communities

We were proud to name support a local city farm as our Charity Partner of the Year, volunteering on-site to help improve the goat pen and raising money to support their ongoing work. Our much-loved annual Golf Day also returned in style, raising funds for two charities. We were also very proud to be the headline sponsor supporting a local charity award scheme.

“Giving back to our community is at the heart of who we are. Supporting our chosen charities in our region this year has been both humbling and inspiring.”

Daniel Smith, Co-Founder, SWBF

Funding growth and innovation

This year, we’ve helped secure more than £150 million in funding for local businesses, supporting everything from property development and investment to working capital and expansion projects. Behind every deal lies our commitment to providing clear, personal and proactive advice.

We’ve also deepened our partnerships with new and existing lenders and introducers, ensuring our clients continue to benefit from a diverse and competitive market.

“We take pride in helping our clients understand the full range of funding options available to them. Our role is to simplify the process and deliver the right solution, not just any solution.” Steve Barrett

Sharing knowledge and insight

Our Knowledge Bank of blogs and resources on our website has expanded significantly this year, offering practical, easyto-understand guidance to business owners and property

professionals. By demystifying commercial finance, we continue to empower clients with the confidence to make informed decisions.

Connecting

through events

Our Economic Briefings with Mark Berrisford-Smith proved more popular than ever, with events drawing large audiences keen to understand the evolving economic outlook.

We also proudly supported and co-hosted a series of fantastic community and business events, including the ‘LAF- Legal, Accounting and Finance’ Lunches, a Dragons’ Den-inspired business competition, and local charity awards.

Looking ahead to 2026

As we step into 2026, our focus remains firmly on making things simple for businesses, cutting through the jargon and providing clear, high-quality financial advice that helps business owners make confident decisions.

We’ll continue to raise awareness of the diverse range of business lending options available in today’s market, ensuring our clients know where to turn for the right support at the right time.

We’re also excited to announce our 2026 Charity Partner early in the new year and look forward to another packed calendar of events, including the LAF Lunches, our annual Economic Briefings, and more opportunities to connect, learn and give back.

“2026 will be about clarity, connection and community. We’ll keep doing what we do best, helping businesses grow with confidence.” Daniel Smith

At SWBF, we remain committed to supporting our clients, partners and introducers through every stage of their journey, providing personal, practical, and professional financial advice you can rely on.

Find out more at: www.swbf.co.uk

New Executive Director and safety accreditation mark a milestone year for The Ridgeway Hospital

The Ridgeway Hospital in Wroughton has announced the appointment of Liz Rugg as its new Executive Director. Liz now leads the 53-bed private hospital, which is part of Circle Health Group, during what she describes as “an exciting chapter.”

Liz said,“The Ridgeway Hospital has an incredible reputation for the quality of care it delivers to thousands of patients each year. I am excited to be leading the team during what is an exciting chapter in the history of the hospital. I look forward to working closely with teams across the hospital and Circle Health Group, harnessing all our skills and experience to take the hospital to new heights in the months and years ahead.”

Her role includes overseeing an ambitious growth strategy aimed at strengthening the hospital’s self-pay and insured markets, alongside the completion of a multimillion-pound expansion programme. This project began in January 2025 and will enhance outpatient services with a new entrance, consulting rooms, and clinical spaces.

The hospital is also investing in advanced technology, including the arrival of Mazor™ robotic technology in April 2025, supporting its ambition to become a nationally recognised centre of excellence for spinal surgery.

Liz brings extensive experience from her 16-year career at HealthHero, where she held multiple clinical and executive positions, including Managing Director for NHS. Originally from Wiltshire and trained as a physiotherapist at King’s

College London, Liz says she welcomes the opportunity to strengthen The Ridgeway Hospital’s position as the private hospital of choice for patients seeking high-quality treatment across the county and beyond.

Adding to this year’s achievements, The Ridgeway Hospital has received AfPP accreditation from the Association for Perioperative Practice following a rigorous two-day audit of its theatre department. The accreditation recognises excellence in patient safety and best practice in perioperative care.

Sarah Canfield, Director of Clinical Services, said,“We are overjoyed to have been awarded AfPP accreditation after months of hard work by our theatre team. Patient safety is at the heart of everything we do here at The Ridgeway Hospital and gaining the AfPP accreditation within our theatre department really demonstrates this.”

Liz Rugg added, “It is wonderful to have our commitment to patient safety recognised by the AfPP accreditation team. The team at The Ridgeway Hospital have been working tirelessly to ensure they meet the requirements to obtain this award. They are all passionate about the patients and the community they serve.”

KATE WESTBROOK JOINS BUSINESS WEST BOARD

Business West, the UK’s largest membership-based chamber of commerce has appointed Kate Westbrook as a Non-Executive Director. The organisation drives economic prosperity for businesses and the South West region by representing companies to government, providing support services, and connecting businesses through networking, training, and advice.

Kate is a Partner at Thrings and Head of the law firm’s Commercial team, based in Swindon. With over 20 years’ experience in contract law, she works with businesses of all sizes, from tech start-ups to global multinationals, helping them reduce legal risk and protect value. She is also a TBE Awards judge, recognising outstanding businesses and individuals across the South West.

In her new role, Kate will chair the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Advisory Committee, representing members and shaping strategies to drive growth and innovation across the region.

Kate said, “As someone who enjoys helping businesses and entrepreneurs achieve their potential in my day job, I’m thrilled to join Business West’s board and support their vital work to drive growth and innovation in the South West.”

“I’m thrilled to join Business West’s board and support their vital work to drive growth and innovation in the South West.”

A RECRUITMENT STORY: LET’S TALK TEMPORARY STAFF

By Ashlea Fisher, founder and MD of iRecruit4

As a company, we support ambitious businesses with recruitment for both permanent and temporary staff.

Temporary staff are very important for some clients to aid their productivity and efficiency particularly for peak periods or for projects which have a ‘shelf life’.

Peak periods occur when a client faces a surge that their permanent workforce alone cannot handle, so working with us to source temporary staff can offer key benefits:

• The first one is speed and efficiency as we have access to a pool of people who are pre-screened and registered, allowing the companies to quickly fill short-term staffing gaps without lengthy processes, advertising, interviewing and onboarding themselves.

• Flexibility is another benefit as temporary staff can be scaled up or down depending on the demand of the business, allowing it to be agile.

• It’s cost-efficient and aligned closely to the needs of any project. For example, if the client has a warehouse and there’s a container that needs unloading and that job will take four hours – we can find someone who will work those four hours.

• Less admin –we manage the vetting process, payroll, company compliance allowing everyone to focus on the

task at hand, delivering what the business needs when the business needs it.

• Quality and reliability - experienced recruiters like us will match the right people to the right roles, which increases productivity and reduces the likelihood of disrupting permanent staff during busy periods.

• On-site support – we even offer site ‘surgeries’ to assess staffing needs, troubleshoot any issues, provide hands-on support to ensure temporary staff are fully integrated and performing efficiently.

Using experienced recruiters like us, means you reduce the risk and costs around trying to find temporary staff when a peak ‘moment’ hits your business. We take that worry away from you.

If any of this resonates don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Visit: www.iRecruit4.co.uk

Email: ashlea@irecruit4.co.uk

Call: 01793 987470

Vote now and shine a light on the women who inspire you

The hunt is on for Swindon & Wiltshire’s most inspiring women—and

we want to hear from you.

For the fifth year running, TBE is celebrating the incredible women shaping our community in honour of International Women’s Day, which falls on 8th March 2026. This global day recognises the achievements of women and inspires action toward gender parity. We’ll be publishing a definitive list of 20 women, selected by public vote. Each woman will be celebrated throughout March with a dedicated profile shared on the TBE Swindon & Wiltshire website and social media channels. They’ll also be featured in our Spring magazine, and a select few will be invited to speak at our special Most Inspiring Women 2026 event.

We are delighted that Goughs Solicitors are supporting this feature once again. Goughs have a strong female team and work with many female business owners across the area, helping them to thrive.

Cast your vote now at: www.tbeswindonandwilts.co.uk

Voting closes on Friday 30th January 2026.

To find out more about the Most Inspiring Women event 2026, visit: www.tbeswindonandwilts.co.uk/events

Looking to recruit in the New Year? Plan ahead say experts

With unemployment rising and the number of jobs vacancies falling, businesses should have no difficulty in filling roles.

But according to the Agile Recruitment team at Swindon-based HR Dept this isn’t proving to be the case.

Recruitment remains a significant and persistent challenge for SMEs operating throughout the Swindon and Wiltshire region. The Agile Recruitment team are seeing an upsurge in enquiries – particularly from industries affected by seasonal demand changes, like hospitality, manufacturing and warehousing – because of ongoing recruitment difficulties.

So, if you are among the many businesses looking to recruit – particularly if you need new team members in the New Year – now is the time to start planning and looking.

“While our recruitment team has seen a significant increase in demand for our services, we are also aware that some employers are leaving it until the last minute to start looking for new team members,” said Geri Hardy, who heads up the Agile Recruitment team at the HR Dept Swindon and its sister company in London.

“Competition for quality candidates is fierce, especially in sectors like hospitality that need extra staff to cope with seasonal demand. Our advice is simple: don’t wait - start recruiting now.”

A planned recruitment strategy, and avoiding a last minute scrabble for staff, also improves staff retention. According to

the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the average staff turnover in the UK is 34% a year. Of this, 6.6% is due to employees no longer working, for instance retirement or long-term sickness, with the remaining majority finding jobs elsewhere.

Geri said, “The average varies from industry to industry, and notably hospitality has almost double the staff turnover rate compared to, for example, financial services.”

The HR Dept’s Agile Recruitment team work across all sectors, in particular hospitality, manufacturing and finance, as well as charities, foundations, and social enterprises in the non-profit sector. Some 80% of their work is repeat business from clients.

Unlike other recruiters, whose fees are based on percentage of the salary, the HR Dept’s model adopts a flexible approach, enabling clients to set their own budget; fees are based on the time taken. This structure means the recruitment fee is significantly lower. Typically, their fee equates to just 6% of a salary, in sharp contrast to the 15% to 25% charged by traditional recruiters. Geri added,“Our recruitment approach is tailored for business owners and HR teams. We combine speed, cost-efficiency, and knowledge of the local market to help fill vacancies efficiently.”

Shaping Wiltshire’s future workforce

After a year of record achievements in apprenticeships, T Levels, employer engagement and sustainability, Wiltshire College & University Centre is setting its sights even higher for 2026.

In 2025, the College celebrated more apprentices achieving high-grade qualifications than ever before – particularly across its Business and Leaderships programmes – and welcomed a record number of T Level students across its campuses.

It’s 100 in 100 campaign also strengthened links with employers large and small, creating new opportunities for young people across Wiltshire.

Now, building on that momentum, the College is unveiling a series of ambitious initiatives designed to boost local skills, give employers a stronger voice, and help more learners take their first step into the world of work.

Upskill or Reskill

New Skills Bootcamps, delivered on behalf of Wiltshire Council, will launch in early 2026. These free, flexible programmes are open to adults across the county and focus on key growth sectors where employers are crying out for skilled staff.

“We’re launching new Skills Bootcamps to train and progress people into key sectors across the county including, Teaching Assistants, Leadership & Management, Air Source Heat Pumps and Construction Groundworks,” said Martin Reeves, Director of Business Development at Wiltshire College & University Centre.

“They’re designed to help individuals upskill or step into new careers, while supporting employers with the talent that they need.”

Giving businesses a voice

Alongside the Bootcamps, the College is expanding a new

network of Employer Advisory Boards – one for every faculty by Christmas, and a further series for each curriculum area before the end of the academic year.

The Advisory Boards will bring together local employers, curriculum staff and College leaders to share insight, shape training, and ensure every course reflects current industry practice.

“We want to give businesses a voice and open new ways to engage with young people – reminding employers and organisations that they don’t always have to be making a new hire to add value to the skills development of our young people,” said Martin.

“Our Employer Advisory Boards are about partnership and co-creation – employers don’t just tell us what they need, they help design how we deliver it.”

Growing Wiltshire’s talent pipeline

The College is also turning that employer collaboration into action through THE BIG Placement Pledge – a campaign inspired by record T Level enrolments and designed to create even more hands-on learning opportunities for students.

The initiative builds on the success of 100 in 100, creating a strong bridge between education and employment and helping students gain a real-world experience that turns classroom learning into career confidence.

“Placements are where classroom learning comes to life,” said Martin. “When employers open their doors, they help shape the next generation of skilled professionals.”

From record apprenticeship and T Level achievements

To find out more about the HR Dept’s recruitment service, contact Geri by email: geri.hardy@hrdept.co.uk or call: 01793 683 398.

For more information about the HR Dept Swindon, North Wiltshire and East Cotswolds, visit www.hrdept.co.uk/swindon-north-wiltshire-east-cotswolds/

to new initiatives that connect education with business, Wiltshire College & University Centre is continuing to strengthen the county’s skills pipeline. With Skills Bootcamps, Employers Advisory Boards and industry placements leading the way, 2026 will be a year of collaboration, opportunity and growth.

To find out more about employer partnerships, Skills Bootcamps or T Level placements, visit: www.wiltshire.ac.uk/employers.

A HAPPIER NEW YEARWhether you make a resolution, change or carry on regardless

A common occurrence for many people returning to work after the festivities of 2025 will be shouts of “Happy New Year!” (by the way, what is the date we should stop saying this?). Next comes: “Made any resolutions?”

Followed by the inevitable: “Bet you won’t stick to it.”

Do New Years Resolutions set you up to fail?

A Forbes Advisor survey says 51% of Brits have kept at least one resolution long-term.

Yet a 2024 poll of 2,000 people found 21% quit within a month, 34% lasted up to three months, and only 6% made it to a year.

So why do we make them?

The origin of such resolutions goes back in the mists of time, as far as the second millennium BC. Back then the Babylonians marked the year change in March, during a spring festival of 12 days called Akitu. The festival was centred around the farming season. They would plant crops, crown a king and make promises to return borrowed farm equipment and pay off debts.

The Romans continued the tradition of resolutions, but adapted it to the Julian Calendar, shifting the New Year to 1 January in 46 BC. January is named after the Roman Two-Faced God Janus. One face reflecting

on the past and one looking forward to new beginnings. Romans would offer Janus promises of good behaviour for the year ahead.

The tradition gradually diffused across the globe. In 1813 a Boston Newspaper ran an article recording the first use of the phrase “New Years Resolution”. It was a humorous commentary on the making, and breaking, of pledges. The ribbing started a long time ago –almost making this a tradition in its own right!

Different strokes for different folks

Leaping forward to the 1900’s a lot of resolutions were religious or spiritual, with a desire to be morally stronger and have more control against wanton pleasures.

Bringing us right up to date a YouGov survey in 2024 discovered the top 30 resolutions by interviewing 513 Britons. Now, think Alan Freeman’s Pick of the Pops, (At the sign of the swinging cymbal) der der der, der-der, der…

Trailing at number 30, quite boringly is the “Prefer not to Say”. A bit further up the chart at 25 is “Improve mental health”. At 19 and 18, very similar goals “to get a new job” or “start a new venture”.

Four places ahead at number 15, halfway through the pack is “Quit smoking or vaping”

(got to say thought that would be higher) closely beaten at 14 by “drinking less alcohol”.

Just making it into the top ten is “Make more money” followed by resolution 9 “start or increase investments”.

Now we get to the top eight, starting with “Spend more time with / improve relationship with friends and family” at seven with equal score from five people is “Be a better person/ improve attitude”. At six is “Eat more healthily”, at five is a general “Better Health”. Number four for people in this poll is “Gain new skills and knowledge”.

Into the top three, pause for dramatic effect…

Jumping in, with 43% more people selecting this than the number four goal. Number three is the old favourite “Lose weight”

At two, with less than 1% increase is “Get Fit/ Exercise More”

And, at number one, your top resolution for 2025 is “Save more/ spend less”.

Der-de der, de-der. Der.

YouGov, go on to explain that Gen Z (born 1997 or later) resolution makers are more likely to make the financial goals, while Gen X (born 1965-1980) more likely to set health related goals.

Putting health first

Whilst we can’t help people to make more money, we do have financial wellbeing guidance available on our website (link in ad below).

What we can also do is help people with most health-related goals. And when you think about it, your health, both physical and mental, should be more important because you need to be fit to work, to make more money, to invest that money or start a new job.

So, concentrating on your health, and the health of your workforce, is paramount to success both for your business and every individual making up your team.

Our Health Coaches can offer your business a free Health Review, then devise a schedule of sessions for the goals of your workforce. Whether that is healthy eating, weight management, smoking cessation or to reduce drinking alcohol.

All sessions are completely free and can take place in person at your Wiltshire workplace, as groups, as 1-2-1’s, over video conference or by telephone.

What are you waiting for? Make the best resolution you will ever make, and we can help you keep it. Look after your workforce and they will take care of your business.

SKILLS ARE THE SYSTEM

Why our regions depend on getting LSIPs right

By Matt Tudge, Head of Skills, Business West

As businesses, growth is our goal, right? Growth through innovation, investment, opportunity, talent, and partnership. But unlike the above, or finance or infrastructure, skills remain one of the most complex, misunderstood - and often most undervalued - parts of the growth equation. We talk about skills as though they sit in isolation, when in fact they’re mixed right through everything we want to achieve. They shape our productivity, innovation, inclusion and sustainability, they determine whether technology creates opportunity or limits our competitivity and, crucially, skills are what makes growth stick. That’s why Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) matter so much to all of us. They represent an opportunity to reimagine how our local economy connects learning to work and need with action.

What LSIPs are and why they matter

The LSIP model, introduced by the Department for Education and now within Skills England, gives employers a formal voice in shaping post-16 technical education. Led by designated Employer Representative Bodies (ERBs) such as Business West, and in partnership with other organisations like Somerset Chamber of Commerce, the West of England Combined Authority and Wiltshire Council, these three-year plans identify where post 16 education needs to evolve to meet local economic demand and gives employers a chance to say what they need, how they need it and can’t currently access. In practice, LSIPs mean:

• Gathering deep qualitative insight about future workforce needs

• Turning that insight into actionable priorities

• Building strong, direct relationships between employers and training providers and

• Aligning funding, support and delivery to the requirements of the local economy.

In the South West, that means responding to a diverse, interconnected economy as outlined for each area in documents like the new West of England Growth Strategy, the soon-tobe-published Emerging Economic Strategy for Swindon & Wiltshire and the Somerset Economic Prosperity Strategy as well as including national Industrial Strategy priorities and local strengths in creative and digital, advanced manufacturing, visitor economy, green tech and professional services alongside the ‘everyday economy’. The challenge is to make sure both these sectors and all businesses have not just the skills they need today, but the capacity to adapt and thrive tomorrow.

Skills are not a bolt-on to economic growth; they are one of the lenses through which growth becomes possible. We can’t afford – as businesses or as a region - to see skills as the last piece of the puzzle - they are the puzzle itself. With AI and automation reshaping industries at unprecedented speed, the essential skills of the next decade will be human ones: judgement, creativity, ethical reasoning, collaboration, and the ability to connect insight to action.

That means our education and training systems must do

more than deliver content -they must develop curiosity and capability. Imagine a model that includes:

• Trial by fire: real-world problem-solving, not hypothetical worksheets;

• Playful hypothesis-testing: learning through experimentation and reflection;

• The explorer mindset: curiosity and discovery as the output not the process;

• Curriculum woven with career exposure: where maths becomes engineering, IT becomes cybersecurity, art and design become world-shaping tools, and sustainability sits at the heart of every discipline.

If we want resilience, innovation, and long-term productivity, this is the kind of system we need to build; one that’s as much about how we think as what we know.

LSIPs as a bridge between education and economy

The LSIP process offers a practical route to building that system locally. It’s not a top-down policy instrument - it’s a bridge between employers, providers and government. If we can do it well, it can act as a translation mechanism between economic intelligence and educational practice, ensuring we remain the best place in the country to live, learn, work and thrive.

LSIPs can capture the lived experience of business through deep engagement and discussion guided by real world needrecruitment pain, technology shifts, leadership needs and the changing gaps in the workforce with support and signposting to solve. These insights can become actionable roadmaps for training and curriculum design, ensuring the local offer matches our demand. When we integrate skills with other lenses of growth like innovation, decarbonisation and productivity we start to recognise these are all interdependent. LSIPs can help connect them into a coherent system, as well as integrating these into training developed in response to business.

This is where Business West’s work comes in. Across the West of England, Gloucestershire, Swindon & Wiltshire and now Somerset, we’re coordinating LSIPs that turn intelligence into impact through collaborative roadmaps, employer roundtables and local partnerships that bring the system to life.

What this means for local employers

If you’re running a business - whether it’s a creative studio, a manufacturer, a care provider, or a green tech startup - you have a pivotal role to play.

Here’s what you can do right now:

1. Engage with the LSIP. Share your insights on recruitment, training, and technology. We want to understand your pain points, ambitions, and the barriers to growth you face.

2. Work with training providers . From schools to universities, offer placements, shape curriculum content, or open your doors for site visits. It helps them help the next generation of talent and you are more likely to both understand the benefits and change the way people approach their education.

3. Invest in workforce development. Look beyond compliance training—invest in leadership, digital fluency, sustainability and adaptability to stay ahead of the curve.

4. Stay curious. Treat learning as an essential part of your business model. Encourage your teams to explore new

technologies, new markets, new ideas and evaluate their possible impact – and if you need help to do this reach out!

5. Join the conversation. Through Business West’s networks and sector partnerships, make your voice part of the region’s future-skills narrative.

The LSIP is more than consultation: it’s collaboration in action. If we get this right, the rewards are huge. A genuinely connected skills system can:

Drive higher productivity

Support inclusive, high-quality employment

Accelerate the clean-growth transition and...

• Build local resilience by keeping talent here and businesses competitive LSIPs give us a framework, but it’s our collective energy that will make them work.

The future of the economy depends on whether we can:

• See skills not as a separate policy but as the foundation of growth;

• Empower learners to adapt, question and create; and

Equip employers to shape the workforce they need—not just react to shortages.

We want to work with you. Whether you employ five people, five hundred or none, your insight and engagement matter. Together we make sure the LSIP isn’t just a plan but a real opportunity for us to thrive - one that connects growth with opportunity for all. Let’s make skills the system through which Bath & Somerset thrives.

To find out more, share your insights, or get involved in shaping the next phase of the Local Skills Improvement Plan, contact lsip@businesswest.co.uk or visit: www.businesswest.co.uk/lsip

The education system, like the economy, is rapidly changing. The question is whether we will lead or follow, and I know which I think is better.

“Skills are not a bolt-on to economic growth; they are one of the lenses through which growth becomes possible.”

The hidden cost of DIY finance — and the outsourcing shift powering SME growth

Richardson Swift’s Managing Director, Debbie Boulton, examines the false economy of trying to do everything yourself.

For many business owners, handling the finances in-house starts as a sensible cost-saving measure.

You raise the invoices, run payroll, submit VAT returns, maybe even keep on top of the books in the evenings or at weekends.

But as a business grows, this ‘do-it-yourself’ approach often becomes a hidden drain on time, accuracy and ultimately profit.

Increasingly, UK SMEs are rethinking which financial tasks truly need to stay internal and which are more efficient, accurate and cost-effective to outsource.

For those reaching a critical growth stage, there’s another piece of the puzzle: knowing when to bring in senior financial expertise, such as a Virtual Finance Director (Virtual FD).

So, where does outsourcing pay off, what can you retain in-house without overloading internal teams, and how does a Virtual FD unlock strategic growth when compliance support alone is no longer enough?

The problem with DIY finance is the hidden cost of ‘saving money’. It feels resourceful. It feels frugal. But doing everything yourself can come at a price:

• Hours lost each week on low-value admin that could be spent on sales, operations or strategy

• Costly mistakes in payroll, VAT or bookkeeping that trigger HMRC penalties

• Decisions based on outdated or incomplete financial information

• Burnout - especially within founder-led businesses where one person ‘owns’ the finances

Outsourcing is not about giving up control; it’s about freeing up capacity and buying back expertise so the business owner can focus on growing the business.

What to outsource and why it pays off The fastest wins come from handing over functions that are technical, deadline-driven and not core to your competitive advantage.

What to outsource and why it pays off

Running payroll is a compliance minefield and mistakes have real-world consequences for employees and for your reputation. Legislation changes frequently, and auto-enrolment alone can trip up untrained staff.

Outsourcing ensures accuracy, protects against HMRC scrutiny, and eliminates admin. For most SMEs, retaining payroll in-house is a false economy.

Bookkeeping: The foundation of financial health

Accurate bookkeeping is the backbone of informed business decisions. When it slips, so does visibility. The irony? Many founders do it to save money, while costing the business far more through delayed invoicing, missed insights and poor cashflow control.

Outsourcing bookkeeping delivers:

• Real-time management information

• Faster month-end closes

• Reliable data for decision-making

For a modest monthly fee, most SMEs gain cleaner books and a more professional finance process.

VAT: Complex rules + time pressure = Outsource it! VAT looks straightforward, until it isn’t. Choosing the wrong scheme or making errors in returns can result in penalties, overpayments or HMRC intervention.

A specialist partner will:

• Prepare and file accurate returns

• Advise on schemes and reliefs

• Manage queries with HMRC

For the sake of compliance alone, outsourcing VAT is rarely questioned by growing firms.

Not everything needs to be outsourced, however. Some tasks benefit from internal oversight, particularly those tied to operational control and employee accountability.

Approving expenses and supplier invoices, budget responsibility and departmental spending decisions and highlevel cash management and payment authorisation, are all better off dealt with internally.

I would always recommend that clients maintain a balanced model. Outsourced processing with internal sign-off provides efficiency and control.

So, when do you need a Virtual FD? Once a business hits a certain level of complexity, accurate books and compliant returns are not enough. What’s needed is insight — someone who can interpret the numbers, shape decisions, and influence performance.

That’s where a Virtual Finance Director steps in.

What a Virtual FD actually does

A Virtual FD is a senior finance professional who works with your business on a part-time or flexible basis, offering boardlevel expertise without the full-time cost. They go beyond accounting to provide:

• Strategic planning and forecasting

• Cashflow and profitability improvement

• Financial controls and systems design

• Insightful reporting and board-level analysis

• Support with funding, investment or exit strategy

In short, a Virtual FD can help you turn financial data into a growth engine.

When to consider one

You’re probably ready for a Virtual FD if:

• You’ve grown beyond the “small business” stage but lack financial leadership

• Your accountant gives you numbers, but not direction

• Growth, hiring or expansion decisions feel like guesswork

• You want senior financial expertise, but not a £90k–£150k full-time salary

For scaling companies, a Virtual FD can be a catalyst creating clarity, confidence and adding long-term value.

Outsourcing isn’t a cost, it’s an investment

In a volatile economic environment, efficiency and agility matter more than ever. Outsourcing the right financial tasks reduces hassle, strengthens compliance and improves the quality of decisions.

And when you add Virtual FD expertise into the mix, the finance function evolves from a back-office necessity into a strategic asset.

The goal isn’t to outsource everything. It’s to take a smart, modern approach: retain control of key decisions, outsource the labour-intensive detail, and invest in expert leadership when it fuels growth.

Here for you, your family and your business

Providing peace of mind since 1882

“Goughs are highly personable, approachable and swift to respond through a dedicated person and single point of contact.”

– Chambers & Partners 2026

• Estate planning and inheritance tax guidance

• Succession planning and wealth protection for future generations

• Pre & post nuptial agreements

• Purchasing and selling heritage and high value property

• Complex financial settlements on divorce

• Corporate and commercial matters

• Commercial property leases, acquisitions and disposals

Innovation, growth and creativity shine at the second annual TBE Awards

Against the unique backdrop of the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon, the second annual TBE Awards sponsored by Thrings showcased everything our business community does best.

Bringing together the organisations and individuals from across Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Somerset, the evening kicked off with a VIP Drinks Reception hosted by N3 Display Graphics, before guests visited the TBE Innovation Boulevard featuring a selection of businesses making waves in their respective industries.

The Awards ceremony itself shone a spotlight on all aspects of the business landscape, from Best Start-Up through to Best Customer Experience, Leader of the Year to the Dream Team Award, with recognition for those doing great things across our community.

THE WINNERS AND FINALISTS

Best Start-up

sponsored by

Founded by three Bath Spa University graduates, Stanners Golf is redefining the sports apparel market.

With a strong focus on sustainability and innovation, Stanners is integrating advanced materials from Sorona, Vegatex and 100% recycled fabrics into its designs. Beyond products, the business is committed to eco-conscious practices, from seaweed-based packaging and wildflower seed labels to tree-planting initiatives.

“We’re so proud (and still a little bit shocked) to have been named Best Start-Up Business 2025 at the TBE Awards South West. Stanners Golf began with a simple idea: to make golf more sustainable, inclusive, and forward-thinking. Being recognised alongside such inspiring businesses feels surreal and is something we’ll never forget. We wouldn’t be here without everyone who’s supported us, from those wearing Stanners to those following our journey. Thank you for helping us grow something that’s changing the game, one swing at a time.” Sam, Ben & Luke, Stanners Golf

The Best Start-up Award was presented by Dr Andrew Dixon, Managing Director, SVGC.

Congratulations to the runners up in this category, Forceteck, One Family Law Solicitors and Otters Home Search.

For more info: www.stannersgolf.com

Best Creative Campaign

sponsored by

Social Butterfly Digital supports businesses with social media training, strategy, management and content creation.

After more than 20 years in marketing, Tracy Marland founded the company with a focus on social media and content to help businesses use the marketing tool strategically.

The team based in Old Town, Swindon, helps businesses to post content purposefully, building communities and sharing their stories.

Social Butterfly isn’t just social online, the team also host Coffee & Conversations, Netwalking and Cocktails & Conversations events.

“We consider ourselves lucky to be able to share the stories of our amazing clients and engage their communities, so this award is not only ours, but also our client’s, Moo2Yoo, who absolutely deserve it.

“Over the last six months we have shared content which shows behind the scenes of farming life - the long hours, the challenges, the passion that keeps farmers going and how important that is to our communities. This important message has reached over 2 million people, interactions have increased by 100% and Moo 2 Yoo were finalists at the British Farming Awards. Following an amazing few months, this award is icing on the cake… or the cream in the milk!”

Winner: Social Butterfly Digital

Best Creative Campaign was presented by TBE Awards judge and category sponsor, Mirabelle Stobbs from the Workshed - Swindon’s workplace for entrepreneurs, pioneers and creative thinkers.

Congratulations to the runners up in this category, Bath Dragons, Visual PR and Vox PR.

For more info: www.socialbutterflydigital.co.uk

Innovation Award supported by

Forceteck transforms ordinary sports video into powerful biomechanical insights, enabling coaches and athletes to measure what truly matters, directly on the pitch.

Founded by a team of scientists, engineers and sports professionals, the business has developed AI-driven technology that delivers lab-grade data without the need for wearable sensors. Over the past year, Forceteck has grown from research prototype to real-world application, working with elite clubs and research partners. Their mission is simple: to transform performance measurement and decisionmaking.

“We’re honoured to receive the Innovation Award at the TBE Awards 2025. This recognition celebrates our research-driven DNA and our commitment to transforming cutting-edge science into realworld impact. This achievement has been made possible by our brilliant team of computer vision, computational biomechanics, and machine learning experts, whose work continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in sports technology.

“We’re deeply grateful to the TBE Awards and to everyone who believes in our vision and supports our journey to make advanced performance analytics accessible, accurate, and effortless.”

Marie-Marthe Blanc Peyrard, Forceteck

The Innovation Award was presented by TBE Awards judge and category supporter, Nigel Stone, Innovation and Growth Specialist at Business West.

Congratulations to the runners up in this category, Digital Wonderlab, Forceteck, Theax Technology and Tigerplay.

For more info: www.forceteck.com

Going for Growth sponsored by

Established in 2015, Joint Operations is a leading provider of innovative medical devices across the UK, Ireland and Europe. Its mission is to deliver technologies that preserve and restore quality of life, ensuring patients have access to devices that can transform, or even save, their lives.

Specialising in joint preservation and extremities, the business works with a range of suppliers to offer healthcare professionals access to the latest advancements alongside product advice and procedural knowledge.

“It means a great deal to the Joint Operations team to have won the TBE Going for Growth Award. Growth sits at the very heart of the JO mindsetfrom expanding our scope to reach more patients in need of cutting-edge technology, to developing our talented team and driving innovation across everything we do. This award recognises the team’s passion, resilience and commitment to continuous improvement. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together and excited to keep building on this momentum as we continue to grow and deliver exceptional results for our clients and partners.”

Rich Thain, Joint Operations

The Going for Growth Award was presented by TBE Awards judge and category sponsor Ian Lloyd, Partner at Milsted Langdon.

Congratulations to the runners up in this category, Canned Wine, Southby & Co Financial Planning and Windsor Hill Mortgages. For more info: www.jointoperations.co.uk

Sustainable Business of the Year

sponsored by

The National Self Build & Renovation Centre (NSBRC) is the UK’s only permanent venue for independent homebuilding advice and support. It has helped over a quarter of a million visitors since opening in 2007. As a free resource, NSBRC showcases an alternative to mass-produced housing. Its mission is to support people in building better, sustainable, energy-efficient homes, for themselves and future generations.

The NSBRC is owned by its employees, and as a B-Corp accredited SME with just 20 staff, the organisation strives to be the beating heart of a thriving community - and an outstanding business to work for and with.

“We are thrilled to be named ‘Sustainable Business of the Year’ for 2025! We have placed sustainability at the heart of our business and in the year that we achieved B Corp status and launched our brand-new Retrofit Zone, this recognition is really the icing on the cake!

“We will use this award to shout about our mission - to help people build better, more energyefficient homes!

“It was also an honour to be chosen as host venue for the TBE awards and to be part of a fantastic evening for businesses across the South West.” Harvey Fremlin, NSBRC

The Sustainable Business of the Year Award was presented by category sponsor Andrea Kelly, University of Bath Innovation Centre Manager.

Congratulations to the runners up in this category, Canned Wine, Deceuninck and Grant Engineering UK.

Winner: Joint Operations

For more info: www.nsbrc.co.uk

Leader of the Year

sponsored

by

Winner: Catherine Smith, BLB Solicitors

Catherine Smith began her career in the NHS before retraining in law, bringing a unique blend of analytical thinking, people-focused leadership and commercial strategy to her role. With nearly 20 years of experience in family law, Catherine has spent the last four years leading BLB Solicitors, driving profit growth, strengthening the brand and shaping a clear strategic vision for the future. She is deeply committed to fairness, integrity and fostering an environment where both colleagues and clients can thrive.

“I’m deeply honoured - and was very surprised - to receive the ‘Leader of the Year’ award. This success truly reflects the collective effort of everyone at BLB Solicitors. Leading such a talented and dedicated team is an absolute privilege. Their positivity, professionalism, and openness to new ideas inspire me every day. Together we’ve built a culture founded on collaboration, wellbeing, and continuous improvement. I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved and excited for what lies ahead as we continue to grow responsibly, support our community, and make BLB an even better place to work.”

Catherine

Smith, BLB Solicitors

Rising Star Award

sponsored by

With more than 25 years’ experience, in a wide range of for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, Salocin Group understands the pace at which tech changes and how the regulations around it change too.

It’s a fast-moving, ever-changing industry, and as we move through the AI-driven revolution, the business guides brands to success with the strategic use of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is Salocin Group’s belief that organisations that nurture more human, emotional and mutually valuable relationships, will succeed – exceeding their targets and the expectations of their customers.

“I want to say a huge thank you to the judges and everyone who attended the TBE Awards. It means the world to have received the award, and I’m still buzzing the morning after!

“The venue was incredible, and the conversations on the Boulevard of Business Innovation were inspiring, everyone I spoke to was full of energy, insight and passion for what they do. Congratulations as well to all the finalists; being nominated is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to the brilliant work you deliver every day.”

Dean Wade, Salocin Group

The Leader of the Year Award was presented by Bernadette Walsh from Ridgeway Hospital.

Congratulations to the runners up in this category, Hannah Chree, Bath Racecourse, Henry West, Truespeed and Lucy Collins, Web Usability.

For more info: www.blbsolicitors.co.uk

Winner: Dean Wade, Salocin Group

The Rising Star Award was presented by TBE Awards judge and category sponsor, Michelle Pow from University of Bath School of Management.

Congratulations to the runners up in this category, Emily Jones, Joint Operations, Lauren Blanchard, Canned Wine and Yasemin Kisioglu, Salocin Group.

For more info: www.salocin-group.com

Charity/Not For Profit of the Year

sponsored by

Homeless charity ALABARÉ was formed 35 years ago in Salisbury. The charity’s story began by supporting one homeless man named Bob. Since then, the organisation has grown to support more than 3,200 people each year across the South West and Wales.

ALABARÉ’s vision is that everyone in our society has the opportunity to live a fulfilling life, and its mission is to break the cycle of homelessness by providing homes, restoring hearts and empowering minds. The charity’s person-centred approach to care is tailored to each individual, ensuring that the most complex needs are taken into account.

“To be recognised by the TBE Awards is a great honour and testament to the dedication and compassion of our colleagues, and the resilience of our clients. At ALABARÉ, our goal is to be the preferred provider of safe, high-quality short-term homes and support for homeless and vulnerable people in need across the South West of England and Wales. TBE’s recognition lets us know that we’re on the right path on our mission to break the cycle of homelessness.

“In a category with such strong finalists, we’d also like to pay tribute to the other nominees for their efforts to support our communities.”

Faye Tryhorn, ALABARÉ

The Charity/ Not For Profit of the Year Award was presented by category sponsor Annie Blanchard from Given Gain.

Congratulations to the runners up in this category, Dorothy House Hospice, Mentoring Plus & Off the Record and Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance.

Winner: ALABARÉ

For more info: www.alabare.co.uk

Going the Extra Mile Award

sponsored

by

Bath Racecourse is where excitement, tradition, and stunning scenery collide. Its iconic flat racing venue delivers thrilling action throughout the year, drawing racing fans and newcomers alike. With breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside, every race day feels like an event to remember. But Bath Racecourse isn’t just about racing; it’s a hub for unforgettable experiences, from lively music festivals to elegant corporate events. Combining heritage, hospitality and high-octane sport, it’s the place to celebrate, connect and create memories.

“Bath Racecourse is incredibly proud to have received the ‘Going the Extra Mile’ Award on Thursday evening.

“We were honoured to be recognised among such outstanding nominees, each of whom has contributed so much to Bath. This award is a reflection of the hard work, passion, and dedication shown by our entire team throughout what has been a truly fantastic but challenging year.

“As we celebrate this achievement, we also look forward with excitement to 2026. We’re eager to continue building on our successes, delivering exceptional experiences for our guests, and pushing ourselves to reach even greater heights together as a team.”

Hannah Chree, Bath Racecourse

The Going the Extra Mile Award was presented by Nicola Parker, Lending & Markets Director at SWIG Finance.

Congratulations to the runners up in this category, AGM Planning Consultants, Signs Express Bath and Truespeed.

Winner: Bath Racecourse

For more info: www.bath-racecourse.co.uk

Using Tech to Transform Business

sponsored by

Digital Wonderlab is an award-winning digital agency and Certified B Corporation® dedicated to shaping positive digital futures. The business believes technology should improve lives, strengthen communities and protect the planet. This commitment underpins everything Digital Wonderlab does, from the clients it partners with to the solutions it delivers.

“We’re over the moon to have won the Using Tech to Transform Business award. This recognition celebrates our commitment to using technology as a force for good: solving real challenges, improving efficiency, and creating meaningful impact for our clients and their communities.

“A huge thank you to The Business Exchange South West for an incredible evening, and to our amazing team whose passion and innovation make achievements like this possible.

“We’re proud to be part of a thriving local business community driving positive digital transformation across the region.”

Heather Clarke, Digital Wonderlab

The Using Tech to Transform Business Award was presented by TBE Awards judge and category sponsor, Kat Wellum-Kent, Fractional Finance.

Congratulations to the runners up in this category, Cecure Intelligence, Forecteck and JMW Carpentry & Builders.

Best User Experience

Web Usability is a user experience consultancy that has been helping teams create accessible, enjoyable digital experiences since 2002, all grounded in real research with real people.

The company says that insights don’t just sit in reports; they drive action through clear, user-centred processes that deliver results quickly and effectively. Each project is tailored to client needs, providing meaningful, evidence-based insight shaped around the organisation.

With deep expertise in UX and accessibility across public, private and not-for-profit sectors, Web Usability combines independence, experience and care.

“Thank you to the TBE team and judging panel for recognising Web Usability in the Best User Experience Category. This accessibility-focused research project in collaboration with the British Museum focused on improving the ‘Accessibility at the Museum’ webpage – a small page with a big purpose: helping disabled visitors plan and enjoy their visit with confidence.

“It’s fantastic to see a project that centres digital accessibility recognised for best user experience, something that is often overlooked. We’re incredibly proud to be working towards an equitable online world that works for everyone and this sort of recognition means a great deal.”

Lucy Collins, Web Usability

The Best User Experience Award was presented by TBE Awards judge Paddy Bradley MBE, Director at Number 11 Consultants.

Congratulations to the runners up in this category, Digital Wonderlab, Theax Technology and Visual PR Productions.

For more info: www.webusability.co.uk

Winner: Digital Wonderlab Winner: Web Usability

Positive Business

sponsored by

Swindon’s GEL Studios, a purpose-led creative agency, delivers impact through strategic thinking, creativity and collaboration, helping businesses achieve sustainable, measurable success.

GEL’s in-house team of branding, design, marketing and web experts work as trusted partners, combining strategy and creativity to inspire change through every project. For over a decade, the business has built long-standing relationships with SMEs founded on trust, shared values and meaningful outcomes.

“The entire team is incredibly proud to have won the Positive Business Award. Being recognised for the work we do in our local community truly means the world to us.

“At GEL Studios, we don’t create websites, brands or marketing campaigns for the sake of it – we create them to make a real difference.

“This recognition shows that the difference we’re making is being felt by our clients, our partners and the wider community.

“As we continue on our five-year growth journey, this award will fuel us to keep inspiring change through creativity. The bigger we grow, the more good we can do.”

Lewis Moran, GEL Studios

Dream Team Award

sponsored by

KR HR & Training Consultancy supports local SMEs and charities to achieve their goals through recruiting, managing and developing their people effectively. Their mission is to make working life better for you, your team and your organisation as a whole.

From supporting a small business to take on its first employee, through to handling complex restructuring projects or cultural change programmes in larger organisations, KR HR & Training Consultancy is well known for its personable, supportive and responsive approach.

“Working in HR means dealing with really difficult situations for both organisations and individuals. I believe the resilience that enables us to show up every day to deliver what our clients need comes from having a strong foundation as a team where we can rely on each other, ask for help and be open about when we may be struggling. I really do have a dream team - who in turn help our clients create their dream teams!

“We were truly delighted to be shortlisted for ‘Positive Business’ in recognition of our charity work and efforts in encouraging employers to take action on supporting those impacted by domestic abuse, as well as the Dream Team Award. Winning this award really has made our year! Thank you.”

Kathryn Fairlie, KR HR & Training Consultancy

The Positive Business Award was presented by TBE Awards judge and category sponsor, Debbie Boulton, Managing Director at Richardson Swift.

Congratulations to the runners up in this category, Blackmore UK, Grant Engineering UK and KR HR & Consultancy.

Winner: Gel Studios

For more info: www.gelstudios.co.uk

Winner: KR HR & Training Consultancy

The Dream Team Award was presented by category sponsor Nick Cramp, Co-Founder of The Rethink Collective.

Congratulations to the runners up in this category, AGM Planning Consultants, Aligra and National Self Build & Renovation Centre.

For more info: www.krhrconsultancy.co.uk

Flying the Flag for the South West

sponsored by

Theatre Royal Bath is a self-funded centre of theatrical excellence, operating without direct impact from arts cuts or external agendas.

The Theatre is a thriving charity that delivers a high-quality and wide-ranging programme of theatre and performance across three auditoria: the Main House, the Ustinov Studio and The Egg, a dedicated children’s theatre.

Committed to making its historic stages available for learning and to connect with the past, make sense of the present and offer a portal to the future, Theatre Royal Bath is known as Bath’s self-made national theatre.

“We were thrilled to win the Flying the Flag for the South West category at the TBE Awards this year. Since 1805, our independent theatre charity has enjoyed incredible local support – just like the other businesses recognised this year.

“In 1979, local entrepreneur Jeremy Fry bought the theatre site and established Theatre Royal Bath as a charity with the purpose of establishing Bath as a ‘centre of theatrical excellence’. Today, we are driven by a commitment to ensuring that our local cultural offer can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the West End, delivering income straight back into our £1m+ charitable activity each year.”

The Flying the Flag for the South West Award was presented by category sponsor, Ramona Derbyshire,

Head of Business Growth at Thrings.

Congratulations to the runners up in this category, Canned Wine, Interaction and RIVIAM Digital Care.

Winner: Theatre Royal Bath

CELEBRATING OUR SPONSORS

TBE Awards wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our sponsors. Their commitment goes far beyond the event itself – they champion innovation, collaboration and growth across the South West. Here’s what they had to say about being part of this year’s celebration.

Thrings – Headline Sponsor

“At TBE Awards, we witnessed a fantastic celebration of the innovation, resilience, and collaboration that define businesses and charities across Bath, Swindon, and Wiltshire. And, once again, Thrings was proud to be the headline sponsor for the Awards.

The event brought together an inspiring crowd and treated guests to a superb evening of food, networking, and recognition.

“We were delighted to play a part in shining a light on all that our region does best.”

Workshed

“Being part of TBE Awards is important to us at Workshed. As a digital, tech and creative business incubator, we need to stay in touch with what is happening in the region and the companies to watch that are new.

“We enjoy championing the experts based here and those that have grown on from the space. We love catching up with the Workshed Alumni at the awards and finding out how they are developing their businesses.”

SWIG Finance

“We’re building a stronger partnership with TBE, and sponsoring an award is a natural progression. The Awards offer a valuable chance to engage with the region’s vibrant business community and understand the impact organisations are making.

“Recognising regional achievement boosts visibility, encourages growth, and celebrates the value local businesses bring to the South West.”

The Fractionals Group

“Hearing the stories of this year’s finalists was incredible. The passion, innovation and resilience across every business was inspiring.

Nights like this remind us why we do what we do – supporting founders and teams who are building better businesses, not just bigger ones.”

The Rethink Collective

“It was our first time attending a TBE event, and we were genuinely struck by how welcoming and energising the atmosphere was.

“We chose to sponsor the Dream Team Award because we believe the best businesses are built on strong, empowered teams, and it was a joy to celebrate exactly that.”

N3 Display Graphics

“N3 Display Graphics was delighted to support and attend TBE Awards as the VIP Drinks Reception Sponsor.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with long-standing contacts and meet new faces from across the region’s business community.

“A memorable event that brought people together in a vibrant and engaging way, and we were proud to be part of it.”

WHY THEIR SUPPORT MATTERS

These organisations don’t just sponsor an event – they invest in the success of our region. Their backing helps us celebrate achievement, share knowledge and create opportunities for businesses to thrive. A huge thank you to making TBE Awards 2025 possible.

Thrings meets the award-winning Joint Operations

Following the success of the 2025 TBE Awards, Thrings solicitors caught up with one of the winners to find out more about them. Going for Growth Award winner, Joint Operations, was established in 2015 to provide innovative medical devices across the UK, Ireland and Europe. Its mission is to deliver technologies that preserve and restore quality of life, ensuring patients have access to devices that can transform, or even save, their lives.

Kate Westbrook, Head of Commercial at Thrings Solicitors and TBE Awards judge, took the opportunity to chat with Joint Operations’ Head of Marketing, Richard Thain, about the business, its plans for 2026 and its newly acquired status as a TBE Award winner.

Why did you enter the 2025 TBE Awards?

We entered the 2025 TBE Awards to shine a spotlight on our team and the fantastic achievements they’ve delivered in recent years. Recognition is integral to us as a business, and this felt like the perfect opportunity to celebrate the people whose hard work and dedication make everything we do possible.

What achievement are you most proud of in the past 12 months?

We’re incredibly proud to have maintained double-digit growth for another consecutive year, especially with such a new team and operational structure in place. Expanding our operations came with its own challenges but continuing to grow while managing significant change is an achievement any business should be proud of.

What does being a winner in the TBE Awards mean to you / your team?

It means an enormous amount to us. Day-to-day achievements can easily be lost in the pace and pressure of business, so taking a moment to be recognised by an external organisation, especially among so many deserving nominees, feels both affirming and motivating for the whole team.

What’s next for you — any exciting plans or goals on the horizon?

Onwards and upwards! Growth has always been central to the Joint Operations mindset. Our focus is to continue scaling at the pace we’ve sustained over the past decade, allowing us to deliver cutting-edge care to even more patients who need it. As the business evolves into new stages of maturity, new challenges will naturally appear but we look forward to tackling them together.

What does 2026 look like for Joint Operations?

In a word: busy! We’ve welcomed many new team members and suppliers throughout 2025 and moved into a larger premises to boost our operational capacity. 2026 will be our first full year using the new setup, and we’re excited to see the impact it enables.

How did you celebrate?

With what may go down as the worst rendition of Gangsta’s Paradise ever performed in a karaoke bar!

For more info: www.jointoperations.co.uk www.thrings.com

New NSBRC Retrofit Zone to help homeowners cut bills and carbon

The National Self Build & Renovation Centre (NSBRC) in Swindon has officially opened its new Retrofit Zone, a hands-on exhibit designed to show homeowners how to upgrade their properties for better comfort, efficiency and sustainability.

The exhibit is aimed at homeowners, local authorities, educational institutions, trades and professionals, and is located just off the M4 corridor outside Swindon.

The launch took place on Friday 7th November, with Sarah Gibson MP cutting the ribbon just hours after the NSBRC won ‘Sustainable Business of the Year’ at the TBE Awards 2025. The new zone reflects the centre’s commitment to promoting sustainable building practices.

The Retrofit Zone features life-size cross-sections of different types and ages of UK homes, highlighting common challenges and practical solutions. It focuses on a ‘fabric-first’ approach to improving energy efficiency and covers topics such as:

• Insulation and airtightness

• Ventilation and moisture management

• Low-carbon heating and renewable energy

• Low-cost energy savings

• Regulations and planning permission

• Funding and grants

The exhibit was developed with support from industry leaders, including headline sponsors Cupa Pizarras, Eco Design Consultants, Ecological

Building Systems, Norrsken, Northcot Brick, NuHeat, PRB Systems Limited, Roseview Windows, and organisations such as the AECB, Centre for Sustainable Energy, and The Green Register.

Sarah Gibson, an architect by profession, said,“Making our existing homes greener and more energy efficient is something I am deeply passionate about. If we are serious about reaching net zero, we must help homeowners cut energy use, lower bills and make homes warmer. It is time the Government backed retrofit properly.”

Supported by Wiltshire Council and the Business Fit for Growth programme, the Retrofit Zone aims to provide clear, practical advice for anyone planning home improvements.

Harvey Fremlin, Managing Director at the NSBRC, added,

“Four in five of the homes we’ll live in by 2050 already exist. Upgrading what we have is essential –but it can be confusing. The Retrofit Zone is designed to make it simple, practical and inspiring.”

The NSBRC is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–5:30pm, and entry is free. For more information visit: www.nsbrc.co.uk

“Four in five of the homes we’ll live in by 2050 already exist. Upgrading what we have is essential – but it can be confusing. The Retrofit Zone is designed to make it simple, practical and inspiring.”

The National Self Build & Renovation Show

» 67,000 sq ft exhibition space

» Over 200 supplier & manufacturer displays

» Brand new retrofit zone

» Extensions & home improvements

» Energy efficiency advice

» Theatres with free seminars

» Real life case studies

» Guided educational tours

» Free parking

January 30th - February 1st Fri & Sat: 9am - 5pm, Sun: 9am - 4.30pm. Swindon M4 Junction 16

info & FREE tickets at nsbrc.co.uk (£12pp on the day)

But as you spend time this Christmas scrolling through your social feeds, you might notice a shift that you’ve not spotted before.

The algorithms have been moving away from rewarding polished graphics and generic slogans towards genuine faces and voices. Platforms are favouring authenticity above all, so it’s no longer enough to just post; you need to genuinely connect. It’s an ethos that is at the very heart of our business, Visual PR Productions, where we produce authentic, unscripted, conversationled videos.

So, as we move towards the New Year, why not think about how you can apply this methodology to your own social media and wider digital marketing, and take advantage of this shift?

Here are our top seven tips to make your conversation-led social media fly in 2026.

1. Plan your topics

Your videos need a purpose. Take the time to decide what subjects you can genuinely

offer unique insights on, and how they can lead to dialogue with your audience. It’s OK to deviate from a plan – a topic might come up unexpectedly that you want to explore –but by creating a framework, you will avoid that common pitfall of erratic posting. Which leads to tip two…

2. Be consistent

Algorithms reward consistency because it keeps users on the platform. More importantly, consistent appearances help your audience build a relationship with you. And, with conversational video, they really will get to know you, your team and the people you work with – people buy from people. Which also leads us to tip three..

3. Invite guests on

Bringing guests into your video posts introduces new voices and perspectives, and is a great way to help explain tricky concepts, or showcase the people behind the organisation. Plus, they are likely to share your content that they appear in too.

4. Schedule and be accountable

Take your video content seriously by setting a strict posting schedule. Scheduling ensures you appear reliable and gives your audience something to anticipate. Again, it’s all about being believable and authentic.

5. Give context to your video posts

While the main thrust of your video posts should be your authentic voice, don’t forget the production value. Use secondary footage (B-roll or inserts) to illustrate your points and provide visual context, which helps keep viewers engaged without distracting from your core message.

6. Be engaging and authentic

This is the single most important element of conversation-led video. Be personable and sound like you’re talking to a friend. Ask open-ended questions and genuinely respond to comments to keep the conversation going.

7. Last but not least, have fun

Ultimately, the most effective conversational videos are those where the people featured

are relaxed, passionate, and enjoying the chat. If you are having fun and being personable, your audience will feel that energy and be much more likely to join in the discussion.

So, are you ready to bring your brand into the conversation? At Visual PR Productions, we specialise in unscripted, authentic, and conversation-led productions: longer shows which can be clipped for use as social media posts, the audio can be repurposed for podcasts, and our automation tools enable the transcripts to be used to create blogs and newsletters. Plus, we also create feature videos using our authentic, engaging, conversation-led style to bring a single objective to life as a one-off.

To find out more visit: www.visual-pr.co.uk.

To arrange a discovery call or studio tour, call 01793 209806 or email: enquiries@visual-pr.co.uk

To watch Visual PR’s productions, go to www.youtube.com/@visualpruk/playlists.

From vision to viewfinder: Designer expands skills behind the camera

Experienced interior designer Elaine Deeks has expanded her creativity for clients by collaborating with Wiltshirebased professional photographer Barbara Leatham.

Elaine, who lives near Salisbury, has become a student of “The Business Lens” a photography training programme for businesses, designed by Barbara, who has been a professional photographer for more than 30 years. Barbara started her photography career in the Royal Air Force and has continued in the profession.

‘The Business Lens” offers bespoke and detailed photography training to businesses which need to tell their stories through photographs. It’s designed to work for startups right through to larger companies with teams and social media managers.

Elaine, who has run her business, A Box Of Tricks, has been an independent interior designer since 2007 and often works with developers to dress their show homes. She realised that adding photography to her repertoire would be hugely valuable.

“Great imagery sells the houses – it’s the first visual representation of a show home that a potential buyer might see and it needs

to form an emotional connection. The homes I work on are aspirational; they sell a lifestyle. Often photographs are taken which are quite flat and bland and do not convey emotion. Yet we all know that when we walk into a space we ‘feel’ it and react to it almost instantly. Often that’s not logical, we just do and we can decide whether or not to buy based on that feeling.

“Having had Barbara do my headshots in the past and seen what a difference that made to how people see me – and how I see myself – I jumped at the chance to be part of The Business Lens.

“Now I have the skills to use my kit to its best advantage and I can really think about composition, the lighting and the textures to show my work off to its best,” Elaine said.

Elaine, who has a degree in textile design, works with many other clients including private families who want support to re-think their home and also commercial clients, particularly independent retail stores.

“Each client brings new potential and new

horizons for someone like me. Show homes are often a blank canvas. A private client’s home means working around their existing furniture and I learn quickly about their personal style and choices. In commercial premises it’s all about design around functionality and the needs of that business. Interior design speaks volumes silently and instantly to everyone who enters the space,” Elaine said.

Barbara said, “No one business is the same as another. With Elaine, it was important to understand how she would use the imagery, what kit she had or wanted to purchase in the future and to guide her how to use it.

“After the training she was given a bespoke guidebook filled with everything we covered during her session. It will remind her of the training and acts as a checklist when she’s on her own and recording her work. I’m thrilled that she’s now able to offer excellent photography to her clients as an additional service for their own literature.”

“The Business Lens” packages are designed to suit two main sectors: trades such as plumbers, builders, carpenters, heating engineers, electricians, where there’s a clear visual journey from ‘before’ the work is done, ‘during’ the work and ‘after’ work has been completed. The second focus is other businesses which rely heavily on visual marketing such as accountants, estate agents, interior designers or product-based businesses with fast moving stock.

Applicable to camera or phone use, every training package is designed to give businesses “go to” settings that deliver consistency. Investment starts at £800 and for more information, visit: www.the-business-lens.co.uk

Thinking of a New Year rebrand? Five reasons why SMEs change their look

By Nathan Sandhu, Founder, Jazzbones

If you’re thinking about a rebrand for the New Year, it’s helpful to remember that it goes far beyond just a cosmetic update.

While it’s easy to focus on the surface - a new logo or a fresh colour palette - a successful rebrand is a deeper, strategic transformation. It offers the chance to elevate your business to becoming a memorable brand that resonates with customers and encourages them to connect with you. Think of this as defining a refreshed, stronger identity for the year ahead.

But while one trigger for a rebrand might be a wish for a new look in the New Year, there are other common triggers too. Do any of these resonate with you?

1. Business growth or a change in direction

Many SMEs start small and focused, but over time, they expand their services, enter new markets, or even pivot their entire business model. When this happens, their original branding can feel limiting or inaccurate. A rebrand allows a business to update its visual identity and messaging to reflect what it has become.

2. An outdated brand identity

It’s common for an SME’s initial branding to

be a quick, do-it-yourself job. A few years on, that once-acceptable brand can look dated and unprofessional. Updating your brand identity signals to the market that you are current, confident, and forward-thinking.

3. The need to stand out from competitors

In a crowded market, if a brand doesn’t stand out, it risks becoming invisible. Rebranding is one of the most effective ways to create a unique position in the marketplace.

The rebranding process goes beyond just aesthetics. It’s an opportunity to clarify your values, refine your brand’s tone of voice, and define the unique experience you offer. A strong brand helps a business cut through the noise and attract more customers.

4. Mergers, acquisitions, or leadership changes

When two businesses merge, or when there is a significant change in ownership, a rebrand can be the ideal way to signal a fresh start. It creates a shared identity that unites employees, builds trust with customers, and marks the beginning of a new chapter.

Discover. Design. Deliver.

For more than twenty years, Jazzbones has been supporting businesses just like yours with standout brand identities, graphic design, and websites that genuinely work. We create everything your business needs to stand out, build trust, and grow with confidence.

Similarly, a new managing director or CEO might want to rebrand the company to put their own stamp on it and steer it in a new direction. Rebranding can help them communicate that vision and inspire the team to get on board.

5. Reputation or perception issues

Sometimes, a brand’s reputation has been tarnished by past issues, like poor service, or it may simply give off the wrong impression of what the business stands for today.

A rebrand offers a chance for a business to hit the reset button, showing customers that the company has listened, improved, and is moving forward. This can be a powerful tool for rebuilding trust and attracting new customers.

If you are thinking about rebranding your business, and if any of these triggers rings true with you, then the New Year could be the perfect time. Why not get in touch with the team at Jazzbones? We partner with SMEs to develop brands that are as strategic as they are visually compelling.

“A strong brand helps a business cut through the noise and attract more customers”

Cybersecurity in 2026: From defence to differentiation with Systemagic

The digital economy is accelerating, and with it, the sophistication of cybercrime. For small and medium-sized businesses, the question is no longer “Will we be targeted?” but “How prepared are we when it happens?”.

The latest Cyber Security Breaches Survey revealed that almost half of UK SMEs reported a breach in 2025. This makes cyber security no longer a technical challenge, but rather a strategic business issue.

In 2026, the most successful SMEs will be those that treat cyber resilience as a competitive advantage and not a compliance checkbox.

Below, we highlight some of the threats business owners should be aware of.

AI-powered phishing attacks

Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries, but it’s also empowering attackers. AI-driven phishing campaigns and deepfake impersonations are challenging traditional security measures.

Reports indicate that between 75-80% of cyber attacks are successful due to human error.

Continuous education and a culture of security awareness are essential. If your team

are aware of and know how to spot an attack, you can manage the threat effectively.

Ransomware-as-a-Service

Historically, ransomware attacks were planned and executed by elite hackers.

However, ‘Ransomware-as-a-Service’ makes it easy for people to ‘purchase’ an attack online and select their target – with more SMEs getting caught in the crossfire.

The cost of inaction? Not just financial loss, but reputational damage that can cripple growth.

SMEs should adopt a layered defence strategy that evolves with their business.

Insider threats

Insider Threats are becoming increasingly common and can cause a great deal of damage to businesses.

According to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey, approximately 30% of small businesses actively monitor user activity, leaving a big gap for attackers to exploit.

Begrudged ex-employees with retained access to systems or current team members with unnecessary privileges can change, move or copy data unknown to managers.

Businesses should regularly review old/ unused accounts and keep an eye on unusual behaviour.

From defence to differentiation

Cybersecurity isn’t just about avoiding an attack; it’s about building and maintaining trust. Customers, partners, and investors increasingly demand proof of robust security practices.

Certifications like Cyber Essentials are becoming more popular as a sign of credibility.

The SMEs that thrive in 2026 will be those that see cybersecurity as a growth enabler, not a cost centre.

The question is: Are you ready to lead, or will you wait to react?

To find out more

Personal Financial Planning

Our local team of highly experienced financial planners provide our clients with holistic and tailored advice to achieve their financial goals and objectives. Whether you are looking for advice on retirement planning, investment, inheritance tax planning, personal wealth or later life planning (to name a few); our financial planners will be able to provide trusted advice.

Corporate Financial Planning

As a business owner or director, you know the direction of your business and where you want to get to. We can help you develop financial plans helps make the most out of your situation with solutions for protecting your business and enhancing recruitment and retention through attractive employee benefits including your workplace pension.

Shredding for your home

Shredding for your business Secure shredding bags

We dispose of all your unwanted confidential paperwork and electronic hardware in a safe and responsible manner. We fully recycle everything with 100% Data Protection guaranteed.

Bulk business shredding from £3.60 a bag, Hard Drives £8.00 each

Computer Towers £18.00 each, Laptops £18.00 each, iPad £18.00 each

Mobile Phones £9.00 each, Floppy Discs/CDRs/DVRs £18.00 per bag

Prices quoted are plus VAT

All collected straight from your door with no minimum bag collection, whilst offering you competitive rates. A waste destruction certificate is always provided for your peace of mind.

leadership dialogues @Bath

July 01, 2026

WORLD-CLASS SPEAKERS ALREADY CONFIRMED

*Minnie Moll Chief Executive, Design Council

*Deborah Hale MBE Former Head of International Marketing for London

*Victoria Humphries CEO, Royal Photographic Society

*Joanne Dewar Project Lead, Project Nemo.

Accelerating Disability Inclusion & Accessibility

Plus many more to be announced!

Leadership Dialogues is returning to Bath for its third year in 2026, on Wednesday 1st July.

Building upon its core principle of using Leadership as a Force for Good, the event brings together delegates from all walks of life to discuss how we are all leaders in our own way and can apply the five pillars of intentional leadership in many day-to-day situations to help drive positive change. Through individual accountability, this can benefit communities, organisations and society as a whole.

The event serves as a platform to create meaningful connections and insightful discussion through keynote speeches, talks and interactive workshop sessions.

Leadership Dialogues 2026 will be an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and become inspired by a collective vision of leadership that puts purpose and integrity at its heart.

So save the date – Wednesday 1st July 2026 in Bath. Sign up to our mailing list at: www. leadershipdialogues.co.uk to find out more or to secure your Early Bird delegate pass now.

Is it me?

I’ve been watching a lot of news recently, possibly too much.

I think I must be a glutton for punishment, tuning in to watch various politicians of all colours evade questions, sticking to pre-determined soundbites, treading on eggshells and often looking a little stupid as a consequence.

I have no particular passion for any political party but I do have an interest in the people behind them. I’ve done a little bit of research and I’m shocked at how many of our politicians and leaders have never done anything in the ‘real world’.

Many of them have experienced nothing other than politics or a life in the public sector. A life without risk and therefore a life

Those are some of the good bits. However, running and owning a business also comes with a certain amount of stress and responsibility.

Making sure that hundreds of wages are paid and mortgages are serviced is a consistent pressure. Balancing the books. Reacting to local, national and global changes. Taking risks, knowing when and what to invest in, what to cut back on.

A terrible phrase, but having real skin in the game, often putting your business ahead of your family and your own wellbeing.

I’m not whining here, I’m simply stating that a life in business brings all these things and more into sharp focus. It’s a difficult but rewarding education and it makes

simple words from a dispatch box can have significant impact and I’m sure politicians often don’t ‘get it’ because they’ve never been ‘in it’ to ‘understand it’.

As a country we’re chasing growth. Surely to get on that track we need to be helping businesses – encouraging them to invest, to employ, to innovate. The wrong tweak here or there can very easily set those aims in reverse.

Perhaps I’m being a little harsh or narrow minded in my thinking, but thinking I am. Curious to know whether or not you agree with me.

On a slightly lighter note I’ve found something other than Crocs to be annoyed about. Coriander. To be continued…

Future of Football: Building Wiltshire’s Next Big Goal

Football in Wiltshire is on the cusp of an exciting transformation. At the heart of this movement is Future of Football (FOF), a rapidly growing organisation with a clear mission: to nurture talent, strengthen community ties and create facilities that meet the needs of grassroots football year-round.

Leading this growth is Curtis Goodwin, who brings a wealth of experience from teaching, coaching and community sport development. A UEFA B-licensed coach, Curtis oversees football and community programmes, manages coaching operations and drives partnerships with schools, colleges and local authorities. His appointment marks a significant step in FOF’s ambition to combine elite coaching with grassroots accessibility.

The team has also recently moved into new offices at All Boxed Self Storage in Melksham, creating a central hub for operations. This move was made possible thanks to Daren Spencer and the team at All Boxed, part of The Elm Group, who are supporting FOF with preferential office space and storage for essential kit.

FOF’s journey began as a coaching centre, supporting young players from various clubs. Today, it has evolved into a thriving community interest company (CIC) with over 450 registered players and 28 grassroots teams competing across Wiltshire. FOF also participates in the Junior Premier League with eight teams from under-8 to under-15, giving local talent exposure to competitive football beyond county borders. They have also just started new development sessions in Bath on the 3G strip at the University of Bath. But growth brings challenges. Wiltshire’s football infrastructure

is struggling to keep pace. Seasonal weather forces FOF to split sessions across multiple venues during winter, disrupting continuity and limiting opportunities. The solution? A state-of-the-art 3G all-weather pitch at Bowerhill in Melksham, creating a hub for football and community activity throughout the year.

Curtis Goodwin, FOF Director of Coaching and Development, explained, “Our long-term ambition is to create a space that serves the community, not just FOF. This is about building something for multiple grassroots clubs and organisations to use all year round.”

This ambition isn’t just about FOF. It’s about building a shared space for multiple grassroots clubs and organisations (Repeated above) , ensuring football thrives in Wiltshire for generations to come. Conversations with local stakeholders, including education providers and sports bodies, have already begun.

Now, the team is keen to start conversations with businesses and organisations interested in being part of this journey. Opportunities range from sponsorship and branding to involvement in creative fundraising initiatives such as charity five-a-side tournaments. This is a chance for businesses to align with a project that delivers both social value and marketing benefits.

Daren Spencer, Managing Director at All Boxed added, “Every business wants to help the community, but it’s also good to see something back. This project offers both—a chance to make a real difference and gain visibility.”

Wiltshire has a rich football heritage, but now is the time to invest in its future. By supporting FOF’s plans, businesses can help create a lasting legacy—one that inspires young players, promotes health and wellbeing, and strengthens the fabric of our local community.

Interested in getting involved? Join the conversation, explore sponsorship packages, and be part of shaping the future of football in Wiltshire.

To find out more email: Curtis Goodwin cgoodwin@futureoffootball.co.uk Visit Future of Football online at: www.futureoffootball.co.uk

SELF STORAGE FOR ALL YOUR BUSINESS & PERSONAL NEEDS

Here’s what’s included:

Free shredding bag every month (Collection return at our Melksham office)

Hourly meeting room hire when you need it

Post/Deliveries accepted on your behalf (Stored safely in your unit or sent out to you)

Business rate: 20ft (160 sq ft) containers @ £186+VAT (normally £200+VAT)

10% off internal rooms, units and our box shop

NEW YEAR, NEW DREAMS!

As 2026 arrives Swindon’s independent networking and referral group, BusinessWise, has continued to grow, welcoming some new members and, at time of writing, has only four ‘spare’ seats available.

This growth is bringing the group ever closer to its cap of 35 members who meet fortnightly at the Basset Down complex, just off j16 of the M4 in Swindon.

John Lewis, chair of BusinessWise said,“This year has flown by so quickly and we’re all looking forward positively to 2026. We have some new members and we do plan on hosting an open networking event at some point in Quarter 1 which will be open to all. We want to continue to build relationships and work together over the coming months.”

One new member is Steve Munson of ASF Creative who is in fact an ‘old’ member.

“I’m delighted to share my journey back to Businesswise, a group I was a founding member of more than a decade ago. After several years away, I’ve returned to find that the core values of camaraderie, support and business referrals remain strong. It’s been wonderful reconnecting with existing members and engaging with many new faces.

“In the past year, my company, Studio Creative Services, merged with ASF Signs Ltd to form our new brand, ASF Creative.

“Our combined client base is performing exceptionally well, delivering strong sales despite the current economic outlook and recent political implications. Our primary goal is to expand our workforce and premises to enhance our productivity and efficiency. Specifically, our aims for 2026 include hiring an apprentice and a more senior technician; increasing our marketing efforts to consistently advertise across various forums and securing a new, permanent location of approximately 4,500 sq ft in the Swindon area to relocate our operations.”

“I became a member of Business Wise, before it altered its name – which is a long time. Belonging to the group has been invaluable for my business – previously as a photographer and now as an author and writing mentor. As a group we support each other in terms of advice, accountability and friendship. Over the last three years I’ve had several book launches, and several members have attended each one.

“This year has been busy in terms of my own writing. In June I published my fourth novel – the first novel in a family saga series, and the second book is about to be edited.

I’m already a fair way into the third and final book of The Beaconsbury Forest series. Also in November one of my writing mentees published her first novel, after working with me for a number of years, which was very exciting.

“At the very beginning of 2026, the second book in my Forest series will be published, and the third will come out in the summer.”

Ltd. He said, “I’ve always loved networking and believed in its value. What I remember from the first BusinessWise meeting was the genuine warmth and respect everyone had for each other, and a culture that showed you could still be professional and relaxed in equal measure!

“2025 has been a very positive year for both business and personal growth. As a result 2026 is very exciting and I’m really looking forward to connecting with the members and working with them to mutually grow everyone’s businesses.”

Yvonne Parker of Yvonne Parker Hypnotherapy has also found the group invaluable.

“As a therapist, I’m usually the one offering support to others, so having a trusted group of local experts to turn to for guidance, from conveyancing for a recent

house sale and purchase and providing social media services, to helping with my own wellbeing, has made such a difference.

“A key highlight of 2025 was the opening of my garden therapy room. This was a long-held dream since first establishing my practice five years ago. Being able to share that journey and celebrate that milestone with fellow members was special.

“Looking ahead to 2026, my aim is to extend the reach of my hypnotherapy work to help even more people understand their minds. This may be to manage past trauma or in assisting business owners to improve their mental wellbeing to achieve their goals and life balance.”

BusinessWise only has a few seats vacant but would welcome hearing from a graphic designer or a construction company.

Visitors can attend once free of charge.

For more information visit the website at: www.businesswise.org.uk or email:

secretary@businesswise.org.uk

Make your networking count in 2026 with TBE VIP

If you’re serious about growing your business in 2026, it’s time to make your networking count. The Business Exchange (TBE) VIP membership is more than just access—it’s your gateway to the most effective, connected, and collaborative business community in Swindon & Wiltshire and Bath & Somerset.

TBE VIP isn’t just about networking—it’s about unlocking opportunities that amplify your visibility and influence. We’re not just saying that. Our members are.

REAL VOICES. REAL IMPACT. REAL RESULTS.

TBE VIP is built on trust, visibility, and meaningful relationships. It’s a space where businesses are seen, heard, and supported—whether you’re a sole trader, SME, or part of a larger organisation.

“TBE is to business in the South West as the fans were to the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final – loud, proud and willing to cheer you on no matter what!”

Michelle Pow, University of Bath

“Being part of TBE has been a genuinely rewarding experience. The networking breakfasts and events are always thoughtfully organised, welcoming, and full of energy.”

Deb Narraway, Wiltshire College & University Centre

“It is my opinion that TBE is the single most important B2B community in the area.”

Jonathan Knee, Knee Financial Planning

WHY JOIN TBE VIP?

• Just £48+VAT a month or £500+VAT annually

• 25% off TBE events*

• Exclusive access to VIP-only events

• Editorial opportunities and thought-leadership features

• A platform to share your story and celebrate your wins Want to host an event? We can bring the TBE network to you, whether it’s at your hotel, shared office space, or restaurant.

From editorial features to thought-leadership articles, we give you a platform to share your story and celebrate your wins. From time to time, members are invited to join speaker panels, Q&A sessions, and even podcast interviews—giving you more ways to showcase your expertise.

TBE VIP members benefit from a media partner that cares. We don’t just publish your news, we amplify it. From editorial features to social media support, we help you reach the right audience with the right message.

“TBE offers that precious yet often unquantifiable element of business—visibility.”

Fiona Scott, Scott Media

2026 TBE EVENTS CALENDAR

• TBE January Big Breakfast

15th January, Cumberwell Park

• TBE Big Breakfast

23rd April Lydiard Park, Swindon

• TBE South West Charity Conference & Expo

11th June, Bath Racecourse

• TBE July Big Breakfast

2nd July, Cumberwell Park

• TBE Show 2026

17th September, University of Bath

• TBE Big Breakfast

Lydiard Park, 8th October Swindon

• TBE Festive Big Breakfast

3rd December, Cumberwell Park

These events are designed to connect businesses across both patches—Bath & Somerset and Swindon & Wiltshire.

No one else is joining up these regions like TBE.

“Talking with people at TBE breakfasts and shows has led to relationships, some of which have led to direct business.”

Paula Harsley, Wordsmith

The more you work with us, the more we can work for you. We take time to understand your business so we can help grow your network and connections.

Think of TBE VIP as an extension of your marketing strategy—helping you reach the right audience with the right message.

To find out more about TBE VIP and to become a member visit: www.tbesw.co.uk or email Anna O’Shea: anna@tbesw.co.uk