What’s so special about the Western Gateway? It’s up to us to decide

Business West, the not-for-profit company which is supporting thousands of businesses across the West of England, has welcomed the idea behind the Western Gateway initiative.

Phil Smith, the organisation’s Managing Director, said: “Bristol, Bath, Swindon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire are not, by themselves, necessarily big enough to attract interest from Perth in Australia, for instance, but the Western Gateway should have the assets and scale, and a name with a ring to it that should be able to forge a worldwide presence.

“Business needs to speak with one voice to ensure we get the maximum benefit from government policy and spending, and in Katherine Bennett of Airbus, the new chair of the Western Gateway, we have a very strong supporter from business.”