WESTERN GATEWAY

The region covered by the Western Gateway generates £110 billion of Gross Value Added (GVA) per year, contributing six per cent of UK output. It is a national innovation powerhouse, has an educated workforce and hosts significant natural and economic assets.

Despite these advantages, the region lags behind the UK average in terms of productivity.

Set up in 2019 to tackle this, The Western Gateway is the pan-regional partnership for South Wales and Western England which is now championing economic growth across the area.

Made up of local authorities, a combined authority, city regions, local enterprise partnerships and governments in Wales and Westminster, the Western Gateway is concentrating on four key pillars to drive investment and widen prosperity across the region.

The most high-profile one, where it’s already investing a lot of time, is Net Zero. The Western Gateway believes it has all the elements to become a world-leading green energy cluster. The Western Gateway’s bid to host a new fusion energy plant has made it into the final five shortlisted to become the future home of the UK’s prototype fusion energy power plant – the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP).

In Swindon and Wiltshire along with Swansea which is working with the University of South Wales and South Wales Industrial cluster, there’s national expertise in hydrogen technology.

Swindon also hosts waste management innovation. Recycling Technologies the Swindon-based company whose innovative manufacturing process can turn plastic packaging back into oil, is currently planning to list on the London Stock Exchange.

Another of the Western Gateway’s investment targets is supporting innovation and there the region has many companies which are national leaders in AI (artificial intelligence), robotics and fintech.

A significant part of this innovation support is for cyber – and in particular the multi-million-pound Cyber Central project along the Golden Valley in Cheltenham. This project has been named in the government’s strategy setting out how the UK will foster the growth of a sustainable, innovative and internationally competitive cyber and information security sector. Bristol and Cheltenham are home to some of the biggest cyber manufacturers and innovators in Europe. Each a vital part of the other’s supply chain.

Fourteen of the world’s 15 largest aerospace design and manufacturing firms are based in the Western Gateway and there is a world-leading manufacturing hub of compound semiconductors – powering everything from iPhones to satellites. The other two pillars which the Western Gateway has flagged up are Connecting Communities and supporting investment.

The Western Gateway was originally formed to better the region digitally and through improved public transport. Certainly, the dropping of the tolls on Bristol’s suspension bridge in December 2018 has helped to make South Wales more accessible – 140,000 people now cross the Severn Bridge every day.

In March, Katherine Bennett, Chair of the Western Gateway, and also a member of the UK Investment Council and chair of the UK’s manufacturing catapult, joined colleagues from across the region at MIPIM, the world’s largest real estate fair in the South of France. Participating in this major world fair presents an opportunity for the Western Gateway to make in-roads on the international stage to attract further investment into the region.

01 Black Country Chamber chief makes a sidways move to Warwickshire

Coventry and Warwickshire has announced its new Chief Executive. Corin Crane will join the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce from its sister organisation, the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, which he led for the past six years.

02 Speller Metcalfe promotes James to MD

Worcestershire building contractor Speller Metcalfe has promoted James Speller to the role of managing director. He takes over from his father Steve Speller who has retired, and Andy Metcalfe who will undertake special projects. However, they retain ownership of the company.

03

New Senior Associate for FBC Manby Bowdler

Law firm FBC Manby Bowdler has appointed Claire Bentick as a Senior Associate in Redditch. Qualified solicitor Claire will be working alongside Partner Gareth Ruddock (also pictured), who is also based at the Redditch branch.

04 Bruton Knowles celebrates 160 years by expanding headcount

Gloucester headquartered chartered surveyors Bruton Knowles has appointed Harry Lea as Senior Surveyor. As the firm celebrates its 160th anniversary, Bruton Knowles is aiming to expand its headcount across all areas of the business.

05

Lloyds Bank man returns to West Midlands

Dave Atkinson has returned as regional director for Lloyds Bank across the Midlands and South Wales, having previously held the role between 2012 and 2014. He also continues his role as Lloyds Banking Group’s UK Head of Manufacturing.

06

GFirst LEP appoints regional heavyweight as Vice-Chair

Ian Mean, Director of Business West has been appointed Vice-Chair at GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership. Ian said: “I am passionate about helping business in Gloucestershire and supporting the economy of this great county.”

07 Dame Alison Nimmo DBE appointed to Thomas White Oxford board

Thomas White Oxford Ltd has appointed Dame Alison Nimmo DBE to its board to provide property and sustainability advice across its activities, including Oxford North, the city’s new £500 million global innovation district. Dame Alison was formerly chief executive of The Crown Estate.

She’s “back where she belongs”

A senior lawyer says she feels “back where I belong” after rejoining Midlands firm Wright Hassall. Claire Halle-Smith has returned to the commercial team of Leamington-based Wright Hassall after leaving last summer to join Penningtons in Oxford.

08 Shoosmiths law firm strengthens its southern real estate group

Shoosmiths law firm has recruited housebuilder expert Ben Pariser, pictured above, as a partner into its Thames Valley office in Reading. Also joining the team is Simon Dawes who has taken on the role of legal director.

09 New face at cell and gene therapies consultancy

Exmoor Pharma has appointed Dr Lucy Foley as Chief Technology Officer. Lucy joins Bristol-based Exmoor after eight years at the Centre for Process Innovation with her most recent position as Director of Biologics and COVID response.

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11 New CEO for Aerospace Bristol

In her new role as CEO of Aerospace Bristol, Sally Cordwell brings significant experience in visitor attractions and culture venues including as Interim Executive Director at Bristol Old Vic Theatre, and as Deputy CEO at SS Great Britain Trust.

Two solicitors join BPE in Cheltenham

Cheltenham-based BPE Solicitors has welcomed two solicitors to advise both businesses and individuals. Simon (below left) joins as a Partner in the Construction and Engineering team, and Senior Associate, Philip Allen (below right) joins the private wealth department.

On the May 18, the UK will celebrate National Numeracy Day.

Why is that important? Because "Good numeracy is the best protection against unemployment, low wages and poor health".

So says German mathematician Andreas Schleicher, an education policy adviser at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Schools and colleges often celebrate artistic subjects such as English and drama, but there is less recognition for young mathematicians, and that’s something that Jemma Vaughan, a director at accountants Hazlewoods would like changed.

Employers need mathematicians for their problem-solving abilities. From chartered accountant to software developer, data scientist to economist – these are also careers which attract high rates of pay.

Growing up in rural Herefordshire, Jemma recognised early that she had a maths brain. “I like a clear solution to a problem. To some people numbers are meaningless. To me they can paint a picture,” she said.

An early work placement with a local accountancy firm confirmed it and she went on to secure an accounting and finance degree from Birmingham University.