Business News

The new voice of business support in the South West

Two of the most successful independent business support companies in the South West have announced they are to merge. The new organisation is on track to become one of the most influential and effective providers of business support and economic development services in the UK.

Effective from April 2008, Business West and Great Western Enterprise (GWE), based in Bristol and Swindon, will join forces to become a single company – GWE Business West - with a turnover of £10m. Strongly placed to compete for service contracts, the new company’s vision will be to effectively represent the views of its business clients and members, at regional and national public and private sector forums, as well as in Westminster and Brussels. Its remit will also develop and deliver an integrated range of support services that accurately reflect the needs of today’s UK businesses.

Nicky Morrison, GWE Chair and future joint Chair of GWE Business West, said: “At a time when the business support industry continues to change rapidly, we have found ourselves operating in an increasingly competitive arena which now attracts more and more interest from large multi nationals. Government is looking for ways to simplify and increase the cost effectiveness of its business support contracts and public sector organisations, such as the South West Regional Development Agency and the Government Office for the South West, favour a regional focus.

“This merger is therefore extremely timely and will increase our effectiveness and ability to compete and deliver, as well as broaden our collective geographical impact. It is an exciting opportunity for both organisations, as well as for the businesses which we support and represent,” said Mr Morrison.

Business West president, Colin Skellett, will also be joint Chair. He is particularly keen to see an even greater involvement from local Chambers of Commerce: “It is right that much of the work of the Initiative Team is strategic – looking ahead 20 or more years to consider the big issues. However, at the same time we recognise that individual Chambers have an important part to play, not only in dealing with their own matters of detail but also in ensuring their members’ views are carried through and represented in the regional and indeed national settings.

“There is vibrant Chamber activity in Bath but I’d like to see the Bristol Chamber also achieving a higher profile. The new company will need advisory groups on a range of subjects and I hope we will have input from right across the area,” he said.

As well as its vision to establish itself as one of the UK’s leading business support service providers, GWE Business West has an ambition to become the most influential chamber membership-based representative business organisation in the South West.

 

 

ff,

Coventry, Croydon,