Food entrepreneur Julianne Ponan has donated hundreds of allergy-free snack bars to her local hospital where staff saved her life. Julianne, aged 30, who lives in Waltham on Thames, suffers from anaphylaxis which means she’s at risk of falling very ill suddenly from eating the wrong things and having an intense allergic reaction. She’s become known as a campaigner around food allergies. However, staff at St Peter’s Hospital Chertsey saved her when she suffered three attacks of acute pancreatitis – the first and most serious attack when she was just nine years old. “Now is the time when someone like…

Everyone is still trying to come to terms with how the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has changed the way of life and how businesses operate. The situation is beyond anything that most have experienced or ever thought likely to be facing, and it has evolved at a rapid pace. Neil Robbins, sales manager for Hills Waste Solutions said: “At Hills we have been able to respond to the immense challenges presented by this fast moving situation and remain in a position to continue to provide the essential waste management services required by the commercial, industrial and construction sectors.” “Our team of…

Following the release of the Coronavirus Financial Government Schemes, Centric HR compiled a document to help businesses understand what schemes are available to you from the government. “We understand this is a very stressful and upsetting time for all businesses so we would like to help in any way we can.” Download the document below and we hope you will find that the information will benefit you in some way.

Pandemic – It’s getting quiet out there The Coronavirus (Covid 19) has really put a spanner in the works with regards to how we go about our daily business, both in our personal and professional lives. We’re all unsettled about what’s happening in our communities, both economically and socially. In a business context, we’re having to adapt to digital meetings as opposed to face to face. Events and exhibitions are cancelled and we’re not even able to go in to the office. No one is certain how long this situation will continue. But one thing is for sure – we’re…

BCC responds to UK Finance’s update on Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme applications. Commenting on the latest UK Finance update on the number of firms successfully accessing CBILS, the BCC’s Head of Economics Suren Thiru said: “The increase in companies accessing CBILS is encouraging progress. However, the number of applications processed and approved will need to be increased significantly in what is a crunch week for firms urgently trying to access financial support. “Our Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker tells us that a concerningly high number of businesses are still finding accessing the scheme too complex and too lengthy. The government…

This month SME Today have been able to meet CEO of Quote4Energy Lynsey Jones. Lynsey has been in the energy industry for more than 2 decades. She has experience managing both SME and Strategic Brokers, covering private and public-sector customers from the SME and Industrial and Commercial sectors. She came to understand that business owners don’t want to spend hours dealing with suppliers, and the pricing complexity related to energy contracts. They just want to focus on running their business. Lynsey you are an established and successful entrepreneur – please tell us about your background…… Having personally managed more than 30 different energy…

South West companies have won contracts with the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset worth more than £1.3billion. More than £650million has already been spent with the region’s businesses and the project is creating opportunities for companies and workers, as well as reinvigorating UK industry, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has said. The South West is set to benefit by £200million each year during peak construction, according to a BEIS report, with £4billion being generated for the regional economy over the lifetime of the project. Minister for business and industry Richard Harrington MP said:…

Businesses across Swindon recently  gathered together for a day of networking and keynote speakers at this year’s South West Expo Swindon, hosted at Steam. Currently the largest business show in the UK more than 90 companies exhibited at the event. Throughout the day a variety of keynote speakers delivered presentations sharing their personal experiences and offering tips and advice within their sector of expertise. The speakers included Jackie Chappel, – the CEO of National Rail and Ambassador for Women in Business and National Charity Sue Ryder – and James Sinclair – known as “The Millionaire Clown” since starting up his first business…

COULD CUT CONGESTION AND AIR POLLUTION IN READING Employers in Reading may be charged for providing parking, if a proposed scheme is taken forward. Reading Borough Council have been asked to consider the introduction of a Workplace Parking Levy. Councillor Josh Williams, who has brought forward the charge, says it would reduce congestion and air pollution by encouraging people to car share, walk, cycle or catch the bus to work. He added the levy would raise additional revenue which could be invested in public transport. The controversial charge was introduced by Nottingham City Council in 2012 and last year it raised more than…

OXFORD LEADS OTHER AREAS FOR ‘VIBRANT ECONOMY’ The Thames Valley is home to some of the most dynamic business environments in the UK, but has pockets of social deprivation that could hinder growth, data from Grant Thornton UK LLP’s Vibrant Economy Index has revealed. Oxford was placed second out of 324 local authorities in England, scoring 108.54, following closely behind Cambridge for the national crown. While other council areas in the Thames Valley performed highly overall – with 12 of the 15 scoring in the top 20% nationally, and four appearing in the top 10 – the research also identified…

GOOD FOR THE AREA Plans to build a £500m development around Reading FC’s football ground have been approved. The proposed Royal Elm Park,which will be situated next to the Madejski Stadium, includes 600 homes, a convention centre, a 246-bed hotel, an ice rink, leisure facilities and restaurants, and could create about 1,000 jobs. The deputy council leader, Mr Page, who leads strategic environment, planning and transport, added: “I and all my colleagues on the council are concerned to ensure that it remains a package of measures that benefits the club.”

HOUSING DEVELOPER COUNTRYSIDE SELECTED Developer Countryside will deliver a multi-million pound regeneration of Maidenhead town centre and will focus on the redevelopment of York Road, West Street, Reform Road and St Cloud Way. Leader of the council Simon Dudley said: “With Crossrail arriving in 2019, we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver an ambitious redevelopment programme right at the heart of the community. “The council will retain considerable control over how the sites are developed and is committed to providing high quality homes, including genuinely affordable options.“ Construction could start as early as 2018.

Labour has today released it’s 43-page manifesto document outlining plans to re-nationalise key industries, boost worker’s rights and reverse a number of benefits cuts. Health & social care comes high on the list with £37bn pledged for the NHS, approximately £8bn for social care, a £10/hour minimum wage pledge, 30 hours of free childcare for children between the ages of two and four and university tuition fees to be abolished. The list of pledges, at a sum of £48.6bn is to be funded almost entirely by tax revenue. For individuals, those on more than £80,000 will be paying the 45p…