Chamber of Commerce invited to draft Swindon's 50-year economic plan

Swindon Chamber of Commerce has been charged with drafting a strategic economic strategy for the next 50 years, after challenging Swindon Borough Council's limited 15-year vision.

Chamber of Commerce president Les Durrant told members of the council's Growing the Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee that while the borough had a plan for economic growth over the next decade, neighbouring towns and cities were being far more ambitious.

Swindon's Recycling Technologies secures €10 million investment

A Swindon company whose innovative manufacturing process can turn plastic packaging back into oil has secured €10 million of investment.

The investment in Recycling Technologies comes from Neste, the world’s leading provider of renewable diesel, renewable jet fuel, and an expert in delivering drop-in renewable chemical solutions, and Mirova, a pioneer impact investor in the natural capital space.

Museum snaps up Amesbury industrial unit

Unit 211, Beacon Centre, Solstice Park, Amesbury

Wiltshire Museum has acquired the freehold of a modern unit at the popular Beacon Centre development on the giant Solstice Park at Amesbury.

Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, which owns and runs the museum in Devizes, snapped up the property in a deal brokered by property consultancy Myddelton & Major.

A303 upgrade gets go-ahead in government's coronavirus-centered post-Brexit budget

A controversial scheme to tunnel a two-mile section of the heavily-congested A303 near Stonehenge has been green-lit in today's Budget.

Delivering his first Budget to the House of Commons today, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak pledged £27 billion to be spent on road schemes between 2020 and 2025, and singled out the £1.9 billion A303 scheme.

BCS names new president

A managing partner at business advisory firm Deloitte has been inaugurated as the new president of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

Rebecca George is Deloitte’s managing partner for government and public services in North and South Europe (NSE) and has worked in IT for over 30 years, focussing on IT transformation.

Pride pop-up shop returns to The Brunel

A pop-up shop that celebrates sexuality and gender diversity is returning to The Brunel shopping centre in Swindon next month.

Swindon & Wiltshire Pride will open their doors on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 April. This will be the third time that Pride have had a temporary shop at The Brunel and the local charity decided to make another return visit following the extremely positive feedback they received previously.

Financial advisor to address chamber breakfast

Independent financial advisor Sam Harris will address the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce business networking meeting next week.

Having spent his working life dispensing mortgage advice, Sam joined Calne-based Chilvester Financial last year, and now heads up the firm's Marlborough office. He is also a committee member of Marlborough Chamber of Commerce.