The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 30: Winter 2023/24 | Page 55

BUSINESS REVIEW OF THE YEAR

2023 has been a whirlwind year , with renewed optimism amongst the business community for a brighter future after a turbulent ( to say the least ) few years .

This year saw slight positive growth in the first half of the year ( 0.3 % Q1 and 0.2 % Q2 ) but Q3 saw stagnation as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite . Whilst Brexit and the pandemic are becoming distant memories for many , their effects among the business community will continue to be felt in the national picture for years to come .

Locally though , how have businesses and organisations across Bath and Somerset fared this year , and what might 2024 have in store ? We spoke to a cross-section of our community to get a snapshot of the ups and downs of the market as it stands .

How was your year ?

James : Topsy-turvy I think is the best description , since we were still feeling the after-effects of Covid and talk of a recession – which we avoided – in Q1 and Q2 . Businesses were reticent to commit to long-term marketing strategies as they tested the waters in a still-turbulent financial climate . But outlooks improved when there was better-than-expected growth in the economy in the first half of the year , and Clearly billed our best ever month in September , since we started out almost ten years ago .

Ian : It ’ s been a great year for the firm which this year celebrated its 35th anniversary , and also for our Bath office in particular where we have welcomed a number of new people to the team . New recruits include Tax Manager Zoe Chandler and General Practice Director Karen Williams , as well as a new cohort of trainee accountants .

Lynne : There are around 10,000 vulnerable children across our region and this year we are proud to have worked with 4,422 of them . We have provided 1,725 hours of classroom support and crucially , at a time when children ’ s activity levels are plummeting , we have provided 2,575 hours of sport at 49 community sites . We have worked with 252 young people with special needs and provided 2,399 meals during the school holidays for children living in poverty .

Jim : 2024 was a year like no other for the simple reason that my wife and I welcomed a little person into the world . The first 11 months have been a blend of utter joy and everpresent stress . My wife and I both run our own businesses , which is both a blessing and a curse . On one hand , the usual ups and downs of entrepreneurship are magnified , and on the other , we have freedom over our schedules which others don ’ t . My biggest win was an incredible two days spent coaching a business team overlooking Chew Valley Lake . The connectedness of the team , the depth of the work and the amazing view made a really special experience .

What have been your successes ?

Ian : We ’ ve been involved in some exciting and meaningful projects , from achieving the ESG Mark accreditation for our focus on improving Environmental , Social and Governance matters , to hosting events for local charities and supporting local causes . This fits in perfectly with our philosophy of ‘ helping you thrive ’ – which is something we strive to achieve for our clients , our people and our communities . This year has also seen a continued focus on our client experience – our clients rate us an impressive 9.2 / 10 when asked if they would recommend our services to a friend .

James : Clearly won the PRCA Dare Award for best mid-sized consultancy in the South West for the third consecutive year . To do so three years in a row was a real tribute to the team ’ s creativity and hard work through a difficult few years . Otherwise , we were privileged to support a nationwide suicide prevention initiative over the summer , the Baton of Hope , that was recognised by the Prime Minister for its efforts in spreading a message of hope to those affected by suicide .

Nathan : Our project Skara Brae has been honoured as a regional winner in the prestigious LABC Building Excellence Awards 2023 for ‘ Best Residential Conversion or Alteration to an Existing Home ’. This recognition highlights our commitment to excellence in the construction and design industry . With an outstanding number of entries to the awards this year , we are thrilled at the accolade . Our team is elated to have secured this regional award and to have made it to the shortlisted finalists for the Grand Finals in London in early 2024 .

Looking ahead to 2024 ...

Jim : I try not to pay too close attention to the prevailing business climate , instead putting the onus on me . I am a small business dealing with a low volume , high value service , meaning I don ’ t need many yes ’ s to have a viable business . Often , prevailing sentiment is a self-fulfilling prophecy I find . Next year , after living in Tenerife for the month of January ( can ’ t wait !), I plan to launch a very exciting , and still top secret leadership programme . Stay tuned .

James : 2024 will be Clearly ’ s tenth year and I ’ m confident it ’ ll be our best ever . I don ’ t think we ’ re through the market uncertainty quite yet , but there is light on the horizon in terms of a willingness of clients and prospects to invest in marketing and communications strategies . The key is that campaigns can be impactful without breaking the budget , and the team at Clearly can advise on using assets that you may not even realise you have to tell your organisation ’ s story .

Lynne : As we enter our 21st year we are proud to have supported tens of thousands of children and young people who need emotional , practical , and physical support . We could never achieve this incredible impact without collaboration , without working together , and Bath Rugby Foundation is proud to partner with Bath Rugby , with local authorities , colleges , schools , businesses , and the many charities that make our region a better place . Although we are disappointed that Bath is still ranked among the most unequal cities in the UK , we are not waiting for politicians or policies to change , we are calling on the amazing people in our community to join us and create change .

Peter : With an impending general election , there are many thinking of what legislation they would like to see introduced – and not just politicians ! With my business and social enterprise hat firmly on , I would extend freedom of expression protection so that it would be automatically unfair to dismiss someone for expressing an opinion , so long as that opinion and its manner of expression were worthy of respect in a democratic society . For example , those who express views either for or against Palestinian or Israeli rights can be subjected to severe criticism by someone with opposing views , and employers often discourage expression of those views because they don ’ t want their staff to be offended . While I would not advocate an unlimited “ right to offend ”, I think there needs to be protection for employers whose staff have taken offence at the expression of a view worthy of respect in a democratic society .

Ian : As we approach 2024 , I ’ m looking forward to continuing to help our clients thrive , by providing an excellent breadth and depth of tax , accountancy and advisory services in Bath and beyond . I wish you all a happy Christmas and a prosperous 2024 . My team and I look forward to working with you and for you in the new year . We ’ re always here to discuss any concerns or requirements you have .

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