The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 8: Summer 2018 | Page 5

BUSINESS NEWS
Meet the most inspiring
companies in Bath & beyond...
It’s official!
Bath businesses have made the grade in the
latest report by the London Stock Exchange on
the ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain.’
Published annually, the report looks at
the fastest-growing and most dynamic
small and medium sized businesses (SMEs)
nationwide and looks at those which are
outperforming their industry peers and
showing consistent growth.
Of the South West companies listed,
several are from Bath and Somerset
including:
• 1pm plc – of Bath
• Fiba Tech Industries Ltd - Waterlip
• Francis Flower Ltd - Gurney Slade
• London & Country Mortgages - Bath
• Mirage Inks Ltd - Frome
One of the those listed is 1pm plc based
in St James House, Lower Bristol Road,
Bath. The company, which was set up
in 2006, is an independent provider of
finance facilities to the SME sector.
Chief executive office Ian Smith said:
“As a business which provides finance to
UK SMEs in the form of equipment leases,
loans and invoice discounting products
and as a Bath-based SME ourselves, we are
delighted to be included in the list of the
1000 most inspirational SME companies in
the UK.
“There is a clear funding need among
Ian Smith, Chief Executive, 1pm plc
smaller SMEs, which are the engine room
of the UK economy and we are proud to
meet that unmet need.”
The report (which can be downloaded
as a pdf) examines the opportunities and
challenges facing SMEs and looks for
sectors and trends that will shape the
future of the UK economy.
Some key findings are:
• Last year the UK had a record number of
start-ups.
• Average annual revenue growth for
the South West was 62 per cent –
nationwide the average growth is 71
per cent.
• The creative industries drive exports
worth more than £21bn a year.
• The food and drink sector is the biggest
manufacturing sector in the UK with an
annual turnover of £97bn.
• The UK technology sector attracts more
investment into the sector than any
other European country.
You can find the full report and download
it here: http://ow.ly/bbF430kadIo
THE BATH FESTIVAL CELEBRATES
70 YEARS WITH LANDMARK EVENT
Bath’s flagship multi-arts event, The Bath Festival celebrated its 70th
anniversary with a line-up of more than 180 events over 17 days this May.
From 11th-27th May some of the world’s leading
writers, musicians and cultural figures descended on
Bath for a festival to remember. Well-known rock and
pop bands as well as classical, jazz and folk music, was
heard alongside contemporary fiction, intelligent debate,
science, history, politi cs and poetry, with concerts,
discussions and collaborations and many free events
across the city.
The Bath Festival finale weekend included headliner
Paloma Faith, special guest Alison Moyet and Sophie
Ellis-Bextor, while Robert Plant and the Sensational
Space Shifters brought the festival to a Sunday night
close following sets by Imelda May and Midge Ure.
A combined crowd of 16,000 people gathered at
Bath’s Recreation Ground in the heart of the city for the
finale weekend. Ian Stockley, chief executive of The Bath
Festival said: “This was very much a first for The Bath
Festival in its special anniversary weekend, but audiences
on both days seem to have had a wonderful time, we’ve
been really heartened by the response from the people
of Bath, and we’ll certainly look at bringing it back for
next year.”
Pablo Janczur, director of event partner the Orchard
Media and Events Group, twice UK Regional promoter of
the Year, added: “We were able to secure a programme
of high calibre artists and the Rec location provides such
a beautiful setting that I think it went very well for a
first time event. We really enjoyed working closely with
The Bath Festival team and are really looking forward to
working with them again on next year’s event.”
@Bathfestivals
FIRST CLASS
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THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2018
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