The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 47: Feb/March 2020 | Page 3

CONTENTS THE TEAM Editor & founder Anita Jaynes [email protected] 01793 847966 10 26 23 Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership - Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week The Techies Swindon & Wiltshire’s Tech Awards - Have you entered yet? In Profile Michael Austen, Big Van World Editorial support Nick Batten [email protected] Ben Carey [email protected] Special Features Fiona Scott [email protected] Motoring Contributor Geoff Maxted www.drivewrite.co.uk Design Juicy Designs www.juicy-designs.co.uk Artwork Studio Creative Services www.studio-cs.co.uk Printed by Acorn Press www.acornpress.co.uk On the cover Social Media Influencer, Carl Reader Advertising Sales Sian Swift Business Development Manager [email protected] T: 07710 566 145 REGULARS 04 Business News 12 Finance 23 In Profile 28 Technology KEY STATISTICS Readership: 15,000 18 A to Z Guide to Business in Swindon & Wiltshire 27 A new decade for digital transformation 15 33 Is it me? 34 10 Minutes with… Lauren Webb Z 2 A 18 36 Positive Business 38 Connect Follow us on Social @TBESW The Business Exchange South West tbeswindonandwilts businessexchangesw ©The Business Exchange South West Limited 2020. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that adverts and articles appear correctly, The Business Exchange South West Limited cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of this publication. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editor. All rights reserved. This publication is copyrighted and no part of this publication may be used or reproduced without the written permission of The Business Exchange South West Limited. PEOPLE FEATURES Cover story: Social Media Influencers: The value of Social Media influence in business A to Z Guide to Business in Swindon & Wiltshire Our ‘little black book’ of local companies to help you do business. EDITOR’S NOTE It’s been a great start to the year with lots of positive news for our business community. Turn to page 4 to find out how the new MINI electric is hoped to be partly made in Swindon and on page 5 discover the winners of the South West Business & Community Awards 2020. On page 15 we put the spotlight on social media influencer Carl Reader; discover the business benefits of embracing your inner celebrity. In this issue we give you our ‘little black book’ of local companies and organisations to help you do business. With such a diverse range of local talent, why look anywhere else when building your supplier network? We interviewed local entrepreneur, Michael Austen of Big Van World for this edition’s In Profile. Turn to page 23 to find out about this growing Wiltshire business. If you’re looking to network in the coming months, why not attend one of our Big Breakfasts at Cumberwell Park? (see page 38) I hope to see you there. Happy reading. Anita Jaynes E: [email protected] T: 01793 847966 Our audience: 56% business owner/ director level 44% partner, manager or senior executive More news at: www.tbeswindonandwilts.co.uk and www.tbebathandsomerset.co.uk THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2020 3