BUSINESS REVIEW OF THE YEAR
LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS THAT SHAPED 2022
Throughout the year , despite a tough economic climate , Swindon and Wiltshire has continued to see significant investment with many positive news stories . Here is just a summary of some of the key developments in the last 12 months , showcasing what is setting us apart as a region and making our area an attractive place for inward investment .
CHIPPENHAM CONTINUES TO BE A LOCATION OF CHOICE FOR BUSINESSES LOOKING TO EXPAND ALONG THE M4 CORRIDOR
MARCH - The Black Farmer opens new fulfilment centre at Bumpers Farm
In March , Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE , Founder of food and drink firm the Black Farmer ( famed for its gluten free sausages ), opened its new fulfilment centre at Bumpers Farm Industrial Estate in Chippenham .
The investment followed the expansion of the brand ' s online business through covid , offering a wider selection of produce from butchery , to ready meals , fruit and veg , wine and spirits .
The Black Farmer was attracted to the area because of its close proximity to the M4 and ease of regional distribution .
The move initially created six new jobs and the development of relationships with over 20 suppliers from across Wiltshire , whose produce is now for sale via the Black Farmer website .
For more info : www . theblackfarmer . com
APRIL - Huboo moves into Chippenham creating 400 new jobs
In April fast-growing Bristol-based tech firm Huboo opened a new warehouse facility at St Modwen Park in Chippenham in response to growing market demand .
Huboo helps businesses grow by taking care of their ecommerce order fulfilment needs with sites across the UK and EU .
Huboo chose Chippenham for its new 106,000 sq ft facility due to its transport links to surrounding cities and major ports such as Bristol and Southampton . Employment openings included warehouse hub managers , hub supervisors , site managers , as well as logistics and business improvement roles .
For more info : www . huboo . com
MAY - The UK ’ s first business-led cyber centre opened in Chippenham
In May the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership opened Business Cyber Centre ( BCC ) on Greenways Business Park in Chippenham thanks to the support of a £ 3.7 million grant from the Government ’ s Getting Building Fund .
Learning from the best cyber initiatives around the world – specifically , Be ’ er Sheba in Israel – the BCC is based on a partnership of defence , security , academia , and entrepreneurial expertise .
Working in partnership with the University of Bath ,
Defence Digital and MoD Corsham , the aim is to create cyber confidence and support SMEs to grow .
The BCC building consists of 21,000 sq ft across three floors with space to rent specifically for cyber businesses as well as general conferencing space and project rooms for hire . It is home to the Swindon and Wiltshire Cyber Cluster ( SWCC ), facilitating exclusive networking and contract opportunities for cyber professionals .
For more info : www . bcc . co . uk
“ The BCC is designed specifically for SMEs to use as a base to scale up within the £ 5 billion a year UK cyber market .” Paul Moorby MBE , SWLEP Chair
JULY - Salisbury River Park construction begins
In July , a project to better protect homes and businesses in the city from flooding got underway .
This £ 27 million transformational scheme aims to reduce the flood risk to over 350 homes and businesses in Salisbury . It is also set to create two hectares of enhanced riverside habitat for the benefit of wildlife , removing obstructions to allow fish migration to continue upstream and create 13 hectares of high-quality public open space . As part of the project the city ’ s foot and cycle paths are being enhanced , benefiting residents and visitors alike .
The Salisbury River Park project is a collaboration between the Environment Agency , Wiltshire Council , Salisbury City Council and Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership . It is anticipated that the main construction works will be completed by spring 2024 .
For more info : www . salisburyriverparkphase1 . com
18 www . tbeswindonandwilts . co . uk