Profits fall at Meggitt but recovery is on the cards

Bournemouth-based Meggitt has revealed that pre-tax profits have gone down by five per cent following a “challenging year.” However, the aerospace engineering said it expects further growth in 2011 as markets continue to recover.

PHS acquires Filestore for southern push

FileStore – a data and document management business – has been acquired by PHS, a Caerphilly workplace services group, as part of the company’s expansion into the South of England.

Uniq approves £400m pension deficit plan

Chilled convenience food group Uniq, which has a site in Evercreech, has approved a proposed restructure that aims to resolve a £400m pension deficit. The hole will be filled by putting most of the company’s shares into the hands of the pension trustees.

Swindon office plan gets go-ahead

Plans to change a residential site into an office development have been given the green light. McAleer & Rushe’s have been given planning permission to build a 95,000 sq ft office block on Fleming Way in Swindon.

Target Corporate Finance moves into Bristol

Target Corporate Finance has expanded into Bristol with the opening of offices in Temple Quay. The Bath-based firm advises on mergers, acquisitions, disposals and management buyouts.

Plymouth entrepreneur opens 50th store

Home, leisure and garden retailer The Range – owned by Plymouth-based entrepreneur Chris Dawson – has opened its 50th store.

South West house prices fall in 2010

There has been an annual property price decrease of 0.4 per cent in the South West, taking the average property value in the region to £175,995. That's according to data from the Land Registry's 'House Price Index'.

EDBF responds to LEP draft prospectus

The East Devon Business Forum has called for the proposed new Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership to focus on rural areas as much as urban centres.

Marston appointed as vice-chancellor

The University of Gloucestershire has appointed Stephen Marston as its new vice-chancellor. Marston is currently director general for higher education funding and reform within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Help retail deliver growth, urges BRC

The British Retailers Consortium (BRC) has called on the Chancellor for measures that will promote a "retail-led recovery". The BRC have a released 20-point plan for George Osborne ahead of his Budget announcement on 23 March.

Dealmakers Wrap: The outlook for 2011

Jonathan Gregory, partner at Matrix Private Equity Partners - winners of the Insider Dealmakers Awards for ‘private equity house of the year’ comments on the outlook for 2011.

Talking Point: Not appealed your business rates? Chances are you’re paying too much

Businesses continue to be faced with mounting costs in all areas. But Mark Rigby, chief executive of business rates specialist CVS, argues that too many are happy to take the Valuation Office Agency’s business rates estimates at face value – which could be a huge mistake.

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