TEDxBristol entered its second day today after a successful launch yesterday when a packed Colston Hall heard presentations on topics ranging from surviving the robot revolution to controversial medical research on ME.

The event – the largest of its kind in the UK – has brought together a range of top speakers around the theme of Dare to Disrupt. 

Yesterday’s sessions were collected together under the heading ‘Disruptive bodies and disruptive minds’ while today’s tackled issues relating to ‘Disruptive innovation and disruptive planet’.

TEDxBristol curator and creative director Mel Rodrigues wants the event to reflect Bristol’s reputation as a world-leading city of ideas and innovation – and yesterday’s opening session lived up to the billing.

The first speaker, Mena Fombo, pictured – who describes herself as a ‘British Nigerian Bristolian through and through’ – kicked things off with her witty, but hard-hitting, talk No! You cannot touch my hair!

Based on her own experiences and research, the presentation tackled the issue of uninvited hair touching – particular black women’s hair – in the context of race, linking it back to human zoos.

“Some of the women who I spoke to said it was like being petted at a zoo,” she said. “We need to call it out more.” 

In complete contrast, the second speaker, serial tech entrepreneur Charles Radclyffe, looked at the rise of robots in the workplace – saying that, contrary to popular opinion, using them in jobs now done by humans would be good for people.

It would free many to do other kinds of work that they enjoyed, he argued while their use in essential industries such as food production could, in theory, reduce the cost of food to almost nothing and increase yields to feed the everyone in the world.

Also speaking yesterday was Esther Crawley, professor of Child Health at the University of Bristol, who is passionate about developing more effective – but controversial to some – treatments for children whose lives have been devastated by Chronic Fatigue and ME.

She explained why she decided to continue with the research, despite the immense pressure she has been put under to stop, and what drives medical research pioneers in the face of threats and attacks.

Speakers today include Bristol green activist Natalie Fee, who will looking at ‘Changing the world: One flush at a time’, and Bex Baxter, who will describe her campaign to end the workplace taboo around periods.

All TEDxBristol talks are being mind-mapped by Bristol-based Mind Doodle.

Founded by tech start up FlexiDB, the Mind Doodle team is showcasing their creative planning, thinking and mind-mapping software engineered to be used by teams and individuals.

The product has been developed to encourage creative thinking for a range of uses including reports, essays, business and project plans.

A free online tool, it aims to enhance the way the world thinks by disrupting the usual techniques of thinking, working and collaborating. The software allows users to share powerful thoughts and ideas in real time, with a live chat for discussion.

By mind mapping TEDxBristol, Mind Doodle is helping to amplify the powerful ideas that are explored by the speakers. Attendees, online viewers and global audiences can watch the mind maps develop in parallel to the talks.  

The TEDxBristol mind maps will be available at https://tedxbristol.minddoodle.com

As part of the initiative, Mind Doodle is also supporting TEDxBristol’s Community Partnership Programme so that ideas from the event may be shared by, and accessible to a wider audience.

The programme allocates around 260 places to diverse community groups from Bristol and the West. Community groups benefiting from tickets include Easton Cowgirls football team, ACTA community theatre group and Rife Magazine, as well as refugee community groups and school children.

Bristol-headquartered law firm Burges Salmon is also supporting TEDxBristol, with many of its trainee lawyers taking part in the event as volunteers. The firm has also provided pro bono legal services to the event, including helping register it as a company and protecting its intellectual property.

Foot Anstey, the South West law firm with an office in Bristol, has recruited Patrick Somers as a new partner in its expanding corporate team.

Patrick, pictured, has considerable experience advising on complex corporate finance transactions for a wide range of multi-national businesses, financial institutions and major UK corporates, having previously held the role of corporate partner at global firms DLA Piper and Berwin Leighton Paisner. 

He has also held senior in-house positions as general counsel of Transco and then FTSE Top 30 Lattice Group following the demerger of Transco from BG Group.

Additionally, Patrick has experience as a non-executive director of a captive insurance company, an intellectual property holding company, a LNG storage business and a private engineering group.

Throughout his career he has developed specialist sector experience in infrastructure, energy and utilities as well as extensive experience in private equity and general merger and acquisition (M&A) activity.

Foot Anstey partner and head of corporate Chris Worrell said: “Patrick is a fantastic addition to Foot Anstey’s team, bringing skills and expertise that our clients, both in the UK and further afield demand.

His wealth of experience gained working with complex and international businesses across our core sectors is exciting and valuable. He’s a great asset and we look forward to working closely with him.”

Patrick is the latest addition to the firm’s growing corporate team. International corporate expert Mark Pinder joined in the summer while Emily Settle was promoted to corporate partner.

Bristol Law Society staged its annual awards dinner recently at the Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre with more than 300 guests from across the West of England’s legal sector. 

Distinguished guests included the Lord-Lieutenant of Bristol Peaches Golding and the High Sheriff of Bristol Anthony Brown.

Veale Wasbrough Vizards (VWV) landed the large law firm of the year title while Barcan+Kirby’s Fiona Dabell won the coveted Junior Lawyer of the Year prize and colleague Samantha Castle scooped the strongly contested Lawyer of the Year Award.

The firm also won the CSR Firm of the Year Award for its work with dementia charity Bristol Dementia Action Alliance (BDAA).

The President’s Outstanding Achievement Award was presented posthumously to widely respected family solicitor Julie Exton, a former president of the Association of Her Majesty’s District Judges, who died recently aged 59.

Pictured below: The team from AMD Solicitors collect the Law Firm of the Year (up to 15 partners) award, with Bristol Law Society president Becky Moyce, right 

Pictured below: The team of the year award went to the Litigant in Person (LiP) Service 

Pictured below: Albion Chambers with their award for Chambers of the Year

Pictured below: The Barrister of the Year award went to Natasha Dzameh from St John’s Chambers

Pictured below: The Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year trophy went to Beverley Watkins of Watkins Solicitors incorporating Brain Sinnott & CoPictured below: Samantha Castle of Barcan + Kirby won the Lawyer of the Year awardPictured below: Jerry Fowler of Bristol County Court’s civil and justice centre with his Support Team Member of the Year award

VWV Harbour HR, the specialist human resources arm of Bristol-headquartered law firm Veale Wasbrough Vizards (VWV), has been appointed by The Bar Council to provide HR expertise to its members.

Included are all barristers and chambers in England and Wales, which means all members of the Bar will be able to access VWV’s HR support consultancy services.  

The Bar Council will market the HR consultancy services to its entire 16,000-strong membership.

Founded in 1894, the Bar Council is the representative body of the Bar of England and Wales.

The announcement comes on the back of the VWV’s recent appointment by The Bar Council to provide debt recovery services to its members.

VWV Harbour HR provides day-to-day HR support to clients along with on-site support for larger HR projects such as consultation exercises.

The team also carries out investigations, offers support for disciplinary and grievance panels, carries out HR audits, prepares precedent contracts and employment manuals which are updated annually, and provides training on a range of HR topics.

VWV Harbour HR complements work carried out by VWV’s employment law team, which has 29 experienced lawyers.

Bar Council commercial director Dr Isabel DiVanna said: “Chambers often tell us that HR is one area where they feel additional insight is needed, as it’s easy to get things wrong – and costly when this happens.

“VWV is a reputable firm and trusted Bar Council partner, so we anticipate this additional provision being of particular value to our colleagues in chambers’ management.” 

VWV HR consultant Caitlin Anniss, pictured, added: “Providing HR support to Bar Council members will enable us to offer access to experienced HR consultants who are on hand to help with both day-to-day queries and larger projects, where there may not be the HR resource in chambers to deal with these issues.

“We look forward to providing this HR support to our professional colleagues at The Bar Council and to helping them manage their day-to-day HR challenges in a cost effective and flexible way.”

Innovative law firm Temple Bright continues to develop its practice within the domain of the region’s large traditional firms.

The Bristol and London firm has been advising North Somerset’s prestigious Churchill Academy on two significant construction projects, for which the Ofsted ‘outstanding’ school received almost £5m in government funding.

The academy, founded in 1957, recently commissioned the Alan Turing Business, Computing and Social Science Block as part of a wider project to decommission some of the 60-year-old buildings still in use at the school. The block is due to be completed at the end of this school year. 

In February it also received planning permission and funding for a second, still more ambitious project – a £3.9m, 14,000 sq ft science and technology building, including 12 laboratories and two food technology classrooms. This will replace a mock Tudor building dating from 1957 and is due to be completed in December next year.

The school said: “Churchill Academy is continuing its quest to replace the tired and dilapidated 1950s Tudor building, which provides teaching and learning space for over 2,000 students over the course of their two-week timetable.”

Temple Bright construction partner Julia Davenport-Cooper, pictured, added: “It has been a privilege to work with the Churchill Academy on these two exciting projects, which are central to its vision for the future.

“This is a high-flying institution which deserves state-of-the-art facilities that match the quality of the education it offers to students. This goal has been at the forefront of the whole team’s mind throughout the process.”

Temple Bright was established in Bristol in 2010 with a pioneering partner-only business model enabled by technology. Within two years the firm grew from the initial three to 15 partners and was named Regional Law Firm of the Year by the Bristol Law Society, before launching a second office in London on its third birthday in March 2013.

The initial focus of the London office, located in the vibrant Tech City district north of the City, was the capital’s buzzing technology scene, including start-ups and investors. From there the sector emphasis expanded to include other industries flourishing in London, such as real estate, leisure and media.

The firm now has 56 partners spread evenly across its two offices, with both teams offering clients a broad range of commercial legal advice across diverse sectors. There are no junior lawyers and Temple Bright has deliberately chosen not to develop personal practice areas such as wills, matrimonial and residential property, preferring to maintain a commercial focus like that of the City firms which are its main inspiration.

Co-founder Tim Summers said: “Our appointment to advise the Churchill Academy for these significant construction projects is a vindication of our selective and careful ‘City’ strategy, as to recruitment, marketing and firm management.

“It demonstrates the breadth and depth of Temple Bright’s practice and sector expertise at the seven-year point, as well as the versatility of our partner-only business model.

“Through steady growth and a culture of professionalism we are now in a position to take on a very broad range of work which has generally been the preserve of traditional City and large regional firms, with whom we are competing successfully in the South West, in London and beyond.”

Bristol firms are to get the chance to learn more about the business case behind using Fairtrade products at an event later this month.

The workshop, staged by Bristol Fairtrade Network at the Future Economy Centre on Temple Way, will give help and inspiration on ways to source Fairtrade products in the workplace and the benefits to staff recruitment and retention and company reputation. 

It also serve as an introduction to new, revised criteria for the 2018 South West Fairtrade Business Awards as well as revealing a new category.

The awards, which have been staged for five years, recognise organisations across the region for their commitment to using and promoting fairly traded products, and embedding Fairtrade values.

Some of the winners of last year’s awards will be on hand at the meeting to share their Fairtrade experiences.  

A Bristol Fairtrade Network spokeswoman said: “In a time of uncertainty for the future of international trade, Fairtrade will continue to provide certainty for producers and suppliers, particularly the smaller ones who often are marginalised from the global trading debate.

“While buying Fairtrade products for your business supports those producers and helps make their future more secure, it can also help your business – no matter what size.  

“Using Fairtrade products can form part of your CSR (corporate social responsibility) policy and activities, boost your profile in your community and encourage staff to get involved in sustainable activities and practices.”

The workshop is on Thursday November 23 between 9.45am and midday in The Oak Room, Future Economy Centre, 1 Temple Way, Bristol, BS2 0BY.

The event is free, but booking is essential at https://ftba23nov17.eventbrite.com

Last year’s South West Fairtrade Business Award winners included Bristol law firm Lyons Davidson, which secured the title of the South West’s Best Fairtrade Business, along with The Greenhouse Bed & Breakfast in Southville (Best Fairtrade Accommodation Award), Minuteman Press (Best Fairtrade Office) and Zoe Robinson of The Good Wardrobe, who landed the title of Best Fairtrade Advocate.

The University of Bristol and UWE shared the Best University award.

Pictured: The 2017 South West Fairtrade Business Awards. Photo by Jon Craig

West of England firms’ domestic sales and orders have grown at their fastest rate for two years, while business confidence is its highest since the Brexit referendum, according to the latest survey from Business West.

The organisation, the largest business membership group in the region, said the findings showed local businesses had shrugged off concerns over the impact of Brexit. 

However, while business confidence is at a 12-month high, it is markedly down on levels recorded before the summer of 2016, the findings show.

The survey also found that subdued workforce growth over the past three months indicated a wider uncertainty and a tightening of the labour market. Some 63% of the firms surveyed that tried to recruit over the past three months were reporting difficulties in finding suitable staff.

Business West managing director Phil Smith, pictured, said: “This time last year, many firms were still reeling from the Brexit vote, prompting some of the worst results ever posted in our local business survey. 

“But although Brexit negotiations are underway, the numerous practical questions which firms across the region have been asking about our trading relationship with Europe beyond March 2019 remain unanswered.

“Amid the ongoing Brexit psychodrama in Westminster and Brussels, businesses with crucial investment and recruitment decisions to make want to see progress with trade talks before the end of the year, in addition to assurances of a meaningful transition period.

“At the same time, it’s vital that more is done to help firms at home-not least by tackling long-standing skill shortages and a legacy of infrastructure investment that continues to hold business back.”

Bristol-based national law firm TLT has opened the new top floor extension to its landmark One Redcliff Street headquarters – giving staff and visitors an unrivalled bird’s eye view of the city. 

TLT’s major refurbishment of its space at One Redcliff Street, pictured below, which started just over a year ago, is due to be finished next summer.

The opening of the new 15^th floor – an additional 10,000 sq ft storey which has been added to the 1960s building – has given the expanding law firm a new client suite with some of the best 360-degree panoramic views across the city and beyond.

In addition to the extension – a feat of engineering in its own right – the project also includes a full refurbishment of TLT’s work space, new lifts and a redesign of the extensive lobby area with a new entrance onto Victoria Street replacing the two existing side entrances.

The move is enabling TLT to introduce new areas to promote more agile and collaborative ways of working, including break-out and café areas, quiet rooms as well as meeting rooms with the latest technology to enable teams based across its offices to work together.

The refit also bolsters the building’s sustainability credentials with rooftop solar panels secondary glazing, new LED lighting and improved temperature control, as well as new facilities for cyclists in the basement.

When the work is completed TLT will occupy around 90,000 sq ft on the top floors of the building, which is managed by Aberdeen Asset Management (AAM). The project is being managed by JLL, with building work carried out by ISG and the refit designed by Bath-based interior design firm Interaction.

TLT – one of Bristol’s ‘big three’ law firms alongside Burges Salmon and Osborne Clark – signed a new 10-year lease at One Redcliff Street – its UK headquarters – in January 2016. The agreement was one of central Bristol’s largest single office lettings for many years and ended months of speculation on where in the city the firm would choose for its new HQ.

In the end the firm decided staying put but ‘upcycling’ its office made more sense – particularly as staff like being close to the city centre, Broadmead and Cabot Circus shopping areas and Castle Park.

New developments nearby such as Finzels Reach and Redcliff Quarter, which will both include retail elements, will also bring a new vibrancy to the area.

One Redcliff Street was built in 1964 as the headquarters of paper and packaging manufacturer Robinsons. At the time it was Bristol’s tallest building and was roundly criticised for its ‘brutalist’ concrete facade and the fact it towered over the nearby historic buildings in Redcliffe and Castle Park.

The building, still one of the city’s tallest, is now owned by SWIP (Scottish Widows Investment Partnership). Other tenants including software group SmartFocus, and Amey Rail.

Bristol’s ethical organisations – large and small – are being invited to enter the annual South West Fairtrade Business Awards.

Now in their sixth year, the awards recognise the contribution that businesses, organisations and institutes in the region make in support of Fairtrade by buying certified Fairtrade products for the workplace and raising awareness of ethical trade issues amongst their staff, customers and peers.

The awards are free to enter and will culminate in a high-profile ceremony in March next year.

Organisations flexing their ethical muscles to meet the award criteria will be rewarded with bronze, silver or gold certificates, e-logos, a year-long online listing and a free ticket to the ceremony.

Winners of each category will receive their own Bristol Blue Glass trophy to take away with them.

Lucy Gatward, marketing manager at Bristol-based ethical food retailer Better Food – which has held a South West Fairtrade Business Award for several consecutive years – said: “Winning a South West Fairtrade Business Award has been a brilliant way of getting the word out about our commitment to ethical retail.

“We know our customers choose to shop with us because of our values, and the Award is a clear demonstration of what Better Food stands for.”

A new category of Best South West Fairtrade Product has been added. The category is open to any company in the South West making a Fairtrade-certified product and will be awarded to the applicant that the judges feel makes best use of Fairtrade ingredients and marketing to create a special or innovative ethical product.

This brings the total number of categories to eight, including existing awards for Best Office, Single and Multiple Retailer, Accommodation, University, Eatery and Advocate. Best South West Fairtrade Business 2018 will be selected from these categories.

Organisations wanting to find out more about the awards can attend a free workshop in Bristol on the morning of November 23.

Attendees will learn more about Fairtrade and discover ways to use and promote Fairtrade in the workplace, as well as having the opportunity to sample locally made Fairtrade products.

Danni Rochman, coordinator of Bristol Fairtrade Network, which administrates the awards, said: “This is a really exciting time for Fairtrade in the South West – the region is a hotbed for organisations going that extra mile to put ethical trade at the heart of their business. The workshop will bring together like-minded businesses to share ideas about how to get the most of supporting Fairtrade in the workplace, and connect with local companies making and supplying Fairtrade products.”

Last year’s South West Fairtrade Business Award winners included Bristol law firm Lyons Davidson, which secured the title of the South West’s Best Fairtrade Business, along with The Greenhouse Bed & Breakfast in Southville (Best Fairtrade Accommodation Award), Minuteman Press (Best Fairtrade Office) and Zoe Robinson of The Good Wardrobe, who landed the title of Best Fairtrade Advocate.

The University of Bristol and UWE shared the Best University award.

Bristol Business News is media partner of these prestigious awards for the fifth year running.

To find out more about the Awards and how to enter, visit: https://www.bristolfairtrade.org.uk/fairtrade-business

To register for the free Fairtrade for Business Workshop, visit: https://ftba23nov17.eventbrite.com

For more information, email: awards@bristolfairtrade.org.uk

The 25 most disruptive firms in the South West have been named in a unique list – with seven of the top 10 based in Bristol.

The first of its kind, the Disrupt South West index recognises ventures with headquarters in the region which hold the greatest potential to influence, change or create new markets. 

Produced by Tällt Ventures, recruitment firm ADLIB and regional law firm Foot Anstey, it highlights the disruptive business success stories from the South West, furthering the region’s growing profile as a global technology hub.

The index contains start-ups and scale-ups from a wide range of sectors – from artificial intelligence and machine learning to 3D printing technology. Each business in the list holds the potential to influence, change or create new markets, according to its compilers.

Across the 25 ventures, 20% are using artificial intelligence and machine learning, 20% are developing cloud and 16% are using 3D technology.

The list also shows that investment into the 25 ventures has been substantial. Since 2015 they have received more than £130m in funding, with more than 80% of the total investment going into the top three ventures – Ultrahapics, FiveAI and Graphcore.

The list was revealed at an exclusive event at Bristol’s Loco Klub last night.

Tällt Ventures founder & CEO Matt Connolly said: “Not only is it brilliant to see local companies receiving financial backing but it cements the South West as a brilliant place within the UK for new ventures to set-up and scale their business.”

The index has tracked start-ups form the region, analysing each venture against a scoring matrix to determine their disruptive potential with particular analysis on the people behind the business, the product they’ve created and the potential they have to scale and disrupt markets.

The top three South West disruptors are:

• Ultrahaptics. Founded in 2013, Ultrahaptics is changing the way we connect with technology by enabling people to ‘feel’ virtual objects, without the need to wear or actually physically touch anything. In May the business raised £17.9m in Series B funding and September saw Ultrahaptics open their first US office in Silicon Valley. 
• FiveAI. Founded in 2015, the Bristol based start-up is building software for autonomous vehicles that will be safe to use in complex urban environments. The start-up has two aims – first, to develop a self-driving system, and second, to build a software platform that will manage an autonomous taxi service. 
• Graphcore. The tech start-up is changing the way machines operate by altering the way they learn. Their technology not only reduces the cost of improving AI, but also helps to incorporate the technology in low-power devices. Graphcore completed their latest funding round in November 2017, raising $50m from Sequoia Capital, putting their total investment figure to date at $110m.

ADLIB managing director Nick Dean added: “Through recent years we’ve continuously seen the South West region grow and transform into the thriving and recognised tech cluster it is today. This has called for us here at ADLIB to continually evaluate and adjust our own proposition to meet the demands, growing out our own digital and technology teams. Businesses are evaluating, growing and transforming, the driving force of which comes from the people within them. We’re proud to be part of such a recognised region, amongst a prime line up of businesses, testament to and proof of that we’re home to (and able to attract in) real talent.”

Foot Anstey head of technology and partner Martin Cuell said: “It’s fantastic to see the South West tech scene thriving. We’re observing an abundance of new ventures and innovation across industry sectors with investment and funding available for those who seek it.

“Being part of Disrupt South West has been part of our effort to help showcase and celebrate all this great activity, so the region gets the recognition it deserves. One of the interesting challenges for the future is how we harness all the energy, enthusiasm and great news stories to support companies destined to be the next big things in the tech sector and how we ensure that innovation benefits the end consumers and perhaps even more importantly the wider community.”

Click here for the full list 

Chancellor Philip Hammond’s support for the tech sector – a vital part of Bristol’s economy – and his commitment to devolve more funding for infrastructure and skills to the West of England in Wednesday’s Budget have been welcomed by business figures across the city.

However, there was criticism that his measures lacked the dynamism and vision needed to prepare the UK for Brexit. 

Institute of Directors South West chair Nick Sturge, pictured, said: “We need to build on the strong network of clusters that are already working well in the regions, accelerating growing businesses by helping them to access a broader talent and mentor pool, markets and investment.

“Similarly, the Transforming Cities Fund seriously recognises the importance of local leadership, which we believe is key.”

Connectivity was also key, said Mr Sturge, who is also director of Bristol’s Engine Shed innovation hub. “With a growing number of micro businesses operating from a home base, we wanted to see rural focused reincarnation of the connection vouchers scheme that made grants of up to £3,000 to help smaller business get superfast broadband installed. 

“This ended in 2015. Whether it will be reintroduced as part of the £500m tech investment announced today also remains to be seen, but it’s well overdue to be brought out of the long grass.”

The doubling of investment relief in Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS) would benefit knowledge-intensive enterprises and, along with Seed Enterprise Investment Schemes (SEIS), had already allowed many small companies to progress significantly faster than they would have otherwise.

James Durie, chief executive of Bristol Chamber of Commerce & Initiative at Business West, said: “Phillip Hammond confidently declared that his government is ‘delivering for every region in Britain’.

“With Bristol facing big growth challenges, businesses are hoping that this emphasis creates real benefits for the West – in a Budget speech where other cities grabbed much of the limelight.

“Bristol gained from some welcome additional spending announcements to help deliver against its pressing transport, housing, skills and infrastructure needs.

“The West of England’s decision to opt for an elected Metro Mayor had some payback this afternoon – with a new £1.7bn Transforming Cities Fund – half of which will go to Metro Mayor areas, producing £80m for the West of England, enabling further investment in our local transport priorities.”

Accountancy group KPMG’s senior partner in Bristol, Andrew Hodgson, said the Budget had recognised the urgent need for improvements in regional infrastructure.

“Business leaders in Bristol and the South West will welcome Mr Hammond’s promise of a £1.7bn Transforming Cities Fund to get the economy firing in the regions by boosting infrastructure.

“With clear evidence that our infrastructure if stifling productivity and growth, the power to transform the region now lies in the hands of the Metro Mayor.”

This welcome news was further boosted by the investment in Welsh rail which would improve journey times between Swansea, Cardiff and South Wales and Bristol and London, he said.

The Chancellor’s announcement that he is doubling the EIS allowance was also a positive step in helping early-stage businesses attract investment and raise finance.

“Not only will this help to boost investment in start-ups, but it potentially plugs a funding gap if the European Investment Fund is no longer available when the UK leaves the EU,” he said.

And while there were measures to improve competitiveness and innovation and a commitment to continue with a competitive corporate tax environment – things business crave – the sharp reduction in economic growth forecasts threatened to overshadow them, Mr Hodgson added.

At regional accountancy firm Bishop Fleming, which has its largest office in Bristol, head of tax Andrew Browne said the “embattled and isolated” Chancellor had been under pressure to be bold and imaginative in his first Budget since the General Election.

However, it was not the transformative event that was needed for the UK economy, he said.

“Philip Hammond has yet to demonstrate the required dynamism and vision to create a progressive tax regime that is powerful enough to energise a post-Brexit economy into an entrepreneurial powerhouse and raise the standard of living.

“Whilst he is donning his hard hat and opening the public purse to drive forward the much-needed housebuilding programme and development of the UK’s infrastructure, it is well short of being bold enough.

“The abolition of stamp duty for first time buyers on the first £300,000 of houses worth up to £500,000 is very welcome, but does not solve the fundamental issue of the affordability of a deposit and mortgage.

“And although the Chancellor recognises the need for greater UK productivity, tax-geared investment incentives still need a bigger boost, as will the funds needed to ensure we have adequate social care for our ageing population.”

He said while the Chancellor again softened the impact of business rate increases, the much-needed root-and-branch reform of this regressive and archaic tax was still some way off.

And he also slammed the Budget for failing to tackle what he said were the real issues facing small businesses, such as rates reform, tax complexity and red tape. 

Matt Watts, partner in business tax at accountancy Smith & Williamson, which has a large office in Bristol, questioned the Chancellor’s approach to R&D (research and development) tax credits.

A further £2.3bn in investment in R&D as well as an increase in the main R&D tax credit to 12% – from 11% – was included in the Budget.

“What about our SMEs and scale-ups?” asked Mr Watts. “The Chancellor has increased the research and development tax credit (RDEC) credit by 1% but has left the SME rate the same.

“Whilst the existing scheme for SMEs is still more valuable, limiting the increase to R&D tax credits for the large company scheme sends a mixed message to British businesses.

“The R&D tax credits is a popular relief which is promoting investment and creating jobs. Why should only big business benefit when it’s our smaller businesses we need to be supporting?”

But Sam Holliday, the Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) Gloucestershire & West of England development manager, pictured, said the SME community had received a lot of ‘positive news’ from the Budget.  

“As with every Budget, the devil is always in the detail, but I think it’s fair to say there are clearly some positive news announcements here which will help the local small business community,” he said.

The FSB was delighted that the Chancellor had listened to it and others and not tampered with the VAT threshold – as had been strongly rumoured.

“We are also pleased that he has agreed to revisit the ‘staircase tax’, which would have unfairly penalised businesses operating over more than a single floor,” he said.

“The business rates news was also good. The more regular revaluations should stop the often surprisingly high hike that has hit businesses every five years, and we also welcome the decision that business rates will be linked to the Consumer Price Index (RPI) rather than the Retail Price Index (RPI), which should save our businesses money potentially.

“Elsewhere, we are pleased to see support for our local pubs and service industries with no increases on alcohol prices and, of course, all businesses will welcome the lifting of potential rises in fuel duty.

“With some encouraging news as well about an increased role for small builders as part of the new housing programme and large investments in infrastructure and skills this would seem, on the surface, to be a Budget which represents a real step forward for small businesses.”

David Pester, managing partner at Bristol-headquartered national law firm TLT, said the Budget’s commitments to supporting investment in growing businesses, R&D, infrastructure and housing would resonate with Bristol businesses.

“Fast-growth businesses and those who invest in them in particular will breathe a small sigh of relief with no changes to EIS and VCT tax relief rates and no significant scaling back of those reliefs either, as was widely feared – an important confirmation for the region’s thriving entrepreneurial community,” he said.

“From an infrastructure perspective, while £80m of the government’s £1.7bn Transforming Cities Fund will come to the devolved authority here in the West, it will be how the region turns this into positive actions to continue building a sustainable and prosperous community that will determine its impact.

“As a region, we need to be ambitious and ‎demonstrate to central government a track record of successful implementation of projects that bring tangible benefit for business and the wider community across the West.

“Housing is also clearly high on the government’s agenda with a package of measures announced to tackle the perceived barriers to getting houses built. But, this has been a challenge for successive governments, so it will be a ‘wait and see’ as to see whether this latest package of measures has the desired impact.”

But Joanne Boyle, partner in the Bristol office of transatlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, believed there was little in the Budget to help employers, who will see wage bills rise from next April as a result of the increase in the national living wage to £7.83 per hour. 

“The National Minimum Wage is due to increase as well. There was a hint that the Apprenticeship Levy may be more flexible in future; this is being kept under review by the government, so we will have to wait and see what they propose.”

The National Association of Cider Makers which represents many of the West of England’s cider firms, was disappointed the Chancellor rejected its call for a 2p per pint reduction in duty ,which it said would have helped bring the industry back into growth in the longer term from its recent slowdown.

It also said it would be looking at the details of the new duty band announced in the Budget to ensure that it did not “adversely impact the ongoing success of cider makers across the UK, whatever their size.”

The Chancellor said the new band – likely to be between 6.9% and 7.5% ABV – would be targeted at white cider.

International law firm Clyde & Co is to open an office in Bristol next year after hiring two leading insurance disputes lawyers, it announced today.

Ian Peacock joins from the Bristol office of Womble Bond Dickinson while John Eastlake has been appointed from Kennedys in London. They have become partners in Clyde & Co’s UK Professional and Financial Disputes (PFD) group. 

Ian Peacock, pictured below, has specialised in professional indemnity litigation at Womble Bond Dickinson since leaving practice in the City of London nearly 25 years ago. Much of his work has involved the financial service industry and he has been involved in several of the high-profile mis-selling scandals.

John Eastlake was London head of professional indemnity at Kennedys. He advises on professional negligence claims for solicitors, accountants, surveyors and architects as well as ‘new professions’ such as IT and marketing. He also provides risk management and claims prevention advice to professions, and advises directors’ and officers’ insurers in relation to policy coverage.

Clyde & Co has a total staff of 3,600 including 390 partners, 1,500 lawyers and 2,000 legal professionals working in offices across the globe. It has nine offices in the UK, including London, Guildford and Oxford, five in mainland Europe and 13 offices in North and South America. 

Senior partner Simon Konsta said: “We are focused on serving our clients when and where they need us, and this focus has driven our global and regional insurance growth strategy over the past decade.

“Bristol is a key centre for professional and financial disputes work and having John and Ian on board gives us a great foundation, as well as a platform for further growth.”

Clyde & Co’s decision to open in Bristol underlines the city’s standing as the UK’s number one regional legal centre.

A survey last year by property advisers CBRE revealed law firms in Bristol occupy nearly 875,000 sq ft of office space, placing it at the top of a table of the 10 cities.

Birmingham came second with nearly 782,000 sq ft and Manchester was in third place with 775,000 sq ft.

Clyde & Co’s PFD group comprises over 150 lawyers in the UK and its professional liability practice has a long-established reputation as a leading advisor on policy coverage, defending claims and regulatory proceedings, focusing on each of the major professions, as well as ‘emerging professions’ such as recruitment, management consultants and IT professionals.

The group operates across all Clyde & Co’s offices worldwide, with specialist professional liability teams in key jurisdictions.

Clyde & Co PFD group partner Andrew Blair added: “Both Ian and John are hugely experienced and well known professional liability defence lawyers with strong track records of success, which have underpinned the building of two very successful practices and teams.

“Increasingly, clients want and need strong regional capability in addition to City capability. We already have an established PFD presence in Oxford, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and Scotland. Bristol adds another piece in the jigsaw.”   

Clyde & Co can trace its roots back to 1933 when Arthur Clyde opened its first office.

Innovative law firm Temple Bright has advised the owners of South West property solicitors BPL on the sale of the practice to the rapidly expanding Metamorph Law group.

BPL, formed in 2005 by solicitors David Bridge and Mark Stimson, has a staff of around 100 based in offices in Bristol, Dorchester and Bournemouth. 

The firm specialises in panel-focused residential conveyancing and remortgage work, while also providing bespoke, high-end residential conveyancing, commercial property and construction litigation services.

Metamorph Law, based in Sale, Greater Manchester, was created to acquire, transform and aggregate existing law firms focused on private client and SME work. Other firms it has bought include North West firm Linder Myers and Shropshire-based SLC Solicitors.

David Bridge said: “The opportunity to join the Metamorph business gives BPL an excellent platform on which to continue to grow and develop its brand. It secures the continuing investment into our systems and people that will allow us to continue to build on the excellence of service that we look to offer to our clients.” 

Metamorph founder and director of strategy Simon Goldhill added: “We are delighted to have brought the BPL business and team of people into the Metamorph business. This deal gives us real presence in the residential conveyancing market, adding a recognised and respected brand to our stable. 

“Getting David along with this business also enables us to consolidate all of our transactional property operations into a new national business division under his leadership. As a pioneer and innovator in the legal market we are delighted to have him join our senior team.”

The Temple Bright team on the deal was led by partners Andrew Mace and Ben Gisbey.

Andrew, pictured right, said: “It was a pleasure to advise the owners of BPL on this deal, which offers excellent opportunities for the BPL practice and also for Metamorph as it continues to expand its offering to clients.

“It was also a fascinating transaction for us as lawyers, being an example of the consolidation taking place across many parts of the legal sector.”

Ben, pictured below, added: “Among firms whose main focus is on personal or private client services, there is a growing appreciation of the advantages that come from joining a larger corporate brand. These may include increased investment and the potential for enhanced infrastructure, networks and opportunities for cross-selling.” 

Temple Bright itself is a disruptive law firm, albeit active in a different market. The firm does only commercial work, usually acting opposite large traditional firms in the City and the regions. Temple Bright’s main innovation is a groundbreaking partner-only business model, a flat structure which departs from the traditional ‘pyramid’ model for solicitors’ firms – the latter involving a hierarchy with most work being delegated to associates and junior lawyers.

The Temple Bright team advising on the BPL deal comprised six partners – Andrew Mace, Ben Gisbey, Greig Thewlis, Carol Tricks, Paul Manson and Comron Rowe – working across a range of practice areas. It acted opposite a team from City firm Fieldfisher, which advised Metamorph.

Law firm Osborne Clarke has announced the death of retired partner Simon Speirs following an accident during the Clipper Round The World yacht race.

The firm said Mr Speirs, pictured, embarked on the challenge following his retirement as a partner last year. He is understood to have been swept overboard between South Africa and Australia as he helped change a sail during a force eight gale with winds gusting up to 50 miles an hour.  

Osborne Clarke said Mr Speirs, who was 60 and a father of four, spent more than 30 years of his career at the firm and had a huge enthusiasm for it – “which alongside his caring nature and his deep love of lawyering made him a highly popular and valued member of our team”, a spokesman said.

He added: “Simon was also committed to raising money for charity and his friends at Osborne Clarke always followed his progress during his fundraising challenges, many of which involved sailing. The Clipper race was the greatest of those challenges and we are devastated that he has lost his life while pursuing his dream.

“Our thoughts are with Simon’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

Mr Speirs was given a burial at sea. 

The Bristol office of international law firm Womble Bond Dickinson has staged a Christmas Fayre promoting the work of young entrepreneurs as part of its on-going support for The Prince’s Trust.

Artists, illustrators, jewellers and landscape architects had the opportunity to display their arts and crafts while visitors enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies to raise much-needed funds for the national youth charity. 

Womble Bond Dickinson legal director Ewen Macgregor said: “We’ve been hosting the Christmas Fayre for The Prince’s Trust for two consecutive years now and we have been amazed by the talent, ingenuity and endeavour shown by the young entrepreneurs.

“As a patron for the Trust, it is just as important for us to promote the work of the young people it aims to support as it is to provide financial support.”

He said The Prince’s Trust ethos mirrored the firm’s commitment to supporting disadvantaged individuals in areas of employment, education and entrepreneurship.

Since May 2013, it has supported the Trust through mentoring, volunteering and various fundraising campaigns, raising more than £250,000 for the charity.

Prince’s Trust South of England director Rozzy Amos added: “On behalf of the team at The Prince’s Trust I would like to say a huge thank you to Womble Bond Dickinson for its continued support and the success of the recent Christmas Fayre.

“It was a great opportunity for the talented young entrepreneurs to showcase their products and to demonstrate the impact the Trust can have in supporting young people to achieve their goals.”

The Prince’s Trust – Womble Bond Dickinson’s chosen national charity – helps disadvantaged young people get their lives on track. It supports 11 to 30 year olds who are unemployed, struggling with school or at risk of exclusion and who are facing issues like homelessness, mental health, or have been in trouble with the law.

The Trust’s programmes give vulnerable young people the practical and financial support they need to stabilise their lives, helping develop self-esteem and skills for work.

Bristol advisers from law firm Burges Salmon and wealth management and broking corporate firm WHIreland have advised FB Investors on its recommended partial cash offer for Devon-based property group Sutton Harbour.

The offer from FB Investors values Sutton Harbour, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market, at approximately £28m, giving FB Investors a 70% stake. The transaction was structured as a partial cash offer under the UK Takeover Code.

FB Investors, which specialises in property investment, said it intends to maintain the AIM listing while also injecting a further £2.75m into the company in new equity. 

Sutton Harbour is an award-winning waterfront regeneration specialist which owns and operates the historic Plymouth harbour. The group operates in four business areas – real estate, regeneration, marine and fisheries, and car parking.

In April last year it appointed Rothschild to lead a strategic review of the options for its business, including a potential sale.

Burges Salmon corporate finance partner Dominic Davis and senior associate Tim Redman led a large cross-firm team of lawyers from Burges Salmon’s corporate finance, real estate, banking and planning teams. 

Mike Coe and Ed Allsopp at WH Ireland acted as financial adviser to FB Investors, which is led by Philip Beinhaker.

Dominic said: “This transaction represents an exciting opportunity for both FB Investors and Sutton Harbour and we are delighted that our client has reached a recommended deal with Sutton Harbour. It was a pleasure to work with Philip Beinhaker and his team, and we are really looking forward to seeing the Sutton Harbour Group business fulfilling its potential under new ownership.”

Mike Coe added: “We are delighted to have worked with FB Investors, Philip Beinhaker and his team in putting together this offer, and securing the recommendation from the board of Sutton Harbour. 

“The offer signals a new and exciting chapter for Sutton Harbour, which should benefit from the members of FB Investors’ long-standing track record of creating value in real estate.”

Lawyers from the Bristol office of international legal practice Osborne Clarke have helped on the €22.5m (£19.8m) refinancing of a portfolio of six UK solar farms.

In the deal Aberdeen Standard Investments provided a long-term, 18.5-year debt financing for Pensions Infrastructure Platform (PiP) – the specialist manager established to encourage pension schemes to invest in UK infrastructure – on the 29.4MW collection of assets owned by its Multi-Strategy Infrastructure Fund (MSIF).  

MSIF acquired the projects in Kent, the Midlands and Yorkshire in an unlevered deal at the beginning this year from China’s Trina Solar.

Osborne Clarke’s cross-sector team that advised on the matter was led by partner by Omar Al-Nuaimi, who was supported by banking associate Lucy Daniels, real estate senior associate Charlotte Walker, construction partner Carl Thompson and regulatory associate director Deborah Harvey.

A team of Bristol advisers has helped Cornish nursery group Happy Days secure £8m funding to develop up to 10 new nurseries over the next three years.

Accountancy firms Smith & Williamson and BDO and law firm Foot Anstey advised on the deal with the funding coming from Santander Corporate & Commercial in Bristol. 

Happy Days was founded in 1993 by Robin and Sarah Karkeek and has expanded to become the 19^th largest nursery chain in the UK following a management buyout in 2012 backed by private equity firm Livingbridge.

The investment from Livingbridge allowed Happy Days to open five more sites in the past three years in Exeter, Bristol and Poole, and relocate its Derriford NHS nursery in Plymouth.

Happy Days, which now owns 18 nurseries offering 1,318 places, is ranked fourth in the Nursery Chains Ofsted grades league table published this week, with 11 outstanding settings, five good and two yet to be inspected.

Smith & Williamson partner David Roper said: “We are delighted to have worked closely with Happy Days for many years and this funding now supports the group’s ambitious growth plans across the South West and to maintain their delivery of high quality childcare, across the region.”

The owners of Happy Days now plan to open three new, purpose-built nurseries, each with around 80 places, in 2018, with seven more to follow by 2020.

Jackie Arthur, managing director of Happy Days Nurseries, said: “This is a really exciting investment from Santander. They have worked with the business and management team in providing an appropriate funding solution for our development plans, and their experience together with the professional relationship the team has developed with Happy Days over the last few years meant that we were very keen to work together. 

“We believe that with this investment, and support from Santander, we are well placed to achieve our growth ambitions.”

Santander growth capital director Peter Abel added: “As an established care provider, with excellent governance and performance record, now is the appropriate time for our growth capital product to support the business with its further roll-out plans into new geographic areas.

“This is a quality business with a very experienced management team and we expect it to continue its growth over the coming years.”

Bristol headquartered law firm VWV’s specialist team of healthcare lawyers won the ‘Legal Team of the Year 2017’ title at last night’s General Practice Awards.

The award recognised the team’s outstanding work and advice for the primary care sector across the UK, and along with its talent, dedication and innovation in assisting and supporting all aspects of primary care.

In February VWV merged with healthcare specialist Lockharts, which is focused on supporting doctors, dentists, optometrists, vets, pharmacists, care homes and other healthcare professionals and organisations across England and Wales.

Team leader Ben Willis said it was a strong endorsement. “We’ve had a very busy year, welcoming Lockharts as well as many new GP clients and continuing our strategy of growth. Our success at the awards is great recognition of the team’s hard work and dedication. A fantastic end to the year – here’s to next year.”

The awards were staged at the Royal Lancaster London Hotel.

Pictured, from left: Andrew Lockhart-Miram, consultant, Ros Parkin, consultant, Sandeep Saib, marketing and business development executive, Ben Willis, partner, and Oliver Pool, partner

The corporate team from Bristol-headquartered national law firm Burges Salmon has advised on the sale of Education Personnel Management (EPM) to national HR, employment law and health & Safety consultancy Citation.

The team, led by corporate partner Richard Spink, pictured, and senior associate Tim Roberts, supported by solicitor Briony Barber, brought in specialists from across the firm to advise EPM’s shareholders on all legal aspects of the deal and the management team on its re-investment in Citation. 

Cambridgeshire-based EPM supplies HR and payroll services to the education sector. Its management team decided to sell to Citation following a highly competitive process and as they believe the partnership will allow the business to further develop and expand its specialised services to support schools, academies and multi-academy trusts around the country.

EPM and Citation both see themselves as service-led and holding client and colleague engagement as a fundamental part of their growth strategy. 

Richard Spink said: “We are very pleased to have been involved in this transaction, which is a significant milestone for EPM and a key acquisition in the development of the broader Citation group. We hope to work with EPM in the future and look forward to seeing the ongoing expansion of the Citation business.”

EPM CEO Jennie Elliott said: “We were delighted with the way in which Richard, Tim, Briony and the rest of the team supported us through this transaction. They tuned in to the nuances of our business exceptionally quickly and provided us with pragmatic advice on complex legal issues around the clock to get the deal over the line quickly and efficiently, leaving our management team to concentrate on running the business.”