Wiltshire Business
GWE joining forces with Bristol team
ONE of the most successful independent business support companies in the south west is to merge with a similar organisation.
From April, The Swindon based Great Western Enterprise (GWE) will join with Business West of Bristol to become GWE Business West.
Between them, they will have a turnover of £10 million.
It will be strongly placed to compete for service contracts and will be able to effectively represent the views of its business clients and members at regional and national public and private sector forums, as well as in Westminster and Brussels.
The remit will also develop and deliver an integrated range of support services that accurately reflect the needs of today's UK businesses.
Nicky Morrison, GWE chairwoman and future joint chair of GWE Business West, said: "At a time when the business support industry continues to change rapidly, we have found ourselves operating in an increasingly competitive arena.
"This attracts more and more interest from large multi nationals.
"Government is looking for ways to simplify and increase the cost effectiveness of its business support contracts and public sector organisations.
"This merger, therefore, is timely and will increase our effectiveness and ability to compete and deliver, as well as broaden our collective geographical impact.
"It is an exciting opportunity for both organisations, as well as for the businesses which we support and represent."
Business West president, Colin Skellett, will also be joint chairman.
He is keen to see an even greater involvement from local Chambers of Commerce.
He said: "It is right that much of the work of the Initiative Team is strategic - looking ahead 20 or more years to consider the big issues.
"However, at the same time, we recognise that individual Chambers have an important part to play - not only in dealing with their own matters of detail, but also in ensuring their members' views are carried through and represented in the regional and national settings."
GWE Business West has an ambition to become the most influential chamber membership-based representative business organisation in the south west, and is on track to become one of the most influential and effective providers of business support and economic development services in the whole of the UK.
The new merger also means it will be in a good position to grow, said Daphne Milner, GWE's chief executive officer.
ONE of the most successful independent business support companies in the south west is to merge with a similar organisation.
From April, The Swindon based Great Western Enterprise (GWE) will join with Business West of Bristol to become GWE Business West.
Between them, they will have a turnover of £10 million.
It will be strongly placed to compete for service contracts and will be able to effectively represent the views of its business clients and members at regional and national public and private sector forums, as well as in Westminster and Brussels.
The remit will also develop and deliver an integrated range of support services that accurately reflect the needs of today's UK businesses.
Nicky Morrison, GWE chairwoman and future joint chair of GWE Business West, said: "At a time when the business support industry continues to change rapidly, we have found ourselves operating in an increasingly competitive arena.
"This attracts more and more interest from large multi nationals.
"Government is looking for ways to simplify and increase the cost effectiveness of its business support contracts and public sector organisations.
"This merger, therefore, is timely and will increase our effectiveness and ability to compete and deliver, as well as broaden our collective geographical impact.
"It is an exciting opportunity for both organisations, as well as for the businesses which we support and represent."
Business West president, Colin Skellett, will also be joint chairman.
He is keen to see an even greater involvement from local Chambers of Commerce.
He said: "It is right that much of the work of the Initiative Team is strategic - looking ahead 20 or more years to consider the big issues.
"However, at the same time, we recognise that individual Chambers have an important part to play - not only in dealing with their own matters of detail, but also in ensuring their members' views are carried through and represented in the regional and national settings."
GWE Business West has an ambition to become the most influential chamber membership-based representative business organisation in the south west, and is on track to become one of the most influential and effective providers of business support and economic development services in the whole of the UK.
The new merger also means it will be in a good position to grow, said Daphne Milner, GWE's chief executive officer.
GREAT Western Enterprise (GWE) Ltd is one of the largest private economic development organisations in the UK.
Its aim is to support economic growth and development by supporting small and medium-sized businesses.
As well as corporate activities, GWE also provides specialist services through its divisions - GWE Workspace, which manages a portfolio of business and enterprise centres; GWE Research which provides services for economic development projects and GWE Professional Development for a programme of NVQs to businesses.
4:58pm Tuesday 5th February 2008
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