Year in review: The South West's biggest stories of 2020 - Business Live

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Let’s take a look at the past 12 months-and the impact on the entire region

In the past 12 months, the Covid-19 pandemic has swept the world, causing damage to life and the economy.

According to data from the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR), the virus has caused the UK economy to shrink by 11% this year, the largest drop in 300 years.

On November 25, OBR stated that the government has so far spent 280 billion pounds on public services, households and businesses, bringing the deficit to 394 billion pounds.

But how did we get here? Let’s take a look at the past 12 months-and how the West of England has been affected.

Before the first confirmed Covid cases appear at the end of this month, 2020 appears to be a strong year for the Southwest.

The then principal Sajid Javid said

And was able to "boom" after Brexit, because he confirmed that the funding for 2020 is less than 3 billion pounds.

Lloyds Banking Group announces plans

To help start-ups and scale expansion throughout Western countries. This is part of a national stimulus plan of 18 billion pounds in 2020.

Aerospace giant Airbus, based in Felton, South Gloucestershire, signed a

In cooperation with Spirit Airlines of the United States, 100 A320neo series aircraft were purchased.

In the same month, Guillaume Faury, the company's chief executive officer, spoke positively about the future of British Aerospace and expressed the hope to "improve and expand" its business in the UK in 2020.

Meanwhile, Rolls Royce

Developed jet engine technology in Bristol and created 150

, Bristol Airport became the first European flight

To and from the airport.

Bristol has also been named one of the top destinations in the world

-Before Dublin, Copenhagen, Helsinki and Milan-as the city's demand for space continues to grow, office rents in the city have reached record highs.

Although January is a quiet month for employment changes,

, New data from the National Bureau of Statistics (ONS) shows.

Openreach also confirmed that it is planning to make ultra-fast broadband

Across Cornwall, Devon, Torbay, Dorset and Somerset. This move is part of the company's goal, which is to reach 4 million households and businesses with "full fiber" technology by the end of March 2021.

with

Director General Dame Carolyn Fairbairn (Dame Carolyn Fairbairn) said that 2020 will mark "delivery ten years"

,Claim

In the government.

On February 6, at a conference in Singapore, a third British person contracted the coronavirus and tested positive. As of February 10, the number of cases in the UK has reached 8. On the same day, the government introduced new powers to forcibly isolate people, declaring that the epidemic posed a “serious and imminent threat” to public health.

At the same time, in the southwest, an Ernst & Young report stated that Bristol will become the

In the next four years.

Bristol also launched the UK’s first employment plan to

HMRC opened

There are 1,600 employees in the city and the owner of Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol

.

There were also some appointments in February. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) appointed 35-year-old Lee Nathan as the chairman of the Southwest Region. He becomes

domestic.

The CEO of defense giant Babcock International Group Plc also

, And Kevin Georgel, owner of the tavern chain Admiral Taverns, left the company to take over

Pub and beer empire. Sarah Gibson, CEO of the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, also

Changed to take over the Student Union of Plymouth University.

British Airways announces

After Flybe cancelled the route and announced with Cornwall Airport Newquay that Pete Downes would join

In February, the Royal Princess Anne visited Valeport, a marine technology company in Totnes.

.

Luxury yacht manufacturer Princess Yachts has one

After selling 30 million pounds of boats, they were unveiled at the world’s largest indoor yacht show. Essex-based Essex (Cesch and Maritime Voyages) confirmed

However, the controversial plan to expand Bristol Airport also

By the North Somerset County Councillor. The airport proposed to increase its annual passenger capacity from 10 million to 12 million and made many changes to the site, including the addition of a large parking lot.

Mr. Javid also took his

And vowed to spread the opportunity to make the region flourish at the Southwest Conservative Party Congress.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled his first

New Majority Conservative Government in March

. He also announced funding

Near Stonehenge.

In the same month, low-cost airline Flybe

with

The pandemic has caused the grounding of aircraft, delays in deliveries and orders.

Energy giant EDF

According to reports, an employee tested positive for the coronavirus. Bridgewater House in the city center, there are many businesses here, including

As a preventive measure, it was cleared, just like EDF was on 111 acres of Hinkley Point C.

Cinema chain Cineworld expresses the spread of coronavirus

Although Bond’s new venture has been postponed, other blockbuster movies remain the same, and emphasized that it still expects to announce more than $1 billion in profits.

Blue Island announced

Ferry to Manchester and Brittany

After the transaction is approved by the competition regulator.

The Devon-based utility giant Pennon also reached an agreement.

By March 16th, Brittany Ferries confirmed

The relationship between the United Kingdom and France has stated that it will only provide "lifeline" services for people who need to return home from Spain.

On March 17, Mr. Sunak lifted the veil of "unprecedented"

The government tried its best to support the economy during the coronavirus crisis.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson finally proposed

As the fight against the coronavirus has entered a new phase.

By the end of the month,

And suspended its flight, Airbus had

During the early Easter holiday, Princess Yachts, Britain’s largest luxury yacht manufacturer, has ceased operations and dispatched most

The labor force to build the new Hinkley nuclear power plant is also

This has increased to approximately 2,000 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

By April, the world had fallen into a pandemic, and businesses across the UK were taking measures to make ends meet.

British government

, Providing workers with 80% of their usual income, with a monthly cap of £2500.

Rolls Royce announced

At least 10%, and British land and real estate giant Henry Boot (Henry Boot) confirmed

After "reducing activity". Debenhams

This is the second time in 12 months.

The defense and engineering giant Babcock International Group emphasized

Despite the coronavirus lockdown, it is still in dock sites in England and Scotland. In Plymouth, the company repatriated some of its 5,500 employees, but said that employees engaged in defense work are still working at the Devonport Shipyard.

Princess Yacht Group said the Prime Minister’s new loan plan for medium-sized companies

All over the country.

The bosses of the British Land Company

Director of Loungers, a cafe-bar chain founded by Bristol

The first West Country Boat Show is

Because of the pandemic, Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol

To redistribute the remaining food to charity.

Also saw the Plymouth Theatre Royal this month

And the owner of Airbus

Due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A task force is

Led by the regional metro mayor Tim Bowles, and with the participation of the Western England Coalition Government (Weca), helped the local area to initiate economic recovery.

In more positive news, the Great Western Railway (GWR)

Commemorate his 100th birthday on April 30.

The shutdown continues to trouble Southwest, and Rolls-Royce is the latest major company to consider layoffs.

. Airbus confirmed the plan in Felton

The aerospace industry continues to be sluggish.

Small and medium-sized manufacturers in the southwest region urgently demand more financial support from the government because they are facing a sharp decline in sales, profits and output.

General claimants top

But the pandemic also brings opportunities.

Discovered a new habit from an American gas station because his nozzle was fitted with a hand protection device, and Paignton’s gardening supplier Suttons saw record sales

The good news returns to the high street, the blockade is lifted, and the shops are reopened, but the numbers show that

However, due to the "living coast" of Torquay's coastal zoo, the blockade caused losses

The Marine Aquarium in Pymouth remains closed because it is different from the zoo and other non-essential retail stores, but the attraction is still closed due to Covid restrictions. It has to spend up to £10,000 a day to keep the attraction and its 5,000 marine life in top condition.

KLM continues to resume flights from Bristol and Brittany ferries and travel continues

For the creative industries, the good news comes from a major initiative to develop screen-based media in the West of England. of

Led by the University of Bristol, it aims to provide support for 700 jobs to create new research and development (R&D) facilities and establish partnerships between regional and national organizations and global technology giants such as Netflix.

And Microsoft.

The idea of ​​pioneering new digital formats and technologies across novels, documentaries, games and live performances is expected to begin later this year and is expected to generate more than 700 new jobs.

The bar was allowed to reopen, but the homeowners were reminded of the hardest moments because they emptied thousands of wasted pints of beer.

Southwest Water said it has received requests from 1,100 pubs and breweries in Cornwall, Devon, and a small portion of Dorset and Somerset.

At the same time, when Cornish gin lost half of its business during the pandemic, family drinkers saved Cornish gin distillery Tarquin's gin.

Tarquin’s Cornish gin, named

Before the coronavirus pandemic, online sales received a huge boost. It had no online market before the pandemic, but

Re-evaluate the business model.

Cornish Lithium (Cornish Lithium) of Cornwall Mining Corporation raised nearly £1 million for lithium drilling, which greatly promoted the "gold rush" in Cornwall. Funds will allow

, In geothermal water and hard rocks.

Bristol Airport is nearly cut

air

Caused by a pandemic.

A letter to employees showed that the company stated that the number of passengers had dropped from more than 870,000 in May 2019 to 874 in the same month of this year.

Meanwhile, the boss of Exeter Airport urged

Thousands of workers are expected to lose 4 billion pounds.

The government has launched a "dining out and helping" plan,

Five days before participation.

Engineering giant Babcock International Group PLC in Plymouth

after that

Compared with 2019, the first quarter increased by 11%.

The Royal Plymouth Theatre joins theatres across the UK

Call on the government to provide financial assistance to prevent "catastrophic" job loss in the entire event industry.

In Bristol, work on a new industrial warehouse at Royal Portbury Dock was completed two weeks ahead of schedule

Hope for revival is high

The asset management company Infrastrata, which owns the well-known Harland & Wolff shipyard in Northern Ireland for £7 million-promises to bring tremendous economic growth to the region and provides 350 jobs.

Announce

More than three months after the environmental and educational charity on the outskirts of St Austell was forced to close to paying tourists, this severely damaged its financial situation.

During the lock-up period, millions of pounds of steel processing facilities were built,

. Work began in March on a 74,600-square-foot warehouse facility used to process steel coils, which will serve the steel market in the central region and South Wales.

Sharp's Brewery in Cornwall is a big success at the 2020 World Beer Awards

. This Rock-based brewery received the highest praise for the world's best light beer bitterness in its ABV series for Sea Fury. This is one of six medals won by Doom Bar, the UK's number one keg beer manufacturer, and won this award in a highly acclaimed international competition.

"Game-changing" £1 million Mayflower Automated Boat (MAS)

. The 150m long aluminum trimaran is equipped with the latest sensors and AI (artificial intelligence), and will set sail on a pioneering voyage from Plymouth to Cape Cod in the spring of 2021. The ship will be unmanned on board, and the equipment is undergoing remote trials from the UK and the US, and is collecting important data on climate change, plastic waste pollution and marine mammals.

Public utility giant Southwest Water announced that it will

They can choose whether to get a £20 discount from the bill or on the company’s stock. Exeter, based in Exeter, shared the cash after completing the goal. It is part of a unique plan called WaterShare+, which is a feature of the SWW 2020-25 New Deal business plan.

JD Wetherspoon boss

And may encourage people to engage in more social activities at home, and may further spread the coronavirus. The chairman of Exeter's bar chain just announced the layoffs of 450 employees at its airport store. He called the 10pm closure "very stupid".

Announce

, Recruited 100 mechanics and engineers, and plans to more than double this number. Exeter Aerospace was established by the Irish aviation maintenance company Dublin Aerospace Group, and it will be operated by the former Flybe maintenance service at Exeter Airport. Flybe Airlines closed down in March 2020 and lost 2,000 jobs.

Exeter Airport was originally

Avoid a "worst case" shutdown. The collapse of Flybe Airlines and the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic hit the airport together, and the number of passengers dropped 90% year-on-year.

Vacuum cleaner manufacturer Dyson said it will

. The Dyson College of Engineering and Technology is located in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. It was established in 2017 and is an alternative to traditional degree education. It currently has 150 engineering undergraduates who study and work with Dyson employees, although they are paid Not high, but after graduating from the company, there is no need to pay tuition.

The co-founder of a Bristol company that makes “bionic” weapons for amputees is

The list is listed in 2020. Joel Gibbard and Samantha Payne of OpenBionics founded the company in 2014. The business uses 3D printing and 3D scanning technology to make its products and launched its first product-"Hero Arm" in 2018.

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Former shareholders of Flybe removed the airline from management. Flybe's business and assets-including brands, intellectual property, stocks and equipment-

, This is a company related to investment advisor Cyrus Capital, operated by Lucien Farrell, a shareholder of Flybe, Richard Bran Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic was before it went bankrupt. Operations may begin in 2021.

Public utility giant Pennon named the largest company in Devon and Cornwall

, Published by BusinessLive and sisters, titled Western Morning News. The Exeter-based company owns Southwest Water and Bournemouth Water, has a turnover of nearly £1.4 billion and more than 5,000 employees.

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus revealed that in the nine months ended September 30,

-Lower than 46.2 billion euros in the same period in 2019. The aerospace giant, which mainly exists in Bristol, lost 2.68 billion euros in the first nine months of this year, while in the same period of 2019, it lost 2.18 billion euros in profits.

Home drinking fountains increased

. When the first lock-in forced pubs, bars and restaurants to close, the company lost about 70% of its turnover overnight, but since the end of March, the increase in consumer sales has brought the overall figure back to nearly 75%.

High street companies face the struggle for survival,

. Plymouth City Center CEO Steve Hughes emphasized that the flow of people in towns and downtowns will be greatly reduced, and business may be severely affected.

on

In just a week of growing concerns, some people laughed at the blockade rules. The local authority said it received "continuous reports" from worried residents. Avon and Somerset police said an event venue was fined £10,000 for "repeated" violations.

Government approval

. The A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down (Stonehenge) plan includes a two-mile tunnel below the World Heritage Site. The design aims to solve the congestion problem of the infamous and congested single-lane section of the A303 route. This move is seen as an important step towards releasing economic growth and improving travel time and reliability between M3 and M5, thereby bringing companies Came great interest in the southwest.

Real estate giant British Land Corporation announced

The coronavirus pandemic has reduced retail sales and foot traffic in shopping malls. The company announced an annual loss of 1.1 billion pounds in May 2020. After being hit by the Covid-19 shock and two national sales bans, its basic profit has now fallen by 29.6% to 107 million pounds. In addition to the huge downtown area, its huge retail business also includes the Drake Circus Shopping Center and the neighboring Plymouth The Barcode leisure center.

Defense giant Babcock International sees

. The engineering giant owns a huge dock in Devonport, Plymouth. In the six months to September 2020, basic income fell by 9% and basic profit fell by 43%. The company revealed that basic income fell from £2.458 during the period from April 2019 to September 2019, which was £2.244 billion. Basic operating profit for the same period fell from 250.6 million pounds to 143.1 million pounds.

Debenhams store in the Southwest

Troubled department store chain. The company was the last bidder for Debenhams, which has been in management since April. Debenhams confirmed that unless a new buyer comes forward, it will continue to plan to close 124 stores in the UK-including those in Plymouth, Torquay, Exeter, Taunton and Bristol.

Plymouth City Council says

Nearly ten years after it closed. The local authorities asked the government’s newly established Airport Development Advisory Fund to provide assistance to clearly understand the level of investment required to reopen the airport to provide commercial passenger services. It also appointed a professional aviation consultant to contact potential operators to assess the market demand for a private company to restart flights.

Retail giant Chris Dawson (Chris Dawson) saw his

, The Plymouth-based company was officially named Norton Group Holdings Ltd. In the year ended February 2020, its turnover increased by 6%. This means that due to the increase in the number of stores and the remaining fixed costs, sales have increased from £94,426.79 million to £999.72 billion. still.

Government handover

To prevent the curtains from falling down forever. The Cultural Recovery Fund supports independent photo agencies that have been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic and its economic aftershocks. In the Southwest, a total of £2,725,192 was allocated to 44 cinemas, including the WTW cinema chain, Plymouth Arts Cinema, Newton Abbot’s Alexander and Totnes Cinemas.

Shareholders of shoe retailer Clarks

, The company will now acquire a majority stake in the company for 100 million pounds. The rescue transaction is expected to be completed in early 2021, and the Clark family still needs to invest in the business. Clarks was founded in 1825 by brothers Cyrus and James Clark in Street, Somerset.

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