Those looking to buy a home have until March 2021 to take advantage of the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday, which can drastically reduce the price of buying a home or investment property. The holiday has increased the SDLT threshold, effectively eliminating the payment of charges on property purchases worth up to £500,000 for first-time buyers and those looking to purchase a replacement main ...

The UK's unemployment rate rose to 4.8% in the three months to September, up from 4.5%, as Coronavirus continued to hit the jobs market, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Redundancies rose to a record high of 314,000 in the same period as firms made more workers redundant in anticipation of the end of the furlough scheme, which was originally supposed to f...

Bridgwater & Taunton College (BTC) works closely with local businesses to provide students with industry connections. Millie Bishop has recently completed a Level 3 Design Apprenticeship with local print company and Chamber member, Carly Press. Imogen Parker, Account Manager at Carly Press and Millie's mentor and line manager, supported Millie throughout the two-year programme. Imogen said...

With near-daily news of redundancies and companies calling in administrators, it’s a challenging time for both businesses and individuals.  However, even in these difficult times, there are still small companies who are defying the odds and thriving, despite the obstacles being thrown at them. Local self-storage company, the Container Team, has actually expanded their team this month.  They h...

Footfall Engineering has helped to light up historic Marlborough College after being asked to find a way to illuminate the impressive main entrance to the college’s Memorial Hall without causing light pollution. The Footfall team measured the areas to be illuminated and supplied the school with lighting simulations to achieve the required lux levels, including an LED handrail to light-up a sto...

Exmoor-based bespoke metalwork specialists West Country Blacksmiths has had a project at the Courthouse Mews development in Somerton shortlisted for the 2020 GAGA Construction Awards (Galvanisers Association Galvanising Awards). The awards celebrate the design and construction of bespoke metalwork both nationally and internationally. The work of West Country Blacksmiths has been shortlisted alon...

So here we are, in what some people are calling Lockdown 2.0. If we’re being honest, I think most people are feeling a little weary about the pandemic and looking for that light at the end of the tunnel. I’m Dave Crew – Head of Business Growth & Employer Partnerships at Weston College and Somerset Chamber has let me loose on their newsletter to provide an insight into how our business i...

With women representing 51% of the population and 47% of the UK workforce, companies are realising the gains to be made in understanding and recognising the specific health and wellbeing needs of their female employees. Continuing their webinar series, WPA has organised two thought-provoking speakers:   Professor Dame Lesley Regan, instrumental in the 2019 Better for Women report and recent...

Marsh Commercial, one of the UK’s leading commercial insurance brokers, is looking for community heroes – both businesses and individuals who have given their time to good causes to enter their recently launched ‘For the People awards’. Have you helped in a foodbank? Maintained your local green spaces? Helped a charity retrain the unemployed? This award celebrates the businesses and in...

Following the success of training held earlier this year by the award-winning charity Stand Against Violence, businesses in Sedgemoor will be able to benefit from discounted courses thanks to the continued support and funding received from the Hinkley Point C Community Fund. Stand Against Violence has years of experience in developing techniques and delivering training in de-escalating situations...

When the COVID lockdown news hit in March 2020 the first reaction of Lorraine Stamp, of face-to-face coaching and training consultancy You’ll Know When You Get There was "Well, that's it, my business will close".  Then things changed. With her only digital skills at the time being Word, PowerPoint and emails, Lorraine (pictured) embarked on a 40-day creating transformations online course. Thi...

David Hutchins, Chairman and Senior Consultant of David Hutchins International, has won the professionally coveted 'Walter Masing Award' for his book 'Quality Beyond Borders'.  The award is made annually, when deemed appropriate, at the AGM of the International Academy for Quality (IAQ). David, who is based in Charlton Mackrell, is currently the sole UK Academician in the International Academy...

The Chancellor has announced the extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough) until the end of March, but British Chambers of Commerce Director General, Dr Adam Marshall, said more still needed to be done to help businesses which had so far failed to receive any additional grant support. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the Government would continue to pay 80% of wages until the end of...

Leading Taunton law firm Clarke Willmott LLP has renewed its business partnership with the Somerset Chamber of Commerce following a successful first year. The firm is one of the Chamber of Commerce’s longest standing members and became a business partner in 2019. The business partnership brings members to the heart of the business community, together with unrivalled opportunities to engage wit...

Somerset based communications agency, ADPR, is offering completely free careers advice and support for anyone considering a role in PR & Marketing and has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. With many businesses facing difficult decisions about the future of their current work force, thousands are facing unemployment in a saturated jobs market. Those between the ages of 16 -29 are paying ...