Business

SMEs in South West are owed an average of £99,000 in outstanding invoices, according to the latest Business in Britain report from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

This is an increase of 32 per cent since the last Business in Britain report in January 2016, with 21 per cent of firms citing late payments as the biggest cause of cashflow problems. The report also found that a fifth (21 per cent) of firms in the South West are currently owed more than £200,000 in outstanding invoices, up from 18 per cent in January. The issue of late payments is also likely to persist into 2017, with a...

Redrow, one of the UK’s leading house builders has appointed a new director at its West Country division to head up its increasingly busy Construction department.

Its new Construction Director, Andrew Hopkins, brings to Redrow 35 years’ experience gained in residential construction and business management across England and Wales from roles in both the private and public sector. Originally trained as an apprentice brick layer, Andrew moved to Redrow from Barratt David Wilson where he was a divisional construction manager.

His new role will see Andrew ensuring Redow continue...

Leading Devon law firm Stephens Scown LLP has been flying the flag for the region at a national awards ceremony, where it has scooped two awards. Stephens Scown, which is based in Exeter, won Law Firm of the Year and Most Innovative Marketing Campaign at the Symphony Legal Awards 2016. The awards were announced in Stratford-Upon-Avon on 6 October and saw law firms from across the country competing for the awards. The judges highlighted Stephens Scown’s ethos and culture as a key reason for its selection as Law Firm of the Year. They singled out Stephens Scown’s success in the Sunday Times...

The South West’s largest specialist family law firm, The Family Law Company by Hartnell Chanot, is celebrating 25 years as a specialist legal firm.

The company was set up as Hartnell & Co in 1991 by Norman Hartnell, after he realised there was a need for specialist family lawyers.

He was joined by Jane Chanot in 1997 when the company became Hartnell Chanot, and in 2013 a significant rebrand to The Family Law Company by Hartnell Chanot, meant the company’s specialism became clear to all.

Norman Hartnell said: “I felt strongly then, as I do now, that family law is...