The UK attracted more than 2,200 new inward investment projects in 2016 to 2017 with more than 107,000 jobs across the country safeguarded or created, according to new figures.
Figures published by the Department for International Trade revealed that the UK attracted more foreign direct investment projects than ever before for the year.
With more than 2,200 projects recorded, the post-referendum figures show an increase of 2% on the previous year. The data also shows that 75,226 new jobs were created, and 32,672 safeguarded, amounting to over 2,000 jobs per week across the country.
Overall, the UK is the number one destination for inward investment in Europe, with the technology, renewable energy, life sciences and creative industries all seeing an increase in the number of projects.
International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, said: “Almost one year on since the EU referendum, the UK continues to attract record levels of inward investment and remains extremely attractive to foreign investors.”
We agree. Digital technology is playing its part every day and our clients are benefitting from the use of IT to develop new projects and improve the efficiency of existing ones.
Bowe Digital offers a range of IT solutions that can help businesses take advantage.
Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
Growth in the UK’s private sector slowed in the three months to June, according to the latest CBI Growth Indicator.
The survey of 762 respondents across the distribution, manufacturing and service sectors showed the balance of firms reporting a rise in output at +6%, compared with +13% in the three months to May 2017.
However, private sector firms expect growth to pick up over the next three months and we support that viewpoint. This is a time for calm heads.
The many companies we work with are expressing confidence that trading conditions, while challenging, do remain positive.
We are playing our part, offering a range of IT solutions that can help businesses take advantage of the digital revolution.
Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
With a year to go until the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into law, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging businesses to start preparing to ensure that they are compliant with the legislation when it comes into force.
From 25 May 2018, all businesses that hold personal data will have to guarantee that their data procedures are fit for purpose and compliant with the new regulation.
While the GDPR is an EU-initiative, the UK government has already made it clear that the legislation will still take effect in the UK after Brexit. Businesses that are found to be non-compliant risk fines of up to €20 million or 4% of annual worldwide turnover.
Chambers of Commerce around the country are urging their members to start taking the necessary preparations to ensure they are ready for the regulation.
David Riches, Executive Director at the BCC, said:“Businesses need to be proactive about ensuring they are ready for the new data protection regulations when they come into force this time next year, and not leave preparations until the eleventh hour. Those firms that don’t fulfil the necessary responsibilities leave themselves vulnerable to tough penalties, not to mention public scrutiny.”
We agree. This is a major piece of legislation that affects just about every company in the country.
Bowe Digital specialises in keeping data secure as we offer a range of IT solutions that can help companies streamline their manufacturing processes in everything from quality control to stock management.
Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
A new survey has underlined the growing importance of digital technology to businesses of all size.
The British Chambers of Commerce Digital Economy Survey questioned more than 1,400 businesses across the UK and found that 84% of firms say digital and IT skills are more important to their business than two years ago, with 51% saying these skills are ‘significantly’ more important.
However, the survey also found that 20% of businesses had been hit by a cyber-attack in the past 12 months. Big businesses are far more likely than their smaller counterparts to be victims of attacks (42% of companies with more than 100 staff, compared to 18% of companies with fewer than 99 employees).
We agree that digital technology is playing its part to support the growth of the UK economy but that companies also need to maintain their security.
Bowe Digital offers a range of IT solutions that can help businesses take advantage of digital opportunities and we can also advise on ways to avoid falling foul of hackers.
Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
A new survey has shown that UK manufacturers experienced strong growth in orders both at home and from abroad over the first quarter of 2017.
Researchers for the latest quarterly CBI Industrial Trends Survey contacted 397 manufacturers and found that domestic orders improved at the fastest pace since July 2014 in the three months to April.
Meanwhile export orders recorded the strongest growth in six years, supported by strong rises in competitiveness, particularly in non-EU markets which improved at a record pace.
Output growth firmed to a three-year high and is expected to accelerate over the next quarter.
Companies are also upbeat in their year-ahead expectations for exports, with optimism posting the biggest gain in over four decades.
Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Economist, said: “UK manufacturers are enjoying strong growth in demand from customers in the UK and overseas, and continue to ramp up production, find more info at https://currysupply.com. Exports have surged and firms are at their most optimistic about selling overseas in over four decades.”
We believe that digital technology is playing its part to support this continuing growth, and Bowe Digital offers a range of IT solutions that can help businesses take advantage.
Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
The importance of innovation was underlined when Business Secretary Greg Clark recently named the winners of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s 91st birthday.
One hundred and seventy-six businesses from across the UK were recognised for their contribution to international trade, innovation and , sustainable development in industries from green energy solutions and medical healthcare, to laser technology and digital marketing. Fifty seven won the innovation award.
Greg Clark said: “We have some of the best Action AC entrepreneurs and innovative minds in the world who are at the heart of small start-ups providing excellent customer service to larger businesses developing global solutions.”
We salute them because innovation is key to the success of our economy. Digital technology is playing a key role in promoting innovation and we like to think that we are playing our part. Bowe Digital offers a range of IT solutions that can help manufacturing companies streamline their operations to run smartly, efficiently, and grow.
· Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
· Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
Entrepreneurs are being invited to complete a survey by Government-backed organisation Innovate UK, which is seeking views on innovation.
Innovate UK says it will use the results to strengthen the ways in which it supports innovative companies and, as a company whose digital technologies help many clients find new ways of working, we think it’s well worth offering your views.
Among the questions that Innovate UK is seeking to answer are:
how much effort are you investing in evolving or developing new products, services and processes, as well as in new areas?
how much you expect to grow in the next two years and what the challenges stopping you from doing so?
what are your plans for international activities?
They are seeking views from businesses of any size and age and the survey is open until 23 April 2017 at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/how-does-your-organisation-approach-research-and-innovation innovate uk
A new survey has shown that manufacturing is playing a key role in the UK’s economic revival.
Although overall private sector growth slowed slightly in the three months to March, according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator, manufacturing output expanded strongly.
Overall, firms expect growth to pick up over the next quarter, with the survey balance the strongest since September 2015.
We see that confidence reflected among the companies that we help. We believe that digital technology is playing its part to support this continuing growth and our clients are benefitting from the use of IT to develop new projects and improve the efficiency of existing ones.
Bowe Digital offers a range of IT solutions that can help businesses take advantage.
Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
The latest Office for National Statistics labour market figures, for March, showed employment continuing to rise.
Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “The UK’s jobs market is going from strength to strength, with the number of people in work continuing to rise and unemployment also falling.”
The Chamber does warn that the future looks uncertain with concerns over Brexit but for the moment, things look good.
We are certainly seeing that confidence reflected in the companies to whom we talk on a daily basis.
We believe that digital technology is playing its part to support this continuing growth and our clients are benefitting from the innovative use of IT to develop new projects and improve the efficiency of existing ones.
Bowe Digital offers a range of IT solutions that can help businesses take advantage.
Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
Demand for UK-manufactured goods strengthened in the three months to February, with order books improving, according to the CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey.
The survey of 471 firms found that total orders reached a two-year high, with the strengthening in demand led by the mechanical engineering and metal products sectors. Export orders remained stable and above the long-run average.
27% of businesses reported total orders to be above normal and 19% said orders were below normal, giving a balance of +8%, the highest since February 2015 (+10%)
19% of businesses reported export orders to be above normal and 29% below, resulting in a balance of -10%
35% of businesses reported a rise in output volumes, and 20% a fall, giving a rounded balance of +16%
Output growth is expected to grow faster over the next three months, with 43% of companies expecting a rise and 10% expecting a fall, leaving a balance of +33%, the highest since September 2013 (+33%)
We like to think that we are playing our part. Bowe Digital offers a range of IT solutions that can help manufacturing companies streamline their operations to run smartly, efficiently, and grow.
· Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
· Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen