Morning Matcha: Wiltshire - 25.08.2025

Fiona Mountain

Good morning, you’re listening to Morning Matcha: Wiltshire. Today’s episode is turning the page on Wiltshire’s business pulse—plenty of fresh energy, and maybe a few surprises up our sleeve. Jim, did you see this? Wiltshire’s just secured that Local Visitor Economy Partnerships status—LVEP, for short. The council’s been keen on it, but honestly, I didn’t expect such a big win.

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Yeah, Fiona, that’s massive. LVEP puts Wiltshire right at the heart of VisitBritain’s growth plans, doesn’t it? And it’s all about those public and private partnerships. I mean, look—Chippenham, Trowbridge, Devizes, they’ve all been working together. I’ve always said collaboration is where the magic happens.

Fiona Mountain

Exactly. It’s not just big names either—smaller market towns are pitching in. Now tourism’s worth, what, £1.5 billion each year? That’s 28,000 jobs, or about 9% of Wiltshire’s entire GDP. For a rural county, that’s a proper economic engine.

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You know, it’s funny—I remember all those years back, people said “Wiltshire, that’s just Stonehenge and countryside, right?” But these figures show just how broad the visitor economy’s become. This status means not just marketing muscle, but new funding streams—could mean faster upgrades to attractions, better digital campaigns, the whole works.

Fiona Mountain

Yeah, and I’ve heard local businesses talking up the support. Especially coming out of the pandemic, it’s this sort of positive momentum we need. Should we move on to another bit of county good news?

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Alright, let’s talk money—grants, specifically! Wiltshire Council’s just dropped a pretty solid incentive for small businesses: up to six grand in energy efficiency grants for firms scattered across 22 towns. You’ve got Amesbury, Melksham, Marlborough, Warminster… the whole lot.

Fiona Mountain

It’s not some red tape headache, either. If you’re a SME with under 50 staff and less than £10.2 million turnover, you’re eligible. Free energy health checks, no match funding, and funding covers everything from new insulation to heating, lighting, or even solar panels on your roof.

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This is where I always get excited, Fiona—tangible action. Severn Wye Energy Agency, they’re running the on-the-ground reports. I chatted to a bakery in Marlborough last year—after their upgrades, their energy costs dropped by 35%. Not a typo! Those energy savings go straight to the bottom line, and it’s money that stays local, not leaking out to the grid.

Fiona Mountain

Love a good bakery story—especially if it involves saving money and maybe, I don’t know, a carrot cake or two? If you’re listening and thinking, “Is it worth the hassle?”—the funding is there, the advice is impartial, and it’s designed to support you, not add paperwork. Alright, quick refuel on our matcha, and shall we go electric?

Fiona Mountain

Next up, the logistics revolution coming out of Wiltshire Farm Foods. Jim, this number floored me—over £14 million invested in electrifying their fleet, with the goal of 75% of their vans going electric by the end of next year.

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That’s no small bet. Over two hundred electric refrigerated vans on the road—plus they’re sticking solar panels on the vans themselves. I’m just picturing these vehicles gliding around, quietly saving 1,358 tonnes of CO2 a year. That’s setting a high bar, not just for Wiltshire, but the whole regional supply chain.

Fiona Mountain

Right, and Lee Sheppard from apetito—he made a point about this being both a climate move and a delivery upgrade. Cold chain logistics can be quite… well, carbon-heavy, but this investment means more reliable deliveries for everyone who depends on their service. And I have to say, it’s refreshing to see a local employer taking a genuine lead.

70ef5c54

It is. All these green supply chains—makes Wiltshire a bit of a testbed for what’s possible. And if a food logistics outfit can electrify operations, I reckon other firms are gonna take notes fast, yeah?

Fiona Mountain

Absolutely. And it’s not a flash-in-the-pan PR story, either. The numbers are serious, and the climate benefit is there. Right—let’s zoom out to the wider business picture for the area.

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Alright, here come the stats! Since the pandemic, Swindon and Wiltshire together have lost about 1,370 businesses. Now, we’ve got around 28,555 businesses making up 13% of the region’s base. Not insignificant, but that contraction stands out.

Fiona Mountain

It does. Although, if you dig into the jobs data, Wiltshire’s gained three thousand jobs since 2018—that’s a one percent bump. Unfortunately, it’s a much more sobering picture in Swindon—a drop of six thousand jobs, or minus five percent, and the Honda closure looms there. But in Wiltshire proper, sectors like real estate, professional and scientific services, manufacturing, and life sciences have all shown some muscle.

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Swindon, though, still packs a punch in finance and insurance, doesn’t it? All these stats point to different investor angles, especially if you’re looking for high-growth opportunities. Life sciences in Wiltshire, fintech in Swindon… As ever, when things are in flux, the entrepreneurs win if they can spot the gaps.

Fiona Mountain

I might be biased, but it’s kind of thrilling to see the landscape shifting. Despite setbacks, there are new stories each week. Actually, that sets us up for our rapid-fire round of deals and opportunities—ready for a whistle-stop tour, Jim?

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Oh, I do love a lightning round—so let’s serve up the headlines. Creative grants are up in Swindon, with £600,000 supporting arts and performance venues. And private equity activity is climbing here, even as the national trend’s dragging its feet a bit.

Fiona Mountain

Wiltshire Council’s also rolling out its ‘Business Fit for Future’ programme, and there’s Growth Collective for SMEs. So, if you’re a Wiltshire founder, there’s free expert advice and up to £10,000 in funding for startups or expansions. Don’t let that collect dust—there’s a window there for a reason!

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Yeah, real company news: Hills Quarry Products hitting fresh environmental milestones—always interesting to see a local quarry walking the talk on sustainability. And in Swindon, a couple of entrepreneurs have relaunched an electrical supplies business, so it’s not just theory, it’s actual deals and jobs spinning up.

Fiona Mountain

Before we sign off, quick encouragement—listeners should check for local tenders and accelerator programmes on council websites. There are more out there than you’d think, honestly.

70ef5c54

Alright, that’s business intelligence wrapped for today. Fiona, always sharp insights—and to everyone tuning in, we’ll be back tomorrow with more facts and opportunities before you head out the door. Cheers all, have a good one.

Fiona Mountain

Thanks, Jim. Thanks to all our listeners—don’t forget your matcha, and we’ll catch you bright and early tomorrow. Bye for now!