Getting To Know You: Dr. Vidal J Bharath, Chief Commercial Officer, Bramble Energy

Dr. Vidal J Bharath, talks about the inspiration behind his fuel cell technology company which has seen them become a finalist in the scale-up and market disruptor category of the 2023 Business Champion Awards

What do you currently do at ‘Bramble Energy’

Having started at Bramble Energy as its Chief Operations Officer, I oversaw its growth from just three employees to its current 75. I have now moved into the Chief Commercial Officer role as we rapidly scale and commercialise our technology with go-to-market partners to decarbonise a wide range of applications and industries.

What was the inspiration behind your business?

Starting out as just an idea in the labs, our company was founded as a spin-out of UCL and Imperial College London by our CEO, Dr Tom Mason, with an overriding ambition to help the world transition to net zero. Solving the climate crisis is the biggest challenge humanity … Read more

The Business Enabler of the Year Award finalists revealed

This Business Champions Award celebrates businesses who help their customers or clients to increase sales and profitability through a competitive advantage.

Recognising the impact of ‘enablers’ that offer value beyond products, infrastructure and services and instead delivering more customers, clients or revenue for businesses certainly deserves a round of applause.

For a business to be constantly innovating to support its clients, as their unsung heroes in many cases, it doesn’t just need to be ahead of the curve, it needs to set the curve. To achieve this aim the CEO needs to lead and inspire the entire team to be constantly analysing their work and data perceptions coupled with market trends, potential new verticals and competitors as well as innovation from their current and potential new suppliers. These businesses assist with enabling business to make better, more informed decisions about their futures whilst always keeping an eye on the financials … Read more

SME loan rejections rise as banks further increase cautiousness

Banks are reducing their appetite to fund small and medium-sized companies, according to brokers handling loan applications.

Asked by the alternative lender iwoca if high street banks were becoming more cautious, 82 per cent of the brokers said that they were, with 49 per cent saying they had seen more applications rejected in December compared with the previous month.

The main reasons given by the banks for the rejections were that the applicants did not have enough months of trading — in 20 per cent of cases — followed by poor credit histories and high existing indebtedness. The businesses were seeking money to support business growth and day-to-day working capital needs. The poll covered brokers submitting more than 2,000 applications in December.

Colin Goldstein, director of commercial at iwoca, said: “With brokers predicting that the impact of current macroeconomic pressures this year will be worse than the pandemic for small … Read more

Hycondo Thasala Chiang Mai: FIABCI-Thai Prix D’Excellence Grant 2022

Hycondo Thasala Chiang Mai by Hylife Improvements Co., Ltd. won the FIABCI-Thai Prix D’Excellence Grant in 2022 at the classifications of the honors of Private Townhouses Class.

Mr. Shubhodeep Prasanta Das, Chief, Hylife Improvements Co., Ltd. came to got the honor from Mr. Theeraj Athanavanich, Representative Long-lasting Secretary for the benefit of the Clergyman of Money in lieu of the Pastor along with Dr.Sopon Pornchokchai, President, Organization for Land Undertakings who is likewise the Leader of FIABCI-Thai.

The honor service was hung on Friday, November 25, 2022 from 17:30 – 21:00 at The Watergate Assembly hall, Amari Watergate Bangkok as a celebration supper (Dark tie).

About FIABCI

FIABCI is the abbreviation for “League Internationale des Administrateurs de Bien-Conselis Immobiliers”, or “The Global Land Alliance”. FIABCI was established in Paris in 1940 After the 82 years of presence, FIABCI is at present working in excess of 560 nations with 120 expert … Read more

NatWest poised to report biggest profits since 2008 financial crisis

NatWest is set to reveal its largest annual profit since the 2008 financial crisis amid speculation that the taxpayer-backed bank will ramp up the size of its bonus pool just as consumers struggle with the cost of living crisis.

The banking group, which is still 45% state-owned, is expected to report £5.1bn in pre-tax profits for 2022 when it reveals annual results on Friday, according to City analysts.

Under its chief executive, Alison Rose, NatWest has made progress on repairing its reputation since being bailed out during the 2008 financial crisis, when it was known as Royal Bank of Scotland Group. However, a further increase in its bonus pool, which rose 44% to £298m last year, is likely to renew controversy while many people struggle with soaring living costs, given the large government stake.

A series of interest rate hikes by the Bank of England, compounded by Liz Truss’s disastrous … Read more