A report signalling the first positive indicators for the UK's economy in four years has been welcomed by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The quarterly economic survey by Business West, an organisation providing support for business across the South West, showed growing confidence amongst more than 400 businesses which responded.

It reports that the second quarter of 2021 saw a bounce back in domestic sales compared with the previous quarter and that orders are following the same path.

Net domestic sales are shown to be positive for the first time in a year with a growth in the job market. 45% of all businesses which responded tried to recruit staff in the past three months.

However, the report says that the challenge to recruit and retain staff could hold back the region's recovery. Amongst the businesses trying to recruit, 62% reported problems in finding the right skills to grow.

Councillor Richard Samuel, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Economic Development & Resources, said: "I welcome the good news in this report as it shows that businesses in Bath and North East Somerset and the wider region are bouncing back from the effects of the pandemic. It's positive that domestic sales and orders for local businesses are heading upwards with more jobs available, which is good news for jobseekers who may have become unemployed due to the pandemic.

"There is much optimism in the report but there are some specific areas of concern facing many businesses across our region in these challenging times. The difficulties with recruiting and retaining staff is certainly one the council is experiencing with frontline services, particularly in securing more drivers for our waste vehicles caused by the national driver shortage. We are carrying out a significant recruitment campaign to mitigate the impact of the current business environment on services to our residents."