"Heating vs eating": The top business news from Hampshire and Dorset

Huw Pill spends a lot of time talking to people who deal in the financial markets, rather than those on the breadline.

But on a visit to Southampton , the Bank of England's chief economist seemed genuinely interested to hear from the people who can least afford to deal with a sharply rising cost of living.

He had already heard the phrase "heating or eating" uttered that day before I mentioned it.

And as the discussions at a Bank of England citizens panel event made clear, many hard-working people in fairly secure jobs are finding it increasingly hard to make ends meet.

Other top stories this week

• The Tesla Model Y was officially welcomed to the UK with an event at the Port of Southampton.
• A strike ballot is taking place at Hampshire's Fawley Refinery over a pay offer to contract workers which was derided as "insulting". (Story by Chris Yandell.)
• Remote workers wanting to pick their own stationery have delivered a big boost to Dorset brand Pukka Pads.
• Business owners in the Bournemouth shopping centre that lost its Wilko have voiced fears that they might have to move. (Story by Matt Simpson.)
• The Southampton company that was the UK's first Starbucks franchisee, as well as remaining its biggest, saw revenue rise sharply despite the pandemic.
• BCP Council plans to lend ￡8m to a new urban regeneration company. (Story by Jason Lewis.)
• A report into business growth in Dorset found that Weymouth and Portland had seen the biggest percentage rise in business numbers since the pandemic - but that Poole has fewer firms now than before Covid.
• A Hampshire business adviser shared some advice on coping with galloping price rises.
• A Bournemouth-based operator of hotels and coaching holidays has seen sales rise to top pre-pandemic levels. (Report by Nicole Baddeley.)
• Maya George told the story of the Sprinkles Gelato brand, from its foundation by three brothers in Southampton a decade ago.
• A fairly boozy area of Poole now has its first alcohol-free bar .
• We listed the winners of the Southampton region's Hospitality Awards .
• The Poole restaurant Maison Sax owed nearly ￡1m when it was put into liquidation.
• A Bournemouth University student paralysed by a back problem used the experience as inspiration to launch an online tutoring platform.
• A Hampshire woman has launched a national awards scheme celebrating women in business. (Story by Emily Liddell.)
• A new leisure centre in Winchester has been a success despite staffing problems, its management says. (Story by Toby Oliver.)
• The bid to make Southampton the UK City of Culture has signed up two new supporters.
• The owner of the Old Station Tea Rooms in the New Forest told us about the impact on the business of being almost completely surrounded by road closures. (Story by Jason Lewis.)
• A former TSB bank in Southampton could be turned into a bingo hall . (Story by Timothy Edgley.)
• We told the story of the man who left a 28-year corporate career at McDonald's to help tutor Southampton children .
• Businesses in Southampton voiced their relief at the scrapping of most remaining coronavirus restrictions. (Story by Timothy Edgley.)
• My colleague Ben Williets was given a first look at Bournemouth's new Brewdog,
• A wholefood shop that was desperately raising funds to stay open has missed its fundraising target . But all may not be lost.
• Amid the unfolding horror in Ukraine, a cyber security business warned that firms here warned that online attacks were increasingly likely.
• Subprime lender Amigo is preparing for another court hearing to try and save the business. Its chief executive told us the new team there deserved a fresh chance to correct past mistakes.
• The people carrying out major building work at a derelict Southampton pub are remaining tight-lipped about what they are doing to it. (Story by Sam Hatherley.)
• And a new networking club for young professionals will hear from the co-founder of Jimmy's Iced Coffee.

Someone else's content

Rather than tell its own story, the Bournemouth law firm Rawlins Davy had the great idea of telling the stories of some of the town's other famous brands.

After Palmair/Bath Travel and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra comes a video about the history of the Bournemouth Daily Echo and its great art deco building. (Fair warning: I'm in this one.)

Out of office

I'm taking some leave after today, but my colleagues at the Echo titles will be keeping you up to date with the latest business news from the Southern Daily Echo , the?Daily Echo Bournemouth? or the?Dorset Echo .

Have a great weekend.