How a bus company's services were replaced in two days (and other top business stories from Hampshire and Dorset)

There's a strange atmosphere about Bournemouth at the moment.

The disappearance of the distinctive yellow buses from the town's roads has made a surprising difference to the place, just as the removal of red buses or black cabs from London would.

While we mull over the reasons for the demise of Yellow Buses, the story of how Morebus - owned by the Go-Ahead group - stepped in to replace its services within a couple of days is fascinating.

Managing director Andrew Wickham talked about how that complicated project had been completed so quickly.

Not everything has gone Morebus's way, however. After running three council-contracted services temporarily, it lost the tender to continue running those buses. That decision did at least give Morebus the capacity to introduce open-topped beach buses earlier than planned.

Other top stories this week

• After the very gloomy report on the state of the economy that accompanied the Bank of England's interest rates rise, the Bank's agent for the Central South, Andrew Holder, wrote about the determination to bring down inflation.
• In such a tough environment, many struggling businesses may be finally overwhelmed this autumn, restructuring experts have warned. Meanwhile, business output in the South West grew only fractionally last month as inflation and staff shortages bit, according to research from NatWest.
• One of Hampshire's longest-standing Vauxhall dealerships has been bought by a big regional group.
• Developers have put forward revised plans for a four-storey apartment block on the site of a Bournemouth car park. (Story by Lauren Joy.)
• A recruiter which finds staff for luxury yachts is doubling the size of its Southampton HQ.
• A strip club in Bournemouth has had its licence renewed, but only after a slightly bizarre argument about whether the silhouettes in its window display were intended to represent women. (Story by Jason Lewis.)
• After the first case of a director to be jailed for bounce back loan fraud, more are set to go the same way, it is claimed.
• A businesswoman has told of her mission to change skincare after two miscarriages and cancer treatment left her with acne. (Story by Shivalika Puri.)
• Leaders of the Students Union of Bournemouth University received coaching in adapting to life after Covid disruption, thanks to Dorset LEP and local consultancy Evolve.
• Planners have given permission for an outdoor swimming pool at Bournemouth's new five-star hotel. (Story by Jason Lewis.)
• A manufacturer at Bournemouth Airport that went into administration - and was bought by another part of its Chinese parent - had debts to the former Christchurch Borough Council and to site owner Eastleigh Borough Council.
• A farm business says it has had to suspend orders worth ￡150,000 because of Brexit. (Story by Lisa Young.)
• The organisers of Bournemouth Air Festival are looking for traders to take part in the event and promote themselves before an expected 800,000 people. (Story by Andy Martin.)
• And do you know a Hampshire or Isle of Wight business with outstanding customer service? Do you run such a business? Here's how to enter the Service Excellence category of the South Coast Business Awards.

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Have a great weekend.