The Republic fashion chain has been purchased by Sports Direct for an undisclosed sum, saving 38 jobs in the Exeter branch and over 2,100 jobs across the UK.

The announcement comes two weeks after Republic went into administration following a weak January sales period.

Sports Direct has bought 116 Republic stores, the brand name, its head office in Leeds and all Republic's stock. The business began as a men's denim retailer in 1986 under the Best Jeans brand in Leeds. It currently offers casual fashion, under multiple brands to young adults, including Jack Jones and SoulCal...

Everys Solicitors has pledged to cycle between all of its nine Devon and Somerset branches in two days to raise £5,000 for the charity School in a Bag.

The team will begin their journey at the Bridgwater office in Somerset, finishing in Seaton, Devon, on the first day before heading off to the final finish line in Exeter the following day, covering a distance of 95 miles.

Every rider will be required to raise £500 each, which will all go to School in a Bag. This Somerset-based charity helps poor, orphaned, vulnerable and disaster-affected children throughout the world. It...

Three members of the Exeter Chiefs took on the challenge to bake and decorate 1,000 cup cakes to show their support for Red Nose Day 2013, and inspire everyone to get out the cake mix to raise money.

Today (Thursday Feb 28) prop Carl Rimmer and hookers Jack Yeandle and Chris Whitehead rose to the occasion and made more than a half-baked attempt at cooking Red Nose Day inspired cupcakes to encourage the people of Exeter to raise funds with their own baking skills on Friday 15 March.

And after a morning’s baking with Exeter College catering students, including Emma Wakeley,...

As Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg reaches a notable milestone on Friday 1 March - 100 days in office - he has reinforced his determination to make a real difference and says he is looking forward to the next 1,000 days, and beyond.

Since being elected in mid-November, Tony Hogg has overseen the appointment of a new Chief Constable, published his Police and Crime plan, and set budgets.

He has already received encouraging feedback from local people about how he is developing the role, and engaging directly with them. He has met numerous partners,...

An Exeter business leader has urged other bosses from the city to go for glory in an award scheme that thrust him into the spotlight last year.

Rob Varley, Exeter-based operations and services director of the Met Office, was a winner in the 2012 IoD South West Director of the Year Awards – and nominations are now open for the 2013 programme.

The awards highlight the best in South West leadership and some winners go on fly the flag for their country at the UK-wide IoD Awards.

Rob said: “The IoD Awards are a celebration of boardroom excellence, and in such a strong...

NFU President Peter Kendall has used his opening address at the NFU Conference 2013 to argue that the horse meat scandal shows the need for a major shift in the way food is delivered.

Speaking in Birmingham today, Mr Kendall said one of the lessons to be learned from the current food scandal is that the great British consumer wants their food to be produced as close to home as possible.

“This boils down to a clear and simple message: we need shorter supply chains which source from British farmers and growers,” he said. “We must make that our collective ambition. But if...

FA Disability Cup Southern Section first round (Sunday 24 February) Exeter City Ability Counts 7 AFC Bournemouth Ability Counts 1 Exeter City’s Ability Counts team beat their counterparts from AFC Bournemouth by a 7-1 scoreline, to reach the Southern Section semi-final in the inaugural FA Disability Cup. The Grecians are now due to face Plymouth Argyle’s representative side on Sunday 24 March. The tie against AFC Bournemouth was played at the Coach Road ground at Devon County FA headquarters, in Newton Abbot. There are a total of 16 teams in this year’s tournament, and the final will be...

Stagecoach, one of the UK’s biggest bus operators, has just launched the country’s first long-term nationwide discounted bus travel scheme for jobseekers.

The new initiative will give thousands of job seekers across the UK a 50% discount on their bus travel to help them find employment.

Holders of a Jobcentreplus Travel Discount Card will qualify for half-price single and return tickets on Stagecoach’s 6,500 buses in the UK outside London.

Stagecoach is already part of a Transport for London scheme which offers reduced bus, tram and train travel rates for jobseekers...

Exeter City Council wants to create high quality employment in Exeter and is looking at drawing up a five-year Knowledge Economy Strategy.

Cllr Rosie Denham, Lead Councillor for Economy and Tourism, said: "Developing a knowledge-based economy in Exeter is one of the top priorities for the city.

"It's important that we have a strategy - a jointly agreed plan that sets a clear direction for Exeter and achievable objectives for the benefit of the city.

"The current, ongoing economic difficulties and uncertain future facing different sectors in the city mean that Exeter...

Devon County Council chiefs have been advising the Government on how to get more people cycling. Devon was invited to send a representative to Westminster to speak to the All Party Parliamentary Group’s “Get Britain Cycling” inquiry yesterday (27 February), following its success with boosting cycling in the county.

The County Council’s Head of Highways, Lester Willmington, addressed the group on the improvements made in Devon which in the past 5 years has helped to encourage around a 15% growth in average daily cycle trips across the whole county, with over 40% growth in Exeter....