Business

Future Farming events to help families pass business to next generation

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Sun, 02/27/2022 - 10:35pm

Three events aimed at advising farming families on handing down an agricultural business to the next generation are being planned in the South West.

National law firm Clarke Willmott in partnership with Lloyds Bank, chartered accountants Albert Goodman and chartered surveyors Greenslade Taylor Hunt, will hold the events in Bridgwater, Exeter and Wincanton in February and March.

The in-person events, called Farming into the Future, will cover everything family farmers need to know about succession planning with a panel of expert advisers.

Esther Woolford, partner...

Number of companies In Devon hits record high

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 02/22/2022 - 11:58pm

Latest figures show that the number of businesses in Devon reached a record high during 2021 – despite the continuing economic challenges resulting from the pandemic.

The total number of registered companies in Devon rose to 60,022. During the year 6,825 new businesses were registered in the county.

The statistics come from the Inform Direct Review of Company Formations using data from Companies House and the Office for National Statistics.

Plymouth formed the highest number of new businesses (1,416), followed by Exeter (1,054) and Teignbridge (824).

...

Huge drive for green jobs in Devon as council partners with Retrofit Academy to create energy careers

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/21/2022 - 11:12pm

Fully-funded training programmes across all levels are opening up new opportunities in energy-efficiency sector at a crucial time

The Retrofit Academy - one of the UK’s leading not-for-profit training providers - is partnering with Devon County Council to build a skilled green workforce at a time when energy-efficiency roles are more critical than ever.

Drawing on resources made available via the £220m Community Renewal Fund , The Retrofit Academy will deliver a range of fully-funded training programmes intended to create hundreds of careers in the energy sector and...

Free support for small businesses and community groups

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/21/2022 - 6:04pm

A new support programme has been launched by Devon County Council to help small businesses and community groups.

Get Set to Tender is offering free support to Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who have less than 250 employees, to help them respond to public sector organisation tendering opportunities.

The project, which will operate until March 2023, is part of a wider package of support being delivered through Devon’s £6 million recovery programme which aims to provide help and support in four key areas: small and medium enterprises, employment and skills, the green...

Devon Work Hubs network expanded

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 02/16/2022 - 10:35am

The award-winning Devon Work Hubs network has expanded with the opening of three new hubs across the county and expansion of a fourth.

Devon County Council secured funding from the Heart of the South West LEP Getting Building Fund last year, which has now enabled three new Work Hubs to open in Great Torrington, Newton Abbot and Teignmouth. The extension of the Tavistock Enterprise Hub is also complete.

A further two Work Hubs are due to open in Ilfracombe and High Bickington in the coming months.

There are now 19 unique and flexible coworking spaces in the Devon...

Exeter firm scoops Builders’ Merchant of the Year for third year running

Bradfords Building Supplies, which has a popular branch in Exeter, has won Builders’ Merchant of the Year (21-50 branches) at the latest annual Builders’ Merchants Awards, for the third year in a row.

The family-run business was first established in the South West just over 250 years ago and also won the Sustainable & Environmental Initiative of the Year for its efforts to educate and support local constructors and home renovators in making environmentally sustainable choices for their building projects.

Now in its 20th year, the Builders’ Merchants Awards is the...

Exeter Chamber appoints new Vice Chair to join its dynamic leadership team

Exeter Chamber continues to go from strength to strength with its dynamic and progressive board. Current board director Steve Gates has been appointed to join Tim Wadsworth as joint vice chair of the Chamber.

Steve Gates is the managing director of Taking Care - part of AXA Health and is an experienced and inspirational senior business leader with extensive understanding of the private health, insurance, and financial services markets.

Steve has previously held the position of vice president of the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and chair of the local Chamber committee in...

Ashfords' continues to grow its offer to the energy and waste sectors

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 02/13/2022 - 10:53pm

UK law firm Ashfords' continues to grow its offer to the Energy & Waste sectors with the arrival of experienced energy & construction partner Carl Thompson.

Carl joins from Osborne Clarke where he led the Bioenergy & Waste team and advised on a wide range of clean energy projects from on-shore & off-shore wind, energy-from-waste and anaerobic digestion to battery storage, solar and tidal developments. He is a recognised expert in the Legal 500 and an experienced adviser on complex large-scale commercial construction and engineering projects across rail, energy,...

Devon Elevation Fund launched to help businesses and local organisations

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 02/13/2022 - 10:39pm

Small businesses and local communities in the county are being invited to apply to a new grant scheme launched by Devon County Council.

The Devon Elevation Fund (DEF) is funded through the UK Community Renewal Fund.

The scheme is offering grants of between £2,500 and £25,000 to projects that help businesses and community organisations to:

• Respond to the different trading environment resulting from COVID-19 • Plan for future growth and development • Develop new products and services • Improve infrastructure • Assess the feasibility of future initiatives...

Three Devon companies in the running for national business awards

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 02/13/2022 - 10:12pm

Three outstanding businesses from Devon are preparing to attend the national final of the UK’s leading rural business awards programme, where they’re shortlisted for their outstanding accomplishments in business.

Thorverton-based Rull Orchard, The Outdoors Group from Shillingford Abbot and Dartington’s Apricot Centre have been shortlisted in the national final of the Rural Business Awards, held in partnership with Amazon, which will see them compete against fellow businesses from across the UK to be named among the best rural businesses in the country.

The national final...

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