Many Devon businesses don’t know which way to turn, as they continue to struggle with recruitment difficulties on top of rising costs of commodities, energy and fuel.
Businesses in hospitality and leisure especially, mainstays of Devon’s local economy, are continuing to find it difficult to recruit, says Stuart Elford, Chief Executive of Devon & Plymouth Chamber. And part of the reason for that is because property is seen to be too expensive and out of reach, dissuading many people on lower incomes from moving to where the vacancies are.
There’s just over a month left to apply for free trees from Devon County Council.
Devon County Council is offering free packs of trees to landowners and communities within Devon, thanks to the Emergency Tree Fund granted by The Woodland Trust.
Each pack will contain 45 trees, comprising three types of native broadleaved tree commonly found throughout the county.
A total of 3,150 trees were planted by landowners across Devon who took part in the scheme last year, which also supported The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee...
Kickstart trainees have received certificates for completing their six-month apprenticeship with Devon County Council.
A group of 12 young people took up trainee roles with the County Council through the government funded Kickstart scheme, which was designed to enable 18-24 year-olds to receive an apprenticeship.
Five of the apprentices trained as park rangers at Stover Country Park and the Grand Western Canal Country Park, while the remainder worked in administrative based roles in a variety of departments at the County Council.
Projects that support Devon communities have the opportunity to apply for funding through a new scheme.
Grants ranging from £500 to £3,000 are available through the Growing Communities Fund .
The new fund has been established by Devon County Council to assist projects which directly benefit communities, either by helping to build self-reliance and resilience, tackle hardship such as food and fuel inequality, improve mental health and wellbeing, address loneliness and isolation, or respond to the climate emergency.
Schemes that are eligible for funding can be new...
Van loads of Vital supplies including wheelchairs, mobility aids and bedding have been donated and delivered to Ukrainian hospitals thanks to the efforts of a local volunteer and staff at Devon’s recycling centres.
Colin Northover visited Exeter’s Pinbrook and Newton Abbot’s Brunel Road Recycling Centres to collect much needed supplies on behalf of the Ukraine Appeal.
Since the war began in February, Suez staff, contracted to run Devon County Council’s network of 19 recycling centres, have been casting a keen eye over anything that has been thrown away, enabling them to...
Devon County Council is facing an unprecedented black hole in its finances caused by the cost of living crisis and spiralling demand for help for vulnerable children and adults, the authority's director of finance warned today.
Angie Sinclair predicts the council could overspend by more than £40 million in the current financial year.
And she says urgent action must be taken by every council department to rein in spending.
A panel of senior officers is already looking at options for councillors to consider including spending cuts, remodelling services to save...
Devon County Council's long-serving chief executive, Phil Norrey, has announced his retirement.
Dr Norrey has held the post since 2006 and is the longest-serving chief executive in the council's history.
He joined the authority in 1998 as deputy director of education before being promoted to director of education.
Dr Norrey, who will be 60 next year, said it was the right time for him to leave and hand over to his successor as a new senior management team takes shape at County Hall. He said:
"Devon County Council has been a huge part of my life and I...
Children from across Devon aged 5 to 16, who are eligible for benefit-related free school meals, are invited to take up an action-packed Summer holiday this year, as part of Devon County Council’s government-funded Holiday Activities and Food programme.
The programme is to provide free physical activities and healthy, nutritional, hot meals during school holidays, and the council has again joined up with activity providers to arrange the activities across Devon.
During the Easter holidays, more than 5,000 young people eligible for benefit-related free school meals took...
Some of Devon’s recycling centres could be at risk of closure or operate with reduced hours if Government proposals to ban charging for DIY waste get the green light.
That’s the warning from Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s (DCC) Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Equality, who is also responsible for waste services.
DCC operates a network of 19 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) across the County and Cllr Croad’s warning follows Government proposals in April to stop charges at HWRCs for all DIY-related waste such as rubble, bricks,...
To mark National Coworking Day next month (June), 14 of Devon’s Work Hubs will be offering a free one-day trial to new clients.
The work hubs participating in the event are offering people the opportunity to work from their local hub, with the majority of them providing free work spaces on Monday 6 June and Tavistock Enterprise Hub on Thursday 9 June.
As spaces are limited, to help Hub operators to plan and to avoid disappointment, people are being asked to email their chosen Work Hub in advance in order to book a space.
