Small firms' confidence has increased, but their investment intentions have fallen as the domestic economy and access to finance act as a barrier to growth, show the results from the quarter one 2013 ‘Voice of Small Business' Index from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The report, which surveyed 2,686 people in the first quarter of 2013 showed a welcome increase in confidence, moving from a negative reading of -5.6 in Q4 2012 to +6.3 in the first quarter of 2013. However, this optimism was tempered with caution as fewer businesses expect to grow this year – down from 56 per cent...
Axminster Carpet Ltd, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of Axminster, Wilton and Tufted carpet has today announced that it has been forced to enter Administration as the carpet sector continues to suffer.
The Board of the Company has taken the decision to place the Company into Administration following a sharp increase in raw material prices, the closure of a loss-making subsidiary and a slight downturn in sales as a result of the continuing economic difficulties facing the UK.
Benjamin Wiles, Geoffrey Bouchier and David Whitehouse, all of Duff & Phelps were...
Aspect Windows, the leading local manufacturer and supplier of PVCu, aluminium windows, doors, bi-folds and conservatories, has welcomed a new head of Marketing and PR.
Lucie Simic joins the Exeter-based company from the East Devon newspaper title Pulman’s View where she was Associate Editor. After a decade in journalism, starting at the BBC, Lucie will start an exciting adventure working alongside the dedicated Aspect Windows staff, and managing director Steve Cooling.
Lucie said: “2013 is a going to be a big year for Aspect Windows and I’m excited to be joining the team...
New figures reveal there were 7,830 Apprenticeship starts in Devon during the academic year 2011/12 – representing growth of 13.5 per cent from the previous year. Indeed, Devon registered the highest number of Apprenticeship starts in the South West region, with starts in the county accounting for 14 per cent of the 55,950 total.
There is a similar positive picture across the country, with Apprenticeship starts in England for 2011/12 topping the half million mark. This is an overall increase of 13.9 per cent on the preceding year.
The number of unemployed young people under the age of 25 has again fallen this month from 2,700 in November to 2,675 in December - a decrease of 0.9%, following the national trend.
Significantly this figure is nearly 20% lower than in December 2011.
The total number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance has increased by only 66 claimants between November and December from 9,207 to 9,273, however, this is not unexpected given the seasonal nature of Devon’s labour market.
The proportion of working age population claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance remains at 2% - well...
Stagecoach South West is currently seeking skilled mechanics to join the Exeter team. Stagecoach South West’s Engineering Director, Mike Bishop faces a daily round of challenges. But an unexpected one, given the current economic climate, is being able to fill a job vacancy.
Mike and his team are on the look out for a couple of shift mechanics to work in the Exeter depot and, as he explains, finding applicants with the right combination of skills and experience is proving difficult.
“With 170 buses to service and maintain, our Exeter depot is a 24/7 operation. We’ve got a...
An excellent opportunity has arisen for a talented marketing professional looking to progress their career within an exciting, fast-paced environment.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, hardworking, creative marketing co-ordinator to join our award winning Event Exeter team within Campus Services at the University of Exeter. Reporting to the Marketing Team Leader, you will work with the team on a wide range of projects across commercial trading areas; namely Retail Services, Residential Services and Event Exeter. You will also play a key role in supporting the team with administrative...
A recent meeting in Exeter of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) South West Training & Development Forum highlighted the significant increase in job opportunities and the requirement for new skills to be developed for the construction of the new Nuclear Power Plant at Hinkley Point, Somerset.
NNB Generation Company (NNB GenCo) is a subsidiary of EDF Energy. It plans to build and then operate the new Power Station, which will provide enough low carbon electricity to power about five million homes. The size of the workforce required is similar to...
The number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance has increased by just two claimants between October and November from 9,205 to 9,207, at a time of year when the rate usually climbs.
The proportion of working age population claiming this out of work benefit remains at 2% – well below the national average of 3.8%.
The number of people claiming JSA across Devon is 6.3% lower than the same time last year (622 claimants).
The number of unemployed young people under the age of 25 has also fallen this month from 2,730 in October to 2,700 in November – a decrease of 1.1...
More than 1,100 jobs are expected to be created in Devon and Somerset following a £2.9 million Government investment that will boost the region’s rural economy by £58 million, Farming Minister, Jim Paice announced on his rural roadshow to the region.
Devon and Somerset is one of five regions to benefit from a Rural Growth Network, set up to help rural areas overcome the barriers to economic growth, such as a shortage of business premises and poor broadband access.
Mr Paice announced the Rural Growth Network funding on his rural roadshow to Devon. Defra rural roadshows allow...
