South West

Funding available for SW tech businesses

The Technology Strategy Board (the UK’s Innovation Agency) has published its blueprint for growth, which outlines investments of over £400 million in British Innovation.

Businesses from across the South West are being encouraged to look at the range of specialist business support available and bid for a share of the funding on offer.

144 organisations in the South West received help or funding from the Technology Strategy Board in the last financial year.

These companies were awarded over £21 million to support their collaborative research and development projects...

Flooding returns

It was only a few months ago that severe bad weather caused havoc in the South West. Today's heavy rain has resulted in flooding in certain areas of Devon, with the Met Office predicting more bad weather to come.

Firefighters were called to Kenton earlier today after the weather caused flooding inside a commericial property. Crews helped to remove the water to ensure it didn't come into contact with electricity.

The heavy rain fall has also resulted in travel disruption on the A381 Devon. The Western By-Pass is flooded in both directions between the Plymouth Road junction...

The Big Bang moment is approaching!

Young people from across Exeter will be experiencing their very own Big Bang moment at the South West’s biggest-ever science, technology, engineering and maths fair next week.

Exeter University, which will host the fourth Big Bang Fair South West on June 26, will be a hive of activity as 2,500 students, teachers and guests arrive for a day of education, engagement and competition, backed by the Education Business Partnership – South West.

Nearly 150 student projects from schools across the South West will be on show to be judged by a panel of over 100 industry professionals...

UK disposable income on the rise

Britons have seen a three percentage point rise in their disposable income over the last quarter, according to a new report out today. On average, people in the UK now have eight per cent of their take home salary left each month, up from five per cent since last quarter.

The findings come from the latest Disposable Income Index from ISA provider Scottish Friendly, which examines people’s attitude towards saving and investing. According to the report, the increase in disposable income has prompted a rise in the levels of saving with 60 per cent of people in the UK now choosing to...

Rokk Media @ SW Blog Social

Authored by RokkMedia
Posted: Thu, 06/05/2014 - 10:26am

The Exeter Daily has previously reported on the South West Blog Social, scheduled to take place at The Oddfellows Bar on New North Rd on Saturday 7th June.

Devised by noted local bloggers Jodie Dewberry (@alajode) and Albertine Brandon (@dippywrites), the event- the first of its kind in the South West- aims to bring together the very best in local blogging talent to provide an afternoon of advice and expertise to Exeter and regional businesses and individuals, with Jodie adding “We have worked hard not only to make sure that the event is as much fun as possible- but also to give it...

Small businesses face unqualified ‘accountant’ risk

South West small businesses could be inadvertently damaging their growth prospects by paying accountants who aren’t even qualified, warns ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).

The warning comes after research from cloud accounting software provider ClearBooksPro showed just eight per cent of small businesses considered an accountant’s qualifications when choosing one.

ACCA points out that there is no law preventing anyone from calling themselves an accountant, and that as a result small businesses could be unknowingly paying someone without the...

Green champion shortlisted for award

The Calista Group, a new renewables business operating from Uffculme, is celebrating after its leader, Paul Brown, Ex-Connaught regional director and green champion, has been shortlisted in the Entrepreneur of the Year category in the renewables industry’s equivalent to the ‘Oscars’, the BusinessGreen Leaders Awards.

Now in their fourth year, the BusinessGreen Leaders Awards celebrate the leading businesses, executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and campaigners from across the green economy, highlighting how these pioneers are driving the emergence of innovative and sustainable new...

New facility to revolutionise University golf programme

Golf in the South West has received a boost this month as Exeter golfers past and present celebrated the official opening of the Vic Ambler Golf Centre on 15 May.

The event, at the University’s Streatham campus officially unveiled the new, purpose-built, short-game practice area at the Sports Park which will offer golfers from across the region the latest golf green technology.

Designed by market leaders Tour Greens Europe, the 50m x 30m area can’t fail to impress, featuring a 250m2 Pro-tour standard practice green, 120m2 putting green, and two golf zones.

Bespoke...

Body identified after six-year search

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Mon, 05/19/2014 - 2:04pm

The body of a man found in a clay pit in Cornwall has been identified as that of man missing since 2007.

Mr Nicolas Prouse was reported missing from his home in St Dennis, Cornwall, on 30 November 2007. An extensive missing person enquiry was undertaken at the time but he was never located. No reason for his disappearance was ever established.

A member of the public contacted the police on 13 April 2014 after seeing the body of a man below the water line at Trelavour Pit in St Dennis.

The death has been treated as unexplained while police enquiries continue....

Deafinite Interpreters sign DCC contract

Authored by Lucie Simic
Posted: Wed, 05/14/2014 - 2:45pm

An Exeter-based agency of British Sign Language interpreters has been awarded the contract by Devon County Council to be its preferred supplier of interpreters.

According to recent research the Deaf community is suffering as a result of lack of access to BSL interpreters, with many suffering health issues due to reasons such as a lack of information, poor communication, and unnecessary difficulties in getting to the doctor in the first place. So, it will come a big relief to Devon’s Deaf community that help is at hand.

Deafinite Interpreters is the leading interpreting...

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