Blogs

In a recent blog I highlighted the constructive dismissal claim being brought by former Apprentice winner, Stella English. Miss English subsequently lost the case.

In particular, I highlighted the comments of the Employment Tribunal Judge in the judgment that “the case should never have been brought in the first place”. I thought that might spark Lord Sugar’s company into making an application for costs, a rare thing in the Employment Tribunal.

Sure enough, it has today been reported (here) that Miss English is being pursued for up to £35,000 in costs, according to sources...

This year has been quite a momentous one for Exeter Community Initiatives (ECI).

We have successfully taken on two extra Children's Centres (Sure Start) in Wonford and Countess Wear to accompany our existing Flying Start Children's Centre.

We have had a change of Chief Executive. I stepped into Alistair Macintosh's large shoes in July 2012 and have been getting to grips with the job over the last year and making changes so ECI is facing the challenges of the future head on.

We said a sad goodbye to our Harvest project, which has played such a big role in our work...

It is sad to note that as we may enjoy the sights and sounds of Spring around us, our natural history is in serious trouble. That is the conclusion of the recent State of Nature report published by a coalition of leading British conservation and research organisations.

Scientists working side-by-side from 25 wildlife organisations have compiled a stock take of our native species – the first of its kind in the UK. The report reveals that 60% of the species studied have declined over recent decades. More than one in ten of all the species assessed are under threat of disappearing...

Financial advice has changed dramatically in recent years. I have heard it said – admittedly by another financial planner – that my chosen field of work has moved from being an industry to a profession. I’m personally of the opinion that there is still work to do, by the profession as a whole, before the wider public accept this distinction.

However, it is clear that gone are the bad old days of insurance salesmen knocking on your door at all hours to flog you a product that you didn’t really need and would be unlikely to ever be able to claim on.

I myself had a relative (...