Business

Material shortages ease but 63% of respondents in the UK cite labour shortages as leading restraint on growth

Although recent official construction data has been a little mixed, the latest RICS Construction Market Survey for Q1 2015 shows labour shortages in the sector intensifying alongside feedback that workloads are continuing to rise. Some 63% across the UK cited labour shortages as an issue followed by 55% highlighting finance.

In the South West, 60% more respondents cited a lack of Quantity Surveyors, 60% a lack of other construction professionals, and 45% more...

In the lead up to the 2015 General Election, Leading Women UK hosted a series of Election Special networking events across Devon.

These events were open to men and women and gave attendees the chance to have their questions answered by a panel of political representatives.

On 20 April the South Hams Election Special took place at the Venus Café, Blackpool Sands, Dartmouth. The network was joined by Labour candidate, Nicky Williams and Conservative candidate, Dr Sarah Wollaston. The ‘Question Time’ style discussion was facilitated by local business-women and Leading Women UK...

The Law Management Section's 2015 Financial Benchmarking Survey, sponsored by Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, and compiled by Hazlewoods LLP, has showed that financial stability in the South West is 'on the up'. Compared with findings from last year's survey, it is clear that there has been a dramatic rise in the percentage of practices operating profitability and within their overdraft limit. One in six were likely to seek external investment for expansion, and a similar number were likely to bring in one or more non-lawyer owners, for example HR, IT, Finance etc. In line with last year,...

Butterfly Children's Hospices, an international children's charity based in Exeter, have recently launched a beautiful new website in partnership with Exeter web design agency SwankyApple.

Founded by Lyn and Alan Gould, who had experienced first-hand the desperate hardship faced by Chinese children born with life-threatening illnesses, the charity provide care and support for children and their families.

Having introduced China's first palliative care service, Butterfly Children's Hospices have experienced significant growth. In 2010 work began with the...