Business

The Chancellor’s recent Budget delivered a new incentive for companies to register their intellectual property rights, according to IP experts at Exeter law firm Stephens Scown. The draft Finance Bill published in the wake of the Budget has stopped tax relief for the amortisation (i.e. depreciation) of goodwill and other intangible assets. Ben Travers, intellectual property partner at Stephens Scown, said: “This change published in the Finance Bill means that any business which is selling intangible assets – such as a brand or goodwill - could get a better price if they register those...

Women in business in Devon and Somerset are set to benefit from a £1.1m superfast broadband fund as part of plans announced by the Prime Minister this week to ‘to end the gender pay gap in a generation’.

Devon and Somerset successfully bid for a share of the money which is being made available as part of the extension of a Government initiative, announced by the Chancellor in the Budget, to help women take advantage of faster broadband to move their businesses online, expand or set up new businesses.

The £60,000 will be used to fund LOVE Digital 2, which will offer women...

Sugru, the world’s first mouldable ‘glue’, closed its crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube after raising £3,548,820 from 2,700 investors.

In the process this campaign has smashed two equity crowdfunding records with the largest single investment of £1 million and by having the widest reach with stakeholders in 68 countries. The pitch overfunded 355% above the original target.

The founder and inventor of Sugru, Jane ni Dhulchaointigh, says: “What a great month! The crowdfunding campaign truly reflects most projects at Sugru: hard work, team spirit, customer interaction, loads...

Flexible working is gaining support from senior level managers.

In a new survey carried out by the world’s largest flexible workspace provider, Regus, 76% of Exeter professionals believe their senior management support the idea.

However, 71% of Exeter respondents say that managers require specific training in order manage their remote team members successfully. In particular, maintaining close contact is key. Over three quarters (79%) believe managers should speak to remote staff several times a week, and 89% think monthly face-to-face meetings are important.

When...