Business

Leading South West independent accountancy, business and tax advisory firm Simpkins Edwards has strengthened its corporate services team with the appointment of specialist Corporate Tax Partner, Michael Hesketh.

Michael joins the partnership working from the firm’s Exeter and Barnstaple offices. A Chartered Tax Advisor with more than 20 years’ UK tax compliance and advisory experience, he specialises in tax planning for entrepreneurial and owner‑managed businesses. His expertise spans succession and exit planning, transaction tax structuring and M&A support, cross‑border...

Matthew Bird of Devon Renewables Ltd in Exeter has been shortlisted for Best Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Installer (Best HVAC Installer) at the Heating Installer Awards 2026.

As one of only four HVAC installers to be shortlisted out of thousands across the UK, Matthew now enters the final stages of the competition, where he’s in with the chance of being crowned the overall national winner.

To secure the shortlist, Matthew showcased a project he ran for a family of five, in their five-bedroom detached in the local area. The house had been heated using an old...

Staff records used to live in filing cabinets. For manufacturing firms in Exeter, construction contractors across mid-Devon, automotive workshops in Plymouth. The shift to digital hasn't been clean. Spreadsheets multiplied. Documents scattered across email threads. HR teams spend hours chasing basic information that should take thirty seconds to find.

The problem isn't just inefficiency. Fragmented systems carry real costs. Time lost to admin, compliance risks from outdated records, decisions made without reliable data. For small and medium-sized businesses, these issues drain...

In the ever-evolving world of financial services, transparency remains a pivotal cornerstone for fostering trust and understanding between lenders and borrowers. This dynamic is especially critical in the UK lending market, where clear communication about terms, conditions, and obligations forms the foundation of ethical lending practices. Transparency is not only essential for ensuring that borrowers are fully informed but also helps in building a stable financial environment. This is particularly important when considering loan options such as £500 loans , where every detail can...