Local News

Whilst nearly two in five (39%) companies plan to ramp up hiring in the second half of 2015, new research from Robert Half UK reveals that HR directors still favour traditional methods of recruitment, such as job postings or enlisting a recruitment consultancy, over referrals and word of mouth to secure the strongest candidates. Less than a fifth (17%) of management-level and staff-level job openings are filled through referrals, whether from employee recommendations or personal networks. The study, conducted amongst HR directors, reveals that the vast majority (78%) of HR directors hire...

Gidleigh Park’s Head Chef Allister Barsby has been named as one of the 30 recipients of the 2015 Acorn Award. Given each year to 30 of the brightest prospects aged under 30 in the hospitality industry by leading industry title The Caterer, the award is recognised as one of the most prestigious in the hospitality world. Nominated by Brownsword Hotels, the owners of Gidleigh Park, Allister joins an illustrious group of less than 900 to have ever won an Acorn Award since their inception in 1986. Seen as recognition of flair and passion in rising stars in the hospitality industry, Allister...

The Rusty Pig in Ottery St Mary is renowned for using locally sourced, ethically produced ingredients, especially when it comes to pork.

This year owner Robin Rea has taken on nine Oxford Sandy & Blacks. These lucky young pigs have a happy life ahead in a natural environment on a smallholding kept by Fresh & Green, the East Devon company that supplies the majority of the Rusty Pig’s vegetables and salad ingredients.

The pigs are moved every few weeks to a fresh, good-sized plot of land. As they forage they clear and fertilise the land ready for the next crop to be...

The installation of a new Moorland Play Park in the Dartmoor village of Holne was celebrated recently at a packed community event.

Previous equipment had become very dilapidated and when this small rural parish needed to find a large sum to fund a new park – they asked Dartmoor National Park if it would be able to help. The group used a small grant from the National Park to secure a substantial amount from Biffa Award, and with additional support from local Councillors, local fundraising, including a quiz night at the Church House Inn and a donation from Mike and Gill Cunniam of...