World News

Major employer announcement key opportunity for South West

The announcement of a major new employer locating to the Gravity smart campus in Somerset has been heralded as a key opportunity for the region.

Agratas, Tata Group’s global battery business, has been confirmed as the operator of the UK’s new battery gigafactory on the Gravity campus close to junction 23 of the M5 near Bridgwater in Somerset.

It represents a £4 billion investment in Somerset, which will directly create 4,000 new jobs and thousands more in the wider supply chain.

By the 2030’s, it is anticipated that it will be contributing almost half of the UK’s...

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Forging the Fore Street Music Quarter: New music store and flagship Yamaha dealer, the Music Depot, opens in Exeter

Authored by Program
Posted: Thu, 11/23/2023 - 11:46am

The Music Depot, an exciting venture from the dedicated team behind Sidwell Street’s beloved Musicroom, is set to strike a chord with musicians from across the region with the opening of their new store on Saturday December 2.

Selected by international instrument manufacturer Yamaha as their flagship dealer for the South West of England, the Music Depot is poised to make a resounding impact on the local music scene, and add to Fore Street’s growing community of independent businesses.

To celebrate their opening and partnership with Yamaha, the Music Depot will be hosting a...

businessman giving out his business card

Maximizing Networking Potential with Innovative Business Card

Authored by David Banks
Posted: Wed, 11/22/2023 - 8:45am

In a world increasingly driven by digital interactions, the value of personal connections cannot be underestimated. While social media and email have made networking easier, there's still something special about exchanging physical business cards. A well-designed business card can leave a lasting impression and serve as a tangible reminder of your brand. In this blog post, we will explore innovative ways to maximize your networking potential through creative and unique business card designs.

The Evolution of Business Cards

Business cards have come a long way since their...

Will Bringing the Gold Standard Back Solve Out-of-Control Inflation Rates?

Authored by Mike Page
Posted: Fri, 11/17/2023 - 6:42am

Prices of goods and services continue to rise, making it difficult for many around the world to fit what they need into their monthly budget. According to CPI Inflation Calculator, prices increased by 18.11% in just three years. What was bought for $50 in 2020, costs nearly $60 today. This inevitably creates unexpected and major changes in people’s lives.

“We revisit our budgets, cut our discretionary spending, and make personal sacrifices to make sure we can afford what we need. These small changes amount to big decisions, like renting instead of buying a house, choosing one job...

Foot Anstey bolsters its banking and finance team with numerous hires

Growing national law firm Foot Anstey LLP has welcomed Partner, Emma Earp to its banking and finance team. This also demonstrates the investment the firm is making in strengthening its banking finance offering as it follows the recent additions of Managing Associate, Emma Wood, Solicitor, Michael Bolous and Paralegal, Matteo Hassan to the team.

Emma, who will be based in Foot Anstey's Southampton office, brings over a decade of experience working with corporate borrowers and lenders on regional, national and international transactions.

With her extensive experience and deep...

New director to lead Great South West’s ambitious growth plans

Authored by Program
Posted: Tue, 11/07/2023 - 8:00am

Ahmed Goga has joined the Great South West Partnership as a director, advising on the Board’s future growth plans.

The Great South West is a Pan-Regional Partnership of senior business leaders, local government, Local Enterprise Partnerships, universities and colleges across Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. The Partnership aims to promote the region’s ‘blue and green’ assets, as part of its ambition to become the ‘UK’s Natural Powerhouse’, and deliver up to £45bn of economic benefit by 2035.

The region’s unique marine, manufacturing, energy,...

South West’s leading maritime sector receives funding boost to drive innovation

Authored by Program
Posted: Mon, 10/23/2023 - 12:22pm

Innovate UK announce Government funding to support innovation and growth in the region’s marine and maritime sectors

The Great South West , which covers Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, and Somerset, has been chosen as the country’s Marine and Maritime Launchpad, recognising its leadership in the sector.

As part of the programme, the region is set to receive up to £7.5m of investment to drive innovation and business growth, building on its strengths in marine and maritime.

Karl Tucker, Chair of the Great South West, said: “It’s fantastic to see the...

How do cross-chain swaps work?

Authored by David Banks
Posted: Mon, 10/23/2023 - 7:00am

The number of different first and second-level blockchains is growing steadily. Each network has its own unique characteristics, which means that smart contracts and tokens from one blockchain cannot be directly transferred to another. Work on solving the problem of blockchain incompatibility began quite a long time ago. As a result, cross-chain bridges were created and continue to be improved.

Why are bridges needed if there are exchanges?

If transfers between blockchains are impossible, then how do large centralized exchanges where hundreds of coins are traded work? It is...

Heart of the South West LEP achievements and transition outlined in AGM

Authored by Program
Posted: Fri, 10/20/2023 - 11:28am

The Heart of the South West LEP hosted their Annual General Meeting (AGM) via online webinar on Friday 13 October.

The event included a summary of the LEP’s activities and achievements over the past year; including unlocking opportunities in key sectors, as well as recent Government announcements and the future of the LEP.

16 Local Growth Fund and Getting Building Fund projects have been completed over the last financial year. Projects such as Marsh Barton Railway Station, InterCity Place in Plymouth and the Somerset Digital Innovation Centre have all reached completion,...

How is a cryptocurrency card issued?

Authored by David Banks
Posted: Thu, 10/19/2023 - 6:15am

A cryptocurrency card is a necessary thing in today's world. It is necessary for users who use cryptocurrency and want to carry out various kinds of transactions with its help. This is a type of payment card that can differ in its characteristics depending on the company you choose. Accordingly, the choice of crypto bank card should be approached responsibly, weighing all the pros and cons. If you have little information on this topic so far, it's worth continuing to read this article.

Peculiarities of registration of such a card

Signing up for a cryptocurrency card is not as...

South West communities receive funding boost to improve mobile connectivity

Authored by Program
Posted: Tue, 10/17/2023 - 4:47pm

The Connecting Devon & Somerset Mobile Boost scheme has secured over £430,000 from the Heart of the South West LEP, to provide vital mobile connectivity to rural communities.

The Mobile Boost scheme ran from February 2021 to March 2023, and funded over 1,700 installations across the region, helping small businesses and homeworkers with poor indoor mobile coverage.

Data from Ofcom states that 23,000 premises across the Devon and Somerset area are 4G ‘not-spots’, meaning they lack adequate coverage.

Following the success of the project, and continued interest from...

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