Generous community helps young people in Africa ‘build’ for the future

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 09/04/2019 - 11:50am

The Exeter branch of RGB Building Supplies and Devon-based charity Amigos are thanking the local community for the amazing response received to their recent appeal to donate preloved tools. These will all now go on to help young people in Africa lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

Amigos has been working in Uganda for nearly 20 years and for the last nine it has been providing vocational training in construction skills. Throughout June and July, a total of 33 ‘dumpy bags’ of tools were collected across the RGB network and in some cases, instead of donating preloved...

Ashfords LLP announces Associate & Senior Associate promotions for 2019

Authored by SK
Posted: Wed, 09/04/2019 - 11:34am

Law firm, Ashfords LLP is delighted to announce the promotion of Real Estate lawyer, Stephanie Gillam, to Senior Associate and the promotion of ten new Associates across the firm’s Exeter, Bristol, London and Plymouth offices.

This latest round of promotions boosts the number of Senior Associates at the firm to 15 and Associates to 59.

Stephanie Gillam, is a specialist in Ashfords’ Real Estate team in Exeter. She advises on a wide variety of commercial real estate matters, particularly mixed use development schemes and energy and waste related land and development. Her...

Young people on a site visit with Kier

Exeter College and Kier host work experience week to encourage careers in construction

Authored by stephendixon
Posted: Wed, 09/04/2019 - 11:25am

Exeter College and Kier recently teamed up to deliver an intensive one week, pre-Apprenticeship work experience programme, designed to give local youngsters an insight into the construction industry and inspire them to pursue a career in the varied and vibrant sector. 

Six learners who are considering the Apprenticeship route with Exeter College spent the week gaining knowledge and insight, as well as hands on experience behind the scenes with Kier at some of the company’s flagship developments.

The week kickstarted with health and safety training and a test for...

Gardener Sam checking an Atkins Stuffing tomato at Knightshayes. Photo: NT Liz Abdey

‘Living library’ offers chance to taste a piece of history at Knightshayes’s heritage tomato day

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 09/04/2019 - 10:55am

Veg lovers are being invited to ‘taste a piece of history’ at Knightshayes, near Tiverton, at a celebration of all things tomato on Saturday 7 September.

As caretakers of around 150 varieties of heritage tomato seeds, the garden team at the National Trust property have been growing 29 varieties this year. These 29 varieties will be the stars of the show at the ‘Terrific Tomato Day’ in September and the public are invited to see, smell and taste some of the tomatoes grown from the ‘living library’ kept at Knightshayes.

The 2.5 acre walled garden at Knightshayes is home to...

Bovis Homes colleagues training for Cardiff Half Marathon

Housebuilder employees run Cardiff Half Marathon in memory of colleague

Authored by Paula_D
Posted: Wed, 09/04/2019 - 9:56am

Colleagues at a national housebuilder will run the Cardiff Half Marathon in memory of 32-year-old Dean Fletcher, who tragically died last year after taking part in the event.

The husband and father - a management accountant at Bovis Homes’ South West region - passed away following a cardiac arrest after completing the course last October.

In his honour, eight Bovis Homes’ colleagues will be running the 2019 event to raise funds for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), a charity that aims to reduce the risk of cardiac arrest in those aged under 35.

Described by friends...

All you need to know about building a pergola

A pergola is a multi-purpose garden structure that can be either joined to the house or freestanding. It is an open structure and can be used to shelter something like a barbecue or as a garden focal point. If you are considering adding a pergola to your garden, here’s what you need to know to build one. If you are interested in gardening, you can find many instruments for your garden here .

Pergola purpose

The first thing to consider when building a pergola is what you want to use it for. This helps to decide on the design and location. Most pergolas aren’t the best for...

In the pink: scarlet birds have red letter day

In the pink: scarlet birds have red letter day

Authored by Paigntonzoo
Posted: Tue, 09/03/2019 - 7:17pm

One of the most striking birds in the world has bred at Paignton Zoo. The scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) is famous for its bright red feathers – although, as you can see, the chicks are anything but scarlet.

There’s no other wading bird as scarlet as a scarlet ibis, but it takes time for juveniles to grow into the colour. It’s not until their second moult that the birds begin to take on that extraordinary rosy sheen. It can take two years or more for the dazzling change to be completed; the colour comes from the red crustaceans in their diet.

Keepers don’t want to disturb...

Manager for Guardian Homecare, Catherine Porter.

Free expert advice on spotting early signs of dementia

Authored by Reporters
Posted: Tue, 09/03/2019 - 4:09pm

STAFF from a leading Devon home care agency are offering expert advice to the public on spotting the early warning signs of dementia as part of World Alzheimer’s Month this month (September 2019).

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, with numbers set to rise to more than one million by 2025 and two million by 2051.

Catherine Porter who manages Guardian Homecare, which cares for people in the Exeter and Torbay areas, explains: “As part of our training we are able to recognise the early signs of dementia in a person and as...

New director of people appointed to the RD&E and NDHT

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 09/03/2019 - 11:27am

The Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E) and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (NDHT) are pleased to announce the appointment of Hannah Foster as joint director of people following a rigorous selection process.

Hannah joins the NHS from Flybe, the Exeter-based airline, where she was director of people. Prior to her Flybe role, Hannah also held top strategic posts for the Church of England and global educational provider Pearson, helping both organisations develop key culture and organisational growth programmes.

As well as strategic and business acumen...

The best money saving hacks for shopping online

Authored by Claire Small
Posted: Tue, 09/03/2019 - 11:20am

Listen up, savvy Exeter shoppers ! We all want to get the best for our money when we’re shopping online. However, with so many bargains, incentives and discount codes to be found, how do we know we’re actually getting a good deal? These hints and tips should help you to navigate the minefield, and make the most of your money – whatever you’re buying.

Write a shopping list

How many times have you bought an item, purely because it’s caught your attention as you browse? Impulse buying is one of the biggest causes of overspending. It can be difficult to resist making a...

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