More than 25,000 small and medium businesses (SMEs) across the UK have now benefitted from the Government’s Broadband Connection voucher scheme, latest figures published today show.

If you have been searching for positive news, this is a stunning bit of info for people who run their own businesses. Being able to save rather than waste money with your broadband service is something everyone will flock to use. Clients want the cheapest and fastest deals, and being able to provide that lists you in the leaderboard.

The scheme, which helps SMEs get connected to superfast...

An improved recycling collection service is to be trialled in two East Devon areas this autumn following approval from the district council’s Cabinet.

Around 1,800 households in the Feniton and Exmouth (The Colony) areas will be able to recycle more during the trial as the council is adding cardboard and mixed plastics to the extensive number of items it already collects from the kerbside each week.

Every household in the trial areas will receive an additional 70 litre reusable sack which they can use for their recyclables along with their usual green recycling box. The...

A tag rugby FEZtival is taking place in Exeter on Saturday 25 July.

Mixed veteran teams from Exeter Chiefs, Plymouth Albion, Exeter Saracens will be taking part - from club players to full blown internationals.

The event is being held at Exeter Saracens Rugby Club, Exhibition Fields, Summer Lane and is raising funds for FORCE Cancer Charity.

Gates open at 12.30pm and entry is free.

As well as some great rugby there'll be a barbecue hog roast, live music, charity auction hosted by BBC Spotlight's Andy Birkett and a festival party.

Mariam Badavi, owner of Exeter’s Purity Boutique Spa, is celebrating after being awarded the 2015 Certificate of Excellence from review site TripAdvisor. The salon has been awarded the accolade as a direct result of consistently great reviews from TripAdvisor users. Mariam, who in 2013 won the Venus Awards national employer of the year, said “I would like to thank all of Purity’s clients who have helped us to achieve this certificate by publishing great reviews on TripAdvisor. We pride ourselves on offering a first class experience and it is always wonderful to receive recognition for it...

Staff from leading Devon law firm Kitsons are getting ready to take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge this July to raise money for charity in honour of their friend and colleague, Mark Batten.

Mark, who was Chief Cashier at Kitsons, passed away suddenly in March 2014. He worked at Kitsons for over 35 years and was a prominent and well liked member of the firm. In 2013 when the firm took on the National Three Peaks Challenge, Mark acted as a volunteer driver from our head office in Torquay to Scotland and back. On Saturday 11th July 2015, 30 members of staff from Kitsons’ three...

Picture the scene…

As a management team you’ve had months to plan the departure of one of your radio station’s biggest stars.

Not only that she has served you for 15 years.

Not only that, you are the BBC.

Smooth, slick, organised, disciplined, measured, understanding conciliatory.

All the things you’d expect. Except that didn’t happen!

Instead there was, in the words of one insider, “pandemonium”.

I have been told that the BBC Radio Devon executive team simply were not prepared for the volume of calls and emails they received after...

Polite applause is the norm from arena crowds experiencing new, young recording artists opening for A list Headliners. But that was not so when Hunter and the Bear warmed up for Eric Clapton’s recent UK tour. Not only was the London-based act greeted with considerable enthusiasm, Clapton fans actually missed part of Slowhand’s set to score Hunter and the Bear’s music and to press the quartet’s flesh.

“It was amazing,” vocalist-guitarist Will Irvine recalled. “We went out in the hall between sets with our merchandise and I was stunned how long the queue was. I thought it was a line...