The second quarter of 2014 has seen a boost of confidence within the jobs market in the South West with hiring intentions of plus 9% according to Manpower, the global leader in contingent and permanent recruitment workforce solutions. This is a jump of five percentage points from the first quarter.

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is based on responses from 2,112 UK employers. It asks whether employers intend to hire additional workers or reduce the size of their workforce in the coming quarter. It is the most comprehensive, forward-looking employment survey of its kind and...

The opening hours of the NHS walk-in centre in Sidwell Street, Exeter, have been temporarily reduced as of yesterday.

The opening hours will now be 8am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

The NHS Trust has been forced to reduce the opening hours due to staffing issues, including long-term sickness and difficulties in recruiting suitably qualified staff.

The change in opening hours has been supported by the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group.

Kate Lyons, the Trust’s director of operations, said:

“We...

Popular Exeter charity, Football in the Communty (FITC) may be set to be receive a considerable grant from Exeter City Council. The Council is proposing to give the charity, that uses sports to promote education, participation, health and wellbeing and social inclusion a grant of £19,800 that could secure its long-term plans for expansion. The money has been earmarked from the City Council's New Homes Bonus Local Infrastructure Fund and if granted would be used to pay for a feasibility study looking at the redevelopment of the Fountain Centre at St James Park, where FITC is based. Jamie...

Seeing as it's Tuesday why not give yourself a laugh with these humourous Double Barrelled names...

#1 – Looney-Warde

This hapless couple from Oregon were married on 9th July 2005 at the Grand Ballroom in Salem. The question is… did she adopt his double-barrel name or did she insist on creating a surname that will condemn their kids to years of taunting at school? Your guess is as good as ours.

#2 – Best-Lay

Jennifer Lay and William Best from Maryville in Missouri exchanged vows recently at the home of the bride’s parents. It’s quite...

Residents of Angela Court Nursing Home in near Sidmouth were treated to some pancakes with every topping under the sun to choose from to celebrate pancake day.

Angela Court staff provided pancakes for all the residents and then helped them decide what toppings they would like. Fresh fruit, chocolate, syrup, cream and the old favourite of lemon and sugar were all available for residents to help themselves to!

Angela Court is recognised as an Investor in people and cares for some of the most vulnerable elderly in the community; the care team boasts an excellent reputation for...

Dean Clarke Lofts are at the vanguard of bringing residential living back to the heart of Southernhay

With its imposing Georgian townhouses and fine gardens, Southernhay once provided the most prestigious residential addresses in Exeter. Impressively proportioned, with high ceilings and tall windows, the houses – many created by local master builders Matthew Nosworthy and William Hooper – were perfect for local gentry and affluent middle classes and their staff. Following the huge societal shifts driven by both world wars, however, the dynamic of the area changed and Southernhay...

Businesses across Devon and Cornwall are being urged to enter one of the South West region’s top award schemes recognising excellence and enterprise.

The South West’s Institute of Directors Awards 2014 seek to recognise outstanding business people and focus UK-wide attention on the region's success.

Award nominations are open to anyone working at director level in any type of business or organisation– they don’t have to be an IoD member.

Categories include: SME Director, Large Company Director, Family Business Director , Young Director, Public Sector Director,...

British SMEs own £770 billion in assets – equivalent to 48 per cent of the UK’s GDP – and are owed £291 billion in outstanding invoices that they could use to fund future growth, according to new research published today by Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

Although businesses are becoming more confident about investing in future growth, and although many are aware of invoice financing as a possible form of lending, very few businesses have used it to drive growth in the past 12 months.

Invoice finance can help businesses release cash quickly, giving them access to up to 90...