The Chancellor has announced that all limits on university recruitment will be lifted in 2015. This unexpected decision means that universities will be allowed to recruit as many students as they want to.

Describing it as an “arbitrary cap on aspiration”, George Osborne announced that an extra 30,000 places at English universities will be created in 2014-15. The following year, the current cap on student numbers will be abolished entirely. He told the Commons that: “it makes no sense that we have a lower proportion of people going to university than the United States, let alone...

East Devon District Council is supporting local shops over Christmas with a range of special car park deals for motorists, including a chance to win a ‘Golden Ticket’ offering three months’ free parking.

This is on top of a decision by EDDC’s Cabinet last week to freeze the basic hourly pay and display parking charges for the fourth consecutive year.

Here are EDDC’s Christmas 2013 Parking Offers in full:

All Pay and Display car parks, Saturday 7 December 2013

This is “Small Business Saturday” and customers are being encouraged to park in any East Devon car...

Crowds have gathered in South Africa to mourn the death of Nelson Mandela, the first black president of South Africa. Mr Mandela 95 was a world-wide hero whose struggle for freedom against Apartheid and later leading the nation to re-build and reconcile after decades of injustice was an inspiration to millions. In a statement on South African national TV last night, South African president Jacob Zuma said Mr Mandela, had "departed" and was at peace. "Our nation has lost its greatest son," Mr Zuma said. He said Mr Mandela, who preached reconciliation despite being imprisoned for 27 years,...

Stagecoach South West announced today that customers travelling on routes 56 (Exeter – Exeter Airport – Woodbury – Exmouth) and 157 (Exmouth – Budleigh Salterton – Newton Poppleford – Sidmouth) are receiving an early Christmas present – six brand new buses!

The first three of the single deckers enter service today (Thursday 5th December 2013) and the remainder are due to arrive prior to Christmas.

The vehicles feature over 20% more capacity than those they replace, modern interiors and environmentally friendly engines that meet Euro 5 standards.

The routes provide a...

In this video local expert Shaun Durham from Crisp Professional Development explains why you should outsource your management training.

Shaun goes on to explain what he means by outsourcing and how it can benefit your business.

"So, how can companies get the most out of working with a specialist training provider? Well, be clear in your objectives and realistic in what can be achieved. What's the likely ROI and how will this be measured? Skills based training can accomplished in a number of days, but behavioural change takes longer. Always check the competency and...

Adrian Hemmings, Partner at Simpkins Edwards, comments on today's Autumn Statement.

“My overall impression is that this Autumn Statement has been, unsurprisingly, a palate cleanser for the main course in 12 month’s time or during the 2015 budget. It was politically driven, with the current Government not wanting to give away any headline-grabbing policies this far in advance of the next general election, which would give the opposition too much time to respond.

“The figures on the economy are generally encouraging, which is probably a good enough headline in itself to...

Nelson Mandela has died, South Africa's president Jacob Zuma announced tonight.

In a statement on South African national TV, Mr Zuma said Mr Mandela, who was 95, had "departed" and was at peace.

"Our nation has lost its greatest son," Mr Zuma said. He said Mr Mandela, who preached reconciliation despite being imprisoned for 27 years, will receive a full state funeral.

He had rarely been seen in public since officially retiring in 2004. "What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human.

We saw in him what we seek in ourselves," Mr Zuma said...

Running from Tuesday 3rd to Saturday 7th December 2013, The Recruiting Officer is a true delight for theatre-lovers, with everything from swashbuckling soldiers to women dressed as men. The play is a Salisbury Playhouse Production, originally written by George Farquahar and produced by Gareth Minchin, also a member of the cast.

Described as “a regional theatre with all guns blazing” by the Daily Telegraph, the Salisbury Playhouse puts on a raucous and wonderfully English comedy of bawdiness, disastrous sexual exploits and meddling servants. As well as a beautifully designed and...