Ellen Rodger, director of Exeter-based renewable energy installer SunGift Energy, has won the title of Young Director of the Year in the Institute of Directors (IoD) South West Business Awards.

Ellen, 28, wowed the judges with her exemplary business record, which includes helping SunGift grow from a small renewable energy business into a successful limited company with a turnover of over £8 million, employing more than 30 employees. She picked up the accolade at a glittering awards ceremony at the IoD South West ‘Entrepreneurs Dinner’ at the Royal Marriott Hotel in Bristol....

An Exeter roofer has been ordered to pay £2,000 compensation after carrying out work described by an expert building surveyor as being of an “exceptionally poor standard”.

Appearing at Exeter Magistrates Court this week, 42-year-old John Isaacs of J&H Roofing Services pleaded guilty to one offence under the ‘professional diligence’ requirements of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, in a prosecution brought by Devon & Somerset Trading Standards Service.

The court heard how Issacs’ victim, Mrs Rowlands, who lives in Exeter, contacted J&H...

Author, consultant and trainer Robyn Steward, one of the UK’s leading experts on autism, will be speaking at a free breakfast seminar hosted by award-winning Exeter business Brain-In-Hand.

Robyn Steward is an international speaker, an ambassador for the National Autistic Society and recently hosted her own programme on BBC Radio 4.

Her talk ‘Autism as an asset in the workplace’ takes place on Friday 28 June 8.30am for 9-10am and will include a question and answer session.

Afterwards Robyn will be running an Autism/Asperger's Awareness workshop between 10.30am - 12....

A new study has shown that a system of local electricity generation and a network of underground hot water pipes can be developed to heat buildings in Exeter. The increased efficiency of the system can lead to lower energy prices and a reduction of 11,000 tonnes per year in the City’s CO2 emissions.

The work, commissioned by Exeter City Council, Devon County Council, the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust and the University of Exeter, was prepared by engineering consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff.

The system uses combined heat and power (CHP) engines to generate both heat and...

Carers Week takes place from 10–16 June. With over 6.5 million unpaid carers in the UK (that’s 1 in every 8 adults) this year the focus is on how the UK’s current carer population is coping and whether the wider population is prepared for future caring responsibilities.

Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service is reaching out to local carers and reminding them that help is available to keep them, and the people they care for, safe from fire.

A recent survey showed that more than half of the few people who had tested their smoke alarm for someone else had done so for...

Colin De-Vey of Anderton & Rowland’s is promising all the fun of a Theme Park Fair in Exeter, when the huge European Theme Park comes to the city. For 11 days, the Exwick Playing Fields will host a fantastic selection of rides and attractions commencing on Thursday 13 June and running until Sunday 23 June.

European Theme Park is different to any other fun fair or venue, however, with visitors paying just one fee to enter and enjoying all rides free of charge once inside.

For a single price of either a family wristband for £6.99 each - which includes all inflatables,...

Lorraine Vaughan of Cheriton Bishop and Tracy Teasdale of Ebford are celebrating 25 years of service between them at the Nuffield Health Exeter Hospital.

Lorraine works as a Staff Nurse in Out Patients and started with Nuffield Health in 2003, moving to Exeter in 2006. She said “I love looking after the patients, and the Nuffield is such a friendly and positive place to work. The job has really changed in the last ten years and now I work with the minor-ops team and carry out pre-assessments.”

Tracy Teasdale is a Pharmacist and started in the Nuffield Health Exeter Hospital...

A grandmother, mother and daughter from the same miniature donkey family are enjoying life at Devon’s Crealy Adventure Park following a move down from Warwick. The Mediterranean breed of miniature donkey moved to Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park where they’ve been meeting families visiting the Animal Kingdom as part of their day out.

Grandmother Gillian aged 22 years old has a 9-year-old daughter called Glamour Girl who recently gave birth to the third generation of the family, Nina, whose just 12 months old. The three of them are inseparable and when they’re not enjoying...

Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park has received the highly regarded TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award thanks to exceptional reviews from visitors to the park. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding reviews, with only the top-performing 10 per cent of businesses listed on the website receiving this prestigious award.

Chris Down, Chief Executive of Crealy Great Adventure Parks said: “We are thrilled to have received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. It is a reflection of what visitors to...

Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park is offering families the chance to treat Dads to a free day out at the award-winning attraction, this Father’s Day on Sunday 16 June 2013.

What better way to say thank you and celebrate with Dads than a day out together as a family!

Race him to the top of the Vortex to ride the triple tube water coaster and climb aboard the Flying Dutchman Swinging Galleon. Once you’ve tired him out, explore the Adventure Zone while he relaxes in the Sandcastle Beach Bar.

Chris Down, Chief Executive of Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park said, “We...