A THRIVING business support group has reported excellent growth for its members this year.
The Blackdown Hills Business Association, which was formed around 30 years ago, supports a range of companies, including new business start-ups, sole traders and SMEs, right up to large corporations all providing key services, based in the area on the Devon/Somerset border.
Claire Stepney, BHBA Coordinator, said: ‘The Blackdown Hills are well connected on the borders of East Devon, West Dorset and South Somerset. Local companies recognise the importance of supporting one another,...
Business confidence has increased in the South West but economic uncertainty remains the biggest threat to firms, according to the latest Business in Britain report from Lloyds Bank. The report’s confidence index - an average of respondents’ expected sales, orders and profits over the next six months – increased to 17 per cent, up from four per cent, the survey’s score in September 2016. The South West’s confidence boost is the largest increase in the country, followed by London and the South East. David Beaumont, regional director for SME banking in the South West, Lloyds Banking Group...
Exeter Business Club celebrated their last meeting of the year with member Kevan Lush fulfilling his promise to turn up in his Christmas onesie if members pledged £100 to the Club's charity fund.
The £100 target was quickly met with many members entering in the spirit by turning up in Christmas jumpers.
Kevan, who runs Lush Electrics, is pictured in front of club members, wishing he was wearing something cooler.
A local digital marketing agency has moved to larger premises as the company continues to go from strength-to-strength.
Having been set up by digital marketing specialist Mark Worden from the living room of a one-bedroom flat on the Exeter Quayside three years ago, the business will now service more than 150 clients from 900sq ft. of office space spread across two floors on the Devon / Cornwall border.
The company, which offers assistance on all aspects of online marketing including website design, social media, search engine optimisation and strategy, made the decision to...
Last month, local digital marketing agency The Click Hub teamed up with Exeter-based web designers Doodlebug to give a seminar breaking down SEO, webdesign, social media marketing and more. In case you missed it, here are some of the SEO secrets that were shared and questions that were answered on the day.
This year’s Lord's Taverners Christmas lunch proved to be another success with 600 business people attending the event at Sandy Park on 6th December.
The fundraising lunch began with a drinks reception, delicious festive meal and the chance to bid in the charity auction. Auction prizes up for grabs included a box at the Exeter Chiefs, party for up to 75 people at Jack in the Green and private meal cooked by celebrity chef Mitch Tonks, with an invite for 4 people to attend the Lympstone Manor launch party reaching a substantial £2900!
Two programmes offering funds for rural and small business projects is now open.
The South Devon Coastal Local Action Group (SDC LAG) and the Greater Dartmoor Local Economic Action Fund (GD LEAF) have been awarded a total of £3.5 million to allocate to business projects which encourage and promote business growth, productivity and create jobs.
Both were originally set up in 2008 to invest in economic, environmental and community based projects to encourage innovation and promote the prosperity of the South Devon area.
Exeter Business Improvement District (BID) has recently welcomed three new members, further widening the expertise offered in this thirteen-strong leadership team. Andrew McNeilly, Daisy Otton and Andrew Wise attended their first Board meeting at the end of October and represent Exeter Chamber of Commerce; Area 4 (Cathedral Green, Yard, Close and High Street) and Area 1 (Paris Street and Sidwell Street) respectively.
Guildhall Centre Manager, Andrew McNeilly has over 15 years of retail experience and 17 years of property management. Andrew currently manages Guildhall Shopping...
Businesses in Exeter can now get extra support from Exeter Library following its launch as an Intellectual Property (IP) Centre. The library is the latest to join the UK’s network of Patent Libraries (PatLibs), set up by the Government in order to provide assistance on a variety of Intellectual Property Rights. Qualified and experienced staff at the library will provide local businesses and entrepreneurs with expert practical advice and support access to patent, trade mark, designs and copyright information. They will also run services such as patent searching, IP clinics and general...
Devon County Council has asked the Government to reconsider its position regarding increased business rates on rooftop solar installations.
The Government is proposing that from next April many local authorities and businesses in the UK will see major tax or business rate increases on rooftop solar installations.
Devon County Council's Cabinet Member responsible for environmental matters, Cllr Roger Croad, says that such a decision would be a backward step for sustainable energy, and that it would deter organisations from installing the technology.
