One in five (21 per cent) SMEs in the South West say they do not understand the commercial benefits of being environmentally responsible according to a new study from Lloyds Bank.
One in ten (8 per cent) admit that they are not doing enough to make their businesses environmentally responsible.
Despite this, a third (35 per cent) of small businesses say better environmental practices are a top three priority for 2015.
Lloyds Banking Group’s 2015 SME Charter commits to help 10,000 businesses become more sustainable by 2020, with new planning tool.
According to the latest UK Business Digital Index, over a million (23%) small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) still lack basic digital skills. The Index from Lloyds Bank, in association with Accenture and digital skills charity Go ON UK, measures and tracks the level of digital ability among SMEs and charities.
An overall rise in the UK Index score suggests a slow but positive shift towards small to medium sized enterprises becoming more digitally active. However there are still over a million SMEs (23%) that lack basic digital skills. This is even more significant in the charity...
Businesses from Exeter are exhibiting and sending delegates to the Business Showcase South West 2015.
The event, which organisers hope will attract 3,000 delegates, is held at Colston Hall in Bristol on May 14 and 15.
Business Showcase South West 2015 is the biggest event of its kind in the region, and celebrates the best in innovation, creativity and enterprise. Last year’s event proved to be one of the biggest business events of the year, with 1,719 tickets ordered and a sell-out exhibition.
More than two-thirds of the 91 exhibition stands have already been...
Santander Corporate & Commercial, the leading challenger bank in the UK, yesterday announced a new suite of services and products for the country’s most ambitious businesses. The launch is part of Santander’s plan to further disrupt and enhance the UK business banking market, and double its current SME market share to 10% by the end of 2016.
Based on four years’ experience of working closely with UK businesses – including hundreds of fast-growth SMEs under the Santander Breakthrough programme – the new proposition from Santander is built around five key service ‘pillars’ that...
Eighty per cent of businesses in the South West feel inspired to grow, and 87% feel capable of doing so. However, the government’s Do More Online campaign is highlighting the risk that small businesses will be hampered because they are not doing enough online and are missing out on opportunities to find more customers, be more efficient, and save money.
The Do More Online campaign found that 19% of small businesses in the South West don’t have a website; 50% are without any social media presence and 15% are not using online banking. The research also found that 51% have never used...
As announced in yesterday's (18 March) Budget statement, a large number of Exeter businesses can now receive up to £3,000 to improve their Broadband Connections.
The news comes as Exeter has been approved to join the Government Broadband Connection Vouchers Scheme from 1 April.
Most of the country can get superfast Broadband but some people might live or work in an area where it is not yet available.
Government and local authorities are investing £1.7bn to help bring superfast Broadband to over 95% of the UK by 2017. One of the initiatives to realise this aim is the...
More than half of Exeter professionals (55%) say they are seeing more people in their industry with multiple jobs compared to five years ago.
These ‘portfolio job holders’ work for more than one employer, potentially offering more than one service. This is a key finding of recent research from Regus, the world’s largest provider of flexible workspace. The survey canvassed the opinions of business owners and senior managers in Exeter on their attitudes and approaches to work.
The findings show that working practices have changed considerably, even in as little as five years...
Businesses are signing up to an innovative new scheme that aims to tackle/reduce traffic congestion in Exeter.
As well as reducing congestion and pollution, Park & Change will also help commuters get active through walking and cycling, and save money on fuel and parking costs by encouraging them to switch to alternative forms of transport for part of their journey.
The sites in support of the new scheme are Darts Farm (Topsham), Westpoint (Clyst St Mary), Woodleigh Coach House (Cheriton Bishop), Fingle Glen Golf Hotel (Tedburn) and a site in Pinhoe, totalling over 100...
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service is joining with Fire and Rescue Services across the UK in supporting Fire Sprinkler Week 2015, taking place from 16-22 March.
This is the second annual sprinkler awareness campaign undertaken by Fire and Rescue services and this year is focusing on the way that fitting sprinklers can help businesses and education, by reducing the impact of a fire.
Lee Howell, Chief Fire Officer said: “Devon & Somerset fully support this campaign as sprinklers save lives, protect property, promote prosperity and contribute to the community...
Exeter businesses are being warned they may become “April fools” by sacrificing tens of thousands of pounds in rating refunds and savings if they do not act quickly.
The alert has come from Matthew Midwinter, partner with leading national property consultancy and chartered surveyor Sanderson Weatherall, which has offices in Exeter.
Mr Midwinter explained: “The rates that businesses pay on their premises are linked to valuations which have previously changed every five years. The last such review took effect in April 2010 but the government announced a couple of years ago...
