businesses

Businesses supported by the University of Exeter have raised £10.3m investment despite the global pandemic

SETsquared has released data which shows that companies supported by the University of Exeter, including SETsquared Exeter, have raised £10.3m worth of investment from private and public sources in 2020.

This is also reflected in the national picture whereby SETsquared member companies raised a record level of investment totalling £616m, which represents a 40% increase on 2019.

These companies will have received support through a range of different programmes including through the SETsquared Exeter Business Acceleration Centre, ICURe innovation to commercialisation...

Growth Support Programme launches initiative to support economic recovery

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 12/22/2020 - 11:17pm

The Heart of the South West Growth Support Programme (GSP) is launching its new “Adapt + Revive” initiative which aims to equip businesses in the region with vital digital skills to help support economic recovery. Businesses across Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay will be offered support and training focusing on digital marketing, e-commerce and website management through the scheme. A number of training webinars are also being aimed specifically at businesses operating in the tourism, food and drink and retail sectors. Since the Heart of the South West Growth Support Programme...

Chance for businesses to join Made in Devon for a year for FREE

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 11/26/2020 - 5:19pm

Fifty Devon businesses have the chance to join trading standard’s Made in Devon scheme with their first year of membership free.

Consumers need to be confident that they are buying genuinely Devon sourced products, which in turn is a selling point and source of pride for businesses.

Scheme membership will enable businesses to demonstrate that any claims made about a product’s Devon origins have been checked, vetted and verified by officers from Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards.

The scheme is an extension to Buy With Confidence, a trading standards...

More than two-thirds of business leaders will continue to do meetings virtually

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 10/22/2020 - 8:35am

According to the Office for National Statistics, as of April 2020, 47 percent of people were working from home, mostly as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Before 2020, many workplaces didn’t allow working from home or even flexible hours, but COVID-19 has forced bosses to reassess their processes.

A survey of business leaders by speakers bureau VBQ Speakers has revealed that 68 percent will continue to hold company-wide meetings, annual general meetings and conferences virtually moving forward.

69 percent claim that virtual conferences are as...

shop local, Exeter

3 in 4 Exeter residents say they will shop local to support small businesses

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 08/16/2020 - 11:25pm

Many businesses across the UK have been plunged into the depths of economic despair due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In fact, between March and June 2020, 649,000* UK employees were left unemployed as a result of lockdown. Small and medium sized businesses are the backbone of the economy, but it appears many would-be entrepreneurs are now too afraid to start their own business, given the uncertainty of the economy over the next few months and possibly years.

InvestingReviews.co.uk conducted a survey (3,000; 18+) which revealed that over 1 in 5 (22%) would-be entrepreneurs in...

Stagecoach helps businesses bounce back with new tailored solutions to help employees, customers and the education sector

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 07/23/2020 - 11:26am

Stagecoach is helping businesses, the education sector and event organisers to bounce back from Covid-19 with a range of tailored solutions through a ‘one stop shop’ approach to help employers, pupils and customers.

As the UK comes out of lockdown, public transport continues to play a vital role in the country’s recovery ahead. As well as helping to restart the economy, it is vital in bringing normality back to many areas of people’s daily lives.

Covid-19 has brought about many societal changes such as home working, more targeted travel and more flexible working. A...

South Western Railway on the hunt for the UK’s favourite local businesses for the chance to win a business recovery package worth £12,000 

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 07/16/2020 - 11:26am

Local businesses have been some of the hardest hit by COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown, and as restrictions begin to ease it is important now more than ever that we all support them. South Western Railway has today launched a campaign to celebrate local businesses across the region, with three tailored business recovery packages up for grabs.

South Western Railway is asking locals to nominate their favourite local business across the South West, to be given the chance to win one of these packages up to the value of £12,000. Whether it’s the village butcher’s, the local...

South West firms speak to Environment Secretary

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 06/16/2020 - 11:55pm

The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has spoken to businesses across the South West about the challenges they have faced during the coronavirus pandemic and how the government can continue to support them through these unprecedented times.

The bosses of Cornwall-based Ocean Fish and Kepak, along with fishermen Julian Baker and Andy Giles and Devon farmer David Chugg, were among a raft of businesses to speak to George Eustice MP during a special business roundtable.

The virtual meeting is one of many similar being held by the Conservative...

Two local firms are collaborating to help industries across all sectors gear up for the ‘new normal’ and get back to business

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 06/12/2020 - 10:28pm

Diversifying from their normal product ranges, long established family businesses Exeter based Aspect Windows and Stalite Signs are pooling skills and resources to meet a national demand for safety screens for use in office and leisure premises.

With a worldwide shortage of the clear Perspex used in safety screens, the two companies have come up with the Office Guardian range of Covid-19 protection screening to support social distancing and minimise transmission rates within the workplace.

From desk dividers to portable free standing screens, the Office Guardian product...

Exeter

Plans underway for next week’s city centre reopening

Preparations are well underway to help ensure Exeter city centre is safe and welcoming when many stores reopen their doors next week.

On Monday 15 June non-essential retailers will be allowed to reopen for the first time since the end of March, once they have completed a risk assessment. Hospitality businesses like cafes and restaurants can reopen from 4 July.

Temporary and permanent measures and changes are required to ensure the city centre remains a vibrant place to live, work, socialise, visit, shop and work.

Social distancing measures must be in place to...

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