Devon

Low numbers of school leavers recruited

Devon businesses are only recruiting low numbers of young people looking for their first job since leaving education, according to research published today by Devon County Council.

The Devon County Council Workforce Skills Survey aims to better understand the issues and challenges facing businesses in Devon in relation to skills, with one of these areas being recruitment.

The research found that in the last three years, only a third (32 per cent) of businesses in Devon have employed someone in their first job since leaving school, 31 per cent since leaving a further...

Fun for the family at NT event

The National Trust's East Devon ranger team are running their next hedge laying event on Saturday 7 December at Lower Halsdon Farm.

Hedge-laying is a traditional method of maintaining and regenerating hedgerows and is generally carried out on a 12 to 15 year cycle. This helps prolong the life of the hedge, create a stock proof boundary as well as improving wildlife habitat.

The National Trust team believe their hedge laying event benefits more than just the hedges.

Kate Sheard, a Community Ranger, said: "Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and make...

Entries now open for the 2014 Taste of the West Awards

After the unprecedented success of this year’s awards, Taste of the West is delighted to announce that entries for the prestigious Product Awards and Hospitality and Retail Awards are now open for 2014.

The 2014 awards are taking place earlier than ever before, with the Product Awards judging set for early April, allowing winners a longer period of time to maximise the benefits of receiving these widely recognised accolades.

These highly sought after awards demonstrate the South West’s commitment to producing food and drink products of an outstanding quality.

The...

Man surrenders after firearms stand off

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 12/03/2013 - 12:30pm

Police have arrested a 32 year-old man in a firearm incident after a nearly four hour long standoff in Barnstaple last night (2 December). The man was threatening to harm himself and anyone who might approach him on Castle Street from around 4.00pm Police cordoned off the area closing down the Strand and the surrounding area in Barnstaple to ensure the safety of all parties. The man surrendered after a successful police negotiation and was arrested at 7:45pm. The police would like to thank the local community for their cooperation and patience during the period the cordon was in place....

South Molton's Big Christmas Festival Weekend

Each year South Molton’s Big Christmas Festival (which runs the first weekend in December), is based on all the elements of a great, traditional, country Christmas. However, the organisers, South Molton Business Association (SMBA) also like to introduce new items and for 2013, one of these will be the Schools’ Art Expo. This will be a free event, where pictures and other creative offerings from local schools will be on view in the town’s elegant Georgian Assembly Rooms.

The Art Expo was the idea of David Walker, the SMBA member who also co-ordinates the children’s Friday Night...

Elite award for EDDC alarm service

East Devon District Council’s Home Safeguard service has comfortably retained a coveted industry chartermark – putting it among the top alarm providers in the UK.

The service for frail and vulnerable people first won the Telcare Services Association (TSA) accreditation three years ago and has since successfully passed two annual check-ups.

Last month (November), the TSA conducted a three-yearly audit, which is a tougher test than the annual checks and more akin to the original inspection in 2010, subjecting every aspect of Home Safeguard to in-depth scrutiny.

This...

Meet the Artists: Four Southwest Wood Engravers at RAMM

Event Date: 
07/12/2013 - 2:00pm
Venue: 
Royal Albert Memorial Museum

Enjoy the talents of Harry Brockway, Hilary Paynter, Pam Pebworth and Howard Phipps on Saturday 7th December at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum.

The four local wood engravers will be meeting visitors of the museum at 2pm.

Visitors to Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) will be able to enjoy a drink with the artists and get a 5% discount on all artists’ gallery sales when an exhibition opens on Saturday 7th December.

The exhibition - Awake Through Years: Four Southwest Wood Engravers, runs from 7 December to 23 March.

For more information visit http...

Meet the Artists: Four Southwest Wood Engravers at RAMM

Visitors to Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) will be able to enjoy a drink with the artists and get a 5% discount on all artists’ gallery sales when an exhibition opens on Saturday 7th December.

Awake Through Years: Four Southwest Wood Engravers runs from 7 December to 23 March. Four local wood engravers, Harry Brockway, Hilary Paynter, Pam Pebworth and Howard Phipps, will be meeting visitors in the gallery from 2pm on Saturday.

The engravers combine accuracy of observation with a totally modern sensibility. Their display highlights many of the different...

University staff stage second strike

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 12/03/2013 - 11:10am

University of Exeter staff are taking part in a second day of national strikes over pay conditions today (3 December). Members of the UCU, Unite and UNISON unions are holding a second day of strikes having already taken industrial action on October 31. Members of the EIS union, which represents Scottish university staff, are also join today’s strikes not having taken part of the previous strike. Unions are striking over a 1% returned pay offer from University employers which the unions argue actually represent a 13% pay cut due to the rising cost of living. The Univesities and Colleges...

Free community composting courses for growers of Local Food taking place in Devon

Seize the Moment, a not for profit registered company, have teamed up with the Community Composting Network to deliver a course aimed specifically at local food growers to get them composting as well as growing.

The courses, which take place in a variety of locations across the UK, aim to get food growers to capture the nutrients and organic matter in local food and garden waste,and return that goodness to the soil where it's badly needed. It will also help them use their own compost to make growing media for sowing and planting up.

The Composting courses will comprise of...

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