Exeter

If I think back to my student accommodation, luxury was certainly not a word I would have used to describe the pokey, although admittedly much-loved, student digs I inhabited during my Uni years. How times have changed! Dean Clarke Lofts, in which a couple of show apartments are ready to view by the general public from this coming Saturday (16 March), will provide students and young professionals in training the option of an altogether more refined way of life. They will also offer foreign students a very attractive prospect while studying at Exeter, with a Chinese language version of the...

The Department of Education has formally approved the orders to allow the first schools to join the Diocese of Exeter’s new Multi Academy Trust.

The Trust, named St Christopher’s, has been set up by the diocese to enable it to support schools which are becoming academies.

The Diocese of Exeter has 130 church schools across Devon, which educate around 22,000 children aged 4-18. The vast majority of church schools in the diocese (85 per cent) are rated by Ofsted as good or outstanding.

The Trust’s mission statement says: “The St Christopher’s Multi Academy Trust will...

The 2012 Countryside Alliance Awards (aka the Rural Oscars) were presented to top rural businesses by the Secretary of State for Defra, Owen Paterson MP, at a ceremony at the Houses of Parliament on 13 March. The Awards are the Countryside Alliance’s annual celebration of rural produce, skills, enterprise and heritage through our small hard-working businesses. They are now in their eighth year and have become the definitive rural business award to win. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said: “Rural businesses are vital to the country’s economic recovery. The Government is right behind...

In the last 12 months alone, businesses being incubated by a partnership of five UK universities have raised some £30m in investment.

The figures have been unveiled by SETsquared , a collaboration between the universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey. The organisation partners in enterprise activities and collectively supports the growth and success of new business opportunities through its five incubation centres.

SETsquared’s Partnership Director, Graham Harrison, shared the partnership’s latest success figures with MP David Willetts as he visited...

New research shows that drinking beetroot juice can significantly improve performance in team sports involving bouts of high intensity exercise.

Trials by the University of Exeter Sport and Health Sciences department have found a direct link between the high nitrate content of beetroot and the chemical processes needed to get muscles working at their most efficient during intermittent bursts of activity.

During the tests, sportsmen were either given beetroot juice with a full complement of nitrates, or juice which had had the nitrate removed. Those who had taken the nitrate...

Cementing its presence in Exeter, leading recruitment expert Hays has marked its ongoing commitment to the area by launching a new office in the city centre. Over 15 expert consultants will be based in the office at Dix’s Field, Exeter, EX1 1QA. The official launch on Tuesday 12 March was marked with an event where the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Rob Newby, spoke about employment in the area. Hays’ recruiting experts in Exeter cover nine disciplines including education, human resources, office support, accountancy and finance, senior finance, procurement and supply chain, social...

Police are asking the public for information after two boys were seen shooting an air rifle at birds. The incident happened at around 4.30pm on Thursday 28 February 2013 in the car park near to bridge at Bromhams car park in Exeter. Officers are keen to speak to people who may have witnessed the incident or saw the boys with the weapon. Anyone with any information is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or the police switchboard on 101 quoting crime reference DE/13/1948

Devon County Council is pioneering the first sponsored academy chain in the country for its personalised learning centres.

The personalised learning service operates three centres, in Exeter, Barnstaple and Totnes.

They cater for students with specific medical or health problems and those who have been excluded from school.

The new £3.5 million centre in Exeter will be officially opened today (13 March) by the Chairman of Devon County Council, Jerry Brook.

The new Stansfield Centre on the Sowton Industrial Estate replaces the old, outdated facilities at...

Exeter's John Lewis Car Park, which recently underwent a £900,000 refurbishment and name change, has scooped a top national award.

The Car Park, which is run by Exeter City Council, was named Best Car Park Refurbishment of the Year at the British Parking Awards. The judges were so impressed with the car park they also gave it the Overall Winner award!

Previously called the King William Street Car Park, the facility was transformed in the lead up to opening of Exeter's John Lewis store last October. Refreshed and up-dated, the facility now offers motorists the freedom of...