490 businesses in the South West could receive free tailor-made advice to how to export their business overseas.
The new advice is open to all 8,900 UK businesses with a turnover of between £25 million and £250 million which the Government consider to be to be medium sized.
A pilot scheme had been launched in Yorkshire and the South East but is expected to see a full national roll-out afterwards.
The advice will be given by the UK Trade and Investment a government department that works with UK-based businesses to ensure their success in international markets. John...
The number of house sales in the South West has reached its highest point since 2007 according to a survey by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
The survey showed that sales in December were more than double that f the lowest point of the downturn.
Prices are also rising with a net balance of 56 percent more chartered surveyors reported growing prices in the South West.
Significantly, every area of the UK saw prices increase with London and the South East experiencing the biggest jumps.
RICS claim that the figure calculated by sales per...
The British Army has launched a campaign in Exeter and the South West to attract full and part time recruits.
New research reveals that one in four people in Exeter and the South West are not satisfied with their current career and admit the greatest factors missing are a decent salary (28%), excellent training and personal development (26%), a challenging and exciting role (24%), the opportunity to travel in the UK and overseas (23%) and getting paid while gaining qualifications (18%)1. The Army offers all of these opportunities to potential recruits looking to improve their lives...
Thousands of people across the South West could end up not being entitled to a full state pension when they retire, warns ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) today. Chas Roy-Chowdhury, ACCA head of taxation said: “Most workers do not have to worry that their National Insurance contributions are up to date, the group that are most at risk from not having the full qualifying years are those that are self-employed.
“Figures show that 16% of people from the South West are self-employed potentially meaning thousands of workers might not be entitled to a full state...
Search and rescue helicopters from the Royal Navy have made more than 25 emergency journeys during the recent storms.
9 people were rescued in the West Country with helicopter crews from Royal Navy Station Culdrose battling with the extreme conditions.
These conditions made the journeys far more dangerous and saw 50knot (57mph) head winds triple the journey time of some flights requiring extra stops for fuel in North Devon.
Search and rescue helicopters from across the UK saw what the government described as “almost non-stop” activity during the storms as people...
Professional union, Prospect has urged the government to suspend its job cuts at the Environment Agency in the light of the recent widespread flooding.
The Agency has confirmed that it will be cutting 1,500 jobs including some from flood protection as part of the government’s latest round of austerity cuts.
Although it is unclear which area of the organisation will see the job losses but the union claims that 550 jobs related to flood protection could be lost.
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman said the agency was making its own choices...
House prices in the South West are set to rise again as demand continues to exceed supply, surveyors have forecasted.
According to new figures released today by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) house prices in the South West will increase by a further 7% over the next year.
Rental costs are also set to rise by a further 2% which will carry over into the cost of living.
The forecast is echoed nationally as well with the average UK house price set to rise by 8% in the next year.
London house prices again see the largest increase, jumping up by...
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.
One year on from some of the worst flooding in 2012, latest research by the Environment Agency reveals that last year’s record-breaking wet year in England could have cost the UK economy close to £600 million.
The overall financial cost to businesses of the extreme weather was up to £200 million as total commercial property and contents damage totalled up to £84 million, and further indirect impacts – such as staff working days lost – hit companies and local economies for up to £33 million.
The latest assessment on the financial cost of the 2012 floods reveal that every...
Men and women in the South West are being challenged to lay off the booze in January to raise money for Cancer Research UK. The charity is launching Dryathlon, its New Year fundraising campaign, and urging people across the West to sign up now before the festive season gets into full swing. Dryathletes pledge to drop the drink for a month and either get sponsored or donate the money they would have spent on alcohol to the charity. Supporters can register as individuals or set up a team and get their friends, family and colleagues involved to motivate each other along the way. And for those...
