Exeter

The Exeter Daily brings you a full photo tour of the new John Lewis store, which is due to be handed over to the store's partners tomorrow from the team that has been responsible for the set up.

John Lewis Exeter will stock a number of products and brands, exclusive to John Lewis. These will include, the Alice Temperley Somerset collection, the new JME range by Jamie Oliver and Liz Earle. John Lewis favourites such as JL&Co, John Lewis Weekend and the brand new House by John Lewis collection – a new home range featuring affordable products including furniture, lighting...

Kate Connock speaks very enthusiastically about working for John Lewis, and having worked for the firm for 22 years she should know what she is talking about. She now sees that extensive experience culminate in her most exciting challenge to date, managing the launch of a very special branch of the brand 'never knowingly undersold'.

However the pride she shows is as much to do with the links John Lewis forges with the local community and how it treats its staff, or partners as it calls them, fairly as it does with the quality products it sells. Despite the mammoth task of...

Want to try making a film? Now’s your chance! Exeter Phoenix is challenging all budding filmmakers to create, shoot and edit a film in the space of just 48 hours. No experience is necessary – just a good imagination and a free weekend.

On Friday 9 November film-makers, either individually or as part of a team, will receive a brief which will include a theme, a prop and a sentence which must be incorporated into their film. Entrants then have until the evening of Sunday 11 November to plan, shoot and edit a film no longer than 5 minutes.

Submitted films...

Workers were today busy stacking shelves and polishing off displays ahead of the much-anticipated opening of John Lewis on Friday.

Yesterday members of the media were given an early tour around the new department store, including The Exeter Daily editor Natalie Vizard.

"It has a real 'wow' factor," she said.

"The attention to detail is incredible and I think shoppers are going to be impressed by what is on offer."

Meanwhile work continued late into the night at the junction of Sidwell Street and New North Road.

It has been reported that the John...

The Earl of Wessex will officially open Exeter’s Greenest school later this month.

His Royal Highness will visit Montgomery Primary in St Thomas which has been formally certified as England’s first zero-carbon school.

The Devon County Council school is one of the Greenest buildings in the UK and generates all its own electricity – and a surplus – from an array of solar panels on the roof.

The innovative, air-tight Passivhaus design means it doesn’t need a boiler to provide heating.

For most of the time, the building is warmed by the body heat of pupils and...

Plantabox sells wooden handmade crates based on the original apple crate design for storage, toy boxes, storage crates, retail display, wine boxes, herb gardens and planters. Owned by two people from different generations, Martin and Dave believe that fast, smart and focussed decisions are the key to the success of Plantabox as a brand.

The experience of shopping in Exeter is set to rocket to new heights with the launch of the new John Lewis store on the corner of Sidwell Street, which opens its doors to the public at 9am on Friday 12th October. The Exeter Daily was lucky enough to take a sneak peek around the sophisticated store with manager Kate Connock, whose staff are busily preparing for a smooth launch. Thursday will see the store's partners undertaking a dress rehearsal, but the signs are good as everyone is pulling together to make it happen.

Whether you love or loathe shopping, you can't help but...

Training and coaching business, Crisp Professional Development hosted a celebratory lunch at the Blue Ball last week for the students who completed their ILM Level 5 qualification in Management.

The ILM Level 5 is a challenging qualification, involving ten days of learning, individual coaching and work-based written assignments. Shaun Durham, MD of Crisp said, "The ILM sets the bar high, and I’m pleased to say all our delegates passed with flying colours; a just reward for all their hard work and commitment to learning and personal development."

The delegates...

The view as you come down Heavitree Road towards the city centre tells its own story - where once was a nasty, crumbling asbestos-ridden shell is now a cool, elegant building. Make no mistake, John Lewis, which opens on Friday in Exeter, is transforming the city in more ways than one. John Harvey, the city centre manager who was one of those instrumental in securing the prized store name, is immensely proud of Exeter’s coup. He is quick to point out, however, that “the John Lewis effect” won’t suddenly sprinkle the city in glitter - it was doing well before their arrival. “John Lewis don’t...

Two major planning applications for Exeter’s Science Park given the green light

Devon County Council’s planning application for the flagship building at Exeter Science Park has been approved by East Devon District Council.

The £7 million Science Park Centre will enable growing businesses to flourish, offering a unique collaborative environment for innovation and business support.

It will provide a range of highly flexible accommodation for high growth, science-based organisations including managed desk space, offices, workshops and laboratories as well as other...