Business

South West Estate Agents Helmores, based in Crediton, have secured four new awards from Property Sharing Experts, the South West and London’s largest Estate Agency and homes directory.

Over 300 people attended the PSE Gala Awards Dinner at Woodbury Park, Exeter, compered by Alan Dedicoat – best known as the “voice of the balls” on the BBC’s national lottery programme.

Helmores were delighted to have won Silver in Expert Branch Sales, Silver in Expert Branch Lettings, Gold in Charity by an Office and Gold in Agent of the Year, Devon.

Helmores Rental’s Manager, Jen...

As dairy prices start to rally after a slump which has seen the number of dairy farmers in Britain halve in a decade and the milk price tumble by more than a third in the last 18 months, NFU South West dairy board chairman Andrew Branton is challenging milk processors to ensure that increased returns are passed along to farmers quickly, to ensure as many as possible stay in business.

Cheshire-based Meadow Foods have announced a farm gate milk price increase that will add one penny to the price paid to farmers in July and another in August. Somerset-based Wyke Farms is set to follow...

An Exeter-based waste management business, Devon Contract Waste, has secured a contract with Princess Yachts worth around £2.5million to manage the British luxury yacht manufacturer’s waste for the next three years.

The new contract will mean the majority of the commercial waste collected from six of Princess Yachts’ Plymouth sites – home to 2,050 staff – will be managed by Devon Contract Waste’s Zero to Landfill service which is unique in the South West. Princess Yachts is among the expanding group of businesses in the Westcountry spearheading the movement towards a cleaner county...

A leading tax accountant is calling for a package of measures to help businesses in the South West following the UK's historic decision to leave the European Union.

John Endacott, Head of Tax at chartered accountants and business advisers PKF Francis Clark, says action is urgently needed in a number of areas to promote economic activity.

His proposals include:

• Boosting domestic business investment through the new Investors' Relief. • Reviewing Stamp Duty Land Tax rates, in particular the new three per cent surcharge. • A possible temporary cut in VAT, if necessary...