Devon

Former BBC Dragon announced as a keynote speaker at South West Business Expo

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 10/16/2019 - 8:18am

With the South West Business Expo just around the corner, the organisers at South West Business Connections have announced details of the keynote speakers for UK’s 2nd largest business show, taking place at Westpoint Arena on Wednesday 20 November.

Though the list of key figures is diverse, all speakers have one thing in common: they’re all intimately aware of the great potential in the south west’s business community.

Headlining the Expo in the Taurus Keynote Theatre will be Former BBCTV Dragons’ Den ‘Dragon’, Rachel Elnaugh, the British entrepreneur who created the £multi...

Devon appeals for adopters to come forward as number of children waiting increases

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 10/16/2019 - 7:42am

Adoption agencies in Devon are working together this National Adoption Week (14-20 October) to appeal for potential adopters to come forward. This comes as numbers of adopters drop to an all-time low in the county and the number of children waiting continues to grow.

Regional Adoption Agency, Adopt South West, and independent adoption charity Families for Children are specifically looking for adopters who will consider adopting a sibling group. If adoptive families cannot be found soon then it is likely that these brothers and sisters will be separated.

Local figures...

Flybe heads into new era as Virgin Connect

Connect Airways CEO, Mark Anderson, was joined today by over 200 Flybe leaders for the long-awaited unveiling of the airline’s new name as it enters a new era as an independent company under the Virgin brand with the name, Virgin Connect.

This marks the beginning of Flybe’s journey into the future as part of the extended Virgin family with an overall re-brand scheduled to be completed next year.

Virgin Connect will reflect the innovation and entrepreneurship of Virgin’s wider holiday brands, putting its customers at the heart and driving better value. Providing a great...

Pippa Funnel riding Billy Beware

International stars head to Bicton for end-of-season foray

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 10/15/2019 - 9:16am

Bicton Arena is readying itself for the conclusion to the 2019 eventing season, and with nearly 700 entries for its competition, which runs from October 24 to 27, it will be a superb finale for riders and spectators alike.Competing at the event is the 2014 Badminton Horse Trials winner Sam Griffiths, World Equestrian Games 2018 silver medallist Padraig McCarthy and multiple British team medallist William Fox-Pitt.

Among the official sponsors is feed supplement company Animalife, which is also providing boxes of its acclaimed Competition Survival Packs in the goody buckets for...

Flooring Superstore, Newton Abbot

Local charity to benefit from support of new store

Authored by NeilShaefer
Posted: Mon, 10/14/2019 - 7:52pm

A flooring retailer has marked the opening of its new £100,000 store in Newton Abbot by pledging its support for a local mental health support charity.

Flooring Superstore opened on the Kingsteignton Trading Estate, Pottery Road, in September.

The official opening was carried out by representatives of Step One Charity, which supports people to manage their mental health, achieve employment goals and live more independently.

Step One Charity is in the process of renovating an existing property in Newton Abbot which provides supported living services for people with...

Budleigh Salterton's new £150k skate park to be officially opened

Authored by Claire Small
Posted: Fri, 10/11/2019 - 10:18am

On 25 October 2019, from 12pm, East Devon District Council will be hosting the official opening of its new £150,000 concrete skate park in Lime Kiln car park in Budleigh Salterton.

The event will be managed by the council’s skate park designer and contractor, Maverick Industries Ltd. The council’s Chairman, Cllr Stuart Hughes, will open proceedings with a speech at 12pm followed by pro rider demonstrations from Rubicon Skateboards, Dominator Scooters and Scott Hamlin BMX.

There will be jam format competitions for scooter riders, followed by BMX riders and finally...

On the wing: in celebration of the feather

On the wing: in celebration of the feather

Authored by Paigntonzoo
Posted: Thu, 10/10/2019 - 3:58pm

Paignton Zoo bird keeper Lisa Jones freely admits that she has an interest that borders on obsession. She’s fascinated by feathers.

“During the summer months, lots of birds at Paignton Zoo start to moult… I think feathers are among the natural world’s most incredible adaptations. While I was cleaning out the Ural owls, who are moulting heavily now, I wondered if anyone else would be as interested in feathers as me!”

It turns out, yes. Feathers are the often overlooked wonders of nature. We might admire a bird, but do we stop to ask what feathers are, why they are like they...

Riverford hosts its first plastic-free Pumpkin Day

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 10/09/2019 - 10:26am

Pull on your wellies and join in at the farm for a family friendly pumpkin celebration

Organic veg box company Riverford has turned its legendary Pumpkin Day event plastic-free for the first time to reduce its impact on the environment as much as possible.

The annual family fun event will take place on 26 October at Riverford’s Wash Farm, Buckfastleigh, near Totnes.

Visitors can enjoy a range of activities, including pumpkin decorating, face painting, seed potting, live music and tasty food, as well as the chance for a farm walk.

“Because of the large number...

Timewade’s Jordan Westcott, Operations Director and Julian Wills, Managing Director.

Study of South West SMEs use of technology gets underway

Businesses across the South West are being encouraged to take part in a new study to find out how well companies are using technology to boost productivity.

The Technology for Success initiative will give organisations the chance to benchmark their use of technology to support and grow their business and compare it with similar businesses.

Launched by Exeter-based strategy and support technology company Timewade, in partnership with Tech South West, the first part of the study is a 10-minute online survey www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/techforsuccess for businesses to complete. A...

Exeter residents invited to become ‘Dementia Friends Champions’

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 10/08/2019 - 11:02am

People in Exeter, and the surrounding area, are being given the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of local people with dementia by becoming Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friends Champions. People can book now to attend a touring induction day that is coming to the area on Friday 18 October.

The day-long session, that will take place at Exeter Community Centre, is part of Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friends programme, which is the UK’s biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about...

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