A contestant on the BBC’s high-profile wedding reality show had to battle tragic family news as she planned the happiest day for couples. Yasmin Downing, from Plymouth, has revealed that she had to help arrange her beloved grandmother’s funeral at the same time she was competing with eight other hopefuls on the Ultimate Wedding Planner which launched last night. “It was devastating when my Nan Phyllis passed as she was instrumental in my upbringing and we were so close,” says Yasmin Downing, a 33-year-old florist. “I should have been grieving her, but I had to put on a smile so that the...
A new support programme has been launched to help businesses across Torbay to reduce their carbon emissions and save money on their energy bills.
Local businesses of all sectors and sizes are encouraged to take part in the fully funded programme. Participating businesses will benefit from a bespoke package of support to help them assess their current carbon impact, identify bespoke actions to reduce their impacts and hopefully save money. A decarbonisation plan for making it all happen will also be produced, making it as easy as possible for businesses to implement their ideas...
Sovereign Housing has secured reserved matters approval for 68 affordable homes on land at Monkerton to the east of Cumberland Way, on the edge of Exeter.
Approval for the low-carbon development will see the association start work on its second development based on its new and more sustainable house type range.
The homes at Monkerton will benefit from an adaption of this new range of more sustainable home designs. These designs, which have been exclusively developed for Sovereign, will further enhance the health and wellbeing of future customers, and protect the...
Royal Warrant Holder - Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Company is on a quest to support local farmers and strengthen the sustainability of their business, collaborating with Devon Duvets on their new upcoming range.
Amanda Oldfield founded the Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Company, a family-run business with its headquarters on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, more than 20 years ago after realising how simple it is to be duped into purchasing poor furniture for your home.
A Carbon Neutral company and long-standing Made in Britain member. The business prioritises sustainability...
Some of Exeter’s most historic buildings are teaming up to offer schoolchildren educational tours.
Exeter Cathedral has joined forces with Exeter’s historic Guildhall, St Nicholas Priory, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery, and Exeter Custom House to offer new learning opportunities at the famous buildings.
Other historic buildings in the city, including Tucker’s Hall, Exeter Mosque and Exeter Synagogue are also getting involved in the initiative.
The partnership between the Cathedral and Exeter City Council will promote the historic locations to...
Demand for help in exploring export markets has put a South West trade company on course for a record year.
International Trade Matters, founded by Linda Middleton-Jones in 2017, helps around 40 firms every month through a mixture of strategic advice and tactical training.
This has placed her Devon-based business on target to increase sales by 25% to align with the firm’s national rollout of its Global Trade Blueprint (GTB).
Predicated on the principles of ‘Lean and Sensemaking’, the implementation tool has been recognised as a gamechanger for companies wanting...
Local homebuilder Barratt David Wilson Homes Exeter has recently donated £1,500 to Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), the leading provider of screening and cardiac testing for young people aged 14-35. The donation is part of the developers community fund initiative.
The Barratt Developments community fund initiative looks to support those causes which have a positive impact within their local communities. CRY has been providing specialist cardiac screening to young people and athletes since 1995. CRY has been working to reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death and...
Learn Devon has launched its autumn programme of courses for adult learners. Devon County Council’s adult education provider is offering over 100 courses at locations across the county to support adult learners to develop their skills and gain essential qualifications. Learn Devon’s education programme is designed to be flexible and accessible, with a mixture of online and face-to-face courses. For learners with additional needs, the Learning Support team is available to support learners with their study. Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery...
From Sunday 3rd September 2023 Stagecoach South West are improving a number of bus services with new timetables introduced across the South West.
In Exeter, several bus services are enhanced and extra journeys introduced in partnership with Devon County Council and a number of high frequency bus corridors will be introduced.
In North Devon better connections are provided across Bideford and in South Devon, working with Devon County Council, the local bus operator has doubled the frequency of buses between Dartmouth and Totnes on service 92. Service 1A between Sherford...
IWG , the world’s largest provider of hybrid working solutions with brands including Spaces and Regus, is opening a state-of-the-art flexible HQ workspace in Exeter as the demand for hybrid working rapidly accelerates. This opening is being delivered in partnership with Matford Business Centres, which has entered into a managed partnership agreement with IWG.
Unprecedented demand from companies of all sizes and workers looking for hybrid working solutions means IWG will add 1,000 new locations over the next year. Hybrid working offers companies a significantly lower cost base...
