Devon

First Digital Skills survey of SW companies

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 02/14/2017 - 12:22pm

Aptus Recruitment has announced the results of the first employers’ survey into digital and creative skills across Devon, Somerset and Cornwall.

The results are published in the first edition of The Aptus Guide, which has been created by the Exeter-based firm. The aim of the Guide is to inform and encourage more people to consider digital and creative careers in the region by highlighting the many benefits.

The survey, which included businesses in Exeter, Plymouth, Taunton along with the wider Devon, Somerset and Cornwall regions, revealed a shortage of suitable candidates...

LWC Drinks crown Old J Rum cocktail competition champ

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/13/2017 - 10:15pm

LWC Drinks and Old J Spiced Rum have recently hosted six of Devon and Cornwall’s top bartenders in a cocktail-making competition at the 2017 Source Trade Show.

The six finalists battled it out in front of an audience with Andy Bell from The Brigg in Falmouth taking first place, closely followed by Justine Bock of the Bike Shed Theatre in Exeter and Josh Stewart of the Treasury in Plymouth.

The competition closed the first day of the show, following a lively demo carried out by London Signature Brand Activation Manager, Rui c. Teixeira. The six finalists took it in turns to...

Spring is on the way say National Trust gardeners

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/13/2017 - 9:56pm

National Trust garden teams have conducted their annual flower count for Valentine’s Day and although this year spring seems to be on the way, just as we would normally expect, but what is noticeable is how many scented plants are out in flower at this early time of year. National Trust gardeners reported 1,737 plants blooming in this year’s 12th annual Valentine’s Flower count, 34% down on last year’s figure of 2,644. Although numbers are down on 2016, they are still higher than the previous three years.. For the second year running, Saltram had the highest number of flowers recorded with...

Police work with schools to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/13/2017 - 3:11pm

Devon and Cornwall Police has collaborated with the Solomon Drama Group and schools across the region to provide education around child sexual exploitation.

The Solomon Group recently presented a short play and workshop to Year 9 and 10 pupils in 20 Devon and Cornwall schools.

‘Skin Deep’ tells the powerful and moving story of two teenage girls who are attracted to boys from rival gangs. As events unfold, their relationships become increasingly affected by misunderstandings, jealousy, possessiveness and eventually hatred and intimidation. Betrayal and fear lead to a...

Exeter prisoners run, row and ride for charity

This isn’t a typical prison story: instead it’s an amazing achievement by 10 people in HMP Exeter who in just one day rowed the English Channel, ran up Ben Nevis and rode a stage of the Tour de France, raising hundreds of pounds for a local charity.

Two teams of five - a total of eight prisoners and two prison officers - did not leave the city centre jail while doing this task, of course, but instead undertook the gruelling challenges in the gymnasium.

Each of the prisoners who undertook the challenge is a Samaritans volunteer Listener, specially trained to offer emotional...

Extra £2.5m funding for highway drainage and rural roads

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/13/2017 - 12:00pm

Devon’s road network is to benefit from an extra £2.5 million of funding.

Devon County Council’s Cabinet announced on Friday (10 February) plans to invest an additional £2 million in rural roads, and an extra £500,000 for highway drainage in 2017/18.

Devon has continued to maintain 97% of A and B roads in good condition, and the additional investment will be used to improve road surfaces on lower category roads across the county.

The additional funding will be used for patching and longer term repairs to add life and resilience to roads.

Councillor Stuart...

Milkman of the Year 2017 nominations open

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/13/2017 - 10:07am

Voting for the 2017 milk&more Milkman of the Year competition is now open.

Organised by Great Britain's largest milkman delivery service, milk&more , the competition will recognise and reward the very best milk&more milkmen and women from across the country. Delivering milk before most of us are even out of bed, the valuable work of milkmen and women is so often not seen or appreciated. This competition will shine a light on the support milkmen provide to their local communities and grateful customers and celebrate the special place milkmen have held for generations in...

Look before you book this Valentine’s Day

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/13/2017 - 10:01am

People looking to enjoy a romantic meal on Valentine’s Day are being urged to check the food hygiene ratings before making a booking.

“Planning the perfect Valentine’s date is stressful enough,” said Cllr Rob Hannaford, Exeter’s City Council’s Lead Councillor responsible for environmental health.

“The last thing you want on your mind before that special date is whether the place you choose is hygienic or not. After all, there’s nothing romantic about food poisoning!”

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme rates food businesses on their hygiene standards, based on...

Budding Bear Grylls wanted for survival skills weekend

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/13/2017 - 9:47am

The MS Trust’s Survival Skills Weekend will be taking place in Ashclyst Forest in Devon from 23-25 June to raise funds to help people with multiple sclerosis. The charity is looking for 10 budding Bear Grylls to take part in this outdoor adventure where participants will be sponsored to live in shelters they have built and eat food they have foraged from the forest. This wilderness survival challenge will be raising funds to help the MS Trust ensure no one has to manage MS alone. Jon Makin, who work as Lead Trade Manager for Tesco in Cullompton, explains why he will be taking part: “It's...

Enter your film for Two Short Nights Film Festival

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/13/2017 - 9:10am

Entries are now open for one of the South West’s most vibrant and longest running film festivals, Two Short Nights. Festival organisers are inviting submissions from filmmakers based across the UK andbeyond, working in every genre, from animation and documentary to moving image artwork and music videos. Each winter, Two Short Nights Film Festival brings crowds of film lovers, filmmakers and industry specialists to Exeter’s city-centre arts hub Exeter Phoenix to indulge in a varied programme of screenings, workshops and events celebrating short film. Now in its 16th year, the festival...

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