Business Daily

Three people stood outside a Porter Dodson office

Exeter-based law firm achieves record breaking results

Porter Dodson, the South West-based UK Top 200 law firm, has announced a record-breaking year of growth and achievement, increasing revenue to £20.2m, while retaining the highly prestigious Gold Investors In People accreditation for the third successive time.

Across its Exeter, Sherborne, Poundbury, Bridport, Wellington, Taunton, and Yeovil offices, the firm has seen year-on-year growth of 15.5%, leading to a 25.4% leap in net profit.

These impressive results round off a year in which the firm has achieved significant headcount increases, made possible in part by the...

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Demand for land falls sharply in SW

A significant drop in demand for rural land was reported in H1 2016, and with continuing modest supply increases, expectations have been pushed further into negative territory. Across the country, 49% of contributors now expect prices to fall across all farm types over the coming year. Anecdotal evidence from respondents suggests that several factors are combining to dampen sentiment in the market which include increased uncertainty due to the EU Referendum, increased localised pricing with less fashionable areas facing difficulties, and low commodity prices.

Commercial farmland...

Southern construction firms must win the war for A-level talent, says RICS

Construction firms in the South of England must develop more training-based employment programmes for young people if they are to attract the brightest A-level achievers – and help alleviate the skills epidemic in the industry, says the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). It has been predicted that the UK construction industry will create around 190,000 new jobs by the end of 2018 but there is a growing fear that there will not be the talent to fill them.** Lynn Robinson, RICS Regional Director, South said: “We have to make it easier for young people to find an appropriate...

New benefits scheme for city centre businesses

Exeter Business Improvement District (Exeter BID) has introduced a new members’ benefits scheme to offer businesses within the area the chance to save money on their business costs.

Partnering with specialists Meercat Associates, the Exeter BID Joint Procurement scheme looks to reduce costs and secure better deals for BID businesses. There are a number of areas that businesses can look into, including energy, telecoms, stationery and testing.

Rishi Sood, Managing Director of Meercat Associates said “Our partnership with Exeter BID will allow us to provide all members with...

Devon’s JSA claimants lowest on record

Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimants in Devon are at a new historic low after falling by 58 during July, with the total claimant count now standing at 3,029.

Of Devon’s eight districts six experienced falls , ranging between one and 34 claimants.

In Exeter the number of claimants rose by 30 claimants and in South Hams the number increased by just one. The largest fall of 34 claimants was seen in East Devon.

The claimant rate (proportion of the county’s working age population claiming JSA) remained largely the same with East Devon, Teignbridge and Torridge falling...

Council backs Exmouth Town team’s Jurassic Safari

Officers from East Devon District Council’s StreetScene service have had a busy past few weeks helping find homes for 17 life-sized dinosaur models, previously roaming free in Exmouth.

Nick Christo, East Devon’s StreetScene Area Manager West, is relieved to report that all the prehistoric reptiles are now confined to easily accessible public sites, forming an educational trail throughout the town, ready for an exciting launch event at the Strand on Saturday August 20, 11am to 6pm.

The StreetScene team members have become so attached to one of the dinosaurs – a massive...

Severe weather warning issued for Devon

A yellow severe weather warning for strong wind has been issued for Devon on Saturday, with gusts of up to 55mph expected in areas.

A spell of unseasonably strong southwesterly winds, accompanied by heavy, blustery showers, is expected to develop across the south of the UK later on Friday but peaking during Saturday daytime.

The strongest winds will lead to large waves round exposed coastlines.

Gusts of up to 45 mph inland, and 45 to 55 mph along exposed coastlines, are expected.

The strong gusts may cause disruption to transport and, in view of the time of...

Outstanding year of International Baccalaureate results at Exeter College

Exeter College students are celebrating another outstanding year of International Baccalaureate diploma results.

Four students achieved 40+ points putting them in the top five to ten per cent of students in the entire world – equivalent of five A Levels at A/A*.

The international points average for the IB is currently 30.07 for May 2016 (accurate at the time of printing on August 15th). At Exeter College, the average points score was 32.5. A mark of 31 points equals 413 UCAS tariff points – equivalent to more than three A Levels at grade A. And Ellie Norman achieved 42...

Elderly woman victim of distraction burglary

Police are appealing for witnesses after an elderly woman was the victim of a distraction burglary in her home in the Whipton area of Exeter.

The incident happened around 3-3.30pm on Wednesday 10 August 2016.

The woman had £100 taken from her bedroom after a man attended her address stating that he was a gardener and offered to do some work for her the following day. However, before he left he asked the lady if he could use her upstairs bathroom to which she agreed and allowed him into her home.

After he left, the victim later discovered that £100 had been removed...

Exeter City 0 Crawley Town 1: Match report

Crawley Town recorded their first ever victory over Exeter City as substitute Josh Yorwerth fired a home from just inside the box.

City manager Paul Tisdale made three changes to the side that lost to Hartlepool United on Saturday, with Ethan Ampadu breaking another club record as he made his league debut for City aged 15 years, 11 months and two days.

He joined the reinstated Matt Oakley in the centre of defence, while Ryan Harley recovered from knee injury, picked up against Brentford last Tuesday, to return to midfield.

Crawley started the match brightly as Enzio...

Charity launches search for inspirational people

A leading provider of British Sign Language (BSL) and other deaf and deafblind qualifications in the UK has launched its search for the South West’s most inspirational people involved in the deaf and deafblind community.

Signature has announced the opening of nominations for its eighth Signature Annual Awards, which celebrates people across the UK who are involved in providing a positive impact on the lives of some of the 11 million deaf and hard of hearing people living in the country.

Signature executive director Lindsay Foster said: "We are overwhelmed every year by the...

Business Daily

Exeter-based law firm achieves record breaking results

Demand for land falls sharply in SW

Southern construction firms must win the war for A-level talent, says RICS

New benefits scheme for city centre businesses

Devon’s JSA claimants lowest on record

Council backs Exmouth Town team’s Jurassic Safari

Severe weather warning issued for Devon

Outstanding year of International Baccalaureate results at Exeter College

Elderly woman victim of distraction burglary

Exeter City 0 Crawley Town 1: Match report

Charity launches search for inspirational people

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