Business Daily

The number of self-employed people in Devon has risen by 25 per cent since the financial crisis and now stands at 101,100, according to new figures published by the Office of National Statistics.

The rise comes as experts at Business Debtline called for more support in tackling the ‘advice gap’ for those starting out in self-employment.

New figures show an estimated 101,100 people in Devon were self-employed in 2014/15, equating to 18.6% of the working population. The total is up from 80,600 before the recession in 2007/2008, as more and more people turned to working for...

Police in Exeter are advising residents to be vigilant following a spate of theft from vehicles.

A number of vehicles have been entered having been left unlocked or entered by unknown means without causing damage, and property stolen.

Residents are asked to be alert to unusual people in their area, to keep all vehicles locked, keep valuables out of sight and to report all suspicious activity to the police.

In the latest spike of crimes vehicles were entered in the Beacon Heath and Heavitree areas overnight.

A Nissan vehicle was entered whilst parked on the...

The team behind a new health & wellbeing hub aimed at some of Exeter’s most disadvantaged communities has this week been selected by the prestigious King’s Fund to address a national conference on Public Health and Housing.

Exeter Council for Voluntary Service is developing former Exeter City Council offices at Wat Tyler House in King William Street into a multi-agency wellbeing hub aimed at supporting people with multiple and complex needs in their recovery, and to play a fuller part in their communities. The hub will feature a specialist GP practice, a mental health outreach...

Landlords in Devon will need to carry out thorough immigration status checks on their prospective tenants before granting tenancies in the future – or face stiff penalties including the possibility of imprisonment, warns leading law firm Stephens Scown LLP.

The government is expected to include a new penalty of up to five years in prison for landlords who fail to carry out the necessary ‘right to rent’ checks on their tenants, while a fine of up to £3,000 per tenant is also possible. The changes are likely to be included in the Immigration Bill this autumn.

The move comes...