Business Daily

Private sector activity in the South West continued to rise in May, according to the latest PMI® survey data.

The rate of expansion remained relatively strong but eased to the weakest since February, mainly reflecting the slowest growth of new business since April 2013. Charges for goods and services rose slightly, having declined in March and April, but overall inflationary pressures remained weak.

The seasonally adjusted Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking South West Business Activity Index fell for the second consecutive month to 55.1 in May, from 56.0 in April, indicating...

Although the latest season of Britain’s Got Talent has drawn to a close, bus operator Stagecoach is continuing its own search for the very best in local driving talent with the launch of the latest installment of their reality TV inspired recruitment campaign.

‘Stagecoach Needs Talent’ features popular Exeter Park & Ride driver Neal Mills, who regularly receives compliments for his customer service skills and rapport with his passengers. Neal will be appearing as a larger than life advert on the rear of one of the operator’s city buses, on A4 posters and – in a first for the...

With the general election now over, haart estate agents in Exeter is predicting demand for property in the area to increase, creating a potential sharp rise in prices. Latest figures from haart’s monthly Property Index show that there’s already demand for homes in the city, with an average of nine buyers for each property on the books of its Paris Street branch. In turn the average price of property sold by the branch has increased by 5.80% to £179,140 over the last quarter to the end of April. Exeter haart Branch Manager Kyra Daniel, said: “Demand is already high in the area and now the...

The first service to arrive at the station was from Exeter St David’s, pulling up at 05:56, followed by a train from Exmouth, which arrived at 06:29.

Devon County Council has worked closely with the Department for Transport, Network Rail and First Great Western on the £2.2 million scheme, which has developed a complete new station facility over the past eight months.

The station has been part-funded with £741,000 from the Department for Transport’s New Station Fund. It is one of five stations awarded funding nationally, following a successful bid by the County Council. The...