Business Daily

A new chapter for Exeter based Sparx Learning: Chair Simon Lebus CBE steps down as Sir Charlie Mayfield appointed

Sparx Learning , the Exeter-based education technology company, has announced that Sir Charlie Mayfield will become Chair in October 2025. He will succeed Simon Lebus CBE who is stepping down after six years of transformative leadership.

Since becoming Chair in 2019, Simon Lebus has overseen a period of remarkable growth and strategic progress at Sparx. At the start of his tenure, the company served just 14 schools in Devon. Today, Sparx’s platforms support over 2.4 million students in 2,600 schools, including almost 50 in Devon, across mathematics, literacy and science.

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First region-wide corporate esports festival comes to the South West

The first corporate esports festival for the whole of the South West is taking place in Exeter next year, organised by Tech South West in partnership with Exeter College.

Esports is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, with a global revenue of over $1bn and an audience of 474m in 2021, according to Newzoo. Esports first appeared as an official medal sport at the Asian Indoor Games in Macau in 2007, with the International Olympic Committee suggesting in 2017 that they may be included in future Olympic tournaments.

Exeter College will host the first region-...

Foot Anstey advise on first Peer2Peer Islamic Finance fintech deal in the UK

National law firm, Foot Anstey LLP, which has offices located in Bristol, Exeter, London, Plymouth, Southampton, Taunton and Truro, has advised London-based fintech start-up Nester Holdings Ltd on, what is believed to be, the first UK Peer2Peer Islamic Finance fintech deal worth £431,000, followed recently by a second deal worth £225,000.

Imam Qazi, Partner, and Leena Payyappilly, Associate, in Foot Anstey's Islamic Finance team advised on all legal aspects of the deal. This included drafting the Murabaha* and legal security contracts, as well as acting on behalf of Nester's...

New Degree Apprentice programme for HR professionals puts people centre stage

A new degree apprenticeship programme for managers working in HR has been launched by the University of Exeter Business School.

The Senior People Professional Degree Apprenticeship is a two-year programme designed for senior leaders in HR who are looking to drive improvements, put people at the heart of their organisations and create working environments in which employees are able to thrive.

Over two years, apprentices will explore the latest research evidence and experience of people management in practice, gaining a firm grounding within the Human Resources Management...

IoD South West strengthens team with four key appointments

The Institute of Directors (IoD) has boosted its South West team with the appointment of a quartet of experienced business leaders.

Katherine Piper joins as Sustainability Ambassador while Peter Doyle comes on board as Education and Skills Ambassador. Alex Chikhani is the region’s new Inclusivity and Diversity Ambassador and John Rotherford becomes International Ambassador.

IoD Ambassadors ensure that everything the IoD does places the member first. They enable greater connectivity, create influence and drive professional development opportunities while giving a local...

Exeter student aims to combat world hunger with ‘nutritionally complete’ and sustainable food bar

An Economics student is juggling his studies with plans to tackle world hunger by developing a ‘nutritionally complete’ food bar, which has already proved a hit with Exeter’s homelessness charities.

James Frost, a third year student at the University of Exeter Business School, was inspired to create the Phoenix Bar after noticing on Facebook that a friend had pledged to eat the same food for a week as Syrian refugees arriving in the UK.

“From the images posted and my understanding of nutrition I could see that the food wasn’t nutritious at all,” James said.

“So...

RGB Exeter is thinking of others this Christmas

After having to restrict visits to loved ones last Christmas, many families are planning big celebrations this festive period, but there are some who will be alone. RGB Building Supplies is encouraging people in the local area to be part of its ‘Keeping you in mind’ campaign.

Between Wednesday 1st and Wednesday 15th December, the builders merchant is inviting people to write a message on a postcard, or for younger residents, RGB has designed a Christmas colouring sheet. RGB’s branch team will then pass on the postcards to homeless shelters and the pictures to care homes, as well...

Tilney Smith & Williamson continues expansion of Exeter office with appointment of Financial Planner

Tilney Smith & Williamson, the leading wealth management and professional services group, has signalled its intention to continue expanding its Exeter office following the appointment of Neil Sparkes as a Financial Planner. The news comes on the back of the recent appointments of Neil Thornton as a Financial Planner and Will Matthewman as an Investment Manager.

Neil has more than 30 years’ financial services experience and joins from Francis Clark Financial Planning where he worked initially as a Paraplanner and latterly a Financial Planner. Prior to Francis Clark he worked...

Stephen Wiltshire, Managing Director of Exeter Airport

Exeter Airport appoints Managing Director

Exeter Airport has announced the appointment as Stephen Wiltshire as Managing Director.

Stephen, 47, has been Operations Director at Exeter for the last 12 years and before that was operations director at Blackpool Airport for six years.

He started his career as an engineering apprentice with British Aerospace at Filton near Bristol, where he is from originally.

It was during a placement in air traffic control operations as part of his apprenticeship that he got the bug for airports, becoming operations and facilities manager at Filton before moving on to Blackpool...

Foot Anstey supports Access Group on the acquisition of Legal Bricks

The Private Equity team at Foot Anstey LLP has supported and advised Access UK Ltd, on its acquisition of Legal Bricks. The move by Access further enhances its offering in the legal technology sector.

The Foot Anstey team was led by, Matt Stoate (Partner), Dominic Cromwell (Senior Associate), and Jack Harris (Associate), who advised Access on all legal aspects of the acquisition and worked in collaboration with all parties to deliver the desired outcome.

West Midlands-based Legal Bricks was launched in 2017 and delivers a customised online property search platform, as well...

Launch recognised as a top 10 UK paid search agency by The Drum Recommends

Exeter-based paid media agency, Launch, has been named as one of the top ten agencies in the UK by The Drum Recommends, a global service to help companies choose which agency to work with based on their client reviews and ratings.

Launch is the only agency in Devon and Cornwall to be named in the prestigious list and follows huge advances for the business over the past 12 months, driven by the boom in digital during the pandemic.

Since the start of the year, the agency has doubled its revenue to exceed £1m and employed a further 10 people to grow the agency’s total...

Business Daily

A new chapter for Exeter based Sparx Learning: Chair Simon Lebus CBE steps down as Sir Charlie Mayfield appointed

First region-wide corporate esports festival comes to the South West

Foot Anstey advise on first Peer2Peer Islamic Finance fintech deal in the UK

New Degree Apprentice programme for HR professionals puts people centre stage

IoD South West strengthens team with four key appointments

Exeter student aims to combat world hunger with ‘nutritionally complete’ and sustainable food bar

RGB Exeter is thinking of others this Christmas

Tilney Smith & Williamson continues expansion of Exeter office with appointment of Financial Planner

Exeter Airport appoints Managing Director

Foot Anstey supports Access Group on the acquisition of Legal Bricks

Launch recognised as a top 10 UK paid search agency by The Drum Recommends

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