robertz Petroc has received funding to support employers and employees in the hospitality sector and is offering fully funded (free) training sessions in March which cover the following; Distance Learning Bite size sessions BUSINESS AND FINANCE Leading and Motivating a Team Preparing to deliver excellent customer service • Solving problems and making decisions Understanding Leadership Conflict … Read more
RGB Building Supplies has been acquired by Grant & Stone to become part of the largest independent builders merchant group in southern England. The company will continue trading as RGB Building Supplies across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, and its head office will still be located in Barnstaple. The majority of RGB’s executive board of directors will not change and its current chief executive Kevin Fenlon will remain leading the business. … Read more
A fully-funded, after-hours support programme aimed specifically at helping North Devon residents to start and grow a business is launching at the new Node Enterprise Centre in Barnstaple. Initially held online, Startup Club will give local people thinking of starting their own business or looking to turn their passion into a career, all the resources … Read more
Over the past year, the support that the Government is offering businesses to protect jobs and income has developed as they have learned what’s effective and justifiable. Here Susie Kevern of Pound Lane Financial Management and Charlotte Pengelly of Fitzgerald HR look at what support is currently available to businesses While we can’t look past … Read more
Businesses in Torrington are supporting the preservation and management of Torrington Commons by joining a scheme offering discounts and benefits to shoppers. 36 businesses have now signed up to the 365 Supporters Group launched by Great Torrington Commons Conservators. Torrington Commons comprise 365 acres of land surrounding Torrington, except on its eastern side. The land … Read more
Harland & Wolff, which is preparing to resume shipbuilding at its recently acquired Appledore Shipyard, is planning to launch an apprenticeship scheme in 2021 in North Devon and Belfast. It will offer apprenticeships across three distinct functions: trade, (welders, pipefitters, electricians, riggers, fabricators, etc); technical, (engineers, naval architecture); and business support (sales, administration). Highlights of … Read more
MicroBizMatters Day the annual Day of Recognition, Action and Learning for UK micro business owners returns on Friday 8 January 2021. 95% of all businesses in the UK are micro businesses (0-9 employees and under £2 million turnover). MicroBizMatters Day is a social media day when more than one million business owners give a little … Read more
Business Action, the independent North Devon business magazine, launched its annual business awards on 1 January 2021. Following a successful first year when 100+ entries were received in 2020, the Business Action Awards 2021 return with 12 awards categories, including the new International Trade Award sponsored by International Trade Matters. The awards are open to … Read more
Business Action is hosting the first of a series of business support workshops for North Devon businesses on Monday 11 January 2021 in Barnstaple. learn ▶︎ grow ▶︎ excel is a programme of workshops designed to provide practical training and advice – Seven Steps to Resilience and Excellence – to help North Devon businesses thrive. … Read more
Make UK, the Manufacturers’ Association, and business advisory firm BDO have published a survey showing that South West manufacturers are continuing the long road back towards growth from the historic lows experienced earlier in the year. The survey also highlights the brutal impact of the pandemic with the sector forecast to see a 12% drop … Read more
International Trade Matters, a specialist in overseas trade advice and support for businesses, has launched a survey to assess the needs of North Devon businesses concerning importing and exporting. Supporting North Devon+ to understand what support needs to be provided to businesses, International Trade Matters is asking businesses that import or export or who are … Read more
RGB Building Supplies is supporting local independent shops and vouchers with its ‘Support Local’ initiative. The builders merchant is giving away £500 worth of independent shop and venue vouchers every week until the end of January. Every Monday until 25 January, RGB will launch a giveaway where prizes will include 10 £50 vouchers to spend … Read more
The Be Ready Employer Hub webinar planned for Purple Tuesday has now been rescheduled for 2–3pm on Wednesday 25 November – it’s free to join. As well as looking at how businesses can make themselves more accessible to £274 billion spending by people with disabilities and their families, it will discuss ways in which businesses … Read more
Use the #ndevonXMAS hashtag to promote your North Devon products and services this Christmas Christmas is when many businesses make most of their sales for the year. Whatever your opinion on this, lots of people buy gifts for family and friends, prepare special food for the holiday and spend time with each other. Christmas 2020 … Read more
TDK Corporation has announced an £11.5m investment package to redevelop its TDK-Lambda manufacturing facility in Ilfracombe, North Devon. The investment will be staged over the next three and a half years to increase production capacity by 50%. The original factory was built more than 50 years ago with further expansion in the mid-1980s. While the … Read more
The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSW LEP) has launched a new £900,000 grant scheme for foreign-owned companies investing in the area to create jobs in Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay. The Heart of the South West Inward Investment Support Project grant scheme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). … Read more
Further Government support for small and medium-sized businesses is being made available through the Heart of the South West Growth Hub’s Growth Support Kickstart Grant Scheme. This comprises a fund of almost £750,000 with £336,314 earmarked for the tourism sector and £411,050 for remaining eligible businesses. Grants of between £1,000 and £3,000 will be offered … Read more
The Business Action North Devon Business of the Year is The Clovelly Soap Company Congratulations!
The winner of the Business Action Young Entrepreneur Award 2020 is Thomas Bedford of UK Hardwoods Congratulations!
The winner of the Business Action Outstanding New Business Award 2020 is BrandLanterns Congratulations!
The winner of the Business Action Highest Achieving Learner Award 2020 is Taylor Phelps Congratulations!
The winner of the Business Action Digital & Online Achievement Award 2020 is AB SEA Services Congratulations!
The winner of the Business Action Excellence in Hospitality & Tourism Award 2020 is The Royal George, Appledore Congratulations!
The winner of the Business Action Excellence in Construction Award 2020 is Advanced Scaffolding Congratulations!
The winner of the Business Action Best Retailer Award 2020 is Ilfracombe Chocolate Emporium Congratulations!
The winner of the Business Action Made in North Devon Award 2020 is The Clovelly Soap Company Congratulations!
The winner of the Business Action Business-to-Business Excellence Award 2020 is BrandLanterns Congratulations!
The winner of the Business Action Consumer Service Excellence Award 2020 is SHEDS 4 you, Bideford Congratulations!
The winner of the Business Action Best Employer Award 2020 is Terrace Tapas and Wine Bar, Ilfracombe Congratulations!
The wait is over Business Action would like to thank everyone for their patience in waiting for the announcement of our North Devon Business Awards 2020 winners. As we could not hold our big awards event, we are announcing the winners by video online and it has taken some time to co-ordinate video contributions from … Read more
The North Devon Show 2020 has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The show organisers have decided to cancel the one-day show because of the uncertainty surrounding the virus. The decision was made to cancel completely this year rather than look for an alternative date to not put anyone at risk by attempting to … Read more
Barnstaple-based Boden Group is supporting NHS Property Services during an increased period of pressure by helping refurbish the cottage hospital at Honiton Hospital, Exeter. While new hospitals are being built in major cities across the UK, smaller hospital wards in the South West are being refurbished as part of a contingency plan to provide more … Read more
North Devon businesses wishing to apply for either the Government’s Small Business Grant Fund / Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (introduced in response to the Covid-19 Coronavirus) can now make applications via North Devon Council at https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/business/business-support-and-grants/coronavirus-support-for-businesses. The list of business types eligible is listed on the page. How much funding will be provided … Read more
Chartered management accountant Susie Kevern of Pound Lane Financial Management offers advice on accessing government assistance schemes – download from poundlane.co.uk/covid-19/ The Government has been quick off the mark to launch support packages to help businesses survive the COVID-19 disruption, but in recent days the news has featured criticism of how difficult it is proving … Read more
Business Action Awards 2020 finalists The inaugural Business Action Awards to celebrate the outstanding achievements of businesses based or operating in North Devon attracted 104 entries. The judging has taken place and below are the 44 finalists – four finalists for each of the 11 categories. Read more about the finalists by clicking the links … Read more
All the entrants in the Business Action Awards 2020 have been entered into a prize draw for a £150 annual advertising package in the magazine. The winner was recently drawn at random by one of our awards judges, Helen Pedlar of Pedlars Home Hardware. We are delighted to announce that the winner is . . … Read more
Heartfelt Products, which manufactures a range of products to aid the disabled and to promote health in individuals, is appealing to North Devon residents who can sew and have a sewing machine who can help produce medical ‘scrubs’ for doctors, health workers and carers. Managing director Denise Anstey, an award-winning inventor and product designer, is … Read more
EDITOR: Since posting this article and with the introduction of stricter social distancing by the Government, Pixies Home Help Services has suspended its services until further notice. Pixies Home Help Services is another North Devon business that aims to continue operating through the Coronavirus difficulties. Started by Helena Kastelan in Bideford in 2018, and named … Read more
The latest in our series of businesses responding to the Coronavirus difficulties by developing new services is garden maintenance specialist AB SEA Services, run by Alexandra Stapleton and Ben Clisby in Torrington, North Devon. Alexandra explains: “There’s a silver lining to every cloud, and we have found ours. “Ben and I have been discussing the … Read more
Edward’s Laundry Services, based in Holsworthy, has launched a home pick-up and drop-off laundry service for residents in North Devon and Exeter. “We have started offering a weekly domestic wash, dry and fold service with free pick-up and drop-off to areas in North Devon and Exeter for £2.50 per kg,” says joint owner Amy Parker. … Read more