Business Action August / September 2019
August / September 2019 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news about business and enterprise in Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chulmleigh, Combe Martin, Holsworthy, Ilfracombe, Lynmouth, Lynton, South Molton, Torrington, Woolacombe and more. Full magazine available to non-subscribers mid-August. Business Action Plan and magazine subscribers receive priority access of new issues of Business Action on publication. Subscribe at http://www.business-action.co.uk/plans
August / September 2019 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news about business and enterprise in Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chulmleigh, Combe Martin, Holsworthy, Ilfracombe, Lynmouth, Lynton, South Molton, Torrington, Woolacombe and more.
Full magazine available to non-subscribers mid-August.
Business Action Plan and magazine subscribers receive priority access of new issues of Business Action on publication. Subscribe at http://www.business-action.co.uk/plans
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CONTENTS<br />
business<br />
ACTION<br />
Web site | business-action.co.uk<br />
Online version | business-action.uk<br />
Vol 1 Issue 4 – Aug / Sept <strong>2019</strong> – distribution 2,500 across North Devon<br />
CONTENTS<br />
Initiatives, support & consultations............................................................ 1<br />
Engineering firm’s 15th anniversary........................................................... 2<br />
Road haulage company is here to stay...................................................... 2<br />
Home carers fleet goes electric..................................................................... 3<br />
Accountancy firm goes national................................................................... 3<br />
Exeter Airport achieves gold for disability access............................... 4<br />
Waste firm celebrates 60 years of service................................................ 4<br />
Housing group plans big investment in Devon...................................... 5<br />
Children’s hospice challenge......................................................................... 5<br />
Fastest wifi in the west?................................................................................... 5<br />
New business: Chartered Financial Planner steps out...................... 6<br />
New business: Keeping clients organised............................................... 6<br />
New business: New accountancy practice.............................................. 6<br />
High street: New café fulfils ambition........................................................ 7<br />
High street: Ethically sourced fruit and veg............................................ 7<br />
High street: Hardware store provides local service............................. 7<br />
What the editor forgot........................................................................................ 8<br />
Stay Sharp with Clarity...................................................................................... 8<br />
From one laptop to a team of eight.............................................................. 9<br />
Manufacturing talent survey........................................................................... 9<br />
A mystery is uncovered.................................................................................... 10<br />
North Devon Enterprise Day........................................................................... 11<br />
Develop your business now............................................................................ 11<br />
<strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Plan......................................................................................... 11<br />
BBxpo: Bideford <strong>Business</strong> Expo.................................................................. 12<br />
Free business advice and guidance............................................................ 13<br />
Keeping customers safe and satisfied....................................................... 14<br />
Tap into funding for construction skills training................................... 15<br />
Employment and skills events ...................................................................... 15<br />
Magnetic North Devon: Determination to succeed............................... 16<br />
Diary of a market research apprentice....................................................... 17<br />
In the Hot Seat: Lucy Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald HR................................. 18<br />
Woolacombe development now available to buyers............................ 19<br />
Rafting away on work experience................................................................. 19<br />
People....................................................................................................................... 20<br />
Using strategic financial data for growth.................................................. 21<br />
EDITORIAL<br />
Robert Zarywacz<br />
Editor, Designer & Publisher<br />
t: 07971 176044<br />
e: robertz@business-action.co.uk<br />
@robertz<br />
ADVERTISING<br />
Alan Williams<br />
Advertising, Distribution & Publisher<br />
t: 07970 671192<br />
e: alan@business-action.co.uk<br />
© Need it Find it <strong>2019</strong>. All information in this magazine is published in good faith.<br />
Any views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher, Need it Find it.<br />
Readers are strongly recommended to seek advice from an appropriate professional<br />
before taking any action on any topic discussed in the magazine and to check full<br />
terms and conditions of any products or services promoted in advertisements.<br />
INITIATIVES, SUPPORT & CONSULTATIONS<br />
Cyber security webinars<br />
Barclays is offering businesses<br />
free webinars to introduce<br />
them to cyber security and how<br />
they can improve awareness<br />
of threats and increase their<br />
online protection.<br />
The webinars include an<br />
overview of cyber security and<br />
what it means for businesses; a<br />
look at the main cyber threats<br />
and how to help prevent them;<br />
tangible next steps to help businesses<br />
and their staff stay safe<br />
and secure online; additional<br />
support and information.<br />
The webinars are useful if<br />
you are concerned about the<br />
potential risks and threats<br />
of cyber security and online<br />
fraud, and want to ensure you<br />
and your staff are up to speed<br />
with the latest threats and<br />
prevention techniques. They<br />
will help you to understand<br />
what help and support is available<br />
for businesses.<br />
Webinars are available<br />
Monday to Friday between<br />
8am and 4pm and delivered at<br />
a time that suits your business.<br />
You will need a desktop ⁄ laptop<br />
computer with an internet<br />
connection and a telephone<br />
Webinars can be booked by<br />
speaking to a Barclays business<br />
banking manager or relationship<br />
team.<br />
■■barclays.co.uk/business-<br />
banking<br />
STEM graduates into<br />
business<br />
University of Plymouth’s<br />
STEM graduates into business<br />
programme aims to<br />
assist Devon SMEs in finding<br />
talented graduates from STEM<br />
(science / technical / engineering<br />
/ maths) subjects. The<br />
intention is to create a cohort<br />
of graduate-employing SMEs<br />
across the area, leading to<br />
longer term opportunities and<br />
retention of talent in the area.<br />
The scheme helps businesses<br />
to recruit graduates on six<br />
to 12-month internships on<br />
which they can help the business<br />
develop a new product,<br />
service or process. There is<br />
also funding of £1,800–£3,600<br />
available through the European<br />
Regional Development Fund<br />
The university is working<br />
Cover photo: Traffic light by Robert Zarywacz<br />
North Devon<br />
ENTERPRISE<br />
Day<br />
#ndevonent<br />
Diary date: 24 October<br />
Celebrate business in North<br />
Devon on the first North<br />
Devon Enterprise Day – register<br />
your business for free.<br />
■■Details page 11<br />
with strategic partners to<br />
deliver the scheme, including<br />
Exeter University, South Devon<br />
College, City College, Petroc<br />
and Plymouth College of Art.<br />
The process starts with a<br />
meeting to talk through the<br />
potential requirement and a<br />
business ‘eligibility check’. Then<br />
the university will help to create<br />
an advert which is published<br />
internally, via strategic partners,<br />
Grad South-West and<br />
LinkedIn. Applications are<br />
collated and passed to the<br />
business which will employ the<br />
graduate, with payment being<br />
made on completion.<br />
■■Details 01752 587736 or<br />
plymouth.ac.uk/STEM-grad<br />
Inspire Launch in Devon<br />
Inspire, the programme to<br />
scale up businesses with more<br />
than five employees, launches<br />
in Devon on 1 October in<br />
Honiton. Inspire is a not-forprofit<br />
business organisation<br />
providing high value support to<br />
the SME business community.<br />
As part of the launch event,<br />
Inspire has partnered with the<br />
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small<br />
<strong>Business</strong>es UK programme<br />
to showcase this package of<br />
support to businesses in the<br />
Heart of the South West.<br />
■■Details eventbrite.co.uk/e/<br />
inspire-launch-in-devon-tickets-62132819937<br />
Meet Somerset Chamber<br />
Barnstaple Chamber of<br />
Commerce is holding a lunchtime<br />
event where North Devon<br />
businesses can meet members<br />
of Somerset Chamber on 18<br />
<strong>September</strong> in Tiverton.<br />
■■Details eventbrite.co.uk/e/<br />
meet-the-neighbour-somerset-chamber-of-commercetickets-63412542622<br />
@businessactionm | <strong>August</strong> / <strong>September</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business action 1