Business Action August / September 2019

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