Business Action | Winter 2021
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Business Action | Winter 2021

Winter 2021 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes a feature on our North Devon Business Awards event 2021 at Moreton House, more winners with their awards certificates, 100 years of Pedlars on Ilfracombe High Street and the opening of the Node enterprise Centre in Barnstaple.

Winter 2021 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes a feature on our North Devon Business Awards event 2021 at Moreton House, more winners with their awards certificates, 100 years of Pedlars on Ilfracombe High Street and the opening of the Node enterprise Centre in Barnstaple.

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usiness<br />

ACTION<br />

north enterprise<br />

devon<br />

growth<br />

innovation<br />

news & views<br />

business-action.co.uk | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | @businessactionm

CONTENTS WELCOME HEADER<br />

business<br />

ACTION<br />

SUCCESS & CHANGE<br />

Year four<br />

Threeyearsago,AlanWilliams<br />

andIpreparedtolaunchanew<br />

businessmagazineforNorth<br />

Devon.Wehadnoideawhat<br />

theresponsewouldbe,butsaw<br />

aneedforapublicationthat<br />

wasnotfilledwitharticleson<br />

businessesinthelargebusiness<br />

areasinthecounty’ssouth.<br />

Thisisnowour17 th issue<br />

andwearegratefultoallour<br />

readers,contributors,supporters<br />

and,especially,ouradvertisers,<br />

withoutwhom<strong>Business</strong><strong>Action</strong><br />

wouldnotexist.Thankyou.<br />

Quarterly magazine<br />

Wehaveadaptedtomany<br />

circumstancesinthepastthree<br />

yearsandaremakingsome<br />

changesfor2022.<br />

Alan,whowasthemain<br />

driverforlaunching<strong>Business</strong><br />

<strong>Action</strong>,issteppingbackto<br />

focusonhisownbusiness–<br />

WillsatHome–whichis<br />

growingsteadily.Thankyouto<br />

Alanforafantasticthreeyears.<br />

Wearealsochangingto<br />

quarterlypublicationwith<br />

issuesinMarch,June,<br />

SeptemberandDecember.<br />

Thesewillbesupplemented<br />

bymorefrequentlypublished<br />

onlinematerialonour<br />

business-action.co.ukweb<br />

siteandonourLinkedIn,<br />

Instagram,Facebookand<br />

Twittersocialmediachannels.<br />

Wewillalsobelaunching<br />

specialprojectsin2022.<br />

Cover Story<br />

Thisissuecelebratesthe100 th<br />

anniversaryin2022ofPedlars<br />

ofIlfracombe,aspicturedon<br />

ourfrontcover.Readaboutthe<br />

successofthislong-established<br />

localbusinessonpages10–11.<br />

2022 Awards<br />

Thirdtimelucky!Wehave<br />

bookedtheLandmarkTheatre<br />

forThursday19May2022for<br />

our2022NorthDevon<br />

<strong>Business</strong>Awardsevent,<br />

confidentthatatlastwewill<br />

celebratetheawardsaswehad<br />

originallyplanned.<br />

YOUR EDITOR<br />

Robert Zarywacz<br />

Editor & Publisher<br />

t: 07971 176044<br />

e: robertz@business-action.co.uk<br />

@robertz<br />

EnteryourNorthDevon<br />

businessinanyof12awards<br />

categoriesfrom1Januaryto20<br />

February2022–pages15–21.<br />

Web site | business-action.co.uk<br />

Online version | business-action.uk<br />

Vol 3 Issue 5 – <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> – distribution 2,000<br />

Welcome................................................................................................................. ii<br />

News: Aesthetic excellence........................................................................... 1<br />

News: New partnership offers genuine ultrafast connectivity....... 1<br />

News: Recruiter celebrates 10-year anniversary.................................. 2<br />

News: Devon Air Ambulance Christmas appeal................................... 2<br />

<strong>Business</strong> directory: Find products and services................................. 3<br />

News: <strong>Business</strong> & IP Centre business services and facilities ...... 4<br />

News: Multimedia business with community focus............................ 4<br />

Art: Inviting space to browse contemporary art................................... 5<br />

Environment: Biosphere seeks business partners............................. 6<br />

Environment: Sustainable <strong>Business</strong> Award........................................... 7<br />

Environment: Biosphere Partner Showcase.......................................... 7<br />

Campaigns: Buy in Shops.............................................................................. 8<br />

Campaigns: Cheeky calendars raise funds for mental health....... 8<br />

News: Need to boost your indoor business mobile signal?........... 9<br />

Retail: 100 years on the high street............................................................ 10<br />

Retail: Supporting homeware retailers countrywide.......................... 10<br />

Retail: Valuing retail service.......................................................................... 11<br />

Enterprise: Demand at enterprise hub leads to phase 2................... 12<br />

Enterprise: Managing the human side of change................................ 13<br />

Technology: Caring approach to IT............................................................ 14<br />

Awards: Enter our 2022 business awards............................................... 15<br />

Awards: An occasion to celebrate.............................................................. 16<br />

Awards: Excellence in Hospitality & Tourism........................................ 16<br />

Awards: <strong>Business</strong>-to-<strong>Business</strong> Excellence............................................ 17<br />

Awards: Outstanding New <strong>Business</strong>......................................................... 17<br />

Awards: Awards hat trick for restaurant.................................................. 18<br />

Awards: <strong>Business</strong> of the Year 2020 – Made in Clovelly..................... 19<br />

Awards: Digital landscapes............................................................................ 20<br />

Awards: Service excellence........................................................................... 20<br />

Awards: Training tower supports gold medal win............................... 21<br />

© Need it Find it <strong>2021</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 />

ii<br />

business action | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business-action.co.uk

Looking and feeling good is<br />

importantformostofus,but<br />

findingsafe,effectiveskincare<br />

treatmentscanbeconfusing.<br />

Thatiswhyexperienced<br />

nursesToniPascoe-Whiteand<br />

KateSmithlaunchedOrchard<br />

ClinicinBidefordinFebruary<br />

2020–toensureclientsreceive<br />

approvedaesthetictreatments<br />

fromqualifiedpractitioners<br />

withhighethicalvalues.<br />

BothKateandToniare<br />

registerednursesand<br />

independentnurseprescribers<br />

–whichenablesthemto<br />

prescribemedicines–and<br />

have30+years’nursing<br />

experiencebetweenthem.<br />

Askedwhatpromptedthem<br />

tostarttheclinic,Katesays:<br />

“Forme,itsaboutthe<br />

autonomyandthedifferent<br />

typeofnursing.Whileall<br />

nursingisholistic,in<br />

aestheticswetakeintoaccount<br />

theeffectsofageingandhow<br />

certainskinconditionscan<br />

affectpeople’sself-esteem;we<br />

helpmakethemfeellike<br />

themselvesagain.”<br />

Toniadds:“Yougointo<br />

nursingtoimprovepeople’s<br />

qualityoflife.Peoplecometo<br />

uswhentheirconfidenceis<br />

low.Aftertreatmentthey<br />

oftensay‘Ifeelsorefreshed’.”<br />

Theyapplytheirethosas<br />

nursesbyensuringtheclinicis<br />

safe,controlledandregulated.<br />

Thisincludeseachofthem<br />

HEADER NEWS<br />

In safe hands: (from left) Toni Pascoe-White and Kate Smith of Orchard Clinic<br />

Aesthetic excellence<br />

New partnership offers genuine ultrafast connectivity<br />

Lineal inBarnstaplehas<br />

announcedanewpartnership<br />

withJurassicFibre,bringing<br />

fasterbroadbandtoSouthWest<br />

businesses.<br />

Exeter-basedJurassicFibre<br />

isaregionalconnectivity<br />

providerrollingoutnew<br />

ultrafastfull-fibreinfrastructuretothousandsofaddresses<br />

acrosstheSouthWest.<br />

Currently,JurassicFibre’s<br />

£250minvestmentinanew<br />

fibrenetworkalreadyincludes<br />

townsandruralcommunities<br />

suchasBarnstaple,Honiton<br />

andOkehampton.<br />

Linealmanagingdirector<br />

MikeMatthewssays:“Thanks<br />

toJurassicFibremany<br />

businesseswillfinallyhavethe<br />

optionoftrueultrafast,‘pure’<br />

fibrebroadbandatlowcost,<br />

providedovercutting-edge<br />

investinginstudytoachieve<br />

theAestheticMedicine<br />

Master’slevel(Level7)<br />

qualificationwithHarley<br />

AcademyLondon,theUK’s<br />

firstgovernment-regulated<br />

Level7qualificationin<br />

aestheticmedicine.Thisadds<br />

totheirimpressivemedical<br />

qualificationsandexperience,<br />

outlinedontheirwebsite.<br />

However,theirnursing<br />

experiencedidnotprepare<br />

KateandToniforstartinga<br />

businessandtheyaregrateful<br />

totheBidefordBridgeTrust<br />

forawardingthemastart-up<br />

grantaswellasafurtherrestart<br />

granttohelpafterlockdown<br />

restrictionsimpactedtheir<br />

businesslaunch.<br />

“Wefeelreallyprivileged<br />

Faster connections: (from left) Matt Baker, head of business sales, Jurassic<br />

Fibre, and Mike Matthews, managing director of Lineal Software Solutions<br />

infrastructurethatsimply<br />

hasn’tbeenavailablefromany<br />

otherprovider.<br />

“We’vebeenimpressedby<br />

whatJurassicFibrehavebuilt.<br />

EverydayLineal’stechnical<br />

supportteamsencounter<br />

businessesdependingonever<br />

morecloud-basedtechnology,<br />

andrequiringfasterconnection<br />

speeds–togetherwe’llhelp<br />

delivertheconnectivityoptions<br />

manysodesperatelyneedto<br />

runtheirbusinesseseffectively.”<br />

MattBaker,headofbusiness<br />

saleswithJurassicFibre,adds:<br />

“Weareproudtobeserving<br />

bothbusinessandresidential<br />

customersacrossNorthDevon<br />

withourultrafastfull-fibre<br />

thattheywantedtoinvestin<br />

us,”saysKate.<br />

Theyhavealsostudied<br />

onlinebusinesscourseson<br />

marketing,PRand<br />

bookkeepingthroughPetroc.<br />

OrchardClinicisquickly<br />

establishingahighquality<br />

reputationwhichisattracting<br />

clientsbywordofmouth.A<br />

wideagerangeofbothmen<br />

andwomenseektreatmentfor<br />

medicalskinconditionssuch<br />

asacne,rosacea,pigmentation<br />

andageing.Treatments<br />

includeanti-wrinkle<br />

injections,dermalfillers,skin<br />

peelsandskincare<br />

consultations.Theclinicalso<br />

offersAlumierMDmedical<br />

gradeskincarealongwithfull<br />

consultationandassessment.<br />

ToniandKateensurethey<br />

fullyinformeachclientonall<br />

therisksandbenefitsbefore<br />

beginninganytreatmentand<br />

theyalwaystakeintoaccounta<br />

client’smedicalhistory.They<br />

alsoaimtoeducatethepublic<br />

aboutwhatbenefitsfacial<br />

treatments,suchasdermal<br />

fillers,canachieveandwill<br />

declinetreatmentifintheir<br />

medicalopinionitis<br />

unsuitableforanindividual.<br />

ToniandKatebelieveitis<br />

thisethicalapproach,along<br />

withtheircommitmentto<br />

clinicalexcellence,thatmakes<br />

OrchardClinicstandout.<br />

■ Detailsorchardclinic.net<br />

broadbandservices.Our<br />

partnershipwithLinealenables<br />

businessestotakefull<br />

advantageoftheirnew<br />

bandwidthsbyprovidingthe<br />

platformtoutilisenew<br />

technologiestoservetheir<br />

customersbetter.”<br />

JurassicFibreisavailablein<br />

arangeofspeedsfrom<br />

100Mbpsdown(20Mbpsup)<br />

uptogigabitgrade,andvia<br />

private-fibre‘leasedline’gigabit<br />

ethernet,forbusinesses<br />

needingexceptionalquality<br />

connectivity.<br />

LinealSoftwareSolutionsis<br />

aBarnstaple-basedITsupport<br />

andsoftwaredevelopment<br />

companyassistingbusinesses<br />

andorganisationsacrossthe<br />

UKandbeyond.<br />

■ Details01271375999or<br />

lineal.co.uk<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business action 1

NEWS<br />

Recruiter celebrates 10-year anniversary<br />

Whilemanybusinesses<br />

struggletoreachtheirfirstor<br />

secondanniversaries,someare<br />

sobusythattimefliesby.<br />

WhenCooperGolding,the<br />

NorthDevonindependent<br />

providerofhighquality<br />

recruitmentservicesbasedin<br />

Barnstaple,recentlycelebrated<br />

its10 th anniversary,founding<br />

directorPaulaGolbyreflected<br />

oncompletingafirst<br />

successfuldecadeinbusiness:<br />

“Oneofthemanyquestions<br />

favouredbyinterviewerswhen<br />

interviewingforpersonnelis<br />

‘wheredoyouseeyourselfin<br />

fiveor10years’time?’.<br />

Well,IamnotsureIwould<br />

havesaidwewouldbe<br />

celebrating10yearsinbusiness<br />

ifsomeonehadaskedmethat<br />

question10yearsago.<br />

TheendofNovembersaw<br />

CooperGoldingcelebrate10<br />

yearsinbusinessandwhata10<br />

yearsithasbeen.<br />

Reflectingbackonstarting<br />

withalaptopandaphonefrom<br />

thebackofawarehouse,<br />

progressingtoashopfrontand<br />

thenanoffice…toworking<br />

withsomegreatnameslocally,<br />

regionallyandnationally.<br />

Itisapleasuretoworkwith<br />

andhelpsomegreatSMEsgrow<br />

theirownbrandbysupplying<br />

talentedindividuals–the<br />

peoplewithinit.<br />

Wefeelproudtohavehelped<br />

manypeoplegainandembrace<br />

theirnextcareermoveand<br />

supportlocalinitiatives,<br />

mentor,donatetocharities,<br />

giveadviceandworkwith<br />

amazingcompaniesandpeople.<br />

Tocelebratetheoccasion<br />

CooperGoldingwillannounce<br />

some10-yearinitiatives<br />

throughDecemberforstaff,<br />

clientsandworkers–we’llbe<br />

postingdetailsonourwebsite,<br />

sopleasewatchforthem.”<br />

CooperGolding’smission<br />

istohelpcandidatesfind<br />

rewardingworkopportunities<br />

whilesupportingclientsto<br />

securegreatpeopletodrive<br />

businesssuccess.<br />

Tomeetthespecificneeds<br />

of localandUK-wide<br />

candidates/clients,the<br />

consultancyoperatestwo<br />

separatebusinessdivisions:<br />

CooperGolding<br />

Recruitment–anindependent<br />

generalrecruitmentagency,<br />

providingacomprehensive<br />

arrayofprofessionalservices<br />

tocandidatesandclients<br />

throughouttheregion.<br />

CooperGoldingSpecialist<br />

Talent–linkingspecialist<br />

talentwithleadingcompanies<br />

throughouttheUK.Itsfocusis<br />

onspecificdisciplines<br />

primarilywithinengineering<br />

andmanufacturing.<br />

■ Details01271349745or<br />

coopergolding.co.uk<br />

DevonAirAmbulancehas<br />

launcheditsChristmasappeal,<br />

whichreassuressupporters<br />

thatpatientsare‘InGood<br />

Hands’,notjustatChristmas,<br />

buteverydayoftheyear.<br />

Despitelockdowns,thecrew<br />

hasdelivereduninterrupted<br />

time-criticalcaretohundreds<br />

ofpatientsinDevonand<br />

beyond,bothbycriticalcare<br />

carandaircraft.<br />

Thelocalcharitywillbe<br />

celebratingits30 th yearof<br />

servicein2022,butisstill<br />

catchingitsbreathfromthe<br />

impactofthepandemic,which<br />

Devon Air Ambulance Christmas appeal<br />

sawincomereducedby£2<br />

millionlastyear.<br />

HeadoffundraisingSally<br />

Hiltonsays:“Wefeelincredibly<br />

fortunatetohavebeensowell<br />

supportedbythepeopleof<br />

Devonoverthepastcoupleof<br />

years,whohavetrulyralliedto<br />

helpusthroughsome<br />

challengingtimes,butwe<br />

absolutelywelcomecontinued<br />

support.<br />

“Ourcrewsdelivertimecriticalcaretotraumaand<br />

medicalincidentseverydayof<br />

theyearandwellintothe<br />

hoursofdarkness,<br />

which,duringthefestive<br />

seasoninparticular,arrive<br />

earlierwiththeshorterdays.”<br />

■ TosupporttheDevonAir<br />

AmbulanceChristmas<br />

Campaignanddonate,please<br />

visitdaat.org/in-good-handsthis-christmas<br />

2 business action | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business-action.co.uk

DIRECTORY<br />

ACCOUNTANTS<br />

Cranford <strong>Business</strong> Services<br />

Bideford<br />

t: 01237 488077<br />

w: accountsindevon.co.uk<br />

JD Accountants (South West) Ltd<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 01271 378606<br />

ANTIQUE MAPS & CHARTS<br />

Old Folding Maps<br />

South Molton<br />

t: 01769 573935<br />

w: foldingmaps.co.uk<br />

BRANDING & DESIGN<br />

Boom Boom Media<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 01271 326694<br />

w: boomboommedia.co.uk<br />

BrandLanterns<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 01271 372620<br />

w: brandlanterns.co.uk<br />

BREWERY<br />

Combe Brewing Company<br />

Ilfracombe<br />

t: 07973 488409<br />

w: facebook.com/<br />

CombeBrewingCompany<br />

GT Ales<br />

Chivenor<br />

t: 01271 267420<br />

w: gtales.co.uk<br />

BUILDING SUPPLIES<br />

Heritage Cob and Lime<br />

Bideford<br />

t: 01237 477431<br />

w: heritagecobandlime.com<br />

RGB Building Supplies<br />

Branches in Barnstaple, Bideford,<br />

Hatherleigh, Holsworthy,<br />

Ilfracombe, Okehampton, South<br />

Molton, Tiverton<br />

w: rgbltd.co.uk<br />

BUSINESS ADVISORS<br />

Pound Lane Financial Management<br />

North Devon<br />

t: 07801 199671<br />

w: poundlane.co.uk<br />

BUSINESS SUPPORT<br />

Be Ready Employer Hub<br />

Devon<br />

t: 01392 241124<br />

w: readydevon.org.uk<br />

CAR SALES & SERVICING<br />

Blights Motors<br />

Bideford<br />

t: 01237 472282<br />

w: blightsmotors.co.uk<br />

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY<br />

James Doble Commercial<br />

North Devon<br />

t: 01237 424053<br />

w: jd-commercial.co.uk<br />

CONSTRUCTION<br />

Advanced Scaffolding<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 01271 321100<br />

w: advancedscaffoldingltd.co.uk<br />

COPIERS & PRINTERS<br />

Clarity Copiers North Devon<br />

Barnstaple & North Devon<br />

t: 01271 374061<br />

w: claritynorthdevon.co.uk<br />

COPYWRITING & MARKETING<br />

Zarywacz<br />

North Devon & UK<br />

t: 01271 879100<br />

w: z2z.com<br />

COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY<br />

Devon Counselling Training<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 07522 841009<br />

w: devoncounsellingtraining.co.uk<br />

North Devon Counselling<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 07872 501606<br />

w: northdevoncounselling.co.uk<br />

DIGITAL & WEB SITES<br />

Kameleon<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 01271 375100<br />

w: kameleondigital.uk<br />

Peak Online<br />

Bideford<br />

t: 01237 721256<br />

w: northdevon.peak-online.uk.com<br />

DINING<br />

Terrace Tapas & Wine Bar<br />

Ilfracombe<br />

t: 01271 863482<br />

w: terracetapasbar.co.uk<br />

The Royal George<br />

Appledore<br />

t: 01237 424 138<br />

w: trgpub.co.uk<br />

ENVIRONMENT<br />

North Devon Biosphere<br />

North Devon<br />

t: 01392 388647<br />

w: northdevonbiosphere.org.uk<br />

FINANCE<br />

SWIG Finance<br />

North Devon & South West<br />

t: 01872 227 932<br />

w: swigfinance.co.uk<br />

FINANCIAL ADVISERS<br />

D Scott Financial<br />

Bideford<br />

t: 01237 426450<br />

w: dscottfinancial.co.uk<br />

Philip J Milton & Co Plc<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 01271 344300<br />

w: miltonpj.net<br />

GARDENING & LANDSCAPING<br />

AB SEA Services<br />

Torrington<br />

t: 07799 478318<br />

w: abseaservices.com<br />

HEALTH & SAFETY<br />

Safety Supplies Direct<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 01271 377558<br />

w: safetysuppliesdirect.co.uk<br />

HOLIDAY COTTAGES<br />

Marsdens Devon Cottages<br />

North Devon<br />

t: 01271 813777<br />

w: marsdens.co.uk<br />

HOTELS<br />

The Carlton<br />

Ilfracombe<br />

t: 01271 862446<br />

w: ilfracombecarlton.co.uk<br />

HUMAN RESOURCES<br />

Fitzgerald HR<br />

Barnstaple, Exeter, London &<br />

Wellington<br />

t: 01271 859267<br />

w: fitzgeraldhr.co.uk<br />

INSURANCE<br />

Together Insurance Solutions<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 01271 347147<br />

w: togetherinsurancesolutions.co.uk<br />

INTERNATIONAL TRADE SUPPORT<br />

International Trade Matters Ltd<br />

Bampton<br />

t: 01398 332881<br />

w: internationaltradematters.com<br />

IT<br />

Lineal Software Solutions<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 01271 375999<br />

w: lineal.co.uk<br />

JOINERY & CARPENTRY<br />

Bespoke Timber Joinery &<br />

Carpentry<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 01271 603411<br />

w: bespoketimberjc.co.uk<br />

LOCKSMITHS<br />

MJS Locksmith<br />

Bideford<br />

t: 07532 139388<br />

w: northdevonlocksmith.co.uk<br />

SW Locksmiths<br />

Holsworthy / Bude<br />

t: 01409 255533<br />

w: swlocksmiths.com<br />

MANUFACTURERS<br />

The Clovelly Soap Company<br />

Clovelly<br />

t: 01237 432280<br />

w: theclovellysoapcompany.com<br />

Smart Manufacturing<br />

Bideford<br />

t: 01237 471977<br />

w: smart-manufacturing.co.uk<br />

MASSAGE & BEAUTY<br />

Essential Bodyworkx<br />

South Molton<br />

t: 01769 574474<br />

w: essentialbodyworkx.co.uk<br />

NETWORKING GROUPS<br />

<strong>Business</strong> Networking in Barnstaple<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 0843 289 1339<br />

w: bnibarnstaple.co.uk<br />

North Devon Networking Group<br />

Barnstaple<br />

w: northdevonnetworking.co.uk<br />

Rise<br />

Barnstaple<br />

e: martin@duchyifa.co.uk<br />

Torridge <strong>Business</strong> Network<br />

Westward Ho!<br />

w: torridgebusinessnetwork.co.uk<br />

OFFICE SUPPLIES<br />

South West Office Supplies<br />

North Devon<br />

t: 01271 889337<br />

w: swofficesupplies.co.uk<br />

PACKAGING<br />

Atlas Packaging<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 01271 344055<br />

w: atlaspackaging.co.uk<br />

➤ Listinginfourissuesof<br />

magazinewithbusiness<br />

nameandcategory,phone<br />

number,websiteandtown.<br />

➤ 12-monthonlinelistingat<br />

needitfindit.ukNorth<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY<br />

Tarkatography<br />

Westward Ho!<br />

t: 07977 414798<br />

w: tarkatography.co.uk<br />

PRINTING<br />

Jamaica Press<br />

Buckland Brewer<br />

t: 01237 452333<br />

w: jamaicapress.co.uk<br />

RECRUITMENT<br />

Cooper Golding<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 01271 349745<br />

w: coopergolding.co.uk<br />

RETAILERS<br />

Ilfracombe Chocolate Emporium<br />

Ilfracombe<br />

t: 01271 867193<br />

w: ilfracombechocolateemporium.co.uk<br />

Pedlars<br />

Ilfracombe<br />

t: 01271 863509<br />

w: Facebook @pedlarsofilfracombe<br />

SHEDS<br />

SHEDS 4 you<br />

Bideford<br />

t: 01237 459193<br />

w: sheds4you.co.uk<br />

SIGNS<br />

Doubleuprint<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 01271 268 041 / 07866 420436<br />

w: doubleuprint.co.uk<br />

The Sign Maker<br />

High Bickington<br />

t: 01769 561355<br />

w: sign-maker.net<br />

SOLICITORS<br />

Slee Blackwell Solicitors<br />

Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton,<br />

South Molton<br />

t: 0808 139 1606<br />

w: sleeblackwell.co.uk<br />

SPORTS EQUIPMENT<br />

Aramis Rugby<br />

South Molton<br />

t: 01769 550284<br />

w: aramisrugby.co.uk<br />

TELECOMS<br />

Integra<br />

North Devon<br />

t: 01271 555 666<br />

w: integra.im<br />

TRAVEL AGENTS<br />

Clare Flint – Travel Counsellors<br />

North Devon & UK<br />

t: 01271 828990<br />

w: travelcounsellors.co.uk/clare.flint<br />

WILLS<br />

Wills at Home<br />

West Yelland<br />

t: 01271 860105<br />

w: wills-athome.co.uk<br />

BOOK YOUR £30 LISTING NOW AT needitfindit.uk<br />

Devon<strong>Business</strong>Directory<br />

withbusinessnameand<br />

category,logo,phone<br />

number,addressandlinks.<br />

➤ 4issuesofmagazinemailed<br />

directtoyourUKaddress.<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business action 3

NEWS<br />

The <strong>Business</strong> & IP Centre<br />

Devon(BIPC)ispartofa<br />

nationalnetworkofbusiness<br />

centresbasedinlibraries.The<br />

networkwassetupand<br />

developedbythe<strong>Business</strong>&<br />

IPCentreattheBritish<br />

LibraryinLondontoprovide<br />

supporttobusinessowners,<br />

entrepreneursandinventors.<br />

Accesstotheright<br />

informationisvitaltoanyone<br />

startingandrunninga<br />

business.Awealthoffree<br />

resourcesarenowavailable<br />

throughtheBIPCDevon.<br />

Theseincludethelargest<br />

collectionofbusinessand<br />

researchdatabasesinthe<br />

SouthWest.Manycanbe<br />

accessedfromhomewitha<br />

librarycard,whileothersare<br />

availablethroughthepublic<br />

computersinBarnstaple,<br />

ExeterandPaigntonlibraries.<br />

Eachoftheselibrarieshasa<br />

Multimedia business with community focus<br />

ASYN Multimediawasbornin<br />

November2019whensingle<br />

mumofthreeIngridEsteve<br />

Martindecidedtoapplyher<br />

multimediaskillstoruna<br />

mediabusinessthatoffered<br />

herflexibility.<br />

Ingrid’saimwastosupply<br />

individualsandsmall<br />

businesseswithcreative<br />

servicesfromgraphicdesignto<br />

videoandanimationinavery<br />

cost-effectiveway.As<br />

lockdownsbegan,she<br />

expandedthisofferingto<br />

includemarketingconsultancy<br />

andsocialmediacontentthat<br />

wouldsupportbusinesses.<br />

“Thepandemichasbeena<br />

reflectivetimeandIhave<br />

decidedtocreatedifferent<br />

nichesandultimatelyprovide<br />

anelementofsocialenterprise,<br />

involvingcreatingincomeand<br />

<strong>Business</strong> & IP Centre offers<br />

business services and facilities<br />

BIPC,withmoreDevon<br />

librariestofollowsoon.<br />

BIPCDevonalsooffersa<br />

givingsome<br />

backtosocial<br />

andcharitable<br />

causes,”says<br />

Ingrid.<br />

“In2020,<br />

atChristmas,<br />

forexample,I<br />

startedashort<br />

filmwith<br />

mentalhealth<br />

asitsmain<br />

topic,andam<br />

currently<br />

applyingfor<br />

fundingto<br />

extenditintoa<br />

longerfilm.”<br />

ASYNoffersflexibilityto<br />

findsolutionsforclientsthat<br />

providewhattheyarelooking<br />

forwithintheirbudget.If<br />

ASYNcan’tprovideitdirectly,<br />

itwillsourcesuitableservices<br />

The <strong>Business</strong> & IP Centre Devon pod at Barnstaple library<br />

one-to-oneintroductiontoits<br />

resourcesandone-to-ones<br />

witharangeofexpertsin<br />

thatwillsatisfy<br />

theclient’s<br />

needs.<br />

Ingridis<br />

verymuch<br />

focusedon<br />

contributingto<br />

thelocal<br />

community.<br />

“Aspartof<br />

whatwedo,it’s<br />

alsoimportant<br />

togivebackto<br />

others,so<br />

ASYN<br />

Multimedia<br />

Ingrid Esteve Martin<br />

wantstogrow<br />

tocreatestoriesandseekto<br />

inspireanddoourlittlebitto<br />

makethisworldabetterplace.”<br />

Ingridworkswithlocaland<br />

internationalclients,both<br />

remotelyandinperson,from<br />

professionalstoretailersand<br />

variousaspectsofbusiness.<br />

For2022,itisplanninga<br />

scheduleofworkshopsand<br />

webinarswhichincludeanew<br />

Diversityin<strong>Business</strong><br />

programme,Womenin<br />

<strong>Business</strong>andaprogramme<br />

speciallytailoredtosupport<br />

thecreativeindustries.<br />

<strong>Business</strong>escanbrowseand<br />

borrowanextensiverangeof<br />

businessbooks,eBooksand,<br />

viaitsLibbyapp,magazines,<br />

includingTheEconomistand<br />

TheEntrepreneur.<br />

BarnstapleandExeter<br />

librariesalsoofferin-house<br />

FabLabswherebusinessescan<br />

access3Dprinters,laserand<br />

vinylcutters,anddigitalsewing<br />

machinesataffordablerates.<br />

Thesesupportentrepreneurs<br />

whocreateanddesign.<br />

■ Detailsfablabdevon.organd<br />

bipc.librariesunlimited.org.uk<br />

anybusinessthatjustneeds<br />

someinspiration.<br />

“Asasocial-focusmarketing<br />

andfilminternationalstudio,<br />

ASYNMultimedialooksto<br />

workwithanycompany<br />

lookingforafamiliarand<br />

customisableofferandto<br />

inspiringotherswhiledoingso.<br />

“Ilovetobecreative,tohelp<br />

others,tomultitask,touse<br />

differentmedia,tofind<br />

solutionstoourclients’<br />

problems.Thismakesus<br />

relevant.Wemakesense<br />

visuallyoftheviews,mission<br />

andobjectivesofourclients<br />

andcreateinspiringstories<br />

withtheaimtohelpothers.<br />

“Theworldishardenough<br />

withoutsupport,solet’shelp<br />

eachotherisourmotto.”<br />

■ Details07340770185or<br />

FacebookASYNMultimedia<br />

4 business action | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business-action.co.uk

PEOPLE<br />

Inviting space to browse contemporary art<br />

There’s a new looktoan<br />

establishedartgalleryinSt<br />

James’Place,<br />

Ilfracombeafter<br />

NicoleHansonand<br />

AlixMcDonald<br />

assumedownership<br />

andrelaunchedas<br />

MagentaFineArtin<br />

October<strong>2021</strong>.<br />

Bothpreviously<br />

workedatthegallery<br />

andareenjoying<br />

introducingchanges<br />

toachievetheiraim<br />

tobringinnovative<br />

contemporaryartfromacross<br />

theglobetoNorthDevon.<br />

“Weworkreallywellasa<br />

team,”saysAlix,anartistwho<br />

hasextensiveexperienceasan<br />

artsalesconsultant.<br />

“Webounceideasoffeach<br />

otherreallywelland<br />

complementeachother,”adds<br />

Nicole,whohasexperienceasa<br />

consultantandgallerymanager<br />

andhasbuiltupareputation<br />

andrapportwithmanyclients.<br />

“Wearetryingthingsand<br />

All plans include<br />

➤ 4 adverts (if selected)<br />

➤ 4 magazine listings<br />

➤ 12-month web adverts<br />

➤ online listing<br />

➤ 4 mailed magazines<br />

➤ plus more<br />

seeingwhatworksand<br />

makingchangeswhere<br />

necessary,”continues<br />

Nicole.“Wehave<br />

introducedseating<br />

areassothatpeople<br />

canbehereaslongas<br />

theywant.”<br />

NicoleandAlix<br />

understandthatmany<br />

peoplecomeintothe<br />

gallerywithoutany<br />

intentiontobuy,justto<br />

browse.Oncetheystart<br />

chatting,thereisanatural<br />

processaspeoplebecome<br />

moreinterested.Nicoleand<br />

Alixshowexamplesandeven<br />

offerhomeapprovalssothat<br />

clientscanseehow<br />

artworkswilllookathome.<br />

MagentaFineArtalso<br />

offersanartvisualisation<br />

servicewhereclientscan<br />

emailaphotooftheir<br />

spacesothatimagesof<br />

artworkstheyare<br />

interestedincanbe<br />

Comfortable seating at Magenta Fine Art, Ilfracombe<br />

superimposedtogivean<br />

impressionofhowtheywill<br />

look.Italsooffersasearch<br />

servicetosourcesuitable<br />

Select plan<br />

£30 <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Plan – 4 magazine listings<br />

£125 <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Plan – 4 business card adverts<br />

£225 <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Plan – 4 banner adverts<br />

£315 <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Plan – 4 quarter page adverts<br />

£645 <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Plan – 4 half page adverts<br />

£995 <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Plan – 4 full page adverts<br />

Magenta Fine Art: (from left) Nicole Hanson and Alix McDonald<br />

artworksforclientslookingfor<br />

aspecifictypeofimage.<br />

Understandingthat<br />

responsestoartareboth<br />

individualandemotional,<br />

MagentaFineArtoffersawide<br />

mixofgenrestosuitdifferent<br />

tastes.Someclientsliketo<br />

expresstheircharacterthrough<br />

theartintheirhome,while<br />

othersviewitasatalkingpoint.<br />

“Everypersonisso<br />

different,”saysNicole.<br />

“Differentemotions,<br />

thoughts,feelings,<br />

stories:that’swhyit’s<br />

nicebeinganart<br />

gallery.Peoplewantto<br />

comeinandseeit.”<br />

Alixaddsthatthey<br />

wantMagentaFineArt<br />

tobecomepartofthe<br />

communityandwill<br />

openthegalleryall<br />

yearround,bothfor<br />

residentsandoffseasonvisitorstocomeinand<br />

andenjoybrowsingart.<br />

■ Details01271862590or<br />

magentafineart.co.uk<br />

Advertise from just £30 a year with <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong><br />

Payment options<br />

Pay in full or by<br />

12 monthly instalments –<br />

with no extra charges.<br />

Put yourself in front of<br />

North Devon businesses.<br />

Book online at business-action.co.uk/plans or call Robert on 07971 176044<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business action 5

PEOPLE<br />

The Biosphere <strong>Business</strong> Partner Showcase at Saunton Sands Hotel<br />

Biosphere seeks business partners<br />

North Devon Biosphere<br />

launcheditsBiosphere<strong>Business</strong><br />

Partner(BBP)Eco-Accreditation<br />

Schemelastyear(withafocus<br />

ontourismbusinesses)aspart<br />

oftheEU-fundedBioCultural<br />

HeritageTourismproject.<br />

Followingitssuccess,the<br />

Biosphereisnowopening<br />

membershipuptoallbusinesses<br />

acrossNorthDevon.<br />

Unique selling point<br />

TheUNESCOWorldBiosphere<br />

designationisauniqueselling<br />

pointasaregion.Joiningthe<br />

BBPschemedemonstratesthat<br />

amemberbusinessisproudto<br />

bepartofthisworldclassarea<br />

bybeingpartofasustainable<br />

businessnetworkthatlooks<br />

aftertheveryassetsthatattract<br />

80%ofitsvisitors,aswellas<br />

eachother.<br />

Five commitments<br />

Bysigninguptothisfree<br />

accreditationscheme,each<br />

businesswillmakeatleastfive<br />

commitmentstowards<br />

conservation,localdevelopment<br />

and/orawarenessraising.In<br />

return,memberbusinessesare<br />

rewardedwith:<br />

➤ FreeadvertisingontheBBP<br />

NetworkDirectoryonthe<br />

BiosphereVisitorwebsite<br />

biosphere.org.uk<br />

➤ FreeuseoftheBBPlogo<br />

onallpromotionalmaterial<br />

andbusinesswebsites.<br />

Partner presentation (from left) Andy Bell, Biosphere Reserve co-ordinator,<br />

and Sarah Jordan, Biosphere <strong>Business</strong> Partner co-ordinator<br />

➤ Invitationstonetworking<br />

meetingsandeventsto<br />

connectwithlike-minded<br />

businessesandshareideas<br />

andbestpractice.<br />

➤ Bi-monthlyBBPnewsletter,<br />

showcasingsomeofthe<br />

greatworkachievedby<br />

fellowpartners.<br />

➤ Theopportunitytobethe<br />

featured‘BiosphereStar<br />

<strong>Business</strong>’withfocusonthe<br />

businessanditscommitments<br />

totheBiosphere.<br />

Sign up<br />

Forfurtherinformationandto<br />

signuptothisscheme,visit<br />

biosphere.org.uk/businesspartners/aboutorcontact<br />

SarahJordon,Biosphere<br />

<strong>Business</strong>Partnercoordinator,<br />

atSarah.Jordan@devon.gov.uk<br />

Wheatland Farm–Maggie<br />

Watsondescribedhowher<br />

familyhadacquiredWheatland<br />

Farm,nearWinkleighin2006<br />

torestorethePopehouseMoor<br />

SiteofSpecialScientific<br />

Interest(partofthefarm)and<br />

extenditswildlifetotherestof<br />

thefarm,whichismanagedas<br />

anaturereserve.<br />

Thereare200+speciesof<br />

floweringplantsonsite,five<br />

ponds,13speciesofdragonfly<br />

andatleastfivespeciesofbat.<br />

Thefarmgeneratesincome<br />

throughecotourismandaims<br />

forvisitorstoseeandinteract<br />

withwildlife.<br />

■ Details0183783499or<br />

wheatlandfarm.co.uk<br />

Braunton Countryside Centre<br />

–NicolaCorrigan,biocultural<br />

tourismprojectmanageratthe<br />

centre(aswellasBiosphere<br />

operationsmanager)explained<br />

howthecentrehasconnected<br />

bothresidentsandvisitorswith<br />

natureoverthepast30years.<br />

Thecentrehasorganised<br />

morethan80eventsattended<br />

bysome2,000people,ranging<br />

fromguidedwalkstocrafting<br />

workshopsandconservation<br />

activities,suchaseventswith<br />

theCaenCatchmentBeaver<br />

Partnership,whichisassessing<br />

whetherbeaverreintroduction<br />

couldalleviateflooding.<br />

■ Details01271817171or<br />

brauntoncountrysidecentre.org<br />

6 business action | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business-action.co.uk

Sustainable <strong>Business</strong> Award<br />

<strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong>isdelighted<br />

tohavesigneduptothe<br />

Biosphere<strong>Business</strong>Partner<br />

schemeandattendedthe<br />

recentBiosphere<strong>Business</strong><br />

PartnerShowcaseatSaunton<br />

SandsHotel.<br />

EditorRobertZarywacz<br />

says:“Ihaveapersonal<br />

interestinissuesincluding<br />

plasticandotherlitter,soil<br />

improvement,enriching<br />

habitatstoattractwildlifeand<br />

thedamagingeffectsof<br />

coveringgardensintarmac<br />

and/ordecking.<br />

“In1997,aspartofaPR<br />

assignmentcoveringthe<br />

commissioningofalandfill<br />

methanepowergeneration<br />

operation,Itookaguidedtour<br />

ofoneofthelargestlandfill<br />

sitesinthecountry.This<br />

horrifyingexperiencebrought<br />

hometometheurgentneedto<br />

reducewaste,recyclemoreand<br />

takebettercareofthe<br />

environment.Irecommend<br />

anyonetotaketheopportunity<br />

togoonsuchatour–thereis<br />

Biosphere Partner Showcase<br />

TherecentBiospherePartner<br />

ShowcaseatSauntonSands<br />

Hotelbroughtpartners<br />

togethertonetworkand<br />

discussideasforpromotingthe<br />

importanceoftheBiosphereto<br />

thewiderbusinesscommunity.<br />

nobetterwaytowitnessfirsthandthedamagewecauseto<br />

ourenvironment.Itwouldbe<br />

aneffectiveenvironmental<br />

lessonforchildrentoo.”<br />

Sustainable business<br />

“Ialsotakeakeeninterestin<br />

actionsbusinessescantaketo<br />

becomemoresustainable.<br />

“AmajorissueIbelieveall<br />

businessesneedtoaddressis<br />

howtobalanceproduction<br />

andsaleswithreducing<br />

unnecessaryconsumption.<br />

Thisisacomplexquestion<br />

withnoeasyanswers,butone<br />

Ibelieveweneedtoaddress.<br />

Inviewoftheseconcerns,I<br />

amdelightedthattheNorth<br />

DevonBiospherehasagreedto<br />

sponsoranewSustainable<br />

<strong>Business</strong>Awardaspartofour<br />

NorthDevon<strong>Business</strong><br />

Awards.Wewillbe<br />

announcingdetailsshortlyon<br />

ourwebsiteandencouraging<br />

businessestoenterfrom<br />

1January2022–seepage15<br />

for<strong>Business</strong><strong>Action</strong>Awards.<br />

Italsoincluded<br />

presentationsfromBiosphere<br />

<strong>Business</strong>Partnersonhowtheir<br />

businessesareincorporating<br />

carefortheenvironmentinto<br />

theirdailybusinessoperations<br />

–seebelow.<br />

BIOSPHERE<br />

TCi (GB) Ltd–BenGibbs,<br />

marketingmanager,described<br />

howthecompanyisfocusing<br />

onitsenvironmental<br />

responsibilitieswhileachieving<br />

significantgrowth.<br />

Withtwodivisionsfocusing<br />

oncommercialfurnitureand<br />

construction,thecompanyhas<br />

workedonthe2012Olympics<br />

site,theShardandHinkley<br />

PointC,Europe’slargest<br />

constructionproject.<br />

Ithasalsodevelopedthe<br />

ECO360,acarbon-zero,<br />

plastic-free,fullyrecyclable<br />

officedeskmanufacturedinthe<br />

UKfromrecycledmaterials.<br />

■ Details03330220824or<br />

tcigb.co.uk<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business action 7

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North Devon isfortunateto<br />

havelotsofindependent<br />

retailersservingtheresidentsof<br />

itstownsandvillages.<br />

Manypeoplediscovered<br />

theirlocalshopsduring<br />

lockdowns,butretailremainsa<br />

toughenvironmentinwhichto<br />

runabusiness.<br />

<strong>Business</strong><strong>Action</strong>aimsto<br />

supportandencouragegreater<br />

useofthearea’sindependent<br />

shopsandhaslaunchedan<br />

initiativeto‘BuyinShops’.<br />

Independent advantage<br />

Manypeopletaketheirlocal<br />

independentshopsforgranted,<br />

onlylamentingtheirlossonce<br />

theyhaveclosed.<br />

Independentsandlargeor<br />

onlineretailerseachoffertheir<br />

ownadvantages.Andthe<br />

independentscanstackupwell<br />

whenthetwoarecompared.<br />

Choice<br />

Whileasmallshopmaynot<br />

havetheroomtostock<br />

thousandsofproductlines,it<br />

Cheeky calendars raise funds for mental health<br />

TradesmenfromNorthDevon<br />

featureinRGBBuilding<br />

Supplies’WellBuiltBuilder’s<br />

Bum2022calendarbeingsold<br />

inaidofitschosencharities:<br />

DevonMind,CornwallMind<br />

andMindinSomerset.<br />

RGBinvitedtradespeople<br />

fromacrosstheareatoput<br />

themselvesforwardtobe<br />

includedinthecalendarand<br />

bephotographedwhiledoing<br />

theirjob,butwithalittlebitof<br />

theirbottomondisplay.<br />

Aswellasbuilders,<br />

carpenters,forkliftdrivers,and<br />

plumbers,RGB’ssponsored<br />

ExeterChiefs’players,Dave<br />

Ewers,FrankieNowell,Sean<br />

O’BrienandFacundo<br />

Cordero,alsotookpart.<br />

BUYinSHOPS<br />

canbeasurprisetobrowseand<br />

discoverjustwhattheydooffer.<br />

Manyretailersarealsopleased<br />

toorderingoodsspecifically<br />

forcustomers.<br />

Help and advice<br />

Manypeopleexpecttoseewhat<br />

theywantontheshelvesoron<br />

awebsiteandhaveforgotten–<br />

oryoungerpeoplemaynever<br />

haveexperienced–howtoask<br />

forhelpandadviceinstore.<br />

Unlikeanautomatedonline<br />

assistantorwebsitehelppages<br />

thatsendyouroundincircles,<br />

arealshopkeepercanhelpyou<br />

toobtainthebestproductfor<br />

yourneeds,whichmaynot<br />

necessarilybewhatyoufirst<br />

thoughtabout.<br />

Again,shopkeepersoften<br />

workhardtosourceprecisely<br />

whatyouwantandorderit<br />

especiallyforyou.<br />

AndrePusey,marketing<br />

andfundraisingmanagerat<br />

DevonMind,says:“Wealways<br />

lovetoseeoursupporters<br />

comeupwithuniqueandbold<br />

ideasforfundraising,andyou<br />

High price myth<br />

Bigretailersarealwayscheaper.<br />

Really?Itcanbeasurpriseto<br />

findouthowcompetitive<br />

independentretailerscanbe.<br />

Evenwheretheirgoodsare<br />

slightlymoreexpensive,there<br />

willbenocarriagecostsand<br />

customerscanbenefitfromthe<br />

personalservicenotavailable<br />

fromanonlinestore.<br />

Reduce waste<br />

Haveyoueverwanteda<br />

doughnutandhadtobuyfive<br />

inasupermarket?Whyshould<br />

youbuyfourdoughnutsyoudo<br />

notneedbecausethe<br />

supermarketmakesyou?<br />

Abakerwillsellyouone<br />

doughnutandmanysmall<br />

shopswillsellyousingleitems<br />

orsmallerquantitiesoffood.<br />

Withsomuchoverconsumptionandfoodwastage<br />

can’tgetmuchbolderthan<br />

this!Wearesogratefulto<br />

everyonewhoshowedupand<br />

showedoffforthecause,and<br />

ofcoursetoallthoseloyal<br />

RGBcustomerswhoplanon<br />

pickinguponeoftheseamazing<br />

calendarsfor2022.Thankyou<br />

forcontributingtothefight<br />

formentalhealthinDevon.”<br />

EdLivesey,branchmanager<br />

atRGBBarnstaple,adds:“We<br />

wantedtodosomethingtotally<br />

differenttocatchpeople’s<br />

attentionandmakethem<br />

smile,whilepokingfunata<br />

veryunwarrantedconstruction<br />

industrystereotype.But,more<br />

importantly,thecalendaris<br />

aboutraisingmoneyforsuch<br />

worthwhilecharities.”<br />

causingenvironmentaldamage,<br />

wesupportsustainabilitywhen<br />

buyingonlywhatweneedfrom<br />

smallshops.<br />

Take traffic off the roads<br />

Mostdays,NorthDevontowns<br />

areswarmingwithcouriervans<br />

dashingtomeetdeliveryslots<br />

anddroppingoffgoodsin<br />

bubble-wrapandcardboard,<br />

eventhoughnext-daydelivery<br />

israrelyessential.<br />

Usingalocalshopreduces<br />

wastefulpackagingandcan<br />

takecouriertrafficoffthe<br />

roads.Ifyou’reluckytobeable<br />

towalktoyourshops,you’llbe<br />

expendingzerocarbonand,if<br />

not,mostpurchasescanwait<br />

untilyournextvisittoatown.<br />

Change of mindset<br />

Manypeopleshoponlineorin<br />

supermarketsbecauseof<br />

conditioning.Makingtheeffort<br />

–anditcanbeaneffort–to<br />

useindependentshopscan<br />

offermanysurprisingbenefits.<br />

■ Detailsbuyinshops.uk<br />

NorthDevontradesmen<br />

featuredinthecalendarare:<br />

➤ KevinSkinner,builder<br />

➤ MatthewRichardson,<br />

carpenterandbuilder<br />

➤ MickeyParker,builder<br />

➤ NathanDadswell,painter<br />

anddecorator<br />

➤ PeterGeorge,builder<br />

➤ SamDamsell-Atyeoand<br />

JackMason,plumbingand<br />

heatingspecialists<br />

➤ TheteamfromBraunton<br />

plumbersEarthInspired<br />

■ Thebuildersbumcalendar<br />

costs£5andisavailablefrom<br />

allRGBbranchesandonline<br />

atrgbltd.co.uk.Allmoney<br />

raisedwillbedonatedto<br />

DevonMind,CornwallMind<br />

andMindinSomerset.<br />

8 business action | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business-action.co.uk

Need to boost your indoor<br />

business mobile signal?<br />

Poor indoor mobile coverage<br />

inNorthDevonbusinesses<br />

andhomescanbeimproved<br />

withthehelpofavoucher<br />

programmesupportingthe<br />

purchaseofequipmentthat<br />

caneliminate‘not-spots’.<br />

TheMobileBoost<br />

Programme,administeredby<br />

ConnectingDevonand<br />

Somerset,providesvouchers<br />

worthupto£1,200towards<br />

thecostofoneofanumberof<br />

4Gmobilesignalbooster<br />

optionsfromsuppliers<br />

registeredwiththescheme.<br />

Thevalueofvouchers<br />

dependsonthetypeof<br />

technologymostsuitablefora<br />

specificpremises.Suppliers<br />

willadviseapplicantsonthe<br />

mostappropriateoption.<br />

Whilecoveringthemajority<br />

oftheequipmentcost,<br />

businessesandresidentsneed<br />

tomakeatop-upcontribution<br />

tocoverthecostof<br />

installation.<br />

<strong>Business</strong>escanapplyby<br />

completinganonlineform<br />

andself-certifyingthatthey<br />

cannotreceiveanadequate<br />

indoor4Gmobilesignal.<br />

Uponapplication,avoucher<br />

codewillbeemailedtothe<br />

applicantwhichcanbeused<br />

withoneoftheregistered<br />

schemesuppliers/installers.<br />

■ Detailsconnectingdevon<br />

andsomerset.co.uk<br />

HEADER NEWS<br />

Peak<br />

Online<br />

ONE COMPLETE ONLINE SOLUTION<br />

4 business card adverts for £125<br />

Book at business-action.co.uk/plans<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business action 9

RETAIL<br />

100 years on t<br />

Nick Pedlarjoinedthebusiness<br />

in1964andhasawealthof<br />

retailknowledge.Weasked<br />

Nickabouttrendsandwhat<br />

remainsimportantinretail.<br />

What from 100 years of<br />

trading is still important for<br />

retailers to do today?<br />

Customerserviceisthemost<br />

important.It’sstillthesame<br />

todayaswhenPedlarsstarted.<br />

A landmark North Devon<br />

storecelebrates100yearsof<br />

tradinginIlfracombeHigh<br />

Streetin2022.<br />

Chas.N.Pedlarfirsttraded<br />

in1922,althoughtheorigins<br />

ofthebusinessstretchbackto<br />

adepartmentstoreand<br />

funeraldirectorsknownas<br />

J.Pugsley&Sonsin1860.This<br />

originalstorewaslocatedin<br />

ForeStreetandthenmovedto<br />

theHighStreetatthepremises<br />

currentlyoccupiedbyMcColls<br />

andthePostOffice.<br />

JohnPugsley’snephew,<br />

Charles Nicholas Pedlar<br />

CharlesNicholasPedlar,joined<br />

thebusinessin1895andthe<br />

adjoiningchinaandhardware<br />

Supporting homeware retailers countrywide<br />

Aswellasservingresidentsof<br />

andvisitorstoIlfracombefor<br />

100years,Pedlarsplaysa<br />

majorroleinsupplying<br />

homewaretothousandsof<br />

customersacrossthecountry<br />

asoneofsixfounding<br />

membersofHomeHardware.<br />

FormedinNorthDevonin<br />

1967,thecompanyisdealer<br />

ownedandnowhasmorethan<br />

400independenthardware<br />

retailers,housewaresshops,<br />

cookshops,ironmongersand<br />

Have you attracted more<br />

customers during COVID?<br />

We’veattractedmore<br />

customers,includinganew<br />

generationofcustomerswho<br />

wereabletophoneupandhave<br />

theirordersdelivered.<br />

Gardeningcustomers<br />

especiallyhavestayedwithus<br />

afterfindingthequalityofour<br />

plantsexceptional.People<br />

remarkedonhowgoodtheyare<br />

andhowcompetitivelypriced.<br />

Olderpeoplealsoreliedon<br />

usinabigway.Thosewhowere<br />

isolatingwereabletophoneus<br />

upandwedeliveredtothem.<br />

Are there families of<br />

customers spanning more<br />

than one generation?<br />

Wehavefamilieswithmore<br />

thanonegenerationshopping<br />

withus,oftenbecauseof<br />

schoolwear.Welookedafter<br />

somewhentheywentto<br />

school,thentheymovedaway<br />

andtheystillcomebacktous<br />

forclothing.<br />

Schoolchildrenoftencome<br />

backtousasadults,especially<br />

whenbuyingclothesforwork<br />

orjobinterviews.<br />

gardencentresasitsmembers<br />

acrosstheUK.<br />

Establishedtosupport<br />

independentretailersafterthe<br />

appearanceofthefirst<br />

supermarkets,itranitsfirst<br />

warehouseinBidefordbefore<br />

movingtoitspresentpremises<br />

inBarnstaple.Togetherwith<br />

itssecondwarehousein<br />

Bedford,HomeHardwarehas<br />

anationwidereach,delivering<br />

toretailersfromtheIslesof<br />

ScillytoNorthumberland.It<br />

How far do customers<br />

come to shop at Pedlars?<br />

Wegetabigflowofcustomers<br />

fromLyntonandLynmouth,<br />

Georgeham,Woolacombeand<br />

Mortehoeandfromacross<br />

NorthDevon.<br />

Wealsogetpeoplephoning<br />

usupfromallacrossthe<br />

countrywhohavevisitedusin<br />

thesummer.<br />

Recently,wehadacustomer<br />

ringusfromShattoninthe<br />

PeakDistrict.<br />

employssome80staffin<br />

Barnstapleand30inBedford.<br />

HomeHardwaremembershipgivesretailersaccessto<br />

20,000productsfrom300<br />

namedbrandsstockedinits<br />

warehouses,withevenmore<br />

availabledirectfromsuppliers.<br />

Moreimportantly,itcanhelp<br />

supportanewretaileras<br />

theyestablishtheirbusiness,<br />

reducingthestart-uprisk.This<br />

includeshelpingwithbusiness<br />

plansandotheradvice.<br />

What do you sell more and<br />

less of now?<br />

Weusedtosellalotofparaffin<br />

forstovesandradiators.<br />

Nowweselllotsofhairdryers.<br />

Televisionhasabiginfluence<br />

onhomewareandcooking.<br />

Peoplerushouttobuygadgets<br />

thatthey’veseenTVchefsuse.<br />

Thereisabigmediainfluence<br />

onwhatsells.<br />

Do you still enjoy retailing?<br />

Iloveit.Therapportwiththe<br />

customersisstillimportant.<br />

HomeHardwarewonthe<br />

Britain’sBestWholesalertitle<br />

intheHousewaresInnovation<br />

Awardsthreeyearsrunningin<br />

2017,2018and2019.<br />

MoreHomeHardware<br />

retailerscanbefoundacross<br />

NorthDevoninBideford,<br />

Bradworthy,Braunton,<br />

Crediton,GreatTorrington,<br />

Okehampton,SouthMolton<br />

andTiverton.<br />

■ Details01271337479or<br />

homehardware.co.uk<br />

10 business action | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business-action.co.uk

he high street<br />

HEADER RETAIL<br />

Charles Glanville Pedlar<br />

shopnextdoorwasacquiredto<br />

whichamen’sandboy’s<br />

clothingsectionwasadded.<br />

One of the most important<br />

reasonsformovingto<br />

Ilfracombe18yearsagowasits<br />

selectionofindependentshops.<br />

MrsZandImovedfrom<br />

Windsor,similarlyatourist<br />

town,althoughmostofthe<br />

independentbusinessesthere<br />

hadbeencrowdedoutbythe<br />

facelessnationaland<br />

internationalchainsyouseein<br />

mostbigtownsandcities.We<br />

hadbeenluckytohavean<br />

independenthomewareand<br />

hardwarestorewithinwalking<br />

distance,butthatclosedwhen<br />

theproprietorsretired.<br />

Sincewemoved,wehave<br />

purchasedfromPedlarsoften,<br />

notonlybecausewecanwalk<br />

tothestorebutalsobecausewe<br />

knowthatwecangoinandask<br />

whetheranitemisavailableor<br />

seekadviceonthebestproduct<br />

forourneeds.<br />

Whenassemblingthepanel<br />

ofjudgesforthe<strong>Business</strong><br />

<strong>Action</strong>Awards,wesoughta<br />

representativefromtheretail<br />

sectorwhohadanestablished<br />

retailbackground,wasfully<br />

awareofthechallengesfacedby<br />

WhenPugsleysclosedin<br />

1922,Chas.N.Pedlarabsorbed<br />

thebusinessintohisownand<br />

ithasoperatedunderhisname<br />

at27IlfracombeHighStreet<br />

rightuptothepresent.<br />

In1946,hewasjoinedin<br />

thebusinessbyhissonCharles<br />

GlanvillePedlar,sincewhena<br />

furthertwogenerationsjoined<br />

tocontinuerunningthe<br />

business.BothNicholas<br />

GlanvillePedlar,whojoinedin<br />

1964,anddaughterHelen<br />

Pedlar,joiningin2005,run<br />

thestoretoday.<br />

Valuing retail service<br />

independentretailersinsmall<br />

towns,understoodthe<br />

importanceofpersonalservice<br />

andwasawareofthewaysin<br />

whichdevelopmentssuchas<br />

technologyarechangingretail.<br />

Itwasalsovitalthatourjudge<br />

championedretailand<br />

Today Pedlarsoffersawiderangeofproducts,including<br />

menswearandschooluniforms;chinaandglassware;kitchen<br />

utensilsandequipment;electricalappliances;homewareand<br />

hardware;plants,seedsandgardeningsupplies;andmore.<br />

Ifyoucan’tseeit,askandtheywillverylikelyorderitforyou.<br />

■ Details27HighStreet,Ilfracombeor01271863509<br />

Editor Robert Zarywacz is a customer of Pedlars and has worked with<br />

Helen Pedlar as a judge in the <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Awards. Below are his<br />

thoughts on why independent family businesses are vital to the longterm<br />

health and success of communities<br />

Helen Pedlar, fourth generation to work in the business and a judge in the<br />

<strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> North Devon <strong>Business</strong> Awards<br />

supportedfellowretailerssothat<br />

theywereabletomakeafull,<br />

fairandimpartialappraisalofall<br />

businessesenteringtheawards.<br />

AsPedlarsplaysamajorrole<br />

inmaintainingIlfracombe’s<br />

highstreetofferingand<br />

supportsretailersacrossNorth<br />

DevonandtheUKasa<br />

foundingmemberofHome<br />

Hardware,itseemed<br />

appropriatetoinviteamember<br />

ofthefamilybusinesstotake<br />

upthisrole.Asthelatestof<br />

fourgenerationsworkinginthe<br />

business,weweredelighted<br />

whenHelenPedlaraccepted<br />

ourinvitation.Intheinterests<br />

offairness,wedon’tallow<br />

judgestoentertheawardsand<br />

wearegratefultoPedlarsfor<br />

acceptingthis.<br />

Likeallourjudges,Helen<br />

hastakentherolevery<br />

seriouslyandgivenalotoftime<br />

asavolunteertoreadand<br />

assessawardsentriesandto<br />

takingpartinthejudgingdays.<br />

Thishascontributedgreatlyto<br />

establishingthereputationof<br />

the<strong>Business</strong><strong>Action</strong>Awards<br />

andwethankHelenand<br />

Pedlarsfortheirparticipation.<br />

Pedlarsisoneofmany<br />

independentretailersacross<br />

NorthDevon’stownsand<br />

villageswhoaddinvaluable<br />

richnesstothecommunity.Too<br />

often,wedon’tvaluethemuntil<br />

theyhavegone.<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>Winter</strong> Autumn<strong>2021</strong> | | business action 11

ENTERPRISE HEADER<br />

Demand at enterprise hub leads to phase 2<br />

Barely has North Devon’snew<br />

enterprisehubopenedthan<br />

planshavebeguntodevelopits<br />

secondphase.<br />

Node,locatedofftheA39at<br />

Roundswell,wasofficially<br />

openedinOctoberbyLeaderof<br />

DevonCountyCouncil<br />

CouncillorJohnHart.The<br />

eventwasattendedbycouncil<br />

leaders,fundingpartners,<br />

foundingorganisationsand<br />

entrepreneursalreadybasedat<br />

thehub.<br />

GarethJones,founderand<br />

chiefexecutiveofTownSquare,<br />

thecompanyoperatingNode,<br />

announcedthatoccupancywas<br />

alreadyabovetarget–atmore<br />

than68%andincreasing–and<br />

thatitattractedmorethan100<br />

dailyusers.<br />

TownSquarealready<br />

operatessuccessfulenterprise<br />

hubsinWales,Oxfordshire,<br />

WestSussex,Cheshireand<br />

London,andwillusethis<br />

experiencetomakesureallthe<br />

valuegeneratedbyNode<br />

remainsinNorthDevon.<br />

Facilities and technology<br />

Phase1ofNodeoffers37small<br />

andmediumoffices,a<br />

coworkingspaceforupto50<br />

people,meetingroomsandan<br />

on-sitecoffeeshop.<br />

Broadbandinternet<br />

connectivityofupto1Gbpsis<br />

availabletousers,dependent<br />

onthelevelofmembership,<br />

whichrangesfrom£20&VAT<br />

foradaypassupto£249&<br />

VATpermonthforpro<br />

membership.<br />

Growing business at Node: Ryan Jewell of Integy explained how the<br />

business had grown from two to 10 employees at Node.<br />

Read the Integy story overleaf on page 14<br />

Ratesforteams,which<br />

include24-houraccessseven<br />

daysaweek,arealsoavailable.<br />

Connecting to the Node: (from left) Town Square community director Carl Turner, Jem Gill<br />

of Node, Devon County Council head of economy, enterprise and skills Keri Denton, Node<br />

community manager Julian Dymond, Councillor Rufus Gilbert and Councillor John Hart<br />

Official opening<br />

Ondeclaringthehubofficially<br />

open,CouncillorJohnHart<br />

said:“TheNodeenterprise<br />

centreisanextremely<br />

impressivefacilityandit’shad<br />

anincrediblestart.Everyone<br />

involvedmustbecongratulated<br />

forgettingitupandrunning<br />

andforletting64%ofitsoffice<br />

spaceafterjusteightmonths.<br />

That'salreadyaheadofitstwoyeartargetandhighlightsthe<br />

importanceofthissitetothe<br />

county’seconomicrecovery<br />

andgrowth.<br />

“Thebuildingitselfhasalso<br />

beendesignedandbuilttobe<br />

energyefficienttohelpuswith<br />

ourcarbonreductiontargets,<br />

andit’sachieveda25%<br />

reductionincarbonemissions<br />

comparedtoBuilding<br />

Regulationsstandards.The<br />

CountyCouncilhasshownits<br />

faithinthisprojectbyinvesting<br />

inasecondphaseexpansionof<br />

theenterprisecentre,which<br />

we'reaimingtoopenby2023.<br />

Thiswillenablethecentreto<br />

supportevenmoreSMEsand<br />

startupsinNorthDevonand<br />

Torridgeaswelooktobuild<br />

backanevenstrongerand<br />

moreresilientlocaleconomy.”<br />

User case studies<br />

TodemonstratehowNodeis<br />

alreadysupportingnewand<br />

growingbusinesses,speakers<br />

fromtwobusinessesalready<br />

occupyingNodespokeabout<br />

theirexperiencesofworkingin<br />

thenewhub.<br />

Snow Limits Consulting<br />

ClaireSnowlaunchedSnow<br />

LimitsConsultinginMarch<br />

thisyearandisbasedatNode<br />

fivedaysaweek.Readherstory<br />

onpage13.<br />

Integy<br />

RyanJewelllaunchedIntegy<br />

withbusinesspartnerJames<br />

CookinNovember2019.The<br />

businesswasthefirstoccupant<br />

andhasoutgrownofficestwice<br />

asitsteamhasgrownto10.<br />

ReadIntegy’sstoryonpage14.<br />

Support programmes<br />

Nodecommunitymanager<br />

JulianDymondintroduced<br />

severalprogrammesthatwill<br />

berunning.<br />

12 business action | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business-action.co.uk

ENTERPRISE HEADER<br />

Startup club<br />

Tosupportnewbusinesses,<br />

Nodewillberunningregular<br />

startupclubstoprovidehelp<br />

andadviceforanyonestarting<br />

orthinkingaboutstartingup<br />

ontheirown.<br />

New business at Node: Claire Snow of Snow Limits Consulting started her<br />

business in March <strong>2021</strong>. Read her story alongside<br />

Theeight-weekprogramme<br />

guidesbusinessowners<br />

throughadifferentaspectof<br />

runningabusinesseachweek,<br />

including:<br />

➤ ideagenerationandmindset<br />

➤ socialmediamarketingand<br />

platforms<br />

➤ pitchingandpresentation<br />

skills<br />

➤ businessmodels<br />

➤ contentmarketing<br />

➤ marketingquestions<br />

answered<br />

➤ balancingbooksand<br />

managingmoney<br />

➤ buildingawesomewebsites<br />

Runningthroughouttheyear,<br />

startupclubsareaccessible<br />

onlineandinpersonatNode<br />

onceperweekafterwork,<br />

6-8pmeveryThursday.<br />

Fordetailsandtobook,visit<br />

nodecowork.co.uk<br />

<strong>Business</strong> accelerator<br />

Julianalsoannouncedafullyfundedthree-monthbusiness<br />

acceleratorprogrammefor<br />

ambitiousenterprisesthatwill<br />

launchearlyin2022.Contact<br />

theNodeformoredetails.<br />

Open to all businesses<br />

Whetherabusinessislooking<br />

forapermanentbase,regular<br />

hotdeskingoroccasionaloffice<br />

facilities,Node’sflexible<br />

membershipsmakeitaccessible<br />

toallbusinesses.Meeting<br />

roomscanalsobebookedfor<br />

meetingsandevents.<br />

AsamemberoftheTown<br />

Squarenetworkofhubs,<br />

businessesjoiningNodealso<br />

jointhisnetwork,gaining<br />

accesstoworkspacesintowns<br />

andcitiesacrosstheUKand<br />

opportunitiestoconnectwith<br />

morelike-mindedbusinesses.<br />

Nodehasbeendevelopedby<br />

DevonCountyCouncilandis<br />

part-fundedbythecouncil,the<br />

EuropeanRegional<br />

DevelopmentFundandHeart<br />

oftheSouthWestLocal<br />

EnterprisePartnershipto<br />

supportenterpriseacrossNorth<br />

DevonandTorridge.<br />

■ Detailsnodecowork.co.uk<br />

Managing the human<br />

side of change<br />

There are many reasonswhy<br />

peoplestartbusinessesandfor<br />

ClaireSnowitwasthe<br />

realisationthatshecouldoffer<br />

theservicesshehadpreviously<br />

providedthroughemployers<br />

andthattherewasaniche<br />

whichshecouldfill.<br />

Claire’sbackground<br />

includeshumanresources,<br />

traininganddevelopment,and<br />

mostrecentlyasatraining<br />

consultantinthesupplychain<br />

sector.Itwasasalargechange<br />

managementprojectwas<br />

windingdownthatClaire<br />

thoughtshecoulddeliver<br />

servicesherselftoclients.<br />

“Idecidedtogooutand<br />

explorenewthings,”says<br />

Claire.“Ithought‘AmIcrazy<br />

atthistime?’,butfroma<br />

changemanagementpointof<br />

view,lotsoforganisationsare<br />

havingtomakechanges.SoI<br />

didit.”<br />

Identifyingadefiniteneed<br />

forherservicetohelpclients<br />

managechangefromthe<br />

perspectiveoftheirpeoplegave<br />

Claireconfidencetolaunch<br />

SnowLimitsConsulting.<br />

“I’vebeenworkingatNode<br />

sinceJuly.Whatattractedme<br />

wasthesenseofcommunity.<br />

I’dspenttheprevious18<br />

monthsinmyhomeoffice.In<br />

thecoworkingspaceyougetto<br />

knowotherpeople,getideas<br />

andalsoreceivebusiness<br />

coaching.Theyhavealso<br />

helpedmewithmarketing,<br />

whichhasbeenveryuseful.”<br />

Thisadvicehasenabled<br />

Clairetorefineherbusiness<br />

offering,whichshedescribes<br />

as“solvingproblemswitha<br />

peoplefocus”.<br />

“Ihelpgrowingbusinesses<br />

solveproblemsandreconnect<br />

thepiecesoftheirbusiness.I<br />

supportthemtoregaincontrol<br />

andcreateagreatcustomer<br />

andemployeeexperience.”<br />

Clairealsoenrolledonthe<br />

Node’sstartupclubaswellas<br />

deliveringcoachingtoother<br />

businessesatNode.<br />

“It’sbeenabitofa<br />

rollercoaster.Youhavetolearn<br />

thingsquitequicklyandnotbe<br />

frightenedtoaskpeoplefor<br />

help.Iloveit!”<br />

■ Details07575597040<br />

Managing the human side of change: Claire Snow<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>Winter</strong> Autumn <strong>2021</strong> | | business action 13

TECHNOLOGY HEADER<br />

Two IT consultantswho<br />

frequentlyworkedalongside<br />

eachotheronvarious<br />

contractsrecentlycelebrated<br />

twosuccessfulyearsof<br />

runningtheirownIT<br />

consultancybasedatNode<br />

EnterpriseHubatBarnstaple.<br />

IntegybeganwhenJames<br />

CookandRyanJewelljoined<br />

forcesinNovember2019to<br />

completeagovernment<br />

contractandhasnowgrownto<br />

ateamof10employees.<br />

“Wewereannoyedthatbig<br />

consultancieswouldcomein,<br />

completeapieceofwork,then<br />

disappear,”saysRyan.“We<br />

talkedforyearsaboutdoing<br />

thecompleteopposite.”<br />

Arequesttoundertakean<br />

externalreviewofadata<br />

centreinJuly2019gaveRyan<br />

andJamestheopportunityto<br />

workasateamandputthis<br />

approachintopractice,leading<br />

tothelaunchofIntegy.<br />

“Weknewwecouldn’twork<br />

fromhomemuchlongerand<br />

werethefirstpeopletomove<br />

intoNode.”<br />

Nodeprovidestheadvanced<br />

ITandcommunications<br />

facilitiesIntegyneedsto<br />

managethecomplexdata<br />

requirementsoflargeclients.<br />

Asitsteamhasexpanded,ithas<br />

movedofficewithinNodethree<br />

timesformoreworkspace.<br />

Caring approach to IT<br />

First occupants of Node: (from left) Ryan Jewell and James Cook<br />

established Integy in November 2019<br />

Initially,Integy’sclients<br />

weregeneratedthroughJames<br />

andRyan’sexistingcontacts<br />

until–ashappenedforso<br />

manybusinesses–everything<br />

stoppedduetothefirstCOVID<br />

lockdowninMarch2020.<br />

Whilebusinessstalled<br />

initially,Integyquickly<br />

attractedlargeprojectsas<br />

manyorganisationsneededto<br />

transitionfromoffice-basedto<br />

homeworkingandsoughtthe<br />

expertisetoachievethisfast<br />

andeffectively.Eventhough<br />

mostlegacycomputersystems<br />

inusewereunpreparedfor<br />

suchrapidchange,Integyhas<br />

completedeightprojects<br />

enablingorganisations’entire<br />

staff–sometimesnumbering<br />

5,000employees–toworkfrom<br />

homeandatthesametime<br />

achievezerocarbonfootprint.<br />

Integyhasestablished<br />

impressiveindustry<br />

credentialstobackupits<br />

growingreputation.Inorder<br />

tooffervendor-neutraladvice<br />

toensureitrecommendsthe<br />

bestsolutiontosatisfyeach<br />

individualproject’s<br />

requirements,Integyhas<br />

partneredwithanumberof<br />

technologypartners,including<br />

Microsoft(asaGoldPartner),<br />

Cisco,Citrix,Dell,Hewlett<br />

Packard,VMwareandNetApp.<br />

Itisalsoanapprovedsupplier<br />

toprovidemanypublicsector<br />

ITcontracts.<br />

“Wehavegrownby<br />

deliveringtransformational<br />

changethathasreallyhelped<br />

businessesdowhattheywant,”<br />

addsRyan.“Nowweare<br />

lookingtosupportthese<br />

clientsinthefuture.”<br />

ManyofIntegy’sclients<br />

operateinhealthcare,local<br />

authority,MoD,education,<br />

housingandmanufacturing<br />

sectors.Whilemostarelarger<br />

organisationswithsystems<br />

usedbyhundredsor<br />

thousandsofemployees,Ryan<br />

iskeentoworkwithsmaller<br />

businesses.Hebelievesthose<br />

with20ormorecomputer<br />

userscouldbenefitfrom<br />

movingtheirsystemstothe<br />

Cloud,whichoffersthe<br />

advantagesofimproved<br />

securityanddataresilience,<br />

flexibilityintermsofuser<br />

licencecostsandremote<br />

working.JamesandRyanare<br />

alwayshappytodiscussthe<br />

optionsavailable.<br />

■ Details01392796525or<br />

integy.co.uk<br />

14 business action | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business-action.co.uk

AWARDS HEADER<br />

Enter our 2022 business awards<br />

Past<br />

Weheldourfirstawardsto<br />

celebrateenterpriseinNorth<br />

Devonin2020,buthadto<br />

canceltheawardseventdueto<br />

thepandemic.<br />

Present<br />

Weheldoursecondawardsthis<br />

year,butagainhadtocancel<br />

theplannedawardsevent.<br />

However,inNovemberwe<br />

didhostacelebrationof<br />

winnersfromboth2020and<br />

<strong>2021</strong>,attendedbysponsors<br />

andjudges,atMoretonHouse.<br />

Seepages16-17forphotos.<br />

Wehavealsobeen<br />

presentingcertificatesto<br />

winnersunabletoattendthis<br />

event.Seepage16-22for<br />

photosofwinners.<br />

Future<br />

Undauntedbythepandemic,<br />

wearelaunchingourthird<br />

annualawardsin2022.<br />

Any business can enter<br />

Thereare12categories–see<br />

rightorvisitourwebsitefor<br />

fulldetails–andanybusiness<br />

basedinoroperatinginNorth<br />

Devonisinvitedtoenterfor<br />

free.Youcanenteryour<br />

businessinasmanycategories<br />

asyouthinkrelevant.Youcan<br />

alsonominateotherbusinesses<br />

youthinkdeservetowina<br />

businessaward.<br />

ENTER FROM 1 JANUARY 2022<br />

Best Employer Award<br />

Recognisesemployerswhoare<br />

committedtoprovidinga<br />

fulfillingenvironmentin<br />

whichtheiremployeesthrive.<br />

Best Retailer Award<br />

Recognisesretailerswho<br />

providethebestshopping<br />

experienceandservice.<br />

<strong>Business</strong>-to-<strong>Business</strong><br />

Excellence Award<br />

Recognisesbusinesseswho<br />

provideimportantB2B<br />

servicestootherbusinesses.<br />

Consumer Service<br />

Excellence Award<br />

Recognisesbusinesseswho<br />

provideservicesdirectto<br />

residentsandthepublic.<br />

Digital & Online<br />

Achievement Award<br />

Recognisesbusinessesuse<br />

onlineanddigitaltechnologies<br />

andtheinterneteffectively.<br />

Excellence in<br />

Construction Award<br />

Recognisesexcellence<br />

throughoutthebuildingand<br />

constructionsector.<br />

Excellence in Hospitality<br />

& Tourism Award<br />

Recognisesbusinesseswho<br />

attractvisitorstoNorth<br />

Devon,offerthewarmest<br />

welcomeandprovide<br />

experiencestolastalifetime.<br />

International Trade Award<br />

Recognisesbusinessesstarting<br />

orgrowinginternationaltrade<br />

relationshipsandexporting.<br />

Made in North Devon Award<br />

Recognisesmanufacturersand<br />

producerswhoseproductsare<br />

enjoyedlocallyandexported.<br />

Outstanding New<br />

<strong>Business</strong> Award<br />

Recognisesthesuccessofnew<br />

businessesstartedsince2019.<br />

Sustainable <strong>Business</strong><br />

Award<br />

Recognisesbusinessesthat<br />

demonstrateacommitmentto<br />

protectingtheenvironment.<br />

Young Achiever Award<br />

Recognisesthesuccessof<br />

youngpeoplecompleting<br />

trainingorapprenticesor<br />

runningtheirownbusiness.<br />

CLOSES 20 FEBRUARY 2022<br />

Enter your business<br />

Entryisonlineatbusinessaction.co.uk/awardsoryou<br />

candownloadaWordentry<br />

formtoemailtous.<br />

Enterfrom1January2022<br />

andentriesmustbereceived<br />

by20February2022.<br />

Judging<br />

Theawardsarejudgedbya<br />

panelofestablishedNorth<br />

Devonbusinesspeople.<br />

Finalists<br />

Finalistsineachawardcategory<br />

willbeannouncedinthespring<br />

issueof<strong>Business</strong><strong>Action</strong>,onour<br />

websiteandsocialmedia<br />

channels.<br />

Winners event<br />

Winnerswillbeannouncedat<br />

the<strong>Business</strong><strong>Action</strong>North<br />

Devon<strong>Business</strong>Awards2022<br />

eventattheLandmarkTheatre,<br />

Ilfracombeontheeveningof<br />

Thursday 19 May 2022.<br />

Awards help and advice<br />

Wewillalsobepublishing<br />

usefuladviceonhowtosubmit<br />

effectiveawardsentriesonour<br />

website.<br />

Sponsorship<br />

Ifyourbusinesswouldliketo<br />

sponsoranaward,pleasecall<br />

07971176044.<br />

■ Detailsandentryformsat<br />

business-action.co.uk/awards<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business action 15

AWARDS HEADER<br />

An occasion to celebrate<br />

<strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> editor Robert Zarywacz addresses the awards sponsors, judges and winners. Photo: Mike Matthews<br />

At last, the opportunity to celebrate the winners of the <strong>Business</strong><br />

<strong>Action</strong> North Devon <strong>Business</strong> Awards 2020 & <strong>2021</strong> finally arrived,<br />

bringing together winners from both years, sponsors and judges in<br />

the sumptuous surroundings of award-winning Moreton House<br />

The original planwasto<br />

presentthefirst<strong>Business</strong><br />

<strong>Action</strong>NorthDevon<strong>Business</strong><br />

AwardsattheLandmark<br />

Theatre.Categoryfinalists<br />

wouldbeintroducedoneby<br />

one,followedbytheanticipated<br />

announcementthat“the<br />

winneris...”leadingtothe<br />

winnerhurryingdownfrom<br />

theaudiencetobepresented<br />

withtheirawardonstage.<br />

Thejudgingpanelmetforaday<br />

onFriday13March2020and<br />

selectedthewinnersforallthe<br />

awardscategories.<br />

OnMonday16March2020,<br />

thePrimeMinisterannounced<br />

theintendedintroductionof<br />

COVID-19restrictions.<br />

Guests enjoyedaselectionofdeliciouscanapésandmincepies<br />

preparedbyTheRoyalGeorge,Appledore,winnerofthe<br />

ExcellenceinHospitality&TourismAward2020.<br />

ProprietorGarthHughes(left)acceptedtheawardcertificate,<br />

fromjudgeSusieKevernofPoundLaneFinancialManagement.<br />

■ Details01237424138ortrgpub.co.uk<br />

The Club Room at Moreton House offers relaxed seating in style<br />

Photo: Sara-Jane Williams<br />

Mulled winewaspreparedforguestsbyBenandLisaGatehouse<br />

oftheGatehouseTrailerBar,whoalsoprovidedthebarservice.<br />

■ Details07340825550orgatehousetrailerbar.co.uk<br />

16 business action | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business-action.co.uk

AWARDS HEADER<br />

That’swhenourplansfellapart.<br />

Withoutknowingwhetherwe<br />

couldholdourawardsevent,<br />

wecouldn’tsellticketstocover<br />

thecostand,afteramonthof<br />

uncertainty,wehadtocancel.<br />

Wehastilyreplannedand<br />

createdvideos,editingtogether<br />

videoannouncementsofthe<br />

winnersfilmedbysponsorsat<br />

homealongwithcomments<br />

fromjudges,whichwe<br />

broadcastonYouTubeand<br />

socialmediachannels.<br />

Wemadethecommitment<br />

nottoforgetour2020winners.<br />

Second attempt<br />

In<strong>2021</strong>,wehopedwecould<br />

completethewholeawards<br />

programmewithoutdisruption,<br />

but,sureenough,lockdown<br />

returnedandourjudging<br />

proceededoverZoomand,<br />

onceagain,weannouncedall<br />

winnersbyvideoonline.<br />

The first in-person event for many guests since March 2020, many gathered around the bar at Moreton House to catch up with each other<br />

Photo: Sara-Jane Williams<br />

Wemadethecommitment<br />

nottoforgeteitherour2020or<br />

<strong>2021</strong>winnersandthatwe<br />

wouldholdaneventassoonas<br />

wecould.<br />

Moreton House<br />

InNovember<strong>2021</strong>,wefinally<br />

welcomedanumberof<br />

winners,sponsorsandgueststo<br />

thesplendidMoretonHousein<br />

The sound of people talking animatedly continued all evening long in the bar<br />

at Moreton House Photo: Sara-Jane Williams<br />

Abbotsham–ourExcellencein<br />

ConstructionWinner<strong>2021</strong>–so<br />

wecouldallmeetatlast.<br />

Theresponsefromguests<br />

wasofjubilation,bothinterms<br />

ofbeingabletomeetinperson<br />

onceagain,butalsothewonder<br />

expressedatvisitingNorth<br />

Devon’sstunningnewstately<br />

homevenueforthefirsttime.<br />

We’dliketothankHelenand<br />

HarveyPhillips,ourhostsat<br />

MoretonHouse,formaking<br />

ourbelatedawardseventa<br />

magicalandmemorable<br />

eveningandwehopetoreturn<br />

soonformorebusinessevents.<br />

■ Details01237425519or<br />

moretonhousedevon.com<br />

Third time lucky!<br />

WehavebookedtheLandmark<br />

TheatreforThursday19May<br />

2022andfullyintendto<br />

announcetoapacked<br />

audience:“Thewinneris...”<br />

BrandLanternswontwoawardsin2020andSara-JaneWilliamsacceptedcertificatesforbothcategories.Picturedleft,PhilipMilton<br />

ofleadsponsorPhilipJMilton&CompanyPLCpresentedtheawardfor<strong>Business</strong>-to-<strong>Business</strong>Excellence2020,whileintheright<br />

photoOliverThorneofsponsorSleeBlackwellpresentedtheOutstandingNew<strong>Business</strong>Award2020.<br />

■ Details01271372620orbrandlanterns.co.uk<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business action 17

AWARDS HEADER<br />

Awards win hat trick for restaurant<br />

Best Employer 2020: (from left) Dawn Mullen and Clive Chilcott, proprietors<br />

of the Terrace Tapas & Wine Bar, Ilfracombe<br />

The Terrace Tapas & Wine<br />

BarinIlfracombehaswon<br />

more<strong>Business</strong><strong>Action</strong>awards<br />

thananyotherbusiness,<br />

demonstratingitsoutstanding<br />

successandhighstandards.<br />

First,proprietorsDawn<br />

MullenandCliveChilcott<br />

securedtheBestEmployer<br />

Awardin2020–sponsoredby<br />

CooperGolding.<br />

JudgeRodMartinof<br />

TogetherFinancialSolutions<br />

commented:“Thepassion<br />

whichtheownershavenot<br />

onlyforthebusinessand<br />

makingitsuccessful,butalso<br />

formakingthewholeteam<br />

partoftheactualbusiness<br />

reallycameacross.Thefocus<br />

onlistening,takingonstaff<br />

ideas,mentoringand<br />

flexibilityandreallyjust<br />

caringfortheirstaffisquite<br />

uniquetofind.Theyare<br />

certainlyleadingbyexample.”<br />

Thiswasborneoutbytwo<br />

ofitsemployeeswinningour<br />

Highest Achieving Learners: (from left) Taylor Phelps (2020 winner) and<br />

Kayne Harvey (<strong>2021</strong> winner) of the Terrace Tapas & Wine Bar, Ilfracombe<br />

HighestAchievingLearner<br />

Award–sponsoredbyAtlas<br />

Packaging.TaylorPhelpswon<br />

in2020andKayneHarvey<br />

wonin<strong>2021</strong>.<br />

Taylorhadjustcompleted<br />

herLevelThreehospitality<br />

supervisorapprenticeship,for<br />

whichshewasawardedarare<br />

‘distinction’,andparticipated<br />

inacasestudytohelpother<br />

learners.Withimprovedskills<br />

andconfidence,Taylorisnow<br />

abarmanagerinthebusiness.<br />

Whileworkingforthe<br />

businesspart-time,Kayne<br />

askedtobecomeanapprentice<br />

chef.Hecompletedhis<br />

apprenticeshipintheL2<br />

CommisChefqualification<br />

andalsoachievedCIEHFood<br />

Safety;L2HACCP;L2<br />

Allergens;WorldHost2020<br />

KeepingCustomersSafe<br />

duringCovidandFirstAidat<br />

Workqualifications.<br />

■ Details01271863482or<br />

terracetapasbar.co.uk<br />

18 business action | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business-action.co.uk

HEADER<br />

<strong>Business</strong> of the Year 2020 – Made in Clovelly<br />

Clovelly dominatedour2020<br />

businessawardswhenThe<br />

ClovellySoapCompanywas<br />

namedafinalistintheDigital&<br />

OnlineAchievementcategory,<br />

wontheMadeinNorthDevon<br />

Award–sponsoredbyTheSign<br />

Maker–andtookthetitleof<br />

NorthDevon<strong>Business</strong>ofthe<br />

Year2020–sponsoredbyPhilip<br />

JMilton&Companyplc.<br />

Whilethepandemicdelayed<br />

presentationofitstwo<br />

certificates,meetingfounders<br />

SarahandCasieHarperattheir<br />

soapfactoryoverlookingthe<br />

coastlinewasareminderof<br />

whatitispossibletoachievein<br />

remoteNorthDevon.<br />

Sarahstartedmakingsoap<br />

inLondonin2004asadirect<br />

resultofhersensitivitiesto<br />

chemicalsineveryday<br />

products.WhensheandCasie<br />

movedtoNorthDevonin<br />

2011,TheClovellySoap<br />

Companywasborn.Casietook<br />

onthesoapmakingin2013as<br />

thebusinessgrewandnow–<br />

evenafterthepandemic–the<br />

businessemploysateamof22,<br />

generatingmoreemployment<br />

forvillageresidents.<br />

Made in North Devon<br />

FromSarahinitiallymaking<br />

soapforherself,thecompany’s<br />

productrangehasexpanded<br />

fromhandmadesoapsto<br />

moisturisersanddeodorants,<br />

shampoos,bathproducts,a<br />

malegroomingrange,pet<br />

productsandhomefragrances.<br />

Sarahiskeentosupport<br />

localmanufacturingandreduce<br />

relianceonimports,especially<br />

fromanenvironmentalpointof<br />

view.Thecompanyaimstobe<br />

asenvironmentallyawareand<br />

responsibleaspossible.Its<br />

naturalproductscontainno<br />

harmfulchemicalsandarefully<br />

biodegradable,anditselects<br />

ingredientsthatcause<br />

minimumenvironmental<br />

impact.Whilefamilymembers<br />

testproducts,noproductsare<br />

testedonanimals.<br />

Thebusinessalsoaimsto<br />

ensurepackagingisminimal,<br />

Manufacturing in Clovelly: (from left) Sarah and Casie Harper of The Clovelly Soap Company<br />

plastic-freeandfullyrecyclable.<br />

Itssoapsandcandlesare<br />

packagedinFSCcertified<br />

paper,producedintheUK,and<br />

incard,tinandrecycledglass.<br />

Italsohasazerowaste<br />

policyforitsproductsandsells<br />

scrapbagsofsoapoffcuts,gives<br />

freeoffcutsampleswithorders<br />

anddonatestolocalcharitiesto<br />

ensurethatnosoapgoesto<br />

wastenomatterhowsmall.<br />

Retail and tourism<br />

Inadditiontomanufacturing,<br />

TheClovellySoapCompany<br />

runsitsshopinClovelly,which<br />

welcomethousandsofvisitors<br />

throughitsdoorseveryyear.<br />

Sellingonlineandthrough<br />

selectedUKandinternational<br />

stockistsalsobalancesthe<br />

seasonalnatureoftheshopin<br />

Clovelly. Stockistsarechosen<br />

withcaretoprotectthequality<br />

oftheClovellybrand.<br />

<strong>Business</strong> of the Year<br />

Thejudgingofallourawardsis<br />

averyseriousmatterandour<br />

judgesarguewithpassion<br />

aboutwhoshouldwin,<br />

especiallythe<strong>Business</strong>ofthe<br />

YearAward.<br />

VikasMahajanofAramis<br />

Rugbyexplainswhyjudges<br />

selectedTheClovellySoapas<br />

winnerin2020:“Alongwiththe<br />

otherjudges,Ihadatoughtime<br />

decidingwhothetruewinner<br />

shouldbe.Wedeliberatedlong<br />

andhardoverproductmixes,<br />

brandpositioning,marketing<br />

effortsandahostofother<br />

criteriabeforeweallagreed<br />

thatTheClovellySoap<br />

Companywasatrulydeserving<br />

winner.TheClovellySoap<br />

Companystoodoutbecause<br />

theyseemtohavetickedall<br />

boxes,especiallythewaythey<br />

chosethebusinessnameand<br />

thebrand,whichresonateswith<br />

customersassomethingtruly<br />

madeinNorthDevon.Plusthe<br />

effortsthattheyhaveputinto<br />

promotionanddistribution,for<br />

me,wasaverygooddeal.”<br />

■ Details01237432153or<br />

theclovellysoapcompany.com<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business action 19

Since winningourDigital&<br />

OnlineAchievementAwardin<br />

2020,ABSEAServiceshas<br />

introduceditsGardenscapes<br />

Devonbrandforitsgardening<br />

andlandscapingservices.<br />

TheABSEAnamewas<br />

createdfromtheco-founders’<br />

names:AforAlexandra<br />

(Stapleton)andBforBen<br />

(Clisby).Alexandraexplains<br />

thattheGardenscapesbrand<br />

givespeopleaclearerideaof<br />

theirgardeningofferings,<br />

especiallywhentheyseethe<br />

Gardenscapessign-written<br />

vehicleoutandabout.Thisis<br />

alreadyleadingtomore<br />

enquiriesandadvance<br />

bookingsforwork.<br />

Thebusinesswontheaward<br />

foritsinnovativeonline<br />

gardeningquotationservice,<br />

whichenablesittorespondfast<br />

toenquiries.Thisisappreciated<br />

bymanyclients,especially<br />

AWARDS HEADER<br />

Digital landscapes<br />

Growing business: (from left) Alexandra Stapleton and Ben Clisby of<br />

Gardenscapes Devon<br />

thosewithexperienceof<br />

tradespeoplewhoareslowto<br />

respondordon’trespondatall.<br />

GardenscapesDevon<br />

continuestoprovide<br />

maintenance,grasscutting,<br />

When consumers can buy<br />

anythingonline,SHEDS4you<br />

takestheoppositeapproachby<br />

offeringagenuinelypersonal<br />

service.Thisisreflectedin<br />

SHEDS4youwinningour<br />

ConsumerServiceExcellence<br />

Awardin2020.<br />

RunbyRobinLake(photo<br />

left),thebusinesshas<br />

manufactureditsownsheds<br />

since2017.Itoperatesa<br />

showroominBidefordsothat<br />

customerscancomeintosee<br />

examplesofshedsanddiscuss<br />

theirspecificrequirements.<br />

SHED4you’sflexible<br />

approachattractedthe<br />

attentionofourjudges,along<br />

withitseffortstounderstand<br />

theindividualneedsof<br />

customers.Itoffersnoobligationappointmentsand<br />

gardendesign,turfing,patios<br />

andpaving,pruning,fencing<br />

andwasteremovalservices<br />

acrossNorthDevon.<br />

Ithasalsolauncheda<br />

deliveryserviceforkiln-dried<br />

hardwoodlogsforboth<br />

domesticandcommercialuse.<br />

Containinglessthan20%<br />

moisture,the8to12-inchlogs<br />

canbedeliveredorcollected.<br />

Gardenscapesaimsto<br />

modernisegardenserviceswith<br />

itsonlinedigitalquotation<br />

serviceandonlinemessaging.<br />

Individualscanuploadfive<br />

imagesandashortdescription<br />

forspecificgardeningjobsfor<br />

whichtheyneedaprice.<br />

Gardenscapesaimstoprovidea<br />

quoteandavailabilitywithin48<br />

hours.Thisenablesjobstobe<br />

completedfasterandreduces<br />

waitingforcustomers.<br />

■ Details01237239255or<br />

gardenscapesdevon.co.uk<br />

Service excellence<br />

quotationsandaimsto<br />

provideanall-roundservice<br />

frominstallationand<br />

groundworkstofencing.If<br />

problemsdooccur,itsworks<br />

toresolvethemquicklyand<br />

efficiently.Italsotrieshardto<br />

workaroundcustomer<br />

timescalesforfittingand<br />

wherepossiblecancomplete<br />

veryfastturn-aroundjobsto<br />

suitcustomerrequests.<br />

AwardsjudgeSusieKevern<br />

said:“Theygooutoftheirway<br />

tolookafteralltheir<br />

customers,oftenhelpingout<br />

withadditionalservicesto<br />

makesurethatthejobisa<br />

success.Therewerescoresof<br />

happycustomerreviews<br />

includedwiththeentry.”<br />

■ Details07494313242or<br />

sheds4you.co.uk<br />

20 business action | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business-action.co.uk

HEADER<br />

Training tower supports gold medal win<br />

The pandemic has been a<br />

massive driverofinnovation,<br />

withonenewNorthDevon<br />

productsupportingasporting<br />

worldchampionshipgold<br />

medalwin.Thiswasonereason<br />

whyourjudgesnamed<br />

DymondEngineeringwinner<br />

ofthe<strong>Business</strong><strong>Action</strong>Madein<br />

NorthDevonAward<strong>2021</strong>–<br />

sponsoredbyTheSignMaker.<br />

WhileDymondEngineering<br />

hasfacedsimilardifficultiesto<br />

allothermanufacturers,<br />

paralympianJackAyerswas<br />

frustratedbynotbeingableto<br />

trainforthe2020Paralympics.<br />

Afterthetwojoinedforcesto<br />

designanddeveloptheTX3<br />

TotalTrainingTower,Jackwon<br />

themen’sVL3titleatSeptember’s<strong>2021</strong>CanoeSprintand<br />

Para-canoeWorld<br />

ChampionshipsinCopenhagen<br />

inSeptembertobecomeworld<br />

championinhissport.<br />

Inhisownwords,JackEyers<br />

tellsthestoryoftheirawardwinningcollaboration.<br />

Jack Eyers’ story<br />

Fitnesshasalwaysbeena<br />

passionforme,especiallyafter<br />

havingelectivesurgeryto<br />

amputatemylegattheageof<br />

16.Thiswasduetoacondition<br />

I’vehadsincebirththatgot<br />

progressivelyworse.<br />

BeforemyamputationI<br />

consideredmyself‘disabled’<br />

andincrediblyrestrictedby<br />

mycondition.<br />

Mytheoryisthatwhenyou<br />

haveanamputation(orany<br />

Jack Eyers wins gold in the men’s VL3 title at the Canoe Sprint and Para-canoe World Championships in Copenhagen<br />

life-changingoperation)you<br />

arereborn.Youareforcedto<br />

startfromscratchintermsof<br />

learninghowtowalkand<br />

regainasenseofbalance–that<br />

makesmenearlynine!<br />

Sincemyamputationmy<br />

so-called‘disability’has<br />

openedmanydoorsandI<br />

proudlytakeeveryopportunity<br />

thatcomesmyway. Inowlive<br />

lifetothefull.<br />

CurrentlyI’maGBPara-<br />

Canoeathlete.In2018,Iwona<br />

bronzemedalattheSprint<br />

CanoeWorldChampionships<br />

inPortugal.<br />

In<strong>2021</strong>,Iwasthereserve<br />

fortheTokyoParalympic<br />

games.Thereisonlyone<br />

medalforsprintcanoe<br />

categoryandsoonlyone<br />

athletewasselectedsoitwas<br />

anhonourtoachievereserve.<br />

AndinSeptember<strong>2021</strong>,the<br />

highlightofmycareersofar,I<br />

wongoldmedalintheCanoe<br />

SprintandParacanoeWorld<br />

Manufacturing excellence: (from left) Mike Garner, joint owner of Dymond<br />

Engineering with gold medal winner Jack Eyers with the <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong><br />

Made in North Devon <strong>2021</strong> Award certificate<br />

ChampionshipsinCopenhagen<br />

andIamnowtheworld<br />

championinmysport,which<br />

isanincrediblefeeling.<br />

Elite Standard Rig<br />

Atthestartoftheglobal<br />

pandemicandduringtheUK’s<br />

firstlockdown,Iwasdaunted<br />

bytheprospectofourfreedom<br />

beingrestrictedbythe<br />

uncertaintyofwhatlayahead<br />

–andimportantlyasaGB<br />

athlete–dauntedbygyms<br />

beingclosed.<br />

Withmysightssetonthe<br />

Tokyo2020ParalympicGames,<br />

Iknewthatanytimeawayfrom<br />

trainingwouldhaveaserious<br />

impactonmyperformanceasa<br />

sprintcanoeist.<br />

From sketches to reality<br />

Aftermoaningand<br />

complainingaboutnotfinding<br />

therightequipment,Ifinally<br />

acceptedthatitwasn’tgoingto<br />

dropintomylap,soIgot<br />

creativeanddesignedit<br />

myself.I’dalwaysday-dreamed<br />

aboutbuildingmyownperfect<br />

elitestandardtrainingrig,and<br />

asaconsequenceofthe<br />

pandemicthiswasaboutto<br />

becomeareality.<br />

Whatstartedasscribbles<br />

andsketchesdevelopedinto<br />

therealprototypewhenI<br />

joinedforceswithMikeand<br />

SueatDymondEngineering.<br />

Fromourfirstmeeting<br />

DymondgotwhatIwanted,<br />

andtheTX3hasgrownfrom<br />

strengthtostrength,testedand<br />

refinedtogetustowherewe<br />

aretoday:agreatqualitysquat<br />

rackatanaffordableprice.<br />

TheTX3isprobablybetter<br />

thanIhadeverimagined,this<br />

isnowmy favouritepieceof<br />

equipment–obviouslyI’m<br />

biased!–buthavingusedhigh<br />

performancegymsaspartof<br />

myjobeveryday,Ipersonally<br />

vouchforthisasmatchingthe<br />

elitestandardofmajorbrands<br />

andforafractionoftheprice.<br />

■ Details01271372662or<br />

totaltrainingtower.co.uk<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business action 21

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