thebestof Exeter Expo showcases Devon is Open For Business

Thebestof Exeter promotes businesses in and around the City of Exeter. Established 8 years ago thebestof Exeter has become the definitive guide to great businesses in the area. Clients come from all areas of business from restaurants to garages, lawyers to decorators, gardeners to hair salons, accountants to dance and fitness studios.

Managing Director Dave Barr says: “We are all getting very excited at the moment about the Devon Business Expo 2014 which we are currently busy organising. It is going to be a major event in the Devon business calendar. We are staging the event at the Matford Centre on Thursday the 5^th June with over a hundred exhibitors and up to a thousand visitors on the day. We are very grateful to our sponsors Basepoint Centre, Glen King PR, The Express and Echo, Q Social Media and GHQ Training. They all realise the importance of this event and we are delighted to have their support. Of course it is more than just an exhibition. On the day there will be a number of speakers and workshops, the Exeter Chamber will be staging their monthly lunch at the Expo, and the day will end will a networking party sponsored by Business Network South West. The Keynote Speaker is Michelle Downey Head of thebestof for the UK.”

The Expo is open to all types of business from across Devon including restaurants, retailers, professional services, charities, digital marketing, social media and training, plus many more.

For more information, book a stand or as a delegate please visit www.devonbusinessexpo.co.uk – Telephone: 01392 349130.

Charity celebrates coming of age at Business Expo

The Devon Business Expo organised by TheBestOf Exeter and launching on Thursday 5^th June at Matford Centre, announces its ‘charity of the year’ Dream-A-Way, celebrating its 21^st anniversary, as the designated show charity.  A charity raffle will be held to raise much needed monies for this local worthy cause at the after-show drinks reception sponsored by Business Network (SW).

The business exhibition sponsored by BasePoint Business Centres, supporting sponsor Glen King PR and Express & Echo as the official media partner, will have over 100 exhibitors showcasing their  products and services from across the region with a capacity of up to 1000 visitors at this one-day event.

The exhibition’s designed charity, Exeter registered Dream-A-Way, provides grants for holidays and day trips to people of all ages with any sort of disability who live in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.  With a loyal team of volunteers, the charity prides itself on giving all the monies raised by supporters to fund trips and do not take any funds for overheads or expenses.

The charity has helped over 10,000 local people since it was established in 1993.  Last year it enabled nearly 2000 individuals to enjoy a very special experience and days out.  Over 1200 guests enjoyed caravan holidays in Devon by the sea and 100 have fulfilled their dream holiday.

Chairman Jeff Merrett MBE says: “Dream-A-Way has always valued close relationships with local businesses and we are honoured to have been chosen as the Charity of the Year for TheBestOf Exeter and selected as the designated charity for the exciting new Devon Business Expo. Without this type of support we would have been unable to help so many amazing local people. We very much look forward to meeting up with even more local businesses at this wonderful new initiative.”

Exeter-girl Catherine who had a liver transplant 15 years’ ago when she was just a baby, was whisked away at the end of last year on a Dream-A-Way holiday to Portugal.  She was joined by Dad Martin, mother Heather and her brother Ryan for a much needed family Christmas break.

She comments: “It was amazing being able to spend Christmas on the beach, we even made a snowman, well a sand man! I jumped into the freezing cold swimming pool and splashed around in the glorious sea. My amazing experience was all thanks to the wonderful Dream-A-Way team.  The trip marked the 15 year anniversary of my liver transplant which I celebrated in December 2013 and it was the best way I could have marked it, ever.  Dream-A-Way for me has been like the tooth fairy, I may have had a tough time but when I look under my pillow, as if by magic, life has a new silver lining and that’s all thanks to the Dream Team”

Catherine and her mum on holiday 

For more information on how to book a stand or to register your place log on-line: www.devonbusinessexpo.co.uk