CITY CENTRE MANAGER OPENS NEW CASTLE STREET STUDIOS

City Centre Manager John Harvey used city sized scissors to cut the bunting signifying the opening of Castle Street Studios, an exciting collaboration of businesses and talents brought together in Castle Street.

City Centre Manager John Harvey / Erin Cox of Erin Cox Jewellery / Steve Marson of The Cubelab / John Cowen of Mekonta / Emily Gladstone of The Attic / Caroline Shortt of BAS Mooarc / Phoebe Stockman of Isabelle Montagu and Lucretia Van Rijbroek of Buttons & Beau

Driving force behind the project Erin Cox of Erin Cox Jewellery, left her premises in the coveted Magdalen Road earlier this year and bought the 300 year old building hoping to offer young businesses affordable letting space in a sought after area of Exeter.

Erin Cox says, “I'm so pleased to have the studios officially open, there is a real hub of excitement amongst the businesses here and we are all looking forward to a successful year of trading.”

The former home to Crosse & Cross Solicitors now collection of creative companies includes five start-up companies. The seven businesses include: award winning architects BAS Mooarc who have had projects featured times on Channel 4's Grand Designs; bespoke wedding dress designer Isabelle Montagu; two innovative website designers The Cube Lab and Mekonta; art gallery and picture framing service The Attic; Buttons and Beau offering everything from bunting to bags made from the very best cotton and silk and Erin Cox Jewellery, the driving force behind Castle Street Studios, who showcases her own designer jewellery and work from other contemporary British designers.

John Harvey, City Centre Manager says, “It was a honour to open Castle Street Studios which sees a network of creative people heading up exciting young businesses. It is a perfect illustration of the way Exeter City Centre is developing and entering an exciting era of positive change.”

Erin was born in Exeter and launched her jewellery business in her back bedroom, after five years and three different studios Erin opened her first boutique in 2008 on the coveted Magdalen Road. Erin knew there was a lack of affordable lettings in the centre of Exeter and so created Castle Street Studios to encourage independents and start up businesses to compete and have a presence in the centre of Exeter.

One of the business owners Phoebe Stockman of Isabelle Montagu says, “Castle Street Studios has come along at the perfect time in my business development, as it will enable me to further progress my label providing me with a new professional space in the heart of Exeter.”

John Harvey adds, “Exeter City Centre is moving very strongly in the right direction at the moment. There is a significant amount of ongoing investment and the development of Castle Street Studios is a distinct sign of business confidence. A yes vote in the BID ballot this year will help us keep up the the momentum for investment, change and renewal.”

PROFESSIONALS PUT THEIR ENERGY INTO BRIGHTENING UP CHARITY HQ

Twelve employees from Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) Lighting Services department donned painting gear to volunteer their decorating skills to help local charity Devon In Sight. The dedicated team painted a large number of rooms in the Charity’s Head Quarters at Station House, Topsham which adjoins the newly refurbished resource centre.

The Scottish & Southern Energy Lighting Services Team
with Martin Pallett of Devon In Sight and Mark Shepherd of Bradfords

The full day of redecoration organised by Exeter CVS “Time & Talents” Is part of a programme which supports and encourages business professionals to donate their time and skills to the operation and growth of voluntary and community organisations.

Local Business Partnership Co-ordinator for Exeter CVS Tim & Talents, Paul Simmons says, “Employer Supported Volunteering is a fantastic way for a business to contribute to the community within which it operates, whilst providing an opportunity to develop teamwork and staff motivation in an alternative environment to the normal daily workplace”.

Team Manager for Scottish & Southern Energy Lighting Services, Jerry Kay says, “It's great to be part of such a worthy cause. It was a tiring but very rewarding day and gave us all a chance to bond outside of the office.”

The initiative has turned into a great community project with Estuary League of Friends offering old blankets to use as dust sheets and Exeter based Bradfords Building Supplies donating 40 litres of paint . The upstairs offices, hallways, kitchen and bathrooms were painted in shades of peppermint green in just one day which enhances the adjoining newly refurbished Resource Centre which is due to be officially opened in the summer.

Director of Services at Devon In Sight, Martin Pallett says, “It really is fantastic to have such valuable support from the local business community. As a charity, we rely on the generosity of others and I would like to thank those who donated time and materials to help complete this long overdue regeneration. It also brings us one step closer to opening our exciting new Resource Centre which will offer increased services and support to the visually impaired of Devon.”

www.devonblind.org.uk

LEADING BUILDERS MERCHANTS HELP SAVE SUBSTANTIAL FUNDS FOR NEW SEARCH & RESCUE CENTRE

Bradfords Building Merchants with 27 branches in the South West have been a major contributor towards saving costs for the exciting new Exmoor Search and Rescue Centre based in South Molton, Devon.

The new centre was officially opened on 2^nd May, National Mountain Rescue Awareness day by the legendary Sir Ranulph Feinnes. Sir Ranulph Fiennes said: ‘I am delighted to be able to show my support for the Exmoor Search and Rescue Team. They are a dedicated and essential rescue team for the area, who make a huge difference, donating their time and efforts so freely.’

Clive Carvell, Area Operations Manager for Bradfords and Bill Allen, Chairman of the Exmoor Search & Rescue Team

Area Operations Manager for Bradfords Clive Carvell said: “As well as ensuring that we offered the best possible rates for building materials, we have worked closely with many of our suppliers to either donate materials or ensure that Exmoor Search and Rescue obtained very favourable rates. The total amount is hard to quantify, but we would estimate our contribution to have saved the team a substantial five figure sum”.

Another highlight was the launch of a specialist ale in aid of the team, courtesy of Exeter Brewery Ltd. The brewery has been working with the team over the last few months to develop an ale that will be sold throughout the South West. 10 pence of each pint for a year will go to assist the work of all the PenMCRA (Peninsula Mountain and Cave Rescue Association) teams. These include Exmoor SRT, Dartmoor Rescue Group, Cornwall SRT, Devon cave Rescue and SARDA, (the Search and Rescue Dogs Association). The ale is appropriately named ‘’Fraid Knot’ .

Sales and Operations Director for Bradfords Andy Gamble said: “We have supported Exmoor Search and Rescue team for a number of years, so we were delighted to be of assistance with this major project. The team cover a vast area, and in the past year they have been called out to many places including towns where we have branches such as Crewkerne, Taunton, Honiton and Bridgwater.”

The architect for this project was TWP based in Exeter and the structural works were completed by local builder Tim Stribley. The twelve month build comprised of a two storey building plus office area as well as the conversion of an industrial unit into a vehicle bay; a two storey classroom; meeting room; drying room and stores.

The Centre during building works

Phil Sparks, Team leader of Exmoor SRT said: “This was a very special day for everyone at Exmoor SRT because it has been the culmination of a lot of hard work by so many people. We would like to take this opportunity to pass on thanks to everyone who has helped, team members, supporters and sponsors alike. Without these special people, as well as everyone who donates so generously to us, our base and this centre would not have been possible.”

CHARITY STAFF CELEBRATE RETURN TO HEADQUARTERS

Chair of Trustees Gwyn Dickinson MBE pays special thanks to the close-knit team at Devon In Sight for working through a difficult time as the headquarters underwent major building works. The staff will enjoy Hot Cross Buns before returning to normal working conditions after the Easter break.

Photo by Alex Walton, Exmouth Journal

The head office based at Station House in Topsham has been undergoing major building works for the past eight weeks to refurbish the adjacent building which will become the exciting new Resource Centre serving the visually impaired across the county of Devon.

Volunteer Samm Legg says “It has been without doubt very challenging to cope with the day to day running of the charity as staff and volunteers have had to deal with cramped conditions, noise, rubble and dust. Perhaps the most difficult thing was having most of our equipment boxed up in storage but we have done our best to provide as normal a service as possible for our clients. It is a lovely touch to have the hard work recognised by the Trustees”

Chair of Trustees Gwyn Dickinson MBE addressed everyone to show her gratitude, “I have been overwhelmed with the commitment and dedication shown by our staff, volunteers, supporters and members in the last couple of months. Everyone worked tirelessly to ensure that the level of service provided by Devon In Sight has not compromised by the disruptions. We are very much looking forward to the official opening of the new Resource Centre in July which will create opportunities to support even more visually impaired people in Devon. In the meantime the Trustees wanted to show their thanks to the dedicated team and welcome everyone back to Station House.”

The charity has reached a very exciting stage in its development, which began when Martin Pallett was appointed Director of Services last year. The charity will be re-launching itself this summer with a new logo and website and officially opening the new bigger Resource Centre at Station House in Topsham. There will be a larger and better equipped Resource Centre plus two multi-purpose rooms, which can be used for low vision clinics and other activities. The centre will have extended opening hours, currently Devon In Sight opens four days a week Tuesday – Friday. After the formal opening in July the centre will be open five days a week 10.00am – 4.00pm, which will enable even greater support for more visually impaired people from the whole of Devon, their Carers as well as the local community.

ACCOUNTANTS LAUNCH UK’S FIRST TAX RATES APP

Pioneering Chartered Accountants Haines Watts, with more than 30,000 UK clients across the network and over 60 offices nationwide including Exeter, has launched a new mobile app aimed at business owners, FDs and financial controllers. The exciting new app gives instant and continuous access to the latest UK Tax Rates on their iPhones. Download app here.

The app will be free to download from the app store. It will list a large proportion of UK tax rates, including Income Tax, Car & Fuel Benefits, Corporation Tax, VAT, Capital Gains Tax and National Insurance – amongst others.

Paul Benney Tax Partner at the Exeter office located in Southernhay, the financial heart of the City, says: “Time’s money with many business owners and FD’s working long hours so anything that streamlines accountancy; making it faster and more efficient is worth embracing. Giving them information at their fingertips whatever time of the day or night they need it is vital. Rather than having to use the internet via a PC to find out relevant tax rates or keep a hard copy tax card to hand, this app will allow access to tax rates anywhere, at any point in time.” Watch video here.

No other UK accountancy firm has offered such an app. The innovative move follows Haines Watts looking at how they can better serve business owners and Finance Directors by making information more easily accessible day to day.

Samantha Davies, Marketing Manager of Haines Watts, says: “Our partners, who are also business owners, rely on their phones now to access information 24/7 as a matter of course - we know that other business owners would be doing the same. Time is at a premium for business owners and FDs, and this is just a small step in the process of driving efficient and massively more convenient accountancy services. At Haines Watts we make sure we give business owners what they want, when they want it – technology is the ideal way to do this.”

Ben de Cruz Senior Partner says: “Every year we send out tax cards to our clients and contacts - in recent years we have become less reliant on hard copy material and emailed more. With access online via our website and now with our new app, we know that this will also have a positive impact on the environment”

Haines Watts see the new app as only the beginning and will track downloads in the coming months looking to develop onto other platforms in the future. Following a successful launch Haines Watts will seek to invest in further app development to help business owners in their day to day business lives.

www.hwca.com/exeter