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Business Action | October / November 2019

October / November 2019 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news about business and enterprise in Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chulmleigh, Combe Martin, Holsworthy, Ilfracombe, Lynmouth, Lynton, South Molton, Torrington, Woolacombe and more. This issue includes the event guide for the BBxpo business exhibition and networking event in Bideford on Thursday 24 October 2019. Business Action Plan and magazine subscribers receive priority access of new issues of Business Action on publication. Subscribe at http://www.business-action.co.uk/plans

October / November 2019 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news about business and enterprise in Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chulmleigh, Combe Martin, Holsworthy, Ilfracombe, Lynmouth, Lynton, South Molton, Torrington, Woolacombe and more.

This issue includes the event guide for the BBxpo business exhibition and networking event in Bideford on Thursday 24 October 2019.

Business Action Plan and magazine subscribers receive priority access of new issues of Business Action on publication. Subscribe at http://www.business-action.co.uk/plans

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usiness<br />

ACTION<br />

north enterprise<br />

devon<br />

growth<br />

innovation<br />

news & views<br />

BBxpo exhibition<br />

Full event guide inside<br />

Boost your business<br />

North Devon Enterprise Day<br />

#10to1m campaign<br />

Switch spending to local businesses<br />

We’re in the #SmallBiz100<br />

Sign up for Small <strong>Business</strong> Saturday<br />

business-action.co.uk | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | @businessactionm


CONTENTS<br />

Wills Property Trusts (in will)<br />

Children’s Trusts (in will) Funeral Plans<br />

Probate Lasting Powers of Attorney<br />

Wills: £70 Single / £105 Joint<br />

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

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

Vol 1 Issue 5 – Oct / Nov <strong>2019</strong> – distribution 2,500 across North Devon<br />

Enterprise................................................................................................................ 1<br />

New laundry offers flexible service............................................................. 2<br />

Clovelly Lectures: Smart people have too much power..................... 2<br />

Media pigs fly with Facebook approval...................................................... 3<br />

High Street.............................................................................................................. 4<br />

Exceptional service drives digital agency................................................ 5<br />

Small <strong>Business</strong> Saturday................................................................................. 6<br />

<strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> is a #SmallBiz100............................................................. 6<br />

How B2B businesses can get involved with SBS.................................. 6<br />

From £10 to £1 million #10to1m.................................................................... 7<br />

<strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Advertising Plans............................................................. 7<br />

BBxpo event guide.............................................................................................. 9<br />

BBxpo presentations & free networking lunch...................................... 9<br />

BBxpo exhibitors................................................................................................. 10<br />

North Devon Enterprise Day........................................................................... 11<br />

Expressing your brand in video.................................................................... 11<br />

Quality print plus local service...................................................................... 11<br />

Corporate responsibility recognised by Parliament............................ 14<br />

People....................................................................................................................... 15<br />

Networking.............................................................................................................. 16<br />

A finance provider with a difference........................................................... 17<br />

Untapped Talent recruitment event ............................................................ 18<br />

Virtual <strong>Business</strong> Partners listen to clients’ needs................................ 18<br />

Harness your web site data............................................................................. 18<br />

<strong>Business</strong> Listings................................................................................................ 19<br />

In the Hot Seat: Mike Matthews of Lineal Software.............................. 20<br />

From vine to bottle in Devon........................................................................... 21<br />

Bringing business ideas to life...................................................................... 21<br />

© Need it Find it <strong>2019</strong>. All information in this magazine is published in good faith.<br />

Any views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher, Need it Find it.<br />

Readers are strongly recommended to seek advice from an appropriate professional<br />

before taking any action on any topic discussed in the magazine and to check full<br />

terms and conditions of any products or services promoted in advertisements.<br />

Visit ideaengine.co.uk to see all the<br />

brands that we have brought to life<br />

online, in print, outdoors and in a<br />

whole host of other ways.<br />

ideaengine.co.uk<br />

01271 324594 or 07974306711<br />

Web, Brand, Advertising, Design, Literature<br />

ii<br />

business action | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business-action.co.uk


ENTERPRISE<br />

business<br />

ACTION<br />

Building a prosperous economy<br />

When we launched <strong>Business</strong><br />

<strong>Action</strong> in February this year,<br />

it was with the idea of raising<br />

awareness of businesses in<br />

and around North Devon and<br />

supporting their growth and<br />

development.<br />

Seven months later, we are<br />

astounded at the response to<br />

the magazine and the support<br />

from local businesses. We are<br />

also surprised and delighted<br />

that we have been selected as<br />

the only business in Devon to<br />

be included in Small <strong>Business</strong><br />

Saturday’s #SmallBiz100 – 100<br />

businesses from across the<br />

country chosen to represent<br />

and support small businesses.<br />

In fact, events overtook us.<br />

We were already organising<br />

our BBxpo business exhibition<br />

and networking event<br />

on Thursday 24 <strong>October</strong><br />

<strong>2019</strong> and had created North<br />

Devon Enterprise Day to help<br />

ADVERTISING<br />

Alan Williams<br />

Advertising, Distribution & Publisher<br />

t: 07970 671192<br />

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

businesses take advantage of<br />

national initiatives such as<br />

Small <strong>Business</strong> Saturday, which<br />

provide free resources and<br />

infrastructure to support them.<br />

Selection for #SmallBiz100 took<br />

this a step further and in order<br />

to maximise this opportunity<br />

for all businesses in the area,<br />

EDITORIAL<br />

Robert Zarywacz<br />

Editor, Designer & Publisher<br />

t: 07971 176044<br />

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

@robertz<br />

we have launched the #10to1m<br />

initiative to encourage not only<br />

businesses, but also consumers<br />

to change their buying habits.<br />

Let’s make it a habit always to<br />

ask where we can purchase<br />

a product or service locally<br />

before resorting to a national<br />

business or online giant.<br />

The take-up of these initiatives<br />

by enthusiastic business<br />

owners is very exciting and we<br />

want to encourage you to join<br />

in with us. Everyone benefits<br />

if we inject money back into<br />

our economy by switching to<br />

buying locally whenever we<br />

can – businesses thrive, jobs are<br />

maintained and created, and<br />

prosperity increases through<br />

the community.<br />

We thank all our supporters,<br />

especially our advertisers,<br />

without whom this magazine<br />

would not exist. To support us,<br />

please consider taking out one<br />

of our affordable advertising<br />

plans for your business. We<br />

also thank all our contributors<br />

and readers.<br />

We do hope you enjoy this<br />

issue and participate in all<br />

the initiatives below for the<br />

benefit of your business, your<br />

employees and the whole area.<br />

Small <strong>Business</strong> Saturday<br />

is the national campaign to<br />

encourage people to support<br />

local businesses on the first<br />

Saturday of December – this<br />

year on 7 December.<br />

<strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> is delighted<br />

to have been selected as one of<br />

the campaign’s #SmallBiz100<br />

for <strong>2019</strong> – one of 100 businesses<br />

across the UK chosen to<br />

represent the campaign and the<br />

only one in Devon.<br />

We will be working hard<br />

during the coming months<br />

to encourage all small businesses<br />

to join in Small <strong>Business</strong><br />

Saturday – campaign registration<br />

and resources are free.<br />

>>> PAGE 6<br />

From 10 to a million – that’s<br />

what we can achieve if just<br />

over half the population of<br />

North Devon and Torridge<br />

switch £10 of spending from<br />

an online giant or national<br />

company to a local business on<br />

one day – £1 million.<br />

Sounds crazy, but it is<br />

achievable. All we have to do is<br />

to each pause before we make<br />

any purchase – either personal<br />

or for business – and consider<br />

whether we can buy from a<br />

local business.<br />

And when we do buy<br />

locally to share it with the<br />

#10to1m hashtag.<br />

Let’s do it!<br />

>>> PAGE 7<br />

BBxpo is North Devon’s<br />

biggest business-to-business<br />

exhibition and networking<br />

event and will open its doors<br />

to visitors on Thursday 24<br />

<strong>October</strong> <strong>2019</strong> at Devon Hall,<br />

Bideford College.<br />

Register your free place(s)<br />

at bbxpo19.eventbrite.co.uk<br />

to attend the business exhibition<br />

and the presentation<br />

programme, which includes<br />

two sessions from the Google<br />

Digital Garage.<br />

The event culminates in<br />

the biggest free lunch in<br />

North Devon – our famous<br />

networking buffet.<br />

See you there!<br />

The first North Devon<br />

Enterprise Day is on Thursday<br />

24 <strong>October</strong> – the same day as<br />

BBxpo – and aims to celebrate,<br />

inspire and encourage entrepreneurs<br />

across North Devon.<br />

Book for the session at<br />

BBxpo to join in the group<br />

discussion on how entrepreneurs<br />

can work together to<br />

provide support for each other<br />

and build a stronger North<br />

Devon economy.<br />

Join our North Devon<br />

Enterprise Wave and demonstrate<br />

how you are investing,<br />

expanding and succeeding in<br />

developing your business in<br />

North Devon.<br />

>>> PAGE 9 >>> PAGE 11<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business action 1


NEWS<br />

New laundry offers flexible service<br />

Edwards Laundry Services<br />

has launched in Holsworthy to<br />

provide tailored and bespoke<br />

services for holiday let owners,<br />

hotels and property management<br />

companies.<br />

The company is owned<br />

by Amy Parker and David<br />

Drewery, and named after<br />

their 10-month-old son.<br />

“For the past seven years<br />

I have been managing local<br />

holiday let properties,” says<br />

Amy. “Throughout the years<br />

laundry has always been an<br />

issue. Either the larger companies<br />

were not interested, due<br />

to not having an order over<br />

£500 a week, or I would be put<br />

into a contract where we were<br />

builder Phil Cook, SD Martin<br />

Plumbing and Heating, Terry<br />

Graves Electrical and North<br />

Cornwall Bottled Gas and<br />

Solid Fuel Centre.<br />

The response to the service<br />

has been enthusiastic and<br />

customers include hotels and<br />

holiday companies.<br />

“We do not tie companies<br />

into a contract,” says Amy.<br />

“I believe our customers<br />

stay with us because we give<br />

them a good service and<br />

quality. We understand that<br />

everyone’s requirements will be<br />

different, which is why we offer<br />

tailored and bespoke laundry<br />

services to all our customers.”<br />

Amy adds that all staff have<br />

charged even if we were quiet.<br />

previously worked either with<br />

Bespoke laundry services: (from left) David Drewery and Amy Parker<br />

“Three years ago, I started<br />

holiday lets or in hotels so<br />

my own laundering and<br />

bought linen and towels for<br />

a property in Bude. Over the<br />

years, due to demand, it has<br />

just grown.”<br />

Dave adds, “It’s a new<br />

adventure and an act of faith<br />

in Amy and her staff.<br />

“I saw the amount of<br />

laundry Amy and her staff<br />

would have to do and at times<br />

I was found at the ironing<br />

board, ironing for hours. We<br />

decided to open a laundry<br />

business and employ local<br />

people.”<br />

Amy and Dave acquired<br />

their 2,100 sq. ft. premises on<br />

Holsworthy Industrial Estate<br />

in late June. They are grateful<br />

to a range of local suppliers<br />

who helped them prepare<br />

to launch Edwards Laundry<br />

Services in July, including<br />

they care and understand how<br />

important it is to have clean<br />

bedding and that the tablecloths<br />

in a hotel or restaurant<br />

have to have lines that match<br />

up to look right.<br />

■■Details 01409 259872 or<br />

edwardslaundryservices.co.uk<br />

Smart people have too much power<br />

Smart people have too much<br />

power is the topic of the latest<br />

Clovelly Lecture on Saturday<br />

12 <strong>October</strong> at Clovelly.<br />

The talk will be presented<br />

by David Goodhart, who will<br />

examine ‘Democracy in Crisis<br />

– Understanding Political<br />

Disaffection in the West’. As<br />

an influential journalist and<br />

head of the Demography,<br />

Immigration and Integration<br />

Unit at the think tank Policy<br />

Exchange, Goodhart will lead<br />

the discussion, which will<br />

provide the opportunity for<br />

the audience to ask questions<br />

directly on some of the<br />

most important issues of the<br />

current time.<br />

David Goodhart founded,<br />

current affairs magazine Prospect<br />

in 1995, was director of<br />

the London-based think tank<br />

Demos and took up his Policy<br />

Exchange role in 2017. He has<br />

been a correspondent for the<br />

Financial Times, has written<br />

for The Times, The Independent<br />

and The Guardian and<br />

presented documentaries for<br />

BBC Radio 4.<br />

The purpose of Clovelly<br />

Lectures is to provide information<br />

on policy directions<br />

for making informed choices.<br />

They aim to bring influential<br />

people out of the corridors of<br />

power and into a more relaxed<br />

setting where people can meet<br />

them and hear what they have<br />

to say.<br />

The David Goodhart event<br />

includes reception, lecture,<br />

debate and optional dinner.<br />

It runs from 6.00pm from<br />

8.20pm with the dinner<br />

running until 10.30pm.<br />

■■Book on 01237 431200 or<br />

clovellylectures11@gmail.com<br />

Details at clovellylectures.com<br />

Friendly, Reliable, Affordable<br />

• Accounts<br />

• Bookkeeping<br />

• Limited Companies • VAT<br />

• Tax<br />

• Payroll / CIS<br />

Over 20 years experience - Free initial meeting<br />

mail@garethpollardaccountancyservices.com<br />

T: 01409 254817 M: 07811 164428<br />

The Old Orchard | Holsworthy | Devon | EX22 6LT<br />

First Thursday of every month<br />

is Steak Night!<br />

01237 473399<br />

49 Torrington Street, East the Water, EX39 4DP<br />

www.theriverbankbistro.co.uk<br />

email@theriverbankbistro.co.uk<br />

2 business action | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business-action.co.uk


Blind Pig Media, which has<br />

creative hubs in both Bude<br />

and London, has been named<br />

a Facebook official Marketing<br />

Partner. Recognition by a<br />

corporation of this size is a<br />

significant achievement for<br />

the growing digital marketing<br />

agency, and will open up more<br />

opportunities for both the<br />

agency and its clients.<br />

According to Facebook,<br />

“Marketing Partners are<br />

painstakingly vetted not only<br />

for capability and expertise,<br />

but also for a solid track record<br />

of success”, meaning that<br />

when a company is in need<br />

A trio of the Bude Blind Pig Team: (from left) Steve Brookes, Alice Edmonds and Erin Michie. Two of the piglets are Hippo and Lily!<br />

Media pigs fly with Facebook approval<br />

of marketing assistance, they<br />

can head straight to this list of<br />

proven partners all across the<br />

world to find an agency who<br />

will help –Blind Pig Media now<br />

being one of them.<br />

The benefits of this recognition<br />

include early access to<br />

new product releases, a direct<br />

connection to the Facebook<br />

team, as well as a wide variety<br />

of training resources and events<br />

right at the tip of the team’s<br />

fingers. These can be fed back<br />

to clients, which include SMEs<br />

and FTSE100 companies, to<br />

further improve their digital<br />

marketing and business success.<br />

Exeter ranked a top five UK airport<br />

Exeter Airport has again<br />

been ranked in the top five<br />

of UK airports for customer<br />

satisfaction, according to the<br />

consumer group Which?<br />

Exeter went up one place<br />

this year to fourth out of<br />

17 airports across the UK<br />

with fewer than 10 million<br />

passengers. Based on a range<br />

of member measures, Exeter<br />

scored 73%, up one percent<br />

on the previous report, in the<br />

survey competed by more than<br />

6,000 Which? passengers.<br />

Matt Roach, managing<br />

director of Exeter Airport,<br />

said: “Our passengers appreciate<br />

the convenience of flying<br />

from their local airport and<br />

the Which? survey results<br />

show that our staff at Exeter<br />

Airport have again helped<br />

bring about the high scores for<br />

customer satisfaction.”<br />

■■Details exeter-airport.co.uk<br />

Steve Brookes, co-founder of<br />

Blind Pig Media says, “We are<br />

delighted to have received this<br />

partnership accreditation from<br />

Facebook and to be recognised<br />

for our expertise and the results<br />

achieved for our clients.<br />

“I am very proud of the<br />

team’s efforts and hard work<br />

that have got us to this stage as<br />

a business, and I am even more<br />

excited for the future of Blind<br />

Pig Media and what’s to come.”<br />

Blind Pig Media was<br />

originally established in<br />

London and relocated to Bude<br />

in 2016, while retaining its<br />

London presence. One of the<br />

William Bolton, 22, has won<br />

the Exmoor Society’s <strong>2019</strong><br />

Pinnacle Award for Young<br />

Entrepreneurs, worth £3,000.<br />

William has a passion for<br />

bee-keeping, learnt from his<br />

grandfather, and is determined<br />

to follow in his footsteps by<br />

producing heather honey<br />

from hives on Exmoor. He will<br />

continue the practice of moving<br />

hives on and off the moor by<br />

reviving these sites and finding<br />

main reasons for moving to<br />

the South West was the level of<br />

creative talent emerging from<br />

Falmouth University.<br />

Client account associate<br />

Alice Edmonds adds: “I also<br />

love the fact that you can get<br />

out for a walk on the beach<br />

in your lunch break or before<br />

work – it definitely helps the<br />

creativity to flow.”<br />

The Blind Pig ‘litter’ now<br />

numbers 14 and its services<br />

range from content creation to<br />

growth and engagement, SEO<br />

and web design.<br />

■■Details 020 3745 65 75 or<br />

blindpigmedia.co.uk<br />

Rural award winner busy with bees<br />

new ones in his enterprise<br />

WBee, based on his initials.<br />

William attended school in<br />

Wiveliscombe before working<br />

on several bee farms in New<br />

Zealand. He said: ‘‘It is an<br />

honour to have been chosen<br />

by the Exmoor Society for this<br />

award and I look forward to<br />

growing my business for the<br />

benefit of the environment and<br />

my community.”<br />

■■Details exmoorsociety.com<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business action 3


HIGH STREET<br />

Fill your own containers in Lynton<br />

After visiting local eco<br />

shops, Val Pugsley wanted<br />

to open her own store and so<br />

started researching products.<br />

On 1 September, Val and<br />

husband Steve accepted the<br />

keys to the shop at 1 Lee Road,<br />

Lynton and opened the doors<br />

of Ginger Nut on 2 September.<br />

Ginger Nut stocks home,<br />

eco and seaside goods and<br />

is building up its range to<br />

include cleaning products<br />

from fabric conditioner to<br />

washing-up liquid, hand soap,<br />

laundry liquid, toilet cleaner,<br />

washing and dishwasher<br />

powder and a lot more.<br />

To reduce waste, customers<br />

are invited to bring their own<br />

bottles to refill and reuse their<br />

plastic containers. Ginger Nut<br />

also sells glass bottles with a<br />

pump, spray or pourer, which<br />

can be refilled again and<br />

again. The store’s emphasis is<br />

on products free from dyes<br />

and harsh chemicals and not<br />

tested on animals.<br />

As well as Val and Steve,<br />

the store is staffed by four<br />

assistants include Christine<br />

Bowden, Kelly Peacock and<br />

family members.<br />

The response from the<br />

community has been very<br />

positive and Val intends to<br />

open all year.<br />

■■Details 07811 356711 or<br />

ginger-nut.co.uk<br />

Pannier market plan<br />

Bideford Pannier Market<br />

development officer Helen<br />

Perrson, appointed in August, is<br />

working to increase market use<br />

for businesses and community.<br />

With accommodation for<br />

a potential 17 businesses on<br />

Butcher’s Row, eight marketplace<br />

shops and 35 stalls plus<br />

toilets, baby-changing facilities,<br />

café and food outlets all under<br />

cover, Helen aims to develop<br />

events to attract more traders,<br />

families and shoppers.<br />

“We welcome new traders<br />

who want to be part of a<br />

vibrant market,” says Helen.<br />

The Pannier Market Hall<br />

is open Tuesdays to Saturdays,<br />

9.00am to 3.00pm from<br />

January to March and 9.00am<br />

to 4.00pm from April to<br />

December; the independent<br />

Butcher’s Row and the Market<br />

Place Shops are open Mondays<br />

to Saturdays.<br />

■■Details Bideford Pannier<br />

Market at bideford-tc.gov.uk<br />

Sustainable store: (from left) Christine Bowden, Kelly Peacock<br />

and ginger nut Val Pugsley<br />

Back to nature on the high street<br />

If the high street is at the<br />

centre of the community, then<br />

the community is at the centre<br />

of Nature’s Nutrition in Mill<br />

Street, Bideford.<br />

Not only is Nature’s Nutrition<br />

a health-food store selling<br />

high-quality foods and supplements<br />

for a range of specialist<br />

and regular diets, but it’s also<br />

a co-operative which aims to<br />

support the local community.<br />

Registered as a not-for-profit<br />

community benefit society, individuals<br />

can join as members.<br />

It also strives to care for the<br />

environment and encourages<br />

customers to bring in their own<br />

boxes, jars or pots to fill them<br />

with herbs, spices, cereals, rice,<br />

pulses, dried fruit and other<br />

foods to reduce packaging and<br />

waste. It also stocks refill shampoos,<br />

hand-wash, cleaning and<br />

laundry liquids from ethical<br />

brands including EcoLeaf, Bio<br />

D and Faith in Nature.<br />

There is large range of<br />

products in store, from vegan<br />

protein powders to speciality<br />

teas, and staff are always pleased<br />

to source specific products.<br />

■■Details 01237 425194 or<br />

naturesnutrition.life<br />

4 business action | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business-action.co.uk


NEWS<br />

Do you need to be based in<br />

a city to run a digital agency<br />

with customers across the<br />

world? Andrew Bowers of<br />

Peak Online has proved that<br />

you don’t. Originally from<br />

Wales, Andrew now lives in<br />

North Devon and has moved<br />

his business here too.<br />

Andrew started his<br />

first business 10 years ago,<br />

building web sites for local<br />

businesses in Wales. In 2014,<br />

he travelled to Hong Kong,<br />

where a friend was based. On<br />

his first visit, he signed up his<br />

first international client and<br />

started Peak Online. Since<br />

then, Andrew has developed it<br />

into an international web site<br />

design and digital marketing<br />

business servicing clients<br />

across the world.<br />

“Now I go to Hong Kong<br />

every year and see as many<br />

people as possible to sign up<br />

new customers,” says Andrew.<br />

“Over the years, clients don’t<br />

need to see me and I can<br />

contact them by Skype.”<br />

As well as working with<br />

Farmers group’s fifth anniversary<br />

Exmoor Hill Farming Network<br />

(EHFN) is celebrating its fifth<br />

anniversary. The independent,<br />

farmer-led group was launched<br />

in 2014 to improve the viability<br />

and sustainability of Exmoor<br />

farming businesses through<br />

knowledge transfer, peer-group<br />

support, training, and co-operation<br />

to safeguard upland<br />

farming, rural employment and<br />

landscape management.<br />

EHFN is based at Cutcombe<br />

Market and aims to be the<br />

‘go-to hub’ for the farming<br />

community, supporting some<br />

300 farming businesses in and<br />

around Exmoor.<br />

EHFN organises a wide<br />

range of events for farmers to<br />

learn, share and collaborate<br />

through a mix of discussion<br />

groups, visits, and specialist<br />

knowledge / training events.<br />

Exceptional service<br />

drives digital agency<br />

Recently, members and the<br />

National Park Authority have<br />

produced ‘Exmoor’s Ambition’.<br />

These proposals advocate a<br />

new approach to enhancing<br />

the internationally important<br />

landscapes and the many public<br />

benefits that good farming and<br />

other land managing businesses<br />

can provide. They comprise a<br />

co-ordinated set of locally delivered<br />

and accountable measures<br />

to enhance the environment,<br />

economy and public wellbeing.<br />

Network chairman Dave<br />

Knight says, “Because this has<br />

been a farmer-based approach,<br />

backed by the National Park<br />

Authority and the local<br />

community, we have got a<br />

groundswell of local farming<br />

support for this initiative.”<br />

■■Details 01643 841455 or<br />

exmoorhillfarmingnetwork.org.uk<br />

Andrew Bowers of Peak Online<br />

clients in Hong Kong and<br />

Australia, Andrew also works<br />

with design and marketing<br />

professionals across the world<br />

so that his business operates<br />

truly internationally.<br />

“I have a formula of things<br />

I expect from professionals,<br />

including speed of response,<br />

honesty, reliability and their<br />

ability to deliver. I like to build<br />

up trust with all the people I<br />

work with.”<br />

Peak Online’s services<br />

range from Wordpress and<br />

Magento web site design and<br />

development to ecommerce,<br />

app development, digital<br />

marketing, copywriting, translation<br />

and graphic design.<br />

In addition to clients<br />

abroad and in Wales, Andrew<br />

is keen to become part of<br />

the North Devon business<br />

community and to work with<br />

more customers here. Peak<br />

Online already manages web<br />

sites for World of Wonder<br />

at Affinity and Mono Stereo<br />

Records in Bideford.<br />

Andrew is not only<br />

interested in the business side,<br />

but also has a long history of<br />

involvement with community<br />

and helps Neath Port Talbot<br />

Mind with its web site.<br />

“I like to get involved with<br />

the local community and I<br />

like to work with people who<br />

complement my business.”<br />

While digital and design<br />

skills are essential to his business,<br />

Andrew emphasises that<br />

Peak Online’s success is due to<br />

its exceptionally high level of<br />

customer service.<br />

“We help customers improve<br />

their businesses because we<br />

care about their businesses.”<br />

■■Details 01237 721256 or<br />

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

VISIT STAND AT BBXPO<br />

Looking for independent financial advice?<br />

Call us on 01237 426450<br />

for a free initial consultation<br />

contact@dscottfinancial.co.uk<br />

https://dscottfinancial.co.uk<br />

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business action 5


Small <strong>Business</strong> Saturday UK<br />

is a grassroots, non-commercial<br />

campaign, which highlights<br />

small business success and<br />

encourages consumers to ‘shop<br />

local’ and support small businesses<br />

in their communities.<br />

The day itself takes place on<br />

the first Saturday in December<br />

each year – this year on 7<br />

December – but the campaign<br />

aims to have a lasting impact<br />

on small businesses.<br />

On Small <strong>Business</strong> Saturday,<br />

customers across the UK go out<br />

and support all types of small<br />

businesses, online, in offices<br />

and in stores. Many small<br />

businesses take part in the day<br />

by hosting events and offering<br />

discounts to customers.<br />

SMALL BUSINESS<br />

Sign up for Small <strong>Business</strong> Saturday<br />

Every year the campaign<br />

highlights 100 small businesses<br />

across the country, one<br />

a day for the 100 days leading<br />

up to Small <strong>Business</strong> Saturday.<br />

This year <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong><br />

has been selected as one of<br />

the #SmallBiz100 – the only<br />

business representing Devon<br />

– and is working to encourage<br />

as many businesses as possible<br />

to register for Small <strong>Business</strong><br />

Saturday and as many<br />

customers as possible to buy<br />

from small businesses, both<br />

on the day and every day<br />

throughout the year.<br />

Why get involved?<br />

£812 million was spent in<br />

small businesses across the UK<br />

on Small <strong>Business</strong> Saturday in<br />

2018, according to research<br />

commissioned by founder and<br />

We are a #SmallBiz100<br />

menting the services you<br />

provide. Then work out a plan<br />

of how you’re going to work<br />

together, for example:<br />

➤➤Joint giveaway (maybe a<br />

competition)<br />

➤➤Joint offer (create a bundle<br />

of your services)<br />

➤➤Create a networking event<br />

for other local businesses<br />

Whatever you decide to do,<br />

remember that you will extend<br />

your reach because you’ll both<br />

be promoting your activity to<br />

your respective audiences.<br />

Give away some expertise<br />

You know your stuff. You are<br />

the expert on the product or<br />

service you offer. So why not<br />

principal supporter American<br />

Express, up from £748 million<br />

the previous year.<br />

Small <strong>Business</strong> Saturday<br />

also achieves high engagement<br />

on social media channels,<br />

including Facebook, Instagram<br />

and Twitter. Tweets on the day<br />

reached more than 100 million<br />

people, with #SmallBizSatUK<br />

and #Small<strong>Business</strong>Saturday<br />

trending in the UK’s top 5.<br />

■■Register your business and<br />

benefit from the campaign at<br />

smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com<br />

Work together for success<br />

Sign up your business and follow<br />

Small <strong>Business</strong> Saturday<br />

on all social media channels.<br />

To make the most of the<br />

campaign, follow <strong>Business</strong><br />

<strong>Action</strong> and talk to other local<br />

small businesses so we all<br />

work together for success.<br />

<strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> publishers<br />

Robert Zarywacz and Alan<br />

Williams (alongside left to<br />

right) will also be discussing<br />

how North Devon businesses<br />

can take part in Small <strong>Business</strong><br />

Saturday at BBxpo in Bideford<br />

on 24 <strong>October</strong>.<br />

How B2B businesses can get involved<br />

Many business-to-business<br />

(B2B) enterprises think that<br />

they can’t take part in Small<br />

<strong>Business</strong> Saturday. They think<br />

it’s a day for retail businesses.<br />

They are wrong! Small <strong>Business</strong><br />

Saturday is for all small businesses.<br />

You just need to work<br />

out what you’re going to do.<br />

I’ve been involved in Small<br />

<strong>Business</strong> Saturday as a small<br />

business owner for the last<br />

three years and in total since<br />

it began in 2013. My target<br />

customers are you, other small<br />

businesses. In addition to being<br />

a Small Biz 100 (I got that in<br />

my first five months of business),<br />

I’ve also run my own<br />

offers and campaigns. What can<br />

you do? Here are some ideas.<br />

Don’t go it alone<br />

Sometimes, two heads are<br />

better than one. So why not<br />

partner up with another business?<br />

Work out who would be<br />

good to work with, comple-<br />

Can B2B businesses benefit from Small <strong>Business</strong> Saturday? Minal<br />

Patel is a previous #SmallBiz100 and has been involved with Small<br />

<strong>Business</strong> Saturday for the past three years. This extract from her<br />

blog shows how businesses can grasp the opportunities available<br />

give some of that expertise<br />

away for free, such as an ebook,<br />

webinar or personal event?<br />

Get on video<br />

Video is big news. It should<br />

be a regular part of your<br />

marketing and doesn’t have to<br />

be expensive or complicated.<br />

Join in local SBS activities<br />

If you’re a little unsure of<br />

jumping in and doing your<br />

own thing, check out what<br />

chambers of commerce or local<br />

networking groups are doing.<br />

Ask them if you can help.<br />

Get listed on the SBS app<br />

It’s free to list your business and<br />

any offers or events you have<br />

right now and up to the big day.<br />

Read Minal’s blogs in full<br />

Read the whole blog and others<br />

on Minal’s web site for more<br />

Small <strong>Business</strong> Saturday ideas.<br />

■■Details 07766 222344 or<br />

marketingbyminal.com<br />

6 business action | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business-action.co.uk


#10to1m<br />

From £10 to £1 million<br />

What is #10to1m?<br />

Switch £10 of spending to a<br />

local business.<br />

Buying locally supports<br />

businesses so they thrive,<br />

employ more local people and<br />

re-inject money back into the<br />

local economy to keep our<br />

towns and villages alive.<br />

How could this benefit<br />

North Devon?<br />

Some 162,000 people live in<br />

North Devon.<br />

➤➤100 people switching £10<br />

of spending to a local<br />

business on one day would<br />

inject £1,000 back into the<br />

economy<br />

1. While you might not<br />

be able to compete with<br />

national or online businesses<br />

on price, take advantage<br />

of the local service you<br />

can offer customers.<br />

2. Encourage customers to<br />

ask questions so that you<br />

can provide help and advice<br />

– getting advice from<br />

national or online businesses<br />

is not always easy.<br />

3. Offer to order products<br />

for customers – if national<br />

or online businesses have<br />

limited ranges, you can<br />

compete with them by<br />

being more flexible.<br />

➤➤1,000 people would inject<br />

£10,000<br />

➤➤100,000 people would inject<br />

£1,000,000<br />

➤➤100,000 people switching<br />

most weeks would inject<br />

£50,000,000 a year<br />

#10to1m is about making<br />

that switch happen.<br />

<strong>Business</strong>es<br />

Make it easy for people to buy from you<br />

All plans include<br />

➤➤6 adverts (if selected)<br />

➤➤6 magazine listings<br />

➤➤online listing<br />

➤➤6 mailed magazines<br />

➤➤plus more<br />

Switch £10 of your spending to a local North<br />

Devon business each month, week or day<br />

4. Make your business as<br />

environmentally friendly<br />

as possible by switching<br />

to sustainable packaging<br />

or bags wherever you can<br />

– welcome customers who<br />

bring their own bags or<br />

containers with them.<br />

5. Apply your knowledge and<br />

expertise for you customers’<br />

benefit – they like to know<br />

they have someone whose<br />

advice they can trust when<br />

they need something.<br />

Once customers know how<br />

good you are, they will return<br />

to you again and again.<br />

Join in with #10to1m now<br />

It’s easy – just buy local and<br />

share on social media.<br />

1. All are welcome to join in –<br />

shoppers and businesses.<br />

2. Change your shopping<br />

habits – look for a local<br />

supplier before you buy.<br />

Shoppers<br />

1. Do you really need something<br />

instantly? Buying<br />

online appears convenient,<br />

but might add delivery<br />

charges, while delivery<br />

direct to your address could<br />

require a special journey by<br />

delivery van and unnecessary<br />

packaging – not good<br />

for the environment.<br />

2. You could walk to a local<br />

business to make your<br />

purchase or perhaps travel<br />

there on the way to work or<br />

as part of another journey<br />

– much better for the<br />

environment.<br />

3. Whenever you buy local,<br />

post it on your social media<br />

accounts with the business<br />

name, town and hashtag<br />

#10to1m.<br />

Example tweet:<br />

@businessactionm Bought a<br />

fantastic jumper in #######<br />

in #Braunton #10to1m<br />

4. Share with your family,<br />

friends and colleagues and<br />

encourage them to switch<br />

their spending to local businesses<br />

too.<br />

5. Share with us on our social<br />

media channels.<br />

■■Join in at 10to1m.co.uk and<br />

share hashtag #10to1m<br />

When you need something, look to buy locally<br />

3. A local business can let you<br />

see products before you buy<br />

and explain the differences<br />

between brands or models<br />

– you are more likely to<br />

select the most suitable<br />

product or service to meet<br />

your needs and receive<br />

better service.<br />

Convenience is not always<br />

environmentally friendly and<br />

could cost you more.<br />

Visit 10to1m.co.uk<br />

and share the<br />

#10to1m hashtag<br />

Promote your business all year round with our<br />

<strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Plans<br />

Select plan<br />

£50 <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Plan – 6 magazine listings<br />

£150 <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Plan – 6 business card adverts<br />

£275 <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Plan – 6 banner adverts<br />

£400 <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Plan – 6 quarter page adverts<br />

£750 <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Plan – 6 half page adverts<br />

£1,375 <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Plan – 6 full page adverts<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 Alan on 07970 671192<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business action 7


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8 business action | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business-action.co.uk


BBXPO GUIDE<br />

Welcome to BBxpo<br />

We welcome you to our second<br />

annual BBxpo business event.<br />

We hope you enjoy:<br />

➤➤visiting the exhibition<br />

➤➤attending the presentations<br />

➤➤the free networking buffet<br />

Get new skills<br />

for a digital world!<br />

We’re partnering with Google<br />

Digital Garage to bring you<br />

digital skills training from<br />

Google – book for free training<br />

courses below.<br />

Visitors are urged to take<br />

the opportunity to pick up the<br />

best hints and tips on how to<br />

Thursday 24 <strong>October</strong><br />

Devon Hall, Bideford College<br />

FREE BUSINESS EVENT<br />

brand their businesses online<br />

and achieve better visibility for<br />

their businesses.<br />

<strong>Business</strong> exhibition<br />

See pages 10-14 for profiles of<br />

the 40+ businesses exhibiting<br />

Free business presentations<br />

10:00–11:00 | Build Your Personal Brand Online | the Google Digital Garage<br />

For people who want to understand and identify what their brand is online. We cover which platforms<br />

are right for you and how to get the most out of them. You will learn how to build a personal<br />

brand online and how to increase visibility online.<br />

1. Define your personal brand<br />

2. Build your brand online<br />

3. Increase your online visibility<br />

11:00–12:00 | Get Your <strong>Business</strong> Visible on Google | the Google Digital Garage<br />

For anyone who wants to get their business more visible online. We cover creating a listing for your<br />

business on Google Maps and provide training in how to monitor and maintain your website’s presence<br />

on Google Search. You’ll learn how to use the Google My <strong>Business</strong> platform to manage your<br />

business presence on Google.<br />

1. Understand how search works<br />

2. Set-up a Google My <strong>Business</strong> listing<br />

3. Manage your listing on Google<br />

12:00–12:40 | High Performance in the Workplace | Dare2BU<br />

1 in 4 people suffer with a mental health problem, every year. What impact can it have on a<br />

business, whether small or large, when employees have mental ill-health and are unsure what to<br />

do about it and feel unable to get help. Discover the rewards, business and personal, when we<br />

understand where our mental health and state of mind comes from. What can an individual do for<br />

themselves and what can an individual do for others?<br />

12:40–13:20 | Benefits of Upskilling Your Workforce | Rozz Algar, Petroc<br />

Supporting your staff will bring benefits to you and them. This presentation will discuss specific<br />

qualifications, short courses or Apprenticeships as a route to help your staff upskill. This interactive<br />

discussion will be an opportunity to explore the options for you and your business and staff.<br />

13:20–14.00 | North Devon Enterprise Day Panel<br />

To celebrate and promote enterprise in North Devon, a panel of successful business people will discuss<br />

enterprise and how to develop your business, and answer questions from visitors. This will also<br />

include Small <strong>Business</strong> Saturday, #10to1m and North Devon Enterprise Day. The panel will include:<br />

➤➤Denise Anstey – Heartfelt Products<br />

➤➤Jack Richards – Applegate<br />

➤➤Lee Randall-Pybus – Devon Partnerships<br />

➤➤Robert Zarywacz – <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong><br />

14:00–15:00 | North Devon Enterprise Day Free Networking Buffet<br />

Join us for the ultimate free lunch at North Devon’s biggest networking event to celebrate and<br />

promote enterprise in North Devon. Nibble and network and establish new business contacts.<br />

Register at bbxpo19.eventbrite.co.uk<br />

in the main hall. Support<br />

organisations attending include<br />

CITB, which will be advising<br />

on grants for construction<br />

businesses, while the Heart<br />

of the South West Growth<br />

Hub will be advising on its free<br />

business advice and support.<br />

Jobcentre Plus and Learn<br />

Devon will be on hand to<br />

discuss employment, while<br />

Petroc will be promoting its<br />

wide range of courses.<br />

Free networking buffet<br />

And don’t miss our free<br />

networking buffet – the biggest<br />

in North Devon – which offers<br />

the opportunity for everyone<br />

to make new connections and<br />

build new relationships.<br />

Panellists<br />

Denise Anstey<br />

Denise is an award-winning<br />

inventor and business owner.<br />

She has worked for an ISO9001<br />

regulated company within the<br />

R&D Tax Credits industry and<br />

can provide impartial advice on<br />

these for businesses.<br />

Jack Richards<br />

Jack Richards works in<br />

marketing at Applegate – the<br />

eProcurement marketplace for<br />

business. He studies <strong>Business</strong><br />

and Management at Plymouth<br />

University and is an Apprenticeship<br />

Ambassador in the<br />

South West. Jack has considerable<br />

knowledge and experience<br />

of eCommerce, marketing<br />

automation, communications<br />

strategy and Project Management<br />

and has appeared in the<br />

Financial Times and on BBC<br />

Radio 5 Live.<br />

Lee Randall-Pybus<br />

Lee is director of Your Partnerships,<br />

having created<br />

the extensive programme of<br />

Devon Partnerships business<br />

networking events across<br />

Devon. Lee has an extensive<br />

network of business people<br />

across the county and the UK.<br />

Robert Zarywacz<br />

Robert combines corporate<br />

experience with 25 years as a<br />

business owner. He is a wellknown<br />

business journalist and<br />

is editor of <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong><br />

magazine. He is also co-organiser<br />

of BBxpo.<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business action 9


BBXPO HEADER GUIDE<br />

good<br />

design<br />

is good<br />

business.<br />

let's be good together<br />

01271 336275 | clevera.co.uk<br />

ps. see you at the expo<br />

Barclays <strong>Business</strong> Banking<br />

Web: barclays.co.uk/businessbanking<br />

Tel: 07775 555514<br />

Address: 38 Boutport Street,<br />

Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 1HH<br />

Contact: Simon Pollard,<br />

Relationship Manager. Whether<br />

you are just starting out in<br />

business or you’re already well<br />

established, you’ll know that<br />

smart, sensible support from your<br />

bank can make all the difference.<br />

That’s where we come in. Talk<br />

to us about what you want to<br />

achieve, in the UK or abroad, and<br />

our team of managers will do all<br />

they can to help you reach your<br />

business goals.<br />

Bearman’s Plumbing Centre<br />

Twitter: @Bearmansplumin<br />

Web: bearmansplumbingcentre.<br />

co.uk<br />

Tel: Ilfracombe 01271 867990<br />

Barnstaple 01271 328097<br />

Address: Unit 1F, Mullacott<br />

Cross Industrial Estate,<br />

Ilfracombe, EX34 8PL and<br />

Unit 5 Brannam Crescent,<br />

Roundswell <strong>Business</strong> Park,<br />

Barnstaple, EX31 3TD<br />

Plumbing, heating and bathroom<br />

supplier to trade and DIY<br />

customers. Supplying all aspects<br />

of heating, plumbing, gas fittings,<br />

bathrooms, pipe and fittings.<br />

Spares for showers, taps, and<br />

boilers in stock or available net<br />

day. Expert advice available<br />

on all aspects of plumbing and<br />

heating as well as great advice<br />

on bathroom design and fitting.<br />

BNIB<br />

Twitter: @BNIBarnstaple<br />

Tel: 0843 289 1339<br />

Web: bnibarnstaple.co.uk<br />

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

(BNIB) is a team of North Devon<br />

businesses who meet weekly in<br />

order to expand their business<br />

through making new contacts<br />

and gaining new work through<br />

focused business referrals.<br />

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

Twitter: @<strong>Business</strong><strong>Action</strong>M<br />

Tel: 07971 176044<br />

Web: businessaction.co.uk<br />

and business-action.uk<br />

Meet the publishers and editor.<br />

CITB<br />

Twitter: @CITB_UK<br />

Web: citb.co.uk<br />

CITB is the industry training<br />

board for the construction sector<br />

in England, Scotland and Wales.<br />

Its aim is to help the construction<br />

industry attract talent and to<br />

support skills development to<br />

build a better Britain.<br />

Clarity Copiers North Devon<br />

Tel: 01271 374061<br />

Web: claritynorthdevon.co.uk<br />

Address: Ground Floor, Florence<br />

House, Brannam Crescent,<br />

Roundswell <strong>Business</strong> Park,<br />

Barnstaple, EX31 3TD<br />

North Devon-based advice,<br />

demonstration, service, rental &<br />

sale of colour printers, copiers &<br />

MFPs (multifunctional printers).<br />

Wide range of models to suit all<br />

requirements.<br />

EXHIBITORS<br />

Clevera<br />

Twitter: @CleveraAgency<br />

Tel: 01271 336275<br />

Web: clevera.co.uk<br />

Address: Whiddon Valley,<br />

Barnstaple<br />

We’re a fun, friendly creative<br />

agency producing fab designs<br />

for all forms of printed & digital<br />

media. From a logo to anything<br />

you can put it on, we’ve been<br />

making businesses look their<br />

best for many a year. If you fancy<br />

getting a little Clevera with your<br />

design and print, come say hi.<br />

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

Services Limited<br />

Tel: 07896 204857<br />

Web: accountsindevon.co.uk<br />

Address: Old Stone, Cranford,<br />

Devon, EX39 5QW<br />

Barbara Harris FMAAT provides<br />

accountancy and business<br />

support. Does your accountant<br />

listen to you and act on your<br />

needs? Explain your accounts in<br />

terms you understand? Arrange<br />

meetings at your convenience?<br />

Dare2BU<br />

Tel: 07772 215366<br />

Web: dare2bu.co.uk<br />

Can we help you? Our aim is<br />

to make North Devon the most<br />

mentally healthy place to live<br />

and work. We are Dare2BU, a<br />

team of four ladies, led by Debra<br />

Simmons, working together to<br />

run retreats, talks, workshops<br />

and other events to help<br />

people find a more fulfilling and<br />

contented way of living.<br />

Devon Electric Heating<br />

Twitter: @heatingdevon<br />

Tel: 01237 722136<br />

Web: devonelectricheating.<br />

co.uk<br />

Address: 1, The Vineyards,<br />

Holsworthy, EX22 6JG<br />

Electric Heating Systems<br />

– supplied and installed –<br />

throughout the South West. The<br />

Devon Electric Heating range<br />

of products provides a heating<br />

solution whatever the size of your<br />

property. From the smallest to<br />

the largest home. Contact us for<br />

a free, no obligation consultation<br />

and survey.<br />

Devon Partnerships<br />

Twitter: @Devon_Partners<br />

Tel: 07393 149855<br />

Web: devonpartnerships.co.uk<br />

Devon Partnerships’ purpose is<br />

to help your business enhance its<br />

position within the community by<br />

providing the necessary tools to<br />

promote your brand and services<br />

by connecting businesses<br />

together to create a stronger<br />

<strong>Business</strong> network across Devon.<br />

Devon Partnerships will also<br />

work with Cornwall businesses<br />

and Cornish Partnerships to help<br />

build an even stronger South<br />

West business community.<br />

Fernbank Advertising<br />

Tel: 01566 779653<br />

Web: fernbankadvertising.co.uk<br />

Promoting your business through<br />

advertisements on bus shelters<br />

across the South West region.<br />

10 business action | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business-action.co.uk


Thursday<br />

24 <strong>October</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />

is North Devon Enterprise<br />

Day when all businesses can<br />

join together to celebrate our<br />

vibrant local business community,<br />

support each other<br />

and promote the vast range of<br />

products and services provided<br />

in the area.<br />

Take part<br />

Are you an enterprising<br />

business? Take part now by<br />

registering to<br />

join the Enterprise<br />

Wave at ndevonent.uk<br />

<strong>Business</strong>es are already<br />

registering for what we aim<br />

to be the largest independent<br />

enterprise community in the<br />

area – a collection of forwardlooking<br />

entrepreneurs<br />

committed to helping every<br />

business to succeed.<br />

On the day, we’ll celebrate<br />

at BBxpo with a panel session<br />

of North Devon entrepreneurs<br />

Expressing your brand in video<br />

The buzz at an event is great<br />

to experience and video can<br />

capture the atmosphere to<br />

share with those who cannot be<br />

present. Paulo Symons of<br />

Panotion will be present at<br />

BBxpo to video the day’s activities<br />

and has offered his insight<br />

into the benefits of video and<br />

how he approaches it.<br />

Paulo studied graphics at<br />

college and university and<br />

learnt to apply the concepts of<br />

storytelling to evoke emotions<br />

and to include a call to action<br />

in his work. He believes businesses<br />

who use videos can get<br />

messages out to their audience<br />

quickly and effectively. Videos<br />

can show the essence of what a<br />

brand is, what it does and why<br />

it is unique.<br />

“Great video tells a story<br />

in some form, whether it be<br />

a simple message selling a<br />

product or promoting a brand’s<br />

ethos,” says Paulo.<br />

“Everyone connects with<br />

stories, so when a business<br />

shares a story, this has the<br />

power to influence people to<br />

react positively towards it.”<br />

Paulo started Panotion in<br />

<strong>2019</strong> to produce commercial,<br />

promotional and wedding<br />

videos.<br />

A specific product Panotion<br />

offers is the Video <strong>Business</strong><br />

Card (VBC), usually a video of<br />

up to two-and-a half minutes<br />

long that promotes what the<br />

client’s business does, why it’s<br />

different and how it meets its<br />

customers’ needs.<br />

All videos are tailored to<br />

meet the individual communication<br />

needs of a business.<br />

For example, a customer may<br />

want a cool, fun, enticing 45<br />

to 60-second video for their<br />

social media or web site using<br />

a cinematic approach (without<br />

scripting, using purely music<br />

and sound effects).<br />

“Panotion takes the time to<br />

learn about a client’s business,<br />

what works well and not so<br />

well,” adds Paulo.<br />

“Once we’ve learnt about the<br />

client, we tailor specific solutions<br />

that may reinforce what<br />

they currently do well and/or<br />

create new ways they can reach<br />

their intended target market<br />

through video, while adhering<br />

to their brand personality.”<br />

Speak to Paulo at BBxpo and<br />

see him video the event.<br />

■■Details 07780 010411<br />

VISIT STAND AT BBXPO<br />

and the North Devon<br />

Enterprise Free Networking<br />

Buffet – open to all businesses.<br />

Let’s all share our experience<br />

and advice to help other<br />

businesses so all thrive.<br />

And share on social media<br />

– hashtag #ndevonent – to<br />

encourage everyone to join in.<br />

North Devon<br />

ENTERPRISE<br />

Day #ndevonent<br />

Follow and connect<br />

Connect with @northdevon,<br />

@businessactionm and<br />

@needitfinditnow on Twitter<br />

and other platforms.<br />

■■Visit ndevonent.uk or email<br />

ndevonent@business-action.co.uk<br />

for full details.<br />

Quality print plus local service<br />

Jamaica Press moved to its<br />

current base at Mambury<br />

Moor Estate, Buckland Brewer<br />

10 years ago. Over the past<br />

decade, owner Paul Mitchell<br />

has seen many changes in<br />

print and office supplies.<br />

Broadband has become<br />

essential to the business,<br />

while digital printing enables<br />

it to offer quick turnaround,<br />

shorter runs and personalisation<br />

options. Jamaica Press<br />

also installed a full colour<br />

press, delivering economies<br />

through quicker print times<br />

and better quality, and offers<br />

large format print for signs,<br />

posters, vinyl banners, roller<br />

banners and custom shaped<br />

labels. Technology has not<br />

only broadened its range<br />

of print services, but also<br />

improved the business’s own<br />

IT services, enabling it to<br />

operate more efficiently.<br />

On the office products side,<br />

developments include expansion<br />

into areas such as facilities<br />

management (cleaning products),<br />

educational supplies and<br />

rest room supplies.<br />

While technology is a great<br />

help, Jamaica Press is built<br />

on the foundations of high<br />

quality, local service. Paul is<br />

the third generation of his<br />

family to run the business,<br />

and serving and supporting<br />

the community remains of<br />

paramount importance.<br />

“We care. It’s important<br />

to us that we provide quality<br />

product alongside good service<br />

and good value,” says Paul.<br />

“We’ll get it done. Online<br />

print companies rarely have<br />

a connection with their<br />

customers and when it goes<br />

wrong – quality or delivery –<br />

there is usually little that can<br />

be done. Producing in-house,<br />

we control these variables.<br />

“We’re also supporting the<br />

local economy and the money<br />

spent stays in North Devon<br />

longer. Our employees all live<br />

in North Devon and spend<br />

their income here with other<br />

local businesses.”<br />

■■Details 01237 452333 or<br />

jamaicapress.co.uk<br />

VISIT STAND AT BBXPO<br />

Members of the Jamaica Press team at Buckland Brewer<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business action 11


BBXPO GUIDE<br />

Finding Jobs for People and People for Jobs<br />

Temporary & Permanent recruitment solutions throughout North Devon!<br />

01237 439500<br />

Fitzgerald HR<br />

Twitter: @FitzgeraldHR<br />

Tel: 01271 859267<br />

Web: fitzgeraldhr.co.uk<br />

With offices in Devon, Somerset<br />

and London, Fitzgerald HR<br />

provides Human Resources<br />

with the human touch to small,<br />

medium and large organisations<br />

looking for HR solutions across<br />

the employee life cycle. Our<br />

team of specialists deliver a truly<br />

customised HR service for each<br />

of our clients.<br />

Growth Support Programme<br />

Twitter: @ERDF_GSP<br />

Web: heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk/<br />

business-support-programmes/<br />

growth-support-programme/<br />

The Growth Support Programme<br />

helps businesses to identify<br />

their barriers to success and<br />

provides access to the funded<br />

support they need to grow. You<br />

can get up to 12 hours of free<br />

advice in different areas, such as<br />

marketing, business planning,<br />

digital processes, finance and HR.<br />

Heart of the South West<br />

Growth Hub<br />

Twitter: @GrowthHubHOTSW<br />

Tel: 03456 047 047<br />

Web: heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk<br />

The Heart of the South West<br />

Growth Hub provides a central<br />

business advice service to<br />

businesses within Devon and<br />

Somerset. The Growth Hub<br />

is a free, first point of contact<br />

for both new and established<br />

businesses seeking support<br />

and advice. We have a local,<br />

dedicated advisory team on<br />

hand to answer questions,<br />

provide information and make<br />

www.simplerecruitmentltd.co.uk<br />

introductions to specialists on<br />

business topics such as: funding<br />

opportunities, marketing, finance,<br />

exporting and innovation.<br />

Heartfelt Products<br />

Twitter: @HeartfeltProdu1<br />

Tel: 01237 476005<br />

Web: heartfelt-products.com<br />

We design products including<br />

the ICE Alert pocket medical<br />

wallet, the Woofie Wallet and a<br />

bespoke range Made in Devon<br />

comprising Happy Quilts and<br />

Quilt of Memories (to wrap<br />

around people/children for<br />

their final journey). We can add<br />

photos, wording, names and<br />

dates to these products and<br />

tailor colours/themes.<br />

Imaginary Space<br />

Twitter: _imaginaryspace<br />

Tel: 07544 666457<br />

Web: imaginaryspace.co.uk<br />

Address: Bideford<br />

Imaginary Space was founded<br />

on the premise of improving the<br />

quality of local web design in<br />

North Devon. We are a twoman<br />

studio that is excited to<br />

help local businesses grow by<br />

designing with their customers<br />

in mind. We detest trends,<br />

templates and stupid b******t.<br />

Itseeze North Devon<br />

Tel: 07890 633458<br />

Web: itseeze-northdevon.co.uk<br />

Itseeze North Devon has the<br />

“World’s Easiest Editing System”<br />

based simply on Word – giving<br />

you complete control to change<br />

text, images, menus, prices, add<br />

EXHIBITORS<br />

unlimited pages – live on screen<br />

in seconds! We guarantee to<br />

save you time and money – for<br />

less than £2 a day! As SEO<br />

and copywriting experts – we<br />

guarantee a high local ranking.<br />

All our websites are bespoke<br />

– no frames or templates, 24/7<br />

customer support on your own<br />

website and via Itseeze Youtube<br />

Editing Support.<br />

Jamaica Press<br />

Twitter: @jamaicapress<br />

Tel: 01237 452333<br />

Web: jamaicapress.co.uk<br />

Address: Mambury Moor<br />

Estate, Buckland Brewer,<br />

Bideford, Devon, EX39 5NL<br />

Jamaica Press has many years’<br />

practical experience in working<br />

closely with our clients and<br />

being the ‘everyday’ answer to<br />

queries, regular requirements<br />

and emergencies. With our<br />

highly skilled team of staff, we<br />

offer graphic design, printing,<br />

signage/display, web design,<br />

office products/stationery, office<br />

furniture and education supplies<br />

– all with a high level of customer<br />

service.<br />

Jobcentre Plus<br />

Twitter: @JCPinDevon<br />

Web: dwp.gov.uk<br />

Tel: 01237 496925<br />

Address: Northbank House,<br />

North Road, Bideford, EX39 1RD<br />

Engage with employers to<br />

identify bespoke labour market<br />

solutions creating opportunities<br />

for DWP customers. Support the<br />

recruitment and retention of staff,<br />

Follow us:<br />

promote the flexibilities offered<br />

by Universal Credit and support<br />

schools to prepare young people<br />

for the world of work.<br />

Learn Devon<br />

Tel: 01237 472462<br />

Web: learndevon.co.uk<br />

Address: The Arts Centre, The<br />

Quay, Bideford, EX39 2EY<br />

Learn Devon has provided adult<br />

and community learning courses<br />

on behalf of Devon County<br />

Council for more than 20 years<br />

supporting people in learning<br />

new skills for leisure, returning<br />

to employment, improving their<br />

English and maths and improving<br />

their health and wellbeing.<br />

Marley Comms<br />

Twitter: @MarleyComms<br />

Web: marleycomms.co.uk<br />

Tel: 01237 423445<br />

Address: Unit 8, Caddsdown<br />

<strong>Business</strong> Centre, Clovelly<br />

Road, Bideford, EX39 3DX<br />

An expert leading bespoke<br />

cloud and on premise<br />

telecommunications and<br />

technology company. We<br />

are a specialist Voice & Data<br />

Communications and IP CCTV<br />

company based in the South<br />

West that aims to help you<br />

reduce your costs, while giving<br />

you great products and a first<br />

class after-sales service. We<br />

offer a 24-hour call-out service<br />

throughout the year, so you are<br />

assured that you will have the<br />

support whenever you need<br />

it and because we are locally<br />

based covering Devon, Cornwall,<br />

Somerset and Dorset; we can be<br />

with you in less than four hours.<br />

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

Services Limited<br />

design | concepts | logos | brand identity<br />

print | stationery | forms | brochures | books<br />

signs | posters | banners | exhibitions | signs<br />

web | design | domains | seo | hosting<br />

office | supplies | consumables | furniture<br />

01237 452333 info@jamaicapress.co.uk<br />

“Employing local people – supporting North Devon’s economy”<br />

www.accountsindevon.co.uk<br />

Old Stone, Cranford, Bideford, Devon, EX39 5QW<br />

07896 204 857<br />

Does your accountant...<br />

Listen to you and act on your needs?<br />

Explain your accounts in terms you understand?<br />

Arrange meeting at your convenience?<br />

Leaving you free to concentrate on what you do best!<br />

12 business action | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business-action.co.uk


Marsdens<br />

Devon Cottages<br />

Twitter: @MarsdensCottage<br />

Web: marsdens.co.uk<br />

Tel: 01271 813777<br />

Address: 2 The Square,<br />

Braunton, Devon, EX33 2JB<br />

With over 400 holiday cottages<br />

across North Devon and<br />

Exmoor and more than 40 years’<br />

experience, Marsdens Devon<br />

Cottages understands how to<br />

get the most from letting your<br />

holiday property. Our local team<br />

offers a professional, personal<br />

and friendly service, plus all our<br />

properties are graded by our own<br />

Quality Assessment Team to give<br />

guests confidence when booking.<br />

Medicare South West<br />

Limited<br />

Web: medicaresouthwest.uk<br />

Tel: 0800 0614539<br />

Address: 10 Pollards Place,<br />

Bideford, EX39 4FE<br />

We have been offering care and<br />

support to local people affected<br />

by a life-limiting illness since<br />

1984. We now care for around<br />

3,000 people every year across<br />

North Devon, offering specialist<br />

care to patients at home and at<br />

the hospice, while supporting the<br />

whole family throughout these<br />

toughest of times.<br />

Need it Find it<br />

Twitter: @needitfinditnow<br />

Web: needitfindit.uk<br />

Tel: 07970 671192<br />

Need it Find it’s aim is to be<br />

useful by connecting businesses.<br />

It achieves this through business<br />

events, including BBxpo;<br />

<strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> magazine; and<br />

its online directory.<br />

Nott’s Welding &<br />

Sandblasting<br />

Web: facebook.com/Nottswelding<br />

Tel: 07706 595955<br />

Address: Unit 5D, Mullacott<br />

Cross Industrial Estate,<br />

Ilfracombe, EX34 8PL<br />

We specialise in welding and<br />

sandblasting offering dependable<br />

and efficient services. We believe<br />

in delivering the highest quality<br />

fabrication for the best possible<br />

price. Our team cover a range of<br />

skilled jobs from mobile welding<br />

to bespoke furniture, wrought<br />

iron gates & railings, fabrication,<br />

agricultural, roof racks,<br />

sandblasting, pressure washing,<br />

spray painting, and stainless<br />

steel and glass balcony cleaning.<br />

Panotion<br />

Tel: 07780 010411<br />

Address: Bideford<br />

Panotion started with a passion<br />

for video and a bridge to serve<br />

businesses well by helping solve<br />

communication challenges.<br />

As a solo video creator, I enjoy<br />

working closely with businesses<br />

to learn about them, how I<br />

can facilitate growth and build<br />

stronger relationships with my<br />

client’s target audience.<br />

Peak Online<br />

Twitter: @peakonlineltd<br />

Web: northdevon.peak-online.<br />

uk.com<br />

Phone: 01237 721256<br />

Address: 21 Chingswell St,<br />

Bideford, EX39 2NF<br />

Peak Online provides website<br />

design and digital marketing<br />

services to clients throughout<br />

the UK and Internationally.<br />

Specialising in WordPress and<br />

Magento websites, custom<br />

or templated, we cater for all<br />

budgets. Our digital marketing<br />

services include SEO, social<br />

media, pay per click and email<br />

marketing.<br />

Petroc<br />

Twitter: @petrocofficial<br />

Web: petroc.ac.uk<br />

Phone: 01271 345291<br />

Address: Petroc, Old<br />

Sticklepath Hill, Barnstaple,<br />

Devon, EX31 2BQ<br />

Petroc is one of the South<br />

West’s leading colleges, raising<br />

the aspirations, knowledge<br />

and skills of individuals,<br />

communities and business in<br />

Devon and beyond. The college<br />

offers a vast range of courses<br />

including apprenticeships,<br />

vocational training, professional<br />

programmes and degrees,<br />

BBXPO GUIDE<br />

EXHIBITORS<br />

and works with hundreds of<br />

employers to deliver essential<br />

training.<br />

Safety Supplies Direct /<br />

Tawsa<br />

Twitter: @safetysupplies1<br />

Web: safetysuppliesdirect.<br />

co.uk and tawsa.co.uk<br />

Phone: 01271 377558<br />

Address: Unit 47A, Upcott<br />

Avenue, Pottington <strong>Business</strong><br />

Park, Barnstaple, EX31 1HN<br />

Tawsa Ltd is a Health & Safety<br />

consultancy providing an<br />

extensive range of services to<br />

clients, from simple questions<br />

answered over the phone to<br />

overseeing and managing<br />

the health, safety and welfare<br />

of an entire business. Safety<br />

Supplies Direct is Tawsa’s sister<br />

specialising in supplying PPE<br />

and workwear, including safety<br />

boots and shoes, high visibility<br />

clothing, workwear, gloves, eye<br />

protection, fall arrest equipment<br />

and harnesses, from its<br />

Barnstaple store and online.<br />

Simple Recruitment<br />

Twitter: @SimpleRecND<br />

Web: simplerecruitmentltd.co.uk<br />

Phone: 01237 439500<br />

Address: 2 Jubilee House,<br />

Queen St, Bideford, EX39 2JH<br />

We provide local businesses<br />

and individuals with a different,<br />

more personal, approach to<br />

recruitment which sets us<br />

apart from other recruiters. We<br />

specialise in both temporary and<br />

permanent recruitment solutions<br />

across industrial and commercial<br />

sectors covering the North<br />

Devon area and get to know<br />

each every one of our clients<br />

and candidates to ensure that<br />

the match is always perfect. We<br />

take great pleasure in making the<br />

recruitment process SIMPLE.<br />

SWIG Finance Ltd<br />

Twitter: @swigfinance<br />

Web: swigfinance.co.uk<br />

Phone: 01872 223883<br />

SWIG Finance provides business<br />

loans from £500 to £100,000<br />

to start-ups and growing SMEs<br />

throughout the South West.<br />

From offices in Exeter, Truro<br />

and Bristol, we provide friendly,<br />

professional support to smaller<br />

businesses who often find it<br />

difficult to raise finance from<br />

other sources. We have 30 years’<br />

business lending experience and<br />

are part of a national network of<br />

Responsible Finance Providers.<br />

Tarkatography<br />

Twitter: @tarkatography<br />

Web: tarkatography.co.uk<br />

Phone: 07977 414798<br />

A passionate photographer<br />

concentrating mainly on food and<br />

interior images. Images can now<br />

be shown in far better quality<br />

and detail than before and my<br />

photography has evolved with the<br />

internet enabling me to deliver a<br />

cost effective quality product for<br />

your websites and magazines.<br />

Tazza Design<br />

Web: tazzadesign.com<br />

Phone: 01237 479240<br />

Address: 10 & 11, Rope Walk,<br />

Bideford, EX39 2NA<br />

“Tazza design and print images<br />

you see everywhere”, ie we<br />

print and decorate all sorts of<br />

garments from t-shirts to Hi Vis<br />

workwear. We also print and<br />

supply signs, banners, flags<br />

and stickers. We can print on to<br />

nearly all types of material and<br />

virtually any shape.<br />

The Sign Maker<br />

Twitter: @the_sign_maker<br />

Web: sign-maker.net<br />

Phone: 01769 561355<br />

Address: Yelland Farm, High<br />

Bickington, High Bickington,<br />

Umberleigh, EX37 9BX<br />

House signs, business signs,<br />

memorials, engraved plaques<br />

and wheel covers all made at<br />

The Sign Maker in North Devon.<br />

Everything made just the way<br />

you want it – your choice of size,<br />

font, image and material which<br />

includes granite, slate, oak, other<br />

timbers, cast bronze, engraved<br />

brass and many more.<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business action 13


Towergate<br />

Web: towergate.com/locations/<br />

bideford<br />

Phone: 01237 429 978<br />

Address: 24 The Quay, Bideford,<br />

EX39 2EZ<br />

Through our trusted team in<br />

Bideford, Towergate has access<br />

to a wide range of tailor-made<br />

insurance solutions and risk<br />

management programmes.<br />

Drawing on resources from our<br />

insurance experts across the<br />

UK, we can assist with insurance<br />

requirements locally, nationally<br />

and globally. Located on the Quay<br />

means we are easily accessible<br />

to see clients in the office or visit<br />

them to ensure full understanding<br />

of their requirements.<br />

Utilities Warehouse<br />

Distributor – Nick Parry<br />

Web: pinkpigsavings.co.uk<br />

Phone: 07890 655316<br />

Based in North Devon, I can<br />

show you how to make great<br />

savings on all your household<br />

bills with the added convenience<br />

of having everything on the same<br />

The All Party Parliamentary<br />

Corporate Responsibility<br />

Group recently recognised<br />

Applegate in Barnstaple for<br />

its commitment to corporate<br />

responsibility, including its<br />

pioneering work on degree<br />

apprenticeships.<br />

The APCRG is a group<br />

of MPs and members of the<br />

House of Lords committed to<br />

promoting corporate responsibility<br />

within Parliament and<br />

beyond. As part of their work,<br />

they highlight a small number<br />

of businesses each year from<br />

monthly bill! Contact me to find<br />

out how much you could save.<br />

Virtual <strong>Business</strong> Partners<br />

Twitter: @virtualbizuk<br />

Web: virtualbusinesspartners.co.uk<br />

Tel: 01271 603078<br />

Practical solutions, support and<br />

coaching for small businesses,<br />

entrepreneurs and start-ups. If<br />

you require additional resources,<br />

and need experienced, flexible<br />

support, we have it covered:<br />

<strong>Business</strong> process optimisation<br />

| Administrative / VA assistance<br />

| Managing / setting up CRM<br />

systems | Web design & hosting /<br />

content writing | Communications<br />

(newsletters, social media).<br />

Wall Printer UK<br />

Twitter: @WallprinterU<br />

Web: wallprinter.co.uk<br />

Phone: 07534 258992<br />

Wallprinter UK is pleased to<br />

introduce the UK’s brand new,<br />

innovative vertical wall printing<br />

across the UK as Responsible<br />

<strong>Business</strong> Champions. Nominated<br />

by Peter Heaton-Jones,<br />

MP for North Devon, Applegate<br />

joined major corporations<br />

such as Standard Life,<br />

BAe Systems and Zurich in<br />

receiving the honour.<br />

Corporate responsibility<br />

encompasses many aspects of<br />

business life and operation:<br />

its fundamental purpose – for<br />

Applegate, connecting buyers<br />

and sellers to help commerce<br />

work more effectively – the<br />

tax paid to fund schools<br />

BBXPO GUIDE<br />

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technology. Wall printing is<br />

the perfect medium for interior<br />

designers, graphic designers,<br />

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to make an impact and want to<br />

add drama to everyday spaces.<br />

Wallprinter UK can print any<br />

design on indoor and outdoor<br />

walls in brilliant, durable, highdefinition<br />

colour, whatever the<br />

texture of your surface: plaster,<br />

wood, stone, plastic, tiles, glass,<br />

metal, concrete and similar<br />

materials.<br />

Wills at Home<br />

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

Phone: 01271 860105<br />

Address: West Yelland,<br />

Barnstaple, EX31 3EX<br />

Alan Williams provides a personal<br />

wills and lasting powers of<br />

attorney service in North Devon.<br />

Wills – £70 single – £105 joint.<br />

and hospitals, its role in the<br />

community, and the impact it<br />

has on the environment.<br />

In recent years, Applegate<br />

has starkly reduced its carbon<br />

footprint by moving systems<br />

into the cloud, enabling the<br />

decommissioning of inefficient<br />

servers and air-conditioning<br />

units; the business<br />

donates £45,000 a year to<br />

local charities in Devon, it<br />

runs an extensive programme<br />

of school talks and work<br />

experience opportunities,<br />

and it provides gold-standard<br />

Wizard Signs and Print<br />

Twitter: @WizardSignsLtd<br />

Web: wizardsignsltd.co.uk<br />

Phone: 01237 476100<br />

Address: Unit 2, Habat<br />

Enterprise Park, Clovelly Road<br />

Industrial Estate, Bideford,<br />

EX39 3HN<br />

Wizard Signs and Print has built<br />

a reputation for engaging with<br />

clients to design, manufacture<br />

and install a wide range of<br />

promotional and directional<br />

materials to ensure maximum<br />

recognition for their businesses.<br />

Zarywacz<br />

Twitter: @z2zcom<br />

Web: z2z.com<br />

Phone: 01271 879100<br />

Attract customer attention<br />

with marketing, PR and<br />

communications from Zarywacz.<br />

25 years in business, we provide<br />

business journalism, technical<br />

copywriting, case studies,<br />

magazine production, blogs<br />

and online content, campaigns,<br />

events and project management.<br />

Corporate responsibility recognised by Parliament<br />

training through its degree<br />

apprenticeship programme.<br />

In addition to having their<br />

university fees paid and<br />

earning while studying,<br />

Applegate’s apprentices benefit<br />

from a wide range of broader<br />

opportunities, including<br />

visits to Parliament, to other<br />

businesses and to local charities,<br />

and on graduation the<br />

company provides them with<br />

up to £15,000 each to help<br />

them buy their first home.<br />

■■Contact 0345 600 7177 or<br />

applegate.co.uk<br />

Corporate responsibility: (from left) Applegate chief<br />

executive officer Stuart Brocklehurst receives the<br />

certificate from Peter Heaton-Jones MP<br />

14 business action | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business-action.co.uk


PEOPLE<br />

Apprentice success: (from left) Jenny Vince, Exeter College,<br />

with Dan Huxtable and Peregrine Mears<br />

Dan Huxtable, an apprentice at<br />

Peregrine Mears Architects in<br />

Barnstaple, scooped bronze for<br />

Apprentice 16-18 of the Year<br />

in the national BTEC awards.<br />

This is Dan’s second big win of<br />

the year, having already won<br />

Construction Apprentice <strong>2019</strong><br />

at the annual Exeter College<br />

Apprentice and Employer<br />

Awards. Practice director<br />

Peregrine Mears comments,<br />

“Dan has put in tremendous<br />

effort since he started with<br />

us three years ago. This latest<br />

Peter Beaumont is to assume<br />

the role of managing director<br />

of insurance company Cornish<br />

Mutual, which has its Devon<br />

office in Cullompton. Currently<br />

the company’s finance and<br />

operations director, Peter will<br />

take over the role (subject to<br />

regulatory approval) from<br />

Alan Goddard, who retires in<br />

December <strong>2019</strong>.<br />

Cornish Mutual insures<br />

farms and rural businesses<br />

across Cornwall, Devon,<br />

award is justly deserved and<br />

shows what can result from<br />

hard work and enthusiasm.”<br />

The practice fully supports<br />

the National Apprenticeships<br />

programme and the principle<br />

of ‘earn while you learn’.<br />

Dan’s broad range of<br />

experience at the company<br />

includes using BIM (Building<br />

Information Modelling) as<br />

part of CAD (Computed<br />

Aided Design) to explore and<br />

develop design concepts from<br />

a technical perspective.<br />

Somerset and Dorset. It is a<br />

mutual organisation, owned by<br />

customers – its members – and<br />

was the first mutual insurance<br />

company in the UK and the<br />

first insurer in the South West<br />

to achieve chartered status.<br />

The company’s growth has<br />

increased members’ funds to<br />

above £21 million.<br />

Peter joined Cornish Mutual<br />

in 2009, bringing with him a<br />

wealth of experience in the IT<br />

and financial services sectors.<br />

Peter Brown has been<br />

appointed a director by<br />

accountancy firm Thomas<br />

Westcott. Based in the Holsworthy<br />

office, Peter leads the<br />

firm’s agricultural consultancy<br />

team and has been providing<br />

technical and business advice<br />

to farmers and landowners for<br />

more than three decades.<br />

In addition to advising on<br />

business planning and cash<br />

flow management for agricultural<br />

clients, Peter has recently<br />

developed a new service to help<br />

dairy farmers analyse milk data<br />

to increase yields.<br />

Peter joined Thomas Westcott<br />

in 2016, having worked<br />

for national consultancy firm<br />

Genus ABS, bringing a wealth<br />

of experience in finance,<br />

banking and agricultural<br />

consultancy from the UK and<br />

overseas. He grew up all over<br />

the world and made Devon his<br />

home at the age of 21.<br />

Tom French has joined marketing<br />

agency MiHi Digital in<br />

Broadwoodwidger as digital<br />

marketing executive after<br />

Peter said: “I am delighted that<br />

the company has given me this<br />

promotion. It reflects the hard<br />

work that the whole team has<br />

put into building our agricultural<br />

consultancy service and<br />

will help me to continue to<br />

drive it forward.<br />

“The agricultural sector is<br />

absolutely vital to the South<br />

West’s economy. Farmers need<br />

support on a whole range of<br />

issues so it is important to<br />

have a trusted advisor with<br />

sound technical agricultural<br />

knowledge as well as financial<br />

expertise.”<br />

more than eight years working<br />

in journalism in West Devon.<br />

MiHi Digital director, Mark<br />

Worden said, “Tom brings<br />

with him a wealth of experience<br />

and we are delighted to<br />

welcome him to the team.<br />

“In order to be able to<br />

provide the best possible<br />

service for our clients it’s vital<br />

that we have a talented and<br />

knowledgeable team. I am<br />

confident that the addition of<br />

Tom will allow us to continue<br />

delivering for our clients,<br />

expand the business and grow<br />

our client base even further.”<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business action 15


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

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

Barnstaple includes three<br />

members who started with the<br />

group in its original form more<br />

than 17 years ago.<br />

The group relaunched in<br />

its present format three years<br />

ago and is now approaching its<br />

limit of 25 members.<br />

BNIB meets weekly on a<br />

Tuesday morning at Portmore<br />

Golf Park, near Barnstaple,<br />

and mixes friendly, structured<br />

networking with an online<br />

referral system that measured<br />

£650,000 of actual business<br />

referrals last year, with more<br />

than £350,000 referred since<br />

January <strong>2019</strong>. One member can<br />

be admitted per business sector<br />

and the group is easy to join,<br />

with no pressure.<br />

Chairman John McLaughlin-<br />

Mills says this enables members<br />

to measure and see actual business<br />

generated by the group.<br />

Members are encouraged to<br />

generate referrals voluntarily,<br />

but these are not the sole<br />

measure of a member’s value.<br />

“The group values services<br />

people give,” says John, who is<br />

a founder member. “We value<br />

the human side and the efforts<br />

people make to support each<br />

other. People in the group get<br />

on very well.”<br />

As a self-managed group,<br />

BNIB works to keep fees low<br />

and organises social gatherings<br />

to help people get to know each<br />

other. It also supports members<br />

by helping to promote them,<br />

including attending events such<br />

as BBxpo exhibition.<br />

It also encourages members<br />

to conduct one-to-one meetings<br />

to get to know each other<br />

and their businesses well,<br />

which strengthens the group.<br />

■■Details 0843 289 1339 or<br />

bnibarnstaple.co.uk<br />

VISIT STAND AT BBXPO<br />

NETWORKING<br />

North Devon’s remoteness can<br />

be a barrier to connecting with<br />

businesses across the county<br />

or beyond. Building these<br />

connections has become easier<br />

with the launch of Devon<br />

Partnerships, which hosts<br />

networking events across the<br />

county and held its first North<br />

Devon lunch in September.<br />

Lee Randall-Pybus<br />

launched Devon Partnerships<br />

in May, inspired by the success<br />

of Cornish Partnerships run by<br />

David Brock. Since then, Lee<br />

has run 120 networking events<br />

and says that there is always a<br />

new face at every event.<br />

“I had only ever been to one<br />

networking event before,” says<br />

Lee. “I met David at one of<br />

his events and there was such<br />

a buzz. Now I do it full-time,<br />

helping people where I can. It’s<br />

North Devon networking groups<br />

North Devon Networking<br />

Group<br />

Meets at the Barnstaple Hotel,<br />

Barnstaple on alternate Fridays<br />

from 7.15am to 8.45am.<br />

Networking with a difference<br />

– a friendly and informal<br />

group of business people with<br />

no charge for membership and<br />

no targets to bring in leads.<br />

There is ample opportunity<br />

to network, present your business<br />

and gain contacts.<br />

■■northdevonnetworking.co.uk<br />

Rise<br />

Meets at Block, Butcher’s<br />

Row, Barnstaple on alternate<br />

Wednesdays from 7.00am to<br />

8.30am.<br />

Co-founded by Martin<br />

Critchard and James<br />

Devon Partnerships across the county<br />

Dapling, Rise offers informal<br />

networking interspersed with<br />

alternate member presentations<br />

and educational sessions.<br />

Choose your breakfast from a<br />

wide menu with great coffee.<br />

Come along, make friends and<br />

do business.<br />

■■martin@duchyifa.co.uk<br />

all about creating relationships<br />

– we’re like a big family. Events<br />

are very relaxed and informal,<br />

and everyone is welcome.”<br />

Lee likes to meet each<br />

business owner for a one-toone<br />

meeting to explore how<br />

becoming a member can help<br />

their business.<br />

Devon Partnerships now<br />

has more than 200 members<br />

across the county and Lee and<br />

David are franchising Your<br />

Partnerships throughout the<br />

UK. Anyone joining in Devon<br />

will be able to attend events<br />

anywhere else in the country.<br />

“The greatest thing for a<br />

business is to build relationships<br />

face-to-face.”<br />

■■Details 07393 149855 or<br />

devonpartnerships.co.uk<br />

VISIT STAND AT BBXPO<br />

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

Network<br />

Meets at the Royal North<br />

Devon Golf Club, Westward<br />

Ho! on alternate Fridays from<br />

7.00am. Plenty of free parking.<br />

A friendly and informal<br />

networking group with no<br />

joining fees – just the cost of<br />

breakfast. Come along and<br />

meet like-minded businesses.<br />

■■torridgebusinessnetwork.co.uk<br />

WE OFFER ASSISTANCE WITH:<br />

Valuations<br />

Cost Management<br />

Bills of Quantities Tendering<br />

Procurement<br />

Invoice Reconciliation<br />

CALL TODAY for an informal chat:<br />

01271 603053<br />

futuredimensions.uk<br />

info@futuredimensions.uk<br />

01271 267420 | info@gtales.co.uk<br />

16 business action | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business-action.co.uk


FINANCE<br />

your link to success<br />

covering Temporary, Permanent and Contract<br />

in Manufacturing, Sales and Marketing and <strong>Business</strong> Support<br />

offices in Barnstaple and Somerset 01271 349 745<br />

www.coopergolding.co.uk<br />

A finance provider with a difference<br />

At a recent meeting with<br />

a team of business bank<br />

managers, I was asked to<br />

explain how SWIG Finance<br />

differs from other alternative<br />

finance providers operating in<br />

the South West.<br />

I answered that we are<br />

interested in engaging with the<br />

customers that you like, but<br />

your underwriters don’t.<br />

Because we have our own<br />

capital as well as access to other<br />

sources of finance, we have our<br />

own lending discretions. This<br />

means we can look at the whole<br />

picture, and not make a decision<br />

based on last year’s accounts or<br />

background collateral. Indeed,<br />

by using the Enterprise Finance<br />

Guarantee (EFG) scheme, we<br />

commonly lend where there is<br />

no security available.<br />

You won’t find SWIG<br />

Finance on any of the national<br />

bank referral portals. In our<br />

view, signposting to a list of<br />

John Peters, managing director of SWIG Finance, takes a look at<br />

what makes a different alternative finance provider<br />

other potential funders isn’t<br />

a solution for many small<br />

business owners, who want<br />

someone to talk to about their<br />

business and its needs.<br />

The referral scheme – which<br />

requires banks to refer any business<br />

declined for funding to one<br />

of four online funding platforms<br />

Meet the SWIG Finance team at BBxpo<br />

– has only had very limited<br />

success; according to figures<br />

published by the Treasury,<br />

between 2016 and 2018, 19,000<br />

businesses have been referred<br />

via the scheme but only 900<br />

have been granted funding.<br />

This is where SWIG Finance<br />

is really different; whilst we are<br />

harnessing ‘fintech’ to support<br />

our lending operations, our<br />

business managers personally<br />

engage with all applicants, and<br />

meet with everyone we take<br />

to credit. We do this so that<br />

we know our customers and<br />

have confidence that the loan<br />

request being made is right for<br />

them as well as us.<br />

SWIG Finance is part of a<br />

national network of CDFIS<br />

(Community Development<br />

Finance Institutions) and is the<br />

only one lending to businesses<br />

in the South West. This means<br />

it is our mission to provide<br />

finance where it is most needed<br />

to support local businesses that<br />

have the potential to create and<br />

secure jobs for the benefit of<br />

the communities in which they<br />

are based.<br />

■■Details 01872 223883 or<br />

swigfinance.co.uk<br />

VISIT STAND AT BBXPO<br />

The story of <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> began<br />

with Need it Find it, a sales leaflet<br />

developed for distribution around<br />

Bideford. Soon it became clear that<br />

there was a need for dedicated business<br />

news coverage of North Devon<br />

businesses and <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> was<br />

born. Need it Find it publishes <strong>Business</strong><br />

<strong>Action</strong> and organises BBxpo.<br />

It is now developing an online<br />

directory to complement advertisements<br />

and listings in <strong>Business</strong><br />

<strong>Action</strong> magazine. Any advertiser<br />

purchasing a <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> Plan<br />

will receive a listing on the directory.<br />

■■Visit at needitfindit.uk<br />

@businessactionm | August / September <strong>2019</strong> | business action<br />

17


Reducing the disability employment<br />

gap in North Devon<br />

is the aim of an Untapped<br />

Talent recruitment event at<br />

the Park Hotel, Barnstaple on<br />

Wednesday 6 <strong>November</strong>.<br />

Instead of attracting<br />

jobseekers to meet employers,<br />

this event invites employers<br />

to come in to meet and talk<br />

to a group of talented individuals<br />

with a wide range of<br />

skills. Employers will receive<br />

anonymised profiles of the<br />

candidates in advance to<br />

showcase the skills and abilities<br />

on offer before the event. On<br />

the day, facilitators will help<br />

introduce employers to whichever<br />

candidates they would like<br />

to speak to, and also ensure<br />

everyone is fully involved.<br />

The aim is to help start<br />

or continue the jobseeker’s<br />

journey within the world<br />

of work by offering jobs,<br />

interviews, work trials,<br />

observations, taster days, work<br />

NEWS<br />

Reversing roles at Untapped Talent recruitment event<br />

Listening to clients’ needs<br />

A couple who pooled their<br />

considerable corporate<br />

experience to start their own<br />

business have moved to North<br />

Devon where they continue to<br />

service clients remotely.<br />

Clive Struver was born<br />

in Devon and has worked in<br />

the technology and telecoms<br />

industries in the UK and<br />

Europe at board level, while<br />

Jane Struver’s experience<br />

includes roles with the Bank<br />

of England and as business<br />

analyst with a global<br />

IT company. Clive and Jane<br />

started Virtual <strong>Business</strong><br />

Partners to provide a range of<br />

business support services<br />

They describe Virtual <strong>Business</strong><br />

Partners as “more than an<br />

assistant, more hands-on and<br />

practical than a consultant,<br />

filling in the gaps and getting<br />

things done.”<br />

Jane has extensive experience<br />

in social media<br />

campaigns and content<br />

management, web design,<br />

CRM and sales support, while<br />

Clive provides business and<br />

personal coaching, business<br />

strategy and planning support.<br />

They always get to know a<br />

business first, so that, along<br />

with the business owner, they<br />

can establish exactly what<br />

services are required.<br />

■■Details 01271 603078 or<br />

virtualbusinesspartners.co.uk<br />

VISIT STAND AT BBXPO<br />

experience, or any other corporate<br />

programmes available.<br />

The event has been organised<br />

by the Northern Devon<br />

Employment and Skills<br />

Board in conjunction with<br />

the Department of Work<br />

and Pensions, Pluss, Petroc,<br />

Empowering Enterprise, Young<br />

Devon, Project Search and<br />

Next Steps Development.<br />

The organisers are keen to<br />

speak to employers who would<br />

like to find out more about<br />

Imaginary Space is a web<br />

design studio formed by Harry<br />

Roper and Luke James to help<br />

local businesses grow.<br />

Harry started a games studio<br />

at the age of 15, organising<br />

people around the world, and<br />

while at Petroc did a lot of<br />

work online for companies in<br />

America, including a project<br />

for Universal Studios at the age<br />

of 19. He went to university<br />

in London, although helped<br />

develop a VR game there for<br />

start-up Tengio and left his<br />

studies to take up a full-time<br />

role with the company. Harry<br />

decided he liked the business<br />

side more than programming<br />

and returned to North Devon<br />

where he founded Imaginary<br />

supporting disabled people into<br />

work. Contact Tony George,<br />

employer advisor (DWP) tony.<br />

george@dwp.gov.uk on 01271<br />

395401 or Nicola Williams,<br />

Northern Devon Employment<br />

and Skills Board coordinator<br />

nicola.williams@petroc.ac.uk<br />

on 01271 852428 for details.<br />

Harness your web site data<br />

Space to build better web sites<br />

for local businesses.<br />

For Harry, success is more<br />

than the look of a web site and<br />

he thinks many businesses don’t<br />

realise that they are losing out<br />

by not making use of their data.<br />

“I think most businesses<br />

don’t understand what their<br />

data is telling them or what<br />

they can do with it,” says Harry.<br />

“We operate a three-month<br />

catch-up where I call our client<br />

and explain to them in layman’s<br />

terms what their data is telling<br />

me and what they could potentially<br />

do based on it.”<br />

■■Details 07544 666457 or<br />

imaginaryspace.co.uk<br />

VISIT STAND AT BBXPO<br />

Imaginary Space: (from left) Harry Roper and Luke James<br />

Call 01271 326694.<br />

info@boomboomedia.co.uk<br />

visit www.boomboommedia.co.uk<br />

18 business action | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business-action.co.uk


ADMINISTRATIVe & BookKeeping<br />

Exmoorfern<br />

South Molton<br />

t: 01598 740210<br />

w: exmoorfern.co.uk<br />

ARCHITECTS<br />

Sam Nolan RIBA Architect<br />

North Devon & UK<br />

t: 01271 325 236<br />

w: northdevonarchitects.com<br />

BrewERY<br />

GT Ales<br />

Chivenor<br />

t: 01271 267420<br />

w: gtales.co.uk<br />

BuSINESS Advisor<br />

Susie Kevern<br />

North Devon<br />

t: 07801 199671<br />

w: poundlane.co.uk<br />

Commercial PropERTY<br />

James Doble Commercial<br />

North Devon<br />

t: 01237 424053<br />

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

CopIERS & Printers<br />

Clarity Copiers North Devon<br />

Barnstaple & North Devon<br />

t: 01237 374061<br />

w: claritynorthdevon.co.uk<br />

CopywRITINg & communications<br />

Zarywacz<br />

North Devon & UK<br />

t: 01271 879100<br />

w: z2z.com<br />

Counselling & Psychotherapy<br />

North Devon Counselling<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 07872 501606<br />

w: northdevoncounselling.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 />

Right Way HR Services<br />

Highampton<br />

t: 07825 090782<br />

HypNOTHERApy<br />

New Life Hypnotherapy<br />

South Molton<br />

t: 01769 57471<br />

w: newlifehypnotherapy.org<br />

Insurance<br />

Towergate<br />

Bideford<br />

t: 01237 429978<br />

w: towergate.com/locations/bideford<br />

Together Insurance Solutions<br />

Barnstaple<br />

t: 01271 347147<br />

w: togetherinsurancesolutions.co.uk<br />

Landscaping<br />

CW Landscaping<br />

Bideford & North Devon<br />

t: 01237 474335<br />

m: 07960 930974<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 />

Networking groups<br />

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

Barnstaple<br />

t: 0843 289 1339<br />

w: bnibarnstaple.co.uk<br />

Devon Partnerships<br />

Devon<br />

t: 07393 149855<br />

w: devonpartnerships.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 />

PhotograpHY<br />

Tarkatography<br />

Westward Ho!<br />

t: 07977 414798<br />

DIRECTORY<br />

BUSINESS LISTINGS<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 />

Simple Recruitment<br />

Bideford<br />

t: 01237 439500<br />

w: simplerecruitmentltd.co.uk<br />

REMOVAls<br />

HLH Removals<br />

North Devon & UK<br />

t: 07593 234194<br />

fb page: HLH Removals -<br />

Horshams Light Haulage<br />

Telecom Services<br />

Marley Comms<br />

Bideford & UK<br />

t: 01237 423455<br />

w: marleycomms.co.uk<br />

TRAVEL AGENT<br />

Clare Flint – Travel Counsellors<br />

North Devon & UK<br />

t: 01271 828990<br />

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

Web DESIgn & Digital MarkETINg<br />

Peak Online<br />

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t: 01237 721256<br />

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

Welding & SandblASTINg<br />

Nott’s Welding<br />

Ilfracombe & North Devon<br />

t: 07706 595955<br />

Wills<br />

Wills at Home<br />

West Yelland<br />

t: 01271 860105<br />

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

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@businessactionm | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business action 19


IN THE HEADER HOT SEAT<br />

Mike Matthews of Lineal Software<br />

1. What was your first job?<br />

When I was five, my first job<br />

was stacking pinions, ready for<br />

assembly in my father’s small<br />

factory which made motors<br />

and precision gearboxes. It<br />

kept me out of mischief, and<br />

I got given two pence. It’s still<br />

a point of argument that my<br />

sister got a shilling!<br />

2. What is the best<br />

business advice you’ve<br />

ever received?<br />

Two lessons have stuck with<br />

me: If you want something,<br />

save up for it – don’t go<br />

completely mad with credit<br />

because it’s not really a<br />

shortcut. Most importantly, do<br />

everything you can to make<br />

sure your customers succeed:<br />

their fate is tied to yours and if<br />

they’re winning, so will you.<br />

3. What do you enjoy most<br />

about business?<br />

The joys have changed since<br />

the start. From the beginning<br />

it was simply the moments of<br />

seeing a valued client succeed<br />

that were always the most<br />

heartening, because you know<br />

you’ve made a real contribution<br />

beyond just your own business.<br />

After 35 years, the same applies<br />

to seeing your own staff make<br />

progress and develop as people.<br />

4. What essential<br />

technology could your<br />

business never be without?<br />

A MacBook – but really any<br />

computer! Lineal is a sophisticated<br />

technology business<br />

now, but I bought my first<br />

Apple ‘Personal Computer’ in<br />

1982. From that I learned to<br />

program robotics, learnt stock<br />

management, and accounting,<br />

Each issue we put a North Devon business personality in the hot seat<br />

and ask them 10 questions. This issue we asked Mike Matthews of<br />

Lineal Software<br />

and then built the first version<br />

of our SQLWorks business<br />

management software, and on<br />

and on and on. We owe everything<br />

to the tool that makes<br />

learning and skills development<br />

possible.<br />

5. Describe your business<br />

management / style<br />

Give the staff the ability to do it<br />

for themselves on your behalf.<br />

As you go forward your role in<br />

leading a business isn’t to do<br />

acrobatics anymore, it’s simply<br />

to stand underneath with a<br />

big safety net (and enjoy the<br />

applause!).<br />

6. How do you go about<br />

personal development?<br />

Read and read and read. I’ve<br />

found too that you need to<br />

encourage a culture of testing<br />

and experimentation and wait<br />

for the ‘lightbulb’ moment of<br />

inspiration when it comes.<br />

Unfortunately, the more<br />

advanced in years you become,<br />

the rarer those moments are,<br />

so you increasingly need to<br />

practise cultivating good ideas<br />

from others.<br />

7. Is there anything about<br />

yourself that you would like<br />

to change?<br />

Although caution is wise, I<br />

wish I’d been a little more<br />

ambitious earlier! Pick the<br />

right team and your firm can<br />

be something entirely different<br />

Lineal Software Solutions is a<br />

multi-disciplinary IT solutions<br />

provider based in Barnstaple.<br />

We exist to be your trusted<br />

technology partner. Every day,<br />

our team provide accessible<br />

expertise, solve emerging business<br />

challenges, and deliver<br />

exceptional IT solutions.<br />

We offer business to<br />

business (B2B) IT support,<br />

hardware, technical upgrades<br />

and repairs, network infrastructure,<br />

cybersecurity,<br />

cloud-based and telephony<br />

five or ten years from now, in a<br />

way that would surprise you. I<br />

wish I had the perfect foresight<br />

to see a person’s full potential,<br />

because that’s what will drive<br />

the future success of a business.<br />

8. Social media: yes or no?<br />

Preferred network?<br />

Yes – I find LinkedIn helpful<br />

for work, but each platform<br />

is useful in its own way.<br />

Facebook feels more fun for<br />

photography because it pulls in<br />

the wider community. There’s<br />

no substitute for real-world<br />

interaction in my opinion, but<br />

these networks are an important<br />

part of many people’s<br />

lives now – so when Lineal<br />

publishes educational content,<br />

like cybersecurity guidance, it’s<br />

great to see people engaging<br />

with it voluntarily. Communicate<br />

with people via a medium<br />

they enjoy and they’ll come<br />

back for more.<br />

9. How do you wind down<br />

when not working?<br />

Reading and photography<br />

(including for Barnstaple Gig<br />

Pilot Gig Club.) Gardening too<br />

because it’s ‘off the grid’ – nontechnology<br />

time is important!<br />

10. Do you have a motto or<br />

favourite quotation?<br />

Several really: “You snooze,<br />

you lose” and “If our clients<br />

succeed, we succeed” are<br />

common refrains in our offices,<br />

but my favourite is Isaac<br />

Asimov’s “Violence is the last<br />

resort of the incompetent” –<br />

one for the computing buffs<br />

out there! Oh, and “Mind the<br />

paint!” of course.<br />

ABOUT LINEAL SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS<br />

services, in addition to<br />

software development – to a<br />

diverse range of public and<br />

private sector clients.<br />

With over 30 years in the<br />

industry, and as one of Devon’s<br />

only certified Microsoft Gold<br />

Partners, our priority is to<br />

provide specialist IT support,<br />

ERP software development,<br />

and technology services with<br />

an honest, professional and<br />

approachable manner.<br />

■■Details 01271 375999 or<br />

www.lineal.co.uk<br />

20 business action | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business-action.co.uk


NEWS<br />

From vine to bottle in Devon<br />

It was at the North Devon<br />

Show that I found Torview<br />

Wines. We had been on the<br />

<strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> stand all day<br />

when I realised I hadn’t seen<br />

many other exhibitors, so I<br />

headed for the food tent where<br />

I met Tim Gowan. Delighted<br />

to have discovered a local wine<br />

producer, Tim booked me<br />

on to a tour of his vineyard<br />

at Sheepwash to see how the<br />

vines are grown, harvested<br />

and processed to produce Torview’s<br />

range of award-winning<br />

English red wines.<br />

Originally, Tim studied<br />

leisure management and<br />

became interested in farm<br />

Lots of people have ideas for<br />

businesses and products, but<br />

turning ideas into reality can be<br />

very difficult. Denise Anstey of<br />

Heartfelt Products has considerable<br />

experience of business<br />

and product development. She<br />

designed her first product,<br />

the Slik Stik walking stick, in<br />

2006, for which she was named<br />

‘British Female Inventor and<br />

Innovator 2009’. The Slik Stik<br />

is a walking stick which used<br />

‘wind-up’ technology and was<br />

developed after Denise was<br />

injured in a car crash.<br />

Drinking wine was once a headache for <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> editor<br />

Robert Zarywacz, but after discovering English wine made with<br />

fewer chemicals, his head cleared. This summer he visited Torview<br />

Wines’ vineyard at Sheepwash to see how wine is produced<br />

diversity, which fired his<br />

interest in wine-making. After<br />

a two-year search for a suitable<br />

site, Tim and his family moved<br />

into Beara Farm and began<br />

planting vines. They added a<br />

second field in 2010 and now<br />

have some 7,000 vines with<br />

four grape varieties: Pinot<br />

Noir, Dornfelder, Rondo and<br />

Acolon. These help to produce<br />

characteristics in the wines<br />

including subtlety, softness,<br />

fruitiness, easy drinking style<br />

and hedgerow fruits flavours.<br />

Now Denise has launched<br />

Heartfelt Products, which<br />

produces products to aid<br />

people in their daily lives. These<br />

include the ICE Alert Wallet<br />

to alert hospital staff to your<br />

medical records should you be<br />

taken ill, and Memory Mats<br />

to help stimulate the minds of<br />

those suffering with dementia<br />

and eco-friendly bags.<br />

Denise commits to achieving<br />

the highest standards and<br />

Heartfelt Products has obtained<br />

Trading Standards’ Trusted<br />

Trader status with five stars and<br />

was a Twitter #WOW <strong>Business</strong><br />

Winner of the Week selected by<br />

Jacqueline Gold CBE.<br />

Denise believes it’s important<br />

to “keep a sense of what’s<br />

real, appreciating input, understanding<br />

what the customer<br />

really wants and knowing that<br />

These are also helped by the<br />

slower South West ripening<br />

conditions, with harvesting<br />

sometimes extending into<br />

mid-<strong>November</strong>. All Torview<br />

wines are produced exclusively<br />

from its own grapes.<br />

Unlike large producers<br />

required by major retailers to<br />

sterile-filter their wines, which<br />

loses much of the character,<br />

colour, fruit and tannin,<br />

Torview only lightly filters<br />

its wines to maintain their<br />

character and style. While<br />

the vineyard is not organic,<br />

Tim aims to keep production<br />

as natural as possible. Living<br />

on site helps to identify any<br />

disease early so intervention<br />

can be minimised.<br />

Torview sells 80% of its<br />

wines in Devon and supplies<br />

a number of local restaurants.<br />

You can often catch Tim<br />

selling wine at markets or,<br />

even better, book yourself on<br />

to a vineyard tour and tasting,<br />

which run between April and<br />

<strong>October</strong>, and learn more about<br />

how the wines are made. You<br />

can also buy from the web site.<br />

■■Details 07977 408829 or<br />

torview.co.uk<br />

Bringing business ideas to life<br />

if I can make the difference<br />

to just one person then I have<br />

achieved what I set out to do”.<br />

“It’s about changing a<br />

person’s life for the better,<br />

supporting Britain’s economy<br />

whilst looking at environmental<br />

impact.”<br />

Denise will be part of the<br />

Enterprise Panel discussion at<br />

BBxpo and exhibiting Heartfelt<br />

Products at the event.<br />

■■Details 01237 476005 or<br />

heartfelt-products.com<br />

VISIT STAND AT BBXPO<br />

Beautiful candles – Handmade in Devon<br />

SHOWROOM & STUDIO<br />

Lyn Candles . Lynton . N. Devon . EX35 6BS<br />

Tel: 01598 753321 www.lyncandles.com<br />

e-mail: lyncandles@btopenworld.com<br />

@businessactionm | <strong>October</strong> / <strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business action 21


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