CONTENTS Web site

ENTERPRISE

business

ACTION

Future success is in your hands

Can we do it? Yes, we have!

From Alan Williams’ idea to

hold a business exhibition came

BBxpo in October 2018.

From that first BBxpo event

came the drive to publish the

first issue of Business Action,

in February this year, after

Robert Zarywacz had been

thinking about it.

Here we are a year later,

having held the second, more

successful BBxpo and having

published our first year’s worth

of magazines.

Did we have a plan? Sort of,

but, more importantly, we had

a vision and the determination

to achieve it.

We have adapted our plan,

so that we started out with big

ideas for North Devon Enterprise

Day, but diverted our

energies when selected as one

of Small Business Saturday’s

#SmallBiz100 from businesses

ADVERTISING

Alan Williams

Advertising, Distribution & Publisher

t: 07970 671192

e: alan@business-action.co.uk

across the UK. It’s essential to

be flexible in business so that

you can adapt to changing

circumstances and take up

unexpected opportunities.

Can you do it? Yes, you can!

How about your business? Is

it doing well or do you need

EDITORIAL

Robert Zarywacz

Editor, Designer & Publisher

t: 07971 176044

e: robertz@business-action.co.uk

@robertz

to work on it to achieve your

goals? Actually, everyone needs

to work on their business.

If we can make a success of

BBxpo and Business Action,

we believe anyone can succeed

when they put their mind to it

and we are pleased to support

North Devon entrepreneurs.

Use all available resources

There are many initiatives and

sources of help for your business

– use them all:

➤➤Small Business Saturday

➤ ➤£10 to £1 million

➤➤Support agencies

➤➤Networking

➤➤And more . . .

Running a business in uncertain

times requires us to be

vigilant and positive.

Remember that every other

business is experiencing the

same uncertainty as you and

none of us is alone.

North Devon is a business

powerhouse and Business

Action is here to shout about it.

We believe 2020 will bring

many opportunities, so let’s

prepare to take these up and

make a success of them.

FOCUS ON

MANUFACTURING

Small Business Saturday is

the national campaign to build

support for small businesses –

this year on 7 December.

smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com

Business Action has been

selected as a #SmallBiz100 –

one of 100 UK businesses – and

will represent North Devon at a

House of Lords reception.

In this issue we celebrate

small businesses across North

Devon. We will also be active

on social media on the day and

running a competition with

a prize of free PR advice for

businesses – follow us on social

media for a chance to win.

>>> PAGES 4 – 9

BBxpo is North Devon’s

biggest business-to-business

exhibition and networking

event and opened its doors

to visitors on Thursday 24

October 2019.

Read about the businesses

who exhibited, visited,

attended the free presentations

and training, and enjoyed

networking over the biggest

free lunch in North Devon.

BBxpo returns for its third

year on Thursday 29 October

2020. Past exhibitors are

already keen to rebook their

stands, so contact us now

to ensure your place – book

stands online at bbxpo.uk.

>>> PAGES 10 – 13

Manufacturing is a key sector

contributing substantially to

the success of the North Devon

economy, but it is sometimes

forgotten because much of

this activity takes place hidden

from view in large buildings

tucked away on business parks.

It has always been Business

Action’s intention to give

manufacturers the publicity

they deserve and in this issue

we make several site visits to

learn about their achievements.

If you are a manufacturer

and would welcome a site visit

and interview for a future

article, please contact us. We’ll

be pleased to visit.

From 10 to a million – that’s

what we can achieve if just

over half the population of

North Devon and Torridge

switch £10 of spending from

an online giant or national

company to a local business on

one day – £1 million.

Sounds crazy, but it is

achievable. All we have to do

is pause before we make any

purchase – either personal or

for business – and consider

whether we can buy from a

local business.

And when we do buy

locally to share it with the

#10to1m hashtag.

Let’s do it!

>>> PAGES 14 – 17 >>> PAGE 22

@businessactionm | December 2019 / January 2020 | business action 1

CONTENTS Web site | business-action.co.uk Online version | business-action.uk Vol 1 Issue 6 – Dec 2019 / Jan 2020 – distribution 2,500 Future success is in your hands................................................................... 1 Workforce diversity attracts purple pounds............................................ 2 Protection from cybercrime............................................................................ 2 Multi-trade building group’s new offices.................................................. 3 Small Business Saturday................................................................................. 4 Support small and local businesses all year round............................. 4 No nonsense health & safety......................................................................... 4 Refill store offers natural products for a healthy life........................... 5 Marketing fix for small businesses.............................................................. 5 A competitive edge for independents......................................................... 6 Open all year in Lynmouth............................................................................... 7 In the hot seat: Helen Pedlar of Pedlars Home Hardware................. 8 Saving you time to spend on running your business.......................... 9 BBxpo 2019............................................................................................................ 10 New web site for North Devon Show........................................................... 13 Manufacturer always moving forward........................................................ 14 Manufacturing apprentices celebrate success...................................... 15 Engineering firm continues to invest in apprentices........................... 15 New regional technology institute gets green light.............................. 16 Success in manufacturing awards............................................................... 16 From the Punjab via Exmoor across the world...................................... 17 People....................................................................................................................... 18 Business directory – find products and services ................................ 19 New technical service for dairy farmers.................................................... 20 Support for improving health services...................................................... 20 Business Action advertising plans.............................................................. 21 From £10 to £1 million #10to1m.................................................................... 22 © Need it Find it 2019. All information in this magazine is published in good faith. Any views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher, Need it Find it. Readers are strongly recommended to seek advice from an appropriate professional before taking any action on any topic discussed in the magazine and to check full terms and conditions of any products or services promoted in advertisements. Investment property to Let? • Competitive commission rates • Local, friendly, expert advice and support • Comprehensive marketing • Fully managed services to suit your needs • NEW! Mobile-optimised website • Over 97% of our owners would recommend us - find out why... Contact us today on 01271 813777 for your homeowner recruitment pack ii marsdens.co.uk business action | December 2019 / January 2020 | business-action.co.uk

ENTERPRISE business ACTION Future success is in your hands Can we do it? Yes, we have! From Alan Williams’ idea to hold a business exhibition came BBxpo in October 2018. From that first BBxpo event came the drive to publish the first issue of Business Action, in February this year, after Robert Zarywacz had been thinking about it. Here we are a year later, having held the second, more successful BBxpo and having published our first year’s worth of magazines. Did we have a plan? Sort of, but, more importantly, we had a vision and the determination to achieve it. We have adapted our plan, so that we started out with big ideas for North Devon Enterprise Day, but diverted our energies when selected as one of Small Business Saturday’s #SmallBiz100 from businesses ADVERTISING Alan Williams Advertising, Distribution & Publisher t: 07970 671192 e: alan@business-action.co.uk across the UK. It’s essential to be flexible in business so that you can adapt to changing circumstances and take up unexpected opportunities. Can you do it? Yes, you can! How about your business? Is it doing well or do you need EDITORIAL Robert Zarywacz Editor, Designer & Publisher t: 07971 176044 e: robertz@business-action.co.uk @robertz to work on it to achieve your goals? Actually, everyone needs to work on their business. If we can make a success of BBxpo and Business Action, we believe anyone can succeed when they put their mind to it and we are pleased to support North Devon entrepreneurs. Use all available resources There are many initiatives and sources of help for your business – use them all: ➤➤Small Business Saturday ➤ ➤£10 to £1 million ➤➤Support agencies ➤➤Networking ➤➤And more . . . Running a business in uncertain times requires us to be vigilant and positive. Remember that every other business is experiencing the same uncertainty as you and none of us is alone. North Devon is a business powerhouse and Business Action is here to shout about it. We believe 2020 will bring many opportunities, so let’s prepare to take these up and make a success of them. FOCUS ON MANUFACTURING Small Business Saturday is the national campaign to build support for small businesses – this year on 7 December. Register to join for free at smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com Business Action has been selected as a #SmallBiz100 – one of 100 UK businesses – and will represent North Devon at a House of Lords reception. In this issue we celebrate small businesses across North Devon. We will also be active on social media on the day and running a competition with a prize of free PR advice for businesses – follow us on social media for a chance to win. >>> PAGES 4 – 9 BBxpo is North Devon’s biggest business-to-business exhibition and networking event and opened its doors to visitors on Thursday 24 October 2019. Read about the businesses who exhibited, visited, attended the free presentations and training, and enjoyed networking over the biggest free lunch in North Devon. BBxpo returns for its third year on Thursday 29 October 2020. Past exhibitors are already keen to rebook their stands, so contact us now to ensure your place – book stands online at bbxpo.uk. >>> PAGES 10 – 13 Manufacturing is a key sector contributing substantially to the success of the North Devon economy, but it is sometimes forgotten because much of this activity takes place hidden from view in large buildings tucked away on business parks. It has always been Business Action’s intention to give manufacturers the publicity they deserve and in this issue we make several site visits to learn about their achievements. If you are a manufacturer and would welcome a site visit and interview for a future article, please contact us. We’ll be pleased to visit. From 10 to a million – that’s what we can achieve if just over half the population of North Devon and Torridge switch £10 of spending from an online giant or national company to a local business on one day – £1 million. Sounds crazy, but it is achievable. All we have to do is pause before we make any purchase – either personal or for business – and consider whether we can buy from a local business. And when we do buy locally to share it with the #10to1m hashtag. Let’s do it! >>> PAGES 14 – 17 >>> PAGE 22 @businessactionm | December 2019 / January 2020 | business action 1