Business Action | April / May 2021
April / May 2021 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue announces the finalists in the Business Action North Devon Business Awards 2021 plus features on electric cars, businesses participating in the Government's Kickstart scheme and our Business Activists answering your business questions. And there's news of businesses of every size and sector from the communities across North Devon.
April / May 2021 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue announces the finalists in the Business Action North Devon Business Awards 2021 plus features on electric cars, businesses participating in the Government's Kickstart scheme and our Business Activists answering your business questions. And there's news of businesses of every size and sector from the communities across North Devon.
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Garage accredited to service electric cars<br />
North Devonisgearingupfor<br />
theelectriccarrevolutionina<br />
bigway.BlightsMotorsof<br />
Bidefordhasbeensellingfull<br />
electricMGmodelssincelate<br />
2019andin202030%ofits<br />
newcarsaleswereelectric.<br />
“WenowhavethefullyelectricZSEVSUV,MG5EV<br />
EstatecarandMGHSPlugIn<br />
Hybridmodels,”saysdirector<br />
TimBlight.<br />
“Wereceivecomments<br />
suchas‘loveelectric,wouldn’t<br />
gobacktopetrol’and‘far<br />
cheapertorunandservice’.”<br />
Aswellassellingelectric<br />
cars,Blightscanserviceand<br />
maintainanymakeofelectric<br />
carasanaccreditedmember<br />
ofHEVRA(Hybridand<br />
ElectricVehicleRepair<br />
Alliance–hevra.org.uk).<br />
“HEVRAmembergarages<br />
areinspectedtomakesure<br />
theyhavetherighttoolsand<br />
technicianqualificationsto<br />
workonelectricandhybrid<br />
carscorrectlyandsafely,”adds<br />
Tim.“AndasanMGfranchise<br />
allourstaffincluding<br />
technicians,salesstaffand<br />
valeters,aretrainedonelectric<br />
andhybridcarstobeawareof<br />
theirdifferentrequirements.<br />
“AtBlightsMotorswealso<br />
havearapidchargeronour<br />
forecourtwhichenablesmost<br />
electricvehiclestochargetoa<br />
fullbatteryin40minutes.”<br />
BlightsMotorsalsoadvises<br />
onallaspectsofpurchasingan<br />
electriccar,including<br />
governmentincentives.<br />
Currently,theGovernment<br />
offersaplug-incargrant<br />
whichprovidesa£2,500<br />
discountonthelistpriceof<br />
approvedelectriccarswhich<br />
haveamaximumlistpriceof<br />
£35,000.Thereisalsoagrant<br />
towardsthecostofinstallinga<br />
homechargerofupto£350<br />
percharger.<br />
■ Details01237472282or<br />
blightsmotors.co.uk<br />
B&B leads the way with car charging point for guests<br />
It’s not only the motor trade<br />
respondingtotheintroduction<br />
ofelectriccars.Withholiday<br />
accommodationproviderskeen<br />
toprovideallfacilitiestheir<br />
guestsrequire,someare<br />
startingtocaterforelectriccars.<br />
TheEarlsdaleBedand<br />
BreakfastinIlfracomberecently<br />
installeda7Kwcarcharging<br />
pointforguests,makingitone<br />
ofthefirstbusinessesinthe<br />
towntoofferthisfacility.<br />
“Wehadseveralgueststhat<br />
arrivedwithEVsorHybrids<br />
anditwouldhavebeenreally<br />
nicetohavebeenabletooffer<br />
themachargepointatThe<br />
Earlsdale.”saysLewisDaniels.<br />
“WehavehadanEVcharge<br />
pointonourwishlistsincewe<br />
openedinearly2019.With<br />
limitedchargingoptionsinthe<br />
localarea,wewantedtomake<br />
sureweofferedourguestsa<br />
chargepoint,andwithmore<br />
EVssettoappearinthenext<br />
fewyears,itwasimportantto<br />
ustostaycurrent.Wealso<br />
strivetominimiseourimpact<br />
ontheenvironmentandwe<br />
believethatelectricvehiclesfit<br />
wellwithourethosfora<br />
sustainablyrunestablishment.<br />
ELECTRIC CARS<br />
The MG5 EV estate available from Blights Motors. Photo: Robert Zarywacz<br />
Car charges: (from left) Lewis and James, owners of The Earlsdale in<br />
Ilfracombe with their new car charging point. Photo: ilfracombefocus.co.uk<br />
“Wehavehadgoodfeedback<br />
sofarwithlotsofpeople<br />
mentioningthattheyhaveseen<br />
it.VisitIlfracombealsoshared<br />
ourpostsonlineregardingthe<br />
installationandtheyagreeit<br />
willbeanincreasingly<br />
importantfactorforvisitorsto<br />
thetowninthenearfuture.”<br />
Ready for the new season<br />
“Weareveryexcitedtobereopeningon17<strong>May</strong>andare<br />
hopingforabusyseason.We<br />
aremakingsureweincorporate<br />
socialdistancingandother<br />
enhancedmeasuresthatwere<br />
inplacein2020intothe<strong>2021</strong><br />
season.Wehaveused<br />
lockdowntoensurethe<br />
buildingisatitsbest,witha<br />
newlyrenovateddiningroom<br />
(completewithnewmenu)and<br />
upgradedbedrooms.Wehave<br />
alsousedthetimetostartafull<br />
refurbishmentoftheoriginal<br />
sashwindowsandhavehad<br />
twonewleadroofsinstalled.<br />
Wehavealsogotasmartnew<br />
greycolourschemeforthe<br />
frontofthebuilding,whichwe<br />
hopeiswelllikedbyvisitors<br />
andlocalsalike.”<br />
■ Details01271863653or<br />
theearlsdale.co.uk<br />
18 business action | <strong>April</strong> / <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business-action.co.uk
Change language