Business News - 27 September bulletin

exeter city council


Business News - Edition 10

Exeter Science Park
Exeter Science Park Centre

Business news - 27 September 2016

These business newsletters are produced by a member of the Growth & Enterprise team at Exeter City Council. They cover different topic areas such as local business initiatives, new developments, business issues, and economic statistics.

So much has been happening in September that this is an extra bulletin that looks at a recent journalists' visit to Exeter, the new BEEP charity and recent filming in the city.

Keep informed by following @InvestInExeter


National journalists leave London to visit Exeter & Exmouth


Met Office computer hall

The sun came out on 8 & 9 September to welcome national and regional journalists to Exeter and Exmouth on an organised visit to raise awareness across the UK of the business, career and lifestyle opportunities on offer here.

Exe Marks the Spot was organised by KOR Communications to provide a select group of Business Journalists and feature writers – from the Daily and Sunday Express, The Guardian Small Business Network, The Telegraph, The Western Morning News and Devon Life - with a candid insight into the wealth of opportunities on offer in our city and neighbouring district.   

Among the businesses and organisations who met the journalists were:

University of Exeter- whose Innovation Centre has been a huge success as a catalyst for start-up business growth.  Crowdcube started here with just two members of staff.

Crowdcube - the entrepreneurial company that invented the concept of crowd-funding has grown from 2 members of staff 5 years ago to over 80 employees today.  This company is proof that a successful “fintech” (financial technology) company does not have to be in London. 

TDDS (Torrance Diamond Diagnostic Services) is a Veterinary Clinical Pathology service that provides a high quality diagnostic results service. From small beginnings at the Innovation Centre in 2001, this company is planning to build its own bespoke laboratories at the Exeter Science Park.

Custodian Solutions is a small company that has the “most successful new platform for anti-counterfeiting evidence capture, management and enforcement” and was Global Anti-Counterfeiting Award for Technology 2016 Winner.

Brain in Hand has created an assistive technology designed to help individuals with autism to achieve more.  This innovation has been truly life-changing for some.

The Met Office whose new £97m High Performance Computer is now installed in its own bespoke building on the Exeter Science Park (see image above).

Exeter Science Park Centre at Junction 29 of the M5 is home to fast-growth businesses in the science, technology and big data sector. Representatives from Rezcomm and Routeshoot were among a number of businesses to meet the journalists.

In Exmouth, the group were introduced to Thomson Reuters Providers of bespoke tax and accounting software “Digita” who are based at Liverton Business Park, Exmouth , which is owned by Clinton Devon Estates.

The visit concluded with a trip to the River Exe Café a floating restaurant in the middle of the River Exe..


Your special invitation to a special event


invitation

BEEP stands for Business Empowering Employment Programme and is a new charity to help local young people struggling to step on the work ladder. It follows on from a RWC2015 legacy-funded initiative which was very successful as 93% of participants went into paid employment or further training.

Here is an opportunity to have a great evening out at The Deer Park Country House Hotel on 20 October whilst supporting similar young people.  If your company - or group of friends - would like to take up Exeter PA Network’s invitation (see above) please note that you need to RSVP by 30 September.

More information: events@exeterpanetwork.com


German Film Production Team back in Exeter


Custom House dressed for filming
Part of Exeter Custom House dressed as a boutique, Photo: Dave Adcock

Last week saw a visit from FFP NewMedia who filmed in the Exeter Guildhall, the Custom House and in Cathedral Yard.

FFP NewMedia principally make television dramas based on the books of Cornish author Rosamunde Pilcher. Ask any Exeter hotelier about Rosamunde Pilcher and they will be familiar with the name as this filming in the south west began over 15 years ago.  FFP NewMedia was based in Exeter all summer during 2003 and 2008.

When filming takes place at any location, there are two benefits: the short term benefits  typically experienced by hotels, restaurants and taxi firms, and the long term secondary tourism benefits experienced when viewers decide to visit the places that they have seen on screen.  With the Rosamunde Pilcher films getting typically 9m viewers in both Germany and Austria, it is not surprising that there are several tour companies visiting Exeter each year operating Rosamunde Pilcher coach tours.  Other viewers will make their own way here.  With a local airport, Exeter is a good starting point for any tour.

So please celebrate film companies visiting Exeter - for a little inconvenience it is surprising how much money their work can add to the local economy.

And if you have a stunning business building that you think would be of interest as a film location please contact noreen.medland@exeter.gov.uk


Did you know?


Guildhall Shopping and Dining Centre

Once the remaining new restaurants open shortly in the Guildhall Shopping & Dining Centre, following an extensive £13m remodelling, it will have a vacancy rate of NIL%.  That's no empty premises.

This is a phenomenal achievement and compares with a UK shopping centre vacancy rate of around 12.4%.

Exeter's city centre as a whole tends to have a retail vacancy rate of about half the national average with 6% or 7% being typical.