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Have your say on the East Devon Local Plan consultation

A ten-week consultation seeking views on specific sites for development and policies relevant to our businesses and employers has been launched by East Devon District Council. 

The Local Plan is the key document used in making planning decisions in East Devon. This includes those relevant to town centre retail, farm diversification, rural economic growth, sustainable tourism and employment and skills amongst others.  

The plan is relevant to any business seeking growth or development in the future requiring any form of planning permission, so it is vital that people have their say on the proposals now. The consultation closes in January 2023. 

We encourage businesses to review Section 9 of the Plan and comment on the proposed policies for our local economy and employment.  

EDDC wins 'Best in the West' award for small business support

                                                        EDDC Economic Development team

East Devon District Council was crowned as the South West regional champion for supporting businesses to be future ready at the Local Government Awards for its highly successful ‘Innovation and Resilience Fund’.

The awards run by the Federation of Small Businesses have been set up to highlight councils that had made the biggest impact on local SMEs during the Covid crisis and beyond. 

EDDC scooped the South West ‘Future Ready’ category prize and was also shortlisted for the ‘All Round Small Business Friendly’ for the EastDevonly campaign, supporting our retail and tourism sector.  

Support East Devon’s Christmas ‘shop local’ campaign

To encourage residents to support their valued local businesses, we are running an EastDevonly Christmas campaign. 

On social media, we will feature an East Devon Advent calendar where your business could be showcased. To be considered for the campaign, please email Anne Mountjoy with:

1. 100-150 words describing your business, how it champions local produce/products and sustainability, or has strong local links and add why people should shop locally to encourage engagement.
2. Send a festive image or short video of your business, products or team.

You can also use our online resources, including using the Nice o’meter in your social media posts. You could post images and short video clips of activities in your local area to promote shopping locally, e.g. carnivals, Christmas lights switch on, late night shopping, Father Christmas visiting etc.

To find out more details as they emerge, join our ‘EastDevonly’ Facebook group – where we will share all the latest info with local businesses.

If you would like Christmas window stickers or posters – or you can help distribute these, please email Anne Mountjoy. 

Wellbeing Works

Wellbeing Works is an opportunity for Devon businesses, employees and individuals to benefit from the tools, techniques and inspiration needed to prioritise and develop their wellbeing and resilience during the pandemic recovery period.

SMEs can access free 1:1 wellbeing check-in and attend free wellbeing workshops.

Get Set To Tender

Get Set to Tender helps Devon SMEs become public sector contract ready and will support all levels of experience.

Workshops will explore how to access public sector opportunities and further support focuses on writing successful tender responses in order to secure public sector contracts.

One to one support is also available.

Important support for farming and agriculture

Future Farming Resilience - Navigating the Agricultural Transition

 A new, fully-funded programme opened in October which offers free business skills development workshops and one-to-one advice to help farmers and land managers navigate the changes brought about by the Agricultural Transition.

The support will be available to any farmer or land manager currently in receipt of BPS payments.

THRIVE for farming and agriculture

Experienced agricultural advisors are on-hand to help businesses to make sense of the latest schemes and develop a plan to get where you need to go.

Through Thrive, farm businesses can access free 1-2-1 support and workshops on a range of topics.

Skills Bootcamps Virtual Jobs Fair – 22 November

Employers and training providers are invited to take part in a Virtual Jobs Fair and tap into a large pool of Skills Bootcamps learners.

This is a great opportunity for companies to meet with the region’s highly skilled workforce, network with other companies, and connect with potential candidates to meet their needs.

It takes place on Tuesday 22^nd November, 10am - 2pm and will be held on the Remo platform.

Free Smart Skills training

Over 1,000 individuals across Devon have already improved their skills with fully funded training and skill development solutions via the SMART SKILLS project funded by the European Social Fund.

The project offers both face to face teaching and online learning and provides training solutions for businesses to upskill their employees to progress in their existing careers or prepare for a new role.

Many companies have benefited from unique training through bespoke solutions to match their needs.

Funding to boost international growth

SMEs across Devon are being urged to apply for funding by December 2022 to help propel their growth in international markets via the Department for International Trade’s Internationalisation Fund. 

The funding is available to SMEs with international growth potential, who have a product or service suitable for export overseas, and offers match funding between £1,000 and £9,000.

It aims to help SMEs overcome barriers to enter new markets and grow their overseas trading.

New Bus Service launch - Pinhoe Station/Exeter Airport

A new sustainable multi-modal interchange has opened at Pinhoe Rail Station. The project is funded by Devon County Council and South Western Railway.

There is a new minibus service at peak times transporting passengers between Pinhoe Station and Exeter Science Park, Clyst Honiton Village (for Lidl / Amazon), Clyst Honiton Bypass (for SkyPark) and Exeter Airport. Special bus fares will be available to holders of valid rail tickets. 

New secure cycle lockers are available for rent, as well as electric bikes from the new Co-Bikes dock alongside a new 15-space car park and 2 EV charging points.

Help to Grow Management Course

Exeter University is one of the leading business schools across UK selected to provide practical management training course for senior managers of small and medium-sized businesses through the Help to Grow programme.

The 12-week management programme is 90% funded by the Government and delivered in partnership with Small Business Charter.

It supports SME senior managers to boost their business’s performance, resilience, and long-term growth through facilitated sessions, workshops, mentoring, and peer networking.

Connecting You Community Grant Fund is open for applications

‘Connecting You’ is a new programme of transport initiatives launched by Devon County Council which aims to help tackle loneliness through transport for the over 55s and young people aged 16-24.

The Community Grant Fund will provide small grants to projects and organisations to help connect people to activities that reduce the impact of loneliness.