The Chancellor promised incentives for economic growth, exports, and investment and lower energy costs in his Budget today, but he made no mention of business rates reform.
David Parlby, the chief executive of Plymouth Chamber of Commerce is to retire after more than eight years in the job.
Professor Wendy Purcell, Vice-Chancellor and President of Plymouth University has welcomed the Government's response to the Witty Report saying it confirmed the strategic thinking of the university.
Last week ran almost unbroken into this. I left LD party conference in York on Saturday evening to travel to Cardiff to take part in BBC TV's The Big Questions on Sunday, and managed only Sunday afternoon with family before travelling to Brussels for meetings on Monday.
The UK has the highest take-up and coverage of superfast broadband among leading European economies, new figures show.
Stock markets could be inflating a 'carbon bubble' by over-valuing companies with fossil fuel assets that will have to be left unburned in order to limit climate change, MPs have warned.
The government has launched an updated guide to flood support schemes for businesses, farms and households.
The OFT says that high street banks are creating barriers for SMEs to access finance from alternative funders and has warned action will be taken if this continues.
The UK's seven biggest providers of alternative finance have joined forces to launch a new platform for small and medium sized business funding.
The situation in the Ukraine again dominated the week in Brussels.
Tourism businesses across Cornwall are being offered expert advice and support in a series of 'Open for Business' conferences organised by Visit Cornwall as part of the Government backed extreme weather recovery programme.
The Government has announced that a number of South West projects have been awarded funding from the Coastal Communities Fund, which helps seaside economies and flood-affected areas.
Somerset: as previously advertised, we would like someone in Somerset to lead on development of the Network and its activities there.
The current system of business rates is not fit for purpose and needs to be fundamentally reformed, says the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee in a Report published today.
This letter might better be entitled 'Letter from my sick-bed' since a fall from my bicycle early in the week entailed a hospital visit for stitches to my face and a period of recuperation which has kept me away from parliament's proceedings in Strasbourg, a conference on solar power in Freiburg and campaign commitments in Torbay. I hope to be back at work this week.
BT is expecting to create more than 50 new apprenticeship and graduate jobs in the South West as a part of a major nationwide recruitment drive.
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has strengthened its board with the appointment of three new non-executive directors with expertise spanning science, the digital economy and communications.
Since the start of the year it seems there really has only been one story in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly - the weather.
A Plymouth company has been included in the Everline Future 50 list of Britain's most exciting and disruptive new businesses
The British Business Bank programme has confirmed that it is making a new £40 million investment to support further lending to smaller businesses through peer-to-peer lender Funding Circle.
Finnish multi-national utilities firm Fortum has signed an agreement to secure a berth at Wave Hub, the offshore renewable energy test facility in Cornwall, it was announced today.
The failure last week of the Council of Ministers to approve or reject the authorisation of Pioneer Dupont's genetically modified maize TC 1507 continues to make waves.
A Plymouth Chamber of Commerce survey has revealed some businesses are losing up to £5,000 a day because of the disruption caused by severe weather and floods.
A new round of the GAIN Growth Fund has been launched offering grants of between £25,000 to £1m to companies which can demonstrate growth plans and job creation.
Details of a comprehensive package of new measures to help home South West home owners, businesses and farmers hit by the floods will be announced this week.
There has been a sharp rise in the number of young people considering a career in engineering, Vince Cable has announced.
A group of school students from Thomas Hardye school in Dorchester were my first victims this week, when they visited the European Parliament on Monday.
Following the recent storm damage to the railway line at Dawlish and its worsening economic impact on Devon & Cornwall, the Minister for Transport has agreed to investigate the options for a long term resilient solution for our rail infrastructure difficulties.
A new team has been recruited to GAIN as the network is set to play an increasingly important role in achieving sustainable growth and creating wealth and jobs in the South West.
The Universities and Science Minister David Willetts has unveiled £73 million of new funding to help the public and academics unlock the potential of big data.
Confidence among South West businesses is showing signs of recovery with companies more willing to invest to fund their growth ambitions, according to chartered accountants Francis Clark.
After chairing last Saturday's EU-wide Liberal Democrat conference in Brussels to select our candidate for the Presidency of the European Commission I spent Sunday and Monday morning there and travelled to Strasbourg on Monday afternoon.
Business incubation facilities run by Plymouth University in Devon and Cornwall have won a major national award for their innovative approach and economic success in supporting fledgling businesses to grow and thrive.
A&P Falmouth has been awarded a landmark contract by leading wave energy firm Seatricity to build a wave energy device to be deployed at Wave Hub, the offshore renewable energy test facility.
A total of 87 new private sector jobs were created at Tamar Science Park (TSP) last year - a record number since the park first opened its doors in 1996.
Primary school children will be given chance to start their own business with a £5 loan under a new scheme to encourage young entrepreneurs.
Finance ministers from the 18 countries in the eurozone met on Monday. The biggest item of discussion was the sustainability of Greece's debt, though they also discussed recapitalisation of banks.
Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged his commitment to continue to make it easier for small firms to thrive and save the UK's 4.9 million small businesses up to £10,000 each a year.
Cities Outlook 2014, the annual health check of UK cities, warns that economic recovery is widening the gap between London and other cities in the UK.
In the few weeks since my last blog there has been no let up in activity as we continue to negotiate our investment plans for the next European funding programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, which runs from 2014 to 2020.
Local communities will be able to take control of their energy bills and help transform the energy system under Britain's first Community Energy Strategy.
A Cornish manufacturing company is creating up to 20 new jobs having secured a £380,000 Government grant to support export growth and strengthen its competitive edge.
On Monday EU leaders received Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who paid his first visit to the EU's capital in five years.
Devon County Council is providing local businesses with the opportunity to input and help shape the skills and training delivered to Devon's current and future workforce, as part of its Employment and Skills programme.
The number of people in a job rose 280,000 in the last 3 months - the largest quarterly increase since records began - according to figures published by the Office for National statistics today.
A masterplan to reinvigorate the South West region's marine and advanced manufacturing sectors to create 10,000 jobs and attract £296m of investment has been agreed with the Government.
6,000 businesses across rural Devon and Somerset are set to benefit from a new business support service launched by the Heart of the South West (HotSW) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with youbecome® and supported by GAIN and Plymouth University, have recently completed the first annual employee research project to find the answers to these important regionally focussed questions:
In Strasbourg the grey gloom of a mild mid-January week was much lifted for MEPs by a rich harvest of parliamentary activity.
New government figures show that the south west has over a fifth of UK renewables projects installed by homeowners,
My first concern as Parliament returned this week was the flooding which has hit many homes and business premises across my constituency and cut transport links.
The Cornwall Apprenticeships '300 in 100' campaign will launch on Monday 6 January 2014 aimed at generating interest among employers across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in getting young people into work with an Apprenticeship.
Regen SW and four Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) have today called on government to require all large renewable energy projects to have a formal plan for creating local jobs.
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is recruiting two new board directors to help drive its mission to create sustainable economic growth and jobs.
Rather than write a formal newsletter reporting on activities in parliamentary committees and ministerial councils, please allow me to share with you three mental images from my week in Brussels.
One of Europe's most experienced politicians has praised Cornwall for what it has achieved using European funding and said it was a model for other regions to follow.
The main players were occupied outside the EU this week, Commission President Barroso at Mandela's funeral and foreign policy suprema Ashton in Kiev, so MEPs in Strasbourg heard statements from their deputies.
The Government has set out a number of new initiatives to make it easier for small businesses to grow and create jobs.
As one of Cornwall's original social enterprise orientated companies, RIO has welcomed the announcement that the county has been granted the status of the UK's first Social Enterprise Zone.
Leading wave energy company Seatricity is to develop a 10MW array over the next two years at Wave Hub, the offshore renewable energy test facility in Cornwall.
My week started in Cornwall, taking Prof Danuta Hubner MEP to visit projects and meet people who have benefitted from EU funding which she helped us secure, writes Sir Graham Watson.
Responding to the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, Tim Jones, Chair of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership said there was still extreme concern about the lack of certainty around finance.
As one of 39 LEPs set up by Government to drive economic growth and create jobs, the past few months have been very busy as we prepare for the next round of European funding, writes Chris Pomfret.
Businesses across Devon and Somerset are being urged to get their applications for the Heart of the South West Rural Enterprise Grant (REG) in as soon as possible, before the deadline in early January 2014.
The Prime Minister will call for the European Union (EU) and China to negotiate a free trade deal releasing tens of billions to the European and Chinese economies.
This week has been a light one for ministerial meetings. Only one of the so-called 'formations' of the Council of Ministers met, though this one often involves more than one minister per member state.
The Heart of the South West (HotSW) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) announced the appointment of Steve Hindley as Chair of the board, effective from the end of December.
Parliament met in Strasbourg this week for formal debates and legislative votes.
More than a third of companies on a new procurement framework for building digital public services have never worked with government before.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine has urged Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to seize the opportunity presented by the Government's regional growth plans and wrest control of public spending back from London.
The global business leaders of the future are being given the chance to hone their entrepreneurial talent and enthusiasm thanks to a major new initiative being established at Plymouth University.
More than 700 construction jobs will be supported in 2014 by £130 million of investment in 30 separate schemes on the South West's roads, Transport Minister Robert Goodwill has announced.
Parliament returned after a week's recess to meetings of committees and political groups to prepare next week's plenary session of formal debates and votes in Strasbourg.
Cornwall's new fibre broadband network has now passed 206,000 homes and businesses - 82 per cent of the Duchy - making it one of the best connected areas in Britain and the best connected rural region in Europe.
BRE National Solar Centre will relocate its offices and create its first solar test site at the Eden Project in St Austell.
The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS), designed to help small, early stage companies raise equity finance, has helped over 1,100 companies to raise the money they need to grow or expand, the government has announced.
Business Secretary Vince Cable has kicked off a wave of activity to boost small businesses, including unveiling the first funding allocation from the British Business Bank's investment programme and launching a campaign to help small firms grow.
The importance of cruise ships to the Cornish economy has been highlighted again this week, with the 2013 season worth an estimated £1.68 million to the local economy.
The European Council (heads of state and government meeting) on 24 and 25 October produced few surprises, with our member state leaders deciding, as predicted, to invest more in the digital economy to achieve sustainable and job-creating economic growth.
Automotive companies are being challenged to come up with engine technologies that will make our cars more energy efficient and ultimately change the way we drive, Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced.
HRH The Duke of York has visited Plymouth University to learn more about its lead involvement in GAIN - the Growth Acceleration and Investment Network - and how it is supporting innovation and the growth of businesses and jobs in the South West.
Businesses in the South West discovered more information about Round 5 of the Regional Growth Fund as part of a regional roadshow hosted by Plymouth University at the Tamar Science Park.
A new Agri-Tech Catalyst has been launched, to help businesses and researchers develop innovative solutions to global challenges in the agricultural technology ('agri-tech') sector.
Business Bank Update. Business Secretary Vince Cable has confirmed the appointment of Ron Emerson as the first Chair of the government-owned British Business Bank.
Improved apprenticeships, which will bring greater focus on quality for the learner and ease of use for employers, will be unveiled by the Prime Minister today.
"The role of universities as catalysts of economic growth and anchors in their region has been called out loud and proud - and these report recommendations, if enacted, could be a game changer for the UK."
Creative England GamesLab are looking for South West companies who wish to attend the TIGA Game Hack at Pinewood Studios in November.
The positive economic impact of international trade from Cornwall will be show cased at the 'Export Evolution' event on 13th November to inspire and motivate more businesses to exploit opportunities abroad.
Liberal Democrats were pleased to emerge as the only major party making gains in last Sunday's general election in Luxembourg.
UK economic output rose by 0.8% between July and September, official GDP figures show.
Official figures published today show that the number of private sector businesses in the UK has reached 4.9 million, eclipsing the record levels of last year.
A series of regional roadshows are being planned by BIS to help businesses with their Regional Growth Fund applications.
The UK Government and EDF Group have reached commercial agreement on the key terms of a proposed investment contract for the Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear power station in Somerset. This paves the way for the construction of the first new nuclear power station in the UK in a generation. It will provide a stable source of clean power from 2023, generating enough electricity to power nearly 6 million homes or an area twice the size of London.
A new British Invention Revolution turning ideas into job creating businesses is needed to help rebalance the UK economy and boost manufacturing.
The Growth Acceleration and Investment Network (GAIN) has become a new patron of Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Plymouth based social enterprise Iridescent Ideas has been shortlisted as one of only six 'Trailblazing Newcomers' in a national online competition and is in the running for a share of £25,000.
WITT Limited, a South West company behind a revolutionary marine renewable energy device, has just won a major award in a prestigious American competition celebrating cutting-edge inventions from all over the world.
South West Since last week was Ethical Investment Week, I thought it was worth a retrospective view. For details of this theme, have a look at http://www.ethical-investment.org.uk, writes Andrew Lightfoot.
Azerbaijan's presidential election on 9 October caused some embarrassment when it emerged that a number of MEPs had visited the country at the invitation of its government and had signed a declaration saying the election was 'transparent and fair'.
The general sense of improvement in the economy continues to be reflected in the growth forecasts for both national and local programmes.
A task force of six heavy-hitters from the UK business community has produced a report of 30 proposals to cut European red tape.
Devon Business Finance Network Bulletin
Network Rail, Bristol City Council, West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and English Heritage have signed a 25-year memorandum of understanding to drive the redevelopment of Bristol Temple Meads station.
Chancellor George Osborne has hailed the "the next big step in China and Britain's relationship" at the start of a five-day trade trip to China.
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Cornwall Council are offering a helping hand to local businesses thinking of applying to the next round of the Government's £3.2 billion Regional Growth Fund (RGF).
The Heart of the South West (HotSW) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has submitted the first draft of its EU Structural and Investment Funds Strategy to the Government, aimed at accessing the allocated share of EU funds.
UK recovery: how strong and how long?
A series of workshops designed to give new and existing businesses the low-down on everything they need to know is being run by Plymouth City Council.
A Festival of Physics is being organised in Plymouth on behalf of the South West Committee of the Institute of Physics.
A total of 31 nominations for the 2013 Media Innovation Awards have been announced.
The UK's cities will be helped to get smart, thanks to the launch of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills's new Smart Cities
Rail passengers will benefit from improved services, including greater WiFi coverage, on the Great Western network as a result of the new franchise agreement announced by the Government.
Wave Hub, the offshore renewable energy test facility in Cornwall, has recruited one of the industry's leading commercial managers to help spearhead its future growth.
The Plymouth University Innovation Lead and director of Cornwall's three pioneering Innovation Centres has been recognised for his outstanding work in making the facilities such a success.
Businesses in Plymouth have secured over £1 million of investment thanks to Outset Finance, a service that helps businesses to identify, prepare for and secure vital sources of funding.
Business and regional leaders heard first hand from one of the UK's best known and most inspirational business figures about the need for innovation in Plymouth to be driven by a competitive spirit and a consistent drive to want to do things better.
MPS have warned that the 'extraordinary success' of the UK's creative industries may be jeopardised by any dilution of intellectual property rights and the failure to tackle online piracy.
A scheme to recruit business owners to volunteer as enterprise champions who will go into schools and talk to young people about running a business is included in a series of measures to make it easier to set up and grow a business.
Plymouth has been awarded the status of one of the first 'social enterprise cities' in the country.
Tamar Science Park (TSP) is preparing to host a series of business support seminars which will provide advice and insights across a range of management issues.
The Government has ruled out a controversial Severn barrage saying it accepted RegenSW's view that a balanced technology approach to realise the potential marine renewable resources in the Bristol Channel is the way forward.
University Technical College Plymouth, the brand new £8 million cutting-edge teaching institution in Devonport, has opened with the aim of nurturing some of the region's best and brightest young people in the science, technology and engineering industries.
Plymouth University Vice-Chancellor's Enterprise Ambassadors for 2013 are The Knowledge Partnership, Oliver Dickinson and Harry Bennett.
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership has outlined its spending priorities for the next round of European funding.
The latest round of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is now open following the announcement in the June Spending Round of an additional £600m. Up to £300m will be available, with selected bidders being announced in Spring 2014.
Energy secretary Ed Davey today argued the case for the safe and responsible exploration of shale gas in the UK, in line with the UK's climate change targets.
Wave Hub, the offshore renewable energy test facility in Cornwall, has applied for consent to install and operate a floating wind platform demonstrator.
The West of England Local Enterprise Partnership social enterprise network is bidding for the area to become recognised nationally as the social enterprise city.
August's survey of UK service providers signalled continued strong growth of activity and new business with activity rising at sharpest rate since December 2006.
A £6.6m community Energy Centre to drive sustainability and low carbon training in the South West has been launched in Paignton.
Five transport schemes across Devon and Somerset have got a green light from the LEP's Local Transport Board - the new body charged with funding major schemes in the area.
Applications are invited from public and private bodies, NGOs, universities and research institutes to help boost access to finance for eco-innovative companies.
Up to £5k funding is available for for start-up, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to work with an external expert to gain the knowledge to innovate and grow.
Lending from banks taking part in the Funding for Lending scheme (FLS) gathered pace in the second quarter of the year, the Bank of England has said.
Contracts totalling more than £100m will be available when permission is granted to build an offshore wind farm off the South West coast nearly twice the size of the London Array.
A lack of political leadership is undermining business confidence and the UK's ability to compete in the global green market, according to a Green Alliance Report.
The CBI has called for a major push on energy efficiency, urging the Government to streamline overlapping policies and for companies to step up action on energy efficiency to cut bottom line costs, manage risks and open up growth opportunities.
The Institute of Directors (IoD) has urged ministers to abandon the "grand folly" of the £50bn HS2 high-speed rail project, saying little more than a quarter of its members believe it will prove value for money.
Plans to improve the access for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to universities and identifying local areas of strength to help shape regional growth plans, will be published later this year.
Government and business have agreed a long-term strategy that will strengthen the UK's position in the offshore wind industry. The multi-million pound investment has the potential to unlock £7 billion in the economy by 2020.
The Coastal Communities Fund is to be expanded by 5% to £29 million next year and extended until 2016, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has announced.
The CBI has raised its growth forecasts for 2013 and 2014 as the recovery begins to gather some short-term momentum.
A new campaign which is aiming to produce a further 1,000 apprenticeships for young people in Cornwall has been launched.
Creative England is offering interest-free loans of between £60,000 and £100,000 to SMEs with demonstrable high growth potential and with the commercial acumen to deliver profitable content which will make a step change in their development.
A one million pound programme providing expertise and grants for emerging and established games companies in the South West has been launched by Creative England.
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership has appointment four new directors from the public sector to its Board.
The Government wants the UK to become a world leader in agricultural science and technology following the launch of a new strategy to deliver sustainable, healthy and affordable food for future generations.
Employers could be funded directly to purchase the apprenticeship training they want as part of proposals which will put businesses in the driving seat, Business Secretary Vince Cable announced.
The region's jobs market is the best performing in the country, new unemployment figures have revealed.
One of the world's largest lenders, the European Investment Bank, has adopted new guidelines to reinforce support for investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy grids.
Electricity production from renewable energy sources in 2012 was up by almost 20% on the previous year and accounted for over 11% of all UK electricity generated in the year.
A majority of renewables experts do not believe the £3 billion invested in the Green Investment Bank (GIB) is sufficient to help accelerate the UK's transition to a more green economy.
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is to fund the new independent 'What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth'.
Lloyds Banking Group has a £25m Regional Growth Fund to assist businesses create growth and sustainable employment.
A successful partnership that brings together promising businesses and successful entrepreneurs along with government and private sector investment has been extended across the UK, Business Minister Michael Fallon has announced.
The Government has published details of the draft Electricity Market Reform (EMR) Delivery Plan which it says will increase investor certainty and deliver £110bn of investment into energy infrastructure.
The community around the proposed twin-reactor at Hinkley Point nuclear plant in Somerset could receive £128m in benefits.
Innovative plans to boost economic growth are going before the four West of England councils and the Local Enterprise Partnership, as they consider formally adopting a unique growth incentive City Region Deal with government this month.
The Formation Zones (FZs) in Plymouth have achieved the UK Business Incubation Inspire (UKBI) accreditation, recognising national best practice in the delivery of business incubation.
Businesses in Plymouth and the Westcountry peninsula will benefit from £4 million funding awarded to the Plymouth City Deal partnership.
A further 16 companies have been successful in applying for grants from the Plymouth University Western Morning News Growth Fund (PWGF2).
Plymouth University has become the first higher education institution in the country to join an elite global group of entrepreneurship educators.
Policy briefing from the University of Bath's new Institute for Policy Research
Renewable energy capacity in South West England grows 50% in year to reach 1 gigawatt
Plymouth University has been named one of world's leading modern universities rising 7 places to 53 in the prestigious Times Higher Education100 Under 50 2013 world rankings.
The plan to build a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point has moved forward with an offer from the Government of £10bn of guarantees to investors.
The Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly local enterprise partnership (LEP) is to receive the largest share of European funding for economic development.
Rural communities across the South West that want to generate their own clean green power are to be supported with the launch of a £15 million nationwide Government fund.
A growing body of evidence has been released in recent weeks which finally may point towards some growing momentum in the economy, says the South West Observatory (SWO).
With more than 2,400 staff across 100 key global markets, no other organisation is better equipped than UK Trade & Investment to help connect your business overseas.
Entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and products in energy efficiency, storage and low carbon generation can today apply for a share of £19million of Government funding.
Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership's application for funding for the Enterprise Zone Business Park has taken a positive step forward.
Two Cornish companies have won an international contract to work on a multi-million pound project to develop a floating wind turbine at Wave Hub, the offshore renewable energy test facility.
The USA is the largest and, in many ways, the most complex healthcare market in the world. The USA spends $2.7 billion per year on healthcare.
Santander's Social Enterprise Development Awards opened on 3 June with an increased number of prizes available this year for social enterprises in the South West of England seeking a financial boost to help them expand.
As many as 40 new factories will be needed to build the components for the number of new British windfarms envisaged under the Government's renewable energy plans.
Growth prospects among English manufacturing SMEs is at a twelve month high according to the latest Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) Barometer, which reveals nearly two thirds (64%) of companies questioned are expecting to increase sales over the next six months.
The proposal to build a Severn Barrage has been rejected by MPs who say it's 'no knight in shining armour for UK renewables'.
The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership has named Chris Garcia as its newly appointed Chief Executive.
Got a great business project that could make Europe greener but don't know how to get it off the ground?
A total of 23 MPs demonstrated support for the development of a world-leading renewable energy industry in the South West, when they signed up to the UK's first regional renewable energy manifesto at Westminster.
Twenty-four per cent of UK SME employers in 2012 thought of themselves as social enterprises and had a combined income of £217.7 billion.
Culture Secretary Maria Miller has formed a Task force to consider how women can make a greater contribution to the economy.
6 Rifles, the South West‟s local TA unit will be running staff development training for local businesses completely free of charge.
More small businesses than ever are facing the threat of losing confidential information through cyber attacks, according to research published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
You're Hired! Plymouth is the city's leading business and employment skills competition for sixth formers, and has been pursuing its annual search for "Plymouth‟s most employable 17 year old".
Plans for the first of ten sites to be developed as part of Plymouth City Council's 'Get Plymouth Building' scheme have been unveiled.
Plymouth University's Students' Union (UPSU) has won gold in the Green Impact Students' Union scheme for the second year running celebrating its sustainable and environmentally friendly ethos.
One of Devon's oldest family businesses has joined forces with the University of Exeter and a world class business school in Switzerland to pioneer a scheme which will benefit hundreds of rural family businesses across Devon and Somerset.
A potentially revolutionary device for generating marine renewable energy has been awarded a £190,000 development grant by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB).
The Government is to provide £32m towards the construction of a new town in Devon.
The West of England Growth Fund has been created with funding from the Government's Regional Growth Fund. It is worth £25 million and is available to support a range of new and additional business activities.
The Crown Estate has announced plans to lease further wave and tidal sites in a bid to encourage and accelerate technology development.
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is calling on local residents, businesses and the voluntary and community sectors from across Cornwall and Isles of Scilly to help shape the future of the region as it lines up for future European funding.
BT has started to source 100 per cent of its electricity in the UK from renewable energy, after signing an agreement with npower, making it one of the largest UK commercial companies to do so.
Easier access to £230 billion worth of public sector contracts and removing the age cap on the Government's Start-Up loans are among a number of measures to boost micro-business growth put forward by the Prime Minister's Enterprise Adviser, Lord Young.
The Heart of the South West (HotSW) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has welcomed the announcement made by Transport Secretary of State, Patrick McLoughlin, that Government funding has been approved for a new rail station in Devon.
Global manufacturing executives rank the UK as one of the top destinations for future profit growth, ahead of established manufacturing economies such as Japan and Germany, as well as emerging economies like India and Brazil.
The Vice-Chancellor's Enterprise Awards - now in their fifth year - have become firmly established as a prestigious annual showcase event in Plymouth.
Bristol China Partnership, China-Britain Business Council and UK Trade & Investment are inviting businesses from the South West of England to attend a comprehensive programme in some of China's most exciting cities.
An ambitious Manifesto to create 34,000 jobs in the South West renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors has been launched by RegenSW.
Is your company involved in the offshore wind turbine supply chain? Do you think you could take advantage of this lucrative and growing sector?
Homes and businesses are looking to invest in their properties, improving energy efficiency and lowering bills.
Tamar Science Park is on course to see 70 new jobs created in the next 12 months as it celebrates record occupancy and its most successful ever set of trading results.
A total of £21million has been awarded to entrepreneurs to help bring a range of new and innovative low carbon products to market, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced.
Temple Studios, next to Temple Meads railway station, has been redeveloped by London-based property company TCN UK.
Nine small and medium sized businesses in the South West have been granted a total of £843,223 in the first round of Plymouth University's growth fund awards.
This informative and inspirational free event is being organised by Somerset County Council, the Connecting Devon and Somerset Programme and Plymouth University. It will focus on new models of innovation and collaboration.
An innovative £1-million fund has been launched to help existing businesses in Torbay with their expansion plans and attract new investment to the area.
Recent business intelligence from across the region paints a mixed picture of current trading conditions: there are glimmers of optimism about future growth prospects and business activity appears to have stabilised; however, levels remain relatively depressed overall and are yet to show tangible recovery.
Aerohub @ Newquay Cornwall Airport Enterprise Zone was today established as one of the largest planning free development areas in the UK after it was awarded its second Local Development Order (LDO).
A Plymouth initiative has been introduced to give city-based exporters and those considering selling their goods or services overseas for the first time, the advice and support needed to help them succeed.
The desire for flexible working amongst staff has resulted in more businesses in the South West moving towards new mobile technologies, an IT study has found.
Up to 30 new skilled jobs will be created when Apple Aviation expands its operations to Aerohub @ Newquay Cornwall Airport, one of the South West's largest development sites.
Never has there been a greater and immediate opportunity for the regions and entrepreneurs to control their own destinies, says DCBC chairman Tim Jones.
An independent Cornish wholesale butcher has secured a £143,000 investment from the Business Catalyst Fund to support its continued growth and expansion into export markets.
After 37 years of designing vehicles, Steve Harper's latest project is to take the car right back to its sustainable roots.
An award-winning skincare product company, and a pair of enterprises working with ex-service personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, are among the first clients to move into Cornwall's brand new state-of-the-art business facility focused upon the health and wellbeing sectors.
The Somerset economy is poised for a massive boost following the Government's decision to give planning consent for the construction of Hinkley Point C, the first new nuclear power station in the UK since 1995.
The Government has accepted 81 of the 89 recommendations to encourage UK economic growth that Lord Heseltine made in his report Growth: No Stone Unturned.
The Government has pledged to totally reform UK apprenticeships after accepting Doug Richard's report into the training of young people.
The third and final piece of the £45 million innovation jigsaw for Cornwall has been placed - with a mission to give the Human Health and Wellbeing sector a booster injection of entrepreneurship.
Is localism primarily about the delivery of national objectives in a way which best recognises and responds to local circumstances, or primarily about the delivery of local objectives and priorities in the context of national circumstances?
The Government does not have a coherent strategy to support the commercialisation of technological innovation in the UK and is failing to secure the full economic benefits of our world-class science base, the Science and Technology Committee has warned.
Business services, distribution and logistics, construction and property, and creative media are the sectors that have growth potential in Devon, according to the latest research.
A transport survey conducted last month by South West Chambers of Commerce (SWCC) has revealed that the recent disruptions to rail and road connections may have cost businesses in the South West of England in excess of £165 million.
City Deal is not a panacea that will automatically transform the region's economy; we will have to work hard for this regeneration and be innovative and pioneering. To help us we will need progressive partnerships that are not only local but global.
Aerohub @ Newquay Cornwall Airport will play host to The BLOODHOUND Project for the UK testing phase of their World Land Speed Record car.
The UK's two Marine Energy Parks will today sign a milestone agreement to work together to support the development of the UK wave and tidal industry.
City Deal is an opportunity for Plymouth to steer the region to global leadership in marine science and technology and reap the rewards of sustainable economic regeneration, writes Professor Julian Beer.
An innovative project that delivers free copies of digital course books to the smartphones, tablets and laptops of students at Plymouth University has won a prestigious national award.
Plymouth has been shortlisted to get the freedom, powers and tools needed to shape the city's and the region's economic future.
A new Marine Innovation Centre is to be launched in Plymouth connecting industry expertise, academic research and facilities to drive business growth and jobs in the South West's marine and maritime and renewable energy sectors.
Work begins next week on a £240,000 improvement programme at Sutton Harbour.
In the days of double-digit energy price rises and a warning by Ofgem boss Alistair Buchanan of more to come, it's more than welcome news to hear of a scheme that will reduce fuel costs as well as creating jobs.
GAIN Growth Hub: the new team is deeply immersed in developing the tools for their trade which will be launched in April.
