The Exeter Daily - Devon

South West food & drink experts serve up success to FUEL region’s small businesses

News Desk — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 20:10:12 +0000

Sell-out business growth event from food & drink experts KW Marketing returns this September for a second serving, bringing the region’s foodie brands together ahead of Christmas and 2025

South West business growth event, FUEL Live, returns on Thursday 26 September, to inspire, empower and connect the region’s foodie brands hungry for knowledge as the busiest and most lucrative months of the year approach.

After a sell-out success in April, huge demand has driven the second event in less than six months, hosted by leading foodie experts KW Marketing.

Taking place at The Forge at Winslade Manor, Exeter on 26th September(1.30-4.30pm), FUEL Live will help brands get clarity on their success strategies, fuel their growth and map out their marketing. Utilising the expertise of the KW Marketing team alongside recognised industry leaders, FUEL Live offers all the ingredients for brands looking to build their business to bigger, better things in 2025 and beyond.

Keynote speakers include Nirali Mankodi from Superfoodio with the brand’s story of building a successful business in the food and drink industry, Thomas Lomas from Greendale Farmshop covering their growth and brand-building journey as well as tangible lessons in crafting the perfect email marketing campaign, harnessing business growth and selling on social from the KW Marketing team.

The event is also supported by Food Marketing Club, Taste Of The West, Food Drink Devon, RAW PR, and Girl Behind The Lense.

Born and bred in Devon, KW Marketing, led by CEO Kate Williams, has become the ‘go to’ digital marketing agency for food and drink brands in the South West and across the UK. It is renowned for helping its clients to become household names, catapult their income, and cook up loyal followings across digital channels.

The second FUEL event picks up from the success of the first earlier this year, which united nearly 50 businesses and helped to set them up for success ahead of the busy summer season. The last event was attended by well-known brands including Hobbs Chocolates, Quickes Cheese, Foxcombe Bakehouse, Devon Distillery, Boundless Activated Snacking, Owens Organic Coffee and more.

Founder and CEO of KW Marketing, Kate Williams said: “We saw huge success earlier this year for our first FUEL Live event, it was so much more than a networking event and gave huge value to those that attended, so we knew we’d be bringing it back!

“We were overwhelmed by the feedback so planning a second FUEL event ahead of Christmas was a no-brainer. We are so excited to see businesses from across the region and beyond come together to learn, share what is and isn’t working, and unlock the power of digital marketing to make the rest of this year and 2025 filled with growth and success. The UK’s small foodie brands deserve to shine a light on all they do, and that’s what we help them with.”

Kate added: “Keynote talks from Superfoodio and the Greendale Farmshop as well as our own team at KW Marketing offer money-can’t-buy insights. We bring together the best in the biz to give foodie brands and their passionate teams lessons and tips that they can put into action right away to fuel big results as we head into Christmas. This is always the busiest time of year and the BEST opportunity for small businesses to be seen, heard and recognised for what they do so it was a no-brainer to bring Fuel Live back for a second serving this September!”

The ultimate champion for food and drink brands in the South West, KW Marketing is well established as a powerhouse client partner. Founded by digital marketing expert Kate Williams in Exeter in 2017, it has fast become the ‘go to’ digital marketing agency in the South West for food and drink businesses, with award nominations flooding in, including ‘Small Business of the Year’ and ‘Fearless Leader Award’, and Kate celebrated in Business Insider South West’s 42 under 42 powerhouse list earlier this year.

With offices in both Devon and London, the team offers full-service digital marketing expertise, including email marketing, paid and organic social media, SEO, website design, strategic consultancy, workshops and masterclasses to powerfully grow brands, deliver positive impact and help them to thrive in competitive markets.

For more information and to book tickets for FUEL, visit here: https://kwmarketinguk.co.uk/product/fuel-your-food-drink-brand-2025-growth-blueprint/

It's World Alzheimer’s Month - Have you Heard of Young Onset Dementia?

Gina Awad - Exeter Dementia Action Alliance Lead — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 11:11:41 +0000

When most hear the word dementia it’s often Alzheimer’s disease and older people they think about. In fact there are over 100 types of dementia.

However for this piece I want to raise awareness and touch upon one of the more rare types - Young Onset Dementia (YOD) which means the person diagnosed is under 65.

This presents many challenges such as the person may have a young family, be working and also struggle to get a definitive diagnosis.

It is estimated there are over 70,800 people living with Young Onset Dementia in the UK.

Raising awareness is key.

"Dementia is described as ‘young onset’ when symptoms develop before the age of 65, usually between 30 to 65 years of age. It is also referred to as ‘early onset’ or ‘working age’ dementia, but these terms can cause confusion.

‘Early onset’ can be interpreted as the early stages of dementia and ‘working age’ is now less defined as retirement age is more flexible.

As dementia is frequently and wrongly, thought of as a condition that is just associated with old age, the early symptoms of young onset dementia are not always recognised and may be attributed to other causes including depression, stress, menopause, physical health problems and relationship issues.

This can lead to a significant delay (on average four years) in getting an accurate diagnosis and access to appropriate support and can have a negative impact on not just the person with dementia’s life but also the whole family.

Over the past few years I have met a number of people who waited between two and five years to obtain a definitive diagnosis of Young Onset Dementia and were initially misdiagnosed. This is partly due to lack of knowledge, and the person presenting in more unusual ways making it more difficult for loved ones and GPs to recognise what is causing the symptoms".

Three years ago Sarah approached me concerned about her mum Joy, who was 58-years-old. We chatted and she relayed to me a few situations which were beginning to worry her more and more.

Dementia didn’t enter Sarah’s mind, why would it, her mum was 58. It was a disease she knew little about but always assumed “only older people lived with it”. Joy was presenting with symptoms such as confusion, forgetting work meetings and events she would always remember, as well as difficulty following conversations.

I gently suggested a visit to her GP would be worthwhile. Broaching the issue with her mum was tough but eventually she agreed. After nine months of monitoring and a referral to the Memory Clinic Joy was diagnosed with Young Onset Dementia.

Fortunately her employer was understanding and with reasonable adjustments in place she has continued to work.

Dementia is the biggest health and social care challenge of the century and there is currently no cure, therefore information is vital and knowledge is power.

From over a decade learning about dementia and working with families, I understand the fear around the prospect of a diagnosis, but please know there is support available. In the meantime our hope is to one day find a cure.

Do check out the links below as they are extremely informative and offer a wealth of resources…

https://www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/young-onset-dementia/what-is-young-onset-dementia/

https://www.raredementiasupport.org/

I am a dementia consultant for the Exeter Dementia Action Alliance and an advocate for families affected by dementia supporting them to navigate the complex health and social care system.

Developer donates £500 to Exmouth Men’s Shed to support vital community work

News Desk — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 22:01:17 +0000

As part of its commitment to create a positive legacy in the community, the team behind the McCarthy Stone Retirement Living Plus development, The Curlews on Merchant Avenue, has donated £500 to a vital community resource in the town, Exmouth Men’s Shed.

Exmouth Men’s Shed provides support and a safe and friendly meeting place for local people who might otherwise find themselves isolated and lonely. Located at Clayton House on Salterton Road, members are encouraged to pursue practical interests and enjoy ‘making and mending’, with further opportunities to be part of creative projects individually, jointly, or for the benefit of the wider community

Members of the Exmouth Men’s Shed have most recently been busy experimenting with woodwork and carpentry but offer a space for all skill sets to be explored - but with that, funding has worn thin.

Wanting to give back to the local community, the retirement developer then stepped in, and McCarthy Stone donated £500 to support its endeavours to bring people together and foster connection.

Tim, Head of Operations at Exmouth Men’s Shed, said: “We can’t thank McCarthy Stone enough for their generous donation, which came at just the right time. Exmouth Men’s Shed has become a key part of the community, working closely with a number of schools and groups to provide support and create a safe and fun environment in which to share skills and try something new.

“We’re hoping to install various fixtures and fittings to allow our member to get involved in more skills. Using the donation from McCarthy Stone, we can purchase the materials and equipment we need. This means we can provide members with a better equipped facility, which will ultimately help them with their own projects, as well as those that will benefit the Exmouth community.”

Verity McKay, Divisional Marketing Manager at McCarthy Stone, comments: “Supporting and engaging with the communities close to our developments is a key focus at McCarthy Stone and we are delighted to lend a helping hand to Exmouth Men’s Shed, which has been a prominent feature in the local town.

“As a company specialising in the development of friendly and welcoming communities for retirees, the happiness and welfare of older people is at the heart of everything we do. This makes initiatives such as this a great fit for us. We look forward to seeing the Men’s Shed continue its work in supporting the wider community through its range of activities.”

Set just two miles from Exmouth’s lively town centre and the beautiful Sandy Bay beaches, The Curlews feature a stunning selection of 59 one and two-bedroom retirement apartments, where the over 70s can enjoy an independent lifestyle within a vibrant and social community of like-minded people.

Homeowners enjoy stylish communal facilities, including a well-appointed lounge, wellness suite, bistro, and stunning landscaped gardens. A handy guest suite also means friends and family can enjoy privacy when they come to stay.

A dedicated Estates Management team will be on-site around the clock to provide tailored domestic support and personal care to suit individual needs, granting retirees the independence they desire while ensuring support is readily available. Further peace of mind comes from a 24-hour emergency call system and the very latest security features including video door entry and an intruder alarm.

A range of purchase options are available at The Curlews, such as the Shared Ownership scheme in partnership with Homes England, which allows retirees to enjoy the benefits of Retirement Living Plus without committing to the full purchase price. For example, retirees can pay just 50% of the property value of an apartment at the development, and monthly rent payable on the remaining 50%, with two-bedroom retirement apartments available from £182,500*.

More than nine out of 10 customers would recommend McCarthy Stone to a friend, ensuring it has received the full Five Star award for customer satisfaction from the Home Builders Federation. McCarthy Stone is the only UK housebuilder of any size or type to achieve this rating every year it has taken part in the survey.

To find out more about Retirement Living Plus at The Curlews, please call 0800 153 3076 or visit www.mccarthystone.co.uk/the-curlews.

*Shared ownership prices are subject to availability. For terms and conditions, click here: www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk/what-we-offer/occupancy-options/shared-ownership

Ambulance service and the Prince’s Trust to host a three-day career access course for young people in Devon

News Desk — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 20:12:41 +0000

The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) will be hosting a three-day career access course in partnership with the Prince’s Trust, for young people aged 18 – 30 years old, at the Trust’s headquarters in Exeter from Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 September.

The course will offer individuals an insight into three job roles at the region’s ambulance service, Emergency Medical Dispatcher (999 call taker), Vehicle Preparation Operative and an Administrator.

Anyone who attends the course will be guaranteed a space on an assessment day to interview for a position at SWASFT.

This is the first access course being run in Devon, after successful courses in Bristol and Dorset, where over 120 young people attended over three days. 79% were offered a role with the ambulance service after successfully completing the course.

A previous candidate who attended a course, said: “It’s really interactive, you get to make new friends and socialise with people with similar interests and values as yourself. You can be yourself and are made to believe you can do it.

“It’s super informative. It gives you great insights into the job you’re applying for, you can ask questions and get responses straight away as opposed to having to wait for emails. I’ve met some great people too, and loved the team that took part in the programme.”

Georgia Boot, Assistant HR Services Manager at SWASFT, said: “It has been the highlight of my career so far to break down barriers and create opportunities for young people in our communities to start their employment with us. They are the future of the ambulance service and I believe they have long careers ahead of them with us!”

Casper from the Prince’s Trust, said: “SWASFT has been excellent to work with, their teams are friendly, compassionate and share my passions of breaking down barriers to employment and creating a diverse healthcare service. We’re delighted to work with SWASFT to offer these amazing opportunities to young people and support them in career development”.

The roles being offered as part of the career access course are integral to SWASFT delivering dedicated patient care.

Emergency Medical Dispatchers are the first point of contact to the ambulance service for people experiencing a medical emergency. When they receive a 999 call, they are responsible for recording patient information and offering advice or reassurance.

The details that they input help to categorise the seriousness of the illness or injury, to ensure that the patient receives the most appropriate care.

Vehicle Preparation Operatives ensure ambulances are ready to treat patients. Main duties include detailed cleaning and infection prevention and control activities, checking and inspecting medical devices, restocking consumables, refuelling, and driving vehicles across various locations.

For more information and to sign up for the course, please visit -https://sectors.princes-trust.org.uk/health-social-care/courses/south-west-swas-10-Sep .

Local environmental charity launches Defend Devon campaign

Sharon Goble — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 14:18:00 +0000

Devon CPRE, the local branch of the countryside charity CPRE, has taken to the road this summer, encouraging people who care about the future of Devon’s countryside to get involved in its latest campaign and become Devon Defenders.

The charity has taken its rallying cry to three agricultural shows in different parts of the county- Dartmoor’s Chagford Show, the Yealmpton Show in the South Hams and the North Devon show at Umberleigh.

Defend Devon is an overarching campaign by the local charity to protect our county’s unique landscapes from greedy developers and bad planning. It will run alongside Devon CPRE’s long-standing Grass not Glass campaign against solar farms on agricultural land, and the charity’s ongoing fight to combat the Rural Housing Crisis by campaigning for the right kind of homes in the right places at prices our children and grandchildren can genuinely afford.

Devon CPRE Chair Steve Crowther says, “We’ve taken our Defend Devon campaign out to county shows this summer because the kind of people who will back us flock to events like these. It’s very clear from the hundreds of people we have talked to on our stand in recent weeks, and the new members we have recruited, that there’s widespread agreement that Devon needs protecting.

“Every year Devon CPRE fights more than 100 unsuitable planning applications to preserve our precious landscapes and farmland. Why? For several reasons. We want our county’s world-leading pasture land used to produce food. It makes sense to put solar panels on rooftops and brownfield sites rather than on productive farmland.

“We also know there’s a need for new homes in Devon, but not just any new builds. What Devon needs are homes our young people can afford to live in, not more luxury boltholes and Airbnbs that put real communities further and further out of the reach of the younger generation.

“If you care about these issues, love Devon’s incredible landscapes and want to protect them from inappropriate development of one kind or another, join Devon CPRE and become a Devon Defender. We need you alongside us to defend Devon and everything that makes it a wonderful place to live.”

Devon CPRE made sure it stood out from the crowd with a bright new branded gazebo and eye-catching pull-up banners to encourage people to become Devon Defenders.

Steve Crowther adds, “An annual subscription to Devon CPRE costs the price of a monthly pint for individuals. 17 pence a day, surely a small price to pay to Defend Devon? We need all the support we can get right now from individuals and from town and parish councils so that we can Defend Devon.”

Food Drink Devon Announces This Year’s Exceptional Finalists

News Desk — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 23:07:17 +0000

As anticipation starts to build for this year's annual Food Drink Devon Awards in October, Food Drink Devon has unveiled the shortlist of finalists for its prestigious awards. Since entries closed in April, a distinguished panel of judges and industry experts has evaluated an extraordinary number of entries sampling over 340 products, visiting 107 hospitality venues, exploring 17 retail outlets and experiencing nine training schools to identify the best that Devon has to offer.

Winners will be announced during the organisation’s glittering black tie award ceremony on Monday 7th October at Sandy Park, home of Premiership rugby team Exeter Chiefs. Now in its 13th year, the esteemed industry accolades celebrate the best food and drink the region has to offer, with categories open to both members and non-members of Food Drink Devon including the 'Producer Awards', 'Retail Awards', ‘Hospitality Awards’ and ‘Sustainability Pioneer Award’.

Commenting on the awards, Food Drink Devon board director, Jack Pickering, says: “We are thrilled to celebrate the exceptional quality and diversity of this year's entrants into our awards. From innovative products to outstanding venues, Devon's food and drink community spirit shone brightly during our 2024 judging. It's a testament to the hard work and creativity of everyone in the industry. We have so much to be proud of and we can't wait to honour these achievements at Sandy Park on the 7th of October."

Shortlisted businesses in the ‘Product Awards’ cover a huge variety of delights including sweet and savoury, meat, preserves, jams and chutneys, ales, ciders, wines and confectionery, as well as many others. Finalists are also automatically in the running for ‘Food Product’, ‘Drink Product’, ‘New Product of the Year’ and new for 2024, ‘Devon Wine of the Year’. Some of this year’s product finalists include; Anton’s Butchers (Colyton), Creamo's Craft Ice Cream (Ashburton), Ebb Tides (Sidmouth), Shepherd Shack (Dawlish), Stone’s Honey (Ivybridge) and TORS Vodka (Okehampton).

In the running for the new ‘Devon Wine of the Year’ award, where the grapes are grown in Devon and the wine produced and bottled in Devon, are Pebblebed Vineyards (Topsham), Huxbear Vineyard (Chudleigh), Sandridge Barton Wines (Stoke Gabriel), Swanaford Vineyard (Exeter) and Venn Valley Vineyard (Barnstaple).

Food Drink Devon board director and wine writer and presenter, Susy Atkins comments on the drink entries; “The number of entries in the drinks section of this year’s awards was much higher than ever before and our expert judges, including myself, were really impressed by the overall standard. Devon's drinks scene is diverse and inspiring. The standard of the Devon wines was excellent and we are delighted with the first winner of our new ‘Devon Wine of the Year’ award.”

In the ‘Retail Awards’ entries have been whittled down for the ‘Best Retailer’ and ‘Best Online Retailer’ ranging from top-end delicatessens to village stores. Finalists include Aune Valley Meat (Loddiswell), SALT @ The Salutation Inn (Topsham), Ilfracombe Chocolate Emporium (Ilfracombe), Copplestone Farm Shop (Crediton) and Devon Hampers (Lifton) as well as others.

The hospitality section of the awards sees establishments fighting it out in six fiercely contested categories including ‘Best Fine Dining Restaurant’, ‘Best Restaurant’, ‘Best Hotel Restaurant’, ‘Best Pub’, ‘Best Café’ and ‘Best Takeaway’. Shortlisted establishments in the fine dining restaurant, restaurant and pub categories include The Fig Tree @36 (Plymouth), Two Bridges Hotel (Dartmoor), The Duck at Yeoford (Crediton), Journey’s End Inn (Kingsbridge), La Mar (Exmouth), The Tors (Belstone) and Greyhound Country Inn (Honiton) and others. Finalists in the café and takeaway categories include Alder Vineyard (Okehampton), The Bakehouse Cullompton, Coldharbour Field Kitchen (Ottery Saint Mary) and Fika Coffee House (Kingsbridge) and others.

Finalists for the best ‘Training School’ award include Ashburton Cookery School & Chefs Academy (Ashburton), Devon Cookery School (Cullompton), Devon Gin & Rum School (Dartington), High Grange Devon (Axminster), One Mile Bakery Exeter and Owens Organic Coffee (Ivybridge).

Food Drink Devon’s ‘Sustainability Pioneer Award’ shines a light on businesses going that extra mile in their endeavours to be environmentally friendly. This year’s finalists include a broad spectrum of producers, hospitality establishments, retailers and training schools including Devon Farm Kitchen (Torquay), Cottage Beer Project (Tiverton), Frobishers (Exeter), Hattiers Rum (Mothecombe) and The Black River Inn (Beaworthy) and more.

Covering food production, preparation, retailing, cooking and service, the Food Drink Devon Awards honour businesses demonstrating a consistent commitment to quality, sustainability, provenance, excellent customer service and support for their local communities and other local businesses. Judging for the awards is carried out by a panel of independent and unbiased experts which this year included Rebecca Mitchell, Marc Millon, Fiona Beckett, Andy Clarke, Orlando Murrin, Steve Ashworth and Sue Stoneman. All results and winners are verified by an independent adjudicator, with entrants receiving the opportunity to benefit from invaluable product feedback provided by the panel.

During the celebratory evening of Devon’s finest food and drink, along with the presentation of the awards, attendees will enjoy a drinks reception and three-course meal created using produce from Food Drink Devon members with all the fruit and vegetables provided by awards sponsor West Country Fruit Sales. At the awards’ ceremony the dinner will be served by the current cohort of students at the Michael Caines Academy at Exeter College.

A special thank you goes to sponsors of the awards DCW Polymers, West Country Fruit Sales, Empire Services, Caterfood, Bays Brewery, Ocean City Media, Vigo, Impact Design & Marketing, Vale Labels, inkREADible Labels, Stephens Scown, PL1 Events and Hedgerow Print.

Food Drink Devon is committed to increasing the county’s profile, both nationally and internationally and represents a membership of Devon's leading food and drink producers, speciality retailers, hospitality and catering businesses. Through working with like-minded businesses, together they showcase Devon as a county where the use of fantastic quality, seasonal and local produce is standard. The organisation and its members share a commitment to enjoy, inspire and discover more about food and drink. Look out for their green heart logo which is carried by over 380 producers and businesses across Devon.

For a full list of shortlisted producers please see below or visit www.fooddrinkdevon.co.uk/awards. For more information on Food Drink Devon please visit www.fooddrinkdevon.co.uk and follow @FoodDrinkDevon on X, Facebook and Instagram.