The Exeter Daily - exeter business

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/

25 volunteer days up for grabs as Optix celebrates milestone anniversary

Sue Cade — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 10:55:40 +0000

Exeter digital marketing specialist Optix Solutions is marking its 25th anniversary with a very special pledge.

Each member of staff will be given a day over the next 12 months to use for volunteering with a local charity or CIC.

Optix MD Rob Stevens explained: “The idea struck us as an especially positive way to mark this really important milestone - and fittingly, we have 25 members of staff!

“At the heart of our business is a genuine commitment to social responsibility; we’re currently supporting a local charity pro bono with rebranding and website work and providing mentoring for another charity which promotes social mobility for young people. All Optix staff align with our core philosophy, and with this initiative we’re giving them all the opportunity to get involved.”

Rob added that while some of the team already have charities close to their hearts they will want to volunteer with, Optix is keen to hear from other charities or CICs who would appreciate an extra pair of hands for a day.

“We know there are so many ways volunteers help out – whether it’s sorting through donations, assisting in a kitchen, stewarding at an event or even digging over a vegetable patch. We’ll fulfil as many requests as we can.”

Optix was founded in July 1999 by friends Alastair Banks and James Dawkins, who met at the University of Exeter and who are both still very much involved with the company. Reaching this 25 year milestone is a notable achievement, especially as Optix has never sought external funding, but instead remained in private ownership.

The company has weathered several major challenges over the years, from the Recessions of 2008 and 2023 to the massive impact of the pandemic, during which the business successfully battened down the hatches so it could retain all its employees.

Rob says “We came out the other side of the pandemic as a much stronger entity, and the past couple of years have seen us achieve impressive results, developing a strong portfolio of both national and global clients.”

As well as the charitable pledge, anniversary celebration plans include a friends and family day to be held at The Forge at Winslade Manor later this month.

Any Exeter charities or CICs who would appreciate a volunteer for the day should email info@optixsolutions.co.uk or call 01392 667766.

Robert Williams celebrates a quarter century... and launches Force Cancer Charity support

ExpertsinPropertyPR — Wed, 24 May 2023 09:54:09 +0000

Robert Williams Estate Agents, the Experts in Property office on Southernhay West in Exeter, this month celebrates its 25th Anniversary. To mark the occasion, the busy estate agency is holding a party for clients, colleagues and industry contacts and is raising funds for Force, the local cancer support charity.

It all started back in 1998… Having worked for independent estate agencies both locally and in London for 15 years, Chartered Surveyor Robert took a dislike for corporate governance when Stratton Creber became part of the corporate agency Lloyds/TSB. It was then he decided to embark on his own business venture and Robert Williams Ltd was established, consisting of only Robert and a secretary.

With the support of a young Simon Havens and then Steve Alford, who spent more than 12 years with the agency and became a full partner in the business, Robert Williams Estate Agency continued to thrive and expand.

Meanwhile, in 2009 after achieving a First-Class Honours Degree at Manchester/Vancouver Universities, Robert’s eldest son Oliver joined his father in the agency. After Oliver subsequently gained a Master’s Degree in Exeter, Robert was confident in his son’s ability to oversee the business, allowing him to take a back seat in day-to-day proceedings.

Oliver has now been at the helm for more than a decade and the team is stronger than ever with Associate Director Graham Coton managing the sales side of the business with Suzanne and Alice, and Sarah Coleman heading up the lettings team of Madeline, Kim, Katy and Zara.

The Robert Williams auction department is a recent addition, run by the highly-regarded industry treasure Richard Copus, and with his 40 years’ experience and RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) membership, Robert retains a directorship, carrying out professional valuations for The Diocese and other clients.

To celebrate the 25-year milestone, the agency is holding a champagne reception for clients, colleagues and industry contacts at its offices on Friday 2nd June; a brand-new version of the Robert Williams logo has been designed to mark the occasion; and the agency is pleased to launch a new pledge to donate for the rest of the year £150 for each completed property sale to Exeter-based cancer charity, Force, which works locally to support anyone affected by cancer.

Force Cancer Charity offers counselling, complementary therapies, benefits advice, specialist physiotherapy and other health and wellbeing support to cancer patients and their families, as well as funding local research, providing equipment to improve patient care and supporting specialist nurses who deliver chemotherapy in outreach locations.

Robert Williams said: “25 years since I started the business, we continue to be a family run outfit that strives to give our clients the best possible service based on honesty, integrity, and professionalism. I truly believe that we now have our best ever team and I am confident that Oliver will continue to operate the business with the same ethos long after I retire.”

Robert Williams Estate Agents specialises in selling and letting property across Devon. During its quarter century, the agency has accumulated an excellent track record through its dedication and commitment to its buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants, combining traditional values with cutting-edge technology and marketing presentation to provide best-in-class estate and lettings agency services.

Robert Williams is a member of the Experts in Property network of more than 60 independent estate agency offices, all working together to sell more property for clients.

For further information, to book a valuation appointment or to chat with the experts about any property-related matter, pop into Robert Williams on Southernhay West in Exeter, call 01392 204800 or visit www.robertwilliams.co.uk. To browse property for sale throughout the Southwest, visit www.robertwilliams.co.uk or www.theexpertsinproperty.co.uk.

Lightfoot launches Lightfoot Vision

charleyabsolutepr — Tue, 16 May 2023 09:13:10 +0000

New road- and driver-facing cameras form part of Lightfoot’s market-leading driver coaching and rewards platform
All-in-one driver engagement and safety solution provided
Active AI and machine vision alerts prevent distracted driving
Road- and driver-facing video technology saves time and prevents costly insurance fraud
Cameras play key role in reducing harsh, risky driving, and associated accidents

Cutting-edge in-cab driver coaching technology and rewards platform, Lightfoot, has launched a suite of in-cab camera solutions that deliver an all-in-one driver safety package, enhancing the positive impact of driver engagement through its market-leading telematics technology.

Designed to build on Lightfoot’s driver-first approach, which encourages fleet vehicle users to adopt smoother, safer, and less polluting styles of driving through in-cab coaching and rewards, Lightfoot Vision helps protect drivers in the moment by actively detecting distracted driving.

Utilising AI and machine vision, the intelligent video telematics system alerts drivers to behaviours that could lead to an accident - such as failure to wear a seatbelt, use of a mobile phone, eating and drinking while driving, or smoking/vaping on the go - allowing them to self-correct to prevent possible incidents. This not only keeps drivers safe, but also helps fleets avoid the unexpected expenses of vehicle repairs and the associated downtime.

Ranging from basic road-facing cameras to advanced driver-facing dash cams, Lightfoot Vision can also be used to capture instances of harsh driving and cornering, speeding, idling, and events where drivers receive a Lightfoot penalty, with footage available to view through the Lightfoot portal.

Lightfoot Vision will not only help fleets save lives and money, but time too. The system uses AI to review footage and alert fleet managers to events that require further investigation. Scanning through thousands of hours of footage in seconds, this advanced technology removes the need for fleet managers to take a look at every driving event recorded by the cameras – many of which are often false positives - leaving them free to focus on the real issues and ensure that genuine incidents are dealt with swiftly.

In situations where an incident has occurred, Lightfoot Vision provides undeniable video evidence, building a picture of events leading up to and during a collision. This helps to not only support and protect drivers out on the road, but also to resolve legitimate disputes quickly, reducing the number of disputed claims experienced by fleets and preventing insurance fraud, while minimising expensive third-party liability investigations which can lead to hikes in premiums.

Paul Hollick, Managing Director of Lightfoot, commented: “This is something that we’ve been working on for a while, as our customers have been calling for dashcams to become a central part of the Lightfoot fleet management system. The introduction of Lightfoot Vision’s in-cab camera suite takes our ability to positively influence driver behaviour for the better to an entirely new level. It enables fleets to operate in a safe, efficient, and socially responsible way, where driver self-management, aided by nudge technology through our in-cab telematics devices, instantly and sustainably improves driving behaviour – removing the need for costly training and time-consuming data analysis at the same time as improving customer service.

“By incentivising drivers and utilising cutting-edge technology that supports and protects them, we are creating a package of prevention that minimises the potential for at-fault accidents, while giving undisputable evidence to fleet managers to counter insurance fraud. That’s vital as today’s near miss could be tomorrow's serious and costly incident. By understanding where fleet risk exists, and giving drivers the tools to reduce that, we can minimise the impact of poor, distracted, or inefficient driving, saving time, money, and lives. In addition, fleets using the Lightfoot system should also see a further improvement in MPG – or an extension of range in EVs – so we’re ensuring all bases are covered for optimum performance.”

To find out more about how Lightfoot can transform your fleet for the better, visit www.lightfoot.co.uk

Exeter Property Circle are hosting their next Networking Event in Exeter this month

Exeter Property Circle — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 08:47:49 +0000

Exeter Property Circle are hosting their next Networking Event in Exeter this month

Exeter Property Circle is a networking group for people working within property in and around Exeter.

Events are informal and a great way to meet new contacts and catch up with old ones in a friendly environment over a drink.

Please join us on 19th April at Exeter City FC for an evening of networking and drinks with Julian & Jamie.

We will be joined by Guest Speakers Julian Tagg ECFC President, Director of External Affairs & Exeter CITY Community Trust Chairman and Jamie Vittles, Chief Executive of Exeter CITY Community Trust.

Julian & Jamie will be talking all things Exeter, business and property as well as talking about the Exeter City Community Trust, one of the Charities we are happy to be supporting again this year.

Tickets are £12 and include a welcome drink on arrival.

Exeter Property Circle is non profit and all money raised is split between our 2 chosen charities, Exeter Chiefs Foundation & Exeter City Community Trust. Both charities do amazing work for our local communities so we are really pleased to be able to support them.

Anyone working within property in and around Exeter is welcome so please do spread the word and invite your colleagues along. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Approx schedule for the evening:

5.30pm - Welcome drink and Networking

6.15 pm - We hear from our Guest Speakers

6.30 onwards - More networking and drinks. The bar will be open throughout the evening so that you can continue chatting for as long as you like!

Please book your tickets on Eventbrite here

If you would like to be added to our mailing list please contact clare@exeterpropertycircle.co.uk

Exeter Property Circle April Event - An Evening with Julian & Jamie

Exeter Property Circle — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 08:21:15 +0000

Exeter Property Circle is a networking group for people working within property in and around Exeter.

Events are informal and a great way to meet new contacts and catch up with old ones in a friendly environment over a drink.

Please join us on 19th April at Exeter City FC for an evening of networking and drinks with Julian & Jamie.

In April we will be joined by Guest Speakers Julian Tagg ECFC President, Director of External Affairs & Exeter CITY Community Trust Chairman and Jamie Vittles, Chief Executive of Exeter CITY Community Trust.

Julian & Jamie will be talking all things Exeter, business and property as well as talking about the Exeter City Community Trust, one of the Charities we are happy to be supporting again this year.

Tickets are £12 and include a welcome drink on arrival.

Anyone working within property in and around Exeter is welcome so please do spread the word and invite your colleagues along. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Approx schedule for the evening:

5.30pm - Welcome drink and Networking

6.15 pm - We hear from our Guest Speakers

6.30 onwards - More networking and drinks. The bar will be open throughout the evening so that you can continue chatting for as long as you like!

Please book tickets on eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exeter-property-circle-april-event-tickets-566541269187

If you would like to be added to our mailing list please contact clare@exeterpropertycircle.co.uk

The Exeter Daily - exeter business

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

25 volunteer days up for grabs as Optix celebrates milestone anniversary

Robert Williams celebrates a quarter century... and launches Force Cancer Charity support

Lightfoot launches Lightfoot Vision

Exeter Property Circle are hosting their next Networking Event in Exeter this month

Exeter Property Circle are hosting their next Networking Event in Exeter this month

Exeter Property Circle April Event - An Evening with Julian & Jamie

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