South West

Plymouth's jobless total falls

The number of people out of work in Plymouth has fallen according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today (Wednesday 12 June).

The city's jobless total for May fell by 162 to 5,719 from the April figure of 5,881.

The comparison with May last year shows a drop in unemployment of 897 from 6,616 in 2012, a 0.5% fall in the total percentage of those...

South West MPs sign up to first renewable energy manifesto

23 MPs demonstrated their support for the development of a world-leading renewable energy industry in the South West of England on 4 June, when they signed up to the UK’s first regional renewable energy manifesto at Westminster.

Those that signed up include Plymouth MPs Alison Seabeck and Oliver Colvile.

Launched today at the House of Commons by renewable energy not-for-profit...

Final chance to enter prestigious Taste of the West Awards

Are you the owner of a restaurant or pub in the South West? Maybe you run a café or tea room or perhaps you have a desirable farm shop or delicatessen? Whatever your line of business, if it’s in the food and drink industry, don’t miss out, enter Taste of the West’s ‘Hospitality & Retail Awards’ now. To ensure everyone has time to be included in these highly regarded awards, the deadline...

South West police forces agree regional Special Branch collaboration

Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables from the five south west forces have signed an agreement for Special Branch collaboration across the region.

Special Branch units from Devon and Cornwall, Avon and Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire police forces will unite under shared management for investigative and intelligence work. This includes counter terrorism...

South West announces first renewable energy manifesto

Regen SW has today written to all MPs in the South West, inviting them to pledge to develop a world-leading renewable energy industry - employing 34,000 people by the end of the decade. The pledge is at the heart of the South West Renewable Energy Manifesto, which sets out eight key commitments to put sustainable energy at the heart of our economic future.

The Manifesto is supported by...

Teams prepare for annual Ten Tors challenge on Dartmoor

Approximately 400 teams from across the South West will undertake the annual Ten Tors challenge on Dartmoor this weekend.

The teams of young people who are drawn from schools, colleges, cadet squadrons, scout and guide groups and independent organisations across the region, have been training hard for the challenge. They will be arriving today (Friday 10 May) ahead of the start of the...

Half of women working in the South West earn less than the Living Wage

Half of all women working in the South West earn less than the Living Wage, according to new research by Fair Play South West.

The gender equality organisation supported by Equality South West has analysed provisional data from the Office of National Statistics Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, and learned that while just 19% of men in the South West earn less than £7.45 per hour,...

Britain's biggest free community music festival

Communities Minister Don Foster has announced that 250 free concerts will go ahead this summer across England, featuring the best of local musical talent.

The concerts will be both free for people to attend and for musicians to enter and will bring people from different backgrounds together to listen to a wide variety of music. Over 200,000 people are expected to attend the concerts in...

Tour of Britain design competition hits the spot with cycling fans

Devon school children have the opportunity to design the famous ŠKODA King of the Mountains Jersey for this year’s Tour of Britain.

The “Polka Dot Jersey”, as it is often referred to, is awarded to the best climber in the race and the official jersey sponsor ŠKODA is offering one student the chance to see their design made and worn during The Tour.

The competition is open to...

Racism victims in South West forced to seek their own justice after REC cuts

Victims of racism in the South West will increasingly have to seek their own justice because of cuts to the region's race equality councils, Equality South West has warned.

Despite there being more than 2,600 race hate crimes reported in the South West in 2012, local authorities are withdrawing funding from race equality councils, forcing them to survive on a shoestring budget or, in...

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