Business

The Chic Eco Boutique

The Chic Eco Boutique is a new online platform for people who care about the environment, as well as quality and style. With an array of ladies’ jewellery, underwear, scarves, soaps, beauty products and other eco wares, the boutique provides easy access to an extensive selection of products for people who are passionate about purchasing sustainable and eco-friendly goods. All the accessories are made by local businesses and are produced sustainably - from nuno felt scarves and Stripe & Stare knickers, to upcycled jewellery and organic soaps. In addition all the packaging is totally eco-friendly too. The founder, Jo Macaskie, has always been very passionate about advocating for sustainability and supporting local business. For years, she has been creating platforms to help promote South West based entrepreneurs through Miss Ivy Events, however lockdown has prevented Jo from being able to continue running her normal, wide range of events. This year has given many of us the time to rethink our priorities, and particularly for Jo, she felt an increased desire to encourage environmental consciousness. This combined with her continued dedication to aiding local businesses led to the creation of The Chic Eco Boutique. The Chic Eco Boutique website www.thechicecoboutique.co.uk will be launched in April. Local businesses from the Chic Eco Boutique will also be exhibiting in Butchers’ Hall, Tavistock at the Upcycled Market on 17 April, and Love Local Gift & Food Market on 25 April. If your business makes or sells eco-friendly or up-cycled products and you would like to be involved with this project, please email hello@thechicecoboutique.co.uk.

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Why should I consider purchasing a pre-paid funeral plan?

You wouldn’t buy a holiday from a man in the street. And you certainly wouldn’t buy a car from someone who knocks on your door. So why buy a funeral plan from anyone other than the experts in their industry - local independent funeral directors? Funeral plans allow holders to pay at today’s prices for a funeral that may not take place for decades, without ever having to pay more for a funeral director’s services. A funeral plan is also not considered as a financial asset when seeking financial assistance for care costs from the local authority. If an individual were to invest the cost of a funeral plan, e.g. £3,500, in a savings account, the interest returned would be far less and would certainly be unable to keep up with the rising costs of funerals, which have soared by more than 90 per cent since 2004. However, by taking out a funeral plan with a trusted funeral plan provider, regulated by the Funeral Planning Authority, this £3,500 is pooled together with millions of pounds from other plan holders to provide the opportunity to gain a much greater return on investment. What this essentially means is that a funeral, which may cost £3,500 today but £7,000 in five years, is covered no matter how much the national average cost of a funeral rises. When comparing local independent funeral directors with larger, national corporations, it can be much better value to look local for a funeral plan too. National direct sellers have enormous overheads and marketing budgets to pay, whereas local funeral directors can afford to sell local funeral plans at local prices.

The Walter C. Parson Group has offices at Crownhill, St. Judes, Plympton, Ivybridge, Tavistock, Callington, Saltash, Torpoint, Newton Abbot, Torquay and Exeter. To discuss the benefits of purchasing a pre-paid funeral plan, with no obligation on your part, or to request a brochure, please telephone 01822 617 300 or visit www.wcpltd.com for further details.

New Start Devon Enterprise Coaching

Delivered by Devon Communities Together

What’s the offer? Fully funded one-to-one coaching to cultivate interest in and development of enterprise opportunities What does it aim to achieve? To increase enterprise in Devon and amongst underrepresented groups through coaching and referral to mainstream business support services. Who’s eligible? Those eligible for Enterprise Coaching are:

• People who are under-represented in enterprise, people who may have a great idea and are struggling to get it off the ground, people who are currently economically inactive and who reside outside of large towns and cities • Founders and entrepreneurs with new or existing micro businesses to grow For details visit devoncommunities.org.uk/projects or contact Matthew Porter at matthew.porter@devoncommunities.org.uk

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Unit 56-60 Christian Mill Business Park, Tamerton Foliot Rd, Plymouth, PL6 5DS

website: www.westcountrytileandbathroom.co.uk email: enquiries@westcountrytileandbathroom.co.uk phone: 01752 770077

Alun Griffiths Director of Griffin Electric

How did you start Griffin Electric?

After working for more than 10 years in various roles within the food manufacturing industry with employers such as Ginsters, Mars and Wrigley, I decided to start up my own business in 2009 and haven’t looked back. It’s taken a great deal of hard work and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the full support of my incredible wife and family.

Which electrical services do you offer?

We are a NICEIC approved contractor and offer electrical works across all sectors including:

• Domestic - including EICRs (Electrical installation condition reports)

• Agricultural - farms and smallholdings

• Commercial - breweries and hotels • EV charging and renewables

Which areas do you cover?

Griffin Electric works mainly across West Devon and Dartmoor but has customers in Bodmin, Exeter and Newton Abbot.

How do you spend most of your time?

I have recently been working on installing EV charge points for customers in and around Dartmoor. The UK government announced it will ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, which is a major win for the environment, and a chance to reinvent our traffic-jammed streets with cleaner more efficient electric cars. So with fewer petrol and diesel cars being registered in the UK, most EV owners will want some sort of charge point installed in their home. We are currently accredited installers for My Energi, Rolec, EO Project EV and Andersen EV (You can claim £350 off the cost of purchasing and installing a qualifying home-charging point via the government funded home charge scheme.)

How do new regulations affect your work?

New regulations came in to force on 1st June 2020, requiring landlords to have the electrical installations in their properties inspected and tested by a person who is qualified and competent, for the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). Landlords have to provide a copy of the electrical safety report to their tenants and to their local authority if requested so there have been a lot of people requiring electricians to carry out inspections. (This was applicable to new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and existing tenancies from 1 April 2021.)

What would you say to someone thinking of this as a career?

The electrical industry is always evolving so we are constantly having to update our knowledge and skills. This is a great career to be involved in for the organised, hardworking committed individual.

What is the best thing about your job?

I enjoy the variety the career brings, being out and about, and am lucky to work in our beautiful Dartmoor countryside.

Electrical & mechanical services

serving Dartmoor and surrounding areas

- Domestic, Industrial, agricultural electrical installations - Fault finding, maintenance and repairs - Mechanical repairs and maintenance - Smart home technology - Solar battery storage and off grid systems - EV charging specialists

01822 859395 07851 711338 griffinelectric.co.uk info@griffinelectric.co.uk