Western Morning News, The

Brewery Lands Deal for Beach Concert ; a Brewery Is Preparing to Serve Up to 50,000 Pints at a Two-Day Mammoth Musical Event After Winning the Biggest Contract of Its Kind in Its History.

A brewery is preparing to serve up to 50,000 pints at a two-day mammoth musical event after winning the biggest contract of its kind in its history. Truro-based Skinners Brewery has been chosen to supply ale and cider for Jack Johnson's headline gig at the stunning Watergate Bay location on July 5 and 6, expected to attract around 20,000 people and is part of a nationwide tour.

Policy Change Cuts Off Airport Funding Route

N ewquay Airport will not be eligible for any more public money from the Regional Development Agency because it contravenes its new environmental policies, it has emerged. Although the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) will continue to see funding for projects which boost productivity in the economy around the airport, its new Corporate Plan, still in its draft stage, would preclude funding any more airside developments on environmental grounds.

Legal Edge

The public's trust and confidence in charities has slightly increased over the past three years, according to a recent Charity Commission report, with only doctors and the police receiving a higher confidence rating. This is welcome news to many hard-pressed charities in the South West, particularly those relying heavily on public donations and legacies, but they have been warned not to be complacent. The public still has significant concerns over the lack of transparency on how money is spen...

Savers Are Banking Record Deposits

S avers rushed to take advantage of the current rate bonanza by lodging a record amount of deposits with High Street banks in April. However, even though increasing numbers are trying to save more to counteract the marked rise in the cost of living, only half of us see the need to set any money aside.

Seminar to Address Female Pay Gap ; Women in the South West Looking to Close the Gender Pay Gap That Sees Them Earn Up to a Third Less Than Men Doing the Same Job Can Attend a New Event Planned for the End of June.

Women in the South West looking to close the gender pay gap that sees them earn up to a third less than men doing the same job can attend a new event planned for the end of June. Despite the right to equal pay, women in the region earn on average 17 per cent less than men - a statistic trade unions want to see addressed.

Trying to Change the Landscape

T heo Leijser is a man not afraid to go out on a limb, that much is evident. The new South West Regional Development Agency area director for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly built his own environmentally friendly home in Scotland, a process captured by the cameras of Grand Designs.

Cider Is Just Rosy for Tesco Stores in West ; Cider Connoisseurs Will Soon Be Able to Buy an Award-Winning Specialist Devon Vintage Cider at Tesco.

Cider connoisseurs will soon be able to buy an award-winning specialist Devon vintage cider at Tesco. Ashridge Cider, based in Staverton near Totnes, has just agreed to supply two of its vintage cider products to local Tesco stores at Lee Mill, Newton Abbot and Exeter Vale.

Gmb Heads to the South West for Annual Congress ; Around 500 Union Delegates Will Descend On Plymouth From This Weekend for the Gmb Annual Congress.

Around 500 union delegates will descend on Plymouth from this weekend for the GMB Annual Congress. It is the first time in more than a century that the union has held the event in the city.

Appliance of Science Can Lead to Growth

T here are 71 science parks in the United Kingdom and only one in the South West - but that is being remedied as you read this. After years of discussion and planning the go-ahead has finally been given for "SPark" at Emersons Green, near Bristol. And with the recent signing of a land deal, another major science park at Junction 29 of the M5 at Exeter is forecast to start coming out of the ground four or five years from now.

Finance Matters

Increases in fuel prices impact on both individuals and businesses. What can you do to try to minimise the impact on you? There are many ways of reducing the cost of motoring, including car sharing, undertaking only essential trips and other methods. However, you can also use the tax system to ensure that costs you do incur are as tax efficient as possible. If you own a business you might be able to offset an element of your work-related travel costs, including petrol, against your profits...

Europe's Property Boom Fizzles Out ; the European House Price Boom has All but Disappeared with Rapidly Rising Property Now the Preserve of the East, According to a New Report.

The European house price boom has all but disappeared with rapidly rising property now the preserve of the east, according to a new report. A study into global house prices by The Economist has shown Singapore and Hong Kong topping its index of house price rises, with year-on-year inflation of 29.8 per cent and 28.2 per cent respectively.

Hbos Seeks Support From South West ; Thousand of Share Investors in the South West Will Soon Be Receiving a Circular From Banking Giant Hbos As It Seeks to Raise Pounds4 Billion.

Thousand of share investors in the South West will soon be receiving a circular from banking giant HBOS as it seeks to raise pounds4 billion. Over two million private shareholders across the country, including some 127,000 in the South West, will receive details of the proposed Rights Issue.

Future's Bright for Orange Tree

Orange Tree, the independent gift and lifestyle store in Exeter's Princesshay shopping quarter, has been named Best Independent Gift Retailer in the South West and Wales at The Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2008. The awards, launched in 2003 by Progressive Gifts and Home Worldwide magazine, recognise and reward the very best in gift retail. Nominees had to show excellence in all areas of business including the range of gifts offered, product knowledge, customer service, shop environment, shop...

Former Dragons' Den Star's Warning ; Doug Richard, Former Investor On Bbc Two's Dragons' Den, has Advised Against Making Any Major Investment Decisions in the Current Economic Climate.

Doug Richard, former investor on BBC Two's Dragons' Den, has advised against making any major investment decisions in the current economic climate. Mr Richard expressed optimism, however, that the impact of global economic difficulties would be short term.

'Brownfield' Development Conference ; the Development of Previous Industrial or 'Brownfield' Sites That Could Hold the Key to the Region's Economic Growth and Housing Solutions Are to Be Discussed by Leading Built Environment Experts Next Week.

The development of previous industrial or "brownfield" sites that could hold the key to the region's economic growth and housing solutions are to be discussed by leading built environment experts next week. The Contamination Co-operation Regeneration (CCR) conference, to be held on June 11 at University College Falmouth, Tremough Campus, will look to find ways of speeding up the process of developing brownfield land in order to tackle issues surrounding jobs and housing.

Work Starts On Latest New Business Centre ; Work has Begun On a New Business Centre Which Will House Up to 90 Firms On One of the City's Biggest Trading Estates.

Work has begun on a new business centre which will house up to 90 firms on one of the city's biggest trading estates. The Basepoint Business Centre, at Matford Park, will be the firm's most westerly development to date when building work is finished.

Deadline Extension for Business Challenge Awards ; the Deadline for Entries in This Year's Devon and Cornwall Business Challenge has Been Extended to Allow More Time for Local Businesses to Prepare Their Submissions.

The deadline for entries in this year's Devon and Cornwall Business Challenge has been extended to allow more time for local businesses to prepare their submissions. Companies now have until Friday, June 13, to enter the awards, sponsored by Bond Pearce, KPMG, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Twofour, with support from the Western Morning News.

Loans Fund Will Target High-Risk Business Ideas

A new loan fund to help businesses grow has been formed out of the ashes of the former Devon and Cornwall Business Link service contract. BLDC Holdings, the company that previously ran the support service for 13 years before Serco won the government contract last year, has renamed itself and launched a fund using the cash it held in its reserves from running Business Link.

Yacht Firm Sale 'One of Biggest in West' ; the Deal Which Saw Princess Yachts Sold to One of the World's Richest Men for Pounds200 Million Is One of the Biggest Commercial Deals to Be Managed From the Westcountry, Those Involved with the Deal Said Yesterday.

The deal which saw Princess Yachts sold to one of the world's richest men for pounds200 million is one of the biggest commercial deals to be managed from the Westcountry, those involved with the deal said yesterday. The deal saw the Plymouth-based iconic manufacturer's parent company the Renwick Group sold to Bernard Arnault, the 14th richest man in the world and the richest man in France, with a personal fortune estimated at 26 billion.

Grocer Snack Award for Furniss' Biscuits ; Premium Biscuit Manufacturer Furniss of Cornwall Is Celebrating After One of Its Products Was Crowned Best Snacks and Treats: Sweet in the Grocer Magazine's Own Label Excellence Awards 2008.

Premium biscuit manufacturer Furniss of Cornwall is celebrating after one of its products was crowned Best Snacks and Treats: Sweet in The Grocer magazine's Own Label Excellence Awards 2008. The Oat, Cranberry and Almond biscuits, produced for Budgens, were named category winner in the respected industry magazine awards, competing against own-label products from the likes of Sainsbury's and Morrisons.