Taylor Wimpey Exeter has donated 187 washbags to homeless charity St Petrocks in Exeter.  Employees of the homebuilder spent several weeks supporting the washbag initiative led by CRASH, a national charity that helps the homeless. The initiative aims to provide vulnerable people around the UK with essential toiletry items including toothpaste, shower gel and sanitary products. A total of 187 washbags were collected by suppliers and subcontractors used by Taylor Wimpey and also employees based at the firm’s regional office in Exeter. The bags were donated to St Petrocks on 12th December. This initiative is the latest that Taylor Wimpey has championed in support of CRASH who are one of six national charities that the developer works with each year. Trisha Pickersgill, Chief Executive at CRASH, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Taylor Wimpey support our mission to ensure homeless people in need have access to necessary, vital toiletry products. It has been fantastic to see so many employees take part and how the business has used its national presence to reach all corners of the UK with its donations.  “We know these items make a real difference to vulnerable people and the teams involved should…

Exeter College has been delivering higher level courses in aircraft engineering since the early 2000s, with new partnerships and opportunities in the sector reflected in the changes in its offer over time.  This year the College became one of only three in England approved to sign off engineers for the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Part 66 Licence (issued under the CAA’s Part 147 regulation). This certification covers a specific practical element of the Licence which is essential in signing off for operation any aircraft registered in the UK.  The Licence is delivered as part of the College’s Foundation Degree (FdA) in Aircraft Engineering which is awarded by Kingston University London and approved by the CAA. Most people who train for this accreditation will do it directly with an airline, so this is a unique offer for any college.  Students on the FdA programme need to complete 2400 learning hours across two years (with a combination of time in the classroom and in the hangar). Students benefit from the use of facilities at Exeter Aerospace (EA) throughout their training. The support from EA in providing access to their modern, purpose-built hangars and workshops is invaluable to the quality…

Ronin, a community programme participant from the award-winning Premiership Rugby HITZ education and employment programme, was recently awarded the HITZ Young Achiever Award 2024 at the annual HITZ awards ceremony. Honoured for overcoming a range of challenges and working the hardest to progress on his journey in education, training and developing life skills to increase his chances of employment, Ronin will now be celebrated during Community Weekend Round 7 of Gallagher Premiership Rugby (29th Nov – 1st Dec). For 18 year old Ronin, from Broadclyst, Exeter, it has been a journey of resilience and personal growth, overcoming significant physical and developmental challenges through support and perseverance. Born with a rare genetic syndrome affecting his limbs and eyes, alongside autism, sensory processing disorder, and hypermobility, Ronin faced scepticism from doctors and educators about reaching key milestones. Ronin has surpassed all expectations thanks to the HITZ team at Chiefs who recognised his potential. During his time on the programme Ronin has excelled in academic and physical activities. With encouragement from the team and his family, he tackles challenging goals in Maths and English and smashes his daily targets. Activities like delivering food to the elderly have bolstered his independence and social skills. Ronin’s father’s…

An Exeter-based Help for Heroes nurse has paid tribute to her ‘wonderful’ colleagues after receiving a national nursing award. Janine Whitley, 46 who served in the Navy for 25 years and saw four tours of Afghanistan, has worked as a Veterans Clinical Advisor across Bristol, Somerset, Devon, Dorset, and Cornwall, since 2021. Originally from Sidcup, in Kent, she joined the Royal Navy straight from school as a communicator, aged 16. As a Wren she served on both HMS Exeter and HMS Liverpool, before obtaining her qualifications as a nurse, as it was always her ambition to join Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service. She received her Cavell award at an internal Help for Heroes clinical team meeting but was amazed when she realised the award being discussed was being made to her. She smiled: “It was a real shock; I thought it would be for someone else, because our team is wonderful, so it could have been for anybody. But they had nominated me. “The citation was for the governance side of her work. I try to make governance something that’s relevant to everybody rather than it just being something that’s a chore. I really…

Exeter Philharmonic Choir is joined by four outstanding professional soloists and the superb musicians of The Handel Sinfony for this performance of Handel’s Messiah.  This is the first work the Choir performed in public in 1847, the year after it was founded.  EPC will be accompanied by soloists  Sam Cobb (soprano), Luthien Brackett (alto), Oscar Golden-Lee (tenor) and James Geidt (bass). Tickets: All unreserved £20 (see online for discounts) exeterphilharmonic.org.uk or by calling 0333 666 3366.TagsExeter Philharmonic ChoirhandelmessiahconcertExmouthDevonImageEvent DateSaturday, November 9, 2024 – 7:30pm to 9:30pmCategoryMusicVenueHoly Trinity Church, Exmouth The Exeter Daily | News…

Local family-run business Severnside Security has marked further growth with the opening of a new regional office in Exeter. This is the firm’s third regional UK office, opening in response to a significant number of new contracts in Devon, from both public and private sectors clients. The office will act as a strategic hub for the far South West, and the enhanced presence in the region will enable Severnside to support both new and existing clients, as well as host its regional engineers.  Renowned as one of Gloucestershire’s first security companies to support and serve commercial and residential properties across the county, Severnside Security has grown nationwide since its launch in 1992.  The second-generation family firm, which delivers fire and security system solutions, already operates two offices in Gloucester, and the opening of the new site in Marsh Barton, Exeter has been fuelled by its recent expansion into Devon and Cornwall. Severnside’s large client base covers multiple sectors, including the public sector encompassing Housing Associations, Local Authority contracts, and schools, as well as retail, hospitality, commercial, private business and private residential. Kane Lewis, Managing Director of Severnside Security said; “The opening of our new office in the region is a milestone for…