Exmoor Business News

June 2024

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Bringing you the latest news and updates from Exmoor National Park, supporting a vibrant rural economy in harmony with our special landscape.

www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/rural-enterprise

Last chance to secure an advert in the popular Dark Skies Festival programme for 2024

There is just one week to go to secure a spot in the ever popular full colour festival programme for the 2024 Exmoor Dark Skies Festival. Prices start from just £65 with 7,000 A5 copies printed and distributed throughout Exmoor and beyond during August to October, with an estimated readership of more than 25,000.

If you'd like to advertise your business in the programme find out more details in the rate card (PDF).

Booking deadline: 28th June 2024. Artwork submission by: 12th July 2024.

Rare Sponsorship Opportunity

Unusually we also still have an opportunity for a headline sponsor of this years festival. If you know of a business or organisation which could benefit from significant promotional exposure through an association with one of Exmoor’s highest profile annual events then do pass them the details of our sponsorship opportunity.

Advertising and sponsorship are a great way of reaching new audiences, while ensuring such a popular event remains viable.

Rural England Productivity Grants

The Rural England Prosperity Fund will fund capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities.

The fund provides capital funding to:

• Support rural businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy.
• Support new and improved community infrastructure, providing essential community services and assets for local people and businesses to benefit the local economy.

The funds are administered locally with different detailed criteria applying to each scheme, so please follow the relevant link, subject to your location, for further details.

South West Tourism Awards

For those in the visitor economy there are just two days left to enter the South West Tourism Awards. A brilliant opportunity to showcase your achievements and to learn from others. Congratulations to Exmoor’s Bossington Hall which went on to represent the area in the national tourism awards wining Bronze for Bed and Breakfast of the Year.

Exmoor Young Chef Competition

If you know of a budding young chef aged 12-16 years (perhaps inspired by Exmoor’s very own MasterChef finalist, Louise MacLeod) please make sure they are aware of the Exmoor Young Chef competition 2024.



The competition provides a great opportunity for young people to improve and practice their cookery skills and work with professional chefs.

Closing date for entries is 30th June 2024 and Competition Day is 5th October.

Finalists will receive mentoring from top Exmoor chefs to help the young cooks develop their menu celebrating the best of Exmoor produce.

New additions to Exmoor Commons photo library

Looking for fresh Exmoor imagery? Thanks to the generous contributions of Exmoor photographers like Shaun Davey new images have been added to the Exmoor Commons Image Library.

(Featured image: Aurora borealis (Northern Lights) from Selworthy Beacon by Shaun Davey)

In memory of Bet Wilde

If you’ve visited the Exmoor National Park Centre at Lynmouth in the last 7 years you may well have been welcomed by Bet Wilde, an Information Advisor with an infectious passion for people, wildlife and Exmoor. Very sadly and unexpectedly Bet passed away on the 22 May.

Welcome to Julie Colman

Julie Colman officially started this month as our new Rural Enterprise Co-ordinator. She will be the first point of contact for businesses working with the Authority and leading many of our tourism and economy projects such as Dark Skies and EatExmoor.



"I’ve always loved everything Exmoor has to offer and really looking forward to working within this fantastic environment. I’m hoping I will have the opportunity over the coming months to get out and about across Exmoor and meet with lots of local businesses and people. If you would like to find out more how you and your business can support the Exmoor National Park please get in touch with me at jcolman@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk "

Job Opportunity: Centre Manager, Exmoor National Park Centre Lynmouth

Be part of a team that promotes an understanding, discovery, and enjoyment of the National Park’s special qualities.

We are looking for someone to manage our National Park Centre facilities and the team at Lynmouth to provide a warm welcome and an advisory service for the public.

Hours: 28 hours per week during the summer season (Easter to October), and 20 hours per week during the winter season (Nov - March), worked Monday to Sunday on a rota basis.

Closing date is midnight on 8 July 2024.

South West Visitor Economy Data Hub

The South West Visitor Economy Hub is developing a treasure trove of data to help businesses in Devon & Somerset access real-time data and benchmark their own performance against others.

The hub will help answer questions such as how businesses are performing, whether events are drawing higher footfall, the make up of our visitors and the views of those that don't visit.

The Visitor Economy Hub is a free online tool coming later this year for direct tourism businesses. Visit the website for more information www.swvehub.com and sign up for updates. This week they hosted some initial webinars to give early access to the system - if you missed these you can watch again.

www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/rural-enterprise

Check out the Exmoor Business Directory