West Country shoppers are giving the thumbs up to locally-produced food in their local supermarkets, and are often choosing local products instead of more established brands. Tesco now has nearly 100 local producers in the West Country, with many stores stocking up to 300 local lines, including fresh meat, bacon, sausages, fish, milk, eggs, beer and cider, water and other produce. All meat counters in West Country stores are now stocked with local produce and they are performing better than those in any other region. The region’s fish counters now stock up to six local fish lines and six local pre-packed fish lines are being introduced this week; there are two new local bacon lines in many stores; and three new sausage lines have recently been launched including pork and South Devon chillies, beef, pork and Cornish Tribute ale, and pork and Wiltshire onion marmalade. Local brands of bottled water – Cornish Spring Water, Tarka Springs from Devon, and Somerset’s Cheddar Water - are all proving popular. Cornish Rattler cider has been outselling Magners, the giants of the cider world, and Cornish Camembert made by Cornish Country Larder, is outselling the well-established and renowned French Camembert. Jo Wren, regional marketing manager for Tesco, says providing local produce is a real hit. “We are bringing in more and more local lines because that is what our customers want – in fact we have introduced 35 new local producers in the past year. We now have hundreds of local lines available, and we are determined to source even more. Products are highlighted in store for ease of identification by customers, depicting the county of origin, or the region at the shelf edge. “Nationally locally-produced food brings in £400 million in sales for Tesco, and we aim to make that £1 billion by the year 2011. “The immense popularity of local products in the West Country reflects the high quality of the region’s foodstuffs and the wide choice of products available in this part of the UK.” Ends

Some of the region’s best hairdressing apprentices have described a master-class event held at a top Plymouth salon as being an “invaluable experience.” Two of the ten apprentices taking part in the first of a two-day master class, Claire Vincent (18) and Rachael Treeby (17) from Revelations Hair Studio in Ivybridge thought the event was a great introduction to the world of competitive hairdressing. “We’ve had great fun and the artistic team have been really helpful. It was a bit daunting having to put make up on our model at first, but we soon got the hang of it. We have a hair show coming up soon and this day has really helped us to prepare for it.” The event was jointly organised by Plymouth–based Academy of Training and leading hair stylists Vaughan’s to inspire the apprentices to try the world of competitive hair dressing. Training providers from across the region were invited to put forward their best apprentices to take part. The master class features demonstrations of cutting and hair-up by top stylists, and make-up instruction from a leading stage and screen beauty therapist. The apprentices then have the opportunity to put these skills into practise on their own professional model. A second master class of Monday next week will see 10 more top apprentices trying their hands at competitive styling. Chris Jeffery, managing director of Academy of Training, said the event is designed to encourage the best apprentices to consider taking part in skills competitions, “Competitive hairdressing is an exciting field but it takes a lot of dedication and hard work. The event is a really good way of showing the apprentices a behind the scenes look at what happens at hairdressing events. The master classes have been funded by the Learning and Skills Council. Ends

A project has been launched to improve the language skills of migrant workers in Devon. The English @ Work in Devon project aims to ensure that migrant workers work safely and are able to communicate in basic English, boosting the impact migrant workers can make to the economy. The project is funded by Devon Renaissance, the Learning Skills Council and the European Social Fund and is provided by Productive Skills for Devon. The project offers subsidised training within the workplace for groups of 8 – 15 workers, or alternatively can provide access to a DVD-based independent learning project for smaller numbers. The 20-hour course covers topics in basic language skills and communication at work. It has been designed by English language training professionals in Devon, is available from most local training providers, and can be adapted to meet the needs of any particular workforce. Project manager, John Willis of Productive Skills for Devon says, “This course is an excellent introduction to English which can be adapted to the needs of different work-forces. It can also be used as a basis for further qualifications if that is required.” Businesses throughout the South West – from farming to manufacturing to service industries - are employing migrant workers in increasing numbers, and share a concern that these workers can work safely and communicate in English at least at a basic level. One company which participated in the English @ Work pilot programme is Tredinnick Fine Foods of Newton Abbot. Production manager Warren Hilton says the training has been good for business. “As a business we want our employees to be more skilled because higher skills mean more benefits to the business. “There has been a definite improvement in several members of staff who previously needed an interpreter. Now they can understand much more and can have basic conversations.” Simon Mallet, senior project development officer at Devon Renaissance – the rural regeneration partnership for the county - which has provided £23,020 of the £44,040 project cost said: “Migrant workers are playing an increasingly important role in the regions’ workforce and as such make a substantial contribution to the economy. “It is therefore vital that we utilise their skills by ensuring that language barriers are overcome.” The basic cost of the English @ Work course is £800 but Devon employers signing up in this year will get it at half-price (£400). Any employer wanting more information contact John Willis or Wendy Head on 01647 441050 or email skills4lifeadmin@tiscali.co.uk. Ends

Looe-based charity Ellie’s Haven has benefitted by donations of nearly £9,000 from a series of fundraising efforts. The charity, which was set up with the aim of building a non-medical holiday facility for children with life threatening illnesses and their families in Devon and Cornwall, will receive more than £8000 from sponsorship from the London marathon, the proceeds of its recent Spring Ball and from the money generated through charity tea-dances. Three runners from Cornwall completed the London Marathon for the charity and raised more than £1,500 in sponsorship money between them. They were: Martin Wingrove from Dobwalls, John Bowden from Looe and Dave Nance from Saltash. Nigel Libby, co-founder of Ellie’s Haven which is named after his daughter, said both he and his wife Julie were delighted that the runners ran for the charity, “Julie and I are pleased that the runners all finished in good health, and am thankful to them for raising funds and awareness of Ellie’s Haven.” The charity’s annual Spring Ball, held at the Hannafore Point Hotel in Looe, also proved to be a resounding success. The 90 guests were treated to a four-course meal, drinks, a violinist, auction and raffle and photo shoot, which raised more than £5,000. Nigel and Julie have also been presented with a cheque for £2,250 by Pam Pryor, who organises regular charity tea-dances in the region. Nigel said: “On behalf of Ellie’s Haven Committee and Trustees, we would like to thank Pam Pryor and all her dancers, and the Hannafore Point Hotel, Julia Griffiths, Matt Maitland, James Marshall, Tina Mollard, Rob Frost Photography and everyone who contributed to make a superbly successful evening. “We are overwhelmed at the support we have received which is helping us to achieve our goal of spreading the cause of Ellie’s Haven.” Ellie was born on 25 January 2005 with the same rare terminal condition, from which her brother Thomas died at the age of fourteen months. Ends