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Devon Somerset & Torbay Trading Standards have been jointly honoured at the national Regulatory Delivery Awards for their work in boosting business by forging closer ties between traders and regulatory bodies.

The Heart of the South West Better Business for All (BBfA) Partnership have won the Government’s Better Business for All Award at the ceremony in Birmingham.   Devon Somerset & Torbay Trading Standards is a key member of the partnership.

The Heart of the South West (HotSW) BBfA Partnership is an alliance of 19 local authorities across Devon, Somerset, Torbay and Plymouth, and includes the Fire and Rescue Service, the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the local Growth Hub, local Economic Development Teams, and a wide ranging group of business representatives, including Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).    The partnership aims to make regulatory services a key part of business support and growth, and aims to promote local economic prosperity, whilst maintaining public protection.

The partnership has made a real impact by improving the way regulation is delivered and received, with a focus on business support.  It has built excellent working relationships across the region, with colleagues both in local authorities and in the business community.

On the win, Lee Taylor, Chair of the HotSW BBfA Partnership and Trading Standards Officer said:

“The award is national recognition for what has been achieved by the Heart of the South West BBfA partnership”.

“It very much reflects the work & success of the partnership and as such I congratulate my BBfA colleagues”

“We have achieved much with our HotSW BBfA partners on how regulatory services actively contribute to the business growth agenda.

“Thanks are extended to the management and individuals across our Local Authorities, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, our Economic Development colleagues, the HotSW LEP, the HotSW Growth Hub, and our business partners, local Chambers and the FSB.   They have got behind the BBfA vision and have all contributed greatly towards making our BBfA alliance a reality.

“We intend to use the award as a spur to further strengthen our partnership and take forward our business growth agenda.”

Councillor Stuart Barker, Devon County Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for Trading Standards said:

“Congratulations to the HotSW BBfA Partnership, they thoroughly deserve the award.

“The partnership’s strong drive to benefit the businesses in the Heart of the South West region, and ability to involve such a large number of organisations in the BBfA partnership really stands out.”

Heidi Hallam, Partnership Manager – Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership said:

“The partnership has maintained a strong vision for how the BBfA initiative can benefit our businesses and their passion to see this work in the HotSW LEP area has been inspiring.   A big “Thank You” to the partnership and also to the teams that have brought together the work on this initiative for the benefit of our businesses; it’s a pleasure working with you.”

Councillor Anna Groskop, Somerset Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for Trading Standards said:

“Successful engagement with business is critical to our continued economic growth and the HotSW BBfA Partnership is changing the way Regulators are viewed. The energy, tenacity and dedication of the partnership has been key in developing these strong relationships, and getting some major projects off the ground, and I look forward to seeing the Partnership build on this for the future. Well done to the Partnership.”

Pictured (Left to Right) – Graham Russell – Director, Regulatory Delivery – Lee Taylor – HotSW BBfA Chair & DS&T Trading Standards – Nicolette Harrison, Head of Local Delivery, Food Standards Agency

Contacts:-

For more information about Better Business for All http://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/businesses/better-business-for-all/

https://www.heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk/better-business-for-all/

For clear practical consumer advice, and to report a matter to Trading Standards, call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506

For Trading Standards business advice, call 01392 381381

To access the support you need to start or grow your business, call the Growth Hub on 03456 047 047 or visit their website https://www.heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk/

Notes for Editors:

For further Information please contact Dolores Riordan, Operations Manager, Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Service 01392 381381