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Devon Day – why Devon is best for work and play

June 2, 2017 | News

For all proud Devonians, 4 June is Devon Day, a time to celebrate all things Devon which coincides with St Petroc’s day, the Celtic saint to whom the Devon flag is dedicated.

This year, Devon Day falls on a Sunday and Team Absolute will be out and about, making the most of the wonderful county we call home. But before we locked up for the weekend, we put our heads together to share the reasons we believe Devon is the best place for work – and play.

Being based in Devon is an asset to winning national clients

As a PR agency, we operate in a sector in which the vast majority of the ‘big players’ are based in London,. Being one of a select group of PR and marketing agencies in the South West is, in our view, most definitely an asset when it comes to attracting regional businesses but national clients? Really? When we might be up against the mega resources and dazzling client roster of a London agency? Well, we’d argue that our location, far from being a hindrance, has actually been viewed as a benefit by national clients.

Several of our team have come from leading London agencies. We have all that experience but, with overheads at a fraction of the cost of an agency in Covent Garden or Shoreditch, our rates are far lower. If a client doesn’t mind travelling a little bit further out (and let’s face it, it could take just as long to get across London as it could to hop on a train from Paddington to St Davids!) then they can most certainly get more bang for their buck.

Devon is a real pleasure to visit

If we had a pound for every client that’s travelled from London, and other locations not exactly famed for luscious greenery and rolling hills, who viewed coming down to see us as a treat, well, let’s say we’d have a good few pounds! The easy, yet leisurely train journey on which they can catch up on work, the fresh air, the slower pace, the amazing scenery, the good and growing choice of quality hotels…the list goes on. In fact, one client used to travel from his office base in the Midlands to see us once a quarter and make a mini-break of it with his wife, who would pop into Exeter to enjoy shopping and a coffee while we kept him busy catching up on his PR and marketing campaign.

Devon has the best of both worlds

At Absolute HQ in Dunchideock, just outside Exeter, we enjoy superfast broadband, excellent parking and easy access from the M5/A38/city centre. On the other hand, we can glance out of the window and watch our resident kestrel going about its business, or the farmer (our landlord) tending to his lambs. It’s easy to forget we’re less than 10 minutes from a bustling city while we enjoy countryside views we never tire of. The best of both worlds you might say. A whole different world, say our (often rather jealous) city clients!

Devon epitomises work-life balance

For all these reasons, Devon is attracting major businesses and organisations to our region which are a great boost to our growing economy. The Met Office, EDF Energy, Flybe, The Range and Princess Yachts are just some of the large employers choosing to make Devon their home. An increasing number of national and international companies are becoming switched on to the fact that Devon is a well connected place to do business that can also provide employees with an enviable work-life balance. Among our own team, within 30 minutes of switching off our emails, we’re can be cycling Devon’s beautiful scenery, strolling along a sea front or galloping across open country.

Some members of Team Absolute are Devon natives; for the rest of us, Devon is our adopted home. But we all love Devon for its beauty, its variety and its surprises, and we’re proud to be a part of it.