Victoria Womersley

The dramatic landscape of Dartmoor National Park has captivated visitors for centuries. It should come as no surprise that it’s also one of the top filming locations in the UK. The earliest films to be shot on Dartmoor were released in 1929.
‘The American Prisoner’ and ‘A Dartmoor Cottage’ (sometimes referred to an ‘Escape from Dartmoor’) were some of the last silent movies. Directed by Anthony Asquith, both films use Dartmoor’s meadows and tors as backdrops. But it’s more recent films and TV...

The Mini Cooper has bags of personality and large helpings of charm too. BMW has remained true to the original styling of the iconic BMC Mini with a rounded shape that’s low to the ground and fun to drive. The only real rival from this perspective is the cute Fiat 500, or maybe the now discontinued VW Beetle.
The Mk2 Mini first hit UK streets in 2006, with a choice of two power outputs for the 1.6-litre petrol engine. The range was expanded a year later with the addition of a diesel model and...

Released in 2009 and revised in 2014, the Volkswagen Polo hatch is a class-leading supermini that’s perfect for first-time drivers and motorway commuters. With many of the characteristics that make the Golf so popular, the Polo is a comfortable and quiet ride that delivers fantastic fuel economy.
The Polo comes in a range of trim specs, but you’ll find that anything below S A/C is almost beyond basic. The SE trim is the most balanced in terms of providing everything you need without climbing ...

Great handling, excellent performance and a comfortable yet slightly uninspiring interior are what you can expect from the BMW 3 Series. The sixth-generation, reviewed here, was a highly prized company car when released, as well as being sought after by many private buyers – tracking down a second-hand model shouldn’t be a difficult task.
There’s a wide range of quality engines to choose from – none that need avoiding either. Excellent handling and a genuinely fun to drive vehicle, the BMW 3 ...

Workplace safety is important for a number of reasons. Along with lower injury rates and time lost, safer workplaces are happier, more productive, and have higher levels of engagement.
What is a toolbox talk?
Safety toolbox talks are short 5 - 15 minutes safety talks that refresh knowledge. And they’re an excellent way to keep safety front of mind for everyone.
Why are toolbox talks important?
A report by the Associated Builders and Contractors in 2020 found that daily safety toolbox talks re...

The Vauxhall Astra is a household name in family cars for good reason. It’s a motor that offers comfort, economic driving and reliability. You’ll find the engines on offer have great performance too. As far as second-hand cars go, it’s hard to go wrong with a Vauxhall Astra, you’ll get plenty of car without a massive price tag. And because they were so popular as new car buys, it shouldn’t be too difficult to seek out a well-looked after model.
The first wave of the Astra Mk6 was released in ...

When it comes to a reliable set of wheels, the Volkswagen Golf is a safe bet. It also has the advantage of being one of the most popular hatchback’s on Britain’s roads, so spares and repairs won’t cost you extortionate amounts.
Often rated as one of the better small cars you could buy second hand – along with the Focus, Hyundai i30 and Vauxhall’s Astra – the Golf is a firm favourite of small car lovers and families alike. It’s for good reason too, the Golf has some pretty cool standard kit an...

The Ford Focus Mk 3 was released in the UK back in 2011 to great reviews – quality and dependability were the key characteristics for this generation of Focus. There are plenty within the range to choose from too, from the small and economical 1.0-litre Ecoboost petrol to the high-performance ST hatch with powerful 2.0-litre petrol (or diesel) engine that came onto the market in late 2014.
There are plenty about on UK roads, the Focus regularly reaches the top five most popular cars – often o...

Retaining employees is an ongoing endeavor for companies across sectors, and with good reason. Holding onto the talent you have is key to reducing business costs and improving company-wide performance.
In the last quarter of 2020, smaller freight businesses saw a churn rate of 72% while large fleets averaged a 90% annualized churn rate.
This actually marked a percentage point reduction in turnover, but according to the American Trucking Association’s Chief Economist, this was simply down to t...

One of the biggest concerns for CEO’s around the world is retaining their top talent, and unsurprisingly so - staff turnover rates have been on the rise over the last decade.
Read on for the picture in numbers and ideas on how to keep ahold of your greatest asset - talented staff members - in a competitive market.
What happened to employee retention in 2020?
The uncertainty of 2020 impacted employee retention in both predictable and unexpected ways. The voluntary attrition rate fell for the f...

The spacious, classy cabin is complemented by a range of responsive but quiet engines that deliver a smooth and calming ride.
The Mercedes C-Class has performed well to date with the 4th generation, 2014 release becoming the best selling model for the company. With an excellent safety rating, spacious interior and responsive engines, this is a classy set of wheels that will get you from A to B feeling relaxed and calm.
Mercedes is a pioneer in the area of automotive safety, so the fact that t...

This is one prestige vehicle that lives up to (most) of its claims. It may not look so much like the Lamborghini Contach the design team took inspo from, but it handles well, delivers comfort in spades and is one of the better plug-ins currently available.
Launched back in 2012, the Audi A3 hatchback has aged well. The five-door hatch is the more popular of the A3’s with around six times more of them on the used car market than the shorter and slightly less impressive three-door sibling.
The ...

If you’re looking for small and fast, you can’t go wrong with the Ford Fiesta ST200. That said, the other engine types are pretty good too, which accounts for the Fiesta’s strong fan base.
The feisty Ford Fiesta has been on UK roads since the late seventies and gained in popularity with each passing year. Between 2009 and 2016, it achieved the coveted title of Britain’s best selling car – bar none. Today, it’s the UK’s most popular hatchback.
It’s for good reason too, the Ford Fiesta is a fab...

Dartmoor has over 160 tors. Considering there are so many, it’s likely you’ll want to know which of them to visit when you come on holiday. The National Park covers 368 square miles, running roughly 20 miles North to South and East to West. Scattered across the wild landscape are numerous granite outcrops, otherwise known as tors. Many are famous. Below we cover Dartmoor’s famous tors and the best times to visit.

Comprised of a set of striking granite outcrops, Great Staple Tor sits on the we...

In logistics and transportation, there can be tension between getting things done safely and delivering on time. Yet time pressures needn’t impact safety. It’s possible to have both - a culture of safety and success. The best way to do this is by building a safety-first culture.
Arguably, safety is more important in the transportation and logistics industry than in many other sectors. After all, truckers, delivery people, and bus or train drivers put the wider public at risk if safety isn’t a...