For some young people a lack of understanding of the working world is a significant barrier to finding and sustaining employment. Crossways Communications is offering anyone studying Marketing and PR the opportunity to overcome this barrier through work experience placements.

For those who lack experience, the chance to undertake real work and adjust to the routines and habits of working life can significantly improve their employment prospects.

Work Experience at Crossways Communications will enable young students in the PR field to experience real-life aspects of the job. Experience could include some or all of the following; photo shoots, video work, writing, planning campaigns, administration, implementation, contact, proactive and reactive PR, event management, press calls and conferences, the opportunity to build personal contacts, contact with press, media and other professionals in the field.

We invite students to volunteer for placements lasting between 2 and 8 weeks by writing to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Candidates will be asked to attend a very informal interview before being taken on by the company and some references will be needed and may be checked in person. Placements for young people not studying in the PR and Marketing field are not available at present.

ENDS

Crossways Communications is based in Yelverton, between Plymouth and Tavistock in Devon (UK). Students will need to arrange and own their own transport.

With thanks to Job Centre Plus for statistics and advice.

HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds are being spent on upgrading the Moorland Garden Hotel in a bid to re-establish its reputation and attract new clients, particularly businesses.

The venue was known as the Moorland Links before being bought by Brian and Sonia Meaden last August.

Since then cash has been ploughed into revamping the bedrooms, ballroom, restaurant and bars in the three-star Dartmoor hotel. And the improvements are continuing, with the project timed to end in April before the busiest time. The plan is to attract more corporate clients, while building on its popularity with weddings and holidaymakers.

"I like to think we are putting ourselves back on the map locally," said general manager Frank Postel.

"And we want businesses to become more interested in our product.

"We want more corporate clients.

"But there's three markets. Weddings is a big market and so are leisure guests."

The intention is to turn the hotel's Wildflower Restaurant, previously used mostly by guests, into a fine-dining destination in its own right. The acquisition of head chef Ross Tregido, previously at the Horn of Plenty, and investment into the kitchens, mean the restaurant is being viewed as an additional business.

"We want to open it up for business lunches," said Mr Postel, who is also planning classical music, pipe, jazz and big band events, and has started monthly tea dances.

Thousands of pounds have been spent on the ballroom, too, which has been renamed the Crystal Room, and has undergone an eight-week makeover with the addition of six new chandeliers, in a bid to establish it as a party venue. The ballroom, which has the South West's largest sprung dancefloor, is also attracting increased bookings for weddings – with some arranged for 2013 already.

Work is also under way in the newly named Mayflower Bar, and the Tavistock and Moorland Suite meeting rooms will be refurbished.

There has also been investment into the telephone and booking systems, the hotel's lighting, and into providing free wifi.

The hotel has 44 bedrooms, split into four suites, 20 garden rooms and 20 premier rooms.

These have undergone "massive investment" including complete redecoration for some with bespoke designs from interior designer Nadine Judd.

New balconies have been fitted, corridors are being redecorated, new furniture will go into the Dartmoor Bar, and there has even been work carried out to smooth the car park and driveway.

The gardens will also get a face-lift.

Mr Postel said the entire work cost "in the hundreds of thousands", adding: "And we haven't finished."

Mr Postel joined the hotel with the former owners, James Brent's Akkeron Hotels, but decided to stay when it changed hands again.

He said: "I was interested in seeing this development through.

"I have opened hotels as a general manager, and managed hotels, but never through transition.

"It's a challenge to make it happen, and get new business through.

"There's not a lot of investment going on in the hotel market at the moment, just scrimping.

"Very few hotels are invested in, unless it's a start-up, or going boutique, or for health and safety. This is an exception."

He said Mr and Mrs Meaden were prepared to invest because they "fell in love" with the hotel when they viewed it.

"They really want it to succeed," he said. "They come down here to see what's going on.

"Boutique hotels do well," he said. "Maybe we are moving towards that, becoming bespoke.

"I like to think we can do better than the standard, and offer an experience."

Mr Postel said the hotel, which employs 35 people including about 20 full-time, was already a draw for Germans, Austrians and Swiss and Dutch visitors, partly because of the popularity in those countries of TV shows based on the works of writer Rosamunde Pilcher, which are filmed in the South West.

The hotel, between Plymouth and Yelverton, dates from 1934, but was extended 20 years ago, adding 14 bedrooms, and what's now the Mayflower Bar.

But Mr Postel said it needed a new name because the Links monicker was "misleading".

"It's never been a golfing hotel," he said.

ENDS

A Health & Social Care training centre in Plymouth is working alongside a national incentive to raise awareness of dignity in care in the region by offering support showing respect, consideration and thought, actions that are all at the heart of national Dignity Action Day.

Venus Training & Consultancy, based at the City Business Park in Plymouth, is a private training company which specialises in health and social care covering both Devon and Cornwall. Services offered include Dementia, Epilepsy, First Aid, Infection Control, Nutrition and Hydration, End of Life Care as well as fully funded qualifications in Health & Social Care and Apprenticeship programmes.

Dignity Action Day, held on Wednesday 1^st February, gives everyone the opportunity to contribute to upholding people's rights to dignity and provide a truly memorable day for people receiving care. Dignity Action Day aims to ensure people in care are treated as individuals, are given choice, control and a sense of purpose in their daily lives and provide stimulating activities. Members of the public and Health and Social Care staff are asked to give the gift of time around the date – not necessarily on the day itself.

Venus Training will meet with training seekers, service providers and managers at an event to be held in Fraddon, Cornwall providing the opportunity to meet with a range of people who have dignity at the heart of what they do. It will be a chance to find out how to access useful resources and participate in workshops that will result in innovative solutions to dignity issues, to promote dignity in the care of elderly and disabled people and to explore topics and exchange knowledge.

One of the directors of the company, Jane Kellas, said; “As a Dignity Champion I passionately believe that being treated with dignity is a basic human right, not an optional extra. I believe that care services must be compassionate, person centered as well as efficient. I am willing to try to do something to achieve this.”

She added; “This event is a way to show support and give out the latest information on the campaign, the resources available and what is happening locally. It's an excellent opportunity to meet with other registered champions, to network, share ideas and best practice. Dignity awareness encompasses a whole range of topics, from something as simple as looking at how and where those in care (at home or within the care system) are fed their meals – what they eat and how they eat it and how they are stimulated throughout the day.”

The Dignity Day Event will be held at Kingsley Village, Cornwall, on Wednesday, the 1^st of February. The event will be open from 9:30-3pm. To find out more about how Venus Training can help you to achieve Dignity goals, phone 0845 20 1230