In our Community

For details of the most recent event(s) with Pebbles' support click here

Our Community
Salcombe and the surrounding area of the South Hams is enormously popular amongst UK visitors, not least for its rolling Devonshire landscapes and unique coastline and beaches.  In fact local authorities suggest that the population of Salcombe alone jumps from 1,800 in the winter to 19,000 in the summer months - nearly ten times the number of toes on beaches!

Many of these visitors have been coming for generations and will have seen a notable change in the resident community.  A 'bucket&spade' resort of the 1970s and 1980s, Salcombe is now one of a handful of the UK's most exclusive holiday locations and even in these tough economic times, a prime location in which to buy a second home or holiday home: according to local authority statistics, Salcombe is now 43% second or holiday homes.

The vast majority of the resident population embraces this change and returning second home and holiday home owners join residents throughout the year to form a new, vibrant and thriving community.  Many visitors choose now to live in the area permanently - who wouldn't!

Pebbles of Salcombe Ltd emerging from a Community need
Two such visitors-turned-residents are Pebbles' Managing Directors, Deborah Carson and James Spencer, who made the move to live in Salcombe in 2001 and 2004 respectively.  Mother and son, Deborah and James had been visiting for holidays in Salcombe since 1985, when Deborah's parents Bob and Greta Fitzsimmons were working in the Marine Hotel and local playgroup, Beehives respectively.

This family association to both Salcombe's resident and visiting community meant that in 2004, when Deborah and James came to look at the town for a business idea, an opportunity became clear.  Visitors keen to be loyal to the community couldn’t access services and in order to get a reliable job done in their new Salcombe home, they turned to Property Services e.g. carpenters, from outside the area;  at the same time in the local community– for local tradesmen and women in particular, there was a growing concern with dwindling work opportunities and real concerns for the future of the local economy and community.

It was from this disparity that Pebbles of Salcombe Ltd was established in 2004, minded to open up access for non-resident home owners to local Property Services, and to support these services with good management, administration and clear and efficient communication.

Pebbles and the Community today
Staff & Partner Specialists:  This year Pebbles will work with around 19 local Partner Specialists, employ four Office staff, more than 50 Housekeepers & Cleaners, a Handyman, a Painter & Decorator and a Property Manager.

Each and every member of staff is offered training in areas of Team Leadership, Management and Customer Service and although a structured career path is available to them within Pebbles, both Managing Directors support staff in their independent career paths, wherever that may take them.

James: "Pebbles was built with the community at its heart and caring for this starts with caring for our team, inc. contractors.

“We pay well above minimum wage, provide good holiday entitlement, performance-related bonuses, mileage expenses - and the socials of course!  For us, the team and contractors are our clients too and require just as much Customer Care.”

Supporting Work Experience (annual) :  Each year we take one or more secondary school students from Kingsbridge Community College for their week of work experience.  During the week, the student will experience the range of our services, including Office Reception, Management, Strategy, Gardening, Laundry, and one other Trade Service. 

Community events:  Now five years on, Pebbles is able to give back more to the community as a whole, which it does through support for local events, such as:

           Salcombe Festival (12th - 14th June 09):   Thanks to a short break in 2008, this
           year's event promises to rival the first event  of 1996.  The event comprises a Main
           stage for live music at Whitestrand on Fore Street, with street entertainers,
           food and competitions along Fore Street.  Island Street will be joining the party in
           full this year too, with smaller live acts from end to end, further street performers,
           inc. stilt walkers and barbecues.  This years event will also see the rejuvination of
           the sailing theme! See www.salcombefestival.com

           Town Regatta (9th - 15th August 09):
           see www.kingsbridge.info/regattasalcombe.html

           Hope Cove Weekend (29th - 31 August 09):
           see www.kingsbridge.info/hopecoveweekend.html