Gareth Cadwallader

A former newspaper executive who specialises in working with the business community has joined the team at Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, based in Telford.

Gareth Cadwallader, from Shrewsbury, worked for many years within the advertising department of Shropshire Newspapers and has now been appointed to help promote and support the Chamber’s expanding Patronage scheme.

Chamber managing director Richard Sheehan said: “We are delighted to welcome Gareth on board as he is very well known by businesses throughout the region and brings with him a wealth of experience in the corporate field.

“This new appointment demonstrates the importance we as a Chamber place on our Patronage scheme, recognising the unrivalled support they provide which allows us to perform our duties for the wider business community.”
Gareth added: “I am looking forward to working with current and prospective Patrons as they contribute greatly to the on-going success of the Chamber of Commerce and are held in high esteem by both members and officials of the organisation alike.”

]]> http://www.midlandsbusinessnews.co.uk/2013/05/gareth-joins-the-team-at-shropshire-chamber/feed/ 0 http://www.midlandsbusinessnews.co.uk/2013/05/henry-wong-celebrates-anniversary/ http://www.midlandsbusinessnews.co.uk/2013/05/henry-wong-celebrates-anniversary/#comments Thu, 23 May 2013 10:36:53 +0000 emma http://www.midlandsbusinessnews.co.uk/?p=56686

Parm Rai, Marianne Ho, Ricky Wu and Bal Badesha

Award-winning restaurant, Henry Wong in Harborne, has marked the fifth anniversary of the restaurant’s new-look with a special VIP event.

The exclusive event, which was attended by 50 of the restaurant’s customers, partners and regional VIPs, celebrated the anniversary of its re-launch under joint owners Parm Rai and Bal Badesha. Guests were welcomed with a champagne reception followed by a selection of signature dishes from its a la carte Cantonese menu.

The businessmen oversaw a full re-launch of the restaurant in 2008, introducing a new cocktail bar, outdoor terrace dining and a private dining room. Driven forward by head chef Ricky-Wu the award-winning menu offers a finer, more contemporary style of Chinese cuisine.

Parm Rai said: “We saw Birmingham’s potential for this type of Chinese restaurant and over the last five years have steadily built on Henry Wong’s established 25-year reputation to bring in an additional corporate audience. Our executive chef Ricky-Wu has reinvigorated the menu and we’re really proud of all of our signature dishes and the fact we’re able to offer some of the finest Chinese cuisine in Birmingham.

“This event was designed to say thank you to our loyal customers and partners, many of whom have been coming to the restaurant since it first opened. It was also to thank the whole team, including our general manager Marianne Ho who has played an integral role in the restaurant throughout its 25-year history. The last five years have seen some big changes and we’re committed to ensuring that we remain one of Birmingham’s top Chinese restaurants.

“We’d like to thank everyone who came along to support us as well as Laurent Perrier and Carlsberg who kindly sponsored the drinks reception.”

The Rhinestone Rhino located in Birmingham’s Southside district

One year after being unveiled in Birmingham’s Gay Village, the Rhinestone Rhino is celebrating its first milestone in the city’s Southside district by launching a merchandise store.

The online shop, named The Brum Rhino Store, officially opens to the public this month and will sell a range of Rhinestone Rhino inspired designs. Items include T-shirts, magnets, tote bags and mugs with tongue in cheek slogan’s such as ‘Birmingham’s got the horn’. All of proceeds made will go towards supporting Southside’s 2013 charitable foundations, including Birmingham LGBT.

The Rhinestone Rhino, which sits at the junction of Hurst Street and Bromsgrove Street in the centre of Southside’s Gay Village, was first unveiled during last year’s Birmingham Pride celebrations. The £15,000 eye catching art project was the result of a collaboration between Birmingham City Council, Birmingham LGBT, GB Training Ltd and Southside Business Improvement District (BID) to increase footfall to the area and become a recognised symbol of the city.

Julia Chance, Southside BID Manager, said: “Over the last year the Rhinestone Rhino has become the face of the Gay Village and we wanted to do something exciting and different to celebrate that. Being able to create something fun that will also support organisations that are helping Birmingham’s community such as Birmingham LGBT is something we are proud to do.

“The Brum Rhino Store will launch just ahead of Birmingham Pride, giving party goers enough time to purchase items ahead of the big weekend! The Rhino will be celebrating its first birthday over Birmingham Pride weekend too, so keep your eyes out for some fun surprises in the district!”

Birmingham Pride 2013 is taking place from Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 May.

Paul Mourton

A Coventry office complex has changed hands in a £2.2 million deal.

Building 1, Eden Road, Walsgrave Triangle, let to Denso Sales UK, has been purchased by Business Village Ltd from Equitable Life.

Stratford-upon-Avon law firm Lodders advised Business Village Ltd while Hogan Lovells International acted for Equitable Life.

Business Village Ltd was behind the development of Cotswold Business Village in Moreton-in-Marsh and Shipston Business Village in Shipston-on-Stour. It is an investment vehicle of Midlands businessmen Harry Acland and Tony Gaymond.

Denso Sales UK is the UK sales arm of the Denso Corporation, the Japanese provider of engine systems to the worldwide automotive market. The massive group has 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 35 countries, employs more than 120,000 people, and in the year to March 31, 2012, had consolidated global sales of £28.8 billion, with Denso Sales UK turning over more than £153 million.

Mr Acland stated: “This is a high yielding office investment with excellent potential to add value. We are very happy to have acquired it.”

Paul Mourton, real estate partner at Lodders, added: “It is a top quality building in a prestige location. We were very pleased to advise on the transaction.”

The two-storey property comprises 26,741 sq ft on a two acre site.

Walsgrave Triangle Business Park lies just off Junction 2 of the M6. Other occupants include Barclays, Georg Fischer, Hilton Hotels, Lloyds Pharmacy and Sainsbury’s.

The Santander Breakthrough Live event will give local entrepreneurs the opportunity to hear from successful business leaders Simon Piercy of Contigo and Philip Roberts of Biotec Services International. The speakers will share their knowledge and expertise on some of the opportunities and issues currently facing small British businesses.

Simon Piercy has extensive experience in the energy and utilities sector, having previously worked at Powergen, E.ON UK and Severn Trent Water. He co-founded Contigo in 2006 alongside Jonathan Yeomans and Adrian Bullock and the business recently secured a £1 million finance package through Santander’s Breakthrough programme. Based in Solihull, West Midlands, the supplier of energy trading software enables the buying and selling of energy commodities and customers include major utility companies.

Philip Roberts of Biotech originally invested in the company and acted predominantly as a mentor. Together with his father, Roberts went on to support and fund the Management Buyout when the original founder decided to retire. Biotech Services International is now a leading UK based clinical trials supply company. From its purpose built facilities in Bridgend, South Wales, the business provides support for effective and compliant drug trials and specialises in tests involving temperature sensitive drugs which are particularly complex.

Breakthrough Live is part of Santander’s wider Breakthrough programme, which is providing up to £200 million of growth capital loans to help small, fast-growth companies looking to invest in and grow their business. In addition to finance, Breakthrough also offers businesses access to support and development programmes, not typically available to small companies, including international trade missions to learn about the advantages of exporting abroad.

The Breakthrough programme is specifically aimed at fast growth businesses, which have an important role in creating jobs and driving productivity. Experian data has revealed that the West Midlands has some 546 fast growth, or Growth Champion businesses which, as a group, have a proportionately high economic impact on the region.

As part of the day at the University of Warwick, Santander UK’s chief executive Ana Botín will give a lecture to students on the importance of enterprise to the UK economy and the vital role universities play in promoting the advantages of entrepreneurship to students and helping them to develop new ideas that will eventually become successful businesses.

Ana Botin, Chief Executive of Santander UK, said: “The Santander Breakthrough programme aims to equip small businesses with the necessary skills needed to help them make the most of all growth opportunities. Our commitment to supporting these businesses is ongoing; we have increased lending to businesses by an average of 20 per cent a year for the past four years and are providing £200 million in growth capital to help UK companies invest in their businesses and take their growth to the next level.

“We partner with private and public institutions and universities as we believe this is the way to promote and encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs. Collaboration is at the heart of our Breakthrough Programme – transforming the entrepreneurial ideas of today into the successful and wealth generating businesses of tomorrow.”

Santander Universities Global Division has been collaborating with the University of Warwick since 2008, and in 2012 provided £154,000 of funding for post- and under-graduate scholarships and mobility awards.

Santander Universities is also working in partnership with the University to fund 19 paid internships with local SMEs, with more to be funded in the near future. The programme is part of a new initiative to encourage entrepreneurialism amongst recent graduates and final year students and to promote the benefits of working for a SME, whilst also providing smaller businesses with an injection of talent not always easy to obtain by companies with limited administration resources.

Santander works with its partner universities, like Warwick, to find students and companies who will benefit most from the scheme and will help with placement and administration, including project management, as well as funding a basic salary for the students.

Energy software developer Contigo secured a £1 million finance facility through Santander’s Breakthrough programme to expand the team, enter new markets and accelerate business growth. The business offers a number of key Energy Trading software applications known collectively as the enTrader Product Suite. These industry leading solutions are currently used in the purchase of well over £1 billion worth of energy and fuel products each year.

Simon Piercy of Contigo, said: “It is important for entrepreneurs and business owners to feel that they have the support and recognition needed to continue growing and reaching new heights of success. Santander is playing a vital role in achieving just this. By taking part in key events such as Breakthrough Live, attendees should find themselves reinvigorated and confident that their role within the region is creating a significant ripple effect of economic growth across the UK.”

Chris Pallett with new apprentice Andy Rogers

A Shropshire IT firm has expanded its team by taking on a new apprentice who decided it was time for a career change.

Andy Rogers, 20, of Stirchley, Telford, has joined Bespoke Computing Ltd on Stafford Park, Telford, as an office administrator apprentice after nearly four years working in the hospitality industry.

He was duty manager at the Park Inn, Telford, but wanted to expand his knowledge of customer service.

Chris Pallett, owner of Bespoke Computing Ltd and county chairman of the Chartered Institute of IT, said he was pleased to welcome Mr Rogers to the team and to give him an opportunity to learn on the job through the work apprenticeship scheme.

He said: “The apprenticeship scheme has brought real benefits to our workplace. As a business we are pleased to support the next generation and give them a chance to get into employment.
“As a trainee office administrator, Andy helps out in all areas of the company. We work in a wide range of areas and he is getting vital experience for his career.”
Mr Rogers said he felt like moving to Bespoke Computing Ltd was a step forward for him.
“I wanted to expand my knowledge and ability to help customers. I wanted a career change and customer service is something I tend to be good at and I thought I could develop that.
“I’m definitely making the most of a new opportunity. In the hospitality industry, the pay is never very good so a new career path was the best way for me to achieve my ambitions.”
Mr Rogers said he would recommend the apprenticeship scheme to other young people.
“I found out about the scheme online. It’s on the job learning so you are getting paid to go into work and it’s something I have not done before so I’m always learning.”
He is the second apprentice to join Bespoke Computing.
“Apprentices are very eager and motivated. They require a large investment of time but they give a tremendous and worthwhile amount back to the company,” added Mr Pallett.

This article was posted by Bespoke Computing.

Other articles by this contributor are:

• Security warning from Telford IT experts
• New website to be online resource for Midlands businesses
• IT experts leave computers for the Shropshire hills!
• Free IT advice webinar for businesses in Shropshire and across the Midlands
• Warnings of new security needed for Shropshire employers due to increased use of social media by employees
• Midlands businesses urged to be aware of security measures
• Apprentice moves to Shropshire to find IT role
• Carers in action recognised at Shropshire awards
• IT help for Midlands businesses
• Shropshire businesses to face further price hikes
• Shropshire courses for county businesses
• Computer virus invades email accounts in Shropshire
• Shropshire IT specialist to hold ‘Lunch n Learn’ workshop
• Shropshire company crowned Small Business Specialist
• Shropshire businesses mis-sold hundreds of pounds worth of IT software
• Travel advice from Telford IT specialists
• Shropshire IT firm celebrates seventh birthday
• Shropshire based firm gives advice to stranded workers
• Midlands based computing firm comment on high cost of spam to businesses

Scott Murray, founder of Bar Sport, Man City legend Mike Summerbee, former Man City manager Brian Horton and Daniel Slifkin, Bar Sport Wilmslow franchisee

An American-themed sports bar chain which was first launched in Staffordshire by a top former amateur boxer has just opened another venue to add to its growing franchise portfolio.

Bar Sport, started by Cannock entrepreneur Scott Murray back in 1998, has just opened a venue in the upmarket town of Wilmslow in Cheshire.

Mr Murray was at the VIP launch of Bar Sport Wilmslow last Thursday.

On the night he was was joined by Manchester City football legends Mike Summerbee and its former manager Brian Horton who comes from Hednesford in Staffordshire.

For the red side of the city Manchester Utd’s first team coach Rene Meulensteen also turned up for the launch bringing with him a special shirt signed by all the players and retiring manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The shirt will be added to the other memorabilia on display at Bar Sport.

Wayne Rooney has already endorsed Bar Sport by popping into the venue on Friday.

The opening of Bar Sport in Wilmslow has also created over 20 new jobs.

As well as a Bar Sport in Cannock which is not a franchise there are also Bar Sport franchises at Ipswich, Maidenhead and Croydon with venues at Bromley, Reading and Nottingham set to open by the autumn.

Mr Murray said: “It was fantastic to see another Bar Sport franchise open to the public. We have already had some of the Man Utd staff including Wayne Rooney pop in there. The Bar Sport franchise is growing all the time. By the autumn we are hoping to have opened three more which will take the current franchise to seven.

“It is a great opportunity for would-be bar owners to join the Bar Sport franchise. What we are doing is providing a tried and tested formula and the benefit of our experience before agreeing to work together where we offer branding support and operational advice along the way. The reaction to Bar Sport elsewhere shows we have a winning formula. We eventually want to open a Bar Sport in every town in the UK.”

Other Bar Sport venues have seen regular visits from the likes of former two-weight boxing world champion Ricky Hatton and World Cup legends including Nobby Stiles and Gordon Banks.

In September former Undisputed Heavyweight World Boxing champion Evander Holyfield is due to visit the Premier Suite, situated above Bar Sport in Cannock.

Ben Truslove

A Government planning move to allow the change of use of offices to residential accommodation is set to benefit North Worcestershire and Warwickshire, according to John Truslove director Ben Truslove.

Councils were given the option to apply for exemption if they didn’t believe it would be of benefit to their area, and a number took this up, but Redditch and Bromsgrove have not done so.

Mr Truslove said it was a positive decision. “With the country badly in need of residential accommodation it is sensible for surplus secondary offices to be used to help meet the demand.

“It is important that councils recognise that times change and buildings may not be suitable for the use that they were originally intended.”

He noted that over the past couple of years the firm has seen an increased number of inquiries regarding alternative uses for office and industrial properties including children’s nurseries, gyms and various other leisure uses.
With empty offices now a significant rates burden, owners, he suggested, needed to take advantage of the planning changes.

“It is essential to consider alternatives to traditional uses because the advances in IT over recent years, including Wi-Fi and tablets, together with an increase in modern working practices such as hot-desking and home-working, have meant that companies can often operate from a reduced amount of office space,” said Mr Truslove.

“That has resulted in a considerable amount of secondary office space lying empty for extended periods, in some cases a number of years.

“Of course there is a slight concern that it might go too far, but so long as the respective councils monitor the position I don’t anticipate a negative impact on output and jobs, as some have suggested.”

He added: “While we have seen a pick-up in activity in the office market, there continues to be an over-supply of secondary space.

“Hence, at a time when there are people desperate for a home, it is common sense for offices which have outlived their usefulness to be re-classified and refurbished. It is positive legislation and our local councils should be commended for recognising the potential benefits.

“I am confident that in this area we can get the balance right.”

The medical supplies from Alan Ward arrive in Haiti

Staff at Shropshire’s largest independent furniture retailer are proving they have what it takes when it comes to helping others in need across the world.

For one employee at Alan Ward in Shrewsbury will be making a trip of a lifetime to care for animals at a sanctuary in Africa while another has been helping to ensure poor communities have access to vital medical supplies.

Gemma Picken, of Telford, has also headed off to South Africa after deciding to volunteer at the African Dawn Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary.

The 23-year-old, of The Rock, who travelled thousands of miles to Africa, will be spending six weeks working at the centre on the Eastern Cape.

She said: “I will be doing everything from cleaning out cages to feeding the animals and caring for them if they are sick. There are also opportunities to become a surrogate mum.”

Miss Picken said she had decided the time was right for her to do some volunteering work.

She said: “I carried out some research on the internet about volunteering and came across this sanctuary.

“I like animals and in the future I would love to do something with wildlife. I thought this was something really worthwhile and I am really proud that I am able to help in this way.”

The former Orleton Park School student, who works in the company’s distribution centre office at Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury, said: “I am also really grateful to Alan Ward for giving me a two-month sabbatical.
“I am fulfilling a dream and I am hoping it will give me some good experience for what I want to do later in life. I can’t wait to get out there and get started.”

And Tim Willocks has been helping to ensure out-of-date medical supplies are put to good use to help people in Third World countries.

He decided to collect the donations on behalf of the group which also has branches in Chester, Winsford and Newcastle-under-Lyme after an appeal was spotted in a bulletin from Jackie Horsewood, managing director of Wenlock Health and Safety Ltd.

Last year supplies collected by Alan Ward were taken to Ethiopia by Jackie and her husband, Graham, to help to stock a new clinic.

This year she has just returned from Haiti, which is situated in the Caribbean, after taking supplies, including hundreds given by Alan Ward.

Mr Willocks, delivery team leader at Alan Ward’s distribution centre said: “We live in such a throwaway society nowadays. Lots of medical supplies are thrown away in the UK each year because they are out-of-date.

“However, in places such as Ethiopia and Haiti they are still able to be used in areas that are forgotten or in remote poor areas.

“At Alan Ward I am in charge of the first aid boxes and decided to see what we could do to help.

“I am delighted that through our efforts people in poorer communities across the world have been able to have access to medical supplies they so desperately need.”

Jackie Horsewood said they had a “huge response” and took out two large suitcases full of donated medical supplies to a small hospital in Cap Haitian in the North of Haiti.

The research reports on views of 1,168 office workers across the UK located in offices. Whilst it reveals location is of key importance to workers with 67% of staff citing office location as a factor which would strongly influence their decision to take a job, the research further looks at which features they believe would make the ideal workplace. Indeed of those people surveyed in the Midlands, 19% would most like to change their office fit-out, ahead of the 16% who specified location and personal workspace respectively. They also showed no outright preference for homeworking with 42% stating this as being the place they would most like to work from, equal to those who showed preference for the office. The national average for homeworking preference was 45%. Interestingly Midland respondents reported higher car usage when travelling to work, with 57% stating the car is their mode of transport to work.

Stephen Morgan, director of building consultancy, says: “It would appear that employers in the Midlands have a real opportunity to boost their staff morale by providing them with refitted workplace. Which would additionally benefit employers as a new fit out is far more cost effective than relocation.”

The survey also found that Generation Y (18-34 year olds) were more demanding about location and fit-out of their office than their older colleagues with 73% of these office workers rating location as a big influence on employment decision compared to 64% of older respondents. Those of the younger generation (18-24 year olds) had an even more pronounced preference for design led offices with 43% preferring a funky fit out and 69% of 25-34 year old stating this type of environment improves productivity.

Marie Hickey, associate director of Savills, says: ““TMT organisations have raised the expectations of employers with ‘Google like’ fit outs being linked to higher productivity levels but what’s really key is getting the basics right within a less traditional fit out irrespective of business sector. You don’t necessarily need to ‘wow’ staff or prospective occupiers – space, comfort, good lighting, kitchen facilities and WiFi will have huge value and won’t necessarily break the bank. With employers looking to retain young talent it’s important to listen to staff and incorporate cost effective changes such as these.”

What Workers Want was last conducted in 2007 when it found 82% of workers rate comfort of work area, lighting and temperature as factors of great significance in the working environment, taking precedence over location and facilities. Comfort of the workplace came out tops for workers in the West Midlands when considering the important features of their workplace. In terms of policies, salary and job security are rated highest. The work force of the East Midlands however was most concerned with the lighting of the work place, with comfort coming secondary.