Rob Vivian

Fast-growing telecommunications provider Pure Comms has seen its success rewarded after it was chosen for an esteemed high-growth coaching programme.

The company, based in Clevedon in North Somerset, is one of a select number of businesses to have been fast-tracked for success by being placed on Business West’s high-growth coaching scheme.

The programme is aimed at businesses who display the requirements needed to achieve a one-million pound plus turnover in their fourth-year.

Inclusion also favours businesses that offer a product, service or concept which is stand-out in its sector.

Pure Comms Managing Director Rob Vivian is delighted to have been accepted onto the scheme:

“As a growing business, to have been selected because we have potential to turnover more than one-million pounds in our fourth year, due to quality of service we offer and the infrastructure we have in place, is a real honour.

“The UK has slipped back into recession and many businesses are unfortunately either struggling to make ends meet or even folding.

“We’ve had year on year growth since our inception and in the grip of such difficult economic trading conditions, it really is great to be rewarded and recognised for the potential we have as a company. The whole team here at Pure Comms deserves credit for this achievement, without their hard work and commitment this would not have been possible.”

Operating out of offices in Clevedon Hall, Pure Comms offer a state-of-the-art telecoms package that only a select few in the UK have the capability to provide.

With a backdrop of difficult economic trading conditions, the company’s impressive performance made them ideal for the High Growth scheme according to Business Wests’ Abdullah Ali-Ahmadi, who has been allocated as Pure Comms’ High-Growth Coach.

Abdullah said: “In only three-years PureComms has posted year-on-year growth. It stands out as a business with all the ingredients required to out-perform the tough trading conditions. Pure Comms has the potential to become a flagship business in the region and a major employer.”

To find out more about Pure Comms visit: www.purecomms.co.uk

Job Centre Plus Team

A radical scheme devised by Weston College and Job Centre Plus is targeting long-term unemployed young people.

N-Gage 19+ offers a unique eight week intense programme covering job skills, personal and social development, volunteering and business enterprise for 19 to 24 year olds.

Special mentors are used to support learners on the course.

Weston College Recruitment Coordinator James Wilmot said: “It’s been incredibly successful with all but one student completing the programme or obtaining a job.

“Mentors are crucial to its success. They give four hours over eight weeks which makes such a difference and we feel N-Gage could go UK-wide.”

Latest Government figures show 1.03 million young people aged 16 – 24 are unemployed, including nearly 1,000 in North Somerset.

N-Gage 19+ has brought together young people not in education, employment or training to enhance their work and education prospects.

At the end of eight weeks two students signed up for the Prince’s Trust Programme, one is on a full-time IT course at Weston College, another has been offered a job and the rest have decided to follow new career paths.

Justine Grimstead, 19, of Coleridge Road, who is set to go to Cornwall to be a riding instructor said: “N-Gage has built up my confidence and having a mentor really helped.

‘I’d only ever used a computer for Facebook, now I can do Power Point, Word and Excel. It was great to meet up with other people and not feel so isolated.”

Her mentor Lisa Smith, who owns The Pet Studio dog boarding kennels and grooming business in Congresbury, offered face-to-face, telephone and email support.

She said: “I was approached by the College and it’s the first time I have done anything like this.

“I know how difficult it is for people to get a job without experience first. I’ve loved being a mentor and would be very happy to do this again.”

Partnership Manager of Job Centre Plus Tim Cowley, said: “The College has been very supportive with this scheme and mentoring has proved key to getting young people back to work.

“We expected a 50 per cent drop out but to have all but one of them complete the course or obtain a job offer is brilliant.

The mum of 24-year-old Charlotte Gould, Sheila Birch, 64, of Canberra Road, Weston said: “It’s been difficult to see Charlotte unemployed for so long. She became very despondent when all she could get was seasonal work.

“This course has helped her get her life back.”

Eloise Ryan, 25, of Worle, is a full-time mum to her seven year old son. She said: “It’s been a great experience and made me think I could be a social worker.”

For more information on courses at Weston College please call The Hub at Weston College 01934 411 751 or go to www.weston.ac.uk

The 2012 Coach Tourism Awards saw Bakers Dolphin awarded Coach Holiday Programme of the Year for its innovative and creative programme with a good mix of holiday destinations.

Sales and Marketing Director Amanda Harrington also came home with the esteemed Special Award in recognition of her outstanding services to coach tourism.

Amanda said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to be awarded the Coach Holiday Programme of the Year award. We put so much work into creating a varied and inspiring programme of coach holidays for our customers, so it’s great to be recognised.

“The whole team pull together and help to create our programme. As well as our marketing team we listen to our drivers who offer suggestions and observations on how we can improve our tours. The work and thought we put into it obviously shows and we’re so pleased to be able to offer South West customers the best holiday programme around!”

Bakers Dolphin which offers day trips, short breaks and holidays in the UK and abroad attended the ceremony, organised by Coach Monthly Magazine, which took place in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Bakers Dolphin Managing Director Max Fletcher said: “It is such an honour for Amanda to win the Special Award; the list of previous winners read like a who’s who of the coach industry so she is definitely in illustrious company.

“The award was given based on her work as a board member of the Coach Tourism Council and also for her work transforming Bakers Dolphin tours to the success it is today. The announcement got a huge cheer from the 360 coach professionals at the event and is a great accolade for the company.”

And the accolades do not end there for Bakers Dolphin. It was also short listed for a further three awards – Coach Tour Operator of the Year for large fleets, Brochure of the Year and Website of the Year which is more than any other operator in the country.

Max continued: “The fact that we were short listed for more awards than any other operator speaks volumes about our professionalism, expertise and commitment to providing the best for our customers.”

Graham Norris

As the country falls back into recession, a Somerset-based performance coach has put together a special offer to help businesses keep ahead of the tough economic climate.

Graham Norris, of Action in Change, wants to help business owners to set and achieve goals for their company, helping them to drive their business forward.

Graham, who is based in Wells, said: “Small businesses are the lifeblood of the British economy and this double recession can be a tough time for them. Owners often find there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done or to manage the balance between their business and home life.”

Graham works with business owners to find the gap between the present and their goals, helping them come up with a new and realistic strategy for getting there.

He believes that performance coaching is still an untapped resource in the UK, particularly where small businesses are concerned. As a special recession-beating offer for small businesses in the Somerset area, Graham is offering the opportunity to buy two coaching sessions and get a third free.

He explained: “Small businesses can benefit enormously from performance coaching and I’d like to help as many businesses as possible out there beat the recession.

“By offering three sessions for the price of two, businesses get a great opportunity to try performance coaching and experience the difference it will make to their business. I help business owners find the answers to their own issues, focusing on looking for solutions.”

One business Graham has worked with is Clevedon-based Mimo Media. Owner Mike Morrison said: ““I usually avoid business coaches – mainly because most seem to peddle paper-thin anecdotes disguised as advice. Graham is different; in an hour he helped me gain clarity, a greater understanding of what I want to achieve, and some firm actions to take away.”

The Action in Change three-for-two offer runs until 30 June 2012.

To find out how performance coaching could help your business, contact Graham at Action in Change on 0845 6890241 or visit www.actioninchange.co.uk

Plum Account Manager Ben Veal comments: “We’re looking forward to exhibiting at the North Somerset Business Show, and having the opportunity to meet with other businesses across the region.

“As a creative communications agency, we offer marketing and public relations solutions to a broad range of clients across Somerset.Whether you want to keep people informed, launch something new, attract more customers, manage change or just raise your profile, Plum Communications & PR can help.

“Our dedicated team have a wealth of experience across a variety of sectors, and offer services including brand and identity management, crisis communications, award entry submissions and copywriting. We’re pleased to announce that on the day we will also be offering hints and tips on social media marketing – so if you want to find out how to make Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn work for your business, come along and see us.”

North Somerset Business Show organiser Ian Williams comments: “The North Somerset Business Show aims to provide a cost-effective platform for businesses in the region to showcase their products and services. It’s shaping up to a major event, with a broad mix of businesses from a wide range of sectors. It’s pleasing to see that Plum have signed up to exhibit.

“We’re also encouraging visitors to register for free on the website beforehand, so they can benefit from fast-track entry and preferred attendance to the seminars and networking sessions. We have a packed programme of must-see seminars and must-attend workshops.”

To find out more about the show please visit: www.ns-bs.co.uk ; to find out more about Plum visit: http://www.plum-communications.co.uk/

Hayley Wright

A Weston College former beauty apprentice has spoken to the Department of Education about how earning while she learned has changed her life.

Hayley Wright, of Chilton Street, Bridgwater, was chosen as an ambassador by the National Apprenticeship Service to give a video conference about her experiences to Government officials.

The 20-year-old said: “I was asked a lot of questions about being an apprentice, the competitions I’d entered and what it has meant to work and learn at the same time.”

Last October Hayley was awarded a Medallion of Excellence at the 41st WorldSkills competition, held at London Excel.

She’d already fought off huge UK competition over three years to be chosen as a member of the British squad and went on to scoop joint eighth place at WorldSkills.

More than 200,000 visitors watched the four-day marathon skills test during which Hayley competed for an exhausting 22 hours.

The WorldSkills UK Team is made up of 40 world-class vocational competitors trained in a variety of skills including mobile robotics, graphic design, carpentry, catering and mechanics.

It is the largest unique biannual competition in the world involving around 1,000 apprentices and students, aged 18 – 24 in 46 skill areas.

Around 5,500 young people competed to be chosen for the British squad and Hayley was congratulated at the House of Commons and Buckingham Palace.

Hayley is now training to become an assessor at Weston College, in North Somerset, and teach and prepare other apprentices for competitions at a regional, national and international level.

She added: “I want to become a lecturer and inspire other young people. I wouldn’t be where I am now without the College and being an apprentice was the best thing I ever did.”

Weston College Head of Apprentices in Beauty, Hair, Barbering and Nails, Tanita Veal, said: “Hayley started here aged 16 and has been outstanding and I’m delighted she’s returned to work at Weston College.”

For courses at Weston College, North Somerset, and apprenticeship ino call 01934 411 411 or go to www.weston.ac.uk

The West Country firm was named Financial Adviser Life & Pensions Awards Best Small Adviser 2012 at a ceremony at the exclusive Sartoria restaurant on London’s Saville Row recently.

There were around 20 firms shortlisted in the Small Adviser award; these were then judged individually by chartered financial planner and business consultant Dr Peter Williams, and Gavin Tisshaw, chairman of IFA firm Executive Advisory Services.

Old Mill, which has branches in Shepton Mallet, Yeovil, Melksham, Exeter and Dorchester, was chosen from a plethora of top names, including NeedanAdviser, who were highly commended and Chapters Financial and Wingate Financial Planning who were both commended.

Old Mill was represented at the ceremony by partners Simon Cole, Kevin Whitmarsh and Paula Hodge and associate director Duncan Parkes, who was himself recognized by the industry in November when he was named Chartered Financial Planner of the Year by the Personal Finance Society.

On receiving the award, Simon said: “The Financial Adviser Life & Pensions Awards are one of the hardest fought in the industry, so we are thoroughly delighted with this award. The entrants for this title really are the cream of the crop so the win really is testament to the ongoing hard work undertaken by Old Mill team throughout the year.”

While Kevin added: “At Old Mill we work tirelessly to ensure we deliver the highest possible standard of advice by always making sure the client is at the heart of everything we do, so it is really encouraging for us that our client-centered approach is being recognized and rewarded, firstly with the Professional Adviser award in February and now this accolade from Financial Adviser.

“But these awards will not leave us resting on our laurels; we will continue with our commitment to delivering highly professional services where the client’s needs are always paramount,” Kevin concludes.

To find out more about Old Mill visit: http://www.oldmillgroup.co.uk/

North Somerset-based Fhoss Technology® Ltd will be giving away 10 garments from its new illuminated clothing range that helps equipment operators see workers in the dark and saves lives.

Andy Kimitri, Executive Chairman of Fhoss Technology®, said: “Our new illuminated clothing range is the next generation of PPE and several steps on from the high visibility jackets, trousers and vests workers wear that have been around for more than 50 years and have hardly changed.

“We will be giving away 10 garments from the range to 10 lucky winners that come forward and let us know how they will benefit from receiving our products.”

People can enter the competition through Twitter, Facebook or email, stating the reason why they should receive the products in no more than 140 characters.

Andy continued: “This is a great opportunity for people and businesses to try and win some of our revolutionary new products. The 10 winners can choose the garment they would like from our range, which includes jackets, trousers and vests.

“Our illuminated clothing range helps equipment operators see workers in the dark even if there is no other light around and also ensures they can see where they are walking too.

“We have produced a light emitting reflective tape, which has been designed for use in professional environments where wearing a high visibility garment, such as a vest, is often mandatory due to ever growing health and safety regulations.”

Email entries can be sent to Marketing@Fhoss.com or can be made via Facebook on the company’s profile wall at www.facebook.com/FhossTechnology. The company can also accept entries via Twitter.

Email and Facebook entries must include the words ‘Fhoss Competition’ in the email subject or on the Facebook wall and Twitter entries must include the #Fhosscomp tag.

The deadline for entries is midnight on July 1, 2012.

For more information about Fhoss Technology®, please visit www.fhoss.com or call 0845 519 2725. To see footage of the product, please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktvgV6WuyXE.

Alternatively, please become a fan of the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FhossTechnology or follow the company on Twitter by visiting www.twitter.com/FhossTechnology.

Visitors to the stand were asked to put a token in the box of one of the charities and at the end of the conference, the tokens were added up and each charity received a share of £1,000.

The three charities were The Prince’s Trust, Age UK Somerset and Hope and Homes for Children. Each charity received almost identical numbers of tokens as visitors struggled to choose between them.

Many people asked to vote for all three but in the end, The Prince’s Trust just edged in front and will receive £400.

Age UK Somerset and Hope and Homes for Children will both receive £300.

Clive Bodley, Chief Executive of Alliance Homes, said “At a time when many charities are struggling to raise funds, we were really keen to use the Chartered Institute of Housing’s annual event to show our support. Our stand centred on the theme of hope and the three charities we choose are shining beacons of hope to so many people.”

The 26-year old from Bristol has left behind her job in Fabric Land and embarked on her own bespoke children’s wear line Bumble Tots.

In partnership with friend Nicky Manners her designs are on sale at the pair’s new shop Our Baby Needs in Bedminster.

Her first range includes summer dresses, tops and bibs and nappy covers made from fun cotton fabrics, as well as beanbags and bunting.

Hayley says her interest in needlecraft started at a young age.

“My mum was always sewing when I was a child and I get a lot of my inspiration from her.

“I was fascinated how you can turn a simple piece of cloth into something really special that no-one else has got.”

Hayley, a former Brislington School pupil, caught the baby clothes bug shortly after the birth of her sister Angela’s two young sons.

“I couldn’t believe how expensive it could be just for their clothes, especially when they grow so quickly, so I have created my own range that is handmade and exclusive but still affordable.”

Hayley decided to take the plunge and launch her own designs when the opportunity became available at the new shop in St John’s Lane.

“I’ve been sewing all my life and always had an interest in making things and was really itching to do my own thing.

“I had a wonderful four years at Fabric Land and made some brilliant friends but knew it was time to move on.

“Working there really helped encourage my interest in needlework and I was always kept on my toes helping customers with their queries.”

Hayley will also be taking commissions for bespoke items so people can take away with something unique for their child.

“I take orders for items similar to those in my range and also welcome people talking through their own ideas and see if we can make them possible.

“I will soon have swatches showing my full range of fabric so people can pick exactly what they want and have something really special.

“New baby wear and accessories can cost an awful lot these days and I’m excited to be able to offer people quality, unique products that are fairly made and priced.”

Our Baby Needs also stocks a range of new and quality used prams and car seats alongside baby and maternity clothes, feeding and bathing equipment, and bedding.

The shop is also hoping to offer buggy and pram repairs through an arrangement with the nearby workshops of disability specialists Access Able.

For further information visit: Our Baby Needs at 98 St Johns Lane, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 5AF, or call: 0117 971 7884