by BBL | Nov 15, 2023 | Client Focus
Tell us who you are? First Fix Formwork Limited
Where did the name for the company come from? Formwork refers to the product produced by our designs, this is applied into concrete flooring usually at the first fix of the job, which is where first fix comes from.
What services or products do you offer? We design and sell steel formwork for concrete flooring in high rise buildings.
How many team members are currently employed – who are they and what do they do?
6 people currently Cathy, Managing director also takes control of the accounts and admin work while we are growing. JP, an outside consultant for First Fix, he is my right hand man and helps me through my first directorship. Alex, Design Consultant, Alex has worked in this industry for over 9 years, he is very knowledgeable on the products and the needs for this type of work. He is currently working on our tech and automation processing. Jack, CAD Draughtsperson, he liaises with customers and designs the formwork to the spec of the project engineer, creating production work to pass to our sub-contractors. Lakshan, CAD Draughtsperson, he quotes for the projects for our customers helping with designs. Steve, He is our delivery driver, he collects all our products from our sub-contractors and delivers to site. Starting in October is Gabriel, he is the Systems Manager, he will help implement and maintain a new CRM system moving onto marketing and website building.
What made you want to start your own business / or work for your company?
Saw a gap in the market where we have a lot of expertise.
Why was Trent House chosen as a location / how long have you been here?
We came here for a meeting with our accountant and really like the offices, we have been here now for 3 days.
Are you based in any other location?
No
Are you planning anything exciting in the near future… personal or business?
We are aiming to grow our business exponentially over a couple of years through the use of technology and AI.
What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?
That is a very good question, I have moved so quick in the last 2 years to get to where I am that I have had a lot of advice and a lot of it is great advice. What I can think at the top of my head is, it’s not that you make a mistake it is how you fix the mistake.
You’re on a team night out, where do you go?
Bowling, it is fun and inclusive, and all our team enjoy it.
by BBL | Nov 15, 2023 | Client Focus
WTM Insulation are specialist thermal insulation contractor based in Greater Manchester and Liverpool. Our experience spans retail, healthcare, education, commercial and leisure projects.
Establishing close working relationships with clients large and small – including many leading UK brand names – we have built an enviable reputation for honesty, professionalism, readability and expert knowledge.
Our on-site teams of fully qualified thermal insulation engineers share our passion for excellent standards and a highly professional approach. We’ve built strong relationships with the industry’s leading manufacturers, enabling us to provide the very best tried-and-tested materials at heavily discounted prices. These include:
- Mineral Fibre Insulation
- Flexible and Rigid Foam Insulation
- Nitrile Rubber Insulation
- Ancillaries for Insulation
- Fire Protection
- Weatherproof Coverings
We fully understand the demands of the commercial contracts and can adapt our working practices to suit your unique requirements.
The duty of care for the health and safety of our people, customers and the public is of prime importance to us.
Our team are trained as follows:
- Timed served Thermal Insulation Engineers
- CSCS card *Construction Skills Certification Scheme)
- SSSTS Certified Supervisors
- PASMA card (Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association)
- IPAF card (International Powered Access Federation)
- IOSH and Grad IOSH health and safety consultants
- Asbestos awareness training (all employees)
- Regular health and safety tool box talks carried our by certified management
Some of our recent projects include:
- Downtown Salford
- Manchester Royal Infirmary, BMTU
- Aintree Hospital
- Manchester University, School of Digital Arts
Meet our fury friend
Meet Jake, a 7-year-old Border Collie who adores leisurely strolls and finds his greatest joy in playing around the backyard with the kids, whether it’s chasing a ball or a stick.
by BBL | Nov 6, 2023 | Client Focus
B-inspired Training & Consultants are based in the North West of England. Our training and consultancy services are provided by a range of qualified, experienced specialist practitioners. Our ARC model has previously been accredited by BILD since 2017, and more recently achieved Restraint Reduction Network Approved Certification status through the British Institute of Learning Disabilities – Association of Certified Training (BILD ACT) in March 2020 and Feb 2023, therefore fully complying with the Restraint Reduction Network Training Standards 2020.
Our aim is to offer personalised support to each learner to develop confidence and competence in their role, enabling them to empower the people they support in a positive way. We promote positive attitudes and values that are consistent with ‘social inclusion’ and Positive Behavioural Support Principles (PBSP). B-inspired aims to support staff working in Health & Social Care and Educational settings to develop skills and knowledge in relation to supporting children and adults who have complex support needs associated with Learning Disabilities, Autistic Spectrum Condition, Dementia, Acquired Brain Injury and Mental Health.
B-Inspired offers learners and their employers the support and reassurance necessary to protect themselves in a safe and appropriate manner in the workplace. We encourage learners and their employers to evaluate challenging situations with consideration to ethical and legal frameworks. Our training places a strong emphasis on Positive Behaviour Support and the principles of ‘proactive support’, ‘least restrictive’, and ‘last resort’ strategies.
We also offer a range of services such as Neuro Linguistic Programming, Clinical supervision to nurses, Clinical advisors to Community Treatment Reviews.
For more info please contact us at shirleychappell@b-inspriedtraining.com or mikehansen@b-inspiredtraining.com
Meet our fury friends
Introducing Nel, a delightful 5-year-old pup with a charming cross between a German Shepherd and Beagle. Nel is extremely cheeky, very friendly and loves her food!
Introducing Ronni, a boisterous 1 year old brown sprocker who loves to meet people and play!
Both of these friendly pups love to visit the office and explore.
by BBL | Nov 6, 2023 | Client Focus
Tell us who you are?
Reaching CIC (known as Reaching North Staffs) is a local non-profit organisation that supports vulnerable and disabled adults across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire to improve their physical, emotional and financial health and wellbeing. Reaching started out in April 2021 as a Local Authority funded project working as part of a local charity and delivering outreach support to people struggling with issues such as with social isolation and mental health. When funding came to an end, the team, led by founder and CEO Georgina Salt decided to continue their work and establish as a CIC in its own right.
What services or products do you offer?
Our free services have grown from a dedicated outreach programme to include a housing and benefits clinic, and group support in multiple locations across the city. We also offer bespoke paid-for packages of support for people with longer term needs, as well as delivering a vital service, Recovering Homes that works with people with Hoarding Disorder. Our work reaches a ‘hidden community’ of people needing support. Since our launch in April 2023, referrals for our services have been increasing and we are now operating a waiting list across all our programmes.
How many team members are currently employed – who are they and what do they do?
We started as our original team of 6 – all of our staff who worked on our previous project took a leap of faith and helped to develop and shape our new service. We have recently employed another 2 team members. Georgina is our Founder and CEO and has overall responsibility for the day to day running of the organisation. Kaz looks after our social media, marketing, events, funding and fundraising. Jax runs our free and paid for support services, and her specialty is working with people with Hoarding Disorder. Paula and Gill are our fantastic, dedicated support workers who also work within that team. Michelle is developing and running our free group provision – our groups are based in Leek, Hanley, Biddulph, Longton and Newcastle. Tracey delivers our free housing and benefit advice programme. Charlie started life with us on a college work placement and she now support us part time with admin and marketing. We have a really talented team that is creating something very special in Reaching!
Why was Trent House chosen as a location / how long have you been here?
As we are a community based service we initially worked from a variety of venues. It soon became clear that we needed an admin hub, and George came across Trent House. One visit later and we decided it was a perfect fit for Reaching. Its location was a big draw for us as our staff are located all across the city, so it’s easy for us all to access. We were lucky to receive funding for the office rental as part of a grant from a local organisation. We’ve been made to feel very welcome and we’ve settled in well.
Are you planning anything exciting in the near future… personal or business?
We started Reaching with £0 in the bank, and no experience of running a non-profit, just the passion for the services we provide and the belief that, as a unique project, the people of North Staffs needed Reaching and its services. From the very first moment we established in November 2022, our team have thrown themselves into learning all of the skills needed – linking up with other organisations for support, learning how to research and write grants, how to design and implement social media and marketing campaigns….. all on top of doing our day to day work of supporting people who are in desperate need of help with food/fuel poverty, support to access mental health services, adults struggling with loneliness and social isolation, people who don’t know how to access benefits or register for housing.
It’s been a year of learning, and personal growth for all of the team, who believed in Reaching so much that they all worked their first month for free whilst we were seeking funding! We are incredibly proud of how far we have come in such a short space of time – we have received referrals for over 150 individuals since April 2023. We have been awarded 10 grants to help with the cost of running our programmes. We have raised over £15,000 in donations and sponsorships, including an epic climb up Snowdon with around 40 supporters. Reaching truly is a forward-thinking organisation, with a massive vision and determination to improve the lives of vulnerable and disabled adults locally.
The team is already expanding, and we are looking for support from local businesses, organisations and individuals who can help with funding and fundraising to support our vital work. We are developing valuable connections in local communities: all our groups take place in independent café’s, which means our clients can access these venues when our service is closed, and we are in turn supporting small, local business. We are also looking for volunteers who could donate time or skills to support with our group activities – no matter what your skill set, we can find a role for you!!!
Find out more information about Reaching North Staffs:
Visit our Facebook page
Visit our website
Email us at info@reaching.org.uk
Call us on 07851 091862
Based in BusinessLode Stoke, our team is available Monday through Thursday to assist you with any inquiries you may have about our services. Our friendly staff is always here to help.
by BBL | Oct 16, 2023 | Client Focus
Tell us who you are?
I am Arshad Raja Director of the company. I had five years of experience in the tailoring industry in Hong Kong before I moved to the United Kingdom in 2009. I started a custom tailoring business at Reading & Oxford, South England in 2015. Then We updated the name with Elite Bespoke and registered the trademark this year. Due to COVID-19, We did not work because we had to measure at customers face to face. For three years we had a long break because of COVID-19. We are back in action in 2023 as we have started back customer appointments for their make-to-measure clothing.
What services or products do you offer?
We do offer men and women tailored clothes including:
- Custom Tailored Shirt
- Custom Tailored Suit
- Custom Tailored Jacket
- Hand Made Shoes
- Custom Tailored Belt
- Custom Tailored Tuxedo
- Custom Tailored Overcoat
- Custom Belt
- Custom Jeans
How many team members are currently employed?
We currently have three employed and six self-employed staff members.
What made you want to start your own business / or work for your company?
I was brought up in Hong Kong and worked in a custom clothing company during my university education. I love to talk and speak with new people presenting fabrics and discussing design. My family business is the same it also helped me start my own clothing brand and business. I noticed there are few custom-tailored clothing in the UK as I have seen in my travel experiences in China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Hong Kong.
Why was Trent House chosen as a location / how long have you been here?
I am local resident of Stoke on Trent. I found Trent House is the best service office in Staffordshire.
Are you in any other location?
Yes, we do meet customers in different locations on appointments at London, Reading, Oxford, Solihull, Birmingham, Cannock, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Manchester, and Chester
The following are details you can also use
Tel: 08445420011 (9am to 6pm)
E: info@elitebespokefashions.com
Web: elitebespokefashions.com
Txt: https://wa.me/447778676447
and other social media links are:
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
Twitter
TikTok
by BBL | Sep 29, 2023 | Client Focus
Tell us who you are?
We are WPS Group Ltd, Your Trusted Installation Partner
Where did the name for the company come from?
It’s a secret! But it may have reference to my Daughter Willow.. The ‘Group’ element of the name is there to highlight the different, specialist divisions of the company. From Networks, Technology and Security installations that we currently have, and then the Electrical, Fire & Safety, FM and Property divisions that we will create in the next 18 months through investment, natural growth and acquisitions.
What services or products do you offer?
Currently our core service is the Design and Installation Structured Data Cabling systems that power your IT and Telecoms Networks. We also have a Technology Installation team who install Audio Visual solutions such as Interactive Whiteboards, Digital Displays and Mobile Phone Signal Boosting systems. In addition, we also provide Electronic Security services such as CCTV, Access Control and Intruder Alarm systems. We work with multiple IT managed service providers and in house IT functions, FM companies / departments and we serve businesses and education settings across the UK.
How many team members are currently employed – who are they and what do they do?
We currently have 6 employees, hopefully 9 when this is published. Rick (MD / Owner / Lead Engineer and Systems Designer), Amanda (Co Owner / Part time Admin), Phil – Tech install expert! Dylan – Data Cabler. Kev & Harry are Trainee Engineers who over the next 18months will learn all aspects of the business. 2x Experienced Engineers have been recruited and are due to start in October.
What made you want to start your own business / or work for your company?
Unfortunately (for all of my ex employers) I am an Entrepreneur. Therefore, like every Entrepreneur, I am completely unemployable. After years of building things for others, I knew I could create a better and bigger business, offering an unrivalled service than anyone else in this industry. And ultimately, being employed wouldn’t give me the life that I want for my family or would it ever be as rewarding for me.
Why was Trent House chosen as a location / how long have you been here?
Great reputation locally, well run, modern office space which is perfect for a modern technology installations company like us!
Are you based in any other location?
We have our engineers stores close to the office in Stoke on Trent, from here, being perfectly located next to the M6 and M1, we cover the whole UK and can be on site anywhere in Staffordshire, Shropshire, Cheshire, Manchester, West midlands, most of the East Midlands within an hour.
Are you planning anything exciting in the near future… personal or business?
2x new experienced engineers will join us in October and we are currently looking or an Office Manager and an Experienced Security engineer to join the team. QTR 4 2023 we will roll out our Home Services division to offer CCTV, Intruder and smart technology installations for homes located in the Midlands and across the Northwest. We will provide a discount code for all BL Stoke & Bury staff, businesses and their employees.
What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?
‘Start with the end in mind’ is the best piece of advice I have ever received. In both a personal and professional sense. You need to know what you want from life and once you have designed what that finish line looks like, you just need to work backwards from there and create a route for success.
You’re on a team night out, where do you go?
It would have to start at the Bet365 Stadium, home to the mighty Potters! Then plenty of liquid refreshments and a lovely curry or Chinese meal.
