The founder of successful nine-year-old PR agency, MacComms has announced details of the upcoming launch of her second business, HelloHope.   Ellie MacDonald from Leeds has trained as a mental health and suicide prevention instructor trainer and is launching her Community Interest Company, HelloHope at a special event on 23rd May.   Having battled mental health issues and experienced the loss of her dad to suicide when she was just four years old, Ellie is channelling her pain into something positive to bring more hope to people at a time when it is needed most.   Ellie comments: “I grew up sad, angry, and confused by my dad’s suicide, nobody dared speak about it and so it's taken years to be able to understand it and to get to a place to do something positive to help those who, like my dad, may be struggling." “Timing is everything. This isn’t something I could have handled emotionally a few years ago but having experienced severe depression between 2021-2023, my recovery highlighted a need in me to do something truly purposeful.”    Having been behind PR campaigns such as Champion Health’s workplace wellbeing and suicide prevention reports, supporting charities such as the National Centre for Suicide Prevention, Education and Training, and local homelessness charity Simon on the Streets, Ellie realised how much it meant to be part of something meaningful.   Ellie’s desire led her to become a local suicide prevention campaigner for Samaritans and Trustee of national suicide prevention charity, Baton of Hope.   With The Office For National Statistics (ONS) reporting that 2023 suicide rates are statistically significantly higher than the previous three years, with suicide listed as the main cause of death in people under 35 years old in the UK, Ellie was keen to do even more.   Having spent time observing the sector, retraining, researching and planning, Ellie appointed Leeds-based branding agency, ALLGOOD to create a positive, vibrant brand which aims to make it easier to have conversations around suicide and poor mental health.   Ellie continues:  “The statistics are shocking and it’s about time we finally break the stigma to put an end to people’s silent suffering." “I plan to use my PR background to run awareness-raising and stigma-reducing campaigns, talks, events and activities in workplaces, businesses, and schools, and of course by getting as many people as possible trained."   “HelloHope will deliver simple yet vital lifesaving training to adults as preventative methods so we can all better at understanding the signs to look for and how to get someone who is struggling to a place of safety (whilst keeping the intervener safe)”   Over the past nine years, Ellie has won awards for her PR agency which set out to do business better. This includes Yorkshire’s Young Leader of the Year in the Business Desk Yorkshire’s Leadership Awards and Start-Up Businesswoman of the Year in Forward Ladies regional awards.   HelloHope will launch at a special event alongside celebrating MacComms’ ninth birthday on Thursday 23rd May at Nexus, Leeds from 5.30pm.

Three of St Austell Brewery’s beers have come away with medals from a prestigious beer award ceremony. Cornish Best (3.4% ABV) a full-bodied, bitter with toffee and biscuit notes, Mena Dhu (4.5%) a stout brewed with six different malts to bring complexity, and punchy DIPA Big Job (7.2%), all won silver awards at the SIBA South West Independent Beer Awards 2024. These new accolades put St Austell Brewery at its 51st win at this event since 2005. The awards, which were presented at MaltingsFest opposite Tucker’s Maltings site in Newton Abbot, are judged by beer sommeliers, master brewers and other expert beer judges from across the industry. Georgina Young, brewing director, St Austell Brewery, said: “We’re thrilled that our beers have been recognised as some of the best in brewing at this year’s SIBA awards." “Our three winners showcase the different style of beers St Austell Brewery produces and highlight the brewing team’s dedication to crafting different styles of beer - a lower ABV bitter in Cornish Best, a powerful hoppy DIPA in Big Job, and smooth and smoky Mena Dhu - one for the stout lovers.” The SIBA Independent Beer Awards represent the very best beer from the UK’s independent brewers and are judged by fellow brewers and industry experts, making these awards the “Brewers’ Choice” awards in the UK.

Safety Shield Global has been honoured with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its innovative work in developing an Artificial Intelligence safety system for plant machinery. Considered to be the highest commercial accolade possible for any UK business, the full list of this year’s recipients was announced this morning, with Cheshire-based Safety Shield delighted to be among those endorsed by His Majesty, King Charles III. The most advanced AI ‘human form recognition device’ available on the market, Safety Shield’s award-winning system was designed to cut the risk of serious injury on busy construction sites and places of work where heavy plant are operational. Providing a world-class level of protection for contractors in the most demanding of safety-focussed environments, Safety Shield gives operators a full 360-degree ‘window’ to ensure workforce safety. Using AI to identify people who are in the danger zone, the system is trained to filter out all other objects and only detects the human form, acting as a third eye for the operator and sounding an alert if a collision is imminent. The system can be fitted to any type of plant, for industries such as construction, rail, mining, demolition and waste, amongst others. Manufactured in the UK, the device which can also be retrofitted to any plant or machinery, and has achieved AI accuracy at 99.6% via independent test bodies in the UK and Germany, achieving the gold standard of accuracy levels. Jonathan Guest, Safety Shield Global founder and CEO, commented: “I am deeply honoured and humbled that Safety Shield Global have been awarded with The King’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation. This award represents recognition of the resolution, vigour, and dedication of our team." “I am infinitely grateful to everyone who has contributed to the dedication of achieving our mission of helping eliminate collisions associated with people and plant interface and help change behaviour on site." “Artificial intelligence is booming across all industries, and we are proud to be at the forefront; we were the first to bring human detection technology for collision avoidance to the construction industry and our product is still the most accurate and advanced. We will continue to push the boundaries of possibilities as we strive to enact behavioural change for onsite safety.” The King’s Award for Enterprise was renamed last year to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II, by recognising outstanding UK businesses. The Award programme, now in its 58th year, allows successful businesses to use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years. Initially adapted from existing AI devices used in the automotive industry, Jonathan and his R&D team have worked tirelessly over the last decade alongside government officials, transport authorities, research institutes, international construction companies and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) to develop the state-of-the-art product that is in use today.

Trade Knowsley based JJ Smith has proudly earned a King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade. As one of only 252 organisations nationally, and one of only four organisations in Merseyside, to receive the award, JJ Smith has been acknowledged as a beacon of excellence in business. Founded in 1923 and deeply rooted in family values, JJ Smith boasts a legacy spanning four generations and has built up a wealth of experience surrounding international trade within the woodworking industry. With a dedicated team of skilled professionals, the company has established itself as a leader in providing new and used woodworking machining solutions in the UK and overseas by having a close working relationship with suppliers from across the world, enabling them to innovate and develop cutting edge technology. The company supplies machinery to a wide variety of businesses including offsite construction, shed and garden building manufacturers, door, staircase and window specialists, prisons and local colleges. Through their knowledge of the woodworking industry, JJ smith is able to provide customers with a personal service, offering the most technically suitable and cost-effective machining solutions to meet production requirements and maximise productivity. Rachael Baker, Managing Director at JJ Smith said: “What an incredible honour for JJ Smith and our community in Knowsley, Merseyside. As one of only four organisations in Merseyside to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise, we believe it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of every member of our team." "It’s a recognition of our commitment to excellence and innovation in the woodworking machinery industry, as well as the work we have done over the past few years with the local community to provide more opportunities to young people. As a proud Knowsley business, we believe passionately in the role we play within the community and are keen to help other businesses within the Liverpool City Region to engage with their communities." The King’s Award for Enterprise, formerly known as the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, is the most prestigious business award in the country, recognising and celebrating business excellence across the UK. It serves as a testament to JJ Smith’s relentless pursuit of business excellence and innovation over the last century. As a recipient of this esteemed accolade, JJ Smith gains the privilege of proudly displaying the King’s Award Emblem for the next five years. This remarkable achievement underscores JJ Smith’s unwavering commitment to delivering quality and service and remaining at the forefront of innovation in the woodworking industry for many years to come.

The island of Majorca in Spain and the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles would not on the face of it seem to have much in common. They are hundreds of miles away from each other. They have radically different climates and speak different languages. Yet the impacts of tourism in both Scotland and Spain in the last decade are felt in similar ways by local communities, according to research being undertaken by an academic at the University of Glasgow. Dr Guillem Colom-Montero has been looking at both countries to gauge the impacts of tourism, particularly in the last decade, where the industry has become the main focus of public and political debate. Local community associations, particularly in Majorca, have been overly critical of the effects that tourism is having on housing, public services, jobs, landscape, and the environment as well as linguistic and cultural sustainability. They see the island being totally overwhelmed by the influx of visitors – Majorca is home to one million residents and receives more than 12 million tourists annually. Now tourism is being described as a “devastating,” “unsustainable force” by community leaders which is rapidly transforming the island’s environment, landscape, and territory as well as its sociocultural fabric. Tourism is seen as the main cause of the locals’ inaccessibility to housing due to the rapidly increasing prices both in urban and rural areas as well as of the strain on public services and roads due to overcrowding, in particular during the summer months. Residents also complain of the working conditions and low salaries offered in the tourism industry and are particularly critical of vacation rentals and the recent boom of residential tourism and second homes, which has led to a housing crisis. Dr Colom-Montero, a Lecturer at the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at the University of Glasgow, whose University of Glasgow’s Stories from Glasgow Podcast is launched today (Monday 29 April), said: “Tourism has triggered such overarching transformations at all social, cultural and economic levels that Majorcans no longer recognise the island, don’t feel they belong and at times even feel expelled. “Majorcan culture has seen a mushrooming of creative, literary, and cultural responses to overtourism, including fiction, poetry, travelogues, documentary film, drama, political cartooning, and a body of cultural production by grassroots activism. These creations represent tourism through narratives and vocabularies of colonialism, invasion, destruction, illness, malaise, and collective trauma. “This acutely critical perspective suggests a culturally traumatic experience associated to the environmental and sociocultural effects of mass tourism on Majorca. It is fascinating to see parallels with Scotland, where communities are also facing similar problems and are now beginning to find their voices against mass-tourism and its impact on their local areas.” Margalida Ramis is the president of GOB, the largest environmentalist association in the Balearic Islands, who told Dr Colom-Montero during interviews conducted for his research: “The main problem is Majorca’s total economic dependence on tourism, which I would define as a ‘monocrop;’ which is why it seems impossible to keep its detrimental impacts in check.” Dr Colom-Montero said: ‘The situation is remarkably similar in the Canary Islands, where more than 60,000 people took to the streets recently to demand a change of the tourism model. This has been the largest demonstration ever to take place in the Canaries and, like in the Balearics, demonstrators also called to limit property sales to non-residents.” Toni Pallicer, an activist from the grassroots collective Tot inclòs, emphasises the huge transformations triggered by the post-pandemic explosion of property purchases by non-residents and added: “While overcrowding used to be seasonal and in specific areas, it has now become the norm all over the island and all year round. Overall, there is a clear feeling that a tipping point has been reached.” This is a view shared by certain industry stakeholders and large hotel companies – in January, the CEO of Riu Hotels & Resorts, one of the largest chains on the island and the 30th globally, went as far as proposing a referendum on tourism numbers. This is a comparable situation being faced in parts of Scotland, particularly in the Highlands and Western Isles. Last year, Dr Colom-Montero started analysing residents’ reactions to tourism in Scotland. In May 2023, he visited the isle of Barra, where he screened the Majorcan documentary film Overbooking (2019), which revolves around the impacts of mass tourism on the island, in the Barra Learning Centre and Castlebay Community School. The screenings were followed by a lively debate and, while the intensity was seen as smaller, the responses were quite telling: ‘all these issues ring a bell here,’ while another resident said it now felt like they were living in a ‘theme park.’ Dr Colom-Montero said: “Both Barra and Majorca, the Hebrides, and the Balearics, are remote, fragile island-environments in which rural imaginaries are still very much present in the everyday life experience of the local population. The sudden and comprehensive transformations experienced in recent years are felt in dramatic ways in both regions, which share the historical link between landscape, community identity and language, Gaelic in the Hebrides, and Catalan in the Balearics.” Gail Anthea Brown, a writer from Caithness who, after watching Overbooking online, said: “There are many parallels in this documentary with feelings around tourism in the Highlands & Islands. Majorcan residents' concerns around the impacts of tourism are mirrored across our communities, who have been negatively affected by initiatives such as the North Coast 500, and the increasing portrayal of rural areas as travel destinations rather than places where people live." "It was particularly interesting to note the documentary's caution around the development of 'alternative' tourism streams, such as slow, immersive, and off-season travel, which, without restriction in other areas, adding up to more unsustainable tourism. The Majorcan experience should be a cautionary tale for the Highlands and Islands, where overtourism has all too often left communities feeling powerless and overwhelmed.” Toni Pallicer says Majorca has seen a massive increase of ‘estate agents focusing on non-residents, usually from Northern Europe,’ who ‘buy a property to spend short spells on the island and live isolated from the local community, don’t build the place or join the social fabric.’ On Skye in Scotland, it would appear to be the same. Theatre-maker Daniel Cullen from Portree wrote the play ‘The Chariot, the Flag and the Empty, Empty Houses’ after working for three years with community groups tackling rural housing problems in Skye and Lochalsh. Speaking to Dr Colom-Montero, Mr Cullen said: “Tourism is the only show in town, and this has clear impacts on jobs and housing: most hospitality posts are low-paid and temporary, and the huge expansion of second homes and short-term lettings pushes local people out. In the past people left Skye for jobs, now there are more jobs than people because people cannot afford to live here. It now feels like you are being forbidden to live where you are from.”

A thriving Surrey fitness and health business is expanding into a second facility in Camberley to cope with increased demand. Prime Acrobatics, which offers blend of gymnastics, acrobatics and circus skills to children and adults, has nearly completed the fit-out at Prova Court. Dozens of jobs will be created when the new facility opens in June, giving a much-needed boost to the west Surrey local economy. Property consultancy Vail Williams sourced the 16,421 sq ft (1,525 sq m) premises, formerly used as science laboratories, on the town’s Yorktown Business Park and secured change of use. Prime Acrobatics, based at picturesque Heather Farm on Horsell Common in Woking since 2016, has taken a 15-year lease for an undisclosed sum. A lengthy programme of works on the building included removing two-thirds of the first floor, which reduced the size to around 11,000 sq ft, but delivered the height needed for gymnastics and acrobatic equipment. Some upstairs space has been retained for offices, a viewing area and a studio, with a cafeteria set to be added later. Charlie Nicholson, Partner at Vail Williams based in Woking, said: “Prime Acrobatics is a valued and progressive client with whom we have been working for some years, including acquiring extra units at Heather Farm to facilitate recent expansion there, giving 35% extra space." “The search for a new unit was complex, as any potential landlord had to be willing to consider change of use to Class E, gymnasium. Thankfully, at Prova Court we found the perfect premises, also being in an excellent location for easy public access." “In a sense, this is a complete reversal of the current trend in which more properties are being acquired by life sciences organisations. This deal was all about helping people, particularly children, stay fit, active and healthy.” Vail Williams’ Surrey Building Consultancy team also worked on the project for Prime Acrobatics after being instructed to prepare a schedule of condition to be appended to their new lease for Prova Court. Senior Surveyor Nicki Rought said: “The schedule recorded the condition of the whole building, including car parking and yard areas. Having a schedule of condition on the lease helps protect Prime Acrobatics’ repairing liability at lease end.” Prime Acrobatics was founded in 2012 by gymnast Chris Bowler, formerly a coach with the Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, and Clem Malcolmson, a now retired UK gymnastics stalwart. The company has more than 1,600 members at Woking and many more on a waiting list. Each week it hosts 33 preschool classes for 500-plus children aged four months to three years, 40 classes for 1,000 four to 11-year-olds, nine classes for pre-teens and teens, plus a selection of short courses each month for parkour (pre-teens and teens) and adult gymnastics/circus classes. Matte Hart, Company Operations Executive, said: “We are indebted to Vail Williams for helping us to acquire our new larger facility, Prova Court, and we have been working non-stop to get it ready for action." “We currently have 62 staff on our books and with the introduction of our Camberley facility we look forward to reaching more than 100 employees. Our current recruitment drive offers opportunities for full and part-time positions covering coaching, management and administration.” Prime Acrobatics was commended by British Gymnastics and shortlisted for the National Community Club of the Year Award in 2019, 2022 and 2023. British Gymnastics has endorsed the teaching of all circus activities. Chris Bowler added: “We are proud to already be the home of one of most unique facilities in the UK with a blend of gymnastics, acrobatics and circus skills." “Our varied class programme includes traditional gymnastics activities as well as tramp wall, parkour, juggling, aerial silks, trapeze, tight wire, teeterboard, Chinese pole and more. The Camberley facility will allow us to bring our unique programme to a new area and expand it in new ways thanks to the higher ceiling heights." “Our ethos is simple – to give more children and adults the opportunity to enjoy exercise and benefit from living a healthy lifestyle and to help them challenge themselves to reach their full physical potential within a safe and happy environment.” Vail Williams’ full-service property advice includes commercial agency, investment and development advice, building consultancy, property valuation, planning, lease advisory, property asset management, business rates and occupier consultancy.

The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has recognised the exceptional achievements of its apprentices and the contributions of its employer partners at its Annual Apprenticeship Awards Ceremony. The finalists were joined by loved ones, sponsors, distinguished guests and members of the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group at Pontefract Town Hall. Lorraine Cross, Group Executive Director for External Partnerships, Skills and Apprenticeships and Chris Baker, Group Director of Apprenticeships, started the evening by congratulating nominees and welcoming their family and friends. Seven awards were presented in total throughout the evening, including an ‘Apprentice of the Year’ Award for a range of sectors. A number of accolades were also awarded to local and national businesses, including: · Engineering & Automotive Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by GUNT Technology Ltd and presented by Technical Sales Engineer, Phil Holyome) – Kurt Moore, Klöckner Pentaplast Packaging · Construction Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by WDH and presented by Training Operations Manager, Kate Radavanovic) – Bradley Reynolds, MMB Construction Services · Health & Education Apprentice of the Year (Care & Early Years at Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and presented by Principal and Chief Executive, Sam Wright) - Izabela Latos, Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Business, Enterprise & Professional Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Employer Engagement at Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and presented by Chair of Governors, Andrew McConnell OBE) – Mark Curran, Fish & Forest. Mark Curran said: “I’m incredibly happy to have won the Business, Enterprise & Professional Apprentice of the Year award. People don’t always see the hard work and commitment that you put into studying an apprenticeship, so it’s great to receive this recognition and be reminded how far I’ve come." "I’ve always loved food and I really wanted to get into the Hospitality & Catering industry, so doing an apprenticeship was a great way for me to do this. It’s changed my life and I’m so grateful for the opportunity.” New Apprenticeship Employer of the Year 2024 (Sponsored by Sigma and presented by Group Compliance Director, Stephen Woolf): Heat Exchange Group Small to Medium Apprenticeship Employer of the Year 2024 (Sponsored by Drax and presented by UK Early Careers Development Manager, Lisa Marriott): Volta Compliance Large Apprenticeship Employer or the Year 2024 (Sponsored by Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation and presented by Head of Technology, Darren Elvidge and Talent Development Business Partner, Emma Harvey): Well Group Services (WSG) Chloe Wallace, Head of HR at the Heat Exchange Group, said: “We are absolutely ecstatic to have won the New Apprenticeship Employer of the Year award." "It goes a long way in recognising the partnership we have built with the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and the investment we have put into jointly developing and delivering apprenticeships which are right for our business and for our workforce needs. Apprenticeships are the key to securing a thriving and successful future for our industry and it’s great to be able to celebrate the impact that they have.” Richard Carr, Director at Volta Compliance, said: “It was an honour to win the Small to Medium Apprentice Employer award at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group’s Apprenticeship Awards." "Apprentices, SMEs and large companies joined together to celebrate the amazing talent that apprenticeships bring to businesses across Yorkshire. At Volta Compliance, we understand that apprentices and having a strong relationship with training providers like the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group are vital to our business growth.” Sam Wright, Principal and Chief Executive Officer at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: “I always look forward to our Annual Apprenticeship Awards, as it brings together apprentices and employers from across our regions to shine a light on outstanding achievements and the positive impact apprenticeships make to people, businesses and the wider economy." "It’s fantastic to see this first-hand, as we share and celebrate the inspirational stories of our apprentices and employer partners at the awards - giving them the recognition they so rightly deserve.” Throughout the evening, guests were entertained with performances from singer Abbi-Kay Ellison and a keynote speech from Alex Miles, Managing Director at Yorkshire Learning Providers and Governor at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group. Alex passionately advocated the importance of apprenticeships in meeting skills gaps across the region and the significant contribution training providers such as the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group are making to this. The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group offers a range of Apprenticeship programmes in Business, Construction, Engineering, Healthcare and more. It works with over 500 employers to deliver its Apprenticeship provision, which includes SMEs, local authorities and national organisations such as Unilever, Coca Cola, Haribo, ENGIE, Burberry, Warburtons, the Emergency Services, Bosch, Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation, Mars and NHS Trusts.

British Cycling has unveiled the version of the cutting-edge bike that will be ridden by Great Britain’s track cyclists at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer. Developed by the Great Britain Cycling Team’s in-house experts in collaboration with the best of British engineering talent, the bike will play a key role in helping the team maintain its proud record of success at the Olympic Games. Following on from the success of the Tokyo track bike, this evolved model has benefited from the continued partnerships with those at the forefront of equipment technology, including Lotus Engineering, Renishaw and Hope Technology. Notable developments of the bike include its 3D-printed optimised Renishaw titanium crank, unique Lotus trailing-edged fork and handlebars that support increased aerodynamic positioning, and the Hope HBT Paris frame with refined Renishaw split seat post and headstays. Every component of the bike has been designed to work as one with the rider, bringing the machine and athlete together perfectly. Once again, our partners have pulled together at every stage of development, testing and manufacture to condense the project into a three-year Olympic cycle. Stephen Park CBE, Performance Director of the Great Britain Cycling Team, said: “British Cycling has a long and renowned history of being a world-leader in bike technology, and we are continuing to break new ground when it comes to the speed, efficiency and innovation of track bikes." “For the Paris track bike, the team have continued to look to new and innovative solutions to deliver this impressive machine, which we believe will give our riders the best possible platform to succeed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Mark Stringer, Commercial Director at Lotus Engineering said: “Lotus’ longstanding collaboration with British Cycling has been pivotal in advancing the frontiers of sporting performance and engineering with the 2024 Hope-Lotus Olympic track bike." "This ongoing partnership has enriched our depth of knowledge, further enhancing and embracing the innovation that proved successful in Tokyo. We’ve been able to continue pushing engineering boundaries in the pursuit of performance to deliver efficiencies and to give British track riders the best possible opportunity for success." “The Hope-Lotus bike is the perfect demonstration of our ability to transfer the skills and knowledge we’ve gained through over 75 years of automotive development to bring a new perspective to other industries. We wish British Cycling the best of luck in the upcoming Olympics.”. Ben Collins, Lead Additive Manufacturing Application Engineer at Renishaw said: "We have been able to refine the design even further and showcase how additive manufacturing can deliver strong, yet lightweight parts for cycling, while demonstrating these benefits to other industries." "Our aim for this Olympic bike is to push the boundaries with AM technology further, whilst still achieving high-performance components that are tailored to the riders and meet Olympic requirements for strength and weight.” “We were delighted to be asked to continue our partnership with the British Cycling team and develop components for the Paris 2024 bike, and we can’t wait to see how the bike performs.” Ian Weatherill, Director of Hope Technology said: “With our manufacturing and production based in Lancashire, being so close to the British Cycling base in Manchester, has allowed a close working relationship with the GBCT team throughout the new bike development process." “Once again, our staff are proud to be working on this prestigious project and are looking forward to seeing positive results in Paris this summer. "Alongside this project, we continue to support all levels of cycling in cyclocross, XC, enduro, downhill and children through our popular Academy.” The development of the Hope-Lotus track bike would not be possible without the support of UK Sport and National Lottery funding, while we also continue to benefit from the support of the UK Sports Institute, who work with the Great Britain Cycling Team to research and refine bike design. This research and development work covers all aspects of bike design from aerodynamics to ergonomics.

When it comes to awards, Leamington’s favourite food champion Bianca Rodrigues-Perry certainly has an appetite for winning! The Brazilian-born entrepreneur is making a big mark on her new community in Leamington, after being named as a finalist for three national awards. In June she will learn if she’s been named Outstanding Entrepreneur or Start-up of the Year in the Ladies First Network Business and Inspirational Women Awards and Business Start-up of the Year in the Business Success Recognition Awards. The recognition follows the launch, in January, of Bianca’s new pilot TV show championing local businesses – and now reaching over 32.5k followers on Instagram alone, with some of the episodes reaching 3.6k views on YouTube in less than 24 hours - and growing. Bianca said: “I feel honoured to be acknowledged, not just for an award, but also as an entrepreneur starting out. It's a surreal feeling when your ideas materialise. I am proud and also grateful to everyone who nominated me, and I hope we can keep inspiring our community." Bia’s Kitchen Show highlights some of the best of the area’s foodie scene when it’s streamed to audiences twice monthly on YouTube, Spotify, Instagram and Facebook. It is an extension to the successful Bia’s Kitchen brand and features local independent chefs and restaurateurs cooking signature dishes as well as Bianca’s own top tips and recipes. The passion project also marks the latest chapter on a journey of reinvention for the 44-year-old Brazilian-born mum-of-three, who walked away from a high-flying career in marketing in Rio de Janeiro after meeting a Leamington man. Despite huge transition in her life, the one constant has been her passion for cooking. She started cooking for friends, hosted cooking classes in Warwick and even a pop-up restaurant in Kenilworth. Buoyed by the positive feedback - and a win on Channel Four’s Couples Come Dine With Me TV show - she launched herself as a private chef and reignited her entrepreneurial spirit with successful businesses - Fresh to Freeze, a pre-cooked food delivery business which thrived throughout the pandemic – and Bia’s Kitchen. Bianca is planning the release of the first in a series of books later this year, compiling some of her guests’ best recipes, the profits from which will support two causes close to her heart – post-natal depression and mental health. The Ladies First Awards ceremony takes place at Dallas Burston Polo Club, in Southam, on June 13th while the Business Success Recognition Awards will be announced on June 29th at The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham. Ladies First co-director Tracey McAtamney said: “Bianca is a force of nature! Her enthusiasm and passion for cooking lights up a room and encourages others around her to appreciate food for both business and relaxation.” See episodes of Bia’s Kitchen Show here.

East Midlands-based civil and structural engineer BSP Consulting has been appointed onto the (Longhurst Group) Keystone Developments (LG) Limited Professional Services and Consultancy Framework. The company has been successfully appointed on three lots relating to civil and structural engineering for new build residential schemes, new build extra care facilities and refurbishment projects. BSP Consulting MD Carl Hilton said: “We are very pleased that BSP Consulting has been appointed onto the (Longhurst Group) Keystone Developments (LG) Limited Professional Services and Consultancy Framework. The company has wide experience of working with housing providers across the Midlands and beyond, including Longhurst and Nottingham Community Housing Association who can both access this framework." “As one of the leading independent civil and structural engineering companies in the East Midlands, BSP Consulting is currently on numerous frameworks and we are proud to have been appointed to this latest one, which highlights our expertise in the affordable housing and extra care sectors and opens up an additional pipeline of opportunities for us.” Keystone Developments is part of Longhurst Group which is one of the largest housing groups in the Midlands and East of England, owning and managing more than 24,000 homes and delivering a wide range of care and support, specialist housing and home ownership services. The four-year framework can be accessed by a number of organisations including Longhurst Group, Nottingham Community Housing Association, Tuntum Housing Association, Lace Housing, Norton Housing and Support, YMCA Derbyshire, Lincolnshire Housing Partnership, Lincolnshire YMCA, Framework Housing Association, Lincolnshire Rural Housing Association and YMCA Robin Hood Group. BSP Consulting, based in Oxford Street, Nottingham, and with offices in Derby and Leicester, was successful in its application to be appointed to all three civil and structural engineering lots. The company is an award-winning firm that operates across the UK, offering civil engineering, structural engineering, transport engineering, geotechnical and environmental engineering. BSP works across all sectors including housing, student accommodation, commercial, industrial, health, education, senior living, retail and heritage.

Leeds-based golf mental performance coaching company, Underpin Sports has cemented its recent expansion in Scotland by agreeing a unique partnership deal with the Tartan Pro Tour – founded by 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie.   The two-year deal enables the company to expand its player portfolio and business network north of the border, whilst enabling an increasing number of elite amateur and professional golfers competing on the tour to access mental performance coaching.   Underpin Sports first launched in Scotland late last year after appointing Edinburgh-based Scott Dickson, a well-known figure from the golf, drinks and whisky industry, to head it up.   The business partnership is also in response to the increasing pressures and expectations on players competing on the Tartan Pro Tour, which showcases up-and-coming talent across Scotland and the wider golfing world - providing playing opportunities for the next generation of professional golfers. It also offers a stepping-stone for aspiring tournament professionals to reach the highest levels of competition by challenging players to overcome of the country’s best courses.   Already partnered with the Clutch Pro Tour, a feeder to both the Challenge and DP World Tours, the partnership enables Underpin Sports to now support players in Scotland as well as England, Ireland and Wales.   The company’s team of mental performance coaches, led by Greg Robertson, will work with players beneath the surface, challenging them to learn and understand how to get the best out of themselves and their game.    Several rising stars, competing on this year’s Tartan Pro Tour, are already benefitting from Underpin Sports’ mental performance coaching with improved results, including two-time 2020 Pro Tour Scottish Showdown winner, Stuart McLaren from Edinburgh.   Paul Lawrie, founder of the Tartan Pro Tour, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Underpin, as mental performance coaching support is key to the development of the majority of Scottish players on the tour and vital to helping them reach their full potential." “Competing in any sport at the top level not only requires skill, but it also relies on strong mental focus to perform consistently against the best players in the world. The partnership is integral to the future of the tour in helping players cope with very high-pressure situations, particularly those in the early stages of their career.”   Stewart Clough, managing director for Underpin Sports, said: “Having recently launched in Scotland, partnering with the Tartan Pro Tour is integral to the next stage of our business growth and player development. The team have been amazing to work with and are so passionate about their mission to providing a stepping stone for aspiring tournament professionals to reach the highest levels of competition." “As we continue to develop Underpin to be the leading mental performance partner for elite amateur and professional golfers, establishing our business in the ‘home of golf’ is an exciting next step for us. We look forward to supporting as many of the players from the tour as possible and watching them develop the mental side of the game to support the talent they already possess.”

A memorial fund set up in honour of former Yorkshire businessman Andrew Lupton is set to smash its fundraising target of £20,000. Ripon-based Econ Engineering set up the Just Giving campaign to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation following the tragic death of Sales Director Andrew Lupton in 2022. Mr Lupton, who ran the second-generation family business alongside his brother Jonathan, was just 56 years old when he died suddenly of a heart attack. Founded by their father Bill 55 years ago, Econ is now the leading UK manufacturer and supplier of winter maintenance vehicles with an 85% share of the market. A series of fundraising events and team-building exercises have been held by the team, while donations have also been made from local groups, individuals and business associates. And despite the £20,000-mark being reached this week, there remains one more event for the staff to undertake as a group of employees prepare to tackle the Yorkshire Three Peaks on May 18. Econ’s Managing Director, Jonathan Lupton said: "We have been proud to partner with the British Heart Foundation and absolutely delighted that we have been able to support them with our fundraising." “This is particularly poignant given the sad death of Andrew and we want to do as much as we can to increase awareness of heart disease and raise vital money for the charity, in his memory." “We may have reached the £20,000 mark, but we are not finished yet. A team of Econ employees will be tackling the Three Peaks in May and we hope people will continue to support the memory of Andrew by donating to their efforts.” BHF figures show that around 183,000 people living in North Yorkshire have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and 45,000 people are living with coronary heart disease. In Yorkshire there are around 3,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year and only 1 in 11 people survive these attacks. Every three hours, someone in the region dies from a heart or circulatory disease. BHF Fundraising Manager, Leya Baksh, said: “We are honoured that Econ Engineering has chosen to support us. More than one in four people in the UK die from heart and circulatory conditions, so the money raised is vital for us to continue our research into better ways of diagnosing, preventing and treating patients.” As well as raising money during the year, employees have been given the opportunity to participate in a number of BHF-supported health and wellbeing engagement activities, to ensure a healthier workforce. Econ’s team of expert engineers design and build every aspect of their vehicles at the Ripon factory and recently launched and sold the world’s first fully electric gritter (E-QCB) which has been successfully trialled at highways depots across the country.