An Inverclyde family support worker has launched a range of play and learn sessions to encourage children’s positive early experiences after she accessed expert support from Business Gateway, Scotland’s national business advisory service. Jacqui Jack’s Play & Learn sessions provide a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment that encourages creativity, exploration, and discovery through play-based learning. The sessions support the five main areas of child development, including cognitive development, fine motor skills, communication, and language, as well as emotional and social development. Launched in September last year, the business was founded by Jacqui Jack, who had worked as a family support worker at Inverclyde Council for over twenty years. Jacqui had always had a vested interest in how children learn, and the impact of positive play on educational attainment and the attachment it creates between parents and children. During her time at the council, she set up a group for parents of children under 5 to ensure they knew about the importance of play and how it can support early brain development. Having been made redundant from her role in June, and buoyed by the support of her peers, Jacqui was encouraged to set up her own business which would offer these sessions to children across the Inverclyde region. Armed with an idea but lacking the practical skills and knowledge to navigate the challenges of setting up a new business, Jacqui approached Business Gateway in July 2023 for help and support. Jacqui accessed a suite of Business Gateway’s start-up services, which included one-to-one support from a dedicated business adviser, as well as advice on her business plan, marketing, and routes to funding. Through Business Gateway, Jacqui was also able to learn the skills needed to set up a new business through practical online webinars and various market research reports. Business Gateway was able to signpost Jacqui to just under £1,000 of funding through the new business start-up grant and the new business marketing grant, which helped her purchase a laptop. Having this new technology has allowed Jacqui to streamline her online booking process and manage incoming enquiries from potential clients. Jacqui Jack, owner, Jacqui Jack’s Play & Learn, said: “Despite having extensive experience working with children and their families, taking the plunge to start my own business was really daunting and I was anxious about setting up." “My Business Gateway adviser provided very helpful advice throughout the process, and their support gave me the confidence to turn my vision into reality. Feedback from parents and families has been really encouraging and has helped me realise what a unique and quality service I can provide for young children.” Alexis Watson, adviser, Business Gateway, said: “It’s been so rewarding to support Jacqui with her business venture, and the positive reception from the local community is a testament to her hard work and commitment over these last few months. I’m sure her sessions will continue to prove popular with families across Inverclyde for years to come.”

Planning permission has been granted for a new convenience store and 77 retirement apartments at Edwalton, near Nottingham.  Developer Charterpoint and leading not-for-profit housing provider Anchor have received reserved matters planning permission from Rushcliffe Borough Council for the scheme on the corner of Rose Way and Melton Road.  The 2.2 acre site will feature a single-storey convenience store, plus a three-storey retirement apartment scheme providing a range of one and two-bedroom apartments.  Charterpoint has now completed on the deal to sell part of the site to Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life.  Anchor will carry forward and operate the retirement development, which will include a range of residents’ amenities and a courtyard garden, as well as 77 apartments.  Charterpoint will develop the remainder of the site for the convenience store and will announce further details in due course.  Charterpoint CEO Adrian Goose said: “We are very pleased to have received reserved matters planning consent for this key plot in Edwalton and to have subsequently sold part of the site to Anchor. " “The area around the site has grown considerably in recent years, with new housing, retail and commercial developments. Our plan for the site on the corner of Rose Way and Melton Road will bring a new convenience store to the neighbourhood. It will also provide much needed affordable retirement apartments for the community, operated by Anchor, which will help to free up larger family homes in Edwalton, West Bridgford and the wider area.”  Based close to the development site, in Wheatcroft Business Park, Edwalton, Charterpoint is a senior living and mixed-use specialist that has developed a portfolio of similar projects throughout the country.  Patrick Duffy, Anchor’s Director of New Business, said: “We are delighted to have acquired this site from Charterpoint. This is a key new development for us to work in partnership with Rushcliffe Borough Council to provide affordable homes for older people locally. We look forward to working with Charterpoint to deliver the wider scheme for the local community.”  Anchor has a strong development programme and currently has 121 care homes in its portfolio.  The plans for the Edwalton site were designed by Brewster Bye Architects.

Warm-hearted restaurateurs in Leamington cooked up a storm when they turned up at a charity sleepout to feed cold and hungry fundraisers. Geanina Lacraru, who runs We Love Pizza in Regents Place with her partner Jose, handed out pizzas to more than 50 kind-hearted volunteers who took part in the Helping Hands Community Project’s Big Sleepout. The giveaway was the latest in a series of gestures by the restaurant to support the charity over the years since it opened in 2020. Geanina said “The date coincided with National Pizza Day and what better opportunity to share a ‘Random Act of Pizza’ with the ones that need the most and most times are forgotten, even when they are all around us in our daily life." “The event aims to raise awareness of homelessness and some of its causes, issues which face so many in our community in Leamington." “In the winter months with longer, darker and colder nights, charities such as Helping Hands are more in demand than ever. This is just the right time to give these organisations the boost they need. Homeless people are not only missing a home, they also miss social interaction, people that understand them and some comfort." “We hope our freshly baked, hot pizzas brought them some comforting moments. We wanted to share it with them as a way of saying, we are in this together. We can’t find you a home, just yet, but we understand and support you!” The event, which is in its ninth year, was held at All Saints Parish Church and raises vital funds for Helping Hands, a charity which raises awareness of the causes and effects of homelessness within the local community. Spokesperson for the charity, Kerry Steward, said: “The pizza was devoured and enjoyed by all 50 attendees of the event as well as volunteers and staff team, adding a bit of extra cheer to what was a very cold and wet night!” She added: “We Love Pizza have been a wonderful support to us over the years, most recently gifting pizzas to us to celebrate with our volunteers who were awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Services back in November last year." “They have also delivered pizzas on nights sponsored by local corporate groups and included extras to our evening soup kitchens where we provide up to 50 meals a night to some of the most vulnerable people within our community.” Geanina and Jose reopened their doors to diners with a new look restaurant more than three years after the pandemic forced it to pivot into takeaway food. They unveiled the two-storey dining space above the take-out business, in Regents Place, in response to customer demand. The couple pride themselves on delivering ‘affordable quality’ to their customers by using only the best and most nutritious flour combinations and implementing exact temperature control and longer fermentation periods for the sourdough. Fresh ingredients are sourced directly from Italy – including tomatoes from the volcanic soils of Mount Versuvius - as well as locally.

Staff from Castleford College have ridden over 400 miles for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, raising more than £545 for the charity. Their latest ride started at the College with the team making their way to the east coast, covering seaside towns Bridlington and Scarborough. Andy Kitchen, Lecturer in Engineering and Automotive, said: “The team of riders consists of staff from all areas of the College, with many of us keen motor cyclists. Between us, we have ridden more than 400 miles to fundraise for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The charity is special to us all as it does so much to help bikers across the Yorkshire area and the wider community and that is why we plan to make this an annual charity ride.” Additional Learning Support Officer, Claire Coppin, took part in the challenge to show her support for Yorkshire Air Ambulance after she was airlifted to hospital by Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s crews following a road traffic incident in 2006. Acknowledging their achievements, Stephanie Maynard, the West Yorkshire Community Fundraiser from Yorkshire Air Ambulance, visited the College to present the staff with their cheque. Claire Roberts, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “Castleford College’s donation is a real lifesaver. It will help us provide a rapid response emergency service to five million people. On average, our crews respond to around 1,700 incidents each year – that’s nearly five missions a day across Yorkshire." "Thanks to generous donations such as this, we now have plans to improve our service by expanding our fleet to include a third helicopter and employing our own Technical Crew Members. This means we will have greater operational availability, which is so important to us, our patients and the people of Yorkshire.” Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity providing a lifesaving rapid response emergency service to five million people across the whole of Yorkshire.

A cutting-edge engineering system that uses real-time data to predict aircraft maintenance issues is helping British Airways reduce delays and save the use of more than 900,000 pieces of paper a year. The E-Logs platform will provide live performance information about all of the airline’s 270 jets, allowing the airline to immediately spot potential problems and proactively fix them and reduce downtime. It is replacing a costly and time-consuming paper-based system with an entirely automated process that makes it much easier for pilots and cabin crew to log issues. Andy Best, Chief Technical Officer at British Airways, said: “We’re using the latest technology to help ensure we continue delivering a consistently high standard of service for our customers – always with a focus on safety." “Our investment in innovative tools like this, means we can support our teams to identify and put solutions in place ahead of time. By replacing time-consuming manual processes with digital technology we are constantly improving the reliability of our aircraft fleet and as a result our customers’ experience.” Aircraft technical logs are a regulatory requirement that have historically been paper-based. Flight and cabin crew would log any faults in writing and these are then transcribed and transferred to maintenance teams, which carry out any required work and again update the aircraft maintenance log in writing. The E-Logs system, which will see a number of specialist iPads placed on every aircraft, will replace the paper-based system entirely and allows the immediate transfer of data from the aircraft to engineers within seconds - before the aircraft arrives at its destination. This means engineers can pre-order any required parts and resolve issues more quickly on arrival, reducing the amount of time planes are out of action. The technology also allows BA to predict faults and pre-emptively correct them before they become an issue that might take an aircraft offline. The system forms part of BA’s £7bn transformation investment over the next two years. This is the biggest ever investment in the business to revolutionise how teams work, rolling-out the very latest technology to boost the customer experience. This includes cutting-edge machine learning, automation and AI across the operation, driving improvements from bookings to baggage handling and helping cut cancellations and delays. The tools being used are revolutionising how the airline works, replacing time-consuming manual processes with tech-based solutions to ensure that the right information is in the right place at the right time.

Buzzworks Holdings, one of Scotland’s leading independent restaurant and bar operators, has welcomed esteemed Scottish chef Brian Maule to the business. The chef - who ran one of Scotland’s most famous fine dining restaurants, Brian Maule at Chardon d’Or, in Glasgow for 22 years - has joined the team as a consultant to help Buzzworks build on its culinary excellence. Brian, who cut his teeth in the culinary capital of the world - Lyon, France, before working for the Roux Brothers at the prestigious 2-star Michelin Restaurant, Le Gavroche in Mayfair, will use his wealth of experience to focus on enhancing collaboration and overall efficiency across Buzzworks’ 19 venue kitchens. Maule, who enjoyed a 15-year tenure with the Roux Brothers, progressing from Chef de Partie to Chef de Cuisine, and successfully built a stellar reputation for his own venue across two decades, joins Buzzworks at an exciting time. The family-run business continues to go from strength-to-strength, having recently announced that negotiations are underway for new venues and plans to grow the business further, creating jobs and careers within local communities. Speaking on the six-month project, Maule expressed his passion to pass on his decades of experience and make a positive impact across Buzzworks. He said:  “I started my career in Ayrshire as a chef apprentice before heading to France to hone my skills, so this feels in part like a homecoming, collaborating with Buzzworks, which also started its successful tenure here in the region." “The business is already well regarded, and I’ve been impressed with their high standards. My role will be to enhance this further, working with the talented kitchen teams to raise their level once more so that the business can continue to grow and bring its first-class brand of hospitality to new communities across Scotland.” Buzzworks, consistently named in the Top 100 Companies to Work For, currently operates 19 prestigious venues across Scotland, employing more than 800 team members. With an ambitious expansion and growth strategy, Head of People, Nicola Watt, believes that working with the industry’s best will help the business push on further. She said: “Bringing in Brian Maule is an excellent coup for the business and testament to our ambition of growing Buzzworks further." “With more than 40 years in the business, operating at the highest level, Brian’s knowledge will be invaluable as we look to not only continue delivering an exceptional experience to our customers, but looking behind the scenes at streamlining our operations to ensure the highest standards possible." “Despite challenging conditions for everyone within the industry, working with the likes of Brian will help ensure our continued success, optimising our ways of working so that we are best equipped to deal with the increasing external pressures, whilst maintaining and building on our well-regarded reputation."   “We look forward to seeing what added benefits Brian brings over the next six months.” As well as working behind the scenes across the venues, Brian will also be headlining a special chef’s evening at Buzzworks’ flagship venue, The Vine."   Having cooked for the likes of Morgan Freeman, Cameron Diaz and Halle Berry, those keen to enjoy an evening of exquisite cooking from Brian and the talented kitchen team in Prestwick, should keep an eye on the Buzzworks Love Food Feel Good website for information.   Buzzworks offers an aspirational dining and entertainment experience across Scotland through its stylish brands – Scotts, House, Lido, Vic’s & The Vine, The Duke, Thirty Knots, The Bridge Inn, The Fox and Herringbone.

With bookings up 40% year-on-year, Britain’s Ocean City prepares to welcome over 10,000 passengers in 2024 Plymouth’s reputation as a must-see cruise destination is soaring with more than 10,000 passengers due to arrive by sea in Britain’s Ocean City this year. Known for centuries as a magnet for seafarers, adventurers and explorers, the city’s rich heritage is proving ever more popular as a port of call for today’s international cruise liners, with bookings up 40% from 2023. Plymouth is also enjoying growing fame for its warm welcome, thanks to Cruise Plymouth Ambassador volunteers meeting guests as they come ashore, greetings from the Town Crier and the rousing performance of Plymouth Maritime Corps of Drums plus the support of Plymouth Waterfront Partnership. Among the 14 vessels already confirmed this year are several making their first call to Plymouth plus several expedition vessels. They include the first visit by Ambassador Cruise Line with their ships Ambition and Ambience, and expedition vessels such as Seabourn Venture, Exploris One, Star Legend, and Le Dumont D'urville. The port will also welcome luxury cruise liners including Silver Dawn, Silver Spirit, Sirena and Seabourn Sojourn along with visits by German operator Phoenix Reisen with Artania, Amadea, and Amera. The first liner arrives in April and bookings continue monthly until October with cruise lines from the USA, Germany and France represented along with UK ships. More visits are in the pipeline for 2024 and inquiries are coming in for next year and 2026. The burgeoning cruise line business all adds up to a significant boost to the local economy and additional employment opportunities. Passengers and many members of the crew generate additional revenue by spending on everything from visiting attractions, taking tours and boat trips, and shopping in gift shops and other retail outlets, cafes and restaurants. The port also benefits from berthing, pilotage and harbour fees. Amanda Lumley, Destination Plymouth’s Chief Executive says: “Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City has been working hard to cement our reputation as a must-see port of call and a great many people are busy behind the scenes to make these cruise visits a huge success." “We recently hosted a two-day familiarisation visit by some cruise industry representatives, including cruise line executives, cruise media and a cruise line ship management representative, to showcase some of the top attractions we have to offer. Their tour included visits to the National Marine Aquarium, Mount Edgcumbe House and Gardens, the Mayflower Museum, Plymouth's award-winning Museum, gallery and archive The Box, the Elizabethan House living museum and Plymouth Gin Distillery". "We also took them on a walk through the historic Barbican with a stop at Mayflower Steps, an exclusive visit to the Royal Citadel, an overview of Plymouth Hoe and an experience out on Plymouth Sound to enjoy the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park – the first in the UK - onboard the Pilot boat." “The Cruise Plymouth Partnership pulled out all of the stops to ensure our cruise industry guests’ visit was memorable." “We’re also delighted to say the city has already achieved a reputation within the industry as one of the most welcoming ports for cruise ship visits. One passenger from Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Discovery said that, having been on over 50 cruises around the world, the welcome provided in Plymouth was ‘one of the best’ they had seen.” Glen Gardner, Destination Plymouth’s Cruise New Business Development Manager said: “Plymouth’s cruise business is going from strength to strength and enhancing the city’s reputation on an international level. “The familiarisation visits have proved very popular, and were incredibly well-received, with more already planned, and we are delighted to have also been able to offer the opportunity to visit the facilities at Millbay Dock, owned and operated by Associated British Ports (ABP), which are currently undergoing upgrades through a multi-million investment programme to improve berthing and passenger facilities that are due to be in place before the 2025 season." “A key element of our success is the fantastic welcome we give to all our cruise passengers and we’ll continue to ensure each cruise visit is a really special one.” The Cruise Plymouth Partnership was created in 2021 with a shared vision to increase the number of cruise ships visiting Plymouth. This partnership includes Cattewater Harbour Commissioners, ABP (Associated British Ports) Mill Bay, Destination Plymouth, The BID (Business Improvement District) – Plymouth Waterfront Partnership and Plymouth City Centre Company, and Plymouth City Council.

Following a visit from Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty in October 2023, non-for-profit care provider, Harrogate Neighbours has responded to his findings and has opened its first ever Day Care Centre at The Cuttings. The Day Care Centre was officially opened by the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. Guests were given an overview of the new facility now available, which includes themed activities, arts and crafts, classic puzzles and games, snooker, gardening, film screenings and access to local amenities in the community via a dedicated travel service. Clients who will attend the centre going forward will also enjoy a freshly prepared main meal and light tea to take home. The Prime minister spent time talking to clients about what the Day Care Centre will mean to them. He also spoke to staff about what it is like working at Harrogate Neighbours. The report by the Chief Medical Office named ‘Health in an Ageing Society’, highlighted a number of ways that care providers could support older people living in the local community. Social isolation was a common theme in the report, which Greenfield Court Care at Harrogate Neighbours has responded to with the opening of a dedicated Day Care Centre. The Day Care Centre will be held at The Cuttings and will be run by staff at Greenfield Court Care. It will provide a safe space for older people to enjoy a range of interactive activities and socialise with like-minded adults. CEO of Harrogate Neighbours, Sue Cawthray said, “Supporting vulnerable and older people is at the heart of everything we do at Harrogate Neighbours. Alongside the findings from Chris Whitty’s report, staff at Greenfield Court Care felt there was a need to open a dedicated day care centre which would support those living independently, but who would benefit from a safe place to socialize." “Welcoming the Prime Minister through our doors, was a great opportunity to showcase the vital services we provide for older people in the community to support an aging population. We would like to thank everyone who attended the official opening and we look forward to opening our doors, creating fun and enjoyment and tackling social isolation together.” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, “It was a pleasure to meet the clients and dedicated staff at Harrogate Neighbours to celebrate the opening of their new Day Care Centre. The difference that the staff make to people’s lives is truly inspiring and I know that the Day Care Centre will go even further to help combat loneliness within vulnerable communities.”

The roll out of Gigahubs – boosting broadband access and speed in rural areas – has reached a big milestone in Leicestershire with over half successfully installed. Leicestershire County Council is working in partnership with the Government to provide more than 40 public buildings with access to high-speed connectivity. The first 25 sites have now been completed thanks to £1.5 million of government funding. The sites span Leicestershire and include Lutterworth Library in Harborough district, Asfordby Hill Primary School in Melton, and Witherley C of E Primary School in Hinckley and Bosworth. Councillor Pam Posnett, cabinet member for broadband, said “The installation of the first 25 GigaHubs allows residents in our rural communities to access the fastest broadband speeds on the market at their libraries and schools." “This will allow Leicestershire’s children living in hard-to-reach areas to have better access to the internet for their lessons and allow teachers to experiment with new innovative ways of learning. Residents needing to work or do homework from a library will also benefit from faster connections.” A further 18 sites are set to be completed by the end of March. The completed locations are: • Fleckney Library • Desford Library • Lutterworth Library • Barlestone C of E Primary School • Sherrier C of E Primary School • Lutterworth High School • Waltham on the Wolds C of E Primary School • Somerby Primary School • Asfordby Hill Primary School • Congerstone Primary School • Higham on the Hill Primary School • Witherley C of E Primary School • Old Dalby C Of E Primary School • The Market Bosworth School • Market Bosworth Library • St Peters C Of E Primary School Mkt Bosworth • Dunton Bassett Primary School • Ullesthorpe C Of E Primary School • Newbold Verdon Primary School • St Andrews C Of E Primary School Academy • Desford Community Primary School • Kibworth Recycling and Household Waste Site • Meadowdale Primary School • Lutterworth Recycling and Household Waste Site • Great Dalby School The GigaHubs programme is part of Project Gigabit, the UK government’s £5 billion programme to deliver lightning-fast, reliable broadband in hard-to-reach areas of the UK. Confirmed upcoming locations are below: • Ab Kettleby Primary School • Fleckney C Of E Primary School • Harby C Of E Primary School • Long Clawson C Of E Primary School • Highways Foxton • Market Harborough Recycling and Household Waste Site • Croft C Of E Primary School • Manorfield C Of E Primary School • Sharnford C Of E Primary School • Swinford C Of E Primary School • Sapcote Library • Stoney Stanton Library • Croft County Council office • Seagrave Village Primary School • Sheepy Magna C Of E Primary School • Stanton Under Bardon Community Primary School • Sileby Library • Nailstone Depot

Hampshire accountants HWB have promoted Nick Whitemore to Associate Director, a little over a year after he joined the practice. Nick is the latest of three colleagues at Chandlers Ford-based HWB to progress from Business Advisor to associate level in the past 18 months. He will work closely with clients who seek accounts, advice and tax services including individuals, owner-managed businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Nick has been working across HWB’s client base, particularly SMEs, as a Senior Business Adviser since he arrived from top ten regional accountancy group Azets in October 2022. “Time has flown by,” said Nick, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants who has more than a decade of post-qualification experience. “It’s great to be part of the HWB team. Everyone is enthusiastic about providing the best for our clients while winning new business too." “I’ll still be very much involved on the client side, growing relationships, but I’m delighted to have been afforded this opportunity to step up. I’m very excited about the challenge.” Among the responsibilities of his new role, Southampton-born Nick will attend monthly directors’ meetings and work more closely with the ten-strong board led by Tracy Jenkins, Managing Director. Tracy said: “Since joining us, Nick has demonstrated and applied his skills, insight and professional experience for our clients’ benefit." “We are always looking to promote and encourage growth amongst our team and Nick’s promotion forms part of our overall company strategy based around the strength of our business advice services.” Nick’s promotion comes as SMEs and other businesses continue to face challenges and uncertainties caused by the ‘cost-of-doing-business’ crisis, characterised by high borrowing costs, energy bills and other pressures on the bottom line. Nick said: “Whoever is in government after the prospective general election this year, I suspect we will see even more change to the business environment coming over the horizon." “Because of that, it remains crucial for businesses to stay in touch with their professional advisers and secure the best financial and tax management plans to underpin their operational activities and investment programmes.” Nick, who has an honours degree in Business & Finance from Southampton Solent University, lives in Eastleigh. Away from work, he enjoys scuba diving, travelling and music. Chartered accountants HWB, headquartered at Chandler’s Ford, near Southampton, provide business and tax advice.

Showcasing excellence in the industry, the annual British Pool & Hot Tub Awards, presented by SPATA (Swimming Pool and Allied Trade Association) and BISHTA (British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association), highlight businesses dedicated to achieving the highest standards. These companies adhere to the trade association's guidelines and uphold an industry-recognised code of ethics, setting them apart as top-tier professionals committed to elevating standards within their field. These awards acknowledge companies for their exceptional work, honouring technical expertise and aesthetic achievements, and establish an inspiring showcase of award-winning projects for consumers to explore. It instils confidence in consumers, knowing that as members of the trade association, every company must adhere to British and European standards and conduct business ethically. This year's awards ceremony took place as an integral part of the Industry Gala Evening organised by the BSPF (British Swimming Pool Federation). Held at the Coventry Building Society Arena in the West Midlands, the evening is part of SPATEX, the UK's exclusive international showcase for pool, spa, and wellness. This year's VIP guest was competitive swimmer Joe Litchfield, who is set to participate in the Paris Olympics 2024, fuelled by his lifelong love for swimming. With a distinguished career, he has earned titles as county, regional, and National champion. In 2022, he won two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games and a bronze at the World Championships, followed by a gold with his team at the subsequent World Championships. His outstanding achievements led to his recognition as the Guest of Honour at the 2024 Wet Leisure Industry Gala Evening. Centurion Leisure, a distinguished member of SPATA located in Hornchurch, Essex, secured the following prestigious SPATA Awards at the 2024 British Pool & Hot Tub Awards ceremony. • Residential Outdoor Liner Pools under £75,000 (SILVER STANDARD) • Residential Outdoor One-Piece Pools (GOLD STANDARD & SILVER STANDARD) • Residential Outdoor Concrete Pools under £125,000 (SILVER STANDARD & SILVER STANDARD) • Residential Outdoor Concrete Pools £125,000 and Over (GOLD STANDARD) • Residential Indoor Freeboard Pools under £150,000 (GOLD STANDARD) • Residential Indoor Freeboard Pools £150,000 and over (GOLD STANDARD & GOLD STANDARD) • Special Requirement Pool of the Year (SILVER STANDARD) • Commercial Pools (GOLD STANDARD) • Inground Spas (Overall Winner GOLD STANDARD & GOLD STANDARD) • Paul Kite Award for Pool Star of the Year (FINALIST - Kerry Blunden) • Dick Millward Trophy for Pool Contractor of the Year (WINNER) Before being submitted to the specialised panel of judges from the pool industry, all entries undergo a review for their technical merit to ensure they meet industry standards as a minimum requirement. With 22 SPATA award categories available, the entries for this year showcase the pool industry's extensive talent and the unwavering dedication to the quality and service of the trade association’s members. Chris Hayes, Managing Director of SPATA and BISHTA, praised the winning companies for their exceptional quality of work and expressed optimism for their continued success. The event received generous support from various partners and sponsors, underscoring the industry's collaborative spirit and commitment to excellence. Supporting the 2024 British Pool & Hot Tub Awards, the Partners and Sponsors are; Adtrak, AstralPool UK, Certikin International, Complete Pool Controls, Dantherm Group, Dryden Aqua, EVi Pools, Fairlocks Pool Products, Golden Coast part of Pollet Pool Group, Heatstar, HTH T/A Innovative Water Care, Jacuzzi, Nsure, Oase, Plastica, Spawer, Sprayed Concrete Solutions, SPN and What Pool & Hot Tub Magazine.

Expanding property consultancy Vail Williams has opened a new office in Oxford to meet growing business demand. The office, forming an extension of the firm’s Thames Valley region, is headed by Richard Dawtrey, Partner and Head of Investment. Two new members of staff – experienced Partner Mike Watson and Surveyor Clark Tersol, have been recruited, both from Cluttons in Oxford. Historic and listed building specialist Chris Bailey has been appointed to cover building consultancy and other hires are in the pipeline, including support staff. The Oxford team is being augmented by senior colleagues Guy Parkes (agency), Sarah Isherwood (planning), Dan Pearce (valuation) and Roland Browning (occupier advisory) all of whom are already active in the Oxfordshire marketplace. Vail Williams will initially be located at New Barclay House in Botley and is offering a comprehensive, full-service proposition in Oxford. Managing Partner Matthew Samuel-Camps said: “This further strategic growth is aligned with our Business Plan, enhancing our offer geographically and synergising perfectly with our current office footprint, particularly that of Birmingham, London and Reading." “Richard, who had six years’ commercial property experience at a national firm based in Oxford before moving to Vail Williams, has kept in touch with his old client base and is clearly the perfect person to lead our city team." “There is no denying that Oxford and Oxfordshire are significant growth areas and bringing in Mike was crucial to the process. He has worked in Oxford for 25 years, has a second-to-none reputation, knows the city’s property market inside out, is an expert on the city centre and, in particular, acts for a number of the colleges.” Matthew added: “Oxford is a significant and world-renowned educational centre with a high growth wider region – including in Bicester, Abingdon, Banbury and Didcot where there has been substantial investment – and of course the significant business growth witnessed in the city itself allied to the university, especially in the life science markets." “We already have a high quality, established client base in the region and will be seeking to build on our existing presence by offering a multi-disciplinary approach, as well as our expanding sector expertise in residential, energy and environmental and town centre re-purposing.” Richard will also continue to act as Head of Investment, servicing clients in the south east and midlands regions and is also tasked with expanding the sector. Vail Williams employs 175 people, of which more than 50 are partners, based across its 12 offices in the Midlands and south of England (Oxford, Birmingham, Crawley, Brighton, Woking, Heathrow, Leeds, London, Portsmouth, Reading, Southampton, Bournemouth). 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.