Category: News

North Wales super-green energy firm is in the running for awards double

Gareth Jones of Carbon Zero in St Asaph shortlisted agaon for the Free 2 Network awards he won a few years ago.

A super-green North Wales energy company and its entrepreneurial boss are double finalists in prestigious national awards.

Carbon Zero Renewables based in St Asaph and its managing director Gareth Jones have both been shortlisted for honours in the 2014 Free2Network Business Awards, which aim to recognise, celebrate and promote the achievements of businesses and entrepreneurs from across the UK.

While the company as a whole is in contention for the coveted title of Business of the Year, Gareth is in the running to take the Leader of the Year accolade.

This year’s award winners will be unveiled at a glittering black tie event to be staged at the St George’s Hotel in Llandudno on Friday, November 28, when the judge and host will be TV personality and entrepreneur Sair Khan who rose to fame as runner-up in the BBC TV series, The Apprentice, which has just begun its latest series.

She went on to present a number of TV programmes, including the BBC’s The Money Show, Beat the Boss and The Martin Lewis Money Show, and has created her own natural skincare product range.

Gareth Jones said he was delighted to see himself and his company shortlisted for the awards and that a win in either or both categories would “crown a fantastically successful year” for Carbon Zero Renewables. Gareth is no stranger to the Free2Network Business Awards after carrying away the trophy for Businessman of the Year in their 2011 inaugural year.

The company has already made a big impression on the international awards scene after being named as solar installer of the year at the prestigious Finance Monthly Global Awards 2014, organised by an influential magazine which has 130,000 readers across the world.

Gareth said: “I am delighted that we’ve now been shortlisted in two categories of this year’s Free2Network Business Awards. It’s great to be recognised at national as well as international level for our business achievements.

“Hopefully, we’re in with a good chance of winning and if we are successful in either or both of the two categories in which we’re shortlisted it will crown another fantastically successful year for our company.

“Sales so far this year have exceeded all our expectations are we are new looking to grow even further in 2015.

“We are very pleased to be associated with the Free2Network Business Awards and this will be the third year that we have sponsored the Green Business award.

“I will be going along to the presentation evening in Llandudno accompanied by some other members of our team and we are all looking forward to it very much.”

Honours have been piling up over the past few years for Gareth who is a former Institute of Directors’ Young Director of the Year for North Wales.

Earlier this year he was re-elected President of North Wales for the Federation of Master Builders.

He said: “We’re having a very busy time, orders are up and there’s a lot in the pipeline with a range of domestic and commercial projects.

“In recent years people have been wising up to the whole idea of green energy.

“Solar panels have become more affordable. The price of electricity has gone up and at the same time the wholesale cost of equipment has come down.  So, it has now become more affordable to the mainstream market.”

Gareth also practices what he preaches at his “eco office” in St Asaph.

Four solar panels generate up to 50% of the electricity needed to power the heating and lighting. Their office is fitted with low energy LED lighting and infra-red heating panels while extra-thick insulation also helps reduce the carbon footprint.

He added: “We’re now offering battery storage systems, so people can now store the power they get free from their solar panels.

“We do a range of other energy saving technologies which are not that new to the market but again becoming more main stream. That can save people up to 19 per cent on their energy bills.

“One of the next big things is voltage optimisation which reduces the incoming mains voltage down.

“All domestic appliances are made for the European market and they’re all designed to run as low as 220 volts.

“The problem is that UK electricity supply is at least 240 volts when the appliance actually only needs 220 volts to run properly.

“We have this small unit that drops the mains voltage down to that lower level.  Everything still works as it should but you make instant savings and that can be a pay back in four years.”

Monday November 10th, 2014

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Three top new businesses open in Shrewsbury’s Pride Hill Centre

Making sure the displays are looking good at the Phonebooth shop at the Pride Hill shopping centre in Shrewsbury are Leigh Swann and Ben Dyer.

Three new businesses have opened in Shrewsbury’s busy Pride Hill Shopping Centre creating 11 new jobs.

They come hard on the heels of a number of new openings in the centre which has also seen major toy retailer The Entertainer and bargain discounter Poundworld take new stores there in recent months and it means that over 80 new jobs have been created in the Shrewsbury Shopping Centres of Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside.

One of the new stores is a familiar face, fashion store Raw has reopened on the Upper Level and has been joined by two newcomers, mobile phone accessories and repairs business Phonebooth and holiday money shop Number One Currency Exchange.

Phonebooth, owned by North Wales-based entrepreneur Callum Roberts, will employ four staff headed by manager Leigh Swann.

Callum Roberts, aged 24, said: “I’ve been in the mobile phone business for five years and started off in markets and then opened my first shop in Llandudno when I was 21 and this is my second.

“We do a complete range of accessories and we do same-day repairs on site and they’re guaranteed for 12 months.

“I’ve got a good feeling about Shrewsbury. We’re near the entrance of the Pride Hill and it’s nice and busy and it’s a lovely town with plenty of people about.”

Two doors away are Number One Currency Exchange whose opening is part of a major expansion by the Edinburgh-based company which already has 32 of its own stores and 160 franchises across the UK and plans to add a further 20 this year.

Marketing Manager Elaine Gilhooley said: “This is one of our own stores and we will be employing four people with a manager and the new store is part of the large national expansion that we’re planning.

“Our market research identified Shrewsbury as a viable site and an area of growth and profitability.

“The pound is currently very strong against the euro and that is encouraging people to perhaps ravel to Europe more and change more money because they are getting better value.

“We do have very competitive rates and we also operate a click and collect service so that you can order your cash online and pick it up at the store – and if the rate has gone up in the meantime then we will pay you the improved rate.”

Making a comeback is fashion retailer Raw which has made a triumphant return to the Pride Hill centre after a short absence and has created two new jobs into the bargain.

Owner Dabs Sikham, 39, opened his first shop in Swansea seven years ago and launched Raw four years ago.

Dabs explained: “I have plenty of experience is the fashion retailing business going back about 12 years and had my first shop, which sold menswear, in Swansea town centre.”

Raw had seven shops across the South and Midlands, including a branch in Pride Hill but the economic downturn forced the closure of all but one last November.

But the new Raw is now on the centre’s second floor and he said: “The economic downturn meant that I had to close most of my Raw shops a few years ago but I did keep the Pride Hill and Chester ones open for a little longer.

“Unfortunately, I had to leave the Pride Hill shop in November last year but I’m glad to say we’re now back in the shopping centre.

“We’ve been able to create two new jobs at the store, one of which is full-time and the other part-time. I’m currently looking to take on one more member of staff and, depending on how well things go, I’m hoping to employ more people in the future.

“We’ve spent a significant amount of money on the new shop and tried to create a bright and vibrant place for people to shop.”

He added: “The customers at Pride Hill were always good to me and there was definitely a new gap in the market for a business like Raw. Basically, there was an opportunity to go back there and I decided to take it.”

Kevin Lockwood, Manager of the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Shopping Centres, said: “We have had a number of new openings in recent months and there are others in the pipeline.

“It is encouraging that as well as major retailers like The Entertainer and Poundworld there are a number of smaller enterprises opening and this all adds to the variety of the retail offer we have here in Shrewsbury.

“Shrewsbury is a real shopping hub for a very wide area and is a lovely, characterful town and the importance of retail to the local economy is underlined by the fact that in the past six months we have created over 80 jobs here with the likelihood of more to come.”

Wednesday November 5th, 2014

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Fashion retailer Select creates new jobs at Bexleyheath shopping centre

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A FASHION retailer has stepped out into Bexleyheath with the creation of 12 jobs.

The new Select store at Broadway Shopping Centre is the latest to open under the chain’s rapid expansion plans targeting key trading spots around the UK.

In its first week, tills have been ringing relentlessly with profits smashing targets.

The opening comes hot on the heels of the arrival of high street footwear giant, Schuh, at Broadway Shopping Centre, which created 20 new jobs in the borough.

Select store manager Georgia Satterly said the response from customers has been ‘brilliant’ with many queuing up outside, eager to grab a bargain.

She said: “When the finishing touches were being made to the shop, we had people outside wanting to come in so by the time we did open a few days ago, there was a stampede and we’ve been absolutely manic ever since.

“Because the store is so big at around 3,600sqft, there is a massive range of clothing to choose from.

“During our opening weekend, our owner, Cafer Mahiroglu came down and challenged us to hit a £5,000 target, but we went way over that on Saturday.

“Over the two days, takings smashed the £10,500 figure which is fantastic when you consider that we sell clothing at low prices.”

Previously manager of the Bromley branch, Georgia, who has worked for the company for four years, is relishing the challenge of overseeing a store more than double the size.

She added: “It’s really exciting to be able to manage such a big branch and to be able to offer so much more of our affordable range to the local community.

“Although we tend to appeal to people between the ages of 18 and 25, we have seen a wide range of age groups coming in for a browse, proving that there really is something here for everyone.

“It’s great that we have also been able to create 12 new full and part time jobs too – and this figure does not include the seasonal staff we will need over the Christmas period.

“When we advertised the positions, we had a great response so it’s great to provide a much-needed boost to the borough.”

Select specialises in translating catwalk trends into high street outfits at affordable prices, with a 15% discount for students.

The shop is a sign of the continuing strong interest in Broadway Shopping Centre by national retailers, said Peter Sedge, Broadway Centre Manager.

He said: “This is great news for Broadway Shopping Centre and for the local area.

“We have many young shoppers who come to the centre and enjoy hunting down a new outfit, so this is absolutely perfect for them.

“Signing a well-recognised name such as Select also shows the hard work that’s been put in to encourage retailers to come to Bexleyheath.”

He added: “Broadway Shopping Centre is a vital shopping and meeting hub for the local community and we have around 10m shoppers through our doors every year.

“It is also a vital source of employment for around 800 people and we are all celebrating the creation of this new wave of jobs at the Select store on the back of the 20 which were created only weeks ago at Schuh.”

Launched in the early 1980s, Select was bought by Turkish investor Cafer Mahiroglu in 2008 and has focused on becoming one of the high street’s most affordable fashion forward retailers.

This strategy has been successful with more than 150 UK stores open and ambitious expansion plans in place to open 40 more stores by the end of 2014.

Broadway Shopping Centre is open daily and home to more than 60 big name stores such as New Look, H&M, River Island and Marks & Spencer.

For more information about stores at Broadway Shopping Centre go to www.broadwayshoppingcentre.com.

Tuesday November 4th, 2014

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Hyde: Top hairdressing chain opens brand new salon in Clarendon Square

IMG_8740 ceidiog

THE boss of a successful hairdressing chain is growing the business by opening his latest salon in a Hyde shopping centre and creating six new jobs.

Michael Rowland already has a crop of 19 Top Cut salons across the North West and Yorkshire and says he is proud to be opening branch number 20 at Clarendon Square.

Michael, who is originally from Liverpool, explained that he started Top Cut from humble beginnings just three years ago and its record of ‘quality work and excellent service’, has swiftly made it a force to be reckoned with in the business.

He said: “I’ve been in hairdressing all my life. I opened my first salon in Warrington in the early 1980s and things have just developed from there.

“After having my own business for a while I worked over in Germany for eight years. Based in Osnabruch, my job was to go into department stores helping them to set up their own hairdressing salons.

“I came back to work in England and then three years ago started Top Cut. We bought a small salon chain which was under performing, turned it around and added new salons as we went along.

“We now have branches right across the North West and Yorkshire and have opened the latest one at Clarendon Square.

“This is one of the four we are opening this year, so it’s a busy time for us. The others are in Formby, Oldham and Hull.

“The unit at Clarendon Square is about 1,000 square feet and we’ve been fitting it out to the highest standards. It has nine styling units along with a reception and waiting area.

“The salon has e a manager and five staff, including four stylists and an apprentice who is coming from the in-house training academy at our headquarters in Warrington.

“The academy, which we’ve had for about a year now, is taking on eight apprentices this year who will be allocated to our various branches. It also handles training and retraining for all our 95 staff and helps them to keep pace with the latest styles and techniques in the industry.

“Training is very important to us because our business is all about people.”

Malcolm Angus, Clarendon Square Manager, said: “We are very excited to be welcoming a new hair salon to Clarendon Square.

“We are also delighted to be welcoming such a well-established and growing family business to the fold.

“Top Cut will be offering another very good reason to come and shop with us at Clarendon Square which includes big name brands such as Argos, Bonmarche, Superdrug and B&M Bargains, and also a host of cafes and eateries including Lady Lavender tea rooms and Greenhalgh’s bakers.”

Michael added: “We’ve recently been recruiting for the six new positions at the Hyde salon and had some excellent response with lots of applications, particularly for the manager’s role. All the people we are taking on are local, which we are proud of.

“I think the success we’ve had so far is down to the quality of our work, our excellent service and affordable prices. It’s also the fact that the lady or man who comes to us to spend their hard-earned money after working all day wants to know it’s going to be a very enjoyable experience.”

Michael, who lives in Warrington, runs the business with the help of his 31-year-old son Jamie who works on the financial side of Top Cut.

Explaining his reasons for choosing Clarendon Square for his newest location, he said: “We’ve done our research, which shows that the centre is an up and coming place that’s going to get busier and busier. It also has an excellent management team who have been very helpful to us. We’re very much looking forward to doing some good business here.”

For more information go to www.clarendonsquare.co.uk

Monday November 3rd, 2014

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