A Crewe couple scored for their favourite charity by undertaking a hair-raising charity challenge at the home of Everton Football Club 

Jan and Phil McKeown have so far raised over £400 for Asthma UK after taking on the Goodison Park zip slide challenge. 

Businessman Phil, who owns the Cheshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire branch of home ventilation company, EnviroVent, is a lifelong Everton supporter now exiled in Wistaston, Crewe. 

He said: “The main stand at Goodison is 90 feet high and it felt twice that as they fastened me in for the descent to the paddock on the opposite side of the pitch. 

“But it was well worth it to raise money for Asthma UK.  I’ve suffered from asthma for most of my life and wanted to help fund raise. Asthma UK is also our company charity of the year at EnviroVent as good home ventilation can cut down on the suffering experienced by many people.” 

Jan added: “My heart was in my mouth, but it was all over so quickly and it is great to have been able to do our bit to help research into asthma.  We want to thank everyone who sponsored us.” Donations can still be made at www.justgiving/Jan-Phil-McKeown 

Ends

For further information contact Phil McKeown on 07765 622363 or at pmckeown@envirovent.com.

Oatcake Day fun will be on the menu at Titanic Brewery Staffordshire pubs as the Potteries based brewery gives its backing to Oatcake Day 2012 on August 8.

The Stoke-on-Trent brewer has struck a deal to sponsor the special day in honour of the unique North Staffordshire delicacy. 

Oatcake Day was founded by local DJ Terry Bossons in 2010 and has rapidly grown in popularity. 

More than 8,000 people backed a campaign on Facebook after Terry, of Biddulph, suggested the North Staffordshire oatcake should have its own special day. 

Terry organises a special music night every year to honour the oatcake and has become known for enticing music, tv and sports stars to pose with an “I Support Oatcake Day” placard. 

Stars from rock guitarist Slash to comedian Ricky Gervais have been persuading to back Oatcake Day by Terry. 

He said: “Support for Oatcake Day has grown rapidly since we first launched it in 2010. The community has really got behind the campaign and it is fantastic that we now have Titanic Brewery in place as a sponsor. 

“It is a great fit – two great North Staffordshire products working together – and the promotion of Oatcake Day in the Titanic pubs will add a lot to the buzz surrounding Oatcake Day 2012.” 

Keith Bott, Managing Director of Titanic Brewery, said: “Titanic Brewery is based on Burslem, the Mother Town of the Potteries, so throwing our support behind Oatcake Day seemed a natural thing to do. 

“We will work with Terry and his team to promote the day and hold celebrations in our pubs in Stoke, Burslem, Newcastle , Leek, Stafford and Stone.”

Ends

For further information contact Keith or Dave Bott on 01782 823447 

Notes to editors:

For further information about Titanic Brewery and its award winning beers visit the company’s website at www.titanicbrewery.co.uk  Titanic Brewery was founded in Burslem in 1985 and has grown to produce more than 2.3 million pints of fine ale every year. It is owned by Stafford born brothers Keith and Dave Bott. Keith is Chairman of SIBA, the society of independent brewers. The brewery name is in recognition of Stoke-on-Trent as the birthplace of Captain Edward Smith, Master of the ill fated Titanic ocean liner. 

The Titanic fleet –

The Bulls Head, St John’s Square, Burslem

The Greyhound, George Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme

The White Star, Kingsway, Stoke

The Royal Exchange, Radford Street, Stone.

The Sun Inn, Lichfield Street, Stafford.

The Roebuck, Derby Street, Leek.

Long established Congleton practice Hammond McNulty opened a satellite office in Crewe five years ago.

 Business has grown under Partner Graham Martin and they are now moving out of their former home at Mallard Court on the Crewe Business Park to larger offices just four doors away in the same building. 

Moving with them will be Kate Webb who has joined the business as Senior Client Manager from another South Cheshire practice. 

Kate, a qualified accountant, from Wistaston, Crewe, said: “Hammond McNulty is well known on the Cheshire accountancy scene and employs around 30 people in Congleton. 

“I, therefore, jumped at the chance of joining the Crewe team.  I have lived in the area my whole life and am working to help local businesses grow which is very satisfying.” 

Graham, who joined Hammond McNulty to set up the Crewe office in 2007, said:  “Clearly many Cheshire businesses would have known of Hammond McNulty before we set up a base in Crewe but we have had a good five years and established a client base in the Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach areas. 

“Bringing in new business has allowed us to make the move to new offices and to welcome Kate on board. She is a talented young accountant and her roots in the Crewe area are an added bonus.” 

ENDS

For further information contact Nigel Howle on 0776203436

 Notes to Editors:

Hammond McNulty traces its origins back to 1957 when Fred Hammond set up operations in Congleton. The firm soon evolved into Hammond McNulty and has become a well respected firm with five partners and thirty team members operating from offices in Congleton and Crewe and servicing clients throughout Cheshire, the North West and Staffordshire.

The mission of the practice has always remained as the provision of the highest quality of advice to its clients. This mission is achieved by the firm’s investment in IT and by recruiting and training high quality team members.

We also believe that whilst traditional accountancy services are still valid today, they need to be coupled with business advisory skills. By offering such skills we can help maximise benefits and rewards and minimise any risks to our clients’ financial well-being.

The event in Tunstall Park and the park’s Floral Hall has been organised by creative innovators PiCL (Partners in Creative Learning). 

Jubilee Jamboree has been designed to provide interactive play and learning for children between the ages of three and five years old who are accompanied by a parent, or an early years education provider such as child minders and nursery staff. 

Play sessions and activities will be held in both the morning (10.15am until 12 noon) and afternoon (12.45pm until 2.30pm). 

Parents and carers should register at either 9.30am or 12.15pm to take advantage of up to two workshops in the morning or afternoon, or to stay all day for four sessions. 

Workshops include music making, play with clay, story telling and movement and play. 

Erica Love of PiCL, said: “Jubilee Jamboree offers a choice of workshops where children and carers will work alongside early years arts and education specialists to explore exciting creative learning activity. 

“We aim to inspire the adults to think about how they motivate and teach their children and to excite the under fives with entertaining workshop sessions. 

“Children can use their hands and feet to make music with a new instrument developed in Staffordshire which will have them creating masterpieces in minutes. 

“And creative arts group theVERYidea will guide children through a creative journey through a colourful environment.” 

Stoke Speaks Out, a group which tackles language difficulties among children in North Staffordshire, is encouraging children to bring along their teddy bears and join in with bear hunt stories. 

Adults will pay £3 each and can be accompanied by up to three children. Additional fees will be charged for larger groups although discounts are available for group bookings. 

PiCL works in the education field and beyond to inspire learning and development through creative projects. 

A charitable organisation, PiCL is based in King Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and works with education providers and businesses and companies across the Midlands and North West. 

Parents and carers are being advised to register for the event in advance either by emailing info@picl.uk.com or telephoning 0845 8622073.  

ENDS 

For media enquiries contact Erica Love on 0845 8622073. 

Log on to the PiCL website at www.picl.uk.com to learn more about the organisation and its projects and programmes.

A growing North Staffordshire roofing business has won two contracts to help preserve the industrial heritage of the Potteries – and the owners are keeping the work in the family. 

Rydale Roofing will carry out re-roofing work on the Grade Two Listed Enson Works at Longton and on historic terraced homes in Middleport and Hanley. 

The Enson Works is being restored as part of the CoRE (Centre of Refurbishment Excellence) project to create a training, conference and exhibition space for companies working in the renewable energy industry, while the homes in Port Street and Burgess Street, Middleport, and Balfour Street, Hanley, are being renovated by the Prince’s Regeneration Trust via the Red Brick Green House Project which was part of the former North Staffordshire RENEW programme. 

The Trust, set up by the Prince of Wales, is working in the area after it helped to save the historic Middleport Pottery. 

Rydale Roofing, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, was founded by husband and wife Mick and Julie Mirowski, after Mick lost his job as a miner during the pit closure programme in the early 1990s. 

And work on the two projects will be a family affair as Rydale is working in partnership with joinery specialists, J & R Construction, run by John McAdam and their son, Ryan Mirowski. 

Julie said: “Rydale Roofing was set up in North Staffordshire and all our workers are local people and it gives us great satisfaction to be chosen to work on two major heritage contracts in the area. 

“It is pleasing to see that local companies can win these contracts especially those in the public sector such as CoRE. We have also recently worked with Aspire Housing on housing schemes in Newcastle borough. 

“Rydale Roofing is a family business, named after our sons Ryan and Dale.  Dale works with us as a roofer and it is great to have Ryan on board as part of J&R Construction for the contracts.” 

Both projects require Rydale Roofing to source and work with heritage products as the tiles must replicate those used in the original builds. 

Rydale Roofing is working as a sub-contractor on both projects. Well known North Staffordshire firm Seddon is the main contractor on the Middleport Homes, while Rydale has been contracted to carry-out work by John Paul Construction on the CoRE project. 

ENDS         

For further information contact Nigel Howle on 077762043436 

Notes to Editors: 

Rydale Roofing was launched after Mick, a former miner, lost his job during the pit closure programme in the early 1990s. 

The company takes on any size of roofing work from a small leak in anindividual home to major contracts and sub-contracts. 

The company recently branched out into the solar energy section, supplying and fitting photo voltaic panels on both homes and larger buildings. 

Rydale Roofing won the “micro business” category in the 2010 Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Boost competition. Business Boost is an annual awards scheme sponsored by the public and private sectors to encourage entrepreneurship and job creation among companies in the borough of Newcastle, Staffordshire.

Kerri-Ann Hargreaves has taken on the challenge of setting up a Midlands branch for recruitment to recruitment specialists Qui Recruitment.

Qui has gained a reputation for its recruitment to recruitment work in North West England. Now, Kerri-Ann of May Bank, Newcastle-under-Lyme, has taken up the challenge of  expanding the business into the East and West Midlands.

“I previously managed a team of recruitment consultants for a North Staffordshire based recruitment agency but decided that I needed a major new challenge having had a break following the birth of my son,” said Kerri-Ann.

“As a manager. I had experience of the recruitment to recruitment business as I had to find high quality staff for my own team.

“Qui’s approach is based on attention to detail and personal assessment of potential candidates based on its founding principals of Quality, Urgency and Integrity.

“We are determined to challenge the often poor perception of the recruitment industry. Agencies are often accused of just recycling CVs from internet job boards but this is far from the truth at Qui.

“We don’t use job boards and we provide a bespoke service to ensure that the candidate is tailored for the company’s needs.”

Lysha Holmes, who founded Qui in 2005, said: “A talented recruiter, a motivated self starter and working mum Kerri-Ann Hargreaves is a natural fit with the Qui Recruitment team.  Kerri-Ann will lead Qui Recruitments service focussed recruitment offering from Manchester and the North West into the Midlands. 

“Kerri-Ann will lead Qui Recruitments service focussed recruitment offering from Manchester and the North West into the Midlands.  Expanding our territory is a natural and exciting extension for the business and is a step which I have been waiting to find the right person to take. “

ENDS

For media enquiries contact Claire Lancaster, Marketing Manager, on 07970 798802.To discuss new career opportunities in recruitment Kerri-Ann can be contacted on 0845 838 7577 on twitter @kahargreaves, via LinkedIn http://uk.linkedin.com/in/kerriannhargreaves  or www.quirecruitment.com

Thanks to Titanic mania, we have a new contender - Well Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

This unassuming terraced street was the birthplace of a certain Edward Smith – humble beginnings for someone who rose to be Commodore of the White Star Line and Captain of RMS Titanic.

Of course, this would have been an unremarkable footnote in British history, if it wasn’t for that iceberg.

Captain Smith went down with his ship on 15 April, 1912 – and 100 years later his birthplace has suddeny become a major story.

Well Street has seen a procession of journalists, camera crews and photographers in recent days. It was namechecked on BBC’s the One Show and  featured on national and regional news programmes both in the UK and as far away as Russia.

It is a good bet that not many people knew of the link between the back streets of Hanley and the Titanic disaster until recent times.

Titanic Brewery, based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, was named as an affectionate tribute to the little known link.

Many months ago, discussions began on how the brewery could commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster in an appropriate manner.

I have worked with Titanic Brewery on their media relations for several years and, so, became involved in the plan to sponsor a plaque in tribute to Captain Edward Smith.

The rest, as they say, is history…….

Attwood Solictors have pursued claims for manufacturing workers from Cumbria to Southampton. 

Now the Potteries based solicitors practice is planning a hearing advice day on home turf in Burslem on Friday, 27 April. 

Principal Solictor, Ashley Attwood, said: “Attwood Solicitors is currently advising over 500 workers throughout England and Wales and has won compensation for over 100 workers who have had their hearing damaged while at work. 

“We work with audiologists who will be available at the Burslem Hearing Day to give people a free examination and to offer advice on whether they have suffered industrial related hearing damage. 

“Evidence gathered from workers reveals that many factories failed to provide adequate hearing protection until the 1990s.  As a result many thousands of people are suffering from conditions such as Tinnitus.” 

The Hearing Advice Day will be held at Attwood Solicitors, St John’s Square, Burslem, office. 

Attwood Solicitor’s work closely with audiologists Hear4U and Dr Grant Charlesworth Jones, a GP who specialises in industrial injury cases. 

Dr Charlesworth Jones said: “My work with Attwood Solicitors is raising awareness of a major issue.  For many years workers had their hearing damaged because employers failed to provide adequate protection. 

“However, people have tended to just put up with hearing loss and put it down to getting older. 

“In my experience people are reticent about coming forward – but they should be compensated and the law provides for that.”  

Free consultations with an audiologist can be arranged by telephoning Attwood Solicitors on 0800 587 3231 or by going online to www.attwoodsolicitors.co.uk.

ENDS 

For further information contact Ashley Attwood on 01782 416016 www.attwoodsolicitors.co.uk.

Notes to Editors: 

Any sounds above 80 decibels – about the equivalent of an average alarm clock going off – are considered dangerous but many older people are now suffering from damage caused before current health and safety standards were introduced. 

Attwood Solicitors are personal injury specialists based in Hartshill Road, Stoke-on-Trent. More than £2 million has been successfully claimed by Attwoods to help people who have suffered in an accident.

Over £500,000 worth of business was generated in neighbouring Staffordshire groups during 2011. The 130-plus members referred work to each other from their own contacts after spotting opportunities on each others’ behalf.

Regional director, Len Foster said:

“The BforB idea works because there is value in building strong relationships with other businesspeople. When you know, like and trust a person from another industry, you are well-positioned to make and receive qualified referrals for work.

“We have been well received in Congleton so far and truly appreciate the support of the local business community. They are key to our success, and the success of each other.”

Congleton’s ‘Champion of Change’, Dawn Gibbins MBE, said:

 “Networking and connecting is one of the most powerful ways to enhance business, especially if this can be done locally. BforB is going to add to value of our community spirit and we welcome you with open arms.”

Meetings take place once a fortnight on a Friday and run to a managed program first thing in the morning, to make the least interruption to members’ business day.

BforB has several established groups in nearby Nantwich, Chester and Staffordshire. BforB members are free to visit other groups to expand their network.

Len said:

 “I see BforB as a way for local businesses to have a direct impact on the growth of their local economy. Places are limited to control the quality of membership, so businesses need to act quickly to secure a place in this welcoming business forum.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Len Foster | Tel: 07752 046359 | Email: len.foster@bforb.co.uk

Sales staff became film producers for the day in an innovative business event organised by Partners in Creative Learning (PiCL). 

Wolstanton based AMB Insurance teamed up with PiCL for a team building session with a creative twist. 

Erica Love of PiCL, said: “We were approached by the Directors at AMB to arrange a workshop focused on team building and leadership for their staff. 

“A challenge was devised which involved the AMB team working as script writers, film crew, producers and directors for a day. 

“It can be extremely beneficial to take staff out of their day to day working environment.  The response was fantastic, the teams said they learned a lot about how their colleagues work and can take that back into the workplace.” 

Commercial insurance brokers AMB employ eight staff at their offices in Hillcrest House, Wolstanton. 

Director Claire Pigeon said: “It was a great day.  AMB‘s reputation is based on our customer service and we recognise that how we work with our staff has a huge impact on that. 

“Our team work together well but we looked to PiCL to provide us with something very different to inspire staff even further. The feedback was very good and the workshop has made a real difference.” 

PiCL works in the education field and beyond to inspire learning and development through creative practice. 

The charitable arts organisation is based in King Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, but works with organisations and companies across the Midlands and North West. 

Team building sessions tailored to individual organisations’ needs can be discussed with Erica Love at PiCL by telephoning 0845 8622073. 

ENDS 

For media enquiries contact Erica Love at PiCL on 0845 8622073

Please see the PiCL website for more information: www.picl.uk.com 

Photo:  James Miller, Commercial Account Executive, AMB Insurance, being put through his paces in the TV studio.

Partners in Creative Learning

14a King Street

Newcastle-under-Lyme

ST5 1EJ.