Publicans are toasting the success of an initiative aimed at getting people off their sofas in January and February.

Titanic brewery is supporting local pubs in the Staffordshire Moorlands by awarding Blue Riband status to the pick of the pubs it supplies,

And the Stoke-on-Trent brewery has generated new customers for the pubs with its Staffordshire Moorlands Blue Riband Pilgrimage.

“We know that the dark days of January and February can be difficult particularly for rural publicans,” said Brewery Director Dave Bott.

“We want to reward pubs who are both loyal customers of the brewery and show consistently high standards of service.

“The brewery has designed pilgrimage passports and been running a promotion to encourage customers to visit each of the nine pubs in the scheme.

“A specially designed T-shirt is on offer for any customers who have their passport stamped in all nine pubs during January and February. “

Antony Hill, licensee of the Marquis of Granby, Ipstones, said: “The Blue Riband passport has brought people in from all around the Moorlands and beyond. They are trying pubs which they have perhaps not visited before and we should get the benefit again during the summer months when people take a drive out into the country to find a favourite rural pub.”

Geoff Turner, owner of Den Engel, Leek, said: “The hardest part of the business is to get people out of their warm living rooms at this time of year.

“This initiative has got people into the pubs and we have seen fresh faces which has to be good for the future.”

“People are really enthusiastic about the initiative and it is keeping the beer pumps flowing at a slow time of the year,” added Pete Hill of the Jervis Arms, Onecote.

The nine Blue Riband pubs are: The Roebuck, Derby Street, Leek; the Wellington Inn, Strangman Street, Leek; Top Pub, Brown Edge; the Marquis of Granby, Ipstones; the Jervis Arms, Onecote; the Huntsman, Brookhouses, Cheadle; the Fox and Goose, Foxt; Den Engel, Stanley, Street, Leek; the Manifold Inn, Hulme End, Hartington. 

Ends

For further information contact Keith or Dave Bott on 01782 823447 

Notes to editors:

Titanic’s full range of beer can be seen on 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. 

Staffordshire Housing Association is working in partnership with Keepmoat Homes to provide homes off Summer Street, Stoke. 

The development is next to the highly successful West End Village development which was opened by Staffordshire Housing Association in January 2011. 

The new development consists of 10 houses for rent (eight have two bedrooms and two have three bedrooms) and a 12 apartment annexe to West End Village. 

Keepmoat Homes is also building houses for sale on the site. 

Diane Lea, Chief Executive at Staffordshire Housing Association, said: “There is always high demand for good quality social housing. These new homes will be available for people registered with Staffordshire Housing Association and Stoke-on-Trent City Council. 

“Staffordshire Housing Association has been based in the town of Stoke for many years and we are committed to working towards the town’s regeneration. 

“This development is being built on a previously derelict site and will help to improve the local environment for residents in the Boothen and West End areas of the town.” 

The homes are expected to be completed this Spring with the two bedroom apartments becoming available in the autumn. 

Anyone interested in renting either a house or apartment should call Staffordshire Housing Association on 01782 744533 and/or Stoke-on-Trent City Council on 01782 233696. 

ENDS. 

For media enquiries contact Sandra Barber at Staffordshire Housing Association on 01782 744533.

Notes to Editors:

Staffordshire Housing Group is a housing association committed to building a better future for local communities.  Established in 1984, SHA provide a huge range of tenant services including maintenance, tenancy support, estate management and gardening, as well as essential guidance on income management, money advice and benefits assessments. They are committed to improving live in Staffordshire through regeneration, supported housing, older people’s villages, key worker homes and a rolling programme of home improvements. Their subsidiary company, Blue Mountain Housing Association, also work closely with refugee and local BME communities to provide essential support with healthcare, education, training and employment as well as access to quality housing.

2)     Working with the media  

These two courses are being offered either as a package or separate to businesses, charity and voluntary organisations.

To be held at the easily accessible Moat House Hotel, Stoke-on-Trent, on the mornings of Friday, 24 February, and Friday 9 March, they are designed for organisations who are looking to build their profile and reputation through working with the media (both traditional and new media).

Course One will give you the ammunition to launch a PR campaign, gaining exposure for your organisation and building your reputation as an expert in your work field.

Course Two will expand on the fundamentals of PR taught on Course One and will show you how to tackle media interviews and how to be proactive, even in a crisis. 

Both courses are interactive and practical – please bring a laptop on both days.

Costs and venue:

Delegates pay £65 to attend one half day course and can attend both sessions for a special rate of £100.

Registration on 24 February and 9 March will take place at 9am with the course getting underway at 9.30pm. We will aim for a 12.45pm finish.

There is ample parking available at the venue: The Moat House Hotel, Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 5BQ – see www.bw-stokeontrentmoathouse.co.uk.

The Moat House is situated close to the A500, the major arterial route linking the Stoke-on-Trent North and South junctions on the M6 motorway. 

About the trainer:

Nigel Howle had a successful 15 year career in news journalism, primarily working in senior positions in regional newspapers (often the primary PR target audience).

Nigel then spent several years in public sector PR before founding a successful PR consultancy in 2007.

Howle Communication’s clients include a brewery, a major social housing body and a school.  Nigel also holds the position of Senior PR Account Manager  at Plinkfizz, an all services communications agency, where he works on several high profile accounts.

He is an experienced trainer in both the private, public and charity sectors.  Recent clients include Staffordshire Housing Association, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and well known pottery and giftware company, Emma Bridgewater (on behalf of Plinkfizz).

Nigel has also lectured on PR on degree courses at Staffordshire University. 

Testimonials for Nigel Howle

Nigel Howle delivered media training to our senior management team early in 2011.  The session was informative, involving and relevant.  The knowledge and techniques he gave us have helped us develop more productive media relations and gain increased positive promotion of our company and the work that we do.

I have no hesitation in recommending Nigel Howle as a knowledgeable, professional and engaging trainer. Sandra Barber, Communications Manager, Staffordshire Housing Association.

With his finger on the media pulse, Nigel can train and advise on dealing with the media and generate positive coverage. His expert perspective and straightforward approach means he provides experienced and levelheaded advice on media matters and delivers results.” Mark Morrison, former Head of Communications, Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

“Nigel has a sharp understanding about how to raise the profile of an organisation but, over and above this, he took the time to find out how the CCU operated and become a part of our team.” Andy Marshall, Director of Civil Contingencies, Staffordshire.

For further information, and to book  a place, contact:

Nigel Howle, Media and Communications Consultant, Tel: 07762 043 436, email: nigelhowle@o2.co.uk. Website:   http://www.public-relations-consultants.co.uk/home.aspx.

Des has launched Re-Torque Vehicle Remapping – Rugeley’s only mobile car remapping business – after being astonished by the savings he made when the system was installed on his own car. 

Motorists can save around 15 per cent on their fuel bills – recouping their outlay for the remapping work within a few months. 

“I’ve worked as a mechanic and car technician for most of my life but was a bit of a non-believer about remapping,” said Des, aged 35. 

“Like everyone else, I was tired of paying extortionate prices at the pumps and was persuaded to have my own car remapped.

“I now get an extra 150 miles out of each tank full of fuel and more than 60 miles to the gallon when I used to get 45.” 

Des has invested in equipment from market leading Black Code remapping based in Stafford and has set up a mobile business which will carry out the work at your home or business premises. 

Vehicle remapping works because car manufacturers’ standard settings do not maximise a vehicles fuel efficiency or power. This is done deliberately because global car producers sell in several different markets and limit their vehicles’ performance to allow for poor fuel quality and extreme climatic conditions. 

The service is backed by Black Code’s warranty which offers a100 per cent refund – and re-establishment of the vehicle’s original settings – for anyone who is not satisfied with the results.Des added: “Motorists have the choice to either have an economy remap or a performance remap to give them extra power and torque. 

“We are expecting demand to be highest from people wanting to save money on diesel . It is very early days for the business but the service is popular for businesses with a fleet of vehicles, such as vans or taxis. 

“With an average cost of around £300, high mileage drivers can recoup the cost of a remap within three to four months.” 

ENDS 

For further information contact Des Tudor on 07967184068 or re-torque@live.co.uk

Kick Start provided low cost finance for vital repairs with the loan secured against the equity in the property which was being improved. 

A review of the scheme reveals it has: 

• Helped over 600 households
• Helped these households to release in excess of £4.5m of equity from their property to pay for essential works
• Increased the well-being and independence of these households
• Sustained important jobs in the local construction industry. 

But with applications for the scheme now closed, Staffordshire Housing Association is lobbying the Government to sanction alternative schemes for home owners in Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle borough and the Staffordshire Moorlands. 

The Government has not come up with a direct replacement for Kick Start – leaving often vulnerable residents to find their own help from banks and building societies.  

Barry Pitts, Business Development Director at Staffordshire Housing Association, held talks with Housing Minister, Grant Shapps MP in a meeting organised by Joan Walley, MP for Stoke-on-Trent North. 

“We told the Minister of the success of Kick Start and that we were anxious that a new system was developed to help people get finance at a reasonable cost to improve their homes. 

“We welcome the Government’s commitment to work with the financial industry to identify new loan products but this must be accelerated so that householders can get the help they need. 

“Existing equity products are unlikely to be suitable or practicable for all and may fail the most vulnerable because products are complex, predicated on high loan values and in some cases slow.” 

Mr Pitts urged the Minister that not-for-profit social housing organisations, such as SHA should be given the opportunity to work with loan providers to promote home improvement in their local areas. 

Ms Walley described the loss of Kick Start as a “big casualty of Government cuts” and said it was having a direct impact on residents in Stoke-on-Trent.

“I am calling for Government to require finance companies to offer affordable designated equity products in areas like ours. People must not be deterred by unaffordable disproportionate fees. 

“Having Staffordshire Housing spell out the detailed work they have done at that meeting made all the difference. I intend to keep on pressing Government to act on our experience.”     

ENDS 

Notes to Editors:

Kick Start funding is designed to help people who do not have the money to pay for repairs and improvements. The scheme offers a range of low cost loans and project manages the work on behalf of  householders.

In most cases, home owners do not have to pay back their loans until homes are sold. Alternatively, for smaller jobs, there is an interest-free loan of between £250 and £2000 to be paid back in monthly instalments.

All work is carried out by reputable builders and the scheme is fully backed by Stoke on Trent City Council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

Staffordshire Housing Association is committed to building a better future for local communities.  Established in 1984, SHA provide a huge range of tenant services including maintenance, tenancy support, estate management and gardening, as well as essential guidance on income management, money advice and benefits assessments. They are committed to improving live in Staffordshire through regeneration, supported housing, older people’s villages, key worker homes and a rolling programme of home improvements. 

Subsidiary company, Blue Mountain Housing Association, also work closely with refugee and local BME communities to provide essential support with healthcare, education, training and employment as well as access to quality housing.

For more information please visit www.staffshousing.org.uk. 

Attwood Solicitors, specialist Noise Induced Hearing Loss Solicitors, have had great success in helping workers in shipyards and in other heavy industries across England and Wales. 

The Bristol Hearing Advice Day will run from 10am to 4pm at the Mercure Bristol Holland Hotel and Spa, Redcliffe Hill, Bristol, on Friday, 27 January. 

Qualified audiologists will be on hand to conduct free of charge hearing tests.  

Principal Solicitor Ashley Atwood said: “We have been working on cases in the North of England and the South West Ports and, every time we hold a free Hearing Advice Day, demand is high. 

“Many workers who experienced hearing loss while working in extremely noisy environments have simply put up with it. 

“Often people suffer in silence and don’t believe they have a right to compensation for the pain and inconvenience caused to them. 

The event is open to anyone who believes they have suffered hearing loss while at work, regardless of the industry involved. 

Attwood Solicitors works 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.”  

Hearing experts say any sounds above 80 decibels is considered dangerous and many older people are now suffering from damage caused before current health and safety standards were introduced. 

Eighty decibels is about the equivalent of an average alarm clock going off. 

ENDS 

For further information contact John Farrow on 01782 823384 www.attwoodsolicitors.co.uk. 

Anyone who feels their hearing may have been affected by noise exposure should contact Attwood Solicitors for free advice and to secure their place on the Hearing Advice Day.  You are able to simply turn up on the day however to guarantee your place call Attwood Solicitors on 0800 587 3231, or go online to www.attwoodsolicitors.co.uk or text “CLAIMS” to 88010 and they will call you straight back.

Barry Pitts

Housing Association leaders have called on the Government to shelve their opposition to solar power feed in tariffs. 

Staffordshire Housing Association says the Governments bid to cut the tariffs is unfair to residents who may lose out on potential savings of £150 a year. 

Barry Pitts, Business Development Director at Stoke based Staffordshire Housing Association said: “We support and applaud Friends of the Earth in their recent High Court action against proposed cuts in the solar feed in tariff.” 

The High Court said the Government had acted unlawfully and upheld the environmental campaign group’s complaint. 

In common with many social housing providers across the UK, Staffordshire Housing Association has suspended its solar installation programme pending the outcome of the court case. 

Added Mr Pitts: “We are disappointed that the Government has chosen to appeal and that public funds are being used to fight against measures which will help householders and help cut carbon usage. 

“We want to reinstate our programme and to see other similar programmes across England reinstated,” said Mr Pitts. “Fitting solar panels could save our residents around £150 a year on their energy bills. 

“Along with the obvious benefits of using green energy, we also have a policy of using local solar installers, therefore creating jobs and funds for the economy in Staffordshire. 

Staffordshire Housing Association owns and manages around 2,800 homes in North Staffordshire. 

ENDS 

For media enquiries contact Sandra Barber on 01782 744533.

Notes to Editors: Staffordshire Housing Group is a housing association committed to building a better future for local communities.  Established in 1984, SHA provide a huge range of tenant services including maintenance, tenancy support, estate management and gardening, as well as essential guidance on income management, money advice and benefits assessments. They are committed to improving live in Staffordshire through regeneration, supported housing, older people’s villages, key worker homes and a rolling programme of home improvements. Their subsidiary company, Blue Mountain Housing Association, also work closely with refugee and local BME communities to provide essential support with healthcare, education, training and employment as well as access to quality housing.

More than 700 women have asked Stoke-on-Trent based Attwood Solicitors for advice on breast implant replacement in recent days.

And Principal Solicitor Ashley Attwood said: “The moral case is clear, these companies must act in the best interests of their patients.

“The companies have a duty to the women who they fitted with faulty silicon gel implants from the French company, PIP.

“It is not good enough to say we don’t have the resources – they should carry the correct levels of insurance for the work they carry out.

“If they are saying that they are not fully insured then that is a major problem and the Government should investigate.”

Attwood Solicitors has written an open letter to many leading breast surgey practitioners.

It states: “Over the last few days alone, we have been contacted by large numbers of concerned and distressed women who have learnt that they have been provided with breast implants from Poly i P by your clinic and others.

The Government has called on you to provide your ex-patients within free removal of these implants and we would ask that you go further and offer free replacement as well.

You will be aware that the vast majority of women seeking help from you have valid medical or psychological reasons for breast augmentation and for which they paid large sums of money. Therefore the refusal to provide treatment at this time, for free, will cause great psychological distress along side any physical harm they may suffer as a result of the delay. We believe you have both a legal responsibility and a moral duty to ensure that they receive the treatment they require as soon as possible.

There appears to be growing evidence to suggest that there have been grave concerns over the implants provided by PIP for several years, therefore we will expect you to provide evidence of due diligence in your continued use of these products.

It is our intention to represent our clients in their desired action against your clinic and to ensure that they receive fair financial redress for their inconvenience and distress. As such, your actions at this time will determine the level of public sympathy directed to your profession and also reflect the redress available to our clients.

We urge you to be sympathetic to our client’s pleas at this difficult time and to consider their needs when deciding your approach to this crisis.”

ENDS

For further information contact Ashley Attwood on 01782 416016.

www.attwoodsolicitors.co.uk

Medical negligence experts, Attwood Solicitors, have received over 100 enquiries in just three days about the risk of PIP implants. 

Up to 50,000 British women are thought to have breast implants supplied by French firm PIP (Poly Implant Protheses) which has admitted to using low grade industrial silicon in their products. 

Principal Solicitor Ashley Attwood said: “We have been swamped with calls from women who are rightly concerned that they may well have been given implants with low grade silicon gel which has not been cleared for use on humans. 

“We are taking specialist Counsel’s opinion on the rights of persons with Pip implants to have the implants removed privately, have them replaced free of charge and right to be compensated for an consequential losses, that may include convalescence losses, psychological damages and pain suffering and loss of amenity, commonly known in law as PSLA.”  

Mr Attwood previously called for an end to the UK Government’s inaction on the issue. 

He said:  “It is time that the Government ended the confusion surrounding the use of PIP implants and give the 40,000 women affected clear guidelines as to what their rights are. 

“They should put procedures in place to support the women and give them the right to request that the clinic where they had surgery removes the implants.” 

The UK Government says there is no evidence to support the routine removal of the implants at the centre of the scare. 

But France have banned the PIP implants – which contain silicon used for fuel additives and in mattresses – and said that the French State would pay for them to be removed. 

Attwood Solicitors are known throughout the UK for their work in areas including industrial and medical negligence. 

Concerns about the PIP implants centre on the affect on women’s bodies if a rupture occurred. 

The silicon gel used by the company was not approved for use on people. 

Mr Attwood said: “We are monitoring the situation closely and are currently investigating whether people have a right to sue for compensation.”

For advice on the PIP implants issue please contact Attwood Solicitors on 0800 326 5203 (email enquiries@attwoodsolicitors.co.uk).

www.attwoodsolicitors.co.uk.

ENDS

Photograph:  Ashley Attwood (centre) with Doctor Grant Charlesworth Jones, GP advisor to Attwood Solicitors and Solicitor, John Farrow.

Up to 40,000 British women are thought to have breast implants supplied by French firm PIP (Poly Implant Protheses) which has admitted using low grade industrial silicon gel in their products. 

The UK Government says there is no evidence to support the routine removal of the implants at the centre of the scare. 

But France has banned the PIP implants – which contain silicon gel used for fuel additives and in mattresses – and said that the French State would pay for them to be removed. 

Mr Attwood, principal solicitor at Stoke-on-Trent based Attwood Solicitors, said:  “It is time that the Government ended the confusion surrounding the use of PIP implants and give the 40,000 women affected clear guidelines as to what their rights are. 

“They should put procedures in place to support the women and give them the right to request that the clinic where they had surgery removes the implants.” 

This may mean that the Government has to fund the work in cases where the clinic which fitted the implants no longer exists. 

Attwood Solicitors are known throughout the UK for their work in areas including industrial and medical negligence. 

Concerns about the PIP implants centre on the affect on women’s bodies if a rupture occurred. 

The silicon gel used by the company was not approved for use on people.  

Following a review, the UK Government today (Friday) confirmed its stance that there was no evidence for routine removal of the implants.

Mr Attwood said: “We are monitoring the situation closely and are currently investigating whether people have a right to sue for compensation.”

For advice on the PIP implants issue please contact Attwood Solicitors on 0800 145 5105 (email enquiries@attwoodsolicitors.co.uk).

ENDS

For media enquiries contact Nigel Howle on 0776 2043436.

News Release issued on behalf of Attwood Solicitors by: Nigel Howle, Media and Communications Consultant, Tel: 07762 043 436, email: nigelhowle@o2.co.uk. Website:    http://www.public-relations-consultants.co.uk/home.aspx.