Support the South West Coastal Path

The South West Coast Path is inviting businesses to partner with the charity during 2014 to deliver some vital path improvements and protect this great tourism asset.

Recent research has showed that during 2012 the Coast Path had 8.6 million users across the South West which have generated around £436m to the area, an increase of almost 15% in the past three years - helping support 9,771 full-time equivalent jobs.

Recognised as one of the UK’s favourite walks with a reputation as being among the greatest long distance hikes in the world.

Sponsorship packages include opportunities to use the brand, benefit from associated news, web and social media communications as well as getting involved in one of the South West’s biggest mass participation events.

The Great South West Walks, taking place from 20th – 28th September 2014, 1,500 people taking part in 100 guided sponsored walks of various lengths, to suit all types of walkers. Many will be themed to include heritage, wildlife and family friendly walks.

The Great South West Walks 2014 aims to secure £250,000; with £125,000 through individual participants’ sponsorship and businesses’ support, alongside £125,000 of matched funding through grant making organisations.

For further information regarding how your business can benefit from supporting the South West Coast Path please email esther@swcp.org.uk or call 07786 330242.

If you would like to find out more about the work of the South West Coast Path Association, or if you are interested in taking part in the Great South West Walks, please visit www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk

For further information about the income the South West Coast Path brings to the South West, please see the 2012 key findings summary created in January 2014 on the South West Coast Path Team’s website.

Haines Watts Rural Business Case Study - Will Urquhart Limited

BRADFORDS BUILDERS' MERCHANTS TRANSFER TOTEM TIMBER STAFF TO NEW £1.2M BRANCH AT ST. AUSTELL

BUILDERS’ MERCHANTS TRANSFER STAFF TO

NEW £1.2M BRANCH

The UK’s largest independent builders’ merchants Bradfords Building Supplies Limited with 27 branches across the South West announces the pre-planned closure of Totem Timber, St. Austell on Saturday 20th August.  Sixteen of the Totem staff have joined at Bradfords’ at the new £1.2m purpose built branch located nearby and constructed by Chartered Building Contractors R.G. Spiller Limited, which opened its doors on 1st June.  This latest development is in line with Bradfords’ long term expansion plans and marketing strategy.  This includes a substantial investment in creating 10 new state-of-the-art kitchen and bathroom showrooms at branches across Devon, Somerset and Dorset.  The first two branches at Sidmouth and Ilminster were launched this month and the roll-out campaign will complete by the end of October 2011.

Established in 1770, Bradfords employs over 500 staff with an annual turnover in excess of £80m.  Based in the South West the company has been supplying materials to the trade for over 240 years and has 27 branches stretching from Worcester in the Midlands to Pool in Cornwall.   When the Bradfords Group acquired the Totem business in 2008 they were aware that the lease only had a short period to run as the owners of the site intended to sell the freehold to a third party.  At the same time the company purchased the freehold of a site on the Holmbush Industrial Estate, St. Austell for a Branch of Bradfords Building Supplies Ltd.  Earlier this year each member of staff at Totem were informed the business would close during 2011 before entering into a period of consultation.  

Peter Hoole – Commercial Director Bradfords Building Supplies Limited says: “These are two individual businesses with different operations; during the consultation process all the members of staff at Totem Timber (St. Austell) Limited were made aware of the positions available at the new branch of Bradfords Building Supplies Limited.  They were each invited and actively encouraged to apply for one of the new posts.  I am delighted to say that 16 members of the team took up this invitation and were successful with only 5 deciding not to transfer.  As we were operating separate companies, we could not and would not have wanted to relocate staff without following this in-depth process.”

St. Austell is the latest South West branch and the third in Cornwall after Liskeard and Pool.  It is also the first branch to unveil the new logo following a total company rebrand.  The new Cornish branch stocks a comprehensive range of building materials including, bricks; blocks; timber; sheet materials; dry lining; doors; decorating; and plumbing products servicing the local building industry and also welcome the retail customer off the street.

Says Peter Hoole:”The opening of the new St. Austell branch is very exciting and going well as it is supported by a strong and motivated team with local knowledge.  The investment Bradfords is making in Cornwall is a further indication that we are going from strength to strength even in a challenging economic climate. As a result we have been able to save jobs and offer a great service to the local building and retail trade. We are also actively seeking ways to integrate into the local community including supporting the “Brickwork” category at St. Austell College’s recent construction awards and taking out sponsorship with the Saints at St. Austell RFC.”  

www.bradfords.co.uk

FREE TRAINING SEMINARS IS JUST THE TICKET FOR LOCAL BUILDERS

Leading construction industry partners successfully launched the first of a series of free training sessions for local small building companies in Exeter on 1 February at Matford Centre on Marsh Barton.  Sponsored by premier builders merchants, Bradfords Building Supplies, it attracted over 50 attendees.  Rolling out across the South West over the next couple of months it delivers a major new green and low carbon training initiative which will prove to be a great business opportunity for the local smaller builder.  The main topics covered are conservation of energy, ventilation, heating, electrics and the new water safety and usage regulations. 'I've been updated' van stickers were allocated to each attendee at the end of the one day workshop.  This means that builders can demonstrate they have been fully briefed on the latest industry changes and have the essential knowledge required to offer ongoing advantages and service to their clients.

(L-R) Mike Kerslake Area Sales Manager, Bradfords Building Supplies, Tom Harper Director of Constructing Excellence SW, Anna Thompson Director of Training LABC, Dave Easterlow General Builder, Yvonne Mazzotta H& S Awareness Officer HSE and Andrew Sutton Associate Director BRE  SW

Bradfords Building Supplies Limited with 27 branches nationwide including Cornwall outlets in Redruth, Liskeard and a new branch in St Austell due to open this spring, has teamed up with key national construction industry organisations  including Local Authority Building Control (LABC), Constructing Excellence South West, BRE, HSE and the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The series of one day training seminars being held across the South West region provides updates for builders on important legislation changes with the unique opportunity to meet experts in each of their individual fields and to share information and concerns with associates in their industry. The Cornish seminar will be held at The Dragon Centre in Bodmin on the 16^th February 2011 with the programme eventually being rolled out nationally.

Mike Kerslake, Area Sales Manager for Bradfords Building Supplies Ltd, Exeter. Says: “We were keen to support the key industry organisations in the region and Exeter was a natural choice as the first venue to launch this new initiative.  We were very pleased with the turn out and are hoping to increase numbers across the region as we roll out the programme; it is then the intention to push this out nationally.  The sticker for the van proved very popular with the builders as it adds value to the great service they already provide and offers peace of mind to their customers."

Director of Constructing Excellence speaking at the first seminar in Exeter.

Tom Harper Director Constructing Excellence says: "85% all construction companies employs 5 and less people therefore it is good for the industry to build knowledge and expertise in the local sector.  By displaying the 'I've been updated' van stickers it shows that small building companies are staying up to date with technical issues, regulations and challenges which gives consumer confidence.”

Further events will be held at Bodmin, Poole and Taunton.  Places are limited and allocated on a “first come” basis.  For more information please visit: www.bradfords.co.uk