HLM Architects Plymouth announce promotion

Sian of HLM Architects 

Sian was promoted from Architect to Associate on 1st October 2013, after being with HLM for 7 years and relocating from the London office to Plymouth in August 2012. Since relocating to Plymouth, Sian has expanded her experience in education, healthcare, defence, residential and commercial projects. She is an active member of South West Women in Construction and attends various regional Building Forum events.

Sian supports Ajay with the running of the office and is passionate about promoting a Œfamily ethos¹ within HLM and the industry. She helps develop the next generation by giving talks at a local school about work experience, offering to help with mock interviews at Plymouth University as she did at Portsmouth University before relocating, and mentoring architectural students. She is undertaking the CMI Level 3 Coaching and Mentoring course.

Now, as an Associate for HLM,  her ambitions for the future is to help Ajay develop and grow the Plymouth office, building a creative, efficient and quality team; and gaining recognition for quality architecture in the region.

‘Going For Gold At Chelsea’ – Top Garden Designer to Deliver Prestigious Lecture

The Garden House at Buckland Monachorum is widely regarded as one of the country’s finest gardens, and is especially renowned for its exciting and innovative garden design and planting.  Therefore, it seems appropriate that the country’s leading contemporary garden designer is to deliver the 2013 Fortescue Garden House Lecture.

Each year the Fortescue Garden Trust, the charity which owns The Garden House, invites an individual recognised as having made a major contribution to horticulture or gardening in Britain, to deliver this prestigious annual lecture.  The Trust is honoured and delighted that Cleve West, who has achieved the rare distinction of winning back-to-back ‘Best in Show Awards’ at the RHS Chelsea Show, has accepted this year’s invitation.

Cleve has won seven gold medals, but winning Gold at Chelsea as well as ‘Best in Show’ for his Daily Telegraph Garden in 2011 and then repeating these accolades  in 2012 with his stunning Brewin Dolphin Garden, has won him the admiration of all.  

The 53-year-old, who spent his 20s as an athlete hoping to compete in the long jump at the Olympics, said that he was thrilled to win at Chelsea in the year the Games came to London.  His 2012 garden, celebrating the 250^th anniversary of Brewin Dolphin, incorporated stone sentinels topped by flamed shaped finials holding up intricate iron gates that led onto an enormous 300-year-old mill head mounted on a wall.  Although Cleve is top of his profession, he claims his favourite gardening is in his London allotment and recently wrote a book on allotments – demonstrating his practical application to gardening as well as his more obvious artistic ability.

The Fortescue Garden House Lecture series is also generously sponsored by the Plymouth Office of Brewin Dolphin, and Cleve’s illustrated talk will focus on his national design work as well as provide an insight into the preparation and completion of his 2012 award-winning Brewin Dolphin Garden.   The lecture takes place at the Plymouth Postgraduate Medical Centre, Derriford at 7.00 pm on Friday 22 March.  Some tickets are still available – to book, please telephone The Garden House: 01822 854769.

www.thegardenhouse.org.uk

Office solutions company celebrates 10 years as official service & repair centre for Brother UK

Office stationery and equipment supplier Cartridge Line with branches at Exmouth, Exeter and Plymouth celebrates 10 years in business by expanding its services as official approved service and repair centre for Brother UK in the South West.

Owned and operated by local businessman Craig Collins, Cartridge Line was awarded the status after meeting certain criteria set by Brother, including location and appropriate experience. The company’s employees are fully trained by Brother Engineers to carry out repairs in order to meet the necessary specifications to become an approved repair centre. As part of the approved status, the company will be given access to updated service materials with a full back up support system by experienced Brother staff.

Cartridge Line supplies a full range of office solutions including printer consumables; stationery, office supplies; banners/ posters and in-house computer sales and repairs. As a result of expanding the services it provides, the company has grown by 26% in the last 12 months and today has a turnover in excess £1m with ten staff.

Craig Collins Managing Director from Cartridge Line says “Brother UK approached us direct and we are delighted and privileged to be chosen as their official repair centre for the region. To have public recognition of being affiliated with such a high profile and reputable company is a great way to celebrate ten years in business. Each member of the team has local knowledge and a feel of what our customers want. As an approved repair partner for this blue chip company, we will now be able to target resellers in the South West and work with them to carry out warranty repairs on a more local basis. In addition, it will enable us to offer a more complete service to our loyal customers.”

Rob Bridges, Head of Reseller Sales, Brother UK says “Adding Cartridge Line to our list of approved repair centres means that we can continue to offer our customers a better choice in their service process – ensuring that the work is done by trained personnel. This will help to increase customer satisfaction levels in the South West region, as well as the overall customer experience with Brother.”

For further information please visit www.cartridgeline.co.uk

EUROPE’S LEADING CAR & VAN HIRE COMPANY EXPANDS TO NEW BRANCH

Award winning Europcar, UK’s leading Car & Van Hire Company which has its South West Head Quarters based at Exeter expands to new premises in Plymouth. The occasion is marked with an official ribbon cutting ceremony by newly appointed Lord of Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Peter Bradshaw on 30th June 2011.

Jim Howard licensee of Europcar Group UK, Lady Mayoress of Plymouth, Lord Mayor of Plymouth and James Eland Operations Director

Councillor Peter Brookshaw, The Lord Mayor says: The Lady Mayoress and I are delighted that the Europcar franchise are moving to new premises in Millbay. Their facilities will be well received by other businesses in the area and by the public in Plymouth. We wish them every success with their new venture and welcome any new or expanding business that brings employment into the City. We very much look forward to joining them for their opening ceremony."

Entrepreneur and local businessman, Jim Howard operates the official Europcar franchise at outlets based in Exeter, Plymouth and Taunton through his independent company Vehicle Save (UK) Limited. In addition to the Europcar franchise, Jim also operates Vehicle Save Contract Hire & Leasing Limited an independent business which complements the daily hire operation and has its head quarters based at Marsh Barton.

Jim Howard licensee of Europcar Group UK Limited says: “We are very excited about our move to larger premises in Plymouth which is situated in close proximity to the centre of town with more facilities and the opportunity for growth. This means we will be able to offer an even better service to our customers across the South West and nationwide. In addition it adds value to our contract hire and leasing service located in Exeter. We are able to give a unique service in the region as we are able to meet customer’s needs from a one day hire through to a five year contract. As the leading car and van hire company nationwide, Europcar has established an excellent reputation and position in the market place and this latest move is as a result of our mid – long term expansion strategy.”

Formerly National Car Rentals before they merged with Europcar two years’ ago, the new larger premises have the benefit of being located close to the town centre with a dedicated secure car park accommodating 30 – 40 vehicles and additional parking for staff and facilities for the disabled.