Superior apprentice scoops prestigious Dorset Apprenticeship Award 2017

Susanna Perkins, aged 23, an apprentice in Material Science at Superior, took home the ‘Higher Level Apprentice of the Year’ at this year’s Dorset Apprenticeship Awards.

Superior is a Dorset-based manufacturer of high-integrity o-rings and seals which boasts a company-run apprenticeship Academy, offering apprenticeships to students as young as 16, through to graduates.

The Dorset Apprenticeship Awards celebrate the successes and achievements of apprentices throughout Dorset. The awards are sponsored by Geoffrey Warde MBE, and supported by Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the Dorset and Somerset Training Provider Network.

HomeServe celebrates £68,000 charity fundraising efforts

From Sky dives and car washes to half marathons and bake sales, HomeServe People have been working hard during the past year to raise more than £30,000 for local charitable organisations

HomeServe Membership this year agreed to match fund employees’ fundraising totals taking donation funding to £68,000

Big-hearted staff from home assistance provider HomeServe Membership marked a major fundraising milestone by sharing afternoon tea with a range of charities from across the UK.

Pipes and drains blockages - most common causes

At Lanes for Drains we receive calls every day from home and business owners complaining of blocked pipes and drains. While some are caused by unavoidable situations, such as storms and flooding, many are caused by people disposing of items and unsuitable substances down the sink or toilet.

In this piece, we discuss some of the most common offenders that cause blockages of pipes and drains, which can lead to significant stress and expense for home and business owners.

Fats, oils and grease (FOG)

Million Pound Makeover of HQ with new office expansion gets Pimlico Plumbers on track

Pimlico Plumbers has picked up the pace of its £1 million expansion programme with the £200,000 transformation of a former storage floor to increase capacity at its central London headquarters.

The 2,000 sq ft area, which has been completely refurbished with new windows and flooring will be used as a new office space for Pimlico Plumbers’ sales and estimates team. There has also been work to complete a new reception area, which has doubled in size, at the front of its Lambeth-based headquarters, as well as plans to introduce an additional storey creating a further 10,000 square feet of space, as part of the £1 million expansion project.

Scotland: £300k investment to 'spark the Flame'

Flame Heating Group is gearing up for further growth with the launch of three trade counters in Scotland, following a £300,000 investment.

The fast growing Heating & Plumbing merchant has secured three sites in Scotland: two in Glasgow and another in Edinburgh, as it prepares to expand outside of its traditional North East roots.

Flame expects to create up to 25 jobs with the expansion, including directorship roles, branch management and supervisory positions at the trade counters.

The Gateshead-headquartered company currently operates throughout the North East of England from seven trade counters, having launched with a single branch in 2011.

Flame Heating Group have a 'scorching' year

Flame Heating Group is set for continued growth and expansion after more than doubling its turnover to record another successful year in business.

The North East’s fastest growing Heating & Plumbing merchant recorded sales of £14.5m up from £6.4m in 2016, and has seen its employee count rise to 42 members of staff. Flame Heating Group has now reported year-on-year growth since it was established in 2011 by entrepreneur John Savage, with a single branch in Gateshead.

Flame currently operates seven trade counters across the region, having launched outlets in Ashington and Newcastle over the last 12 months, and has invested a further £200,000 to launch three branches in Scotland this summer.

National expansion for 0800 Repair after npower deal

North East-headquartered 0800 Repair has realised its national expansion plans after securing a landmark contract with energy supplier, npower.

The five year deal will see 0800 Repair, which forms part of Pacifica Group, within its Home Services division, Pacifica Home Services, deliver a range of Energy Company Obligation (ECO) services nationally as sole provider to npower, including boiler installations, as well as loft and cavity wall insulation.

Established as a subsidiary of Pacifica Group in 2010, 0800 Repair previously operated throughout Northern England, but as a result of the npower partnership, this will see its coverage extend across mainland England, Wales and Scotland.

Need to buy a new boiler? Use Heatable

Heatable’s a northern tech startup hoping to revolutionise the boiler buying process, and go to toe-to-toe with the heating industry's giants.

A northern tech startup has launched the UK’s first consumer focussed, price comparison website which is dedicated to the heating industry. It’s aiming to give quality, small to medium size installers an opportunity to promote their own transparent quotes, costs and deals on a platform where the large big budget corporations such as British Gas, are nowhere to be seen.

IRWIN tools says thanks to tradespeople up and down the country

IRWIN Tools, a leading manufacturer in hand tools and power tools accessories, is celebrating the UK and Ireland’s trade professionals with the return of its National Trade Appreciation Day.

For the seventh year, IRWIN Tools is bringing back its National Trade Appreciation Day to salute the country’s real working hands, and inspire the nation to show more gratitude for our skilled workers.

On Friday 15th September, IRWIN Tools is encouraging people all across the UK to join in and celebrate the trade, even if it’s just with a simple ‘thanks’ to a trade professional.

Triton – now installing showers in living rooms

Warwickshire based Triton Showers has invested an initial six figure sum into an update of the brand and development of a national advertising campaign, which is set to air in customers living rooms this autumn. The first shower company in the UK to embark upon activity of this scale, this bold move will see the market leading manufacturer launch a TV commercial on ITV, Channel 4 and Sky.

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