BUSINESS REPORT FRUIT THAT’S FIT FOR A QUEEN


Tropical fresh fruit producer Blue Skies Holdings has received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise, the highest accolade for business success, for the third time. The firm, which has its head office in Pitsford,


Northamptonshire, received the award in the sustainable development category, in recognition of the company’s contribution to development by producing fresh-cut fruit and freshly squeezed juice, prepared within the country of origin. In particular it acknowledges how the Blue Skies Joint


Effort Enterprise model has enabled the company to turn itself around following the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010, which grounded flights over Europe and prevented the business from importing its products for over five days. Blue Skies received the Queen’s Award in 2008 and 2011 and


‘IT IS A HUGE HONOUR TO


RECEIVE THIS PRESTIGIOUS


AWARD FOR THE THIRD TIME’


continues to strengthen its commitment to sustainable development. Its aim of producing the finished product in the country of origin has


resulted in a number of benefits including employment for over 3,500 people and investment in local communities through the Blue Skies Foundation. Founder and chairman Anthony Pile said: “It is a huge honour to receive


this prestigious award for the third time. Since the business was founded in 1998 we have continued to show how our Joint Effort Enterprise model can work to bring people together to enable the business to grow and tackle whatever challenge is thrown at us.”


AVON TO RAISE CONFIDENCE OF WOMEN


Cosmetics giant Avon Cosmetics has launched its #UltimateYou initiative to raise the confidence of women in the UK. It follows a survey commissioned by Avon, which


has its headquarters in Northampton, of over 2,000 women. It showed that less than a quarter of women (23%) derive confidence from their jobs. The study also revealed that only 7% of women


felt that the media had any sort of positive effect on how they felt about themselves. It also found that overall, one in three women did not feel confident. Avon launched the #UltimateYou campaign –


which has been supported by presenter Lorraine Kelly – because the firm wants to empower women to feel confident in all that they do, and in turn to share that feeling with each other.


#UltimateYou supporter: Lorraine Kelly The company would like to encourage as many


women as possible to take part in the campaign, by posting a compliment and addressing it to another person using the #UltimateYou hashtag on their own social media channels.


BUSINESS EXHIBITION A SUCCESS


Northamptonshire Chamber’s first Business Exhibition of 2015 attracted a high turnout from the business community. The event at Kettering Park Hotel


and Spa, held in March, saw all 30 stands and places at the networking lunch booked up in the run-up to the exhibition. Visitors used the event to


network, raise their profile, attend seminars to increase their business knowledge and learn about the array of products and services county firms have to offer. Paul Griffiths, the Chamber’s


chief executive, said: “We had a fantastic turnout and the response


8 inbusiness JUNE/JULY 2015


was very positive. There was a real buzz throughout the day. “I would also like to say a huge


thank you to everyone who supported the event from the exhibitors and speakers to the staff at Kettering Park Hotel and Spa.”


For more details, visit the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership page: www.semlep.com/european- funding-2014-2020/


EURO FUNDING WILL AID GROWTH


Businesses and communities across the South East Midlands can now bid for a slice of a £79 million of European funding for jobs and growth. The money comes from three


separate funds – the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) – all aiming to increase social and economic prosperity and to create a more competitive, prosperous and inclusive economy.


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