NEWS Bradford centre wins Outstanding Employer award The team at a Bradford
Garden Centre are celebrating after winning the Outstanding Employer award at the 15th annual Yorkshire Post Excellence
in Business
awards. Tong Garden Centre’s Head of People and Culture, Neil Barwise-Carr
represented the
team at Tong in a unique online awards ceremony that was hosted by former BBC news presenter, Harry Gration. “The Outstanding Employer
award celebrates employers who value and reward their staff and empowers employees to play a role in moving the company forward, so we’re absolutely delighted to win the award,” said Barwise-Carr. Tong Garden Centre employs 196 local people at its Tong Lane site. Barwise-Carr and his colleague, Becki Smith have spent the last 18 months developing a raft of initiatives including e-learning platforms, enhanced staff benefits and improved
New research reveals 2021’s biggest décor trends around the world
communication and employee engagement to ensure that Tong continues to be a great place to work. The Tong Lane business faced strong competition from fellow Bradford business, Exa Networks; Leeds business, Thrive Law and South Yorkshire companies, One Medical and Mechanical Facilities.
Right: The team at Tong celebrate the good news with Neil Barwise-Carr (fore- ground) and team
What More UK Selected for The Forbes Solicitors Reinvention and Resilience Top 50 Report
What More UK has joined an elite group of businesses, after being included in The Forbes Solicitors Reinvention and Resilience Top 50. The report features British
companies
that have innovated and diversified during the Coronavirus pandemic. Leading
housewares
The home décor trends that are in and out for 2021 have been revealed in new research by Roofing Megastore. The research analysed Google Trends data throughout 2020, for a range of different interior design styles, colours, furniture, home improvements and accessories, to reveal which are set to dominate 2021, and which are on their way out. Cottagecore came out on top, with a huge 1,075% increase in popularity since the beginning of the year. Beloved for its return to simpler, more comforting times and a greater connection to nature, it’s no surprise the homely style of Cottagecore is proving so popular. The wholesome aesthetic is also mirrored by other choices heading up the list, such as dried flowers, macrame, antiqued mirrors, wall panelling and roof lanterns, that let more of the outside world in. Where paint colour is concerned, dark green walls have seen an uplift of 103%, while once sought after dark blue walls seem to be the home décor trend on the biggest decline, with the moody hue seeing a 64% decrease in popularity over the last year. Other trends we’ve grown tired of include metro tiles, industrial lighting, retro styling and statement walls.
manufacturer, What More UK has been chosen as one of the Top 50 after the company experienced strong growth in demand for its bakeware products as a result of increased interest in home cooking during lockdown. What More
responded by running night shifts and taking on extra staff to keep up with demand. Tony Grimshaw OBE, What
More UK Company Director commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to have been included in the Forbes Solicitors Reinvention and Resilience Top 50. We’ve not stopped working during the pandemic to keep up with demand. This latest development is testament to the dedication and determination of our team”
Forbes Solicitors compiled the
research in a bid to showcase how businesses are generating revenue and protecting jobs in the wake of Covid-19.
Oliver Burton, Chief Executive
Officer at Forbes Solicitors, commented: “The next six months
remain unclear for
businesses, but the many companies across the region that are showing huge resilience in the face of Covid-19 should be celebrated. With confidence in their own business, and the region’s economy, we can all be reassured that our entrepreneurial region will work together to weather this storm.”
BGF backs fast-growth ecommerce business
BGF – the UK-based growth capital investor – has invested £8 million into Midlands- headquartered UK Flooring Direct to support its ongoing growth ambitions. UK Flooring Direct is an online
retailer supplying quality own- brand wood, laminate, and vinyl flooring direct to consumers and trade, growing from an early ecommerce pioneer, to now being regarded as a market leader in the home improvement market.
The business was set up by CEO Jason Ashby (pictured) in 2005 with £299 to purchase
6 DIY WEEK NOVEMBER 2020
a website that would form the original platform for the business. UK Flooring Direct went on to generate sales of £750,000 in its first year and now, 15 years later, expects revenue to top £50 million this year, having doubled sales over the last 24 months. On the back of exceptional
growth, UK Flooring Direct expanded
into a roles, second
site in Coventry last month with extended warehouse, office space and has plans to create 50 additional
taking its headcount to more than 200. The business offers a virtual showroom and room
visualisation, contactless deliveries, and free samples, allowing consumers to purchase online with confidence. BGF’s investment will be used to scale the brand and support significant range extensions
in
both existing and new product categories, as well as opening an office in China to support procurement and product development, and ongoing enhancements in customer experience. Keith Pacey is currently Chair at UK Flooring Direct and will continue in this role to support the ongoing growth of the business.
HMG Paints wins UK Business Hero Award
Manchester-based
HMG
Paints has been awarded a UK Business Hero Award from the British Chambers of Commerce. Announced by The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, HMG was honoured with the award after converting alcohol stocks into hand sanitiser, to support locally and nationally, during the pandemic. Based on World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended formulations, thousands of litres of HMG‚Äôs hand sanitiser has been provided to key workers, care providers and charities throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Accepting the award on behalf of HMG Paints Ltd, Managing Director, John Falder, said: “It is a tremendous honour to receive this award and a recognition of the work the HMG Paints staff have done throughout this turbulent year. Throughout HMG
the adaptability and
determination of staff has shone through, especially as we switched from making paint to hand sanitiser virtually overnight and doing so in a safe manner. The company of HMG Paints is the people of HMG, and that really is what we’re all about, it is not just the people who work at
Riverside Works but
the wider HMG family and our community and we’re proud to have been able to assist those in the essential services, frontline workers and charities who have been working tirelessly during the pandemic.”
www.diyweek.net
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