Mitre announces a new three-year partnership with The Football Association (FA), alongside a set of new football designs inspired by football fan culture. The deal will see Mitre continue in its role of official ball supplier across FA competitions including the Emirates FA Cup, the Women’s FA Cup, the Isuzu FA Vase, the Isuzu FA Trophy and the Golden Ball Awards until the end of the 2026/7 season. To celebrate the partnership, Mitre has unveiled a new set of football designs that pay homage to fans of the legendary Mitre Ultimax. The brand has updated the iconic ball with modern, geometric patterns inspired by football fan matchday scarves and flags. The bold red on the men’s ball has been carefully matched to The FA’s colour pallet with blues taken from Mitre. The women’s ball features the Women’s FA Cup brand colours of deep purple, The FA’s blue and mint green and the silver of the trophies. Mitre’s Ultimax Pro football has been built upon decades of knowledge. It uses a unique four-panel thermally bonded construction to increase that sweet spot for a cleaner strike while the Hyperflow debossed grooves improve in-flight dynamics and reduce drag for pinpoint passing. The FA’s head of commercial partnerships, Stephen Hutchison, said: “We really value our relationship with Mitre, so we’re very happy to extend our partnership. Mitre shares the desire for our competitions to maintain the highest standards and their track record as football suppliers, to both the game in England historically and us throughout this period, has been outstanding.” Simon Rowe, vice president of global sports marketing, Pentland Brands, added: “We’re extremely proud of our partnership with The FA. At our core, we are a brand dedicated to our fans and we firmly believe the beautiful game should always start with a beautiful ball. With these new designs, players and fans can expect the same game-changing ball technology coupled with a levelled-up retro design that encapsulates Mitre’s iconic past through the current football scene.”

“Since early 2023, all our white bagasse clamshells, dinnerware and chip trays have been TÜV home compostable certified, and are PFAS-free, but we decided to wait to make this announcement until all in-market trials had been successfully completed.” Family run and owned Celebration Packaging is pleased to be able to confirm that their range of white bagasse takeaway clamshells, dinnerware and chip trays are TÜV Home Compostable certified and are SGS certified as PFAS-free. The man-made “forever chemicals” called PFAS (per – and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of synthetic chemicals used in a wide variety of common applications, from fast food packaging and non-stick cookware to firefighting foams and stain repellant chemicals for clothing and carpets. PFAS do not naturally degrade, and although they are safe to be used in food packaging and cookware, PFAS can eventually contaminate groundwater following their release into the environment Research is ongoing to assess the risk to humans from a buildup of PFAS in the human body. There are concerns that in very badly polluted areas a large amount of PFAS could accumulate in the blood and could cause cancers and infertility*. “We became aware of the PFAS issue some time ago and began to look for viable non-PFAS packaging in early 2022,” says Celebration Packaging Managing Director Nick Burton. “Since then, we have been working hard to ensure that we can deliver PFA-free packaging solutions for the takeaway, delivery and QSR sectors – and we are delighted to announce today that all our white bagasse clamshells, dinnerware and chip trays are now TÜV home compostable and that they are PFAS-free. To ensure that the bagasse fibre clamshells, chip trays and dinnerware are free from these forever chemicals, we arranged for SGS, an internationally renowned testing, inspection and certification company, to test them. The SGS test report shows that no PFAS and similar chemicals such as PFCA’s / PFOS’s / PFOA’s / PFHxS’s were detected. “We believe that these PFAS-free white bagasse products to be the best alternative to foodservice packaging made from expanded polystyrene,” says Nick Burton “They are the perfect replacement for expanded polystyrene plates, trays and clamshells now that the SUP legislation has come into effect." “Bagasse is a great material because it is natural and renewable, using waste fibres from agriculture that would otherwise be burned. The manufacture of bagasse fibre packaging also has a lower carbon footprint than its oil based comparable products*, but to make bagasse water and grease resistant, PFAS were traditionally added; our in-market trials show that this is no longer necessary.” The PFAS problem PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) do not exist in nature and do not naturally degrade, which means they can end up contaminating groundwater for a very long time after their release into the environment. Concerns around PFAS have been in the public domain for quite some time. At the start of 2023, bans in six states of the USA were announced, and in March the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) opened a six-month consultation on the proposed restriction on PFAS with a closing date of 25th September 2023. Delivering PFAS-free bagasse packaging solutions “Ever since we created the EnviroWare® brand, over 16 years ago, it has been our mission to seek out more sustainable packaging solutions,” says Nick Burton. “Since the start of 2023, all our white bagasse clamshells, dinnerware and chip trays have been made with a different food safe, grease and water-resistant chemical, that is free from PFAS and this has allowed us to obtain TÜV Home Compostable certification for these products. We decided to wait to make the announcement until all in-market trials had been successfully completed. I am delighted to say that, as far as we are aware, none of our customers has noticed any difference in performance with the new PFAS-free white bagasse products. “This new PFAS-free white bagasse fibre packaging looks exactly the same as the old range and can be used in a microwave to reheat food with no reduction in performance, but we are sure that operators and consumers will now be delighted to know that it is PFAS-free. “Foodservice operators should check if the packaging they are using is PFAS-free,” concludes Nick Burton. “As a consultative business, we recommend that they talk to us if they have any concerns about the environmental impact of the packaging they use. We have been providing sustainable packaging solutions for many years and in the face of bans and taxes, we can help customers move away from single-use plastics and reduce their carbon footprint.”

Berry Recruitment has appointed a new Regional Director to run its three branches in Southampton and Gosport – an economy with more vacancies than workers. The highly experienced Max Perceau now heads up the Berry Recruitment Southampton offices as well as the branch in Gosport. Having a cluster of branches in the Solent area enables the company to serve its clients more efficiently and also offer more roles to job-hunters. The Berry Recruitment branches offer permanent and temporary jobs in a variety of sectors. These include driving, hospitality, catering, industrial, warehouse, office and professional and construction – as well as roles for events. Max said: “I have worked for Berry Recruitment in Southampton for a number of years and previously worked for the branch that Berry acquired. We have a large team over the three branches that understands the area and the employment market extremely well. You can’t buy experience and we have a great deal here which benefits both candidates and businesses." “The Solent area is proving strong with high employment and businesses growing in a variety of sectors. Workers remain in high demand and unless companies get the staff they need they won’t fulfil their potential – and that is why recruitment companies are so important." “We have many large clients who rely on us to provide their workers and the market really is candidate-driven. The need for staff will grow in the run-up to Christmas with retail, driving, warehouse, catering and hospitality all recruiting. The outlook for the branches and the local economy is positive with businesses really looking to grow and expand.” Max has taken over from Angela Milne, who recently stepped down after a 25-year career in the recruitment industry. After working for a big recruiter in Southampton, Angela set up Green Personnel in 1999. She expanded and soon had branches in Gosport and Eastleigh and a number of large clients in the region. Her success attracted the attention of Berry Recruitment and in October 2012 she sold the business to Berry Recruitment and agreed to stay on for a year – but carried on for another 11 because she loved it so much. Berry Recruitment works from nearly 40 locations in England and Wales and has recently launched the Berry Recruitment jobs app to help people find local work quickly and easily.

Three of independent family brewer and pub company Shepherd Neame’s beers have been recognised at the Great British Food Awards. The Faversham-based brewery has won a Gold award for Spitfire Amber Ale (4.2% ABV), a Silver award for Whitstable Bay Blonde Lager (4.5% ABV), and a Bronze award for Bishops Finger (5.2% ABV). It is the ninth year of the awards, launched to celebrate the very best of British artisanal produce in the food and drink industry. The judging panel comprises some of the most acclaimed chefs, food critics and influencers in the country, with the Beer and Lager category judged by Australian professional rugby league footballer Jacob Liddle. Explaining his decision to award Spitfire Amber Ale a Gold Medal, Jacob said: “Probably the most "British" of the contenders in terms of packaging and potentially style, it is a classic old-style amber ale well executed. Refreshing, and ultimately very enjoyable.” It is the latest in a series of honours for Shepherd Neame’s beers, with other recent wins including Bishops Finger scooping Gold at the British Bottlers’ Institute Awards, International Beer Challenge and Taste of Kent Awards; India Pale Ale and Double Stout receiving Silver at the International Beer Challenge; and Singha, which has been brewed under license at Shepherd Neame for the UK market since 2022, awarded a Diploma of Excellence by the British Bottlers’ Institute. First brewed in 1990 to commemorate the Battle of Britain which was fought in the skies above Kent 50 years earlier, Spitfire Amber Ale is a classic premium Kentish Ale, which carries a Royal Warrant. Jacob added: “The name and imagery are quintessentially British and a nod to the past. The beer is brewed with Kentish hops and the reference "The Bottle of Britain" is entertaining and adds to the British embodiment of the beer.” Shepherd Neame’s Director of Brewing Mike Unsworth said: “We are delighted that three of our brands have received national acclaim in the Great British Food Awards, with glowing praise for our Great British classic Spitfire Amber Ale. We have a fantastic team of brewers at Shepherd Neame and this is well-deserved recognition for their passion, knowledge and skill.” For more information visit: www.shepherdneame.co.uk

Leo Group is a finalist in this year's Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards in the Sustainability category. The award, which recognises the best businesses in Yorkshire, is a calendar highlight of the region and has seen some of the biggest names in business become winners in recent years. This year's awards attracted more than 260 entries, which were judged with great care and attention by a group of highly qualified judges in a two-stage process of individual assessments followed by a judging session last week. The finalists represent the full spectrum and diversity of business and industry, from young entrepreneurs to seasoned leaders in the public and private sectors. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at Headingley Stadium in Leeds on Wednesday 22 November. The Sustainability Award is presented to a company that puts sustainability and the environment at the heart of its business. Danny Sawrij, CEO and owner of Leo Group, headquartered in Halifax West Yorkshire, said: "It is a great honour for Leo Group to be shortlisted for this prestigious award and a fantastic recognition of our continued commitment and hard work in introducing sustainable technologies across all our facilities over the last decade." Yorkshire Post Head of Business and Features Chris Burn said: “A huge amount of work went into picking out the best entries from a very crowded field which was testament to the strength of the region’s business community." "Just being shortlisted for an award is a real achievement so congratulations to all of those who are finalists.”

By taking over the Cargoline location of amm logistics GmbH, the international logistics company Gebrüder Weiss consolidates its position in Upper Franconia, thus strengthening its land transport network in Southern Germany. The 180 employees will be retained, the logistics locations in Schwarzenbach and Selb will be continued. The takeover will take place at the beginning of 2024, subject to approval by the antitrust authorities. Following the recent takeover of the Wedlich logistics company in Bayreuth, Gebrüder Weiss announces the next acquisition in Upper Franconia / Germany: with effect from the beginning of 2024, the logistics provider will take over the Konradsreuth location from the forwarding company Amm, which is going to operate under the Gebrüder Weiss brand in future. The location near Hof will be continued in its current structure as part of the German general cargo cooperations Cargoline and NG.network, and will be connected to the network of the international logistics provider. The family business headquartered in Lauterach, Vorarlberg/Austria, will take over the 180 employees working at the location. The takeover is subject to approval by the antitrust authorities. The activities of the Amm forwarding company in the Nuremberg region will not be affected by this acquisition. With its history of more than 500 years, Gebrüder Weiss is considered the oldest transport company of the world. Apart from land transports, the company’s services also include air and sea freight transports as well as logistics solutions, which Gebrüder Weiss offers at 180 locations all over the world. It is the trade and industry sectors in the region, in particular, that are meant to benefit from this international presence and experience, according to Wolfram Senger-Weiss, Chief Executive Officer of Gebrüder Weiss. With annual revenues of three billion euros, Gebrüder Weiss does not count among the top players of the industry, "but among the medium-sized ones," as Senger-Weiss emphasizes. With this positioning, Gebrüder Weiss intends to present a deliberate alternative to industry giants. "We are closer to our customers and employees, but can still offer a company-owned global network. In Germany, we are pursuing a clear growth strategy. Konradsreuth is going to play a central role within our national and international land transport network." The region of Upper Franconia is an important industry location and an ideal transshipment point for land transports between Eastern Europe and Southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Moreover, the Hof container terminal is located directly along the route from Hamburg through Leipzig down to the Adriatic Sea and can also be used for transporting goods by rail. Werner Dettenthaler, Managing Director Land Transport Germany at Gebrüder Weiss, emphasizes the importance of the location: "We are closing a geographic gap in Bavaria with the Konradsreuth location, offering our customers a wide network of locations from Upper Bavaria to Upper Franconia." The company already holds own branches in Memmingen, Waldkraiburg, Passau, Straubing, Nuremberg and Bayreuth. Strong partnerships The memberships of the Konradsreuth location in the German general cargo cooperations Cargoline and NG.network will be continued under the orange flag. "As shareholder of NG.network, we are glad to contribute another location to the network, thus offering our partners and customers even more stability for their transports," adds Dettenthaler. The cooperations consist of local transport partners with whom Gebrüder Weiss carries out joint land transports throughout Germany. "In Gebrüder Weiss, we have found an owner-managed logistics company with a sustainable corporate culture who intends to invest in the location and its employees in the long run. Under the orange flag, Konradsreuth is going to maintain the high quality in the Cargoline and NG.network general cargo networks," says Ralf Amm, the previous owner of the location. The entrepreneur will now focus on developing the Amm Group in Nuremberg. Alexander Prittig will remain Branch Manager in Konradsreuth under the roof of Gebrüder Weiss. For the experienced logistics expert, this integration holds great potential: "It’s good news for the Upper Franconian business community. Our local know-how will be complemented by an established international network. In this way, apart from national and international land transports, we can also offer air and sea freight as well as other digital services to our customers in future. And for our employees, it means excellent career opportunities in a globally active logistics company."

Top 100 law firm Moore Barlow has played a vital role in the acquisition of soft drinks brand Rio to A.G. BARR, a British soft drinks manufacturer based in Cumbernauld, makers of Irn-Bru, from Hall & Woodhouse Limited for a total cash consideration of £12.3m. The tropical fruit brand Rio has been marketed, sold and distributed on an exclusive licence basis by A.G. BARR’s recently acquired Boost Drinks division since 2021. The acquisition is entirely funded from A.G. BARR’s strong net cash position. Moore Barlow advised the sellers, Hall & Woodhouse Limited, a British regional brewer and pub operator founded in 1777 by Charles Hall in Blandford Forum, Dorset, England. The company operates over 180 public houses and inns in the south of England and brews under the name Badger. Rio, originally called Arriva, was created by Hall & Woodhouse in 1980. Paul Barnett, Group Financial Director at Hall & Woodhouse, said: “We’re very grateful to the Moore Barlow team for all the hard work in getting this over the line. We’ve always found working with Moore Barlow really straightforward, and they have undoubtedly added value at every stage of this deal.” Roger Bailey, partner at Moore Barlow, said: “We’re delighted that we have been a key part in making this deal happen as Hall & Woodhouse’s trusted adviser." “Rio is a brand which everyone will have seen on the shelves - so it’s great to be involved in a deal with such a household name. It’s a great fit for A.G. BARR’s brand portfolio and we wish Rio all the best for the future under A.G. BARR’s stewardship.”

St Austell Brewery’s pubs have been awarded BII Sustainability Champion status. The award makes the company one of the first to have to have its whole managed estate, comprising of 43 pubs across the South West, recognised for commitment to sustainability. St Austell Brewery’s head office also received the company edition of the award. The BII Sustainability Champion Award is awarded to those in the hospitality sector who have gone above and beyond to demonstrate their commitment to running a sustainable business. Elle Sambrook, St Austell’s head of sustainability, said: “We’re really proud to have been recognised for our commitment to the environment. Our teams have fully embraced our need to be as sustainable as possible, whilst navigating some really challenging times recently with the energy and cost of living crises." “We will continue to invest in resilient and regenerative practices that generate positive impacts, in both our physical environment and communities.” St Austell has a heavy focus on cutting food waste across the entire business, with a goal of reducing this by 20% by 2025. Just one of the ways it’s focusing on sustainability is through its ground-breaking partnership with Olio, a food sharing app. Together they redistribute any surplus pub meals to the community rather than going to compost, helping to tackle food insecurity while also reducing St Austell’s wastage. It is the first pub company to partner with Olio. The company recognises the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for energy and is proud to hold zero waste to landfill status across its managed pub estate. St Austell has long been an advocate for zero use of single-use plastics. It has also invested in 26 electric vehicle charging points, at its head offices and select pubs, with a view to rolling out across its full pub estate by 2028 and expanding the South West’s charging network. St Austell Brewery is an official partner of the Marine Conservation Society and regularly hosts litter picks nearby its pubs, for internal teams and local communities. During the most recent beach clean, at the Great Western Beach in Newquay, over 2,000 pieces of plastic and polystyrene were collected. St Austell Brewery’s Charitable Trust has donated over £1 million to South West charities and good causes in its local communities, since it was established in 2003.

Across the UK it is often the brewery which firmly places its pubs at the heart of community. And now iconic 174 year old family business, Joseph Holt, has added to its estate – with the purchase of Thornberries in Alkrington. A pub which according to Richard Kershaw, Chief Executive of Joseph Holt and great great grandson of its eponymous founder, already has all the hallmarks of a Joseph Holt venue. “Thornberries is already very much a community pub and is so much more than just a place to have a drink or something to eat. It's a place for charity events, social groups and other community gatherings – all the things which mark out our pubs as places which are central to the local areas they serve." “Admittedly Thornberries looks a little tired which is why we have plans for its redevelopment. The potential however is enormous. As such we are planning a full refurbishment inside and out, optimising existing unused space as well as creating a stunning beer garden. But at the centre of this will be a pub which serves award winning ales, delicious food and which is a key part of the community.” Thornberries has been a popular fixture in the area for many years and thanks to a seamless sale, has remained open after the takeover by Joseph Holt, an independent business which has been in the same family for six generations. The brewery, which will be celebrating its 175th anniversary next year, is now making plans to redevelop Thornberries - but won`t be making any changes before talking to customers and finding out what they want from the pub. In the meantime, it will remain open with business as usual. The purchase and subsequent refurbishment of Thornberries will cost close to one and a half million pounds. It's envisaged that the pub will relaunch around February of next year following refurbishment in January to mark the brewery's 175th anniversary. Joseph Holt , which was founded in 1849, owns 127 pubs across the North West. However, as Richard Kershaw explains, the company is constantly looking for places where there is a `gap` in the geography of its estate. “Although we already own pubs in Blackley and Middleton, we didn`t have one in Alkrington. Joseph Holt is a family business and as such as are so aware of our history and of the role we play in the communities where we operate which is why location is so important to us. For example, to mark our 175th anniversary we have launched an appeal to raise £500,000 for the Christie Hospital and the Radium Institute. Throughout the year we are always arranging initiatives to help the areas around our pubs - recent projects include a campaign to put defibrillators in our pubs, a school uniform collection for those struggling with the cost, and warm spaces with free food during the cold winter months." “We plan to carry on this tradition at Thornberries and that`s why we aren't rushing into any changes before talking to customers. We are delighted that this lovely pub is now a part of the Joseph Holt family.”

Luke Consiglio of The Pantry has been named the UK’s Most Ambitious Business Leader as part of The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders programme for 2023. Created by trusted investment partner LDC - part of Lloyds Banking Group, and supported by The Times, The LDC Top 50 champions the business leaders who are pushing for growth and building successful medium-sized businesses. This year’s nominations were of an exceptionally high calibre and the competition was fierce, showcasing the drive and determination that unites business leaders across the UK. The leaders featured in The LDC Top 50 are growing their businesses at home and overseas, making a positive contribution to society and driving progress against their sustainability goals. They hail from every corner of the UK and span every sector of the economy. Together, they employ more than 6,700 people and turn over more than £1.2bn. The awards, presented last night at a celebratory event at BAFTA in London, were given out after an intense judging session, during which this year’s judging panel of Carl Castledine, CEO of Away Resorts; Janette Martin, CEO of Talos360; John Garner, Managing Partner of LDC; and Kate Bassett and Bex Burn-Callander, editors of The LDC Top 50 2023 selected the final award winners. The Pantry began life as a humble sandwich shop on Hayes High Street in 2006 –with ambitions to become something far greater. Now as a Contract Caterer with nearly 150 clients across the education sector, The Pantry are one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry, thanks to a unwavering commitment to staff support, client care and exceptional fresh food! The judges commended Luke for the strength of his mission and values, his dedication to nurturing his team and the remarkable transformation of a small investment into an impressive business. Since buying a small sandwich shop, he has grown The Pantry into a £17m turnover contract caterer that employs 500 people and supplies some of the UK’s biggest names with corporate buffets and staff lunches as well as providing over 15,000 daily meals for schools. This commercial success combined with Luke’s commitment to do good by helping children eat well and understand the power of healthy foods, set him apart. Luke Consiglio, Founder of The Pantry, said: “I’ve always been ambitious for The Pantry, but being named ‘Most Ambitious Business Leader’ was a very pleasant surprise, even for me!" "It’s recognition not only for myself, but for the whole Pantry Family, as they’re the ones driving our business forward every day." "And the journey doesn’t end here. We’re hungrier than ever to achieve our ultimate ambition – to become the biggest company in our industry and feed more children every day than anyone else!” John Garner, Managing Partner at LDC, said: “We started The LDC Top 50 six years ago to champion the remarkable success stories of medium-sized businesses, the unsung heroes of the British economy. In business, ambition is the driving force that propels innovation, growth and success, and the winners, as well as all of those recognised in The Top 50 and Ones to Watch should be proud of their achievements." “We’re pleased to announce Luke Consiglio of The Pantry as our Most Ambitious Business Leader for 2023. Luke is not only growing his business and investing in his team, but also helping school children across the country to understand the power of healthy eating. His goal is to be the biggest in his industry, helping to feed more children than any other company – that is an ambition worth celebrating and I’d like to congratulate him on his achievements.”

Manchester based HMG Paints, had two reasons to celebrate at the recent British Coatings Federation (BCF) Awards. The family business took home two of the top awards on the night; Marketing Campaign of the Year and the Excellence in Training Award. "As a family-owned business, we take immense pride in receiving these awards, particularly when considering the formidable competition among the industry's major corporate players," noted Steve Crossman, Chief Operating Officer of HMG Paints. "This double honour is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our entire team at Riverside Works." The first award collected by the team was the Marketing Campaign of the Year award for the company’s industry first AI-Generated Colour Range. The AI Colour Range was launched back in March and utilised ChatGPT to create a range of colours and theme for the range. The companies use of Artificial Intelligence didn’t stop there as they used AI Image Generators to create a number of the visual assets to support the campaign which was then supported by organic traditional marketing methods. The judges recognised the campaign for showcasing cutting edge technologies in a traditional industry, along with a unique selling proposition that could potentially revolutionise how paint collections are created and marketed in the future. “We’ve only got a small team and limited budget so we have to be truly innovative on how we utilise our resources to stand out in a competitive marketplace. To pull this whole campaign together within two days between the two of us in the office and launch it just shows how companies can utilise AI to disrupt marketing and traditional industry activities,” commented Paddy Dyson, HMG Marketing Manager. “We’ve worked with brands and other people in the industry who’ve spent months working on such projects and not seen anywhere close to the results we’ve achieved. We’re very lucky to have a supportive board who allow us to innovate and try out new ideas.” The second award of the night came for the companies Training Scheme. Named the ‘Company of HMG Training Programme’ the initiative utilises the generations of knowledge within the business to create tailored programmes. Staff from across the business engage in training that is tailored for their role and has been developed by senior leaders within the business. HMG take a continuous improvement approach to training and development and the implementation of new modules is a continuous cycle within the business to ensure they keep up with the latest technological trends and industry developments. The judges of the awards commented that the entry stood out due to the company’s focus on using skilled staff to identify existing training gaps is an innovative approach that is often missed by many companies. Then recognised the collaborative cross company approach to generate new training videos which has seen significant business benefits. “To be recognised for our investment in training is a great honour and is something everyone in the entire business plays a part in and buys in to” added Neil Dawes who collected the award on the evening for HMG. “Since 1930 training and developing our own staff has been a core value of the business and putting our training programme together has been a collective effort from all areas of the business.” The awards in their 13th year, saw over 200 attendees to celebrate the best of the British coatings industry. HMG Paints, founded in 1930, are now the UK’s leading independent paint manufacturer, who’s paints and coatings are supplied to a number of industries including Industrial, Commercial Vehicle, Decorative, Agricultural and Defence amongst others. The awards cap off a fantastic year which has seen them also crowned the Family Business United Manufacturing Business of the Year award and be finalists in the BusinessDesk North West Business of the Year awards. You can find out more about HMG Paints at www.hmgpaint.com .

National maintenance, compliance and decarbonisation contractor Novus Property Solutions continues to celebrate its tenth anniversary with a focus on charity, having raised over £30,000 so far this year. Novus, which has offices across Great Britain, launched as its own entity a decade ago but has a rich 125-year history and is currently led by fourth and fifth generation family members. The contractor has a longstanding reputation for putting people first, from its clients and colleagues to end users and the wider communities in which it works. This people-centric ethos is behind the contractor’s commitment to giving back as a significant aspect of its anniversary celebrations, with Novus encouraging colleagues from across the business to participate in fundraising challenges including sponsored walks and dress-down days. These efforts have thus far raised more than £30,000 for a variety of charities including Cancer Research UK, the Welsh Air Ambulance, and the Lighthouse Club, a charity supporting construction workers and their families. As well its fundraising efforts, Novus has so far made 33 non-financial charitable donations, hosted 35 community events, and provided a series of educational support programmes such as school talks, careers fairs and mock exam support. The contractor has also awarded £3,000 to deserving community projects across Great Britain this year as part of its flagship social value initiative, Build Back Better. Launched in 2021, Build Back Better sees Novus donate £1,000 of materials, time or labour to a nominated cause relating to one of its key focus areas of poverty, wellbeing, or the environment. Recipients this year include Active Education in Sheffield, Hanley Town Football Club’s Men Unite, and the Plant a Tree Today (PATT) Foundation. Commenting, Kevin Rhone, Head of Social Value and Client/Customer Care at Novus Property Solutions, said: “As a family-owned business, our people-centric ethos is at the heart of everything we do, from providing excellent customer service to supporting our colleagues and giving back to local communities. A focus on charity is therefore a natural way for Novus to celebrate its tenth anniversary, and we’re grateful to our colleagues and clients for supporting us in achieving this goal." “We’re incredibly proud to have raised such a significant amount for highly deserving charities across Great Britain, as well as a series of charitable donations and programmes, and of course the impact of our Build Back Better campaign. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate a decade of Novus, and we remain committed to giving back to our communities the rest of this year and beyond.”