Monthly Archives: October 2024

Awards, Highlands, Hospitality, News, Sustainability

Highland Hotel Wins World Sustainable Energy Prize

-Inverness business flies flag at global event-

A Scottish Highland hotel has become the only UK business to land a major global Green award for a pioneering £8m Energy Centre and for ‘setting a benchmark’ for sustainability.

The family-run Glen Mhor Hotel in Inverness was recognised at a special ceremony in the rainforest of Belize, marking the inaugural World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards.

The Hotel, also incorporating Uile-bheist Distillery and Brewery, was given a special commendation award in the World’s Leading Sustainable Energy Efficiency Initiative category.

Glen Mhor co-owner and Sustainability Director, Victoria Erasmus, with the award for World’s Leading Sustainable Energy Efficiency Initiative

It had also been shortlisted in the World Leading Sustainable Water and Waste Innovation and World’s Leading Sustainable Employer categories.

Judges said the accolade recognised how the Glen Mhor was leading the path towards a net positive future for the travel industry by embedding sustainability across all of its operations.

As well as developing the first Water Source Energy solution Centre of its kind in 2021, the business has developed an ambitious Climate Action Plan and embedded ground-breaking Fair Work and inclusion policies.

Co-Owner and Sustainability Director, Victoria Erasmus, attended the ceremony to collect the prize, explaining Glen Mhor’s operating vision to fellow attendees in San Ignacio.

Winners were given guided insights into the Inca Trails and Mayan culture whilst learning how the travel and hospitality sectors were adapting towards ambitious climate change mitigation targets.

“The judges and hosts were impressed by how sustainability was embedded in what we do, across the business, and the sheer scale of that; how committed we had been in transforming the business around sustainability, Fair Work and inclusion,” Victoria said.

“It was a real honour to represent a family business amongst some of the leading names in hospitality in the world, as well as representing Scotland and the UK.

“Personally, it was an amazing learning experience, from a CPD perspective, and there is so much to bring back from it.

“Some of the initiatives going on around the world are truly remarkable and I am even more determined, now, to use that experience to adapt our own climate action plan and to take that to the next level.”

Glen Mhor and Uile-bheist: The Glen Mhor Hotel, encompassing Uile-bheist Distillery and Brewery, is powered by a pioneering £8m Sustainable Energy Centre (Image credit: Heartland Media/PR)

The 126-room hotel, situated on the banks of the River Ness, removes 250 tonnes of carbon per year through its on-site water source Sustainability Centre, which also powers the production of single highland malt whisky and craft beer.

The adoption of Solar PV solutions further reduces reliance on fossil fuels, with the business aiming to be completely gas-free by the end of this year.

Justin Cooke, Executive Vice-President, World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, said: “Congratulations to Glen Mhor Hotel and Uile Distillery and Brewery for its ‘World’s Leading Sustainable Energy Efficiency Initiative 2024’ Special Commendation.

“This remarkable achievement reflects how the company is setting the benchmark in sustainable practices and leading the way in creating a net positive future for the travel industry. The commitment and vision of the entire team serve as an inspiration to us all.”

The Glen Mhor’s 146 employees now hold individual Green job titles, reflecting their commitment to fair work and inclusion, which was recognised at the global event.

The company has also introduced sensory recruitment practices and programmes to promote positive mental well-being across the business in recent years.

Business, Business Expansion, Business News, Construction, Energy

Consumer Energy Solutions invests £500k in Treorchy training centre

A LEADING consumer energy efficiency company has opened a brand new state-of-the-art, immersive training facility in Treorchy at a cost of £0.5 million, paving the way for thousands of recruits to learn the skills needed to enter, and progress within, the energy trade.

Swansea-based Consumer Energy Solutions (CES) supports customers in reducing their carbon footprint and reducing their energy bills and has already successfully improved the energy efficiency of over 8,000 homes across the UK.

The new insulation department training facility in the heart of the Welsh Valleys has been purpose-built to allow for comprehensive training in various insulation techniques and complements CES’s heating systems training facility in Cardiff which it acquired last year.

The Treorchy training facility, on the Abergorki Industrial Estate, encompasses a 5,000 ft2 main area, 7,500 ft2 first floor storage plus three classrooms. The facility is also used to train CES installers on the rules, regulations, and techniques involved in installing ventilation equipment, which is necessary before any insulation work begins.

Ben Strinati, Insulation Director at Consumer Energy Solutions, said: “The way the business was growing, and the need to recruit more and more insulation teams, combined with a lack of suitable training infrastructure present in the industry, we took the initiative to construct our own custom-built facility and invested £500,000 in the Treorchy site. We take great pride in our advanced training facilities which have been purposefully designed to educate both new recruits and experienced team members in the CES way. Being able to train individuals in all the necessary trades, means we can execute an installation from start to finish, making it a quick and smooth experience for our customers.”

CES has its headquarters in Swansea with permanent bases in south Wales, north Wales, west Wales and Exeter. It currently operates 42 teams of insulation installers, each of which includes carpenters, dry-liners, plasterers and multi-skilled installers, alongside eight dedicated loft insulation teams. The company is committed to providing comprehensive training for all staff and arranges regular manufacturer training programmes and seminars to ensure installers are up to date with frequent regulation reviews and advancement in technology. Basic training starts with an NVQ qualification in construction and building treatments with further learning based on the energy efficiency measure and the method of installation. Additionally, all operatives receive annual training in the latest health and safety regulation, promoting a safe installation for themselves and customers.

The Treorchy facility is part of CES’s ambitious expansion plans which include recruiting 15 insulation teams every month. Finished to such a high standard, the unit has attracted interest from external companies looking to utilise the centre for in-house development purposes.

Ben continued: “We have a highly experienced recruitment team which is supporting our growth vision by finding the right professionals for the roles available, whether in-house or in the field. Our training facilities then come into play, providing crucial training and coaching opportunities for employees.

“At a time when fuel poverty and the climate crisis is such a high priority, we are determined to do all we can to help people reduce their energy usage and save money on their bills and the best way we can do this is by building and training the next generation of energy efficiency professionals to reach more people.”

For further information, visit www.consumerenergysolutions.co.uk.

News

Organic farm estate to hold six-day Halloween celebration with 3,000 pumpkins ready for picking

RHUG ESTATE has a frightening feast of activities and attractions in store this Halloween.

The sprawling 12,500-acre organic farm estate, near Corwen in North Wales, has up to 3,000 pumpkins ready for picking.

And following the success of last year’s spooky celebrations, the Estate will hold a six-day programme of events, beginning on Saturday October 26.

Rhug’s first-ever Pumpkin Festival is expected to attract thousands of people from across North Wales and beyond, with a series of special guests including the team from Animal Encounters and their Face Your Fears workshops, complete with creepy crawlies, reptiles and spiders.

Rhug Estate owner Lord Newborough said: “Last year’s Halloween celebrations were so popular we decided to do more for our loyal customers and visitors this autumn.

“The organic pumpkin picking was a huge hit with families, so we have introduced further activities across the Estate, to make it an even more fun – and frightening! – experience.”

There will also be foraged fun sessions courtesy of Living Wild’s Witches and Webs, ghastly games, a frightening twist on the farm walk, and warm treats – including monstrous marshmallows and horrific hot chocolate – to enjoy from the award-winning shop, café, On the Hoof takeaway, and drive thru.

You can even craft your own witch’s broom, magic wand, spider’s web or ghosts and ghouls.

Estate Farm Manager Emyr Owen, from Llanrwst, added: “There will be lots to keep children and parents entertained, so we look forward to welcoming people for a spooky and unforgettable half-term at Rhug.”

On arrival there will be signs around the car park and farm shop with directions to the pumpkin patch and attractions. There will also be an activities sheet and map available from the farm shop.

Booking is only required for the workshops, not the pumpkin picking.

For more information, visit: Pumpkin Festival | Rhug Estate.

The team at Rhug Estate would love to see your pictures on Instagram so be sure to add the hashtags #rhugpumpkins and #pwmpenrhug to your posts so they can like and share! 

For the latest news and information from Rhug Estate, including a programme of events for the rest of 2024, visit the website www.rhug.co.uk and follow @rhugestate on social media.

Food & Drink, Hospitality, News

Cracking Christmas on the Cards for Family Owned Brewery

‘Twas the countdown to Christmas and all through the public house, Hydes’ chefs were stirring, keen to serve hungry mouths…

Salford-based brewer and pub retailer Hydes is gearing up for a bumper festive period with bookings for 2024 already at maximum capacity for Christmas day dinners.

The family-owned independent business reports that Christmas Day bookings for pubs across its estate were already at 75% capacity by July.

Last year, over 1,000 6-7kg turkey crowns were served to visitors to Hydes premium dining pubs between 22 November – 31 December, equating to over 12,500 Christmas dinners and resulting in Hydes’ most successful Christmas on record. In addition to turkey, 3,600 braised feather blades of beef portions were also sold to guests.

Over the festive period last year, Hydes chefs served up 10.6 tonnes of potatoes, 3.5 tonnes of carrots, 3.2 tonnes of swede and 1.6 tonnes of sprouts.

Hydes’ catering development manager David Oldham predicts that advance sales of turkey Christmas dinners are already significantly up on last year, resulting in a 10% uplift in sales for 2024.

In accounts for the year to 31 March 2024, Hydes reported turnover of £39.3m, up £5m from the previous year.

David commented: “We start planning our festive menus in January so they can be printed and, in the pubs for the start of July, and it’s around this time I begin conversations with all my suppliers. We needed to be even quicker off the mark this year as one of the biggest suppliers of turkey in the UK unexpectedly decided not to produce any turkeys this year, choosing instead to concentrate on supplying chickens. This is bound to have an impact on turkey supplies for the hospitality trade but thankfully visitors to our dining pubs will not miss out on their turkey dinners.

“By July of this year festive menu bookings were already up 15% on the same time last year so 2024 looks like being a record year for us. Some customers even re-book for the following year on Christmas Day itself but typically most of our pubs are full by September. This year is no exception.”

With 27 years in the hospitality sector as a chef and more than a decade at Hydes, David works very closely with all Hydes chefs to ensure the kitchens are fully equipped and prepared for the busiest time of the year, as well as liaising closely with trusted suppliers to guarantee plentiful supply stocks.

Christmas is the busiest trading period of the year for Hydes and the festive menu normally runs from 22 November until the end of the year. Every October, the business hosts a festive workshop with all managers where they get to sample the Christmas meals and learn about the new festive drinks added to the menu.

Adam Mayers, managing director of Hydes, added: “Christmas dinner is one of the most important meals of the year. Training and communication across the business is key to guarantee that customers are well looked after. We always go above and beyond to guarantee guests get the best Christmas meal we can deliver.

“This Christmas looks like being our busiest ever and we are looking forward to welcoming lots of families who enjoy getting together to eat in one of our pubs, with the real fires burning and drinks flowing. And nobody has to wash up!”

Formed in 1863, Hydes’ Brewery is a pub retailer and brewer headquartered in Media City, Salford. It supplies beers to wholesalers, pub companies and other brewers throughout the UK and has a pub retailing estate of nearly 50 pubs across the North West of England and North Wales comprising 33 managed and 12 tenanted pubs,  including a wide selection of premium dining destination outlets and traditional community pubs.

To find out more about Hydes Brewery visit https://www.hydesbrewery.com/

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Image: David Oldham

Appointments, Cardiff, Marketing & PR, News

Front Door Communications appoints Lisa Blake as Head of PR

Front Door Communications has appointed former national journalist Lisa Blake as its new Head of PR.

Lisa, originally from Aberdare, joins the Cardiff comms agency in Cardiff with a wealth of experience, including more than 15 years’ working for celebrity magazines such as OK! and new and, more recently, as a PR Manager for ITV Daytime.

 

She joins the eight-strong team at Front Door, whose clients include Go.Compare, current Strictly Come Dancing star Wynne Evans, Christmas at Bute Park, Green Man, Cleverchefs Group and Bouygues UK.

Lisa’s journalism background means she’s interviewed hundreds of celebrities, including Kylie Minogue, Tom Jones and Peter Andre and her all-time favourite is Robbie Williams.

She’s also enjoyed freelance stints in her career where she’s placed exclusive news stories in the Sunday Mirror, Sun on Sunday, Mail on Sunday, Daily Star, plus more.

 

In 2020, Lisa moved into TV PR, working on the publicity of ITV Daytime shows including Good Morning Britain, This Morning, Loose Women, Lorraine, The Chase and Tipping Point.

Two years later, she returned to her native Wales, where she focused on building relationships with local press contacts while helping with the PR of TV shows including BBC Wales’ A Special School and S4C’s Cyfrinachau’r Llyfrgell (Best Kept Secrets).

 

She also helped with the red-carpet media management of the Child of Wales Awards 2023 and 2024 and BAFTA Cymru Awards 2022, and worked on the talent booking and PR and marketing of Brecon Jazz Festival 2024.

Front Door Communications was founded in 2017 by former BBC journalist Kath Chadwick and digital marketing expert Lynsey Walden. It provides a range of digital marketing and PR services with the aim to deliver real business benefits for clients through creative, results-driven campaigns.

 

Lynsey said she is delighted to welcome Lisa to the team, where she will head up PR.

She said: “We’re absolutely over the moon to have Lisa on board, her experience is second to none and we’re excited about the new opportunities she will bring for Front Door Comms. She’s already working with a number of clients and getting some great results so we couldn’t be happier. We’ve just launched a new brand, a new website and now a new Head of PR, so it’s a really exciting time for us as an agency.”

 

Lisa, a self-confessed true crime documentary and Stereophonics fan, said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the hardworking, driven and lovely team at Front Door Comms. They work with fantastic brands and I look forward to playing a part in devising and delivering memorable campaigns and coverage that make a noise. It’s great to be part of a supportive team that continues to learn, strives for better and focuses on producing quality work that matters.”

 

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Pic attached: Lisa Blake, Head of PR at Front Door Communications.