Category Archives: News

Fresh hope for historic mansion and land as it hits the market

A neglected piece of South Liverpool’s history is up for sale as a Georgian mansion in Woolton is brought to market by Landwood Group.

Knolle Park on Beaconsfield Road, Woolton is a three-storey, Grade II listed former manor house and convent which in the past has benefitted from planning permissions for a range of  separate development projects.

Past permissions include for a 50-unit residential scheme and a 60-bedroom care home and 56 ‘extra care’ apartments.

 

Located in desirable Woolton, where average three bedroom detached houses fetch around £500,000, this historic mansion and its 5.56 acres are now up for sale through Landwood Group, on behalf of the Receivers.

James Ashworth, Partner at Landwood Group said: “As a site, well known for stalled plans and neglect that have no doubt frustrated local residents, presents an incredible opportunity to breathe new life into a unique historic location.

“This Georgian mansion offers a rare and unique development opportunity to restore it to its former glory. While a purchaser has to work within the Council’s current policies, the past permissions show clear potential and should encourage interested parties as to the possible scope of what can be achieved.

“The fantastic location should attract wide interest from those looking to implement a range of high quality residential or care development options.

“Located half a mile away from Calderstones Park and Woolston Village, this a very desirable area of South Liverpool which is still within five miles of the city centre.

“We hope to secure new owners for the manor house, who no doubt see strong investment returns and future development which will create a positive impact on the local community, economy and environment.”

 

Originally built as Knolle Park manor house, the building was taken over as a children’s home by German Roman Catholic nuns in the early 20th Century.

The German sisters returned home at the start of the First World War and were replaced by The Poor Servants of the Mother of God and it became a Grade II listed building in 1975. The site has been unused since 2010.

Once deemed an eyesore by Liverpool City Council, this site now presents a prime opportunity for a new buyer to consult with the council on an acceptable development scheme.

 

To learn more about this property or Landwood Group other listings visit: www.landwoodgroup.com

Golfer George wins prestigious disability sports award

American Golf brand ambassador George Blackshaw has scooped a national disability sports award for his work raising money for children’s charities – with the help of the golfing community.

The Warrington man, aged 25, is a double amputee golfer who lost both his arm and his leg at 15 months old due to an accident. He has worked tirelessly to promote his belief that golf is for everyone while also raising vital funds for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and the charity Reach.

George won the Charity Champion Award at the 2024 Variety Disability Sports Awards and was also shortlisted for the Inspiration Award at the star-studded London event. The red carpet ceremony was filmed by Channel 4, featured Paralympic and Olympic stars and was presented by TV comedian Adam Hills.

After the event George said: “This is such an honour. It was a wonderful evening and I was so pleased to have my family and my American Golf colleagues in London with me.

“I firmly believe that golf is a sport for everyone and I want to do everything I can to help get more people on the course so they can all experience this amazing sport.”

George is an England Disabled Golf Player and has taken part in a variety of different golf events. He plays on the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) tour, representing England in the Disability Nations Cup 2022, and twice participating in the G4D Open run by the R&A and DP World Tour.

George held his annual charity golf day at Delamere Forest Golf Club. George has been hosting the event for two years, during which time he has raised more than £34,000 for Alder Hey Children’s Charity and Reach Charity Limited.

George works at, and is a brand ambassador for, American Golf, the UK’s largest golf retailer. He is also one of  American Golf’s Game Changers. The Game Changers campaign is designed to open up the game to a diverse range of new players, and highlight the inclusion of players from all walks of life.

Scott Taylor, Marketing and CRM Director at American Golf said: “It was a very emotional evening in London as we saw all the deserving winners – but we are all especially proud of George.

George is a great colleague, a fantastic golfer and a wonderful young man and we are all so happy that he has deservedly won this award.”

Focus Brands’ Emma Thomas Wins National PA of the Year Award

Emma Thomas is officially one of the best personal assistants in the UK.

 

PA to the CEO and senior leadership team at Huddersfield-based apparel licencing house Focus Brands, Emma beat fierce competition from nine others to be recognised as National PA of the Year at the recent Manchester PA Awards.

 

Seeking to celebrate and support professionals who have exceeded expectations and exemplify hard work, dedication and passion within their roles, The Manchester PA Awards is held annually.  The recent event, held at The Point at Emirates Old Trafford, saw more than 550 from the Northwest business community come together to recognise and applaud the incredible support delivered by the region’s personal and executive assistants.

 

Nominated by chief executive officer at Focus Brands, Ray Evans, with the full support of the senior leadership team, Emma has worked for Focus Brands for more than five years and is an integral part of the smooth running of the company’s day-to-day operations and the daily commitments and diaries of the C-suite.

 

In addition to providing a comprehensive PA function, her responsibilities also include health and safety, facilities management, recruitment and support to the HR team, booking and managing all company travel and organising the Christmas party plus other events.

 

Delighted to make the initial shortlist and thrilled to be announced as one of the overall winners on the night of the event itself, Emma commented:

 

“I love my job and am over the moon to have won this award, it is amazing to be appreciated and recognised for my role within the wider team. It’s such a positive culture here at Focus Brands, everyone is passionate about making the business a success, empowered to rise to challenges and supported to do their best. I never know exactly what each day is going to bring. It’s busy and varied and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

 

CEO Ray Evans added: “We would be lost without Emma’s daily support, so we had to nominate her in the awards. I’m delighted that she’s been recognised for everything she does to support the business and make our daily working lives easier. It is thoroughly well deserved.”

 

44-year-old Emma lives in Oakes with her husband and family. She juggles her busy working life with being a mum of two and enjoys family time, working out in the gym, growing vegetables in her garden and reading a good crime thriller.

 

With offices in Huddersfield and London, Focus Brands is a market leader in the design, sourcing, distribution and promotion of high profile consumer brands, delivering strong brand identities, outstanding product ranges and navigating changing consumer trends in UK and international markets. For further information visit www.focus-brands.com.

 

Image shows (left) Andrew Bell from Achieve Hospitality (sponsor of the award) and (right) Jordan North (Capital Radio DJ and event host) with Emma (centre).

 

Finance firm leads carer campaign by funding Christmas for three hard-hit families

THOUGHTFUL financial planners have stepped into Christmas with a kind-hearted campaign.

The team at award-winning Celtic Financial Planning – based in Mold, St Asaph, and London – will be generously supporting three families by donating hundreds of pounds worth of vouchers to pay for a selection of products and gifts this holiday season.

In partnership with NEWCIS (North East Wales Carers Information Service) – the largest provider of carer services in Wales – director Rob Lewis and the team hope businesses in the region will join their appeal.

“For many people Christmas is a very difficult time of year when, despite the cost-of-living crisis and other challenges, there is pressure to go out and spend money on food, decorations, gifts and more,” said Rob.

“As a NEWCIS trustee I know what amazing work they do with thousands of carers who put others before themselves every single day, and as a company at the heart of the community we wanted to try and alleviate some of that pressure by paying for Christmas for three families experiencing hardship.

“We hope other organisations will come forward and do the same.”

He added: “While this appeal is for help with festive donations, there are people in need of support all year-round, so it could be a helping hand towards a holiday, school uniform, or a whole host of other day-to-day costs.

“For example, one of the families we will be supporting is an elderly couple facing a winter with no fuel allowance, and sadly the gentleman has dementia and been diagnosed recently with a terminal illness.

“Being able to provide financial support so they can pay for presents for relatives and Christmas dinner will make the world of difference to them and hopefully bring some joy into their lives at a very, very difficult time.”

NEWCIS moved to a 6,000 square foot premises in Mold High Street – formerly Barclay’s Bank – during the summer and renovated the building to include a shop, offices, meeting rooms, disabled access and a pop-up space for community and health groups to utilise.

Now employing more than 50 staff and representing up to 24,000 carers in Wales, CEO Claire Sullivan says the charity identified three carers and families who would “greatly benefit” from the generosity of Celtic Financial Planning and thanked Rob and staff for their “unwavering support”.

“They are all so grateful, this will be of huge benefit to them, it will be life-changing,” said Claire.

“For one family the vouchers will be used to buy decorations for a child’s room, providing a sanctuary and safe environment, for another they will enable a young lady who put university on hold to care for her mum, to buy clothes, food and gifts she would have been unable to afford otherwise.

“Even a small amount will have a major impact so we are so thankful to Rob and Celtic Financial Planning for their kindness and would love to see more businesses get in touch to see how they can help.

“To be thought of by someone who does not know you is a huge gesture and as one of the recipients told us, this benevolence has reaffirmed their faith in humanity and made dreams come true – it is incredibly overwhelming and touched all our hearts.”

For more news and information or to support NEWCIS and the campaign, visit the website www.newcis.org.uk and follow them on social media. Alternatively, call 01352 752525.

Visit the website Celtic Financial Planning Ltd | IFA Independent Financial Advisers Mold and follow them on social media at @celticfinancial. You can watch a video on the campaign here on YouTube: Bringing Joy: How We’re Funding Christmas 2024 for Three Local Families

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust offsets 2,500 tonnes of carbon through its CPC/Tusker car scheme

“Word of mouth is a big driver”

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust employs a diverse workforce of over 14,000 across different departments, specialisms and pay bands. The need to provide meaningful employee benefits which support staff wellbeing is therefore crucial, not just for employees themselves but for improved patient care. Patients ultimately benefit from healthier and happier clinical teams.

At the same time, employee benefits need to appeal to as many different demographics and lifestyles as possible, which is why the trust implemented a flexible salary sacrifice car benefit scheme – CPC Drive in partnership with Tusker’s Car Scheme* – which not only supports financial wellbeing but also aligns with the trust’s wider sustainability goals.

“Not every benefit suits everyone, but the important thing is choice,” says Sophie Limb, HR Project Manager. “We believe in offering a wide array of options that can improve staff wellbeing in some meaningful way – whether that’s physical, emotional, financial or environmental. CPC Drive and Tusker fits into that perfectly.”

Initially launched in October 2015, the CPC Drive and Tusker Car Scheme is now available to 8,397 employees. Two hundred and fifty employees currently have cars on the scheme, with 78% being either an EV or hybrid. This means also means the organisation has offset over 2,500 tonnes of carbon to help meet their sustainability objectives.

In fact, the CPC Driver and Tusker Car Scheme was a key part of the trust’s winning submission at the Employee Benefits Awards 2024.

The scheme’s flexible term options of 2, 3 or 4-year arrangements along with with a variety of cars on offer means that staff can choose a vehicle tailored to their needs and lifestyle.

Financial savings from tax and NIC savings are significant, too. And because employers also benefit from NIC savings, they are in a position to reinvest these back into NHS resources.

The scheme also forms part of the trust’s holistic approach to employee wellbeing. Providing financial savings, it also offers flexibility and supports employees when they need it most. For example, helping an employee replace their car following an accident or the team assisting a junior doctor on a temporary contract who was unsure of their eligibility.

Indeed, the level of customer service provided by the Tusker team is one of the main reasons behind high satisfaction levels, with scheme members citing quick and efficient responses.

As Limb explains, word of mouth is a ‘big driver’, so when employees have a good experience, they tell their colleagues, which raises awareness.

At its heart, the scheme aims to make green travel affordable and accessible, ensuring it is tailored to individual needs and lifestyles.

Its lifestyle protections policy for example, provides additional added insurance to cover both employer and employee in the event of redundancy or lifestyle changes.

This is a reassurance for all. Under personal lease arrangements, individuals are typically ‘locked in’, so if circumstances change, the responsibility to meet monthly financial obligations remains with the individual. And if there’s a need to terminate the contract mid-term, there will often be a significant penalty.

However, Tusker’s built-in protections recognise that circumstances can and do change, so in the event of early cancellation there is no penalty fee for either employee or employer.

At the same time, new Tusker initiatives have extended the scope of employee eligibility across more pay bands, making it more inclusive for larger numbers of people.

Ultimately, the salary sacrifice car scheme provided by CPC Drive and Tusker has helped to bring about positive changes for the NHS trust, unlocking financial savings for employee and employer and tailoring choice to individual needs and circumstances.

“We view the scheme as a way to support our employees in times of need, but it’s also a part of the wider support we offer through our benefits programme,” says Limb. “It’s there when employees need it, and that’s what makes it such a valuable part of our rewards strategy.”

 

*CPC Drive is the car benefit framework that the NHS North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative (NOE CPC) have established for the public sector to benefit from the CPC Drive framework. CPC Drive partners with Tusker to deliver the car scheme as a benefit. 

 

About Tusker

Tusker is the UK’s leader in salary sacrifice cars. Part of Lloyds Banking Group, it has more than 15 years’ experience in offering an affordable way for employees to drive a new fully insured and maintained car. Its scheme, which is offered to over 1.8m UK employees, offers a range of options, from pure electric cars to hybrids and even traditional petrol and diesel vehicles. It provides a tailored scheme for organisations’ individual needs.

Smoking Gun is top of the class after winning a competitive pitch for UA92 PR brief

Groundbreaking Manchester higher education institution University Academy 92 (UA92) has appointed globally recognised PR and social media agency Smoking Gun as its retained agency.

Co-founded by the Class of ‘92 and Lancaster University, UA92 has charged Smoking Gun’s B2B team with boosting awareness of its unique offering among leading businesses, brands and communities it serves.

Leveraging the B2B team’s media relations expertise, Smoking Gun will deliver a compelling media relations brief to create a genuine buzz about the students, staff, courses and campus – driving corporate engagement online and off.

Through authentic storytelling, target audiences will be encouraged to become UA92 partners, advocates and supporters to help enhance the student experience, codevelop the curriculum and ultimately grow the UA92 business.

Outreach will also be focussed on enhancing the higher education institution’s brand reputation and its unique offering through headline grabbing news generation, bold thought leadership and by raising the profile of the expertise of its Senior Leadership Team.

 

Sara Prowse – CEO of University Academy 92 (UA92)

Sara Prowse, UA92 CEO, said: “We are a challenger Higher Education brand, bold and disruptive. Passionate about delivering exceptional education rooted in real life industry experiences. Developing learners to be equipped not only with the skill set but the mindset for the ever-changing world of work. Mindful that today’s learners are tomorrow’s leaders.

“We were looking for a PR partner who could help us to amplify our voice and our deliberately different approach, which is changing lives through access to Education for All, regardless of background or postcode, and as a result creating a very diverse pipeline of talent for business.

“Smoking Gun took part in a highly competitive pitch process. We loved their drive, passion and ambition for us. We have shared values and we are excited to activate some of the exciting disruptive campaign ideas they shared.”

 

Caroline Aspinall, Smoking Gun’s commercial director and head of B2B, added: “Working with brands that are bold, brave and different defines Smoking Gun.

“UA92 exemplifies these values completely – through its commitment to making higher education more accessible for underrepresented communities across Manchester and beyond.

“There’s a tangible buzz from the moment you arrive on campus – demonstrating that this is a truly trailblazing environment where the higher education rulebook is being re-written.

“Smoking Gun is renowned for delivering impactful campaigns and this win is the latest example of Smoking Gun’s ongoing journey of expansion and achievement.

“We can’t wait to see what this powerful partnership will deliver and the impact that we can create together.”

 

Smoking Gun’s B2B division delivers creative campaigns for a range of clients which include ESP Play, Best Western Hotels Group, Landwood Property Group, American Golf and Variety the children’s charity.

Additionally, the agency recently won Gold in the B2B Campaign of the Year at the PR Moment Awards for its work with retail tech giant Dee Set and scooped the Gold AMEC award for Best Use of a Measurement Framework.

M&S dominates on social media with influencer-led Xmas 2024 content

M&S is sleigh-ing social media this Christmas by harnessing the power of influencers to complement the brand’s festive ads featuring actress Dawn French according to Kolsquare, the influencer marketing platform that has mined TikTok and Instagram for revealing seasonal data.

M&S ranks first with an earned media value of £6.7m thanks to a whopping 1.46k influencers posting 1.96K stories and 953 reels. The brand hired Zoe Sugg to show the supermarket’s bakery selection.  Her reel got 83,618 likes, 675K views and 2 million plays, giving M&S an EMV of £400K.

Waitrose ranks second for earned media value (the equivalent cost of paid advertising) with engagement levels that outrank M&S. Influencers posting for Waitrose have a 3.74% engagement rate versus 1.96% for M&S.

Quentin Bordage, CEO and founder of Kolsquare says: “Competition is fierce between supermarkets in the UK at Christmas and they realise that influencer marketing is one of the fastest ways to connect with target audiences. The ads are great, but influencer campaigns can get eyes on the brand, transform sentiment and get people interested in the Christmas foods on offer. M&S wins in terms of engagement and EMV, but for originality, we think Lidl topped the league this year for taking its marketing to a local level.”

 

Sainsbury’s achieved a 1.9% engagement rate suggesting less impactful campaigns, Asda scored 2.06% for engagement and Lidl got the least traction at 1.51%

The supermarkets winning on social media are ranked as follows (from October 10th 2024 to Nov 25 2024) – :

Supermarket EMV £s No of influencers Engagement vol
  1. M&S
£6.7m 1.46k 1.82m
2.            Waitrose £2.3m 350 697.5K
3.            Sainsbury’s £2.08m 644 328.2K
4.            Asda £1.24m 527 230.7k
5.            Lidl £471k 267 97k

The campaigns – 

M&S

The brand leaned on Zoe Sugg one of their established ambassadors who has 9 million followers on Instagram and an impressive engagement rate of 2.32%.

Lidl Christmas Freeway Truck 

Lidl launched on TikTok for the first time this year with their Ode to Bakery campaign and thanks to viral audio and UGC, they had a 32.3% ad recall lift, 20.9 million impressions and 39K likes.

The Lidl Freeway Truck brings Christmas magic to cities and towns across the UK from November 14 to December 1st. Visitors can win prizes including a £100 shopping voucher.

Lidl worked with relatable mum and dad influencers to get eyes on their Christmas range. Jen and her tribe of 7 had an engagement rate of 136% and her strong community was perfect for Lidl’s campaign. Jen’s reel showing her shopping for Christmas treats at Lidl while talking about the truck had an EMV of £10K

Waitrose – influencer event and whodunnit

Waitrose ran a Christmas PR event in November, inviting influencers to attend a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings at a castle on Brownsea Island giving them plenty of opportunity to create engaging content.

The event was aimed mostly at micro-influencers, prioritising authenticity over audience sizes.

  • Katie Pix, a UK food influencer tagged Waitrose in 10+ pieces of contingent between October and November giving Waitrose an (Earned Media Value EMV) of £10k.
  • Luke Catleugh posted nine pieces of content between October and November resulting in £5K EMV.
  • Mollie Pearce, who has 105K followers and a high engagement rate of 5.31% on Instagram, tried to figure out who had committed Waitrose’s stolen pudding crime and her reel resulted in 36K plays.

Sainsbury’s hired expert influencers

Sainsbury’s is working with expert food influencers such as Zena Kamgaing who created a tiramisu recipe featuring Sainsbury’s panettone. Zena has a high engagement rate of 2.71%, her audience is 80% female and in the 18-44 range.  Her reel generated £15K in EMV.

They also collaborated with @beccaeatseverything, a food reviewer with 477K followers on TikTok where she’s known for her honest opinions. Her engagement rate is high at 8.69% and she doesn’t do sponsored posts very often which gives her content extra clout. She made a point of reviewing her personal favourites from Sainsbury’s.

ASDA hooks in local influencers at the Gnome Market Event

ASDA is going big or going gnome this year and they created a Christmas market to complement their gnome-themed campaign.

Yemi Fajembola posted several videos for ASDA at the Gnome Market and got 1.4k likes and 3.67% engagement for one.

Key findings

  • Authentic content resonates more with consumers during the Christmas period
  • Nano and micro-influencers are a secret weapon
  • Lidl’s activation of local influencers through its Freeway Truck campaign is one of the most exciting supermarket campaigns this year
  • Zoe Sugg got the most engagement, getting 2 million plays for her real on the M&S Christmas bakery selection

Digital product studio celebrates early growth following international success

Innovative digital product studio, Format-3, has accelerated growth by an impressive 300% over the last 12 months after expanding overseas into the US and Middle East.

Established in January 2023 by experienced tech and digital transformation specialist, Hardy Sidhu, Format-3 prides itself on bridging the gap between the ‘now and next’ with strategic innovation in design and technology.

 

Developed to redefine the agency model by championing people-first solutions, Format-3 is underpinned by an experienced, global team of 25 digital experts who bring together extensive knowledge in strategy, design, motion, engineering and growth.

Having already secured an impressive suite of awards and accolades in recognition of its unrivalled digital expertise and forward-thinking approach to market – including the Microsoft Game Tech Innovation Award, Global Agency Awards and Web Excellence Awards – Format-3 has achieved remarkable success since inception.

As such, the digital studio has expanded its services into overseas markets and now operates across the UK, US and Middle East, while accelerating its own growth by an impressive 300% during 2024 alone.

Hardy Sidhu, Founder and CEO, Ricardo Medina, Design Director

 

Hardy Sidhu confirmed: “I launched Format-3 in January 2023 with a manifesto to stamp out the negative attributes of the agency world and build a business that is synonymous with collaboration, innovation and transparency.

“Having grown our headcount to 25, accelerated turnover to 7-figures and expanded into the US and Middle East, I am not only incredibly proud of the growth we have achieved to date – but feel our early success validates our capability in digital design and development.

“I am now focused on continuing to build and develop Format-3, while ensuring we become a global digital product studio – not only recognised for our innovation – but also our honest and people-led approach to achieving the best possible results for our clients!”

 

Headquartered in London, Format-3 designs and builds digital products that drive growth and impact for startups and enterprise organisations. Its impressive portfolio of clients includes household brands The DailyWire, Majid Al Futtaim and EPAY.

For more information, visit: https://format-3.co

UK workforce faces widespread AI confidence crisis, new survey reveals

  • AI skills gap among British workforce uncovered, with 74% of UK employees expressing concerns around using AI at work
  •  40% have received no AI training at all, despite 89% expressing an interest in learning

 

New research* released today reveals a troubling reality: UK employees are struggling with confidence in using AI at work, feeling under-trained yet eager to learn.

 

The survey – conducted by AI training provider AI Quest – found that 74% expressed one of several concerns about using AI at work, including a lack of experience, feelings of overwhelm and anxiety.

 

75% of the 2,000 UK workers surveyed also said they do not fully grasp how to effectively use AI in their roles.

 

Aligned with insights from the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023, which predicts that 44% of job skills will change over the next five years, and 25% of jobs will transform within just two years, these new findings highlight a significant AI skills gap, exposing a critical need for upskilling and reskilling.

 

Jonny Phillips, MD at Strive Training – the UK training provider behind AI Quest, which launched this month – comments: “With AI playing a bigger role in the future of work, the findings emphasise the urgency of upskilling our workforce. This isn’t just about keeping up with technology – it’s about making sure employees feel equipped to take on the jobs of tomorrow. As the WEF report highlights, reskilling and upskilling are not one-time efforts but an ongoing investment in our future workforce. It’s time for employers to step up and provide the support their teams need to thrive.”

 

Despite 89% expressing an interest in learning how to integrate AI into their work if training were more engaging and accessible, employer support is lacking. A concerning 40% of respondents say they have received no AI training at all and, among those who have, 23% said it fell short of their expectations, while 17% found it basic.

 

60% of the respondents said they would benefit from training that was either hands-on or covered real-world applications of AI, while 17% said they sought either more incentified, or gamified learning experiences to enhance their understanding and use of AI tools.

 

The power of peer-to-peer learning also emerges as a potential solution, with 24% of workers feeling encouraged by their colleagues’ AI skills and believing they too can improve their abilities. However, 13% felt intimidated or overwhelmed by the high expectations set by their peers’ proficiency in AI.

 

Phillips adds: “AI skills are becoming increasingly essential, offering the potential to transform job roles by streamlining tasks, enabling new opportunities for innovation, and unlocking opportunities for growth and profitability. By empowering teams to work smarter and enabling businesses to operate more efficiently, it can enhance both organisational performance and employee satisfaction. However, the gap in understanding how to use AI effectively impacts workers’ ability to perform their roles efficiently and find satisfaction in their work. Practical, interactive training approaches, such as gamification and rewards, are crucial in making this transition smoother.”

In response to this, Strive Training has launched AI Quest as an engaging, interactive learning experience designed to empower teams with the knowledge and confidence to embrace AI. It’s delivered in-person and designed for employees at all levels.

 

* The research was carried out online by Research Without Barriers – RWB between 31st October 2024 and 7th November 2024. The sample comprised 2,000 UK employees in companies with 10+ employees.

 

About Strive Training

Strive Training is a well-established independent training provider that is empowering individuals with the skills, confidence, and motivation to excel in today’s workforce.

Since 2010, it has helped more than 85,000 learners gain the training and qualifications they need to find work and flourish in leading organisations across the UK. Employers who have used Strive Training include Waitrose, Dunelm, Argos, and Primark, M&S and the Civil Service.

For more information, visit https://strivetraining.co.uk/

 

About AI Quest

AI Quest, developed by Strive Training, is an engaging, interactive learning experience designed to empower teams with the knowledge and confidence to embrace AI.

In a dynamic, story-led format, participants explore how AI can transform operations, marketing, customer service, and decision-making. Through hands-on team activities, AI Quest breaks down myths and fears around AI, showcasing its potential as a tool for innovation, efficiency, and growth. Delivered face-to-face in just three hours, it offers a practical and enjoyable introduction to the world of AI.

For more information, visit https://ai-quest.co.uk/

Clinic warns of ‘cowboy’ businesses offering weight-loss injections as demand for treatment surges

AN ESTEEMED clinician warned people to seek proper medical care when exploring weight-loss injections.

Sara Cheeney, founder of award-winning Pure Perfection Clinic in Rossett, says “cowboy businesses” are giving the industry a bad name and are of significant risk to customers.

The renowned centre of excellence, based near Chester and Wrexham, has seen a rise in patients requesting and undergoing the treatment, notably women with menopausal symptoms.

With media reporting the UK Government has suggested weight loss drugs could help obese people return to work and subsequently have a positive impact on the economy, there has been more interest than ever in the main products on the market, including Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro.

Sara, from Llangollen, and her seven-strong team – which won three major awards in 2024, including Best Clinic Midlands and Wales at the national Aesthetics Awards – offer a strategic healthy and caring approach to weight loss

As well as prescribing the above medical products they offer free advice on nutrition and exercise as part of a detailed plan.

“It is absolutely vital if patients do want to pursue this course of action, they contact a legitimate medical practice and have a thorough consultation rather than seeking a quick-fix solution,” said Sara.

“We have seen and heard reports that some beauticians and online retailers are selling them alongside beauty products, which is completely wrong, so we hope people take heed and do their research.

“We have had people coming to us after buying them cheap online from fake clinics and cowboy operations, there is no after-care, nobody to talk them through the journey, it’s quite frightening and fraught with issues as often they are given a high dosage, or items that are not recognisable as the prescribed product without even being spoken to.”

She added: “While we are predominately an aesthetic skin clinic our focus is on health, wellness and self-care, and weight loss is a big part of that – the effect it has on both physical and mental wellbeing is huge.”

Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are legal appetite-suppressants given as weekly injections that can be self-administered into the stomach, upper arm, or thigh following initial consultation with Pure Perfection Clinic.

“We don’t just hand out these products we walk the patient through the process, monitor their progress and create a structured plan, it’s about lifestyle and not just weight,” said Sara.

“Something we tell our patients who are looking to start a weight loss regime and are shopping around is that if it sounds too good to be true it probably is, so please be careful and seek proper medical advice.

“The response has been incredible, from both men and women, who say it’s had a positive impact on them physically and improved their mental health.”

Among those to benefit from using the weight-loss is Emma George, from Wrexham, who has lost three stone ahead of her forthcoming wedding in February.

An aesthetician at the clinic, she said: “I wanted to lose weight responsibly, and this has worked wonders. I have a clear plan, the team here have held my hand throughout the process, and the injections are balanced with me eating healthily and maintaining regular exercise.

“As a result, I feel happier, healthier, and am in total control of my weight loss, I have peace of mind that I am on the right track and can look forward to my wedding with confidence.”