Building solutions firm J Tomlinson shortlisted for two Energy Efficiency awards

Mark Davis of J Tomlinson

J Tomlinson is a proud finalist in not one – but two – categories of the 2017 National Energy Efficiency & Healthy Homes Awards.

The company has been shortlisted for ‘National Social Responsibility Company of the Year’, a title that looks at organisations that have had a positive impact within their local communities – particularly in helping to meet social responsibility targets. Following taking home the title of ‘RHI Installer of the Year’ at the regional awards for the West Midlands, which took place during May, the company has also been shortlisted for the national title.

The nomination is based around a ground source heat pump installation at two sites in Shropshire which is continuing to help residents at housing group Bromford save money, cut carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency.

Mark Davis, CEO of J Tomlinson, commented: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted in two prestigious categories of the National Energy Efficiency & Healthy Homes Awards. As a business with strong social and sustainability values and a passion for supporting our local communities, we are proud to have been recognised for our ongoing work. Huge congratulations to two of our clients, Ashfield District Council and Bromford Homes, both of whom have been shortlisted for the ‘National Housing Association/Landlord of the Year’ award.”

Launched in 2015, the National Energy Efficiency & Healthy Homes Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding work being undertaken within the energy efficiency sector, helping people to reduce their energy bills, tackle fuel poverty and minimise carbon emissions.

Winners will be announced at the official awards ceremony taking place on September 29^th at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, based at the Birmingham NEC.

Nottingham-based J Tomlinson, which works primarily across the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire, offers a range of integrated building solutions covering the whole building lifecycle from construction to refurbishment, repairs and maintenance, mechanical and electrical services and facilities management. For more information about the initiative, please visit http://energyefficiencyawards.co.uk/

For more information about J Tomlinson, visit www.jtomlinson.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Frozen food distributor Central Foods shortlisted in Family Business United Awards

Central Foods Sales and Marketing Team

Frozen food distributor Central Foods has been named a finalist for the Midlands Family Business of the Year Award 2017.

The Northamptonshire-based business, run by husband and wife team Gordon and Alison Lauder for the past 21 years, is one of 12 family firms shortlisted for the accolade.

“We are thrilled to hear we’ve been nominated in the final of this award. It’s fantastic news for Central Foods and all of our loyal, hardworking team,” said managing director Gordon Lauder.

“This year we celebrate our 21^st birthday and to learn that we are a finalist of the Midlands Family Business of the Year Award 2017 is cause for a double celebration.

“I’d like to thank all our staff, as well as our customers and clients, who have supported us in the journey we have taken to become one of the UK’s best-known frozen food suppliers to the wholesale and foodservice sector. Congratulations and best of luck to all the finalists in the awards.”

The Family Business of the Year Awards are organised by Family Business United, the award-winning magazine and resource centre that champions and celebrates the family business sector. Now in their fifth year, the awards recognise the diversity, strength and depth of family firms across the UK and seek to highlight the contribution that family firms make to the UK economy.  

Open to family firms of all generations, sizes and sectors, the awards recognise some outstanding family firms and really help to put family businesses on the map.

Paul Andrews, founder and managing director of Family Business United, said: "We are delighted to be able to pull together such a vibrant bunch of family businesses, some that have succeeded for numerous generations and continue to thrive, and others that are relatively young but have great values at the heart of what they do.

“Well done to Central Foods on being named a finalist.”

Sian Steele, head of family business at PwC, sponsors of the award added: "Any one of those shortlisted would make worthy winners and ambassadors for the sector. We are looking forward to finding out more about each of them and I am sure that the decisions to determine the winner will not be easy.  Previous winners of this award include Penny Hydraulics, Cropwell Bishop and Fracino so the 2017 winners will be following in the footsteps of some incredible family firms."

The awards process concludes at a gala reception and awards ceremony that takes place in London at the prestigious May Fair Hotel in London on June 8 where the winners will be crowned.

Central Foods, which is based at Collingtree near Northampton, supplies more than 220 independent wholesalers, as well as larger national and regional wholesalers. It also supplies to foodservice caterers across the entire foodservice industry, including pubs, hotels, restaurants, staff canteens, schools, hospitals, coffee shops, football grounds and universities.

Offering a one-stop shop to the foodservice sector, it sources products from around the world and the UK, supplying more than 400 different lines, ranging from meat, bakery items and canapés through to buffet products, desserts and puddings.

For more information visit www.centralfoods.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk 

Visitors raring to attend the world’s largest gathering of Shire horses

Photo courtesy of Tracy Muir Photography www.tracymuirphotography.co.uk 

Ticket sales for the world’s largest gathering of Shire horses are booming as the event returns to Staffordshire for a second year.

A record number of advance tickets for the show at Staffordshire County Showground on 17^th to 19^th March have so far been sold, reports the Shire Horse Society, which organises the event.

Around 300 pedigree Shire horses from across Europe are expected to take part, being put through their paces in hand, in harness and during ridden classes.

Open to the public, the event is a colourful day out for all the family and the chance to support the campaign to save this magnificent breed of horse, which only a few decades ago was in danger of dying out and is still regarded as ‘at risk’.

Secretary of the Shire Horse Society Victoria Clayton said: “Shire horses have played a huge role in the history of this country, and our show, which is the world’s largest gathering of Shires, is the perfect opportunity to see them in action.

“Last month we sold more than twice as many advance tickets to our annual show as we did during the same month the previous year. We’re delighted to see such interest in the event, which is our flagship event of the year and the ideal chance for us to put the gentle giants of the horse world into the spotlight.”

The show, which has been held at a limited number of venues in England over its long history, is believed to be one of the oldest, almost continuous, horse shows in the world, having been held for the first time at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington, London, in 1880, when the charity was named the English Cart Horse Society.

It moved to Staffordshire County Showground in 2016, and returns there for three days of competition in March.

The event features stalls and children’s entertainment, as well as the all-important showing classes – the first qualifier of 2017 for the heavy horse classes of the prestigious Horse of the Year Show, which attracts the very best of the breed and is held in October at Birmingham’s NEC.

The Shire Horse Society campaigns to save the iconic Shire breed – a breed that was in danger of dying out just a few decades ago. Even now, fewer than 500 new foals are registered every year.

Tickets for the show are on sale via www.shire-horse.org.uk – discounted if bought in advance. Adult tickets on the gate are £12, or £10 online in advance, while tickets for children aged five to 13 years on the gate are £10, and £8 online in advance.

Children aged 14 years and over are charged at the adult price, while under fives enter free.

Gates open on Friday 17^th March at 8.30am and at 7am on Saturday 18^th and Sunday 19^th March.

For more details and ticket information about the show, visit www.shire-horse.org.uk or follow @saveourshires on Twitter or at www.facebook.com/shirehorsesociety

Croots Farm Shop & Café a finalist in Family Business United Awards 2017

Kay and Steve Croot

Derbyshire farm shop Croots has been named a finalist for the Midlands Family Business of the Year Award 2017.

The farm shop and café near Duffield, run by husband and wife team Steve and Kay Croot, is one of 12 family firms shortlisted for the accolade.

“We are delighted to learn that we’ve been chosen as a finalist in this award. It’s great news for Croots Farm Shop and all the wonderful, hard-working staff we have on our team,” said Kay Croot. “The farm shop was launched at my parents’ farm in 2008, and has gone from strength to strength.

“It’s very much a family business, with our staff being part of our extended family. We have some people that have been with us at Croots Farm Shop since the start and are incredibly loyal and amazing with customers. We have shared our progress with them, they understand what we are striving to deliver, live the same values and we look after them and treat them like part of a big family.

“I’d like to thank them, as well as all our suppliers and customers, for helping this family business to grow and to get to a stage where we have been named a finalist of the Midlands Family Business of the Year Award 2017.”

The Family Business of the Year Awards are organised by Family Business United, the award-winning magazine and resource centre that champions and celebrates the family business sector. Now in their fifth year, the awards recognise the diversity, strength and depth of family firms across the UK and seek to highlight the contribution that family firms make to the UK economy.  

Open to family firms of all generations, sizes and sectors, the awards recognise some outstanding family firms and really help to put family businesses on the map.

Paul Andrews, founder and managing director of Family Business United, said: "We are delighted to be able to pull together such a vibrant bunch of family businesses, some that have succeeded for numerous generations and continue to thrive, and others that are relatively young but have great values at the heart of what they do.

“Well done to Croots Farm Shop & Café on being named a finalist.”

Sian Steele, head of family business at PwC, sponsors of the award added: "Any one of those shortlisted would make worthy winners and ambassadors for the sector. We are looking forward to finding out more about each of them and I am sure that the decisions to determine the winner will not be easy.  Previous winners of this award include Penny Hydraulics, Cropwell Bishop and Fracino so the 2017 winners will be following in the footsteps of some incredible family firms."

The awards process concludes at a gala reception and awards ceremony that takes place in London at the prestigious May Fair Hotel in London on June 8 where the winners will be crowned.

Croots Farm Shop, based at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (Shires Eatery until 4.30pm) and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays. Croots runs Fresh Fish Thursdays between 9am and 1pm on Thursdays.

For more information, visit www.croots.co.uk Find Croots on Twitter @crootsfarm_shop or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Croots-Farm-Shop

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk