BSP Consulting appointed on world-class adventure resort

CGI of Afan Valley Adventure Resort in South Wales

East Midlands-based civil and structural engineering firm BSP Consulting has been appointed to work on a spectacular new multi-million pound adventure resort which is set to take the UK leisure industry by storm.

Afan Valley Adventure Resort in South Wales will be the first development of its kind in the UK and will be home to a staggering wealth of adrenaline-fuelled indoor and outdoor activities.

Set over 500 acres of forests and rolling hills in Afan Valley, the resort is the brainchild of Gavin Woodhouse, chairman of Northern Powerhouse Developments and Peter Moore OBE – the man who first brought Center Parcs to the UK and who helped turn round the fortunes of Alton Towers.

The Bear Grylls Survival Academy, which will feature a series of tough challenges and endurance courses designed by the top TV survival expert, has already signed up as one of the resort’s big attractions.

Engineers at BSP Consulting, which has its headquarters in Nottingham and branches in Derby, Leicester and Sheffield, have been appointed to undertake the flood risk assessment and drainage strategy for the development, which is currently going through the pre-planning stages. Earlier the company handled the geotechnical phase one desk study.

“Afan Valley Adventure Resort is a really exciting new adventure and leisure park which will be home to a selection of world-class adventure facilities,” said BSP Consulting associate Tim Wilson.  “As a company, BSP Consulting has worked on major leisure parks previously but we’re thrilled to be playing a role in this development, which is a pioneering concept for the UK leisure industry.

“Flood risk assessments and drainage strategies are pre-planning necessities for any scheme over one hectare in size and/or schemes within a flood zone two or three, with each site having a unique set of circumstances that need thorough investigation to satisfy planning conditions. BSP Consulting has vast experience in this field, and we are delighted that our expertise is being used to help take this significant scheme forward to the next stage of its development.”

In addition to the Bear Grylls Survival Academy experience, the all-weather, all-year-round resort will also be home to three outdoor ski slopes, forest-based zip wires and tree-top adventures, bike trails, an Xtreme sport centre, a state-of-the-art aqua park, indoor trampolining, relaxing spas and a central plaza featuring a wealth of bars and restaurants.

Expected to be opening in the summer of 2018, the development will also include a 100-bedroom hotel and 500 luxury lodges.

BSP is working closely on the project with chartered town planners and urban designers Nineteen47, which has offices in Castle Donington and York.

BSP Consulting, which has its head office in Oxford Street, Nottingham, provides a comprehensive range of consultancy services in civil, structural, geotechnical, transportation and environmental engineering to all sectors of the construction community, from architects, project managers and contractors to developers and estate agents. It was founded in 1999 and operates across the UK.

For more information, visit www.bsp-consulting.co.uk

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

Frozen food distributor Central Foods gains key industry accreditation

Alison and Gordon Lauder of Central Foods

Frozen food distributor Central Foods has been awarded the BRC Standard for Agents and Brokers. 

The Northamptonshire-based company, which supplies a wide range of frozen food to wholesalers and caterers across the UK and for export, worked closely with its suppliers to achieve the accreditation.

BRC Global Standards is a leading safety and quality certification programme, used by more than 23,000 certificated suppliers in 123 countries. The Standard for Agents and Brokers gives essential certification for companies that provide purchase, importation or product distribution services in the food and packaging supply chain.

Central Foods managing director Gordon Lauder said: “This Global Standard is designed to reflect best practice on product safety, quality and operations, and it is great news that it has been awarded to Central Foods. It’s a ringing endorsement of the standards provided by the company and clients. 

“In essence, it reinforces confidence in the quality and safety of the food supplied by the company to our many customers throughout the UK and for export. As a frozen food distributor, we place great emphasis on quality and provenance.”

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.

Central Foods has been regularly named in the annual Grant Thornton Northamptonshire Ltd report which highlights the growth of the top 100 privately owned businesses in Northamptonshire, and was ranked as one of the 200 fastest growing companies in the East Midlands in the 2015 Grant Thornton and CBI report, the most recent available, which highlighted growing organisations. 

The company is marking its 21^st anniversary in 2017.

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

New commercial manager at frozen food distributor Central Foods

Neil Cooper of Central Foods

Frozen food distributor Central Foods has appointed Neil Cooper to the newly created role of commercial manager.

The position has been created as part of the company’s continued expansion plans and growth.

Central Foods managing director Gordon Lauder said: “Central Foods has been experiencing steady and sustainable growth over some time, working with a growing number of clients and supplying frozen food to an increasing number of wholesalers and food service operators in the UK and around the world.

“Neil’s appointment strengthens our team and will support us, as we build on that success.” 

Neil joined the Northamptonshire-based company from foodservice provider Bidvest, where he held the position of buyer, with responsibility across a number of key product categories. He brings with him a broad range of knowledge and experience within the catering leisure industry, including FMCG, gained from experience in many areas of business and industry, and purchasing including food and non-food categories.

He said: “I am very pleased to have become part of the team at Central Foods – a company that is really focused, offering a point of difference and highly regarded within the frozen food distribution sector and the foodservice industry in general.”

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.

Central Foods has been regularly named in the annual Grant Thornton Northamptonshire Ltd report which highlights the growth of the top 100 privately owned businesses in Northamptonshire, and was ranked as one of the 200 fastest growing companies in the East Midlands in the 2015 Grant Thornton and CBI report, the most recent available, which highlighted growing organisations. 

The company is due to mark its 21^st anniversary in 2017. For more information visit www.centralfoods.co.uk

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

J Tomlinson starts work on Volvo’s new £4.3 million training hub

J Tomlinson starts work on new Volvo training hub

Work has got underway on site at a new £4.3 million training hub being built by J Tomlinson Ltd for Volvo Car UK.

The new Training and Development Centre in Daventry, Northamptonshire, will replace the existing training facility, which has been delivering technical, commercial and management training to Volvo dealer employees from across the UK since 1980.

Set to open in summer 2017, the new facility will feature remote video and web-based technologies, and will ensure the firm’s training experience matches the increasingly cutting-edge nature of its cars.

Nottingham-based construction company J Tomlinson has been appointed to build the 2,825 m² training hub.

Martin Gallagher, managing director (construction) for J Tomlinson, said: “Volvo is a name synonymous with quality and safety, and J Tomlinson is very proud to be constructing a new training and development centre for such a well-respected, globally known brand – helping the company to continue its position as an industry leader.

“This is the latest in a number of projects that we have been involved in for the sector. Last year, J Tomlinson completed work on a redevelopment of Coventry Transport Museum, while a £5.1 million project to build a new visitor centre and factory extension for Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley, Leicestershire, is just about to finish.”

Working across the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire, J Tomlinson provides a range of integrated building solutions, including construction, refurbishment, repairs and maintenance, mechanical and electrical services (M&E), and facilities management. 

David Baddeley, Volvo Car UK’s operations director, said: “This is a significant show of commitment from Volvo in its Daventry operations. Our new facility will provide the thousands of Volvo dealer employees across the country with the best possible environment to enhance their knowledge for years to come, and I am delighted that J Tomlinson has now begun work on the project.”

On completion, the site – which currently employs 32 people – will be purchased by Daventry District Council and leased back to Volvo Car UK.

For more information, visit www.jtomlinson.co.uk

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

World’s largest gathering of Shire horses announces dates for next year’s show in Staffordshire

Photo courtesy of Tracy Muir Photography

Organisers of the world’s largest gathering of Shire horses have confirmed that the show will return to Staffordshire Showground next year after making a successful debut in the county earlier this year.

2016 was the first time that the Shire Horse Society had staged its national show in the West Midlands, but now the charity, which is dedicated to the protection, promotion and improvement of the Shire horse, has announced the dates for next year’s show.

It will take place from 17^th to 19^th March 2017.

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 attracts around 200 pedigree Shire horses, which are put through their paces in hand, in harness and ridden, and is widely regarded as the largest gathering of Shires anywhere in the world. The show attracts horses from across Europe and spectators from around the globe, and is the flagship event for the Shire Horse Society. 

Show chairman John Peacock said: “We had some great feedback from both spectators and entrants at the 2016 Shire Horse Society National Show, which was held at Bingley Hall, Staffordshire Showground, for the first time, and we’re delighted to be able to announce the dates for next year’s event so that people can plan ahead.

“Tickets are due to go on sale in early November and will be available via our website.”

The 2016 show attracted some excellent examples of the breed. The winner of the King George V trophy, taking the highest honour in the society, went to the Champion stallion Leverton Leon. Leon is owned by Jonathan Worthington, from Nether Alderley, near Macclesfield, in Cheshire. The female Champion went to Cotebrook Loch Anna, owned by Alistair and Matthew King, based at Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre, Cheshire. Both of these horses qualified for the prestigious Horse of the Year show in taking their respective championships. 

Ridden champion was Stacy Fletcher, on Catwg Black Velvet owned by her family’s Gentle Giant Shires business, based at Moylegrove near Cardigan. She also won a golden ticket qualifier to the famous Horse of the Year Show to take part in the first ever British Ridden Heavy Horse championship being staged by HOYS. Other Shire horse owners are currently taking part in a range of competitions at agricultural shows and other events across the country in the hope of qualifying for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show. 

The iconic Shire breed was in danger of dying out just a few decades ago, and even now fewer than 500 new foals are registered every year by the Shire Horse Society. The charity has been running a Save Our Shires campaign to raise awareness about these gentle giants and numbers have steadily increased, thanks to the dedication of a band of enthusiasts.

Tickets for the 2017 show will soon be available from the society’s website www.shire-horse.org.uk 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.

The Shire Horse Society is also offering early bird prices to traders who would like to take stands at the event. Details are on the charity’s website.

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

Haughton Honey proves to be a sweet deal for investors

Premium honey brand Haughton Honey has created a big buzz by smashing through its £80,000 crowdfunding target and collecting more than £112,000 in investments.

Over 200 investors backed the six week campaign which was launched to support the next stage in the company’s growth. 

Founder Crispin Reeves said: “We’ve got high ambitions for Haughton Honey. Demand for pure, raw honey is growing in the UK and we feel there’s tremendous export potential too.

“I’m thrilled that so many investors have come on board to support us as we continue to expand, and would like to thank everyone who’s got involved. Some 98% of businesses that apply to CrowdCube don't get selected and of those 2% that do, only half successfully fund.

“It's been a gruelling four months of due diligence, promotion, meetings, sleepless nights, and answering thousands of queries but we smashed it.”

Some 211 investors swarmed to get a taste of Haughton Honey – with £112,870 in total being invested.

The investment pledged to the Cheshire-based company will be used to recruit more bee farmers, expand markets and raise awareness of the brand, which was launched in 2014. 

Since 2014, the firm has steadily expanded and recently began supplying the fine food retailer Booths, as well as The Protein Works, a large sports nutrition brand owned by Alliance Boots, which has just launched a co-branded Cashew Nut Butter Luxe product containing Haughton Honey.

The honey is available via more than 80 regional sales outlets across the North West and Midlands, as well as through premium supermarket Booths, which started stocking Haughton Honey at the beginning of April 2016 and which has almost 30 outlets.

During the crowdfunding campaign alone, which was operated through CrowdCube, the company secured eight new independent retailers across the Midlands and East Anglia.

The honey market within the UK is worth £119.5m per annum, with healthy annual growth. UK sales of jams, spreads and honey grew 5.9% in the year up to October 2015, with growth in honey sales alone between 2014 and 2015 increasing by £9.8m year-on-year.

During 2015 Haughton Honey packed and sold over 8,000kg of English honey and anticipates requiring more than double that amount during 2016.

The company, based at Radmore Farm, Haughton, near Tarporley, bottles raw honey which comes straight from the hive, is cold extracted and never pasteurised which means that it retains all of the natural enzymes and proteins that make English honey so special. It is also 100% natural and pure and features traces of dandelion, chestnut, blackberry, clover and other wildflowers.

For more information about Haughton Honey visit www.haughtonhoney.com

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

Do yourself a flavour – new Cherizena flavoured coffees launched

Coffee specialist Cherizena is launching three new flavours in time for the festive season.

To accompany this year’s limited edition Christmas Coffee, the Leicestershire-based family business has also created Viennese Flavoured Coffee, Cognac Flavoured Coffee and Malt Whisky Flavoured Coffee.

The new flavours are the latest in around 30 flavours of coffee created by the company, which has its headquarters on the Wartnaby Estate near Melton Mowbray.

“We’ve been experimenting and trialling new flavours and blends, and are delighted with the latest batch of flavoured coffee that we’ve developed. The flavours are stunning and we think they are a really welcome addition to the extensive range Cherizena already offers,” said Kate Jones, who runs the mail order coffee supplier, which is also a regular at events, markets and food fairs across the East Midlands.

All of Cherizena’s flavoured coffees are produced in-house in small batches and use the Colombian medium roasted bean as the base coffee. The blends contain no added sugars, syrups or coatings – they are just finest quality beans infused with flavours. 

Available as regular or decaffeinated, beans or ground coffee, the new flavoured coffees sit alongside popular and unusual Cherizena blends such as Banoffee Pie Flavoured Coffee, Chocolate and Coconut Flavoured Coffee and Sticky Gingerbread Flavoured Coffee. 

Its limited edition Christmas Coffee - with a delicious aroma reminiscent of plum pudding – is the company’s most popular flavoured coffee.

The new Viennese Coffee blend incorporates the creamy flavour and aroma of fig married with the Colombian bean and is based on the coffee traditionally served in Austrian coffee houses.

Perfect for after dinner, the Cognac coffee blends French Cognac aromas and flavour with Cherizena’s Colombian medium roasted coffee, while the Malt Whisky Flavoured Coffee has a delicious warming hint of peaty whisky flavour.

The new flavours cost £3 for a 115g pack and will become permanent additions to the Cherizena range. Christmas Coffee is priced at £3.25 for a 115g pack and is available until Christmas, with final orders taken on 21^st December 2015.

All the coffees are available from www.cherizena.co.uk. 

Cherizena is a specialist supplier of premium, speciality and flavoured coffees, and supplies coffee mail order across the UK and abroad. Its Twitter handle is @CherizenaCoffee

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

Haughton Honey available through key wholesaler

Haughton Honey is now available to farm shops, delis, garden centres and other stores across central England, the West Midlands and mid-Wales via wholesaler Bikold Foodservice.

It is the first major wholesaler to take the brand, which was launched last year by bee farmer Cris Reeves. 

Haughton Honey is part of the ambient product range available to Ludlow-based Bikold’s network of retailers. It is offered as a branded four-by-340g jar pack and wholesales at £15.20 per pack/£3.80 a jar.

As a result of the partnership, Haughton Honey’s direct wholesale offering will fall into line with the same pack size and price offer.

“The relationship with Bikold Foodservice is a milestone for Haughton Honey as it represents the first major wholesale partnership since the brand was launched in 2014. It will make it easier for retailers and trade customers across central England, the West Midlands and mid Wales to stock Haughton Honey, and is a key building block in our expansion plans,” said Cris, who is based in Cheshire.

“We anticipate this is the first of a number of wholesalers across the UK who we hope will take the brand.”

The Haughton Honey cooperative has approximately 1,600 hives spread across the North West and the Midlands, including Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and Warwickshire. It currently supplies more than 60 stores, mainly across the North West and the Midlands but the partnership with Bikold supports the brand’s plans to expand throughout the UK.

Haughton Honey is raw honey which comes straight from the hive, is cold extracted and never pasteurised which means that it retains all of the natural enzymes and proteins that make English honey so special. Haughton Honey is 100% natural and pure, and features traces of dandelion, chestnut, blackberry, clover and other wildflowers.

For more details visit www.haughtonhoney.com

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