A keen walker with extensive knowledge of the surrounding areas [...]]]> We are very pleased to announce that The Gate at Brailes has joined our roster of clients. The Gate, one of Hook Norton Brewery’s quintessential country Inns, is now under the  new management of proprietors Anne Simpkins and Ian Merivale. 

A keen walker with extensive knowledge of the surrounding areas public footpaths and rights of way, Ian has some fantastic plans for encouraging the hiking fraternity to the area and The Gate in particular, “We are having the rooms above the pub completely renovated to offer two first class bed and breakfast guest rooms with their own entrance and the added benefit of a communal living room area for guest to share, outside we’re fortunate to have some substantial outhouses, so we’re converting one into a wet/dry room for hikers and walkers to use for drying and airing their boots and hiking wear ready for the next day”

A member of CAMRA, Ian is a keen advocate of traditional ales and is already taking great pride in keeping four ales in perfect condition and available from the Inns four antique hand drawn pumps.

Congratulations to Bill & Charmaine Leadbeater, the very proud proprietors of The George at Brailes, who earlier today were named as winners for ‘Best Beer & Food Pub’ at the Annual Hook Norton Brewery Awards, ‘The Hookys’.

It’s great recognition for all [...]]]>

Congratulations to Bill & Charmaine Leadbeater, the very proud proprietors of The George at Brailes, who earlier today were named as winners for ‘Best Beer & Food Pub’ at the Annual Hook Norton Brewery Awards, ‘The Hookys’.

It’s great recognition for all of the hard work Bill & Charmaine have invested in bringing The George bang up to scratch (and then some) both at the beer pumps and on the plate, since taking over the pub less than two year’s ago.

Bill & Charmaine are actually double winners – they also won the award for ‘Best Website’ – designed by a great little design agency in Banbury you might just have heard of…

Absolutely delighted to have launched the new website for local storage providers Fort Locks Ltd today (The only 24/7, drive-up Self Storage facility in Banbury folks!) -  they loved it, we loved it, we love them and they’re very pleased.

Check it out and let us know what you think; http://www.fort-locks-self-storage.co.uk/

“We are very happy with the service we have received”

We like this!

Check them out at www.rebournefitness.com

In the early 1990s, during the last recession, thousands of people who were made redundant decided to set [...]]]> The UK is officially in recession and the next few months will bring more job losses, more gloomy statistics and more hardship.

But it could also provide an opportunity for some people to start their own business.

In the early 1990s, during the last recession, thousands of people who were made redundant decided to set up on their own.

So for some people, redundancy turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Robyn Jones is a successful businesswoman who runs her own catering company, Charlton House Catering. This year it’s likely to have a turnover of £80 million.

The company employs around 2,000 people and has over 150 clients, but it was not an easy start.

Robyn Jones was made redundant from her job in the catering division of a construction company in 1991, just as the UK went into recession.

Banana boxes

Robyn admits that redundancy was – initially – a huge blow to her confidence and that she and her husband worried about how they would pay their bills, but she also recognised that it could be an opportunity.

Using a wallpaper paste table as a desk and banana boxes as shelves, she started her business in a spare room.

The first few months meant one telephone call after another.

“It was hard to keep your morale up. Everyone put the phone down and didn’t want to talk to you,” she says.

“We had to keep picking up the phone and do the next call. I wouldn’t let myself have a coffee until I’d spoken to a client and I couldn’t have lunch until I’d booked an appointment. I had to force myself and be positive the whole time.”

It took six months of phone calls and meetings before Robyn secured her first contract, supplying catering to a residential centre run by Guide Dogs for the Blind.

But other contracts soon followed.

Robyn believes her success was helped by the fact that she was prepared to listen to exactly what the client wanted.

“We could offer a service that was tailor made to suit the company. A lot of competitors offered something that was just one thing and that was it, but we were able to tailor-make it to what the client really wanted,” she says.

Good ideas

According to the multi-millionaire entrepreneur James Caan, who stars in Dragon’s Den, there is no ideal time to have a great business idea.

He started one of his most successful businesses, an executive headhunting company, in 1992 when the UK was in recession.

By the time he sold the business, it had 147 offices in 30 different countries.

“If you’ve got a good idea today, I would encourage you to do it, I think you should go for it,” he says.

“I think believe in yourself, believe in the strength of your idea, because if you truly believe that idea is a compelling proposition, it’s going to work regardless. It may not be as big, it may not grow as fast but it will succeed, because good ideas always work.”

Finding money

Many people may have been put off the idea of launching a business because of worries that the banks have cut back on their lending.

According to the British Bankers’ Association, lending by its members is up slightly on a year ago, although the rate of growth is slower than it has been.

Meanwhile, a number of foreign banks are not providing funding, which is reducing overall levels.

However, according to Andy Berrow from the government-funded advice service, Business Link, that should not put people off.

“Those people who have got a really good sound business plan and who’ve really researched an idea will still be able to get finance,” he says.

“Yes it will be hard because the banks undoubtedly are more reluctant to lend now but I think the good news is that people will actually be challenged to refine their business plan and look at the finance they actually need.” 

The Red Works is pleased to announce the completion of a website for Empower AV.

Empower AV is a privately owned, independent company providing complete audio visual solutions to both the public and private sector together with services for the residential and domestic market place.

Based in oxfordshire, they provide services nationwide using [...]]]> Web Address www.empowerav.com

The Red Works is pleased to announce the completion of a website for Empower AV.

Empower AV is a privately owned, independent company providing complete audio visual solutions to both the public and private sector together with services for the residential and domestic market place.

Based in oxfordshire, they provide services nationwide using their own system consultants, infrastructure architects and highly trained engineers.

Whether completing a project independently or in conjunction with assocated (and non-associated) contractors, Empower AV always provide a service second to none.

They are a full service audio visual company offering audio visual services right across board; with their knowledge and experience they can perform all your audio visual requirements from consultation and planning right through to maintenance contracts and spare parts.