Business News

SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS CONTINUES TO GROW THROUGH ONGOING PANDEMIC

Health and beauty business Natural Definition has continued to show growth despite the ongoing global pandemic. They have shared their top four tips for business growth in these uncertain times;

Know your brand. It’s not just the logo! Understand what you want your brand to represent and don’t redefine this in order to ‘get the money in’. Adapt the business under your same original ethos.

Set a goal. Have a vision. Ensure that you set a clear goal and envisage how you want your business to look. Break this into bitesize goals. Achieving these will keep you motivated.

Where to invest. Finance the correct areas of your business. This may be expanding into online services, further training, introducing new payment options, utilising social media marketing, etc.

You WILL reopen. Use the time wisely. Use this time to ensure that policies are updated, networking is enhanced and the business is ready to hit the ground running upon reopening.

www.naturaldefinition.co.uk

The Courtyard is one of over 100 Arts Organisations across the UK awarded over £30m from the new one-off fund to support the cultural sector, set-up by the Weston family in response to the devastating impact of Covid-19. Grants range from £100,000 up to £1.5m based on the size of the organisation. Ian Archer, Chief Executive and Artistic Director, said: “This incredibly important grant will help ensure we can continue to create amazing work and diversify our outreach, to share the benefits of creativity and culture with our community. pandemic, we want to use it as a catalyst for positive change by helping our community come together in new ways to celebrate our county and the huge array of talent and culture we have to offer.” The Courtyard is now heavily reliant on fundraising, as productions have been postponed or cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. 94% of its self-generated income was lost through ticket sales, events, and Café Bar income, as well as facing thousands of refunds.

www.courtyard.org.uk

Unveiling of the brand new signage and display facility

CITY SIGNS UNVEILS NEW £110K SIGNAGE AND DIGITAL CUTTING FACILITY

Worcestershire-based City Signs officially unveils their new £110K signage and display facility at their Head Office on the Ball Mill Top Business Park in Worcester. The new digital flatbed cutter and router, which City Signs received support for through EU funding, will revolutionise signage and display production at their facility, creating new jobs and expanding their client base to serve the UK. The capability of the new innovative cutting-edge signage and display facility which produces a wide range of high quality printed signage, launches a fresh and dynamic range of services for the family owned business, who are currently celebrating their 60th year trading. Darren Wilkins, Managing Director at City Signs, explains: “It’s a great milestone in the history of City Signs and a big investment that will springboard the growth of the business. This year we are celebrating our 60th year as a second-generation signage company. Having this new digital cutting facility inhouse will completely change the way we work and expand our capabilities throughout the country.” For more information about City Signs’ new production facility, please call 01905 640 007 or alternatively email

info@citysigns.co.uk.

UNIFORM BOOST FOR ST RICHARD’S HOSPICE

Nursing staff at a local hospice have been given a welcome boost of new uniforms, thanks to funding from a Birmingham charitable trust. St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester has bought 66 new uniforms for Healthcare Assistants (HCAs). The cost of £1,254 has been kindly funded by the Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund Medical Charity and Welfare Trust (BHSF Charitable Trust.) In-patient Unit Manager, Jamie Yeoman, said: “The team is really delighted with the donation for new uniforms – giving 22 HCAs three new uniforms each. This has been a tough time for everyone on the frontline of patient care and generous donations like this help to lift the spirits.” St Richard’s has continued to care for patients and loved ones throughout the pandemic, following government guidance to keep everyone as safe as possible. Many of the community services for individuals and groups have switched to virtual support through online video and telephone calls. Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,300 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire.

www.strichards.org.uk

Victoria Stubbs Senior Healthcare Assistant wearing new uniform

THE COURTYARD HEREFORD RECEIVES £144,404 WESTON CULTURE FUND GRANT