BUSINESSNEWS
GROWING IT FIRM APPOINTS NEW SENIOR ENGINEER Chamber Member Surf Tech IT are proud to announce the arrival of Stephen Palmer, Senior IT Engineer, bolstering the technical expertise within the company as it continues on it’s growth trajectory. Bringing with him a wealth of experience in the IT industry, Stephen has worked in senior IT roles across the West Midlands including Acora and Indestructible Paint. L-R Mrs Olivera Raraty, Headmistress, Miss Keri Haw & Mrs Zinnia Wilkinson
MALVERN ST JAMES GIRLS’ SCHOOL SCOOPS PIONEERING MENTAL HEALTH AWARD A Worcestershire school has achieved the School Mental Health Award which is delivered by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools. Malvern St James Girls’ School (MSJ) were awarded a Gold standard for its outstanding mental health and well-being provision. MSJ provides a wide range of activities to boost the well-being of pupils and staff, including offering youth mental health first aid training to a cross section of staff and Sixth Form, well-being champions and well-being ambassador peer support structures for staff and pupils, mindfulness, mental health and well-being lessons. Using the Girls on Board Scheme, pupils are taught how to engage in healthy, happy friendships as well as how to manage the ways in which these inevitably change over time. Malvern St James Girls’ School Headmistress, Olivera Raraty, said: “I am extremely proud and delighted that MSJ’s outstanding pastoral provision in support of positive mental health has been recognised in this way.” “This award also recognises the excellent way that staff and pupils support each other day in, day out, to promote well-being.” Nationally, more than 900 schools have signed up to take part in the mental health award. www.malvernstjames.co.uk
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seconds, making sure no one in need has to go without. Surf Tech IT are looking forward to supporting Stephen in his charitable venture. www.surftechit.co.uk
Outside of work Stephen has utilized his IT skills to set up and develop the next generation in food banks servicing South Birmingham and Solihull. Starting as a friendly helping hand during lockdown the food bank known as Essentials Delivery, now supports approximately 200 families a week. The emergency food packages are delivered to the door via a team of 35 volunteers. By utilising his passion for technology, Stephen has streamlined the referral process from over a week into just 30
Stephen Palmer, Senior IT Engineer
HERE2HELP GRADUATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME Several graduates have been hired in recent months thanks to grants from Worcestershire County Council that were launched to help businesses recover from the effects of COVID-19. Among those graduates is Emily Bratt, who recently received a first-class degree in Geography from the University of Worcester and has since been hired by local tech start-up, DronePrep. Despite needing Emily’s skills, the DronePrep team could not afford to employ her full time until they discovered Worcestershire County Council’s Here2Help Graduate Development grant. The company was awarded £10,000 which has resulted in Emily being offered a full-time position.
Claire Owen, Co-founder of DronePrep, said: “We knew Emily would be a valuable asset to our company but as a very early stage start-up we wouldn’t have been able to offer her full-time employment without the support from Worcestershire County Council. Emily is a perfect fit for our company, and we are incredibly grateful for the timing of the grant.” The Graduate Development grant is one of many initiatives run by Worcestershire County Council’s Here2Help Business Programme. Eligibility criteria applies. Find out more by visiting the website: www.worcestershire. gov.uk/info/20810/here2help_business_ develop_-_graduate_programme.
May/June 2021
