# STEVENAGE Text
The unique digital magazine for Stevenage promoted by social media
November 2019
Clair e Au st in (lef t ) w it h Lou ise Yexley
The spectacular Stevenage Borough Council firework show on Tuesday 5 November at Fairlands Valley Park promises a few new special surprises this year The biggest free firework show in the area always draws a large audience. They will be using state of the art equipment at this year?s show and the set will be synchronised to music through a rock show sound system.
The show starts at 7.30pm but get there early as large crowds are expected. Marriots School is the perfect place to go as not only does the school have a perfect view of the fireworks there is great access and facilities for cycle parking and the disabled. For more information call 01438 242389 or email leisure@stevenage.gov.uk
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What's on in
#Stevenage The winter monthstruly are with usnow.
STEVENAGE 10K Spon sor ed by #St even age
And with halloween done and dusted, it'sa sure sign that the year iscoming to an end when we preview the brilliant fireworksevent at FairlandsValley Lakes. Of course once that isover and the final sparkler has sparkled, we then have the festive season to look forward to - not many weeks to go now! We have one final edition before Christmasand would welcome your stories, featuresand of course the chance to promote your businessor organisation.
BIKE SCHEM E Bik e St op m ar k 1,000
ENTREPRENEUR EVENT SBC su ppor t f or bu sin ess
if you have a story you think that we should tell then don't forget to contact usat the addresses below. And of course if you are a business which islooking to really get your name out there through the powerful medium of digital and social media then make sure that you advertise with usand see uspromote your products and services to the people of #Stevenage. Digital allows people to read about you on the go - on their mobiles for instance, and they are also just a click away.
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PROPERTY GUIDE 30 pages of pr oper t y
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PAUL FRY on # St evenage
Losing the Ham from our local F1 star I suppose we shall have to call him Lewis Ilton, now he's going full-throttle vegan. Our Lewis says he is giving up eating animals as it is "the only way to truly save our planet". That's just the latest chapter in the Lewis Hamilton Story; Lewis the eco warrior is earnestly trying to replace Lewis the ego warrior. That's Mr Ilton - Stevenage council estate kid, product of a broken home, with a dad who worked three jobs to fund the youngster's career in karts, setting him on the track to become Britain's most successful Formula 1 driver and richest sportsman. Roaring onto Instagram, the F1 ace last month described the world as a "messed-up place", with leaders who are "either uneducated or don't care about the environment at all". He echoed the sentiments of a growing number when he added that human extinction is becoming "more and more likely as we overuse our resources". The 34-year-old says he sold his controversial VAT-saving private jet earlier this year, although his ÂŁ13 million car collection is said to include two
Ferraris, a McLaren, a Pagani Zonda and several types of Mercedes. Plus a few obligatory motorbikes. He has blamed agriculture as the biggest pollutant, claiming it was "more destructive than all our travel industries combined". Having lived for five years in New Zealand, I can affirm that methane cow farts are indeed major enviromental worry and blamed for a hole in the ozone layer above the Land of the Long White Cloud. He said it had taken him "32 years to understand the impact I am having on the world and I'm figuring out daily what I can do to play a better part". That includes switching to a plant-based diet in 2017 and helping launch a vegan burger restaurant in London. That of course is very laudible from someone who, let's face it, has not always felt the love the way other British kings of the track have. There was something suave about the playboy James Hunt; unashamably and wrecklessly brave about Jim Clark, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill and various other F1 heroes from times when it seemed the driver was more important than the package he
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was driving. Damon Hill was ever the gritty, affable gentleman, striving to out-achieve his famous dad Graham; while Nigel Mansell was, well Nigel Mansell - I can't even say his name without invoking the great Murray Walker's high-octane commentary, accompanied by the obligatory brrrm-brrrm car noises. "And there goes Nigel Manselllll..." Nige was admired as much after being shunted aside by the ruthless Ayrton Senna as for working tirelessly to fight back to reach the pinnacle of the sport with his galloping 1992 world title. The public's affection for Mansell was reflected by his two BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards - Hamilton has only one on his sideboard as yet (more of SPOTY later). And there seems to hang the contradiction. Lewis, 34, is not universally loved in Britain - nor even in the town where he was born, grew up, went to school. and tooks his first steps to superstardom. That must surely grate with him. Even former school contemporary Ashley Young,
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now of Manchester United and England, doesn't engage when Lewis's name is brought up. The fact is Lewis has a habit of not only putting his foot down but putting the other one right in it at the same time. You will doubtless recall his tax 'issues', notably being a 'non-dom' (someone domiciled abroad for tax reasons), drawing fire from MPs in parliament for avoiding taxes. In 2008, he was one of several figures whose tax arrangements were singled out for criticism in a report by the charity Christian Aid. Then the leaked 'Paradise Papers' from Panama in 2017 were even more damaging for Mr Ilton. They showed he dodged VAT to the tune of £3.4m on the purchase of daid Challenger 605 private jet that came with the price-tag of a trifling £16.5m. Many would say that's truly a bit rich for someone with more than $500m career earnings as he chases Michael Schumacher's record of seven world titles. Lewis has five - and is accelerating towards an inevitable sixth. Mercedes pays him a reported $50m a year, according to Forbes magazine. Life in the fast lane, indeed. According to the Sunday Times Rich List 2019, he is estimated to be worth £187million, with lucrative sponsorships from l'Oreal, Puma and Tommy Hilfiger. We Brits are said not to be overly charitable when it comes to praising those in the public eye. The media loves to build people up then dismantle them at their leisure. And it is not slow to decry celebs who big up
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their charity work while not paying as much as they might into the central tax system. Lewis has indeed been charitable, supporting Save The Children, Gt Ormond Street Hospital, The Honeypot children's charity and UNICEF among others. And he has nobly supported such causes as Abuse, AIDS & HIV, At-Risk/Disadvantaged Youths, Children, Disaster Relief, Education, Health, Human Rights, Poverty, Slavery & Human Trafficking. That is fantastic but it nevertheless rankles that had Lewis - and other corporates (in a sense that is what he is now) paid his fair share of tax, these charities might not be such a growth industry. Isn't it only right that he should chip in to help fund the roads where he learned to drive, the hospital where he was born and looked after and the school that educated him? Mr Ilton's rap sheet does not stop there, however. In December 2017, there was Princessdressgate. He shared a video on Instagram of his nephew wearing a princess dress and commented, "Why did you ask for a princess dress for Christmas, boys don't wear princess dresses..." He was condemned on social media and by LGBT charities and subsequently deleted the video. Perhaps with more prescient PR guidance, he later appeared at Disneyland Paris with his nephew, who wore a princess dress for the trip. Lewis then featured on the front cover of GQ wearing a rainbow tartan kilt he designed with Tommy Hilfiger, saying, "I?ve done something and then realised the effect I?ve had ... I want to make amends. I accept
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it, realise it and I?m glad that I?m accountable for it". And it was a year ago next month that he stirred up a storm at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, when he said on live TV, "It really was a dream for us all as a family to do something different. For us to get out of the slums" - before immediately correcting himself, saying, "Well, not the slums, but to get out of somewhere and do something. We all set our goals very, very high but we did it as a team." He posted a video after that faux pas in which he apologised, saying: "I'm super proud of where I come from and I hope you know that I represent in the best way I can always." While the mayor accepted his apology, others in town were less forgiving, lambasting him for "forgetting where he had come from". Then, following on from his green awakening, he took to social media again, dressed in "my favourite #TommyXLewis collection so far". "I used organic cottons, recycled denim, recycle down, faux fur, faux leather and suede. I am pushing every day to get my collections to 100% sustainable which I promise is not an easy feat but one that I strive for." He added: "If I can help push the technology forward, then others will follow and someday the fashion industry won?t be so damaging to the environment. Thank you for being with me on this journey, I won?t give up." Some of the flak was fierce: "Oh yeah, moan about Saving The Environment, hypocritical Lewis Hamilton with your jetset, globetrotting lifestyle and motor racing job - tweeting
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on mobile phone, driving petrol car, wearing sweatshop clothes while living in a house warmed by fossil fuels." Harsh, and somewhat ill-informed, but you get the drift. F1 says it is taking steps towards synthetic fuels and to reduce carbon emissions as it attempts to be more sustainable. It could be a game-changer. Not just for the sport but for Lewis Hamilton, too. I have been critical of him - and it is easy to take a swipe at someone arguing for us all to live more sustainable lives from a position of comfort and who has not had the most
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planet-friendly carbon footprints. But on this at least I am prepared to give him a second chance. Certainly the Netflix documentary The Game Changers, in which Mr Ilton has a starring role, has been praised by viewers for an "eye-opening look at plant-based diets". Other big names include Arnold Schwarzenegge and Jackie Chan - who both land some heavy blows for the subject and, with Lewis, talk about the misconceptions around eating meat to support physical prowess in sport. Arnie explains: "I ate a lot of
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meat. They show those commercials selling that idea that real men eat meat. But you?ve got to understand that?s marketing. That?s not based on reality." Lewis adds: "We all wanna look great, have more energy. A plant-based diet blows away many misconceptions we all hold." Perhaps, on that basis, Mr Ilton is merely misunderstood and is on the freeway from ego warrior to true eco warrior. But I won't be holding my breath while swinging the chequered flag at the finish line.
#Stevenage magazine
Biker down programme completed by 1,000
A free course known as Biker Down, aimed at Hertfordshire?s motorcyclists, has now been completed by 1,000 candidates from across the county. The lucky 1,000th participant, Dan Smith, completed the course in Stevenage
last week, and received a special certificate and gift vouchers sponsored by local motorcycle store Bike Stop to mark the occasion. Biker Down was launched to provide motorcyclists with
information that may help them deal with road traffic collisions involving a fellow biker. The care of a rider who has been involved in a collision is very important to members of the biker community. Many bikers ride in groups or pairs,
#Stevenage magazine
and it is often the case that when one is involved in an accident the first person in attendance will be a fellow biker. Based around the First Aid requirements of an injured motorcyclist, the course is divided into three modules and lasts approximately three hours. Course tutor Tony Smith from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: ?We are extremely proud to have delivered the course to so many of Hertfordshire?s motorcyclists and are confident that they will each have become safer riders with many new skills that we hope they won?t have to use. Having said that, we have received feedback from several riders that have completed the course and found themselves at the scene of an accident where
they were able to take charge and assist in traffic control, casualty care and the many other tasks that such an incident requires.? Cabinet Member for Community Safety at Hertfordshire County Council, Terry Hone, said: ?Biker Down is just one of the many community initiatives from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service designed to keep residents safe. Motorcyclists are some of the most vulnerable road users, so it?s particularly important that they feel confident in how to act should they witness, or be involved in, a collision. It?s great to see that the Biker Down course has helped 1,000 bikers in the county ? here?s to the next 1,000.? Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service has been delivering the
Biker Down course since April 2014 having followed in the footsteps of Kent Fire & Rescue where the course was conceived, designed and first run. Since then, fire services across the UK have been delivering Biker Down with 40 counties currently involved in the scheme. The free, three-hour courses are run throughout the year and further information can be found on Facebook: search ?Biker Down Herts?, or riders can book a space by e-mailing: bikerdown@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Get your Stevenage 10K entry in now The St evenage 10K is back and St evenage Magazine publisher Hasht ag Digit al Media is proud once again t he sponsor t he event .
ÂŁ18 for all ot her runners. Finishers receive a t shirt , medal and can enjoy t he free cake! Ent ries are available at :
The St evenage 10K for 2020 will be held on 20/ 9/ 2020. The race will st art at 10:30am wit h t he st art and finish in Hampson Park.
ht t ps:// www.racesonline.uk/race-ent ry/ st evenage10k/ index.php?id=1
Ent ries for t he St evenage 10K are now open! The ent ry fee is st ill ÂŁ16 for affiliat ed running club members and
ht t ps:// www.racesonline.uk/race-ent ry/ st evenage10k ht t ps:// www.racesonline.uk/race-ent ry/st evenage10k/
Cycle ride marks the end of summer Thousands have celebrat ed cycling and t he End of Summert ime wit h t he rides from St evenage on t he day t he clocks change. And t his cont inued t his year as Emit remmus, t he challenge cycle ride wit h t he funny name, reached it ?s 25t h edit ion on Sunday 27t h Oct ober. Organised by t he St evenage group of Cycling UK (formerly CTC) hundreds of cyclist s left Fairlands Valley Park t o ride t he 100 kilomet res t o Saffron Walden and back. It ?s not a race, t here were check point s and refreshment s available at Hare St reet , Saffron Walden and Therfield, and t here was up t o eight hours t o get back t o Cost ello?s CafĂŠ. There was also a short er, slower 67 kilomet re opt ion ? Emit Lit e. Emit remmus is t he final big Cycling UK St evenage event of t his season, and t he last event in Cycling UK's Challenge Ride Series for 2019. The Mayor of St evenage st art ed t he rides from 10am. Cycling UK St evenage runs rides on Wednesdays, Sat urdays and Sundays t hroughout t he year for all ages and abilit ies. Emit remmus is t he last in t his year?s Cycling UK nat ional series of challenge rides. You will
find more informat ion, a link t o an ent ry syst em and many more rides on www.st evenagect c.org.uk To join Cycling UK please go t o www.cyclinguk.org Remember Cycling UK ride wit h each ot her not against each ot her. St evenage Cycling UK group rides have experienced ride makers, a leader and sweeper wit h a radio link, on t he front and back ? no-one get s left behind. You can get more det ails by cont act ing Penny (07787 816434); Jim (0793 968 7509); Nicola (0791 643 8610) or Tina (01438 235881), by visit ing www.st evenagect c.org.uk or by emailing jim@st evenagect c.org.uk
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Connecting you to a network of global entrepreneurs #GEW19STEVENAGE - Stevenage connects you to a network of support for taking those next steps, no matter where you are on your entrepreneurial journey.' As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2019, Stevenage Borough Council in partnership with North Herts College is hosting an event on Thursday 21st November at North Herts College to celebrate the GEW global themes of effective ecosystems, education, policy and inclusion. ?Supporting Your Entrepreneurial Journey?will provide you with the tools, techniques, connections and knowledge to drive innovation and create wealth. You will hear from a number of inspirational speakers from both the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and the business community. There will also be opportunities for networking over a light lunch. Global Entrepreneurship Week is a global celebration of entrepreneurship, startup culture and the removal of barriers. The UK is the home to the GEW movement and this year #GEW2019 celebrates the global themes of: effective #GEWecosystems, to support your business to collaborate, share knowledge and connect with local business support organisations #GEWeducation, to provide your business with information and tools to foster the creation of sustainable businesses #GEWinclusion to remove barriers to entrepreneurship irrespective of age, race, gender or location and celebrating diversity in all its forms #GEWpolicy to remove regulatory environmental barriers to help businesses flourish
Stevenage Borough Council is delighted to host Elaine Gold, Global Advisor of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) who will use her vast experience, as co-founder and director at GEN to inform you on how you can connect globally and address the challenges of working cross-culturally, embracing innovation, creativity and diversity. The event will also include Philippa Wickham from Outside Perspective. Philippa will use her city background and her experience as a business coach to bring your ideas to fruition, providing a winning formula to achieve goals and success. Also included in the programme is Rachel McEwan, Local Director at Metro Bank who will provide you with an insight into accessing finance for your business at crucial stages of growth. The events finale will come from Debbie Gilbert from Viva, owner of the Viva Business Network and The Three Counties Expo, and author of The Successful Mumpreneur, who will use her expertise in supporting the SME market for over 10 years with a session on ?Is your networking NOT working?? ?Supporting Your Entrepreneurial Journey?will help you to connect with a UK and global network of entrepreneurs, as well as accessing the wide array of local knowledge, intelligence, advice, support and guidance from business support organisations across Herts. Agenda Registration and informal networking 11:40 Welcome 11:45 Elaine Gold - Global Entrepreneurship Network
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(GEN) ? Connecting Your Business Globally 12:00 Philippa Wickham ? Ideas to Reality ? a winning formula to achieve your goals and success 12:20 Lunch & networking 12:50 Rachel McEwan ? Successfully accessing finance for your business 13:10 Debbie Gilbert - Is your networking NOT working? - Effective interactive session to unlock essential skills and techniques 13:45 Networking 14:00 Close
Text coaching with an emphasis on building a growth mind-set and developing resilience. Philippa previously worked at Standard Chartered Bank, a FTSE 100 company where her last role was Head of Governance and Strategy for Europe.Working directly for the Europe CEO, she was also accountable for the UK employee engagement team and initiatives across the London head office. Having left Standard Chartered to set up her own business, Philippa?s passion now lies in coaching people with their business issues, challenges and their own self-limiting beliefs and behaviours. Rachel McEwan
Biographies Elaine Gold BA (Hons) MBA Elaine has been involved in the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) for over 10 years, and is an Adviser to the Global Board of GEN. In returning to the UK 3 years ago, after living in the Middle East for 8 years, Elaine became a Co-Founder and Director of GEN UK (one of the 170 GEN countries) and is frequently invited to speak at international conferences on entrepreneurship, diversity, innovation and creativity. Elaine has travelled to over 40 countries and delivered workshops and speaking engagements in over 20 countries. Elaine understands the complexities and demands of working cross-culturally and in diverse organisations. Elaine was invited to train as coach and trainer by a leading international management consultancy when she was in her early 20?s. She went on to work with 2 global consultancies, holding senior management positions and delivering consultancy interventions tailored to the needs of clients, but all with the common aim of achieving individual, team and organisational change. Interventions often covered leadership development, inclusion and diversity, teambuilding and one to one coaching.
Rachel has worked in banking for over 17 years, after starting as a Commercial Banking assistant at RBS. During her 14 year career at RBS she specialised in Franchising and helped bring both Subway and Domino?s to the UK. She then moved into Business Development as an Associate Director, with a specific focus on Liquidity and Deposits. As Local Director, at Metro Bank she supports Personal to Business banking, HR and recruitment, event planning and brand awareness, She is passionate about helping people and businesses grow and reach their potential, and like to try and bring businesses, charities and their local communities together wherever possible. Debbie Gilbert Debbie Gilbert is a marketing and events expert and alongside working with SME's on their marketing and has been organising networking events since 2007. She is the author of the Amazon Best Selling book 'The Succesful Mumpreneur'. Debbie has been supporting SMEs with networking skills for over 10 years. She owns Mums UnLtd, Viva Business Networking and The 3 Counties Expo. Crucial to her success has been the network she has built. Networking remains a key element of her ongoing business development strategy
Philippa W ickham Philippa Wickham is a qualified Business coach with a City background who focuses on empowering people to confidently, healthily and profitably grow in their business or career. This is done through business
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Taxis fall foul of check A spot check by St evenage Borough Council licensing officers found a number of t axis failing basic st andards checks, wit h Uber drivers among t he worst offenders.
inspect all of our t axis, and I would encourage people t o use our cabs over t hose from ot her areas, especially if t heir st andards do not mat ch ours.?
St evenage Borough Council?s licensing officers t eamed up wit h local parking enforcement officers and Transport for London?s t axi and privat e hire compliance officers in order t o carry out t he compliance checks.
The Taxi int ervent ion occurred on t he 18 Oct ober 2019 and included t wo officers from SBC Parking Enforcement , Licensing Enforcement and 2 officers from Transport for London Taxi and Privat e Hire Compliance Service.
On Friday 18 Oct ober, all t axis found working in St evenage t own cent re, including Uber cabs were st opped and checked, in a cont inuing effort t o ensure t hat all licensed drivers and vehicles are safe.
15 St evenage licensed Hackney Carriage Vehicle drivers or vehicles were checked.
The safet y of t he public is t he main concern for t he Council, and making sure t axis comply wit h t he law is an import ant part of t his. The checks found t hat seven St evenage licensed t axis had minor non-dangerous fault s, all of which were correct ed at t he t ime or short ly aft erwards. Three Uber cabs were found t o have fault s, t wo of which were serious concerns and one was considered unfit t o be a t axi. W hen t his exercise was carried out in April, a similar result was found for St evenage licensed t axis, but t he st andard of Uber cabs seems t o have become worse. Councillor Jackie Hollywell, port folio holder for Communit ies, Communit y Safet y and Equalit ies st at ed: ?Most people are not aware of t he different st andards expect ed of t axis or t axi drivers licensed by different aut horit ies, and t hat not all drivers or vehicles face t he same safeguarding or safet y checks. In St evenage, all of our drivers and vehicles are checked, and meet t he highest st andards, and int ervent ions like t hese t arget ing our t axis and t hose of Transport for London highlight t he import ance we place in making sure all of our resident s are safe. Our licensing officers regularly
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Seven minor defect s found, 1 ? no int ernal licence on display 2 ? copy of licence condit ions not available 1 ? driver not wearing is licence badge & vehicle roof light not working 2 ? vehicles wit h roof light s not working 1 ? vehicle wit h 1 t yre near t o legal minimum t hread dept h 13 TfL Uber privat e hire cars checked Three defect s found ? one minor & t wo serious (one correct ed during evening) 1 ? driver not wearing licence badge (minor) 1 ? driver wit hout proof of valid insurance (major but correct ed during evening) 1 ? vehicle unfit ; t o pass MOT before again permit t ed t o be used (serious)
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The drive for a start-up culture behind Global Entrepreneurship Week This November, Global Entrepreneurship Week will bring over 10 million people together this year to celebrate entrepreneurship and start-up culture and the removal of barriers, with over 35,000 events planned in over 170 countries. The UK is the home of the GEW movement and this year the GEWUK campaign team is using the huge global network to connect UK entrepreneurs to their counterparts around the world. The Global Entrepreneurship Network will be celebrating 12 years of helping millions of people to unleash their ideas to start and scale new businesses through Global Entrepreneurship Week. The campaign began in 2008 and continues to ensure entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, researchers, support organizations and others collaborate to advance economic growth and innovation in more than 170 countries around the world. GEW aims to reach new audiences and connect participants to a network that can help them take the next step, no matter where they are on their entrepreneurial journey. Earlier this year, the Global Entrepreneurship Network announced the four global themes for #GEW2019 to include: ¡GEW Ecosystems | #GEWecosystem GEW Ecosystems aim to inspire communities to collaborate, and share their networks and markets to help their rising start-ups thrive, sharing knowledge and connecting local ecosystems to build healthy and thriving entrepreneurial communities. ¡ GEW Inclusion | #GEWinclusion
Entrepreneurship is a positive force that drives innovation, creates wealth and improves lives in communities, cities and countries alike. But not everyone has the same opportunity. Anyone, anywhere should be able to realize their dream and start a business quickly, inexpensively, and without barriers and race, age, gender, or where one lives should not be an obstacle to entrepreneurship. This theme celebrates diversity in all forms, including women and youth in entrepreneurship. GEW Policy | #GEWpolicy Startup ecosystems are led by their entrepreneurs but government plays an important role in helping them flourish by removing barriers, resetting the regulatory environment and emphasizing connections and catalytic events. EDUCATION | #GEWeducation Education can inform and expose people of all ages to entrepreneurship and therefore, providing the right information and tools to those with an interest in entrepreneurship can foster creativity and skills to grow sustainable businesses and improve not only local entrepreneurial ecosystems, but also strengthen the skills of the local work force. GEW Education works to share resources, raise awareness and provide skills training to potential entrepreneurs around the world. This theme celebrates the tools and programs communities use to foster entrepreneurship. As part of the celebrations for GEW in Stevenage, Stevenage Borough Council have partnered with business support organisations across Hertfordshire including; Wenta and the btc Stevenage, the Herts
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Growth Hub, Herts Chambers of Commerce, the FSB, Better Business or All, Young Enterprise, Prince?s Trust, North Herts College and the University of Herts to support its entrepreneurial community with a whole week of activities in recognition of the four global themes and tackle the barriers to entrepreneurship to ensure businesses in the area, can connect to a network of support for taking those vital next steps on their entrepreneurial journey. Here's a list of t he GEW act ivit ies t aking place in St evenage: Monday 18t h November (10am-3:30pm): Business Development Workshop at t he bt c! Learn more and sign-up here Tuesday 19t h November (9am-2pm): Google Digit al Garage Event at t he bt c! Learn more and sign-up here Tuesday 19t h November (all day): Int ellect ual Propert y Surgeries (via phone call) Learn more and book your t imeslot here Wednesday 20t h November: bt c surgeries Thursday 21st November: Support ing your
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Ent repreneurial Journey Friday 22nd November: Tast e of Market ing Sat urday 23rd and Sunday 24t h November: Vent ure out and rediscover St evenage. Support your local business communit y! Stevenage Borough Council will also be launching its Annual Business Grant Scheme on the 21st November to support businesses in the area to accelerate and succeed! Cllr Lloyd Briscoe, Portfolio Holder for Economy, Enterprise and Transport at Stevenage Borough Council said: ?We are delighted to be supporting GEW 2019 and are working with our partners to continue to support an enterprising and innovative economy for Stevenage. This November, as part of GEW 2019, we are supporting a number of activities to assist our businesses to collaborate and connect to the wider Global Entrepreneurship Network. This also includes equipping them with the essential tools and skills to foster entrepreneurship to grow sustainable businesses, with high value job creation.?
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Stevenage links up with disability guide AccessGuides Disabled accessibility guide AccessAble, has partnered with Stevenage Borough Council to create Access Guides for Stevenage Town Centre. The guide was set up in 2000 by Dr. Gregory Burke as a result of his own experiences as a wheelchair user and disabled walker. Dr. Burke was frustrated to find that the best-case scenario when he looked for accessibility information was a few unhelpful words that only resulted in more uncertainty. Working alongside over 100 different disability groups he launched the first website in 2002, then known as DisabledGo. Since then the organisation has grown and developed, continually meeting with and listening to its user community. By 2018 DisabledGo was being used by over 1.5 million people each year to plan a visit or trip out. Thousands of people continued to shape the service, getting involved in AccessAble's engagement events and social media channels. The Access Guides that AccessAble will create for
Stevenage will take users on a journey through local venues, including information about doors, level access, lifts, staff training and more. Access Guides feature information based on user feedback. Every piece of information is included because someone with a disability suggested that it would be useful for them to know before they went somewhere. The guides are designed to help someone with a disability to make independent, informed decisions when deciding where to go. All information is free and available at www.accessable.co.uk and on the AccessAble App.
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spnsor event
Time for Todd tickets now! The superb Todd In The Hole Fest ival will be back on July 17-19 2020. Tier 1 t icket s are now on sale, wit h individual day t icket s available as well as weekend t icket s. And t he road t o #Todd2020 just got t hat bit easier. The new payment plan means you can secure your weekend t icket s t oday and spread t he cost over a 3 mont h period. Find out more about t he payment plan prices here: ht t ps://t oddint hehole.t icket line.co.uk Don't forget for all t he lat est news of act s performing and ot her offers you can get updat es online and sign up for updat es. Save t he dat e for next year and st ay in t ouch at ht t ps://t oddint hehole.t icket line.co.uk Read, en joy an d sh ar e
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Festive 360 for schools Calling all schools! We have a fant ast ic Christ mas celebrat ion package t hat ?s ideal for some end of t erm weekday fun. If you are a school, nursery, or preschool t his could be t he ideal Christ mas out ing for you! Our 2 hour package includes: -
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Ent ry t o 360 play and use of our great at t ract ions Reserved seat ing for you and your part y Christ mas part y games including parachut e/musical st at ues/dancing et c (15mins if required) A served boxed meal from our menu for t he children Visit by Christ mas Twizzle and Twirl and a sweet t reat for each child.
This package is available t o book bet ween 9.30 ? 11.30 and 12.30 ? 2.30 Monday t o Friday(flexible) From Monday 2nd December t o Friday 20t h December 2019.
£7.95 per child wit h free ent ry for accompanying t eachers and helpers. For more informat ion, please cont act our bookings t eam bookings@dpleisure.uk.com or call 01908 670160 A fun Christ mas craft act ivit y can be included for £2 This is bookable wit h a £25 deposit . Min 10 children, Max 35 children. Meet up Groups If you are a parent and t oddler group or just a group of friends wit h lit t le ones and are looking for a great fun venue t o have your Christ mas meet up, we have a great package for you. (To qualify for t his offer you must pre book your event , pay as one group on t he day for your final numbers and be booked in before t he 1st of December. Don?t wast e any t ime and book now t his could be t he Christ mas out ing for you!) Our 2 hour package includes:
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Ent ry t o 360 play and all our great at t ract ions Reserved Table for you and your part y Unlimit ed hot drinks (t ea and st andard filt er coffee) supplied t o your t able, sugar free squash for t he children, a range of fest ive cakes for adult s and biscuit s for t he children This package is available t o book bet ween 9.30am-11.30 and 12.30-2.30pm £5.50 Per Child £4.50 adult s This is bookable wit h a £25 deposit . Min 20 children, and 20 Adult s For more informat ion, please cont act our bookings t eam bookings@dpleisure.uk.comor call 01908 670160
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A meal at Mr Mulligan's At Mr Mulligan's Lost World of Golf you celebrat e any special occasion by playing a round. And along wit h a great game, you can also have a great meal t hanks t o a new cafĂŠ upgrade. They are now serving hot dogs, paninis, wraps, sharing plat es and kids meals.
You can also creat e your own sundae and creat e your milkshake. W het her it 's our 11 Thursday night Dat e Night s or a family day out for big and lit t le kids of all ages, you know t he answer, make it Mr Mulligans! For full updat ed informat ion on t his and all event s which are coming up at Mr Mulligan's Lost World of Golf head t o our Facebook page ht t ps:// www.facebook.com/
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Why it is crucial to keep full working time records Keeping records of working t ime ? why is t his import ant ? By Rebecca List Since the introduction of the Working Time Regulations in 1998, UK employers have been required to maintain records to enable them to show that working time limits are being complied with. More specific regulations govern working time for young workers, for those doing night shifts, and for work involving special hazards or heavy mental strain. On the advice of the Health & Safety Executive, there was no need for specific records to be kept of actual daily working time and instead, existing records that were maintained for other purposes (such as pay) may be relied upon to ensure that limits on working time were being adhered to. A recent case brought before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has called that advice into question. Is it possible that the UK?s Working Time Regulations do not comply with EU law after all? The ECJ were asked to determine whether employers were required to record actual hoursworked each day, in order to ascertain compliance with working time limits, and the answer was a definitive yes. It considered that the only way to guarantee workers? fundamental rights to maximum working hours and rest breaks was for employers to have an ?objective, reliable and accessible?system of keeping adequate records of the actual hours worked by those workers who had not opted out of the 48-hour weekly working time. It is also the responsibility of Member States to ensure that this is implemented, and employers cannot cite expense in sidestepping their obligations. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are yet to update their guidance, but what can employers do in the meantime to mitigate the risk of claims? Look at whether your system is capable to recording actual working hours, especially if you have staff who work regular and unpaid overtime or nightshift, or young workers, since they may
Rebecca List - Head of Empl oyment Law at Tol l ers
become subject to greater scrutiny by the tribunals and the HSE. Remind your workers to declare any second jobs, and where there is any doubt, ask them to opt out of the 48-hour limit. Keep adequate records of those who have opted out together and copies of their signed opt-out agreements. Remember also that those records must also be kept for two years. The Government has consistently maintained that ECJ decisions made before the UK?s departure from the EU will continue to bind domestic courts post-Brexit, although whether we will see a formal amendment to the Working Time Regulations to properly implement the EU?s Directive, remains to be seen.
To find out more regarding t his complex area ?Talk t o Tollers?Employment Team on 01438 901095.
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On the final journey Funeral t ransport : Making your last journey personal There are many sayings in life about journeys and travel. A journey is a common metaphor for life itself and they form the basis of numerous inspirational quotes. But we?re also a generation of physical globetrotters. We plot where we want to go, what we want to do; we have scratch maps to complete, bucket lists to fulfil. So the final journey we make after we?ve passed away is, surely, just as significant. By choosing a mode of transport and a route to take to the final resting place, which are personal to the deceased, a funeral can feel more about their life than their death. It?s not about going into the dark and unknown, but celebrating life and creating more memories. Our blog on personalising funerals [link to personalising funerals blog] touched on transport, but here we?ll look at it in more depth. Why is funeral transport so significant? There are two aspects to personalising funeral transport. Firstly, it allows the deceased to travel in a way that is very personal to them, whether this is
by their own planning before they pass away, or down to friends and family fulfilling their wishes on their behalf. This might be in a vehicle they owned themselves, something they loved going in, or perhaps even always wanted to experience! There was a story in the news recently of a man who?s dying wish it was to have his coffin transported in the bucket of the JCB he drove for 30 years. There are some beautiful pictures online of the JCB taking him on the short journey from his home to the funeral, followed by his family and friends on foot. (https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/24/ granddad-taken-funeralbucket-jcb-9294632/) The second aspect is about those left behind. Depending on the transport chosen, they can walk alongside, drive, or, in the case of a hand pulled bier, even carry their loved one themselves and be beside them right until the end. In some cases, following a traditional black hearse in a funeral car may feel quite distant and unfamiliar for the bereaved, perhaps even a bit stressful. It?s important to see how something as seemingly insignificant as the transport can
help our stress and mental attitude at such a difficult time. [link to funeral stress blog] A study by the Co-op revealed that more and more people want their funerals to be personal and celebratory affairs with Land Rovers and rainbow-hued vehicles to take them to their final resting places ? and companies are responding to these wishes up and down the country! W hat t ypes of t ransport are available? At Austin?s, we can arrange various modes of transport and always do our best to make your wishes happen. Aside from our traditional black hearses and limousines, we can offer? A motorbike hearse with a sidecar for the coffin A VW campervan, A variety of different model Land Rovers A 1950 vintage lorry A hand pulled coffin bier, which has been in the Austin?s family for generations A horse-drawn carriage with black or white horses
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Wedding and party package Can you af f ord t o miss t he Forum's wedding package? As l ong as booking is made by t he end of t his year wit h deposit paid it can be used f or t he ent ire 2020. For a remarkabl e ÂŁ3,000 you can have excl usive use of t he f ul l suit e upst airs incl uding Fairview suit e. Incl udes: -
Room f rom 10am-midnight Cat ers up t o 500 Ful l use of t he kit chen and abil it y t o bring in booze and f ood. Incl ude securit y 1 hot el room Col our t heme upl ight ers and use of screens f or phot os
For part ies, weddings recept ions, birt hdays and charit y event s we are t he venue f or you. Book by Sept ember 30 2019 and use t his t o t he end of 2019. Part y package incl udes: -
Noon - Midnight Ext ended bar l icence on appl icat ion ÂŁ500 per room, accommodat e 200 peopl e. Can increase capacit y by booking a second room f or a 50% discount . Incl udes dance f l oor, securit y, t abl e l inen and bar st af f , upl ight er and screens.
Cal l us now on 01438 779955
And how about our amazing part y package?
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Book the best conference facilities for your business
Do you want t he very best f or your business? The Forum Conf erence and Banquet ing Suit es in St evenage of f er t he f inest f acil it ies and t he best rat es - and we now have a special booking of f er which wil l al l ow you t o book f rom now unt il April 30 2020.
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Dail y Del egat e rat e - f rom just ÂŁ25 f or a minimum of 10 peopl e Every 10t h person is f ree and a bot t l e of f izz f or t he booker. Ideal meet ing space f or 20 peopl e, af t ernoon t ea cof f ee and cakes and l unch
Arrival t ea cof f ee and f resh baked past ries avail abl e Take a break wit h mid-morning t ea, cof f ee and biscuit s Af t ernoon hot and col d working buf f et l unch avail abl e Af t ernoon t ea, cof f ee and a sweet t reat f or al l del egat es Al l bookings incl ude f ul l use of st at ionery, room hire and equipment hire
Quot e Code: Forumbiz19 Cal l 01438 779955 and book now
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Brilliant businesses in High Street need you After our amazingly successful piece in our last edition on Middle Row and the independent shops in that area, we have turned our focus on other shops in Stevenage High Street. The shares and likes we have gained by putting these businesses in the spotlight has been amazing, so don't forget make sure if you need a product or a service which they offer head down to them and keep them in business in #Stevenage
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Phot ography by Brendan Fal vey
If you have enjoyed t hese images of #St evenage by Brendan Falvey and would like t o find out how t o order t hem cont act on t he det ails supplied here
Email: bjpfalvey@gmail.com Search for Bren's Phot o's on Facebook
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For r esult s t oday speak t o t he com m unicat ion exper t s at Spit f ir ePR Media rel at ions
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Proud publ i sh er of #Herts @h ash tagh erts For al l your mark eti ng and soci al medi a needs: 07539 782979 w w w .spi tf i repr.com darren@spi tf i repr.com @DarrenI sted1 @h ash tagh erts
What 's on in # STEVENAGE INS: Every Friday afternoon, So Healthy, a gentle exercise class takes place from 1.30pm to 2.30pm at Bedwell Community Centre. Please contact the INS for more information on 01438 725400 or emailinfo@irishnetworkstevenage.org.ukor follow the group on Facebook or Twitter. St evenage Fl oral Art Societ y: Call Margaret 01438 880086 for more details. St evenage Liberal Synagogue: For further information phone 01438 300222 or visitstevenageliberalsynagogue@gmail.com St evenage Fibromyal gia Support Group:Meet on the second Wednesday evening, 7.30 to 9.30pm, and last Tuesday of the month, 12.30pm to 2.30pm, at Poplars Community Hall. A weekly coffee drop in from 1pm to 3pm takes place on Wednesdays at Encore Coffee House, in the foyer of the Gordon Craig Theatre. Call the helpline 0844 8872 373 or 355 for more info. All welcome. St Andrew and St George:Parish Mass on Sunday at 10am. A toddler group takes place on Wednesdays from 10am to 12pm. All welcome. For further details please email Kimcuttylanegroups@gmail.com.Morning Prayer Monday to Thursday at 9.30 am. Weekday Masses on Monday at 10am, Tuesday at 12.30pm and Thursday at 10am. Compline at 8:30 pm on Thursdays. For more information visitwww.stevenagechurch.org. Debt ors Anonymous:Meetings are held every
Tuesday evening at 8pm at The Living Room, No 15 The Glebe, Chells Way. For more information visit:www.debtorsanonymous.org.uk St evenage Corey?s Mil l Lions Cl ub:Lion are part of the world's largest community based Service Organisation and are looking for more members to assist with the work in the community as volunteers. Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month in Symonds Green starting at 7.45pm. Membership fee is nominal. To find out more call 01438 489247 or 07903 444052 or visit the group on Facebook. St arl ight Dance Academy:Adult tap dance classes, for all ages, with a fully qualified teacher take place from 1.15pm every Friday at the Community and Arts Pavilion, Roaring Meg Retail Park, Stevenage. Age Concern, St evenage:Pop in for a cuppa every Monday, 10am to 12pm, at Swingate House. Age Concerns provides bookings for Britannia Coaches,a hire service for mobility scooters and wheelchairs during opening hours. Free 20-minute appointments for benefits and legal advice, and a footcare clinic are held every Tuesday and Thursday (fee payable). Age Concern's offices are open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 3pm and Thursday 9.30am to 1.30pm, ground floor, Swingate House, Stevenage town centre.Call01438 314164 for more. St evenage Museum:St George?s Way, Stevenage, hosts a wide range of events throughout the year for families, children and adults. Open 10am to 4.30pm Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Saturday. Call 01438 218881 or emailmuseum@stevenage.gov.ukfor more. Cycl e UK St evenage:Starter cycle rides will set off from Costello?s Cafe by the Sailing Centre in Fairlands Valley Park at 10.30am every Saturday. Evening rides from the green by Springfield House Community Centre take place every Wednesday at 7.15pm. For more information go towww.stevenagectc.org.ukor call Jim on 07939 687509 or Jill on 07816 625901.
What 's on in # STEVENAGE St evenage Writ ers:Meet every Wednesday from 5.30pm to 7pm in The Snug Bar at The Dun Cow, Letchmore Road, Stevenage. Mutual support for writers at all levels, something for everyone. Next two months the group is working on getting their Annual together. For more details contact Tony Burtonponytailpoet@gmail.com. Pl ay Go:Takes place every Tuesday from 7.30pm in Letchworth or Stevenage on alternate weeks. Persons under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. For more information, visithttp:/ / www.letchworth-go.org.uk/ letchgo St Hugh and St John's Church: Blaze Youth Club for anyone aged 7 to 14 takes place every Thursday during term-time from 5.45pm to 7.15pm. Have fun playing games, sports, making crafts, baking, cooking, and art, The first Thursday of the month is family night where families are invited to come for a meal and a short service. ÂŁ1.50 per week. Roundabout ers Count ry Dance Cl ub:English country dancing every Thursday, 8pm to 10pm, at Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane SG1 1UP. Newcomers are always welcome, both beginners and experienced dancers. To find out more call 01438 727239, visitwww.roundabouters.org.ukor just come along. St evenage Bridge Cl ub:New players are needed at Stevenage Bridge Club and Springfield House Friday Bridge Club. Stevenage Bridge Club meets at 7.30pm to play Duplicate Bridge at the Priory Nursery, Stanmore Road, Old Stevenage. Contact Phil Cooper on 0795 7813434. Springfield House Friday Bridge Club meet on Friday afternoons at 1.30pm to play cut-in Chicago Bridge at Springfield House. Contact Richard Bean on 01438 221517. Mol l y Vickers School of Dance:Lessons in Ballet, Tap, Freestyle and Contemporary at Bedwell Community Centre, Stevenage. For children (18 months+) and adults, first trial class is free! For more details call Lisa Holt on (01438) 723450 or Stacey Hurst on (01438) 315580. Oval Communit y Circl e:Come along to a free social
group held on the first Thursday of the month anytime between 9:30am and 11am at the Oval Community Centre, Vardon Road. For more information contactenquiries@ovalcommunity.comor 01438 359404. Love t o Dance:Fun and friendly sessions for anyone aged 50 and over take place every Friday from 1.30pm to 3.30pm at Hampson Park Community Centre, Webb Rise, Stevenage, SG1 5QU. Just ÂŁ5.50 per session. For more information call 0203 675 7215 or emailclarebellchambers@saracens.net St evenage Spirit ual Group:Meet every Sunday (except Bank Holidays) at Springfield House, Stevenage Old Town. Sunday meetings take place from 7.30pm till 9pm with a different Medium each week. All welcome. Just Sing Communit y Choir:Come along and sing every Thursday during term time from 7pm to 9pm, at Grace Community Church. Hydean Way, Stevenage. First taster session free and no auditions are required. Contact 07785568463 or visit the websitewww.justsingcc.org.uk Pil at es:Sessions take place at Datchworth Village Hall on Thursdays from 1.30pm to 2.30pm/ Beginners are recommended to attend an introductory class. Call 07732897404 for more information.
Wou ld you lik e t o pr om ot e you r gr ou p or even t f or f r ee? Do you w an t t o sh ow t h e people of #St even age you r gr ou p in act ion ? Sen d you r copy an d pict u r es t o dar r en @spit f ir epr .com an d w e w ill do ou r best t o pu blish t h em in Wh at 's on in #St even age
Join the SportScene team There is a new radio show on the circuit that any sports fan in the area would be mad to miss. SportScene started broadcasting their weekly show earlier in August on SG1 radio, the online radio station broadcasting live from their studio in Stevenage Town Centre. Presented by Steve Watkins, Jay Drackford and Dean Thompson, there is a wealth of local sporting knowledge that has been tapped into, with the trio aiming to showcase any sport local to the area. Steve Watkins said ?It was an idea that was dreamed up by Jay, who quickly shared his thoughts with myself and Dean, and we were hooked. We went to station owner Ray Medwynter and he loved the idea, and two weeks later we were live on air! ?In the first show we were honoured to have former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson as a guest, speaking about his charity, the Welwyn Garden City based
?Willow Foundation?, and his golf tournament recently held at Hanbury Manor. ?The response has been phenomenal in the early days. We have had local clubs represented, with sports including Football, Netball, Running, Iron-Man, Cricket Rugby and Cylcling, and have even included the great work being done with the Aqualina Synchronised Swimming club. ?It has so far been a case of building relationships with the clubs, so that we can follow their fortunes in the future. But we are also keen to get involved ourselves, with Jay already running the local Park Run, and Dean is lined up to have an evening of Synchronised Swimming, which of course will be covered on the show! ?We still need to hear from any new clubs with a story to tell, whether it be news, results, fixtures or events, and we are happy to speak on the phone, get guests into the studio , or simply
read out any news from a club. The aim is to cover ANY local sport, without prejudice or bias. Where at all possible of course!? The show can be contacted at any time via email at sportscene@sg1radio.co.uk, via twitter @sg1sportscene, or on the SG1 Radio Facebook Page. The show is broadcast every Wednesday evening between 9-10pm, and can be accessed at www. sg1radio.co.uk, on mobile phones by downloading the SG1 Radio app, via tune-in radio on a smart device such as sonos or alexa, and is also now being broadcast live with video on Facebook, which has added an extra dimension, and encouraged interaction from the sportspeople of the area. Previous shows can also be played again, with links on Facebook and Twitter. For further details, contact the team at sportscene@sg1radio.co.uk
Make the most of the Unlimited Card to enjoy Cineworld benefits ENJOY UNLIMITED FILMS Watch all the films you can handle at any Cineworld for just one monthly fee SAVE ON SNACKS AND DRINKS Get 10% off all in-cinema food and drink. Plus get 10% off at Cineworld Starbucks licensed stores. ACCESS TO PREVIEWS Be the first to see a movie with special Unlimited member advance screenings SAVE ON EVENT CINEMA We don?t just show movies. You can also get selected discounts on live Opera, National Theatre, live sport and gigs PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP After a year we?ll upgrade you to a premium membership for free, giving you 25% off in-cinema food
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Step 1
Unlimit ed: How t o apply online Step 1 Make sure you have your bank details and a recent passport photo Step 2 Complete the easy application process and use your temporary pass straight away Step 3 We will post your Unlimited card to you Step 4
Visit one of our Cineworld cinemas Step 2 Find a member of staff or use a sign up tablet in cinema Step 3 Complete the easy application process and use your temporary pass to start enjoying Unlimited movies Step 4 Start enjoying Unlimited and related offers We are delight ed t o t eam up wit h Cineworld St evenage t o offer you t he chance t o win five pairs of 2D t icket s t o any film (subject t o availabilit y). To ent er simply follow and like our Facebook page @st evenage magazine and ent er our compet it ion when post ed asking who you would t ake wit h you.
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Ashr idge Est at e
# St evenage November2019
PROPERTY
The unique guide to property news in #Stevenage
#STEVENAGE PROPERTY: THE INTERACTIVE WAY TO VIEW YOUR AGENT
DIRECT LINKS TO WEBSITES, EM AILS, VIDEO AND PROPERTY DETAILS
# PROPERTY STEVENAGE Let 's f ace it - w e live in a digit al w or ld - w h en
t h e agen t s w h o ar e act in g on beh alf of bu yer s,
w as t h e last t im e you u sed pr in t t o t r y an d bu y
seller s, lan dlor ds an d t h ose look in g t o r en t .
or sell a h ou se or t o look f or a pr oper t y t o r en t .
In t h ese pages you w ill f in d live lin k s st r aigh t
Th e on lin e w or ld allow s f or qu ick an d easy
t o t h e agen t s - so h it t h eir w ebsit es n ow , em ail
con n ect ion t o all h ou ses f or sale or r en t , w it h
t h em or ar r an ge a visit - all f r om t h e com f or t
f u ll f act s at you r f in ger t ips an d in st an t lin k s t o
of you r ow n ph on e.
101 High St r eet , St even age
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Tel 01438 231200 m ar k sim on est at es.co.u k
TLC est at es, 4 Bak er St r eet , St even age
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Tel 01438 219282 let t in gs@t lcest at es.co.u k
61-63 High St r eet ,
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St even age Tel 01438 316846 w w w.pu t t er ills.co.u k
86 High St r eet ,
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St even age Tel 01438 728444 h om esan dm or t gages.co.u k
A-Top Pr oper t y Let t in gs, 1 Dr aper s Way, St even age
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Tel 01438 369173 con t act @a-t oplet t in g.co.u k
# PROPERTY STEVENAGE 24 M ar k et Place St even age
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Tel 01438 720100 geof f r eym at t h ew.co.u k
19 M ar k et Place,
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St even age Tel 01438 312312 st even age@w r igh t sof .com
Ow n Hom es, 2 M iddle Row , St even age
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Tel 01438 367753 sales@ow n -h om es.com
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Call 0800 0248 914
8 M ar k et Place, St even age
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Tel 01438 728444 st even age@con n ells.co.u k
74 High St r eet , St even age
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Tel 01438 870673 en qu ir ies@agen t h ybr id .co.u k
The independent local estate agent Text
2 M iddle Row , St even age Tel 01438 367753
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St ephen Harris and Michael Not schild est ablished Own Homes in 2008, operat ing as a successful, independent local St evenage est at e agent .
Here at Own Homes, we understand that each property and sale is individual and therefore tailor our service to suit your specific requirements.
We have prominent offices ideally situated in the heart of Stevenage Old Town. One in Middle Row covering lettings and mortgages and one on the High Street to deal with sales. Our recent expansion and our double fronted office allows us the scope and ability to serve Stevenage and the surrounding residential areas.
Passionate in all we do, we pride ourselves on delivering the highest level of service. Selling and letting a property can be a stressful time, which is why we go the extra mile to make your involvement with us as enjoyable and professional as possible.
Working in Hertfordshire for the past 10 years has enabled Own Homes to develop a comprehensive understanding of residential property in the local areas of Stevenage, Hitchin and surrounds. We have an established an experienced team, on hand to work with you throughout the selling and buying process, ensuring personal contact is maintained from start to finish.
We use a number of marketing styles to ensure your property, whether you are selling or letting, gains maximum exposure and a smooth efficient sale. This includes advertising in local newspapers and glossy magazines, as well as Internet marketing. Our double fronted office also allows people to see
our properties in both windows. To arrange a free valuation, or to find out more about Own Homes and the services we provide, simply call 01438 367753 or email sales@own-homes.com. You can also visit our office. Awards In recognition of our outstanding service, we've been awarded two gold winner awards by the British Property Awards, one for being the top Estate Agent in Stevenage and another for the top Estate Agent in the South East. We're very proud of these awards as the Own Homes team has worked tirelessly to provide industry leading property services in and around the area.
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2 M iddle Row , St even age Tel 01438 367753
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2 M iddle Row , St even age Tel 01438 367753 w w w.ow n -h om es.com
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Hom e an d M or t gages St even age, 86 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 728444
em ail st even age@h om esan dm or t gages.co.u k
Homes and Mortgages Estate Agents are ready and waiting to help the Stevenage community with all its property needs, be it buying, selling or renting, Homes and Mortgages are committed to providing great value customer service for all our clients. Situated in the heart of the historic Old Town and set over three floors, each department provides a professional, welcoming and comfortable environment for all of our customers. We have a team of 9 full time, experienced Sales and Lettings staff on hand to deal with any property enquiry. W hat 's new? The rebranded branch and heavy investment in IT has set Homes and Mortgages up to stand out in 2017 and for the future. Our experienced and dedicated staff all share the same view in providing a fantastic customer experience and are heavily focused on the importance of transparency between ourselves and our customers. The IT software is excellent at allowing vendors and Landlords 24/7 access to information regarding their property. At the click of a button, vendors can see feedback, current interest from web portals and can track the progress of a sale online. Likewise, Landlords have the option to view property maintenance schedules and access statements. mailt o:st evenage@homesand mort gages.co.uk
Click on t h e im ages an d lin k dir ect ly t o t h eir det ails on lin e
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Agent Hybrid falls bet ween t radit ional and online est at e agency. Our aim is t o deliver a personal, one-t o-one est at e agency experience, whilst delivering a service of excellence.
ht t ps://my.mat t erport .com/show/ ?m=GCbcjmCyYn
Click on t he image of our Monument Court propert y (above) and t ake a walk t hrough using t he lat est Agent Hybrid Technology
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Our marketing packages are inclusive of: - Professional photography - Extensive Online Advertisement - 3D Floor plans - Local High Street Office - Accompanied Viewings and Open House Agent Hybrid offer two fee options and both include a full estate agency service. OPTION 1: £1150 upfront, nothing to pay on completion. Add £150 for a walk through tour. OPTION 2: 0.95% of the sale price, payable on sale completion, no sale no fee. Walk through tour included.
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74 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 870673 w w w.agen t h ybr id.co.u k
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Putterills Stevenage - talk to the professionals Text
61-63 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 316846
Founded by Tony Putterill in 1992, with our first office in Welwyn Garden City, Putterills are now celebrating 26 years of serving the Hertfordshire community. We have grown from our original branch in Welwyn Garden City to having offices in Knebworth, Hitchin, Stevenage Old Town and St Albans, as well as a partner office in London?s Mayfair. Each of our sales offices are overseen by a Director who is actively involved in the day to day running; this helps to ensure that we are providing the highest possible levels of advice and service. All of these offices are prominently located to ensure all properties receive the best possible exposure. In addition to our network of sales offices, we have an award winning Land and New Homes department. Our specialists help landowners maximise the development opportunities for usually previously
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used land known as Brownfield, as the country struggles for space for new homes. We have always believed that our task is to provide our clients with the best, up to the minute, expert advice when dealing with what is usually their greatest asset. Our clients have a wide range of emotions and circumstances and we help guide less experienced first time buyers, provide yield information and advice to investment buyers, schooling information to families, hold the hands of those who have not moved for many years and deal sensitively and professionally with those. Over the last few years, we are proud to have won a number of national awards which we believe underline our philosophy of being Trusted Property Experts. 2017 saw Tony Putterill retire and hand the reins of the company over to Mark Shearing. Mark has been in agency in Hertfordshire since 1982
and joined Putterills in 1993. As the company moves into a new era with changing markets, advances in property marketing and the use of technology, our aim is simple - to keep at the absolute forefront of full service Estate Agency and to continue the exceptional levels of service and advice that our clients have been able to rely on over the last 26 years. Our primary purpose has always been to provide an outstanding customer experience and our core values continue to represent this: EXCEPTIONAL ? we are passionate about delivering excellence. RESPECT ? we respect and value those we work with, both our colleagues and our customers. EXPERTISE ? we deliver outstanding skills and knowledge in all we do. TRUST ? we act with honesty and integrity at all times.
Putterills see massive rise in sales on 2018 Text
61-63 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 316846
Putterills are delighted to report that despite stories that the property market is sluggish, year to date they are a staggering 50% ahead in sales than this time last year! Managing Director Mark Shearing says ?Many buyers and sellers believe that the property market is slow at the moment, but our results to date show this is clearly not the case. The market has indeed been tough over the last year or so, but there are always people that need to move. Having over 25 years?experience in Hertfordshire gives us a huge advantage in tougher markets and enables us to adapt to a good old fashioned estate agency service, like talking to people, finding out their real moving requirements and matching them with like-minded sellers, something many online agencies or even younger firms either cannot do, or seem to have forgotten how to do. Prices have softened a little, so realistic pricing is essential, but equally you are likely to end up paying a little less for your next home, so it all balances out in the end. We are also encouraged by the numbers of first-time buyers coming back into the market place, as low interest rates remain it is often cheaper to buy than to waste money
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renting. Hertfordshire enjoys almost full employment with a wide diversity of employers, so whilst we are close enough to London to have many commuters living in the county, we are not dependant on London buyers. Our sales of new homes have risen significantly this year, with our specialist New Homes Department now handling 20 sites offering over 200 homes for sale. Many new homes? buyers are using the Government?s Help to Buy Scheme, which, contrary to most people?s understanding, is NOT just for first-time buyers. There have been some very notable performances from our branches. Our Hitchin sales office has just had its best sales month EVER! Outstanding results. Our Welwyn Garden City office has sold more homes in excess of ÂŁ1 million this year than in all of last year, a clear sign of returning buyer confidence in the upper market. Our Stevenage office has had a stunning month for listing new properties to sell and this improved choice has encouraged more buyers to commit. St Albans office has had its best month this year for both sales and new instructions and we are actively looking for additional staff to meet
demand here. In Knebworth, again, they are ahead of last year as many people want to take advantage of this thriving village?s excellent facilities - including its own station. The conveyancing process remains painfully slow, with some chains taking many months to get to the point of exchange. Sales progression and dealing with issues during the conveyancing period is one of the most important and time-consuming jobs an estate agent carries out. Having experience and being well-known by local surveyors and solicitors is paramount and something Putterills are professionals at. Choosing an estate agent who does not offer this service, or has a remote centre dealing with all their cases, is a false economy and can cause considerable stress and frustration at what can be an already difficult time. In summary, the market is fine, with a good level of buyers, but they need to be encouraged and looked after, so at this time, more than ever, choosing the right agent to handle your transaction is paramount and we hope that our selling success this year speaks for itself!!!
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Shepherding you home the life of an estate agent Text
61-63 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 316846
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W ho'd Be An Est at e Agent ? Duncan Price of Put t erills explains what being an est at e agent really means. Some people t hink our job is easy. They t hink t hat propert y just sells it self. That a buyer appears from nowhere, loves a house or flat and agrees t o buy it - just like t hat . Some t hink t he sale t hen speeds effort lessly t o a sat isfact ory conclusion and wit hout any ot her assist ance. Let me t ell you it doesn't work like t hat well not for most of t he t ime anyway. A 'proper' est at e agent 's job is not t o sell houses; rat her it is t o move people. Moving anyt hing is oft en complicat ed, can be fraught wit h difficult y and have unforeseen consequences. Just t hink about moving t win six-year-olds singlehandedly from home t o school every morning, or moving a cent ral heat ing boiler, or moving 250,000 t ons
of crude oil half way round t he world, or moving a herd of sheep from one hillside t o anot her. It all t akes planning, pat ience, knowhow, experience and resolve. It means expect ing t he unexpect ed, problem solving and, when ot her people are involved, t he highest level of t act and diplomacy. I don't know about you, but if I want ed t o move a herd of sheep I would hire a shepherd. And, in a way, t hat 's what est at e agent s are. We arrange for somet hing wit h lot s of moving part s - each wit h a mind of it s own - t o end up where it should be on t he dat e it is supposed t o be t here. Est at e agent s shepherd people, cont ract s, surveys, mort gages, removals, wit hdrawals,
gazundering, false st art s, disappoint ment s, t he unforeseen and t riumphs from one place t o anot her. Somet imes it 's a smoot h process. But all t oo oft en it isn't . You may not t hink it 's wort h paying for a shepherd at t he beginning. But believe me, at t he end, when it has been sheet ing down wit h rain all day, t he quad bike has broken down, a fox snat ched a lamb and a large group of unreasonable ewes made a long break for freedom you will t hink a shepherd is wort h every penny. W hy are we est at e agent s? We do it because we enjoy being shepherds. Some may t hink t hat selling houses is not much of a job, and in many ways t hey might be correct . But moving people and families on t o t he next st age of t heir lives and making it as seamless and st ress-free as possible is a job we enjoy and t hink is well wort h doing.
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For a top service Text
rely on A-TOP A-Top Pr oper t y Let t in gs, 1 Dr aper s Way, St even age Tel 01438 369173
em ail con t act @a-t oplet t in g.co.u k
If you are looking for a t eam t hat you can t rust t o deliver t ime aft er t ime t hen A-Top Propert y Let t ings in Drapers Way, St evenage is t he one for you. A-Top, which is owned by founder Mervyn Terret t , has gained an impressive reput at ion as t he go-t o agent for all your propert y needs whet her you are looking t o rent or are a landlord seeking t enant s. W it h a combined market experience of more t han 60 years, t he st aff at A-Top are t he most knowledgeable in t he business and along wit h advice on t he rent al market , t hey can also provide informat ion which allows cust omers t o make t he most informed choice possible. Over t he past 33 years t he t eam lead by Mervyn has seen t he local market undergo a wide number of changes, but t hrough t hem all A-Top and it s experienced st aff have always given t he very best and most informed service. There have been plent y of changes which have alt ered t he let t ings landscape in St evenage. Through t hem all however t he reliabilit y of A-Top Propert y Let t ings has remained a const ant and t heir port folio of excellent landlords has increased dramat ically. Comment ing on t he t eam Mervyn said: ?W hat once was a rarit y in t he UK i.e. rent ing, is now so common as a source of income/ invest ment for landlords and of mobilit y for professional working t enant s. We are delight ed t o be able t o use our expert ise t o help bot h t enant s and landlords.? For furt her det ails cont act 01438 369173 or email cont act @a-t oplet t ing.co.uk
Portfolio - for serviced apartments in #Herts Text
Tel 0800 0248 914
Booking a holiday is possibly one of the greatest feelings and counting down the days when you?re having an awful day at work or are just desperate to get away from home can seem like a joy, but there can be a downside. Hotels. While some people may see staying in a hotel like a dream, it can actually be a nightmare if you?ll be staying there for a long time, especially if on a business trip or secondment. With that said, here are the top reasons to stop staying in hotels for your business travel trips. Limit ed Wardrobe Space Packing for a holiday or for a business trip puts you on one of two teams, you?re either naturally gifted and find it a breeze or it?s the worst part of the trip for you, but one thing unites these two camps ? limited hotel space. If you love to pack an outfit for every possible occasion you will know how difficult it can be to cram your clothes into tiny hotel wardrobes, or even worse live out of a case. Staying in a serviced apartment fixes this and means you have a home away from home and all the storage you could need. You feel like you?re t rapped Walking into a hotel room can at first glance feel wonderful, everything is conveniently within arm?s reach and for the first day you love it. Then the second day comes and the third day and by the fourth you feel like you almost can?t breathe. Hotels just aren?t feasible for long periods of time or for anyone who likes a sense of space, after all, who wants to feel trapped by the same four walls for the entire of their trip? Privacy? W hat privacy?
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Hotels may seem like a good idea for a romantic night away, but if you?re travelling with family or small children or even colleagues, then all sense of privacy goes straight out of the window when you?re all sharing a room just feet away from each other. Forget staring dreamily into each other?s eyes when you wake up, you?ll probably be staring at a toddler who immediately wants to play or be woken by another family member?s snoring and that?s not even mentioning the housekeeper who always turns up at the most inconvenient times! Serviced apartments let you have time to yourself no matter how many you have brought along for the trip, so you can sleep well and feel like you have privacy if you are all loved up. Money money money! Straight to the point hotels aren?t cheap. Even for the savviest of spenders and the keenest bargin hunters, you may think booking your hotel means it?s all done, dusted and paid for but you will undoubtedly end up incurring extra fees. Whether you give in to the lure of room-service with its extortionate service charges, or buy a film to keep energetic youngsters occupied, your bill when you check out can hit you like a smack in the face and leave you wanting a more affordable option. Meals on wheels Speaking of room-service, while this may seem like a decadent treat on the first night, by the time you come back from a long day of exploring and are tired, it is so easy to have a burger brought straight to door along with its crazily hiked-up price and extra delivery charges. This can not only wreak havoc on your bank account,
but also on your waist-line and by the time you leave, the only thing that will be thinner is your wallet. Serviced apartments absolutely win here, as having a fully equipped kitchen at your fingertips means it?s easy to rustle up something quick and delicious that will probably be healthier for you and will also save you money! If you want some tips on how to eat well when working away from home check out next weeks blog post, or check out our apartments to find out why it?s time to say goodbye to hotel hell and wake up to apartment heaven! Though staying in a hotel may seem like the obvious option at first, there?s no denying that a serviced apartment brings with it a number of benefits that a hotel just can?t offer. At Portfolio Serviced Apartments we specialise in providing luxury serviced apartments and temporary homes for corporate and business travellers. We offer a secure spacious base which can become a home from home for longer staying guests. Portfolio Apartments are located throughout all of Hertfordshire including Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, St. Albans and Hatfield, whilst through our partners we have access to over 90,000 luxury apartments across the globe. So whether it?s a placement in St Albans or a secondment in San Francisco, Portfolio is consistently the favoured choice for travelling professionals. For more information,get in touch. Our team at Portfolio looks forward to helping you soon. Give our friendly team a call on 0800 024 8914 (Mon ? Fri 9-6pm) or visit our website to view our modern serviced apartments.
101 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 231200 w w w.m ar k sim on est at es.co.u k pr oper t y@m ar k sim on est at es.co.u k
Partners with vast knowledge of the local area Text
Mark Simon Estates is an established Estate Agency situated at: 101 High Street, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 3HR. Here at MarkSimon Estates, we have over 40 years combined experience of Estate Agency within Stevenage and its surrounds. Our Partners Mark Sollis & Simon Jacob both grew up in Stevenage and therefore have a vast knowledge of the area and its surrounds. This in itself, is proving an invaluable asset to prospective Vendors and Purchasers seeking a property which meets both their needs and expectations in a home.
?To Mark, Many t hanks for all your hard work selling my house for us in Jessop Road. You went t he ext ra mile in so many ways. You always kept me well informed and I knew I could t rust you t o carry out everyt hing you promised.? From H.
?To MarkSimon Est at es & your t eam, Thank you for being t here t o help us. ? Mr K & Miss T
Click here for MarkSimon Twitter
?To Mike and everyone at MarkSimon Est at es, A Big t hank you for all your help selling our house, Best wishes.? The W ?s
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The agent with more than 18 years experience Text
TLC est at es, 4 Bak er St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 219282
em ail let t in gs@t lcest at es.co.u k
TLC est at es is sit uat ed in t he delight ful set t ing of St evenage Old Town. We pride ourselves on t he personal and professional services we offer t o all landlords and t enant s alike We offer very compet it ive rat es we are one of t he very few let t ing agent s only left in t he t own . W it h over 19 years of experience in t he St evenage market we are sure t o offer you t he best of services from under one roof.
Renowned for our open and honest approach ,TLC will give you t he full informat ion on t he market . Many of our landlords and t enant s have been wit h us since we opened in 2000 and we are known for our close work wit h bot h. Pop int o our Baker St reet off ice or give us a call and find out how TLC can help wit h your let t ings needs.
The Connells team that you can trust Text
8 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 318080
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Connells Estate Agents in Stevenage are located in the Town Centre along Market Place, and within walking distance of the Train Station. We would love to help you sell or rent your home or find a property to rent or buy in and around the Stevenage area, as well as the villiages Walkern, Knebworth, Little & Great Wymondley, Gravely & Aston. Connells Estate Agents in Stevenage are managed by Gary Young. Gary has had a successful estate agency career over the last 20 years. Gary is supported by Callum Souter who is the Sales Executive with four years experience behind him, Oz Ansari who is the branch valuer, and Melanie Retberg the Branch Administrator. Our in-house Mortgage Consultant Juliet Twining, is fully trained and qualified to advise you on the right mortgage product to suit your needs. Connells Lettings would love to help you rent your property. Lettings Manager Patricia Bowden has 10 year's experience within the Lettings industry and is assisted by Trainee Lettings Negotiator Ben Brooks. With their combined experience and extensive knowledge of the area and rental market, are always happy to offer their assistance to new and experienced buy to let investors and first time landlords
alike. Whether you are looking to sell or rent your property, we offer FREE market appraisals. Please feel free to pop into the branch or call 01438 318080 (Sales) or 01438 318258 (Lettings). We offer a range of property related services all under one roof. In house Mortgage Consultant. Premium Marketing Packages available including Floorplans, Professional Photography, audio tours, and premium listings on Rightmove & Zoopla We have pioneered a dedicated service called The Property Finder
- You tell us what you are looking for and we will find it We know how the Stevenage market moves - our staff are local and extremely knowledgeable. Their in-depth and up to date local experience. Over 10 years?worth of experience and knowledge within the local market. A professional team providing services to suit all your needs including property management, accounts and high quality administration. We accompany all viewings, we believe it is really important, we?ve been trained to do it so you get really good feedback.
Making the Wrights choice
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19 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 312312
Wrights is proud to be an independent estate agency with our own unique values and ethos. We have been in business in Hertfordshire for over 30 years and our experience in helping our customers to buy, sell or rent their properties is second to none. Over the years we have built a professional and enthusiastic team and we now have three branches based in the towns of Hatfield, Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City. Wrights was founded in 1983 by Melvin Wright. Melvin was an experienced estate agent who began his career working for W.H.Lee based in the village of Ware and then moved on to their Stevenage office. As he progressed in his career Melvin was asked if he would open another branch of W.H.Lee in Harlow. Whilst pondering this decision Melvin happened to see that a shop unit in Hatfield was for sale and this made up his mind ? he would start his own estate agency! He picked up the phone to the agent and said he wanted to buy the unit, and so
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Wrights Estate Agency was born on the 15th August 1983. Due to Melvin and his team?s hard work and determination Wrights Estate Agency really took off in Hatfield. Just 10 years after Wrights first opened its doors in Hatfield Melvin made the decision to open another branch in the lovely town of Welwyn Garden City. And so in 1993 Wrights of Welwyn Garden City was founded. As the Wrights team had such a wealth of knowledge about the Hertfordshire housing market it made sense to open another branch, and because Melvin had previously worked in Stevenage he decided to based his next office in this lively town. Wrights were the first independent estate agents based in the town centre and where we led others followed - it soon became a prime location for a number of estate agencies. Independent agency, independent values When asked just what makes Wrights so successful we tell
people that it is our independent values and experience. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, our knowledge and our honesty. We really care about our customers and put them at the heart of everything we do. Our success is also built on great teamwork and our family values extend to the whole of the Wrights team. We make our offices a welcoming place to work and this is evidenced by the fact that we have team members who have been with us for over 20 years! So now you know our history let us help you plan your future in the property market. Whether you are looking to buy, sell or rent get in touch with any of our three branches and we will be happy to help you. 19 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 312312 h t t ps:/ / w w w.w r igh t sof .com / br an ch / st even age/
Geoffrey Matthew property innovators Text
24 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 720100
w w w.geof f r eym at t h ew.co.u k
Geoffrey Mat t hew Est at es are a propert y business wit h offices in Harlow, St evenage and Great Ashby t hat specialise in t he sales and let t ing of resident ial propert y. Over 25 years of experience in propert y and finance give us an unparalleled insight t o t he needs and desires of sellers, purchasers, landlords and t enant s alike. W it h a dedicat ed, hardworking, innovat ive forward-t hinking t eam t hat use modern met hods and good old-fashioned cust omer service, we offer a unique bespoke service t ailored t o you. Tel 01438 720100 w w w.geof f r eym at t h ew.co.u k