7 minute read
Public Trade Office to benefit business in Dorset opens
Arabella Lewis-Smith, Dorset LEP Board Member and Jim Stewart, Chief Executive at Poole Harbour Commissioners
The new Public Trade Office, or the International Trade Customs Office, at the Port of Poole is now officially open for business. The facility will create and safeguard jobs while attracting new businesses to Dorset.
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Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) invested £950,000 of the government’s Getting Building Fund allocation for Dorset to Poole Harbour Commissioners for the creation of this facility which will be operated by UK Border Force. Dorset LEP has invested over £2 million to fund the Public Trade Office and a Port Operations Facility to enable the construction of a Border Control Post at the Port of Poole which will more effectively manage trade in Dorset.
Arabella Lewis-Smith, Dorset LEP Board Member, said “It is fantastic to see this new Public Trade Office up and running. The Port of Poole is an important economic asset within the Dorset economy and to date Dorset LEP has invested over £22 million in the area. The trade office will effectively manage and safeguard trade between the port and the EU for the future, creating jobs and supporting business growth.”
Jim Stewart, Chief Executive of Poole Harbour Commissioners, said “The Public Trade Office is an essential piece of infrastructure for a port. This will enable traffic to flow through the port. Without the construction of this building, it would have jeopardised the future for the Port of Poole. For businesses importing or exporting through Poole, this facility will ensure they have access to Europe. It will create economic growth, it will create jobs, and it will help to keep Poole on the map as an international gateway.”
The Border Control Post project, soon to be completed, will see the construction of offices and welfare facilities for 46 port staff (stevedores, foremen, port operations and accounts), replacing existing facilities which will be demolished to enable its construction. The demolition and replacement of these existing facilities is essential to free-up the required footprint of land necessary to construct a Border Control Post, also to be operated by UK Border Force.
The Border Control Post project is expected to be operational by 1 January 2022. Organisations such as the Department for Environmental, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) will use the post to examine freight coming through the port meets UK standards.
FOCUS ON protection
with Tower Supplies
As a director of a reputable, experienced and long-standing supplier of PPE, I was recently asked by Health & Safety Matters (HSM) magazine to make comment on the result of a survey that they conducted to customers of the PPE market.
The question, “What do you look for from your supplier?” had four choices of answers and in terms of importance, the respondees ranked them, with the most important being quality of products and then knowledgeable staff. Being a member of the PPE industry association was ranked third and fourth was ethically concerned.
Tower is a member of the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) Register Safety Supplier scheme (RSSS) and by virtue of this can fulfil ALL of the other important attributes of a supplier.
Therefore, being a RSSS member could be the number 1 criteria.
BSIF RSSS members declare that their products will meet required quality standards and are subjected to an annual audit. Members can enrol staff on the Safe Supply Accreditation to prove knowledge with an OFQUAL examination – I am one of 15 Tower qualified staff.
Ethical concerns are evaluated by RSSS members who follow compliance protocol that underpins the scheme dictum: “Anyone can sell safety, but you wouldn’t buy safety from anyone.”
My recommendation for directors of companies using PPE is to ask if you’re using a Registered Safety Supplier.
www.towersupplies.com Mark Dowling, Director of Marketing
Louise and Paul O'Connell at Bridge Health & Wellbeing
Bridge Health & Wellbeing celebrate successful first two years in business
In July, Bridge Health & Wellbeing in Christchurch, celebrated their second birthday. Despite everything that has happened over the past two years, this husband-and-wife team of Paul and Louise O’Connell could not be prouder of everything they have achieved.
Bournemouth FC physiotherapist, Steve Hard, opened the doors to their unique health and wellbeing centre on Bridge Street in Christchurch in July 2019. The first year was quite a rollercoaster, as they were forced to close their doors in March 2020 when COVID hit. By their first birthday, physiotherapist Paul O’Connell was back in the clinic for face-to-face appointments, with wellbeing classes running Zoom. They were hoping for a more settled second year in business, but the pandemic had other ideas.
In their second year, they have been forced to close the studio doors again for two more lockdowns. But just like their first year of business, they didn’t let obstacles defeat them.
“When we look back, there have been so many highlights from the last 12 months, despite all the restrictions.” Co-founder Paul comments. “Highly experienced chiropractor Aaron Coode joined our team in March 2021. With two decades of clinical experience and a special interest in spinal rehabilitation, sport and gait-related injuries, we are delighted that our clients are in such safe hands. We were also pleased to welcome sports massage therapist Sam, enabling us to offer even more sports massage appointments. Having worked for 15+ years in the sport and leisure industry, Sam has a wide set of skills and can treat pre and post-surgery clients, help with pain management or even stress-related conditions.
Purchasing a portable massage chair allows us to offer workplace treatments, alongside our workplace DSE Assessment services. As more people return to the office over the coming months, in-workplace treatments could help employees manages their aches and pains, without having to leave the office.”
Bridge Health & Wellbeing has also expanded the range of Wellbeing classes on offer this year. “Local instructor Alex Parker has started running Booty Barre classes in our wellbeing studio,” Louise says. “This upbeat class is the perfect combination of ballet, Pilates and yoga. It’s all in a cardio format yet without jumping or impact on the joints. Trainer Magda Kalfas-Gaca has also begun leading Strength & Conditioning classes with us. These small group classes have worked well for people who are coming to the end of physiotherapy and rehabilitation after injury who need to maintain and progress their training.”
The year has also seen several awards highlights. “We were thrilled to be announced as runners up in the Family Business of the Year Awards in June.” Louise continues. “There are so many amazing family businesses across the South West. It was such a privilege to be listed amongst them. I was very proud to be a finalist in the Successful Women in Business Awards in December 2020. In 2021, we have already been nominated in the Southern Enterprise Awards and the Business Leader Awards. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”
Overall, Paul and Louise are very proud to have continued to grow their health and wellbeing business, despite the pandemic. This year, they plan to expand the timetable of wellbeing classes further. This will offer even more choice for their Wellbeing members, who benefit from discounts on additional classes and clinical treatment. They are also hoping to host more wellbeing and clinical events if restrictions allow.
Paul concludes, “We can’t thank our clients and the wider Dorset community enough for their support during the past two years. It has been quite a journey, but every time we receive positive feedback from our clients it makes all the effort worthwhile.”
Bridge Health & Wellbeing is a friendly, family-run clinic in the heart of Christchurch in Dorset, with high quality physiotherapy, sports massage, chiropractic treatment, expert Pilates, yoga and state-of-the-art gym facilities all under one roof. Whether you need help with pain or an injury, or just want to stay fit and healthy, come and join them for your journey to wellbeing.
