Niche Magazine Issue 8

Fa s h i o n

B u s i n e s s

Fashion

H e a l t h

Fo o d

We d d i n g

magazine ISSUE 8

HIGHLIGHTS

FINE

& fabulous FOOD

&

HEALTH WELLBEING

umiere

St Martins House THE PERFECT VENUE FOR YOUR NEXT MEETING, CONFERENCE, DINNER, WEDDING OR PARTY

If you know you want to change the way you look, you may want to take the first step. Come in and tell us your plans at Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital.

We’ll listen and help you decide on the best way to get the results that you want, with the same consultant all the way through. So when you’re ready for the new you, talk to us.

Call us now to book a complimentary 10 minute chat with one of our consultants.

The Nuffield Health Promise Our all-inclusive prices are guaranteed We will meet any comparable price* There are no time limits on your aftercare**

For further information contact: 2

2

0116 2983241 Scraptoft Lane, Leicester LE5 1HY

patients paying for themselves. **Where possible, we promise to assist you to receive any follow up advice, treatment or care that is clinically required from your Consultant for as long further intervention and/or monitoring of a patient’s condition is deemed necessary as a direct result of surgical intervention.

02

MAY /JUNE

C ON TEN TS

06. RUNWAY ROCKS

FEATURES

22. HEALTH & BEAUTY

14. CELLINI Keeping Leicester’s luggage history alive

36. WEDDING BELLES

24. U FIT STUDIO The missing piece of the summer fitness puzzle

56. FABULOUS FOOD & DRINK 68. LAVISH LIVING 82. CARE & CHARITY 92. TALK BUSINESS 138. MOTORING 146. TRAVEL IN STYLE

37. DIMBLEBEE CATERING Perfect Wedding Catering for a Perfect Day! 39. ST MARTINS HOUSE City Centre Wedding Chic

COVER FEATURE

58. MAIYANGO Well Executed and Perfectly Polished 78. CHRYSALIS INTERIOR DESIGN Celebrate the coming summer by embracing the changing seasons in our homes.

102. LEICESTER RACECOURSE Coursing through the heart of Leicester’s community

NICHE 03 NICHE 03

Hello!

We have an exciting edition to take you straight into the heart of summer, with lots of delicious places to dine out, fabulous clothes to wear, and plenty of va-va-voom going on in the Leicester business community.

FA S H ION PIC K S

Look out for our spotlight features on: St Martins House, it really is the heart of a great City, Chrysalis Interior design, who will tempt you with this season’s colours, and Cellini, with handbags and jazzy luggage to die for.

It’s all about being healthy and fit; with UFIT Studio showing us some great easy methods, Dimblebee Catering showing us their party pieces, and the new Conference Centre at Leicester Racecourse is first past the post!

I have been racing myself, to events such as; King Richard III Reinterment, where I was lucky enough to attended the service, the launch of the Niche Business Awards at Hotel Maiyango and the first in our series of Leicester’s Inspirational Women in Business Event.

With so much going on over the next few months including The Gauntlet Leicester, all the way to the Niche Business Awards semi final announcement.

Follow me on Twitter (@jennycross81) to stay ahead with up and coming events.

Jenny x Black and white patterned pencil dress £39.00 Grey and white clutch £24 Golding ghillie tie court £45.00 www.missselfridge.com

BUY TICKETS ONLINE NOW FRIDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER 2015

RECOGNISING OUTSTANDING LEICESTERSHIRE BUSINESSES AND BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS

04

Summer Cocktails on the Terrace COMPANY DIRECTOR Jenny Cross - jenny@crossproductions.co.uk OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Leanne Baker - leanne@crossproductions.co.uk DESIGN: Rachael Bambrough & Clare Sommerfield - design@crossproductions.co.uk EDITORIAL Sarah Bladen & Kerry Smith - editorials@crossproductions.co.uk MEDIA ACCOUNT MANAGERS: Sally Smith - sally@crossproductions.co.uk Emily Davison - emily@crossproductions.co.uk Kristal Scotton - kristal@crossproductions.co.uk Tania Hollingsworth - tania@crossproductions.co.uk

Cross Productions, 17 Mandervell Road, Oadby, Leicester, LE2 5LR Published by: Cross Productions Ltd www.nichemagazine.co.uk Email: info@crossproductions.co.uk Telephone: 0116 2712573 Distribution: Media Matters Direct www.mediamattersdirect.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS www.stmartinshouse.com www.dimblebeecatering.co.uk www.rdz-pr.co.uk www.themillerpartnership.com www.glyniswright.co.uk www.tpllp.com www.chrysalisinteriordesign.com www.slmbuilders.co.uk www.save-earnmoney.co.uk www.modagreco.co.uk www.soarvalleypress.co.uk

Thursday 11th June, 7pm till late £20 a head includes 3 cocktails from Maiyango’s new summer drinks list and canapés Live cocktail demonstrations & live music

Charities of Choice

#heart4hendrix

Ps Don’t Drive!

Book your ticket online at CURRENT ISSUE

FACEBOOK.COM/NICHEMAGAZINEUK @MAGAZINENICHE

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/summer-cocktails-on-theterrace-at-hotel-maiyango-tickets-16627361887

Download our free app from the app/play store

NICHE 05

RUNWAY ROCKS

Abiti

06

1730 Georgia by Jane Shilton The gold studs around the edge of this luxurious leather handbag give the classic tote design a modern twist. With a spacious inner and handy removable strap, it’s both practical and stylish.

Available in black, red and tan, £189.

Fashion

& Style

Travel in style with the Firelite from Samsonite. Made with revolutionary Curv technology, it’s both impactresistant and lightweight. Four smooth and silent wheels allow 360° rolling for easy manoeuvrability.

Monsoon

Available in a range of colours. Firelite 69cm Chili Red, £299. www.cellinileicester.co.uk

Are you wanting to look great and feel amazing but find following the different fashions an expensive hobby?

The simplest way to overcome this is to stick with a staple wardrobe of clothing, classic pieces and turn them into exciting new outfits by accessorizing. You can change the whole look in an instant.

Take one simple black dress (www.hm.com) team with heels, add a current statement necklace (www.iridescence.co.uk) a statement ring and a metallic hand held clutch for a sophisticated evening look. All you need is a hot date!

Let's take the same dress and add a splash of colour with a striking scarf worn around the neck, a chunky bracelet in a complimentary shade and an on trend magazine handbag (www.iridescence.co.uk), add a pair of slouchy low heel boots and you're rocking a day time look - casual but with a stylish edge.

Then you can put together many other new looks teaming your accessories with other key clothing pieces such as blue jeans, a leather skirt. You can also get more creative and accessorize accessories.

Try a brooch on a hat, or tie a co-ordinating scarf on a handbag, there are endless stylish possibilities.

Contact Samantha Houghton for further advice and accessory party bookings at sam@iridescence.co.uk or 0330 223 3655.

Happy accessorizing!

Strike a pose in the City This season’s city look has a military edge.

Large pockets with very big gold or silver buttons. Button up dresses, button down suits, and add plenty of opulent trims. Hip length jackets are back, and don’t we love them!

Skimming over all our worst features, and brilliant with strappy high heels. Shapes are unstructured but pulled in with a matching belt. Tommy Hilfiger is out in front with suits in utilitarian black, muted reds and a whole range of greens and greys. Bags are soft and worn over the shoulder in a military sash style.

Dashing but demure is the secret…

Float your way through summer!

A light romantic look is all over the catwalks.

Create it for yourself with pastel shades, flowing fabrics and translucent sleeves. Easy to wear whatever your shape, it’s all about the flow of the material, loose fitting and long, with a simple waist tie for a classically feminine silhouette. Colours are pale and muted creams, soft blues and iridescent greens. Add applique flowers, a splash of coloured beads, some hoop earrings; and finish the look with a deep dyed vibrant coloured handbag, and you will sweep through every event this summer. Look out for them at Ascot and Wimbledon. Pale and interesting is the theme…

www.iridescence.co.uk

NICHE 07

SS15 Beauty Fashion week always gives us an insight into autumn and winter 2015 hair trends. This year was no exception.

Ponytails seemed to be the hair go to for most designers, but to make them more high fashion and trendy, stylists were going more for super sleeked back wet look ponies.

The hair seemed to be sculpted into place replacing the loose bohemian trends of last year. Though the shape is based on something classic, the shiny, lacquer-like finish gives it a new, modern feeling. We’re seeing quite a lot of this style this season with the different ponytails and up-dos that have very defined shapes or silhouettes. The finished look is very modern and sleek with just a hint of shine.

David Koma SS15 (Christopher James, British Fashion Council)

Other designers went more for the laid back rock chic vibe. With undone hair and minimum product, enhancing the natural textures and movement in the hair; letting the models own beauty shine through. Valentino says “The Valentino woman always exudes this classic, feminine, romantic beauty, which is what the hair is all about this season.” Models were both wearing middle and deep side parting meaning there is a parting to suit everyone’s face shape that is still on trend. There was also the use of small plaits for slight detailing outweighing the chunky plaits of last year, using them to pull some of the hair back from the face or scattered around for a messy look.

Topshop Unique SS15 (Christopher James, British Fashion Council)

Amilee Reynolds Visit Moda Greco at 3-5 Gallowtree Gate Leicester LE1 5AD Call 0116 2629201 to book your next appointment.

J. JS LEE SS15 (Daniel Sims, British Fashion Council)

08

Scan for Offers

3-5 Gallowtree Gate | Leicester | LE1 5AD www.modagreco.co.uk | 0116 2629201

NICHE 09

Betty Ann

Pomodora Olsen Lebeck Peruzzi Kapalua Michelle Trousers/Skirts Gina Bacconi Monari Just White Blouses

122 Castle Street, Hinckley www.hinckley-online/betty-ann 01455 632733

Abiti Ladieswear would love to share with you our boutique experience including handpicked items from Danish, French and English designer labels.

We are now a new stockist for the brand Postcard from Brighton and we are so excited to share with our customers that we have added Twisted Muse to the Abiti collection in store.

We also stock the following brands; Charli, American Vintage, Becksondergaard, Twist & Tango, Second Female, 360 cashmere, Isle Jacobsen, Yerse, Marie & Sixtine, Maison & Scotch, Ya Ya, Dr denim Jeans, Rails, Annie Haak, Nue, Tina & Jo, 2nd Day and many more.

We also offer a personal wardrobe refresh where we hand pick individual items and incorporate them into your wardrobe…easy shopping, we tailor it to every customers needs.

Discover the amazing Eliza & Ethan multiwrap dresses at our New Leicester Boutique FIRST FLOOR, SILVER ARCADE, LEICESTER

www.divineladieswear.co.uk

188 x 130 Ladies Day Ad new:Layout 1 13/04/2015 16:18 Page 1

Enjoy a full days racing, along with our best dressed lady contest and live music.

This year’s live music includes live performances by Kid Creole and the Coconuts plus a DJ set by Lemar!

Kid Creo le & the

C oc onuts

Lemar

Gates open 11.15am First race 2.15pm Last race 5.35pm Music starts shortly after last race

General admission

£29

Children 18 & under go

FREE

www.Abiti-Ladieswear.co.uk Facebook: Abiti Ladieswear 21 Francis Street, Stoneygate, Leicester LE2 2BE 10

Leicester Racecourse

@LeicesterRaces

Leicester Racecourse

Leicester Racecourse

Linea Raffaelli outfits available in sizes 8 to 16 www.dressini.com

Tallulah Barely There Sandal £59.00 Monsoon

LADIES

1517 Evening Bag by Jane Shilton This beautiful gold clutch will add a touch of vintage glamour to any outfit. £65 www.cellinileicester.co.uk

monsoon.co.uk

DAY FASHION

AS Renee elaborate feather pill box £45.00 Accessorize very.co.uk

NICHE 11

Happy Hats

Accessories Style Walkthrough at Ladies Day of the Crabbies Grand [XPOSURE]

National

A beautiful day for Ladies Day saw a wonderful mix of black and white at Aintree this year during the Grand National with splashes of bold colour to be seen throughout.

www.happy-hats.co.uk

01858 466 849

28 Church Street, Market Harborough, LE16 7AA Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday 10am to 5.15pm

Many ladies sported the monochrome look whilst others went for bright block colours as seen on Coleen Rooney and singer Rebecca Ferguson. Both fuchsia pink outfits were effectively eye catching in the sun and a lot of block colours seen at Aintree were of varying shades of pink and red.

To stand out in the sunshine this year block colours in oranges, purples and pinks will see that you glow at any event. Contrasting block coloured shoes such as blues and greens add to the simple style for a striking effect.

Black or white dresses worn with a thin waist belt and bag of the opposite colour were on trend and were worn with elegant thin ankle strap heels.

The same colour schemes were found with the fascinator this year.

Either bright, one colour fascinators were chosen or complete black or white. Lace and feathers are still a popular choice alongside ribbons and butterfly embellishments.

Of course, as every year provides, the more daring of the racegoers exhibited some more unusual choices. It seems the quirkier the better this year. Distinctive shoe designs such as a pair of Bambi inspired heels and a newspaper print dress received plenty of attention.

Undersized hand bags and oversized clutch bags will become more prevalent as the year goes by. Undersized hand bags give a sweet dainty look or oversized clutches for a more sophisticated appearance.

Fabulous Frocks for All Occasions 3 East Bond St, Leicester, LE1 4SX www.samuifrockshop.co.uk 12

This year is all about simplicity with a hint of over the top-ness.

Simple blacks and whites or block colours can be worn with eccentrically patterned shoes, oversized hats or small fascinators with lace detailing, loops and ribbons.

DAYWEAR AND OCCASIONWEAR

SALE NOW ON

CONDICI

CONDICI

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF

DRESSINI

R

Main Stockists of CONDICI, IAN STUART, JOHN CHARLES, LINEA RAFFAELLI to name but a few SIZES 8 to 24 Over 2,000 stunning outfits for mums and guests Visit our website: www.dressini.com Or email: info@dressini.com

CONDICI

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9-11 Market Place, Market Bosworth, CV13 0LF Tel: 01455 290234 3.03.1/04 19//942 OL

NICHE 13

C E L L I N I : K E E P I N G L E I C E S T E R’ S LUGGAGE HISTORY A L I V E Steeped in history, Cellini, in Hotel Street, Leicester, is a shopper’s paradise, filled with some of the top names in luggage and handbags.

THE NEWLY REFURBISHED STORE ON HOTEL STREET

CELLINI OFFERS A WIDE SELECTION OF LUGGAGE BRANDS INCLUDING Samsonite

THE LATEST SEASON’S HANDBAG PICKS ARE NOW IN STORE

14

Having undergone a £50,000 refurbishment in late 2014, the store now boasts a greater selection of suitcases and travel bags than ever before. Alongside larger collections from the likes of Samsonite, Antler, Delsey and Bric’s, Cellini has added product ranges from American Tourister, Eastpak and Rock.

history is not just confined to its premises. As part of the Jane Shilton brand, Cellini also boasts a rather romantic past.

Owned at the time by two brothers, Ernest and John Brown, the store on the corner of Hotel Street and Market Place was a gentleman’s outfitters. Seeing a business opportunity, the Browns began to offer clothing suitable for foreign climates, eventually expanding into luggage.

In addition to the latest Jane Shilton designs, Cellini also offers some of the top seasonal picks from brands such as Radley, Kipling, Fossil, Rowallan and The Bridge. A gorgeous selection of bags and accessories from Knomo has also been added to the store for the first time this year.

So while the latest refurbishment brings a fresh, contemporary look to the shop, it also sees it returning to its origins - the old fashioned Orient Make trunks may be gone but today Cellini has everything the modern explorer could need.

Shoppers can find all of this season’s trends, including bold, bright pinks and yellows; cool, nautical blues; and elegant peach numbers.

For those looking for a more traditional style, Cellini also has a wide range of classically styled leather and non-leather handbags. And not forgetting the gentlemen, Cellini stocks a selection of fine briefcases, satchels and wallets.

Founded 80 years ago in London by Alexander Shilton, the company originally manufactured gas masks. When Alexander went to war, his secretary Jane worked diligently to keep the business going. Upon his return, Alexander and But luggage isn’t the only thing on offer from this city centre treasure trove. These collections Jane married, with Alexander renaming the company Jane Shilton in his wife’s honour. are accompanied by an extensive choice of handbags, briefcases, purses, wallets, laptop Still run by the Shilton family, the company bags and even umbrellas. now designs and manufacturers stunning Although Cellini now sells the latest in luggage handbags inspired by the latest shapes, trends and materials from across the world. In trends, its heritage lies in the bulky trunks addition to a busy e-commerce site, the brand of over a century before. The history of the owns four boutique retail outlets in Banbury, building Cellini stands in dates back over 120 Beverley, Eastbourne and Leicester. As the Jane years, to when Thomas Cook first set up his package holiday business in Leicester. With an Shilton e-commerce hub, the Leicester store offers one of the widest selections of luggage increasing demand for convenient, affordable and bags in the city. travel came a sudden need for luggage.

Now owned by the Shilton brothers, Cellini’s

Led by the twin brother team of manager and assistant manager, Leon and Elliot Moss, the store’s staff are on hand to offer advice and guidance to anyone looking for a new bag, travel case or even a gift for a loved one.

Leon and his team get to know their customers, recognising familiar faces and remembering their style preferences. Over the years, Cellini has developed a strong reputation for delivering excellent customer service, something it prides itself on providing to both regular and new customers.

With summer just around the corner, holidaymakers may be looking for the perfect travel companion and Cellini is the place to go.

The shop’s sales assistants are able to advise on the most suitable suitcases in terms of size, weight, style, design, durability and price. The team can also help with choosing luggage that meets an airline’s cabin bag requirements, or even just advise on which are this season’s must-have travel picks.

Perfectly placed in the heart of the city, Cellini can be found on the corner of the Market Place and Hotel Street.

Website: www.cellinileicester.co.uk Tel: 0116 251 8612

Lumps and Bumps Whether you are a man or a woman, it’s always a good idea to know all the normal contours of your own body, so that should any unusual lumps or symptoms arise; you will be able to recognise them quickly and know what to do about them.

Let’ start with a few top tips for men: 1. Don’t panic if you feel a testicle lump, only around 4 in every 100 lumps are diagnosed as cancer, and there are many other conditions to be considered, such as: enlarged veins, swelling caused by fluid, or a cyst caused by a collection of fluid. (Sporting injuries in Rugby are common for things like this) 2. Mostly, they will be about the same size, but if you do have one slightly bigger than the other normally, that is perfectly fine. They

should feel smooth, and firm but not hard.

3. The trick is noticing any changes to what is normal for you, and if you do suddenly notice something unusual, pop into you GP to have it checked. If you want more information, just follow these useful links to NHS Choices: testicular lumps and swellings testicular cancer questions about men’s health.

Ladies Breast Examinations 1. Every woman should get to know how her own breasts look and feel at different times of the month. They can be tender and feel lumpy around the time of your period. 9 out of every 10 lumps found are nothing serious.

The shower or bath is the easiest place for a self-examination and a soapy hand will easily feel anything new that wasn’t there last time.

3. If you notice any of these, then make a GP appointment to have it checked: sudden changes in the outline or shape, any puckering or dimpling of the skin, sudden pain in one breast, any new lump, thickening or bumpy area in one breast. Of course report any nipple bleeding or any red area that doesn’t heal, as well as any change in nipple position, or sudden rash.

Here is a useful link to the: NHS Breast Screening Programme and here is a step by step guide to self-examination: http://www. nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-self-exam

2. Look at your breasts in the mirror about once a month to see if they look any different.

AVAILABLE IN TWO SHADES OF GREY

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or call 01332 811 732

SWIMWEAR CLEARENCE Less than cost

www.thelittlebigbrashop.co.uk 4 Adam & Eve Street, Market Harborough, LE16 7LT

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09/05/2014 1

Beautiful Lingerie Made Especially For You

NICHE 17

Beautiful lingerie made especially for you...

‘Bigger is not always better’ - but for the more petite ladies among us, finding a perfectly fitting bra can be a struggle. Little Women solves every petite ladies problems with their range of bras to suit sizes that are less available on the high street.

They provide cup sizes ranging from AAA to B as well as measurements from 28-40 and stock well-known popular brands such as B'tempted, Triumph, Royce and After Eden. Little Women also stock their own ‘Limited Edition Label’ that you won’t find anywhere else.

At affordable prices, Little Women have lots of flattering choices that are fashionable and well made. Little Women encourage you to embrace your natural shape and to make the most of it.

They believe that wearing gorgeous and proper fitting underwear brings confidence. The team at Little Women love what they do and invite any like-minded, petite women to call them if any advice is needed.

See what they have to offer at www.littlewomen.com.

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1. Softly You, Bra £29.75, Bikini Brief £15.25 2. Softly You Bra £29.50, Bikini Brief £15.25 3. Lace Kiss Bralette £15.00, Bikini Brief £10.00 4. Anny Bra £15.99 Anny Boxer £9.99 5. Lace Kiss Bralette £15.00, Bikini Brief £10.00 6. Cotton Soft Bra £27.50 Bikini Brief £14.00 7. Sheer Lace Bra £29.75 Sheer Lace Brief £15.25 8. So You Bra £28.75 Bikini Brief £15.00

Anny Boxer £9.99

Ultra You Bikini Brief £15.25

Sheer Lace Thong £15.00

Cotton Soft Thong £13.50

Brand new and a PERFECT little set for giving, the NEW Lace Kiss by Wacoal B'tempted.

Extremely soft Helanca and Galloon lace - a brilliant gift or gorgeous treat for yourself ! Absolutely fabulous when mixed and matched with the new B.Natural range - pure bliss and perfect for the weekend!

www.littlewomen.com

NICHE 19

The Hair Room

by Katy Bhoe

SUMMER CAN WE LESSER MORTALS WEAR FLORALS WITHOUT LOOKING LIKE A SHRINKING VIOLET? I feel like florals have been around for ages, but they certainly reflect the mood of spring and summer. Often we feel more inspired to wear bolder patterns and colours in summer, than in winter. Florals don’t have to be girly. You can choose to sling them on with a pair of brogues or choose a bolder, more aggressive print, rather than a pretty pastel. Even if I wasn’t an “image consultant” I’d be totally up for a flower or two – you can’t help being cheerful when wearing flowers! How about you? Which would you wear?

WIN

We’ve teamed up with The Hair Room, to offer one lucky reader a chance to win a summer make-over!

One lucky winner will win a cleanse cut & style with Salon Director (worth £29) and shellac nails (worth £15) a super shiny, long lasting, chip resistant gel colour which lasts up to 3 weeks.

All you need to do to enter is email your name and contact details to competitions@crossproductions.co.uk before the closing date of May 29th 2015.

The Hair Room, 63 Montague Road, Leicester, United Kingdom 07891 731499

Pretty floral shift dress. £48. Warehouse. Sizes 6-18.

Polyester viscose elastane mix. Machine washable. It may look at little short (depending on your age) but on holiday it’ll be fine. This will suit boyish and pear shapes.

Floral chiffon sleeve dress. £35. Warehouse. Size 8-16.

100% viscose. Machine washable. A loose shift style tunic, for easy wear around the house and on the school run. Great with footless tights and pumps or wearing over jeans too. Suit boyish and apple shapes best.

Let me know if this has inspired you to try out some floral clothes. Keep looking at my Facebook Vicky Smith Styling, to give you ideas on how to wear clothes, or book a one to one with www.vickysmithstyling.co.uk

20

PUTTING THE SPARK INTO

CLARENDON PARK A quiet revolution is happening in Leicester’s Clarendon Park. A recent upsurge in the number of independent businesses opening here is fast earning it a reputation as the city’s premier showcase for trendsetting indie shops.

New and pre-loved gifts and homeware in Elizabeth James

My name is Ruth and last year I started writing a blog called Clarendon Spark as a way of celebrating this special corner of Leicester. I’ve covered all sorts of subjects, from architectural history to the work of local musicians, and even the part a local pub played in catching a murderer! What's really captured my imagination though is the vibrancy of Clarendon Park’s independent business community.

Established Clarendon Park enterprises like Barceloneta restaurant, Julie’s Cycles, Fingerprints delicafé, Archers Butchers and Labels designer dress agency set the stage. Their success inspired other entrepreneurs, as well as creating an appetite for independent shopping and dining options among local residents.

Some particularly imaginative ventures have opened up recently. Among these is Elizabeth James, an upmarket homeware shop on Clarendon Park Road, which sells hand-picked gifts as well as beautifully restored vintage furniture. Just down the road is The Secret Tea Room, serving traditional afternoon teas in retro surroundings. Further raising the area’s hipster credentials is Northern Cobbler. This gorgeous Queens Road café has a surprise up its sleeve - it's also a shoe shop!

Small but perfectly formed: The Hair Room on Montague Road

Adopting a similar fusion approach is Queens Road newbie Mooch.

This innovative store combines a hair salon and a high-end interiors shop. Meanwhile, tucked away on Montague Road is The Hair Room.

This bijoux salon offers a welcome retreat from the bustle of Queens Road and the chance to enjoy some well-deserved pampering in relaxed surroundings.

Clarendon Park has so much to offer discerning shoppers with a love of all things quirky and distinctive. Find out more about the area on my blog, www.clarendonspark.co.uk, and pay us a visit soon!

Me enjoying a traditional cuppa in The Secret Tea Room

NICHE 21

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Eden Hall

22

Sun Screens – Is it all Smoke and Mirrors?

Well pretty much, buying the right sunscreen

you know that this is just the level of protection of Dermatologists (BAD) a sunscreen with an

is not easy, but here are some top tips to make

against UVB, and not UVA, so labelling on

SPF of 30 and a UVA rating of 4 or 5 stars

sure you know what to look for, and why…

the packaging is beginning to change to give

is considered to be a good standard of sun

you some information about the level of UVA

protection, as well as sensible shade and light

protection in your chosen product as well.

clothing.

Absorbers and Reflectors

Sun screen works in 2 completely different Look for the UVA stars ways. They either absorb the UV rather like a sponge, converting it into harmless infrared; or Have a look for the new UVA star rating on the they reflect the UV like a mirror and bounce the harmful rays away from the skin. So smoke packaging. The stars range from 0 to 5 and tell you the % of UVA radiation absorbed by the and mirrors isn’t too far from how they work. sunscreen in comparison to UVB. So be sure

How to choose the SPF

Any product achieving the EU Recommendations for UVA and UVB will have a UVA logo on the product with the letters “UVA” printed in a circle, like this:

to buy a high SPF as well as a high UVA stars rated product.

We all know that SPF stands for sun protection factor, with 6 and 10 at the lowest end and 30

These are sometimes labelled as ‘broad So look out for it on the shelves this summer… to 50+ at the maximum protection end; but did spectrum’. According to the British Association

Are you worried about your weight?

If you are,

Could be the answer Cambridge Weight Plan is all about choices, made by you to benefit you. Together you and yourConsultant will work out a plan that suits your lifestyle – helping you achieve the best results at the rate you want. So, why not make a positive decision to change your life for the better and contact me today.

Your independent Cambridge Consultant:

Eileen Larder M: 07784 333851

H: 0116 2889229

E: eileen1943@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/CWP/EileenBryanL/info

NICHE 23

The missing piece of the summer fitness puzzle Knowledge isn’t power until it is applied - Dale Carnegie.

Here we go again, the sun has poked its head around the corner and immediately every magazine is plastered in ways to get-fit-quick and undo all of the damage the winter has done. You’ve been given the 5 best exercises, the 10 best foods and the world’s best plan to get you in shape in no time.

It always contains the newest, the best, or the most completely amazing technique that has just been discovered from the sexiest and most desirable trainer the world has ever seen.

It makes interesting reading, but isn’t it always a little underwhelming? By the end of the article usually what you’re told to do is eat more veg, drink more water, cut out the junk and do some basic bodyweight exercises.

That’s it. You can jazz it up however you like but they pretty much all come back to that.

Remember there are no new fundamental principles in fitness, the simple stuff works really well, every time.

All the knowledge that you need is out there, there are countless numbers of free resources all over the internet; free forums, free nutrition websites, free journal articles and a million free fitness videos on YouTube. Everything that everyone has ever known is available if you know where to look.

As a result of this obvious fact, I almost never give anyone any nutrition/exercise advice that they couldn’t find by looking it up online. If you look hard enough there is more information on the internet than you could ever need.

Meet the team: Joe Hanney, Jeff Lynch & Sam Hanney

“

conclusion they came to was as follows: “Weight Saturday, you can start again on Monday’. loss differences between individual named diets were small. This supports the practice of recommending any But with a team of experienced coaches behind Beginning any kind of diet that a patient will adhere to in order to lose weight” you you’ll have the accountability to keep going when you never would have in the past. You’ll exercise regime will make So any short term nutritional interventions will find out the inside tips on how to navigate work! And it’s the same with exercise, at least in tricky situations and still make progress. The a difference to your health. the short term; beginning any kind of exercise only thing you’ll be hearing is, ‘Don’t you look regime will make a difference to your health. great! What’s the secret?’

It’s all better than nothing.

So what’s really holding you back from Well now you know. achieving what you want to achieve? It So if this is case then why do people get certainly isn’t someone saying that you need demotivated? Why do they not bother, why do Schedule A Special BEACH BODY to do some basic exercises and eat well to get people fail to lose weight?

“Breakthrough” 90-Minute One-on-One healthy. You knew that.

Coaching Session Today The big secret to your summer body, that one But there is so much conflicting advice! limiting factor that’s been holding the body of Are you interested in a Beach Body your dreams just out of grasp, is you don’t have “Breakthrough” Coaching session with Joe Some people advertise the Atkins, Paleo, the the right team behind you.

Hanney but you aren’t quite sure it’s a good fit South Beach, the Dukan, the Zone, the 5:2, for you?

Intermittent Fasting, low fat, low carb, vegan The right team will give you accountability and ….. the list is endless. a proven plan to get you started. They’ll help That’s totally understandable! Call U Fit Studio you when things get sticky and give you a kick on 0116 276 3411 (quote Niche Magazine) to Some advertise different types of training, up the backside when you let yourself down. schedule a FREE 15 minute personal phone there’s Tabatta training, running, Crossfit, strongman, body combat, Zumba, swimming, They’ll never judge, and only ever give you the call and talk to Joe directly about your current best advice and motivation to keep on going. situation, the goals you want to achieve, and walking, resistance training, circuit training Remember it’s all about action, just doing it the challenges you believe are standing in your until you get your reward. way. - you will also get all of your questions They all say different things, but here’s the answered about achieving your very own kicker. Compared to the standard western diet You know that you want to do it, and we know beach body. found in the UK every single combination of that you want to do it. But when you go round the above training programmes and diets will Joe works exclusively with women who are the have a positive effect on people who commit to a friend’s house and pluck up the courage to tell them you’re making a change and therefore most committed to their success. He’ll gladly them. They’re all good. won’t be having any of junk food on offer; you take the time to explain all of the benefits and determine if the two of you would be a Last year researchers published an article in the know they won’t care. good match moving forward into such a close, prestigious Journal of the American Medical They’ll say, ‘But you look great, you don’t need consistent, and intense working relationship.

Association that tested the efficacy of more to lose any weight’ or ‘Don’t be boring it’s than 40 popular diets on obese adults. The

0116 276 3411 HELLO@UFITSTUDIO.CO.UK 99 BARKBY RD, LEICESTER LE4 9LG

NICHE 47

DINING WHILST DIETING Health conscious people can now be less confused when eating out.

Award winning Leicestershire Gym, U Fit Studios motivated dieters to dine out in order to educate and prove that the experience doesn’t have to be a daunting and calorific one.

Certain restaurants try to be healthy but lets face it, are they really that healthy?

In April this year, U Fit Studios teamed up with Cini restaurant to host the ‘Ladies Who Lunch Project.’ The aim was to demonstrate that with the right knowledge, eating out can be a worry-free experience and help to banish any social pressure when dieting.

Each month, gym members dine in a different restaurant where they benefit from inspirational talks with restaurant owners and chefs on healthy eating. Some great advice was given to the diners from Head Chef Andrea at Cini.

Cini served exquisite low calorie dishes at the lunch and the five courses were full of flavour, proving that eating healthily doesn’t have to be dry and bland. The menu and tips given on the day help the dieters to develop their own recipes and be confident about their healthy eating plan.

Joe Hanney, U Fit Studio’s multi award winning personal trainer, works with women who are committed to creating a new lifestyle that benefits the mind and body. Eating more exercising less ... they can finally achieve the dream body they deserve.

It’s all about U Fit or U Fitter! Visit www.ufitstudio.co.uk to learn more about healthy living and www.cinirestaurant.co.uk, Cini Restaurant will be offering the U Fit approved menu from the beginning of May for the health conscious eater.

A New Lease of Life We all made promises at the start of the New Year. A lot of us will have made resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle. Michelle Geraghty believes that any day is the perfect day to start a new way of life.

To begin the journey to a healthier you, the best place to start is at EternalBeing. Owner of EternalBeing, Michelle, is a highly trained therapist in colonic hydrotherapy. According to Michelle, colonic hydrotherapy is a vital component to make for a better standard of living.

It is estimated that EternalBeing has treated around 5000 clients in the last ten years, including a large number of those to be sufferers of IBS to some degree.

The clinic offers advanced colonic hydrotherapy, enemas, detox wraps and liver cleanses, lymphatic drainage, detox baths, stress management techniques, nutrition advice, food intolerance testing and a plethora of massages.

All of these play a part in tackling IBS but also aid people suffering with many other issues including diabetes, bloating, wind, dry skin, constipation and thyroid issues.

Michelle wants to communicate the effect of colonic hydrotherapy as she has experienced first-hand the positive effects it has on the body.

Colonic hydrotherapy is a process that removes She said: “my best friend recommended I had it done as at the time I was suffering with my own health residual blockages and toxins from the body. problems. Once I saw the healing power of the treatment The technique prevents health risks such as I became driven to help others.” arthritis, migraines and asthma before they have a chance to arise. Sufferers of IBS have The desire to help others laid the foundations found this to be an effective method to relieve of EternalBeing. As she worked at a clinic in their symptoms.

Leicester as a colonic hydrotherapist, Michelle perfected her skills and techniques so that she could move on to put her idea into motion.

“I gained knowledge and confidence to go it alone and opened EternalBeing in 2007,” Michelle explained.

On opening the clinic, Michelle said: “my partner, Steve Corns, has been by my side since day one handling my accounts and emails.” Understanding the benefits of colonic hydrotherapy, Steve completed training in advanced colonic hydrotherapy, making the pair the only male and female team in this area in the midlands.

As Leicester’s only advanced colonic hydrotherapy clinic, it took Michelle a long time to find and design treatments to complement EternalBeing’s aims and ethos.

They aim to make every person’s session at EternalBeing a calming and stress-free

experience, which is accomplished through a combination of advanced irrigation technologies, soothing massage techniques and therapy which have been perfected over centuries.

At EternalBeing you don’t just pay for a 60 minute session, their specialists will review your case individually and inform you of any further changes that you should make in order to continue the positive choice of changing your lifestyle.

A healthier lifestyle is progressively becoming culturally important as the public develops a greater knowledge of what has a negative effect on the body and what is essential to their well-being.

Colonic hydrotherapy is quickly becoming an integral part of the nation’s drive for a healthier lifestyle and so Michelle hopes to build a chain of clinics across the Midlands.

EternalSpa has now been opened that offers skin prescriptions and facials, specialist massages including Lava shells and Thai foot, Indian head, osteopathy and nail treatments making you beautiful and healthy on the outside and inside.

Call 0116 202 9844 or visit www.eternalbeing.co.uk or www.eternalspa.co.uk to find out more.

NICHE 27

Nature and nurture: give your skin both with natural products from soothe-me Whatever the skin you’re in whether in your twenties, seventies, expecting or a new mum our skin is so important to us, and to love your skin you need to show it some TLC in return.

Taking care of your skin and keeping it looking and feeling its best doesn’t need to be difficult; it doesn’t need to take up every spare hour and it doesn’t need to break the bank with invasive surgeries and the like. What it does need is great products and that is where experts like soothe-me are your skin’s biggest ally.

Suzie Hacker, founder of soothe-me and herself a sufferer of eczema, was all too familiar with the delicate balance needed to nourish and protect your skin whilst reducing irritation; not finding skin care that could meet all her needs effectively and was not full of harsh or damaging chemicals, Suzie made the decision to become an expert herself and find a better, natural alternative for her sensitive skin and others like her.

What you will find across the range of soothe-me products is that they were all developed out of a need, like the ‘Bump & Boobs’ antistretchmark oil, developed when Suzie was pregnant with her son; and as such they have all been tried, tested and recommended by Suzie, her family and friends and the beauty industry, in which soothe-me continues to win acclaim and recognition year after year.

“Our products are handmade in small batches using organic oils, floral waters and essences from plants & herbs. This way I know they’re always as fresh and as natural as possible – and, most importantly, good for you and your skin. We select our base oils because they are proven to be naturally rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are highly beneficial to the skin. We try to ‘keep it local’ and we source many of our ingredients from small and family run UK herb farms and oil producers.” Suzie explains.

Not only are these beautiful creams, oils and other skin care treats perfectly natural to compliment and comfort your skin; their very nature is organic, meaning you can protect you and your family’s skins whilst protecting the environment your skin is living in.

“I believe in the products and am thoroughly enjoying using them on myself, newborn and toddler. As I generally use the products in the evening (a personal choice!) their beautiful smell signifies the end of another fabulous, hectic day of being a mum and helps me unwind and feel pampered.” Caroline, Sales & Marketing Director To find out more about the exquisite collections from soothe-me and to take the first step to having skin you truly love to be in, make your skin your best accessory and visit www.soothe-me.com

Health and how to be more productive • Sleep deprivation: A study in the Journal of Vision from Brigham and Women's Hospital shows that the more sleep deprived a person, the worse his or her work becomes. According to the National Sleep Foundation if you are between 26 to 64 years old, you will need between 6 and 9 hours sleep, with an average of 7 hours per night • Unhealthy eating: A new study that published in the Journal “Population Health Management’ shows that eating unhealthily carries a 66 % increased risk of loss of productivity, with a lack of exercise having a 50 % increased risk of low productivity.

Researchers found that smoking has a 28 % increased risk of loss of productivity.

• Cardio Exercise: 30-minute cardio session makes your brain more productive. Cardio exercise floods the brain with chemicals that enhance productivity functions; including memory, problem solving, and decision making. Thomas Crook, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and memory researcher says: "You're working out your brain at the same time as your heart."

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Could the health of your gut be having a huge impact on your health and wellbeing?

If you’d have asked me that question 8 years ago, I would have looked at you in disbelief and asked you what sort of question was that to be asking me and why on earth do you think that is a relevant question to be putting to me.

However, that was a time when I was 2.5 stone heavier than I am now and had tried all sorts of things to shed those excess pounds. I was eating healthily according to government and nutritionist standards, eating small portions, and doing regular exercise, but do you think I could shift those extra pounds? The answer is NO. I was totally frustrated by the situation.

I also had an auto immune disorder and other niggly health issues.

Digestive problems, strange bouts of breathlessness without exertion, itchy ears, problems focusing and concentrating and issues with my memory, when I had always had an amazing memory. These all had huge impact on the quality of my life but also my business.

My doctor had told me that I would have the auto immune disorder for the rest of my life. There was nothing I could do to get my immune system better. However, I believed I could get it better and set about spending a lot of time researching this area. The things that I subsequently learnt have totally changed my health and my life.

You see I found out that my gut health was the key problem to my health issues.

Your gastrointestinal tract is now considered one of the most complex microbial ecosystems on Earth. You may have a basic awareness that the microbes in your gut affect your digestion. But their influence extends far beyond that to your brain, heart, skin, mood, weight… and the list goes on and on. All these intestinal microflora are part of your immune system and about 80 percent of it originates in your gut.

The reason that many people have poor gut health today is down to the changes in our diet, particularly in the Western world, where it is high in sugar and also refined carbohydrates. The increasing use of processed foods and ready meals are not helping either. Neither are “low fat” food options as to maintain taste, they usually add sugar.

This type of diet is also making our bodies too acid, which is also affecting our overall health, as it preventing our bodies from working effectively. When you also then add in the impact of antibiotics, plus our stressful and busy lives it has a significant impact on our overall health.

You see once I addressed my gut health and healed it and changed the way I ate, the weight literally fell off me and my niggly health issues disappeared and two years on I no longer have the auto-immune disorder.

So how do you know if your gut health is a problem for you? I have listed some of the main symptoms so that you can identify whether these are an issue for you.

10 Signs of Poor Gut Health • Problems focusing and concentrating, brain fog, memory problems • Digestive problems/bloating/wind • Athletes foot/fungal nail infections • Cravings for sugar and carbohydrates and food intolerances • Irritability, mood swings, anxiety or depression • Feeling tired all the time/suffering from chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia • Auto immune diseases such as Hashimoto’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis, MS, ME, Vitiligo • Skin problems such as eczema, hives, rashes • Vaginal infections, thrush, recurrent cystitis, rectal or vaginal itching • Seasonal allergies, such as hay fever or itchy ears If you are suffering from one of more of these, then that is a sign that your gut health is not currently in a great place. If you are looking to get your health in a great place and increase your energy levels then it needs some attention, but you do need to go through a specific process to transform your gut health.

Have you tried everything to lose those excess pounds?

Are you feeling tired most of the time?

Do you have an autoimmune disorder and have been told that there is no way to reverse or help your situation?

With my 90 day programme, my clients are waking up feeling vibrant and full of energy, they are losing an average 1.5 stone in weight and have become more confident and able to live their lives to the full.

If you are ready to take control of your health and want the amazing results my clients are getting then apply for a Complementary one hour Breakthrough Session with me today. Let’s together take your health and life to a whole new level!

www.YourEcstaticHealth.com E-mail: tlc@yourecstatichealth.com

NICHE 29

• Breast Enlargement and Uplift • Body Contouring and Lift • Tummy Tuck • Liposuction • Nose and Ear Reshaping • Eye Bag Removal • Skin Lumps, Moles and Skin Tag Removal • Anti Wrinkle Treatments • Laser Treatments Fraxel Skin Tightening, CO2RE Resurfacing, Scars, Moles, Thread Veins and Birth Marks

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All cosmetic Surgical and Non Surgical

Treatments at Private Leicester Hospital Secretary: Anne Bailey Tel: 0116 2743718 Email: anne.bailey@nuffieldhealth.com www.cosmeticsurgeon.org.uk

Based in Leicester City Centre, we were invited to join Mr Sankar to one of his clinics for a series of columns to feature in Niche this year.

Honest expertise whatever the skin you’re in

Mr Sankar operates slightly differently to your average practitioner as he explained how the consultations worked, “When a client is sitting in the consultation they are at their most vulnerable, it’s not the best time to make a rational, objective decision. New clients will always be asked to go home and make a decision once they’ve had time to reflect, compose themselves and are in a neutral environment.”

Anti Wrinkle Treatment Our first client of the day was a lady, due to go on holiday, who wanted Botox® treatment in her brow. This client had been through the procedure before and was happy with the procedure and the aftercare needed and so the treatment was undertaken straight away. When asked why she didn’t get her Botox® treatment in her chosen holiday destination of Thailand, where procedures are noticeably cheaper, she explained; “It may be cheaper but the treatments by Mr Sankar are a lot better and he is proficient at the injections, meaning it doesn’t hurt at all.”

After a series of carefully placed injections around the brow and ridge of the nose, the first client of the afternoon was complete within 5-10 minutes and so, on to number two…in the next issue.

Call on 0116 2743718 or visit www.cosmeticsurgeon.org.uk Have you ever felt as though you have little energy, tired or bloated and couldn’t figure out why?

Maybe you have frequent headaches or feel down emotionally. These may be the result of a blocked colon.

Kick-start a healthier lifestyle

Anybody can be at risk of a blocked colon; it may not be the first thing you think of when you are re-evaluating your lifestyle but colonic hydrotherapy at EternalBeing can have huge health benefits and prevent health complications such as headaches, depression and irritable bowel syndrome.

Colonic Hydrotherapy is a process that uses warm purified water to eradicate residual blockages and toxins from the body. The removal of blockages and toxins assists in preventing further health problems like arthritis, migraines and asthma, before they have the chance to arise.

As well as relieving the symptoms of IBS, the irrigation process will put you in a positive mind set to get you started on a new healthier lifestyle. Colonic hydrotherapy has been proven to reduce bloating and kick-start and maintain a healthier metabolism.

EternalBeing state that stress can be brought on by blockages and toxins in the colon. Ridding these ensures people benefit from a brighter outlook on life and a noticeable increase in energy.

Get in touch with EternalBeing to find out more. The clinics philosophy will ensure that the process can be calm and comfortable and the first step to getting on track with a healthy lifestyle. www.eternalbeing.co.uk

Nu Skin have introduced two exciting new versions of our Nu Colour products; Nu Colour Advanced Liquid Finish SPF 15 and Nu Colour Advanced Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15.

Nu Colour® When anti-ageing meets cosmetics

Nu Skin is committed to developing cutting edge anti-ageing products and these enhanced versions of our fabulous Nu Colour products now contain anti-ageing ingredients. These ingredients help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and tighten the look of sagging skin, while providing a flawless finish to your complexion.

Nu Colour - Advanced Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 It is formulated with anti-ageing ingredients that help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and help tighten the look of sagging skin. It is packed with all the benefits of a CC (Colour Correcting) cream, evening out the skin tone and brightening the complexion. Available in 4 colours: Medium Beige, Honey, Fair, Sand, and retail price is just £34.48.

Nu Colour - Advanced Liquid Finish SPF 15 This includes ingredients shown to diminish skin imperfections by reflecting light, providing a healthy and radiant glow. Available in 7 colours: Mocha, Tawny, Medium Ochre, Honey Beige, Sunset Beige, Almond, Pink Ochre, it provides medium coverage for a matte, flawless finish, reducing dullness and redness. Retail price: £34.48 www.nuskin.com

NICHE 31

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Leicester’s best kept beauty secret Semi Permanent Make Up with Beau Aesthetica Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could literally get up and go, like you did before you discovered make-up, hair products and the rest?

With the introduction of semi-permanent make-up that dream can be one step further toward a reality, saving you precious time and ensuring that you always look and feel your best.

Beau Aesthetica are experts in the beauty industry and we spoke to them about modern make- up techniques, they explained “Women spend a considerable amount of time getting ready in the morning, a lot of which is down to pencilling in eyebrows, perfecting eye liners and lip liners and applying lipstick. With the introduction of semipermanent make up perfect brows, striking eyes and beautiful lips can all be easily achieved every day, with minimal fuss.”

“With the introduction of semi-permanent make up perfect brows, striking eyes and beautiful lips can all be easily achieved every day, with minimal fuss.”

So what is semi-permanent make up? Also known as micro pigmentation, semi-permanent make up is a technique used to implant pigment into the dermal layer of the skin, a little bit like a tattoo, but the difference is in the state of the art machinery used which is very different to the conventional machines and inks used in tattooing. For perfectly balanced and shaped eyebrows, for a lipstick that stays put and for non-smudge eyeliner semi-permanent makeup could be the perfect answer.

The procedures are all medically approved and tested, designed to be completely safe, quick, hygienic and virtually pain free. With minimal maintenance required (top-ups are typically needed every 12 months) semi-permanent make up can offer anyone the opportunity to enhance their natural features and save themselves some precious minutes in the morning rush.

For more information about semi-permanent make up speak to the experts at Beau Aesthetica on 0116 270 9141 or have a look on their website at www.beauaesthetica.com

Nestled in converted farmhouse buildings, which were once part of Stoughton Grange Farm, is a discreet salon offering the best in beauty treatments and advice. What makes this salon unique is their absolute passion for what they do; the products they use and the service they provide.

Founded by Andrea, a qualified nurse, and her brother in law, Dermacare Salon was launched as the ideal venue for their selection of hand-picked products already sold online at Dermacare Direct to be put into action and for clients to receive a professional, expert consultation to achieve the best results for their skin.

Dermacare Salon bridges the gap between a cosmetic clinic and traditional beauty salon offering the latest technology and cosmeceutical products to provide non-invasive skincare treatments targeting specific skin concerns such as pigmentation, premature ageing, acne and oily skin, sensitivity and redness, scarring, skin tone and texture. New treatments also include Advanced Electrolysis for thread vein, skin tag, milia etc. removal and St.Tropez Spray tans.

The salon itself provides clients with the opportunity to see the products in action through the skilled hands of Kate, their Aesthetic Therapist Kate. “Our wide range of cosmetic treatments includes advanced facials, peels, Genuine Dermaroller™ and advanced cosmetic treatments. We ensure all our services and cosmetic solutions for both men and women are individually customised and tailor-made to suit your own particular needs and concerns” Kate and the Dermacare team are fastidious about the products they use and ensure that every client is given a thorough consultation and advice on how to get the best from their skin, repair damage and alleviate any underlying skin conditions. They want everyone to have the opportunity to benefit from the latest technological advances as part of their regular skincare routines.

And to this end, Andrea has been working tirelessly to perfect and launch her new product range, DermaTx™. DermaTx™ has been developed to provide the benefits of microdermabrasion from the comfort of your home and uses the same microdermabrasion crystals (corundum crystals) as in salon treatments but is combined with cosmeceutical ingredients to target various skin types and conditions.

Using a handy little exfoliating tool which comes with the cream, you use it 1-2 times a week; it gently resurfaces the skin and encourages the production of new skin cells, which ultimately makes your skin look more radiant and gives you a smoother tone, and you can see the effects after just one application.

Andrea and the team at Dermacare are committed to remaining at the forefront of skin technology, whilst providing the traditional indulgence we have come to love from trips to the salon. This passion is apparent everywhere; from the knowledge the team share on skincare and their treatments through to the very salon itself, beautifully decorated and discreetly tucked away for a truly relaxing and informative visit.

If you are seeking out the combination of brilliance and beauty to provide your skin with some much needed therapy then we would highly recommend speaking with the experts at Dermacare Salon on 0116 271 1551 or www.dermacaresalon.co.uk

NICHE 33

Get the body you deserve, minus the surgery with Beau Aesthetica

When your New Year resolutions are firmly in place and you’re starting to see results, it can be disheartening when you just cannot seem to shift fat from those stubborn areas. Now is the time when ladies and gents nationwide are looking to their summer holidays and looking forward to some well-deserved relaxation in sunnier climes. But unwanted bulges and bumps can leave you feeling self-conscious and instil a feeling of dread at the thought of ditching the baggy jumpers which act as a cover up through winter.

seem impossible to shift.

Vaser’s® patented technology and the advanced LipoSelection® technique can offer clients a safe alternative to surgery to help rid your body of those stubborn bumps and bulges.

Already VASER Lipo has been the choice for thousands of men and women across the world.

It’s a successful way to remove unwanted fat on just about any part of your body. Vaser® uses very precise and minimally invasive liposuction technology to target fat for an effective but gentle treatment. The procedure is tissueselective meaning that the tissues surrounding That’s where the experts at Beau Aesthetica fatty deposits remain protected and although can really help you to achieve the look you want and inject a much-needed boost into your powerful enough to see noticeable results, it is gentle enough to treat delicate areas such as summer self-image. Beau Aesthetica offers a under the chin or the upper arms. range of non-surgical treatments which can help to define those curves or pecs and leave Vaser® has achieved proven success with both you feeling body beautiful in time for men and women; in just one procedure and the beach. without the discomfort of long recovery times associated with traditional Liposuction.

Vaser®

It may sound rather intimidating, but Vaser® technology can offer simple, effective improvements which will make a huge difference. Every body type has specific ‘problem’ areas which are predisposed to fat storage and even with rigorous diet and exercise sometimes those unwanted bulges

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Key benefits include: • Single procedure results with speedy recovery times • Improved body contouring over traditional liposuction • Easily removes large amounts of stored fat • Smoothes skin even in delicate areas like the arms and neck

to offer Lipo Selection by Vaser

Lipo Selection an exciting revolutionary procedure for body reshaping which targets just the fat cells you want removed. It uses the latest technology to gently dissolve fat cells and remove fat in your thighs, hips, abdomen, love handles, knees, back, arms, neck and chin. Dr Kam Singh is the first Doctor in the Midlands to perfect this treatment and is the only trainer in the Midlands.

Lose inches with the only clinical treatment to reduce cellulite.

Endermologie:

Imagine waking up in the morning without having to spend time applying your eyeliner, lipliner or perfecting your eyebrows. All this can be easily achieved and those perfectly applied eyebrows striking eyes and lips will remain smudge free day and night.

✓ All consultations are FREE! ✓ Dr Based Clinic • Refines and accentuates the appearance of ✓ Colon Hydrotherapy muscles

expert Therapists at Beau Aesthetica can help here too.

Radio Frequency is a safe non-invasive ✓ Jan Marini Skin Rejuvenation treatment that can help tighten loose skin, The treatments are carried out in the same promote healthy collagen production and luxury surroundings on Stoneygate in Leicester ✓ Laser Lipolysis improve body contours. The team at Beau

by Beau Aesthetica’s experienced Therapists; Aesthetica commonly use this form of experts at perfection the ‘norm’ ✓making Lumps Bumps and Mole Removal radiofrequency treatment to combat cellulite, for their clients. Consultations for Vaser® for skin tightening on arms, abdominals, start from as little as £25.00 so this is not a ✓ Muscle Relaxing Injections buttocks and legs or pre-Liposuction/ Vaser® treatment reserved for the rich and famous, although✓they seem to like it too as Jennifer Semi-Permanent Makeupskin tightening on the face and neck.

Metcalfe of Hollyoaks commented, "People are saying they've neverFillers seen me looking so good!" Put simply, whatever finishing touches are ✓ Skin needed to give you the confidence to shine ✓ Skin Peels this summer, the team at Beau Aesthetica are qualified professionals whose expertise in these areas can give you the confidence you need.

For more information on the treatments Or, maybe you have managed to shift the detailed above or even if you are looking for fat you wanted to but there’s still something a pre-holiday facial and nail treatments visit missing in your quest for the ‘body beautiful’; the website at www.beauaesthetica.com and you still don’t feel as perky or contoured as you’d like. It will come as no surprise that the discover what they can do for you.

Accent Radio Frequency

For further information, please call 0116

Opening Hours: 10-6pm Tues, Weds, Fri 10-9pm Thursdays – Dr Singh is at Beau Aesthetica on this day.

10-4pm Saturdays

270 9141 or visit www.beauaesthetica.com

17 Allandale Road, Stoneygate, Leicester LE2 2DA NICHE 35

WEDDING BELLES

Coombe Abbey

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DIMBLEBEE CATERING - PERFECT WEDDING CATERING FOR A PERFECT DAY!

“

Service was exemplary right up until the day; they went above and beyond to ensure everything was just right.

With a plethora of wedding caterers springing up online it can be a daunting task to check the pedigree and claims of every one and guarantee that a significant part of your wedding day is not put at risk or compromised.

The award winning Dimblebee Catering Company continue to stand out from the crowd – with a string of fantastic reviews over the years from their delighted couples and a portfolio and experience to put your mind at rest.

up until the day; they went above and beyond to ensure everything was just right. One the day the food was out of this world - every guest complimented the flavours and combinations. The team was hardworking and Privately backed and with two generations of friendly. More than that, every aspect of the service the Dimblebee Family at your service these specialist Leicester based wedding caterers have we had expected was outdone by Sam and her team. led the way with their authentic handmade and They made the day what it was. We won’t hesitate to homemade style and hands-on flexible service. recommend you. Thank you” Mr and Mrs Bishop. tipis and private homes and gardens across Leicestershire and the Midlands.

“From the start we wanted to deliver a friendly and personal service that was in line with our personalities.

Dimblebee Catering are a family unit which caterers for the most important occasions for other families – we Since launching in 2011, these award winning do not charge extra to attend in person or make claim and family run wedding caterers have delivered to invent menus bespoke to each client, at a premium over 500 high quality weddings and events and – these things are just done naturally and as each are approved to the exclusive caterers lists for couple would like us to do. For us it is not about ego or Keythorpe Manor, Ladywood Estate, Wollaton upselling, it’s about reputation and delivering traditional Hall, Newstead Abbey Leicester New Walk high quality service and great food.” Samantha Museum, Leicester Guildhall, and Nottingham Dimblebee (Head Chef).

Castle amongst many others.

Mrs Victoria Bishop, agrees - “From the second I Dimblebee Catering also cater within the many first spoke to Sam, I knew I had made the right decision beautiful local village halls with which rural to use Dimblebee. She instantly understood our vision Leicestershire is so blessed, as well as marquees, and made it come to life. Service was exemplary right

Emma and Mark (pictured) also had the most perfect day for their fun and stylish wedding on December 27th – only made better when it started to snow on cue! “Thank you to all, incredible dedicated team that felt like friends and family with inspiring and creative delicious food with a touch of Sam’s sparkle! Massive thank-you’s to all of you.”

Emma & Mark The Dimblebee Catering Company is based in Leicester and caters throughout the whole of Leicestershire and the Midlands. Call today Sam and the Team today – you are in the best hands with Dimblebee’s. t: 0116 283 3327

m: 07811 232801

Experienced – Professional – Specialist Wedding Caterers - The Dimblebee Catering Company Ltd

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CITY CENTRE

WEDDING CHIC Providing the ideal backdrop to your city centre

nuptials, St Martins is the perfect cosmopolitan mix of being in the heart of a city you love with all the

perks of its excellent transport links for your guests and a bright, bustling wedding day feel.

www.stmartinshouse.com 01162615200 7 P eacock Lane

L e icester

LE1 5P Z

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BEAUTIFUL BACKDROP TO YOUR BIG DAY With its stunning architecture and striking features, it’s easy to see why St Martin’s House Conference Centre is a popular choice for wedding receptions in Leicester. The Grade II listed building dates back to 1877 and stands in the heart of the historic quarter of the city. Beneath it are the foundations of the fort that was the basis for Roman Leicester, and on top of that lie medieval and more contemporary remains. It sits right next to the Guildhall and St Martin’s Cathedral and is the base for staff of Leicester Cathedral, where Richard III was reintermed.

The building retains many period features which are mixed respectfully with contemporary styling to give the rooms an elegant feel. The Grand Hall, which boasts a vaulted ceiling and stained glass windows, always leaves a lasting impressing on guests. It has an impressive 12 meter ceiling height and provides natural lighting, making it a beautiful space for wedding receptions. Its ability to remain welcoming and comfortable while hosting up to 200 guests is unique for a venue of its size. It is also not often that you find such a beautiful backdrop to a wedding within a city centre, with the venue providing both the ‘wow’ factor that is normally reserved for country manors with the

ease of good transport links for guests.

St. Martin’s House takes the stress out of planning weddings by providing a dedicated wedding co-ordinator who can take care of every detail for the bride and groom, allowing them to enjoy the run up to the wedding rather than being weighed down with thinking about all the details. They will help with everything from the small decisions to the important factors such as catering, entertainment and themes. The staff do everything they can to ensure that the day is perfect for the wedding party, going the extra mile to ensure that they have a truly unforgettable day.

Guests can be greeted with innovative ‘His and Her’ wedding cocktails, making welcome drinks stand out from the usual bucks fizz. Awardwinning catering is provided by their partner Hotel Maiyango and the menu provides some exciting twists on classic foods, such as their dessert canapés. They also offer an excellent vegetarian selection, and a fork buffet menu for those wanting something a bit more informal.

To enquire or to simply have a look around the venue please contact them at-: Email: dreamweddings@maiyango.com Telephone: 0116 261 5223

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Bespoke Florals Delivered in Leicestershire & Rutland www.juliasflowers.co.uk julia@juliasflowers.co.uk

07754007122

Pink Weddings Same sex weddings have been happening across the UK for just over a year and well over 1,400 weddings have been celebrated, with 56% female couples and 44% male couples.

With currently 120,000 people in Civil Partnerships, they may well wish to convert their union into a marriage. That means a possible 60 thousand Pink Weddings could take place in the next few years.

Traditional weddings are built around customs; rituals and etiquette that have been with us for many years, so what effect will this have on same sex marriages?

If we look at the Invitations, Speeches, Bridesmaids, Best Man, seating arrangements, Bride’s journey down the Aisle, and changing to one surname; all these things will need some careful thinking about in a same sex marriage.

A whole set of new traditions will start to appear, perhaps both partners walking down the aisle together, and perhaps the Best Man might be replaced with Best Friend and if you do want to take one surname, this will need a Deed Poll. www.stonewall.org.uk has all the legal details about this.

Don’t forget, you don’t need to worry about all that pomp and ceremony, as making an appointment at your Registry Office to go and sign the register, along with a couple of witnesses, is a legally recognised Marriage.

But if you dream about having a perfect pink wedding, then get out there and live the dream…

A new guide compiled by Leicester City Council includes four of Leicester’s finest buildings that would make the perfect wedding venue for history lovers and quirky personalities who are seeking an original and unique venue for their big day.

Are you seeking a truly romantic location for your special day?

Lovers of arts and museums could tie the knot in the 14th century timber-framed Guildhall set in the historic Greyfriars conservation area that will provide a stunning backdrop for your photographs or maybe the classical Victorian New Walk Museum and Art Gallery where dinosaurs can join the guests. Eighteenth century Belgrave Hall will provide a beautiful setting with its long-established walled gardens or consider a more unusual celebration amongst the magic of Victorian engineering and technology.

This elite selection of sophisticated settings to exchange vows in can be perfect for intimate ceremonies of 12 or more people to major celebrations of up to 200.

Couples can enjoy picking out their ideal location from the guide with the knowledge that all venues provide beautiful picturesque settings for themselves and their guests to adore as well as offering experienced teams who will make sure the arrangements for your wedding will run like a dream.

The new guide to Leicester’s Heritage Venues can be downloaded at www.leicester.gov.uk/weddings

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Leicestershire

Registration Service

Weddings

and Civil Partnerships

New ceremony room – opening May 2015

Have you recently said ‘ I will’?

Then why not see our wonderful range of ceremony rooms and venues at www.leics.gov.uk/registration We have venues and ceremony rooms to suit all budgets and you can book your ceremony three years in advance.

Where memories are made

Tel: 0116 305 6565 Email: registration@leics.gov.uk www.leics.gov.uk/registration

Leicester’s Heritage Venues Leicester City council Arts + Museums

Beautiful settings steeped in history Abbey Pumping Station Belgrave Hall & Gardens The Guildhall New Walk Museum & Art Gallery Whether you are looking for an intimate ceremony for 12 people or a major celebration for 200 guests, Leicester’s Heritage Venues have it covered with four alternative and quirky buildings. museums@leicester.gov.uk leicester.gov.uk/weddings

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Wed ding Prep arat ions with Fore ver Livi ng

wedding will help with your immune system, give you shinier hair, great skin and make you feel rejuvenated.”

If you are reading this as a Bride, Groom, Best Man, Bridesmaid or a wedding guest, there are lots of daily preparations you can be getting on with that may not have even crossed your mind yet.

Forever Living products use aloe as their primary ingredient. Aloe will give you healthy hair that shines, skin that is radiant and a body that feels healthy on the inside and looks amazing on the outside.

Representative of the company, Chrissy Richardson said: “in the months leading up to a wedding people often forget things like hair and skin until the actual day. People can gain so many benefits if they start looking after themselves well in advance of the big day.”

Starting with weight management, up to 10lbs can be lost with Forever Living’s ‘Clean 9.’Not to be mistaken for a diet or detox, the full body cleansing programme rids the system of toxins.

When dieting, toxins attract fat back. This is a fantastic way to lose weight healthily but is also great for a general clean out to help you feel fresh. Continuing on from the ‘Clean 9,’ two 30 day programmes are available to lose additional weight and maintain weight loss. With this, all customers are added to a secret Facebook page where they can share results and tips privately with fellow aloe fans.

Full of the goodness of the pure inner gel that is only used by Forever Living, the drinking gel energises you, revitalises the skin, balance out the digestive system. Customers with conditions A bridal party can now book pamper parties such as Crohn’s, IBS and many others, get huge with Chrissy where she will visit the brides benefits from this product. home before the special day. She provides facemasks, creams, makeup and other natural The company prides themselves on using products that will ensure there are no reactions organically grown, hand harvested crops on the day. without the use of pesticides and herbicides.

Made without testing on animals, their At the parties Chrissy will get to know her products can be used on and by children. customers and will offer what she calls a ‘PUPP’ – a Personal Usage Product Pack.

The unique way of stabilising the inner gel Inside will be samples of anything to suit the is patented so no other company can use this needs of the bride. “PUPPs give the brides a method; The Aloe is almost as live as it is while chance to try the products before they spend still growing on the plant. any money. Forever Living is a very honest genuine company that wants its customers to be Using aloe in a daily routine is beneficial to fully happy with their purchases,” Chrissy said. skin hair and nails alongside other health factors. Aloe is added to their makeup range, Over 150 million people in Europe have ‘Sonya.’ A beautiful range of foundations gives allergies. Many products on the market can any bride or bridesmaid the perfect match. make these allergies worse. Forever Living As very concentrated products, only a small wants their customers to enjoy optimum amount is needed which is perfect for hot sunny healthy living and so offers a 60 day money occasions. back guarantee. Even if the majority has been used, if the customer is seeing no benefits the product can be returned. Take a look at www.

“The skin care range is out of this chrissyretail.myforever.biz/store world. I was always looking for

something for my skin and ended Call Chrissy for more information and healthy up spending a lot. Forever Living’s wedding day tips on 07877076395 or email creams, lotions & serum balance out chrissy@flp.com the person’s skin no matter what skin type they have.”

Chrissy gave us an insight to the most popular of Forever Living’s products. “The aloe Chrissy believes in the Forever Living brand. drinking gel is our top seller. Using it before the She explained how she set up her own business

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with them: “I was looking to do part time work from home because of my disability. Me and my mum used their products years ago but back then there was no internet or mobiles so we never got hold of it again. I looked at the business plan and thought I want to do this.”

What's so good about Aloe Vera?

There always seems to be a new miracle cure in fashion and the Aloe Vera plant appears to be the new trend, so we have done a bit of background research for you, to find out what exactly it can- and can’t do….

The history bit

It appears that the Aloe Vera plant has been used as an all-purpose medicine for thousands of years with the ancient Egyptians drawing pictures on the walls of their temples of Aloe Vera plants. In some cultures it is known as ‘the plant of immortality’ and has been used for centuries to treat skin problems such as; burns and sores or wounds because of its inherent antiseptic properties.

On further investigation, the Aloe Vera plant is credited with many other therapeutic properties that you may not have heard about, but they do all appear to be well supported by science.

Antioxidant and Antibacterial Aloe Vera gel contains a substance known as a polyphenol, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps to prevent infections by inhibiting the growth of bacteria

Treating Burns Aloe Vera is an easy to use remedy to use ‘topically’ which means by rubbing the juice onto the skin. It will help to heal any kind of sore or minor burn and is a fabulous cure for sunburn. It seems the Food and Drug Administration approved aloe Vera ointment in 1959 as an overthe-counter treatment for 1st and 2nd degree burns. A previous study showed that the use of aloe Vera did reduce the healing time of burns compared with other medications

Mouth Ulcers Mouth ulcers are painful little blighters that last for an annoying 7 or 8 days, and it seems that using Aloe Vera on them will accelerate the healing time. A seven day study was conducted using 180 people who suffered with recurrent mouth ulcers, and a patch of aloe Vera applied to the area reduced the size of the ulcer and reduced the pain from them.

Dental Plaque Reducing the build-up of plaque on the teeth is best done with an antibacterial mouthwash. Using Aloe Vera for this appears as effective as using a Chlorhexidine product. A study of 300 people took place with one group using a proprietary chlorhexidine mouthwash and the other using pure aloe Vera juice. 4 days later, the reduction in dental plaque was the same in both groups, proving aloe Vera to be just as effective.

Prevents wrinkles There is growing evidence that the use of aloe Vera gel on the skin can go some way to slowing down the effects of aging. We found a study where30 women aged 45 years and over, used aloe Vera on their skin for 90 days and tests showed that they all had an increase in collagen production and improved skin elasticity since the start of the trial.

Well perhaps we have discovered the secret of Cleopatra’s beauty? Who knows, but think I’ll just pop down to the garden centre…..

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Our range of impressive Modern and Classic Wedding Cars can be gracefully decorated with ribbon and bows. We choose our vehicles according to style and elegance. Each and every vehicle is spacious with plenty of legroom for bridal dress and train. We also can provide transport for the bridesmaids, Groom and other wedding guests.

M: 07866 101 457 T: 0116 2544177 E: info@champanericars.com www. c h a m p a n e ri c a rs .c o m

70-85:Layout 1 15/08/2013 16:14 Page 75

NEW STORE OPENS IN MARKET HARBOROUGH Established 1951

Denhams stylish shops offer a completely different range with an exquisite collection of hand selected gold, silver, platinum and diamond jewellery

18 Belvoir Street, Leicester LE1 6QH T: 0116 255 5372 2 The Square Market Harborough LE16 6PA T: 01858 410 395 www.denhams.co.uk

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Simply Brides

Bridal Gowns & Accessories

Wedding planning can be a stressful experience with the confusion of which venue to choose from right through to selecting the perfect table decorations. But we have found that there is one thing you need not stress over.

With Simply Brides, you can tick off your list the most important thing for your big day with certainty: the dress.

The bridal shop has a wide selection of stunning dresses to choose from along with shoes, tailor made tiaras and other accessories.

But it is not just the choice that Simply Brides has to offer. It is their impeccable service that has set them apart from the rest.

Having over 20 years of experience in dress making and customer service, Sue Ashton, owner of Simply Brides, treats every customer as though they were a guest in her home. She said: “I’m just down to Earth; I like to greet people and make their time at Simply Brides as special and as unique as they would like to feel on their wedding day.”

Spending time on choosing the most important dress of your life is important and it is important to Sue that this time is spent wisely. She has seen hundreds of brides and bridesmaids come and go so Sue has a good idea of what suits best.

“

I like to greet people and make their time at Simply Brides as special and as unique as they would like to feel on their wedding day.

“I’ve found that people think they know what they want but when it comes down to it, they really want your opinion and find it hard to choose. I will never be pushy, it’s too special a day, but I believe that advice from me and their family and friends will help them to make the best decision,” Sue explained.

Everything about Simply Brides service is traditional. Sue started in the industry at

the age of 15 as a junior. Since then she has discovered all there is to know about dresses, sewing and making alterations. “Our generation learnt as we went along. It was all hands on experience. I was always running around, I still run around like a junior now and I still love doing it!”

After a friend of Sue’s became redundant, they decided to go around the country altering dresses together. They found a shop and came up with the name, Simply Brides. “My business partner wanted to spend more time with her family so then it was just me and the rest is history. It was a huge gamble with the shop and I wasn’t sure it was going to work but here we are today.”

Overtime, styles have transformed and moved on. Sue’s collections are always current as she keeps in the know with the trends. Sue told us: “The styles change every five to ten years. At the moment it’s vintage and lace because of the Royal wedding.” Since Kate Middleton’s wedding dress was seen all over the world in 2011, the style is still proving a popular choice.

With Sue’s one to one personal and traditional service, all alterations are made by herself: “Simply Brides is not a production line. Most of the work is done by little magic me really,” and with such personal assistance Sue has seen customers return introducing the next generation to her work.

Sue told us: “A lady who I helped with her wedding dress ten years ago came in recently with her daughter who was soon to be married.

It’s nice to know that people like what I do at Simply Brides.”

The traditional bridal shop can be found at 181 Blackbird Rd, Leicester LE4 0AL. Or call Sue to arrange a fitting on 0116 262 9260.

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Wedding Favours:

Out with the Old, in with the New Traditionally, a wedding favour consisted of five sugared almonds wrapped delicately in tulle net and secured with ribbons. These days a bride and groom can thank their guests through many other creative and innovative ideas.

varieties of ingredients that can be used to produce chocolate.

Chocolate is said to be good for the mind, body and soul. Eating chocolate releases a chemical called serotonin which is known as the ‘happy chemical’ that makes you feel better on an emotional level.

Chocolate is a popular thank you to wedding guests at many weddings because of its hypnotic way of pleasing people, but also for its What better way can there be to show gratitude to your wedding guests than mouth-watering, ability to be diverse. happiness inducing chocolate that will be received gratefully among all your guests.

Chocolate can be moulded into any shape or any size. From elegant love hearts to sporty Alternatively, wedding favours purchased from cars, chocolate can be created to suit quirky, charities are becoming increasingly popular. traditional and modern weddings.

Many charities can provide small gifts and tokens to be bought and given out to guests It can be made to suit many individual needs. that are stylish and elegant at the same time as Nut allergies, dairy and gluten intolerances promoting their charity. among others can all be avoided through

It is well worth approaching charities to see if they can provide a number of supplies for your special day. Invitations, banners and balloons and more might be available for you to buy to create the perfect day that helps charities in a big way.

As well as this, many brides and grooms have found it very fulfilling to ask for donations to charities instead of gifts for themselves. In the place of food blenders and photo albums, you can receive the knowledge that someone has made a donation to a charity of yours or their choice on your behalf.

Charities can make lots of money through the gift of donations. This is a unique way of giving that is rewarding for both wedding couple and guest.

SPECIAL EDITION

CHOCOLATE HAND MADE CHOCOLATE Special Edition Chocolate is a small artisan company in the foothills of the Lincolnshire Wolds.

Offer your wedding guests a delicious chocolate alternative to a wedding cake, and unique favours that can be used as place settings and a special momento for your guests to take away.

Celebrate on your wedding day with Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research wedding favours.

The organisation provides personalised donation envelopes for party invitations, posters, banners, balloons and a whole host of fundraising items for your special day.

This is an elegant way to remember someone special by promoting Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research or simply in order to support their work through this positive and unique way of celebrating.

Instead of receiving presents for birthdays, anniversaries or your wedding day, you might even ask friends and family to make a donation to Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research as a gift to support beating blood cancers.

Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research 33a Station Road + 1 Bell Street Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 4AP

www.leukaemialymphomaresearch.org.uk

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01673 844073 Open 7 days a week The Chocolate Drop, Market Rasen, Lincs LN8 3RH

www.specialeditionchocolate.co.uk

Wedding Cakes: WHAT’S TRENDING

This year, people are looking for original and innovative designs. As seen on popular websites such as Pinterest and Etsy, the traditional wedding cake has been revamped a million times so it can be hard to find a cake that is unique.

PERSONALISATION: To avoid complete duplication of a cake that you like, add personal touches. Most companies make cakes because they love being creative and using novel ideas and designs. Take the idea for your cake to a company who design quality cakes and discuss changes you would like to make. www.modwedding.com weddbook.com bridalmusings.com www.arabiaweddings.com

Anything about you and your partner that can be added to the cake will ensure that it will be a talking point throughout your special day and there will be no other cake like it.

QUIRKY: Your cake could take on a quirky feel with the use of pictures or icing models to represent your favourite animals, places or flowers as well as any names or dates that are significant to you. The design could be based around your favourite time period, place where you grew up or an experience that you and your partner have shared.

NATURE: Wedding cakes have taken on a more bohemian elegance since 2014 and this style is set to stay for some time. Many cakes have been seen to incorporate the natural elements; most commonly earth. The use of flowers, leaves, herbs and fruit create a natural garden aesthetic. This rustic look can be created by your chosen cake designer with simple earthy colours and rough textured icing to add to the look. Alternatively, naked cakes (without icing) are trending right and fit in perfectly with a natural woodland theme.

METALLIC:

At Sharons Sugarcraft we produce high class quality wedding, and celebration cakes made to order.

Choose from sponge, chocolate, fruit, lemon, coffee.....the list goes on and accommodates any of your taste buds desires.

So for sweet goodness on your wedding day visit www.sharons-sugarcraft.com or contact Sharon on

07789 742635 or email: sharons_sugarcraft@hotmail.co.uk

One thing that has certainly come into popularity is metallic hues. Gold, silver and bronze metallic tones add a regal touch to any wedding. If a completely metallic cake doesn’t go with the theme for the rest of your wedding, gold, silver or bronze decorations upon pastel colours look particularly spectacular.

VINTAGE: Vintage never goes out of style but a soft Victorian gothic twist on this look is a charming addition for your wedding day if you are aiming for a luxurious atmosphere. Black is proving to be very popular this year as it creates a bold statement piece. Intricate designs are often used amongst floral shapes and patterns. Lace, beads, jewels and brooches make for an elegant Victorian chandelier effect.

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A MODERN TWIST ON TRADITIONAL OCCASIONS These days planning a Hen Do opens up an infinite number of possibilities; gone are the days where a few drinks and several ‘Learner’ badges were all the Bride-to-Be might expect.

Today, there is an assortment of fun and unique experiences to choose from and a growing number of ‘hen agencies’ on hand to help you navigate through the options to find the perfect way to celebrate your upcoming nuptials.

Activities for ‘the girls’ have become big business from hen nights and birthdays to anniversaries and company ‘dos’; meaning every girl can get just what she dreamed of, whatever the occasion.

In 2008 www.HenParty.me.uk emerged onto the pre-wedding scene with an option many may not have previously considered, but one that is becoming increasing popular as an entertaining, unique and memorable alternative to traditional hen parties: life drawing.

Their unrivalled success has been built on a reputation for providing high quality, high entertainment and high-value events for every customer.

Their innovative and creative approach can see them adapt their lessons to compliment an afternoon of cream tea and scones or champagne lunches, whatever the party www.Henparty.me.uk is a nationwide operation decides. They can offer flexible, professional managed on a regional basis by 4 Controllers, service and can even organise one of their scantily clad ‘butlers’ to meet, greet and wait all talented Life Models themselves, who arrange the entire event from supplying the art on you whilst you enjoy yourselves. materials, sourcing suitable venues, fun models, talented tutors - and producing an event plan - www.HenParty.me.uk pride themselves on taking away the worry from the bridesmaid so providing sophistication and fun, and even a little learning in a comfortable environment that they can fully immerse themselves in the surrounded by your nearest and dearest; experience alongside the bride to be. To date they’ve successfully delivered events for groups creating memories of an occasion that are filled with smiles, laughter and maybe even of nurses, air traffic controllers, university some ‘vaguely human’ looking sketches as you chums, mums, extended families, ballet dancers, farmers and more; with groups aging discover some hidden artistic talents, or at least enjoy finding out there aren’t any! from 18 to 80, gay and straight! www.Henparty.me.uk organise life drawing classes, direct to groups of ladies (and the occasional gent) or through the many “Hen Agencies” around the UK. They arrange the venue and provide experienced (and beautifully toned) male, or female models and talented tutors to lead the group members through a series or fun drawing exercises in a 60 or 90 minute session. No prior art knowledge (or talent!) is required, just a willingness to have some fun.

LIFE DRAWING HEN EVENTS Wow your hen Weekend or Event with an Entertaining Fun and sophisticated NUDE Life Drawing class.

The UK’s 1st, leading, nationwide provider of these exciting, entertaining events, providing:* City Centre Venues, * Marvellous Model, * Talented Tutors, * Ample Art Materials, * Fun from Start to Finish, * Bubbly & Cream Tea Options Also, - why not combine a Life drawing Event with one of our sophisticated BUTLERS to Meet & Great, Serve Drinks, & Lead Games!

HenParty me uk

Leading the UK with designing and delivering QUALITY BUTLERING & LIFE DRAWING events to individuals / Corporate clients across the UK.

HenParty me uk

Tel/Fax: 01793 485 150 : Mob: 07769 694 994

www.HenParty.me.uk Info@HenParty.me.uk

NICHE 51

Planning the perfect celebration for your special day involves many aspects and potentially many companies, and with a large selection of suppliers in the market it can become a daunting task for any bride to be.

Family run caterers, The Dimblebee Catering Company are experts at catering for any bride and groom, in any location and with any theme, with over 500 weddings and events to lay testimony since they were established.

With a passion for providing high quality food and hospitality spanning across 3 generations of the Dimblebee family, Samantha Dimblebee (Head Chef), and her team have a heritage to be proud of and in only a short period of time their personable approach, style and fabulous food has earnt them a distinguished reputation throughout the East Midlands.

Dance the night away with Midlands Pro DJ The party element of your big day is what many of your guests will remember and talk about for years to come, and what makes a party get into full swing?

The music of course! You need to get your guests moving, get their arms in the air and their heels off…Midlands Pro DJ’s are the perfect music team to get the party started - and to keep it going til the end!

A quick chat with the team will encourage you to book right away, you will quickly see that their infectious energy and enthusiasm means your party will be nothing but fun!

Call: Bryan McIntosh : 07929452287

Ian McIntosh : 07875290818

Email: info@midlandsprodj.com

www.midlandsprodj.com

Specialists in providing handmade, homemade fare with a traditional English flair and promoting only the best in local suppliers, The Dimblebee Catering Company pride themselves on quality, flexibility, great service and great style which has seen them cater for prestigious venues and clients such as Newstead Abbey, Wollaton Hall, Aston Martin, and The Guildhall Leicester to name a few.

Their continuing motivation to exceed customer’s expectations and to help make the most important day of your lives one filled with memories and merriment has deservedly secured Dimblebee Catering accolades from across their industry, including Winners of the Wedding Industry Expert Awards 2014, Regional Finalists at the 2015 Wedding Industry Awards for the second year running, and Finalists for the 2014 Food Awards England & Wales, Dimblebee Catering have a legacy of the most beautiful brides and grooms recommendations “We cannot thank you enough for everything you did to make our wedding day so very special. We could not have wished for better people to work with, and no words can describe our gratitude; everything was perfect, from setting up the tables the day before to the end of the day. The food was stunning and presented beautifully and many of our guests have said it was the best wedding catering they have ever experienced.” Mr & Mrs Roberts-Morrow www.dimblebeecatering.co.uk Tel: 0116 283 3327 Email: info@dimblebeecatering.co.uk

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Pop Up Nurseries provides child care for all occasions.

Whatever the event, whatever the venue Pop Up Nurseries can provide a creche facility to help your guests to enjoy your event in the knowledge that their children are safe and happy. We can pop up at Weddings, corporate events, training, parties and anywhere that childcare is needed.

www.popupnurseries.co.uk popupnurseries@hotmail.com 0116 367 0025/ 0786 659 7377

Weddings - Corporate - Proms - Birthdays and Many More

www.limelitephotobooths.co.uk 07415 538840 Limelite Photobooths Leicester

@limelitebooths

NICHE 53

Honeymoon Adventures If you are a fun loving couple, adventurous and seeking new experiences, you will want a honeymoon that is as individual as you are.

After the preparations for your perfect wedding day are all sorted, it’s time to think about your perfect honeymoon and you don’t want it to be hard work in the slightest.

memorable trip of your life. With a team of passionate well-travelled individuals, the company is able to offer the best service and advice all from their first-hand knowledge and experience.

The team will work with you right from the outset and throughout. From the time that you make your enquiry to the time that you arrive The word perfect doesn’t have to have the word stressful associated with it, as Pure Safari home, Pure Safari are there to guide and advise aim to make the entire experience as stress free you so that you get the best, most informed and incredibly exciting experience imaginable. as possible.

For a unique honeymoon experience that can be compared to nothing else, an escapade around Zanzibar’s spectacular beaches, exploring China’s serene gardens or investigating the great nature reserves of Costa Rica, will provide just that.

Pure Safari understand that every couple is different so tailors bespoke adventures for newlyweds to see you off on the most

found on their website. They provide polar, cultural and rainforest adventures, classic safaris, climbing and trekking holidays and many others.

The advisers that you will be dealing with are all experts in their areas inside and out and are available instantly over the phone to help you from start to finish; allowing you to get the most out of your time and budget.

Every accommodation and activity is researched and carefully selected because of their location and service as well as their Your honeymoon is built around your conservation or community contribution. requirements; you select your ideal type of accommodation and activities that can be taken Pure Safari offer something a little bit different at your own pace. The co-creation of your trip to other travel companies. with Pure Safari’s experts will see that there is To discover what that difference is, contact no demanding organisation from yourself as Pure Safari on 01227 671 847. the team do all the hard work for you.

The team are passionate about what they do and love offering ideas: some of which can be

www.puresafari.com

Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

The 8th wonder of The World

Pure Safari Exceptional Safari Experiences Worldwide

www.puresafari.com +44 (0)1227 753181

Tanzania | Zanzibar | Kenya | Uganda | Botswana | Namibia | Galapagos | ATOL Protected

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GIFTS GALORE

Star Wars X-Wing Knife Block £48.99 from Amazon, Menkind, Red 5, The Fowndry & Prezzybox.

Laphroaig Select RRP £34.99 from Morrisons www. thewhiskyexchange.com and www.masterofmalt.com

NEW Jam Rewind Wireless Speaker (£79.99) HMV, Game, Argos.

Two Birds Spirits, London Dry Gin. From £28 for 70cl bottle www. twobirdsspirits.co.uk

Classic Gentleman's Wine Drinking Bar Set £16.95 www.dotcomgiftshop.com

Podthikicrafts self-taught artist commissioned pieces Prices start from £30. non obligation quotes for work are available

www.podthikicrafts.co.uk michelle.podthiki@btinternet.com

07887 675561 Podthiki Goblins

NICHE 55

FINE & FABULOUS FOOD

Hotel Maiyango

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PERFECT PORTIONS OF POPCORN Tyrrells launches Poshcorn Tyrrells, the quintessential English snacks brand this week unveils Poshcorn, its superlative new popcorn range.

Popped to perfection at Tyrrells Court Farm, Poshcorn is positioned as a healthier, yet no-less delicious sweet-spot replacement to chocolate, perfect for when you fancy something a bit sweet to nibble on.

FINE & FABULOUS

& Food

In every pack of Tyrrells Poshcorn, you’ll find butterfly shaped morsels of popcorn, made from gold-standard kernels to give large, light and irresistibly moreish pops.

Available in four delectable flavours: Sea Salted, Sweet & Salted (on a delicious new golden caster sugar base) and two new variants; Cocount & Caramel, and Lemon Cupcake, Poshcorn takes ready to eat popcorn to new levels of deliciousness.

Poshcorn is available in both larger sharing bags and small handbag sized bags, available from Waitrose, Sainsbury, Tesco, Morrisons, Costa Coffee and quality independent retailers nationwide.

RRP £1.59 for sharing and 0.79p for small bags.

Hatched from a desire to produce exceptional award winning spirits, Two Birds Spirits are leading the way in true artisan spirits.

Launched in 2013 the family run distillery was founded in rural Leicestershire and is situated in the quaint market town of Market Harborough. With every stage of the process uniquely handcrafted, Two Birds Spirits are produced in small batches of 100 bottles at a time.

Using their hand built copper still, affectionately named ‘Gerard’, the range of spirits includes a TRIPLE AWARD WINNING London Dry Gin, a Speciality Cocktail Gin, an English Vodka and Absinthe.

Their signature gin is a classic London Dry Gin; full of juniper flavour and distilled with 4 other botanicals including coriander, citrus notes, orris root & finally a tightlyguarded secret ingredient which helps create the unique, award winning flavour.

Building on their success and in-depth knowledge of distilling, Two Birds have also moved into producing a range of flavoured spirits. Their range of drinks have been lovingly produced using only the finest natural ingredients. With botanicals sourced from around the great British countryside then blended with their own award winning spirits, ensuring these limited edition bottles taste every bit as good as nature intended. Available seasonally throughout the year, the range includes Blackcurrant Vodka, Sloe Gin, Raspberry Vodka and many more!

Two Birds Spirits are available to purchase online from twobirdsspirits.co.uk. And don’t forget to keep your eye out for our special edition hedgerow spirits too.

www.twobirdsspirits.co.uk 01858 414256

sales@twobirdsspirits.co.uk

Italian Indulgence has come home to Leicester A recent visit to the city centre led to our team discovering Gelato Village; an authentic Italian gelato, sorbetto (and everything else delicious) venue based in St. Martins Square.

Originally from Torino, the team at Gelato Village have brought with them a real taste of Italy, famed for its cuisine and innovative approaches to food.

Their gelato and sorbetto are handcrafted in house using the authentic Italian churning method ‘mantecazione’ with a delicious array of flavours to suite every palate.

Gelato Village use only the best ingredients and are staunch supporters of local suppliers; using fresh, non-homogenised milk and cream all collected from the same herd of cows from Belvoir Ridge Creamery in Melton Mowbray. Their fruit is all purchased fresh from around the corner at Leicester Market.

This attention to detail and their mantecazione churning method ensures that every gelato is indulgently smooth, fluffy and creamy. With flavours like coffee or tiramisù, they can be enjoyed throughout the year, even at home using their thermal take away tubs. And, if dairy is not to your taste the dairy-free sorbettos will not disappoint.

What we love about this one-of-a-kind Gelateria is that everything is made in house, from scratch. The flavours of sorbetto and gelato vary according to the availability and seasonality of the ingredients and every small batch is made to the same exacting standards.

Next time you’re in the city, this is definitely the place to try for not only a unique coffee break, but an experience too! www.gelatovillage.co.uk

NICHE 57

WELL EXECUTED AND PERFECTLY POLISHED Bespoke menus, fancy cocktails, a

A discreet lift opens up on the top floor to reveal iconic views of the Leicester’s quirky striking yet relaxing environment rooftops and the impressive Cathedral Spire. and a committed team are the In the restaurant low lighting casts beautiful ingredients that make up Maiyango’s shapes and shadows across the space creating extraordinary guest experience. We cosy corners and an intimate atmosphere for a unique dining experience.

dig deeper and have a chat with the team that make it all happen.

As the leading boutique hotel and restaurant in Leicester known for its award winning food, cocktail bar, modern bedrooms and fantastic hospitality we’ve asked the team at Maiyango to share tips and advice on how to create and execute a seamless event.

The 4 star hotel and accolades-a-plenty restaurant, placed in a prime spot opposite the brand new Jubilee Square, takes guests by surprise upon entering the building.

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The company recently won the Taste of England awards in Leicestershire and have been since made it through to the final five nationally in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2015. (Winner to be announced on the 11th May)

Not one to hang their hat on old events and past successes, Aatin Anadkat, founder of Maiyango said “We have done some brilliant things over the years but my team are motivated by new challenges and welcome positive change. We want people to come to us with exciting ideas for their events. We are not a run of the mill hotel that can only offer a few default standard packages. We are really hungry and passionate to keep pushing forwards.

Rebecca Humphreys, Maiyango’s Event Coordinator said: “I love what I do, it’s an exciting business and every day is different. I guess I am lucky that the hotel attracts really good clients One of Maiyango’s feats took place in 2012 when the Maiyango team planned, catered and and everyone here wants to do their best.”

Rebecca and Melissa Bill, Maiyango’s Function served Her Royal Highness The Majesty the Manager, (both a product of Maiyango’s Queen, Prince Phillip & everyone’s favourite Princess Kate The Duchess of Cambridge for commitment to developing its own talent) have that ability to put you at ease and their The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Visit to Leicester.

experience of planning and executing events at find out exactly what they want to then tailor a the highest level shines through. bespoke experience for them, we like talking to people and creating something special”.

The communication between the staff ensures events are well-executed, “having all the Head Chef, Salvatore Tassari - a spirited information is the most important thing. The perfectionist, is also eager to meet with clients thorough meetings we have with the client to plan their menu taking into consideration and between departments, along with our their likes and dislikes on a one to one basis. knowledge and experience are what make “I really like making sure what goes on to the the event run seamlessly,” Melissa explained. plates is exactly what the guests want. I love Rebecca told Niche: “Maiyango is different menu planning and creating something special. because most hotels offer set packages but we We all work really closely together to get things tend to meet the client, show them around and spot on.”

It is obvious the team cares from start to finish; their passion for creating unique events ensure that their guests’ vision is made a reality.

We love the fact that Maiyango encourages guests to think outside the box to fashion a special occasion that guests will be talking about for months after.

Maiyango invites couples to come along to their Wedding showcase at the Hotel on Saturday 16th May to experience and find out more about what they offer. www.maiyango.com 0116 251 88 98 reservations@maiyango.com

Maiyango’ s Top Tips to consider when planning an event.

Firstly, ensure the venue is available on your ideal date well in advance! Many people start to plan around a specific date only to be disappointed to find it’s unavailable.

Think about who you want there, (easier said than done sometimes) Get your invites out as soon as possible. Have a reserve list in case all of your A list can’t make it.

Create a spread sheet to include guest names, menu choices dietary requirements, etc. This is easier for you to edit if things change and can then be given to us in one document.

Give your guests a deadline to avoid the stress of chasing people at the last minute! We require all final information such as menu choices and final timings etc two weeks prior to the event.

Choose a band or DJ that you know or someone that we recommend and use regularly.

Find out what decorations the venue allow before you buy as we will need to plan in set up times and make sure they are suitable and practical.

And finally, give the team as much information as you possibly can! The more we know, the more smoothly it will run.

NICHE 59

AWARD WINNING ARTISAN SPIRITS

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NICHE FAVOURITES McGuigan Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - £9.99; Tesco, ASDA. Perfect accompaniment for steak McGuigan Reserve Chardonnay – RRP £9.99; Sainsbury’s, Morrison, ASDA. Perfect accompaniment for stuffed pork loin

McGuigan Classic Shiraz - RRP £8.49; Tesco, Majestic Wines.

Perfect accompaniment for Beef Wellington

McGuigan Classic Rose - RRP £8.49; Sainsbury’s. Perfect accompaniment for fish pie

Cocktails Love Leicester was organised for the City of Leicester

by Roop Kahlon, aka The Urban Alchemist, and Nichola LundYates and will take place on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th May 2015.

As the founder of the Leicester Bartender Association (LBA) he has been fortunate to have worked alongside some of the largest spirit brands in the world, as well as local bars and restaurants and the local Council on their Night Life experience projects.

He’s also hosted a number of consumer tasting sessions and cocktail sessions over the years and is always surprised at the enthusiasm and interest from the general public about where spirits come from and how they’re made.

Nichola was one of these people. Although having never worked in a bar herself, Nichola has a passion for learning, particularly the origins of cocktails, how they are made and the wheres and whats of their origins.

Through creating Cocktails Love Leicester they saw the opportunity to bridge the gap between the industry and the general public. To help them become more aware of the background of the spirits they enjoy drinking and also give them the opportunity to talk directly to the brands themselves. By purchasing a wristband, (£15 for the whole weekend), they will have access to free tastings and masterclasses hosted by the spirit brands across selected venues around Leicester. They will also be able to purchase a cocktail or mocktail at a discounted price throughout the weekend. Some of which will be exclusive for the event.

The event will focus on both drink aware and drink responsible via the tastings and masterclasses and the hashtag we are using is #drinklessdrinkbetter.

NICHE 61

REVIEWS

BURLEIGHS LONDON DRY GIN Infused with eleven botanicals, Burleighs London Dry Gin is a charming choice that works wonderfully with cocktails to create fresh zesty essences.

A classic Gin and Tonic or graceful Negroni cocktail can be made from the perfectly distilled, fresh summer spirit.

The crystal clear spirit is fragrant with citrus notes to the fore, followed by pine and eucalyptus and ending in lasting spicy and floral flavours.

A taste of the continent Located close to the Curve theatre in central Leicester, Bistrot Pierre is a definite ‘must-visit’ venue for anyone who loves fine dining and exquisite service (and who doesn’t!?). Our Operations Director, Leanne, and her friend are just two such people and savoured every moment of their trip to Bistrot Pierre recently.

“The food was amazing, the venue is gorgeous and the service from the staff did not let it down” Leanne enthused. “We both tried different dishes from the menu so we could have a mouthful of everything and our taste buds were definitely thankful!”

Le Bistrot Pierre captures French culture and love of food. With head chef, Kris at the helm (or should we say hob), all the dishes on the menu are prepared with authentic, fresh ingredients inspired by regular trips across the channel.

The team behind the successful restaurant have all worked their way through the ‘restauranteuring ranks’ and bring with them experience and passion that shows in everything they prepare.

In the rustic setting of this corner restaurant guests are invited to sample innovative, authentic bistrot dishes surrounded by the vibrancy and chatter of a true French bistrot and the combination sets the scene for an exquisite dining experience for lunch, pre-theatre, dinners or special occasions.

“Everything we tasted was cooked to perfection and the whole ambience of the restaurant served as a perfect accompaniment to our meals. It’s definitely something we’ll be hinting at for my birthday this year!” Leanne not so subtly told us! www.lebistrotpierre.co.uk

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Its character is defined by the subtle blossoming floral twist that emanates fresh pine and orange zing.

Rich and robust in citrus notes, the gin also releases warming dry peppery notes along with delicate floral tastes.

Burleighs London Dry Gin was inspired by a walk in the woods among the Silver Birches, Dandelions, Burdocks and Elderberries; resulting in a vibrant spirit with earthy tones and a slight background sweetness.

Jamie Daxter found these botanicals growing locally in Burleigh Wood Nature Reserve that motivated the creation of the fullbodied gin in name and taste.

Burleighs London Dry Gin is available in Signature, Export Strength and Distillers Cut. Use the spirits to create drinks perfect for hot days and summer nights in a simple elegance that is refreshing for summery G&Ts or sophisticated cocktails for stylish events. www.burleighsgin.com

Eat • Drink • Meet • Sleep No Single word describes the Cini experience. Innovative Italian Cuisine delivered with contemporary flair.

THE RESTAURANT Reflecting the change of the seasons, our first class menu delivers ever changing delights.

Enticing, exhilarating dishes prepared with fresh seasonal produce and beautifully presented by a talented team.

Warm and cold starters, hearty pastas, delicate seafood, succulent meats and of course freshly made Neapolitan pizza precede truly unforgettable desserts.

PRIVATE DINING AND CONFERENCE FACILITIES

CINI’s private dining & conference room can accomodate up to 14 guests (minimum 4) providing the perfect venue for celebrating a special occasion, hosting business meetings and corporate events.

A bespoke service set in a beautiful location with charming staff and tailor made menu’s. Our service is outstanding and professional guaranteeing you a successful event.

From the scintillating food we serve, to the simple sophistication of the atmosphere in which it is enjoyed, Cini is a restaurant where the joy of creativity lies at the heart of your dining experience.

Upcoming Events

OPERA NIGHT. Sunday 17th May, An evening of live classical opera and beautiful Italian cuisine.

WHY NOT STAY?

Our boutique hotel has 14 luxurious bedrooms available. Comfortably appointed with contemporary décor and stylish en-suite facilities.

CINI COOKERY CLASS This is the ultimate hands-on opportunity for budding Chefs and food lovers alike to spend the day with Andrea Paduano, creating some of his favourite seasonal dishes in a health conscious manner whilst learning all of his handy tips as to how to present the food.

FATHER’S DAY Sunday 21st June,

Restaurant open 12pm-5pm.

Set menu and children’s menu available

To reserve a table please call 0116 286 3009 or email bookings@cinirestaurant.co.uk w w w. c i n i r e s t a u r a n t . c o . u k Cini Restaurant, 26 High Street, Enderby, Leicester, LE19 4AG.

NICHE 85

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NEWMANS

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One of the finest cookery schools in the East Midlands Range of courses to suit all levels Set on a working farm in the Heart of Leicestershire Gift Vouchers available Corporate Services available

When Dean and Christine Newman purchased a restaurant in Leicester they took a step back to see what they’d got themselves into.

The place was left in disarray. Dirty plates and saucepans still lay in the positions they were abandoned and with no money to kick start their business, anyone would have thought the Newman’s venture was set to fail.

But with a little help from a lot of friends Dean’s dream became a reality. Occupying the property on a Sunday the Newman’s, with their "volunteers", had the place decorated and ready for its opening day just two days later.

To book a course or find out more, please visit www.bridge67cookeryschool.co.uk or call 0116 279 6155

Twenty-nine years on and Newman’s is thriving in the city centre. It is Dean’s belief that helping others will benefit yourself, “to succeed in business you need the support of others. It’s all about building trusting relationships.” At the beginning of the Newman’s story, a lack of funds didn’t hold them back; they found that the suppliers they used offered them a month’s credit to get them started. They have reciprocated the deed by sticking with those same suppliers to this day.

Newman’s began with a simple menu geared toward shoppers. Now, with more experience and a menu offering a great deal of choice, Newman’s puts hot food on the table within 3-5 minutes. “All our dishes are made by hand and we have something for everyone. We have great breakfasts; sausages specially made for us, top quality bacon and free range eggs.” Seafood, roast dinners and everything in between have kept customers coming back year on year. “Customers are paramount: if you look after them, they look after you.”

Their homemade traditional food and friendly environment keeps their customers loyal, but it is also how the Newman’s view their staff that has kept the business running successfully. "Our staff are Newman's, throughout the years they have been outstanding, without their hard work, loyalty and support we would not exist.

Work hard, be kind to others, go without fear, live your Dream. Dean hopes this inspires any young person starting out in business, no matter where you have come from.

Local, friendly independent coffee shop serving delicious coffee, light lunches, homemade cakes and cream teas.

Relax and enjoy or takeaway.

Visit Newman’s in 33 Market Street LE1 6DN or call 0116 254 2090

Open Mon - Sat 9am - 5pm

Award winning Hambleton Bakery bread available on Saturdays.

01162711445 chestnutscoffeeshop@aol.co.uk Chestnuts Coffee Shop @ChestnutsCS

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It's more than just a hotdog.

Jeff Wilson's twists on that old American staple have delighted street food fans in London and Birmingham for the past couple of years.

Now Big Daddy is bringing his unique and delicious concoctions to Leicestershire as he seeks to consolidate his success elsewhere.

Jeff, a forty something avuncular Londoner runs Big Daddies Diner, a pop up mobile catering service that can handle gourmet urban venues, weddings, family parties, business functions, in fact anything where the customer wants to tap into that current trendy street venue vibe.

Big Daddies Diner is a family mobile catering street food business serving gourmet hotdogs

The company was formed in 2012 after Jeff had come to a cross roads in his career as an operations manager. “I decided I wanted to build my own business and having been a frustrated chef since my youth I decided that food was a career I wanted to pursue.” Jeff spent 6 months in London learning the street food craft and released the Capital’s craze into the heart of the Midlands.

Big Daddies has been one of the regular contributors to the Digbeth Dining Club, a chilled out hip venue underneath the Victorian railway arches on the fringes of Birmingham City Centre. His gut busting hot dog menu has helped the DDC win some major foodie awards over the past two years.

Customers queue around the block to get a taste of Big Daddies and to sample an atmosphere that has revitalised Birmingham, boosting its reputation in Britain and abroad.

“The Midlands is in need of good quality street food, and we are pushing hard to bring street food to Leicester” says Jeff.

Get in touch to discuss your next event! www.bigdaddies.co.uk 07824 099590

Customers salivate over Big Daddies gourmet hotdogs that come with a selection of conventional and quirky toppings. The sausages are complemented by helpings of chilli con carne, mac and cheese, pulled pork and brisket, and philly steak. Jeff prides himself on using the freshest ingredients and strives where possible to support local traders by incorporating their bread and meat.

You can find them in their temporary home in Millstone Street, Leicester for six weeks from the 15th April. They are available all over the Midlands for private hire, all wedding events, parties, corporate days and restaurant pop-ups. Visit our website for more details.

Get in touch on 07824 099590 www.bigdaddies.co.uk

NICHE 65

MARCO PIERRE WHITE RESTAURANT, KEGWORTH, OFFICIALLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS On Friday 3rd April, BEST WESTERN PREMIER Yew Lodge Hotel in Kegworth, Leicestershire, excitedly opened its doors to its new Marco’s New York Italian restaurant, which will serve Marco Pierre White’s take on American‐Italian food.

With 134 covers and plenty of car parking to match, the opening is expected to be a highlight for the locals. The previous restaurant known as the Orchard Restaurant has been completely demolished and redeveloped to the hotel who take immense pride in the hotel allow for the New York Italian theme. The restaurant will appeal to anybody looking for a and its history. casual and relaxed place to eat, from corporate BEST WESTERN PREMIER Yew Lodge clients of the hotel to the local community.

Hotel have established themselves as offering fine food over the years and have played a The BEST WESTERN PREMIER Yew Lodge Hotel is a third generation family owned part in developing great chef ’s such as their Head Chef, Trevor Bearder, who has been hotel, who pride themselves on their enviable reputation of warm hospitality which they have with the team for a remarkable 13 years. This displayed for nearly 60 incredible years. There demonstrates the extraordinary efforts which is an infectious ‘family feel’ amongst the staff at the management team go to in developing

and promoting employees from within. The opening of the Marco Pierre White restaurant is an exciting yet natural next step for the hotel and its staff.

Yvonne Hyde, Hotel Manager said: “This is big news for the locals in Kegworth, as well as our neighbouring towns and villages, as nothing else in the area competes with this style of restaurant without having to drive in to the cities ... and then you need to find a parking space! The beauty of the restaurant is that it’s designed with every customer in mind, delivering excellent service and fantastic food at an affordable price to suit all budgets.

“We’re excited for all of our guests; from business to families, holiday makers getting ready to jet off somewhere nice and of course our ever supporting visitors from the surrounding villages.

“BEST WESTERN PREMIER Yew Lodge is a wonderful hotel steeped in history and the launch of the Marco Pierre White restaurant is the cherry on top. The vision for the restaurant from day one has been to create an environment where people can relax and enjoy life and I believe we’re achieving just that”.

For more information about BEST WESTERN PREMIER Yew Lodge Hotel or to book a table at Marco’s New York Italian restaurant, visit www.yewlodgehotel.co.uk or bookings@marcoskegworth.com

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in the UK – making the economy grow and succeed.”

Everything the bakery produces is sold within 24 hours and any leftovers are sent to three farms within the local area, “a third of all supermarket leftovers end up in land fill, whereas we make sure everything we produce goes to good use.

British Bakers Tearing into freshly made crusty bread is a treat that is not appreciated as much as it should be, or could be in the UK. Julian Carter and Tim Hart are setting the standard with their quality baking skills.

Rutland County Council supported the pair in converting the property.

“We stuck a little shop on the end of the bakery and it was getting very busy so we took on a few more people. The demand for our All too often, people seem to be happy enough food was higher than we expected.” From this fast moving success they made the decision to to buy bread made on an industry scale when it lacks so much taste, texture and nutrients but open a shop in Oakham later that year. includes so many preservatives, enzymes and “We didn’t plan for any of this. It ran away enhancers. from us,” Julian explained. Hambleton Bakery had 30 wholesale customers at the beginning of The two leaders in bread making have made their story compared to the 72 that they supply it possible for us to enjoy traditionally made to currently. bread that comes free of additives and free of guilt! “We make food that I would want The bread on sale in Hambleton Bakeries are my family to eat and we make sure there is full of nutrients and most ingredients used are something for everyone,” Julian said. locally sourced. Julian and Tim are focused on supporting the local community. Julian added: In 2008, Julian left his job as a chef at Hambleton Hall’s restaurant to focus solely on “keeping local is very important to us. Buying baking. He wanted to find somewhere in which locally keeps money in the local economy.”

Every year the company has doubled in size, he could create healthy, handmade bread.

Hambleton Bakery now employs 62 staff that To join him on his search was Tim, owner of are all locally hired, “we are big believers that Hambleton Hall. They discovered a derelict if you train people from the UK, they will stay building on the Exton estate in Rutland and

“We are a British bakery; we don’t pretend to be anything like a French Patisserie because we’re not. We buy all meat, eggs and most other ingredients from local businesses. We work by a traditional ethos with modernised products.”

The two founders were continuously being caught out by unexpected popularity of the bakery. They found that some people really do care about what they eat. “Once people start eating our bread and then return to their usual bread, they realise what the difference is.”

Quite often, Julian told us, people who believe they have wheat intolerances are actually being affected by the way the bread is made. The process of making bread industrially takes one hour, whereas Hambleton Bakery slows it down to 24 hours.

“You do get what you pay for. When things are cheaper it is never the profit that is affected, always the quality,” says Julian.

Julian and Tim believe that the standards in Britain are low when it comes to baked goods, “people are happy to pay £3 for a coffee. It should be the same with bread and other food.”

Visit one of Julian and Tim’s five shops to appreciate healthy, delicious breads and other treats. www.hambletonbakery.co.uk

NICHE 67

LAVISH LIVING

Marks & Spencers

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Hinckley & Rugby Building Society’s members know they are already part of something very special – and are joining our celebrations of our historic 150th anniversary during 2015!

Very few institutions have been in existence for quite so long and this remarkable feat has only been possible due to the loyal and unwavering support of our members – basically, any customer holding a mortgage or savings account with us.

Hinckley & Rugby celebrates a very special birthday

If you could step back in time to 1865, you would have found a meeting of local tradespeople taking place at a Hinckley inn. Mr Thomas Kiddle, a draper of Castle Street, volunteered to be manager of Hinckley Freehold Land and Permanent Building Society and the firm foundations that the Hinckley & Rugby of today are built on were laid.

Three generations of the Kiddle family held stewardship over the Society for the next 90 years as it evolved and adapted to continue to serve the local communities in its Leicestershire and Warwickshire heartland.

Thomas Kiddle, the first manager of Hinckley Freehold Land and Permanent Benefit Building Society

Then, in 1983, the decision was taken to merge with the Rugby Provident Building Society and the Hinckley & Rugby, as it is known today, was established.

The Society of today is very different in many ways to the institution founded 150 years ago, but what hasn’t changed is our commitment to mutuality and traditional first class personal service, our highly competitive mortgages and savings accounts and the staunch support of our loyal members. www.hrbs.co.uk

Honest Reliable Helpful Responsible Here Ready to help

BUILDING SOCIETY

Celebrating

We’ve been around a remarkably long time but we remain committed to providing traditional first class service and highly competitive mortgages and savings accounts

0800 434 6343 hrbs.co.uk or visit us at branches across Leicestershire

Traditional service since 1865 The Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.

The Society's registration number is 206043

NICHE 69

BUILDING DREAMS TO LIFE When looking for contractors who can successfully complete building work on your property, it is important to find a company who are reliable and reputable.

It can be a daunting task to ensure you are hiring the right people as we at Niche Magazine know that it is imperative that you have the work you need doing to the highest standard within a realistic time scale.

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With an esteemed portfolio, SLM Builders have a clear professional and quality service. With every project successfully completed to the client’s requirements, their customer service has been said to be above and beyond.

SLM have completed work for both traditional and contemporary design briefs within commercial and domestic sectors. They have extensive knowledge and involvement within the commercial sector, which includes building of factories / offices, demolitions, maintenance

contracts, dilapidations and public houses. Also having first-hand experience of working on self-build projects as well, they look forward to taking on all kinds of builds.

When the company was set up in 2003 by two brothers, Lee and Mark Daniels, they felt that they could offer a more personal service to their clients and provide quality builds whilst working within the client’s budget.

The team at SLM are passionate about making

“We work with our clients to understand their needs and provide alternative solutions to their dreams.”

The Daniels brothers work with Tracey, a contract manager, two assistants and around 20 subcontractors who work for SLM at any one time. Lee and Mark have established a committed workforce that is as experienced as they are respectful of the client’s expectations.

After the hard hitting recession, the brothers their clients vision become a reality. However, managed to come through it with the support what sets SLM aside from the rest is how their of their clients and suppliers. Tracey told us: experts will offer you their advice on how to “we have managed to grow our business by achieve the best possible outcome. Business increasing our turnover in the last three years Development Director, Tracey Daniels she said: by fivefold.” “we work with our clients to understand their needs and provide alternative solutions to Along with the company’s positive and their dreams.” ambitious outlook, SLM always communicates with their clients openly and honestly. This put SLM specialise in new builds, extensions, together with their high level of workmanship conservatories, construction and conversions. has contributed to their company's successful The company have had many successes due growth. to their ‘can-do’ approach. The firm state that they will “always strive to achieve the best Not only are SLM constantly striving to fulfil practice through continuous improvements.” their clients’ needs to the very best standard, They take on new challenges, which has led they also enjoy their contribution to the local them to grow into the reputable company Leicester community. Tracey explained: “we they are. have currently commenced work on a Mosque in Bath Street, Leicester and are excited to be If you have something in mind for your contributing to the local community.” home or business that you may be thinking is too difficult or unattainable, speak to SLM. SLM are pleased to be the main contractors Working with you, they provide expert advice for the project because of the opportunities to and knowledge to form your ideal outcome.

it is bringing to the local community in Leicestershire. It is enabling 18 months’ worth of work project that is valued at £2.5million and creating job opportunities for local trades.

SLM are proud to have put some big projects into action. In 2009, the firm created a soft room extension for autistic children at The Menphys Autism Unit in South Wigston. The Golden Fleece Public House was another great accomplishment in South Croxton, 2008 where SLM took on a complete refurbishment and extension to a modern specification.

The firm are soon to begin work for Lumbers Jewellers on the Dominos building in Leicester City Centre. With exciting projects on the horizon for SLM, they are hungry to keep up the challenging work.

To get them started on your dream home, extension, office or any other type of build that you want to put in place, contact SLM to discuss your ideas. The team will be there from start to finish; their excellent communication informs you of exactly what will be happening when and how long each step of your journey with them should take. www.slmbuilders.co.uk 0116 276 5333

37 Melrose Street, Leicester LE4 6FD T: 0116 276 5333

F: 0116 261 1919

E: info@slmbuilders.co.uk

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Specialist in         Specialist  Windows,  in       PVC-U  Windows,  in       Specialist PVC-U&  Conservatories   Doors, PVC-U Windows, Doors, & Conservatories 29-33 Thurcaston   Rd, Leicester   LE4 5PG Tel:  2676167   Doors, & Conservatories 29-33 Thurcaston Rd, Leicester LE4 5PG           29-33 Thurcaston Rd, Leicester LE4 5PG Tel: 2676167 ROOFLINE PRODUCTS INCLUDING GUTTERING   PRODUCTS  Leicester   INCLUDING    Tel:  GUTTERING 2676167 ROOFLINE 29-33 Thurcaston Rd, LE4 5PG ROOFLINE PRODUCTS INCLUDING GUTTERING

Midland Window Midland Window Midland Window Installations

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Midland Window Midland Window Midland Window Installations Installations Installations Lea Quality at com

• Slating • Tiling • Lead Wo • Flat Roof • Fascias • Gutte • Chimney Specialist in • Repoint   Specialist in

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      Specialist    in          PVC-U Windows, Specialist in Minor buil PVC-U Windows, Doors, & Conservatories PVC-U Windows,  Genera  &          Doors, Conservatories 29-33 Thurcaston Rd, Leicester LE4 5PG Tel: 2676167     Doors, For Thurcaston a& F Conservatories 29-33 Rd, LE4 2676167 29-33 Thurcaston Rd, Leicester Leicester LE4 5PG 5PG Tel: ROOFLINE PRODUCTS INCLUDING GUTTERING  Thurcaston  PRODUCTS  Rd, Leicester  LE4 5PG Tel: ROOFLINE INCLUDING GUTTERING 29-33 2676167 T 078 ROOFLINE PRODUCTS INCLUDING GUTTERING E charn

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“...We can be beaten on ‘price’, But not on ‘Quality’...”

COUNTESTHORPE BLINDS

Conservatory Blinds - Wooden Plantation Shutters - Quality Patio Awnings We also have a full range of blinds including: Verticals, Venetians, Rollers, Romans, Pleateds, VELUX & Woven Wood Blinds

“We specialise in shaped conservatory roof blinds” Wide range of awnings including: Manual, Motorised, Automatic & also with lights

‘Free’ Home Measuring & Fitting Service Find us on Facebook

Call for a quotation

0116 277 6749 0771 833 7048 www.countesthorpe-blinds.co.uk NICHE 73

5 Reasons to have a Gas Safety Check Whether you are a homeowner or a Landlord, having regular Gas Safety checks in your property are vital, and here are the 5 biggest reasons why: 1. Energy Efficiency: Every gas appliance will need some maintenance and a regular service to make sure it isn’t performing badly, or operating unsafely and emitting lethal carbon monoxide (CO) gas, putting your family or tenants at serious risk.

Tip top operation means it will use less fuel and reduce your energy bills. Don’t forget to check any gas fires and kitchen hobs or cookers as well.

2. Dangerous Operation: The engineer will test for flue gas analysis and combustion so look out for warning signs like soot or staining around appliances, or the

cooker flame burning yellow or orange instead of a crisp blue. Tell the engineer if you have more condensation than usual on the inside of your windows, this is a vital clue for his fault finding.

4. Tenants: Whenever you move into a rental property, you should be given a current Gas Safety Certificate by the Agent, or the Landlord, which must be under 12 months old. If not, do ask for one.

3. Landlords Legal Requirements: 5. Moving House: For anyone who is renting out a property, an annual gas safety check is now a legal requirement. Tenants may be unaware of the danger of faulty gas appliances, or of the tell-tale signs to look for, which is why every gas appliance in your rental properties needs to have an up-to-date Landlords Gas Safety Certificate CP12.

During the buying process, the vendor or his Solicitor should supply you with a Gas Safety Certificate before contracts are signed. If this hasn’t happened, make sure you have a Gas Safe check as soon as you move in, especially in an older property that may have a boiler of more than 10 years old.

FOR ALL YOUR DOMESTIC PLUMBING, HEATING, GAS & OIL REQUIREMENTS Local Family Business serving Wigston and South Leicestershire Gas, Oil & LPG

Gas Fires, Cookers Combi Boilers

Warm Air Heating

Boilers & Water Heaters

Central Heating Power Flushing Gas Pipe Install & Repair

Landlord Safety Certificates

Unvented Hot Water Systems

Immersion Heaters, Water Tanks Emergency Breakdowns

74

Worcester Bosch Boiler fitted from £1200 Find us on

Valliant, Worcester Bosch Accredited Installers

0116 2100 718 / 07718 587 541 wayne@waynelordplumbing.co.uk

www.waynelordplumbing.co.uk

Evans Fireplace Centre

The art of Fireplaces 1159 Melton Road, Syston LE7 2JS Tel: 0116 260 0772 OPEN: Mon-Fri 9am - 5.30, Sat 9am - 5pm, Sun 11am - 2pm

www.evansfireplaces.com

QualityFireplacesQualityFireplacesQualityFireplacesQuality FireplacesQualityFireplacesQualityFireplacesQualityFireplacesQualityFireplaces

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QualityFireplacesQualityFireplacesQualityFireplacesQualityFireplacesQualityFireplacesQualitFireplaces NICHE 75

Set in the Idyllic Courtyard at The Manor is Bunny & Clarke, Lifestyle & Gift Shop

Is Spring Cleaning outdated?

A Shop Filled With Quirky Homeware, Gifts For All The Family and Fabulous Collections Of Stylish Jewellery and Clothing.

We also have our own Coffee Shop, Soon to be moved to Across The Courtyard Into A Beautiful Beamed Barn. Offering Light Lunches and Homemade Cakes.

Shop Online: www.bunnyandclarke.com TEL: 01858 540424 Ample Free Parking

Like us on Facebook to receive our Special Offers & All The News At The Courtyard.

Tesco Direct

Out With The Old……

Most of us don’t remember the good old days of being without central heating or double glazing, and have no idea of the original reason for a Spring Clean. It was to get rid of all the soot and ash from carpets, furniture and shelves; as well as clothes and linens; that had accumulated during the cold winter, while coal fires smouldered in every room from November to May. Even the candles added to the soot on the walls. No wonder the first warm and dry days in spring resulted in everyone throwing open the windows and having a good clean.

And In With the New!

Perhaps now we are in the age of hi-tech gadgets with our computers, smart phones, iPod, iPad, tablet, laptop, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, we should consider having a Techno Spring Clean?

All those old emails you never got round to deleting, the sent box, the deleted box, the files, folders and temporary downloads that are now clogging up your data super-highway. No wonder we all have emails that seem to disappear; they probably get lost in the overcrowded ether on the way…

Then there are all those CD’s we never use any more since our music is all online or in our music software. Hands up if you have a pile of CD boxes without CD’s in them? and a stack of CD’s in the car with no boxes? Then do the same with the DVD’s that are in a very wobbly pile behind the TV, under the sofa, and taking over the children’s bookcase.

Here is a great opportunity to throw open the windows, let some fresh air in, and make both our real homes and our virtual homes into clean, happy and efficient spaces… Good Luck!

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Open Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday - 11am - 4pm Bunny & Clarke The Manor Main Street Tur Langton Leicester LE8 0PJ

D. LAPWORTH DECORATING CONTRACTORS Internal Exterior Cleaning services Floor buffing Rodent & insect deterrents

Damien Lapworth Tel: 0116 3485188 Mobile: 07519469290 Email: lapworth@post.com 10% off decorating if booked in conjunction with cleaning services

uppingham Sales • In-House Cleaning • Bespoke In-House Restoration • Try At Home • Collection & Delivery

Great Value, Great Service Over 28 Years Experience

- Old carpets disposed of - Wide choice & genuine advice

- Expert fitting guaranteed

- AXMINSTERS - CARPET TILES - LAMINATES - SOLID WOODS - VINYLS - SISALS Shop online at www.astleycarpets.co.uk astleycarpets@yahoo.co.uk

01455 285214

75 Main St, Broughton Astley LE9 6RE (free parking)

Kibworth Carpets & Flooring specialise in the supply and fitment of carpets and flooring in both domestic and commercial environments.

Our showroom is located in the village Kibworth Beauchamp which is ideally located to serve Leicester, Market Harborough and the surrounding villages.

0116 279 3209 07447 013 955 (Arron - out of hours) 07977 870 050 (Paul - out of hours)

www.kibworthcarpets.co.uk Kibworth Carpets & Flooring, Station Street, Kibworth Beauchamp. LE8 OLN

Kibworth Carpets & Flooring NICHE 77

Whatever your home styling requirements, whether you are looking for a complete design, a few tweaks to make it home or bring it back to life or simply to present it in its best light to sell or rent out, Chrysalis are the experts for you.

Tel: 0121 6476709 f: Facebook.com/ChrysalisInteriorDesign t: @ChrysalisID www.chrysalishomestaging.com 78

1.

SPRING FEVER 3.

SPRING FEVER

2.

These shorter nights and warmer days bathed in sunlight are just what’s needed after the long winter. “Fever” is quite an apt term as we Brits seem to literally shed our clothes the moment the sun comes out!

4.

To celebrate the coming summer we should embrace the changing seasons in our homes. The best way to do this is to inject a little colour. Top trends in colours this season are all about Mother Nature. If it works in nature then it will work indoors too! So think earthy neutrals, off whites and charcoals (softer than your classic blacks and whites) counterpointed with shots of cool blues and grassy greens, or petal pinks and vibrant orange.

5.

Bathrooms are a great place to spruce up as they’re often white which looks amazing when paired with zingy pops of colour. Try new towels, or shower curtains and a candle for a bit of luxury. For a bit of “faux naturelle” there are some amazing new ceramic tiles out there which look just like wood, so you can feel like you are bathing outdoors - almost.

Go bold this season and brighten up your home with some fresh and feisty colour. Above all, have fun!

Samantha x

1. Graham & Green Set of 3 Dipped Washed Baskets £175 www.chrysalisinteriordesign.com/hotpicks “These rustic looking storage baskets are bang on trend with their two-tone earthy colour. Effortlessly stylish.”

2. Designers Guild Blue Splatterware Enamel Tableware From £8 - £12 www.chrysalisinteriordesign.com/hotpicks “This oh-so-cute tableware looks fresh and modern whilst still paying homage to the traditional white and blue style of old. A contemporary twist on a time-worn classic.”

3. Occa-Home NLXL Studio Job Wallpaper £199 www.chrysalisinteriordesign.com/hotpicks “I adore this oriental inspired geometric wallpaper. It is a classy take on the patterned wallpaper trend in a spring-ready emerald hue. Use in a living room, an alcove or behind shelving. It is beautiful.”

4. Habitat Flamingo Shower Curtain £15 www.chrysalisinteriordesign.com/hotpicks “This fun shower curtain brings a splash of colour to your morning routine, almost guaranteed to put a smile on your face to start the day.”

5. Topps Tiles Woodgrain Bayur Borneo Tile From £19.89 per m² www.chrysalisinteriordesign.com/hotpicks “These tiles look luxurious but are so much more versatile than the real thing! Use on walls or floors for that outdoors-in vibe.

Gorgeous.”

NICHE 79

HOME SWEET HOME NARBOROUGH HALL PRESENTS THE PERFECT PIECES FOR YOUR PERFECT HOME Home is where the heart is and the heart of the home is in the kitchen.

Make your house a home this summer with the hottest homeware Narborough Hall has to offer. From cute glassware to vintage-style tea sets for one, Narborough Hall is committed to filling your home with exquisite accessories that look expensive, yet won’t break the bank.

Inject a bit of fun into summer by serving up some ice cold refreshments in this vibrant jug and tumbler set from the

Leonardo ‘Millefiori’ range of glassware. Featuring blow up glass encrusted with intricate flower detailing, these superb pieces will decorate your table with contemporary cool and embellish your favourite tipple, whether it’s homemade lemonade or something a little stronger.

For more information visit Narborough Hall http://www.narboroughhall.co.uk/c/202/For-the-Home

Broughtons Broughtons Traditional Lighting & Ironmongery Traditional Lighting & Ironmongery

A FAMILY RUN BUSINESS WITH A PASSION FOR MODERN AND RECLAIMED FURNITURE Charlie’s Pine & Oak is an established local

ENDERBY

business, packed with high quality oak, pine

73 St Johns,

and reclaimed furniture. Whilst you’ll be able to

LE19 2BS

get hold of the perfect pieces to complete your

Tues to Sat, 9am - 5pm

home, we also provide a personalised service and free delivery to the Leicestershire area.

Your revamped home awaits you!

CLARENDON PARK 344 Welford Road, LE2 6EH Wed to Sat, 10am-5pm

Shop online: charliespineandoak.co.uk

Wall Light AnsteyAnstey Wall Light Product Code: LIIW0413 Product Code: LIIW0413

Cinema Cropston Road TheThe OldOld Cinema Cropston Road Anstey, Leicestershire LE7 7BP Anstey, Leicestershire LE7 7BP Tel. Tel. 01160116 236 236 53005300 www.broughtons.com sales@broughtons.com www.broughtons.com sales@broughtons.com

Open 7 Days Mon-Sat - 5pm Sundays 10am - 4pm Open 7 Days Mon-Sat 9am9am - 5pm Sundays 10am - 4pm

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Dillon Dillon Dillon Large Sofa

W190cm x D90cm x H92cm

Dillon Small Sofa

W165cm x D90cm x H92cm

Large Sofa above shown with matching bolsters in fabric 6609/20 Small Sofa overleaf shown in fabric 6612/01 with bolsters in fabric 6611/20 Chair shown overleaf in fabric 6610/20 with bolster in fabric 6612/01 Footstool shown overleaf in fabric 6610/20

Dillon Chair

W75cm x D90cm x H92cm

Specification:

Super loop sprung back Fishmouth sprung edge Foam/ fibre wrap seat cushions Available with or without castor in a choice of 3 wood colours

Dillon Stool

W 79cm x D 57cm

Updated 08/10/13

Vintage Collection

INVEST IN A LUXURY SOFA AT UNBELIEVABLE PRICES Visit www.pauledwardsinteriors.co.uk

Premier stockists of:

Launched at Grand Launched at Designs 20142014 Grand Designs

Suites, Carpets, Curtains, Blinds, Fabrics Suites, Carpets, Curtains, Blinds, Fabrics and Wallcoverings

and Wallcoverings Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00am - 5.00pm.

Sunday 11.00am - 4.00pm Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00am - 5.00pm. Sunday 11.00am - 4.00pm Abbott House, Trinity Lane, Hinckley (01455 616095) Trinity Lane, Hinckley (01455 616095)

FREE Car park at rear

FREE Car park at rear

ŠLW

NICHE 81

CARE & CHARITY

Soft Touch Arts/The White Peacock

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Advertising Feature

PETER WILCOX FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Taking the stress out Planning of paying for care Investment Most of us will spend all of our working lives looking forward to the day we can retire. But the thought of how to pay for possible future care treatment will often play on our minds.

So while we should be making the most of our well-deserved free time, financial worries may cloud our fun. And with care costs increasing steadily as people live longer and require a better quality of care, people often worry about how their nest egg may quickly dwindle and how they may not be able to leave anything for your children to enjoy after working so hard towards that goal for years.

choice for individuals in need of care and as part of this the Government is implementing processes from April this year within Local Authorities across the UK whereby Advisers will be required to suggest individuals seek advice on their care plans from Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA)

Retirement Planning

Inheritance Tax Planning There are currently only a limited number of fully accredited Advisers across the country. Peter Wilcox Financial Management has two accredited Advisers, dedicated to providing sound, impartial guidance.

Later Life Planning Peter Wilcox and his team have over 35 years’ experience in financial services and are dedicated to Long Term Care, so they can offer comprehensive information.

01509 881982

SOLLA individuals are required to re-license Those with assets greater than £23,250 are required annually and are re-assessed every five years to contribute to care fees. On average the costs of so by seeking help from someone with SOLLA care are circa £28,500 a year for residential care, accreditation, it means that you can have the peace rising to over £37,500 a year if nursing care is of mind of knowing you have chosen someone who necessary (Laing & Buisson Care of Older People UK can offer you the best advice. Peter Wilcox and his market report 2013/14). A £72k contribution cap will team are compassionate and conscientious in all they be introduced in 2016 but financial advisers are still do, including when working with Power of Attorneys concerned that people will still end up paying more if and families who have to make difficult decisions they don’t understand the complex regulations. about their loved ones futures.

PETER WILCOX

peter.wilcox@sjpp.co.uk

Principal of Peter Wilcox Financial Management Senior Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management

www.peterwilcox-sjp.co.uk

Unless you plan for the expense you could lose a lot of your assets or be left to rely on state help. But trying to plan this on your own without any help could be daunting if it’s not your area of expertise.

With so muchSJat2003 stake, it’s important to turnFixture to Peter Wilcox experts for advice.

The Care Act 2014 is designed to provide greater

Peter Wilcox Financial Management are also distinctive in their attitude to Later Life Planning as they take a holistic approach and provide guidance on all aspects of their probable requirements to Card_63x100mm_KT_Feb14.indd 1 provide a full package of services, delivering financial security for clients and their families.

solicitors, medical advisers, estate agents and benefits advisers, to name but a few; Peter Wilcox Financial Management can help assess your financial needs and offer you guidance on how to protect your assets, assess your care needs, release capital in your home, ensure you receive benefits you are entitled to and create a detailed care plan for your later life.

Why not try their no obligation, face-to-face consultation and find out how to help ‘future-proof ’ your14/02/2014 assets for later life.15:35:36 The guidance they provide is under no obligation and is tailored to individual circumstances so there is no ‘standard package’.

Through the development of relationships with local

www.peterwilcox-sjp.co.uk/longtermcare

01509 881982

Julia.gamble@sjpp.co.uk

Peter Wilcox Financial Management represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct

Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s Wealth Management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The title `Partner Practice’ is the marketing term used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

NICHE 83

Eagle Care Alternatives Ltd Care tailored to you, in your own home, when you need it

When you, or someone you care about, needs assistance with their day to day care but wants to retain their independence and stay in the comfort and security of their own home it can be overwhelming. Eagle Care Alternatives are experts at providing advice and care packages to individuals and families in just this situation; specialising in home care for the elderly, people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, end of life care, and mental health needs, allowing individuals to remain at home whilst ensuring their care needs are met.

enhanced DBS checks to ensure that their high standards are always maintained and work in conjunction with other agencies to ensure each service user is provided with a complete package of care.

“We will provide opportunity for open debate and discussion, whilst upholding the principle of confidentiality for all customers and staff. We all need to have an equal chance according to our individuality to live free from fear, discrimination and prejudice in a just and Ruth Olugbenga, Director and Registered Care equal society where diversity is valued, so Manager at Eagle Care Alternatives Ltd said, discrimination, harassment, intimidation “Our purpose is to promote independence, or verbal or physical abuse will never be improve health and emotional welltolerated at Eagle Care Alternatives”. Ruth being, improve quality of life, make a told us. positive contribution, increases choices and control and also, to support all of our The carers work with individuals and their service users to maintain personal dignity families to agree detailed care plans through and respect. Where there are children assessment, implementation and monitoring involved, we will with all involved and are regularly reviewed to ensure they parties to help improve and protect their continue to meet client’s needs. This can be lives. We will respect the dignity and anything from weekly visits to 24 hour care, individuality of all our service users dependent on the individual. and members of staff and value their knowledge, skills and experience.”

With the introduction of the Care Act 2014 and further regulations coming into force this Eagle Care have a faculty of professional April, those needing care could be looking at carers, carefully vetted and assessed, with up to £37,500 per year for residential nursing

84

“

Our purpose is to promote independence, improve health and emotional well-being, improve quality of life.

providing high quality carers that understand our client's cultural and religious beliefs.

care for which anyone with assets over £23,250 will be required to contribute towards. The Care Act 2014 is designed to provide greater choice for individuals in need of care; whether it is nursing care, residential care or specialist care so for those in a position to need care, it is important they explore all the options available.

What is great about the newly designed care provisions is the focus on ‘personalisation’, providing choice to individuals, their families and carers about what support they receive and where they receive it from. No matter what your level of need or your preferred setting, the key is to empower people with the control of how their care is delivered. This is where the services of dedicated care providers such as Eagle Care Alternatives come into their own and working in conjunction with their experienced staff service users can choose each aspect of their care to meet their individual needs.

and dressed ready for the day. Eagle Care tailor their support to promote independence and enable clients to benefit from extra freedom, knowing there is always someone there to assist, committed to protecting their interests and their dignity.

“

“

We strive to meet the needs of our clients by

in day centres and care homes.” Ruth explained.

The services available through Eagle Care are as diverse as its users dictate but all clients are assured that they can enjoy being cared for in a safe, friendly The company take and trustworthy into consideration environment. Ruth every element of and the team at Eagle their client’s lives Care have already and work with them received fantastic to make sure every feedback from current aspect is accounted clients and their for from physical needs through to cultural and ambition is to become known as the preferred religious beliefs, their priority being that your care provider in Leicester’s community and care is everything you need it to be. they’re already well on their way with a shortlist positions at the Leicester For Business Eagle Care Alternatives work with service users “We strive to meet the needs of our Awards for ‘Woman’s Start Up Of The Year’ and and their families in their local communities clients by providing high quality carers ‘New Business of the Year’. to provide a holistic care package to meet that understand our client’s cultural and every client’s individual needs. Whether it be religious beliefs. We care for those with To find out more about the care available from support with planning and shopping or bills learning disabilities and other associated Ruth and the team at Eagle Care contact them and budgeting, or in home help with washing, challenging behaviours, as well as the via phone on 0116 255 2398 or email bathing, showering, toileting and getting up elderly, mental health patients and those ecal69@yahoo.com

1 The Cr e s ce nt K i n g S t r e e t Le i c e s t e r LE1 6 R X www.eaglecarealternativesltd.co.uk ecal69@yahoo.com +44116 2552398

NICHE 85

Specialists in Hearing Aids and Tinnitus Treatments Based on London Road Leicester, The London Road Hearing Centre have been providing hearing aids and other hearing services in Leicester for over 7 years; priding themselves on offering the highest levels of hearing expertise, service and care to their patients.

Mrs Claire Marshall and Ms Shirin Sheikh are the two full time Audiologists that you can expect to see at The London Road Hearing Centre. Both Claire and Shirin hold a first-class honours degree in Audiology from Leicester De Montfort University.

Your journey begins with an initial assessment to determine your level and type of hearing loss, with the audiologist explaining the treatment options available. The centre encourages people to bring along friends and family at this stage as there is a lot of information to take in and they understand that clients feel more at ease this way.

The next stage in the process is the fitting appointment; this is where your custom hearing aid will be programmed and fitted to your unique requirements. You will then trail the aids for 30 days and have further follow up appointments to check on your progress. The London Road Hearing Centre believes that this calm and relaxed approach allows patients to be sure that a hearing aid is the right choice for them before making any commitment.

They also offer a range of tinnitus management treatments, noise protection, swimming protection and many other hearing related products.

To find out more or to book an appointment call 0116 254 3909 or visit www.londonroadhearing.co.uk

- Independent - Hearing Aids - Repairs - Reprogramming - Mircosuction Wax Removal - Impressions - Swimming & Noise Protection

SPECIALIST HEARING AID AND TINNITUS CENTRE The London Road Hearing Centre is a specialist and independent centre dedicated to solving your hearing problems

Priding ourselves on offering the highest levels of service, hearing knowledge and experise to ensure that we fully understand your hearing needs.

Visit The London Road Hearing Centre for specialist hearing care and much more including: • Comprehensive range of the latest discrete hearing aids • Tinnitus Management • Hearing aid repairs & Microsuction wax removal • Swimming moulds and noise protection • Ask us about our home visits!

To find out more about our services, or to book an appointment, call us today on

0116 254 3909

The London Road Hearing Centre, 96 London Road, Leicester, LE2 0QS 0116 254 3909 www.londonroadhearing.co.uk 86

SO Summer Advert 2015_Layout 1 20/04/2015 17:56 Page 1

Sat. 2nd May

summer events

May Day Party

Sat. 16th May

May Open Day

Sat. 13th June

Queens Day Birthday

Sat. 27th June

Flower Show & Open Gardens

1st-11th July

Summer Holiday Even

Sun. 26th July

ts

Education Open Day

Sat. 15th August

Vintage Proms

Sat. 5th September

Whitwick Party in the Park www.silveroakshome.c o.uk

NICHE 87

Creating Opportunity Changing Lives...

Why business support is vital for small charities For 28 years Soft Touch has been working across Leicestershire to change the lives of disadvantaged children, young people and families.

In 2012 we embarked on a mission to find a building in the city centre which we could transform into a youth arts and heritage centre and found our dream building - 50 New Walk.

For the last three years we have been fundraising to develop and refurbish the building. In May we open the doors of this fantastic centre which will enable young people to develop creative skills and talents and gain enterprise experience in running their own projects, exhibitions and events.

So what difference can a business make to a small charity?

Any support is really appreciated by smaller charities and although help with fundraising is vital there are many other ways that businesses can get involved. Some of our business partners have helped us by: *designing and refreshing our logo and branding *contributing mentoring time to groups of young people to organise exhibitions and to individuals needing support with job interview skills *making us their charity of the year *joining our Leicester Marathon fundraising challenge as individual fundraisers *inviting us to networking events to raise our profile *sponsoring events and projects *booking a creative team-building day for staff *helping us with team-building challenges such as gardening, painting and event organising These are all things that as a business you could consider doing for a small charity. Your input will be incredibly valuable and you will be helping to make a real difference.

To help make this ambitious project happen, it was essential to raise our profile within the the business community and make the general public more aware of our work and our impact on individuals and local communities. We won the 2014 Leicester Mercury Business Awards Not for Profit Category which helped to raise our profile and we have made some brilliant partnerships with businesses that care about local communities some of whom you will see in the pages of this magazine - Glynis Wright & Co Family Solicitors and Mediators, True Potential Wealth Management and Niche Magazine itself.

So why is it important to support small charities?

First of all smaller charities don’t have marketing and PR departments as most of the funds they raise covers frontline work with the people they support. This makes it really hard to get their work known and many don’t have the time, skills or confidence to approach businesses. Secondly, it’s easy to go for the larger charities as they have a well established brand with many events and fundraising challenges that people can easily get involved in. It’s much harder for smaller charities to find the resources for PR and to organise and promote fundraising challenges.

So what are the benefits for your company?

It’s a great way for your employees to get a different experience as a team and put something back into the community. You will benefit from joint publicity and PR from an alternative perspective and reach a different audience. Showing support for a local charity can give you the edge over competitors in securing public sector contracts that expect to see demonstration of added value. Last, but not least, your support will be truly valued and recognised.

Since 1986 Soft Touch has used the arts (music, film, fashion, painting, sculpture, photography, graphic design, drama etc) as a tool to help children and young people with challenges in their lives to build confidence, new skills and self-belief.

Involvement in creative projects offers an alternative route for learning and is a powerful way to improve life skills and emotional wellbeing for young people who are struggling with mainstream education, or who lack opportunity because of difficult life circumstances or economic disadvantage. Our projects help them onto a more positive and productive path so they are more ready to engage with further education or working life.

Interested in supporting us to create opportunity and change young lives? contact Christina Wigmore: chris@soft-touch.org.uk www.soft-touch.org.uk/creatingopportunity Soft Touch Arts, 50 New Walk, Leicester LE1 6TF 0116 2702706 Charity No: 1173184

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Climbing prodigy gets a leg-up from Joe Humphries Memorial Trust A YOUNG climbing prodigy who made an appeal for sponsorship has received a funding boost from local charity the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT).

panel for the JHMT, said: “Alex is exactly the sort of person the Inspire Awards were set up to support. Alex needs funding to help him represent Britain on an international stage, and that’s where we can help.

“Local young people who have a talent and a passion for something should apply to the Inspire Awards - we’re always pleased to consider applications.”

Alex is rated number one in his age group in the UK for lead climbing, which involves scaling indoor walls using ropes. He has won Fourteen-year-old Alex Norton, from Anstey the Junior Lead Climbing Cup and has been Heights, Leicester, has been given a £400 grant selected by the Great Britain youth climbing to put towards racking up even more amazing team. climbing achievements.

The money is from the Inspire Awards, a small grants scheme run by the JHMT that helps young people fulfill their goals in sports, the arts, community activities and entrepreneurship.

The JHMT stepped in to encourage Alex to apply for an Inspire Award after reading about his call for support in the Leicester Mercury.

Rhonda Olsen, who is on the Inspire Awards

Alex will be competing in Austria, Italy and France in the coming months. He said: “I’m a chance for students to ask questions and meet delighted to have got a JHMT Inspire Award. people who are doing these jobs for real.

It’s been a great honour to be selected for the GB youth climbing team – it’s something I have Tee-shirts will be presented to Josh Gilbertworked long and hard for.

Weavers, who received an Inspire Award to help him set up his own video production “My long-term aim to progress to the senior company, and musician Remy Madge, who was team and climb for Britain at that level. The given an award to help her buy equipment such JHMT Inspire Award will help me on the way as an amplifier to help her perform. to achieve that aim.

He added: “With my climbing background, I know all about the importance of competing safely, so I fully support the JHMT’s aim to ensure sports clubs and schools have access to life-saving training and equipment. That’s why I’m looking forward to taking on the role of a JHMT ambassador at club, national and international level.”

The JHMT is also launching Inspire Talks – a series of talks taking place for students at De Lisle College, in Loughborough.

Guests from the world of design, art, film and more will be invited into the school to talk to students about their lives and career choices.

The first guest will be Dave Andrews, from Radio Leicester, who will be visiting the school.

Terry Sharp from De Lisle said: “The Inspire Talks will be really relaxed and informal – just

To find out more about the Inspire Awards and how to apply, visit www.jhmt.org.uk/inspire The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust was set up after the tragic death of 14-year-old De Lisle student Joe Humphries in October 2012. Joe collapsed and died from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) while out on a run.

Since then, the JHMT has campaigned tirelessly for greater awareness and understanding of sudden heart diseases like SADS and how they can affect young people.

The JHMT runs life-saving training for sports clubs, provides defibrillators for community settings and runs an annual medical conference on SADS, as well as running the Inspire Awards.

To find out more, visit www.jhmt.org.uk

NICHE 89

INSPIRING EDUCATION Parents whose children are diagnosed with autism often face an uphill battle to get their children the support they deserve. When it comes to their education, some children struggle to fulfil their potential if they continue in mainstream schools where the teaching style doesn’t meet their individual needs and class sizes allow for little one-to-one teaching time. Some parents also find their children turned away from mainstream education.

from the ages of three and a half to 19.

The school offers a unique mix of education and support to pupils within a wide spectrum of needs and abilities. Personalised teaching and learning within an autistic specific environment allows pupils’ individual needs to be addressed completely and their capabilities fully realised. The National Curriculum is tailored to the individual needs of the pupil and their focused teaching procedures ensure that each child progresses at their own individual pace and works towards achieving their potential.

Following the huge success of The Hillingdon School, Anna One such parent is Anna extended the reach of Hillcrest Kennedy, mother to Autism Care and opened Patrick and Angelo Baston House School in who are both affected Bromley, Kent. Set in 5 by autism. After 25 acres of ground, Baston schools turned away her House School provides boys, Anna resorted to a centre of excellence in converting her garage into education and development a classroom. After hearing for children aged between 5 about a local school that was and 19 years of age who have scheduled to be demolished, been diagnosed with an autistic Anna and her husband Sean put spectrum condition (ASC). To ensure that together a feasibility study to show how it could students get the attention and support they be converted into a school for autistic children. need, classes are limited to around six students.

They knew there was a need in the area as they already ran a support group for families On the teaching staff are some of the best and The Hillingdon School followed in 1999. specialist educational staff who help the Originally just catering for 19 pupils, The learners meet their educational goals and Hilingdon School is now the largest of its kind prepare for adult life. Developed over the in Europe, offering 150 autistic children a safe, past five years, their way of working is fondly structured education and a brighter future. The referred to as ‘The Baston Way’. This includes independent specialist school teaches children using a combination of proven autism-specific

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strategies, and using personalised learning plans which monopolise the pupils’ strengths and interests to break down the barriers to learning that the students encounter and help improve communication and interaction skills. The fact that they provide stimulating programmes which are designed around each student is key to the success of the school.

Staff recognise and support their special educational needs by encouraging the pupils to be resilient and use their coping strategies when they are anxious, allowing them to participate in activities that promote self-esteem and selfconfidence ,and by encouraging them to have fun with their learning.

They also give them the security and freedom to make mistakes and learn from them, let them follow their fields of interest in diverse and contemporary subjects, and encourage their enquiring and curious minds to research independently.

Staff not only work to encourage the students but also support families too. They know that their partnership with parents is key to the students’ future success and they involve them in all aspects of education and well being. And to ensure that the parents are included and excited about their child’s development, the school hold monthly Celebration Days to chart the pupils’ success. www.bastonhouseschool.org.uk www.hillingdonmanorschool.org.uk

y l t c i r t S FOR AUTISM

and pro-dancer Robin Windsor as part of a spectacular flash-mob dance. After the contestants were confirmed on 8th January, Anna received an overwhelming amount of support via social media.

STILL STRICTLY A WINNER IN OUR EYES Our own Anna Kennedy swapped her suits for sequins to take part in The People’s Strictly for this year’s Comic Relief. While she didn’t end up winning, the self-confessed Strictly addict had fun in the process, ticked something off her bucket list, and helped raise even more awareness about autism.

For the first time in history, Strictly Come Dancing threw open its doors to the Great British public. The charity special of the popular BBC show was made up of six everyday heroes and heroines who have worked tirelessly for others. The fact that Anna was selected out of thousands of people who had been nominated is testament to her tireless work to raise awareness of autism and we are so proud of her. Anna and her husband re-mortgaged their house to set up a school for children with autism and now run two schools, a college, and a support website.

Anna learnt that she was going to be part of the show after being surprised by Strictly celeb

Robin continued to mentor Anna throughout the series as she was completely immersed in all things Strictly, guiding her through the whole glittering experience.

The twinkle-toed philanthropists were put through their paces for several weeks before the show aired whilst they learnt routines to wow the audiences. They were taken to locations across the UK and Europe to learn about the history of their individual dances to be able to connect to the dance and really bring it to life.

The four part series showed the remarkable contestants paired up with professional dance partners from Strictly Come Dancing’s talented line-up, offering them the chance show off their dancing prowess and provide some great entertainment for Strictly fans everywhere.

Presented by Tess Daley and Claudia Winkleman, the show featured two episodes revealing the magical moments the contestants were told of their nomination. This was followed by two episodes featuring the danceoffs as they competed in the famous Strictly ballroom. The dance-offs were filmed in advance of Red Nose Day but the results were decided live on the night.

the judging panel but the judges’ scores were for guidance only, with the public having the deciding vote. Anna had scored a perfect 40 after dancing the Charleston and received glowing comments from the notoriously hard to please judges, with Bruno Tonioli saying it made him tingle all over and calling it ‘electrifying’. But Anna missed out on winning due to public votes.

Claudia Winkleman and Tess announced the news live from the London Palladium on Red Nose Day in March, crowning Cassidy Little the champion. Cassidy, a former Royal Marine who lost his leg in a tour of Afghanistan, danced the Paso Doble with partner Natalie Lowe.

Being part of The People’s Strictly was a once in a lifetime opportunity for Anna, who said the experience was better than becoming an OBE. She had previously had tap dancing lessons but she hadn’t been able to find time to dance for a while due to her busy lifestyle. She was nominated to take part by her family who are so proud of her work. As well as helping to raise more awareness about autism, Anna also helped to raise money for Comic Relief which will help vulnerable children in the UK and Africa. www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/ latestnews/2015/peoples-strictly

Anton du Beke joined Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and head judge Len Goodman on

NICHE 137

TALK BUSINESS

www.digitaldreamproductions.co.uk

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SEPTEMBER 25TH 2015

RECOGNISING OUTSTANDING LEICESTERSHIRE BUSINESSES AND BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS

BUY TICKETS ONLINE NOW www.nichemagazine.co.uk Tickets are priced at ÂŁ55 per person or tables of 10 at ÂŁ500.00

An evening at

Ticket prices include entry on the evening, an arrival drink, a 3 course gala dinner with wine and soft drinks on the table, the awards ceremony and access to the casino where all money raised will be donated to Soft Touch Arts and #Heart4Hendrix (Heart Link, Glenfield Hospital) as well as an exquisite evening of entertainment and celebrations.

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An entertaining glamorous evening hosted by Hotel Maiyango was to be had by all at the Niche Business Awards Charities of Choice event.

Jennifer Cross, Cross Productions Director, introduced the two charities to the sponsors attending the occasion. Heart4Hendrix and Soft Touch Arts are the chosen charities that all proceeds will be going to.

Heart4Hendrix, raising money for Heart Link at the Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, is a support group for parents and families who have a child suffering from a heart defect and Soft Touch Arts, is a charity aiming to change the lives of children and young people through enjoyable, challenging arts and media.

Touching speeches were made from Claire Dennis representing Heart4Hendrix as well as Gill Brigden, Chair of Soft Touch Arts and Kane Johnson; an individual whose life was changed by the charity.

Proud ambassadors of the Niche Business Awards, Hotel Maiyango, provided a fine dining experience for the guests with a five course gourmet menu that included dishes that were as delicious as they stylishly appeared.

Continuing on from the dazzling gathering, the guests headed upstairs to the glass bar where a balcony photo shoot took place and live entertainment was performed exceptionally by singer, Lizzy Rushby. Her enchanting 1940s style set took the guests back to a bygone era.

A wonderful evening to introduce the charities before the ceremony on 25th September, 2015.

NICHE 93

The nominations are as follows:

Celebrating Business Success at the Leicester Mercury Business Awards

The Leicester Mercury Business Awards is in full preparation to take place on the 23rd April at the luxurious Platinum Suite in Cobden Street. The prestigious ceremony is set to be a fascinating insight into Leicestershire’s developing economy and the evening will consist of delicious food, great entertainment and a glittering awards presentation that includes the cut of 33 high-ranking companies.

Television and radio presenter, Paul Ross will host the evening with the internationally acclaimed comedy performer, Kev Orkian providing the entertainment on the night along with the Dorchester hotel pianist, Adrian Dixon performing a series of melodic tunes throughout the night.

The Awards will be hosted by leading brand agency, Champions (UK) plc and the Leicester Mercury, creating a fantastic opportunity to raise vital funds for Rainbows Hospice; the children’s charity that supports young people with life threatening illnesses in Loughborough. The money raised at the event ensures the hospice’s important work can be continued.

For the winning businesses, the accolade received goes a long way to boost their marketplace impact and they are the first of an elite group that will continue to be recognised year after year.

The achievements of the finalists’ shortlisting was acknowledged by an exclusive reception held at Leicester’s finest; Lumber Jewellers on 12th March, providing guests with the chance to enjoy a night of canapes and champagne.

The sponsors for the evening include: Freeths, Mazars, De Montfort University, Janine Edwards, Mattioli Woods, Daly Systems, My Home Move, Smooth Radio, Weightmans, Samworth Brothers, Vision Express, Lumbers, Aspirational Magazine, Baker Tilly, Ventola Projects and Champions UK (plc).

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Company of the Year, sponsored by Janine Edwards, Principal Partner Practice at St James’s Place Wealth Management Clifton Packaging Group Lestercast Pall-Ex Group Small Business of the Year, sponsored by Ventola Projects Cocoa Amore Ross Handling Kayal Restaurant New Business of the Year, sponsored by Mattioli Woods Bru Coffee & Gelato Ratae PGI Segura Systems Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Mazars Affixxius Films Juice Creative Lumbers Jewellers Sales & Marketing Award, sponsored by Daly Systems 34 Windsor St Restaurant & Bar Narborough Hall UK Oak Doors Excellence in Manufacturing Award, sponsored by Samworth Brothers Clifton Packaging Group Lestercast Rib-X Excellence in Science & Technology Award, sponsored by Freeths CommAgility Inspiration Healthcare Twycross Zoo Retail Business of the Year, sponsored by Weightmans Lumbers Jewellers Narborough Hall Kayal Restaurant Services Award, sponsored by Vision Express Bistro Live The Learning Support Centre Sublime Science Creative Industries Business of the Year, sponsored by Lumbers Jewellers and Aspirational Magazine Affixxius Films Arch Creative Glastonbudget Music Festival International Trade Award, sponsored by Baker Tilly Impact Air Systems Inspiration Healthcare Westermans International Contribution to the Community Award, sponsored by DeMontfort University Alltruck plc The Exchange Hinckley & Rugby Building Society Not-for-Profit Organisation Award, sponsored by MyHomeMove Action Homeless Inclusion Healthcare Social Enterprise CIC Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People

Hinckley & Rugby Building Society has been nominated for a prestigious Leicester Mercury Business Awards. The Society is up for the Contribution to the Community Award, recognising its commitment to first class customer service. The Society is among 33 firms shortlisted for 13 categories in the awards in April after judges narrowed it down from a list of 200 businesses.

The Society prides itself on delivering excellent customer service, often attracting lifelong relationships with members. Having been a member for over 20 years, I can personally attest to the fantastic friendly, yet professional and efficient service which I have received over the years. And, as a mutual society, its members help decide how it is run so it is in the Society’s best interests to ensure that everyone receives the best possible treatment.

I know from personal experience that members are known by names not numbers and the Society never uses automated machines to answer calls. If you are opening a savings account they do not ask you to book an appointment and, if you are applying for a mortgage, you will get a dedicated advisor who will get to know you and your circumstances and personally help you throughout the process.

As well as having over 60,000 savers holding accounts with them and 7,000 borrowers who are also benefiting from its success, the Society encourages staff to get involved with charitable organisations through a volunteering scheme called ‘Community First’. The scheme gives three days’ a year paid leave for staff to volunteer with projects of their choice and they have helped raise thousands of pounds for various charities including Kids of Heroes and LOROS. Society staff took part in a team challenge to redecorate Leonard Cheshire Disability's home in Coalville

Get in touch with Hinckley & Rugby Building Society on 0800 434 6343 or visit the website at hrbs.co.uk Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People has been nominated for the Not-for-profit Organisation Award at the 2015 Leicester Mercury Business Awards taking place on 23rd April.

Rainbows is the East Midlands hospice for children and young people. Just like everyone else, their children need a place to play, laugh and love life. A place where they and their families are cared for and supported.

As the East Midlands’ only hospice for children and young people, Rainbows is a place where life-limited children and their families can take a break from life’s worries and heartaches.

Their incredible team of people helps relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, support parents and siblings through their bereavement and care for children until the end. Their work extends throughout the child’s or young person’s life and beyond into bereavement support as necessary.

From carers to counsellors, medical professionals to palliative care specialists – it’s people that are at the heart of Rainbows. Companies, schools and donations from the public have all made it possible for the charity to grow and succeed in their aim of supporting families.

Their philosophy is that children are children first and foremost – they are not ‘little adults’.

They offer a holistic approach to all their work and aim to involve children and young people and their families at every step of the way.

Visit www.rainbows.co.uk to find out more.

Proud Finalist for Small Business of the Year at the Leicester Mercury Business Awards, Ross Handling is a company with big plans for investment and growth. Specialising in the supply of castors and wheels, tube inserts and material handling equipment, Ross Handling source the best products from manufacturers around the globe and distribute these to customers throughout the UK and further afield.

Founded in 1977 by Frank Fitzpatrick, today the company is jointly run by Frank’s son and daughter. Throughout its history a passion for quality products, available for next day delivery has always been the guiding ethos of the company.

In 2014 Ross Handling was awarded a Regional Growth Fund as a small growing business to support their future expansion and development. The company has utilised the fund by investing in machinery, doubling their team of people and moving to a new purpose built premises.

Investment in boosting their online presence – including Google advertising and a new ecommerce website – www.rosscastors.co.uk, has seen Ross Handling double their website traffic over the last 12 months, resulting in 100’s of new customers each month and substantial additional turnover from online sales. As the company has grown, so have the team of people with six new starters joining throughout 2014, all now based at Ross Handling’s purpose built offices in Hamilton, Leicester. “Always in stock, always next day” is the promise that Ross Handling make to their customers. With investment in both their premises and personnel, Ross has ensured that they are able to accelerate their growth while still providing the levels of quality and service their customers expect. www.rosshandling.co.uk 0116 276 4987

NICHE 95

Founded in 2005, UK Oak Doors has become a distinguished retailer of high quality solid oak doors. As a finalist of the Leicester Mercury Business Awards in the Sales and Marketing Award category, the company has decidedly grown and flourished.

Having refined their products and service with a decade worth of experience, UK Oak Doors can continue with their aim of: ‘bringing home natural beauty.’ The friendly family business strives to deliver high quality products retailing their beautiful contemporary and traditional internal and external oak doors as well as an extensive range of door hardware and solid oak accessories.

With environmental concerns, Owner, Nick, made certain from the start that their wood was ethically sourced. It is a top priority of UK Oak Doors to contribute to the longevity of forests and allowing you to enjoy the strength and beauty of solid oak with a clear conscience.

Since Nick began the business by travelling around the UK delivering the doors himself, UK Oak Doors has significantly developed over the years into the reputable company that it is with a superior customer service.

The team at UK Oak Doors invests their time into informing and guiding their customers when choosing products. Available 7 days a week with in depth industry and technical knowledge, they are able to answer any questions and assist with any concerns.

The company’s Facebook page also offers how to guides, DIY tips & tricks, exclusive offers, discounts & competitions. www.ukoakdoors.co.uk

01455 818783

coffee and gelato

After celebrating their first birthday in March of this year, innovative coffee shop Bru Coffee & Gelato, has been chosen as a finalist for the Leicester Mercury Business Awards in the New Business of the Year category. coffee and gelato

coffee and gelato

Bru is about the evolution of the traditional coffee shop. Owner of the company, Hamza Bodhaniya had an idea to revolutionise the regular traditional coffee shop. His usual coffee shop visits led him to realise that something was missing from these places and he began to recognise a niche in the market. Hamza said: “the idea was to open a coffee shop with a bit of a difference.”

Hamza believes that diversity and modernisation is key to offering todays customers an enjoyable experience. “What we make available at Bru is diverse; our cake range is bigger and better than what the high street and independents have to offer.” The mix of products seen at the contemporary coffee shop is typically popular within Europe. From the furniture and furnishings to their own 22 flavours of handmade Gelato and a whole host of cold drinks, Bru provides the people of Leicester with a European experience.

Without having to go to a busy bar, customers can socialise or work on their laptops until 11pm with Bru, which Hamza believes to be another contributing factor to their success.

The focus on a genuine and quality service is central to the Bru experience. Only the highest quality locally sourced products make it on the menu served by people who genuinely care, creating a pleasant welcoming atmosphere. www.brucoffee.co.uk Recognising Peter Westerman’s achievements as a professional and successful business man, the Leicester Mercury Business Awards have selected Westerman’s International as a finalist for the International Trade Award category.

The welding machinery company supplies used and refurbished equipment to more than 50 countries. Westeman’s International was established in the 1960s and has come a long way in terms of success since then. With an equal split of sales to the domestic and international markets, the company has become a trusted supplier in the global welding and fabrication industry.

Peter worked on the Great Central Railway at the engine sheds off Upperton Road. Up to start work at 4am for the Skegness trips and the hard work that he did every day for twelve years, working at the Great Central Railway taught Peter the importance of professional business values, which he passes on to his son and daughter.

Now working with the next generation, Peter let his children, Craig and Claire, find their own way before they decided to join the family business. He expects the same work ethic from his son and daughter as he practises himself.

Westerman’s International flourished with the arrival of the internet in the 1990s. The World Wide Web provided the opportunity to network and gain new markets all over the world as well as supplying to brands such as Rolls Royce and Caterpillar. Recently locating to a much larger facility in Groby, the company now has the ability to stock even more machinery to continue the growth of both European and International sales. www.westermans.com

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Three core values of intelligence, creativity and deft execution have earned commercial film production company Affixxius Films national and international acclaim. They’re up for a Leicester Mercury Business award as finalists for Entrepreneur of the Year, as well as Creative Industries Business of the Year for the region.

The team at Affixxius creates compelling films for their clients with the clear aim of communicating messages and surprising audiences. They believe that this element of surprise is key to engaging with audiences of all types and all over the world.

Leaders of Affixxius, Miles Latham and Tim Cabrelli, started their journey at the age of 16.

Then joined by Dave Whayman, now Creative Director, the three film makers are the driving force of this accomplished business that has grown with a momentum to match their creative ambition and client success.

Each member of the team at Affixxius is responsible for understanding every client’s goals. They work together, from initial creative concepts to finished films, toward a finished product that will transform challenges into successful, on-time, in-budget productions with the use of their technical acumen and expert team.

The team’s shared creative passion generates captivating productions for all of Affixxius’ clients. Video-based media is of high importance to so many modern businesses in this greatly commercialised, fast-paced world. Affixxius gives businesses the opportunity to get ahead of the game with the help of their clever storytelling and technical acumen.

They ask, “We are moving pictures. Are you moving with us?”

www.affixxius.com

As a major UK manufacturer of precision investment castings, thriving in innovation and quality and with a diverse global market, it is no wonder that Lestercast has been chosen for the Leicester Mercury Business Awards - not only as a finalist in the Company of the Year category but also for Excellence in Manufacturing.

The company manufactures components in a variety of different metals and specialist alloys, and supports their process with rapid prototyping and thin wall casting technologies to supply highly complex parts to a range of industrial and commercial markets, which includes some esteemed clients such as Bentley Motors and Jaguar Land Rover. Lestercast holds a number of quality standards including ISO 9001 and ISO TS16949, and is currently developing its systems to achieve environmental and nuclear accreditations.

Having established a longstanding and successful working relationship with an investment casting foundry in China, Lestercast is also able to offer high quality volume parts at very competitive prices, as well as a range of other services including heat treatment, machining and finishing.

Their excellent communications and collaborative approach as both an employer and manufacturer, saw them become award winning in 2014. These attributes, combined with their friendly and experienced workforce, competitive standards and moral business values, could earn them another award winning year in 2015.

Technical and Sales Director, Malcolm Healey, believes that the two nominations will highlight the positive and collaborative approach in which the Lestercast team operates, as well as heightening the company’s profile and reputation within the UK manufacturing industry. www.lestercast.co.uk Bistro Live has been recognised for their excellent customer service as they have been nominated as a finalist for the Leicester Mercury Business Awards in the Services category.

The restaurant puts the customer at the centre of everything they do. Customers are waited on with precise and prompt service, surrounded by energetic atmosphere throughout the evening.

The perfect party is all taken care of and ready made by these party specialists; they provide quality food with a menu that has something for everyone, a plethora of drinks and cocktails and lively entertainment.

There is no waiting in queues at the bar whilst you watch enviously at the rest of your party continuing the fun. Bistro Live’s unique service method of providing customers with checked flags allows them to have consistent access to staff at all times for their drinks orders.

Wave your flag and a member of staff will be along in no time to take your order and return your drink to you in the quickest possible time. The accurately executed performance from the staff throughout the night, from your entrance to your exit is second to none.

“You are VIPs from the moment you walk through our doors!” www.bistrolive.com

NICHE 97

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2015 in association with Glynis Wright Solicitors The Second Inspirational Women in Business Event hosted by Niche Magazine put on in association with Glynis Wright & Co takes place on Friday 19th June from 10am – 2pm at St Martin’s House in Leicester, and is an opportunity for all women business owners to meet up and get to know each other over lunch, while listening to three Leicester Ladies tell their inspiring stories.

Running your own business is a daunting task that is beset with possible pitfalls, and all of our three speakers have tips and advice that will help your business journey be even more successful this year.

This event is all about achieving your dreams, and our brilliant speakers will show you how to reach out and grab your financial desires, command your emotional intelligence, and build your perfect public image.

Leanne Bonner Cooke

Rachel Hargrave

Evolve Consultants.co.uk www.evolveconsultants.co.uk

Julie Langton True Potential Wealth Management

RDZ PR

Leanne has worked with clients such as: Seddon Construction Ltd, Hope Construction Materials, GRS Roadstone, and Aggregate Industries.

Leanne will talk about The 5’s 5S is a framework that emphasizes the use of a specific mind-set and tools to create efficiency and value in your business.

Here’s what her clients say about what she does: “Working with Evolve again is a no brainer. In fact I think other third party providers could learn a lesson or two from them – particularly regarding the customer experience. It’s not just about the technology, the journey is all part of what you buy and with Evolve it’s been great.”

We look forward to hearing about how our mind-set can influence what happens in our business…

Rachel runs a PR Agency based in Sileby with many years of experience in how to promote your business in the right place at the right time. Her clients range from local businesses, to national ones, and include Oil Companies, Jewellery retailers, Foster Care Agencies and MP’s.

The Power of Storytelling If you are tired of thinking in terms of KPIs and USPs, then it’s time to think about using a story...

In this 30 minute storytelling extravaganza we’ll look at the power of storytelling and specifically how and why, it can do what any standard business jargon and business speak cannot; move people and transform ideas. By creating and using powerful stories in your business you will be able to really stand out from the crowd.

Join us and let’s start creating stories!

Julie started in business after 32 years in the corporate world in financial services helping individuals and families reach their financial goals. Julie has a wealth of knowledge and expertise and is passionate about helping you to make the best decisions about your finances.

Julie’s talk will be about Goal setting: Sometimes you need some really practical advice to help you achieve your dreams & aspirations, especially when things in life don’t go to plan such as: Divorce, or Bereavement.

She will also address the difficulties of being a woman in business and giving us valuable tips on issues of multi-tasking and out sourcing.

As a result, you will be better informed, more confident and empowered to reach your financial goals. “I will make no compromise” is Julie’s mantra and she will tell us how this works in our financial affairs.

Join us on the day for what looks to be a challenging lunch event. So book the date in your diaries and come and be a Lady that Lunches – just for the day!

Venue: St.

Martin’s House

Date: 19th

June 2015

Time: 10.00-14.00

Admission: £15.00 includes sandwiches, tea and cake Book using this link: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inspirational-women-in-business-2015-tickets-16675767670

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A PERSONAL VIEW: NICHE INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS EVENT March 20th at St Martin’s House in Leicester City was the first of Niche Magazines Inspirational Women in Business Events put on in association with Glynis Wright & Co.

Cherie Concannon, Executive Coach Workforce Engagement Specialist

The whole event was one of those 'exactly what is says on the tin' get together's - where local business women – the great and the small (but perfectly formed)’ - could celebrate each other's successes and reminisce about the failures they had to deal with on the way. It turned out to be an event that sparkled with personalities and fuelled the passion for new and exciting opportunities in everyone.

The speakers were: Niche's own Jenny Cross, Company Director of Niche Magazine (www.nichemagazine.co.uk), Glynis Wright, owner of Glynis Wright & Co, a specialist family law and mediation firm in Leicester (www.glyniswright.co.uk), and Cherie Concannon, Executive Coach Workforce Engagement Specialist (www.cherieconcannon.co.uk).

Glynis Wright & Jenny Cross

All three talks were universally excellent: warm, engaging and informative - sharing business and life experiences, offering good advice, helpful perspective and encouraging a rapt audience to do the same.

“Feminism has come to encompass many contrasting ideologies in recent years, but for me it's all about women striving for equality - financial, political and personal in a world where that isn't always the norm. Niche's Inspirational Women in Business event epitomised all that I believe in with women who understand and support each other in a cooperative, collaborative and truly 'Inspirational' way.” Tracey Miller of The Miller Partnership, www.themillerpartnership.com.

Well, if you missed it, make sure you go to the next one coming up on 19th June at St Martin’s House in Leicester City. Here is a link to book a place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ myevent?eid=16675767670 We have a feeling that they will all be taken up pretty quickly…

Glynis Wright, owner of Glynis Wright & Co a specialist family law and mediation firm in Leicester

NICHE 99

Business Prospers in Leicester heart of the country, to capitalise on its strengths in food & drink, manufacturing, distribution & logistics and tourism & hospitality.

kingrichardinleicester.com

Leicestershire is a prosperous, diverse and attractive county. Together with the city of Leicester it has an economy worth £19.4 billion, the largest in the East Midlands, with over 22 million consumers within a three-hour drive.

If you are a business owner in Leicester, or in the wider county of Leicestershire, what is it that makes Leicester such a prosperous City in this difficult time while we pull out of a recession? Who is helping Leicester business owners to build their businesses and how can you get a slice of the action?

We took a look at what is going on and asked the Country Council exactly how they can help your business to grow and be even more profitable, and this is what they have on offer: Geography The County of Leicestershire is home to just over 650,000 people. It is an attractive, predominantly rural county but with several important urban centres, including at Loughborough, Hinckley, Coalville, Market Harborough and Melton Mowbray, and a large number of smaller towns and villages.

The county’s economy is diverse with a particular strength in small and medium sized enterprises. It is perfectly located, at the

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World Class Businesses The county is a world leader in innovation too, attracting investment in the knowledgebased economy; high-tech engineering and ground breaking environmental, medical, creative, and space & aerospace industries. The transport, communications and logistics sectors are important to the area due to its central location and excellent transport links.

Leicestershire is home to many companies of global and national importance, including Next, Caterpillar, Master Foods, Samworth Brothers, DHL, MIRA, Santander, Marks and Spencer, Triumph Motorcycles and Boden.

“Leicestershire County Council is committed to supporting and promoting local businesses and strengthening Leicestershire’s diverse and dynamic economy.”

Cllr Nick Rushton Leader of Leicestershire County Council

Social Enterprise Grants The CaSE-da (Cooperative & Social Enterprise Development Agency) has been commissioned by Leicestershire County Council to support development of the Social Enterprise sector in the county. Details about CaSE-da and the work they are doing can be seen at: www.leics.gov.uk/index/community/

bigsociety/bigsocietysocialenterprise Leicestershire & Rutland Community Foundation are allocating Social Enterprise grants and you can find details of these on the Community Foundation’s website. www.llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk/applyforfunds/social-enterprise-fund/ and www.leics.gov.uk/community_grants Tourism With the reinterment of King Richard III, the local tourism and hospitality sector is a vibrant and exciting addition to the business world. Its own eight museums, with over 700,000 visitors and 19 country parks spanning 700 hectares, attract thousands of visitors to the county each year. www.leics.gov.uk/website/summervisitors The council are investing a further £195,000 annually between 2013 and 2016 in the provision of tourism support services by Leicester Shire Promotions. This investment will increase the number of leisure and business tourism visitors to the county, increasing the spend of visitors, and making improvements to the range and quality of attractions, facilities and accommodation. www.goleicestershire.com Creative Industries Local cultural and creative businesses are supported by the Creative Leicestershire partnership. Working with artists, agencies, organisations, local people and businesses, Creative Leicestershire, which the council hosts and funds, offers funding opportunities, arts and media training, networking, job opportunities, business advice, seminars, on-line directories and events. www.creativeleicestershire.org.uk All in all, we think Leicester is the new place to be for new businesses and for established growing companies. If you would like to see the full range of services provided to Leicester businesses, you can view or download it here: http://www.leics.gov.uk/ supportingbusinessesbooklet.pdf

The Reinterment of King Richard III With an estimated ÂŁ40million expected to come into Leicester/ Leicestershire's economy as a direct result of Richard III's internment at Leicester Cathedral, there is a very obvious financial benefit to us all. As I sat in the Cathedral yesterday I'll be honest and say that that was uppermost in my mind, but it wasn't long before the solemn atmosphere as well as the excitement and expectation from all within the Cathedral really began to affect me too.

The service was beautiful and hit all the right notes in terms of respect yet awe at this amazing happening. Benedict Cumberbatch's reading of Carol Ann Duffy's specially commissioned poem was stunning and the sermon sought to unite our diverse society. The Right Reverend Tim Stevens said, "This city which will be home to Richard's grave now strives to build harmony in place of conflict: to offer to a war-torn world a beacon of mutual respect and honour across language, culture and belief."

Wow. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of something so special. I am proud of Leicester/shire and look forward to a fantastic and harmonious future for us all.

kingrichardinleicester.com

NICHE 101

COURSING THROUGH THE HEART OF LEICESTER’S COMMUNITY Leicester’s Racecourse has long been a landmark for both residents and visitors to the City; located in Oadby just south-east of the City Centre there has been racing in Leicester since 1773.

Since the arrival of new General Manager, Robert Bracken, last year the racecourse has been reinvigorated and brought back into the hearts and minds of many. With its rich history and recent modernisation, Leicester Racecourse is fast becoming a venue for the whole community to enjoy.

Rob has literally ‘hit the ground running’ and since his arrival on the scene the racecourse is going from strength to strength, and its reputation has soared as a venue for not only race days but an array of charitable and community events which are succeeding in

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bringing the community together in a fun and productive way.

Partnering with charities such as Rainbows, AGE UK, Leicestershire and LOROS as well as some well known faces on the Leicestershire business circuit, Leicester Racecourse’s starting line up for 2015 looks like a sure-fire strategy for success both for the Racecourse, its partners and its ever-increasing number of patrons.

The Racing The course hosts both forms of British horse racing event: National Hunt, in which the

horses race over fences or over hurdles, and flat racing, in which the horses run an unobstructed distance.

In the late nineteenth century, it staged some of the most valuable races in the United Kingdom including the Prince of Wales Stakes and the Portland Stakes. Today the racecourse hosts meetings throughout the year with 32 fixtures covering every month.

This year’s first flat meeting takes place on Friday 10th April and for many will be not only an opportunity to enjoy the excitement of the

The opening of this suite and the remarkable amount of changes which Rob and his team have brought about over the past year are testimony to the course’s commitment to support their local community and embrace everything Leicester has to offer (and that’s quite some amount!). Their support of local events such as the KRIII reinterment, Dave’s Comedy Festival and their insistence on using as many local suppliers for their events are putting Leicester Racecourse firmly back on the map and firmly back in our hearts.

The Rest It will come as no surprise then that as part of the course’s strategy to embed Leicester Racecourse into the community once again that Rob has been part of the launch of their new conferencing facility, The KUBE. The KUBE is a blank canvas and can be tailored to each client’s needs and is a dedicated event ‘space’ benefitting from free parking for up to 2000 vehicles; a cube-shaped building that measures 700msq it can accommodate up to 650 cabaret style, in excess of 1000 theatre style and unlimited for exhibitions, perfect for Leicestershire business to showcase themselves and their wares.

race itself, but to see some of the improvements to the course’s facilities which Rob has been instrumental in establishing since his arrival last March.

As part of Leicester Racecourse’s ongoing improvements new seating has been installed in the premier stand and a big screen will be introduced in April to ensure race-goers can enjoy an afternoons racing in a little more luxury; combine that with the introduction of new Catering Manager, Andy Mullan, and Head Chef, Darrell Conlin, for the new season they will bring with them a first class catering division to compliment the entertainment.

But, that’s not all! The racecourse has captured the spirit of the King Richard III reinterment, opening a newly refurbished suite in his honour and hosting the KRIII Stakes on Saturday 25th April; “From day one, we knew that it was our job as a part of the community to support the Cathedral and so we sat down and brainstormed how we could do this. We’re also hosting a race day in honour of King Richard III on Saturday, 25th April which will be an afternoon packed with Medieval themed entertainment for the whole family to enjoy which we’re hoping to see our biggest crowd at. The King Richard III Suite will be used by our corporate guests on race days and for conferences and other events such as networking. It will be a great place for business and pleasure!” Rob enthused.

And for the family, Leicestershire Racecourse are now the proud hosts to an eclectic mix of band nights, firework displays, family fun days and even car shows; making Leicester Racecourse a hub of entertainment whatever your interests or circumstance. See which events have you raring to go online at www.leicester-racecourse.co.uk/whatson and take the opportunity to support local, just as they do.

Get yourself, your family and your friends to one of their fantastic events (not forgetting my personal favourite, Ladies Day on Saturday 4th July) and see just what the new Leicester Racecourse has on offer for you.

NICHE 103

PROFESSIONAL CORPORATE EVENT CATERING FROM THE DIMBLEBEE CATERING COMPANY LTD A glorious Bank Holiday Monday and over 150 VIP’s and Guests were treated to high quality event catering at this year’s British Superbikes Championships at Donington Park Racing Circuit, provided by the Dimblebee Catering Company.

These multi-award winning high quality caterers are proving themselves as the first choice for companies and event managers looking to offer their guests high quality hospitality you can rely upon.

THE MULTI AWARD WINNING DIMBLEBEE CATERING COMPANY LTD TEAM

HEAD CHEF SAMANTHA DIMBLEBEE WITH GUY MARTIN AT BRITISH SUPERBIKES, DONINGTON PARK

LAUNCH OF THE NEW JAGUAR XE AT STURGESS JAGUAR LEICESTER

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Helen Stimson who attended the GOLD VIP hospitality at British Superbikes - “I had to write to thank your staff for a most efficient service yesterday at Donington Park, nothing was too much trouble, we had a fabulous day made better by the organisation around us.”

Robert Dudley, owner of Dimblebee Catering, commented “We are delighted to be in our second year providing high quality catering to the Donington Park Racing Circuit. Dimblebee’s and the dedicated events team here at Donington continue to drive quality and raise the bar for guest experience when visiting what is one of the UK’s best loved circuits”.

Formed in only late 2011 this local, award winning catering company is managed by two generations of the Dimblebee family and their teams who have a long family tradition within hospitality and only the best reputation for quality catering within Leicestershire.

of exclusive and stylish corporate Christmas events soon to be announced. In fact the growth of the company is such that we are now taking on additional premises and staffing to meet demand” said Robert.

If you are planning a corporate event or launch of any size the Dimblebee Catering are the professional outside catering company to make it memorable, with discreet uniformed staffing, delicious authentic handmade fare and menus tailored to your own requirements.

Dimblebee’s portfolio speaks for itself, having catered a wealth of VIP and large public events including the UK launch and race simulations for Formula E, the launch of the BMW Mini Hatch at Cowley, the Richard III Centre preview nights, the launch of the new Jaguar XE at Sturgess Jaguar Leicester and the Bonhams Auction at Aston Martin Works.

“I would however like to take this opportunity to thank you for your enthusiasm and professionalism in making our Bonhams event 2014 such a success. It was a pleasure to meet you and I wish you, together with your colleagues, every success in the future…I know you will all do well” Wendy Harrison-Drake PA Commercial Director, Aston Martin Works.

Dimblebee Catering have established themselves as the first choice for canapé receptions, bowl foods, buffets, afternoon tea, banqueting and all day catering - delivering the full range of menu and service options tailored to both formal and relaxed events from 20 Dimblebee’s has gone from strength to strength persons to 1,200. delivering their ethos of promoting only the best local suppliers, personal hands-on service, If you are looking for quality caterers in Leicestershire and the Midlands that have a and traditional homemade styling to suit portfolio and experience to match, Samantha any event.

Dimblebee (Head Chef) and Dimblebee’s will work with you to tailor the perfect service to The future is looking equally bright “we are delighted to be back at Donington for the VIP hospitality suit your individual requirements, and allow at the British Touring Car Championship as well as a you to relax – you are in the best hands with whole host of other events this year. We are also ending Dimblebee Catering. the year with an amazing collaboration with Krish and www.dimblebeecatering.co.uk Family at Keythorpe Manor for what will be a series

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NICHE 105

6 Important Facts about Your Pensions & ISAs When the new tax year begins on 6th April 2015, the biggest pension

New Tax Year – are you ready when it comes to your Pensions & ISAs? “Thank you for assisting me with transferring my ISA and my pensions. It is so much easier having everything in one place. You have given me great advice and

changes for a generation will follow. Are you aware of the new pension rules and how they could affect you? Julie Langton, Wealth Management Partner at True Potential Wealth Management, shares her knowledge below: 1. Soon the rules will dramatically change for pensions, especially if

you are aged 55 or over. You could take the whole of your pension in cash with the first 25% being tax free (remainder will be taxed at the marginal rate). Plan very carefully if you are considering doing this.

Remember: when it runs out, it will be gone forever.

2. You may still want to buy an annuity from your pension pot, but you will no longer be required to do this. However, this may be the right

made it really easy – I have hardly had to do a thing!”

course of action for some people and, also, how you 'drawdown' the

I can...

• Help you review your existing Pension Provisions, your Tax Efficient Savings and Investments including using your ISA Allowance.

check with your Financial Adviser first; they will assess which course of

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Help you when life doesn’t go to plan with Life, Critical Illness and Income Protection.

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Help you when you need it the most – Lifestyle changes such as Marriage, Divorce, Bereavement, Retirement, Inheritance and Redundancy.

“I am passionate about helping my clients make the most of their finances.”

Please contact me today for more information.

cash from your pension pot will soon become more flexible too. Always action is best for your future goals and lifestyle.

3. Make sure your savings and investments are as tax efficient as

possible, and consider ISAs as part of your investment strategy. There are many products available, and your attitude to risk is key when it comes to how you invest. Your Financial Adviser will assess this with you.

4. This year’s ISA Allowance will end on 5th April 2015: don’t leave

it until the last hour - allow plenty of time to use your ISA Allowance.

It’s vital you use it or you will lose it. Currently, the ISA limit is £15,000 (2014/15) and from 6th April 2015, the ISA Allowance will be £15,240 (2015/16).

No fee for your first consultation

5. Couples can benefit from saving together as the limit will be

Julie Langton, Wealth Management Partner

stocks and shares, and cash ISAs up to the annual allowance.

E: julielangton@tpllp.com T: 0116 2711031 M: 07753 190899 www.julielangton.tpllp.co.uk True Potential Wealth Management, 1 Stoughton Grange Farm, Gartree Road, Oadby, Leicester, LE2 2FB

doubled. What’s more, you can choose how your ISA is split between 6. Avoid unregulated companies who want to invest your pensions

and savings for you. Be careful how you invest: if an investment looks too good to be true, it probably is. Always use a regulated Financial Adviser. Remember: the regulations are there to protect you. Find someone you can trust, and who understands your lifestyle, dreams and aspirations.

If you need further information on any of the above, please contact

Registered Head Office: Newburn House, Gateway West, Newburn Riverside, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 8NX. True Potential Wealth Management LLP is regulated and authorised by the Financial Services Authority.

FSR number 529810 Disclaimer: Capital at risk. Tax rules can change at any time. Julie Langton is a Restricted Adviser within True Potential Wealth Management. Investments can fluctuate in value and investors may not get the amount back they invest. Tax treatment is dependent upon individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future. Advert is valid for 3 months.

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Julie Langton, Wealth Management Partner at True Potential Wealth Management. Tel: 0116 2711031. Mobile: 07753 190899. Email:

julielangton@tpllp.com.

Disclaimer: Capital at risk. Tax rules can change at any time. True Potential Wealth Management is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FSR number 529810. Julie Langton is a Restricted Adviser within True Potential Wealth Management. Investments can fluctuate in value and investors may not get the amount back they invest. Tax treatment is dependent upon individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future.

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“We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle” Sir Winston Churchill

YOUR BUSINESS’S FUTURE? Succession Planning

There comes a point in the life of every business when the owner decides to step down and sell the company. If you are selling a trading company, you will want pay capital gains tax at the 10% rate known as ER or ‘entrepreneur’s relief’. But there may be complications.

Firstly, who are you selling to? Transactions may need tailoring for sale to third parties, to a management buyout team, or to your children. If someone pays cash you can walk away. But most buyers won’t have cash, so you may need a structured disposal.

Typically, buyers form a company (‘BidCo’) to buy your company for cash, loan notes and sometimes shares.

The cash may come from BidCo or from dividends paid by your company to BidCo after sale. If you qualify for ER, you will have a 10% tax bill on the cash.

UK Tax legislation is the most complex in the world and, when you’re looking at the Taxation Of Company Reorganisations, Pete, literally, wrote the book The Miller Partnership are experts in all aspects of corporation tax, specialties include: Taxation of corporate transactions, mergers, acquisitions, disposals, demergers, reorganisations & reconstructions HMRC clearances Transactions in securities anti-avoidance legislation

The tax liability on loan notes or shares arises when the loan notes are redeemed or the shares are sold. But loan notes alone do not qualify for ER, so you may elect to pay tax at 10% when you get them, not at 28% when they are redeemed.

Taxation of corporate intangible assets & goodwill

You also need cash to pay the January 31 tax bill. So the loan notes must be partly redeemable before then.

Patent Box

A clearance can be obtained from HMRC to give certainty of the tax treatment of your disposal.

The important thing is to speak to an experienced advisor, well before you sell, so you only pay as much tax as you need.

Disguised remuneration Taxation of partnerships

T: 0116 208 1020 M: 07802197269 The Miller Partnership 5 Museum Square, Leicester LE1 6UF

www.themillerpartnership.com pete.miller@themillerpartnership.com

NICHE 107

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INTELLIGENT FINANCIAL MEDIATION ON DIVORCE - THE RIGHT WAY TO SETTLE FOR DIVORCING COUPLES! process, allowing both parties’ to have open and frank discussions with each other, without fear that they will be bound by the solutions that either may propose before the point where full agreement is reached. The advantage of using Glynis Wright & Co for family mediation is that Glynis and Sushma bring to the table their many years of experience and knowledge as specialist family lawyers as well as their skills as mediators.

Divorce is probably one of the most traumatic times that anyone may have to face. It is a ‘living bereavement’. On top of the emotional impact of divorce and the need to protect the children from the adult issues, a husband and wife are facing the uncertainty of how their financial future will be after divorce. Will the family home be sold or kept? How will the children’s expenses be met post-divorce? Are pensions going to be shared? Will the larger earner have to pay spousal maintenance to the lower earner and if so, how much and for how long is fair? These are questions laden with anxiety for the husband and the wife.

It can really help couples to feel in control of their own destinies. Financial mediation on divorce can help couples work out their own solutions to what is a fair settlement. It is the smarter, more intelligent way to resolve differences. It is also a cheaper and less time consuming process compared to Solicitor led negotiations or Court proceedings.

Glynis Wright & Co are specialists in financial mediation. The practice has two qualified lawyer/mediators. Glynis is the Head of Practice and is a qualified lawyer/mediator through Resolution. Sushma is an Associate Family Lawyer in the practice and is a qualified lawyer/mediator through the Family

Mediation Council. Both seek to work with couples in mediation who want to work out their own financial settlements and also any disputes that may have arisen as a result of the separation over the children and their future care arrangements.

Both Sushma and Glynis work with accountants, financial advisors, and pension specialists whose expertise may be brought into the mediation process for the joint benefit of the husband and wife to help with aspects of the negotiation in mediation. Sometimes the trauma of the separation and divorce impacts on the family dynamic as a whole and can affect the children. Glynis and Sushma also work with family therapists/ counsellors who can support the family whilst the mediation process is ongoing to assist with the emotional aspects of the case that mediation is not able to address.

Mediation is flexible and can be tailored to each case and what is important to the clients. Sometimes, the issues that need to be resolved only take one session. More commonly, it will involve between five and seven sessions depending on the number of issues and the whether the financial landscape of the marriage is complex. It is a confidential

The practice is also proud to announce that its expertise and professionalism as a specialist family law and mediation practice has led to the practice being shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year 2015 in the Leicestershire Law Society awards. Glynis, the Head of Practice, has also been shortlisted for the national award of Lawyer of the Year 2015 by Modern Claims.

We pride ourselves on the level of expertise we offer to our clients whether as family lawyers or as financial mediators.

For further information regarding mediation call Glynis or Sushma on 0116 238 5680 and we will be delighted to give you more information about what is involved. If you have a family lawyer already, you can ask your lawyer to request and submit a referral form to Glynis Wright & Co on your behalf. If you do not have a family lawyer, simply call or email us direct from our website www.glyniswright.co.uk and we will send you a referral form to kick-start the process.

Take a leap of faith and use intelligent financial mediation as your tool for brokering your own solutions to the divorce settlement.

NICHE 109

Be part of the Global Economy No matter how big or small your business, if you have a smartphone, you are already a part of the global economy, the question is, will you choose to use it?

with any email marketing campaign, and the best thing is … its instant.

Instant access to prospective new clients who would otherwise buy from someone else and the growing use of Skype means that even face to face discussions, training, coaching, or problem solving can be done eyeball to eyeball.

Gone are the days of cold calling by knocking Start with an easy blog (I do hate that word on doors or making random phone calls, if you – it’s so un-business-like) I like to call it use social media properly, with a structured content marketing; which means marketing business plan and media strategy, you can reach your product or service with informative and new clients that need your product or service, interesting content that turns YOU into the anywhere in the world. expert in your field.

Good PR makes your expertise available to a Next send out Tweets with a line or two from wider audience and enables many more people your blog and the link to the full article. Guess to learn about your products that you can reach

what? That will take people straight to your website! Neat eh?

But what will it cost? Well just your time and perhaps a decent photo for your profile. You won’t be taken seriously as a professional with a picture of you on the beach or walking up the aisle in your finery. As a freelance Writer, I write for an American Web Designer in The Philippines and for a 5 Star Resort in Thailand, while sitting in my dining room. So as a published Author and Social Media Trainer, my advice is:

Think Big and go Global!

Tina Gayle www.whizzywords.com

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How’s 2015 Shaping Up For You? Is Now the Time To; Grow your business?

Increase your profit?

Raise your profile?

Protect your reputation?

One of the ways you can achieve all of these and much, much more is by fully understanding and utilising PR. At RDZ PR we’ll happily share with you the knowledge that we have to ensure your business success.

Choose from our regularly held workshops listed below or commission us to design and deliver something specifically tailored to your business and its needs. We’re here to spread the word that razor sharp strategy combined with creativity and powerful storytelling WILL give you the results that you want!

An Introduction to PR; morning sessions 19th May & 16th June, ½ day, £45 What is PR? Creating meaningful PR campaign objectives The strategic PR plan!

How to write a press release The power and importance of photography

PR and Social Media; morning sessions 2nd June & 7th July ½ day, £45 The importance of social media to your strategic PR plan Let’s look at Twitter Let’s look at LinkedIn Using Hootsuite The importance of a Social Media Policy

PR and the Web; morning sessions 5th May & 23rd June, ½ day, £45 The vital importance of the web to your PR campaign Blogging – the do’s and don’ts Media / press / news pages on your website Engaging with online forums; the good, the bad and the ugly

Crisis Communications; afternoon sessions 19th May & 16th June, ½ day, £150 What is crisis comms?

Being proactive; crisis comms planning, strategy and implementation Being reactive; reacting to a crisis - the do’s and don’ts Responding to the press What to do if it all goes legal

Media Training; afternoon sessions 2nd June & 7th July, ½ day, £75 How do the media operate?

What do you need to know about journalists?

How to prepare for an interview with a member of the media Live interview and feedback session

Media Training; full day sessions 5th May & 23rd June, £150 All of the content from the ½ day workshop but the 1 day course also includes recording a taped interview, feedback on the interview and recording a second taped interview.

Places are strictly limited to ensure all attendees get the absolute maximum from attending.

Prices quoted are per attendee. Discounts may be available for multiple bookings. For further information or to discuss bespoke training requirements please contact Rachel Hargrave at RDZ PR via email: rachel.hargrave@rdz-pr.co.uk or by calling our office: 0150 9813 913.

Welcome to our world of PR!

NICHE 111

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How will you drive your business forward in 2015?

Every entrepreneur and business owner across the world knows it’s not always easy being the master of your own destiny; strategising, implementing and motivating your employees and sometimes you have a vision of where you’d like your business to be but aren’t 100% sure how to make it happen. Jez Allman, MD at What and How has been in just that position with many businesses over the years and using his experiences he set about creating a business to help others achieve and exceed their goals.

with Jez over a period of time he can help you address and answer the key questions that will turn your business around for the better.

“As a consultant prior to starting MP Bio Science Ltd, I knew what I was looking for and feel I would be more difficult to work with than most company Directors, as I did have high expectations. Jez exceeded these expectations and our business was stronger for his input.” Ross McManus, Owner of MP Bio Science Ltd

Start with the end in mind (the why) – you need to ask yourself where you want to be in a year, 3 years or 10 years time, what do you want your future to look like? Then by working backwards you can develop your “Jez has been able to bring to us, all his experience from strategy (the what), from this establish your key an evidently extensive corporate background and combine objectives to your present point, producing a plan of action to get you there (the how). it with a keen sense of the very different requirements of a small growing business. His personable nature makes it very easy to discuss the issues, from which the “The facts speak for themselves; since Jez’s intervention the business has become much more efficient in all its strategies have become clear. With Jez as part of our tasks, which in turn has led to increased profitability business, I feel totally confident we will achieve our and expansion. There are no magic formula’s here, just objectives.” Ben Callaghan, Director of BGC well-founded pragmatic business advice. The kind of Events Ltd advice you only get from someone who’s been there and So what is the key to implementing a successful done it!” Dale Lui, MD of LK2 Architects Ltd and LK2 Sport & Leisure Ltd business strategy and ensuring that you and your team consistently deliver? The answer is Jez works with businesses every step of the way there is no one finite solution; every business from cementing their vision, exploring how and business owner is different but working

it ‘feels’ now and in your imagined future (so you’ll know when you arrive), creating a holistic business improvement plan looking at strategy, tactics and SMARTER solutions through to commercial development, process improvement and best practice for your business. But, as any business leader will know success doesn’t just involve you. You may be the spearhead for change, the driving force but you need to engage the whole business to fulfil your ambitions and Jez is an expert in working with teams to gain their buy-in and commitment and embed practices for success in your business that everyone will want to be a part of.

“It was a pleasure to work alongside Jez at the RFU. Heading up a team of c200, his outstanding people skills and positive attitude improved our ability to work across functions and motivated the whole team to deliver projects to a high standard and on time.” Peter Bath, National Students Development Manager at Rugby Football Union To steer your business down the road to success and for expert mentoring and advice Jez has the experience and passion many businesses are crying out for and you don’t need to take our word for it, visit the What and How website, www.whatandhow.co.uk, and discover how Jez has helped others to achieve their business visions and start thinking about what he could do for yours.

NICHE 113

DO IT YOURSELF DIVORCES – YOU MUST BE MAD?

Many of you will have read about the divorce case of the multi-millionaire Dale Vince that has been in the newspapers recently. The Vince’s divorced in 1984 without proper legal advice. Mr Vince was a New Age Traveller and an unlikely candidate for becoming a multi-millionaire but that’s what happened when he set up his green energy company Ecotricity long after the divorce.

It would not have occurred to him that nearly 30 years later his ex-wife Kathleen would bring an application to court for £1.9 million pounds of his money!

Mr Vince had thought that because his marriage had been dissolved, he was safe from financial claims from his ex-wife. But a good divorce lawyer would have told him just how wrong that assumption was. As well as getting the Decree Absolute through, a husband and wife must also get an Order from the court closing down all of the financial claims that either can bring against the other. As the case of Dale Vince shows, if you try to do your divorce without the benefit of good legal advice and on the cheap, you may pay dearly in the long run! www.glyniswright.co.uk

As of the 6TH April, we are officially in the new tax year. Below is a roundup of the key improvements on last year.

Employees - Annual tax free money has increased to £10,600 saving you £120 in tax.

Higher rate tax at 40% will also start later, £42,385, saving another £104 in tax.

New tax year – New tax breaks

Self-employed parents - Previously child care help was restricted to employed individuals, but as of September you can start a child care current account. For every £80 you deposit the government will add £20, up to an account balance of £10,000 per child, per year. The current account money can only be used to pay registered child care providers.

Employers - Last year, there was a £2,000 discount on your employer’s national insurance charge. This continues, but in addition this year there is no employer’s national insurance to pay on the wages of an employee under 21, with a salary below £42,380.

Director/ shareholders - This tax year taking your drawings as a wage/ dividends will not utilise all of the allowances available to you. It’s important you structure your drawings from the business carefully, planning tax years ahead to avoid losing out. Call me on 0116 288 9999 to ensure you are doing everything you can.

Dominic Payne, is director and founder of Whitehall Accountants based near Jct 21. Following years touring other accountancy firms. Dominic has spent the last 6 years building an accountancy practice that is enjoyable to work for and with. www.whitehallaccountants.co.uk Why they are important ?

Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)

In today’s tough economic environment, organisations can no longer solely focus on the management of financial measures to track and improve business performance. It is now becoming increasingly more important for businesses to improve their in-house processes in order to gain that all-important competitive advantage and push their business forward. Many organisations are now recognising this, but the difficulty remains in executing this in practice.

Strategy execution certainly has become the buzzword in recent years and many people can talk a good game when asked, but if you ask someone at an operational level whether their own targets reflect that of the organisation or even what the company strategy is, what are they likely to say. An organisation needs their staff committed, focused and aligned on what needs to be achieved in order to execute the strategy.

So this is where Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) come in. KPIs, contrary to many misconceptions, are not about judgement, reporting or numbers. They are about focus, feedback and improvement. They should reflect the key goals of the organisation and should be used as a way of sharing accountability and continuously improving through out all levels of the business. Put more simply, they are used to “drive the whole management team within the organisation to focus on what really matters”.

There are many organisations that do not understand the value of KPI’s, a common reason is that KPI’s can be associated with extra work, an extra reporting process that will drain the valuable time of a busy workforce.

Another reason is some organisations fear them because KPI’s are used to ‘beat people down’ for not achieving their desired level of performance. Of course, when viewed this way, it is little wonder why organisations would want to implement them. This perception is wrong for many reasons, but for argument sake let’s accept this and pose the next question. t: 44 (0)7805652039

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e: kevin.sims@iso-compliance.com

w: www.iso-compliance.com

“Razor sharp strategy combined with creativity and powerful storytelling will give you the results you want” Rachel Hargrave, Agency Director, RDZ PR

Raising your profile one story at a time

RDZ PR Ltd, 3 Barrow Road, Sileby, Leicestershire, LE12 7LW

0150 9813 913

www.rdz-pr.co.uk

NICHE 115

Taking the Busy out of Business

For many of us, the word ‘accounting’ is not associated with positive thoughts and emotions.

The thought of it often brings fear and dread.

But for Langley Business, accounting and bookkeeping is child’s play.

Outsourcing your account managing to Langley means they can give you back all of this non-profit making time while you focus on doing what you do best.

Langley specialises in managing accounts.

From now on entrepreneurs start up business owners, established businesses and sole traders no longer need to worry themselves with the

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daunting exercise that is accounting.

The administrative side of your business can now be put into the capable hands of the experienced team at Langley. Samantha Hannah, Company Director, said: “You can be the image that you want to be while we sort everything out behind the scenes.”

box that stores all your receipts. Langley are different because of their use of the Cloud. All you need to do is take a picture of any receipts and upload it to Xero. Alternatively you can send your receipts by post.

Xero, Langley’s accounting software provides you with an insight into your monthly Every business is different and because of that, performance instead of waiting until the end Langley offers bespoke tailored packages to the of the year for your results, a real-time feed of exact needs of individual businesses for as little your transactions, an easy way to send invoices as £50 per month. Clients can then add to the to your customers and a way to create smart reports in a format of your choice. All this and services if they need to. more can be done by the touch of a button on your phone, tablet or PC. The days are gone of rifling through the shoe

“We are not just a computer screen, we are a voice on the phone and a face for you to talk to.

David Hannah’s wife, Samantha Hannah (pictured left), has since taken over Langley as David took a step back to focus on his first business, Cornerstone.

At the beginning of this year, Samantha became the official director of the firm, she told us: “I don’t like to hang around, I set a vision and work towards that goal until the picture in my head becomes a reality.”

Their system automatically backs up data for you whilst you are maximising your profits and making savings at the same time as staying tax efficient and compliant. “We will train you on Xero and offer advice and support as well as sorting out all your receipts and outgoings,” Samantha explained.

Langley began in 2010 when David Hannah created the establishment as a separate firm that would deal with the administrative side of his main business, Cornerstone.

From this, Langley began to develop and acquire more interest from other companies wanting outside help with their bookkeeping and accounting. Thus, Cornerstone became Langley’s first client and so the company grew from there.

Samantha aims to completely rebrand Langley and work on its’ image. The company’s mascot is a young boy with glasses that Samantha has named ‘Oliver’. She wants ‘Oliver’ to become a recognisable icon who, when people see him, think instantly of Langley.

“I want to get us out there. We use the latest software, have clients all over the UK but I feel that we are a hidden gem. We’ve never advertised and I want to open our doors to more businesses.”

she understands the complexities of running a business, “so many businesses fail because they don’t know what needs to be presented when" “Suddenly you have letters from HMRC and Companies House telling you that you must send proof of this and that by this date.”

Langley offers an abundance of advice for people starting out in business.

Now, alongside Langley, she buys, renovates and lets out properties. Without outsourcing to others who are experienced in different areas, her private rental property portfolio would not be as accomplished as it currently is.

“Langley takes all the frightening parts away.

We tell you exactly what you need to send to which company for certain dates. We are there for you right from the start through to a successful conclusion and thereafter,” Samantha added.

Samantha invites you to visit them for one to With a background in business herself, one advice, “We are not just a computer screen, Samantha understands the colossal importance we are a voice on the phone and a face for you of outsourcing. to talk to.”

Taking a piece of your business that is non-profit making, such as bookkeeping and accounting and handing it over to an expert is an effective way of outsourcing.

Look super professional, organised and intellectual whilst Langley does what they do best backstage; helping your business to grow.

Look out for Oliver. He will be seen and heard.

Samantha had previously set up a successful business completely on her own in the beauty sector. It is because of this experience that

Call 01858438094 or email enquiries@langleybusiness.co.uk.

1 8 N u r ser y C o u rt, Kibworth, L eicester, L E8 0EX

www.langleybusiness.co.uk NICHE 117

What’s your vision for your business in 6 months, a year, or 3 years?

How are you going to get there?

Answering these questions is key to growing your business.

At What and How we have been taking businesses to the next level for over 25 years. We can show you how to; • Build your business vision and plan for success • Make more money and grow your business • Manage your time more effectively • Build the right team

• Sell products and services that will appeal to your customers

Contact Jez today on 01572 839302 or email jez@whatandhow.co.uk to start your journey towards business growth.

www.whatandhow.co.uk 1652 - What and How Press Ad - 190 x 137.indd 1

Business Box

25/03/2015 09:29

modern, professional serviced offices for your business.

50 units, great value with easy in/out terms.

Supported by a full reception service and state of the art phone and internet connections.

Business Box has a wide variety of Meeting rooms/ Training facilities/ Conference spaces, 2-40 delegates for use by both tenants and outside organisations.

Working from home? Enquire about our Virtual Tenancy packages for that professional image.

Hot-desking available.

0116 279 5000 info@businessbox.org.uk www.businessbox.org.uk Leicester Business Box, 2 Oswin Road, Braunstone, Leicester, LE3 1HR

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A recruitment company that works for you

Whether you are a business on the lookout for a new employee or an individual in search of work, ER Recruitment Ltd liaises with both sides of the employment ladder to bring the right candidates to the best positions.

ER Recruitment specialise in placing permanent and interim candidates within accountancy & finance, customer service and sales, HR, insurance, legal and office sectors.

Full of ambition, Eileen Richards, founder of the company, is dedicated to bringing employees and employers together to create a successful outcome for both parties. She said: “we are genuinely passionate and active in connecting people, business and opportunities within the Leicestershire community.”

Eileen doesn’t believe in criticising other companies in order to congratulate her own, “we focus on our own business objectives and that is placing people with good quality companies,” Eileen commented.

With over twenty years’ experience of working within the recruitment industry, Eileen knows how to motivate and impress clients and candidates. This year, ER Recruitment has filled 94% of all vacancies; the remaining 6% were outsourced to their recruitment partners.

I could travel to different places where she had found jobs for me. Once she’d got me an interview with Niche Magazine she rang me just before to see how I was feeling about it and she rang afterwards to ask how it went. After I’d got the job she even text me to wish me luck with everything. The extra care she gave throughout the whole process really went a long way.” – Sandra Born in Leicester, Eileen is very passionate about the city. Outside of the busy world of recruitment, she is keen to support local charities. Eileen is Chair of Integra for Women in Business, a member of the Wooden Spoon Committee, a Trustee for Hope Against cancer among many more.

that is industry specific and tailored to their business.

“I am pleased to say that my business plan is on track;” this could be due to no expense being spared when it comes to hiring staff for Eileen’s own company.

Eileen believes that community and connecting local business is of great importance: something On setting up the business, Eileen said: “the challenge is recruiting the right people. Being that she respects Jenny Cross, Company an expert within this area, I have taken my time Director of Niche Magazine for. and have been involved in all interviews. Whilst this has been time consuming it has been Niche’s Operations Director, Leanne Baker, worth it. I recruit on attitude. With our teams also dealt with Jeanette at ER recruitment experience we can train on everything else. when hiring Sandra. Leanne said: “She was amazing from start to finish. The communication was great. Jeanette rang me and kept in touch and really made sure we had the right person. It made recruiting so easy.

There was no stress.”

ER Recruitment was launched over two years Here at Niche, one of our very own Media Sales Executive’s, Sandra Shaw was introduced ago with an ambitious, confident business plan that would enable growth in terms of the to us through ER Recruitment. company’s own recruitment and development.

With a loyal client base already in place and the “I didn’t even get in touch with the company, team’s knowledge of the Leicestershire business they came to me. Jeanette, Recruitment Consultant at ER Recruitment, dealt with my market, the company felt they could offer their case and she went out of her way to make sure clients and candidates a consultative service

The attraction for consultants to join ER Recruitment is the extensive excellent training given and the potential to develop within their sector. It is a meritocratic industry with no timeframes set for promotion. It truly is a case of “what you put in, is what you get out”. So your success is in your hands.

Eileen and the ER team celebrate success and want more clients and candidates to celebrate with them.

Visit www.eileenrichards.co.uk or call 0116 254 9710.

NICHE 119

Launching Cultural Quarter Association to Inspire and Empower the City.

The Cultural Quarter Business Association is re­launching as the Cultural Quarter Association (1). It’s objective, through close working with local businesses and residents, is to enable the Cultural Quarter of Leicester to reach it’s full potential.

The association is made up of trustees representing: Curve, Phoenix Square, LCB Depot, Athena, Shakespeare, Manic Music, Seed Creativity and Spring to Action.

This fresh phase of promotion starts with the release of the Cultural Quarter App or ‘CQ App’. The app will highlight the hidden gems of the area and give everyone the opportunity to explore and enjoy the entire Cultural Quarter.

To celebrate the relaunch of the Cultural Quarter Association and the release of the ‘CQ App’, there will be an open event at LCB Depot on Friday 24th April 3­6pm for local business and on Saturday 25th April 12­ 4pm for the public and residents.

The launch will be a great opportunity to find out what the Cultural Quarter of Leicester has to offer and also to find out more about the Cultural Quarter Association. The event will be a fantastic, family friendly, vibrant festival, open to all and free of charge.

To keep up to date with the very latest updates of what is happening in the Cultural Quarter please follow #thisweekintheCQ on Twitter.

Online marketing services for local businesses Would you like to work with a business who are friendly, approachable and don’t talk jargon?

We provide tailored, flexible packages including online marketing consultancy from just £60 per month and management services from as little as £120 per month.

GET 10% OFF your monthly fee when you quote “NICHE MAGAZINE” tiernanmarketing.co.uk @tiernanmktg

/TiernanMarketing

Should you be feeling the desire to move rather than improve Chrysalis can help with that. Home Staging by Chrysalis presents your home for sale in the best possible light. Before putting your house on the market Chrysalis will come and professionally stage your property helping you sell your home more quickly and for as high a price as possible.

Tel: 0121 6476709 f: Facebook.com/ChrysalisInteriorDesign t: @ChrysalisID

www.chrysalishomestaging.com

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Solutions in Human Resources and Employment Law

Complete HR and employment law outsourcing services including on-site HR audit and drafting of employment contracts/handbooks HR and Employment law training Ad-hoc consultancy work on an hourly or daily rate basis

If you interested in outsourcing your HR function or have an HR or employment related issue please get in contact.

Cloud Bookkeeping Accounting Message Taking www.langleybusiness.co.uk enquiries@langleybusiness.co.uk

01858 438 094 Milestone House, 18 Nursery Court, Kibworth Business Park, Kibworth, Leicestershire, LE8 0EX

Making Business Easy

“Atom HR….because understanding HR and employment law should not be like splitting the atom.”

26 Cranmer Drive Syston Leicester LE7 1HY

0116-2121153 07712-115663 ivan@atomhrconsulting.com

NICHE 121

If I put my mind to it I could get quite cross with those who believe that PR is not measurable.

PR … It’s Just Smoke and Mirrors Isn’t It?

Of course you can measure results! In fact it’s never been easier with the increase in use of social media within PR campaigns. Add to that the availability of a whole host of online tracking and analytic tools (many of which are free or next to no cost at all) all designed to help businesses measure reach, tone, impact, value, relevance, influence etcetera and a new question soon springs to mind.

‘Which results should I be measuring?’

This question can only be answered by going back to the beginning and asking yourself the fundamental question - why am I running a PR campaign? Is it raise brand awareness? Is it to communicate a change of business direction with employees? Is it to grow market share and sales? Is it to launch a new product or service? Once you are clear on your ‘why’ then you will soon start to see what the important measures are to you and what you need to put in place (if anything) in order to measure results.

For more information on this and other PR topics you can download your FREE PR guide from www.rdz-pr.co.uk

DESIGN + PRINT

Soar Valley Press The Value of Print

It’s certainly true that the internet has transformed the way we communicate and the way businesses market themselves. But print media has many advantages over digital media.

Printed items have a tangibility that creates a sense of permanence which gives a greater sense of credibility. Surveys show that print is still considered more trustworthy and may be more appropriate for you when opening lines of communication for your campaigns. It is also one of the best ways to establish or solidify your brand.

Print marketing is still especially relevant for small businesses. Promotional materials keep your business name, products and services fresh in your potential client’s mind long after meeting them, and are great tools for networking. First impressions really count so your design and print needs to be of professional quality to be effective.

Direct mail has a much greater response rate than email or social media and, as the number of items we receive in the post has reduced, higher numbers of people read what they receive through their letterbox. Email on the other hand can be overwhelming with so many being received each day that they are rarely read by the recipient. Surveys of B2C marketers show the strongest return on investment from direct mail.

Are you getting lost in the inbox or succeeding through the post box?

Chris Goodman is Managing Director of Soar Valley Press, an award winning design and print company based in Leicestershire.

Contact 0116 259 9955 or email inspiration@soarvalleypress.co.uk www.soarvalleypress.co.uk The number of Britons starting their own businesses is rocketing, and this entrepreneurial spirit, looks set to continue. The main high-street lenders are certainly promoting their desire to support small businesses with overdrafts and loan facilities, but many entrepreneurs are bypassing traditional forms of finance and turning to other funding schemes

Be enterprising, be inside the box!

Peer-to-peer lending; the lending money to individuals, or "peers", without going through a traditional financial organisation. These websites are online financial matchmakers; moneycupids matching individual borrowers or companies with savers willing to put money aside for longer, looking for a good return. Individual investors may offer very small sums of as little as £10 each, say, but collectively they provide businesses with the cash required. The longestrunning site is Zopa with £796m lent so far to over 107,000 borrowers.

Crowdfunding sites enable entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to a wide audience and attract funding. People come together on these sites to pool money towards a particular venture or idea. Donors on crowd funding sites such as Crowd Cube or Kickstarter are typically private individuals providing small sums of money so they are unlikely to give the sort of grilling and rigorous conditions a more traditional investor would. One can also scope out the popularity of the idea via a crowd funding site and instigate some crucial word-of-mouth marketing.

Small businesses may require an initial Virtual Tenancy and then wish to progress to a serviced office. Business Box offers professional office space for small businesses and also economical Virtual tenancy packages.

0116 279 5000

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www.businessbox.org.uk

DESIGN + PRINT

Soar Valley Press

Think BIG for all your print needs

We are here to help you really get noticed

Contact us now Get in touch for the right solution to make a big impression 0116 259 9955 www.soarvalleypress.co.uk big@soarvalleypress.co.uk

BANNERS to BROCHURES to BUSINESS CARDS NICHE 29

Business and the Digital Era Matthew Hughes, the owner of Flucidity - a cloud based IT service provider and Kinetal - a media production company gave us an insight into what the businesses are all about and how using the services that they provide can help businesses grow.

explained.

Unless you have been hiding under a rock, you have undoubtedly heard the term “cloud” being referred to by IT companies, telecoms companies and a raft of other’s that are jumping on this imaginary bandwagon. But what is the cloud?

Niche Magazine caught up with the proprietor of Flucidity, Matthew Hughes, to help articulate this mysterious term into something a little more tangible.

“As an IT organisation we have been using the cloud for years, in fact the cloud is just a simple way to describe a service that is hosted externally. If you have used Hotmail, Dropbox and now you will have been using the cloud, potentially without knowing,” Matthew

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your workforce to work from anywhere in the world as long as they have an internet This is how Flucidity came into fruition. Born connection (and with OneDrive for Business in the cloud, Flucidity provides support for they don’t even need that). small business without their own internal IT teams and helps them make use of third party Flucidity help businesses streamline their cloud based services in a way that is easy to processes and mobilise their workforce using understand and without the hassle of trying enterprise grade software for as little as £2.50 to figure it out. per user per month. What’s more, if you’re an education or charity customer you can get a lot “Running a business should be exciting of these services for FREE. and not a chore, yet many business owners struggle because of their badly configured IT Anyone can buy from the shelf but systems or just because they don’t know what not everyone fully understands how it operates. is available to them.”

Matthew said: “we find that people often don’t know how many benefits has and we As a Microsoft Partner, Flucidity have been want to help them implement it to get the most working with since its inception. out of their purchase and the most out of their business.”

Formally known as Microsoft Office, Office 365 not only includes the products you know Their help desk they are able to connect to you and love such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint using Skype for Business and through this, they but now includes can communicate to cloud based you wherever you are the cloud is just a simple services such as - now that’s a service SharePoint (for way to describe a service we can all appreciate. document storage that is hosted externally It’s clear to see and collaboration), Exchange Online Matthew and the (for world class hosted email) and Skype for team are dedicated to helping other businesses Business (Instant messaging for business). use the programmes to the best of their ability.

The beauty of this is that

enables

www.flucidity.co.uk

Capture your audience with the use of Video An online presence is essential for companies as we live in an age where an internet connection is as crucial to our existence as the air we breathe.

“Statistics show the effect that video has on people is totally different to words on a page. It’s interacting with the end consumer in a much more personal manor.”

Websites have become just as important, if not more so, than a physical office or shop front and with the increase in high speed broadband, video has now become one of the best ways to It is evident Kinetal capture the attention of your audience. is a hugely successful organisation dedicated We took some time to find out a little more to supporting about Kinetal. The local media production independent businesses company creates a variety of videos for within our nosiness businesses in the UK and beyond. community.

Kinetal offers businesses a platform to showcase Utilising his skill set, Matthew has recently their talent, a chance to impress, educate, dedicated time and money into a new project delight and capture their audience. that complements his existing businesses but still falls under the It was really refreshing "Statistics show the same ethos of helping, to see the Kinetal team supporting others. were so passionate about effect that video has creating videos that Matthew set up accurately describe the on people is totally Midlandsbusiness. message their clients different to words on tv - a website dedicated want to portray to to promoting small to their target audience. a page. " medium businesses.

Watching a series of video productions produced locally by Kinetal, With a view to creating an online presence it’s apparent they are experts in producing MBTV is a central hub offering well needed creative media that not only captures viewers’ FREE support, advice and information on attention but also engages and interests them. a whole variety of topics with an additional directory where businesses can search for up Matthew believes this to be the fastest and coming events relevant to building their growing method of promoting a company business or their business network. on the internet today. “This style of business promotion is an up and coming method of Excitedly offering an open office policy marketing. It’s a medium that people don’t where each Monday afternoon there is the immediately consider when they initially think opportunity for local businesses to drop in of digital marketing. their City Centre based offices and have a short interview filmed on the sofa. This is then

turned around and uploaded online with in the week.

The main objection of the site is to involve the whole business community encouraging all business from all fields of expertise to get involved and offer advice, hints and tips to support one another.

This gives all local businesses a local captivated audience to talk to. It is not a direct selling tool but it is a publicity, brand awareness and social tool to increase your personal and business brand.

We were particularly impressed with the directory – a section where you can list your business at no cost what so ever.

16.5% of businesses in Leicester are small in size. Flucidity and Kinetal are dedicated to supporting these businesses in their growth. It’s successful, driven business men like Matthew who together are really putting Leicester on the map! www.kinetal.com

NICHE 125

Atom HR is an independent human resources and employment law consultancy which provides service on a personal level in which our clients are highly valued. The business is owned by Ivan Spibey who has over twenty years experience as a HR professional including twelve years working as a consultant

Solutions in Human Resources and Employment Law

There are wide range of services which are on offer including the following; • Retained services for outsourcing your HR and employment requirements including an onsite HR audit, review or drafting of employment contracts/handbooks and e-mail/telephone support. Additional consultancy time can be supplied at a discounted rate for retained clients.

• Ad-hoc consultancy work to undertake specific projects and case work on an hourly or daily rate basis.

• Providing management and employee training on matters involving employment law and HR. Thus ensuring senior teams and line managers have the confidence to manage people related matters, and minimise the risk of claim.

• Document drafting including contracts, employee handbooks and specific policies/ procedures to assist organisations to be legally compliant.

If you interested in outsourcing your HR function or have an HR or employment related issue please get in contact.

0116-2121153 / 07712 115663

ivan@atomhrconsulting.com

We all talk about the importance of being organised… But what if you organise too much?

Organising is about being in control of your business, home and future. HOWEVER… if you are organising your life away you may find that you are spending all your time creating documents to make your life easier instead.

How organised are you?

Too Much?

Why do you do what you work?

I bet its not because you like spending time on excel or work. I bet its because you are passionate about what you do. Whether its organising your home or your business you should use the tools available to make your life easier.

Research what you want to organise Pinterest is a amazing for finding organisational blogs. You will always find a favourite.

Don’t try to do everything.

Choose something you like and do it for 30 days. This will turn it into a habit. Then pick your next task. If you try too much you will fail and feel terrible Be open to CHANGE Most people like the idea of organisation without the practicality. It WILL change your routine.

It WILL be hard. Organisation isn't always easy until its a habit. Its about improving your processes. Make it a habit and you will succeed.

0116 318 3598 info@completepa.co.uk Tina Gayle’s book- busting myths about the 3rd Reich- took 2 years to research & write and is now selling in America, Argentina, Japan and even Germany!

SS General Reinhard Heydrich former Head of the Gestapo; was known as The Butcher of Prague, The Master of Death, and The Hangman; and described as The Most Evil Man of the Third Reich.

New Book by Leicester Author selling Worldwide

This book reveals new first-hand evidence that will explode some of the myths and stories about him.

Hitler called him ‘The Man with an Iron Heart’, but do you know why? Find out whether Canaris was actually a friend or foe, and the secrets of the real relationship between Heydrich and Himmler that spanned eleven years. You might be surprised to learn who was controlling whom in the RSHA and why a small silver bell with Heydrich’s name on it, had Tina chased by armed guards in Prague last Christmas.

All this and more is revealed in a ‘Serious Case Review’ style investigation with myths busted and secrets uncovered from first-hand information about the man with an IRON HEART….

Find it on Amazon now, or get a signed copy from Tina… www.whizzywords.com

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Want to increase your productivity?

Move to

with Flucidity

Office 365 is a productivity suite that provides your staff with the ability to collaborate, be more efficient and work from anywhere with an internet connection.

This could save your business time, money and free up valuable resources.

Flucidity guides you through the process of moving your email, document storage and buisness processes into the cloud to give you unriveled security, off site backup and most importantly piece of mind.

Whether you have made the move to Office 365 or are looking into the benefits, our support packages can get you moving in the right direction.

Ready to get started or want to know more about Office 365? hello@flucidity.com 0208 144 0365 flucidity.com/areyouready

Kinetal Media Production

Video built to Impress, Educate, Capture. kinetalmedia kinetal.com

hello@kinetal.com

kinetalmedia 0208 144 0364

NICHE 127

Pre Hospital Emergency Care as an educational field of expertise is not a new concept. The Pre Hospital Care industry is very qualification driven, but has not yet been regulated closely, allowing employers to select their own standards, based on traditional qualification programs, or unregulated in-house training.

Subsequently there has been dilution of subject matter, and differing standards of assessment.

First Aid Education & Training

This has led to varying levels of qualification and ability being noticeable between employees, across borders, and between different types of company, i.e. Event Medical coverage, Sporting medics, etc., leading to concerns around the effect this may have on standards of care.

Traditionally qualified First Aiders would not generally have the knowledge of a qualified Ambulance Technician or Paramedic, nor the experience of operating outside of their normal workplace environment, or the knowledge and ability to safely discharge a patient from care to home. There is a need to dynamically drive up standards of Health & Safety. Medical Cover and education may be appropriated on the basis of cost, meaning that minimally clinically qualified staff are utilised, or compromise made in other areas in order to obtain the business, and turn a profit.

We are pleased to announce that HDP Education Solutions have been selected as a Trailblazer centre by Qualsafe Awards for their new Level 3 Certificate in First Response Emergency Care (FREC®), the first in a suite of qualifications leading to a Diploma qualification, with regulated processes of education from start to finish. The Level 4 certificate, Level 4 extended, and Diploma levels are to be released on a phased basis in 2015. These qualifications exceed the level 2 qualification offered by the FPOS suite, and are suited to most professional environments. They set a new standard for pre hospital care which have been sorely needed and will be embraced by many sectors.

01530 839115

www.hdpmedicalsupplies.co.uk

If you think back to a meeting or an event that sticks in your mind for all of the wrong reasons, it’s very likely that a lot of that was down to the venue. When you are stuck in an uninspiring space then you often find it harder to feel motivated during meetings , conferences and events and your mind can wander.

Invigorate your events and meetings

St Martin’s House Conference Centre in the centre of Leicester provides a beautiful yet practical venue to host meetings, conferences and events. The exquisitively renovated Grade II listed Victorian building will impress key clients or motivate staff, with Estée Lauder recently holding an event there.

They have four unique spaces which are smart, contemporary and fitted to the highest specification to suit all needs. The smallest room seats 12 people and the biggest room, The Grand Hall, fits 200. The beautiful room boasts a vaulted ceiling and stained glass window which provides natural daylight to ensure that everyone stays awake and motivated! The flexible space lends itself to a variety of layouts including cabaret, theatre, banquet or classroom.

Fully equipped with all the latest audio-visual equipment and providing free Wifi, the Grand Hall is serviced by a full kitchen, its own bar facility and a loop system for the hard of hearing.

To find out more about the rooms and services available visit www.stmartinshouse.com and arrange a visit for your next event.

Did you know every commercial building has to have a fire risk assessment?

A fire is always tragic. 1 in 3 businesses will not survive after a fire and for a professional business it is imperative to plan for emergencies and mitigate fire risks.

Greens are the experts in advising on what is needed to protect your business and your people.

Their specialist assessors will carry out a full assessment of your building, identify any flammable and combustible materials, assess and specify alarms and extinguisher types, numbers and locations. They will work with you and your team to teach you how to execute a fire drill, so everyone knows where to go in the event of a fire and which extinguishers to use and when.

The Greens team are committed to providing you with the best advice and training so that you and your team not only have the best chance of preventing a fire but, if disaster does strike, you can minimise the impact and, more importantly, get everyone out safely. Fire Risk Assessments are from as little as £150.00. This allows businesses to meet all legal requirements so you know that should the worst happen, it won’t be the end of your business. The risk assessments include a full report and training for Fire Wardens.

Sam Green of Greens Consultancy

www.greensconsultancy.co.uk

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You wouldn’t knowingly take a risk with the future of your business, so why would you risk losing it from a lack of knowledge or readiness?

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5 Health and Safety Facts; 1. There are lots of myths about safety. Here is just one.

Manual Handling Training, it is Not a legal requirement, but a special type of risk assessment for lifting and carrying is.

2. Another BIG Myth is that you have to “wrap everyone in cotton wool”. Safety Law does not require that all risks are eliminated or even reduced to “low”.

3. The three biggest causes of lost time from work are Slips trips and falls, Manual Handling and Stress, but the biggest cause of death from work (by a country mile) is Asbestos which is much worse than everything else put together!

4. Every employer has to appoint someone to look after Health and Safety (this can be a person employed or an external advisor/consultant).

5. Good Health and Safety does not need to cost an arm and a leg! You can appoint a consultant for less than £100 per month.

Visit www.greensconsultancy.co.uk

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NICHE 129

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NICHE 131

Don't Do It Yourself!

Do it yourself projects are great for getting the creative juices flowing and giving you something to work towards.

However, there are some things that should be done by the experts.

with England and Wales Building Regulations.

These can be found on the government website. Riskier jobs will need to be inspected, approved and certified by the appropriate inspectors.

involving lighting, heating or data and network systems, professionals have the requirements to complete these tasks.

Check that the electricians you hire are fully trained and have the correct qualifications.

Reading up on these guidelines and procedures, Reliable companies will have their employees When it comes to electrical systems, it is let alone understanding them, can be confusing fully trained in 17th Edition Wiring advisable that you don’t do any work on them and time consuming work. You have a legal Regulations, they will be NIC EIC certified; yourself. If work in your home or garden needs responsibility to maintain health and safety meaning that any work they do for you will be carrying out and you decide to have a go at it regulations for the people living in your home to the highest standards. Reputable companies yourself, have in mind that a lot of research will also have DBS checks updated every year and anyone who visits your home. Therefore, may be required. it might be best for you to invest your valuable for your peace of mind. When completed, the time in finding registered professionals to carry company should provide you with a completion There are lots of rules to abide by and if these out the work for you. certificate to show that the work has been tested are not stuck to, you may be putting yourself for safety. at serious risk. In 2005, the government Companies can provide domestic electrical introduced specific electrical safety instructions services that include finding faults, obtaining Rest assured when you have researched the for anyone conducting electrical work in company and found that they deliver these landlord certificates and conducting energy their home. standards, ensuring that the job will be done efficient assessments. If you need rewiring doing, a new fuse board, central heating issues correctly and legally.

You must first ensure that you are complying sorted, electrical installations or any other work

Elecsafe is a Leicester based company covering all areas of Leicestershire and the UK. At ElecSafe we have over 25 years of combined experience in the electrical and aerial sectors. We are fully NICEIC registered and hold the latest CSCS/ECS health and safety qualifications. Our main goal is to help you achieve the highest quality installation possible whilst still provding a cost effective service. We pride ourselves on all the work we undertake and ensure that your safety is paramount.

Elecsafe is a company who specialise in the electrical and aerial services for all sectors including domestic, commerical and industrial premesis. Our electrical team cover all aspects including design, installation and maintenance to fire alarms and emergency lighting. Our aerial & data team covers all types of aerial systems, CCTV systems, bespoke wall mount audio visual installations and networking installations from CAT5E to high speed fibre optic.

Please feel free to visit our website to contact us and to see some pictures of our recent installations.

www.elecsafeuk.com 132

The Importance of Health & Safety Health and safety issues should be considered as important as any other business objective.

Often looked upon as a dreary and tedious component to a business, health and safety standards are key to business success.

In Great Britain (2013/14), there were 28.2 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury (www.hse.gov. uk/statistics). It makes sense that health and safety in the work place should be of great importance to businesses.

All businesses are exposed to hazards where their employees, customers and visitors are at risk of some kind of peril. Heavy lifting, toxic substances, emotional risks such as stress and depression, electrical issues as well as many others risks threatens people’s lives. Many rules and regulations come along with health and safety success which can be a nuisance

but rather this than fail to comply with them.

Besides the trauma and guilt of having an employee, customer or visitor injured you are also at risk of lawsuits.

To avoid these you will have ensured that you have a system in place to manage health and safety. A plan is needed to demonstrate how you control, organise, monitor and review measures taken to prevent accident and illness.

You will need to be able to recognise hazards and how they could potentially be caused.

You also need to be able to show how you plan, organise, control, monitor and review preventative measures. And you need to appoint a competent person(s) to help you comply with your legal obligations.

To help, the law specifies benchmarks in order for you decide whether or not your risk control measures are up to legal standards.

As a business you should have notified the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Local Authority of your existence. Any accident that takes place should be reported and recorded along with all details.

Depending on the size of your company, ensure that there are frequent first aid points that are accessible and have members of your workforce first aid trained.

Your employees are vital to health and safety.

Make sure they know health and safety procedures and keep them updated on any changes or accidents that have happened in the past so that they can implicate any necessary measures.

Expenses on first aid training and preventative measures are invaluable to any business and will save you money in the long run.

Greens Consultancy

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NICHE 133

PLAY YOUR PART IN KEEPING COMMUNITIES SAFE The time has come for anyone wanting to get involved in an exciting volunteer role that is as rewarding as it is enlightening. Crimestoppers are currently seeking Community Champions in the Leicestershire and Rutland area.

The Charity’s 550+ volunteers have helped to make it possible to take criminals out of communities up and down the country. One of those keen volunteers is Sue Witts (pictured far right). Having aided the charity for five years as Vice Chair, she has recently moved on to a new role as National Volunteer Community Ambassador.

As a devoted volunteer to Crimestoppers in Leicestershire and Rutland, Sue is scouring the shire for community leaders who can help deliver the Crimestoppers message to the public. The organisation is running a pilot in Leicestershire and Rutland which aims to reach the communities that aren’t being reached already.

also hopes to promote the on-going message as they are sometimes scared to be involved with the police and fear that those around them can’t be trusted,” articulating what Crimestoppers is all about.

“It’s all about letting people know that they can feel safe added Sue. and that they have someone other than the police who is Their call handlers will never ask you for your looking out for them and getting things sorted,” By collaborating with community leaders, she said. personal information and will make sure that Sue hopes to connect to the public in any information they pass on cannot identify Crimestoppers’ quest to discover new A well respected member within the you in anyway.

Community Champions.

Crimestoppers organisation, Sue has made a big difference to the local community. She was The charity is seeking Community Champions The independent charity has been making awarded for her actions as a volunteer in 2013 communities safe for twenty-seven years. who can dedicate just eight hours of their by the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Giving people the chance to report crime time a month to the stimulating role. As a Mustafa Kamal. anonymously has been highly effective. Last Community Champion you will be working year Crimestoppers received over 2000 calls with successful Crimestoppers volunteers and She tells the story of how she came to be a resulting in almost 800 positive outcomes in representing and fulfilling the Charity’s work volunteer. “I had always wanted to become a police the area. and objectives. officer, but couldn’t because of my eyesight. When a friend of mine went to work for Crimestoppers, she knew In over 25 years, the charity has assisted in “To find Champions we need to get the message across 132,000 arrests since 1998 and £131 million of of my interest in this area and recommended I join.” to people. I hope to engage with community leaders stolen goods have been recovered. Sue flagged who can help me do this,” says Sue. “It is of Sue’s latest mission is to work with community the significant fact that one person every ten great importance to the charity that people receive the leaders to continue the search for more days is charged with murder as a result of Crimestoppers message.”

Community Champions. To find out more information given to Crimestoppers. contact sue.langley@crimestoppers-uk.org.

The Charity wants to tell people that any information they have regarding any crime can The charity is reaching out for Community Visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org to be reported to them completely anonymously. Champions through the current work of learn more.

“People need to know that they can report crimes safely Sue and other successful volunteers, but she Sue said: “In order to deliver the message, we need to find the people.”

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107 Highcross Street, Leicester, LE1 4PH T: +44 (0)116 222 7886 www.westend-gallery.co.uk www.facebook.com/westendgalleryleicester Opening times: Mon-Fri 9.00am-4.30pm Sat 10.00am-4.00pm

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0116 2792012 NICHE 135

GUESTS ENJOY DELICIOUS BANQUET IN THE KUBE AT LEICESTER RACECOURSE Leicester Racecourse have teamed with Sanjay Foods as Official Partners to the racecourse for Asian and Indian catering which is sure to attract even more visitors to the fantastic venue.

On 28th March, over 200 Leicestershire business leaders attended a Networking Event, hosted by Leicester Racecourse and Sanjay Foods, to celebrate this new offering. The event took place in The Kube which was cleverly transformed in to a wonderland filled with giant blossom trees, fairy lights and crystals. The food was beyond memorable and added perfectly to the enchantment of the night.

Guests began tweeting about the amazing dishes that Sanjay Foods had provided for the event to commemorate their efforts and the tweets continued for days after the event had taken place.

The venue and the food company were praised on their professionalism and fabulous feast as well as the atmosphere in The Kube which was created to perfection.

Sir Edward Garnier QC and Professor Sir Nilesh Samani were just two of the eminent guests at The Kube who experienced the delicious banquet which Sanjay Foods served.

The company are able to offer bespoke menus tailored for each client individually with the occasion in mind.

The Kube holds up to 600 people cabaret style and is presented as an ideal blank canvas for clients to style for their special occasion. Leicester Racecourse is set in 200 acres of spectacular beauty and offers up to 2,000 complimentary car parking spaces on-site to make everything that bit easier for guests.

For more information, visit www.leicester-racecourse.com / www.sanjayfoods.com Photographs provided by Sanjay Foods.

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ONES TO WATCH WE REVEAL LOCAL, SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE SET TO MAKE WAVES IN THE NEAR FUTURE

GEMMA ORTON MANAGING DIRECTOR, MOCHA MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS After leaving school to go straight into work as she was never the academic type, Gemma Orton would never have believed back then that she would be a successful business owner of a marketing agency. Gemma eventually decided to study higher education. She attended Derby University in the evenings over several years to acquire her Chartered Institute of Marketing qualifications. This helped her career as it taught her the theory basics behind what she does. However, Gemma has found experience to be worth more than qualifications, as people rarely ask for them and are more interested in her achievements and work ethic. Without her husband by her side, Gemma feels that she wouldn’t be where she is today. She understands that fitting work and personal life together can be a struggle for everybody but with the right support around you it is possible.

LEANNE BONNER-COOKE MANAGING DIRECTOR AT EVOLVE As a girl from a working class family, Leanne was inspired by Margaret Thatcher. She believed the former Prime Minister was always true to herself and brought great things to our country. Leanne’s father encouraged her to never give up on her dreams and so today she runs her own business, Evolve. Although learning how to run a business proved difficult, she remained strong and passionate just like Margaret Thatcher. As a female, she is proud to have set up her business in the IT sector in 2007; the beginning of the recession. In order for her company to grow, Leanne had to put her trust in others with the same values who would deliver the same quality of work. Leanne hopes to travel the world with her husband who has consistently supported her in times of weakness.

PAUL ROWETT MANAGING DIRECTOR AT EVERYTHING BRANDED Everything happens for a reason – this is what Paul Rowlette believes and it must be true since today he runs a successful company producing promotional products for businesses around the world. Paul gained has applied his online knowledge to Everything Branded since he set up the business in 2010. He is a big believer in pay-per-click marketing and generates over 300 orders a month from this. He is pleased to see that Everything Branded is doing what it set out to achieve - helping to build their clients brands. Paul’s company made it possible for his wife to leave her job that made her so unhappy. Having her as part of the business allowed them to share the stresses that Paul was dealing with alone and find the balance they needed between work and home life.

NICHE 137

MOTORING

Luxury Motor Show

138

PRESTIGIOUS LUXURY MOTOR SHOW RETURNS TO NOTTinghamshire FOR THIRD YEAR THE Midlands’ most prestigious motor show will return to Nottinghamshire this year for a third time, showcasing a huge range of exotic and high performance cars to the public. The event – which will take place on Sunday, May 17 at Goosedale - offers a unique opportunity for like-minded owners, enthusiasts and admiring members of public to see some of the world’s rarest modern and classic super cars.

Vehicle marques in attendance at this year’s Luxury Motor Show will include Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Aston Martin and Bentley, plus a number of specialist super car manufacturers.

As well as bringing these enviable cars together in one place, the event also raises money for local charity When You Wish Upon A Star, which helps dreams come true for terminally ill children. Last year, the show raised £10,250 for the Nottingham-based charity, which this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and this year organisers hope to hit the £15,000 mark.

Founder and show director Richard Johal said he was thrilled with the groundswell of support for the show which he’d seen and felt from the local motoring community.

He said: “We are delighted that our event is returning for a third year running and are certain that this year’s show is going to be the biggest and best yet.

Richard added: “What is so nice about this event is that it appeals to everyone. For the last two years we have had a very high attendance rate from families with children, as well as corporate sponsors and local businesses.

“The interest we have had has been immense.

We are really excited about some of the rare “Visitors will have the chance to get up close and exotic cars confirmed, some of which to a vast array of luxury, exotic and high performance cars. There is also the opportunity never featured at a car show before, let alone in the East Midlands, and some of which are to take a ride in some of the vehicles, driven worth in excess of £1m. by the owners who are part of motoring organisation Sporting Bears. Sporting Bears are “We also organise a sit down four course lunch offering these rides to raise money for When in our VIP area, which You Wish Upon A Star.” takes the form of a very "WHAT IS SO NICE ABOUT laid back and enjoyable The headline sponsor networking event for of this year’s show THIS EVENT IS THAT IT some of our corporate is Bentley Leicester.

APPEALS TO EVERYONE." sponsors. We have had Other dealerships a large take up by local attending include corporates who are starting to acknowledge Graypaul Nottingham (Ferrari and Maserati), Lamborghini Leicester, Mercedes Nottingham that the show is a unique and excellent corporate hospitality event.” and Nottingham Audi. There will also be a supercar convoy arriving during the show “This year’s show is going to be another huge of approximately 50 supercars, courtesy of success and we can’t wait to hit our target of Supercar Driver. raising £15,000 for When You Wish Upon A Star.”

As well as the chance to sit and take a ride in the luxury cars, there will be lots of other Tickets for the show are now available online at activities on offer, such as live entertainment, http www.luxurymotorshow.com. Limited retails and exhibitor stalls and child-friendly activities such as racing simulators and bouncy VIP, exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities castles. There is even the chance to sit in a real are still available.

F1 car.

“The Luxury Motor Show is a celebration of all things automotive. There is nothing similar happening in the East Midlands or West Midlands at the moment, so we know what we are offering is truly unique.

NICHE 139

XF R-SPORT BLACK AVAILABLE FROM £38,350.

The Jaguar XF R-Sport Black demands attention, asserting itself with powerful sports styling and 20" Dark Draco or Black Kalimnos alloy wheels. Inside and out the XF R-Sport Black is a statement of intent. A superb Jaguar driving experience with outstanding performance figures.

With £8,770 of extra enhancements for just £2,100 more than the standard XF R-Sport.

Now is the perfect time to upgrade to the XF R-Sport Black.

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HOW ALIVE ARE YOU? Official fuel consumption for the Jaguar XF Saloon range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 16.7-48.7 (16.9-5.8); Extra Urban 32.8-64.2 (8.6-4.4); Combined 24.4-57.7 (11.6-4.9). CO2 Emissions 270-129 g/km. Official EU Test Figures. For comparison purposes only.

Real world figures may differ.

On the road price is the Manufacturer’s Recommended Retail Price plus Car Tax, First Registration Fee and Delivery Pack. Model pictured is an XF R-Sport Black 200PS with Stratus Grey metallic paint and 20" Black Kalimnos alloy wheels, on the road price £38,350.

30

Luxury Car Consultants

Niche Magazine are proud to present to you, Hamilton Grays of Loughborough. Specialising in Ferrari, Maserati and Porsche, they are luxury car consultants based in Loughborough, Leicestershire, with a passion and an eye for excellence, both in their products and their standard of service.

With a constantly changing and growing variety of luxury vehicles from marques including Aston Martin, Range Rover, Lamborghini and Audi, their showrooms are a treasure trove for car lovers around the world.

This fantastic dealership was born as a result of the aspirations of CEO Andrew Hamilton Gray, who set the company up in 2008 in the height of the economic recession with only a credit card and a dream. Despite the difficulties of the time, the company grew and grew and now is privileged to have many clients from all over the world, and displays an ever-growing range of luxury vehicles.

With a dedicated team of experienced and passionate employee’s, Hamilton Grays’ standard of excellent service is second to none.

They strongly believe in the individuality of each customer and client, and as such, tailor their approach to their needs and desires to ensure the very best experience.

service, and has had an avid interest in cars from a young age. Thrilled by the prospects of expanding and gaining new custom, she strives to grow with the business.

seen exponential growth as a result. We are passionate about maintaining this quality of service, and hope to only improve this as time goes, on”, he added.

“We are starting to really expand and grow,” said Natasha. “We have a lot to offer; all our sales executives are experts in their field, have incredible amounts of knowledge, and they really enjoy sharing it with our customers.

We’re a small business, but we have doubled in size over the last financial year, and plan to soon have bigger show rooms and lots of exciting plans for the next year”.

As a result of its increasing success, Hamilton Grays are supporters of many different charities, including Friends of Chernobyl’s Children, which aims to provide relief and support for children that suffered as a result of the nuclear explosion in Chernobyl in 1986. They also support the Bobby Dhanjal Foundation in Leicester, which aims to provide support for impoverished children in Leicestershire.

Hamilton Grays have only recently taken on two new apprentice detailers, in support of National Apprenticeship week, which ran from the 9th to the 13th March. The attention to detail is evident in everything they do, and they are very proud of it.

Hamilton Grays are also proud to be sponsoring many fantastic events this year such as the upcoming Luxury Motor Show in Nottingham, and the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation’s annual charity car show. They will also be attending the famous Goodwood Revival, which is a fantastic day out for classic car lovers and enthusiasts.

Robin Hamilton Gray, Director and brother of CEO Andrew, demonstrates how this passion and love of luxury cars runs in the family.

Robin said, “We pride ourselves in setting a new standard in customer service for the industry.

We look after all of our customers, and strive to ensure excellence. Integrity is upmost in our business.

www.hamiltongrays.com Upcoming events: Luxury Motor Show www.luxurymotorshow.com Shuttlewood Clarke www.shuttlewood-clarke.org

“By supporting the interests of our customers, Goodwood Revival Personal Assistant to the CEO, Natasha Tavani we’ve built a tremendous reputation in a www.grrc.goodwood.com is dedicated to ensuring excellent customer relatively short amount of time, and have

NICHE 141

AYGO X-PRESSION year’s 4.9% APR 1FREE

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MORE STRIKING, MORE ALLURING, MORE AffORdAbLE. Farmer & Carlisle Leicester 129 Welford Road Leicester LE2 6BE Tel: 0116 285 2851

Farmer & Carlisle Loughborough Belton Road Loughborough LE11 1ND Tel: 01509 215 731

www.farmercarlisle.toyota.co.uk farmercarlisle

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Models shown are MY15 Yaris Icon 3 door 1.0 VVT-i 5-speed Manual at £12,745.00 excluding metallic paint at £495; and New AYGO x-pression 3 door 1.0 VVT-i 5-speed Manual at £10,995.00 excluding metallic paint at £495. Prices correct at time of going to press. *4.9% APR Representative on new AYGO retail orders when ordered between 16th December 2014 and 31st March 2015 and registered and financed through Toyota Financial Services by 30th June 2015 on a 42 month AccessToyota (PCP) plan with a 0-35% deposit. ^ 1 year’s free comprehensive insurance offer is subject to purchase being made via Toyota Financial Services on a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) only and is available on MY15 New AYGO models (excluding x) when ordered and financed between 16th December 2014 to 31st March 2015. Vehicles must be registered by 30th June 2015. All drivers must be aged 21 years and over. Offer is limited to the insured plus up to four additional drivers. The insured and all drivers must have held a full UK driving licence for a minimum of 2 years and had no more than 1 fault claim in the last 3 years. Offer only available to customers with no more than 1 minor motoring conviction in the last 3 years. Standard Toyota Motor Insurance Terms & Conditions apply. **0% APR Representative and £505 finance deposit allowance available on new retail orders of MY15 Yaris Icon 3 door 1.0 VVT-i 5-speed Manual when ordered between 16th December 2014 and 31st March 2015 and registered and financed through Toyota Financial Services by 30th June 2015 on a 42 month AccessToyota (PCP) plan with 0-32% deposit. ^^ Payment shown is based on a 42 month AccessToyota contract with £179.00 customer deposit, £505 Finance Deposit Allowance and Guaranteed Future Value/Optional Final Payment. Toyota Financial Services (UK) PLC; registered office Great Burgh, Burgh Heath, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5UZ. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Indemnities may be required. Finance subject to status to over 18s. Other finance offers are available but cannot be used in conjunction with this offer. Excess miles over 30,000 charged at 8p per mile. Affordable finance through AccessToyota. 5 year /100,000 mile manufacturer warranty subject to terms and conditions.

Official Fuel Consumption Figures in mpg (l/100km): MY15 Yaris Icon 3 door 1.0 VVT-i 5-speed Manual. Urban 54.3 (5.2), Extra Urban 74.3 (3.8), Combined 65.7 (4.3).

CO2 Emissions 99g/ km. New AYGO x-pression 3 door 1.0 VVT-i 5-speed Manual. Urban 56.5(5.0), Extra Urban 78.5 (3.6), Combined 68.9 (4.1). CO2 Emissions 95g/km.

The mpg & CO2 figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results. These are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience.

Car owners across the country will empathise with the inconvenience of both expected, and unexpected, car maintenance and repairs. Reliant upon our vehicles and not always lucky enough to be located close to a reliable, local garage; the time and energy expended in organising to get your vehicle repaired is high maintenance in itself !

A garage that comes to you; simple and convenient to keep you motoring

The Mobile Garage People are the answer to the prayers of motorists throughout the East Midlands offering convenience and expertise on your doorstep (literally!).

Founded by Michael and Dean, both successful motor mechanics in their own right, The Mobile Garage People was an amalgamation of two old friends, a great vision and lots of talent. Over the last few years, they have gone from strength to strength with tons of satisfied customers and have achieved everything they set out to and more.

“The Mobile Garage People provides excellent customer service, a wealth of knowledge and a high quality, convenient garage experience.”

The Mobile Garage People have established themselves as a trusted, time saving, hassle free alternative to the norm; offering servicing, breakdown repairs, remapping and more for cars and vans of any make and model. One of their experienced mechanics will come out to you, at work, home or even shopping and undertake all your car maintenance whilst you carry on with your day; perfect.

For all your motoring needs without the inconvenience of changing your plans or routine, contact The Mobile Garage People on 0800 859 5306.

Vehicle repairs no longer need to be of any trouble to you since you have come across our family run business with over 40 years of experience.

Leicester’s leading minor car body repair specialists

At Paint Wagon we are able to offer an efficient, reliable and responsive service. Our friendly technicians provide an extensive range of facilities from scratches and minor accident repairs to valeting, vinyl wrapping and many more. Our repairs protect your vehicle against rusting and help to maintain your cars value.

Whatever the weather, we at Paint Wagon can pick up your car with our fully insured collection and delivery service from your preferred location to take to our workshop and run a fast and superior service.

We are so confident of the standard of our body repairs that every restoration carries a three year guarantee and we use leading brands that include Meyer Paints and 3M polishing products.

Our enthusiastic team and positive attitude means that we enjoy what we do and we are constantly exceeding our customers’ expectations as we provide a high level of care in good time for you to get back on the road.

You can trust Paint Wagon to carry out repairs and other services in the quickest possible time, saving you money and hassle. www.paintwagon.uk

07967752623

The concept of the GT86 is pure driving pleasure. A low centre of gravity, optimised weight distribution and responsive 2.0 litre engine are exactly what’s needed to deliver pure excitement.

Sculpted seats, a short gear shift and sports inspired dashboard make the sensation even more exhilarating.

Toyota GT 86

GT86 looks every bit as exciting as it performs. The bold, aerodynamic styling is enhanced by a unique Toyota 'T' design pattern on the front grille. Further highlights of its powerful appearance include a rear spoiler, shark-fin antenna and chrome twin rear exhausts. Inside the cockpit, every detail of the GT86 has been crafted to deliver pure excitement. Entirely driver-focused, every control is within easy reach and the dashboard layout provides at-a-glance visibility and readability.

The GT86 is designed to deliver pure driving fun. The power train has been set as low and the engine as far back as possible to lower the centre of gravity whilst optimising weight distribution for great handling dynamics and a more exhilarating driving experience. With its lightweight body and a front mounted 200 DIN hp 2.0 litre boxer engine combined with Toyota D-4S (direct-injection 4-stroke engine) technology, the GT86 delivers ample power and torque. The result is a hugely engaging drive.

The spirit of the Toyota's sports heritage, represented by the legendary 2000 GT, is infused in a tribute to timeless design. The Toyota GT86. The next generation of Toyota legendary sport cars. Prices start from £22,495, from Farmer and Carlisle Toyota Leicestershire.

129 Welford Road, Leicester, LE2 6BE

0116 285 2851

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How to detail wheels

choose from. The difference between brands can be massive. Generally I prefer to use Autoglym but pick one that works for you and Washing your car might seem like a basic job.

A bucket, a sponge and some fairy, right? Well, use it often is my best advice. Leave this to if you want to keep your car looking great, then work on the surface dirt for around 3-5 mins per wheel then rinse off. If you have a good you’ll need to do a bit more than that. wheel cleaner this should remove the majority Essentially you’ll need the right products to of the dirt, brake dust and road grime. carefully remove the dirt from your car.

In this series of features we will be giving you some top tips to help you keep your car looking Use more regularly to stop buildup of brake dust and dirt as the wheels get so hot it can fantastic. 'bake' on and be very stubborn to remove. This The first part of any wash should always begin is when an acid cleaner is needed. with the wheels as they are one of the dirtiest parts of the car. Brake dust contains thousands of metal particles that need to be removed before you go anywhere near the paintwork.

This avoids inputting tiny scratches into the paint of your vehicle.

Step One. Use a pressure washer or hose and gun attachment to rinse off the wheels. Try and do this when the wheels are cool, not after a long, hard drive. This will remove a lot of the loose dirt and make the cleaning process that little bit easier.

Step Two. Cover the wheel and tyre in a ph balanced non-acidic cleaner, (One designed for cleaning wheels). Acidic cleaners are used for extreme cases, for regular maintenance these could cause surface damage if used repeatedly.

There are hundreds of non-acidic cleaners to

Work your way down the wheel keeping on the inside still. Once this is done, you can begin on the face/spokes on the outside of the wheel.

Step Five. Use the small brush to clean the tyre. Add a little more of the wheel cleaner to assist. Often the tyres are over looked, but it’s important not to miss them out as they too are dirty and therefore need cleaning.

Step Six. Again using the small brush clean inside the wheel nut holes. This is a particularly small tight area that is often forgotten.

Step Three. Fill a bucket with warm water and some car shampoo/wash & wax. Again there is a huge choice out there and we would suggest you find one you like and stick with it (whilst you wait for the cleaner to work, in the 3-5 mins.

Step Seven. Take the wash mitt and clean the face and spokes, run your hand round the back of each spoke to ensure you are removing as much dirt and brake dust as possible. This will endeavour to keep your wheels as close to perfect condition for as long as possible.

You will need the following bits of kit; A wash mitt, a dedicated one just for wheels A small brush for wheel nut holes and tyres A long brush to reach inside the wheel

Step Eight. Once you are confident every inch of the wheel has been cleaned, rinse again. Take the time to go round each individually.

Step Four. Starting at the top of the wheel take the long brush and clean inside of the wheel. Ensure you go beyond the spokes/face.

(Many people miss this part and it is a major cause of wheel corrosion and need for repair, which can be costly).

For more advice or to have the job done for you contact Miles Marr; A professional vehicle detailer operating FxDetailing. Trained, skilled, insured &proven to maintain a vehicle in its best condition for many years. www.fxdetailing.co.uk

B U M P E R R E PA I R , S M A R T R E PA I R & D E TA I L I N G

We are a family run business with over 40 years motor trade experience. We aim to provide you with an efficient reliable and friendly service for the repair of your vehicle. At Paint Wagon Leicester we offer services from a scratch or stone chip repair up to full re sprays. All this is covered by our 3 year paint finish warranty for your peace of mind.

U N I T 1 , S A F F R O N W A Y I N D E S T, L E I C E S T E R , L E 2 6 U P

W W W. PA I N T W A G O N . U K E M A I L - PA I N T W A G O N A U T O @ G M A I L . C O M PHONE 07967752623

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Let us take the stress away from having your car servicing by providing our mobile service direct to your home or work place.

Servicing - Clutch & Flywheel Replacement - Brakes - Diagnostics - Head Gasket Repair - Engine Replacement - Vehicle Electrics - MOT Repairs - Gearbox replacement - Suspension – Remapping

0800 859 5283

info@themobilegaragepeople.co.uk www.themobilegaragepeople.co.uk NICHE 79

TRAVEL IN STYLE

Cellini

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Bric's, Bojola 22 inch

A beautiful break by the sea Eastham Hall is a well established, family run park set in rural Lancashire between the Victorian town of Lytham and the pretty village of Wrea Green. Founded over 50 years ago, this delightful park is still owned and managed by the Kirkham family who throughout the years have maintained a peaceful getaway for holidaymakers. With fishing, riding and golfing close by and the centre of ‘Leafy Lytham’ just a mile and a half away you can explore the array of shops, cafes and bars the town has to offer followed by a visit to one of the local beaches.

carry on holdall, £375 Made in embossed synthetic material that is both durable and easy to clean. Featuring a strap on the back allowing for the holdall to be secured to the carry-on trolley handle - a detachable shoulder strap is also included. The bottom is reinforced to guarantee maximum stability for garments and it is equipped with feet studs. A convenient transparent pouch is also included where you can store all your liquids for airport security controls.

The park has 330 pitches including overnight touring pitches, seasonal touring pitches and static holiday home pitches. There is an onsite shop which is open 7 days a week, newly refurbished washrooms, laundry facilities, a children’s play area and playing fields and dedicated dog walks.

Bric's, Bellagio 21 inch carry on trolley, £399

“Great place to stay, lovely area, staff are very nice and helpful. The site in general is very clean and tidy; toilets are checked regularly and spotless! Site sells locally produced products. The site is ideally situated for the Lytham which is a lovely town and the coast.” Visitor review, Trip Advisor

Elegant Tuscan leather finishes with contrasting stitching and golden studs, paired with the high-tech shell made from Makrolon® polycarbonate, the innovative material that guarantees maximum resistance to shocks and scratches, as

“The pitch we were on was brilliant as we asked to be away from other dogs and were put on the back field which we had to ourselves. It was so nice. The toilet block was close by and seemed to be very new which was lovely.” Visitor review, Trip Advisor Eastham Hall’s secluded level grounds and shelter belts of mixed deciduous trees and hedges have become a sanctuary for some of the UK’s most loved native species of wildlife including owls, hares, woodpeckers and even skylarks in the summertime.

well as being extremely lightweight.

Features include a leather address tag, water repellent rubber zips, integrated TSA lock and double Hinomoto swivelling wheels that allow for easy 360° rotation in all directions.

www.cellinileicester.co.uk

With a commitment to supporting local suppliers wherever possible and championing recycling for the park and its customers, they have achieved a park which complements customers and the local habitat perfectly and provides an enjoyable stay for both.

Five years winner of a Gold David Bellamy Award, this park is a haven for nature lovers and anyone looking for somewhere to simply put their feet up and enjoy their surroundings away from the city.

Booking your 2015 retreat is simple, just visit their site www.easthamhall.co.uk or call them on 01253 737907 and get ready to rejuvenate!

Not Just Any Tent We supply pre-erected luxury bell tents fully equipped with everything you need for your Glamping Holiday in West Wales.

www.notjustanytent.co.uk info@notjustanytent.co.uk

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Eastham Hall Caravan Park Lytham St. Annes

S A LTCOTES ROAD LYTH A M ST A N NES, L A NCA SH I R E F Y 8 4L S

Touring Caravans | Seasonal Tourers | Holiday Homes

www.easthamhall.co.uk

01253 737 907