More than a garden centre

by BV - the monthly digital magazine from the heart of Dorset

Gardening for a new climate

The Shaftesbury in Bloom planters are just one demonstrartion of the special community that surrounds Thorngrove, says Kelsi-Dean Buck

Summer is well under way and we couldn’t be more in love with the beautiful array of plants making their presence known here at Thorngrove right now. We’ve had such a good ‘vibe’ (as the young folks say) in the air this past month – and it’s not just the new season with new flowers. It’s the community spirit felt, the result of the amazing work of our Employ My Ability students, who put their skills and confidence to work in producing this year’s planters for Shaftesbury in Bloom. It’s a project we’ve been involved with for many years, but this year the students were more involved than ever and some of the feedback we had really was so kind, and humbling. Our students have loved reading the comments on social media, and they spent the last Wednesday of June in Shaftesbury, meeting the judges who were visiting the town for the day. We’ve continuously put forward that our ethos is one of being ‘more than just a garden centre’, and those who are a part of Employ My Ability will know how essential the students and day service users are to our core principle. They help us develop our business and the services we provide to the community, both now, and in the future. And it’s all with the goal of supporting our young people to become independent young adults. And of course, all of this feeds back into the sustainability of our town, and surrounding areas. Projects like Shaftesbury in Bloom are just one of the many ways we see this vision realised.

Back in the cafe

As for what else is happening here at Thorngrove – the arrival of summer saw new additions to the menu in The Secret Garden Café, plus an improvement to our outdoor dining patio, which means if you’re looking for that perfect breakfast or lunch stop, then look no further!

With a broad menu and the comfort of indoor climate-controlled seating if you’d prefer, the café is becoming one of the county’s not-very-hidden gems. We’ve welcomed lots of new faces in the last couple of months and we thank you for all the kind words to Ben and his café team. The job they do in making it a unique place to eat, and meet friends, really is something to be celebrated. And it’s dogfriendly too!

Planning ahead

We’re now putting in the dates for some summer events for families, and are looking to offer a range of new workshops and demos which we hope will continue to make Thorngrove Garden Centre a destination for you, as we provide more than just your garden essentials. Keep your eyes on our website and social media for regular updates – we’ll see you soon!

Better than Bran Flakes – Wessex Internet is UK fibre provider of the year

Local broadband provider Wessex Internet wins two national awards for connecting forgotten rural communities with lightning-fast internet

Local firm, Blandford-based Wessex Internet has been named the UK’s ‘Fibre Provider of the Year’ in recognition of its exceptional achievements in the broadband industry. The company won two prestigious national awards at the recent UK Fibre Awards ceremony – including the coveted title of ‘UK Fibre Provider of the Year,’ surpassing competitors from across the country. Additionally, the company was honoured with the ‘Best Rural Provider’ award for the second consecutive year, highlighting its dedication to connecting rural communities across Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, and Wiltshire.

Wessex Internet stood out among other providers for its customer-centric approach, its industryleading customer satisfaction scores, and a strong commitment to network upgrades. The company is a national trailblazer in delivering full fibre connectivity to rural areas.

The judging panel, consisting of seven industry experts, recognised Wessex Internet’s impressive accomplishments. The company’s innovative network build approach and collaborative efforts with the community were acknowledged, particularly where Wessex Internet successfully brought full fibre to vastly underserved areas that have been neglected by traditional providers.

Last year, the BV reported that a £6 million contract is bringing the government’s new Project Gigabit to 7,000 rural properties across the district over the next three years. Forget super-fast broadband – Project Gigabit brings the fastest and most reliable internet connections to hard-to-reach rural areas, enabling families and businesses to take full advantage of technological advances in the coming decades. For North Dorset, the contract with Wessex Internet will result in vastly improved connectivity for businesses and individuals outside the market towns and larger villages. The first homes have already been connected, with an expected completion date for all by 2025.

Hector Gibson Fleming, Wessex Internet CEO says: ‘We’re thrilled to have won these awards. The hard work and dedication of so many people across our business is the reason we’ve managed to beat the majors in our industry from across the UK.’

The UK Fibre Awards recognises industry leaders in technical advancements, business strategies, and outstanding achievements. The judging panel consisted of experienced professionals from the telecommunications and ICT sectors.

Wessex Internet’s accolades at the UK Fibre Awards solidify its position as a pioneering broadband provider, committed to bridging the digital divide and connecting rural communities to reliable, high-speed internet services. With a customerfocused approach and continuous investment in network infrastructure, Wessex Internet continues to lead the way in delivering full fibre connectivity throughout the Wessex region.

Rose Engineering declared Family Business of the Year!

Rose Engineering, a family-run business based in Dorset, has recently achieved success in the national Family Business of the Year awards. The company was founded in 1986 by Mervyn and Sue Rose, and it specialises in constructing steel-framed buildings, groundworks, and repairs. At the awards ceremony – held in London on June 21st – Rose Engineering was crowned the winner in the South, Southwest & Wales category and also secured a top 10 spot for the national public choice award.

Tom Rose Managing Director, says: ‘We are beyond thrilled to have won the award for our region. So much hard work has gone into growing our company in recent years, and to have this recognised at a national awards is just amazing. We’re an ambitious, growing company and I’m looking forward to seeing us grow further in the future. I want to thank the whole of our team for their continued commitment to helping us succeed.’

The Family Business of the Year awards, organised by Family Business United, recognise the hard work and contribution of family businesses. Paul Andrews, CEO of Family Business United, said: ‘Family businesses are the engine room of the UK economy. Six million family firms employ around 14 million people across the country – they make a massive impact each and every day.’

The team at Rose Engineering have worked hard to create a quality service and employee focused company. As a highly regarded company in the local area, the award is well deserved.

Anita Beaumont, Finance & Marketing, adds, ‘We’re so proud to have been recognised in a national award, we’ve all worked so hard to get here, growing and adapting to make us better at what we do. The judges praised our resilience over the last couple of years, through COVID and Brexit, as well as our commitment to our staff, to quality and our future growth plans.’

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