Business

Town deli savouring taste of success in

Andrew Diprose is the founder and editor of dorsetbiznews.co.uk, the No.1 business website in the county with more than 25,000 unique users

A deli tasted success when it was pronounced overall winner at the inaugural Wimborne Business Awards. The East Street Deli was also named Indetpendent Business of the Year. Owners Simon and Claire Warren, both 42, only opened the independent delicatessen in June 2020. Simon said: “To win one award made our day, our week, our year, but to win overall business is just incredible. “Our thanks go to all the other businesses in the town, our customers but, above all, our family and our parents who have given us unwavering support. “Without them we wouldn’t have done this.” Claire, who married Simon in 2015, added: “We’re just blown away with the support we’ve received. “We are so fortunate to have such a loyal customer base.” The East Street Deli was among 15 businesses and services honoured at the awards, held at Wimborne’s Allendale House. They were organised by MW Events with the awards ceremony hosted by its managing director, Nigel Reeve. A total of 243 entries were received for the 15 categories. Wimborne mayor Kelly Webb, who presented the winners with their framed certificates, highlighted the town’s economic strength, describing it as ‘one big success story’. She added: “We’ve seen very little in the way of business failure and empty premises in the town. “That’s not to say that some businesses won’t have had difficult times. “I’m sure some of you would have had sleepless nights over the last couple of years. “But the strength and character of this town encourages positivity and generous community spirit.” Tammy Sleet, manager of Wimborne Business Improvement District (BID), said they couldn’t believe their good fortune after being approached by Nigel Reeve last year about staging the awards. The BID had talked about holding such an event for several years. Addressing more than 60 people at the awards, Tammy said: “Today is focused on you and on celebrating our local business owners and our wonderful town. “The business awards have really given a focus to good news stories about the town. “There is so much doom and gloom about the health of town centres at the moment. “While I know things are tough out there, and are probably going to get harder, the business awards give us a chance to pause and

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inaugural Wimborne Business Awards

SUCCESS: Clockwise from top left, Overall winners East Street Deli, the winners all together with mayor Kelly Webb, Special Innovation Award winners, Salamander Cookshop, Nigel Reeve of MW Events and Dorset Mind Award joint winners, Dacombes of Wimborne/ Café @ The Allendale

Pictures: DORSET BIZ NEWS

appreciate how vibrant and thriving Wimborne is. “They give us a chance to take a breath and celebrate just how far we’ve come and the challenges we’ve already navigated. “You are all winners really.” Paying tribute to organiser Nigel Reeve, and also Dorset Biz News as the awards’ media partner, Tammy added: “Seeing the positive media coverage of the awards, thanks to Nigel and his team, and the support of Dorset Biz News, has been so uplifting and shows the public that Wimborne is thriving and open for the business.”

Full results:

Retail Business of The Year, sponsored by MJP Solicitors: Black Pug Books Artisans and Local Produce, sponsored by Wessex Video: Kyleigh’s Papercuts Independent Business of The Year, sponsored by BKB Accountants: The East Street Deli New Business of The Year, sponsored by Dorset Biz News: Vetsmiths Excellence in Customer Service, sponsored by Ellis Jones Solicitors: Hyperion Hot Tubs Green/Eco Business, sponsored by Lightly Salted: better Family Business of The Year, sponsored by R Human Resources: Spill The Beans Café, Pub and Casual Dining, sponsored by NFU Mutual: The Wimborne Pig Best Place to Work, sponsored by Yellow Buses: Teachers Building Society Professional Services Provider, sponsored by Action Coach: Lynwood Vets Health, Beauty and Fitness Business, sponsored by BBPR: NRG Boxing and Fitness Best Use of Innovation, sponsored by Wimborne BID: Salamander Cookshop Outstanding Community Support, sponsored by MW Events/Marketing West: Wimborne Foodbank Dorset Mind Award, sponsored by Dorset Mind: Dacombes of Wimborne/Café @ The Allendale Overall Business of The Year: The East Street Deli.

Business

Wessex’s Ted is the app of their eye

Blandford-based internet service provider, Wessex Internet, has just launched a new customer app designed and created by Ted LucasRowe, from Pimperne, who recently completed his Masters in Computer Science at the University of Birmingham. With the customer at the heart of the mobile app’s creation, Wessex Internet customers are able to manage their accounts, check their bills, see how much data they have used, access help information and contact Wessex Internet’s customer support team directly in the app. Now available to all Wessex Internet customers to download through the Google Play or Apple App stores, the app went through thorough customer research prior to launch and Ted is constantly working to improve it, his current focus being adding a biometric login (this is considered ideal for people who constantly forget their passwords!). Ted started teaching himself computer science at home before studying for his Masters. During this one-year course, Ted was required to produce a final project, which he titled Development Of A CrossPlatform Mobile Application For Customer Support.’ This was just the first step in the creation of the new Wessex Internet app. Ted approached Wessex Internet’s CEO Hector Gibson Fleming about developing a specific Wessex Internet customer app for his project. Although Ted had created another app for his studies previously, this would be his first major commercial project. Given Wessex Internet’s size this was an excellent opportunity for Ted to gain insight to all areas of app development. The resulting app helped earn Ted a distinction in his Masters. From inception in July 2021, it took approximately eight months to fully develop the app before releasing it to an initial test group in February 2022. “We could have released the app a lot sooner than this however we wanted to ensure that it had a strong feature set so that our customers had the best possible experience,” Ted explained. “Building the Wessex Internet app has been an incredible opportunity for a graduate software developer. It has allowed me to enhance my skills across a wide range of development areas from building a user interface, to setting up servers. Wessex Internet has given me the support and freedom I need to fuel my career ambitions,” added Ted. Upon graduation in September 2021 Ted joined as a full time and permanent member of the Wessex Internet team and the company is keen to support him in his professional growth. Wessex Internet is growing fast with plans to rapidly expand its workforce in the next 12 months, including offering apprenticeships and trainee roles to help people start new careers in the telecommunications sector.

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