Business

Andrew Diprose is the founder and editor of dorsetbiznews.co.uk, the No.1 business website in the county with more than 27,000 unique users

One of Dorset’s manufacturing success stories is to invest £5million in a new Material Science Centre as it continues to expand its operations. Superior Seals has already received outline planning permission for the centre which will be on its main site on the Ferndown Industrial Estate. If the final green light is given by planners, it’s hoped the new facility will be opened within the next 18 months or so. Ten new jobs are expected to be created. Tim Brown, managing director, said: “This is our next major development and we’re very excited.” The privately owned, familyrun company, which celebrates its 50th anniversary next year, manufactures high integrity o-rings and seals. They’re used in just about every type of product and application imaginable. Sectors range from building and construction, industrial, automotive and chemical processing to food, beverage and life sciences/ pharmaceutical. The only sector not served is the aerospace industry. “Seals may be a low cost and small part of a product but they are absolutely critical,” said Tim. From its origins in the family garage of Tim’s parents in London 49 years ago, Superior Seals has grown to an annual turnover of £40million. It now employs 192 people across five sites – four in Ferndown covering 100,000sq ft and one in Woolsbridge. Seventy per cent of its products are exported. It’s a far cry from 1976 when Tim, now 64, first joined the business. He said: “We had 18 employees and if we made £20,000 a month we thought it was good. “I still remember to this day arriving by train, standing on Bournemouth’s East Cliff and just going ‘wow’. “Dorset is an absolutely beautiful place to live and work and we are very fortunate.” Despite intensive competition from across the globe, Superior Seals has continued to go from success to success. Tim said: “We’ve always invested very heavily in productivity, equipment and automation. “We’ve also invested heavily in material science with our own team of chemists developing materials. “As a family-run company, we can take a longer-term view.” Tim’s son, David, 39, joined Superior Seals 14 years ago and is now on the Board as Operations Director. Another son, Alister, 34, works in logistics. In 2009, Superior recognised the need to address an aging workforce and increasing skills shortage in engineering and material science. It took a proactive decision to invest in a £1million in-house training academy and engineering workshop. The company-run Superior Academy – headed by Katie Bodman – was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Kent in 2012. It offers apprenticeships to students from as young as 16 through to graduates. The far-sighted decision has paid dividends, future-proofing the business and ensuring a constant pipeline of future leaders and highly skilled engineers. Careers fairs play a key role in bringing the work of Superior – and its apprenticeship programme – to the notice of young people. This week saw the first faceto-face event in more than 18 months with a presentation at Highcliffe School. “We’ve missed them and it’s good to have them back,” said Tim. In 2016 Tim received the MBE for services to apprenticeships and charity. An ambassador of Julia’s House children’s hospice he’s proud of Superior’s commitment to charitable causes. Last year it contributed £70,000 to good causes and, in normal times, staff take part in all types of fundraising activities. Tim said: “I’m immensely proud of our business and the people who work within it.

“We see ourselves continuing to grow our markets, both here in the UK and overseas. “I’m very confident about the future.”

Investment is seal of success

CONFIDENT: Tim Brown

Sarah and Shannon on awards shortlist

Peter Harding Wealth Management, with offices in Shaftesbury, Sherborne and Canford Cliffs, has two of its advisers shortlisted for this year’s highly-acclaimed Women in Financial Advice awards. Sarah Pike and Shannon White are among a select group of people to reach the 2021 finals run by Professional Adviser magazine. Sarah, who is a highly experienced and successful Chartered Financial Planner, is a finalist in the ‘Financial Adviser of the Year – South West Region’ category and Shannon, who is a young and dynamic adviser, is a finalist under the ‘Rising Star’ category. The finals will take place on October 7, in London. The purpose of the awards is not about whether a particular gender is more suited to a career or role in financial services – they are about celebrating and recognising the achievements of women in a sector where they continue to be under-represented. In highlighting the achievements of women already in financial advice or the wider financial services world, as well as recognising individuals of either gender who help to maximise the potential of women or are striving to bring about a more appropriate gender balance, the Women In Financial Advice Awards strives to inspire more women to work in this sector.

SELECT: Sarah and Shannon

Felicity aboard as Lewis-Manning patron

Felicity Irwin has joined Lewis-Manning Hospice Care. Felicity has an outstanding reputation and breadth of experience in both business and fundraising. She is a Deputy Lieutenant, a former chairman of Care South and is also a highly-esteemed fundraiser, having raised millions of pounds for a wide range of charitable causes over the years. Welcoming Felicity, CEO Clare Gallie said: “It is a great honour to have Felicity’s support and commitment, we are really looking forward to working with her over the coming months.” Felicity said: “I am delighted to be on board as Patron at Lewis-Manning. “I’ve had a long relationship with the hospice, dating back more than 20 years, when I was instrumental in the fundraising behind the original extension at the previous site. “As a former chairman of Care South, who are now partnering and working with Lewis Manning in many different aspects, I am delighted to continue this association as patron and to be wholly involved in the future of the hospice.”

JOINING UP: Felicity Irwin, right, with Clare Gallie at Lewis-Manning Hospice Care

Surveyors complete £5,000 cycle ride

During the last week of August, Jack Denning-James and George Whittaker, Rural Surveyors with Symonds & Sampson completed an epic 207-mile, three-day cycle ride visiting all 16 Symonds & Sampson offices across five counties raising funds for charities along the way. The duo came up with the idea during lockdown as a way of celebrating ‘liberation’ whilst at the same time raising funds to support the tremendous work carried out by Mind and Movember. They also chose to support Prostate Cancer UK for the invaluable care they give to men across the country, a cause particularly close to the hearts of George and his family. Incredibly with just the one puncture and one accidental off-road detour, Jack and George stayed on schedule, enjoying a warm welcome (and sustenance) from colleagues at each office. Their total trip took just over 16 hours, covering just over 207 miles and included 3,800 metres of climbing! Jack and George’s fundraising crept up as the miles clocked by, getting ever closer to their £5,000 target. You can still support them at justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/tourdewessex.

WARM WELCOME: Jack Denning-James and George Whittaker during their cycling fundraiser

Advertising Feature WILL YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT INCOME IN RETIREMENT?

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with dorsetbiznews.co.uk ‘I’m proof you can turn your life around’

by Andrew Diprose For nearly 30 years Alexa Warner’s life was blighted by ill-health. She can trace it back to the age of 14 and developing glandular fever. It progressed to chronic fatigue syndrome (ME) and then a range of other symptoms and illnesses. At the age of 20 she underwent major surgery. It didn’t go as planned and Alexa lost three stone in weight. More health problems, including a prolapsed disc, followed into her 20s and 30s. By the time she reached her 40s, Alexa found herself registered disabled, on crutches for six years and unable to work for a quarter of a century. In Alexa’s own words: “I spent decades stuck in the half-life of chronic pain, illness and its accompanying anxiety and fears. “It disrupted my schooling, stopped me from being able to work and affected my personal relationships.” Then, while studying stress management and psychology, she attended a NeuroLinguistic Programming (NLP) evening class. It was to prove a turning point. Alexa, who was later diagnosed with hypermobility spectrum disorder, said: “I found NLP totally removed my fears and anxiety. “By the next month my crutches were gone. “For years I had tried different complementary and mainstream therapies. I was fighting against what I had. “I haven’t found a cure but I no longer suffer. As it turns out I have a genetic condition. “As one doctor put it, I was ‘made wrong’. “But how I experienced these conditions was greatly affected by my fear, anxiety and frustration at the pain, symptoms and restriction it brought to mind and, therefore, my life. “When I learnt to let go of the fight and fear in my body, to let go of that fear and anxiety and the projected worst case scenario I was constantly imagining, then the impact of the bits that don’t work so well was greatly reduced.” With her health showing a marked improvement, Alexa, now 55, made up for lost years by throwing herself into study. She subsequently qualified in Joint Professional Life Coaching and Counselling and as a Hypnotherapy Practitioner, going on to launch her own life coaching and hypnotherapy business. More courses and qualifications followed including mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, youth mindfulness and laughter and sound yoga. And then, in April, Alexa opened the Healthful Mind Clinic in Wimborne. Apart from Alexa, the other members of the multidiscipline team are Debra Stocks, Lorien Holiday, Jill Attree, Michelle Irving, Helen Downs and Tanya Bunting. All are independently employed but have their own specialisms, offering a wide range of emotional health support services. They include breathwork, counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, coaching, hypnobirthing, hypnotherapy, mindfulness, nutrition and workplace wellbeing. Alexa said: “Our aim is to provide a service that supports anyone, whatever their circumstances or personal challenge, and to create a community hub of information and support.” This month the clinic was named Hypnotherapy Practice of the Year in the Southern Enterprise Awards, hosted by SME News. But not everyone can afford one-to-one therapy, which is why September 24 will see the launch of two communitybased services: Workplace Wellbeing Networking and an Anxiety, Pain and Illness support group. Both take place monthly at Allendale House on the fourth Friday of each month. All profits from the networking go to a nominated local charity for that month. The September networking event will support MyTime Young Carers. The focus is: ‘How to have a good day, whatever situations you are facing.’ Alexa said: “The support group is minimally priced but includes the advice, tips and techniques not just from my clinic team but for a chartered physiotherapist and pain management specialist. “In the coming months we want to grow our connections with charities and associations that serve those with chronic emotional and physical health issues. “This is an area of medicine lacking in resources, funding and, therefore, support.” Alexa has two sons and a grandson, and her own clients range in age from 14 to 80. She added: “This has become my passion and purpose in life. “I’m also proof that you can turn your life around. “I have got my life back, without any pills, potions or surgery, and have more energy, confidence and enjoyment of life than I ever believed possible.” Visit: healthfulmindclinic. co.uk.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of Citizens Advice in East Dorset and Purbeck will take place on Tuesday 26th October, 2-4pm, at Allendale House, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1AS. Due to a restriction on numbers, attendance is by invitation only. To register, please email sue.richards@edpcitizensadvice.org.uk or call 01929 408948, or visit www.edpcitizensadvice.org.uk

PASSION: Alexa Warner