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Sue Bowden

Keeping the dream alive!

Keeping the dream alive!

The North East Cheshire Business Awards Winners Lunch kept the celebration going when Gold award winners and sponsors were invited by North Cheshire Chamber to re-live that fabulous night back in November. The celebratory lunch  took place at Charles Roe House, home of Pinches Medical & Wellbeing and winners of the Start Up category, to share experiences of being a Gold winner and the benefits that winning has brought to their business, the impact it has had on their team and how it has “put them on the map”.
Sponsors Melissa Bowers from Harts Chartered Accountants and Justine Clowes from SAS Daniels LLP talked about their involvement and why it was so important to be involved with such a prestigious local business event and the benefits being involved with such an event brings.  Graeme Bristow, Site Leader at AstraZeneca and Local Enterprise partnership board member, said what a fascinating process it had been when judging AstraZeneca’s own award category and what fantastic companies there are in North Cheshire, and how much he looked forward to this year!
The 2019 awards will again be in November and will open for entry in August 2019 – to keep in touch with the latest awards news @necbawards.

 

 

Speed networking at The Button Warehouse

Speed networking at The Button Warehouse

As predicted, the pace was fast and furious at our speed networking event at The Button Warehouse in
Macclesfield when sixteen people raced against the clock to introduce their business in just two minutes !
This really popular format for networking never fails because everyone who attends gets the dedicated
attention of everyone else in the room – it’s hard work but fun, and there was always the drink and canapes
to look forward to!
Tucked away in an alleyway just off Chestergate, licensed cafe/bar The Button Warehouse is quickly
becoming known for its wide variety of offerings – from a cake and coffee, a quick bite at lunchtime, or
an after-work drink and nibbles, as well as its popular comedy nights, music gigs and soon pop-up
restaurant plus the walls are adorned with some stunning local photography by multi-talented owner
Simon Brown available to buy.
                                      

 

 

Embrace new digital technology with ADAPT

Embrace new digital technology with ADAPT

Two of Cheshire East’s most digitally advanced businesses are opening their doors to help smaller businesses learn from their expertise and to create awareness of the ADAPT programme set up by the Skills and Growth Company.
The ADAPT programme helps businesses embrace digital and automation techniques to boost productivity and two “best practice” learning visits are taking place in March at companies who have become world-class digital innovators – Siemens has developed ground-breaking product development and production techniques at their variable-speed drives factory in Congleton, whilst RedEye  in Crewe has pioneered the use of marketing automation software used by some of the UK’s biggest brands.
The project is being funded by Innovate UK, and each visit will be facilitated by an Innovation Expert who will ensure you take away practical learning that can be applied in your own business.
For more information and to join one of the sessions CLICK HERE.

 

Meet the Chamber at Evuna Knutsford

Meet the Chamber at Evuna Knutsford

Our latest Meet the Chamber was held at Evuna Restaurant in Knutsford,  and the atmosphere couldn’t have been more welcoming on a freezing January evening!

As one of Evuna’s premier Spanish tapas restaurants, the beautiful Tudor building on King’s Street Knutsford is their latest venue, along with the Northern Quarter and Deansgate Manchester,  and opening soon in Altrincham.  Host for the evening, Director Jane Dowler, gave a history of how Evuna was born just over fifteen years ago, and talked passionately about importing exclusive specially selected wines from small boutique vineyards in Spain, to hiring some of the best chefs in Madrid to develop their ever evolving food concept and offering traditional Spanish dishes with a modern twist.  Jane and her team provided the most delicious tapas along with the odd glass of wine and the hospitality was outstanding – to get your flavour of Evuna visit www.evuna.com

Our guest speaker for the evening was Annette McDonald, deputy MD at the Tatton Group, North Cheshire’s largest private landowner with an innovative approach to enhancing the local community.  Annette spoke of the Group’s exciting initiatives like Tatton Locations – providing locations for the film and TV industry with Hollyoaks, Peaky Binders to their name; Tatton Stays – short-stay accommodation for corporate. home-from-home lets;  their new residential homes project at Parkgate Knutsford;  Tatton Works offering creative workspace  – find out a lot more at www.tattongroup.com

 

Making Tax Digital … are you ready?

Making Tax Digital … are you ready?

Under the Making Tax Digital initiative, businesses with turnover exceeding the VAT registration threshold (£85,000 until 2022) will, with a small number of exceptions, be required to submit VAT returns for periods beginning on or after 1 April 2019 directly from software.  It will not be possible to type the return into HMRC’s VAT portal as most do at the moment.

This will mean businesses using manual records, spreadsheets or older accounting packages need to consider how they will submit VAT returns going forward.  It may mean moving to a modern cloud-based accountancy package and it is important to discuss with your accountant how your business will be ready for making tax digital.

Chamber Patrons, Harts, are running training sessions for Quickbooks – for training dates in February and March click HERE

 

 

 

 

Wine-tasting at Laithwaite’s Alderley Edge

Wine-tasting at Laithwaite’s Alderley Edge

Our latest evening of networking took place at Laithwaite’s Wine Merchants in Alderley Edge, and what better way to get into the festive spirit than wine-tasting?!

Held in their bespoke event space, our hosts for the evening were David Wagstaff, General Manager, and Thomas Ottley, Event Manager.  Following an introduction and background information on the company from David, guests were given the chance to taste four completely different wines, ranging from a crisp sparkling wine, to a full-bodied red.  Tom talked the group through each wine, and his impressive knowledge and infectious enthusiasm meant a relaxed and fun evening was enjoyed by all.

At the end guests had the chance to purchase wine from the vast selection in the shop, a great opportunity to stock up in time for Christmas.

For more information on Laithwaite’s and their service offering, you can call the team on 0161 507 2233 or visit the website at www.laithwaites.co.uk