Welcome to the High Sheriff’s Enterprise Awards 2024/25.  I am delighted that you have landed here.  The Enterprise awards are focused on you, your team and your organisation.  We want to celebrate your hard work, flair, creativity, and innovation and the many other aspects that enable your organisation to be successful. The Awards are a wonderful way to celebrate your achievements and are now an important date in Cheshire’s annual calendar, so we hope to see you there.

The date for our presentation evening will be in  March 2025, the venue being the prestigious Churchill House, home of University of Chester’s Business School.

The partnership between University of Chester and The High Sheriff of Cheshire enables  business and academia to work together to ensure we have the skills, people and innovative climate we need in Cheshire to achieve our vision to be the most sustainable, healthy, inclusive and growing economy. And we want to celebrate you and your organisation, the people of Cheshire, that bring that vision to life.

As a business leader and entrepreneur focused on leadership and strategic engagement who has coached, facilitated and chaired boards, senior management teams and leaders across the globe over the last 30 years working across many industry sectors, I know that you will have had to make difficult decisions, worked hard and been very determined.  I also recognise that award applications processes can be time consuming, so we have made a couple of small changes.  We have consolidated the awards and linked them to the King’s Enterprise Awards’ categories, so that you can build on the work and time you put into these awards if you decide to apply for a King’s Enterprise Award.

So, whether you are a pan-global business or charity, an entrepreneurial startup or anywhere in between, share your story with the experienced judges of these awards.  As High Sheriff I want to celebrate your achievements and profile the success that you are achieving that embodies all that is progressive in Cheshire and the UK.

This year includes some categories that profile more overtly than previously issues around environmental sustainability  and also social mobility, both of which reflect early 21st century imperatives.  The range of award categories are designed in part to include at least one within which any business or charity can participate.  I do hope that you wish to do so.

I would also like to thank our sponsors: Grosvenor, Barlow, Mornflake, EA Technologies, and Warrington Borough Council. Thank you for enabling the awards and for sharing your expertise and knowledge.

To enter visit: https://www.chester.ac.uk/about/high-sheriffs-awards-for-enterprise/

Clare Hayward MBE DL
High Sheriff of Cheshire 2024/25

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Adapting to the changing seasons is tough at the best of times. Dark nights and falling temperatures can make us feel lethargic, and we may feel extra stress in our already busy lives.

Westfield Health have created a series of resources to help our members support their people for Stress Awareness Week and International Men’s Day. You can access these free resources here:

Winter wellbeing resources (gated)

Cheshire and Warrington’s local authorities and business leaders have today welcomed a government green light for the HyNet green project.

The government today confirmed Cheshire-based HyNet will share £22bn of funding with a similar project in the North East of England – Net Zero Teesside.

The multi-billion HyNet hydrogen production hub will be built at the Stanlow oil refinery in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

The government in today’s announcement confirmed £21.7 billion of funding will be made available, over 25 years, to make the UK “an early leader in two growing global sectors, CCUS and hydrogen”. Confirming the investment today the government said the two projects will sustain important British industry, and help remove over 8.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year – the equivalent of taking around 4 million cars off the road. The government said the projects will see “billions of private investment into communities” of the two sites. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer; Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband are due to formally announce the programme at Encirc, the glass plant at Ince, Cheshire later today.

The funding confirmation has been enthusiastically welcomed by the region’s local authorities and business representatives who said the HyNet investment will enhance the region’s collective efforts to make Cheshire and Warrington the healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive and growing economy in the UK.

The investment was also heralded as an important part of a North West Net Zero Industrial Cluster plan, which centres around a £30bn pipeline of clean energy projects to unlock billions in investment and remove over 40 million tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere every year, as well as creating and safeguarding thousands of jobs. Chair of Cheshire and Warrington’s sub regional leaders board Cllr Louise Gittins said: “I am delighted to welcome the Government’s announcement. This is excellent news for Cheshire and Warrington bringing £5½ billion of investment and 6000 new jobs to the area. The three local authorities are committed to making Cheshire and Warrington the healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive and growing economy in the UK and this investment is a further substantial step towards that vision. It is also the key first part in our even more ambitious £30 billion plan that will make the North West and North Wales the home of the UK and the world’s first net zero carbon industrial cluster by 2040.”

And Steve Purdham, chair of the Business Advisory Board which provides strategic advice to the region’s three councils said: “HyNet is a game-changer for Cheshire and Warrington, the North West and North Wales, marking a new era of economic opportunity, technological leadership, and environmental progress. This monumental investment will inject billions into our region, create thousands of jobs, and firmly place us at the forefront of the global green industrial revolution. It’s a powerful signal that Cheshire and Warrington are open for business, innovation, and sustainable growth.  With the removal of millions of tonnes of carbon this will also pave the way to a prosperous, low-carbon future for generations to come.”

HyNet say the project will reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by industry by up to 10 million tonnes every year – the equivalent to removing four million cars from the road.

And officials said the investment will allow it to position Britain “as a world leader in the global net zero economy” as well as creating 6,000 construction jobs and long-term operational roles.

David Parkin, Chair of the HyNet Alliance said the investment “will create new roles and safeguard existing jobs, attracting investment and catalysing growth.”

Picture & story courtesy of https://businessmondays.co.uk/

National Fitness Day organisers ukactive brings back theme; ‘Your Health is For Life’ for a second year running

In support of National Fitness Day Everybody Health & Leisure will throw open their doors across Cheshire on Saturday 21^st September to offer FREE activities for everyone to try as part of National Fitness Day 2024 – which is set to be the UK’s most active day of the year.

The campaign organisers, ukactive, are encouraging fitness, sport and leisure providers across the UK to make the campaign movement a great success, by breaking down the barriers and getting more people more active.

The campaign now represents the UK’s most active day of the year and is powered by thousands of gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres, sports clubs and other providers, hosting a huge range of free activities including Everybody who are offering a body composition scan which includes a FREE blood pressure check as part of their Feel 5 Years Younger campaign.

Everybody will be hosting activities including: (see webpage below for class timetable)

• Crewe Lifestyle Centre – Body Combat 100, Yoga, Pilates
• Congleton Leisure Centre – Yoga Workshop
• Macclesfield Leisure Centre – Body Combat 100, Body Pump, Body Balance, Yoga, TRAIN
• Poynton Leisure Centre – Yoga
• Wilmslow Leisure Centre – Body Combat 100, Family Yoga, Body Pump, TRAIN, Pilates, Group Cycling, Yoga
• All Leisure Centres – Activation Sessions

Last year, 10.2 million people in the UK were directly motivated to participate in some form of activity on National Fitness Day, whether for the first time or for the hundredth time.

Dominic Crisp, Head of Operations at Everybody Health & Leisure, shares:

” We are so excited to be back celebrating National Fitness Day in our centres this year. We can’t wait to welcome everyone, both members and non-members to come along and try out our free sessions to show people what our facilities have to offer. Our staff are ready to give you all the best health and fitness experience possible!”

Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive said:

“It’s clear that our nation’s gyms, pools, leisure centres, fitness studios and sports clubs have never been so in demand, showing how much people value physical activity for their physical and mental health. It’s great to announce the date for National Fitness Day and some fantastic partners in the shape of Endurance Zone and Movember, to help us make this year our biggest yet.”

Huw Edwards continued:

“National Fitness Day really is a fun day with a serious message and this year, with the potential for a General Election and an exciting summer of sport, we have a golden chance to highlight the value of physical activity at all ages, and the role of our members in building a happier and healthier nation.”

To try Everybody Health and Leisure’s free activities on National Fitness Day 2024 visit www.everybody.org.uk/national-fitness-day-2024/

Share your fitness inspiration on social media using the hashtag #FitnessDay and tagging @FitnessDayUK.

With summer holidays now behind us and (dare I say it) Christmas on the horizon, it’s time to catch up on all the news and views from our members from across North Cheshire.  We all know there is far too much bad news about, so find yourself a quiet corner, settle down with your favourite tipple and be amazed at all the great stories generated by our rich, diverse and entrepreneurial business community.

And remember, if your business isn’t featured this month, every member gets the opportunity to supply 250 words of editorial and a picture FREE OF CHARGE!  Just send us your ‘stuff’ to reception@northcheshirechamber.co.uk

To download the magazine click here