We love it when businesses send us their good news and here’s our latest good news round-up, kindly sponsored by PALADIN. Awards, expansion, new contracts or new appointments, if you’ve got some good news you want to share please email the editor, Martin Shaw, on martin@huddersfieldhub.co.uk.
A law firm set up just two years ago to help injured road users affected by the whiplash reforms has won a prestigious industry award.
First4InjuryClaims was commended for “pushing boundaries” as it was selected from an eight-strong shortlist to be crowned ‘Claimant Team of the Year’ at this year’s Personal Injury Awards.
The firm which launched in 2021 solely to support victims of road traffic accidents (RTA), has to date secured over £4 million in compensation for more than 1,800 people. Settlement times are also typically around 100 days faster than the market average faced by claimants using the government’s Official Injury Claim (OIC) portal.
Andrew Wild, head of legal practice at the Huddersfield firm, and his team, joined colleagues from across the sector for the hotly anticipated annual awards ceremony at Manchester’s Deansgate Hilton Hotel.
He said: “We are all absolutely thrilled to receive this recognition, particularly in such a relatively short space of time and when we were up against such a strong field of competitors.
“First and foremost, the success we have seen is testament to our team whom I am proud to work with on a daily basis, but it also shows the clear need for the services we offer, both from consumers and increasingly from other law firms who are finding it is no longer viable to handle the claims themselves.”
First4InjuryClaims was created to deal with the RTA enquiries that continued to come through the First4Lawyers group, despite it ceasing marketing activity in that area following the whiplash reforms.
Since its launch, demand has driven significant expansion including hiring 10 local graduates and apprentices, demonstrating the firm’s commitment to investing in homegrown talent.
First4Lawyers’ managing director Qamar Anwar said: “We didn’t want to turn consumers away at the very point they needed our help and, although the OIC portal has been live for two years now, that still holds true, with the vast majority of injured people still instructing a lawyer.
“The number of law firms handling these types of claims has fallen drastically in the last two years due to the reduction in compensation awarded and subsequent impact on profit margins.
“We are fortunate in that, with none of the legacy issues others faced, we have been able to build a system from scratch that works with the OIC, and I am immensely proud of the team who work tirelessly to deliver such swift, seamless and positive outcomes for our clients.”
Huddersfield web design agency, Beanie Media, are rounding up a successful year and moving into 2024 with further growth ambitions after hiring new general manager, Amanda Gledhill.
Founded in 2018, by Melissa Cooper aged just 18, Beanie Media has increased profits year on year and is now a team of six including front end web developer Reece Trickett, full stack web developer James Esteban, operations manager Helen Lyttle, marketing assistant Elizabeth Smith and general manager Amanda Gledhill.
Amanda has a background in corporate sales and marketing roles and has a wealth of e-commerce experience, having launched and run an award-winning children’s wear business. She has joined Beanie Media from Spafield Properties where she was working as a marketing manager for the last five years. This is the third time that Melissa and Amanda have worked together in an agency environment.
Melissa said: “Things have changed a lot since I founded Beanie Media five years ago. As we’ve grown, so has our client base, which has shown a clear need for support at the top level of our business and therefore the need for a general manager position.
“I’m thrilled that Amanda has joined our team, and having worked in agencies with Amanda previously, I know how talented, reliable and trustworthy she is. With our eyes on a £500K turnover for 23-24, I can’t wait to see what we achieve with her on board.”
Amanda added: “It is an exciting time to be joining the Beanie Media team and I am looking forward to working with Melissa again. My role will focus on looking after existing client relationships and supporting Melissa on her ambitious growth plans in 2024.”
Beanie Media offers content creation and management for businesses’ social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn, alongside website design and development. Some of their clients include Colliers International, JADE Windows, France and Associates, Corton Wood Shopping Park and Mumby’s Live-In-Care.
Luxury wedding boutique Dotty Bridal has been named Bridal Retailer Of The Year for the Yorkshire & North East Region at the Wedding Industry Awards.
Following their regional success, they will now go through to the National Wedding Industry Award finals which will be held in London early next year.
Shannon Martin, founder and owner of Dotty Bridal, said: “It is such an honour to win this award. We couldn’t do it without our team of Dotty girls who work tirelessly every day, and of course, our incredible brides for voting for us.
“Here at Dotty Bridal, we really do love helping brides find their perfect dress and making it a wonderful, memorable experience.”
The Wedding Industry Awards is a national event that recognises wedding suppliers and venues in the UK both regionally and nationally, voted by clients and expertly judged.
The luxury boutique has gone from strength to strength over the last few years including expanding their existing space and opening a second boutique, Off The Peg Bridal. Both boutiques are located within Holmfirth and have unique offerings for a wide range of budgets.
Kirklees College has been announced as one of the finalists in the annual Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards in the NOCN Group Award for Mental Health and Wellbeing.
The award submission outlined the college’s current initiative of implementing trauma informed, restorative approaches in student support to aid students’ mental health and wellbeing.
The purpose of embedding this approach is to ensure inclusion is maximised and to allow all students the best opportunities to succeed, despite barriers to learning that may arise due to mental health and wellbeing concerns.
The college’s work in this area clearly impressed the Beacon Awards judges and the college is delighted to be recognised for the way this key strategic initiative is helping its students.
Association of Colleges’ Beacon Awards celebrate the best and most innovative practice among UK colleges each year.
Palvinder Singh, principal and chief executive of Kirklees College, said: “We are so delighted that the college has been nominated for this very important work in driving one of key strategic priorities of becoming an anti-racist, trauma informed and restorative college.”
The AoC Beacon Award Winners will be announced in Spring 2024.
Huddersfield-based global supply chain and logistics consultancy SCALA has launched a complimentary good practice guide, which provides industry insights to help businesses navigate the complex supply chain implications of undertaking mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
Driving growth and transformation remains a top priority despite market uncertainty and such deals are not without risks and the supply chain and logistical implications are significant.
Drawing on SCALA’s 22 years of supply chain and logistics expertise, Mergers & acquisitions: Securing strategies for supply chain success compiles insights from SCALA’s experts and trusted partners.
It explores factors that companies should consider before they embark on a merger or acquisition journey; and after the deal is done to ensure a smooth and successful transition.
Phil Reuben, executive director at SCALA, said: “When it comes to M&A, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. Every supply chain comes with its own challenges and opportunities unique to its sector and organisation, meaning that every deal and process can look different.
“It’s important to dedicate time to conducting careful analysis, creating a bespoke supply chain and logistics strategy, and ensuring it is implemented successfully, with the aim of creating the highest return v cost, risk and business change.
“Our good practice guide is designed to support businesses ahead of their journey and provide key considerations to take into account along the way, offering readers expert advice, helpful prompts and questions to ask to help secure supply chain success.”
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