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 children’s toy, decor and clothing retailer is set for growth following an £80,000 investment.
Huddersfield-based Soren’s House specialises in sustainable Scandinavian-style wooden toys, furniture, decor and organic clothing for children aged up to 12.
The company was launched by Sally Jackson in 2016 and is named after Soren Lorenson, a character in the popular children’s book and television series Charlie and Lola, an old favourite of Sally’s daughter, Seren.
The £80,000 investment from Finance Yorkshire’s business loans fund will enable Soren’s House to expand its team and accelerate its marketing activity to grow visibility and market share.
Sally’s business partner, Max Jones, said: “Our ambition is to be a one-stop shop for parents who are conscious about the environment and sustainability.”
The ethos of Soren’s House was developed after a pause in the business when Sally’s son, Seth, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of six.
Max added: “Seth was treated for the best part of a year during which we had to put the business on hold.
“The experience of Seth being ill and his treatment gave us a different perspective and that’s why we are focused on natural materials and sustainability. We want parents to buy once and buy well and to be able to trust the products that they buy from us.”
Seth is now well and aged 12. His sister Seren is 13.
The company plans to expand its product range and develop its own brand products.
Bridge Law Solicitors has introduced a new Notary Public service which will be available at both the firm’s head office in Marple Bridge and their offices in Holmfirth.
The new Notary service will be operated by Bridge Law’s founder and director, Claire Stewart. Claire completed the qualification and took the Crown oath earlier this year to join a select number of highly specialist lawyers practising as Notaries Public in England and Wales.
This is one of the oldest branches of the legal profession in the UK. Notaries are appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury under an Act of Parliament from the reign of Henry VIII.
Commenting on the launch of the new notarial service, Claire said: “I am delighted to be able to offer a Notary service through Bridge Law, alongside my role as director and solicitor at the firm.
“As more and more clients were contacting the firm enquiring if we offered Notary services in recent years, it was something I was keen to be able to help clients with and I’m honoured to now be admitted to the Office of Notary Public.
“The growing number of people choosing to live, work, do business, marry or travel overseas, for example, with their grandchildren or partner’s children, will usually find foreign jurisdictions require documents and deeds to be witnessed, certified or authenticated by a Notary Public.”
Ray Chapman Motors, which has a dealership in Huddersfield, has beaten competition from around 13,500 UK automotive retailers to receive the Customer Experience Award (Over 100) at the 16th annual Auto Trader Retailer Awards.
The Customer Experience Award winners were determined by the UK’s largest automotive mystery shopping exercise; an in-depth analysis of customer engagement across a variety of digital touchpoints including email, phone and online messaging.
Now in its 16th year, the Auto Trader Retailer Awards celebrate the very best in automotive retailing.
Ray Chapman Motors managing director Duncan Chapman said: “Winning the Customer Experience Award is of great importance to us as we have spent many years developing a company culture that is centred around customer satisfaction.
“This is especially important today in the digital age, customers need to feel confident in our credibility which will hopefully result in loyalty to the brand and our company.”
Huddersfield-based Mamas & Papas, the leading high street nursery brand, has announced a series of new partnerships with major retailers in South East Asia as part of its ongoing international expansion.
The company has signed multi-store supply agreements with MAP Active, a part of PT Mitra Adiperkasa TBK Group, a leading lifestyle retailer with over 2,500 stores across major markets in South East Asia, and Central Department Store Group part of Central Retail Corporation in Thailand, a global leader in department stores and luxury retail with presence in 11 countries and 120 stores globally, both of which will launch with the brand’s Spring/Summer 2024 range.
The agreement sees Mamas & Papas continue their Shop in Shop concept global expansion, showcasing their full nursery offering in dedicated branded space.
It also confirmed it has recently opened another two locations with El Corte Ingles in Madrid and Malaga in Spain following a successful trial in Valencia. There are plans to further build on this partnership, as well as further stores in Armenia and the Philippines.
Earlier this year, the business – which designs, wholesales and retails travel systems, nursery furniture and children’s clothing ranges – signed agreements in Australia with a number of major independent retailers in the Sydney and Melbourne areas and plans to expand this significantly in 2024 after a very strong reaction to the brand.
The brand has a target of a minimum of 20 new Shop in Shops to be opened by March 2024 with a similar number to be opened by early 2025, as demand for the brand grows internationally.
As well as these expansion plans in the APAC regions the brand has also increased its presence in Germany, France, Spain and Italy through Amazon, building on its Amazon business in the UK.
Nathan Williams, CEO of Mamas & Papas, said: “Demand for premium British designed brands with heritage is strong, especially in the nursery category. The fact we’re signing agreements with the biggest retailers in our target markets is testament to the value we’re creating with our brand.”
A Brighouse nursery continues to be the gold standard in paediatric first aid after being re-accredited by Millie’s Mark, providing peace of mind to parents and demonstrating every team member is equipped to deal with emergencies.
HLC Nursery on Bradford Road was one of the first 25 childcare providers in the UK to receive the award when it was launched in 2015 and has achieved it ever since.
Millie’s Mark, a voluntary scheme delivered by the National Day Nurseries Association, was set up to check that those looking after babies and young children had the first aid skills to help save a child’s life, if they ever needed to, providing reassurance for parents and families.
Charlotte Roebuck, owner and managing director at HLC Nursery, said: “We know that when parents and families leave their children in our care, their number one priority is for us to keep them safe, protected and secure – and achieving Millie’s Mark is an illustration that achieving that is our number one priority too.”
