Cecil’s chosen charity for the event is non other than our local St Catherine’s Hospice which provides high quality specialised care for people living with medical conditions that can be treated but cannot be cured.

St Catherine’s has been a renowned centre for palliative care since 1984 and works with patients, carers and families to help people live as independently and fully as possible.

This is done by offering both specialist medical care and a range of services to address a person’s social, psychological and spiritual needs as well as those of their loved ones.  The result is the very highest standards of palliative care, tailored to the needs of each individual and delivered by experts who are dedicated to improving the quality of life for those receiving care.

Cecil said: “At Orvia we have enjoyed a long standing relationship with St Catherine’s Hospice but the main reason I have decided to run on their behalf is a personal one. My father became terminally ill and died when I was a teenager. The facilities and extensive nature of care provided by St Catherine’s wasn’t available to us as a family when my father became ill. St Catherine’s do an absolutely tremendous job caring for terminally ill people and their families which is carried out with the upmost dignity and professionalism, but they are reliant on the generosity of the public to keep their services going.

It is an honour to run on their behalf and I would encourage anybody and everybody to donate whatever they can, large or small. Every penny is welcome and will make a real difference to the lives of the families supported by St Catherine’s.”

Cecil aims to complete the run in around 40 minutes.

To donate please visit Cecil’s Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/Cecil-Edey

12 years ago Richard started his business with his two university friends, Adam and Jon, but it very nearly didn’t get started because they couldn’t find an investor.

Today, Richard wants to give the next generation of Great British entrepreneurs a helping hand in getting started.  He’s looking to find 500 businesses to invest in.

To take part in this exciting new BBC Three TV series, you need to be over 18 and have either started a small business or have a great idea.

The application process is open for a limited time, so if you’ve got a great business idea apply now!

To apply for your slice of Richard Reed’s investment fund visit the website at https://couldyoubeyourownboss.apply.twofour.co.uk/

Our twitter is: @BYOBoss_BBC3

Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Youre-The-Boss-BBC3/365962350095405

Ahmed Saleem

In this month’s edition we would like to introduce you to another one of our business advisers, Ahmed Saleem, commonly known as ‘Saleem’ who is based in Preston.

Saleem originally joined Orvia in 2010 as a business adviser following the completion of his Masters Degree in International Business which he obtained from Brunel University. Prior to this Saleem was a business adviser working for the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) in his native Pakistan providing business support and advice to a diverse range of customers including private businesses and government departments. Saleem also has an MBA in Finance which he achieved from the University of Lahore.

Saleem has the ability to speak, read and write in a number of languages, including English, Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi; he is recognised as a friendly and affable member of the team who is quick to solve problems and build excellent relationships with both customers and staff. Saleem is a massive sports fan, with a keen interest in cricket and football – in his younger days Saleem was close to being selected for the Pakistan Junior National Cricket Squad.

Saleem said: “I enjoy my work as a business adviser because it not only gives me an opportunity to help people achieve their aspirations, but also allows me to work on a mixed range of business ideas and meet a diverse range of people. I thoroughly enjoy working in England as it has allowed me to experience a different business culture and a different lifestyle. Preston is a brilliant city and Lancashire a great place with its diverse population which has allowed me to enjoy the British culture.

The presentation took the students through the challenges they will face when starting a business and what is required to succeed as well as looking at everything that is needed to formulate an effective business plan including company structure, choosing the right name, product and market, marketing strategy, financials and record keeping as well as Tax, VAT and the relevant insurances.

All of the students are currently on work placements or studying full time and have desire to start their own business in the future.

Max said: “Orvia is committed not only to assisting new businesses in the area but also to working with local partners like Runshaw College offering whatever practical support we can. This will give the students a real insight into business planning which will not only assist them with their studies but will also stand them in good stead if they do decide to start a business. I found the session very enjoyable as they were a great group who asked some really pertinent questions.

Stella Leigh, the tutor of the student group at Runshaw College,  said: “The event was really positive, it was great to have a local company with real hands on experience of the subject to come into the college and talk to the students, who found that it gave them lots of food for thought, especially the marketing section”.

Mayor and Mayoress of South Ribble officially opening the Donation Centre. They are pictured here at the ceremonial opening with Manager, Georgina Fortune, Maureen Nickson, Head of Retail DEBRA, Ann Djordjevic, Director of Corporate and Property Services, Orvia, and volunteers Maurice and Tony.

Orvia is pleased to be supporting DEBRA by providing facilities for their new ‘drive-in and drop-off’ donation centre which has recently opened at South Ribble Enterprise Park, managed by Orvia’s property services team.

The site was officially opened by the Mayor and Mayoress of South Ribble, Councillor Jim and Susan Marsh, who took time out of their busy schedule to visit the new Charity Donation Centre.

DEBRA is the only national charity that supports individuals and families affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) – a rare genetic skin blistering condition which causes the skin to shear at the slightest friction, or even spontaneously.

DEBRA relies on the generosity of the public to fund its work, improving lives and giving hope, through specialist nursing and social care and vital research to find a cure.

The Mayor said “Times are hard for everyone, but it is great to know that members of the public can drop off their bric-a-brac, clothing, shoes, books and other items at a centre that can sell them on to make much needed funds for the charity”.

Ann Djordjevic, Director of Corporate and Property Services, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to support DEBRA in establishing a donation centre in the North West.  At Orvia we pride ourselves on providing flexible accommodation solutions for businesses and it is a privilege to support a national charity that does such fantastic work to improve the quality of life  for the children and young people who suffer from this rare skin condition”.

The ‘drive-in and drop-off’ donation centre is open every day 10am to 3pm, except Wednesday. Donors are able to drive in, unload and drive off. The facility is large enough to accept furniture as well as electrical items, textiles, card and metal for recycling.

South Ribble Enterprise Park is located on Grove Road in Walton-le-Dale, Preston. If you have any enquiries please call them on 01772 558462 or visit their website at http://www.debra.org.uk/. Please give your support to DEBRA and donate your unwanted items.

Paul Taylor, Head of Sixth Form at Fulwood Academy (left), Katherine Hedley from Pinchbowl Limited (Third left) and Dawood Fard from Centurus (right), with students from Fulwood Academy.

Two of Preston’s brightest business prospects have shared their university and business experiences with students at Fulwood Academy at a ‘Business Leaders of the Future’ session.

The visit was arranged by Orvia to encourage the students to think about their university choices and follow their business ambitions.

The two speakers were Dawood Fard and Katherine Jane Hedley, who have both worked with Orvia and Rosebud Business Solutions to support the growth of their businesses.

Rosebud Business Solutions offers finance for growing businesses in key sectors, including Digital & Creative – which are the sectors in which Dawood and Katherine work.

Alongside the financial support, people also receive ongoing support from Orvia, Rosebud’s managing agent.

Dawood Fard runs Centurus, a company which provides an online international student admission system for Colleges and Universities. Dawood shared his experiences at university and visits to India where his business idea originated. He also spoke about the triumphs and tribulations of setting up his own business.

Dawood said: “The day went very well. It was pleasant to see such an enthusiastic group of students who are keen to further their studies at University and are already considering their options.

“As the jobs market is becoming increasingly competitive, it is essential that prospective students opt for the most worthwhile programme.

“The students at Fulwood Academy are very fortunate to have such supportive tutors that can guide them on their next steps.”

Dawood also spoke to students about the UCAS process and give them advice about university life, such as managing their finances and student loans.

Katherine Jane Hedley, who owns an online e-commerce business called Pinchbowl Limited, spoke about how to succeed now and take control of your future, by emphasising to the students that how they spend their time can determine their future.

Katherine passed on her experiences of working hard to gain a place at Cambridge University and how students who actively seek work experience and qualifications outside of their mainstream studies can improve their opportunities.

Katherine said: “It was a really enjoyable morning.  I personally gained some valuable experience in presenting and I hope that the students understood the message and can now see that they’ve got a great opportunity right now to start building the life and career that they dream of. 

“Of course it will take hard work, but I hope I have inspired some students to take up work experience or study a little harder. Then they’ll have a great chance to get a place at a good university and go on to a job in a sector that interests them.”

Paul Taylor, Head of Sixth Form at Fulwood Academy, said: “We were delighted to welcome such inspirational young role models into the Academy.  They both conveyed positive messages as our students embark on the process of applying to university.  Being proactive and taking control of the present through sheer hard work are pieces of advice that our students take seriously.”

Saesela Razvi, Head of Fund Portfolio, at Orvia said: “Obviously Rosebud Business Solutions is keen to support the development of local growth businesses, but we recognise it is vital to retain the skills and talents of graduates within Lancashire, which in turn will help to drive economic growth.

“Fulwood Academy offers excellent facilities to support the aspirations of students with an ambition to enter the specialist creative digital professions. I would personally like to thank both speakers for giving up their time so generously to pass on their experiences.”

For more information about Rosebud Business Solutions contact Orvia Group Limited 01772 42 22 42 or visit our website at www.orvia.co.uk/rosebud-micro-loan-fund

Geoff originally joined Orvia in 2007 as a business adviser working on the ‘Get Started’ programme in Blackpool. Prior to joining the company Geoff had a rich and varied career, the majority of which was spent at Coca Cola. Geoff joined Coca Cola in 1973 as a salesman with no formal qualifications and enjoyed a 28 year career with the organisation. His rise within Coca Cola was meteoric achieving a senior management position within three years of joining the company. Geoff worked in every department, covering every aspect of the business from sales to production. Geoff retired as a divisional General Manager with responsibility for the North of England and a turnover of £15 million.

After he retired from Coca Cola Geoff overcame a lifetime fear of water and learned to swim which led him to become a scuba diving instructor. This prompted Geoff to open a 3000 sq ft water sports centre. Following this Geoff decided it was time to pass on his experience to individuals seeking to start a business and joined the Get Started Programme.

Geoff said: “I decided to return to work in enterprise to genuinely help the people of Blackpool. I get a real buzz out of helping people to overcome the challenges to starting a business. I really wanted to pass on my experience and knowledge before I retire completely and as I am originally from Blackpool I am passionate about giving something back to my home town.”

Not for Profit Business of the Year

• Child Action Northwest – Blackburn
• Community and Business Partners – Blackburn
• Curious Minds – Burnley
• n-compass North West – Blackpool
• Preston Carers Centre – Preston
• The Community Foundation for Lancashire – Leyland
• Thomas – Blackburn

Medium Business of the Year

• Bevlan Office Interiors – Blackburn
• Cherrytree Bakery – Burnley
• Copifax – Burnley
• Denwa Communications – Pendle
• Ibex – Preston
• Mortimers Estate Agents – Accrington
• Prefix Systems (UK) – Accrington

So, it’s fingers crossed until the ceremony which will be held on Thursday, 15 March, at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Janine Smith, Director of Enterprise and Skills, said: “It is great to be shortlisted for two awards and it is testament to the hard work and commitment of all of our staff. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all and to wish all the businesses which have been shortlisted for awards the best of luck on the night”.

Orvia continues to provide business support and advice to individuals and businesses in Blackpool from the town’s state of the art creative centre, FYCreatives (FYC).

FYC is the first dedicated business development hub for new and growing creative companies on the Fylde Coast; the centre boasts state of the art i-Mac hot-desking facilities, affordable office accommodation, access to wireless internet facilities and even an Art Gallery.

The aim of the centre is to connect and promote enterprise, innovation and creativity across the Fylde Coast through business support and guidance, and to act as the main point of contact for any business enquiries relating to the creative industries.

The hub is home to some of Blackpool’s most creative talents, including photographers, film makers, web and graphic designers, as well as Orvia.

Orvia staff are available at the FYC from 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday, providing one to one business advice as well as group workshops for individuals who are considering starting a business, and established businesses which are looking to grow.

If you are based on the Fylde Coast and you would like to know more about the centre then why not visit their website at http://www.fycreatives.com/default.aspx  or alternatively you can find their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fycreatives or follow them on twitter @fycreatives

The programme, which is limited to only 40 businesses, is designed to support the growth and development ambitions of limited companies within the County by injecting £2,000 of investment in each firm participating in the scheme – providing them with a business diagnostic, business mentoring, and growth plan.

This unique programme sees Lancashire County Developments offering loans of between £1,000 and £2,000, to be matched by an equivalent amount from the business, allowing them to access the benefits of the Rosebud Evolution Programme.  Provided the business completes the programme, the loan fund will be non-repayable and, on top of this, Orvia will award the business a £1,000 cash bursary – providing the company with a minimum investment of £2,000.    

The mentoring aspect of the programme will involve a detailed diagnostic of both the organisation and senior management team, resulting in the development of an action plan which focuses on the growth of the business.

Janine Smith, Director of Enterprise and Skills at Orvia said: “We have seen huge interest in the programme in the few days since its launch. Obviously, in the current economic climate there is a real incentive for companies to join the scheme. Evolution is a great product for companies committed to growth.

So if you want to be in with a chance of gaining a place on this highly coveted programme then please call Corinne Crowley on 01772 42 22 42 or alternatively email her at Corinne.crowley@orvia.co.uk