One Oldham Business Awards

Business finalists

Retail

Alexander Jewellers,

Oldham

Alexander Jewellers is a high-quality modern jewellery retail outlet serving both quality and branded products and during the last eight months has doubled in size and has extended its retail premises to 2,000 sq ft.

The business thrives by offering a wide range of products — from watches and clocks to gold and silver items — and benefits from having its own working jeweller on the premises.

Darren Nutter now employs six people at his double-fronted premises in the Greenacres Shopping Precinct, off Huddersfield Road at Hill Stores which opened in July 1980 — and now sits opposite shopping giant Tesco.


The Face and Body Shop,

Grotton

WITH a client-care philosophy ‘to make every client feel special, because they are!’ the Face and Body Shop in Grotton has grown into a business with a customer base in excess of 16,000.

Retailing is a major part of the business, representing 40 per cent of turnover, reports Val Simpson, adding: “I have always taken retailing seriously, even when I worked from home.

“I see this as a way to generate extra revenue for the salon without comprising the service offer to clients who visit the salon for treatments.

“We have a large retail area at reception which is designed to encourage clients to browse and buy.”


Mountainfeet,

Rhodes Bank, Oldham

AFTER years of making a loss as Paul Braithwaite Outdoor Sports, a shift in focus and service was needed and Mountainfeet has successfully taken advantage of the specialist staff’s increasing level of technical expertise - particularly in the fitting of specialist footwear and biomechanical understanding.

So much so that Mountainfeet, created in its present guise in April 2004, was the first winner of the One Oldham Business Awards Retailer of the Year trophy.

Many loyal customers who have sought advice for their lower-limb issues have been fitted with orthotics and footwear in store or by preferred podiatrist, Tony Gavin.


Start-up


AMPfab Ltd,

Chadderton

TWO colleagues who found themselves out of work when their employer went into receivership set up AMPfab as a limited company in June, 2009, to produce a range of metal fabricated products.

Business partners Adam Beck and Philip McKaigg, aspire to being a major manufacturer and installer of a wide range of museum and art gallery storage and handling products.

Based at the Sun Iron Works in Ward Street, Chadderton, the partners are mentored by Pam Pelham, the managing director of AMPwire Ltd, who suggested they utilise their specialist knowledge in the museums and galleries equipment arena


Fresca Restaurant,

Delph

FOUR partners set about developing Fresca’s as a 130-seat, modern Italian restaurant concept that could be rolled out nationally.

With construction, restaurant and marketing experience within the team they got it open for business in June 2009 at Gatehead Business Park, Delph New Road, Delph.

Attention to details included an interior build and fit-out in just three months, including the import of an authentic pizza oven from Venice.

An investing partner and manager of the business on a day-to-day basis, Charlotte Wharton is rightly proud of the team’s achievements — chronicled on videos on the web.

Home Instead Care Services,

Uppermill

A locally-owned franchise that supports older adults to live independently in their own homes, Home Instead Senior Care provide a quality care service tailored to the client’s specific requirements.

Continuity of carer and the delivery of care with dignity and respect is responsible for the company’s rapid growth of the business, based in Church Road, Uppermill, and opened by managing director Mick Sheehan in January last year with his wife Jenny, a nurse.

Services include companionship, home help and personal care, with an emphasis on supporting the needs of clients with dementing type illnesses.


Environmental


AlternEnergy (F T Gordon Ltd.),

Royton

AlternEnergy, part of FT Gordon Building Services Ltd., are alternative/renewable energy specialists working with domestic and commercial clients to minimise their environmental impact/carbon footprint.

This is achieved by ensuring that clients are using their energy resources as efficiently as possible.

Using a specialist team of project managers and qualified engineers, AlternEnergy works with each client individually to provide bespoke energy solutions that: maximise resource efficiency; reduce carbon emissions; increase asset values; improve social responsibility.


Groundwork Oldham,

Royton

Groundwork Oldham is a local service provider with more than 25 years experience delivering environmental improvements that create cleaner, safer and greener neighbourhoods.

The organisation, based at the Environment Centre in Shaw Road, Royton, also creates opportunities for people to learn new skills and become more active citizens and helps businesses and individuals fulfil their potential.

As a registered, not-for-profit charity and social change and service delivery organisation, Groundwork Oldham are part of a national federation of more than 35 Trusts throughout England.


FirstManchester,

Mumps 

Targeting a 7 per cent fuel saving in each depot after three months of live operation, FirstManchester has launched a DriveGreen initiative — and the Oldham depot is leading the way.

DriveGreen assists with reducing carbon emissions, which harm the environment, and also improves fuel economy. The system also delivers improved quality of driving bringing a reduction in passenger injuries, complaints and engineering wear and tear.

Within three years, it is estimated that First buses companywide will produce 130,000 less tonnes of CO - the equivalent of removing 24,000 cars off the roads.


Innovation and Design

Dalby Developments,

Oldham

WINDSOR Works, a Victorian mill just outside the centre of Oldham, was purchased by Dalby Developments in 2007 as a redevelopment opportunity.

The design philosophy was to regenerate the empty warehouse, using as much of the original features as possible, while creating a building to incorporate residential apartments and commercial office space.

Dalby Developments, founded in August, 2000, is based in an adjacent former mill building in Gravel Walks, Mumps, from where the Nick and Hilary Wright directed operations.


AlternEnergy (F T Gordon Ltd),

Royton

UNDER the brand of AlternEnergy, F T Gordon Building Services Ltd. has developed an innovative service that will help secure the future sustainability and growth of the business.

It is a service which will encourage and assist clients to make energy efficiency savings contributing to their own growth and development via contributing to the reduction in business overheads.

This concept, developed from the findings for new business venture ideas, has been included in FT Gordon Building Services Ltd. five-year business plan.


Synergy Building Services Ltd.,

Delph

TIRED of working in ‘the same old ways’, Matthew Pomfrey decided to go his own way.

Synergy Building Services Ltd. was formed in 2000 with Matthew the sole employee.

Ten years on Synergy has grown to develop a customer base on a national basis with clients in the public and private sectors. Now based at the Rose and Crown Business Centre in Delph, Synergy has eight employees presenting new technologies to clients who want the benefits of connecting all of their buildings and plants to a central device, making these elements work together rather than individually.


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