Business briefs
LOYAL staff at Glasswells World of Furniture, in Bury St Edmunds, are celebrating a century of work for the furnishings company.
Five workers have notched up 20 years’ service each at the firm and were presented with an engraved gold watch by managing director Paul Glasswell.
Margaret Fletcher, Frank Zdrenka, Alison Tooke, David Clover and Ruth Nunn have all seen the firm develop from its old shop in St Andrew’s Street, Bury, to its new store in Newmarket Road.
Mr Glasswell said: “We are a lucky company as our staff retention is rate is very high.
“It has always been important for us to look after our staff, we organise great company celebrations to mark special occasions and offer flexible working hours to fit around our staff’s other commitments.”
n Innovative students from King Edward VI School, in Bury, won through to the Suffolk County Finals of the Young Enterprise Competition 2006-7.
The 10-strong team of Year 12 pupils snatched second place in the gruelling contest, enduring face-to-face interviews with judges and a presentation to 300 people.
Their company, urFocus, sold picturesque photographs of Bury at trade fairs across the region and was praised for its unique text message and emailing system, with an award for exceptionally high communication skills.
Emrys Green, 17, managing director of the company, said: “It was quite an achievement to get through to the finals and to win a communication award was quite amazing.”
n JOB prospects are looking good in East Anglia, with high job vacancies and wages, according to a new poll.
The East of England report on jobs survey found employment levels were rising with fewer candidates going for jobs, according to the survey of recruitment firms in the region.
In the first quarter of 2007, pay increased at the faster rate in four years for staff in permanent positions, due to strong demand for staff and a shortage of candidates.
n A bumper opening weekend at Smith and Wareham’s new interior homes store, in Barton Road, Bury, has hinted at good times ahead.
Shoppers flocked to the company’s second store in the town, selling furniture, tiles, paint and accessories for kitchens and bathrooms as well as cards and lifestyle items.
Store manager Tony Hilton Cooper said: “The opening weekend went really well and I was thrilled with some of the positive things people said.
“People seemed delighted with the contrast between inspirational and useful.”
n New ventures in Bury can get a helping hand thanks to start-up workshops run by advice and information service, Business Link.
Offering impartial guidance and support, the sessions run several times a month aim to help 37,000 people in the Bury area start a new company this year.
Graham Coultas, head of business start-up at Business Link, said: “Our start-up workshops across Bury ensure deciding to get your business off the ground is no longer a step into the unknown but a first step on a clearly marked road to success.”
For more information about the times and locations of the sessions, call 0845 601 1000 or visit www.bookevents.org
n Big-hearted employees at TNT’s Thetford depot took part in a week-long bonanza of charity events to raise money for the World Food Programme.
Staff at the centre, in Howlett Way, donned fancy dress and endured chest waxing to support the school feeding programme in Tanzania this week.
Mike Brooks, general manager at the international delivery centre, said: “We hope to get all our employees involved, have a fun week but, most importantly, raise money and the profile needed to combat world hunger.”
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
