In Brief: W Boyes & Co; Cutlers’ Feast; ResearchBods; Emsleys

EXPANDING Yorkshire-based retailer W Boyes & Co has continued to grow its business by taking a lease of a new store in Skipton, which is due to open this month.

The retail chain has 46 stores across the UK and was supported in the lease deal by York-based Langleys Solicitors.

W Boyes & Co launched in 1881 when William Boyes opened a small store in Eastborough, Scarborough selling odd lots and remnants from merchants.

The business soon moved into larger premises in Scarborough and opened stores in York and Hull in the early 1900s. In recent years it has grown to include stores across Yorkshire, the North East, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

Andrew Boyes, managing director said: “Skipton is the first store we’ve opened in our North Yorkshire homeland for several years and it’s great to be bringing the Boyes name to this part of Yorkshire.”

Tim Cross, head of commercial property at Langleys, added: “We’re proud to work alongside such a great Yorkshire company, helping the company to expand its offering. We continue to work with W Boyes & Co in respect of its existing store portfolio and as the firm continues to look for new retail space across the country.”

:::

METROPOLITAN Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe was the headline speaker at this year’s Cutlers’ Feast.

Sir Hogan-Howe attended Hinde House School before joining South Yorkshire Police as a 22-year-old and working his way up to the top of his profession.

Also speaking at the event was Daniel Evans, artistic director of Sheffield Theatres.

Master Cutler Neil MacDonald said: “This being the year of the centenary of stainless steel, I was very keen to invite speakers with a strong Sheffield connection to help us celebrate all that is so good about this region.

“The great success of the Stainless Steel Centenary has been down, in no small part, to the collaboration between various local bodies – the Cutlers’ Company, the Council, our Chambers of Commerce and the local museums – and one of the pleasing outcomes has been the strengthening of the relationship between business and the arts.”

:::

ONLINE research agency ResearchBods has won a place on the market research framework of Leeds Metropolitan University.

The Leeds-based company underwent a tender process to demonstrate key skills which are essential to the university’s research aims.

ResearchBods said the appointment helps to cement its position as the UKs online panel experts for young people, parents and the educational sector.

Co-Founder and director Jonathan Clough said: “Winning these types of competitive tender processes allows us to really demonstrate our expertise in this area. Key audiences for universities are young people, parents and teachers and we believe our model allows us to tap into these niche groups with great confidence.”

ResearchBods launched in 2011 and now employs 16 people with an annual turnover of more than £1.5m.

:::

PERSONAL injury law experts at Leeds law firm Emsleys are launching a free independent service to help accident victims get the compensation they’re entitled to.

Legal specialists at Emsleys believe that many victims are being short changed and Review My Claim aims to tackle poor legal advice and service and protect genuine accident victims.

Review My Claim will deal with claims in progress, where people are unhappy with the advice they’re getting, where their advisers have made a mistake or when they’ve been told their case has no merit. It will also advise on settled claims where people are unhappy with the amount of compensation they’ve been awarded.

The new service launches this month and will be led by personal injury experts Andrew Greenwood, Howard Serr and Natalie Argyle. The team also has a close working relationship with barristers who specialise in personal injury cases.

“We’ve launched this service to help people make well-informed decisions at a time when they most need that support,” said Andrew Greenwood, partner and personal injury law expert at the firm.

“I’ve worked in personal injury for more than 28 years and have seen standards in some quarters deteriorate massively over that time. The industry has earned a bad reputation – and in many cases deservedly so. Many law firms and claims management companies use unqualified and inexperienced claims handlers who are incentivised to settle quickly. Claimants are often pressured into making quick decisions, accepting compensation which is nowhere near what they’re entitled to.” 

:::

NICOLA Horlick talked about her life and career at an event held by networking group Forward Ladies.

Ms Horlick is the CEO of Bramdean Asset Management, an entrepreneurial investment boutique established in 2005 which specialises in creating and structuring innovative new investments across asset classes.

Bramdean launched a film development fund called Derby Street Films in 2011, and also an online fund “supermarket” called beesandhoney.com in 2012.

Etta Cohen, founder of Forward Ladies said: “Nicola came to talk to us in Manchester last year and our members were truly inspired by her. We were delighted that she agreed to come to York to talk to more of our members in Yorkshire.”