In Brief: Yorkshire Bank; Brammer; Buck & Hickman; NCI Insurance

A LEEDS-based franchise owner is bringing jobs and services to Seacroft by launching a Post Office in his store with the help of a five figure funding package from Yorkshire Bank.

Manish Patel is launching the Post Office branch in the One Stop convenience store at Stanks Parade. The addition will create up to four new jobs, growing his team from two to six employees.

The funding for the development was arranged by Jill Sutcliffe, relationship manager at Yorkshire Bank’s Business and Private Banking Centre in Leeds, with the assistance of Debbie Horner, manager of the Seacroft branch of Yorkshire Bank, and her staff.

Manish also owns a One Stop store in Headingley, which already includes a Post Office. The success of this site inspired him to fill a gap in the Stanks Parade community and open another. Both convenience stores have been operating for more than 15 years.

:::

BRAMMER and Buck & Hickman has moved to larger premises in Hull.

Brammer, a distributor of industrial maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) products, and Buck & Hickman, which distributes tools, maintenance and health and safety products, say the move demonstrates its commitment to supporting local contracts and customers.

The new sales and service centre, which is the fourth Buck & Hickman site in Yorkshire, strengthens its nationwide coverage.

 After operating in the city since 1983, Brammer will be moving from its current 1,495 sq ft branch in Northumberland Avenue to a 4,200 sq ft facility on Witty Street with extra office space on the first floor. This will enable Brammer to showcase a wider range of products and will also support the opening of a new Buck & Hickman branch facility in Hull under one roof.

Ailsa Webb, UK group operations director at Brammer and Buck & Hickman, said: “With a move to far bigger, more modern premises we will be able to provide enhanced support for our local customers and contracts, centred around a greater stockholding capability and the extended range offered through Brammer and Buck & Hickman. Our new convenient location will also support regional customer growth, and ensure customers both old and new can access the products they require.”

:::

PET insurer NCI is expanding into the equine insurance market as part of its ongoing strategy to grow the business.

The Harrogate-based business already insures several thousand dogs, cats and rabbits across the UK and now it will start offering insurance for horses and ponies.

It has appointed Will Wenyon as national equestrian development manager who has been brought in to head up the new product offering for NCI.  

Neil Richards-Smith, MD and co-founder of NCI said: “We have big plans at NCI to expand our business over the coming years and this new product is a major part of our ongoing strategy for growth. We have a great team here in Harrogate where our people really care about our customers’ pets and I know that they will do an excellent job as we start to insure horses and ponies.”