Bournemouth Chamber of Trade & Commerce

Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce

BELONG. CONNECT. PROSPER

Take part in Future Skills Employment Week

Between 18th and 22nd October, Boscombe’s Royal Arcade will play host to the ‘Future Skills and Employment Week’. Whether you are an individual wanting to know more about careers in creative and digital technology or a business looking for new and innovative ways to upskill staff, this week is your opportunity to ask for expert advice, find out about the new ‘virtual careers platform’ and even test the latest technologies.

For example, find out how your team can use virtual reality as part of a training programme; and see 3D printing in action. The events programme includes a range of interesting talks from knowledgeable speakers too and you are encouraged to sign up in advance to secure your place.

In addition, Dorset Growth Hub is on hand to answer questions about setting up a business, they can even help get you started; and career advisors will be there for some friendly guidance.

Curious? Feel free to head in between 10 and 4 (every day except Wednesday), no appointment necessary.

For more information, click here. 

Chamber hails “great coup” as Bobby’s returns

Multi-million pound plans to restore what was once the home of ‘Bobby’s’ department store to its former glory have been hailed as “a great coup” for Bournemouth.

Jacqui Rock, President of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce, was speaking after Verve Properties announced that it was restoring the prominent building in The Square.  It was due to lie empty when the current occupier, Debenhams, closes its doors for the final time on May 15.
Many of the building’s original features will now be reinstated, including the original 1933 front entrance, or uncovered.

Jacqui told Dorset Biz News: “This is a great coup for Bournemouth.
Very much a ‘wow’ retail shopping experience, which is just what we need as people’s expectations become higher.  Bobby’s is something that is not only iconic to us locally, it is wonderful to launch the town as we re-emerge from lockdown. I, for one, can’t wait to visit.”

In a press release, Verve Properties, the development company which recently transformed the nearby Avenue Centre, said that it was “focused on securing local, independent, and socially conscious brands to work with, to ensure that the regeneration reflects the changes the pandemic has accelerated in social and shopping patterns.”

Plans are in place for the first parts of the store to reopen in mid-July this year, with more elements opening all the way through the year and into 2022.
First to open will be Bobby’s Beauty Hall, a traditional ice cream and coffee parlour, an art gallery, and a dog café in the Lower Gardens.

The beauty hall will have local, sustainable, and conscious brands sitting alongside the big brands.  As an independent beauty operation, Bobby’s Beauty Hall will offer products and brands not previously available at Debenhams.  There will also be a Sushi and plant-based Poke Bowl Bar, a nail bar and treatment rooms for female and male grooming.  The watch repairing station ‘In Time’ will be retained.

On the first floor the large windows overlooking the Square will be opened up, new balconies installed, and the floor will house a food and market hall.
This will include street food outlets including plant-based food, a deli, a bar and speciality retail market pods.  Spa facilities are in the planning stages and, it is hoped, will open in 2022. The second floor will house an art gallery with more details to be revealed in coming weeks.

Accessed from Terrace Road, old buildings at the rear will be reorganised to create a garden area and a micro-brewery and craft ale smokery bar. Following that, plans are in place to open a 4th floor restaurant and bar and roof terrace bar. – all with a key focus on the local community.
There are also plans in place, due to be announced soon, for a very special collaboration with the Bournemouth-bred artist Stuart Semple, which will involve memories of the town.

Bobby & Co opened in 1915 in The Square in Bournemouth and remained under that name for more than 50 years. It was rebranded in 1972 as part of the Debenhams group.

For the complete article visit Dorset Biz News here.

 

Hannah Mazrae promoted to Partner at Saffery Champness Accountants

Hannah Mazrae has been promoted to Partner at Saffery Champness Accountants.

Based in the firm’s Bournemouth office, Hannah said, ”I am delighted to join the Bournemouth Partner team. To date, I’ve learnt so much from the Partners, colleagues and clients, so it’s a pleasure to now be working alongside the senior management team. I hope that I provide the same level of support to others as they progress through their career as I have received. The office has more than doubled in size from when I joined as a graduate in 2009. All being well, we hope our growth continues in the years to come, it feels like we are constantly recruiting in order to grow our teams!

“I work with a range of clients, including individuals and owner managed businesses around the local area and further afield. I will continue to support those, whilst focusing on growing my portfolio in my area of specialisms, which include FCA regulated entities, Estates and agribusinesses.” 

Head of Bournemouth Office, Nick Fernyhough added, “We are extremely proud to be promoting Hannah.  She’s Saffery ‘born and bred’, having started as a trainee and has enjoyed swift progression through the business, as a result of her hard work, commitment and determination.”

 

About Saffery Champness LLP

Saffery Champness LLP is a firm of chartered accountants that advises individuals and families, not-for-profit organisations and businesses across a range of sectors. As a member of Nexia International, it is part of a worldwide network of independent accounting and consulting firms.

For over 160 years, the firm’s success has been founded upon providing clients with a genuinely partner-led service and working with them to create bespoke solutions that help them to achieve their personal and business objectives. For more information visit www.saffery.com or see Twitter @Safferys.