It’s been aprivilege to edit this magazine forthe very first time andto showcase some of thesuccess stories across theBlack CountrythatI’ve enjoyedhearing aboutthispastfew months
From long-established companies with largeand loyalworkforcesto smallscale start-upsmakingwaves, there’sarealdiverse landscapehere andit’sbeenapleasurelearningmore aboutthe firms andentrepreneurs drivingthe region’s economyforward
In this issue, youcan read more aboutsomeofthe inspiring businesses andbossesI’vebeen luckyenoughtolearn more about.
Ihopetheir storiesofsuccess, determinationand creativity serveas an inspirationtoanyonejuststarting outontheirbusinessjourney
If youenjoy this issue, or have a storyyou’d like us to featureinafuture edition, do getintouch.We’dloveto hear from you.
Business: 2Logic,George Green LLPSolicitors, Nationwide, Pertemps Network Group, Region SecurityGuarding RetailBusiness: Brewers DecoratorCentre, FredWilliamsCycles, H Samuel, Hays Travel,Max Spielmann
New Business: Piercings byGeana,Rectory House Beautyand Wellness,Rustic Food Shop,The Grand Palace, Vape Factorie; CommunityChampion: AccesstoBusiness, Army Careers Centre,Shopin the Square,WestBrom BuildingSociety,Wolverhampton GrandTheatre
Team: Ana’sCoffeeShop, Danceforce, hmv, TheWay Youth Zone,Wolverhampton ArtGallery,Wolves Museum& StadiumTours Leader: George BirchSmithridgeHealthcare, Ian Griffiths- HSamuel,Josie Kelly -AccesstoBusiness, Lucia Taylor -Pertemps Network Group, Neil Reading -Arena Theatre Marketing Campaign: ManderCentre, Shop in the Square,space.and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
People’sFavouriteBusiness: Ana'sCoffeeShop, Katie's Kitchen,Rectory House Beauty andWellness, SweetMemories, Witch ElmMarkets in the ManderCentre
Finalistsshortlisted in excellence awards
ThesecondWolverhamptonBID ExcellenceAwards, sponsoredbyUniversityof Wolverhampton, is set to take placeinJuly.
Theawardsrecognise thecitycentre businesses whichdrive theeconomy andbring people together -from professional services andhealth, beauty and wellbeingtoretail, hospitality andleisure
More than 100 businesses enteredthe awards,which celebrate sector,individualand team excellence
Atotal of 11 winners will be announcedat an awards eveningat Wolverhampton’sGrand Palace in School Street on Thursday July 10
Cherry Shine, managing director of WolverhamptonBID, said:“We’vebeendelightedbythe response to theBID Excellence Awards 2025.There were entriesfromall sizesofbusinesses, from national chains to independentbusinesses -all representative of thevibrant mixyou can findinWolverhampton city centre
“Itwas incredibly difficult to shortlistthe
businesses,soall of thefinalistsshouldbe immenselyproud of reaching this stage. The judges will face an even tougherdecision.”
ThePeople’sFavouriteBusinesscategory, whichreceivedmore than 1,200individual nominationsinthe first round, will be votedfor by thepublic.
HouseBeautyand Wellness,Sweet Memories andWitch ElmMarkets in theManderCentre. People cancasttheir vote on theEnjoy Wolverhampton website.
Ms Shinesaidthe awards,which were establishedin2023, will be a"true celebration of Wolverhampton" and sheadded:"We can’t wait to announce the winnersatthe Grand Palace in July.”
Located within the industrial heartland of the UKThe West Midlands, we are ideally placed on the motorway network to serve our customers nationwide using our own transport.
It’s thestart of abold newchapter forWolverhamptontoy innovation companyWOW!Stuff whichhas become part of Troy Companies.
Theinvestmentwill enable thebusiness to expand itsfootprint across Europe and superchargegrowth across theUSA and global markets.
Themovemarks a partialexitfor minority equity investor BGFwho will continue to invest in thecombinedbusiness alongsidethe WOW! Stuffmanagementteam.
Troy’s investment brings substantial capitaltoWOW!Stuff as it lookstosupport thebusiness, targeting200 percentplus growth over thenext24 months, rapidlyscaling operations andfuelling innovation across its award-winningproduct
portfolio.
JonEarl, partner at BGF, said:"We are delightedour patient capitalhas provided WOW!Stuff with the springboardfor significant growth."
Managing director Dawn Lavalettewill continue to lead thebusiness andRichard North remainsaspresident of WOW!Stuff,based at theUniversityofWolverhamptonScience Park He said:“This investmentistestament to the belief both businesses have in thecompany.”
ELENABARIHAS BROUGHT FRESHIDEAS TO HALFPENNY GREENWINEESTATE
Winemakerpouring effortsintovineyard
AfemaleRomanian wine expert is bringing aworld of flavoursto HalfpennyGreen Wine Estate,after squeezing everydropofexperience from vineyards in France,Argentina, NewZealand,Australia andthe United States in herroleofassistant winemaker.
ElenaBariispouring allofher effortsintothe 30-acreSouth Staffordshiresiteand is already leavinganindelible impression,withher refined,maturepalate adding substanceto tastingprocesses and grape growingpractices
The28-year-old,who is half Italian, grew up on aRomanianvineyard with hermum anddad andafter falling in love with theprofessionshe decidedtotraveltoas many countriestosoak up as much experience Elena, who has adoublebachelor’s degree in viticultureand ahostofother qualifications, hasspent time in some of therichest wine environments including Italy (Udine), Argentina (Mendoza), New Zealand(Blenheim),the United States (Oregon), France (Bordeaux) and Australia(Adelaide).
Shealsohas gained experience at vineyardsin Suffolkand Kent,before arriving at Bobbington Shesaid: “Myfirst impressionsofthe place have been great. Ifeel like part of thefamily andeveryonehas made me feel so welcome. It’s aclose knit community andthe size of Halfpenny Greenisperfect for me.Itbringsmealot of joybecause I’mclose to severalcolleagues here, whogivemethe licence to make an impression on theplace.There areplentyofvarieties of grapes whichallows me to experiment and expressmyself.
“When youworkin multiple wineries you become more open minded andyou find solutions becauseyou seethingsinadifferent way. Forexample,there were fires in Oregan that affected aharvest of grapes,which Istudied closelyand learned about. This affected the tasteasthe smokegot inside theskinofthe grapes. My research took me to Chileand I collaborated with contactsthere whohelped in finding asolution.
“Morespecifically to HalfpennyGreen,I’llbe
well-prepared to deal with ahot,dry summer andI’llalsobeableto assist if theconditions arecoldand wet.
“I’vebeenmadeto feel valued here.As forthe taste, it is very distinct compared to otherregions.The UK hasahighacidity in the soil andmypalatedoes pick up on this.Ilovethe tasteasit’ssodistinctive andfullofflavour."
CliveVickers,owner of HalfpennyGreen Wine Estate,said: “Elena hasmadea bigimpressionsince arriving anditgoes withoutsayingthatwe’re absolutely delightedto have heronboard
"Her passionfor winemakingand the breadthofher international experience have alreadymadeapositive impression andwe’re all benefitingasa result She’sbrought fresh ideas, energy,and areal attentiontodetailand we’reexcited aboutwhat we canachieve together moving forward."
HalfpennyGreen Wine Estate,which openedin1989, produceswines for100 differentUKvineyards in addition to itsown, across 28 counties
Rebrandfor 'nocreditcheck'shop
Aground-breaking Wolverhampton business is offering people strugglingtoget credit alifeline.
TrustShoppingrecentlymoved from theWulfrun Shopping Centre to a prominentlocationinthe city centre in Dudley Street andhavingundergone acatchyrebrand it is nowknown as Trusty People canpurchasehousehold appliances such as washingmachines andtechgadgets like mobile phones andlaptops,which areoften bought on credit,atthe shop –which is the UK’s only ‘nocreditcheck retail store’ accordingtodirectorAndyPerry
Theideafor theshopgrewout of an online catalogueshoppingbusiness whichAndyhad been running since2017.
Andy,who livesinTelford,saidhe wanted to open aphysicalstore to get to know customersand builduptrust with clients–hence thename–sohe decidedtoopenashoplastAugust.
TheTrustyshopsuppliesgoods
withouta credit check, butaskscustomers to make anumber of initialpaymentsupfront before any goodsare deliveredtohelptobuild up aworking relationship.
Once thegoods aredelivered,the customer makesthe remainingpaymentsbut thebusinessoffersflexibility on late repayments in exchange for up-front communications
Andy said thenew city centre shop
hasbeena hitwithcustomers with its “simpleand honest”concept
He said:"It’s been really well-received
"The customerswe’ve onboarded have performedbrilliantly,defaults have been very,verylow.”
Theshop, runbystore manager Greg Harris,has helpedseveral hundred customerstobuy itemstheymay otherwisenot have been able to
8 NEWS
TOP AWARD FOR SITE MANAGER
Josh Birch, site manager at Persimmon Homes’ St Johns Grangedevelopment, Lichfield,has been honouredbythe National HouseBuildingCouncil (NHBC) with thePride in theJob QualityAward, whichrecogniseshis exceptionaldedication to home construction
Josh is among15 sitemanagersfrom PersimmonHomes to achievethe prestigious awardthisyear.
ThePride in the JobQuality Awardis highly regarded in the homebuilding industry, servingasabenchmark foroutstanding quality andperformance among sitemanagers.
Josh said:“I’mtruly privileged to receive this award, whichisa reflectionofour team’s unwavering commitment to Persimmon’svalues
of quality, integrity, and care.Alongside my assistantsitemanager ChrisLoach,and the rest of thesiteteam, we strive to ensure every home we buildprovides a solidfoundationfor families to create lasting memories. This award acknowledgesour dedication to excellence and ourefforts to exceed expectations.”
Neil Williams, regional managing director forPersimmon West Midlands, said:“We’re very proudofJoshand his team.”
GURPREET BASSI-CHIEF EXECUTIVEOFFICER AT BOND WOLFEAUCTIONS
Bond Wolfeproperty auctionsales hit£70 millionsofar in 2025
Salesfiguresfor Bond Wolfe’sauctionssofar this year have hitalmost £70million,with 400propertiesfinding newowners.
Hopesare high for anotherstrongperformanceatthe company’s July 10 auctionwhich will includeafurther ninepropertiesput up forsalebycashstrapped Birmingham City Council.
So farthisyearBond Wolfe’sauctionsofsurplus properties forthe struggling localauthority have totalled £5.57million,including houses, commercialproperties andformeradult education centres.
Bond Wolfehas runthree livestreamed auctions so farthisyear -inFebruary, Marchand May.
AfterJuly’ssale eventa furtherthree are planned: on Thursday September11, ThursdayOctober 23 and Wednesday December 10
Gurpreet Bassi, chiefexecutive officer of Bond Wolfe, whichis basedinColmore Row, in Birmingham,said:
“Our resultsreflectthe demand forproperty –solid,tangibleinvestments–inthe current climate.
“Moreand more people arecomingto seethe benefitsofthe auction–a quickresult andcompletioninjusta month.”
He added: “It’sinterestingtonotethatwe have seen asignificant increase in websitepage views, duetoincreased presscoverageand from an enhanced online presence on social mediaand search
”The twomostrecent auctions each sawmore than onemillionpage viewsofauction lots on theBondWolfe website."
Over thethree auctions atotal of 400 properties were sold,out of 458offered –amarketleading percentage of 87.3 percent-with overallsales totalling £69.98 million
In thelead-up to auctiondays, the companyregularly sees around 35,000 video toursofpropertiesand 33,000 legalpacks downloaded
Mr Bassisaid: “The popularity of ourauctions is reflected with the interest from thousands of keen online buyers notonlyfromthe Midlandsbut from across theUKand overseas."
This year’s figures buildonstrongresults from 2024,when total salesroseby18.2per cent to £178,101,150 from sevenauction events
During 2024,Bond Wolfeoffered 1,079lots, a12per cent increase on the2023figure of 963.
Thepercentagesold also increasedfroman alreadyindustry-leading figureof86per cent to 90 percentin2024.
Bond Wolfe’sauctionsare livestreamed viathe Bond Wolfe website- with remote biddingbyproxy,telephoneorinternet.
Allauctionsstart at 8.30am
Formoredetails andtoregistertobid on anypropertiesvisit the bondwolfe.comwebsite,emailauctions@ bondwolfe.comorcall 0121 3121212or01902 928510
BUSINESS AWARDS
AWARDS SHINESPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS SUCCESSES
Theannualawardsevent celebrates thebestofthe best businesses across theBlack Country
BeverlyRademacher
TheExpress &Star Business Awards 2025 shoneaspotlight on theachievementsof successful businesses across theBlack Country.
Theblack-tie event, heldatThe HallsWolverhampton on June 9, wasattendedbythe Mayorofthe West MidlandsRichard Parker, WolverhamptonWest MP Warinder Juss plus representativesfrom businesses across the region -and hosted by RadioWMDJPJEllis.
Mr Parker praised the“businesses that
have takenthe risks, that have grownthe ideasand demonstrated enterprise,and created thejobsthat, really importantly, change lives here”and said theevent was“averyimportant eveningcelebrating the best of BlackCountry business”.
Express& Star Editor-in-Chief Mark Drew said entrieswereupon 2024 and“thequality wasquite extraordinary” andheadded:“Thereis excellence to be found in everyworkshop, officeand factoryinour region.”
“THERE IS EXCELLENCE TO BE FOUND IN EVERY WORKSHOP, OFFICE AND FACTORYIN OURREGION.”
The12worthyaward winnerswere:
APPRENTICE OF THEYEAR -SPONSORED BY BLACK
COUNTRYAND MARCHES INSTITUTEOFTECHNOLOGY –WON BY DEBORAH COLLEY -APPRENTICEATAF BLAKEMORE
Apprentice of the Year winner Deborah Colley exemplified that apprenticeshipsaren't just forthe young. Having faced personal hardship in early2023, Deborah undertooka two-year team leader apprenticeship,plusmaths and Englishfunctionalskills studies. Herpassion anddedication, despite hercircumstances, resulted in adistinction
RD S2 02 5
for her apprenticeship and she was named Apprenticeship Hero at AF Blakemore where her leadership, project management skills and resilience helped to save the company more than £1.2 million
EMPLOYEE WELLNESS
EXCELLENCE AWARDSPONSORED BY MNA DIGITAL – WON BY HIGGS LLP
The company, based at Waterfront Business Park, Brierley Hill, aims to create a workplace culture that prioritises the health and well-being of its people It does this by offering private medical insurance with confidential access to a mental health pathway, mental health workshops and mindfulness sessions Flexible working options and discounted gym memberships are also available and healthy snacks provided plus generous paid time off, a health and wellbeing day, and the option to purchase extra holiday.
SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
WON BY IRON & VELVET
Iron & Velvet, based in Dudley, was founded to address the significant plastic waste issue in the household cleaning market The company develops, produces and sells household cleaning refills designed to be kind on the environment but tough on dirt, giving consumers an easy sustainable swap
RETAIL, HOSPITALITY & LEISURE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR WON BY LITTLE DESSERT SHOP
Little Dessert Shop, known for the UK's Most Viral Desserts, started its journey in
2015 with a single store in Wolverhampton. Since then, the brand has revolutionised the dessert scene, setting trends and redefining indulgence With more than 50 locations nationwide, it has ambitious plans to double to 100 stores within the next 24 months
FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY CROWE – WON BY GOUGH GROUP
Gough Group Holdings is a family-owned construction and refurbishment company with 125-year history and an emphasis on family values. Founded in
Wolverhampton in 1900 by painter and decorator William Gough, the Wolverhampton company has been passed down through generations – with current third-generation owners John and Jonathan Gough continuing the family legacy
GROWTH & INNOVATION
AWARD - SPONSORED BY EXPRESS & STAR – WON BY DOOCEY GROUP
Doocey Group in Tipton is a leading civil engineering firm that has significantly expanded its operations and market reach. Established in 1981 as a traditional utility
ENTRIES WERE UP ON 2024 AND THE QUALITY WAS QUITE EXTRAORDINARY
infrastructure provider for British Gas evolving into water and electric markets, the family-run business experienced strong growth in 2022 and 2023 - fuelled by successful retention of key contracts and winning new contracts in locations including Hereford, Bristol, Gloucester and Worcester.
MANUFACTURING CHAMPION OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY COLLINS AEROSPACE – WON BY A&M PURE PRECISION
A&M EDM Pure Precision in Smethwick offers rapid response engineering solutions to manufacture bespoke
high value, lowvolume components andtooling forsectors includingaerospace,foodproduction toolingand Formula1 Thefirm,which invests in people,systems, sustainability,and machinerytoimprove productivity andcompetitiveness, achieved a record £8.75m in sales by September2024.
SMALLBUSINESSOFTHE YEAR –WON BY BOWERS & JONES
Aworld-renowned leader in thedesign, manufacturingand refurbishmentofrolling mill components based in Bilston. For70years
B&Jhas made high precisionrolltooling andequipment forthe steeland copper rolling industries.Today the companyhas customers in oiland gas, medical
and fibre composites industries worldwide.
MEDIUM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR -SPONSORED BY HIGGSLLP –WON BY T.C. MORRIS
Established in 1939 by Thomas CharlesMorris, T.C. Morris hasevolved from humble beginnings as abutcher’s shop to athrivingmanufacturer servingthe food service sector
YOUNGBUSINESSOFTHE YEAR -SPONSORED BY GOUGHGROUP –WON BY DAEENERGYSOLUTIONS LTD
DAEEnergySolutionsinBrierleyHill wasfounded in February2020tomeet
thegrowing need for smart, efficient,and customer-focused Building Management System (BMS)solutions. In just fiveyears, it hasevolved from a two-person start-up into atrusted,high-performingbusinessdelivering multi-million-pound BMS projects across theUK.
BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR -SPONSORED BY RICHARDSON –WON BY JOHN JOSEPHDONOVANOF JJXLOGISTICS
Back in September 1997 John wasaman with avan anda plan –toprovide areliable, honest andcustomer-centric transport service. Over theyears hiscompany basedon thePensnettTrading Estate in Kingswinford has evolvedfroma general logisticsproviderinto
oneofthe UK’s most respectednames in time critical high security logistics.
ThejudgesdescribedJohnas"a business leader with a strategicvisionand a hands-on,values-driven approach".
BUSINESS OF THEYEAR AWARD-SPONSORED BY VOESTALPINEMETSEC–WONBYWALSAVE CREDIT UNIONLTD
Thenot-for-profit financial cooperative basedinBloxwich, Walsall, offers avariety of easy to access ethical financial services to people who live or work in Walsall. It provides varioussavings accounts,including those with free life insurance andbudgeting accounts to help membersmanagetheir bills.
kindingredi e n ts
Plastic free cleaning products for a greener, cleaner home
14 NEWS
ROUND OAK ACCOLADE ATAWARDS
RoundOak Interiors, basedinBrierley Hill,has wonthe Sales andMarketing Initiative of theYearAward at a prestigiousindustry awards ceremony
Up against twoother shortlistedbusinesses, RoundOak Interiors took home theaccolade at theStudioPartner Awards,hostedand organisedbyHäfele UK,one of thebiggest manufacturers and distributors of kitchen fittings, features, hardware, lighting and accessories
Theevent,heldon June 19 at theEarth Hall at theNatural History Museum, saw26studios competingfor winners’ trophiesinthe eighth eventofits kind
RoundOak Interiors picked up theprize for Salesand MarketingInitiative of theYear, with
judgespraisingtheir ability to create areal communityfeel, having collaborated with other local businesses to bring theirspace to life
Oliver Cooper, marketing managerat RoundOak Interiors, said:“We areecstaticto have won.
"Thisachievement wouldn’t have been possible withoutthe hard work of ourincredible team andthe unwavering supportofthe public
"I want to thank everyone forbeing part of ourjourney!”
OUTSIDETHE NEWCITY LEARNING QUARTERCOLLEGE CAMPUS IN WOLVERHAMPTON
Apprenticesset to be trainedatcity’s newlearningquarter
Over 7,000apprentices will starttheir training at Wolverhampton's newcitycentrelearningcampusoverthe next 10 years, thecity councilhas said.
Thefigureswere announcedafter the council-backed City Learning Quartersitehit anothermajor milestone in June,withthe removal of protective covers andscaffolding on the £61millionnew Bilston Street building
Thecitycentre state-of-the-art facility is currentlyunder constructionbycontractor McLaughlin &Harvey andforms part of phase twoofWolverhampton Council’smasterplanto boostskillsand employment
Councillor Chris Burden,CityofWolverhampton Council cabinetmemberfor city development, jobs and skills, said:“As we get thefirstlookatthe exterior finishofthe newCity Learning Quarterthere is no doubtitisgoing to provideaninspirational settingfor students and staff.
“Itwillalsoact as
afocal pointinthe city centre,increasing footfall to supportneighbouringbusinesses, especially with itsexcellent connectivity to rail,bus, tram andcycle routes
“The City Learning Quarterhas been along heldambitionofthe counciltodrive education andskillsinthe city anditwillunlockopportunities forthe people of Wolverhamptonand beyond.”
Thenew development will pave theway forCityofWolverhamptonCollege to move from its1960s Paget Road site,which has been identifiedasland to buildwhatthe council says is much needed housing.
Thecollege forecaststhatovera10year period approximately 45,000 people will benefit from learning at theCityLearningQuarterand around 7,500 apprenticeshipswill be started.
Paul Davies,director of finance at thecollege, said:“Theunveiling of thenew City Learning Quartercampusisa majormilestone forthe
collegeand foreducation in Wolverhampton. It’s theresultofyears of planning andinvestment,and it’s exciting to seethe vision becoming areality
“Relocatingfrom ourlongstanding PagetRoadsitetothis purposebuilt,centrally locatedcampuswill allowustodeliver a modern,highquality learning experience that hasgreater accessibility throughpublictransport links. Thenew facilities will notonlybenefit our staff, students andapprentices, butalsoplay akey role in supporting skillsdevelopment and economic growth across thewider region.”
TheexcitingCity Learning Quarter proposalswereinitially supportedbyinvestment from thecouncil with afurther £49million coming throughUKGovernmentfunding,plus additionalgovernment grants andcontributions from thecollege and council.
Thebuildingis settoopentoCityof WolverhamptonCollege students in theautumn.
COMING SOON STOURBRIDGE
16 INTERVIEW
WHYBUSINESSES ARE HARNESSING THEPOWER OF AI TO DRIVEGROWTH
PR andmarketing professional Laura Tatton hasbecomea generative AI specialist –advisingbusinessleaders to embracethe newtechnologyfor the benefitsitcan bring
BeverlyRademacher
BlackCountry PR and marketing specialist LauraTattonhas embraced theAIrevolution andshe's on a missiontohighlight howbusinessescan harnessAIdecision support, business intelligenceand AI-driveninnovationto empowerleadership, enrich insightand maintain acompetitive edge.
Withmorethan20 yearsofexperiencein B2Bmarketing,Laura -who runs ConsulTPR andmarketing company -has builtareputation fordeliveringimpactful campaignsthatdrive resultsand as aseasoned PR consultant shehas worked with businesses of allsizes in theUK and Europe to craftcompelling strategies to elevate brands
With theAIrevolution in full swing, sheis helpingcompanies to integrateAIintotheirPR andmarketing efforts, unlockingsmarter more
efficient ways to grow Nowagenerative AI specialist,Laura says shehas seen first-hand howAIcan transform notjustworkflows, but mindsets
"Businessesare starting to understand that AI is notjusta technicalupgrade—it’s aleadershiptool, a strategicasset,and a competitivedifferentiator,"she said Laura, whohas been runningAIworkshops to help localbusinesses learnmoreabout howit canbenefit them,said: "AIisoften portrayed as acold, calculating machinepoisedtotake over jobs andmake emotionlessdecisions Butthat’samisleading, andfrankly unhelpful, narrative. In truth, AI is farmorevaluablewhen used as asophisticated supportsystemfor humandecision-makers
ImagineaCEO evaluatingentry into anew market
"Traditionaltools
"THE
MOST SUCCESSFUL AI ADOPTERS DON’T JUST USE TECHNOLOGY— THEY UNDERSTAND IT.”
might offerrevenue projectionsordemographicinsights. ButAI cangofurther,analysing competitor movements, social sentiment, supply chainvulnerabilities,and historical trends at lightning speed. Yet, it’s still thehuman leader who interprets this mosaic of data andintegrates it with organisational values,peopleconsiderations,and brandvision. That’s thesweet spot: AI as aco-pilot, notan autopilot."
Business Intelligence (BI) hasundergone a revolution thanks to
Lauraexplains: "Takea mid-sized retailer as an example. TraditionalBImight provide customer satisfaction reportsorsales by region.AI-poweredBI, on theother hand,could forecast supply chain disruptions,detectrising customer concerns from reviewsand recommend marketingresponses driven by emotion analysis in social media conversations. "These aren’t just data insights,they’re competitiveadvantages.When leaderscan access andunderstand this kind of information quickly, they canact withclarity andconfidence."
Laura, whorunsher business from Kingswinford,goesontoexplain howinnovationmay startwithdatabut ends with people
Shesaid: "AIalso playsapowerfulrole in fuelling innovation By analysingcustomer behaviour, detecting gaps in themarket, and surfacingunmet needs, AI provides fertile ground forhuman creativity to take root.Inthe hospitalityindustry, for instance,AIcan analyse thousandsofreviews to findpatternsinguest preferences, uncovering that customersincreasinglyvalue sustainable amenitiesorwellness offerings. Managers can then actonthisintelligencebydeveloping tailored packages or rethinking experiences
that alignwithemergingvalues. AI,in this context, is thecatalyst, notthe creator. It accelerates thejourney from insight to innovation."
Developing AI literacy in leadership canalso be empowering,she says,adding: "The most successful AI adopters don’tjustuse technology—theyunderstandit. That’s whydeveloping AI literacy at theleadership levelisvital.And no,thisdoesn’t mean CEOs need to code.But they do need to askthe
rightquestions -such as what data underpins therecommendation?
Howwas theAImodel trained?Are we confident theresults arefree from bias?
"Whenleaders are curiousratherthanpassive,AIbecomes atool forempowerment,not dependency.Embedding this critical thinking at thetop fostersa culturewhere people andtechnologythrive together."
Laura, however, has awordofcaution over
ethics,transparencyand trustand shesaid: "Let’s be clear. AI canonly servebusinesseswell when it’s used ethically. This meansbeing transparent with customers andstaff,respecting data privacy, andactively preventing bias in algorithms.Businesses must putgovernance frameworks in placethat review howAIisbeing deployed andregularly evaluate itsoutcomes. UsingAIresponsibly doesn’tjustprotect reputation,itbuildstrust,
LAURATATTON
andtrust is fast becomingthe most valuable business currency."
Shealsowarns that astrongAIstrategyis nota one-step implementation.
"EachtimeAIis used to make or support adecision, it offers a chance to learn. DidAI uncoversomething we missed?Did it challenge ourassumptions?How
IN TE RV IE W
18 INTERVIEW
canwefine tune it next time?
"Creatingfeedback loopswhere outcomes arereviewedensures AI continuestoevolvein alignmentwiththe business,not in isolation."
Laurahas put together some practicalsteps forbusiness leadersconsidering AI adoption or wantingto enhancetheirexisting efforts.
Herfive keyprinciples are:
1. StartwithStrategy
Identify whereAIcan bringthe most value, be it customer targeting, supply chain planning, or productdevelopment
2. Choose theright tools
Notall AI is created equal. ToolslikeIBM Watson,Microsoft Power BI,orChatGPT can be transformative when tailored to your needs.
3. Invest in people
Upskillteams so they feel confident usingand questioningAI. Empower collaborationbetween technicaland business roles.
4. Embedethical safeguards
Create policies around data usage, fairness,and transparency from theoutset.
5. Test,learn,scale Beginwithsmall pilots,gatherfeedback, anditerate as youscale Agility beatsperfection in theAIworld
Laurahighlightshow AI is alreadyreshapingUKindustries. She said:"In retail,Tesco is usingAItomakebuying decisionsand optimise delivery routes.In public services,the UK government is testing AI to supporteducation delivery.Infinance, majorinvestmentbanks areturning to AI to automate admin-heavytasks
andfreejuniorstaff for strategicwork. These examples show AI is not afuturisticfantasy,it’sa present-daynecessity."
Shesaid: "Technology aloneisn’t what sets businesses apart, it’s howthattechnologyis used by people.AIcan’t replaceyourvision, your values,oryourrelationships. Butitcan give youmoretime, sharper insight, andthe ability to actwithspeed and precision.
"Aswelooktothe future,the businesses that will winwon’t be the ones with theflashiest tech—they’ll be theones whocombine humanintelligence with machine intelligence to create somethinggreater than either on theirown."
Anyone wanting to findout more can contactLaura viaher websiteconsultltd.co.uk or follow heronLinkedIn.
‘BankofAnn’isdoing big things in thecommunity
AnnLotereckons thereare three main causes of disharmony in relationships.
"You canargue aboutthe kids,you argueabout money, or youwillargue aboutsex," shesays.
Sheoffersnoadviceabout the othertwo,but if you're having problems with your finances, Annmight be able to help
As Bloxwich's answer to Bank of Dave star Dave Fishwick,there is little that fazesthe chiefexecutive of Walsave Credit Union.
"We've seen some terrible things," shesays. "Wehad ayoung lady ChristmasEve whocameintous, her partnerhad stolen hercard, she'dgot no money, butwehelpedher over the Christmasperiod, we gave hersome funds, we made sure shegot somewheretogo, we trytotap into any resourceswecan."
Shedescribes Walsave, which initiallystarted outin1996asaservice foremployees of WalsallCouncil,but is nowopentothe generalpublic, as theborough's best-keptsecret.
It is oneofapproximately 246credit unions across theUK, servingabout 1.8millioncustomers.Effectively,they arenot-for-profit communitybanks, offering savingsand loansfor people who live in thearea, with astrong emphasis on personal service.
"Wedon't offerbanking apps," she says,addingthat, wherepossible, membersare positively encouraged to come into thebranchinBloxwichHigh Street andtalktoamemberofstaff
"Iftheytelephone us they won't be askedtopress differentbuttons, they will speaktoahuman being,"she says
Butwithout theadvertising budgets of thefinancialgiants, many people areunaware of theservicesthey provide.
"Peoplesee thesignand they think we'reatrade union,"she says Walsave, whichwas theoverall winner in last month'sExpress &Star Business Awards,isnot specifically aimed at peoplewithfinancialproblems.But just like herfamouscounterpart,whose TV series Bank of Dave sawhim helping peoplenegotiate all sortsoffinancialhurdles,Walsave's emphasis on one-to-one service meansMrs Lote andher staffinevitablyfind themselves talkingtopeople who arefindinglifedifficult.
"I wouldsay maybearoundabout 40 percentofour membership have hadorare having some type of difficulty," shesays.
Herstaff arenot trained to offerfinancialadvice, although they do point them in thedirection of professionals whoare qualified to help.Whatthey candoisoffer tailor-madeaccountsto help them manage theirbudgets
"Wesit them down,wedoabudget with them," shesays. "Wethen ringfencetheir personal finances. So if they have,say,anincomeof£1,500 andtheirbills are£1,000, then we'll ring-fence that £1,000 to paythe bills, andthen the£500wewillgivethem either weekly,fortnightly or monthly."
This hasbecomeacommonproblemsince UniversalCreditswitched from beingpaidweeklytomonthly,she says meaningmanypeoplestruggleto manage theirfinances
What,inher experiencesare the majorcausesofpeoplegetting themselves into financial difficulties, and howcan they be avoided?
"You canbegoing alongreally well with life,really, really well,can't you, andthen somethingwillhit you," shesays. "You canhaveanillness Youcan lose your job, youcan have
ANNLOTE, CHIEFEXECUTIVE OF WALSAVECREDITUNION, IN BLOXWICH,WALSALL
amarriagebreak-up. Youcan have a childthat'sbecomepoorly, anditall hasanimpactonthathousehold and thefinances."
Aslightchangeincircumstances canalsoturnTheresa May'sfamous 'JustAbout Managings' into 'UnableTo Manage', shesays.
"We've gotagenerationofyoung families whoare working, they'vegot twojobs, they'retryingtokeeptheir headsabove water, andthere's no real helpfor that type of criteria," shesays.
"There's alot of financial abuse, forwomen andmen," shesaid. "There wasaman recently whosplit up with hiswife, shetookeverything, andhe hadgot nothing. So we helpedhim with thedepositfor aflat,and we had alovelythankyouletterfromhim to saywehad helped himout of adifficult position."
To avoidfinancialproblems, Mrs Lote recommends gettingintothe savings habit–saying: "Evenifyou only save £1 aweek, that's £52you'vegot to spendatChristmas.”
Bradford Estatesprovides aboost forlocal business
Businesses arebenefiting from growth opportunitiesbeing offeredonthe Bradford Estates, to increase skilled employment locally andboost thearea’seconomy.
Farmingbusinessesoperating in thefresh produceand horticultural sectorsare licensinglandoff theBradford Farminginhandfarm, whichhas itsbaseatWoodlands Farm on the edge of Weston-under-Lizard.
Across sectionofcompanies are leasing properties in Bradford Estates’ Business Villages,aninitiativetoconvert high quality, surplusfarmbuildings into flexiblecommercialspaces.
With ahistory dating from 1066, Bradford Estateshas arange of business offeringsacrossits main land holdingof12,000 acresonthe Shropshire-Staffordshire bordersand is guided by aprinciple of beinga responsivelandowner invested in the future of thelocal economy.
LedbymanagingdirectorAlexanderNewport,the business also encompassesindustrialpropertyinvestment,sustainable forestry,leisure andlocal housingprovision.
Alexandersaid: “BradfordEstates is unique in offering awiderange of agricultural andcommercialbusiness opportunities undersinglemanagement in thelocal area
“Our improvingsoilhealthand professional management is proving increasingly attractive forarange of agricultureoperators,while ourbusi-
CHRISHODSON, OF BRADFORD ESTATESWITHTIM SMITH OF DAVIDAUSTINROSES
ness villageoccupiers seethe appeal of commercial spaces whichcan be both adaptableand cost effectivein comparison withpurpose-built buildings in TelfordorWolverhampton as well as having theflexibility to expand if theneedarises."
Otheragricultural licencees includeWoodhallGrowers,a producerofonionsand potatoes based at LangleyLawnFarm, near Codsall Wood,and PDMGroup,which utilises 3,800-acresacrossthe region to supplyavariety of saladcrops
Huntapac recently extended its relationship with thelandowner to licencemorefarmlandtogrowparsnips as well as carrotsfor customers includingleading supermarkets as well as take buildingsfor itsregionalbase
at Bradford Estates’ Woodside Farm, near Shifnal. BasedatLynnSouth Farm,nearNewport,ShropshirePetalsisone of twohorticultural businesses operatingonthe estates, growing avariety of flowers fora rangeofuses includingbiodegradableconfettiused forweddingsand celebrations
Anotherhorticultural arrivalis renowned Albrighton-based rose breederDavid Austin Roses, which expanded onto theBradfordEstates to licenceirrigated land to grow flowers on 28-acres andcommerciallylease former agricultural buildingsfor its operations alongsideHuntapac.
Thebusinessvillages have recently welcomed ahostofnew occupiers includingvending machinecompany TotallyDelicious to Brineton Business Villageand Woodshires,a timber products business,toBradfordEstates Business Centre
Others to join includegrounds maintenanceand tree surgerybusiness Penson Groundcare,car restorer Minton &Whyles, fencingbusiness Profence andalocal furniturerestorer.
Dogdaycare provider K9 Anytime hasopenedits second centre,having transformedatraditional brickand tile threshingbarnand twomodernsteel framed buildingsatUpper Brockhurst Business Village, on Brockhurst Road
Thenew hubemploys fivefull-time trainedprofessionals whoprovide high-quality care forupto60dogs dailyinindoorand outdoorspaces.
WOODSIDE FARM BUSINESS VILLAGE
UK Fire Door Training firmexpands
UK Fire Door Training,the 2024 Express&StarYoung Business of the Year winner,has expanded itspracticaltrainingcentreinresponseto recorddemand.
Sincelastyear, thebusinesshas doubledinsize, with practicaltraining bookings surgingand newinvestment flowing into itsWolverhampton facility
Thecompany,based at ModularBusinessPark, Four Ashes, has redevelopedpartofits headquarters to create alarger, more advanced facility forhands-ontraining, moving allpractical sessions to anew firstfloor spacethatcan accommodateup to 12 learners persession,doublingits previous capacity
As aresult, thefirm is settotrain more than 1,200practical learners in 2025,confirming itsstatusasthe UK’s largestdedicated provider of practical firedoortraining. Afurther 2,000 peopleare trained online,bringingtotal annual learners to more than 3,000.
“The days of tickingboxes areover —employers want clearproof that carpenters andjoiners aregenuinely competent. That meanshavingthe skills,knowledge,experience, andbehaviours to installfire doorscorrectly
“Since launchingin2021, UK Fire Door Training hasgrown to become
theUK’slargest provider of practical firedoortraining, andthisexpansion is adirectresponsetothe standardsthe industry nowexpects.”
UK Fire Door Training,which delivers more than 80 practicalsessions each month, is noweyeinguppotential expansion to newcentres across the UK andinthe USA.
MD Jonnysaid. “There’s more to come.Thisisjustthe first phase.”
Levi Walters ME
23 NEWS
FILM-MAKER PRESERVES MEMORIES
SIMONDODD–HEADOFOPERATIONS AT DUDLEY BUILDING SOCIETY
Kick-start forrural bankinginthe region
ABlack Countrybuildingsociety says anew branch in Bridgnorth will help to kick-start effortstodeliver bankingservicesfor rural communitiesinthe region
Dudley Building Societylaunchedits new branch in Bridgnorth this summer,reversing a trendofclosuresinthe town whichhas seen both Lloyds andBarclaysdepartBridgnorth, to thedismayof the town's residents.
Now, Dudley BuildingSocietyjoins HSBC andNationwidein offering retail permanent face-to-face banking operations in thetown, amovewhich it says
will kickstartits effort to deliverrural bankingin smallertowns andvillagesinthe Bridgnorth area
"Itreallyisamilestone, it's ourfirstnew branch in 15 yearsand areallybig step in our strategy to grow our presence on thehigh street," said Simon Dodd,the building society'sheadofretail operations
"Partofour strategy is to expand ourbranch networkand we looked at alot of different locations andobviously we didour research,but as soon as we came to Bridgnorth we gotthe rightfeeling "It'ssuchavibrant
ALDI HIRING 100STORE
Aldi is actively recruiting for100 storecolleagues in theWestMidlands andStaffordshire
TheUK’sfourth-largestsupermarket, whichoperatesmore than 1,050storesand employsover45,000 people,ishiringfor a wide rangeof full and part-timepositions such as storeassistant
andstore management apprentice,uptostore manager, with salaries of up to £67,000
Aldi offers industry-leadingpay,with storeassistantsearning astartinghourlyrate of £12.75 nationally,
community, aprosperouscommunity and somewherewithloads andloads of potential, so we'rereallyproud to be here andproud to call it oneofour homes as we go forward.
"The openingofour Bridgnorth locationis areallybig step in our branch strategy andin ourapproach to branches andhub," addedMr Dodd
"Our Bridgnorth location is ourhub for this area
"We're notjust openingour doors in Bridgnorth,we're openingour doorstothe communityand taking ourservicesout to the townsand villages."
COLLEAGUES
increasing to £13.66, basedonthe length of service. In London,the starting rate is £14.05 perhour, rising to £14.35
Thesupermarket is also lookingtoopen newstoresinWolverhampton, Bloxwich and Birmingham To applyvisit aldirecruitment.co.uk
An award-winning former TV documentary-maker haslaunched anew business that aimstohelppeoplepreservepriceless family memories andhistories forfuturegenerations.
SusanJones,an ITVCentral documentary-maker turned corporate videoproducer, has launched Family Legacy Filmstooffer bespoke videos to captureand preserve theprecious storiesofloved ones
Having personally experiencedthe loss of both parents, Belbroughton-basedSusan said:"Ourolder generations areatreasure troveofinformation Knowingwhere we come from,our family history, family tree,how elderlyrelatives lived andworked, theirfunny storiesand family values is so precious.When we
lose importantpeople in ourlives,written and visual recordscan bring back memories of them, helping us remember everything that made them specialand unique
Shehas also recently startedtooffer Pet Legacy Filmstoo
Carlton Care has been providing high quality care for over 40 years
Discover the warmth of our community and explore our facilities and amenities that ensure a comfortable and vibrant lifestyle for our residents.
26 NEWS
HONOURIS A ‘MOMENT OFPRIDE’
TheMayor of Wolverhampton,Councillor CraigCollingswood, was amongspecial guests at theanniversary celebrationwhere he heaped praisedonKan Koowho is Honorary Presidentof theUKChineseCulinary CultureAssociation
He said:"This branch of COSMOis morethanarestaurant, it's agathering place, a second home,a place wherefamilies celebrate, friendsreconnect andculturesare shared platebyplate."
TheMayor praised MrKoo for"beingthe beatingheart"ofthe popularrestaurantwhich caters forapproximately 3,000 covers aweek and150,000-160,000 a year –equalling more than twomillion meals served up over thepast 15 years.
He said:"From
openingday to today he hasled with passion, dedication andan unwavering commitment to excellence
He addedthatMr Koo'sRoyal honour, awardedlastmonth, wasa“moment of pride”, notjustfor therestaurateur butfor theWolverhamptoncommunity too.
Beyond Wolverhampton, theCOSMO brandencompasses a further20other restaurantsacrossthe UK, with Mr Kooalsoowning theCOSMO eatery in Derby.
Wolverhampton’s popular COSMOrestaurant at BentleyBridge retail park marked its 15th anniversarywith avibrant celebration attended by dignitaries, loyalcustomers andsuppliers.
Theevent on June 20,which featured a traditionalliondance andspeeches, commemoratedasignificant milestonefor theall you caneat buffet establishment whichservesup dishes from around the world.
Multi-awardwinning entrepreneur KanKoo, director of COSMO Restaurant Group, expressedhis delightat markingthe anniversary,
saying:"It's amilestone I'mfeeling really good andreallyproud."
He acknowledged thecurrent difficulties facing businesses in the hospitalitysectoramid thecostoflivingcrisis butaffirmed Cosmo's resilience,saying: "It's very challengingfor the hospitalitysectorright nowwiththe cost of living crisis,lotsofother businesses aregoing down,but we'reploughingonand keepingour headsabove water. We always remain positive."
Mr.Koo,who has been in therestaurant industry for40years, wasmadeanMBE (Memberofthe Orderof theBritish Empire)inthe
King's NewYearHonours List forservicesto thehospitality industry andhewas presented with thehonouratWindsorCastleonMay 13 by HRHPrinceWilliam Mr Koo, whohas picked up numerous accoladesoverthe yearsfor COSMOincludingGoldenChopsticks Awards anda topaward forthe UK's best buffet at theannual Food Awards England in 2023,saidhewas overjoyedwiththe Royal recognition. He added: "I didn't even know whonominatedme. It wasareally pleasant surprise.I'm delightedwiththe recognition."
3RD -31ST AUGUST 2025 |MONDAY TO THURSDAY
TAKE A PHOTO OF THIS OFFER TO REDEEM IN STORE
BENTLEY BRIDGE RETAIL PARK, WEDNESFIELD, WOLVERHAMPTONWV11 1BP
Offer isvalid anytimeMonday to Thursday,3rd to 31st August 2025. To redeem theoffer, please present apictureofthisoffertoyourserver when being seated. Offer is valid withabooking made in advance quoting“15YEARS”. Offer is 15%offonfood bill forfoodonlyand excludesdrinks. Offer cannot be used in conjunctionwith anyother offer.COSMO reserves theright to withdraw this offer at any time without prior notice. Restaurant manager’s decision is final. ValidatCOSMOWolverhamptononly.
*Terms and Conditions apply. Sold as an agent of Euronics Limited. Allrightsreserved. Alloffers aresubjecttoavailabilitywhile stocks last.Delivery& Installation charges mayapplyExclusions and Radius Apply. Seeinstore forfulldetails.Images forillustration purposes only. Copyright Euronics 2024. E&OE 2024.
SUCCESSFUL FIRMS AWARDED ROYALSEALOF APPROVAL
BeverlyRademacher
Araftofsuccessful companiesinthe West Midlands were giventhe Royalseal of approval last month when they were confirmedaswinners of theprestigious King’s Awardfor Enterprise -the highestofficial UK awardfor British businesses.
Bowers &Jones,in Bilstonwas among12
businesses in theregion recognised with the awardwhich commends companiesthathave played akey role in the Government’s mission foreconomicgrowth.
Thecompany, whichspecialises in the design,manufacture andrefurbishment of equipment forthe metal formingindustry, was recognised forits growth
in exports.
Anotherrecipient wasCradley Heath family firmRunFlat International,aleading producer of runflat tyre technology whichhelps to keep military personnel anddignitaries safe around theworld by enabling vehicles to keep goingifa tyre is deflated.
Also recognised was Wednesbury’s Exol Lubricants,a trustedglobal supplier of high-performancelubricantsfor automotive,industrial, agricultural,off-highway andcommercialapplications; andHednesford’s Mobell Communications, whichprovidescommunications solutions forpeoplemovingtoor travelling in Japanand Japanese people living or travelling in theUSA
32 NEWS
£150,000 boostfor talent academy
One of theUK’sfastest growing principalcontractors haspledged to boostspendingonits Early Years’ Talent Academyaspartofits 15th anniversarycelebrations.
Inco Contracts, whichhas offices in Cannock, Cardiff, Stevenageand Warrington,is increasing itsinvestment to £150,000 peryeartohelp fight thegrowing skills gapfacingthe construction sector
This will encompassanevenmore comprehensiveprogramme,offering apprenticeships, on-the-job learning, formal qualificationsand one-to-one mentoringfromits senior leadership team.Ithas been speciallydesigned to attractindividuals into thesector andretain existing talent
TheEarly Years’ Talent Academy hasbeena resounding successso farfor thebusiness, with sixyoung people trained from thebasicsinto highly skilled professionalswithsome alreadyprogressing into managerial positions.
“Skillsare agrowing issuefor our sector andour ability to grow.Rather than standstill,wedecided to take positive action andcreateour own trainingprogramme,” said operations director SamNorton, wholed theMBO with managing director DavidCotterill in 2020
“Thishas been afantastic initiative forattractingyoung talent to join us as afledglingcontractorand we wanted
to furtherrenewour commitment to this.Our 15th anniversaryfeltlikethe perfectopportunity to extend it by increasing thefunding to £150,000.”
Inco Contracts, whichcelebrates its15thanniversary this July,isa specialist in industrial,commercialand educationrefurbishment schemes across theUK, completing hundreds of projects everyyear–which often tend to be turnkeyinnature.
APPRENTICESHIPS: SHAPINGFUTURES
Theneedtoaddress theskillsgap is becoming ever more clearand is asubject receivingattention among educationaland business commentators.
Staffrecruitment is notonlyacostly exercise,but also achallenging one, duetothe skillsshortages across the localarea. As aresults organisations arenow seekingalternative ways to bridge thegap
Apprenticeships providea practical, cost-effective solution to building a skilled workforcewhile nurturingtalent within your business.Withthisinmind, HalesowenCollege hasdeveloped an extensiverange of apprenticeship standardsdesignedtomeetthe demandsofkey sectors, including: Business,Marketing andFinance,CustomerServices, Pharmacy,Healthcare Sciences andSocialCare, EarlyYears andDigital andITindustries, Taking on an apprenticeship can bringawealthofbenefits to both businesses andindividuals lookingto upskill or launch theircareers to your business andorganisation.
Government supportfor SMEs
As of Aprilthisyear, theGovern-
ment hassimplified theprocess for smalland medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),coveringapprenticeshiptrainingcosts foremployees aged 16-21. Flexibility forbusinesses
Trainingcan be tailored to meet your specificindustryneeds,cultivating aloyal andcapable team that drives business growth
Developing askilled workforce
Hiring an apprentice is an efficient and impactfulway to nurturetalentand developamotivated,skilled,and qualifiedteam. It’s awin-win forbusinesses andapprentices alike, providinga pathwaytofulfilling careerswhile deliveringtangiblebenefitstoemployers
Whatever thesizeofyourorganisation, HalesowenCollege is ready to supportyou everystepofthe way to ensure asuccessfuloutcome
From theverybeginning,you can be assuredofa comprehensive supportnetwork to guidebothyou
andyourapprenticethroughoutthe programme. Youwill be advisedon funding, incentives andthe Apprenticeship Levy,soyou canbeconfident youhaveall theinformation youneed to make informed decisions. Once your apprentice is in place, they will benefit from thesupport of aqualified andsector-experiencedassessor whowill guidethem throughout their programme
Apprenticeshipsare more than just atrainingopportunity,theyare asmart investment forany organisation,large or small. By partnering with Halesowen College, youcan buildaskilled workforcewhile also contributing to thedevelopment of talent in ourlocal community.
Whetheryou’relooking to recruit freshtalentordevelop your current team,our tailored apprenticeship programmes aredesignedtohelpyour business succeed.
Formoreinformation on apprenticeshipsand howHalesowenCollege cansupport your business,contact us on 0121 6027777 or emailapprenticeship@halesowen.ac.uk
Let’sworktogethertoclose the skillsgap andcreateabrighterfuture.
MAADIYAH HAMID–BUSINESS ADMINAPPRENTICESHIP
ELLIEMARSH –DIGITAL MARKETING APPRENTICESHIP
JOHN JOSEPH DONOVAN
Back in September 1997 John Joseph Donovan was a man with a van and a plan – to provide a reliable, honest and customer-centric transport service.
Now, almost 30 years on, he's an international businessman running one of the UK's most respected companies in time-critical high-security logistics - and he's just been crowned Business Person of the Year at the Express & Star Business Awards 2025
Not one to blow
his own trumpet, John credits his strong teamcomprising of family and dedicated employees who have become just like family - for the win.
Unable to collect the honour in person at the awards ceremony, as he was out of the country opening a new office, he was later presented with his trophy, sponsored by real estate investors Richardson, by Martyn Richardson on June 23
“I'M REALLY PROUD OF IT, PROUD OF MY TEAM WHO PUT ME HERE MORE THAN ANYTHING. IT JUST MEANS SO MUCH TO ME.”
John said of the accolade: "I was up against some really, really stiff competition. I'm really proud of it, proud of my team who put me here more than anything It just means so much to me."
The award joy comes just after the opening of
JJX's first international office in Dublin, Ireland, and after an appearance at the UK and Ireland's premier freight, transport, logistics and supply chain management event at the NEC Birmingham
It wasn't always awards and international travel though John started JJX from his bedroom in Willenhall
In the early days when he first presented his business plan to the bank he claims he was laughed out of the building - but the knock
IN TE RV IE W
38 INTERVIEW
back made himmore determined andfor the next 11 yearsheworked as afull-time driver, operatingJJX Logistics from theroad.
By 2008 thebusiness hadgrown to a five-vehiclefleetand John movedout of the caband into theoffice
Over theyears his company, first basedin Cooper Street,Wolverhampton,and now basedonthe Pensnett TradingEstateinKingswinford,has evolved from agenerallogistics provider to become oneofthe UK’s most respectednames in time-criticalhigh-security logistics-responsiblefor shipping goods across theUK and Europe by road,air,sea andrail.
As well as allmanner of everyday goodsand items, FormulaE cars andhighvalue wine for theRoyal family arejust some of theimportant shipmentsJJX hasbeen tasked with transporting
As of 2025,JJX employs71peopleand
it hasjustachieveda record-breaking£8.02 millionturnover, marking a16per cent year-onyear growth andthe most profitableyearto date forthe company whichfocuses on premium solutionswhere trust, reliability and qualitymattermorethan price
As this articlewent to press, thebusiness wasalsoonthe verge of signing itsbiggest contract to date with Brierley Hill basedfurniture companyAshley ManorUpholstery.
Thedealisexpected to result in thecreation of sixnew jobs at JJX.
John,aged58, however,willnot be resting on hislaurels with his achievements to date He hashis sights seton openinganew officein theNetherlands by the endofthe year andafter that he wouldn't mind expandingtoSpain or Turkey
It's notjustabout business growth either forJohn, who is abig believer in championing
talent andthiswas noted by theE&S Business Awards judges JanJenningsand Narinder Paul whosaid: "Heremains committedtofostering youngprofessionals into management roles throughsignificant investmentsintraining andcareerdevelopment."
John’s community contributions areequally inspiring. During the Covid-19 pandemic,he ledfundraising effortsto supportBlack Countrycharities andmore recently JJXbecame apatronofthe Wolves Foundation as well as continuingthe firm's long-standingcharitable work supporting the likesofBlack Country Mental Health,Black CountryFoodbank, West Midlands Police's Life or Knifecampaign andthe Alzheimer’s Society.
John,who hasa cabinetfullofawards wonoverthe years, said he neverexpected to winthe Business Person of theYear
accolade -inthe face of competitionfromtop bosses from Steelway in Wolverhamptonand Star ScaffoldinginWest Bromwich butitwas welcomenewsfor sure as he arrivedhomefrom theopening of hisfirst overseas office.
He said:"I'mvery overwhelmed. It wasa big, bigachievement for me.I'm stillnumbabout it."
Theaward comesa year afterJohnwas given aspecial recognition accolade at the2024 E&SBusinessAwards.
Theawardsrecognise John’s resilience andsuccess as the haulageindustryfaces continualpost-Brexit customschallenges, changestoG7governmentsand fast rising operationalcosts Whatever happens, customerscan rest assuredJohnremains aman with avan anda plan.Today,however, he’s alocal legend of a businessman, with lots of trucks andbigger plans!
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SANDWELL COLLEGE APPRENTICESHIPS
BUILDYOUR WORKFORCEWITH APPRENTICESHIPS
Whetheryou’re growing your team or upskilling staff, Sandwell College makes apprenticeships easy.
•15high-quality standards
•Flexible delivery
•Tailored support
•Realreturn on investment
BOOK AVIEWING
Whyjointhe
HireanApprentice andnurture newtalent foryour business
Designed with businesses in mind, apprenticeshipsoffer ablendof hands-on experience within your industryand offthe jobtrainingto develop keyknowledge, skills and behavioursthat your business requires to thrive.
Open to anyone aged 16 andover, apprenticeships cansupportyou in notonlyrecruitingnew talent,but can also be theanswertoupskilling your current staff to meet skills gaps within your business
Engage with us andyou will benefit from:
•Access to apool of candidates who have been screened forsuitability
•Anopportunity to trainnew talent andworktowards long term success
•Adviceongovernment fundingand grants to supportthe training of your apprentice
•A cost-effective solutiontoaddress growingdemands on your business andplugskills gaps
Contactour ApprenticeshipTeamtofind outhow we can help yourbusiness. Email: apprenticeships@halesowen.ac.uk
