Plympton Magazine November 2021

November 2021 | Area 2

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THE BOTTLING PLANT We spoke with the owners of The Bottling Plant to find out more about the history of the building and their plans for the future

Two Tick Gold Pl u e Palo ts to se s m e in P a Fait h lym outh

NETTL OF PLYMOUTH Aaron Staple, managing director of Nettl of Plymouth tells us all about the digital marketing and branding company

SWAYE ELECTRICAL We hear from Ashley Ward, owner and founder of SWAYE Electrical to learn more about the services they offer and what makes them unique

DREAM DOORS David Ward, business owner of Dream Doors Plymouth, tells us all about the UK’s No.1 Kitchen Makeover Company

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR Myles Lockwood myles@oracle.uk.net

Area 2

DESIGN EDITOR Amy Fry BA (Hons) editor@oracle.uk.net

Editor’s Note...

ACCOUNTS Emma-Jane Corry BS (Hons) emma@oracle.uk.net

November has finally arrived and we are welcoming the hat, scarf and gloves weather! Our Christmas lists are growing and we’re dusting off the Poppies for Remembrance Day.

SALES MANAGERS Myles Lockwood Matt White sales@oracle.uk.net

Owners of The Bottling Plant, Andrew and Tracey, are preparing for a busy Winter at the exclusive, yet inclusive, barbican restaurant + cocktail lounge. You can read all about what treats they have in store on Page 6.

GRAPHIC DESIGN Amy Fry BA (Hons)

PHOTOGRAPHY Front Cover - Pexels Pixabay | Pexels | Freepik SISTER MAGAZINE OM Plymouth www.omplymouthmagazine.co.uk

E TO IF YOU WOULD LIK ADVERTISE FOR AS LITTLE AS £46.10 A MONTH IN THE ITY PLYMPTON COMMUN MAGAZINE please call sales on

Swaye Electrical is one of Plymouth’s most popular and highly rated electrical services companies and you can find out exactly what makes them so successful.

Nettl specialise in Web Design and they’re one of the highest rated website designers in the city. Turn to pages 16 to find out how they handcraft their wondrous websites and how they do it so well!

David Ward, business owner of Dream Doors Plymouth, tells us all about the UK’s No.1 Kitchen Makeover Company We hope you have a wonderful November!

Amy

Amy Fry - Editor

01752 691007 e.co.uk

Contents

zin www.plymptonmaga

November 2021

The Plympton Community Magazine, Oracle Publications, Unit 5, Bowker House, Lee Mill, Nr. Ivybridge, PL21 9EF

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The Door Doctor

22

Recipes

Copyright © 2021 The Plympton Community Magazine.

All rights reserved. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the expressed written permission of the publisher. We have done our utmost to ensure that all the content is correct and accurate at the time of print, but we emphasise that Oracle Publications accepts no responsibility for any mistakes or omissions in this publication. All opinions expressed in The Plympton Magazine are that of the individual contributor and are not always shared by the publication.

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Plympton Photoshop

24

Countdown to Christmas

6

The Bottling Plant

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Plympton Xmas Lights

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The Box’s New Installation

30

SWAYE Electrical

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Paloma Faith in Plymouth

33

Sunrise Windows

16

Nettl of Plymouth

35

Russells Flooring

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Moorland Heating

20 Dream Doors

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with one another which led Tracey onto calling off her wedding and rekindling her love for Andrew.

Barbican Restaurant Cocktail Lounge Andrew and Tracey Cotterell ‘Unique, quirky and a home from home’ is 5 Southside Street Plymouth PL1customers 2LA how their loyal would describe The Bottling Plant. In terms of comfort, quality and Tel: 01752 511511 style, The Bottling Plant Restaurant Cocktail Lounge located on the bustling Southside www.TheBottlingPlant.co.uk Street, has it all. With a rich history from housing Plymouth Gin’s bottling plant, Robert Lenkiewicz’s studio and home, to most recently, the Panier market, it is no surprise that owners Andrew and Tracey Cotterell are very proud to call it their own. Andrew and Tracey have collectively built a history for themselves which has led them up to taking on the challenge of converting this grade 2 listed building into something unique and worth talking about.

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he couple met at Midnight Mass in Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire in 1979. Nervous at first, it took Andrew two months after meeting Tracey to finally pluck up the courage to ask her out on a date. They spent two happy years together before Tracey amicably left to continue her career studies at Aberystwyth University.

Determined to get the two back together again, Tracey’s mum played matchmaker however, her efforts dwindled as Tracey decided to move to Canada to travel, therefore the couple stayed apart.

After two years of Tracey living in Canada, both Andrew and Tracey had met someone else at the time and Tracey was engaged to be married. Busy sorting out the wedding and her visa to stay in Canada, Tracey came back to the UK, but her mother had other ideas after bumping into Andrew and inviting him to their family meal. Delighted to see Tracey again, the two reconnected over that meal and discovered something special in their relationship

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Andrew was working in Data Comms at the time and had a keen eye for business and engineering at a time when the communications industry was evolving rapidly. Andrew and Tracey managed to make enough money to purchase an old, derelict manor in Wiltshire called Stanton Manor. This was when the couple had their first taste of working and renovating a beautiful building. Keen to turn it into a restaurant and hotel, the couple found themselves re-living Fawlty Towers moments with many obstacles around every corner.

In the early history of the new life of the manor , the two tied the knot and were the first couple to be wed in their newly restored manor house and wedding venue.

After putting in the work at Stanton Manor for a year or two, Andrew returned to Data Comms where he felt more comfortable and proceeded to build on his experience in the industry. Tracey and Andrew decided the restaurant trade was perhaps not for them at this point. Tracey ran a small mobile saddlery and publishing business. The couple also started a family and Andrew found himself working away a lot and missing his boys’ milestones.

Datacomms was becoming a boom industry and Andrew and a group of like-minded engineers got together to produce some world beating products and were soon bought out by a large American company.

The proceeds from this enable Andrew and Tracey to purchase a fine country house in somerset, where they lived for many years.

This was a grade 1 listed building, and they spent a lot of time and money renovating the house before moving in. The couple had then decided that it was time to switch roles so Tracey could focus on her career and Andrew could spend time with the children.

Tracey decided to undertake a law degree in 1996 and one year later, their youngest son was born. The couple both wanted to be close to their 4 boys and watch them grow up, so, Tracey set up a nursery school in a wing of their house which became very successful.

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Andrew is the sort of person who always wants to be doing something productive with his time therefore he combined his engineering background with his love for his boys and got creative! At the time, Robot Wars was their son, Alex’s favourite TV programme and being the pro-active person that Andrew is, he took on the challenge of making their very own robot to compete in Robot Wars.

Andrew took the bull by the horns and set about building robots with the boys and in return had a few on-screen moments that he will cherish forever.

Several robots were produced and one is even on show inside The Bottling Plant.

Having done Robot Wars, he developed a mobile system called ‘Robogeddon’ which utilised a 3.5-tonne mobile robotic combat system which could be taken to theme parks and outside events so robotic combat was available for all to enjoy. He also created ‘Robo-Soccer’ with encouragement from well-known 80’s football star, Kevin Keegan!

This time of Andrew’s life was more about creating fun memories with his boys than anything else.

Although he did mention he was secretly very competitive during his time at Robot Wars.

In 2007, Andrew and Tracey had fortunately foreseen the economic crash which led them on to selling the estate and nursery just in time, after many happy years. The family then moved to Clifton and Tracey took up primary school teaching and Andrew decided to retire.

Their second oldest son Oliver went to study at the University of Plymouth in 2011 and after he moved into a dingy shared house , Andrew and Tracey took it upon themselves to purchase a property in Plymouth for Oliver and his friends to live in.

Andrew and Tracey had for many years been involved in purchasing and developing many different properties, so it seemed only fitting to carry on this trait in Plymouth. After a few more purchases, including one pub, it was nearly time to move to Plymouth full time.

They spotted The Bottling Plant and thought it was a very special property with its history and the stunning architecture.

What they had taken on was more than a renovation project, it had a rich history, a popular street to live up to and not to mention the Robert Lenkiewicz mural on the wall outside. The couple felt a certain amount of responsibility to protect its past whilst giving the people of Plymouth something amazing and unique.

With their previous grade 1 listed renovations, this grade 2 listed building was a different ‘kettle of fish’ and something that was probably more important than it first appeared. All they knew is that it had to be impressive and serve its history proudly.

They thought about having flats upstairs and something commercial downstairs but they never thought of running it themselves. Initially the ground floor was going to be let for others to make their mark, however, the more Andrew and Tracey thought about it the more appealing it became to make their own mark on the building. That way they would have complete control over what happened. There were many things that could go wrong and they had already taken the decision years ago not to go there again, but something was pulling them towards doing it again. At this point Tracey was working as an Assistant Head Teacher in Bristol, but decided to take early retirement from teaching and work with Andrew on this exciting new project.

They managed to obtain an alcohol licence for the business which meant they could look into having a restaurant or wine bar so the idea, which began as a café wine bar attracted a lot of attention, and a few helpful comments asking if they could offer a wider selection of food. So, the journey had begun and the evolution of The Bottling Plant moved on.

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Andrew and Tracey have spared no expense when designing the interior space of the lounge and dining area. The whole room follows a running theme of 18th century, industrial and silver screen icons. There are hints of the building’s history with re-used old tables from when it was the bottling plant for Plymouth Gin and the workers used to stick the broken stickers underneath the desks. As well as this, there is a Robert Lenkiewicz glass etching hung on the wall which they found in the attic when they were renovating the space and to this day no one knows where this etching originated from or indeed if it was created by Lenkiewicz himself, and more importantly, who the woman in the picture really is.

The Bottling Plant opened in March 2020, and for obvious reasons, they had to close very soon after.

At the time, they had just taken on Matt, as general manager but unfortunately missed out on the furlough scheme so they made the decision to pay him out of their own pocket and have him turn his hand to a bit of painting and decorating among other things to get the place looking perfect.

After the lockdown was over, they were finally able to find their feet and meet their customers. The lockdowns after this meant that they haven’t yet had a proper year so they are still evolving and changing things to suit their customers’ wants and needs.

When you enter The Bottling Plant, you are hit with a warm and relaxing ambience despite the natural industrial look of the building. ‘The more you look, the more you see!’ Everywhere you look, there are hidden gems and pieces of history from the building and Tracey and Andrews’ life. Some of the furniture has been donated from their old house and other pieces have been found along the way.

The menu is vast with breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, cake and cocktails on offer with different tables to suit each menu. The team at The Bottling Plant have thought very carefully about the floorplan and the positioning of tables so that each one has its own view. There are comfortable lounging chairs suitable for an afternoon tea or coffee and cake, bar stool tables ideal for an evening of cocktails and catch-ups as well as an array of vintage dining tables perfect for a large meal.

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The bar staff are very proud of their cocktail menu and have each designed their very own cocktail that they will gladly make for you. The kitchen team have designed the menu so that everybody is happy. They even have a cook-off if there are new dishes on the menu to give the staff the opportunity to give their thoughts on the dish and then the mixologists will provide a cocktail to compliment the food. It is this level of teamwork that really helps the day-to-day running of the restaurant go smoothly, and ensuring the customers are well looked after and the staff enjoy the working environment.

The staff have name badges from silver screen icons such as Frank Sinatra and Cary Grant which they find very amusing if a customer asks if that is their real name.

Two staff members will be taking on the monumental challenge of rowing from Gran Canaria to Barbados and are currently fundraising and taking any donations. The row will take place in mid-December, just after the monsoon season has ended. If you would like to donate, please head to www.gofundme. com/f/atlantic-row-ocean-warrior-challenge – any donations are welcome!

The most popular dish on the menu is The Bottling Plant burger, closely followed by the pork belly and the Sutton Seafood Platter. They also have a vast vegan menu with a very popular nut roast which is deliciously tender and full of flavour. Their food is fresh and they try to source their produce as locally as possible. the catch of the day and scallops are

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weekday Christmas meal in this room. There are a few tables left in the main restaurant on a couple of weekends in December, but these are booking fast.

They also have some amazing Christmas hampers on offer which can be purchased online or collected in The Bottling Plant.

Booking for a meal in The Bottling Plant for any occasion other than Christmas, isn’t essential however, it does get very busy on Saturdays therefore, to avoid disappointment, it is recommended you book. To book your next meal at The Bottling Plant, please see the details listed below.

Andrew and Tracey have become very fond of their unique restaurant and want to maintain full control of the process for a little while longer before letting Matt take over completely. The couple never wishes to sell the place as they know they are very lucky to own this very special building in the heart of the historic Plymouth Barbican.

from their local fish supplier only 400ft away from the door of The Bottling Plant!

Christmas at The Bottling Plant is yet to be seen due to the pandemic; however, they are promising amazing food, a unique dining experience and a beautiful ambience that will set your Christmas off perfectly. The chefs have decided to make the roast dinner slightly different by making it a platter instead of having it on one plate. This enhances the atmosphere as you are able to connect with others across the table and share the food around (although there will be plenty of food for everyone.)

They also have a private function room that can be booked out for Christmas parties and events which is where they also house their cocktail classes and wreath making classes. They are fully booked on the weekends in December in the function room up until Christmas however, it is still worth booking for a

01752 511511 info@thebottlingplant.co.uk www.thebottlingplant.co.uk

In the near future, they would like to finish renovating the two apartments on the first floor and put them on the popular holiday lettings site, Airbnb. They wish to target these apartments to the same customer base who love to spend time in the restaurant. The apartments will carry a similar theme to the rest of the interior with its history in mind.

Plans are also a-foot with the Robert Lenkiewicz mural restoration so keep your eyes peeled here to find out very soon!

The couple are very happy with what they have created so far. It has the perfect atmosphere, style and premium service they have always strived to achieve and would like nothing more for it to continue in the way it has and in turn grow in popularity with both locals and tourists. It is clear that the Bottling Plant’s décor, ambiance, style and characteristics are a historic map and tribute to the wonders of Andrew and Tracey’s incredible life journey.

The Bottling Plant, 5 Southside Street, Plymouth, PL1 2LA

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REMEMBRANCE DAY IN PLYMOUTH “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.”

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emembrance Day, also known as Armistice Day, marks the end of World War I in 1918.

On the 11th hour, on the 11th day, on the 11th month, WWI came to an end. From this day forward, we hold a 2-minute silence to remember those who fought and sacrificed their lives for our country’s freedom. The whole country holds a silence to think and appreciate every soldier from not just WWI, but every war, for us to be here today.

In Plymouth, Remembrance Day is particularly important due to its strong military history. With its location near the Royal Navy base, Royal Marines and the RAF base, most residents know someone currently serving in these Armed Forces.

Remembrance Day allows the people of Plymouth to commemorate those currently serving or those who have sadly lost their lives, fighting for our country.

During WWII, Plymouth suffered devastation from the bombings. Their main target was Devonport however, other areas of Plymouth were severely affected.

Nearly every civic building was ruined including places of worship and schools. Most of these were rebuilt however, one building still stands as a reminder of the Plymouth Blitz in 1941 which is Charles Church, located on the roundabout opposite Drakes Circus.

The remains of the Church after being bombed lie as a constant symbol of Remembrance in the city.

The bombings caused unstoppable fires that could be seen as far as Exeter and deep into Cornwall.

Many different memorial plaques, statues and monuments are situated across Plymouth to remember this devastating time. A few being on the Hoe and under the Belvedere Wedding Cake.

The Plymouth Hoe promenade is specifically dedicated to military parades, displays and commemorations which is located directly in front of these memorial statues that overlook the Plymouth Sound. This is where the Remembrance Sunday March takes place.

A poppy is worn, during November and at all ceremonies to show your support to the Armed Forces community.

The poppy has become a defining symbol of remembrance since 1921 when The Royal British Legion organised the ‘poppy appeal’ to remember those who had fallen in the ‘Great War’. The poppy itself stemmed from the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ written by Canadian doctor, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae following the death of his friend and brother in arms. There are several different metaphors for the poppy but the overall story comes from the battleground of Flanders Field where poppies became abundant. The blood-red colour has long symbolised blood spilt during conflict but also hope for the future.

When purchasing a poppy, the money goes towards vital funds to the British Legion. You can buy a poppy on the British Legion website or at your local supermarket or shop.

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STORYLINES: TRACKING THE SEVEN SISTERS 21 October 2021 – 27 February 2022 Plymouth, United Kingdom: Box is proud to announce the European premiere of the National Museum of Australia’s award-winning exhibition Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters from 21 October – 27 February 2022.

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he exhibition forms part of the UK/Australia Season 2021-22, a major programme of cultural exchange taking place across the two nations. The Box’s presentation of Songlines continues the museum’s track record of collaborating with First Peoples around the world and follows recent exhibitions co-curated with the Wampanoag of North America - Mayflower 400: Legend & Legacy as well as Wampum: Stories from the Shells of Native America.

Featuring over 300 paintings and objects by more than 100 artists, this is the first time the exhibition has been seen outside Australia. Originally staged at the National Museum of Australia (NMA) in Canberra and touring to Perth’s Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip, the exhibition has attracted over 400,000 visitors to date. Entirely conceived and curated by a team of First Australians, led by Margo Neale, Senior Indigenous Curator at the NMA and custodial elders from across the Central and Western Deserts of Australia, it expertly combines state-of-the art exhibition and display technologies with art, song and dance in order to share ancient stories from the world’s oldest continuing culture.

Seven Sisters Songline (1994) by Josephine Mick

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As an important city in Britain’s naval history, Plymouth’s close ties with Australia go back centuries as a point of departure and mass migration from the UK. Songlines’ timely arrival at The Box comes as societies in the UK, Australia and across the world grasp the urgent need to reflect and embrace cultural diversity and reevaluate our relationship with each other, our immediate environment, and the planet as a whole.

A world-first in scale and complexity, the exhibition was conceived with the ambition of preserving the Seven Sisters Dreaming stories – ancient creation sagas of the Australian continent – for future generations. The show provides an international platform for Indigenous voices to share Tjukurpa or Dreaming stories in new ways with contemporary artworks becoming portals to places in the deserts of the Martu, the Ngaanyatjarra and the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) peoples.

Songlines takes visitors on an epic journey that traverses three states, three deserts and some 500,000 square kilometres. The highly immersive exhibition travels from west to east: from the Western Australian coast to the APY Lands in the east, using the power of contemporary art, performance and song to re-animate traditional stories, photography, multimedia and the world’s highest-resolution sevenmetre-wide travelling dome. The ‘DomeLab‘ transports viewers to places deep in the desert relating to the Seven Sisters Songlines, including the remote Cave Hill site in South Australia – home to the only known Seven Sisters rock art in the world – as well as

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showing animated artworks and their relationship to the stars and constellations.

Songlines are a map of the land as well as a pathway for complex spiritual, cultural, political and historical truths or knowledges – and so much more. Songlines crisscross the land, creating a network of stories that ‘map’ the Australian continent by linking narratives to geographical features and serving as vehicles for naming and locating sites critical for survival physically and culturally. It is through Songlines that Aboriginal people can locate and learn from significant sites and pass on laws, ways of living, and moral codes to the next generation.

‘We have brought the song, story and paintings full of Tjukurpa, the creation spirit of the Seven Sisters, to put in our exhibition … so many other people can look, learn and increase their understanding,’ said Inawinytji Williamson, senior law woman and traditional owner of the Seven Sisters songline, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara lands, and spokesperson for the Community Curatorium who worked with the NMA to direct the representation of cultural material in the exhibition.

The Box’s showing of Songlines is part of the UK/ Australia Season 2021–22, a joint initiative by the British Council and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Through the theme ‘Who Are We Now?’, the Season will explore and reflect on the relationship between Australia and the UK across the arts, creative industries and higher education and will celebrate the diversity of cultures and languages in both countries. The Season will commence in September 2021, concluding in Australia in March 2022 and in the UK in December 2022. Songlines will then travel to the new Humboldt Forum in Berlin and Musée Quai Branly in Paris as well as proposed further venues across Europe, North America and Asia.

Margo Neale, Senior Indigenous Curator at the National Museum of Australia and lead curator of Songlines said: “For Aboriginal people, Songlines are our foundational stories about the creation of the Australian continent. This exhibition was initiated and co-curated by Indigenous communities who wanted to

Minyma Punu Kungkarangkalpa (Seven Sisters Tree Women) (2018), by Tjanpi Desert Weavers

both preserve their culture for future generations and to share their stories with all Australians and the world — this is the model for future Museum-Indigenous community collaborations going forward.

Director of the National Museum of Australia, Dr Mathew Trinca said: “I am immensely proud of Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters, which was the culmination of nearly seven years of collaboration between Indigenous communities and the National Museum. Nothing of this scale had been attempted before. It is significant that the first stop on our world tour of Songlines is at The Box in Plymouth, the city from where the UK and Australia relationship first began.”

Councillor Tudor Evans, Shadow Leader said: “Australia is home to the world’s oldest continuing culture and so it’s wonderful to see The Box continuing its excellent work with the world’s First Peoples, following on from their colloborations with the Wampanoag Advisory Committee on the presentation of our Mayflower 400: Legend & Legacy and Wampum: Stories from the Shells of Native America exhibitions. I so look forward to learning more about Aborginal culture and stories this autumn.“

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PALOMA FAITH Saturday 9th July PALOMA FAITH ANNOUNCES EXTENSIVE UK SUMMER 2022 TOUR PLYMOUTH – CENTRAL PARK – SATURDAY 09 JULY

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ouble platinum and BRIT award-winning artist Paloma Faith will embark on a huge UK summer tour and is delighted to performing at some amazing outdoor venues throughout the UK, including a date right here in Plymouth on Saturday 9th July 2022.

Talking about the tour Paloma said, “I’ve been touring my recent album Infinite Things and it’s been so invigorating seeing everyone out on the road around the UK. I’ve loved playing live again and I am beyond excited to announce my Summer 2022 tour. I love nothing more than singing for you all and hearing you sing back to me. There’s nothing like it.”

Performing an array of hits from her extensive and much loved repertoire. These homecoming shows will have fans singing along to classics such as “Only Love Can Hurt Like This” and “Lullaby” as well as new songs from her fifth studio album “Infinite Things”.

It’s been a busy year for the singer with Paloma releasing her BBC documentary ‘Paloma Faith: As I

Am’ earlier this year which received praise from critics and fans for it’s insight into the pop star’s life and frank discussions around motherhood. She also entered the world of interior design with the launch of her Paloma Home collection as well as filming season 3 of Pennyworth and the prequel series to Stephen Fears’ movie Dangerous Liaisons.

Liz Doogan-Hobbs MBE, CEO of Grandslam Live said: We’re delighted to be working with TEG MJR in producing Paloma’s show and working closely with the great team at Plymouth City Council. It’s great to be back out working on shows again after such a challenging time. This tour has been really well received by Paloma’s army of loyal fans and we’re looking forward to a great event in Plymouth.”

Councillor Mark Deacon, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure and Sport said: “Bringing more live music to Plymouth is hugely important to us at Plymouth City Council, so we’re delighted to be able to support Liz and her team in their plans to bring another event to Central Park next summer, following the success of the Tom Jones gig in September. Paloma Faith is a fantastic addition to the line-up of events taking place in Britain’s Ocean City during 2022 – it’s going to be an unmissable evening!”

The summer 2022 tour will feature songs from her most recent album ‘Infinite Things’ as well as all of her hits. Tickets for the tour go on general sale on Friday 15th October.

For tickets head to www.palomafaith.com

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TWO GOLD PLUS TICKETS WITH EARLY ENTRY WORTH £160 TO SEE PALOMA FAITH IN CENTRAL PARK, PLYMOUTH 9th july 2022

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by Frday 3rd December 2021 T’s&C’s: The voucher is non-transferable and no change can be given. Voucher cannot be exchanged for cash. Must be aged 18 or over. Voucher can be redeemed at Liz Hobbs Group.

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the store’s entire customer database complete with his own iMac. Grafenia plc who own Printing.com had essentially given Aaron the kickstart into creating the life he always wanted.

“Grafenia plc were fantastic and very helpful.”

The branding of any business is the first thing you notice. That is why it is essential to get it right, and Nettl of Plymouth can help you get it right! Passionate about delivering the people of Plymouth jaw-dropping graphic design and wondrous web design, Nettl of Plymouth are experts in digital marketing and branding. To find out more about the company and what they have been up to, we spoke with the managing director Aaron Staple.

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fter qualifying as a graphic designer in 2008 with a first-class BA (Hons) from Plymouth College of Art, Aaron delved into the working world of design and landed himself a job with Printing. com in 2011. Aaron worked as a design executive and by 2013, he owned one of their white label franchises.

Printing.com decided to close the company-owned store on Brettonside here in Plymouth, putting Aaron’s job and house at risk. With the hard work and potential that Aaron had shown whilst working at the company, Printing.com offered him a compromise agreement and a franchise. The money from the agreement covered the cost of the franchise and he was given

By January 2016, he moved from Grafenia’s white label franchise to Nettl of Plymouth, their new brand at the time. He moved over to Nettl as it is more focused on digital services like website design which he had a particular interest in.

Nettl is a national franchise but Nettl of Plymouth serves as a small, local business, where they offer a similar service to larger design agencies. Although they have the backing of a large company, you will receive a local service where you can have a coffee and a chat with them, as well as the assistance of a large, successful franchise.

The team at Nettl of Plymouth consist of three designers, Aaron, Darren, Simon and the Geeks at HQ, who are the developers behind the scenes that can build and code almost anything.

“The Geeks are worth their weight in gold.”

Whilst Aaron, Darren and Simon run the design side of things, the Geeks are about to help with custom development which means they can offer an affordable website design that is very high-end.

AWARD-WINNING WEB DESIGN Their premium quality websites have won them the Three Best Rated award as the best web designer in Plymouth and the Southern Enterprise award for the best web design and marketing company in Devon.

Nettl of Plymouth offer all services involved in the design from website design, SEO, Google ads, branding, graphic design, Facebook and LinkedIn ads and printing. They really do everything!

Aaron Staple, Managing Director

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A successful graphic designer will have their own style and way of working, but they also need to be adaptable and work to the clients brief. As brand stylists, they can offer design for any business by either following company brand guidelines or creating something new. Nettl of Plymouth keeps on top of current trends so they will always design with that in

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mind to give a fresh and modern look to your brand.

Aaron’s favourite project to date was building the website for Program10.co.uk because it was all about mind and body transformations, which Aaron is very interested in.

“I’m a firm believer in a healthy body, equals a healthy mind.”

The team at Nettl are very passionate about making your branding personal to you and your business which is why they take the extra time to fully understand your company and what you want to achieve from the branding.

It’s all too easy to judge a book by its cover, especially now that the internet and social media has become the first point of contact by customers and clients. The branding is the first thing you notice and if potential clients don’t like what they see, you often don’t get a chance to change their minds.

“Quite frankly, it’s not what you say, it’s how you look when you say it.”

Nettl can help you create a brand that stands out for all the right reasons, or they can give your current logo the facelift it’s been longing for.

The team at Nettl of Plymouth can offer affordable graphic design, branding and printing, and can build small and large websites from simple one-page brochure websites to huge e-commerce shops. They also offer SEO for just £200 a month.

Artwork for Plymouth Together Fund a-lock. The design work was for a charity ball in aid of the Plymouth Together Fund, raising funds for the families and victims of the recent shooting here in Plymouth.

Aaron looks forward to the day when a new website goes live and he gets to see how happy the client is and how much this means to them. The time spent on the design all becomes worthwhile as it provides Aaron with a real sense of achievement.

“My speciality is website design and SEO. I love it when a new website goes live and I see how happy the client is. It gives me a real sense of achievement.”

Looking towards the future, Aaron would love to have a unit or a shop front and expand the team as the workflow increases. He would ideally like the premises to be a comfortable space for both clients and staff. Maybe even have a coffee shop much like the Birmingham branch!

“I like to give back to the community.”

“It’s such an awesome place and design studio.”

Not only can they design branding for almost anything, but they have also aided the community and local charities. They built the Woodside Animal Welfare Trust website and offer them free support and edits when needed. This was one of Aaron’s favourite websites to build as he has a genuine love and care for animals and has even been called ‘Attenborough’ by his friends as a little joke for years.

The team at Nettl of Plymouth spend a lot of time and attention with each project, taking in all of the specifications from the client and gifting them in return with a creative masterpiece. From studying graphic design at university to continuing the passion throughout his career, it is clear that this is more than just a job to Aaron, but rather a hobby and he loves nothing more than seeing the clients happy faces at the end of the project.

Recently, they offered to design a free logo and social media graphics for Plymouth Business Charity Function, organised by Paul Montgomery of Sir Fix-

01752 982986 plymouth@nettl.com www.nettlofplymouth.co.uk

To book a chat with one of the designers, please see the details listed below, or visit the website.

Unit MSU9A, Drake Circus, Level 1, Charles Street, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 1EA

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19

The heart of the home for most people in the UK is located within the kitchen. Whether you’re rustling up a feast for the family or toasting to success with some celebratory drinks with friends; a lot of time is spent in your kitchen therefore it is important to get it right. Dream Doors understand their customer requirements when it comes to creating the perfect kitchen, with careful consideration towards choice, quality and value for money overlaid with exceptional customer service. We caught up with the Dream Doors Plymouth business owner, David Ward, to find out more about the highly reputable kitchen makeover company and the changes they have made since opening their doors in May 2019.

A

s we are well aware, kitchens don’t come cheap, but before deciding to rip out your old kitchen and starting from scratch, have you ever considered just changing the doors, and or the worktops to reduce the cost?

The Dream Doors franchise has been successfully transforming Britain’s kitchens since 1999, with 100 showrooms across the UK and over 92,000 installations completed. They are currently the No. 1 kitchen makeover company in the UK which can be proved by their constant positive reviews on Checkatrade. The company are passionate about putting the customer ahead of profit by offering affordable solutions from top quality makeovers to full replacement kitchens.

Many people often think they need to buy a whole new kitchen to make a big transformation. However, by making small changes such as updating the cupboard doors, changing worktops, replacing the tiles and even adding in some under cabinet lighting, can make a huge difference and save you thousands of pounds.

Up until May 2019, Dream Doors were located in 90 places across the UK and Plymouth wasn’t one of them. This was until David Ward had an aspiration to create his own business after a successful career in the Royal Marines. David wasn’t exactly sure about what business he was searching for; his main criteria was to establish a West Country based business working with high-quality products, the finest tradesmen and place customer service at the heart of the business. After months of researching different companies, he stumbled across a franchise opportunity with Dream Doors and noticed a gap in

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Business owner David Ward

the market in Plymouth and the surrounding areas.

The 100 Dream Doors showrooms are all individually operated businesses; therefore, David took it upon himself to open up a showroom in Plymouth. Two and a half years on, and David is yet to receive a single negative review from their clients. The small team have continuously received 10/10 reviews on Checkatrade and were genuinely gutted to have been given a rating of 9.5/10 with a glowing write up from a recent customer.

David recommends you check out their Checkatrade reviews on their website as they are honest and cannot be changed by anybody once they are submitted.

They are also all from genuine customers and cannot be submitted otherwise.

Examples of their reviews include: “I cannot praise this company enough! First-class, professional, and they added a personal touch on every occasion. Very pleased with the result, amazing quality, and would highly recommend them. I always try to work with local companies, not a lover of the big names! I also liked the fact that the consultant did not ask for final payment until he had come to see the kitchen and to ensure I was happy with it all.”

“The company’s approach to the job was meticulous and the results were excellent. All involved were committed to doing a good job. It was great value for money, especially compared with a conventional kitchen re-fit.”

The team operate with two principal carpenters and David who manages the team and does the planning and design work, meaning they only undertake two

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jobs at any given time to maintain the quality of their service. They also have likeminded gas engineers and electricians as required, it’s a small and highly focused team. David visits every single job during the process to make sure the same quality of work is applied throughout.

David tells us that good tradespeople are few and far between, they had trialled a few over time and David has been very selective of who he wants working for him. A small team doesn’t necessarily mean an unsuccessful business, in fact, it can mean quite the opposite. Dream Doors Plymouth want nothing more than happy customers which comes from great customer service throughout the process and a high-quality finish on the kitchen. Future growth will inevitably follow on given their excellent customer reviews and word of mouth compliments.

Not only is Dream Doors a cost-effective way of transforming a kitchen, but it is also more environmentally friendly as opposed to buying a brand-new kitchen because less material is required, and less waste goes to landfills.

The turnaround for jobs is entirely dependent on what needs to be done. Projects can take anything from a day for a small makeover to 10 days to replace a complete kitchen. Another benefit of Dream Doors is that you can still use the kitchen at the end of the day, even during a full kitchen refurb which makes the process a lot more convenient for the customer.

The breadth of choice is almost endless with a range of doors colours and styles, worktop options, flooring, tile, lighting and appliances. Everything is available to see in their showroom. To obtain a quote for your kitchen, it is always best to pop into their showroom on an appointment basis, located in Devonport, to have a look at everything that is on offer and speak to David about your options. They always bring your selected samples out for you to see in your kitchen as products may look very different in a showroom setting compared to your home. It’s a very soft approach, there’s no ‘hard sell’ sales staff in the process.

As well as kitchens, they also offer exceptional quality fitted wardrobes in a wide range of colours, patterns and materials to compliment your bedroom. The team can either swap just the doors or you can get a complete renovation and change the full inside shell of the wardrobe complete with lighting.

www.dreamdoors.co.uk pl@dreamdoors.co.uk

Dream Doors Plymouth Showroom

The team are always happy to work alongside you throughout the whole process to see what suits your kitchen and your requirements, and ensuring you are 100% happy every step of the way.

Dream Doors Plymouth operate from their showroom in Devonport and can cover Plymouth and the surrounding areas from Wembury and Plymstock to Looe, Saltash, Tavistock and Callington.

Since the last time we spoke to David, he mentioned he wanted to offer more educational opportunities for people within the community. The pandemic has prevented these plans from going ahead so far, however, they are currently in contact with an organisation that help people who have difficulty finding work and David is keen to collaborate in the near future. David is passionate about helping the community and is keen to help other local charities as the pandemic lifts.

Quite surprisingly, David is not overly focused on the growth of the company. In his own words ‘growth will come naturally; my focus is to look after my customers and my team. We want to finish 2022 with consistent 10/10 reviews from our customers’.

Attention to detail, exceptional customer rapport and a keen eye for quality tradespeople are the reason why Dream Doors Plymouth have received nothing but positive reviews that can all be seen for yourself on Checkatrade.

To get a quote or to speak to David about your next kitchen renovation, see details below.

Visit our showroom Vision Unit 3, Chapel Street, Plymouth, PL1 4GH

01752 564938

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OUR FAVOURITE

WARMING

RECIPE IDEAS Embrace the colder weather by treating yourself to some delicious recipes to warm you up. From gooey cookies to a wholesome roast, there is something for any occasion!

Lentil soup • • • • •

(Serves 4)

2l vegetable or ham stock 150g red lentils 6 carrots, finely chopped 2 medium leeks, sliced (about 300g) small handful of chopped parsley, to serve

ONE Heat the stock in a large pan and add the lentils. Bring to the boil and allow the lentils to soften for a few minutes.

TWO Add the carrots and leeks and season (don’t add salt if you use ham stock as it will make it too salty). Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 45-60 mins until the lentils have broken down. Scatter over the parsley and serve with buttered bread, if you like.

Slow cooker chicken tikka masala (Serves 4) • 8-12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, each cut into • 3 chunks • 2 tbsp veg or rapeseed oil • 1 large onion, chopped • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • thumb-sized piece ginger, finely grated or chopped • 3 tbsp tikka curry paste • 500ml passata • 1 tbsp tomato purée • 1 tbsp malt vinegar • 1 tbsp light brown soft sugar • 1 cinnamon stick • 5 cardamom pods • 100ml double cream • handful chopped coriander • cooked basmati rice, lime wedges and naan bread, to serve (optional) ONE Heat the slow cooker. Season the chicken, then put the oil in a wide frying pan and, once hot, add the chicken. Don’t overcrowd the pan – you may want to do this in batches. Cook over a high heat until the chicken is browned, then transfer it to the slow cooker. Add the onion, garlic and ginger to the pan and cook for a few mins until softened. Add a splash of water and scrape any bits from the bottom of the pan, then tip everything into the slow cooker.

TWO Add the remaining ingredients, except the cream and coriander, then season well and cover with a lid. Cook on low for 5-7 hrs or on high for 4-5 hrs. Add the cream and check the seasoning, adding more vinegar, sugar or salt if needed.

Cook for another 10-15 mins until hot. Ladle between bowls and garnish with the coriander.

Serve with rice, naan bread and lime wedges, if you like.

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Easy chocolate chip cookies (Serves 10) • • • • • • • •

120g butter, softened 75g light brown sugar 75g golden caster sugar 1 medium egg 1 tsp vanilla extract 180g plain flour ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 150g dark chocolate, cut into chunks

ONE Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line two baking sheets with parchment. Cream the butter and sugars together until very light and fluffy, then beat in the egg and vanilla. Once combined, stir in the flour, bicarb, chocolate and ¼ tsp salt.

TWO Scoop 10 large tbsps of the mixture onto the trays, leaving enough space between each to allow for spreading. Bake for 10-12 mins or until firm at the edges but still soft in the middle – they will harden a little as they cool. Leave to cool on the tray for a few mins before eating warm, or transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Will keep for three days in an airtight container.

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COUNTDOWN T

he nights are getting longer, the woolly hats and scarfs are in full swing and it’s the moment we’ve been waiting all year for… time to open the first door of your advent calendar! The exhilaration of opening your advent calendar each day signifies another day closer to Christmas, that feeling cannot be beaten! Luckily for you, we have done all of the hard work and assembled 9 of the best advent calendars on the market to get you ready for the big day! From beauty to coffee, we’ve got you covered!

Elsie Boo-tique Wax Melts £25 - £30 www.elsieboowax.com Shop your advent calendar locally this year from Elsie Boo-tique Wax melts located on The Barbican here in Plymouth. Reveal a new scent every day from behind each adorable door in the countdown to Christmas 2021. A gorgeous selection of brand-new festive scents & a few Elsie Boo faves thrown in too! Her wax melts are all hand-poured in Plymouth made from no paraffin, no soy, just 100% coconut wax. *Spoiler alert* Christmas Day brings an extra special gift! A hand wrapped, full sized Elsie Boo wax melt bar!

L’Occitane Classic Beauty £55.00 www.uk.loccitane.com After the success of last year’s L’Occitane advent calendar, we decided to see what their 2021 advent calendar has to offer. At first glance, the packaging design shows an illustrated quaint town at Christmas. With 24 irresistible surprises behind each door, from hand creams and body milk to essential oils shampoo and conditioners, there is a lot to be excited for.

Yawn Brew Coffee £35.00 www.yawnbrew.com Wake up each morning and smell the coffee! That is certainly what we did when this advent calendar arrived on a frosty morning in the office.

The packaging design is an illustrated snowy mountain scene which is lovely to look at each morning. With 24 different variations of coffee, this is one to be excited about. Each window has 18g of ground coffee, individually wrapped in biodegradable packaging with adorable little animal and winter-themed designs. Enjoy three ways as suggested on the back of the calendar; Brew French Press, V60/ Drip or Aeropress.

Each of these brewing methods has clear instructions.

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Cocoa Libre Vegan Chocolate £15.00 www.cocoalibre.co.uk Simple vegan chocolate done well! This luxury advent calendar features 24 gorgeous rice milk chocolate shapes including reindeer, Santa’s, stars and Christmas trees. Their chocolate is always Vegan, free from dairy, gluten, wheat, nuts and peanuts but you really can’t tell. The chocolate itself is really thick and perfect for a little treat once a day in the run up to Christmas. The packaging is beautiful and sophisticated, featuring Santa and his reindeer flying over a town in the snow.

Gin in a Tin £50.00 www.gininatin.co.uk Enjoy 12 days of gin from the experts, Gin in a Tin. This advent calendar holds a stunning collection, showcasing their twelve gins of distinction, that speak volumes, in stylish tins. A different G&T can be enjoyed each festive afternoon / evening throughout the 12 days of Christmas. They have amazing flavours such as Raspberry, Cardamon & Pomegranate and Orange Peel, Nutmeg & All Spice.

Please note: Flowers, glass and ribbon in their lifestyle image is not included.

Hot Chocolate For Two £60.00 www.whittard.co.uk

Gourmet Popcorn

For those winter nights; a hot chocolate, fluffy blanket and an open fire are all that is needed. We have you covered! Whittards have pulled it out of the bag with this beautiful and delicious advent calendar. Inside this advent calendar for two, you essentially get two for the price of one as there are two sachets per drawer. (Whether you share them is a different story.) They have really hit the high-end market with their packaging, it is truly stunning and really fun to open every day with its individual drawers! *Spoiler alert* There are 12 delectable flavours to discover from their signature Luxury and Luxury White to creative, cutting-edge concoctions Sticky Toffee Pudding and Peanut Butter.

£30.00 www.joeandsephs.co.uk Dive into Christmas this year with Joe & Seph’s Handmade Gourmet Popcorn! The packaging design shows a wintery Joe & Seph’s shop and kitchen that you can see through the windows, with a story about Joe and how the company came about in the inside. We tried their gourmet popcorn last year and we were a big fan so we decided to come back for more! Behind each of the 24 doors, hides 19 individual flavours including a merry collection of our most popular gourmet popcorn flavours, our festive favourites and several marvellous exclusives.

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GLOSSYBOX £85 for subscribers, £105 for non subscribers www.glossybox.co.uk For all of your beauty requirements, wants and needs, GLOSSYBOX has you covered! We loved this advent calendar so much last year; we have decided to see what their 2021 calendar has to offer! The quality and attention to detail of the packaging alone is stunning. With a new marbled effect and shimmery details on the outside, you open the magnetic doors to four beautiful drawers. Inside each drawer are individually packaged boxes with gifts from brands including; Molton Brown, Elemis, PIXI, Zoeva, Ilamasqua and Huda Beauty.

Nono Vegan Chocolate

ode Use c P21 ENT ADV off! % 0 1 r fo

£28.00 www.nono-cocoa.com Take your tastebuds on a trip around the world with these multi awards winning, limited edition vegan chocolates. This adorable box contains 24 unique chocolates that share something relating to each country, from Poland to Guatemala. With flavours of Blue Matcha Tea from Japan and Blood Orange from Spain – Seville, this is one for the taste buds! Their idea was to unite the world for Christmas using the worlds most loved chocolate.

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PLYMPTON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS Monday 19th November

P

lympton’s Christmas lights switch on and street market will be back as an event which people can once again come along to in person this year and volunteers at organisers Plym Chamber have been busy with the preparations.

They are looking forward to returning as near as possible to the traditional format. This is after last year’s national lockdown in November confined the celebrations in 2020 to a virtual event streamed over the internet.

Although the streamed version last year was well received and achieved over 11,000 hits, you can’t beat the atmosphere of an actual festive community gathering and Plym Chamber think this year’s may well be the best yet.

This popular annual community Christmas Fayre and Christmas lights switch on in Ridgeway will take place on Monday 29 November - and after the difficult times everyone has experienced over the past 20 months Plym Chamber are planning something people will really enjoy and help lift the spirits in time for Christmas.

The Christmas outdoor market stalls will open at 3pm and things will be more spread out this year, with the

Mudge Way car park by Iceland also being used for stalls. To facilitate this the car park will be closed from midnight the evening before.

As well as the visiting traders, many of the shops and businesses on Ridgeway will have extended opening hours into the evening.

In addition to the shopping opportunities there will be an action packed programme of entertainment suitable for the whole family which will start at 4pm.This will include street entertainment and performances by youth choirs and local bands. Wellknown local musician Tom Baker will be the compere for the event.

The entertainment acts are regularly being added to and the final line up and specific performance times will be available on a dedicated #lightupplympton Facebook page. Simply search @lightupplympton to find it. You can also see a preview of some of the stalls there will be this year – including some new to the event.

The main entertainment stage will be situated in Ridgeway but it is also hoped to have a screen in the Mudge Way Car Park to enable people there to follow what is going on.

Funfair rides will form part of the range of activities for children and the grand switch on of the Christmas lights will be performed at 6pm by Lord Mayor Councillor Terri Beer.

So remember the date - Monday 29 November 2021 - and come along and join in the festive fun!

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Meet the team

We are organising a donation to the Plymouth Foodbank for Christmas hampers!

• Christmas Cakes & Puddings • Savoury Biscuits • Selection Boxes

Miss Ellie Client Relations Manager

Tricia Business Owner & Mortgage & Protection Advisor

Becky Mortgage & Protection Administrator- Solicitor Liasion

Colby Miss Ellie’s Assistant

• Adults Confectionary • Mince Pies • Pickles

• Tinned Meats • Boxes of Biscuits • Gravy Granules • Stuffing Mixes

If any readers or local businesses would like to help us donate, please drop items into our office by the end of November.

Anne-Marie

Fran

Adam

Business Owner & Practice Principal

Operations Manager

Mortgage & Protection Advisor

Oliver Protection Advisor

Sonia Office Manager

Emma Administrator

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29

that has helped me progress personally and professionally. There is a solution to every problem, you just have to be focused enough to find it.”

Ashley loves running the business, although it doesn’t come easily, Ashley explains, “Running your own business is exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. It can get lonely. Working long, thankless hours Ashley Ward on your own, missing out on socialising Where did it all start for Ashley? Inside the workshop with friends and missing my young family of his late grandad, where he was taught the basics of grow so quickly, can make you question hard work and perseverance. This was where a young if what you are doing is right. However, mind was shown the importance of construction and the sacrifices I have had to make has engineering. Ashley found his way as an electrician and allowed me to build the foundations of inevitably became the business owner and founder of the business and help it grow to what it SWAYE Electrical Services Ltd. Ashley followed in his is today”

Grandads footsteps, and with the guidance and hands-on attitude of his Grandad, he was able to apply the skills he learnt back then, to his successful and ever-expanding electrical business. Ashley and the team at SWAYE have brought light to Plymouth (literally!) and has been able to build a solid customer base and a considerable number of happy customers in the community.

T

he early prospects of Ashley’s career began when he was just 6 years old with the help of his Grandad, who was a self-employed electrician and general builder. Whether it was creating electricity with old batteries or knocking down walls and building kitchens from scratch, Ashley was unknowingly, watching his career begin. He watched and he learned.

Ashley became transfixed with construction and property. He had a thirst for knowledge and would watch Martin Roberts on Homes Under the Hammer every day. Not only did he love the building part of the renovations, but he was also interested in how you can totally transform the living space of a property, utilising lighting and interior design.

After excelling in college, Ashley qualified as an electrician at the age of 22 and was continually thrown into the deep-end with multiple large-scale projects.

By 23 he was running large solar PV installations throughout Cornwall, taking control of the design, installation and commissioning of the installation.

“The fear of being totally out of my comfort zone and that dread of failure to succeed is something

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Once he believed he had gained enough experience in the electrical industry, he knew that it was time to take matters into his own hands and go at it alone.

Ashley wanted nothing more than to be free to make his own decisions, to be the master of his own fate. When he was 25, he founded SWAYE Electrical Services Ltd. The name SWAYE has caused many funny conversations. Some people think it is my last name and so call me MR SWAYE, which I love as it makes me sound like a Bond villain. Others think I am a huge Patrick Swayzey fan and I named the company after him! I am now known in social circles as Swayzey, which does make me chuckle. The name actually comes from a fortune cookie I was given at a local Chinese restaurant. The fortune cookie read “Your Success Will Astonish Everyone”. At the time I was in the process of starting the business and buying my own house, so I thought it had a great sentiment.

Ashley started off with mainly residential customers, but as he started to make a name for himself, he started to pick up commercial and industrial works, fitting out new businesses and office blocks. He also started to carry out work for management companies, who needed a reliable and professional company to carry out electrical testing in the rented properties and any remedial works that were needed.

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the pandemic. Ashley’s foresight allowed him to take on another electrician, Gary, and three apprentices, Brent, Dylan and Miles. Ashley also pounced on the opportunity to take on a commercial unit, which has an office, workshop and storage area. This move allowed Ashley to present his company in a more professional manner, allowing customers to pop in for a coffee and chat through current and future projects.

Meet the team After a year of hard work, Ashley’s workload had almost doubled and so it became apparent that he needed to take someone on. Ashley took Steve on, his first employee and registered him with the local college so he could eventually become a qualified electrician. It was a massive step for me to take.

“It wasn’t really part of the plan to grow this quickly, but I took the opportunity it created with both hands and ran with it.”

Alongside the progression of the business, Ashley has also been renovating houses. He has bought, renovated and sold 4 houses over the last 7 years and is just about to sell his 5th! The Full circle of planning, building and selling has given Ashley a massive amount of knowledge when it comes to property and construction. Whether it is new builds, extensions or renovations, Ashley has found he can help customers with their projects and not just from an electrical point of view.

“I can help customers with the design of their kitchens and bathrooms, the choice of décor and finishes as well as how to create the best space possible with different building fabrics and designs” During the first two months of lockdown, he was able to furlough his staff and used the time away from work to build a cloud-based system for the business.

Ashley didn’t sit on his lorals. He set up himself and his electricians on a cloud-based calendar system, which improves customer service and allows a smooth method of logging jobs and potential further works.

The foundations that Ashley built prior to the pandemic allowed SWAYE to grow even more during

Ashley explains the merits of moving into their new premises, “The commercial unit has enabled the team to be more efficient and professional by making it feel like a space where they are happy to work in. We can now order materials ahead of time and set up mock installations to ensure the work will go smoothly once transferred to site. During the pandemic, there wasn’t much to do socially, so I found myself working till midnight every Friday night for the last year. We are so busy, the work needed to be done, so what better way to spend a Friday night!

SWAYE have been inundated with new customers and interesting projects. A recent law change in the UK meant that every rented property must have a satisfactory electrical report, similar to gas. The UK suddenly had thousands of landlords that needed our services. The work came flooding in and we couldn’t have handled it if we didn’t have the cloudbased infrastructure organised the year before.

With the electrical testing came electrical faults, fuse board changes and re-wires. Ashley has built good relationships with several builder and property investors in Plymouth, Cornwall and the South Hams.

Commercial and Industrial – This can be anything from new business premises, shops and offices. They can help with 3 phase installations, CCTV, security alarms, fire alarms, electrical vehicle charging points and much more.

The team at SWAYE are professional, genuine and honest. They serve their customers with the utmost respect and love to help them with their projects, whether its small remedial works or large construction projects.

‘At the end of the day, all we want to, is to be able look every customer in the eye knowing that we did the best job possible.’ – Ashley

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The service they provide is always of the highest quality, but they offer it at an affordable and fair rate.

They are flexible and happy to go the extra mile to ensure the job is done properly and the customer is happy.

The reviews for SWAYE Electrical are always positive but above everything else, they pride themselves on being able to fix any problems that come their way and do it to the best of their ability. The construction industry is an industry where plans change all the time. We pride ourselves in excelling at keeping projects running smoothly, even if it means working out of hours or on weekends. Our experience in the construction industry allows us to see solutions before the problems even arise!

No matter how difficult the proposition is, Ashley and the guys at SWAYE will never say no to a challenge.

“What would life be like without challenges? Pretty dull if life always went to plan. Would Hercules be Hercules if he hadn’t had all those battles to win or would he have just turned over in his bed and gone back to sleep?”

In 2019, the Ridgeway Christmas lights were not working and the team at SWAYE got called in to help fix the problem… a day before the formal switch on! The SWAYE team managed to fix the faults and save the Christmas lights that year and the Plympton Chamber were very grateful. Ashley is now a committee member of Plym Chamber and now takes care of the light switch on every year and have adapted the technology so that all of the lights turn on at the same time with a touch of a button on Ashley’s phone.

Ashley is a people person and loves nothing more than to spend time getting to know his clients and meeting new people. He loves speaking to business people at local networking groups like NETWORK PLYMOUTH and PLYMOUTH BUSINESS NETWORK. He has found that as well as business advise, it is good to talk to like-minded people. Ashley also enjoys

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The SWAYE Electrical mascot working with local charity to help those in need in the community.

SWAYE Electrical cover the whole of Devon and Cornwall and are currently doing a renovation project in Wales with Homes Under the Hammer presenter, Martin Roberts himself! Martin was impressed that over ten years ago, Ashley was watching him on TV and that now, he is working directly for him!

The project consists of an old, haunted building in the Brecon Beacons which they are converting into a hiking lodge and SWAYE electrical had been recommended as the team for the job.

Ashley is planning on expanding the business over the next few years and is already asking for help in the office from his wife Kirensa. He is also looking at re-designing the office space, replacing the kitchen and bathroom and to incorporate a gym and shower, which will allow Ashley to keep fit whilst at work!

With the positive hands-on influence of his grandfather, Ashley has been able to provide the city of Plymouth with great service and amazing customer relationships. He hopes to continue his journey with SWAYE and grow the business, without ever forgetting how he got there.

ASHLEY - “Life is a journey and I am definitely here for the ride!”

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