Modern blinds built to meet education’s needs

For schools, academies, colleges and universities looking to invest in commercial childsafe blind systems, now is the perfect time to start planning for installations during the main school holidays.

than the traditional curtain systems, Saxon Blinds is also helping more and more education clients fit systems that can be deployed should there be a security breach.

training.,” says HR Solutions chief executive Greg Guilford. Employment law governs what employers can ask of their staff, what they are expected to provide and an employee’s rights at work. “It is vital that you have a clear understanding of what is required on both sides,” says Mr Guilford to employers in Northamptonshire and beyond.

HR Solutions has created an Employment Law Reform Hub as a result of its survey to keep business owners informed and with guidance on how employers can protect their business, their employees and themselves. In it, experts share news updates and specialist articles to keep business owners updated.

n Find out more at https://www.hrsolutions-uk.com/your-employment-law-reform-hub/

Saxon Blinds once again spent Easter and the halfterm holidays working on projects throughout the education sector, taking advantage of the buildings being empty to complete our works with the minimum fuss and disruption.

Many of the heavy duty blind systems we install in schools are transforming the performance and look of classrooms, school main halls, sports halls, making them more suited to modern technologies and the time now spent looking at screens. They can also increase the potential use of the building when it comes to hiring out to other outside groups or organisations, so increasing the opportunity to generate additional income into the school.

As well as modern blinds systems that look better and work more efficiently

Roller blinds can be instantly lowered where there are signs of intruders, or where there is a situation the might be upsetting to the children.

“Our bespoke systems are all manufactured in our Northampton factory and as such are built to suit any given situation,” says Saxon Blinds managing director Mark Grainger. “The are compliant with safety regulations, so there are no dangling cords or anything that might prove hazardous, and blinds systems are closely fitted to each individual window, leaving exit doors and fire exits clearly accessible.”

Saxon Blinds produces a complete range of products, offering choice, flexibility and competitive pricing, as well as a fiveyear guarantee on all commercial blinds.

All Saxon Blinds staff are DBS checked and part of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme.

Playing football with friends, Tony Entwistle suddenly felt dizzy. His legs buckled from underneath him. He collapsed, having suffered a cardiac arrest. “I was actually dead,” he says.

Calls for help from his friends brought Elliott Holmes, general manager at the GOALS sports complex in Northampton where Tony was playing, to the scene. Grabbing the centre’s defibrillator, Elliott raced to pitchside. Already administering critical CPR was former fireman Ryan Grant, who had also been playing football at the centre. Between them, they managed to restart Tony’s heart.

“Thankfully Elliott was working that day when he and Ryan quickly realised CPR was not restarting my heart,” says Tony, co-owner of Northamptonbased construction project management consultancy Fed3 Projects.

Elliott, who had previously had training to use the defibrillator, knew it was time to use the machine. He restarted Tony’s heart and he and Ryan continued CPR until the ambulance crew arrived.

Tony has since stopped playing football but now coaches youth teams and still enjoys an active lifestyle. He and Elliott have become firm friends.

“On the day it happened a call went out for a doctor as someone had collapsed on pitch. Just the day before I had refreshed my first aid training, including using a defibrillator and I took our onsite device with me when I rushed to the scene,” Elliott recalls.

“Tony was unconscious and not breathing. Ryan arrived to support me administering CPR. I was determined and due to my GOALS training I knew what I had to do.”

The story arose during a conversation between Elliott and his long-time friend Samuel Scott, sales director at distribution company Panther Logistics, which has a depot in Northampton. The benefit of having the defibrillator on site immediately inspired Samuel and his managing director Gary McKelvey to install defibrillators at every Panther Logistics premises around the UK.

Panther depots join a nationwide network of defibrillators that not only protect colleagues on site but also are accessible to all emergency medical crews if required in the towns and cities where Panther’s businesses are based. Already 24 Panther employees have undergone specialist training in how to use the devices.

“When Elliott told myself and Gary how he had been able to help save Tony’s life by using a defibrillator, we knew immediately we had to have the devices in situ at all our sites,” says Samuel. He urges other businesses to consider installing a defibrillator.

Grateful Tony nominated Elliott and Ryan for British Heart Foundation Awards to recognise their courage and quick thinking that saved his life. “Elliott and Ryan are my heart heroes,” he says.

“Having heard about my personal story, I think it is fantastic that Panther has installed defibrillators at all of the company’s depots. More than 30,000 people in the UK suffer cardiac arrests every year and if you are not near a defibrillator your chances of survival are tiny.

“I was lucky - I was in the right place at the right time.”

Saffron Restaurant

Award-winning Saffron is best known for its authentic dishes that bring incredible Asian flavours right to our home town of Northampton, making this the dining spot that is not to be missed writes

Chanelle Bradshaw

Established 22 years ago, the restaurant offers a seasonal fine dining menu and recently underwent a £250,000 refurbishment. We recently took a visit to Saffron to try it for ourselves and to see if it really lives up to its reputation. Here is what we thought…

Besides the excellent ambience, Saffron’s menu features an array of authentic dishes that take you on a journey through culinary history. We start our meal with A Nest Of Imperial Jewels, which is a platter for two. This features onion bhaji, chicken tikka, sheek kebab, tandoori king prawn and chicken pakora. Marinated with spices and cooked to perfection, the dish leaves us in awe of the fantastic flavours.

For mains, we try the Lamb Bhuna and the Mango Chicken, accompanied by keema naan, pilau rice and a side of Bombay aloo. The ingredients and attention that have gone into these dishes are second to none. Each one has an authentic taste that makes us feel as though we were in the heart of Bangladesh.

The Mango Chicken is in particular a great hit, and if you love a sweet dish, this is the perfect choice for you.

Saffron’s menu is unique and features complex spice blends that have been carefully crafted by the team of award-winning chefs. Each dish stands out with its own distinct flavour profile and there is a new cocktail menu to enjoy with your meal.