You’ll be safe as houses in Rugby

The UK’s only organisation governing, regulating and licensing its member locksmiths in the UK, the Master Locksmiths Association, has relocated its national headquarters to Rugby.

The Association’s new headquarters, at Prospect Park, Valley Drive, houses a national training facility for locksmiths and testing facilities for some of the UK’s leading lock manufacturers and security products, as well as a museum of unique historic locks.

The Master Locksmiths Association was established in the 1950s. It relocated from Daventry to Rugby to provide larger premises for the growing association.

All MLA approved locksmiths undergo professional training courses, which will now be carried out at the new training centre.

Dr Steffan George, Managing Director of the Master Locksmiths Association said: “We are confident that this move will help us attract and train more locksmiths in the next 12 months, but more importantly help raise public awareness about the need to use an MLA approved locksmith for all lock and security protection in domestic and commercial properties.”

The MLA is the UK’s only authorised authority for locksmithing approved by the police, Home Office and other leading organisations including the British Standards Institute.

Worcester address-verification company goes global

Worcester-based address verification company Loqate has formed a partnership with NavInfo Europe to provide address data for mainland China.

Loqate is part of GBG, a global leader in identity data intelligence. In 2017, GBG acquired Worcester-based PCA Predict for £66 million. A highly successful provider of UK and international address validation services, PCA Predict was rebranded Loqate.

David Green, Managing Director of Loqate, said: “The Chinese marketplace is immensely important to our global customers and partners. Our relationship with NavInfo Europe means they can effectively verify and enhance their Chinese address data and serve customers in that market.”

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Hawkins & Brimble, the award-winning Cheltenhambased male grooming brand, has revealed its latest concept – a mobile barber’s van.

The van will arrive at your office, where its trained barbers will cut hair, trim beards or do wet shaves.

The new service comes hot on the heels of the company’s launch into Superdrug stores this autumn, marking the its biggest wholesale deal to date.

Hawkins & Brimble CEO, Stephen Shortt, said: “We have been providing barbers in offices across London for some time and it has proved very popular.”

He said it was a great way to incentivise employees. “We can invoice you for the day so you can give the service as a free perk, or we can charge your employee by credit card on the day.”

Earlier this year Hawkins & Brimble secured a £1.3 million finance package from HSBC UK and a private investor to reach international markets, including the USA, China, Australia and the Middle East. It will also support product development.

Blenheim Palace contributes £100 million to economy

A report by Oxford Brookes Business School has revealed that Blenheim Palace is contributing more than £100 million annually to the national economy.

The figure is a major milestone for the Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site and represents a 15 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

The estate also supports 2,159 jobs, up 12 per cent from last year.

The impact of visitor spending outside the Palace itself rose to more than £47 million.

People directly employed by Blenheim rose to 39, and its economic contribution to the local community alone was nearly £14 million.

This is the third report undertaken by Oxford Brookes Business School as part of a 10-year plan of action by Blenheim to achieve ambitious targets.

These include tripling the Estate’s contribution to the local economy, housing 300 families in high quality affordable housing, completing a £40 million restoration programme and becoming a net generator of green energy within a decade.

The plan also includes the training of 100 apprentices and a doubling of Blenheim’s total charitable contribution the local community – a goal which has already been achieved.