BROMSGROVE ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORTS ASPIRING RACING DRIVER

The co-founder of Bromsgrove businesses Aspire Business Partnership and ANP Training is helping local racing driver Jordan Pimley to fulfil his dream of becoming a successful racing driver.

Alan Nolan is supporting 20-year-old Jordan from Stoke Heath, who is part of the Porsche team that races in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, 24 Hours of Le Mans, the European Le Mans Series, World Endurance Championship, 6 Hours at Silverstone and more.

Jordan’s passion for motor sport was evident early on. “For as long as I can remember I’ve been watching motorsport and whenever I’ve had the opportunity, I’ve jumped into a gokart to live the fantasy.

My experience working in the pit-lane at Porsche fuelled my desire to be a professional racing driver.”

Alan said: “Jordan has shown such talent on the non-competitive racing circuit and a true commitment for the sport. I believe that as a local businessman, it is my duty to support the community and help talented people to fulfil their dreams. We will continue to support Jordan in his quest to become a professional racing driver and enhance the profile of the town.”

Unique Worcester lingerie start-up wins £15,000 boost

Undergraduate seamstress Imogen Mornement has won a £15,000 boost for her fledgling business at this year’s Worcestershire Innovation (WINN) “Make it Happen” competition run by Worcestershire County Council.

Her business, Penny and a Pearl, is harnessing a renewed interest in sewing, driven partly by the success of BBC’s The Great British Sewing Bee.

Imogen designed a range of lingerie sewyour-own kits, which she is selling on-ine. “I want my customers to be proud of their lingerie by sewing their own,” she said.

WINN received more than £2.5 million funding from the European Regional Development Fund to stimulate economic development by investing in projects supporting innovative businesses and creating jobs.

Imogen was also supported by the University of Worcester, where she is still a student.

Imogen said: “This will change the game for me and my business.”

Penny and a Pearl follows the theme of last year’s winner Nikki Hollier, who set up her business Border In A Box, a ready made garden kit that provides garden border templates showing users

REGIONAL ROUND-UP WORCESTERSHIRE

Redditch manufacturer secures contract worth $3 million

Solid State plc, the Redditchbased AIM listed manufacturer of computing, power and communications products, and distributor of electronic components, has revealed a major international contract win.

The contract, valued at $3million, has been won by the Group’s Pacer Optoelectronics business unit, acquired by Solid State in November 2018.

The display project, a rail infrastructure programme in the United States, will use Pacer’s capabilities and is expected to be delivered over the next nine months.

In September, the company reported in a trading update that as a result of a strong start to the year, profits for the year ending 31 March 2020 are likely to be significantly ahead of expectations.

which plant goes where and providing a list of items to buy from the garden centre.

Imogen and Nikki’s businesses are tapping into the UK’s growing crafting market, estimated to be worth more than £3.4 billion to the country’s economy, according to the UK’s Crafts Council.