Andrew Osman

Current business   

Magellan Design Ltd

Website: www.magellandesign.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone number: 07867 784249

Career History

With over 40 years of diverse professional experience, Andrew has built a career that bridges innovation, technical expertise, and an entrepreneurial spirit. For the past 25 years, Andrew has been at the helm of Magellan Design, a successful web development business based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Specialising in hand-coded websites and web applications, the company has seen remarkable growth by embracing new technologies and staying ahead of industry trends. A true advocate for the power of the digital space, Andrew and his team help small and medium-sized businesses improve their online presence through technical and on-page SEO expertise.

Prior to establishing Magellan Design, Andrew spent several years in Portugal working for a subsidiary of Muntons. During this time, he was able to combine his work with his lifelong passion, aviation, by transporting light aircraft between Lisbon and Faro in the Algarve. On returning to the UK, Andrew continued with Muntons, but his love for aviation led him to take the leap and qualify as a helicopter pilot. Based in Cambridge, he spent several years flying helicopters, an experience that sparked his entrepreneurial journey. Combining his passion for aviation with a keen business sense, Andrew eventually established his own company, laying the foundation for the diverse career that followed. This spirit of diversification didn’t stop there. He also served as the president of a French business specialising in international art, further enriching his career with a unique international perspective.

Today, Magellan Design continues to flourish, with remote working as a core part of the business model. This flexibility has allowed Andrew and his team to work with clients across five countries, creating valuable partnerships while maintaining a strong connection to his roots in Suffolk.

Passions & Interests

When not immersed in the world of web development and business strategy, Andrew is passionate about motorcycles. An avid rider, he enjoys exploring the beautiful landscapes of France and Spain, often combining business trips with motorcycle camping adventures and bike festivals. A proud owner of a Ducati and a Yamaha XJR1300, Andrew finds inspiration and joy in the freedom of the open road. In addition, he shares his life with two beloved Spaniels, who are part of the family and bring an added sense of warmth and joy to his daily routine.

Through it all, Andrew remains deeply committed to helping others succeed, whether it’s through building websites that help businesses thrive or sharing personal experiences that inspire others to pursue their passions.

Oliver Miller

Current business   

Bishop & Miller

Website: www.bishopandmillerauctions.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Phone number: 01449 673088

Career History

My journey into the world of auctions was inspired early on by my grandmother’s passion for ancient history and my father’s work as a fine art photographer. I left school at 17 and began working as a trainee upholsterer, earning £35 a week. After 18 months of long bus rides and few prospects, I tried my hand at French polishing. But at 21, a fire at the place I worked caused an injury to my han,d abruptly ended that path, something I now consider a blessing in disguise.

With no clear direction, I found myself driving a forklift in a warehouse until, at 24, my father spotted a job for a porter at Bonhams. I applied, got the job, and quickly rose to become the saleroom manager. But deep down, I never saw myself working for a company; I wanted to build one and build the people who worked with me.

So at 29, in the same week I got a mortgage (which I didn’t mention to the lender…), I quit and became a consultant helping other firms develop their auction businesses. That experience cemented my ambition, and in 2014, at age 34, I founded my own auction house—Bishop & Miller, named in honour of my grandmother, whose maiden name was Bishop. Our first auction took place in 2015, and the journey since has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding.

Passions & Interests

What I love most about the auction world is creating sales that deliver real value to our customers, whether that’s helping families through probate or connecting collectors with meaningful pieces. I’m endlessly fascinated by antiques and the stories they carry; there’s something special about handling objects that have passed through generations.

I’m also deeply passionate about operational flow and lean business practices, 1% improvement every day, constantly refining our processes to be more efficient, responsive, and resilient. I enjoy staying up-to-date with advancements in business and applying innovative thinking where it’s relevant.

Outside of work, I’m committed to staying fit and reading widely across many subjects. But above all, the most fun I have is with my two children, Poppy and Theodore. They keep life full of energy, laughter, and perspective.

Qualifications

I was the quiet kid at school, bottom set in every class and someone who really struggled. I failed most of my GCSEs, apart from art (though I still can’t draw!). At the time, I didn’t see much point in learning as I soon realised that the papers they give the people in the bottom set made you hope the best you could achieve was a pretty bad grade, and I never felt like school was the right fit for me, or maybe I just wasn’t the right fit for it.

Now, I absolutely love learning. Whether it’s business strategy, history, or personal development, I’m constantly reading, exploring, and trying to grow. I often wish I could go back and tell my younger self how exciting and valuable learning can be. Life has been the best teacher I could ask for.

Marie Honeyfield

Current business   

Anglia CPR

Website: www.angliacpr.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Phone number: 07725 339536

Career History

Everyone can do something

Marie graduated as a nurse in 2008. Her career has been diverse, from working on hospital wards to people’s homes to project management. Two constant themes have always remained; working
with children and families with complex health needs and training and education.

Anglia CPR was created in 2023, with the core aims of delivering confidence-boosting and accessible CPR and First Aid training for professionals, for workplaces, and for the community.

Marie aims to break down the barriers to the learning of life-saving skills by providing a full range of accredited courses adapted to every audience in a friendly, fear-free and informative way – for everyone!

More than just a training provider, Marie engages with the community through health and awareness talks and offers quarterly competitions for local businesses, clubs and groups to win a free CPR
skills session.

Passions & Interests

The Three P’s of First Aid:
Ponies (a keen equestrian)
Pooches (owner of a gorgeous rescue dog)
Pina Coladas (ensuring time to chill out and chat with friends)

Qualifications

MSc Advanced Nursing Practice
BSc Nursing
DipHE Nursing

Jane Reason

Current business   

Jane Reason Coaching

Website: www.janereasoncoaching.me.uk

Email: [email protected]

Career History

Jane’s first career was as a communications research engineer with BT at Martlesham Heath, developing early cable TV networks and investigating a passive optical switch design.

After a career break with two children, where she helped run and create a range of groups and activities for children within Needham Market, at the age of 30, she found herself as a qualified teacher teaching secondary science in a Suffolk school. This is despite being very clear throughout her life that she would NEVER be a teacher (her parents were both teachers).

What followed was a 28-year career in teaching, as a science teacher, passionate advocate for the children, senior leader in the secondary sector, before becoming a headteacher in the specialist sector. The latter spanned 10 years and included expanding the school to 5 times its original size, moving the school from inadequate to good in two years and sustaining this.

The last 3 years also included creating a Trust and becoming the Deputy CEO alongside her headship.

A passion for coaching was ignited when her then-headteacher brought in a coach to work with any staff who wanted to experience it. This was such a transformative experience that she began developing her coaching skills as an apprentice to the coach to support her teaching and leadership. This was almost 20 years ago.

When the time came to leave teaching, it became clear that the coaching passion continued, and Jane Reason Coaching was created.

Jane is now a transformational leadership coach, building spaces for insights to occur that can transform how life appears, thus changing how you show up as a leader of yourself and others.

The biggest insight for Jane came from realising how powerful our thoughts are at keeping us where we are, in precipitating burnout and impacting our wellbeing. It is as simple as changing the thoughts!

This was precipitative in the creation of The Leadership Tree, a coaching model for leadership that starts within you and who you are. From this place where we release old habits of thinking and systems you have, and build the foundations and structure for you to excel.

As a result, your clarity of thinking, your resilience and your wellbeing become the normal state, even under pressure. You may also find yourself with much improved productivity, outcomes and greater life balance.

Passions & Interests

Jane is a lover of the outdoors and nature.

Jane loves walking and, in her mid-50s, took up running, running two trail marathons. She rarely runs now but is often found walking the trails in our lovely countryside, sometimes completing Long Distance Walking Association (LDWA) challenges of 18 miles or more.

Jane, also when in her mid-50s, re–ignited a passion for open water swimming from childhood and in 2024 completed a childhood dream of swimming the longest lake in England (Windermere) from the south to the north end. All 11 miles of it!

There is much that completing endurance events teaches you about how our thinking affects how we show up. If we believed our brains – we would either not start or stop when it feels hard! Immersing yourself in cold water has a similar effect.

Jane swims all year round in the sea at Felixstowe (no wetsuit) and now has her own ice tub and cold shower in the garden so she can get cold and experience bird song every day!

In between swimming (pool and open water) jane also loves a good workout and the group PT sessions at her local gym are just the ticket.

Most of her holidays throughout her life have involved walking and swimming – mountains and lakes.

Now, with 2 dogs and a cat and 3 grandchildren, her business and her two big passions, her life feels both full and joyous.

Qualifications

Physics BSc Hons (Dunelm)
PGCE (Secondary Science)
NPQH (Headship qualification)

Victoria Stokes

Current business   

Little Piggy Marketing

Website: www.littlepiggymarketing.co.uk

Email: [email protected] 

Telephone: 01473 561030

Career History

Victoria Stokes is the Founder and Marketing Strategist behind Little Piggy Marketing, a Suffolk-based business offering clear, kind and strategic marketing support for small businesses. She launched the business in 2021 and took it full-time in 2023, helping clients across Suffolk and beyond with branding, storytelling and social media strategy.

Before founding her own business, Victoria held senior marketing roles across a range of industries including events, education, publishing, beauty and finance. She is currently also a Non-Executive Director at Trinity Park Events.

With over 12 years of experience in both in-house and agency roles, Victoria brings a full-stack marketing skillset to every project. She has led marketing teams, developed large-scale digital campaigns, delivered brand launches and shaped customer acquisition strategies across multiple platforms.

Passions & Interests

Victoria is passionate about making marketing more accessible for small business owners, particularly women who feel overwhelmed or unsure where to start. She believes in demystifying digital marketing and champions regularly speaks at local women’s networking events, and mentors Level 3 apprentices through a local training provider. She also runs in-person workshops and masterclasses and collaborates with creatives and industry professionals to share tips and tools with a wider audience.

Outside of work, Victoria enjoys exploring the outdoors, baking, amateur dramatics, arts and crafts, and supporting her local community.

Qualifications

Victoria is a Chartered Marketer and holds a Professional Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), completed in 2015. She also earned a BA (Hons) in English Language from the University of Essex.

Kate Kelly

Current business   

Stowmarket Carnival

Website:www.stowmarketcarnival.org.uk

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 07747 816033

About the carnival

Stowmarket Carnival is a fun, friendly family event that has been part of the Stowmarket community for over sixty years (with a pause in 2020 & 2021). Traditionally taking place in July, the three-day weekend carnival is a highlight of the summer! The event is now free to attend, and it’s packed with affordable entertainment. Each year we are supported by fantastic local businesses and volunteers.

Stowmarket Carnival is a wonderful showcase for the kinds of traditional events we sadly see less and less in our communities. Here are some of the brilliant sights visitors can see.

Carnival procession

Passing right through the centre of Stowmarket, the procession features floats decorated by local schools, clubs and businesses. Plus, there are plenty of walkers, dancers and singers – not forgetting the “Stowmartian” making his annual appearance!

Carnival court

Consisting of the Carnival Sovereign, Prince and Princess, who lead the procession and join the fun throughout Carnival weekend.

Local market stalls

From a wide array of food and drink to the talents of local makers and crafters, and from charities to family-friendly games, you’ll find stalls of all kinds on the recreation ground.

Entertainment

Carnival truly is an event for all the family – entertainment in previous years has included circus skills, fairground attractions, vehicle shows, Morris dancing and even a trail run!

Free live music
Performances and concerts every afternoon and evening from local musicians and bands playing a huge range of musical genres.

2024 Carnival procession highlights 

The 2024 procession featured floats from Stowmarket High and Abbots Hall schools, the Royal Oak pub, Charity WeCan, and the burlesque dance troupe Moon Blossom Belles. Vehicles included the Carnival Court, trucks from Foxfest, a fire service tender and crew, the Town Mayor, two steam engines and two tractors.

Meanwhile, walking entertainments were provided by Army Cadets, Lucy’s Princess Parties, Stowmarket Boys’ Brigade, Stowmarket Police Cadets, Stowmarket Concert Band, Suffolk School of Samba, WeDrum, and not forgetting the Stowmartian!

Carnival 2025! Get involved 

This year’s Stowmarket Carnival will take place on Friday 18 July, Saturday 19 July and Sunday 20 July 2025, and the theme is “Colourful Carnival”. Stowmarket Carnival is not only a wonderful tradition, but also an unrivalled opportunity to create new connections in the town. We love the opportunity the weekend offers for newer residents to feel part of the community.

The Covid-19 pandemic – during which Carnival was put on hold for two years – showed us the importance of community events, and our team of volunteers is passionate to keep Carnival alive at a time when many village fetes and fairs are becoming a thing of the past.

The ethos of Carnival is community over commerce, and Carnival weekend offers local businesses a fantastic chance to build connections at affordable rates. Locally based companies can join in by putting on a display, having a stall, or sponsoring equipment, events or vehicles.

We are always open to new ideas, so if you have an innovative idea for a stall or display, we’d love to hear from you.

All sponsors are featured in the Carnival programme, which is handed out to more than 5,000 local families, making it a brilliant showcase for retailers and small local businesses.

We are always looking for volunteers to help over Carnival weekend, too, so if you are able to offer a few hours to help set things up, take things down, carry a cash bucket or pick up litter, please drop us a line and help make the Carnival a colourful success for 2025.

Tracey Wilmshurst

Current business   

Furze Virtual Assistance

Website: www.furzeltd.com

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 07748 705055

Career history

Tracey started her career in sales administration, customer service and providing support to management. During this time, she honed her skills in communication, organisation, and problem-solving, becoming an invaluable asset to each team she joined. Her dedication and keen eye for detail allowed her to excel in her roles, earning her recognition and respect from colleagues and management alike. As she progressed in her career, Tracey sought opportunities to expand her expertise, continually embracing new challenges and responsibilities that came her way. In 2005 she became a Personal Assistant, working for managers in a number of different departments.

In 2010 she secured the role of Executive Assistant at Treatt plc, providing support to the Chief Financial Officer managing his diary and inbox, preparing and supporting him at meetings and coordinating the delivery of Financial Board Reports. She managed the Investor Relations activities – preparing investor presentations to showcase the company, arranging shareholder roadshows and producing the Investor Relations Board Report. In addition to this, she managed business travel for the company, organising travel for colleagues throughout the world, including the US, China, India, and Kenya, ensuring they had all the relevant travel documentation in order as well as flights, hotels and ground transportation.

In 2020 her role expanded to include being the Executive Assistant to the Chief Commercial Officer, Chief Supply Chain Officer and Chief Technical and Operations Officer supporting them with their roles.

After nearly 13 years at Treatt, Tracey was given an opportunity she could not refuse and left to start her own business as a Virtual Assistant. In addition to this, she became an Independent Travel Agent to use her knowledge gained as the Travel Manager at Treatt.

In addition to running her Virtual Assistant business, Tracey offers a bespoke cat-sitting service – Crazy Cat Lady (Suffolk), taking care of cats in their own homes. You might even catch her blending the two ventures, working on her laptop while enjoying the company of the cats.

Passions and interests

Tracey has been a member of Girl Guiding UK since the age of seven and has volunteered as a qualified leader since 1992. She helps run local Brownie and Guide units in Thurston where she lives, and is also the District Commissioner.

She loves to sew, attending a monthly sewing bee to learn new skills from likeminded creative types, and makes gifts for friends and family.

Tracey also enjoys spending time at home with her cats Marley, Liquorice and Echo.

Qualifications

Higher National Diploma in Business and Finance

Allen Mayhew

Current business   

HR Plus Equals Limited

Website: www.hrplusequals.com

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01449 763436 / 07944 106836

Career history

Allen started his HR career in Local Government and the NHS before moving into the private sector. He worked for a Clinical Research Company (PPD) based in Cambridge, latterly as an Executive Director of HR for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

After 17 years of travelling the world with PPD, Allen took the step into being an HR Consultant in 2022 providing outsourced HR Services and HR Director support for companies across the UK.

Passions and interests

Golf, Skiing and being outside walking his dogs.

Qualifications

Post Graduate Diploma and Chartered Member of CIPD

Joe Wood

Current business   

Joe Wood Property Team

Website: www.joewoodpropertyteam.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01473 890865 / 07896 486927

Career history

Joe has been running the Joe Wood Property team for nearly 3 years now after setting it up with his father. Whilst he loved his time at my previous roles such as a Ski Instructor in Banff Canada, Tipi Erector with Events Under Canvas, and Line Chef again in Banff, he quickly realised that I wanted to work for himself. He made the most of the lockdowns and spent the time reading and taking part in online courses to set myself up to be able to start his own business.

At that time he didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do but as his Dad had been in property for a number of years he figured that would be a good way to go. 3 months after returning home from Canada the opportunity to start his own estate agency came around. He jumped in headfirst and hasn’t looked back. He loves helping people move home and it is a big bonus he gets to be nosey and look at some beautiful properties!

Passions and interests

He has a massive passion for the mountains, which is funny given he’s grown up here in Suffolk where the closest thing we have to a mountain is the Mendlesham mast! He spent two years in Banff, Canada, Skiing, Snowboarding, and Mountain Biking nearly enough every day.

His favourite thing to do is backcountry skiing, where you climb up the mountains outside of ski resorts and ski back down in the fresh untouched powder snow. Since coming home he’s picked up running and looking to complete a marathon next year, as well as climbing down at the Cragg.

Qualifications

1st Class Honours for Criminology at Nottingham Trent University.

Anji Smith

Current business   

Netbox Recruitment

Website: www.netboxrecruitment.com

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01473 355569 / 0777 220 9503

Career history

Anji has enjoyed a successful career in the recruitment sector, working with a wide range of organisations for more than a decade, gaining expert knowledge of general recruitment.

Having worked with both commercial and industrial clients, she has a broad knowledge of placing quality candidates in a variety of positions, ensuring both a skills and culture match. For Anji, knowing the company ethos is extremely important, as employee fit is just as critical as a skill set in order to deliver employee sustainability within any business.

Anji has an honest and straightforward approach to communication, building long-lasting relationships with her clients. Providing a tailormade service based on excellent customer service, Anji will work with you to promote your business and your vacancy; she is your Brand Ambassador and will work tirelessly to attract and select the best talent in the local job market. Anji prides herself on delivering a recruitment process that is seamless and straightforward.

As a Senior Recruitment Business Partner at Netbox Recruitment Ltd, Anji’s pledge to you is that you will receive the best service, honest advice and valuable feedback from a consultant who works on your behalf as an extension to your own business.

Passions and interests

Anji relocated from Kent to Suffolk in November 2023. With 2 energetic border collies, she took the opportunity to start a ‘new life in the country’, to take advantage of the walks and open areas for the dogs. Having fallen in love with an old country cottage, she is now putting down roots and settling into the area.

Carl Bashford

Current business   

Prime Appointments Ltd

Website: www.prime-appointments.co.uk

Telephone: 01284 413456

Career history

Carl has worked at Prime Appointments since March 2015 as a Trainee Recruitment Consultant, 6-months after graduating. Carl has since progressed throughout the business to his current position as a Branch Manager, spearheading our recruitment for Suffolk.

Passions and interests

When Carl is not working, he likes to keep himself busy by taking on various projects. He has completed a one-year evening course in carpentry to aid his DIY projects and is currently converting a campervan. Carl is also quite active and enjoys playing squash and running.

Qualifications

Carl went to the University of Portsmouth where he studied history. Since he has been at Prime Appointments he has undertaken further courses in sales, and recruitment & more recently engaged in courses / coaching in management.

Alan Ridealgh

Current business   

Humber Doucy Brewing Company Ltd.

Website: www.humberdoucybrew.co 

Email: [email protected] 

Telephone: 07964 070647 / 01449 780151

We are in Bacton!

We started brewing in 2019.

Career history

Managing Director Muntons plc from 2007 to 2018. He achieved 40 years and 1 month with Muntons during which time he ran farming, haulage, pet food and grain trading subsidiaries as well as grain procurement.

Currently Chair of the John Milton Academy Trust, Chair of the Development Board at the Food Museum, Non-Executive Director at Dewing Grain Ltd, Board member of the Institute of Sustainability at the University of Suffolk and board member of the Local Skills Improvement Plan board for Norfolk and Suffolk.

Passions and interests

All things wildlife

Fishing

Gardening (has an allotment)

Buses

Collectable toys

Qualifications

BSc (Honours) Zoology – Newcastle University

Honorary Fellow (manufacturing and sustainability) – University of Suffolk

Penny Morgan

Current business   

Penny Morgan Photography and Love Your Image

Website: www.pennymorgan.co.uk and www.loveyourimage.co.uk

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Telephone: 01379 783870

Career history

As a teenager, Penny was hell-bent on heading into the equestrian world and spent a year training to gain her first teaching qualification. But life took a different turn… and she headed into an office to earn enough to get married!

Not long after she was able to have her horse rather than work with them – he was with her for 10 years and she loved him dearly.

After several years working in an accounts department, for a company in Diss, her opportunity to return to college as a mature student came about in the mid-1990s and fulfilled her wish to get into a creative industry. She studied Graphic Design for two years and then found her first job as a junior designer for ‘Get Set’ in Wortham. However, the college course had a photography module, which Penny loved and was her first training in photography. After working for three different companies as a designer, she became self-employed in 2001 (scary!).

However, the interest in photography wouldn’t go away and a fascination with what people see in images. In 2007, another opportunity arose to take up further training in portraiture and invest in some professional-level equipment.

Penny Morgan Photography was launched in August 2009 and 18 months later the graphic design element was dropped.

About four years on, after working with a business coach, the idea for Love Your Image as a specialist niche in photography, was developed to help so many who dislike getting in front of a camera. But it took lockdown and 2020 for the idea to finally get its website.

Today the idea that you can get over this anxiety grows in awareness and popularity.

Passions and interests

Horses have always been a love of Penny’s since she was a small child and photography has enabled her to be around them while capturing images (they behave very differently to humans).

With a love of dance, she had a go at a ballroom, Jazz, ballet, contemporary and flamenco (that was amazing!).

She spent a decade with a Diss-based drama group, getting involved in both sets creating/painting and choreography, whether it was full-cast dance routines for musicals to individuals bringing their roles to life with movement and dance.

Penny now also has a great love for wildlife and anything she can do to learn, raise awareness and help them survive in this beautiful county of Suffolk where she lives.

Laura Morrison

Current business   

Your Telemarketing Ltd

Website: www.yourtelemarketing.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Telephone:  01284 332506

Career history

Laura has over 30 years sales and marketing experience initially in IT and Market Research sectors. Having undertaken numerous courses in the field of sales, negotiation, presentation and sales management, Laura went on to complete a Diploma in Direct Marketing.

Previous to establishing Your Telemarketing, Laura worked for 15 years in the Outsourcing sector, with a specific specialism in contact centre solutions, especially outbound data cleanse & enhancement, lead generation and appointment setting, through to telesales. She has worked with such clients as The Times, The Guardian, BBC Worldwide, St James’ Place, and Nuffield Health.

She believes that key to successful telemarketing campaigns is through intelligently performed call handling. Laura concentrates on offering a personal professional service where her telemarketing agents act as extension to the client brand. She works with her clients to drive flexible, effective telesales campaigns which are tailored to the prospect base and designed to meet the client’s targets and goals.

In addition to the core services, Laura also provides Confident Telemarketing Workshops to the business community and runs Confident Telephone Skills workshops for young people transitioning from education to employment.

Laura has twice won IoD Director of the Year for Innovation & CSR. Your Telemarketing has also won awards in FSB & Suffolk Business Awards.

In 2018 Laura signed the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of the Business and went on to gain Bronze and Silver Employer Recognition awards in 2019 and 2020. In 2021 the business was awarded Gold Employer recognition, the highest achievement under the scheme.

Passions and interests

Laura is a keen equestrian owning an ex-racing thoroughbred, Allie. She also has 2 English Bull Terriers, mother & daughter. Additionally, Laura likes to read fiction, watch movies, cook and travel.

Jason Ford

Current business   

FWD Accounts Limited

Website: www.fwdaccounts.co.uk

Email:  [email protected]

Telephone: 01284 245013

FWD Accounts are a firm of accountants, based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk who concentrate on giving your business the time and effort it deserves. Blending traditional values with a modern approach, they pride themselves on their ability to provide your business with personal, forward-looking advice, based on your unique requirements.

At FWD Accounts, the aim is to help you focus on important business decisions, by simplifying compliance and proactively interacting with you on day to day finance matters.

Career history

Jason had the opportunity to go to University to study Economics but was so sure he wanted to be an accountant that he took the chance to study whilst being paid by Grant Thornton. He qualified as an accountant with them and thoroughly enjoyed his time there but wanted to be a company accountant working in industry.

He joined Fieldens Plc to be Company Secretary for this AIM listed business, to help the company professionalise its senior management after the family had built the business and floated it on the AIM market.

He then joined State Industrial Products as Financial Controller for Europe in Colchester. The job entailed looking after the accounting for the UK, France and Belgium. The companies were owned by a US company and the job entailed regular travel to the USA for finance updates and into Europe dealing with sales staff and European tax authorities.

His next job fulfilled his ambition to be a Finance Director, and this was at John K King & Sons Ltd based in Coggeshall. This was a £20m turnover subsidiary of Associated British Foods Plc. They had to report every 4 weeks due to their Plc. status and he learned a great deal during his time there about working for large organisations. He helped set up an office in North Carolina in the US and improve the accounting processes at their office in North Dakota. The company also owned a natural oilseed processing plant in Lincoln.

In 2003 with his first child on her way he decided to go self employed and provide outsourced accounting functions for local businesses. This went well, but he quickly realised that to grow he needed staff and so he partnered with an old colleague from Grant Thornton to set up a more traditional accounting practice.

In 2018 he decided to take his client portfolio from that partnership into his own entity and formed FWD Accounts. The company now has 7 staff and is still looking to grow in the coming years.

Passions and interests

Sport generally. Member and sponsor of Bury Rugby Club. He follows Ipswich Town and enjoys supporting England Cricket. He also enjoys playing Golf at Thetford Golf Club.

Away from sport he enjoys the peace and quiet of the countryside with his family and walking his two dogs.

Qualifications 

Chartered Certified accountant (FCCA) and a tax qualification with ATT

Kelly Gurteen

Current business

Spi-des-ign Web & Graphic Solutions Ltd

Website: www.spi-des-ign.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01359 518060 /07889801581

Career history

Kelly originally trained as a school teacher and still enjoys doing some occasional supply teaching across Suffolk alongside her job at Spi-des-ign as marketing and operations director.

Her last permanent teaching role was as Business Studies teacher at Stowmarket High School from 2008-2013, even though she originally trained as a secondary school teacher of vocational subjects, she has enjoyed working in primary, SEN and behaviour roles.

Since starting at Spi-des-ign in 2013 to join her husband Richard they have grown the business to the team they have today, employing another 3 members of staff.

Kelly is responsible for the marketing and day to day operations, always trying to think of new ways to promote Spi-des-ign and helping clients to come up with new ideas on how they could market their business to their full potential.

Passions and interests

Kelly enjoys spending time with her family, walks with her dog Bella and reading when she gets the chance.

She loves visiting Felixstowe for a walk along the promenade (especially in the evenings, when it’s lit up) and having a drink at one of the many café/bars along the way.

Qualifications 

BA Hons Business, Leisure and Sports Education

PGCE in Secondary Education

Mike Bernard

Current business

Distributor with Utility Warehouse

Website: www.mike-and-beebee.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01473 809751

Career history

Mike’s working life began at Readers’ Digest as a Trainee Computer Programmer. He then spent nine years with a container shipping company called OCL. After a spot of consultancy and IT work for the Inland Revenue and a London bank, he ended up back with OCL (then called P&O Containers).

Then the serious travelling began. He became a Project Manager; his first project covered Le Havre, Rotterdam and Hamburg, and the next required a short trip to Jeddah, Singapore, Korea, The Philippines and Dubai.

He then managed a team based in Delhi. He and his analyst were the first visitors from P&O to the company in Delhi, so received star treatment, including their own villa with two houseboys and a chauffeur. But feel free to ask him to tell you about the time he was kidnapped on an elephant!

After two trips to Hong Kong, he was given a one-year secondment to New Jersey to manage the implementation of a new IT system covering the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

He asked his girlfriend Bee Bee to join him in New Jersey. His landlord and next-door neighbour was the mayor, who kindly conducted the marriage ceremony in Mike’s home. Soon after returning to the UK his son Nicolas arrived.

Following his next project in Santiago, he was given teams to manage in London, Manchester, Sydney and Wellington, and he lived with his family in Sydney for 6 months.

After P&O, he did three NHS contracts, a local government project and a BBC contract. But Nicolas was getting bigger and London isn’t ideal for a teenager. He spent summer 2009 comparing various towns and cities and Ipswich ticked the most boxes. So he moved there in 2010.

Because he read the Which? magazine regularly, he knew he wanted Utility Warehouse to provide his services. The contracts had dried up because of his location and he needed to get to know some people in Suffolk. So that’s how he came to be a distributor.

Utility Warehouse is a discount club established in 1997 that saves £millions by never advertising, using the money to give members a better service for a lower price. They have won over 25 awards from Which? Magazine, including Utilities Brand of the Year 2018 and 2020. They provide one bill for all services, all their staff are UK based, and they provide a guarantee to reimburse double the difference if you would have paid less with your previous suppliers.

Passions and interests

His interests include playing guitar and tennis although not simultaneously. He attends a weekly jam in Ipswich and captains a team for his local tennis club. He foolishly tries to help Nicolas with his studies and when he feels even more masochistic, he watches Tottenham Hotspur. He enjoys reading books by Douglas Adams, Nick Hornby and personal development literature.

Qualifications 

Mike has a BSc from the University of Wales in Economics and Materials and a PGCE teaching certificate.

Joanne Moss

Current business

Moss HR Limited

Website: www.mosshr.com

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01449 708999 / 07789 038409

Career history

Joanne started her career in finance. However her career shifted from finance to HR in 1999 when she fell into the role of HR Officer for a warehousing and distribution company.

Several roles and industries later Joanne’s last full time, employed role was as HR Services Manager for Jardine Motors Group.

Choosing not to return to the full time corporate world after starting a family, Joanne decided to work independently as an HR Consultant.

In 2019, she took the next step and formed Moss HR Limited. Since then the business has gone from strength to strength and is now a successful outsourced HR Department with clients across East Anglia and beyond.

Passions and interests

Family, the outdoors, camping. Joanne is also learning British Sign Language.

Qualifications 

Post Graduate Diploma and Chartered Member the CIPD.

Sarah Manning

Our member in the spotlight for January 2021

 Our first new member for 2021

Current business

Secure Stores Nationwide Ltd

Website: www.securestores.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 0208 125 7015 / 07507 106336

Career history

After finishing A levels, Sarah went on to start a degree in Criminology & Sociology at Liverpool University. After passing the 1^st year, she started to think more long term about what she may want to do with her life. Three years at University seemed an incredibly long time, not to mention the cost of the debt it would result in.

She was left contemplating whether this was the right decision for her. She was eager to get stuck into the ‘real world’ and made the bold decision to leave University, return back home to Suffolk and look for a job within an office environment.

In 2007, she took a Sales & Administration role at a local Shipping Container Sales & Hire business, Mr Box in Ipswich. She remained at Mr Box for 13 years, working her way through the ranks during that time in roles including General Manager and eventually Director.

In 2016, Mr Box was sold to an American multinational company. She stayed on and continued to work for the new owners, in the role of ‘Director, Mr Box Division’ up until mid-2020, when she decided it was time for a change.

She wanted to launch her own container company, as she missed the private business environment. In particular, she missed the fast pace at which decisions can be made in a private company and the control one can have over one’s own path.

January 2021 now sees the launch of her new business, Secure Stores Nationwide Ltd, making use of all her industry experience and contacts.

Passions and interests

Hiking, Running, Food, Travel and her Sprocker Spaniel, Max.

Paul Dennis

Our member in the spotlight for November 2020

Current business

Pure Flooring

Website: www.pureflooring.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01449 257077

Career history

From school, Paul went to college to study architecture. He did the first 2 years in college before moving into a draughtsman position in a mechanical and electrical engineering firm in Ipswich. He held that position for 3 years before leaving to go back to college to learn woodwork and joinery, another subject of which he was very fond.

On arrival, he was informed that the course had been cancelled, but luckily he picked up a job working for Allied carpets as a sales/estimator. After a year or so he had another shot at engineering with Marlows as a truss design engineer before being made redundant 8 months later.

From there he began working with some carpet fitters he knew and 7 months later he went out carpet fitting on his own.

He says he has always been ambitious and he began to supply his own flooring and grow his own customer base.

In 2012 he established Pure Flooring and in 2018 acquired the showroom at Combs Tannery.

He spent a year developing the showroom and it has evolved into a small home store, selling beds and mattresses as well as the odd soft furnishing.

It has been a slow process but the company is still here and going, (and growing) strong!

Passions and interests

His family is his passion! You can’t beat the looks on their faces!

He enjoys adapting his creative side to their interests. He recently made his son a castle with a slide for the garden, and his daughter a fairy village around a tree. Plus, he gets the odd request for planters from his wife as well!

Personally, he loves to go out on his motorbike, (when time allows! and enjoys exploring new places and experiences.

Qualifications

GNVQ ADV Construction & the Built Environment.

Sean Billings

Our member in the spotlight for October 2020

Current business

Syrinx Systems

Website: https://syrinxsystems.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

Career history

Sean is self-taught and says “I’ve always wanted to build better. When the Sinclair ZX-81 computer launched, I discovered that programming was a powerful tool for learning and creativity. Building something from nothing gives me a massive buzz – it’s like painting a picture, but instead, I use computer code.”

He loves working with Digital Creatives, Business Owners, and Product Designers to help them take their WordPress websites to the next level. At a basic level, this means making sure that what they have designed creates the great user experience needed for target audience.

Sean also offers IT support giving clients peace of mind that technical issues will be sorted so that they can focus on growing their business, working on the things they enjoy doing rather than dreading the learning curve of yet another technical issue.

He is also a great believer in “plain English” and avoiding “tech jargon”.

Syrinx also provides Software Development

From small modifications to improve the performance of current systems to something entirely new that will operate either as a stand-alone or integrates seamlessly with existing software.

Experience

More than 30 years’ experience consistently delivering proven award-winning solutions – from the smallest software fix to a major system build.

What he can help you with:

• JavaScript
• HTML / CSS
• PHP
• SQL Databases
• WordPress (Theme & Plugin development)
• Shopify (Liquid coding)
• Hosting, Linux or Cpanel
• C, C#, Java, Python
• Embedded systems.

Passions and interests

Retro Computing (Collecting old machines like ZX-Spectrums, Commodore 64, BBC Micros etc.

Recently learned to play the Ukulele

Qualifications

All self taught, love to learn on the job.

Owen Williams

Our member in the spotlight for September 2020

Current business

West View IT

Website: www.westviewit.co.uk

Telephone: 01449 798119 / 07478 349440

Email: [email protected]

Career history

Westview IT was founded by Owen Williams in 2018 following his decision to leave full-time employment and establish a Managed Services Business which delivered IT solutions with outstanding customer care. His vision is to build and grow a business which is recognised as the leading supplier of Managed Services across the region.

Having gained his first customer 18 months ago, Owen grew his client base to 12 very quickly through referrals and recommendations. He quickly realised that to grow further he would need to supplement his lead pipeline with opportunities built through direct and digital marketing. This process started just prior to the Coronavirus outbreak. Owen could easily have put his business development on hold during lockdown but knew that it maintain his business growth he would need to persevere. He continued to work with his marketing consultant and established all the processes necessary to generate new clients. As the economy is re-starting Owen has found that his activities are now reaping rewards with 2-3 new enquires for his services each week.

Owen’s vision, as well as being recognised as the leading supplier of Managed Services for the region, is to build a team who reflect his own ethos, and who will support and manage clients with the same care and conscientiousness that he currently provides. Owen’s customer care policy ensures that his client retention statistics are extremely high for his industry, and results in a continued stream of recommendation alongside very generous testimonials.

A considerate and compassionate person, Owen is an empathetic leader, providing education, guidance and advice. He engenders respect from all his stakeholders including customers and suppliers. Owen will shortly be recruiting his first employee, which, so soon after a difficult period for all businesses, is particularly impressive.

Qualifications

Owen has been working in and on the business on his own, utilising external third parties to help him develop the business in areas where he feels he lacks expertise. He has been working with a business coach for nearly 1 year, alongside working with a marketing specialist to develop a marketing strategy which works to deliver new prospects to the business. Being an individual who prides himself in his own personal development, Owen works with enablers – consultants who will instruct him on the justification for actions and activities, as well as the ‘how to’ element.

A keen advocate of personal and professional development, Owen ensures that he maximises every opportunity for learning. He is always at the forefront of industry changes and development. He is a learner and always likes to have a new topic to review, investigate or study. He shares his learnings with customers and teams where appropriate.

Annya Stoddart

Our member in the spotlight for July 2020

Current business

Pain Relief Clinic

Website:  www.annya-stoddart.co.uk

Telephone: 07841 203412

Email: [email protected]

Career history

Annya started off working in agriculture. Something people may not know about her – she used to hand milk sheep and make cheese and yogurt!

Sadly, she realised there wasn’t much future in agriculture unless you’re a farmer’s daughter or married to one, so she moved into the Leisure Industry. She worked at Centre Parcs in Thetford running the Sports Desk and all the sports facilities and alongside that taught aerobics, steps classes and gym.

She moved from there to setting up Leisure and Tourism related courses at Otley College, then expanded into running Modern Apprenticeships in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

The leap from there was to go and study a degree in acupuncture, from which she graduated about 12 years ago and has been running her own clinic ever since.

Passions and interests

Walking, yoga, meditation, reading.

Qualifications

BSc Hons in Acupuncture, Licensed Acupuncturist

BA Hons Independently Negotiated Learning (work out what research to do around a topic, then do it – a bit like a Masters).

Kim Morrison

Our member in the spotlight for September 2019

Current businesses

Morr Marketing (previously Morrison Social Media)

Website:  www.morrmarketing.co.uk

Telephone: 07905 361694

Email: [email protected]

Be Your Own Graphic Designer

Website:  www.beyourowngraphicdesigner.com

Email: [email protected]

Career and business history

Kim describes herself as a marketer, author, life-long learner, and teacher and has built a reputation as a specialist in marketing and social media.

She’s been in Marketing most of her career and it’s let her travel all over the world, working with different cultures and languages. She lived in New York for five years working for one of the world’s largest cosmetics companies – very “Sex in the City”!  She’s also worked in what could be seen as the unglamorous side of industry working in service businesses, but found those equally fun and exciting.

Kim has held the position of Managing Director of three different companies that she turned round from loss making to profit. She loves managing people and building a strong team. “Creating great teams has been integral to my business success”.

She believes that communication and marketing are the lifeblood of a business. She stresses that making sure understand where you’re going, have a steady stream of customers, and provide excellent value and service, is what great marketing is all about.

She also worked with graphic designer, Sammy Teather, to develop BeYourOwnGraphicDesigner, a unique collection of flat graphics that allow busy business owners and social media managers to create their own social media posts and web graphics quickly and easily. They were thrilled and excited to be chosen as one of the first Ambassadors for Canva.com and are officially Canva Certified Creatives.

Passions and interests

Kim has always travelled extensively and now lives with her husband in the Western Algarve, Portugal. She loves being location independent and works anywhere in the world with a decent internet connection though she does pop back to the UK regularly to meet clients personally.

She indulges in her other passion horseriding and has a Lusitano horse which she is training for dressage and also hacks through the beautiful Portuguese countryside.

Qualifications

SFEDI Social Media and Digital Marketing Certificates

MBA

Colin Tapscott 

Our member in the spotlight for August 2019

Current business

Everyday Leader

Website:  www.everydayleader.co.uk

Telephone: 07905 361694

Email: [email protected]

Career and business history

After seeing his French teacher being locked in a cupboard, he vowed he would never be a teacher. But in 1991 he began a 26-year career as a teacher, realising not all teachers got locked in cupboards if you built relationships and taught well. Teaching posts in Surrey and Hertfordshire gave Colin the experience to become a headteacher in 2000. His first headteacher post in Stevenage, Hertfordshire was amalgamating two schools – no mean feat for a first headteacher post and aged just 32.

In 2007 he took on improving a 650 place primary school in Ipswich. It’s obvious that the role of the headteacher is to develop children, but Colin’s heart was also to develop the school community and therefore a key part of that is to develop leaders within the school.

That heart for developing leaders meant that in 2017 Colin left education to establish Everyday Leader, a company passionate about inspiring, equipping and developing leaders.

So, Colin now works with companies, schools and charities to help develop leadership and communication skills of leaders at all levels of the organisation.

Passions and interests

Colin and his wife Lisa run a children’s charity, Lemmings Holidays, providing holidays for children and young people to learn about themselves and the Christian faith.

Colin and his wife have 3 adult children. In his spare time, Colin enjoys watching his adult son Matt play for Sporting 87 football club and walking the two family dogs.

Colin also has recently taken up running having got started with the ‘Couch to 5k’ app.

Qualifications

BA Hons in Theology

PGCE (Teacher qualification)

NPQH (National Professional Qualification of Headteachers)

Qualified Professional Coach (EMCC – European Mentoring Coaching Council)

Olivia Higson

Our member in the spotlight for June 2019

Current business

Blackwater Wealth Management

Website:  Brightside Wealth Management

Telephone: 01245 905405/07788 247390

Email: [email protected]

Career and business history

Olivia completed a Business Studies course locally and then went on to pursue her interest in property and become an estate agent. She has always enjoyed talking to clients and building long term relationships.

After spending some time travelling in South East Asia Olivia returned home and worked in a law firm focusing on client care.

Most recently Olivia has graduated from the St. James’s Place Academy as a Financial Adviser before undertaking the role full time.

Passions and interests

Olivia has an ex-racehorse called Titus Andronicus who takes up most of her free time and she enjoys riding five times a week.

She also enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and they have a very sociable group of friends.

Qualifications

Diploma in Business Studies

Diploma in Financial Planning

Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice.

Andrew Bingham

Our member in the spotlight for May 2019

Current business

Andrew Bingham Independent Funeral Service

Website:  www.andrewbingham.co.uk

Telephone:  01449 771666

Email: [email protected]

Career and business history

In his last year at school, having no idea what to do and Andrew’s dad coming home from leading a funeral as a Methodist minister, Andrew asked ‘what do you have to do to be a funeral director?’ That was in 1985 and, as they say, the rest is history.

In 1986, Andrew started working at an independent funeral service in Chesterfield and then joined B&C Co-op Funeral Service in Sheffield. In 1988 he qualified as an embalmer, in 1989 he moved to Ipswich and joined Farthing Singleton and Hastings funeral service, where he qualified as a funeral director in 1991. He joined the Co-op in 1996 but went back to Farthing Singleton and Hastings in 1999.

In 2006 Andrew and his wife Heidi opened their own business, Andrew Bingham Independent Funeral Service.

Passions and interests

Other than work and family, if there is any time left Andrew loves walking.

They have a golden retriever dog called Toby and spend many hours walking locally and visiting the Peak District and the Lakes in their VW campervan which Andrew converted himself.

He says: “I am no glory hunter, my son and I follow Chesterfield Football Club who are not doing very well, having been relegated to the non-league for the first time in their history.”

Qualifications

Andrew is a qualified Embalmer belonging to the British Institute of Embalmers and a qualified Funeral Director belonging to the (NAFD) National Association of Funeral Directors and (SAIF) Society of Allied Independent Funeral Directors.

Danny Cuff

Our member in the spotlight for February 2019

Current business

Gipping Press Ltd,
Units 1 and 2, Maitland Rd, Needham Market, Ipswich IP6 8NZ

Website:  https://www.gippingpress.co.uk/

Telephone:  01449 721599

Email: [email protected]

Career and business history

After completing A levels at Northgate High School in Ipswich, Danny studied Journalism at Staffordshire University. Whilst writing was his first passion, as part of the course he studied the layout of publications and this became more of a passion than the actual writing side of journalism!

After completing his University degree in 2011, Danny worked with Icon Consultants in Ipswich before joining Gipping Press in December of the same year.

Danny is the second generation of his family to work in the business, which was founded by Mike Truscott in 1980 before his father, Bob, brought the company upon Mike’s retirement.

He is currently Customer Services Director and is responsible for estimating, enquiry handling and looking after customers.

Gipping Press has been in Needham Market for 39 years and throughout that time has invested heavily in staff and equipment to be able to offer a complete print service under its one roof.

As a result, it has become a specialist in a few areas and is a trade printer for many print companies across the area.

Danny is also Vice Chairman of Stowmarket and District Chamber of Commerce and the coordinator of our newest, successful venture, the Mid Suffolk Business Exhibition (MSBE), now in its second year.

Passions and interests

Danny’s main passion is the outdoors and wildlife and loves nothing more than spending time in his garden with his wife, Cyntia, and three-year-old son, Noah. This goes hand in hand with bird watching. Danny is a keen twitcher!

Qualifications

BA Hons in Journalism, member of the British Print Industry Federation and Vice-Chair of Stowmarket Chamber of Commerce.

Stowmarket and Area Food Bank

Our member in the spotlight for December 2018

Stowmarket and Area Food Bank

http://www.livingit.org.uk/foodbank/

01449 774000 (9am – 1pm)

Stowmarket Community Centre, Hillside, Stowmarket, IP14 2BD

Opening hours: Tuesdays: 9 am – 1 pm, Wednesdays: 9 am – 1 pm, Thursdays: 9 am – 1 pm,
Fridays: 9 am – 1 pm

About the foodbank

The Foodbank has been the Chamber’s chosen charity for the last two years as we feel it plays an incredibly important role in the local community.  The Foodbank manager is Mike Smith and the Centre is run entirely by volunteers. The Foodbank was founded in October 2012 by Stowmarket Churches Together. By October 2014 demand had risen by 140%, according to Stowmarket’s Citizens’ Advice Bureau, and still continues to increase.

The Foodbank works with Stowmarket Churches Together and other organisations to identify individuals and families who can benefit from the Foodbank’s services. The Stowmarket Citizens’ Advice Bureau is the main source of referrals to the Foodbank.

Parcels are delivered to the town and surrounding area, including Needham Market and several mid-Suffolk villages.

The Foodbank generally provides 1 or 3-day emergency food parcels. These contain dried and canned goods, plus tea and personal hygiene products. It has been delivering an average of 50 packages a month.

With the roll-out of Universal Credit this summer, demand for parcels has increased by 21% to 71 packages, an equivalent of two tonnes of food per month.

What is in a typical parcel?

Breakfast cereals, Soup, Pasta, Rice, Pasta sauce, Tinned beans, Tinned meat, Tinned vegetables, Tinned fruit, Tea or coffee, Sugar, Biscuits, Snacks.

At Christmas, when demand is at its highest, the Foodbank collects and includes seasonal items such as Christmas cake, mince pies, custard powder, fruit juices, Christmas Crackers and other items recipients might otherwise not be able to afford.

Where does the food come from?

All the food is donated.  There are collection points at some of Stowmarket’s supermarkets; organisations, such as Scout groups, run special collections; Church Harvest Festivals are another source, and not forgetting the many individuals throughout the area also donate regularly as well as volunteering to run the Foodbank.

The Chamber has a special Christmas collection of seasonal food donations as well as providing food donations throughout the year.  We will be running our Reverse Advent Calendar again this year asking people to buy an item per day to add to the stocks, which will be collected and handed over at our Christmas Lunch on 14 December.