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Timberwise delivers 73 per cent profit increase as growth gathers pace

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Timberwise delivers 73 per cent profit increase as growth gathers pace

Timberwise has reported a significant rise in profitability after another strong year for the family-run property care business. Newly published 2025 accounts show profit for the financial period increased by 73 per cent, reflecting continued investment in technology, people and the company’s expanding service offering.

Newly filed accounts for 2025 show profit for the financial period jumped 73 per cent to £611,361, up from £353,146 in 2024.

Profit before tax climbed 66 per cent to £816,310, compared with £490,565 the previous year.

Revenue rose 9.1 per cent to £14.9m from £13.6m, reflecting Timberwise’s continued growth in work volumes and the expansion of the company’s market-leading service offerings.

The strong performance positions Timberwise as the UK’s largest property care specialists and comes despite inflationary pressures on labour, materials and operating costs across the sector, with gross profit increasing to £8.4m from £7.6m and gross margin improving to 56.7 per cent from 55.8 per cent.

The directors said the company enjoyed a successful year of trading despite a challenging economic environment and uncertainty within the industry, while continuing to focus on delivering high-quality products and services to customers.

George Edwards, Managing Director of Timberwise, said: “This performance is down to the hard work and dedication of the entire Timberwise team. It is also a reward for investments we’ve made in the past, especially in tech, which has positioned us to be able to accelerate our services and secure these levels of growth.

“The company continued to invest in its workforce and operational systems throughout the year to support future growth and improve efficiency across the business.

“Management remains focused on customer service, efficiency and health & safety whilst continuing to identify opportunities for sustainable growth.”

He added: “The directors remain pleased with the financial position of the company and believe the business is well positioned for continued success in the coming year and expect continued growth in 2026.”

The strong financial performance has been matched by industry recognition for the fast-growing firm.

Timberwise won the Training and Development award at the 15th annual Property Care Awards, hosted by the Property Care Association (PCA) at Old Trafford in November 2025, where it was also named Highly Commended in the Health and Safety category.

This year the business has been nominated for three awards at the PCA’s 16th annual Property Care Awards, with the ceremony taking place on 12 November 2026.

Commercial EV charging sites can unlock spare grid capacity and new revenue with Electric Miles and Charge-M8 integration

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Commercial EV charging sites can unlock spare grid capacity and new revenue with Electric Miles and Charge-M8 integration

The integration combines Charge-M8 Libra’s real-time site metering with Electric Miles’ emPACT and SmartFlex platforms, helping operators add charging capacity without automatically requiring a costly grid upgrade, while creating an opportunity to earn recurring income from grid flexibility.

MANCHESTER, UK. October 2nd, 2026 – Electric Miles, the UK EV charging and grid management software company, and Charge-M8 have announced the integration of Charge-M8’s Libra dynamic load balancing device with Electric Miles’ emPACT charge point management system (CPMS). Available now to emPACT customers, the integration enables commercial sites with multiple chargers to automatically manage charging against real-time site capacity. It also creates a pathway for eligible sites to generate recurring revenue by making their available charging flexibility accessible to the grid.

Commercial sites can see significant changes in their available electrical capacity as building demand fluctuates throughout the day. Without real-time visibility, operators may limit charging to a conservative fixed level, leaving available capacity unused, or risk exceeding their agreed supply limit and incurring additional charges. In many cases, the alternative is a grid connection upgrade, which can involve substantial cost, lead times and infrastructure work.

How it works

Libra monitors building demand in real time and communicates that information to emPACT using OCPP. emPACT calculates the power available for EV charging and automatically adjusts the output of connected chargers, allowing vehicles to charge within the site’s agreed supply limit.

Charging output can therefore respond to the site’s actual conditions rather than relying on a fixed assumption about available capacity. The amount of power allocated to each vehicle will depend on the capacity available at the site and the length of time the vehicle remains connected.

From cost control to recurring revenue

The same real-time information used to keep a charging site within its electrical limits can also enable its flexibility to be traded in energy markets. Electric Miles’ SmartFlex platform can adjust charging demand when the grid requires additional flexibility, with participating sites receiving payment for their contribution.

SmartFlex is integrated with all six UK DSOs and NESO, participates in wholesale markets and has delivered more than 40,000 grid flexibility events.

Libra provides SmartFlex with a live view of the site’s available headroom, helping ensure that flexibility events can be delivered without compromising the site’s own supply requirements. For eligible sites, this can transform EV chargers from an operational cost into an asset capable of generating recurring revenue through a revenue-share model with no upfront cost.

What Electric Miles brings

emPACT is a hardware-agnostic CPMS built around the open OCPP standard. It enables operators to monitor and control chargers from multiple manufacturers through a single platform. With Libra integrated, operators can:

  • organise chargers into sub-zones, such as individual feeders, car parks or fleet areas
  • establish charging priorities
  • automatically manage load across the site

Electric Miles also combines emPACT with its Grid Management platform, which provides energy management capabilities alongside SmartFlex grid trading. Together, the platforms support the full process, from managing charging infrastructure at an individual site to participating in national flexibility markets.

What Libra brings

Libra provides a real-time picture of a building’s electrical demand, allowing charging limits to respond to actual consumption rather than a predetermined estimate. Its direct OCPP 1.6 connectivity simplifies integration with charging management software.

The device supports Wi-Fi, Ethernet and 4G connectivity with triple fail-over, making it suitable for a range of commercial charging environments and installation requirements.

Arun Anand, Founder and CEO of Electric Miles, said: “Grid capacity is now one of the biggest limits on commercial charging. Too many sites are told the only way to add chargers is an expensive upgrade. Pairing Libra’s live site data with emPACT’s load management lets operators use the capacity they already have, safely and automatically. Then, through SmartFlex, that same flexibility can be traded with the grid, so charging becomes a recurring revenue stream, not just a cost.”

He added: “We assessed several load management devices and listened closely to installer feedback. Libra stood out for its direct OCPP integration, resilient connectivity, metering accuracy and ease of commissioning. I’m proud of the Electric Miles team for delivering this.”

Julian Smith, Founder and Managing Director of Charge-M8, said: “As EV adoption grows, sites need to charge more vehicles within the power available to them. Integrating Libra with emPACT gives operators live site load data alongside software that acts on it, both on site and with the grid. It is a practical way to make better use of existing capacity while protecting the wider electrical installation. Congratulations to the Electric Miles team.”

Availability

The Libra integration is available now to emPACT customers. Operators and installers can contact [email protected] or [email protected] to arrange a site assessment, including an estimate of the site’s potential for grid trading.

Stockport founder who developed tinnitus at 20 shortlisted for two business awards

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Stockport founder who developed tinnitus at 20 shortlisted for two business awards

A Stockport entrepreneur who developed tinnitus while ill with covid has been shortlisted for two business awards, five years after starting a company to help other people living with the
condition.

Jack Bridge (pictured) was 20 when the ringing in his ears began in January 2021. He had been unwell with covid and had been listening to music through earphones while recovering. When he got better, the noise stayed.

“I couldn’t find much that helped, and I couldn’t find much that explained it in plain English
either,” he said. “Most of what was out there was either very clinical or quite frightening. That’s really why the company exists.”

Now 26, Jack runs Sonovo, which provides sound enrichment devices for people living with
tinnitus, alongside a full-time marketing role. The company operates from their fulfilment office in Denton and sells direct to customers across the UK and internationally.

Stockport Business Awards

Sonovo has been shortlisted for Most Promising Young Business at the Stockport Business
Awards, which take place on October 8 at the Royal Nawaab Pyramid. Jack has also been
shortlisted for Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Manchester Young Talent Awards, held on October 30.

The company is a King’s Trust Supported Business and a corporate member of Tinnitus UK,
donating five per cent of every sale to the charity.

A market most people ignore Tinnitus is estimated to affect around one in seven adults in the UK. There is no cure, and Bridge is careful not to suggest otherwise.

Tinnitus Informed 13

“The honest answer is that nothing gets rid of it,” he said. “What can change is how much of
your attention it takes. That’s called habituation, and it’s slow and it isn’t a straight line. I’d rather tell people that than sell them a promise.”

That approach has shaped how the business grows. Rather than advertising, Sonovo has
focused on building relationships with charities, support groups and clinicians. An image of one of its products was recently used by an NHS audiology department in patient information about bone conduction, and the company works with tinnitus support groups across the North West.

Bridge added: “One charity relationship has done more for us than a year of social media,” It’s slower, but the people it reaches are actually the people we’re trying to help.”

Building in the North West

Bridge is also developing Sonovo’s own device, designed rather than sourced, working with an electrical engineer and a product design studio. The project is self-funded and being built in stages.

“I’m doing it at a pace I can afford, which means it takes longer,” he said. “But it’s ours, and
nobody else is making exactly this.

Asked what he would tell someone starting out with a condition they cannot get rid of, his
answer is the same one he gives customers.

“I still have tinnitus every day. I also sleep. Both of those things are true, and for a long time I didn’t believe the second one could be.”

£110k haul seized including counterfeit ‘squishy’ toys

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£110k haul seized including counterfeit ‘squishy’ toys

Trading Standards officers have taken a haul of £110,000 worth of dangerous and counterfeit toys off the market.

Alongside Greater Manchester Police and a brand representative, a visit was made to a retailer in Derby Street, Strangeways, after intelligence was received.

In recent months there has been wide proliferation of ‘squishy’ toys, modelled after the popular brand NeeDoh.

There has been a growing concern about the safety of these products, many of which do not come from legitimate source and may contain a range of additives and chemicals that pose a serious risk to the public.

Following a thorough inspection of the premises officers from Manchester City Council  determined that a huge amount of goods on sale were potentially either unsafe and did not meet UK safety standards, or suspected of being counterfeit.

In total 16,500 items were seized, this included 4,017 ‘NeeDoh’ squishy toys, as well as more than 9,000 other squishy toys. Close to 1,000 other items were seized for Trademark offences, as well as more than 1,600 others for a range of safety infringements.

Previous seizures have found squishy toys that contain polyurethane, phthalates, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and preservatives, which can pose health risks if ingested, inhaled, or in contact with skin. Other toy items do not meet rigorous UK safety standards and pose a choking hazard to young children, allow access to small batteries or are made of non-compliant materials.

During the visit, the retailer voluntarily surrendered the items for destruction.

Councillor Basat Sheikh said: “We take the safety of our residents extremely seriously and I hope this latest action sends that message in the strongest of terms.

“These items which, ultimately, are intended  for children could potentially expose them to harmful forever chemicals, choking hazards or other potentially life-threatening risks.

“Retailers have a responsibility to the public to ensure the items on sale are safe and there are no excuses for failing to do so. It is wishful thinking to assume that the sale of unsafe goods will not see you caught out.

“I’m proud of this latest action and want to recognise the efforts of our Trading Standards Team and our colleagues in Greater Manchester police for their commitment to keeping us all safe.”

Items seized for destruction are not sent to landfill, and are disposed of by specialist companies

MARRAKECH ROOFTOP RESTAURANT SURPASSES 40,000 GOOGLE REVIEWS, OUTRANKING REVIEW COUNTS FOR GLOBAL LANDMARKS

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MARRAKECH ROOFTOP RESTAURANT SURPASSES 40,000 GOOGLE REVIEWS, OUTRANKING REVIEW COUNTS FOR GLOBAL LANDMARKS

LONDON, UK, 16 September 2026 – A rooftop restaurant in the heart of Marrakech has reached a remarkable digital milestone, collecting more than 40,000 Google reviews and a 4.8-star rating. La Pergola at Riad Monceau now has more reviews than a number of internationally recognised attractions, including the Hollywood Sign, Madison Square Garden and Dubai’s Burj Al Arab.

La Pergola at Riad Monceau has passed the 40,000-review mark, placing the Marrakech rooftop above a notable group of landmarks, museums and cultural institutions in terms of Google review volume.

From London and New York to Mumbai, Dubai and Los Angeles, La Pergola has accumulated more Google reviews than a number of attractions closely associated with their respective cities. Its review total is higher than those recorded for New York’s Madison Square Garden, Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace, Dubai’s Burj Al Arab and Los Angeles’ Hollywood Sign.

Other internationally recognised destinations with fewer Google reviews than La Pergola include Kensington Palace, the Guggenheim Museum and Shakespeare’s Globe, as well as Marrakech’s Bahia Palace.

Current approximate Google review figures include:

· La Pergola, Marrakech: 40,000+

· Natural History Museum, London: c.37,500

· Madison Square Garden, New York: c.35,000

· Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai: c.34,000

· Kensington Palace, London: c.32,000

· Guggenheim Museum, New York: c.27,000

· Shakespeare’s Globe, London: c.25,000

· Bahia Palace, Marrakech: c.24,000

· Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles: c.15,000

For an independent rooftop venue in the Marrakech medina, the figures represent a significant international audience. Located within Riad Monceau, just moments from Jemaa el-Fna, La Pergola brings together rooftop dining, cocktails and a distinctive musical programme. Gnawa Jazz forms an important part of the wider Riad Monceau experience and contributes to the venue’s atmosphere.

Google reviewers from around the globe commented:

Olivia Köhler said: “Absolutely loved this place! The ambiance was amazing, the atmosphere was vibrant and the food was absolutely delicious. Everything was beautifully presented and full of flavor. A very special thank you to our waiter Simo, who was incredibly friendly, attentive and welcoming. He really made us feel comfortable and made the whole evening even more enjoyable. Fantastic service, great vibes and truly delicious food – we had such a wonderful time and would definitely come back!”

Cunning Fox added: “Probably our favourite restaurant that we visited while in Morocco! We came here on the first night and it set a great example for the rest of the trip. We booked a table quite late during the night so that we could eat while listening to the jazz band playing downstairs. The Crying Kefta was really tasty and had a spice level to it. The tacos were also really good and came with a dip that added to the flavour. Overall, I would definitely recommend trying here!”

Mima added: “We had the pleasure of discovering this remarkable jazz bar in Marrakech, a true hidden oasis set atop the terrace of Riad Monceau, overlooking the city in all its beauty. From the very first moment, the atmosphere felt refined, intimate, and effortlessly sophisticated. The jazz music is exquisite, soulful, beautifully performed, and perfectly suited for lingering conversations and complete relaxation. It is the kind of music that doesn’t just accompany the evening but elevates it.”

Marc Antoine, Founder of Riad Monceau, commented: “40,000 reviews is an incredible milestone because every one represents somebody who chose to spend part of their time in Marrakech with us and then wanted to share that experience”.

“When I created La Pergola as Marrakech’s first rooftop venue in 2018, I was deeply convinced that this city, with its multitude of flat roofs and its 340 days of sunshine per year, was definitely THE place where this type of establishment had all the reasons to be. It was just logical, obvious. However, I was far from imagining that the opening of La Pergola would be the beginning of a wave that would make Marrakech, in a few short years, the world capital of rooftops, and that it would become a major asset of the destination.”

A man in the shadows, Marc Antoine is not unknown in Morocco since he is also the creator of MarrakChef, an important gastronomic trophy which, in 2012, highlighted the new trends in Moroccan cuisine.

La Pergola opened as Marrakech’s first-ever rooftop venue and helped establish a format that has since become closely associated with the city’s dining and nightlife scene. Rooftops across Marrakech now bring together cuisine, cocktails, music and views above the medina. At La Pergola, the experience continues to centre on its lush rooftop setting and jazz-led atmosphere.

Its popularity extends beyond the Google figures, with visitors regularly competing for tables at the rooftop.

More than 40,000 reviews and the steady stream of visitors through the medina demonstrate the reach La Pergola has developed since opening.

For more information, visit https://riad-monceau.com/

Altum HR apprentice recognised at national CIPD People Management Awards

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Altum HR apprentice recognised at national CIPD People Management Awards

ALTRINCHAM, UK. October 1st, 2026 – HR apprentice Christopher Brennan of Altum HR has been recognised at this year’s CIPD People Management Awards, receiving a Highly Commended distinction in the Michael Kelly Outstanding Student category. The national awards bring together professionals from across HR, learning and development, and organisational development to recognise achievements, innovation and new approaches across the profession.

Christopher Brennan of Altum HR was named Highly Commended in the Michael Kelly Outstanding Student award, which attracts applicants from across the UK and the HR sector. The category is open to individuals who are studying towards, or have completed, a CIPD qualification since January 2021.

The Michael Kelly Outstanding Student award recognises how candidates have applied the knowledge and skills gained through their CIPD studies to deliver a meaningful and measurable improvement within their organisation.

Key evidence criteria for the award include individual contribution, initiation, implementation and evaluation of a significant and meaningful HR improvement project.

Christopher said: “Very much a pinch me moment, to even make the shortlist was a big achievement for myself but to then receive an acknowledgment was a huge shock. I am still very new to this industry so to be recognised by the CIPD was a very proud moment.”

On his role at Altum HR, Chris said: “I work for a business who allows me to be me, and I couldn’t ask for anything more. They support me, they have given me opportunities that I know I wouldn’t get elsewhere. I have learnt directly from a mentor, and I just hope I have made them proud as without them none of this would have happened.”

When he first joined the company, Christopher immediately stood out for his people skills, one of the most important qualities in HR. Recognising his aptitude and enthusiasm, Altum enrolled him directly onto a CIPD Level 5 course, a degree-level qualification, with the confidence that he could successfully balance the practical and academic demands of the programme.

His manager Tara Philips said: “It’s a fantastic achievement for Chris and really well deserved. He’s put in a huge amount of effort and has been a real asset from day one, such a positive example of what an apprentice can achieve.”

Why brand reputation is now an AI search strategy

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Why brand reputation is now an AI search strategy

When someone asks ChatGPT or Google’s AI for a recommendation, the answer it gives depends less on your website than on how often, and how well, other people have talked about your business.

A growing share of local searches now happen inside an AI answer, not a list of blue links. 

Today, when someone asks ChatGPT for a good accountant in Manchester, or asks Google’s AI Overview to compare removal firms, they get a short, confident answer with two or three businesses named. 

If you get left out of that answer often enough, it starts to matter to the pipeline the same way a poor Google ranking used to.

The instinct is to treat this like SEO: tweak the website, add some keywords, tick a technical box. The evidence says that’s not where the answer comes from.

The research says reputation, not tactics

Charlie Oscar, a marketing agency, ran a regression analysis across 30 brands in six categories to separate what actually drives AI visibility from what merely correlates with it. 

They found that 63% of it comes from long-term brand equity, the accumulated effect of a business having been reviewed, written about and searched for over years. 

Another 22% comes from total marketing spend. Citation-building activity, the specific tactics most “AI search optimisation” advice focuses on, accounts for 11%.

A separate Ahrefs study of 75,000 brands backs this up from a different angle, and its full ranking is worth setting out because of what it rules out. 

  • Branded web mentions (how often a business gets talked about by name across the web) correlate with AI visibility at 0.664. 
  • Brand-name anchor text on other sites sits at 0.527. 
  • Branded search volume, people typing your company name into Google, comes in third at 0.392. 
  • Backlinks, the traditional SEO currency, manage only 0.218. 
  • Paid advertising does worse still: branded ad traffic and ad spend both sit around 0.216, barely different from doing nothing. 

Ahrefs’ own conclusion was that “Ads won’t save you if you want AI Overview visibility.” Buying visibility doesn’t work here the way it does in paid search.

What “being mentioned” actually means

Whitespark’s 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors report, a survey of 47 named local search experts scoring 187 separate factors, put a name to the five highest-scoring factors for AI search visibility specifically. 

Their findings, In order, were: 

  1. A listing on expert-curated “best of” and similar sites
  2. A dedicated page for each service a business offers
  3. Prominence on domains relevant to the industry
  4. The quality of unstructured citations such as press coverage and association or government listings
  5. The authority of the third-party sites carrying a business’s reviews. 

Four of those five are about how other people and other websites talk about a business, not what the business says about itself. 

As the report’s author, Darren Shaw, puts it: “mentions are the new link.” A business’s own website still matters, mainly as the place a dedicated service page needs to exist, but it’s no longer the main lever.

For a Manchester business, that points somewhere practical: press coverage in trade and regional publications, a spot on genuine “best of” and comparison lists, and reviews on the platforms your customers actually use all carry more weight for AI visibility than another round of website tweaks. 

It’s closer to traditional PR and reputation-building than it is to search engine optimisation, and it rewards the same things a good local reputation always has: turning up in the places your customers and peers already trust.

Why this is worth acting on now, not later

The size of the prize is moving fast. Adobe’s own analysis of AI-referred traffic found it converting 38% worse than other channels in March 2025. 

By March 2026, the same traffic was converting 42% better. That’s a reversal within about a year, not a slow drift, and it suggests that customers arriving via an AI recommendation are increasingly further along and more ready to buy than customers arriving any other way. 

A channel moving that quickly is one worth having a presence in before it settles, not after.

The catch

None of this happens quickly. Brand equity is described as “long-term” for a reason, and 63% of an outcome being explained by years of accumulated reputation is not something a single campaign fixes. 

The businesses showing up reliably in AI answers today are mostly the ones that were already well regarded before anyone started talking about AI search. 

That’s a reason to start building the reputation now, not a reason to expect a shortcut later. The good news is that the work itself isn’t exotic. It’s press coverage, credible listings, and reviews on the sites that matter, kept up over time, not as a one-off push.

This article was written by Simon Theakston who runs Digital Drift, an AI search consultancy for B2B agencies and consultancies. You can check whether your own business already shows up in AI search results at digitaldrifthq.com.

Dental Implants in Turkey: A Patient’s Guide to Choosing a Clinic and Understanding Implant Brands

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Dental Implants in Turkey: A Patient’s Guide to Choosing a Clinic and Understanding Implant Brands
For international patients considering dental implants in Turkey, comparing clinics begins with a simple question: what does the proposed treatment include? Beyond price, patients should understand the implant system, the clinical team and the arrangements for ongoing care.

Start with a personal treatment plan
The appropriate implant treatment depends on an individual assessment. Before committing, patients should ask why implants are recommended, what alternatives exist and which details require confirmation during an examination.
An online consultation can help organise questions and exchange records. Patients should clarify how the clinic handles changes following an in-person assessment.
A written plan should identify the treatment, the clinicians involved and the expected stages. It should explain what the quotation includes and which additional procedures would carry separate charges.

Understand the implant system
Patients should request the specific implant brand and model proposed and retain these details with their dental records.
When comparing quotations, ask whether the price includes the implant, its connecting component and the final restoration. A “premium implant package” is easier to evaluate when supported by an itemised explanation.
Ask why the clinician recommends that system and how future maintenance will be arranged.

What manufacturer recognition tells patients
Manufacturer awards provide context when researching a clinic’s implant activity. A volume-based plaque reflects the scale of work with a manufacturer, making its year, geographical scope and product category important.
According to its published achievement information, Esnan Dental Clinics received Straumann Group’s Highest Volume Clinic recognition in Türkiye for 2025, reporting more than 15,000 implant solutions. Further details are available through Esnan’s Straumann Group recognition.
This provides a concrete reference point for discussing implant experience. Clinic-wide volume should be considered alongside the treating clinician’s experience, the proposed procedure and the follow-up arrangements.

Compare the complete service
Request a quotation separating clinical treatment from accommodation, transfers and other travel services. Ask how adjustments, additional appointments and changes to the original plan are handled.
Establish who will answer clinical questions during the visit and after returning home. A named contact, clear communication arrangements and access to treatment records help patients assess the complete service.
Before booking, patients should understand what they are agreeing to and which decisions remain open.

Considering Esnan in Istanbul
For patients researching Esnan Dental Clinics, its Straumann Group recognition offers a starting point for discussing implant treatment and the scale of its clinical activity.
A consultation can then focus on the individual: the proposed implant system, the responsible clinician, restoration options and future care. Requesting these details in writing before travelling helps turn initial research into a practical plan.
Documented experience is most useful when accompanied by clear explanations and a treatment proposal tailored to the patient.

Manchester founder launches Someo to help businesses look beyond the CV

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Manchester founder launches Someo to help businesses look beyond the CV

Manchester software developer Matthew Cawley has launched Someo, a new hiring platform
designed to help businesses discover people based on personality, strengths and suitability
rather than starting with a traditional CV.

The idea behind Someo came from seeing first-hand how difficult it can be for someone with little experience to get their foot in the door.

Matthew said: “I watched a young person close to me spend almost a year trying to find work. They were willing to work, they wanted the opportunity and I knew they would make a great employee, but getting to the point where they could actually speak to an employer was
incredibly difficult.

“They applied for plenty of jobs and had support along the way, but only managed to get a
handful of interviews. Eventually they found work through a personal connection, and that
really stuck with me.

“It made me wonder how many good people are being missed simply because they don’t
have much to put on a CV yet.”

That experience became the starting point for Someo, which aims to give employers another way to find people who may be overlooked by more traditional recruitment methods.

Rather than putting employment history and qualifications at the centre of the process, Someo builds profiles around a person’s traits, strengths, preferences and the type of working
environment they are likely to suit.

Businesses can then create opportunities based on the type of person they are looking for, rather than relying entirely on a list of previous roles and qualifications.

Cawley believes the traditional approach can work well for jobs where specific qualifications or experience are essential, but says there are many roles where attitude and personality can
matter just as much.

“A CV is useful, but it can only tell you so much,” he said. “It can tell you where someone has worked before, but it doesn’t necessarily tell you whether they are reliable, whether they will fit into your team, whether they will enjoy the role or whether they genuinely want to work for you.

“For plenty of businesses, particularly smaller companies, those things are incredibly
important.”

Someo is intended to be particularly useful for younger people entering the workplace for the first time, but the platform is not limited to any particular age group.

It could also help people returning to work, changing careers or moving into an industry where they do not yet have direct experience.

Cawley added: “The best person for a role is not always the person with the longest CV.
“Sometimes it is the person who turns up, wants to learn, gets on with everyone and
genuinely wants the opportunity.

“The problem is that those qualities can be very difficult to show when the first stage of
recruitment is just uploading a CV.”

Businesses using Someo can create profiles and opportunities that focus on what matters to
them, while people using the platform can discover roles that appear to fit their personality and preferences.

When there is mutual interest, the two sides can connect and take the conversation further.
Cawley is now speaking to businesses about joining the platform and helping shape how Someo develops.

He said: “I’m not trying to tell businesses to throw away CVs or completely change how they
recruit. I just want to give them another way to discover people they might never otherwise come across.

“If Someo can help a good person get noticed a little earlier, while helping a business find
someone who genuinely fits what they need, then that is exactly what I want it to do.”

CHEC wins place on UK’s Best Workplaces in Healthcare list for 4th consecutive year

Helen Greaney
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CHEC wins place on UK’s Best Workplaces in Healthcare list for 4th consecutive year
CHEC is proud to announce that it has been recognised on the UK’s Best Workplaces in Healthcare™ List for 2026, launched today by Great Place To Work® UK.
The national healthcare provider, which has headquarters based in Preston and over 30 hospitals across the country, has been ranked in the ‘Large & Super Large’ size category, earning a spot on the list amongst the nation’s biggest organisations.
It is the fourth consecutive year that CHEC, which now includes its private healthcare company, Clarity, has won a place on the list since first being recognised in 2023. The recognition is based on feedback from employees, who highlighted the strong sense of pride, purpose, and community as standout features that make CHEC an exceptional place to work.
Amanda Williams, Chief People Officer at CHEC, said: “We are incredibly proud to be named one of the UK’s Best Workplaces in Healthcare™ for the fourth year running. It’s a testament to the dedication and compassion of our people, who continue to make a difference to provide the best experience for our patients. At CHEC, we believe in building a culture of trust, care, and opportunity, and this award reflects the strength in our team and our CHEC values.
“The manner in which we conduct ourselves as one team is through our values of Caring, Passionate, Togetherness, Listening, and Focus. We believe this is the golden thread that runs through our business and differentiates us from others in this space.
“We have also recently appointed new roles to grow teams across CHEC and continue to do so, offering business-wide opportunities for training and development to get the best from our people every day.”
Globally, the Best Workplace™ survey by Great Place to Work ™ is the largest survey of workplace cultures and people practices. The methodology that creates the Best Workplaces™ lists is one of the most rigorous and highly sought after – and regarded as the ‘gold standard’ of employer awards.
Employees responded to over 60 survey questions describing the extent to which their organisation creates a Great Place to Work For All™. 85% of the evaluation is based on what employees say about their experiences of trust and reaching their full human potential as part of their organisation, no matter who they are or what they do.
Great Place to Work® analysed these experiences relative to each organisation’s size, workforce makeup, and what’s typical relative to their industry peers. The remaining 15% is based on an assessment of all employees’ daily experiences of innovation, the company’s values, and the effectiveness of their leaders, to ensure a consistent employee experience across departments and seniority levels.
Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place To Work® UK, said: “Healthcare professionals play a vital role in supporting people through some of life’s most important and challenging moments, making it a sector built on purpose and compassion. However, the pressures facing healthcare workers are considerable, and the UK’s Best Workplaces in Healthcare™ recognise that caring for their people is essential.
“Our research shows that these organisations are creating stronger employee experiences by ensuring colleagues feel heard, supported, and valued through thoughtful leadership and people-focused decision-making. By prioritising wellbeing and trust, they enable their teams to continue making a meaningful difference for others.
“Congratulations to CHEC on being recognised as a UK’s Best Workplace in Healthcare™ and for creating a culture where both employees and those they serve can thrive.”
Founded in 2012, CHEC is a leading provider of high quality, efficient community-based healthcare, delivered together with the NHS. With over 30 hospitals and 65 community treatment centres across England, CHEC makes specialist ophthalmology, gastroenterology, dermatology, and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) services more readily accessible in local communities.
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