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Aperture Luxury Doors Has Expanded to Knutsford

Aperture, a luxury door company, has opened a brand new showroom in Knutsford. 

 

With the finest craftsmanship from Wisniowski, beautiful designs and of course the best security systems available, they are excited to bring the most gorgeous bespoke doors money can buy to Cheshire. 

 

Owners Doug Carter and Lillie Pragnell explain:

 

 “We are so excited following the official unveiling of our new showroom. Our friendly and professional team are ready to start creating bespoke doors for our clients. We can’t wait to show everyone just how stunning our doors really are and we are confident you won’t find the same quality or designs anywhere else.” 

 

The new showroom is located at 115 King Street, Knutsford WA16 6EH and was opened on Friday 31st March by former Mayor Councillor Stewart Gardiner. 

 

For more information about Aperture Luxury Doors – 

 

Aperture Luxury Doors offer the most secure and stylish bespoke doors all designed with personal one to one hand held service by a team that genuinely cares. 

 

Book a personal consultation today by emailing [email protected] 

 

Aperture Doors 

115 King Street, 

Knutsford 

WA16 6EH 

https://aperturedoors.co.uk/ 

https://www.instagram.com/aperturedoors/

Successful Easter Set for Manchester Airport With 1.1MILLION Passengers Looking To Fly

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Manchester Airport is predicted to welcome more than 1.1million passengers over the two-week Easter holiday.

Passengers will fly to and from 158 destinations on more than 7,300 flights while many schools are off from 1 April to 16 April.

This year the airport estimates that a total of 1,174,362 passengers will fly from or arrive at the airport over the Easter break, compared to 1,038,175 last year – a 13.1% year-on-year increase.

The most popular destination over Easter is Dubai, with people flying to the Middle East hub to connect to destinations all over the world.

Dubai has risen from being the sixth most popular destination last year, leapfrogging Dublin, Alicante, Tenerife, Amsterdam and Palma. Belfast International is a new entry to the top ten, edging out perennial favourite Malaga.

10 most popular destinations Easter 2023

10 most popular destinations Easter 2022

Dubai

Dublin

Dublin

Alicante

Alicante

Tenerife

Tenerife

Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Palma

Palma

Dubai

Belfast International

Antalya

Paris Charles De Gaulle

Malaga

Antalya

Faro

Faro

Paris Charles De Gaulle

 

People are also flying to a number of new destinations not available last year, including Catania in Italy, Kuwait, Bahrain, Podgorica in Montenegro and Trondheim in Norway.

And those due to fly are set for an enjoyable experience, with average security times for February below 15 minutes for 96% of customers. The airport has also confirmed all of its bars, restaurants and cafes are now fully open, meaning those flying through have a great choice when it comes to getting their holidays off to a relaxing start.

Passengers set to travel through Manchester are being urged to do their bit to ensure a smooth experience, by familiarising themselves with the latest rules on what can and can’t be taken through security, and arriving at the airport at the earliest time specified by their airline – but not earlier.

Manchester Airport managing director Chris Woodroofe said: “Easter is always a hugely popular time to get away, as people look to take advantage of the school holidays and grab a bit of Spring sunshine

“Manchester Airport is the UK’s global gateway in the North, and that means we have a wide range of destinations for travellers from all parts of the region to choose from – whether that’s a city break, a European resort or a far-flung long-haul getaway.

“We’re looking forward to a successful Easter and have put a range of new measures in place to make sure passengers see the airport at its best. We’ve got state of the art technology to help us track how long people are spending in queues and a new 100-person resilience team that can step in and trouble shoot any problems that may occur.

“In February more than 95% of people got through security in under 15 minutes and we’re confident we will maintain that over the Easter period and into the summer.”

To find out the latest advice on getting through the airport smoothly, visit https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/help/passenger-guides/, or follow the airport’s social media channels.

These videos also provide pointers to people due to fly:

  • MAN Security Guide

    Travelling from Manchester Airport soon? Prepare for your journey in advance using our helpful guide 👇Take 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 ⌚ Arrive no more than three hours before your flightTake 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 💦 Liquids must be 100ml or less and placed in a single, clear, resealable bag 💻 Remove large electrical items from your bag and place them flat in a tray 🧳 Limit your hand luggage and keep security trays to a minimum 📥Take 𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 ✈️ You're ready for take-off!

    Posted by Manchester Airport on Monday, January 23, 2023
  • How to get assistance when travelling through Manchester Airport

    If you're planning on travelling through Manchester Airport and require assistance, here are some top tips for arranging assisted travel ✈️ Special Assistance Agent, Shirley Valentine, explains:✔️ How to book✔️ Security regulations✔️ Terminal facilities availableManchester Airport works with ABM, experts in assisted travel with a team of dedicated staff based in each of our terminals, to ensure all passengers have a smooth and comfortable journey.#IDPWD2022

    Posted by Manchester Airport on Saturday, December 3, 2022

What Prompted the Use of 3D Printed Metal for Del Toro’s Pinocchio?

Guillermo del Toro unveiled his version of the timeless tale “Pinocchio” in 2023. This new version is a darker and more mature take on the beloved tale, as is typical of del Toro’s filmmaking style. The film is a stop-motion animated feature and is set in Fascist-era Italy during the 1930s and 1940s. This unique approach adds a historical and political dimension to the story, exploring themes like power, control, and identity.

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio has an impressive voice cast, featuring actors such as Ewan McGregor as Jiminy Cricket, David Bradley as Geppetto, Tilda Swinton, Christoph Waltz, and Ron Perlman, among others. But it was the film’s intricate stop-motion animation that caught the eye at this year’s Oscars—Del Toro’s creative reinterpretation of Pinocchio’s timeless narrative and animated style earned it the Best Animated Feature award.

Why is that interesting? Because the little wooden puppet that longed to be a real boy wasn’t made of real wood.

The metal 3D printing at the heart of Del Toro’s Pinocchio

In traditional stop-motion animation, puppets are often crafted from papier-mâché, clay, or other mouldable materials. However, del Toro’s adaptation took an unconventional approach by employing metal 3D printing for the construction of Pinocchio and other characters. The designs were built through a collaboration between Del Toro, Mackinnon & Saunders puppetmakers, and LPE.

But why? And why, in particular, for a puppet that’s famously made of wood?
Key to the choice are the qualities of metal that other materials don’t allow. Metal is stable and rigid—ideal for posing a stop-motion puppet. This rigidity is complemented by a fluidity of motion possible through the printing of interlocking metal parts, allowing for the creation of anatomical joints. While these joints were made to look crude and obvious, as if made by Geppetto himself, they were expertly made with 3D-printed parts.
Another reason was the level of detail. 3D printing allows for exceptionally fine levels of detail that wouldn’t otherwise be possible with traditional metalwork; Pinocchio’s front, for example, was printed in wood-effect so accurate that it could pass for wood both on Netflix and on the big screen.

How does metal 3D printing work?
The metal 3D printing process that LPE used to build the Pinocchio puppet is fascinating. Utilising a technique similar to metal welding[EM1] , metal parts are produced layer by layer to an incredible degree of detail. They are built according to CAD files, similar to resin 3D printing, but the qualities of metal make it more suitable for projects such as these.
In a ground-breaking collaboration between LPE and talented puppet-makers Mackinnon & Saunders, the puppet’s torso was thoughtfully designed with a hollow interior, accommodating advanced mechanical features that allowed for seamless limb movement. A meticulous design analysis was conducted for each component to be printed, including the main spine, rear torso shell, hip clamps, hip joints, feet, ankle clamps, legs, arms, and shoulder clamps.
The team carefully planned the orientation and support structure to optimise the properties needed for the soon-to-be-printed parts. Prototypes were created and tested by Mackinnon & Saunders to ensure interconnectability and aesthetic accuracy.
LPE went the extra mile, developing custom supports for the largest component, the rear torso, to guarantee that the support material wouldn’t compromise the wood-like surface appearance. The final parts were printed in stainless steel—a strong, durable, yet soft metal—ideal for drilling the fine threads and holes necessary for assembling the components.
Utilising a high-resolution Mlab machine, the unique details of the puppet, such as the nails in his back, were impeccably defined despite the small size. The repeatability of the process enabled the team to print 32 exact copies of each armature part.

A team of five modelmaking experts meticulously finished the parts, smoothing the surfaces of threads and holes to facilitate fluid joint movement. They even managed to refine printed holes as small as 1mm. Finally, the parts were assembled and combined with a plastic-printed front torso, completing the puppet’s extraordinary body.

This remarkable collaboration demonstrates the power of creativity and technology, resulting in a truly unforgettable character that has captivated audiences worldwide.

Brand Equity: What it is and Why it Matters for Your Business

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A crucial aspect of a thriving brand is brand value, referring to the worth your brand brings to your products or services. A positive brand value can considerably impact your organization’s growth, customer fidelity, and market standing.

In this post, we will delve into the notion of brand value, its relevance for your business, and the elements that contribute to building it.

Selecting A Company Name

One of the critical initial steps in building brand value is choosing a company name that accurately represents your brand’s identity and principles. A well-selected name can create a lasting impact, evoke positive connections, and lay the groundwork for strong brand value.

When selecting a name, consider factors such as simplicity, memorability, and relevance to your target audience. A company name generator helps you do just that.

Explaining Brand Value

Brand value is the perceived worth of your brand, based on clients’ experiences, connections, and convictions about your products or services. It is the intangible resource that sets your brand apart from competitors, making it more attractive and reliable to consumers. Robust brand value results in greater customer fidelity, increased revenue, and a superior overall market position.

Significance Of Brand Value

A positive brand value offers numerous advantages for your business, including:

  • Competitive edge: A solid brand value distinguishes your organization from competitors, making it more enticing to customers and enabling you to demand higher prices for your products or services.
  • Customer fidelity: A brand with high value is more likely to enjoy recurring business, as clients develop trust and loyalty toward the brand.
  • Increased market presence: Powerful brand value can help your enterprise capture a larger market segment, leading to increased sales and profits.
  • Lowered marketing expenses: A well-established brand demands less marketing effort to maintain its position in the market, resulting in cost savings.
  • Talent attraction: A company with strong brand value can draw top talent, as employees prefer to work for reputable and highly regarded organizations.

Cultivating Brand Recognition

Brand recognition is the degree to which customers identify and remember your brand. Fostering brand recognition is essential for developing brand value, as customers are more likely to purchase from a brand they are acquainted with.

To enhance brand recognition, invest in marketing and advertising endeavors that effectively convey your brand message and reach your target audience.

Establishing A Unique Value Proposition

A unique value proposition (UVP) is a concise statement that communicates the advantages your products or services provide to customers and sets you apart from competitors.

A well-defined UVP can augment your brand value by emphasizing your brand’s strengths and creating positive associations in consumers’ minds.

Ensuring Consistent Customer Experiences

Uniformity in customer experiences is crucial for building and maintaining brand value. Ensure that your products, services, and customer interactions consistently reflect your brand’s values and promise.

This consistency will help reinforce your brand’s image and establish trust among customers, ultimately contributing to stronger brand value.

Utilizing Customer Testimonials And Reviews

Customer testimonials and reviews can significantly affect your brand’s perceived worth. Positive reviews from satisfied customers can reinforce your brand’s image and help build brand value. Encourage customers to share their experiences and actively manage your online reputation to ensure that your brand is perceived positively.

Supervising And Controlling Brand Value

Building brand value is an ongoing process that requires continuous supervision and control. Regularly assess your brand’s performance by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), such as brand recognition, customer loyalty, and market share.

Use this data to identify areas of improvement and devise strategies to enhance your brand value.

Conclusion

Brand value is an essential component of a successful brand that significantly impacts your business’s growth and overall performance. By understanding its importance and taking the necessary steps to build and maintain brand value, you can set your enterprise on the path to success. Factors such as choosing the right company name, cultivating brand recognition, establishing a unique value proposition, ensuring consistent customer experiences, and utilizing customer testimonials contribute to the development of strong brand value. Moreover, ongoing supervision and control are crucial for maintaining and enhancing brand value over time.

UK Economic Gloom & Doom Forecasts Bucked by Online Retailer

Flooring Hut, a rapid-growing UK retailer of online flooring is bucking the trend for more positive UK business and company news, particularly in the light of the Government withdrawal of business energy bill support in April 2023.

Flooring Hut CEO, Paul Brewster comments “Our business model, remote working structure and the absence of any bricks-and-mortar stores puts us in a very favourable position to not just survive but thrive and prosper during these tough economic times.”

Choose Your Business Model Carefully

Chief Technology Officer at Flooring Hut David Greaves comments “We are fortunate that there are currently many competitive advantages to a business model like we have at Flooring Hut.

The latest Government decision to substantially cut support for energy bills for business plays to our strengths as we have no staffed head office and no costly stores to operate”.

Flooring Hut reinvests its profits back into its growing business. To this end, they are proud to say that in Q1 2023 generous pay rises were awarded to their small team of Sussex based customer service employees, rewarding them for their hard work and helping each of them financially with the cost-of-living crisis.

Chief Operating Officer at Flooring Hut Ashley Funnell adds, “If you are thinking of starting a new retail business or are an established retailer and considering a pivot into e-commerce, then consider the following competitive advantages that you may accrue by making the move”:

·         Low overhead costs

·         Ability to reach a global or UK-wide customer base

·         Lower inventory costs

·         Personalisation and data collection

·         Flexibility and scalability

·         24/7 availability

What works for one business today, may be obsolete in 3 years’ time. The landscape for many businesses, large and small is changing at a rapid pace. Taking a longer-term perspective and approach may not deliver instant sales impact and revenue growth but it will have a much greater chance of future proofing businesses.

Businesses must understand the principle that the interests of customers and shareholders are perfectly aligned in the long term.

Five Top Tips For Reaching Out To Your Colleagues When You Need Support

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We all need a little support at points in our life. In fact, that’s more the case than ever before, as we battle with all manner of things, from stresses and anxiety around work, health problems, relationship troubles and everything else that comes between.

The stats around things like addiction are alarming, whether it be the opioid crisis in the USA, the alcohol problem globally, or even the huge amount of people that are suffering from prescription drug addiction, more and more people are suffering, and many of those are afraid to reach out to their work colleagues for support.

It can be difficult to reach out, whether it is addiction, financial problems, health worries or absolutely anything else where you are feeling a little lost and alone, but reaching out could be the best thing you ever do.

If you feel like you need support from your colleagues, here are five top tips to navigate that and start talking to them…

Be clear about what you need

When you reach out to your colleagues, it’s important to be clear about what you need from them. Do you just need someone to listen, or do you need specific advice or help with something? Being clear about your needs will make it easier for your colleagues to support you in the way that you need. Before you speak to them, set out what you want to say and even practice so you know you’ll get it right and in the right tone.

Choose the right time and place

It’s important to choose the right time and place to reach out to your colleagues. If they’re in the middle of something important, they might not be able to give you the attention you need. Similarly, if you’re in a noisy or distracting environment, it might be difficult for them to listen to you properly. Choose a time and place where you can both focus on your conversation without distractions.

Be honest and open

When you reach out to your colleagues, it’s important to be honest and open about how you’re feeling. Don’t try to downplay your emotions or pretend that everything is fine if it’s not. Your colleagues will be able to offer better support if they know what’s really going on with you. Similarly, if you need help with something specific, be honest about that too.

Listen to their response

When you reach out to your colleagues, it’s important to listen to their response. They may have their own perspective on the situation or advice to offer, so be open to hearing what they have to say. Even if their response isn’t what you were hoping for, try to be respectful of their opinion and thank them for their support.

Follow up and show gratitude

After you’ve reached out to your colleagues, it’s important to follow up with them and show your gratitude. Let them know how their support helped you and how much you appreciate their friendship. Even if you don’t feel like you need their support anymore, it’s important to let them know that you value their friendship and the support they offer.

Southport Pleasureland Prepares for Egg-Citing Easter

In preparation for a bumper Easter Weekend, Southport Pleasureland’s CEO Norman Wallis and fourth-generation employee and Ride Supervisor Martin Rimmer, have welcomed the park’s newest attraction Chaos.

 

After a long, cold winter for many, Southport Pleasureland is gearing up for a busy weekend as it anticipates a high level of interest following a strong start to the week. In readiness to welcome an abundance of guests, Southport-resident Martin who oversees a team of 75 Ride Operators, has been busy establishing the efficient running of the rides and ensuring that all team members have received the relevant training to safely operate each attraction.

 

Martin follows the lead of three previous generations in his family, including his great-grandfather, grandfather and father. Martin’s great-grandfather and grandfather, both named Thomas Rimmer, worked as Ride Operators, and Martin’s father Raymond Rimmer had a career spanning thirty years at the park. Raymond initially joined Southport Pleasureland as a Ride Operator, before progressing to Park Manager, maintaining the welcoming atmosphere that the park is so well-known for.

 

Offering fun for all of the family (including the dog!) with free admission to the park, the latest attraction Chaos is one of nearly thirty rides to experience at Southport Pleasureland this Easter weekend, alongside a whole host of other exciting attractions.

 

CEO Normal Wallis said: “It is always a pleasure to welcome guests from across the length and breadth of the nation, together with their family and friends to make lifelong memories here at Southport Pleasureland, and the long Easter weekend is the perfect opportunity to do just that! With free entry into the park, our rider wristbands which are available to purchase either on-site or online at a discounted rate, offer exceptional value for money. Families are able to enjoy the day at their leisure, with plentiful picnic spots across the park and an array of eateries.”

 

For more information on Southport Pleasureland or to purchase tickets visit: www.southportpleasureland.com

 

Southport Pleasureland can be found on social media at:

 

Facebook: @SouthportPL

Twitter: @SNpleasureland

Instagram: @southport.pleasureland

6 Elite Job Posting Sites for Employers

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Thanks to several job posting sites out there, you don’t have to leave your desk to find the top talent for your company. Some of the best job posting sites for employers not only let you post a job but also recommend matching resumes as well as schedule and conduct virtual interviews to make the process even smoother.

The reputation of the job posting site you opt for holds utmost importance, especially if you are looking for candidates to fill an executive-level position. Let’s walk through some of the elite job posting sites that have an established reputation and are equipped with advanced features to find great talent for your company.

Talentprise

Talentprise is one of the great platforms to find talent using top-notch AI technology. The service specializes in headhunting, talent sourcing, candidate shortlisting, and AI recruitment.

Talentprise uses cutting edge AI headhunting to fetch the ideal candidates for the open positions. It leverages the advanced algorithms to analyze your job description and the candidate profiles in its database and recommends the best matching candidates.

The application alert service will notify you whenever a candidate will apply for your open position, so you can review their talent cards and process your hiring. Furthermore, the skill assessments offered by this job board will take the recruitment process to the next level.

Ladders

Ladders is also one of the great job posting sites for employers with sophisticated algorithms to match the right talent for the open positions. It mostly suits executive and high-level positions with an average salary of $110,845.

You can attach an XML job feed to Ladders to ensure that your job posts directly reach out to targeted, highly qualified professionals. Ladders offers promoted plans where you job posts can enjoy 8-weeks of promoted status to attain more visibility.

Your job posts will be included in weekly emails to the candidates that best fit your job description. Moreover, the applicants and job post tracking system will ensure that your posts have been seen by qualified professionals, saving you time and effort.

Ladders also facilitate employers with pre-answered interview questions and 1-tap dialing that engage the candidates and boost the recruitment process.

Though Ladder has less traffic, it features a pool of highly qualified professionals and great talent sourcing tools for employers to find the best match.

Headhunter.com

Headhunter is an elite job search engine for executive-level and management positions. Headhunter, also known as an executive recruiter, boasts millions of qualified candidates. This job board assists in recruitment by carrying out intensive research to find great talent for hard-to-fill and high-paying roles.

Just like Talentprise, this job board also offers headhunting that handpicks the best, fully-screened, and ideally qualified candidates for your open role. You do not have to waste your time and energy reading resumes and interviewing irrelevant and unqualified candidates.

Headhunter is, therefore, one of the best job posting sites for ‘difficult to fill’ positions, such as C-level roles. Moreover, if you have a job for a role that you do not want to publicly advertise, Headhunter will find it for you without having to post it online.

Wellfound

Another one of the best job posting sites for employers is Wellfound. This popular site, primarily known as AngeLlist Finder, boasts 8 million job seekers with valuable expertise in design, product management, engineering, sales, and marketing from all corners of the world.

Wellfound vets every candidate before displaying their profile on the site. This reliable job posting site has plenty of advanced features to ease the recruitment process. For instance, the Applicant Tracking System weeds out the candidates that do not fit your requirements.

You can use the basic search filters to find the candidates or can upgrade to a sponsored version for getting unlimited access to advanced candidate filters. On Wellfound, you can easily post and advertise your open position for free and can also opt for paid promotions for more views.

Guardian

The job posting section of the Guardian is well-equipped with resources to take your message to 25 million readers. Based on your budget, you can opt for the silver and bronze job ads to list your posts on the Guardian job site.

Guardian features innovative recruiter advertising products and audience-targeting solutions to let employers capitalize on its huge online reach.

Moreover, Guardian leverages Pixel Tracking Technology to find the most receptive and relevant candidates for recruiters. A strong employer brand is an effective recruitment tool and Guardian facilitates employers with employer branding solutions to demonstrate their values and to continuously induct candidates into their company.

CareerBuilder

Just like Talentprise, CareerBuilder is another great job listing website that leverages Artificial intelligence to facilitate organizations. Being a well-known job board among recruiters and professionals, CareerBuilder uses powerful AI.

hiring solutions to screen a large pool of candidates and manage employees.

Job posts are easy to upload which makes it quick and easy to find, hire, and onboard new employees. The unique top-to-bottom Human Capital Management system tracks the whole lifecycle of candidates and employers. Additionally, you can get a deep insight into your ideal candidate using CareerBuilder’s AI data.

Your cost per candidate can be reduced to half when you integrate CareerBuilder’s Talent Acquisition Suite in every stage of your recruitment strategy. Hence, you can use CareerBuilder to simplify your recruitment journey and make a rewarding addition to your company.

Final Verdict

Knowing about the best job posting sites to hunt for top talent will assist you in your HR recruitment process. Here we have listed 6 elite job posting sites for employers that will aid you in searching for the ideal candidates for your C-suite, Director role, as well as entry-level open positions.

By posting a job on such sites, optimizing its performance, and sponsoring it to add some other advanced features, such as AI headhunting, resume screening, ad promotion, and Applicants Tracking System, you can quickly find great talent for your hard–to–fill job positions.

Manchester United Stars Make Dreams Come True for Fans With Life-Limiting Illnesses

Manchester United’s first-team squad took the time to make special lasting memories for fans today at Manchester United Foundation’s latest Dream Day.

 

Players including Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Casemiro and David de Gea made dreams come true at the Carrington Training Ground for fans who are living with serious and life-limiting illnesses.

 

The heart-warming experience has now taken place twice this season, with supporters travelling from across the UK and Ireland to meet their United heroes and watch first-team training.

Manchester United Dream Day6
Luke Shaw at Manchester United Dream Day.
Manchester United Dream Day4
Manchester United Dream Day.

Delighted to attend the event for the second time this season, Luke Shaw said: “For us as players, it’s really special to come here, meet the fans and put some smiles on their faces.

 

“It’s amazing to see them and meet them, it means a lot to us. When you come in the room, you do feel that special connection with them, especially with them being United fans and caring a lot about the club.”

Manchester United Dream Day5
Harry Maguire at Manchester United Dream Day

Club captain Harry Maguire expressed his joy at meeting fans face-to-face: “Dream Days are an important part of being at Manchester United, especially when we get to meet our fans and bring some joy and positivity to them.

 

“We know how much it means for our supporters to come here, meet us and watch our training session, especially while the sun is shining. As players, we enjoy being a part of the Dream Days, and we look forward to these experiences every season.”

Alisha meets Bruno Fernandes
Alisha meets Bruno Fernandes.
Manchester United Dream Day7
Bruno Fernandes at
Manchester United Dream Day.

Bruno Fernandes said: “It’s always good to have the fans together with us, we’ve been feeling their support throughout the season. Dream Days are important to us as players to put a smile on fans’ faces.

 

“I’m really happy to spend this time here and give something back. They’ve come here to Carrington to see us training and see our day-to-day; it’s a great experience for everyone.”

 

United fan Meer, from Manchester, was thrilled to meet his heroes. He said: “To meet all the players – especially Marcus Rashford – it’s been overwhelming. Marcus inspired me a lot because he showed me that I can’t give up. I’m so grateful to Manchester United, to go through a difficult period and then come here, it’s a dream come true.

Manchester United Dream Day18
Meer at
Manchester United Dream Day.

Alisha, aged 16 from Manchester, was overjoyed by the experience. She said: “Today has been surreal and brought me positivity. It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime experience I will always remember, especially watching them train, it’s just motivating. Today was amazing because since I was young, I’ve enjoyed watching United play.”

Manchester United Dream Day1 Manchester United Dream Day2 Manchester United Dream Day3 Manchester United Dream Day8 Manchester United Dream Day9 Manchester United Dream Day17

For more information about Dream Days and Manchester United Foundation, please visit www.mufoundation.org.

‘Eggs’cellent Start to Easter Fundraising

It was knitting needles at the ready and clickety-click to make a chick as generous staff at Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers hopped to it this March and produced over 50 knitted Easter chicks and Easter bunnies for the annual Francis House Children’s Hospice Easter Chick Appeal.

Staff at the Oldham-based law firm have held ‘learn to knit’ sessions at lunchtime, under the watchful eye of champion knitter Denise Curzon and those who were unable to knit donated dozens of crème eggs for the appeal.  Now they’re all being sent off on their way to the children’s hospice to help raise much-needed funds.

Every year, thousands of little woolly chicks and bunnies flock to Francis House, that have been donated by a wide range of companies.  The chicks are all filled with a donated chocolate egg each and sold in schools, stores and businesses all across Greater Manchester to raise money for the hospice.

Last year, more than 32,000 knitted chicks flew the coop from Francis House, raising over £45,000.

“Staff loved getting involved in this campaign and a big thanks to the relative of a staff member ‘Granny Sue’ who knitted the majority of our flock,” said Pearson Director and Practice Manager Joanne Ormston.

“We launched our support for Francis House with this event last year and are pleased to announce that we have extended our support of the charity for the next year.  Alongside dress-down Fridays and sponsored events, we have already raised over £6,000 for the charity to date and are looking to do more this forthcoming year,” she added.

The Easter campaign makes a big difference to the hospice and helps fund the running costs of £4.7 million a year, with each fluffy chick sold for £1 or £2 each.

image005
Doorstep delivery to Rev David Ireland (middle) with Pearson’s Charity Coordinator Suzanne Wright (left) and Employment Solicitor Susan Mayall (right).

Thanking the Pearson team for their generous contribution and accepting the chicks on behalf of the hospice, Rev David Ireland, CEO at Francis House Children’s Hospice, said:

“Once again, the staff at Pearson have come up trumps supporting the hospice, it looks like it’s going to be a bumper year for the Easter campaign, and I want to thank each and every one for their support.”