12092019

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Newbury Business Today

Step Up 4 Good in call to businesses Give back to community you work in by registering team

Hobbycraft’s Newbury store’s best sales for an opening day HOBBYCRAFT has opened a new store at Newbury Retail Park. The arts and crafts shop, located at Unit 8a, has created 16 jobs, following more than 130 applications for the new roles. The store was officially opened on Tuesday, August 27, while the grand opening took place on Saturday, August 31, assisted by Newbury mayor Elizabeth O’Keeffe for the ribbon-cutting. With queues forming from 8am and the first 100 customers gifted with a free goody bag, Hobbycraft’s Newbury store was the most successful in terms of sales on its opening day. Customers were also able to enjoy face painting and a deco- patch workshop. Store manager Ashleigh Gray said: “Our new store is packed with crafting materials to suit all ages and abilities, and beginners through to expe- rienced crafters are all welcome to pop into the store and chat to our creative colleagues. “They’re always happy to share their knowledge, tips and tricks.”

number of volunteering oppor- tunities for anyone who wants to join in without putting on their trainers. Having volunteered as a race marshal for the past two years, Sharon Chapman shares her volunteering experience: “I think it’s really important to get involved with the commu- nity and give back. “Volunteering allows you to see what amazing local charita- ble groups are available, that you may not have known existed unless you see people running in their shirts. “For runners, it’s fantastic to have someone enthusiastic cheering you on, especially if it’s their first time running – having a friendly face supporting them really gives them a lift. “The best thing about volun- teering is seeing the runners’ faces when they cross the line. “It’s a great sense of achieve- ment and people work really hard, so when you see everyone together holding their medals, it’s a lovely feeling.” To register for Step Up 4 Good 2019 on Sunday, October 13, inquire about volunteering and for event details, visit www.stepup4good.co.uk/ getinvolved

are getting involved. The said: “Our community matters to us. “We recognise our responsi- bility to support and care for the communities in which we are privileged to operate. “We focus all our charitable work and donations upon projects and causes which posi- tively impact our community. “As well as sponsoring the Para-Mile, we have a team running and volunteering too. “It’s a great way to bring your employees together outside the workplace and I’d encourage other businesses to get involved.” Attending the event for a second year, Jason Briley, owner of SuperFit Bootcamp, explains why he is eager to be involved again. He said: “Step Up 4 Good is a fantastic event that brings people together from all walks of life to raise money for deserving causes. “It’s not only rewarding to support a feel-good event, but as a small business owner it’s an ideal opportunity to network with people who have similar interests and goals.” If running really isn’t your thing, Step Up 4 Good offers a

HEALTH and wellbeing are just as important in the office as they are at home. Employers that promote healthy working lives help to reduce stress and health issues in employees, which in turn increases productivity and helps to retain staff. Greenham Trust is therefore encouraging local businesses to get involved in Step Up 4 Good 2019 by using the running event as a team-building oppor- tunity and registering their own teams or volunteering. Since 2016, the trust’s annual 10k and family fun runs event, Step Up 4 Good has encouraged more than 1,800 people to get active. It has helped fund projects for many charitable organisa- tions across West Berkshire and North Hampshire. Step Up 4 Good 2019 will take place on October 13 at Newbury Racecourse. Priding itself as one of the most unique running events in West Berkshire, Step Up 4 Good accommodates runners of all ages and abilities and educates the next generation for a healthier future. Businessman Adrian Smith explains why the Swift team THE rapid growth of self- employment has been a noticeable feature in the make-up of the UK work- force in recent years, writes Karen Smith from Newbury Building Society . The number of individuals working for themselves has increased by 1.1 million since 2009, with 4.92 million people now choosing to be their own boss (15 per cent of the entire workforce). Yet 39 per cent of self- employed people have decided against applying for a mort- gage or remortgage in the past five years because of the fear of their application being rejected. Perceived obstacles to gain- ing a mortgage included a lack of recent tax returns, irregular or insufficient income and the mortgage request being too complicated. With such a large number choosing to step away from the traditional 9-5, lenders are seen to be disenfranchising a large chunk of the market. But this isn’t necessarily the case. Although underwriting atti- tudes towards the self- employed may differ from lender to lender – some may have restrictive policies to adhere to while others may be more open to flexibility– many have started to reconsider the level of risk self-employed workers pose, opening their doors to borrowers with diverse incomes. How are lenders doing this?

s Step Up 4 Good

Entrants in last year ’

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Self-employed needn’t be restricted when it comes to getting a mortgage

If you’re self-employed, a freelancer or contractor, our mortgages work for you when you work for yourself.

Such a professional service, they just understand people who run their own companies. The team understand the world of owning a business, its finances and how this can impact a mortgage application.

Newbury Building Society sales manager Karen Smith

By considering the applicant individually. At Newbury Building Soci- ety, for example, we do not credit score and all our mort- gages are individually under- written so each case is consid- ered on its own merit. We dismiss the ‘computer says no’ mentality and focus on the person and their unique situa- tion. In addition, we consider net profit on an individual basis as we want to understand the business and the prospective

borrower, as well as show affordability into the future. So, to find a mortgage that works for you when you work for yourself, a three-pronged approach is needed. Firstly, reject rejection; secondly, find a lender who is willing to put the effort in; and thirdly, never assume it’s impossible to get a mortgage if you’re self-employed – it’s not. n Karen Smith is the sales manager at Newbury Building Society. Call (01635) 555777 or visit newbury.co.uk

Newmortgage holder

Smart Money People Review August 2019

Newbury Building Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register number 206077). English Law applies and we willcommunicate with you in English. We are participants of the Financial Ombudsman Service. We have a complaints procedure which we will provide on request. Most complaints that we cannot resolve can be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. 7665 Call: 01635 555777 | Visit: www.newbury.co.uk

Newbury Building Society