Movers & Shakers - Week to April 13

Creative duo James Kindred and Chris Waters have teamed up and established as base in Northgate Street, Ipswich.

Art director James and copywriter Chris work on each project together to give their work that extra edge, with the aim of getting their clients’ message across in a memorable way.

James said: “Condiment is a little thing that makes a big difference.

“We are not changing what companies do – we’re adding something to their marketing and communications to create interest and attract more people.”

The pair grew up in Ipswich and both attended Thurleston High School.They have previously worked on the campaign that saw Suffolk tourism posters on the London Underground and also worked with Champagne Bollinger and Belvoir Fruit Farms in their past roles with their former employer.

Chris began working in insurance for commercial airlines before being told he had a flair for creative copywriting, a skill he developed writing songs for popular Ipswich band The NovaSouls.

James, 32, has worked with design agencies in London, Cambridge and Suffolk before deciding to team up with Chris in a bid to push their creative boundaries.

Chris, 27 added: “When you work for someone else you can only push the boundaries as far as they want to.When you own the company, nothing is off limits.”

Although they aim to target national clients it is important for the pair to be based in their hometown.

Chris said: “To find an office in a Grade II listed building above a florist, a sandwich shop and a wig makers is something different and a bit special. It’s great to be part of a community of independent businesses.”

LIFE has blossomed for Sally Power with the opening of her own floristry business.

Mrs Power has launched Flower Power, a new events floristry service, after battling ill health to fulfil an ambition to run her own business.

The mother, of Withersfield Road, Haverhill, is a trained florist and will supply contemporary floral arrangements for events including weddings, funerals, corporate functions and for business reception areas in the Haverhill area.

She had been working at Haverhill Health Centre for just over a year when the migraines which had plagued her since childhood started to get worse.

She was having five migraines a week and the medication she was prescribed had horrendous side effects which left her unable to work and to take care of her young family. She was signed off work and had to rely on her mother Barbara to help out.

As she got used to the medication her lifestyle improved but she knew she had to take some big decisions about her career.

She started to train as a florist as a hobby after suffering post natal depression after the birth of her first child and started to make stunning floral arrangements for family and friends. Soon they were encouraging her to start her own business.

With her first four weddings booked as Flower Power, she has just been approved to supply beautiful wedding flowers for prestigious local wedding venue Spains Hall in Finchingfield.

She said: “It has been a dream come true to start my own business. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be supplying wedding flowers to such amazing places.”

ASSISTANT fitter and crane driver Peter King has retired after 38 years with Ipswich-based plant hire firm Watson & Hillhouse Ltd.

Mr King joined the company, then known as Watson & Hillhouse Plant Hire Ltd, at its inception in September 1972.

Chief executive Robin Watson said: “He has been an absolute marvellous employee all the years that he has been with us, efficient and hard working and willing.

“He is not as much being replaced, because honestly he is irreplaceable. His work will be in future spread and undertaken by several others in our organisation.”

Almost since the firm’s inception, there had been an apprentice training system in place, and Mr King had been part of the programme of bringing young

trainees on to become first class fitters and engineers, with a work ethic close to his own very high standard, said Mr Watson.

Mr King reached the age of retirement on March 23, 2010, and was due to leave the following week following a reception and presentation.

KELLY Calver has joined Fred. Olsen Travel’s Ipswich branch as senior sales consultant.

Ms Calver began her career in travel with Thomas Cook in March 2002, then worked for Thomson as assistant manager.

She has a wealth of destination and product knowledge and has travelled extensively to Europe. She has also been on a number of cruise ships - her favourite worldwide destination is Los Angeles and she is soon to visit Florida.

FORCES wife Jessica Draper has set up her own wedding and lifestyle photography business.

The mother-of-three, whose husband is based at RAF Honington, has set up Jessica Draper Photography, based at Stanton, near Bury St Edmunds.

“I had never been a particularly career minded individual and was quite happy being a mother and wife,” she said. “My husband and I have been married for almost nine years and have endured several operational tours of duty, moved three times and had three children over these years. So finding a permanant job let alone a career was really out of the question for me.

“It wasn’t until a friend of mine introduced me to photography that it really became apparent that I had natural flair for it.

“The passion had come from capturing images of my children and seemed to grow into something more definitive and eventually moved on to taking pictures for other people and then eventually getting paid for it.”

Mrs Draper took just over a year to set up her business, after attending seminars on wedding and portrait photography.

SUFFOLK-based based businessman John Preston is aiming to use his career experience in

the professional world to help others.

He has started JP Life Coach as a professional coaching service, aiming to help people who find themselves at a career cross-road to improve their job satisfaction, by helping to identify professional goals and potentially setting clients on a new career path.

Mr Preston has a 35-year background in executive and management roles throughout a number of industries and has many techniques which be believes can substantially advance an individual’s career aspirations.

He can facilitate clients in goal setting and achieving, focusing their efforts, identifying their specific strengths and tailoring them to prospective roles.

Mr Preston said: “I found there was a serious lack of support for professionals who wanted to take a critical look at the direction their career was heading. I wanted JP Life Coach to address this gap by supporting individuals in this crucial period in their lives.”

At a time where the job market is so competitive, he believes that an extra edge that can put candidates head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. “Things like, developing a winning CV, interview techniques, improving your overall image with potential employers and turning your perceived weaknesses into strengths,” he added.

A FAST-growing Suffolk-based insurance company is celebrating the arrival of two new staff members.

Blyth Valley has enjoyed continued growth throughout the last year as a specialist insurance service with a particular dominance in the field of small businesses, freelancers and independent contractors.

That prosperous activity has led to the appointment in recent weeks of Nick Kernaghan-Andrews and Laura Wagstaff.

Nick, 23, joins the company as an account handler. His position within the busy ‘business department’ of Blyth will see him concentrating particularly on renewal retention.

Laura, 22, is a new administrator within Blyth’s team and will play a vital role in the smooth running of the organisation.

The arrival of the new recruits is evidence that Blyth is defying the current climate and continues to thrive and expand. Valerie Hockley, managing director, said: “I am delighted to be welcoming two

new people to our team at this

time.

“We’re enjoying some great growth and progress in our sector and these appointments are demonstration of that.”

Blyth Valley was formed in 1998 and is based in Ipswich. The company works with a number of insurers to look after the policy needs of several significant professional associations, including the Chartered Society of Designers and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

It also has a well earned reputation, arranging insurance for small businesses, freelancers and independent contractors.

BURY St Edmunds-based IT company Computer Scene Ltd, which specialises in software development, and IT/network infrastructure and support, has announced the addition to its team of Mark Adams.

Mark brings with him a wealth of experience in PC/network support and says he looks forward to meeting customers and welcoming new ones. He joins a team of 10 who have a passion for high quality customer service.

The family- run company has been going for more than 20 years and offers a range of services including disaster recovery, PC/network installations and support, software development, website development, software training, Sage training and support, domain hosting and email/spam solutions.