Keeping you up to speed with Superfast Essex

(update from Essex County Council)

www.superfastessex.org

The Superfast Essex story so far…

In August 2013 Essex County Council signed a contract with BT to improve broadband
coverage across greater Essex and this became the Superfast Essex programme. It is part of
a national government-led programme to improve broadband connectivity across the UK,
Superfast Britain, which the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) is coordinating
through a team called Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK).

BDUK, Essex County Council and BT are jointly investing £24.6m into the Superfast Essex
programme. As part of the programme, the Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) contract uses
public subsidy to complement and accelerate the broadband offering by commercial
operators.

The aim is to improve broadband coverage so that around 87 per cent of Essex has access to
fibre broadband by the end of 2016. We want to ensure that a minimum of 2Mbps download speed is available across Essex, and that the fibre  network – with the potential to provide superfast speeds of 24Mbps and  above – is extended as much as possible with the available funding.
 
What’s new?

Our new website is now live: Check it out at www.superfastessex.org We hope you will find
this redesigned site much more accessible and easier to navigate and find the information
you want and need to know.

 New features include:
 Postcode checker – find out the latest for your area
 A video about the fibre broadband rollout programme
 A comprehensive section answering Frequently Asked Questions.
 More information on the benefits of faster broadband at home and work
There is also an overview coverage map, events list, and background information about the
programme, as well as links to our Make the Connection Survey where you can also sign up
to have these programme updates e-mailed to you.

Delivery update: We are currently in the implementation stage for Phase One of the
programme and expect to launch the first new fibre-enabled cabinets in June. So keep an
eye on our website and Twitter feed for announcements on this.

New funding: In February, DCMS announced that additional grant funding has been
allocated to Essex to support an extension of the Superfast Essex Programme, allowing us to
reach even more premises in Essex. Essex County Council is currently reviewing the options
for taking this forward. We will publish updates on our website and in this newsletter when
they become available.

Superfast Facts

 You can help improve your own broadband speed simply by changing the way you are
connected at home or work.

 Nobody will automatically receive fibre broadband once it is enabled. Once a cabinet is
installed in your area and it is connected to the exchange this means the fibre is now live
and ready for service. However, you will need to contact your Internet Service Provider
(ISP) to find out what services and speeds are available to you and ask to switch to fibre.
You may have to switch your package or change your internet service provider to get a
faster connection if your current one does not provide fibre broadband services.

 If you haven’t already found us, we are live on Twitter. Follow us and join the conversation - @SuperfastEssex. A link to our Twitter feed is available on our website.

This Programme Update was produced by the Superfast Essex Team at Essex County Council
Contact: Make.theConnection@essex.gov.uk

East of England winner - Congratulations to Yaxleys Hair

Announcing the winners of The Third English Hair and Beauty Awards 2014

presented by Fake Bake

http://www.yaxleyhairandbeauty.com/

Winners of the third English Hair and Beauty Awards 2014 presented by Fake Bake were revealed on Sunday at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel. The glamorous evening was hosted by Capital FM Manchester’s, Drive Time presenter, Sally Hudson. 

Awards were based upon public nominations which, this year received a staggering 10,000 votes covering 21 specialist categories. Accolades included Beautician of the Year, Hair Salon of the Year and Makeup Specialist of the Year, amongst many others. Now in its third year, the English Hair and Beauty Awards recognise and reward some of England’s top hair and beauty experts and in turn celebrates the amazing breadth of talent and style in this country.

                                                             

The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was won by Toni Mascolo OBE of Toni & Guy, while Dr Leah Totton, Founder of Dr Leah Cosmetic Skin Clinic took home the Hair and Beauty Guru of the Year Award.

As well as the awards ceremony, guests were treated to special performances by the talented, Charlee Drew.

Sandra McClumpha, CEO of Fake Bake UK commented, ‘Fake Bake takes the position of title sponsor this year and have made their mark with three of their own categories: Fake Bake Therapist, Fake Bake Spray Tanner and Fake Bake Salon. The brand has gone from strength to strength since it was bought over by Scottish business tycoon Sandra McClumpha in 2008, with an array of award winning products used by salons nationwide.’

The Awards also helped raise just over £1700 for the official charity partner, Make A Wish Foundation UK granting magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions.

And the winners are:

(Beauty Salon of the Year and Hair Salon of the Year is split into 9  regions, with a regional winner from each and of the 9 regions, one overall winner)

Cosmetic Clinic of the Year

Finalists: Harley Medical Group Manchester // Diane Nivern Clinic (Manchester) // Liverpool Cosmetic Clinic (Liverpool) // Worsley Laser Clinic (Manchester) // Medizen (Birmingham) // Your Beautique (Birmingham).

Winner: Diane Nivern Clinic

Cosmetic Dentist of the Year

Finalists: Dr Kailesh Solanki (Kiss Dental, Manchester) // Stephen Dodd (Stephen Dodd, Manchester) // Dr Dinesh Vegad (St Pauls Square Dental Practice, Birmingham) // Dr Khalid Khan (Khan Dental, Liverpool) // Dr Al-Ani (Clarendon Dental Spa, Leeds) // Dr Daniel Sutcliffe (Sutcliffe Dental, Manchester).

Winner: Dr Daniel Sutcliffe

Spa of the Year

Finalists: VSPA (Preston) // Owl House Day Spa (Nottingham) // Harmony & Serenity Spa (Manchester) // The Club & Spa (Birmingham) // The Bannatyne Spa (Birmingham) // Ribby Hall (Blackpool).

Winner: Owl House Day Spa

Masseuse of the Year

Finalists: Lorraine Saunders (The Equilibrium Clinic, Wiltshire) // Karen Brown (Plush Hair & Beauty, Great Yarmouth) // Michelle Baker (Aimes Health & Beauty, Knaresborough) // Catherine Whelan (Spa Beautiful, Cheshire) // Jennifer Green (Jennifer Green Therapies, Liverpool) // Paola Bassanese (Energya, London).

Winner: Karen Brown (Plush Hair & Beauty)

Fake Bake Therapist of the Year

Finalists: Sarah Tedd (Jas Hair Group, Wilton) // Toni Jones (The Beauty Therapy Centre, Buckingham) // Rebecca Ashcroft (Renaissance Beauty, St Helens) // Page Harvey (Amar Esha, Essex) // Louise Jones (Therapy Skin Care, Halifax) // Pamela Liburd (Desiree’s Studio, Sutton Coldfield).

Winner: Rebecca Ashcroft (Renaissance Beauty)

Fake Bake Spray Tanner of the Year

Finalists: Sonia Richmond (Chi-Beauty, London) // Carla Price (Body Conscious, Liverpool) // Vicky (Karma Beauty, Preston) // Jade Trent (Blakes Hair & Beauty, Canterbury) // Danielle Fox (Beauty Lounge, Sheffield) // Megan Prentice (The Spa Odyssey, Stevenage).

Winner: Carla Price (Body Conscious)

Fake Bake Salon of the Year

Finalists: Anesis Salon & Spa (London) // Miss Independent (Middlesbrough) // Wigs and Warpaint (Sheffield) // Enhance Beauty Rooms (Northumberland) // Forresters Beauty Salon (Reading) // Hollywood Tanning & Beauty (Manchester).

Winner: Miss Independent

Salon Design of the Year

Finalists: The Churchgate Salon (Bolton) // Halo (Newcastle) // Nashwhite Hairdressing (Warwick) // Sutherland & Barnett (Nottingham) // Alexander Hair and Beauty (Hull) // Cream Hair & Beauty (Gloucester).

Winner: Nashwhite Hairdressing

Best of Manchester

Finalists: David Rozman Hairdressing // The Colour Room Manchester // The Hair Bank // Ethos Hairdressing // Nicky Oliver Hairdressing // Urban Hairdressing // Stuart James Hairdressing // Terence Paul Manchester // Elliot McClarance Hairdressing // Razors Edge.

Winner: The Hair Bank

Best Marketing Campaign

Finalists: KH Hair (National) // Contemporary Salons (Middlebrough) // Look Fantastic (South England) // Avant Garde (West Midlands) // Scissors Salons (Bournemouth) // Celly’s Hair Salons (South England).

Winner: KH Hair

Make Up Specialist of the Year

Finalists: Maria Giles (GlamR, Lowestoft) // Charlotte Hampson (WhiteHaus, Liverpool) // Marie Kelly (Beauty Call, Wiltshire) // Rachael Bottomley (Rachael Bottomley Make Up Artist, Manchester) // Elaine Myers Jones (School of Make Up, Manchester) // Debarah Schofield (Ruby Red Lips, Bolton).

Winner: Elaine Myers Jones (School of Make Up)

Nail Technician of the Year

Finalists: Hallie Nguyen (Lilly Nail & Beauty, Manchester) // Mint Nails & Beauty (Liverpool) // Alison Quinn (Alison Nails & Beauty (Liverpool) // Heather Liverpool (Prestige, Liverpool) // Melanie Lewendon (Simply Gorgeous Beauty, Derbyshire) // Roxie Smith (Studio 5 Beauty, Ilkeston).

Winner: Roxie Smith (Studio 5 Beauty)

Beautician of the Year

Finalists: Nicola McIlduff (LK Hair & Beauty, Berkshire) // Shannon Kerr (Sirens, Durham) // Roxie Smith (Studio 5 Beauty, Ilkeston) // Maria Dallagiovanna (Wigs and Warpaint, Sheffield) // Selina Jogaloo (Pretty Woman, Hampshire) // Kerry Blois (Diamond Beauty, Essex).

Winner: Kerry Blois (Diamond Beauty)

Beauty Salon of the Year

Finalists North East: Enhance Beauty Rooms (Northumberland) // Sirens (Durham) // Newcastle Hair & Beauty (Newcastle) // Beautonic Beauty Salon (Newcastle) // Bella Beauty (Sunderland) // Grace & Elegance (Middlesbrough).

North East Winner: Enhance Beauty Rooms

Finalists North West: Hush Beauty Spa (Stockport) // Bellissimo (Bolton) // Guys & Dolls (Manchester) // Zensational (Manchester) // Teddy’s Girls Beauty Parlour (Liverpool) // Pure Clinic (Manchester).

North West Winner: Hush Beauty Spa

Finalists Yorkshire: Aimes Health & Beauty (Knaresborough) // Wigs and Warpaint (Sheffield) // Pout Beauty (Leeds) // Pretty Woman (Leed) // Therapy Skincare (Halifax) // Glow Beauty (Leeds).

Yorkshire Winner: Wigs and Warpaint

Finalists East Midlands: Pure Hair & Beauty (Nottingham) // Simply Gorgeous Beauty (Derbyshire) // Studio 5 Beauty (Ilkeston) // Beautification (Nottingham) // Beauty Temple (Nottingham) //Retreat (Leicester).

East Midlands Winner: Simply Gorgeous Beauty

Finalists West Midlands: The Nail & Beauty Palace (Birmingham) // Serenity the Beauty Clinic (Birmingham) // Glamorous Beauty Lounge (Birmingham) // Eden Beauty (Coventry) // Beauty Lounge (Stoke Upon Trent) // The Beauty Snug (Telford).

West Midlands Winner: Beauty Lounge

Finalists East: GlamR (Lowestoft) // Diamond Beauty (Essex) // Plush Hair & Beauty (Great Yarmouth) // The Beautiful Truth (Peterborough) // Elegance Beauty (Cambridge) // Janet Martin Health & Beauty (Cambridge).

East Winner: Plush Hair & Beauty

Finalists South East: Pretty Woman (Hampshire) // Beauty Rooms @ the Oxford Hotel (Oxford) // TAO Beauty Salon (Oxford) // H:Room (Reading) // Blissfully Young (Milton Keynes) // The Beauty Therapy Centre (Milton Keynes).

South East Winner: Pretty Woman

Finalists South West: The Equilibrium Clinic (Wiltshire) // Bloomin Beautiful (Swindon) // Victoria’s Beauty Salon (Bristol) // All About You (Bath) // Simply Bliss (Swindon) // The Cove (Exeter).

South West Winner: Victoria’s Beauty Salon

Finalists London: Chequers Hair & Beauty // Emporium Treatment Clinic // Sunshine Factory // Lyttle Minx // ID Beauty Salon // Earth Spa.

London Winner: Chequers Hair & Beauty

Overall Winner: Pretty Woman

Hair and Beauty Guru

Finalists: Dr Leah Totten (Dr Leah Clinics) // Martine Burford (Ruby Red) // Maria Hatzistefanis (Rodial / Nip + Fab).

Winner: Dr. Leah Totten (Dr Leah Clinics)

Lifetime Achievement Award

Winner: Toni Mascolo OBE (Toni & Guy)

Junior Stylist of the Year

Finalists: Ashley Sharpe (BOB Hairdressing, Bracknell) // Phoebe Gretton (Hairven, Nottingham) // Abigail Brown (The Hair Bank, Manchester) // Isabel Gaston (Silk Trends, London) // Cherise Salmon (Leah Durrant, Surrey) // Tatiana Miranda (Silk Trends, London).

Winner: Tatiana Miranda (Silk Trends)

Colour Technician of the Year

Finalists: Samantha Poulton (Hair Management, Warwick) // Sandra Marmolejo (Kell Scott Hair Care, London) // Phillippe Chambers (Frisor, Cheshire) // Natasha Hughes (The Hair Bank, Manchester) // Danielle Osborne (James Whitaker, London) // Paul Watts (Paul Watts Hairdressing).

Winner: Phillippe Chambers (Frisors)

Men’s Stylist of the Year

Finalists: Samantha Unsworth (Guappo Hair Design, Newcastle) // John Monks (The Gents Room Barbershop, Preston) // Jeffrey Goldberg (Head Quarters Mens Salon, Luton) // Lee Tramontana (Fratelli Men, Bolton) // Tas Panteli (Pure Hair & Beauty, Enfield) // Flanagans Gents Hairdressing (Manchester).

Winner: Samantha Unsworth (Guappo Hair Design)

Women’s Stylist of the Year

Finalists: Ingrid Farrell (Silk Trends, London) // Jenni Wells (The Churchgate Salon, Bolton) // Rick Roberts (Rick Roberts, Yorkshire) // Ria Kulik (The Hair Bank, Manchester) // Charlie Gunner (Leah Durrant, Surrey) // Claire Flack (Wigs and Warpaint, Sheffield).

Winner: Charlie Gunner (Leah Durrant)

Hair Salon of the Year

Finalists North East: Guappo Hair Design (Durham) // Y Salon (Newcastle) // Hooker & Young Darlington (Newcastle) // Gallaghers on Baker Street (Middlesbrough) // Contemporary Salons (Darlington) // Graham Daniels (Cleveland).

North East Winner: Guappo Hair Design

Finalists North West: The Churchgate Salon (Bolton) // John Lee Guy (Bolton) // Kate Henshaw Hairdressing (Liverpool) // Mirror Talk (Blackpool) // The Colour Room (Stockport) // Elaine Stewart (Wigan).

North West Winner: Kate Henshaw Hairdressing

Finalists Yorkshire: Bang Hair (York) // Michael Andrew (York) // Cutting Room Creative (Leeds) // RMUK (Leeds) // Alexander Hair & Beauty (Hull) // The Vanilla Rooms (Doncaster).

Yorkshire Winner: Bang Hair

Finalists East Midlands: Hairven (Nottingham) // Sutherland & Barnett (Nottingham) // Georges Hairdressing (Leicester) // Scott Bailye Hairdressing (Leicester) // Mark Scott (Derby) // Sally Montage (Derby).

East Midlands Winner: Hairven

Finalists West Midlands: Nashwhite Hairdressing (Warwick) // Hush Hair & Beauty (Birmingham) // Enigma Hair & Beauty (Coventry) // Vogue International (Leamington Spa) // Bad Apple Hair (Birmingham) // Lisa Shepherd Salons (Birmingham).

West Midlands Winner: Nashwhite Hairdressing

Finalists East: The Wonderlab (Hertfordshire) // Avant Garde (Essex) // Code Hair (Lowestoft) // Yaxley Hair & Beauty (Witham) // Elaje Hair & Beauty (Cambridge) // Michael John Hair Art Work (Peterborough).

East Winner: Yaxley Hair & Beauty

Finalists South East: Perfectly Posh (Hungerford) // LK Hair & Beauty (Berkshire) // BOB Salon (Bracknell) // Anne Veck Hair (Oxford) // Jam Hair (Surrey) // Leah Durrant (Surrey).

South East Winner: LK Hair & Beauty

Finalists South West: Love The Salon (Cheltenham) // OMG Hair & Beauty (Swindon) // Cream Hair & Beauty (Glouchester) // Melanie Giles Hair & Beauty (Bath) // Moda Hairdressing (Bristol) // Hush Hair & Beauty (Bournemouth).

South West Winner: OMG Hair & Beauty

Finalists London: James Whitaker // Stuart Phillips // Taylor Taylor London // Mohogany // Joshua Altback // Kell Skott Hair Care.

London Winner: Stuart Phillips

Overall Winner: Stuart Phillips

EN DS

Free Diabetes screening in Witham - Sat 29th March

    

WITHAM & DISTRICT LIONS

& LIONESS CLUBS

Will be holding FREE Diabetes Screening and Blood pressure tests in the Grove Shopping Centre. Witham on Saturday 29th March from 10.00am.

Tests will be carried out

By Silver Star Charity and St John Ambulance.

Please try to allow at least 2 hours from eating or drinking before having a test.

Remember Diabetes is a silent killer if left untreated.

'All Aboard Business Advice Bus

If you want to find out more about running your own business, an event in Witham this month is a must. The NatWest Mobile Business School, in the form of a 1960's double decker bus, will be in Morrison's car park on Tuesday 21 January.. There will provide a range of information and workshops available to give you the tools to understand how to start – and expand – your own business.

The free business event runs from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm and is being organised by NatWest in partnership with Dragon Enterprise Centre. A number of business professionals and other organisations will be on hand to offer free practical business advice.

Clare Whybrow, NatWest Business Specialist, advised "We are delighted to be able to bring the Mobile Business School to Witham and to work alongside the local community. The bus provides a unique way of taking support, advice and expertise out to future entrepreneurs."

SHOPPERS in Braintree and Witham are being asked to provide their views as part of a review of the towns markets.

Undertaken by specialist independent Market consultants Quarterbridge, the comprehensive review will look at the role the market plays in the towns, the size and location, the needs of the market infrastructure and the current management arrangements.

Councillor Chris Siddall, Cabinet Member for Prosperity and Growth at Braintree District Council said: “The visibility and profile of the markets mean they play a central role in the town centres, and a good market can attract footfall and aid other businesses in the town.

“However it is also important that we ensure that our markets maximise their potential and it is a number of years since a review of this nature has taken place, so we really want to assess the role they play, and the impact they have on the towns.”

“Quarterbridge have a good track record in working with markets across the country and over the coming weeks they will be speaking to both shoppers and also the traders to gain an insight into everything from what is on offer, to how much we charge for pitches to the waste processes involved for the markets.”

To participate in the survey visit either www.quarterbridge.co.uk/braintree for Braintree or www.quarterbridge.co.uk/witham for Witham  email views to bdcreview@quarterbridge.co.uk or write  to: Braintree and Witham Market Review, Quarterbridge, 2 West Stockwell Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1HQ

Our Witham Partnership - New member event - 6th & 7th November

The “Our Witham” partnership would like to invite organisations and community groups working with young people in Witham are invited to attend a free networking event at The Witham Community Hub, in the Newlands Shopping Centre Witham.

Events will take place on the following dates and times:

Wednesday 6th November: 9.30am-11.00am

Thursday 7th November: 6.30pm-8.00pm

Attendees will have the opportunity to find out about the “Our Witham” programme which aims to help improve the lives of young people in Witham, to meet other organisations working in the area, and promote the services and activities that you are delivering to a wide range of local stakeholders and partners.

Places are free of charge, but must be booked in advance via the web link here: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/5203170824

Happy 25th Birthday - Grove Shopping Centre