Month: June 2015

Trade charity, FTCT, launches its second national poster campaign with the backing of industry leaders

Trade charity, the Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust (FTCT) has sent personal letters to CEO’s and HR managers of 130 of the UK’s top retailers, with the support of industry leaders Meg Lustman, CEO of Hobbs and Chair of FTCT, and Dave Shepherd, COO of Arcadia and Trustee of FTCT.

The aim of this year’s campaign is to increase awareness of FTCT’s grant programme that supports the education and wellbeing of children whose parents work in any aspect of UK fashion retailing, manufacturing and textile trade, including those who work in the interior textiles industry.

FTCT are currently working with BHS, M&S, Hobbs and NEXT however, they are keen to reach more companies – big and small – to help ease financial pressure off those families in the industry who have hit hard times.

It only takes one instance such as illness, disability or bereavement to put family in financial hardship,” says FTCT director, Anna Pangbourne. “This can have a detrimental effect on their personal lives and performance at work.

“We have grants available to help children with their education and overall wellbeing; these grants act a bridge to help families support them during difficult financial times,” she continues. “With the help of FTCT trustees such as Meg Lustman and David Shepherd we aim to encourage more employers to jump on board and work with us to support their employees and their children throughout the UK.”

 The charity welcomes contact from all employers who wish to get their company involved. To find out more, simply call the FTCT team on 020 7232 1876 or email anna@ftct.org.uk.

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BITA Members benefit from partnership with Utilitywise

BITA is proud to have selected Utilitywise as the preferred Energy Partner for BITA (trade association for the UK interior textiles industry).

Thousands of businesses of all sizes rely on Utilitywise for their energy and water management needs, whether at one site or across the UK.

They have access to prices from major gas and electricity suppliers in the UK, allowing them to find an energy price for your business and removing the hassle of dealing with your energy account.

Why choose Utilitywise…

They provide a one stop service for Electricity, Gas and Water.

  • A dedicated Account Manager will work with you to tailor a plan to match your organisation’s needs, delivering time and cost savings to your business.
  • You can gain free and impartial advice from our free phone Utility Helpline – 0845 653 1034.
  • All BITA members are offered our free Bill checking service (Electricity, Gas and Water), providing peace of mind and ensuring you only pay for what you need.
  • A free Energy Health Check is available to BITA members which will allow you to benchmark your business against those in the same industry and of a similar size, we may uncover savings opportunities during this process.
  • Using their market knowledge and buying power, they research the market and provide a range of tariffs (fixed, flexible or portfolio) – to save you money and time.
  • Your Account Manager will remind you when you are due to renew your contracts, offering you peace of mind and time saving when managing your accounts.
  • Your dedicated Account Manager will walk you through the switching process. Taking care of all of the paperwork.

Frequently asked questions…

Do we pay Utilitywise or the supplier?

Your contract will always be with the supplier.

How is Utilitywise paid?

Utilitywise is paid a commission from the energy supplier. This varies by energy supplier and is often a fixed fee per meter.

Are Utilitywise regulated by an official body?

No, but we are regularly audited by the energy suppliers to ensure we are adhering to their codes of practice. In addition, we have an in-house compliance team.

 Which energy suppliers do Utilitywise work with?

We are truly independent and we place contracts with the widest range of suppliers including some of the smaller new entrants to the market.

What information do you need from me?

All we require is a signed Letter of Authority (LoA) and a scanned copy of your most recent bill. The LoA does not oblige you to do anything moving forward – it simply allows us to begin the analysis process. You are not obliged to work with us beyond that.

Who manages the handover?

Utilitywise manages the whole transfer process.

Key Benefits:

  • Fixed price contracts for up to five years.
  • Reduction of energy consumption through a wide range of auditing, monitoring and reduction services.
  • Central billing – for customers with multiple sites
  • Excellent customer service

To find out more about joining BITA from £50+VAT a year please email laura.jones@norfolkhouse-uk.com or call 01908 410598 (ex 5)

Already a member?

Contact our BITA energy experts on 0845 653 1034 or e-mail bita@utilitywise.com

Join us at BITA’s BIG SHOOT!

The British Interior Textiles Association is delighted to announce:

 BITA’s BIG SHOOT

Friday 17 July 10am – 2pm

We are so excited to be inviting you to BITA’s BIG SHOOT!

A great way to network with other companies in the Interior and Textiles Industry and have a spot of good old fashioned fun in the English countryside!

       download       bbq

                       JOIN US IN                          Just £79 per person

      Warwickshire             (plus VAT)

Tickets include:

  • Breakfast (bacon roll & tea/coffee)
  • Shooting (guns, clays & cartridges)
  • Tuition
  • A touch of competition to sate your competitive streak
  • A BBQ lunch with refreshments

THE NITTY GRITTY:

Location: Just off the M40, a short drive from Coventry. Full details will be provided at time of booking.

Timings: Arrival is 10.00 – 10.30am and breakfast will be served at 10.30am. We will shoot from 11am – 1.30pm and after you have enjoyed prize giving and the BBQ lunch you will be free to leave at about 2pm.

What do I need? Yourself and any guests, a sense of fun and an appetite: we will provide the rest!

How do I book? Email Laura: laura.jones@norfolkhouse-uk.com