Ulverston, UK, Businesses to Combine

A husband and wife team in Ulverston are to combine their businesses in a bid to help create jobs and prosperity in the local area.

Suzanne and John Edgley moved to Ulverston three years ago to bring up their children. They quickly fell in love with the area, and John soon set up his own catering business, Food For Thought, which has gained a fantastic reputation in Ulverston since launching in 2007.

Suzanne runs Office Images, which provides book keeping and payroll services for businesses. She works with an array of clients including builders, plumbers, small, large and new businesses, local shops and even a psychic medium!

Office Images provides a very personal and friendly service, making payroll and book keeping easier and more manageable. Suzanne works closely with her clients, either from home or from the client's workplace, taking care of administrative duties, allowing the client to concentrate on other aspects of their business.

Despite ongoing turbulence in the economy, both have worked hard and kept their businesses running smoothly, supplying friendly, well affordable services to their customers. Office Images provides an outstanding service to businesses that are now, more than ever, especially careful with their financial management. Food For Thought has attracted many new corporate businesses looking to cut costs on corporate lunches and entertainment.

Providing personable and affordable services to the local community is at the heart of Suzanne and John's work - and by joining together in business, they hope to create a wealth of joy and prosperity in the area.

The combination will involve Office Images relocating to the ground floor of Hamilton House, on Neville Road, Ulverston - directly underneath Food For Thought. While Suzanne runs her business from below, John's kitchen will be based upstairs, allowing them to interact, and help each other throughout the working day. Suzanne's clients will meet John, and John's customers will meet Suzanne, thereby introducing more people to each service.

The new premises will compromise of a new office and meeting room for Office Images and its clients. Suzanne will be expanding her service, which also provides office space and virtual office services for businesses. Food For Thought will also supply lunches, platters and buffets to visitors, guests and clients.

Suzanne and John are both active members in the community, supporting local charities and volunteering on many projects in the area. Their pride in Ulverston and supporting local businesses is the main reason why they have decided to bring their businesses closer together. Suzanne also offers reduced rates to help support local charities and community groups.

Their long-term goal is to bring work and prosperity to Ulverston. By combining services, each business will grow, eventually leading to the creation of new jobs. Suzanne is particularly keen on providing training in administration, with particular emphasis on providing part-time employment and guidance to mothers returning to work.

Suzanne is hoping that other local businesses will see the benefits of working together in the community.

She said: "We're very excited by the plans, I'm confident that business will improve for both of us, and eventually create jobs - as we will need secretaries, delivery drivers, administrative assistants and kitchen staff.

"Hopefully people will see the advantages of networking with, and building relationships with other local businesses. Sharing ideas, workspace, and joint venturing on projects will help improve and expand businesses, and increase client bases."

Office Images will be re-launching their Web site, and holding promotional events, while Food For Thought will be introducing a brand new working lunch corporate menu, as well as providing hot and cold food for lunchtime deliveries and private functions.

Joint venture partnerships are becoming an increasingly popular way of fighting recession - communities pulling together, and businesses working alongside each other and sharing ideas is becoming more and more common.

With the founding of Ulverston Business Alliance in the area, this is something we will be seeing a lot more of in the near future.