Get to know our Business Supporters
With almost twenty members in our Business & Supporters Club, we decided it would be nice to feature them, many of whom have been with us a long time, in a Q&A blog series, so you can get to know them better.
What was the last show/film/event/workshop you attended at The Courtyard and what did you like about it/your visit?
I have been to several events at the courtyard and have been very impressed with the facilities, easy parking friendly staff and lovely food.
Name one thing you love about Herefordshire and why?
The thing I love most about Herefordshire is the people, they are so friendly, and welcoming to those not from these parts. Also the beautiful countryside.
What prompted you to join our Business & Supporters Club?
As a local long-established business we feel that it is very important to support The Courtyard. It gives so much to the local community, not only entertainment but a place to meet people, hold meetings, an art gallery. We pride ourselves In learning and development of people in our practice which aligns so well with what the Courtyard does It is a very valuable asset to Herefordshire.
What’s new with your business this year?
This year we are welcoming new frames ranges for glasses and are very excited about showcasing them. We have also welcomed a new Optometrist to the team who has just completed her training with us and most importantly continuing to look after the eyes of our patients.
Find out more about BBR Optometry here
What was the last show/film/event/workshop you attended at The Courtyard and what did you like about it/your visit?
I went to see Queenz with a group of ‘Mum’ friends I met through my son’s rugby team. We laughed, we sang, and a couple of us even shed a few tears. The Courtyard is such an amazing facility and we’re very lucky to have it in our beautiful city.
Name one thing you love about Herefordshire and why?
I grew up in Rugby which is surrounded by motorways and distribution warehouses. When I’m busy – head-down and running around – I remind myself to stop, look up, take in the stunning scenery we are surrounded by and just breathe.
What prompted you to join our Business & Supporters Club?
I volunteered at the Courtyard for a short while and couldn’t believe what tight resources it runs on. Without the goodwill of 1,000s of local people and businesses it just wouldn’t work and I want to be part of the reason the theatre is here for years to come.
What’s new with your business this year?
I’m delighted that we’re growing and expanding, with Ellen joining as a second qualified financial adviser in the business last November. We love chatting to and supporting people and businesses going through or planning for a financial change.
Find out more about Wyefield Wealth Management here
What was the last show/film/event/workshop you attended at The Courtyard and what did you like about it/your visit?
Jane Eyre – great performances from an amazing mix of professional and local actors. The sets and lighting depicting the many settings and locations of this play were really evocative.
Name one thing you love about Herefordshire and why?
One thing I love about Herefordshire is the incredible diversity of what’s on offer. From the stunning countryside, with its rolling hills and beautiful rivers, to the lively football at Edgar Street and the rich cultural experiences at the Courtyard, there truly is something for everyone. You can enjoy a day exploring nature and then an evening immersed in creativity. Whether you’re into sports, the arts, or simply taking in the beauty of the area, Herefordshire offers a unique blend that makes it a fantastic place to live and work.
What prompted you to join our Business & Supporters Club?
Dawleys joined the Club to support the vibrant local arts scene and to contribute to a community-focused organisation that brings people together. The Courtyard Centre for the Arts plays a vital role in Herefordshire’s cultural landscape, offering everything from live performances and films to workshops and community programmes. By becoming a supporter, Dawleys not only helps sustain this essential venue but also aligns with its own values of community engagement and supporting local initiatives that enrich the lives of our fantastic team and the wider area.
What’s new with your business this year?
This year, our focus at Dawleys has been on enhancing our services and supporting our clients with even greater efficiency and innovation. We’ve been working on several exciting solutions to help our clients solve key business challenges. Additionally, we’re investing in employee development and wellbeing through initiatives like our ‘after hours club’ and recognition & reward schemes, we’ve invested in extensive leadership and development training as well as team-building activities to ensure our team remains engaged, creative, and motivated. Our aim is to continue delivering high-quality, tailored solutions while fostering a positive and collaborative workplace culture.
Find out more about Dawleys here
What was the last show/film/event/workshop you attended at The Courtyard and what did you like about it/your visit?
The last show I attended was the Comedy Club on Friday evening 20th September. It was a great evening that started with a meal in the restaurant with a drink or two. Followed by the Comedy Club show with up and coming comedians that captured the audience well and read the room with great skill. This was followed by an afterparty with live band and dancing which rounded off a great night.
Name one thing you love about Herefordshire and why?
Herefordshire, whilst there is no doubt it has some traffic problems, is generally a great place to live. It has a growing population of young people which bring a buzz to the area. Employment is generally good with a wide variety of skills catered for. But mostly it is the kindness and generosity of Herefordians that make Herefordshire a great place to live.
What prompted you to join our Business & Supporters Club?
To support a worthwhile community hub and to encourage a diverse range of events and entertainment.
What’s new with your business this year?
Our business has seen a shift from Local Authority funding to Private funding and we need to ensure that the Elderly and Less Able of the County can access the help they need to live a mobile, fulfilling life. To that end we have trained up more assessors and more engineers to provide the daily living solutions required by the population of Herefordshire.
Find out more about TPG Disable Aids here
What was the last show/film/event/workshop you attended at The Courtyard and what did you like about it/your visit?
Our Marketing & Sales Manager Moira went to see Chris McCausland back in the spring. The Courtyard really punches above its weight with the calibre of comedians who come to Hereford, and it’s fantastic to see genuinely funny acts without having to trek to Birmingham or London. You just have to be quick to grab those tickets!
Name one thing you love about Herefordshire and why?
How can we choose just one thing!? As a team, we love that the peace, quiet, landscapes, and rolling hills are still a well-kept secret (just about!). You’ll always bump into someone you know in the supermarket queue, and we adore the tucked-away properties down quiet country lanes with only sheep for neighbours. The thriving local food scene, artisanal cider and gin producers, black-and-white timbered houses, and the real sense of community are just the icing on the cake.
What prompted you to join our Business & Supporters Club?
We could say it was purely to support a great, local, and unique facility, but that’s only part of it. We want to get our name out there, and knowing how popular The Courtyard is and how often we attend events and shows, it seemed like a natural fit.
What’s new with your business this year?
Where do we even begin! On July 1st, after many years under a corporate umbrella, We hit the ‘GO’ button on a total rebrand, so it’s been a whirlwind since then! We’ve returned to what we know and love—unique, quirky, character-filled homes, equestrian properties, farms, and smallholdings that Herefordshire and the surrounding counties are famous for. Our team lives the rural lifestyle, so it’s something we know inside and out. Our focus for the rest of 2024 is to keep selling properties and make Character & Country a name everyone recognises.
Find out more about Character & Country here
What was the last show/film/event/workshop you attended at The Courtyard and what did you like about it/your visit?
Chris McCausland he was absolutely hilarious. It still blows me away that we get these top of their game house hold name comedians in Hereford, the great thing about The Courtyard Main House is that despite it being relatively big it still feels intimate in there.
Name one thing you love about Herefordshire and why?
Obviously the awesome local Beef literally some of the best beef in the world on our doorstep and its all down to the incredible countryside we have here.
What prompted you to join our Business & Supporters Club?
The Courtyard’s been a huge part of my life growing up. I was a steward on the opening night of Cabaret and I was a regular member of The Courtyard Youth Theatre growing up, it’s a huge asset to the city and an extremely important place for local people interested in the arts in any shape or form.
What’s new with your business this year?
There’s loads going on! We have our cook book coming out on the 15th of August, we have the National Burger Awards Champion of Champions in September and the World Burger Championships in Indianapolis in November. Somewhere mixed in to all that we might try and open another restaurant as well, so it’s all systems go.
Find out more about The Beefy Boys here
What was the last show/film/event/workshop you attended at The Courtyard and what did you like about it/your visit?
I last attended The Courtyard for Rhod Gilbert & The Giant Grapefruit. I laughed until my stomach hurt, Rhod really is an expert in his craft whilst all the while shining a light on the Velindre Centre and the incredible work that they do.
Name one thing you love about Herefordshire and why?
My favourite thing about Hereford?…. The comments section in the Hereford Times!….. I jest, I used to find it frustrating that everyone knows each other growing up in Hereford, now that I am older I can recognise the benefit to this in that locals help each other out and can network easily to compliment each other’s businesses. Visiting other cities I think there’s a real community feel here that comes with it. As a company we are trying to be more involved with Hereford BID to explore this further and have just become the proud sponsors of Hereford Rugby Club! I’m a real foodie too so It would be remiss of me not to mention that we also have some really great eateries in and out of town now which I love. I’m most likely to be spotted at a local food festival wrestling with my BMI.
What prompted you to join our Business & Supporters Club?
We made the decision to join the Business and Supporters Club with the aim of benefitting as many people as possible with the budget we had available. The team here agree that the Courtyard is the hub of Hereford, accommodating a diverse clientele and providing something different for each person that accesses it. With this in mind, the supporters club felt like the perfect choice in helping us to reach a strong portion of our local community in one go. Furthermore, everyone is facing their own challenges more so than ever with the events of recent years, meaning it’s never been more important to keep hold of the things that make us smile, of which The Courtyard certainly does that in abundance.
What’s new with your business this year?
Recently we have changed our name from A-Plan to Howden Insurance, in order to streamline ourselves with our other financial offerings within the business. As well as personal insurance such as car and home, we’re also now looking after business insurance here in our Hereford office. It has been great to get out and see so many local businesses, whether they’re just starting up or have been around since the Black and White house. My dad is a roofer and my sister runs a local public house, which means free roof repairs and beer! On a serious note, I am very proud of them both and have a genuine admiration of anyone running a business, or being brave enough to start a new venture, in these difficult times.
Find out more about Howden here
With offices on Huntington Lane at Three Elms, the Partners& team comprises many familiar faces from the insurance sector in Hereford including Andy WIlliams, who heads up the team and has been a broker in the city since 1994.
Partners& advises The Courtyard on its insurance needs and aims to combine the best of broking, including technical advice and client service, with modern thinking and intelligent use of technology. The team focuses on seamless advice across business and private client insurance, employee benefits, risk management and claims, supported by a culture of partnership between their people and their clients.
Find out more about Partners& here
What was the last show/film/event/workshop you attended at The Courtyard and what did you like about it/your visit?
During the festive season, I indulged in the delightful Bottomless Festive Plates at The Courtyard, where the scrumptious food kept coming – a truly fantastic experience! Attending the Westons Cider Comedy Club in December was fun; these evenings offer great entertainment and the chance to spot emerging talent.
Name one thing you love about Herefordshire and why?
I adore Herefordshire for its breathtaking countryside that provides endless opportunities for scenic walks with my dog.
What prompted you to join our Business & Supporters Club?
Our decision to join the Business & Supporters Club is fuelled by The Courtyard’s status as a magnificent venue, offering exceptional entertainment and fostering creativity. At Rotherwood, we value supporting our local community, and we recognise The Courtyard as a vital charitable asset to the area.
What’s new with your business this year?
Our recent refurbishment at Gwen Walford Nursing Home on Hampton Park Road reflects our commitment to providing luxurious surroundings. Excitingly, our new home in Colwall opens in June and promises stunning views of the Malvern Hills.Celebrations are in order as Lynhales Hall and Kington Court Nursing Homes have both received accolades, ranking among the Top 20 Care Homes in the West Midlands, according to carehome.co.uk’s ratings from residents and their families.
Find out more about Rotherwood Health Care here
Find out more about our Business & Supporters Club on our website or by contacting our Head of Fundraising, Melanie Denning, at melanie.denning@courtyard.org.uk or 01432 346505.
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