High Growth for The Up and Under Group

The NWDA has approved The Up and Under Group's access onto their High Growth Programme for existing businesses with the potential to grow by 20% year on year.

The Programme web site describes the programme as:

"Supporting Entrepreneurs with Ambition in the Northwest



The High Growth programme is a three year business coaching initiative aimed at ‘high growth’ businesses and entrepreneurs. It will support budding entrepreneurs with ideas that can achieve a turnover of £500,000 within three years, and established SME’s with ambition and capacity to expand by at least 20 per cent a year.

It is being led by the North West Development Agency with additional funding from the EU. Over 3 years it will generate 2,000 jobs and provide a £250m boost to the region’s economy."

We will recieve intensive coaching and assistance at senior management level which will help us to achieve our ambitious goals whilst continuing to meet our clients expectations.

If you would like to discuss our experiences contact andy@upandundergroup.com or join in the discussion at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=132470996790943.

Leaders Graduate

Yesterday Andy Fewtrell and Simon Enderby collected their certificates upon successful completion of the LEAD course run by Manchester Metropolitan University.

The course spread over the past 10 months brought together business leaders from Cheshire on a programme designed to improve leadership skills and foster business growth.

The course comprised a variety of elements including: an action learning programme, business exchanges and a series of masterclasses by people from business and accademia.

The graduation ceremony was rounded out nicely when Simon was awarded a prize for 'Critical Thinking' by the other course members.

Transport Top 100

The Up and Under Group features in the 2010 Transportation Consultants Directory at no.72 ranked by staff working in the Transport sector.  Ranked by turnover we come in at no.100.

Sadly there isn't a category for 'Interesting and Exciting'

Crewe to Middlesborough for a quid

Simon Enderby a Director of the Up and Under Group completed a challenge ride from his home in Crewe to his parents home in Middlesbrough. The event was part of the Up and Under Foundation’s 2010 Oh! Project in which Up and Under staff members are attempting to raise £20,100 during the year to allow the Foundation to support more projects.


Simon faced headwinds for the whole of the 155 mile ride which included hilly sections through the Peak District and across the N Yorkshire Moors. The forecast was always looking unhelpful, but without experiencing 40mph gusts after riding for 10 hours it is difficult to explain how tough it can be.

Simon stopped only once during the journey, to fill up water bottles, in Wetherby after nearly 100miles. For those of you unused to long distance cycling it takes some comprehending what sitting on a bike seat for eleven hours is like without the need to push the pedals round. For Simon this is just one more challenging event to be savoured, he can add it to his successful completion of a multi day adventure race in Abu Dhabi and 60+km mountain race in the French alps.

As part of the 2010 Oh! Project other initiatives include selling cakes, donating the proceeds of a car sale, donating Christmas presents and persuading our clients to part with donations at marketing events.

Later in the year members of the team will be climbing mountains, running marathons and rowing to ensure that we hit our target.

During this year we have delivered sports kit to kids in Africa, donated funds to a local scout group and made money available to help local youngsters attend outdoor activity courses.

Foundation Assists Local Scout Group

The Up and Under Foundation has made a donation to a local scout group to assist youngsters with the costs of activities including camps.
As the charity develops it is hoped that more grants of this kind can be made to local groups helping youngsters in the local area.
In addition to this donation the first payment from the Eric Swan Bursary has been made to assist youngsters with costs of attending courses at the Conway Centre in Anglesea.  Here they will take part in a range of outdoor activities which can quite literally be life-changing experiences for the youngsters.
We would like to thank Lester Fabrication and Cladding Co Limited for their very generaous support of the Foundation's activities.

Up and Under Group 138th in UK Consultants List

The Up and Under Group stands a creditable 138th on the list of UK consultants compiled by the New Civil Engineer for 2010.

The figures are published in the NCE Consultants File throw up a number of interesting things; one, that we are twice the size of Chesterfield Borough Council Engineering Services and that we are 37 places (only!) behind Sir Robert McAlpine Design in terms of staff employed - now there's a challenge for 2011.  There were only 63 companies with 100 or more Civil/Structural staff and 93 with 50 or more.

Who was first?  Well at least, by Civil and Structural staff numbers, it was one of our clients - Mouchel - with 6850 staff and a £740M turnover.

Foundation delivers in Morocco

Meeting remote farmers

Although a little bit out of our normal operating area The Up and Under rally team assisted the Foundation by delivering a box full of sports kit to younsters in the Missor area of Morocco.  The kit was passed on to Mr Baroudi a prominent figure in the area for distribution to those youngsters most likely to benefit.  Kit was donated by the South Cheshire Harriers, Crewe Alex, Up and Under Staff and supporters of the Foundation

.

Kids always like new stuff.

Handing over kit in Missor

Mr Baroudi, Andy  and Rainer (rally organiser)

Oh and we finished the rally in third place!