Serving the Teesside Business Community | 27
Building a Bespoke career in protection advice
former scaffolder is building a new career
A in financial protection advice with a thriving Teesside firm.
Darren Roulston left his job in scaffolding to take up a new role with Bespoke Financial Services, which recently expanded to new offices in Stockton.
The 44-year-old, from Middlesbrough, had previously spent 20 years working as a sports development and education officer for a local authority before going into the building trade.
And after completing his financial protection training last year, Roulston joined Bespoke’ s growing team of advisors in December.
“ It is quite a career change but I’ m well versed at diversification!” said Roulston.
“ I have a lot of life experience and I’ m loving the new job, and the job satisfaction that comes with protecting people and their families.”
Bespoke Financial Services was launched by Lee Flannagan in November 2014 – he now oversees a team of 20 from the firm’ s Boho Four base in Middlesbrough and new offices at Gloucester House Business Centre in Stockton.
Roulston joins 38-year-old James Brass
Bespoke Financial’ s latest protection advisor Darren Roulston( centre) with Nathan Steel( left) and James Brass outside the firm’ s new Stockton offices.
at the firm who also opted for a career change 18 months ago, joining Bespoke from the motor sales trade, and mortgage and protection advisor Nathan Steel.
Brass, from Middlesbrough, said:“ You think you don’ t need cover, but anything can happen to anyone at any time, so it’ s so important to have that peace of mind.”
Steel, also from Middlesbrough, is one of Bespoke’ s longest-serving advisors, having joined two years ago.
The 24-year-old said:“ We try to take a relaxed view and get to know our clients’ personal and financial situation, and recommend from there.“ We take a more friendly approach to mortgage and protection advice and we try to make it easy for the client, which is why we’ re taking on dozens of new clients every month.”
Bespoke offers advice on mortgages, critical illness cover, life insurance, income protection and insurance services.
To enquire about any of Bespoke’ s services, give the team a call on 01642 931238, email info @ bespokefinancialteesside. co. uk or go to www. bespokefinancialteesside. co. uk
MI Supplies managing director Alex Ingham( centre) with warehouse team member Callum Patton, admin assistant Sophie Tasker and the firm’ s awards and certificates.
Triple recognition for workwear firm after 200 % online growth
Workwear firm M. I. Supplies is celebrating after winning Teesside’ s Small Business of the Year award – now it’ s plotting major growth.
The Thornaby-based company won the Tees heat of the North East Business Awards’ small business category after narrowly missing out in 2016.
And M. I. Supplies boss Alex Ingham is hoping to build on the firm’ s success after enjoying a 200 % surge in online sales in recent months.
His company also finished runners-up in the grand final of the North East Business awards, held at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield.
“ To be in the running for three awards in 12 months is extremely exciting, and is helping the company to push forward in every area to improve and keep being noticed by people,” said Ingham.
“ We have been hugely inspired by other local firms and this is driving us to keep making improvements in our working day.
“ We as a team are incredibly motivated by customer service and behaving in a world class way in everything we do. We feel putting the customer first in everything we do ensures ongoing success.
“ These areas of recognition I feel are a testament to the superb team ethos we have, and how we all care for each other and our customers alike – long may it continue.
M. I. has now provided more than 100,000 orders to almost every country in the world of workwear and safety consumables, and currently is growing its online business by over 200 % as it drives towards £ 2m internet sales.
The firm’ s new-look website, launched earlier this year, now boasts more than 140,000 different workwear products from well-known brands such as Caterpillar and major European workwear suppliers Helly Hansen and Mascot.
M. I. Supplies now has a growing client base consisting of more than 250 business customers including the fire brigade, local councils, engineering firms and charities, while more than 26,000 customers have ordered supplies from the company’ s website, and brands supplied by M. I. include Sainsbury’ s, Barbour, Aldi, Lidl, Royal Mail, Wessex Foods and Mercedes.
For more information about M. I. Supplies go to www. misupplies. co. uk