Christchurch staff encouraged to get on their Beryl bikes

Staff working in Christchurch will be provided with Beryl bike codes to cycle to work.

It’s thanks to an initiative between BCP Council, Transforming Cities, and Christchurch BID.

The partnership includes a grant from BCP Council and Christchurch BID.

It means the cost to an employee for a 100-minute bundle is just £1.

The initiative is designed to help businesses attract staff, combat the rising cost of fuel, and partake in healthy lifestyles.

Christina Pengelly of Christchurch BID, pictured left, said: “We are very excited to bring an affordable alternative form of transport to staff who work in Christchurch, and hope this initiative will attract more people to the retail and hospitality sector.”

Phil Ellis, Beryl CEO, added: “We want to inspire more people to take up sustainable travel options to help reduce road congestion and improve air quality.

“Partnership schemes such as this can play a big role and hopefully inspire even more people to incorporate active travel into their daily routines.

“As well as being sustainable, cycling is also fun and a great way to exercise and keep healthy.”

If you’re a business in the Christchurch BID district and haven’t yet claimed your code, please email hello@christchurchbid.co.uk.

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Blandford-based graduate creates Wessex Internet customer app

Wessex Internet, the Blandford-based internet service provider, has launched a new mobile customer app.

It was designed and created by Ted Lucas-Rowe, from Pimperne, Blandford Forum.

He recently completed his Masters in Computer Science at the University of Birmingham.

Wessex Internet customers are now able to manage their accounts, check their bills, see how much data they have used, access help information and contact Wessex Internet’s customer support team directly using the app.

It’s available to all customers to download through the Google Play or Apple App stores.

Ted started teaching himself computer science at home before studying for his Masters.

During the one-year course, Ted was required to produce a final project, which he called ‘Development of a Cross-Platform Mobile Application for Customer Support.’

This was the first step in the creation of the new Wessex Internet app.

Ted approached Wessex Internet CEO Hector Gibson Fleming about developing a specific Wessex Internet customer app for his first major commercial project.

The resulting app helped earn Ted a distinction in his Masters.

From inception in July 2021, it took approximately eight months to fully develop the app before releasing it to an initial test group in February this year.

Upon his graduation in September 2021 Ted joined as a full-time, and permanent, member of the Wessex Internet team.

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Woven Farewell Coffins appoints The Wild Agency to showcase brand

A business crafting sustainable willow coffins has appointed The Wild Agency to help with its marketing.

Woven Farewell Coffins – featured on Dorset Biz News last year – is now developing a rentable, willow coffin for use in funerals which can be rented direct or via funeral directors.

Owner Sophia Campbell said: “I am passionate about making my coffins accessible to lower-income families, without compromising on quality and ensuring we move away from the single-use, less sustainable culture of funerals.

“I am working with The Wild Agency to showcase different aspects of my brand; utilising video and social media to bring some really important issues to the forefront.

“I am combining the huge circular benefits of the rental market with the magical, sustainable properties of willow.

“I also want to bring light and love to what can be an ultimately dark topic – death.”

Sophia, who operates from her workshop in Marshwood, West Dorset, is one of the only coffin producers in the country to donate part of her profits to charity, namely The Woodland Trust.

She will soon be raffling one of her handcrafted willow foraging backpacks to raise £1,000 for Ukraine.

Verwood-based The Wild Agency is an environmentally-conscious marketing & PR agency, focusing on the key issue of sustainability.

It specialises in video and animation-led marketing.

Mike Coggan, Managing Director, pictured left, said: “Sustainability is the key throughout all of Sophia’s practices.

“Working with Woven Farewell and such an inspiring founder brings us real joy.

“We look forward to continuing to support Sophia along her remarkable journey.”