Cream Cakes Support Community Causes

Around 85 businesspeople from Newark and the surrounding areas gathered at the YMCA for Newark Business Club’s June meeting. After the welcome from chairman Simon Gabbitas, the roving mic was passed around the room, giving everyone the opportunity to introduce themselves and their businesses.

Meeting Sponsors – Bakkavor Desserts

Gary Fern and Bob Asman from Bakkavor Desserts gave an interesting insight into their company. As the largest manufacturer of cream cakes in the UK, Bakkavor Desserts produces not only cream cakes but also trifles and custard for most of the UK’s leading supermarket chains. Its site on Jessop Way in Newark is one of its three production facilities in the UK.

Since it was set up in 1993, Bakkavor’s Newark site has expanded from three to 28 production lines and has transformed from a mainly manual operation to one that uses a lot of automation. Bakkavor employs 1,900 people in Newark and offers apprenticeship programmes in engineering and operations. Employees from 63 different nationalities work at Bakkavor, with bilingual employees facilitating communication throughout the workforce. The average length of service is seven years, with the longest-serving employee having worked at the Newark site for 31 years.

Bakkavor’s Site Employee Forum (SEF) supports local charities, groups and organisations, such as food banks and community projects, through volunteering, donations, sponsorships and fundraising. Employees have raised over £200,000 for local organisations through sponsored well-being walks and other activities. The company has donated over one million cakes and over 5,000 food items to food banks. Bakkavor is looking for new charities to support.

The Business Card Draw

Next on the agenda was the business card draw. The winners of a write-up each were Melissa Hewitt of Just Digital, a first-time visitor, and Louise Sledmore-Hyde of Venustas Clinic a regular attendee.

Hi, I’m Melissa Hewitt, Business Development Manager at Just Digital – a boutique digital marketing agency that’s been helping businesses grow for over 17 years.

With over 30 years in the advertising industry, I specialise in supporting local SMEs, trades, and retailers with practical, results-driven marketing. From web design and SEO to social media, branding, photography and video, we tailor everything to help you attract the right customers and grow confidently.

Based in Newark, I love working with local businesses and I’m always happy to meet face-to-face or start with a friendly phone chat. My goal is to understand your needs and provide clear, ongoing support without jargon, just smart strategies that work. Backing me is a creative, expert team who bring energy and know-how to every project.

At Just Digital, we genuinely care about our clients’ success. It’s not just about having a website or running ads, it’s about generating quality leads that make a real difference.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Is my digital marketing really working?” or “Could I handle more leads?” – let’s talk. We’re currently expanding in Newark and surrounding areas, and I’d love to offer you a FREE digital audit to help uncover new growth opportunities.

Outside of work, I’m a proud mum of two teenagers, passionate about health, wellbeing and living life fully. I recently discovered a love for Reformer Pilates. I enjoy the outdoors, and any excuse to dress up and dance! Whether its staying active or connecting with others, I’m all about balance, good energy and making the most of every moment.

Melissa Hewitt wearejustdigital.co.uk

Member Networking

Who Gives a Book?!

To date, almost 50 books have been given away in this section of the meeting. Each month, a business book, recommended by a business club member, is given away to another member, who, after reading the book, passes it onto another member.

This month, Clare Copping of Starfish Hypnotherapy recommended What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by Shad Helmstetter. The winner of a copy of this book was Nigel Lamb of Xposure Creative.

Newark Business Club’s Charity Initiative

Newark Business Club and Newark Round Table support a local charity with a donation of £600. Of 22 nominated charities, three were chosen at random to present at next month’s meeting – YMCA Newark & Sherwood, Reach Newark and Headway. Following their two-minute presentations next month, a ballot of business club members will take place, with the winning charity receiving the donation.

If you would like to nominate a local charity to take part in the charity initiative in future, please email chairman@newarkbusinessclub.co.uk

Guest Speaker – Department of Business and Trade

Sharon McCarthy, Advisor Team Manager at the Department of Business and Trade, explained how the department’s Export Support Service helps businesses to succeed overseas. Local support teams of international trade advisors are based throughout England and work with local businesses to identify export opportunities and to start exporting goods and services to overseas markets.

If your business would like to export but you don’t know where to start, the Export Support Service offers a wealth of help and advice on carrying out market research, setting up an export action plan, export finance, optimising your website and other digital platforms for export markets, and avoiding cultural faux pas. The free, online UK Export Academy is open to all, offering a wide range of masterclasses and sector-specific webinars. More information can be found at www.great.gov.uk/

Two Minute Talk

This month, Julia Sandhu of Reach Learning Disability was in the spotlight. Reach Learning Disability is a registered charity that supports around 250 adults with learning disabilities per week. It aims to help its clients to build their confidence, improve their skills and enhance their well-being so that they can live happier, healthier and more independent lives.

Reach operates three day centres and two horticultural centres, where clients can learn new skills, take part in a variety of activities, socialise and contribute to the local community. At the community garden, Flower Pod Newark, clients get close to nature by taking part in outdoor activities that enhance their physical and emotional well-being.

Businesses can get involved through volunteering days and the Big Give Christmas Challenge, in which Reach Learning Disability participates every year. The charity is seeking partnerships with other organisations.

Improving Navigation and Cargo Transport on the River Trent

Newark Business Club member, Dean Hyde, is involved in a project to improve navigation on the River Trent and to encourage more boats to navigate the river. Navigation charts have been digitised and a trip along the river to York and back has been organised to show how easy it is to navigate the river. The ultimate aim would be to bring back commercial cargo transport on the river as an alternative to road transport. This would be a more sustainable way of transporting goods because one barge can replace five or six lorries.

Announcements and Events

Among the closing announcements were several upcoming events, including Newark Business Club’s Summer Social in collaboration with Lincoln and Grantham business clubs on 10 July at Newark Showground.

The Newark Community Fun Day, organised by Positively Empowered Kids, will take place at Christ Church School on 12 July. This free event aims to support the health and well-being of all children and adults in the local community.

The Newark Duck Race, organised by Newark Round Table and the Children’s Bereavement Centre, will kick off at 11am on 22 June at Riverside Park. Businesses, schools and other organisations can sponsor a duck at: www.childrensbereavementcentre.co.uk/events/newarkduckrace/

Forthcoming business events include the Business Detox, in support the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance, on 4 July (after the next business club meeting) and Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Master Your Marketing masterclass on 9 July.

The first meeting of the Newark Dining Network, organised by Nicholsons Chartered Accountants & Buttercross Estates, will be at the Koinonia restaurant in Newark on 3 July.

Looking further ahead, Newark and Sherwood District Council’s annual Economic Growth Conference will take place on 9 October and the Future First Careers Expo, where businesses can connect with students looking for future opportunities, will be held on 13 November.

Next meeting

The next meeting of Newark Business Club will be on July 4th at the YMCA in Newark.

By Roz Andrews, RA Writers For Hire Ltd. Photos courtesy of Nicola Aukland Photography.

Thank you to Our Patrons & Sponsors

Next Meeting – The next meeting of Newark Business Club will be on 4th July at the YMCA.

The YMCA catering team offer a range of delicious breakfasts which are available to purchase.

Please Book your tickets online

YMCA Community and Activity Village
Lord Hawke Way
Newark
Nottinghamshire NG24 4FH

Book your ticket now

For sponsorship opportunities, contact chairman@newarkbusinessclub.co.uk