THOUGHT

14 NEWS
BIG INTERVIEW
15
In this issue’s big interview we meet ANDY STEVENS.
The former banking chief is in the process of transforming
his Shropshire estate into an oasis of wine and wellness.
Roger Wolens from The Green Organisation with Mike Tuzzio – public sector divisional director (Lyreco) and Manel Roura – QSS manager (Lyreco)
Apple of a green
organisation’s eye
Workplace and office
supplies specialist
Lyreco has been
crowned one of the greenest
businesses of its kind.
The Telford-based firm has won a Green
Apple Award from The Green Organisation,
dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting
environmental best practice around the world.
As a result, Lyreco has been invited to have
its winning paper published in The Green Book,
the leading international work of reference on
environmental best practice.
Lyreco has ia series of initiatives across its
network of 27 Regional Distribution Centres and
satellite centres in the UK and Ireland.
They have included installing a roof mounted
solar photovoltaic system – the fourth largest
in the UK – at its National Distribution Centre in
Telford, achieving zero landfill at the National
Distribution Centre and Head Office with a
recycling rate of 97 per cent, and reducing its
electricity consumption by 39 per cent in four
years.
Peter Hradisky, Lyreco’s managing director,
said: “We continuously strive to be a more
sustainable organisation by researching ways we
can reduce our environmental impact.
“We look to increase our contribution to local
community and society while engaging employees,
suppliers and customers on the journey.”
Consolidation –
mini department
store for Ludlow
Businessman Glyn Price is
consolidating his three shops in Ludlow
into one “mini department store” after
securing the lease of a listed building in
the town centre.
Mr Price, who already has Leaf,
Walnut and Frank Lloyd, selling
women’s and men’s wear in the town,
has leased 27 The Bullring, which was
previously occupied by cards and gifts
business Emporos.
He said consolidating the three
businesses into one larger shop in
Ludlow would make it much easier for
customers.
“We will still trade as Leaf, Walnut
and Frank Lloyd but they will be in a
mini department store,” he adds.
“It’s a nice project and a lovely shop
but the refurbishment has been hard
work, as the last time it was refitted was
1952. We have tried to restore beams
downstairs and to open up the shop
to more light. The landlord has been
fantastic.”
Mr Price also owns two shops in
Barmouth and one each in Welshpool,
Pwllheli and Aberystwyth.
His new Ludlow shop is situated
in the town centre close to the junction
of The Bullring with Tower Street. It
comprises a basement area, ground
floor shop and two sections of first floor
accommodation.
The lease of the shop was
negotiated on behalf of the owner by
commercial agents Halls of Shrewsbury.
James Evans, from Halls
Commercial, says demand for shops in
Ludlow town centre remains strong.
A NOSE FOR
BUSINESS
Hencote has to be seen
to be believed. It is not
just the fact that it is
a glorious Georgian manor
on the edge of Shrewsbury,
standing in beautiful open
countryside with the best
panoramic view of the county
town you could imagine.
It’s the very fact that it’s there.
Thousands of motorists pass this
By Henry Carpenter
65-acre estate, which lies just off the
Ellesmere Road only a mile or two
north of Shrewsbury town centre, each
day with surely only a tiny percentage
knowing what lies over the crest of the
hill up Hencote Lane.
And why would they? It is only
recently that it has started receiving
guests after being meticulously
restored to provide a luxury wellbeing
retreat for visitors. There are seven
suites and bedrooms at Hencote,
as well as therapies, treatments and
top-level cooking tailored to guests’
requirements.
To enjoy the views of the county
town, the viewer first has to look over
vines . . . lots of vines. There are 22,000
of them in total, carefully planted over
curving acreage in perfect symmetry,
not a single one out of place.
All this is explained by the owner
Andy Stevens, the man whose vision,
drive and investment is responsible for
the remarkable transformation of the
estate.
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