Government Minister Singles Out Advance Performance

Stewart Jackson MP will be visiting the Advance Performance running store in Fengate, Peterborough at 11am on Friday 9th May. The Shadow Minister for Communities and local Government, who is also a former Business Link Service Manager, will pay tribute to Samantha Hale and her team for the effective use they have made of Business Link’s services. Both Pat Smith, Chief Executive and Steve Clarke, Partnership Director of Business Link in the East of England, will also be present for discussions with Stewart Jackson on the day. Stewart Jackson has selected the award winning running store for praise because of its track record in using the services of the government funded Business Link, which provides practical advice for growing businesses. Founder of Advance Performance, Samantha Hale, originally started the independent running store from a back bedroom in 1996. Samantha now has 10 employees and two purpose-designed running stores in Cambridgeshire. Samantha Hale explains, “In 2005 we saw the need to manage our reputation and image to increase our visibility in the market. Business Link has helped us from the beginning, over 12 years ago. In 2005 and 2006 we were able to take advice on re-branding, marketing communications, media training and public relations (PR). Business Link advised on reputable PR consultants to support the company’s marketing aims, which resulted in us successfully outsourcing our PR to Katrina Morphet of KAM Marketing Associates. Through the team of Business Link Advisors, we also gained access to a valued IT system which enables us to look at cash flows, forecasts and projections.” Business Link Adviser Brian Leeming, comments, “Advance Performance is an excellent example of Business Link contributing significantly to the successful growth of a business. The profile of Advance Performance has been heightened over a sustained period of time, giving rise to a number of benefits such as improved customer communications, an increase in the workforce employed and a host of business awards for the company. I would recommend all local businesses to contact Business Link to use the support available.” Samantha Hale agrees with this recommendation, adding, “We have a great resource available in Business Link here so use it! It’s so useful to have an external view on the challenges you face in business and to have pointers on how to overcome them.” Stewart Jackson, Conservative Member of Parliament for Peterborough Biography Stewart was elected as Member of Parliament for Peterborough on 5th May 2005. Prior to being elected, Stewart was a Business Services Manager with Business Link in London. He is 41, married to Sarah, who is a journalist with a national newspaper, and they live in Central Peterborough with their baby daughter Isabel. He helped small companies with their Human Resource/Personnel issues and is a specialist advisor in the "Investors in People" quality standard. Stewart studied Economics and Public Administration at Royal Holloway College in the eighties and was awarded an Honours degree from the University of London in 1988. He also holds a Masters degree in Human Resource Management. Stewart worked for Lloyds Bank for nine years, and ran his own branch as a Branch Manager in London's West End, as well as being a small business manager. He served as a Board Member and Trustee of the London City YMCA for five years. In his spare time, he enjoys reading biographies, travel, cinema, architecture, history, swimming and bungee jumping. Before moving to Peterborough, Stewart was a Councillor in the London Borough of Ealing for eight years, and took a special interest in housing, planning and the environment. In May 1997, he contested the Brent South Parliamentary seat in North West London. In the House of Commons, he is a member of the Regulatory Reform Select Committee and since 11th December 2006, the Health Select Committee and is also currently Vice Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Friends of Islam. In July 2007, Stewart was appointed as an Opposition Whip.

Advance Performance Wins Again! -Winner of 2008 I-Vita Business Award-

On Friday 25th April, Steve Cram MBE presented Advance Performance with the i-Vita 2008 Award for the Business Showing the Best Example of Growth for at least two years. This award, organised by i-vita for Bedford Borough Council, is for businesses which operate in the sport, fitness, health and well- being industry sector. The ceremony was held at the Sharnbrook Hotel, Bedfordshire. Sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland/NatWest, the award was made to Cambridgeshire’s Advance Performance, the running store for everyone, because of their understanding of running and what the customer really needs. This has caused the business to grow by 28% year on year. Commenting, Samantha Hale, Managing Director of Advance Performance said, “We are thrilled to have been recognised in our particular sector. We have succeeded due to the team’s close working relationships with our customers, suppliers and advisers. Our product knowledge is enhanced through visiting trade exhibitions and supplier meetings where we are involved with their product development at a very early stage. We also work alongside Business Link, our accountant and PR adviser to make structured business decisions based on accurate information.” The judges selected Advance Performance as worthy winners because of their “all round business performance and growth potential". Photograph: L- R: Award sponsor Sylvia Bourne of Royal Bank of Scotland Nat West Bank, Advance Performance Directors Matt Parker and Samantha Hale with honoured guest Steve Cram MBE.

Free Shoe Bag With Every Pair of Brooks Athletic Spikes Sold in Store

With the Athletic season looming it is probably time for some new spikes to help you exceed last years Personal Bests. Obviously all the training you have done over the winter will have the most difference to your performance, but some nice new spikes can’t do any harm. By their very nature running spikes are not the best things to just throw into your kit bag so this FREE gift could be a real benefit. Brooks have also increased their range by adding Womens specific models to the Twitch Sprint Spike and Surge Middle distance spike, meaning a better fit, as you girls do have different shaped feet. The Brooks Range of spikes goes from £40.00 for the Surge MD and Twitch Sprint up to £50.00 for the superb Z2 Distance spike and £55.00 for the F2 sprint spike. At the moment we have plenty of stock of all of these shoes and FREE bags, but nothing lasts forever, especially free stuff .