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PRESS RELEASE issued on behalf of Scenic Blue
July 2004

SIR BERNARD INGHAM VISITS HEBDEN BRIDGE BUSINESS TO PROMOTE BENEFITS OF FRANCHISING

Sir Bernard Ingham is to visit a local landscape gardening business in his capacity as President of the British Franchise Association on Thursday 29th July 2004. The former Chief Press Secretary to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher will be meeting Oliver Moor, owner of the Hebden Bridge based Scenic Blue – a domestic garden design and construction company - part of the 37 strong network currently operated by Scenic Blue, the UK’s only landscape gardening franchise.

Oliver, a former IT Project Manager, set up the business in late 2003 and since its inception the company has gone from strength to strength with strong demand for the company’s services throughout Calderdale and Kirklees. Most recently, the company has elected to support Radio Calderdale hospital radio - as part of its on-going commitment to providing a service to the local community.

Sir Bernard, an avid supporter of the franchising sector is keen to raise awareness of the industry and to campaign for more understanding and goodwill for small businesses – specifically those operating under a franchise agreement. “Scenic Blue Halifax provides an excellent case study to portray the proven benefits of franchising – and in particular the importance of franchising in the local community. This is an industry which provides 300,000 jobs – that is more than the Ministry of Defence and more than the public utilities. Once you add up the achievements, the jobs and the investment in the community, franchising adds up to a very substantial role in Britain. It provides ordinary people with a little capital and a higher degree of safety” says Sir Bernard.

note to editors:

Sir Bernard Ingham will be visiting a garden designed and built by Scenic Blue Halifax at 3 Stanleigh Croft, Palace House Road, Hebden Bridge - on Thursday 29th July, at 3 o’clock.

For more information please contact:

Carla Wessel, Scenic Blue Press Office, tel 01227 700 175 / 07970 252566
Oliver Moor, Scenic Blue Halifax, tel 01422 847834 / 07720 299618