B P Collins donates £15,000 to local causes in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire law firm B P Collins has donated an additional £15,000 to local causes as part of its ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility. The donation marks the 11th year of the firm’s partnership with the Heart of Bucks’ stewardship fund, bringing its total contribution to £115,000 since 2015.

For this year’s initiative, all B P Collins staff were invited to choose from five shortlisted charities and organisations that align with the firm’s CSR values: building stronger communities, providing better futures, and creating safer lives. The chosen organisations for this year’s donations are:

• £4,000 to Connection Support which works alongside people in Buckinghamshire to overcome life’s challenges; to become safely and sustainably housed and live as independently as possible.
• £3,000 to New Meaning Training whose mission is to enable young people who are not mainstream education-shaped to discover how to earn their own living in their pathway to adulthood.
• £2,500 to The Safety Centre which specialises in teaching children, young people and adults how to stay safe, understand risks and avoid accidents using realistic learning experiences.
• £2,250 to Intergenerational Music Making which uses the power of music to bring children, older people and communities together to create and connect.
• £1,750 to In This Together Bucks which is dedicated to creating a safer and more cohesive community through mediation, mentoring, and support through various programmes, including gang mediation, mentoring sessions for victims of violent crime, and assistance for survivors of domestic violence.

“We’re incredibly proud to continue supporting these outstanding local causes through our partnership with Heart of Bucks,” said Lucy Wood, partner at B P Collins and a Heart of Bucks trustee. “At B P Collins, we believe in making a tangible difference in the community, and we are thrilled to see the positive impact these donations will have on the lives of those who need it most.”

Henry Allmand, CEO of Heart of Bucks adds: “We are delighted to have the continuing support from B P Collins for another year. I am grateful for the partnership of the whole firm, and their consistent and generous support and advocacy of small charities in the Buckinghamshire community.“

For more information about Heart of Bucks and to learn how you can support its work, visit www.heartofbucks.org.

B P Collins supports Paralympic bronze medallist in bid to reach 2028 Summer Paralympics

B P Collins is pleased to announce it has donated to para dressage star Mari Durward-Akhurst.

As a key sponsor of Bucks SportsAid, which supports talented young athletes who might otherwise miss out on crucial training and competition opportunities, this donation is part of B P Collins’ ongoing commitment to helping young sportspeople reach their full potential.

Mari is a remarkable para equestrian, known for her achievements as a Paralympic Bronze Medallist and European Silver Medallist. Striving for selection for the Summer 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles, Mari is determined to secure a gold medal on the world stage.

Mari was born with cerebral palsy and a rare neurological condition that causes symptoms including ataxia and dystonia, affecting all four of her limbs. As a result, Mari experiences challenges with coordination, balance, and muscle tone, and is a full-time wheelchair user. However, her incredible drive and resilience have made her a champion both on and off the horse, and she continues to push boundaries in para dressage.

Mari Durward-Akhurst said: “I’m incredibly grateful to B P Collins for its generous support. It’s not easy to compete at the highest level when living with cerebral palsy, but with the right support, anything is possible. This donation will go a long way in helping me continue my journey toward the LA 2028 Paralympics.”

Global Infusion Group fuels the music

Global Infusion Group's (GIG) Eat to the Beat brand has been delivering backstage catering for Coldplay's tour of the US, the Capital Summertime Ball at Wembley Stadium, and Robbie Williams' shows in Bath!

Bonnie May, CEO of Global Infusion Group, appeared on our podcast in early 2025 to talk about the art of hospitality and what it takes to run a global leader in catering, hospitality, and brand experiences.

Mother Cuppa tastes success at UK StartUp Awards

Mother Cuppa Tea has been named the Food & Drink Start-Up of the Year for the East of England at the UK StartUp Awards. See owner Candice Mason's reaction on Instagram!

At Buckinghamshire Business First, we are so pleased to see the success that Candice has had with Mother Cuppa, having supported her through our Growth Programme. In fact, you can hear all about the support from Candice herself!

"When I plucked up the courage to launch the business, Buckinghamshire Business First was absolutely my first port of call. I wouldn't be able to grow my business without Buckinghamshire Business First. Anything that you need to run your business, they will have somebody that they can signpost you to." - Candice Mason, Mother Cuppa

'Startup to Store’ competition winner, Baked by Marie, opens at Eden

Eden Shopping Centre’s ‘Startup to Store’ competition winner, Baked By Marie, opened its doors at the High Wycombe shopping centre in late June.

Joining owner Marie Hazlewood to celebrate was Mayor Majid Hussain, Susan Hynard, CEO of High Wycombe BIDco, Kathryn Hobbs, director at Heart of Bucks, and Eden’s Management Team.

Marie generously gave away free homemade cookies to the first one hundred customers on the day, which certainly hit a chord with Eden’s shoppers on a busy Friday. The local cottage bakery from Beaconsfield was the overall winner of Eden’s Startup to Store competition, decided by a public vote. As the winner, Baked by Marie received a unit rent-free for six months. Baked by Marie is located on Eden Walk, opposite TK Maxx, and open Thursday-Sunday.

Marie Hazlewood, owner of Baked by Marie said: “I am so excited to be open and selling my homemade products at Eden. I have built my business by delivering authentic products at a reasonable price. I cannot wait for even more people to taste my homemade baking at Eden. As an independent business, I really appreciate the support of the team at Eden and I am excited for the future within the centre.”

At Buckinghamshire Business First, we've been really happy to support Marie through our Lift Off support programme for early-stage businesses, and now we're delighted that Baked by Marie will have a store of its own, completely free, for six months!