Community Open Day 2011

In July 2011 Alumet hosted a Community Open Day at their Southam headquarters. The day was themed around 'community spirit' and over 500 visitors attended. Highlights included:

Community market - Alumet transformed their forecourt into a 'farmers' style market with 25 local businesses showcasing their products and services.

Fundraising - Alumet's staff organised charity fundraising events throughout the day including a raffle, tombola, cake sale and book sale. Over £2000 was raised for local charity Myton Hospice.

Special guests - Alumet welcomed a number of dignitaries and special guests on the day, with many of them giving speeches and presentations. Guests included:

• David Moorcroft OBE - Olympic medallist & UK record holder for 3,000 metres
• Trevor Baylis OBE - Inventor of the wind up radio
• Louise Bennett OBE - Chief Executive of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce
• Martin Kiszko - Author, poet and musician
• David Hughes - Business Relationship Manager for BITC (Business in the Community)
• Dusty Brough - General Manager of CCS (Confederation of Construction Specialists)
• Councillor Eric Payne - Chairman of Stratford Upon Avon District Council
• Councillor Felicity Bunker - Chairman of Warwick District Council
• David Lodder - Under Sheriff of Warwickshire
• Councillor David Wise - Deputy Major of Southam

Solar panel showcase - Alumet's solar panel division EOS Energy exhibited at the event, promoting their latest offer of free photovoltaic (PV) solar panel systems. Director Dean Walton commented "We aim to make Southam the greenest town in the country. We have secured £20m of funding that allows us to offer solar PV installations free-of-charge. The interest at our open day was phenomenal and over 100 members of the local community signed up for property surveys during a frantic 4 hours. It's very encouraging to know that people in the region are eager to back the 'Our Community Green' EOS initiative".

Opening of Renewable Technologies Centre - David Moorcroft OBE officially opened Alumet's new facility with the company's CEO Gary Summers. The 900 square metres of space allows Alumet to conduct in-house training and research into renewable technologies.

Award presentations - During the day Alumet were presented with the following awards:

• Trevor Baylis OBE presented the Green Apple Award, which recognises Alumet's recent environmental progress.
• Dusty Brough, Manager of the Confederation of Construction Specialists, presented the Member of the Year Award, in recognition of Alumet's exemplary performance throughout the whole business.

School involvement - Alumet demonstrated their community support during the day with involvement from local schools and colleges. Students from Southam College attended with the Head of Geography Matt Clarke to conduct research for an environmental project, while students from St Augustine's Primary School in Kenilworth took part in a competition to design a poster that represented 'community spirit'. Jeremy Wright (MP for Kenilworth and Southam) selected the winning poster, which was created by 9 year old Madison Downey.

Special thanks - Alumet would like to thank the following companies for their generous sponsorship of the Open Day:

• Comar
• Schüco

Thanks also to the following companies for their donations towards our charity fundraising:

• 3 Wishes
• Aalco
• Aardman Animations
• Acorn Stores
• Adelphi Associates
• Bargin Gift
• Beauty Rooms
• Bell Steels
• Bromwen Nicholls
• Budgens
• Celebrations
• Clippers
• Coffee Cup Café
• Co-op Southam
• Cromwell Tools
• Cutting Crew
• Daisy Chain Pictures
• East Anglian Galvaniszing
• Emmegi
• Encore
• Essentials
• Fixings Plus
• Float Glass
• Fortress Recycling
• Go Gorgeous Beauty Therapy
• Grineaux Accountants Ltd
• Handbags and Gladrags
• Hill Close Gardens
• Janet Porter Opticians
• Jaqueline the Florist
• LA Fitness
• Leamington Assembly
• LVD/Pullmax
• Martin Kiszko
• Mask-arade
• Metalline
• Mrs Smith's Hairdressers
• Newbrel Ltd
• Polished Floor Company
• Preens Beauty
• Rockingham Motorcycles
• Southam Agricultural Services
• Merry Mobiles
• Southam Bodies
• Southam Carpets
• Southam Leisure Centre
• Stealth Racing
• Suffork Clinic/PT UK
• Summerhill Steel
• Suzanne Evetts Florist
• TBS
• Tesco
• The District Advertisers / Southam Office Supplies
• ThyssenKrupp
• Tobey Jacks Cupcake & Candy Store
• Total Garage
• Upton House & Gardens
• Vertikal
• Vivalda
• W. Goodwins & Sons
• Warren Insulation