Latest news with #DebbieHughes
BBC News
09-08-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Butcher celebrates 50 years at market where he started work at 14
A butcher who has spent his whole working life at the market where he first got a job at 14 has been honoured for 50 years service to his local Hughes, from Chester, said he started working as a 'Saturday boy' in the city's market within the now closed Forum Shopping Centre in later set up Geoff Hughes Family Butchers in 1996, with his wife, Debbie, who he met whilst working in the old Hughes cut the ribbon to open the new market in November 2022 said: "I never dreamt I would be doing this for so long." His shop moved from the old market to the new as part of the switchover. Although one of his abiding memories of the former site is the day a remote controlled hospital bed complete with patient rolled into the market."Everyone fell about laughing I still don't know why it was there," he West and Chester councillor Nathan Pardoe congratulated him on "this incredible milestone" and said the butcher was "a respected member of the market community, cherished by his customers and other traders alike". His current regular customers include the husband of Chester MP Samantha Dixon."She is a very busy so it makes sense for him to come," he 'celebrity' customers include former St Helens rugby league player James Roby."We used to have this small lady coming to us very regularly and we found out her husband was James Roby [St Helens hooker] so we must have been doing something right," he said the job has changed since he first learned his craft, adding "it's often the names of the cuts that have changed". Mr Hughes said: "What we used to call skirt of beef and use for things like pasties - it is now called bavette steak and people fry it."They even cut it in the opposite way we were taught.""I have enjoyed every day as a market trader. It's been an honour to serve generations of families, and I'd like to thank my customers for their loyalty", he said."As the last butcher trading in the city centre I was delighted to be able to make the move to the new market." His stall is next to the market's two other produce traders, Chester Market Fishmongers and the Sheng Hai Oriental new market has welcomed more than six million customers in three years and has won multiple awards. Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New Disability Support Investment A Boost For Providers
Press Release – NZDSN Quality support needs sustainable funding, its as simple as that. For Disability Support Providers whove negotiated restrictions and uncertainty while last years Independent Review recommendations were being worked through, this is very welcome, … The Budget's $240m in new funding over four years for disability residential support is a good start and should help make quality support available to more disabled New Zealanders, says the New Zealand Disability Support Network. The uplift in funding for High and Complex services, funding to meet demand and inflationary pressures across the disability support service portfolio and funding to address the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in care recommendations are also positive and welcome. 'Quality support needs sustainable funding, it's as simple as that. For Disability Support Providers who've negotiated restrictions and uncertainty while last year's Independent Review recommendations were being worked through, this is very welcome,' said Debbie Hughes, NZDSN CEO. NZDSN is optimistic that sector financial constraints starting to be lifted from 1 July will be a boost for providers and the disabled people they support. 'This is potentially great news, we're looking forward to hearing more about how this will work. There's lots more to do in our sector, and we're keen to work with government to get it done.' 'Since the independent review recommendations were announced last year, there's been lots of consultation and work behind the scenes. The uplift in funding shows the Government listened to the sector during consultation, so we expect providers to be heartened by today's announcements of some tangible support,' said Debbie Hughes.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New Disability Support Investment A Boost For Providers
The Budget's $240m in new funding over four years for disability residential support is a good start and should help make quality support available to more disabled New Zealanders, says the New Zealand Disability Support Network. The uplift in funding for High and Complex services, funding to meet demand and inflationary pressures across the disability support service portfolio and funding to address the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in care recommendations are also positive and welcome. 'Quality support needs sustainable funding, it's as simple as that. For Disability Support Providers who've negotiated restrictions and uncertainty while last year's Independent Review recommendations were being worked through, this is very welcome,' said Debbie Hughes, NZDSN CEO. NZDSN is optimistic that sector financial constraints starting to be lifted from 1 July will be a boost for providers and the disabled people they support. 'This is potentially great news, we're looking forward to hearing more about how this will work. There's lots more to do in our sector, and we're keen to work with government to get it done.' 'Since the independent review recommendations were announced last year, there's been lots of consultation and work behind the scenes. The uplift in funding shows the Government listened to the sector during consultation, so we expect providers to be heartened by today's announcements of some tangible support,' said Debbie Hughes.
