Tuesday 19 November 2013

Angels Raising Awareness of Democratic Life

On Friday 14th November Domestic Angels hosted a Parliament Week event at Bournemouth Town Hall with the purpose of raising awareness of Parliament and democratic life.
This year’s Parliament week theme is ‘Women in Democracy’ and Domestic Angels were delighted to be approved Partners.
Heather Martyn, Annette Brooke MP, Mandy Payne BCTC President, Tara Howard Venus Awards, Penny Bartlett Soroptomist International & Samantha Acton Domestic Angels

Parliament week is a programme of events aimed to help more people

Friday 25 October 2013

Angels Sponsor ‘Butch’ at Bournemouth Rugby Club

                                            


Domestic Angels have ‘adopted’ the Bournemouth Rugby Club prop, Richard ‘Butch’ Carrel for the current season. The decision to sponsor the forward player was a simple one for the Angels team and not just about PR and marketing.
“There are several ways in which I can use rugby as an analogy to business” says Samantha Acton, director at Domestic Angels “One rugby maneuver which the Angels have perfected is the ‘blind pass’. This is a sequence of advancing the ball down the field by passing to a spot where you just know your teammate will be. The blind pass is just as effective when it occurs in the workplace.  There have certainly been times when an Angel has finished my thoughts, or perhaps I’ve left some detail unattended and one of our team leaders has filled in the gaps.  We do these things for our team mates. This all goes to demonstrate the strength of the Angel’s culture and team synergy.”

Richard ‘Butch’ Carrel who has a long rugby career comments “I’m proud to be representing the Angels this season and to have their full support. Some might find connecting the Angels to a rugby forward a little unusual but the similarity is clear. As in the rugby scrum, the work of the Angels requires skill, team work and a lot of raw power.“

Thursday 11 July 2013

Domestic Angels – a 21st Century Family Business

Enthusiasm and Passion has created a massive business family

Domestic Angels is a family run business based from home employing 16 staff and helping countless clients and homes across the Bournemouth and Poole conurbation. This is very much a 21st century phenomena made possible by the accessibility of broadband and the evolution of mobile communications.

‘Family first’ is director Samantha Acton’s motto, it’s just that the staff and clients of Domestic Angels have become her extended family! “This has been an instinctive business attitude for me and is a large part of the business foundations. The result is a strong corporate culture, high staff loyalty and low staff turnover and most importantly enthusiasm and passion from our clients as well as the Angels.” The success of this approach has recently been publicly recognized with Domestic Angels being awarded the status of finalist for Employer of the Year and Winner for Home Based Business 2013 in the Dorset Venus Awards.

Nurturing the next generation is also important. Samantha encourages her son and the children of staff to take an interest in the business and rewards them with an annual party. Her business spirit of caring permeates throughout Domestic Angels creating a massive Domestic Angels family made up of relatives, staff, clients and friends across the conurbation. “As a family business we can take care of each other and enrich each other’s lives this makes all of us proud to be a part of Domestic Angels and corporately gives us a major competitive advantage”

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Basepoint Chooses Angels to Win

From L to R: Carly Thompson (Basepoint), Samantha Acton (Domestic Angels), Stella Brading (Basepoint) and Tara Howard (Venus Awards)

Basepoint Chooses Angels to Win


The teams at Bournemouth and Weymouth Basepoint Business Centres recently took on the challenge of selecting the winner for the Home Based Business category of the Dorset Venus Awards. With homepreneurs thriving throughout the county, the category attracted many worthy applicants for consideration. The Basepoint judges chose Domestic Angels as the winner for 2013.

Carly Thompson, Regional Manager for Basepoint Business Centre commented “Samantha Acton from Domestic Angels excelled within the application process to secure the win of the Home Based Business Award.  Sam’s application was inspirational and she has an obvious passion and drive for her business and its success.  We look forward to watching Sam’s continued growth in the future; a truly deserved winner.”

The very delighted winner, Samantha told us “This is such an honor, we are totally flattered, winning this award is recognition of everything Domestic Angels has achieved to date. I can’t thank the team at Basepoint enough for choosing to recognize my home based business and more importantly, provide the Angels with a platform for our future evolution. Thank you so very much.”

Tuesday 11 June 2013

Dorset Women in Business announce guest speaker

Dorset Women in Business announce Samantha Acton, director at Domestic Angels as their guest speaker for June 2013 at the fabulous Kingston Lacy


http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=ea0fb691ada0c5bd1e3332d22&id=d2d526049e&e=f8ae90bd7e

Thursday 30 May 2013

One Week To Go For Southbourne Finalists


 

One Week To Go For Southbourne Finalists


Southbourne on Sea Business Association ( SoSBA) are delighted that two of their “Not on The High Street Businesses” have reached the finals of the Venus Women in Business Awards which take place on 5th June 2013 at the Royal Pavillion Ballroom Bournemouth.

Carlie O’Neill of Tanner & Tilley Town Planning and Vice Chair of SoSBA has reached the final of the Darren Northeast PR sponsored category Networker of the Year and commented “This is great news as working for Tanner & Tilley networking is a large part of my role. Doing a job I love and encouraging business to take place across different sectors. It is also great news for Southbourne to have two of our businesses make the final.”

Samantha Acton Director of Domestic Angels and finalist in two categories, Home Based Business sponsored by Basepoint and Employer of the year sponsored by Jobshop UK commented that “being a finalist in 2 Venus Awards categories is a huge privilege and honour which recognises everything myself and the Angels have accomplished over the last 11 years. This is only made possible by the constant and consistent service and care delivered by the Angels and by the terrific support and loyalty of our clients and supporters. Thank you to everyone for your support.”

Thursday 9 May 2013

Basepoint Business Centres confirm their Venus Awards Finalists 2013

Basepoint Business Centres confirm their Venus Awards Finalists 2013

Domestic Angels are Basepoint finalists for Home Based Business of the Year

http://www.basepoint.co.uk/news/1350

Friday 3 May 2013

Angels are Flying High with Venus Awards

Angels are Flying High with Venus Awards


Domestic Angels are finalist in 2 categories of Dorset Awards


Home grown Dorset company, Domestic Angels, is flying high after becoming finalists in 2 categories of the Langtry Manor Venus Awards.

After considering 88 entrants and interviewing 5 semi-finalists, the judges at Basepoint, sponsoring the Home Based Business category, selected Samantha Acton of Domestic Angels as one of their 3 finalists. For the category of Employer of the Year, sponsored by Jobshop UK, as semi-finalists Domestic Angels reached out to their clients, family and friends to support them in a public vote. A week of intense campaigning paid off putting Domestic Angels in the top 3 companies with the most votes giving them a well deserved place in the finals of the Employer of the Year category.

Ann Malone of Winton and long term client of the Angels supports this achievement ‘Domestic Angels deserve to be finalists in both of these categories. The Angels are happy working for Sam and consequently they are reliable, cheerful, flexible, understanding and always exceed my expectations. Sam has achieved a unique and powerful balance between being an employer, colleague and friend. As for being home based, Domestic Angels is run as efficiently as a major company but still has a heart.’

‘This is an amazing achievement for Domestic Angels made possible by the constant and consistent service and care delivered by the Angels and by the terrific support and loyalty of our clients and supporters’ says Samantha Acton, Director at Domestic Angels ‘thank you to everyone for your support.’

Tuesday 16 April 2013

Domestic Angels has a Makeover

 

Domestic Angels has a Makeover

 

The Angel is rebranded and relaunched


After eleven years of providing housework, home help and holiday home services to many clients across Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch, Domestic Angels have themselves had a tidy up and makeover.
To celebrate their 11th birthday, Samantha Acton has had the Domestic Angels brand polished to give a fresh new look. The Angel remains in place and will continue to be at the forefront of the visual brand but she now sits on a new background as reflected in a new range of stationery.
Chris Varney, owner of Point66 who carried out the revamp for Domestic Angels, said “We looked at what impression the current logo gave and although the Angel is a very strong brand, the traditional style of paper stock and colour was starting to look its age. After talking with Sam and getting a feel for what she wanted for Domestic Angels, we took the opportunity to enhance the logo by framing it and using a brighter, cleaner colourway for the background”.
“The result of the work by Point66 is a brand that reflects the cleanliness and professionalism that Domestic Angels offers to all our clients” says Sam Acton, a very satisfied client.



Saturday 13 April 2013

Happy 11th Birthday Domestic Angels


11 Years of Successful Business

 

A very Happy Birthday to Domestic Angels, 11 years old today. The Angels (Janet, Dawn Snr, Mary Ann, Marie, Jayne, Faye, Lisa, Jacquie, Heidi, Leanne, Dawn Jnr, Sally, Julia, Lisa O, Clare) help people in their homes every day across Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole with housework, home help and holiday home management.
“We have achieved so much over our 11 years, helped so many people and challenged the status quo of domestic service perceptions” says Samantha Acton, Director at Domestic Angels. “In a sector where workers are mostly left to work cash in hand or on an ad hoc basis with little or no protection or rights, we have established a culture of employment, stability and dignity.”
Marie Raggett, Supervisor and Angel since 2005 adds “Domestic Angels enables me to work the flexible part time hours I need and where I need them so that I can prioritise my role as a Mum/carer and still have bone fide happy employment. We are cared about and empowered to be effective in the work place and our lives. We are all very proud to be part of the Domestic Angels 11th birthday celebrations.”
You can wish Domestic Angels happy birthday on their Facebook page, just look out for the Angel.
For further information email hello@domestic-angels.com or visit our website at www.domestic-angels.com 

Friday 12 April 2013

Semi-Finalists in 2 Categories of the Langtry Manor Venus Awards


Domestic Angels is a Semi-finalist for 2 Significant Dorset Awards

Great news, Domestic Angels is through to the semi-finals in TWO categories of The Langtry Manor Venus Awards 2013:
Employer of the Year sponsored by Job Shop UK

Home Based Business of the Year sponsored by Basepoint Centres Ltd

Congratulations to the entire Angels team including clients, colleagues, friends and family. This is a great achievement in a year that has seen a record breaking number of entries to The Venus Women Awards .

Wednesday 20 March 2013

Samantha Acton contributes to live reporting on the 2013 budget

Today's budget might be a bit more interesting if you follow the live reporting link below where you will find some of your business friends and family contributing, give us all some support please, share the link

Chancellor unveils Budget

Friday 15 March 2013

Looking ahead to the 2013 Budget


Samantha Acton, Director at Domestic Angels looks ahead to the 2013 Budget in Dorset Business


Thursday 14 March 2013

Domestic Angels is hot intellectual property

The importance of securing intellectual property ownership


Intellectual property is often overlooked by busy business owners but Samantha Acton, Director at Domestic Angels has owned her company name since 2003 and the business itself now owns its famous Angel logo. “Our name and brand is a valuable asset and just because the company name is registered with Companies House, doesn’t mean it’s protected, securing intellectual property is essential” says Samantha.

The intellectual property of a business helps client recognition, increases sales, stops others from ‘passing off’ and makes a business more competitive. “Customers, the community, staff and business colleagues connect with our name and the Angel logo. It is essential that we are in a strong position to deal with any imitators, the registration of our trademarks enables to do this” adds Samantha. Domestic Angels provides housework and home help services to the domestic market across Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole. This makes their reputation of trust and solid values directly associated with the business name and logo invaluable.

All businesses can easily take an intellectual property health check for free via the Intellectual Property Office website. 5 minutes of relatively simple questions will produce a confidential report of suggested action points which will not only protect your business but also increase its value.
To find out more about Domestic Angels please visit our website at www.domestic-angels.com

Friday 8 March 2013

Wanted: Angels!

Join the ‘heavenly’ host of home helpers!
Marie Raggett (Supervisor), Samantha Acton (Director) and Lisa Cooper (Supervisor)

Domestic Angels, the Southbourne-based home help service, is praying for some divine intervention this Easter.
“We need more Angels, it’s as simple as that,” says owner Samantha Acton, who started the business 11 years ago. “There are several clients waiting for Angels and no shortage of good work to be done.
“One off miracle workers need not apply though – we want to recruit honest, industrious team members to join the Domestic Angels family.”
The company, which has been nominated as Employer of the Year in the Dorset Venus Awards, has built an enviable reputation in the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch area.
“We believe in helping people, working hard, being bold, working together, putting the family and the team first, loyalty, facing problems head on, being polite and respectful, doing the right thing and keeping our good name,” says Samantha.
“We put people first. Staff are employed and assigned flexible part time hours that suit them as well as clients. The industry norm is self-employment at best, usually cash in hand.
“By respecting staff with the benefits of employment, by working together with them to ensure they are happy in the workplace, I am proud to have several members of the team that have been with us for more than ten years.”
To find out more about Domestic Angels please visit our website at www.domestic-angels.com

Monday 4 March 2013

Monday 25 February 2013

Micro businesses do their bit for the community

Entrepreneurs bring vision and expertise to the table.

Big corporations make much of their good works and charitable activities, but a Bournemouth business woman says even the smallest companies have much to offer the local community.

Samantha Acton, who owns local home help service Domestic Angels, is the first corporate supporter of community arts venue, the Southbourne Creative Hub.

The Hub was set up by Cathy Jones to provide creative and social opportunities including for those in need of support to participate.
www.southbourne.net/hub

“Samantha’s expertise in social policy and adult social care, together with her sharp business skills, are a perfect match for my experience in the fields of community participation in the arts and the role played by the arts in our health and well-being,” says Cathy.

Her involvement also allows Samantha to engage her business in activities that relate to its corporate social responsibility.

“Samantha’s contribution in this instance is not money, but her vision, knowledge and clarity of purpose to help shape The Hub’s development plans. “We are now confident of providing meaningful and effective opportunities for particular groups at The Hub, including those recovering from mental ill health, facing isolation or adults with learning disabilities,” adds Cathy.

“I’m incredibly proud that Domestic Angels has been associated with The Hub since its establishment 2 years ago,” says Samantha.

“It is a privilege to work on a project that has seen several people who originally came to The Hub for supported activities now attending some of the other classes and workshops, marking a real landmark in their journey to integrate with the wider community.”

Samantha and Cathy work with other professionals from the voluntary, public and private sectors in devising and delivering supported activities.

The Hub belongs to the Dorset Wellbeing and Recovery Partnership, the Dorset Arts and Older People Network and the European Network for Intergenerational Learning. It recently carried out research on behalf of Creative Care Dorset into the availability of the arts for health
and well being in the county.

Corporate Support Membership of The Hub costs just £30 for 2013 and a monthly newsletter reports on developments. Members are able to hire the venue for training, meetings, AGMs, recruitment drives, talks and showcases, for just £15 per hour instead of £25 per hour.

Monday 4 February 2013

Angels’ service at your fingertips

Mobile version of Domestic
Angel's website goes live
Mobile version of Domestic Angels’ website goes live.
Southbourne-based home help service Domestic Angels are reporting a significant increase in new client enquiries online.
Analysis of the company’s website traffic reveals prospective clients are of all ages and come from across the region, but having realised the site was increasingly being accessed as a result of searches for service providers on smartphones or tablets.
Domestic Angels has now responded to this evolution by launching a mobile version of their website.
“I am really pleased that we noticed this change in customer behavior and were able to take action so promptly,” says director Samantha Acton. “It just goes to show that although we stand for old-fashioned values like hard work, honesty and taking time to do the best job we can, the modern world also has a part to play in our business.
“Life is so much easier for prospective clients if text and links fit onto the screen of a smartphone or tablet. It’s the 21st century and people do their research while they’re on the move, or when they have five minutes wherever they are,” adds Samantha.
“As service providers it is important that we respond to this, it’s a lifestyle change.”
Visit the new Domestic Angels website on a smartphone or tablet at www.domestic-angels.com or email info@domestic-angels.co.uk for further information.


As published on seekernews.co.uk

Monday 21 January 2013

‘Angel’ Janet makes a real difference

Home help service celebrates a decade of caring and cleaning


Customers and staff have been quick to pay tribute to Domestic Angels, the Southbourne-based home help service as it celebrates its tenth anniversary.
“I am a long term cancer patient on top of the gradual deterioration of everything else and in the last few months it has got so that I’m no longer able to do the housework,” says Zena Keyworth from Southbourne.
“Janet, our Angel, is always so friendly and pleasant and does such a good job for us – it makes a real difference to our lives. When you have someone in your home you not only have to like them but you must trust them and Janet is like one of the family – she is more of a carer than a cleaner.”
Samantha Acton, who started Domestic Angels in 2003, has been touched to find out just what the company’s services mean to her customers.
“I always wanted us to provide more than what we actually do,” she says. “I’d like to thank Janet and all our Angels who have wholeheartedly embraced the philosophy that people come first and their needs cannot be boiled down into 15-minute time slots.”
Janet Brooks has been an Angel for 10 years in the Southbourne area and loves her work.
“What do you need to do this job? Perfection in everything, that’s all!” she says. “You need to be adaptable, hard working, honest and optimistic, all the things that there seems to be a shortage of these days. Yes, you have to get on with the job, but this is as much about companionship as anything else, we get quite friendly with our clients.”
And the fact Domestic Angels is a local company counts for a great deal with its loyal clients.
“It’s extremely professional, reliable and nothing is too much trouble and being a locally conceived and grown business, I think is very important,” says Philippa Davis from Canford Cliffs.
“Everything is done to a really high standard and everyone is very friendly and approachable – real Angels.”