Accountants make a Santa Splash. Entrepreneur and partner at accountancy firm PPS took a freezing swim to raise money for a veterans’ charity this Christmas.
Sally Holland, Partner at Swindon based PPS Chartered Accountants, participated in an icy winter swim. Her aim being to raise funds for military charity, Combat Stress, as one of her last charitable acts of 2025.
The ‘Santa Splash’ event took place at Bowmoor Sailing Club. The Lechlade Lions organized it to raise funds for Combat Stress’s fundraising effort called Healing Military Minds.
Accountants make a Santa Splash – Kirk Holland and Sally Holland alongside other participants at the Santa Splash.
Combat Stress
Combat Stress is the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health. They support former service people dealing with issues around:
trauma
anxiety
depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sally and her husband, Kirk, participated on behalf of PSS Chartered Accountants with other professionals from the business networking group, Business Connect.
‘I found out about the Santa Splash in November and had to get involved,’ said Sally. ‘I’m an active person so thought I’d end the year with a challenge and all for a great cause.’
Braving a below zero swim isn’t the only charitable endeavour Sally has led in 2025. In June, Sally took part in a 50km ultramarathon to raise over £1,000 for Wiltshire Treehouse.
I’ve completed multiple charity events this year and I’ve raised money for a variety of local charities. I do it because I want to support my community and to prove to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to,’ continued Sally.
‘Our work to raise funds for local charities is something we’re always excited and committed to,’ commented Sally.
‘As PPS, we’ve held many events this year. We hope this is only the beginning of raising funds for a multitude of charities across our local area. To reflect on this year is fantastic, but I can’t wait to look to the future and how much support we can provide in 2026.’
PPS Chartered Accountants, based in Swindon, works with individuals and businesses across Wiltshire and beyond. They provide expert advice in accountancy, tax and business planning. The firm is committed to supporting the local community alongside offering practical, tailored financial guidance to help clients achieve their goals. For more information visit: https://www.ppsacc.co.uk/
Mindset Coach 2025 Reflections. As the year comes to an end, Swindon mindset coach John Lewis is taking stock of the personal and professional challenges he’s helped people face through 2025. He works with a wide range of clients – from people trying to feel more confident in their day-to-day lives to international athletes preparing for high-pressure competitions. Despite the variety, the same themes kept coming up across this year.
John said many people arrived feeling stuck, unsure of their direction or battling long periods of low confidence. Others wanted help breaking old habits, dealing with stress or feeling more in control at work. He also spent a lot of time supporting people through:
team issues
relationship strain …
… and the nerves that come with stepping into public-facing roles.
‘I’ve seen that people are far more open to working on their mindset now,’ John said. ‘Coaching isn’t seen as a last resort anymore. It’s something people choose because they want to feel better and move forward. I still meet old clients in the supermarket who tell me they’re using the same tools we worked on years ago. It’s great to hear that.’
Mindset Coach 2025 Reflections – John Lewis
Standout breakthroughs
Some of the breakthroughs from the past year have stood out to John. One client, terrified of public speaking, delivered a panel talk at Amazon in front of 200 people. Another client, an international athlete, became a world champion after learning how to recover fast from mistakes and stay focused in the moment.
John, who lives in Highworth, has also supported businesses this year with workplace wellbeing and team performance. One company, OneBot, said his coaching had made a noticeable difference to its team.
‘John’s life coaching sessions have made a noticeable difference for our employees,’ said Rachael Male, operations manager at OneBot.
‘His supportive and practical approach has helped team members improve confidence, manage stress and communicate better. We’ve seen positive changes in both personal wellbeing and workplace performance. And John soon became a valued part of our benefits package. Our employees so appreciate having access to his guidance.’
John also brought back his Mistermind event this year, which he ran to coincide with International Men’s Day. He created it as a male-only space because many men struggle to speak with openess about stress, confidence and the pressure they carry. One attendee described the day as “truly outstanding”. They said they left feeling inspired and ready to make positive changes on both personal and professional levels.
Looking forward
Looking towards 2026, John said people should keep things simple. ‘Have big goals, but start small,’ he said. ‘The tiny improvements you make each day matter more than the dramatic changes people put pressure on themselves to achieve. Learn from what goes wrong, keep doing what goes right and give things time. Nothing worth having happens overnight.’
He also wants people to make their wellbeing a priority as the new year begins. “Be kinder to yourself,” he said. “Take breaks when you need them. Distance yourself from the noise and the comparison. Look after yourself well. Choose with care who you listen to and give yourself space to grow. Those are the things that will make the biggest difference in 2026.’
John will continue working with individuals, teams and athletes into the new year. He’ll help them build confidence, approach stress in a different way and work on the areas that matter most to them.
The room included people from different age groups. Something that Alastair said felt like ‘the perfect reflection of what the book is all about.’
Speaker and author Duncan Bhaskaran Brown hosted the evening. He guided the conversation and introduced the speakers.
Guests then heard from Deborah Hale MBE, who spoke about organising the Olympic Torch Relay in 2012. She described the relay as ‘a celebration of bringing generations together in a moment of shared pride and purpose.’ Further she reflected on how shared experiences can stay with people long after an event ends. The room included people from different age groups. Something that Alastair said felt like ‘the perfect reflection of what the book is all about.’
Neuroscientist Dr Lynda Shaw followed with insights into the brain and how people process information at different stages of life. She spoke about how communication across age groups can shape trust and understanding. In particular in workplaces where expectations often vary.
When Alastair took to the stage, he explained why Oxford was the right place for the launch. He said he chose the setting because:
‘Oxford is the oldest university in England and a place where generations have come to learn, challenge ideas and shape the future. The Saïd Business School represents new thinking for new leaders. And on a personal note, my father was born in this city, even if he did go on to study at Cambridge.’
Alastair spoke about how the book aims to help people communicate at work, in families and in everyday life with more effectiveness. He shared ideas from the book. This included:
Why stereotypes can hold people back
How cultural touchpoints shape identity and …
… how his five-point model – Be Curious, Listen, Don’t Judge, Don’t Compare and Accept We Are All Different – can make conversations easier across age groups.
Bringing together
Generationally Speaking brings together:
Alastair’s research
His long-running podcast
Also his work with organisations and insights from thousands of survey participants.
It aims to support readers living in a world where four generations work side by side and eight generations share society for the first time.
Alastair is a UK-based communication consultant and speaker specialising in generational communication. He also hosts The Generationally Speaking Podcast, featuring guests from business, education and media.
A NEW WILTSHIRE VENTURE INVITES PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN, LEARN AND ESCAPE. Three Wiltshire entrepreneurs have together launched a new business. Called Enlightening Escapes, it brings together travel, learning and time away.
The founders are:
Janet Shreeve, founder of care consultancy business Shreeve Care Services
Fiona Scott, founder of Swindon-based PR agency Scott Media and …
… media consultant Lauren Roberts from Chippenham.
A NEW WILTSHIRE VENTURE – from left to right: Lauren Roberts, Janet Shreeve and Fiona Scott
The inspiration behind it
The idea grew out of years of:
Working with people
Listening to their stories, and seeing what actually helps them reset, get clarity and feel more confident.
Rather than big conferences or rigid workshops, the trio wanted to create smaller experiences that feel personal and easy to be part of.
‘This came from conversations we were already having,’ said Fiona. ‘Between us, we’ve built strong relationships with people doing interesting things, from creatives and business owners to chefs and makers. Enlightening Escapes gives us a way to bring those people together in a relaxed setting, where conversation happens naturally.’
Lauren said the focus is on using skills the team has built up over time. ‘We all come from different professional backgrounds. But we’ve spent years working in storytelling, communication and confidence. We know people get more out of learning when they feel comfortable. Hence we’ve desgined the escapes around shared experience rather than being talked at.’
What they comprise
The experiences can be business-focused, lifestyle-led, or a mix of the two, depending on the escape. Each is completely bespoke.
The first overnight retreat takes place in March 2026 at Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort. The weekend will focus on TikTok and video content. There’ll be practical talks from business owners who use video as part of their everyday work. Speakers include Malmesbury artist and creator Luke Hollingworth, and family law specialist Steven Wade, whose work and videos have reached millions around the world.
Not all Enlightening Escapes involve staying away. In February 2026, Swindon’s Old Town will host a Thai cuisine evening with 2025 MasterChef finalist Sam Kaeokon. The night will centre around food, stories and making connections. Guests will get a real insight into Sam’s journey and love of cooking.
The Italian job
Looking ahead, the team are also planning escapes in Italy later in 2026.
Italy feels like a natural step, said Janet. ‘I lived there for several years and speak the language. That means we already have strong local relationships. It allows us to shape experiences around everyday Italian life, from cooking and olive oil making to visiting local fashion designers.’
Award winning bakery expands into breakfast cereal with new range. Award-winning artisan bakery Pipp & Co is once again expanding its range. And this time it’s into preservative-free breakfast cereals.
The Swindon-based bakery – which recently scooped a national award for its rhubarb and ginger jam vegan doughnut – is launching two cereals. While staying true to its ethos of using only quality ingredients, with no additives or preservatives.
There are two varieties:
Seed and maple granola
Apricot, cranberry and seed muesli
They’re both based on family recipes and are available for both retail and wholesale.
They’ve crafted both lines from the best quality ingredients. And they’re designed for:
retail shelves
café breakfast menus
farm shops and grab-and-go merchandising
Award winning bakery expands
Also …
At the same time, Pipp & Co, with success founded in its signature range of artisan doughnuts, is also expanding its popular range of savoury bakes.
There’s been five months of successful trials with several large wholesale partners. And now available are spinach and feta brioche pastry diamonds, and brioche cheddar, cream cheese and chive pinwheels.
Pipp & Co supply fresh the two products for wholesale distribution. Purchasers can freeze them to eliminate waste.
Betina Evangelista, who owns Pipp & Co with husband Mario, said: ‘We’re very excited to see our artisanal, preservative-free pastries becoming so popular. The response to these two new, premium vegetarian recipes has been so positive. They are ideal for our retail partners like cafés, delis, farm shops and caterers. They benefit from the convenience, for a premium product with no waste.
We’re confident that our customers are going to love our granola and muesli breakfast cereals. Further, we’re excited to be expanding our product range. We’re now getting recognition for a variety of products beyond our doughnuts.’
Just last month, Pipp & Co’s rhubarb and ginger jam doughnut was the stand out winner at this year’s annual awards, run by PETA. That’s the UK-based charity dedicated to establishing and protecting the rights of all animals.
For more about Pipp & Co’s range of sweet and savoury baked goods, and now breakfast cereals, visit https://pipp.co/
