January 2023: With the New Year welcoming in opportunities for resolutions and tackling new health goals, Rangeford Villages, the award-winning UK retirement developer, has set out activities and events for residents in all its villages – from Wadswick Green in Wiltshire to Siddington Park in Cirencester – to achieve their goals.    

Recent studies have found that physical and mental well-being is closely related to individual and community health, flourishing, and prosperity, as 2023 Government studies have found that community activities promote social interaction and enable people to connect meaningfully with others. 

In addition to this, a 2023 study conducted for retirement village specialist Rangeford Villages by Censuswide of UK retirees aged between 65 to 80 shows that there are specific factors to their health and wellbeing that this age group values the most. When asked if the benefits of ageing have enhanced their ability to focus on personal health and wellness, those in the South West (38.12%) ranked the highest. Participants aged 65 – 80 living in Plymouth (34.85%) ranked second while those in Bristol ranked third, at 35.48%.
Meanwhile, when rating their current happiness, participants in Brighton value wisdom and life experience more (at 63.33%) than 65 – 80-year-olds in Birmingham (at 45.60%).   

Following on from the results of the findings, Rangeford Villages across the country have reviewed the activities and events they host for their residents at their respective Pavillions, which act as the main social hub, aimed at combatting loneliness and helping them achieve their New Year goals. Several of Rangeford’s villages have a tranquil indoor swimming pool, where, for example, Siddington Park houses a well-being spa with a hydro pool, targeted towards achieving therapeutic and health benefits. Other amenities of the Pavilion in each village include a spa, hair and beauty salon, as well as a restaurant.

This comes as GoCompare reveals the top 10 New Year resolutions for 2024, with ‘getting fit and doing more exercise’ ranking in the top three. 

In the Siddington Park retirement village in Cirencester, the village’s dedication to its residents’ mental and physical health is underscored by a range of weekly wellness programs that residents can enjoy throughout the year. Throughout January and onwards, wellness-wise, the village is running a variety of classes including Balance, resistance band training, chair fitness, chair yoga, conditioning, walking group and ballroom basics. They also have a foot health practitioner visit the site for appointments in residents’ homes. Further to this, they have also had a nutritionist conduct a talk on ‘Nutrition for healthy ageing’ and are planning a ‘benefits of cold-pressed juices’ talk and sample towards the end of January. 

Meanwhile, at Wadswick Green in Wiltshire, residents can partake in a range of fitness classes at the Pavilion including low-impact aerobics, seated Pilates, water aerobics, group walking and yoga, as well as programmes to boost their creativity such as watercolour classes, knitting groups, photography classes and reading groups. 

While at Mickle Hill in Yorkshire, some of the activities the village has planned for the residents related to wellness are choir practices and fortnightly exercise classes with an external mentor.

Mickle Hill resident John Telford has spoken out about how these events have aided and boosted his mental health and wellbeing, as he reveals he attends the exercise classes fortnightly. 

He says: “I enjoy going because I am a double amputee, so it helps me with returning to some form of normality. The exercises that Wendy does are very good and helpful, and a lot of residents attend. We take part in several activities including rubber ball stretching and using the stability ball as well.

“I’ve been going to the exercise classes for about two years since we moved here. At first, we were a bit nervous about going when we started, but after a while, the classes became so much easier and we enjoyed attending them.

“We’ve also made friends with all residents who go to the classes, as well as those who don’t go. Overall, keeping fit and exercising has helped my mental health and wellbeing, it’s helped me a lot.”

In adding what his New Year’s resolution is, John said that for this year, his goal is to “become more active and partake in more of the wellness activities on offer at the village”. 

Commenting on why these activities are important for the residents, the Head of Marketing at Rangeford Villages, Amanda Valentine-Bunce said: “With the New Year in full swing at Rangeford Villages, health and wellbeing take centre stage. It is often the case that each year resolutions revolve around self-improvement, and so across all the villages we welcome an active and engaged lifestyle. We encourage our residents to take advantage of the various amenities and activities available, whether it’s joining a fitness class, participating in group outings, or exploring a new hobby. 

“Health is such a crucial aspect of independence, and so working together with our residents to aid their New Year’s resolutions presents an opportunity for growth and improvement of the village as a whole.

“Over the years, we have developed wellness and fitness programmes across all our Pavilion to suit the needs of our residents, and they have been specifically designed to enhance physical and mental well-being. They also reflect Rangeford Villages’ mission to create aspirational retirement communities and enable our residents to live their lives independently and with purpose and fulfilment.”

About Rangeford Villages: (www.rangefordvillages.co.uk)
Rangeford Villages’ mission is to create beautiful, contemporary communities with excellent services and amenities to help people aged 60+ enjoy life to the fullest. Rangeford is owned by Fern Trading Limited, the parent company of a diverse group of companies based in the UK with a market capitalisation of £2.8bn. It is advised by Octopus Real Estate, a leading UK healthcare property investor, developer and manager. Octopus Real Estate is part of Octopus Group, which invests in and develops partnerships and properties to deliver innovative healthcare facilities to improve the health and well-being of the UK.

As the 2024 Tax Season kicks off, employees across the country are grappling with the complexities of their financial portfolios, particularly those involving company stock options. The decisions surrounding the exercise, sale, or retention of these options can significantly impact tax liabilities, making it imperative for individuals to gain a comprehensive understanding of their financial landscape. To shed light on this intricate subject, investment expert and ESO Fund CEO, Scott Chou, stands ready to guide employees through the intricacies of stock options and offer strategies designed to optimize tax outcomes.

In the wake of the 2023 tax season, where W2s are whizzing across the nation, employees of thriving companies may find themselves in possession of stock options. Whether these options have already been exercised or are under consideration, it’s crucial for individuals to recognize the potential implications for their tax obligations. Moreover, those contemplating the sale of their options need to grasp the repercussions on potential refunds or tax liabilities.

Scott Chou, a prominent figure in the investment realm, is poised to enlighten individuals on the strategic flexibility that comes with holding stock options. By delving into the nuances of financial vehicles, Chou can elucidate the advantages of strategic decision-making when it comes to employee stock options. Readers can expect insights into optimizing their financial positions, especially in scenarios where stock prices might be less favorable.

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Margarita Howard, the sole owner, president, and CEO of HX5, a company specializing in government contracting, stands out as a remarkable leader in a field historically dominated by men. Her journey, marked by perseverance, strategic insight, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, showcases how women are reshaping the government contracting landscape.

There are approximately 14 million women-owned businesses in the United States. A 2023 survey of small, women- and minority-owned companies regarding their participation and readiness to compete for federal contracts found that “75% of the women-owned businesses surveyed reported that corporate and government contracting is really critical to their business strategy,” stated Angela Dingle, the CEO of Women Impacting Public Policy, on the “Federal Drive With Tom Temin” podcast. “And so it’s not just a statistic. It’s a narrative about the contributions and the potential of women-owned businesses to generate growth, to create jobs, and to meet the needs of corporate and government buyers.”

A blend of ingenuity and integrity characterizes Howard’s approach to business.

“In the early years, a big part of my job was going and knocking on doors and meeting with the bankers and trying to get things like a line of credit, a small business loan, etcetera,” Margarita Howard explains. She was turned down the majority of the time but didn’t let that deter her from the mission to make HX5 a premier government contractor.

She remains loyal to the company’s earliest supporters. “One bank in particular remains our bank today because they gave us that first chance,” she says. And so, to this day, that’s our bank. And they thank us every single year for the relationship. And now that we’ve grown to the size we are today, new banks are knocking on our doors all the time trying to earn our business.”

Howard attributes part of her success to joining the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program, a comprehensive nine-year initiative providing mentorship and support to entrepreneurs facing social and economic disadvantages. As a first-generation American, Howard met the criteria. With the 8(a) certification, she gained the eligibility to compete for and secure contracts worth millions of dollars. Howard says, “After becoming an 8(a) company, we were awarded very quickly four contracts in one year and that really helped in getting us off the ground.”

Margarita Howard: Transition to Government Contracting

Margarita Howard’s path to success has been a very challenging journey, but one that culminates in an inspiring story of an American dream come to life. Losing both parents to illness by the year she graduated from high school was a tremendous loss. However, with the knowledge of the value of an advanced education that was instilled in her by her parents, Howard pressed ahead and enrolled at the University of Texas at El Paso, where she juggled school and the full-time work schedule necessary to support herself and go to school at the same time. In search of a way to expand her opportunities and advance her career horizon, she decided to join the military and soon settled on the Air Force.

Post-military, having attained both a bachelor’s and master’s degree, Howard quickly advanced through various roles of increasing management responsibility, primarily in the areas of operations and business management. A significant opportunity came with her involvement in implementing the Tricare program, a major initiative in managed health care for the military.

Tricare is a health care program serving active duty service members, their family members, National Guard and Reserve members and their families, retirees and their families, survivors, and specific former spouses globally.

In that role, Howard was part of the team responsible for implementing the program and through her work, she gained significant insight into the intersection of government operations and private-sector participation.

“I was exposed to many different aspects of government contracting in the role that I was performing in. Part of my job was working with various subcontractors. And so overall the experience was just very, very exciting,” Howard says. It was a huge role for a woman. “I was primarily working with all men at the time. There were women working on the program, but at the regional level, there were very few,” she recalls.

“Once that contract was completely transitioned, and it was up for rebid, I decided to go work for another government contract with the goal in mind of eventually starting my own business. I just felt that I had seen the government contracting process from the ground up and I was in a good place to begin planning and taking steps toward starting my own business.”

In working on government contracts she became aware of the opportunities and socioeconomic benefits available as a veteran- and woman-owned small business, particularly in working with smaller enterprises. “And having worked with large businesses, I knew that aspect of it. So, that’s when I decided to start HX5,” she says.

Recognizing the potential in government contracting and armed with a wealth of experience, Howard launched the company in 2004. Her vision was clear: to establish a company that excelled in winning contracts and thrived on its own merits without over-reliance on sole-source awards.

Margarita Howard’s decision to develop HX5 was a bold step, reflecting her confidence in her abilities and understanding of the government contracting sector. The name “HX5,” representing “Howard times five,” reflects her commitment to her family and their significant influence on her inspirational career path.

HX5’s journey from a fledgling startup to a thriving entity with over 1,000 employees is a testament to Howard’s leadership. Her astute foresight was evident in early choices, such as opting for investing in a government-approved accounting system over extravagant office furniture or high-priced lease locations (for example). That dedication to thriving, not merely surviving, in competitive settings enabled the company to secure numerous substantial prime contracts.

HX5’s Competitive Edge

From its inception, Howard’s company differentiated itself by not relying on sole-source awards — a common strategy among small government contractors — but instead, building a business infrastructure around being able to compete for and win contracts from very early on. Margarita Howard’s approach was to compete from the start, positioning the company for sustainable growth and long-term success. This plan was complemented by a focus on compliance, financial discipline, and building the right relationships.

“Building strong relationships with government agencies is an invaluable asset for successful government contractors as it can serve to provide the contractor with positive performance appraisals and sometimes even lead to new or additional business,” she says. “You start building [on] your past performance, which those initial contracts we received provided the foundation for.”