THIS week we continue our new Larne Times feature by opening the archive once again and reproducing pictures form the past.

Past (im)perfect features local folk at work, rest and play, so look out for a selection of school photos, sports teams, works dinners, clubs, societies, community groups - and much more.

You just never know when you or a friend or relative will appear!

We are asking readers to take part as well. If you have photos that show how the march of time has left behind you, your loved ones, friends or former acquaintances, please share them with us.

We’re looking for picture that were taken locally 10 years ago or more, including team line-ups, awards winners, dancers, Scouts, Guides, GBs and BBs - you name it!

If you have a photo for Past (im)perfect, please email it as a jpeg attachment to news@larnetimes.co.uk

You can also drop in to the Larne Times office at 8 Dunluce Street with pictures to be scanned. Please bring the names of those featured and the event and date, if possible.

WITH the UK still reeling from the effects of the worst recession in a generation, it is easy to get disheartened by all the doom-mongering currently being bandied about.

But one artistic Larne woman is striving to beat the doom and gloom by injecting a splash of colour into people’s lives.

Tasha Copeland, a trained interior designer, has taken her love for all things bright and beautiful and used it to inspire creativity in others.

Two days a week at her Larne-based studio, dubbed Lulabelle’s House, Tasha demonstrates how a lick of paint can breath new life into old furniture, all in a fun and friendly group environment.

During the day-long workshops, her clients learn an array of painting and decorative techniques, which they then apply to vintage and retro pieces of furniture.

Tasha told the Larne Times: “It gives me great pleasure to see people coming into my studio and having real ball transforming old tables and chairs into something beautiful. We have a lot of fun and the atmosphere is always very enjoyable. And the best part is, you don’t need to have any previous experience - anyone can do it.”

The idea is a simple yet unique one, and Lulabelle’s House has really taken off since Tasha acquired her own premises at LEDCOM on Bank Road. Prior to that, her studio had been based at re:store on Point Street in the town.

When mum-of-one Tasha announced that she was leaving her part-time job at Floor Style in Larne to start up her own business, many of her friends and relatives feared that she was making a big mistake.

“People were saying it was too big of a risk and they didn’t think the idea would catch on. But I stayed positive and was adamant that I was doing the right thing, and I am now delighted to say that I have secured my dream job,” she added.

“My classes are booked up until the end of May, and I have clients coming from as far as Dublin to take part. It proves there is market for what I am doing, and I plan to introduce a couple of evening workshops in the near future to accommodate the increasing demand.”

As well as hosting workshops in her studio, Tasha also makes good use of her experience in the vintage and antiques trade. She has spent years tracking down shabby and unwanted items of furniture and turning them into something special, giving them a new lease of life before selling them on.

She added: “I am really passionate about restoring these items. I have sold a lot of them on ebay and it would be great to be able to open my own shop in Larne some day.”

Tasha said she owes a lot of her success to the Go For It Programme, a free scheme funded by Invest NI and delivered locally by LEDCOM, which aims to help local entrepreneurs get their fledgling businesses off the ground.

“The Go For It Programme proved to be extremely helpful to me when I was setting up my business, as it gave me the knowledge and support I needed to get a handle on all the various aspects of running a company and how to market myself,” she added.

And Tasha has bright plans for the future of Lulabelle’s House, harbouring ambitions to turn the business into a franchise with branches as far afield as Australia.

“My company is named after my sister Louise, who used to get called Lulabelle when she was younger. She runs a similar business in Australia, and I would love to set up my own branch over there as well someday. Right now though, I am very happy and content with the way things are going here in Larne,” she concluded.

Tasha’s workshops take place every Thursday and Saturday from 10am to 5pm. For more information, visit www.lulabelleshouse.co.uk or contact Tasha at lulabelleshouse@ymail.com or call her on 07960 154019.

LARNE-BASED Warner Chilcott UK Ltd has received a prestigious accolade recognising its commitment and dedication to staff.

The company was one of 28 Northern Ireland businesses to be awarded the Investors in People (IiP) accreditation, a nationally recognised people-management standard.

Speaking at the award ceremony at Hillsborough Castle, Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry said: “It is heartening to once again recognise the achievements of a wide range of businesses receiving Investors in People accreditation. Everyone knows we are experiencing a challenging time in terms of keeping businesses viable and competitive. However, I am convinced that this is the time to raise the skills levels of the workforce so that we are well prepared for the opportunities ahead.

“It is only by investing in our most important asset – our people – that we can ensure that the Northern Ireland of the future can compete economically on a global scale.

“Leading European organisations have identified the development of the people they employ as the best way of gaining a market advantage. It is an encouraging sign for our local economy therefore that so many organisations, particularly small to medium sized enterprises continue to work with IiP to make significant business improvements. I hope that this group of successful organisations serve as an example to other employers not yet capitalising on the bottom-line business benefits of IiP.”

Investors in People has long been acknowledged as the most successful framework for business improvement through people. It helps organisations of every size, sector and location to compete and succeed through improved people performance. The approach to its delivery has recently changed, becoming more tailored and flexible to individual business needs, with no longer a requirement for a paper trail.

Three new tiers of bronze, silver and gold accreditation sit above the existing standard and are aimed at both promoting a higher level of achievement and assisting organisations achieve long-term ambitions.

Investors in People is available and appropriate to organisations of all sizes and from all sectors of business in Northern Ireland. Further information on Investors in People is available on www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk