International Video Gaming Day – 24hr gaming challenge
2022 has been a busy year so far for Black Nova. The main goal for the company this year was to give back and help others. We have been supported by so many people in our local community and network to get where we are today, and it feels right to do the same for as many fantastic businesses, causes and events as we can.
Every month so far this year we have chosen a different event to host, visit or take part in and it has been brilliant for the staff to get involved in! All the events we have been involved in mean something to the business as a whole or to an individual who works here. We deliver all our services in an honest and truly authentic way, and take the same approach to planning, leading or taking part in events.
February – Green Machine
At the start of 2022, we began talking to the incredible company Green Machine. Just like lots of businesses, here at Black Nova we have been trying our best to become more environmentally friendly, and our initiatives include going paperless in the office and supporting other organisations that place a value on sustainability and the environment. So, when the opportunity arose to work alongside a company focused on bringing technology and green living together, we were super excited! Their aim to make the IT industry more environmentally friendly aligns perfectly with ours here at Black Nova.
Green Machine is recycling and reusing old, unwanted or broken devices in an effort to make tech hardware more sustainable – with some amazing results. The company’s award-winning process saves up to 180kg of CO2 emissions for your business with every device recycled! They have a repair workshop facility which can rebuild and reuse the old tech as well as donate a large quantity of the refurbished devices to local schools and charities. To help Green Machine’s team in their mission to make tech sustainable, we now have an amnesty box in our office which is a collection and drop off point for anyone looking to recycle their unwanted tech locally.
March – International Women’s Day
Throughout March we saw many events celebrating International Women’s Day. Across social media and at in-person events there was a real buzz around being able to celebrate the day face-to-face for the first time in two years. Black Nova was fortunate enough to be invited to Total Guide To’s networking event which celebrated both IWD and their 5-year anniversary, and we were delighted to attend. Total Guide has supported us as a business since we began and, especially as their leading team is made almost entirely of women, the event was the perfect way to celebrate. You can read a little more about that event here.
We find networking events like these really useful platforms to promote our services and ethos here at Black Nova.
April – Build a PC Day
April saw us host our first ever public event and it was all centered around our PC services and educating children. The idea of hosting a free PC building day for kids came to life after Kyle had given a short tutorial about his gaming rig to a friend of the family’s son. He absolutely loved learning about the ways in which a computer can be made faster using different products and how to construct a PC that looked just as awesome as it was to play on, so it was clear this was something other kids would enjoy too. The first event sold out less than a day after we launched it, and the May and June events sold out in the next 48 hours after that. When the time came to host our very first kids Build a PC Day, we were overwhelmed by the support and gratitude from everyone who attended. So many fantastic reviews were written and it’s safe to say that every single child had a blast! Kyle has a real passion for technology and loves nothing more than passing it on to children and young people, so it’s a real win-win situation! We are looking forward to the next event and cannot wait to help more children spark their passion for tech.
May – Badminton Horse Trials
With the arrival of May came the biggest event that Black Nova has attended to date – Badminton Horse Trials. This is an international five-star-level equestrian event held over five days in the stunning Badminton Estate in Gloucestershire. It was such an incredible experience and certainly one to remember! Being it our first ever trade stand at a public event, we were happily surprised by the amount of interest we received. People were queuing to try out the VR gaming headset and many of our current clients came along to support us and say hello. Even better, many more of our clients had their own stands at the event, which meant we could visit and catch up with their plans, challenges and successes.
Overall, Badminton was the perfect event for Black Nova to be at due to our large number of clients working in the equestrian industry. Back in the early days of the company we networked extensively in the equestrian world (it helped that our director Danielle is horse mad!) and we are well-known in the sector for our high standard of work, excellent customer service and approachability. Having the stand really did pay off; we have had a lot of interest in the services we provide and many of the questions asked at the event were initiated by confusion. ‘Why would a tech business be at a horse event?’’ Once we explained our connections it all made sense and people wanted to know more. We will certainly be attending again next year and cannot wait to be a part of more events where we can showcase the incredible things we offer here!
June – The Three Peaks Challenge
This June will see Black Nova founder Kyle attempting the 3 Peaks Challenge to raise awareness of an issue which has challenged him behind the scenes for many years. In late 2021, Kyle decided he wanted to set himself a challenge to help him both physically and mentally. Throughout the years Kyle has endured mental health struggles which many people who only see the confident and tech-savvy side of him would never imagine, and he felt it was important to open up about his challenges. So many men won’t speak up and it’s only if more men are open about mental health and share when they are suffering that anything will change.
As the news of Kyle’s challenge reached the different sectors and communities we operate in we decided to create an entire event for it. The plan is to ensure regular updates and a possible live stream/vlog are posted of this tough challenge, and Kyle decided he wanted to raise money for a good cause since so many were interested. The chosen charity is The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) which works tirelessly to protect and save lives at sea. This charity has a deeper meaning for Kyle, with the anniversary of his friend (Anthony Miller, Ant) passing away approaching, he felt that he owed it to Ant to dedicate his challenge to him. Almost 10 years ago, Ant tragically died at sea in Cornwall, something that haunts Kyle to this day. He has raised almost half of his £1,000 goal for the RNLI so far, and any new donations would be much appreciated. In Kyle’s own words “If this challenge can help support the RNLI further then more lives can be saved. No one should have to suffer like Ant and his family and friends have.” Kyle will be aiming to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdonia – the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales – in 3 days, from the 2nd to the 4th of June. To support his challenge and raise money for the RNLI, visit his fundraising page here.
July – Men’s Mental Health Week
Once Kyle’s legs have recovered and July rolls around, we will be taking part in Men’s Mental Health Week in July. Mental health means so much to everyone in our office, but especially for those who have suffered in the past or are currently struggling. Kyle has been especially active in advocating for men’s mental health, writing multiple LinkedIn articles and donating to mental health to help more men in the UK and the tech industry recognise if they are suffering and to get the help they need.
September – 24-Hour Gaming Challenge
With summer complete and children back in school, the big kids in the office can look forward to our exciting gaming event – the 24-hour gaming challenge. We will be taking part to raise money for the mental health charity Mind, and it’s a fitting charity to choose. Gaming is such a brilliant outlet for so many men, women and children, allowing them to escape reality and have space to enjoy a whole new world! For Kyle, gaming has always been his outlet and comfort when he is struggling mentally, something he has openly discussed in his LinkedIn posts and articles. The day will be a great way for the staff to bond and share their love for the gaming industry. Many have already discussed bringing their own personal gaming rigs and monitors in to get the best possible gaming experience. We will share the link to donations on our socials on the day, so keep an eye out. The day will be documented through lives and stories, and we cannot wait to see how the team does!