rotherham business news: June 2009

Monday, June 29, 2009

News: Rotherham firm goes from bedroom to stately home

Ten years after Andrew Kemp set up a high tech business in his bedroom the South Yorkshire entrepreneur now runs a company with a turnover of more than £1 million and a headquarters in the grounds of a stately home.

Back in 1999 Andrew developed his business idea of a computerised temperature monitoring system for checking the performance of sterilising equipment used in hospitals and other medical establishments.

What made his idea different was the way it automatically reported deviations from the correct temperature and generated management reports, greatly improving the safety of sterilising equipment.

From his office in his parents' home, Sentry Products Ltd found help from Rotherham Youth Enterprise (RYE), who offered him grant-aided rented space at its Treeton Youth Business Support Centre.

Further support, development and growth saw the business move into premises at Maltby.

In 2005 the business was able to make a reverse take-over of another company, Isopharm, operating in the same field and this soon required another change of premises.

As a result, the business now operates from a business complex in the grounds of Sandbeck Park at Firbeck (the home of the Lord Scarborough).

Isopharm Sentry has now reached the £1m annual sales figure and Andrew now looks forward to hitting the £2m mark.

Isopharm Sentry website
RYE website

Rotherham

Images: Rotherham Youth Enterprise

News: Mac'Ants Group take Sage advice

Rotherham based manufacturers, the Mac'Ants Group, has installed a powerful Sage 200 suite thanks to Barnsley based technology specialists, Wharncliffe.

The Dinnington firm now has massively enhanced accounting power, giving them a significant boost to their efficiency.

The Mac'Ants Group's core business is the manufacture and sale of abrasives and electrominerals; this is supplemented by divisions specialising in the reclamation and supply of metal abrasives and plastic blast media. Even operating in a recession, the Group sets itself big targets, but their previous accounting system was letting them down.

According to Wharncliffe Director, Alan Exley: "It couldn't cope with most day-to-day processing requirements – the Accounts department had actually resorted to tabulating the information by hand. Added to that, the system was increasingly unreliable – it crashed up to twelve times every day – and had to be laboriously re-booted."

Victoria Imeson, Accounts Office Manager at Mac'Ants says: "Everything is so much easier. Reports are virtually instant, management accounts are all easy to customise. Even the invoice templates are vastly improved. Now we can get the data we need, together with the look we want at the touch of a button."

Mac'Ants website
Wharncliffe website

News: Joint Secretariat build links with businesses

South Yorkshire Joint Secretariat is building links with local businesses after becoming members of three of the region's Chambers of Commerce.

The Secretariat administers the management of the Police, Fire and Rescue, Passenger Transport and Pensions Authorities in South Yorkshire.

It will use the membership to access network events, develop better awareness of the role of the Authorities, provide businesses with more opportunities to influence strategies and offer Chamber members with information on the decisions made by the Authorities.

Craig Tyler, senior policy officer at South Yorkshire Joint Secretariat, said: "Being members of the Chambers of Commerce will help us interact more closely with local businesses. It will enable the Authorities to understand what is important to them in terms of transport or policing issues, for example.

"Also, by working with the Chambers we can provide a range of information to other members about new Government legislation, community initiatives, funding and key developments of the public sector through policy updates, for example."

Andrew Denniff, policy and communications manager at Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, added: "We are pleased to add South Yorkshire Joint Secretariat to our growing list of members.

"This will very much be a two-way relationship, with the Secretariat taking advantage of the Chamber’s contacts within the business community, while also using the Chamber as a channel to direct information on key public services to companies in the region."

Chamber website
SYJS website

News: Acquisition gets seal of approval

Ashton Seals Ltd, based in the Dearne Valley has acquired Bonded Seals Ltd, a major distributor of bonded seals.

Specialising in the distribution of O-Rings and other sealing products, the acquisition fits perfectly into Ashton Seals Ltd's portfolio.

Tim Wills, Chairman of Ashton Seals Ltd, said that this must be one of the most exciting opportunities in the 143 years of trading for The Ashton Group: "It will cement our position as the UK's leading independent distributor of seals."

The combined operation will continue initially in the two locations of Wales and South Yorkshire to ensure the service to customers remains of the highest order.

Tim Wills added: "In 2003 we acquired the gasket manufacturer Clough (Croydon) Ltd and successfully integrated the business within a matter of weeks into our 31,000 sq ft premises, resulting in significant cost and distribution benefits for our customers. I fully anticipate a similar result when we relocate Bonded Seals Ltd into our premises at Cortonwood."

The Ashton Group website

Images: ashtonseals.com

News: Rotherham hosts manufacturers event

The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) are hosting an event in Rotherham to help manufacturing companies through the recession.

The event, at the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre in Rotherham will include a series of workshops, presentations and networking.

The event will provide the opportunity to find out how MAS has helped other businesses through difficult times and what funding is available.

MAS workshops will be run by manufacturing specialists highlighting the "top-tips" to improve manufacturing output.

Presentations include "Sustaining manufacturing improvements for survival" from Mike Brook,Brook Corporate Developments and "How implementing Lean principles is helping my business to survive and gain market share" from Martin Nettleton, MD of Euroglaze, Barnsley.

The event takes place on July 8, 9am - 12:30pm.

MAS website

Rotherham

Images: mas.berr.gov.uk

Thursday, June 25, 2009

News: Corus announces further restructuring for Rotherham

Steelmaker Corus has announced further job losses to those announced in January 2009.

The measures have become necessary because of the worldwide economic downturn and, in particular, the decline in steel demand in Europe and America.

It is thought around 400 are at risk in Rotherham, added to the 713 announced in January.

The consultation process identifies 2,045 jobs as being at risk. Some 1,500 of these are in the company's production facilities: about 800 at the engineering steels sites, mainly Rotherham and Stocksbridge; about 370 in Corus Tubes in the UK and the Netherlands, and about 375 at downstream rolling and finishing plants in Teesside and Scotland. The company is also opening consultations on 500 white-collar jobs throughout the Corus Long Products division, the majority at Scunthorpe.

Corus CEO Kirby Adams said: "We understand the difficulties these job losses are likely to cause our employees and their families. Any recovery in Europe appears to be some time off, so it is vital that we take this proportionate and responsible action now. We have to achieve long-term, sustainable competitiveness in a global and over-supplied steel market and are determined to do so by focusing on the quality of the products and services we offer our customers."

The company said it will make every effort to ensure as many of the job losses as possible are voluntary, though the potential for compulsory redundancies could not be ruled out. The company will at the same time seek to retain critical skills.

The company said that redundancy packages and outplacement support services will be available to those leaving the company. There will be full consultations with employees and their representatives throughout the process.

Unite's national officer, John Rowse said: "Whilst the circumstances of this latest announcement is due to the impact of the global crisis, interim solutions have to be local to the UK. The situation for Corus and British manufacturing is too serious to stand idly by. Unless there is urgent support from the UK government, British manufacturing will come out of recession hamstrung and unable to compete in the world economy."

Rotherham MP Denis MacShane said: "This is a body blow to Rotherham. I am concerned that Tata is not taking the long view. Although I welcome the fact there are no permanent closures of steel operations in Rotherham there are permanent job losses which will devastate families and the community.

"Last week I met with Lord Mandelson together with John Healey MP and Angela Smith MP. Mandelson was accompanied by all his ministers and top officials dealing with steel.

"I urged then and I repeat today that the Government must give as much support to steel as it has to banking or the car industry."

Business Minister Pat McFadden said: "I met with Corus CEO Kirby Adams last week to discuss the pressures the company is facing as demand has failed to pick up with company projections. Lord Mandelson has also written to Corus to offer up to £5m of training support to secure jobs across Corus sites.

"During discussions with Corus they have said the critical measures the Government can take are continued fiscal stimulus to support demand, particularly in construction and automotive. That is exactly what we are doing through Government capital expenditure in construction, measures to assist automotive companies and the car scrappage scheme to boost demands for new vehicles.

"Corus remains a substantial steel business, employing more than 20,000 in the UK and with capacity to produce over 13 million tonnes of steel per year. It remains important to many regions and communities in the UK."

Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Forward adds: "This news is a real blow for the region and our thoughts are with all the individuals and families affected by this news, but I want to assure them that we are ready to provide support to those who need it.

"Following the first restructuring announcements made by Corus in January, a resource centre was established by Yorkshire Forward and its partners at the Rotherham site to provide careers and training advice to those affected. This service has already been accessed by over 300 staff and will now be extended to the Scunthorpe and Stocksbridge sites.

"Yorkshire Forward has also contributed £1.5m to the £5m offer being made by Government to retain jobs in the region."

Images: corusgroup.com

News: Seeds of growth at Waverley

Kevin Barron, MP for Rother Valley, has made a special visit to the site of UK Coal's £100m Waverley community in Rotherham, to take part in a symbolic tree planting ceremony with school children and young people from Sheffield and Rotherham.

The event marked another step in the regeneration of the 300 hectare site where 34,000 trees in total are being planted. Each tree has been named after the child who planted it, making them a permanent part of the re-birth of Waverley and giving them the chance to see their tree grow for years to come along with the new community surrounding it.

Joined by 20 children from Sheffield City School and youngsters from Orgreave and Aston youth community groups, Mr Barron planted his own tree - the millionth to be planted by UK Coal on Yorkshire soil - before being given a tour of the impressive Waverley site, which covers an area bigger than Sheffield City Centre.

Mr Barron, who spent 23 years working in the coal industry himself said: "What is taking shape at Waverley is extraordinary. This development is a fantastic asset not just in terms of the AMP but in terms of the opportunities it will bring to South Yorkshire. By generating thousands of new jobs and homes Waverley is creating a 21st century South Yorkshire and paving the way for the future."

Sue Anderson, director of management operations for Harworth Estates, the property arm of UK Coal, added: "UK Coal is committed to involving the local community in the redevelopment of Waverley creating a sense of community spirit and giving everyone the opportunity to be part of the area and its bright future."

Waverley Community website

Rotherham

Images: waverleycommunity.org.uk

News: Chamber provides platform for Woodhead discussion

Local businesses, regional agencies and interested parties came together this month to discuss the potential opportunities for re-opening the Woodhead Rail Tunnel.

The breakfast meeting, hosted by Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce at Brooklands Hotel, brought together a number of interested groups to hear a presentation from local MP Angela Smith (a member of the Commons Transport Select committee) who has developed a keen interest in the Woodhead Rail Tunnel issue over a number of years.

Angela said: "I am pleased Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce acknowledge how important regional transport is to the local economy and welcome the vital role the Chamber can play in helping to improve that infrastructure."

Such was the interest in the potential of the trans-Pennine scheme, the meeting attracted representatives from SYPTE, Network Rail, National Grid, Business Link Yorkshire, Don Valley Railway, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, other regional Chambers of Commerce and many local businesses.

Andrew Denniff, Policy & Communication Manager at Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said: "We were very pleased at the interest shown in this project and will be looking to lobby the appropriate agencies. The potential for this scheme and the impact it might have on the regional economy cannot be ignored."

Chamber website

Rotherham

Images: angelasmith-mp.org.uk

News: Crawshaw raises cash for continued expansion

Rotherham based butchers, Crawshaw has raised nearly £900,000 to support the company's store rollout strategy.

ISIS Equity Partners LLP is subscribing for 5,256,254 new ordinary shares in the company at 17 pence per share. This will raise approximately £894,000.

Crawshaw opened its 20th store on June 11, the 7th new store opening in less than 12 months. These new stores cover a variety of different locations and formats.

In March the board postponed opening further new stores until late summer 2009 in order for the financial returns of each store type to be fully evaluated. The board also felt that a cautious approach was appropriate in the current external financial environment.

The Bradmarsh Business Park company was acquired by the Felix Group in March 2008 for around £12m.

Crawshaw website

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

News: Rotherham construction specialist secures Manchester Piccadilly work

Rotherham based Horbury Group has clinched a new contract worth more than £370,000 on Manchester's Piccadilly Place development.

Titan Ceilings, one of nine companies that make up the Horbury Group, has been appointed by Carillion PLC, and will install metal suspended ceilings and bulkheads in the 110,000 square foot Four Piccadilly Place.

Titan has previously completed work on Three Piccadilly Place in the development to fit suspended ceilings and bulkheads to this 190,000 square foot of Grade A sustainable office accommodation in a contract worth £650,000.

Trevor Wragg, managing director of the Horbury Group, said: "Manchester is currently experiencing a huge regeneration, with a number of modern accommodation, office space and retail unit developments.

"The Piccadilly Place development in the city centre is a key project to transforming Manchester and we are thrilled to be involved in such a high profile project to add to our increasing portfolio of private sector schemes."

The site at Piccadilly Place includes a 285 bed hotel 55,000 square feet of Grade A office space, 300,000 square feet of premium quality offices and a 117 unit apartment block.

Horbury website

Rotherham

Images: Horbury

News: Bennett design provides a real lift

Designers at Rotherham company MG Bennett Ltd have provided a real lift to users of the Macduff Harbour Slipway.

The Macduff Harbour Slipway lies on the North Aberdeenshire Coast and services the local fishing fleet with both ship building and repair facilities.

MG Bennett and Associates Ltd were engaged to produce the design of a new ship lift for client Aberdeenshire Council and R J McLeod, the contractor.

The new facilities allow boats to be taken out of the water and held in a safe working environment on the slipway.

Bennett's designers provided the structural design of the haulage and traversing carriages, the mechanical design of the bilge beams to accommodate ships of different beams and the specification of the hydraulic and control systems.

Three styles of traversing cradle were designed to accommodate vessels of different sizes from the fishing fleet.

The installed ship lift can accommodate a ship with a keel of 25 metres in length, a displacement 350 tonnes and a maximum beam 10 metres.

Last year, MG Bennett was acquired by Atkins, Europe's largest design and engineering consultancy.

MG Bennett website

Rotherham

Images: bennettmg.co.uk

News: £1m investment in Logic Office Group

Logic Office Group, the UK manufacturer of contemporary office furniture, is the subject of a £1million buy-in management buy-out (BIMBO).

The current management team will jointly acquire a 40% stake - their first significant investment in the business. This will be complemented by a 60% stake held by a consortium of shareholders headed by office interiors specialist Mike Gardner, and including Black Arrow Group plc.

Mike was invited to invest in Logic Office Group by its founding brothers Arnold and Maurice Edward, who are both in their 80s and taking retirement.

Mike said: "I want to use the knowledge I have accumulated in building Claremont Group Interiors to progress the development and expansion of Logic Office Group.

"I have a track record of spotting the potential of a business and growing it and am very confident of being able to repeat that success with this opportunity."

Logic is based in Hounslow but their manufacturing site is in Hellaby, Rotherham. They employ 60 staff in the manufacture and sale of office furniture, office fit out and refurbishments.

Logic Office Group website

Rotherham

Images: Logic Office Group

News: Rotherham builds business links with Korea

Gary Soper, the First Secretary of Trade & Industry at the UK Embassy in Korea visited Rotherham this month.

This follows visits between representatives of Seocho City and Rotherham to help develop links between leading industrial, business and investment companies.

The event at the Carlton Park Hotel included a an open, round-table discussion and the opportunity to listen to the diverse opportunities that currently exist for business in Korea and the far-east.

Rotherham MP Denis MacShane spoke at the event: "Korea is Asia's forth biggest economy with a highly educated population and the world's biggest and best broadband access. We all see Korean products on our road in the form of Kia or Hyundai cars and in our homes or in our pockets in the form of Samsung and LG products.

"Europe as the world's biggest single market is very important to Korea which is why I would like to see the UK as the European gateway for Korean goods into the 500 million strong EU market and Rotherham should seek to get a slice of that action.

"I welcome Gary Soper's visit here as one of the UK’s most experienced trade diplomats and I hope we can now sow the seeds of a positive relationship between Rotherham and Korea."

News: Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust purchases the former Lombard Bank site

As part of its ambitious eight-year redevelopment programme, The Rotherham NHS Trust has purchased the former Lombard Bank Site.

This new facility, which is sited around 200 metres from Rotherham Hospital on Moorgate Road, will become the base for a number of non-clinical staff who currently work at the main hospital site and help pave the way for a range of new developments and refurbishments at the hospital.

The first stage of the Trust's programme to refurbish and upgrade Rotherham Hospital will see a new patient and carer reception, information and resource centre within a new main front entrance to the Hospital, a programme of ward refurbishment, and a range of other improvements as the hospital looks to become a showcase for best-practice in patient safety and efficiency in healthcare design.

Among the improvements that can now be set in motion thanks to the purchase of the former Lombard Bank site are the development of a new Mental Health facility and the refurbishment of the Oakwood Hall building.

Brian James, Chief Executive of The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust said: "The former Lombard Bank site will be a great asset to the hospital. Its location so close to the main hospital and with potential for housing a number of our key non-clinical staff as well as providing additional car parking spaces make it the ideal facility for us.

"The purchase of the site additionally means we can move forwards more quickly with elements of our redevelopment programme that will bring substantial improvements in the quality and safety of our services and facilities for patients using Rotherham Hospital."

Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust website

Monday, June 22, 2009

News: Metalysis raise £5.1m as they near commercialisation

Metalysis, the Cambridge University spinout based in Rotherham has raised £5.1m in venture capital.

Metalysis holds the worldwide exploitation rights to the FCC Cambridge process which sees specialist powder metals created in a simple, cost effective process with significant environmental benefits.

The funding comes from the Environmental Technologies Fund (ETF) and some of its co-investors - 3i, Chord Capital and Cody Gate Ventures.

The Manvers company will use this new round of financing as working capital to support the scale-up of a novel semi-continuous pilot plant. Following key appointments in April, Metalysis expects to begin commercialisation of the process later this year.

The company is also finalising a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Warwick University to develop the FFC Cambridge process for the production of titanium alloy powders.

Brown Rudnick represented the Environmental Technologies Fund

Metalysis website

News: Rotherham United investing in the future

Rotherham United have taken a big step forward in their plans for a new training ground and Centre of Excellence with the granting in principle of a lease with the council on an area of land at Roughwood Road.

The Millers have been training at the Keepmoat Stadium since leaving Hooton Lodge last year but plans are now in place to move back into the borough of Rotherham. Millers Chief Operating Officer Paul Douglas was keen to stress that this was a major benefit not just for the club but for the wider community:

"We have been talking with RMBC for some time about the prospect of finding some land to allow us to return to Rotherham from our current training base in Doncaster," he said.

"From the outset this was on the understanding that whilst its primary purpose would be to train and develop new young talent for Rotherham United, as well as the first team, it would serve to benefit the community in which it was based as well as the wider community of Rotherham as a whole. We as a club are fully committed to this principle.

"On this basis we have in principle been granted a lease on a piece of land on Roughwood Road and will now work on obtaining the necessary planning permission, which will in turn require that we consult with the people in the area, to enable this development to happen."

Karl Battersby, Strategic Director for Environment and Development Services for Rotherham Borough Council, said that although the authority has agreed in principle to lease this particular area of land to the football club this was only the start of a long process:

"The details of the lease have yet to be finalised but we have had on-going discussions with the clubs who currently use the site, and they are positive about the opportunities this proposal will bring," he said.

"In addition, the plans for a training ground will also have to be considered as part of the usual planning process. We appreciate that community access and the effects on the locality are key to the proposals for this particular application, which incidentally will not take all the available land on this site. That is why the public and all interested parties will be fully consulted as part of the planning process, which will take place in due course."

Rotherham United website

News: Rotherham's Manor Motorsport to line up in F1

Rotherham is set for a place on the Formula One grid next season with Manor Motorsport.

The Dinnington based team has been named on the entry list for the 2010 championship by the sport's governing body, the FIA.

The Manor name came into racing in 1990 when former single-seater champion John Booth decided to establish his own team. Since that time, Manor's record of success includes some 171 Race Wins and 19 Championship Titles in championships such as Formula Renault and Formula Three Euroseries.

John told the Rotherham Advertiser: "It's got to be a plus for the regional economy. "I don't think F1 is going to be an organisation where each team employs nearly 1,000 people any more, but we are planning to create 50 or so jobs for people in South Yorkshire and we will, of course, be working with local suppliers."

Oxford based Wirth Research announced a long term agreement to exclusively design, develop and supply the all-new Manor Formula One car, as well as providing wide-ranging engineering support for the project.

John added: "Having competed successfully in other categories we now look forward to the challenges and opportunities presented in motor racing's premier category. Nick Wirth brings the technical experience and flair that is required to be a serious contender in Formula One."

Nick Wirth, Technical Director said: "We see this project as a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the quality of our work, increase our range of technology and engineering capacity to the benefit of all our existing and potential clients beyond Formula 1."

As part of its application to compete in the 2010 World Championship, Manor has agreed an engine supply deal with Cosworth.

The news has been overshadowed by the row between the FIA and the Formula One Teams Association (Fota) over proposed budget caps.

Manor Motorsport website
Rotherham Advertiser article

Images: Manor

News: Rotherham energy project on the starting grid

The Engineer reports that the hydrogen mini grid system (HMGS) in Rotherham is is set to begin full demonstrations in the next three to four months.

The Advanced Manufacturing Park Technology Centre in Rotherham is to be the first building in Europe fuelled solely by wind and "green" hydrogen power.

TNEI Services Ltd and the Pure Energy Centre were awarded the £2.3 million project from Yorkshire Forward to create the hydrogen mini-grid where electricity generated by an onsite 225kW wind turbine will be used to power the building and any excess stored using innovative hydrogen fuel cells.

Jason Stoyel, TNEI's technical manager told the magazine: "One of the key stumbling blocks is that electrolysis requires a nice constant source of power like you get from the grid, whereas renewable energy tends to vary. With the HMGS you can take all that variation into the electrolyser to generate hydrogen."

UPS Systems has successfully demonstrated that the fuel cell is operational as it generated over 12,000kWh of electricity during May and exported 2,000kWh to the local distribution network. The rest of the electricity was used on site.

"We're not claiming it's the best ever system but it's a working demonstration of what could be done. It's using local products that are innovative. For example, the electrolyser hasn't been done before and the storage system is based on a composite cylinder using technology that is still being proven."

The Engineer article
Hydrogen Yorkshire website

Images: hydrogen-yorkshire.co.uk

Sunday, June 21, 2009

News: Rotherham Renaissance mapped out for shoppers

Information boards have been updated across Rotherham town centre showing all Renaissance projects and their completion dates.

People can also find latest news on up-and-coming town centre events as well as information about the regular specialist and daily local markets.

Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation Cllr Gerald Smith said: "By making information more accessible we are hoping that we maintain the support from Rotherham people who have consistently driven plans that will dramatically change the town for generations to come.

"Renaissance has by no means lost its momentum – we have achieved a lot in the last year and there is more to come, so by mapping this out we hope we not only inform but also maintain enthusiasm among our shoppers and other town-centre visitors."

The SYPTE Travel Information Centre is also making Renaissance information available for its customers and the Centre's staff are available to try to help with general queries regarding the redevelopment plans – people can also pick up a development map to take with them or information on how to access online discount shopping vouchers through the town centre website’s Click-Backs scheme.

Director of Customer Experience at SYPTE, David Young, added: "SYPTE is committed to making Rotherham a successful town and is pleased to be able to help promote the Renaissance programme as well as leading projects such as the Central Railway Station redevelopment."

Rotherham Renaissance website

Rotherham

Images: Rotherham Renasissance

News: Macalloy win global contracts

Macalloy has secured three new deals to supply their tie rods to construction projects across the globe.

The world leader in design, manufacture and supply of threaded bar and cable systems, based at Dinnington in Rotherham, has recently been awarded the contract to supply Macalloy 460 tie rods in the lighting towers of the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Australia.

The stadium, which has been designed to facilitate both football and rugby events, will have a capacity of 31,000. Construction is due to be completed at the end of 2009 and the stadium in operation by 2010.

The new state of the art Princeton University Chemistry building is soon to be supplied with Macalloy S460 tie rods in M30 diameter.

The four storey building will provide the University with research laboratory and teaching facilities, with completion of the project due in 2010.

The new Star Lane DLR station was recently supplied with Macalloy 460 tie-rods in M20 and M42 diameter. The station will become a new Docklands Light Railway station in Newham, East London.

This extension is in anticipation of the 2012 Olympic Games and construction is due to be completed in 2010.

Macalloy website
Rotherham

Images: macalloy.com / cox.com.au

Thursday, June 18, 2009

News: Foundations for further growth at Bramall Construction

Bramall Construction, based in Rotherham, has appointed a new business development team to support the company's impressive performance and continued growth.

The company has promoted Peter Dixon to Head of Business Development after 10 years with Bramall. He is joined by Buinsess Development Managers Glen Eaton, who covers the East of England and East Midlands, and Yorkshire and Humberside area specialist Paula Broadbent.

They will play a crucial role in growing a company that employs in excess of 800 staff and delivers some of the country's largest and most high profile regeneration programmes. Bramall is currently carrying out millions of pounds worth of improvements to more than 9000 homes a year, building state-of-the-art Extra Care schemes for hundreds of older residents and providing new housing.

The company also plans to build on its experience of working in the education sector and forge new partnerships in the East of England, where it has recently won a £9.9m contract to develop a new Extra Care scheme.

The new team will also include bid manager Sarah Banner who joined Bramall in March 2009. Sarah has recently been involved with the successful tender to build a £9.9m Extra Care facility in Soham for Sanctuary Housing Association.

Bramall Managing Director Neil Baxter said: "In Peter, Glen, Paula and Sarah, we have a fantastic team in place and are ready to build on the excellent progress we have made in recent years.

"Their experience of the housing sector and the geographical areas in which we work means they are well equipped to do this.

"They will become well known in the sector in the years ahead."

Bramall website

Rotherham

Images: bramall.com

News: A good packaging story for Beatson Clark

When Braham & Murray decided to re-launch their GOOD Salad Dressing range, they turned to Rotherham glass manufacturer Beatson Clark to serve up some new glass packaging.

The company ultimately selected the 250ml Round Sauce Bottle from the Beatson Clark's extensive general sale range. The white flint bottle has a 43mm twist off standard neck finish.

The new bottle is being used for a selection of dressings in the range, including Honey & Mustard, Balsamic and Caesar and is a great way to add flavour to salads. Made with GOOD oil, produced from the Hemp seed, they are all a good source of Omega 3, 6 and 9 and are suitable for Vegetarians and both Balsamic and Honey and Mustard are gluten free.

"The company chose Beatson Clark as their supplier due to the quality of our glass packaging, which we are very pleased about," said Beatson Clark marketing manager Charlotte Taylor, "Braham and Murray have bought from us before and good service, fair pricing and of course good glass has led them back to us to supply the packaging for the new range."

The new salad dressings are available via the company website, Waitrose and a selection of independent retailers.

Beatson Clark website

News: Another car parking boost for shoppers in Rotherham

More good news for shoppers in Rotherham has been announced with news that two floors of a town centre multi storey car park are to be reserved for short term visitors, making it easier for them to get to shops and offices.

In a move to help local businesses, councillors have agreed that from Monday June 22nd, parking on the lower floors including levels 1 and 2 of the Wellgate multi storey will be reserved for motorists parking for up to two hours only.

Long stay parking will still be available on levels 3 and above for all users, including season ticket holders.

The initiative is intended to boost the councils Free After 3 campaign launched last month, that gives free parking after 3pm each day in all Rotherham Borough Council car parks and Pay and Display street spaces.

Councillor Smith, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation, said: "The two hour reserved parking in Wellgate was discussed at the same time as the Free After 3 campaign and the decision to go ahead was made after the legal considerations were resolved. We hope that by offering two hour parking at this very convenient off street location, it will encourage motorists, particularly shoppers, to visit the town centre more."

Rotherham town centre website
Rotherham

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