News: Eadon Consulting celebrate bridge opening

Innovative work by design engineers at Eadon Consulting in Rotherham is being showcased on the other side of the world as a new bridge opens in New Zealand.

The Hatea River Crossing, which is locally known as Te Matau a Pohe (the Fishhook of Pohe), is a pioneering bascule bridge which opened to both cars and pedestrians last month with the aim of easing traffic congestion around the city of Whangarei.

The 265 metre long bridge has a 25 metre long central lifting span to allow yachts to pass. The opening mechanism is based on a traditional rolling bascule bridge type, with the structural steel deck supports shaped to provide a distinctive elevation which speaks both of its rolling movement and also its cultural context - the curved "J" shape is an interpretation of the fish hook motif that is widely used in Maori culture.

Eadon Consulting, along with a group of specialised contractors, have been instrumental in the design of operating equipment and mechanical elements featured in the project.

Although the bridge has been fully functional for the last month, this official opening celebration, which includes a parade and flotilla, has helped showcase the bridge and generate worldwide recognition and interest.

Michael Thorogood, founder and company director at Eadon, said: "The project has allowed the complete team to showcase their combined skills in both the design and construction of the bridge and has delivered a project that the Whangarei region can be proud of."

Simon Weston, infrastructure services manager at Whangarei District Council added that "the bridge is a piece of international-quality architecture and engineering."

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park, Eadon staff are good at finding a solution to a highly complex or unusual challenge. Their design work spans across a number of sectors, with expertise in mechanical, structural, control and hydraulic design. They have worked on a wide range of projects including moving bridges, water control structures such as timber and steel lock gates, analysis of high integrity nuclear cranes as well as design of bespoke machinery and lifting equipment.

The firm has also recently secured the contract to design new moveable gantries for the Great Belt suspension bridge in Denmark with The Spencer Group.

The Hull-based engineering specialist has been appointed to carry out the largest retro-fitted bridge dehumidification project ever undertaken in the world. It follows on from similar projects with Eadon on the Humber Bridge and at Älvsborgsbron in Gothenburg.

The innovative "Cable Crawler" traversing system provides high-level access to main cables on suspension bridges and enables the negotiation of hand strand posts, hand wires and cable clamps without the need to return the gantry to the bridge deck. It eliminates traffic management after installation and has been designed to provide 100 per cent containment of personnel and tools.

Eadon Consulting website

Images: Knight Architects

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News: Enterprising students develop new sports product

Enterprising pupils from Maltby Academy in Rotherham have been named as runners up at the finals of the Young Chamber Skills Factor (Business & Enterprise Competition) held recently at Westminster.

Six school teams from across the country descended upon the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and had to present their business ideas for ten minutes, discussing the range of employability skills that they had used to deliver against the business plan. This was followed by a gruelling five minutes of questions by the judges.

Ella Nartey, Callum Wroe and Libby Barlow have developed a new product to help people with disabilities take part in sport and have reached the prototyping stage with the help of Blatchford in Sheffield, a specialist in developing and manufacturing innovative prosthetic components.

The product enables people with a disability of the hand to play tennis effectively in the same environment as abled people.

Fresh from the team's success at the Big Bang Fair in Sheffield, where they won an award for being KS3 winners and named overall winners, the team were this time pipped to the top spot by another team who had managed to get their product to sale whereas Rackitup is still in the field trial stage.

The judges commented that their product was the most innovative and they definitely need to continue to develop and promote it as it has the potential to be a great business success.

Kevin Smith, chief executive of Young Chamber UK, added: "The standard of presentations this year was exceptional with every one of the finalists being of a standard that could have won this year's competition."

Rackitup Facebook page
Maltby Academy website

Images: Maltby Academy

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News: Identicom deal for Calico Group

Rotherham-based Connexion2 has secured a contract with The Calico Group, a leading housing group in East Lancashire, to provide its award-winning and ACPO accredited Identicom lone worker device.

Based in Dinnington, Connexion2 uses innovative technology solutions and associated services to improve the safety and productivity of lone workers. It developed and manufactures Identicom, which is now the UKs most widely deployed dedicated lone worker device.

Connexion2 has supplied a total of 150 Identicom devices to Calico including a number of units with "Man Down" detection, a motion sensor which raises the alarm if the Identicom is immobilised or subject to an impact. Other features of the system, that is designed to look like a normal ID badge, allow lone workers to raise an alarm, make an emergency phone call or send a text message.

Calico Homes manages 4,500 homes across Lancashire; Calico Enterprise works with other organisations to deliver a range of projects across North West England; East Lancashire Women’s Rescue provides services for victims of domestic violence and abuse and Ring Stones, a new company, undertakes maintenance and house building projects.

A wide range of front-line staff including Neighbourhood Officers, Float Support Officers and Home Support Officers use the standard Identicom units whilst those working in more isolated environments such as plumbers, gas engineers and carpenters will be equipped with Identicom with "Man Down" detection.

Kerry Tattersall, health and safety manager at Calico, said: "We invited six companies to pitch for the business and then short listed two companies' devices to trial. The staff thought the Identicom device was fabulous and said it was a million times better than their previous system. All of the lone working staff now love the Identicom device and think it is brilliant."

The already multi-award winning device has recently been shortlisted for two Security Excellence Awards in the Best Deployment of Lone Worker Technology category. The entries were based on the contracts with Britain's largest operator of digital television, BSkyB, and one of Aylesbury's leading social housing providers, Vale of Aylesbury Housing.

In May, Connexion2 was acquired by the US leading emergency communications company, Kings III of America, in a multi-million pound deal.

Connexion2 website

Images: Connexion2

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News: ITM to take on Rotherham's pioneering Hydrogen energy system

ITM Power, the energy storage and clean fuel company, is set to become the operator of the pioneering Hydrogen Mini Grid System (HMGS) in Rotherham.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park, the system is a unique UK asset that uses wind power converted into hydrogen gas for energy. It consists of a 225kW wind turbine coupled directly to an electrolyser, 200kg of hydrogen storage and a hydrogen dispensing unit as well as a 30kW fuel cell system for back up power generation for nearby commercial buildings.

TNEI Services Ltd and the Pure Energy Centre were awarded the £2.3m project from Yorkshire Forward to create the hydrogen mini-grid in 2008. It is the largest wind-to-hydrogen power system in the UK and the biggest single store of "green" hydrogen in the UK. The ownership transferred to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), who have now named ITM Power as the preferred bidder following a competitive tender.

Sheffield-based ITM Power designs and manufactures hydrogen energy systems for energy storage and clean fuel production.

The facility, which first produced hydrogen in 2009, will be upgraded as a showcase for ITM Power's world-class equipment and used to provide retail hydrogen fuel services within the Sheffield City Region. The HMGS will also serve to develop ITM Power's modular commercial platform for hydrogen generation systems, power to gas and refuelling solutions. Particular focus will be on the national hydrogen mobility initiatives being undertaken in countries around the world.

Subject to final contract ITM Power will sign a five year lease on the site and will work in collaboration with local authorities, businesses, Sheffield University, DeMontfort University and UPS Systems to provide retail fuel services for a range of low carbon vehicles and provide educational material for the hydrogen sector.

Dr Graham Cooley, CEO of ITM Power, said: "We are delighted to have been selected as the operator for the HMGS in Rotherham. The site has huge potential and ITM Power is perfectly positioned to realise this potential with our unique technology. Together with our partners, we will be able to use the site as a retail hydrogen fuel station for the area and it will provide a repeatable blueprint for similar systems to be deployed around the world."

ITM Power website

Images: Aedas Architects

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News: Tata's speciality steel to be inch perfect for the US market

Tata Speciality Steel has reconfigured some of its South Yorkshire rolling mills to meet the exacting needs of its American customers.

The business has been producing high-quality metric sized products for the global market for many years. Now the company has brought in imperial sizing specifically for the North American export market.

Richard Lowe, general manager for Speciality Steels Americas, said: "This development is a direct response to feedback from our long standing North American customers. They wanted us to be more competitive throughout the cycle and easier to deal with. This development achieves those objectives and demonstrates we are a listening company."

Investment in 2005 saw the Rotherham site at Aldwarke become the focus for steel making, casting and rolling of specialist steels. The steel is manufactured at the Rotherham site before undergoing further refining at the Stocksbridge plant or the Thrybergh Bar Mill to improve the quality.

In 2012, a £6.5m investment in aerospace steel production, including two new Vacuum Arc Remelting (VAR) furnaces at Stocksbridge, boosted output of these steels by 30% and safeguarded the South Yorkshire jobs.

High-integrity products have been supplied into the US market since 1958, including carbon, alloy and stainless steels that are single, double and triple melted using the Electric Arc Furnace, Vacuum Induction Melting, Electro Slag Reduction and Vacuum Arc Remelting production routes.

Tata has installed seven new rolls and new laser size gauges on each of the two finishing lines on the rolling mill at its Stocksbridge facility. They will enable the mill to hot roll inch sized round bar for the first time in the range of 3-10 inch diameter, with the possibility of extending to 12 inch diameter. Previously the mill had only been able to roll metric sizes.

The new £1.3m development will enable Tata Steel to comply with the requirements of its North American customers by eliminating several processing steps, including reducing bars by lathe. Customers can also expect shorter lead times and more precise delivery schedules.

Richard Lowe added: "The quality steels we produce are in demand around the world. Tata Steel understands that helping customers in our chosen markets to grow can only ever be mutually beneficial."

The new rolls have been going through the trial and validation process throughout the first half of 2013 and are expected to be commissioned in the fourth quarter of this year.

Tata Steel website

Images: Tata Steel

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News: Awards success continues for Pyronix

The Enforcer System, developed and manufactured by Rotherham-based security experts, Pyronix, has picked up another industry award and been chosen to represent the UK at the European Business Awards.

The system was named as the best intruder alarm product at the PSI Premier Awards. Held at the historic Brocket Hall in Welwyn, the awards ceremony is organised by the trade magazine and is unique in that it gives equipment installers the chance to vote for their favourite products that have introduced new technologies or given them the best results.

Launched in 2011, the Enforcer was a world-first fully two way wireless alarm system incorporating a transmitter and a receiver in each wireless device. The wireless technology is a vital part of the system that keeps it reliable and provides a major advantage to the installer and user.

Guy Dodd, UK sales director at Pyronix, said: "We are delighted to be accepting the award for the Intruder Product of the Year. We developed the Enforcer with the installer in mind, and so we are thrilled that large numbers of them have voted for the product. From all at Pyronix, we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who voted."

The recent win follows on from the Enforcer being named as the "Security Innovation of the Year" at the prestigious Security Excellence Awards.

In addition, the European Business Awards has announced that Pyronix Ltd and the Enforcer are to represent the UK as a National Champion in the prestigious 2013/14 Awards programme in the category of the UKTI Award for Innovation.

The European Business Awards has identified some of Europe's brightest businesses based on their ability to demonstrate the three core principles at the heart of the Awards programme: innovation, business excellence and sustainability.

Julie Kenny CBE DL, chair and chief executive of Pyronix, said: "We're absolutely thrilled to be selected to represent the UK. We've been operating for over 25 years in the Security Industry and it's an honour to be recognised as one of the leading organisations in our country and field. The European Business Awards is widely recognised as the showcase for Europe's most dynamic companies. We're looking forward to the next round of the competition."

It is not just the products at the Hellaby firm that receive recognition. Julie was recently recognised for her services to the security industry at the BSIA (British Security Industry Association) annual luncheon held alongside the Associations' AGM, held at the London Hilton on Park Lane. Julie, former Chair of the Association, picked up the final award of the event from the current chair, Geoff Zeidler and the CEO, James Kelly, in recognition of "a career-long commitment to the ongoing development of the security sector... [Julie's] commitment to the BSIA – and the security sector at large – has truly changed the landscape of our industry."

On the accolade, Julie, added: "Receiving this award today came as a complete surprise and was totally unexpected! I am delighted to be recognised in this way from the Association that I hold in such high regard, and with whom I have worked so closely with for the past 20 years. The Association represents the very best from the security industry and I would like to thank Geoff Zeidler and all at the BSIA for this award. It truly is an honour to be recognised in this way by your peers."

Pyronix website

Images: Pyronix

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News: Latest Bloodhound part machined at Nuclear AMRC

Machining experts at the Nuclear AMRC in Rotherham have made the most complex and high-value machined part for the Bloodhound supersonic car (SSC), that aims to break the world land speed record by achieving the supersonic speed of 1,000mph.

The Nuclear AMRC on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham is a joint initiative between the University of Sheffield, The University of Manchester, and a consortium of industry partners led by Rolls-Royce. It provides a focal point for the bulk of the UK civil nuclear manufacturing industry supply chain.

Part of the government's High Value Manufacturing Catapult, the centre helps to develop capability and competitiveness through process manufacturing innovation and R&D, driving up quality and reducing cost.

The diffuser floor is the largest of seven parts made by the Nuclear AMRC for Bloodhound's rear sub-frame, the assembly that holds the car's rocket engine in place and provides vital stability. Each part had to be machined from a solid block of aerospace-grade aluminium, to precise specifications, with no room for mistakes.

The diffuser floor measures about one metre square, and features a complex pattern of latticed pockets on the top side, with an aerodynamically sculpted reverse. It will sit beneath Bloodhound's hybrid rocket engine, and provide the downward force to keep the car on the ground as it reaches 1,000mph.

The finished part contains just one ninth of the metal in the original 480kg aluminium billet, with a final weight of 55kg. At its thinnest, the floor is just 5mm thick.

Mathew Challinor, NC programmer at the Nuclear AMRC, said: "The biggest challenges were the deep pockets, which are up to 155mm deep. This is very challenging for tooling, as you need a tool that has a length of 15 times its diameter.

"Fixturing was also a challenge, as we had to avoid vibrations in such a slender aero-like structure, while making sure the part was held securely."

On the face of it, the Bloodhound parts are very different to the large components that the Nuclear AMRC machining group usually works on for industrial partners from the energy sector.

Stuart Dawson, head of machining at the Nuclear AMRC, said: "There's very few aluminium parts in a nuclear power station, so this isn't the kind of material we usually work with. But where it fits is the concept of producing very complex high-value precision parts, right first time. The principles and practices involved in nuclear manufacturing have served us very well in producing these one-off parts for Bloodhound."

Conor La Grue, product sponsorship lead for Bloodhound, added: "The commitment of the team at Nuclear AMRC has been second to none. They have produced complex components of the highest quality and delivered to very tight schedules. We are delighted with the manufacturing partnership."

Building a car quicker than a fighter jet is not, however, the primary goal of the project. Rather, it is to inspire future generations to take up careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by showcasing these subjects in the most exciting way possible.

Nuclear AMRC website
Bloodhound SSC website

Images: Nuclear AMRC

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News: Home Instead wins gold at national business awards

At-home care company, Home Instead Senior Care is celebrating after the company was named as the British Franchise Association HSBC Franchisor of the Year.

The national network of offices, including an expanding base in Rotherham, specialise in the provision of non-medical care to the elderly. The company has been named as the British Franchise Association HSBC Franchisor of the Year and collected the Gold award at a glittering awards ceremony in London.

Home Instead Senior Care provides affordable non-medical home care services to older people including companionship, home help, personal care and other domiciliary care. Its home care service enables older people to remain independent and avoid residential care homes.

Home Instead was recognised for business growth, the Rotherham office is one of 141 offices located across the country, and for the work it has done campaigning for better standards in the elderly care sector and working to directly influence and shape the way care is delivered.

David Coldrick, managing director of Home Instead Senior Care in Rotherham, said: "The work we do locally brings peace of mind to our clients and their families and it is hugely satisfying to receive national recognition for the work we do.

"We are thrilled to be part of such a successful and award winning company. The award bears testament to the excellent work we do with our clients."

"Our caregivers deliver exceptional quality of care and are totally dedicated, I would like to think that this award is in a large part down to their efforts."

Home Instead Senior Care was set up in the UK in 2006 and the Rotherham office opened in early 2012.

The company has created 36 jobs in the local area to date and is looking to recruit 50 caregivers in the coming 12 months.

Home Instead Senior Care website

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News: Work underway at Wharncliffe

Work is well underway to transform the Wharncliffe, the student run restaurant at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology's (RCAT's) town centre campus.

Part of a £2.4m scheme, boosted by a £800K grant from the Skills Funding Agency, is to develop its Catering and Hospitality Department including a new exterior and refurbished interior of the restaurant.

Art and Design students were invited to present their ideas for both the exterior and interior to college governors and the project design team. Concepts from the presentations are to be included into the final design of the restaurant.

Richard Lyon, Curriculum Leader in Art and Design said: "The Wharncliffe Restaurant project has given the learners on the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design an opportunity to work on a live brief and gain experience in working with clients."

The group received valuable feedback from the architect at Cordonier who critiqued their work offering guidance and suggestions. It was particularly useful for the learners to gain an insight into some of the factors that would be considered in an industry level brief such as sustainability, security and costing of materials. Overall, involvement in the brief has had a positive impact on the learners developing their skills, knowledge and confidence.

Gill Alton, Principal and Chief Executive of Rotherham College, said: "This live project was a great opportunity for students to showcase their talents and work alongside industry experts. The quality of work the students produced was exceptional and we will be putting some of their ideas in to the final design."

The redevelopment will create a new restaurant all on one level allowing more flexibility for bar, restaurant, coffee bar, banqueting and conference type uses. Behind the scenes, all the kitchens will be enhanced with additional industry standard equipment.

Work on the redevelopment of the Wharncliffe will continue throughout the summer and aims to be complete in the autumn term.

RCAT website

Images: RCAT

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News: Rolls-Royce profits from engine demand

World-renowned engineers, Rolls-Royce, announced that it is close to completing its turbine blade facility in Rotherham as it reported a 34% rise in profits.

In its financial results for the first half of 2013, the group reported that it had increased its order book by 15%, underlying revenue by 27% and underlying profit by 34%.

Underlying profit before tax was £840m and included an increase by 59% to £486m from the civil aerospace sector. In June, Rolls-Royce increased its order book and confirmed plans for its most advanced Trent 1000 civil engine at the Paris Air Show.

During the first half of the year the group saw new orders of £10.9 billion in civil aerospace as the order book increased by 14%. In Paris significant new orders and agreements were announced for engines and services with a number of customers including Philippine Airlines, Air France-KLM, and United Airlines.

The group anticipates modest growth in revenue and strong growth in profit in the sector for the rest of 2013.

Other highlights in the financial period included the successful maiden flight of the Airbus A350 XWB, powered by the world's most fuel-efficient engine, the Trent XWB. Major orders for the Trent XWB have been placed by United Airlines, Air France-KLM and SriLankan Airlines, while the market leading Trent 700 was selected by Philippine Airlines, Oman Air and Sri Lankan Airlines to power Airbus A330 aircraft.

John Rishton, chief executive of Rolls-Royce, said that "the whole organisation was excited by the first flight of the Airbus A350 powered by our Trent XWB engines and we made good progress on our customer initiatives."

The new Rotherham facility is currently under construction on the Advanced Manufacturing Park. The Advanced Blade Casting Facility will produce single crystal turbine blades, which play a critical role in jet engines and are required to withstand centrifugal loads of up to ten tonnes while operating at up to 200 degrees above the melting point of their alloy.

There are over 65 turbine blades in every iconic Trent engine and the 14,900 sq m facility will be capable of manufacturing 100,000 blades per year when it becomes fully operational in 2014.

Despite the impressive leap in profits, Rolls-Royce actually posted a loss of £358m after taking into account changes to finance costs and taxes.

John Rishton, added: "While underlying profits were up 34% ... it is clear we have a lot more to do on cost (and cash). Fortunately we have significant opportunities to improve both, but this will take time and firm resolve to deliver.

"We maintain our full year guidance for the Group."

Rolls-Royce website

Images: BAM Construction / twitter

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News: £5m deal for Rotherham retail property

The Cascades Centre in Rotherham town centre has been acquired by international investment manager, Threadneedle, in a deal in the order of £5m.

The commercial property is in the prime shopping area on Howard Street and Frederick Street and occupiers include Argos, Superdrug and Poundland. It was developed in the 1980's by Taylor Woodrow on the site of former municipal offices.

It has a passing rent of around £590k.

Another investment fund, The Glanmore Property Fund Ltd, sold the centre and secured a net initial yield of circa 11%. It will now become part of Threadneedle's UK Property Trust, a £400m fund primarily made up of assets from commercial real estate in the UK.

Retail and leisure property consultants, ReesDenton acted for Threadneedle and CBRE acted for Glanmore.

Images: ReesDenton

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News: AESSEAL shortlisted for Private Business Award

Award-winning Rotherham manufacturer, AESSEAL, has been shortlisted at the third annual Private Business Awards, the awards that celebrate the best in the private business sector and to underline its importance to the UK economy.

With global headquarters at Templeborough, AESSEAL is the world's fourth-largest designer and manufacturer of mechanical seals for a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

Its annual results for the year to December 31 2012 again reported growth in sales and profit, a record that extends over 30 consecutive years. Sales have continued to rise and it expects to achieve record sales of £151.7m in 2013.

AESSEAL is one of five firms hoping to be named Private Business of the Year at an event to be held at The Guildhall in London in September. The Private Business Awards are sponsored by PwC, in association with HSBC Private Bank and the event brings together entrepreneurs from every region of the UK.

Ruby Parmar, partner and leader of PwC's private business practice, said: "This year, we have had over 700 nominations and this figure has surpassed all of our expectations. We have faced a higher than ever quality of participants that has improved year-on-year, as well as an unprecedented number of entrants and nominations. On those two criteria alone, the judges were in agreement that it’s been the most challenging year ever to decide who will make it to the final.

"The shortlist contains recognisable names and brands alongside some less well known, but equally successful companies across the length and breadth of the UK. I look forward to sharing all of their stories and successes, and demonstrating the talent and innovation in the private business sector."

Charlie Hoffman, managing director of HSBC Private Bank (UK) Ltd, added: "A challenging economic environment often marks a period of transformation for the UK business landscape and acts as a catalyst for growth for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Private business deserves a bigger voice in the UK as a successful generator of new business opportunities. We need to celebrate and showcase the sector’s innovation, optimism and success and these awards are unique in the UK as the only national awards to do this."

Backed by international investor, 3i, AES Engineering Ltd employs more than 1,600 people worldwide, of whom nearly 600 are in the UK and Ireland and more than 330 in Rotherham.

With a focus on quality, the manufacturer has won numerous awards including 12 Queen's Awards to date.

AESSEAL website

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News: Willmott Dixon Partnerships celebrates first year of support for Dr Ted’s

Willmott Dixon Partnerships has celebrated a year of support for the Rotherham Hospital Charity, at Dr Ted's Dinner Dance.

The repairs and maintenance company sponsored the fundraising event at The Holiday Inn, Rotherham, and helped Dr Ted's Charity Appeal to raise over £7,500 towards two new ventilation unit for the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Rotherham Hospital.

Willmott Dixon works with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to deliver a repairs and maintenance service to 10,500 homes in the areas of Wentworth South, Wentworth Valley, Rother Valley West and Rother Valley South.

Over the last 12 months, it has completed a number of projects to help improve the SCBU, including transforming some outdated spaces within the unit to create a new Parents' Suite for young patients and their families.

Staff from the company's Rotherham branch will also be returning to the ward in July to carry out further works to the bathrooms, and create a new meeting and education room.

Leigh Garbutt, regional customer and community manager at Willmott Dixon, said: "We were really happy to support Dr Ted's Dinner Dance. All the staff who attended had a wonderful evening and it was the perfect way to celebrate our ongoing relationship with Rotherham Hospital Charity and the SBCU.

"As a company, Willmott Dixon are committed to helping develop the SBCU. It's important that families of the babies being cared for here have an environment in which they feel comfortable, and we hope that our work will go some way to helping them during a difficult time."

Tracy Williams, charity development officer at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust said: "We're so grateful for everything that Willmott Dixon have done to support us over the last year. Their contribution to Dr Ted's dinner dance really helped to make the evening a great success. The money we have raised will make a significant contribution to our fundraising target for the new ventilation unit, and help us to care for our patients and their families in the best possible way."

Mick Williamson, managing director of Willmott Dixon Partnerships, added: "This is very much part of our ethos called Transforming Communities, which is about how we can make a real, positive difference to the lives of people living locally.

"We want to play an active part in delivering initiatives that leave real legacy and recently wrote a report, called Transforming Communities, to share ideas and help organisations deliver sustainable growth to help communities through these current austere times."

NHS The Rotherham Foundation Trust website
Willmott Dixon website

Images: Willmott Dixon

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News: S3 ID acquired by CSE Global in £7.65m deal

Singapore listed CSE Global has acquired 75% of S3 ID, the Rotherham-based provider of cutting edge location awareness solutions.

S3 ID has developed a range of specialist hardware and software products that provide real-time personnel location awareness, mustering and access control. They are used in working environments where a major incident would be catastrophic such as oil, gas and petrochemical plants.

Originally formed in 2008, the major exporter recently expanded into new premises in Templeborough where it employs 35 staff. Customers for S3 ID products include Statoil, Shell, BP, Eni and Conoco Philips and the company reported profits of just over £1m for the year ended December 2012.

CSE Global Limited (CSE) is an international technology group listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. With over 1,800 employees worldwide, it provides integrated solutions to industries in the automation, telecommunications, healthcare and environmental sectors.

Through its subsidiary, CSE One Pte. Ltd, CSE has acquired 75% of S3 ID from Derek Gennard, the CEO of S3 ID, Finance Yorkshire, Cybline AS and several smaller shareholders in a deal worth £7.65m.

As part of the deal, CSE has an option on the remaining 25% of the issued share capital. Assuming a minimum target is achieved by S3 ID over the next three years, CSE will be obliged to pay an amount of £6.125m for the 25% share.

The acquisition of the specialist firm will enable CSE to increase products and services offered to the oil and gas industry.

S3 ID was the first investment completed by Finance Yorkshire's Equity Linked Fund in January 2011 and the sale represents the first exit for the provider of seedcorn, loan and equity linked investments. It has made an aggregate return of £3.4m from an original investment of £1.6m.

Ian Brown, portfolio director at Finance Yorkshire, said: "S3 ID is a fast growing company which has genuine prospects for further growth. We are pleased that Finance Yorkshire has been able to assist the business over the last three years and there is a realistic prospect this Yorkshire business can continue to grow and become a major player in the oil and gas sector.

"The business was in need of additional working capital to fund the size of projects it is now involved with and to support future growth on a world-wide scale. CSE Global has the sector expertise and the sufficient financial backing to provide the funding needed to achieve that ambition."

Derek Gennard, CEO of S3 ID, added: "The Finance Yorkshire team worked hard with us in the early days and their advice and investment was a key factor in our success. We have created nearly 30 permanent jobs in the South Yorkshire region as a direct result."

Eversheds in Nottingham, led by M&A partner Antony Walsh, advised on the sale of the company. Hill Dickinson in Sheffield, led by partner Paul King, advised CSE.

S3 ID website
Finance Yorkshire website

Images: Finance Yorkshire

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News: Further £7m to unlock business investment in the city region

The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been conditionally awarded £7m from the Government's Regional Growth Fund (RGF) to support modern manufacturing and technology companies to create jobs in the Sheffield City Region.

The RGF is the government's main source of funding for economic development and regeneration and the latest bid is a follow up to the successful £25m bid secured in round three of the fund.

The LEP had bid for another £25m to to "top-up" the existing "Unlocking Business Investment" programme, which was over-subscribed and already on track to create approximately 2,000 sustainable, private sector jobs.

So far, ten local businesses have had their projects formally approved to receive over £4m from the LEP's RGF programme. These ten businesses will create 279 new jobs in the Sheffield City Region.

50 local projects are hoping to secure funding and the LEP hopes that the extra funding can be used to create over 500 additional new jobs.

David Grey MBE, board member of the LEP and RGF Steering Group lead, said: "It is excellent news that the Government has given our RGF programme this funding boost. This will enable our programme to be extended to grow more businesses and create further jobs.

"The Sheffield City Region bid competitively to receive £25m from Round 3 of the Regional Growth Fund. This extra money from Round 4 brings our total funding to £32m and the combined amounts will enable us to unlock over £125m of private sector investment.

"Access to RGF funding is allowing businesses to bring forward expansion plans that may not have happened in these uncertain times."

Sheffield City Region website

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News: United Carpets report pre-tax profits

Operating from a core portfolio of stores has seen Rotherham-based United Carpets, the UK's largest franchised carpet retailer, return to profit, despite a fall in like for like sales.

In August 2012, the Bramley-based group had its shares temporarily suspended after admitting it would not be able to publish its full-year results on time. In October, a pre-pack administration deal saw United Carpets Group acquire the business and assets of its trading subsidiary United Carpets (Northern) Limited.

The firm was readmitted to the AIM stock exchange earlier this year after delivering its delayed final results for the period ended October 5 2012.

Announcing its preliminary results for the six month period ended March 31 2013, United Carpets reported that revenue was £11.3m, compared to a nil figure for the 18 months ended October 5 2012 with like for like sales decreasing by 9.7%.

Profit before tax was £0.25m, compared to a loss of £0.72m in the previous 18 months.

As part of the restructuring, a review of the group's 85 stores took place following a significant proportion of its franchise network finding it difficult to operate satisfactorily in the challenging environment.

United Carpets believes that their franchise model is a critical advantage over more traditional retail networks as the business benefits from the entrepreneurial drive and motivation of the individual store owners.

The review saw the group reduce its store numbers, and this continued with eight further closures over the last six months. The group now operates 64 stores, primarily across Northern and Central England, 51 are franchises and ten corporate stores.

On the restructure, Peter Cowgill, chairman of United Carpets, said: "While the process is still ongoing, the board believes the long term impact will be beneficial as it will create a smaller, more resilient network of stores better able to trade successfully during what has been a prolonged downturn in market conditions."

Paul Eyre, chief executive of United Carpets, added: "These results show we are beginning to move in the right direction, we have reduced the size of the business in response to a very tough market environment and currently operate from 61 stores. This number may reduce further as we increasingly focus on our core portfolio of stores capable of operating successfully in this market. We are pleased to report a profit for the period and we hope to build on this going forward."

After coming through a particularly difficult period, the board gave its outlook on the future. Peter Cowgill, said: "Combined like for like sales performance has improved significantly for the 16 weeks since the period end but remains 2.9% down although Flooring like for like sales were positive prior to the recent fortnight of exceptionally hot weather.

"The group remains debt free, has reasonable cash reserves and stock levels and therefore can look forward with a degree of confidence that it can continue to make good progress in the current financial year on the basis it has established firmer foundations to meet the challenges of the current market environment."

United Carpets website

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News: Progress at AMRC Training Centre

Work on the AMRC Training Centre in Rotherham is gathering pace as the state-of-the-art facility gears up for opening later this year.

The AMRC Training Centre is a £20.5m centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham where the focus will be on 250 students aged from 16 upwards, taken on paid apprenticeships with opportunities to progress on to postgraduate courses.

The centre will focus on high-level training, concentrating on sectors such as aerospace, energy and Formula One. It will also host part time CPD courses with the training schedule guided by industrial partners and participating companies.

Sheffield Hallam University will deliver part-time BEng programme, while the University of Sheffield will deliver part-time MSc, MBA, Executive MBA and EngD programmes.

Barnsley College has recently secured a major contract at the AMRC Training Centre.

Contractor, Willmott Dixon, is making good progress on the construction of the 5,566 sq m centre that will include two large workshops of around 780 sq m each plus four floors accommodating preparation space, workshops, classrooms, offices, presentation rooms and a refectory.

Steve Walker, senior building engineer at Willmott Dixon, said: "It is a proud achievement to work with The University of Sheffield and the AMRC in what is the next step forward for engineering in South Yorkshire."

Orders are being placed for cutting edge machinery for the students to utilise, including a CNC Machining Centre for machining carbon fibre and metals, arc welding equipment and equipment for production line and maintenance training areas.

Key members of staff are also in place with Roger Davis-Green, head trainer and Richard Lawton, Gareth Wilkinson and Mick Fairman, the trainers, joining Alison Bettac, the centre's training director.

Grahame Ashcroft has joined as business development manager. He said: "The centre is a breath of fresh air within the educational sector as we are totally employer led which enables us to train apprentices and give them the tailored set of skills and hand on experience our employers require which will provide them with a sound foundation for a rewarding career within their chosen sector and enable their employers to always be competitive.

"I am part of an exciting new training team with a vision to make a young person's journey into adulthood and the working environment an exciting educational experience which alone is an honour to be part of."

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills awarded £9.2m from the Regional Growth Fund to establish the centre with the remainder coming from participating companies and other funding streams.

The centre is due to open in the Autumn and mechanical and electrical contractors, NG Bailey said recently that the building is due for completion in December 2013 in line with the apprentice enrolment dates.

AMRC Training Centre website

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News: Chamber business awards open for entries

Local businesses now have the opportunity to compete for recognition at the annual Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards ceremony taking place in the autumn.

The awards will acknowledge the achievements of the region's top firms in ten award categories - in addition to the much-coveted RBS Business of the Year trophy, which is chosen from the top performers in other categories.

The event, in association with Bull Information Systems, will attract hundreds of guests keen to recognise the region's businesses and challenge for prizes at Rotherham's Magna Centre on Friday October 18.

Businesses of any size and operating in all industry sectors that fulfil the criteria are encouraged to put themselves forward for one or more of the ten accolades.

Richard Stewart, service manager at Bull Information Systems and one of last year's winners, said: "The awards are the headline event of the business calendar within our region and provide businesses and individuals the opportunity to show exactly what makes Barnsley and Rotherham great!

"After enjoying significant wins at the 2012 awards ceremony, including winning the overall Business of the Year, Bull understands what a vital part in all of our businesses celebrating success plays, and for that reason I urge you to enter."

Entries are now being accepted in the following categories:

• The Source Most Promising Business Start-up Award
• The Begbies Traynor Business Growth Award
• The Rotherham Local Strategic Partnership Business Community Impact Award
• The Tata Steel Excellence in Manufacturing Award
• The Barnsley College Skills Development Award
• The Morrison Facility Services Innovation & Technology Award
• The Bull Information Systems Business Person of the Year Award
• The Solar Europa Environmental Business Award
• The ASD/Rotherham United FC Excellence in Export Award
• The Gala Tent Apprentice of the Year Award

Companies can also book on to a practical workshop on preparing and writing your entry being held at the Chamber's offices at Templeborough on August 7. The Chamber is also looking to acknowledge companies in Barnsley and Rotherham who are celebrating 50th, 75th or 100th anniversaries in 2013.

Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber website

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News: UKSE backs chiropractor with Kickstart grant

An enterprising young medical professional from Rotherham has seen his new chiropractic service really take off since after receiving financial help from UK Steel Enterprise's Kickstart Fund.

Thomas Lawrence (23) from Wickersley, who only graduated as a trained and qualified chiropractor last July, launched Goose Lane Chiropractic Clinic in February this year. The clinic is open two days a week as Thomas splits his time between an associate practice in Scunthorpe and his own in Rotherham.

Thomas received £500 from the Kickstart Fund which is designed to pay for essential equipment or services that applicants need to start trading.

Applicants to the Kickstart Fund can get support from Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RIDO) and Rotherham Youth Enterprise (RYE) to help them with business planning and mentoring through the early stages. UK Steel Enterprise has helped over 200 people start a business in Rotherham since 2009.

Thomas said: "I'd been thinking about setting up on my own for some time and when I realised there was an un-serviced market in the area I just went for it. The grant I got from UK Steel was really helpful as I used it to pay for advertising and without that I would not have attracted my 70 new clients.

"It's really exciting to see the practice taking off and at some point in the near future I will be looking to take someone on to help me as I am fully booked most weeks now."

UK Steel Enterprise is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Steel. Its Kickstart Fund provides grants of up to £500 to start-up businesses to purchase essential equipment and or services that can get them trading.

Keith Williams, regional manager for UK Steel Enterprise says Thomas is a case study in why The Kickstart Fund exists: "UK Steel Enterprise is all about supporting new and existing businesses so they can grow and create more employment opportunities. Thomas has a clear vision of where he wants to go, and we are pleased to see him enjoying so much early success; knowing that he is thinking about creating new jobs so soon is fantastic."

Jackie Frost, chief executive of RYE, added: "Thomas has made a promising start to his new business and we are pleased to have helped him in securing a grant to give it a real Kickstart. We hope that he will take advantage of the continued support offered by RYE to take his business to the next level."

Goose Lane Chiropractic Clinic website
UK Steel Enterprise website

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News: Paperbox expands and relocates

Just 18 months since wedding stationery supplies business, The Paperbox Ltd, became established as a business at Century Business Centre in Rotherham, the enterprise has expanded out of these premises and has relocated to North Yorkshire.

The Paperbox, owned by Ray and Jenny Calland-Scoble, has enjoyed phenomenal success in its first 18 months of trading, which has led to them deciding to relocate to much larger premises at Easingwold.

Ray, who was previously a printer for 25 years, spotted an opportunity to become a wholesale wedding stationery supplier and the couple invested in production equipment and started cutting, creasing and folding specialist card and paper to sell online to wholesalers, specialist wedding stationers and individual consumers.

In April 2012, Ray and Jenny began working with Martyn Benson, business development co-ordinator for RiDO. Martyn informed them about the ERDF-funded Growth and Prosperity in Rotherham (Soft Landing Zone) project, which is run by RiDO and helps Rotherham SME businesses to identify new overseas markets to help them expand further.

Martyn carried out research into export markets by investigating the potential market in Eire and RiDO assisted The Paperbox Ltd with registering an EU trademark, which was essential to be able to secure an Irish web domain name. The business grew rapidly with the majority of sales generated through the company's website and via eBay.

Ray Calland-Scoble, director of The Paperbox Ltd (pictured above, left), said: "The help we have had from RiDO was hugely important in helping us drive the business forward into new markets. The move to this strategic new location will enable us to take the business to the next level by focusing in detail on these markets and continue adding to our market share.

"We are sad to be saying goodbye to our friends and contacts in Rotherham, but we've had a great start to our business here and are grateful for all the support we've had."

The new premises features advanced temperature and humidity control systems, new processing machinery and the addition of high quality digital printing allowing the company to develop new products and explore new markets by expanding the European operation.

Martyn Benson, business development co-ordinator for RiDO (pictured above, right), said: "It is always sad to be losing such as excellent start-up business as The Paperbox, but we're really pleased to have been able to assist their growth in these important early days. We wish Ray and Jenny all the best for the future."

The Paperbox website
RiDO website

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News: TWI helps shipbuilding industry move towards friction stir welding revolution

Key representatives from the European shipbuilding sector visited Rotherham recently to learn about the ground-breaking progress in developing the friction stir welding (FSW) technique for steel.

The Welding Institute (TWI) is one of the world's foremost independent research and technology organisations and the Cambridge organisation has a Technology Centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham where experts provide technical support in joining and technologies such as material science, structural integrity, NDT, surfacing, electronic packaging and cutting.

Friction stir welding is a solid state welding process where no material exceeds it's melting point and was initially invented by TWI for welding aluminium. It has quickly become the process of choice for world-leading manufacturers such as Boeing, for the fabrication of strong, stiff, lightweight aluminium structures.

Through its involvement in the European research project, Project HILDA (High Integrity Low Distortion Assembly) the company is making further progress in developing the welding technique from the "softer" metals and using it for welding steel, bringing with it the technical and economic benefits of reduced distortion, enhanced weld strength and fatigue resistance, and making manufacturing safer and more environmentally friendly.

Up to 40% of the costs of building a ship are associated with correcting distortion of welded plates and so this new technique has the potential to introduce considerable cost savings during manufacture.

As part of the recent industry day project partners demonstrated a two metre-long friction stir weld in a six millimetre thick DH36 shipbuilding steel, a high tensile strength steel. Recent research carried out at the University of Strathclyde, one of the project partners, demonstrated the technical viability of friction stir welded shipbuilding steel components as the desired mechanical properties were attained with lower material distortion when compared to more traditional submerged arc welds.

TWI website

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News: MP continues fight for EU funding

Local politicians John Healey MP and Linda McAvan Euro MP have met with the European Commissioner for the Regions to discuss the government's proposals for the allocation of new European Union funding.

The government recently announced that the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (which includes South Yorkshire along with north Nottingham and north Derbyshire districts) can expect €203m for 2014 to 2020 as part of €6.2bn (£5.3bn) of EU Structural and Investment Funds to boost growth under a simplified "Growth Programme."

In the current settlement, South Yorkshire receives €410m. From 2014-2020 this will be cut to €180m.

The EU has granted "transition region" status to South Yorkshire based on its GDP which is 84% of the European regional average. Despite this, the government announced last month that it would be reallocating around 50% of South Yorkshire’s funding to regions such as Scotland which has a GDP of 107%, causing outrage and confusion across the region.

The chair of the Local Enterprise Partnership for the Sheffield City Region, James Newman, joined John and Linda in Brussels to ask the Commissioner to look into the government's decision, and ask if the current proposals were fair.

Mr Healey, the MP for Wentworth and Dearne, said: "The Commissioner listened to all our concerns, promised to take a hard look at the government's plans for allocating this money within the UK and said he would raise our questions with the government before giving approval.

"What the UK government is doing breaks the policy, purpose and principles of EU funding, which is to help regions lagging behind with jobs and growth."

Commissioner Hahn confirmed that the government's proposals would be subject to approval from the Commission and that Ministers will have to justify their decision when they submit their final allocations for consideration.

European programmes such as the European Regional Development Fund have support projects in Rotherham such as The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), the redevelopment of Rotherham Railway Station, the award-winning enterprise education programme Rotherham Ready, and business support programmes for high growth companies and enterprising exporters.

Linda McAvan, MEP for Yorkshire and The Humber, said: "ERDF has been hugely beneficial for this region and for the government to deny South Yorkshire this funding now, at a time when jobs and living standards are being squeezed, is unnecessarily cruel."

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News: U-Explore out of administration

Rotherham education specialist, U-Explore, has been bought out of administration in a pre-pack deal.

U-Explore specialises in enabling schools to deliver reality based careers information, advice and guidance. Their U-Explore national school product is an innovative software solution which engages with young people through cutting edge media.

The platform has been cited by Ofsted as outstanding and has 275,000 users throughout the country.

The company founder and CEO, Andy Pickles, is also the lead sponsor of Maltby Academy in Rotherham.

Begbies Traynor was appointed as administrators in June after the company began experiencing difficulties when the Government changed the statutory duty for career guidance from local authorities to individual schools, with funding withdrawn in September 2012.

A report by the administrators showed that U-Xplore Ltd's administration was brought by Santander who withdrew their banking facilities with the firm having an unpaid £141,000 debt to HMRC and eventually had unsecured creditors of £415,000.

Founder of the company and director, Andy Pickles, had been trying to find investment and buyers for the now loss-making company but was not helped by a dispute with fellow director, Allan Livesey.

Only one potential investor came forward, the MBL Group, who offered £125,000, a figure far short of the £2m they paid for just a 15% share in 2010, but negotiations fell away.

In May, the company vacated its Templeborough offices and employees were sent home. The company had defaulted on several contracts.

However, in June the company was saved in a pre-pack deal, with a newly-created company, U-Explore Limited, acquiring the intellectual property and contracts for £43,000.

The new company has directors of Matthew Reilly and Stephen Smith of the business communications specialist, Daisy Group, and Andy Pickles is to continue his involvement in the management of the new company.

Andy began his career at 16 in the music industry, where he started out as a sound engineer and progressed to become a successful music producer, DJ, record company boss and even 80s pop star with three number ones to his name as part of Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers. He developed the software business through Investors in Education, part of The Music Factory Entertainment Group and U-Xplore was established as a separate firm in 2008.

In 2009, the now called U-Explore moved into new offices at Templeborough, had doubled their workforce and grew their network three fold.

U-Explore website

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News: Major transport schemes in line for funding

The Waverley Link Road could be back on track after it was named as one of a number of important transport schemes set to be put forward for government funding.

Through the "City Deal" with Government, the Sheffield City Region became one of only four places in the UK to secure a ten year allocation of funding for transport and infrastructure projects.

The Local Transport Body (LTB) has now assessed a number of key projects on their likely impact on economic growth and jobs for the area.

Included on the list is a bid for £45m for improvements around the important Waverley site in Rotherham including the Waverley Link Road, the widening of the Parkway to dual 3-lane and other community and green infrastructures and utility services to accelerate the delivery of the mixed use site.

On the site of the former Orgreave colliery, Harworth Estates is progressing the biggest brownfield site development in South Yorkshire, covering 741 acres, an area bigger than Sheffield city centre.

Over a development phase of 20 years, the site will see the establishment of a new community of around 4,000 homes, shops, restaurants, schools, leisure facilities, health and community centres and parks.

It also includes the Advanced Manufacturing Park and large areas of the region's Enterprise Zone.

The £8.57m Waverley Link Road was to be a 1.2 mile long single-carriageway joining Retford Road and Highfield Lane, but government funding was denied after the Woodhouse Mill Recreation Ground, which is owned by Sheffield Council, was dedicated as a "Queen Elizabeth II Field" and will be managed as a recreation ground / playing field for continued public benefit.

Also back in line for funding is the Southern Route of the Bus Rapid Transit scheme involving a high-frequency, limited stop service with new state-of-the-art vehicles that aimed to run from Sheffield city centre, along the Parkway to the proposed new development at Waverley and onto Rotherham Interchange. It is part of a shortlisted bid for £58m.

Other Rotherham projects include a scheme to increase road capacity in Parkgate, opening land at Parkgate Shopping with the potential for a park and ride facility at the new tram-train station. Further testing is needed to assess the scheme's potential impact.

Rotherham projects put forward focused on improving infrastructure in Maltby and the town centre have not made the list.

The analysis shows that, if the LTB were able to invest in all 19 schemes, the combined projects could boost the economy by between 5 and 7 billion pounds.

The list will be submitted to Government's Department for Transport later this month, and it will help the LTB to decide how best to invest local transport and infrastructure funds over the next ten years.

James Newman, chairman of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and LTB Board member, said: "Local leaders are working together to make sure that we make the most effective investment decisions for the Sheffield City Region.

"The Government recognises that local decisions are better made by local leaders – who have a better idea about what is needed to stimulate economic growth and create sustainable jobs."

Sheffield City Region website

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News: Solicitor's warning over equal pay ruling

A recent legal case for equal pay could impact on small businesses according to Rotherham solicitors Oxley & Coward.

The case in question involved 251 classroom and nursery assistants comparing their terms of employment with male manual workers (refuse collectors and groundsmen). The men were paid substantial bonuses on top of their basic pay and the women claimed paying such bonuses to men doing jobs of 'equal value' was discriminatory.

When the case reached the Supreme Court, the judges ruled the tribunal's approach was exactly right and that whether or not it was feasible for the men to work in the same workplace as the women was irrelevant.

Having won the right to compare themselves with their male counterparts at other sites, the way is now open for the women to establish their work was of 'equal value' to those men they chose to compare themselves with. While another triumph for equal pay, the ruling could well impact on pay settlements in other sectors - with small businesses the most vulnerable.

Amy Cusworth, employment law specialist at Oxley & Coward, said: "The decision should be seen as a warning for all businesses to take a long hard look at their attitude to pay. Clearly it is now going to be a dangerous approach to favour one employee over another, thinking such things are private, when as this case shows, the reality is they rarely are.

"Having a pay policy that withstands transparency is going to be the safest route for the future. If the policy you have fails this test, then now might be the right time to start reviewing your approach to equal pay."

Oxley & Coward website

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News: Full demolition of Guest & Chrimes planned

Rotherham United is drawing up a planning application for the full demolition of the former Guest & Chrimes foundry, citing a lack of interest in developing the previous scheme and rising costs of remedial work.

The Grade II listed buildings of the former iron and brass foundry sit on the edge of the town centre, between the club's £20m New York Stadium and the council's new offices on Main Street.

They have remained empty since the foundry closed in 1999 and little interest has been shown in them since 2004 when plans for a Tesco development on the site were refused following an appeal.

RU Estates Ltd, the owners of the buildings and the company set up to develop the stadium, submitted original plans in March 2012 to ask for consent to demolish the three rear buildings previously used for manufacturing (pictured, below), in a bid to protect the building's historic frontage (pictured, above).

English Heritage responded to the application with an objection, stating that there was insufficient justification for the partial demolition application to be approved, and asked for updated historical information and a more comprehensive marketing exercise to potential developers. A detailed historic building assessment was submitted and Rotherham experts, Burgess Commercial has been marketing the 70,073 sq ft buildings for six months.

Roger Wools, heritage consultant for the applicants, has now provided an update on the situation: "A series of meetings with the Local Authority and English Heritage took place during 2012 but the application has not been determined. English Heritage's stance with regard to the partial demolition application was not modified in the light of the further additional information.

"The current application for full demolition has arisen because of the disappointing results of the marketing exercise and of the rising costs of remedial work to the residual parts of the listed structure following partial demolition. The applicant puts forward the case that there is a lack of viability for refurbishment of even a reduced listed building. This context it is argued is also unlikely to change significantly within the foreseeable future.

"RU Estates concludes that there is no realistic proposition that a developer will come forward in the medium term to refurbish and convert even a residual part of the factory complex. The owners therefore are applying for full demolition of the listed structures."

The completion of the stadium and related flood protection works should have enhanced the viability of the listed building either as a complete structure or as a reduced building, but this has not been the case. Consultants, Gleeds, estimate that it would take an investment of £8.8m just to bring the current property up to a marketable condition.

The applicants admit that there is some architectural and historic interest in the buildings so in order to secure planning permission they must show that there is no "appreciable commercial interest in its retention or that there is no evidence of a viable scheme for its reuse."

The expert reports conclude that the frontage buildings are of some architectural interest, although they have been significantly altered, and that the rear manufacturing ranges are of lesser architectural interest which without the frontage buildings, would be considered to be of no architectural interest.

They also conclude that they have some historical interest to the development of Rotherham and that this be further recorded if development is permitted. As part of any replacement development some display material is recommended for the site to enable the public to be aware of this tradition.

The important industrial firm established a manufacturing operation near to Rotherham's Market Place in 1843 with the Chrimes brothers, Peter and Edward, setting up a brass foundry where they invented and produced the high-pressure loose valve screw-down tap.

The firm rapidly expanded into sluice valves, fire hydrants and water meters and John Guest joined the firm in 1847. Following a very large order from Spain, the company moved to the present site in 1857.

Burgess Commercial website

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News: BP cadets at Brinsworth Academy of Engineering

Leading engineering and manufacturing training provider, Brinsworth Academy of Engineering recently played host to 11 cadet trainee officers from BP Maritime Services as they attended a bespoke two-week engineering course in Rotherham.

BP Maritime Services, based in Singapore, runs the BP's international fleet of oil tankers and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) carriers and employs around 1,000 seafarers worldwide.

With training premises at Templeborough, Brinsworth Academy of Engineering offers bespoke courses to meet the needs of the employer or the individual and training can be delivered on or off site.

The course saw trainees using a range of precision hand fitting skills to produce high quality work pieces in line with standards set by BP. In addition, torque training was provided to gain the skills to meet the requirements of the tightening of specific fasteners in the oil industry. The trainees also covered the correct use of abrasive wheels, learning about the safety standards for a range of portable tools used for grinding -  an essential skill used when on board ship.

The cadet trainee officers are training to become either deck or engineering officers. As a deck officer they will be part of the team responsible for the navigation of the ship and care of the cargo, whereas an engineering officer is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the ship's equipment.

The course was account managed by Vickey Knight, account manager at Brinsworth Academy of Engineering. She said: "The trainee officers were all aged between 18 and 24, with two of the trainees coming from Poland having previously studied at Warsash Maritime Academy and Gdynia Maritime Academy, Poland. The remaining trainees had previously studied with Blackpool & Fylde College at their Fleetwood Nautical Campus. We worked hard with the management team at BP and we are delighted that we were able to assist them with this bespoke package."

The course was supported by BP's Maritime Services general manager, Mark Fortnum who also flew in from Singapore to check on progress of the trainees. 

The course was tailor made for BP and ensured the skill level of all of the participants from across the group was to the expected company standards.

Paul Reeves, business development director at Brinsworth Academy of Engineering, said: "Working with BP is a major coup for Brinsworth Academy of Engineering, for us to be able to provide crucial training to these Trainee Officers who will be fulfilling vital highly skilled engineering roles is a great accolade.  Following the success of this course we are looking forward to building on the content to assist future trainees from BP."

Brinsworth Academy of Engineering website

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News: LSM presented with Queen's Award for Enterprise

David Moody, the Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, has formally presented Rotherham's London & Scandinavian Metallurgical Co Limited (LSM) with their Queen's Awards for Enterprise.

Founded in 1938, LSM is a highly successful manufacturer of high specification metals and alloys and an acknowledged global leader in sustainable metal and powder technology.

In securing the UK's highest accolade for business success, LSM showed outstanding achievement resulting in substantial growth in exports, sustained over three years or more, with a commitment to product innovation, quality, customer service and employee relations.

The Lord Lieutenant, the British monarch's personal representative for the region, was given a tour of the Canklow plant followed by an official ceremony in the boardroom attended by 35 LSM employees ranging from directors to process operators. A scroll was presented to Derek Cogill, a process operator who has been with the company for 39 years and worked in several business units. A symbolic crystal bowl was presented to Pam Shaw, LSM's export manager who has worked at the company for 14 years and is in charge of the shipping function.

Now part of AMG Superalloys, the LSM group operates on a worldwide basis with its Head Office and manufacturing plant in Rotherham. LSM exports over 85% of its specialised products for the steel, aerospace, superalloys, hard facing, welding and glass industries. It has a state of the art purpose built laboratory equipped with the latest analytical equipment and accredited to UKAS and Quality Management Standards.

Exports account for 87% of turnover and have grown over 50% in the last three years with growth in mature and new markets including the USA, India, Sweden, Belgium, Turkey and Canada.

LSM conducts extensive research on its markets and new exporting opportunities with market share information in each subsector well developed, including those areas where there is no standard information. A variety of routes to market are used including direct with the customer, through agents and through exclusive distributors.

The award is a fitting way to celebrates the firm's 75th anniversary year.

LSM website

Images: LSM

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News: Public consultation on the proposed HS2 route

Public consultation has begun on the proposed route of the £50 billion high speed rail project.

By 2033, the South Yorkshire station at Meadowhall (pictured, above), just three miles from the centre of Rotherham, will be on the proposed route from London to Leeds via Birmingham and the East Midlands. With trains travelling at speeds of up to 250 mph, and each with up to 1,100 seats per train, passengers will be able to get from Leeds in 17 minutes, Birmingham in 38 minutes and from London in one hour and nine minutes.

Five trains per hour are expected to Leeds, three trains per hour to Birmingham and three trains per hour to London.

The public are now being asked for their thoughts on the proposed route, station locations and the exceptional hardship scheme, designed to assist owner-occupiers of residential, agricultural, and small business property, affected by the plans. Previous analysis showed that Rotherham settlements "at which, or in the vicinity of which, a relatively higher risk of noise impacts have been identified" are Swallownest, Treeton, Catcliffe and Thorpe Hesley.

The preferred route to Meadowhall enters Rotherham at Killamarsh following the line of the disused Chesterfield Canal. At the Rother Valley Country Park, it is set to pass between the park and the suburb of Beighton between the existing rail corridor and the embankment of the redundant rail corridor on the Sheffield / Rotherham border. The design speed would fall to 224 mph in order to minimise impacts on the park.

An 850 metre viaduct would take the line across Sheffield Road at Fence and the River Rother flood plain. A further 2.2km long viaduct, eight to ten metres above the valley floor, would then take the route through the £100m Waverley development site before entering a 22 metre deep cutting to pass beneath the Parkway at the site of the Morisson's supermarket at Catcliffe.

Through part of the Sheffield Business Park at the former airport, the route would emerge from the cutting and would then pass on an embankment along the site of the former Tinsley Marshalling Yards and through to Meadowhall. The route has been re-orientated to avoid impacting on Firth Rixson's nearby manufacturing site. (pictured, below)

HS2 is also expected to support the creation of around 5,000 jobs in the station development regeneration areas around Meadowhall and the Lower Don Valley.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, said: "HS2 will be a vital part of our infrastructure. This new high speed line will open up opportunities for this country that we have not seen in generations. Its scope to transform this country is enormous.

"HS2 provides a once in a generation opportunity to drive growth, generate jobs, develop skills and secure our country's future prosperity. We need to squeeze every possible benefit from this vital project, leaving no stone unturned."

Phase two consultation will run for six months and will be accompanied by a series of public information events from mid-October 2013 to early January 2014 where people will be able to review local information and speak directly with HS2 Ltd staff about the proposals. Responses to the consultation will play an important part in informing the decision on a final route, station and depot options by the end of 2014.

HS2 Ltd website

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News: Aldi check out Parkgate for new store

New plans show that global discount supermarket chain, Aldi is hoping to take the anchor unit at a proposed new retail development in Parkgate, Rotherham.

The land owner, Rotherham recycling experts, Ron Hull, has teamed up with Leeds-based developers, Gregory Projects to bring forward a potential retail development on the site of a former car showroom at Great Eastern Way.

An outline planning application, drawn up by architects, The Harris Partnership, has now been submitted that shows that Aldi is planning to occupy the 16,000 sq ft unit in the proposed development. Three further retail units are planned, two of 10,000 sq ft and one of 7,500 sq ft, with a 2,000 sq ft drive thru restaurant, potentially a KFC, also part of the scheme.

The proposed development would create an estimated 50 jobs.

The applicants are hoping to secure permission that would allow one of the three additional units to have unrestricted retail use and so could accommodate the sale of convenience goods and be occupied by a second discount food retailer, whilst the remaining two units would be restricted to non-food goods.

With budget operators like Aldi, Gregory Projects is hoping to fill the gap in the current provision created when the nearby Netto store was taken over by ASDA.

Germany-based Aldi announced last year that it is planning to invest £181m in the opening of 40 new stores by the end of 2013, taking its total number of UK stores to over 500. Recent openings in Rotherham include Manvers, Dinnington and Eastwood.

200 parking spaces are included in the plans for the vacant site and pedestrian linkages to Parkgate town centre are being considered.

Although a retail proposal outside of the main town centre goes against national planning policy guidelines, the applicants hope to secure permission due to the evidence base and the Council's emerging Core Strategy both identifying a need to enhance the comparison goods offer of Parkgate town/district centre, which is stated to be in need of regeneration and enhancement.

Analysis as part of the application indicates that the proposed development would have the biggest impact on the nearby ASDA and Farm Foods stores on Broad Street and the Morrissons store at Parkgate Shopping, in terms of drawing trade away from food retailers.

For non-food comparison goods, the analysis shows that trade is most likely to be drawn away from Parkgate Shopping with the level of impact on Rotherham town centre not amounting to a significant adverse impact.

Any adverse impact on Parkgate is considered to be off set by the improved retail offer and new parking provision created by the proposed development.

Gregory Projects website

Images: Gregory Projects / The Harris Partnership

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News: Rotherham tattoo artist looking for something more permanent

An enterprising Rotherham tattoo artist is being so successful in attracting new customers that she expects to open her studio full time in the near future.

Helene Mott from Dinnington started trading in March with the backing of a £500 grant from UK Steel Enterprise's Kickstart Fund. She used it to help buy equipment and pay the necessary insurance to help her open her new studio, which is a converted room at her home.

Applicants to the Kickstart Fund can get support from Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RIDO) and Rotherham Youth Enterprise to help them with business planning and mentoring through the early stages. UK Steel Enterprise has helped over 200 people start a business in Rotherham since 2009.

Former RCAT student, Helene, said: "Without the Kickstart funding I would still be using the equipment I had while doing my training, which was not really good enough for a professional set up. Having the right equipment has put me on a professional footing. I want to offer clients unique tattoos whenever possible, something individual and special to them and not necessarily straight from flash sheets or copycat internet images; so having the finest needles and tattoo machines really helps.

"I've always been interested in art and wanted to set up as a tattoo artist. I did my training and although I'm still working part-time I really believe it won't be long before I open the studio full time as I’m seeing more and more repeat business and new customers as people get to know about me."

UK Steel Enterprise is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Steel. Its Kickstart Fund provides grants of up to £500 to start-up businesses to purchase essential equipment and or services that can get them trading. Its main investment fund provides business finance in amounts from £25,000 up to £750,000 to companies in South Yorkshire and other areas affected by changes in the steel industry.

Keith Williams, regional manager for UK Steel Enterprise says Helene proves the point that it's possible to turn an interest into a prospering business: "Helene has a real passion for her work, which is essential in business. It's great to see young people like Helene setting up new businesses and we are keen to support others. We have just announced that further funding is available to help even more people like Helene and look forward to watching her business grow in the coming years."

Jackie Frost, chief executive of Rotherham Youth Enterprise, added: "Working with Helene to produce a business plan for the grant application it became clear that she has the right kind of qualifications and experience to make a real go of self-employment. We hope to support Helene over the next couple of years as she works to establish the business."

Simon Hamilton has recently been appointed managing director of UK Steel Enterprise, replacing Stuart Green who is retiring after many years with the company.

UK Steel Enterprise website

Images: UK Steel Enterprise

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