rotherham business news: April 2008

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

News: Rotherham United reveal preferred bidder

Tony Stewart has been revealed as the man leading the race to buy cash-strapped Rotherham United. The managing director of successful Rotherham business, ASD Lighting was chosen from a list of five candidates as the preferred choice of Millers administrator Jeremy Bleazard. The Millers are 10th in League Two despite their 10-point deduction. Stewart told BBC Radio Sheffield: "I look forward to the times ahead, it's going to be challenging but it is going to be fun. "I am confident there is a solution and optimistic there will be a future. Any company needs experience and knowledge and we are about being successful. "In my business I employ around one hundred and eighty workers in Rotherham and a lot of them are Rotherham United fans and they have been pretty suprised I can tell you." ASD's involvement in local football was established in 2007 when they agreed a sponsorship deal with Sheffield Wednesday for the naming rights to the famous Kop stand at Hillsborough.
ASD Lighting website

BBC Sport website

News: Latest Rotherham Renaissance newsletter

The Spring 2008 edition of the Rotherham Renaissance Update is available online. The newsletter provides updates on The Townscape Heritage Initiative, developments within the All Saints' Quarter nearing completion, the £14m flood alleviation scheme and new health and leisure facilities. The draft public realm strategy is also discussed, with people urged to have their say during the consultation which ends on May 23. The update is available from the new look Rotherham Renaissance website.
Rotherham Renaissance Update Spring 2008
Rotherham Renaissance website

News: Apprenticeships event for Rotherham businesses

More than 10,000 businesses have been invited to attend a series of briefing events on apprenticeships that organisers believe is the biggest ever in South Yorkshire. Businesses attending the reoadshows will get the chance to hear first hand from other employers about the benefits apprentices have delivered to their companies. They will also hear from the Learning and Skills Council about other help on offer. Business & Education South Yorkshire in association the Company of Cutlers' in Hallamshire, Doncaster Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, the Engineering Employers' Federation, the Federation of Small Businesses, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Sheffield Region Manufacturing Forum and South Yorkshire Female Entrepreneurs Network has organised the series of events that include special sector specific and women in business events. Business and Education South Yorkshire Chief Executive, Jackie Freeborn told The Sheffield Telegraph: "Businesses need qualified and skilled people in order to compete. Apprenticeships provide employers with the opportunity to get the right people, with the right skills and the right frame of mind to make a difference to business." The Dinnington Dental Practice employs 37 members of staff, eight of whom are apprentices; all of their managers and deputy managers began their careers as apprentices. Principal dentist Margaret Naylor says: "We believe that good training raises the standard of the service we offer our patients and increases the effectiveness of our workforce. Motivated and trained staff are more reliable, will take less sick leave and will be willing to take on more responsibility." The Rotherham roadshow will take place at The Phoenix Sports Club in Brinsworth on May 7.

Business & Education South Yorkshire website

Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber article

Sheffield Telegraph website

News: Student consultants come to the rescue

A team of sixth form students from Rotherham can now call themselves ‘consultants’ after helping a local organisation to overcome a business challenge. The ‘We are Legends’ team from Maltby Comprehensive School came top out of ten teams who took part in Consultancy Ltd, a project funded by Yorkshire Forward and Rotherham Ready. Forty students from Maltby Comprehensive School and Thomas Rotherham College, all working towards an NCFE Level 2 Award in Developing Enterprise Capabilities, took part in the project which involved coming up with solutions to ten ‘real’ challenges set by local businesses. The winning team were awarded top place after wowing a panel of judges with a software system they were asked to create to help with the recent merger of the Barnsley and Rotherham Chambers of Commerce. The Consultancy Ltd project was delivered by u-xplore – the education division of The Music Factory Entertainment Group. Jessica Lee, u-xplore project coordinator, said: “Consultancy Ltd has given students the opportunity to access the minds of successful business people and has helped them to develop their confidence in operating in various business situations.” Jackie Frost, Rotherham Ready project manager, said: “Through the Consultancy Ltd project we have seen innovative ideas coupled with thorough business strategy in order for the teams to solve these problems which are on our doorstep. Rotherham is sure to have a real driving force in the future generations of employment.” South Yorkshire businesses which took part in the project included Fitness First, Doncaster Dome, Macalloy, Rother FM, Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, Martek Marine and Lucorum.

Rotherham Ready website

u-explore website

Digital Yorkshire article

News: Rotherham experts help to lay the track for the world's longest guided busway

The construction of a guided busway on a disused Cambridgeshire railway called on designers at Rotherham firm Bennett Associates to come up with an innovate, flexible and efficient solution. Bennett Associates was contracted by Edmund Nuttall Limited for Cambridgeshire County Council to design a bespoke track laying solution that could overcome the problem of laying track through narrow railway bridges as well as having a minimal impact on the environment. A lightweight, compact system in the form of a gantry crane was developed that was productive, yet versatile enough to deal with the constraints of the limited track width and mixed ground conditions. "The design of the crane is completely unique, there is nothing else quite like this. We had to develop a bespoke solution to be able to overcome the difficult conditions presented by the project," said James Hill, Mechanical Design Engineer at Bennett Associates. "The biggest challenge was designing a crane that was lightweight enough to drive along the guideway without breaking it, yet strong enough to lift the 32 tonne concrete track segments," he added. When completed, the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway will be the longest guided busway in the world. It is estimated that 11,500 journeys a day will be made on the guideway.
Bennett Associates website

News: Rotherham the place to learn about cutting edge technology

NAMTEC is hosting their latest seminar at their Swinden House headquarters in Rotherham on May 14. Designed for manufacturers of machine knives, handcutting tools, cutlery and surgical instruments, the event will include presentations and demonstrations by leading researchers and practitioners in the specialist metallurgy field. The Technology of Cutting Edges Seminar will cover materials, heat treatment, sharpening and testing of cutting edges. The application of technologies such as advanced coatings, powder metallurgy, laser deposition and hardening will also be covered. NAMTEC is the National Centre for Metals Technology in the UK which leads on delivering research and technology development, knowledge transfer, and training to companies in the engineering and manufacturing industries.

News: Diplomas aiming to fill the skills gap

The Star highlights the new concept in qualifications set to be piloted in South Yorkshire next year. The new Diploma system is designed to bridge the gap between vocational qualifications and A levels, providing courses which combine practical skills and classroom learning with extensive work placements for 14- to 19-year-olds. Five Diploma courses come on stream from September, and Sheffield has been chosen to pilot four of them, more than any other authority in Yorkshire. And from the autumn of 2009, schools in Sheffield and Rotherham will also offer a further six subjects, with as many as 17 due to be available by 2013. The courses coming on stream are information and communication technology; creative and media; engineering; construction and the built environment; business, administration and finance; hair and beauty studies; hospitality; environmental and land-based studies; manufacturing and product design and society, health and development. Diplomas have been created with the support and expertise of a wide variety of leading employers who are willing to provide the hands-on work experience which is key to the whole concept. In Rotherham, six schools are working with Dearne Valley College and RCAT along side Morthyng Training and the Academy of Construction Trades to develop the construction and the built environment diploma. Large employers in the area including Henry Boot Construction, ROK, Connaught and Keepmoat are signed up to similar projects such as Construction JOBMatch.
The Star article

Monday, April 28, 2008

News: Dearne youngsters make £5 blossom

Since the Make £5 Blossom initiative was launched recently by Rotherham Ready, thousands of South Yorkshire pupils have been notching up profits with enterprises set up with a loan of £150 from local businesses. The South Yorkshire Times profiles the enterprises set up by pupils accross the Dearne Valley including Wath C of E Primary School, sponsored by steel firm Corus, selling framed photographs and bookmarks in conjunction with World Book Day. Teacher Rachel Parkin told the SY Times how the scheme is fantastic for pupils: "They learn skills making them more independent - skills for life which will be invaluable. Our project covered everything from basic ICT, printing and photography to sharing responsibilities, getting across the importance of advertising and sales. Just as importantly it links businesses with the school." In Rotherham more than 30 businesses have helped 2,289 pupils develop valuable enterprise skills through planning and developing their own businesses with the start up loans.

Rotherham Ready website

South Yorkshire Times article

News: Look beyond London, see Rotherham, urges British Chambers

In an article in The Independent on the British Chambers of Commerce Convention, the business group claim that one in four British companies has already begun to feel the effects of the credit crunch but that the economy was being much less seriously affected outside London. In his keynote speech to the BCC Convention, which opens today in Liverpool, the director general of the BCC, David Frost, is expected to stress these differences. "If you lived your life in London you would often be left with the impression that the economy was about to fall off a cliff – from my visits around the country I can assure you it is not," Mr Frost will say. "When I speak to them, be it in Aberdeen, Birmingham, St Helens or Rotherham, they not only inspire me with their success, but they tell me that whilst business is challenging they are doing well. They tell me that far too much attention is paid to what happens in the Square Mile and Canary Wharf and not the real economy outside. Perhaps this is a reflection of our national preoccupation with financial services."

Barnsley and Rotherham Chambers website

Independent article

News: Rotherham facility to play a crucial role for Dormer Tools

Engineering giant Dormer Tools has outlined how its new site at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham will help push the boundaries of tool development as it announced it will unveil a dozen new products to its extensive range in September. Nick Garner, managing director at Dormer Tools Ltd, said: "The research and development facility at our new site within the AMP will play such a crucial role to the future of the business. It will not only add new tools and showcase their development, but also provide a training platform for end-users on how to work with them." John O'Donoghue, General Manager at Dormer Tools, added: "It has been an extremely successful period for Dormer during the last few years. The company has really kicked on and the development at the AMP is in recognition of the potential of Dormer Tools. "We feel Dormer is now pushing back the boundaries in metal cutting, utilising local skills to ultimately increase product development."
Dormer Tools website
AMP website

Sheffield Telegraph article

Friday, April 25, 2008

News: Award for Rotherham's Martek Marine

Martek Marine's MariNOx emissions monitoring system has been presented with the Protection of the Marine and Atmospheric Environment award at the prestigious Seatrade Awards 2008. Simon Brown, Martek’s Director of Business Development collected the award from Guest of Honour, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and William Sember, President of ABS Europe.
Simon was joined at the event in London by Managing Director Paul Luen and Marketing Director Steve Coulson. Coulson said: “This award is a reflection of all the innovative thinking and many years of tireless hard work by the Martek crew to produce a truly remarkable system for the marine environment. I’m absolutely delighted!” Managing Director Paul Luen also said: The award caps a fantastic April for Martek during which we’ve also achieved record sales. AMAZING!!! The market for emissions monitoring is really reaching a tipping point now and the expansion of our business is proceeding at a phenomenal rate. We’ve already filled the space in our new factory and the planned phase II expansion is proceeding 12 months earlier than expected. "We’re looking forward to making a number of major new contract announcements in the near future to consolidate our position at the forefront of the marine emissions monitoring market.”
Martek website
Seatrade Awards website

News: Rotherham company starts a discount revolution

With fears of a credit crunch hitting people in the pocket, a Rotherham entrepreneur has started a national discount revolution. And he reckons it has already saved the public £30m. Mark Pearson started MarkCo Media a year ago and set up the UK’s biggest discount codes website, http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/ and http://www.couponcodes4u.com/. MarkCo has deals with hundreds of companies who provide it with discount codes in return for the extra business the Rotherham company supplies for them. “The companies are happy for us to have the codes because we generate so much more business for them,” said Tom Packer, head of web development. The company has around 2,500 codes for discounts on different sites – with a massive range of products on offer. From GAP to baby-care to DIY, the websites will have a code for it. MarkCo Media has been working out of Moorgate Crofts, one of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council’s specialist business centres for start-up and growing companies, for the past month. The company has been gradually increasing its internet-based trade with the help of business advisers from the council’s regeneration arm, Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO). “We’ve had some great advice from RiDO,” said Tom Packer. “They’ve helped us recruit five new members of staff so far and are always on hand to give advice and tips about the business. “And Moorgate Crofts has been a really good venue for us – it’s given us the opportunity to grow without adding in the costs that that would otherwise incur.”

My Voucher Codes website

Coupon Codes 4 U website

Moorgate Crofts website

News: Good year for Rotherham based DawMed

Rotherham based DawMed Systems Plc. said that the first half of the year has exceeded its expectations as substantially increased turnover helped the medical decontamination specialist recover from the disappointing results for last year. In reporting the results, DawMed were confident of a return to profit in 2008 due to a number of new contracts and the largest order book in the group's history. The confidence looks well founded and in a statement ahead of the company's AGM, Chairman Kevin Gilmore said he expects the resumption of a more normal level of NHS business, along with the company's amended strategy, to contribute towards continued success in the second half. The company has also announced that they have been appointed as exclusive distributor for Meiko bed pan washer machines in England, Scotland and Wales to accompany deals in Europe with Schulke & Mayr.
DawMed website
The Business article

Thursday, April 24, 2008

News: Award for Rotherham's ASD Lighting

Lighting manufacturer ASD Lighting of Rotherham, has been recognised at The Yorkshire Productivity Awards 2008, held at the Leeds Met Hotel this week. The awards recognised the significant steps being taken by manufacturing companies to improve their efficiency and competitiveness and ASD collected the award in the Best Newcomer (small company) category. Alistair Gladstone, General Manager at Yorkshire Productivity, commented: “It is encouraging to see the growing number of manufacturing companies embracing training so wholeheartedly and achieving major benefits. Many are now taking the lessons learned from the shop floor and applying them to make efficiency gains in their offices.” ASD have invested £5m in recent years expanding their premises on Barbot Hall Industrial Estate, creating more space to improve efficiency by better control and planned production.
ASD Lighting website

Yorkshire Productivity website

The Star article

News: Rotherham contact centre aims to plug skills gap

Learndirect Business is offering employers the chance to improve the skills of their workforce with the launch of a new NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) programme. NVQ training can provide benefits including increased employee competence and confidence, better organisational efficiency, greater productivity, and a lower staff turnover rate. They are also designed to be a flexible and practical way to ensure they meet the needs of business without disrupting the schedules of employees. Lisa Coggan from Rotherham-based Ventura, the UK’s largest customer management outsourcing company, said: “It is vital to our business that employees are well qualified, and having many of our staff learning through learndirect Business has made this easy.”

learndirect Business website

Ventura website

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

News: Rotherham stainless steel distributor bought by Outokumpu

Finnish international stainless steel company, Outokumpu has acquired the SoGePar Group, an Italian distributor of stainless steel, and with it the Rotherham service centre formerly known as Metalfin UK. Outokumpu will pay EUR 195m in cash and take on debt in the company in the amount of EUR 140m to buy SeGePar from its current owners, the Borromeo family. The SoGePar operations will eventually be integrated with Outokumpu's service centre network. The current SoGePar operational management will continue in their posts. Due to this acquisition Outokumpu's Stock & Processing capacity in Italy and the UK will be in excess of 240,000 tons. In total, with the SoGePar acquisition and the service centre investments announced recently, Outokumpu's global annual stock and processing capacity will increase from the current 300,000 tons to in excess of 740,000 tons by 2010. Metalfin UK was the largest independent stainless steel stockholder in UK and the Rotherham site is thought to employ around 100 people.

SeGePar website

Outokumpu website

News: Focus on Dinnington's AME

The Star Business focuses on AME Prototypes and AME Design of Carrera Court, Dinnington in Rotherham. The excellent feature highlights the advanced techniques used by AME in rapid prototyping such as laser technolgy and using advanced polymers and nylons. The design aspects of AME are also discussed with the company designing new products every day and boasting a group of people designing everything from perfume bottles to brush handles and automotive products. AME founder Ian Jones is proud of the skills of AME staff and the fact that most of its competitors are in London and the South East, telling The Star: "I don't think we shout about it as much as we should. Creative people can and do live in the north." The company has grown to an international group employing 40 staff, including graduate designers, skilled craftsmen and apprentices with clients in Malaysia, continental Europe and the UK, including Formula 1 teams, Dyson, Unilever, Hornby and Smith & Nephew. The group has also spun off its own award-winning creation, the Identicom name badge, into a company called Connexion2, also based at its new headquarters at Dinnington's Carrera Court business park.

The Star article

News: Starter Sparky course expands in Rotherham

The National Electrical Certification and Training Alliance (NECTA) has created a 10-week intensive programme for electricians using a £55,000 investment from the South Yorkshire Investment Fund (SYIF). NECTA has spent £120,000 to create two new training workshops at their Bradmarsh Business Park base in Rotherham with each capable of training eight students per course. Richard Roebuck, Group Financial Director at the Lowe Group, said: "With a major client like British Gas on board, NECTA has developed the new Domestic Electrician Course. We wanted to offer a more in-depth training programme which will provide not only the Part P certificate, but a number of City and Guilds recognised qualifications too, which will increase the competence of successful candidates to an acceptable level." NECTA, as part of the Lowe Group, is one of the country's leading electrical safety specialists, with a Group turnover of more than £15million. NECTA reviews and checks the electrical infrastructure of commercial buildings for insurance company AXA and their clients include BOC, Nestle and BMW.
NECTA website
SYIF website

Yorkshire Post article

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

News: Rotherham hosts latest SPY property forum

Spy, the forum for property professionals in South Yorkshire, is hosting their latest briefing at the ITC on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham tomorrow morning. The Pro-Sheffield event, "Empty Rates & Tax Implications" will include speakers Peter Kennan of Hawsons Chartered Accountants, and Guy Gilfillan of Lambert Smith Hampton, who will outline the tax implications of the changes to empty property rates and how they will affect South Yorkshire business. Mr Gilfillan said: “This is a subject I’m extremely passionate about. The increase to empty rates is one of the biggest issues facing the property development market at the moment, as well as the economic slowdown."

Pro-Sheffield website

News: Langtree launches further phase of speculative development in Rotherham

A high profile launch to Yorkshire industrial agents and dignitaries from across the region has recently been held to celebrate the completion of Langtree’s second phase of speculative development of Vector 31 in Rotherham. The second phase which forms part of a large industrial development, comprises 6 new industrial units totalling 8,500 sq m ranging in size from 945 to 1,900 sq m. Glyn Turner, Senior Development Manager at Langtree, said: “Our ongoing confidence to fulfil demand from the South Yorkshire market for high quality, flexible space to suit industrial occupiers which can incorporate office facilities as well as production and distribution has been demonstrated by the second phase of speculative development at Vector 31.” Councillor Allan Jackson, The Mayor of Rotherham, said: “This is an excellent addition to Rotherham’s attractions to business and proof of Langtree’s confidence in the borough as a business location. The council’s regeneration arm, Rotherham Investment & Development Office, has worked closely with Langtree here and on other developments to help create settings and conditions to attract companies and quality jobs to the borough.”
Vector 31 website
Yorkshire Post article

Monday, April 21, 2008

News: Plans for Rotherham college redevelopment taking shape

Plans for a redeveloped town centre campus for Rotherham College of Arts and Technology are well underway. The Rotherham project is likely to cost in the region of £65million and the college is seeking planning permission for an iconic and architecturally inspiring building set high above the town centre. The scheme involves the demolition of the Clifton and Eastwood Buildings and the closure of Morpeth Street to create a unified development to the Howard Building that is not included in the re-development proposals. The college has been working in association with architects Bond Bryan and property consultants GVA Grimley. College principal, George Trow said: “Our architects now have the task of creating a college building that meets the exacting demands for learning in the future and creates a building to inspire and to be proud of. “We have a body of staff with great expertise and knowledge and we are delighted to be in a position to provide the very latest facilities and resources to enable them to deliver first class learning opportunities in Rotherham”. Outline plans are expected to be submitted soon and the college hopes the campus will be fully operational in 2013/14.
RCAT website

News: Rotherham based Huthwaite International recognised with Queen's Awards for Enterprise

Huthwaite International of Wentworth, Rotherham, have been recognised nationally for their achievements in the annual Queen's Awards for Enterprise. The company specialises in consulting and training on all aspects of sales and have been recognised for their outstanding achievements in International Trade. Since 1974, Huthwaite have been studying behaviour in sales situations in real commercial settings, observing in excess of 35,000 sales calls, isolating the behavioural characteristics that lead to a successful sale. Huthwaite is established in more than 33 countries and their impressive list of clients include Dell, Bayer, Motorola, Sony, UPS and Zurich. Huthwaite join other Rotherham firms, AESSEAL and Martek Marine and RiDO's Amanda Parris as recipients of the awards.
Huthwaite International website
Queen's Award website
The Business Desk article

News: UK Coal pushes on with property plans

The doubling of world coal prices and the £415m property portfolio has helped UK Coal's pretax profit for 2007 go up 292% to £69m. Its property strategy of gaining planning permission for redevelopments at former coal mines as led to its portfolio valuation increasing to £411m with its land and property portfolio, Harworth Estates, estimated to be valued at £800m by 2012. David Jones, chairman of UK Coal, said: "In Harworth Estates, we have also delivered further good progress in both the current value of our portfolio and in its substantially greater estimated future value with the benefit of the planning permissions we are currently pursuing." Plans for the next stage of development for the former Orgreave mine at Waverley in Rotherham are expected to be submitted in June. UK Coal is also hoping to reopen its Harworth colliery near Doncaster, creating 400 new jobs and revitalising the area.

UK Coal website

The Business Desk article

Property Week article

Yorkshire Post article

News: How design increased sales for Rotherham firm

Rotherham-based energy efficiency company Energy Management Systems Ltd (EMS) have benefited from a Business Link scheme aimed at using design to boost business. Working with the Design Council and with funding from Yorkshire Forward, Business Link South Yorkshire launched the Design Works programme in January 2006 as the first of its kind in the country. EMS managing director Alex Mardapittas told The Star: "We've developed a new range of products that we wanted to market as effectively as our consultancy service, so we approached Design Works to help us with a rebrand. "As a result, sales have increased month on month and we've been able to recoup the design investment from interest generated by the website and brochure within just three months."
EMS website
The Star article

Thursday, April 17, 2008

News: Corus goes with Capgemini for £26m IT refresh

Steelmaker Corus has signed a £26 million agreement for Capgemini to refresh and manage its IT systems for the next five years. The deal involves moving the on-site existing IBM and Fujitsu mainframe services to Capgemini’s datacentres in Bristol and Rotherham as part of its bid to reduce mainframe running costs and improve service levels. Corus has already been using Capgemini for 10 years to manage its IT infrastructure, and the IT services firm will continue to support core process activities at the company’s main UK manufacturing sites including Rotherham. These processes include production, supply chain, stockholding, purchasing, sales ordering and invoicing activities. Capgemini will provide on shore service management using its UK staff, and will offshore operational management to Poland and technical support to India.
Computer World UK article

News: South Yorkshire firms urged to join the 3D TV revolution

Thanks to funding from the Objective 1 regeneration fund, LETS (Leading Edge Technologies) is able to offer free use of an advanced high definition 3DTV screen for up to 5 days to South Yorkshire businesses together with discounted unique 3DTV content production from just £995. The technology has allowed companies to wow potential customers at exhibitions and product promotions and through corporate communication environments and digital signage applications. LETS DKE website

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