rotherham business news: October 2008

Friday, October 31, 2008

News: Drop me off in Rotherham

Rotherham United Football Club has announced a campaign to bring the club and supporters back to their home town. The club has initiated "Drop Me Off in Rotherham" - an ongoing plan to unite the club, local businesses and the Rotherham community with the aim of RUFC rising from the ashes of administration and, within 4 seasons, playing in a brand new stadium in Rotherham. The first chapter of the campaign will be a tie-in between RUFC and local rock band, The Tivoli. RUFC will be playing their debut single, "Drop Me Off in Rotherham", at all home matches until Christmas. The song will be released by Shiva Records as a digital download on December 15th and The Tivoli have agreed to donate 50% of their royalties to RUFC's Drop Me Off In Rotherham Campaign fund. The Tivoli will be playing a special live set at Don Valley Stadium on Saturday December 13th before Kick Off at the RUFC v Aldershot match.

Rotherham United website

News: Rotherham business moves forward thanks to local investment

A forward-thinking business development company is moving ahead in the market place, thanks to a £25,000 investment. Developing Performance Partnership Ltd (Develop-U), based in Rotherham, received the loan from South Yorkshire Investment Fund (SYIF) to help them bring in more business and market their services more widely. Develop-U specialises in business improvement techniques, helping major national clients, such as Linpac Packaging and General Motors, to improve their operational systems. Sam Morris, Managing Director of Develop-U said: "The investment from SYIF has gone towards marketing Develop-U and our services more widely. As a result, we've recently secured major contracts to up-skill the workforces of three large employers; one in West Yorkshire, and two in the East of England. The numbers involved will create financial security for our business for the next four years." Andrew Chaffer, Business Director at SYIF said: "Develop-U is a pioneering company who deserve to flourish in the market place. SYIF are delighted to have played a part in helping them secure major contracts and we look forward to watching the company grow in the coming years."
Develop-U website
SYIF website

News: Fire affects UK bagel sales

A fire at the Rotherham plant of Maple Leaf Bakery led to lower bagel sales growth for the Canadian company's U.K. bakery business in the quarter up to September 30. The Swinton plant is Maple Leaf's principal UK plant and produces bagels under the New York Bakery Co. brand. The fire impacted sales and earnings and increased manufacturing costs as a new oven was commissioned. The company has received $6.5 million from insurers this year and expects to receive further insurance reimbursements in the fourth quarter of 2008 and in the first quarter of 2009. The company also announced that in a bid to reduce costs and improve operating efficiencies production from smaller UK facilities, primarily croissants and bagels, will be transferred to larger bakeries in Maidstone and Rotherham. The bakery employs around 1000 people in Swinton and has undergone expansion in recent years. The plan produces 70,000 bagels every hour.

New York Bagel Co website

News: Magna celebrates it’s 1.5 millionth visitor

Aimee Blake (6) recently came to Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham and was not expecting the balloon reception to announce Magna's 1.5 millionth visitor. Aimee's ticket was purchased by her dad, Robert, online using Magna's new online ticketing system which has recently been launched on http://www.visitmagna.co.uk/. In celebration, Magna awarded the landmark visitors with a family membership for four for one year. Magna is based inside the former Templeborough steel works and re-opened in April 2001. Visitor numbers exceeded the 300,000 first annual target in just six months. As well as being one of the region's top tourist destination, Magna is the venue for national events and awards.

News: Extra support for small firms in the UK from Europe

Britain's small and medium-sized enterprises stand to benefit from up to £4 billion in loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB) over the next four years the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, announced yesterday. Speaking at a seminar on supporting small business hosted by the City of London Corporation at the London Guildhall, Alistair Darling said: "Small firms are vital to the strength of our economy. We need to make sure that despite the global credit crunch, they have access to the loans and capital they need to help their businesses grow and develop. "I am delighted by this commitment from EIB and UK banks to get more finance to small firms, and to ensure the funding is more flexible and easier to access than in the past." Based on the UK's shareholding in the EIB, British small businesses should be able to benefit from around £4 billion of lending from the EIB between 2008 and 2011. As a first step towards this, UK banks have signalled their interest in securing around £1 billion a year from the EIB. Several UK institutions already take EIB loans to support their small business clients. They have now committed to discussing with the EIB the potential to draw further additional loans.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

News: National recognition for Martek

Rotherham company, Martek Marine, featured on the BBC News last week in a story which highlighted how the company were not only surviving in the current difficult financial situation but actually managing to thrive in spite of the global problems. Paul Luen, Martek’s managing director, spoke with regards to how the pound’s dramatic fall against the dollar had an effect on Martek’s exports. The report was aired on the 6 o’clock News, 9 o’clock News, News 24, as well as an audio version being played on Radio 4. You can see the report here:

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=guqMb06koYE

Martek Marine website
Rotherham

News: Macalloy show why they are world leaders

Dinnington based, Macalloy, has shown why they are world leaders in design, manufacture and supply of threaded bar and cable systems at an international construction trade show in Germany. Innovative Macalloy has developed business partnerships to provide consulting engineers and architects with threaded bar products that have been used in breathtaking projects around the world. From the City of Manchester Stadium and the debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament building, to the atrium of the Burj Al Arab Hotel and 15 stations along the Metro system in Dubai, all have been made possible by Macalloy's products. In November 2006 the company relocated their headquarters to a prestigious office and factory complex at Dinnington. The purpose built factory enabled the company to carry on supplying products worldwide and also enabled Macalloy to enter new markets.
Macalloy website

News: Rotherham Renaissance roadshows

Rotherham Renaissance is going on the road, taking the transformation message out to the people of the borough. And that means the public can discover, question – and challenge – all the issues involved. "It’s a chance for the people of the borough to grab us and ask us what it really means to them," said one of the key figures behind Renaissance, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council’s strategic director of Environment & Development Services, Karl Battersby. He is one of several senior people involved in Renaissance, from the council, Chamber of Commerce and other Renaissance partners, taking part in a series of roadshows over the coming months. Karl Battersby said: "It’s important that Rotherham people realise that this project is – quite literally – life changing, not only for adults today, but for their children and future generations. So it’s important we reach people. By us standing in supermarkets, country parks, leisure centres and other places, hopefully we’ll be making Renaissance information more accessible for people." The £2bn programme is well under way in the town centre and the Renaissance team wants to get across to people the reality of the changes. The first roadshow takes place at Wentworth Garden Centre this Sunday. See the Rotherham Renaissance website for further dates.
Rotherham Renaissance website

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

News: Solaglas Windowcare are clear winners

Solaglas Windowcare are celebrating success at the recent Rotherham Business Awards 2008. The Hellaby-based company received the Overall Award (sponsored by HSBC) and the Invest In Skills and Excellence In Business awards, and were runners-up in the Customer Service and Innovation In Business categories. Alan Martin, Sales Director of Overall Award winner Solaglas Windowcare, said: "It feels like we have won the World Cup – it was a wonderful evening for us. "This award gives recognition for all the hard work put in by everyone at Solaglas all over the UK to deliver excellence. There is nothing more important than teamwork. It is not about individuals but people doing their job, performing in the right way and being motivated. “It is an amazing achievement and a great way for us to mark our first year as members of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber." Ian Davy, managing director at Solaglas Windowcare said: "Being named the best business in the region where the majority of our employees live is a great achievement and testament to their skills and commitment. "We have made great strides over the past six years, grown the business and attracted major clients, so we are particularly pleased to walk away with this award, especially against such tough competition."

Chamber article

Solaglas website

News: Prototype Creative win entrepreneur award

Graphic designers Gavin Winder and Joshua Abbotts have been awarded the prestigious top prize in this year’s Rotherham Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2008. The pair’s hard work and determination to make their graphic and web design business Prototype Creative a success, so impressed judges that they had no hesitation in awarding them the title for 2008 – and £1,000 to invest in their company. Awards organiser and judge Geoff Link, enterprise manager at Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO) the council’s regeneration arm, said: "Gavin and Josh’s commitment to their business is unquestionable. Their work ethic sees no bounds, they’ve got bucketfuls of energy, loads of great ideas and on top of all of that - they’ve both got a good head for business. They’re only 26, but they seem to know where they’re going and how they’re going to get there - while having fun along the way. "I think we’ll see more of these two in the future. Their business has got a lot of potential." Gavin and Josh moved into a small office at RiDO-run Century Business Centre at Manvers with six months rent-free on a Youth Enterprise scheme. That was February last year. They now run their operation from the biggest office on the site and employ two staff, web developer Jason Smart and office manager Dorna Kelly, and are looking to take on another graphic designer soon. Gavin said: "We’d just like to thank everyone involved with this award, it’s a great addition to our empty awards cabinet. "We’d also like to thank all our clients, past and present who have continually supported us over the last 18 months, we are grateful that they believe our services are worth recognition. "Rotherham Youth Enterprise gave us a fantastic start in business life. The combined business knowledge of RiDO business advisers Martyn Benson and Darren McDool has been priceless. And we couldn’t have done it without our staff. Jason has taken a huge weight off Josh's shoulders, and Dorna’s organisation skills and financial dealings make our whole operation flow a great deal more smoothly."

Prototype Creative website
RiDO website

News: Capital investment develops enterprise skills in Rotherham

35 students from four Rotherham schools are reaping the rewards of a capital investment after visiting London to gain a better understanding of the risks and rewards associated with enterprise. The students from Wales High School, Wingfield Business and Enterprise College, and Maltby and Thrybergh Comprehensive Schools told teachers, parents and Rotherham council executives about the entrepreneurial skills they developed throughout Rotherham Ready’s innovative Enterprise Pathway programme. Students on the Pathway, funded by NESTA and Objective 1, completed a qualification in developing enterprise capabilities. The students took part in workshops, an enhanced work placement and a two-day residential to London to learn about important enterprise skills like communication, teamwork and being able to manage and take risks. In London, as well as visiting the Stock Exchange, the young entrepreneurs undertook a number of challenges including interviewing passers-by, speaking with local entrepreneurs and finding out about the inner workings of the Bank of England. Jackie Frost, Project Manager, for Rotherham Ready, said: "The Enterprise Pathway was a huge success and the skills that the students have developed as a result will help them appreciate how enterprise works and its associated risks, which is particularly poignant in the present climate. "Taking risks is all about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and throughout the Pathway programme the students have developed real confidence in their ability to do this. "The students have completed the Pathway and returned from London with new aspirations for the future."
Rotherham Ready website

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

News: Rotherham Business Award winners

A night of celebration at the annual Rotherham Business Awards saw Solaglas Windowcare crowned as the best of business in the town. The Hellaby-based company received the Overall Award (sponsored by HSBC) in front of over 500 guests at the Magna ceremony where compére Harry Gration revealed the successful businesses.

- The New Start Award (sponsored by RIDO) was won by Charlie’s Angels

- The Customer Service Award (sponsored by Corus) was won by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

- The Business Growth Award (sponsored by Business Link Yorkshire) was won by Northern Steel Decking Ltd

- The Invest in Skills Award (sponsored by The Junction) was won by Solaglas Windowcare

- The Business in Partnership with the Community Award (sponsored by Rotherham Partnership) was won by Rother FM

- The Excellence in Business Award (sponsored by First Group) was won by Solaglas Windowcare

- The Innovation in Business Award (sponsored by Sheffield Hallam University) was won by In Touch Care

- The Employee of the Year Award (sponsored by Morthying) was won by Linda Gleadhall of Oracle Training Consultants Ltd

- The Environmental Award (sponsored by ASD Lighting) was won by First Group

- The Young Entrepreneur Awards (supported by the Rotherham Enterprise Network and Yorkshire Forward – sponsored by UK Steel Enterprise) saw Gavin Winder and Joshua Abbotts of Prototype Creative win the Overall Award

- In the Salute To Business Awards, Sureguard were honoured for 25 years in business, B&B Press were spotlighted for 50 years trading in the town and the 150th anniversary of Garnett Dickinson, publishers of the Rotherham Advertiser, was celebrated.

Chamber article

News: Massarella starts refurbishment project thanks to £5m funding

Over the next 5 years Massarella Catering group will be refurbishing up to 50 of its House of Fraser Restaurants and coffee shops due to a £5m funding package recently agreed with GE Commercial Finance. Based at Thurcroft Hall in Rotherham, Massarella is already into the first year of this refurbishment programme, and has recently seen new restaurants open in Bristol & High Wycombe, within new House of Fraser Stores. The restaurant within House of Fraser, Meadowhall is scheduled to be refurbished in 2009. The company works with some of the leading names in British retail, including House of Fraser, TJ Hughes, Beales, TK Maxx & Wilkinsons. There are currently over 150 sites within the group. The business was founded in 1860 after Giovanni Massarella and his three brothers arrived and fell in love with South Yorkshire.
Massarella website

News: South Yorkshire businesses boosted by microloan partnership

Two of South Yorkshire's most successful enterprise funding organisations have joined forces to provide microloans to new start up and existing businesses in the region. The partnership between South Yorkshire Investment Fund (SYIF) and Donbac Ltd means small and medium sized enterprises across the region, which are unable to raise all or part of the finance they need from their bank have access to funds. The Donbac Microloan can provide new start up businesses or those trading for up to six months, with loans between £1,000 and £5,000. Businesses that have completed six months of trading are eligible for loans of up to £15,000. Similar to SYIF's partnership with the new BiG Business Loan Fund in Sheffield, the Donbac Microloan will target people across the rest of South Yorkshire who struggle to raise funds from banks because their venture is too early-stage or they may have experienced problems with poor credit history. Tony Goulbourn, chief executive of SYIF, said: "It is a significant step for small enterprises in South Yorkshire that they now have wider access to microloan funding to help them establish. "In the current climate, economic factors will impact upon small businesses' ability to get financial backing. The Donbac Microloan can provide a way around that. "Donbac is an organisation with rich tradition of successful investment and this partnership is another great opportunity for SYIF to support sustainable business growth and increase the success rate of locally-owned companies in the region." Angela Allison, executive director of Donbac, said: "The coming together of two large-scale secondary lenders can only be good news for the small businesses and entrepreneurs in South Yorkshire. "The credit crunch means it is a tough time for SMEs but this partnership puts us in a stronger position to continue supporting enterprise and regenerating the economy."
SYIF website

Monday, October 27, 2008

News: Women hail Bramall Construction as one of the top places to work

Rotherham based housing specialists, Bramall Construction, part of the Keepmoat group, is celebrating after being named as one of the top 50 employers of women in the UK. The organisation has been listed in this year’s Top 50 places Where Women Want to Work league, published by The Times. The league table confirms that Bramall provides the best working environment for women, while seeking to internally showcase their female talent in new and exciting ways. According to the list, Bramall has successfully proved itself in the following key areas; the opportunities that they provide women, having progressive, transparent cultures, an ability to celebrate diversity, an eagerness to embrace new technology to facilitate work-life balance and a commitment to being socially responsible. The firm is well ahead of the industry average in terms of female recruitment and attracting women to roles which have previously been male-dominated. Women comprise 18% of Bramall’s workforce including 64 females taking up front-line roles such as bricklaying, plastering and joinery. Cath Bradbury, New Business Development Manager for Bramall Construction, said: "The construction industry has to move into the 21st century by shedding its old sexist image and selling itself to women. We are working extremely hard to show that we are a modern, supportive employer with a host of exciting career opportunities on offer."

News: Art gallery celebrates entrepreneur's donation

Rotherham’s Art Gallery is celebrating the 100th anniversary of an important donation this year, which saw the foundations of the gallery’s vast and important artistic collection. Each year the curators of the award-nominated museums service produce an exhibition of artwork from their extensive collection, giving the public the opportunity to see some of the historic treasures they care for on the borough’s behalf. This year, the exhibition marks the centenary of a fascinating collection of paintings, donated in 1908 by entrepreneur Edward Nightingale. Nightingale (1829-1913) was an important local businessman with a love of art who had been involved with Rotherham’s Clifton Park Museum from its very beginning. When the museum first opened to the public in 1893, Nightingale was one of the first people to loan pieces of his collection of paintings for display. In 1908 he decided to donate 69 of his paintings to the museum “to form the nucleus of a really good and instructive series of art productions, which a town of such importance as Rotherham should possess”. Unfortunately, he died just five years after this donation. However, even in death the museum was close to his heart and in his will he left a further 12 paintings to the museum, bringing his total gift to 81. The Nightingale Exhibition is free to view and will be running from now until January in the Art Gallery, located in the Central Library and Arts Centre on Walker Place.

Rotherham Art Gallery website

News: Work finishes on Rotherham manufacturer’s US facility

Work has finished on a project to build a cutting edge facility in America for a Rotherham based manufacturer. South Yorkshire architects Race Cottam Associates were brought in by multi-award winning international manufacturer AESSEAL to produce design concepts for the 40,000 sq ft

US

production plant, incorporating offices and training areas. The practice was asked to come up with designs for the site in Knoxville, Tennessee having worked with AESSEAL over the last 12 years to design and help deliver the four phase expansion of the company’s Rotherham based Global Technology Centre. Plans for the project involved the conversion of a former cutlery works in a spectacular rural setting to create a clean environment for the manufacture of high-specification mechanical seals. Gordon Bridge, Director of AESSEAL said: “The designs for our new site in Knoxville are exceptional and complement our existing world class facilities.” AESSEAL, an international company, has subsidiaries in 30 countries, employing more than 1,000 people, and exporting 80 per cent of its production to 83 countries.

Aesseal website

Friday, October 24, 2008

News: Martek looking forward to Rotherham Business Awards

Martek Marine have been shortlisted for The Innovation in Business Award, sponsored by Sheffield Hallam University at the Rotherham Business Awards tonight. Martek have been shortlisted in part due to their market leading MariNOx system - an innovative and pioneering engine emissions monitoring system. Martek’s Service & Continuous Improvement Manager, Sean Howe and Service Engineer Tim Holt, are both due to attend the event which takes place at Magna where they expect tough competition from other local companies such as In Touch Care and Numero. Marketing Director Steve Coulson said: "Martek’s company ethos is innovating beyond compliance. Not only do we manufacture products to meet with legislation, but we strive to add value for our customers. Both our Bulksafe and MariNOx systems were manufactured with this in mind and Martek were the first company to provide Type Approval for these systems. Martek strive to provide solutions and systems for innovators in the industry and it would be an honour to have our achievements recognised."
Martek website

Chamber website

News: Mandelson outlines vision for UK enterprise

Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) are best placed to "lead and help to develop innovative thinking and the solutions business need" according to Business Secretary Peter Mandelson as he addressed the Northern Regeneration and Renewal Summit in Manchester. Peter Mandelson said: "For me, the role of Regional Development Agencies will be crucial in this process. Led by business, working in partnership with Local Authorities, universities and others, they are the key economic co-ordination body in each region. Not just for the North, but for the country as a whole. "The mandate is clear: to ensure that every hardworking business, in every region of the country has the necessary advice and support to help them not just to survive but also to succeed in the difficult times ahead." The government also launched 'Solutions for Business - funded by government', a national package of publicly funded business support products. The simplification of business support has lead to 30 advice, loan and grant products and services that make up the new portfolio. Accessed by Business Link, and in place by March 2009, they range from grants for business investment, help with accessing international markets, training advice and funding through Train to Gain, enterpise coaching, intensive start-up support, assistance for innovation and manufacturing, and coaching for high growth companies.

Business Link website

News: Regional forum continues call to support manufacturing

Despite the current economic downturn and predictions of recession, manufacturing in South Yorkshire remains strong, a new business grouping has declared. Order books remain buoyant and there are good long-term prospects in markets like aerospace, oil and gas, medical, and power generation. The new South Yorkshire Manufacturing Forum has been formed to speak up on behalf of local manufacturers to demand practical and sustained support from the Government. It comprises all the Chambers of Commerce in South Yorkshire, the Cutlers' Company and the EEF members, and is calling for the Government to protect the fundamental things that will help manufacturing remain competitive for the next five, 10, or 20 years. Manufacturing Forum member Richard Wright said: "The outlook for manufacturing is good. As well as all the innovative work going on in our region, there are plenty of new opportunities on the horizon. "The Government needs to ensure that manufacturers' tax and regulation burdens do not increase any more - and reduce them where possible. The Government should also be championing flexible labour laws, credit availability, and research and development support. All this will allow manufacturers to invest in new equipment, new products and new skills." Forum chairman and Master Cutler Martin Howell said: "Cash flow is key at this point. This is not a time for banks to be reducing credit availability and one thing we can all do is pay our suppliers on time - small companies will struggle to survive if their customers take longer to pay. This is one area where public organisations in particular could have a really positive impact on SMEs in our region - by paying their suppliers promptly, they will be helping to ensure the future of our local manufacturers."

Chamber article

News: Intoprint move into new premises

A South Yorkshire printing company has grown from the front room of a Rotherham home to a 13,000sq ft site in Sheffield. Intoprint, which produces a range of printing services, was founded in 1992 by Richard Lax using his parent’s house in Thorpe Hesley as his headquarters. Since this humble beginning, the company has grown year on year and recently moved to their new location in Ecclesfield after gaining a £60,000 loan from South Yorkshire Investment Fund (SYIF). Bob Lax, Richard’s father and co-Director of Intoprint, said: "Richard set up the business from our house. We installed a printing press and even had to strengthen the floorboards to cope with the weight! "It was quite bizarre and not very practical. We secured more suitable premises and moved out of the house. "Since then we have grown year on year. The new move to Ecclesfield has coincided with the business achieving a £1million turnover for the first time and our team growing to 22 employees. "We outgrew our premises in Rotherham and needed to move to a much larger location, which is just the other side of the M1 from the house we started out in. "Our new base is over five-times bigger than our last location and meets our expectations of continual growth and expansion in the future."
Intoprint website

Thursday, October 23, 2008

News: How Hilltop Special School made £5 blossom

Staff at Hilltop Special School in Rotherham have gone on film to discuss their involvement in the pioneering "Make £5 Blossom" scheme. Established by Rotherham Ready, the enterprise education scheme gives local businesses the chance to invest in the futures of young people. You can view the film here: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=k2GOcOOFS6s

Rotherham Ready website
Rotherham

News: Rotherham supports Jamie's Ministry of Food initiative

Rotherham is to continue to support Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food for another year. The joint announcement by Rotherham Borough Council and NHS Rotherham comes after the final programme of the series was shown this week. A package of funding totalling £125,000 has been secured to continue the educational and healthy eating work begun six months ago at the Ministry of Food in the town centre at All Saints Square. Grants from the Department of Health, Local Authority Business Growth Initiatives (LABGI) scheme and funds from NHS Rotherham has enabled the project to run for another 12 months. Council Leader, Councillor Roger Stone said: "Rotherham has been put in the national spotlight and has great ambition for the future. We want the town to be a place of success, investment is high and jobs have been created - and I, for one, want that drive to spread to important matters such as food. Rotherham has pioneered this approach and what better endorsement could there be than to see other parts of the country be as bold as we have been in supporting healthy eating by setting up food centres." Under the continuation package, the funding will cover the operational costs of running of the Ministry of Food building, the continued employment of two members of staff and volunteer costs as well as the food used to cook.

Jamie's Ministry of Food Rotherham website

News: Purex acquire Canadian firm

Purex International Ltd has announced that it has acquired the fume extraction and filtration business of PAT Technology Systems Inc of Montreal, Canada. Purex manufactures fume extraction equipment for hand and machine soldering applications in the electronics production industry. Purex also supply fume extractors for laser marking, engraving and welding processes across a wide variety of industries. The Manvers based company currently turns over approximately £7m a year and employs 45 people in the UK and 4 people in Chicago, USA. The acquired company, PAT Technology Systems Inc, is a highly renowned designer and manufacturer of fume extraction systems for the wide format inkjet printing industry. Their latest development, the innovative Captivair system, is designed to remove all of the odours created by wide format inkjet printing equipment. Paul Priestley, Managing Director of Purex said: "This is an extremely exciting opportunity for Purex to enter into a new market space and at the same time provide greater presence and support for our existing customers. The philosophies and cultures of the two businesses are so similar that I expect great synergies from this acquisition."

Purex website

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

News: A Digital Region at the forefront of Digital Britain

As the government announces that they will develop an action plan to secure the UK’s place at the forefront of innovation, investment and quality in the digital and communications industries, the Digital Region project continues in South Yorkshire. Digital Region is one of the largest public sector led broadband infrastructure initiatives in the world. It will cover Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham offering a population of 1.3 million citizens, 546,000 homes and 40,000 businesses potential broadband speeds of 50mbps. In a recent report to Sheffield City Council the outcomes of the project were outlined. Independent economic analysis carried out by DTZ states that the Digital Region project will contribute an additional £198m p.a. in GVA, through growth in the ICT and digital sectors, and attracting inward investment to the region. The project will enable 2,500 jobs to be created over three years rising to 7,400 jobs created over 15 years. The fibre optic broadband infrastructure will advance the region by five to seven years putting it at the forefront of Digital Britain and kick-start the transformation in terms of economic regeneration and social inclusion. On Digital Britain, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said: "Over the last year we’ve worked with experts to get a clear understanding of the issues to address and obstacles to overcome if our businesses and citizens are to take full advantage of technology. Now is the time to move from the think tank phase to the delivery phase and focus on the actions needed to bring benefits for both the economy and an enriched society." Secretary of State for Business Peter Mandelson added:"The Government is determined that the UK will strengthen its place as a word leader in the communications and digital technology sectors. The digital economy will be central to this. The Digital Britain report will lead the way." The first customers are likely to access the new broadband network in each of the four authorities in Autumn 2009, with the full infrastructure being completed by the end of 2010.

Digital Region website

News: Taxi for Aston Hotel

The Aston Hotel Sheffield/Rotherham has signed a contract with Sheffield-based taxi advertising specialists Cabvertise to have two XTI metallic grey taxis branded with the Aston Hotel Group livery. The taxis, one based in Sheffield and one in Rotherham, regularly pick up guests heading to the hotel, located off the Sheffield Parkway at Catcliffe. Lesley Twigg, Aston Hotel’s general manager said: "The taxis look fantastic and we are confident that they will not be ignored as they run through Sheffield and in the Rotherham area." Aston Hotel Sheffield/Rotherham opened in April and has been met with an enthusiastic response. Business people from Sheffield Business Park make it their ‘after-work’ venue for drinks and an evening meal. It has also attracted a loyal local clientelle for Sunday lunches in the Brasserie and Bar 59.

Aston Hotels website

News: Jamie's Ministry of Food Rotherham gets Bramall cooking

Colleagues at Bramall Construction are tasting the benefits of their involvement in Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food programme, which aired for the final time last night. Fifty staff from the Rotherham-based social housing specialist have been involved in the celebrity chef’s campaign in the town to get people cooking and eating healthily. Bramall’s involvement in the healthy eating campaign started in June when staff attended the ‘pass it on’ mass cookery class at Rotherham’s Magna centre. They were taught to make a stir fry dish and encouraged to share the recipe with at least one other person. Oliver has since visited Bramall’s head office to pass his cooking expertise on to six colleagues in a class which was also broadcast on the Channel 4 show. Staff say the campaign will leave lasting benefits, with many employees now cooking regularly for the first time in their lives. Bramall Construction has invested in a new hob for the canteen in its head office in Wath and Bramall’s PA Natalie Hare said: "People have been brought together for the classes who might not otherwise have met up. We’ve had a variety of people both from site and from the office and we’ve also encouraged new starters to participate. "The responses we have received have been really positive – especially from staff who had never really cooked before. We had a couple of men who had never cooked at home and have since gone home and cooked for their wives."
Bramall website

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

News: Turning Timepiece Building to break ground thanks to Rotherham specialist

The world's first turning "Timepiece" building, 55ºTime Dubai, is to break ground in the City of Arabia, Dubai with the official launch of the tower scheduled for January 2009. Combining sophisticated design with advanced, solar-powered rotation technology, 55ºTime Dubai has already won the CNBC Arabia Best High Rise architecture award for the design by British architect Glenn Howells. World-renowned rotation specialist Nick Cooper of Bennett Associates in Rotherham is the project patron and developer of the internationally patented rotation concepts that will turn the building. Driven by solar power, the whole structure will rotate at just one centimetre per minute allowing occupants to enjoy a panoramic 360º view over the course of a week. Recognised for his work on such projects as the sub-sea drilling equipment for the Channel Tunnel, the Falkirk Wheel and, most recently, his air-wing on the world's largest passenger aircraft the luxury A380 Airbus, Cooper says 55ºTime Dubai posed new challenges. "We had to design a machine that was energy efficient, with precision engineering in mind, but also make sure that it would be serviceable to move the building for the life of the superstructure. "The movement of the machine is to complement the tower's elegant look, with everything designed to balance and mathematically fit. The patented mechanism is also adaptable to carry taller buildings in line with other Timepiece projects being designed globally."
Bennett Associates website

55 Time Dubai website

News: New director at Horbury Group

David Williams, former chief executive of SIG Plc, has become a non-executive director with the Rotherham based Horbury Group of companies. The appointment will see David take on a strategic and advisory position with construction and property focused Horbury Group, which is made up of nine subsidiary companies recording a combined annual turnover of £65m. David, 57, from Wickersley in Rotherham, worked at SIG for 24 years including 14 on the board of directors and six-years as Chief Executive before retirement in June 2008. Trevor Wragg, managing director at Horbury Group, said: "David has a very strong track record of successful development of business both in the UK and overseas. "I am delighted to welcome him to the Horbury Group at a very dynamic phase in the company's development and look forward to tapping into his experience and insight to help to influence key decisions for the future growth of the company." The Rotherham-based Horbury Group, which formed in Sheffield in 1993 as Horbury Building Systems, has gone from strength-to-strength over recent years, increasing its turnover from £1.4m in its first year to £65m and now employing over 800 people nationally. The group recently brought together its operations to their brand new headquarters at South Grove House, Rotherham.
Horbury website

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