News: Minister visits AMRC in Rotherham

Oliver Letwin MP, minister of state at the Cabinet Office, was in Rotherham this week to visit The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC) to learn about how the centre works with the UK manufacturing industry.



The visit followed a meeting of the Cabinet in Bradford, the first meeting of the new coalition government outside London. Ministers then toured key business sites around the region.

AMRC directors Adrian Allen and John Baragwanath gave Letwin a tour of the Factory of the Future shopfloor, highlighting the centre's work in high performance machining and large-scale automated assembly, and introducing the minister to industrial partners, researchers and apprentices.

Letwin was also taken aboard MANTRA, the AMRC's unique MANufacturing TRAnsporter which travels the country to promote engineering to students, and given an overview of the next stage of development at the centre, including the new Nuclear AMRC and Knowledge Transfer Academy.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, the AMRC is a £100m partnership that has successfully bridged the gap between academia, industry and government.

The AMRC identifies, researches and solves advanced manufacturing problems and has over 80 highly qualified researchers and engineers from around the globe. Research is carried out on new and exotic materials such as titanium, inconel and composites.

AMRC commercial director Adrian Allen said: "Mr Letwin was very interested to see the work we do to solve manufacturing problems and help our industrial partners compete in the global marketplace.

"It was particularly pleasing to see the minister take such interest in the AMRC model of collaborative industry-led research, which is now being sought by governments worldwide."

AMRC website

Images: amrc.co.uk

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News: Horbury sees public sector sustaining construction market

Rotherham-based Horbury Group, has seen a decisive move into public sector construction contracts produce stability for the group companies over the past twelve months.

David Priestley, sales and marketing director at the Moorgate based Horbury Group said: "We have been heavily involved in public sector projects in a historical context and this enabled us, with a healthy track record, to increase our market share as private sector and residential contracts began to scale down."

Horbury Group has recently secured a contract worth £1m for the development of five state-of-the-art community fire stations in Northumberland and Durham and a £1.5m contract for Balfour Beatty at West Darby and Ernest Cookson Schools in Liverpool, as well as schools projects in the North-East of the country.

The value of work undertaken by the group on key educational developments is now £7.6m.

David added: "The group is generating plenty of enquiries and there is nothing yet to suggest that these are likely to decrease.

"We still have private sector contracts, but an increasing reliance in public sector builds by the industry in general, may well be unsettled by a completely different set of parameters put in place by the new Government, particularly if there are to be significant reductions in public spending, much of which is still needing clarity."

In Rotherham, contracting authorities are a working on establishing a new private partnership vehicle with the private sector for the development and delivery of the BSF programme that is worth around £200m.

A tender notice has recently been issued covering aspects of the partnership including project development, estates managment, procurement, architecture, engineering, building, facilities management and ICT services.

The initial schemes for BSF programme in Rotherham will be delivered in two phases and will include ten of the borough's secondary schools and two special schools.

Horbury Group website

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News: Education guru praises Rotherham’s culture of enterprise

International education guru Richard Gerver has praised Rotherham's culture of enterprise in education.

Richard, a former Head Teacher of the Year, advises governments and schools all over the world about developing learning fit for the 21st Century.

He was at Magna last week as the keynote speaker at Rotherham Ready's "Made in Rotherham 2010" event – a conference showcasing the work of schools and colleges developing enterprise through the curriculum.

Richard said: "I am truly humbled by what I have seen here; within thirty seconds of walking in I knew this was the real thing. Young people really are at the centre of what you are doing, and they are developing the enterprise skills and attitudes they need for future success.

"It has been a privilege to come to Rotherham and see what you are doing."

More than 40 schools and colleges took part in the conference, part of Rotherham council's Children's Festival, with children and young people showcasing enterprising and entrepreneurial learning in workshops and a market place.

More than 150 delegates from as far as Liverpool, Hull, Warrington and Birmingham attended to learn about Rotherham Ready's approach to developing enterprise in education.

Rotherham Ready, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, works with schools and colleges to embed enterprise in education from 4-19 and beyond. It is internationally recognised as a model of best practice and has successful rolled the project in Hull, and trained teachers across the country.

Jackie Frost, Enterprise Projects Manager for Rotherham council and manager of Rotherham Ready said: "Rotherham is at the forefront of developing enterprise learning and it was great to receive such a ringing endorsement from Richard.

"Made in Rotherham" demonstrated how our schools and colleges are working to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs and enterprising employees who will help shape the future of Rotherham."

Rotherham Ready website

Images: Rotherham Ready

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News: Fripp Design and Research launch PalletSign

Innovative Rotherham company, Fripp Design and Research, has launched the first of its own products - PalletSign, a point of sale display sytems for pallets.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park, Fripp Design and Research's team have years of experience in all areas of product design and industrial design and are able to apply their knowledge to any stage of a product development, from blue sky concept right down to the fine details of complex highly engineered products.

The idea for PalletSign came whilst visiting B&Q researching a DIY product for another client. The designer recognised how PalletSign would solve two problems for retailers and manufacturers by creating the opportunity to use pallets to help sell products, as well as the opportunity to improve the in store experience for customers.

Developed with the help of the world's largest pallet management company, CHEP, PalletSign can be retro-fitted to any pallet, representing a new opportunity for marketing products sold off pallets.

Steve Roberts, director at Fripp Design and Research said: "Many retailers use pallets to display fast moving goods to save time and avoid the risk of damaging them. We recognised that the problem with pallets is that they can look unsightly in-store and product packaging is not always designed to sell the benefits of the individual products for sale.

"Pallet Sign hides pallets from view, as well as providing retailers and manufacturers with a vital POS sales tool to help them promote products to customers."

As well as looking for distributers for PaelletSign, the gast-growing company are looking to buy a manufacturing business with the skills and knowledge to add their products into their existing product portfolio.

The new system is being launched this week at the In Store exhibition at London's Olympia.

PalletSign website
Fripp Design website

Images: frippdesign.co.uk

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News: Sizer at the Great Yorkshire Show

Rotherham company, Sizer, will demonstrate how waste generated at the 152nd Great Yorkshire Show can be turned into an income stream.

Every year at Yorkshire's largest agricultural show 25 tonnes of horse manure is produced within the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.

This year, Sizer Ltd, will demonstrate to visitors how their pelleting solutions can turn waste materials, such as manure, into cash and a renewable energy source for businesses. And as official sponsors of the show's "mucking out" points in the equestrian and livestock areas, Sizer will have plenty of waste to work with.

Roger Pearson, Managing Director of Sizer, said: "Many businesses generate waste in a variety of forms and getting rid of it usually involves a cost to the environment.

"We hope that our presence at the Great Yorkshire Show will inspire more businesses to get involved in pelleting. To date, we have successfully pelleted everything from horse manure to cocoa husks. We have turned plaster board and cement into fertilizer pellets and shredded waste paper from offices into pellets suitable for fuel.

"The Great Yorkshire Show is the perfect opportunity for local businesses and also farmers, to consider what they can do for the environment.

"Pelleting may be something visitors have never considered, or even heard of, before. We want to open people's minds to what can be created from waste materials, such as manure and discarded paper, usually destined for landfill."

Sizer engineers can be found in the "renewable energy area" of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society show held on Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 July 2010.

Sizer website

Images: sizer-pelleting.co.uk

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News: eoSemi secures £3m investment

Rotherham-based semiconductor company eoSemi has closed a £3m funding round led by NESTA Investments and Capital-E alongside existing investors Enterprise Ventures (EV) via its RisingStars Growth Fund II and South Yorkshire Investment Fund.

From their base on the Advanced Manufacturing Park, eoSemi is developing a silicon solution that replaces quartz crystals, allowing a move away from physically-vibrating devices and the associated high manufacturing cost, large package size and susceptibility to shock.

A vibrating crystal is still used in nearly every electronic device on the planet to provide a stable timing reference. eoSemi will use the investment to bring a new timing device to market, based entirely on silicon circuitry.

Ian Macbeth, CEO of eoSemi, said: "This investment represents a major milestone for eoSemi as we make the transition from a successful early-stage technology startup into a commercial enterprise facing a tremendous global market.

"We welcome NESTA and Capital-E who join Enterprise Ventures in supporting the business and in providing the opportunity to move forward. This is an investor group with great outreach that can clearly help place eoSemi on a strong footing."

Libby Kinsey, Investment Manager, at NESTA investments said: "We have worked with eoSemi for a year and are proud to be part of a company that combines a billion dollar addressable market with a world-class technical and commercial team.

"Standing on the shoulders of the UK's successful microelectronics industry this deal shows that there are great opportunities for investors in the sector and demonstrates NESTA'S commitment to investing in the UK's most promising technology based businesses."

eoSemi website

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News: Peoplesafe partner with Orange

Peoplesafe, the experts in lone worker safety based in Rotherham, has entered into a strategic partnership with Orange, one of the world's leading telecommunications operators.

Orange is entering into two new strategic partnerships to support its lone worker solution and help organisations support their employees when off site, with public sector specialists Guardian24, and private sector experts Peoplesafe.

The solution and partnerships have been designed to offer organisations the tools to give employers and employees alike the peace of mind that emergency help for people working alone can be summoned if needed.

The lone worker solution from Orange includes providing easy, discreet mechanisms such as a button that can be attached to clothing or a simple phone application, which will allow employees to summon emergency help at one touch if needed.

As part of the partnership, Peoplesafe can offer those in the private sector individual risk assessments and legal guidance to help offer them the best security solutions.

The Dinnington firm provide solutions to lone workers in sectors ranging from house-builders to social workers.

Michael Lawrence, Head of Corporate Propositions, Orange UK said: "At Orange, we believe that employees deserve to have the very best of help to stay safe and secure when at work.

"We also believe that the ability to call for help at the touch of a button can be an immense confidence booster for employers and employees alike.

"We've partnered with Peoplesafe and Guardian24 to deliver our lone worker solution, because, like us, they recognise the growing need to provide businesses with easy to use, reliable tools that can help them take care of their employees' wellbeing in the way that suits them best."

Peoplesafe website

Images: peoplesafe.co.uk

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News: PMS Diecasting investment secures major order

Investment in new equipment by Rotherham zinc diecasting specialist, PMS Diecasting has helped to secure a major contract previously bound for China.

The Hellaby firm has invested in three Frech diecasting machines and two new ABB robotic arms after securing asset finance from Yorkshire Bank's South Yorkshire Financial Solutions Centre (FSC) in Sheffield.

Gordon Panter, PMS Diecasting managing director, said: "Acquiring these machines is part of a continuous investment programme which means we are geared up for high-volume work, in this case, a £700,000 order for window hardware, such as locking devices, which used to go to China but has now come back to South Yorkshire at a time when people are worried about economic power going East.

"Our use of robotics makes us extremely efficient and cost-effective. This, coupled with the weaker pound and increased freight charges, means this customer gets better value from the work being done in South Yorkshire.

"It is also attractive to them because it reduces lead times in an uncertain economic climate and avoids stock being held up on the water."

Yorkshire Bank South Yorkshire FSC business partner, Chris Blanksby, added: "PMS Diecasting is an example of a forward-thinking British manufacturer doing well globally in the current tough market.

"We're pleased and proud to have supported the business with asset finance for these latest investments as part of our Investing For Growth strategy because this is just what British industry needs to be doing."

Founded in 1975 by Gordon's father, Neil, PMS developed a precision manufacturing process to produce handsaws that proved so successful that every DIY retail outlet and most handtool distributors sold an "own brand" saw which was made and branded by PMS in Rotherham. In just five years PMS became the largest volume manufacturer of handaws in the UK.

Gordon and colleague, Robin Mokryj, acquired the company in 2000 and started an intensive investment programme to move into specialist diecasting work.

The employee-owned business, which has 30 staff and has pioneered environmentally-friendly manufacturing techniques, expects turnover to rise by £500,000 to £3.5 million this year. Customers including Yale, Chubb, Britax and Gripple.

PMS website

Images: pmsdiecasting.co.uk

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News: Success for AESSEAL at MX Awards

Rotherham engineering firm, AESSEAL, has been recognised for their customer service at the prestigious Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2010.

Run by The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the MX Awards are the UK's longest running business awards of its kind and were established 28 years ago to protect manufacturing and promote best practice.

Making the shortlist for six out of the 12 awards, AESSEAL picked up the PricewaterhouseCoopers Award for Customer Focus, an award they also won in 2006. In that year they also secured the overall award but just missed out this year to Leyland Trucks.

With their global headquarters at Templeborough, AESSEAL specialise in the design and manufacture of mechanical seals, bearing protectors and environmental control systems.

Business experts on the judging panel acknowledged that AESSEAL "sets the standards" for manufacturing companies in the UK when it comes to customer focus.

Richard Cook, production and personnel director at AESSEAL said: "Participating in MX is challenging and fun, and winning the PricewaterhouseCoopers Award for Customer Focus is a real honour and vindication of our efforts.

"We always enter awards with the same objective in mind; continuous improvement. As an organisation that pursues excellence at every level, benchmarking against other world-class organisations is a key element of our improvement strategy.

"The biggest benefit of entering is the feedback report and knowing that you are being judged against industry's best - those who have similar aspirations to reach worldclass performance levels."

Minister for Business and Enterprise, Mark Prisk, who attended the awards, said: "Manufacturing and engineering are vital to the economy.

"The UK is renowned for its high-value, advanced manufacturing products and solutions and we must ensure that companies, like those recognised by the MX Awards, are given the support they require to exploit their competitive advantage and thrive in an increasingly competitive world."

AESSEAL website

Images: aesseal.co.uk

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News: Beatson Clark helps create glass bottle chandelier

Rotherham glass manufacturer, Beatson Clark has supplied an existing customer, Meantime Brewing Company, with the 2,000 bottles for them to create an imaginative focal point in their unique restaurant, bar and cafe, The Old Brewery at Greenwich.

Dawn Pugh, marketing manager for Beatson Clark said: "It wasn't an usual request for the bottles although when we found out their application, as a chandelier, we were amazed at the ingenuity of the designers.

"The bottles look fantastic and help to give the microbrewery and brasserie a fabulous ambience that customers can delight in."

The 2,000 bottles were hung individually by hand over a two day period. Alec Fleming, marketing manager for the retail arm of the Meantime Brewing Company commented: "The Old Brewery is part of the newly refurbished Discover Greenwich project at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, by day the microbrewery is flooded with natural light from the delightfully high ceilings. By night a more atmospheric and intimate ambience was required for the brasserie, which is provided by the bottles.

"Fitted to an undulating platform with points of light above, the bottles diffuse the glow providing an impressive lighting effect for diners to fully appreciate."

Beatson Clark's relationship with Meantime Brewing Company started over 10 years ago when the glass manufacturer was appointed to develop a specially designed bottle for the brewer's unique blend of beers.

The bottle had to reflect the quality of the beers and a 330ml champagne styled bottle was developed. The bottle is used for a range of Meantime's unique products including, Pilsner Larger, Wheat Beer, Chocolate Beer, Coffee Beer and Raspberry Beer.

Alec continued: "We established our relationship with Beatson Clark because of their esteemed reputation in the market place and they have not disappointed. Our beer bottle style is a recognised important part of our brand identity.

"When our designers came up with the concept of the glass bottle chandelier, Beatson Clark was the natural choice to approach for the glass bottle supply. We have had many comments from diners and the media alike they are all very impressed and seem to fully appreciate the effect the chandelier has in the restaurant."

Beatson Clark website

Images: oldbrewerygreenwich.com

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News: U-Explore secures £2m investment from MBL Group

MBL Group plc, one of the UK's leading multi-channel distributor of home entertainment products, has announced that it has agreed to acquire a 15% stake in U-Xplore Limited, the Rotherham education specialist.


The deal is for a total consideration of £2m and as part of the agreement, MBL's Chief Executive, Trevor Allan will join the Board of U-Explore and MBL will receive fees for the management services that MBL provides, amounting to £100,000 in the first year.

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.

MBL is a multi-channel distributor of home entertainment products - delivering physical and digital content in-store, online and digitally.

Both parties see clear synergies in working closely together. U-Explore is keen to develop its footprint in the UK and aims to utilise MBL's proprietary technologies to take its content further than its website.

Kiosks, for example, offer U-Explore an ideal additional channel, with the opportunity to place these in schools, colleges, public buildings and libraries.

Andy Pickles, CEO of U-Explore, said: "This partnership with MBL comes at a critical time for U-Explore as we move into a significant period of projected growth which will require the business to gear up to maximise on the wealth of opportunities available to us.

"MBL brings an added level of expertise to our board, access to resources to drive the business into new markets, and the ability for both businesses to leverage their content and technology assets to further exploit new and existing markets.

"We are very excited about this partnership and look forward to the coming years where we hope to exceed all expectations with the support of MBL."

Trevor Allan, MBL's Chief Executive added: "Our partnership with U-Explore offers huge opportunities and synergies for both parties. We are leading the way in delivering content across multiple channels, and U-Explore is keen to develop its footprint to reach its consumers in the UK and internationally.

"We believe that the combination of skills and the cross-selling opportunities across our respective contact bases present a great opportunity for both MBL and U-Explore."

U-Explore website


Images: u-explore.com

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News: Powerstar to cut emissions at Bolsover Council

Bolsover District Council is to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 51 tonnes and save an estimated £9,700 in electricity costs per annum following the installation of two Powerstar voltage optimisation systems from award-winning Rotherham experts, EMS (UK) Ltd.

A 250kva unit has been installed at the Council's main Sherwood Lodge offices and a smaller 90kva unit has been fitted at their Riverside Depot.

Powerstar is the only voltage optimisation system wholly designed and manufactured in the UK and works by reducing the the voltage supplied by the National Grid.

Councillor Dennis Kelly, Cabinet Member for the Environment at Bolsover District Council said: "This decision highlights our dedication to reducing our own carbon footprint. The projected savings that Powerstar is set to deliver will be a welcome boost towards helping us achieve our energy efficiency targets. It was also ideal to be able to purchase from a local company."

A full onsite survey was carried out by EMSc at both locations to determine the correct size of unit and guaranteed level of CO2 savings and energy reductions that the Powerstar voltage optimisation systems will achieve.

Terry Shemwell, Powerstar Consultant (Local Authorities & Public Services) UK said: "Powerstar is providing Bolsover District Council with an immediate saving in energy usage and will quickly become an integral part of their programme to reach the sustainability targets they have set.

"For us power optimisation is about helping companies like Bolsover District Council achieve demonstrable savings in their energy bills, lower maintenance costs on equipment and, through the real time monitoring system, enabling them to take further steps on their own to reduce overall electricity consumption."

To date Powerstar has been installed at more than 2,500 sites and the Templeborough firm has recently signed an agreement with the Cockburn Group in Australia which will see the UK manufactured Powerstar units go on sale in the country for the first time.

Powerstar website

Images: ems-uk.org

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News: Progress for Rotherham civic office development

Rotherham's Renaissance continues to go forward despite the current national economic downturn.

Rotherham Borough Council, their partners Evans Regeneration Investments Ltd, and key stakeholders joined together last week at the site of the new civic offices on Main Street in the town centre.

The steel structure emerging from the ground for the purpose-built 172,000 sq ft (16,000 sq m) building, on the former Guest & Chrimes site, is a major step forward for the £2bn Renaissance plan to regenerate the heart of Rotherham town centre.

Incorporating a "three-fingered" design consisting of a four, five and six storey building, the work is being carried out by GMI Construction.

Leader of Rotherham Borough Council, Cllr Roger Stone said: "This development will go a long way to further boost the town centre's Renaissance programme by not only regenerating this site and encouraging further major players to help do this, but by also freeing up several valuable town centre sites to allow further re-development works to take place.

"This project, in fact, really highlights Rotherham Council's commitment to pushing the town forward by forming one of the most significant public sector property transactions outside of London in the last year."

Chief Executive for the council, Martin Kimber, added: "It will provide the town centre with a modern building that will greatly improve the services we provide to Rotherham people.

"By housing all services under one roof, the council will become even more efficient and will continue to provide an excellent standard of service to our residents from a single building, rather than dispersed across the town."

Artwork for the 85m stretch of hoardings surrounding the development site along Main Street was also unveiled by local artist, Adam Mileusnic.

Rotherham Renaissance website
GMI Construction website

Images: Rotherham Renaissance / gmiconstructiongroup.co.uk

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News: Dearne Valley breakfast event

Over 40 local businesses will attend a free business breakfast this week to help them identify how they can save money by improving their energy efficiency and environmental management.

Organised by the Dearne Valley Business Forum, the key note speaker at the event will be John Healey, local MP for Wentworth and Dearne. With the event coming just three days after the government's emergency Budget, he will be ready to discuss the consequences of this with local businesses. He will talk about the challenge of bringing about a strong economic recovery after the recession.

"We need to ensure that the Dearne Valley area and the businesses in it can work well with public agencies so that they have the best possible basis to be successful in the longer term," said John.

The event will encourage businesses to sign up to reduce their carbon footprint as part of the wider Dearne Valley Eco-Vision, an ambitious and exciting plan to transform the area into the lowest carbon community of its type in the UK.

Representatives of Dearne businesses will hear how the project aims to involve local communities, boost the economy as well as protect and enhance the natural environment of the Valley.

Dearne Valley Eco-Vision Project Manager, Joanne Wehrle, said: "We want all sections of the community in the Dearne Valley to be aware of the impact that their actions are having on the environment and what they can do to minimise this.

"The good news is that often the steps taken to reduce carbon emissions can result in financial savings for householders and businesses. We want to help local residents and businesses to realise these savings and contribute towards the delivery of the Eco-Vision."

The event, on Friday June 25, will be held at the Park Inn Hotel, Manvers, and will run from 8am -10am.

Dearne Valley Business Forum website

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News: Hull and Rotherham Ready event

The Hull Youth Enterprise and Rotherham Ready partnerships have held a successful event as part of Business Week 2010.

Children from five primary schools (East Halton Primary, Highland Primary, North Ferriby, Thorpepark from Hull and Thorpe Hesley Junior School from Rotherham) presented their enterprise stories to an audience of leading politicians as well as key education and business opinion formers from across the Humber at Craven Park, the home of Hull Kingston Rovers.

At the event delegates also heard from Claire Young, runner up in the BBC series "The Apprentice" in 2008 and an Ambassador for Enterprise UK. After their presentations, the children set the adults a task of designing and marketing a t-shirt to promote Business Week 2011 or Global Entreprenurship Week 2010 with a World Cup theme.

Claire Young said: "Enterprise is open to everyone and anyone, and Hull and Rotherham are certainly leading the way in how they work with their primary pupils.

"Programmes like "Junior Apprentice", "The Apprentice" and "Dragon's Den" have made business and enterprise much more accessible and exciting to young people and hopefully removed some of the common misconceptions."

Neil Hudgell, Chairman of Hull Kingston Rovers presented Paula Harmer the Headteacher of Thorpe Hesley from Rotherham with flowers from the Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership and a cheque for £200 for the school, from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, to help them with their enterprising ideas.

Neil Hudgell said "Yet again, the young people showed that they are all developing their enterprise skills and they are our future and they are certainly ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow."

Hull Ready is a replica of the Rotherham programme established by the Rotherham Ready team.

Rotherham Ready website
Hull Ready website

Images: hullready.co.uk

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News: Rotherham United secure land for stadium

Rotherham United Football Club has secured part of the site for the club's proposed new football stadium close to Rotherham town centre.

Local experts at Burgess Commercial acted on behalf of the club on the project which included the acquisition of a site of some 4.5 acres together with 99,000 sq ft of warehousing, which will subsequently be demolished to make way for a new 12,000 seater stadium.

The land is adjacent to the Guest and Chrimes site, where the former Gloystarne distribution warehouse is situated.

Rotherham Council is still in advanced negotioations to buy 10.85 acres of the Guest and Chrimes site from Evans of Leeds.

The site of the former Guest and Chrimes foundry was announced in January as the preferred choice for a new stadium by Millers chairman, Tony Stewart.

The stadium is being designed to accommodate future expansion beyond the original 12,000 capacity. In addition to the seating which has been designed to be as close to the pitch as possible, the new site will incorporate hospitality areas including facilities for match-day banqueting, non-match hospitality, conferencing, training and education areas, as well as refreshment stands and spectator amenities.

Tony Stewart told the club's official website: "This has been going through for some time but, as of last Friday, it has now been completed and will provide us with the additional flexibility for future amenities and access to and from the new stadium development site."

"Whilst it may appear to some that not a lot is being said with regard to progress I can assure everyone that there is plenty being done. I have always said that it is my nature to be impatient with wanting things to happen immediately but I have to say that I am very satisfied with the progress we are making. As and when stages of this project are completed I will be in a position to release the details."

Rotherham United website

Images: Signet Planning / themillers.co.uk

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News: Specialist support for the aerospace industry

The area now has a new resource for SC21 guidance and Aerospace AS9100 quality management systems courtesy of Peter Thornton-Smith at The BPAS Group based in Rotherham.

The 21st century supply chains (SC21) initiative is a change programme designed to accelerate the competitiveness of the aerospace and defence industry by raising the performance of its supply chains.

AS9100 is the quality management standard specifically written for the aerospace industry.

To comply with the new Revision C of AS9100, Peter renewed his qualifications by attending a foundation course and examination provided by the SC21 strategic partner TEC Transnational.

In addition, Peter was recently approached by SC21 training partner The ICE Partnership to be their Associate Member responsible for quality management systems, both aerospace and ISO.

Senior Partner of the BPAS Group, Peter is a qualified metallurgist, a member of the Chartered Quality Institute, a Chartered Engineer and former Technical Director who can offer a broad range of experience to the manufacturing sector.

From the base at Moorgate, Peter has been working closely with both Business Link as a quality assured provider and the Manufacturing Advisory Service as a MAS Specialist. He has installed both basic and aerospace systems around the area with clients in such diverse business sectors as fire protection; aluminium pressure die casting; commercial interior installation to the manufacture of aircraft covers.

The BPAS Group website

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News: Work continues to improve the appearance of Rotherham town centre

Urban Canvas has won a commission to improve the look of the empty shops on the High Street in Rotherham town centre.

The Nottingham collective works in partnership with communities to create eye catching site specific art that brightens towns and cities.

Their urban art has been commissioned in Leicester, Nottingham, Kidderminster and Mansfield.

The new work forms part of the "Meanwhile Project" which aims to bring life and footfall back to the town centre by improving the look of vacant units throughout the town centre.

Another project has seen professional landscape photographer for 30 years, Barry Payling, creating a striking window display of some of his best work in the former pet shop on Corporation Street.

Also this week, 100 hanging baskets and over a dozen tiered floral displays have been introduced, concentrated on key shopping streets.

They come with the planting that Rotherham Borough Council's Streetpride services have already put in place in the town centre for the summer months.

The move was made in light of shoppers' feedback that they wanted to see more planting and greenery in the centre.

Business Development Manager Tim O'Connell said: "Shoppers and businesses have highlighted the importance of a pleasant and attractive environment in bringing people into the town centre. This, along with our efforts to improve vacant units, will create a more welcoming environment for our shoppers and visitors and encourage repeat visits.

"This is one of a number of measures aimed at making the centre more appealing, including the introduction of free Saturday parking, free parking after 3pm during the week and an extended events programme."

Rotherham Town Centre website

Images: urbancanvas.co.uk

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News: Peoplesafe move into tough environment

Rotherham-based lone worker safety expert Peoplesafe has teamed up with manufacturers of the world's toughest phones, Sonim Technologies, to launch an exclusive protection system for employees out in rough and remote settings.

The new Sonim XP3 Sentinel, the world's most rugged phone, has been designed to withstand extreme temperatures and water and has a highly durable shell to meet the demands of harsh working environments.

It comes complete with software developed by Sonim in close consultation with Peoplesafe, which allows the company's professionals to monitor and respond to lone workers around- the-clock and safeguard against injury, illness and personal attack.

In an emergency, workers can press a button to feed their exact location swiftly back while they are spoken to and sent assistance if necessary. There is also a "man down" motion-sensor triggered if the phone falls, tilts or is stationary, which will raise an alarm if the employee is unable to do so themselves.

The service offers protection for a large group of employees previously not specifically catered for by the industry.

Ian Johannessen, Managing Director of Peoplesafe, said: "We've worked closely with Sonim to ensure this mobile phone fulfils all the needs of hard hat-wearing lone workers in water, electricity and gas utilities, the building and construction trades and the farming, manufacturing and logistics sectors, to name a few."

Sanjay Jhawar, Vice President and General Manager for Applications at Sonim Technologies added: "Peoplesafe's real world monitoring experience was invaluable as we developed this product and we've provided the capability for them to tailor the user experience closely to their monitoring service.

"We've engineered the software natively into the phone, so have the highest possible reliability and best ease of use in distress situations, coupled with virtually unbreakable hardware, so you can depend on XP3 Sentinel to save lives."

From their base in Dinnington, Peoplesafe operates independently of any device manufacturer, offering services based on the needs of individual lone workers.

Peoplesafe website

Images: peoplesafe.co.uk

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News: U-Explore partners with SkillsActive

Rotherham education specialists, U-Explore is joining forces with SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure, Learning and Well-being.



The new partnership will enable both organisations to provide the leading careers and advice platform for the active leisure, learning and well-being sector.

Working with SkillsActive will help to ensure that the industry sector content available on U-Explore is accurate, representative and of the highest quality possible. The partnership will also support SkillsActive in ensuring that it delivers a high standard careers offer for the sector to a far reaching audience.

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.

Andy Pickles, CEO of U-Explore, said: "Our objective from the beginning was to work with sector partners to give young people the most exciting and relevant experience of each and every industry sector.

"The reality was that first of all, we had to establish U-Explore, build our network of schools and position ourselves as a major force acting as a bridge between business and education.

"With these objectives firmly established the time is now right for us to seek industry sector partners to strengthen our offer and further support young people and adults alike with regard to jobs, training, opportunities and ultimately knowledge of a sector.

"I am very proud that our first such partnership is with SkillsActive who will now work with us to develop the content and links to their sector partners in sport, active leisure, caravanning and playwork as well as adopting the U-Explore platform to deliver a careers solution for their sector.

"As a sector skills council they are the most credible partner for us to work with and we will now proactively look to build on this with further sector skills partnerships."

U-Explore website

Images: u-explore.com

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News: Biomass Energy Development planned for Rotherham

A planning application has been submitted for a Biomass Energy Development at the Firth Rixson Ickles Works in Templeborough, Rotherham that could create over 100 jobs.

The planned 2.6 hectare development incorporates two biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plants, two chimney stacks and a 200,000 tonne per annum wood pellet manufacturing process.

It would manufacture timber wood pellets for supply to the utility power sector and the biomass CHP plants would have a combined generating capacity of about 31 MWe.

Surplus renewable electricity, sufficient to power about two thirds of the homes in Rotherham, will be exported to the local distribution network. This could offset about 250,000 tonne per annum of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning.

The plans have been drawn up by the Brite Partnership, a company formed with the sole purpose of developing projects for the production of green energy, and operating them as a viable and sustainable business.

The plans state that partners have in excess of eighty five years of experience between them in the construction industry and that other members of the team have extensive experience of the development of biomass combustion projects, with similar projects in other parts of the UK and Europe.

The concept is by Integrated Energy Systems International Ltd (IESIL) and the Rotherham project is seen as the cornerstone of the renewable energy business which Brite Partnership expects to expand on in the coming years throughout the country.

The development site is currently unoccupied due to the contraction of metalworking activities by Firth Rixson. Some disused buildings are to be demolished and three new purpose-designed buildings of 6070 sq m would be erected.

Regarding local employment potential the application states that: "The estimated workforce expected during the construction phase of the Biomass Energy Development is on average about 200, peaking at about 260 during the first quarter of the second year of the construction phase.

"Once operational it is expected that the Biomass Energy Development will require 100 full-time staff ... as well as about another 50 in the industrial and service sectors to support the operation of the facility."

Images: Brite Partnership / IESIL

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News: Forgemasters loan cancelled

The £80m loan offered to Sheffield Forgemasters International Ltd (SFIL) has been cancelled by the government.

The loan, together with participation in the project from Westinghouse, the nuclear power company, would have enabled SFIL to build a major new manufacturing facility for ultra heavy forgings for civil nuclear power and other markets.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "Sheffield Forgemasters is an important part of the UK's ability to develop a civil nuclear supply chain and its specialist forging skills are in demand globally.

"However, we have to find a balance between reducing the deficit while helping the economy to grow. Against a backdrop of reduced public spending, the Government's role is to create the right business environment and the right skills base. The Government cannot simply keep writing out cheques.

"The Government hopes the company secures private investment for this worthwhile project."

Clive Betts MP (Sheffield South East) said: "It beggars belief that the government is rejecting massive inward investment in the UK and what was a huge vote of confidence in Sheffield and UK manufacturing.

"This was not a grant, not a gift, not a subsidy – but a loan at market rates. If this project does not proceed, it will have a massive impact on investment and jobs in Sheffield, the region and the UK. It would cut exports and increase imports."

The loan follows last year's announcement of a Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, which will help UK civil nuclear manufactures develop world class manufacturing techniques and cost competitiveness.

SFIL are a founding member of the £25m Nuclear AMRC along with Rolls-Royce, Areva and Westinghouse. Rolls-Royce's planned civil nuclear facility will also be developed in South Yorkshire.

£13m to enable Yorkshire Forward to buy the former Outukumpu site in Sheffield for redevelopment has also been cancelled and £12m to enable the Sheffield Retail Quarter to proceed has been suspended.

Forgemasters website

Images: sheffieldforgemasters.com

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News: CTS takes office space in Rotherham town centre

CTS Training has taken 4,000 sq ft (372 sq m) of office accommodation at in Rotherham town centre.

The deal, which sees one of the largest single office lettings in the town for some years was carried out by Rotherham's Burgess Commercial.

Neil Keally, Director at Burgess Commercial said: "In fairly difficult economic times this deal was particularly pleasing to complete with all parties concerned ensuring the building was refurbished and the Lease completed in time for CTS Training to re-locate."

South Yorkshire-based CTS is a specialist training organisation concentrating on learners furthest removed from the labour market.

Steve Holmes, Chief Executive Officer of CTS Training added: "CTS Training is delighted to have secured the premises at 8 Ship Hill in Rotherham, to accommodate the further expansion of our business in South Yorkshire.

"We appreciate the work carried out by the landlord (through Burgess Commercial Ltd) to make the premises DDA compliant prior to our occupation, thus enabling our business to operate in compliance with legislation, and provide appropriate access and facilities for our clients and customers."

CTS Training website
Burgess Commercial website

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News: AMRC helping to design factories of the future

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing, based in Rotherham, is leading a new €5.2m project to help develop the factories of the future.

The COPERNICO project, Cooperation Environment for Rapid Design, Prototyping and New Integration Concepts for the Factory of the Future, is developing techniques to help businesses maximise the efficiency of their factories, and rapidly integrate new products and processes.

COPERNICO involves five universities and research institutes, and 10 industrial and SME partners, from across Europe. Delegates from all partners met at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in early June to launch the four-year project.

Professor Keith Ridgway, research director at the AMRC said: "The idea for the COPERNICO project came from our industrial members.

"A common problem is how to get through the initial production stage - how do companies move through that stage as quickly as possible, and what modelling tools can they use to aid the decisions?

"COPERNICO aims to reduce the time and cost to introduce new products and processes, and reduce the time to redesign and reconfigure factory systems."

Research will be driven by real-life case studies provided by the industrial partners. UK power systems group Rolls-Royce has identified three case studies, including the design and layout of its new civil nuclear manufacturing facility (which will be built close to the AMRC in South Yorkshire). And Italian home appliances group Electrolux will work with COPERNICO researchers to improve the efficiency of its manufacturing facilities and supply chains.

Helping smaller businesses to become more competitive is an important part of COPERNICO. Case studies are also being provided by Sheffield-based Footprint Tools and Italian automotive supplier Temco, which both want to grow by developing new high-value manufacturing services within Europe.

COPERNICO will deploy and develop a range of technologies, including modelling of human-machine interactions, virtual simulation of factory environments, and online software tools to help businesses diagnose areas for improvement.

Dr Jim Baldwin, technical coordinator for COPERNICO at the AMRC added: "There are tens of thousands of manufacturing SMEs across Europe. The challenge is to integrate the vast amount of information about them, and produce new tools which can be used by a wide range of manufacturing businesses."

COPERNICO partners are: University of Sheffield AMRC, UK; University of Nottingham, UK; University of Brescia, Italy; Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary; Fraunhofer IPA, Germany; Rolls-Royce, UK; Electrolux, Italy; Delcam, Netherlands; Footprint Tools, UK; Virtalis, UK; Temco, Italy; Teks, France; Cesi, Italy; Prorec, Germany; and Gamax, Hungary. The project is part-funded by the European Commission through the Seventh Framework Programme.

AMRC website

Images: amrc.co.uk

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News: Dearne valley College host employability week

Rotherham companies have been helping students prepare for what is expected of them when applying for jobs.

The Business Training Team from Dearne Valley College (DVC) hosted an Employability Week and various activities took place including an Employers Question Time panel where local employers were invited to answer questions from students about employment.

Students heard first hand what employers look for in applicants CV's and picked up hints and tips for when applying for jobs. Employers included Park Inn Hotel, Bramall Construction, Dearne Valley College, Rotherham Youth Services, and Hays Recruitment.

CV writing skills workshops, job clubs, mock interviews and tips for filling in job application forms were also available for youngsters.

A number of agencies were also at the Wath based college including Voluntary Action Rotherham (VAR) who promoted their initiative "Meet Your Match" where they match students interested in volunteering with companies and organisations.

Sessions on further and Higher Education (HE) were also arranged with the college's own Career Advisors to discuss progression routes.

Kaye Williams, DVC Business Development Manager said: "Employability Week aimed to help our students be aware of what employers look for when recruiting. The sessions will have hopefully prepared them for when they start applying for jobs.

"I would like to thank the employers for taking the time out to spend time with our students and share their expertise."

Dearne Valley College website

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News: Crime against business in South Yorkshire drops by nearly a quarter

A report from the South Yorkshire based Business Crime Reduction Centre (BCRC) shows that crimes against businesses were down 24% in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.

Using figures provided by South Yorkshire Police, the Centre breaks down reported crime in a number of ways including types of crime, reported value of the property stolen and the levels of crime in each of South Yorkshire's individual towns.

Although the retail sector experiences most in numbers of crimes, it is sectors such as Logistics and Engineering that show the highest monetary value of losses, giving rise to the description "low volume - high value crime."

Analysing the number of crimes committed in each of the major towns in the county shows that in Barnsley 14% of businesses were victims, Sheffield and Rotherham each saw 16% of its businesses hit by crime, while Doncaster suffered most with 20% of its businesses being victimised.

David Ransom, Director of the Business Crime Reduction Centre said: "We are delighted to be able to report such a significant drop in the number of crimes being committed against our local businesses.

"That's probably little compensation if your business has recently been victimised, however there can be no doubt that overall the picture regarding business crime is improving.

"This can only be positive for South Yorkshire, because crime is undoubtedly a brake on the forward movement of the economy."

BCRC website

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News: Urban Milk opens in Rotherham town centre

Urban Milk, a milkshake and waffle bar has opened in Rotherham town centre this week.

Based on Eastwood Lane, it offers an astonishing 1,500 combinations of milkshake flavours and toppings, from the familiar vanilla and strawberry to more unusual lemon meringue and peanut butter flavours.

Its waffles include fresh fruit, chocolate and strawberry sundaes, and customers can choose to eat in or takeaway.

Business owner Hayley Edge first saw the concept during a visit to London and decided that Rotherham would be an ideal location to set up her first business.

Hayley is a student in the third year of a Business & Enterprise Management degree course at Sheffield Hallam University, and has opened the shop as her year in industry but with a view to it continuing after she finishes her course.

Hayley said: "I first came across the idea of milkshake bars in London and loved the simplicity of it. Waffles again are simple but very different, so I decided to make my shop more than just a milkshake bar.

"It has taken a while to bring the business idea to life but university has now given me the skills and opportunity to make it happen."

Business Development Manager for Rotherham Borough Council, Tim O'Connell, said: "Urban Milk is a great example of the entrepreneurial spirit in Rotherham and joins the range of quality independent shops and market stalls which continue to make Rotherham an ideal shopping destination for those that are looking for something a bit different to the norm."

Urban Milk on facebook

Images: Urban Milk

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News: Sweet Greetings makes its mark in Rotherham Markets

Sweet Greetings set up by David Hortup from Sheffield, has won the regional round of Enterprise UK's "Make Your Mark in the Markets" competition.

The prize was to be located within a Markets Complex for two weeks and David picked Rotherham to launch his business.

Sweet Greetings provides personalised chocolate bars for all occasions and events, such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries etc.

The chocolate bars feature personalised wrappers with a message printed on the outside of the bar, and Sweet Greetings can put photos, personal messages or company logos on the wrapper to give the bars that personal touch.

David explains: "About three years ago I decided to design some chocolate bar wrappers to hand out to the children who were "trick or treating" at Halloween.

"The children's parents got hold of them and wanted some for Christmas and the business just took off from there.

"People were asking me to design personalised chocolate wrappers for all sorts of occasions and the orders started to come in."

His business is now entered into the national final of the competition and following a successful time trading in Rotherham's Indoor Market, David has already taken money and orders for providing his novelty chocolates at future events.

He added: "Taking part in "Make Your Mark in the Markets" is a golden opportunity for the business, and has really helped propel it to the next level. Being located in the Markets is a great test ground to get real feedback from customers and see if the business idea can cut it."

Sweet Greetings website
Rotherham Markets website

Images: sweetgreetings.co.uk

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News: Hargreaves trading update

Hargreaves Services, the North East firm that owns and operates Maltby Colliery in Rotherham, has issued a trading update for the twelve months ended 31 May 2010.

Hargreaves announced that overall results are expected to be in line with management expectations but problems at Maltby has meant that the performance of the production division in the second half will be slightly behind management expectations.

The operators invested in high specification face equipment for Maltby last year but further teething problems meant that underground production was disappointing in the second half.

Maltby employs around 500 people and supplies coal to the Drax Power Station near Selby.

The update reported that surface coal production and shipments to Drax have progressed well but have only partially offset the lower underground production.

Full year production was 1,056,000 tonnes, slightly below the 1,075,000 guidance provided in December 2009. The next face change at Maltby is planned for July 2010 with development work and equipment installation proceeding on target.

Hargreaves also announced that merger discussions with UK Coal plc have ceased and no merger is currently being considered.

Hargreaves website

Images: hargreavesservices.co.uk

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News: Eadon Consulting expands at the AMP

Eadon Consulting are set to take new office space at the AMP Technology Centre in Rotherham as part of their continued expansion.

Eadon Consulting are an independent mechanical and structural engineering design consultancy, who have been based at the AMP Technology Centre, on the Advanced Manufacturing Park, for the past ten months.

Due to their continuing growth, they have now expanded within the centre to larger office space, which now accommodates their existing skill set and resource with additional engineering and drafting support.

Eadon have been involved in several significant projects including the dehumidification of the Humber suspension bridge main cables and the Second Poole Harbour Crossing twin sails bascule bridge project.

James Hill of Eadon said: "Moving into the AMP Technology Centre has given us the opportunities and ability to grow in line with our current business aspirations. The support we have had from the Technology Centre staff and fellow tenants has been crucial to our success."

The AMP Technology Centre is their clients' preferred choice for hosting design and development meetings. This has enabled Eadon to invite clients to come and meet them at the Centre, saving both time and money and enabling the client to meet the wider Eadon team in a professional environment.

With their business flourishing and reputation growing, the Technology Centre not only provides an ideal location, but has also offers excellent facilities, which Eadon have been able to utilised to their advantage. Alongside the newly refurbished reception, the Technology Centre has been revamped to ensure a positive and lasting first impression to visitors.

Eadon website
AMP Technology Centre website

Images: AMP

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News: Information events for local waste project

A series of public information drop in sessions are being held regarding the proposed waste treatment facility in Manvers, Rotherham.

The Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham, (BDR) Waste Partnership is holding a series of drop in sessions at local venues.

They will give people the chance to find out more about what two waste industry specialist companies, SITA UK Lend Lease and 3SE, a consortium of Shanks Group plc and the SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy plc) are proposing for a brownfield site at Bolton Road, Manvers in Rotherham.

£77.4m of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funding has been secured from central government's Waste Infrastructure Development Programme to deliver the development.

BDR Waste Partnership Board Chair Cllr Richard Russell said: "We hope as many people as possible take the opportunity to visit these sessions and find out more about what is being proposed.

"All local authorities must have plans in place to manage the waste that is left when everything else possible has been recycled do this - if we don't, we face very heavy fines.

"At the moment, most of this leftover waste goes to landfill, but landfill sites across the country are almost full, and they produce harmful greenhouses gases which damage the environment.

"However, nothing will go ahead until there has been a full planning application.

"This means local people can find out information about both proposals now.

"They will then get a further chance later on in the process, to look and comment on the one detailed preferred proposal at the planning stage."

The two shortlisted bidders' proposals are being further developed and evaluated, before just one is selected later this year as the preferred contractor to take the proposal forward to the pre-planning stage.

The preferred scheme will be chosen later this year, and if planning and other permissions are granted, construction is expected to take two-and-a-half years. The facility will open in 2015.

The events will include details of the proposals, architectural impressions of what the facilities would look like and staff will be on hand to answer questions. Each session runs from 12 noon to 8pm. They are:

Wednesday June 16, (Barnsley), Prospect Road Community Centre, Bolton on Dearne
Friday June 18 June: (Rotherham), Montgomery Hall, Wath on Dearne
Tuesday June 22, (Doncaster), Mexborough Resource Centre.

BDR Partnership website

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News: MTL Group relocating to Rotherham

Contract manufacturing specialist MTL Group is relocating from its current Sheffield base to a new 300,000 square feet advanced manufacturing facility in Rotherham, which will house the company's state of the art equipment and will provide space for continued expansion.

MTL Group, which laser cuts, bends, machines and fabricates steel to customers' requirements has a global blue-chip customer base including BAE, Caterpillar, Babcock and Renault Truck Defence.

High profile projects include the supply of armoured belly-plates for increasing IED protection on British Army Vehicles in Afghanistan and key structural components for offshore windfarms.

Using state-of-the-art technology, including laser and waterjet cutting, manual & robotic press braking, manual & robotic welding and CNC machining, MTL Group works with some of the highest quality steel materials on the market including quenched and tempered high strength steel.

As one of Europe's largest suppliers of processed armour, the company were awarded a significant contract last month worth more than €4m to supply armour to a German defence and aerospace group.

MTL currently operates from 112,000 sq ft of manufacturing space in Darnall, employing more than 200 skilled staff. The move to Rotherham is set to create 50 jobs as they expand their operations.

Managing Director Dr Henry Shirman said: "By focusing on customer's requirements we have expanded rapidly into new sectors and are now a world-leader supplying across the globe. The strategic investment in the new site will see MTL more than double in size and enable us to deliver a greater range of services to our customers."

Yorkshire Forward is supporting the capital expansion with regional grant funding to support the 50 new jobs which will be created as a result of the move. MTL Group has also worked with Creative Sheffield and Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO) on relocating to the new site.

Simon Hill, Executive Director of Business at Yorkshire Forward added: "MTL Group's expansion and relocation is great news for the region; building on our international manufacturing offering and creating 50 new jobs. It demonstrates Yorkshire's manufacturing strengths with MTL grasping the opportunities that exist for focussed specialist manufacturing which is the main focus of the new regional manufacturing strategy."

MTL Group website

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News: Boccard UK selects Rotherham

Boccard UK, a French company involved in the nuclear energy and construction industries has selected Rotherham as a site for their Northern Division.

They hope to bring around 180 new construction jobs to the town and the surrounding areas.

The Northern Division of Boccard UK has been established to bring forward opportunities within the company and to establish new business based on past customers and existing relationships within the construction industry.

Boccard is becoming known within the UK construction industry as a new force, the French parent company is investing heavily in the UK with sites in Manchester and Cardiff, plus the newest acquisition in Rotherham.

Since 1918 and through four generations, the construction of industrial piping systems has been Boccard's core business. The company has expanded its expertise in project management, automation, prefabrication, manufacturing and construction.

They have also moved into new markets such as nuclear power and now operate in over 20 countries. Clients include Areva, EDF, Gaz de France, Unilever, Total and Shell.

Boccard UK Ltd offers a wide range of maintenance services, from preventative and industrial maintenance to power plant decommissioning.

Services provided also include mechanical installation and construction, steelwork erection, and the provision of skilled labour and back up for other Boccard providers. Within the group are facilities for pipe work design, manufacture and installation as well as steelwork design, fabrication and erection.

Local agents, Burgess Commercial have completed the letting of industrial premises at Bradmarsh Court in Templeborough.

Doug Haywood of Boccard UK said: "We were very happy with the professional and efficient service we received from Burgess Commercial in assisting in our move to Bradmarsh Court."

Andrew Nettleton, Business Investment Manager at Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO), Rotherham Council's regeneration arm, welcomed Boccard to Rotherham. He said: "We are pleased that French company Boccard UK, a world leader in their field, have chosen Rotherham for their latest UK base.

"Coupled with the recent announcement of Rolls Royce's Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Centre, on the Rotherham's Advanced Manufacturing Park, the addition of Boccard's expertise adds to the regions strength in the construction of nuclear and power generation facilities."

Boccard website
Burgess Commercial website

Images: boccard.co.uk

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News: Sterecycle celebrates double success

Sterecycle is celebrating the successful operation of its advanced autoclaving facility in Rotherham for the last two years.

Sterecycle commenced operations at its 100,000 tonnes per annum capacity autoclave plant at Templeborough in June 2008 and since then has been processing "black bag" municipal waste from several local authorities, including the Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham Waste Partnership, under their Interim Waste Contract.

The company also recycles local commercial and industrial waste from organisations such as Toyota Manufacturing UK and Doncaster's main shopping centre, Lakeside Village.

To date, nearly 130,000 tonnes of waste have been treated through the company's autoclave vessels, with consistently over 60% of this being diverted from landfill. The company has recently commenced construction and improvements work at the site to increase the capacity of the plant to 200,000 tonnes per annum, with a landfill diversion target in excess of 70%.

Sterecycle Chief Executive Officer, Tom Shields, said: "Our two year operational anniversary is a clear sign that the Sterecycle process is now an established and proven technology for the treatment of municipal solid waste.

"With rising levels of landfill tax, alternative waste treatment options are becoming increasingly viable. We have now demonstrated that autoclaving is robust and through our operations at Rotherham, we have gained a considerable amount of understanding and processing experience which we will use to improve the facility through the expansion works, and for the development of future Sterecycle plants."

In February Sterecycle raised £10 million to kick‐start a multi‐year investment programme in recycling plants based on its environmentally‐friendly autoclave technology.

Sterecycle will invest part of the funds to expand the capacity of its Rotherham plant. By late 2010 capacity is expected to double from 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes per annum.

Sterecycle is also celebrating being awarded the internationally recognised standards BS EN ISO 9001 (quality management system); ISO 14001 (environmental management system); and OHSAS 18001 (health and safety management system) for its autoclaving operations at the Rotherham facility.

Paul Greenwell, Sterecycle's Operations Director, said: "Sterecycle is proud to have been awarded these international accreditations. We are committed to providing a healthy and safe working environment for all of our employees and others affected by our activities; including customers, visitors and the general public.

"Our commitment to the environment and to improving the quality of our customer service is demonstrated in this success. It demonstrates very clearly to all of our stakeholders that we are committed to excellence in all that we do."

Sterecycle website

Images: Sterecycle

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News: Garnett Dickinson signs up Native Publisher Services

Rotherham print group, Garnett Dickinson has announced that magazine distributor, Native Publisher Services, has merged in to the Garnett Dickinson Group in order to grow its presence in the magazine distribution sector.

Recent contract wins within the past few months brings the number of magazines distributed by Native to 55 with more contracts in the pipeline.

As part of the Garnett Dickinson Group the division will change its name to Native PS Magazine Distribution and the existing subscription services offered by Garnett Dickinson will be transferred to the new division.

The announcement has already been welcomed by publishers as the addition of distribution services extends the range of services to specialist publishers currently served by Acorn Web and Garnett Dickinson Print; design, printing, distribution, circulation management, subscription marketing and fulfilment.

Andrew Crowther, Managing Director of Native Publisher Services, said: "Native can now focus on our next stage of growth. We have over twenty years of experience in the UK news trade, subscription marketing and export.

"Now we can add even more services to our menu of publisher services, subscription fulfilment and print, and offer them all from the same site. It has always been our aim to be the best at what we do, and with the merger with Garnett Dickinson Group, this is already becoming a reality."

Nick Alexander, Group Chief Executive of Garnett Dickinson said: "Our publisher customers tell us they would like support in a number of core activities in addition to printing. Native is a long standing specialist business with great opportunity for growth that fits nicely with our portfolio of services and some of our publisher customers are already seeing the benefits to their magazines."

The Garnett Dickinson Group has sales of £49m and employ 350 staff. They moved into its £20m state-of-the-art facility on Brookfield's Park in Manvers in 2006.

Garnett Dickinson website

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News: Rotherham transport schemes stopped in their tracks

The Government has announced that it is suspending all major transport schemes not already under contract.

For Rotherham these include the Northern and Southern routes of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, the Waverley Link road and improvements on the A57 between the M1 and Todwick crossroads.

In March, local authorities agreed that the £76m BRT scheme, designed to improve connectivity between Rotherham and Sheffield, is a top priority and that a business case be submitted to the Department for Transport.

The £40m northern route would link Sheffield and Rotherham passing Meadowhall, the Lower Don Valley and Templeborough and would help to foster economic growth along the corridor by helping people access jobs and opportunities.

The scheme would provide an alternative all transport route which bypasses the congested M1 junction 34 South by providing a new section of highway beneath the Tinsley Viaduct.

The £36m southern route of the scheme would run from Sheffield city centre, along the Parkway to the proposed new development at Waverley and onto Rotherham Interchange.

Work was set to start in 2013 with the first services beginning on the southern route in 2014 and the northern route in 2015.

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News: Macalloy at the FIFA World Cup

When the opening ceremony for the 2010 FIFA World Cup takes places in Johannesburg this Friday, Rotherham construction expertise will have made it possible.

Award-winning construction experts, Macalloy has supplied their threaded bar and cable systems to the Soccer City Stadium, the centrepiece to the South African tournament and the venue for the final on July 11.

Macalloy 460 tie rods were supplied as cross bracing to strengthen the outer wall structure of the impressive stadium, designed to have the appearance of an African pot.

The multi-million pound upgrade was designed by world leaders in sports stadia, Populous and the pot's facade is made up of laminated fibre reinforced concrete panels in a selection of eight colours and two textures that make reference to the shades and textures of the African pot known as a calabash.

Based in Dinnington, Macalloy are world leaders in design, manufacture and supply of threaded bar and cable systems to engineering and construction projects across the globe.

This is the not the first World Cup final venue to make use of their innovative systems, the Olympia Stadion in Berlin, the venue for the 2006 final, used approximately 100t of galvanised Macalloy 460 tie rods to act as bracing within the steel work supporting the main membrane roof structure.

In addition to Soccer City Stadium, Macalloy 460 tendons have been used to create the iconic features of the newly constructed $140m Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, the venue for four group matches over the summer.

The roof is iconic and appropriate to the stadium's setting on the edge of world famous Kruger National Park - its structural masts, supported by Macalloy tendons, are designed to resemble giraffes.

In April, Macalloy earned the Queen's Awards for Enterprise 2010 for international trade.

Over six years the company's export earnings have increased by 124% from its markets in 58 countries worldwide.

In 2009, the company's largest projects included the Dubai Metro and Concourse 3 at Dubai International Airport - both awarded as a result of its other successes in the Middle East.

Macalloy moved to Dinington from Sheffield in November 2006 as part of their continued expansion.

Macalloy website

Images: populous.com / macalloy.com

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News: Horner Brothers recognised for creating better futures

Rotherham print group, Horner Brothers, has been named as a finalist in the Yorkshire Forward Creating Better Futures Awards.

The awards recognise partnerships between private and public sector organisations and voluntary, community and faith organisations that benefit communities throughout Yorkshire and Humber.

Horner Brothers have been recognised for their involvement with the Reading Matters charity which began in 2008.

Reading Matters trained employees at the Templeborough company as volunteer reading mentors to enable them to help local school children who struggle with reading.

The scheme provides great team building benefits and volunteers gain satisfaction from the knowledge that they are helping to support and inspire young people by improving their reading skills and self confidence.

In return for the training investment and ongoing support from Reading Matters, Horner Brothers donated £500 to Reading Matters and printed all the marketing and stationary materials for the charity free of charge.

The awards take place in Leeds on July 1 where seven awards will be presented in all. In each case both partners will receive an award and the VCF organisation will receive a £10,000 grant.

Horner Brothers website
Reading Matters website

Yorkshire Forward website

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News: Rotherham all set for advanced manufacturing growth

The pioneering public sector team helping Rotherham and the rest of South Yorkshire capitalise on the growth in advanced manufacturing is up to full strength.

The Advanced Manufacturing and Materials (AMM) business development team is working to attract some of the leading names in the manufacturing sector to South Yorkshire as well as assisting in key research projects.

The past six months alone have seen metals technologies company Siemens VAI establish its headquarters in Sheffield, the announcement of the £25m Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) in Rotherham and home grown companies such as Forgemasters are going from strength to strength.

During the past year the project has already attracted eight inward investments to the region, creating 131 jobs and securing £2.3 million of private sector investment.

With the addition of Anthony Cundall as a Business Development Manager, alongside Philippa Hedley, Joe Anwyl and Anne Brennan as the customer facing members of the team, the project line-up is now up to full strength, and has a business development strategy in place to ensure the sector continues to develop at pace.

Joe Anwyl, Head of Business Development for the AMM project, said: "Partnership working is the key to making sure manufacturing stays part of the heart and soul of South Yorkshire. The region is renowned worldwide for its ability to manufacture high quality materials and advanced manufacturing will play a key role in the economy as we move out of the recession. It is important that the region pulls together to put us in a strong position to lead the UK into the future.

"We have started from a strong position as there is already an impressive array of companies in the region - the fact that eight new leading manufacturing companies have decided to set up business in South Yorkshire in challenging economic times illustrates how attractive the skills of the people of our region are - and we are continuing to focus on helping more big name companies relocate to the area."

The team offers a range of services to potential investors, including support with finding a property, financial advice and access to funding, a HR consultancy and broker introductions to other specialist organisations.

Tim O'Connell, Business Development Manager at RiDO (Rotherham Investment & Development Office), said: "South Yorkshire has a unique mix of leading companies in the sector, pioneering research, an excellent range of quality property options and a strong supply of skilled and experienced employees and engineering graduates.

"This offer combined with an international reputation for excellence in manufacturing and engineering means South Yorkshire offers potential investors a unique and attractive proposition."

This initiative is funded by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward and managed by staff from Creativesheffield and the Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO), and operates on behalf of the four local authorities in South Yorkshire (Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley).

Rotherham Investment and Development Office
AMP website
Creative Sheffield website

Images: creativesheffield.co.uk

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News: Fashion show hits Rotherham town centre

Local businesses have worked together to stage Rotherham town centre's first ever fashion show held on Saturday June 5th.

Eight retail outlets from Rotherham town centre showed off the very best of the latest summer fashions, including Image, Yellow Brick Road, Internacionale, Mesmerize, Dressed by KS, Ethel Austin, TDFC (To Die For Couture) and Bon Marche.

The event was organised by ACT for Rotherham, which is the group that is responsible for events and activities that help to promote town centre businesses.

ACT For Rotherham's Donna Tuxford said: "This has been an exciting and hugely successful event. Shopping is a leisure experience and the fashion show demonstrated some of the best that Rotherham has to offer and that there really is no need to shop for clothes elsewhere!

"From independent boutiques with their very own designers, to affordable high street fashion, Rotherham town centre has something for everyone. This event was about showcasing our fantastic local businesses and encouraging people to shop here to ensure the continuous prosperity of the town."

And it wasn't all about fashion, as fresh from the finals of Britain's Got Talent, dance troupe ICE entertained the crowds with their stunning TV performance, which created an amazing vibe in All Saints Square.

Councillor Mahroof Hussain, Cabinet Member for Community Development and Engagement, said: "This was a fantastic event and is credit to the hard work of the local fashion stores for putting on such an amazing show. It just goes to show what can be achieved here in Rotherham when we work together as One Town One Community – the opportunities are endless!"

ACT for Rotherham Facebook page

Images: ACT For Rotherham

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