News: NICE boost for Inditherm medical products

Innovative medical products from Rotherham-based Inditherm have been given final approval from The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). A move that is expected to lead for further business in the NHS.

NICE are recognised as being a world leader in setting standards for high quality healthcare and are the most prolific producer of clinical guidelines in the world. They have issued guidance that supports the use of Inditherm patient warming systems for patients undergoing operations which carry risk of inadvertent hypothermia.

Inditherm products use low voltage carbon polymer technology to provide heat and unlike other forms of heating, there are no hot spots. In addition, the system ensures that every surgical patient can be warmed at the same running cost as a light-bulb.

After rigorous evaluation of the clinical evidence, NICE concluded that the effectiveness of the Inditherm patient warming mattress is similar to that of forced air warming in maintaining patient core body temperature above 36°C and that the Inditherm system may have practical advantages.

NICE also estimate that the cost saving when the Inditherm patient warming system replaces forced air warming is estimated to be £9800 annually per operating theatre.

Professor Carole Longson, director of the NICE Centre for Health Technology Evaluation, said: "We are very pleased to publish guidance today advising that the Inditherm patient warming mattress should be considered for use in patients at risk of inadvertent hypothermia.

"The evidence examined indicates that as well as benefiting patients by reducing a range of serious complications associated with inadvertent hypothermia, it also benefits the NHS by saving money."

Nick Bettles, chief executive of Inditherm added: "We are delighted that NICE has recognised the value of our patient warming mattress both in terms of its effectiveness in maintaining patient core body temperature and the cost savings it offers.

"This could save the NHS in England alone well over £15m per annum if forced air warming was replaced by Inditherm's mattress for eligible procedures in most of the 3,030 operating theatres.

"I am confident that this positive recommendation will see an increasing interest in our product and its more consistent use across NHS operating theatres, with additional income starting to flow as it gets embraced into the NHS budgeting process."

Earlier this month, the AIM-listed Manvers firm received another boost to their medical business after they were awarded a contract by the UK NHS Supply Chain to include their products in the NHS online catalogue.

Inditherm website

Images: inditherm.co.uk

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News: Young Rotherham entrepreneur drumming up business

A Rotherham teenager has opened his own drum tuition and repair business, JSA Drums, with the help of the Rotherham Enterprise Project.

18 year-old Jake Adderley started having private drum lessons and began studying for his music grades at the age of 16 and this year gained his national diploma in music at Barnsley College. After achieving the highest grade at his drum lessons, a grade eight distinction, he started looking for a new challenge.

Jake said: "I began thinking about starting a business years ago but was always put of by the competition and other drum teachers around."

Rotherham Enterprise Project business coaches helped Jake with information and advice on advertising, target markets, finance and helped to secure a subsidised workshop to run his business based at Century Youth Business Centre in Manvers, Rotherham.

Just a month later JSA Drums was opened - offering drum kit repairs as well as tuition to students of all ages as part of his Beat Freaks classes.

Jake added: "Some people are really surprised I've started a business so young but my parents have always encouraged me as well as my college tutors and the Rotherham Enterprise Project has been fantastic in helping me get where I am today."

Jackie Frost of the Rotherham Enterprise Project, said: "Doing what we love to earn a living is a dream we all have and for Jake to achieve this at just 18 is amazing.

"He is a shining example to other young people of what you can do when you put your mind to it and we are very proud to have helped him into his journey to business."

The Rotherham Enterprise Project gives start-up businesses the help, support and guidance to enable them to flourish. It is part-funded from the European Regional Development Fund.

For more information on JSA Drums contact Jake on 075301 05775 or email drummerjake@hotmail.co.uk

Rotherham Enterprise Project website


Images: Rotherham Enterprise Project

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News: Promotion at Brinsworth Training

Leading engineering and manufacturing training provider, Brinsworth Training recently announced the promotion of Philip Upton to Business Services Manager as he takes on the role to head up their service delivery to employers following their growing presence in South Yorkshire.

Philip is an established engineer having worked for over 30 years in the private sector and also has a strong understanding of apprenticeship funding following his work for a number of years in Further Education at Stannington College.

Mick Crossley, managing director at Brinsworth Training said: "We congratulate Philip on his new position within the company. Philip will strategically work alongside the business development team and also the senior management team to ensure that we maintain a solid reputation in South Yorkshire for delivering effective, pragmatic and professional engineering training services that meet the needs of local business."

Philip added: "Brinsworth Training is one of the UK's leading training providers and offers bespoke courses to meet the needs of the employer or the individual. This new role will ensure that the training we deliver meets the technological advances within the engineering and manufacturing industry."

Brinsworth Training website

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News: EMSc celebrates ten years of growth in Rotherham

Rotherham-based company EMSc (UK) Limited is celebrating ten years of continued success having recently reported on another year of outstanding growth.

In the last 12 months the company has seen turnover increase by 50%, to £12.4m and has doubled its workforce to 70 people. To accommodate the growth the company has also moved into larger premises.

EMS has come a long way since its early days when founder and designer of the company's market leading product Powerstar, Dr. Alex Mardapittas, set up the company in his study at home.

EMS has always been at the forefront of the latest energy saving technologies and is constantly looking to launch new products that will allow companies to reduce not only their electricity bills, but their carbon emissions as well. It is this vision which has allowed the company to grow at the rate it has.

The Templeborough company, which manufactures all its products in the UK includes ASDA, Coop, Punch Taverns, London Stock Exchange, Metropolitan Police, Transport for London, Sheffield University, Bristol University and a large number of other Blue Chip clients, alongside government departments, Local Authorities and the NHS as its customers.

Internationally the EMS is also expanding its presence with distribution agreements to supply Powerstar in Australia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bahrain and Holland as well as the development of its own operation in Cyprus.

Dr Alex Mardapittas, managing director at EMS, said: "We have grown a lot over the last few years to meet the growing market demand for our products. Excitingly, and despite the current recession, we are anticipating our growth to continue at an even faster pace than we have over the last few years."

EMSc (UK) website

Images: powerstar.co.uk

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News: Further Rotherham assets transfer to HCA

Further assets in Rotherham will be transferred from Yorkshire Forward to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The government announced in July that RDA land and property assets would be transferred to HCA, with local communities and businesses involved in decisions about future development plans. This will maximise the long-term benefits to economic growth and regeneration in local areas.

Rotherham assets on the latest list include the Advanced Manufacturing Park Technology Centre and EETC wings on The Advanced Manufacturing Park, Centurian Business Park (Pumping Station) at Templeborough, Brooklands Park at Dinnington, Hellaby Industrial Estate at Hellaby and Thurcroft.

Pat Ritchie, chief executive of the HCA, said: "Today's announcement marks a key milestone in the RDA land and property asset transfer to the HCA. We look forward to the completion of this process, and building on our existing relationships with local partners to deliver the best outcome for local communities through future development and disposal of the former RDA assets."

In July, The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that it would retain the AMP Technology Centre. In a written Ministerial statement, the government identified the AMP Technology Centre as having national importance and stated that it will be retained within central Government in order to be developed further to support investments in innovation and technology.

As part of the transfer, the Government is to establish a stewardship arrangement and contract the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to manage the asset.

Coalfield land owned by Yorkshire Forward transferred to the HCA earlier this year - employment land at Dinnington Colliery and Roundwood Colliery plus the former pit head baths and associated land at Kiveton Colliery.

The leasehold of former offices at Renaissance House in Manvers is also to be transferred to the HCA under a stewardship model. In addition, Plot 4 at the AMP and the Tarmac Site, Wath Upon Dearne were released for disposal on the open market last April.

The transfer is currently planned to take effect on 19 September 2011.

HCA website

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News: Rotherham companies seize export opportunities

Rotherham companies working with UK Trade & Investment Yorkshire and Humber (UKTI Y&H), seized export opportunities between April 2010 to March 2011, increasing the value of their international trade by £3.3m.

UKTI Y&H, the regional organisation which promotes international trade and encourages foreign direct investment into the UK, worked with 87 companies in Rotherham, creating or safeguarding 32 jobs.

The United States and Germany remain Yorkshire & the Humber's biggest overseas markets, with France and Ireland accounting for a substantial share of export earnings. China continues to be a growth market – maintaining its position in the top 10 export markets by value for 2010.

Philip Kelly, head of international trade at UKTI Y&H, said: "There is huge potential for Yorkshire companies in a wide range of sectors to take advantage of the growth in both emerging and traditional economies.

"Although the UK economy is in recession, there are many opportunities for companies, with the right capabilities and determination, to grow their businesses – international trade has never been a more attractive prospect to many of our regions companies."

Rotherham companies that have strong exports include VO4HOME, Hydra Mining Tools International, Martek Marine, Inditherm and MTL Group. AESSEAL and SP Containers were both awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise 2011 for international trade.

In Rotherham, companies looking to export are also getting help through the "Soft Landings Zone" (SLZ) project managed by Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO) and funded from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

In addition to helping overseas companies that are looking to establish operations in the UK, the SLZ project works with local companies through accelerated support programmes to develop ideas that have true potential to create export focused businesses.

UKTI Y&H website
Rotherham Investment & Development Office

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News: MGB Plastics wins major contract with Serco

Rotherham manufacturer, MGB Plastics has won a major deal to supply hundreds of thousands of waste management products to Serco, one of the biggest operators of waste services in the country.

The agreement has seen MGB secure a deal to supply 170,000 bins to Serco over the coming months. Serco's environmental services business extends across 14 local authorities throughout the UK, and cover a range of services including refuse and recycling, landscaping, grounds maintenance, as well as housing repairs and improvements.

Conor Sugrue, general manager at MGB Plastics, said the tender win was a crucial part of the ongoing long-term strategy for the business.

He said: "This is an important win for us and we're delighted to have been appointed by Serco, one of the leading private waste service operators in the UK following a competitive tender.

"The award of this tender demonstrates our long-term growth plans for MGB Plastics and part of our vision where form partnership with firms who are committed to waste management and tackling the UK's recycling targets.

"This will allow us to build on our already very successful relationship with local authorities across the UK. We look forward to a mutually beneficial working experience with Serco over the next three years and hopefully beyond."

The Rotherham firm will now supply its range of products, including wheelie bins and kitchen caddies, to Serco over the next three years depending on the needs of local authorities. Next month MGB will supply 20,000 180L bins to Serco which it will distribute to homeowners in Sandwell.

MGB Plastics is the UK's leading manufacturer of wheeled bins. Last month they made a a six figure investment in new machinery that means that the manufacturing capacity of the modern facility on Barbot Hall Industrial Estate is 1.5 million wheeled bins per annum.

MGB Plastics website

Images: mgbplastics.com

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News: Henry Boot waits on pre-lets at Northfields development

Sheffield-based land and construction group Henry Boot has found success at the Northfields development in Rotherham but is waiting on further pre-lets before commencing on the second phase.


In a financial statement, the company said that the 50,000 sq ft B&Q at Northfields Industrial Park at Parkgate has continued to trade well and that lettings have now been completed on the two 5,000 sq ft, speculatively built industrial units.

Trade retailer, Tile Giant, part of Travis Perkins, and Quay Plastics, a national plastics manufacturer, have both exchanged contracts to occupy the units, with the latter already making the move across town.

The group stated that: "The demand for further bulky goods retail space has remained subdued and existing vacant stock in the area has soaked up any demand. Therefore, development of the second phase of 50,000 sq ft of retail space will only commence once we have obtained viable pre-lets."

They did however add that they saw continuing interest in the remaining industrial land, in addition to working on alternative, higher value uses.

The park has secured planning permission for a wide a range of uses in order to make the development available to a broader spectrum of potential occupiers. The developers have also bid to secure funding from the European Regional Development Fund to bring forward the speculative development aimed at SMEs in growth sectors.

Henry Boot reported that revenue increased to £66.9m from £55.1m in 2010 with profits for the first half of the year increasing from £5.8m to £11m.

Henry Boot website

Images: Henry Boot

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News: Cutting & Wear's precision trained personnel

Rotherham manufacturing firm, Cutting & Wear, is ensuring that they continue to grow by developing the skills of existing employees.

In the last year employee numbers have increased by 15 percent, but, according to operations director, John Barnett, recruiting people with the right skills is becoming increasingly difficult. John said: "For Cutting & Wear personal development is part of a company-wide, continuous improvement philosophy. Staff training and development is fundamental to the on-going success of the business and everyone at the company is actively encouraged to enhance their skills."

The company is a rapidly expanding supplier of engineering services to the global oil and gas exploration industry and recently celebrated the success of four employees who completed courses leading to national vocational qualifications (NVQs) in subjects including Customer Service and Team Leadership.

NVQs assess skills, knowledge and understanding of a wide range of work-based situations; the qualifications are based on national occupational standards and are aimed at enhancing the practical skills needed for employees, at all levels, to perform their roles more effectively.

In addition to the success with NVQs, a number of the company's young middle managers have recently become members of the Sheffield Junior Chamber of Commerce, whose aim is to help develop tomorrow's business leaders. As well as ensuring that all personnel are trained to do their jobs effectively, the company is also keen to develop staff who have the potential to progress to senior management and even board room positions.

Apprenticeships have also become an important element of the company's recruitment programme and they are planning to increase the number of apprenticeship places in the next 12 months. The apprenticeships are a cost effective way for the company to develop staff with the right skills for the future.

In February, the Greasbrough Road company announced plans to move to a purpose-built £5m facility at Ecclesfield in Sheffield.

Cutting & Wear website

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News: Solaglas responds to riot hit retailers

Rotherham-based commercial glazing specialist Solaglas Installation, reported a surge in business following the recent riots across the country.

A sample survey on the effects of the riots was released this week, made up of British Retail Consortium (BRC) members responsible for a total of 27 per cent of UK retail sales. It showed that 899 stores were affected and lost over 7,500 hours of trading.

The Manvers company worked tirelessly to take on more than the equivalent of two weeks worth of new instructions in a 48 hour period.

Darren Dickinson, service director at Solaglas Installation, said: "Being a 24/7 operation 365 days a year, we have the systems in place to cope with the surge in demand for events of this nature ensuring we support our customers in a very professional manner.

"Being part of the Saint-Gobain group, we work closely with our sister companies such as Jewson. Jewson opened two branches for us on Sunday 7th in London, outside of normal working hours, enabling us to focus our efforts on deploying field engineers to affected sites without incurring delays and logistical challenges of gathering the required securing materials.

"Hundreds of our customers were affected by the riots and we are pleased we were able to deliver a swift, reliable service in what has been a very difficult time for them. It is testament to the systems we have in place to cope with unforeseen events and the hard work of our team that we were able to achieve this."

Solaglas delivered glass solutions following the riots to major retailers throughout the High Street including Costa Coffee, WH Smith, and communications giant Everything Everywhere (the merger between Orange and T-Mobile).

Solaglas website

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News: Willmott Dixon opening doors for young people in Rotherham

An increased number of Rotherham school and college pupils are set to benefit from on the job work experience and training after Willmott Dixon opened its doors to students.

Willmott Dixon Partnerships, which repairs and maintains 12,000 homes in Rotherham, plans to offer a minimum of ten work experience placements each year to school pupils and students at the company's Rotherham branch as part of its "Opening Doors" programme.

The programme, which has been running across the company's UK operations, aims to interest young people in vocational training.

15 year old Joseph Hughes, who attends St Bernard's School was the first local student to benefit from the introduction of the scheme in Rotherham. He spent one week working with the customer and community officer for Rotherham branch, to gain an overview of the office environment and a better understanding of business procedures, before spending time following a team of plumbers and plasterers.

Joseph said: "At the moment I am not sure exactly what I want to do as a career but think that my work experience with Willmott Dixon has definitely given me a better understanding of the workplace and will help me to decide in future.

"I very much enjoyed following the plumbers and plasterers and seeing how it all worked, they even let me help with some of the easy bits. Although I preferred being on site, I think the area of work I'd quite like to pursue would involve business management.

"I would say to anyone interested in either a career in business management or a trade to definitely consider getting a work experience placement at Willmott Dixon, it was a very good experience for me and opened my eyes to the working world."

Mick Williamson, managing director at Willmott Dixon Partnerships, said: "We are investing in the communities in which we work to create a lasting legacy. We are therefore keen to provide practical hands on experience for students wherever possible.

"In this current economic climate, many companies are turning away from vocational learning; however we recognise the value such investment has for the long term and for the success of our business."

Willmott Dixon website

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News: Lee connects with IT specialist

Rotherham-based IT infrastructure specialist Connect-IP has appointed Lee Stokes as the company's new sales manager.

The 36-year-old from North Lincolnshire will be specifically responsible for developing new business within the construction sector.

Lee said: "My 20-year experience in network infrastructure working for installers, distributors and most recently a leading manufacturer, will be invaluable as I continue to raise the profile of Connect-IP's services and solutions within the construction community.

"Connect-IP has developed an excellent reputation for delivering quality systems and it's now time we started to tell everyone about our success. We are starting to see definite signs of activity in the construction market and I believe we are perfectly placed to exploit the potential of this."

Mark Richardson, director of Connect-IP, added: "The business is really starting to take shape now and attracting people of Lee's calibre is testament to the brand we are building. Lee's extensive experience and knowledge of the industry will be crucial as we move through a significant period of growth."

As well as the construction industry, Connect-IP provide infrastructure cabling, wireless, access control and IP surveillance support to a vast range of businesses, including the public and private sectors, finance, banking, education, local authorities and the police.

Based at Vector 31 at Waleswood, Connect-IP celebrated their fifth birthday last year. Since its launch the company has trebled turnover and increased staffing numbers from five to 60.

Connect-IP website

Images: Connect-IP

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News: Rotherham to host major aerospace conference

The newly-formed Aerospace, Aviation & Defence Knowledge Transfer Network (AAD KTN) will host a two day conference at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham on September 20 - 21.

Funded by the Technology Strategy Board, the AAD KTN is a network spanning government, industry and academia with the aim of promoting and enabling innovation and stimulating economic growth in the UK's aerospace, aviation and defence sectors.


The theme of the conference is technology; what enables its birth and inception; what steers the development of new technology to ensure its relevance; how will it provide societal and economic benefit by entering the market; and how this will provide opportunity to businesses at both ends of the scale.

The conference will also see the launch of the 2011 refresh of the National Aerospace Technology Strategy and include discussion on the potential opportunities for the UK.

The keynote address will be from David Willetts MP, Minister for Science and Universities, and the event will be chaired by Sir John O' Reilly, Vice Chancellor of Cranfield University.

Other speakers include representatives from Airbus UK, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce plc and delegates will have the chance to tour the nearby The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.

Councillor Gerald Smith, Rotherham Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Town Centres, Economic Growth and Prosperity said: "Rotherham has a long and proud history of making products and special steels that have been used in the world's advanced manufacturing industries. This history continues to be enhanced with the activities taking place on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) and within our key companies such as Tata Steel, MTL Group, Newburgh Engineering and AESSEAL.

"It is therefore wholly appropriate that Rotherham has been chosen as the place to launch the UK's latest aerospace technology strategy and we look forward to welcoming the delegates to the country's advanced manufacturing heartland."

Aerospace, Aviation & Defence KTN website

Images: rolls-royce.com

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News: Gold stars for Rotherham food producers

Two Rotherham companies are celebrating after winning prestigious Great Taste Awards for 2011.

Organised by the Guild of Fine Food and now in their 18th year, the awards are the most trusted and recognised food and drink awards in the country. They are the speciality food and drink equivalent of the Michelin star in fine dining.

The Yorkshire Crisp Company has been presented with a coveted one-star Gold Great Taste Award for its Roast Lamb and Mint gourmet crisps.

The Waleswood company produces hand-made gourmet crisps made from local vegetables and totally natural flavours and the new flavour was launched earlier this year following a national competition.

Tim Wheatley, sales director at The Yorkshire Crisp Company, said: "We are thrilled to have won this award with our new limited edition guest flavour, which is our first non-vegetarian crisp.

"Winning a Great Taste Award recognises the efforts we go to in producing our luxury crisps and because of its success, we are now going to make the Roast Lamb and Mint flavour a permanent line in our range. We are also extending the range by launching Lamb & Mint in our unique 100g drums in October."

The crisps are exported across the world an are sold in regional supermarkets and John Lewis Food Halls, Fortnum & Mason, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges.

Very Delicious managed to go one better by gaining two of the coveted one-star Gold Great Taste Awards - one for its White Chocolate and Raspberry Cheesecake and one for its Gluten Free Almond and Orange cake.

Parkgate-based Very Delicious specialise in handmade desserts and buffets. They use local ingredients from local companies combined with recipes that have been perfected to give that extra sparkle.

Fiona Morgan, catering director of Very Delicious said: "We are delighted with these awards. Winning a Great Taste Award recognises the hard work and dedication that has gone into making desserts our customers come back time and time again for.

"We pride ourselves on making cheesecakes and cakes that will make your taste buds tingle."

For the 2011 Great Taste Awards, over 7,400 products were judged over an intense two-month period. Each food entered receives feedback from a panel of over 300 judges and before gold is awarded, a minimum of 12 experts, often 16, have to taste, discuss and agree.

Bob Farrand, chairman for The Great Taste Awards, said: "Winning Gold in the country's largest and most respected independent food accreditation scheme is a massive pat on the back for any producer – independent proof their products are of the highest quality."

Yorkshire Crisps website
Very Delicious website

Images: yorkshire-crisps.co.uk / Very Delicious

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News: Green investment points to a bright future at Magna

Solar panels covering an area equivalent to half a football pitch have been installed at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham.

The 2,155 photovoltaic panels on the visitor attraction's roof are expected to save £16,000 in electricity bills in the first year alone. And they are just the start of moves to become more sustainable, with plans for wind power and grey-water harvesting in the pipeline.

The solar panels, which were installed by Rotherham-based WS Systems, cover more than 3,000 square metres on the south-facing roof, making it one of the biggest solar photovoltaic projects in the region.

Scott Newhouse, chief operating officer at WS Systems, said: "The project was always going to be challenging working with a building that is over 100 years old, but we overcame all the obstacles.

"It makes sense for businesses to use their roofs to save money and slowly more and more are turning to solar power to cut their electricity bills."

James Smith, facilities manager at Magna, added: "We will be saving about 92 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. But the energy we now receive from the solar panels is just the start of the sustainability plans we have in place.

"We are working with WS Systems and looking at erecting a 70 metre tall wind turbine near the coach park, because we get strong winds down the west side of the building. We also want to introduce grey-water harvesting, where we use rain water that runs off the roof to flush the 96 toilets.

"All this means not only could we save electricity and water, but also do our bit to save the planet."

The green credentials of the UK's first science adventure centre are a far cry from the days when Magna's site at Templeborough operated as a steelworks which was known locally as Steelos. Then there were six electric arc furnaces housed within the huge building with each melt using 750 million units of electricity – enough to power a small town such as Doncaster.

In contrast the electricity being generated at Magna by the solar panels could power about 40 average-sized homes.

Magna website
WS Systems website

Images: Magna

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News: Mayflower Engineering finds success in new sectors

South Yorkshire's Mayflower Engineering is showing how specialisation and diversification into new niche markets can be the perfect method of recovery from the recession.

The business, which underwent a management buyout in 2008, was immediately faced with the full impact of the banking crisis resulting in a near complete withdrawal of capital funding from the marketplace.

The Sheffield-based firm lost nearly 50% of business from regular customers, most notably Corus Steels.

The new management team of Kevan Bingham and Glyn Hobson devised a strategy to face the difficulties head-on, by diversifying into niche markets. This has led to gaining new business in sectors as varied as sub-sea, off-shore, wave to energy, nuclear, rail, river and canal gates and bridges, military vehicles and waste recycling.

One of the biggest successes is the contract for the design and build of the next generation of autoclaves for Sterecycle's Rotherham facility.

The first of an intended three new waste processing autoclaves has been successfully shop assembled and tested at Mayflower's plant assembly workshops in Rotherham.

The £1.4m contract with Sterecycle for the design, manufacture and installation of the new up-rated municipal waste processing autoclaves was secured in 2010 against stiff competition and will replace the two existing vessels at the Sterecycle plant in Templeborough in early 2012, providing a substantial increase in processing capacity.

Glyn Hobson, operations director at Mayflower Engineering Ltd, said: "We are very pleased in how the design and development of the new rotating, pivoting, heated, pressure vessel has been undertaken in close collaboration with Sterecycle's engineers to produce an autoclave to the highest construction and safety standards and capable of meeting Sterecycle's operational demands at the Rotherham site for the next twenty five years."

"This is just one of a number of projects we have won following our decision to target new markets. It shows how if a business has the right skills and a strategy in place to succeed, that even the toughest economic conditions can be overcome."

Mayflower Engineering website
Sterecycle website

Images: Sterecycle

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News: Cassis prepares Parseq MBO

Rami Cassis, CEO of Parseq, has approached his own company regarding a possible management buyout.

Parseq, which specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services, was created last year following a successful reverse takeover by Rami Cassis and Rotherham-based BPO provider, Documetric.

Following a recent rise in its share price, the company issued a statement to the stock exchange, confirming that it had received an approach from a potential offeror led by Rami Cassis.

They added: "These discussions are at an early stage and there can be no certainty that an offer will be forthcoming. The company, which is being advised by Canaccord Genuity Limited, will make a further announcement when appropriate."

Last year, Hellaby-based BPO provider, Documetric, completed a reverse takeover of Intelligent Environments Group plc, an AIM-listed provider of online software products for the finance sector. At the same time, £4.5m was raised as part of the deal through an issue of shares. The new group, renamed Parseq, joined the AIM with a market capitalisation of £30.6m.

Cassis founded Documetric in 2007 through a management buy-out of the data services division of Atos Origin, a leading European IT outsourcer. The Rotherham facility processes up to 30,000 envelopes every day and utilises a range of cheque processing and scanning machines to process payments. They are one of the ten largest BACS Bureaux in the UK and process 47 million transactions a year.

For the year ended December 2010, Paresq's revenue was £16.45m, an increase of 62% on 2009 (£10.17m) and a world away from a modest £1.8m in annual revenues in 2007.

the company recently added O2 as a major strategic customer for their mobile banking product and in the BPO function, secured a new three-year contract with HBOS and the renewal of contracts with Lloyds and RBS. The company also launched a new hosting and managed services proposition to commercialise its Hellaby data centre facility.

In a trading update for the six month period ended June 30, the group reported that total revenues for the half year on a proforma basis are expected to increase by 56%, compared to the corresponding period last year, to £12m. Group profits for the six month period are expected to double to reach £1m.

Parseq website

Images: parseq.com

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News: Inditherm wins NHS Supply Chain contract

Rotherham-based Inditherm has received a boost to their medical business after they were awarded a contract by the UK NHS Supply Chain to include their products in the NHS online catalogue.


Inditherm products use low voltage carbon polymer technology to provide heat and unlike other forms of heating, there are no hot spots. In addition, the system ensures that every surgical patient can be warmed at the same running cost as a light-bulb.

Following an intensive tender process in accordance with European law, NHS Supply Chain has selected Inditherm as one of only a few approved suppliers of patient warming systems. This means that NHS hospitals can now purchase Inditherm patient warming systems through the supply chain organisation without having to go through a lengthy tender process themselves.

Having tendered for contracts for patient warming systems, neonatal warming systems, warming cabinets and blood and fluid warming systems, they were successful in receiving approval for all ranges. Inditherm is the only supplier to have been approved in all these warming categories by the NHS Supply Chain.

With these contracts now in place, the AIM-listed Manvers firm are hoping more NHS hospitals will recognise the benefits and potential for huge cost savings with their range of products and consider Inditherm as a real alternative to traditional forced air warming and water mattresses.

Nick Bettles, CEO of Inditherm said: "This tender process is rigorous, in accordance with European law, and we feel 100% acceptance of all our ranges by NHS Supply Chain is an endorsement of our products and our competitive pricing. We have the only British manufactured products for patient warming, so we are proud that they were all accepted."

In January, The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published draft guidance from the new medical technologies programme that provisionally supports the use of the Inditherm patient warming mattress to prevent inadvertent hypothermia during surgery.

Inditherm website

Images: inditherm.co.uk

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News: UK Coal set to bring forward Waverley development

UK Coal are bringing forward the first phase of development at the huge Waverley new community in Rotherham.

The £100m regeneration project on the site of the former Orgreave colliery is the biggest brownfield site development in South Yorkshire and covers 741 acres, an area bigger than Sheffield city centre.

Outline planning permission was granted in 2010 for a self-supporting and sustainable community of 3,800 homes with community facilities such as two primary schools, a medical centre, and sports pitches. A transport interchange and a park & ride is also planned.

In a trading update, UK Coal said that: "Our major development schemes at Waverley and Prince of Wales are attracting interest from a number of developers and housebuilders and we are bringing forward the first phases of development."

In April, the company whose property arm, Harworth Estates is based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park at Waverley in Rotherham, reported that subject to market conditions, delivery of the Waverley project will commence through a series of phased sales with national house builders.

Recovery plans for UK Coal were put in place in May after they reported a pre-tax loss of £124.6m after a "further year of poor operational performance."

The trading update for the first half of 2011 encouraged the UK Coal board as they posted its first profit in four years. Output rose from 2.7m tonnes to 4.1m tonnes helping to boost profits to £35.2m.

Jonson Cox, chairman of UK Coal, said: "This set of results marks my first six months as Chairman. I am pleased to report on reasonable progress.

"Our focus over the next period is to continue the work towards securing a future which is in the best interests of all stakeholders. Delivering our Strategic Recovery Plan is necessary to ensure the viability of the business. This plan requires the support and cooperation of the entire workforce; an essential element of the group's future."

UK Coal website
Waverley website

Images: waverleycommunity.org

News: New Korean collaboration for AMRC

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing has signed a new collaboration agreement with Gwangju City and Gwangju TechnoPark in Korea.

The centre, based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, already enjoys a fantastic global reputation and the aim of this latest agreement is to increase opportunities for companies from the UK and Korea to join global supply chains in automotive, aerospace and nuclear manufacturing.

The AMRC is a £100m collaboration among more than 40 partner organisations, comprising world leaders in the aerospace supply chain, key government offices and international academic institutions. It has a global reputation for identifying, researching and solving advanced manufacturing problems with research carried out on new and exotic materials such as titanium, inconel and composites.

Partners in Rotherham and Gwangju will collaborate on technology development collaboration projects supported by the EU, joint research on titanium and special alloys, and joint research on manufacture of lightweight components for electric vehicles.

The AMRC's sustainable business model, which secures both private sector and public sector funding, has already been replicated in Mexico, Denmark, Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and India.

The AMRC is also part of the consortium running the High Value Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) that will be a national focus for advanced manufacturing research and development, with the scale and readiness to make an early and significant contribution to UK economic growth.

AMRC website

Images: amrc.co.uk

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News: Ethel Austin Rotherham store saved

The Ethel Austin store in Rotherham town centre has been saved from closure after fashion and homewares chain Life & Style was sold by its administrators to Ashloch Limited.

Ashloch Limited is owned by Sue Townsend who has a strong commercial track record in both UK and International retail and has previously worked for Mothercare and BHS. They will retain 62 stores, including the outlet in All Saints' Square, and over 470 staff, with all the business returning to its original Ethel Austin branding.

Ms Townsend said: "I am delighted with the conclusion to the purchase of the Ethel Austin chain and I am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges of returning this once great brand back to profitability."

The brand has been in administration a number of times and RSM Tenon directors Simon Bonney, Peter Hughes-Holland and Tom MacLennan were appointed as joint administrators in June, immediately closing 22 stores. A further 12 stores were closed in July.

John Gorle, national officer of trade union, Usdaw, said: "This is great news for all the loyal and hardworking staff at the company and very welcome news for the high street in general."

"Usdaw look forward to developing a good and constructive working relationship with the new owner Sue Townsend and I hope to meet with her as soon as possible to ascertain her immediate and medium term plans for the business."

"Usdaw will continue to do all we can to help revive the business and make it a success."

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News: Assured secure Lafarge contract

Rotherham-based Assured Fire and Security has cemented its place as one of the country's leading fire and security specialists by securing a contract with Lafarge.

Lafarge is the world's largest cement manufacturer and a major player in the UK construction sector. Their cement works in the Hope Valley will be secured under a new maintenance contract with Assured. The Derbyshire factory is one of Lafarge's largest works, with capacity to make up to 1.3 million tonnes of cement a year.

The Dinnington firm is continuing to grow. In November, they launched a five-year plan that aims to transform the company into the country's leading fire and security specialist, expanding the workforce from 45 to around 200.

Matt Spivey, operations director at Assured said: "Once again we are delighted that a local company has turned to us to help maintain their fire security.

"At a time when we are expanding both nationally and internationally, it is important to us that we never lose sight of our immediate neighbours, who provide a core customer base and demonstrate our strong belief in philosophy of local companies supporting each other."

Assured website

Images: lafarge.co.uk

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News: Fluid Maintenance Solutions secures distribution rights for advanced system

Rotherham-based manufacturing environmental services provider, Fluid Maintenance Solutions Ltd (FMS), has secured the UK distribution rights for advanced fluid filtration systems proven to reduce operational costs for precision manufacturing companies.

The Treeton company is dedicated to eliminating unnecessary fluid related waste and reducing manufacturing costs by maximising the useful life of production fluids.

The Italian manufactured RBM di Battistutta metalworking fluid filtration solutions have been installed on machine tool systems and grinding systems since 2006 and continue to benefit manufacturers with reduced consumable purchasing costs, waste disposal costs and improved metal recovery volumes.

The RBM solutions can be either retro fitted to existing machines, replace less economical and unreliable filtration systems or supplied as part of turnkey packages for new installations.

Steve Thompson, director at FMS, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have secured the UK distribution rights for these unique solutions.

"Having been in discussions with RBM for over a year and after visiting Italy several times to observe the solutions in operation at various manufacturing sites I was bowled over by their reliability and simplicity.

"The compactness, consistency and capability of the RBM solutions are beyond anything I have seen available in the marketplace and the product range fits perfectly with our own specialist services to reduce waste and maximise the recovery and value of metals from cutting and grinding processes."

Manufacturing companies have a choice when purchasing new machine tools and a number of leading Original Equipment Manufacturers installations including Mazak, Heller, Hermle and Mori Seiki are operating with RBM filtration solutions.

Steve added: "We have invested in a demonstration system for shop floor trials so the benefits manufacturers are enjoying can be witnessed at first hand in the UK."

FMS website

Images: FMS

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News: Premier Inn planned for Rotherham

Whitbread, the UK's largest hotel and restaurant group, is planning a 80-bed hotel and restaurant at Templeborough in Rotherham.

The company operate market-leading businesses in budget hotels, restaurants and coffee shops and is hoping to invest £9m in a new Premier Inn hotel and 236 cover Brewer's Fayre pub / restaurant at Phoenix Riverside.

Whitbread and agents, Turley Associates, have submitted an application for a 3-storey, 3,716 sq m development on land to the north of offices on Sheffield Road, next to the Centenary Riverside wetlands.

After a slowdown in the economy, the site owner, St Paul Developments, is now seeking to develop the site for alternative uses with job creation potential and Whitbread aims to cater for the business market and visitors to nearby Magna, the UK's first science adventure centre.

The plans state that: "It is envisaged that the overall proposed development will create an estimated 60 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs. Approximately 42 jobs would be created during the construction of the proposed development.

"An estimated further 14-25 FTE jobs would also be supported through supply-related and income-related categories resulting from the development (i.e. purchases of goods and services from local suppliers to support the business and from the expenditure generated by paid employees of the proposed development)."

A sequential assessment submitted with the application, demonstrated that there are no alternative, suitable locations available for the proposed development. This includes many development sites in the town centre.

With one hotel in Rotherham, at Brecks, Whitbread aims to increase the number of Premier Inn UK rooms by 50% to at least 65,000, and add 80-100 new restaurants over the next five years.

In the year ended March 3 2011, Whitbread PLC reported a 11.5% increase in revenue to £1.6bn and underlying profit before tax of £287m, up 20.1%.

Whitbread website

Images: Whitbread / Turley Associates

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News: Work underway on Westgate Chambers arts space

Local companies, Grove Environmental Recycling Ltd and 3 Shires Building Ltd are generously supporting the redevelopment of Westgate Chambers in Rotherham town centre into an arts centre.

ROAR won £50,000 from The People's Millions Big Lottery in December to help redevelop the disused offices at the top of Corporation Street, into artists studios and community art space.

There will be six artists studios all with natural light, white walls and ceilings, wooden floors, broadband Wifi and separately metered electric supply. Each studio will have access to a communal kitchen, wet room, toilets and a reception gallery area. There will also be 24hr access with 24hr CCTV.

The two companies are doing all they can to use limited resources to deliver the space. Ben Roberts, manager of Grove Environmental Recycling Ltd, said: "Grove Environmental is happy to support this project in order to help reinvigorate Rotherham town centre.

"We are a local firm and wish to be part of the the regeneration efforts for our town. We believe this to be an exciting project that can and will have a positive impact for Rotherham town centre and the people of Rotherham."

Andy Gardner, director of 3 Shires Building Ltd added: "3 Shires Building has never worked with artists or creative people before and we will be interested to see them bring this rather lovely building back to life.

"ROAR clearly has a passion for what it is doing and we are proud to be working with them to deliver this new facility."

Building work is underway and is due to be completed in November 2011. ROAR is now inviting artists to apply for the studio spaces and are looking for artists who see themselves as part of a collective which is setting out to make the arts central to the regeneration of Rotherham. Applications should be in by August 28 2011.

ROAR website

Images: ROAR

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News: U-Explore see high aspirations as exam results are published

Rotherham education specialist, U-Explore, has published figures showing that aspirations of our young people are still high.

Based in Templeborough, 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.

As teenagers plan the next steps in their futures, U-Explore has revealed the top jobs that young people are searching for using its interactive careers education information, advice and guidance platform - and the results show there is no sign of our young people's aspirations taking a dive.

Over the last academic year, more than 1,000 different jobs have been searched for by students using U-Explore's flagship education product range. The top result was teacher, with over 3,000 searches, whilst vet was the search result which came in second place.

The most visited industry sector on U-Explore was media, fashion, arts & design, with 21%, followed closely by medicine, law, education & care with 17%. Engineering was the fifth most popular sector.

James Frith, Managing Director of U-Explore, said: "It is great to see such high aspiration shown in what young people in schools and colleges across the country are wanting to find out more about. Media and medicine are the two most prominent sectors and jobs like lawyers, doctors, pilots and police all score highly as careers they want to do.

"Careers information and advice is such an important part of a young person's education and on this evidence, the year-on-year increase in A-Level results is matched equally by the highly ambitious nature of so many young people across the country."

More Rotherham students than ever before have taken their A-Levels this year and the numbers of them gaining passes has risen for the fifth consecutive year.

This year 2,679 students (around 100 more than last year) took academic and vocational A-Level courses and overall 97.7% of students gained passes (a rise of 0.3% on last year).

U-Explore website

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News: Pyronix celebrates 25 years in Rotherham

Rotherham-based security equipment manufacturer, Pyronix, is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year.

Pyronix was established back in 1986, and throughout the last quarter of a century has grown to become a world leader in the manufacture and development of security equipment, with an emphasis on evolving their product range to meet ever changing consumer demands.

The Hellaby based business, in recognition of its gratitude to its customers, will be visiting 50 distributors with its "BIG THANK YOU" initiative across the UK.

Julie Kenny, chairman and founding member of Pyronix, said: "We are extremely proud of being in business for 25 years. Without the support of our loyal customer base this wouldn't have been possible, therefore we are delighted to be undertaking the 50 branch open days across the country to provide us with the opportunity to say thank you to as many of our customers as possible."

Sebastian Herrera, managing director of Pyronix, added: "25 years of trading is a great achievement which I believe is a testament to the support we have given and received from our customers; and also the innovation which has been at the foundation of all our products from day one."

Pyronix website

Images: Pyronix

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News: VO4HOME expands overseas

Rotherham based voltage optimisation company VO4HOME, has seen its sales footprint increase in Europe following an expansion into the Maltese market with the leading Maltese environmental solutions company, CD Power Saving Co. Ltd.

VO4HOME is designed to maximise the delivery of energy into the home to 220V/230V and the innovative technology can reduce energy use, CO2 and as a result has a direct impact on lowering the end user's electricity bill.

CD Power Saving was established in Malta in 2005 with the aim of providing environmental products and services that can substantially reduce energy usage, environmental impacts and costs to both the consumer and business market.

Martin de Bono, managing director of CD Power Saving, said: "We are constantly looking at new products and technologies that will be of benefit to our customers, and we were very excited when we came across VO4HOME's voltage optimisation product.

"To ensure the device worked as well as we believed it would we had it independently tested at the Malta Institute of Sustainable Energy. The test established the minimum potential savings available by utilising the technology, and is undertaken by two professors from the University of Malta."

The savings, which turned out to be a minimum of 8% were in line with expectations, but will improve in respect of consumer air conditioning systems, which are very common in Malta. The company purchased a significant number of units and see the product becoming one of, if not the, company's flagship product.

Geoff Clifton, business development manager for VO4HOME, said: "This is an exciting development for VO4HOME that will provide tangible cost benefits for those using the technology in Malta. Saving them money whilst simultaneously lowering their carbon footprint. It's very much a win-win situation for the customer."

VO4HOME website

Images: vo4home.com

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News: Tata Steel Europe performs steadily

The European operations of Tata Steel performed steadily in the first quarter of this financial year.

Latest financial results from the Indian steel maker showed that despite higher raw materials costs, EBITDA (earnings before tax) was $427m, 41.2% higher than the EBITDA recorded in the same period of the last financial year ($302m). This was boosted by the $134m arbitration settlement between Tata and certain offtakers of the Teesside Cast Products business.

Turnover was also up 20.5% to $4.6bn as was liquid steel production, which at 3.81m tonnes was 1.9% higher than the 3.73m tonnes in Quarter 1 of 2011 financial year. However, a sales volume at 3.50m tonnes was 2.2% lower than in last financial year.

The latest financial report from the company also stated how the European steel market suffered disruption from higher imports compounded by the Eurozone sovereign debt crisis and by forward economic indicators that are pointing to a manufacturing slowdown in Europe and North America. The company expects a "subdued summer quarter, though continuing strength in most of the Asian economies should be positive for global steel demand and pricing."

During the period, Tata took action to address costs in its Long Products hub in the light of continuing subdued construction activity. The strategy included a proposal to close or mothball parts of the Scunthorpe plant and put at risk 1,200 jobs at Scunthorpe and 300 jobs at its Teesside sites.

Following a large scale restructure and job losses in Rotherham in 2009, the company last year announced two new research facilities in the UK and an investment of £6.5m in two new vacuum arc remelting furnaces and additional testing equipment at its Stocksbridge site to assist in raising output of high-value aerospace steels. A move that will safeguard 2,000 jobs at Rotherham and Stocksbridge.

Under new MD & CEO, Dr Karl-Ulrich Köhler, Tata Steel Europe, is also establishing new sector-focused sales and marketing teams that are a key element of Tata Steel's reinvigorated European strategy.

Dr Karl-Ulrich Köhler, MD & CEO at Tata Steel Europe, said: "Tata Steel followed up the exceptional March quarter by delivering an encouraging performance in April-June, even though the weakening of the European steel market, which affected our deliveries, was made worse by rising imports.

"European steelmakers also faced the challenge of sharp raw material cost increases, which have largely been maintained into this quarter, despite the uncertain economic outlook. We continued to work on our strategy of strengthening customer relationships and cost leadership, including initiating a process that is designed to turn around the performance of our Long Products business and return it to profitability."

Tata Steel Europe website

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News: New members boost research capabilities at Nuclear AMRC

Another 13 companies, including worldleading equipment and material suppliers, have been accepted as full members of the Nuclear AMRC in Rotherham.

The new members will help ensure that the centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park can apply the latest manufacturing technologies to support the UK's nuclear supply chain.

The £25m Nuclear AMRC is a joint initiative between the University of Sheffield, The University of Manchester, and a consortium of industry partners.

Member companies benefit from access to world-class R&D capabilities, participation in generic R&D programmes, access to training programmes, networking opportunities with companies along the manufacturing supply chain and industry recognition through association with a world-class centre of excellence.

Firms joining as Tier One members include two of the world's leading developers of innovative machining centres, Mori Seiki and StarragHeckert, who are providing their latest centres to the Nuclear AMRC. Further machining capability comes from cutting tool specialist Sandvik.

ITW Welding Products will meanwhile support the Nuclear AMRC's joining and cladding research. Carpenter, a supplier of specialist metal powders and materials, and manufacturing software specialist Dassault Systèmes has also signed up.

The centre's capabilities are further expanded by the new Tier Two members, who work in a range of specialist areas. Machining and materials research will be supported by the experience and resources of Houghton in specialist machining fluids, Johnson & Allen in innovative non-destructive testing, Nikken in precision tooling and workholding, Nikon Metrology in measurement and robotics, and Wheelabrator in surface preparation technologies.

Newburgh Engineering, a manufacturer of large engineered parts and assemblies, and Serco Technical Consulting Services are also joining as a Tier Two members.

Professor Keith Ridgway, programme director of the Nuclear AMRC, said: "We're delighted to welcome these world-leading companies into the Nuclear AMRC. By contributing equipment, materials and expertise, they increase the value of the centre for all the companies we will be working with. And in return, we will help them develop their own capabilities to meet the requirements of the industry leaders and seize the opportunities of nuclear new-build."

A number of the new members already have a base in Rotherham - Newburgh Engineering, Mori Seiki, Sandvik and Nikken.

A lead industrial partner in the Nuclear AMRC is Rolls-Royce, who submitted outline plans for a 21,000 sq m "Project PoWeR" facility on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham that will see them manufacture and assemble power vessels for the next generation of nuclear power stations in the UK.

Nuclear AMRC website

Images: namrc.co.uk

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News: Strategic appointments assist growth

Local businesses are making strategic appointments to help assist with their future growth and development, according to Rotherham recruitment specialist, Elevation Recruitment.


Justin Barber, divisional director of professional practice, at the Moorgate company claims companies are looking forward rather than consolidating.

Elevation has seen evidence to suggest that individuals seeking new roles are no longer being driven by a salary increase, but are looking for opportunities which can provide a platform to enhance their career prospects and to hopefully escape the "glass ceiling" scenario.

However it is still clear to see that any economic growth or recovery will be slow and overhead costs to any business will still remain critical.

Justin said: "During 2011 there has been a fair share of problems, but we are seeing businesses looking forward rather than consolidating and worrying what problems are around the corner. This has been evident with a significant number of firms making straight applications to help assist growth and development.

"Over the past two years, the professional practice market has experienced very difficult market conditions with pricing pressures, lack of client growth and almost non existent bank lending, all which has played a part in the downturn.

"The recent improvement in market conditions has now been demonstrated by evidence of firms lifting pay freezes and offering their employees’ pay rises or performance related bonuses, although generally salary increases will certainly remain lower than what was expected prior to the recession."

According to Justin, the biggest sector to have witnessed pay freezes is within accountancy.

Justin added: "During the economic downturn, salaries within the accountancy profession have almost remained stagnant, with many firms not offering any increase in pay to any of their employees.

"This has had a significant effect on annual salaries of newly qualified accountants, resulting in some businesses paying up to 15% less than that of 2008/2009.

"As a whole, we have seen the accountancy sector improve this year which is good news for those individuals who are now looking to pursue a career within the profession. Many of the region's accountancy firms are continuing to invest in the training of school leavers in addition to graduates, which will provide study support for all areas of their professional accountancy qualifications such as AAT, ACCA and ACA."

Elevation Recruitment website

Images: Elevation Recruitment

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News: JELD-WEN in Italian Job charity fundraiser

Rotherham door manufacturer JELD-WEN has pledged its support for a cancer charity by entering a team into the "Keyline Italian Job challenge" and sponsoring an old-style mini they used to enter the race.

Overall, £111,000 was raised for The Prostate Cancer Charity, with the JELD-WEN team raising £2,500 towards the grand total.

Twenty four minis and other sponsored cars took to the road, leaving the Keyline Builders Merchants branch in Northfleet in Kent and heading out to Turin in Italy, without the use of satellite navigation or motorways.

The JELD-WEN team, consisting of Kevin Edmonds and Dave Taylor covered the 1615 mile round trip in an impressive driving time of 43.5 hours, giving an average speed of 37 mph – not bad for an old car! The highlight of the challenge was a rally around the concrete roof of the former Fiat factory in Turin, in an exciting authentic scheme from the film "The Italian Job."

All did not run smoothly and the team faced the challenge of a mini with a split bypass hose, which meant regular stops along the way to check the hose and refill the car with water and fuel oil, however this did not dampen the team's spirits at all.

Kevin Edmonds from JELD-WEN, said: "This was such an exciting challenge, we loved driving around in a classic 1980's mini and recreating the scene from the Italian Job, which is something I will never forget. There was great team spirit amongst everyone involved and we were delighted to support our customer, Keyline Builders Merchants and to be a part of something that raised so much money for such a worthy cause."

JELD-WEN, on the Sheffield border at Woodhouse Mill, employs around 400 staff in South Yorkshire and an 1,200 strong workforce at a total of four sites across the UK. They produce thousands of internal and external doors every week for distribution through builders merchants across the country.

JELD-WEN website

Images: JELD-WEN

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News: DavyMarkham apprentice wins top RCAT prize

An engineering apprentice at DavyMarkham in Sheffield has been recognised for his achievements by winning the prestigious student of the year award at the Rotherham College of Arts and Technology.

Jonathan Cheeseman, from Rawmarsh in Rotherham, took home the prize following high recommendations from his lecturers for his contribution to his BTEC national diploma in manufacturing.

Currently in his second year, Jonathan is already flying high, set to complete his apprenticeship which usually lasts for three years when he finishes his NVQ level three in machining techniques.

Jonathan said: "I thoroughly enjoy working at DavyMarkham and have really developed my skills during my time here. It's great to receive recognition, but at the moment I'm just focused on finishing my apprenticeship, and making the next step in my career."

Jonathan is currently planning a trip to Canada after also winning £500 in the prestigious Cutlers Company Joint Educational Awards back in April.

He will spend one week completing work experience with a number of mining companies supplied by DavyMarkham across Canada, the world's largest exporter of minerals and metals.

Peter Kerfoot, apprentice training manager at DavyMarkham, said: "Jonathan is an exceptional apprentice who has done amazingly well and everyone here is very proud of him. He takes great pride in his work and has developed a passion for the industry.

"We get huge interest in our apprenticeships and the calibre of applications is rising all the time. We are always delighted and proud when our apprentices are recognised for the superb work they do."

Revived in 2007, DavyMarkham's current apprentice training programme has gone from strength to strength, with 15 apprentices currently in training. The programme not only provides multi-disipline skills for the apprentices but also ensures the company's future giving employees an opportunity to pass on their unique skills.

DavyMarkham website
RCAT website

Images: DavyMarkham

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News: Moorhead Savage on compulsory liquidations

Rotherham insolvency expert Paul Moorhead is offering advice to firms in financial trouble after seeing an increase in the number of compulsory liquidations in the UK.

Statistics just published by the government's Insolvency Service reveal that there has been a sharp increase in the number of firms being wound up by creditors in the past three months.

The number of compulsory liquidations, where a creditor asks the courts to close down a business due to non-payment of debts, increased by nearly 20 per cent compared to the previous quarter.

Paul, a licenced insolvency practitioner with Moorhead Savage, based in RiDO's Moorgate Crofts business centre, said: "This is a worrying trend, showing that many firms are struggling to pay their way in the continuing economic gloom.

"Creditors are becoming impatient – many will be suffering with their own financial problems - and they are increasingly prepared to follow through on threats to wind up businesses that cannot afford to pay their bills."

"While it may be tempting to keep making promises of payment to creditors, when those promises are broken the consequences can be catastrophic.

"The good news is that there are ways of dealing with mounting debts that will allow the company to continue and the sooner that a business owner takes advice, the more palatable the options that are available."

In particular, a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) can be put in place with the help of a licensed insolvency practitioner to protect the company from legal action whilst a turnaround plan is followed, allowing a company to recover from its cash-flow problems.

In recent months, Moorhead Savage has set up three CVAs for businesses in the Sheffield City Region, safeguarding dozens of jobs in the process.

Moorhead Savage website

Images: Moorhead Savage

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News: Visions of China aims to attract 1.5m visitors each year

The developers of the proposed Visions of China visitor destination have outlined the aspects that could attract 1.5m visitors to Rotherham each year.

Leisure organisation, China Vision Ltd and regeneration specialist, MCD Developments, have been named as the preferred developer for a project adjacent to the Rother Valley Country Park.

It is described as an original and intriguing day visitor destination that "will combine the sheer beauty and distinctiveness of Chinese architecture; the charming originality of Chinese garden design; and the mystique of Chinese culture and customs; and the originality of its entertainment, in a single spectacular parkland environment, offering a menu of entertainment which will appeal to both domestic and overseas visitors alike."

The £118m project will include oriental lakes and gardens, China Town retail street, a Shaolin temple and cultural centre, a theatre, children's fantasy land, restaurants, an oriental spa, pavilions, a pagoda and a hotel.

The 120 acre project is set to be created on the Pit House West site adjacent to Rotherham's largest country park, Rother Valley, which already enjoys an estimated 900,000 visitors a year.

The developers hope that Visions of China will create 200 jobs during its two year construction and more than 380 permanent jobs once in operation.

Lady Cobham, chairman of VisitEngland said: "Visions of China" closely meets the objectives of the national strategy in creating "compelling destinations of distinction" which will "help England increase its share of global visitor markets." I am delighted that such a prestigious project is progressing well."

Images: China Vision Ltd / RiDO

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News: Visions of China tourism project could create hundreds of new jobs in Rotherham

Rotherham Council has backed a multi million pound project to create a unique culture and leisure development in Rotherham based on the "Visions of China."

The Council's Cabinet has selected the preferred developers for the fomer Pithouse West colliery site, located to the north of Rother Valley Country Park.

The site of the proposed £350m YES! Project was put up for sale by the Council in May after developers, Oak Holdings made a material lack of progress since they entered into a preferred developer agreement in 2003.

Visions of China will be a £118m, 120 acre cultural theme park set in an authentically built and landscaped Chinese environment combining a range of experiences and activities for visitors.

The bid was put forward by leisure organisation China Vision Ltd and regeneration specialist MCD Developments.

The Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was keen to endorse a bid led by the consortium to secure £5.7m from the government's Regional Growth Fund that would "bring forward an iconic addition to the British tourism market."

Councillor Roger Stone, Leader of Rotherham Borough Council, said: "This is a prestigious project which will create hundreds of new jobs and bring in many thousands of visitors and we are delighted that it is being brought to Rotherham.

"Our decision today is the first stage on the road to turn this "China Vision" into a reality and we will be working hard with the partnership to make it happen.

"This site has great potential and this proposal offers an exciting, unique and imaginative new attraction which meets our local regeneration aspirations and the desire of the region to increase the numbers of visitors from across the world heading to Yorkshire."

Images: RiDO

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News: Developers with the Visions of China

The people with the "Visions of China" that are bringing forward plans to create a major new multi-million pound visitor attraction in Rotherham are leisure organisation, China Vision Ltd and regeneration specialists, MCD Developments.

Peter Moore OBE is a director of China Vision Ltd, and is a man with an excellent reputation and track record in the British tourism industry. After successfully rebranding Alton Towers as their marketing director, he became the managing director of Centre Parcs and introduced the concept to the UK.

Moore was awarded an OBE in 1996 for services to the tourism industry. He has also helped to launch the Tour of Britain cycle race and developed an indoor ski centre in Manchester. He currently runs his own consultancy, Brightaspect and has advised the the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and Blackpool Council on regenerating coastal towns.

Peter Moore, CEO of Visions of China, said: "I have been fortunate to have been involved in some of the most successful leisure organisations in Britain and I believe "Visions of China" will be, without doubt, one of the most exciting projects British tourism will have seen for decades."

A fellow director of China Vision Ltd is Dr Lee Kai Hung of Leepark Holdings, a businessman and property developer with projects in the UK and China, and a prominent member of the Chinese community in England's Northwest.

Dr Lee was named as a Chinese business champion for Liverpool last year and is involved in the regeneration planned for Liverpool's historic Chinatown.

Dr Lee Kaihung, Chairman of Visions of China, said: "Peter Moore and I have been looking for a exceptional site for many years to accommodate this very special project and I am delighted that, with MCD on board as our partner, we now have the opportunity to make my dream come true in the Rother Valley Country Park.

"We have formed an ideal partnership to turn the dream into reality, with the help of the far sighted leadership of the Rotherham Council."

MCD Developments has been tasked with turning the Visions of China project into reality. A development and regeneration specialist in the Midlands, MCD has a portfolio of residential led schemes in Birmingham and Bristol, plus retail parks and offices.

MCD has recently moved into sport and leisure and has ensured the completion of a £32m redevelopment of Edgbaston cricket ground in time for the 3rd npower Test Match between England and India.

Steven Byrne, CEO of MCD Developments said: "The Rother Valley Country Park is a perfect setting for this unique attraction and we are looking forward developing the "Visions of China" concept on a National and International basis and to maximizing the full potential of this site."

MCD Developments website

Images: RiDO

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