News: Rotherham YIBC line up revealed

The first details have been announced of the leading names set to speak at The Yorkshire International Business Convention (YIBC) in Rotherham next year.

One of the leading business events in continental Europe, the convention began in 1995 and has attracted some of the biggest and most recognisable names from across the globe. This year, YIBC was held at Bridlington Spa, attracting 700 delegates and speakers. The next event will take place at The Magna Science Adventure Centre on March 28.

Robert Peston, business editor at BBC News and former financial editor of the Financial Times, tops the bill currently.

Following a hugely successful career his own stock skyrocketed during the banking crisis of 2008. Breaking the story that Northern Rock was on the cusp of collapse scored him the Scoop of the Year from the Royal Television Society. He has also broadcast and published a series of influential reports about the causes and consequences of the global financial crisis.

He will be joined by Rosie Swale-Pope MBE, Brian Blessed and Richard Noble OBE.

Rosie made her YIBC debut when the event was held in Bridlington and her inspiring tales of perseverance and triumph over adversity were a huge hit with delegates in East Yorkshire. Not least was when she recounted the tale of how she became the first person to circumnavigate the globe on foot.

As one of the most recognisable faces – and voices – of modern theatre, TV and film, Mexborough-born Brian Blessed's larger than life character always makes for an interesting and certainly entertaining, if a little wacky, interlude.

Often forgotten is his intrepid tales of exploration of the world's highest peaks and most barren of landscapes. This not-to-be-taken-too-seriously man has some serious life experience and shares it in the most engaging of manners.

Making his YIBC debut is Richard Noble, the man behind the Bloodhound SSC world land speed record bid that aims to break 1,000 mph and the previous Thrust SSC project that pushed a land-based vehicle through the sound barrier.

Essentially an entrepreneur, Noble specialises in developing high risk ventures but in the Bloodhound project, building a car quicker than a fighter jet is not, however, the primary goal. Rather, it is to inspire future generations to take up careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by showcasing these subjects in the most exciting way possible.

Mike Firth, founder of YIBC, said: "We cannot wait for the Rotherham YIBC. Everyone is excited and looking forward to the speakers and the unique YIBC experience the delegates are set for."

Roger Stone, leader of Rotherham Council added: "We look forward to welcoming the YIBC, its speakers, sponsors and delegates to Rotherham next March for what I'm sure will be an interesting and enlightening event."

More speakers are set to be announced in the run up to the event. Sponsors include AESSEAL, Stafforce and Harworth Estates.

YIBC website

Images: Magna

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News: Enterprising jobseekers in Rotherham

Enterprising jobseekers have set up 237 new businesses in Rotherham thanks to Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber and a government scheme and that helps unemployed people turn their dreams of becoming their own boss into a reality.

The New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) has been behind a wide range of new ventures since it was introduced in 2011. It involves jobseekers receiving business support including a mentor to help develop business ideas and write a business plan.

In Rotherham, participants receive guidance from a business mentor at Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber to develop a business idea, with continued support through to the early stages of trading.

The scheme also entitles participants to a weekly allowance worth £1,274 over 26 weeks and, start-up capital is needed, they may also be able to access a loan up to £1,000 to help with your start-up costs.

Since the scheme was launched in April 2011, 32,520 new businesses have been set up nationally with 1,280 in South Yorkshire and 237 in Rotherham.

Minister for employment, Esther McVey said: "Starting your own business takes guts and passion. We're seeing tens of thousands of people coming off benefits to set up their own company and creating a new enterprise generation. You also need support and advice if you are to turn your ideas into a successful business, which is what New Enterprise Allowance provides.

"With the economy growing, small businesses are vital to the continuing success of the country, so it's great that we have been able to extend the New Enterprise Allowance until 2016 in order to help even more budding entrepreneurs achieve their dream of being their own boss."

Jav Khan, NEA mentor and enterprise coach at the Chamber, said: "Small businesses are one of the foundations of our economy, but for many the prospect of going self-employed is daunting, particularly from a financial point of view.

"The NEA programme has proved a vital lifeline for many jobseekers wishing start their own business. With the mentoring and support available through the Chamber of Commerce, NEA candidates have been able to successfully make the transition from benefit claimants to small business owners, not only improving their own circumstances, but becoming vital contributors to the local economy in the process."

Karen Church, third party provision manager at the Department for Work and Pensions, added: "The NEA scheme is very successful programme which is helping our customers move off benefit and into self-employment.

"The Chamber of Commerce are a key delivery partner and have contributed to the success of the scheme. We are looking forward to 2014 when they will be delivering from Maltby & Dinnington in addition to their existing premises."

Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber website
New Enterprise Allowance website

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News: Harworth Estates secures £10m for Bolton scheme

Harworth Estates, the company created to realise the property assets of what was UK Coal, has secured a £10m loan to fund infrastructure works at its Logistics North site in Bolton.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, Harworth Estates is one of the largest landowners in the UK with access to over 30,000 acres of land. It is contributing to the financial cost of the new road scheme along with the other private sector developers.

One of the biggest schemes of its kind being brought forward in the North West, Harworth applied to Bolton Council to develop four million sq ft of distribution and manufacturing space at its Logistics North site, located at the former Cutacre opencast coal mine site near Bolton (pictured). Harworth has already agreed to sell the first site to Aldi, the supermarket group, for its new 450,000 sq ft regional distribution hub.

£7m will come in the form of a development loan from the The North West Evergreen Fund, "Evergreen", and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority also arranged for a further £3m to be provided from its Growing Places Fund. It will be used to fund the construction of roads, ground works, power, drainage and utilities on Harworth's 250 acre site and infrastructure works will commence in spring 2014 and be completed in 2015.

Phil Wilson, executive director at Harworth Estates, said: "This loan will be instrumental in enabling us to deliver what will be the premier logistics location servicing the North West.  Bolton Council adopted the Logistics North site within its Core Strategy Framework (2011) and was fully supportive in bringing our development forward through the planning process, as were Salford and Wigan Councils.

"Having local authorities and funds such as the North West Evergreen Fund championing key regeneration projects in the North West of England is crucial to the continuing growth of the region."

Harworth Estates website

Images: Harworth Estates

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News: Willmott Dixon supports Christmas food appeal in Rotherham

The team from the Rotherham branch of Willmott Dixon Partnerships have donated 100 goodie bags to the "People in Crisis" project, to help provide food and hygiene products to those in need during the Christmas period.

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

Willmott Dixon has also donated 50 Christmas hampers containing vital food supplies, which will be delivered to elderly residents across the town.

The "People in Crisis" project provides food parcels and emergency packages for vulnerable individuals across Rotherham, assisting food distribution organisations with the growing demand for emergency food supplies in the local area.

The project currently supports eight local organisations including - The HUB, British Red Cross, The Gate Surgery, Apna Haq, Kimberworth Park Salvation Army, Cortonwood Salvation Army, GROW, and Citizen Advice Bureau.

Cllr Roger Stone, leader of Rotherham Council, said: "We are very grateful for Willmott Dixon's generous donation to the People in Crisis project. RMBC identified earlier this year that there is an increasing demand on food provider organisations in the Rotherham area. Within a three month period we witnessed a threefold increase in demand for food parcels, with approximately 600 food parcels being given out per month. Support from local organisations like Willmott Dixon is essential to help us reach our targets and support residents in Rotherham."

David Coldwell, general manager at Willmott Dixon, said: "We were really touched by the People in Crisis appeal and are committed to working with RMBC to help support vulnerable residents in Rotherham. We hope that these goodie bags and hampers provide some Christmas joy and warmth this winter."

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

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

Willmott Dixon website

Images: Willmott Dixon

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News: Coventry hoping for a fairytale like New York

Coventry City Football Club have released images of a proposed new stadium as they hope to emulate the success of Rotherham United and move into their own purpose built venue.

Coventry's stadium saga echoes that of The Millers, with both clubs going through administrations and finding themselves playing "home" games outside their own towns. Now the Sky Blues are pushing ahead with plans for a new stadium as they aim to move forward just as impressively as Rotherham United has done.

Opened in July 2012, Rotherham United's £20m New York Stadium on the edge of Rotherham town centre, has helped to shape the new era for the club, bringing success, on and off the pitch, and helped to regenerate the town.

In their first season in the new stadium, Steve Evans' men secured promotion to League One, attendances are averaging over 9,000 and turnover has increased to £4.4m, an increase of nearly £2m on the previous year.

Seeing the success, Coventry City directors called on leading sports stadia architects AFLS+P to work on plans for a new stadium. The firm worked on designs for Rotherham United when they were known as S&P Architects. The details released today show that the plan is for a 12,500 seater stadium which can be expanded in stages, just like the New York Stadium.

Steve Waggott, development director at Coventry City, said: "There are several ingredients for creating a sustainable and successful club and owning your own ground is one of the main ingredients.

"A football club needs to squeeze every penny it possibly can out of its stadium both on matchdays and non matchdays in order to be able to invest on the pitch.

"Owning our own stadium as well as investing in our Academy and youth development are the key to the long-term future of the club.

"You only have to look elsewhere in football to see that this the only model for clubs moving forward.

"Rotherham have just moved to a stadium they own because they see how the non-matchday revenues can be invested to give them the best possible chance of becoming a Championship club – and then staying there."

Coventry staff, players and fans will get the chance to see what their future home may look like when the two sides meet at the New York Stadium on New Year's Day.

Coventry City website
Rotherham United website

Images: AFLS+P / Coventry City / Rotherham United

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News: Union warning over Pegler's Yorkshire future

Unite, Britain's biggest union, has raised fears over the future of manufacturer, Pegler Yorkshire in the region.

The Dutch-owned firm is a leading manufacturer of advanced plumbing, heating and engineering products and has a commercial head office in Doncaster, and four manufacturing sites - Leeds, Doncaster, Budapest and Jiangmen, China.

In 2010 it opened a £7m state of the art warehouse and distribution centre employing 85 staff at Brookfields Park in Manvers, Rotherham.

Pegler Yorkshire recently announced 50 job cuts at its Leeds site and the union believes there is a real possibility that the site will close and the site's "Yorkshire Fittings" product will no longer be made in Yorkshire.

In July 2013 Aalbert Industries, the owner of Pegler Yorkshire transferred a French operation, Saint Denis Hotel, into the Pegler Yorkshire Group. Unite believes this was to enable the eventual transfer of production from the Leeds site to France.

Ian Tonks, national officer at Unite, said: "Despite being profitable and receiving millions of pounds worth of government investment, Unite fears Pegler Yorkshire may be planning to leave the UK. We do not believe there is a sound economic case for the job cuts and we are demanding that the company reverses this decision and guarantees the future of the site going forward.

"Unite will be giving workers at the site 100 per cent support. It is time for Yorkshire Pegler to sit down with the unions and come clean about its plans. This company is strategically important for UK manufacturing and Britain cannot afford to lose these valuable skills."

Pegler Yorkshire website

Images: Pegler Yorkshire

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News: Jacqui's decorations help to lift spirits

Local businesswoman Jacqui Saxon decked the halls at the world famous Great Ormond St Children's Hospital this week for its annual Christmas party.

Jacqui is one of Europe's leading balloon artists and runs The Ultimate Balloon Company at RIDO's Fusion @ Magna business centre in Rotherham, providing décor for weddings, parties and corporate events.

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) is an international centre of excellence in child healthcare with over 220,000 patient visits every year. Its Christmas parties provide festive cheer for ill children, many of whom will be unable to spend Christmas at home. Held this year at the Royal National Hotel in London, the "Snow Ball" was attended by the big man himself, Father Christmas plus X Factor finalists, TV stars and musicians.

Jacqui's expertise was called upon as the hospital required no ordinary party décor. Due to allergy concerns for some of the youngsters, only non-latex balloons could be used and the décor had to survive four separate parties over two days. As some children cannot leave the hospital they would not have been able to attend the parties, so experts made the décor moveable so the staff and volunteers could "take the party to the children" afterwards.

Jacqui Saxon, owner of The Ultimate Balloon Company was delighted that she had been chosen for the event. She said: "This ranks alongside providing décor for the Rolling Stones and Tina Turner. As the mother of two sons I can empathise with the parents of the sick children, and it's a privilege to bring some happiness to the children at an anxious time."

After 20 years working in the Inland Revenue, Jacqui opted for a complete change of career and set up her own business with the aim of creating special events for special people at special times in their life and career.

It hasn't always been party time though, it took Jacqui two years and seven exams (theoretical and practical) to achieve The Certificate in Balloon Artistry, but it has paid off, with the high profile contracts to decorate events for companies such as Vodafone, Boots, Mercedes, The Royal Armouries.

The Ultimate Balloon Company website

Images: GOSH / Ultimate Balloon Company / Facebook

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News: Airbus joins AMRC as Tier One member

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing has strengthened its partnership between industry and academia by signing up leading aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, as a Tier One member.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham and a partner in the HVM Catapult (the government's strategic initiative that aims to revitalise the manufacturing industry), the AMRC focuses on advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors.

Airbus is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in France, the company produces approximately half of the world's jet airliners. It produces the first commercially viable fly-by-wire (electronic) airliner, the Airbus A320, the world's largest passenger airliner, the A380, and the A350 XWB which it claims will be more fuel-efficient and have operating costs up to 8% lower than the competing Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

With sites in Filton and Broughton, around 100,000 jobs are generated in the UK by Airbus wing work, both directly as well as indirectly through an extended supply chain of over 400 companies.

Working together with governments, industries, research institutes and universities around the world, Airbus is researching the technologies and innovations needed to deliver a significant improvement in efficiency and performance and will benefit and contribute to the growth of the industry on a global scale.

By taking Tier One membership at the AMRC, Airbus gains access to all the resources and generic research at the state of the art facility, and also takes a seat on the board to help determine the direction of future research. Tier One membership costs £200,000 per year and other Tier One members at The AMRC include Boieng, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce.

The AMRC played a major role in the Integrated Wing Project, a previous R&D project lead by Airbus. In an effort to improve efficiency, the project team focused on identifying new materials and manufacturing processes to produce actuators and braces for aircraft landing gear that would be lighter than those currently made with high tensile strength steel.

Teams at the AMRC's Advanced Structural Testing Centre and Composite centres investigated the feasibility of using an advanced carbon composite actuator rod overclad with steel, laser deposited stainless steel, titanium silicon carbide metal matrix composites, in addition to testing associated with high tensile steel.

Airbus is also one of a number of leading companies supporting AMRC Factory 2050, the £43m state-of-the-art research factory that will be the UK's first fully reconfigurable assembly and component manufacturing facility for collaborative research.

Professor Ridgway, founder of the world-leading University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, was recently awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Aeronautical Society, the world's highest distinction for aerospace achievement, awarded only for the most outstanding contributions to the aerospace profession.

AMRC website
Airbus website

Images: Airbus

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News: Growth plan goes to Government

The Local Enterprise Partnership's (LEP) Growth Plan, which has set an ambitious target of creating 70,000 new jobs in the Sheffield City Region (SCR) by 2023, will be submitted to the Government today.

The Government's new model of local economic growth centres around LEPs, a collaboration between businesses and the local authorities that are placed at the heart of growth in the regions. In response to the Heseltine Review, the Government has charged LEPs with putting together local growth plans that will be the basis on which the Government negotiates deals with each LEP for new levers, resources, funding and flexibility over them.

In the future, LEPs will then be able to bid into a single pot of funding to support their plans.

The LEP's goal of creating 70,000 jobs is more than treble the current number forecast by economists which have been analysing the economy in the Sheffield City Region. Consultant economists at Ekosgen, IPPR North and Oxford Economics examined growth rates in the Sheffield City Region and believe that the area is currently on course to create only 20,000 jobs in the next decade. The LEP believes that this is not enough and that significant action is required to treble this number.

To reach the ambitious jobs target, and that of increasing output per worker by 25% in real terms, the Growth Plan also identifies a number of objectives covering business support for existing firms, attracting more inward investment, developing the skills base and improving infrastructure.

The draft plans include: a new initiative called the "Top 1000" which will focus on giving intensive support to the local businesses with the highest potential for economic growth; A "Skills Bank" to enable businesses to access a range of training and skills options, making it easier to take on an apprentices and graduates; Incentives and promotional activity to attract 20,000 new jobs to the City Region from the UK and overseas; An ultramodern public transport system to connect urban centres and key development areas; A bold housing plan which will see the Sheffield City Region control funds to unlock key housing sites.

James Newman, chairman of the Sheffield City Region LEP (pictured, third left), said: "This important plan sets out our ambition to transform the Sheffield City Region economy.

"The plan will ask Government to hand over the powers and funds to enable the Sheffield City Region to make improvements to skills, housing, transport and to create more and better jobs for the Sheffield City Region's 1.8 million residents.

"The Sheffield City Region is aiming to develop a stronger private sector. To achieve this, we must do more to attract investors to do business here, to increase our exports, to support high growth businesses to realise growth potential, and to compete on the international stage."

In the recent Autumn Statement, the government confirmed that LEPs are to bid for share of government funding using their strategic economic plans. The Local Growth Fund will be a minimum of £2 billion each year from 15-16 to 20-21 and the government will make £110m of Regional Growth Fund available for the Local Growth Fund.

LEPs will also be allocated £800m of borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board in 2014-15 and 2015-16 as part of growth deals, to borrow funding for infrastructure and regeneration projects. The government will also make £50m of funding available to LEPs through the Large Sites scheme.

It all means that the resources under the strategic influence of LEPs is at least £20 billion in the years to 2021. In addition to allocations from the Local Growth Fund, LEPs are encouraged to make the case for freedoms and flexibilities to support delivery of their wider strategic economic plans, with the presumption in favour of decentralisation.

Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership website

Images: Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership

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News: Signs of improvement at United Carpets

Rotherham-based United Carpets, the UK's largest franchised carpet retailer, has seen another increase in profits following its significant restructure.

In its financial update for the six month period ended September 30 2013, the Bramley-based business reported sales across the group of £28m with profit before tax of £452,000, an increase from £113,000 seen in the same period last year.

The profits were achieved despite a decline in like for like sales of 1.6% and sales for the period of £10.3m, a decrease in comparison with the previous six month period, reflecting a reduction in store numbers. United Carpets has reduced the number of stores from a peak of 86 to 60; removing stores from the network which had been consistently underperforming and were threatening to undermine the stability of the business.

The group now operates from 60 stores of which 51 were franchised and nine were corporate. As lease and rent negotiations continue the board stated that they "anticipate a small number of further closures but the key changes have largely been made and the store network is in a stronger position."

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

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

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The restructuring has helped to improve profit margins and reduce distribution costs and administrative expenses including rent, rates and staff costs.

Paul Eyre, chief executive of United Carpets, said: "These results should give shareholders increasing confidence in the future of the business. The restructuring programme, begun last year and continued into this year, has reduced the number of stores to 60, down from a peak of 86 stores, removing those which were no longer viable. As a result the business is in a much better position with which to operate successfully in what continues to be a challenging market."

Peter Cowgill, chairman of United Carpets, added: "As a result of the actions taken last year, the Company has established a sounder, debt free base consisting of a smaller more profitable portfolio of stores on which to build, going forward.

"Whilst there has been some encouraging signs of an improvement in the economy, this does not yet appear to have materialised in consumers feeling better off. We are therefore not anticipating an upsurge in consumer spending in the short term; instead we hope to gain market share from a continued focus on customer service and providing genuine value for money offers on good quality products."

Like for like sales in the 11 weeks since the half year end have increased by 2.4% showing some improvement.

United Carpets website

Images: United Carpets / Facebook

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News: AMRC Training Centre getting ready for New Year

The state of the art facilities at the AMRC Training Centre in Rotherham will be open for business in the new year.

The £20.5m centre is part of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), where the focus is on providing the skills that manufacturing companies need to compete globally.

Focusing on students aged from 16 upwards, taken on paid apprenticeships, the centre provides opportunities through to doctorate and MBA level, plus continuing professional development.

167 newly recruited engineering apprentices began training in October and have been temporarily housed in a specially kitted out warehouse on the AMRC site until the new 59,000 sq ft building is opened in early January. 60 new apprentices are set to join in April.

The centre focuses on high-level training, concentrating on sectors such as aerospace, energy and Formula One. The Government awarded £9.2m from the Regional Growth Fund to establish the centre with the remainder coming from participating companies and other funding streams.

The training is employer-led which ensures that the apprentices gain a tailored set of skills and hands on experience that employers require.

The purpose built facility is almost at completion and every day sees a new machine or piece of equipment delivered. Spectrographic, a leading supplier of metallurgical equipment and consumables to the aerospace and other manufacturing industries, is supplying high quality testing equipment including hardness testers and surface measuring equipment.

Roger Davis-Green, senior trainer at the AMRC Training Centre, said: "I can't wait until we are in the new building. The quality and standard of equipment and factory layout are second to none. So far our apprentices have exceeded expectations with their capacity and ability to learn. Who knows what more they can achieve using the state of the art kit we are putting in there. I'm sure that all the employers that are sending their apprentices here will be truly impressed."

Meg Munn, MP for Sheffield Heeley, recently visited the facility. She said: "The centre is led by a team of industrialists who have experienced the challenges of developing world-class talent, and learning specialists who understand the requirements of the manufacturing sector.

"The addition of 60 new apprentices next year is testament to how well respected the AMRC is amongst local engineering employers, and goes to show the wealth of opportunities available for our young people who are considering an engineering career."

On January 23, the centre is opening its doors to employers to showcase the new facilities, the benefits of apprenticeships and training and provide an opportunity for businesses to network.

AMRC Training Centre website

Images: AMRC Training Centre

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News: Growth in store for Urban Pantry

A former Aston Comprehensive School pupil has gone from building buildings to building up his own business - the Urban Pantry, a fine-food delicatessen in Crookes.

Reece Lippolis opened the deli with wife Grace in March 2012 after taking a leap of faith from construction management to food retail.

Since opening, Reece has been working hard to provide the right kind of products, build connections with the local community and continually grow the business by providing new services and creating cooperative associations with other businesses.

Reece said: "It was a big step, leaving a secure well-paid job, to embark on such an uncertain project as starting a shop, especially in the current economic climate - but it felt right to swap my high-vis jacket for an apron!

"Knowing little about retail when I started made it more of a challenge, but believing in the products and having a clear aim in terms of the "local" and "quality" ethos made some aspects easier.

"I've gradually built up a large range of stock and have been getting good feedback about the products we offer. The best being regular custom, of which we have a lot. I think the tricky thing at the moment for us is trying to reach out to people in other parts of Sheffield as lots of people still don't know we exist."

Helping to spread the word was success of the deli at recent awards. This year, the Urban Pantry was named as the winner of "Best Independent Retailer" category at the Eat Sheffield Awards and was runner up in Observer Food Monthly Awards 2013 "Best Independent Retailer" category.

Growing the business has seen the deli expand into different areas including cheese wedding cakes as a popular alternative (or addition) to a traditional cake.

The store has recently added salad and deli boxes to its range and is expanding its popular selection of pre-designed and bespoke Christmas hampers and targeting more corporate clients.

Reece added: "Our aim is to grow and develop the business, step-by-step, and always in response to our customers' needs, and in a way that can be sustained into the future."

Urban Pantry website

Images: Urban Pantry / Facebook

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News: Hart Shaw reports on increased optimism

Hart Shaw Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers has reported that many companies are now looking to invest in long term strategic plans.

The Sheffield Business Park firm is working with a number of businesses that are making significant investments in long term projects through the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the Regional Growth Fund.

In July the LEP was conditionally awarded £7m from the Government fund to support modern manufacturing and technology companies to create jobs as a follow up to the successful £25m bid secured in round three of the fund.

The "Unlocking Business Investment" programme provides grants of between £25,000 and £2m to support companies using their own funding to make direct business investments that ultimately lead to creating sustainable, private sector jobs. Business investments include capital projects which involve investment in equipment, machinery and tools; alterations to land and/or premises to meet the needs of the business. Grants can also be used to support new research and development.

Calls for projects closed in November and the latest round of the programme included a new sub-programme with £2.5m set aside to support smaller businesses.

Steve Bell, head of corporate finance at Hart Shaw, said: "Whether this investment is through additional resources, new product development or infrastructure it is clear that what sets these businesses aside is each has clear Sustainable Competitive Advantages in their own markets. Whether these advantages are based on service levels, quality of products or technical ability, it is businesses like these who will reap the benefits of growth in the economy."

Despite the increased optimism, Steve warns that banks are still highly cautious when it comes to credit and that "Zombie companies", those barely surviving, will find that working capital restrictions will force them over the edge.

Steve added: "The final quarter of 2013 has seen an improvement in the level of optimism in the economy but this improvement does bring its own challenges. It will be interesting to see whether the continued optimism does start to deliver strong growth. It will also be interesting to see if the major banks can finally get their houses in order and support the experienced relationship managers who work with their clients."

Hart Shaw website
Sheffield City Region LEP website

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News: Rail electrification plan for the North

A joint taskforce set up by the Government will explore if South Yorkshire is next for rail electrification in the North.

As the region waits on the HS2 line to increase capacity on the rail network, work is also taking place to improve connectivity and capacity, and shorten journey times, between the North and London, and across the North.

For example, The Northen Hub project aims to reduce journey times and increase capacity between Manchester and Sheffield and has a reduced budget of £500m. The massive upgrading of the rail network of the North includes electrification and is set to create 20,000 jobs and increases rail capacity across the north of England by 700 services per day. Elements includes £45m for doubling Dore junction and Calder Valley journey time improvement.

The Northern Hub has the potential to improve services to the redeveloped Rotherham Central station in the future.

Network Rail has also committed to the electrification of the Midland Main Line that links London to Sheffield. It will allow more frequent, more reliable and quicker trains to run on the route. Network Rail had only planned to electrify parts of the line between Nottingham and St Pancras by December 2019, with Derby to Sheffield then expected to be electrified by December 2021 in Network Rail's next control period (CP6). The Government has however challenged Network Rail to re-prioritise the roll-out of the programme, for example by bringing electrification to Sheffield into CP5.

Now a new joint taskforce will provide the Transport Secretary with an interim report within 12 months setting out how additional schemes in the North can be brought forward and their development accelerated.

As part of Network Rail's ongoing work to identify the next generation of schemes that will be electrified as part of the government's continued rail investment, the routes to be examined will include: Sheffield – Leeds (which could include Rotherham Central); Sheffield – Doncaster and Sheffield – Manchester.

The group will involve train operators, local authorities including the Rail North consortium, the supply chain and local Members of Parliament.

Rail North is a group of transport organisation across the North of England. Its recently published Long Term Rail Strategy for the North of England placed Rotherham within an important "interconnected urban matrix" where a consistent high standard of express rail services would boost the economy.

Alex Hynes, managing director of Northern Rail, said: "The electrification announcement presents a great opportunity for the north.

"This is exactly what we want to deliver for our customers – faster, more reliable and environmentally sustainable journeys.

"As our customer numbers continue to grow, we desperately need more trains and newer trains to keep up with demand and ultimately, help drive economic growth. Further electrification will help to make this possible."

Images: Aedas

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News: Academy success for Webhelp UK

Following the success of its pilot programme earlier this year, customer experience company, Webhelp UK, has created a further ten new roles targeted towards young people at its Rotherham site, as part of its nationwide skills initiative for young jobseekers.

Webhelp's Customer Experience Academy (CEA) was designed to bring career opportunities to young unemployed people, within the communities it operates in, who are finding it difficult to reach the first step on the career ladder.

The CEA gives vital pre-employment training to a growing number of job seekers who lack the necessary communication skills or experience to pass the standard entrance level of most employers.

Earlier this month, the Paris-headquartered Webhelp Group announced plans to recruit over 600 new people throughout its UK network with 150 new permanent positions at its Dearne Valley site.

Now in its second phase, 43 new Webhelp colleagues have not only completed the five week work skills course at Webhelp's Customer Experience Academy, but also the company's interview process.

These individuals are now not only employed full time by Webhelp UK, on standard terms and conditions, but are also supported through a 12-month modern apprenticeship.

The CEA graduates have gained a recognised Customer Service qualification to assist them in finding a job with a variety of other employers should they wish to diversify their careers in the future.

Claire Croden, head of learning innovation at Webhelp UK, said: "Webhelp's Customer Experience Academy has gone from strength to strength since launching our pilot scheme earlier this year. Phase two of the initiative has attracted over 40 new talented colleagues, who have already started a modern apprenticeship at our sites throughout the UK.

"Youth unemployment is a massive issue and more still needs to be done to create job opportunities. It's great to be getting involved and playing our part in bringing employment to a part of our society which desperately needs it.

"I'm very proud that we've been able to turn the pilot Customer Experience Academy project into a nationwide campaign."

Webhelp UK website

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News: Maltby closure going to plan

Hargreaves Services plc, the owner of Maltby Colliery in Rotherham, has given an update on the closure of the 100 year old mine in its latest financial report.

Maltby occupies a site of 500 acres and employed over 500 staff and contractors. It is the last coking coal mine left in the UK and produced both high quality coking coal and power station coal.

The owners confirmed mothballing in December last year following no viable alternative solution being found to geological reports that indicated that the risks associated with mining a new panel, called T125, had not significantly reduced and that the panel is not viable on health & safety, geological, and financial grounds.

Hargreaves said that the "closure programme at Maltby is progressing in line with plan, with the mine shafts expected to have been filled and capped by the end of the financial year as part of Maltby's overall restoration programme."

Management services and support to Hatfield Colliery in Doncaster was provided by Hargreaves from maltby but Hargreaves terminated this contract last week when the business and assets of Hatfield Colliery Limited were acquired by Hatfield Colliery Partnership Limited, a company ultimately owned and controlled by an Employee Benefit Trust.

Hargreaves has provided the new Hatfield owners with a short term option to acquire the underground production assets previously used at Maltby. Hargreaves remains confident that full value will be obtained in due course. With plant and equipment worth £34m, Hargreaves expected to realise £14m from its sale.

Maltby continues to trade. Tiny coal particles called "fines" are harvested and processed and specialist firm, Alkane Energy acquired the coal mine methane (CMM) assets to turn into energy.

Hargreaves recently secured planning permission for one of the storage buildings on the Maltby site to be used for general industry and become a new operation for manufacturing subsidiary, AJS Contracts Ltd.

Hargreaves Services website

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News: S3 ID approaches 50

S3 ID, the Rotherham-based provider of cutting edge location awareness solutions is closing in on 50 staff following a year of new contracts, new premises and new owners.

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

Originally formed in 2008, the major exporter recently expanded into new premises in Templeborough. Along with office and administration facilities, the new headquarters will provide S3 ID with scope for a large showroom, workshops and a bespoke product testing area. S3 ID, which will design and manufacture its technological solutions at the site, will also be creating a dedicated Research & Development centre.

Doug Woodbridge, director and head of sales & marketing at S3 ID, said: "The move to larger premises reflects our unprecedented growth over the last two years. Our new premises provide us with a great platform on which to better service our customers' needs and sustain our future growth plans.

"We had outgrown our existing premises and there was little room for expansion. We are delighted to have secured these facilities as it will leave us well placed to continue providing customers with our innovative new technologies."

Over the last four years S3 ID has achieved a near tenfold increase in sales, driven predominantly by innovative, patented new technologies. Customers for S3 ID products include Statoil, Shell, BP, Eni and Conoco Philips.

The company reported profits of just over £1m for the year ended December 2012 and in July, CSE Global Limited (CSE), an international technology group listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange, acquired 75% of S3 ID.

Following rapid growth in a range of international markets, S3 ID has taken on more staff at its new premises, recruiting in all areas of the business, from senior management through to project and design engineers.

Derek Gennard, director at S3 ID, said: "Our new recruits are now firmly embedded into our business and already making a difference to customers.

"Our business has changed so much over the last few years as more customers from around the world chose our patented technologies. Investing back into our business by developing both our existing people and recruiting new talent has created the foundations for this growth."

New contracts will see S3 ID products used at BP's Clair Ridge production facility off Shetland, at the Edvard Grieg EPC project, within the Luno Field on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and on the Greater Ekofisk complex in the North Sea.

S3 ID website

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News: New course to prepare manufacturers for nuclear contracts

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing in Rotherham is to host a new national course that will provide manufacturing organisations looking to gain contracts from the nuclear new build projects across the UK, with an introduction to expectations required for working on nuclear contracts in terms of knowledge, quality and behaviours.

Launched by The National Skills Academy for Nuclear Manufacturing, which has a a dedicated team at the Nuclear AMRC facility based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park, The Triple Bar Nuclear Manufacturing (TBNM) course has been developed specifically for the manufacturing community by manufacturers and nuclear employers, the course provides an understanding of what differentiates nuclear from other industries.

The training is aimed at foundation level and is equally suited to new entrants to manufacturing, as well as long standing employees. The course will be of benefit to employees at all levels, but will be of particular benefit to product designers, those involved in manufacture, inspection, testing, sales, procurement or project management.

The course covers three key areas: Basic Nuclear Awareness, the history of the nuclear industry and its culture; Basic Nuclear Quality, covers nuclear quality requirements, and; Basic Nuclear Behaviours, covering the standards of behaviour expected.

From next month the course will be available at the state of the art AMRC Training Centre and trainers will also get out to deliver the programme at manufacturer's premises or suitable locations across the UK.

Dawn Vinall, business development manager for the National Skills Academy Nuclear Manufacturing, said: "We have spent a year talking to companies within all tiers of the nuclear manufacturing supply chain and engaged first-class trainers, sourced through the University of Sheffield's AMRC Training Centre, to produce a unique Triple Bar programme that covers all the bases of nuclear awareness, quality and behaviours."

The Nuclear Industry Association recently announced their intention to establish a partnership involving developers, the supply chain and government to maximise opportunities for SMEs in the nuclear new build supply chain. It will direct manufacturers to the Nuclear AMRC, and particularly its Fit 4 Nuclear programme that helps companies measure their current operations against the standards required to supply the UK's new generation of nuclear power stations

The £25m Nuclear AMRC is a joint initiative with industry, The University of Sheffield and The University of Manchester's Dalton Nuclear Institute, and is designed to help build and enhance the UK's civil nuclear new build industry.

Nuclear AMRC website

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News: Small Business Saturday helps to Keep Trade Local

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) took the opportunity to press home the importance of keeping trade local during the first "Small Business Saturday" in Rotherham town centre.

Small Business Saturday is a grass-roots campaign that encourages people to shop local and support small businesses in their communities, both on the Saturday and beyond.

It links to the Keep Trade Local campaign from the FSB, the UK's leading business organisation with around 200,000 members, that involves encouraging people using all of the independent businesses on the high street, and celebrate the uniqueness and flavour that they bring to their communities.

In association with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, a "pop-up" shop was opened on College Street,where shoppers could join the Council's Shop Local loyalty discount scheme whilst getting their gifts wrapped free of charge. The FSB took the opportunity to press home the message that many small businesses exist on the brink, and unless consumers make use of their local independent traders, many businesses will be lost for good. Small retailers bring local colour and variety to what might otherwise become "cloned" high streets.

John Healey, MP for Wentworth and Dearne, said: "There are over four million small businesses in the UK, more than 99 per cent of the total number of businesses. They employ 12 million people – more than half of the private sector workforce - and their collective turnover is £500 billion, or 50 per cent of the UK's GDP.

"I hope Small Business Saturday helped remind people of the value of our local small businesses, so they can continue to thrive and grow and create jobs in our area."

Andrew Flower, the FSB's South Yorkshire Branch Chairman, added: "We have worked consistently over many years to get our Keep Trade Local message across and it appears that local councils, MPs and the major UK corporations have begun to understand the dire predicament of many of our small businesses, particularly in retail.

"Small Business Saturday drove home the tough "use them or lose them" message, and we hope that consumers are now much more conscious of the plight of small traders and are more ready to do their shopping at one of the UK's treasure of small retailers."

Rotherham town centre website
FSB website

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News: Detailed plans for R-evolution submitted

As quickly as outline plans gained approval, a detailed planning application has been submitted for the R-evolution development on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

The planning board at Rotherham Council approved outline plans by Harworth Estates this week for 100,000 sq ft of industrial units on seven acres of land, set to provide further high quality business and manufacturing floorspace.

Landowner and developer, Harworth Estates, expect the employment growth of the AMP to go from 500 to 1,500 employees as they bring forward new, high quality developments.

With outline plans for plots 2, 3 and 4 now granted conditionally, detailed plans, drawn up by planning consultants, Barton Willmore, have been submitted for plots 3 and 4 providing details of the appearance, scale, layout, landscaping and internal access. It is anticipated that detailed proposals relating to Plot 2 will be subject to a separate planning application.

Owen Michaelson, chief executive of Harworth Estates, said: "We are confident that this development will meet increasing market demand in a region where the availability of equivalent quality stock is reducing. We are delighted to have received support from Rotherham Council, whom we intend to provide with a high-quality business estate."

Tim O'Connell, business development manager of Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO), the regeneration arm of Rotherham Council added: "The Advanced Manufacturing Park has a global reputation for expertise in advanced manufacturing technology, and there is strong demand from high quality manufacturing businesses, who want to join with the world-class companies already located here in Rotherham.

"We believe that the R-evolution project will further enhance the reputation of the AMP and benefit Rotherham through the creation of more high quality jobs and investment into the borough."

Plans are being finalised to enable Rotherham Council to purchase the completed development. The deal could unlock funding by providing a certain financial exit, created by an agreement to purchase the development on completion of construction in return for receiving the revenue generated from rent.

Last year Harworth Estates sold the fully-let, 87,500 sq ft Evolution development on the AMP for £7.2m.

Harworth Estates website

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News: Transport Committee reaffirms backing for HS2

The Transport Committee, a group of MPs including Rotherham MP Sarah Champion, charged by the House of Commons with scrutiny of the Department for Transport, has published its latest report on HS2.

HS2 is the Government's £50 billion high speed rail project that aims to provide extra capacity to handle increasing demand. By 2033, a South Yorkshire station will be on the proposed route from London to Leeds via Birmingham and the East Midlands.

The committee decided look again at the project following the publication of a revised business case and new research by KPMG on the project's possible regional economic benefits.

Analysis by KPMG showed that the UK will be £15 billion a year better off with HS2, recovering the cost of the scheme within just a few years. HS2 could add between £0.5 billion and £0.9 billion each year to the economic output of South Yorkshire.

With a proposed station at Meadowhall, the analysis shows that Rotherham could increase its annual economic output by between £131.7m and £272.12m due to the investment in HS2 and the re-design of the existing railway infrastructure.

The committee concludes that: "Having reviewed the revised business case for HS2 and the KPMG report on regional economic benefits we remain convinced that the project is justified. HS2 is needed to provide a long-term increase in the capacity of the railway and that alternative proposals to increase capacity are not sufficient to accommodate long-term forecast demand."

The report calls for more to be done to ensure more areas benefit from the investment in HS2, by prioritising rail projects that improve connectivity to the new line; building additional links between the conventional and high speed networks; and bringing forward projects to speed up journey times on the conventional network. It also adds that current projects such as the Northern Hub, should also be speeded up, in order to provide firmer evidence of the project's broader benefits.

The importance of the project in boosting economic growth and rebalancing the economy is also discussed. The committee makes it clear that local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships must develop economic development strategies to make the most out of HS2 and they must be supported in doing this by central Government.

The committee had also previously called for a full assessment of the case for building HS2 north to south. Since then Sir David Higgins has told the MPs that when he takes up his post as the Chairman of HS2 Ltd he will look at the case for building north to south concurrently with building south to north. The Tansport Committee believe that the economic, transport and political case for this has strengthened since its last report.

HS2 Ltd website

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News: Regional export values increase

Figures released by HM Revenue & Customs have revealed that the total regional export values for Yorkshire are on the increase.

The region's export values reached £4.34 billion in the third quarter of 2013, an increase on the £4.14 billion achieved in the same period last year.

Although slightly down on the £4.43 billion achieved in the second quarter, the region's export values have been on an upward trend since the start of 2012.

Export experts believe that demand is coming from both inside and outside of Europe.

Audit, accounting and business services firm, BDO believes that demand for Yorkshire exports is increasing, particularly beyond the Eurozone, with rest of the world sales up 11%. More promisingly still, emerging markets sales rose sharply, with exports to Africa up 45% and Asia up 47% – albeit from a low base.

Mark Robson, regional director at UKTI, said: "Although the region has experienced mixed fortunes this quarter, it is encouraging to see that we are holding our own and are one of only four English regions – and the only one in the north – to have enjoyed export growth.

"It is clear that, despite some uncertainty, local businesses are making the most of the international opportunities available, particularly in established markets like the EU and emerging economies such as Eastern Europe and Latin America.

"The region has so much to offer and I am confident that our businesses will continue to seize on export opportunities and fulfil their global potential."

Steve Beahan, partner at the Sheffield office of Irwin Mitchell, added: "Small and medium-sized businesses have a big role to play in export success and we think they can do even more.

"Recent initiatives such as Export Week play a big part highlighting and encouraging companies to explore all of the opportunities that are available to them including which markets are most suitable, how they can access finance and how to seek out new trade partners.

"Getting the right advice is also important and seeking good quality timely legal advice from firms which understand their sector is essential."

UKTI website
Irwin Mitchell website

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News: Doncaster Gate not considered an asset of community value

Rotherham Council is set to reject a community bid to have the historic former Doncaster Gate hospital listed as an asset of community value, a move that, if accepted, could save it from the wrecking ball.

In October, Rotherham Council's cabinet approved plans to demolish Rotherham's first purpose-built hospital, which is in its ownership, in a bid to save costs and attract a greater interest in the opportunities for development of the site.

In November, a bid led by the Rotherham District Civic Society was submitted to the council under The Community Right to Bid.

The Community Right to Bid, introduced as part of the Localism Act 2011, enables town and parish councils and local voluntary and community organisations to nominate local land or buildings to be included in lists of community assets maintained by local authorities. Whilst a successful attempt may not stop the demolition, it would have begun a six month process that allows the community interest group to express an interest in bidding to purchase the property.

At its cabinet meeting next week, members are being asked to confirm that the application to have the former Doncaster Gate offices listed as an asset of community value be rejected.

The Victorian, pavilion-type hospital building dates back to the 1870's and was developed at a cost of around £9,000, raised through local donations. A major factor in the hospital's creation was to provide Rotherham with a facility that could serve the many local workers who became victims of industrial accidents.

Designed by Mallison & Bakewell of Leeds and built in a striking Tudor Revival style, complete with stone mullioned windows, the hospital underwent modernisation in the 1930's and the modern Health Village extension was completed in 2004.

The council stated that the site has been a target for criminal activity and vandalism and currently costs £100,000 a year to keep in its current deteriorating state. This could be reduced to £10,000 per year if the hospital is demolished. The council added that it could cost up to £4m to put the building into a useable condition and secure its future use.

Campaigners fighting to save the building from the wrecking ball have been hampered by English Heritage knocking back an application to have it listed and by Rotherham Council not extending the town's conservation area to cover Doncaster Gate, despite the cabinet member approving the extension in 2008 based on the recommendations of the council's own officers.

The Rotherham District Civic Society believes that the façade of the building should be retained in a development that may include community and heritage uses. It adds in the bid document that it believes that the building is an asset of community value as it was built using public subscriptions, is a well known feature of the town centre and contains a war memorial and a number of features of local interest.

In assessing the Community Right to Bid, the council concludes that the current use of Doncaster Gate does not "further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community" as the building is vacant. It adds that "no firm proposals have been presented to the Council that would enable it to conclude it is realistic to believe the property could be brought back into use as a community asset."

However, the cabinet is set to agree to allow any interested parties until 24 January 2014 to bring forward to the Council any re-development proposals which retain all or a significant part of the building.

"Soft-stripping" of the building has begun and demolition is scheduled to commence in February 2014.

Images: Doncaster Gate Heritage project

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News: Investors return to Rotherham town centre

£50m worth of deals have taken place in 2013 for commercial property in Rotherham town centre, indicating improved levels of investor confidence and a brightening economic outlook.

The biggest deal at auction saw the bank at the White Hart Buildings on Bridgegate sold with Allsops in May for an impressive £1m. Built on the site of the historic White Hart Inn, the property is currently home to Barclays Bank and the Rotherham Visitor Centre with rents of £99,872 pa.

Other property deals also done via Allsops this year include the sale of 24-26 College Street (currently home to Card Factory) which sold prior to an auction in July, and 28-30 College Street (Clinton's) which went at the same auction for £300,000. Both lots went up for auction a year previous and failed to sell.

Another building on Bridgegate, currently home to the Co-Operative bank, went up for auction with Allsops last month. With a guide price of £700,000, the lot went unsold.

Across town, 2A & 6, 6A, 6B and 6C on Wellgate went under the hammer at the June auction of Sheffield chartered surveyors, Mark Jenkinson & Son. A predominantly vacant building that includes the 235 sq ft Staniforths bakery outlet and the former premises of Keith Mallinson Tailors and Peter Bird hairdressers, also includes 2,800 sq ft of office space on the upper floors.

The property had a guide price of £125,000–£150,000 and ended up being sold after the auction. Plans have recently been submitted to convert the upper floors into four flats.

Auctioneers, Acuitus, also saw Rotherham town centre properties sell this year. The Grade 2 listed building currently occupied by Greggs on the corner of The Old Town Hall was given a guide price of £600,000+ and was sold after their February auction.

The latest sale was for the freehold of the Lloyds Bank building on Wellgate which sold earlier this month, over the guide price, at £300,000.

Richard Auterac, auctioneer at Acuitus, said: "This has been a year which has seen more momentum in the commercial property auction sector.

"Investors have an eye on the brightening economic outlook while the distressed property situations which date from the pre-crash boom are now being gradually addressed. This is bringing more stock into the auction room and creating a more fully functioning market than we have seen for some considerable time."

Away from the auction houses, the biggest deal for current commercial property saw The Cascades Centre acquired by international investment manager, Threadneedle, in a deal in the order of £5m.

The largest deal of the year was Rotherham Borough Council agreeing the £7.3m sale of its former town centre civic site with developers, TCN UK, enabling the £41m required for a new Tesco development to be secured.

Private property investor fund Osprey Income and Growth 2 LP completed the deal with the backing of £16.9m of equity from private investors and £23.75m of debt from HSBC Bank.

Images: Acuitus

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News: Harworth Estates commences Prince of Wales regeneration project

Harworth Estates, the company created to realise the property assets of what was UK Coal, has begun development work at the former Prince of Wales Colliery site in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, having received detailed planning consent from Wakefield Council to create a sustainable mixed-use community.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, Harworth Estates is one of the largest landowners in the UK with access to over 30,000 acres of land. The 77-acre site, that covers both the former pit yard and the former spoil heap, is just one of its major schemes.

Harworth has been given consent for 917 homes and 230,000 sq ft of employment space, along with shops, cafes, a medical centre, a community centre, a nursery and parkland. At the spoil heap up to 2 million tonnes of coal is being extracted from the slurry lagoon, after which Harworth will create a new country park, access ways and footpaths.

Harworth is also collaborating at the site with Alkane Energy, the independent power generators, that is also generating energy from methane at Maltby in Rotherham.

The Prince of Wales site provides the road corridor for the proposed Northern Link Road, which will provide a gateway into Pontefract from the M62 and open up further space for residential and commercial development.

Owen Michaelson, Chief Executive at Harworth Estates, said: "We have extensive experience in delivering complex sustainable regeneration projects such as this and look forward to continuing our close working relationship with Wakefield Council to deliver a scheme which will be transformational for Pontefract.

"Providing almost 1000 homes and enabling further development of the Northern Link Road, the scheme will help stimulate further residential and commercial development, ensuring future economic growth in the area."

Harworth has also recently had plans approved for its Logistics North development located at the former Cutacre opencast coal mine site, which will provide 4 million sq ft of distribution and manufacturing space and a new country park on a 250-acre site at junction 4 of the M61 near Bolton. Infrastructure works are expected to commence in spring 2014.

At its Waverley site in Rotherham, plans for 85,000 sq ft of the R-evolution development are set for approval this week. The development includes high quality new business and manufacturing floorspace incorporating warehouse units and offices on the AMP.

Harworth Estates website

Images: Harworth Estates

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News: Christmas message from Moorhead Savage

Rotherham insolvency expert, Paul Moorhead, always finds that the festive season is one of his busiest periods.

Paul, who founded the insolvency practice four years ago and is Britain's only insolvency practitioner with a PhD in Insolvency Law, was this year named the industry's Corporate Insolvency Practitioner of the Year.

"With January seeing the end of the tax year many people are still working on their tax returns and fearing that they won’t be able to pay their tax bill – and that's when they might need our help," he explained.

"Businesses that have a seasonal downturn through the winter are far more at risk of getting into difficulties at this time of year too so we usually see an increase in enquiries from people who perhaps have cash flow problems through the Christmas slow down, that time when they are paying wages for what can be quite a long break but not bringing in much cash.

"It doesn't help that some companies also use the holiday as an excuse not to pay people on time, which can have an added impact on an organisation already struggling with a cash flow problem.

"But don't let a Christmas cash flow crisis become a New Year disaster - the quicker you seek a solution to the problem the more likely there is to be a successful outcome."

Based in RiDO's Moorgate Crofts business centre, Moorhead Savage offers high quality, professional, impartial and ethical help and debt advice to both companies and individuals.

Moorhead Savage website

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News: AMRC Factory 2050 goes out to tender

The University of Sheffield has begun the tender process for the construction of the AMRC Factory 2050, the £43m state-of-the-art research factory.

Planned for the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the AMRC Factory 2050 will be the UK's first fully reconfigurable assembly and component manufacturing facility for collaborative research, capable of rapidly switching production between different high-value components and one-off parts.

Integrating research and industry collaboration, the government confirmed £10m funding from Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in June with the remainder of the £43m total cost coming from industry. Manufacturers including Boeing, Airbus, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and Spirit AeroSystems are committed to supporting the project.

Professor Keith Ridgway CBE, executive dean of the University of Sheffield AMRC, was recently asked by the Government Office for Science to lead on a study into what the factory of the future will look like as part of the Foresight report into the Future of Manufacturing.

The report said: "The emerging mental model for the Factory of the Future is of centres of creativity and innovation embedded in effective networks of relationships, where capable and talented people use world-class technologies and processes to create new ways of adding value. This is a world of challenge, interest and excitement.

"Factory 2050 provides a focus for manufacturing research roadmaps and will support further initiatives in other industrial sectors."

Manufacturing factories are expected to be fresh and have a "wow" factor, attracting partners, members and staff. They are expected to work closely within the supply chain and have partnership agreements with local universities and schools, between which there is a sustained flow of people, projects and ideas.

The AMRC Factory 2050 will combine technologies including advanced robotics, flexible automation, unmanned workspace, off-line programming in virtual environments linked to plug-and-play robotics, 3D printing from flexible automated systems, man-machine interfaces, and new programming and training tools.

The location is yet to be decided but initial concept design images drawn up by leading architects, Bond Bryan, show the building on land adjacent to the AMRC Training centre that is currently under construction on the AMP. It will have an area of around 4,500 sq m, and will be built to BREEAM "Excellent" environmental standards. It will be constructed largely from glass, to showcase the advanced manufacturing technologies being developed within.

Around 50 researchers and engineers will work in the new facility, which will be completed around the end of 2014.

AMRC website

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News: Tidy Boys pledge to Keep It Tidy

Hard dance pioneers, The Tidy Boys have finally acquired the Tidy brand from the Rotherham-based Music Factory Entertainment Group.

Andy Pickles (pictured, left) and Amadeus Mozart (pictured, right) were the original founders of the Tidy Trax label in 1995, using it as an outlet for their studio work, and over the years developed Tidy into a great hard house brand. It saw the duo form the Tidy Boys and embark on a DJ tour with performances at dance events across the world including Global Gathering, Creamfields, Gatecrasher, Planet Love, Escape In The Park, Colours Fest and many more.

The brand also established massive Tidy Weekender events and staged legendary events at Magna in Rotherham.

In 2006, the pair left Tidy and the Music Factory to pursue new challenges and move away from the dance industry. Pickles focused on U-Explore, the providers of innovative innovative software which engages with young people through cutting edge media and later became lead sponsor of Maltby Academy in Rotherham. Mozart went on to set up his own graphics design company.

In late 2012 the boys launched IDEAL, a new music and entertainment brand, and just over a year later, and after much discussion, speculation and negotiations, they have secured the Tidy brand. It comes after a number of attempts over the years.

The boys said in a statement: "Seen by many as the World's greatest Hard House brand, Tidy over the last few years has slowly slipped into hibernation, something that has happened due to natural causes and business circumstance. However as the people that gave birth to this loveable label, we realised that the brand that means so much to so many, had to come back.

"Tidy is more than just a label, it was and still is a way of life for so many, a passionate community who want to see it rise to its former glory and once again take centre stage within club land."

The plan is for the two brands, Tidy and IDEAL, to sit alongside each other, enabling the duo to provide a range of products to fans, from new music to classic tracks, and from big events to smaller, more random ones.

Based at Parkgate, The Music Factory Entertainment Group is a unique music and media company which began life in a terraced house in 1983 when chairman, John Pickles (Andy's dad), established a production facility and began licencing music around the world. Now occupying the whole street, it runs brands such as Mastermix, which provides specialist CDs to DJs, and Pure Energy, which supplies music specifically tailored for the fitness professional.

One of the Music Factory's biggest successes was Jive Bunny, which took the pop music world by storm in 1989 and secured three consecutive Number 1's and over 15 million record sales to date.

Tidy website
Music Factory website

Images: Tidy Boys

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News: Parseq picks up new contracts

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq, has secured a number of new contracts.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services and was created in a successful reverse takeover by Rami Cassis and Rotherham-based BPO provider, Documetric in 2010.

Parseq has secured a new three year contract with a major High Street bank to provide a UK "Lockbox" service to the bank's corporate client base.

Parseq provides a cheque processing service for a number of High Street banks that offers a Lockbox both in the UK and across Europe and this contract extends an existing relationship where Parseq already provide the service to ten corporate clients.

The Lockbox service is provided by banks to companies for the receipt of payment from customers. Under the service, the payments made by customers are directed to a special post office box, rather than going to the company. The service is seamless for the bank to offer, and enables them to provide an extended range of services beyond the typical core set of banking services, giving them market differentiation.

Parseq has also secured a contract to process four million financial forms within a twelve week timeframe. Parseq are managing over 1,000 boxes of confidential financial forms that will be scanned, indexed, processed and made available online via its innovative document portal. By transitioning these documents from paper to online it enables the client to immediately address customer queries received via their contact centre providing a much improved service, increases first time resolution rates and  mitigates the existing costs of having to find and extract the paper documents.

Another contract win sees Parseq provide payment processing services to a new parking venture in North London. This new service line will assist in the enforcement of payment processing for a group of car parks in North London to reduce the cost of enforcement and provide a valuable income stream for the London Borough.

Parseq process over 75,000 items of correspondence a day and the Hellaby facility provides BACS electronic fund transfers, remittance processing and voucher processing services to a number of high street banks and is also home to a 10,000 sq ft data centre that opened in 2011.

Parseq website

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News: Inspirational Claire celebrates success

Hip-Rocker, a business born out of a mother's personal desire to help others, has gone international.

Brampton-born Claire Bradwell, 29, was devastated when, aged 17, she was told she couldn't have children. Five years later and against the odds, Claire gave birth to twin boys, but was also diagnosed with cancer. The following year, Claire had her third child, a daughter called Daisy, who was born with hip dysplasia, a condition where the baby's ball and socket hip joint fails to develop fully and doesn't fit snugly together. The condition affects 1 to 3% of newborns and requires an operation to correct it and a hip spica cast to immobilise the hip as it heals.

Worn down by the emotional stress, Claire hit a real low point, which worsened when she went into hospital for a hysterectomy and ended up in intensive care for over two weeks with internal bleeding.

It was during her recuperation, that Claire was inspired to design a chair to give comfort and security to children while in a hip spica cast. Helped by her father, a skilled joiner, she created a prototype.

Inspired by the shape of a jelly bean, the Hip-Rocker is a specially designed rocking chair with table that allows children to sit upright to be fed and entertained, whilst in a restrictive hip spica cast.

To help bring the unique product to market, Claire attended the Explore Enterprise Course in January 2012, which was organised by the Prince's Trust and attended by 16 young business people and a special guest – HRH The Prince of Wales.

Claire produced a business plan with support from the Trust and gradually brought the product to market, launching the business in March 2012 with a workshop in RiDO's Century Business Centre at Manvers. Support came from Rotherham Youth Enterprise and The Prince's Trust also supported her with her start up costs.

Claire's goal for her first year was to not enter into her bank overdraft and she wanted to be able to move to a new home by her third year of trading – she achieved both of these in her first year.

Her business has continued to grow through her first year of trading, having started with just two designs of the chairs, the business now has six, with 19 different finishes compared to the eight when the business started. The business is now finding success overseas – having sold to Australia, Sweden, USA and Ireland, from a marketing spend of just £72.

Claire was recently named the winner of the Enterprise Award at the Yorkshire and Humber "Celebrate Success" awards hosted by the Trust, recognising how she overcame serious difficulties in order to achieve success in creating a sustainable business.

On winning the award, Claire (picture above, right), said: "I loved every minute of the evening, even when I broke down and cried.

"It's difficult to put into words, in a space of six months I went from not knowing if I was going to live or die and leave three young children - to running my own business and helping other parents with my products.

"If someone had said to me two years ago, "you will beat the cancer and all the other health problems and be running your own business helping children like Daisy," I would have said "the men in white coats need to come and get you.""

This year has seen Claire speak on behalf of The Prince's Trust in front of 1,200 guests at the National Business Awards and volunteer to be a Young Ambassador for the charity.

On the business side, Claire continues to improve and modify the Hip-Rocker design to suit customers' needs. It has been made available to buy or hire and is also suitable for children with other conditions, such as cerebral palsy.

Future products include rocking chairs and innovative ways of modifying prams and car seats to enable children with lower-limb complaints to use them.

Hip-Rocker website

Images: The Prince's Trust / Hip-Rocker

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