News: Parseq targets £100m turnover

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq, has acquired Sunderland-based 2Touch, a major contact centre and fulfilment business, as part of its strategy to create a business with a £100m turnover in three years.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. It has bought 2Touch from US-based Acxiom for an undisclosed sum and adds a complementary 1,000 seat call centre and back office fulfilment operation to Parseq's existing back office, call centre and fundraising services.

2Touch manage over 15 million calls and 5 million emails each year for some of the UK's biggest brands. It also operates back office processing services and warehousing, storage and fulfilment space.

Derwyn Jones, chief executive at Parseq, said: "2Touch is a cultural and operational fit for Parseq which gives us the scale and geographical coverage to attract new clients and deepen our relationship with existing clients.

"2Touch's established client service ethos and great reputation links closely to the Parseq business model and together provides us with a strong sector footprint particularly in utilities, financial services and insurance providers.

"We are delighted to be bringing together two industry leading businesses with the people, processes and operational capabilities to enhance our proposition as the only mid-sized corporate providing end to end outsourcing services combining front office, back office and IT."

The combined organisation will employ around 2,700 people working from five key sites in Sunderland, Glasgow, Rotherham, London and Brighton and have a turnover of around £65m. Parseq beleives that the additional operational site will enhance its business continuity proposition.

Derwyn Jones has previously stated that the target for Parseq in 2015 is 45 per cent growth in profit.

Parseq was created via a successful reverse takeover by Rami Cassis and Rotherham-based BPO provider, Documetric in 2010. The £33m management buy out was led by Cassis, together with Nova Capital and funds managed by HarbourVest Partners, LLC.

The firm processes 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 12,000 sq ft data centre that opened in 2011.

In 2013, Parseq made its first acquisition - The Panther Group (TPG), a UK-based contact centre services company.

Parseq website

Images: 2Touch

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News: No objections to new IKEA plans

Rotherham Council has reiterated that it has no objections to the proposed 37,000 sq m IKEA store at Meadowhall, Sheffield, subject to a number of conditions.

Plans were submitted in May 2013 for a new £60m furniture store with a restaurant and bistro plus a 1,000 space car park on the former Betafence site located off Sheffield Road, next to the Meadowhall Retail Park.

Rotherham Council has been consulted due to the close proximity of the application site to the Rotherham Borough. The main issues with the proposal affecting Rotherham would include the impact on Rotherham town centre; on traffic levels within the borough and the impact on air quality. It responded to the courtesy consultation last July.

Additional information regarding the traffic issues and air quality has now been submitted and Sheffield Council has re-consulted on the application.

The impact on the surrounding transport network is a major issue but the report states that: "The proposal is unlikely to have a major impact on Rotherham." However, Rotherham officers are asking that all traffic to and from the M1 to the development be directed from Junction 34 so as not to exacerbate the significant pressure around Junction 33.

The Highways Agency has not raised any objection to the proposed development and it will be up to Sheffield Council to decide regarding the impact on the local network. IKEA is proposing improvements to M1 J34 (North) including an upgrade to the "merge" onto the northbound on-slip, a mitigation scheme at the M1 J34 (North) roundabout and a mitigation scheme at the M1 J34 (South) roundabout.

It has also been agreed between the applicants and Sheffield Council that a number of works are required to the local highway network to accommodate the development. These include widening nearby roads and improving junctions. The developers are also set to provide a financial contribution to the funding of the Tinsley Link, part of the new Bus Rapid Transit system that links Sheffield and Rotherham.

Mainly due to the busy stretch of the M1, the Don Valley currently suffers significant noise and air quality issues and in some areas adjacent to the strategic road network levels already meet or exceed EU limits.

An assessment of the air quality implications by the applicants concludes that "future levels of air pollution in the vicinity are, for the most part, independent of the operation of the store" and that the impact on pollution levels "are largely negligible with, at worst, slight adverse impacts at a limited number of roadside properties."

IKEA is proposing that a sum of £400,000 be made available to assist with air pollution measures. This could include retro-fitting buses with low emission technology, tree planting, and trialling the use of "de-NOX" materials in road surfacing.

The Rotherham Council report concluded: "The development will not have any adverse impacts on Rotherham in transportation terms, provided that traffic is not directed to the site via Junction 33 of the M1; that the applicant submits a Travel Plan.

"Additionally, the air quality matters are to be addressed by Sheffield City Council Environmental Health Officers, who will require mitigation, if appropriate. It is therefore recommended that Sheffield City Council is advised the Rotherham has no objections to the proposed development subject to this."

IKEA website

Images: IKEA / Indigo Planning

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News: Willmott Dixon announces support for FareShare

Willmott Dixon Partnerships' Rotherham branch has announced that the charity it will support for the next 12 months is FareShare.

The Willmott Dixon Group is one of the UK's largest privately-owned construction, regeneration and support services companies. From a base at Templeborough, 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.

FareShare tackles food waste and food poverty throughout the UK. Last year it contributed towards more than 12 million meals, which were served at breakfast clubs, women's refuges and luncheon clubs for older people across the UK. On average, 62,200 hungry and vulnerable individuals benefit from FareShare's services every day.

The charity also delivers a program of vocational training opportunities and provides training in warehousing and fork lifting truck driving skills, as well as health and safety.

The repairs and maintenance company has pledged to raise £20,000 for three of the food redistribution charity's regional centres, through fundraising and volunteer time over the course of the year.

A Queen's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development was awarded to the firm earlier this year. One of the areas highlighted by judges in making the award was the £1m worth of community investment made by the company and staff each year to local good causes.

Leigh Garbutt, regional customer and community manager at Willmott Dixon, said: "We're pleased to able to pledge our support to FareShare for the next 12 months. It's very important for us to give our support to a charity that all of our employees across the business can relate to. FareShare works on a local as well as national levels, which allows our branches to give something back to the local communities they serve, in this case supporting FareShare's regional centres based in Barnsley, London and Birmingham.

"The charity also aligns itself with our agenda for meeting the needs of local communities. As part of our 4Cornerstones initiative we work to tackle poverty in the communities where we work, and this issue is also very high on our clients' own agendas. We're looking forward to working together over the course of the year to leave a lasting legacy in our communities."

Willmott Dixon website

Images: Willmott Dixon

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News: Further incentives for Xeros

Operators of commercial laundries in the US are being given even more incentive to use the innovative Xeros cleaning system in the form of financial rebates and incentives from their utilities supplier.

The Leeds University spin-out, based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, has developed a patented system using a unique method of special polymer beads rather than the usual large amounts of fresh water to clean clothes. Instead a small amount of water is added to loosen clothing stains and activate the beads.

Customers in certain US states are able to apply for financial incentives to install energy efficient machines supported by the Federal Energy Management Program's Energy Incentive Program. The first company to secure a rebate is Sterling Linen Services, one of the largest commercial hospitality laundries in New England, who has secured $28,000 from Liberty Utilities under its Natural Gas Energy Efficiency scheme.

The large-scale industrial laundry provider services more than 30 hotels every day, laundering everything from bedding linens to towels and table linens. As well as direct money and resource savings, Sterling Linen Services also experiences superior cleaning and the machine management programme gives them access to real-time wash data tracking.

The Xeros cleaning system comprises a special washing machine designed to release the beads into the drum for cleaning, and which then removes the beads from the clothes once the cleaning is complete.

An evaluation was carried out which included the metering of energy and water usage by a Xeros washing machine compared to an industry standard machine. The Xeros polymer bead machine demonstrated a 100% reduction in natural gas usage, a 76% reduction in water usage, and reduction of the wash time by up to 28 minutes.

Recently admitted to AIM, Xeros is targeting commercial laundries and hotel industry for their in-house laundry operations. Unsurprising given that the global laundry industry is worth $100 billion per annum. 30 systems have been installed or are committed to be installed in the US, UK and EU and Xeros estimates that approximately 120 further machine installations are expected for 2014.

Bill Westwater, CEO of Xeros, said: "This first incentive payment received by one of our customers further underlines the attraction of Xeros's polymer bead technology to the commercial laundry sector by ensuring our customers not only make significant financial savings but also reduce energy and water use, all whilst providing superior cleaning results. We look forward to working with utility companies on future incentives for their customers using Xeros technology.

"Liberty is pointing the way but since our IPO, we are also now in active discussions with a number of other US utility companies about assessing Xeros machines for energy incentive programme eligibility and I look forward to updating shareholders on progress with these discussions in due course."

Xeros website

Images: Xeros

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News: SCR companies to show their metal in China

Sheffield City Region companies are set to attend one of the world's biggest steel exhibitions in September as part of an initiative supported by the region's Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).


After a successful regional mission to the event in 2012, ConnectChina and The Expo People are organising a regional pavilion at CISSIE 2014 in Shanghai. Taking place on September 18 - 21, the China International Special Steel Industry Exhibition is the special steel industry's unique biennial trade show and exposition. Bringing together industry professionals, it also includes a technology conference showcasing advancements in all phases of steelmaking.

With backing from Rotherham Youth Enterprise, The Expo People is based in RiDO's Moorgate Crofts business centre in Rotherham and has been set up by international event specialist, Paul Tomes who has worked with events organisers around the world to promote events from Morocco to Abu Dhabi and across Europe.

ConnectChina provides a range of services to facilitate businesses and organisations to develop trade and investment with China.

Speaking about the event in 2012, Joanna Lavan of ConnectChina said: "This exhibition open doors to opportunities with some of the largest steel companies in China and we are keen to keep the relationships thriving."

The package means that companies can exhibit at the event for as little as £1,600.

Ellen Cutler, director of inward investment at Sheffield City Region LEP, said: "We continue to work hard to support companies from within the region to perform globally, particularly within emerging and growing markets such as China.

"We also put a lot of time and effort into promoting the region as an advanced manufacturing zone."

South Yorkshire pavilion exhibitors can also benefit from a partnership struck up between Emirates and the group organisers, offering exhibitors additional benefits including Skyward tier upgrade, bonus miles, airport lounge use and preferential fares.

CISSIE website
The Expo People website

Images: CISSIE

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News: Newburgh turn to AMRC apprentices for help with lathe

Apprentices at the AMRC Training Centre have taken the opportunity to develop their project management and teamwork skills, whilst also giving something back to the community.

Part of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, the AMRC Training Centre is a £20.5m centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham where the focus is on 250 students aged from 16 upwards, taken on paid apprenticeships with opportunities to progress on to postgraduate courses.

Newburgh Precision Ltd, the high-tech precision engineering sub-contractor with a facility in Rotherham, contacted the centre and asked them if they would be interested in refurbishing a lathe as part of a community project.

The lathe's final destination is for Hope Valley College whose teacher of Engineering and Design Technology, Martin Streets said: "The lathe will further enhance our facilities and allow us to offer an applied and relevant experience to our engineering and technology students at GCSE level and across the curriculum.

"We are totally committed to raising the profile of Design Technology and particularly Engineering and are delighted to be associated with both the AMRC and Newburgh Precision, who share our vision of engineering excellence through their continued generosity and support. It is pleasing to see so many of our ex-pupils doing well, both at Newburgh and at the AMRC and the commissioning of the new lathe will contribute greatly to developing future generations of engineers."

David Greenan, managing director at Newburgh Precision Ltd, added: "We are keen to support the local community and Hope Valley College in particular in this way to help develop the next generation of engineers that will secure the future of our business and the wider engineering and manufacturing sectors."

Once the lathe arrived, two trainers, David Smith and Brian Allot, set up a project team and divided the apprentices into three groups, each responsible for a different part.

Chris Wain, an apprentice for Technicut, was appointed the project leader. He said: "It's going well and we are organised. We started properly by doing the paperwork and sorting out the permit to work, the risk assessment and the method statement. Once that was done we gave the lathe a deep clean and that uncovered some hidden faults."

When asked how he was enjoying leading the project he said: "the team seem to be listening to me and they are all eager to get on. I'm enjoying gaining new experience in dealing with customers and suppliers and ordering replacement components and parts."

David Smith, one of the trainers, said "I'm really pleased by the professional attitude of the apprentices. They are learning the fundamentals of how a project should be delivered and this will stand them in good stead when they go back into the workplace."

AMRC Training Centre website

Images: AMRC

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News: Bus lane planned for Parkgate

£1.4m worth of transport schemes are being proposed as part of a long term project to improve overall journey time reliability and reduce delays between Rotherham town centre and Parkgate.


Concerns have been raised with Rotherham Council about the impact that traffic delays are having on the bus journey time reliability of services operating on the A633 corridor between Rotherham town centre and Parkgate.

Details of the first schemes to tackle the congestion are set to be approved by the council's cabinet member for regeneration and development next week. They include proposals to introduce a bus and cycle only lane on the south bound carriageway of the A633 Rotherham Road between Taylor's Lane and Stadium Way. This section of road is outside the site of the proposed £7.5m Tradeworld development and links the retail areas at Great Eastern Way and Parkgate Shopping.

A 51,000 sq ft retail development on the site of a former car showroom at Great Eastern Way was granted planning permission earlier this year. Work is expected to start on site in Autumn 2014 with completion in Spring 2015.

A council report said that the bus and cycle lane, with pre signals for buses to rejoin traffic, would significantly improve bus journey time reliability, when south bound traffic queues from Stadium Way, the entrance to Parkgate Shopping.

Other proposals include a traffic management scheme on the busy Broad Street in Parkgate and alterations to St Ann's roundabout to enable buses to turn left from Centenary Way on to St Ann's Road heading to Parkgate without over-running the nearside kerb or taking this turn much wider than required.

The council estimates that the Rotherham Road bus lane would cost in the region of £700,000. The Broad Street traffic management scheme is estimated to cost in the region of £600,000. Funding is set to come from the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive using the Local Sustainable Transport Fund 2014/15. The kerbline alterations to St Ann's roundabout are estimated to cost in the region of £125,000.

Other improvements in the area include a £60m extension to the Supertram network that will see innovative tram-trains running between Sheffield and Parkgate via Rotherham town centre from 2016.

It is also hoped that further funding can be secured via the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership to increase road capacity, open land at Parkgate Shopping and support a Parkgate Tram-train/Park and Ride.

Rotherham Council website

Images: SYPTE

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News: Rotherham buildings recognised in awards

Several new buildings across Rotherham have been acclaimed in a regional building excellence awards.

The Brook Meadows housing development in Aston; the new building for funeral directors J Parkinson and Sons in Westgate; and two schools in Maltby - the newly-revamped Maltby Academy and the Lilly Hall Primary School - were all successful in this year's South Yorkshire and Humber Building Excellence Awards.

The awards, which recognise building excellence during the year, are organised by building control departments of local authorities across South Yorkshire and the Humber.

The projects were judged on a range of criteria including compliance with building regulations, accessibility, inclusive environment and sustainability as well as client and customer satisfaction.

W. Redmile & Sons, a family-owned business based in Sheffield, were the winners in the "Best Housing Development" category for Brook Meadows in Aston. The site comprises 200 units off Mansfield Road and although it has taken a few years to complete this phase of the site the standard of build is always high and consistent.

The recent re-build of Maltby Academy helped BAM Construction pick up the winners award for the "Best Education Project." BAM Construction has transformed the existing site to provide over 10,000 sq m of modern teaching facilities in both new and refurbished buildings. This phase of works includes the focal point of the redevelopment, the new Business and Enterprise Centre (picture during construction), as well as the refurbished teaching and social spaces.

Most importantly, throughout the whole construction period, the daily running of the Academy has been maintained and safety ensured for the 1,200 pupils and teaching staff.

Achieving highly commended in the "Best Small Community Project" category was Maltby's Lilly Hall Primary School. It was designed by James Cox of Rotherham Borough Council's Design and Projects department and built by local contractor George Hurst and Sons Ltd.

Eton Construction, which is based in Rotherham's Wellgate, achieved a highly commended award for its nomination in the "Best Commercial Project Up To £1m." They are responsible for the new building in Westgate, Rotherham, for undertakers, J Parkinson and Sons.

Cain Green, commercial director of Eton Construction (pictured above, right), said: "We are delighted to have received the award out of the many other projects put forward within the region and hope this will help further establish ourselves moving forward.

"The project was met by many challenges; limited site space, limited shared access with our clients who were still operating in their current building and piling of the building, to name a few. We overcome them also giving recognition for the award, by closely working with the building inspectors from Rotherham Building Control, our client J Parkinson and Sons and Building Design Concept, the Rotherham based project architect."

Successful projects in the South Yorkshire and Humber Building Excellence Awards 2014 are now eligible for nomination to the national LABC - Local Authority Building Control finals - to be held in London later in the year.

Local Authority Building Control website
Eton Construction website

Images: Maltby Academy / Eton Construction / LABC

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News: Duocall gets Meadowhall working fast

Rotherham-based telecoms specialist DuoCall Communications, has helped management and staff at Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield get up to speed by upgrading them to superfast Internet connectivity.

Meadowhall covers 1.5 million sq ft of floor space and is home to 280 stores from top independent and international brands, that attracts over 25 million visitors per year.

The fully managed service provides connectivity to the Internet and Cloud based services for the Management team and on-site training facility - The Source.

The Templeborough managed services provider worked with Meadowhall's IT team to ensure a seamless transition to the new 100MB circuit. DuoCall will continue to provide support with 24/7 proactive monitoring of the connection, which will see the IT and Telecom specialist deal with any issues as they arise. This will provide the Meadowhall team with full business continuity and peace of mind.

Chris Breeze, IT manager at Meadowhall, said: "Implementing a new circuit can often be very time consuming due to infrastructure re-configuration, however DuoCall provided us with a seemingly easy change over.

"It's re-assuring to know that we have a local provider who understands how critical it is for Meadowhall to have a reliable and fully managed service."

Phil Coley, director of DuoCall added: "At DuoCall we provide top class IT and telecommunication solutions to business of all sizes nationwide.

"We are delighted that Meadowhall chose to work with us. My team and I are looking forward to a long term partnership with Chris and his team at Meadowhall."

Duocall website

Images: Duocall

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News: Rotherham is home to a Championship football club

Yes it wasn't a dream. Rotherham United secured promotion to The Sky Bet Championship, the second tier of English football, after a dramatic Playoff final win over Leyton Orient at Wembley.

Rotherham will welcome some big names to the New York Stadium next season, including former European Cup winners, Nottingham Forest, former Premier League winners Blackburn Rovers and local rivals Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday.

A massive boost for the borough, the promotion is also set to increase turnover at the club, that was last in the league in 2004/05 and was only brought out of administration in 2008, by an estimated £4m due to increased TV money (£1.7m), prize money and attendances.

David Conn in The Guardian, recently assessed the finances of clubs in The Championship and the vast amounts of revenue generated, and the often greater amounts spent, as clubs attempt to reach the Premier League.

Back in town with a new £20m stadium, Rotherham United increased turnover by nearly £2m to £4.4m for the year ending December 31 2012. It is likely to have increased again following promotion to League One in their first season at New York.

Turnover at clubs in The Championship is over £8m, even for those struggling at the bottom, with many clubs spending more on wages than they generate in revenue, which puts them at risk of sanctions under the new Financial Fair Play rules. Turnover at some of the bigger names in the league is over £25m.

The incremental progression promised by chairman Tony Stewart, owner of successful Rotherham business, ASD Lighting, is likely to see the club look at expanding the stadium on the edge of Rotherham town centre. It was always designed to accommodate future expansion beyond the original 12,000 capacity but any work is unlikely to be carried out over this summer.

Season ticket prices have increased for next season, with an average adult season ticket going up by around £80. However, prices of £450 - £485 compare favourably with the rest of The Championship.

With the prospect of more sell out fixtures, the town centre is set for a further boost. Coinciding with the opening of the stadium in 2012, the past three years have seen encouraging increases in the footfall figures within Rotherham, with an overall 13 per cent uplift in numbers. This has been during a time when many equivalent sized UK towns have seen trade decreasing.

The amazing day at Wembley saw Rotherham United fight back from two nil down at half time thanks to goals by man of the match, Alex Revell, to take the game to a dramatic penalty shootout, which they won thanks to two smart saves from goalkeeper Adam Collin.

Steve Evans, manager of Rotherham United, said after the shootout: "We've come to London, we've come from 2-0 down with spirit and courage and won it. It's the best day of my career, by miles."

And already looking ahead to next season, he added: "I came in, put myself under pressure, saying we'd do back-to-back and there were the usual dissenters. But we're going to go up and we’re going to have a fight – we're going to have a go.

"We're not kidding ourselves, there are some massive clubs – Norwich, Nottingham Forest, Derby County.

"We're going up and we know the size of the task. Nobody said we'd be in the Championship when I walked into the Don Valley Stadium but we're there and we're deservedly there."

Supporters are expected to paint the town red tonight when the triumphant team will travel on an open-top bus from the New York Stadium around the town centre to All Saints' Square and on to Rotherham Town Hall for a civic reception.

Rotherham United website

Images: The Football League / Rotherham United / twitter

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News: Enjoy Pastures Moo at Parkgate

Manvers ice cream business, Pastures Moo, has secured a sweet spot at Parkgate Shopping over the summer to supply its highly original flavours to Rotherham shoppers.

Owned by Hercules Unit Trust, which is advised by British Land and managed by Schroders, Parkgate Shopping is one of the largest retail parks in the UK, home to over 40 shops and attracting around seven million visitors a year.

Pastures Moo was established in 2013 by enterprising Dearne Valley brothers, Ali and Will English. It has already become established in the local community and has begun to attract local and national interest. They are already supplying local attractions and events as well as making home deliveries. Weddings and birthday parties are proving particularly popular.

Parkgate Shopping has given them a free pitch on the popular shopping park for the next six months as part of a link up with Rotherham Youth Enterprise, who have supported the fledgling company since its formation, providing them with premises, at Century Business Centre in Manvers, as well as business advice and encouragement.

Ali English, co-founder of Pastures Moo (pictured, front right), said: "The generous offer from Parkgate came at a very good time for us. Having established a good niche, we were looking for our next challenge, and serving the public through our first mobile on such a busy site certainly provides that."

Ali already has all the credentials, having served a successful apprenticeship in food production and hygiene. When he recognised that the task would be too daunting for him alone, who better to call on than his energetic brother, Will, who had just finished school and was looking for his own challenge. Behind this dynamic duo is the steady hand of financial adviser father, Simon.

Denis Copeland, manager of Parkgate (pictured serving, back left), said: "They tick so many boxes for us. The mobile is very attractive, the ice cream itself is heavenly, particularly "Messy Moo" which is becoming the flavour of choice (I can say that from personal tastings) and above all, our shoppers love it. The local connection though is the real clincher. Two enterprising lads working their socks off to create a viable business."

The family-owned business has over 20 flavours available ranging from more traditional Vanilla or Strawberry to their signature Messy Moo which combines dairy ice cream with a chocolate sauce, chocolate cookies pieces and mini mallows.

Pastures Moo website
Parkgate Shopping website

Images: Parkgate Shopping

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News: Community work placements in Rotherham

Interserve Working Futures has secured the government contract to help the long-term unemployed in South Yorkshire gain valuable work experience.

The new scheme – Help to Work – will give Jobcentre staff a new range of options to support the hardest to help get off benefits and into work.

Starting from June 2014, Community Work Placements will be one of three intensive options that Jobcentre Plus advisers can consider for Jobseeker's Allowance claimants who return from the Work Programme.

Claimants who lack work experience - and where this is felt to be holding them back from finding a job - may be asked to undertake a placement, which will also benefit their local community. This would include a range of roles in the voluntary and community sector that will give the claimant skills and experience within the work place. This could include gardening projects, running community cafes or even restoring historical sites and war memorials.

The placements will be for up to six months for 30 hours a week and will be backed up by at least four hours of supported job searching each week to help turn the experience into full time employment.

It will be for claimants who encounter multiple barriers to work and who would benefit from relevant and current work experience to help them back into sustainable employment.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "A key part of our long-term economic plan is to move to full employment, making sure that everyone who can work is in work. We are seeing record levels of employment in Britain, as more and more people find a job, but we need to look at those who are persistently stuck on benefits. This scheme will provide more help than ever before, getting people into work and on the road to a more secure future."

Bob Vince, developments director at Interserve, said: "We are delighted to have been awarded these contracts, which will enable us to use our experience in this area to help job seekers add relevant skills to their CV's and provide sustainable employment opportunities for many people. We have strong relationships with many voluntary sector partners who can assist us in the delivery of this."

The cabinet at Rotherham Council recently discussed a local review into the government's Work Programme, which provides support, work experience and training for up to two years to help the long term unemployed (over three months) find and stay in work.

The report raised the issue of sanctions and stated that communication with claimants needed to be improved; a degree of local flexibility should be introduced; vulnerable claimants should be able to access one to one support; and a local working protocol should be established with the aim of ensuring complete fairness in the process of implementing sanctions in Rotherham.

The two Work Programme prime contractors for South Yorkshire – Serco and A4e - were invited to take part in the review either by giving evidence at meetings or answering written questions. Both turned down the opportunity to provide evidence and to have their input considered by the review, with A4e taking the view – based on advice from their Department for Work and Pensions account manager - that it would be inappropriate to respond to the panel's questions.



Images: Department for Work and Pensions

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News: Stewart looking forward as Millers do the business

This Sunday, Tony Stewart, the owner of Rotherham firm, ASD Lighting, will be back at Wembley as chairman of Rotherham United, with the club one game away from returning to the Championship.

A lot of people, even Rotherham fans, thought that it might never happen again after the club dropped down the leagues with mounting off field problems following relegation from the second tier in 2004-05. But then, a lot of people never believed that the club would be back in town, playing at a purpose-built, iconic, £20m stadium.

Tony Stewart started in business aged 26 in a fast growing electrical contracting firm and his hard working nature was coupled with an enjoyment in being his own boss and being a manager.

Stewart was intrigued by infra red detectors and went on to combine them with lighting products which made them turn on "as if by magic" in 1981. After further design and development, and securing start up cash from the bank, it led to the formation of ASD Lighting, a Rotherham manufacturing success story.

The Barbot Hall company has had unrivalled success in the LED market and has invested heavily in facilities and R&D. It employs about 175 staff and the latest financial results showed that turnover was £21.4m and pre-tax profits were £3.7m in the year ending 31 December 2012.

Tony Stewart was one of a number of business people invited to the Town Hall with the aim of finding a way of resurrecting the borough's football league club after it fell into administration for the second time in 2008. He ended up going it alone and brought them out of administration via a Creditors Voluntary Agreement.

His sales people always talked about football and Stewart recognised the networking opportunities available with football as a common denominator, having previously sponsored Sheffield Wednesday.

After the takeover came the decision to play home games at the now demolished Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield, after working hard to get a deal to carry on playing at Millmoor, the club's home for over 100 years.

Stewart, who still considers himself a novice as a football chairman compared to his 30 years in business, said: "The people at Don Valley were great and I can't thank them enough. Our time at Don Valley was a learning curve for me and the other directors. Working on plans for our own stadium, we knew we had to fill in the gaps - the views and the acoustics, that sort of thing."

The club was charged with returning to play home games in its home town within four seasons by the Football League, which meant that the new stadium was being considered during the economic crisis, but as Stewart explained: "From bad comes good, because we had construction firms begging for work and with the tenders we put out we were able to get something iconic and unique, at the price we wanted to pay."

Stewart speaks with a great sense of achievement about the £20m New York Stadium (he came down "every day" during construction) and how he also approached it as a businessman. "With the new financial regulations coming in, we knew we had to look at our revenues and outlay as we are funding for the future. That's why we built in space for conferencing, hospitality, events, retail and office use" he added.

The next major piece of the New York regeneration puzzle is the future of the derelict Guest & Chrimes building next to the stadium.

The stadium hosted its first game in July 2012 and the Millers went on to secure promotion that season with an average attendance of just short of 8,000, the club's highest since 1982/1983. This season has seen a number of sell out games with famous wins over Sheffield Wednesday in the cup and Sheffield United in the league. The team worked its way in to the playoff positions scoring a bagful of goals and recently dispatched Preston North End to set up a playoff final against Leyton Orient.

The chairman added: "We are looking forward, we've been planning for the Championship. We need a bit of luck but we've got the skill and the plan. Good preparation and hard work are needed for success in business and in football."

Stewart admitted that he often asked himself if getting involved in football was "vanity or sanity" but concluded: "What an adventure I'm having. What an adventure Rotherham is having."

Held at the League One club's impressive New York Stadium, regular Rotherham United Business Club events give local businesses the opportunity to support each other and Rotherham United and cement the club's place within the business community. The club and ASD Lighting have recently become patrons of the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce to enhance their status with businesses in the town.

Rotherham United website
ASD Lighting website

Images: themillers.co.uk

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News: YIBC raises Rotherham's profile

Successfully hosting the Yorkshire International Business Convention (YIBC) marks an incredible few years for Rotherham's business renaissance.

Hosted at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham on May 16, YIBC is one of the leading business events in continental Europe and has attracted some of the biggest and most recognisable names from across the globe.

Political heavyweights Michael Portillo and John Prescott performed an unlikely double-act, with the line-up also including Robert Peston, business editor at BBC News and former financial editor of the Financial Times, Rosie Swale-Pope MBE, Brian Blessed, Richard Noble OBE and police sergeant and Rotherham United fan, Howard Webb MBE.

Martin Kimber, chief executive of Rotherham Council, whose members approved plans to underwrite the event, said: "It was a fantastic coup having the Yorkshire International Business Convention here. It was a wonderful day and wonderful event which I'm sure each of the 400 attendees got a lot out of, whether it be new business ideas, new contacts or simply inspiration to move their business on to the next level.

"Not only was the event a great success for Rotherham, but it also managed to raise £4,000 for the charity Phase Worldwide, showing that Rotherham is big for business, and big-hearted too!

"Our town centre is seen nationally as a one of excellence, that has seen off challenges from local out-of-town retailers and has made a name for itself by supporting independent retailers who bring unique items and a personal touch to their businesses.

"On the other side of the scale, we have the internationally-renowned Advanced Manufacturing Park - home to some of the world's most innovative companies, including Boeing and Rolls-Royce - as a base for researching and manufacturing the latest technologies."

Mike Firth, chairman of YIBC, added: "This is the most dynamic part of the country with world-class organisations.

"The Advanced Manufacturing Park and the AMRC inspired me. This is a hotbed of manufacturing innovation and we need to do more to let the world know its potential; I hope that YIBC can play its part."

Some takeaway points from the speakers on the day:

Rosie Swale-Pope: "Nobody asks for adversity, gosh no. But it can help you to do great things. If a silly old woman like me can walk around the world then you can do anything."

Richard Noble: Discussed the inspiring Bloodhound SSC project and the critical need for Britain to start producing the engineering workforce of tomorrow.

Robert Peston: "The UK is absolutely not paying its way. I'm optimistic for the next four years but China worries me."

Michael Portillo and John Prescott: Shared stories of their political careers with neither of them having regrets about not becoming the leader of their respective parties.

Howard Webb: "Take your passion for something and see where it takes you."

Brian Blessed: "Life is the last word, not death."

YIBC website

Images: YIBC

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News: Mencap makes Rotherham move

The Royal Mencap Society, the UK's leading learning disabilities charity, is merging two South Yorkshire offices into a new facility at the Phoenix Riverside development in Rotherham.

For over 60 years, Mencap has been developing personal and unique services for people with a learning disability, their families and carers. All with the aim of supporting people to live life as they choose.

Until now, the charity's South Yorkshire staff have been working from two separate bases in Rotherham and Sheffield. These have now been consolidated into the new building at Phoenix Riverside so that all 22 staff are in one building.

Developed speculatively by local firm, St Paul's Developments, Phoenix Riverside at Templeborough is a six acre office, 26,000 sq ft office park. Mencap has leased a 5,000 sq ft office building leaving just Unit 2 available with suites from 4,250 sq ft to 8,500 sq ft. Other occupiers include St Paul's themselves, Rotherham Council and procurement experts, In-Tend Ltd.

The Sheffield office of Knight Frank acted for St Paul's Developments and Royal Mencap Society was unrepresented.

Gary Shipley, operations director at Royal Mencap Society, said: "We took the decision to relocate our South Yorkshire staff into one office to enable us to work more efficiently in a fit-for-purpose, modern base. The new building at Phoenix Riverside is ideally located for our staff base, with plenty of parking and open plan internal office accommodation to facilitate a more fluid and sustainable way of working."

David Newton, managing director of St Paul's Developments, added: "The size and layout of our own headquarters at Phoenix Riverside was perfectly suited to Royal Mencap Society, so we decided to relocate into the neighbouring unit to facilitate their move. This is actually the second time we have moved our HQ for an occupier having sold our former base upon request which demonstrates our flexibility as a developer and landlord. We are delighted to welcome Royal Mencap Society to Phoenix Riverside and look forward to securing a tenant for the final Unit 2."

Peter Whiteley, partner at the Sheffield office of Knight Frank, added: "With only one out of the original four offices now available, Phoenix Riverside has proven to be an attractive office destination for occupiers. The remaining building offers grade A accommodation from 4,250 - 8,500 sq ft to let or for sale in this popular location, close to J34 M1 and with good access to both Rotherham and Sheffield. We are also handling interest in the adjacent two acre roadside plot which could suit a number of potential uses as it benefits from main arterial road frontage with significant traffic flow and could deliver an exciting opportunity for either commercial, leisure or amenity uses."

A planning application for a 80-bed hotel and restaurant on the adjacent site was refused by Rotherham Council in 2012 in a bid to protect Rotherham town centre.

Mencap website
St Paul's Developments website

Images: St Paul's

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News: Sale at Rotherham B&Q

F&C UK Real Estate has acquired a 51,000 sq ft retail warehouse unit in Rotherham in a £10.5m deal.

Opened by B&Q in 2009, the mini-warehouse is part of the £6m Northfields Retail Park developed by Henry Boot on brownfield land close to the established Parkgate Shopping retail park.

The Sheffield developers purchased 16 acres of land and secured initial planning consent at the canalside site for 100,000 sq ft of retail accommodation and some 90,000 sq ft of industrial space.

B&Q is the anchor tenant with trade retailer, Tile Giant, part of Travis Perkins, and Quay Plastics, a national plastics manufacturer, occupying the two 5,000 sq ft, speculatively built industrial units.

On May 16, IPT Property Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of FCRE, purchased the B&Q unit for £10.5m, at an initial yield of 7.3 per cent. The unit is let until August 2029, with a tenant's break in 2024, at £810,346 per annum.

The Guernsey-registered investment company is managed by F&C and trades on the London Stock Exchange. Having completed a merger with ISIS Property Trust Limited in 2013, its diverse UK commercial property was valued at £276.6m and shareholders' funds were £149.1m.

In a recent interim management statement, Henry Boot said that: "trading since the beginning of 2014 has been encouraging across all the group businesses and providing these trends continue, we remain confident of meeting the Board's expectations for the full year."

Another recent investment deal in Rotherham saw the Invesco Property Income Trust dispose of the warehouse building at Hellaby Lane leased to Clipper Group Limited. The investment company said that the sale price of £7.78m was in line with the December 2013 valuation and that the net proceeds of these transactions will be applied to reduce borrowing.

Henry Boot website

Images: Henry Boot

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News: Onyx secures clients in Yorkshire

Stockton business IT provider, Onyx Group, continues to find success in Yorkshire with its state-of-the-art data centre in Manvers, Rotherham.

The company, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has seen turnover approach £20m in 2013, an increase of 13 per cent on the previous year. However, it has recognised a need to still have a local presence in key regions across the country.

Onyx opened its Rotherham facility in 2012, offering businesses access to a 250-seat workplace recovery centre and a 320 rack state-of-the-art data centre. The firm employs more than 120 staff across the country from ten sites and offices.

By locating the facility in Yorkshire, Onyx Group has put its national expertise within reach of businesses looking to outsource its IT needs in the region. Since launching the new facility, Onyx has expanded the number of Yorkshire companies it is working with, including high profile businesses such as DFS.

A recent KPMG survey of UK businesses showed that 56 per cent cited the need to access skills as influential behind their decision to outsource and 45 per cent of businesses expect to increase IT outsourcing in 2014.

Neil Stephenson, CEO of Onyx, said: "Research shows that high up on the list of business worries is not having the technical knowhow to support the business IT requirements now and into the future.

"One of the key trends that address these challenges is that more businesses are looking to outsource all, or parts of their technology infrastructure to data centres and managed services businesses. A drive to access the best skills and the latest robust technology infrastructure is at the heart of this.

"This is why Onyx has opened its state of the art Yorkshire data centre to support increased demand from the businesses in the county and surrounding areas to outsource and colocate Data and IT systems somewhere close by.

"Local businesses are looking for all the usual benefits associated with outsourcing with the additional element of keeping data and IT systems local. One of the key benefits of outsourcing continues to be cost, however, other key factors include access to a broader range of often scarce skills.

"Skills at the forefront of technology expertise and in specialised areas are in short supply and the average business doesn't always require these skills on a full time basis, but can benefit from accessing them through an external partner."

Onyx website

Images: Onyx

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News: Rotherham Council building new council houses

Rotherham Council has awarded the the design and build contract for a new housing development at Barbers Avenue in Rawmarsh to reshape architecture + design.

In November, the local authority approved plans that will see them have an "enabling and entrepreneurial role" in stimulating local housing growth, backed with a £30m war chest to boost house building and the construction industry.

The aim is to significantly increase the construction of new homes across the borough and work has been done to identify funding and delivery mechanisms that will enable the council to help deliver 850 homes a year. There are currently around 540 new homes delivered each year and work on the borough's local plan identified the need to provide land for an additional 12,750 homes by 2027.

The £2.48m development on the site of the old cricket club and snooker hall at Rawmarsh will include 25 homes in total: three of which will be two bedroom bungalows, seven will be two bedroom houses, 14 will be three bedroom houses and one will be a custom designed and is ear marked as the new home for a disabled child.

A spokesperson for Doncaster-based reshape architecture + design, said: "The design approach has been to provide a redevelopment of the existing site with a high quality development of housing that is contextual yet contemporary. The proposed scheme relates to the character of the existing surrounding properties but is recognisably distinct providing a new vibrant addition to this particular section of Barbers Avenue.

"The proposed development will enhance the area with an honest design that will not imitate earlier styles but clearly express the development as being of its time whilst still addressing the materials, form and scale of the existing houses."

This week, the cabinet at Rotherham Council agreed to dispose of four sites across the borough to Arches Housing Association for £175,000 which will enable the £3.7m development of 35 new affordable homes.

reshape architecture + design website

Images: reshape architecture + design

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News: Bagel buyout to conclude this week

The £1 billion deal struck by Mexico's Grupo Bimbo to take over Canada Bread, the company owned by Maple Leaf Foods, is set to close this Friday. The deal includes the largest bagel production facility in Europe, based at Swinton in Rotherham.

Announced in February, the deal has been approved by shareholders and has now received the necessary clearance under governance and competition laws - the Competition Act (Canada), the Investment Canada Act and the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act (USA).

The transaction is expected to close on May 23 when Maple Leaf will realise aggregate cash proceeds of $1.65 billion or $72.00 per share for its 90% ownership of the outstanding shares of Canada Bread, plus an interest dividend of $0.437 per share if the transaction closes as expected on May 23.

Grupo Bimbo said that the deal would advance its global growth strategy allowing it to extend the company's presence in Canada and United Kingdom, as well as to expand their distribution networks in the United States. Maple Leaf is expected to shift focus to its position as Canada's leading consumer packaged meats company.

To fund the transaction, Grupo Bimbo will utilise cash holdings and financing available under existing long-term committed credit facilities.

Michael H. McCain, president and CEO of Maple Leaf, said: "We are very pleased that his transaction has satisfied all regulatory reviews. The sale to Grupo Bimbo will provide an exciting future for our bakery business and enable Maple Leaf to focus on accelerating profitable growth in the consumer packaged meats business, supported by leading brands, market shares and significant financial strength."

Canada Bread dates back to 1911, when it was formed in a merger of five different companies. In 1991 the merger of Maple Leaf Mills Limited and Canada Packers Inc. created the company now known as Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada's largest food processor. Four years later McCain Capital Corporation and the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board acquired controlling interest in the company from Hillsdown Holdings plc and remain controlling shareholders today.

Established in 1945, Grupo Bimbo is the largest Mexican-owned baking company. In 2011 it became the largest baking company in the world when it acquired Sara Lee North American Fresh Bakery, Fargo in Argentina and Bimbo Iberia in Spain and Portugal. It employs 126,000 staff across 19 countries in America, Asia and Europe.

Based at Swinton, the bagel production facility employs around 300 staff and produces 6-7 million bagels per week for several companies including the New York Bakery Co. The Canadian parent company announced an £11.5m investment in a new production line in 2013 in response to the unprecedented success of the 2013 New York Bakery Co. bagel re-launch - which saw sales increase by 30%.

New York Bakery Co. website

Images: New York Bakery Co. / Facebook

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News: Rotherham Hospital outlines next investment

The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust has submitted plans for the new multimillion pound facilities that will replace the Walk In Centre in Rotherham town centre.

The trust serves the health needs of the borough and delivers care at Rotherham Hospital, as well as community-based sites and directly in patients' homes.

Consultation took place last year with the trust advocating that everything for urgent care should be in one place. Urgent care includes immediate, non-emergency care that is usually on an unscheduled, walk-in basis. It includes treatment and advice for minor injuries or illnesses which cannot wait, such as broken bones, burns/scalds, infections, sprains and wounds.

The proposals for a new NHS Urgent Care Centre in Rotherham involve the closure of the Town Centre Walk in Centre on Greasborough Road and transfer of the GP out of hours service to a new purpose built Urgent Care Centre on the Hospital site.

Patients who currently walk into Accident & Emergency (A&E) at the hospital will in future access care through the proposed urgent care centre. It is set to operate 24 hours a day. This coincides with the increased use of the NHS 111 telephone number as a single point of access to care so that telephone triage will play a greater part in directing patients to urgent or GP care.

Plans, drawn up by Gilling Dod Architects, have now been submitted for an extension to the existing A&E facility that integrates an Urgent Care and Walk In facility into one department on the Rotherham Hospital site. The new service will comprise a two storey development (with a third storey roof top plant room) with an overall floor area of approximately 1,850 sq m, linked to the main hospital.

The new extension has been designed to complement the hospital's existing main entrance, that was redeveloped in 2011. It is "striking in design, with a prominent front elevation that inherently assists patient wayfinding ensuring that upon approach to the centre a clear point of entry and an accessible patient drop off zone are clearly defined."

Contractors are likely to be selected via the ProCure21+ National Framework and its supply chains.

Concerns have been raised over the capital costs of the proposals. £3m with a funding contribution of £1.5m has been budgeted for the 2015 financial year which comes at the same time as the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust set out plans to make savings of £10.3m in 2014/15.

In 2012, the regulator, Monitor, stepped in and announced that Rotherham was in "significant breach" of its licence to operate because of financial concerns.

Concerns have also been raised regarding transport and parking issues at the hospital site. The proposals include a total of 122 car parking spaces, for use by staff, being provided on the former mental health site at the Eastern side of the hospital site, close to Moorgate Road. This is set to free up spaces in the main public car park.

The existing £9.9m building operated by Care UK on the Greasborough Road site, which sees around 4,000 patients a month, will continue to offer a town centre GP surgery. All of the other NHS and community services will remain on site, including family planning/sexual health services and clinics.

Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust website

Images: Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust / Gilling Dod

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News: New deals for The Millers

As the Rotherham United team continue to be a success on the pitch, its commercial team continue to be successful off it, extending lucrative sponsorship deals.

The League One playoff finalists have announced a new long-term contract extension that sees Global Sports brand PUMA continue as the official supplier and licensee partner of replica merchandise until 2017.

PUMA have supplied the club with their technical and replica kit and training wear since 2011. The classic design for next season's home kit was recently revealed in the matchday programme at the playoff semi final win over Preston North End at the New York Stadium.

Steve Coakley, commercial director of Rotherham United (pictured, centre), said: "We're delighted to extend our kit supply agreement with Puma until 2017. PUMA is one of the global leading sporting brands and we will look to continue to work closely with them in order to grow the brand and merchandise operation of the club which continues to be developed whilst only in our second season at New York Stadium."

Ruth How, marketing director of PUMA UKIB, added: "This is an exciting era for the Club, with the new stadium, followed by last season's promotion, and now a League One play-off spot for the 2013/2014 campaign confirmed, we're really looking forward to continuing to be part of the clubs' continued progression."

Rotherham-based Eric Twigg Foods has also signed a new deal to continue to sponsor the West Stand at the New York Stadium until at least 2018.

Rotherham were the first club to stock Pukka Pies, courtesy of Eric Twigg Foods of Parkgate, back in 1981. In the 30 years since, the company's relationship with the great British game has grown to the point where football supporters buy in excess of half a million Pukka Pies every season. Eric Twigg Foods and Pukka Pies was the first sponsorship deal announced for the new £20m as it was being constructed in 2011.

Coakley, said: "This is great deal for the club not only financially, which the new deal represents a value into six figures, but also demonstrates our philosophy of commitment to long term relationships.

"Eric Twigg Foods and Pukka Pies have become synonymous with Rotherham United over many years and have stood by the Club through thick and thin. We've enjoyed an excellent relationship with both of them for so long now it has developed into a true friendship. It's fantastic news that the Club is in such a good place that we're able to further extend commercial relationships for the foreseeable future."

Tim Storer, MD of Pukka Pies (pictured, right), who visited New York Stadium recently from their head office in Leicester in order to conclude the deal, said: "There is something really special about this relationship. Rotherham United were the first Club on Pukka Pies' ever expanding portfolio and that mean a lot to us. It is fabulous to be a part of a club that has truly transformed itself and I would think that many others look at what has happened here with envy."

Matt Twigg, MD of Eric Twigg Foods (pictured, left), added: "We are a family run business and Rotherham United Football Club means so much to us, and has done for years. We're immensely proud to be involved in the club. The Pukka Pies product continues to be a cultural part of our fan base which both Tim (Storer) and I often discuss how unique that tends to be nowadays.

"Both my father and I have been watching the club for decades and, as keen supporters ourselves, cannot remember a time watching the Millers that the club has been in such an exciting period and we're looking forward to continuing that journey."

Rotherham United website
Eric Twigg Foods wesbite

Images: RUFC

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News: Noble endeavours to inspire new generation of engineers

Richard Noble OBE was in Rotherham last week to discuss the inspiring Bloodhound SSC project and the critical need for Britain to start producing the engineering workforce of tomorrow.

Essentially an entrepreneur, Noble specialises in developing high risk ventures. He was speaking at the The Yorkshire International Business Convention (YIBC) as the high profile event ventured South for the first time and was hosted at The Magna Science Adventure Centre.

The Bloodhound Supersonic Car (SSC) project is a British engineering showcase that aims to break the world land speed record by achieving the supersonic speed of 1,000mph. It also aims to inspire future generations to take up careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by showcasing these subjects in the most exciting way possible.

Noble, himself a former land speed record holder, explained how the project nearly failed to get going until high level discussions with government departments led to the project evolving into a very real, very exciting school project. The Ministry of Defence wasn't attracting the country's top young engineering talent anymore and the business department recognised that Britain was facing a "lost generation" where 100,000 engineering graduates are needed a year just to maintain the status quo.

Noble said: "In the UK today our education is not good and there is almost no venture capital, our media is still predominantly negative and focusses entirely on the soft stuff, with minimal science and engineering.

"The kids in school only have football and X Factor to look up to; their virtual world of online games and cartoons is depressingly fake."

Never one to turn down a challenge, Noble and his team saw the potential of the project to change perceptions and raise aspirations. A once in a lifetime opportunity to inspire new engineers has been developed with educational resources and all of the project data available on the internet. The team are taking a full size model out into schools for that added "wow" factor.

Nearly 4,000 schools registered in the first 18 months of the project. "We now have 60 schools building rocket cars and testing them in playgrounds," Noble told the audience. "The record is 287 mph."

The project relies on sponsors and donations with some of the leading names in British engineering involved. Noble explained how the project looked dead until Rolls-Royce got involved with their engines. He said: "We were told that we'd meet some nice people and have a nice discussion and then expect a polite "no thank you" as they don't tend to get involved in risky projects like this. In the end, they said yes and we are immensely proud, as are they, to have the Rolls-Royce name on the side of the car."

Speaking in the venue that was once responsible for producing up to 18 million tonnes of steel a year, Noble paid tribute to manufacturing in the region, and local companies that have come on board as sponsors.

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing in Rotherham initially supplied testing expertise and resources to the Bloodhound team, helping with spin testing of the car's carbon brake discs. The AMRC's machining-focused Process Technology Group went on to produce a number of key parts for the car, including gearbox components for the Cosworth auxiliary power unit.

The AMRC group of centres has worked on other components, including the car's rear sub-frame and the front suspension sub-assembly (pictured) - complex tasks that required the large-scale machining capabilities of the Nuclear AMRC and the specialist services of member companies.

Rotherham high-tech precision engineering sub-contractor, Newburgh is a project sponsor and has completed Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) gearbox casings for use in the car.

Bloodhound SSC is scheduled to test in South Africa next year before the record attempt in 2016.

Bloodhound SSC website
YIBC website

Images: YIBC / Bloodhound

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News: Rolls-Royce dispatches first Trent XWB for entry into service

Rolls-Royce, one of the most famous names in engineering throughout the world, has dispatched the first production Trent XWB that will power the Airbus A350 XWB's entry into commercial service with Qatar Airways later this year.

The Trent XWB, the world's most efficient aero engine and specifically designed for the A350 XWB, is the fastest-selling civil large engine ever, with more than 1,600 already sold to 40 customers.

Employees and guests gathered at Rolls-Royce in Derby to wave the engine off on its journey to Toulouse, where it will later be fitted to the first A350 XWB aircraft to enter service.

Chris Young, Trent XWB programme director at Rolls-Royce, said: "This is an exciting moment for all of us, and marks the first of many Trent XWB deliveries for service. When we reach peak production in 2017 we will be delivering a Trent XWB every working day."

Work on the engine started in 2005 when Rolls-Royce sat down with Airbus to look at how they could improve the performance of the new A350. Today the programme involves 16 manufacturing plants, eleven engineering and testing facilities, 12 engineering partners as well as 75 suppliers worldwide.

One of the manufacturing plants is on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, where single crystal (SX) turbine blades are being produced using the very latest manufacturing techniques.

The turbine extracts energy from the hot gas stream received from the combustor in high-thrust aero engines. Turbine blades convert the energy stored within the gas into kinetic energy.

The advanced turbine blade castings operate in the hottest part of the engine, at 200 degrees centigrade above the melting point of the material from which it's made. Temperatures are approaching half the surface of the sun and even the "cooling air" forced through the holes in the blade is 800C.

The turbine also operates in pressures that are equivalent to half a kilometre down in the ocean. With 68 blades on a rotor spinning at 12,000rpm, centrifugal loads of up to 10 tons are generated on each blade, equivalent to a London bus hanging from it. The high pressure blade tips reach 1,200mph, and at take off one blade creates the same horsepower as a Formula 1 racing engine.

When put together with other ground breaking aspects of the engine it makes the Trent XWB some 20% more fuel efficient than the engines powering the airliners it will replace, saving airlines operating the A350 around £2m per aircraft, per year.

Both Rolls-Royce and Airbus are Tier One members of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, also based on the AMP in Rotherham, as they continue to develop new ways of making aircraft lighter and more fuel efficient.

Rolls-Royce website
Airbus website

Images: Rolls-Royce

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News: Harworth sees signs of improvement in property market

Harworth Estates, the company created to realise the property assets of what was UK Coal, has reported that the local property market is showing signs of improvement after concluding land deals at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

Recovery plans for Doncaster-based UK Coal were put in place in May 2011 following big losses and a large pension deficit. Following a serious fire at one of its mines, administrators were called in to save the mining division, with the remaining focus of the new company targeting the realisation of its property assets through the Harworth Estates Property Group Limited.

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.

In a interim management statement, Coalfield Resources plc, which owns a 24.9% shareholding in Harworth Estates, reported that the developer continues to make progress across its portfolio of sites in terms of income generation, valuation growth and realisation through disposals.

It was reported that the recent significant disposals of two further commercial plots at the AMP were above book value.

In two separate transactions Harworth pre-sold Plot 1 (2.34 acres to accommodate a building of up to 40,000 sq ft) to Maher, a supplier of high-performance alloys, and Plot 2 (1.66 acres to accommodate a building of up to 25,000 sq. ft) to Nikken Kosakusho Europe, a supplier of precision engineering products.

Part of the 117,000 sq ft speculative industrial development called R-evolution, Plots 3 and 4 wehre sold as part of forward-purchase agreement with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council for £4.3m.

The UK's premier advanced manufacturing technology park, the AMP is part of the £100m Waverley development on the site of the former Orgreave colliery in Rotherham.

The update stated: "The property market in the regions in which Harworth Estates operates continues to show signs of improvement, and, as a result, stronger demand across all its activities. The improving market, coupled with Harworth Estates' diverse portfolio and distinctive skill set, is providing a sound base for Harworth Estates to deliver long term value for its shareholders."

In April, Harworth completed a letting of three units with Living Power Ltd at Whitemoor Business Park in Selby, North Yorkshire.

Harworth Estates website

Images: Harworth Estates

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News: Macalloy tie up US stadium contract

Rotherham construction experts, Macalloy, has supplied its innovative products to the reconstruction project taking place at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

Since it originally opened in 1936 with a capacity of 8,900, the Orlando stadium has expanded to accommodate more than 65,000 people, and has played host to World Cup football games, intense rivalry games between college teams, and music concerts including The Rolling Stones, Metallica and Guns N' Roses.

The Citrus Bowl is now undergoing a $162m reconstruction, featuring a new design by HNTB Corporation. It is part of local mayor, Buddy Dyer's, "Triple Crown for Downtown," a $1.1-billion plan to redo the Orlando Centroplex with a new $480m arena for the Orlando Magic, a new $375m performing arts centre and the reconstruction of the Citrus Bowl.

With work getting underway earlier in the year, all stadium structures below the upper decks will be demolished and reconstructed with concrete and pre-cast concrete. The four corner ramps that serve the upper decks also will be demolished and replaced with two vertical circulation towers. A new lower and mid level seating bowl will be created.

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

Macalloy has recently supplied tension rods in M56 and M90 diameter to be used as bracing on the steel frame structure that will house all of the new elevators, escalators and stair towers at the Florida venue. Manufactured from high strength steel bar, they are designed to be used as a lightweight, architectural product in situations where tension is required. They are often specified by architects based on the way they look in addition to the way they keep structures together.


Macalloy has been supplying the North American market for over 20 years. The Chicago Arts Institute Building uses Macalloy tension bars in the roof structure and the science teaching and student services building at The University of Minnesota utilises both Macalloy compression struts and tension bars (tie rods).

Stadiums that feature Macalloy products include the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg and the Olympia Stadion in Berlin, both of which have hosted the World Cup final. Others include the Etihad Stadium in Manchester and the Estadio de Luz in Lisbon.

Macalloy website

Images: HNTB / Macalloy

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News: X-Cel Superturn acquires Colson Industries

Sheffield-based X-Cel Superturn (GB) Ltd, a specialist in highly complex CNC machined parts, has acquired Leeds-based valve manufacturer, Colson Industries in a £1.75m deal.

Founded in 1983 Sheffield Superturn flourished as a sub-contract machine shop. Following years of collaboration, Sheffield Superturn purchased X:CEL (GB) Ltd in 2007.

Continued growth and diversification meant that the main manufacturing plant at Atlas North was running out of space. In June 2012, the firm moved its Gasket and Seal division to the prestigious Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

Fitted with the latest CNC machinery, the 14,000 sq ft AMP facility manufactures proprietary metal seals and drill parts for the Subsea and Surface Tree manufacturers around the globe.

Elland-based Colson Industries manufactures valves, also for the oil and gas industry. It will operate as a 100% subsidiary of X-Cel Superturn, which will strengthen the newly acquired company's management team with the appointment of a technical director and sales director.

X-Cel Superturn also plans to quadruple sales at Colson Industries from £2.5m to £10m over the next two years, adding 25 employees over the period to raise staff numbers to 65.

HSBC's South Yorkshire Commercial team has provided a £2.5m finance package to support the acquisition, and also to put a comprehensive working capital facility in place to help Colson Industries' growth.

Andrew Taylor, managing director at X-Cel Superturn, said: "Colson Industries offers exciting growth opportunities and complements our service at X-Cel Superturn. We believe the company can grow to a £10m business within two years, which would make the group between a £40m and £50m business. The finance HSBC has provided has not only enabled us to complete this transaction, but also gives us the working capital required to help grow Colson. It is a very exciting time for our business and I am pleased HSBC has backed this transaction."

In addition to funding being provided by HSBC's South Yorkshire team, the transaction was led by Yorkshire advisors. Chris Sellars from Banner Jones Solicitors acted for X-Cel, whilst James Foster and Dean Gormley from Irwin Mitchell acted for HSBC. Don Gray at BHP Corporate Finance acted for X-Cel and HSBC.

Mick Knowles, South Yorkshire area commercial director at HSBC, said: "We have worked with X-Cel for a number of years and this transaction strengthens the relationship further. X-Cel is a fantastic company that has continued to invest to take advantage of growth opportunities within its sector.

"I'm speaking to a large number of businesses from across South Yorkshire about their growth plans and it is fantastic to have the backing of the £500 million SME Fund for Yorkshire companies to enable HSBC to support them."

X-Cel Superturn website

Images: X-Cel Superturn

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News: MSSR goes into administration

Rotherham-based MSSR, which specialises in building petrol forecourts and ancillary services nationwide, has called in the administrators.

The Canklow firm was backed by turnaround fund, Seneca Investments in 2012, in a deal that saved 23 jobs.

MSSR was founded in 1989 to provide specialist petrol forecourt construction services to the oil industry. They have been involved in over 1,000 sites nationwide and works with companies such as Asda, Total Oil, BP and Texaco.

Seneca, which was set up in 2011 to support the SME arena in a tough climate, made the investment to fuel a future pipeline for MSSR which had a turnover of £5m.

In 2012, Seneca also injected a substantial investment into Tienda Limited, a Grantham and Cambridge-based interior design and construction company, whilst also acquiring a 49 per cent share of the business. The remaining 51 per cent was acquired by the management team of MSSR.

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A second capital investment in MSSR followed in 2013, with plans to bring together other businesses backed by Seneca.

Now David Robson and Michael Kienlen of the Leeds team at accountants, Armstrong Watson, have been appointed as administrators.

MSSR website
Seneca Partners website

Images: MSSR

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News: AMP firms race ahead with biocomposites

Companies on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham that are researching the use of biocomposites are attracting the interest of automotive clients interested in making bodywork panels for cars from materials such as hemp and cashew nut resin.

The £100,000 ELCOMAP (Environmentally friendly lightweight composite materials for aerodynamic body panels) project has been researching the potential alternatives to composite technologies currently in use such as carbon fibre and epoxy resin systems.

The technology has the potential to replace some or all of these raw materials with sustainable carbon-neutral alternatives that can significantly improve the environmental performance of composites manufacturing and revolutionise the production of low volume specialist components for high performance vehicles.

Project partners include Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) Ltd, TEKS UK Ltd and the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing.

Instead of working to create flat fascia panels, the team set themselves the challenge of creating a rear bonnet/boot from a Porsche racecar. The original steel part was measured using a 3D optical scanner, a layup and assembly drawings were created and special tools were designed for manufacturing prototype carbon fibre moulds.

The companies used the clean room, large oven and autoclave in the AMRC Composite Centre to produce the prototype parts, and also drew on the expertise of the research group.

After successfully producing two Porsche panels, the team challenged themselves further by making a larger and more complex Subaru front end.

The panels were finished using conventional automotive painting and lacquering. After initial laboratory testing, the parts were subjected to a real-life challenge – the Porsche panels were fixed to a car and trialled on the Serre Chevalier race circuit at speeds of over 100mph. The panels performed just as well as the steel original even though the final Porsche part weighed 3.9kg compared to the 10.4kg weight of the original steel part.

Teks has showcased the biocomposite concept to partners in the motorsport community, especially in the rally sport sector. Roland Krain, general manager at Teks, said: "Our rally clients are very interested in using high performance renewable materials for a greener more sustainable motorsport, paving the way for a wider greener automotive future."

TEKS and PES are now talking to a number of automotive clients of different sizes to provide pre-series structural panels for extensive life cycle testing.

A state-of-the-art facility allows the AMRC Composite Centre to provide a full range of design, manufacturing, assembly and structural testing services for advanced composite materials. It has enabled the two companies to draw on the resources and expertise they needed to demonstrate the benefits of biocomposites for this niche market.

Dan Fleetcroft, engineering design director at PES, said: "For a company of our size, it'd be very difficult to pull all the resources together in one environment to make it viable to carry out this kind of research project.

"To drive new technologies and innovation into the market takes collaboration, knowledge and investment. The AMRC is at the forefront of developing new manufacturing technologies, so we become aware of them more readily than through trying to read all the journals and research papers."

PES Ltd website
Teks website
AMRC website

Images: AMRC

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