News: LEP outlines £17m EU funding call

The first wave of new European funded projects in the Sheffield City Region will focus on business support, innovation and supporting inward investment through development on the Enterprise Zone.

Structural funding from the EU is likely to be integral to meeting the targets in the Local Enterprise Partnership's (LEP's) Growth Plan, which has set an ambitious target of creating 70,000 new jobs in the Sheffield city region (SCR) by 2023. The city region can expect £180m for 2014 to 2020 which brings together funding pots such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF).

In total six calls have already been submitted to the Government via the Sheffield City Region LEP. These relate to "New Business" (£1m), "International Trade" (£1m), "Manufacturing Advice" (£0.25m), "High Growth Support" (£0.25m), "Development in the Enterprise Zones (Inward Investment)" (£3.5m) and "Innovation Capital" (£11.2m).

Using EU funding, a Growth Hub is being created to provide clear model for coordinating and simplifying business support so that it joins up national, local, public and private business provisions across the Sheffield city region.

Another call is for bringing forward land and premises for employment sites, specifically targeting inward investment from foreign firms wanting ready built premises. Innovation based capital projects are set to be supported to the tune of £11m and could include specialist infrastructure facilities, innovation and incubation space and research laboratories.

James Newman, chairman of the Sheffield City Region LEP, said: "The Sheffield City Region's programme for EU funding has been designed by the LEP and local partners to ensure that our economy gets the biggest boost possible from this investment.

"The Sheffield City Region programme closely aligns to our Growth Plan, which sets out our vision to transform our economic future. At the heart of our vision is the creation of 70,000 new private sector jobs and 6,000 new businesses over the next decade. Local leaders are keen to make sure that as many local organisations and partners as possible are aware of these funding opportunities so we can generate as many high quality bids as possible from our City Region."

The LEP will only have an "advisory role" over how the European funding is spent. The final decisions will be made in Whitehall as the Government considers the role of Intermediary Body as being too risky in the context of managing European funds and the European Commission has not accepted that LEPs are an appropriate body to take decisions.

In a report to the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, Ben Morley, ‎strategic development and funding manager at Sheffield Council, said on behalf of Sheffield City Region Executive: "Whilst the process for completion and submission to Calls to DCLG has been far from perfect, particularly in relation to timescales and lack of clarity for the "BIS Products" there has been an ability to provide a local context and local requirements for applicants to submit proposals against. If nothing else this represents a significant step forward from the current programme."

The next round of calls is expected to be published in June / July.

EU Funding website
Sheffield City Region LEP website

Images: European Commission

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News: Peoplesafe secures deal with Andrew Page

Andrew Page, one of the UK's largest car parts distributors, is using the market-leading Identicom device via Rotherham-based lone worker experts, Peoplesafe.

Based in Dinnington, Connexion2 developed and manufactures Identicom, which is now the UK's most widely deployed dedicated lone worker device. It is designed to look like a normal ID badge and allows lone workers to raise an alarm, make an emergency phone call or send a text message. Also based at Dinnington, Peoplesafe work in partnership with Connexion2 to provide lone workers with the Identicom to thousands of lone workers in the UK.

Andrew Page, which has its head office in Leeds, has given 100 of its frontline staff special devices that can raise the alarm if they need help.

The devices are being used by staff at the company's main distribution centre at Markham Vale in north Derbyshire and by staff across the company's 114 branches. It is being used by people working at the 100,000 sq ft distribution centre, by branch managers and HGV drivers.

The other product, the Twig Protector, offers the same high level of protection as the Identicom, but looks like a mobile phone. It has a man-down capability, which means it sets off an alarm if the user falls over. Both devices link to Peoplesafe's 24-hour monitoring centre.

Lisa Reed, health and safety officer at Andrew Page Ltd, said : "The personal safety of our staff is a priority. Employees now feel safer when carrying out their duties in the knowledge that emergency help is only a button push away."

Ian Johannessen, managing director of Peoplesafe, added: "We are delighted to be working with Andrew Page as we know how they value their staff and their welfare.

"We have worked closely with them to provide the best possible solution for their lone workers and give them peace of mind."

Peoplesafe website
Connexion2 website

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News: Young engineers Speak Out for Engineering

Rotherham recruitment specialists Elevation Recruitment, has helped young engineers to prove that they can communicate effectively and "Speak Out For Engineering."

An annual showdown, organised by volunteers from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), is being sponsored by Elevation. The event sees some of the region's most promising young engineers take part in the IMechE's "Speak Out For Engineering" (SOFE) competition - giving young engineers the opportunity to demonstrate and develop their skills in presentation and public speaking.

The regional competition concluded with an awards ceremony at Sheffield's Cutlers' Hall earlier this month, with mechanical engineer William Holloway taking the prestigious accolade following a talk on innovation in industrial wastewater.

At the black-tie event, William received The Philip Hilton Trophy and £300 prize money, after his talk on the design of hydroelectric generators for use in industrial wastewater. The trophy is named in memory of Philip Hilton, as IMechE wants him to be remembered for his great deeds in promoting engineering.

IMechE is an independent engineering society working to raise the profile of mechanical engineering.

The competitors conducted a presentation on a subject relating to mechanical engineering which was followed by questions and discussion from the panel of judge - which includes Elevation Recruitment's John Bohan.

John Bohan, senior director at Elevation (pictured, left), said: "It's great to be involved with competitions that challenge the future leaders of the industry and celebrate successes.

"Elevation are proud to support this event as it not only allows young engineers to test their skills and gain confidence for their future roles but also provides a platform for the industry to showcase talent."

Started as part of the Horbury Group, Elevation was founded in 2010 and has expanded quickly. It now has an annual turnover of c£4m, and employs more than 45 consultants recruiting across eight specialist divisions.

Last year, a six figure deal saw the business acquired by a newly formed parent company, Elevation Consultancy Group, headed up by group managing director and Elevation founder Greg Parkinson and supported by fellow board director, Lee Bhandal.

On the day of the event, IMechE president, group captain Mark Hunt OBE BEng (Hons) MA MBA FCMI CEng FIMechE RAF, gave a presidential address at award-winning Rotherham manufacturer, AESSEAL. He said: "Engineering has never been so exciting nor so rewarding, a reality we are harnessing to inspire the next generation.

"Like the Institution, I am passionate about exposing issues, engaging in the debate, voicing credible opinions, answering difficult questions and taking engineering to society, thereby influencing humanity. In this vein, fellow engineers have the chance to lead the way and engineer our own future."

IMechE website
Elevation Recruitment website

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News: AMP at the heart of advanced manufacturing innovation district

US experts on the role of cities in growing the economy believe that the high levels of innovation taking place on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham means that it is perfectly suited to evolving a wider Innovation District for Sheffield and Rotherham.

Bruce Katz, vice president of the Brookings Institute and former advisor to President Obama, who regularly advises federal, state, regional and municipal leaders on policy reforms that advance the competitiveness of metropolitan areas, saw for himself the beginnings of a potential Innovation District when he was given a tour of the AMP on a recent visit.

Mr Katz gave a lecture at Sheffield Cathedral on Innovation Districts and how they differ from traditional locations of industrial development and insular science parks, instead based around open networks where research and development brings together universities and the private sector. Added to that is the desire for these districts to have urban characteristics and be "competitive and cool" places to be.

Writing in his latest opinion piece with fellow expert, Kelly Kline, the economists commended the ambitious vision of all those involved in the AMP, including Sheffield and Rotherham Councils and the University of Sheffield.

The report states: "Our visit to Sheffield convinced us that there is a strong base for a globally-significant innovation economy and a strong rationale for spatially organising that economy in ways that recognise the common attributes of innovation districts – integration, proximity, density, connectivity, and quality place-making.

"The region, in other words, has a good hand to play and, most importantly, appears ready to act with intention, purpose, and ambition. These are the right ingredients for the kind of advanced economy that is a prerequisite for broad-based prosperity."

The AMP, on the site of the former Orgreave coking works, is described as an innovation ecosystem that draws from a pool of talented workers and applied research. Katz was impressed by the innovation at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, which solves advanced manufacturing problems as a partnership with leading private sector companies.

The visitors also picked out the AMP's incubation facility, which is due to grow this year, and the AMRC's training centre which provides apprenticeship opportunities to 250 individuals a year in an effort to bridge the engineering skills gap.

The report adds: "We were impressed with the nature, scope, and scale of the corporate offerings and sheer number and size of the applied research facilities in the Advanced Manufacturing Park. In a relatively short period of time, the park has emerged as a compact and centralized anchor for the broad network of manufacturing companies in the Sheffield/Rotherham area.

"In many respects, AMP embodies the core economic focus of innovation districts: routine collaboration across government, universities, and private-sector companies in sectors that are fuelled by technologically advanced R&D and highly skilled workers. The park's inclusion of apprentice training on site reinforces the fact that many of the jobs in the "tech sector" require workers with skills and credentials that can be obtained without receiving a degree from a four-year university."

Civic leaders have committed to the idea of "supercharging" the advanced manufacturing cluster and the Sheffield-Rotherham Economic Corridor. A masterplan for the potential Innovation District is being produced by an external consultant that will be used as a bidding document for accessing monies through the Government's Growth Deal and other funding sources.

The district would build on existing links between universities and the private sector but develop added urban characteristics such as improved transport, housing and amenities making them "liveable, walkable, bike-able, and transit connected."

Professor Keith Ridgway CBE, executive dean of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), said: "We are delighted that Bruce Katz, vice president of the Brookings Institution, and Kelly Kline, the economic development director of the City of Fremont, in California, took such a positive view back to the US following their visit.

"As Bruce and Kelly said, advanced manufacturing in mature economies relies heavily on continuous innovation and we have already established strong foundations for future growth and development.

"Our Factory 2050 development on Sheffield Business Park and this week's Factory 2050 conference at the AMRC, exploring the future of advanced manufacturing, demonstrate how we can build on those foundations.

"Plans to develop an Innovation District, incorporating the AMRC on the Advanced Manufacturing Park, Factory 2050 on Sheffield Business Park and local businesses will accelerate that process and reinforce this region's role as the UK’s leading location for advanced manufacturing."

Paul Woodcock, director of Planning, Regeneration & Culture at Rotherham Council, added: "We are really pleased with the progress made with Sheffield, the university institutions and the private sector towards growing the economy in the region, especially in advanced manufacturing. A stamp of approval from Bruce Katz and his team is most welcome and provides a platform to move forward together."

AMP website

Images: RiDO / Harworth Estates

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News: Bestall to represent Yorkshire at Chelsea Flower Show

Award-winning local gardening expert, Lee Bestall has been chosen by Welcome to Yorkshire and will showcase his talents, and the best the county has to offer, at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show this year.

A membership organisation, Welcome to Yorkshire is the official destination management agency for Yorkshire, boosting tourism in the county through marketing campaigns and involvement in high profile events such as the opening stages of the Tour de France.

Announcing plans to promote Yorkshire in 2015 at a recent industry event in Scarborough, Welcome to Yorkshire announced that its garden design for RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been accepted. Run by the Royal Horticultural Society charity, the annual Chelsea Flower Show is Britain's most prestigious flower show and is held in the grounds of the Chelsea Hospital. It showcases nursery exhibits and model gardens and includes exhibits from foreign countries as well as from Britain.

Designed by Lee Bestall, Yorkshire's garden will feature a microbrewery theme and will highlight not only the great gardens in the county but also the impressive range of micro breweries when it goes on display in May.

Enterprising Lee, who grew up in Aston in Rotherham and studied at Sheffield Hallam University, was working in recruitment when he earned the chance to turn his love of gardening into a career with invaluable training from gardening expert, Diarmuid Gavin as part of a BBC series.

The local businesses, Inspired Garden Design and Bestall & Co, based at Renishaw, have gone from strength to strength with Lee receiving industry awards including a silver medal at Tatton Park Flower Show 2005, a bronze medal at Gardeners' World Live 2006 and Grand Designs Garden Designer of The Year Award 2012.

Lee described being selected by Welcome to Yorkshire as a "fantastic opportunity for us to represent Yorkshire at Chelsea."

Called "Brewer's Yard," 2015's garden is described as providing an illustration of the historical fusion between a recently refurbished old Yorkshire brewing shed and fundamentals of a modern micro-brewery. The garden interprets and aims to share the story of the elements of the micro-brewing process, then and now. A modern water feature inspired by brewing uses a combination of traditional materials and techniques with stylised design. Modern and antique brewing equipment accessories feature throughout the garden.

Sponsored by Wold Top Brewery, an award-winning micro brewery in Driffield, Brewer's Yard, will be the sixth time Welcome To Yorkshire has been on show at Chelsea.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "We've talked for several years about Yorkshire's potential as a county and as a destination – and now our collective ambitions and dreams are becoming a reality. There must be millions of people around the world who now know of Yorkshire, who didn't a couple of years ago – we're firmly front of mind. Our ground-breaking work builds on that and together we will cement Yorkshire's place on the world stage as a visitor destination."

Inspired Garden Design website
Bestall & Co website
Welcome To Yorkshire website

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News: SRA closes down Rotherham solicitors

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which regulates more than 130,000 solicitors in England and Wales, has stepped in and closed down the operations of-125-year-old Rotherham solicitors, Gichard & Co.


The SRA is the independent regulatory body of the Law Society and regulates the conduct of solicitors and law firms to protect consumers and to support the rule of law and the administration of justice. A panel at the authority agreed that the Doncaster Gate legal firm had failed to comply with the rules made by the SRA by virtue of section 9 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985.

The panel also investigated Charles Rhodes, senior partner at Gichard & Co and found that "there was reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of Mr Rhodes." As with Mr Rhodes, a decision on Jeremy Copestake, a solicitor at Gichard & Co, determined that he had failed to comply with the rules made by virtue of section 31 and 32 of the Solicitors Act 1974, which relates to practising certificates required by solicitors on the roll and working in private practice.

The findings meant that the SRA had grounds to intervene to protect the interests of clients and the decision was made to close the firm. John Owen of Gordons LLP in Bradford has been appointed as the intervening agent.

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The intervention means that Gichard & Co can no longer act for its clients and the SRA has taken all documents and papers that relate to its clients, including files and accounting records. The same goes for all money held by the firm, including its clients' money.

Leading Rotherham firm Malcolm C Foy & Co has acted quickly to offer support and help for previous Gichard clients. Conveyancing specialists or private client team members can obtain the files and take conduct over the case. A spokesperson at Malcolm C Foy & Co said: "We will guide you through the next steps ensuring your file is progressed and that the closure of Gichard & Co has no detrimental effect to your case."

Malcolm C Foy & Co website

Images: SRA

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News: Kenny outlines role as commissioner at Rotherham Council

Julie A Kenny CBE DL, chair and chief executive of growing Rotherham business, Pyronix Limited, has outlined her role as a supporting commissioner at troubled Rotherham Council and called on the local business community to play its part in the fresh start for the borough.

After a number of reports highlighted serious failings across the authority, an intervention package was announced by Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and saw commissioners appointed who will provide new leadership and take on all executive functions of the authority.

An unprecedented step, the five commissioners have been appointed for a period of up to four years and could be in charge of the Council until March 2019. But speaking at a recent meeting of the Rotherham United Business Club, Julie Kenny explained: "We want to hand back powers very quickly. If it takes us four years, we'll see that as a failure. We have new faces, new councillors, that need our help and there are a lot of good council staff that come to work to make a difference. I think a lot of them have been stopped from doing that in the past."

As one of two supporting commissioners, Kenny has been given the lead on growing the local economy, ensuring the council is working with others to improve jobs and housing opportunities. She will also be overseeing the council's relationships with partners, and the voluntary and community sector.

Working closely with Cllr. Denise Lelliott, the role will involve reviewing the regeneration function of the council, the partnership arrangements and the role of the Economy Board, and the input into the Sheffield City Region frameworks.

Focus will also be placed on the skills agenda, with an emphasis on young people in the borough, and the emerging Growth Plan and Local Plan.

Supporting the town centre and the utilisation of £30m of funding for housing will also continue to be important to the council, as will ensuring areas across the whole authority support the local economy, for example by reviewing council contracts.As a former president of the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, Kenny took the opportunity to start the dialogue with businesses and find out what it is that they need in order to prosper. The role includes strengthening the voice and influence of the local business community. She also highlighted the impact that the private sector can have on young people through apprenticeships, internships, site visits, careers talks and engagement with schools.

Kenny said: "We can't be successful without partners. RMBC wants to start again, with a fresh break, but it has to be in partnership. We are going to do it with businesses, both current businesses and new businesses locating here."

The major shareholder of Pyronix, an award-winning manufacturer with an extensive range of electronic security equipment for intruder alarms, also praised the work of this website for focusing on the positivity in Rotherham and called on every business to shout about what they do.

"I'm proud to be from Rotherham and proud to employ Rotherham staff - some of the best in the world, she added. "With a fresh start, we've got a chance to rebuild that pride."

From April 1, Kenny, who had a similar commissioner role at neighbouring Doncaster Council, has been asked to set aside 80 days in the first year to work at the authority who are required to review and report to the Secretary of State every three months on any functions that it considers suitably improved. This is expected to result in a phased roll back of functions over the duration of the intervention.

Concluding her talk at the New York Stadium, Julie said: "The only way we are going to do this is to do it together and try different things. We can't leave decision making in one or two hands - it has to be done collectively with organisations and businesses."

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 became patrons of the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce to enhance its status with businesses in the town.

RMBC website

Images: RMBC

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News: Pensions dispute with Tata escalates

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Community trade union, which represents the majority of the Tata Steel workforce, has unanimously authorised a ballot of the union's members over industrial action following Tata's decision to close its final salary pension scheme.

At a mass meeting of trade union representatives from across Tata Steel's UK operations, which includes sites in Rotherham and Sheffield, senior managers from Tata Steel announced their intention to close the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) to future accrual.

Tata Steel began a statutory 60-day consultation about the changes this week and the company is proposing closure of the scheme on April 1 2016.

With the prospect of no new members joining or any further benefits or entitlements being built up under the scheme, steel unions have agreed the following statement:

"On 24 March 2015, an extraordinary meeting of the NEC was convened to discuss the company's decision to close the British Steel Pension Scheme as announced 13 March. The NEC discussed in detail the circumstances that led the trade unions to the brink of a national dispute, and representatives expressed their profound anger and disappointment at the company's unnecessary and unjustified actions. After due consideration the following resolution was proposed and subsequently endorsed: The NEC hereby authorises the general secretary to ballot the membership within Tata Steel UK for industrial action in protection of the British Steel Pension Scheme, and to call for any industrial action deemed necessary in furtherance of the dispute."

Paul McBean, Community NEC member for the union's Yorkshire and Humber region, and Chair of the Multi-Union at Tata Steel Scunthorpe, said: "We have tried to bring Tata back to the negotiating table, but to no avail. Even after coming up with schemes to bridge all of the deficit Tata did not want to know and are hell-bent on closing the scheme. After all that we have done for the company, working with them to save money to keep the company going forward, the efforts and sacrifices of our members have been thrown in their faces by Tata. This response is totally unacceptable to Community and its members and we know we need to stand up to Tata."

Roy Rickhuss, general secretary of the Community trade union, added: "Our National Executive Council recognises that this is not just about Tata Steel, it's about an attack on the terms and conditions of Community members. That's why NEC members from outside steel spoke so passionately in support of the course of action that we have been forced to take because of Tata's unjustified decision to close the British Steel Pension Scheme. In the coming days and weeks we will be calling on our members to stand up to Tata and stand up for their pension and they will have the full support of their union behind them."

Further details were released this week of the Advanced Steel Research Hub at the University of Warwick. Working with Tata Steel the centre has secured £14.5m from the Government's UK Research Partnership Investment Fund and will ultimately lead to the relocation of R&D activity from Tata's Swinden Technology Centre in Rotherham.

Tata Steel website
Community Union website

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News: MBO at Rotherham's Purex International

Rotherham-based Purex International Limited has been acquired by its existing management from parent company, Domino Printing Sciences plc.

The Manvers firm manufacture systems that capture fumes at the source, preventing fumes escaping into the workplace, before filtering and recycling them meaning that fumes are not pumped into the outside environment. The systems are used in electronics factories and to remove all of the odours created by wide format inkjet printing equipment.

Following a strategic review of options, the board at Domino Printing Science decided that Purex would be better placed to drive expansion in its chosen markets as a business that was independent of the group. Domino said that it had no plans to expand the group's business into broader extraction or purification applications and disposal of the company will allow it to focus on developing opportunities in coding, marking and digital printing.

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Nigel Bond, CEO of Domino, said: "We are pleased to announce that we have today completed the sale of Purex International Limited to a company owned by Andy Easey and Trefor Jones, the existing management of the worldwide Purex business.

"A range of options was considered but the management proposal to acquire the company was the most compelling and offered Domino the best solution. As a part of the transaction, Domino has entered into a supply contract with Purex which will continue to supply the Group with DPX products, spares and consumables, allowing a seamless transition with no interruption to the group's customers.

"Purex International Limited has been a part of the Domino Group since 2004 and has played a key role in supporting the development of our laser business. We are appreciative of the support the Group has received from the whole Purex team and wish Andy, Trefor and all staff at Purex every success in the future."

Trefor Jones, the new managing director of Purex International, added: "Purex has enjoyed being a part of the Domino Group over a number of years and in that time has developed an enviable reputation, not only for providing fume extraction solutions to the coding and marking industry but also as a key partner across a range of industrial applications.

"We are excited by the opportunity to focus the business on developing new markets and applications and our plans include further investment in new products."

Purex currently employs over 40 people in the UK and USA, with annual sales of around £6m.

Purex International website

Images: Purex

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News: LEP's advisory role over EU funding "goes against spirit of devolution"

The Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), will only have an "advisory role" over how £180m of European funding is spent to create jobs and boost the economy in the city region. The final decisions will be made in Whitehall.


The Government's 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.

Structural funding from the EU is likely to be integral to meeting the targets in the LEP's Growth Plan, which has set an ambitious target of creating 70,000 new jobs in the Sheffield city region (SCR) by 2023.

The EU Structural Investment Fund Strategy set out how the funding will be used, based around six main priorities: supporting and creating new businesses; growing existing businesses; attracting incoming businesses; increasing exporting; developing the skills base and labour mobility; improving and enhancing infrastructure.

However, Communities Minister Lord Ahmad has formally advised LEPs that they have an advisory role only, while decisions will remain with central Government. This follows the Government considering the role of Intermediary Body as being too risky in the context of managing European funds and the European Commission not accepting that LEPs are an appropriate body to take decisions.

The Commission had expressed concern about potential conflicts of interest, given that businesses are represented on LEPs and would, in theory, be able to both bid for and influence the allocation of funding.

Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, laid the blame with the Regional Development Agencies, such as Yorkshire Forward, that his Government abolished. Talking recently to the Communities and Local Government select committee, he said: "Being really blunt, the Regional Development Agencies made a complete dog's breakfast of this and we spent an enormous amount of time mopping up the tens of millions — it looked like, at one point, it was going to be hundreds of millions of pounds — of mistakes.

"You have to come to a view with regard to not only passing the power down, but also taking the risk.  What we have done is to ensure that the LEPs have a very strong voice in that process."

Following the closure of Yorkshire Forward, the government had to agree to provide at least 45% of the funding (up to £45m) in relation to the failed Digital Region project to cover a significant proportion of the repayment of the ERDF grant which has to be paid back to Brussels, because the original conditions were not fulfilled.

Pickles added that the long term aim would be to see more intermediate status in the UK through a roll-out process but warned that: "What I cannot have is the situation that we had with the Regional Development Agencies, which is that they managed it; they screwed it up; we had to pick up the tab."

In a report to the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority Ben Morley, on behalf of Sheffield City Region Executive, said that the decision was "disappointing and goes against the spirit of devolution [but] there is an indication of future review with the option to hand down decision making to local Committees at a later date."

Local authorities battling the government over the way it decided how millions of EU funding was distributed recently found out that the allocations were indeed lawful. Led by Rotherham Council, the authorities in South Yorkshire and Merseyside took the appeal all the way to the Supreme Court. The decision means that South Yorkshire is set to receive some £50m less in funding than expected but legal advice is not to pursue the case any further.

Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership website

Images: European Commission

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News: Further smart motorways ahead

Highways England has outlined its five year investment plan which includes plans for extending the smart motorway scheme that is already under construction through Rotherham.


The government-owned company, which replaces the Highways Agency from April 1, will invest £11 billion in delivering a raft of improvements on England's motorways and major A roads making roads even safer, improving traffic flow and reducing congestion.

The five year plan includes infrastructure and improvement projects that have already been announced by the Government including the two smart motorway schemes on the M1 through Rotherham.

A ten mile stretch of the M1 between junctions 32 (south of Sheffield and Rotherham) and 35a (north of Sheffield and Rotherham) is set to benefit from a project costing between £124m and £174m. A similar scheme costing between £163m and £221m is planned for the M1 between junction 28 (South Normanton) and 31 (Aston).

The projects include plans for converting the hard shoulder to an extra traffic lane in both directions and variable mandatory speed limits and they deliver benefits at a significantly lower cost than conventional motorway widening and with less impact on the environment during construction. Signs and signals will still be used to inform drivers of conditions on the network and when variable speed limits are in place.

The schemes are set to be completed by contractors, Costain and be open for traffic by the April 2016.

Highways England has today announced a further 15 planned investments for the next "Road Period" which begins in 2019/20. This includes a project for four lane running on a stretch of the motorway between Rotherham and Wakefield which would fill in the gap and ultimately create a smart motorway all the way to Leeds. With 41 lane miles set to be converted with schemes underway, the next project would provide an additional 27 lane miles of capacity.

The long term goal is a smart motorway spine linking London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.

Graham Dalton, chief executive of Highways England, said: "The launch of Highways England is an incredibly significant moment for those who rely on England’s motorways and major A roads.

"As well as delivering the biggest investment in major roads since the 1970s, there will be fundamental changes to the way motorways and major A roads are maintained and operated. We will be focussing on customers, providing better travel information before and during journeys, improving safety and reducing the impact of roadworks.

"Highways England is the organisation that will meet this challenge. We are committed to a strategic road network in England that is far safer, more free-flowing and more integrated and supports economic growth across the country."

The plan also discusses the long awaited improvements to the trans-Pennine routes and improving journey times between Manchester and Sheffield. In December, the Government announced that it will be investing £170m on the A57, A628 and A628 trans-Pennine route, including a bypass for the village of Mottram. Design options and environmental surveys will need to be carried out before options are brought to the public through a consultation in 2017.

Highways England website

Images: Highways Agency

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News: Rotherham College celebrates campus revamp

Rotherham College celebrated the new facilities at its Dinnington Campus with Sir Kevin Barron, MP for Rother Valley, performing the official opening.

The college, rated "Good" by OFSTED in 2013, has been investing in facilities at both its town centre and Dinnington campuses as part of an £18m, four-year programme.

At Dinnington, a "Heartspace" social and events area has been created along with new facilities including upgrades to the cutting-edge games and animation department, IT facilities, the Animal Management department and new facilities for Foundation students, who will run social enterprise activities within and from the campus.

At the official opening, Gill Alton, principal and chief executive of Rotherham College (pictured, centre), said: "This is a really important milestone for us to celebrate. We're standing and sitting in what is a massive engineering achievement called the Heartspace; designed to provide our students with a vibrant social environment.

"We believe our students have the absolute right to learn in the best possible facilities that the college can provide. This investment is testament to that commitment."

Sir Kevin Barron, an ex-student of the college (pictured, right), added: "Every time I visit the college I am amazed how engaging it is with the 21st century. As the chair of the all-party British film industry group, I can tell you we have great industry strength in film making, but one of our greatest strengths in the UK is the gaming industry.

"It's fantastic that we are endorsing this area at the college and training the next generation of media, animation and games specialists."

The opening ceremony was attended by students, tutors, governors, VIP guests and employers who work with the college. One employer was Dave Thorp of Artwork-Creative Design Agency in Malvern who required an illustrator to promote a new product for a pharmaceutical and medical company.

"Faced with the challenge of finding an illustrator, I did what any other professional would do and took to Facebook", he said.

"I was fortunate enough that one of the senior tutors (Martin McCourt) saw my post and offered the College's support. Media, Animation and Games student, Bethany Marsh, developed an animated video which was delivered on time, budget and to a very high standard.

"Now the product has been rolled out, it has been seen around the world. Not only has it saved money, but more importantly, it has saved thousands and thousands of lives; thanks to the direct involvement of a Rotherham College student."

Rotherham College website

Images: RCAT

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News: National titles to be printed in Rotherham

Johnston Press, one of the largest local newspaper publishers in the UK, has secured a multimillion pound deal to print Express Newspapers' north of England titles at its Dinnington facility in Rotherham.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, Johnston Press operates a £60m printing facility on the site of the former Dinnington Colliery in Rotherham. The company, which is behind local titles such as The Yorkshire Post and The Star, will print the Daily Express, Daily Star, Sunday Express and Daily Star Sunday, with the first issues rolling off the Dinnington presses in July as part of a five year deal.

The titles are currently printed by their owners, Northern & Shell Media Group at Broughton Printers in Preston.

David Crow, MD Group Services Division (Print & Logistics), at Johnston Press, said: "We are delighted by this significant deal and thrilled to have these prestigious titles in our print portfolio. This new contract underpins the exacting levels of service we can offer customers."

Ashley Highfield, chief executive at Johnston Press, said: "This new contract is testament to the quality of service provided by the highly trained teams at our printing sites and demonstrates the faith other media groups have in our ability to deliver exceptional quality products.

"Congratulations to the team for securing such a prestigious contract."

The new deal comes two years after News International paid Johnston Press £10m to terminate a lucrative contract. Now trading as News UK, News International is part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation and is home to some of the biggest and most popular British newspapers including The Times and The Sun. The termination followed a similar £30m negotiation in 2012, following the closure of the News of the World.

A 15 year deal between News International and Johnston Press was announced in 2004, extending previous contractual agreements, and was integral to an additional investment of around £20m in the Dinnington facilities that opened in 2007.

The printing facility at Dinnington has state-of-the-art facilities including one of the most modern and fastest presses in the world. It has the capacity to print 192 pages in full colour, 120,000 newspapers an hour in full colour and 75 titles per week.

Johnston Press today reported its financial results for the year which showed that operating profit was up 2.8% to £55.5m with revenues down 4.4% to £265.9m. Underlying profit before tax increased 235.1% to £29.9m from £8.9m.

The group's printing business operates out of three sites in Portsmouth, Dinnington and Carn. With the continuing reduction of press availability in the industry the group has strengthened its position in the contract print market. The state-of-the-art presses continue to perform at optimum quality and produce print products with increasing efficiency.

Major customers include Local World, Tindle Newspapers, Times Educational, Guardian Media Group, Trinity Mirror, as well as many niche publications. Johnston Press believes that the print sites are well placed geographically to meet publisher's distribution requirements with integrated logistics services.

Johnston Press website

Images: Johnston Press

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News: Broadband boost for business parks

Enterprises Zones (EZs) and business parks in South Yorkshire could be in line for the fastest broadband speeds if regional funding can be secured.

Contracts have been signed for a £22m project to ensure 97.9% of South Yorkshire will have access to superfast broadband by the end of 2017.

Developed by a partnership with the leadership of the four partners' authorities in South Yorkshire, alongside the support of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the project is part of the government's BDUK initiative which is based on a gap funded subsidy approach, where the private sector invests alongside a public subsidy to provide broadband to areas where there is not otherwise a viable commercial market.

Due to its involvement in the failed Digital Region project, South Yorkshire is the last in this current round of BDUK, the government project with the goal of delivering a fibre point in every community in the UK by the end of 2015.

BT's tender for the project was accepted and the councils have already agreed to fund the project in order for the contracts to be signed to meet BDUK deadlines. The LEP agreed earlier this month that their share can be met by the Sheffield city region investment fund for strategic infrastructure investment (SCRIF).

The bid was for £8m from SCRIF with £8m from BDUK and £7.56m coming from BT.

However, £10.4m has been made available from BDUK and the project delivery team have been actively exploring the opportunities to extend the broadband speeds offered on key business parks and EZs to guarantee the best speeds possible. It is proposed that the remaining £2.4m, which is not currently proposed to be used in the core programme, could be used to support a proposal specifically for the South Yorkshire Enterprise Zones and key strategic business parks.

When further SCRIF money becomes available, the broadband project is set to get the first call for extra match funding.

The core contract for the Superfast South Yorkshire broadband project will provide 97.9% coverage of superfast broadband, covering over 102,000 residential and business premises across eight delivery phases. The first cabinet is anticipated to go live in November 2015, and the final phases will be completed by the end of 2017.

Detailed surveys and designs are being carried out in order to finalise the deployment plan, which will be made public as soon as available so that households and businesses can understand when the deployment will reach them.

BT has also been presented with prioritised lists of business locations for consideration of how the sites can achieve maximum coverage and/or be brought forward in the programme to meet BDUK requirements. BDUK have always necessitated that EZs must be a priority and be early in deployment plans.

Fibre to the cabinet will be the main technology used which can deliver speeds of up to 80Mbps to households. Fibre to the premises technology − delivering ultra fast speeds of up to 330Mbps - will also be used in some areas.

Superfast South Yorkshire website

Images: Superfast South Yorkshire

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News: College builds partnership with Keepmoat

Dearne Valley College (DVC) in Rotherham has recently partnered up with Keepmoat to support their recruitment by delivering a number of Apprenticeships, allowing young people in the region to gain a foot in the door with a national construction company.

Established in 1976, DVC has its main campus in Manvers and specialises in vocational training and apprenticeships.

Keepmoat, the Doncaster-based affordable housing and community regeneration specialist, was acquired at the end of 2014 by private equity firm Sun Capital and investment funds managed by TDR Capital LLP. The group operates a regeneration team at offices in Manvers, Rotherham that was previously known as Bramall Construction.

Apprentices, Charlotte Scattergood, Savina Lubiki and Bryony Mannion have completed their training and gained industry-specific qualifications through their Level 2 and Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeships at Keepmoat, with the support of DVC.

Mark Knight, regional managing director of Keepmoat Homes Yorkshire said: "For young people just starting out in the world of work, apprenticeships have many important advantages for them and the businesses they work within, such as offering efficient ways to learn skills, and to undertake training that is planned in advanced, organised and relevant to the business and the individual's learning needs.

"Keepmoat know that the apprentices of today are the workforce and Managers of tomorrow, and we attach a great importance and value to the role they play within our organisation. We cannot ignore the need to grow our skills and talent of the future and our Apprentices are the key to ensuring this happens."

Paul Edwards, business development officer at Dearne Valley College, added: "Dearne Valley College recognises that Keepmoat plays an integral role within the local community and is delighted to work in partnership with them to recruit and train their Apprentices.

"The apprentices have progressed well throughout the training and each have their own success story. We hope that their Apprenticeship will be the catalyst for further success for all. It is only with the help of local businesses that we can grow and shape the future of the local economy and Apprenticeships will continue to play a pivotal role in this success."

Keepmoat is pledging to support over 400 apprentices across the UK over the next 12 months building on last year when it helped more than 300 people to gain experience and skills through its apprenticeships.

Keepmoat website
DVC website

Images: DVC

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News: Evans in talks over £70m Rotherham office development

The Evans Property Group is the private sector developer hoping to create 200,000 sq ft of office accommodation on Forge Island in Rotherham town centre.

In 2012, the council's cabinet confirmed the prominent site as the preferred location for a new town centre cinema and theatre and developers and operators were sought. In the short term, the council is operating the former home of the Rotherham Forge & Rolling Mills as a car park now that Tesco has moved across the town.

Council bosses have since confirmed that the Forge Island site is being earmarked for an ambitious plan to create a public sector hub, which could result in thousands of additional jobs in the town centre.

The project involves the construction of offices for the use by government departments vacating London and also includes car parking, pedestrian bridges, public realm, addressing site contamination and flood alleviation works. The work has been given a total investment figure of over £70m with £65m set to come via Evans.

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As part of Tesco's move, the council has an option to buy the Forge Island site for £1.5m by the end of 2015. Arrangements have been progressed for the strategic acquisition of the vacated site, which the council previously admitted could include a purchase and sale to a third party.

Rothbiz understands that a legal agreement has been drafted that would see Evans purchase the site from the Council in a back-to-back transaction following the Council's potential purchase from Tesco.

The development could support 4,400 new jobs of which 2,000 would be new to the city region.

Evans has already commissioned a market intelligence company to engage with potential public sector occupiers, with a target of securing agreement for leases on 75% of the space by the end of 2015.

Work could start on site in September 2016 with an initial target date of August 2018 for the whole development to be completed and occupation of the office building.

The office development on Forge Island is also expected to accelerate development on surrounding sites, many of which, such as the former abattoir site and properties along Corporation Street, are in Council ownership.

The council is proposing to take vacant possession of the Riverside Precinct, currently occupied by a number of retailers, so that it can be demolished in 2016. Tenants are already being assisted to locate elsewhere in the town centre.

Clearing the sites would enable the rebirth of the "deck of cards" proposal that included a 50 space undercroft car park and a significant scheme of environmental works and public realm improvements. The idea was for steps down to the river creating a cascading area of public realm at the upper Market Street level down to the weirside, opening up other council-owned development sites along the river.

Two pedestrian bridges linking Forge Island to both the revamped rail station and the core of the town centre are also included in the proposal and the council and Evans are seeking around £6m of pubic sector funding via the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership's investment fund for strategic infrastructure investment (SCRIF).

Leeds-based Evans was the developer behind Rotherham Council's 250,000 sq ft Riverside House building on the Guest & Chrimes site on the edge of the town centre. Bringing together staff from a number of locations, the £60m investment houses 2,600 employees at only 1,308 desks.

In 2010, Rotherham Council set aside £2m to acquire 10.85 acres at the Guest & Chrimes site from Evans that enabled Rotherham United to construct the £20m New York Stadium.

Evans website

Images: Tom Austen / Evans

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News: Rotherham MP calls for Tata rethink

Local Wentworth and Dearne MP, John Healey has asked for a meeting with Tata Steel's chairman and called on him to rethink plans to close the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS).

Earlier this month, unions warned of industrial action after senior managers from Tata Steel announced their intention to close the BSPS to future accrual, adding that they "have lost all faith in the company and its leadership."

John Healey is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for steel and his constituency includes the company's Aldwarke plant. Over 2,000 people are employed by the company in South Yorkshire where sites focus on exceptional high-value products and sectors.

The MP has written to Cyrus Mistry, Tata's chairman, calling on him to meet MPs concerned about the "crisis" at the company.

He said in the letter: "I worked very closely with both management and unions in engineering steels when the global financial collapse and recession hit in 2007/08, and I saw the plant pull through an extremely difficult time when its very existence was threatened. I do not therefore now use the term "crisis" lightly.

"I have been consistently impressed by the approach the workforce and union leaders at our local plant have taken to playing a very full part in working with the management to see the company through the recent tough years."

Mr Healey (pictured, right) said the announcement about the pension scheme was "a very bitter blow to the workforce that have been so committed to the company and so loyal."

Trade unions have said they were willing to meet the deficit through reductions in members' benefits – even though the company is legally obliged to pay for the deficit and has done so in the past.

Tata Steel will began a statutory 60-day consultation about the changes yesterday and the company is proposing closure of the scheme on April 1 2016.

With the prospect of no new members joining or any further benefits or entitlements being built up under the scheme, steelworkers may now choose to strike for the first time in more than 30 years.

The Wentworth & Dearne MP added that UK steelworkers "deserve and expected better" from management, and he urged the chairman to personally review the approach and intervene.

In October 2014, Indian-owned Tata Steel Europe refinanced its bank debt through term loan and revolving credit facilities of €3.05 billion as it tackled the existing debt of the operations it bought for around $10 billion in 2007 when it was know as Corus. At the time it was said that the outcome was achieved to assist the company with no detriment to the pension scheme's security position.

The Tata company funded its acquisition of Corus in significant part by debt, raised both in India and overseas, and as a result Tata had sizeable repayment and debt servicing obligations on an ongoing basis.

Tata Steel website

Images: John Healey MP

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News: Rotherham firm a "serial safety offender"

Rotherham-based metals business, Meadowbank Vac Alloys, has been sentenced after it continually failed to take adequate action after being served with enforcement notices by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Twenty enforcement notices were served by HSE at the end of May 2012 after a visit by inspectors to the firm’s site in Harrison Street. The visit was prompted by a complaint voicing concern about the condition of the firm’s vehicles.

The notices covered a multitude of safety and health risks ranging from improvements needed to a variety of plant and lifting machines to the provision of basic welfare facilities for staff.

The court heard that there were a further four visits by HSE between then and early August when additional enforcement notices were issued. These included seven which banned use of three forklift trucks, three mechanical grabs and a loading shovel that had no brakes.

In total 31 notices were served between May 29 and Aug 2012 identifying 57 safety breaches.

Meadowbank Vac Alloys specialises in recycling super alloys for the aerospace sector and is a supplier to the global vacuum, air melting and blending industries.

The company was fined a total of £36,000 and ordered to pay £36,000 toward prosecution costs after pleading guilty to a single breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998; and multiple breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 974, three relating to Prohibition Notices and two for offences of non-compliance with Improvement Notices.

After the hearing, investigating HSE inspector Denise Fotheringham said: "Meadowbank Vac Alloys displayed a reckless disregard for the safety of its employees and a persistent contempt for the legal notices issued requiring the firm to bring equipment to an acceptable standard.

"HSE exercised protracted patience with the company and was in regular contact with the director to ensure what was needed to comply was clear, unambiguous and fully understood.

"Despite being given ample opportunity, Meadowbank chose to ignore their responsibilities; put workers in danger on a daily basis; defy the law and turn a deaf ear to information, advice and guidance conveyed by inspectors and an independent engineer."

HSE website

Images: Meadowbank Vac Alloys

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News: Uncertainty at Rotherham retailers

The Rotherham stores of national retailers, BHS and WHSmith are under threat of closure.

BHS Group Ltd was acquired by Retail Acquisitions Ltd earlier this month from the Acardia group. The department store operates some 171 outlets in the UK and was acquired by Sir Philip Green's Arcadia in May 2000.

An article in leading property magazine, Property Week, created uncertainty last week when it reported on a "secret" list of 52 stores being considered for disposal. The list included BHS stores at Parkgate Shopping in Rotherham and at Meadowhall in Sheffield. The report indicated that the business was keen to sell the leases of the stores in less profitable locations.

The publication was subsequently forced to publish an apology, stating that Retail Acquisitions had informed them that they have no intention of selling a large proportion of its stores, as was reported, and that the list obtained is not a list of sites primed for sale.

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A spokesman for Retail Acquisitions told Property Week: "We categorically deny that 52 stores will be closed, as has been reported. As with any new owner, Retail Acquisitions, together with BHS management, is looking at options for the property portfolio and its structure. Property consultants have been appointed, but this does not mean that any leases under review will be sold, and certainly does not mean that store closure is the only option.

"Options could also include sub-letting under-utilised space or renegotiating payment terms. In addition, BHS management is exploring opening new stores in the right locations."

BHS lost £45m last year and has a reported pension deficit of £100m. Loss-making stores in Canterbury, Cardiff, Aylesford, Bath and Thanet have been closed over the last 18 months and prior to the latest takeover, the decision was made to close the Oxford and Fosse Park stores.

Meanwhile at Parkgate Shopping, which is currently 100% let, it looks as if the WHSmith store will close next month. The lease of the unit has been on the market for a number of years as a confidential disposal and last year, plans were approved for a new mezzanine level that would take unit 4a to 1,210 sq m.

Staff have been informed that the store will close on April 15.

Parkgate Shopping, which is one of the largest retail parks in the UK, home to over 40 shops and attracts over nine million visitors a year, has reportedly been put up for sale.

Plans are also being progressed for an external works program to enhance the 14 hectare site. This includes resurfacing the 2,000 space car park area, improvements to the traffic flow, new street furniture and refreshed CCTV, a small "customer service pod" building and two new play areas.

Parkgate Shopping website

Images: Smith Price

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News: Transport strategy provides "once in a lifetime opportunity" for the North

A new report setting out a transport strategy for the north of England has been described as a once in a lifetime opportunity to transform Northern growth, rebalance the country's economy and establish the North as a global powerhouse.

One North, a strategic proposition for transport in the North, brings together the city regions of Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield, has worked alongside the Government and organisations such as Network Rail and Highways England to set out how long-term investment programmes in transport are crucial to transforming the economy of the North.

The Sheffield City Region Combined Authority has been leading on the rail work stream for Transport for the North. The interim report discusses options for accelerating construction of the HS2 line in the North; achieving 30-minute journey times between Manchester and Leeds and Manchester and Sheffield; exploring the option to create a new rail line across the Pennines from Manchester linking with HS2 between Sheffield and Leeds to create a high speed network between the three cities; exploring the option for a new rail line from Manchester to Sheffield along a similar route to the potential road tunnel which is also being explored; and 50-minute journey times between Sheffield and Hull.

The main highway option discussed for the Sheffield city region is the possibility of a major new road link under the Pennines between Sheffield and Manchester – to take HGV and other traffic out of the Peak District national park and protect the natural heritage. Also discussed are a series of upgrades to the A1(M) to improve journey reliability to distribution centres around Doncaster and Sheffield.

Also highlighted is the need to address unfair ticket prices across the north by examining new fare structures and options for smart ticketing.

Cllr. Julie Dore, Sheffield city region's Transport for the North Partnership board member and leader of Sheffield City Sheffield, said: "The Northern Transport Strategy provides a much-needed platform to improve infrastructure and connections across the North of England. Through the Strategy we have identified the transport needs of the Sheffield City Region, and how these may best be realised.

"Northern city regions have worked together with LEPs and Government to bring forward a proposal that will offer a once-in-a-generation-chance to make major and truly transformational improvements to the North’s transport systems. Enabling the use of devolved powers to revolutionise travel to and from the cities in the North and their surrounding City Regions, with infrastructure projects that are realistic, sustainable, and most importantly, enable economic growth.

"The Northern Transport Strategy proposals – such as significantly reduced rail journey times between cities, improvements to the Strategic Highway network in terms of capacity and resilience, a real and fundamental acknowledgement of the important role of freight, together with an investigation into accelerating the construction of the Sheffield to Leeds section of HS2 – will all be part of the Sheffield City Region's future success.

"It will create opportunities for the movement of people across the North of England, to better enable the sharing of skills and ideas through access to employment and business to business activity, cementing the North as a global centre for innovation and trade. The Sheffield City Region is well placed to maximise on the opportunities that the Northern Transport Strategy will provide."

A £12.5m development budget has been set to progress the proposals included in the report.

Northern Transport Strategy

Images: HS2 Ltd

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News: UKCES targeting small firms in productivity drive

The Rotherham-based UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) has launched its latest call for "anchor" institutions to bid for a share of £1.5m to support small businesses and their local economies.

UKCES is a publicly funded, industry led organisation providing strategic leadership on skills and employment issues in the UK. It has offices in Manvers and brings together commissioners that include CEOs of large and small employers across a wide range of sectors. Julie Kenny, chair and chief executive of Rotherham-based Pyronix Limited is one of the commissioners.

The UK Futures Programme focuses on encouraging employers to come up with solutions that tackle specific workforce development problems that are restraining both business and wider economic performance. Co-create and co-investing with industry in innovate ideas, the programme has already targeted the construction industry, management and leadership skills, retail and hospitality, and innovation.

The latest round of the competitive fund aims to develop ways to address the productivity gap by developing better leadership and entrepreneurial skills amongst small businesses.

UK productivity levels are nearly 20% lower than the average for other advanced economies, according to the latest figures, meaning that the UK has the lowest level of labour productivity in all of the G7, with the exception of Japan. This is affecting UK competitiveness, earnings and potential to generate higher economic growth.

UKCES is looking for bids from "anchor" institutions in specific UK regions where productivity outputs are below average (which includes Yorkshire). An anchor institution is one that has a strong local presence and makes a strategic contribution to the local economy. This could include universities, local enterprise networks (LEPs), colleges, chambers of commerce, banks and major employers.

The co-investment fund is looking for proposals that demonstrate innovative ways anchor institutions can support small firms develop leadership and entrepreneurship skills. The UK Futures Programme is centred on trialling new techniques and projects that address long-standing skills issues. Each project will run for a maximum of 12 months, starting in August 2015.

Proposals must be joint investments, with organisations investing in cash, in-kind, or both, alongside a maximum government contribution of £200,000 per project. The total fund available is £1.5m.

Julie Kenny CBE DL, founder of Pyronix Ltd, a leading small business in the security sector, and Commissioner at UKCES, said: "Britain is falling behind the rest of the world in terms of productivity, meaning we are working more but producing less. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but current figures indicate that only a third of small firms providing any management training, compared to nearly three-quarters of larger firms.

"This competitive fund has been designed to work with anchor institutions – those who can reach a wide number of small firms in their region and deliver insightful programmes. We are looking for innovative ideas that can be tested and trialled with small businesses, to develop these essential skills that will help them to prosper and increase productivity in their local community."

UK Futures Programme website

Images: UKCES

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News: Third developer sought for Pit House West

Rotherham Council is seeking to appoint a development partner for the Pit House West site after earlier admitting that it is unsatisfied with the current preferred developers that it selected in 2011.

The council has long had ambitions for the greenbelt site to be transformed into a landmark leisure / tourism development on a national and international scale.

In August 2011 the council confirmed leisure organisation China Vision Ltd and regeneration specialist MCD Developments as the preferred developers for the site, located to the north of Rother Valley Country Park (pictured).

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

In November 2012, council officers sought an urgent agreement from councillors to complete the sale agreements and head leases for 180 and 153 acres of former opencast land, which is classed as greenbelt.

Last year the council's, now defunct, cabinet received a report which set out details on negotiations for the disposal of land at Pit House West. The report, which was exempt and discussed in private as it contains commercially sensitive information, gave further information on the previous agreement and its terms of sale, milestone events, update on the current scheme and the reason for consideration of the termination of the development agreement.

It was explained that the decision allows the council to enter into discussions with any other parties who are interested in developing that site as they haven't been able to satisfy themselves by the Visions of China project that they were making sufficient progress.

An update to cabinet was expected in March but Goverment appointed comissionners have taken over the executive functions of the council.

The site is available for development proposals and now the council is seeking development partners to submit applications by May 8.

The latest draft of Rotherham's Growth Plan stated that: "Pit House West provides an opportunity to develop a nationally significant leisure development close to Rother Valley Park and the M1. It will create a major boost for tourism in Rotherham as well as significant jobs growth."

This will be the third time the council has sought interested from developers. The site of the proposed £350m YES! Project was put up for sale by the council after original developers, Oak Holdings made a material lack of progress since entering a preferred developer agreement in 2003.

The reclamation of Brookhouse Colliery and incorporation into the Rother Valley Country Park to enhance its attraction as a regional facility was first mooted when the colliery operations closed in 1985. After purchasing the site from the Coal Authority, the council began the search for a developer in March 2002.

The YES! Project was set to create the largest undercover leisure based scheme in Europe. Outline planning approval was granted in 2007 and updated plans were approved in September 2010. Extreme sports specialist Venture Xtreme and golf driving range company Baydrive were the first tenants to sign up and in 2008 and Oak secured a deal with the Sheffield Steelers ice hockey team to develop a new state-of-the-art purpose-built arena on the site.

The plans also included 3 and 4 star resort hotels, spa and health facilities, a conference and convention centre, an exhibition centre plus indoor climbing facility, ice climbing, snow room, diving centre, access mall and changing rooms plus a hydrodome complex, indoor surf centre, rope park pavilion, indoor sky diving, a Top Chip hall and a Via Ferratta (an adventure climbing system).

Visions of China planned to include oriental lakes and gardens, China Town retail street, a Shaolin temple and cultural centre, a theatre, children's fantasy land, restaurants, an oriental spa, pavilions, a pagoda and a hotel.

RiDO website

Images: RMBC

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News: Plans in for £7m Cti expansion

A planning application has been submitted for the University of Sheffield's latest expansion on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

A 13,000 sq ft extension to the existing Casting Technology International (Cti) facility is being planned so that it can become the only place in the UK that can produce large scale titanium castings for the next generation of aircraft.

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing is a world class centre for advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors. It acquired internationally renowned Cti and Titanium Castings (UK) Ltd, the subsidiary that manufactures castings from titanium alloys, in 2013.

Also based on the AMP, Cti is a member-based organisation with unrivalled capabilities in casting design, materials development and selection, specifications, manufacturing technologies, quality control, testing and performance.

A £7m government grant as part of the Aerospace Growth Partnership will fund the new facility at Cti which will allow companies within the aerospace industry to develop the capability to melt and manufacture precision castings in the UK instead of this work being carried out abroad.

Designed by Sheffield architects, Bond Bryan, the extension will be used to house a new large titanium furnace and workshop space for all the required ancillary operational facilities. On the western end of the existing building, the 65 ft high extension needs to be able to accommodate the furnace and crane facilities above it to transport two tonne castings around the building. The existing building is 41 ft at its highest point.

The extension will cost around £2m with the furnace set to cost around £4.5m. It will enable The AMRC to carry out the flexible, "fast make" manufacturing of large scale, one-off aerospace pieces.

The extension is 26.9% of the existing building area and will employ an additional 25 staff.

Large-scale castings are only accessible from a select few companies, with technologies existing mainly in the USA, resulting in a severely uncompetitive market, which disadvantages UK-based companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Siemens, Babcock, Alstom and BAE Systems.

The Cti investment will ensure that the UK's aerospace supply chain can develop new capabilities to produce large thin-walled titanium castings, and win a significant part of the growing global market for these components. The new facility will be able to cast large structural parts with a poured weight of up to 1,000kg.

All investment casting producers in the UK are limited in component size to 50kg - 100kg as a maximum poured weight. Large-scale ferrous alloy parts, up to two tonnes poured weight, are currently manufactured by the sand casting route, and if they could be cast using the ceramic shell investment castings on the AMP, this would minimise manufacturing costs, improve performance and reduce CO2 emissions.

The University of Sheffield bidding document for the project stated: "The intention is to take techniques and materials that Cti has proved at a research level and turn them into repeatable and robust solutions that UK companies can use to produce high value precision castings relatively quickly and economically. By doing so, it will de-risk investment and enable UK foundries (for which Cti acts as a ‘corporate research centre’) to compete with low cost economies.

"The UK metal casting industry is a key player in the global market, adding £2.6bn a year to the UK economy and employing 30,000 people in 500 companies of which the vast majority are SMEs. The project will help to protect and grow some of these small businesses by providing them with the capability to enhance the competitive position of most sectors of UK manufacturing."

The company winning the tender for the construction has yet to be announced.

AMRC website

Images: Bond Bryan / AMRC

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News: Beatson Clark goes on show

Rotherham glass manufacturer Beatson Clark is showcasing its expertise in the brewing sector by attending trade fairs at home and abroad, and launching a dedicated website.

The Greasborough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide. It manufactures bottles for many well known breweries such as Robinson’s, Meantime, Thornbridge and Brooklyn Brewery in New York.

The annual conference of SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers, takes place from March 18 - 21 at Ice Sheffield, just a few miles from Beatson Clark's factory in nearby Rotherham. The company is exhibiting a range of bespoke and standard beer bottles and explaining how it can create unique bottle designs for breweries at a greatly reduced cost.

Charlotte Taylor, marketing manager at Beatson Clark, said: "We exhibited at BeerX for the first time last year and we thought it was a terrific event, so we just had to come back again in 2015.

"We want to explain to the breweries the different services we offer. Our in-house design team can create beautiful and eye-catching bespoke bottles for customers, but if budgets are tight or production volumes are too low to justify a completely new design we can also add embossing to a standard design to create a unique bottle."

The largest brewing conference and trade show in the US, BrewExpo America attracts nearly 500 brewers in one location and has been extended this year to two and a half days.

The event will take place in Portland, Oregon from April 14 - 17 2015, and Beatson Clark will be exhibiting for the second year in succession.

Jonathan Clark, Export Account Manager at Beatson Clark, said: "One of our fastest growing customer sectors is brewing.

"Craft brewing in the United States is still a very strong sector, and in a crowded marketplace everyone is looking for new ways to stand out from the competition.

"Breweries are often surprised to find they can have customised beer bottles at such low volumes and outlay, and the craft beer sector is a perfect fit for our small production runs and flexible approach."

As it continues to pick up new brewing clients, Beatson Clark has launched www.beer-bottles.co.uk, supported by the Twitter feed @beer_bottles, to showcase the firm's expertise in design and manufacture.

Charlotte Taylor added: "It can be hard for smaller producers to stand out on the shelf, and the key to that is defining your brand through eye-catching packaging. Our new website aims to show breweries what options are available and how we can produce distinctive bottles without breaking the bank or committing to large quantities."

The historic company has recently put in place a long term, £12m investment programme which included building a new amber furnace, a new six-section bottle forming machine and a new capping machine.

Beatson Clark website

Images: Beatson Clark /twitter

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