News: Tata Steel boss talks UK sale

The boss of Tata Steel in the UK has stated that parts of the UK business that are independent to the loss-making Port Talbot plant could be dealt with separately.

Steel industry representatives including Bimlendra Jha, CEO of Tata Steel UK and Sajid Javid, Secretary of State of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), where questioned yesterday by the BIS Committee about developments in the UK steel industry.

The Committee reported in December 2015 that the Government was not alert enough to the warning bells sounded by UK steel industry. Since then Indian-owned steelmaker Tata Steel concluded that it is exploring all options for portfolio restructuring including the potential sale of Tata Steel UK, in whole or in parts. The formal process began on April 11 with contact made with 190 potential financial and industrial investors worldwide.

Bimlendra Jha, CEO of Tata Steel UK (pictured), told the committee: "We have given a timescale for different stage gates but what's not there is the ultimate timeline. However, I have expressed a sense of urgency and we need to do something about it because otherwise there is only one person in the room that pays the bills and that is us.

"We would not be selling the business if we were not losing money.

"We have to remove uncertainty for our employers, our suppliers, our customers and our shareholders. Being accused of accelerating the timeframe is misplaced because actually it is being a responsible seller - we want to reduce that uncertainty by doing it in a very, very short time.

"The Government has given us letters that we are using to reassure suppliers."

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It has been reported that a number of parties have been in contact with Tata regarding the South Yorkshire assets in Rotherham and Stocksbridge that specialise in carbon, alloy and stainless steels for demanding applications like aerospace, motorsports and oil and gas. One interested party is led by former Corus CEO, Tony Pedder.

The standalone Speciality Steels business is Tata Steel Europe's only Electric Arc Furnace based business and produces around 225,000 tonnes of steel with a £275m turnover. Until recently it employed over 2,000 people. It is not considered a downstream business linked to Port Talbot and Tata Steel's strip products.

When asked about the Port Talbot works and selling off separate parts of the UK business, Mr Jha said: "We have to find a solution to the whole. In finding that solution for the whole, if there are some very small parts, and independent parts, we can deal with it. But we would not deal with it that somebody says: "Leave alone Port Talbot and give us the rest," that's not a solution that is acceptable."

The Tata Steel UK boss also discussed the need to address the large pension pot and said that if energy costs in Britain were the same as in Germany then Tata would be £40m better off.

The Government confirmed that a package of support worth hundreds of millions of pounds will be made available on commercial terms to potential buyers of Tata Steel UK.

Tailored to the purchaser's strategy and financing needs, it is expected that all, or the large majority of a support, will be through the provision of debt financing. Other options include providing hybrid (convertible debt) or alternative forms of financing or supporting a purchaser's financing by taking a minority equity stake (up to 25%) acting in support of the purchaser.

Sajid Javid MP told the committee: "I will do everything in my power to help, but that is all I can do. I cannot change the price of steel globally. This is a big economic challenge for the country. I don't want to live in a country where we have to import all our steel.

"For the thousands of steelworkers and their families and friends affected by this, the message is that we are doing everything we can."

Rotherham United are showing their support for the Save Our Steel campaign by dedicated Saturday's game against Blackburn Rovers in support of the workers at Tata Steel.

Tata Steel website

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News: Region's record-breaking STEM showcase

The Get up to Speed with Engineering and Manufacturing (GUTS) event is now thought to be the largest event of its kind in the North of England, after more than 2,000 visitors came through the doors at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham last week.

Moving to Rotherham last year, GUTS is the premier event in the region aimed at inspiring the next generation of manufacturers and engineers. It brings employers and employment opportunities together with school children, students, parents and educators.

Now in it's sixth year, the event is organised by local charity The work-wise Foundation, in partnership with Very Creative Ltd, RiDO, Creative Sheffield, Parker President, The Manufacturing Forum and founding sponsors Tata Steel and the IMechE. Organisers were also delighted to welcome AESSEAL plc, IMechE Engineering Training Solutions, Santander, Highlander IT & Telecoms and Made in Sheffield on-board as event sponsors.

One of the main attractions this year was BLOODHOUND SSC, the British engineering showcase that aims to break the world land speed record by achieving the supersonic speed of 1,000mph. The project 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.

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John Barber, chair of the organising committee and co-founder of the work-wise Foundation, said: "Employers know best the world of work, they know best what skills and aptitudes employees need and they know how best to inspire young people about their future, so it makes absolute sense that local companies within and supporting the sector come together to provide this incredibly engaging, informative and fun careers event.

"This year's event proved to be record-breaking in more ways than one, not only was our headline attraction the world record challenging Bloodhound Supersonic Car but with around 2,000 visitors, 45 schools attending and over 70 employers and attractions, we broke a few previous records of our own.

"We had a vast array of different attractions, demonstrating to young people the impact that science, technology, engineering and maths has on our world, including Rolls Royce aircraft engines, a whole range of alternative powered vehicles (Electric BMWi3 and Tesla and ITM Power hydrogen powered car), Rally and Formula Racing cars (some built by students), a range of hands on simulators, virtual reality experiences, giant digital Scalextric track (10 X 10 metres), mind controlled vehicles and the fastest blind driver in the world. Oh and of course we had a Dalek and Our Cow Molly Ice Cream!"

Founding Sponsor Mick Hood, HR director for Tata Steel, added: "Tata Steel has supported Get up to Speed ever since its inception and continue to see its importance in raising awareness among young people, teachers and parents of the exciting opportunities on offer by choosing an engineering or science-based career."

Get up to Speed is already being planned for next year and will be hosted once again at Magna on April 26.

Jackie Freeborn, co-founder of the work-wise Foundation, said: "It is a huge amount of work, but worth it to see so many young people, schools and parents working with local employers. It's a fantastic thing for the region and particularly for Rotherham, and as Chair of Women in Business for Barnsley and Rotherham, I was also delighted to see so many girls attending the event."

GUTS website

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News: Rotherham hotel invests as confidence returns

The Carlton Park Hotel in Rotherham believes business confidence is returning to the local economy after recording its largest number of conference bookings since before the 2008 financial crisis.

The independently-owned hotel has seen conference bookings increase by over 20% during the past twelve months and is set to achieve further growth after securing a number of new long term contracts to provide meetings, training and team-building facilities.

The hotel's position close to the town centre and local council offices has seen it benefit from an upswing in local government meetings and seminars whilst strong relationships with private sector Rotherham companies have seen it chosen to host a range of events from external training to industrial deafness clinics and drop in centres. The hotel is also the base for JCI Rotherham, the dynamic network for young professionals in their 20s and 30s.

Further afield, Team Canada Under 20's football team made use of the hotel facilities for a week long period during a visit to the UK.

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After recording significant growth in the numbers of informal business meetings being held in the hotel, Carlton Park has also invested £20,000 upgrading its Moorgate and President Suites, including decor, furnishings and audio-visual equipment, as part of a broader investment in the hotel's facilities.

Sales manager Jason Gossop believes the growth of Carlton Park's conference bookings isn't just a reflection of the growing confidence amongst the South Yorkshire business community, but growing numbers of businesses are placing greater emphasis on the importance of face-to-face contact with both clients and members of staff.

He said: "As a whole, the hotel industry was hit hard by the recession but rising conference bookings is a clear sign that business confidence is slowly starting to return. It's not just something we've experienced here, but a trend which is being reflected nationally.

"The growth in conferencing reflects the importance placed upon face-to-face contact when it comes to building closer working relationships with business associates and colleagues.

"Hotels have long been a popular choice when it comes to hosting business events, offering an opportunity for business owners and members of staff to avoid the distractions associated with running a business and concentrating on completing the task at hand."

Carlton Park Hotel website

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News: 50,000 sq ft ClicBox factory to open in Rotherham

BA Components, a market leading manufacturer of kitchen and bedroom doors and accessories in the UK and Irish furniture components industry, is to open a new factory in Rotherham.

Established in 1990 and operating from Cookstown in Co. Tyrone and Doncaster in Yorkshire, BA Components specialises in MDF wrapped mouldings and vinyl wrapped cabinet doors. It sends out over 70,000 doors a week and exports to 20 different countries.

The firm has recently taken on 52,000 sq ft of factory space at Barbados Way at Hellaby in Rotherham for its latest production facility.

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BA Components has secured the rights to new furniture technology from fellow manufacturer, UNILIN. Uniclic, developed by UNILIN, allows to click various panels together without any tools. UNILIN made the strategic choice to hand over the sales and production to further focus on developing new technologies and improving existing product ranges.

BA Components recently signed a license agreement with UNILIN for the technology and will also take over and further continue the production and sales activities of ClicBox, a commercial range of components with Uniclic technology mainly used in kitchens.

The revolutionary new product makes kitchen cabinet assembly easier, requiring no tools, no fittings and no glue. Cabinets can be assembled five times quicker than normal.

Kieran McCracken, operations director at BA Components, said: "We are excited by both the challenge and opportunity this offers and would like to thank UNILIN for the manner in which the negotiations have been conducted, we are looking forward to further establishing the Uniclic for furniture products not only here in the UK but throughout our global sales network."

Investing in new premises, the manufacturer has also purchased the machinery used in the production of Uniclic for furniture. Preparation for production start-up is underway with the machinery installation and all associated works. A planning application for a new electricity substation for the premises has recently been submitted.

BA Components aim to begin production from the new ClicBox factory in July 2016.

The two bay warehouse with office accommodation was marketed for sale and to let by Knight Frank. The new owners will join the likes of Parker Hannifin Manufacturing, KP Nuts, Parseq and Pyronix at Hellaby.

BA Components website

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News: Growth Hub to boost productivity in SCR

The Sheffield City Region (SCR) Growth Hub that acts as a gateway for businesses to access specialist support has been officially launched.

The model coordinates and simplifies business support so that it joins up national, local, public and private business provisions across the city region.

Designed to be a single point of contact, the Growth Hub has core funding of £4.82m and helps businesses access specialist support in a number of key areas to enable growth, including innovation, exporting, accessing finance and training. Businesses can contact the Growth Hub via phone or online.

The launch follows a successful pilot project, which has already helped more than 300 businesses, and is part of a national roll out of 39 Growth Hubs across the country, funded by central Government.

As part of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership's ambitious growth plan, the hub plans to help create 6,000 businesses by 2022 and with several key aims being to cultivate entrepreneurial activity, increase the start-up rate, and grow the Sheffield City Region.

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David Grimes, Head of the SCR Growth Hub, said: "The Growth Hub means that wherever you are in the Sheffield City Region you will have the same access to the same level of support, as we are working with a wide range of partners.

"Whether your business is large or small, new or well-established, you will have just one place to go to find out about, and access, the best possible advice that suits your needs."

The Growth hub is working with, and will be signposting to, industry experts, including successful companies, consultancies, universities, Chambers of Commerce and local authorities, and national provision such as Innovate UK, UK Trade and Investment and a wide range of other business support partners.

Businesses may also be offered direct support and guidance from one of the Growth Hub’s own business growth advisors; all of whom have extensive experience of running businesses.

As well as the core funding, the SCR Growth Hub includes a £22m Business Investment Fund, a Skills Bank fund of more than £17m and access to the Sheffield City Region European Structural Funds of approximately £90m.

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The Growth Hub is overseen by the Business Growth Board, which is made up of representatives from the public and private sector, and reports directly to the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership Board.

Paul Houghton, chair of the Business Growth Board and managing partner of Grant Thornton in Sheffield, said: "The official launch of the Growth Hub is great news for businesses across our region. It is all part of the LEP's ambitions to grow the city region economy by working together to create a stronger and bigger private sector that can compete in national and global markets.

"Whether you are a creative technology start-up looking for financial advice or business training, a manufacturer looking to export your product to a new overseas market, or any other business looking to grow and expand, then the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub can help you access the support that you need."

The Growth Hub aims to work alongside agencies like RiDO offers business support in the borough. In its latest budget, Rotherham Council approved continued investment in the regeneration arm to replace lost grant funding. It described RiDO as "a service critical for attracting inward investment into the borough if it is to grow and thrive."

SCR Growth Hub website
RiDO website

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News: BAFTA wins for series filmed at Wentworth Woodhouse

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, the grand TV production that put Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham on centre stage, has won two awards at the British Academy Television Craft Awards.

Described as one of the most ambitious TV dramas ever undertaken in the UK, the production brought to life the bestselling epic novel by Susanna Clarke, the alternative history story of magic returning to England at the time of the Napoleonic Wars.

Shown on the BBC last year, it was nominated for four BAFTA craft awards and went home with two - for Production Design award and Best Visual Effects - at a ceremony this week in London. The awards celebrate the very best behind-the-scenes talent of British television.

The epic seven part drama spent four months filming in the region following investment from the Yorkshire Content Fund and is the largest scale production that Screen Yorkshire has ever invested in.

Screen Yorkshire works to secure and support the very best projects, companies and individuals, helping to make Yorkshire and the Humber one of the most sought after destinations for production in the UK. As an investor it operates the £15m, ERDF-supported Yorkshire Content Fund.

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Wentworth Woodhouse, the largest privately-owned house in Europe, was used in a number of scenes including recreating Georgian London, the Houses of Parliament, grand rooms in mansions, and a jaw-dropping meeting of good and evil in the marble saloon.

The marvel of English architecture, which has recently had a sale agreed with a preservation trust, has previously been seen on the big screen in Mike Leigh's biopic of JMW Turner, standing in for London's Royal Academy of Arts.

Independent VFX studio, Milk, won the award for best visual effects before David Roger, production designer on Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, collected the second award. He said: "This was a very special project that took about a year of our lives. I'd link to thank our producer, Nick Hirschkorn, who found the book and got it off the ground. I think he was there every day in prep, looking for locations everyday of filming, keeping us happy and stopping us leaving."

He also thanked arts teams and set designers who worked on the ambitious production. Other Yorkshire locations included York Minster, Kirkstall Abbey and St Johns Square in Wakefield.

Roger added: "We worked very close with Milk. We shot it in Yorkshire, Canada and Croatia and they were there from day one - often they come in at the end. It's a question of: "I'll build this bit, can you give me another two floors? Here's a beach, can you make it explode?" Everything is kind of amazing and fantastic in it. It was a bit of a gift if I'm honest."

The climactic scene filmed at Wentworth Woodhouse (pictured) saw a tree magically take root in the famous marble saloon with Jonathan Strange, played by Bertie Carvel, facing off against Marc Warren's portrayal of "The Gentleman."

Roger said: "If you've got a script which is about magic, it's quite fun really. We didn't do a single kitchen or hospital! We researched the actual period and it's very much rooted in reality really - early Georgian England. But because it had this other secret world through the mirrors and behind the doors, you just looked at artists of the day, surrealist painters, and slid them in. You did basic research and then kind of had a large drink and made it all go a bit weird."

The series was produced by Cuba Pictures for BBC One and co-produced with BBC America, in association with Feel Films, Far Moor, Screen Yorkshire and Bell Media's Space. It is being distributed by Endemol Worldwide Distribution.

Screen Yorkshire recently announced that it is to invest £2.5m into production over the course of 2016.

Award-winning actor, Paddy Considine was recently filming in Rotherham for boxing drama, Journeyman, another film backed by Screen Yorkshire.

Screen Yorkshire website

Images: BAFTA / BBC

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News: Crawshaws delivers record sales growth

Crawshaw Group PLC, the Rotherham-based fresh meat and food to go retailer, has reported sales of £37.1m as it implements an accelerated store expansion strategy.

Last year, the AIM-listed Hellaby firm announced details of its growth plans that will see it invest £200m, opening 200 stores and creating 2,500 jobs. Crawshaws described the year ending January 31 2016 as a "transformative year" with a new management team and the appropriate infrastructure in place to deliver the rapid growth plan.

Reporting its full year results, Crawshaws saw turnover increase by 51% to £37.1m compared to the £24.6m in the previous year.

Opening 17 new stores, the investment for accelerated expansion meant that a loss before tax of £0.3m was reported which compares to the profit before tax of £1.2m in the previous 12 months. However, a 45% increase in adjusted earnings before tax was reported as strong sales growth is being converted into strong profit growth. Margins had also increased slightly and like for like sales were up by 1.8% for the full year.

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Noel Collett, chief executive officer at Crawshaw Group plc, said: "We are pleased to report another set of solid results for the business and are delighted with the significant progress we've made during a very transformative year. We have proved that customers love our compelling retail concept, delivering quality fresh meat and food-to-go at exceptional prices. With strong foundations now in place, we are well positioned to build on our current position and establish Crawshaws as a national brand."

Expanding outside its traditional Yorkshire and Humberside base 15 new stores are set to open in the current year. The latest openings include Blackburn, Widnes, Warrington, Cannock, West Bromwich and Leicester.

Richard Rose, chairman of Crawshaw Group plc, said: "Our model continues to perform well. The business is at a very exciting stage with the strengthening of the legacy estate supplemented by the addition of a rapidly expanding new store estate. The newly opened stores are trading well, and profitably, in line with our expectation. The business is in great shape to deliver the planned scale rollout at pace and we have a strong pipeline of stores for 2016, so we look forward to reporting on our progress during the year ahead."

Shares in the business were trading for 5p in 2013, now they are trading for 85p. A final dividend for the year of 0.47 pence per share is proposed.

Crawshaw website

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News: Latest AMRC project on composite production

A European research project involving experts from the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, has led to new technologies and techniques being used in composite production.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham and a partner in the HVM Catapult (the government's strategic initiative that aims to revitalise the manufacturing industry), the AMRC focuses on advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors. It is a partnership between industry and academia, which has become a model for research centres worldwide.

Nine companies from five countries and four research organisations from different countries, took part in the REFORM project, funded by the European 7th Framework Factory of the Future Programme and sparked by the increasing use of fibre-reinforced composites to replace metals in the transport and construction industries.

The project has cut the energy used in some processes by more than 50% reduced production costs by more than 45 per cent and increased recycling of some consumables and raw materials to around 95%.

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Composites are being used in the aerospace and other transport sectors to reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel efficiency, while the combination of strength and light weight they offer has led to increasing use in the construction of structures like bridges.

However, the manufacturing and assembly processes used to make composite structures are not always as environmentally friendly as they might be and the potential for recycling composites has been limited.

REFORM co-ordinator, Dr Rosemary Gault, from the AMRC, said: "REFORM focused on four areas – forming, machining, assembly and recycling – to make sure gains made in one area did not lead to waste and inefficiency elsewhere.

"The project has created a series of new technologies and techniques that are ready to be introduced by industry and could make a significant contribution to cutting the cost and environmental impact of the growing use of composites."

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.

Laser-assisted tape lay-up systems with advanced control are now being made available to composite manufacturers, water jet machining has been tailored to composites and modular, light weight, reconfigurable composite fixturing and tooling has been developed.

As a result of the research, it is now possible to recycle scrap material and turn it into boards that can be used to make parts, new tooling, replacements for fixtures and for any application where flat boards and assemblies are required.

Meanwhile, work on methods for recycling laminates and fibres succeeded in producing material using up to 80% less energy at about a fifth of the cost of virgin fibre.

AMRC website

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News: Harworth Group updates on progress

Rotherham-based Harworth Estates, one of the largest property and regeneration companies across the North of England and the Midlands, has told its Annual General Meeting that its anticipated full year results continue to be in line with the Board's expectations.

A specialist in brownfield regeneration, Harworth Estates is based at its own flagship development at Waverley. Its extensive portfolio consists of a total of 27,000 acres across 200 sites. It is wholly owned by Harworth Group plc which was created through the complex restructure of what was UK Coal.

The AIM-listed firm recently held its AGM at its Rotherham offices where an update was given on the progress made in recent months. This includes adding to its portfolio by investing in industrial projects such as regeneration at Temple Green in Leeds and the purchase of Sanderson House in Rotherham, a 20,000 sq. ft office building adjacent to Waverley, for £2.2m.

The company's portfolio now has 10,199 consented residential plots, up from 7,864 in March 2015. During 2015, further land sales were concluded with Barratt and Harron Homes at Waverley.

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The net assets at the end of the year to December, were valued at £297.7m, an increase of £47.4m on a like for like basis from the previous year. The group expects an acceleration of sales and investment in the portfolio, with further acquisitions expected from 2016 onwards.

Owen Michaelson, chief executive of Harworth Group, said: "I am pleased to report that the Company has continued to make good progress in the first four months of 2016 and that the anticipated full year result continues to be in line with the Board's expectations.

"Commercial development remains a priority, evidenced by our decision in January to build a new 75,000 sq. ft unit on our Gateway 36 development in Barnsley as part of the scheme's first phase of development. In March, Sheffield City Region provided funding to Barnsley Council for major road infrastructure works on the Dearne Valley Parkway. This will open up future phases of the development, which is estimated to provide a further 1.1m sq. ft of commercial space.

"Good progress continued to be made at our flagship developments at Waverley in Rotherham and Logistics North in Bolton. Detailed planning consent was secured in April for the next phase of development on the Advanced Manufacturing Park [AMP] at Waverley, totalling 73,000 sq. ft, on land towards the west of the site. Further infrastructure works have also been completed at Logistics North in readiness for further occupiers to take up the remaining 2.5m sq. ft of consented employment space that remains at the development.

"Demand for new housing and commercial space, particularly for units under 100,000 sq. ft, is steady within the regions in which we operate. Capital investment will continue to be concentrated on our brownfield sites with the greatest enhancement potential."

The group's business model has evolved from that used originally to develop the internationally recognised AMP in Rotherham. The group states in its Annual Report: "As this remains our flagship commercial site, we have continued to make ready further parcels of land for development to meet the demand generated by the considerable success of the location, in addition to providing direct commercial development.

"We are also working closely with a range of private and public stakeholders in developing the UK’s first Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District, with the Advanced Manufacturing Park at its core, in order to encourage further public and private investment in infrastructure, land and property."

Harworth Estates website

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News: Rotherham United's financial reward for staying in the Championship

Barring any last minute points deductions, Rotherham United will be playing in the second tier of English football again next season, and it couldn't be more timely from a financial point of view.

Under the leadership of manager, Neil Warnock, the Millers extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches with a draw against Wolves on the weekend, mathematically securing their place in the Championship for next year.

The 2016/17 season will see the biggest ever TV deal come into play for the Premier League, worth some £5.136bn for domestic rights for three years (a 71% increase on previous years), which could be boosted by a further £3bn from overseas TV rights.

Whilst Rotherham United don't (yet) play in the Premier League, these eye-watering figures are important because they trickle down the leagues in the form of solidarity payments.

As teams relegated from the Premier League get parachute payments to soften the blow, league clubs also receive payments as the top flight helps in "the development of football outside of the Premier League."

For both of the current and previous seasons, Rotherham United will have received between £2m and £3m in solidarity payments from the Premier League but from next season, these are estimated to jump to between £6.5m and £7.5m.

Had the Millers suffered a relegation back to League One, these solidarity payments would have dropped to below £1m.

These payments are on top of money from the Championship's own TV rights, currently with Sky and Channel 5. No financial details were divulged when the deal was announced but it was described as "the most lucrative in The Football League's history."

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And not forgetting the increased sales of season tickets and matchday tickets, merchandise and refreshments. Whilst costs increased, gaining promotion to the second tier of English football in 2014 helped to increase turnover to £11m, up from £7.1m in the previous year.

Changing its financial year to fit the football season, the club reported that further growth in all revenue streams is expected to be shown when results are published for a full year in the Championship. Season ticket sales for next year are already above the 6,000 mark with average attendances at the £20m AESSEAL New York Stadium hovering around 10,000.

Chairman Tony Stewart, founder of successful Rotherham firm, ASD Lighting saved the Millers in 2008 when he brought the then League Two club out of administration via a Creditors Voluntary Agreement.

Speaking to the club's official website this week, Stewart said: "Huge praise has to be given to everyone involved including the manager, everyone involved in the "on the pitch" side of the club and not to mention the players who have shown terrific commitment, work rate and togetherness that makes me proud beyond belief of every single one of them. They have shown what they are made of as individuals, as a team and represented this club with outstanding pride - a chairman can never ask for more than that.

"It is worth noting the "off the pitch" team too who work tirelessly to support everything we strive to achieve. We are a close knit group who go that extra mile to get the job done. We have a strong "club culture" throughout and what I mean by that is we are respectful and understanding of everybody else's pressures and look to support each other through those times. That creates unity and unity is what you need to dig deep and achieve what has been achieved this season.

"Last but by no means least, you - the supporters, home and away we've been in it together whether we sit in the Directors' Box, corporate hospitality areas or in the stands, we kick and head every ball together and we share the same emotions - we are as one ... this Rotherham is truly UNITED."

Rotherham United website

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News: Gala Tent eliminates fraud with SOTpay

Rotherham-based Gala Tent, the UK's leading distributor of marquees and gazebos, has eliminated fraudulent telephone transactions using SOTpay - a system developed in-house.

Founded in 1999, Gala Tent has grown to sell over 15,000 tents and marquees each year, along with around 100,000 event accessories and furniture products. It grew from a table top operation in Grimethorpe to a company with a turnover of £10m having moved into new 53,000 sq ft headquarters at Fairfield Park in Manvers in 2011.

Entrepreneurial founder and managing director of Gala Tent, Jason Mace, has spent nearly two years carefully developing and refining a unique Secure Order Transfer payment system, after his own business fell victim to fraudsters in 2014. Chargeback or "friendly" fraud sees merchants rather than the banks left accountable when fraudsters request a chargeback from the banks having received goods ordered online. After spending time looking for existing systems to help reduce his company risk to telephone fraud, jason realised there wasn't a suitable system available, so he invested in developing one.

During the past two years, Gala Technology has invested in the development of SOTpay, a unique payment transfer system which uses a series of rigorous card and customer checks to prevent fraudulent transactions from taking place.

The Manvers-based team developed the system in-house which allows orders to be taken over the phone confidently and safely, meaning that consumers are at a lower risk of their cards being used fraudulently. It works by allowing the customer to complete payment processes online, using a unique reference number and URL provided by the telephone sales representative. Confirmation that the payment has passed security checks is then sent back to the secure server, where it is stored anonymously along with the reference number and the telephone sales representative is then able to confirm that payment has been authorised.

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The technology has been meticulously trialled and tested and uses 128bit encryption to produce a safe, secure environment which is fully compliant with the PCI Security Standards Council, offering a similar level of security found amongst banks.

Since launching the system it has eliminated 100% of Gala Tent's own fraudulent telephone transactions, and following a successful trial period, the technology is now being rolled out to help other businesses combat telephone fraud.

Jason Mace, founder of Gala Tent, said: "Telephone fraud is one of the single largest threats to almost every business and can not only result in lost sales and revenue, but can also result in substantial fines if customer details are not protected securely.

"SOTpay elminates this problem by creating a secure environment which allows a telephone transaction to be undertaken safely. Fraud is one of the single largest threats to almost every business and telephone fraud accounts for nearly one in seven of fraudulent transactions in the UK. At Gala Tent 70% of our business is conducted over the telephone, which placed a considerable and unnecessary risk on the company.

"One of the main advantages offered by SOTpay is its flexibility. The technology provides protection to almost every type of business from a sole trader to a call centre environment, whilst crucially helping businesses to remain fully PCI DSS Compliant. We believe the technology could help to eliminate telephone telephone fraud and has the capability of not only benefitting businesses in the UK, but globally."

SOTpay has already gained national acclaim, winning the prestigious UKIT - Security Innovation of the Year award, beating competition from high profile IT companies including: BT, Firehost and Random Storm.

Richard Jownally, fraud investigator at HSBC, said: "Fraud is an issue which can strike any business at any time but SOTpay is a fiendishly simple and effective way of helping businesses to reduce their risk. The technology works by using a secure 3D payment gateway which not only helps to deter fraudsters, but also protects the merchant.

"The technology makes it difficult for commonly used types of fraud to take place, helping to deter fraudsters whilst providing businesses with an added layer of security. I wish it was my idea!"

SOTPay website
Gala Tent website

Images: SOTpay

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News: Rail improvements signal Bank Holiday disruption

The rail network in parts of South Yorkshire will be closed this May bank holiday as Network Rail, the owners and operators of Britain's rail infrastructure, upgrades signalling to provide more reliable train services for passengers.

The £15m investment will see the control of signals – the traffic lights of the railway – around Sheffield, Rotherham, Swinton and Mexborough moved to the state-of-the-art Rail Operating Centre (ROC) in York which already controls the signalling across large parts of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

The complex electrical work will take place over the bank holiday weekend of Sunday May 2 and Monday May 2 meaning some services won't run with buses replacing trains. All lines are set to reopen on Tuesday May 3.

Rob McIntosh, route managing director for Network Rail said: "Moving the signalling to the ROC is an important step in our £40bn Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger, better more reliable railway for passengers and means that passenger and freight services become more reliable, while also helping to bring down the cost of running the railway.

"Although there is never a good time to disrupt passengers, we know that fewer people travel over bank holidays and we deliberately avoided doing this project at Christmas to help support Meadowhall and the region's retail economy. I thank passengers for their patience and understanding while this upgrade takes place and assure them that the long term benefit will be worth the few days of inconvenience."

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Arriva, one of Europe's leading transport operators, has recently taken on the Northern Rail franchise whilst the TransPennine Express franchise is now solely operated by FirstGroup.

As part of the winning bids, the franchisees have promised new and refurbished trains and carriages and new timetables should begin in 2017.

Other projects in Network Rail's upgrade plan included the delayed Tram Train pilot project between Sheffield and Rotherham and improvements to sections of railway in the Hope Valley to enable faster, more frequent services on to the route between Manchester and Sheffield.

A £1.5 billion electrification project to bring newer, faster and more reliable trains on the key route between London and the Sheffield city region is not set to reach the region until 2023.

It was hoped that the electrification of the routes "Sheffield – Doncaster", "Swinton to South Kirkby Junction" and "Chesterfield – Beighton Junction – Rotherham" would be part of an on going rolling programme of electrification to complete these parts of the "Electric Spine" in the period from 2019 to 2024.

Network Rail website

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News: Albion Steel's reported interest in Tata's Speciality Steel business

A national newspaper is reporting that a group of experienced professionals from the region's steel industry are the latest to show an interest in the South Yorkshire operations of Tata Steel.

The Indian-owned steelmaker recently concluded that it is exploring all options for portfolio restructuring including the potential sale of Tata Steel UK, in whole or in parts. The formal process began on April 11 with contact made with 190 potential financial and industrial investors worldwide.

Sites in Rotherham and Stocksbridge are part of Tata Steel's Speciality Steels business that produces around 225,000 tonnes of steel, comprising around 3% of Tata Steel Europe's total output. It has a £275m of turnover and is Tata Steel Europe's only Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) based business, specialising in carbon, alloy and stainless steels for demanding applications like aerospace, motorsports and oil and gas.

A report in the Financial Times states that Albion Steel is examining a possible takeover and "envisages investment of £200m to introduce new technology for producing strip steel and changes in the way the assets are used."

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Albion Steel hit the headlines last year when it was reported that it has been studying the feasibility of building the first carbon steel plant in the country for forty years.

A brownfield site in Sheffield was identified for a facility employing 200 people that would use newly-developed direct casting technology to supply flat products based on scrap-fed mini-mill production.

Investors were being targeted for the operation but the FT states that Albion Steel "is now looking at information from Tata to assess the viability of its restructuring plan and is also understood to be actively speaking with a range of possible funding sources."

Albion Steel is led by co-founders Dr Rod Beddows and Tony Pedder OBE.

A former Master Cutler and current chairman at Sheffield Forgemasters, Tony Pedder joined British Steel Corporation in 1972 and came to Sheffield in 1986 as chief executive of British Steel's Stainless Division (now Outokumpu). He was on the main board in 1999 when British Steel merged with Dutch steelmaker Hoogovens, creating Corus plc, of which he became group chief executive in 2001.

Dr. Rod Beddows is a strategy consultant who advised Tata Steel on the acquisition of Corus to create the world's fifth largest steel company in 2006.

A spokesperson from Albion Steel Ltd, said: "Albion Steel Limited was established to bring new steel manufacturing technology to the UK and is in the process of developing its business plan, locating a potential site and securing further investment.

"The recent Tata problems highlighted an unexpected opportunity to combine the Albion concept with the Tata Steel Speciality Steels business in an innovative structure which may potentially include other metals producers in the region.

"This opportunity is a complex one which has best prospect of successful execution if Tata is prepared to approach its disposal plans in a different way and to engage strategically with Albion and other interested parties to seek a negotiated structure."

Tata Steel reiterated its policy last week that it was not naming, confirming or commenting on any potentially interested investor or bidder.

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News: Minister checks batteries at Cumulus

Cumulus Energy Storage (CES), a high-tech start-up based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, continues to be backed by the Government as it brings its low cost energy storage battery to the market.

Previously known as Wind Power Performance Ltd, and based in the AMP Technology Centre, Cumulus is developing prototype battery technology which can be developed commercially to cope with the rigours and requirements of the renewable industry.

Storing the electricity from intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar at source, or "grid level," is a key problem due to the mismatch between the availability of intermittent wind or sunshine and the changing demand for grid electricity.

Cumulus is developing a grid-level energy storage battery with 1MWh-100MWh storage capacity which it hopes to be the lowest cost battery technology in the world. By using its new batteries, developers of offshore wind farms or solar farms could reduce the price at which electricity must be generated from the source to break even over the lifetime of the project.

With research in San Francisco and manufacturing in South Yorkshire, Cumulus is one of 19 projects to secure funding from the latest round of the Government's Energy Entrepreneurs' Fund (EEF) that was established in 2012 to help bring a range of new and innovative low carbon products to market.

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Secretary of State for Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), Amber Rudd, recently visited a number of firms including Cumulus in the San Francisco Bay Area, to gain insight about how the Government can best create a dynamic UK energy innovation ecosystem and a commercialisation pipeline for disruptive energy storage technologies.

California is the first state to mandate energy storage, setting a target of 1.3GW of energy storage by 2020 has already driven an expansion of infrastructure for energy storage innovation, including publicly funded demonstrator units, plus hundreds of millions of dollars in investment in advanced education and fundamental research in the public and private sector.

Cumulus' Bi-Metal copper-zinc battery is based on existing industrial chemistry and architecture already used at a larger scale in mineral processing. The technology allows this to be used as a re-chargeable grid-storage battery, using inexpensive, recyclable materials. The the high energy/long duration design contrasts with the high power/short duration energy storage typically provided by Lithium Ion batteries and other technologies.

Amber Rudd MP (pictured, centre), said: "We are tackling a legacy of under-investment and building a system of energy infrastructure fit for the 21st century, and I want to see storage play a big role in that. Cumulus' innovative work on energy storage, supported by Government funding, will help to develop this technology of the future, driving energy efficiency, unlocking skills and creating jobs."

The Government funding has the potential to realise the energy storage dividend for UK plc, through increased manufacturing capacity, global export capability and better energy management.

Cumulus is ready for match-funded demonstration projects in order to prove its technology at a commercial scale. The race is on to find workable battery technologies in a market that Cumulus says will be worth £6bn by 2020.

Cumulus website

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News: BHS enters administration

The Rotherham store of national retailer, BHS is under the threat of closure after a wider turnaround plan failed to prevent administration.

BHS Group Ltd was acquired by Retail Acquisitions Ltd in March 2015 from the Acardia group. The department store operates some 164 outlets in the UK and was acquired by Sir Philip Green's Arcadia in May 2000.

In the same month it denied that a list of 52 stores were those being considered for disposal. The list included BHS stores at Parkgate Shopping in Rotherham and at Meadowhall in Sheffield.

Working with restructuring professionals at KPMG, the owners announced details in March of a proposed company voluntary arrangement (CVA) which divided BHS's 164 store portfolio into three main categories, based on the commercial viability and strategic importance of each site.

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A CVA was agreed but administrators have been appointed today, threatening 11,000 jobs.

Stores at Parkgate and Meadowhall were deemed amongst 40 locations where negotiations with landlords were undertaken to reduce the rents "substantially." Considered unviable, a reduced equivalent monthly rent of 25% was proposed to be paid for a minimum of ten months.

With administrators Duff & Phelps now appointed, a statement read: "The group has been undergoing restructuring and, as has been widely reported, the shareholders have been in negotiations to find a buyer for the business. These negotiations have been unsuccessful. In addition property sales have not materialised as expected in both number and value. Consequently, as a result of a lower than expected cash balance, the group is very unlikely to meet all contractual payments.

"The directors therefore have no alternative but to put the group into administration to protect it for all creditors. The group will continue to trade as usual whilst the administrators seek to sell it as a going concern. Further announcements will be made as appropriate in due course."

David Gill, national officer at the shopworkers trade union Usdaw said on Friday: "We are very concerned about speculation in the media that BHS is on the verge of going into administration. We are seeking urgent clarification from the company and urging them to change their attitude to trade unions and begin a dialogue with us at this difficult and worrying time for staff. We also urge the company to comply with the law, consult staff and Usdaw as the union for BHS workers on the future of the business. I am writing to members working in BHS to reassure them that we will provide the support, advice and representation they require."

BHS has seen its profitability decline as it has sought to respond to changing customer behaviours, increased competition and the rise in omni-channel retailing. It also has a reported pension defect of £571m.

The Rotherham branch of B&Q is set to close in June as part of plans to counteract a slowdown in the DIY market, which sees owners, Kingfisher plc, close around 15% surplus space (65 stores) by the end of the 2016/17 financial year.

BHS website

Images: Parkgate Shopping

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News: Interest in Rotherham steel plant

Reported interest from potential buyers of Tata Steel's Speciality Steels business has come as no surprise to people in the region who understand the viability of the high quality operations in Rotherham and Stocksbridge.

The Indian-owned steelmaker recently concluded that it is exploring all options for portfolio restructuring including the potential sale of Tata Steel UK, in whole or in parts. As the Government makes efforts to help create a long term future for UK steel, Anna Soubry MP visited Aldwarke in Rotherham following the announcement and left knowing that there is a future for steelworks in South Yorkshire.

With the sale process underway, reports have followed that Liberty House - who took on assets in Scotland and Wales, Greybull - who took on assets in Scunthorpe, and a team led by managers in Port Talbot are interested in parts of the Tata Steel UK business. It was reported that German giant, ThyssenKrupp had previously held high level talks with Tata regarding a European steel joint venture.

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Speciality Steels produces around 225,000 tonnes of steel, comprising around 3% of Tata Steel Europe's total output, and £275m of turnover. It is Tata Steel Europe's only Electric Arc Furnace based business and specialises in carbon, alloy and stainless steels for demanding applications like aerospace, motorsports and oil and gas.

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion reported this week on rumours of three expressions of interests regarding Tata Steel in Rotherham.

Rumour has it there are now 3 expressions of interest in #Rotherham TATA steel. It's a viable business with great workers so should be true

— Sarah Champion MP (@SarahChampionMP) April 20, 2016

Tata Steel said in a statement: "Tata Steel welcomes credible expressions of interest for Tata Steel UK's operations. It is our policy that we are not naming, confirming or commenting on any potentially interested investor or bidder at this point. All expressions of interest, including any Management Buy Out proposals, will be considered when received.

"In the interests of all stakeholders, every credible expressions of interest will enter the same rigorous assessment process to ensure the best value and prospects of sustainability."

Wentworth and Dearne MP John Healey told the Yorkshire Post: "The offers on the table for Rotherham and Stocksbridge have come as no surprise to people in the region given the high quality of South Yorkshire speciality steel.

"What we need to see now from Government is swift action to ensure that UK steel gets the long-term investment needed to protect jobs and communities."

The Government confirmed that a package of support worth hundreds of millions of pounds will be made available on commercial terms to potential buyers of Tata Steel UK.

Tailored to the purchaser's strategy and financing needs, it is expected that all, or the large majority of a support, will be through the provision of debt financing. Other options include providing hybrid (convertible debt) or alternative forms of financing or supporting a purchaser's financing by taking a minority equity stake (up to 25%) acting in support of the purchaser.

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: "This Government is committed to supporting the steel industry to secure a long-term viable future and we are working closely with Tata Steel UK on its process to find a credible buyer. The detail of our commercial funding offer is clear evidence of the extent of that commitment.

"Ministers have visited Tata Steel sites across the country and the pride and dedication of the highly-skilled men and women working there is obvious to see. We have already delivered on energy compensation, on tackling unfair trading practices and on procurement of British steel, and we will keep on going further to support this vital industry."

Tata Steel Europe website

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News: Rother Valley traveller site plans refused

A planning application for a traveller site adjacent to the entrance of a proposed £37m leisure development at Rother Valley has been refused by Rotherham Council.

Rothbiz reported first that plans had been submitted by a Mr Smith for a 12-pitch traveller site and screening mound with planting on a reclaimed site of vacant grassland at Swallownest between the A57 and railway line, to the north of Pit House West.

Rotherham Council has made the "minded to" decision to enable them to negotiate the completion of the sale of 333 acres of greenbelt land located to the north of Rother Valley Country Park.

Gulliver's, the operators of theme parks in Warrington, Matlock Bath and Milton Keynes has developed a masterplan for the first of their sites in the UK to encompass all their major family entertainment elements in one location with new attractions exclusive to Rotherham.

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Amended plans were approved back in 2012 for the importation of materials and the formation of a fishing pond and parking area at the former sewage treatment plant land. The latest plans for a traveller site led to an "overwhelming number of comments" from neighbours. The parish council also raised objections.

Planning officers at Rotherham Council have now refused the application without the need for it to go before the Council's planning board, concluding that the site is considered to be in an unsustainable location and the plans would have an adverse impact on the openness of the Green Belt.

It was considered that the site is a "significant distance from day to day facilities such that future occupiers would be reliant on travel by car" and that the applicants had not assessed the impact of the noise from the adjacent railway and bypass on the residential amenity of future occupiers of the site.

Detailed plans for Gulliver's Valley resort are yet to go on show. The heads of terms for the sale, which is subject to securing planning permission, are close to being agreed with Rotherham Council. A decision on the formal approval of sale was scheduled to be made by councillors and commissioners in June.

Images: Google Maps

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News: Parkgate has got The Works

The Works is the latest discount retailer to take up space at the popular Parkgate Shopping retail park in Rotherham.

The Works has over 330 stores across the UK offering books, arts and crafts and more at discount prices. With a Rotherham store already on Effingham Street in the town centre, the growing business is set to open 60 new stores in 2016.

Serving an estimated 24 million people each year and offering 40,000 different products every year, The Works appeals to anyone looking for wide variety at great value prices. The company's aim is to be the UK's number one discount alternative to full price specialist retailers of gifts, arts, crafts, hobbies, stationery, toys and books.

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The Works was established in 1981 as a discount bookstore; "Remainders Ltd" and rebranded to become The Works in 2003. It was acquired by private equity firm, Endless LLP in May 2008 and in September 2015, Dean Hoyle, the founder of Card Factory, invested in the business and became chairman. Endless remain the main shareholders of The Works Stores Ltd.

In 2014/15 total sales at The Works grew by 12% to £157m. The business has so far targeted stores of 1,500 and 2,500 sq ft in high street or shopping centre locations with high footfall.

Parkgate recently ranked in the top ten of British retail parks ranked by the total retail spend attracted to each centre. Attracting over nine million visitors a year, the 575,000 sq ft retail destination is one of the largest retail parks in the UK. Home to over 40 shops, the park is anchored by the likes of M&S, Outfit, Next, Boots and H&M.

The closed Blue Inc. store is under offer and a 15,000 sq ft Smyth's Toys outlet is set to open in the subdivided Mothercare unit in June.

In a transaction worth around £175m, BMO Real Estate Partners (BMO) acquired Parkgate Shopping in September 2015 from the Hercules Unit Trust (HUT), which is advised by British Land and managed by Schroders.

The Works website
Parkgate Shopping website

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News: AESSEAL wins Queen's Award for Innovation

Most companies would be happy to win just one Queen's Award but Rotherham-based AESSEAL is not like most companies.

With global headquarters at Templeborough, AESSEAL manufactures seals to stop leakage of harmful liquids and gases into the environment for a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

The company and its subsidiaries have now won 13 Queen's Awards - considered the highest official UK awards for British businesses - with the latest award recognising AESSEAL's innovation.

The award for Innovation is in recognition of the development of a novel modular approach with standardised components, to deliver a step change in the supply chain for seal support systems.

The seal support systems have traditionally been individually designed to meet the required specification, resulting in significantly long lead times not consistent with the supply times for the seals themselves.

AESSEAL has 10,000 product lines available from stock and are experts in customisation, manufacturing 44,000 product variations. Over ten million permutations can be delivered from stock. The new range supports the company purpose statement - "to give our customers such exceptional service that they need never consider alternative sources of supply."

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In development for almost four years, the range incorporates unique patented features which help to improve pump reliability. And by incorporating a build to order philosophy, the new range offers a larger selection of product variants, and standard product lines can be easily adapted to suit the customer's requirements.

Manufacturing the majority of the parts themselves, and having full control of the supply chain, AESSEAL can also offer a portfolio of seals that meet the hygiene standards of customers in the food sector.

The new product range is further supported by a new application that enables an equivalent AESSEAL component seal to easily be selected knowing just the pump type, competitor seal reference, or dimensional information.

Stephen Shaw, group engineering director at AESSEAL, said: "These developments have revolutionised our ability to supply complex seal support systems, providing the level of customer service that our customers have grown to expect from AESSEAL."

Winners of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are visited by a Royal representative and are presented with a crystal bowl as a mark of their achievement. They are also invited to attend a reception at Buckingham Palace in July 2016.

Chris Rea, OBE, DL, founder and group managing director at AESSEAL, said "AES Engineering and its subsidiary AESSEAL have previously won 12 Queens Awards since 1988 which means we have had the honour and privilege of being able to fly the flag and use the Queen's Award emblem in our marketing."

AESSEAL website

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News: New £4.2m AMP building already 50% let

Much needed new office and workshop space on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham is ready for new and innovative companies as building and civil engineering company, Britcon completes a £4.2m construction project.

The AMP is the UK's premier advanced manufacturing technology park. Businesses on the park already provide world-class technology solutions for use in precision industries.

Landowners, The Homes & Communities Agency (HCA), which took on the assets from Yorkshire Forward, contracted Scunthorpe-based Britcon last year to build the next phase of development at the AMP Technology Centre - the park's incubation space that is home to companies such as Fripp Design, Bromley Technologies, nCode, Iceotope and Eadon Consulting.

Working alongside AHR Architects and WYG Engineers, Britcon has delivered a 32,291 sq ft facility with a BREEAM "Very Good" rating which includes five split level workshops with shared office space.

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Providing grow on space for advanced manufacturing and engineering businesses, complementing the AMP Technology Centre, operators Creative Space Management has seen strong demand for the building which was 50% pre-let.

The building is located within an Enterprise Zone which provides business rate relief and has been marketed by LSH.

Ian Chapman, regional manager at Britcon said: "We are delighted to complete this major contract through our Yorkshire office. Our combined design and build capabilities and sector track record has successfully delivered a one stop solution for the HCA."

The AMP Technology Centre was officially opened by three-time Formula 1 World Champion, Sir Jackie Stewart in 2006. It has been designed to accommodate a range of manufacturing-related activities, from fledgling engineering and technology companies, to University spin-offs and subsidiaries of established companies.

Occupancy is constantly close to 100% and expanding companies do not want to locate away as they collaborate with other companies on the AMP but the next sized unit available on the park is 11,000 sq ft.

Companies hoping to expand or move to the AMP are involved in a wide range of advanced manufacturing areas including carbon capture technology development, navigation systems for use underwater to aid divers, sports design and manufacture, medical device development, server cooling systems, specialised seals and composite hi-fi speakers.

Britcon website
AMP Technology Centre website

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News: Rolls-Royce secures export order

World-renowned engineers, Rolls-Royce, has won an £800m order from Garuda Indonesia as the national airline confirms a deal with Airbus for the purchase of 14 A330-900neo aircraft.

The order is for Trent 7000 engines and TotalCare service support and replaces an existing order for seven A330-300 aircraft powered by Trent 700 engines.

The Trent 7000, the exclusive power plant for the A330neo, is the seventh member of the Trent family which has become the engine of choice in the wide body market over the last 20 years. The Trent 7000 is scheduled to enter service in 2017.

Garuda Indonesia plans to use the A330neo to develop its medium and long haul network, with the aircraft offering cutting edge technology along with more efficient operations.

Key parts for the new generation Trent 7000 engines are expected to be manufactured at Rolls-Royce's £110m Rotherham facility.

The most advanced turbine blade casting facility in the world was officially opened on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham in 2014.

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When fully operational in 2017, the 150,000 sq ft facility will employ 150 people and have the capacity to manufacture more than 100,000 single crystal turbine blades a year. The advanced turbine blade castings are produced for the company's most modern, high-thrust engines.

Combining previous work developing the Trent 700; the Trent 1000; and the Trent XWB - the world's most efficient large civil engine, the new Trent 7000 will improve specific fuel consumption by 10%; have twice the bypass ratio; and will halve perceived noise.

There are two types of turbine blade manufactured at the Rotherham facility: high pressure (HP) and intermediate pressure (IP) single crystal blades. The capacity is set to increase to 200,000 blades a year when the pioneering manufacturing process has been proven. There are over 65 in every iconic Trent engine and 182 turbine blades in each Trent XWB engine.

Eric Schulz, Rolls-Royce, President – Civil Aerospace, said: "Indonesia has great economic prospects and we are committed to supporting its future growth in air travel. This year marks the 20th anniversary since we first provided Trent engines to Garuda Indonesia and we are proud to power this latest expansion to their fleet with the very latest member of our Trent engine family. In creating this family, we have benefitted from UK investment in innovation across materials, aerodynamics, noise, control systems and manufacturing technologies."

Prime Minister David Cameron endorsed the deal. He said: "This deal underlines the increasing importance of our ties with Indonesia - a fast growing economy and set to become the seventh largest in the world by 2030.

"We are the fifth biggest investor in Indonesia and our relationship has more untapped potential. We want to encourage more British businesses to seize on these opportunities and we will continue to support them by banging the drum for British skills and expertise."

Despite having a growing order book that tops £76.5bn, Rolls-Royce has been forced to issue a number of profit warnings due to a weaker marine business and lower than expected demand for some products, including the Trent 700 engine. Having begun a restructuring programme in its aerospace business, the company said that the product transition in civil aerospace will drive long-term growth and that its "industrial transformation" will deliver that growth.

As seen by this deal, Rolls-Royce is making a transition to newer engines as the Trent 700 approaches the later stage of its delivery lifecycle.

Adrian Short, president director of PT Rolls-Royce Indonesia, will address delegates at an export event on the AMP today.

Rolls-Royce website

Images: Airbus

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News: Consultation begins on town centre masterplan

Consultation has begun on the plans that set out a vision and a series of development projects and initiatives that would transform Rotherham town centre.

Rothbiz reported first on the town centre masterplan last month which identified eight "key moves" to continue the regeneration of Rotherham town centre.

The first key move is the development of a leisure hub on Forge Island, others focus on further residential development, supporting "Making and Trading," redeveloping the bus station, improving gateways and pedestrian movement, opening up the riverside for development and creating a connected "Green Network."

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The 2005 masterplan has been refreshed by consultants, ARUP, setting the strategy for investment in key central sites that allows the Council to examine progress made, and prepare a new Supplementary Planning Document which will underpin future development for the town centre.

The draft Supplementary Planning Document is now out for consultation until May 16. Once finalised it will provide additional guidance to a number of Local Plan policies which can be taken into account when determining planning applications.

As the first draft was being developed, a workshop was held attended by council officers, commercial property agents and town centre businesses. Consultation documents show that bringing a cinema and leisure development to Forge Island is seen as a key intervention to kickstart regeneration in the town.

The plans state: "Forge Island was viewed as the key lynchpin and development opportunity that could have a catalytic effect around which further schemes could come forward. Participants felt that a mixed use development would be most appropriate and this would lead to greater vibrancy. Achieving a critical mass of development on Forge Island was considered crucial to the success of any future scheme."

At the workshop, a commercial property agent noted that based upon his discussions with leisure operators there may well be an opportunity to create a leisure hub, however for this to be viable it would require a number of complementary uses on the same site, such as a cinema, family dining, hotel and gym. Demand from a hotel operator may exist, however "this would only be on the basis of being part of a wider scheme with other uses that would provide the necessary critical mass."

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The reports also reveal that a footfall mapping exercise undertaken by Arup showed that the retail core of the town has shrunk. The priority is expected to be given to protecting those retailers that remain. "Participants felt that Rotherham cannot afford to have any more high profile retailers leaving the town, especially not from key anchors like Primark or Wilkinsons."

Another challenge to development was seen as land ownership, especially on the Interchange site which is owned by Norseman with a long lease to SYPTE.

One opportunity identified is taking advantage of the proposed higher education campus on Doncaster Gate that is planned to accommodate up to 1,000 degree students, offering opportunities for broader development including student residential accommodation, as well as increased footfall in the town centre.

Connectivity was also discussed with a need identified to improve poor linkages to key attractions on the edge of the town centre such as New York Stadium and Clifton Park.

Documents can be viewed and comments can be submitted online

Images: ARUP / RMBC

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News: K.D. Davis & Sons is the pick of the bunch

Rotherham town centre can now boast another national award - K.D. Davis & Sons, a family firm which dates back to 1938 at Rotherham Markets, has been named as Greengrocer of the Year at the Farm Shop & Deli Awards 2016.

Following over 350 nationwide entries, winners of this year's awards were announced at a ceremony at the Farm Shop & Deli Show Live stage in Birmingham last week.

The prestigious annual awards recognise the very best in the UK's independent, speciality retail market, celebrating the high quality produce sold and support for the local community that they trade in.

Following secret shop visits earlier in the year, K.D. Davis & Sons, was first named as a regional winner before landing the title of Greengrocer of the Year.

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Established in 1938 by Edwin "Sonny" Davis in Rotherham Markets, the firm has moved onto its fourth generation supplying fresh produce from market stalls in Rotherham and Doncaster, as well as supplying direct to restaurants, cafes and schools, and delivering to the general public.

Ryan Davis (pictured), said: "Cannot say a big enough thank you to all our customers that voted for us to become Britain's Best Greengrocer and of course to our fantastic team that made this award happen."

Nigel Barden, chairman of judges and food and drink journalist/broadcaster, said: "The entries this year were outstanding – judging becomes harder every year. I think what stands out the most from the businesses we visited this year was a passion for customer service and continued innovation. There are some very driven and talented food retailers in Britain and they deserve to be recognised by awards such as these.

"Engaging the local community is very important, offering a second-to-none service that loyal customers can rely on for great tasting food. We're delighted to be able to reward those who are setting such a high industry standard. The artisan food industry has experienced rapid growth of late and competition has increased, but we truly believe that the regional winners of the Farm Shop & Deli Awards are a cut above the rest.

"I hope that the 2016 winners will benefit through increased press attention and footfall as a result of these awards."

K.D. Davis & Sons website

Images: K.D. Davis & Sons / Facebook

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