News: Delivering 2,000 new homes in Rotherham town centre

Rotherham Council is set to play a key role in delivering 2,000 new homes in Rotherham town centre as it takes on an "enabling and entrepreneurial role" in stimulating local housing growth.

As the regeneration of the town centre continues, and investments such as the £20m New York Stadium and heritage-led regeneration of the High Street, are added to with the potential leisure hub in Forge Island and university campus on Doncaster Gate, the emerging masterplan places an importance on enabling more people to live in the town centre.

Town centre living is seen as critical to sustaining the long term health of the town centre and is important in achieving around the clock vitality and vibrancy.

It has been seven years since the high profile Westgate Demonstrator Project was completed and developments like the Old Market and Keppel Wharf brought new apartments to the riverside. Further large scale developments have stalled, partly due to the credit crunch, and partly due to the removal of public sector funding that was used to make the investments less risky.

In the intervening years, housing projects have tended to be on a smaller scale, such as the renovation of the upper floors of the former Muntus store on the High Street. One recent project has seen local investors convert an office block previously used by Norton Finance.

Now, Rotherham Council is working on securing financial support from the Government and developing a proposed delivery model to help deliver 2,000 new homes in Rotherham town centre.

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Updating councillors and commissioners, Tom Bell, interim assistant director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services Housing at Rotherham Council, said: "Developers, investors and housing associations are excited at the prospect of being involved in Rotherham's town centre repopulation, and private sector developers and estate agents have confidently predicted that demand for affordable housing in the town centre will be high, since there is no real "competition"; the only other wide-scale new build housing is taking place at Waverley, where the land values are higher and prices beyond the reach of many buyers. The town centre has the land available to deliver 2,000 new homes.

"Financial viability is an issue due to site constraints and values in the town centre. Left to its own devices, the private sector will not deliver the new housing required to regenerate Rotherham, and the Council therefore has a key role to play in making this happen."

12 sites have been identified that could deliver 1,000 homes in the next few years - the main contenders are detailed here.

The authority took the opportunity offered by the Government's £1.2 billion Starter Homes Programme to develop proposals and submit a bid for £32m to develop starter homes in the town centre. The outcome of the bid is still unknown and this is likely to be addressed in the forthcoming Housing White Paper that is set to be published in January.

Work continues on the challenge to close the viability gap via innovative financing and delivery arrangements.

Images: RMBC

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News: Where could new homes be built in Rotherham town centre?

Rotherham Council is waiting to find out if it has secured £32m to develop starter homes in the town centre, with a number of "go early" sites identified.

The authority took the opportunity offered by the Government's £1.2 billion Starter Homes Programme to develop proposals and submitted a bid for £32m.

The aim of the Starter Home Land Fund is to support the acquisition, remediation and de-risking of suitable land for starter home developments that can then be built out by developers by 2020. It is targeting land that is vacant, underused or unviable in non-residential use.

The Government is committed to building 200,000 quality starter homes by 2020, exclusively for first time buyers under 40 at a discount of at least 20% on their open market value.

Starter Homes are price-capped at £250,000 outside Greater London. The average house price in Rotherham is £130,000.

The outcome of the bid is still unknown and this is likely to be addressed in the forthcoming Housing White Paper, set to be published in January.

Council-owned sites in the town centre have been identified for starter homes developments and sketchbook plans are being drawn up by design architects Coda.

If funding is forthcoming, a development model is to be established which could see houses delivered by the council, direct by a developer or through the establishment of a housing company.

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The sites:

Former Henley's Garage
The site of a former garage and car showroom on Wellgate has been empty for a number of years after plans for a housing development stalled when the developer was taken over. Planning permission has previously been granted for 180 apartments.

A 0.65 Hectare site is now owned by the Council and could accommodate 87 residential units. Much of the planning work has already been carried out including site and drainage surveys. One issue is the potential contamination from the former petrol station.

Millfold House
Identified for regeneration and acquired by the Council back in 2008, the site on Westgate has most recently been used by local charity Shiloh. It was identified for disposal and possible demolition last year with the charity moving to the Council's former weighbridge at Masbrough.

The 0.39 hectare Gateway site has the potential to house 116 units and it is understood that neighbouring land owners have offered their land for sale which presents further opportunities to expand the development site.

Sheffield Road Car Park
The site of the former Sheffield Road swimming baths has been used by the Council as a car park since buildings were demolished in 2005. The 0.68 hectare site has the potential for 158 units.

The use for residential is being examined and redevelopment of that area at the waterfront has long been desired. The riverside site brings its problems however including works for flood alleviation and to the retaining river wall.

Former Magistrates Court
The Rotherham Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court recently closed with hearings moved to Sheffield. The Council is currently in negotiations to buy back the Magistrates court for £1. The current market value of the property is deemed to be in the region of £600,000.

The 0.40 hectare site has been allocated for community use but residential development of the site would provide 120 units including 60 starter homes.

Images: Google Maps

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News: Stone & Taps launches after revamp

New Rotherham pub, the "Stone & Taps" has launched its street food gourmet burger and stonebaked pizza menu following a revamp.

Earlier this year, Hawthorn Leisure acquired the High Street site from J D Wetherspoon for an undisclosed sum, one of eleven recent acquisitions by the innovative new pub company across the country.

The former Corn Law Rhymer is housed in a property purpose built for the Yorkshire Bank when it opened in 1968. It is on the site of the long-standing Crown Inn which was first recorded in 1605. Previously know as The Litten Tree, the Stone & Taps has recently undergone a £100,000 makeover.

The venue is keen to highlight its new food offer with a VIP celebration night seeing samples of gourmet burgers, chicken platters, and plates of creative stone baked pizzas were offered throughout the evening. The Cheeseburger and Duck & Hoisin pizzas were the clear favourites whilst the "build your own" pizzas stimulated a lot of interest, promising even more exciting combinations on future menus. 

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Cllr. Lynsday Pitchley, the Maoyr of Rotherham even offered a helping hand to welcome the new pub into town sampling her own "shaken not stirred" tipple, the classic and much loved cocktail favourite, Woo-Woo.

Premium draught products, local brewery ales and on tap Prosecco are also part of the revamp, as is the continued focus on catering for football fans with the New York Stadium nearby, in addition to weekend revellers.

Hawthorn Leisure was formed in 2013 to acquire, invest in and support pubs across the UK. Backed by Avenue Capital Group, May Capital LLP and management, its first major deal saw it acquire a portfolio of 275 tenanted and leased public houses from Greene King in 2014. It currently operates 340 sites across mainland UK and the estate is combined of managed, managed franchised and leased and tenanted pubs.

Stone & Taps Facebook page

Images: Hawthorn Leisure

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News: Progress for Parkway widening plan

Multimillion pound plans to widen the Parkway and improve connectivity around the emerging Sheffield-Rotherham Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID) have been given the green light for further development.

The Department for Transport (DfT) invited Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to bid into a £475m Large Local Major Schemes fund, which forms part of the Local Growth Fund and was announced in the 2016 Budget. The purpose is to fund "exceptionally large, transformational schemes that are too big to be taken forward within regular growth allocations and could not otherwise be funded."

The criteria meant that, for the Sheffield city region (SCR), the minimum scheme size is £75m. The Government has now announced that two SCR projects have now advanced to the next stage and have secured funding to develop the business cases further.

The Sheffield Mass Transit Scheme has secured £1.57m to build up plans for the renewal of track and vehicle infrastructure on the Sheffield Supertram system to allow it to operate for another 30 years when the existing operation concession ends in 2024.

The scheme covers the replacement of assets that are reaching the end of their economic life, including the replacement of the existing fleet of vehicles. This scheme also forms the foundation to allow future tram/tram train based mass transit extensions to support key growth areas across the SCR with enhanced connectivity.

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£1.4m has also been secured to develop plans for the Sheffield City Region Innovation Corridor - a scheme for new road infrastructure between Sheffield and Rotherham around the M1 focusing on the AMID.

Recognising that high value manufacturing can be key to driving innovation, productivity and exports, civic leaders have committed to the idea of "supercharging" the areas of advanced manufacturing in the Sheffield-Rotherham Economic Corridor. Based around the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham and surrounding Enterprise Zone, the aim is to develop Europe's largest research-led advanced manufacturing cluster.

A potential £600m centre of excellence in metals and materials manufacturing would include campus developments and industrial space and connect the AMP area, key companies in the broader Don Valley, and the city centres. The transport project involves providing high quality access to AMID, supporting and enabling growth.

Multimillion pound work has taken place to widen exit slip roads and roundabouts at J33 and Rotherham's capital strategy includes a £45m plan to widen the Parkway to three lanes between the M1 and Catcliffe. Plans for the Waverley Link Road are also back on the table and it is recognised that development is also being constrained by J34 at Meadowhall.

The SCR Infrastructure Investment Plan identified the need to tackle delays on A630, A633, A57, A6178 and at M1 J34 with an explicit need to widen the Parkway. An intervention is also included on new mass transit links into the Waverley, AMP and Sheffield Business Park.

The Government also committed to further analysis of the case for the Trans-Pennine Tunnel Strategic Study to assess the full impact of any improvements before a firm and final conclusion can be reached. Routes have been shortlisted and those closest to Rotherham have now been given indicative costs. The most expensive option, which would join at the M1 in the area of Junction 35 on the edge of the Rotherham border could cost £11.6 billion.

David Brown, chief executive of Transport for the North, said: "The Trans-Pennine Tunnel Study has found that there are no insurmountable geological barriers to building a tunnel and that a new strategic road link between Manchester and Sheffield would bring economic benefits. However, this would be a very expensive and long-term project. Work is now continuing to fully understand potential user benefits and disadvantages so that an informed decision can be made."

Images: Eurovia

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News: Tata deal welcomed but calls made for audit

Sarah Champion MP has welcomed the announcement over exclusive negotiations between Tata Steel and Liberty House Group regarding the sale of Tata's Speciality Steels division, which includes facilities in Rotherham.

Liberty House and Tata Steel announced yesterday that a letter of intent has been signed and that they expect the £100m acquisition to complete early in the first quarter of 2017.

Reacting to the announcement, the Rotherham MP said: "It is welcome that negotiations for the sale of Speciality Steels have reached this important stage. Speciality Steels is a strong business with huge potential.

"This announcement marks the beginning of an extremely sensitive period for the business as negotiations proceed. Tata have engaged positively with employees and with trade unions during the process thus far and I hope that they will continue to be closely involved and consulted regarding any potential deal.

"Whist this announcement is of course good news, we must ensure that the Government remains committed to supporting our steel industry and that they act to ensure its long-term viability. Some progress on this has been made, but this momentum must be sustained.

"Steel remains a vital strategic industry and I hope that the Government will work with Tata and Liberty House to support Speciality Steel and ensure a viable future for steel in the UK."

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The news has also been welcomed by the steel unions such as Community which has worked with Liberty House Group at steel sites across the UK.

Roy Rickhuss, general secretary of Community, said: "After months of uncertainty and delay from Tata, this will be welcome news for the thousands of steelworkers whose jobs depend on the success of this business.

"The number one priority for Community will be ensuring that Liberty have a proper plan to protect jobs and provide the long term investment necessary to grow the business. Crucial to this plan will be ensuring that the business' loyal workforce have a pension plan that provides dignity and security in retirement.

"This is a positive step for the UK steel industry; however there remain huge challenges which government must address. Energy costs, business rates, and procurement rules continue to put British businesses at a disadvantage. Community will continue with our ‘Save Our Steel’ campaign and will work with government and steel producers to secure a long term future for this vital industry."

Unite national officer for metals Harish Patel said that "the devil will be in the detail," adding: "Today's announcement is welcome as we can at last see some movement towards certainty for our members - our key concerns are job security for the workforce; the future of the British Steel pension scheme; and what the investment plans will be from the Liberty House Group going forward.

"Of course, the devil is very much in the detail which is why we will be asking Tata Steel to ensure that we can conduct independent due diligence on its proposals."

Liberty House website

Images: Liberty House

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News: Contractors on the right path

The garden at Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice in Rotherham has been significantly improved thanks to help from two organisations, Amey and Aggregate Industries.

Bluebell Wood provides care and support to families who have a child who has a life limiting condition and is not expected to live into adulthood. The charity needs to raise over £4m a year to keep its doors open and only receives around 10% government funding.

The pathways through the hospice garden in North Anston were rough and uneven, making it difficult at times for staff and parents to push children in wheelchairs to the sensory garden and around the hospice grounds.

The work was carried out by Amey, who are currently resurfacing the roads and pavements across Sheffield as part of the Streets Ahead contract, and materials were supplied by Aggregate Industries.

Over 330 sq m of surfacing material was laid weighing almost 40 tonnes, ensuring that families who use the hospice can now fully access all of the facilities.

Completing the work and giving the hospice this much-needed path comes after Amey supported the hospice in a number of ways throughout 2015 as their charity of the year.

Rob Allen, business director at Amey in Sheffield, said: "We are delighted that we have been able to help Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice by resurfacing the path through the garden. A large majority of the work that we're doing in Sheffield consists of resurfacing the city’s roads and pavements and so being able to use the team’s expertise to help a local charity is fantastic.

"Our employees always enjoy taking part in community projects and this activity in particular has proved very rewarding for all those involved. We are also very pleased to have been able to work collaboratively with Aggregate Industries, one of our suppliers."

Andrew Drury, facilities manager at Bluebell Wood, added: "Groups from Amey have volunteered with us before and we were so happy to see them come back. The resurfacing of the garden path will make such a difference to the 250 children we care for, and their families.

"Our garden offers places for sensory play as well as our Dragonfly Garden for remembering loved ones who have passed away, it’s great that everyone can now use it fully. We're very thankful to Amey and Aggregate Industries for all their hard work."

Amey website
Aggregate Industries website
Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice website

Images: Amey

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News: Liberty House Group's £100m deal to acquire Rotherham steel business

International industrials and metals group, Liberty House, has entered into exclusive negotiations with Tata Steel UK to acquire its Speciality Steels business for a total consideration of £100m.

At the end of March, the Indian-owned steelmaker concluded that it was exploring all options for portfolio restructuring including the potential sale of Tata Steel UK, in whole or in parts. Following a board meeting in July, the steelmaker decided on a separate process for the potential sale of its Speciality Steels business, which until recently employed over 2,000 people at sites like Aldwarke in Rotherham and Stocksbridge in Sheffield.

Tata confirmed the progress of its divestment of the Specialty Steel business and the pipe mills in Hartlepool in its financial results for the quarter to June 30 and it was revealed in September that two bids had been submitted for the speciality steel business in its entirety, including the two businesses in Rotherham (at Aldwarke and Brinsworth Strip Mill).

Now Liberty House and Tata Steel have announced that a letter of intent has been signed and that they expect the acquisition to complete early in the first quarter of 2017.

The acquisition would secure the jobs of around 1,700 steel-workers at major production facilities in Rotherham and Stocksbridge, a mill in Brinsworth and at service centres in Wednesbury and Bolton, plus thousands more in the UK supply chain. The planned deal, in combination with Liberty's existing industrial foot print in the UK, would establish the group as one of Britain's most significant steel and engineering employers.

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Speciality Steels is not considered a downstream business linked to Port Talbot and Tata Steel's strip products business. It produces around 225,000 tonnes of steel, comprising around 3% of Tata Steel Europe's total output. It has a £275m 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.

KPMG, the accountancy firm is running the sale and according to Sky News, documents "forecast a turnaround in the fortunes of the division, with an £81.4m pre-tax loss in the year to March 2016 expected to become a £32.9m profit by the end of its 2018-19 financial year."

Liberty House is an international steel and non-ferrous metals group and has already taken on plants in Newport and Scotland. It also acquired parts of Caparo's advanced engineering products and precision strip businesses in the West Midlands. The company said that the acquisition would be a significant step in realising Liberty's GREENSTEEL vision which promotes widespread melting and upcycling of UK domestic scrap metal, using arc furnaces powered from renewable energy sources.

Sanjeev Gupta, executive chairman of the Liberty House Group, said: "We look forward to working with Tata Steel over the coming weeks to complete this hugely important milestone transaction. We recognise the world-class skills of the Speciality Steels workforce and are eager to join with them to develop the business and increase market share, both domestically and internationally using our global presence. As part of that process we will now engage fully with the trade unions and the local community. We are counting on their full support."

Bimlendra Jha, CEO of Tata Steel UK, added: "The speciality steels business is independent of the pan-European strip products supply chain and today's announcement is in line with the overall restructuring strategy of the UK portfolio.

"This is an important step forward in seeking a future for speciality steels and we have reached this stage thanks to the efforts of employees, trade unions and management. We now look forward to working with Liberty on the due diligence and other work streams so that the sale can be successfully concluded.

"We will continue to work closely with trade unions and will communicate any material news on this issue to the employees on an ongoing basis."

Liberty House website
Tata Steel website

Images: Tata Steel

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News: £9m sought for Rotherham projects

Three high profile economic development projects in Rotherham could receive a boost from unspent money via the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority (CA).

Rothbiz reported in October that the CA, which aligns political decision making around strategic economic development and transport, was being warned that over £27m of funding for projects that benefit the local area and economy could be going back to the Government if it is not spent by the end of March.

After initial concerns were raised, an early call was made for schemes to come forward that were "shovel ready" and able to progress significant amounts of spend in this financial year.

Rotherham Council has said that it has put forward six development projects in a bid to secure funding. Three of which have moved forward to the next stage with full business cases submitted to the Sheffield City Region earlier this month now in the process of being evaluated.

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The projects are:

Forge Island
£1.5m is being sought to help Rotherham Council's bid to acquire the key regeneration site and prepare it for development. Currently home to an empty supermarket and a car park following the relocation of Tesco across town in 2014, it was identified as a suitable site for development of a town centre leisure hub. The wider development incorporating Forge Island and Weirside site could deliver a 25,000 sq ft cinema, 20,000 sq ft hotel and 6,000sq ft of restaurants and bars.

AMP Technology Centre
A £7m bid is being developed to enable Rotherham Council to acquire the AMP Technology Centre which provides the incubation space on the Advanced Manufacturing Park. Initially developed by Yorkshire Forward, the AMP Technology Centre is now operated by Creative Space Management on behalf of the Homes and Communities Agency. The centre 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.

A618 Growth Corridor
The A618 is one of the major A-roads in the borough. A £759,000 bid has been submitted and it is thought that the project relates to the section of the road at Waleswood which leads to the site of the proposed £37m Gulliver's Valley leisure development adjacent to Rother Valley. A planning application for the development has recently been submitted.

Other projects from across the SCR hoping to secure funding include the AMRC Lightweighting Centre on the Sheffield Business Park (£10m), Better Barnsley Town Centre Retail and Leisure Development (£2.14m), Junction 36 Strategic Site Acquisition (£1m), additional funding for the Sheffield Central Retail and Business District (£1m), demolitions in Doncaster town centre (£1m) and employment sites in Retford (£725,000).

Projects gaining approval from the CA are likely to find out at the end of January but Rotherham Council is pushing to get on and spend the money.

A report to the next cabinet and commissioners' decision making meeting states: "In respect of the A618 Growth Corridor bid for £759,000 in 2016/17, there is a requirement to start work on site as soon as feasible, in the event of approval for the scheme being granted. Given the tight timetable to physically deliver the scheme before the end of March 2017, the Council is lobbying to get this and the Forge Island approval fast tracked to before Christmas 2016."

A report to enable council and commissioners to make a decision on the schemes is expected and would also cover Phase 2 works for the A618, for which a further bid is set to be made to the SCR.

Images: Harworth Group

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News: Macalloy deliver at Boxpark

Super strength stainless steel bars manufactured by Macalloy in Rotherham are helping to keep things together at a new eating and drinking venue constructed of refitted shipping containers.

Dinnington-based Macalloy are world leaders in design, manufacture and supply of threaded bar and cable systems to engineering and construction projects across the globe. Its products are often called upon to provide the stability when innovative designs from leading architects are made into reality.

Entirely constructed out of 96 refitted shipping containers, Boxpark has recently opened as part of the mixed-use Ruskin Square development next to East Croydon station. It has created a unique dining experience focusing on small independent traders, transforming the quality of the leisure offer in Croydon.

The design by architects at BDP creates a pared down raw aesthetic which integrates into the core Boxpark design language and, with graphic designers Filthy Media and retail designers Brinkworth, a very strong graphic and visual identity which is applied rigorously throughout the scheme.

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Gavin Elliott, architect director at BDP, said: "Our design creates a semi-enclosed market hall – like Covent Garden or La Boqueria in Barcelona – so it has a central focus to the scheme with the units arranged around it, as well as outdoor terrace spaces. The change of level between the station entrance and Dingwall Road means people enter from multiple entrances and levels which adds spatial interest and animation.

"Shipping containers are an intrinsic component of the Boxpark brand. There's something quite magical about taking this mundane and ubiquitous object and turning it into something desirable and transformational. We're using 96 containers in total and only four of them are unaltered. The whole assembly is like a giant 3D jigsaw puzzle but the finished result looks deceptively simple.

"Boxpark Croydon is a place for people. The design comes alive now it's occupied. It was incredible to see it over the opening weekend, at dusk, with the lights on and the music pumping. Rammed with people all having a brilliant time."

The steel containers are stacked two-high to form ground and first floor levels, with an eating courtyard in the centre. The main contractor for the £3m scheme was Randall Developments with TSI Structures the steelwork contractor.

Jonathan Pye, civil and structural engineer director at BDP, said: "The roof structure, which measures approximately 20m x 20m has been designed as a sway frame to ensure rigidity, while a series of Macalloy cross bracings located between the primary columns adds some extra lateral stability."

Macalloy website

Images: BDP

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News: Lloyds loan for Rotherham university campus

Funding is being arranged for a proposed £12m higher education campus in Rotherham town centre.

A higher education campus for Rotherham was given priority in the borough's Growth Plan and partners at the Council and the RNN Group have been working on a bid for funding from the Sheffield city region skills capital fund - a £13m pot for training space, workshop or launch pad facilities.

Set to be built on the site where the former Victorian hospital at Doncaster Gate was controversially demolished by Rotherham Council, the centre is planned to open in 2018, and could accommodate 44,000 sq ft of space - enough to eventually house 1,000 students.

A bid for around £3.5m via the Sheffield city region is progressing and now Heads of Terms have been issued by Lloyds Bank to the RNN Group for a loan of £4.5m to replace the existing Rotherham Council loan, together with £6m to fund the Higher Skills Centre project.

Rotherham Council made a £5m long term capital finance loan available in 2010 to assist the college in delivering the £8.15m Phase 1 redevelopment of the Town Centre Campus.

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Now merged with North Notts College, Rotherham College already had ambitious plans to double the size of the HE population in three years and a new campus is needed to facilitate this. Rated "Good" by OFSTED in 2013, the college has been investing in facilities at both its town centre and Dinnington campuses as part of an £18m, four-year programme. It aims to build on this and extend its range of qualifications from level 4 through to level 6 (degree level).

Level 4 and above attainment in Rotherham is 12.7 percentage points below the national average and 4.8 percentage points below the regional average.

At the end of 2015, council commissioner Julie Kenny made the decision to enable the authority to arrange the disposal of the land at Doncaster Gate to Rotherham College on the basis that "the Council offers the transfer of the Freehold/Long Lease interest to Rotherham College at 50% of its Full Market Value. For a long lease this will be payment up front of a premium sum and a nominal £50 per annum thereafter."

The college is also looking to purchase further land for car parking.

Architects at Bond Bryan (who worked on previous town centre campus plans) have prepared initial visuals of what the campus might look like. It is designed to have a friendly "university-style" feel, without being intimidating and create a centre for HE study away from younger students on the main Rotherham College campus.

The the new centre would focus on courses in sectors where the Rotherham economy needs more qualified people to fill jobs and to start and grow their own businesses. They include Creative Digital e.g. software and web design, IT services, computer animation, video game design, graphics, video and photography; Health Care e.g. progression routes to Nursing and a range of technical roles the NHS and care providers will need to meet growing demand; Business and enterprise e.g. leadership, management, marketing, accounting, legal services, procurement, sales, entrepreneurial skills; and Engineering e.g. progression from apprenticeships to higher skills, which many companies in the region need to grow and replace retiring workers.

RNN Group website

Images: RNN Group / Bond Bryan

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News: Rolls-Royce powers new Airbus on first flight

The latest version of the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB, the most efficient large aero engine flying in the world today, has powered the Airbus A350-1000 aircraft to the skies for the first time.

The Trent XWB-97 is the sole powerplant for the longer range A350-1000, which will enter service next year. Key parts for the Trent XWB family are manufactured at Rolls-Royce's £110m Rotherham facility.

The first test flight, which took place at Toulouse, France, marks another milestone for the highly successful Trent XWB programme. The Trent XWB-84 has already delivered outstanding performance and reliability since it first went into service in January 2015.

The Trent XWB, specifically designed for the A350 XWB, is the fastest-selling widebody engine ever, with more than 1,600 already sold.

During more than four hours aloft, the A350-1000, the longest-fuselage version of the A350 XWB that seats 366 passengers, demonstrated the performance and efficiency that will be appreciated by airline and aircraft leasing customers worldwide – 11 of which already have ordered 195 A350-1000s from the Middle East, North America, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

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Eric Schulz, Rolls-Royce, President – Civil Aerospace, said: "This is a great moment for Airbus and Rolls-Royce and I am proud our engines power this outstanding programme and this particular flight today. We are absolutely committed to continue to deliver new types of engines to meet the evolving needs of the industry."

Didier Evrard, Airbus EVP of Programmes, added: "Today's successful A350-1000 first-flight is an encouraging milestone for our newest and largest member of the A350 XWB family. Over the months ahead we look forward to a successful flight-test campaign, together with our partner Rolls-Royce – whose new Trent XWB-97 engine promises to deliver the performance to help make this aircraft the most economically efficient and capable in its class."

Almost half of the value of the Trent XWB engine consists of parts made in the UK by Rolls-Royce and its suppliers. Rolls-Royce manufacturing plants in the UK contributing to the engine are located at Ansty, Barnoldswick, Birmingham, Bristol, Derby, Hucknall, Inchinnan, Nuneaton, Rotherham, Sunderland and Washington.

Two types of turbine blades are manufactured at the Rotherham facility: high pressure (HP) and intermediate pressure (IP) single crystal blades. The blades are "grown" in a special process which ensures that they are created from a single metal crystal to maximise their strength. These SX blades generate the power of a Formula 1 racing car.

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

Rolls-Royce website
Airbus website

Images: Airbus

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News: Rotherham training business to close

Rotherham-based Brinsworth Training has ceased trading after experiencing falling revenues.

A leading engineering and manufacturing training provider, its training premises at Templeborough boast an extensively equipped machine shop along with specialist equipment for Mechanical Engineering, Electrical, Electronics, PLC, Instrumentation & Control, CAD CAM and Rapid Prototyping.

A meeting of members and creditors is due to be held in respect of Brinsworth Training Ltd of Sheffield Road, Rotherham, on 6 December 2016 to discuss the proposed liquidation of the business under the supervision of Gareth Rusling and Ashleigh Fletcher of business advisers Begbies Traynor in Sheffield.

A statement via the business advisers said that the business experienced falling revenues leading to cash flow problems making it unviable to continue trading.

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The shareholders will vote on a resolution to place the business into a Creditors Voluntary Liquidation (CVL) and the chosen liquidators will then seek to recover revenue for the creditors by marketing the business' assets, which is mainly engineering equipment used for training purposes.

The business has already ceased trading with all 15 staff having been made redundant. The apprentices being supported, mainly through the Skills Funding Agency (SFA), will be found alternative trainers by the SFA.

In 1995 the EITB (Engineering Industry Training Board) closed down, leaving a great need for apprenticeships training. Three former employees of the EITB recognising the demand for this knowledge and in 1998 seeing there was a niche in the marketplace formed a centre for training in engineering. Brinsworth Training was wholly owned by managing director Mick Crossley, a former Rolls-Royce manufacturing engineer, and worked with many of the region's top firms such as Firth Rixson, AESSEAL, Premier Foods, KP and Safestyle.

In 2014, the Academy of Manufacturing and Engineering Excellence (AMEE) was established with the target of training up to 800 young people and placing 300 jobless into apprenticeships.

Brinsworth Training website

Images: Brinsworth Training

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News: Autumn Statement 2016

Rothbiz editor, Tom Austen, looks through the Autumn Statement 2016.

I have to start with Wentworth Woodhouse - whether it was a dig at the "politcal vandalism" of a Labour Government of years gone by or not, the "rabbit out of the hat" and surprise announcement that "the big house" was to receive a Government grant of £7.6m to save its future had me cheering. It's not often a positive Rotherham story gets such national billing.

Back down to Earth and the statement from Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer, contained the usual mix of economic statistics, fiscal predictions, missed debt targets, lame jokes and a smattering of new investments.

The Chancellor started by saying UK is the fastest growing major advanced economy in the world this year but that growth forecasts would be impacted by the uncertainty of the UK leaving the EU.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which sets out an independent analysis of the economy, expects the economy to grow by 1.4% in 2017, down from the 2.2% it predicted before the referendum, while the forecast for growth in 2018 has been cut to 1.7% from 2.1%.

The focus of the Autumn Statement was set out early - productivity. Hammond called the UK's productivity gap "shocking" and set out that the Government will maintain its commitment to fiscal discipline while recognising the need for investment to drive productivity. If the UK raised its productivity by one percentage point every year, within a decade it would add £240 billion to the size of the economy.

The Government is to target innovation, R&D and infrastructure to close the productivity gap. Branded as the National Productivity Investment Fund, £23 billion will be used to target four areas that are considered critical for improving productivity: housing, transport, digital communications, and research and development (R&D).

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Announced before the Autumn Statement, A £2 billion fund to back industrial research and development will include the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to support collaborations between business and the UK's science base. A review of current R&D tax incentives is also planned.

Prof Keith Ridgway, CBE, Executive Dean of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, said: "The new Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund will give further impetus to the benefits UK companies can reap from developing and introducing new techniques and technologies.

"We are working across the supply chain and with small, innovative companies in the aerospace, automotive and medical sectors, amongst others and we are seeing the successes they can achieve.

"Industry cannot hold back in challenging times. I know uncertainty discourages investment, but those that don't invest in developing technology and skills are certain to fail."

George Osborne's Northern Powerhouse idea lives on with the Government publishing a new strategy to raise productivity across the North - if not announcing much new money for the regions. A strategy for Northern Powerhouse transport is also on its way.

The chancellor also referenced the already approved £400m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund which is set to begin support businesses early next year.

Route development work on Northern Powerhouse Rail (HS3) linking the North's cities continues with transport body, Transport for the North to consider the options over the coming months, and announce the next steps in 2017. Sheffield and the city region will be hopeful it is not left off the map.

One local transport project getting the green light is the £75m+ "Sheffield Mass Transit Scheme" that has been successful in bidding for business case development funding within the Local Majors Fund. In addition to renewing the current Supertram system, there is potential for new routes.

Further schemes could also come via the Sheffield City Region local enterprise partnership (LEP) that is set to learn its allocation from the Local Growth Fund soon (it bid for £156m) and, if it becomes a mayoral combined authority as proposed, it will gain powers to borrow for their new functions, which will allow them to invest in economically productive infrastructure.

Across the country, businesses will welcome the fact that Corporation Tax will fall to 17% - the lowest rate of overall corporate tax in the G20. The previously mentioned changes to business rates should also reduce the burden, especially in this area. Rural rate relief is set to double to 100% from next year.

The Chancellor also discussed the tax free personal allowance that will rise to £12,500 and then rise in line with inflation from 2020. In addition, the National Living Wage will rise from £7.20 to £7.50 in April 2017.

Other headline grabbing announcements include the £50m of new capital funding to support the expansion of existing grammar schools in each year from 2017-18, the fact that the forecasts show that Government finances will be £122bn worse off than previously expected by 2020, spending to accelerate new housing supply - some £3.7bn, £1 billion to invest in full-fibre broadband and trialling 5G networks, and the announcement that the Budget and Autumn Statement will swap with the main budget to be announced at this time of year and an update instead given in Spring.

Images: HM Treasury

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News: Government publishes Northern Powerhouse strategy

The Government has given a clear indication that the Northern Powerhouse idea will continue to have importance in the future of the UK economy by setting out a strategy to raise productivity across the North.

Raising the productivity of the UK was a key theme in chancellor Philip Hammond's first (and set to be only) Autumn Statement where he set out that the Government will maintain its commitment to fiscal discipline while recognising the need for investment to drive productivity.

Hammond explained the UK's productivity gap, "which means in the real world, it takes a German worker four days to produce what we make in five; which means, in turn, that too many British workers work longer hours for lower pay than their counterparts."

The Autumn Statement was used to prioritise additional high-value investment, specifically in infrastructure and innovation, that will directly contribute to raising Britain's productivity.

As part of this, the Northern Powerhouse strategy states that the Government will invest in transport infrastructure to improve connections between and within the North's towns, cities and counties; work with local areas to raise education and skills levels across the North; ensure the North is an excellent place to start and grow a business; and ensure the Northern Powerhouse is recognised worldwide as an excellent opportunity for trade and investment.

On connectivity, the strategy discusses the £13 billion of investment in northern transport over the course of this Parliament and high profile projects such as HS2.

Improving trans-Pennine connectivity was mentioned whilst the regions wait on studies into a potential tunnel to improve journey times between Sheffield and Manchester. Route development work on Northern Powerhouse Rail (HS3) linking the North's cities continues with transport body, Transport for the North to consider the options over the coming months, and announce the next steps in 2017.

Previous projects such as the upgrading the M1 to become a smart motorway between J32 and J35a through Rotherham were highlighted and the Government added that specific allocations for further transport schemes will be announced in due course.

One new project that is moving forward is the £75m+ "Sheffield Mass Transit Scheme" that has been successful in bidding for business case development funding within the Local Majors Fund. Rothbiz revealed the Sheffield city region's bids in June. Phase 1 of the project involves a massive replacement, refurbishment and possible extension of the Sheffield Supertram system. It would appear that bids to address congestion at J33-J34 of the M1, and a new Trans-Pennine through route linking the SCR with Manchester and the Humber ports, have not progressed.

Sir Nigel Knowles, chair of the Sheffield City Region LEP, said: "The Northern Powerhouse combined is equal in size to London. The North used to power this country and was one of the aspects that made it great. Central to this is connectivity – getting from Manchester to Sheffield or from Rotherham to Leeds needs to be as easy as going from Canary Wharf to the City of London."

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On skills, the strategy covers school improvement and that authorities, such as the Sheffield city region, are set to gain control over the Adult Education Budget for workplace skills and training.

The North is also expected to see some of the further £1.4 billion announced to deliver an additional 40,000 housing starts by 2020-21.

On enterprise and innovation, the strategy highlights the already approved £400m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund which is set to begin support businesses early next year.

On economic development, the Sheffield City Region local enterprise partnership (LEP) is set to learn its allocation from the Local Growth Fund soon (it bid for £156m) and, if it becomes a mayoral combined authority as proposed, it will gain powers to borrow for their new functions, which will allow them to invest in economically productive infrastructure.

The University of Sheffield is involved with the £100m Government programme to incentivise university collaboration in tech transfer and in working with businesses. Proposals are being worked up.

Announced before the Autumn Statement, the Government is putting an additional investment in research and development, rising to an extra £2 billion per year by 2020-21. This includes the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to support collaborations between business and the UK's science base.

Mike Tynan, chief executive of the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC), the multimillion pound centre in Rotherham, said: "I welcome the Autumn Statement focus on the key industrial drivers of productivity and research and development. Support to UK industry in order to improve its competitive position is vital to ensure that our manufacturing supply chain is able to participate in global opportunities.

"Regional investment is also necessary to develop our local capacity and capability and I'm pleased that the chancellor has provided funding for local deployment, in particular a recognition of the potential value of northern industry in the Northern Powerhouse."

The strategy also points out the Government's belief that the shale gas industry is to play an important role in the North.

On trade and investment, the Department for International Trade will continue to lead on work to promote the Northen Powerhouse to foreign investors through efforts like the Investment Portfolio which pitches projects such as the Sheffield-Rotherham Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID).

Images: HM Treasury

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News: Wentworth Woodhouse sale set for next year

With the backing of a £7.6m Government grant, the sale of Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham to a preservation trust can finally take place with the exchange of contracts and purchase expected in the New Year.

A deal for the largest privately-owned house in Europe was confirmed in February 2016 with the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) who have raised funds and developed a long term strategy for the future of the site. The Trust had until November 30 to find the balance and so, with seven days to spare, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has pulled a rabbit out of the hat in his Autumn Statement by announcing a £7.6m Government grant.

Under the ownership of the WWPT, the restoration and development will provide jobs, stimulate local employment and open "one of England's most important and grandest historic houses" to the public on a regular basis. The former service wing will host a huge range of events and the stables become home to dynamic small businesses. Within the 18th century house and outbuildings more than a dozen apartments and cottages will be restored as lets for holiday makers.

Marcus Binney, the executive president of influential conservation group, SAVE has worked for many years towards this moment and has been central in the formation of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT), which is chaired by leading local business woman Julie Kenny. SAVE and the Trust have raised £7m in pledges towards the £7m purchase price agreed with the owners, the Newbold family. However, in order to proceed with the restoration of such a vast house, which will require some £42m in repairs over 12-15 years, WWPT desperately needed the start-up funds the Chancellor has now provided.

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SAVE and WWPT have offered special thanks to Robert Kenrick MP who, together with Wentworth & Dearne MP John Healey, attended a special meeting when Julie Kenny met with the Chancellor in the House of Commons to make the case for funds.

Marcus Binney, executive president of SAVE, said: "This is the most arduous, time-consuming and complex rescue operation SAVE has ever mounted. We hope WWPT can now move towards exchange of contracts and purchase in the New Year. We extend thanks to the Newbold family [the home's current owners] and will honour the pioneering work of the late Clifford Newbold in opening the mansion and gardens to parties of visitors who have come away enthralled and entranced by the beauty of the place."

Julie Kenny, chair of the WWPT, added: "The Trust is very lucky to have a wonderful board of Trustees who each have individual skills and abilities, which combine into a formidable body of expertise.

"Many thanks on behalf of the WWPT Trustees to the Chancellor, Government Ministers and Civil Servants for their support for this wonderful house.

"The Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust project has been developed with the help of a large professional team, many providing their advice and help in a pro-bono basis.  It relies on not one but a combination of four tried and tested solutions each of which can provide a regular income stream to cover running and maintenance costs on a long-term basis. These are ticket sales and revenue, catering and events, holiday lets and business lets. The National Trust will give crucial support to the first three years of opening, including the secondment of experienced staff."

On behalf of the Newbold family, Marcus Newbold said: "We are very happy that the Government has at last pledged its support for the restoration of Wentworth Woodhouse. This is a cause close to our hearts, for which we have been battling since we purchased the house in 1999. There has always been tremendous local support for the house and it is heartening to know that the project on which we have all been working for so long is finally to receive Government backing."

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: Savills

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News: £7.6m Government grant for Wentworth Woodhouse

With seven days to spare, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has pulled a rabbit out of the hat in his Autumn Statement by announcing a £7.6m Government grant towards urgent repairs to save Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham.

The largest privately-owned house in Europe was added to the 2016 World Monuments Watch which calls international attention to cultural heritage under threat around the globe.

The Newbold family, who have been in a long-running legal battle with the Coal Authority confirmed that they had decided to sell the historic Grade I listed mansion house at the end of 2014. With an asking price of in excess of £8m, a deal was confirmed in February 2016 with the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) who have raised funds and developed a long term strategy for the future of the site.

The £7m pledged for the acquisition includes a £3.575m grant offer from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, and grants from the Monument Trust, the Art Fund, Sir Siegmund Warburg's Voluntary Settlement and the John Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust. Pledges and donations have also been received from many individual members of the public.

Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer, told the house: "I have deliberately avoided making this statement into a long list of individual projects being supported. But I am going to make one exception: I will act today, with just seven days to spare, to save one of the UK's most important historic houses: Wentworth Woodhouse near Rotherham.

"It is said to be the inspiration for Pemberley in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Wentworth Woodhouse is now at critical risk of being lost to future generations.

"A local effort has secured millions in funding – subject to the balance required being found by November 30th. So we will provide a £7.6m grant towards urgent repairs to safeguard this key piece of Northern heritage."

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The grant is subject to approval of a sustainable business case for the Grade I listed country house. The WWPT's business plan includes using the north wing and former student refectory as a dining hall/events venue; creating offices for small businesses in the impressive stable block; and around 15 residential units or holiday lets are proposed in the south wing, the upper floors of the main mansion and the side courtyards of the stable court.

With a agreement with the WPPT, the National Trust has agreed to help by offering to take on responsibility for the public opening of the magnificent interiors, recently used for the ITV period drama, Victoria.

A detailed business plan commissioned by the National Trust has shown projected income and expenditure for the WWPT over twenty years. Forecasts show the WWPT will come into a surplus in the sixth year of operation.

Further money will be needed as extensive repairs will be phased over ten to 15 years allowing time for funds to be raised and the work to be carried out in phases while the property is opened to the public.

The claim for damages against the Coal Authority, for at least £100m, took a hit earlier this year. The latest round in the legal battle between the owners and the Coal Authority concluded that the owners have been unable to prove that damage to the historic property has been caused by recent mining subsidence.

John Healey MP, whose Wentworth and Dearne constituency includes "the big house" called the announcement, "welcome news."

Robert Jenrick, MP for Newark, worked with the local Rotherham MPs and the trust to bring the plight of the house to the attention of the Government. He said: "Wentworth Woodhouse will regenerate former coalfields of Rotherham and South Yorkshire and create an international tourist attraction for North."

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: Savills

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News: World first for Martek as it lands £8.5m drone contract

Innovative Rotherham company, Martek Marine, has won a €10m (£8.58m) framework contract with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to monitor pollution in Europe's waters.

Based at Manvers, Martek is one of the world leaders in the supply of safety and environmental monitoring systems for the shipping industry. It has expanded into different areas including the medical sector, supplying defibrillators to airlines and leisure and sport venues.

Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are becoming incredibly useful tools for marine and offshore companies with Martek supplying marine-specific drones that are developed to fly inside confined spaces and outdoors, making them ideal for safety inspections on tanks as well as offshore structures such as wind turbines and flare stacks.

The latest contract will see the Martek Drones division send its 2-metre long drones up to 50km offshore to measure the sulphur and CO2 levels emitted from the exhausts of commercial ships. Development is also underway to incorporate satellite command and control and payload data streaming, so the the drones can operate in what is known as BRLOS (beyond radio line of sight) over 100 km away.

Paul Luen, CEO and owner of the Martek Group (pictured below, right), said: "The drone we are using is unique in the world. To carry out this work so far offshore it has to be able to fly for up to six hours and carry a payload of up to 10kg. It will also have to withstand all weathers, including gale-force winds and heavy rain. It's effectively a mini-helicopter.

"We've invested a lot of money in drone technology over the past three years and we're very ambitious. We literally believe we can "change the world" using drone applications. We will announce a number of world firsts in the next three years."

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At sea, the call to deploy these drones could be made from any EU nation at any time. EMSA will then relay the request to Martek, which will send two drones and a crew to monitor the seas for a minimum of 60 days in each location. The land-based team will manoeuvre the drone close to ship exhaust stacks and use a gas analyser to measure the SO2, NO2 and CO2 ratios in the surrounding atmosphere. The drones are equipped with both visible light and infra-red (thermal imaging) cameras, as well as various other sensors.

The data they gather will be sent back to shipping authorities in real time so they can evaluate if ship owners are falling foul of EU legislation on sulphur levels in their fuel, which causes acid rain and damages health. A 2008 report from the University of California suggested that sulphates from shipping could be responsible for 60,000 deaths a year.

The company spotted a gap in the market for commercial drones which could be used in a variety of sectors and industries throughout the world, including marine and emergency services. Establishing a new division called Coptrz, Martek Marine has already landed contracts with fire services, police authorities, universities and owners of wind turbines. Talks are ongoing with the Home Office about their deployment of drones.

Luen added: "Drones are a disruptive technology with the capacity to change industries. One example is inspecting wind turbines. Currently, it's done by guys climbing up on ropes, but it's time-consuming, costly and dangerous, especially when they're offshore. Drones have the potential to disrupt the whole process."

The Martek Marine group is one of Rotherham's business growth success stories. Founders Paul Luen, Mike Pringle and Steve Coulson had just £6,000 of initial investment in 2000 when it began trading from the smallest unit in RiDO's Century Business Centre at Manvers. Just 16 years later, the company has sold £80m worth of equipment and employs 60 staff serving 80 countries.

Martek Marine website

Images: Martek

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News: New Rotherham bar marks positive future and recognises past

Passionate Rotherham businessman, Mark McGrail, talks about how his new bar and bistro venture in the town centre comes at a time when Rotherham is on the cusp of something great.

Rothbiz revealed in September that work was underway on a new bar on Domine Lane where the former public house was sold after an auction with Allsops earlier this year.

The vacant 8,000 sq ft property was previously The Exchange and formerly Yates Wine Lodge. It was given a guide price of £80,000+.

The new owner is Mark McGrail, a successful local businessman who owns SME Environmental Services, the Parkgate firm that provides services from environmental recovery to sensitive reclamation. Mark says that if he hadn't bought the building, another company had plans to demolish it. He is now in the process of restoring the building to its former glory and also hopes to buy other historical properties in the borough.

However, it is not all about preservation – Mark believes Rotherham is on the cusp of something great. The new bar looks out on Forge Island where a new leisure hub is being planned. Rotherham Council is currently in talks to purchase the site with several investors already showing an interest in development opportunities, with demolition of the former Tesco building expected to take place in December.

Born in Rotherham, and leaving school at 13, Mark's first job was helping to dismantle the old Sheffield infirmary. Now having built up a successful business he says he wants to give something back to Rotherham with his dream to restore buildings which have a focal point to Rotherham's great past.

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The name 1915 is a nod to Rotherham's General Post Office which occupied the site and the building next door at that time. The new bar was once an extension to the main Post Office. Mark is passionate about the building and its refurbishment, even down to exposing the English stitch bricks to restore the wall to its natural state. Skylights, which house half of the building and were previously covered in sticky black plastic, have been meticulously removed to reveal a light and airy space inside. The original stained glass windows which adorn the internal walls and eaves have also been uncovered and lovingly restored.

Mark McGrail, owner of the 1915 bar (pictured, seated), said: "Rotherham was once such a powerful town, but it's forgotten where it's from. Speak to people who live outside of Rotherham and they appreciate the history of the place, the buildings and its landmark. This building is central to a lot of what went on at the time it was built. It is critical that it is saved and used for decades to come.

"At the end of the day, I'm a businessman and I wouldn't be investing if I didn't believe it could make money. And Rotherham has a lot of potential with the future development of Forge Island and the Council’s plans to rejuvenate Rotherham."

Mark wants to be a key part of those plans, and part of that means offering opportunities to young people in the borough. As such, he is renovating the underground rooms of the old offices – on average, the basement is 24 feet below street level, which required a large amount of building work when it was originally built, and none less so today.

Four rooms, each fronted by glass, with access via an underground corridor to the front of the building, will be offered to young entrepreneurs aged 18-24 years old as retail incubation space.

Damien Wilson, strategic director for regeneration and environmental services at Rotherham Council (pictured, right), said: "Mark first approached our RiDO team when he was looking for an opportunity to invest and we are pleased we've been able to give him the practical support he wanted. A lot is happening in Rotherham – it is a unique town with much to offer and we are confident that businesses who choose to invest here will succeed and flourish in the coming years."

Set to open in December, the new bar and bistro will feature an indoor mezzanine. Whilst there will be a bistro-style menu featuring chunky burgers and a selection of steaks, an outdoor kitchen will enable street food to be cooked on the forecourt. The bar will also offer a selection of draft and bottled beers and lagers, wines and cocktails and will feature a gin-bar and real-ale bar.

1915 bar website

Images: RMBC / 1915 bar

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News: Enterprising students show what's old is new

Teams of enterprising 6th form and college students from across Rotherham have been putting their business skills to the test as part of a challenge set by Rotherham Youth Enterprise (RYE).

Recognising that upcycling is especially popular during the recent economic downturn, the competition challenged teams of students to take an old item that isn't used or wanted anymore and increase its value and quality through upcycling. The products had to be a better quality and a higher value than the original item; be an original, but not unrealistic idea that can be sold to target customers; and have the potential to positively impact the environment.

Six colleges/6th forms schools were involved in the challenge and eight teams were invited to the challenge finals, gathering last week to present to a range of judges from the Rotherham business community, local employers and media.

Alex Whittaker from RNN College was the overall winner, picking up £250 in Meadowhall vouchers. Her Household Junk Into Gifts idea brought together a great business plan and presentation focusing on creative gifts targeted at students this Christmas. The idea also had a demonstrable ethos where profits would go to charity.

Alex also picked up a further £50 in vouchers for the Most Innovative Upcycling Idea.

Other winners were Nicole Scarfe, Rebecca Horsfield, Georgia Booker from Thomas Rotherham College wo picked up £50 in vouchers for the Most Viable Business Plan which focused on shabby chic furniture targeted at hair salons. Charlie Yates, Megan Strutt, Lauren Oxley and Ella Shields, also from Thomas Rotherham College, were awarded £50 in vouchers and the Best Team Presentation prize for their Luxry Lino idea of creating printed goods from upcycled lino.

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The Tatty Timber team were also placed third overall and secured £100 in vouchers with Molly Wilkinson and Connor Renshaw from Dearne Valley College named as the runner up and bagged £150 in voucher for their Trash2Treasure idea of creating products from upcyclyed pallets.

The annual event is organised by Rotherham Youth Enterprise (RYE) which encourages young people (up to the age of 30) to explore business ideas and develop the skills and knowledge necessary to be their own boss. Supported by Rotherham Council, office and workshop space is also made available in Rotherham business centres on reduced rates.

A number of entrepreneurs who have been supported by RYE gave up their time to be judges at the event.

The event was also supported by UK Steel Enterprise - part of Tata Steel that provides equity and loan finance to growing companies, help the economic development of those areas of the UK most affected by changes in the steel industry.

Keith Williams, regional manager at UK Steel Enterprise, said: "We are delighted to support this well–established business challenge in association with Rotherham Youth Enterprise who provide invaluable enterprise training and support to would be entrepreneurs which also improve their employability skills.

"The challenge helps to equip young people with the knowledge and skills required to be successful in the real world and in business."

RYE website
UK Steel Enterprise website

Images: RYE

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News: Habershon House heading to market

Offers are being invited for Habershon House, the property in Filey owned by Rotherham Council which holds fond memories for the thousands of local people that have been taken on trips to the seaside as school children for over 100 years.

The future of the 13 bedroom residential field study centre at Primrose Valley was placed under review during the Council's budget setting for 2016/17, with the authority under pressure to find savings of £21m as part of a 3-year forecast that sets out a total funding gap of £48m.

Habershon House provides a range of outdoor and indoor educational activities. The centre provides accommodation and full board or a self-catering option for school or youth groups of up to 42 children and young people, as well as private family hire.

The projected income of the centre is not meeting the full cost of providing the facility (running costs are around £95,000 a year) and the review came up with three options - closure and a sale of the property, additional investment and re-launch, or an asset transfer to a voluntary organisation or consortia of partners.

A survey showed that whilst a small number of Rotherham primary schools had residential visits to Habershon House as a fixed part of the school calendar, the majority opted for other centres that offered a range of activities delivered by qualified staff and that could accommodate groups of up to 90 pupils.

The Council's cabinet met in July and approved the recommended option of an asset transfer so that non-council operators could continue to deliver activity that benefits the residents of Rotherham.

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Members heard that the services provided by Habershon House were non-statutory and were not targeted to vulnerable groups. Minutes show that: "Officers had reached the view that continuing to operate Habershon House Residential and Field Centre was not the most cost effective way of supporting the most vulnerable young people and their families and improving outcomes. It was considered that the private sector was better able to provide residential outdoor education facilities opportunities more affordably and to a higher standard than the Council."

The decision placed a time limit on an agreement being reached by November 30 2016, following which the house would be sold on the open market. It added that the earliest date Habershon could be closed was estimated to be November 18 2016.

Habershon House is now listed on property website, Rightmove with offers invited at any time for the freehold with vacant possession.

No guide price is given but an initial review of Habershon House was conducted by the Council in April 2016 and estimated a valuation of the property at between £150,000 and £175,000. This figure is based on the number of existing covenants attached to the usage of the building and land. For example, the covenants prevent the property from being used for trade or business, to sell alcohol or cause a nuisance.

The sale will also impact on staff employed in the centre and may lead to a requirement for redundancy or redeployment.

The house was opened in 1904 as The Filey Children's Convalescent Home. It built on the movement of providing seaside trips for the children of Rotherham to benefit their health, paid for by people of Rotherham.

A decision was taken in 1902 to erect a "plain and unornamented structure" accommodating 22 beds, with a large playroom for about £1,000 and fundraising began. The total cost of the building was £2,050.00 and with the exemption of £150.00, the whole of this sum was raised by voluntary subscriptions and fund raising of the people of Rotherham.

The building was passed over to the war effort between 1939-1945 and continued to be used as a convalescent home when handed back to the committee. In 1974 it was given over on trust to Rotherham Council for the Education of the Borough's Children.

Habershon House website

Images: RMBC

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News: HBM nCode expand on the AMP

HBM nCode, the leading brand of fatigue and durability software, has taken new commercial space on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

With reports showing that 50-90% of all structural failures are due to fatigue failure, HBM nCode supplies leading names including General Motors, Chrysler, Bombardier and Lockheed Martin with technology and software products for durability and performance analyses.

Shortly after moving from Sheffield onto the AMP, nCode was acquired by German company, HBM in 2008, in a deal thought to be worth around £20m. The company has grown through further acquisitions and now occupies 3,640 sq ft of workshop space in the AMP Technology Centre, with a further let taking up 3,640 sq ft of space.

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The 32,000 sq ft state-of-the art facility opened earlier this year as part of the park's incubation space. Landowners, The Homes & Communities Agency (HCA), took on the assets from Yorkshire Forward and contracted managing and commercial agents, Creative Space Management to run the centre which recently celebrated the tenth anniversary since it opened.

The new building is now more than 80% let just six months since its launch, with MetLase, the joint venture between Rolls-Royce and Unipart Group, taking 10,000 sq ft and Runflat CBR, a company which is set to revolutionise the global runflat industry, has expanded from its previous office at the neighbouring centre, taking up almost 5,000 sq ft.

Tenants were driving for units of approximately 2,000-3,000 sq ft of serviced workshop with accessibility to office space units of 1,000-2,000 sq ft which are currently taken at the present two buildings at the Technology Centre.

Paul Taylor from Creative Space Management, said: "Achieving 80% occupancy within six months of the building's launch is proof that we've created exactly the right product for the specialist market here. The development is fulfilling its intended purpose which was to give companies from the neighbouring AMP Technology Centre, where we have also maintained almost 100% occupancy, the opportunity to expand into larger premises, as well as to attract high technology companies from further afield."

AMP Technology Centre website

Images: AHR Architects

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