News: Crawshaws heading for administration

The board at Rotherham-based meat retailer, Crawshaws, has announced its decision to appoint an administrator after it failed to find investment.

The UK's leading value butcher is based at Hellaby and operates 42 High Street stores and 12 factory stores.

The announcement comes just three years after the firm announced growth plans in 2015 that included £200m of investment, opening 200 stores and creating 2,500 jobs.

However, sales continued to decline amid challenging trading conditions and Crawshaw's management was forced to undertake a review of the business and implement a change programme to restore growth and profitability with a transition to focus more on factory store locations.

After reviewing its structure and investment in traditional high street locations, the Board said last week that it was considering a number of remedial actions to address the key issues it has identified, which may include raising additional funding through an equity capital raising.

The additional funding could not be secured.

Advertisement

A statement to the stock exchange said: "The Board has been in discussions with existing investors and prospective investors. Unfortunately these discussions have not been successful in raising sufficient capital to address those key issues.

"The Company does not have sufficient cash resources to effect the required restructuring of the business.

"In the light of the above and the operational and financial uncertainty which the Company now faces, in order to protect both shareholders and creditors, the Board has taken the decision to place the Company into administration and intends to appoint administrators shortly with the purpose of seeking buyers for the Group's business and assets on a going concern basis.

"As a result, the Board announces it has requested a suspension of trading in its shares on AIM with effect from 7.30am on 31 October 2018.

"Further announcements will be made in due course."

Crawshaw website

Images: Crawshaws

Read more...

News: Rotherham business centre set to expand

Rotherham Council has secured a grant of £1.6m for around 17,000 sq ft of new floor space at its Century Business Centre for office and clean manufacturing "move on" space.

The Centre, owned and managed by Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO), the regeneration arm of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, was originally developed to help local people in the Manvers area of the Dearne Valley to set up their own businesses following the decline of traditional industries.

At a Sheffield city region (SCR) Mayoral Combined Authority meeting this week, members formally agreed Local Growth Fund (LGF) money for schemes across the city region.

The £3.2m project for phase 2 plans to generate 110 gross additional jobs by 2024/25. Operated by RiDO since it was built in 2000, Century has enjoyed occupancy rates of over 96% in the last three years.

Sir Nigel Knowles, chair of the SCR LEP, said: "This is a great example of how the public and private sector work together in the SCR to get things done.

"Our ability to work collaboratively, in a straightforward and practical way, is one of the real drivers for growing investor confidence in our region."

Advertisement

Dan Jarvis, mayor of the Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Combined Authority, added: "Today I chaired a Mayoral Combined Authority meeting that agreed £10m in funding for transformative projects.

"This is an exciting time for us in the Sheffield City Region, with hugely significant investments from world-leading companies putting us firmly on the international map.

"It is also important that whilst we’re developing these cutting-edge facilities in our Global Innovation Corridor, we are also putting in place the development projects that our communities need: roads, homes, public spaces, shops and offices – so that we can improve our region and make it fit for the 21st century.

"That's why funding pots such as LGF, devolved to decision-makers at a regional level, are so important in supporting our communities to grow and thrive."

The RiDO Business Centres continue to perform well with average occupancy at the end of June 2018 reaching a record high of 96%. Eight early stage companies moved into the centres in the first quarter of 2018-19 and seven of the ten business centre units transferring back to RiDO following vacation by Rotherham Youth Enterprise (RYE) were re-let immediately.

Century was the first major incubation space project for RiDO and its success led the Council to expand the provision for small business premises, and RiDO now has four centres, located across the Borough at Moorgate Crofts, Templeborough and Dinnington providing over 200 office and workshop units.

£1.5m of support from the same fund has been earmarked to support the first phase of the Gulliver's Valley leisure development in Rotherham.

RiDO website

Images: Google Maps

Read more...

News: SCR Skills Bank on its way back

Contracting is underway for a managing agent for a follow up phase for the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Skills Bank.

The Skills Bank was designed to give employers greater purchasing power and control in how Government funded training is accessed. The aim is to create a demand-led skills system and encourage companies to co-invest in skills support for their own employees. It stems from a strategic aim to increase the number of high productivity jobs in the SCR.

Part of the SCR Growth Hub offer to businesses, the project includes a contribution from European funding, private sector contributions and resources ring-fenced from the Government's Adult Education Budget as agreed in the SCR Growth Deal.

The contract for the first phase of the scheme came to an end in March and procurement is underway as the Skills Bank transitions into its second phase, maintaining its core ethos of providing access to funding to support training to promote growth.

Advertisement

The £5.4m contract via the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) is for a company or organisation to set up, manage and run the second phase. Multinational professional services company, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) were the managing agent for the first phase.

The service will be required to carry out initial triage of employer skills, sign post employers to the existing provision that is available and provide, through sub-contractors, tailored learning solutions to meet the skills priorities of employers in the SCR and their employees. Through subcontractors and referral partners, the Skills Bank will deliver a broad range of qualifications, units and bespoke training packages for SCR businesses, where employers' needs cannot be met/funded from existing public or commercial skills provision.

Reed in Partnership and Manchester Growth Company are understood to be submitting bids.

Over 600 deals where done with SCR businesses in Skills Bank 1, with 9.000 learners supported.

Last year, the SCR Local Enterprise Partnership were dismayed by changes made by the Government that "threaten to unbalance the Skills Bank programme and introduce a number of risks to current delivery activity due to the insistence that Growth Deal funding be used ahead of European funding."

SCR Growth Hub website

Images: SCR

Read more...

News: Another council contract for Horbury

Horbury Property Services, part of the Horbury Group based in Rotherham, has secured a project to replace fire doors and update fire compartmentation in a number of buildings, including offices and a library for Nuneaton and Bedworth Council.

From its headquarters in the Moorgate area, the group combines a number of subsidiaries that specialise in areas including joinery, ceilings, dry lining and health and safety training.

The Horbury Property Services subsidiary is now part of a significant programme of fire door installations to blocks of flats where there is a closed balcony/corridor. The new fire doors will meet current requirements for fire resisting doors. Horbury Property Services will also ensure that the fire compartmentation within ceilings is brought up to the latest standards.

Advertisement

Richard Sutton, general manager at Horbury Property Services, said: "Fire safety is incredibly important and Nuneaton and Bedworth Council is taking a responsible approach by upgrading its fire doors and fire compartmentation. Our expertise in fire safety and as FIRAS-approved contractors means we can help to ensure a housing provider is compliant and occupants are being protected."

Nuneaton and Bedworth Council is a provider of affordable, quality homes across northern Warwickshire.

As well as providing passive fire services, Horbury Property Services offers a full range of works, which can form part of planned maintenance programmes. This includes fire alarm and emergency light testing, plus ceiling and dry wall partitioning inspection, installation, repair and maintenance of fire doors, joinery works, flooring installation, portable appliance testing, electrical testing and installation work, building fabric repairs as well as external cladding and render repairs.

Horbury Property Services website

Images: Horbury

Read more...

News: £10m sought to expand AMRC Training Centre

A funding bid to expand the pioneering AMRC Training Centre in Rotherham is set to be discussed next week.

The AMRC Training Centre is a £20.5m centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) where the focus is on students aged from 16 upwards, taken on paid apprenticeships. Part of the The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, apprentices have opportunities to progress on to postgraduate courses, doctorates and MBA levels. Sponsoring companies range from global leaders such as Rolls-Royce and McLaren to local high-tech supply-chain companies.

Since taking on its first 140 apprentices in autumn 2013, the centre has grown rapidly into an award-winning centre of excellence. It has trained more than 1,000 apprentices for 250 companies in the region.

£10m is being sought from the Local Growth Fund (LGF) Skills Capital call recently launched by the Sheffield city region (SCR). £28m was notionally allocated to support skills capital projects and the funding has previously been used to support the new University Centre Rotherham.

The call invited initial Strategic Business Cases (SBC) from applicants who aim to address low levels of adult participation, increase Level 4 and above qualification attainment, collaboration and development of specialist niche provision with employers. The introduction of T-levels and supporting inward investment opportunities is also being encouraged.

Outlining a near £13m project, AMRC bosses are looking to extend its current training centre to provide additional workshop space. A particular focus in the bid is on the skills needed for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, i.e. automation, robotics and digitalisation.

Advertisement

A planning application from earlier this year designed to remedy parking problems at the site hinted at a 31,300 sq ft extension which would double the size of the centre to meet demand.

The commercial case states that even though the centre receives 700-800 applications each year, it currently has space for 250. However, no reason/evidence has yet been provided as to why the university or AMRC cannot provide match funding for the capital works.

The initial centre was built with support from the Regional Growth Fund and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The papers going before the SCR local enterprise partnership state: "There is currently a shortage of engineers at higher technical levels (e.g. level 4/ foundation degree). The shortage of skilled staff in automation means too many companies do not have internal champions who are comfortable with adopting new technologies.

"The inclusion of further robotics and automation technologies and training at the AMRC TC would provide a test bed for SMEs. The expectation is that by seeing automation in action, they would be less "intimidated." It would increase their understanding and enable them to invest with more confidence.

"The additional capacity and diversification of curriculum will strengthen progression routes from level 3 to level 7. This extension will provide more learners with the higher level technical skills required to meet both the impact of an ageing workforce and the move towards Industry 4.0. This will empower employers to provide greater opportunities, investment and ultimately encourage growth."

The AMRC is also bidding for £6m for a £12m project to purchase and refurbish equipment at the former Davy Markham site to create an Industry 4.0 Demonstrator Centre.

AMRC Training Centre

Images: AMRC

Read more...

News: Parseq targets growth with new hires

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq, has made three senior appointments within its client service and business development teams to capitalise on a string of new contract wins.

This year the Hellaby-based company has already added nine clients to its roster and invested more than £325,000 in new technology, software and site upgrades to support its ongoing growth.

Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. Every year, it digitises 25 million customer correspondence documents and processes £15 billion of electronic payments. In August, the firm completed the sale of its contact centre division to focus on its Rotherham-based finance and administration division.

Tracy Ridgard joins Parseq as an account manager, bringing more than 15 years' experience delivering BPO services to customers across the financial services, media and retail sectors.

Prior to Parseq, Tracy held senior account management roles with outsourcers Williams Lea Tag and RR Donnelley. Tracy will work to help Parseq's existing clients access back-office solutions that improve customer experience and deliver cost savings to their business.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Parseq has added two new members to its business development team to help the company further expand its client portfolio across its existing and target markets, which include FTSE 100 financial services companies and leading utilities and energy providers.

Nick Wise joins as a business development consultant, bringing 30 years of experience in the BPO industry, with a background in transaction processing, information management and data archiving. Nick was previously BPO Sales Manager for document management specialists Restore.

Last month, the company also welcomed Giles Chambers as a business development consultant. Giles holds more than a decade of experience in digital transformation across the public and private sector and was formerly a Business Development Manager for the UK division of global document management firm Swiss Post.

Craig Naylor-Smith, managing director at Parseq, said: "Tracy, Nick and Giles not only bring track-records of delivering exceptional customer service to their clients, but also a wealth of hard-earned insight and sector knowledge.

"Tracy's background working with clients in the financial services sector, along with Nick and Giles’ experience with cutting-edge digital document management solutions perfectly complements our service offering. Their addition to the team will only strengthen our ability to offer efficiency-driving solutions that are truly bespoke to our clients' businesses."

Parseq website

Images: Parseq

Read more...

News: Millers secure LifeSkills partnership

Rotherham United has secured a new commercial partnership with employment and apprenticeship provider LifeSkills, who will sponsor the back of the away shirt for the remainder of the 2018/2019 Sky Bet Championship season.

Rotherham born managing director, Spencer Fearn, has developed Lifeskills in London and the South East and opened a Rotherham training centre in the town centre in 2010. Specialising in providing opportunities for young people to break into the world of training and employment, LifeSkills is ranked at 44th in The Sunday Times Top 100 Small Companies to Work For.

The deal comes after previous sponsor, 3aaa, a Derby-based apprenticeship training provider, entered administration earlier this month.

Steve Coakley, commercial director at Rotherham United (pictured, left), said: "Due to unforeseen circumstances this partnership opportunity became available, and I am absolutely delighted to have been able to secure a strong agreement with LifeSkills in such a short time frame.

"LifeSkills have a prominent Rotherham presence, with many of our supporters already familiar with some of their work. We have successfully worked together in the past, and I have personally enjoyed working alongside the LifeSkills team during our time at Don Valley. I am thrilled for the opportunity to be able to kick start a partnership once again."

Advertisement

Dawn Muscroft, Rotherham apprenticeship manager at LifeSkills, who is also Millers season ticket holder, added: "LifeSkills are delighted to be a partner of the Millers and sponsor the back of the away shirt for the remainder of the current season. The Millers are the focal point of our wonderful town and we are looking forward to developing a strong working relationship with the Club over the next few years."

Supporters will be offered the opportunity to have the new LifeSkills branding applied onto their away, or alternate away shirts.

This will be provided free of charge and in person only at the Red & White Shop. The option is applicable for 2018/2019 away shirts already purchased, as well as new purchases.

Lifeskills website
RUFC website

Images: RUFC

Read more...

News: New Rotherham station would help maximise benefits of HS2

New stations in Rotherham and in the Dearne Valley on a proposed "Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR)" line could boost the economic benefits for the Sheffield city region (SCR) from HS2.

Independent economic analysis also highlights the need for improved intra-regional connectivity in order to benefit the most from the £55.7 billion project.

The SCR has been provided with £1.3m in Government funding to study the impacts of the new route and how it can get the most out of HS2. The best scenario in the study is for HS2 stations at Sheffield Midland and Chesterfield and NPR stations at Rotherham and the Dearne Valley.

The Government has been urged to include a HS2 parkway station in the SCR and a Northern loop out of Sheffield Midland, which at present is only set to be served by a spur.

Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) is a rapid, reliable and resilient rail network between the North's six biggest cities and other economic centres. With continued research and analysis, Transport for the North is creating clear, fully-costed proposals for the multi-billion-pound scheme.

Initial findings from the delayed HS2 study include an analysis of including NPR parkway stations at Dearne Valley and Rotherham, which show that the economic benefit to the SCR increases to £1.3 billion over a 60 year appraisal period. Up from the £970m with HS2 stops just at Sheffield and Chesterfield.

The study, by Arup, Cushman & Wakefield and Ekosgen, also looks at wider economic benefits and shows that the two HS2 stations could help boost annual GVA above baseline figures by between £1.3 billion and £2.47 billion. With additional NPR stations, annual GVA could be boosted by £2.7 billion.

In terms of additional jobs, the HS2 stations could add between 11,930 and 23,270 jobs based on low and high growth scenarios. With additional NPR stations, an additional 24,060 could be created.

Advertisement

The research states: "The economic evidence and strategic policy framework point towards two new intermediate NPR stations between Sheffield and Leeds at Rotherham, and the Dearne Towns as having the most transformative economic potential (recognising that Meadowhall can be connected to the HS2 hub at Sheffield through fast, high frequency public transport services).

"These new stations would transform the strategic connectivity of Rotherham and the Dearne Towns, achieving a stem-change in accessibility to the labour markets of Leeds and Sheffield as well as the national network. By doing so they can also provide a catalyst for accelerated regeneration and housing growth in the surrounding areas.

"Proposals for local transport improvements and reviewing planning policies in the context of the new stations would help maximise the benefits, and ensure development complements the role of nearby town centres."

Previous studies have shown that the only practical and cost effective way to enhance rail connectivity to Rotherham is to consider providing a new railway station on the mainline to take advantage of services that currently pass through the borough but do not stop.

Locations for a potential NPR stations for Rotherham or the Dearne have not been named. Best guesses for Rotherham would be on the mainline at the station at Masbrough that closed in 1987, or at Parkgate. "Rotherham Rail Station (Parkway)" is still a project in the SCR's Integrated Transport Block which sets out how to used Government funds and grants for sustainable local transport schemes.

Whilst land values are set to increase, analysis for the SCR shows that no new commercial or residential development is expected around a potential new Rotherham station, in contrast to Sheffield, Chesterfield and the Dearne which would share an additional 2.5 million sq ft of commercial development and 2,800 new residential units are envisaged.

HS2 consultations have designs being developed for a 6.7km long Sheffield Northern spur between Clayton and Thurnscoe which would connect the Dearne Valley Line existing railway to HS2.

As Rothbiz has previously reported, the SCR is developing the idea for a SCR Mass Transit project to enhance intra-regional connectivity. Rotherham features on a number of priority corridors including the Innovation Corridor, the River Don Corridor and the A631 Corridor.

SCR website

Images: SCR / HS2

Read more...

News: ITM power provides update on new premises

Shareholders in ITM Power, the energy storage and clean fuel company, were given an update on a planned move to a new manufacturing facility in Rotherham ahead of its AGM today.

The LSE-listed firm is planning to bring its two Sheffield facilities together at new multimillion pound factory and Rothbiz reported first that bosses have identified the vacant former Wincanton depot, now known as "Rotherham 125" at Maltby.

ITM would use 133,000 sq ft of floorspace on the site for the production and testing of electrolysers - a converter of energy rather than an energy store. A negligible amount of hydrogen is produced during testing. The technology has been used to help create a hydrogen refuelling station network in the UK.

Advertisement

An update to the stock exchange said: "The planned move to the new 11,610 sq.m [125,000 sq ft] floor space factory (with grounds of 30,000 sq.m [323,000 sq ft]) is progressing well. The Company has designed a new manufacturing process (including introducing new automated technical processes), designed a new factory layout (to optimise product flow-through), completed all of the detailed drawings of the factory, the technology centre and the offices and applied for planning consent. The consenting process has also included a traffic survey and full environmental impact survey. Terms are expected to be signed in Q1 2019.

"The new factory will be commissioned and run in parallel with the existing factory until the lease runs out at the existing Atlas Way site in 2021. The project manufacturing capacity ramp up across the old and new factories is more than adequate to support the Company's substantial projected sales growth in the ensuing three years. Product testing is currently a constraint at the old Atlas Way factory as we deliver larger products and so the power supply at the new factory will be commissioned early in the fit-out process."

"Project Cavendish" was launched to investors last year and £29.4m was raised with a share placing to address the two main barriers to growth - working capital and new premises.

Advertisement

Dr Graham Cooley, CEO, ITM Power plc., said: "We are making good progress with the new factory, with the delivery of key multi megawatt reference projects and we have made a number of high-quality appointments to strengthen the team for further growth. Our business is performing well and we look forward to reporting more important new contracts in the near future."

The Group has £27.6m under contract and a further £6.7m in the final stages of negotiation, constituting a total pipeline of £34.3m, representing an increase of £3.7m since the full year results announced in August. ITM added that its non-contracted tender opportunity pipeline currently stands at £200m.

Current projects including a 10MW Refinery Project with Shell at the Wesseling refinery site in Germany and a £5.5m contract to supply the Birmingham hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) for a 3MW bus project.

ITM Power website

Images: ITM Power

Read more...

News: Rotherham bed manufacturer sent to prison for more than three years

The owner of a Sheffield bed manufacturer, 37-year-old Craig Williams of Park View Road, Kimberworth, appeared at Leeds Crown Court last week and was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. He was given 21 months for the fraud charge and 19 months for the breach of Section 3 of the Heath and Safety Work Act. Williams has also been disqualified from being a Director for ten years.

Williams who was on trial following the death of a seven-month-old baby boy Oscar Abbey, pleaded guilty to breaching section 3 of the Health and Safety Work Act. He admitted that he failed to ensure that the bed he designed, manufactured and supplied to Oscar's family was safe and as a consequence it caused Oscar's death. He also pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.

Appearing alongside him, 31-year old Joseph Bruce of Wingfield Road, Rotherham pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. He was also disqualified from being a Director for ten years.

During a two week trial, a jury heard how Williams, owner of bespoke children's bed manufacturer Playtime Beds Ltd, ignored safety guidelines and made and supplied dangerous beds which had been purchased by families for their children to sleep in. Overnight on Wednesday November 2 2016, baby Oscar became entrapped in an opening of a cot gate fitted to the bed supplied by Williams, and as a consequence he died of positional asphyxiation, which occurs when a person's position prevents them from breathing adequately.

The court was read a statement from Oscar's father Charlie Abbey, explaining how he found his baby son cold and unresponsive at 6.30am on Thursday November 3 2016, with his head stuck inside the gate of the cot and his body on the outside of the bed. Oscar had wriggled through a gap backwards, which had been cut into the cot gate, but his head, which was too large for the aperture, became stuck. Despite the efforts of his parents and emergency services, Oscar was pronounced dead on arrival at York Hospital.

Evidence of a Facebook conversation between Oscar's mother, Shannon Abbey and Williams was shown to the jury. In that conversation, Shannon specifically asked Williams about the safety of the bed and told him the age of the child who would be sleeping in it. Williams responded by telling Oscar's mother that his beds were suitable for children of "any age." The court heard that even though Williams was trained to NVQ 2 level in wood occupations, he paid no regard to mandatory safety standards around the size of the gaps between the bars of a cot front, and had actually just adapted template bed designs from an American internet site. That site included measurements between apertures which would of met British Safety Standards if followed. However, this wasn't the case.

Advertisement

The court also heard that in the months prior to Oscar's death, other customers had raised safety concerns with Williams following incidents involving their own children. Williams stated that his beds exceeded safety standards, and informed one such customer that Trading Standards were happy with the products manufactured by him and if she continued to raise her concerns he would take her to court. He continued to manufacture and supply beds.

Following Oscar's death, police informed Williams of the incident and Sheffield Trading Standards issued Playtime Beds Ltd with a cease and desist warning, directing him to stop the manufacture and supply of his beds, due to serious safety concerns.

However, through the investigation conducted by North Yorkshire Police, officers found that Williams wilfully ignored the instruction and instead, set up another business called Magical Dream Beds Ltd, fronted by co-worker Joseph Bruce, with the specific intention to keep on supplying beds to other families, under another company's name.

The court heard that Bruce, directed by Williams, emailed Playtime Beds customers, stating the new company would fulfill all outstanding orders and that the beds complied with safety regulations. The investigation team identified that Williams and Bruce had gone on to sell a bed to an unsuspecting customer in London just two and a half weeks after Oscar's death. This bed, like the bed sold to the Abbey family, was examined by an expert, who concluded that neither bed complied with the relevant safety standards and posed a threat to children who slept in them.

Detective Superintendent Nigel Costello, senior investigating officer at North Yorkshire Police, said: "This has been a very difficult case to investigate, but I am pleased that justice has been delivered to Oscar's parents and wider family today. They have been through a harrowing experience – the initial shock and devastation of the loss of their baby in 2016, a detailed police investigation and nearly two years on, having to relive each minute again during a court case. Our hearts go out to them and while we realise that this result can never take away the pain of losing Oscar, we hope that in some small way the sentences given today allows them to move on into happier times.

"As the court heard over the past two weeks, the actions of Williams and Bruce were deplorable.

"The death of Oscar was preventable. As the investigation developed and unfolded, we found that Williams and Bruce were solely motivated by money and were willing to sacrifice children’s safety in the pursuit of it."

John Maher, principal trading standards officer at Sheffield City Council, added: "This case presents a clear warning to those whose hobby becomes a business for manufacturing products, that there can be catastrophic consequences of deliberately ignoring product safety requirements. There is always a need to ensure products are safe for consumers to use but particularly for babies and children."

Images: North Yorkshire Police

Read more...

News: False start for Sheffield-Rotherham tram-train

Today was meant to be the first full day of operation for the pioneering tram-train project linking Sheffield and Rotherham but services where suspended until late this morning due to a derailment in Sheffield yesterday afternoon.

Carrying some of the first passengers from Rotherham, one of the newer vehicles, which have been operating on the Supertram network for over a year, was involved in a collision with a lorry at Staniforth Road, Attercliffe. The incident led to gridlock on the roads and services being suspended on Supertram's Yellow route between Cricket Inn Rd and Meadowhall and on the new Tram-train route to Rotherham Central and Parkgate.

The incident came just hours after Government ministers, transport bosses, local councillors and other dignitaries gathered to officially launch the trail project.

Project partners from Stagecoach Supertram, Network Rail, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) and the Department for Transport were joined by representatives from local authorities and businesses for the unveiling of a commemorative nameplate by Jo Johnson MP Minister for Rail and the mayor of the Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Combined Authority, Dan Jarvis.

Passengers in South Yorkshire are the first in the country to benefit from the innovative Tram Train pilot, which entered public service at 09.39 at Sheffield Cathedral. The special tram-type vehicles use pioneering technology to run on both Sheffield's tramlines and the rail network to Rotherham.

Advertisement

Jo Johnson, rail minister said: "The first tram-train journey is a milestone moment that will give commuters cleaner, more frequent and more reliable journeys across Sheffield and Rotherham."

Details of timetables and tickets can be found here.

Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: "Today is a very important milestone and it is incredibly exciting to be travelling on this cutting-edge innovative tram vehicle, for the first time to Rotherham town centre and Parkgate."

The SYPTE, Northern Rail and Network Rail have been working together on the pilot project which was first announced in 2009. Securing Government funding, the aim of the project is to help determine whether tram-trains can run in other parts of the country.

A report from the National Audit Office (NAO) revealed that by December 2016, the cost of the works for the project, which had been given an initial estimate of £15m, had quadrupled to £75.1m, pushing the overall cost of the scheme over £100m when you add in the cost of procuring the vehicles.

The project was delayed a number of times as Network Rail got to grips with some of the heavy rail modifications, including power, track modifications, approvals and testing and commissioning.

Rob McIntosh, route managing director at Network Rail, said: "I'd like to thank the people of Sheffield and Rotherham for their patience while we developed, built and tested Tram Train. The project has been a complex one and it is genuinely exciting to be ready to welcome the first passengers on board.

"Tram Train will bring new choices for travellers in this area, supporting jobs and the local economy. It's also important to us at Network Rail as the national infrastructure provider, as it gives us different options when we are looking to improve connections between communities across Britain."

Dan Jarvis, mayor of the Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Combined Authority, added: "It's good to see schemes such as this transforming our transport network, which has suffered from years of underinvestment. For our economy to grow, and to ensure prosperity for all, we need to have an affordable and well-integrated public transport system that enables people to get to places of work, study and leisure quickly and easily.

"This the first step in transforming our region's transport system and making it fit for the 21st century."

The city region is looking at extending the mass transit network to enhance intra-regional connectivity. Tram, bus rapid transit, rail and highway options are included in new strategies.

The SYPTE is also investigating the feasibility of a tram stop and Park and Ride at Magna in Rotherham.

Supertram website

Images: SYPTE

Read more...

News: Millions still tied up in stalled devolution deal

An estimated £75m a year of Government funding earmarked for much-needed economic development projects is yet to make it to the Sheffield city region (SCR) due to the stalled devolution deal.

A lack of consensus from the leaders of South Yorkshire's four councils denied the SCR the chance to conclude a devolution deal with the Government.

The 2015 deal included a mayor with responsibility over the region's transport budget, strategic planning and skills funding. It also promised £30m a year for 30 years to invest in local strategic priorities.

With Dan Jarvis elected as mayor of the Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Combined Authority, he himself admitted that not enough progress had been made on devolution. His stance has been to implement the 2015 deal, push for greater mayoral powers, and push ahead with a wider Yorkshire deal.

In a discussion over the authority's own budget pressures, Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council and a former chair of the Combined Authority (pictured), admitted that there was little chance of seeing any of the £30m a year reaching the SCR anytime soon.

Advertisement

"It's certainly not coming in the short term," Read told members. "I don't think we are going to get any movement in the short term around it. I think, and I've said this the whole way through, that there's an inescapable logic to devolution where you say to councils: "You are increasingly dependent on income from business rates and economic activity - you can have more money to help strengthen that activity in your area but we need you to work in a certain way to be able to access it."

"If you remember when we first started the debate and talked about having a mayor, people were concerned about that. A lot of people were against that. Certainly if you look across the region now, nobody is against that. What we've not achieved is agreement about how that exactly ought to function.

"Where we've failed as leaders across the 20 authorities in Yorkshire is to reach an agreement on geography between us and that means we are not getting money that we ought to be getting."

The SCR is still waiting on funding to upgrade the Hope Valley Line and to support key employment and skills initiatives.

Read added: "We are short to the tune of certainly tens of millions of pounds. People talk about the "gainshare" - the £30m for South Yorkshire - but actually if you look across the piece, including that, it is more like £70m to 75m a year extra for South Yorkshire that was tied into that deal.

"It is hugely frustrating to me that we are not getting that money."

Cllr Read has reiterated that Rotherham's position is that it believes that the Sheffield city region deal is the best opportunity to draw down funding and decision making to strengthen the local economy but it would take any proposals for a wider "One Yorkshire" devolution deal seriously.

Images: RMBC

Read more...

News: Rotherham plant science firm sees rapid growth

A Rotherham start-up specialising in scientific apparatus for plant science research has turned their idea on the back of an envelope into an actual business after accessing a regional business support programme.

Founded by entrepreneurs Alexis Moschopoulos and Richard Banks, Swinton-based Grobotic Systems Ltd designed and manufactured a chamber which is engineered to streamline the process of growing plants under precise controlled environmental conditions for scientific experimentation.

The idea came to Alexis after struggling for many years with poor quality growth chambers while conducting research in plant science and the duo read about Y-Accelerator and saw the local intensive start up programme as an opportunity to make their business, Grobotic Systems, a reality.

Richard Banks, founder of Grobotic, said: "I had a phone call from Alexis and he said an opportunity to push our idea forward into a real thing, a real product had come along and we thought – why not?

"So we signed up for it and it helped turn an idea on the back of an envelope into an actual business."

Developed by RiDO, the Y-Accelerator programme offers the city region's next business leaders the opportunity to benefit from a three-month fast-track development programme featuring expert advice, mentor support and specialist workshops, as well as the chance to pitch to a panel of high-profile investors.

Alexis Moschopoulos, founder of Grobotic, said: "It really helped us focus on our ideas and confirm our beliefs about our product and our target customers. Also, the training on developing a pitch was very good and very helpful for us to concisely pitch for investment on such a niche and complicated subject."

The 12-week programme is back, running from November 2018 to February 2019, and includes business modelling techniques, expert advice, mentors, specialist workshops, market research and individual support to help the ten chosen projects build a strong customer proposition and financial model as well as learn to effectively communicate the business value to customers and investors.

Alexis added: "We would recommend the Y-Accelerator programme because it really helps people to improve their business idea and explain in a clear, concise way what their business is about and to look for funding."

Advertisement

Amanda Parris, business growth manager for RiDO, said: "This is a programme like no other available. We want people who think differently, who we can work with to create a viable, scalable business and this is certainly the case with Alexis and Richard's business.

"We have a highly experienced team, part of Rotherham's network of business incubators, to support entrepreneurs. The Y-Accelerator programme is open to all industry sectors, although logistics, manufacturing, and automation are especially of interest."

While still in the process of prototyping and looking to beta-test soon, Richard and Alexis are looking to the future.

Alexis said: "We see our business in the future expanding. We want our business to expand into different markets, different sectors and around the world."

Richard added: "I have a very modest ambition - that ours should be the first plant growth chambers on Mars!"

Having been involved with the Y-Accelerator for a number of years UK Steel Enterprise, a subsidiary of Tata Steel tasked with helping the economic regeneration of communities affected by changes in the steel industry, is offering a £1,000 prize for the winner of this year's programme.

Keith Williams, regional manager of UKSE, said: "This year, we're offering a cash prize for the winner which will allow them to kick-start their business model that will have been developed and nurtured throughout the 12-week programme. In addition, they will have the opportunity to pitch for investment."

The Y-Accelerator 2018/19 is inviting applications until October 31 2018 through the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub portal.

Grobotic Systems website

Images: UKSE

Read more...

News: Closure on the cards for Council building

A prominent Council building on the edge of Rotherham town centre could be closed under new budget savings proposals.

Bailey House, previously home to catalogue business, Grattans, was maintained by the authority when other town centre buildings were vacated, demolished and sold when the £60m Riverside House building opened in 2011.

Now a proposal has been put forward by the Regeneration and Environment directorate, which used to house over 500 staff at Bailey House, as part of asset management and property savings worth around £570,000 over the next two years.

Council papers show that closing the three storey building on Rawmarsh Road / Greasbrough Road would save £50,000 in 2020/21. It currently costs the authority in the region of £328,199 per annum.

The paper states: "Currently there are a number of services being delivered from Bailey House which include records management, elections, corporate post and print facility, stores and Streetpride town centre team. Alternative provision would have to be found to support these services going forward."

Advertisement

In 2011, the authority approved a £1.5m revamp of Bailey House to create an Ancillary Services Building to house departments and functions that would not be re-located to Riverside House. Proposals were amended when it was decided to locate the Yorks & Lancaster Regimental Museum at Clifton Park.

The 96,000 sq ft building was also previously used as the town's registry office with the Bailey Suite available for functions.

Rotherham Council has recently been successful in an bid into the Government's One Public Estate Programme which includes a review of storage requirements across the Sheffield city region. The Council anticipates that alternative provision would be found to manage the storage requirements across the region allowing the closure of Bailey House.

Back in 2008, developers TCN secured a five year exclusivity agreement with the Council to develop vacant land following the disposal of Council buildings. Nine sites, including Bailey House, were included but the focus of development was on the creation of the £40m Tesco Extra store on Drummond Street.

The building is named after Rotherham-born engineer Sir Donald Bailey whose ingenious bridge designs played a key role in shortening World War II.

This year, Rotherham Council intends to set a two-year budget for the first time in order to help deal with a further £30m of required savings.

Business related savings put forward during the process include increasing rents at RiDO business centres, the introduction of paid for pre-inspection food hygiene inspections, and privatising the cafe operation at Riverside House and reducing its size. Plans are also being developed for introducing an automatic car parking system at Rother Valley Country Park.

Images: Google Maps

Read more...

News: Food Circle moves to new Rotherham premises

A Rotherham-based online supermarket which is tackling the issue of food waste head on has moved into a new premises in Dinnington following rapid expansion fuelled by a national marketing campaign which saw the business more than double its customer base within a matter of weeks.

Food Circle is the first online UK-based retailer offering surplus "in-date" healthy food and drink products, to customers at half the recommended retail price. It was launched by Sheffield Hallam history graduate James Barthorpe and his business partner Paul Simpson in January 2018.

Previously based at RiDO's Century Business Centre in Manvers, the company has now made the move to larger premises at Matrix Business Centre, another centre operated by RiDO. The new location is ideally situated in terms of distribution, making it easier to ship stock to customers across the nation as well as having more room to store the increasing product range.

As part of an ambitious growth strategy, they rolled out a comprehensive online and social media marketing campaign with the help of funding from a UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE) Kickstart grant in September; securing a raft of new clientele and solidifying Food Circle Supermarket's presence as the only retailer of its kind in the UK.

Advertisement

Growth for the firm also follows a spate of recognition for its innovative approach to reducing the volume of produce that ends up in landfill unnecessarily, having recently won the Hallam Enterprise Award.

James Barthorpe, co-founder of Food Circle Supermarket, said: "We've been in contact with UK Steel Enterprise since we pitched for their investment as part of the Y-Accelerator programme in March 2018. Since then, the team have been very pro-active in offering their advice and support which has added a lot of value to our business.

"We were also given access to a UKSE Kickstart grant of £500 which we put towards our first ever proactive marketing campaign which has helped us to reach more new customers and grow our business significantly over the last couple of months."

Alan Stanley of UKSE, added: "I'm delighted that James and Paul's hard work and dedication has been recognised in their nomination for a Sheffield Business Award and would like to congratulate them on behalf of everyone at UKSE for their Hallam Enterprise Award win.

"It's excellent to see that the Kickstart grant has been of great help to Food Circle Supermarket, allowing them to reach out to their target market and promote the importance of diverting surplus food away from landfill."

UKSE is a subsidiary of Tata Steel tasked with assisting the economic regeneration of communities affected by changes in the steel industry.

Food Circle website
UKSE website

Images: UKSE

Read more...

News: Beatson Clark eager to help with first glass bottle drinks range

The flexible service and centuries of experience at Rotherham manufacturer, Beatson Clark, has proved to be the winning formula for premium soft drinks company Eager Drinks.

The Greasbrough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

Eager, founded in 2007, approached Beatson Clark last year to help them package their first glass bottle drinks range. All of Eager's other soft drinks, including its signature cloudy apple juice, are packaged using cardboard.

Beatson Clark has just finished its production run for over 200,000 new and unique glass bottles for Eager Drinks' new mixer range – Cold Brew Tonics.

Advertisement

Ed Rigg, founder of Eager Drinks, said: "Owing to the fact that Cold Brew Tonics is our first range packaged using glass, we had strict criteria for its look, feel and quality to ensure it was in keeping with our brand and commitment on sustainability.

"We wanted a bottle which used recycled glass in some way and wanted it to look contemporary and modern yet traditional to the touch. We didn't want an off-the-shelf design. We wanted a bottle which was going to make an impression in a competitive market.

"Beaton Clark's approach matched our vision. In terms of flexibility, service and quality, they win every time compared to competitors in the UK and abroad."

Working closely with Eager Drinks, Beatson Clark designed and produced a unique 200ml white flint glass bottle. The brief was to produce a container which looked modern and contemporary but had a traditional and vintage feel to it.

Advertisement

Jonathan Clark, account manager at Beatson Clark, said: "It's been a pleasure to work with the Eager team from concept right through to production. As Ed has found out, what we offer in terms of service is only matched by the quality of the product we make.

"For an established drinks company entering the competitive mixer market for the first time, the packaging is just as important as the quality of what's inside. The drinks are different to anything else on the market owing to the unique production process, and the packaging reflects that."

Beatson Clark website
Eager Drinks website

Images: Beatson Clark

Read more...

News: Cultural strategy's part in Rotherham's positive future

"We want all our residents to really like Rotherham. By 2025, we want other places to want to be like Rotherham."

That's the aim of a new cultural strategy for the borough.

Consultation is underway on the strategy that will help shape future participation and provision. From sports, physical activity, libraries, arts, heritage and tourism to parks, countryside and green spaces, people are being asked what they think about a range of local facilities and attractions.

The draft strategy looks at growing tourism and highlights high profile opportunities such as Wentworth Woodhouse and Gulliver's Valley. It also picks out the importance of events such as the Rotherham Show, which celebrates its 40th anniversary next year, and bidding to make Sheffield city region the next UK City of Culture in 2025.

A section on developing talent and growing businesses includes the aim to work together to create an additional 1,500 jobs in sport, leisure and culture by 2025 and to increase the range and numbers of cultural apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities, creating 50 new apprenticeships and 500 new volunteers by 2025.

Advertisement

Rotherham-based music producer and artist Mark Fell (pictured) said: "I have a firm belief in the town as an incubator of exceptional talent and innovation - one that rivals much larger cities. That is why I accepted the invitation to be part of the Cultural Partnership and to foreground the best of what Rotherham has to offer. Along with other groups and organisations our aim is to regenerate the town in a way that works for Rotherham's communities."

Pete Massey, director of Arts Council North, said: "We believe that arts and culture make life better and can shape the places where we live. We are working with Rotherham Council, and supporting the creation of the town's Cultural Strategy, to ensure that culture plays a central role in Rotherham's future."

The strategy is overseen by Rotherham's Cultural Partnership which aims to develop talent in creative, digital, cultural, leisure and tourism sectors, build stronger communities and pride in the borough, increase participation and improve health and wellbeing.

Cllr. Sarah Allen, chair of the Rotherham Cultural Partnership Board, said: "Research has shown that when people participate in sport, physical activity, the arts, when they use libraries and visit heritage sites and green spaces they can have better health, education and jobs.

"Participation brings our communities together. In Rotherham, however, participation is lower than most of the rest of the UK and we want to change that. Our key goal is for everyone to get active, get creative and get outdoors, more often. We want all our residents to really "like" Rotherham, and to get the most out of cultural life in the borough."

Like Rotherham website

Images: Great Place Wentworth & Elsecar / Mark Fell / Connie Treanor

Read more...

News: Funding boost for SCR projects

The Sheffield city region (SCR) is working to sign off on millions of euros of funding for economic development and regeneration projects before the UK leaves the European Union (EU) next year.

Structural funding from the EU is integral to meeting the targets in the Local Enterprise Partnership's (LEP's) Growth Plan, which set an ambitious target of creating 70,000 new jobs in the SCR by 2023.

The SCR has an allocation of just over €200m of funding through the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) to invest in projects and initiatives between 2014 and 2020.

The latest calls for cash from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) include projects based on providing gap funding to land owners and developers, supporting potential inward investors, supporting companies to be more innovative, support for low carbon schemes, supporting businesses to take advantage of superfast broadband, and support targeted at businesses that demonstrate growth potential.

£5m is set to allocated to projects that increase the provision of available property. The call states: "The availability of a quality commercial property stock is key to increasing SCR's share of Inward Investment and also to encourage local growth."

ERDF support is being made available for development in the key SCR growth areas – in particular the urban centres, Enterprise Zones and motorway corridors.

£10m has been earmarked to continue the SCR's targeting of investment and support at entrepreneurs and businesses with the potential to grow and create high value jobs with projects that are complimentary to the SCR Growth Hub.

Advertisement

£3m is available for local interventions to help overcome some of the barriers faced by potential foreign investors.

£7m is set to allocated to target the "large number of SMEs which are disconnected from the innovation ecosystem" with projects to "address SCR business' low propensity for innovation, stimulate demand and idea creation for innovation and productivity growth."

For low carbon projects, £13m is set to be used to strengthen energy supply and systems, as well as ensuring greater resource efficiency. Helping business take up low carbon technology, demonstration schemes and regenerating brownfield land are key aspects of the call.

£2.3m is set to be allocated to support new and existing businesses with benefiting from superfast broadband through digital transformation and innovation.

The Government has previously said it will guarantee EU funding for structural and investment fund projects which continue after the UK has left the EU. Most projects will need to be complete by June 2023.

In March 2019, Britain will exit the EU and the Government has confirmed that it will launch the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, using money returning from the EU to provide funding for economic development and local growth across the UK.

Images: RMBC

Read more...

News: Meet the buyers on £300m frameworks

A meet the buyer event is taking place in Rotherham this week and is aimed at sub-contractors and suppliers looking for opportunities on the Yorkshire framework projects that are worth £300m each year.

Taking place at Rotherham United's AESSEAL New York Stadium, main building and civil engineering contractors appointed to the YORbuild2 and YORcivil2 frameworks will attend the event which is intended to promote and support supply chain engagement which is a key theme of the YORhub frameworks.

The event is scheduled for Friday morning, October 26 at 9:30am - 12.

The YORhub suite of construction frameworks have grown in popularity since the YORbuild framework was launched in 2009, and now comprises three frameworks - YORbuild2, YORcivil2 and YORconsult2 - which is due to be launched later this year.

Advertisement

The frameworks have been established by five Yorkshire and Humber local authorities and are used by local authorities and other public sector organisations including universities, blue light organisations and the health sector.

One example from the Yorbuild2 framework is the successfully completed £10.5m University Centre Rotherham that was delivered by Willmott Dixon.

36 tier 1 members have been confirmed for the event this week including Wates Group, which successfully secured a multi million pound tender as part of Rotherham Council's £29m scheme to build high quality and affordable homes.

The Supply Chain Engagement Programme is for any business interested in supplying construction services or goods to the framework - contractors, including subcontractors and materials suppliers, consultants and other construction service providers.

YORhub website

Images: RUFC

Read more...

News: ITM Power targets massive Rotherham warehouse for new manufacturing facility

ITM Power, the energy storage and clean fuel company, has identified a vacant warehouse in Rotherham as it progresses plans to bring its two Sheffield facilities together at new multimillion pound factory.

ITM Power manufactures integrated hydrogen energy solutions and is now targeting large scale commercial applications and needs new facilities to meet demand.

Rothbiz revealed earlier this year that the LSE-listed firm was set to use £400,000 from the Sheffield city region's Business Investment Fund for its expansion. The ITM Power project totals £4.2m of investment.

Advertisement

Now a planning application has been submitted on behalf of ITM Power for a change of use for the property now known as "Rotherham 125" at Maltby that would enable light industrial use.

The former Wincanton depot on Rotherham Road operated as a chilled distribution centre for retailers such as Sainsbury's and Tesco. It has been vacant for over ten years with the landlords struggling to find a tenant for B8 distribution use, despite refurbishment.

Advertisement

The plans, drawn up by DLP Planning, state: "The building has recently completed an extensive refurbishment and our client is now seeking to amalgamate their current operation from two separate premises in the Sheffield / Rotherham area onto the site to enable future growth.

"The proposed development will increase the employment offer in the area by employing circa 160 staff across a range of job types: administration, manufacturing, cleaning, research and development and delivery."

ITM would use 133,000 sq ft of floorspace on the site for the production and testing of electrolysers - a converter of energy rather than an energy store. A negligible amount of hydrogen is produced during testing. The technology has been used to help create a hydrogen refuelling station network in the UK.

"Project Cavendish" was launched to investors last year and £29.4m was raised with a share placing to address the two main barriers to growth - working capital and new premises.

Announcing its final results for the year to April 30 2018, the ITM board reported that the new factory premises had been identified and that heads of terms had been agreed with detailed space planning underway. It added that terms are expected to be signed in the fourth quarter of this calendar year. The firm's AGM is scheduled for next week.

ITM Power website

Images: CPP / ITM Power

Read more...

News: Brearley & Co continue to grow with three new apprentices

A Rotherham accountancy firm is mirroring the growth seen in the local economy and is taking on a trio of new apprentices.

Brearley & Co has been established for over 30 years in Swinton, Mexborough and offers a range of added value services for businesses including payroll, taxation and corporate accounts.

The firm, which also has an office in the south of the borough, in Dinnington, continues to expand. Turnover has doubled in the last nine years with the success coming from working with clients during their trading year to help them manage their business and tax liabilities. Preparing management accounts for clients helps this process.

The HMRC's move to a fully digital based tax system is also having an impact with Brearley & Co advising businesses on how to deal with the requirements of the Making Tax Digital initiative.

Matthew Cowling, 21 from Mexborough, Kyle Jermy, 18 from Kimberworth and Luke Stead, 17 from Mexborough, have recently joined the company as apprentices.

Advertisement

Matt is studying the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) course at Doncaster College with Kyle on the AAT course at Babbington Business School in Sheffield. Luke is studying for an Association for Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification at Rotherham College.

In their roles Matt is a junior tax clerk, helping with corporate and personal tax returns. Both Luke and Kyle have been taken on as junior accounts clerks, preparing accounts for small businesses.

The new recruits will be looking to continue Brearley & Co's tradition of promoting from within. All five partners started as either semi seniors or juniors.

Mark Smallman, managing director of Brearley & Co, who himself joined the firm in 1987 (pictured, right), said: "It is great to be working in Rotherham and being part of the fastest growing economy in Yorkshire and the 7th in England. We work strategically with many local businesses, planning, reporting and monitoring their goals. We have recently partnered with QuickBooks and Receipt Bank as part the cloud accounting revolution.

"The appointment three apprentices will provide us the capacity to maintain the close relationships we have with our clients."

Established in 1984 by the firm's founder, Giles Brearley, Brearley & Co has grown from a single room to five buildings at its head office on Bridge Street and a single building at Laughton Road Dinnington.

Brearley & Co website

Images: Brearley & Co

Read more...

News: Halfway point in Rotherham Interchange refurbishment

To mark the halfway point of the £12m Rotherham Interchange refurbishment works and highlight the contractors reaching the highest point in the building, local councillors, directors and project managers were invited on site.

Interserve, the international support services and construction group, won the contract for the work on the site which had associated public safety issues and suffered a fire in 2016 which caused significant damage.

Ben Gilligan, Director of Public Transport at South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), said: "We now have a good view of how the works are shaping up and it’s exciting to see what’s about to come. The stripping of the building has been completed, much of the new glazing has been installed and the building has been re-wired.

"The top floor of the car park has been resurfaced and weather-proofed and the wider parking bays and pedestrian route painted. Twenty-one crates full of solar panels are ready to be placed on the roof in the coming weeks, providing at least 70% of the building's energy.

"Whilst there is still a fair bit of work to do within the concourse areas it's great to know that the works are on track. A sample of the ceiling cladding and lighting fixtures was in place and it was good to see how they'll improve customers' experience at the Interchange. The refurbishment will deliver safer, brighter and lighter premises for all users.

Advertisement

The SYPTE holds a lease agreement with owners Norseman Estates Limited to maintain and operate the interchange and car park. The Sheffield City Region Combined Authority (CA) agreed to borrow £12.5m so that refurbishment of the important town centre asset can be carried out.

Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, added: "The new interchange is a key part of our plans to regenerate Rotherham town centre, as part of the town centre masterplan, and promoting sustainable transport is an important element of this. Good progress is being made, and I look forward to seeing the work completed on this fantastic new facility for people visiting, living and working in Rotherham."

Paul Ellenor, regional director for Interserve, added: "The topping out ceremony is an important milestone in the delivery of the Rotherham Interchange refurbishment. It's great to see progress being made in transforming the facilities as part of Rotherham Council's exciting regeneration programme.

"Interserve, together with the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, is working hard to ensure we benefit the town by employing as many local people as possible, and by utilising its construction as an educational tool for various local schools and colleges.

"The team is looking forward to the next phase of works and ultimately delivering a sustainable Interchange facility that will serve the people of Rotherham for many years to come."

A temporary bus station is in place on the nearby Forge Island and the refurbished site is expected to re-open in early 2019.

Interserve website
SYPTE website

Images: SYPTE

Read more...

News: Businesses celebrate success at Chamber awards

More than 500 representatives from South Yorkshire's business community came together to celebrate the achievements of local businesses over the past twelve months at one of the most prestigious business events on the local calendar - the Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards.

Taking place at Magna in Rotherham and hosted by TV and Radio Broadcaster Stephanie Hirst, the awards were sponsored by University Centre Rotherham and recognised the special achievements of local companies, charities and individuals for the outstanding contribution they have made.

The highly coveted title of "Business of the Year" was presented to Barnsley-based LNS Turbo UK (pictured) whilst Sheffield-based Molly's Fund was awarded the title of Chamber Charity of the Year and received £3,000 cash donation from Fortem.

Special recognition was also given to Julie Kenny CBE DL who was presented with the lifetime achievement award, whilst David Thackrah of IVS Materials Handling was awarded the Business Person of the Year.

The awards also recognised young individuals who are taking the first steps in their career and Katie Andrew of Liberty Speciality Steels won the Apprentice of the Year Award, with Armands Velavs of Code Green and Bryn Roberts of NPS Barnsley receiving highly commended.

Rotherham winners included the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, MGB Plastics and Grimm & Co.

Advertisement

Andrew Denniff, chief executive of Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber, said: "This year's awards has seen a record number of entries, culminating in a sell out event which proved to be a memorable evening which celebrated the achievements of businesses of all shapes and sizes based in the region.

"I would like to congratulate the winners on the evening, especially our newly crowned business of the year LNS Turbo. The success of the event illustrates some of the truly amazing work which is being undertaken in our region, from the new and promising companies who have a bright future ahead of them to established companies who are celebrating milestone anniversaries."

The winners:

Brook Corporate Developments Most Promising New Business Award
- Winner – Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust
- Highly Commended – CSP Systems Ltd
- Highly Commended – Knowledge Bank

SheelPhalt Harsco Business Community Impact Award
- Winner – De Hood CIC
- Highly Commended – Rejus Limited
- Highly Commended – XPO Logistics

Russell Richardson Environmental Commitment Award
- Winner – MGB Plastics
- Highly Commended – Bizspace (Ltd.) Rotherham
- Highly Commended – Free Running Buildings Ltd

Enzygo Apprentice of the Year Award
- Winner – Katie Andrews – Liberty Speciality Steels
- Highly Commended – Armands Velavs – Code Green
- Highly Commended – Bryn Roberts – NPS Barnsley

The Cloud Co. Marketing Campaign of the Year Award
- Winner – 0114 Marketing
- Highly Commended – Hallam FM's Cash for Kids
- Highly Commended – Pyronix Limited

Chamber Skills Solutions Skills Development Award
- Winner – MED-EL UK Ltd
- Highly Commended – Impelling Solutions Ltd
- Highly Commended – XPO Logistics

Finance For Enterprise Business Growth Award
- Winner – Enzygo Limited
- Highly Commended – Azzure IT
- Highly Commended – IVS Materials Handling

National Fluid Power Centre Innovation in Manufacturing Award
- Winner – LNS Turbo UK Ltd
- Highly Commended – CEAG Limited
- Highly Commended – MGS Plastics

Pyronix HikVision Excellence in Customer Service Award
- Winner – IT Desk (UK) Ltd
- Highly Commended – Brook Corporate Developments
- Highly Commended – DEB Chartered Accountants

Rotherham Together Partnership Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Award
- Winner – Grimm & Co
- Highly Commended – MAGNA
- Highly Commended – TWESH – The Weddings Event Supplier Hub

Shorts Business Person of the Year Award
- Winner – David Thackrah – IVS Materials Handling
- Highly Commended – Andy Adams – T3 Training & Development
- Highly Commended – Ian Faulkner – Code Green

Chamber's Charity of the Year Award – In association with Fortem
- Winner – Molly's Fund
- Highly Commended – Grimm & Co
- Highly Commended – Royal British Legion

Salute to business:
- 15 years: Jeremy Neal Independent Funeral Directors
- 30 years: Morthyng Group Limited
- 40 years: Russell Richardson & Sons
- 50 years: Derek Hattersley & Son Printers

BR Chamber website

Images: BR Chamber

Read more...