News: AMP-based tech firm secures investment

AddParts, a Rotherham-based technology company enabling pharmaceutical manufacturers to improve production continuity and reduce operational risk, has secured a six-figure pre-seed investment from SFC Capital to support its growth.

The move comes as pharmaceutical manufacturers face increasing pressure to mitigate operational risk, reduce dependency on fragile supply chains, and maintain continuous production in highly regulated environments. Across global manufacturing, unplanned downtime is estimated to cost hundreds of billions of pounds annually, with even short disruptions having significant financial and operational impact in high-value pharmaceutical production environments.

Based in the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, AddParts addresses this challenge through a virtual-first model that enables manufacturers to store, access, and reproduce critical components on demand, reducing reliance on traditional supply chains and long lead times.

At the core of AddParts' offering is a virtual storeroom that enables manufacturers to take control of their critical parts data, ensuring components can be reproduced on demand, reducing reliance on OEMs, and enabling more resilient, proactive maintenance strategies.

As manufacturers seek to build more resilient, responsive operations, digital spare parts strategies are emerging as a critical component of modern pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Beyond part replacement, AddParts supports manufacturers with reverse engineering of legacy components, digital capture of critical equipment, and engineering-led improvements that reduce failure risk and extend asset life. The firm operates under an ISO 9001-certified quality management system aligned with pharmaceutical manufacturing requirements, ensuring traceability, documentation, and compliance.

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AddParts was also supported by Venture.Community, an organisation that also has an office in the AMP Technology Centre and helps businesses in South Yorkshire raise investment. The programme played a key role in supporting the company's development and preparing it for successful investment.

Tom Fripp, Founder of AddParts, said: "Unplanned downtime is a global challenge for pharmaceutical manufacturers, with real consequences for cost, output, and supply continuity. By digitising critical components and making them available on demand, we're helping manufacturers respond faster and operate more resiliently. Early customer engagements have demonstrated measurable operational benefits, including significantly reduced lead times and improved production continuity. In some cases, avoiding a single extended stoppage fully offsets the cost of implementing AddParts' more proactive spare parts strategy."

Ed Stevenson, Fund Principal, SFC Capital, added: "AddParts gives manufacturers a digital record of their critical components, so they can reproduce what they need on demand instead of chasing OEMs. Tom has built something genuinely useful, and we're pleased to back him."

Peter Hopton, Executive Chairman and Founder, Venture.Community, added: "AddParts is a really exciting company. We liked the team, the depth of the product, and the traction with customers. The firm is solving a key pain point in regulated production lines worth millions of pounds in savings."

AddParts website
Venture.Community wesbite

Images: AddParts

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News: Plans in for former Wetherspoons in Rotherham town centre

A large vacant pub building in Rotherham town centre could be brought back into use, if newly submitted plans are approved.

At the top of the heritage High Street, the distinctive marble-covered former bank at 35-37 was for many years a fixture on the nighttime circuit in Rotherham town centre, having been converted into a pub and operated by Wetherspoons and others until it closed for good in December 2024.

Known previously as the Litten Tree and the Corn Law Rhymer, new owners are hoping to secure a change of use so that residential uses can be introduced on all floors.

The plans from Rhythm Properties Ltd show that 27 apartments will be created over the four floors and a new retail unit will be created at ground floor level.

A company called Foundry Housing, a social and supported housing provider, has recently launched from the premises.

The apartments will be laid out around two staircases. The High Street entrance provides an existing staircase to first floor level (to be retained, although handrails will be provided) with the existing stair to second floor level to be removed and replaced with a new staircase.

The Moorgate Street entrance will be altered and the existing staircase in this area removed. A new compliant staircase is to be provided and three ground floor apartments will be created that are designed to be wheelchair accessible units.

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A balcony and a private courtyard will be created for some of the units on the upper floors.

Externally, the 1960's design will remain with the glazing on Moorgate Street set to be replaced by a new façade to be added on the inside to provide a thermal wall and windows, with the new façade to be rendered. The cash machine point that is no longer in use would be reconfigured to provide refuse storage.

The building is not a listed building but sits within the town centre conservation area.

Planning policies don't generally permit housing on the ground floor in shopping areas of Rotherham town centres. The applicant plans to convert the main pub area into a smaller commercial unit and three flats, arguing that the alternative would just create more vacant commercial units in the area or be abandoned until policies change.

Built for Yorkshire Bank and opening in 1968, the building is on the site of the long-standing Crown Inn which was first recorded in 1605.

At 15,195 sq ft, the applicant states that pub operators have found the building unviable due to operating costs and its size.

The plans state that since Wetherspoons put the pub up for sale in 2015 there has been "various attempts to open the building for hospitality from large pub chains to smaller independent operators and has failed as a viable enterprise at every hurdle, with the businesses lasting a very short amount of time until forced to closed given the buildings operating overheads and local competition."

The freehold of the building was last up for sale with offers in the region of £295,000 expected.

Rothbiz reported in January on plans to introduce residential units at the historic buiding next door known as Essoldo Chambers.

Foundry Housing

Images: Savills / Everard Cole

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News: AESSEAL's thirteen consecutive golds in health and safety excellence

Rotherham-based AESSEAL Plc’s ongoing commitment to health and safety has been endorsed with a 13th consecutive gold accolade in the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ 70th anniversary awards.

AESSEAL is one of the world's leading specialists in the design and manufacture of mechanical seals, bearing protectors, seal support systems and gland packing. With its global headquarters at Templeborough, the award-winning company manufactures mechanical seals for a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

The RoSPA President’s Gold Award has been granted to AESSEAL in recognition of its exceptional health and safety performance during 2025.

AESSEAL managing director Chris Rea said: "Thirteen consecutive golds are testament to the company’s commitment to keeping its employees safe. This is a landmark year for RoSPA and we are proud to be part of a legacy built on dedication to high safety standards, the well‑being of individuals and a shared commitment to excellence. We committed to making accident prevention a central pillar of our organisation and I am delighted that this has again been recognised with a RoSPA Gold Award.

"The awards began as a small event to recognise the achievements of companies prioritising the safety of workers in the UK, and has now grown into the biggest health and safety awards programme in the world, with 2,000 different entries from almost 60 countries, impacting more than seven million employees."

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RoSPA growth director Julia Small, added: "The high standards AESSEAL has achieved are the result of hard work and dedication, of which AESSEAL should be rightfully proud and which RoSPA is delighted to honour. 2026 is a landmark year for the RoSPA Awards as we reflect on how far workplace safety has come in 70 years. It is because of the commitment of health and safety leaders like AESSEAL that people today are safer at work than in the past, and sets an inspiring example for the future.

"The RoSPA Awards are sponsored by the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), which provides internationally-recognised health, safety and environmental qualifications that raise the competence of safety and environmental professionals as well as individuals at all levels in the workplace."

NEBOSH chief quality officer and awards head judge Dee Arp said: "These awards are a powerful reminder that protecting people transcends borders, and that supporting employees to return home safe, healthy and happy each day is fundamental to long-term success and resilience.

"AESSEAL's proactive approach to identifying and mitigating risks, implementing robust safety protocols, and fostering a safety-first mindset among its workforce was instrumental in achieving this award, said RoSPA."

The award will be presented at a ceremony held in London in June.

AESSEAL website

Images: AESSEAL

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News: Independent restaurant closes at Rotherham's flagship Forge Island

Whilst other tenants are trading well, an independent restaurant set up by local entrepreneurs has closed within a year of opening at Forge Island in Rotherham.

Sygnature Dish opened last summer, bringing steak and seafood to the town centre's new landmark leisure destination.

Delivered by Rotherham Council in partnership with Muse, the £47m development includes an 8-screen boutique cinema operated by The Arc Cinema, a 69-roomed Travelodge Hotel.

Sygnature Dish joined the Vetro Lounge at Forge Island and was followed by Heavenly Desserts.

Dalu and Sibbs Sikhosana, the enterprising siblings behind Sygnature Dish, were first involved in Sub Sahara, an authentic family-run African shop and butchery in Rotherham town centre.

Judith Badger, Executive Director of Corporate Services at Rotherham Council, said: “We’re sorry to see Sygnature Dish close and we recognise that any business closure is particularly difficult for the staff involved. We’d like to thank them for being part of Forge Island.

“The hospitality sector is facing challenges across the country, and unfortunately Sygnature Dish has faced difficulties linked to its own operating model as well as wider market conditions. Despite this Forge Island as a destination continues to record strong footfall and a growing customer base amongst Rotherham residents and from further afield.

“Forge Island remains a vibrant and popular place to visit, with Arc Cinema, Travelodge, Vetro Lounge and Heavenly Desserts all trading well and attracting customers throughout the week. Feedback from visitors continues to be very positive, and we’re pleased with the momentum across the site.

“Importantly, the site was always designed to evolve. With that in mind, we’re looking forward to announcing a new operator who will open at the Forge Island later this year. Discussions are progressing and we hope to share news soon.

“In the meantime, we’d encourage residents to continue supporting the fantastic businesses already at Forge Island.”

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At the start of the year, Rothbiz reported on difficulties faced by the council with the scheme.

"Operational issues" meant that a car parking system was delayed and the authority's Parking Services staff were drafted in to ensure the site was being used appropriately after the council received a number of complaints about parking availability and the "heavy usage by non-genuine customers."

An ANPR system is now in place with parking concessions extended to customers of all businesses located within the Forge Island development providing four hours of free parking.

The council report also referenced the difficulty the council was having in attracting businesses to the site and letting the units.

In 2024, Rothbiz reported on the liquidation of a company connected to the restaurant operator that the council had signed up in a pre-let agreement to open a number of brands at Forge Island. The leader of the council said that it was a "challenging business situation" for the operator.

Work began on site in November 2022 after Rotherham Council agreed to fund the Forge Island regeneration scheme itself when the the funding available its delivery partner, Muse, "significantly reduced" due to the volatility of the financial markets.

The council's project budget also includes a contribution towards the fit out of the units.

According to Rotherham Council's leader, Chris Read, there has been a million more visits in the town centre across the two years since Forge Island opened in 2024.

Forge Island website

Images: Sygnature Dish

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News: Housing plans for Rotherham town centre building

A new set of plans have been submitted that would enable more vacant commercial space in Rotherham town centre to be converted into flats.

The Rotherham town centre masterplan of 2017 confirmed the need for more housing and leisure uses as a way to develop economic vitality, bringing more life, activity and spending back into the town centre.

On Doncaster Gate, the Royal Chambers building is the latest in line for conversion.

Known by many as part of Cooper's Toy Shop, 8 - 12 Doncaster Gate has been used for a number of years as commercial units - a tattoo studio and offices for a recruitment firm.

Now an application has been submitted that would enable a change of use of the upper floors.

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Following on from 2024 plans, the new application from AHA21 Properties Ltd proposes the change of use and conversion of the first and second floors to a house in multiple occupation (HMO) whilst the ground floor is to remain as commercial.

Plans show five, 1-bed flats on the first and second floors, with both floors having a kitchen and shower.

There are no plans to change the external appearance of the building.

Commercial property agents, CPR, had been advertising the building for sale at £295,000. Their advert read: "Royal Chambers comprises of a detached three-storey office building and benefiting from rear car parking. The property provides an attractive stone façade, offering modern offices to all three floors with the ground floor providing a mixture of open-plan offices together with private glass-wall partitioned offices to the rear.

"The building offers a useful self-contained separate access from Doncaster Gate which leads to the first and second floors. There are further offices at second floor level. The top floor has been used as a gymnasium and could easily be converted back to office accommodation."

If approved, the new flats would sit alongside The Cinema House residential development and opposite to the successful conversion of a former department store and pool hall.

Images: Haybrook

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