News: Wentworth Woodhouse's backing for NHS heroes on display

Rotherham stately home Wentworth Woodhouse is in Coronavirus lockdown, but it is proud to be supporting the nation's NHS heroes and heroines.

The Grade I listed mansion is the latest UK landmark to become a beacon of the public's appreciation for NHS staff working through the pandemic.

To back the nationwide "Clap For Our Carers" campaign, its iconic facade, which is longer than Buckingham Palace, went NHS blue - with a huge health service logo centre-stage.

The house is closed and the 52 staff employed by the Preservation Trust (WWPT), which bought the house in 2017, have had to be furloughed.

But everyone, including the Trust's 212 volunteers, have been joining in the nation's rousing Thursday night mass applause from the safety of their own front gardens. For three employees, that means stepping onto the manion's lawns, as they live on the premises.

Supporters are urged not to head to Wentworth, though; for the sake of safety, the big light-up has already taken place and images and videos will go out via WWPT's social media posts at 8pm every Thursday.

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Adam Nicholson, of Manvers and  Phil Cooper, of Brampton Bierlow, who run DJ and lighting firm PA Entertainments, regularly light up the house for weddings and events and came up with the idea.

Sarah McLeod, the CEO of WWPT, said: "We thought it was wonderful. Everyone is indebted to the dedication of frontline NHS staff dealing with life and death on a daily basis, and other key workers risking their health just to do their jobs.

"We are a charity facing a huge struggle for survival during the pandemic, but we felt it was really important to demonstrate our support for them."

Adam, sales manager with North Anston-based Eagle Platforms,added: "Phil and I have been joining in Clap for Our Carers from our homes and have seen how much it brings people together.

"I'm on furlough from my day job and was laid in the garden when a plan came to me to get the house involved. It’s been done on buildings across the country and in this part of the world, everyone loves Wentworth Woodhouse, so I rang Phil, who is a key worker himself and we worked out how to do it."

Adam and dad of two Phil, a DPD courier, worked into the night to get the perfect image, which was captured by Andy Bernard of Video and Memories and photographer Joanne Heywood, of Creative Images.

Phil said: "If anyone saw a blue glow over Wentworth on Wednesday, that was us!"

Wentworth Woodhouse website

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News: Eagle lands further investment

Rotherham-based platforms hire company, Eagle Platforms Ltd, is investing over £1m in its fleet with the help of a loan from NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

Moving to larger premises in Anston to deal with demand which continues to grow year on year, Eagle Platforms has secured a £200,000 loan which will provide additional growth capital and allow it to acquire a further £1.1m of large plant to meet demand.

The company, which provides powered access equipment such as cherry pickers and scissor lifts to construction and other sites throughout the North, has more than doubled turnover in the past two years to £2.5m. It aims to increase that to £3.5m in the current year.

Eagle Platforms was founded in 2011 by Jim Haigh, who has worked in the industry since the 1980s and now runs the business with the help of operations director Dan Stewart. The company, which has a fleet of 300 items with six delivery lorries, currently employs 26 staff and expects to create four new jobs in the year ahead.

Jim Haigh. managing director of Eagle Platforms, said: "Eagle Platforms has been growing rapidly in the past few years, which we believe is due in part to the personal and knowledgeable service we offer. The funding will allow us to acquire more plant to ensure that we are always able to meet customer demand and offer prompt delivery, and to take our business to the next level."

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Pete Sorsby, with fund manager, Mercia, added: "Eagle Platforms is a service-driven business with a strong client focus and an excellent reputation in the industry. The company has achieved sustained growth over a number of years. The loan will allow it to meet demand following a number of contract wins, and improve profitability and turnover.

Chris Mangle of Custom Business Finance provided fundraising advice to Eagle Platforms. He said: "Business growth creates the need for additional working capital. In the case of Eagle Capital, we were able to restructure existing finance agreements and reduce their monthly repayments, then secure additional funds from NPIF to allow them to expand the fleet to support their growth plans."

NPIF is  supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Mark Wilcokson, senior manager at the British Business Bank said: "It's great to be working with Eagle Platforms again after they received NPIF – Microfinance investment in 2019. This further investment shows that NPIF is making a real impact on business communities and strengthening regional economies. We are proud to work in partnership with Mercia and our other appointed fund managers to make a real impact on businesses like Eagle Platforms."

Eagle Platforms website
NPIF website

Images: NPIF

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News: Finance boost for Eagle Platforms

Rotherham-based platforms hire company, Eagle Platforms Ltd, is aiming even higher after landing a five figure loan from NPIF – BEF and FFE Microfinance, part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

From a standing start, the firm has grown to a near £2m turnover business, employing 20 people and moving to larger premises in Anston to deal with demand which continues to grow year on year. The firm also operates from a number of regional hubs supplying the next generation of access platforms such as scissor lifts and telescopic booms.

Eagle Platforms has set its sights on investing more than a million pounds in new equipment over the next five years with the funds provided by Finance For Enterprise set to be used to purchase additional new lifting machines to support people working from height, predominantly in the construction sector.

At the same time, Eagle Platform's workforce is set to create five additional new jobs as a direct result of the new investment.

In 2018 the company recorded 30% growth and with the business continuing to exceed all expectations during the first quarter of 2019, managing director Jim Haigh recognised the company needed to act quickly in order secure the additional machines needed to meet demand and turned to Finance For Enterprise for help.

Securing finance quickly was vital and after spending time exploring different funding options, Jim met with Finance For Enterprise investment manager Alan Scott to discuss Eagle Platform's growth plans. Within 24 hours Alan returned with an indicative decision, and in just five days, the finance was in place, enabling Jim to order the much needed additional equipment.

Launched in 2011, within just two years Eagle Platforms had purchased 40 different forms of lifting machines. As a result of the loans provided NPIF – BEF and FFE Microfinance, the total number of machines held within the business will exceed 120.

Jim Haigh first went into business in 1988 when he set up an access platform company with his father James, who invested his redundancy from the closure of Silverwood colliery into that operation. In 1996 the company was acquired by the Hewden Group; however, in 2011 Jim decided to resurrect his business model.

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Jim Haigh, managing director at Eagle Platforms (pictured, second left) said: "Spring and summer is traditionally the busiest time of year for the construction industry. This meant we needed to have finance in place quickly to pay for the equipment deposits, to enable the machines to arrive in time to meet peak demand.

"I had worked with Finance For Enterprise previously and felt confident they understood our business model and the importance of receiving a lending decision quickly. Within five days, the loan had all been agreed, enabling us to concentrate on ordering the additional machinery, as well as securing new orders.

"One of the main reasons for purchasing the new machinery was to reduce our own dependency on rented equipment. As a result of the funds we've secured, we've not only been able to increase the size of our own fleet but this has also enabled us to create new skilled jobs in the local economy, as well as developing additional revenue streams for the business, including expanding our training school."

Alan Scott, investment manager at Finance For Enterprise (pictured, second right), added: "Since Jim decided to resurrect Eagle Platforms in 2011, we've helped to support the business secure the finance needed to realise his growth plans and we understood the importance of securing a lending decision quickly. We discussed a number of different options and as a result, I was able to develop a tailored lending package, enabling Jim to secure the funds needed to enable him to purchase the new equipment.

"This funding will pave the way for continued growth within the business."

Mark Wilcockson, senior manager at the British Business Bank (pictured, far right), added: "The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund was developed to help businesses access finance at times when they need it most. With the NPIF – BEF and FFE Microfinance loan, Jim and his team are setting their sights on achieving significant growth and are creating new jobs. These are things that can make a real difference, not only to an individual company but also within the wider local economy."

Eagle Platforms website
Finance for Enterprise website

Images: Finance For Enterprise

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News: Eagle Platforms heading to the next level

Rotherham-based platforms hire company, Eagle Platforms Ltd, is looking to take the business to new heights after receiving a £50,000 loan from UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE).

From a standing start, it has grown to a near £2m turnover business, employing 20 people and last year had to move to larger premises in Anston to deal with demand which continues to grow year on year. The firm also operates from a number of regional hubs supplying the next generation of access platforms such as scissor lifts and telescopic booms.

UKSE is the wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Steel. It provides business finance to a wide variety of companies to encourage business growth and job creation in areas affected by changes in the steel industry.

This is the second time that UKSE has supported Eagle Platforms, having originally provided finance to the company as a start-up operation in 2011. The funding will be used to bolster the firm's sales and client services departments at the new site.

The company's progress was recognised as it was named the Fastest Growing Access Rental Hire Company 2017 by the International Powered Access Foundation (IPAF).

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Jim Haigh, managing director of Eagle Platforms (pictured, left), said: "Our longstanding relationship with UK Steel Enterprise has been central to our success to date, and we are already setting plans in motion for additional regional expansion over the next 24 months.

"The funds received will fund the expansion of our headquarters and allow us to develop a network of key professionals within the firm including client accounts and senior sales manager roles, in addition to our recently appointed finance firector – ensuring we can meet the increasing demand from our clients and drive the business forward."

Allan Wood, regional manager at UKSE (pictured, right), added: "Eagle Platforms, excellently led by Jim Haigh, has made great progress since our original involvement with the company back in 2011. Its performance to date is testament to the hard work and dedication of Jim and the company's rapidly expanding team, and we are delighted to be investing once again in order to support further growth and job creation in the local area."

Eagle Platforms website
UKSE website

Images: UKSE

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