News: Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber Awards 2012 winners

IT company Bull Information Systems are in full celebration mode after claiming a trio of awards at the Barnsley & Rotherham Business Awards ceremony, which honoured companies and individuals from across the City Region.

Bull lifted the Royal Bank of Scotland Business of the Year trophy in front of almost 500 guests at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham.

The company also claimed the Barnsley Community Solutions Skills Development Award, while their Service Manager Richard Stewart scooped The Source Business Person of the Year Award.

Bull is one of Europe's leading IT solutions providers, delivering services including support, consultancy, managed services and outsourcing from their purpose-built Northern Operations Centre in Barnsley.

Andrew Carr, chief executive Officer at Bull Information Systems, said: "Bull was delighted to be named the Business of the Year for 2012 and the award is testament to the continued investment we are making in our people which has resulted in growth over the last two years in tough economic conditions.

"This award is a result of 280 people working together towards shared objectives. I am now looking forward to next year's event and continuing to develop strong and growing business within the Barnsley and Rotherham region with our partners."

Andy Tyas, relationship director at The Royal Bank of Scotland, said: "We were pleased to note the continued rise in the number and standard of entries this year, and Bull Information Systems have demonstrated outstanding strengths against all the key criteria set for this category."

Rotherham-based companies winning on the night were Enviro Thaw in The ASD Lighting/Rotherham United FC Business Growth Award, S3 ID in The Sheffield Hallam University Innovation & Technology in Business Award, and Newburgh Engineering in The Premier Waste & Recycling Environmental Business Award.

Vince Middleton, chairman of Newburgh Engineering at Templeborough, said: "It means so much to all Newburgh staff to win such a prestigious and locally-recognized award, particularly as new members of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber. This is a reflection of the continued hard work that our loyal and talented employees have put into creating such a brilliant company."

The event included the Salute To Business Awards which saw Irwin Mitchell and Wardell Armstrong recognised for 100 and 175 years' trading respectively.

The ceremony also included a cheque presentation of £3,500 to local charity Lost Chord, from funds raised at the Chamber's President's Charity Ball in May. Another £3,500 will go to the President's Charity Fund – which supports good causes in Barnsley and Rotherham.

Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber website

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News: Rotherham firm enters Dragons' Den

A Rotherham firm has beaten thousands of entries and made into the BBC's Dragons' Den, with the experience expected to be shown this weekend.

Enterprising Karina Oldale of Enviro Thaw secured the chance of three minutes to pitch their business ideas to five multi-millionaires willing to invest their own cash.

The company holds the European distribution rights for the environmentally friendly product that is commonly used to combat the effects of snow and ice throughout China and Asia. Enviro Thaw was established to expand the Beijing Santywell product line into Europe and provides de-icers that are effective to -55°C.

The rapidly-growing company moved to the Northfield Industrial Estate last year and has also secured rights to manufacture the product in the UK.

New products are set to be launched soon.

Whether Karina managed to secure cash from the Dragons will not to be known until the show goes on air but the experience was not all bad. Hilarity arose when Duncan Bannatyne forgets a question and puts the nervous entrepreneurs at ease in a "human" moment.

The firm has come a long way since taking part in Rotherham's Dragons' Den-style event last year (pictured) and recently reported a massive 700% increase in turnover since launching in 2010.

Karina said: "Sunday will be here very soon and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

"Over 12 months of hard work for myself and the team, with few resources, they have achieved results expected of a large blue chip organisation."

The company won the The ASD Lighting/Rotherham United FC Business Growth Award at the Barnsley & Rotherham Business Awards last week and has made the final of the prestigious International Trade Awards to be announced in December.

Enviro Thaw website

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News: Enviro Thaw reports big increase in turnover

Rotherham-based Enviro Thaw, a major supplier of granular de-icer, has reported a massive 700% increase in turnover since launching in 2010.

The company holds the European distribution rights for the environmentally friendly product that is commonly used to combat the effects of snow and ice throughout China and Asia. Enviro Thaw was established to expand the Beijing Santywell product line into Europe and provides de-icers that are effective to -55°C.

The rapidly-growing company moved to the Northfield Industrial Estate last year and has also secured rights to manufacture the product in the UK.

The granular de-icer is 90 per cent less corrosive than other road de-icing products on the market and is non-toxic to vegetation.

Karrina Oldale, sales director at Enviro Thaw, said: "Although the weather was against us we managed to increase our turnover by 700%. We already have last year's turnover in orders waiting to go out in September."

Through hard work and good contacts made through the family's paving company, the number of stockists has grown to include national garden centres and builder's trade centres and over 200 independent garden centres throughout the UK.

Rotherham council's Streetpride service has also been trialling the distinctive blue de-icer. Being less corrosive than rock salt, using Enviro Thaw's products causes less damage to the road surface and less pot holes.

Karrina added: "We have new customers in Europe this season, with trials at five International airports. We also have ski resorts, retail outlets, maintenance companies, car parks and town centres.

"In September, we are also launching three new products at Glee [a trade show for garden retailers], with others in the development stages."

Enviro Thaw website

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News: Enviro Thaw ready to grow from new Rotherham premises

Whilst many of us have be enjoying the last days of summer, Rotherham-based Enviro Thaw has been stocking up at their new Rotherham premises ready for another harsh winter.

The rapidly-growing company recently moved to the Northfield Industrial Estate after leasing a unit through Rotherham property consultants Burgess Commercial.

Enviro Thaw holds the European distribution rights for the product that is commonly used to combat the effects of snow and ice throughout China and Asia. The granuler de-icer is 90 per cent less corrosive than other road de-icing products on the market.

The company was established in 2010 in order to expand the Beijing Santywell product line into Europe and they forecast a £2m orderbook for the upcoming winter season.

Karrina Oldale, sales director at Enviro Thaw, said: "We are delighted to have moved to this excellent new base which combines warehouse facilities with modern offices and meeting rooms.

"Our previous office unit had become too small as we needed to take on additional staff, so this marks a significant stage in our growth as a business. Burgess Commercial's efficient, professional service was a great help in progressing to this point."

Neil Keally, director of Burgess Commercial, added: "It is fantastic to hear about a local success story such as Enviro Thaw and we were very pleased to assist them in finding premises in which they could bring together their administration and distribution operations and accommodate their expanding workforce.

"The Northfield Industrial Estate is also ideally located, giving easy access to the motorway network via Junctions 33, 34 and 35 of the M1."

Enviro Thaw website
Burgess Commercial website

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News: Enviro Thaw expands into new Rotherham premises

Not many people are hoping for a repeat of the bad weather of last winter, but Rotherham company, Enviro Thaw, will be ready to supply their granular de-icer to help keep the country moving.

The company holds the European distribution rights for the product that is commonly used to combat the effects of snow and ice throughout China and Asia. Enviro Thaw was established in 2010 in order to expand the Beijing Santywell product line into Europe.

Karrin Oldale, who runs the company with her husband and son, said: "My husband and son own a paving company and after a couple of hard winters and customers ringing up to say their drive was damaged from putting rock salt on, we knew we needed to find a product that would not cause damage.

"Our son Sam found this product on the internet and I went to China to sign European rights for the product."

The granular de-icer, which is pet friendly and less corrosive than salt, was launched at a trade show in 2010. Through hard work and good contacts, the number of stockists grew to include garden centres and builder's trade centres throughout the UK such as Buildbase, along with online specialists including Amazon.

The product is also available in Ireland and is being trialled by local authorities.

In June, the enterprising owners took part in a dragon's den-type event organised by the Rotherham Enterprise Board where they explained how orders had gone from 45 pallets to 420 in a year and forecast a £2m orderbook for the upcoming winter season.

The company has grown significantly and has recently moved into premises on the Northfield Industrial Estate with offices above a larger warehouse. The firm has taken on more staff and they are starting to advertise for further staff in the new warehouse.

Karrina added: "From starting with a small unit and the garage converted into an office I feel in just 12 months we have come a long way."

Enviro Thaw has invited Apprentice contestant, Ruth Badger, who is working with the company, to open the new premises on September 14.

Enviro Thaw website

Images: envirothaw.co.uk

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