News: Rotherham expansion continues as Cepac set to take on closed print premises

A state-of-the-art print facility in Rotherham has closed, according to reports in the trade media.

Near neighbours have already submitted plans to expand into the vacated unit.

Vanacomm, which produced millions of catalogues, brochures and media inserts every week from its Manvers base, has ceased trading according to an article in Printweek.

Vanacomm took on the 120,000 sq ft premises of Garnett Dickinson, which was sold out of administration in a pre-pack deal in 2017 to GD Web Offset Limited, a vehicle incorporated for the purposes of the acquisition.

A statement from Vanacomm to Printweek said: “After careful consideration of the current economic climate, the substantial costs of energy contracts and the continued downturn in the UK web offset market, the shareholders of Vanacomm Ltd have come to the conclusion that the company should cease trading with immediate effect.

“The company is not entering into any form of liquidation and with wages paid up to date to the end of last week, we will continue to collect out the book debts with the intention of paying out all creditors.”

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Plans are already in place that could see Cepac, one of the UK’s leading innovators of performance packaging, expand onto Brookfields Park.

Rothbiz reported in September last year on Cepac announcing a £53m investment that will expand its key operations at Manvers.

Founded in 1999, Cepac has established one of the largest and most technologically advanced corrugated packaging plants in the world in Rotherham. Part of the HSA group, it also has operations in Darlington, Doncaster and Rawcliffe.

The "Rotherham 2" project will see investment in infrastructure, equipment and new jobs.

The first phase focuses on "Rotherham 1" - the existing facility that manufactures packaging and where certain machinery is now coming towards the end of its useful life. Plans have recently been approved for an extension of 4,000 sq ft and a proposed mezzanine of 11,400 sq ft to the existing building which will facilitate a wider expansion of the facility.

New plans explain that Cepac are in the process of formally purchasing the Vanacomm building to the south.

The application, drawn up by agents at DPP Planning, show a proposed 7,600 sq ft link building connecting the existing Cepac manufacturing building and Vanacomm building.

The plans state: "Due to increasing demands in the cardboard manufactory industry, the applicants are looking to increase their capacities. The link will send manufactured materials along production line machinery to the Vanacomm building to allow for final packaging and distribution of cardboard products.

"Linking the Vanacomm building to Cepac's current warehouse will facilitate the expansion and modernisation of Cepac's existing production facility which will allow Cepac to safeguard existing local jobs and the company's market position as a leading cardboard manufacturer."

Future plans would involve a new sprinkler tank and pump house and a new substation and switch room.

Cepac website

Images: Google Maps

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News: Rotherham Advertiser sold

Historic independent weekly title, the Rotherham Advertiser, has been acquired by British multimedia company, National World plc.

Funded from its own cash resources and completed last week, the deal is for an undisclosed sum.

National World said that the acquisition complements its reach across the South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire markets.

Listed on the London Stock Exchange, National World plc became operational with the acquisition of JPIMedia (formerly Johnston Press) for £10.2m in 2021. Titles include The Scotsman and the Yorkshire Post, and locally, The Sheffield Star.

With offices in Rotherham town centre, Regional Media Ltd was the most recent publisher of The Rotherham Advertiser.

The acquisition was announced alongside National World's purchase of B2B media company, Insider Media Limited, making five acquisitions since December 2022 which the company says "will more than compensate for the recent downturn in advertising sales that has impacted the whole sector."

David Montgomery, chairman of National World, said: "Over the last 12 months we have made a number of targeted investments and acquisitions designed to accelerate our progress, increase our capabilities and grow the audience for our high-quality content.

"National World offers a unique combination of digital news, specialist content and targeted audience engagement, helping it build deeper relationships with its readers and users.Today's acquisitions are in line with that strategy as we reposition the business towards our new operating model."

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National World’s strategy is to create a new publishing business model that enables it to “localise, energise, digitise and monetise” relevant and unique content.

As National World explains in its most recent annual report: "The publishing sector, not just in local news, has been slow to seek radical changes in the face of structural change in the media, preferring for decades to mainly trim costs. For local commercial publishers, in particular, there is a growing imbalance with the national publishers and broadcasters, who maintain some resilience through scale, while the local segment has long lost its one great advantage of classified advertising.

It also added that: "Instead of a digital first company, National World is taking the leap to being a digital only company. Newspapers will be produced on that basis rather than being the products of multiple industrial processes that should have been abandoned years ago. Ironically the printed newspaper products will achieve greater quality and relevance, in part mirroring characteristics of social media but strictly curated."

And relevant to the Advertiser acquisition, it added: "True to our publishing heritage we will make our small weekly papers exclusively local in all content - banishing the generic content that was a feature of previous and counterproductive cost reduction measures.

"When acquiring heritage assets, with recent examples of Newry Reporter and Banbridge Chronicle acquired in Northern Ireland in early 2023, these are judged on market position and valuations reflecting the state of the newspaper sector. There is still a case for bolting on brands with a loyal audience that benefit from synergies as they are integrated in our infrastructure."

The original Garnett Dickinson business started in 1858 in the back of a busy stationary shop where it first published the South Yorkshire Advertiser. The Rotherham Advertiser has been published by Regional Media Ltd, a company which acquired the publishing business and assets from Garnett Dickinson in 2015.

Garnett Dickinson, which had a state of the art print facility in Manvers, went into administration in 2017 following problems in an investment in a new press. It was sold in a pre-pack deal to GD Web Offset Limited, a vehicle incorporated for the purposes of the acquisition.

National World plc website

Images: Regional Media Ltd

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News: Garnett Dickinson downed with £25m pension deficit

Problems with an investment in a new press led to the administration of Rotherham print group, Garnett Dickinson, documents reveal.

And the administrator's proposals also show a pension scheme deficit of £25m listed amongst the unsecured creditors.

Jonny Marston and Howard Smith of KPMG, were appointed as joint administrators to the business on January 24 2017 after the business ran into cash flow difficulties due to operational issues.

The joint administrators confirmed that Garnett Dickinson was sold in a pre-pack deal to GD Web Offset Limited, a vehicle incorporated for the purposes of the acquisition.

Based in a £20m state-of-the-art facility in Manvers, the group specialises in large run multi pagination printing and customers include high profile monthly magazines and luxury catalogue brands.

Garnett Dickinson Print Ltd had a turnover of £17.2m and made an operating loss of just over a £1m in the year to September 30 2015. KPMG highlighted that the financial position of the business deteriorated due to the poor performance of a newly installed printing press.

KPMG stated: "The Group invested in a new press in September 2016 to provide increased capacity, however operational issues encountered during the installation and subsequent use of the press resulted in high levels of outwork, overtime, paper usage and production overheads that were not sustainable. As a result of the operational issues, losses of approximately £1m were made in the first quarter of FY17 and this resulted in acute cash pressure.

"The directors of the Group were forced to enter into discussions with key suppliers, HM Revenue & Customs, its landlord and the Secured Creditors as the Group was struggling to generate sufficient working capital to continue trading."

Previously a board member, Nicholas Alexander bought Garnett Dickinson Group, with the exception of its digital operation, for an undisclosed sum in 2015 and instigated a restructure of the operations.

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KPMG was engaged by the group in December 2016 to provide advice on options for restructuring its defined benefit pension scheme following a meeting with Alexander.

The cash pressures led to an exploration of options available in respect of investment, refinance or a sale, and to run an accelerated mergers and acquisition process. No offers were received for the Group so six trade competitors were identified and contacted regarding the opportunity.

GD Web Offset Limited was the only offer to come forward and the deal saw all of the trading business and assets sold to the new company whose directors are Paul Mursell of EWO Media in Essex and Jeremy Spring of Aspenlink, a company that converts some twenty five thousand tonnes of paper a year.

KPMG documents show that three connected Garnett Dickinson companies have left a shortfall of £29m, including a £25m pension deficit and £4.1m owed to trade creditors including finance providers RBS and Lombard.

The documents show that KPMG has been "liaising with the trustees of the defined benefit pension scheme, the Pensions Regulator and the Pensions Protection Fund concerning the changes caused to the pension scheme as a result of our appointment."

Accounts filed at Companies House for 2015 describe the defined benefit pension scheme as having a £6m deficit. The scheme was closed to future accrual in 2009 with no further contributions made by the company. A defined contribution scheme was set up and the company entered into an agreement to make good the deficit on the group pension scheme.

The original Garnett Dickinson business started in 1858 in the back of a busy stationary shop where it first published the South Yorkshire Advertiser. The Rotherham Advertiser is now published by Regional Media Ltd, a company which also has Alexander as a director and acquired the publishing business and assets from Garnett Dickinson in 2015.

Garnett Dickinson website

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News: Garnett Dickinson goes through administration

Rotherham print group Garnett Dickinson has been acquired out of administration in a deal which has safeguarded 125 jobs.

Based in a £20m state-of-the-art facility in Manvers, the group specialises in large run multi pagination printing and customers include high profile monthly magazines and luxury catalogue brands.

Nicholas Alexander bought Garnett Dickinson Group, with the exception of its digital operation, for an undisclosed sum in 2015 and instigated a restructure of the operations. Alexander had stepped down from the board at Garnett Dickinson after leading a management buyout (MBO) of subsidiary, Acorn Web Offset, in 2013.

Jonny Marston and Howard Smith of KPMG, were appointed as joint administrators to the business on January 24 2017 after the business ran into cash flow difficulties due to operational issues.

Garnett Dickinson Print Ltd had a turnover of £17.2m and made an operating loss of just over a £1m in the year to September 30 2015.

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The joint administrators have now confirmed that Garnett Dickinson has been sold in a pre-pack deal to GD Web Offset Limited, a vehicle incorporated for the purposes of the acquisition. The deal saw all of the trading business and assets sold to GD Web Offset Limited whose directors are Paul Mursell of EWO Media in Essex and Jeremy Spring of Aspenlink, a company that converts some twenty five thousand tonnes of paper a year.

With 130 employees, five roles were not part of the transaction and have therefore been made redundant.

Jonny Marston, partner at KPMG and joint administrator, said: "This transaction secures a large number of jobs and the continuation of operations at an important printing site in Rotherham.

"We wish the business well in the future under new ownership."

Managing director Mark Bennett departed Garnett Dickinson in December.

The original Garnett Dickinson business started in 1858 in the back of a busy stationary shop where it first published the South Yorkshire Advertiser. The Rotherham Advertiser is now published by Regional Media Ltd, a company which also has Alexander as a director and acquired the publishing business and assets from Garnett Dickinson in 2015.

Garnett Dickinson website

Images: Garnett Dickinson

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News: Rotherham Hospice backed by business community

Rotherham Hospice plans to do even more over the next 20 years as leaders from the local business community are set to work as the charity strives for excellence.

The only adult hospice in Rotherham for the people of Rotherham, Rotherham Hospice is an independent charity and must raise significant sums of money each year in order to pay for the quality care provided free of charge to patients, their families and carers. The charity needs £5m a year with £2.2m needed to be raised each year through voluntary support.

Chief executive at Rotherham Hospice, Christopher Duff has raided his contacts book and pulled together a dynamic eight-strong squad. It includes Pyronix boss Julie Kenny CBE, Trevor Wragg, MD of Horbury Group, recruitment boss Nick Cragg and Vince Middleton OBE, the MD of Newburgh Engineering. They are joined by Nick Alexander, MD of Garnett Dickinson Group, Jamie Sharp, former MD of steel giant Outokumpu in Sheffield, IT boss and Sheffield Eagles chief executive John Whaling, and Darren Baker, MD of JB Doors.

Duff (pictured, far right) said: "Our primary role at the hospice is to care for the people of Rotherham when they or their families are coping with terminal illnesses, but we have to run as a business and we strive for excellence in that arena, just as other companies do.

"The hospice celebrates 20 years of excellence in care this year. These people, some of the town's most successful entrepreneurs and professionals, are pooling their experience and knowledge to help me drive it to best in class so we can do even more in the next 20 years.

"They are sharp-minded people who solve problems from a local perspective. They bring a vast amount of contacts to the table.They are incredibly busy people and I am grateful and proud that they are giving up their time and energy for the hospice."

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Nick Cragg, founder of national recruitment company Stafforce and founder and chairman of investment company Nicholas Associates Group (pictured, second left), added: "I got involved because I want to be a part of an extremely valuable organisation determined to excel on a regional and national level.

"Like many business people I find it exciting and rewarding to be associated with organisations striving to be recognised as the very best at what they do. I urge other business people to join us. Together we can pool expertise and help drive the hospice to be best in class."

The "Dream Team" has already embarked on a project to benchmark Rotherham’s hospice with three others in towns with similar demographics and economic factors. Data is being analysed to identify where improvements can be made and find a way of ensuring a greater percentage of residents can access hospice care.

Duff concludes: "Each year around 2,500 residents of the Rotherham borough die. Most would prefer to die in their home or in the hospice and we are proud to say we support over 700 in their last wish. This is a remarkably high number any hospice would be proud of and we are determined to do more. We will achieve this by building on the strong foundations we have created in the last 20 years and by forging strong links with the town's business community.

"We hope other companies will join us on the journey as we harness ideas, energy, services and money."

Rotherham Hospice website

Images: Rotherham Hospice

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News: Alexander back to buy Garnett Dickinson

Former CEO Nick Alexander has acquired Rotherham-based print group, Garnett Dickinson, according to Print Week.

Based in a £20m state-of-the-art facility in Manvers, Garnett Dickinson prints and mails high quality magazines, catalogues, brochures and direct marketing pieces as well as publishing the Rotherham Advertiser and other associated magazines and local newspapers. Other companies within the £30m turnover group produce digital printing and creative design.

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Alexander stepped down from the board at Garnett Dickinson after leading a management buyout (MBO) of subsidiary, Acorn Web Offset, in 2013. Having retained his shareholding, Print Week now reports that he has bought Garnett Dickinson Group, with the exception of its digital operation, for an undisclosed sum.

The publication adds that it expects GD Digital to be subject to an MBO to be led by chief executive Joel Dickinson.

The chair of Aberdeen Industry Investments, Nick Alexander has been involved in a privately backed deal for Sheffield-based manufacturer, Atkinson Walker, one of the UK's leading manufacturers of circular saw blades, and secured investment into flexible packaging specialist, Excelsior Technologies, whilst its CEO.

Garnett Dickinson acquired Acorn Web Offset in 2009 from the Trader Media Group and the 2013 disposal allowed the business to focus on its core mail order and direct marketing print operations. Despite both being owned by Alexander, they are set to operate as separate businesses.

Nick Alexander told Print Week: "While I've not been involved in the [Garnett Dickinson] business in any way for two years I know it very well, of course. In my view it produces some of the highest quality print in the UK and I'm yet to see anyone that can produce better, and it's got great staff and customers.

"There is a turnaround job to do insofar as refocusing and that sort of thing, but this was a solvent acquisition of a good business. It is a tough market, but you can be successful in a tough market. But you need to be specialist, focused and you need to let the people in charge of the business run the business."

A family firm, Garnett Dickinson can trace its history back to 1858 in the back of a busy stationery shop where it first published the The South Yorkshire & Rotherham Advertiser.

Garnett Dickinson website

Images: Garnett Dickinson / Facebook

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News: Garnett Dickinson named as top supplier

Garnett Dickinson, a print and multi channel marketing company based in Rotherham, has been awarded the Best Print/Production Services organisation at ECMOD Direct Commerce 2013 Supplier of the Year Awards ceremony.

Held at London Olympia last month, the awards celebrate the very best of supplier services within the catalogue and online retail sectors. They are based purely upon clients nominating the suppliers who support their businesses with outstanding service and with over 300 nominations received in total, Garnett Dickinson successfully triumphed over strong competition to claim the winning trophy for the second year in a row.

Nicky Holt, group communications director for Garnett Dickinson, said: "We are thrilled to be the recipients of the Best Print/Production Services Award 2013.

"Winning an award is always a very enjoyable experience, however winning the Supplier of the Year Award is extremely valuable, as we know that it is our customers who have nominated us.

"We are very proud to have received this award for the second consecutive year and feel it demonstrates our ability as a team to continually deliver the highest standard of customer experience. I'd like to thank our clients for their continued support."

Garnett Dickinson Group prints and mails high quality magazines, catalogues, brochures and direct marketing pieces as well as publishing the Rotherham Advertiser, other associated magazines and local newspapers; other divisions within the group produce digital print and creative design. The group moved into a £20m facility on Brookfield's Park in Manvers in 2006. It is one of the most technologically advanced print, direct marketing, digital and mailing facilities in the UK.

Earlier this year, Garnett Dickinson launched the GD Direct Solutions brand to bring together the creative, data, digital and mailing elements of the business.

Carl Garnett, managing director of GD Direct Solutions (pictured), said: "Print and direct mail remain a very important part of our business and valuable tools for marketers, but they are part of a range of services available and our strategy is to offer solutions across all direct forms of communication; data management and insight, digital asset management and creative design now all form a vital part of the process and drive the smarter use of variable content which is, in my view, paramount in developing campaigns which create greater return irrespective of output channel. This linked with tangible production and postage advice, e-commerce capability and management of response gives us a more rounded approach; our aim is to help our clients use these tools in a commercially viable way and create multi-channel campaigns which make them more successful at a time where every pound spent has significant pressure to perform."

Garnett Dickinson website

Images: Garnett Dickinson

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News: Alexander leaves Garnett to grow Acorn

Group chief executive, Nick Alexander has stepped down from the board at Rotherham print group, Garnett Dickinson after leading a management buyout (MBO) of Garnett subsidiary, Acorn Web Offset.

Based in a £20m state-of-the-art facility in Manvers, Garnett Dickinson prints and mails high quality magazines, catalogues, brochures and direct marketing pieces as well as publishing the Rotherham Advertiser and other associated magazines and local newspapers. Other companies within the group produce digital printing and creative design.

Acorn Web Offset specialises in magazine, brochure and catalogue printing and generates a turnover of approximately £15m a year.

The Garnett Dickinson Group acquired Acorn Web Offset in September 2009, enabling them to establish GD Mailing, providing the mail order, commercial and publishing sectors from a main base next to the Acorn facility near Wakefield. The disposal will allow the business to focus on its core mail order and direct marketing print operations.

The MBO team also included Mark Roberts, general manager at Acorn Web Offset and sales manager Matthew Carry. Alexander will retain his shareholding in Garnett Dickinson. HSBC's Yorkshire Corporate Team provided finance to support the acquisition, including asset finance and term debt.

Nick Alexander, chief executive of Acorn Web Offset, said: "This is a friendly buyout that suits all parties. We don't intend to make major changes to the business because our customers like the service we offer and we do it very well. However, it is a great opportunity to take the business forward and accelerate its growth. HSBC played an important role in the transaction; I have worked with the bank for a number of years and look forward to working with it going forward."

Guy Rothery, corporate banking manager at HSBC, added: "Acorn Web Offset produces a quality product and maintains strong customer relationships in the face of a competitive marketplace. We are confident that Nick, alongside his senior management team, will continue to develop this business under its new ownership."

Advisors on the deal included Chris Sellars of Mackenzie Spencer and Neil Thompson of Hill Dickinson solicitors. Dean Gormley and Matt Ainsworth of Irwin Mitchell provided legal support to HSBC, whilst DLA Piper’s Sheffield office advised the vendor.

Earlier this year, Carl Garnett was appointed managing director of Garnett Dickinson Mailing and Ian Maxted joined the Business Development Team at Garnett Dickinson Print.

Nick is pictured gaining recognition for his 700km bike ride from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean over the Pyrenees in just over five days in 2011 to raise money for charity.

Garnett Dickinson website
Acorn Web Offset website

Images: BR Chamber

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News: Chairman given the keys to New York

Rotherham United Chairman Tony Stewart has been officially handed the keys to the £20m New York Stadium.

GMI Construction has been working on the £12m build contract since June 2011 with the aim of getting the club back in their home town in time for the 2012/2013 season.

The handover took place on the same day that a five metre by four metre club crest took pride of place high above the main entrance of the main West stand.

The 12,000 seater stadium is located on the site of the former Guest & Chrimes Foundry, close to Rotherham town centre, in an area of town historically know as New York.

Rotherham United will play their first fixture this Saturday, taking on local rivals, Barnsley in a pre-season friendly.

Work on the stadium will continue right up until the new League Two season kicks off with The Millers playing Burton Albion on August 18.

A spokesman at the club, said: "The New York Stadium will not be in its final finished state for the upcoming pre-season friendlies.

"Like many large scale construction projects unforeseen issues arise which can lead to delays, and the flood alleviation works which have required the coordinated efforts of several outside agencies have been particularly problematic.

"As a result there will be ongoing works continuing during this time and we are keen to ensure fans are aware of this before the friendlies start.

"Our pre-season friendlies will provide the team and fans with the opportunity to experience the new stadium against high quality opposition. They are also part of a process to ensure that all facilities and systems are in full working order in time for our first league fixture against Burton Albion."

Rotherham publishing firm, Garnett Dickinson the latest big name to sign up to Rotherham United's 1925 Club.

The corporate hospitality at the New York Stadium has world-class facilities and five-star dining in a la carte restaurants.

Nicky Holt at Garnett Dickinson, said: "We are so proud to have joined the 1925 Club and to be part of a new and exciting era for Rotherham United.

"Garnett Dickinson are always keen to support initiatives that will encourage economic development of Rotherham and benefit Rotherham's community."

Rotherham United website

Garnett Dickinson website

Images: Ellrod / twitter

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News: Garnett Dickinson invests in Rotherham facility

Rotherham-based Garnett Dickinson Digital has invested in new machinery to increase their production capacity.

The digital arm of the £45m turnover Garnett Dickinson group, has installed a unique Horizon StitchLiner from Intelligent Finishing Systems at their state of the art Manvers facility.

The Horizon StitchLiner is the only automated saddlestitching line on the market that operates from flat 4-page sections, so eliminating the section-folding stage to reduce time, waste and cost. It enables Garnett Dickinson to be more responsive, improve turnaround times and increase production capacity.

John Bradley, manufacturing manager at Garnett Dickinson, said: "We were sending much of our work out which was costing us valuable time and cutting into our margins. Now we can take on the shorter runs and the jobs that need to be turned round within a tight schedule with the cast-iron certainty that we will meet our customers' high expectations.

"Everybody here is very impressed with the Horizon. Choosing it was one of the best things we have ever done. We expect it to achieve a return on investment 50% faster than we initially anticipated.

"We have increased productivity because we are now able to do more work inhouse. We have also expanded the amount of work we can take on because we know we can accept it and turn it around to meet our clients' deadlines. Even though our trade finishers are only a few miles away, the relinquishing of control was more significant than the cost factor – we always deliver."

Garnett Dickinson moved into its £20m state-of-the-art facility on Brookfield's Park in Manvers in 2006.

The company has recently been shortlisted for "Consumer Magazine Printer of the Year" at the respected Print Week 2011 Awards.

Garnett Dickinson website

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News: Garnett Dickinson at the Champions League final

Rotherham print specialists, Garnett Dickinson, has scored a hat-trick of programme printing including the prestigious programme for the Champions League Final at Wembley Stadium tomorrow.

The Manvers company has printed football programmes for many years for The FA, Manchester United and UEFA through Haymarket. Haymarket is responsible for more than 100 consumer, business and customer publications.

Earlier this month, the 80-page UEFA Europa League Final programme was printed at Garnett Dickinson's £20m state-of-the-art facility for the FC Porto v SC Braga match held at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. This was followed by the matchday programme for Manchester United's final league game of their championship winning season v Blackpool, which was the 150th matchday programme the company has printed for Haymarket on behalf of Manchester United.

The hat-trick was sealed with the UEFA Champions League Final programme for this Saturday's match at Wembley Stadium between Barcelona and Manchester United. The eye catching 116-page programme was perfect bound and printed on high quality paper and will be read by the 90,000 fans in attendance.

Benjamin Rosser, account director at Haymarket, said: "Working with Garnett Dickinson Print on high-profile products like Manchester United's matchday programme United Review gave us the utmost confidence that they would deliver programmes for the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

"The positioning of the UEFA Champions League is "the best of the best", meaning we must publish a programme in keeping with that. Both in terms of print and logistics, Garnett Dickinson Print has delivered."

Garnett Dickinson website

Images: Garnett Dickinson

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News: Inside Industry at Garnett Dickinson

Rotherham print group, Garnett Dickinson are opening up the doors to their state-of-the-art facility in Manvers, Rotherham.

The Inside Industry event on March 16 will show how the company are waging a successful war on waste with help from the Manufacturing Advisory Service Yorkshire & Humber (MAS Y&H).

Four years ago, as part of a £20m investment, the privately owned company which has a turnover of £22m and employs 143 people, relocated from Pontefract to a state-of-the-art factory at Brookfields Park, Manvers.

MAS consultant, Dave Roberts held a series of strategic workshops with directors and trained key employees and members of the management team to develop their knowledge of "lean" improvement techniques.

The intervention has involved all of the Garnett Dickinson Print employees in the business improvement process and has led to many tangible improvements including waste being reduced annually by £368,000 and machine downtime by £1600 a week.

Inside Industry is a factory visit programme enabling manufacturers to benchmark their performance and learn best practice tools and techniques from some of the most successful businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

MAS-YH website
Garnett Dickinson

Images: mas-yh.co.uk

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News: Garnett Dickinson's war on waste

Rotherham-based print group, Garnett Dickinson, are waging a successful war on waste with help from the Manufacturing Advisory Service Yorkshire & Humber (MAS Y&H).

With expert assistance, the intervention has involved all of the Garnett Dickinson Print employees in the business improvement process and has led to many tangible improvements including waste being reduced annually by £368,000 and machine downtime by £1600 a week.

Sales are on target to rise by 14% and productivity and efficiency are on track to improve by £300,000 in the current trading year along with added value rising by £368,000.

Garnett Dickinson was originally a newspaper company (it still owns the Rotherham Advertiser) and now manufactures a range of magazines and personalised printing services for a range of clients.

Four years ago, as part of a £20m investment, the privately owned company which has a turnover of £22m and employs 43 people, relocated from Pontefract to a state-of-the-art factory at Brookfields Park, Manvers.

MAS consultant, Dave Roberts visited Garnett Dickinson to carry out a manufacturing review which highlighted the need to develop a business and manufacturing strategy and get everyone in the business to "buy in" and really get involved in the changes.

As a result, Dave Roberts held a series of strategic workshops with directors and trained key employees and members of the management team to develop their knowledge of "lean" improvement techniques.

Project manager, Christine Davies said: "Working with Dave on our "War on Waste" campaign made me realise that to make lasting and sustainable changes, people involvement was essential.

"However, the savings and improvements have gone far beyond just the initial remit of cutting waste and has led to a whole culture change taking place in the business."

The group were highly commended at the BPIF Print Week Excellence Awards 2009 for improved company performance through the adoption of lean techniques.

Dave Roberts is also mentoring Garnett Dickinson Print's divisional director, Andrew Barker. "We have three other MAS projects currently in the pipeline including 5S (workplace organization methodology)," said Andrew.

"Being able to access funding through MAS to move these projects forward is very important during these challenging economic times. The 5S project, in particular, will enable us to have the capability to effectively handle big volume direct mail such as the distribution of five million leaflets for larger clients."

Garnett Dickinson website
MAS Y&H website

Images: garnett-dickinson.co.uk

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News: Garnett Dickinson signs up Native Publisher Services

Rotherham print group, Garnett Dickinson has announced that magazine distributor, Native Publisher Services, has merged in to the Garnett Dickinson Group in order to grow its presence in the magazine distribution sector.

Recent contract wins within the past few months brings the number of magazines distributed by Native to 55 with more contracts in the pipeline.

As part of the Garnett Dickinson Group the division will change its name to Native PS Magazine Distribution and the existing subscription services offered by Garnett Dickinson will be transferred to the new division.

The announcement has already been welcomed by publishers as the addition of distribution services extends the range of services to specialist publishers currently served by Acorn Web and Garnett Dickinson Print; design, printing, distribution, circulation management, subscription marketing and fulfilment.

Andrew Crowther, Managing Director of Native Publisher Services, said: "Native can now focus on our next stage of growth. We have over twenty years of experience in the UK news trade, subscription marketing and export.

"Now we can add even more services to our menu of publisher services, subscription fulfilment and print, and offer them all from the same site. It has always been our aim to be the best at what we do, and with the merger with Garnett Dickinson Group, this is already becoming a reality."

Nick Alexander, Group Chief Executive of Garnett Dickinson said: "Our publisher customers tell us they would like support in a number of core activities in addition to printing. Native is a long standing specialist business with great opportunity for growth that fits nicely with our portfolio of services and some of our publisher customers are already seeing the benefits to their magazines."

The Garnett Dickinson Group has sales of £49m and employ 350 staff. They moved into its £20m state-of-the-art facility on Brookfield's Park in Manvers in 2006.

Garnett Dickinson website

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News: Garnett Dickinson secures print deal

Cumbrian Newspapers has renewed their contract with Garnett Dickinson Print to print three of its monthly magazine titles in a contract worth over £500,000 over a two year period. Cumbria Life, Carlisle Living and Dumfries & Galloway Life will be printed at Garnett Dickinson's state of the art factory in Rotherham.

Terry Hall, CN Group Publishing Division's Managing Director said: "The decision to award the contract was made easier as we have a long standing relationship with Garnett Dickinson. Naturally print quality is very important to us, but this needs to go together with high service levels and Garnett's has a proven track record with us on both fronts."

The win comes on the back of similar agreements with Newspaper groups Newsquest and Johnston Press who are taking advantage of facilities at both Rotherham and Garnett Dickinson's recent acquisition Acorn Web Offset, based at Normanton, near Wakefield.

Ian Cooke, Sales Director commented: "Our strategy of presenting a combined offering to the market with the printing divisions supporting one another is working as this is one of several contracts won over the past three months. We are most grateful for Cumbrian Newspapers show of faith in us."

Garnett Dickinson moved into its £20m state-of-the-art facility on Brookfield's Park in Manvers in 2006.

Garnett Dickinson website
Rotherham

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News: Garnett Dickinson are excellent in manufacturing

Garnett Dickinson Print has been rewarded in the Excellence In Manufacturing Award (sponsored by Made In Sheffield) at the Rotherham Business Awards 2009.

The Manvers company specialises in the printing of short to medium run magazines, catalogues and brochures for publishing companies, tour operators, mail order houses and a wide range of other companies throughout the UK and Ireland including Haymarket, McLaren Marketing and the BBC.

Garnett Dickinson Print gained national recognition for lean manufacturing when they were highly commended at the BPIF Print Week Excellence Awards 2009.

Andrew Barker, Divisional Director at Garnett Dickinson Print, said: "We are all absolutely delighted with gaining this award. Garnett Dickinson's lean manufacturing journey started in 2006 with planning and productivity improvements generated by the move to our new factory and new equipment, continuing in 2007 and being formalised in a lean manufacturing programme early in 2008.

"Our dedicated lean team has worked tirelessly to bring about the significant improvements in the business and will continue to make additional improvements as we further refine everything we do."

Systems Integration & Automation Ltd and Very PC Ltd were highly commended on the night.

Garnett Dickinson Print website
Chamber websiteRotherham

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News: Garnett Dickinson buys print facility

Rotherham-based magazine and catalogue printer, Garnett Dickinson Group has bought Trader Media Group's print facility Acorn Web Offset based in Normanton.

The deal will create a £45m turnover web offset business with around 370 staff. Trader Media is the parent company of Auto Trader the UK's leading motoring website and magazine.

Garnett Dickinson based in Manvers believs the acquisition of Acorn Web Offset fits the group's strategy to offer customers web-offset and digital printing, along with stitching, perfect binding, mailing and mechanical cover mounting, all under one roof.

Nick Alexander, Garnett Dickinson Group chief executive, said: "Acorn has a strong identity and is a profitable, well run business with good management and staff who look after their customers. It is a good strategic fit and Garnett Dickinson will enhance Acorn's service by extending its own activities in mailing and UV cover printing."

"The Garnett Dickinson Group has committed to invest in print for the long term and will support Acorn to give its customers and staff confidence for the future. The first investment is a high speed perfect binder and upgraded IT infrastructure to be installed within weeks."

Garnett Dickinson moved into its £20m state-of-the-art facility on Brookfield's Park in 2006.

Garnett Dickinson website
Rotherham

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News: Rotherham print group shows excellence in lean manufacturing

Rotherham print group, Garnett Dickinson has been highly commended at the BPIF Print Week Excellence Awards 2009.

Garnett Dickinson were shortlisted for the lean manufacturing award which is for improved company performance through the adoption of lean techniques.

The judging process included a half day visit to the Manvers factory from the judges, Graeme Faulkner from Vision in Print and Andrew Dearden, Operations Director from Interflex, who won the Award last year.

The firm just missed out to Newsprinters Knowsley but were commended for involving finance teams in prioritising projects, their customer satisfaction and response system and having one of the most visually managed factories in the UK.

Garnett Dickinson's lean manufacturing journey started in 2006 with planning and productivity improvements generated by the move to the new factory in Manvers with new equipment. It continued in 2007 and was formalised in a lean manufacturing programme early in 2008.

Garnett Dickinson website
Print Week website
Rotherham

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