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.

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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

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News: MGB apprentice into national final

An apprentice at a Rotherham company has reached the national finals of the Apprentice of the Year competition.

Now in their 15th year, the National Apprenticeship Awards showcase the diverse and growing range of sectors engaged with apprenticeships, whilst celebrating outstanding apprentices, employers and individuals who go above and beyond to champion apprenticeships across England.

Rothbiz reported in August that Liberty Speciality Steels was a regional employer of the year finalist for Yorkshire and the Humber and that Oliver Marsh from MGB Plastics reached the regional final for an individual award.

22-year-old Oliver, trained at the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre in both mechanical maintenance and manufacturing engineering. At a ceremony in Leeds he was awarded the higher and degree Apprentice of the Year for Yorkshire and the Humber earning a place in the final in London at the end of November.

Oliver (pictured above, centre) said: "My apprenticeship has been life-changing. Working with a company that really values and supports young trainees has enabled me to grow both as an engineer and as a person. My mentors at MGB have been fantastic, giving me the insights and tools to help make a difference to the production process. I would recommend the apprenticeship route to anyone: I decided not to go to university even after securing a place and that was definitely the right decision."

Oliver works at OnePlastics' state-of-the-art MGB Plastics factory on the Barbot Hall Industrial Estate and is no stranger to success having already scooped a major industry award for getting council crest plate changes down to 34 seconds from ten minutes, saving the company in excess of £137k-a-year in production process costs.

He is now part of a team appointed by the managing director to cut waste from the production line. MGB plastics is the UK's largest manufacturer of local authority wheelie bins and invest heavily in modern equipment.

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Ian Cosgrove, training advisor at OnePlastics, says Oliver is definitely a "rising star" having won the British Plastics Federation Apprentice of the Year in 2017, and is delighted he has reached the regional finals of the national awards.

Ian also praised the centre, adding: "We are extremely fortunate in having such a well-equipped and professional training provider on its door step. Working closely with the AMRC Training Centre we developed Oliver's higher-level program, integrating a polymer diploma to run alongside his mechanical qualification.

"It was refreshing to work with a team with such a "can do" attitude, an attribute that is often lacking in training providers who push a "one size fits all" philosophy.

"At our Rotherham site, we mould more than 1.5 million units per year, and this figure is forecast to grow with the integration of cutting edge automation and technology.

"This business growth can only be achieved by engaging a highly effective multi-disciplined team of well-trained engineers and technicians. As we all know these people are extremely difficult to find. That is why OnePlastics has embraced the training levy programme and now has 18 apprentices, across a range of skills and ages, and we are committed to "growing our own.""

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Nikki Jones, director of the AMRC Training Centre, added: "Oliver is one of our higher apprentices and an absolute credit to the AMRC Training Centre and to his company. During his apprenticeship, and beyond, he has displayed the right attitude, passion and commitment that companies are crying out for in manufacturing and engineering and being in the finals of the National Apprenticeship Awards 2018 is testament to that."

MGB Plastics website
AMRC Training Centre website

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News: Rotherham-based apprentices up for awards

Finalists from Rotherham are progressing to the next stage of the National Apprenticeship Awards.

Now in their 15th year, the National Apprenticeship Awards showcase the diverse and growing range of sectors engaged with apprenticeships, whilst celebrating outstanding apprentices, employers and individuals who go above and beyond to champion apprenticeships across England.

Liberty Speciality Steels is a regional employer of the year finalist for Yorkshire and the Humber.

Oliver Marsh from MGB Plastics (pictured, tip) has reached the regional final for an individual award.

The awards were open to apprentices, individuals who promote apprenticeships and employers of all sizes from all sectors. The refreshed array of categories for 2018 has given additional opportunities for entrants to demonstrate the impact apprenticeships has made to individual's lives and their workplaces. Those shortlisted are apprenticeship exemplars, highlighting best practice across recruitment excellence, high quality training practices, diversity and career progression.

The Liberty Speciality Steels business was named in the Centrica Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer 2017. It signed a deal with The Sheffield College to train 50 new apprentices for its plants at Stocksbridge and Rotherham.

The company has in-house apprentice training facilities at Stocksbridge steelworks which is now an industry-based campus enabling the college to deliver both practical and theoretical learning.

A regional finalist last year, Speciality Steels won the large employer award in 2014 and were runners up in 2013 and 2012.

In May, Liberty's Joseph Briggs won the coveted national title of Metals Industry Apprentice of the Year 2018 in recognition of his "exceptional development, high-level skills and commitment to progression in the metals industry."

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Across the borough, Oliver Marsh, a University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre apprentice working at MGB, part of the OnePlastics group, is no stranger to award success. The Barnsley-born technical apprentice has previously been recognised for his work in improving the moulding process at the Barbot Hall Industrial Estate facility that produces around two million wheelie bins per year.

Bosses estimated that Marsh's application of lean principles is saving the business in excess of £137,000 a year by getting plate changes down to just 34 seconds from ten minutes.

Keith Smith, director, apprenticeships group, at the Education and Skills Funding Agency, said: "The National Apprenticeship Awards recognise excellence in businesses that grow their own talent with apprenticeships, and apprentices who have made, and keep making, a significant contribution to their workplaces and these awards enable both employers and individuals to showcase how apprenticeships have made a real difference to their organisation and career.

"I am thrilled that so many outstanding applications were made – eclipsing the phenomenal number of entries we've had in the past. Judges have had a difficult time selecting the finalists as the applications were outstanding; highlighting perfectly the many benefits apprenticeships bring to the lives of individuals and to our employers.

"I thank everyone for entering; thank judges for their time volunteering to assist with the process and I wish all finalists the very best of luck at the regional ceremony."

Liberty Speciality Steels website
MGB website

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News: New Rotherham bins to be made in Rotherham

Rotherham Council has awarded a £2.5m contract for its new bins to MGB Plastics, the company whose Rotherham factory has the capacity to manufacture in excess of 2 million wheeled bins per annum.

The authority has recently approved plans to introduce plastics to the kerbside waste collection service. In addition, paid for year round garden waste collections are due to start in Rotherham on October 29 with residents able to opt-in to the service at a cost of £39 a year.

By 2019, Rotherham would likely be the only English local authority not to collect plastic at the kerbside but now these collections are set to be introduced in "early 2019" with the authority setting aside £5.54m for bins and vehicles.

Using a YPO framework, One51 ES Plastics (UK) Ltd T/A MGB Plastics, has been named as the preferred supplier who could supply wheelie bins in various colours and sizes as a result of the Council's waste consultation. The contract, which starts this month and ends in 2022, is worth a total of £2.5m.

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MGB Plastics is the UK's largest and leading manufacturer of wheeled bins and kitchen caddies and operates a 65,000 sq ft facility on Barbot Hall Industrial Estate. It has the most extensive collections of large tonnage injection moulding machines and wheeled bin tools in the UK. Part of the renamed IPL Plastics group, which recently launched on the Canadian stock exchange, around £25m has been invested in advanced technology in recent years.

The Council's budget earmarked £965,000 of additional Council Tax income generated from 1% of the increase for kerbside collection of plastic.

The £5.54m investment is set to be funded by the service as revenue prudential borrowing costs. The changes are expected to give an ongoing net savings requirement of £418k a year.

Damien Wilson, strategic director for regeneration and environment at Rotherham Council, said earlier this year: "Like every council across the country we are under increasing pressure to look at how we deliver our waste services. We need to ensure they are value for money as well as making sure they achieve high levels of recycling, and that is what we are trying to do."

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Over £11 million a year is spent on waste collection and disposal services and the Council's kerbside collection service is provided to around 116,000 households using a range of bins, boxes and bags. Under new proposals, blue bags and blue boxes will be replaced with wheeled bins.

The old black waste bin will to be used to collect recycled plastics, glass bottles and metal tins and cans. The old green garden waste bin will be used to collect recycled paper and cards.

A new smaller (180 litre rather than 240 litre) black bin with a pink lid will be supplied by MGB to all residents for their non-recyclable waste. The pink lid on the bin will help residents remember what bin to use for what waste and will also to allow our collection crews to identify which bin they need to be collecting.

A new brown bin will be supplied to anyone who subscribes to the new opt-in subscription garden waste service.

The authority estimates that up to 40,000 brown bins and circa 116,000 residual 180 litre bins will be required. The new residual 180 litre bins are expected to be delivered to residents from September so that plastics can begin to be collected at the end of January 2019.

The next procurement exercise will be for new vehicles to be purchased by the Council, replacing vehicles which are currently hired on along term basis.

MGB Plastics website

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News: Awards success for OnePlastics apprentice

An apprentice at the state-of-the-art OnePlastics Rotherham facility has picked up a major industry apprenticeship award for his role in helping the UK's largest manufacturer of wheelie bins reduce the cost of its production processes by more than £135,000 a year.

MGB Plastics is part of the OnePlastics group and the Barbot Hall Industrial Estate facility produces around two million wheelie bins per year.

Oliver Marsh, a University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre apprentice working at OnePlastics, was the clear winner in the plastic industry's equivalent of the Oscars – Polymer Apprentice of the Year Award, the official ceremony for which will be held in London next month.

Barnsley-born Oliver, said: "It's a privilege and an honour to get this award. Working at MGB has been brilliant; the company has given so much support and encouragement. My mentors at work have taught me how to use lean techniques and processes to drive improvements in productivity and performance."

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Having recently invested more than £25m in advanced technology, including a further 2700 tonne Krauss Maffei injection moulding machine, the company was equally keen to invest in its human capital: training the next generation of polymer engineers who will maximise the impact of this investment in its three plants at Rotherham, Tamworth and Hull.

Gary Blanshard, technical manager at MGB Plastics, said: "We decided that the best way forward was to get someone on board who had no pre-conceived ideas of how things should be done. The only way to do this was to train them from scratch.

"We invited the AMRC Training Centre to visit us and discuss what they could offer in the way of apprenticeships. They then advertised for a Technical Apprentice and created a short list of candidates. After an extensive interviewing, Oliver was offered the position and began his apprenticeship with us.

"Having gained knowledge of CAD at the AMRC Training Centre, he has used this to great effect with us. He used CAD to model the fit of our lids, which some customers had identified as an issue, and found a mismatch between the hinge fixing pin and the bin mating hole. He redesigned the pin and improved the tolerances using CAD. Having tested a prototype and run moulding trails on the new hinge pin, he proved out the fit and function through assembly trials."

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It is Oliver's work in improving the moulding process that has most impressed the company. By using the lean principles taught to him by his close mentors at the plant, the change-over process from one council crest to another has turned the operation "into the polymer equivalent of a Formula One pit stop – fast, efficient and very slick."

Bosses estimate that this improvement alone is saving the business in excess of £137,000 a year by getting the plate changes down to just 34 seconds from ten minutes.

The 21-year-old apprentice is now looking at how the firm's existing equipment might need to be uplifted to meet new standards for the industry. "If there is a productivity-critical issue, Oliver is in the mix," added Blanshard.

MGB Plastics website
AMRC Training Centre website

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News: Rotherham factory sold

A factory in Rotherham which has the capacity to manufacture in excess of 2 million wheeled bins per annum has been sold for £2.8m.

The 65,000 sq ft property on Barbot Hall Industrial Estate is home to MGB Plastics, the UK's largest and leading manufacturer of wheeled bins and kitchen caddies.

The three detached industrial warehouses units with a large yard for extended storage and a detached office have been sold by Kingspan to a private investor for £2.8m.

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MGB currently has the largest share of the UK wheeled bin and recycling container market alongside sister firm Straight Ltd and provides wheeled bins to numerous councils, including Rotherham. It has the most extensive collections of large tonnage injection moulding machines and wheeled bin tools in the UK and has invested over £10m in the recent years.

MGB is part of Irish plastics company, One51 plc, and will now rent the premises from the new owner. It holds a lease on the Rotherham site that expires in 2025 with around 9.25 years unexpired.

Robin Wimbush from Wimbush Real Estate acted for the purchaser.

The Capital Markets team at CBRE Leeds acted on behalf of the seller and also worked on a second deal at J38 Barnsley, which has been sold by Stainton to South Street Capital for £3.66m.

Robin Bullas, director of CBRE Capital Markets in Leeds said: "We are delighted to announce the sales of two major South Yorkshire industrial sites both situated in excellent locations with strong links.

"These sales demonstrate the current investor appetite for well positioned industrial property with further opportunities."

MGB Plastics website

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News: Foreign Direct Investment increases in region

The UK gave an outstanding performance attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in 2015, bringing in a record 1,065 FDI projects and creating over 42,000 jobs, the most in any year since Ernst & Young launched the Attractiveness programme in 1997.

The multinational professional services firm analyses the attractiveness of a particular region or country as an investment destination and the report is designed to help businesses make investment decisions and governments remove barriers to growth.

According to the latest UK Attractiveness Survey, Yorkshire and the Humber landed the 83 projects, which represent an increase of 66% on 2014's figures when the region attracted 50 projects.

31 FDI projects were recorded in Leeds in 2015, seven in Sheffield; six in Barnsley; and three in Rotherham.

Stuart Watson, Yorkshire & Humber senior partner at EY, said: "The work that has taken place to position the whole of Yorkshire & Humberside as a strong investment location in the global marketplace is starting to pay off. These figures show that the international investment community has seen the potential in the region with its access to the right skills, infrastructure and strong supply chain networks."

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London dominated overall but the report also showed that manufacturing FDI is powering the UK's regional resurgence. With London attracting only a tiny slice of manufacturing production investments, any increase in the UK's performance in securing manufacturing FDI has a disproportionately positive impact at a regional level. Yorkshire and the West Midlands were the big winners when it came to manufacturing FDI.

For the year Yorkshire and Humberside attracted 42 investment projects in the manufacturing sector. This included six HQs, three R&D facilities and 27 plants.

The report shows that the UK has a 14% European market share of manufacturing FDI projects versus over 20% on average across all sectors. Its authors add that, given the difficult environment facing the manufacturing sector, it's important to act now to attract more projects of this type. Watson added: "The UK attracted more manufacturing projects than Germany for the second year running, underpinned by the strong performance of the North. But there is still more market share to be had. We need a more clearly articulated and ambitious manufacturing strategy. Investors in this sector particularly highlight how important infrastructure, especially roads, is when deciding where to locate.

"Improving transport links throughout the North is particularly important for achieving economic growth. The groundwork for this transformation is now taking place, and recent developments such as the establishment of Transport for the North committee and the development of the Northern Transport Strategy should serve to provide clear ideas and a unified voice for advancing the North’s transport investment priorities with the Government.

"The demand for good transport infrastructure makes projects such as HS3 and the electrification of the transpennine rail route are all the more essential, as they will bring better connectivity within the region, reduce logistic times, and could expand the catchment for skilled labour."

While the US dominated in all UK regions, significant sources of investment for Yorkshire and the Humber were India, the Netherlands and Germany.

India was the second biggest origin for FDI projects for Yorkshire and the Humber in 2015, compared to fifth by number of projects for the UK as a whole. China, however, which was ranked 3rd in the UK as a whole didn't rank in the top nine in Yorkshire and the Humber.

FDI projects covered by Rothbiz in 2015 include South Korean multinational KD Navien choosing Rotherham for its UK HQ.

investments came in the form of Nikken Kosakusho Europe opening its £4m development on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham and planning for a £3m extension; American-owned JELD-WEN, the leading manufacturing company, investing almost £4m in its Woodhouse Mill production facilities to meet increased product demand; and Irish-owned MGB Plastics, making a seven figure investment in new machinery at its Rotherham facility to help increase production and target new markets.

Takeovers included Rotherham-based Hempel Wire, one of the world's leading round and shaped wire manufacturers, being acquired by Canadian firm, Central Wire Industries; and the acquisition of Rotherham-based Acorn Industrial Services Group, one of the largest power transmission distributors in the country, by the Swedish industrial group, Axel Johnson International.

March saw Denmark's Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners invest £150m when it acquired 100% of the Brite Partnerhsip's biomass-fired power plant project at Templeborough.

EY website

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News: MGB invests in Rotherham facility

Manufacturing firm, MGB Plastics, has made a seven figure investment in new machinery at its Rotherham facility to help increase production and target new markets.

MGB Plastics is the UK's leading manufacturer of wheeled bins and kitchen caddies and its 5,000 sq m Barbot Hall facility has been expanded a number of times and now has the manufacturing capacity of two million wheeled bins per annum.

A deal concluded last year saw Dublin-based One51plc, the owner of MGB, acquire Yorkshire firm Straight plc for £10.7m. The parent company brought together seven businesses under a new brand called OnePlastics Group, created with a vision to be the leading provider of plastics products to a variety of sectors.

As it looks to post a record-breaking year, the company has already secured a number of contracts with local authorities, including multi-million pound contracts from Birmingham City Council as part of the largest roll-out of bins ever seen in Western Europe and a four year contract to supply wheeled bins and containers to Rotherham Council.

The group has shown commitment to UK manufacturing by bolstering its business with a new 2700t Krauss Maffei injection moulding machine at its Rotherham factory.

The recent addition - its fourth investment in as many years - will complement its existing portfolio of equipment to allow the company to manufacture more products, cope with extra demand and boost sales as it targets a growing share of the market.

Karl Stillman, group sales director at OnePlastics, said: "We are delighted to have acquired this new machine which is central to our long-term plans and a perfect complement to our existing portfolio. It will fulfil our immediate requirements of existing clients while giving us that extra production capacity to cope with extra demand as we look to increase our client base.

"We are seeing a strong order intake from clients within all of our chosen market sectors and are expecting a record breaking year in 2015. 

"The investment programme fits perfectly with the strategic goal of OnePlastics parent company One51 Plc to grow both organically and through acquisition."

The new Krauss Maffei 2700t injection moulding machine tool will mean reduced setup times leading to increased flexibility and energy efficiency combined with shorter production lead times.

Alongside recent purchases of 2300t and 2700t Krauss Maffei machines, MGB Plastics now operates one of the largest selections of heavy tonnage injection moulding machines in the UK.

MGB Plastics website

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News: MGB becomes part of OnePlastics after Straight deal

Rotherham-based manufacturer, MGB Plastics has become part of the OnePlastics Group, a newly launched brand targeting an ambitious growth plan over the next few years.

MGB Plastics is the UK's leading manufacturer of wheeled bins and kitchen caddies and its 5,000 sq m Barbot Hall facility has been expanded a number of times and now has the manufacturing capacity of 1.5 million wheeled bins per annum.

A deal was recently concluded that saw Dublin-based One51plc, the owner of MGB, acquire Yorkshire firm Straight plc for £10.7m. The parent company has now brought together seven businesses under a new brand called OnePlastics Group and says the new group has been created with a vision to be the leading provider of plastics products to a variety of sectors. This is set to be driven by investment within the portfolio of businesses and the launch of new products.

Conor Sugrue, commercial director of OnePlastics Group, said: "The launch of OnePlastics Group is a unique and innovative step and we have very ambitious plans for this new brand.

"The plastics division within One51plc group and businesses such as MGB Plastics have been enjoying strong growth in recent years. The creation of the OnePlastics Group brand as a separate entity will give us a strong platform to realise our vision of becoming a leading manufacturer of plastics products in each of the sectors in which we operate.

"Bringing all the businesses together with all their different capabilities makes sense from a strategic level and also gives our customers access to a very strong offering in terms of price, service and innovation.

"As part of our growth policy we will continue to invest in the businesses within OnePlastics Group. This will allow us to maintain the highest quality standards, employ talented staff and continue leading the market with new products."

OnePlastics Group will now boast a combined turnover of around £118m and will employ 450 people servicing a range of blue chip multinationals. It will design and manufacture a range of products across a number of key markets and sectors and will also offer full contract manufacturing and related services.

Turnover at Straight was £26.1m last year. Turnover on a like-for-like basis for One51's plastics division was £81.5m in 2013.

Ireland's One51 is an unlisted publicly quoted investment company with a long term approach and operates a portfolio of businesses in specialised sectors including environmental services, renewable energy and injection moulding plastics. It recently reported pre tax profits before exceptional items of £2.84m for the first half of this year, has reduced its debts and secured additional banking facilities.

OnePlastics website

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News: Hatfield on top at Chamber awards

Rotherham manufacturing and recycling company, Roy Hatfield Limited took the top prize at this year's Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards event, a follow up to being awarded the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise earlier in the year.

The company triumphed over the competition and walked away with the RBS Business of the Year trophy in front a record number of guests (close to 600) at the Barnsley Metrodome.

The achievement followed the company's earlier success in the Wosskow Brown Solicitors Business Growth Award. Company directors, Grant and Mark Hatfield said: "It really is an honour to be recognised by our local chamber during these awards. We are extremely proud to have won the "Business Growth" category and the "Business of the Year Award" which was truly the icing on the cake for what has been an exciting, but challenging few years during the company's development.

"We are fortunate enough to be surrounded by a dedicated and hardworking team at Roy Hatfield Ltd and these awards are testament to their efforts."

Roy Hatfield Ltd was formed in 1971 when the founder Roy Hatfield recognised a demand in the market place for quality and consistent alternative raw materials destined for the concrete industry. The firm grew to become the UK's first and largest manufacturer of decorative and industrial concrete finishing products.

In 1985 the firm moved to Templeborough with a custom manufacturing facility and on site laboratory which is where the company still operates from today.

Anticipating legislation banning gypsum-based waste streams from landfills, the company developed methods for stripping the substance from ceramics and plasterboard. Following continual investment and expansion, the Rotherham site processes 50,000 tonnes of waste plasterboard per annum. More shifts have begun and plans have been submitted for further expansion.

Other Rotherham firms successful on the night included wheeled-bin manufacturer, MGB Plastics in the manufacturing category; S3 ID, the provider of cutting edge location awareness solutions in the innovation category; and colourful town centre gift shop, Patchwork Pig in the retail category. Remember the Date, the online card enterprise started by former Aston Comprehensive student, Lauren Nicholson was recognised as the most promising new business.

This year's ceremony, hosted by former international referee Howard Webb, was held for the first time in Barnsley at the Metrodome and the change of venue was well received with the event being declared a sell out with three weeks still to go.

Andrew Denniff, chief executive at Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said: "What a fantastic evening, one that has exceeded all our expectations. My congratulations go to all our winners and especially everyone at Roy Hatfield's, the Business of the Year.

"Holding the evening in Barnsley has certainly set the bar for our future events and has given us a real challenge, one I am sure the Chamber will rise to next year."

This year also saw the Chamber present their first Charity of the Year award, which was awarded to The Pippa Jones Little Treasure Trust who received £3,000 in prize money.

A full list of results is as follows:

The Solar Europa Most Promising New Business Award

Winner - Remember the Date
Highly Commended - Themesparx Ltd
Highly Commended - Vertex Rope Access Ltd

The Wosskow Brown Solicitors Business Growth Award

Winner - Roy Hatfield Ltd
Highly Commended - Cornerstones Education
Highly Commended - Pollywiggles Day Nursery

The NPS Barnsley Business Community Impact Award

Winner - One Barnsley Apprenticeship Pledge
Highly Commended - LASER Credit Union
Highly Commended - Wosskow Brown Solicitors

The Brook Corporate Developments Excellence in Manufacturing Award

Winner - MGB Plastics
Highly Commended - Specialised Laser Products
Highly Commended - Wintwire Ltd

The Sheffield Hallam University Design & Innovation Award

Winner - Osborne Technologies Ltd
Highly Commended - Merlin Software
Highly Commended - S3 ID

The Gala Tent Business Person of the Year Award

Winner - Lynne Darwin – Building Product Solutions
Highly Commended - Katie Buckle – Provide Education
Highly Commended - Nigel Short – VOOT

The ASD Lighting/Rotherham United Excellence in International Trade Award

Winner - S3 ID
Highly Commended - D A Cooper & Sons
Highly Commended - Merlin Software

The Source Skills Academy Outstanding Retailer of the Year

Winner - Patchwork Pig
Highly Commended - Fresh n Chic Boutique
Highly Commended - Sara's Flowers and Teas

The Rotherham College Digital & Creativity in Business Award

Winner - DEB Chartered Accountants
Highly Commended - Berneslai Homes
Highly Commended - Bigfoot Digital

The Barnsley College Apprentice of the Year Award

Winner - Tom Matthews – Tata Steel Speciality Steels
Highly Commended - Elliott Mann – ITS Group
Highly Commended - Elspeth Jones - Harris+Co

Chamber website

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News: Exciting opportunity for MGB Plastics

Rotherham-based manufacturer, MGB Plastics could grow into the leading plastic recycling container business in the UK after its Irish parent company acquired Yorkshire firm, Straight plc.

MGB Plastics is the UK's leading manufacturer of wheeled bins and its Barbot Hall facility has been expanded a number of times and now has the manufacturing capacity of 1.5 million wheeled bins per annum.

Leeds-based Straight has its manufacturing facility in Hull and specialises in kerbside recycling solutions for organic waste and dry recyclables plus containers for hazardous waste and workplace recyclables.

A deal was recently concluded that saw Dublin-based One 51 plc, the owner of MGB, acquire Straight plc for £10.7m.

In its first interim financial results since concluding the deal, Alan Walsh, group chief executive of One51 plc, said: "Our businesses performed strongly in the first half of the year. Since the AGM in May, we have undertaken a capital raising exercise which saw strong demand from existing and new investors.

"We have also recently completed the acquisition of Straight plc which, when integrated with our MGB business, will present us with an exciting opportunity to become the leading plastic recycling container business in the UK and to expand into export markets."

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Straight is being integrated with MGB. Customers include local authorities, purchasing and recycling organisations and utilities. Straight plc also works with private waste management companies, corporate businesses, facilities management companies, the health care sector and educational facilities.

Both manufacturers recently secured multi-million pound contracts from Birmingham City Council as part of the largest roll-out of bins ever seen in Western Europe. MGB will supply 350,000 bins for general household waste and 380,000 bins for recyclable waste, whilst Straight is supplying 350,000 caddies that will be inserted into the recycling bins, for the collection of paper.

Turnover at Straight was £26.1m last year. Turnover on a like-for-like basis for One51's plastics division was £81.5m in 2013.

One 51 reported pre tax profits before exceptional items of €3.6m for the first half of this year, has reduced its debts and secured additional banking facilities.

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News: Straight offer from MGB owner

One51 plc, the Irish owner of Rotherham manufacturer, MGB Plastics, is close to concluding a deal to buy Yorkshire firm, Straight plc.

MGB Plastics is the UK's leading manufacturer of wheeled bins and its Barbot Hall facility has been expanded a number of times and now has the manufacturing capacity of 1.5 million wheeled bins per annum.

Leeds-based Straight has its manufacturing facility in Hull and specialises in kerbside recycling solutions for organic waste and dry recyclables plus containers for hazardous waste and workplace recyclables.

Takeover talks have been ongoing for some time and last week, One51, confirmed a £10.7m bid for the AIM-listed firm with the 78 pence a share offer being recommended for approval by the Straight board.

One51 is aiming to build on the success of MGB Plastics by making complimentary strategic acquisitions in the UK. It believes that the acquisition of Straight would be a good strategic fit and that the combination of MGB and Straight would create a leading specialist injection moulding group in the UK.

The directors of Straight believe that the business will benefit substantially from being part of a larger group that will leverage its existing customer network as well as its product development and branding expertise.

Both manufacturers have recently secured multi-million pound contracts from Birmingham City Council as part of the largest roll-out of bins ever seen in Western Europe. MGB will supply 350,000 bins for general household waste and 380,000 bins for recyclable waste, whilst Straight is supplying 350,000 caddies that will be inserted into the recycling bins, for the collection of paper.

Turnover at Straight was £26.1m last year. Turnover on a like-for-like basis for One51's plastics division was £81.5m in 2013.

The bid, which is financed by a new debt facility for One51, will see the non-exec directors of Straight, and Jonathan Straight, the CEO, exit the company.

Alan Walsh, chief executive of One51 Group, said: "The board of One51 Group look forward to the integration of Straight within its existing plastics division.

"We aim to support Straight in its growth plans by providing the security of a strong balance sheet and continuing to innovate the business model through investment in technology and machinery.

"The combination of One51 and Straight is an exciting opportunity as it adds considerable breadth, depth and scale to One51's existing offering, creating a leading specialist injection moulding group in the UK which can then grow into other European markets."

James Newman, chairman of Straight, added: "The board of Straight is pleased to have agreed terms with One51. We consider that the offer represents an attractive premium to the average share price of Straight in the period prior to the announcement of a potential offer.

"We welcome the opportunity to join One51 which we believe will bring immediate and long term benefits to our clients and staff."

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News: MGB Plastics suffer fire at Rotherham facility

MGB Plastics, the UK's leading manufacturer of wheeled bins, suffered a fire at its Rotherham facility over the weekend.

25 firefighters were called to after an oil bath caught fire on Barbot Hall Industrial Estate premises.

Fire crews found smoke coming from both sides ofthe building on Mangham Road, when they arrived at around 10.15am on Sunday. Luckily the fire had been contained thanks to the company's on-site sprinkler system, and firefighters were able to fully extinguish it with dry powder.

No members of staff were inside the building when the fire broke out but managers from the company were quickly on scene to assist fire crews with information about the premises.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue believes a fault on a machine above the oil bath caused it to catch fire.

Incident Commander Mark Lidster said: "Thanks to the sprinklers and the swift actions of the first fire crews on scene this fire was dealt with very quickly."

No-one was injured in the blaze.

Last year, MGB made a six figure investment in new machinery that means that the manufacturing capacity of the 50,000 sq ft facility is 1.5 million wheeled bins per annum. MGB supplies thousands of bins to councils and venues across the UK.

The derelict former Carpet Warehouse building on College Road was again damaged in a fire this week. Adjoining Masbrough Chapel, which dates from 1793, the building was the target of a suspected arson attack in March.

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News: MGB Plastics open visitor centre in Rotherham

Rotherham-based MGB Plastics, the UK's leading manufacturer of wheeled bins, has invested in a dedicated new visitor centre to help educate local authorities, businesses and schools on the vital everyday role they can play in tackling the UK's waste management issues.

MGB Plastics has opened a new facility at its expanding head office on the Barbot Hall Industrial Estate and hopes to connect local councils, business partners and schools across the UK as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability.

The wider aim of the visitor centre is to act as an educational resource for its clients, business partners and schools across the UK by engaging with them via a common theme of waste management.

Conor Sugrue, general manager at MGB Plastics, said: "Considerable time and money has been invested in a visitor centre that helps people experience and understand the process of how waste management products are created.

"It will display our product range and showcase our manufacturing process and quality testing and allows customers to visit our manufacturing site which is the largest in the UK.

“As a manufacturer, we understand the role we play in helping UK tackle its recycling targets. So, the wider aim is that this visitor centre becomes a facility that connects the industry, from customers, suppliers and schools across the UK and show them what role they can play.

"We would like the centre to host meetings by local authorities, waste and recycling organisations. In offering visitors a chance to take a closer look at the whole manufacturing process, and showing them how businesses like MGB Plastics are leading the agenda we hope its creates a desire from everyone to do their bit.

"The underlying message we would like coming from the centre is the importance of recycling and make schools and local authorities think about how they can play their part in contributing to the environment.

"We will allow the use of the centre to local schools and authorities with the aim that the more we make our children understand and educate the importance of waste management from an early age the more they can contribute as they get older."

The Rotherham facility has been expanded a number of times and now has the manufacturing capacity of 1.5 million wheeled bins per annum.

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News: MGB Plastics secures further council contracts

Rotherham-based MGB Plastics, the UK's leading manufacturer of wheelie bins, has secured further contracts that will see 250,000 new wheelie bins delivered to homeowners in London, Wigan and Wiltshire in time for the busy Christmas period.

The news comes shortly after MGB won a major deal to supply hundreds of thousands of waste management products with Serco - one of the biggest operators of waste services in the country. It is currently supplying Serco with 100,000 bins which will be delivered to homes in Sandwell.

Conor Sugrue, general manager at MGB Plastics, said: "As a business, our aim is to work with local authorities and waste management companies across the UK to increase the recycling rates and we are really excited about the important role our products will play.

"These bins will play a crucial role in helping to increase the recycling rates in the area and reducing the amount of waste going to landfill and safeguard the environment.

"We have started the delivery of these products and we aim to complete the roll-out over the new few weeks. All the bins we are supplying have been made at our factory in Rotherham and this contract further strengthens our standing as the leading manufacturer and distributor of wheelie bins in the UK."

The contract will see MGB Plastics manufacture and deliver around 120,000 new blue lidded 240L bins to Wiltshire Council alongside a roll-out of 70,000 240L green bins to Waltham Forest Council and 60,000 240L brown bins to Wigan Council.

In August MGB made a a six figure investment in new machinery that means that the manufacturing capacity of the 50,000 sq ft facility on Barbot Hall Industrial Estate is 1.5 million wheeled bins per annum.

Over the Summer, MGB supplied the Isle of Wight festival, the British Golf Open and Cheltenham Gold Cup with its bins being used by fans to keep the area clean and tidy.

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News: MGB Plastics wins major contract with Serco

Rotherham manufacturer, MGB Plastics has won a major deal to supply hundreds of thousands of waste management products to Serco, one of the biggest operators of waste services in the country.

The agreement has seen MGB secure a deal to supply 170,000 bins to Serco over the coming months. Serco's environmental services business extends across 14 local authorities throughout the UK, and cover a range of services including refuse and recycling, landscaping, grounds maintenance, as well as housing repairs and improvements.

Conor Sugrue, general manager at MGB Plastics, said the tender win was a crucial part of the ongoing long-term strategy for the business.

He said: "This is an important win for us and we're delighted to have been appointed by Serco, one of the leading private waste service operators in the UK following a competitive tender.

"The award of this tender demonstrates our long-term growth plans for MGB Plastics and part of our vision where form partnership with firms who are committed to waste management and tackling the UK's recycling targets.

"This will allow us to build on our already very successful relationship with local authorities across the UK. We look forward to a mutually beneficial working experience with Serco over the next three years and hopefully beyond."

The Rotherham firm will now supply its range of products, including wheelie bins and kitchen caddies, to Serco over the next three years depending on the needs of local authorities. Next month MGB will supply 20,000 180L bins to Serco which it will distribute to homeowners in Sandwell.

MGB Plastics is the UK's leading manufacturer of wheeled bins. Last month they made a a six figure investment in new machinery that means that the manufacturing capacity of the modern facility on Barbot Hall Industrial Estate is 1.5 million wheeled bins per annum.

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News: MGB Plastics makes further investment in Rotherham facility

MGB Plastics, the UK's leading manufacturer of wheeled bins, has made a six figure investment in their Rotherham facility.

The company has continued their investment in the business by taking delivery of a second new 240L wheelie bin tool as well as a new 180L tool for its latest product.


The new machinery means that the manufacturing capacity of the modern facility on Barbot Hall Industrial Estate is 1.5 million wheeled bins per annum. Last year MGB acquired a 2350T Husky injection moulding machine that gives them one of the largest selections of large tonnage injection moulding machines in the UK.

Conor Sugrue, general manager at MGB Plastics, said the new tools would help fulfil the requirements of existing clients as well as freeing up capacity for new projects.

He said: "This investment will help us to fulfil the requirements of our existing clients while giving us that extra production capacity to cope with extra demand. It will allow us to be more reactive to customer requirements and deliver a unique service without compromising on quality.

"Our aim is always to delivering maximum quality and value to our customers and this investment in the 240L tool and 180L is a testimony to our commitment to our clients, our business and our innovative products."

MGB has launched four new products in the last 12 months including the 240L - the most advance wheelie bin in the UK to date and new innovatively designed kitchen caddies. The new 180L wheelie bin was launched last month.

Formerly Titan Plastech, MGB Plastics Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of One51plc after they acquired the wheelie bin business of Titan from Kingspan plc in 2008.

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News: MGB Plastics secures council contract

Rotherham-based MGB Plastics has won a contract to supply 25,000 of its new-shaped 240L bins to Cheltenham Borough Council as part of a new waste collection scheme.

With a modern facility on Barbot Hall Industrial Estate that has the capacity to manufacture 1.5 million wheeled bins per annum, MGB is the UK's leading manufacturer of wheeled bins.

It is the first time MGB Plastics has worked with Cheltenham Council to provide its wheeled bins and services. The first of the bins have already started to arrive at homes in Gloucestershire and will be used to collect garden waste such as grass cuttings, hedge, shrub clippings and small branches.

The new product, which will be manufactured in brown, is the central tool in the new kerbside wheeled bin scheme introduced by Cheltenham Council to replace its green bag garden waste service. It hopes the new collection scheme will help it to meet recycling targets of 50% by 2015 and 60% by 2020.

The contract is the latest to have been won by MGB Plastics recently with local authorities across the UK. A few months earlier it provided over 50,000 new wheelie bins to homeowners across Kent and Hertfordshire. This followed 250,000 240L wheeled bins delivered to households across the North East in what was believed to be the largest wheeled bin contract in the UK in 2010.

Conor Sugrue, general manager at MGB Plastics, said: "We are delighted to be working with Cheltenham Borough Council to provide a product which will help them towards meeting their recycling targets.

"As a business, our aim is to work with local councils across the UK to provide effective waste management solutions and this is a good example of this philosophy in practice.

"We will the council gradually and expect to complete the contract over the next month. In addition, all the 25,000 bins we are supplying have been made at our factory in Rotherham as part of our commitment to sustainability and in reducing the carbon footprint."

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News: MGB Plastics launches new product

Rotherham-based MGB Plastics, the UK's leading manufacturer of wheeled bins, has continued its recent investment with the latest launch of a new waste management product designed to boost the UK's recycling rates.

The Barbot Hall firm has developed a new inner caddy which will sit inside wheeled bins and encourage homeowners to recycle their waste by separating glass, cardboard, plastics and cans.

The launch of the inner caddy comes just months after MGB Plastics created the most advanced wheelie bin in the UK to date alongside new innovatively designed kitchen caddies.

Conor Sugrue, general manager at MGB Plastics, said that the launch of the product was part of a business strategy to create "complete one-stop" waste management solutions for local authorities and homeowners in their quest to drive up UK's recycling rates.

He said: "As a business we take a holistic view about waste management and our aim is to create a complete solution for local authorities. The new inner caddy complements our product range and it is part of our strategy and commitment to create products which will help sustainability and drive up recycling rates. It encourages homeowners to think more about their recycling.

"The inner caddy is a product which will grow in importance over the coming years as local authorities promote the importance of recycling waste to homeowners."

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News: MGB Plastics smashes recycled bins target

MGB Plastics, the UK's leading manufacturer of wheeled bins has smashed its sustainability target with an innovative collection and recycling programme.

The company has reduced its carbon footprint by collecting over 20,000 disused wheelie bins - destined for the landfill - from homeowners across the UK over the last 12 months and recycling them at its Rotherham factory.

The company now plans to "significantly" increase this figure for 2011 and encourage more local authorities to recycle their old bins. Last year, it completed a contract with Hull City Council where it collected and recycled thousands of old wheeled bins and kerbside boxes which were headed for the landfill.

Conor Sugrue, general manager at MGB Plastics, said the company hoped to win more contracts with local authorities in 2011 where they would collect and recycle decommission bins and help reduce the effect on the environment.

He said: "As a waste management company we like to lead by example and do as much as possible to drive the sustainability from within.

"Our aim as a business has always been to offer a complete solution to local authorities and clients and one of strategies has been to work with them to
collect and recycle more products, especially old bins and kitchen caddies, which otherwise would end up on a landfill.

"It is a process whereby local councils can not only do their bit for the environment but show their stakeholders and constituents that they are leading the sustainability agenda from within.

"In 2011, we hope to encourage more local authorities to do this not only to reduce the amount of old bins sent to landfill, but also help reduce the carbon footprint of councils and reduce the impact on the environment."

The recycling process provided by MGB Plastics involves the collection of old bins which are then transported to its factory on the Barbot Hall Industrial Estate. The recycling unit then remove the wheels and axles, deep cleans the bins before shredding and granulating them into small pieces of regrind. A percentage of this recycled material is then used to create new bins.

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