News: Food Circle turns one

An award-winning Rotherham-based online supermarket is celebrating its first birthday having delivered over 1,000 orders to happy customers across the UK.

Food Circle is the first online UK-based retailer offering surplus "in-date" healthy food and drink products, to customers at half the recommended retail price. It was launched by Sheffield Hallam history graduate James Barthorpe and his business partner Paul Simpson in January 2018 with support from the Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO) and other local support organisations.

The co-founders attribute their success to a number of factors, but not least the fact that customers can buy products at half the recommended retail price, whilst diverting food from landfill - cutting down on the UK's huge food waste problem.

James Barthorpe, co-founder of Food Circle, said: "The past year has been a busy one for us, we've moved into new premises twice due to expansion, got a new delivery partner, expanded our product range and have built up a very loyal customer base."

The loyalty that James speaks of is in no way down to luck, but stems from the company's personal approach to their customers, quick turnaround times and branded products.

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Access through social media, combined with the ease of ordering through their e-commerce website, offers customers a simple way to purchase a range of quality, healthy products.

Paul Simpson, co-founder of Food Circle, said: "We've invested heavily in social media on Facebook and other platforms and this has really paid dividends, especially in the fitness and sports nutrition markets where we’ve seen a boom in sales from gym goers and other sports people."

The company has recently moved to RiDO's Matrix@Dinnington Business Centre, allowing for continued growth of the business, which aims to more than double orders over the course of 2019.

Andrew Klinkenberg, key account manager at RiDO, said: "James and Paul have achieved a huge amount in their first year, and should be proud of their achievements. This is in no small part down to their skills and experience, but also their willingness to engage support throughout the Sheffield city region to constantly evolve the business."

The enterprise has been backed by UK Steel Enterprise, taken part in the Y-Accelerator programme and won the Hallam Enterprise Award.

Food Circle website

Images: Food Circle

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News: Castus continues to grow

Rotherham-based digital media company, Castus, is looking to take on further apprentices, having successfully grown with previous recruits.

Castus was established in 2005 and moved into RiDO's Matrix @ Dinnington business centre when it opened in 2009. With a team of developers, designers and project managers, the firm has a varied portfolio of websites, apps and online stores with local, national and international clients. It has won a number of industry awards for its work.

The three company directors all attended high schools across Rotherham and are now passing on their skills and experience to the next generation of school leavers.

Laura Martin, one of the recent apprentices who trained as a web developer and is now leading on key projects for the company (pictured third left) said: "It was great when I have the apprenticeship offered to me.

"Castus have helped me grow and develop since day one and I've always been treated like a full member of the team. It's been a positive, nurturing environment which has helped me develop my skills.

"Apprentices are a great way for people to get into work, especially in creative environments like Castus and they're certainly a great way to get your foot in the door of industries which are traditionally difficult to break into."

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Leader of Rotherham Council, Councillor Chris Read (pictured, second right), recently visited the company to meet the apprentices and to tour the Matrix incubation centre. He said: "I'm delighted to see Castus performing so well – it's a local company, founded by local entrepreneurs, supported by the Council's economic development team, RiDO, which is now selling its products to customers around the world.

"It's an inspiring model of how Rotherham business people can take an idea and compete in the global marketplace.

"I was especially pleased to meet the four young apprentices who are an integral part of the company and a key part of its success."

Castus has been working with the Sheffield academy of national training provider, 3aaa to recruit apprentices.

Castus website
RiDO website

Images: RiDO

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News: Businesses continue to thrive in Rotherham

New enterprises setting up in one of Rotherham's dedicated business centres are being given a great chance to thrive and survive the crucial first three years.

Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO) is the regeneration arm of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. RiDO now operate four modern business incubation centres across the borough offering support and assistance to local and international businesses.

The centres at Moorgate Crofts, Templeborough, Manvers and Dinnington provide over 180 offices and workshops at easy-in/easy-out terms on a monthly licence basis.

In the 13 years since Century Business Centre was opened in Manvers, RiDO has helped over 540 companies start up and the create over 1,800 jobs.

Further support includes on site business adviser support, access to training, marketing, supply chain linkages, plus access to other partner organisations who can contribute to achieving the growth aspirations of your business. Space is also reserved for young entrepreneurs through the successful Rotherham Youth Enterprise programme.

It is this support that means that businesses located in the centres have a three year survival rate of 85.4 per cent, well above the national average.

Following a recent visit to the centres, Cllr. Dominic Beck, Cabinet Member for Business Growth and Regeneration at Rotherham Council, said: "By any standards RiDO has been an incredible success story.

"Even in our current economic climate early stage companies have thrived with a three year survival rate of 85.4 per cent against a national average of 44 per cent.

"Once again Rotherham is bucking the national trend and the support offered to companies has been invaluable in cementing their success.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, meeting and chatting with the businesses, occupants and staff there. I was impressed at both the quality of the Business Centres and the support offered to start up and small businesses.

"It was great to hear that even in this tough economic climate businesses were healthy and on a growth path.

"I have nothing but praise for the fantastic folk who are making the centre a haven for local growth and investment. It is essential that Rotherham encourages new business and I cannot praise the work that is taking place here too highly."

RiDO Business Centres website

Images: RiDO

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News: Aztec AVA expands overseas

Aztec AVA, an engineering training business based in Rotherham, has reported extensive overseas growth with recent contract wins in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, South Africa, South America and Russia.

The company was set up four years ago by directors Mick Stacey, Alan Varney and Steve Turner, who set out to offer specialist training services for engineering, manufacturing, utility and food companies.

The company was established in 2009 and was based at the RiDO's Fusion @ Matrix business centre in Templeborugh. It expanded to RiDO's Matrix Business Centre in Dinnington shortly afterwards and in spring 2012 merged with Aztec, a training provider with similar expertise, based in Bristol, changing its name to Aztec AVA.

One of the reasons for Aztec AVA's success is its ability to deliver specialist on-site training in locations across the UK and the globe.

Mick Stacey, director of Aztec AVA (pictured, second left), explains: "When we launched AVA back in 2009 we found that RiDO provided excellent support for start-up businesses. We also liked the professional image that their business centres gave us.

"We now do around 60 per cent of our business internationally. Our reputation has spread largely by word of mouth and this has taken us to some very exciting places. We have gained a reputation for offering high quality specialised training, particularly in industries such as power stations. We have experienced significant growth in our overseas business in the past 12 months and see it as offering major growth in the future."

Julia Millea, business development co-ordinator for RiDO's Soft Landing Zone, added: "It is fantastic to see Aztec AVA growing the international side of their business so much. Their expertise is becoming known all over the world and they are an excellent example of how a business can achieve its growth aspirations through overseas trading."

Rotherham Investment & Development Office's (RiDO's) Soft Landing Zone project attracted £842k investment from the European Regional Development Fund and aims to assist Rotherham companies in accessing international markets.

Aztec AVA website
RiDO website

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News: Approval leads to job creation at Greenbuy Energy

Expanding Rotherham green energy company, Greenbuy Energy, is one of the first in the region to gain accreditation for a new energy saving initiative – which enables it to install free energy-efficient boilers to householders.

Greenbuy Energy, which has its headquarters in Dinnington and a showroom in Doncaster, has been approved for the government-backed ECO scheme – which is tasked with reducing carbon emissions, by replacing old inefficient boilers, with new "A" rated models.

The enterprise underwent a stringent assessment process to qualify as an ECO installer for A-rated boilers, which are being offered for free to qualifying house-holders.

Russell Paul, director of Greenbuy Energy, said: “We are very proud to have gained accreditation for ECO which enables us to replaces inefficient gas boilers with an A-rated high-efficiency condensing boiler. House-holders which qualify get a new boiler for free and worth approximately £1,600 - £2,500 depending individual requirements.

"These new boilers make a significant difference to carbon emissions so are good for the planet and can save householders hundreds of pounds each year on their gas bill."

Based at RiDO's Matrix at Dinnington Business Centre, Greenbuy has already taken on nine new members of staff to keep up with demand for the replacement boilers.

Introduced in January 2013, the ECO (Energy Company Obligation) is for the big six energy suppliers, and means that they are obliged to support affordable warmth and reduce carbon emissions. It includes providing heating and insulation improvements for low-income and vulnerable households, funding to insulate solid-walled properties and providing insulation measures to people living in the bottom 15% of the UK's most deprived areas. To reduce carbon emissions, energy suppliers decided the most efficient way was to set aside a pot of money each year to replace old boilers with the best rated boilers.

Russell explained: "To qualify there are set rules around if you receive certain benefits or tax credits and the household’s income level. The scheme is open to tenants, homeowners and landlords. We can talk people through the process and let them know very quickly whether they qualify for the scheme."

Greenbuy was created when business partners Russell Paul and Steven Peacock teamed up to give home and business owners clear information and advice on how to make their premises energy efficient.

Greenbuy Energy website

Images: Greenbuy Energy

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News: Yormii in Denby deal

Award-winning Rotherham cookware company, Yormii, has attracted its first national retailer, Denby, who have 29 cookshops nationwide.

Product designer Nathan Bestwick set up the innovative kitchenware firm in partnership with Sheffield-based company Gripple, under its "Incub" programme, which nurtures local inventors with the aim of creating future jobs in South Yorkshire.

Enterprising Nathan's first product, millmii, is an innovative spice mill that can be used by people who have limited strength or dexterity in their hands and works by being rolled in the hands without any need to grip or twist. It got an "honourable mention" amongst some of the world's leading brand names and product developments in the red dot awards for product design 2012.

The first few weeks of 2013 saw the company send out their first orders of millmii from new premises at RiDO's Matrix Business Centre in Dinnington. The company received a lot of interest after Nathan showcased the products at the Autumn Fair in 2012, the largest home and gift buying event of the season that showcases new designers and new products.

In February, Yormii showcased millmii plus new innovative products at Spring Fair International, a similar home and gift trade fair. It was the launch of spicemii, a specially designed product that works like the pestle and mortar but again it can be used by people who have limited strength or dexterity.

Spicemii was demonstrated on Cook Live in front of an intrigued audience and used to create a tasty meat rub, salad dressing, a harissa paste mixed with mayonnaise, a mustard mayonaise dip and a fresh basil pesto. After the showcase Nathan Bestwick, managing director at Yormii, said: "The audience were happy, and feedback was fantastic. Even the cameraman was licking his fingers. Getting stuck in! That's what Yormii is all about - inspiring creativity in the kitchen!"

As well as taking orders from lots of new independent giftware shops and cook shops, Yormii attracted their first national retailer, Denby.

Yormii continues to grow, and with RiDO's support through the Soft Landing Zone programme, Nathan is building on the interest from distributors worldwide.

Three further products are getting ready to launch, including count-on-mii - easy peel, scratch-off food freshness labels, and Nathan is now looking forward to Yormii's first consumer facing show at Grand Designs Live at the ExCel in London next month.

Nathan added: "Every year hundreds of thousands of people flock to Grand Designs Live to spot the latest in home and lifestyle products, and this year is no exception. Especially because Yormii will be there selling our products at our first consumer facing show. We're so excited to be there."

Yormii website

Images: Yormii / Gripple

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News: Rotherham Entrepreneur named Young Designer of the Year 2012

Nathan Bestwick, designer of the innovative Millmii spice mill has been named as the Young Designer of the Year 2012 at the recent Plastics Industry Awards.

Launched in 2001 and now firmly established as the most respected accolade for the plastics industry, the Plastics Industry Awards reward excellence in materials usage, design and manufacturing as well as training and environmental performance.

The awards ceremony in London recognised a diverse range of plastic products and innovations, from the Trunki suitcase and safer scaffolding boards to cheap spectacles for the population of Rwanda.

Nathan, who grew up in Rotherham and studied at Sheffield Hallam University, designed the spice mill so that it can be used by people who have limited strength or dexterity in their hands and works by being rolled in the hands without any need to grip or twist.

The playful and stylish design received one of the coveted awards at this year's red dot awards for product design, which were given by a 30-member jury after an evaluation process lasting several days. The product got an honourable mention due to its particularly successful detail solution.

His Yourmii business recently moved into RiDO's Matrix @ Dinnington business centre and with firm interest from John Lewis and Lakeland, sales of 15,000 units are predicted for its launch year.

Steve Crowhurst, organiser of the Plastics Industry Awards. said: "Once again we received a really high standard of entries from companies and individuals whose expertise and vision have helped to develop products which push the boundaries of what can be achieved in manufacturing.

"It was a really uplifting evening, which celebrated the versatility of plastics and the innovation driving our industry forward. The winners are to be congratulated on their achievements."

Yourmii website

Images: Yormii

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News: Sunny outlook for Greenbuy

With the weather finally having turned warm with some sunny spells, the last thing on most people's minds is the cost of next winter's energy bills.

However, Rotherham-based Greenbuy Energy are urging home-owners to get involved before the feed-in-tariff rate is due to be reduced at the end of July as part of a gradual reduction.

With a head office at RiDO's Matrix business centre in Dinnington, the enterprise was created when business partners Russell Paul and Steven Peacock teamed up to give home and business owners clear information and advice on how to make their premises energy efficient. They recently opened a high street showroom in Doncaster town centre.

One recent case study is Alan Scott, from Catcliffe, who has had solar Photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of his semi-detached home. Having paid £7,000 for the panels fitted to the south facing roof of their home, he is using an energy monitor to help him to keep track of how much the technology is saving him each day.

Alan said: "We thought a lot about where to spend our money and looked into this very carefully into all the costs. It made sense to invest the same amount as the price of a small, new car, in solar panels. But unlike a car, the panels won't depreciate in value over time and will continue to save us money on our bills.

"In summer the panels are making about £4 a day and in winter it's about £2 a day – and it is satisfying to see the numbers adding up. For us, it's an investment that makes sense."

Generating an estimated £1,000 in saved electricity costs and feed-in-tariff income, the panels will have paid for themselves in just seven years.

Russell Paul, director of Greenbuy Energy, said: "The cost of solar panels is falling dramatically, and tariffs remain competitive, so there's never been a better time to make the first steps towards greater efficiency and lower household bills. The return on investment is now as good as its ever been.

"The solar feed-in tariffs mean that you are paid for generating electricity regardless of whether or not you actually use it, as any surplus electricity goes back into the grid and offers a further payment."

Greenbuy Energy website

Images: greenbuyenergy.co.uk

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News: Recognition for Rotherham regeneration project

The regeneration of Dinnington colliery in Rotherham has made it into a Top 100 list put together by a leading industry magazine.

The Top 100 Regeneration Projects 2012 includes development schemes in the UK that are receiving over £10 billion of investment. They are separated from straight property development by having input from the public sector or public investment.

The £123m Dinnington project centres on the industrial-led regeneration of the former colliery. The whole site has been successfully reclaimed and the first phase of development has been completed with over 40,000 sq m of employment space created.

Work began in 2000 on the £14m reclamation project which saw the 85 hectare site eventually developed to provide ares for industrial, business and mixed use and large areas of Urban Green Space. The site reclamation won prestigious national environment awards for the way bioremediation was used to clean 30,000 cubic metres of contaminated soil.

The Dinnington Business Park has transformed the area into an established business location. Inward investors include Johnston Press, who invested £60m in a state of the art printing facility (pictured, above).

Leading companies on the park include construction experts, Macalloy; Assured Fire and Security; Marussia Manor Racing; and innovative security company, Connexion2.

The site is also home to the Matrix @ Dinnington business centre (pictured, right). Operated by Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RIDO), the regeneration arm of Rotherham Council, the £3.4m incubation centre provides high quality office and workshop facilities, ideal for start-up businesses.

The sinking of Dinnington Colliery began in 1902 and coal started to be raised in 1905. By 1911 the colliery was providing employment for 2,000 people. It closed in 1992 resulting in 1,000 job losses.

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the national housing and regeneration agency for England, which owns the site, estimates that 620 jobs have been created so far and expects 2,408 jobs to be created as the scheme progresses.

To move the scheme forward, the HCA recently put 17.86 hectares at Dinnington up for sale for commercial use under their property and regeneration programme. They expected the fully services plots to be sold during the first quarter of this year.

Pat Ritchie, chief executive of the HCA, said: "As this year's Top 100 demonstrates, regeneration delivery across the country is still strong and there are still resources to be tapped and different approaches to be taken.

"But we mustn't underestimate the challenges of continuing this success – a lot less funding from the public and private sector against a backdrop of continuing challenging economic conditions which is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

"Our best response will be a flexible approach through a mix of grant, investment, and the maximum use of public assets, while working with local authorities and other public and private sector partners. It is this locally led and integrated approach which will best use scare resources and capacity against agreed local priorities."

Homes and Communities Agency website

Images: Johnston Press / RiDO

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News: Royal visit to Rotherham's award winning enterprise centre

Matrix @ Dinnington, the £3.4m business centre in Rotherham, was officially opened this week by HRH The Countess of Wessex.

The centre is the latest of the four purpose-built centres created by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and operated by their regeneration arm, Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO).

During a tour of the building, she had the opportunity to meet with a number of Rotherham companies located at the centre including Freshlook Furniture (pictured), Benditnow, Castus, 3G Controls and AVA Training.

Currently recognised as the most enterprising place in the UK, the visit to Rotherham also follows the news that in March RiDO won the UK Business Incubation's (UKBI) 2011 Incubation Champion Award for the best integrated incubation and enterprise services in the country. This is the second time that Rotherham has won the award in the past six years.

Matrix can accommodate up to 41 companies in purpose-built office and workshops. It was built by Wildgoose Construction and has been operating since 2009. The two storey office and workshop units incorporate a biomass wood pellet heating system, thermal mass insulation, photovoltaic cells and a grey rainwater system.

Councillor Gerald Smith, Rotherham Council's cabinet member for Regeneration and Development Services, said: "Her Royal Highness saw the work of the centre's companies and heard about the innovative environmental features within the building.

"She appeared to be genuinely interested in both the companies' progress, and how the Dinnington site had been reclaimed and revitalised."

The Countess of Wessex went on to visit Sandvik's £4m European Centre of Excellence (SECoE) at Beighton Link Business Park in Rotherham.

Rotherham Investment & Development Office

Images: RiDO

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News: Rotherham businesses to receive Royal visits

Key developments and businesses in Rotherham are set to host a number of Royal engagements over the coming months.

Later this month, HRH The Countess of Wessex will officially open the Matrix Business Centre in Dinnington.

Developed and operated by RiDO since 2009, Matrix @ Dinnington is the fourth of Rotherham Borough Council's centres aimed at encouraging and supporting entrepreneurs.

The £3.4m centre on Dinnington Business Park provides 41 high quality office and workshop facilities and occupiers include Castus web design and data analysts Applied Cytometry.

The Countess of Wessex is also set to visit Sandvik's £4m European Centre of Excellence (SECoE) at Beighton Link Business Park in Rotherham.

Home to around 350 staff, the state-of-the-art 112,500 sq ft facility brings together all the finish processing and supply management activities for the production of orthopaedic implants and instruments. The Rotherham facility has an area dedicated to rapid production and prototyping where Sandvik works directly with the manufacturer's CAD (computer aided design) drawing to find the most suitable rapid prototyping technique.

In June, The Earl of Wessex is set to visit JELD-WEN UK Limited in Woodhouse Mill, on the Rotherham side of the border with Sheffield. The door manufacturer celebrated their 50th anniversary last year and recently completed an extension to their factory that created 30 new jobs.

In July, The Duke of Kent is set to visit the new headquarters for the MTL Group in Brinsworth. MTL Group is a fast growing contract manufacturing company that employs 310 people. It works with a global blue-chip customer base in the defence, construction equipment, rail and off-shore wind energy sectors.

The group has invested in the latest technology for the 300,000 sq ft plant, which boasts the largest laser in the UK and a 640-tonne robotic press, which is the biggest of its kind anywhere in the world.

The Duke of Kent is also set to visit Sterecycle in Templeborough, the world's first commercial scale autoclave waste treatment facility that has recently recommenced operation after a fatal incident in January.

Sterecycle is a clean technology company that uses a patented steam processing method called autoclaving to "pressure cook" household and commercial black-bag waste.

Rotherham Investment & Development Office
Sandvik website
MTL Group website
Sterecycle website

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News: Castus create good websites - pure and simple

"Cut through unnecessary online jargon" - that is the gospel according to the two young website entrepreneurs behind their Rotherham-based Castus web-design agency.

The former school friends, Chris Harpin and Gary Hides, felt so strongly that websites should focus on simplicity and get straight to the point as well as look great, that they named their business Castus – Latin for pure and simple.

Chris Harpin said: "Having a website these days is an essential tool for any business, but because there's so much out there that’s both sophisticated and functional, a clumsy, long-winded, poorly designed website reflects badly on any company. It's a damaging mistake.

"People's expectations are very high. That's why we're so passionate about simplifying the jargon for our clients as well as making sure design quality is high. There's just no point in having a website that doesn't reflect, in a nutshell, what your business does and makes it accessible for potential customers, including e-commerce."

The future entrepreneurs were schoolboys sitting next to each other at Wickersley Comprehensive, but went their separate ways at 18 when Chris went into project management at the Arcadia Group and Gary went into the RAF as an electronics technician.

By 2007 they had set up Castus together, a web design, development and management agency based at RiDO's Matrix @ Dinnington business centre.

Now, both aged 29, they have a team of five staff to help them service a list of impressive clients.

Chris Harpin said: "We're different from other web design agencies in that I've got a background in project management, so we’re efficient and deliver what we say we will, on time.

"The technical side of the web is evolving all the time. What looked modern two years ago, looks outmoded today. That's our challenge."

Moving into Matrix was a good, low-cost solution to taking on the overheads of premises for their fledgling company, said Chris Harpin.

"The facilities here are second to none – it provides a real wow factor for our business clients. We often use the board room for meetings and we have flexible, 24-hour access, plus an easy-in, easy-out policy. There are also business advisers we can go to if we need advice. It's been a great move for us."

Castus website
Rotherham Invesment and Development Office
Rotherham

Images: RiDO

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News: Building youth enterprise in Rotherham

A determined Rotherham tradesman is looking to build up his own business after receiving backing from a local business project.

Danny Winterman, 27, of Dinnington, Rotherham, dreamed of running his own joinery business after gaining qualifications and experience in the industry, as well as working on BBC one’s DIY SOS, but needed a helping hand when it came to setting up his interior installation company, Pheonix Luxury Interiors.

It was only when Danny, was introduced to Rotherham Enterprise, which provides self-employment support and advice for young adults in the area that he realised having a successful career in business could become a reality.

Danny said: "After I secured a job with one of Harrogate's largest interior installation companies, I learnt so much about the manufacturing and installation trade and it gave me the confidence and inspiration to think about setting up my own business.

"There were certain difficulties I had in raising the money to get started in such economic conditions, along with the added pressures of supporting a family on such an uncertain income, which made setting up more of a challenge than I had thought."

The project offered him subsidised workshops at the Matrix Business Centre in Dinnington, for six months free of charge to help him find his feet in the business world.

"It's been far from easy and there were times when I thought I might have to give up on my idea, but thanks to Rotherham Enterprise, I have finally got the support and financial backing I need. The free workspace has and will continue to keep my costs to a minimum while establishing my business."

As well as supplying and installing kitchens and bedrooms, the company offers themed children's bedrooms including wardrobes, headboards, beds, and bedside tables, all incorporating the Rotherham United theme throughout.

Phoenix Luxory Interiors website

Rotherham Enterprise website

Rotherham

Images: RYE

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News: Making office space in Rotherham a virtual reality

Budding entrepreneurs in Rotherham are discovering that virtual offices are a smart way to test-drive a new business venture.

Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO), the Borough Council's regeneration arm is offering a virtual office service that gives home-based businesses the benefit of having an office address and telephone service, without having to pay the overheads associated with renting traditional premises.

RiDO enterprise manager Geoff Link said: "Even in the current climate people are still keen to launch their own business, often because they feel this will give them more security than the threat of redundancy, but naturally they worry about the costs involved.

"A virtual office solves this problem because it means you limit your risks, as there's no rent or fit-out costs. You can take things slowly and build your business gradually before investing in an office.

"One of the other main benefits is that it allows you to present a more formal approach to potential customers as, in some cases, there is still a stigma attached to home working."

Businesses can pay just £25 a month for a postal address at one of RiDO's four managed centres, which are based at Century, in Manvers, Moorgate Crofts on the edge of the town centre, Fusion @ Magna, Templeborough, and Matrix @ Dinnington. To use the telephone facility is £45 and to take advantage of both the postal and phone services is £65.

Geoff added: "We expect some of these virtual companies to move into one of our centres after their initial start-up period when they feel more confident about the viability of their long-term future."

Rotherham Investment and Development Office
Rotherham

Images: RiDO

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News: First two Rotherham companies to enter the Matrix @ Dinnington

Matrix @ Dinnington, a purpose-built business centre in the former colliery town in the south of Rotherham, has welcomed its first two tenants. The £3.4m centre is now home to online property services company Censia, which runs localpropertyadvertiser.com, and eco-builders The Greenway Construction Company. Matrix is the fourth enterprise centre operated by the Council's regeneration arm, Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO). "Facilities are exceptional, it's very affordable and the location is great. What RiDO's doing fits in with us perfectly – it's a fantastic marriage," said Greenway operations director Glyn Prendergast. As well as building large-scale developments, his company also transforms properties into environmentally-friendly homes and businesses. The other new tenant, Censia, provides services to the residential and commercial property sector such as low cost conveyancing, Home Information Packs (HIPs), energy performance certificates and financial services. Managing director Nick Ford said: "The Matrix meets our requirements by providing us with state-of-the-art facilities and a brand new office space for client meetings. Our plans for rapid growth, coupled with the flexible month-in month-out rental terms means that we can upgrade at any time to a larger unit within the same facility without incurring a great deal of effort or additional cost."
localpropertyadviser.com
Rotherham Investment & Development Office
Rotherham

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News: Entrepreneurs see the future at Matrix @ Dinnington

More than 50 visitors, about half of them people who are or want to be their own boss, attended an open day at the Borough Council’s latest purpose-built business centre for start-up and growing companies, Matrix @ Dinnington. Run by Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO), the council’s regeneration arm and located on the former colliery site, Matrix is a symbol of the enterprise future for the local, and national, economy. "This place really has the wow factor,” said Cath and Thomas Madden, who run their electrical testing company, Portable Appliance Testing, in Maltby. "We’re a new company and working from home, but we would love to move in here once we’re a little bit more established. Very impressed – by the price, the quality, and the support from RiDO." Visitors heard from local business advisors and local people who had taken the leap of faith before them, to set up their own enterprises. Enterprise team manager Geoff Link said: "In times like this, with recession biting, people may be wondering what the future holds for them. Rotherham found in the last recession that there was a surge of start-ups. Much of this work, including this event, is about saying to anyone considering such a life-changing option – the help and support you need is here, and space is not only here but here in high quality and at low cost."

Rotherham Investment and Development Office
Rotherham

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News: Calling all entrepreneurs – open event at Matrix @ Dinnington

As Rotherham’s latest business centre for start-ups opens its doors, it hopes to give a helping hand to budding entrepreneurs with an open-day event offering an opportunity to network and get free advice. On Wednesday February 25, between 11am and 2.30pm, Matrix @ Dinnington will be open to anyone who is thinking of setting up a new business and is looking for practical advice on how to get started. It's the fourth of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council’s such purpose-built centres, all run by the council’s regeneration arm, Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO). RiDO enterprise manager Geoff Link said: "This will be a great opportunity for anyone wanting to set up a business to come along, hear our keynote speakers and talk to some experienced people who have already started their own business. "There will also be a chance to discuss anything at all about setting up a business and how to network." Motivational speaker and local business consultant Jean Stewart will be leading the line-up of speakers.

Event brochure
Rotherham Investment and Development Office
Rotherham

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News: Sarah takes the helm at Matrix @ Dinnington

At RiDO's new business centre, Matrix @ Dinnington, one crucial new member of staff is looking forward to giving budding entrepreneurs a helping hand. Centre co-ordinator Sarah Hanson has spent the past three years honing her skills at the council’s three other successful business centres – Fusion @ Magna, Moorgate Crofts and Century. She will now play an important role in the council’s continuing drive to encourage and support entrepreneurs and their young businesses at Matrix. Sarah said: "We all know how tough things are out there but there’s no doubt that there are opportunities for small entrepreneurial businesses as long as they have the right help. "Matrix offers not only affordable new office or workshop space at low costs, but also free business and financial advice that can make all the difference to someone starting out in business. We also offer a professional messaging service and meeting rooms for important meetings or presentations. "Although the current economic situation brings only bad news for some, for others it can open up an opportunity to do something they've always wanted to do – like be your own boss." Matrix is the first in the south of the borough, and it is hoped it will cater for the new breed of entrepreneurs in the area. Business adviser Rachel Clark has so far helped 47 start-ups get off the ground, creating 108 new jobs in Dinnington. RiDO business development manager Tim O'Connell added: "You can do it! And we’ll help you. Come and find out more at our Matrix open day on February 25, between 11am and 2.30pm. Our expert business advisers will be on hand to offer advice."
Rotherham Investment and Development Office
Rotherham

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News: Matrix @ Dinnington, Rotherham's latest business centre

A new purpose-built business centre in the former colliery township of Dinnington, in Rotherham is set to open early in 2009. Matrix @ Dinnington is the fourth of Rotherham Borough Council’s centres aimed at encouraging and supporting entrepreneurs, and the first in the south of the borough. The other three – Century, at Manvers, Moorgate Crofts, just off the town centre, and Fusion @ Magna, at Templeborough – have all helped hundreds of people start up in business. RiDO works on a daily basis with 105 new-start enterprises. It has played a part in incubating more than 600 new businesses, which in turn created more than 3,000 new jobs. The manager of its enterprise team, Geoff Link, said: "Even in these difficult economic times, running your own business can be a viable option. As people are laid off, many will be wondering where they go from here. Our experience in the last recession was that there was a surge in people starting up." In Dinnington alone, RiDO’s business adviser there, Rachel Clark, has helped more than 220 individuals, got about 100 on to training courses, and helped start 47 new businesses. The result – 108 new jobs. She said: "Just like our advisers in the rest of the borough, I’ve found a huge well of talent here in the south of Rotherham. I’m sure there are lots more people out there with business ideas we can help with. And our services are all free!" Designed in house and constructed by Wildgoose, Matrix will be run by co-ordinator Sarah Hanson, who has gained experience in the other centres.
RiDO website
Rotherham

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