News: 2016 Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards - the winners

Barnsley distribution and warehousing company, Universal Components UK Ltd, were awarded the top prize at this year's Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards event.

Having won the the ASD Lighting/Rotherham United Excellence in International Trade award earlier in the night, Universal Components walked away with the Business of the Year award, after triumphing over the competition as the winner of winners.

The ceremony, hosted by radio personality Andy Giddings, was this year held at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham with nearly 500 guests in attendance to celebrate the achievements of the shortlisted individuals and organisations, sponsored by RNN Group.

Rotherham companies recognised on the night with a salute to business included Oxley & Coward Solicitors LLP who were celebrating 225 years in business, Eric Twigg Foods for their 50th year in business and Carlton park Hotel who are celebrating their 35th year.

The most promising new business went to Jump Inc. The leisure company opened its first site in Rotherham last year and has since opened trampoline parks in Sheffield and Leeds. Highly commended in the same category was Bliss Internet, the Rotherham-based ISP that establish superfast broadband for the community of Treeton.

Rotherham United's Community Sports Trust was the winner in the Community Impact award recognising the activities led by the community development programme that works across the borough of Rotherham in deprived areas. Youth project, Team Katalyst, which offers a variety of coaching, educational and recreational products from its Rotherham base, was highly commended.

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Rotherham-based Vertex Access won the Design & Innovation award. The Templeborough company provides industrial rope access operatives for a variety of operations as an alternative for expensive methods such as scaffolding - from abseiling to drones. Rotherham testing laboratory, ALcontrol was highly commended.

Molly Charlesworth of the host venue, Magna, was highly commended in the Apprentice of the Year award and Carlton Park hotel was highly commended in the new Leisure & Tourism category, as were Jump Inc. Innovative Rotherham firm Roy Hatfield was highly commended in Business Growth award.

The Skills Development award went to The Source Academy. Based at Meadowhall, the flagship centre provides state of the art training and development facilities with a focus on the retail and service sector. A Rotherham base opened on the High Street in 2011.

Andrew Denniff, chief executive at the Chamber of Commerce, said: "As always the evening was superb, reflecting all that is best in our City Region. My congratulations go out to all our winners and especially Universal Components, the Business of the Year.

"Our guests can certainly say that they were part of the "evening of the year" in the Sheffield City Regions business calendar, and all our shortlisted entrants can congratulate themselves in contributing to another successful event."

This year also saw the Chamber present their Charity of the Year award to Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children, who received £3,000 in prize money, supported by Secure Power.

A full list of results is as follows:

The Enterprising Barnsley Most Promising New Business Award
Winner – Jump Inc.
Highly Commended – Bliss Internet
Highly Commended – Hatfield Energy Ltd

The Rotherham Together Partnership Business Community Impact Award
Winner – Rotherham United Community Sports Trust
Highly Commended – Berneslai Homes
Highly Commended – Team Katalyst

The Steelphalt Harsco Design and Innovation in Business Award
Winner – Vertex Access
Highly Commended – ALcontrol Laboratories
Highly Commended – Spin Print Solutions

The Julie Kenny CBE, DL Apprentice of the Year Award
Winner – Ricky Curtis of Palmer Construction Ltd
Highly Commended – Kairon Flowers of Interserve Learning & Employment
Highly Commended – Molly Charlesworth of Magna

The Visit Rotherham Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Award
Winner – Calypso Cove Waterpark
Highly Commended – Carlton Park Hotel
Highly Commended – Jump Inc.

The ASD Lighting/Rotherham United Excellence in International Trade Award
Winner – Universal Components UK Ltd
Highly Commended – Numill Ltd
Highly Commended – Tadano UK Ltd

The Airmaster/Mitsubishi Digital and Creative Award
Winner – DEB Chartered Accountants
Highly Commended – Hydra Creative Ltd
Highly Commended – Spin Print Solutions

The Jeremy Neal Skills Development Award
Winner – The Source Skills Academy
Highly Commended – Jump Inc.
Highly Commended – Merlinsoft Ltd

The Brook Corporate Developments Manufacturing Excellence Award
Winner – Numill Ltd
Highly Commended – Building Product Solutions
Highly Commended – The RTN Group

The RNN Training Business Growth Award
Winner – Capital B Media
Highly Commended – Crystal Clean Service Ltd
Highly Commended – Roy Hatfield

The Academy for Chief Executives Business Person of the Year Award
Winner – Michelle Bailey of Active Response Security
Highly Commended – Lisa Pogson of Airmaster Air Conditioning Ltd
Highly Commended – Matt Travis of Enzygo Limited

Charity of the Year Award – In association with Secure Power
Winner – Newlife
Foundation for Disabled Children
Highly Commended – Barnsley Hospice
Highly Commended – Hallam FM’s Cash for Kids

Chamber website

Images: Tom Austen / Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber

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News: Collaboration for Korean startups

Rotherham firms have been offering advice and support to new business startups from South Korea that are taking part in an innovative accelerator programme hosted by the borough.

Following a successful trade mission, five companies have now invested in the region, bringing remarkable new products to market. After receiving initial support from the South Korean Government, they are being housed in one of Rotherham's four enterprise centres run by RiDO, the Council's regeneration arm.

Based at Moorgate Crofts Businesses Centre, the five companies have teamed up with over 15 local businesses to help them gain an insight into the UK market. Through a number of workshops, mentoring sessions and knowledge exchange the South Korean companies are now much better informed on running a business in the UK.

Cllr. Denise Lelliott, advisory cabinet member for Housing and the Local Environment at Rotherham Council, said: "Our local businesses have proven to be great ambassadors for Rotherham and the UK. They have all been extremely forthcoming in sharing their skills and knowledge which has been well received by the South Korean companies."

Town centre retailer Charlotte Scothern from Patchwork Pig has been passing on her wholesaler and customer experience with the "Daytripper" team who have come up with an innovative idea for the umbrella. Charlotte (pictured, right) said: "The Daytripper team have been wonderful to work with, they have great energy and enthusiasm for their product which would work well in the giftware and retail market."

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Local accountancy firm, Allotts, organised focus groups to enable Daytripper to develop the features of their new umbrella and led workshops to give advice on the legal requirements for operating a business in the UK. Jackie Saunders from Allotts said: "It's been an exciting new venture working with high tech businesses that are new to the region."

The "Ultimate Drone" team has been supported by Vertex Access, a Templeborough company, to help develop their first drone prototype. Vertex Access have shared their expertise in the market and enabled them to identify their customer segments and applications for the use of the drone.

Julia Millea for RiDO (pictured, second right) said: "We've being delighted by the response from local businesses to get involved, they have been very generous with their time and support, which has been one of the key successes of the programme. The teams received a warm welcome which has helped them to integrate into the business community."

"The South Korean Government is delighted by the teams' progress here in the UK and we hope to see at least three of the teams setting-up their business in the region over the coming months."

The Accelerator programme runs until mid-November with a final pitch day for investment being made on November 12.

RiDO website

Images: RiDO

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News: Vertex on a high at Earl's Court

Rotherham-based Vertex Access has been called upon to tear the roof off Earl's Court, the historic London exhibition, conference and events venue.

From offices at Templeborough, Vertex Access provides industrial rope access operatives for a variety of operations as an alternative for expensive methods such as scaffolding. The use of abseiling techniques can often be the most practical way to achieve tasks that would otherwise involve considerable expense, time and impact on the building.

The centre, which dates back to 1886, closed in 2013 to make way for a redevelopment which will replace the West London entertainment hub with luxury flats.

Deconstruction activities began at the start of 2015, initially focused on the internal structure of the buildings, which had a capacity of around 19,000 and has hosted many exhibitions, concerts and events, such as The Brit Awards, The London Film and Comic Con and Summer Olympic Volleyball in 2012.

The centre was rebuilt in 1937 and in response to a demand for more space, the exhibition centre then expanded, with Earls Court Two opening in 1991.

In an era when health and safety knowledge wasn't as advanced as is currently is, the use of building materials such as asbestos was popular. Asbestos was commonly used amongst other building materials due to its resistance to fire and heat, and the roof of Earls Court was constructed using the material.

Further developments in health and safety have since highlighted the dangers in asbestos, which led to its use being banned in the UK in 1999. The dangers arise when asbestos containing materials become airborne and unstable from damage and deterioration, which can also occur during demolition.

Lead contractors Keltbray called on Vertex Access operatives to remove asbestos concrete sheets from the roof.

Some areas of the roof allowed for use of access cradles but for areas where this was not viable, rope access techniques were used. The Vertex team is completing the works ensuring that damage is kept to a minimum. This is so that the dangerous fibres do not break off from the fragile sheeting and become airborne, posing an unnecessary risk to operatives and nearby workers.

Vertex website

Images: Vertex Access

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News: Vertical gardening at 70ft

Rotherham-based Vertex Access has been called upon to help tend to one of the largest and most environmentally beneficial living walls in London.

From offices at Templeborough, Vertex Access provides industrial rope access operatives for a variety of operations as an alternative for expensive methods such as scaffolding. Often the use of abseiling techniques can be the most practical way to achieve tasks that would otherwise involve considerable expense, time and impact on the building.

Standing at 4,000 sq ft and with a total of 10,000 herbaceous plants and ferns, the Living Wall at the Rubens at the Palace Hotel is designed to provide waves of blossoming plants throughout the year which will create bands of colour across the wall, it will also be one of London's most visually prominent and colourful living walls, brightening the popular tourist walk from Victoria station to Buckingham Palace and improving the air quality for those living and working in the area.

The living wall will provide wildlife habitat, help keep the hotel cooler in summer and warmer in winter and deaden noise.

Vertex Access was commissioned by designers and installers, Treebox to provide industrial rope access solutions for the maintenance of the Living Wall façade, enabling gardeners to replant and prune plants and ferns and maintain the irrigation system.

For this project, rope access was considered the best option as the other methods of access such as scaffolding and cherry pickers were not reasonably practicable. Secondly, the Living Wall will need regular maintenance and rope access provides a safe, fast, cost effective access solution, creating little visual disturbance.

Vertex Access has recently launched a new division, Vertex Air, providing a new service using the latest technology available in ROAVs (Remotely Operated Aerial Vehicles), also known as drones, to carry out aerial inspections, roof inspections or land surveys.

The drones, fitted with high definition cameras and GPS, are able to manoeuvre close to buildings and into awkward or risky positions where another means of access may be unsafe, inappropriate or expensive.

Vertex Access website

Images: Vertex Access / Treebox

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