North East Business Forum

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/more-jobs-as-yodel-parcels-centre-grows/

More jobs as Yodel parcels centre grows

More jobs as parcels centre grows – Parcel carrier Yodel is expanding its workforce at its Gateshead service centre and continuing its investment in the site in order to meet growing demand and benefit customers across the North East.

The centre, one of Yodel’s largest, has immediate vacancies for fourteen drivers and the recent addition of four new vehicles has seen the entire fleet up-dated in the past three years.

Yodel in Gateshead currently deals with around 10,000 parcels every day, delivering to an area from Berwick to Peterlee and as far west as Haltwhistle.

The centre currently has 66 van drivers and 119 self-employed couriers driving their own vehicles, all working together to get parcels out on the road and delivered on time.  In addition the centre is the base for management, administration and sorting teams with a workforce aged from 21 to 78. The new jobs include both employed and self-employed driver positions.

Ian Spence, lead service delivery manager at Gateshead, said: “We are continually adapting to meet changes in shopping patterns, as well as growing demand.”

The company invests heavily in training for every member of the workforce, including the self-employed couriers, who deliver around their own neighbourhoods and bring their extensive local knowledge to Yodel.

“In this region we have to meet the particular demands of areas such as the remote parts of the Northumberland National Park,” continued Ian, “but our aim is always to provide the best possible customer service.”

Gateshead is part of the division that won the first Customer Service Award at the company’s inaugural Yodel Awards last year, judged on every aspect of its service from successful delivery rates and positive customer reviews to how well parcels were looked after on their journey.

The service centre, which is one of Yodel’s largest, operates 20-hours a day, as trailers of parcels arrive from the company’s central sort centres in the early hours of each morning, and deliveries continue until 9pm each evening. Details of the current Yodel vacancies in Gateshead are available at http://careers.yodel.co.uk.

Top:  Ian Spence, lead service delivery manager at Yodel’s Gateshead service centre.

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/jnp-group-celebrates-with-expansion/

JNP Group celebrates with expansion

JNP Group celebrates with expansion – The JNP Group is marking the 10th anniversary of the opening of its Teesside office in Hartlepool by adding two new members to its team and moving into larger offices.

The consulting engineering company was the very first business tenant to move into UK Steel Enterprise’s multi-million pound Innovation Centre on the Queens Meadow Business Park when it opened in 2005.  After a number of moves and expansions, it will now occupy more than six times the space that it did a decade ago.

Colin Cook returned to his home town to open the Teesside office for the Chesham-based consulting engineers and the office has expanded steadily since then, working with clients from Tata Steel to Yuill Homes.

JNP Group was appointed by UK Steel Enterprise as the civil and structural engineers for the Hub Two extension at the Innovation Centre that was built in 2011.  Now the company is expanding its own offices into Hub Two, as two additional engineers boost the team to six to help meet demand from existing and new clients.

“The Centre has been an ideal place for us to start up and grow in Teesside,“ said Colin Cook. “The facilities are first class and the transport links have been a plus as we work right across the North East.”

Senior Partner Alan Brackley said: “The current upturn in the construction sector is obviously helping us and the demand from commercial clients is strong in the North East, but we believe that JNP Group’s decades of expertise is a strong factor in our growth.

“We have a reputation for providing innovative engineering solutions and our emphasis on cost-effectiveness and quality has brought us a very loyal client base and considerable new business from recommendations.”

Peter Taylor UK Steel Enterprise Area Manager said: “Our Centres are specifically designed to support businesses as they grow and it has been good to see JNP Group, our very first tenant in Hartlepool, doing so well.   We naturally thought of them when we were developing our Hub Two extension and the team did an excellent job.”

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PICTURE CAPTION:  Colin Cook (right) of JNP Group is welcomed to the Innovation Centre in Hartlepool as its very first tenant in 2005, by Simon Hamilton, now UK Steel Enterprise’s Managing Director.

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/oil-and-gas-challenge-at-subsea-event/

Oil and gas challenge at Subsea event

Oil and gas challenge at Subsea event – Over 40 companies from across the north-east of England are expected to attend the annual Subsea North East Conference and Exhibition next week.

Top of the agenda will be how to address how new technology can drive the efficiencies urgently needed in the current low oil price environment.

The Subsea North East regional group’s event on June 11, organised in partnership with NOF Energy, has more than 250 people registered to attend the event.

It aims to promote the region’s innovation and excellence in the development of subsea technology.

Sponsored by Newcastle University, the event will welcome speakers from, TOTAL, Subsea 7, NSRI (National Subsea Research Initiative) and ITF (Industry Technology Facilitator) to explore a number of topics from how to maximise global opportunities to the challenges of developing new technology.

Speaking at the event, Neil Gordon, chief executive of Subsea UK will outline the industry body’s role in championing the sector both at home and abroad.

“As the impact of the sharp decline in oil price reverberates across the supply chain, companies across the country are feeling pain. Tackling the underlying cost and efficiency challenges is now critical to safe-guarding the future of our oil and gas industry and maintaining the success of the subsea supply chain.

“The north-east of England is a hub of subsea expertise and it is the innovation inherent within these companies that holds the key to meeting the oil and gas industry’s challenges.

“This event will encourage organisations in the north-east to come together to debate the issues, find new ways of working and explore how we can deliver efficiency and reduce costs.”

As a self-sustaining body, Subsea UK represents over 320 members and acts as a focal point to promote the sector and maximise its opportunities, providing a national forum for collaboration, diversification and technology development.

In partnership with the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP), Subsea North East will also be running a joint industry and academia event on 10th June to address the research challenges faced by the subsea sector. Bringing together 16 north-east subsea companies and the five local universities, the workshop aims to promote collaboration between universities and the subsea industry to maximise the commercial revenue generated and employment levels within the region.

Dr Gordon Drummond, project director of NSRI will discuss why there is a greater need for more meaningful engagement between industry and academia to speed up the development of new subsea technology to meet current and future industry challenges. NSRI is building direct links between the two in a more co-ordinated way that will increase subsea related research in the UK.

He said: “Our focus is to bring industry, developers and academia together to explore and speed up the development of near to market technologies which will help maximise economic recovery of hydrocarbons from the UK continental shelf.

“We have an influential and pivotal role in making sure the UK’s subsea technology needs are understood and met.”

The Subsea North East Conference and Exhibition will take place at Newcastle Football Club. Those wishing to attend can book their place online via http://www.subseaneconfex.co.uk/

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/investment-go-ahead-for-sustain-landscapes/

Investment go-ahead for Sustain Landscapes

Investment go-ahead for Sustain Landscapes – A Derwentside-based landscape company is building a new headquarters in a £500,000 expansion project that got the green light thanks to an investment from UK Steel Enterprise.

Award-winning Sustain Landscapes Ltd lists local authorities, premiership football clubs and   major construction companies amongst its clients but is “bursting at the seams” in its current base in Consett. It hopes to be in its new premises on a two-acre site on the town’s Delves Lane Industrial Estate by mid-summer.

UK Steel Enterprise, the Tata Steel business-support subsidiary, provided an investment package of £135,000, made up of a £75,000 secured loan and a grant of £60,000 from its Access to Finance Scheme backed by the government’s Regional Growth Fund.

Now, Sustain Landscapes expects its turnover to hit the £3m mark within the next two years and add at least 25 jobs to its current team of 15.

Set up by Joe Zazzetta, a Scot with more than 30 years of experience in landscaping who settled in the North East 10 years ago, the company now has three divisions covering landscape construction, grounds maintenance and sports sectors.  The provision and maintenance of artificial turf pitches is a big growth area and customers include Sunderland FC and Newcastle United FC.

A growing list of loyal customers includes schools, colleges, hospitals, universities, local authorities and parish councils across the North East with large commercial landscaping projects being carried out with major contractors including Balfour Beatty, Bam Construction and Kier Construction.   The company won a BALI National Landscaping Award in 2014 for its landscaping project at Harton Quay in South Shields.

“We have been held back from expanding simply because we didn’t have enough space,” said Joe Zazzetta.  “We were delighted when UK Steel Enterprise came on board and the grant element is a particularly welcome part of the package.  I was finding it impossible to get finance for a new build project rather than moving into an existing building but we need very specific facilities and room for future expansion too.”

The new premises will provide offices, a warehouse, space for recycling green waste, wash bays, a yard and storage for equipment.

“The company started out in a portacabin and this is a big project for us but being in the new building will give us huge potential for growth,” said Joe Zazzetta, who is already advertising for an experienced landscape foreperson and expects his team to grow fast.  “We have been bursting at the seams for some time and, in fact, the company joke is that fitting all the equipment on to our site is like a game of Jenga.”

Sarah Thorpe of investor UK Steel Enterprise, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, said: “Sustain Landscapes is a well -established company with considerable expertise, a sound financial base and strong management team.  Its potential to grow and create jobs in Derwentside was being held back and we were happy to provide the investment that has meant this project could go ahead.”

Details of UK Steel Enterprise’s support for business are on  www.uksteelenterprise.co.uk and Sustain Landscapes is www.sustainlandscapes.com

Changing the business landscape:  Sarah Thorpe of investor UK Steel Enterprise (above) with Joe Zazzetta of Sustain Landscapes.

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/fellowship-award-for-tees-valley-marketer/

Fellowship award for Tees Valley Marketer

Fellowship award for Tees Valley Marketer – The marketing skills and experience of Jacqui Taylor, director of Taylor Made Marketing Communications of Norton, have been recognised by the award of Fellowship from the CIM.  

Fellowships are awarded to experienced marketers who can demonstrate an exceptional track record and in Jacqui’s case this has included her work in social sciences, psychology, business and teaching.

This has enabled her to build parallel careers as director of a leading marketing agency and director of the first licensed training company in the North East to have offered CIM-accredited courses.

Over the past three decades she has also freely given marketing support to a range of cultural, social, academic and charitable activities in the region.  Her current work includes teaching, supervisory and invigilation services for the University of Teesside and the Open University.

Jacqui commented, “I am delighted to receive this endorsement of my marketing skills from the CIM.  I am increasingly fascinated by the challenge of using my passion for this profession to inspire clients and students of all levels with a lifelong love of marketing.

“I am probably hungrier than ever to try new techniques, absorb new influences and apply my background in psychology to the benefit of clients.”

Diane Earles, Network Manager at CIM, said “We are very pleased to welcome Jacqui as a Fellow of the CIM.  I am sure this will inspire her to do even more good work for the profession.”

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/sitv-sets-new-standard-for-tees-valley-charities/

SiTV sets new standard for Tees Valley charities

SiTV sets new standard for Tees Valley charities – Participation in two high profile projects has helped Safe in Tees Valley (SiTV) become the first charity in the Tees Valley to pass the rigorous independent assessment required to achieve PQASSO – the leading quality standard for voluntary and community organisations.  

SiTV has been delivering services supporting young people and promoting partnership approaches to address crime and community safety concerns since 1996.

In addition to this extensive experience, it was able to call on two current projects – the National Citizens Service (NCS), which it has been delivering in the Tees Valley for the past four years, and membership of the newly-formed North East arcc consortium  - to demonstrate the excellence required by PQASSO in areas such as:-

Planning; Governance; Leadership and management; User-centred service; Managing people; Learning and development; Managing money.

SiTV chief executive, John Bentley, commented: “The voluntary and community sector increasingly have to compete for scarce resources, do more for less and prove their worth to funders and commissioners. The PQASSO kite mark gives us an external verification of the quality and credibility of our organisation that is both timely and authoritative.”

Around 2,000 16-17 year olds from all types of background have already benefited from participation in the NCS, which helps them build self confidence and acquire new skills for work and life.

Participants enjoy a residential element then spend 30 days developing and delivering a project to tackle issues that concern them in their Tees Valley communities.

In the past four years, NCS cohorts supported by SiTV have delivered 215 social action projects across the Tees Valley for organisations ranging from community groups to Hartlepool Hospice. In 2015, 1000 young people will again be invited to participate in three cohorts.

Further details and application deadlines are available at www.safeinteesvalley.org and email: [email protected]

The arcc (achieving real change for communities) consortium comprises public, private and third sector organisations, which have come together to pioneer new approaches to the rehabilitation of ex-prisoners and offenders. It has successfully bid for a Government contract to replace the Probation Trust in Durham and the Tees Valley.

For further information, contact: John Bentley, Chief Executive on T.01642 664440

Top:  Safe in Tees Valley now has independent confirmation of its expertise in the key areas required to bring flagship programmes like National Citizens Service (NCS) to the Tees Valley.  In one of many successful NCS programmes in 2014, a group of 16/17 year old volunteers enhanced their own core life and work skills by designing and delivering a project to enhance the environment for those who visit and work at Hartlepool Hospice.

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/houghton-international-announces-1m-investment-plans/

Houghton International announces £1m investment plans

Houghton International announces £1m investment plans – Electro mechanical engineering specialist Houghton International exceeded its £5 million turnover target in 2014, leading to record profit representing a 25% year on year growth and £1million investment plans.

Strong sales performance and infrastructure improvements for the Newcastle based firm have resulted in record results for the financial year to January 2015.

Growth comes from expansion into new sales territories in the UK and overseas, long term contract wins in the rail sector and sustained development in its core HV coil business.

Michael Mitten, CEO of Houghton International, commented: “In addition to our forecasted sales, profits in 2014 were bolstered by several large motor rewind projects for overseas power producers. We have also secured some strategic long term contracts that put us in a robust financial position moving forward.

“To exceed our target and break the £5million barrier for the first time is a fantastic achievement, especially in our 30th year in business.

“We plan to invest a further £1million into the business this year, financing new machinery, people development and factory enhancements to enable us to compete in developing markets and continue to meet our customer’s needs. This supports further double digit growth for 2015.

“We’ve set the challenge to hit £20million turnover by 2020 and are confident that our highly skilled workforce, innovative culture and reputation for quality will help us grow the business even further, both in the UK and further afield,” he said.

To support this the company expects to take on around 150 new employees, invest £2million into R&D and expand into new manufacturing space to accommodate the increase in demand over the next five years.

Houghton International has also committed to taking on six new apprentices this year, following the graduation of four of its current recruits with HNC qualifications.

Founded in 1984 by Michael’s parents, Ron and Christine Mitten, Houghton International has expanded over the last 30 years into a multi-million pound, multinational business.

The company has grown from originally serving one customer to now working with over 200 customers in the UK and beyond. Houghton International currently export to over 15 countries worldwide, including Canada, Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Nigeria, Norway, Venezuela, Malaysia, the Middle East, the USA and the Caribbean.

Located over three sites on Walker riverside, it now employs 80 staff and specialises in the repair, maintenance and life extension of electrical mechanical assets servicing a broad range of sectors including power generation, renewables, industrial, water, oil and gas, marine and rail.

For more information on Houghton International and the range of services it offers please visit: www.houghton-international.com.

Above: CEO Michael Mitten with company apprentices

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/new-cbi-assistant-regional-director/

New CBI Assistant Regional Director

New CBI Assistant Regional Director – The CBI has appointed Sarah Glendinning as its new Assistant Regional Director in the North East.

Sarah joins the CBI from Nigel Wright Consultancy, the Newcastle-based global recruitment firm, where she was an Executive Search Consultant focused on recruiting at senior management, director and non-executive levels throughout the North of the UK.

Sarah has been actively engaged in diversity and developing talent and skills throughout her career. She is involved in a range of groups in the North East supporting women and their development, specifically within the construction and property sectors, and sat on the Women’s Advisory Board of the North East Chamber of Commerce in 2014. She is also a Governor of Hilton Primary Academy in Blakelaw.

Sarah, (right above with CBI North East Director Dianne Sharp) said of her appointment: “I am delighted to have been appointed Assistant Regional Director in the North East. The area has a rich diversity of firms, and I’m looking forward to working with Dianne Sharp and the CBI North East team to create the right environment for them to thrive in, and to make sure that our strong business voice is heard, both regionally and nationally.”

Dianne Sharp said: “I’m excited to have Sarah alongside me in this role. Having grown up and spent a large part of her career in the North East, she is well placed to represent the region’s business interests. Her experience in boosting the profile of women will be particularly welcome amongst the business community.”

Prior to joining Nigel Wright Consultancy, Sarah worked in UK and international sales and marketing roles in the Manufacturing, IT and Graphic Arts sectors.

Across the UK, the CBI speaks on behalf of 190,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors which together employ nearly 7 million people, about one third of the private sector-employed workforce. With offices in the UK as well as representation in Brussels, Washington, Beijing and Delhi, the CBI communicates the British business voice around the world.

Visit the Great Business Debate website – a CBI led campaign to help build public confidence in business.

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/project-innovation-provides-engineering-inspiration/

Project Innovation provides engineering inspiration

Project Innovation provides engineering inspiration  – Nissan and Microsoft have come together to create Project Innovation, a ground-breaking programme designed to inspire Britain’s next generation of engineers.

Providing a unique opportunity to work alongside experts responsible for developing technologies used around the world, the programme gives a lucky individual the chance to win a once in a lifetime trip to see the R&D facilities of both Nissan and Microsoft.

Following a call for budding engineers to enter their top ideas for the ‘connected car’ three finalists were selected to go through to a two-day workshop where they were partnered with Nissan and Microsoft experts to come up with ideas for the car of the future.

The three finalists included John Scott who has proposed Journey Portal, an app that reads signs, records information from your journey and allow you to review what you’ve seen at home later, Aaron Daubney who put forward an idea to maximise time and efficiency with a transparent windscreen display, allowing you to review schedules, send emails, connect with friends, and Sam Furniss who suggested a karaoke system which could link drivers in different cars to reduce the boredom of traffic jams.

Nissan and Microsoft are now calling on the British public to visit the MSN Project Innovation hub and see for themselves the ideas that stemmed from the two-day workshop and vote for their favourite. The winner will be announced on December 29. Guillaume Masurel, Marketing Director, Nissan Motor GB said “Innovation is at the heart of what we do at Nissan as we continuously strive to improve the driving experience for our customers.”

Project Innovation provided a platform for budding engineers and motoring enthusiasts to discuss ideas that could transform the automotive industry and I am really excited by the ideas and concepts put forward by our three finalists.”

The lucky winner will receive an exclusive behind the scenes glimpse of Nissan and Microsoft’s R&D facilities in Seattle and San Diego, where research is being conducted into future automotive technologies and computer systems respectively.

To place your vote for the winning team, visit the Project Innovation hub on the MSN website:https://competitions.promotigo.com/vote/nissanprojectinnovation

Above: Sam Furniss working with her team to develop her idea.

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/lucrative-work-bricklayers/

Lucrative work for bricklayers

Lucrative work for bricklayers – A North East building services company that is being forced to turn away lucrative contract offers because of a shortage of bricklayers is working flat out to try and fill the yawning skills gap.   

Brickwork Services Ltd, an award-winning company started in 2004 and based in Hartlepool, is doing all it can to train local apprentices and unemployed people as well as to attract qualified bricklayers so that the company can continue to expand.

Once qualified, the company says they would have the opportunity to earn considerably more than the £1000 per week figure quoted recently for Portugese bricklayers working in London.

Brickwork Services, which expanded last year thanks to an investment from UK Steel Enterprise, the Tata Steel business-support subsidiary, already provides work for more than 130 bricklayers on contracts across the North East.

Managing Director Steve Willis said: “The construction sector has been growing fast and all the signs are that there will be further massive growth in 2015.   We are  starting major contracts on eight new sites in January alone and just one of our clients is expecting to have more than 20 new sites established in the first half of the year.

“We expect others to follow suit and we have been struggling to find the skilled workers we need for some time.  We are doing everything we can to find skilled bricklayers but also to attract apprentices, the unemployed, Army personnel coming back into civilian life or anyone looking to learn a skill that will bring them a good financial reward for their hard work.

“We have some bricklayers currently earning considerably more than £1000 a week so it is a real opportunity for the individual and an ideal situation for us if we can expand our skilled team by creating job opportunities for local people and grow the business further.”

With the help of a partnership with NCT Training, Brickwork Services is providing on-site training for apprentices and currently has about 22 working with the company.

Providing bricklaying and building services to the construction sector its clients include Gentoo, Southdale Homes, Derestreet Homes, Taylor Wimpey, Keepmoat Homes and the Esh Group.  It has contracts worth millions of pounds, guaranteeing work for the next few years, and has also established Pro-Active Safety Solutions, a separate company that provides consultancy and training.

Last year, UK Steel Enterprise gave Brickwork Services a £50,000 unsecured loan towards a £100,000 expansion project that created around 40 jobs.

“That investment was very important.” says Steve Willis. “We had found it impossible to get the finance we needed from other sources – no one was interested because, despite our very healthy order book, we are involved in the construction sector.   We are now growing so fast that we are likely to be looking for further investment so that we can continue to expand.”

Details of UK Steel Enterprise’s support for businesses is available on 01642 777 777 and at www.uksteelenterprise.co.uk. Brickwork Services is on 07970 710 592 and at www.brickworkservicesltd.co.uk  Pro-Active Safety can be contacted on 07792 658 163 and at www.passssafety.co.uk

Above:  Steve Willis (left) of Brickwork Services with Simon Hamilton, MD of UK Steel Enterprise.

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/vopak-contract-cleveland-fire-brigade-risk-management/

Vopak contract for Cleveland Fire Brigade Risk Management

Vopak contract for Cleveland Fire Brigade Risk Management – Cleveland Fire Brigade’s growing risk management company has won a three year contract to provide round-the-clock emergency support at Vopak’s Teesside Terminal at Seal Sands.   

CFB Risk Management will provide 24/7 emergency response and crisis management support, incident command and control training, and exercising and a stand-by emergency control centre (ECC) in the event of a major incident.

Royal Vopak is the world’s largest independent liquid bulk tank storage service provider by capacity, specialising in the storage and handling of oil products, liquid chemicals and gasses.   The company operates 80 terminals in 28 countries with a combined storage capacity of 33.5 million cbm, with another 4.5 million cbm under development, to be added by 2017. The majority of its customers are companies operating in the oil, chemicals and gas sector.

The contract is the latest in a series won by CFB Risk Management, the Community Interest Company (CIC) set up in 2011 to provide high quality and cost effective risk management services to the high hazard private sector.

The first company of its kind to be set up in the UK by a Fire Authority, CFB Risk Management expects turnover to be more than £2m in the next financial year.

The range of specialist services it provides to help high hazard industries protect personnel, assets and avoid costly disruption to production includes fire safety management, emergency planning, fire engineering, emergency response and training and exercising.

“We see this latest contract as another major vote of confidence in the services we are providing to industry and that our expertise and experience is being recognised and valued,” said Gary Cawley, Technical Director, CFB Risk Management.

“International companies such as Vopak have very stringent tendering procedures and we are delighted to have won this three-year contract.  We are already working with Vopak’s neighbour Ineos Nitriles at Seal Sands so this latest contract extends our coverage in that area,” he added.

Ian Cochrane, Managing Director of Vopak Terminals UK Ltd, said: “Vopak Terminal Teesside is delighted that we have reached an agreement with CFBRM for the provision of these critical services. Safety is Vopak’s first priority and being able to team up with CFBRM whose skill and expertise is internationally renowned is very pleasing.”

CFB Risk Management has invested heavily in state-of-the-art equipment, facilities and staff training. The latest investment of £100,000 has created a state-of-the-art Incident Command & Crisis Management Training Facility at its Learning and Development Centre in Teesside which is open to industries operating in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

The company now has one of the largest COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) complicit workforces in the UK with the skills and competence to work in a multiplicity of high hazard situations. It employs more than 30 full-time staff plus a further 150 part-time skilled support staff and has a bank of 500 more who are available when needed.

CFB Risk Management has contracts in place with major blue-chip companies in the oil and gas, nuclear and petrochemical sectors across the UK and a number of significant developments in the Middle East and Europe are at an advanced stage. All CFB Risk Management profits go into community projects that improve safety for thousands of families in the Tees area.

“Every contract that we win is specifically tailored to the individual company so our bank of knowledge and experience is always growing and improving,” said Gary Cawley.

Details of CFB Risk Management’s services are available from 01429 874088 and at www.cfbriskmanagement.com

Contract win (above): Gary Cawley (left), Technical Director, CFB Risk Management with Ian Cochrane, Managing Director, Vopak Terminals UK Ltd.

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/ipl-broadens-its-growth-horizons-963/

IPL broadens its growth horizons

IPL broadens its growth horizons – World class valve and process technology business International Procurement Ltd is targeting a growth in sales, following a move to new premises.

Celebrating its first 10 years in business, IPL, which moved from premises on the Portrack Industrial Estate in Stockton, to Orde Wingate Way, on the Primrose Hill Business Park, has appointed John Dady, 49, from Accrington, in Lancashire, (right) as its new Sales Manager.

He will report to IPL Sales Director Dave Speight (bottom), and is targeting a substantial increase in sales in the UK valve sector.

No stranger to the valve industry, Mr. Dady spent the past 12 years as sales manager at Rotork Valve Kits, part of the Rotork Group of companies. Prior to Rotork, he was an area sales manager for RGS Electro Pneumatics Ltd, which manufactures pneumatic valves and operating systems.  Mr Dady joins a sales team of eight with the recent addition of a modern apprentice Holly McLean (below).

His first target is to increase orders from the industrial valve sector in the UK, while sales director Dave Speight will remain responsible for maintaining current business and growing valve sales in the British nuclear industry.

The company’s managing director, Colin Wilson, will continue to oversee IPL’s continuing growth in overseas markets.

Mr Dady said: “I’m currently visiting potential customers of IPL across the UK, and talking with them about their plans for the future. The next year looks like it could be a very good one for IPL’s UK business, as many potential customers are drawing up their own growth plans.”

IPL currently distributes customised valves and associated equipment for some of the biggest valve manufactures in the world. They include the multi-million turnover US-based Valvtechnologies – critical and severe service valves, Canadian firm Velan – manufacturers of steam traps and bonnet less valves, US based Vortex – dry and bulk solid handling valves, Swiss-based ABB Technologies, and the Japanese SMC Corporation.

Increased sales enquiries have developed following the relaunch of IPL’s website, www.ip-ltd.net, which has shown a 55 per cent growth in enquiries. A recent business trip to Egypt resulted in the signing of an agreement with a local agent in Cairo, who is currently working with a number of Egyptian, Government-owned businesses.

In addition, visits across Europe, have resulted in the development of a large infrastructure of potential clients, with distribution deals established in many countries and orders growing.

Mr Wilson said: “Our investment in the development of a website, and a brochure to complement it, has most certainly accounted for a growth in the number of enquiries we have received. More recently, enquiries have come from Pakistan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Dubai, Brazil, Vietnam and Canada”.

Recent successes for IPL’s world-wide business include an agreement to distribute Igema’s range of level and boiler monitoring equipment. The business, based in Münster, near the German border with Holland, is a world-leader in the heat and steam monitoring sector.

IPL has also added to its growing and impressive range of products, by introducing those manufactured by HH Valves. Based in the UK HH Valves are the only company manufacturing the genuine Hattersley Heaton design of cast steel gate globe and check valves to the requirements of BS EN ISO90001 and the European Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC.

A further recent addition to its portfolio  has been the Canadian based ‘Hughes’ Industrial Insulation Systems who design and manufacture removable & reusable valve insulation systems for all valve types and pressure ratings, across all major industrial applications. Some of the sectors IPL work in include petrochemicals, food and drink, agriculture, utilities, nuclear generation, power, pharmaceuticals, mining, iron and steel.

IPL’s recent growth is testimony to the success it has enjoyed over the past three years, a period which has seen the company make significant progress in terms of sales, contacts, new customers, and a continued increase in annual turnover.

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/lucky-thirteen/

Lucky thirteen for Rob and his latest business

Lucky thirteen for Rob and his latest business – When Rob Collier needed a name for his latest business venture he didn’t hesitate to choose his lucky number.  

Now, @thirteen, the second business he has started at UK Steel Enterprise’s Innovation Centre in Hartlepool, is already set to roll out its special brand of on-site catering to other centres and large companies on Teesside.

Rob, who set up Advanced Retail Solutions Ltd in the Innovation Centre on the Queens Meadow Business Park two years ago, decided to fill a gap and provide top quality catering at the Centre, home to more than 40 young businesses.  Working in partnership with his father, Robert senior, @thirteen was started.

“We love the Innovation Centre and it is the perfect environment to start a business,” he said. “Advanced Retail Solutions has expanded massively here and we now occupy two of the largest units. We are about to add another two Sales Managers to our team of 11 and have a second office and distribution centre in Manchester.  ARS is already one of the largest distributors in the UK and carries goods for many major independent wholesalers.

“We thought that if our team like great coffee and food made to order on our doorstep then other tenants would too, so we came up with @thirteen.  We invested an initial £8000 on equipment to provide the best range of quality food and drink that we could.”

@thirteen’s range of speciality lattes including gingerbread, marshmallow and hazelnut are especially popular and the menu includes paninis, bacon or sausage baps, salads, a soup of the day, baguettes and cup cakes.

“We use locally-sourced produce and everything is fresh every single day and made to order,” said Rob, who is Hartlepool born and bred.  “There are about 250 people working in the Innovation Centre and visitors, delivery drivers and others working on the Business Park are becoming regulars too.

“We are already talking to other Centres and large companies on Teesside about @thirteen as employers are also realising the benefits on-site catering can bring to the business as well as employees.”

And his lucky number thirteen?  Both Rob’s parents were born on the 13th of the month.  Rob and his wife Danielle, currently on maternity leave from the business with their second baby, live at number 13 and now the family @thirteen business is continuing the lucky trend.

Joan Cook of UK Steel Enterprise, the business-support subsidiary of Tata Steel, said:  “We were very pleased when Rob, who has already grown his distribution business very successfully from our Innovation Centre, suggested @thirteen.   Everyone loves the welcoming smell of fresh coffee and the made-to-order menu, including the UKSE team running the Centre”.

Details of UK Steel Enterprise’s support for businesses is on 01642 777 777 and at www.uksteelenterprise.co.uk.

Time for a break: Joan Cook of UK Steel Enterprise with Rob Collier who has started catering company @thirteen, his second business at the Innovation Centre in Hartlepool.

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/innovate-uk-leads-search-for-energy-solutions/

Innovate UK leads search for energy solutions

Searching for future energy solutions- Innovate UK has just opened the latest round of the Energy Catalyst competition to provide investment and support to help your business innovate at the time, in the way and at the scale that you need it.

The funding will help take energy saving ideas from concept to pre-commercial readiness.

We can no longer take energy for granted says Innovate UK and now is the time to find solutions to reduce emissions, improve security of supply and reduce cost. £14 million will be invested to help find solutions to address this energy trilemma.

The UK has a legally-binding obligation to ensure that 15% of our total energy must come from renewable sources by 2020. Other opportunities to develop innovative new products and services are presented by domestic policy and legal requirements, such as:

the statutory requirement that UK greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 (based on 1990 levels)

the security of an estimated 85GW indigenous supply requirement in the UK by 2020

the need to provide affordable energy for all

The Energy Catalyst was set up by Innovate UK, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

If you’re an innovative business or researcher from any sector, and think you could help develop solutions to the energy trilemma,apply for funding through our Energy Catalyst competition.

There are three categories of funding - technical feasibility,technology development and pre-commercial technology validation.

The competition is open for applications and this round of funding closes on 29 April 2015.

Find out more about our investments in our energy strategy

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/bringing-business-rates/

Bringing down business rates

Bringing down business rates – Independent traders, family firms and businesses which use local suppliers could pay less in business rates under reforms proposed by councils and which could help save England’s high streets.

Local authorities are concerned that many small firms and businesses which do most of their trade on the high street rather than online are unfairly penalised by business rates in their current form.

Councils, which are responsible for collecting business rates, are hugely restricted in their ability to introduce local discounts. This is because government sets the charge and keeps half of business rate income as well as growth – extra income earned from new business premises – which it redistributes to local authorities in grants.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which speaks on behalf of councils, says that instead, business rates should be set by local government. Any growth in business rates income should be retained by local government. And the redistribution of business rates should be taken out of central government’s hands.

The Chancellor is being urged to deliver a boost for small businesses in next month’s Autumn Statement by committing to devolving control of business rates down to local government.

With greater local control, councils would have more flexibility to reduce business rates for the types of shops and businesses that residents want in their high streets and neighbourhoods.

Locally decided policies could include start-up leases for new businesses or rate relief for firms which use local suppliers. Such schemes operate in some areas already but could benefit thousands more businesses nationwide if business rate income was kept by local government.

Councils are also calling for government to explore the potential for linking business rates to turn-over and e-commerce as part of a wider package of reforms to make business rates fairer for business and local areas.

Small shops and independent traders in some areas can pay many times more than internet start-ups and e-commerce firms which have a much bigger turnover. Almost one in seven shops on the high street is currently empty. Councils are concerned that the burden of expensive business rates for small traders is making it more difficult for new businesses to open.

Cllr David Sparks, Chair of the LGA, said:

“We need a system of local business taxation which is fit for the 21st century, which supports the areas in which companies operate and which helps, rather than hinders, business and the growth of our economy.

“The current system is failing to do that. Councils can’t support their local businesses as much as they would like to. There are many areas in which local authorities have been successful in helping new firms to open and keep small businesses alive, but in reality we are working with one hand tied behind our backs.

“The money which a business pays should be retained by local government to invest in the vital local services, all of which help local businesses either directly or indirectly.

“We need to remove Whitehall’s hands from the business rate purse and find a fairer way to invest the taxes paid by business so that areas with growing economies feel the benefit in a way which does not come at the expense of those parts of the country where business is less buoyant.

“Government should work with businesses and councils to go back to the drawing board on business rates.

“The idea that the local taxes paid by business should be based solely on the size of a building predates the English Civil War. In a world where business and retail is increasingly happening online, a fundamental rethink is clearly long overdue.”

Councils have set out five key areas for long-overdue reform. They are urging government to:

Devolve the setting of rates and discounts to local authorities who would be able to use this power to reduce bills to help support local and independent businesses.

Commit to 100 per cent of business rates income, including growth, being retained by local government. Currently 50 per cent of business rate income is paid to the Treasury as is half of the extra income raised when new businesses open. They use this to pay grants to local authorities.

Establish an independent body for the distribution of funding to councils. This would take the politics out of financial distribution and would redistribute business rates income across the country in a way which would ensure those areas with less business activity do not lose out.

Work with local government to minimise business rates avoidance.

Reform the appeals system. The number of appeals and time they take to resolve is major problem which restricts the ability of local authorities to reinvest the money to support business. According to most recent government data there are more than 130,000 outstanding appeals from businesses over the rates they pay.

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/kick-off-xmas-in-style-at-st-james-park/

Kick-off xmas in style at St James' Park

Kick-off xmas in style at St James’ Park – One of the country’s top sports grounds is giving businesses a premier league gift this Christmas.

For the first time ever, St James’ Park, home to Newcastle United FC, is giving businesses the chance to treat clients or colleagues to a festive lunch in one of its executive boxes overlooking the hallowed turf.

Sodexo Prestige Venue & Events, which manages conferences and events at the stadium, is offering private dining for parties of between 10 and 45, from a menu specially created to celebrate the festive season.

Samantha Doyle, area sales manager for Sodexo Prestige, said: “We’ve created this Corporate Christmas Lunch in direct response to requests from Newcastle businesses.

“St James’ Park has long been one of the city’s most popular venues for large scale office parties, however, a number of smaller companies and executive management teams have asked if we could offer private lunches over the festive season.

“We’re delighted to not only be offering a superb menu in an iconic setting, but to be offering it as such a great price – so Christmas lunch with colleagues or clients needn’t break the bank.”

The Corporate Christmas Lunch costs £29.95 per person and must be pre-booked by calling 0191 201 8525 or e-mailing [email protected].

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New Post has been published on The North East Business Forum

New Post has been published on http://northeastbusinessforum.co.uk/fit-purpose-workplace/

Fit for a purpose in the workplace

Fit for a purpose in the workplace – BBC current affairs programme Inside Out is looking for a north east business to take part in an exercise in fitness and healthy eating.

The search has been prompted by calls from the NHS and Government for more people to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing.

Inside Out is seeking a regional company willing to volunteer to take part in a series of televised sessions where staff and bosses get together to demonstrate a commitment to health and fitness in the workplace.

“We would like to work with a pool of people, led by a boss, who are prepared to limber up and take on the challenge of improving fitness and diet. The idea is they would use the workplace to put their ideas into practice,” said researcher Katie Cole.

If your company is interested in taking part you can contact Katie at [email protected] or by telephone on 0191 244 1294.