rotherham business news

Tata Steel has confirmed that it will begin a separate process for the potential sale of its Speciality Steels business, which until recently employed over 2,000 people in South Yorkshire.

The Indian-owned steelmaker previously concluded that it is exploring all options for portfolio restructuring including the potential sale of Tata Steel UK, in whole or in parts. The formal process began on April 11 with contact made with 190 potential financial and industrial investors worldwide.

Seven bids were immediately taken forward to the next stage but a shortlist of bidders has never been confirmed and the sale process was suspended. Since the announcement in March, there has been rising steel prices, a turnaround at Port Talbot, announcements from the Government on support for the industry, consultation on the pension scheme, a fall in the price of the pound and the EU referendum.

In a statement today, Tata Steel said that its Board has decided to look at "alternative and more sustainable portfolio solutions" for the European business. Consequently, Tata Steel has now entered into discussions with strategic players in the steel industry, including thyssenkrupp AG regarding a potential joint venture with a combination of strip products businesses.

Speciality Steels is not considered a downstream business linked to Port Talbot and Tata Steel's strip products business. It produces around 225,000 tonnes of steel, comprising around 3% of Tata Steel Europe's total output. It has a £275m turnover and is Tata Steel Europe's only Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) based business, specialising in carbon, alloy and stainless steels for demanding applications like aerospace, motorsports and oil and gas. Until recently it employed over 2,000 people at sites like Aldwarke in Rotherham and Stocksbridge in Sheffield.

With the main sale process stopped, the sale of Speciality Steels will continue separately.

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Koushik Chatterjee, group executive director and Tata Steel's executive director for Europe, said: "We have initiated conversations for a strategic collaboration for our European business. A potential strategic combination of strip products businesses offers the best prospects to create a premium, world-class strip steel business with the scale and scope of capabilities to compete successfully on the global stage.

"As part of this development in our European strategy, we will now also begin separate processes for the potential sale of the South Yorkshire-based Speciality Steels business and the Hartlepool pipe mills (other than the 20-inch Tube Mill) in the UK. Both of these operations are largely independent of the strip products supply chain with their own specific characteristics. Tata Steel UK has already received interest from several bidders for Speciality Steels and the pipe mills in each case and a formal process will be commencing shortly."

Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary of the steelworkers' union, Community, said that the announcement "raises many more questions" and reminded the company of its obligations. He said: "As regards the speciality business and the operation in Hartlepool, as we have said before, Tata needs to be a responsible seller, upholding its moral and social responsibilities to those steel communities.

"The sales process must test both the intentions and capabilities of any potential bidders, Tata must allow Community direct access to any bidder and there should be no further fragmentation of these businesses. Neither the speciality business nor two of the Hartlepool tube mills are part of the Port Talbot supply chain, so an argument could be made that they could have a successful future on their own with the right vision and investment.

"However, we do believe that making these businesses stand alone is unnecessary as there are significant advantages to being part of a larger steel group. Indeed, this has been an important factor in sustaining these businesses in recent years.

"This further potential fragmentation of the UK steel industry makes it all the more important that the government brings forward and supports the development of an overarching vision for steel in the UK. We believe that this is crucial to future success and we will be setting out our own vision for steel in the coming days, drawing on the collective wisdom and decades of experience of our members."

Tata Steel website

Images: Tata Steel

A grant of up to £12m has been agreed to support £60m of inward investment in the Sheffield city region (SCR) as part of a project known only as "Project Mercury."

One of the biggest grants made since the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) took on the coordinated approach to securing inward investment, the project would support 370 jobs in the city region.

Rothbiz reported last year that a £52m pot secured by the Sheffield City Region LEP is being split into two funds - one to help grow existing businesses, and one to help secure inward investment.

Part of the £350m Local Growth Fund (LGF) allocation, half of the fund would be used in a similar way to the existing £32m "Unlocking Business Investment" programme, with the other half of the fund is to be used "to support significant inward investment within the Sheffield City" and any local authority "promoters" would be expected to repay an element of any grant provided.

Now the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority has approved the allocation of a Business Investment Fund grant of up to £12m to support £60m of inward investment in the Sheffield city region, resourced from uncommitted LGF.

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The paper was discussed in private due to the commercial nature of the proposal. Rothbiz understands that "Project Mercury" involves a Tier 1 Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and major international brand that is seeking both new R&D and production capabilities.

The private sector investment could be linked to a potential £27m light weighting research centre focused on the development of manufacturing techniques that will make use of materials with exceptional strength to weight properties more cost effective.

If it pays off, the £12m would support £60m of inward investment, £100m of additional GVA and 370 predominantly high skilled jobs in the Sheffield city region.

One of the major assets of the SCR is the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID). Recognising that high value manufacturing can be key to driving innovation, productivity and exports, civic leaders have committed to the idea of "supercharging" the areas of advanced manufacturing in the Sheffield-Rotherham Economic Corridor. Based around the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham and surrounding Enterprise Zone, the aim is to develop Europe's largest research-led advanced manufacturing cluster.

Early proposals indicate a potential £600m centre of excellence in metals and materials manufacturing and plans to transform the current AMP and Sheffield Business Park into a central hub to the Innovation District.

The links between academia and industry have been key to inward investment in the region. The AMRC campus being planned for the site of the Sheffield Airport aims to attract private sector partners to co-locate, as seen with Rolls-Royce investing over £100m on the AMP in Rotherham.

Sheffield City Region Investment website

Images: AMRC / Bond Bryan

Australian multinational company, Bradken, is selling off its loss making European business operations following a "challenging and demanding" period of trading caused by a downturn in commodity prices and a forced change in behaviour of mining companies.

The heavy engineering company is headquartered in New South Wales and employed over 6,000 people globally, operating from manufacturing and service facilities throughout the world. It is a manufacturer and supplier of differentiated capital and consumable products to the mining, transport, general industrial and contract manufacturing markets.

Having purchased the historic Scunthorpe foundry when it acquired Firth Rixson Castings in a £16m deal in 2006, Bradken produced large iron and steel wear resistant components to the power, cement, pumps, mining, general engineering, mineral processing and quarrying industries.

In 2013, Bradken took on a refurbished site at Dodds Close at Templeborough in order to combine its office and warehouse facilities into one 12,000 sq ft building.

Now the company is progressing plans for the divestment of European business including its Darlaston and Scunthorpe manufacturing facilities in the UK. The Rotherham base, the regional head office for Bradken Europe, is now being advertised for new owners and occupiers.

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Around 20 sites have been closed or reconfigured as Bradken moves work from higher cost to lower cost foundries. It has recently acquired a large foundry in India.

Bradken posted a net loss after tax of AUS$168.1m for the six months to December 2015 and this did not include restructuring costs of $17.9m before tax related to the manufacturing reorganisation and restructuring of the overhead cost base. It also reported a net debt of $393m.

The firm believes that the exit of loss making European operations will positively impact EBITDA (earnings before taxes) by $3 million per year.

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Phil Arnall, acting managing director, at Bradken, said in February: "It has been a trying first half, however the company remains focused on its strategic intent of generating surplus cash to pay down its debt. We have been doing this in a planned way and it is bearing fruit. During the period, cash costs were reduced a further 8% to $78m and we have closed or announced the closure of several foundries and plans are underway to migrate products from these locations to lower cost facilities.

"There is a way to go in this exercise, however clear plans are in place and the company can see a further reduction of $8m per half in cash overheads progressively over the next 12 months, together with operating cost improvement from the foundry rationalisation initiative."

Bradken website

Images: Bradken

Tata Steel has asked for offers for its Speciality Steels business to be submitted by the end of the week, according to reports.

Following a board meeting last week, the Indian-owned steelmaker decided on a separate process for the potential sale of its Speciality Steels business, which until recently employed over 2,000 people in South Yorkshire.

The sale process for the rest of the UK assets was halted and the Tata board said it was looking at "alternative and more sustainable portfolio solutions" including a potential joint venture with Germany's Thyssenkrupp which would see the strip products businesses combined.

Speciality Steels is not considered a downstream business linked to Port Talbot and Tata Steel's strip products business. It produces around 225,000 tonnes of steel, comprising around 3% of Tata Steel Europe's total output. It has a £275m turnover and is Tata Steel Europe's only Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) based business, specialising in carbon, alloy and stainless steels for demanding applications like aerospace, motorsports and oil and gas. Until recently it employed over 2,000 people at sites like Aldwarke in Rotherham and Stocksbridge in Sheffield.

Sky News reports that potential bidders have been told to table indicative proposals by July 15.

It adds that the process has been given the codename Project Sabre, and is being run by KPMG, the accountancy firm. Sale documents "forecast a turnaround in the fortunes of the division, with an £81.4m pre-tax loss in the year to March 2016 expected to become a £32.9m profit by the end of its 2018-19 financial year."

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Local Rotherham MPs have raised concerns over the sale and urged the Government to do all it can to ensure that Tata is a responsible seller.

In a statement to the house, Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, said that the Government remained committed to ensuring a sustainable future for the business that Tata put up for sale.

Javid said: "Following the referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, and a review of the bids received for Tata Steel UK, the Board of Tata Group announced on Friday 8 July its intention additionally to explore options for retaining ownership of the business with strategic partners, including through a possible joint venture with ThyssenKrupp AG. Discussions are at a preliminary stage.

"Tata has also announced its intention to sell separately its speciality steel business based in Rotherham and Stocksbridge, as well as two mills that produce steel pipes based in in Hartlepool. Around 2,000 of Tata's UK workforce are employed in the businesses that will be sold. None of the businesses that will be sold are supplied with steel from Port Talbot, and are separate business units within the group.

"We will remain in close contact with Tata during the sale process for the speciality steel and pipes business units, and as they develop their plans for the strip products business. The Government's offer of support via an equity stake and/or loans on commercial terms to a future owner of the strip products business, which includes the operations at Port Talbot, remains."

John Healey, whose Wentworth & Dearne constituency includes the Aldwarke plant, has written with dismay and anger to the Secretary of State following his statement highlighting the uncertainty around the sale, accusing the Government of "turning its back on the steelworkers and steel communities of South Yorkshire."

He called for clarity over what support will be offered to the Speciality Steels business given that the statement only mentions a continuing commitment of support for the strip business and Port Talbot.

Rotherham MP, Sarah Champion met with Anna Soubry, Minister of State (Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise) about the sale of Speciality Steel yesterday. Soubry visited Rotherham and Stocksbridge earlier this year and Champion said she: "understands need to get a responsible buyer."

A Westminster debate on the implications for the UK steel industry of the outcome of the EU Referendum is scheduled for today.

Tata Steel website

Images: Tata Steel

Leaders from the North of England have written to the Prime Minister to demand a place at the Brexit negotiating table.

The Leaders of five Northern Combined Authorities have joined forces to make clear that with an economy stronger than that of Scotland's and a population greater than London's, the North of England will not be ignored during Mrs May's administration or in the upcoming Brexit negotiations.

The Leaders have invited the Prime Minister to a meeting in Greater Manchester at her earliest convenience.

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The letter, which is signed by Cllr. Sir Steve Houghton CBE, chair of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority (pictured), reads:

Dear Prime Minister,

Congratulations on your appointment as Prime Minister. Throughout your time at the Home Office a number of us had an effective working relationship with you and while we sometimes held differing views, our dialogue was always constructive and business-like.

We noted and understood your reasons for meeting with Scotland's First Minister in your first week as Prime Minister.

Your efforts to meet leaders outside London is commendable. However, the North of England has long had concerns that we are being ignored, caught between an economically and politically powerful London and an increasingly politically important Scotland.

As we negotiate our exit from the European Union, you have made clear that you believe in having an approach and negotiation objectives that include the whole of the United Kingdom. On that point we wholeheartedly agree. It is absolutely vital that the voice of the North of England is heard loud and clear during the Brexit negotiations. The North of England has a population greater than London and almost three times that of Scotland. Our economy is significantly larger than Wales' or Scotland's.

Accordingly, we would like to invite you to meet with us at your earliest convenience to discuss our role within the Brexit negotiations and how we can work together for the benefit of the North. Tony Lloyd would be happy to host this meeting in Greater Manchester in the very near future.

Images: BMBC

Rotherham-based specialist residential healthcare provider, Exemplar Health Care has been acquired by London-based private equity house Agilitas as part of a management buyout (MBO).

Established in 1999, Exemplar began life as a training company, coordinating courses for care home workers and helping operators to remain compliant with regulations. It went on to open a number of its own properties, but it wasn't until 2002 that the company identified a gap in care home provision that would become its major focus.

With offices in Ferham, the firm operates 25 specialist nursing homes and employs 2,100 staff across Yorkshire, North West and the Midlands. Turnover totalled £55m in the year to March 31.

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Agilitas focus on "making transformational investments in defensible businesses," working with management teams to develop a transformational business plan aimed at improving, growing and strengthening the business.

The deal is though to be worth £150m and Exemplar has an investment program that includes plans for approximately 12 new homes. It also intends to create a number of step-out units linked to existing homes that will extend care pathways for adults who are ready for more independent living, but still require close care supervision nearby.

The new homes are expected to create more than 1,500 nursing and care jobs.

Euan Craig, managing director at Exemplar, said: "We are dedicated to bringing an end to cycles of failed placements by carefully tailoring the care we offer to meet these highly complex needs. We are proud that the outcomes we achieve enhance people's lives and better meet the needs of the CCGs (clinical care groups), trusts, local authorities and families that we serve.

"Exemplar staff are committed and highly motivated and they make our homes extraordinary places, and we will continue to invest in their skills and training as we grow. Everyone at Exemplar is looking forward to bringing our high standards of care to far more people suffering acute illness and injury."

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Martin Calderbank, managing partner at Agilitas, added: "Exemplar is one of the regional leaders in the care of individuals who live day to day with these complex conditions. We are excited by the opportunity to help Euan and his team expand their operations and make Exemplar's high standards of care available to many more people."

Exemplar opened the first of its specialist homes in 2003 - Greenside Court at Greasbrough in Rotherham, which specialises in adults with Huntington's disease and complex physical and mental health needs. In 2008 it was given the opportunity to buy the freeholds of a number of its care home properties and was backed with a £41m facility from Santander.

In 2015, the company decided to focus on its homes for young adults with complex care requirements and the elderly services were taken over by other care providers.

Exemplar Healthcare website

Images: Exemplar Healthcare

The BHS store in Rotherham will close at the end of July after liquidators were brought in by administrators who have so far failed to find a suitable buyer for the national retailer.

The Parkgate store has been in "close-down sale mode" since the appointment of liquidators in June.

BHS Group Ltd was acquired by Retail Acquisitions Ltd in March 2015 from the Acardia group. The department store operates some 164 outlets in the UK and was acquired by Sir Philip Green's Arcadia in May 2000.

In the same month it denied that a list of 52 stores were those being considered for disposal. The list included BHS stores at Parkgate Shopping in Rotherham and at Meadowhall in Sheffield.

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Working with restructuring professionals at KPMG, the owners announced details in March this year of a proposed company voluntary arrangement (CVA) which divided BHS's 164 store portfolio into three main categories, based on the commercial viability and strategic importance of each site.

Administrators, Duff & Phelps confirmed that all stores are closing as part of an "orderly wind-down" of the business. Closure dates for 50 stores were confirmed this week.

Dave Gill, national officer at Usdaw, the trade union for the retail sector, said: "This is terrible news for the staff in the 30 stores affected, on top of the 20 stores that are closing this Saturday. Our hope is that other retailers, including Sir Phillip Green's Arcadia group, will offer employment to these experienced, dedicated and loyal staff who suddenly find themselves unemployed.

"At the same time we are aware that the administrators are continuing to seek a buyer, who will hopefully be able to secure the future of the staff in the remaining stores.

"We remain concerned that there is still no news from Sir Phillip since he promised to "sort" the pension scheme and we wait to hear details of what he proposes. In the meantime we are providing the support, advice and representation our members require at this difficult time."

BHS has seen its profitability decline as it has sought to respond to changing customer behaviours, increased competition and the rise in omni-channel retailing. It also has a reported pension defect of £571m.

The Work and Pensions and Business, Innovation and Skills Committees have been taking evidence as part of their respective inquiries into the BHS pensions, sale and acquisition.

Images: Parkgate Shopping

An economic assessment has yet to be done on the new proposed route of the HS2 line through Rotherham, recommended changes to which came "out of the blue" earlier this month.

Construction on HS2, the high speed North to South rail link that aims to provide extra capacity to handle increasing demand, will begin during this Parliament and has been given a funding envelope of £55.7 billion in 2015 prices. It should reach Birmingham in 2026 and Manchester and Leeds by 2033.

The new option proposes that HS2 services between London and Sheffield would take a spur off the new north-south high speed line and travel directly to the existing Sheffield Midland station using the existing railway line. Instead of travelling into a new station at Meadowhall, the HS2 line to Leeds would travel east of Rotherham following the M1 and M18 before heading through the Dearne Valley.

The new recommendations would cut journey times on services heading to Leeds, York and Newcastle, and would also reduce the cost of the project by around £1billion.

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Kevin Barron MP, whose constituency includes affected areas of Wales, Aston, Ulley, Thurcroft, Bramley and Hellaby, believes the plan has been poorly thought through and is worried that an economic assessment has not been done for the route before publication.

Writing to the new Transport secretary, Mr Barron said: "I have been a long time supporter of HS2 as I believed that it would bring business and investment to areas that desperately need it, however it now appears that the areas that will receive the most will be the big cities.

"We are now left with a situation where we will have my constituency and others in South Yorkshire taking all the disruption but receiving none of the benefits. This cannot be right, I would urge you to ask HS2 to re-look at the plans and reinstate Meadowhall station which is much better for South Yorkshire as a whole."

A report by KPMG in 2013 estimated that HS2 at Meadowhall could add between £0.5 billion and £0.9 billion each year to the economic output of South Yorkshire and increase output in Rotherham by as much as £272m each year. The figures represented an increase of between 2.3% and 4.8% of Rotherham's GDP (the market value of all final goods and services produced) - the eleventh highest percentage increase of all 235 UK areas in the analysis.

One key statistic from the report is that the number of people who can reasonably access employment in South Yorkshire would increase by nearly 32% as a result of investment in an HS2 station at Meadowhall.

John Healey MP, whose constituency includes affected areas of Bramley and Ravenfield, said that the HS2 decision came out of the blue. Writing to concerned residents, he added: "I was dismayed to see the surprise new proposals to drop Meadowhall as South Yorkshire's HS2 stop. Instead, HS2 favours a loop into Sheffield using existing track, with the main track running through South Yorkshire, close to the M18 and up through the Dearne. The number one purpose of this change is clearly to cut costs and I fear the so-called spur line to Sheffield is simply a sop to the city.

"Clearly we now risk seeing the new high speed line to Leeds running right through South Yorkshire but not stopping in South Yorkshire or bringing any of the potential benefits to our area."

Healey is set to meet with David Higgins, the chairman of HS2 who published the recommended changes, next week.

The areas of Rotherham expected to be affected by the new route are discussed here. An information event is planned for Aston today.

The Secretary of State for Transport is considering David Higgins' report in detail and make an announcement on the full HS2 Phase 2 route later this year.

HS2 website

Images: HS2 Ltd

Rotherham-based Gala Tent Ltd, one of the UK's leading producers of marquees, tents and pop-up gazebos, has achieved a record breaking month of sales, as the company's income for a single month exceeds the £1m mark, for the first time in its operating history.

Founded in 1999, Gala Tent has grown to sell over 15,000 tents and marquees each year, along with around 100,000 event accessories and furniture products. It grew from a table top operation in Grimethorpe to a company with a turnover of £10m having moved into new 53,000 sq ft headquarters at Fairfield Park in Manvers in 2011.

The firm has seen a marked increase in demand for its marquees, gazebos, furniture and printed products from commercial and domestic customers throughout Europe.

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June's record-breaking sales come at the peak of Gala Tent's trading year and follows a continuous month-on-month streak of growth, with sales topping £4m in the first two quarters, an increase of 8% on the same period last year.

Gala Tent has seen significant growth within the European market, the company has eleven distributors across Europe which so far have remained unaffected by the UK's decision to part from the EU.

An increase in demand from market operators has also bolstered Gala Tent's sales, with the company forming strong partnerships with NABMA, FARMA and Europe's largest market operator, Groupe Geraud.

Jason Mace, managing director of Gala Tent Ltd (pictured), said: "This year has been our best year of trading to date and for any business to achieve one million pounds in sales within a month is a significant milestone. We've seen an increase in demand from a number of different sectors, both at home and across Europe and seen demand rise in a number of different industries; perhaps most notably from market operators and the motorsports sector.

"We've also strengthened our team with several key appointments, and although it's still relatively early days, all eight new members of staff are helping to play a positive role in the business.

"The motorsports sector is a relatively new one for us and after deciding to sponsor the Le Mans race team United Autosports, we've been seeing impressive results both on and off the grid."

Gala Tent's sister company, Gala Graphics, has also seen a notable increase in sales with turnover doubling in the first two quarters of 2016, compared to the same period last year.

Glen Robinson, managing director of Gala Graphics, said: "Over the past twelve months, we've diversified the range of marketing products sold through Gala Graphics and this is helped us to double our own turnover within our own right.

"I've worked for Gala Tent for over ten years and during that time I've seen the business change beyond all recognition and achieving this miletone is a reflection of the dedication and commitment of all of our members of staff. We've been close a few times in recent months, but to finally reach the target is a terrific feeling."

Gala Tent website

Images: Gala Tent

Everything has clicked into place to enable 40 jobs to be created at a new kitchen components factory in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported in April that BA Components, a market leading manufacturer of kitchen and bedroom doors and accessories in the UK and Irish furniture components industry, had bought the rights to Unilin uniclic for furniture activities.

Since taking over Unilin uniclic, a new company has been launched; BA Clic Components. This new company will be operating from a 52,000 sq ft of factory space at Barbados Way at Hellaby.

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£440,000 of funding from the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been secured as part of a total overall investment of more than £3m that will see BA Clic Components take on production of BA ClicBox, a commercial range of components with unique technology mainly used in kitchens that simply clicks together without the use of tools, glues or screws.

Recently installed Northern Powerhouse Minister, Andrew Percy, was in the borough to announce the funding. He said: "The investment is great news on Yorkshire Day and vital to help companies such as BA Clic Components get new factories and businesses up and running – driving growth and creating jobs.

"This government remains committed to rebalancing the economy through creating a Northern Powerhouse, by devolving power to those on the ground and giving them the tools to get on with the job."

The funding is from the Unlocking Business Investment programme, run by the LEP, which has already succeeded in generating £200m of direct investment, resulting in nearly 2,500 jobs.

BA Components website
Sheffield City Region LEP website

Images: DCLG

A new survey has revealed that 85% of businesses based in the Yorkshire and Humber region believe that buying local is always a top priority – beating the national average at 83%.

The survey, commissioned by local sign company, Signs Express (Sheffield), collated answers from over 1,000 business decision makers across the UK in order to discover their attitudes towards the local marketplace and the vital role that signage plays in the appearance and professionalism of a brand.

The research revealed that businesses based in the Yorkshire and Humberside region are strong believers in buying locally, with almost three quarters stating that good value and service beats price every time. The majority of businesses stated that their attitudes towards buying local are influenced by the fact that it boosts the local economy and local tradespeople are always more concerned with customer satisfaction.

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Carol Morris, co-owner of Signs Express (Sheffield) (pictured, third right), said: "There is no doubt that buying online is taking over and this often means that we are less aware of where our purchases come from. However, buying locally, especially when it comes to perishable goods and specialised items that require expert advice and special skills, is always the best option."

In February 2004, Steve and Carol Morris opened their fully equipped sign making centre in Rotherham, since then, they have expanded their territory to include all of Sheffield. Based at Templeborough, Signs Express pride themselves on their expertise and innovative solutions to help businesses come up with perfect signage solutions, tailored specifically to their requirements.

All Signs Express centres offer the benefits of shopping local, but because of the business' franchising model, it also offers the advantages that come from working with a UK wide organisation.

When it came to signage, the survey revealed that despite our increasing reliance on digital marketing techniques to advertise our businesses, 82% of businesses revealed that signs, graphics and displays form an important part of their marketing activity. In fact, 100% of those surveyed in the Yorkshire and Humberside region said that premium quality and well maintained signage give an excellent first impression of a company.

Carol Morris concluded: "The survey showed that professional signage is an integral part of most business' brand strategy, which means great things for the signs and graphics industry. Also, it revealed that Signs Express customers would not only use our services again, but would also recommend us to others. An impressive, 96% of participants would highly endorse our services and products, so we are immensely pleased that our hard work has paid off."

Signs Express website

Images: Signs Express

Enterprise Zones (EZs) in the North – which provide tax breaks and Government support for new and expanding businesses – have attracted eight jobs per working day since 2012 and over £1m per day in private investment.

New figures show, in the three months to December, 1,220 jobs were created on northern EZs – an 18% increase compared to the previous quarter.

This was in part thanks to 30 new companies choosing to expand on northern enterprise zones. Over 8,000 new jobs have been reported by enterprise zones in the Northern Powerhouse over the past four years – equivalent to eight per working day.

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Northern Powerhouse Minister, Andrew Percy said: "From Siemens in East Yorkshire to GE on Tyneside, the Northern Powerhouse is attracting some of the world's leading businesses to locate here and offer skilled jobs.

"Today's figures make clear the real appetite to invest and do business in the North, with over 8,000 jobs over the last four years, thanks in no small part to the high quality local support on offer to new and growing companies.

"I am especially pleased that Barclays has become our latest Northern Powerhouse Partner, and would urge all companies across the Northern Powerhouse to do all they can to promote our area as a place where businesses can thrive and grow."

Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone is based on a series of key sites with the focus growth within the advanced engineering and technology sectors.

The EZ includes a number of employment sites in Rotherham such as areas of the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) and Templeborough and in 2014, 15 hectares at Dinnington were added.

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Companies located in the zone are benefiting from simplified planning rules and tax breaks for businesses. One of the main benefits that the zones offer a business rate discount worth up to £275,000 per eligible business over a five year period.

All business rates growth within the zone for a period of at least 25 years will be shared and retained by the Sheffield City Region, to support the Local Enterprise Partnership's economic priorities and ensure that Enterprise Zone growth is reinvested locally.

When launched in 2011, it was expected to generate up to 12,600 jobs and over 400,000 sq m of floor space for 250 businesses by 2015. When complete, it could reach 20,000 jobs, 400 businesses and £20m a year in new business rates from over 600,000 sq m of floor space.

The 2016 budget included plans to extend the Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone.

Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone website

Images: Harworth Estates

Wentworth Brewery, the independent brewery based in the historic village of Wentworth in Rotherham, owed thousands in beer duty and taxes as it sunk into liquidation.

Opened in September 1999, the brewery was based in the old power house on the Wentworth Estate, know as the "Gun Park," which provided the electricity power supply for Wentworth Woodhouse.

Award-winning ales from the brewery included local favourites - WPA and Gryphon - and were supplied to hotels, pubs and supermarkets. The company grew and also began bottling Wentworth spring water but brewing stopped in May.

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XL Business Solutions was named as the liquidator of Wentworth Brewery Limited and chartered surveyors, Walker Singleton was appointed to lead on the sale of the business.

An auction of the company's assets at the 25 barrel micro-brewery plant and bottling facility was held at the end of June.

Jeremy Bleazard of XL Business Solutions, said when the liquidation was proposed: "The brewery has experienced a difficult trading period, due mainly to issues associated with meeting its duty and tax commitments. Prior to these issues the brewery had operated viably."

Documents filed by the liquidator show that one of the main unsecured creditors was HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) who were owed £161,519.

VAT was listed as £97,003 and beer duty as £15,678.

Progressive Beer Duty is a beer duty system that allows smaller breweries to pay less tax on their products. Critics argue that the system is squeezing middle ranking regional operations.

Total debts were estimated at £483,689 with the bulk, £232,000, relating to directors listed as unsecured creditors.

Images: Walker Singleton

GLASSOLUTIONS, part of Saint-Gobain UK, has announced that it is restructuring its contracting business that is centrally based in Rotherham.

The French-owned multinational company, which rebranded from Sologlas in 2012, brought together three separate operating divisions into its 65,000 sq ft premises at Manvers in Rotherham in 2011.

The contracting unit specialises in conception, engineering and installation of glazed façades and building envelopes. The announcement confirms investment of £5m and a restructure of its operating model.

The company, part of the Saint-Gobain group which operates in 67 countries and has over 180,000 employees, has consolidated all its functions under one business unit, and invested in 20 new team members plus additional new fabrication facilities.

Rothbiz reported in October that the firm were looking to expand into an adjacent 38,673 sq ft call centre building, known as Horizon, with plans to convert to industrial use and house the fabrication of bespoke windows and roof framing systems.

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The restructure will see GLASSOLUTIONS contracting division move from a regional structure into one centralised national business with local project delivery teams. It is currently centrally based in Rotherham but has branches based throughout the UK - in Motherwell, Coventry and Bristol.

Ian Davy, group commercial director at GLASSOLUTIONS, said: "What this means for clients is that the customer experience will be greatly improved through effective and efficient centralised communication. The time was right to address the increase in demand and create a sustainable structure which will allow us to play an active role in preparing customers for the challenges of the future.

"In preparing our organisation for growth by investing in more senior people, facilities and improved processes our approach to supply chain management will also evolve to better support our vision of the future.

"We aim to provide a consistent high quality added value service for our clients. Whilst contacts and communication methods might change as part of the new structure, our service and delivery will be enhanced and our focus will very much be on maintaining strong and effective partnerships with our customers to continue to deliver an innovative product range and exceptional service."

In the UK, GLASSOLUTIONS is a £120m turnover business with 1,100 employees.

GLASSOLUTIONS website

Images: GLASSOLUTIONS

Keepmoat, the Doncaster-based affordable housing and community regeneration specialist, has seen group revenues increase despite a small decline in Regeneration division revenue.

Acquired at the end of 2014 by private equity firm Sun Capital and investment funds managed by TDR Capital LLP, the firm operates a regeneration team at offices in Manvers, Rotherham that was previously known as Bramall Construction.

In its results for the year ended March 31 2016, the group said that it had "performed in line with expectations in the face of significant shifts in government policy and continued strong demand for new housing."

The company has reacted and made good progress in developing growth opportunities in new markets and sectors.

Group revenue increased by 3.5% to £1.134 billion from £1.095 billion in 2015, reflecting strong growth in the Homes division offset by a small decline in Regeneration division revenue.

Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before tax) was a reported £66.7m, up 4.5% from the £63.8m reported in the previous year.

The regeneration team has its headquarters on the Callflex business park in Manvers (also home to Keepmoat Homes Yorkshire) and is focused in areas such as traditional refurbishment of housing; new build housing and education.

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Turnover for the Regeneration division was £803m, a 3.6% reduction on the previous year (£830m) largely reflecting changing market conditions. During the period, the restructuring of Keepmoat Property Services reactive maintenance business was completed.

The division had a £1.054 billion order book at March 2016 with recent contracts including plans to transform the former Barr's soft drink factory site in Wigan into a £35.5m new housing development and the beginning of a major £150m housing and regeneration scheme in which Keepmoat is delivering 1,457 new homes in the Newington and St. Andrew's area of West Hull.

As well as targeting new geographical areas for its Housing division, the group is now targeting new sectors including the private rented sector and homes and communities designed for retired people. These additional sectors are expected to create opportunity for future growth for the Regeneration division.

Dave Sheridan, chief executive at Keepmoat, said: "Despite a year of changing government priorities, Keepmoat's focus on working in long-term partnership to deliver community regeneration has continued to deliver growth. Our Homes Division has capitalised on growing demand for high quality homes at affordable prices and the future pipeline of projects provides a platform for continued growth.

"Our Regeneration Division has experienced a year of consolidation as Local Authorities and Housing Associations reassess their priorities in the face of reduced rental incomes. In light of this, we are utilising our core skills to deliver innovative solutions into the private rental and retirement living sectors, complementing our core offering to Local Authority and Housing Association clients. We are excited by these new opportunities and their potential to deliver further growth."

Keepmoat website

Images: Keepmoat

Rotherham-based Wilsons Carpets has set its sights on national expansion and is progressing plans for a new purpose built 55,000 sq ft distribution warehouse.

Established in 1968, the family firm specialises in carpets, laminate, rugs, vinyl flooring and artificial grass. Headquartered at Houndhill Park, Manvers, it has grown to run 13 stores across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, with one of the largest now at The Gateway in Parkgate, Rotherham.

Now a planning application has been submitted for a 55,000 sq ft building on waste land to the North Of Patrick Tobin Business Park, also at Manvers. Used for B8 Storage and Distribution use, associated car parking and landscaping is also planned.

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The planning application reads: "The building is to be used as an additional storage and distribution unit used by Wilsons Carpets for national distribution of carpets, floor coverings and artificial grass.

"Wilsons Carpets currently employ 135 members of staff across five warehouses and 15 retail stores. Currently 50 staff members are located within the Patrick Tobin Business Park and the new storage and distribution unit would create an additional ten new employees."

Set to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and closed only on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Eve, access would be through the existing business park onto Bolton Road.

The planning application also add that the sustainable location provides "a unique opportunity to create a central location for Wilson Carpets for all activities in one location."

The area of the Dearne Valley is popular with distribution operations and contains modern warehouses for the likes of Next, Pegler and Maplin.

Wilsons Carpets website

Images: Wilsons Carpets

Rotherham-based online printing company, instantprint has announced that over 20 new jobs will be available from September 2016, as the business continues its expansion.

The firm merged with fast-growing print experts, Bluetree Design & Print Ltd in 2012. It moved into bigger Rotherham premises at Manvers last year where staff numbers have hit the 200 mark.

The latest recruitment drive is part of a planned creation of 100 jobs over the course of a year, following the investment of a £1m grant funded by the Sheffield City Region Local Enterpeise Partnership's (LEP's) Unlocking Business Investment Regional Growth Fund programme.

Among the vacancies advertised this summer are roles across a variety of levels and departments including artwork, web development and business development.

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James Kinsella co-founder of Instantprint, said: "It's terrific that we are able to continue to grow at such a rate, and it's a credit to everyone involved in the business. We are constantly on the lookout for fresh talent and I can't wait to welcome this new group to the company."

As part of the recruitment process, instantprint are hosting an assessment day for applicants for 11 factory production positions on August 26 between 09:30 and 15:00, at Holiday Inn, Wath upon Dearne. Attendance for this event is strictly by invitation only and details can be found here.

The company now specialises in 24-hour flyer and leaflets, business cards, posters and stationery printing. It also offers large format print such as banners and exhibition display stands for events and promotions.

Instantprint became he first Rotherham-based company to make the annual Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 league table which ranks Britain's private companies with the fastest-growing sales over three years. With sales of £3.4m in 2012, and reaching £14.4m in 2015, annual sales growth over three years was 62%, ranking Instantprint at 50th in the table.

When childhood friends Adam Carnell and James Kinsella graduated, they had already spotted a gap in the market for online printing. The duo founded Instantprint in 2009 using second-hand printing equipment and a borrowed office.

Established in 1989, the Bluetree Design & Print Ltd has evolved from a traditional screen printer to a predominantly digital offering. It took space at the Ignite @ Magna development at Templeborough in 2007. Funding from Barclays and the Region Growth Fund Programme enabled the group to move to a new 86,900 sq ft site at Brookfields Park.

Instantprint website

Images: Instantprint

The quarterly economic surveys carried out by the four chambers of commerce ensure that they have the finger on the pulse regarding the major issues for businesses in the Sheffield city region.

The impact of the referendum on Sheffield city region businesses was debated at the latest Quarterly Economic Survey Event run by the Sheffield City Region's four Chambers of Commerce, Local Enterprise Partnership and sponsored by RBS South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. It highlighted there is a great deal of business uncertainty, resulting in calls for stability, clarity and action.

The Chambers listened to the comments raised by businesses and plan to respond in the Q3 Quarterly Economic Survey by questioning local companies further on the issues that concern them the most. The latest survey launches this week.

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Andrew Denniff, chief executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said: "Immediately following the UK's decision to leave the European Union, business leaders aired some concerns about the uncertainty of financial markets, exports and future prosperity. Naturally, we have an unknown journey ahead as we proceed with Brexit.

"Businesses across the region however are resolving to look upon the decision as an opportunity; an opportunity to draw investment and export goods and services. Recent indications show exports are up in Barnsley and Rotherham, and it's a trend that is growing across Sheffield City Region right now.

"Challenges may lie ahead, but businesses across Sheffield City Region have always been resilient and have a determination to succeed. What is really important right now is local businesses maintaining their confidence and drive growth in the regional economy."

As an extra incentive for businesses in the Sheffield City Region to take the survey, all respondents will be entered into a free prize draw to win a pair of flights to Berlin, courtesy of Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

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As well as completing the survey, all businesses are invited to attend the free Quarterly Economic Survey Breakfast on October 7 to network with other regional businesses, and hear the analysis of the Q3 results.

At the Q2 event more than 80 local business leaders attended at Ringwood Hall and heard from Prof. Andrew Simpson from the Sheffield University Management School on how the survey results suggest that regional economic growth was generally positive in the second quarter of 2016, and that firms held a positive outlook on the regional economy looking forward.

The Quarterly Economic Survey, run by the British Chambers, is the country's biggest and longest- running private sector survey. It acts as an economic indicator and often highlights underlying trends in the economy long before other surveys or other official statistics pick them up.

Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce website
SCR Economic Survey website

Images: screconomy.org.uk

Following extensive refurbishment, Ability Handling is now fully operational from premises in Rotherham that it acquired when it secured a deal for SEV Materials Handling.

The firm specialises in the hire, sale and service of forktrucks and sideloaders and has grown from premises in Sheffield and Rotherham.

Having acquired the materials handling and electric vehicles business of Smith's Electric Vehicles (SEV) in 2015, the combined company, which had revenues at acquisition of £3.5m, has relocated to North Anston. The firm said that the relocation "marks a new chapter in the history of Ability Handling and provides the foundation for our future growth."

Ability Handling was established in 1989 by Roger J. Hardman who for many years had been involved with the service and repair of agricultural machinery, contractors plant equipment and transport. Continued growth saw the firm consolidate to a single site on the Barbot Hall Industrial Estate at Rotherham.

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Gaining a freehold property in the acquisition, the new premises offer the company a prominent road side position, close to major motorways, with ample land for future expansion. Until planning is approved, Ability Handling is renting nearby warehouse space to accommodate its stock of new and used forklift trucks and Cushman electric vehicles.

Smith's Electric Vehicles established SEV Materials Handling in 1993, which was a dealership for Doosan in the North East of England and TCM in South Yorkshire. Stephen Fisher, former MD of SEV Group, joined Ability Handling in late 2014.

As part of the growth plan, the new merged site is set to be joined by additional depots established to expand services to a wider geographical territory. Additional employment opportunities are also set be created in the region as plans go ahead to augment the current workforce of 30 with more engineers, sales and support staff. Further significant investment has been made in new fleet trucks, computer systems, vans, specialist equipment and employee training.

Roger Hardman, managing director of Ability Handling, said after concluding the deal: "We have already seen significant organic growth and this acquisition and planned investment puts Ability Handling at the forefront of its sector in the region and marks a major step forward."

Ability Handling website

Images: Ability Handling

Rotherham-based retailer, Fishing Republic has announced another acquisition as it carries out its expansion plans by snapping up smaller, often family-owned fishing retail businesses.

The placing of ten million new shares at 15p per share in June last year raised £1.5m for the Eastwood company that is already one of the largest retailers of fishing tackle in the UK by floorspace. A share placing this year raised a further £3.75m.

Fishing Republic has now acquired the business and assets of sole trader, A. Would, who operates Fantackletastic, a fishing tackle store in Lincolnshire, for a total consideration of £150,000, payable in cash.

Fantackletastic is a well-established local brand in Lincoln, having operated for over 15 years from the same site on a light industrial estate close to the city's centre. Catering for all types of fishing disciplines, from a 4,000 sq ft operation, it provides the company with its first presence in the East Midlands and fits the Group's "destination store" model.

Floating on AIM, the directors believe that Fishing Republic is the only participant in the market looking to act as a consolidator.

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In the year to 31 March 2016, Fantackletastic generated revenues of c. £425,000 and an operating profit of c. £40,000.

"Encouraging results in line with market expectations" were reported by Fishing Rpublic for the year ended December 31 2015. Sales for the year as a whole increased by 22% to £4.12m, compared to the £3.39m in 2014, with sales in the second half after launching on the stock exchange rising by 45% year-on-year.

The additional costs of being a quoted company and increased marketing expenditure meant that the group reported profit before tax (which includes expensed IPO costs of £299,000) was £5,700, down from £295,000 in 2014. However, the group's gross profit increased by 21% to £1.88m (2014: £1.55m).

Following completion of the acquisition, Fantackletastic's founder, Adele Would, will remain with the business for a period to ensure a smooth handover, with the wider team joining Fishing Republic. The acquisition takes the total number of the Group’s stores to 11.

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Steve Gross, chief executive of Fishing Republic, said: "I am pleased to announce the acquisition of Fantackletastic, which provides Fishing Republic with a presence in the East Midlands. It is a long-established business, with a loyal customer base, and fits our "destination store" model. We look forward to working with the Fantackletastic team as we integrate the business within the wider Group.

"We continue to evaluate opportunities to increase the Group's footprint across the UK."

Fishing Republic website

Images: Fishing Republic

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