Latest News
Gabbro picks up Midland Precision in £10m deal
SHEFFIELD-headquartered Gabbro Precision, the engineering services provider to the oil and gas industry, has acquired Midland Precision for £10m. The acquisition comes as Gabbro invests in its precision engineering division to support a pipeline of international growth.
Inflation fell in January
INFLATION fell for the fourth month in a row in January, new figures show.
The CPI inflation rate fell to 3.6%, down from 4.2% in December as the impact of last year's VAT rise dropped out of the year on year comparison.
Arnold Laver doubles profit as sales near £100m
ARNOLD Laver & Co has doubled pre-tax profits on sales which fell just short of £100m in a successful 2011 for the historic Yorkshire company.
The timber, leisure and property group said it had continued to grow turnover into 2012 despite a slump in business confidence delaying the spending plans of its customers.
Positive outlook despite underperformance at Maltby
HARGREAVES Services saw profits fall over its first half but said it was on track to meet full year expectations.
The supplier of solid fuels and bulk material logistics posted revenues up 27.1% to £322.8m for the six months ended November 30 2011 compared to the same period the previous year.
Nuclear opportunity for Sheffield City Region
South Yorkshire firms are being urged to seize the opportunity to dominate the UK civil nuclear supply sector.
Alan Cumming, who is commercial director for EDF Energy’s nuclear new build programme in the UK, says local industry will be in an even stronger position if it takes full advantage of having the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre on its doorstep.
Skills cash for Yorkshire cities
LEEDS and Sheffield will share £1m from a new Government fund targeted at the skills gap faced by businesses.
The money is designed to help councils and local enterprise partnerships work better with colleges and training providers to help target the needs of employers.
Minister admits "we must get school system right"
MINISTER for skills John Hayes has said it was crucial schools provided young people with employability skills as he hailed the apprenticeship programme at Sheffield Forgemasters International.
Apprentices ‘gap’ has to close
BUSINESS and education in Sheffield are being urged to join forces to close an apprentice training gap that is putting the city at a disadvantage to others in the UK.
£70m refinancing at Energy Alloys
ENERGY Alloys, a US oil field metals business which has its UK head office in Rotherham, has secured a £70m senior secured credit facility. The Sheffield office of Irwin Mitchell advised the company.
AES snaps up Absolute
LEADING South Yorkshire manufacturer AES Engineering is expanding its pump supply and repair business after buying Sussex-based Absolute Vacuum for an undisclosed sum.
Christopher Jewitt takes UK hallmarking role
YORKSHIREMAN Christopher Jewitt, former chairman of the 238-year-old Sheffield Assay Office, has been appointed to the organisation’s governing body.
DavyMarkham sales director to address international conference
SHEFFIELD heavy engineers DavyMarkham will be showcasing its Latin American success story to business leaders at an internationally renowned networking event.
Festival attracts Boeing chief
BOEING UK president Sir Roger Bone will be among the guest speakers at this year's Global Manufacturing Festival.
Forgemasters in business review
SHEFFIELD Forgemasters International has launched a review of its business to counter underperforming areas.
Knowing the drill with reality show
RESEARCHERS at South Yorkshire’s Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) are gearing up to install a unique machine that can bore holes up to eight metres deep by using advanced virtual reality simulation.
New drive for apprenticeships
SHEFFIELD College is marking National Apprenticeship Week by launching a new campaign to encourage more employers to hire or recruit more apprentices.
The campaign aims to increase the total number of apprentices studying at the college at any one time from 856 to 1,000.
Oil exploration helps Pressure Technologies
PRESSURE Technologies expects the performance of its largest trading division to beat market forecasts.
Meadowhall reportedly ‘up for sale’
Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield is to be put on the market, according to reports, after one its owners appointed sale advisers.
Back to black for NG Bailey
NG BAILEY is set for a return to the black as the family-owned business begins to see the effects of a strategic review.
CEO David Hurcomb (pictured) said he was pleased with progress at the business since he was appointed chief executive in September 2010 but that there was still much work to do.
Business should have confidence in HS2 – Minister
TRANSPORT Minister Norman Baker has pledged the Coalition will do all it can to make the promise of a new high speed rail line serving Yorkshire irreversible.
The Government this week gave the go-ahead to HS2, a new rail line linking London to Birmingham before splitting into a Y serving Leeds and Manchester.
Inflation falls
THE fall in the headline rate of inflation accelerated in December dropping to 4.2%.
The decline in the consumer prices index from 4.8% is the biggest monthly drop since it hit a three year peak in September last year of 5.2%.
Tributes for former Chamber president
TRIBUTES have been paid following the death of former Sheffield Chamber of Commerce president Mike Smalley.
Mr Smalley was managing director of Holbrook Business Systems and a former chairman of the Sheffield Enterprise Agency.
Carbon capture scheme pushes ahead
BNP Paribas is to develop financial plans for the Don Valley Power Project as 2Co Energy looks to start construction next year.
It is estimated the carbon capture and storage project will cost £3bn onshore and £1bn offshore to construct with around £150m (Euros 180m) in EU funding already in place and the European Investment Bank considering offering further support.
SIG expecting top end profits
SPECIALIST insulation and building products business SIG today said it expects underlying 2011 profits to be ahead of analysts' expectations.
The Sheffield-based business said group sales from continuing operations were £2.7bn in the year to December 31, an increase of 7% on the previous year.
Cook expects sales boost after "all-time low"
SALES at William Cook Holdings are set to return to the £60m mark after a year spent recovering from an "all-time low", according to Andrew Cook, chairman of the family-owned steel castings business.
Chairman appointed at historic office
HISTORIC institution, the Sheffield Assay Office, has appointed a new chairman.
Chris Heaton, who co-opted onto the executive of the Sheffield Assay Office in 2008, has taken up the role having been a guardian of the 238-year-old organisation since 2009.
Deadline nears for Made in Sheffield nominations
JUST five weeks remain for entries for the Made in Sheffield Awards which celebrate excellence in manufacturing in the Sheffield city region.
EEF looks at manufacturing in the year ahead
TERRY Scuoler, chief executive of manufacturers' organisation EEF, gives his view on the sector while looking to the year ahead:
'Tough' climate for business in Sheffield City Region
BUSINESS conditions continue to remain extremely tough across the Sheffield City Region, according to an influential survey.
Recession 'not foregone conclusion'
THE UK economy is set to stagnate in the first quarter of the year but a "new recession is not a foregone conclusion", a business lobby group has said.
City celebrates leading ladies
A CELEBRATION event is being held to mark the fact five of the most significant posts in South Yorkshire are currently held by women - for the first time ever.
HS2 ruling praised but Northern Hub must be next
BUSINESS leaders have praised transport secretary Justine Greening's plan to green light the first phase of the High Speed 2 (HS2) project. But they say it should not be at the expense of other transport projects such as the Northern Hub, which Insider is backing.
CBE for Ridgway in New Year Honours
PROFESSOR Keith Ridgway added to his OBE in the New Year Honours after being awarded a CBE for services to manufacturing research.
Margin squeeze hits Sheffield Forgemasters
SHEFFIELD Forgemasters has seen annual operating profit slide by more than two-thirds after its margins were squeezed across its markets.
AESSEAL wins international acclaim
AESSEAL has been named the International Trade Company of the Year at the 2011 International Trade Awards.
'Difficult year ahead' for region's manufacturers
YORKSHIRE manufacturers face a "very difficult year" because of a lack of capital and ongoing issues in key economies and markets, an accountancy firm has predicted.
More needed for South Yorks to succeed - LEP boss
THE chairman of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership has told Insider what needs to be done to rebalance the economy if the region is to thrive in 2012.
Portland Works campaign continues
INVESTMENT to save an historic Sheffield landmark is being sought.
Shock toll of economy on standard of living for workers, figures show
DRIVING instructors, chartered surveyors and travel agents are among the workers whose living standards have dropped by more than a quarter since the recession began, according to new figures.
Investment to drive efficiency at Forgemasters
SHEFFIELD Forgemasters has invested £500,000 in a bid to increase efficiency and space at its Brightside Lane base.
ABS relocates with Manvers acquisition
ROTHERHAM-based ABS Industrial Resources is relocating to Adwick Park in Manvers after acquiring an 83,000 sq ft industrial unit.
DavyMarkham apprentice achieves industry accolade
THE achievements of a budding young South Yorkshire engineer have been honoured at a prestigious national awards ceremony.
Dormer expanding international operation
DORMER Tools International (DTI) has announced an expansion in its global operations with a strong emphasis on securing large export orders.
EEF launches National Conference on global competitiveness
SENIOR business leaders and politicians will gather at the EEF National Manufacturing Conference and Manufacturers’ dinner on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 to explore global competitiveness and urge government to use its spring Budget to spur industrial-led growth.
EEF on Banking Reform statement
COMMENTING on the Government’s statement on Bank reform, Terry Scuoler, Chief Executive of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation said:
“This is a welcome acceptance from government of the need to improve banking competition. Currently, companies often see little difference between products and pricing from the main banks and spend time and money having to unpick multiple options if they want to switch.
Investment to drive efficiency at Forgemasters
SHEFFIELD Forgemasters has invested £500,000 in a bid to increase efficiency and space at its Brightside Lane base.
Payments slowdown increasing export risks - report
MORE than a fifth of Yorkshire businesses believe that not being paid for goods and services is the biggest risk when exporting, new research has found.
Energy partnership for TATA
TATA Steel has teamed up with marine engineering and energy organisation Team Humber Marine Alliance as they both target the UK’s growing offshore wind turbine market.
Transport scheme 'key to growth'
SUPPORTERS of a project to improve transport in South Yorkshire claim it could generate benefits to business worth £100m.
Carbolite relocates to the AMP
CARBOLITE, a manufacturer of electric laboratory and industrial ovens, has agreed a deal to relocate to Evolution @ the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.
Forgemasters completes nuclear work
Sheffield Forgemasters International has revealed it has completed work on components for South Korea's civil nuclear power programme.
Sheffield Forgemasters to expand nuclear status
SHEFFIELD Forgemasters is to upgrade its ASME civil nuclear accreditation to capitalise on growing market opportunities.
Inflation falls below five per cent
THE headline inflation rate continued to fall away in November hitting 4.8%.
The decline in the annual CPI rate continues the trend seen last month when inflation fell from 5.2% to 5%.
Made in Sheffield goes online
THE Made in Sheffield website and digital communications strategy has been launched.
Festival MADE entrepreneur invest in Sheffield
ENTREPRENEUR Luke Johnson has invested in Sheffield after attending MADE: The Entrepreneur Festival as one of the keynote speakers.
No train, no gain - Insider round table
YORKSHIRE companies face a "skills crisis" in the next decade, with a lack of people with the right skills to meet industry's demands, according to business leaders speaking at an Insider round table.
£75m funding boost for high-tech businesses
FURTHER details regarding the £75m boost for high-tech small and medium-sized businesses have been revealed by the government.
EMSc wins new contract
EMSc, the energy management company, has expanded its international network by signing distribution agreements with companies in Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Malta.
Windfall for advanced manufacturing sector
ADVANCED manufacturing businesses are set for a £125m windfall following the Government’s announcement of a new fund designed to support key supply chains.
Hopton strikes cool deal for Iceotope
YORKSHIRE entrepreneur Peter Hopton has led a deal to acquire the assets of technology company Iceotope from administrators.
AESSEAL sets £200m target
ROTHERHAM-based AESSEAL has revealed its plans to double turnover to £200m by 2015.
EEF/BDO survey shows manufacturing slowing
THE survey found that growth is still positive though forecasts for 2012 are downgraded
- Output and orders fall short of last quarter’s expectations.
- Export balances soften in past three months.
- Sector divergence continued in q4.
- Signs that investment and recruitment postponed or scaled back.
- Further easing in price rises.
- Expectations for flat output and falling orders in 2012 q1.
Kraft pumps £6m into Sheffield
KRAFT Foods has revealed it is to invest £6m into its Sheffield plant as it looks to bake its Oreo and BelVita biscuits in the UK for the first time.
LEP inward investment appointment
THE Sheffield City Region is to employ its own inward investment director to convince companies to locate in South Yorkshire.
PJO bought by Mechan Controls
ROTHERHAM-based testing company PJO Group has been acquired by safety switch manufacturer Mechan Controls.
Pressure on takeover trail
SHEFFIELD-based seamless steel cylinder manufacturer Pressure Technologies is "exploring further acquisition opportunities" despite posting a fall in pre-tax profit.
£1bn boost to RGF to support 500,000 jobs
THE extra £1bn added to the Regional Growth Fund in Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement is expected to support about half a million jobs, according to the government.
Enterprise zone enhancement praised
THE introduction of capital allowances for the Sheffield City Region's enterprise zone has been praised by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce while accountancy firm Grant Thornton has labeled Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement as a "back to basics affair".
Forgemasters wins European accolade
SHEFFIELD Forgemasters has been hailed as a “lionheart of the European economy” after winning a prestigious European Business Award.
Sheffield’s Loadhog wins top business award
THE Sheffield-based transit package manufacturer, Loadhog, was rewarded for its innovative business ideas with the award of Best Small to Medium Enterprise at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Manufacturing Excellence Awards recently.
University investment
Sheffield Hallam University is to channel £25m into a new building on its Collegiate Crescent campus as part of an investment drive.
TMAT to grow with £1.6m investment
CHESTERFIELD manufacturer TMAT has secured a funding package worth £1.6m to help increase its product development and global reach.
House builders agree deal at Waverley
HARWORTH Estates, the property division of UK Coal, has agreed a £10m land sale deal to kick-start a scheme at a former coal mine in Yorkshire.
Positive forecast for Yorkshire
YORKSHIRE businesses are defying gloom on the UK economy and predicting operating profit and headcount will grow in the New Year according to a new survey.
The EEF responds to the Chancellor’s autumn statement
EEF Chief Executive Terry Scuoler said: “WITH global growth plummeting and uncertainty mounting, the task of generating more balanced growth based on investment and trade was always going to be difficult.
Rotherham’s AESSEAL is overall winner at top business awards
AESSEAL or Rotherham was named the overall winner as well as winner of the Customer Focus Award at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Manufacturing Excellence Awards in London recently.
Japanese initiative delivers manufacturing efficiency
SHEFFIELD-based DavyMarkham is aiming for a 10 per cent improvement in manufacturing efficiency after introducing the Japanese 5s programme throughout its workshops.
Flying the Flag for UK Manufacturing: AESSEAL Named
Rotherham based AESSEAL continue to defy the notion that British manufacturing is dead, stealing the show at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ annual Manufacturing Excellence awards by being named the overall winner and also receiving the Customer Focus award.
Key issues to be debated at The Business of Manufacturing event
A LACK of investment is the single biggest obstacle to the growth of UK manufacturing, according to a senior figure from Siemens who will take part in a debate on the future of the sector at an event in Yorkshire.
Bob Kerslake appointed to top civil servant role
FORMER Sheffield City Council chief executive Sir Bob Kerslake has been appointed the new head of the Civil Service.
Forgemasters entertain Royalty
AN AFRICAN prince spent an afternoon at Sheffield Forgemasters during a recent visit to South Yorkshire.
University of Sheffield’s proposed Training Centre secures government funding
THE University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Institute (AMI) has secured government backing for a new Training Centre, located at the AMP in Rotherham. Its aim will be to close the skills gap for high-value manufacturing companies.
North-South divide widens
YORKSHIRE and the Humber are among the regions hardest hit by the recession, leading to a furthering of the perceived North-South divide, says new research.
Renewable energy plant to be sited in South Yorkshire
PLANS for a £120m biomass-fired renewable energy plant in South Yorkshire have been unveiled by E.ON.
Yorkshire manufacturing: Filling the skills gap
GOVERNMENT support is needed on skills if the manufacturing sector is to play a full part in the UK recovery, according to experts in the region.
SMEs to access Growth Fund through banks
MINISTERS have set out details of how SMEs will be given access to £95m from the Regional Growth Fund.
Master Cutler - Pam Liversidge OBE DL FREng FIMechE FCGI FRSA
The Master Cutler, Pam Liversidge, is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and was the first woman President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1997-98.
Apprentices join DavyMarkham team
HEAVY engineering firm DavyMarkham has recruited five Yorkshire teenagers to the company's apprenticeship scheme.
Forgemasters promised £36m Government loan
SHEFFIELD Forgemasters has been offered a Government loan of up to £36m just over a year after the Coalition scrapped a promise to lend the firm £80m.
Warning after stronger growth figures
BUSINESS groups have warned the Government against complacency after new figures showed the UK economy grew by 0.5% in the third quarter.
Growth Fund promises millions for Yorkshire
YORKSHIRE has secured £143m from the Government's Regional Growth Fund for 24 projects aiming to create up to 16,000 jobs.
LEPs 'to get red tape role'
LOCAL Enterprise Partnerships could be handed a role in reducing the burden of regulation on business.
Innovation the key says Master Cutler
MASTER Cutler Pam Liversidge has called on the region's manufacturing community to "challenge the perceptions" about the sector as she sets out plans to drive the skills agenda.
Wheelie bins on a roll
MORE than a quarter of a million households across the country will be receiving a Christmas gift of a different kind in the run-up to the festive period thanks to wheelie bin manufacturer MGB Plastics.
William Cook brings Astrum back into fold
INDUSTRIAL group William Cook Holdings has acquired military vehicle track manufacturer Astrum (UK) from joint administrators for an undisclosed sum.
AMP to play key role in national High Value Manufacturing initiative
THE University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, and the Nuclear AMRC are among the centres which form the Technology Strategy Board's new Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) in high value manufacturing (HVM) which has now officially opened for business.
Tata plants receive multi-million pound boost
TATA Steel has unveiled plans to invest a further £4.5m at its Rotherham and Stocksbridge steel plants.
Audit rules may be simplified
A MOVE to simplify audit rules could cut £600m from the costs faced by business, according to Ministers.
Businesses welcome QE2
THE Monetary Policy Committee was urged to consider even more radical action after giving the green light to a fresh round of quantitative easing.
EEF calls for changes in EU regulations
BRITAIN’s manufacturers have set out a shopping list of measures where the government must take action as it launches the Employment Law Spotlight as part of its Red Tape Challenge.
Low point for business confidence
BUSINESS confidence is at a low point not seen since the end of the recession, according to the latest Business Trends report by accountants BDO in Leeds.
Forgemasters team get on their bikes for charity
A TEAM of kind-hearted employees from Sheffield Forgemasters will switch their hard-hats for helmets when they embark on a 100 kilometre cycle challenge for charity.
Manufacturing set to grow
UK manufacturers predict that production will continue to grow over the next three months despite order book levels slackening during September, the
CBI has reported.
Working together essential says panel of experts
COLLABORATION between the public and private sectors will be critical to the future of the Sheffield City Region. That was the conclusion of a round table discussion among leading figures hosted by TheBusinessDesk.com.
Manufacturing Forum/LEP proposed release
The Manufacturing Forum, which promotes manufacturing regionally, nationally and internationally, is presenting its strategy to the LEP - Local Enterprise Partnership - later this month.
Forum members are drawn from manufacturing companies across the region and from all the South Yorkshire Chambers of Commerce. It is a group which represents the majority of the 37,000 employed in manufacturing in Sheffield City Region.
A RECORD number of guests will be at the installation of the first female Master Cutler in its 387-year history.
Engineers in the making
SHEFFIELD Forgemasters has taken on a new batch of apprentices to add to its specialist engineering workforce.
Manufacturing-led recovery has limits
GROWTH in the manufacturing sector alone will not be enough to fill the jobs gap in the Sheffield City Region, according to Master Cutler Bill Speirs.
Advanced Manufacturing diary date
AS ENERGY companies prepare to invest £40 billion in new nuclear power plant in the UK some manufacturers are unclear as to the standards required to become part of that expansion.
Female Master Cutler-elect to focus on skills deficit
THE Cutlers' Company of Hallamshire has elected a female Master for the first time in more than 350 years.
Materialise technologies showcased at the V&A
A FUSION of art, design and technology, on display this week at The Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum, features the hi-tech, innovative work of the AMP-based company Materialise UK.
Medical advice on healthy businesses
MEDICAL device business Surgical Innovations is using its in-house 'concept' team to get into the "nitty-gritty" of what surgeons are looking for and keep the business ahead of its rivals.
Sheffield businesses 'should be good neighbours'
THE first female president of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce has urged businesses in the city to help each other through difficult economic times.
Entrepreneurs have it MADE
MADE: The Entrepreneur Festival, which opens this week, is expected to bring together more than 2,000 entrepreneurs and business leaders to share knowledge and ideas and to put entrepreneurs at the centre of the UK’s growth strategy.