Birmingham Business Post Edition 36

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The Midlands Leading Business & Lifestyle Publication

Tel: 08000 807 809Email: [email protected]

www.birminghambusinesspost.co.uk

Tel: 08000 807 809 Email: [email protected]


EVIVA Services Ltd has taken off in a massive way since its launch just over two years ago - and that’s not justbecause one of its happy customers is Birmingham Airport.It was only in March 2010 that David Lee, after 17 years workingfor other electrical contractors, established Eviva to offer electricaland mechanical services to commercial and industrial businesses- and it has sparked into a £500,000 turnover concern employing10 people.Powering its success is the customer survey, conducted shortlyafter being established and whose findings have, ever since,guided Eviva’s modus operandi.“We asked what clients looked for in a business to help usunderstand what we needed to do to create new opportunities,”explains David. “We could then establish 10 areas which werecritical to their deciding who they wanted to support them.“Using their comments we have tried to implement a companyethos that stands out from that of our competitors.”A key finding was that a low cost service was not the driving forcebehind clients’ choice of supplier - with 70% ruling that out.“It was the overall perception and service they had, from initialenquiry to programming and executing the work to a highstandard and knowing that they had the reassurance of a quality service,” says David.The other key elements were:• Time Keeping.

• Overcharging.• Dishonesty – claiming a total rewire is required rather than

upgrading a distribution board.• Attitude – how the client would like to be treated.• Poor workmanship.• Lack of respect for property.• Lack of written information – quotations that don’t cover what

work is being carried out and what hasn’t been included.• Failure to admit responsibility when things go wrong – things

do go wrong, it is how they’re dealt with that affects theperception of a company.

• Scruffy and dirty appearance – no corporate wear and untidyand dirty vehicles.

• Incessant talking – not listening to what the client really wants.“Many also appreciated that we had pushed our company to gainaccreditations including; NICEIC, Chas and Constructionline,”adds David.Today, from its Solihull base, Eviva provides a comprehensiverange of electrical services to the region’s industries, including:Installation, equipment power relocation, maintenance, testing andinspection, refurbishment and energy saving lighting installations.Its biggest customer is Birmingham Airport, to whom, as itsrecognised business partner Eviva brings expertise, knowledgeand service.“As its nominated electrical contractor we carry out electricalservices throughout the terminals and on the runway, installingand maintaining various systems including, general power,lighting, emergency lighting, fire alarms, PA/VA, Data and AGLLighting (runway lighting),” says David proudly.“The airport has benefitted from Eviva, thanks to our fast out-of-hours response to its critical operations as well as our personalservice.”Its airport work has also demonstrated the company’s ability todiversify within the industry, flexibility that has served it wellthrough the harsh economic climate.“It’s been a tough time in the construction industry but we havefound that as companies’ budgets get tighter, we are able to offerexternal support to in-house maintenance engineers who aremodifying and upgrading systems rather than installing costly newsystems, thus allowing spending in other areas,” says David.“We are always looking to grow our business and buildrelationships with new clients by offering a service tailored to their needs.”

For more details about Eviva and itsservices, visit www.evivaservices.co.uk

Alternatively telephone 0121 695 9581or email [email protected]

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C O N T E N T SRice Media 4Zoober 5Aon 6Art Attack Design Associates 8FinditinBirmingham 9Winning Moves 10Wilson Field 12QualitySolicitors Talbots 13Ballard Dale Syree Watson 14Salhan Accountants 16Coface 17IMSM 18Finance 4 Business 19Envantage 20Positive Outcomes 22GB Training 23Walker Health & Safety Services 24Shires Fire and Safety Ltd 25Eversheds 28FSC Investment Services Limited 29RSM Tenon 30BROADSTONE 31Smith & Williamson 32Johnson Fleming 33Travel de Courcey 34H&S Haulage and Storage Ltd 36Albany Equipment 38Heinrich Georg 40Denner Kelford Grinding 43Mellish Engineering Services Ltd 44Windsor Materials Handling 46Spline Gauges 47Nimgrove 48Holbourne Industrial Plastics Ltd 49Chapmans Garden Machinery 50Phoenix Balancing Ltd 51Mills CNC Ltd 52ABB 54Select Catering Solutions 55Kingston Commercial Property Consultants 56Aston Builders Ltd 58Renray Healthcare 59E. C. Joseph & Sons LTD 60VPS - The Vacant Property Specialists 62The Old Rectory Care Home 64Hoar Cross Nursing Home 66Europa Worldwide Logistics 67etc.venues 68Roundhouse Events 70Donington Park 71The LG Arena 72Hogarths Hotel & Restaurant 74Theo Paphitis 75Brittons 76Colonel Mustards 77The Vaults 78

Welcome to edition 36 of the BirminghamBusiness Post showcasing the best of businessand comment throughout the region.

In this edition we continue to discuss the issues andstrategies surrounding the implementation of theGovernment’s new Workplace Pension Scheme. We celebrate the role Engineering plays in theprosperity of our region, and discuss the role thatthe new apprenticeship schemes are playing insecuring the future of many of our core industries.

We look at the role exhibitions and trade showsplay in promoting our businesses, fleetmanagement, with a particular emphasis onsecurity, and commercial property.

We also feature an interview with Theo Paphitisdiscussing the expansion of his lingerie chain,Boux Avenue and the philosophy behind it.

In our next edition we will continue to review theimplementation of the Government’s PensionReforms, Recruitment issues, and the role ourregional airports play, including an interview withHenri Hourcade, the General Manager of KLM and Air France.

Birmingham Business Post11 Canalside Office Complex,Lowesmoor Wharf,Worcester WR1 2RR

Tel: 08000 807 809Fax: 01905 726 467E: [email protected]: www.birminghambusinesspost.co.uk

Publisher: PIL (Europe) LimitedPrint & Design: Heron Press UK

ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDReproduction in whole or part prohibited withoutpermission. Colour transparencies, prints or any pictorialmedia for this publication are sent at owners risk and whilst every care is taken, neither PIL (Europe) Limited or its agents accept liability for loss or damage. No editorialsubmissions will be returned unless accompanied by a Self Addressed Envelope.

DISCLAIMERWhilst every effort has been made to ensure that advertsand articles appear correctly, PIL (Europe) Limited cannotaccept responsibility for any loss or damage causeddirectly or indirectly by the contents of this publication. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarilythose of its publisher or editor.

Birmingham Business Post

Birmingham Edition 36 Contents pg:Layout 1 16/01/2013 12:45 Page 1

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The inbound marketing approach helps you create an onlinepresence that attracts people in the market for your productsand services, be they anything from financial services toelectrical goods. Course attendees learn how to use content —articles, blogs and videos, social media, targeted emails — totake online prospects from browsing to buying.

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5

The Aon Risk Solutions Group is going through someexciting changes. As part of their long term investment inBirmingham and the Midlands, Aon Risk Solutions, theglobal risk management business of Aon plc, hasappointed Stuart Hutchings as Branch Director for AonRisk Solutions’ Birmingham office.

Stuart was previously responsible for leading the Bristol officeand has worked at Aon for the last 10 years of a 28 year careerin insurance.

Craig Preston, Area Director, welcoming the appointment, said:“I am delighted that Stuart will now be leading our Birminghamoffice. Stuart has a proven track record of delivering excellenceand value to our clients.

It is an illustration of Aon's depth of talent that we are able tomake such a crucial appointment from within.

Stuart already works on a number of the area's key accountsand his in-depth knowledge and understanding of both insurerand client needs ensures that we are able to continue to helpand support the region's business community.

Aon is committed to strengthening its regional network acrossthe UK and the Birmingham hub is a critical part of this.”

Stuart’s arrival coincides with a move into new premises atColmore Gate, which was formally launched on Wednesday14th November 2012 at a gathering attended by prominentmembers of the business community and prestigious clients,including Andy Myers, CFO of the McLaren Group.

New open plan style offices bring Aon’s various Birminghamdepartments and 300 employees together under one roof,including the teams that previously occupied the building atEdmond Street, providing risk management solutions and HRbusiness to clients from industries as diverse as manufacturingthrough to education

There is a real buzz in the new offices; Craig Preston explainedthe open-plan layout is leading to even better customer servicenow that the different teams are able to liaise face to face. Therelationships being forged in the new environment are resultingin improved communication both internally and with clients.

“This allows us to collaborate more and act effectively as onefirm,” agrees Stuart Hutchings, adding that all the changes,including his own arrival and that of other employees wereprobably the biggest challenges Aon Birmingham has faced this year.

Founded in Chicago 25 years ago, Aon is the world’s largestinsurance broker and risk advisor, looking predominately aftercommercial clients.

Aon plc is the leading global provider of risk management,insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resourcessolutions and outsourcing services.

winningtogetherin Birmingham

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The company, which takes its name from the Gaelic word foroneness, has grown by acquisition and now has 62,000employees in 120 countries worldwide and, thanks to its legacyfirms, has had a presence in Birmingham for centuries.

Aon leads the world in providing risk management, insuranceand reinsurance brokerage, human resources solutions andoutsourcing services.

Backed by broad resources, industry knowledge and technicalexpertise, its professionals help a wide range of clients developeffective risk management and workforce productivity solutions.

For further information about the company and its

services, visit www.aon.com. To contact the

Birmingham office, telephone 01212 62 5000Craig Preston

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ROLAND Smith has really put the art into Art Attack Design Associates.

His skill and expertise, honed throughout a 25-year career which beganstraight out of school, are at the heart of this successful Birminghambusiness offering professional design services.

Customers keep returning to Roland, knowing that their projects are insafe and creative hands.

“The biggest reason for my repeat business is the cost competitivecustomer service I provide,” he says. “I’ve never missed an advertisingdeadline for a company and will jump through hoops for customers.”

His creative flair is also much in demand - one of his greatest delights isseeing clients using Art Attack designs originally produced more than 10years ago.

Based in George Road, Great Barr, Art Attack provides a completerange of design services such as:

• Graphic design; including brand design and management, printed material management and production, illustration and technical illustration.

• Advertising design and placement.

• Packaging.

• Signage; design manufacture and installation.

• Vehicle livery

• In-house large format printing.

• In-house small run digital printing.

• In-house vinyl printing.

• Web site design.

Although Roland has worked on some projects with associatedesigners, all of the above are his area of expertise, the result of a crafthe began as a 16 year-old school leaver.

“The studio I worked for specialised in brand development, graphicdesign and technical illustration and my seven-year apprenticeshipcovered all that work and undertaking print ready artwork,” remembersRoland, now 41. “I was also trained in packaging design,producingartwork for packaging, screen printing.”

T. 0121 357 0773 F. 0121 358 6882E. [email protected] W. artattack.org.uk

Corporate Brand Identity

Multimedia Production

Brand Development

Advertising Media

Packaging Design

Signs Exhibitions

Print Production

Graphic Design

Website Design

George Road Great Barr Birmingham B43 6LG

T H E C O M P L E T E S E R V I C E

D E S I G N A S S O C I AT E S

Unfortunately he was made redundant but, undaunted, he set up ArtAttack and has never looked back.

During its first few years he was constantly being asked for signage which he would broker out to other signage companies.

However, 10 years ago, he ended up buying out the one with which heworked the most and now provides full signage solutions himself.

Key to his operation is his dedication to providing other businesses witha highly personal service that will help them serve their own customers’needs and sell to the target audience.

“I can create a market brand and image to serve the sector they’re in,”Roland explains. “You don’t want create something full of panache whenthey’re trying to sell things at bargain prices but, if it’s a company with aturnover that’s in the millions and they want to serve companies that areworld recognized, then I’ll create a brand which does that.

“I serve people like Joe Bloggs builder who’s dealing directly with thepublic to companies which are turning over millions and millions.

“I can undertake projects for medium-sized businesses who want to re-establish their brand or manage their existing print requirement,” Rolandpromises.

“I can produce business cards, brochures, catalogues, generalstationery, advertising - anything that goes into print production.

“I will do all the design work and also manage the facility for it - that is Ican produce some of the printing in-house and, if not, I will buy in theprinting at an extremely competitive rate.”

Such is his expertise that Roland doesn’t just have customers for hisprint services from the Midlands, his design work is sought after all overthe world, especially in America, Germany and France.

If you have a project you wish to discuss withRoland, or would like to find out more about

his services, telephone 0121 357 0773or email [email protected].

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showing that businesses that engage with Winning Moves benefitfrom an increase in profits of up to £75,000. Our clients includegovernment agencies, Birmingham City Council, National SkillsAcademies, the Australian Government and the United NationsIndustrial Development Organisation.”

For an example of a project undertaken with Birmingham CityCouncil; in 2010 Enterprising Communities asked Winning Moves toprovide in depth business support to retail businesses in the Fox andGoose Shopping Centre, based in the Hodge Hill constituency ofBirmingham, classified as one of the most deprived areas in England.

Winning Moves worked with the businesses to creatively reviewtheir products and services, consider their current and potentialmarkets as well as assessing the overall shopping experience theywere delivering. The support provided was bespoke to the individualneeds of the business and was all about helping them todifferentiate themselves and their offering in order to stand out fromthe crowd.

Winning Moves’ successful “tool kit” includes on line support forbusinesses as well as 1-2-1 consultancy and training support forbusinesses that encourages them to challenge their perspectives andoperations and enables them to achieve their growth potential.

In exciting news for businesses, Winning Moves, theinternational business support consultancy, has launchedWinning Portal, a free to use online business support portalshowcasing national and local support, offering a one stop shopfor information and guidance. http://winning.co.uk

Winning Moves was established in 1996 and has offices inBirmingham and Stafford. The company provides, amongst otherthings, 1-2-1 consultancy services for businesses to help them tostart and grow.

In the early days the business started by delivering a managementdevelopment programme that aimed to solve business problemsthrough developing people. The business grew rapidly as it picked upa number of management best practice programmes that weredelivered on behalf of central government.

Since then, they have focused on delivering high-quality consultingand coaching; experiential learning through their accredited trainingprogrammes; and tools and methodologies that improve the impactthat their consultants have with clients.

Adrian Davies, CEO, says: “The solutions and support we provide tobusinesses are proven to generate results with independent research


10

As the word spreads about the Winning Moves way, the company are veryexcited to launch http://winning.co.uk which the company is using to helpbusinesses start and grow by putting their knowledge online (for free!).

The company has impressive plans for the future, over the next fewyears they plan to move to different ways of working.

Historically they have worked directly with client businesses indelivering growth consultancy and mentoring, and while this willremain at the core of their practice and remains extremelyimportant to them, different ways of working, such ashttp://winning.co.uk, will enable them to do other things.

Adrian explained that the extension of their services will include:

“Using the best practice we have developed to improve the serviceoffered by other consultancies or business support intermediaries.The Local Enterprise Partnerships represent a group of organisationsthat we want to work with. We have considerable experience ofprogramme design and delivery; we have well established tools andtechniques; and we believe we can accelerate their speed to marketas well as improve the impact they can make.

“Making our knowledge available online; as a knowledge-basedbusiness it is scary to put what you know online, in the publicdomain; for all to view and review. However, our mission is to “makea real and measurable difference to business performance” andgiving other businesses a boost or foot up from what we know isexactly why we exist.”

Adrian doesn’t underestimate the impact of the banking crisis on thebusiness. “The banking crisis of 2007, that saw a bailout of thebanks, meant that our customer had no money. Our public sectorfunders had no money and we saw what could have been a‘catastrophic’ drop in turnover. We are an innovative business that isfinancially prudent and these things meant that – unlike many ofour competitors – we were able to come through this period. Ourbusiness is once again growing rapidly and is very strong.”

Presently, Winning Moves is delivering a number of activities tosupport businesses in Birmingham and the Midlands, including:

Growth Accelerator, a national programme, funded by BIS and designedto help ambitious businesses double their turnover in three years.

Enterprise Catalyst, delivered on behalf of Birmingham City Council’sEnterprising Communities Team and part funded by ERDF. Thisprogramme gives businesses support to develop their strategicdirection and assistance in accessing funding of up to £10,000 tosupport business growth.

The delivery of benchmarking, through Winning Moves proprietarysoftware suite, Benchmark Index.

Provision of software, tools, content and skills development for otherbusiness support providers.

Zoë Wallis, General Manager explained that the company was goingthrough a second period of high growth as other business supportorganisations seek to benefit from the tools and approaches WinningMoves have developed; using them with their clients.

She said: “It is easy to take for granted what you do. When otherpeople value what you do and want to replicate it, you know youmust be doing something right. We now have clients all over theworld that we train in the delivery of our consulting approaches andin the use of our tools. Over 30,000 businesses have experienced theWinning Moves way of doing things”

0121 285 3800www.winningmoves.com

http://winning.co.uk Winning Moves LtdBaskerville HouseCentenary Square

Birmingham B1 2ND

Winning Moves Ltd3 St Mary’s Mews

Stafford ST16 2AP

®


11

THE last few years of tough trading conditions havetested some of the country’s oldest, well-established and biggest businesses.

Not all of them have survived - so it’s good to know that thosestill battling to stay afloat and navigate the inclement economicclimate can call on the experts of Wilson Field to come aboardand help.

One of the leading independent business recovery, insolvencyand personal debt practices in the UK, Wilson Field has beeninstrumental in helping others to climb out of the seeminglydeepest of pits.

In the last nine months, Wilson Field saved more than 1,250jobs and 70 businesses nationwide. Last year the companyreturned more than £5.5m to creditors.

It’s an impressive result for a company which, managing directorNick Wilson admits, finds its greatest business challenge is operatingin a niche area with most people having limited knowledge of what itdoes and how it does it.

“Our potential clients are often very stressed and resistant tomarketing,” he adds. “We realise it can be a worrying time and adaunting task trying to resolve financial problems, but that is our specialism.

“We understand how easy it is to find yourself or your businessfacing problems. It doesn’t matter whether it is a serious cash flowshortage or difficulty paying personal credit cards repayments, wecan help and advise you.”

“We listen to your problems and talk through what options areavailable to address and solve them.

“We explain how they will affect you in practical terms and howyou can regain control of your finances.”

No matter whether it’s a soletrader, partnership or largerbusiness in trouble, WilsonField is here to help.

“We aim to remove the blackclouds and show you how totake control of your finances,get back onto a sound footingand start to sleep at nightagain,” assures Nick.

From opening its first officewith just a handful of peoplein 2001, Wilson Field now hasadditional offices in the WestMidlands, Manchester andLeeds and more than 80 staff.

They comprise seveninsolvency practitioners and a large team of experienced and dedicated professionals, including staff with a wealth of experience in theaccountancy, finance,factoring andbanking sectors”

“Wilson Field has built uprelationships and links withmany banks and otherfinancial organizations. Thisopens up many fundingsolutions,” says Nick.

Its success in helpingbusinesses turnaround allowsWilson Field to face the futurewith confidence and it plansto expand its existing officesand open more offices on the east coast and north east regions.

It is also set to expand anddevelop Wilson Field FinancialSolutions, the division whichhelps businesses identifyappropriate sources of finance.

Nick says: “Our vision is to continue to provide the highestlevels of advice and service to clients and partners and never tocompromise these in achieving our growth objectives.

“Despite our rapid success, we retain a family friendly feelwhich puts employees and clients at the heart of everything we strive to achieve.”

For further information on how the company can help your business, visitwww.wilsonfield.co.uk. Alternatively call Neil Jeeves on 01564 711581

for some free advice.

[email protected]

Photo : Nick Wilson (Managing Director) and James Mortimore(Director of Business Development).

Photo : Neil Jeeves (BusinessConsultant based in theWest Midlands).

Photo : Nick Wilson(Managing Director).

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With the common complaint about many law firms being thatit’s hard to speak to an actual lawyer, QualitySolicitors Talbots,which puts customer services at the heart of everything it does,gives pride of place to direct contact.

“Our clients have a named lawyer with responsibility for theirmatter,” insists Martyn. “They have their direct email and, wherepossible, a direct dial number too.

“Of course there are times when a lawyer is busy. For exampleif they’re at court or in a meeting, but then there will be othersin the team available and they will be familiar with your details.”

The rule is simple - to speak to the lawyer running your case,just pick up the phone.

Martyn adds: “You will never feel like an inconvenience. We’llrespond to any questions on the same day.”

First contact with the legal experts is always free, giving peoplethe opportunity to discuss their legal worries fully and Martynpromises that once work begins, costs will be fully outlined atthe start.

What will also be clear is the language. “We use plain andsimple words, not legal jargon,” he smiles. “The law iscomplicated enough.”

The clear, easy and friendly approach has served the practicewell through the centuries and will continue to carry it forward.

“We see our greatest business success in terms of the staff,the clients we serve, who often become clients and friends forlife, the excellence of our service and our contributions tocharity,” says Martyn.

With Saturday opening and extended week-days from 8am to6pm another boost to the direct and easy access philosophy,it’s no surprise that QualitySolicitors Talbots is the first choicefor so many requiring legal help and advice. Case closedin fact.

For further information on the practice, itsservices and individual office contact details,

visit www.qualitysolicitors.com/talbotsTel: 0800 118 1500

Ask QualitySolicitors Talbots to state their case and theresponse is people - pure and simple.

Human contact, direct access, immediate response and anactive charity fund-raising programme - no wonder clientsbecome friends for life.

This is not an offshoot of a multi-million pound organisationfilled with faceless distant lawyers - you’ve only got to look atthe 50+ smiling team photos on the company website for proofof that.

This is a thriving legal practice with roots in the early 1800s butwhich is a modern, go-ahead concern that’s fighting backagainst the challenges posed by the 21st century.

It’s not just the recession and government reductions in accessto Legal Aid, explains Senior Partner Martyn Morgan.

“In October 2011, the legal market was opened up to enableother approved bodies like banks, supermarkets and motoringorganisations to offer legal services such as will-making,conveyancing and divorce,” he says.

“However QualitySolicitors Talbots is determined to show that itis far better to deal with innovative, forward-thinking andpersonable solicitors for specialist advice and to keep it local,rather than faceless lawyers from across the country.”

Established in 1828, the practice has more than140 staff, withoffices in Stourbridge, Kidderminster, Dudley, Wolverhamptonand Codsall offering the full range of legal services.

They include: family and children advice, divorce , separation,residential property, trusts, estates and will-making, businessservices, dispute resolution, debt collection, mediation,motoring offences, court hearings and police station attendances.

A proud holder of Lexcel and Conveyancing Quality Schemeaccreditations, it is also a several-times nominee forBirmingham Law Society Law Firm of the Year awards.

Photo: Talbots arranges many charity events - such as this lunch where Martyn Morgan (left) joined with celebrity Adrian Chiles

Photo: Vic Younis and Martyn Morgan prepare to take on the FacelessSolicitors at a recent PR event in Birmingham

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A lively, well established accountancy practice based inDroitwich, Worcestershire, Ballard Dale Syree Watsonhave their clients’ fiscal and commercial well being at thecore of their practice.

Accountancy is changing and has become an exciting, variedand very personal profession, based not just on tax expertise,but the provision of expert business advice.

The partners all came originally from larger well known firms but became frustrated at the limited time available to actuallyspend with clients.

This frustration led to the ethos behind Ballards, one of puttingthe client at the centre of what they do. This more personalapproach, where the accountant can address specific issuesand concerns is greatly appreciated by clients.

It is the investment in new technology, resulting in considerable timesaving on the bread and butter number crunching that enables thepractice to implement their policy of increased face to face time.

The policy is paying dividends with many new clients beingattracted away from larger firms by Ballards being able to offerthe same or better service at lower rates, evidently better value.

As the company expands, recruitment has become a priorityand Steven Jones Business Development Director explainedthat their trainees are drawn from a wide range of graduatebackgrounds. He said “We look for the right set of analyticalskills, and fresh ways of thinking”. Of the four graduatesrecently taken on as audit and accounts trainees three have abackground in Chemistry, and one in Dance!

Ballards hit just the right balance between the professional andthe personal; their policy of keeping clients informed by theirpreferred method for non-business critical is illustrative, email

may be quicker and generally liked but some clients still preferall business communications to be in writing, the balance isusually about 50/50. Business critical communication is,however, always face to face or by telephone.

Ballards specialise in assisting not only owner managed andfamily run firms but also large corporate entities operatinginside and outside of the UK. The firm is particularly well knownfor its personal taxation and planning department and have wellestablished links with banks and lending institutions.

“We definitely see our advanced tax department as somethingthat sets us apart from our competitors” says Mr Jones, “Taxminimisation is something that all of clients look for and the keyto this is understanding what the client is looking to achieveshort, medium and long term. We have invested a considerableamount of money in attracting the very best tax specialists inthe area and are looking to build on this success even furthergoing forward”

The practice is also particularly well equipped to assist themedical sector. Jeremy Syree (Partner) is also ICAEWChairman of the Healthcare Special Interests Group which givesclients access to the latest information regarding NHS changes.Also Matthew Watson (Partner) who heads up the MedicalTeam represents circa 50 GP practices in the region, 500medical based organisations and individuals both locally and on a National basis, allowing the team to focus on sectorspecific issues.

Ballard Dale Syree Watson offer over 30 years of experience inhelping clients maximise their profits, manage their businessefficiently and reduce their ever increasing tax burdens.

The firm is also delighted to have Mark Skellum recently joinfrom Ernst & Young. Mark has joined as Senior Manager Audit& Accounts.

Mr Skellum qualified as a chartered accountant in 2001 whilstworking with Top 10 firm BDO Stoy Hayward later moving toBig 4 firm Ernst & Young. He based his decision to move to anindependent firm on being able to work more closely withclients and to be able to spend more time with them on astrategic level.

“Although working with large nationalfirms has given me excellent trainingand experience, I am looking forwardto being able to work more closelywith clients and to get to know whatreally makes them tick. Ultimately, Iam bringing the same large firm knowhow and experience at a dramaticallyreduced cost” Mr Skellum said.

For more information please visit their website

www.ballardsca.comor telephone on 01905 794504

Chartered Accountants

Steven Jones welcomes the 2012 graduate intake

Mark Skellum, FCA


14

Chartered Accountants 01905 794 504www.ballardsca.com

T = A + E - JTrust Advice Expertise Jargon

An Addition That Gets The Correct Results


15

Salhan Accountants named Business of theYear with third accolade in 18 months

Birmingham-based specialist Chartered Accountants andChartered Tax Advisors, Salhan Accountants is celebrating itsthird awards success in 18 months after being named Businessof the Year at the Institute of Asian Businesses (IAB) Awards.

The firm was presented with the prestigious accolade during aceremony at the International Convention Centre in Birminghamon 17 November as part of the IAB’s 25th anniversarycelebrations.

Salhan Accountants won the award on the strength of itsgrowth over the past year, as well as its wide range of specialistservices, including forensic accountancy, tax litigation, tax fraudinvestigations and VAT investigations. The firm is also launchinga new asset protection service, covering issues such asinheritance tax, creditors, divorce, cohabitation, businessfailure, litigation and disputes, long-term care, high net worthindividuals and Sharia law.

Managing Director Madan Salhan said: "To be shortlisted forsuch a prestigious award was fantastic news, but to be namedas the winner is a great honour and a testament to the hardwork of everyone at Salhan Accountants."

Director Anjulika Salhan, who also heads sister companySalhan Consultancy Ltd, said: "As a firm, we have workedextremely hard to develop a wide range of specialist servicesfor our diverse client base. To have all this hard workrecognised with this award is wonderful news."

This is the third awards success forSalhan Accountants in the past yearand a half, with the firm having wonEntrepreneur of the Year at theBirmingham Chamber of CommerceGroup Business Awards in April thisyear, as well as being highlycommended in the Best General TaxPractice category at the 2011 TaxationAwards, recognised as a gold standardof excellence within the tax sector.

Not just another accountancy firm, the practice is frequently calledupon to assist clients referred by other accountancy and legalpractices. As well as having a number of former HM Revenue andCustoms (HMRC) staff among its team, Salhan Accountants drawon the skills and expertise of a wide range of consultants in order toprovide a complete business solution for its clients.

In order to expand services to clients still further the firm hastwo sister companies, Salhan Consultancy Ltd and WealthAdministration Ltd.

The company has also recently launched its specialist websitewww.taxation-investigation.co.uk to offer its further taxinvestigation services.

Salhan Consultancy is headed by Dr Anjulika Salhan, amathematician of international repute, who has a wealth ofexperience in delivering professional mathematical solutions.This company provides highly specialised, tailor-mademathematical solutions for finance, business and industry, aswell as mathematical analysis and forensic audits of consumercredit agreements, using the practice's own bespoke algorithmand computer software.

Wealth Administration provides specialist services relating toestate planning, inheritance tax planning, trusts and wills. Thecompany's bespoke solutions are designed to help clientsmake the most of their money by planning ahead in the mosttax-efficient way.

Voted for by their peers, Salhan Accountants are the experts toconsult on all aspects of tax and accountancy.

Contact by telephone, 0121 607 1901, Email: [email protected] or visit the web site for more information.www.salhanaccountants.co.ukwww.taxation-investigation.co.uk

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• Prevention of future potential losses – approved named buyersare monitored by the insurer throughout the policy period. Ifdetrimental information is obtained, the borrower may beadvised so that the credit line on future shipments will eitherbe reduced or discontinued to avoid any potential losses.

• Protection against excessive credit losses – insurance againstexcessive credit losses on the debtor book that the businessoffers as collateral for a loan.

• Loss payee benefit – businesses can name a commerciallender as the beneficiary of any loss payments made underthe policy.

Presented with a choice between lending to a company whichhas taken steps to secure its position and a company whosedebtor book leaves it vulnerable to default, you can be sure alender will prefer the former.

Coface has a variety of credit insurance solutions to suit the coverrequirements of most types of businesses whether tradingdomestically or overseas. We also specialise in providing businessand credit information worldwide allowing businesses to makeinformed decisions about trading on credit terms. Our databaseholds information on over 55 million companies worldwide.Additionally we also offer flexible, scalable debt recovery solutionsboth domestically and overseas.

References:

1 Statistics release: insolvencies in the third quarter 2012, TheInsolvency Service, 2 November 2012 2 FSB research indicates growth ahead for 2013, FSB, 18December 2012

How credit insurance can make businesses more attractiveto commercial lenders

A customer’s late payment or insolvency can be crippling for anybusiness. Not only have you lost the revenue from the sale, butthe squeeze on your cashflow will make it far more difficult to paywages, suppliers and invest in growth.

Cashflow problems are actually a major cause of business failure. Little wonder that the collapse of one company can cause a rippleeffect for creditors down the supply chain, leaving more insolventcompanies in its wake.

Credit insurance enables you to be proactive and protect yourbusiness against the possibility of a customer’s insolvency orprotracted default. For example, despite the fall in companyliquidations in England and Wales in the third quarter of 20121, itis likely that many are only keeping their heads above waterbecause of the continued low interest rates.

But credit insurance is not just about protection in bad times.There is an equally important argument in favour of obtainingcredit insurance in order to attract further investment and finance.

In the last few years, the difficulty of obtaining bank finance hasbecome a familiar theme in business surveys. In recent months,efforts have been made to address this situation through initiativessuch as the BoE’s Funding for Lending scheme launched inAugust which aims to increase bank lending by roughly £60bn byJanuary 2014. And there are some grounds for cautiousoptimism: for example, the latest FSB small business surveyshowed that a higher proportion of small firms who applied forfinance were accepted (49.3 per cent compared to 42.8 percentin Q3)2.

While this is welcome news, your business may not be able totake advantage unless it represents an attractive prospect topotential lenders. One effective way to ensure it does is by takingdemonstrable measures to manage your company’s credit risk,such as obtaining credit insurance.

In my experience, a credit-insured business offers the followingbenefits to commercial lenders:

• Provisions of credit analysis – credit limits on named buyersare thoroughly investigated by trade credit insuranceunderwriters, eliminating additional detailed work for thelender.

Credit insurance - more than baddebt protection

Grant Williams, RiskUnderwriting Director,Coface in the UK & Ireland

31658 1pg_Carford Group 07/01/2013 09:41 Page 1

17

Call: 01793 688990Email: [email protected] Web: www.imsm.com

Easy TargetIn the line of fire

Your competition has stolen all of your valued customers fromunder your nose. You lose business. You are forced to fold.

Your customers’ contact details are like gold dust to thecompetition. With ease they can know, straight away, what isbeing sold, to whom and at what price. Why wouldn’t they wantto steal it?

Your information and data resources are one of the mostimportant assets your business holds.

Number 1 target

Information and data resources remain a number one target forhackers and cyber criminals; they have a real value in, and from,any marketplace.

Hackers and fraudsters are working overtime, over the Internet, toensure they can break into the known forms of protectionavailable at any time.

Information security is a major area critical to the survival of abusiness. A system that is not secure and maintained with greatvigilance is going to be at threat, with catastrophic results.Ultimate loss of reputation and business are the minimum youwould expect as a result, a massive cost that most business willnever recover from.

The fall out

From a recent Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) survey; 82% ofsmall and 93% of large companies suffered an informationsecurity incident in 2010. These incidents typically cost therespective businesses between £27,000 and £690,000. Thisfigure is expected to increase and the exposure will cost dearly.

A breach of information security can result in other cost areas;crippling fines for the business and in certain cases imprisonmentmay be levied upon the personnel responsible.

Taking cover

In a competitive and threatened marketplace an effectiveInformation Security Management System (ISMS) monitors andmaintains your business’ information security. The ISMS for anybusiness must protect the three main areas required of it;confidentiality, integrity and availability.

ISO/ IEC 27001: 2005 Information Security ManagementStandard has been designed to ensure the correct and effectiveimplementation, operation, maintaining and improving thebusiness ISMS.

ISO/ IEC 27001 is the best way of demonstrating to all concernedthat you take the security of all your information seriously.

www.imsm.com

How well is your data protected?

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Finance 4 Business is one of the largest, most innovativeand respected commercial finance master brokerages inthe UK.

They are whole of market and completely independent, offeringa range of solutions including Commercial Mortgages, BridgingFinance, Development Finance, Buy to Let Mortgages (includingPortfolios), Invoice Finance, Factoring, Asset Finance, SecuredLoans, General Insurance and Business Protection.

Commercial Mortgages and Bridging Finance have become asubstantial and quite specialised growth area for the company, asin today’s restricted financial market, companies looking for shortterm commercial funding are still finding their choices very limited.

Despite various Government initiatives, SMEs in particular, arestill struggling to access affordable funding.

Interest rates have been at a historic low for sometime, andmany of the banks have used additional lending as a pretext torestructure existing borrowing, which may not only render thewhole project unaffordable, but isn’t actually suitable, if all that isrequired is a comparatively small, short term loan.

Banks are also extremely cautious, requiring an absolutelysqueaky clean profile, or, “the computer says, “No!””

Finance 4 Business takes a far more pragmatic and refreshingapproach. They sit down with the client to establish theirrequirements in detail, face to face. Rather like one’s bankmanager used to do years ago.

Finance 4 Business is totally professional and absolutelyscrupulous, in the application of due diligence, reviewing creditprofiles, the directors’ trading history and the overall viability ofthe business, before any credit application is undertaken.

This way they can assess which lender is most likely to behelpful, and advise the client on any changes to aspects of theirbusiness practice, which would improve the application’schance of success.

As Russell Martin, Managing Director, explained “Today there is an array of financial products available, but, the trick ismatching the correct product or mortgage with the requirementsof your business.”

It is their wide market knowledge, and over 100 years ofcombined experience, that makes them so successful in this“matching” process. They source funding from a wide range ofaccredited lenders, ranging from the high street to smallerspecialist lenders.

They have successfully assisted professionals and businesses ofall sizes to achieve their short and long term goals, by using theirmany years of experience within the market, to review allaspects of the client’s business.

Clients, who have previously been unsuccessful in obtainingfunding elsewhere, find by discussing their requirements withFinance 4 Business a bespoke funding solution can be obtainedbased on their specialist product knowledge and relationshipswith lenders.

Their clients return to them time and time again, secure in theknowledge that they will receive a totally professional service,overseen right through from application to completion, andrecommend them very highly.

To arrange an initial discussion pleasetelephone their new business team on 01827230 045 or email [email protected] or visit

our website www.f4b.biz

Need help with Commercial or Corporate Finance?

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ENERGY management consultant Envantage is calling on theregion’s businesses to sign up to newly revampedgovernment scheme which will see them save money andhelp the planet at the same time.

Companies who areeligible for the ClimateChange LevyAgreement (CCLA)which comes into forcenext April will miss outon major savings if theydo not have one, warnsEnvantage MD ColinHindmarsh.

The CCLA scheme enables energy-intensive industries to claimvaluable discounts from the Climate Change Levy in return foragreeing to meet energy reduction targets and qualitativeenergy and carbon management criteria.

A number of significant changes have been made, including theintroduction of much stricter targets. However, if met, increaseddiscount levels of up to 90% are available for electricity and65% for gas.

“Companies cannot afford to miss this opportunity and shouldtake action now,” declares Colin.

“Here at Envantage we can manage your application tomaximise your savings while ensuring that you are compliant.

“Alternatively, for those who already have a CCLA, we cantransfer it to a new agreement and ensure that their obligationsare met under this one.”

Companies would do well to heed his words - other changesincorporated into the new agreement include an increase intarget periods from 12-24 months and the 90/10 rule becominga 70/30 rule.

It’s a complex situation but Envantage’s experts cansuccessfully guide companies through.

“We have a range of experienced consultants with demonstratedknowledge in successfully establishing and managing thesecomplicated agreements over a range of industries,” assures Colin.

“Ensuing your agreement is set up correctly and is effectivelymanaged is paramount to protect compliance in the event of aDepartment of Energy & Climate Change audit.”

Based in Manchester, Envantage works in all business sectors tooffer a wide range of services to encompass all carbon and energyrequirements, specialising in carbon management and reduction,carbon legislation and low carbon solutions and procurement.

It’s worked with some of the country’s biggest names, such asBentley Motors, Ocado and Arnold Clark, helping them to achievebig savings on energy costs and turn noticeably greener.

Taking such steps does not always cost money, insists Colin,adding: “We work with energy suppliers, green fund managers,renewable installers and third party service suppliers to ensureour clients benefit financially from going greener.

“Our sales team is not target or commission driven whichmeans our engineers or consultants never pressure a client tomake difficult choices. We simply advise and consult.”

With Envantage ensuring its experts are constantly trained in innew market advancements and developing technologies, theteam is always ahead of the game in a fast moving market.

It’s that advance knowledge, combined with a commitment tocustomer satisfaction, that keeps them in regular contact withclients to advise them on market price, trading, legislation orefficiency changes as they happen.

So if you didn’t know about the new CCLA changes it’s time tofind out from one who does. It could be that Envantage will beable to help you make some considerable savings.

For further information, telephone 0161 448 7722 or email [email protected]. To find out more about the company and its full range of

services, visit www.envantage.co.uk

31639 Envantage Ltd_Feature Template 19/12/2012 10:12 Page 1

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Apprenticeships, the buzz word of themoment, tackling both youthunemployment and the looming skillsshortage in manufacturing andengineering; currently often beingfilled from overseas.

Professor Bhattacharyya of the WarwickManufacturing Group has argued for some time that we don’t need moregraduates; we just need more engineersand technicians.

The Government has recognised the needand has put some key initiatives in placeresulting in a transformation in the way inwhich apprenticeships are viewed in thiscountry over recent years.

This is reflected not only in the growth inthe number of people –young and adults – successfully completing anApprenticeship but in the types and stylesof businesses taking on apprenticeshipsfor the first time.

More Advanced Level and HigherApprenticeships are being offered throughspecialist providers, and supported bycolleges and universities meaning that

Apprenticeships increasingly offer avocational route to the top.

Impressive new businesses and newsectors such as financial and professional services are embracingApprenticeships in large numbers for thefirst time. A case in point is the newhigher level 4 NVQ qualification beingembraced by the PR industry.

It is an exciting time for Apprenticeshipsand for the National ApprenticeshipService, as the Government continues toinvest heavily in Apprenticeships andwider skills development at a time whenpublic finances are very tight.

With more than 665,000 Apprentices intraining last year, there is no doubt thatApprenticeships are an increasinglyimportant part of the country’s responseto bringing forward a strong economicrecovery.

Quality is the key to sustaining growth inApprenticeships. The recent NationalAudit Office review has confirmed theexcellent return on investment inApprenticeships.

Some of our major names are offeringAdvanced Apprenticeships, JLR’s schemeis open to GCSE qualified candidates andstarts with a year in college studying foran NVQ2 in Performing EngineeringOperations, followed by an NVQ3 in achosen trade pathway, and a TechnicalCertificate, as well as training in key skillssuch as Communication, IT andNumeracy. Apprentices will then go on tofulfil roles in a variety of manufacturingand product development functions.

The Virgin Media apprentice scheme isgoing from strength to strength, with themain goal being to attract the best youngtalent into Virgin’s network teams and givethem a great learning experience at VirginMedia by helping them to develop quicklyin their roles, from a technical andpersonal perspective.

Smaller businesses too up and down thecountry are benefiting from thegovernment’s programme. Retailers,builders, caterers, hairdressers andengineers to name a few, are taking theopportunity to transmit their skills to thenext generation, and build in the trainingthey need in their own workforce.

The future for apprenticeships is lookingbright. In 2012-13 the Governmentexpects to invest around £1.5 billion. Thiswill be used to support over 700,000apprentices in training in 2012-13, and todeliver up to 500,000 starts, whilecontinuing to increase efficiency anddeliver value for money.

www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Government support forApprenticeships

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TRANSFORMING lives and businesses is all in a day’swork for the Positive Outcomes training experts - andafter 16 years they show no sign of stopping.

Things are busier than ever, with the launch of a dedicated websiteto help match 16 to 18-year-olds with rewarding careers that willallow them to earn a wage while training for nationally recognisedqualifications; plus preparations are underway for exhibiting at theUK’s biggest skills and careers event in November.

WorldSkills UK, at Birmingham’s NEC from November 15-17 is afixed point in the Positive Outcomes diary, as one would expect it tobe for one of the country’s top 10 training providers.

This award-winning national organisation offers government-fundedapprenticeships for 16-18 year olds, funded work-based learning forexisting employees, regardless of age, plus corporate training.

Highly experienced, specialist trainers go into the work place toprovide intermediate and advanced level apprenticeships in businessadministration, customer service, IT, retail, team leading, estateagency, management and warehouse and distribution, while itscorporate training offers dynamic and interactive personaldevelopment workshops that incorporate management andleadership, plus business skills and compliance.

The training is tailored to an individual’s needs plus the specificneeds of the business. Positive Outcomes will source an apprenticefor you, and once placed in the company, handles the apprenticetraining. Those looking to take on new apprentices know that if theycome through Positive Outcomes, they will be provided with eageryoung people ready to soak up all the new skills destined to cometheir way.

“Employing the right people and ensuring they have the necessaryskills to perform effectively in a working environment is of vitalimportance to the productivity and success of a company,” saysGroup Managing Director Chris Longmate.

“Government-funded training is at the heart of what we do and weare dedicated to providing employees with the skills and knowledgerelevant to their job role, as well as assisting employers in buildingand training a motivated and skilled workforce.”

Based at the Village Business Park just off of J28 of the M1, PositiveOutcomes has a team of specialist trainers, qualified in deliveringNVQ work-based training to employees aged 16+ and is among aspecialist few approved to deliver NVQ Level 5 Management training.

At all times, the simple - but powerful - mission remains paramount:to be a dynamic people-oriented company that strives forexcellence, delivering a first-class solution that makes a positive difference.

Looking for fresh new talentfor your business or to trainyour existing staff?Positive Outcomes can help!

It’s time your company headed in a ‘new direction’ to findout more about apprenticeships please call 0845 6435566or email: [email protected]

www.positiveoutcomes.org.ukPositive Outcomes also offers corporate training to the market place

We have lots of fresh, ambitious people who want todevelop, learn and gain a qualification with youthrough our Apprenticeship scheme

Apprenticeships available indifferent sectors including:

Business AdministrationCustomer ServiceITRetailManagementTeam LeadingEstate AgencyWarehouse & Distribution

Adults currently employedwithin your workplacecan benefit too

Scan this QR codewith a smartphone

for more information

Government funding

available!

Since its 1996 launch, to offering NVQs in a number of servicesectors, Positive Outcomes has gone from strength to strength,experiencing healthy and sustainable growth over the last few yearsin particular.

It is now one of the top training providers based in the East Midlandswith an ever-growing national learner base, with links into more than200 companies.

Chris joined in 2009 and his strategy to continue growing thebusiness and expand throughout the UK, has seen turnover go from£1.6m to £15.5m in those three years.

“Our headcount has also grown from 45 to 250 employees and ourrapid expansion enabled us to beat the downturn.” he reports.

“We have managed to maintain a healthy business, while impactingon the market and individuals, which also created opportunities inthe community.”

A positive outcome all around.

For information about the training provided,go to www.positiveoutcomes.org.uk. Thoseseeking apprenticeships and advice can view

the latest vacancies at www.paidtolearn.co.uk.Alternatively telephone 0845 6435566.

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BIRMINGHAM’S GB Training (UK)Ltd is proud to be one of thelargest independent providers inthe UK - just as well its determinedfounder Gill Barton refused to listento the doom mongers back in 1995.

That was when, shortly aftercelebrating her 50th birthday, themother of five sons submitted abusiness plan for setting up her owntraining and recruitment company in the face of warnings that itwould never get off the ground.

Not only did Gill’s venture to develop the skills of managers andstaff and deliver accredited qualifications get off the ground,however, it positively soared.

Today, 17 years on, GB Training is a 60-employee company,based in Bromsgrove Street but working on a national level,predominantly with small and medium size enterprises but alsoenjoying strong relationships with larger corporateorganisations.

It’s proved the pessimists wrong in a big way and, continues todo so as it successfully rides the storm of one of the toughesteconomic climates in decades.

Already holding contracts with more than three large collegesand running its own training provision, GB Training mostrecently won a six-figure contract to deliver apprenticeships for16-24-year-olds and is one of less than 100 providers to get adirect contract from the government-funded agency.

There’s plenty more achievements to note too. The companyhas a full awards cabinet and its milestones are many, includingsuccessful Inspections and National Accreditations whichrecognise excellence and quality.

“However, we believe our greatest business achievement hasbeen maintaining group workforces of almost a 1,000employees for over a decade with companies in the regionsuch as GB Resourcing, The Loft Lounge, Good with Wood,The Village Inn and The Nightingale Club,” says EmployerEngagement Officer Joanne Allsopp.

“Like many others globally, our greatest challenge has beensuccessfully trading through the worldwide recession, depletingmarkets and depressed economies within our spread of partnerorganisations - however we are continuing to move forwards.”

Although GB Training became alimited company in 2001, it is, to thisday, a family business with Gill’s sonLawrence at the helm as MD.

It delivers a broad portfolio ofintermediate and advancedapprenticeships, QCF and otherrecognised qualifications in CustomerService, Business Admin, TeamLeading and Management,Warehousing and Storage,Hospitality, ICT and Health and Social Care, along withmanagement and train the trainer courses.

Also offered is staff training in food hygiene, health and safetyand first aid for restaurants, care homes and cafes.

To find out more about the company and the services it provides, please visit www.gbtraining.org.uk. To make an enquiry, telephone 0121 622 4218.

0121 622 4218www.gbtraining.org.uk

GB Training UK_Feature Template 14/12/2012 10:02 Page 1

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With all the negative feedback on health and safety excessesin the press these days, it's refreshing to find somebody inthe business who has taken a thorough and common senseapproach to this necessary evil.

Emma Walker knows the importance of health and safety in theworkplace but she also knows that many find it a dull subject - that’swhy she’s developed a fresh approach that’s gaining new clientsevery month.

Since she launched Walker Health & Safety Services in June 2010,to provide small and medium businesses with support to implementand keep up-to-date with health and safety legislation, more andmore of the Midlands’ most prestigious companies are flocking.

Shires Fire and Safety, the NHS, and Blist Hill Museum are amongthose who have already received the benefits of advice from Emmawho is passionate about making health and safety understandableand interesting.

“I don’t want to reinvent the wheel but simply want people to beable to understand legislation and guidelines,” she says.

"My clients confidence and satisfaction are first and foremost in mybusiness. Ensuring that they are compliant and have a workingunderstanding of their responsibilities through my efforts are primary."

"This engenders trust and respect thereby allowing the business tohold its leading position in the industry."

She also believes the business, based on Wolverhampton University’sTelford Campus in Shropshire, offers also a far superior service.

“Many health and safety companies lack something,” she suggests.“They offer advice but don’t follow up with the client, leaving thebusiness wondering what they should be doing and why they shouldbe doing it. Often the health and safety folder will sit on a shelf untilthe audit comes around 12 months later, and nothing hasbeen completed.

“By working with clients, we assist in highlighting the deficienciesand promote a proactive, cost-effective way to become compliantwith current legislation.

“By bringing staff together it promotes a health and safety cultureand shows them that their employers are being proactive which, inturn, improves workplace morale.”

Thanks to extensive contacts with a wide range of fully professionallyqualified consultants, Walker Health & Safety Services, covers acomprehensive range of services, able to offer first aid training, firetraining, fire extinguishers and advice on electrical and plumbingsafety issues.

It also handles audits and inspections, risk assessments andaccident investigation support as well as tailor-made health andsafety management systems which feature procedures and policiesdestined to save time yet demonstrate commitment to keeping theworkforce safe.

“We can highlight areas for improvement and offer information packsto all members of staff on any topic,” Emma says.

“If required, we will give a recommendation for training and carry itthrough to ensure clients are receiving our full attention and relevantmaterial. What’s more, if we can’t provide the training we canrecommend a service provider.”

With health, safety and environment issues becoming more important,Emma’s proud that her business offers a personal professionalapproach to helping companies find practical ways to comply.

She says: “We hope to give them a fresh outlook on the subjectand, by working together, we can improve the health and safetyculture in the workplace, update, review, transform or build healthand safety documentation to suit the individual companies’requirements and ensure that they stay within the law.

For further information about Walker Health &Safety Services, go to www.walkersafety.co.uk

Alternatively telephone 0845 834 0400or email [email protected]

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Shires Fire and Safety Ltd of Telford are delighted toannounce the award of a contract with the world’s fifthlargest tyre manufacturer, Pirelli.

Barry Mould, MD, said his team would be servicing and delivering allthe fire extinguishers and hose reels for all of Pirelli’s sites in the UK.The contract is worth over £10,000.

Mr Mould who set up his company during 1990 recession, said thathis 18 strong team of engineers would be working at Pirelli’s sites inDidcot, Carlisle and Burton on Trent, ensuring that all Pirelli’s fireequipment complies with all the latest regulations, and would carryout an ongoing programme of regular servicing and refilling of theextinguishers.

Shires work closely with Walker Health and Safety Services whoprovide SMEs with the support needed to implement and keep upto date with health and safety legislation.

Mr Mould, who serves on one of the committees of the industrygoverning bodies, the Independent Fire Engineering and DistributorsAssociation, said that fire safety was vital in any industry, butespecially so in an industry dealing with highly flammable materialssuch as the rubber used for tyres.

He said: “We are ecstatic to have won such an important contractwith Pirelli. The company has 22 tyre manufacturing facilities on fivecontinents, and employs 34,000 people, so who knows where thisUK based contract could lead.

The bosses of Pirelliawarded us the contract because theywere so impressed bythe expertise andprofessionalismdemonstrated by myengineers.

Pirelli is just one of the manynational contracts we hold,but we are happy to servicethe smallest local businesswhich may only have oneextinguisher or hose reel,demonstrating our ability tomeet the demands of everycustomer, regardless of sizeor need.”

Very much part of their localcommunity, Shires contributeto various local charities, andrecently supportedWoodland’s Primary School Summer Fair, which helped to raise£3,100 towards an Eco Lodge, outdoor toys for the children andsubsidise the cost of educational trips.

Shires Fire and Safety Ltd is a fire protection and emergencysystems company, providing fire protection service by fully qualifiedand licensed engineers as well as free fire prevention and securityadvice. They are BAFE* approved and ISO: 9001 2000 UKASaccredited. They provide annual servicing of fire extinguishers, firealarms and emergency lighting. Services also extend to fire safetytraining, fire warden training, fire risk assessments, PAT testing,safety signage, PAFSS (suppression system) and nurse call systems.They install, supply and provide maintenance for all types of firesafety, fire protection and fire detection equipment.

Shires Fire and Safety Ltd is still based on Stafford Park 17 but hasmoved to Queensway Link Industrial Park, from their previouspremises at the Business Development Centre.

For more information please visit their web site,www.shiresfiresafety.co.uk, Telephone 0800 542 3267,

or contact Sarah Knowles, Business DevelopmentManager at [email protected]

Call Today0800 542 3267


25

One month on from the announcement of automaticenrolment under new workplace pension reforms, howare businesses preparing for the forthcoming changes?

Workplace pension reform has been introduced in response tofears that the British public are not saving enough to providefor themselves in retirement.

The situation has been acerbated by Government “raids” onpension funds and low interest rates on savings. A generationthat did save for retirement has seen the value of their pensionpot dramatically decrease, with the result that even prudent,thrifty folk face some stark challenges, and others simply don’tsee the point, given such low returns. Meeting day to dayobligations tends to take priority over saving for old age, andfor many “tomorrow” will be soon enough!

That is why automatic enrolment is the most significant reformto workplace pensions in recent times. All workers will end upwith a pension. If a worker does nothing he will end up in aworkplace pension scheme. If he wishes to avoid this, he hasto take positive steps to opt out.

There is, however, more to workplace pension reform thanautomatic enrolment. Employers will be under a duty to paycontributions into their workers' pension arrangements - nosuch duty existed before. Also, even those workers who falloutside the automatic enrolment requirements will still havenew rights.

While many employers have strategies in place to manage theirobligations under the reforms, some are still wrestling withwhat they mean for their business. Many employers are findingthat the requirement to provide independent financial advice inorder for their employees to make informed choices betweenthe provisions of a qualifying company scheme, or theGovernment’s default option of NEST is placing an unwelcomeadditional strain on their HR budgets.

According to a survey by the Association of ConsultingActuaries, the majority of small businesses are yet to plan orbudget for automatic enrolment. But with the countdown on,companies will need to act quickly to meet their "stagingdates".

1 October 2012 saw the first stage in the graduatedimplementation of the policy. Although affecting just four of theUK's largest employers, by June 2013, all employers withmore than 4,000 workers in their PAYE scheme will be subjectto the new duties.

Commenting on the publication of the Government'sreinvigorating workplace pensions paper, Peter McDonald,chief actuary at PWC, said: “The government has to beapplauded for trying to tackle the challenge of how to getmore people to save towards their retirement. The proposalshold a lot of merit, but the sticking point will be whethercompanies have the appetite to provide these types ofpensions. Constant tinkering with the pension rules has leftemployers disillusioned and there is little appetite to take onany more risk than they need to.”

“What workers and employers most need is a simple, stablepensions regime so that they can plan for the long term.People with defined contribution (DC) pensions are currently

We specialise in providing financial advice to individuals and companies based upon their ownunique circumstances. We believe in a structured approach to financial planning. This helpsyou understand exactly what is happening, and gives you the time that you need to make these important decisions.

Harris & Associates, 37 Silver Street, Wythall, Birmingham B47 6NDTel: 01564 829009 Web: www.harrisandassociates.co.uk

• Protection• Retirement• Investments• Mortgages

• Insurance• Inheritance Tax& Estate Planning

Harris & Associates Financial Consultants Limited is an appointed representative of IN Partnership the trading name ofThe On-Line Partnership Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. RegisteredOffice: Black Country House, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 2DG. Company registered in England No. 4377009.

Workplace Pension Reforms

31634 2pg:Carford Group 14/01/2013 16:00 Page 1

26

very much at the mercy of the stockmarkets, with little guarantee ofwhat their final pension will be.Much improved visibility and clarityon how a DC fund is performingover a worker's lifetime couldsignificantly help with matchingpeople’s savings and expectations.

“The proposal to create a middleground between defined benefit anddefined contribution pensions is agreat idea if it can work. Thechallenge will be persuadingemployers to move back towards anarrangement where they are tiedinto a pension arrangement.”

Thompson Prior LLP, Hilton House, Hilton, Bridgnorth, Shropshire,WV15 5PDTel: 01746 716767 Fax: 01746 716787 Web: www.thompsonprior.co.uk E-mail: [email protected]�$*(+.*)��-%*-��%.��0/$*-%.! ��) �-!#0'�/! ��4�/$!��%)�)�%�'��!-1%�!.��0/$*-%/4��*��$!��%)�)�%�'��!-1%�!.��0/$*-%/4� *!.�)*/�-!#0'�/!�/�3�/%*)��) �/-0./�� 1%�!�

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Call us now on 01746 716767.

AUTO-ENROLMENT IS HERE…….…THOMPSON PRIOR WOULD LIKE TO HELP – YOU.

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www.dwp.gov.uk › Policy › Pensions reform


27

From 1 October 2012 through to 2017 all existing employers will have a duty automatically to enrol their eligible employees into a workplace pension scheme which meets certain minimum quality requirements. The date the duties will apply is determined by the size of the payroll as at 1 April 2012. Employers can find confirmation of the date applicable on the Pensions Regulator’s website. Employers will have to contribute at least 1% of qualifying earnings until 30 September 2017, 2% from 1 0ctober 2017 and 3% from 1 October 2018.

Preparing for auto-enrolment should not be left to the last minute; the Pensions Regulator will be writing to an employer 12 months in advance of the date the duty applies but this is probably the minimum employers should allow to get ready.

Things which will need to be done include:

Employers may also wish to consider a salary sacrifice arrangement for the payment of employees’ contributions to use the resulting NI savings to offset the additional costs of auto-enrolment.

It is also vital that employers don’t forget:

recent fine of £250,000 imposed on a local authority in relation to inadequate protection of pension records demonstrates

with certain employee safeguards including a prohibition against screening job applicants on grounds relating to potential pension scheme membership.

Failure to comply is not an option. The Pensions Regulator has a number of enforcement powers including civil penalties of between £50 to £10,000 a day. Wilful non compliance could lead to criminal prosecution. An employee may also make a tribunal claim in certain circumstances.

If you fail to act on auto-enrolment then you could face a fine of up to £10,000 a day. This is an issue you simply can’t ignore.

Eversheds’ quality team of pensions and employment lawyers will guide you through the process and the legal issues involved.

It’s never too early to prepare.

Contact

Don’t bury your head in the sand Let us steer you through the auto-enrolment minefield

Auto-enrolment – what you should know

Ingrid EversonPartner, Pensions0845 497 [email protected]

Teresa DolanPartner, Employment0845 497 [email protected]

31620 1pg_Manor Golf Club 1pg 19/11/2012 20:05 Page 1

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If you want an investment where you have theopportunity to benefit from real rates of return byinvesting in collective investment funds, these areprofessionally managed for you, you can lock-in thegains you make as you go along, add to this there is nodirect income tax payable if you’re a basic rate taxpayerand even if your fortunate enough to be a higher ratetaxpayer you only pay a marginal payment, no directCapital Gains Tax liability. The contract is set up withoutany initial commission being charged (you simply pay afixed cost for the advice you receive).

The biggest advantage to this investment is the factthat if the markets fail or you have no growthwhatsoever your entire initial investment is guaranteedso all you ever 'risk' is the amount of interest you mayreceive, but this is somewhat offset by the fact you arelocking in your growth as you go. (AEGON’s 70/30 Core portfolio fund has returned a respectable +8.3%over 1 year and +20.23% over 3 years –Source:Trustnet 21/11/2012) Past performance is no guaranteeof future returns.

One criticism we often get is, "it sounds too good to betrue" we'll that may be, but with these specialistinvestments you have a very solid guarantee to back upthe contracts, the minimum investment is £25,000.

We offer a free initial consultation to allow any scepticsto come along and without obligation we can show youhow these plans can significantly benefit the typicalDeposit investor-so you’ve no excuses now! Thepurpose of this article is to provide generic guidanceand should not be interpreted as a personalrecommendation.

Full details are available by calling

01902 422333FSC Investment Services Limited is Authorisedand Regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

If you have money in Banks or Building Societies and aremoaning about how little interest you are getting, stop moaningand do something about it!

Many deposit accounts and Building Society fans have been veryshoddily treated in recent years, indeed if you take into account the taxon your interest and the fact that your net returns have failed to keeppace with inflation and you have a recipe for financial failure.

Three of the main obstacles that has often put people off investing into'other' areas such as stocks and shares, Gilts or Corporate bonds hasbeen the fear of either a market crash and your potential to lose youroriginal investment or the high costs of commissions payable to theadviser or lastly the complex nature of investing into a market you knownothing about.

Well help is at hand!!

Capital Protected Investment bonds are a simple tax efficient and easy tounderstand, and if set up correctly there are no commissions and heavyexit penalties, which can be an obstacle to investing in these areas.

Capital Protected Investments

31583 1pg_FSC Investments Services Ltd QPD 1pg 21/12/2012 10:42 Page 1

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Is yours one of the 200+ businesses in Birmingham with more than 500 employees, faced with implementing auto

enrolment by the end of 2013? Our latest Business Barometer research (October 2012) shows that only 16% of businesses

have made detailed plans around auto enrolment. As the adage goes, ‘to fail to prepare is to prepare to fail’.

Here’s our guide to the potential pitfalls you might face when implementing auto enrolment:

Not allowing sufficient time to prepare and plan

Auto enrolment involves finance, HR, advisers, consultants, lawyers, tax experts, as well as IT and payroll providers. It takes time to

consult such a wide group.

Assuming existing schemes will work for auto enrolment

You can’t assume that just because you have a pension in place, it will work for auto enrolment. The provider that runs the scheme

may not want to take on all your staff or may increase member charges in order to do so. If so, you might need to take a split-scheme

approach and work with a low cost provider such as NEST or The People’s Pension.

Not re-examining your default fund choices

You can’t assume that your existing default fund will be appropriate – many older style default funds won’t promote good outcomes for

new scheme members. In any case, best practice is to review your choice annually.

Focusing too much on the scheme and not enough on the administration

Many employers will need to bring in new skills and processes to enable them to continually assess their workforce and ensure they keep

on top of auto enrolment. It’s important to remember that this is an ongoing workstream and not a one-off activity.

Failing to integrate the pension system with other business systems

Most pension providers offer a ‘black box’ system free of charge that in theory links your systems – but in many cases we find these only

do part of the job. A more bespoke system (full disclosure – we offer one of these, 4pensions, which was built to address the issues some

of our major clients were having) may work better.

Neglecting the communications

This is a great opportunity to engage with your workforce. Done well, your communications plan can turn auto enrolment from an extra

cost of doing business into a really worthwhile activity that generates a measurable return on investment.

Where do you start?

Tip 1: Appoint an individual to manage auto enrolment.

Tip 2: Develop a detailed project plan with tasks, deadlines and action owners.

Tip 3: Consider what level of outside help you will need in terms of payroll, HR systems, risk management and pensions consultancy.

To download our employer guide to auto enrolment, visit www.rsmtenon.com/autoenrolment

Implementing auto enrolmentBeware the common pitfalls

The term “partner” is a title for senior employees, none of whom provide any services on their own behalf. RSM Tenon Financial Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, FSA register number 192618. A subsidiary of RSM Tenon Group PLC. RSM Tenon Group PLC is an independent member of the RSM International network. The RSM International network is a network of independent accounting and consulting firms each of which practices in its own right. RSM International is the brand used by the network which is not itself a separate legal entity in any jurisdiction. RSM Tenon Financial Management Limited (No 03953153) is registered in England and Wales. Registered Office 66 Chiltern Street, London W1U 4GB. England. MSO39771012

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Although the impact of auto-enrolment for manyemployers will be significant, there are manyorganisations who have not considered moving it ontotheir corporate agendas. For those who have, there hasbeen a realisation that this is more than just a pension’s issue.

Employers will have to appraise if they have the resourcenecessary to comply with legislation or use external advisers,as project management will be essential. Auto-enrolment is justas much a systems and governance issue, where risks of noncompliance should be identified, as well as a financial one.Employers should be reviewing their employees (and servicesproviders) current terms and conditions and the relatedpensions documentation as current information is likely to beout of date.

Some employers perceive their staging date to be too far intothe future to be engaged in auto-enrolment discussions,however, at the very least, they should be assessing the size oftheir workforce as there are clearly defined criteria for ‘eligiblejob holders’ who have to be identified and automaticallyenrolled into a qualifying work place pension scheme. Theidentification of eligible jobholders can be complicated with thepossible inclusion of agency staff, contract workers, even some‘self-employed’. The data challenge of identifying who thesepeople are should not be underestimated.

It is vital that the pension scheme to be used for auto-enrolment is fit for purpose. Having an existing pension schemewith a particular provider does not automatically guarantee thatthe current provider will be prepared to deal with an employer’sauto-enrolment population.

Employer communication to employees is a key element in theauto-enrolment process as some employers may not havecommunicated with their workforce on any scale before. ThePensions Regulator has highlighted that they will have a keeninterest on clear, targeted communications making sure thateach employee receives communication that is relevantto them.

AT BROADSTONE WE AIM TO MAKE COMPLEX ISSUES CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE, TO LISTEN TO YOUR NEEDS AND DELIVER WHAT WE SAY WE WILL. IT’S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

BROADSTONE o�ers pensions advice and investment solutions to private clients and companies through highly qualified advisers in o�ces across the country.

We know that the advice we give a�ects the quality of people’s lives and we take this responsibility very seriously, whether it is your personal wealth or a company pension scheme.

We are experts in pensions and investments. If you are a private individual or are acting on behalf of a company, we o�er a personalised service with one goal in mind – the best result for you.

We will deliver expertise with absolute clarity.

125 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 3SD, United KingdomD: +44 (0)121 200 6905T: +44 (0)121 352 6464F: +44 (0)121 352 6321E: [email protected]: www.broadstoneltd.co.uk

It is not only the employer that will have concerns. Individuals(although they can opt out) will have to contribute to thescheme as well as the sponsoring employer. Employees whohave registered to protect pension scheme benefits from thetax impact of exceeding the maximum lifetime pension savingsallowance may lose that protection if they do not opt out.Professional advice here is vital as employers cannot induceany member of their workforce to opt out of the companypension scheme and getting this wrong can prove to be anexpensive mistake.

Although court cases have set precedents suggesting that adefault retirement age can be set provided it is objectivelyjustifiable, ‘normal’ retirement ages were effectively abolished inApril 2011 by the Equality Act. The idea that someone has aset retirement age has changed. Pension schemes should formcrucial elements of the employers reward strategies for theiremployees to aid business planning, as the development of notwhen an employee stops working, but how, becomes thenormal practice

IAN HILLSenior Consultant

125 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 3SD,United Kingdom

DDI: +44 (0)121 200 6905 T: +44 (0)121 352 6464F: +44 (0)121 352 6321

E: [email protected]: www.broadstoneltd.co.uk

31613 QPD 1pg:Broadstone 1pg 15/01/2013 11:47 Page 1

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Thousands of employers will not meet the newpension auto-enrolment rules which are beingphased in from 1st October 2012.

“Many employers think that because they already operate apension scheme, they will automatically meet the newrequirements. But this may not be the case,” explained JohnO’Sullivan, a specialist in employee benefits and associatedirector at Smith & Williamson, the accountancy andinvestment management group.

He continued: “We expect that small and medium sizedbusinesses are those who are most likely to fail to comply withthe new rules. They will have to, at the least, review theirscheme and employers who, for example, do not makecontributions on behalf of qualifying staff could end up beingfined. Similarly, those who do not explain the implications ofauto-enrolment to employees or make the scheme available totheir staff could be in trouble.”

“We anticipate that one of the main issues facing employers willbe which pension scheme or schemes to use. NEST (theNational Employment Savings Trust) will be available to allemployers, but this may not be the most appropriate option.”

“While smaller firms do not need to have their pension schemeset up until 2013 or possibly later, the new rules are verycomplex and typically it could take a year or longer to getsystems in place to ensure compliance and minimumdisruption to the business.”

Under the new pension regime, employers who do not have apension scheme will need to set one up which will meanselecting an appropriate scheme and making sure all thenecessary criteria are met.

In response to the myriad decisions facing employers, Smith &Williamson’s pension experts have launched an online tool whichuses basic information about an employer’s scheme. It enablesSmith & Williamson to assess what an employer needs to do, andby when, in order to meet the new rules. Applicants will receive abespoke report free of charge. The form can be accessed from theirweb site: www.smith.williamson.co.uk/auto-enrolment

For further information:John O’Sullivan, employee benefits specialist andassociate director, based in the Birmingham office ofSmith & Williamson, the accountancy and investmentmanagement group

Tel 0121 710 5200Email [email protected] www.smith.williamson.co.uk

DisclaimerBy necessity, this briefing can only provide a short overview andit is essential to seek professional advice before applying thecontents of this article. No responsibility can be taken for anyloss arising from action taken or refrained from on the basis ofthis publication. Details correct at time of writing.

Note to editorsSmith & Williamson is an independent professional and financialservices group employing around 1,500 people. The group is aleading provider of investment management, financial advisoryand accountancy services to private clients, professionalpractices and mid-to-large corporates. The group has elevenprincipal offices in the UK and Ireland; these are in London,Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Glasgow, Guildford,Manchester, Salisbury, Southampton, and Worcester.

Smith & Williamson Financial Services LimitedAuthorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

Smith & Williamson’s employee benefits team advises on pension auto-enrolmentFind out how pension auto-enrolment will affect your business by requesting a bespoke report, prepared free of charge.

www.smith.williamson.co.uk/auto-enrolment

John O’Sullivan [email protected] 710 5200

www.smith.williamson.co.uk

Smith & Williamson LLP Regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of investment business activities. A member of Nexia International. Smith & Williamson Financial Services LimitedAuthorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. The Financial Services Authority does not regulate all the services mentioned above

accountancy business advice investment tax

Pension auto-enrolment: employers urged to start preparing now


32

Johnson Fleming is a leading pensions and employee

These can be downloaded from our website:

what to consider

Join us and our client, Lookers,

WHEN: 7TH FEBRUARY 2013, 8:30-10AM WHERE: HOTEL DU VIN, BIRMINGHAM

Topics covered:

If you would like to attend, please contact us on:

31697 1pg_Carford Group 07/01/2013 12:36 Page 1

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Travel de Courcey is celebrating its 40th anniversary thisyear; it has been another fantastic year for the company,particularly in terms of the launch of their fleet of electricbuses and the number of industry awards they have won.

Travel de Courcey is a real success story; they are the largestprivately owned bus and coach operator in the West Midlandsand win a raft of awards, year in, year out. They are especiallyproud to have won the Environmental category of the BirminghamPost Business Awards this year, following their launch of the firstelectric buses of their kind in the UK.

The three buses being pioneered by Travel de Courcey are theUK’s first large fast-charging electric buses. The new buses areoperated on the Park & Ride South shuttle service based at theWar Memorial Park, Coventry, and are powered by more than 200hi-tech batteries which can be fully charged in just 40 minutes.

Mike de Courcey, Managing Director of Travel de Courcey, said: “Itis a huge honour to win this award and fantastic recognition forthe whole team at Travel de Courcey.

“We are committed to investing in green technology for the benefitof our passengers, the environment and our industry.

“Our launch of the electric buses is just one environmentalinitiative that we are undertaking to achieve reductions in fuel andcarbon emissions, but hugely significant as a first for the UK.”

It follows Travel de Courcey winning the Customer Service title atthis year’s Coventry Telegraph Business Awards, having beenawarded Green Business of the Year in 2011. In a further award,reflecting the company’s environmentally friendly efforts, Travel deCourcey took the title of Fleet Hero at this year’s Energy SavingTrust Fleet Hero Awards.

The Energy Saving Trust Fleet Hero Awards aim to identify publicand private organisations that are successfully reducing fuel billsand lowering carbon footprints through better transport policiesand improved fleet efficiency. The Energy Saving Trust alsorecognises companies that supply cost and fuel saving productsor services to fleets.

In line with its environmental credentials, Travel de Courcey hasalso invested £1.7 million in 10 low emission single-deckervehicles to operate the on-site shuttle bus service for the NEC Group.

The Coventry-based operator picked the Mercedes-Benz Citarowhich meets the latest European engine emission standards andis fitted with a driver management and monitoring system toachieve fuel savings by improving driver standards.

Adrian de Courcey, director of Travel de Courcey, said: “Winningthis prestigious contract is further recognition of Travel de Courceybeing a major player in the provision of public transport in theWest Midlands and Warwickshire regions.”

The new contract with the NEC Group follows Travel de Courcey’sexpansion from its base in Rowley Drive, Coventry, to a newdepot in Newtown Row, Birmingham, to serve the wider regionand now a depot at the NEC.

travelde courcey

For more information visit www.energenics.co.uk

Saves fuel

Reduces emissions

Cleans engines

THE FUEL SAVING ADDITIVE

“The new electric buses and fast

recharge system show our desire to be an innovator in green technology

in this industry, and Envirox™ through its savings in fuel and reduction of harmful soot emissions allows us to address

the traditional diesel powered fleet in a similar vein.”

Adrian de Courcey, Travel de Courcey

Congratulations to Travel de Courcey on the Green Business Award. We are pleased to be

supporting further environmental improvements.

31598 1pg_HorseWorld 21/12/2012 10:53 Page 1

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It’s a sad fact of life that when youbuy a commercial vehicle you have tobuy and install a host of extras toprotect it from those up to no good.

Not only is the vehicle itself worth asubstantial amount of money, like as not,there’ll be things inside just as appealingto the criminals. Many plumbers/decorators/ carpenters keep all their tools- many of them expensive pieces ofprofessional machinery - in their vans. Tohave those broken into - not necessarilydriven away - and emptied is emptying atrader of his livelihood, his ability to workand earn a living.

Commercial vehicle security can’t betaken too seriously and it pays to factorinto the cost of any model, the price ofcrime preventative measures.

Luckily for the law-abiding there are manythings that can be done, withtechnological advances meaning thatsome of the most sophisticated devicesprobably wouldn’t be out of place in aBond film.

Some commercial vehicles come withitems such as immobilisers and alarmsfitted as standard, often through the carkeys or fobs which send signals to theignition and fuel pump systems. Ifsomeone tries to use the vehicle withoutsending these signals it simply doesn’tstart, thus putting added pressure on anywould-be thief.

A similar option is a kill switch which,upon activation, shuts down part of theelectrical system and cannot bedeactivated until a series of tasks arecompleted.

The sound of an alarm is now all toofamiliar, but it doesn’t necessarily breedcontempt. Sometimes, even just labelingthe vehicle as having an alarm fitted isenough to deter some. And if it doesn’t,well, depending on choice of system, analarm will be triggered by any attack onthe vehicle, such as sudden movement,

glass breaking or even a perimeterviolation and can still serve as an effectloud warning and deterrent.

A simple, but effective protection methodis VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)Etching, which sees each vehicle’s serialnumber etched into all windows.

The grand-daddy of them all is, of courseis the GPS vehicle tracking system, whichmay seem an expensive option but isoften less expensive than theconsequences of a thief bypassing othersecurity devices.

By installing a small signal-emittingcomputer chip and using GPS technology,it is then possible to monitor a vehicle’swhereabouts on a computer. Should it bestolen, not only is it possible to knowimmediately where the vehicle is, a fasterrecovery time means there’s less chancethat it can remain intact and undamaged -and more chance of apprehending the culprits.

While many companies use trackingdevices to prevent vehicle thefts, they bringother benefits, such as improved customerservice as more accurate estimated timesof arrival can be given, based on knowingexactly where a driver is.

A driver unsure of his/her location can bepointed back in the right direction, thussaving time and fuel - and further costscan be saved on insurance premiums asmany insurance companies lookfavourably on vehicles fitted with anti-theftdevices.

So there’s no shortage of choice out therebut not everybody who’s fitting a securitysystem to their vehicle is an expert so it’sworth calling the National Security Helplineon 0870 550 2006. Free of charge, itprovides advice to consumers andinsurers on the quality of security systemsand can help with seeking an approvedinsurer or contacting a manufacturer.

The police also have plenty of adviceaimed at keeping commercial vehiclessafe. Here are just some of their tips.

• Ensure the vehicle is always locked,including the back doors when driving.

• Never leave personal documents in thevehicle’s cab.

• Keep the keys safe while you areworking. Never leave them in thevehicle.

• Those with ‘high clearance’ vehiclesshould mark the catalytic converters asthey’re common targets for thieves.

• Security mark all tools and equipmentto make them uniquely identifiable

• Keep stops for fuel, food and othergoods to a minimum. The fewer stopsyou need to make, thus leaving thevehicle unattended, the more secure itwill be.

• Try to park in a well-lit and secure area.Try to use reputable overnight lorryparks or park with other drivers.

• Try to use a variety of busy parking areasduring stop-overs. Make sure the vehicleis secure and, if possible, within sight.Don’t talk about your load or your route.

• Use locks, such as those that can lockthe king pin, when trailers are not in use.

• Always make sure spare wheels andbatteries are secured to the vehicleand are marked for easy identificationwith permanent markers or paint.

• All doors and access flaps should haveadditional locks. A good idea is tohave slam locks fitted to the doors,and shutters which automatically lockwhen the driver slams the door shut.Tilt locks can also be used. These canhelp delay entry to the engine areawhere immobilisation equipment mightbe kept.

Commercial Vehicle Security


35

IT may be new on the region’s business map, butdecades of experience form the powerful engine at theheart of H&S Haulage and Storage Ltd.

Martin Harley’s drive to succeed was only sharpened when hisformer employer went into receivership.

He immediately got in to top gear and, in June of this year,became his own boss, putting his 20-year career history withother transport businesses to good use.

Martin, aged 42, has been joined by his 19 year-old son ChrisStretch and the father-and-son partnership are operating from a6,351 sq ft unit, which can accommodate 636 euro pallets, atthe Charles Street Estate in West Bromwich.

From here they are offering palletised or bulk storage, pick andpack facilities, loading and unloading of containers, couriersame-day distribution and UK and European distribution fromone pallet to full trailer loads.

Now they’re determined to fill the warehouse with customer’sstock and to, eventually, put their own truck on the road.

“We are willing to take on haulage jobs large or small as we setout on this exciting journey to build up our business,” declares Martin.

“These are tough times but we believe we can offer the facilitiesand service to make a success of it and grow.”

Although the pair live in Birmingham, Martin, with his industryexperience, knew that the West Bromwich location was perfectas it puts H&S Haulage and Storage in an ideal place to servethe Black Country and is easily accessibly to major road links.

“Charles Street is less than a mile and a half from the BlackCountry spine road with access to the M5 approximately threemiles away at Junction 1 via the A41,” he explains.

If anyone should know the region’s road systems - and beyond- it’s Martin. He started his career behind the wheel as a driverand, over the years, worked his way up to Transport Managerafter passing the International Certificate of ProfessionalCompetence (CPC).

Over the last 23 years BILLogistics have developedan excellent reputation forservice, reliability, flexibilityand customer care.

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BIL Logistics Limited, Steel Park Road, Coombs Wood,Business Park West, Halesowen B62 8HD

Tel: 0121 502 9977 Web: www.billogistics.comEmail: [email protected] Find us on Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin

“When the last company I worked for went into receivership Idecided that rather than look for a job with another company Iwould set up my own business with my son,” he says and isnow excited about harnessing all his haulier knowledge to helpkeep industry on the move.

“This is a family venture and our aim is to treat all clients withthe same personal touch as they are all important to us,”he adds.

For further information about the H&S Haulageand Storage and its services, please visit

www.hands-ltd.co.uk. Alternatively, to makean enquiry, telephone 0121 557 5154

or email [email protected]

31574 QPD 1pg:H & S Haulage QPD 1pg 15/01/2013 11:51 Page 1

36

Tel: 0121 351 [email protected]

Delivering Freight Solutions Worldwide

* Daily scheduled services with over 475 departures per week to Europe.

* Collection of parcels, pallets, part loads (LTL) and full trailers loads (FTL).

* Next day delivery guarantees.* 48 hour express services.* Standard groupage services.* No weight or size restrictions.* UK Pallet and Parcel Distribution.* Full range of Airfreight & Courier Services

including in house customs clearance & charters.

* IATA & Air Cargo Security accredited.* Seafreight LCL, FCL and NVOCC services

worldwide.* Consignment tracking and on-line POD’s.* Dedicated freight managers and customer

service support teams.* Memberships with BIFA, RHA, FTA, IELA

and Palletline.

Europa has 10 regional locations throughout the UK and Ireland and 3 in Asia :-London - Birmingham - Bristol - Dublin - Glasgow - Heathrow (LHR)Manchester - Newcastle - Northampton - Southampton

Hong Kong (Corporate and Operational offices) - Singapore


37

Known throughout the trade as Albany Microwaves, thecompany which was established over 30 years ago hasactually been called Albany Equipment since BobBillingham bought it 9 years ago.

The showroom on Hagley Road West in Quinton, Birmingham isthe “go to” place for the trade for all kinds of CommercialMicrowave ovens and professional catering equipment.

They have a wide choice of Commercial Microwaves,combination ovens, fryers, grills and salamanders, CombiSteamers and countertop cookers, many from well knownnames such as Blue Seal, Panasonic and Samsung.

The range doesn’t stop there, Commercial ware washers, glasswashers and laundry equipment. Coffee machines, hot waterdispensers, multidecks and Deli counters are all availablethrough Albany, to say nothing of fridges, glass door chillers,potato ovens and branded soup kettles.

In other words if it is to do with catering equipment come andtalk to those friendly folk at Albany.

Bob says: “As a small business we have to be good at what wedo. Our well established direct accounts with our suppliersmean that we are able to offer very competitive pricing, a boonto our smaller customers.”

Small companies come to Albany not just for the wide range oftop flight products and the competitive prices, but for help andadvice from the experienced team.

The company is growing slowly and steadily by concentratingon what they do well, upping their service to customers,building on their customer relationships and increasingawareness within the trade.

Visit the showroom at 385 Hagley Road West,Quinton, Birmingham B32 2AL.

Phone on 0121 422 4000, or order on linewww.commercial-microwaves.co.uk

Blue Seal are proud to support Albany Equipmentand wish them all the best in the future

Unit 67 Gravelly Industrial ParkBirminghamB24 8TQ

sales office: t 0121-327-5575www.blue-seal.co.uk

EQUIPMENT LTD

CATERING EQUIPMENT &COMMERCIAL MICROWAVES

Sales & Service: 0121 422 4000


38

Engineering

Engineering is described as the science, skill, andprofession of acquiring and applying scientific, economic,social, and practical knowledge, in order to design andbuild structures, machines, devices, systems, materialsand processes.

The UK’s prosperity is based on engineering, and we have amarvellous engineering tradition going back to the great Victorianengineers, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the designer of thesteamship Great Britain and of the Clifton Suspension Bridge,Thomas Telford the noted bridge road and canal builder,Stephenson and his steam powered locomotive Rocket, in anunbroken progression to the designers and engineers of today.

Engineering is the heart of the UK manufacturing industry, quiteliterally providing the cogs, gears and wheels that keepeverything moving, yet it has often been taken for granted, andseen as an unattractive career option. This perception ischanging and many young people are taking a fresh look at theexciting opportunities a career in engineering presents.

Engineering is often thought of simply in terms of mechanicalengineering; building and testing machines, engines and othermechanical devices, but engineering is truly multi disciplinaryand has applications across a wide range of industries andtechnologies.

Branches include IT, photonics which developed the laser,aeronautical and aerospace engineering, and electronicsengineering with its multitude of uses. Systems engineers areinvolved in complex projects, from spacecrafts to chip design,from robotics, and creating large software products to buildingbridges, and use a wide range of engineering specialisms.

Civil engineers design and construct buildings, roads, bridgesand dams, and are increasingly aligned with sustainable,"green" or environmental, design within the fields of architectureand urban planning.

Engineering techniques and principles are also a crucial factorin the many recent advances in the medical and ergonomicsfields. Then there are also the many chemistry relatedapplications, including nuclear.

It is plain to see that engineering impacts on every area of ourlives, keeping us warmer, or cooler, healthier, and more active.New products are introduced, infrastructure is improved andmaintained, but where are our future engineers to come from?

There is a consensus that there are plenty of graduates at thetop end but that there is a shortage of young people turning tothe industry, possibly due to a poor perception of engineeringas a career, but also a shortage of appropriate courses, andtraining schemes.

The importance of engaging young people with science andtechnology is crucial in raising awareness of the rich variety ofopportunities for creativity and personal development withinengineering. School outreach programmes such as thosesponsored by the Warwick Manufacturing Group are playing akey role.

Various large companies such as Jaguar Land Rover, WMG,the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Virgin Media and trainingorganisations, supported by government initiatives are trying toaddress the issue, with schemes targeting school leavers andgraduates.

As we move forward as a nation, the role of the engineer ininnovation and competitiveness will become ever moreimportant for our continued prosperity.

WMPWilliams Metal Polishers Quality Polishing


39

They are well known as a traditional steel processor and marketleader in strip processing technology and engineering solutions.The company has sustained steady growth over the last fewyears, and is expanding and diversifying into testing machinecomponents, particularly for the aerospace industry.

As part of their expansion into the aerospace field they havebeen collaborating with Moog during Moog’s move into a newfacility on the prestigious I54 estate. The move has involved ahuge programme of upgrading and modifying Moog’s existing equipment and the supply of additional purposedesigned specialist testing equipment, this is such a majoroperation in addition to an expanding and varied order bookthat Heinrich Georg have felt sufficiently confident about thefuture to take on some new graduate design engineers andshop floor apprentices.

Unit 7a/b Brocton Business Park, Cannock Road, Brocton, Stafford ST17 0SU

Tel. 01785 660391 Fax. 01785 665347 Email. [email protected]

www.daroengineering.co.uk

Daro Engineeringsuppliers of quality fabricationsCongratulations to Heinrich Georg (UK) Wishing You Every Success In The Future

from all at Daro Engineering (Stafford) Limited

Daro Engineering

Heinrich Georg has a real good news story to tell, at the end of a record year of businessthey have recorded their highest ever turnover, and are taking on more staff.


40

Another interesting product this innovative company supplies is arolling order, running currently until 2014, for hydraulic systemsused in the construction of temporary bridges.

The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Heinrich GeorgMaschienfabrik GmbH, a family-owned group of companiesbased in Germany, known world wide, not just as a steel andaluminium processor but for innovation and diversity. The UKdivision also collaborates extensively with its German associateson coil process projects in the UK and throughout the world tosupply new state of the art equipment.

Heinrich Georg was established in the UK in 1994 and has builtup an extensive range of engineering capabilities. The companyfosters a continuous programme of training and development witha core activity of manufacturing process machinery, providing upto the minute technology coupled with strong robust design.

They can offer a complete service in the fields of engineeringdesign and manufacture, and provide slitting lines, blanking linesand material handling, aerospace test rigs, the design and build ofcoil process equipment, and special purpose machines. Theyhave the expertise to meet the demands of competitive materialprocess companies for industries as diverse as aerospace, food,hydraulics, foundry and many more.

Neil Wyke, Managing Director says, “Each project involves a greatappreciation of customer’s needs and accurate interpretation toensure appropriate engineering is applied. Projects we haverecently completed have ranged from factory relocation to highlytechnical production equipment.”

They can manage contracts from concept throughdesign/engineering, manufacture, installation and commissioning.Their team of engineers are continually supporting processcompanies, on site, offering quick and permanent solutions tomanufacturing requirements.

Heinrich Georg’s engineers assist companies by carrying outdetailed assessments, alignment, and analysis of existing plant.They are able to offer expert advice on new projects, troubleshooting, and programmes of preventative maintenance. As theexperience with Moog shows, they have unrivalled competence inthe refurbishment of existing plant, re-siting and commissioningwhere necessary. This competence extends to the completesupply and integration of hydraulic, pneumatic and electronicdrives and control systems.

The combined range of INA and FAGproducts includes over 40,000 standardbearing products, all backed up by a

comprehensive range of maintenance products

and condition monitoring equipment for any application in any industry.

Working together with Heinrich Georg, Schaeffler UK offers first quality innovative bearing technology and provides

extensive, customised, value-added bearing solutions, so there’s hardly an application

we don’t have a solution for.

,4

Schaeffler (UK) Ltd E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.schaeffler.co.uk

40,000 precision productsfor applications in over60 industrial sectors

REASONS TO TALK


41

Heinrich Georg are looking forward to a glowing future, andconfidently awaiting the next tricky engineering challenge fromtheir new premises at Dunstall Hill, Wolverhampton.

For more information visit the web site atwww.georg-uk.co.uk

or phone 01902 715110

t: 01384 634428 / 07718660632

are pleased to be associated withHeinrich Georg (UK)

and we wish them all the best in the future

CradleyE n g i n e e r i n g L t d

Your local Fabrication and Precision Engineers in Cradley Heath

a: Unit 3 Penn Industrial Estate, Providence Street, Cradley Heath B64 5DJ

LimitedUnit 27-28, Industrial Estate, East Goscote, Leicester, LE7 3SLTel: 0116 260 1001 Fax: 0116 264 0186

e-mail: [email protected] Site: www.andrewshydraulics.co.uk

Pleased to support the expansion ofHeinrich Georg UK Ltd with thesupply of Hydraulic Power Units,

Manifolds & System Design.

Expertsin control systems integration

Visit our website www.transicon.co.uk to find out moreTransicon - Your working Partner

Call 01952 605515

Fax 01952 605628

Email [email protected]

Transicon Ltd Unit 1, Cherwell Enterprise PkHortonwood 2 Telford TF1 7GW

Specialistsin the supply of

Industrial Drives, Automation & Control Systems

integration

Your working Partner

. AC, DC & Servo Drives and Motors

. Control & Automation Systems

. Motion Control

. Scada & HMI

. Motor Control Centres

. Design, Manufacture & Test

. Installation & Commissioning

. Training & Service Support

. BS EN ISO 9001:2000

TRANSICON


42

In this champion Olympic year, Team GB are not the onlyones at the top of their game gaining gold.

2012 marks Birmingham precision grinder Denner-KelfordGrinding’s 50th anniversary - a feat of sustained businesssuccess worthy of the most glittering of medals.

Ever since Dennis Warner established his 500sq ft Hockleybase, with two employees, the story has been one of continuedgrowth and expansion which still shows no sign of stopping.

Now housed in a 2,500sq ft building, in Mount Street, Nechells,plans are under way to invest in new machinery and to increasethe workforce by 25%. They have recently employed thecompany’s first apprentice.

And, of course, there’s every intention of continuing what’s seenas the business’s greatest successes - its relationship withsome very prestigious companies both home and abroad andenhancing its enviable reputation for quality, sensible pricingand meeting deadlines still further.

“We take pride in every single item that leaves our workshop,”declares Mark Phillips, one of the company’s three directors.

“Our clients know that they can rely on the high quality of ourwork to make their equipment run smoothly and efficiently.”

Denner Kelford Grinding began as the Denner GrindingCompany, created by Dennis Warner and his business partnerRoss Knight, working mainly for the fastener industry.

Phillip Attwater, still a director today, joined Dennis and his sonJohn upon Ross’s retirement in 1975 and, with Dennis’sretirement in the early ‘80s joined John in running the business,helping to oversee a move from the Jewellery Quarter to AvenueRoad and tailor output to the aerospace side of engineering.

John left the company in the 1990s and Phil continued thebusiness until he was joined by today’s third current director,Gary Green in 1998. In 2001 they acquired Kelford Grindingand the company became Denner-Kelford Grinding. Markjoined in 2004 and became a director in 2006.

Today, the company brings the full 50 years of precisionexperience to bear throughout its processes which cover everygrinding need for industries across the UK.

Sectors covered include medical and pharmaceutical, aerospace,petrochemical, hydraulic, vintage and modern vehicles,telecommunications, motor sports, nuclear and defence while the

From everyone at Midland Abrasives, wewould like to congratulate Gary, Mark, Phil

and all the sta� at Denner-Kelford Grinding on their 50th Anniversary and long may we continue

to supply them abrasive products.

Tel: 0121 687 1135www.midlandabrasives.com

ould like tt Mone ayerom evrF

hil , Pk, Me Gttulae, wesasivbridland At M

o supply them abrty and long maersarnnivtheir 50th Aennert Dand all the sta� a

arongo could like tw

esasiv.midlandabrwwwel: 0121 687 1135TTel: 0121 687 1135

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om.ces

Denner Kelford GrindingPerfection is the key to success

work ranges from cylindrical, surface, internal and external, chuckwork, centre work, bores and centreless grinding to precisionangle and radius grinding, plus much more.

“We grind in large and small quantities using conventional andCNC grinding methods to the highest of standards and wemachine grind all types of metals, including chrome, aluminium,iron, steel, tungsten, titanium as well as other types of materialsnatural or man-made,” says Mark.

“We can grind up to 1900mm in length and 355mm in diameter andnor do non-exotic and exotic materials present any problems.”

It’s not just about creating the new either. Denner-Kelford alsooperates a universal repair service by chroming and re-grindingparts back to their original state.

“If your tolerances are tight or big and prices are a problem or justlooking for a new supplier, we at DK are here to help,” offers Mark.

“If you are on a tight budget, tell us what you can afford andwe will do our utmost to accommodate your requirements.

“No matter how big or small or complex your requirement is,you can have complete faith in our grinding capabilities.”

We have just placed an order for a brand new Jones andShipman CNC machine and will be looking to have it installedand ready to run in July/August time, with this machine it is abig investment for the forward thinking future of the company.

For further information about the company, its services and products, visitwww.dkgrinding.co.uk or telephone 0121 359 7728


43

And because Mellish is ISO 9001-2000 accredited, quality isparamount. Says Andrew: “All orders are subject to detailedinspection throughout manufacture and before final releasewhile testing is rigorously maintained to ensure compliance with exacting requirements

“Everything is focused on ensuring that components reachcustomers exactly as they expect them to, while remainingcompetitively priced.”

Many years of specialist knowledge and manufacturingexpertise are welded into Mellish’s extensive range of specialfasteners, which includes nuts, bolts, socket products,studbolts and washers.

Not just produced the conventional way through its extensivemodern bar turning facility, Mellish has reinvested in state-of-the-art CNC machines for a total fastening solution.

“Our CNC department has developed into one of strongestdivisions, allowing accurate precision components to besupplied to the highest of standards, in any delivery situation,”declares Andrew.

But the options don’t end there. The company’s forgingdepartment has heat inducted forge presses, capable ofproducing a wide range of diameters and lengths.

Completing the picture is Mellish’s specialist toolingdepartment. “Good quality tooling is vital in making sure youget the right quality fasteners on time, every time,” insists Andrew.

Bar tuning and hot forging specialist Mellish EngineeringServices Ltd is definitely hot stuff - booming sales haveprompted a big relocation in 2012.

The last two years have seen turnover double and, toaccommodate the increased demand, last July the businessteamed up with its sister company Tipper Engineering to moveinto a purpose-built 25,000 sq ft unit.

Now in Middlemore Lane West, Aldridge, the specialistmanufacturer continues to produce special and non-standardhigh integrity fasteners, with much of its increased outputfocused on exports.

At a time when many are still finding trading conditions difficult,to say the least, Mellish Engineering Services looks back on thelast couple of busy years with understandable pride.

“We see our ability to survive the recession and secure ourfuture as one of our greatest business successes,” smilesExport Sales Director Andrew Rattenberry.

It’s the combination of high quality products, top-class service,rigorous safety and inspection checks and utter commitment tocustomer service that mean Mellish is much in demand.

“Our main focus is to offer customers, a prompt, professionalservice they can trust,” emphasises Andrew.

“We take pride in offering just such a service right from dealingwith an initial enquiry through to processing an order and thenensuring it hits that all important delivery deadline.”

Pit Stop Café & Catering Services Unit 1, Walkfern, Middlemore Lane,West Aldridge, Walsall WS9 8BG Tel: 01922 453830

• Quality Hot & Cold Food• Buffets for all occassions

• Business LunchesPit Stop Cafe & Catering Services Ltd

are proud to be associated withMellish Engineering.

PIT STOP CAFE ANDCATERING SERVICES LTD

PTS (TQM) Limited, Verulam Road, Common Road Industrial Estate,Stafford ST16 3EA United Kingdom

Telephone: 01785 250706 Fax: 01785 250906 Email: [email protected]: www.professionaltesting.co.uk

�� MAGNETIC PARTICLE PAINT INSPECTION

DYE PENETRANT XRF CHEMICAL ANALYSIS

ULTRASONIC FERRITE TESTING

X-RAY SERVICES COLLECTION & DELIVERY SERVICE

31518 DPS 2pgs:Mellish Engineering 2pg 15/01/2013 12:16 Page 1

44

Certain your products tick every box?

When quality is paramount to your customer make sure they are independently tested.

Caparo Testing Technologies - experts in Materials & Non-Destructive Testing Services

0800 121 4602 orwww.caparotesting.com

“This is why we have invested into cutting-edge sparkerosion/toolroom equipment, which allows flexibility to producehot forged fasteners on the quickest of deliveries.”

The range of production methods means that fasteners aresupplied in various metals, such as Inconel, Monel, Titanium32760/254SMO and many others while surface finishes comein many forms, such as zinc plating, glavanising, anodising,copper coating, powdercoat, chrome and nickel.

And it doesn’t matter whether the requirement is for a one-offprototype or for medium or large scheduled batch quantities, all can be accommodated.

For further information about MellishEngineering Services and its products please

visit www.mellishengineering.co.uk.Alternatively email

[email protected] telephone 01922 457799.

Rotech Laboratories Limited provide an extensive schedule of accredited tests and offera large range of testing services to many sectors of industry. Rotech is proud of itscomprehensive product knowledge and the ability to provide technical support toall its customers.

Rotech Laboratories Ltd, Moxley Industrial Centre, Western WayWednesbury, West Midlands WS10 7BG

Telephone: +44 (0)121 505 4050 Fax: +44 (0) 121 505 1115Email: [email protected] Web: www.rotechlabs.com

Laboratories Limited

A UK Based Metallurgical testing and advisory services.Rotech Laboratories Ltd., is a wholly owned subsidiary ofRubery Owen Holdings Limited, a company founded morethan a century ago and who’s name has always beensynonymous with quality and engineering.

31518 DPS 2pgs:Mellish Engineering 2pg 15/01/2013 12:16 Page 2

45

The Windsor name has been synonymous with materialshandling and access systems since 1977, providing a firstclass range of forklift hire, sales and maintenance services.

Windsor has grown into one of the largest independent forklift andmaterials handling equipment companies in the UK and became aDoosan authorised distributor in 2009 to offer a value brand thatmeets the performance requirements of our customers. Alongwith our JLG Access Platforms range we are ideally positioned tooffer customers a total solution from a single source.

Allied with the enviable reputation for value, quality andreliability of the extensive Doosan forklift range, we continue tostrive to "lift the standards of industry". This goal is alsoachieved by placing particular attention to each individualcustomer's needs and application to ensure the most costeffective and efficient solution is delivered.

We maintain a philosophy of continual investment. This ensuresour strong belief of a local and personal customer support ismaintained, alongside a large and reliable hire fleet. From thisfoundation, we have the ability to offer local one-stop approach forfinance, hire, sales, maintenance and spares, adding value to thecustomer chain through a quick, reliable and competent service.

Changes in Working at Height Regulations led to many of ourforklift customers to revise their procedures and look to accessplatforms. This led to many enquiries to provide bothequipment and maintenance. In recognition of this customerneed we established a relationship with JLG, becoming adistributor and service centre for their equipment. With our longestablished reputation for quality and aftercare within the forkliftarena, we were delighted to make JLG products availablethrough all of our eight regional depots.

For more information please telephone 01675 430235

Ourcompletetruckrange

Tel: 024 7668 8879 Fax: 024 7668 5758 Mob: 07970368966Unit 1, Cross Road Industrial Estate, 31/41 Cross Road, Coventry CV6 5GR

Materials HandlingWindsor


46

Spline Gauges, the world’s leading manufacturer of splinegauges and master gears is celebrating 50 years inbusiness this October. It was founded in 1962 by KenFoster, who is now 89 and still going strong.

The company’s fortunes are closely linked to the automotive,defence and aerospace industries, their OEMs and theprecision engineering companies which support them. It sells tothem both directly, and through a network of value addingdistributors throughout the world. Its products are used tomeasure drive splines and gearbox gears by the companieswho manufacture them.

During the trying times of the 1990’s recession they assessedall aspects of their business practice, adopting “LeanManufacturing” techniques to eliminate waste and compressproduction times. Managing Director, Malcolm Ryman, praisedthe loyalty of his staff at that time and paid tribute to theirwealth of relevant experience, saying; “it is through them we areable to respond to the challenges of our customers.”

They continued to build on their world wide reputation, earninga position of authority in the industry based on theircommitment to high quality manufacturing, independent testing,and reliable supply of spline gauges and master gears.

Their client base includes the most demanding industries in theworld, and the company has continued to invest heavily in newequipment to respond to the high specification of their customers.

When the economic forecast were still gloomy in 2012,Malcolm Ryman was optimistic about the future, saying:“Spline Gauges’ order book is strong and I expect a further strengthening.”

He acknowledged the automotive industry‘s efforts to stimulatedemand by the introduction of new models, particularly theBritish manufactured Range Rover. His confidence was wellfounded as the Range Rover ranges consistently out performtheir competition.

Mr Ryman tells us: “The automotive industry is known for itsfocus on quality and its expectation that its suppliers will not failit. We supply the biggest companies in this industry and wesupply their OEMs and their tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers. Sincethe early 1990s we have been supplying component parts toFormula 1 and Indy Car companies which demand speed ofresponse as well as product quality and delivery reliability.”

The Tamworth company are in buoyant mood, and in additionto their rolling programme of investment are looking to makeacquisitions and further investment in new equipment to morethan double the size of the business in the next few years.

In short, Spline Gauges is an expert in gears and splines. It hascontinuously invested; it practices quality manufacturing and ithas the experience to deliver. Spline Gauges is a company youcan trust.

For further information please visit theweb site www.splinegauges.co.uk

or telephone 01827 871504

31534 QPD_Spline Gauges QPD 1pg 07/11/2012 10:25 Page 1

47

ANDREW McLeod will tell you the greatest challenge hiscompany Nimgrove Ltd has ever faced is the toughestrecession in decades - and its greatest success is not only surviving it but being all the stronger for it.But you only have to look a little further back in the company’shistory to discover that its grit and determination to succeed havealready been forged through fire.Not even a devastating blaze which ripped through its thenBridgetown factory unit in the early 1990s, destroying everything,could keep it down for long.“It was a huge setback,” remembers Andrew, “but, with rapidthinking and assistance from various suppliers we were back inbusiness within a week.”The sub-contract sheet metal fabrication company has done nothingbut grow and grow ever since, evidence of its continued progressthrough the harsh economic conditions seen in its recent investmentof more than £300k in a new Amada laser cutting machine.“This will not only boost our production capacities, it will ensure wecan deliver even better quality to our customers,” states Andrew.With all the capabilities to shear, punch, laser cut, plasma cut, bend,weld and finish all types of metal at its premises in Cannock,Nimgrove provides a complete sheet metal fabrication/assemblyservice to all industry sectors.Its products can be found in materials handling equipment, office,retail and storage equipment, electrical switchgear and the earthmoving, automotive, security and defence industries.Around 20 people are employed by the business and all share thesame aim: to provide quality products at the time and pointcustomers need them.

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“We use the latest CNC machinery and manufacturing techniques tomeet the requirements of our customers with whom we always aimto build lasting business relationships,” says Andrew.“Nimgrove places great emphasis on putting customers’ needs firstand we believe that this philosophy is the most important contributorto not only our continued success but that of our clients.“All our work is produced to their specific requirements, but at thesame time we can also bring our expertise to bear during the designand engineering of their products to ensure that they’re of the bestvalue and quality.”Indeed, quality has always featured prominently in Nimgrove'sphilosophy, with every aspect of its production process beingmonitored to ensure quality and traceability. “Whether yourrequirements are for a one off, a development project or a regularsupply of assemblies to a delivery schedule, we can supply theservice that you are looking for,” promises Andrew.

For further information about Nimgrove, it’s products and services, go to

www.nimgrove.co.uk. Alternatively email [email protected] or

telephone 01543 426 926.

31544 1pg:Nimgrove 1pg 15/01/2013 12:19 Page 1

48

Another Midlands Success Story.

Holbourne Industrial Plastics Ltd, the well established,industrial plastics supplier have completed their move to their new premises in Aldridge.

The company was founded in 1992 and started out as apartnership operating from a single office; they now employ 12staff and have a turnover of approx 1.25 million.

The new facility at the Phoenix Works in Middlemoor Lane has12,000 sq ft of manufacturing space and will enable thecompany to complete its merger with British Micanizing,bringing the whole operation under one roof.

Ken Argent, Chairman of Holbourne, said: “Acquiring these newpremises means we can significantly reduce the costsassociated with being based on two sites. Those savings willallow us to invest in new machinery and continue offering ourcustomers high quality engineering plastics and electricalinsulation materials with short lead times. This move will onlymake us stronger as a business.”

Holbourne manufacturers, fabricates and distributes electricaland mechanical insulation parts and materials, to a widecustomer base including manufacturing, defence, transport,construction and retail..

The company holds substantial stocks of a wide range ofmaterials including Tufnol Laminates, G10/FR4 GlassLaminates, Plexiglas / Perspex Acrylic, in order to fulfil theirstated aim of offering top quality service and swift delivery totheir customers.

Standard stock shapes along with machined and stampedcomponents can be supplied from 1 offs to millions, and CraigPope MD emphasised: “All customers whether large or smallare treated with the same professional service and promptresponse to requests for information.”

They supply the widest possible range of both UK andinternational customers, from O.E.M.s buying in bulk, to thesmaller buyer needing specific components for maintenance or

development. Their range includes tiny components for exportto New Zealand to bullet proof windows for military vehicles forthe MOD.

The level of customer service that the company provides hasbeen fundamental to its success, as Ken Argent explained:“Our business has been built on offering high levels of serviceand doing what we say we are going to do, which is why we’vebeen able to continue progressing, even during the downturn.”

To ensure that their high standards are maintained they operatea rigorous quality control procedure throughout the productioncycle and all supplies, whether standard stock materials ormachined components can be supplied to ISO9001:2000approval.

The company are becoming established in the new premises,and all members of the team are enjoying the improved workingspace, and the opportunities it brings to raise even further theiralready high standards of service to their customers.

Holbourne Industrial Plastics Ltdwww.holbourne.co.uk

Phone number01922 745080

Congratulations to HolbourneIndustrial Plastics Ltd On 20 years ofsuccessful trading from your LocalIndependent Financial Adviser

For a free, no obligation, initial meeting, please call Mike James 01543 478880/07711 144261��

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Cress Security Co Ltd 6 Wolverhampton RoadStafford ST17 4BN Tel: (01785) 211014 Fax: (01785) 227711

Web: www.cress-security.co.uk

Cress Security have installed and serviced Security Systems for a number oforganistations including the Police Service, Probation Service, Heritage Properties,Councils and many multi national companies.

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“All gardening is landscape painting,” said William Kent,one of Britain's greatest designers in grand architecture,furniture and garden planning - but few Leicestershire‘landscape painters’ would have got far without their‘paintbrushes’ from Chapman’s Garden Machinery.

Behind the plots of beautifully trimmed plants, manicured lawnsand clipped hedges, rotovated soils and pollarded trees lies theexpertise of Nigel Chapman and his team who, for the last 20years, have ensured everyone has got the right tools to do justthese jobs - and many more.

The business, based in Countesthorpe, has spent 2012celebrating its sustained success in supplying and repairinggarden machinery for green-fingered domestic and commercialusers over the decades.

Not even two recession have been able to prune its ability forsteady growth.

“Many of our competitors have gone by the wayside but, bykeeping small and providing a quality friendly service, we havesurvived and grown,” says Nigel, proud of his company’sstaying power and declaring it his greatest business success.

A runner-up twice in past UK Small Engine RepairChampionships competitions, he attended BrooksbyAgricultural College, in Melton Mowbray and gained a City andGuilds qualification in Horticultural Engineering.

He launched Chapman’s Garden Machinery in 1992 after sevenyears spent working for another dealer in a nearby town andnow, having been joined by his wife Sarah, employs threepeople and is the local main dealer for many leading gardenmachinery manufacturers, such as Hayter, Atco, Iseki, Tanakaand Jonsereds.

“We deal with most of the main manufacturers and wewelcome customers to our small showroom which is filled withmowers, chainsaws, strimmers, rotovators, hedgecutters andso on,” he says.

It’s not just about providing the new - Chapman’s also sells fullyconditioned second-hand machines and graded equipment.

“This is a new item which has been returned with a fault whichhas been rectified and the machine is now in good workingorder,” explains Nigel of the graded equipment.

Briggs & Stratton UK LtdRoad Four Winsford Ind Est Winsford - Cheshire CW7 3QNTel: 01606 862182 Web: www.briggsandstratton.com

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Today is the day power andperformance matter most.

TODAY IS THE DAY ENGINES MATTER.

“Some may have had very light use but all these machines areguaranteed and are subject to availability.”

Any gardener will know that, even with the best equipment,over the course of time and use, blades blunt, motors seize upand parts can fall off but, thanks to Chapman’s fully equippedworkshop, Nigel and his staff can cater for all servicing,sharpening and repair requirements.

“Whether you have a small electric machine or a range ofprofessional machinery, we will be happy to help,” he says.

“We can also provide spares for many of the leading brands ofmachinery and for those customers within our catchment area,offer a collection and delivery service.”

Chapman’s Garden Machinery is open from 9am - 5pm Mondays to Fridaysand on Saturdays from 9am-12pm.

For further information,visit www.chapmansgardenmachinery.co.uk oremail [email protected].

Chapmans Garden Machinery

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50

• Same Day Delivery

• Small vans-7.5t 24hrs a day

• We give our valued customers a standard ofservice excellence never before seen in the courier industry.

Telephone:- (0) 845 539 0022 Email:- [email protected]

We are delighted to be considered anextension of the Phoenix Balancing team,and we look forward to supporting you asyou continue to grow your business.

Phoenix Balancing Ltd, the independent specialists inDynamic Balancing Services, are in new premises atFletchamstead Highway.

Established in February 2006, they have maintained a pattern ofsteady growth. The new premises have enabled them to expandtheir work force, ensuring continued and improving services to their customers.

Phoenix Balancing Ltd is owned and run by Graham Yardley and Stewart Davis, who have over 20 years’ experience in theindustry. They are proud of their independent status in a market dominated by the major manufacturers and provide balancing services to customers throughout the world, helping them to get the best from their machines and theirprocesses, including some blue chip companies such as Rolls Royce and GE owned companies.

Their friendly and informal approach is backed up by knowledge gained working with a large variety of equipment, enabling them to provide a completely independent solution to your requirements,whether at their works, or on site at your facility.

They can provide advice, calibration and certification on most makes of balancing machine to the original manufacturers’ guidelines and instructions, using test or sample rotors and UKAS traceable test masses.

Their repair and maintenance service provides mechanical andelectrical on-site repair work to machines, including some obsolete electronic and pneumatic systems but once the machine is beyond repair, they can upgrade it to something more suitable.

Phoenix Balancing Ltd also provides training courses covering bothbalancing theory and practice, starting with a classroom session andleading into practical work on a machine.

176 Fletchamstead Highway Industrial Estate,Fletchamstead Highway,

Coventry, CV4 7BB

T 02476 700387E [email protected]

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“But, important as these factors are, there’s more to oursuccess than the products we sell. Talk to any of ourcustomers and I’m confident that they will stress (or mention atthe very least) that their decision to invest in Doosan technologywas influenced by what Mills brings to the table. And, inparticular, by the type and level of service and support weprovide to customers.

“Our business approach is simple and unambiguous. Webelieve that great products demand equally great service andhave developed, throughout the company, a ‘can-do’ customerservice driven culture that reflects this mind set.

“What this means is that whenever a customer has contact orinterfaces with a member of the Mills team, be it with ourbusiness managers, our service or application engineers, or oursales support and administrative staff – they experience first-hand what we call our ‘passion for customer service’.

“This doesn’t happen by chance but is something we plan andreview continuously to make sure we’re always going the extramile for customers.

“So, in addition to employing the best people in the business inthe first instance, we are always looking to strengthen the Millsteam, develop new services, invest in new technologies andrefine our processes and systems, in order to improve.

“In the last couple of years this has seen us expand the CNCTraining Academy and significantly strengthen our customerservice and support operations.

“Having experienced phenomenal growth in recent years we’redetermined to keep on doing the things that have made us andour customers successful. And that’s a promise.”

If you are interested in finding out more about the range ofDoosan machine tools or about Mills CNC - visit our website or call us on 01926 736736.

Mills CNC LtdTachbrook Link

Tachbrook Park DriveLeamington Spa

CV34 6SNTel: +44(0)1926 736 736 Fax: +44(0)1926 736 737

www.millscnc.co.uk

Market-leaders in the supply of CNC machine tools toUK and Irish manufacturers.

Going for Growth – and getting it!Talk to a hundred business commentators about thecurrent state of and future prospects for the UK economyand you’re likely to get a hundred different views rangingfrom, at one end of the spectrum, a gloomy ‘woe is us’assessment of the shape of things to come through to a‘everything’s rosy in the garden’ – or soon will be,at the other.

The truth, generally speaking, is probably somewhere in the middle.

But, for some UK manufacturers like Leamington-based MillsCNC, the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in theUK and Ireland it’s a good news story all the way – and hasbeen for the last 3 years or so.

A quick look at the company’s performance so far in 2012provides the evidence for such optimism and reveals that Millsis well on its way to achieving its best ever sales performanceto date and will, for the first time in its 38 year history, sell over500 machines by the year end.

According to NickFrampton, Mills’managing director(pictured, right):

“If business continues tobe as brisk for theremainder of the year Iexpect total sales to be20% up on 2011 and this,plus a definite increase inour market share of theUK and Irish machine toolmarkets, represents afantastic achievement foreverybody who works forand who is associatedwith the company. I believe that growth on this scale is proofthat our customers like what we’re doing and how we do thingshere at Mills.”

There are many reasons explaining why Mills’ salesperformance has been and remains so strong.

Continues Nick Frampton:

“As the UK’s exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools inthe UK and Ireland, we’re perhaps better placed than most. Wehave excellent products to sell and a strong, growing andunique machine tool portfolio that, from a price: performanceperspective is second to none.

“We’re also able to capitalise on the strength of Doosan’simpressive in-house Research & Development andmanufacturing capabilities that have helped it become one ofthe world’s leading (and most successful) machine tool buildersand that, year-on-year, enables us to introduce a number ofnew and exciting Doosan machines into our markets.

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The UK’s premier CNC training provider.

Double tops!The CNC Training Academy is twice as good as it used tobe – and that’s saying something. Because, havingalready established itself as one the UK’s premier,independent CNC training organisations in just two shortyears and with upwards of 600 people trained to date, thecompany has now doubled its size with the opening of its second state-of-the-art training room at its facility in Leamington.

The expansion has allowed the Academy to meet the growingdemand, among manufacturers and individuals looking to re-train, for its increasingly popular Fanuc, Heidenhain andSiemens CNC Programmer training courses and its range ofadvanced and specialist courses that include FeatureCAM,Fanuc NC Guide, PC Fapt and Cimco Edit 6.

Says Academy Manager, Jeff Hart (pictured, right):

“Many more UK and Irish manufacturers are investing in trainingand improving the skills of their people to help them cope with,and capitalise on, the economic upturn.

“As a consequence theyneed access to proven,professionally-delivered andhigh-added value trainingand, owing to ourreputation and to thecomprehensive trainingprovision we offer, havenaturally contacted us tosee if we could help.

“Whilst this was great newsfor us it did (initially) presentsome problems – namely todo with capacity as wesimply couldn’t run enoughcourses, using our existing facilities, to meet the demand.”

The opening of the second training room, and the recruitmentof additional trainers, means that manufacturers have not beenleft high and dry. The new facility, replete with the latest CNCtraining hardware, software and audio-visual equipment andresources is exactly what customers would expect from anorganisation that has raised the bar when it comes to deliveringworld-class CNC training.

The Academy’s expansion plans go further than the opening ofthe new training room.

In the future, the intention is to widen the Academy’s appeal bytaking its training courses directly to customers.

Continues Jeff Hart:

“For some customers it’s just not feasible (from a cost and/orlogistics perspective) to have their operators and programmerstrained off-site at the Academy for what could be three, four orfive days (depending on the course in question). For companiesin this position the solution is simple. We will come to them.”

If you are interested in finding out more about the range ofCNC Training Courses we provide visit our website or call us on 01926 438363.

CNC Training AcademyTachbrook Link

Tachbrook Park DriveLeamington Spa

CV34 6SNTel: +44(0)1926 438 363 Fax: +44(0)1926 736 737

www.cnctrainingacademy.co.uk

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The adoption of robotic production equipment on thefactory floor is making a big difference to the success ofsome of the biggest names in UK manufacturing. Take alook at any modern car manufacturing plant, for example,and one of the first things you’ll see is the number ofrobots being used to handle everything from weldingthrough to paint-spraying.

Frustratingly, this same picture is not being replicated on thefloors of many of the UK’s manufacturing-focused SMEs. Muchwork has been done in trying to find out why, including theEngineering and Machinery Alliance’s Automation Study of2010. The results of this report show that three obstacles –lack of awareness of what automation can do; unwillingness torisk investment in unfamiliar technologies; and lack of skills toimplement and operate automated technology – are causingmany UK SME companies to lag behind their more automation-savvy international competitors.

All of these reasons are understandable. After all, automatingwith robots is about more than just shoe-horning a few into thecorner of a factory and switching them on. They need to beproperly installed, set-up and integrated into your process andsomeone needs to be trained to look after them.

They also need to pay for themselves, delivering improvementsover and above what can be achieved with a non-robotised system.

Successful implementation requires careful planning and upfronteffort, focusing as much on the tasks a robot will handle aswinning over the hearts and minds of those who may feelthreatened by their arrival.

Help is at handThe good news is that robot suppliers, such as ABB, can helpminimise this effort and ensure the transition to a robot-basedprocess is as painless as possible.

Our input encompasses everything from auditing a customer’sexisting process through to offline simulation of therecommended robotic installation to make sure any potentialbugs are ironed out. We can even help you to assess the likelyROI on investing in a robotic system and demonstrate howpayback could be achieved within two years.

We have also devoted considerable investment into our MiltonKeynes robot training centre, where we aim to ensure thateveryone, from novices through to skilled operators, receivesthe training to maximise the possibilities that robotic technology can bring.

When the robot does finally go into operation, we’re also thereto provide on-going support and service to make sure thetransition to a robotic process is a smooth one.

Did you know that you can transform your productivity and efficiency using robot-based automation? To find out how, in half-a-day, ABB can transform your productivity and reduce your energy bill, email [email protected] ref: ‘Appraisal’ or scan the QR code below.

Boost your productivity and energy efficiency?

Certainly.

Winning hearts and mindsIt’s understandable that existing production employees may feelanxious about how the arrival of a robot will affect them. In themajority of cases though, it’s true to say that robots actually preservemore jobs than they displace. We have several examples showinghow the productivity improvements brought by robotic technologyhave convinced UK companies to reconsider their decisions torelocate manufacturing offshore and remain here instead.

At a time when there is widespread concern about the shortageof engineering skills in the UK, robots also provide a vital elementof security and certainty for the UK’s continued economic growth.

Take the next stepThe step from any current technology to a new way of doingthings is invariably going to be a big one. But when it comes toautomating with robots, it’s true to say you’ll never work alone.

To find out more, call +44 (0) 1908 350 300 oremail [email protected] ref. ‘Robots’

Why the path to productivityimprovement doesn’t have to be a lonely one

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Leicestershire company helps meet Olympic target ofzero waste games.

A Leicestershire food packaging company was part of the recyclinginitiative designed to make this summer’s Olympics and Paralympicsthe first ever zero waste games. Market Harborough basedcompany Select Catering Solutions provided recyclable cups andsandwich containers to food outlets at two of the Games’ venues.

With strict guidelines on materials and methods used to createany packaging, all materials had to be biodegradable so thatwaste could be made into compost after the Games. SelectCatering Solutions provided 100,000 drinking cups and half amillion sandwich containers which were used at the NorthGreenwich Arena, the site of the gymnastics and basketballcompetitions, as well as at Eton Dorney where the canoeing androwing events took place.

“It was a tough challenge ensuring that our products met thestringent ecological specifications set by LOCOG,” comments PaulArmstrong, Director, of Select Catering Solutions. “It was a complexoperation and a very large order, but everything ran smoothly andarrived on schedule – much like the Games themselves. We are allreally proud of what we achieved this summer; it was an honour tobe part of such a great national event.”

London 2012 was one of the largest peacetime catering operationsand LOCOG’s aim was to serve 14 million sustainably sourcedmeals this summer to achieve their goal of being the first zerowaste games.

Select Catering Solutions is aprivately owned family businessbased in Market Harborough,Leicestershire. The company hastheir own studio offering abespoke design service for awide range of cateringdisposables and food packagingitems for both independentretailers and national chains.

Caffe Carrara offers a selection of theworld’s finest coffee from ethicallysourced farms.

Select launched Caffe Carrara inDecember 2010, having been involvedwithin the coffee industry for over fouryears. They felt the market was floodedwith distinctively average coffee, andtheir primary focus is to produce andsupply luxury aromatic blends, ensuringSelect’s customer and their customerstaste the best coffee!

Paul Armstrong said: “We’re not just like any other company,we work with you to achieve the best results to appreciate thetrue flavours and aromas. It’s about selecting the perfect blend,educating your staff at our coffee school and understandinghow your equipment works. Caffe Carrara in partnership withSelect provides exactly this service.

Finding and roasting the best beans available is paramount toCaffe Carrara, we go the extra mile to make sure our blendsare among the best you’ve ever tasted!”

Barker & C

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Chartered AccountantsRegistered Auditors

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Select Catering Solutions_Feature Template 22/11/2012 09:28 Page 1

55

“In 2008 we invested in bespoke commercial propertymanagement software and, having operated it for a number ofkey clients since then, are now rolling it out on a wider scale,having proved the benefits it brings.”

Able to handle commercial property management instructionsfrom single properties to industrial estates, shopping malls,office parks and mixed portfolios, the software has beendesigned specifically to deal with a wide range of managementclients’ needs to maintain and ‘work’ their commercial propertyassets,” Andrew adds.

Based in Bore Street Lichfield, in the same building it occupiedupon its 1950s launch, Kingston CPC, has a large and variedclient base which spans the country within its particular areasof specialism in industrial/warehousing, offices and retail.

Its services cover sales/lettings, property management,valuations, rent reviews/lease renewals, commercial propertyrating, property development and consultancy.

“Our strength is in our detailed knowledge of the area in whichwe operate and our technical knowledge in the key aspectsrelevant to the property sectors concerned,” says Andrew.

“The Practice works hard to maintain its knowledge, data andtechnical skills to ensure that clients can be confident that theyare receiving the service they require.”

The team’s investment in these matters has certainly paiddividends in the last few tough economic years which haveproved challenging when it comes to matchinglandlords’/vendors’ aspirations with the tenants’/purchasers’ expectations.

“Having the information is only half of the job: using thatinformation based on long-standing experience and a detailedunderstanding of commercial property in order to maximise thebenefits for clients is what brings the added value,” Andrewpoints out.

The fact that Kingston is good at this couldn’t be betterdemonstrated than by its levels of business retention andrepeat business - something the company sees as the mostimportant measure of its success rather than the numbers ofinstructions received.

“We do have new clients every month but there are many forwhom we have been working for 30 to 40 years,” reveals Andrew.

“Our aim is to ensure our service is such that they return witheither new instructions or repeat work.”

“From small single room offices to multi-let industrial estatesand everything in between, our approach to commercialproperty management and other services is the same.”

For full details of Kingston Commercial’s services, visitwww.kingstoncpc.co.uk. Alternatively telephone

01543 414300 or email [email protected]

Managing property assets increases valueAT a time when investors need to keep more control thanever on asset management, forward-thinking KingstonCommercial Property Consultants is expanding itsservices to help them do just that.

“The commercial property market over the last four years or sohas meant that investors need to keep an eagle eye on theirportfolio, both to maximise income and maintain longevity in thelife of the investment,” emphasises Andrew Price, one of thefive Partners in the Staffordshire commercial property consultancy.

“Understandably investors want to be sure that they do notmiss any key dates during leases – whether these are noticeperiods, rent review or lease renewals – whilst wanting thecomfort of knowing (instantly if necessary) the exact cash flowsituation, forecasts or debtor/creditor lists. Additionally, fullservice charge handling is often a time-consuming andcomplicated exercise.”

Photo: Kingston Partners Graham Jones, Andrew Price and Andrew Buckman.

What professional management of your property assets can achieve

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56

Moving into new premises is amilestone moment for any business.Whether it means leaving a domesticgarage or back room or going from asmall industrial unit to a majorexpanse of commercial building it’salways a sign of success.

While being an outward sign of growth tosuppliers and customers, getting the keysto new premises also means opening adoor to further expansion, such as moreroom for new employees.

That’s the fun bit - however, as with anyproperty purchase, there’s lots tonegotiate beforehand, such as locating asite, getting a commercial mortgage andsecuring the premises.Plenty to think about then - not leastwhether, having decided that yourbusiness is ready for the next step, - tobuy or not to buy?

There are reasons both for and againstoutright ownership and much thoughtshould be applied to weighing up the prosand cons. For example, there’s no need toworry about rent increases and by fixingmonthly payments you can give yourselfsecurity over your outgoings - which couldwell be about the same as rent on asimilar property.

You could remortgage to raise finance anddesign your surroundings exactly to theneeds of your business - even adding to itif necessary. On the other hand - do youhave funds totaling between 20% and30% of the property’s value for a deposit?You will be paying for its upkeep and, if itloses value, that will affect your businesscapital.

If circumstances change it won’t be soeasy to move or take on more or lessspace and you could be in a situationwhere you are unable to hire more staff orinvest in machinery because your cashflow is committed to a premises purchase.

Depending on interest rate movements,your mortgage payments could increase.

You have less flexibility to cope withchanges in circumstances - to take onmore or less space, or to move to adifferent location - than if you are renting.Buying premises ties up cash flow whichcould be invested in new employees, or plant.

By making property ownership a centralpart of your business, you expose yourselfto an unpredictable market. This couldleave you with a large and unproductiveasset, which still incurs costs.

Having made your decision, the search ison! You’ll be hunting premises that meetyour company’s specific requirement.

A quick checklist could include:

SpaceHow much for each member of staff,and any extra for interviews and/ormeetings.

ParkingNot only for employees - what aboutcustomers?

StorageIt could be products, it could be for anextensive records archive.

SecurityMany modern building have systemsbuilt in.

PermissionWorth checking if you’re amanufacturer - you may needpermission to actually do saidmanufacturing.

Of course, the premises may fulfill your everyneed - but are they in the right place? Whileinvestigating the actual bricks and mortar,never forget: location, location, location.

Retailers will want to be close to theircustomers or suppliers and enjoy goodvisibility, while goods producers, deliverymakers and those with a high logisticsrequirement will place a heavy emphasison good transport links.

Your employees’ needs also need to beweighed up carefully - can they get thereeasily - and there are otherconsiderations,

A town/city centre building could costmore, may pose a greater crime risk andbe subject to more noise and pollution,while an out-of-town location is more likelyto have a modern building and betterparking, but could lack other amenitiessuch as nearby shops and restaurants.

So how do you go about doing all thisresearch to ensure you’ve got thepremises to suit you?

It’s worth asking any of your ownimmediate contacts who already havepremises in the area to see if they know ofopportunities and its getting advice fromlocal organisations such as Chambers ofCommerce is also worth a try. Then ofcourse, there are local newspapers, tradenewspapers and internet property sites -all will carry details of premises availablefor rent or purchase.

Of course, going to and using the servicesof an expert commercial propertyagent/consultant is likely to make thewhole process smoother, faster and muchmore efficient.

These are the people who are scouringthe market on a daily basis and know justwhat’s out there, which are the best areasin which a business can locate and wherethe best deals are.

They will have access to sales and leasingtrends which can prove invaluable whenyou’re trying to decide where to locate aswell as extensive property portfolios oftheir own and they can also help handlethe complex negotiations involved instructuring leases or purchases.

Choosing a new home for your growingbusiness is an exciting time as it marks acompany’s growth. Investing in the time todo it properly and using expert help to doso can only reap rewards in the long run.

CommercialProperty

to Buy or Not to Buy


57

The term “building works” carries both excitement andtrepidation. The excitement of improving your home, gardenor office has to be set against the worry of finding a reliablebuilding firm. The press is full of horror stories, and we areonly too well aware of our limited knowledge and experience.

Many families feel that they need extra space, but in the currenteconomic climate, moving is often out of the question. Besides thefinancial implications there is the difficulty of moving the children’s’schools, and leaving good neighbours behind. The obvioussolution is to expand your available living space, thus adding valueto your home and improving your family’s quality of life.

It is usually wise to look for a company who can show youcompleted projects within your local area, and a reliable builderwill be happy to provide references and give you an up frontestimate for the work.

Aston Builders Ltd is a well established builder based inWolverhampton, serving both the residential and commercialsectors, who have been completing all kinds of projects to thevery highest standard for 26 years, and have been Corgi, andnow Gas Safe, fitters for 25 years.

The company are fully insured and have plenty of references fromsatisfied customers for the reassurance of prospective clients, andare happy to show examples of their work. Aston Builders pridethemselves on clean and tidy work, competitive pricing, qualitycraftsmanship and extensive knowledge of the construction industry.

Aston Builders Ltd offers a professional and efficient serviceranging from small and simple works to more adventurous andambitious projects.

Building works, range from interior and exterior decorating, newkitchens or bathrooms, loft conversions, and the increasinglypopular basement conversions, flat roofs, extensions,refurbishments, and new builds.

Whatever your outside project is, from patios, fencing,driveways or fully landscaping your garden at home or at workAston Builders Ltd have the skills to produce a result that willgive pleasure for years to come.

No job is too large or small, and the team will be happy to provide acomprehensive breakdown and estimate for the work. AstonBuilders Ltd are also able to supply a complete project managementservice, including architectural designs and building regulations,enabling you to relax and leave everything in their capable hands.

For superb craftsmanship, reliable service and expertbuilding industry knowledge call Aston Builders Ltd on07501 277214 for a free quotation and advice with noobligation. Call FREE on Tel: 0808 225 3733 or Tel: 07501 277214 or Email: [email protected]

At Aston we pride ourselves upon building to the very highest standardwhether it’s a refurbishment, extension or a new build.

With 26 years experience, fully insured and a bank of references we canundertake any project

Call FREE on Tel: 0808 225 3733 or Tel: 0750 1277214www.astonbuild.co.uk

Aston BuildComplete Project Management From Concept To Completion

“Thank you to all our valuedcustomers who have helped us

celebrate our 26th year Anniversary”

• New Build • Extensions • Loft Conversions • Basements • Extensions •

• Kitchens & Bathrooms

• Interior & Exterior Decorating

• Flat Roof Systems{ 50 years Guarantee}

• Landscape Gardening

• Patios

• Driveways

• Fences

• Project Management & New Build

• Residential & Commercial

Aston BuildComplete Project Management From Concept To Completion


58

Residents of a recently opened Shropshire care home areliving in style and comfort, thanks to the flair and expertiseof the company which handled its fit-out and decor.

When Rectory Care converted Albrighton’s former St Cuthbert’srectory, and latterly a health and fitness club, into a 31-bedroom home, for those all-important finishing touches itcalled on Renray Healthcare, the UK’s largest and leadingsupplier of high quality furniture and soft furnishings to thehealthcare sector.

Renray manufactured supplied and installed lounge, dining,bedroom and communal furniture, carpets, curtains, blinds andbedding, ready for the arrival of the residents.

With the Cheshire company’s Midlands-based DivisionalManager Janine Martin project managing the scheme to ensurethe process was seamless from start to visit, the end result is asource of huge pride to Renray.

“The home is elegant and full of character, a perfect sanctuary toretire to,” says one of the delighted directors Jackie Dearden.

Together with Yan Cartman and Graham Silman, she took over whatwas then known as Huntleigh Renray as part of a management buy-out in 2007 and, since then, the trio has continued to build on thecompany’s decades-long record of excellence and expand itsservices throughout all sectors of the healthcare industry.

“Renray is well known for its technical and clinical expertise,which not only ensures products look well, but are speciallydesigned for comfort, durability, easy cleaning and long termperformance,” says Jackie.

“We encourage customers to have their own design input onour products,” she adds. “We like them to be able to talk to ourdesigners about the look they’re after so that we can then helpthem achieve it.

“The materials we use, the design details we incorporate andthe exceptional quality of our workmanship are fundamentalelements to the aesthetics of our furniture.”

Projects undertaken in the past have ranged from one-off unitsto a 700+ bedroom accommodation centre and while the sizeof a scheme may vary, the attention to detail and quality serviceremain constant.

Everything is manufactured and assembled by skilledcraftsmen, in Renray’s purpose-built premises at Winsford, toEuropean and British standards, with many items specificallydesigned for use in challenging environments and, thus,rigorously tested to be safe, secure and robust.

Reflecting on their success at successfully penetrating newmarkets in the last few years and maintaining their own leadingposition, Jackie and her fellow directors know that theirgreatest challenge is to keep their number one slot.

But they’re confident that the skills, attention to detail, qualityand customer services from their team will keep them at theforefront of their industry.

“We place great emphasis on building an ongoing partnershipwith all of our customers and welcome the opportunity todiscuss queries or observations about any of our products andservices,” insists Jackie.

“We are also always available to advise and assist based on the many years experience we have of manufacturinghealthcare furniture.

“Whether you require just a fast efficient delivery of qualityfurniture or a full room installation and fitting service, we havethe experience and resources to handle your contract.”

To find out more about Renray Healthcare, visitwww.renrayhealthcare.com

For a copy of the latest brochure, current rangedetails or any other query, telephone 01606 593456

or email [email protected]


59

In 1957 Edwin Joseph laid the foundations of aHerefordshire building firm that have proved so solid thatnot even the harsh economic climate has been able toknock it sideways.

He also established a firm family link that continues to this day,with current MD Andrew delightedly anticipating the day hisown son Bobby, born in 2007, continues the EC Joseph &Sons name into a fourth generation.

It may be based in St Owen Street, Hereford, but this is acompany that enjoys a national reputation and undertakesprojects across the UK.

Gas Registered, it is particularly proud to be the area’s onlycompany covering the fitting and maintenance of cateringequipment - but portfolio is much wider than that.

All aspects of general building work are handled, taking in newbuilds and refurbishments with roofing, particularly felt roofs, a speciality.

Other services include:

• Plumbing• Central heating• Drainage• Painting and decorating• Insurance work“We can cover any aspects, from a tap washer through to new-build, refurbishments, extensions and general maintenance,”emphasises Andrew.

When it comes to employing a builder, there is nothing customersvalue more than reliability and a proven reputation and EC Josephhas this - well in spades.

Establishing the company marked the realisation of a dreamEdwin Joseph had held since returning from Burma where he wasa Regimental Sergeant Major with the Royal Artillery.

E. C. JOSEPH & SONS LTDE. C. JOSEPH & SONS LTD Est 1957

31562 EC Joseph & Sons_Feature Template 19/12/2012 12:59 Page 1

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He was soon joined by his son Fred and in the 1960s the fatherand son team made a significant contribution to Herefordshire’sbuilding industry, not least the city itself where the company builtVincent Greenhouses in Blackfriars Street and was involved in theconstruction of its Woolworth store.

"My grandfather also did work for Herefordshire Council," addsAndrew. "I'm very proud to say that, more than 50 years later, weare still employed by the council.”

One of its most recent council projects was the refurbishment ofKington Library while other prestigious schemes have included therefurbishment of Hoe Court at Colwall, near Malvern, a new shop,changing rooms and manager’s office at Burghill Valley GolfCourse and converting a cottage hospital into Kington YouthHostel for the YMA and Advantage West Midlands.

The continuity has continued through the decades not just withestablished customers - EC Joseph & Sons has done all themaintenance work for West Midlands Reserve Forces, working onall their Air Cadet and Army Cadet meeting places and depots inHerefordshire and Worcestershire for the last 40 years - but withinthe business itself.

Andrew’s mother, Joan Joseph still retains an interest in thebusiness while his Great Aunty Dolly was company secretary until

she reluctantly retired at the age of 88, having stayed on toprovide support to the incoming company secretary, her sonBrian, and to secretary Dawn Wilson.

“With 25 years’ service Dawn,and foreman Peter Kent who joinedin 1976, are two of the most invaluable and longest servingmembers of a team of 25 which create the extended family that isEC Joseph & Sons,” says Andrew. “And we never forget thesupport and loyalty of all members of staff.

“Together they enable us to bring great workmanship and serviceto every project we undertake. We’ve been providing thesethings to customers for more than 50 years and will continue todo so.”

For further information about the company’s services, visit www.ecjoseph.co.uk,

telephone 01432 353643 or email [email protected]

Hereford Window & Conservatory Centre3 Hereford Trade Park, Holmer Road, Hereford HR4 9SG

Tel: 01432 271000 Web: windowandconservatorycentre.co.uk

We support EC Joseph & Sons and wish themevery success in the future.

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“The worry of metal theft has been a major concern for many ofour customers, and we have extended our solutions to addressthese issues and protect their properties from this threat,”explains Simon Alderson, Commercial Director.

“We launched the combined SmartAlarm Gold and Verifeyecamera sensors in April and they were an immediate hit.”

Upon alarm activation, the cameras relay photos and videofootage back to the monitoring station within seconds, makingit is easier find out why the alarm sounded and determine themost appropriate form of response.

“The SmartAlarm Gold and its sensors are wireless and batteryoperated, so easy to install and remove when they are nolonger required – a perfect solution for vacant property,” saysDavid Chapman of the Tipton Service Centre, based on theHale Trading Estate.

ADVANCED security measures for protecting emptyproperties are proving a successful weapon in the fightagainst metal theft.

Video footage resulting from VPS, The Vacant PropertySpecialists’ new combined alarm and camera solution isalready being used to identify and prosecute offenders while itsays customers who have snapped up the opportunity to installthe system, are reporting significant reductions in crime andintrusions.

It couldn’t be better news for the company which is the world’sleading vacant property security and services provider.

The Vacant Property Specialists

The Vacant Property Specialists

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June saw the launch of the VPS VeriFlow sensor, a unique sensorthat alerts on any unauthorised use of water within a property, andusing a number of inbuilt sensors helps detect any unexpectedwater flow such as from leaks, burst pipes or attack.

The VPS VeriFlow sensor has been designed to reduce the damageassociated with water leaks from pipes in vacant property, byalerting on them as soon as they occur. This cost effective solutionmonitors water flow without interfering with the existing plumbing orcutting into the existing pipework.

These new sensors are the latest measures through which VPSensures peace of mind for its customers with vacant properties tomaintain and protect.

A wide range of sectors are served, including social housing, retail,the public sector and pubs and breweries and it’s not just aboutkeeping out intruders and thieves.

It’s also ensuring the empty properties do not fall into a state ofdisrepair whilst vacant, so keeping buildings presentable and inworking order ready for re-occupancy or sale and making sure thata property is insurance compliant.

VPS does this through services such as:

• Free risk assessments.

• Helping to clear voids between tenancies, and prepare them forreoccupancy.

• Vacant property security, including steel screens and doors, andperimeter protection.

• Monitoring using our advanced alarm systems.

• Guarding services and regular inspections to ensure the propertyis clean, clear and safe.

With its HQ in Hertfordshire, the VPS Group serves operationsacross Europe and the USA. With a UK network of over 20 localservice centres, including Tipton, Corby and Nottingham, andsatellite service centres in Crewe and the Wirral we are always onhand to help.

Caring for the world’s vacant propertyThe Vacant Property Specialists

“We pride ourselves on being professional,dynamic and respectful. That means we arealways looking to better serve customers bydelivering expert advice from trustedprofessionals and ensuring that we are atthe forefront of change and offering themost advanced property management &security solutions available”

Simon Alderson

Commercial Director

For further information about VPS and its solutions, please visitwww.vpspecialists.co.uk

Alternatively telephone 08706 087062 or email [email protected]

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The lovely 19th Century former St Cuthbert’s Rectory has been given a new lease of life by Mike and Phillippa Turner.

The former Elysium Health Club has been transformed into aluxurious residential care home offering 5 star accommodationsince opening its doors to residents in July 2012.

Situated in Rectory Road, just outside the attractive town ofAlbrighton, the home is set within its landscaped gardens,featuring lawns, mature trees and paved patio areas,overlooking the beautiful old church of St Cuthbert’s and theopen countryside beyond.

Phillippa and Mike have sympathetically renovated The OldRectory, returning it to its former glory with many of its originalfeatures retained, including the lovely stained glass windowsover the side entrance.

As you enter the home you will be immediately struck by thewarm and friendly atmosphere. The furniture and fittings havebeen especially designed to offer the highest standard ofcomfort and quality. Each room has been thoughtfully designed,and individually furnished. There are two comfortable lounges, acoffee lounge and an elegant dining room.

The Old Rectory offers 29 single rooms and one double room;the light and airy rooms are arranged over 3 floors, and are allen-suite, and 20 have walk in showers. All the rooms havewheelchair access, flat screen televisions, telephone andinternet access.

Mike and Phillippa have 25 years of experience in the caresector, having previously owned and managed the 52 bedroomWheatlands Care Home at Much Wenlock Shropshire, for 12years, which they had converted from a Barnado’s boy’s home,before selling to Barchester Health Care.

After spending some years in Canada, they were eager toreturn to the care sector after returning to the Midlands lastyear. Phillippa said: “We really missed the care industry while


64

we were living in Canada and have been on the look out for anew project to get into, and it is really satisfying to beconverting a redundant building.” She said “We are delightedwith the results of the restoration, after months of hard work itis tremendous to finally open the doors”.

Phillippa, who will be managing the home, is proud of theexcellent reputation she and Mike have built up over the yearsand will continue to build on that at The Old Rectory, where shewill be supported by a team of dedicated caring andexperienced staff who are qualified and experienced in meetingthe varied needs of residents.

The home is registered by the Care Quality Commission andprovides an excellent standard of care, providing a comfortable,stable and secure environment.

Phillippa says “I want residents to enjoy an atmosphere of carethat will enable and encourage them to live full, interesting andindependent lifestyles.”

For more information please telephone Phillippa on 01902 376910 or

email [email protected]

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65

The residents and staff at Hoar Cross Nursing Home arecelebrating 25 years of excellent nursing and personal careto adults, the elderly.

The nursing home is set within a pleasant 18th Century property,previously known as Old Hoar Cross Hall, with 3 acres ofattractively landscaped grounds offering extensive views acrossthe surrounding Staffordshire countryside.

The gracious building has been thoughtfully converted into aluxurious nursing home, where residents can enjoy full time care inelegant surroundings providing outstanding comfort. Each roomhas been individually furnished to a very high standard, andespecially adapted for wheelchair use.

There are a number of communal rooms, all beautifully decoratedin sympathy with the period building, retaining many originalfeatures and having pleasant views across the landscapedgardens. Residents appreciate the Reminiscence and Sensoryrooms, the comfortable lounges and the quiet areas, ideal forwriting letters or reading.

The proprietors carry out a continuous programme of investmentand improvement and have recently completed the renovation ofanother period property, the Housemasters House, set within thegrounds. This house has been arranged to provide another sixbedrooms and further communal areas.

The gardens are a very special feature and include a sensorypatio area and a pleasant woodland walk among the grounds forresidents to enjoy.

The emphasis at Hoar Cross Nursing Home is on the highestpossible standard of care and providing a happy, stimulating andinteresting environment for the residents by means of a widerange of activities and outings, the team of activities co-ordinatorsmake sure that there is something for everyone regardless oftastes or capabilities.

Hoar Cross is very much part of the local community and TheHoar Cross League of Friends, organise additional events such asparties and Summer and Christmas Fayres.

Regular visits from local GPs, physiotherapists and chiropodists,ensure all round care. The excellent staff to patient ratio at HoarCross enables one to one care when necessary, and the home is

particularly proud of their team of caring professional individuals whoenjoy their work within the care sector, and enthusiastically embraceevery opportunity to continue their professional development.

Hoar Cross is primarily a residential home but they are also ableto offer short term and respite care for periods as short as oneweek. Hoar Cross also specialises in dementia care.

The team at Hoar Cross would be delighted to show you and yourfamily and friends what they have to offer, telephone on 01283 575210 to arrange an appointment, or just drop in for a tour.Alternatively visit the web site www.hoarcrosscare.co.uk.

Hoar Cross Nursing Home is a member of the RegisteredNursing Home Association and is registered with the CareQuality Commission.

M & R Electrical Ltd SupportHoar Cross Care Ltd and wish

them every success for the future

Fully Insured & Part P Registered

Tel: 01543 473527Mike’s Mobile: 07810 512033 Rob’s Mobile: 07855 749214

Email: [email protected] Hadley End, Yoxall, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire DE13 8PF

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Hoar Cross Nursing Home celebrates 25 years ofdelivering excellent care to the local area


66

Europa Worldwide Logistics, one of the largest privatelyowned and successful Logistics companies in the UK areextremely proud of their “can do” attitude and ability.

So when Tim Doggett, Regional Director for Europa WorldwideLogistics developed a challenge to raise money for CancerResearch UK, he was sure of the support of both the Companyand his colleagues.

Tim beat cancer ten years ago and was inspired to help othersafter the loss of his uncle to cancer earlier this year and aftercolleague, Mat Jobson’s mother, was diagnosed this year.

The idea for the challenge arose following the relocation ofEuropa Worldwide Logistics Midlands Hub, to a new designand build location in September 2011 in Minworth, Birmingham.

Close to the new Super Hub lies the Fazeley Canal. At one timethe Canal network was the most efficient method of movinggoods across the UK. Tim’s idea was to use this old transportlink to connect two ultra modern Europa Worldwide Logisticsfacilities by paddling a kayak from Manchester to Birmingham.The Europa Worldwide Logistics Depot in Manchester also liesclose to the Bridgewater Canal and the wider Canal network.

The planning was carried out with military precision, with asupport team comprised of colleagues Mat Jobson (RegionalSales Manager) and Peter Marley (Automotive AccountsManager) cycling along the towpath. The route involvednavigating over 100 miles of canals, 7 tunnels, countlessbridges and over 90 locks entailing portage of the kayak. Theidea became a reality and was named – “Float my Boat 2012”

What made this even more of a challenge was that Tim had notstepped foot in a kayak for a least twenty years – he hasneeded to spend many lonely hours training in preparation inrecent months.

On 20th September 2012, in torrential rain, Tim and his supportteam were cheered off by colleagues, friends and family atEuropa Worldwide Logistics, Manchester. The route wentthrough Manchester City centre before heading south throughTim’s home town of Macclesfield where David Rutley MP wason hand to show his approval and support for the event.

After covering the long distances in often very challengingconditions, on Sunday 23rd September 2012, Tim arrived atthe finish line to be cheered by friends, family and colleagues.

Tim commented: “This has been a great experience and I hopeit will make a real difference to Cancer Research’s work. I amlooking to stage Float My Boat 2013 which will involve adifferent route, I hope many more people will join me then.”

Carl Potter, Administration Director at Europa, was presentwhen Tim finished the challenge and remarked: “Well done toTim and his able support team of Mat and Peter from all atEuropa Worldwide Logistics, we were thrilled by thismagnificent achievement for a very worthy cause.”

At the time of going to press Tim had already raised over£2000 for Cancer Research and the amount continues to rise.If you would like to donate money towards Tim’s achievementfor Cancer Research it’s not too late, you can do so at

www.justgiving.com/Floatmyboat2012or by contacting Europa Worldwide Logistics.

Tel: 0121 351 [email protected]

Europa Worldwide Logistics go the extra mile for Cancer Research UK


67

Conference space provider etc.venues, keen to shake upthe Birmingham venues market, has been delighted withthe way business folk are stirred by Maple House, thevenue with a difference.

Funky, bright, friendly and a world away from “boring”, thisdedicated space is continuing to change perceptions about whatconstitutes a good venue - and in winning style. Maple House hasagain achieved Gold standard for service from independentresearch specialist BDRC Continental, which rates service acrossthe whole venue sector.

“Only a select few achieve the Gold standard and Maple Househas held it for the last three years,” smiles proud Venue ManagerMark Bourne.

He and etc.venues, which includes Maple House in an impressiveportfolio of venues across London, have plenty of other reasons tocelebrate a successful 2012. Recent months have seen furtherupgrades and enhancements to significantly increase the free WiFicapability at Maple House while the main business has opened twonew centres in the capital, bringing its total number to 12. Plansare also underway for opening a venue in a third city during 2013.

The UK's leading independent provider of training, meeting andconference space, was founded in 1992 by specialist trainerswho, fed up with not finding spaces to suite their needs, set uptheir own. The 2008 arrival of Maple House in Corporation Street,continued the successful formula of a great location near publictransport, high quality rooms specs and high levels of service bytrained specialists. In the intervening five years it’s collect manyawards including that ongoing Gold Standard and the 2010Conference Venue of the Year title.

“What we offer is truly fit-for-purpose,” says Mark. “Our rooms havebeen set up with business events in mind so are not compromisedby needing to be used for weddings, banquets or parties.

“Maple House is ideal for a full range of corporate events, such asmeetings, training courses, conferences, small exhibitions,seminars, product launches, team away days, team building,evening functions and dinners.

“What was originally one floor and has since been extended to asecond, creating an ideal function space and flexible exhibition area.”

Specific features include:• Natural daylight• Powerful, permanent AV kit.• High ceilings to promote a good view rather than a moody

atmosphere.• A network of nearby rooms for breakout sessions etc.• Vibrant, inspiring relaxation areas or striking coffee points to

create a really good place to be when not training.

Mark sums it all up as “vibrant, un-corporate, friendly anddedicated”, adding: “We try to remove ourselves from theboring mundane nature of training venues and be inspiringwhenever possible.

“The colour scheme is bright, funky and very contemporary andour furniture, décor and art collection is modern, contemporaryand really appealing.”

Making themselves different, even applies to the food -etc.venues chefs always prepare fresh, locally sourced ‘BrainFood’ which is designed to be tasty and satisfying yet healthy,nutritious and stimulating to aid learning and concentration. It alladds up to a fresh and vibrant approach which Mark says is reallychanging the business community’s booking habits.

“Getting them to try the unknown, giving them the highest servicelevels and making them realise that quality facilities don’t have tobe more expensive than they are used to, has ensured they comeback again and again,” he says.

For further information about Maple House and its servicesis available on www.etcvenues.co.uk/venues/maple-house

Alternatively telephone 0121 212 8200 or email [email protected]

etc.venues

31650 1pg_CD Engineering 19/12/2012 11:10 Page 1

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Sometimes it really is worth abusiness making an exhibitionof itself.

The opportunity to leave the confines of a siteand get out there to meet new and potentialclients, demonstrate just what a companycan do or make, and put on a very humanface in an increasingly online commercialworld is known to pay dividends.

There are few other promotional opportunitieswhich can deliver such a large number -sometimes thousands - of high quality salesopportunities in just a few days.

With markets growing abroad, such as thosein China and India, being part of aninternational exhibition can act as a powerfulentrée into these expanding economies.

Moreover, by providing a means for exhibitorsto sell their products to a more internationalaudience, exhibitions can directly help toboost export opportunities for the UK.

Like every other part of the UK economy,the country’s exhibitions industry has notescaped the effects of the recession butmost recent figures, released in early 2012and covering 2010, showed that thesector and its supply chains have becomebetter at generating value for the UK fromtheir activities.

The Economic Impact of the UK ExhibitionsIndustry study (EIS), was compiled byeconomic forecasting consultancy OxfordEconomics and was the first to study theindustry since an earlier 2005 survey.

It found that the country’s exhibition industrydelivered a total economic impact of £11bnand a value-added contribution of £5.6bn tothe economy, representing 0.4% of GDP and148,500 jobs. The £5.6bn figure included adirect contribution of £2.6bn, plus £3bn fromsupply chains and the wider economy.

“The industry plays an important role in theUK’s economy. As well as directlygenerating GDP and jobs, it attractsvisitors to the UK and acts as a catalyst forUK businesses,” the report’s authors said.

The most recent exhibitions data alsoshowed that in 2010:

• UK exhibitions attracted more than 13million visitors.

• Almost 1,600 trade and public eventstook place across a range of sectors.

• More than 265,000 exhibitorsparticipated with 20% from outside theUK, spending almost £2.7 billion ongoods and services to demonstrate.

• Almost 13.1 million people attendedUK exhibitions, spending more than£1.4 billion on accommodation, traveland other purchases.

• Purchases made by exhibitions sectorand its supply chains generated £3.8billion in additional output for UKsuppliers, indirectly contributing anadditional £1.8 billion to UK valueadded through its supply chain andsupporting another 41,900 jobs.

• Spending of employees in theexhibitions sector and its supply chainssupports further, economic activity,which helped to support a further £1.2billion of value added and 30,300 jobs.

Impressive figures indeed - and there’seven more noughts to consider. Across allexhibitions, more than a third of thosequizzed as part of the study expected togenerate between £10,000 and £50,000 inadditional sales, while trade exhibitorsexpected, on average to gain more than£800,000 in additional sales fromattending an event.

From an exhibitor point of view, it’s nothard to see the resulting financial benefitsof setting up a stand but there are others,such as simply having a presence at atrade event.

Not only is there the chance to check andevaluate competition, it’s a rich opportunityfor some quality market research, topromote brand loyalty via technologydisplays, hospitality and networking eventsand to spend time soaking up one’s ownindustry knowledge by taking time toattend associated conferences.

As already mentioned, the value of face toface contact can’t be under estimated; youcan engage with people directly toovercome objections any to purchasingdecisions as well as letting stand visitorssee, touch, smell or try before buying.

Of course, meeting people is a goodreason for attending exhibitions too. Froma visitor point of view they’re an extremelycost-effective way of sourcing industryspecific products, services andinformation.

Certainly one of the most important overallbenefits of an exhibition is that it canrepresent an entire industry - all under oneroof. Think the National Fine Art &Antiques Fair, The Hospitality Show,Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show orthe BBC Good Food Show - to name buta tiny few.

The exhibitions industry remains a powerfulcontributor to the nation’s economy and avital growth tool for businesses from allsectors and of all sizes.

Having a presence at an event for the veryfirst time can be a daunting experience butthere’s plenty of advice out there - a chatwith your local Chamber of Commerce willprove invaluable.

Also helpful is a downloadable booklet from FaceTime, the promotional body for face-to-face marketing. Packed with tips on everythingfrom choosing the right show and preparing to what to do on the day and how best to follow up new business leads, you can find Howto Exhibit at http://www.facetime.org.uk/page.cfm/Action=library/libID=2/listID=3/libEntryID=27

Exhibitions Provide Unique Marketing

Opportunities


69

Somewhere a little different but truly stunning, is what weall want when planning our conference, special event orformal occasion.

Whatever kind of event you're planning, from a business conferenceto a product launch, from a TV show to a formal dinner or weddingbreakfast, The Roundhouse in Derby is the perfect venue.

For businesses, the choice of venue for their conference or productlaunch makes a statement about the company, its product and itspositioning within its industry or market. Companies can spend afortune on their choice without considering all the implications, thestyle of the event, and the precise impression they wish to generate.

Then there is the type of space or spaces they need, not just a mainroom but the availability and comfort of break out areas. Can thevenue supply all the equipment for your event? Yet another crucialconsideration is the availability and standard of catering. TheRoundhouse Derby has the whole business all wrapped up.

The Roundhouse is part of a set of historic buildings from the goldenage of rail. Sympathetic renovation has restored the building to itsformer glory, with exposed Victorian brickwork and reglazed originalfenestration. In the magnificent Roundhouse, the convex ceiling issupported by original wooden beams, iron pillars and a stunningfretwork of iron girders framing a lantern feature that casts light intothe body of the hall.

This is the spacious area in which large events and concerts arehoused, using brilliant lighting effects. As an event venue, TheRoundhouse is ideal, offering spectacular backdrops and the flexibilityto accommodate a variety of functions on a truly large scale.

While the Roundhouse itself accommodates up to 680 delegates orguests, there are alternative areas for smaller functions offering awide range of options. The Carriage Shop Theatre seats 120 andthe adjoining Library over 300 for pre-dinner drinks. The superbmezzanine floor offers a wide range of breakout and receptionrooms of varying sizes.

Catering is done in house by their team of experienced chefs.Whether just drinks and a selection of canapés, coffee and

Proud to support Derby Roundhouse with Creative Lighting, Sound and Video

��

pastries, a buffet, a full three course celebration meal, or awedding breakfast a seasonal selection of freshly prepared foodsand hand-picked wines is available for you to create the perfectchoice for your occasion.

This truly is a venue that offers the opportunity to manage yourevent to suit your requirements, rather than fitting your event intowhat is available.

In this unique environment, facilities which can accommodateanything from 25 people right up to 2,500 guests are set withinspacious modern grounds with a large private car park.

The Roundhouse itself was built in 1839, and restored in a £48million renovation. This stunning Grade II* listed building openedits doors in late 2009 and has already played host to a widerange of prestigious corporate events as well as being awarded‘Event Space of The Year’ at the recent Event Awards 2012.

Tel: 01332 334800Email: [email protected]

Website: www.roundhouse-events.co.uk

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The Honda Ron Haslam Race School, providing ridingexperience to all ages and abilities, marks the welcome returnof an old friend for Honda and Ron Haslam founded the originalschool here in the early 1990s.

As befits any modern venue, Donington has much to offer thebusiness community, as well as the sports fan with a wealth ofconference suites ranging in capacity from two to 800. TheDonington Exhibition and Conference Centre, has more than4,400 sq ms of ground floor space and a capacity of 6,000.

Events range from conferences and gala dinners to tradeshows and product launches with the dedicated on-sitecaterers providing the full gamut of catering requirements, be ita simple sandwich to an executive gala dinner.

Whether you want the thrill of a race meeting, the cut and thrustof a business gathering, to view the museum collection, organisehospitality or buy a great day out in the form of gift vouchers orseason tickets, Donington is the starting grid for your search.

For further information and key contact numbers,visit www.donington-park.co.uk

Donington Park - it’s a name etched intoBritish motor sports heritage.

From the days of the pre-War Silver Arrows GP cars right throughto modern times, millions have flocked to the heart of England toexperience the thrills and excitement of world leading eventsstaged at one of the nation’s most popular racing circuits.

A packed calendar of top-class motoring action is alreadyrevved up and raring to roar into 2013, but Donington is not allabout what’s happening on the race track.

It’s also a sought-after venue for conferences, exhibitions,corporate days, driving experiences and track days and the homeof the world’s largest collection of Grand Prix racing cars in itsvery own on-site museum, The Donington Grand Prix Collection.

With this year seeing the return of the officially supportedHonda Ron Haslam Race School, the circuit is once again backat the top of its game, just two racing seasons after risingPhoenix-like from the ashes of its 2009 enforced closure.

The first motorcycle race was held on the Donington Hall estateon Whit Monday, 1931, and, in1933 the narrow track waswidened, made permanent and became a venue for Grand Prixcar racing until World War II when it was requisitioned by theMinistry of Defence as a military vehicle depot.

The Park was then purchased in 1971 by local man TomWheatcroft, who was passionate about motorsport and thecircuit and, in the next few decades, Donington became one ofthe UK’s favourite venues, not just for motor sport but music -some of the biggest heavy rock bands have headlined there -Sunday markets and more.

In 2007 the Wheatcroft family sold a 150-year lease to a leisurecompany but, sadly, by 2009 it went into administration andDonington had to close.

However, under the chairmanship of Tom’s son Kevin and anall-new management team, it re-opened the following year andhas completely revitalised itself and continues to besynonymous with racing.

In 1987, the staging of the FIM World Championship BritishMotorcycle Grand Prix, brought record numbers through theturnstiles and they continue to flock: lined up for 2013 is a hostof two and four-wheel championships, including British TouringCars, Donington Historic Festival and the World and BritishSuperbike Championships.

FIRE COVER SPECIALISTFire & Rescue

Supporting all events at

Donington Park Racingfor their Fire Safety

Event Fire Cover

Motor Sport Fire & Rescue Cover Factory Strip-Out Fire Cover

Filming / TV Fire Cover Fire Safety Training & Fire Risk Assessments

Fully Quali�ed Fire Fighters & Appliances

www.pb�re.co.ukemail - paul@pb�re.co.uk

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The LG Arena is one of the UK’s biggest and best liveentertainment venues, hosting world class music, sport andcomedy events throughout the year. Originally named theNEC Arena, the venue opened in February 1980 and haswelcomed some of the biggest names in music, includingU2, Queen, Lady Gaga and Take That; in addition to hostinghigh profile events like BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Best-known for hosting the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye West, LadyGaga and Horse of the Year Show, the LG Arena is one of themost high profile arenas in the world. Since its reopening inOctober 2009, following a £29 million refurbishment and deal withLG Electronics, it has welcomed over 1.5 million people throughits doors.

Recently, the arena was voted Best Venue Teamwork award atthe Live Music Business by the publisher of LIVE UK – the onlymagazine dedicated to the companies and individuals working inthis sector of the creative industries – the Live Music BusinessAwards is now in its third year and recognises excellence andtalent among promoters, venue operators, festival organisers andagents, through to artiste managers, brand impact and recordlabel partnerships.

The award came hoton the heels of the LGArena being rankedseventh in the list ofTop 100 arenasworldwide by leadingindustry magazine,Pollstar. The LG Arenais part of the NEC’s

610-acre site and sits in the Heart of England. Its central locationprovides visitors with direct access to major motorways (M6 andM42); in addition to Birmingham International train station andBirmingham International Airport. The flexibility of the LG Arenameans it can accommodate intimate academy events for 5,389people, going up to a total capacity of 15,683.

Since its reopening in 2009, the LG Arena has continued to leadthe way for concert venues, introducing the pre and post-showentertainment area, Forum Live. Giving customers an amazingexperience from when they walk in the door continues to be a keyfocus for the venue and alongside LG Electronics; visitors cannow sample the latest technology as part of the unique CINEMA3D Zone.

In addition to this, the LG Arena continues to secure fantasticevents; from concerts and comedy shows to high profile sportingevents. Given its flexibility, the arena is also able to host privateevents, from car launches and fashion shows to high endconferences, which is an area of business that continues to grow.

Inspire Furniture Hire P.O. Box 14298, Birmingham B46 9AZTel: 01455 234919 Fax: 01675 482917

Web: www.inspirehire.co.uk Email: [email protected]

We support the LG Arena and wish them every success in the future

FURNITURE HIRE LTD

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Another key focus for the coming year is amplify, the venue’shospitality provider. Having grown considerably over the last fewyears, amplify now offers four levels of hospitality, furtherimproving the LG Arena experience.

The team also continues its work on ‘green’ issues, working withmusic industry specialist Julie’s Bicycle. Having recently beingawarded Industry Green (IG) certification by Julie’s Bicycle, thearena focuses on a range of issues across environmentalperformance, energy, waste, water and travel.

The award-winning team of event specialists – from eventmanagers and sales personnel to marketing people andhospitality staff – means clients can feel confident that their eventwill be a show-stopping success.

For information about forthcoming events or to book tickets visit www.lgarena.co.uk, ring

+44(0)121 780 4141 or email [email protected]

EXPERIENCE HOLDS THE FUTURE

We are delighted tohave completed theconstruction works onbehalf of the LG Arena

Our Business Your Success

Commercial Education Environmental Healthcare Housing

G F Tomlinson Birmingham Limited, 329 Tyburn Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B24 8HJT: 0121 327 2660 F: 0121 327 3110 www.gftomlinson.co.uk

Industrial Leisure Restoration Retail

Est. 1892

31622 LG Arena_Feature Template 21/12/2012 10:45 Page 2

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The choice of venue for meetings and conferences makes aclear statement about your company and product. Hogarthslocation, close to the M42 motorway, NEC and Birminghamairport and its wonderful facilities and extensive grounds, makeit a first rate location for business use.

Meetings, conferences, team building and events, businesslunches and dinners, Hogarths can cater for meetings from 2 to 120, or receptions for up to 300 guests. When it comes toplanning the perfect business event the combination of anexperienced and dedicated team and outstanding venuefacilities makes Hogarths the obvious choice.

Please visit their web site www.hogarths.co.uk

or telephone on 01564 779988

Unit 15, Allcroft Road, Hal Green Birmingham B11 3EETel: 0121 777 7010 Web: www.lashford.co.uk

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Award Winning Sausages. Over 155 Awards Since 1980!

Hogarths is a stunning, elegant contemporary hotel set in30 acres of unspoilt woodland, providing stylishaccommodation and superb conference facilities with anaward winning bar and brasserie.

The hotel is delighted to be celebrating the success of one ofits young chefs in a national competition; Liam Davies was afinalist in Visionary Chef of the Year 2012, and althoughnarrowly pipped at the final post, is delighted to have beenrecognised at this level.

At Hogarths, Davies works under Martin Blunos the hotel’sMichelin starred Culinary Director. Under Martin's guidance,every meal is prepared using the finest ingredients available,cooked to perfection and served in a style that is distinctlyHogarths’ own. Martin is very proud of his young protégée andexplains that: “Bringing up young chefs and helping them toachieve their potential is just part of the job for moreexperienced chefs. Liam has a huge amount of potential, andthat’s great news for Hogarths and for dining in the Midlands.”


74

At a time when high street stores have been going through atough time with many small businesses closing, and our highstreets dotted with empty properties and charity shops, I askedwhy Theo had chosen retails shops as his latest venture, andwhy lingerie in particular.

Theo explained: “I love retail. I’m passionate about it because it’swhat I enjoy doing. The retail world is tough at the moment but youhave to be prepared for change. If you work hard and have thedrive and determination, there are many opportunities for success.

Before we opened up last spring, we saw a wide section of the UKmarket that appeared to have been forgotten, Lingerie. We listenedto what people told us and created something very special. I’mglad to say that our customers don’t stop telling us how much theylove Boux Avenue lingerie and our fresh and exciting approach.

How does he feel shops and stores can counter on-linecompetition, and avoid just being used as a showroom?He said: “We treat our off and online (multi-channel) business withequal measure. We are selling lingerie in the way it should be sold -in a wonderfully intimate, luxurious environment, mass market pricingwith great service in our twenty stores and at bouxavenue.com.

Retail is all about the detail and in Boux Avenue we have it inabundance - purchases made in store or on the web arebeautifully wrapped in tissue paper and boxed. We want ourcustomers to feel special purchasing their new pieces. We arealso all about modern technology and modern retailing conceptsboth on and offline. In-store digital POS screens display movingimagery and POS creating interest as they do online. Forexample, in-store women receive complimentary bra fittings whilstonline we have compiled a 'how to' video.

How does he balance the price/quality equation? It is always a balancing act - but the most important thing is that weprovide the customer with a good quality product that they want toown and will come back and purchase again. Boux Avenue hasalways been about excellent value, beautiful fabrics and extra specialtouches that make us stand out from the rest of the market.

As keen supporters of British manufacturing, but very awarethat there are hardly any British lingerie manufacturers left,we asked where his products are made and why? He said: “We make products in different places all over the world,according to where a certain specialty lies – from the Far East toIndia to Europe. Europe allows us to keep production closer tohome and therefore shorter lead times enable us to react quickerto fashion trends and customer demands.”

The chain of Boux Avenue stores is expanding rapidly throughoutthe country and now numbers 17, with a recent opening in MerryHill and another branch in the Bullring, Birmingham is joining theBath and Bristol in the Boux Avenue revolution.

Obviously, Mr Paphitis’ famous business acumen has discovereda gap in the market and is fitting it beautifully.

Theo Paphitis talks to us about his retail philosophy

Theo Paphitis

Lyla Satin Balconette £26 32A-40F, High Waisted Brief £16

Chloe Lace Plunge Bra Red/Mix £22 30A-40F,Lace Suspender Belt £16 8-18, Thong £9 8-20

Marielle Overlaid lace corset £65 8-16, Frilly Milly Briefs £9 6-18

31633 Theo:CD Engineering 12/01/2013 17:11 Page 1

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Food, glorious food, beautifully presented, the key to everysuccessful occasion.

Whatever the event, Brittons the acclaimed Midlands caterer willprovide the perfect finger buffet, barbecue, canapé party, celebrationafternoon tea or formal four course meal, served with style and flair.They accept bookings for any kind of occasion from Christmasparties to wedding receptions.

Although Brittons are happy to provide their services to the client’sown venue throughout the Birmingham area, they can arrangemarquee or venue hire if required, or make their own function venue,The Pavilion, available. Their private function caterer services coverthe smallest detail, everything from venue management tocelebration cakes.

Their business customers rely on them for all types of corporatefunctions; buffets for up to 2000 employees, breakfast meetings,special silver service dinners or lunches for valued clients. Brittonscorporate catering service is very highly regarded and numberssome very prominent companies among their regular contracts.

Brittons catering was a great success when Mary Portas, “Queen ofShops” visited Birmingham for an open day for Clark’s Shoes.

New companies, just moving into the area, are relieved to hand theentire staging of their open day to Brittons. They provide a completeservice from PA facilities, to lighting, a bar, and of course, tailor madefor the event, delicious refreshments.

As Christmas approaches many companies’ focus falls on aChristmas party or special presentation lunch, buffet or dinner.

Brittons have it covered, just givethem a ring, tell your specialist eventco-ordinator your requirements, andfor how many guests; then relax,knowing that all the organisation willbe efficiently taken care of and thatyou will be delighted with the end result.

In a new venture Brittons haveopened their own traditionaltearoom, in New Oscott,Birmingham.

Drop into the stylishly furnishedpremises, for a warm welcome anda traditional English breakfast,coffee, afternoon tea or a light lunch.

They serve a range of freshly prepared sandwiches and baguettes,filled jacket potatoes, crispy prepared salads, homemade soups,toasted teacakes, scones and a scrumptious range of home madecakes and cup cakes.

Indeed, cup cakes are a Brittons speciality, moist delicious spongesskilfully decorated. Cup cakes making a charming gift or a stunningcentre piece alternative to a traditional cake at a wedding.

Everything is freshly made using top quality ingredients from Britishsuppliers whenever possible; even the tea comes from Tregothnan,Cornwall, the only UK tea plantation.

You can order your special celebration cake from the teashop, takehome a box of lovely Christmas cup cakes or order a superb GiftHamper packed with your own choice of gorgeous goodies from theshop. Your Hamper will be gift wrapped and ready for collectionbefore Christmas.

Please contact Brittons to discuss your requirementson 0121 327 9189, for the tearoom ring 0121 355 8899,

or visit their web site www.brittonscaterers.co.uk

Photo : Mary Portas, at the Clarks Shoes opening day.

31505 QPD 1pg:Brittons Caterers QPD 1pg 15/01/2013 12:41 Page 1

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Colonel Mustards Corporate Caterers based inBirmingham, care passionately about the food they cook,insisting upon using only the best fresh, locally-sourcedproduce. All their delicious sandwich fillings are madefresh on-site and are made with the best fresh breads.

Priding themselves on providing tasty and mouth watering foodfor vegetarians and those with special dietary needs or foodallergies, Colonel Mustards can provide for all food intoleranceneeds and any religious requirements. Halal or kosher meat canalso be requested.

Colonel Mustards have all the expertise to provide a reliable,cost effective catering service for all kinds of corporate eventsfrom office lunches, seminars, outdoor events, presentations,training courses and all corporate business events.

Want a bespoke menu to meet your tastes and corporatecatering requirements? No problem. Just let them know andthey will tailor this for you. Providing you with an excellentcorporate catering service with high quality food, together withreliability, punctuality and value for money.

So if you have an event that requires a quality catering service,add a dash of Colonel Mustard!

NEW Colonel Mustards are now proud to offer a bespokeprivate event catering. They will be happy to help you personallywith your requirements to ensure that they will meet your needsfor your special day!

Also French Mustards is their sandwich shop, located at thesame address which offers the largest selection of realhandcrafted salads along with freshly made sandwiches,baguettes, freshly cooked breakfast and many more.

Colonel Mustards Corporate Caterers 1 Fletchers Walk, Paradise Place, Birmingham B3 3HJTelephone: 0121 233 1288 Fax: 0121 233 1288 Email Address: [email protected]: www.colonelmustards.co.uk

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GLOBAL TAPAS TASTER

Now you can pick & mix from tempting taster portions prepared withthe same flair & imagination associated with The Vaults. Graze to yourheart's content on dishes like seared tuna loin with rocket & roastgarlic dressing or grilled goats cheese with aubergine, peppers &pesto. The choice is endless, global, & inherently tasty.

For all enquiries don'thesitate to call 0121 212 9837

or drop us a line [email protected]

The Vaults Newhall Place

Newhall Hill Birmingham B1 3JH

Open for global tapas, drinks & cocktails from Thurs to Saturday 5pm 'til late.

Available for private hire any time; please call for a bespoke quote.

www.vaultsbirmingham.com

If you're one of Birmingham's corporate high rollers or fashion-conscious foodies, you'll already know The Vaults are dishingup a tantalising new global tapas menu, in the relaxed confinesof their exclusive private booths.

This trend toward more informal dining has allowed The Vaults toopen their exceptional spaces for private hire, making it the ultimatedestination for corporate events & personal celebrations. Infused withmetropolitan vibes, it's where art & photography blend with signatureexposed brick-work, bespoke furniture & a dusky colour palette.

Occupying the vaulted underpinnings of an imposing Victorianbuilding, this spacious subterranean escape is steeped in history. Part of the Jewellery Quarter’s rich cultural heritage, it was once awire-house, a brewery & is rumoured to have been a work-house. Itsdistinct personality gives any event a flavour of its own.

Perfectly poised on the edge of the financial district this exclusivevenue is already utilised by the likes of Harvey Nichols, Jones LangLasalle, Britvic and Cadburys.

CORPORATE AFFAIRS

Conferences & meetings, Exhibitions, Press conferences, Productlaunches, Annual events & dinners, Charity events etc

PRIVATE CELEBRATIONS

Weddings, Christenings, Bar mitzvahs, Hen & stag parties, Divorceparties, Graduations etc

LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCES

Fashion shows, Photographic shoots, TV & video shoots, Exhibitions,Swishing parties etc

THE VAULTS PACKAGE

Distinctive & unique surroundings, Bespoke mix & match spaces,First-class food & beverages, Bespoke quotes for delegate day ratesor evening hire, A dedicated contact ensuring the smooth running ofyour event, Minutes from the city centre, Wi-fi.

MIX & MATCH DISTINCTIVE SPACES, OR HAVE IT ALL

Soprano Room - 30 standing or 16 private dining

Bacchus Room - 80 standing or 30 private dining Bacchus Roomswith 3 vaulted booths - 130 standing

The Bar - 80 standing

8 Vaulted Booths – 120 standing

T H E VA U LT SB AR

BIRMINGHAM’S MOST DISTINCTIVE SPACES

GLOBAL TAPAS . PRIVATE HIRE . DEBONAIR LOUNGE VIBES . BESPOKE SPACES

31346 QPD:Carford Group 14/01/2013 11:28 Page 1

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D E S I G N : P R I N T : F I N I S H : M A I L

BIRMINGHAM’S Sunset Club represents a new dawn inthe adult entertainment sector - making itself a qualitybenchmark for lap dancing clubs everywhere.

The city centre venue opened in the summer and, declaresproprietor Angelina O’Donnell, is changing all the preconceivedideas about seedy back street lap dancing clubs.

The city’s only five-star venue of its kind, the Sunset Club isvery much a place for 2013 - and one which concentrates notonly on the quality of service and entertainment, but the qualityof customer over quantity too.

A strict door policy is in operation and only men and women insmart or smart-casual dress are allowed into the neon-litcolourful, interior.

“We cater for corporate clientele and as long as you’re seriousabout having a good time and want to be looked after thenSunset Club is where you need to be,” adds Angelina.

“Because we are rather exclusive you will not find groups ofpeople who have just walked in from off the street. Many of ourcustomers book in advance or are well known to us - here welook for the quality of customer not quantity.

“If luxury and service are expected then the Sunset Club is theplace to be - particularly for corporate customers who areentertaining clients or winding down for the weekend.”

Boasting VIP rooms, booths and areas and waitress tableservice, the Sunset Club features a bar with a wide-rangingexotic selection, two stages with back-to-back pole dancing,private nude dance areas and topless dancing.

“We have a host available at customers’ service every night,whether they are in a private seating area or in the company ofcertain dancers,” says Angelina. “If you call in advance, drinkscan be ready and waiting on your table when you arrive.”

The exclusive surroundings in which customers findthemselves, are a world away from the building Angelina andher team first discovered when seeking suitable premises, andthe transformation has been, so far, she says, one of thebiggest challenges to date.

“We took on a long lease of a club that looked like a joke whenwe walked inside first time,” she remembers.

“The place was practically falling apart, but to come in and seehow it is now is very pleasing.”

It hasn’t taken long for the feedback to arrive, however, andAngelina is not only delighted at how good it is but is positivefor the coming year.

“Everybody loves us,” she says. “We are building a regularcustomer base but clubs like the Sunset take time.

“By 2013 we hope to have established our name a bit moreand hope that all visitors feel how welcoming we are.

“If anyone is curious about visiting such a club as this, pleasecome and see us. We look forward to seeing you.”

The Sunset Club is open Tuesday-Thursdays from 9pm-3.30amand Fridays and Saturdays from 9pm-4.30pm. Entry is £10 onthe door every night, subject to special offers, details of whichare available on the website, www.thesunsetclub.co.uk.

For further information, [email protected] or

telephone 0121 6438553.

Ed

itio

n36

The Midlands Leading Business & Lifestyle Publication

Tel: 08000 807 809Email: [email protected]


Tel: 08000 807 809 Email: [email protected]


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Birmingham Business Post Edition 36