THE

YOUR GUIDE TO BARNSLEY BUSINESS

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

BUSINESS

ISSUE 7

MAY 2010supporting local business

in Barnsley

RUTH BADGERKeynote Speaker

atBarnsley Works 2010

Thursday 13th May

A CRANE Moor man andhis grandson have goneinto business producingdevices which stopwheelie bins being takenby thieves and vandals.

Geoff Marshall, 70, andhis grandson Jake, 18,make locks for domesticbin lids and clamps forwheels. They have alsocome up with a versionfor bins used by firmsand schools.

Geoff, who runs BinGuardian Co Ltd from hishome on Lionel Hill, said:“The police, fire serviceand schools have saidthey are interested.People said it was a goodidea at a meeting Iattended in Darfield.”

Geoff spent most of hiscareer in steel cuttingand engineering. He rana firm called ValleySawing Services whichproduced machinesprings. He retired aboutfive years ago.

Wheeliegoodideas

Lady Gaga:Babyweardesigner,VictoriaThompson,23, has herfirst bigbusinessbreak.

By Ian Thompson

A BABYWEAR designer has had her firstbig business break.

Victoria Thompson, 23, who launcheda children’s clothing label called GreenNippers last year, has signed a deal tohave items made in Istanbul in Turkey.

The clothes are made of naturalmaterials including 100 per centorganic cotton, chemical-free dyes andnickel-free poppers.

Earlier this year, some of Victoria’screations were featured on a catwalk atThe Baby Show at Excel in London’sDocklands.

Television presenter Lucy Piperintroduced the fashion show and her

son Charlie acted as a model.Victoria’s niece Isla tested many of the

items when they were in development.Darton-based Victoria, who attended

Wakefield Girls’ High School, said:“When deciding on a manufacturer forthe products, I originally looked for acompany in the UK. I was unsuccessfulbecause some did not have the correctorganic facilities and many UK clothingfactories have closed down.”

Victoria inspected the factory inTurkey before signing themanufacturing deal which is believed tobe worth thousands of pounds.

During market research, she said shehad been struck by how most organicproducts were plain and bland in

colours such as green and brown.Victoria studied fashion and clothing

at Barnsley College and gained fashiondesign and manufacture, marketingpromotion degrees at the University ofHuddersfield.

The clothes are sold online and inshops in Ilkley and Sheffield. An autumn/winter collection is due tobe launched in September.

Babywear designer takesher first big steps abroad

A COMPANY director had two lucky escapesin two years.

Carl Samerson, boss of business financeconsultants ASC South Yorkshire, wasinvolved in a car crash in August 2006.

He ended up in intensive care after theaccident between Barnsley and Wakefield.

Carl, who has lived in Royston for about 14

years, spent five months off workrecovering. He was working for the buildingsociety Northern Rock at the time. Hissecond fortunate escape was when hedecided to quit.

Carl explained: “I said I was leavingNorthern Rock in August 2007. I wassupposed to work three months of notice.

“They let me finish early. My boss said‘Your timing is great but we cannot tell youwhy’.”

A few weeks later, Northern Rock crashedand the credit crunch started to bite.

Carl runs ASC South Yorkshire with his wifeSandra.

It has helped a number of Barnsley firms

including a restaurant. The owner wanted aloan.

Carl added: “It has been hard work prisingopen the hands of lenders.

“Before the recession, it was possible toget £200,000 from one lender. Nowadays,you have to shop around for parts of thesum until you have the amount you need.”

Lucky escape for former Northern Rock employee

A HOUSING maintenance firm hasvirtually doubled its workforce in thelast six months.

YGI at Bromcliffe Park IndustrialEstate, Burton Road, Monk Bretton,employs about 110.

The company plans to recruit furtherstaff. YGI (Yorkshire Gas Installations)has set on about ten long-termunemployed people.

The firm worked with JobCentre Plusand Barnsley JobCentre.

Turnover is about £8m and thecompany has grown by about 80 percent.

The firm does building andmaintenance work for about tenhousing associations and councils.

It has spent about £120,000 on 12fuel efficient vans and aims to expandthe space it uses for training.

Director Martin Gerrelli said thecompany hoped to double itsturnover in the next 12 months.

Maintaining its futureBig business: Director Martin Gerrelli.

Clamped: Geoff Marshall, 70, and his grandson Jake, 18, make locks fordomestic bin lids and clamps for wheels.

2 – THE BUSINESS Friday, May 7, 2010

Friday, May 7, 2010 THE BUSINESS – 3

BUSINESSMAN NealBinstead has opened anopen air coffee bar atThe Mall Alhambra.

The bar, which iscalled Al Fresco, is atthe shopping centre’sSheffield Road entrance.

Mr Binstead, 46, setup his firm, RialtoCoffee, about 18months ago.

It has an office atBarnsley Business andInnovation Centre,Wilthorpe, and atraining centre at theQuadrant BusinessCentre, Sheffield, wherethe coffee is roasted.

The firm sells coffeeand offers training andexpertise to a numberof bars, cafes,restaurants and hotels.

Mr Binstead said: “Iam passionate about

coffee because there isso much pleasure to behad from the taste.

“A lot of effort is putinto producing coffeebut there seems to be abad attitude towardsthe drink.”

Mr Binstead grew upin Rotherham and did a

four-year apprenticeshipwith the Kenning MotorGroup.

He has also run acompany providingservices to garages forthree years and adistribution companyfor about ten years.

He said there was a

chance the firm might

set on others.

Rialto Coffee is part of

the Genesis Programme

for fledgling firms.

Mr Binstead said he

had received support

and help with premises.

• Static Officers • Mobile Patrol • Key Holding • Alarm Response • Special Events • Canine Unit • Retail Storeguards • CCTV Installation and Monitoring • Youth Nuisance Problems •

• Static Officers • Mobile Patrol • Key Holding • Alarm Response • Special Events • Canine Unit • Retail Storeguards • CCTV Installation and Monitoring • Youth Nuisance Problems •

Ala

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•Canin

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•Canin

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nitEstablished 1985

We now install CCTV systems to rent or buy. Please call for more details.1 Great Cliffe Court, Great Cliffe Road, Dodworth, Barnsley S75 3SP

Telephone 01226 298492

“Celebrating 25 years in business”1985 - 2010

MORALE of the 300 workers atWombwell window and doormaker Safestyle Manufacturingand Logistics UK has beenboosted by top-to-toe training.

Performance levels have risenand accidents have dropped asthe firm has battled to keep itsstrong position in the double-glazing industry in the teeth ofthe worst recession in livingmemory.

The company has taken on fourinformation technology,engineering and manufacturingapprentices.

Managers and foremen haveundergone training in how todeal with disciplinary mattersand grievances and takenInstitute of Leadership andManagement courses.

Production workers have beengiven guidance on procedures,processes, tools and techniquesin an attempt to increase

customer satisfaction.They have also been given the

chance to share ideas.Warehouse workers,

administrative staff, supervisorsand managers have alsoundergone bespoke training.

All staff have been taught howto re-use glass and PVC at thecompany’s recycling centre andthe firm has been awardedgovernment cash to come upwith more training courses.

Operations director Mark Scaifesaid: “The recession cost the UKwindows and doors industry anestimated £268m in lost profitlast year. But we managed tomaintain healthy sales and agood profit margin.

“However, we have never stoodstill in our quest to improve ourstrong position in the double-glazing industry.

“We have tried to safeguardourselves and ensure we are best

placed when the marketimproves.

“The training programme hasproved to be a great success sofar.

“It has boosted morale as staffsee what we want to achieve.

“We have already noticedcommunication across alldepartments has increased andstaff are becoming moreconfident in their ability asperformance levels haveincreased.

“The number of accidents hasalso been far fewer than inprevious years as a result of theincreased health and safetytraining.”

The firm, formerly known asWindowstyle, is the country’sleading ‘super fabricator’ ofdouble-glazed PVCu windowsand doors.

It recycles any windows anddoors it replaces.

Performance levelsare up at Wombwellwindow and door firm

NORTHERN College at Stainb-orough, which helps adults withoutformal qualifications upgrade theirskills, has become the firstestablishment of its kind to win anational service award.

Staff from the college have won thestandard from York-based CustomerFirst UK after training workers withthe fashion chain Next at adistribution centre at South Elmsall.

Workers were given on-the-spottuition in things such as letterwriting, use of English andinformation technology and internetresearch.

The college became involvedfollowing a request by USDAW, theUnion of Shop Distributive and AlliedWorkers.

Next training manager Kay Beachsaid: “Northern College has been

really flexible to the needs of ourbusiness including fitting in with ourshift patterns.

“This is essential when dealing withsuch a large distribution centre.”

Steve Brunt, the college’s businessdevelopment manager, said: “Thetraining is extremely useful especiallyin the current economic climatebecause it enhances the skills of thestaff who are working towards theirNational Certificate in literacy andnumeracy which will greatly increasetheir job and promotion prospects.”

Customer First UK general managerFrea O’ Brien said: “NorthernCollege’s work in taking training toNext staff is an example of excellentcustomer service.”

The college opened in 1978 andsupports more than 4,000 peopleover 19 a year.

Winner: NorthernCollege’s businessdevelopment managerSteve Brunt.

College is recognised forboosting people’s skills

A BUSINESSMAN has devised analternative to metal drip trays usedin construction, engineering andmanufacturing.

Colin Ibbotson, managingdirector of Manvers Engineering atGrimethorpe, calls the productPlant Nappy.

The fabric drip tray allows waterto fall through easily and doesaway with the cost of emptyingtrays after they have been used.

Sales of Plant Nappy in the UK

have gone up by 30 per cent. Some of the companies involved

in preparations for the 2012London Olympics have used it.

Mr Ibbotson wants to try to sellthe product in Europe and hasenlisted a ‘coach’ employed byEnterprising Barnsley. The ‘coach’put him in touch with a Europeanofficer with UK Trading.

Mr Ibbotson said the companywas taking first steps to establishcontacts on the Continent.

Grimethorpe businessmanto sell product to Europe

A hotcup of success

Thinking coffee: NealBinstead of Rialto Coffee.

6 – THE BUSINESS Friday, May 7, 2010

have worked in Barnsleyfor more than sevenyears, joining BrooklandsHotel which was

awarded the White RoseAwards Hotel of the Year Awardin 2005.

Last October, we became partof the InterContinental HotelsGroup under a franchiseagreement with Holiday Inn.

As with most sectors,hospitality has seen somesignificant challenges over thelast two years as a result of theglobal economic crisis, andhotels as a major part of thesector are certainly no strangerto that.

The global downturn, coupledwith the opening ofapproximately 350 more hotelbedrooms in the Barnsley areaover the same period, hascertainly provided its fair shareof difficulties.

Hotels nationwide, not just inBarnsley, have had to becomemore flexible in the way theyrespond to the ever changingmarket forces. One example ofthis at Holiday Inn Barnsley isthat we have made ourmeeting and conferencefacilities much more accessible.

It would also be fair to saythat despite the economic

climate, it is not all doom andgloom either.

A little over two years ago, anumber of hoteliers in the towngot together withrepresentatives of the counciland the Chamber of Commerceand developed the beginningsof a tourism forum which hasgrown to a wider membershipof hotels and attractions fromthe borough.

The main focus of the groupwas to ensure that both publicand private sector partnerswere working as closely aspossible together within theborough for the promotion anddevelopment of tourism.

This is something that in somecircles was seen to be a bit of amisnomer for Barnsley.

Yes, Barnsley has a lot to offer

in the tourism sector! We have a huge wealth of

cultural assets as well as ourprime geographical location forthe Pennines, the Peak District,the Trans-Pennine Trail, and thewetlands of the Dearne.

We were fortunate thataround the same time therewas a renewed focus within thelocal authority around thewhole culture and tourism offer,and this was strength-ened bythe appointment of a executivedirector of development, DrAnn Gosse, who had beenheavily involved with some ofthe great work undertaken inSheffield in recent years.

So although the climate is stillchallenging, there is definitelylight within the hospitalitysector and exciting timesahead. We have great andvaried tourism facilities inBarnsley of which we arejustifiably proud, the challengeis to make the wider worldaware of it.

■ Francis Hindle is generalmanager of Holiday Inn Barnsleyat Dodworth, a director ofBarnsley and RotherhamChamber of Commerce andchairman of Barnsley TourismForum.

Executive ClubWednesday 19 May at Robin

Hood Airport (from 5pm)

The Executive Club is an exclusivenetwork of Patrons, Platinum and

Gold members of the Chamber, sowill be a different audience than at

a normal Chamber event.

The event is free to Patrons,Platinum and Gold members

Golf DayThursday 10 June at Hickleton

Golf Club (10.30am start)

The summer golf day is always apopular date for members as teams of

four battle it out in a Four BallStableford Competition. Individual

places may also be booked if you wishto make up a team.

Price: £55 + VAT per person or £220 +VAT for a team of four

‘War Of The Roses’ CricketEvent

FREE eventWednesday 2 June at Shaw Lane

Sports Ground, Barnsley(from 2pm)

The Yorkshire v Lancashire Over-50scricket match will enable businesspeopleto drop in for a flying visit, or a longerstay if they prefer, and network while

taking in the on-field action from 2 pm.

All New Dearne ValleyBusiness Forum

FREE eventTuesday 18 May at Tankersley

Manor Hotel (5pm-7pm)

An opportunity to discuss issues thatmay be useful to the profitability ofyour business. A cross fertilisationof ideas in a relaxed atmosphere

with colleagues from the local area.

Chamber DigestA Guide to Forthcoming Chamber Events

For further details, contact your local Chamberoffice at the address below

Business Innovation CentreWilthorpe Barnsley S75 1JL

e-mail: info@brchamber.co.ukwww.brchamber.co.uk

Chamber phone number:0844 414 5100

‘Things aregetting morehospitable for tourism’

I

❞

❝There is definitely lightwithin the hospitalitysector and exciting

times ahead

With a wealth of cultural andgeographical asssets, Barnsley’s

tourist industry should look forward to the future,

says Francis Hindle

On tour: Francis Hindley is the chairmanof Barnsley Tourism Forum.

Friday, May 7, 2010 THE BUSINESS – 7

TRADE COUNTER UNITSTO LET

Claycliffe Business Park,

Cannon Way, Barugh Green

Unit 3 6520 sq. ft. Trade Counter UnitUnit 6 6400 sq. ft. Trade Counter UnitUnit 29 2500 sq. ft. Trade Counter UnitUnit 38 3000 sq. ft. Trade Counter Unit

FOR SALEUnit 54, 10,000 sq. ft Retail Unit

Harborough Hill Road, Barnsley790 sq. ft. Industrial Unit with office

Fall Bank Estate, Dodworth5,428 sq. ft. Industrial Unit with offices

FOR SALE13,000 sq. ft. Industrial Unit with offices

For further details tel. 01226 288388www.bookercommercial.co.uk

For professional advice on property sales, acquisitions, survey and valuations, landlord and tenant matters, rating and property management.Further properties are available. Please telephone for details.

TTeelleepphhoonnee ((0011222266)) 229988445566

14 Regent Street, BarnsleyS70 2HG

FOR SALEPart Completed

DEVELOPMENT OF 4 TOWNHOUSES, 3 DUPLEX

APARTS. AND 6 APARTS.SITUATED CLOSE TO

THE TOWN CENTRE ANDSCHOOLS

BUSINESSFOR SALE

Due to retirement

L&M SUPPLIES158 SHEFFIELD ROAD

BARNSLEYPrice: Offers in the region of

£32,000

For leasehold interest, goodwill,fixtures and fittings.

TO LETRETAIL UNIT IN BUSY ARCADE

GF Sales: 315 sq ft (29.2 sq m)

1st Floor Storage: 181 sq ft (16.82sq m)

9 THE ARCADE, BARNSLEYRent: £8,000 pa

FOR SALELOCK UP WORKSHOP / OFFICEUNITS IN SECURE COURTYARD

Suitable for Investment / OwnerOccupation

SMITH STREETWOMBWELLBARNSLEY

Price : Offers in Excess of £200,000

FOR SALEFREEHOLD INVESTMENT

LET TO POUNDSTRETCHERLIMITED

Current income £23,500

(Rent Review outstanding)

89 HIGH STREETWOMBWELL, BARNSLEY

Price: £350,000

FOR SALEMIXED RETAIL/RESIDENTIAL

INVESTMENT

Producing £20,400 PA

With potential for further growth following refurbishment of vacant

parts

148 WEST STREET, HOYLAND,BARNSLEY S74 9DU

Offers in the region of £250,000

TO LET(By assignment)

MODERN 1ST FLOOR TOWNCENTRE OFFICES

802 sq ft / 74.5 sq mwith car parking

UNIT 12 CHURCHFIELDCOURT

BARNSLEY 270 2JTRent: £10,500 PA

FOR SALE(Due to retirement)

ESTABLISHED GENERALSTORE WITH OFF-LICENCE.

EXCELLENT POSITION CLOSETO SHEFFIELD ROAD AND

LOCAL SCHOOLS

76 COMMERCIAL STREET,BARNSLEY S70 4PA

Price: £80,000 (+ stock at valuation) for the goodwill fixtures andfittings and freehold property

TO LETWORKSHOP/WAREHOUSE

TO LETRETAIL SHOP

(FORMER SANDWICH SHOP)

GF - 279 sq ftBasement - 240 sq ft

41 THE ARCADE,BARNSLEY Rent : £8,000

94–100 DONCASTER RDOAKWELL COURT,

BARNSLEYPrice and Further Details

– Contact the Agents

1259 sq ft

UNIT 5, WATH WESTINDUSTRIAL ESTATE,

DERWENT WAY,WATH UPON DEARNE

Rent: £5,000 pa

FOR SALE /TO LET

GF Sales/storage 1017 sq ft 1st Floor Offices/staff 690 sq ft

2nd Floor Storage 455 sq ftRetail Premises with

A2 Consent24 MARKET HILL

BARNSLEY S70 2QERental: £28,500 pa

exclusive

TO LETINDUSTRIAL UNITS 3870 - 13269 sq ft

DEARNE & DOVE WORKSWORSBROUGH DALE, BARNSLEY

For further information contact: Andrew Corbett/Bec Nutton

REGENT STREET/ELDONSTREET, BARNSLEY

An exciting development ofrefurbished offices located inthe heart of Barnsley Town

Centre and adjacent to the newtransport interchange.

Offices availablefrom 500 sq ft – 16,330 sq ft

LAST TWOREMAINING

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

CHRIS Rowlands has featured in thedevelopment of so many Barnsleybusiness parks and offices that it is

easy to forget he also works elsewhere.He points out that he has clients in the

rest of Yorkshire, Manchester and fromDover to Northumberland. “I have quite aspread of people I do work for,” he says.

The list of schemes he has had a role inover the last decade or so is like an A-Z ofcommercial property in Barnsley.

He has helped find occupiers for the likesof Capitol Park, Dodworth, Park Springs,Grimethorpe, Shortwood Business Park,between Hoyland and Birdwell,Wharncliffe Business Park, Athersley andZenith Park’s Langtree Network Centre atBarugh Green.

But for someone who grew up inWilthorpe, his latest challenge is a little bitspecial.

He is trying to fill 22,000-sq ft of retailspace at The Civic, a building he describesas ‘iconic’.

“The Civic is something new forBarnsley. We hope to replicate shoppingschemes at Red Brick Mill, Batley or PeaceHall, Halifax.

“There are three floors of open plan

space which can be partitioned. Thenumber of shops which end up in therewill depend on the size of the businesseswhich move in.

“I try to regard all the schemes I havebeen involved with as exciting. It is alwaysgood to work on some of the biggerschemes.”

He was educated at Barnsley HolgateGrammar School and decided not to goto university after taking his A levels.

Instead, he joined Lancasters where hestayed for about 18 years. He worked hisway up to being a director.

He left in 1993 and set up an office inLeeds for a company called Whittle Jones.It was during this phase of his career thathe made many enduring contacts in thecommercial property sector.

He set up his one-man business, ChrisRowlands and Co., in 1998 at what couldnot have been a better time.

“Twelve years ago, we were at the startof the economic upturn. People wereconfident and I had more clients andschemes to deal with. I would say I hadten good years.

“It took a bit of luck, a bit of goodmanagement but it seemed to work out.”

Mr Rowlands, 53, runs the business fromhis 300-year-old cottage in Cawthorne. Atypical working day can start at 8.30amand end late.

“A lot of business hinges on havinggood relations with clients, many ofwhom I have dealt with over a number ofyears.

“Although I run the business from home,my car is an extension of my office. Youhave got to meet clients.”

When he talks about the recession, hesays he can see light at the end of thetunnel.

“Things are not great. The sales end ofthe commercial property market is notvery good. The letting of smaller officesand shops is doing better.

“There was more activity in the marketin the first two or three months of 2010than in the final six months of 2009.

“You have to say that things cannot getany worse. The prospect of a generalelection depressed things a little so therewas uncertainty.

“With the election out of the way,people will have to move. They will haveto stop sitting on their hands.”

Chris Rowlands has played a role in many big commercial property schemes. He tellsIan Thompson why he is relishing his latest project.

Helping to make The Civic aniconic building for Barnsley

Exciting times: Chris Rowlands.

8 – THE BUSINESS Friday, May 7, 2010