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Sheffield entrepreneur says Euro is the way out
Sheffield wire joiner manufacturer Gripple’s chief executive Hugh Facey has appealed to the government to join the Euro to get out of the economic crisis. Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Sheffield Hallam MP Nick Clegg visited Gripple’s factory and Facey said: “Innovation is, and always has been the primary driver at Gripple, and that is why we will drive through the economic storm. There is, however, one measure the government can take to help everyone and that is for Britain to join the Euro at the earliest opportunity. The pound is no longer a viable independent currency and the cost will be seen in the shops and when Britons holiday abroad this year.”
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Clyde hit by steel slump
Clyde Process Solutions, the pneumatic conveying business in Doncaster, has announced plans to cut jobs after being hit badly by a slump in the steel sector. The AIM-listed business said 5 per cent of staff would lose their jobs – thought to affect 26 people. The decision follows a warning that revenue and post tax earnings for the year to 28 February 2009 will be in line with expectations, but operating profit will be £2m less than forecast. Clyde blamed the situation on a drop in demand for steel, which has already resulted in two big contracts from European steel plants being postponed. 
Website to encourage local trade
Sheffield entrepreneur Richard Mills, founder of the Walnut Club restaurant in Hathersage and the Walnut Club restaurant and Champagne bar on Ecclesall Road, has set up a website to encourage local trading between businesses in Sheffield. The website, built by Sheffield web development studio S8Design.co.uk, will enable members to barter goods and services when it is launched in February.
Sheffield starts up 63 businesses since October
Sheffield is turning to entrepreneurialism in the face of the downturn with 63 start-ups being established between October and December 2008. Sheffield Enterprise Agency (SENTA) said start-up numbers in Sheffield remained strong in the final period of 2008 and its advisers’ appointment books were also filling up quickly. SENTA is focused on generating business activity in deprived areas through the BiG – Make It Your Business programme and has helped almost 300 businesses start since the initiative was launched in 2008. Director Mandip Dosanjh said a recession makes accessing finance more difficult but also creates opportunities: “We have many budding entrepreneurs coming to us who are managing to turn voluntary redundancies into successful businesses in just a few months.”
United going for 8.5p
Shares in Sheffield United are being offered at 8.5 pence per share following the club’s delisting from AIM. The company has appointed JP Jenkins to assist with the trading.
The club’s directors are providing the liquidity for at least 12 months after delisting by agreeing to provide a buyer of last resort. They are offering to buy up to 500,000 shares per shareholder at the quarterly defined price of 8.5 pence, which was the mid-market price quoted on AIM at the close of business before the cancellation of the company’s listing was announced. United concluded last month that it was no longer in the best interests of the company or its shareholders to continue trading on AIM. Shareholders approved the move at the EGM on 27 December.
Let’s stop the downturn, says EEF
Yorkshire’s manufacturers have called on the government to introduce a plan to stop the accelerating downturn. Industry organisation EEF made the call on the back of its Annual Manufacturing Report and the need to protect key sectors and their supply chains. Points include a loan guarantee scheme; minimising the impact when credit insurance is withdrawn or reduced; tax relief; and restricting new regulation and raising the annual investment allowance. The report indicates that despite the significant improvement in the sector’s productivity performance in recent years, manufacturing will contract by 5 per cent in 2009 and is unlikely to grow again until the second half of 2010.
Stake your claim, says Hart Shaw
The Yorkshire rich are being urged to make claims for tax credits, even though they may not be eligible for payments. Sheffield accountancy firm Hart Shaw is advising well-paid employees to make claims to protect themselves if their income suddenly falls because of redundancy or loss of business in the economic climate. Graeme Davies, tax planning specialist at Hart Shaw, said: “Essentially the aim of a protective claim is to keep open your right to claim tax credits for the whole tax year in circumstances where there is uncertainty over the level of your income. I would highly recommend that those who earn a high wage or trade at a high profit apply.”
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RCAT gets go-ahead
Bond Bryan Architects has received planning permission for its design of Rotherham College of Art and Technology (RCAT). The £70m, 21,000 sq m town centre development will be completed in two phases and is scheduled to start in June 2009, with the second phase beginning in 2011. It will contain a hybrid ventilation system with heat recovery, rainwater recovery systems, solar photovoltaic panels and solar thermal panels, leading-edge waste disposal systems and materials from sustainable sources. The project will be completed in 2013.
The digital age draws nearer
Part of the £120m Sheffield Digital Campus project, which is touted as being the next industry cluster in the city, has been completed. Construction on Building 2.0 The Concourse, a 50,000 sq ft grade A development on the campus, is now finished and the building is being fitted out. Deborah Doyle, director developer of GMI Property Company, said: “Sheffield has an incredibly exciting group of companies working in the rapidly growing digital sector and these businesses need a home that will provide them with real competitive advantages.”
Agents appointed at Firstpoint
Standard Life Investments has appointed Colliers CRE and GVA Grimley as joint agents for Firstpoint Doncaster. Firstpoint provides logistics and industrial distribution space set within a 120-acre site on the A6128, White Rose Way, just off junction three of the M18. The agents will be marketing more than 938,180 sq ft of high-bay warehouse accommodation, split between buildings of 415,000 sq ft, 276,880 sq ft and 246,300 sq ft. All are ready to occupy.
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Chief executive says ‘job done’
Angela Galvin, chief executive of Sheffield Theatres, is standing down at the end of March 2009 to pursue other opportunities. Galvin joined Sheffield Theatres 12 years ago as marketing director and became chief executive in 2004, during which time she has set the iconic venue’s refurbishment into motion. She said: “Since 2004 my focus has been on ensuring the future of the Crucible Theatre, not only in terms of bricks and mortar but also its people, the finances and the artistic programme. With a talented team on board I feel we have reached a position where I can say ‘job done’ and move on.”
Sheffield Theatres will appoint an interim chief executive while it seeks an artistic director to take the helm.
Smith returns to Sheffield law firm
Sheffield commercial law firm Ironmonger Curtis has appointed Simon Smith as a commercial litigation partner. Smith practised law for the majority of his career in Sheffield and spent time in Leeds before joining Ironmonger Curtis. Smith said: “As a niche commercial practice the client base fits in well with the work I specialise in: general commercial and property disputes, and debt recovery for small and medium-sized businesses.”
Power to Martek as China market heats up
Rotherham-based environmental and safety technology company Martek Marine has appointed Sean Power as sales director. The move comes as the company has clocked a 200 per cent increase in the volume of orders from Chinese shipyards over the past 12 months. Power said: “Martek Marine has secured a substantial proportion of the global market for environmental and safety equipment in the shipping industry by being the first to market with innovative products.” Big contract wins in Korea have helped Martek gain a strong foothold in the Far Eastern shipping industry, with four major shipyards in the city of Busan recently ordering 39 MariNOx units – Martek’s emissions monitoring system.
DLA scoops four
DLA Piper in Sheffield has made a string of appointments including two from top London firms. Susannah Dingley has rejoined the restructuring team after a stint at Halliwells; Mark Greenhalgh has joined the property litigation team after eight years in London; Louise Rea has joined the employment, pensions and benefits team as solicitor, where she will specialise in employment matters; and Peter Metcalf has been appointed to the construction team after working with Clifford Chance in London. Managing partner Stephen Sly said: “It is particularly pleasing that we are continuing to attract high- calibre lawyers from London.”
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