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Cutlery group buyout keeps production in Sheffield
South Yorkshire turnaround managers David Kynman and Paul Coleclough have bought out the Nickel Blanks group of cutlery companies, which has been making a loss and was at risk from a buyer moving production to the Far East. The management has extended concession agreements with trade clients Harrods and the US store Pottery Barn, which will keep production in Sheffield. But the group will be consolidated at premises near Meadowhall, centralising invoicing and stock control for the seven companies, which will involve some rationalisation. The group comprises cutlery maker Osborne; forger Jessop & Smith; knife assembly company Beatson Drake; grinder and polisher Rutland Cutlery; finisher Classic Cutlery; and retailer Sheffield Scene.
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Necta to expand after sale
The Rotherham-based Lowe Group, which trades as the National Electrical Certification and Trading Alliance (Necta), expects to grow 25 per cent next year and take on more staff as a result of its sale to Connaught for £7.5m. Executive chairman and founder Ted Lowe will take a part-time role as a consultant to the business. Sales and marketing manager Tracy Hackett said the deal was part of the succession plans. It did want to sell and we were approached by Connaught, which loved us. It said we had the best results from any due diligence they had done before on a company. The sale will give Necta the opportunity to expand. 
LimitState gets seedcorn backing
Sheffield-based engineering software company LimitState has received £75,000 from South Yorkshire Investment Funds (SYIF) seedcorn fund to help the company develop its geotechnical engineering software LimitState:Geo. The software allows geotechnical engineers to analyse stability problems.
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Calls for a business-friendly Sheffield
Sheffield must become more business friendly to attract investment, the newly elected president of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, Hermann Beck, has said. At the chambers 151st annual general meeting. Beck said: It is a necessity in the current economic climate to be open and friendly to business, both to attract inward investment over competitor cities and provide avenues for joint working.
Beck outlined plans for a walk-in centre as the first point of access for business enterprise to attract investment.
State of the economy is worst fear for Sheffield businesses
Sheffield business owners are most concerned about the economy, red tape and business rates, a survey by the Chamber of Commerce has found. The economy was businesses biggest worry, with 86 per cent of respondents somewhat or strongly agreeing the economy was creating problems. More than three quarters of respondents worried about red tape and government regulations, and 75 per cent said business rates and tax were a problem.
Metal fabrications entrepreneur beats downturn
A Sheffield entrepreneur has turned his voluntary redundancy into a successful business. Ron Hilton started up his Ecclesfield-based metal fabrication business Cavendish Fabrications with help from the BiG Make it Your Business programme and Sheffield Enterprise Agency (SENTA) after working for a large international company for 30 years. He said despite the credit crunch the company is performing ahead of expectations.
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New medical unit started
B Braun Medical has started construction on its £2m aseptic unit at its Thorncliffe Park headquarters. It will house the UKs first cytotoxic robot, which can manipulate highly toxic and time-sensitive drugs for people undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. The 1,080 sq m aseptic unit will allow B Braun Medical to distribute drugs with a limited shelf life to any destination within a two-hour radius of the facility.
More space for Network
Network Space has confirmed it will double the size of its Century Park Networkcentre in the Dearne Valley, Rotherham, with a second phase. Work has started and phase two will provide more than 30,000 sq ft of workspace with 13 units ranging from 750 sq ft to 7,969 sq ft. Demand is buoyant, which is why we're investing in further development when some developers have been tightening the purse strings, said property manager Claire Chisholm.
Saints alive
Yorkshire developer AQH Micklegate has completed its Q4 residential and Aspect 3 student apartment schemes as it nears the end of its five-year, £45m development programme in the St Vincents quarter of Sheffield. Having completed and sold the first phase, comprising 32 private apartments on Solly Street, Aspect 3 will be opened on 20 September, ready for the academic year.
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FD Awards shortlist revealed
The shortlist for this years Yorkshire Finance Director of the Year Awards includes people from a range of companies and sectors. Corporate nominations include Paul Gratton from C Spencer; Sean Christie from Croda International; Peter Bland from Firth Rixson; David Sadler from Grontmij; Phil Screeton from the Lowell Group; Paul Clarke from Maple Leaf Bakery; Kevin Jones from Sheridan Fabrications; Nick Bate from SSP; Mike Holt from VP; and Mark Phillips from Zenith Vehicle Contracts. Along with Stephen Mitchell from Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Peter Render from the Yorkshire Tourist Board, they are in the running for one of five awards that will be handed out by Asda chief executive Andy Bond at a special ceremony at Rudding Park near Harrogate on 24 September. To book tickets call Lucinda Wood on 0113 242 1200.
Culley to retire from Irwin Mitchell
Irwin Mitchells national managing partner Howard Culley is retiring at the end of April 2009, although he will continue to work as a partner until May 2010, at least. Culley will work with the board in positioning the firm in readiness for changes in the UK legal services market. The newly elected managing partner will be announced in December.
New faces at CRA Legal
Recruitment consultancy CRA Legal has appointed Prinz Nagalingam as senior consultant from London headhunting firm Shilton Sharpe Quarry. Prinz previously worked with DLA and Halliwells in Sheffield. The firm has also appointed Vicky Furness as a resourcer.
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