The cabinet at Rotherham Council is due to make a decision on the disposal of the Pithouse West site next week, the former colliery land where the council has harboured a long running desire to create a landmark leisure / tourism development. In August 2011 the council confirmed leisure organisation China Vision Ltd and regeneration specialist MCD Developments as the preferred developers for the site, located to the north of Rother Valley Country Park. Also involved in the bid is Dr. Lee Kai Hung of Hong Kong's South West Eco Development Limited and who has projects in the UK and China and is a prominent member of the Chinese community in England's Northwest. The site of the proposed £350m YES! Project was put up for sale by the Council after original developers, Oak Holdings made a material lack of progress since entering a preferred developer agreement in 2003. In November 2012, council officers sought an urgent agreement from councillors to complete the sale agreements and head leases for 180 and 153 acres of former opencast land, which is classed as greenbelt. Visions of China will be a £118m, 120 acre cultural theme park set in an authentically built and landscaped Chinese environment combining a range of experiences and activities for visitors. It is set to include oriental lakes and gardens, China Town retail street, a Shaolin temple and cultural centre, a theatre, children's fantasy land, restaurants, an oriental spa, pavilions, a pagoda and a hotel. It aims to attract 1.5m visitors to Rotherham each year and the developers believe that it will create 200 jobs during its two year construction and more than 380 permanent jobs once in operation. The developers, led by Peter Moore OBE, who introduced the Centre Parcs concept to the UK, and Stephen Byrne, chief executive of Birmingham-based MCD Developments, said at the time that they had secured funding for the ambitious project but the funding agreement was conditional on securing the land. The lease was set to be signed with MCD VOC LLP, a limited liability partnership with no trading history or assets and members based in the Isle of Man. It is one of a number of companies set up by the partners involved in the Visions of China project. No details of the funding or any planning applications have been made public. Minutes show that members of Rotherham Council's planning board were set to receive a presentation about a forthcoming application for planning permission regarding Visions of China in March 2013. The only public reference of the project since then was by the developers, MCD, during its exhibition at the global real estate event, MIPIM in 2013 - "Visions Of China, Rotherham – major new international visitor destination, comprising a 120 acre park, with 60 acres of residential. Incorporating 1.4 million sq ft of unique cultural theme park set in a totally authentic built and landscaped environment. It will be one of the most original and intriguing day visitor destinations to have been created in Britain for decades." The latest report is exempt and will be heard in private as it contains commercially sensitive information. The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, Cllr. Glyn Whelbourn has also agreed that the item is urgent and cannot reasonably be deferred. This means that the decision is not subject to the call-in procedure and cannot be called in for further scrutiny. Images: via RiDO

The ambitious regeneration of Rotherham's High Street needs more council funding to enable the work being carried out on historic buildings to be completed. Local businessman, Chris Hamby is creating a complex of mixed-used retail outlets focusing on listed buildings. The plan is backed by a £750,000 long term capital finance loan from Rotherham Council that has secured £677,000 of Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) for additional, much needed works. In December, an additional £140,000 was approved by the council, in the form of a long term capital finance loan to enable the refurbishment works to be completed at The Three Cranes building and former Georgian Town House at 29-29a High Street. Now the council's cabinet is being asked to approve further funding, in the form of an additional £300,000 loan and £190,000 grant, to enable the works to be finished on schedule by the end of December 2014. The work is part of the £3m Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) scheme that sees property owners and long term lease holders secure grants enabling them to restore, renovate and repair their historic buildings which are all within a conservation area. The aim is to encourage new shops, apartments and businesses to locate in the town centre. Significant delays on the redevelopment of the three listed buildings include delays in securing the HLF funding, the severe winters causing additional damage to the fabric of the building, additional unforeseen structural issues and subsequent additional costs associated with specialist archaeological and architects fees. In addition, unforeseen works to the basement of 29 High Street and the party walls to 25/27 and 29 High Street have led to further costs that were not anticipated at the start of the project. The report to cabinet states: "Without additional support Mr. Hamby will be unable to achieve a "fit out" of these buildings which in turn will hamper his ability to let these units and this in turn will exacerbate his ability to repay his existing loan commitments to the Council. It is therefore deemed prudent for the Council to continue its commitment to this important High Street regeneration project and ensure its ongoing success." As part of the scheme, Hamby opened an outlet for ladies and gents footwear, handbags and leather goods at 19 High Street with Sophisticakes upmarket tea room at No. 17. At No. 21, Things That Boys Like has brought men's clothing, gadgets and gifts to Rotherham's High Street. The Three Cranes has had interest from a real ale pub for the property and at the Georgian townhouse, a new Victorian shop frontage and Doric door will be installed with the upper floors converted into flats. The George Wright building will house apartments when renovations are complete. The council is able to borrow money at reasonable rate from the Public Works Loan Board and then lend the money at "commercial rates" over a period of 22.5 years. To help mitigate that risk, the council has already entered into a legal charge over existing property assets of Mr Hamby and the properties acquired on the High Street for re-development until such time as the loan is fully repaid. The value of the assets held on legal charge will be more than the total loan debt outstanding. Hamby website Images: RMBC

Rotherham insolvency expert Paul Moorhead says positive signs of recovery indicate that the economy is strengthening for both companies and individuals. The latest official statistics from the Government's Insolvency Service show that the number of businesses being declared insolvent is down by 15.1 per cent in comparison with the same period last year, while quarterly statistics also show a decrease of 6.9 per cent. Personal bankruptcy cases have also seen a 15.9 per cent decrease on the same period last year, though the number of people seeking Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) rose by 20.3 per cent in the last quarter. Paul, the founder of insolvency practice Moorhead Savage and the 2013 Corporate Insolvency Practitioner of the Year, said: "The overall message is that the situation for companies is getting better and that there is finally some room for optimism in the business community. "While debt is still a serious problem for many people, many individuals are more confident about the future, as they are entering into long term repayment plans with their creditors rather than simply declaring themselves bankrupt. "It was not so long ago that people were assuming that the only way to resolve a debt problem was to go down the bankruptcy route but by seeking proper advice and not trying to avoid the issue there is usually a way forward that will satisfy all the interested parties. "Even now the economy is showing signs of positive growth, the advice remains the same as ever – if you're concerned about debt issues, seek advice and support as soon as possible." Moorhead Savage website Images: Moorhead Savage

Using the very latest, biggest and best machines to research manufacturing techniques in sectors such as aerospace and nuclear has worked well for the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, and now the Rotherham-based centre is replicating the approach in the medical sector. Part of the University of Sheffield AMRC, the Medical AMRC combines cutting-edge manufacturing technologies with world-class research and development and access to clinical expertise. Engineers, software specialists, product designers and material scientists based at facilities on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) work closely with manufacturers to push the limits of current technologies and create new possibilities. The AMRC has recently installed a new, PROFIMAT MC607, 5-axis CNC grinding machine, made by German company Blohm Jung, at the AMRC Design Prototyping and Testing Centre. It is one of the most flexible machines of its type and will enable researchers to increase understanding of how materials behave during grinding. It is a world away from the traditional machines used by the thousands of grinders during Sheffield's cutlery heyday. Future plans include using the grinder to create a high quality finish on artificial knee joints, made from cobalt-chrome powder, using 3D printing technology. At present, patients needing replacement knees have to make do with the best possible match from a range of standard sizes. In future, the joint being replaced could be scanned so that a 3D replica can be made that would be a perfect match. Dr Andy Bell, project manager at the AMRC Design & Prototyping Group, said: "The big advantage is the joint is bespoke, so you are replacing like for like and 3D printing saves on material, so there is the potential to reduce weight. "However, the surface isn't of a high enough quality for components used in a replacement joint, so it has to be very, very highly finished, which is where the grinder comes in." The university secured funding last year from the Higher Education Funding Council For England's (HEFCE's) £50m Catalyst Fund to develop its model of partnership between industry and academia into new areas – healthcare technologies and the creative and digital sectors. This is intended to stimulate growth in the Sheffield City Region, which has one of the UK's highest concentrations of medical device companies. Other state-of-the-art equipment at the centre enables high-precision machining processes such as micro-milling and medical-grade grinding, surface finishing, and additive manufacturing in plastics. Facilities for additive manufacturing in metals are being installed, as is a clean room and advanced analytical tools including CT scanning and high-resolution metrology. Projects include investigating new materials for orthopaedic devices and developing innovative mobility aids for disabled people. AMRC website Images: AMRC

The South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) is looking to identify the level of rail service required to support Rotherham's economic and transport needs. The SYPTE works in partnership with the local councils and transport service operators to manage public transport infrastructure, run the local bus, train and tram services and provide walking and cycling routes. The executive is appointing experts to carry out a Rotherham Rail Connectivity Study to inform stakeholders of the level of rail service required to support Rotherham's economic and transport needs, setting out how these align with the overall public transport network. If the study determines that additional rail services are required, it should set out how to deliver them in the most cost effective way. The study will look at if the existing infrastructure can support the services needed or what changes are required if the infrastructure isn't up to scratch. For a town of its size and economic importance Rotherham has only three services per hour, operating at irregular intervals and with comparatively slow journey times. The town centre is benefitting from a £8.5m redevelopment of the station but there are perceived to be a number of physical constraints restricting an increase in service level to Rotherham, including numerous flat junctions, single track sections such as the Holmes Chord and lack of capacity at the main destinations (i.e. Sheffield, Leeds and Doncaster). SYPTE joined forces with other transport organisation across the North of England to create Rail North. It commissioned a strategy to set the agenda for the specification and management of future passenger rail franchising in the North should responsibility be devolved from central Government for the Northern and Transpennine rail franchises. The Government is however looking to establish a partnership rather than full devolution. The strategy identifies Rotherham as key urban centre which should have direct links to the main urban centres in the North - Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Liverpool - and also to London and Manchester Airport. Earlier this year, Network Rail finalised its investment plan for the period to 2019 which includes the Tram Train trial to Sheffield but doesn't address capacity and performance issues on the Sheffield – Rotherham – Leeds line. Consultation is underway regarding the next TransPennine Express (TPE) and Northern rail franchises that are being re-let in 2016. SYPTE website Images: Bailey Total Building Envelope

A successful partnership between Parkgate Shopping, Rotherham Ready and Wingfield Academy is once again helping local young people to take their first steps onto the career ladder. A group of Year 11 school leavers at the Academy on Wingfield Road near Kimberworth Park took their interest in retail one step further by taking part during the summer term in an application and interview process. Organised through Parkgate Shopping and Rotherham Ready, the successful applicants were able to gain an enterprise retail placement on the shopping park over the summer, working with Boots, Marks and Spencer and Mothercare. Rotherham Ready is an award-winning enterprise education programme that is being replicated across the UK. It supports schools across Rotherham to develop a 4-19 enterprise entitlement meaning that young people in Rotherham have their education enhanced by developing a range of skills and capabilities that enable them to be enterprising and entrepreneurial in order to reach their goals for the future. Kate Penney, enterprise projects co-ordinator at Rotherham Ready, said: "All the students who applied had thought hard about their suitability and qualifications for this valuable opportunity, and we were all impressed by the way this came out in the interviews. The successful candidates can now go on and gain valuable experience to help them in their future careers." Billy Smith, operations manager at Parkgate Shopping (pictured, second left), added: "We have worked alongside Wingfield and Rotherham Ready on several occasions now, and what pleases me is the outcomes of our collaboration. "We all understand the value of good practical on the job experience, and when it is linked into the school's own careers programme and supported by retailers who are keen to find young local talent, it becomes a real win-win project." Parkgate Shopping website Rotherham Ready website Images: Rotherham Ready

Less money will be available for economic development projects in Rotherham after local authorities challenging the government's reallocation of 50% of South Yorkshire's European funding had their appeal dismissed. The government last year announced that the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (which includes South Yorkshire along with north Nottingham and north Derbyshire districts) can expect €203m for 2014 to 2020 as part of €6.2bn (£5.3bn) of EU Structural and Investment Funds to boost growth under a simplified "Growth Programme." In the previous settlement, South Yorkshire received €410m. From 2014-2020 this will be cut to €180m. The legal challenge focused on the appropriate treatment of the consequences of the former status of South Yorkshire as a "phasing in" region in the 2007-2013 funding period and that this allegedly gave rise to an unfair allocation for South Yorkshire, which is now classified as a "transition region" for 2014-2020. The High Court rejected these substantive grounds of challenge and said that the methodology adopted by the Secretary of State was lawful and rational. However, the Court quashed Ministers decisions after ruling they were unlawful as they had been taken in breach of the Public Sector Equality Duty under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. The Government only carried out an Equality Impact Assessment after the decision was taken to protect Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales from a cut of more than a five per cent. The decision meant that the Government had to reconsider its decision, taking into account proper equalities information. Led by Rotherham Council, the authorities in South Yorkshire and Merseyside appealed against the High Court rejection. That appeal was dismissed last month. Concluding that the Secretary of State, Vince Cable made the funding decisions lawfully and rationally, Lord Justice Maurice Kay and Lord Justice Floyd said in a report: "In our view, the first and second decisions were plainly concerned with matters of high level policy and economic, social and political judgment. They involved the making of choices as to funding allocations between the regions. "Even if the only objective was the reduction of the disparities between levels of economic development of regions, that would involve the making of complex assessments of their respective economic circumstances. These are not hard-edged decisions which admit of clear and straightforward answers. But as we have seen, the objectives of allocating the funds so as to achieve "smart, sustainable and inclusive growth" were not limited to narrow issues of economics. They specifically included detailed guidelines on employment policies, a target of improving conditions for research and development and a target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy efficiency. These objectives could be achieved in many different ways. In our view, this is classic territory for affording the decision-maker a wide margin of discretion. "We consider that the court should only interfere if satisfied that the decisions were manifestly inappropriate or manifestly wrong." Despite the fact that South Yorkshire and Merseyside has seen its funding cut by 60%, the judges ruled that the authorities' arguments "do not, whether considered individually or in combination, come anywhere near demonstrating that the first and second decisions were irrational or manifestly inappropriate or manifestly wrong." European programmes such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) have supported projects in Rotherham such as The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), the redevelopment of Rotherham Railway Station, RiDO's business centres (pictured), the award-winning enterprise education programme Rotherham Ready, and business support programmes for high growth companies and enterprising exporters. Images: RiDO

The government has opened the bidding process for companies seeking licences to explore for shale gas, the controversial energy source, underneath Rotherham. Business and Energy Minister Matthew Hancock published details of how companies can apply for licences which will enable them to start initial exploration in large areas of the UK. The British Geological Survey published results last year of the first independent study of the potential volume of shale gas in the Bowland Basin and beyond, which covers 11 counties in the North of England including South Yorkshire. The survey identified that the whole borough of Rotherham could be sitting on reserves of shale gas and scientists have estimated on a central scenario that there is likely to be some 40 trillion cubic metres (1,300 trillion cubic feet) of shale gas in the ground in the Bowland Basin. While this does not mean that this amount could be extracted for use, this will provide investors, operators and regulators with an indication of where to target future exploratory drilling, so that they can determine how much of the gas would be able to be commercially recovered. This is expected to be substantially lower than the total amount of gas in place because of technical and commercial limitations on the level of extraction. A type of natural gas, shale gas has the potential to become an important energy source for the UK, as it is in the US, but extracting the gas using a method called "fracking" (hydraulic fracturing) has negative environmental impacts. The licences provide the first step to starting drilling – but do not give absolute agreement to drill. On top of a licence, any further drilling application will then require planning permission, as well as permits from the Environment Agency and sign-off from the Health and Safety Executive. Business and Energy Minister Matthew Hancock said: "Unlocking shale gas in Britain has the potential to provide us with greater energy security, jobs and growth. We must act carefully, minimising risks, to explore how much of our large resource can be recovered to give the UK a new home-grown source of energy. As one of the cleanest fossil fuels, shale gas can be a key part of the UK's answer to climate change and a bridge to a much greener future." Companies have pledged to engage with communities early and to provide community benefits in areas where shale is commercially extracted. These will include £100,000 for communities situated near each exploratory well, and 1% of revenues from every production site. Two licences have already been granted that cover areas of the Rotherham borough. Alkane owns the Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence (PEDL) for the area around Maltby, which extend to all of the hydrocarbons recoverable from the licence area. So far Alkane has been focusing on the extraction of coal mine methane at the former Maltby Colliery that does not involve any form of fracking or any other processes of well stimulation associated with coal bed methane or shale gas extraction. The methane is produced by coal left underground, following conventional mining operations carried out over the years the mine was in operation. Dart Energy owns the PEDL that covers Firbeck, Laughton en le Morthern and parts of Thurcroft and Dinnington. Anti-fracking campaigners have been keeping a close eye on Dart operations at nearby Bawtry. Alkane Energy website Images: Alkane

The Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards are now open for entries, including two new award categories for 2014. The Awards will recognise the achievements of the region's top businesses at Barnsley Metrodome on October 17 and is supported this year by local business, Solar Europa. The awards, hosted by Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce acknowledge the achievements of the region's top firms in ten award categories - in addition to the much-coveted Business of the Year trophy. Outstanding Retailer of the Year and Digital & Creativity in Business are the new awards for this year's ceremony. Andrew Denniff, chief executive at Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, said: "The new categories for this year's awards have been introduced to recognise our changing and developing industries, the Digital & Creative sector is increasing in our region and we believe it is time for those businesses to be commended for their achievements and ambitions. "Likewise with our Retail sector, they have seen tough times over number of years now and many have shown strength, innovation and diversity during hard times and our independent retailers have a lot to be proud of and they should be rewarded for their success." "The awards are about showcasing what is good about our region in all areas of business and the great things we do as a business community to support the changing economy. For that reason alone I would encourage local businesses to consider submitting entries and be celebrated for your achievements." The Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards are free to enter and are open to all business, of any size or sector in Barnsley and Rotherham. The awards are also open to all Chamber Members, regardless of location. Attendees at the next Rotherham United Business Club on August 21 can find out the criteria of the categories and how to write a Business Awards entry. Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce website Images: Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber

BT's successful tender for a new £20m project should mean that 97.9% of South Yorkshire will have access to superfast broadband by the end of 2017. Developed by a partnership with the leadership of the four partners' authorities in South Yorkshire, alongside the support of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, the plan has been approved by BDUK, the government project with the goal of delivering a fibre point in every community in the UK by the end of 2015. Approximately 80% of South Yorkshire premises currently have access to superfast broadband (excluding the failed Digital Region network), well below local and national targets. Rothbiz revealed that Rotherham Council has agreed to underwrite the required local funding contribution of £1.596m in order to allow a contract to be signed with BT in August. It is also set to contribute a contingency budget of £124,000 and £112,500 towards the costs of employing staff to manage the provision of superfast broadband to the rest of the region. Further details have now been revealed after the council's decision was "called in" for further scrutiny. It is the first time a council decision has been called in since UKIP became the official opposition following the elections in May. Previously exempt reports state that BT's proposal is acceptable and represents good value for money for Rotherham despite BT being the only company in the running for the tender. The project aims to focus on so called "white areas" that do not have access to next generation (fibre optic) broadband and are not likely to in the next three years. BT is contractually committed to the 97.9% figure although specific areas and properties are not yet known. Over 102,000 additional premises would be served by superfast broadband infrastructure if the South Yorkshire network was extended to 97.9%. But 2,550 properties within the intervention area are set to miss out. As are around 7,000 properties in Sheffield city centre which cannot be included in the project as BDUK will not fund broadband in "dense urban" areas. In a bid to boost business, BT's proposed solution is also set to cover approximately 79% of the South Yorkshire business parks and Enterprise Zones put forward as part of the tender exercise. It is estimated that the project could boost the economy by £271.6m. The project leaders have been quick to point out that the project is different to Digital Region and that the operational risk lies with BT. Work to stimulate demand will be required to encourage providers such as Sky and PlusNet, to offer services across this infrastructure. Rotherham Council has set aside £9.58m to cover its share of the costs of the failed Digital Region project. The broadband scheme is seeking £8m of funding from the Sheffield city region investment fund for strategic infrastructure investment (SCRIF) over 2015/16 and 2016/17. Rothbiz understands that £7.56m will be provided by BT and £7.425m each by South Yorkshire partners and BDUK. Public sector payments will only be made when certain milestones are met. South Yorkshire will be the last region (of 45) to go through this phase of the BDUK project. The report states: "Overall, this project will provide significant benefits to Rotherham's businesses and residents with, it appears, only a very small contribution likely to be required from the Council. A corporate priority for the Council is to support the local economy, and the provision of superfast broadband will ensure our businesses are not disadvantaged in this respect, when compared with competitors outside of South Yorkshire." The report also reveals that "Sheffield City Council continues to lead the development of a potential solution to provide superfast broadband in the city centre as part of the wider South Yorkshire broadband extension project, with a view to submitting this for potential SCRIF or other regional funding in the future." Images: BT Openreach

Lombard, the UK's largest asset finance provider, is stepping up its support for businesses in the UK, including funding facilities for Rotherham haulage business, N M Logistics. Lombard dates back over 150 years to when it began hiring out rolling stock to the railways as the North Central Wagon and Finance Company in Rotherham in 1861. It still has around 600 staff in Manvers and specialises in products such as hire purchase, operating lease and sale and leaseback. Last year RBS launched a review into its business lending after identifying £20bn of surplus deposits. Lombard, the group's dedicated asset finance division, pledged to use this surplus to support UK businesses. N M Logistics has added three new lorries to its fleet of trucks thanks to joint funding facilities provided by NatWest and Lombard. The firm, which has a unit at RiDO's Century Business Centre in Manvers, employs four staff members and caters for clients in and around Yorkshire. It was founded by Nigel Leader who has 30 years experience in the haulage business. Nigel previously worked in the sales side of the haulage industry where he learned about the financial and costings side of the business. He also developed a focus on strong customer service and solutions which he took with him as set up his new enterprise N M Logistics. Nigel Leader, director at N M Logistics (pictured, right), said: "I provide customers with a personal service, getting to know them and their business needs, and offering ways we can work with the customer. Service is king as far as I am concerned. I set the bar very high for myself and my staff, and we have close business relationships." With an increasing demand for his business and only one lorry, Nigel found it was time to increase his fleet. He turned to Gavin Senior at NatWest who helped him secure working capital facilities to help grow the business. Gavin then introduced Nigel to Dominique Upton of Lombard Finance who helped secure additional funding for the purchase of the trucks. Nigel, added: Gavin and Dominique were very personable and reliable which was important to me. They spent time with me and got a feel for my business. They wanted to understand the full nature of my business and get to know more about the haulage industry." Looking to the future, Nigel is already considering further opportunities for business expansion such as providing a storage facility for clients. Gavin Senior, relationship manager at NatWest (pictured, left), said: "I was happy to support Nigel and N M Logistics on this project. It's an excellent business which I believe will continue to grow." Lombard website Images: Lombard

Acorn Industrial Services, one of the largest power transmission distributors in the country, has taken on its first ever work placement. The growing company moved across the borough to Hellaby last year and supplies bearings, power transmissions and linear systems to a global customer base. Claudia Titterton, a Year 10 student from Wales High School, joined the Acorn team for two weeks in July, working in various departments including marketing, customs, sales, purchasing and the warehouse and taking on a wide variety of jobs from sending leaflets out to customers to unpacking deliveries and storing them on the warehouse racking. Claudia said: "It has been good to go around the office and see all the different roles people have at Acorn. I've gained a real insight into what it's like to work here, and to see how everything functions." Before her work placement, Claudia was unsure about what career path she wanted to take. After her time at Acorn, Claudia has decided she would like to work in a practical working environment where she can take a more hands on approach in her day to day job. Claudia hasn't been the only one to benefit from this experience, staff at Acorn that had the opportunity to work with Claudia were full of praise. Richard Hewitt, marketing manager at Acorn, said: "During the time Claudia has spent in marketing she has been a massive help from start to finish. I'm glad Claudia enjoyed her time working in the marketing department in particular." Acorn is now hoping more students will learn about the world of work by taking placements with them. Acorn Industrial Services website Images: Acorn

Tata Steel, the Indian-owned steelmaker that operates sites in Rotherham and Sheffield, has issued bonds to overseas investors in a bid to refinance debt of $7 billion. Just over 2,000 people are employed at Tata Steel in South Yorkshire and sites including Stocksbridge and Aldwarke specialise in the production of high grade and special steels for the world's leading companies in markets ranging from automotive to aerospace, civil engineering to component manufacturing, energy industries to consumer goods. Narrow strip is produced at Brinsworth. $1.5 billion has been raised by the Mumbai group with new bonds listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as it tackles the existing debt of Tata Steel Europe, the operations it bought in 2007 when it was know as Corus. In 2013, Tata Steel announced a $1.6 billion writedown on its assets, mainly on the European operations that have suffered from a market slowdown and rising raw material prices since Corus joined the Tata Steel family in a $10 billion transaction. A write down reduces the book value of an asset if it is overstated compared to current market values. Tata Steel said in its annual report for 2014: "The Company in 2007, funded its acquisition of Corus in significant part by debt, raised both in India and overseas, as a result of which the Company has sizeable repayment and debt servicing obligations on an ongoing basis. "Recent depressed market conditions (especially in Europe) have meant that the cash generation across the Tata Steel Group has been constrained, thereby increasing the risk inherent in the capital structure of the business. "Tata Steel Group continues to opportunistically raise capital and rebalance its capital structure, taking into account market conditions and available liquidity." Advertisement Koushik Chatterjee, group executive director (Finance and Corporate) at Tata, said: "This is Tata Steel’s debut US Dollar bond issuance and forms part of the Company's long term financing strategy to raise capital internationally. The proceeds of the above fund raising will be deployed as per the strategic plan of the Company including off shore investment. "It was heartening to get such an enormous response from high quality investors across Asia, Europe and Middle East. The successful bond issue enables the Company to diversify the investor base, lengthen maturity profile and optimise the financing and capital structure." Concerns continue over whether Tata Steel plans to sell off any European assets to help reduce the debt further. Europe is seen as a relatively high cost area and where demand growth for steel products is much lower than in developing parts of the world. The steelmaker began undertaking a number of initiatives, including a strategic review of its asset portfolio, as it reported record losses for the 2013. A turnaround in 2014 saw Tata Steel increase production, sales and overall performance, for its important European operations. In Europe, turnover for the year to March 31 was £8.4 billion versus £7.8 billion in the previous year, despite Tata stating that average market conditions were worse than in the previous year. EBITDA (earnings before tax) for its European operations in the 2014 financial year was at £301m, quadrupling from the £76m reported in the same period last year. If depreciation and amortisation are taken into account, earnings drop to a loss of £16m compared to the loss of £283m in 2013. Since undergoing massive restructures, which included over 1,000 job losses, the South Yorkshire sites have been benefiting from significant investment and a focus on a high-quality portfolio programme, with Tata launching 30 new products and increasing sales of new products by more than 75%, a record for the ongoing New Product Development programme. Production at Tata's Rotherham site at Aldwarke is back up to 0.7 million tonnes, close to its capacity of 0.8 million tonnes. One area of uncertainty however is the long term future of Tata Steel's Research & Development site in Rotherham. The Swinden Technology Centre (STC) at Moorgate mainly focuses on product research and applications research for the transport, building and construction sectors but Tata admitted earlier this year that it was considering where research will continue over the longer term with a possible relocation from Rotherham to a different UK site in the future. Tata Steel website Images: Tata Steel

A Business Lounge has been established at Moorgate Crofts Business Centre in Rotherham to provide greater opportunities for new and growing businesses to co-work and network in this purpose-designed workspace. Moorgate Crofts is one of four purpose built centres operated by Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO). On the edge of the town centre, 54 office units, ranging from 9 to 51 sq m in size, have now been joined by a professional meeting space with IT suite including high-spec computers with Adobe graphic design software, plus tea and coffee making facilities. The Business Lounge can be booked free of charge and is available for use by any business or start-up in the Rotherham area. Amanda Parris, business centre manager for RiDO, said: "This is a really exciting opportunity for businesses to meet, network and we are hoping it will become a hub for stimulating new business relationships. We responded to demand from local entrepreneurs who were looking for a professional meeting space where they can grow their businesses and work together with other like-minded people." Paul Tomes, managing director of The Expo People, based in Moorgate Crofts, said: "It's a great place to meet up with business contacts in a relaxed environment. It's useful to have access to the graphic design software too. I'm sure I'll be using the Business Lounge many times in the future." The centres, which regularly exceed its own targets of 85% of businesses surviving at least three years, has seen a number of companies moving on after experiencing rapid growth and requiring much larger premises, as happened with renewable energy business, Energy Max UK. Henry Walsh, managing director of Energy Max UK, said: "We had a great start to our business at Moorgate Crofts, with all the support we needed in those important early days. It gave our business the right image and impression and we liked its central location and flexible contract structure. After just over a year at Moorgate Crofts, we have expanded and moved into new premises to cater for our business growth. I would definitely recommend Moorgate Crofts to any new or growing business." The new Business Lounge was funded thanks to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which RiDO also utilises to help local firms to expand internationally through the Growth and Prosperity in Rotherham (Soft Landing Zone) project. RiDO Business Centres website Images: RiDO

The popular Bazaar, held every week at Rotherham Market, is to continue for the next two years. First held in June 2013, the market was attracted to Rotherham to improve the town centre offer and raise the profile of the Centenary Market by reaching out to new and diverse customers. The Bazaar stocks a diverse range of goods centred on the core products of fabrics and fashions along with jewellery, footwear, herbs and spices, sweets etc. Already successful in Bradford and Leeds, The Bazaar has proved to help boost footfall and potential spend in Rotherham during its first year trial period. Dominic Beck, Cabinet Member for Business Growth and Regeneration at Rotherham Council has recently signed off proposals for the operators, Select 2 Ltd, to continue to run the Thursday market for the next two years. In the 12 months since the inception of The Bazaar footfall in the area has risen by 22% to reach an average of 12,000, with numbers in excess of 17,000 being achieved on celebration days. The markets attracts around 85,000 visits per week. Robin Lambert, markets manager at Rotherham Council said in a report: "The opening of the Bazaar did initially result in a small decline in visitor numbers to the Indoor Market Hall on other trading days. However, this decline was slight and was not sustained. "With visitor numbers soon returning to normal this indicates that the additional footfall generated by the Bazaar on Thursdays was, as anticipated, made up from new and additional visits to the market, often from areas outside of the borough. "The overriding objective of this new market was to generate additional footfall which would improvement trade in the town centre on Thursday. This objective has been achieved and is cost neutral to the market account." Consultants, The Retail Group have been brought in to identify the future strategy and growth plan for the town centre markets, and the right offer for the town and its customers. The redevelopment of the markets is a pressing issue for the council given that the new £40m Tesco development will open on the site of the former civic offices before the end of this year. Rotherham Markets website Images: RMBC

Rotherham-based United Carpets, the second largest chain of specialist retail carpet and floor covering stores in the UK, has posted its first full year trading report since a significant restructure and reported profits on the back of increasing sales. In August 2012, the Bramley-based, AIM-listed company had its shares temporarily suspended after admitting it would not be able to publish its full-year results on time. In October 2012, a pre-pack administration deal saw United Carpets Group acquire the business and assets of its trading subsidiary United Carpets (Northern) Limited. The restructuring, which saw a number of under-performing stores and franchises close, helped to improve profit margins and reduce distribution costs and administrative expenses including rent, rates and staff costs. For the year ended March 31 2014, United Carpets saw a 2.2% increase in like for like sales with turnover reaching £21.1m and pre-tax profits of £937,000. Peter Cowgill, chairman at United Carpets, said: "These results which show a significant improvement in Group profitability reflecting the fact that the Company's restructuring has largely been successfully completed and it is no longer held back by a significant tail of weaker stores which historically have impacted heavily on profit margins and demanded a disproportionate amount of management time. "Today, the network of stores totals 57, down from over 80 stores two years ago, of which 46 are franchised and 11 are run as corporate stores. The Group recorded a 2.2% increase in like for like sales performance for the year which was, in our view, a satisfactory performance. "The UK market has been better and continues to show signs that it is recovering although we believe the market remains fragile with a number of hurdles still to come such as increases in interest rates which are expected in the not too distant future. We are therefore looking to continue to develop the business whilst endeavouring to ensure that it does not become over extended." Advertisement A small number of stores are expected to close as the restructuring concludes. The management team has moved its focus back to developing the business, refining the customer offer and driving sales and is exploring limited trials of smaller store formats. The board believe that trading is currently patchy but that the overall picture is generally moving forward, underpinned by higher levels of employment and a more active housing market. Paul Eyre, chief executive at United Carpets, said: "We are pleased to be announcing a good uplift in profitability, helped by an increase in like for like sales as consumer confidence increases slightly and the housing market also improves. "This trading performance also reflects the benefits of the management actions taken two years ago to reduce significantly the size of the store portfolio, removing the majority of under-performing stores, re-focusing the business on a core network of stores and giving the Company a stronger financial base from which to operate." No dividend is proposed but a capital restructuring proposal would enable the company to reduce the issued share capital and cancel the share premium account. Eliminating the deficit on the company's profit and loss account would create distributable reserves in the company to facilitate the future consideration of payment of dividends to shareholders. The proposal would need signing off by the High Court. United Carpets website Images: United Carpets

A number of out of town retail developments in Rotherham have jumped over planning hurdles and can now begin construction. Developer, Helical Retail, has had slight amendments to its planned £30m retail park at Cortonwood approved which would enable eight new units to be built adjacent to the current Dearne Valley retail destination. The plans are being brought forward by Budenny LLP, formerly the property division of Alba PLC who built and operated a Dearne Valley warehouse before leasing it to UPS in 2008. They are working with developers, Helical Retail, a joint venture between Helical Bar plc and Oswin Developments Limited. The amended plans involve replacing the warehouse with around 85,000 sq ft of development together with the addition of floorspace at mezzanine level that would not exceed 60,000 sq ft of gross internal area. The initial plans for six larger units were only approved on appeal last year after earlier being refused by Rotherham Council. The new plans are set to provide flexibility for the owners and potential occupiers. Units are expected to range from approximately 7,500 sq ft to 15,000 sq ft, with the proposed mezzanine floorspace to be "called upon" up when required across the scheme. The developers believe that the new retail park will create between 279 and 372 jobs (equivalent to 186 full time jobs). At Parkgate, details of the first phase of retail development on the site of a former car showroom on Great Eastern Way (pictured) have been signed off. Land owners, Ron Hull, the Rotherham recycling experts, teamed up with Leeds-based developers, Gregory Projects to secure outline approval for a 16,000 sq ft discount food store together with 30,000 sq ft of additional retail and leisure facilities along with 200 car parking spaces. The latest application seeks to develop approximately two thirds of the site. Aldi is taking the largest unit at 16,544 sq ft and Iceland taking the adjacent 7,000 sq ft unit. A third unit, sized 7,500 sq ft, is already under offer with an unnamed national retailer. Work is expected to start on site in Autumn 2014 with completion in Spring 2015. Also at Parkgate, the £7.5m Tradeworld development has been granted planning permission conditionally. Here the former Ruscon engineering works could be transformed into nine trade counter units totalling 47,000 sq ft, with a tenth unit, a purpose built vehicle repair workshop for National Tyres and Autocare. Developer, Litton Properties says that a number of pre-lets have been secured for the development which has been on the cards since 2003. The council's Local Plan, recently declared "sound" by government inspectors, has set a target of 86,000 sq ft of floorspace for the selling of bulky goods. Images: Gregory Projects

Helix Tool Company, Yorkshire's leading independent precision tool specialists, has marked its 20th year in business by opening a new South Yorkshire branch on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham. By taking space in the AMP Technology Centre, the Leeds-based firm believes that its integrated model goes beyond the offer of traditional distributors. Helix helps customers convert materials into complex parts and components more profitably by using its secure line side supply of hi-tech branded cutting tools. Having started from Charles and Louise Robinson's spare room back in 1994, at its 10 year anniversary the firm moved from a leased unit in Bradford to its own purpose built HQ. The new Rotherham site marks the continued growth, with Helix now enjoying a £6m turnover and employing 20 people across the two sites. The latest recruit is Jake Corbally-Lidget, an apprentice application engineer, who is studying at the AMRC Training Centre, also on the AMP. Charles Robinson, managing director of Helix Tools (pictured, right), said: "Our new Technology Centre demonstrates our commitment to the South Yorkshire region where we are experiencing significant growth in terms of new business and machine tool investment. "Having a regional branch ensures our growing client base can access fast and effective technical support from our local application engineers." Helix works in the key manufacturing sectors of aerospace, automotive, oil and gas and power generation, where manufacturers and engineers are working with exotic alloys, such as Titanium and Inconel, composites and stainless steels. One local customer operating at the cutting edge is Rotherham's AESSEAL, the world's fourth-largest designer and manufacturer of mechanical seals. Chris Parkin, management development graduate at AESSEAL, said: "Helix Tool Co have been a technology supply partner to AESSEAL for 14 years with their business growing alongside our own. "They have consistently delivered increased productivity and reduced costs across our Yorkshire sites with exceptional customer service at all levels of the business. "We look forward to continuing our partnership for many years to come as we continue to grow and develop new technologies within the business." Helix Tools website Images: Helix Tools

American contract medical design and manufacturing firm, Orchid, is expanding its Rotherham workforce after seeing a surge in international orders for high quality medical devices. Orchid Orthopedic Solutions is a worldwide leader in the contract design and manufacture of implants, instruments and innovative technologies for the orthopedic, dental and cardiovascular markets. A transaction with Sandvik was completed in 2012 to acquire Sandvik Medical Solutions (SMS), a major contract manufacturer in the medical sector. The deal included the Swedish firm's 112,500 sq ft facility at Beighton Link Business Park in Rotherham. The £4m centre opened in 2010 and produces and finishes castings and forgings as well as machined implants, instruments and cutting tools. It also included an area dedicated to rapid production and prototyping for the development and manufacture of orthopedic implants, instruments and medical material. Employing more than 250 people across the region, the business has recently appointed two senior site operations managers, through Rotherham-based manufacturing recruitment experts, Elevation; part of its commitment to delivering excellence across its product range, as well as on-going international growth. Founded in 1973, the medical devices manufacturer is now recruiting experienced quality engineers to work across both its Beighton Link machining centre and its forge and cast facility near the Sheffield Parkway. Dave Beighton, general manager at Orchid, said: "This is an exciting time for Orchid, following rapid expansion and growth across Europe and Asia in the last couple of years. "We have a reputation spanning more than 40 years as a leader in orthopaedic manufacturing, helping our customers develop better products that improve patient quality of life. The roles we are now recruiting for further demonstrate our commitment to maintaining excellence in the medical devices that we manufacture - helping our customers develop better products that improve patient quality of life." Ian Bruce, senior consultant - engineering and manufacturing at Elevation, said: "Due to an increasing number of international opportunities Orchid is now looking to expand its workforce; recruiting senior level operations experts and engineers, as well as CNC machinists, Linishers and other experienced shop-floor staff. "Last month the business appointed two site operations managers to oversee their Sheffield sites, and we are working closely with the management team to put forward candidates for the quality engineer roles which will allow Orchid to continue to deliver excellence in product manufacturing to their clients worldwide." Orchid website Elevation website Images: Orchid

Signs suggest that the Howard Building in Rotherham town centre will go under the hammer at auction in September. Rotherham College of Arts and Technology (RCAT) put the four storey building up for sale in 2012 with Rotherham Council acting as marketing agents but there hasn't been any takers. Opened in the 1930's on Howard Street in the heart of the town centre, it operated as part of the college and also housed the council's environmental health teams and a day nursery. It was deemed surplus to requirements and was vacated in September 2012. The college has gone on to invest over £15m in the last three years improving the facilities in the town centre after securing government funding and a £5m loan from the council. The Howard Building has an internal area of 42,000 sq ft and includes classrooms, offices, common room, library and meeting rooms. Part of the basement floor has been more recently been used as a nursery. The site is being sold freehold with vacant possession and was advertised as having potential for alternative uses subject to planning permission which could include office, retail, hotel and residential use. It is set to go up for auction on September 16 with local auctioneers, Mark Jenkinson & son. Also being advertised for sale in the town centre is the historic Westgate Chambers, located in the key area of the Rotherham Renaissance initiative to regenerate the town centre which had been a focus for redevelopment and earmarked for housing together with retail and commercial uses. Rothbiz reported in April that Rotherham Council was to sell off the building that it acquired in 2006. 7 and 9 Westgate are Grade 2 listed buildings. Known by many as the former Co-op buildings, they were originally constructed in 1794 by local architect, John Platt as a residence for himself. The council's cabinet agreed the plans to put Westgate Chambers onto the market to "seek developer interest for a predominantly residential development." It is being advertised as a regeneration / development opportunity with "offers sought for a residential led scheme with an active commercial ground floor of retail / leisure / restaurant or similar."Demolition is well underway at the council-owned former hospital on Doncaster Gate (pictured). In a bid to save costs and attract a greater interest in the opportunities for development of the site, demolition began earlier this year. The cleared site is set to be offered back to the market with the council expecting sufficient interest to result in a redevelopment that would add to the regeneration of this edge of town centre site. Also in town, the 3,416 sq ft Temperance Hall on Wellgate is also being sold at auction after it failed to sell last year. Previously a Methodist chapel, it became the Temperance Hall in 1895, home to the Temperance Society who advocated a moderate approach to life and warned against excessive alcohol consumption. It went under the hammer with Pugh Auctions this week. On the edge of the town centre, the freehold 22,000 sq ft, former Liquid & Envy nightclub has been re-advertised with agents, Gerald Eve. Outside the town centre, KP Nuts is selling off its Eastwood home as it prepares to move to new multimillion pound premises at Hellaby. Agents, Knight Frank, have been instructed to sell the 152,167 sq ft manufacturing and warehouse facilities that occupy a site area of 4.75 acres, offering a redevelopment opportunity within the Chesterton Road area. In Manvers, agents at GVA are bringing forward the sale of the BizSpace facilities at Silkstone and Manvers House on Pioneer Close. The national portfolio of the managed workspace operator is being sold and the two Dearne Valley buildings include 26,191 sq ft of space. Images: Tom Austen / Chrisfp on Flickr, used under Creative Commons licence.

A Highways Agency project that will include some of the most advanced technology to help motorists will get underway on the M1 in Rotherham next week. The work, which will affect the 1.9 miles of motorway between junction 31 and 32, will introduce the most up-to-date signals and variable message signs, all capable of displaying variable mandatory speed limits. It involves significant work to existing gantries, installation of additional variable message signs, along with cabling, barrier and safety work. The aims of the £2.6m project are to help to reduce congestion, make journey times more reliable, improve safety, enhance access to surrounding areas and benefit the economy. The work, scheduled to last until spring 2015, will mainly be carried out during off-peak hours between 8pm and 6am. The current 50mph speed restriction will be extended from the M1 junction 28-31 smart motorway work up to junction 32. As part of the project, a new variable message sign will be located on the M18 southbound link road at the M18/M1 interchange triangle. A £5.5m project has recently started on the M18. The project fits between the two proposed managed motorway schemes that have recently been given the go ahead to begin construction. A ten mile stretch of the M1 between junctions 32 (south of Sheffield and Rotherham) and 35a (north of Sheffield and Rotherham) is set to benefit from a project costing between £124m and £174m. A similar scheme costing between £163m and £221m is planned for the M1 between junction 28 (South Normanton) and 31 (Aston). The Highways Agency smart motorway projects include plans for converting the hard shoulder to an extra traffic lane in both directions and variable mandatory speed limits but the Transport Secretary has put the brakes on the agency's plans to reduce the speed limit to 60mph at peak times to manage traffic speeds and help reduce congestion and air pollutants locally. Dominic Beck, policy & external affairs executive at Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber welcomed the news. He said: "It is pleasing news that the Highways Agency and the Department for Transport have confirmed that the proposed Managed Motorway scheme between junction 28 and 35a is to go ahead. "Furthermore, the Chamber is encouraged that the proposed reduction of the speed limit between the aforementioned junctions from 70 to 60mph will now not go ahead. The Chamber's Transport Working Group has, for some time supported the main principles significant to the Managed Motorway scheme of increasing capacity, reducing congestion and increasing the reliability of journey times. "It is now incumbent on the agency to ensure the installation of this much needed scheme is timely and does not fall victim to any further slippages on its delivery. Business needs confidence that the scheme is going to be delivered as quickly and with as less disruption as is possible." Highways Agency website Images: Highways Agency

Experts at Rotherham-based DSR Demolition have brought an explosive end to a Doncaster landmark, successfully bringing down the 12-storey Council House building over the weekend. Based at Meadowbank in the former Turners Arms pub, the demolition, dismantling, recycling and asset recovery experts work with land developers, councils and hospitals, and also members of the general public with smaller one-off jobs. The 40 metre tall Coal House became the National Coal Board's headquarters in December 1966. In 1992, Doncaster Council moved in and it was renamed the Council House. Following five months of preparation, DSR Demolition Limited used approximately 36kg of explosives to blow down the building. Some 756 small charges were placed on the four main blast floors: the ground, first, fifth and ninth floors and by using 700 delay detonators over 1.2 seconds the building caved in. Each charged column and wall was individually wrapped with protective materials and extra protection materials were wrapped around the outside of the blast floors to ensure it came down safely. Emma Thompson, QHSE manager at DSR Demolition, said: "We are pleased to have contributed to the regeneration of Doncaster Civic and Cultural Quarter. It has been a challenging project but the end result will be well worth the effort."  The site will be landscaped before being redeveloped as part of the Civic and Cultural Quarter. Detailed master planning is underway which will determine the type of development suitable for the site. Dan Needham, regional director for Muse Developments, the council's development partner, said: "This demolition is extremely important for the town, as it will create opportunities for future development and allow us to keep up momentum."It was a similar sight at the former Maltby Colliery in Rotherham earlier in the week when another Rotherham firm, Demex, successfully demolished the 3rd winding tower. Underground workings at the 100 year old colliery ended in 2013 and as part of the planned closure programme, a number of disused and redundant colliery buildings are being demolished. Maltby's No 3 Winding Tower was scheduled to be demolished in April but legally-protected peregrine falcons had been observed roosting on the tower whilst hunting for food. Net deterrents were put in place to discourage nesting before demolition and two artificial peregrine boxes have been installed on the Bath House building which is not to be demolished. The site is to become The Maltby Energy Park, with operator Alkane Energy generating energy from the coal mine methane assets for an estimated period of up to 15 years. DSR Demolition website Demex website Images: Muse Developments / Hargreaves Logistics

Universal Recycling has announced expansion plans at its Rotherham site and is targeting a turnover of £50m, backed by funding from Barclays. Specialists in scrap metal recycling, WEEE recycling and cable recycling, the firm has purchased a 7.25-acre site adjacent to its current site on Wharf Road, Kilnhurst. This is thought to be the previous home of pallet racking firm, Redirack before it entered administration at the start of the year. The family run business has been operating for over 30 years and also operates a site in Lancashire. It works with metal merchants, local authorities and cable and white good manufacturers. It has continued to invest in machinery and is currently the UK's largest cable recycler. Dedicated machines are used to strip, shred and separate cabling in order to produce granulated products such as copper granules and equestrian surfacing. John Hughes, managing director at Universal Recycling, said: "Our current site is literally bursting at the seams and so we've been delighted to secure the funding to purchase the adjacent 7.25 acre site to expand our operations. The new premises will enable us to increase production whilst streamlining operational efficiencies and we hope to create new jobs as our plans develop." Matthew Chenery, relationship director at Barclays, added: "John and his team are longstanding customers and it's great that we've been able to support their growth plans which will create much needed jobs in the area. Universal Recycling is a well-run family business prospering in the current climate and investing for the future, taking advantage of the general economic upturn." Universal Recycling currently employs 52 staff and a further 52 agency staff. It has previously attempted to secure planning permission to allow the Kilnhurst site to operate 24 hours a day. Turnover this year is expected to be over £50m. Universal Recycling website Images: Universal Recycling

The £70 billion civil aviation order book of world-renowned engineers, Rolls-Royce, has been boosted further at the Farnborough International Airshow where aircraft manufacturer, Airbus won business worth more than £44 billion for 496 aircraft. At the start of the week long exhibition, Airbus announced that it had selected the new Trent 7000 from Rolls-Royce as the exclusive engine for the new Airbus A330neo. The aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company, went on to announce deals with major customers for a total of 121 A330neos worth £19 billion. The Trent 7000 builds on the market-leading Trent 700 to deliver significant performance benefits, improving specific fuel consumption by 10 per cent and halving perceived noise. Agreements included selection by AirAsia X (50 aircraft), Transaero Airlines (12) and lessors Air Lease Corporation (25), CIT (15) and Avolon (15). Elsewhere in the civil market, Kuwait Airways selected the Trent 700 to power their fleet of five new A330 aircraft and Air Mauritius ordered six Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, powered by the Trent XWB. Away from the show, a higher thrust version of the Trent XWB, the world's most efficient large civil aero engine, ran for the first time on the test bed. The Trent XWB, specifically designed for the A350 XWB, is the fastest-selling Trent engine ever, with more than 1,400 already sold. The engines will contain turbine blades manufacturing in Rotherham at Rolls-Royce's Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF). The Nickel-based superalloys are made from single crystals using the very latest manufacturing techniques. These SX blades generate the power of a Formula 1 racing car and temperature within the high pressure turbine is 1,700 degrees centigrade, hotter than the melting point of the turbine blades themselves, so they have to be coated with a special ceramic and cooled with air passed through the discs and out of a series of precise holes in the blade. Production is underway in Rotherham and the ground-breaking manufacturing techniques are being validated. The facility, on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) has the capacity to produce 200,000 turbine blades per year. There are over 65 turbine blades in every iconic Trent engine. Rolls-Royce also announced a £50m order from lessor MG Aviation for Trent 1000 engines to power two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. United Airlines extended its TotalCare agreement to support its fleet of RB211-535 engines powering the Boeing 757. Rolls-Royce Airbus website Images: Rolls-Royce

The new owner of Kiddicare, the UK's leading specialist online retailer of baby products, has admitted that it could close its loss making stores - including the 45,000 sq ft store at Parkgate Shopping in Rotherham. Last week, Endless LLP, a leading investor in non-core acquisitions, acquired Kiddicare from its parent organisation, Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC for £2m and national retail industry magazine, Retail Week has reported on store closure proposals and the notion that Kiddicare would have entered administration had it not been sold. Garry Wilson, managing partner at Endless told Retail Week: "It is a difficult situation with store closures. But every store is heavily loss-making. We're not closing stores for the sake of it. We’ve been tasked with performing surgery. "Fundamentally Kiddicare is a good ecommerce business and we need to make sure it's not dragged down by the heavily loss-making stores." The award-winning online retailer was acquired by Morrisons in 2011 for £70m and was the first step in developing the Morrisons online business. In 2012 it was announced that Morrisons had agreed to take over the leases of ten former Best Buy stores from Carphone Warehouse, including the large unit at Parkgate. Investment of around £15m converted the stores to the full Kiddicare offering and added them to its existing flagship store in Peterborough – the largest kids store in Europe. The company estimated that around 700 new jobs were created across the country and the Rotherham store opened at the end of 2012. Advertisement After launching its own online offering with Ocado, Morrisons announced in February 2014 that it was making a "planned exit from non-core activities, including Kiddicare." Exceptional non-reccuring costs of £163m relating to Kiddicare were also reported. Best Buy joined with Carphone Warehouse in 2008 to create Best Buy Europe, and to launch the Best Buy brand in the UK. They operated 11 "Big Box" stores on a trial basis but they were not profitable. Taking over the former Homebase store at Parkgate Shopping, it created around 100 new jobs when it opened in June 2011. It had closed by the end of the year. It appears that history could be repeating itself with Kiddicare. The news comes as Rothbiz reported just last week that a potential deal with discount retailer, Poundland, would see the popular shopping park become 100% let. Kiddicare website Parkgate Shopping website Images: Kiddicare

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing in Rotherham has secured a significant slice of new funding to continue its research at the cutting edge of the aerospace sector. Announced by the Deputy PM, Nick Clegg at the Farnborough International Airshow, government and industry will invest £154m to support Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) research and development projects on the next generation of quieter, faster and more environmentally friendly planes. The AMRC is based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) and is a partnership between industry and academia focused on advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors. It is already heavily involved in three of the four cutting edge research programmes announced. A £42m investment in research led by Airbus into designing, manufacturing and assembling the commercial aircraft "Wing of the Future," is one of the projects researchers from the AMRC are already heavily involved with. Manufacturer, Airbus joined the AMRC as a Tier One member last year having previously worked together on the Integrated Wing Project, a previous R&D project lead by Airbus. A further £20m will go to a project led by Rolls-Royce to explore new ways of creating lighter, greener and more fuel-efficient aircraft engines, while £49m will go to a project led by GKN to create lighter aircraft structures – two further areas where the AMRC is involved. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "The UK's aerospace industry is going from strength to strength and helping our economic recovery. We are the number 1 aerospace industry in Europe and second only to the United States globally. "I want to ensure the UK remains at the cutting edge of aerospace innovation, which is why I am pleased to announce that we are investing £154m for research to explore new technologies like the 3D printing of plane parts and creating lighter, greener aircraft. "By working in partnership with business, we are building a stronger, more balanced economy, creating more jobs and sharing the wealth equally." Prof Keith Ridgway CBE, executive dean at the AMRC, described the announcement as "a welcome confirmation of long-term funding, which will help to keep the UK at the forefront of the global aerospace sector and will also support the work of the AMRC." Last month it was announced that Castings Technology International (CTI) in Rotherham, part of the AMRC, is set to become the only place in the UK that can produce large scale titanium castings for the next generation of aircraft. A £7m government grant will fund a new facility at CTI that will allow companies within the aerospace industry to develop the capability to melt and manufacture precision castings in the UK instead of this work being carried out abroad. Factory 2050, the state of the art, £43m development from the AMRC that is set to be built over the Parkway on Sheffield Business Park, will be the UK's first fully reconfigurable assembly and component manufacturing facility for collaborative research, capable of rapidly switching production between different high-value components and one-off parts. Plans also incorporate an extension big enough for research into new, more efficient ways of constructing aircraft wings. It was also announced that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can bid for a share of a £25m pot from October 2014. This funding competition is expected to stimulate projects worth £50m in total. Administered by the Technology Strategy Board, this will create jobs in the supply chain so local communities can benefit even further when big companies like Rolls-Royce and Airbus open factories in their region. Rolls-Royce recently began production at its new Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF) in Rotherham. AMRC website Images: Rolls-Royce

Melvyn Davenport, a talented plastic injection moulding specialist, has embarked on an exciting business venture to develop a rainwater harvesting product in Rotherham. Melvyn (70), who has recently established Melport Plastics which is based in a 14,000 sq ft unit in Dinnington, has been able to take advantage of an ERDF funded project called Growth and Prosperity in Rotherham (Soft Landing Zone) which is run by RiDO (Rotherham Investment & Development Office). As an SME based in Rotherham, Melport Plastics is eligible to access a mentor to help explore and develop international opportunities. Melvyn has spent 30 years in the plastic industry, as an injection mould tool maker. A keen gardener, he recognised the issues that people face when hosepipe bans are in place in the summer, with the risk of fines of £1,000 if people use a hosepipe to water their garden or wash their car. He was also very aware of the water shortage here in the UK and in many countries around the world. Melvyn put his expertise in plastics into play and designed an innovative T-shaped injection moulded component which can be retrofitted to any waste/grey and rainwater downpipe. It can also be fitted into any size of drainpipe and in both square or round shapes. The new "WatFlow" product has undergone in-depth trials by Sheffield Hallam University, with great results and he has now applied for six worldwide patents. Watflow's two major benefits are that it filters water before it is deposited into a water butt and it features an automatic overflow that means when the butt is full, any excess water is returned through the same method to the external drainage system. The beauty of the system is that it can be installed by a competent DIY-er, rather than needing a plumber to fit it. Melvyn recently won a grant of £5k from the Government which he has used to pay for securing the international patents and for Sheffield Hallam University to carry out work to produce a prototype using its innovative FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) technology. Melvyn has received support from Nathan Woodcock, business development co-ordinator who has recently been appointed by RiDO's Soft Landing Zone. Nathan Woodcock, business development co-ordinator for RiDO (pictured, right), said: "I carried out in-depth research into the route to market through garden centres, builders and plumbers merchants both here in the UK and in three other countries with chronic water shortage problems – South Africa, Egypt and India. This meant we were able to provide Melvyn with relevant contacts for suitable retail outlets for his product and with business support organisations and associations that could help him in these countries. This has given Melvyn a firm basis for building his business and we are very excited about how his invention could take off across the world. "Our advice to Rotherham companies looking to export is that, no matter what stage your business is at, there are so many opportunities out there to grow and expand your company into overseas markets." Melvyn Davenport (pictured, left), added: "I've had some great support from RiDO and with Nathan's help I have been able to identify new markets overseas. Nathan has carried out lots of research, which I simply would not have had the time or contacts to do. I am very excited to be almost at the stage when I can begin production, as Watflow can save an average household or business up to 75% off their water bills." RiDO website Images: RiDO

Rotherham Council has set aside £9.58m to cover its share of the costs of the failed Digital Region superfast broadband project. The council, along with the other three authorities in South Yorkshire joined with the now defunct regional development agency Yorkshire Forward in 2006 to progress plans to bring continuous 25mb+ broadband to over 97% of South Yorkshire. At the time it was clear that BT had no plans to upgrade its own network in the region. Work on installing the Digital Region network started in 2009, and by 2012, completion of phase one of the project saw 80% of homes and businesses within South Yorkshire able to be linked to the network. A combination of delays in appointing a contractor to build and run the network, failing to adjust as necessary in a fast-moving business sector and zero income risk being allocated to the network operator made the business hopelessly uncompetitive. With only 3,000 of the 100,000 customers it needed, the remaining shareholders agreed to halt their search for a private sector partner and begin a managed closure of the fibre optic network. The network will be switched off on August 14 and assets are being sold to Geo Networks, part of the American Zayo Group. Recent estimates from Sheffield Council put the cost of closure at £83m and it is not yet clear if the sale of the assets will allow local businesses and consumers to utilise the fibre network. A funding agreement was signed by all shareholders in February 2014 to ensure that sufficient funds were made available to enable services to be migrated without interruption of business and to enable the company to meet its debts. According to Rotherham Council this has not involved the shareholders having to provide any additional funding to that already committed. In its case this comprises £2m of capital loans as the Council's contribution towards deployment of the network and up to a further £7.58m of support agreed in 2011/12. A restructure of the company to support its orderly closure was approved by the shareholders in June. This will involve the £3.736m advanced by Rotherham Council up to and including 2013/14 being converted into a new class of shares. The figures were revealed in the council's latest set of unaudited accounts. The project was financed by contributions from local authorities and included £30m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Last year, the then Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, Michael Fallon, described the previous Digital Region project as "deeply flawed" as it had failed to attract customers. Following the closure of Yorkshire Forward, the government has had to agree to provide at least 45% of the funding (up to £45m) to cover a significant proportion of the repayment of the ERDF grant which has to be paid back to Brussels, because the original conditions were not fulfilled. It will also pay a proportion of the contract due to the original operator, Thales. External auditors, KPMG are set to specifically focus on the estimated costs associated with the orderly and managed closure of Digital Region Ltd as part of its ongoing audit of Rotherham Council. Cllr Roger Stone, leader of Rotherham Council, said last year: "Within such a groundbreaking, complex and challenging project there were inevitably many risks including generating sufficient business to achieve the project’s overall aims. The unexpected introduction of BT and other network operators into the market and the fall in broadband prices had meant that the revenues Digital Region expected to generate have not been realised." The millions for Digital Region come at the same time as Rotherham Council's latest budget included a £23m savings package put together in response to further massive reductions in Government funding. £70m has been cut from its budget since 2010. Rothbiz revealed last week that Rotherham Council has agreed to underwrite the required local funding contribution of £1.596m in order to allow a contract to be signed with BT for another broadband project. It will also contribute a contingency budget of £124,000 and £112,500 towards the costs of employing staff to manage the provision of superfast broadband to the rest of the region. Images: Digital Region

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