posted Oct 27, 2011 7:10 AM by Dearne Valley Business Forum
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updated Oct 27, 2011 7:11 AM
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Businesses attending an event on Friday heard how the four South Yorkshire local authority areas are amongst the best in the country for the amount of energy generated from solar power. This was the powerful message being promoted to over 30 businesses who attended the Invest in Energy event on Friday to learn how renewable energy could benefit their business.
Welcoming businesses to the event, local MP John Healey explained how data compiled by Ofgem, ranks the four South Yorkshire local authority areas in the top five nationally for solar installations. Only Cornwall has more solar power capacity.
He said, “This shows that South Yorkshire people are taking early advantage of the feed in tariff scheme which is great news in terms of opportunities for local businesses who design and install this type of technology and for homes and businesses who are making savings as a result of the solar installations.”
The cash-wise companies who attended the event heard how businesses generating their own electricity by installing renewable energy technology can lower their operating costs by saving on fuel bills, raise their profile and reputation as a company with environmental credentials and encourage staff and visitors to think green. Companies investing their own money in solar panels, wind and hydro power can even qualify for payments as part of the Government’s Feed in Tariff scheme, thus generating an income.
The event was organised on behalf of the Dearne Valley Business Forum by the Dearne Valley Eco-Vision team in conjunction with the Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RIDO – part of Rotherham Borough Council), with regional and European funding support.
Kate Gilmartin from CO2 Sense - a not for profit support organisation providing assistance to businesses wanting to improve their green credentials - was able to talk businesses through the different stages of considering, commissioning, funding and operating renewable energy technologies.
Matthew Beck and James Smith from Magna Science and Adventure Centre were able to provide a local example of a business which has taken advantage of solar technology. A total of 2155 solar panels have been installed on the roof at the Magna Centre, generating around 20% of the attraction’s electricity requirements.
Joanne Wehrle the Dearne Valley Eco-Vision project manager said, “We are keen to have local businesses come on board as part of the development of the Dearne Valley Eco-Vision to help to shape the future of their area. We want to see these businesses taking advantage of the potential opportunities available as part of the project. This might be around saving money by improving the energy efficiency of their own operations, installing renewables or working with their staff to reduce energy and waste. Local businesses supporting the Eco-Vision can also benefit from added publicity and offers available from partner organisations to help them and their workforce.”
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posted Oct 10, 2011 2:00 AM by Dearne Valley Business Forum
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updated Oct 10, 2011 2:00 AM
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South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority (SYITA), together with the four South Yorkshire councils, are bidding for funding to help kickstart sustainable economic growth in the county – and they want you to have your say.
The Government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) is designed to help green transport projects that will support economic growth. The money is awarded to those organisations the Government decides have come up with the best bids.
In April this year SYITA successfully bid for £5 million from this fund to allow it to start work on its proposed programme, but is now working up a larger bid of over £20 million to be submitted to the Department for Transport in December this year.
In order to prepare the best possible bid, the SYITA is keen to seek public views on the proposed schemes. There are four parts to it:
• Sustainable commuting – focussing on people giving commuters more travel options like cycle parking, improved bus journeys and Park and Ride. • Connecting people to jobs – with new connections between home and work areas, better transport information and a cycle network. • Improving business productivity – helping business become greener and more productive by having low-carbon fleets, remote working, measure to reduce congestion, and training for people to drive efficiently. • Low-carbon travel culture – getting information to people to ensure businesses and people are aware of the alternatives to the car – safe walking and cycling and incentives to use them.
SYITA Chair, Mick Jameson, said "we want the public to have say on the schemes proposed, and how they meet their needs in getting sustainable access to work and training”.
He added "With transport funding reduced so dramatically in recent years, this bid is critically important in the role transport can play in supporting economic growth’".
To find out more visit www.syltp.org.uk and go to the Local Sustainable Transport Fund page and fill out a form. Or look out for one of the leaflets in libraries and Post Offices throughout South Yorkshire and send it to the Freepost address supplied.
The consultation starts on Monday 3 October and continues until Monday 31 October. |
posted Oct 5, 2011 1:29 AM by Dearne Valley Business Forum
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updated Oct 5, 2011 1:33 AM
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Cash-wise companies can learn how to boost their bottom line by investing in energy at an event to be held in the Dearne Valley later this month.
Shrewd local businesses are invited to attend the Invest in Energy event to find out how they can make money from installing renewable technology to generate their own energy.
The Invest In Energy event will be held at the Park Inn Hotel, Manvers, on Friday October 21 between 8am and 10.30am. The free event, aimed at Dearne Valley and South Yorkshire businesses and property agents, aims to demonstrate how they can lower their energy bills and make money by generating electricity through solar and wind technologies, biomass ground and air source heat pumps, green roofs and more.
The event is being organised by the Dearne Valley Eco-Vision team in conjunction with the Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RIDO – part of Rotherham Borough Council), with regional and European funding support.
The Dearne Valley Eco-Vision aims to transform the former coalmining area into an internationally-recognised example of best practice in low carbon living and a centre of excellence for green technologies. Those attending the event will learn more about the project and how businesses can take advantage of the potential opportunities available.
Local MP John Healey will welcome businesses to the event. There will be presentations from CO2 Sense - a not for profit consultancy which helps businesses and public-sector organisations to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and their costs – about how to generate income from energy using the Government’s feed in tariff scheme and the up-and-coming renewable heat incentive. Magna Science and Adventure Centre, who have recently installed solar panels along the 700m length of its south facing roof, will also provide a case study.
Businesses will be able to visit a number of exhibitors who can advise and supply a range of renewable energy technologies and advice about improving resource and energy efficiency.
Businesses interested in attending the event, either to find out more or to exhibit their renewable energy products and services for free, can register by emailing their details to dearnevalley@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk or by completing an online form on the Dearne Valley Business Forum website at www.dearnevalleybusinessforum.org.uk and clicking on the events page.
Image courtesy of Magna |
posted Sep 19, 2011 2:23 AM by Dearne Valley Business Forum
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updated Sep 19, 2011 2:25 AM
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Rotherham social housing contractor, Bramall Construction, has been shortlisted for two prestigious national sustainability awards.
The Manvers company has been named as a finalist in the Sustainable Social Housing Contractor of the Year category of The Sustainable Housing Awards 2011.
The awards focus on the best "green" social housing projects constructed in the UK and the organisations responsible for them. Bramall's work on one of the first rural Passivhaus accredited homes in the UK at Wimbish, Essex has also been recognised. Bramall were finalists at the same awards last year.
Bramall has also been shortlisted in the Housebuilder Awards, now in their seventh year, in the Sustainable Housebuilder of the Year category. The awards celebrate the very best of the industry and recognise the achievements of those leading the way in innovation.
The winners of both awards will be announced later in the year at ceremonies in London.
Mark Whitley, technical manager at Bramall Construction, said: "Being shortlisted for these two prestigious awards is testament to our commitment to the environment and best practice in green construction.
"Sustainability is at the core of our company's agenda and we are leading the way in utilising state-of-the-art eco technology to deliver high level Code for Sustainable Homes developments across the UK."
Bramall is already building zero carbon homes to Level 6 of the Code for less than £130,000. They also completed one of the UK's largest zero carbon developments in Slough, Berkshire.
Images: bramall.com |
posted Sep 7, 2011 7:08 AM by Dearne Valley Business Forum
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updated Sep 7, 2011 7:12 AM
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Business leaders seeking to boost the efficiency of their supply chain operations will want to attend the Totally Logistics North show at Doncaster Racecourse on the 28th-29th September 2011 where a series of free seminars are on offer.
The two-day exhibition, taking place in a key logistics region of the UK, will give logistic professionals from all industry backgrounds a fascinating insight into the future of supply chains.
The Doncaster Seminars, sponsored by Invest in Doncaster, will include presentations by Barge Consult - canals as transport; ABP Ports use of the Humber; Making Supply Chain Savings by the University of Hull; Ocurem on how to procure more efficiently and Cartwright King - dealing with Vosa.
While the Total Seminars, supported by Business Computing Projects and Psion, and staged by companies such as AIDC Solutions, Dialight, Apprise Consulting, Imtech Logistics and Driver Hire, focus on increasing efficiency of your warehouse operations, reduce costs and fuel bills, improving margins and managing drivers.
Invest in Doncaster will also be giving details of the latest multi-million plans announced by Gazeley, for a major warehouse development costing about £100million adjacent to West Moor Park, and HelioSouth's £350million scheme for the UK's first inland port in Rossington.
These exciting proposals emphasise Doncaster's standing as the logistics capital of the North, and this exhibition will enable logistics professionals to evaluate their total supply chain functions at just one event, thereby eliminating the costly and time-consuming need to visit other shows.
By registering for tickets for the exhibition (go to www.totallylogistics.co.uk/register.html) attendees will also get the chance to reserve a tour place to visit IKEA's huge state-of-the-art distribution centre at nearby West Moor Park.
IKEA's 1.4 million square foot warehouse is operated by BLG Logistics Group and services all the Sweden company's UK stores. Tours will take place on both days of the event, leaving by coach from the exhibition centre each morning at 1030, returning in time for lunch.
In addition to the chance of an exclusive insight into how IKEA's logistical operations, business managers attending Totally Logistics North will also have an opportunity to try out TIR Training Service's Driving Simulator, an innovative driver training solution designed for maximising fuel efficiency.
Visitors that pre-register for tickets to the show at www.totallylogistics.co.uk will be able to benefit from a free £5 lunch voucher and a free £20 Doncaster Racing ticket which will be presented on arrival, where there is free parking for 3,000 cars and free entry to the exhibition.
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posted Aug 24, 2011 2:35 AM by Dearne Valley Business Forum
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updated Aug 24, 2011 2:36 AM
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Construction of the first phase of a new retail and leisure development at Manvers is ahead of schedule as it reaches the mid-point of the build.
Onward Holdings’ ONYX development on Manvers Way, Rotherham is scheduled to include 17,500 SqFt of retail and leisure space on the 2.5 acre site. The development is part of the overall 285-acre Waterfront regeneration site. Two 1,000sq ft units are already under offer to major fast-food chains.
John Storey, property director at Onward Holdings, said; “The Manvers Way site’s strategic location and ongoing surrounding regeneration highlighted its suitability to accommodate a multi-unit retail and leisure scheme. Following the early interest from Subway and Domino’s we have been able to commence with works on site and are looking forward to welcoming additional occupiers in due course.”
Key to the expected success of the development is that over 90,000 people live within 10 minutes drive-time of the scheme, and that it is located on one of the main spine roads through the Dearne Valley. The developers have reported high levels of interest in the remaining units from a number of well known retail and leisure organisations.
For further information click here. For more information on the Waterfront development click here. |
posted Jul 8, 2011 4:46 AM by Dearne Valley Business Forum
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updated Jul 8, 2011 5:00 AM
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South Yorkshire’s Dearne Valley area has witnessed a surge in industrial uptake in recent months, according to commercial property experts Knight Frank.
Fashion retailer ASOS are currently fitting out 530,000 sq ft of warehousing accommodation at Crossflow 530 in Barnsley and mobile sanitary specialists Thetford taking a pre-let of 83,000 sq ft at Brookfields Park in Rotherham, all contributing to a spike in uptake in the area.
Other recent newcomers - including roofing contractors Jarvis and Womack and marquee hire company Gala Tent – have joined current owners or occupiers such as Next, Maplin Electronics, Royal Mail, Pegler Yorkshire and Garnett Dickinson.
Dearne Valley’s commercial property area lies at the boundaries of Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley and is a former enterprise zone which benefited from substantial investment over recent years.
Rebecca Schofield, associate at the Sheffield office of Knight Frank, explained: “The Dearne Valley area saw significant investment during the late 1990s and early 2000s from both owner occupiers and syndicated investors as a result of the E Z status at the time.
“As the market declined we saw an increase of availability of units from all sizes, from 2,000 sq ft upwards. But the Dearne Valley area also benefits from access to both the M1 motorway at Junction 36, and the A1(M) and a combination of this, strong labour links and the high specification buildings on offer is helping to generate increased interest and uptake.”
At Farfield Park, Manvers, Knight Frank has let 52,000 sq ft to Gala Tent on a five-year lease with an option to purchase, while a terrace of four 6,000 sq ft units have all been let at Paragon Point.
Jarvis and Womack has bought 7,500 sq ft at Brookfield Light and Solaglas acquired Building 37 at Brookfields which they have recently moved into, retrofitting the property to provide a mixture of office and warehouse accommodation for a call centre and distribution use.
Added Rebecca: “Asos’ move to the Dearne Valley sees them relocating from Hemel Hempstead. On the other hand, Thetford’s moved from Sheffield to the Dearne Valley is not just down to staying local, but because Brookfields was able to accommodate their bespoke requirements as well as deliver a facility within their timescales.
“The Asos and Thetford moves alone demonstrate that the area is becoming equally appealing by prompting inward investment from outside the South Yorkshire region as well as satisfying the requirements of home-grown companies.”
Article courtesy of Knight Frank
Image: ASOS at Crossflow 530 |
posted Jun 29, 2011 2:15 AM by Dearne Valley Business Forum
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updated Jul 8, 2011 5:02 AM
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MORE businesses have pledged their support for the Dearne Valley eco-vision following a breakfast workshop on Friday.
The event was a chance for businesses to have their say on creating a low carbon future for the area, and find out how they could benefit.
John Healey, local MP for the Dearne Valley, gave the opening address and said:
“Huge changes have taken place in the Dearne Valley since the closure of the pits but we need to change further for the future, and forge a new sense of identity.
“The Dearne Valley has the potential to play a significant role in the economy of the region and grow as the green heart of South Yorkshire.
“We want businesses to let us know how they can play a bigger role in these improvements, and influence and challenge the development and delivery of the eco-vision.
“I know time and resources are tight but it is a great opportunity to become more innovative – whether through developing new services or products or saving money through improving energy and resource efficiency.”
Joanne Wehrle, Dearne Valley eco-vision project manager, said:
“We received a lot of positive feedback from the event and a number of organisations expressed interest in getting more involved with the eco-vision.
“Businesses also appreciated the opportunity to receive an update on the progress of the eco-vision and hear about our plans for the future.”
The event was held at Manvers Boat Club and attended by 46 people.
It was organised as part of the Dearne Valley eco-vision project, which aims to transform the former coal mining area into an exemplar of best practice in low carbon living and green technologies. The eco-vision offers great potential for businesses in helping them to “green” their business operations, find solutions to the problems of climate change and develop leading environmental technologies.
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posted Jun 17, 2011 7:41 AM by Dearne Valley Business Forum
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updated Jun 17, 2011 7:44 AM
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Innovative Rotherham company, Inditherm has received an order from the Ministry of Defence to supply a total of thirty patient warming systems to the RAF.
Based in Manvers, Inditherm's energy efficient polymer technology is used in heating mattresses, pipework, sports pitches, storage vessels and medical treatments. Their use by the Royal Air Force (RAF) Aeromedical Evacuation Service will provide the capability to help prevent hypothermia in all patient transfers.
The Inditherm warming systems will be used by the RAF Critical Care Air Support Teams (CCAST) during transport of critically ill or injured personnel, typically from conflict zones and remote operational locations back to the UK. The RAF clinicians and Inditherm have worked closely together to ensure that the systems are customised to exactly meet the specialist needs of transferring patients in the aircraft environment.
The order follows an exhaustive testing and flight approvals process with the system now allocated NATO stock numbers. The warming mattresses will be used on the Boeing C-17 Globemaster and Airbus A330 aircraft and forms part of a project to provide best possible care for injured military personnel during the transfer back to the UK for further treatment.
Inditherm patient warming is already in use with the British Army, with systems deployed in active conflict zones, and has received very positive feedback from returning clinicians. Other users include the French and Spanish armies, Norwegian Navy and New Zealand Air Force, underlining the suitability of Inditherm products for military applications.
Nick Bettles, chief executive at Inditherm, said: "We are delighted to be working with the RAF to help with providing best medical care for British troops. We are optimistic that the wider and more visible use of our product with the RAF will attract the attention of other NATO medical teams and help to grow our business in the acute transport and rescue markets."
Images: raf.mod.uk |
posted Jun 13, 2011 4:53 AM by Dearne Valley Business Forum
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updated Jun 13, 2011 4:55 AM
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 Dearne Valley businesses are being asked for their views on how to create a low carbon future for the area.
A workshop event, to be held later this month will provide business leaders with the opportunity to say how they want to become involved in shaping the future development of the Dearne Valley, and how their businesses could potentially benefit.
The free event is being held at the Manvers Boat Club Station Road, Wath upon Dearne, Rotherham S63 7DG on Friday 24 June, with a light breakfast being served from 8am and the meeting starting at 8.30am. The workshop will finish by 10.30am.
John Healey, local MP for the Dearne Valley, will welcome businesses to the event. There will also be presentations to update on the latest progress with the Dearne Eco-Vision project.
The event is being organised as part of the Dearne Valley Eco-Vision project, which aims to transform the former coal mining area into an exemplar of best practice in low carbon living and green technologies. The Eco-Vision offers great potential for businesses in helping them to “green” their business operations, find solutions to the problems of climate change and develop leading environmental technologies.
Businesses are invited to hear more about the Eco-Vision and the plans for the future, but also to contribute to the debate by sharing their thoughts and ideas about what they can do as local businesses to contribute towards a low carbon community in the Dearne Valley, including cutting energy costs to save businesses money.
The Eco-Vision project is supported by local companies including eco-friendly-Wath-based social housing contractor Bramall Construction. Bramall are currently working throughout the Dearne Valley to upgrade existing housing to excellent eco-efficiency levels and to create new sustainable housing for the future of the area. Paul Woodcock, chair of the Dearne Valley Economy theme task group said, “As part of the Eco-Vision it is important that we engage with local businesses in the area to seek their views about how we can realise a low carbon future for the area.
"We would like to hear from businesses about what help and support they might need to enhance their green credentials. We would also be interested to hear from businesses about what best practice, around improving their resource and energy efficiency, is already out there that can be shared amongst local companies.” |
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