With growing demand for renewable and alternative energy across the globe, potential export markets are opening up for businesses in the industry – a key sector for the West of England.

Market specialists from 15 countries, including Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, India and Japan, will be available at the roadshow for one-to-one discussions and can provide expert advice on growing overseas sales in renewable energy.

The event, on May 29 at the University of the West of England in Bristol, is staged by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the Government’s trade boosting body.

UKTI international trade adviser Andrew Fraser, who is also its South West renewable energy specialist, said: “Whether a company is already established in these markets, or merely considering them for the first time, market experts will be able to offer up-to-date information and advice that will add real benefit to a firm's export sales.

“Like all sectors across the UK, companies need to be looking further afield to increase sales. We have an increasing need for, and a growing recognition of, the importance of renewables.

“The UK has pledged to ensure at least 15% of its energy comes from renewable sources by 2020.The previous £15bn investment may be dwarfed over the next 10 years. At least £100bn – and some estimates go higher – could be invested in the UK by 2020.

“There are already well over 1,000 businesses working in the sector and the number is rising as the sector expands to meet government targets and address climate change issues.”

To register for this event visit http://www.internationalenergy-roadshow.ukti.gov.uk/

To find out how to start exporting or discover new markets contact UKTI South West on 0845-606-0969 or enquiries@uktisouthwest.org

Chippenham Magistrates heard yesterday that HSE served four Improvement Notices on the firm in October last year for failing to provide adequate training for forklift trucks operators and telehandlers, and for failing to provide proper inspections for equipment available for hire.

The notices were issued to protect employees and customers from potential injury. But when an HSE inspector paid a return check visit to the company’s Devizes Road base three months later he discovered three of the notices had been ignored and dangerous practices were continuing.

Rapid Hire was found guilty of three separate breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 for failing to comply with the notices and fined a total of £800 with costs of £1,215.95.

Speaking after the prosecution, HSE inspector Ian Whittles said: “Rapid Hire blatantly ignored warnings and the Improvement Notices served to them, neglecting its duty of care to its employees and customers.

“Even though there were no reported incidents, serious safety breaches continued and these could easily have resulted in serious injury.”

Since their launch 24 years ago the awards, which this year are staged in association with Swindon Business News, have gained a reputation built firmly on the thoroughness of the judging panel, which is made up of respected business figures from across the region.

Previous winners read like a who’s who of the West’s best business elite

Hoping to join them this year in the category for companies turning over more than £25m or with 100-plus employees, are family-run construction firm Beard, JB Global, the fast-growing oak furniture retailer, and FTSE-listed newspaper, magazine and book wholesaler Smiths News.

These three Swindon firms are competing against Bristol subsea cabling firm Offshore Marine Management, Cornish brewer St Austell Brewery Company and Swallowfield, the Somerset-based cosmetic, personal care and household goods manufacturer.

The awards also have a second category for businesses turning over less than £25m or employing fewer than 100 employees.

Shortlisted for this award are Valldata Group, the Melksham-based outsourcing partner for the charity sector, Cut4Cloth, the Cornish-based maker of Frugi organic kids’ clothes, printed circuit boards maker Graphic, and piping systems manufacturer Pipex – both based in Devon.

PwC regional chairman Rob Lewis said: “The awards are designed to acknowledge and celebrate businesses in the West for their success, achievements and contribution to the regional economy.”

Nick Morgan, PwC partner and chair of the judges for the larger business category said: “Our accomplished independent judging panel have undertaken the extremely difficult task of reviewing the entries and selecting the finalists from an impressive number of nominations and it is my honour to announce this year’s finalists.”

Tracey Bentham, PwC partner and chair of the judges for the smaller business category added: “This has been an extremely strong year for this category with a truly impressive array of applications and it is my pleasure to announce the four finalists.”

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on June 20 at the Bristol Marriott City Centre Hotel which will be hosted by ITV  West & Westcountry presenter Ian Axton.

This year the awards will be supporting the NSPCC and the charity’s South West corporate manager Karen Drew said: “In 2012 the NSPCC will be working locally with those children and families who are most at risk by opening state-of-the-art service centres in Bristol, Plymouth and Swindon offering pioneering programmes at the cutting edge of child protection.

“We are thrilled that PwC has chosen to support the NSPCC and our new local services at such a well-regarded event in the West region business calendar.”

Swindon Business News is supporting the Business of the Year Awards alongside its sister websites Bristol Business News and Bath Business News. Other supporters are Beacon South West, ITV West & Westcountry and the Western Daily Press.

The business, which supplies nurses and care assistants for private individuals’ home care and to nursing and care homes, is to use the 2,353 sq ft building as a head office and training centre for its 400 staff.

Property agent Keningtons’ Swindon office acted for the Partnership, which sold Rowan House as part of its strategy to reduce the size of its estate to make revenue savings and to modernise services.

Keningtons partner Jeremy Sutton said a number of inquiries were received for a variety of uses for the building, which is close to the Sandlewood Court hospital complex. First City, previously based in Victoria Road, bought it following a best-bid process.

First City operations director Stephen Trowbridge added: “We have been looking to purchase a freehold office property for some time but wanted something which would give us our own identity.

“First City has gone from strength to strength over the past two years, providing health and social care services to individuals in their own homes as well as short and long-term staffing solutions to establishments around Swindon and Wiltshire.

A sister Company, First City Training, is one of Swindon’s sector-based work academies with Government contracts to offer apprenticeships to young people looking for a career in care.”  

Keningtons was instructed by Capita Symonds, retained property consultants for Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership. 

These 490 high-growth firms represent only 5.1% of all small businesses in the region, yet they play an extraordinary role in boosting the economy, reveals research by Santander Corporate Banking.

Its Breakthrough Growth Champions Report examined growth patterns among businesses turning over between £500,000 and £10m and found that a small number of them have a significantly higher economic impact than the rest.

These companies proved to be exceptionally resilient during the recession, creating 14,792 jobs between 2007 and 2010.

Many of these expanding firms operate outside the traditional high-growth sectors of high-tech and business services. Instead nearly 15% came from social work, 11.4% were from complementary medicine, such as homeopathy and physiotherapy, and 7.7% from architectural and engineering activities.

They also displayed a number of common characteristics, including strong teamwork and relationships; youthful leadership; high levels of ambition; directors with a history of entrepreneurial success; and a proactive approach to cash and credit management.

The report also identified 248 possible Future Stars in the South West – businesses with a higher probability of achieving significant and sustained growth in net worth, sales and employment.

Santander Corporate Banking regional director Julian Alexander said: “This research shows a small group of businesses make an extraordinary contribution to the local economy. These Growth Champions demonstrate a fantastic ability to excel against the backdrop of difficult trading circumstances, delivering significant growth in both employment and net worth.

“Contrary to popular thinking, these champion businesses operate across a wide range of industry sectors proving that fast growth is not confined to the technology industry.

“Banks have a responsibility to support businesses to accelerate growth at all stages of their lifecycle. Using the common characteristics exhibited by Growth Champions, we can identify the fast-growth businesses of the future and provide the support they need to help them fulfil their potential.”

Using the research, Santander designed its Breakthrough programme to specifically support these companies in the early stages of their growth cycle and help accelerate their growth trajectory.

The firm’s Inflation Index dropped by just 0.1 points last month, suggesting the nine-month downward trend in inflationary expectations is coming to an end.

This levelling off leaves the Inflation Index at 102.9 – well above the average trend level of 100 (giving an inflation rate of 2.7%) and suggesting that it is unlikely to reach the Bank of England’s 2% target by the end of the year.

BDO, which covers the South West from an office in Bristol, says these inflationary pressures, compounded by low growth in regular annual company earnings at just 1.6% – below the inflation rate – are critically undermining consumer spending power, a key contributor to economic recovery.

Adding to consumers’ woes, trends in employment remain weak. While the BDO Employment Index improved in April – climbing just above the important 95 level which indicates growth – it barely edged into growth territory (95.5) and remains well below the long-run trend rate of 100.

While there is a more positive view of the economy than six months ago, businesses predict protracted slow growth for the UK economy for the remainder of 2012. BDO’s Optimism Index – which predicts business performance two quarters ahead – fell from 96.7 in March to 96.2 in April. Although the index remains above 95, it moved further away from the crucial 100 mark that equates to average UK trend growth. Meanwhile BDO’s Output Index – which points to business conditions in one quarter’s time – stagnated, moving up 0.1 to 95.8, only just in positive territory.

BDO Bristol partner Graham Randall said: “Given the public sector austerity measures required to reduce deficits, policy makers across the globe have reached for unconventional monetary policy tools to encourage growth. However, the UK has shown stubbornly high inflation and our findings suggest that business people predict inflation will continue above target – potentially a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“Some economists believe that the Bank of England should convince businesses and consumers that it is prepared to tolerate inflation. The thinking is that only this will convince consumers to spend and businesses to invest, as the alternative is to see the value of their cash assets decline. If this is the strategy, then it may be the right one. But it has not been articulated as such and the concern is that everyday inflation continues above target, the Bank loses more credibility and has less room for manoeuvre.”

INTERIMS
Diploma, Lonmin
 

FINALS
Great Eastern Energy Corp Ltd. GDR

AGMS
Ingenious Entertainment VCT 1, Ingenious Entertainment VCT 1 'C' Shares, Ingenious Entertainment VCT 1 'D' Shares, Ingenious Entertainment VCT 1 E Shares, Ingenious Entertainment VCT 1 F Shares, Ingenious Entertainment VCT 2, Ingenious Entertainment VCT 2 'D' Shares, Ingenious Entertainment VCT 2 E Shares, Ingenious Live VCT 1, Ingenious Live VCT 2, MCB Finance Group, Michelmersh Brick Holdings, MirLand Development Corp., RSA Insurance Group, Serco Group, Stratex International

Tuesday May 15

INTERIMS
OMG, Sanderson Group

FINALS
Babcock International Group, DCC

AGMS
BlackRock Latin American Inv Trust, Capita, Charles Taylor Consulting, Erste Group Bank AG, Hardy Underwriting Bermuda Ltd. (DI), International Power, NB Private Equity Partners Ltd., Proximagen Group, Standard Life Investments Property Income Trust Ltd., TMT Investments, TT Electronics, W H Ireland Group

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
UK Trade (09:30)

Wednesday May 16

INTERIMS
Compass Group
 

FINALS
C&C Group, Datatec Ltd. (DI), Lombard Risk Management, Speedy Hire

EGMS
Psource Structured Debt Ltd.

AGMS
Aberdeen Asian Income Fund Ltd., Aegon NV, Aminex, BG Group, Bovis Homes Group, Cape, Churchill China, CPP Group, Elringklinger AG, Fidelity European Values, Greggs, Hardy Oil & Gas, Hilton Food Group, Howden Joinery Group, Interserve, Jupiter Fund Management , Legal & General Group, Marshalls, Playtech Ltd., Princess Private Equity Holding Ltd., ProPhotonix (Reg S), Publishing Technology, Tribal Group, Tullow Oil, Xchanging

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Claimant Count Rate (09:30)
GDP (output, income & expenditure) (09:30)
Index of Services (09:30)
Unemployment Rate (09:30)

Thursday May 17

INTERIMS
Euromoney Institutional Investor, Grainger, Marston's, Optos

FINALS
3i Group, Invensys, Investec, National Grid, Rugby Estates, Shanks Group, SSE

EGMS
Orascom Construction Industries SAE GDR (Reg S)

AGMS
Amlin, Beacon Hill Resources, Brammer, Cookson Group, Essenden, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Intertek Group, Lloyds Banking Group, LMS Capital, Manganese Bronze Holdings, Marsh & Mclennan Cos Inc., Next, Noricum Gold Ltd (DI), Prudential, Resolution Ltd., Restaurant Group, STM Group, Tanfield Group, Thalassa Holdings Ltd. (DI), UTV Media, Yule Catto & Co

Friday May 18

INTERIMS
Mitchells & Butlers

FINALS
Blinkx, JZ Capital Partners Ltd

AGMS
Chesnara, Computacenter, Fresnillo, Huntsworth, JSC Kazkommertsbank GDR (Reg S), Keller Group, Kentz Corporation Ltd., Menzies(John), Michael Page International, Total Produce
 

Three new members of staff have joined Swindon-based mailroom solutions specialist Totalpost Services in response to increasing demand for the company’s services in the UK.

The newly created sales team welcomes Terry Dellar as UK sales manager, and Barry Peeling and Mark Wright as territory sales managers. They will work alongside Glenn Lewis, Southern technical sales manager, who has been promoted to the role after six years as an engineer with Totalpost.

Terry, 54, will be based at the company’s Swindon office. He said: “I’ve worked in the office equipment industry for more than 30 years and to work for such a high-profile company is a great opportunity.”

Terry will be developing Totalpost’s business across the South of England but will also be responsible for managing the team and monitoring sales across the UK. He added: “We’ll be helping our client base to implement structures that will boost mailroom efficiency at reduced cost through the provision of new equipment and improved services.”

Totalpost managing director David Hymers said: “We’ve witnessed continued growth over the last ten years as more and more businesses realise how we can help them reduce their mailroom expenditure and provide sustainable, long-term value. 

“The establishing of a UK-focused sales team is natural progression for us and has been necessary to ensure we are well placed to respond to increasing demand for our services.”

Established in 2002, Totalpost supplies mailroom and office products including franking machines, remanufactured ink cartridges, x-ray scanning and threat detection equipment, letter openers and inserters. 

Pictured from left: Mark Wright, Barry Peeling, Terry Dellar, Nick Geary, David Hymers, Glenn Lewis and John Leach from Totalpost Services 
 

Invoice finance specialist Bibby Financial Services (BFS) has promoted its South West business director Terry Wolfendale to regional managing director.

Terry, who has more than 14 years’ experience in the UK financial services sector, joined BFS in 2010 and has played a key role in its growth and development throughout the South West, achieving record financial performances.

Last year his Bristol-based team won the prestigious Business of the Year title in BFS’ own awards.

BFS director Edward Winterton said: “Terry has proved to be a truly valuable asset to the team. He is a very well-respected director whose in-depth knowledge and experience of the business landscape in the South West has really added value to BFS’ service offering. 

“His insight into how best to support and educate businesses both large and small across the region about the tremendous benefits of seeking alternative funding such as invoice finance, has helped us grow our business significantly and lay firm foundations for even greater commercial success in the future.”

Terry added: “Our focus for the South West has always been to support businesses looking to grow and we have seen growth in our client base of around 20%, which is a great platform to build on.”

BFS is the UK’s largest independent invoice finance provider. It provides cashflow funding for nearly 3,940 businesses, handles annual client turnover of more than £3.9bn and advances in the region of £342m every year to help small and medium-sized firms grow and realise their potential.

It facilities include recourse and non-recourse factoring, export factoring, confidential factoring, confidential invoice discounting, construction finance, recruitment finance and trade finance.