Invest in Doncaster - Case studies
Case Studies for Invest in Doncaster
Bespoke Training Systems
Bespoke Training Systems – Inward Investment to Robin Hood Airport
Background
Invest in Doncaster officers first met Bespoke Training Systems at the Farnborough Air Show in 2008. The company specialises in producing e-learning, Computer Based Training (CBT) and Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) packages for amongst others the aviation industry. Their clients include Augusta Westland, Pilatus and Qinetiq. The company is based in Yeovil, Somerset but the owner, wanted to set up a northern office and was keen to hear about developments in and around Robin Hood Airport.
What we did ?
• Prepared a proposal document outlining the benefits of the Doncaster region assistance and the support on offer from Invest In Doncaster.
• Invited the company to visit Robin Hood Airport and showed them the benefits of bringing their business to Doncaster.
• Informed the company about the Doncaster Aviation Strategy and the work that is being done to create a world class aviation sector in Doncaster.
• Introduced the client to Directions Finningley to showcase the 3D technology with a view to leasing one of the business suites within Hangar 3.
How has this helped?
• The client was impressed by the airport offer and agreed terms with Directions and now occupies one of their business units.
• The company is in the process of recruiting a new member of staff.
What next?
• The Invest in Doncaster ‘Take Off at the Airport’ team’s relationship with Bespoke Training Systems is now well established and monitoring has been undertaken. The company has agreed to utilise Doncaster businesses within its Supply Chain wherever possible.
• We Propose to work together with the company to promote business activities and opportunities.
• The owner has agreed to act as an Ambassador to promote the airport to clients and business contacts.
Which of the Local Area Agreement (LAA) shared or Corporate Priorities does this link to?
This activity links to the LAA (1,2 and 4) and Corporate Priorities related to “Prosperous Place” by attracting growing businesses with an industry leading product we have helped increase local employment opportunities and raised the profile of the town amongst the wider business community as an attractive and supportive business location.
BLP Furniture Components Ltd
BLP Furniture Components Ltd
What was the issue to address?
BLP Ltd are a Doncaster based manufacturer of MDF wrapped profiles and pressed cabinet doors for kitchens. They employ 130 staff at their site in Kirk Sandall
Their major customers are the DIY and Improvement retailers such as B&Q, Magnet and Gower. As a result of the downturn in the economy the company found trading conditions difficult and at the end of January 2009 the business was placed into administration when their bank withdrew their facilities.
The company was faced with 2 options:
• Be wound up and lose 130 jobs in Doncaster
• Be sold to an Italian company who were considering buying the assets to take a competitor out of the market Again the loss of 130 jobs
The senior management were at the same time exploring the feasibility of a Management Buy Out (MBO)
What we did ?
By using our local knowledge and by keeping our ears to the ground we learnt that the administrators were keen to break up the company. The owners, however, would not take our call. Eventually contact was made with the Financial Director and Managing Director, the leaders of the MBO. Both of these were encouraged by the fact that we were keen to help.
The MBO organised funding with SYIF, Centric Commercial and Ventura Finance. The funder’s major concern on the projected operating profit was cash flow and a major cost element of this was business rates.
We contacted the DMBC Business Rates team and working with both BLP and the team negotiated a deferment of business rates for the fiscal years 09 and 10.
How has this helped?
With Invest in Doncaster support the company completed the MBO at the end of February and the 130 local jobs have been safeguarded. The deal has been nominated for the Deal of the Year at the Annual Yorkshire Business Awards 2009.
What was key to our success?
By refusing to give up on our attempts to contact the company and in negotiations with the DMBC Business Rates team. We have not only safeguarded jobs in Doncaster but also started a long term relationship with BLP.
What are we doing next?
The new owners recognise that to be a long term sustainable business they need to improve efficiency by up skilling the workforce. We are working with them on:
• Training. Bringing all employees up to a minimum standard of NVQ by using Train to Gain Funding, working with our HR business consultants.
• Efficiency. Brokering in the services of the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS)
• New products. Liaising closely with the company on product and market developments.
Supporting Individuals – MFI/DHL
Supporting Individuals – MFI/DHL
What was the issue to address?
When MFI closed towards the end of 2008, the Thorne national distribution centre run by DHL, announced that around 300 staff were to be made redundant.
Attempts were made by the Job Centre to organise support events for the workforce, but for various reasons communications broke down with them and the company.
Invest in Doncaster support the company through the Key Account Management programme and through our HR Business Consultant contacted the company in January 2009 and explained the benefits of the redundancy support for them and their employees and agreed to co-ordinate this support. This had to be organised within a short time frame as the employees were made redundant in February 2009.
What we did ?
A redundancy partnership meeting was arranged where representatives from all the supporting organisations were in attendance and a plan of action was put in place. Invest in Doncaster organised CV workshops, careers advice, a self- employment road show and benefit advisors made appointments with employees on site.
How has this helped?
The main aim was to give employees access to all available support to try and help the employees get back to into work as soon as possible and to give them some peace of mind until they did.
The employees were in a better position to apply for other jobs as a result of updating CV’s and receiving career advice. They also had access to fully funded training support to enable them to either retrain or upskill. We were able to notify them of any vacancies available within South Yorkshire via the HR Business Consultant network. Any employees with barriers to employment were introduced to Job Mates. For those employees who would face financial difficulties as a result of losing their jobs we gave direct contact to benefit advisors from both Job Centre and DMBC.
What was key to our success?
• Building a relationship with the HR Manager on site and stressing the importance of offering this support to the employees.
• Delivering everything we said we would within the set timescales.
• Genuinely wanting to help people during what is undoubtedly a difficult time.
What are we doing next?
• Continuing to refer any relevant vacancies to the HR manager who is able to send them out to ex-employees.
• Assisting the client to secure a new customer for the site.
• At the same time helping them to look at alternative such as finding one or more tenants for the site so that the local staff can be re-employed as soon as possible.
Truck Hydraulics – Inward Investment in Thorne
Truck Hydraulics – Inward Investment in Thorne
What was the issue?
Pollington based company looking to expand and relocate their business which sells, installs, maintains hydraulic lorry cranes and manufactures 60-70 truck bodies a year. Their site in East Yorkshire was poor quality with offices and workshops separated by other tenant companies. With a turnover of a little over £1m they were seeking a site in South Yorkshire which would allow them to significantly increase turnover and develop new products.
What we did ?
• Site and property searches to assess value of the site identified.
• Assessed potential sources of finance and company/project eligibility.
• Brokered in specialist financial advisor from Renaissance South Yorkshire to verify and develop SFI (Selective Finance for Investment) grant application.
• Brokered in specialist engineer with access to private sector finance and links to banking sector to look at complete financial package.
• Assisted with the SFI application including discussions with Yorkshire Forward. This helped shape the SFI application based on the capital investment, increased productivity, value added, additional manufacturing capacity and innovation resulting in additional employment.
• Provided Aftercare support in the form of negotiations with YF to defer take up of grant as a result of building delays due to July 07 floods creating urgent work off site for building contractors.
• Reviewed and monitored project and provide ongoing support.
How has this helped?
• SFI Grant of £97k offered towards projected costs of £790k in Nov 2006 enabling the company to carry out its investment plans and as a result:
• 1.3 acre site purchased and 10,000 sq.ft factory built and occupied at Capitol Park, Thorne,
• In Jan 2009 the company is established in larger purpose built premises. Turnover will increase from £1.5m but at a much slower rate than anticipated as a result of economic downturn.
• 11 new jobs in Thorne.
• Actual investment total has been £1.05m and £295,968 excl vat has been spent with local companies up to 16th Dec 2008.
What next?
• Invest In Doncaster’s relationship with Truck Hydraulics is now well established and monitoring has been undertaken.
• Publicity on web site & introduction to other local organisations.
New Tourist Attraction - Yorkshire Wildlife Park
New Tourist Attraction - Yorkshire Wildlife Park
(Formally Known as Brockholes Farm)
Background to the Project:
Brockholes Farm was a 260-acre riding school, farm, and visitor attraction with zoo licence and education centre for Doncaster College.
The current owners Cheryl and Neville Williams, and John Minion purchased the site in May 2008. The intention was to develop the facility into a new visitor attraction, the Yorkshire Wildlife Park (YWP) that would create a unique visitor experience in what is termed a ‘Safari on Foot’. First stage development was scheduled for winter 2008/9 with a time plan for completion within 3-5years.
This new facility would offer an all year attraction having an emphasis on conservation and education, with a breeding programme to increase numbers of endangered species that can be returned to their natural habitats. Being able to offer a year round visitor attraction will also provide local sustainable year round employment and educational opportunities in addition to benefits for the local supply chain markets.
First stage development was scheduled for winter 2008/9 with a time plan for completion within 3-5years.
What we did ?
1. First contact March 2008; at the British Travel Trade Fair (BTTF) NEC Birmingham: broad outline of proposal from Cheryl Williams.
2. Facilitated joint meetings and site visits with various sections of the DMBC Planning Directorate.
3. Engaged with Yorkshire Forward to explore funding opportunities.
4. Provided partnership working and marketing opportunities with other local tourism businesses.
5. Provided input to Yorkshire South Tourism (YST) for marketing PR output.
6. Maintained contact and acted as liaison throughout the development phase.
How has this helped?
1. Provided valuable information in regard to local and regional tourism development that impacted on decision to proceed with site purchase
2. Advanced the planning procedure to meet opening deadline, April 2009
3. Resulted in provision of substantial funding.
4. YWP working with other providers to create visitor packages
5. Facilitated no cost marketing and PR coverage at local, regional and national level.
6. Saved valuable management time.
What next?
Maintain working relationship to assist development and promotion of facility.
Demonstrate to other investors’ benefit of collaborative working.
