MEMBER NEWS IN BRIEF


Footwear firm focuses on exporting to China


Rock Fall UK is making big strides in its growth strategy thanks to its work with the Department for International Trade, Santander and HSBC. The multi-award-winning


company manufactures high quality and specialist safety footwear that is widely known around the world in construction and utilities. The Rock Fall directors are


now exploring opportunities to export to China after a recent trade mission. To generate demand for its


products in China, Rock Fall exhibited at the PPE Expo in Shanghai. As well as a branding exercise, this has enabled them to speak directly with distributors. Richard Noon, Director, said:


“We have dramatically increased our export business in recent years, with Australia and the UAE as key markets. We identified China as an attractive export destination given its attraction to British brands and the amount of infrastructure investment in the country. “It’s a really interesting and


exciting project, it surprised me to learn that very few of our competitors have a presence over there. Most people know that the vast majority of safety footwear is manufactured in China – we see this as an advantage rather than a negative.”


Nelsons Solicitors makes awards shortlist


A leading East Midlands law firm, Nelsons Solicitors, is celebrating after being shortlisted for a prestigious industry award. Nelsons – which has offices in


Nottingham, Derby and Leicester – has made it onto the shortlist for the Law Firm of the Year: The Independents, South and Midlands category in The Lawyer Awards 2018, which aims to celebrate excellence and recognise the brightest stars across the industry. As part of the application


process, Nelsons had to demonstrate strategic vision and strong leadership, innovation, excellent talent management and workplace development and strong financial management and growth. The law firm also had to show excellence in its chosen sectors. Stewart Vandermark, Chief


Executive at Nelsons Solicitors, said: “To be picked out from a raft of very strong contenders in the South and Midlands is a real testament to the hard work and commitment of our entire team across the East Midlands.”


6 business network June 2018


Manufacturer reaches new markets with grant


A food manufacturer based in Leicester has benefited from a grant of nearly £19,000 from the ERDF-funded Collaborate business support project that helps growing small and medium- sized businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire. Eligible businesses can access


capital grants from £5,000 to £25,000 for a third of the cost of projects in addition to free sector- specific workshops and one-to-one business advice and Food Attraction is the latest business to take advantage of the programme. Family-owned Food Attraction


manufactures frozen and chilled food for national restaurant chains and supplies a range of finger foods to national wholesalers. Food Attraction is run by Jake


Karia, brother Nayesh and wife Neeyantee. It has grown rapidly since starting up in 2013, employs 52 people and holds the highest hygiene accreditation (AA Level) as well as being an Investor in People.


‘The new packaging means customers can eat the Naanster on the move so the grant has helped solve a problem for us’


Last year it developed a unique


range of handheld snacks called the Naanster (made from fresh naan, mango chutney, pilau rice, sauce and meat or vegetable) and also the Calzone range. These were launched into Sainsbury’s and Aldi supermarkets and sold well. However, there was a need to


increase capacity to produce the snacks for more customers and one of the challenges Food Attraction faced was around the Naanster’s cardboard packaging, which wasn’t working for customers. Food Attraction used a


Collaborate grant of £18,846 to buy a new flow wrapping machine


which allows it to change the way in which it packs products to make them more appealing. Three new jobs will be created as a consequence of the increased output volume. Jake said: “As a result of this


investment we’ve seen a growth in supermarket sales and we’re in serious talks with other retailers and sport stadiums to stock the Naanster. “The new packaging means


customers can eat the Naanster on the move so the grant has helped solve a problem for us. “As a business owner one of the


hardest things is getting outside help. You think you can do it all, but that’s not always best for your business.”


Jake Karia of Food Attraction with his Naanster snack products (Photo courtesy of Lionel Heap Photography)


Second framework term for Focus


Multi-disciplinary Focus Consultants has been appointed to the NHS SBS Framework for a second term. The Nottingham-based firm, with branches in


Leicester, London and Boston, in Lincolnshire, has been reappointed to provide construction consultancy services. The agreement runs until March 2022. The NHS SBS Framework provides ease of access


and offers a compliant route to market for NHS and public sector organisations.


Focus undertakes a range of work within the NHS


and public sector and is currently working on schemes across the UK, including Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, and London. Focus Partner Keith Butler said: “It is always great


news to be appointed to a framework, as it makes the procurement process for clients simpler and helps pave the way for new contracts for us as a company. Focus Consultants is proud to have been reappointed to the NHS SBS Framework.”


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