Business News


SCR announces phase two of growth scheme


The Sheffield City Region has revealed the five local businesses that have been accepted onto the second phase of its India Growth Champions Scheme, delivered in association with the UK India Business Council. The India Growth Champions Scheme provides participants with £5,000 worth of support to help build partnerships and gain experience in working with Indian companies and organisations. Successful businesses were chosen based on their credentials and ability to showcase their commitment to developing new business opportunities in India. The five champions are:


Maher – an engineering and manufacturing business supplying high strength alloys to the oil & gas, aerospace, marine, metals, defence, power generation and other industries. King Kraft – a manufacturer of specialist equipment for people with disabilities. Magnomatics – A company that designs and provides magnetic gear technology into the aerospace, renewable energy, marine propulsion, industrial motors and rail industries. Lomas Engineering – A specialist manufacturer of cutting tools to the aerospace industry and its maintenance sector. Zoo Digital – A digital media company that uses cloud technology to securely localise and distribute movies and TV shows. Sir Nigel Knowles,


International Advisor to the Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, said: “We are excited to welcome these five businesses onto the India Growth Champions scheme. As the most rapidly expanding of all G20 countries, India offers huge potential in the digitisation of advanced manufacturing and shares many industrial synergies with our region. “We are confident that with


the support offered through the scheme, our team of experts can guide our champions and help them to open up new opportunities in India.”


20 CHAMBERconnect Summer 2020


Sheffield engineering firm helps children make a move


A Sheffield-based postural support equipment specialist is helping to engage children across the city in engineering after partnering with an outreach scheme launched by the University of Sheffield. Jenx Ltd, based on Wardsend


Road in Hillsborough, is the first city engineering firm to take part in the University of Sheffield’s Maker{Move} initiative, a hands-on mobile workshop designed to engage children in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) in educational and community settings. The scheme is part of the


University’s Maker{Futures} programme, an ambitious scheme driven by the University’s School of Education and supported by the Faculty of Engineering. The initiative is set to re-launch


in September, in accordance with Government Covid-19 guidelines, following a successful initial workshop at Northfield Junior School in Dronfield earlier this year. Around 150 children were


involved in the day, which included a ‘Build a Bike’ workshop. The workshop invited children at the school to build a ‘balance bike’ from scratch. It then gave them the chance to test their creation within the school’s grounds. All equipment used to build the


bikes was designed and donated by Jenx, with members of the firm’s team working closely with the Maker{Futures} team to develop and manufacture the bespoke activity. The workshop received


praise from pupils, teachers and project organisers – with one 10- year-old pupil saying: “I never knew how to build a bike before and today I have managed to build one and ride it in the hall. It was quite hard but I like mine because I had different size wheels. It was fun.” Rebecca Timperly, Headteacher


at Northfield Junior School, said: “The build a bike activity was great. The children really engaged and worked together to figure out what goes where, and it really put their problem-solving skills to the test.” Dr Alison Buxton, of the


Maker{Futures} programme, said: “Jenx have been brilliant with donating their time and efforts to design and make an activity to engage children in engineering through our Maker{Move} mobile makerspace outreach programme for schools.


“The build a bike activity allows


children to get hands-on to see how bikes are put together and mix the pieces up to create their own design. They start to think like an engineer, figuring out why it's not working and trying something else.” Jenx Design Engineer, Jack


Wilson, who originally designed the Build a Bike activity, said: “We’re really proud to be the first engineering business on board with the University of Sheffield’s Maker{Move} programme. “In addition to our involvement


in the programme, our staff regularly engage with students and pupils at schools, colleges and universities in Sheffield. We also have a hugely popular apprenticeships programme and are always looking for ways to develop the skills of young people across the region.”


Blachford UK enjoys boost to workforce following lockdown


A booming post lockdown order book has prompted a Chesterfield manufacturer to create new full- time jobs, significantly increasing its workforce by more than 20%. Blachford UK, based in


Holmewood, is looking for people to fulfil a number of jobs and add to its growing work force. The pandemic left the business


fearing for its future after it was forced to furlough all staff and shut the factory down for four weeks. After implementing social distancing measures and being given the green light by the Government to re-open, Blachford has since been met with unexpected demand for its acoustic


insulation products which it produces for industrial vehicles. Jason Lippitt, Managing Director


(pictured), said: “It’s a complete turnaround situation and a very enviable position to be in considering the current economic climate. Like many manufacturers, lockdown created uncertainty in the business. However, since re- opening the factory, orders from our European and British customers have flooded in, securing the future of Blachford and creating brand new jobs. It’s a great sign for the local economy and manufacturing as a whole. “All these new roles are part of the company’s growing future.”


Jenx Ltd supports The University of Sheffield to deliver the first Maker{Move} workshop


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