INDUS NEWSTRY T: 0800 690 6808 | E: editor@toolbusinessandhire.co.uk | www.toolbusiness.co.uk


Role models will inspire recruits


TALENTED people working in construction are to be recognised as part of a campaign to encourage others to follow their own career in the sector.


TB+H MAGAZINE Editor Andrew Gold and product expert Peter Brett recently attended an event to announce the forthcoming brand name change of Hitachi Power Tools to HiKOKI Power Tools.


Held at the impressive Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire - where top secret vehicle testing takes place - the HIKOKI team went out of their way to make the entire TB+H team welcome.


Peter Brett's round up of the day, and his analysis of what the change of title means to the trade, is featured on Pages 16 & 17.


We're taking this opportunity to highlight the best product giveaway this year. Can your company beat this mini tool which doubles as a USB stick?


Launched in March 2018, UK Construction Week (UKCW) established their Role Models campaign, with help from the Construction Youth Trust, to inspire others and raise awareness of the breadth of roles available in the construction industry.


The winner will be announced on 10 October on the UKCW Stage at the NEC, followed by a champagne reception and a meet and greet with keynote speaker, Barbara Res.


The judges have put together a shortlist of 36 people from more than 130 high-quality entries. The extensive and diverse job roles of those shortlisted include a crane operator, a beyond zero coordinator, a national water sector lead, a BIM strategy manager, a chairman, an equality, diversity, and inclusion specialist, and a bricklaying tutor.


A handful of architects, engineers and surveyors have also been shortlisted. People with non-construction specifi c services such as marketing also made the list, demonstrating the broad range of skills and knowledge contained within the industry.


Nathan Garnett, UKCW event director, said:“As part of being shortlisted, role models will take part in an outreach programme to help build connections with local schools and colleges. It’s about sharing their construction career journeys and inspiring the next generation by dispelling the myths surrounding the construction industry."


The role models will have VIP access to UKCW, which takes place on 9-11 October. Ahead of the presentation for UKCW Role Model of the Year, a discussion will take place on the UKCW Stage about creating the new generation of construction professionals hosted by BBC presenter, Steph McGovern.


Company that featured in last month's magazine got fast results


GREATER Manchester-based company Ostia Tools featured in July/August’s edition of ToolBUSINESS + HIRE Magazine in a profi le showing how the company recycled, revamped and resold old tool equipment – alleviating waste going to landfi ll.


Afterwards Ostia director Antony Cox, contacted us to tell us about the hugely positive response he received from the company feature within the magazine.


He said: “The article gives a good representation of our business. I am very grateful for the opportunity you have given us by including Ostia Tools in the magazine.


“I’ve received calls from people who even saw the article a few days before we had received our copy, so it was a pleasant surprise. People were


4 TBH September, 2018


really impressed with our business idea, especially that we try to get the equipment back into the schools.


“I was even contacted by the leading suppliers of Design Technology equipment, tools & materials to schools, colleges and education.


“This enquiry was a direct result of being impressed with our company, and we have now been asked to work alongside this industry leader to remove old equipment when new equipment is installed.


"We've had a fantastic result from the article - so thanks again.”


It just shows the power of featuring or advertising in the sector's number one magazine. So if you want to make a splash via advertising or through editorial content, call us now on: 0800 690 6808.


DIRECTOR Antony Cox stands beside Boxford BUD Centre Lathe, which is popular with model engineers and small workshops due to its compact size


22 TBH July-August, 2018 COMPANY PROFILE - OSTIA TOOLS


D&T revival: Innovative Ostia Tools breathe new life into the dying arts


IN the past few decades, schools and workshops up and down the country have been scrapping their Design Technology assets at an alarming rate, as the once-popular subject’s funding is virtually cut from the national curriculum.


However, as the old saying goes: “crisis breeds opportunity”, which is exactly what happened to Antony Cox, Director of Ostia Tools, whose business is named after one of the busiest trading ports in ancient Rome, writes SAMUEL McKEOWN


Ostia Tools specialise in the re-conditioning of tool machinery in order to create aff ordable re-selling.


Antony said: “We started in 2016 after being off ered equipment from a school that stopped its DT program – and soon realised a lot of schools, colleges and universities, and even businesses in the private sector, across the country were paying to get rid of this type of equipment.


“Although our main market is buying from schools and universities, our aftermarket is specialist businesses and even independent workshops for the likes of hobbyists.


“A lot of schools are cutting DT as a subject because there’s no governmental processes or facilities in place to maintain these machines on a local or national level, anywhere.


“The idea of our business is to breathe new life into DT as a subject, because it is massively suff ering as it’s an expensive subject to run when compared to others such as maths. For example, if a school invests £10,000 in their maths program that will result in a sharp rise in grades, but if a school invests that amount within its DT department, then the rise will be much slower.


“So on a business sense, if schools aren’t seeing ‘bang for their buck’, the subjects to be axed are the non-core subjects like DT. This is where we come in.”


Antony feels the problem lies with the fact schools do not actually realise they can sell the equipment to refurb companies like Ostia Tools.


He added: “Most of these schools and companies were scrapping these machines because they didn’t understand their value. So they were being off ered


THE slow demise of Design & Technology has been down to apathy and low budget


next to nothing for it, or charged hundreds of pounds for removal.


“I’ve visited a school to pick up a machine and ended up spotting equipment set for scrap; I had a look at it and ended giving the school money for it – they were over the moon. It’s happened on a couple of occasions.


“There was another time in London when a headteacher was amazed after we bought equipment from his school which was considered junk. The school bit our hand off because most of the machines we buy are 25 years old and have already provided maximum value – so essentially any money a school gets from us is a bonus.”


Although business is good for Ostia Tools, Antony stated the importance of not taking on something his business would struggle to handle.


“We’re based in Greater Manchester, so taking on a large piece of machinery could be an expensive endeavour when collecting from a few hundred miles away.


“It’s pivotal to think about additional transport costs and VAT – plus there’s more of a demand for smaller machinery.”


Although the bottom line is a priority for any business, Antony’s main motivation is to buy old machinery from schools, refurb it, and then resell it back to schools. This allows children to still study craft subjects.


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