BUSINESS NETWORX
OMEGA PLASTICS GROUP NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR APPOINTED FOR THE TEAM VALLEY COMPANY
WWW.TEAMVALLEYPUBLICATIONS.CO.UK ISSUE #39 • JUNE / JULY 2019
HR Policies & Procedures HELPFUL GUIDE INSIDE
tech guide:
iPAC packaging manufacturer seals £450k deal
Apple TV launches on Samsung Smart TVs
apprenticeships more control available
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News
employers to have better access to high quality apprenticeships Small and medium sized businesses, who don’t pay the Apprenticeship Levy, will take full control over apprenticeships in their business as they come on board the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s awardwinning apprenticeship service.
HR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Every apprenticeship employer in England will soon have access to the full benefits of the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s (ESFA) award winning apprenticeship service. With the first employers and providers commencing their use from Summer 2019. Currently, only apprenticeship levypaying employers - those with an annual total pay bill of over £3m - or those in receipt of a transfer of apprenticeship funds - are able to use the full benefits that the apprenticeship service brings. Whilst all other employers (those who do not pay the levy) have had access to some of the functions, such as find an apprenticeship, the ESFA is opening up the apprenticeship service to employers of all size, regardless of whether they pay the levy or not. This will provide employers with the choice over how they want to control the use of apprenticeships and make them work for their business. Over the course of the next year, all employers will be able to control how they pay for their apprenticeship training, and assess and recruit their apprentices. They will also have access to a larger pool of training providers to deliver more relevant training for them. Eileen Milner, ESFA Chief Executive said: “Moving non-levy employers onto the apprenticeship service will give small and medium sized businesses a greater choice of quality training providers, and the opportunity to have more control over apprenticeship training decisions for their business.”
Having good HR policies and procedures in place has several benefits: • They provide written guidance on how to manage a wide range of employment issues • They provide consistency of approach in dealing with issues • They outline responsibilities and steps for dealing with issues • They help to protect the organisation against legal claims if they are followed • They reflect legislation and recognised good employment practices • They help employees to be clear about the organisation’s stance on a particular subject Which HR policies should be introduced? A good core starting point is: • Disciplinary Procedure • Grievance Procedure • Absence Management Policy and Procedure • Bullying and Harassment Policy and Procedure • Equal Opportunities Policy
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What is needed beyond these should be considered in relation to the activities of the organisation. For example there may need to be a Computer Use Policy, Use of Social Media Policy, Driving Policy or Lone Working Policy depending on the nature of the business and the nature of work tasks.
The format of HR policies and procedures Policies and procedures should be as jargon free as possible and easy to follow. They should also be reviewed regularly, and if necessary updated to ensure they have kept pace with any legislative or working practice arrangements.
Availability of HR policies and procedures All policies and procedures (including those not HR related e.g. health and safety) should be accessible by employees. There may be an intranet for electronic access, a file located in a convenient place for reference, or personal issue of hard or electronic copies to employees.
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Industrial
Gateshead packaging manufacturer seals £450k deal with Maven Maven Capital Partners has given a £450k debt funding package to Reed Thermoformed Packaging Ltd (trading as ‘iPac’) via the North East Development Capital Fund.
O’Brien Demolition’s acquisition of Gateshead industrial site sees new jobs in pipeline Newcastle-based HTA Real Estate is set to relocate to a new home following two transactions with a regional industrial property firm.
The funding will enable the company to continue to invest in its facility to deliver on its ambitious expansion plans. iPac is a manufacturer of thermoformed packaging supplying bespoke and standard packaging for the food and non-food packaging sectors. iPac operates from its new thermoforming and conversion plant in Gateshead, and 90 per cent of iPac’s raw material comes from recycled materials and the business is currently researching alternatives to fossil-based polymers. Michael Vassallo, investment director at Maven, said: “We are delighted to support iPac as it launches its exciting growth strategy. A real innovator in its field, the team is highly experienced with a wealth of sector knowledge able to drive the business forward. “We look forward to working with Harry and the team to support the execution of iPac’s expansion plans and help the business in its aim to become one of the UK’s leading thermoformed packaging manufacturers. “Since opening the Maven offices in the region less than two years ago, Maven’s positive impact on businesses in the North of England is already evident, fuelling the growth of ambitious SMEs across a wide range of industries.” The global thermoformed plastics market size was valued at $11.69bn in 2018 and is expected to reach $16.28bn by 2025. Harry Reed, managing director of iPac, concluded: “We are very happy to welcome Maven as a key business partner at this exciting time in our journey. “Since commencing production less than two years ago, we have quickly established iPac as key player and innovator in our industry. The funding provided by Maven will allow iPac to deliver the next stage of our growth plan through 2019 and beyond.” www,bdaily.co.uk
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T
he firm has completed the sale of the former AEI Cables facility in Birtley in a deal that aims to help secure job opportunities in Gateshead. O’Brien Demolition, which undertakes industrial contracting services including asbestos removal, dismantling and asset management, has purchased the 24.8acre site on Durham Road as the firm relocates from its former head office in South Tyneside. In a separate deal, HTA Real Estate has also secured a tenant for the former O’Brien headquarters at Cleadon Lane in East Boldon, which it has leased to Cooper BMW. HTA Real Estate’s director, Simon Hill, said: “It’s great news that this important Birtley site, which incorporates a two-storey office block and workshops, is to remain in industrial use and will continue to offer employment opportunities for local people following the purchase by O’Brien Demolition. “The location of the site and particularly its close proximity to the A1 proved to be major factor in this deal and will help to
facilitate the movement of heavy plant for O’Brien. “We’re also pleased to have been able to secure a high calibre tenant for their property in Boldon so quickly.” O’Brien Demolition’s MD, Gordon O’Brien, added: “The ongoing expansion of the business means we needed to move to larger premises, and our new home in Birtley has great potential for an aggregate recycling facility. “HTA’s high level of professionalism and market knowledge not only helped ensure a smooth transaction in the purchase of the Birtley site, but also led to the sourcing of a tenant to take over our Boldon site, which is a fantastic result.” O’Brien Demolition is also aiming to increase its headcount by 20 per cent this year.
Sourced from www.bdaily.co.uk. Receive the Bdaily business news bulletin by registering at www.bdaily.co.uk/register
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Manufacturing
Omega Plastics Group appoints new Group Managing Director As the Group enters an exciting chapter at its new flagship headquarters in Team Valley, a new Group Managing Director has been appointed at Omega Plastics Group.
C
raig Swinhoe has taken over the reins of the plastics injection moulding and tooling group from Dave Crone, who has held the position since 2006. With a broad range of experience leading businesses and developing and executing group strategy, most recently as Group Managing Director of Quantum Pharma, Craig was identified as the best fit for the role. Craig’s appointment is part of a strategic succession plan for Dave Crone and his fellow shareholder and former chair, Chris Thompson. Dave Crone will move into the role of Executive Chair, where he will work with and provide support to Craig and transition to a part-time role. As executive chair Dave will also continue to utilise his significant engineering experience to provide technical and operational support to the Group’s key customers operating across the automotive, FMCG, healthcare and building products sectors, as well as seeking new opportunities and or technologies. Chris Thompson will continue to support the Group in a nonexecutive role. “This is the start of an exciting new phase for the Omega Plastics Group,” said Executive Chair, Dave Crone. “Craig’s appointment is part of a planned succession plan for myself and Chris. We have excellent technical engineering skills throughout the business but Craig will bring a different and complimentary strategic and commercial skillset and approach to build upon our business strategy and help drive OPG forward.” With over 15 years’ experience as a corporate lawyer/partner, at two of the North East’s most prestigious law firms, most recently as a Partner at Muckle LLP, Craig made the move into company management in 2015. “Chris and I have known and worked with Craig for over 15 years as an adviser and having worked alongside the OPG team on a consultancy basis since December, Craig already has a good feel
Newly appointed Group Managing Director, Craig Swinhoe, with New Executive Chair, Dave C rone.
for the heartbeat, key drivers, markets and people within the business. His vast experience including leading another multi-site manufacturing business and his background and skillset will bring an exciting new dynamic to the Group,” Dave added. Craig, who is married with two daughters, is now in-post and is already using his knowledge and experience to start shaping the business’ core growth strategy. “I’m delighted to have been appointed to this role during an exciting period at Omega Plastics Group,” Craig commented. “The move to Team Valley earlier this year and the opportunities that this has afforded the Group already in the form of new contract wins has been absolutely fantastic. It is my job now to harness this success and work with the fantastically talented teams at Omega Plastics and Signal Plastics to build on the momentum.” “Dave, Chris and the team have done a great job over the past 13 years to grow the business from an SME with six employees to where it is today as a multi-million-pound
turnover North East Company of the Year winner, with over 110 employees at two enviable manufacturing facilities. I look forward to working together with Dave, Chris and rest of the team to help OPG reach new heights.” The Omega Plastics Group provides a range of low to high volume rapid tooling and specialist multiuse plastic injection moulding services. The Group has enjoyed continued growth since its acquisition of high-volume plastic injection moulding specialist, Signal Plastics, in 2015. In December 2016, the group relocated Signal Plastics to a larger 42,700 sq ft factory unit in Bentall Business Park, Washington and invested over £1 million in new injection moulding presses and overhead robotic equipment. Earlier this year, the group merged its two Omega Plastics sites in Blyth and Hartlepool into a new 45,000 sq ft facility on the Team Valley Trading Estate providing more than double the capacity of the two sites combined and new Group headquarters. Source: fusioncreative.co.uk
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Te c h G u i d e
Samsung Becomes First TV Manufacturer to Launch The Apple TV App and AirPlay 2
The new Apple TV app and AirPlay 2 are now available on all 2019 Samsung Smart TVs and select 2018 models. All 2019 Samsung Smart TVs and select 2018 TV models with a firmware update will feature the all-new Apple TV app in more than 100 countries and offer AirPlay 2 support in 176 countries. Samsung customers are now able to enjoy Apple TV channels and iTunes movies plus TV shows on Samsung Smart TVs. For the last decade, Samsung has been at the forefront of offering the broadest selection of content available to consumers on our Smart TV platform.” said Won-Jin Lee, Executive Vice President, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “As the first TV manufacturer to integrate the Apple TV app on a Smart TV platform, Samsung continues to offer our customers incredible value and access to the Apple TV app experience on the largest screens available.”
¤ Samsung’s Smart TV platform users can simply select the Apple TV app icon to access all of their iTunes movies and TV show purchases and browse more than 100,000 iTunes movies and TV shows to buy or rent, including titles available in 4K HDR, in pristine picture quality. Customers around the world can also subscribe to Apple TV channels within the Apple TV app - paying for only the ones they want - and watch on demand directly in the app. Samsung Smart TV users will be able to enjoy Apple TV+, Apple’s original video subscription
service, in the Apple TV app across the same model lines when the service launches this fall. With AirPlay 2-enabled Samsung Smart TVs, customers can now also effortlessly play videos and other content from their iPhone, iPad or Mac directly to their Samsung Smart TV. ¤ The Apple TV app is integrated to work seamlessly with Samsung’s Smart TV Services, such as Universal Guide, Bixby and Search, to create a consistent experience across Samsung’s platform.
Hey Google! Welcome to Sonos From next month Sonos will bring the smart control of the Google Assistant to Sonos’ brilliant sound experience. As the first to bring multiple voice assistants to the same sound system, Sonos demonstrates the power of an open, multi-partner platform that prioritizes choice for customers. Use voice with the Google Assistant built-in to Sonos One or Sonos Beam, or with a connected Google Home product to easily start a song, queue a TV show, check the weather, and control the
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smart home. The free software update will be available in the UK from July with additional countries to follow on a rolling basis over the coming months. Customers on Sonos will have the ability to choose an assistant for each individual speaker, with multiple voice assistants on a single system. With the Google Assistant on Beam in the living room and Alexa on the Sonos One in the kitchen, start a song with the Google Assistant, ask Alexa what’s playing, and vice versa.
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Em c on E v e n t
Gateshead manufacturing companies urged to shout about their capabilities at emcon event As the North East gears up for the 12th annual EMCON exhibition, the event’s organisers are encouraging Tyneside based manufacturers and engineers to showcase their abilities and network with sector leaders and growing SMEs. Traditionally a County Durham event, known as Durham Oktoberfest, the show was rebranded in 2018 to reflect growing regional and national interest. The event now attracts 100 exhibiting companies and up to 1,000 visitors, with big engineering and manufacturing names including Stadler Rail, Dyer Engineering, Cummins, Cleveland Bridge, Komatsu and Hitachi among those who have been involved in the show. Now, the event organiser, The Engineering & Manufacturing Network (EMN), is encouraging manufacturing and engineering businesses of all sizes from around the region to showcase their capabilities and network with other British firms within the sector. EMN’s chairman David Land, said: “Over the past few years our region has established itself as an international leader within the engineering and manufacturing sectors. “But for too long we as a region were reluctant to shine the spotlight on our achievements, instead choosing to remain under the radar rather than putting our heads above the parapet. David Land, EMN chairman
Newcastle based Masfix were a sponsor at EMCON 2018
“However, in recent years we’ve begun to embrace our capabilities and strengths, and thus events like EMCON have become of huge importance to the hundreds, if not thousands, of businesses which represent the North East’s engineering and manufacturing industries.” Newburn based Masfix, Killingworth’s Evolution MRO and South Shields firm Demob Job were among the exhibitors at last year’s event. David added: “We know the region has so much more to offer outside of County Durham and Teesside, so we’re actively looking to engage engineering firms, manufacturers and supply chain service providers from across Tyne and Wear.”
At a glance 100 exhibiting companies Around 1,000 visitors Industry leaders Q&A Industry VIP walk-around Themed talks and seminars Education Zone This year’s EMCON event takes place on October 10 at the Xcel Centre in Newton Aycliffe. For full details, visit www.emcon.show.
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