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A print and design company has invested another £80,000 in new equipment only weeks after its biggest ever spend.

In April Mercia Image moved from Mansfield Road, Derby, to the Duffield Road Industrial Estate in Little Eaton where it had invested £800,000 in buying and transforming premises.The transfer included delivery and set up of a new £500,000 Mitsubishi five colour litho printer as well as moving in a £120,000 digital press bought last year.

Since then the company has bought a £55,000 Muller Martini Preston saddle stitcher as a replacement for an older machine. The new equipment can staple together 5,500 booklets an hour. It has also paid £15,000 for a Schneider guillotine with digital programme for its finishing department. Again, this replaces older equipment and does the work a lot quicker. In addition, the company has upgraded its design studio and bought new Apple Macs and accompanying software.

Director Amanda Strong said: “This is part of an ongoing expansion plan using state-of-the-art technology to provide an even better service to our customers.”

The company is now also using a £20,000 package of XMPie professional personalisation software to enhance its marketing role on behalf of customers.

This software enables Mercia to personalise any printed product with names, personal details, images and even items such as tear-off vouchers and so target the marketing of material.

Normal leafleting has a response rate of under five per cent but, Mercia says research has shown that targeted marketing can increase this to more than 20 per cent. Such marketing uses fewer materials, is more customer-friendly, and provides a higher return on investment by the client.

“This software is a fantastic marketing tool and a distinct advantage over global marketing and leaflet drops,” said Amanda.

THE new president of Burton Divisional Chamber is a businesswoman from Derby. Erewash Partnership Associate Jacqui Lakin is only the third woman president of the Chamber, and follows in the footsteps of Angela Wedgebury (1989-91) and Susan Black (1995-97). Jacqui is company secretary of JJ Courier Direct, an independent courier based in Galway Avenue, Chaddesden, which offers a professional, domestic and commercial service across Britain and worldwide through a global partner. She started the business four year ago with husband John and spent a lot of time networking in the Burton area, receiving support from Chamber members. Now she hopes to use her two-year term of office to bridge the River Dove and to improve relations between businesses and organisations representing them in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and even further afield. .Jacqui, whose company is also a member of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber, the Federation of Small Businesses, and regeneration agency Erewash Partnership, spends a lot of time at networking events meeting and talking to other business representatives. “I want to use my time as president of the Burton Chamber to encourage links between businesses across the counties to benefit trade and prosperity at what is a difficult time,” she said. “ I especially want to continue the policy of my predecessor Keith Norris in encouraging businesses to ‘think local’ in purchasing goods and services from local suppliers where it makes commercial sense, particularly on new projects like the Football Association’s £80m national centre at Rangemore, Burton, which presents tremendous opportunities. “I also want to work with other business organisations to improve the lot of our members where possible and co-operate on matters of mutual interest.” “As a relative newcomer on the Burton business scene I am delighted at the honour bestowed upon me by my colleagues and I shall do my best to represent their interests.” Jacqui will be succeeded as vice-president by Andrew Gentles, group managing director of Tutbury-based Burton Inns.

A design company is drawing up plans to deal with increasing business by moving to bigger premises. Simon Design Creative Solutions has moved from its base in Wellington Street, Long Eaton, to Bright Street in Ilkeston. The company was set up 12 years ago by Simon Davey who wanted a new challenge having worked across the design field in several industries. His first big client was Lincolnshire-based Pelham Homes for whom he produced a wide range of graphic designs for their new housing developments. As trade and his client list grew Simon took the decision six years ago to become a limited company and that heralded a new era. He set up a bigger studio in an extension to his house in Wellington Street and was joined by brother Mark as a director.

An engineer by trade Mark added his technical drawing expertise to the services offered, including working on plans for extensions to domestic and commercial buildings. The team also comprises graphic designers Kevin Stevenson and Natalie Allsop and Stewart Cooke, who handles the logistics of delivering and installing point of sale material, display units and other work using the firm’s vehicles, This forms part of a comprehensive service rather than sub-contracting such work out. “We have a totally flexible team that can design, deliver and fit promotional material,” said Simon, the firm’s creative director.

The company’s work covers a wide range including artwork for brochures, corporate identity website design, point of sale items, exhibition stands, and vehicle graphics and produced a record turnover of £350,000 last year. With a need for new premises, Simon identified an 11-room extended Victorian semi in Bright Street, which previously had a commercial use but had been empty for five years. After buying it for £155,000 he and Mark, helped by their father Maurice spent 20 weeks ripping out walls and refurbishing the building. It includes a boardroom and showroom as well as design studio, office, workshop and storage space. “It’s been a big job but we are looking forward to working in an enhanced environment which will provide better facilities for existing and new clients,” said Simon. The new home is close to the town centre end of the Ilkeston-Awsworth link currently being built which will breathe new life into the area and give easy access to junction 26 of the M1 for clients. The biggest client is Chesterfield-based Gladedale Homes, but the company also deals with schools, small to medium sized businesses and start-ups. And while the credit crunch is squeezing many businesses, the company has seized the opportunity to help beleaguered house-builders. It has set up a graphic developments division specialising in producing material to promote and sell new homes. So far it has contacted 200 firms. “We have had some positive replies and we feel this could expand our foothold in promoting special services to housebuilders,” said Simon.

The company is planning an open day later in the year for clients and suppliers and hopes to take on an extra two staff to help handle an increased workload.

BUSINESS consultant Darren Beaven has achieved new accreditation to add to his wealth of experience in working with companies. Darren has just completed an Alchemy business development training course. This means that he is licensed and accredited to practice the business methodology promoted by the international company.Darren spent 25 years in senior managerial positions in the logistics industry working for top companies such as Asda – he ran their largest distribution centre with 1,200 workers and an operating budget of £40m – DHL and Royal Mail. He had always wanted to run his own company and when his personal circumstances changed nine months ago was able to do that, setting himself up as a freelance management consultant.

In this new role as managing director of dhb consultancy services he focuses on corporate training, people development, interim management, and general consultancy on how to improve a company’s performance. He now goes into small and medium enterprises across the Midlands working with them to boost their lead conversions and so increase sales and profitability. Darren, who strongly believes people make the difference, will go in and do a full business growth audit, looking at opportunities, providing an action plan and working with the company to implement it. Now he is putting into practice the Alchemy technique. “I am enjoying it.” he said. “I have worked with some fantastic clients ranging from blue chip companies such as Dairy Crest to fellow sole traders.” “It’s exciting seeing companies benefit from realising opportunities that they did not know existed.” Darren, based in Garden Avenue, Ilkeston, added that he is also grateful for the help he has received from regeneration agency Erewash Partnership as regards advice and vital contacts.

NEW and innovative team building courses which can also help people defend themselves when threatened are being launched in Derby by martial arts expert Mark Wingfield. Mark, whose MAX Teambuilding - based at the iD Centre in Derby - has run courses across the UK and abroad, has introduced a new weapon in his fight against thugs, bullies and other aggressors who can strike fear into or even attack innocent people going about their daily lives.With current serious concern about street crime - particularly knife attacks - and the fear of street crime, Mark’s courses on conflict management, self defence and self protection are essential for people who may be threatened in their professional and business lives.A martial arts enthusiast for more than 20 years and a black belt in Wado Ryu Karate, Mark, from Melbourne, has improved on his considerable knowledge and technique with the latest specialist training on courses in Germany. This includes course attendees facing up to intimidation from the ultimate aggressive character known as The MADMAXMAN and learning how to competently deal with that in a safe and controlled manner. Mark is believed to be the first person in the East Midlands to unleash this character in training sessions for the corporate sector to help people who may be threatened as they go about their work. Before trainees face The MADMAXMAN they are confronted on two separate occasions by a menacing character in dark glasses who will intimidate them. If the trainees assert themselves, he goes away; if not, he continues. Scenarios specific to trainees are played out – for instance, health staff dealing with drunken or aggressive patients, solicitors with awkward clients, teachers with rowdy pupils, or just an ordinary member of the public caught up in road rage or threatened simply for having looked at someone too long. Then The MADMAXMAN appears, approaching trainees from different angles threatening and taunting them. The trainees, with a rush of adrenaline, are able to fight to survive.

The experience is unusual as The MADMAXMAN, who dishes out a verbal but not physical lashing to the ‘victims’, appears like an American footballer. This is because of his heavily padded kit, including anti-whiplash helmet to disseminate pain, which protects him from any beating. The whole approach is designed to be as realistic as possible. “This is as near as you can get into a real fight without getting hurt,” said Mark. “It boosts people’s self-confidence as well as giving them solutions on how to escape from and survive awkward situations.” MAX Teambuilding is also offering training over the summer to students settling in to strange surroundings. There is also specialist assertiveness training for youngsters aged 6-12. Mark and The MADMAXMAN will be introducing the teambuilding courses, including conflict management and self defence to the city’s business community at a session in conjunction with Marketing Derby at Pride Park Stadium on June 26 starting at 5.30pm. As part of Derby City Partnership Week Mark will be holding taster sessions in conflict management and self defence at the West Room, rtc business park, London Road, Derby, on June 24 from 4-5pm, and in beating stress to help people perform at their peak at the iD Centre, rtc business park on June 26 from 7.30-8.30 am.

For further information or to discuss the training sessions contact Mark on 0844 8700 629.

Rotary Citation ‘first’ for Derbyshire businessman

Derbyshire businessman Ian Hodgkinson has become the first recipient of a new Rotary honour that recognises outstanding service to the community.

The managing director of Partnership Member Hodgkinson Builders in Pride Park, Derby, has been awarded a Rotary Club of Hope Valley Citation for Meritorious Service for his role in a campaign to highlight the nightmare lives of blind and partially-sighted victims of Charles Bonnet Syndrome, a medical condition that causes them to ‘see’ phantom visions.

It also recognises his support for local groups working to improve the lives of sick youngsters and young people with sporting interests.

Ian was presented with his Citation at the Rotary club’s Charter celebration at Hassop Hall in the Derbyshire Peak by president Alisma Clark who thanked him for his generosity in funding the publicity materials for the Charles Bonnet awareness-raising campaign. It was proving to be a particularly successful initiative, the first of its kind in the world, and was already attracting international interest. She said that the new citation had been introduced to reward those unsung heroes within the community, like Ian, who worked to better the lives of other people in many ways - without any thought of reward. Valley Past President Ron Eyley, who nominated Ian for the Citation, described him as ‘a true philanthropist’.

Ian, who was accompanied by his wife, Allison, told Rotarians and guests that he felt honoured to be the first recipient of a Citation. “My company makes a living from the community and has always believed that it should put something back into the community,” he said. Ian is pictured, centre, with Allison (left) and Alisma (right)

A print and design firm that started in a spare room of a house can look forward to celebrating its 20^th birthday in a smart new home.

Mercia Image started life 19 years ago producing plastic information cards for building societies in the Willington home of Amanda Strong and her then husband. Now it has an annual turnover of £1.4m and employs 20 people at its new base in Duffield Road industrial estate, Little Eaton. Three years after business started the company took on its first employee, David Roberts, who later invested in the firm to become 50 per cent shareholder and co-director. That same year Mercia moved to the Perkins industrial estate in Mansfield Road, Derby. As the business expanded it moved twice to larger premises on the estate, eventually becoming the leaseholder with the largest square footage on the site. But a combination of the business outgrowing the premises and ever-changing technology offering better products led Amanda and David to spend up to a year looking for a new site. They have invested £800,000 in the former HR Plastics building at Little Eaton, and transformed it by redesigning the interior to include new offices and a large printing area.

As well as printing, Mercia finishes all work in house and can offer a full design service. The move took place over two months and included delivery and set up of a new £500,000 Mitsubishi five colour litho printer as well as moving in a £120,000 digital press bought last year. “We wanted to combine installing and commissioning the new printing press with the move to the new premises so that we would not lose any production time, miss deadlines or let down clients,” said Amanda. “The new premises provide a better quality environment for our staff and customers when they come to discuss their needs” The company prints everything from stationery to full-colour, multi-page publications with print runs often exceeding 500,000 and can deal with up to 200 customers at any one time. It prints patient menu selections for 30 NHS hospital trusts and data collection forms for universities, hospitals and Government agencies. Its main client is a company which manages sports and leisure centres. Others include Derby City Council, and many local firms. David, a printer by trade, looks after the production side of the business, while Amanda tends to finance, administration and personnel matters. And Amanda is quick to praise the employees, saying they have played a vital part in the growth of the company which is heading for £1.7m turnover. “We have a very hard-working and loyal staff, many of whom have worked with us for a number of years,” she said. “Without them we would not be where we are today. “We are very much geared up for the future and looking forward to celebrating our 20^th anniversary next year.”

COMPONENTS manufacturer Atlas Composites has received its biggest accolade yet in its short history as it goes from strength to strength. The company has been awarded coveted preferred supplier status from Lockheed Martin UK INSYS, a leader in systems integration for major programmes in the aerospace, defence and civil sectors, which is part of the giant Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Atlas Composites began in 1997 specialising in the manufacture of carbon fibre composite components for the motor racing industry, earning accreditations and new customers by evolving into the aerospace, defence, communications and engineering industries. Having previously achieved approved supplier status for Lockheed Martin UK INSYS and two other leading defence companies, Atlas Composites has now stepped up a rung on the ladder of recognition by being presented with the bronze award as a preferred supplier. Based at modern premises in Merlin Way, Quarry Hill Industrial Estate, Ilkeston, Atlas Composites is the only carbon fibre composite manufacturer to have won this status from Lockheed Martin UK INSYS and is therefore the first port of call when it needs specialist composite products. Atlas Composites has been supplying parts for defence equipment to Lockheed Martin UK INSYS for almost two years. As part of a selected group of key suppliers, which involved going through a rigorous appraisal, Atlas Composites is recognised as consistently providing materials and services on time to specific quality requirements. The award gives added kudos to the company’s reputation and can open doors for Atlas Composites when seeking business worldwide to add to its order books. Managing director Shaun Moloney said: “I’m delighted at this latest recognition from such a prestigious company as Lockheed Martin for our performance in developing carbon fibre composites for use in the defence industry. “It’s a reflection on all the expertise and hard work put in by our employees”. “As a company, our staff, under engineering manager David Gregory, come up with and develop innovative solutions for Lockheed Martins various processes at the cutting edge of technology.” Mr Moloney said the company hoped to go even better by advancing higher in the preferred supplier programme. He said Atlas Composites had been given the chance to develop further with the support of Lockheed Martin’s lean manufacturing system which scans processes to make sure that everything is ultra efficient. As part of this award, Lockheed Martin will be supporting the development of key individuals from the Ilkeston Company, putting them through their own development programme and training courses to help the implementation of lean manufacturing processes.

Next month Mr Moloney will be attending the JEC exhibition and various conferences in Paris for composite manufacturers and suppliers to the industry. Later in the year he and his team will be attending the prestigious Farnborough Air Show, a showcase for the aerospace industry, where meetings have already been arranged with existing and potential clients. Last year the company’s turnover was a record £2.2m and this year it is aiming to increase this to £2.5m. The company’s workforce has increased to 49 and Mr Moloney hopes to boost this to 60 by the end of the year by recruiting time-served craft workers in various trades.

A specialist training consultancy has won a national award at its first attempt, capping 10 years of success and hard work.Handling Movement and Ergonomics, based at Cotmanhay Road, Ilkeston, won a National Training Award for its work with Derby City Council. The Awards, sponsored by City and Guilds, are given for outstanding success. The company runs courses and gives advice on manual handling of people to health and social care professionals. This is to make sure that people needing care are moved around and helped in as painless way as possible with sensitivity and to preserve their dignity. Training is also given to make sure that those people who assist others to move do not hurt themselves in the process as injury could put them off work and disrupt vital services.

The company worked closely with the city council in developing, testing and implementing a programme of training and support for the 1,200 care employees who move or handle equipment to assist older and disabled people. HME, which has just celebrated its 10^th anniversary operates, from its own premises which have specialist training rooms. Ten specialists run courses there, at other venues and in-house training. This includes load handling training in all work environments plus postural assessments for people working with computers or close-up work in laboratories and other workers who may risk repetitive strain injuries Staff have also given presentations on subjects and held workshops at conferences across Europe, Hong Kong, and Australia. The company has vast experience – directors Rosemary Rodgers and Martin Hutchinson first started developing training programmes together in Nottinghamshire two decades ago. Some of their staff have been with them since the company started. They work in a field where it is difficult to change human behaviour and practice, but to win the National Training Award the company had to provide evidence that such change had taken place in the way that council staff worked.

Rosemary said the award was the icing on the cake for the 10^th birthday celebrations.“We are particularly delighted for our highly qualified, experienced and skilled staff who work so hard in presenting the courses and giving advice that can make such a difference to people’s lives,” she said. Rosemary said that the programme with the council had transformed employees’ skills and service delivery in Derby, and that other local authorities - Nottinghamshire, Wrexham and Anglesey – has started similar packages. Councillor Dave Roberts, Derby City Council cabinet member whose responsibilities include personnel matters, said he was delighted that the company had been recognised at national level for its partnership with the authority. In addition to local authorities, the company helps train staff at NHS trusts, the ambulance service, private homes, schools, universities, nurseries, and community transport schemes.

# Rosemary is pictured left with Darren Allsobrook, Derby City Council health and safety adviser, who received the award from former tennis star and BBC television presenter Sue Barker at a ceremony at the Lancaster Gate Hotel in London.

COMMUNICATIONS company Robinson Media has rebranded itself as it consolidates its business and launches into a new era of growth. Directors Ian Hawkins and Laurie Smith decided on a fresh look for the image to mark a new era for the company which deals in print, design, web, mailing, and marketing.

The company can trace its roots back to 1989 when it started as Print iT(Nottm) which traded in the graphics reproductions market. Over the years opportunities and activities grew and in 2003 three separate businesses were brought together under the one name of Robinson Media, and moved from Long Eaton to premises at Ashbourne Court on the Manners Industrial Estate in Ilkeston.

In March 2005 the company set up a studio called fresh:i in the premises as a stand alone provider for web and IT solutions as well as serving other needs for Robinson Media and its clients. Using high-tech equipment the company can print anything from business cards to full colour brochures and promotional literature. In the last year the company invested £200,000 in a new digital press. It provides direct mailing and marketing services, much of it personalised to individual householders.The company also designs and hosts websites for 250 customers across the country. Altogether, Robinsons can boast more than 900 clients, with the numbers increasing. The company has just won a two-year contract for the supply of print to a blue chip company worth more than £250,000 a year. It has planning permission to extend the 5,876 sq ft building by another 3,000 sq ft for a distribution warehouse to serve its clients and work is expected to start next year.

The re-branding includes new signs on the premises, corporate literature, website and e-mail headers. The company now employs 21 people and is planning to recruit more as business expands. It is hoping to run a 24-hour printing operation which itself would create up to another five jobs. Expansion plans do not just include the existing business. “We are looking to grow further business by acquiring other companies within the East Midlands,” said Ian.

The company has joined Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber and has just become a member of award winning enterprise agency Erewash Partnership which promotes economic regeneration. It is hosting an open day at the premises on December 12 when customers and potential clients can go along and have a look at their facilities along with Partnership members.

For further information contact Sally Arden at Robinson Media on 0115 944 2063

CARS provided by an Ilkeston company that services prestige models took two of the top four places in a rally that raised money for charity.Sports Tech, based at Griffon Road on Quarry Hill Industrial Park, provided cars which came third and fourth in the Scally Rally – a 1,500 mile journey from Calais to Rimini over four days that had more than 120 entries.

The two teams were led by Chris Curtis, commercial manager for Lloyds TSB Banking in Nottingham, who last year underwent a life-saving operation to receive a kidney from his father, David, after suffering renal failure. Sports Tech, which sells and services Audi, BMW and Mercedes models, helped Chris because he was its business banking manager when the company set up last year. Teams had to use bangers which cost less than £100, and Sports Tech helped by finding and supplying the cars and spending 30 hours of maintenance work to get them up to scratch. With some cars braking down and some failing to finish, Chris was quick to acknowledge the part that Sports Tech played in the success of his two teams. “There were no problems with our cars,” he said. “They were trouble-fee despite some tough driving conditions, particularly with the challenges of the roads in the Dolomite mountains in Italy.” Ben Williamson, co-director of Sports Tech, the main sponsor of the two teams, said: “I am and my colleagues are delighted with the results, and particularly the work that we put in on the cars which obviously paid off.”

For finishing third Chris and colleagues won a trophy, a free entry into next year’s rally and £400 which will go towards his nominated charity, Leicester Kidney Patients Association, which helped him through his treatment at Leicester General Hospital. Chris said that the rally, which included various tasks in addition to challenging driving through spectacular terrain, was fantastic. “Everybody who went on it thought it was the most awesome thing they have done,” he said.

So far, Chris and colleagues have raised £7,000 towards their target of £8,000 as a thank-you for the help he received during a traumatic time. Anybody who wants to donate should go to the website www.kidneyboys.co.uk

For further information call Ben Williamson at Sports Tech on 0115 930 9594 or Chris Curtis on 07725 426518