Construction specialists set the standard

OLDHAM-based civil engineering and construction specialist Westshield has achieved the acclaimed Achilles Building Confidence accreditation.

The standard commends companies that demonstrate best practice in the areas of health and safety, quality, finance, corporate social responsibility, sustainability and the environment.

Achilles Information and Bovis Lend Lease created the accreditation programme in order to establish a quality benchmark for delivering excellence within the construction industry supply chain.

Westshield, of Waldron House, Drury Lane, Chadderton, is one of the first civil engineering firms in the region to achieve the accreditation. The company was subjected to an intense, two-day audit in which all of its systems and activity were inspected and evaluated against set measures.

The accreditation allows Westshield to be considered for a share of the multi-million-pound workload handed out to contractors by Bovis Lend Lease each year.

Westshield business development manager Gerard Waldron said: “We have worked hard over the last few years to establish a business which is as efficient and quality focused behind the scenes as it is on site.

“This accreditation acknowledges that we are a well-run and quality focused organisation and we can also prove that we have the experience, expertise and back room capability to handle large and complex projects issued by international firms.”



Plans to cut red tape



Red-tape-busting reforms to the planning system which could save the economy up to £300 million a year have been announced.



Housing and Planning Minister Margaret Beckett says that a series of measures to ease the pressure on businesses and cut down their costs during the challenging economic climate have been set out in the Government’s response to the Killian Pretty report.

Key proposals enable smaller businesses to develop their premises without needing full planning permission, potentially taking nearly 40 per cent (31,500 a year) of minor business and non-residential applications out of the system altogether — or making them subject to a quicker and simpler process.

Small businesses, shops, schools and hospitals wanting to build small-scale extensions will no longer need to pay the costs (an average of £2,000) or wait weeks to start building.

Other small redevelopments, such as the replacement of shop fronts, will go through a smoother process.

This is in addition to the range of measures the Government has introduced to simplifying the regulations facing businesses that have so far helped to save around £1.9 billion a year.

By taking smaller applications out of the system there will be more time and resources for councils to focus on the major applications that matter most.

Developers and councils will also be further encouraged to talk about proposals before a planning application is submitted to iron-out potential problems early in the process.




New website for legal information



PEARSON Hinchliffe Commercial Law has launched a new way to access legal information relating to the sale and acquisition of businesses.



The firm, based at the Hollinwood Business Centre, has launched a website carrying a full database of medium-to-large businesses throughout the UK and abroad offered for merger or acquisition.

Companies or individuals looking for such business opportunities are invited to visit www.phcommerciallaw.co.uk and click on the ‘contact us’ link for the relevant assignment, or call 0161-785 3501.

Businesses currently on the site include are a materials extraction business and a PR and marketing firm with 28 employees and a turnover of £2.5 million.




Frozen food is hotting up



THE nation’s caterers and restaurateurs will be encouraged to buy more frozen food as part of a major new PR offensive being launched by Pelican Public Relations for the British Frozen Food Federation.



Following a three-way pitch, the Uppermill specialist food consultancy has won the contract for the Profiting from Frozen Food campaign which aims to educate the food service sector on how they can profit from using frozen food in the face of the UK recession.

Launched at the International Food and Drink Exhibition last month, the campaign will run for two years, focusing on how buying frozen food will save foodservice organisations money, while demonstrating that the quality and taste of frozen foods is better than ever.

Michael Bennett, Pelican’s managing director, said: “On behalf of the BFFF, we want to challenge frozen food stereotypes — and bust the myth that fresh is best.

“Frozen offers quick and convenient access to premium quality, healthy nutritious meals and ingredients and it is perfect for busy commercial kitchens. Frozen will help food service to drive sales.”

A number of activities are planned as part of the Profiting from Frozen Food campaign, including cost comparison and food quality research, a frozen food report, food tastings, cookery demonstrations, direct mailings and speaker slots at conferences and seminars.

Profiting from Frozen Food is backed by more than 50 leading frozen food manufacturers and wholesalers.




‘Golden hello’ help for unemployed



Businesses will be able to take advantage of up to £2,500 recruitment and on-the-job training subsidies from this week after an announcement by MP James Purnell.



The subsidy is worth £1,000 and the company can, depending on location, access up to £1,500 worth of in work training, said the MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, who is also Work and Pensions Secretary.

The recruitment and training subsidy, or “golden hello”, is part of a package of measures announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in January, designed to give more support to people who’ve been claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance for six months.

The other elements of the package include more support for those who want to set up their own business, access to 75,000 new work-focused training opportunities and the opportunity to do work-focused volunteering.

Mr Purnell said: “The impact of the global recession is being felt here at home, and finding a job is not easy.

“We are investing £2 billion to help people get back into work as quickly as possible.”