BSN Ezine July 2008

The Business Support Network is divided into four groups: Commercial, Training, Research and Technical and Operations, please follow the below link to learn more or alternatively scroll down to the bottom of this newsletter:

Click here to find out more

Plastics businesses face a whole new set of challenges over the next few years, especially as a result of supply chain pressure from larger organisations, according to International Standards experts IMSM, who have recently exhibited at PDM.

"It's not just about delivering innovative products or services at the right price- the businesses that will be winners are also concentrating on quality management and environmental responsibilities," declares IMSM's Managing Director, Michael Bright.

He continues, "Contracts between the more specialised supplier and their larger corporate customers are always negotiated on price - it's an important factor but it's not the only one. These days more and more manufacturers are investing in improvements to their internal management systems to ensure that they are meeting changing demands for 'lean' production. And that can cover quality and green issues ranging from sustainability and recyclability, through to logistics, production and energy efficiencies. These important factors are also being taken into account when the buying decision is made."

Obtaining ISO certification, in terms of quality management systems (ISO9001) and environmental management systems (ISO 14001), provides an assurance that a business is working hard to improve its operations in a well-planned and sensible framework. These improvements can also save hard cash and strengthen the bottom line - giving the operator an extra competitive edge that can make the difference in winning that all important key contract.

IMSM provides structured quality and environmental management support, so that businesses can put in place sensible management procedures based on the internationally recognized ISO standards. IMSM also makes sure that the appropriate management systems are introduced simply and effectively - all at an agreed fixed price.

"By being able to demonstrate through the externally audited quality and environmental standards that you have put in place plans, communications, and systems, our clients find that they save a lot of time when tendering for contracts, as well as the direct benefits of improving the way they do things. They tell us that they can now win more business, from more valuable long term customers, as a result" added Michael Bright.

Other IMSM News:

Developing Business & Saving the Planet
How Green is Your Supply Chain?
Spartech Case Study

Click here to find out more

Telford based Polymer Training Limited is celebrating after Hoover Candy chose the company to provide a range of training to its China based staff.

The course, which runs during the first week of July, will cover injection moulding, tool design & construction and mould trial procedures and came about as a result of a mailing from PTL in advance of the PDM 08 exhibition held in Telford recently.

Steve Harratt, Sales Manager for PTL, said:
"This is good news for the UK polymer industry. It shows that whilst much production has moved to other countries, the UK continues to lead the way in design expertise and training. We have a record in training to be proud of here at PTL which is recognised throughout the world and we are delighted to be working with Hoover Candy to further improve their skills base."

Mr Scott Crichton, Director of Operations for Hoover Candy said:
"Hoover worked for many years with PTL in its former incarnation as the British Plastics Training Association and I am pleased that we are, once again, developing that relationship for the benefit of all.

"PTL trainers are widely recognised as some of the best trainers in the global polymer industry which is why we selected the company to provide training to staff at our China facility. Hoover Candy recognises the importance of a highly skilled workforce and we are pleased that it is a UK company which is able to provide the expertise necessary to help us achieve that."

The training is intended to give delegates a better understanding of the process and to help them during new product introduction.

The course includes a two day "Introduction to Injection Moulding" aimed at a mixture of engineers responsible for product design, new product introduction, supplier quality and purchasing; a one day "Tool design & construction" module aimed at new product introduction teams and product design teams; and a one day "Mould trial procedures" module aiming to provide new product introduction teams and senior members of design teams who attend mould trials with the necessary skills and understanding of each other's work to function effectively as a team.

Click here to find out more

Two leading lights of the British Plastics Federation have been working together to find the best possible fit between people talent and one of most unique, inspirational polymer-based companies in the world.

Wellingborough-based Scott Bader - manufacturer of polyesters and alkyd resins, gel coats and water based polymers - was established in 1921 by Ernest Bader as a 'Commonwealth'. His intention was to create a company whose well-being is entrusted to those who work in it, with democratic involvement.

Through the years and the changes in the polymer industry, these principles have served Scott Bader extremely well. Headed up by Philip Bruce, formerly with ICI, the organisation grows from strength to strength.  With no external shareholders, the company can never be acquired - 'and that - as its website states 'makes us a great company to do business with.'

Group HR Director, Tracy Newton-Blows understands that this deep commitment to people makes Scott Bader a very attractive employer for those in the industry - and that recruitment search and interview strategy must be tailored accordingly. 'Through the commonwealth principles, we give a lot to our people - including common trusteeship as owners of the company,' she says, 'but we ask a lot too - in terms of behavioural alignment and we need our recruiters to factor this in from the outset.'

One of Scott Bader's key partners in recruitment and candidate assessment is Stratford-upon-Avon based Listgrove, whose pedigree in finding and placing people in the plastics, packaging and related sectors goes back over thirty years.

Says Newton-Blows, 'as well as being a unique self-governing company, we are also an extremely innovative technical business at the heart of the polymer sector. Our people need to comfortably operate in a dynamic, changing market - where collaboration globally is key - whilst their range of skills, qualifications and credentials need to be first class. We rely on Listgrove to help us find the people that can show both the soft skills and the hard qualifications in one package.'

Listgrove's Conrad Taylor says that 'Listgrove's relationship with Scott Bader has deepened and improved over the years. It is a unique kind of company and we know, from experience, that not every candidate could be put forward for consideration. Those candidates that do match - initially through technical and commercial competences -  are then subject to competency-based assessments which guide us as to whether Scott Bader's Commonwealth based structure will fit right with the candidate.'

Recent and successful Listgrove-sourced executive appointments at Scott Bader have included UK Logistics Manager, Senior Process Engineer, Manufacturing Engineering Manager as well as Ros Taylor, appointed as Head of Strategy.

Tracy Newton-Blows says that 'the next 87 years for Scott Bader will be as challenging as the past period. People will always be key to our growth and we welcome the Listgrove service in helping us find and retain the right individuals for our future success.'

Listgrove leads Teknor Apex management assessment programme
Tasnee appoints Listgrove to staff up large new research centre

Click here to find out more

Business Banking Manufacturing Team - Dedicated to Manufacturing Success

Manufacturing is a vital part of our economy and one Barclays is determined to support. Within the plastics industry trading conditions have undoubtedly been very difficult over the past couple of years and with the economic climate remaining uncertain, it is more vital than ever that manufacturing businesses are able to develop strong relationships with their bank.

At Barclays, we believe that a good relationship between our customers and ourselves is crucial. Therefore we provide a dedicated team of named staff for your business with direct access by phone, fax or email, so you can be sure that you are speaking with the right person, each and every time.

Why not have a look at some testimonials from our current clients:

RML Group
Linecross Ltd
Maverick Automotives

Click here to find out more

The Polymer IRC is a major UK, European and global focal point for multidisciplinary polymer science and soft-nanotechnology. It links expertise in polymer science across the universities of Leeds, Bradford, Durham and Sheffield with industrialist through its vibrant industrial club. Academic members of the IRC actively engage with industry, providing access to internationally recognised experts, extensive facilities, high quality training and knowledge transfer activities.
The IRC has two great opportunities coming up to network and find out the latest developments in polymer science and technology CLICK HERE for more info.

Click here to find out more

Smart-Connect is a service that provides businesses with more than one broadband connection to the internet, via a pre-configured router which allows the service provider - Link-Connect - to provide more than one broadband connection from different ISP's available to that business. The solution is unique because it presents all the circuits on a single IP Address. So you can configure VPN's and all network devices on one IP address. All the circuits are always available and can be DSL, leased lines or even ISDN access points.

The service is designed to appeal to any business which relies on the internet to get their work done and interact with clients.  For these businesses the loss of their broadband connection would mean that no work could be done and profits could be hard hit as a result.

If a business works from more than one location they can also connect to one another via the internet to trade, as well as accessing the same database if required.

DOWNLOAD OUR SMART CONNECT BROCHURE HERE.

How it works

Smart-Connect was developed in house by Link-Connect in order to combat the problems experienced by companies who found that their internet connections were slow or unreliable.

The router provides a better service by allowing between two and four separate broadband connections to be channelled through it.  This means that if one connection should drop out for any reason, there will still be at least one connection available to enable the business to keep running.  This offers the enhanced broadband resiliency that many businesses are seeking.

The router also receives broadband signals from more than one source to further protect the integrity of the service.  Each one comes from a different network operator so even if one experiences problems the other connection(s) will still work perfectly adequately, meaning the business has no downtime at all.  In short it offers a low cost solution to the more expensive alternative of a leased line.

It is also quick and easy to set up, without the need for engineers to come out and install the router for you.  This means that business can continue as normal with the installation taking place in the space of just a few minutes.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR SMART CONNECT FACT SHEET.

Types of connection

Depending on the requirements of the business, there are three options when it comes to selecting the right Smart-Connect router for each situation.  Each one offers both ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) and SDSL (Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line) connections.  SDSL services are ideal for companies who have several computers sharing an identical database.

The standard Smart-Connect router allows for a second broadband connection in addition to the normal one.  Smart-Connect Plus has a total of three lines, while Smart-Connect Enterprise will give a business the maximum of four broadband connections simultaneously.

The benefits

The main benefit is the level of protection the service offers.  All businesses using the system will no longer be vulnerable to broadband outages.  Internet access will also be much faster, since the router makes use of all the available connections rather than using one and leaving the others on standby.  This enables each business to operate much more efficiently, taking away the worry of what might happen if the broadband connection were to fail without warning.

A third benefit is that Smart-Connect ensures the IP address for all available connections is the same.  This means that if one connection does fail for any reason, essential services such as accessing email accounts and other internet messaging services will not be interrupted.

For more information click here or call 0845 366 2300

Click here to find out more