Ezine Newsletters

The Business Support Network is divided into four groups: Commercial, Training & Recruitment, Research & 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

While the headlines are reflecting fear in the world financial markets, and businesses at home are feeling the pinch through increased expenses, longer payment terms, and market uncertainty, it is good practice for businesses to review costs, eliminate waste, and tighten up procedures. However, one area where managers take a bigger risk if they take their corporate "eye off the ball", perhaps even jeopardising their business's future, is health and safety.

The costs to a business of cutting back on health and safety have never been greater. The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, which came into effect in April 2008, highlights the duty of care required by senior management. Business finances which are already under pressure may be damaged or even overwhelmed by fines, increased insurance premiums, loss of customers through bad publicity, and even the legal costs of fighting claims.

Health and safety is a business area which requires management attention in the form of practical risk management. This does not need to be onerous, especially if the business has implemented a health & safety management system such as BS OHSAS18001.

At a recent seminar during the Total Workplace Management Exhibition held at London Olympia, IMSM's London Area Manager, Roderick Hogarth, explained how companies which achieve BS OHSAS 18001 have identified valuable cost savings.  "By working to an international standard such as BS OHSAS18001, businesses can ensure they have reviewed their procedures, evaluated risks, and recognized their duty of care. Having such a framework not only demonstrates to customers that health and safety is important, it directly reduces injuries and illness costs. Productivity increases too."

BS OHSAS 18001 is the Health and Safety Management standard which has been developed for international use and is based on ISO 9001. It enables an organisation to control its health and safety risks and improve its performance. An effective H & S management system will not only support compliance with legislation, but most importantly reduce the risk to employees, and therefore the cost to their employers.

Implementing a health and safety management system need not be complicated or expensive, but it will certainly save you money.

For more information contact IMSM's London Business Manager, Roderick Hogarth, on 07973 268371, or [email protected] www.imsm.com

Other IMSM News:
IMSM has just published the latest edition of International Impact, its newsletter covering the benefits of ISO certification for businesses around the world. Among the case studies, are two from US and Canadian plastics businesses which are reaping the rewards of achieving ISO9001. To read the Newsletter CLICK HERE

To read about the benefits of Restructuring read the IMSM Release 'Best practice framework' HERE

IMSM - Interplas Press Release click here to read full story

Click here to find out more about IMSM

Leading Recruitment and Human Resources (HR) Company Listgrove Ltd reports two major developments for the Autumn: a newly formed International Division to handle the company’s growing global success and a newly formed Human Resources consultancy that is aimed at maximizing the performance of our clients employees.

Through an expanded presence at many of the industry's key international exhibitions, Listgrove has launched an International Division to handle the company's growing success in the global plastics and packaging sectors.  This is partly to fulfill a growing order book demand, but also to proactively support international companies with good skills and management.

Listgrove has also taken its own words to heart by reshaping its Stratford-based team in order to offer specialised HR skills. Jane Edwards - an experienced HR professional within the plastics sector - has been appointed to head up the consultancy service, which has already delivered benefits to company management teams within the industry. 
 
"Many small to medium enterprises (SME) in plastics and packaging, 'says Conrad Taylor, Operations Director - Executive Services, 'simply have no HR department or resources and therefore stand in need of these skills. Jane's role will be to lead our HR Consultancy, offering our services to clients who cannot afford to employ a HR manager on a full time basis.  Jane is a professionally qualified HR manager with 20 years experience in plastics and general engineering.'

"With the current economic climate, the emphasis for business' is retention of staff" says Edwards, "therefore reviewing the skills and culture of people is a priority. Carrying out assessment and development programmes enables companies to recognise, utilise and expand on in-house skills. At Listgrove we have developed an excellent Assessment & Development Programme which has proven highly successful with many clients that have taken part in it this year."

"However, we do recognize that many business' are having to downsize.  Therefore, the need for experienced and professional support with outplacement
is now in high demand. That, coupled with our contacts in the plastics industry, is an area we are experiencing great success in."

As part of Listgrove's re-skilling, the Listgrove HR team has recently been trained in the '360 Degree Assessment Process'. 'The technique,' says Jane is aimed at personal development whereby an individual, their manager, a peer and a subordinate all complete the assessment.  This provides invaluable information to help company personnel receive training towards their career goals. It also enables succession planning and general corporate goals.'

For further details of Listgrove range of services, visit the company's website - www.listgrove.com - or speak directly to Jason Markham.  Tel: 01789-207070

Click here to find out more about Listgrove

It is a sad fact that the credit crunch and general economic downturn have increased the risk of company insolvencies and receivership.  While credit insurance can help to reduce the financial impact if your customers default, being aware of which of your customers may be at risk can help to reduce your exposure, regardless of whether or not you are covered by credit insurance. Early warning signs include:

• 'On time' payers starting to slip behind
• Outstanding payments taking 45 days or longer
• Requests to extend terms of credit
• Switching from long standing suppliers or using a wider range of new suppliers
• Over-dependency on a small number of customers
• Suffering an increase in bad debts
• An increase in customer and contract disputes (delaying tactics)
• Extending or increasing borrowings
• The sudden abandonment of new projects, premises extensions or new machinery orders with weak or vague explanations
• Evidence of final demands or writs
• Pressure from HM Revenue & Customs due to late payments

Sometimes it is too late to spot the warning signs and the company experiences a bad debt.  Having credit insurance in place would absolve this debt.  Although this is the most obvious benefit of credit insurance, less tangible advantages could prove equally important:

• Real-time analysis of the financial state of customers - useful for sales forecasting and inventory control
• Attracting finance should be easier and according to a recent study on average nearly 0.5% cheaper (Euler Hermes Credit Management Study 2006)
• Credit insurance allows for a slick sales operation when offering credit to new prospects
• The flexibility to choose to insure specific areas of your customer base (e.g. export ledger, top accounts, or even specific industries) means credit insurance can be very cost effective

If you are, planning for a rainy day or simply wishing to enjoy added confidence and clarity then now could be the time to consider credit insurance.   To find your local insurance expert visit www.cherrypickedinsurance.co.uk/ta/bpf

Insurance will be provided through members of the Willis Commercial Network, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Click here to find out more about Willis Commercial Network

Missed the first eco-design webinar 'An Eco-Design Overview' which was held on Wednesday 8 October 2008? It's not too late to view click here

The second eco-design webinar is planned for Wednesday 25 February 2009
Practical Approaches for Eco-Design - click here to register

Both online seminars help companies develop more sustainable designs that can minimise environmental impacts and save money. What's more, delegates can register and participate without having to leave the office!

The first webinar - 'An Eco-Design Overview' gave detailed, up to date information about commonly debated issues within the Design Industry.

Presentations were given by resource efficiency and eco-design experts, including an overview of what eco-design means in relation to product and packaging followed by updates on current and future legislation. Interactive product and packaging design demonstrations followed, illustrating how to develop sustainable designs whilst minimising environmental impacts throughout the product or packaging life-cycle.

Finally a round table discussion summed up the day, gave results of the voting questions and answered more of the delegates questions live.

The second event - 'Practical Approaches for Eco-Design' will take you through a workshop, which you can then run within your company, to enable your design team to embed the principles of eco-design into your design process.

Both webinars cover product and packaging design and are delivered in a modular format to enable you to 'log in' and 'log out' to relevant sections.

With consumers increasingly favouring products that have been designed to minimise their environmental impact and comply with legislation, don't miss this opportunity to take part.

Click here to find out more about Envirowise

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

Commercial:
Risk Management, Finance, Credit Management, Legal, Energy Procurement, Insurance

Training and Recruitment:
Personnel Management, Training, Recruitment

Research:
Innovation, R&D

Technical and Operations:
Process Management, Environmental and Quality Management, Health and Safety