Hall-Fast Managing Director, Malcolm Hall, was on hand to receive the prestigious honour at the 2012 Midlands Business Awards, held at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham. This was the latest in a string of business awards for the six year old company, which has now added export success to its many other achievements.

Hall-Fast, which is based in Boughton, Nottinghamshire, supplies specialist fasteners, industrial equipment and associated products, to companies across the UK and to 74 overseas destinations. It has quickly become one of the most decorated companies in the Midlands with honours including…

• British Chamber of Commerce Achievement in Export Award - Third

• British Chamber of Commerce – East Midlands Entrepreneur of the Year – Regional Winner

• British Chamber of Commerce – East Midlands Award for Achievement in Export – Winner

• Nottingham Post Awards – Small Business of the Year – Finalist

• Mansfield 2020 – Business of the Year – Winner

Friday’s Midlands Business Awards were judged by a panel which included Joe Elliott – Director of Coventry City FC, Richard Riley – Director of Universities, West Midlands and Jon Griffin – Business Editor of the Birmingham Mail. Host for the evening was BBC Midlands’ Kay Alexander. 

In winning the Midlands Exporter of the Year award, the judges said Hall-Fast had demonstrated outstanding performance in exporting, and innovative export strategies, leading to significantly increased business results. Since launching its exporting operation three years ago, at the height of the recession, Hall-Fast now exports to 74 countries and export sales are expected to be around 35% of turnover this year.

Commenting on his company’s latest success, Malk Hall, said: “We are delighted to receive this honour, it’s a great reward for the hard work everyone here has put in over the last three years. I am now looking forward to working with local business support organisations to explain how we have approached this area of our business in the hope that it will inspire other companies to develop their own export strategies.”

There is more on this story at:
http://www.regus.presscentre.com/Press-Releases/ Opportunity-knocks-overseas-but-can-SMEs-capitalise-2e99.aspx

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) puts duties on employers to report serious accidents and near misses on their sites, but the past 12 months have seen no RIDDOR incidents at all on any of Baggaley’s sites across the Midlands and South Yorkshire.

Managing director Phil Askin said: “This is a huge achievement within the construction industry, which is one of the most dangerous industries in the UK. Our managers and supply chain have been working towards this goal over the past five years, focusing on all areas of safety to enable us to reduce the number of reportable incidents.”

However, Phil adds: “While this really is brilliant news and a fantastic achievement, one year RIDDOR free does not mean the job is done. We need to improve and encourage everyone to adopt a safety-conscious attitude at work and develop a culture to ensure everything we do is sensible and safe. We want to prevent and control hazards that could cause accidents. It is not about statistics, it’s about ensuring that we all go home from work safe and well.”

The family-owned company has put its impressive safety record down to a series of initiatives that have included ensuring that all staff and visitors commit to working safely and the establishment of enhanced safety, health and environmental standards on sites.

It has also improved its already robust management of work at height and traffic management processes, and the company also ensures that all work is specifically planned with health and safety in mind.

For more information about Baggaley Construction, visit www.baggaley.co.uk

2012

• 23 February
• 29 March
• 26 April
• 31 May
• 28 June
• 26 July
• 27 September
• 25 October
• 15 November
• 6 December

Portable Appliance Testing (1 day) 29^th February 2012
All electrical equipment at work, whether permanently connected or connected by a plug and socket outlet, should be inspected and tested.  This work is not difficult and can be undertaken by your own in-house staff following this one-day training course.

Asbestos Awareness (half day) 20^th March 2012
Suitable for workers in the building trades as well as personnel who have responsibilities in the workplace for managing premises, and construction and maintenance projects.

Emergency First Aid at Work (1 day) 31^st May 2012
It is recommended that virtually every workplace has at least one Emergency First Aider at Work to administer First Aid in an emergency.

If you would like to send any delegates on any of the above courses, please either complete and fax back the appropriate booking form on the number below, or visit our website at  http://www.jwcope.co.uk/copesafety.php?pageno=21 which lists all of our open courses scheduled for 2012 and BOOK ONLINE.

Are you or your clients:

• Facing succession issues?
• Contemplating how to go about selling your company?
• Considering your other exit options?
• Seeking to expand by acquisition?
• Wanting to enhance the value and saleability of your company?

Deal specialists from Strategic Corporate Finance and law firm Larken & Co, along with experienced business coaches from TDH Partners are pooling their expertise to present this enlightening jargon-free seminar.  The presentation will be full of practical advice, hints and tips to equip company shareholders, directors and their advisors with the facts they need to maximise their chances of achieving the best possible outcome when it comes to buying or selling a company, or arranging a management buy-out, whenever that may be in the future.

Where and when

• The Aura Centre, Newark
• Tuesday 20^th March, registration 9.00am, free buffet lunch at 12.30pm with a 1.30pm finish

You are welcome to bring along your accountant or other trusted advisor.

Details of other similar events throughout 2012 are on our website: www.strategiccorporatefinance.co.uk

Reserving places

There are three ways to book places at the seminar:

• by e-mail: marianne.martin@strategiccf.co.uk
• phone: 0114 324 0430
• online at www.strategiccorporatefinance.co.uk/events.

• Teresa Morgan, Morgan Tucker Limited
• Stuart Hastings, Bruton Knowles
• Glynn Jones, The Derbyshire Hotel
• Sa’ad Al-Kattan, Sherwood Resources Limited

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