OMS celebrate 25 years in business
25 years ago OMS started life as a consultancy business where founder, Clive Ormerod, could offer the skills he had acquired in the civil engineering and construction sector to businesses who needed to access his expertise.
A quarter of a century later OMS is celebrating, with Clive hosting a special lunch yesterday (15 March) acknowledging customers, partners, suppliers and those who’ve worked with OMS along the way to say thank you.
OMS said: “The loyalty of our clients is something we’re particularly gratified of, people who return year after year to us. And of course, the team, those who work on behalf of OMS, they’ve also ensured our continued success today.”
With the drive and passion of the Managing Director and the entire team, OMS has become the training and consultancy partner of choice here in the East Midlands (and further afield).
OMS added: “Like any company, there have been challenging times and OMS are no different, however we are extremely proud of the many accolades, accomplishments and the support which we have given our clients and the local community. We have developed our training and consultancy portfolio enormously and seamlessly adapted our offerings when difficult times have arisen, like a pandemic where face to face training and client site consultant visits was popped on hold!”
HISTORY OF OMS
1998 OMS commenced trading carrying out ISO 9001 consultancy work.
2001 Added Health and Safety consultancy to OMS portfolio.
2002 Re-located to East Midlands (from NW) and added health and safety training delivery to OMS portfolio.
2004 Gained approval to deliver Safety Pass Alliance (SPA) & IOSH training courses.
2005 Gained ISO 9001 certification through BSI and gained approval to deliver NEBOSH NGC training courses.
2007 Gained approval to deliver NEBOSH Fire Certificate training courses.
2008 Achieved ILM Training Centre status.
2009 Gained approval to deliver NEBOSH Construction Certificate training courses.
2010 Moved into current premises.
2011 Gained approval to deliver NEBOSH Environmental Certificate & Worksafe First Aid training courses. Gained City & Guilds training centre status.
2012 Added practical training area to existing premises to deliver work at height training and gained approval to deliver IPAF, PASMA, Ladder Association CITB & Site Safety Plus training courses.
2013 Gained approval to deliver UKATA training courses.
2014 Premises refurbished and two additional training rooms and reception area added.
2015 Gained ISO 14001 certification through BSI and became a CITB approved ITC Centre (touch screen test centre).
2017 Achieved CQA-IRCA Approved Training Partner status.
2018 Achieved CITB ATO status to allows OMS to process funding applications on behalf of customers.
2019 Achieved NEBOSH Gold status.
2020 Gained ISO 45001 Certification through Intertek.
2021 Gained approval to deliver NEBOSH Diploma training course.
2022 Gained approval to deliver Construction NVQs through City & Guilds.
Charity organisers call on Leicester’s leaders to spend a night outside
CEO Sleepout, a national initiative aiming to raise vital funds and awareness of the growing issue of homelessness, is coming to Leicester for the first time ever.
Organisers of the sleepout events ask business leaders and executives from cities across the UK to spend a night in the cold to help raise awareness and money to support those who are homeless. The first event in Leicester will take place at the Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium on April 6th, 2023.
Chief Executive of the charity, Bianca Robinson is looking for 50 of Leicester’s big-hearted company bosses to step up to the challenge and raise a combined total of £50,000. She said: “Business leaders have the power, the opportunity and the responsibility to ensure they are active within communities and play a role in strengthening the fabric of society.
“It is my hope that while looking up at the stars at 3am, they will consider actions they can take as leaders, and enforce these into their business to create greater social impact.”
Speaking of the main aim of CEO Sleepout, Bianca added: “We aim to raise big money to support charities on the frontline of homelessness in the city, and at the same time bring business leaders together to gain a deeper understanding of the issues around homelessness locally.”
Key players in the city have supported the organisers of the charity in bringing its event to the area, particularly Leicester Tigers, who have agreed to host the sleepout and Lord Lieutenant Mike Kapur, a signatory on Leicester’s Homelessness Charter, and Vice Lord-Lieutenant Murray Colville.
Murray, who is taking part in his first sleepout, is no stranger to sleeping rough. “I’ve been a soldier most of my life so I know what it entails, but having to sleep rough long term because of personal circumstances is an altogether different matter.
“Many homeless people are veterans and I feel an affinity to them and enormous sympathy.”
Speaking of why he decided to sign up for CEO Sleepout, he said: “I wanted to help raise awareness of the situation for those who have nowhere else to turn and highlight the discomfort and potential dangers they face.”
Funds raised at this event will support charities under the Leicester Homeless Charter, CEO Sleepout UK and the Leicester Tigers Foundation.
The Leicester Tigers Foundation utilises the power and expertise within Leicester Tigers Rugby Club to help make a positive difference in the lives and opportunities of thousands of individuals and groups every year.
Sam Swift, the foundation manager, said: “We are incredibly proud to be working hand in hand with CEO Sleepout to deliver Leicester’s first stadium sleepout.
“The Leicester Tigers Foundation is extremely passionate about supporting our local community and by not only hosting this great event but by also distributing some of the funds raised, into our programmes, we know the impact can be significant.”
Urging people to sign up to participate in the event, Sam added: “For any organisation or individual who wishes to take part, I would urge them to get involved, knowing that their contributions, both financially and in raising awareness, will really change lives.”
To date, CEO Sleepout has raised an incredible £3.6 million from events across the country, helping to support those who find themselves sleeping on the streets.
If you would like to take part in Leicester’s first-ever CEO Sleepout, visit: ceosleepout.co.uk/leicester
Blast off for Rolls-Royce as funding secured for lunar nuclear reactor
Rolls-Royce has secured funding from UK Space Agency, backing research by the Derby firm into how nuclear power could be used to support a future moon base for astronauts.
Scientists and engineers at Rolls-Royce are working on the Micro-Reactor programme to develop technology that will provide power needed for humans to live and work on the moon.
The UK Space Agency has announced £2.9 million of new funding for the project which will deliver an initial demonstration of a UK lunar modular nuclear reactor. It follows a £249,000 study funded by the UK Space Agency in 2022.
Nuclear space power is anticipated to create new skilled jobs across the UK to support the burgeoning UK space economy. Rolls-Royce plan to have a reactor ready to send to the Moon by 2029.
Rolls-Royce will be working alongside a variety of collaborators including the University of Oxford, University of Bangor, University of Brighton, University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Nuclear AMRC.
Abi Clayton, director of Future Programmes for Rolls-Royce, said: “The new tranche of funding from the UK Space Agency means so much for the Rolls-Royce Micro-Reactor Programme. We’re proud to work collaboratively with the UK Space Agency and the many UK academic institutions to showcase the best of UK innovation and knowledge in space.
Minister of State at the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, George Freeman, said: “Space exploration is the ultimate laboratory for so many of the transformational technologies we need on Earth: from materials to robotics, nutrition, cleantech and much more.
“This funding will bring us further down the road in making the Micro-Reactor a reality, with the technology bringing immense benefits for both space and Earth. The technology will deliver the capability to support commercial and defence use cases alongside providing a solution to decarbonise industry and provide clean, safe and reliable energy.”
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “We are backing technology and capabilities to support ambitious space exploration missions and boost sector growth across the UK. Developing space nuclear power offers a unique chance to support innovative technologies and grow our nuclear, science and space engineering skills base.
“This innovative research by Rolls-Royce could lay the groundwork for powering continuous human presence on the Moon, while enhancing the wider UK space sector, creating jobs and generating further investment.”
“As we prepare to see humans return to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years, we are backing exciting research like this lunar modular reactor with Rolls-Royce to pioneer new power sources for a lunar base.“Partnerships like this, between British industry, the UK Space Agency and government are helping to create jobs across our £16 billion Space Tech sector and help ensure the UK continues to be a major force in frontier science.”
Chesterfield business park goes up for auction
The First Stage Business Park in Chesterfield, which is home to multiple light industrial businesses, has been put up for auction with a guide price of £1.1m.
Comprising 17 light industrial units, the multi-let 3.3 acre site produces an annual rental income of over £109,000 and is home to a number of local companies.
Metal finisher First Stage Machining; garage and repair shop Autofit; and MR Emergency Medical Services, which provides an independent ambulance service, medical cover for events and first aid training courses, are among current tenants.
Adrian Little, director at Mark Jenkinson, said: “This is a well known business park that’s in a great location on the outskirts of Chesterfield and close to junctions 29a and 30 of the M1. Occupancy levels remain consistently high and all 17 units are currently fully occupied, making this a fantastic investment opportunity.”
The business park will be included in the next online property auction held by Sheffield firm Mark Jenkinson, now part of Eddisons, on 4 April.
New mixed-use development planned for Mercia Marina
A new mixed-use scheme has been proposed at Mercia Marina, the waterside marina attraction, shopping and holiday destination in Derbyshire.
The plans, submitted to South Derbyshire District Council, involve constructing a new building to accommodate seven commercial units at ground floor level with two floors of residential accommodation (14 flats) above.
Three buildings – a tea room, newsagent and an office – would be removed to accommodate the scheme.
The benefits of the proposed building are said to include the creation of 43 additional jobs and an additional GVA of £11.9m across the local economy in the next 10 years.
Mercia Marina is a well-established business, that has grown over the last 15 years. During that time a number of buildings have been added including the boardwalk building which fronts the marina basin, the workshop building and the Piazza building, which is an extension of the offering within the boardwalk with shops and restaurant to the ground floor and offices to the upper floors. A number of holiday lodges and moorings sit within the wider site also.
Plans in to transform former restaurant into student scheme
Plans to convert a former restaurant into a student accommodation scheme have been submitted to Nottingham City Council.
Under the proposals, 54-60 Lower Parliament Street, the Antibo building, would be transformed by Kexgill Ltd and extended with two extra floors to provide 49 student bedrooms.
The building was most recently home to the Chez Coor restaurant on the ground floor, with accommodation on the upper floors.
The building has since been derelict and associated with anti-social behaviour and illegal activity with cannabis farming.
A commercial unit and office space would also be included in the new scheme.
Leisure centre to have £1.1m solar farm built on its roof
A solar panel array the size of 18 tennis courts and costing about £1.1m is to be installed on the roof of Leicester City Council’s Aylestone Leisure Centre. .
It’s part of a citywide programme of investment in low carbon, energy efficient improvements to council buildings which will help make them cheaper to run.
Work is currently under way to remove and replace the leisure centre’s existing roofing in preparation for the installation of the 3,600m2 solar array.
Once up and running, the new PVs will allow the centre to self-generate an estimated 270 MWh (megawatt hours) of clean energy in a typical year, also achieving annual carbon savings equivalent to around 60 tonnes per year.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke said: “This new investment in major energy efficiency improvements at Aylestone Leisure Centre represents another step forward in our citywide response to the climate emergency. With over 800 panels, it will be the largest array of PV panels we have installed on any of buildings so far.
“We are acutely aware that the need to retrofit and decarbonise existing buildings is amongst the biggest challenges presented by the climate emergency.
“Through an ongoing programme of investment in making our buildings more energy efficient, we can dramatically cut carbon emissions. In doing so, we will also help to save hundreds of thousands of pounds each year in energy costs – something that’s very welcome in these extraordinarily challenging times.”
The work at Aylestone Leisure Centre is supported by up to £500,000 from the European Regional Development Fund as part of Leicester City Council’s successful bid for over £4million of match-funding to support a range of projects that aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Work is being carried out by construction partners Stepnell under contract to Leicester City Council estates and building services. It will be the first project to be delivered under Stepnell’s new ‘Step Energy’ service.
Tom Sewell, regional director at Stepnell, said: “Working with local partners throughout the project, such as Leicestershire Cares, LEBC and Leicester Environmental Volunteers, will enable us to deliver on our commitment to social value. We prioritise leaving a lasting legacy in the communities where our projects take place, not only on the quality of works but also our impact on supporting the next generation to thrive, making the environment better and improving local economies by providing valuable work opportunities.”
New director promotion at IDT
Ilkeston-based managed IT services specialist, IDT, has promoted one of its longest-serving staff members to director.Lawrie Moon, head of Technical Support Team at IDT, steps up to operations director. Lawrie has been with IDT since he left college in 2004. He now oversees the company’s entire support team.Luke Draper, Managing Director at IDT, said: “Lawrie has a great relationship with his team – they cannot speak highly enough of him.“He’s absolutely earned it, Lawrie is one of the major cogs in our business and has been crucial in our growth, streamlining our support team. Lawrie is living proof to our new and young staff that hard work and dedication opens the door to succession and progress.”Luke added: “Like myself and my fellow director James Cartwright, Lawrie embraces and excels at the Human element of our business – and has the technical skills to match. This is rare, he’s the go to for advice and knowledge for his team.”Lawrie said: “Since joining IDT back in 2004 I’ve always strived to improve the way our business operates, focusing not only on our internal processes but helping to define and live our company values, that’s what makes us unique. As operations director I look forward to improving the way we work and building our relationships with current and future clients.”
Bowmer and Kirkland buys Innovaré
Innovaré, a partner business of The Osborne Group, is being bought by Derbyshire-based Bowmer and Kirkland as Osborne focuses on its core business.
Staff will be transferred under the TUPE regulations, maintaining their pay, terms and conditions under the new structure.
Innovaré, based in Coventry, provides offsite build solutions taking advantage of new materials, technologies, and methods of construction to increase the flexibility and energy efficiency of new buildings. It specialises in Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs).
Osborne Group chairman Andrew Osborne said: “Today’s strategic changes will ensure our core business can be successful in the years ahead. Like everyone in the construction sector, we have seen challenges in recent months but we are well placed to continue and build upon our proud track record of delivery for customers.
“Everyone at Osborne is proud of Innovaré’s growth to date and I know the company will continue to thrive under its new ownership.
“Construction is the heart of Osborne Group, the order book for 2023 is strong, and I look forward to making further announcements about new schemes and delivery of our existing projects.”
Railway company secures funding for ambitious growth plans
Harry Needle Railway Company Ltd (HNRC) has secured £2m in funding to support its ambitious growth plans to increase its capacity and capabilities and develop greener locomotives, creating 50 jobs over the next five years.
The investment was provided by national financier Frontier Development Capital’s (FDC) Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative Recycled Fund (AMSCI). The AMSCI Recycled Fund aims to help businesses in the manufacturing sector supply chain by providing loan investment to drive growth and generate job creation.
The funding will help the company provide additional advanced rail engineering support services and develop greener locomotives with lower carbon emissions for its own fleet of locomotives and those of its customers.
HNRC was established in 1999 and provides rail engineering and support services to rail manufacturers and rail operating companies across their three sites all connected to the national rail network.
HNRC will increase its capacity and capabilities by adding an engineering shed space, a paint shop, and railway lines across its sites in Worksop and Chesterfield. The expansion of its greener locomotives R&D program will lead to the modification of existing locomotives to become eco-friendly and sustainable by improving engine combustion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing sustainable fuel use while remaining cost-effective.
The company previously secured a £1.6m loan in 2019 from FDC to purchase and comprehensively refurbish one of its Workshop sites.
Harry Needle, Managing Director at Harry Needle Railway Company, said: “HNRC has established itself as a leading provider of advanced rail engineering and support services. This further investment plan reflects our ongoing commitment to expand our range of rail engineering and support services as well as reduce our carbon footprint by developing greener locomotives for ourselves and for our customers.
“This funding from Frontier Development Capital, following the previous funding received in 2019, will help us to reach the next stage of our plans for growth and create crucial new job roles to support this growth.”
Jack Glonek, investment director at Frontier Development Capital, said: “Following FDC’s previous funding for HNRC, which helped the Company grow significantly, this further funding will enable it to continue its growth journey including the development of greener locomotives for the rail industry.
“Frontier Development Capital’s AMSCI Recycled Fund supports UK-based businesses to generate growth. This investment is an excellent opportunity for HNRC to expand and improve its green credentials and support job creation.”
