SME: Cefar, Robert Mart & Co, CCTV direct, WR Gaskets

DIGITAL design agency Cefar has built a management and training portal for mobile network provider EE in just three months.

The EE Design Roadmap and Capacity Planning tool is a management information system meant to facilitate EE’s management of their training agreement requests.

Melissa Ward, Governance & Planning, Frontline Training, Development & Resourcing at EE said: “I have been so impressed by how easy the new portal system created by Cefar is to use. Staff who haven’t used the system before or had any training have been able to raise a design roadmap by just using the guide alone.

“And everyone who uses it comments on its simplicity. This demonstrates that this system really is doing what it’s supposed to – saving an enormous amount of admin time and enabling staff to concentrate on their core roles.”

Surinder Kalsi, managing director of Cefar said “This feedback from EE is fantastic. This is great testament to the hard work the team have put into the development process.”

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CHAIRMAN of Roberts Mart & Co has been given an Outstanding Contribution award by the British Printing Industries Federation.

The accolade is given to one individual a year and was presented to chairman John Roberts, who attended the ceremony at the House of Lords with sons and co-directors WIlliam and Ben Roberts, the sixth generation of the family the run the Leeds-based firm.

BPIF President Gerald White, who presented the award, paid tribute to Mr Roberts, contribution to the industry. He said: “John has devoted his life to print packaging and has been for most of his life at the forefront of developments within the industry during which time, Roberts Mart has evolved from paper based printing to a market leader in high performance packaging films.”

Mr Roberts, who last year celebrated 50 years of service with Roberts Mart, told the VIP audience: “I am delighted but also humbled to have been nominated for this achievement. However, I would like to say that this is very much a family award because if I hadn’t had the support of my wife and family in keeping me going during the ups and downs of the trading cycle, I may have been tempted to retire many years ago.”

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CCTVdirect is on a recruitment drive, and is on the search for up to 10 people to fill roles at the growing business.

The firm was launched by managing director Mark Raine seven years ago in East Leeds with only a few hundred pounds in the bank.

They now hold accounts for clients in Cyprus and Nigeria.

They have a team of 22 staff across their Leeds city centre base, which they are hoping to expand along with their product lines after they have boosted the technical team.

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GRIMSBY manufacturer WR Gaskets has been able to expand its business and export to the parent companies of its existing customers with the help of a business advisory service.

The Grimsby Institute Group’s advisory arm helped the firm, based in Pyewipe, to come up with a strategic growth plan, and get funding to acquire £80,000 worth of new machinery.

WR Gaskets, which manufactures packings, sealing products and stuf bolts for the petrochemical, renewables and pharmaceuticals industries.

This was part of the GREAT project, a £4m European Regional Development Fund project led by the Grimsby Institute Group, in partnership with Humber Chemical Focus. The project supports the development of renewables and environmental technology businesses in the area.

An advisor from the Grimsby Institute team worked with WR Gaskets to produce a four-point plan, which included new machinery, funding for growth, an expansion in the workforce and larger premises.

Paul Graham, managing director of WR Gaskets, explained:”The advice has had a measurable impact on the business.

“A new gasket cutting machine has now been purchased and installed. A three-year financial forecast has been developed and Regional Growth Development Fund (RDF) funding has been obtained.

“The first of the two new jobs has been filled and is a sales and marketing manager role, aimed at progressing business expansion.”

Executive director of the Grimsby Institute, Andy Goudie, said: “We are delighted that WR Gaskets has been able to take advantage of our business advice and guidance and incorporate it into its strategy.

“There will be many opportunities for companies in the Humber region thanks to the significant investment from the renewables sector in our area. It’s great that we can help local firms capitalise on this.”