News in brief: Lean practice benefits Vanguard; Maternity leave warning and more

THE adoption of lean manufacturing has allowed West Yorkshire firm Vanguard to streamline its working practices, minimise waste, boost productivity, cut production costs and slash lead times.

The Halifax-based company manufactures wire products, wire components, retail display and storage systems.

Managing director Paul Howcroft said: “Lean manufacturing has played a large part in transforming Vanguard from a traditional sub-contract company operating on age-old methods into a modern-day manufacturer. We are firmly on course to achieve record turnover of £3m by the end of 2009, an increase of 25%.”

Vanguard was established in Halifax in 1928 and now employs a 60-strong and expanding workforce.

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WORKERS on maternity leave will be able to enjoy non-cash benefits for longer, following the introduction of new maternity rights legislation which takes effect this weekend, according to the Leeds office of international law firm Eversheds.

From this week, new UK legislation will extend the rights of employees taking maternity leave – allowing them to hold on to non-cash benefits, such as mobile phones and company cars for the entire 52 weeks of their maternity leave.

According to Eversheds, some employers may not be ready for the changes. Simon Rice-Birchall, partner in the employment law team at Eversheds Leeds office, said: “Employers need to make sure that they are prepared for this legislative change and budget ahead to ensure that the extended rights to non-cash benefits can be provided. While extending mobile phone contracts for the full 52 weeks can be achieved at a relatively low cost, other types of flexible benefit, such as child care vouchers provided in lieu of salary, could cost the employer significantly more.

“Under existing laws, the employer is required to maintain non-pay benefits for the first 26 weeks. Under the new laws, they will be required to provide non-cash benefits, including any flexible benefits which are provided via a salary sacrifice scheme, for the full 52 weeks. This is a significant change and employers will need to plan ahead.”

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TWENTY businesses that re-invest their profits back into communities are competing to be recognised as the region’s top social enterprises of the year.

The Social Enterprise Awards, now in their third year, are organised and sponsored by Business Link Yorkshire to celebrate the achievements of the leading social enterprises in Yorkshire and Humber.

Finalists across five categories include four enterprising schools, an outdoor centre employing more than 50 people, a project motivating disaffected young people turning over £200,000 a year and a former railway station named a key tourist attraction by the Sunday Times.

Tim Campbell, winner of the first series of the BBC’s The Apprentice and founder of The Bright Ideas Trust, will be the keynote speaker at the awards evening on October 15 at the Park Inn Hotel in York.

The awards, supported by Yorkshire Forward and Social Enterprise Yorkshire and Humber (SEYH), are held on the evening before the region’s social economy trade fair and exhibition, Footsey, at York Racecourse.