EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Wired for Good Campaign Hits £60k

Acorns Children’s Hospice has become the first charity to be recognised twice by a Black Country manufacturer’s fundraising campaign. Alloy Wire International (AWI), a producer of round, flat and profile wire, has donated £5000 to the organisation as part of its ongoing Wired for Good initiative, with the money helping deliver essential services to more than 780 children and over 1000 families every year across the West Midlands. It follows a £7500 donation three years ago and takes the total money given out by AWI to good causes to £60,000.

More information www.acorns.org.uk

Grant Supports £1m Paint Shop Boost

A UK manufacturer of bespoke racking is looking to double its sales by 2028 after tapping into assistance from a major business support programme. Wickens Engineering, which employs 50 people at its Worcester factory, is targeting £20m in revenue after completing a £1m improvement project in the company’s paint shop, giving it the capability to powder-coat 8 m steel beams for the first time. The latest phase of the investment drive was supported by consultancy through the Elevate Manufacturing Programme, which included a revenue grant that played a key role in driving change.

More information www.elevate-manufacturing.co.uk

BGB welcomes third generation to team

Family-owned engineering firm BGB has welcomed Alex Holt, son of CEO David Holt, to its
team, marking the third generation of the Holt family to step into the business. Founded in
1976 by David’s father, David Holt Snr and his two partners, Grantham-headquartered BGB
quickly became a stand-out provider in fully engineered solutions for smart rotary
applications. Alex Holt, a business and finance graduate from De Montfort University in
Leicester, will spend the next 18-24 months rotating through key areas of the business as a
management trainee.
More information www.bgbinnovation.com

Progressive Apprentice Academy boost

Edging closer to its 50 th  anniversary, Newbury-based Progressive Technology Group
opened its Apprentice Academy in 2015. For this bedrock for developing the talent of
tomorrow, Tooling Intelligence has donated a SmartDrawer vending solution. The
Apprentice Academy at Progressive Technology enlisted 18 apprentices as part of its 2024
cohort.
With technical partner Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC), Tooling Intelligence installed its
first SmartDrawer vending solution at the subcontract outfit in 2014. The most recent
SmartDrawer arrival means there are now four such systems on site. Understanding the
inventory management process is essential for apprentices, which is why Tooling
Intelligence has made its generous contribution.
More information www.toolingintelligence.co.uk

Parklands Capital buys Laser Expertise

Laser Expertise, a laser-cutting fabrication specialist established for 40+ years, has been sold
to Parklands Capital, a private equity fund which invests in established UK SMEs with
ambitious management teams and strong growth prospects. Based in Nottingham and
operating nationally, Laser Expertise has around 2787 m² of workshop space and employs
more than 80 people. The deal was led by Matthew Sibley, associate director of company
sales specialist KBS Corporate.
The staff at Laser Expertise that customers currently deal with for all facets of the business
will remain the same, along with the company name and contact details. With the support
and infrastructure of Parklands Capital, Laser Expertise will be able to continue investing in
the latest technologies.
More information www.kbscorporate.com