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An increase in home renovations and removals has made it a major shipper of building materials, increasing sales and creating jobs, with support from Lloyds Bank.

Bimson Haulage said it saw a significant increase in demand for its delivery services over the past 12 months after more people chose to do private construction projects and improve their homes during the lockdown. To meet demand, Bimson has secured a six-figure financing package from Lloyds Bank that will upgrade its fleet operator license to 66 vehicles. 25 new special vehicles have already been ordered.

Carlisle, which currently has a team of 70+ people, predicts that the improvements and expansion of its fleet will allow it to grow 20% and create 30 jobs over the next two years.

The family business is now run by the third generation and has nine locations in the North West, Yorkshire, Staffordshire and London, including its original headquarters in Carlisle. In cooperation with building material suppliers, building dealers and house builders across the country, the specialist freight forwarder currently distributes around 1,000 deliveries per week.

General Manager Richard Bimson said, “The family business Bimson began construction over 70 years ago and grew into a transportation company when my grandfather saw a niche in the market for transporting building materials to the job site. From a one-man operation to a successful transport company and meanwhile grown into an established nationwide freight forwarder, the company has since far exceeded all expectations. “

Angela Parry, Associate Director, HP & Leasing at Lloyds Bank, said, “The government’s decision to cut stamp duty has boosted the real estate market. With people also spending more time at home than ever before, it is not surprising that the number of private housing projects has increased so significantly. This latest investment will not only bring about a change by creating the scope for further expansion of the company, it will also ensure that the fleet is fit for the years to come. “

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Adam Feakins

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) announced Bury-based technology solutions specialist Avoira in audiovisual (AV) and technical integration contracts valued at £ 50 million after bringing the company to its new audiovisual technical advisory and commissioning system for dynamic purchasing .

The DPS runs through March 2024 and includes the provision of AV design consulting, integration, installation and support services. This also includes hardware procurement and project management. The DPS serves a wide range of public bodies that require complex AV services. It will also assist those who need assistance with rooms that host AV technologies and collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, Google Meets, and Zoom Rooms.

Its clients include government departments and law enforcement agencies, local authorities, the NHS, emergency services, educational institutions, third sector organizations and charities.

It is designed to offer its public sector customers flexibility in sourcing the latest technologies and methods and has a dynamic filtering system. This streamlines the purchase of any combination of design, installation, and support.

Adam Feakins, Head of AV / VC Sales and Operations at Avoira, said, “Understandably, the criteria that companies must meet in order to be included in government procurement are strict. We are delighted that we have achieved this mark with our experience, expertise, financial stability and purchasing power and that we have gained access to tenders worth around £ 50 million. “

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The 3PL fulfillment hub

Gaming brand GameByte, owned by Social Chain, has signed a contract with order fulfillment provider 3PL to further expand its e-commerce capabilities.

GameByte is a community of 6.5 million gamers and aims to capitalize on the boom in online gaming with an e-comm website with more than 1,000 products, including merchandise, game accessories, hardware, next-generation consoles and games. Players can shop directly in the store or buy via social networks by clicking on any of GameByte’s videos via Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, which averaged over 25 million views each month.

3PL will provide e-commerce order fulfillment, sales and a range of post-processing services for all UK orders through its newly established pre-retail division.

John Scully, Business Development Manager at 3PL of Wigan, said, “The addition of GameByte to the existing portfolio of social chain brands currently served by 3PL is an exciting development. We look forward to meeting these and other new brands over time. “

Anna Graham, E-Commerce Director at Social Chain, said: “We are once again very excited to integrate our products with 3PL as we continue to scale our brand portfolio in the UK. John and the team at 3PL are always responsive and quick to respond to our ever-changing needs. We look forward to integrating more brands with 3PL in the near future. “

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Adrian Cunningham

Bolton-based multi-utility connectivity provider Aptus Utilities has been awarded the prestigious Secured by Design accreditation.

Aptus designs, connects and puts multi-utility networks into operation for new residential, industrial and commercial projects. It specializes in the design and installation of street lighting. The company is only the second lighting consultant in the country to receive accreditation.

Secured by Design (SBD) is the flagship initiative of the British police force to prevent crime through the use of high-quality, innovative products and processes. With the support of several police forces in the UK, SBD plays an important role in crime prevention. It is widely recognized as a valuable hallmark of the specification preferred by the police.

Adrian Cunningham, Street Lighting Manager at Aptus Utilities, said, “We are incredibly proud to have received Police Accreditation and SBD Certification. Our customers can rely on us to meet the extremely high standards of an independent third party. This accreditation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Aptus Utilities design team. “

To become a Secured by Design licensed consultant and member firm, Aptus Utilities had to undergo a rigorous application and review process mandated by the police. Secured by Design is the only way for products and services to achieve police approval in the UK and, as such, offers a guaranteed level of security not found anywhere else.

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Globus Group, the Manchester-based international PPE (personal protective equipment) company, has announced a unique partnership with Vision Express to offer prescription safety glasses in all Vision Express stores across the country.

Protecting the eyes without compromising the vital acuity of eyesight has long been a problem for workers in various industries, such as: B. Construction and manufacturing, as well as for consumers who DIY at home.

Although goggles offer protection from a range of hazards, they have not yet been able to provide the wearer with the same clarity of vision as prescription glasses. This new partnership offers a solution for those in need of safety glasses. As part of the collaboration, the opticians will bring to market a full portfolio of prescription goggles from Globus Group’s high-performance brand Riley RX, manufactured by Vision Lab.

Effective eye protection is especially important for construction and manufacturing workers, who have one of the highest workplace accident rates in the UK. Prescription safety glasses can help ensure that workers’ vision is not obstructed, which is often the case when they are required to wear safety glasses over their own prescription glasses.

Neil Sinclair, Division President of Globus Group, said, “Globus Group is proud to be the official manufacturer of Vision Express and we look forward to protecting our customers with our market-leading range of prescription safety glasses.”

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The hugely successful Y Factor fundraiser has returned this year and has brought together 36 professionals from the northern corporate finance community to record a music video in support of the MancSpirit charity.

While the pandemic may have prevented the usual in-person event, banking, legal, corporate finance and private equity firm individuals have performed a cover of Elbow’s “One Day Like This,” presented by Jeremy Smith, Director at. The music is staged by ABN AMRO Commercial Finance and will be released once the £ 10,000 target has been reached.

Companies involved in the fundraiser include ABN AMBRO, Addleshaw Goddard, BGF, Clyde & Co, Deloitte, Duff & Phelps, HSBC, KJG, KPMG, LDC, Mayfair Equity Partners, Palatine, Pinsent Masons, PwC, RSM, Santander, Squire Patton Boggs, Tosco Debt Capital, Ward Hadaway, and Yorkshire Bank.

MancSpirit is the mental wellbeing charity in Greater Manchester committed to improving the mental wellbeing of people in the area through creativity and art. Donations can be made here.

Michael Reeves, CEO of Clearwater International, said, “Over the past 12 months, the pandemic has caused a lot of uncertainty and concern among people across the region.

“Mental health couldn’t be more important right now, so it was obvious to support MancSpirit.

“We were overwhelmed by the goodwill and generosity of the professional community and it was great to bring the Y Factor team back together for such a good cause.”

Damian Carr, MancSpirit Co-Founder with Paul Ludden, said, “We are overwhelmed by the energy and musical detail that Jeremy has achieved in this video. In all honesty, I can’t wait for more of you to see for yourself the ingenuity people put on this project during the lockdown. “

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Jess Cohen and Sophie Garner

Two mothers have teamed up to create a new CBD brand exclusively for women.

Behind Canax CBD are friends Sophie Garner from Blackburn and Jess Cohen, who grew up on the Wirral and now lives in Nottingham.

We called their first product Mummy Gummies, a range of CBD-infused gummies that are said to help relieve period pain.

Sophie, 34, a pediatric nurse, said, “After seeing firsthand the effects of CBD on patients, we wanted to create a brand of CBD for women that would help them in their daily lives.

“Our next CBD products will help women get through perimenopause and menopause.”

Jess, 36, whose mother started taking CBD to help her sleep and relax after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, said, “Our gummy bears give women a daily dose of CBD and help take that heat off, when they feel the need.

“Many of our customers take Mummy Gummies to help them with sleep, anxiety and monthly menstrual pain.”

THC-free Mummy Gummies are made in the UK using CBD from fair trade hemp farms in Oregon.