One of the UK’s largest food wholesalers acquired by investment firm
London-based investment firm RDCP Group has acquired SOS Wholesale, one of the largest food wholesalers in the UK for an undisclosed sum.
RDCP has acquired Derby and Barnsey-based SOS Wholesale, a family run business founded in 1996 by Norman Beckett and his two sons Mark and Steven.
The business is one of the UK’s largest wholesalers of foods and beverages, employing 120 staff from its 70,000 sq ft warehouse and distribution centre in Derby and sales office in Barnsley. Its product range extends across 4,500 lines, selling top brands including Mars Bars, Walkers Crisps, Heinz, Nescafe, Colgate, and Fairy, delivering its products range in the UK, and exporting worldwide.
The existing management team led by Mark Beckett and Vipin Patara will work closely with RDCP founders, Sameer Rizvi and Iryna Dubylovska, on SOS Wholesale’s future growth strategy.
This latest deal is RDCP’s eighth acquisition in the last 18 months, following its most recent takeover of Intelling in October 2021. RDCP now controls $400 million of investments across multiple sectors in the UK.
Sameer Rizvi, founder & CEO of RDCP Group, said: “This is a major milestone for us at RDCP because the four acquisitions we completed last year combined with the organic growth of our existing portfolio companies has increased RDCP Group’s assets under management to $400 million.
“We were extremely impressed by SOS Wholesale and their track record of success and varied customer base which includes major national retailers as well as independents. We look forward to working closely with Mark, Vipin and their team to grow the business further and have plans to expand SOS Wholesale both organically via increased sales channels, but also by bringing bolt-on acquisitions of smaller competitors.”
Iryna Dubylovska, founder & chief strategy officer of RDCP Group, said: “This acquisition reflects our strong appetite to expand our presence across different sectors and I could not be prouder of our team and our advisors.
“We have ambitious plans to grow our assets under management to $1 billion by 2025 and will continue to invest our growing balance sheet capital into promising British businesses that have a consistent and profitable trading history, committed and ambitious management teams and a defendable and dominant market position within their respective sectors.”
Mark Beckett, Managing Director of SOS Wholesale, said: “Steven and I are proud to be a part of one of the UK’s fastest growing private conglomerates, RDCP Group. I am looking forward to continuing to work with Vipin Patara and our management team to grow the business further, whilst retaining the family values that have made us what we are today.
“It is very much business as usual for our staff, customers and suppliers. We have worked hard to build an excellent reputation of delivering exceptional service and this will continue to be a focus for SOS Wholesale moving forward.”
Vipin Patara, trading director of SOS Wholesale, said: “Over the past five years working with Mark and Steven, their passion and drive to grow the business has been contagious. It is a testimony to both Mark, Steven, and the SOS team to where the business has grown to today.
“The future potential is exciting for both organic growth as well as new opportunities. I am really looking forward to working collaboratively with Sameer, Iryna, Mark and the entire SOS team to take SOS Wholesale to the next level.”
Roy Farmer, corporate finance partner at Dains, added: “Having built a very successful business over the past 20 years, Mark and Steven decided approximately two years ago to create a succession plan in order to facilitate their retirement. Their goal was to realise the value that they had created to date and to ensure that the business was left in the hands of a buyer who would continue to further develop the business.
“We worked closely with Mark and Steven to develop their exit plan, and as part of this process spent a considerable amount of time identifying an appropriate purchaser. Having received strong interest in the SOS Wholesale business from both trade and financial investors alike, we were attracted to RDCP as a buyer for a number of reasons.
“RDCP’s model of being longer-term investors in businesses, backing strong incumbent management teams and retaining the stability and culture that is embedded within a business made them stand out from the more traditional private equity model, and we quickly realised the benefits of choosing RDCP as the long-term investor in SOS Wholesale.
“I am delighted with the outcome we have achieved for Mark and Steven, which allows Steven to retire immediately and Mark to work alongside Vipin for a period of time. I am confident that SOS Wholesale, under the leadership of Mark and Vipin and the ownership of RDCP, will go from strength to strength.”
Have your say on plans for the future of Sheffield City Centre
A consultation on the future of Sheffield city centre is now open, inviting people to share their views on how the city centre should be shaped in the future to adapt and thrive following the challenges of the pandemic.
A new Vision for the development of the city centre sets out the diverse role it plays as a hub of commerce and growth in the city, centre for shopping, leisure, and nightlife, as well as home to thousands of people.
The five-week consultation sets out our ambitions for the city centre over the next 20 years, focusing on key areas such as housing, regeneration, public transport, and green spaces.
Development work is already underway to transform much of the city centre, including the £470m Heart of the City scheme, as well as funding secured to revitalise the high street and Castlegate through the Future High Streets Fund and the council’s recent successful bid to the Levelling Up Fund.
The city centre Vision looks ahead to how city centre spaces can be best utilised to meet the needs of Sheffielders, including plans to create five new distinctive neighbourhoods with high quality, sustainable housing in Neepsend, Wicker Riverside, Castlegate, the Moor and Furnace Hill. More than 20,000 new homes would be created, relieving pressure on greenfield sites, and helping to meet housing demands for Sheffield’s growing population.
The new communities would offer direct access to all the amenities the city centre has to offer, mirroring established and popular neighbourhoods such as Kelham Island.
The consultation will also seek opinions on other important areas, including the ‘spine’ of the city centre, which runs from Castlegate to the Moor, plans for key areas such as Fargate and options for the future of the former John Lewis store.
The feedback provided in this consultation will be used to inform more detailed plans for different areas of the city centre and will help to create a shared Vision for the city’s future.
Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Executive Member for City Futures: Development, Culture and Regeneration, said: “We know how much interest there is in the future of the city centre and that people want a city centre they can feel proud of.
“Sheffield is an incredibly distinctive city, and we want to make sure that we develop a Vision for its future that incorporates our unique identity, heritage and culture, whilst making sure it is adaptable and able to face any challenges over the coming years.
“We know that Sheffielders are invested in and care about what happens next and that’s why we’ve launched this consultation to give everyone a chance to read the plans and have a say in what they would like to see.
“Through this consultation we want to create a plan for repurposing our city centre that will maintain Sheffield’s strong reputation as a place people want to come to live, work, study and succeed.”
The consultation will run until Friday 11th February 2022. People can view the plans and provide comments at www.ourcitycentre-shf.com, by emailing info@ourcitycentre-shf.com or by calling 08081965105.
New Director of Improvement and Integration at ULHT
The Trust which runs Lincolnshire’s acute hospitals has appointed a new director to lead improvements and innovation across its services.
Dr Sameedha Rich-Mahadkar will join the Executive Leadership Team and the Board of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) as Director of Improvement and Integration on Monday 10 January 2022.
She is taking up the role previously held by Mark Brassington, who is currently on a secondment with NHS England and NHS Improvement in the Midlands Region. Sameedha will be the Director of Improvement and Integration for the period of Mark Brassington’s secondment.
She joins the Trust from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, where she has been Deputy Director of Strategy for five years.
Dr Rich-Mahadkar has extensive experience in leading strategy design, planning, partnerships, service improvement and transformational business cases; with over 13 years’ experience within various healthcare leadership roles. She has a PhD in strategic healthcare planning and began her career with the Health and Care Infrastructure Research and Innovation Centre.
She said: “Times are difficult across the NHS at the moment and I know that working together with the teams at United Lincolnshire Hospitals we can continue to offer excellent patient care and look after each other. I am excited to be bringing my experience of supporting and empowering teams to make ULHT an outstanding place to work and an outstanding place in which to receive care”
ULHT Chief Executive Andrew Morgan said: “We are delighted that Dr Sameedha Rich-Mahadkar is going to join our Executive Leadership Team and Board, as she brings with her a wealth of experience which will truly benefit our patients and staff.
She will lead our improvement and strategy and planning teams, and will help us to take forward our Integrated Improvement Plan, transforming our services and making them fit for the future.
We are really looking forward to working with her.
I would like to thank Sarah Hall our Deputy Director of Improvement and Integration for covering the role pending Sameedha’s arrival.”
De Wint Court works set for completion next month
With Lincoln’s new De Wint Court Extra Care facility works set for completion early next month, the council’s Executive will now consider it proposed fees and charges.
At Executive on 17 January, members will discuss the proposed fees and charges for eligible residents for the new 70-apartment scheme on Bowden Drive.
The building for the new 50 one-bed and 20 two-bed apartment extra care facility on Bowden Drive is due for completion in early February, with an official opening and residents expected to move in later this year.
Jointly funded between City of Lincoln Council, Homes England and Lincolnshire County Council, the scheme will have care provision available, non-resident management and support staff, a wellbeing suite, changing places facility, restaurant and salon.
De Wint Court has been designed in such a way that allows it to respond to individuals changing care needs with on-site care support.
It will aim to enhance quality of life and give people the provision to stay within their local communities and access services close to home.
As part of the proposed fees and charges, each property will have a service charge of £88.33 plus an affordable rent charged on a weekly basis.
The service charge covers running costs for areas which will benefit all residents and will make the new De Wint Court a great place to call home.
If approved by Executive, this would bring the total average rent (including service charges) over 52 weeks for a one-bed property to £209.53 per week, and £223.33 for a two-bed property, dependent on size and location of each property.
This includes use of the garden and communal spaces, the outdoor gym equipment, the gardening area and staff being onsite from 7am to 10pm 7 days a week.
The service charge and rent are both housing benefit eligible; an application for housing benefit would contribute to either pay all or part of the total weekly charge depending on the individual’s income.
Individuals would fund their own element of care requirements, or this could be provided by Lincolnshire County Council or relatives.
Cllr Donald Nannestad, Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing at City of Lincoln Council said: “These new apartments will enable residents to maintain independence in their own homes as their needs change with care providers arranged by the county council.
Once complete, De Wint will play a vital part in our commitment to provide quality homes to meet the diverse housing need within the city. I look forward to discussing this next phase of the scheme with members of the Executive.”
Iconic Skipton childcare brand set to expand after multi-million pound cash injection
A British childcare brand is set to launch a selection of new products and expand its footprint in the UK and internationally, after securing a seven-figure finance facility.
Silver Cross, which is based in Skipton and was founded more than a century ago, designs and manufactures a range of prams, pushchairs and accessories, alongside a suite of baby products that includes car seats, nursery furniture, travel cots and textiles.
Over the past two years, it has been impacted not only by the pandemic, but the closure of Mothercare, formerly its biggest retail partner.
But now, with the support of a multi-million-pound invoice finance facility from Lloyds Bank, it has freed up cashflow to support investment in product development and expansion. Invoice finance helps bolster firms’ liquidity by allowing them to access up to 90 per cent of the value of unpaid invoices, often within 24 hours.
Over the past 12 months, the firm has already increased its headcount by 20%, and boosted turnover by 15% in the UK, and 40% internationally. And now, with new products set to be introduced to its core range in early 2022, turnover is set to jump by a further 25%.
Carl Walsh, chief financial officer of Silver Cross, said: “Like all brands, we were heavily affected by the impact of the pandemic – but through refocussing the business and taking steps to improve our working capital position, we are now ready to target substantial growth both at home and internationally.
“Our premium product range will feature a series of new and improved features that give our products true global appeal, ensuring they will be in high-demand across a spectrum climates and cultures. And there is more in the pipeline, too – we’re excited to work with our retail partners to expand our offering even further and help parents all over the world access the best products for their children.”
As well as expanding its core range, Silver Cross is investing in a ‘digital-first’ strategy to accelerate global growth and drive international brand awareness. It is also working closely with specialist independent nursery retailers across the UK as they invest in their in-store offerings to become more advisory-led and experiential, exploring new ways to showcase the brand for customers.
Mark Butterworth, relationship director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Silver Cross is one of the UK’s best-known brands, and we are excited to support their growth as they roll out new, quality products for their customers all over the world. They are a leading example of a local brand that has capitalised on market demand without sacrificing their commitment to manufacturing excellence, and are now one of the region’s top employers, as well as a household name.
“We look forward to supporting Carl and his team as they continue on their growth journey.”
Private equity firm’s Yorkshire team completes transactions valued at more than £470m in 2021
The Yorkshire team of mid-market private equity firm LDC completed transactions with a combined value of more than £470m in 2021.
In its annual performance summary, LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, said it will increase its support for mid-market businesses across Yorkshire, underpinned by a commitment to invest in at least 100 medium-sized businesses nationally over the next five years.
In 2021, the Leeds-based team invested in Texecom, the manufacturer of electronic security products and services, to support the existing management team to develop new products and target complementary acquisitions.
The firm also exited successful partnerships with a number of businesses including Knaresborough-headquartered pest control product manufacturer Pelsis. LDC supported the business to complete major international acquisitions and boost global sales from €87m to €150m in just four years. It also exited steel framing provider Sigmat which created more than 100 jobs and grew revenues by 75% over the five-year partnership with LDC.
In addition, LDC’s Yorkshire team helped its portfolio to grow through a series of ambitious buy-and-build strategies, including the acquisition of Thorn 3PL Services Ltd by Mosaic Fulfilment Solutions. The acquisition is enabling the business to roll out new products and expand its footprint across the North of England.
To support LDC’s commitment to increase investment in the region, the private equity firm recruited Will Scales as investment director in January 2021 and Anthony West as investment manager in November 2021. Both based in Leeds, Will Scales has more than a decade of experience working in corporate finance and spent eight years in the corporate finance team of Rothschild & Co, meanwhile Anthony joined from KPMG where he was a corporate finance manager for more than six years.
Dan Smith, partner and head of Yorkshire at LDC, said: “Business leaders across Yorkshire are as ambitious as ever and continue to identify new opportunities to grow. From speaking to the local business community, we know that management teams are now eager to push on with their growth plans but many could benefit from the additional support an experienced private equity partner provides.
“Yorkshire is an essential region for LDC, and we are committed to increasing our support for ambitious management teams to help them deliver on their growth ambitions in the coming year and beyond.”
Nationally, LDC backed 19 new management teams and invested more than £400m during 2021, despite continuing disruption caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. It also provided additional capital to existing portfolio companies to complete 65 acquisitions, helping them to scale and diversify.
Across the UK, LDC generated over £870m of proceeds from a total of 18 exits during the year with an average money multiple of 2.5x which it said underlined its value-adding approach. The companies it sold on average increased revenues by 64% and grew employee numbers by 60% during their partnership with LDC.
Commenting on LDC’s performance, LDC Chief Executive Toby Rougier said: “Despite the ongoing challenges in many parts of the economy, our teams increased investment into mid-market companies across all the regions of the UK.
“As the UK looks to recovery and growth, this army of medium-sized companies will be critical. It is the backbone of British business and the engine room of our economy, teeming with talent and packed with potential. Given their ability to scale, these are the companies that, with the right support, can turbo-charge the recovery.”
LDC has also committed to ensuring its investment activity makes a meaningful contribution to the UK’s environmental and social challenges. The firm has pledged to ensure its own operations are net zero by 2030 and to support portfolio companies to reduce emissions by 50% in the same timeframe.
Sheffield and Rotherham businesses targeted for health and safety inspection after sharp increase in incidents
Britain’s workplace regulator is set to clamp down on businesses in Sheffield and Rotherham after a sharp increase in the number of serious and fatal incidents noted by its inspectors within the last five years.
There were 12 worker deaths reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – under the “RIDDOR” regulations – in Sheffield and Rotherham between 2014 and 2021 and a further 594 serious injuries reported over the same period. Inspection teams will primarily focus on conducting inspections on businesses where workers regularly undertake welding and use metalworking fluids, a high proportion of which are based in the area.
In 2020 around 12,000 people in the UK died from lung diseases likely to be linked to past exposure from work. There is scientific evidence to suggest that exposure to welding fumes can cause lung cancer and exposure to metalworking fluids can cause a range of lung diseases.
From Monday 10 January 2022, 22 inspectors from HSE’s Yorkshire and North East field operations teams will visit more than 70 local business, identified by HSE’s targeting and intelligence team as operating in a high risk sector or performing poorly. The businesses span a wide range of sectors including metal fabrication, engineering, general manufacturing, waste and recycling. The operation will last for a week.
Andrew Denison, Acting Head of Operations, said: “It is estimated that each year 12,000 workers die in Britain from occupational lung disease and 17,000 new cases report suffering work-related breathing and lung problems. This part of South Yorkshire has a fine tradition in metal fabrication and manufacturing; we just need to ensure that the innovation continues to extend to safe working practice.
“Local inspectors have witnessed an alarming rise in the number of fatalities and injuries in the Sheffield and Rotherham area in the last five years. This initiative will ensure that inspectors are able to visit sites and speak with duty holders to ensure the appropriate controls are in place to protect their workers’ health and safety, particularly in relation to the risks from occupational lung disease.”
During the visits the companies will need to demonstrate that they have measures in place to manage risks to protect the health and well-being of their workers including health conditions such as occupational lung disease.
If an HSE inspector identifies any other areas of concern during an inspection, they will take the necessary enforcement action which in some cases may lead to an Enforcement Notice being served or, in the case of serious breaches, a prosecution.
Manufacturers more positive as they enter 2022
Britain’s manufacturers are more positive about the growth outlook as they enter 2022, with greater confidence in the prospects for their own companies than either the global or UK economies, according to a major survey published by Make UK and PwC.
The 2022 Make UK/PwC Senior Executive survey shows the scale of uncertainty facing business in the current turbulent global environment, with more than half of companies saying the biggest challenges facing them had changed in the last twelve months. Their optimism is also tempered by escalating inflationary pressures and access to, as well as retaining, talent and key skills which are by far the biggest issues companies are having to address.
In the face of these challenges, however, the majority of manufacturers have weathered the storm of the last couple of years with almost three quarters of companies (73%) now believing conditions for the sector will improve in 2022, with a similar number (73%) believing the opportunities for their business outweigh the risks. To date, the sector appears to have seen little or no disruption from the latest Omicron variant to alter this confidence.
Furthermore, almost two thirds (63%) of companies felt the UK to be a competitive location for manufacturing with just 13% believing it to be an uncompetitive place to do business.
To take advantage of these opportunities manufacturers are prioritising improving productivity, investment in their people as well as new product development, while the recent COP 26 summit appears to have accelerated investments in the drive to ‘net zero’.
However, one year on from leaving the EU, two thirds of companies said that leaving had moderately or significantly hampered their business, with over a half of companies (56%) fearing a further impact this year from customs delays due to import checks and changes in product labelling.
Make UK Chief Executive, Stephen Phipson, said: “It’s testament to the strength of manufacturers that they have emerged from the turbulence of the last couple of years in such a relatively strong position. While clouds remain on the horizon in the form of rapidly escalating costs and access to key skills, the outlook is more positive for those that remain adaptable, agile and innovative.
“To build on this we now need to see a Government fully committed to supporting the sector at home and overseas. This requires more than a Plan for Growth but a broader industrial strategy that sets out a long term vision for the economy and how we are going to achieve consistent economic growth across the whole country.”
Cara Haffey, PwC’s UK industrial manufacturing and automotive leader, said: “Despite facing an unprecedented combination of continued Covid pressures, cost inflation and supply chain issues, our manufacturers are responding with an impressive amount of agility and resilience, which will stand them in good stead for the year ahead.
“They have learned valuable lessons about their supply chain vulnerabilities and the resilience needed to respond to unforeseen international or domestic risks, and are strengthening their businesses digitally as well as continuing to focus on talent and skills.
“We are particularly pleased by the breadth of net zero ambitions reflected in the report. Across the UK we’re seeing an increasing number of businesses underpin their environmental, social and governance strategies with practical applications to decarbonise their operations and ambitions to build out their green skill base through the recruitment of ‘green’ jobs, a move that has already been flagged as outperforming the UK sector average in our recent Green Jobs Barometer.”
The more positive outlook for growth is reflected across all major markets with 40% of companies forecasting growth in exports to the United States, closely followed by the EU. Around a quarter (26%) are looking for growth in Asia and around one in five to the Middle East (21%). However, the EU market is set to see the biggest decrease in exports by 10% of companies.
The survey also provides encouraging indicators on the strategies manufacturers are adopting to build resilience and agility into their business by looking at their supply chain, investing in people, innovation and green technologies.
Up-skilling or retaining existing staff was the biggest priority for around two thirds of companies (67%) followed by new product development (60%) and capital equipment (54%), while almost four in five companies (78%) envisage a significant or moderate increase in their productivity this year.
Skills and talent also dominated the risk factors companies were facing with access to Labour seen as the biggest risk by almost two thirds of companies (58%), while almost nine in ten companies were not just worried about losing skills from their business but, the sector entirely. Encouragingly, despite the current financial challenges almost half (45%) of companies said they still planned to invest in Apprenticeships in 2022.
The need to build resilience into business models has been highlighted by supply chain shortages and the survey shows around a third of companies (35%) are planning to counter this by using British rather than international suppliers, while almost a third (31%) said they were planning to re-locate some or, more of, their production back to the UK.
The survey also shows the increasing drive towards ‘net zero’ for manufacturers. Half of companies (49%) said they plan to invest in green technologies or energy efficiency measures in 2022, with a third saying this investment has increased. A third also said the process to transition to ‘net zero’ had been accelerated by the recent COP 26 Conference.
Make UK has forecast that manufacturing grew +6.9% in 2021 and is predicting growth in 2022 of +3.3%.
The survey of 228 companies was conducted between 27th October and 22nd November 2021.
Lincolnshire homebuilder appoints hard-working Sales Executive at flagship development
Tia Bingham, from Mansfield, now takes up the role as full time Sales Executive at the developer’s flagship development Eleanor Gardens in Navenby.
Tia said: “Rippon Homes is the first house developer I have worked for, and I couldn’t recommend the company enough to people. I have learned so much in time here, and I look forward to growing my knowledge even further.
“I feel that everyone’s opinion is taken into account here, and that makes you feel really valued. We have a really good team spirit in our sales team and even beyond into the head office.”
After being with the company for over three years, Tia guides customers through their entire house buying journey from their first visit to site and reserving their home all the way through to move in day and afterwards too.
“I have two favourite parts to my job. One is showing the customer the choice’s options, it’s always nice to see different people’s tastes and what they would choose in their future home. My second favourite thing is key handover day. There’s nothing better than passing over the keys to excited new homeowners after building a relationship up with them for months.
“I have now taken on our Eleanor Gardens development in Navenby, and I am looking forward to taking on this new challenge. I have enjoyed getting to know all the customers already reserved here. I also like being out on site and seeing the difference just one day can make.”
Julie Johnson, Director of Sales and Marketing at Rippon homes, said: “Rippon Homes are so proud of Tia and how she has grown in confidence over the last 18 months and is a real asset to the company. She consistently delivers an amazing customer journey, and we know she has a long career ahead of her with us.
“We are delighted that she has decided to take responsibility for this prestigious development in Lincolnshire, and we know the purchasers already value her as much as we do from the customer feedback we are receiving.”
Workshop improves safety and saves time with heat inductor
A Land Rover specialist is improving safety and productivity after investing in a portable heat inductor.
Stonelake of Halifax is a family-run business based in West Yorkshire, specialising in the service and repair of Land Rovers. It was founded by brothers Ben and Luke Oughton in 2015, following in the footsteps of their father and grandfather, who ran the local Land Rover main dealership.
The company recently purchased a Josam JH400 lightweight heat inductor to reduce use of oxyacetylene torches in the workshop. Induction heating uses electromagnetic induction to heat metal components in a much safer and more efficient way than using torches with naked flames. Josam heaters include several market-leading features including energy-efficient adaptive frequency control for precision; noise-reducing automatic cooling technology; and a universal USB connector for easy installation of future software upgrades.
Ben Oughton, Service Manager and Director, who oversees the operations of the workshop, said: “The heat inductor has transformed how we perform certain repairs. We were previously using an oxyacetylene torch and finding that it wasn’t up to the task – for example, with a steering lock you can struggle on for hours. That’s much easier now with a heat inductor.
“However, the most important thing for us is that it minimises the risk of damage to the vehicle while you’re working on it. With a naked flame, there is always a risk that you will scorch or burn an area adjacent to the part you’re working on – that risk is now removed.” Ben adds that Stonelake had tested other heat inductors, but none matched the high standard of performance or robust design of the JH400.
As a hands-on manager and time served Land Rover specialist, Ben often applies his expertise in the workshop. “We are using the Josam for everything from suspension arms to steering locks and wiper arms,” he added. “It is probably saving us on average three to four hours per week, which is significant in a relatively small workshop like ours.”
Workshop safety was also a key factor in Stonelake’s decision-making. Lightweight electrical heating inductors significantly improve conditions for workshop technicians because they are not exposed to open flames, hot gases and the risk of fire or explosion. “Heat induction is much safer than having to use a naked flame and there are no concerns about gas pressure or running out of gas,” said Ben. “It is much easier to use; all of our team can use it safely and effectively.”
Stonelake purchased the inductor from AES UK, the family-run garage equipment supplier and authorised UK distributor for Josam. “It was important to us to not just buy a great product, but to get it from a company that shares our values,” added Ben. “AES is a family-run business like ours which truly understands the value of great customer service. They are accessible, professional, reply quickly to our calls and nothing is too much trouble. I honestly couldn’t ask for more.”
