Making Use Of Government Support
Microdat’s success and 5 year business expansion plan continues to attract support and encouragement at local, regional and national government levels. Microdat's progression to export has continued throughout the first quarter with both UKTI and our local Business Link Adviser Neil Campbell. Microdat have also had very enthusiastic initial meetings with Leeds City Council and MAS (Manufacturing Advisory Service) that has opened their eyes to the rapid changes taking place in the grants field.
'Well I thought I was good at finding and using HM government grants and services to assist small businesses," says Microdat MD Stephen Midgley, " however after recent meetings with Leeds City Councils Local Investor Development Officer and MAS (Manufacturing Advisor Service) I was surprised at the rapid changes taking place in the grants field."
Leeds City Council are back offering development grants tied to employing Leeds people. Microdat has utilised this scheme in the past and as it dovetails nicely into the business plan they expect to use the scheme again in the near future which could provide the company with up to £10K grant in 2009. Robert Henderson, Leeds City Councils Local Investor Development Officer, was also very informative and helpful and put Microdat in contact with Nicola Davis at Yorkshire Forward who administers the Grants for Business Investment (GBI). The GBI scheme is now open to all manufacturing SME’s in Yorkshire and Humberside and could deliver a sizeable grant (20% of £305K) to assist Microdat in its development plans over the next two years.
Discussions with MAS were also very useful, Microdat have free consultancy to help with their energy conservation work i.e. to fully assess the financial benefits off re-cladding Microdat’s factory this will enable them to claim an interest free Carbon Trust loan to fund some of the factory essential re-roofing and re-wall cladding work. Apart from the long term savings in gas and electricity it will enable Microdat to receive 6 months rent free period from the landlord. Microdat might then install a Cardlogs solid fuel heater to keep the factory warm and trial the new Cardlogs machines.
Finally Microdat have also submitted the services of M-Projects the process and manufacturing consultancy division for inclusion in the MAS consultancy program in the very specialised areas of brewing, food and beverage. M-Projects have already worked with MAS in the Midlands so extending the service to Yorkshire and Humberside MAS will benefit local customers too. Once this service is formalised the local customers will be able to avail themselves of M-Projects consultancy services free for an initial day and with a 50% subsidiary for larger projects.
- Latest News Articles
- Timothy Taylor's film their fully automated cask washing line installed by Microdat - 23 January 2012
Microdat are proud to see our machines in film, working and cleaning the Timothy Taylor's Cask Washing Line. Filmed at Timothy Taylor's brewery in their new extension - the line de-stack casks from pallets or locator boards, takes out the keystone and shive bungs and washes the casks in the...
- Congratulations Ruth Evans - 4 January 2012
Microdat would like to take the opportunity to formally congratulate Ruth Evans MBE. 2012 looks already set to be a great year but what a fantastic start for our friend and colleague Ruth Evans from the BFBi, who, on the New Years Honours List, was awarded the MBE for her services...
- Jaccuzzi UK celebrate 400 000 sink with the Microdat Sink Mould Machine - 26 October 2011
Last week, after approximately 3 years of running, the bespoke Microdat sink moulding machines made their 400,000th sink. Rob Burrows from Jacuzzi UK says, " Over the last year their unique design and controls have allowed us to innovate products and...
- Yorkshire Post report on Timothy Taylor's Upgrade which includes Microdat machines - 24 October 2011
An interesting article in the 15 September 2011 issue of Yorkshire Post takes a look at the £11m upgrade of the Timothy Taylor plant which includes machinery from Microdat. Read the full article here... YORKSHIRE POST
- Sales Soar for Microdat DeShive DeKeystone Machines - 2 September 2011
This summer has seen the final production of Tetley bitter in Leeds on a cask packing line which, when it was installed in the mid 1980s, was the most automated in the world. Stephen Midgley the owner and founder of Microdat was parachuted into Tetley’s in 1986 as a new engineer to the...
- Microdat and Wye Valley Brewery - 1 June 2011
Microdat has been appointed by Wye Valley Brewery to supply their prestigious new brewery expansion project. The decision was made after reviewing proposals from three UK providers, and was made on the basis of overall cost, and the flexibility of Microdat’s approach to major...