The grant will enable Global Brands to implement several energy-efficient technologies at its Clay Cross distribution centre. These upgrades include the installation of energy-efficient lighting, the introduction of battery storage to harness solar power, and the establishment of an onsite Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuelling station. These initiatives are expected to significantly reduce emissions from the company’s distribution operations.

Global Brands is aiming for a 40% reduction in emissions per £M turnover by 2030, with an ultimate goal of a 92% reduction by 2050. The company has already taken steps towards sustainability, with over half of its warehouse energy now generated by solar panels and a plan to switch its entire logistics fleet to zero-carbon by 2050.

Shaun Bacon, group managing and financial director at Global Brands, emphasised the importance of the investment, stating that adopting energy-efficient solutions and alternative fuels is essential for reducing the company’s environmental impact. He expressed hopes that the company’s actions would inspire other businesses in the community to pursue similar sustainability goals.

The grant is part of a broader initiative by the North East Derbyshire District Council’s Low Carbon Challenge Fund, which supports businesses in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Lee Barned, chair of the Clay Cross Town Board, praised the ease of the grant process and the positive impact it is having on local businesses’ sustainability journeys.

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How It Began

The story behind how Beey Boys began is quite remarkable. About a decade ago, four friends from Hereford began experimenting with burgers and barbecues in their back gardens. At first, they were just serving relatives and family friends but they received a lot of positive feedback so Encouraged by the positive feedback, they decided to enter a BBQ competition in Bristol called Grillstock.

This event brought restaurants from across the UK together to showcase their food, and the beefy boys turned up with no affiliation to any restaurant or culinary school and ended up winning the competition. To their astonishment, they won the award for best burger, which earned them a spot in the World Food Championships in Las Vegas. In Vegas, they managed to define expectations again by finishing second in the world.

Recognising the potential, the four founders decided to leave their day jobs and turn their hobby into a full-fledged business. In 2015, they opened their first restaurant in Hereford (I visited the Hereford restaurant back in 2019 and what was on offer was excellent), Soon after, they acquired a food truck to take their culinary creations on the road across the country this is a vital step for restraints looking to expand as it helps showcase their designs to different people in different parts of the country and create more demand for their brand and product.

Expanding the Business

The business continued to grow, with a second site opening in Shrewsbury in 2021, followed by a third location in Cheltenham in 2023, which is the location we will be focusing on today

Cheltenham’s New Burger Kings

The new restaurant, situated on Regent Street in the heart of the town, has a nice, spacious dining area spread across two floors (this is needed for the foot traffic they now have in their restaurants as they have a huge reputation). The interior displays the usual distinctive burger artwork people have come to expect from the chain, vibrant neon designs, and social seating booths. The service is a hallmark of their reputation also, and it’s still on point at this location.

Onto The Food

Now the main reason you are probably all here is the food, and of course, this is the star of the show. They have 20 or more burgers on offer including beef and chicken. Two particular burgers stand out and they are the original Beefy Boy which consists of American Cheese, Bacon, Gherkins Lettuce, Red Onion, Special Sauce, and Swiss Cheese and the burger that won them the title of Winners of the National Burger awards (U.K). This one is a monster and it is called the Smashed Oklahoma Boy between the buns is a marvellous mixture of Two Mustard Fried Oklahoma Style Patties with onion smashed into them with double American Cheese.

When it comes to burgers these guys are a must if you are in the Midlands so get yourself a table booked.

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Located in the heart of the English countryside, this deconstructed hotel offers a unique blend of traditional hospitality and private country escape. They state on their company website that the hotel “captures the essence of a classic hotel experience, combining a fabulous restaurant, room service, guest facilities, and a heated outdoor pool, all within a personal retreat”.

A Beautiful Location

The Tawny invites guests to relax in nature. The surrounding landscape has many woodland areas, and lakeside gardens and offers guests over 70 acres of exploration. Guests can enjoy outdoor baths under starlit skies, picnics, relaxed meals with stunning views, and the comfort of uniquely designed rooms. As we mentioned previously if you are not from The Midlands or the local area this abundance of nature and tranquillity may come as a surprise to many readers, but for locals, the local country has always been one of the most valued things about living in and around Staffordshire.

Unique Accommodation

One of the Tawny Hotels’ unique selling points is its rooms and accommodation. As we mentioned previously this is a deconstructed hotel so it breaks away from the norm when housing its guests. Instead of a traditional hotel setting what’s on offer here is a selection of different styles of accommodation tailored to the experience a guest would like on request.

This inspiring selection of accommodations includes Wildwood huts, treehouses, romantic boathouses, and luxury retreats, each with a private decking and an outdoor spa bath. Whether for a romantic getaway, a staycation, or to unwind, this location provides various options in stunning surroundings.

Fantastic Food

Now if you don’t fancy staying for a night or a weekend (honestly we think you should anyway) you can request to dine at this idyllic establishment. They have a fantastic range of options here such as Sunday lunch, a lunch and Dinner menu, and Picnics and they even cater for children if you want to bring along the whole family for some top-quality grub.

At the top of the valley sirs the main restaurant. The Plumicorn is an architectural marvel with unparalleled views across the estate, the huge glass windows allow guests to feel like they are dining outside in the wilderness while having all the comfort of an indoor setting. Most of the produce is sourced locally as well so the food here is fresh which is a huge bonus. You can tell the team of chefs here have put a lot of time and effort into curating their menu and this restaurant tops off what is a fantastic location to spend some time away from home and relax with loved ones.

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Established in 1992 by John Mills and Jim Reely, Set & Match originally specialised in typesetting and expanded into traditional printing after purchasing a print business in 2002. With the MBO, Mills aims to merge Set & Match with Colprint, another printing business he owns, to enhance and expand print services.

The buyout was financed by a £140,000 asset-based lending arrangement from Time Finance, which included both an invoice finance facility and a secured loan. Mills expressed satisfaction with the asset-based lending solution, noting its flexibility and suitability for the business’s needs.

Rob Walters, business development manager at Time Finance, highlighted the benefits of asset-based lending for SMEs, emphasising that such funding solutions are often overlooked by smaller businesses.

The deal was facilitated by Time Finance’s broker partner, Paul Varley at Navigate Commercial Finance. Varley remarked on the positive impact of the funding on Set & Match’s growth prospects under Mills’s leadership.

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Lindab UK, headquartered in Northampton, is part of Lindab International AB, a major European ventilation company. The acquisition of HAS-Vent Holdings, based in Wombourne, aims to merge the two businesses, but has raised concerns about reduced competition in the market.

The inquiry has identified that the acquisition might significantly diminish competition in the supply of circular ducts and fittings, especially in the Nottingham and Stoke-on-Trent regions. In these areas, where the companies are prominent competitors with few alternatives, the merger could result in fewer choices and increased prices for the construction sector, particularly impacting specialist ventilation system installers.

Kirstin Baker, chair of the independent inquiry group, commented, “We’re concerned this would remove one of two main suppliers of circular ventilation ducts and fittings in the Nottingham and Stoke areas, risking installers of these systems paying over the odds and then having to pass these costs onto their own customers.”

Baker added that the findings are provisional and invited responses on the preliminary conclusions and potential remedies for the case.

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How Business Started And Developed

Established in 1973 by Rob and Isobel Sanders, a husband-and-wife team, the company was founded on principles of professionalism and ethics. The company’s origins were humble. They originally started trading out of the garage of the family home in Draycott, and deliveries were made by using the family car (which happened to be a Volkswagen estate). This is truly a family-run business that has grown over the years and has become a national success story.

As the business has grown, it has embraced modern technology and forward-thinking ideas to drive efficiency wherever possible.

This culture remains at the heart of the organisation and continues to influence everything it does today. The group’s headquarters and national distribution centre, located in Derby, stock over 10,000 product lines, carefully selected by a team of experts with over a hundred years of combined industry knowledge. Supporting depots across the East Midlands further bolster their operations.

Present Day

While the company offers an informative and easy-to-navigate website, it still believes in the value of a brick-and-mortar environment (a rare thing in that day and age), where customers can ask questions, receive face-to-face advice, or simply collect goods for immediate needs. Their product portfolio is tailored to meet the demands of various professions, including joinery, fit-out, drylining, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, offsite manufacturing, and other construction-related trades, as well as the engineering and metal fabrication industry.

We here at Midlands Business News wish the company well and hope the next 50 years are as good as the ones before.

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