The winners of the Made in Lincolnshire 2019 awards have been announced and four Grantham companies came away with glory out of the six categories

The event organised by Streets Chartered Accountants, Business Lincolnshire and NatWestBank took place at the DoubleTree by Hilton on Thursday, September 19, hosted by BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Melvyn Prior.

The awards ceremony highlighted Lincolnshire’s well-earned reputation for innovation and manufacturing.

The awards consisted of six categories in which businesses/products were nominated.

 The winners in each category were as follows:

    Made in Lincolnshire Sold Locally – Bottomley Distillers Ltd

    Made in Lincolnshire Sold Nationwide – Beaphar UK

    Made in Lincolnshire Sold Overseas – Red Rhino Mini Crushers UK Ltd, Alma Park.

    Made in Lincolnshire for Many Generations – Grantham Engineering Ltd, Harlaxton Road.

    Made in Lincolnshire World Class – Autocraft Solutions Group Ltd, Belton.

    Made in Lincolnshire – Food & Drink – Hawkens Gingerbread, London Road

Managing Director at Grantham Engineering Ltd, Sam Pask said: “True testament to the amazing and hardworking teams we have developed over the last 73 years.

“This one is for employees past and present!

“Also fantastic to see four winning Grantham companies from six awards and others short listed as finalists!”

The judging panel included representation from the three host organisations, Make UK, Midlands Engine, NAMRC and Lincolnshire County Council.

James Pinchbeck, Marketing Partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, said: “We are especially pleased with the quality and diversity of entries in our second Made in Lincolnshire Awards.

“The UK is enjoying something of resurgence in manufacturing and this seems to be reflected within the sector locally.

“Both entrants and winners highlight that Greater Lincolnshire is becoming a diverse manufacturing base with innovative products and growing demand overseas.”

Samantha Harrison, Head of Business Lincolnshire, said: “Manufacturing plays a major role in the economy of Greater Lincolnshire, contributing over £4.2 billion every year – that’s 20% of the region’s total economic value.

“It employs approximately 67,000 people, accounting for 16% of local jobs – double the UK average of 8%. It has also shown strong growth in Greater Lincolnshire over last few years.

Grantham companies Househam Sprayers Ltd and Rocket Print Promotions were also finalists.

• Grantham College has been awarded over €400,000 in EU funding for work experience abroad for the next two academic years.

With Brexit imminent, the college were unsure whether the funding would be awarded when putting the bid together earlier in 2019. However, last Thursday the college were awarded with €400,000 to fund two years’ worth of Erasmus trips abroad. This comes two years after being funded the same amount back in 2017.

Student Services Manager, Sarah High is delighted that the opportunity will continue for students: “Being selected to participate in an all expenses paid Erasmus trip is a fantastic opportunity for our students.  The experience that they get from undertaking work experience abroad really helps them grow as individuals, develops their skills and enhances their future job prospects.  It is great news that we have secured another round of funding.”

Students will visit Tenerife, Spain, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Malta and Italy to gain industry experience within their chosen vocational area. Students will also have the opportunity to sample the culture, cuisine and lifestyle of the country they visit which in itself is a great experience. Working abroad is also a great addition to the young person’s CV. 

The programme pays for travel, insurance, accommodation and subsistence costs for students participating in the programme. There will also be an opportunity to participate in cultural visits during their trip.

This will take the college into their 15^th year of sending students abroad through the Erasmus scheme. Student’s return saying they’ve had the “opportunity of a lifetime. 

Aside from the obvious reasons for taking part in a scheme such as this – going abroad and seeing a new country – students’ will gain cultural awareness, increase their employability chances and learn new skills. 

To be in with a chance of going on a fantastic trip like this, apply today! Visit our website for full course details and to apply.

Banner-bearing protestors were out on St Peter’s Hill on Friday (20th), staging a demonstration against global warming.

People from across ther world took part in this day of distinction to tell politicians to get to understand the seriousness of the situation.

The A1 is partially blocked and queueing traffic due to accident on A1 both ways at Crabtree Road (Skillington / Stainby Turn Off).

The incident is affecting the road in both directions.

Emergency services are on the scene.

This is in addition to the one reported earlier near Pickworth turning.

There are long delays on the A1 south of Grantham due to both an accident and a stalled Truck.

One lane is closed, causing long delays and queueing traffic due to accident near Grantham Lane (Empingham / Pickworth Turn Off).

Congestion to the Stamford turn off. Lane one (of two) is closed to assist with clearance

Work has begun at St John’s Church, Manthorpe.

A new community hall and utility buildings are being built along with a parish office and upgrading of the interior of the Church, the work made possible by a £1 million legacy left by a parishioner will take about 45 weeks to complete

A number of grave stones needed to be disturbed for the work to go ahead. 

County councillors, Galliford Try, Highways England and others have joined together to officially break ground ahead of work on the second phase of the Grantham Southern Relief Road starting.

Cllr Richard Davies, Executive Member for Highways, said: “Despite the long road getting to today, construction of the next section of Grantham’s southern relief road is now underway.

“This is a massive project, and we look forward to working alongside Galliford Try and Highways England over the next two years as we build a massive bridged underpass that connects the B1174 to the A1.

“Galliford Try has been doing a fantastic job overseeing construction of the new Lincoln Eastern Bypass, and we’re confident that they’ll do just as good a job in Grantham.

“Once the whole relief road is complete, it will not only reduce congestion and improve journey times in and around Grantham, but it will also boost the local economy by opening the door to more homes, jobs opportunities and community facilities.”

Minister of State for Local Growth, the Rt Hon Jake Berry MP, said: “This Government is committed to turbo-charging economic growth across the whole of the Midlands Engine and the wider country, ensuring every community has the support and investment it needs to flourish.

“I am pleased to see work well underway on Grantham’s Southern Relief Road thanks to £28 million of investment from the Government’s Local Growth Fund. 

“This major project, along with Spitalgate Heath Garden Village, will improve connectivity and reduce journey times while unlocking new homes and infrastructure to support the region’s rapid development.”

David Steventon, Project Manager for Highways England, said: “After many years of collaborative work which has led to us agreeing the design of the junction, gaining the required statutory orders and planning for the building phase, it is a real achievement by all involved to reach the start of the works. This collaboration will continue through the build to realise the benefit of the works to the local people and economy.”

Ursula Lidbetter OBE, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The Grantham Southern Relief Road will form a strategic growth corridor around a route joining the A1 to the A52 east of Grantham. It will secure significant housing and employment opportunities for South Kesteven, unlock nearly £1 billion of sustainable growth and cement Grantham’s position as a key sub-regional destination.

“The Greater Lincolnshire LEP is pleased to be contributing £28m of Growth Deal funding to this transformational scheme, which will undoubtedly improve the environment, air quality and visitor experience in Grantham town centre.”

Elizabeth Bell, Highways Operations Director for Galliford Try, said: “We’re delighted to have been appointed to this scheme and for the opportunity to further build on our strong relationship with Lincolnshire County Council.

“We are committed to engaging with the local community and keeping disruption to a minimum.”

South Kesteven District Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning Policy, Cllr Nick Robins, said: “The relief road is a major factor in the development of Grantham and we are delighted to see that this is now really moving forward.

“The southern relief road will take a significant volume of traffic, including HGVs, out of the town centre and open up fantastic opportunities for us to improve the Grantham environment as part of our growth agenda.

“There are ambitious plans for the south of Grantham, including the Spitalgate Heath garden village development and the Rioja designer outlet village. The relief road is critical to both – and the future of the whole town.”

The second phase of the scheme, which will join the B1174 to the A1 trunk road via a grade-separated junction, is expected to take approximately 18 months to construct.

Construction of the third and final phase of the relief road, which will link the A52 at Somerby Hill to the new roundabout off the B1174, will begin shortly after the start of phase two and is expected to take approximately three years to complete.

When built, the Grantham Southern Relief Road wills stretch for 3.5km, linking the A52 at Somerby Hill to the A1.

The project is being led by Lincolnshire County Council and supported by South Kesteven District Council, Greater Lincolnshire LEP, Highways England, Homes and Communities Agency and local businesses.

Mondays– In Grantham on Trent Road

Tuesday and Fridays – Harlaxton Village Hall

SOS Grantham Hospital Chair, Coun Charmaine Morgan, presented over 33,000 Care2 Petition online signatures and comments to SW Lincs Clinical Commissioning Group representative Chief Operating Officer Clare Raybold, on Tuesday.

She also presented copies of the letters from Belton Lane Primary School children written when the A+E unit was closed.

The comments were submitted as part of the evidence opposing any downgrade of Grantham + District Hospital A+E services. In particular the petition called for 24/7 access with patient resuscitation and stabilisation. They are to be included as submissions for the review of services now taking place in A Healthy Conversation.

Cllr Morgan said ‘Despite the formal closure of the petition in July 2018, when a copy was delivered to 10 Downing Street, people have continued to sign and leave comments bringing them up to date and reflecting the level of concern. The Comments and children’s letters contain valuable anecdotal, sometimes first hand experience of local people.

“Over a staggering 80,000 people signed our petition of which 60,000 were local/national. Grantham is in an important central location and a a transport hub. The hospital catchment area is cross border including Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Rutland residents as well as those of us in Lincolnshire and visitors from all over who come to our town.

“Every voice should be heard. “

A Belton Lane Primary Schoolboy wrote: “Many people have need of a local A+E, including my mum. When she fell down the stairs she cracked her head and slipped out of consciousness.

“My dad was very worried and rushed her straight to Grantham A+E. If she had to go to Lincoln or Pilgrim she would have lost a lot more blood and taken more time to recover.”

Another boy says of his little brother: “Last year he cracked the back of his head open on a plant pot. If it wasn’t for Grantham A+E he would have had issues with his brain due to the length of journey to Lincoln.”

A third, commented on his Nan, “My Nan goes to the A+E and at night gets a taxi… It would cost her over £70 to go to Lincoln or Boston.”

For some delay in treatment is potentially life threatening.

One child wrote, “I am an asthma sufferer and a few days ago I had a bad sthma attack with chest pains and shortness of breath as well. My Mum gave me inhalers and took me to (Grantham) A+E… We were seen quickly. My Mum and I have no transport…”

Online Petitioner Comments were included, for example: “If it wasn’t for Grantham A&E 9years ago, my daughter as a baby wouldn’t be here now!!!…

“We need this service ,how many people will die without it ..”

“I have had to visit A&E having an asthma attack, they were brilliant – saw and treated me at once. I wouldn’t know what would have happened if I was able to get immediate help.”

Cllr Morgan said: ‘ It is easy to look at such matters in terms of statistics but there is a person behind every number. Even then some stats are open to challenge.

“At the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust board meeting in December 2017, Mark Brassington advised board members that there was ‘no impact’ of the night closure in August 2016.

“This simply could not be determined without a holistic look at all possible scenarios. For example, if a patient dies at home because their ambulance arrives too late this would not be recorded by ULHT. People using Nottingham QMC, Peterborough or Leicester A+E units, all over 23 miles away were not considered by ULHT either.”

Unlike ULHT, the CCG, as a healthcare Commissioning body, has to look at overall patient care and fully consider all potential scenarios. At present they are still gathering evidence engaging with the public. Another session is planned in Grantham in October.

Cllr Morgan asked Clare Raybold when the CCG will go to formal Consultation with proposal/s. Ms Raybold stated it would likely be next year.

Cllr Morgan said: ‘It was encouraging to hear that our pleas for the unit to be open 24/7 are being taken seriously by the CCG. We need walk in access too.

“Ms Raybold also indicated patient resuscitation and stabilisation would remain. She stated these facilities must be available if operations are to continue onsite.

“However the timescale of this work is concerning and leaves people at risk. A temporary night closure in August 2016 by ULHT has turned into years.’

In a further move, agreed at a Co-operative Party meeting in August in Grantham, local campaigners are organising a meeting with Karen Lee MP in Lincoln.

Cllr Morgan said: ‘While Grantham area residents are having to travel to other struggling A+E units it only puts more pressure on them affecting their local residents. Clearly the sooner we have our A+E services restored 24/7 the better for everyone.

“A huge thanks must go to everyone who signed our petition, wrote letters and who continue to campaign and support us however they can. At times people wondered if it would help but it did before in 2013 and it can again.

“We will not give up until our voices are heard. There is a spark of hope that may finally be happening.”