22MMERCURY June 13, 2008
email: mercury@hertsessexnews.co.ukAgility makes strides
in PR league tableIf you have any business news,
phone (01992) 526600 or email
mercury@hertsessexnews.co.ukBUSINESS NEWSBusinessbriefsA HERTFORD-based PR
consultancy has moved up to 37
in an industry league table.
Agility PR improved its rating
in last week8217s PR Week8217s Top 40
Technology PR Consultancies
league table.
The business has leapt six
places since it was first listed
four years ago having seen its
fee base grow by 26 per cent in
2007.
This figure means Agility PR
achieved the sixth most
significant growth increase of
all UK-based tech PR
consultancies last year.
The company recently
completed a move into larger
offices in Cowbridge, Hertford.
Founder and managing director
Miles Clayton said: 8220We are
finding that Agility PR8217s brand
ofcommon sense, results-driven
PR, based on a firm
understanding ofwhere clients
are trying to get to with their
businesses, strikes a chord with
senior people in the companies
we work for.8221Astrium lands 163210m
eco-satellite dealA STEVENAGE space company
has been commissioned to build
a 163210.52m observation satellite.
Astrium, based in Gunnels
Wood Road, signed a contract
with the European Space
Agency in Berlin last month,
coinciding with the
International Aerospace
Exhibition.
The EarthCARE Earth
observation satellite will focus
on clouds, tiny particles in the
atmosphere and their influence
on atmospheric radiation.
EarthCARE will spend three
years taking measurements
from a polar orbit at an altitude
of249 miles (400km).
Evert Dudok, chiefexecutive of
Astrium Satellites, said: 8220By
offering an innovative and
future-orientated range of
products, Astrium is helping to
achieve a better understanding
ofEarth8217s sensitively balanced
ecosystem and encourage people
to treat it with greater care.8221Workshop to help
you sell yourselfBUSINESSES are being
encouraged to attend a
workshop to expand their
knowledge ofselling products.
The interactive seminar, run by
Access2knowledge.co.uk
, is
being held at the Business and
Technology Centre, in Bessemer
Drive, Stevenage, on June 19.
There is a breakfast seminar
between 7.45am and 9.15am and
a lunch seminar between
12.15pm and 1.45pm, and the
cost per individual is 16320 plus
VAT.qTo register online, visit
www.access2knowledge.co.uk
.Firm8217s 163120k investment
is proving a sales winnerA HERTFORD manufactur-
er has been earning
European contracts for its
products thanks to 163120,000
investment in new equip-
ment.
Qualiturn Products Ltd,
which is based in Merchant
Drive, manufactures preci-
sion-turned parts and uses
CNC inspection machines
to test products.
The company has
installed the key pieces of
equipment, as well as car-
rying out ongoing calibra-
tion, and says it is just as
quick to test the new prod-
ucts through machinery as
by hand.
Nick Groom, managing
director, said: 8220I cannot see
the point ofinvesting in
accurate and repeatable
CNC machine tools and
then checking the compo-
nents they produce by
hand.
8220You simply take the risk
ofhuman error out ofthe
machining process only to
reintroduce it in the quali-
ty control department.8221
The new equipment
means there is no time
penalty for checking the
first components and batch
runs can be completed
without a loss ofproduc-
tion. Machining pro-
grammes are also stored on
product codes so repeat
orders can be produced
more quickly.
Qualiturn employs 24
staff, ofwhich three are
dedicated inspectors
responsible for checking
components.
Mr Groom says this
structure allows the compa-
ny to be at the forefront of
turning parts manufacture
in Europe and the company
has seen increased num-
bers oforders from the
Continent, helped by the
weakness ofthe pound
against the Euro.
He said: 8220Customers,
both large and small, are
very impressed when they
visit our works and see all
the CNC measuring equip-
ment in place, because they
know we can not only man-
ufacture parts repeatedly,
but are able to prove it as
well.
8220It is a real sales tool, as
visitors often place an
order with us before they
leave.8221TESTINGTIME:A worker operates the new inspection
equipment at Qualiturn Products Ltd (s)Now chairman Neville
is national presidentHERTS businessman Neville Reyner is
the new president ofthe British
Chambers ofCommerce. Neville Reyner, chairman ofthe
Hertfordshire Chamber ofCommerce &
Industry, has been elected to the presti-
gious role in the national group.
The British Chambers ofCommerce is
one ofthe most influential business
organisations in Europe, representing
the interests ofbusinesses throughout
the UK.
8220Being elected as president ofthe
British Chambers ofCommerce is a
great honour and responsibility,8221 said Mr
Reyner, from Royston.
8220Business is a wealth creator and the
engine behind the UK8217s prosperity and I
will do my utmost to ensure that its inter-
ests are promoted at all levels.8221
He added: 8220It is clear that businesses
will face a number ofchallenges as a
result ofthe current economic environ-
ment. It is vital that they receive appro-
priate support and are not unduly
encumbered with unnecessary legisla-
tion.
8220I look forward to the challenge.8221
The accredited national chamber net-
work includes all the major chambers
throughout England, Wales, Scotland and
Northern Ireland. Mr Reyner will take up
his new post in July.
Mr Rayner will stay in his current
position in the Herts group to 8220ensure
that I continue to maintain close links
with businesses8221.
Tim Hutchings,
chiefexecutive ofthe
Herts chamber, said: 8220I
am absolutely delight-
ed with Neville8217s
appointment.
8220With his support,
we have developed into
one ofthe country8217s
leading chambers, a
fact that I believe is
recognised through
his election.8221By DANIELPHILLIPSphillipsd@hertsessexnews.co.ukPRESIDENT:Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry
chairman Neville Reyner has taken over as president of the
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