Category: Corporate news

We have been working hard with Suppliers behind the scenes to bring you an event in the face of COVID-19!

The brand new, TMB Digital is coming exclusively to Troy Members… 

 

No need to travel, enjoy easy access from the comfort of your desk and take part in a jam packed day with content that is guaranteed to make your life easier and save your business money!

• Amazing Supplier Offers
• Big Discounts
• Product Auctions
• World Famous Speaker
• Show-Worthy Deals
• Huge Prizes
• Exciting Product Demos
• Q&As
• Intelligent Purchasing Solutions 

During the day there will be features you cannot afford to miss out on including product auctions to prove Troy members are truly stronger together, the opportunity to win an all inclusive trip to Las Vegas, as well as the launch of Troy’s new Ecommerce and product data solutions. 

The event will be hosted within the members area of the site, so it’s essential you check you have log in details to www.troyuk.co.uk on hand, and if not get in touch with your Troy BDM to get set up/recover your password.

Starting around 9.30am and complete by 5pm, Brad Sugars will be closing the event with a rousing presentation on pivoting, business survival and success!

We hope to release a running order in the next week or so. 

Block out Thursday 22^nd October 2020 to virtually attend!

The Show Must Go On…

­

We are pleased to announce that our famous Troy THS annual show, recently postponed due to the COVID-19 virus, has now been rearranged for Thursday 22^nd October 2020 at Silverstone; with guest speaker Brad Sugars, confirmed as taking the stage the evening before the show (Wednesday 21^st October), sharing his secrets of success in business.

We will be getting in touch
with our Members and Suppliers with more details in due course.

Dear Customer,

I am writing to inform you that, regrettably, due to the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak we have had no choice but to temporarily close our UK distribution centres until further notice. The closures will take effect from close of business today, March 24th, 2020……..

Download the rest of the communication using the link below.

Good News – Toolbank have reopened with a limited service.

Following further clarification from the Government, Toolbank have now decided to operate a restricted service from some distribution centres in support of those customers who are supplying products to
companies and institutions which are critical in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click here for the full statement 

We are pleased to advise that our central warehouse (TSS) has now been able to reopen and will provide a normal C Stock service to our UK customers with immediate effect.

Thank you very much for your patience and understanding whilst we have been re-organising our logistics to ensure we protect the health and wellbeing of our teams.

 

The health and safety of our team remains paramount and all those involved in processing customer orders will adhere to strict operating guidelines to ensure their safety as they carry out their work.

This means that we will be operating with a reduced team (to enable us to practice social distancing) which may extend delivery times in busy periods.

 

Whilst we will do everything we can to get your orders to you as soon as possible, we will not be able to offer our usual next day service, but we will endeavor to ensure that you receive all Toolbank deliveries within 48/72 hours from receipt of order.  

 

Due to the unique circumstances in which we are operating and the impact this has had on our normal transport facilities, we need to maintain a small minimum order value of £50.

 

It may also be possible to collect goods from our warehouses, but only by prior arrangement and subject to strict health and safety instructions that will be visible on site.

 

Due to reduced office staff numbers, we would ask you to help us by placing your orders through our B2B website (or other electronic method) or by email, if possible.

 

 

 

In addition to these services our sales management team remain available and can be contacted as below:

 

 

 

Branch	Name	Email	Mobile
Cleckheaton	Kevin Hull	khull@toolbank.com	07970 473117
Cwmbran	Rob Wilcock	rwilcock@toolbank.com	07970 473066
Dartford	Adam Geary	ageary@toolbank.com	07970 473032
Exeter	Mike Thomas	mthomas@toolbank.com	07970 473067
Glasgow	Jason Nicol	jnicol@toolbank.com	07970 473143
Halesowen	Craig Bryan	cbryan@toolbank.com	07824 095875
Hatfield	Ritchie Bywaters	rbywaters@toolbank.com	07970 473191
Newcastle	David Walton	dwalton@toolbank.com	07970 473022
Norwich	Christian Paine	cpaine@toolbank.com	07970 473010
Southampton	Martin Herridge	mherridge@toolbank.com	07970 473095
Widnes	Paul Dickie	pdickie@toolbank.com	07970 473128

 

 

 

Thank you for your continued support and consideration.

We once again, wish you, your families and your business, well at this most difficult time.

 

 

 

 

 

The Trojan catalogues have now been printed and delivered to Barnstaple, these will be despatched – to members who have pre-ordered copies – week commencing 15th July.

 

Click this link Trojan catalogue V9FINAL to view the new edition of the Trojan Tooling & PPE catalogue. This highly sought after publication is unpriced and is a great selling aid.

We have a large stock of these unpriced catalogues available for members to purchase, with all references to Trojan Tools removed so you can apply labels with your own contact details.

The cost is £2 per catalogue and can be purchased in boxes of 40, plus carriage which will vary depending on quantity ordered. Box quantities can be split if you would prefer a smaller quantity.

To order, please click this link Trojan catalogue order form to complete the order form and send back to andrea.arkless@troyuk.co.uk

 

 

On Thursday the 25^th of January, some of the staff from team Troy hopped into a mini bus, driven by Troy’s very own Wayne Hobbs, and headed up to London for the Employment Engagement Awards which was held at Wembley Stadium. After a successful journey, minus a few ‘breathe in moments’ to squeeze a very wide van through some very tight traffic bollards, they all made it.

After a quick change into their finest attire and a few walking detours to find the right entrance to the stadium, they all arrived and were greeted with choices of fizz, wines and beers. After a few pictures with the FA cup and outside in Wembley stadium the team were ushered inside to find their table. The ceremony was attended by all sorts of well-established companies such as Marks & Spencer, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Nissan to name but a few. Even one of our Suppliers Arconic (also known as Recoil) were attendees. Unfortunately, Troy didn’t win the award for ‘Employee Engagement SMB Company of the Year’ but the team had a great night regardless and were proud to be representing their company at such a brilliant event.

Special thanks to Wayne Hobbs for driving and the other members of Troy who helped organise.  Lastly, from all the staff who had the opportunity to go to London, they would like to thank Troy for a fantastic evening.

We are delighted to share that we have recently completed the Cyber Essentials Certification, which means we have reached a benchmark in Cyber Security – another feather in the cap of the Troy Group, demonstrating our security and offering peace of mind. 

This is supported by the National Cyber Security Centre, accredited through IASME & recommended by the ICO …  AND with more and more contracts now requesting for this in the supply chain, it is an absolute must going forward.

Troy CEO, Paul Kilbride, is delighted to announce Troy’s headline sponsor of Exeter Chiefs, taking over from long-term headliner, South West Communications Group, with the new 22/23 home & away men’s kits featuring the Troy brand, front and centre.

Tony Rowe OBE, CEO and Chief Executive of Exeter Rugby Club, said: “In what is an incredibly exciting time for the club, particularly around our new rebrand, we’re delighted to have Troy as our main shirt sponsors for both the home and away kits.

“Building on what has already been a hugely successful partnership in recent years, we believe both ourselves and Troy can hit new heights in terms of the reach this sponsorship agreement will bring. We look forward to helping each other secure our respective ambitions.”

Paul Kilbride, CEO of Troy commented: “Exeter Chiefs is a team close to my heart and my family and I are major fans. Becoming headline sponsor made sense, with the club’s ethics aligning with those that are integral to us at Troy – investing in home-grown talent, a passionate ‘can-do’ culture and positive mental attitude.  Most importantly we, at Troy, & the Chiefs recognise that we have impressive experts that specialise in the field as individuals, but when working together as a team – that’s how we win.

“I see our headline sponsorship as a real boost to Troy.  Being affiliated with such a successful local sports club that has been crowned as Premiership & European champions offers great brand awareness.”

Keira Park, Head of Marketing at Troy explains “We hope the sponsorship will deliver value to the entire Troy network with greater visibility and awareness of our mission to support Independent Distributors. As well as providing national visibility to Members who take up the Via Troy branding package.”

Troy provides a world class supply chain, business services and solutions for its membership, which is made up of independent SME industrial supplies and tooling distributors, to enable them to compete with the major national tooling chains. Advocates of supporting British industry and buying local, Troy’s strategy is to increase end-user/customer awareness nationally through sponsorship, Troy #SupportIndependents campaigns and an online Member locator.

Troy #SupportIndependents

For further information contact Sarah Revell, Communications & Strategic Growth Manager –  sarah.revell@troyuk.co.uk – Tel: 07920 783 573

[caption id="attachment_49232" align="alignleft" width="400"] Ashley Crowden/JMP – 20/07/2022 – RUGBY – St Nicholas Priory – Exeter, England – Exeter Chiefs Kit Launch[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_49229" align="alignright" width="400"] Ashley Crowden/JMP – 20/07/2022 – RUGBY – St Nicholas Priory – Exeter, England – Exeter Chiefs Kit Launch[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are delighted that Troy has been announced as a finalist in the Employee Engagement Awards.  Winners will be announced at a black tie Awards Gala Dinner at Wembley Stadium on January 25, 2018. The evening will include a Champagne Reception, three-course dinner with wine, the Awards presentation and live band entertainment.

The Employee Engagement Awards, in association with People Insight, provide a platform to recognise excellence in engagement that inspires action and drives the industry and the employee experience forward.  This is also a chance for businesses to come together as a community to network, learn and celebrate with each other.

Fingers crossed Troy will triumph on the night, so watch this space…

The UK’s leading engineering distributor, Troy Group, has acquired award-winning technology firm Applegate, with its online marketplace, extensive data and artificial intelligence capabilities.

Applegate brings longstanding academic relationships with Exeter and Plymouth universities, which have supported the development of innovative machine learning technology. All employees are retained and the company will remain based in Barnstaple, North Devon.

“Data and technology will power the future of our industry,” said Troy Group Chief Executive, Paul Kilbride. “As our business continues its rapid expansion, it’s vital we use great technology to support our members in delivering exceptional service to customers. Acquiring Applegate adds to the brilliant team we already have; I’m excited about incorporating the digital marketplace into our offer and the services this will enable us to develop.”

For Applegate’s CEO, Stuart Brocklehurst, the move is a natural fit. “From the start of the conversation with Troy it’s been clear that the ethics and culture of the group made for a perfect match. The whole team are thrilled to be joining Troy and looking forward to working with our new colleagues.”

This is the fourth acquisition Exeter-based Troy has completed this year as the group expands rapidly  – moving from 25^th, to 19^th, to 13^th largest business in the South West in the last three annual rankings by Francis Clark and the Western Morning News. Main shirt sponsor for the Exeter Chiefs, whilst Troy’s operations are spread all across the UK and Ireland the group has deep roots in the west country.

We are delighted to have successfully launched our expert run PPE training programme, with a Sight & Hearing webinar with Uvex, On Thursday 11^th February ’21.

PPE is now part of global language, however we understand how important it is for independent businesses to equip sales teams with the right skills to confidently, and appropriately, sell the huge variety of PPE ranges available to customers both in-store & online. 

Category Focussed Training

We have teamed up with our top-quality PPE suppliers, to bring our members a series of up-to-the-minute industry training webinars throughout the year, each focussed on a particular area of PPE.   Here they will find out about the varying standards needed for specific jobs & working environments, within each area of PPE like Eye, Ear, Hand, Face protection and more, featuring demonstrations & sample products (for signed up PPE Heroes only – full details on PPE Sales Support & Training area of the website),

Members can then compliment their stocked ranges with the required industry knowledge for sales teams, to instil confidence in customers, increase sales and build a great reputation…

…and these courses are absolutely FREE TO TROY MEMBERS!

Thank you to Uvex for an incredible first session, your expertise and insight has been invaluable, with glowing feedback coming through all the time…

Paul Kilbride, Troy CEO, his wife Lexi and son, Alex, met with Exeter chiefs’ players, coaching team and staff at a socially distanced, sponsor event held at Sandy Park on Wednesday 14^th October.

And there’s more exciting news!  A selection of lucky Troy employees, from across the various sites, will have scored with a conversion via a company raffle for tickets to watch Saturday’s big final!  

They will get to visit Sandy Park and experience full hospitality with a delicious Sausage & Mash meal and drinks, while watching the Chiefs’ play in the Heineken Champions Cup Final against Racing 92 on Saturday 17^th October.  As the match is being played at Ashton Gate, it will be streamed live to the Sandy Park corporate lounge where Team Troy will enjoy great service and exquisite food, while they cheer on the Chiefs to become the European champions – fingers crossed!

Kick-off on Saturday is at 16.45pm and will be streamed live via BT Sport, so be sure to tune in if you can and cheer on the chiefs – AND TROY – from the comfort and safety of your homes.

Come on Chiefs you can do it! Chiefs, Chiefs, Chiefs!

• 

• 

• 

• 

GE Tools director Neil Coleclough, a driving forces behind Troy Member, G E Tools, says goodbye this week after more than 30 years’ of service.  He joined the company, based in Rhyl and Deeside-based, back in 1988 and has been integral to its sustained growth.

At 59-year-old, he plans to spend quality time with wife Christine and family, pursuing hobbies including photography, walking and yoga.  Neil follows GE Tools founder Gordon Evans into retirement and is delighted that new Managing Director Chris Owen – with his 20 years + experience with the organisation – will lead them to an even brighter future

“It’s been some time in the planning but it’s soon come around. This time next week will be my colleague Neil Coleclough’s last working day.  After 33 years of directing our business he’s hanging up his brogues, throwing the laptop in the skip and planning on spending some well deserved quality time with his family.  Thanks for all the guidance and opportunities that both you and Gordon Evans have given me.” Chris Owen, Director at G E Tools

Everyone at Troy would like to wish Neil all the best in his retirement.

On the 7th Anniversary of Paul Kilbride buying the company, Troy has been recognised as one of the fastest growing businesses, in the South West, during 2017.

The FG75 2017 is a definitive guide to the fastest-growing companies across Devon and Cornwall.The annual guide is a snapshot of the regional economy – it shows who is leading the way and the sectors that are reaping the rewards for all the investment they have put in to innovation, identifying new markets, people and infrastructure to build their businesses.

The Western Morning News reported out of 75 Companies, Troy came in at number 60 and supplier to Troy, Bott Limited came in at number 40, so congratulations to them.

Click here to read the full article:

http://www.devonlive.com/news/here-top-75-fastest-growing-713254

Troy (UK) is pleased to announce their collaboration with market-leading Netherlands & Belgium based data management firm, EZ-base. This exciting new joint venture will bring significant benefits to the UK, with Troy members and suppliers positioned at the front of the queue for this much needed, affordable, online product data system.

About Troy (UK)
Troy UK, prides itself on providing business services and solutions for its member distributors operating within the industrial supplies and tooling market. Having originated as a buying group, Troy UK has grown to become the largest in its marketplace, having more than £1.1b collective group trading power with more than 400 suppliers and 350 members.

About EZ-base
Over their 15 years’ worth of experience, EZ-base has successfully built a digital ‘data-bridge’ between many suppliers and distributors from a range of countries and industries.  Their up-to-the-minute technology acquires, refines and standardises product data to ensure accuracy, consistency and brand integrity, with seamless updates continuing as and when released.

New EZ-base (UK)
The new sophisticated, secure, information warehouse – EZ-base is now ready to store and process suppliers’ product data within the UK market.  Access to this data, will assist members to trade on-line efficiently, with ease, saving valuable time and money.  Required information will be extractable in a universal format, ready for uploading to ANY established or new online store.  And the benefits won’t stop there, as the EZ-base technology will be able to assist in creating databases, online and printed promotional material and more

---

Suppliers Jump on Board
A number of astute suppliers are keen to work with EZ-base, immediately seeing the value of being able to control the quality and reliability of their data being used by countless retailers in the public domain.  Those already involved have been incredibly receptive – and it is clear that this solution is quickly being recognised as a must-have for any respected businesses. 

Future Partnership
The collective expertise and industry knowledge that the Troy (UK) and EZ-base partnership offers will ensure customers receive the best service in the business.

---

“There’s no doubt that online trading is a priority for the Troy group, especially with the recent pandemic having a negative impact on sales in physical stores.  EZ-base will assist ecommerce by acting as a fundamental conduit between distributors and suppliers, with great benefits to be had on both sides.  Everyone involved has been working incredibly hard and we’re excited to see this key ‘game-changer’ project come to fruition, ready for the next chapter in digital trading”
Gareth Thomas, EZ-base Managing Director (UK)

“I think we both realise that this is an important step for the further development of digital channels and digital information supply in hardware and tools industry in Great Britain.  I look forward to a constructive and successful relationship in the coming years.”
Ron van den Bosch, CEO of EZ-base

---

In the coming weeks, the EZ-base team will be contacting Troy members and suppliers to discuss the fantastic benefits on offer.  However, to find out more in the meantime, please email info@ez-base.co.uk. 

For further information please visit the dedicated EZ-base website www.ez-base.co.uk.

For more details about Troy (UK) please visit www.troyuk.co.uk.

Troy, are pleased to announce a £15.5 million investment from BGF, Business Growth Fund, to support its growth strategy.

As the largest independent network of industrial and engineering supplies in the UK, this investment will help Troy to further support the industries it serves, including general manufacturing, rail, renewable energy, automotive, medical and aerospace.

Under the leadership of Paul Kilbride, who acquired Troy in 2010, the business has experienced rapid growth with 400 plus members, 420 plus suppliers, and a turnover of over £300 million.

BGF’s financial support will further accelerate the company’s growth, with Troy having invested in 16 independent group members to date, and a significant pipeline of further opportunities identified post-investment.

For those independent members these investments have provided a more favourable option for legacy planning, allowing them to maintain their independent names and secure local jobs.

These investments have significantly benefitted the group, both protecting the group’s impressive £1.2 billion collective buying power, and by unlocking investment potential. This has enabled the development of world class support functions, services and platforms that are available to the Troy network; made up of both members and suppliers.

This is a significant milestone for the company. With the support of BGF, Troy can continue to support the growth of its independent members and future proof the local businesses that it invests in.

In addition to the funding, Troy has also appointed former Wickes CEO, Simon King as Non-Executive Chair, following an introduction from BGF’s Talent Network – the largest pool of non-exec talent in the UK.

Paul Kilbride, Chief Executive at Troy, said: “To deliver our strategy of structured growth, we required a minority investment partner that recognised the capabilities of Troy. We are confident that with BGF as key allies we will maintain our growth trajectory and realise the company’s ambition.”

The new £15.5 million investment deal was led by James Skade and Hannah Waters, investors in BGF’s Bristol-based South West team. 

BGF investor James Skade said: “This is a great opportunity for BGF to invest in a thriving national business with an excellent reputation and a huge potential for growth. We’re delighted to be working alongside Paul and Simon and look forward to supporting the business to deliver on its ambitious growth plans.”

Simon King, non-exec chair of Troy, said: “I’m excited to be joining the board of Troy, working alongside the wider team and BGF to capitalise on significant market opportunities and to position the business for further growth.”

Advisors to BGF on the transaction were Tim Roberts, Martin Davies, Rachael Ruanne and Amy McVey (Burges Salmon), Tom Ayerst and Jack Jones (PwC)  . Advisors to Troy UK were Paul Bevan (Breeze Corporate Finance), Matt Eves, Dave Guy and Hannah Nonas (EY) and Mark Rutherford and Anna Mayfield (Gateley plc).

-Ends-

 About BGF

BGF was set-up in 2011 and has invested £3.5 billion in over 500 companies, making it the largest and most experienced investor in the UK and Ireland. BGF is a minority, non-controlling equity partner with a patient outlook on investments, based on shared long-term goals with the management teams it backs. BGF invests in growing businesses in the UK and Ireland through its network of 15 offices. In 2018, Canada launched its equivalent – the Canadian Business Growth Fund – and in 2020, Australia did the same, both based on BGF’s funding model. www.bgf.co.uk / Social media: @BGFinvestments

About Troy

Founded in 1986 as a buying group in the industrial and engineering sector. Troy was acquired by Paul Kilbride in 2010 and has grown significantly since to become the largest in its sector in the UK with 420+ suppliers, 400+ members and £1.2 billion group buying power. www.troyuk.co.uk / Social media: @thetroygroup

We are strongly invested in best practice and excellence and as a proud member of the BSIF our PPE specialists,  Wendy Perkins & Sean Fyfe, met with Roy Wilders of British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) last Thursday to conduct our very 1st #registeredsafetysupplierscheme audit.

Wendy Perkins comments, “A big thank you to Roy Wilders (BSIF) for guidance through our first audit. At Troy we continue to encourage our members to join BSIF and to maximise the support and opportunities membership brings.”

 

 

“[Troy has] some great processes and procedures in place and we also enjoyed a great discussion in relation to the support and guidance that they offer to their membership in relation to selection of #PPE and how as members of the #BSIF we are here to reinforce that support.” Roy Wilders, Manager – Registered Safety Supplier Scheme, BSIF

If you would like to find out more about BSIF membership, please email Wendy Perkins on wendy.perkins@troyuk.co.uk today!

#safety #compliance #checkselectprotect

A company set up because its founder promised a fellow serviceman a job would be waiting for him after the Second World War, is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

Cardiff company TB Davies (Cardiff) Ltd was founded on November 6, 1945 by a veteran of two world wars, Thomas Brynley Davies. Mr Davies was a Warrant Officer in the Second Battalion of the Life Guards stationed at Windsor Barracks in the First World War. 

He made his promise to fellow serviceman Colin Morgan while stationed at a local RAF base. After the war ended, Bryn sold his house to finance the new business, TB Davies.

To continue reading, please click here.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFN7IILi_oM&utm_source=TB+Davies+CRM&utm_campaign=ee0c5b8e6a-75-years-campaign_all&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5f543c0e71-ee0c5b8e6a-423831913[/embed]

#AD

U-Power is the leading safety footwear and workwear brand in Europe.
We are proud to attach our upcoming advertising campaign in the UK with
the globally renowned actor Gerard Butler on all of the most influencial
media platforms including ITV, Sky and Talksport.

The campaign began on Monday, 6th November, and will end on the 4th of December.

Click here for full campaign details and get in touch with the U-Power office to receive more information on how to benefit from this opportunity!

Troy UK have partnered with Ashfords LLP, a leading law firm, to provide Troy members with a dedicated COVID-19 helpline.

With the UK Government announcing an unprecedented range of support measures for businesses and employers, the helpline will provide initial help and signposting in relation to business and legal issues arising from the COVID-19 crisis, at no cost to the member.

We are currently in extraordinary times which raises a significant amount of questions for business owners. The new partnership between Troy and Ashfords aims to combat this uncertainty with advice and information on employment law, commercial tenant advice, loan application and finance facilities, commercial insurance, business continuity and tax deferral schemes.

Government initiatives, arrangements and provisions are changing and emerging on a daily basis so keeping up to date in these challenging trading conditions is essential to Troy Members. The new Troy/Ashfords partnership will provide a regular bulletin to members to give as much information as possible about the current COVID-19 pandemic and the issues it creates for businesses in the UK. The bulletin will contain a summary of Government measures, frequently asked questions, best practice tips, evolving business issues as well as application and paperwork support.

Members can enjoy free initial legal advice, which is complimentary support provided by Troy in these challenging trading times.

More details are available to Members only within the members area of the Troy THS website https://www.troyuk.co.uk/we-are-here-to-help/

Troy UK hosted a coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support at our brand new offices at Skypark Exeter. We had a great turnout including our neighbours at Oneserve supporting the event. Thank you to everyone who baked, created and decorated these masterpieces below – a great effort!

Macmillan’s first-ever coffee morning happened way back in 1990. It was a rather small affair with a simple idea: guests would gather over coffee and donate the cost of their cuppa to Macmillan in the process. It was so effective, they did it again the year after.  Now people all over the UK host their own coffee mornings and make donations on the day to help combat cancer. Since then, Coffee morning has raised over £200 million for Macmillan. Just last year Macmillan raised an incredible £26,914,382 and are aiming to top that this year! 

We are pleased to announce Troy UK have raised £243.53 so far and this figure will no doubt rise throughout the day!

 

 

[gallery ids="24231,24229,24232,24233,24234,24235,24236,24247,24237,24240,24241,24242,24243,24244,24246"]

Paul Kilbride, CEO of the Troy Group, has signed to sponsor local rugby union club and premiership title winners, Exeter Chiefs, this season. 
Paul is a long term supporter of the team and this sponsorship deal on behalf of Troy celebrates a major milestone, his 10 year ownership anniversary as CEO of Troy, coinciding with the Chiefs’ 10 years competing in the Aviva premiership.  

Both organisations have enjoyed great success over the last ten years, equally starting from relatively humble beginnings and sharing ambitions for future achievement.

Troy provides business services and solutions for its membership, which is made up of independent SME industrial supplies and tooling distributors, to enable them to compete with the major national tooling chains.

Since Paul’s succession 10 years ago Troy UK has grown to become the largest in its marketplace, having more than £1.1b collective group trading power with more than 400 suppliers and 350 members.

Sports ethics and competitive drive play a large part in Troy’s culture.  Its accomplishments are the result of team work, identifying individuals’ core skills and maximising that to the collective advantage of the team in order to succeed – as well as professionalism, focus and commitment.

Paul has sponsored a number of sporting events and clubs, including the Tug of War at the Drumnadrochit Highland Games, a charitable donation for competing in the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara, Peter Dumbreck Professional British Racing Driver as well as supporting a local under 16’s football team Central AC, and now Exeter Chiefs. Not only this but Troy hosts its annual TMB show at the home of British Formula 1, Silverstone, reflecting their aim for the elite standard.

[playlist type="video" ids="33233"]

 

Nurturing Young Local Talent

Both organisations value their local talent and seek to develop and retain their top performers.  Star players like Henry Slade, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jack Nowell & Sam Hill have developed to the highest level at the Chiefs, progressing from academy level to international standard and remain loyal to the club.

Paul’s sons, Alex & Oz, who are both Chief’s academy alumni, have successfully completed Troy’s trainee management scheme.   They and other Troy employees are set to rise through the ranks and become the stars of the future.  Troy prides itself on being a family business, supporting other family businesses.  This sentiment extends across its staff team creating a friendly and tight-knit environment, making it one of the top companies to work for in the country.

Going over & above to support inspirational young woman’s dream career. 

Steve Heanaghan, Business Development Manager at Troy, was working at home one evening when by chance a story on the local ITV news caught his attention.

The appeal revealed how Samantha Bradbury, aged 23 from Leicestershire, had been born with Bloom Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that had impaired her growth.  Despite setbacks growing up, she was completing her studies at college with her heart firmly set on a career as a roadie, building sets and stages for concerts and events.  Due to Samantha’s condition she only took size 1 in a shoe and struggled to find the safety footwear required for workplace Health & Safety regulations. 

Both inspired and moved by Samantha’s plight, Steve immediately sent off an email to Central News at ITV explaining his connections within the Troy group PPE supply chain and his wish to help.  Some time later, he received an email from Central news correspondent, Philip Brewster, who was delighted with the offer and got in touch with Samantha and her mother to share the fantastic news.

“Seeing someone as inspiring and driven as Samantha on the television spurred me on to get involved.  More businesses than ever are trying to enable and encourage people of all abilities, and in this case sizes, into the workplace and as PPE products are required by law, stories like this highlight the need for suppliers to expand their ranges outside the norm.” Steve said.

Watch the full ITV segment video here by clicking on the image above

 

After consulting with his colleagues at Troy Steve began contacting the group’s various PPE suppliers and soon a flurry of solutions came in.  However, he struck gold when Larry Bate from Portwest, global PPE manufacturing company, got in touch, already having the size required within their safety shoe collection.

“I’m delighted.  Several of our loyal PPE Suppliers came forward quickly looking to help with appropriate sizing for Samantha. However, Larry at Portwest really came up trumps.  He offered her not only a choice of five different styles, but two pairs absolutely free.  It’s a true demonstration of the kindness of strangers”.

Within weeks, the infamous work shoes were delivered by Steve himself who was keen to finally meet Samantha. 

When trying on the shoes Samantha said, “I don’t have any words at this point, I’m just so happy.  I feel like I’ve been waiting my entire life for this, it’s definitely a happy, happy day … it means I can get the jobs anyone else can.  There’s no stopping me now”.

Samantha’s Mum, Fiona Bradbury, became overwhelmed with emotion.  “Throughout her life she’s had hurdles … a big heartfelt thank you to everybody, it means the world.

Everyone at Troy wishes Samantha all the best in her future career and would like to thank Larry and the team at Portwest, who made it possible for Samantha to follow her dreams.  As Marilyn Monroe once famously said, “give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world” and we are sure that Samantha will do just that.

 

 

If you have an enquiry for an item of PPE or any other product outside of a normal range, please contact your designated Business Development Manager who is always on hand to help.  Their many years of experience and vast connections within the Troy supply chain mean they can often get difficult to source products quickly #strongertogether

After months of negotiation, on 1^st April ‘18 Troy UK, based in Barnstaple Devon, celebrated the successful acquisition of Rotherham based buying group THS.

 

This significant deal creates an independent buying group of substantial scale, and assists both organisations in creating further competitive advantage for their members in the combined challenge of competing with National rivals.

 

Troy is keen to preserve the well-known THS brand and maintain stability for its current membership base, so the staff team and its operations at the Head Office in Rotherham will remain in place for the foreseeable future.  Rather than THS being simply consumed by Troy, changes to current practices at THS will be subject to careful consideration by the Troy board of Directors.  That said, THS Tools has become very much part of the family, now operating as a division of Troy UK limited.

 

“Our philosophy has always been to invest strategically and responsibly.  This exciting new chapter further reinforces our goal to attract the highest quality products and customer service at the best price for our valued membership, thus increasing our buying power to its optimum level.  We are delighted to welcome THS to the Troy Group and look forward to prosper and grow for years to come.”  Paul Kilbride, CEO Troy UK Ltd.

 

To read more about Troy UK please visit www.troyuk.co.uk

We are proud to announce that our very own Paul Kilbride, CEO, has been nominated for Regional Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021.

The programme, created by EY, looks to celebrate inspiring entrepreneurs from across the country. The 126 regional finalists come from a wide range of different sectors, including technology, consumer and health sciences – all of whom have continued to contribute to the economy, even in the face of hardships such as COVID-19.

Unstoppable, innovative, resilient – three things that this year’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2021 UK regional finalists have in common. Take a look at the inspiring leaders that have made the shortlist: https://go.ey.com/34W8pN3
#EOYUK

We are delighted to announce that we have successfully achieved the ISO 14001 2015 Environmental Accreditation, which includes Troy UK Exeter Ltd and the Barnstaple & Rotherham sites.  As a result, this commits us to all environmental legal requirements & compliance obligations.

As a Group, we always strive for excellence and this certification demonstrates our pledge to improving the quality of our products and services, with the environment in mind.  This will undoubtedly benefit our Members, their customers, and our Suppliers too, which is always our main objective.

“The Environmental certification is a further addition to the existing ISO 9001 2015 Quality standard portfolio. This underpins the Troy Group’s determination to be known throughout the Industrial & Engineering marketplace for quality, accountability, service, and for having ethical & honourable values.” John Evans, Troy Group Quality Manager.

As we’re sure you’re aware, Dickies Workwear will be discontinued as of 31^st March ’21.

 

Please see below some of the alternative suppliers and brands available through Troy, that offer high quality ranges of Workwear for you to consider stocking in place of the Dickies ranges.  For further details please see the purchasing hub on www.troyuk.co.uk or discuss with your BDM for more assistance.

• Bisley
• Castle Clothing
• Future Garments
• Helly Hansen
• Mascot
• Performance Brands
• Portwest
• Regatta
• Scruffs (Birchwood)
• Snickers
• Sterling safety

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

On the 18^th October, a staff afternoon was held at Exeter Sky Park Offices for all Troy/THS employees from Barnstaple, Rotherham and Exeter branches.  The afternoon kicked off with various presentations outlining group strategy led by CEO Paul Kilbride giving an overview of goals, objectives and reflection on the groups’ journey so far. This was followed by an I.T overview, Business Development / Sales update, Marketing and finally a word from our new HR department.

The day provided the perfect environment for staff from different sites to network and get to know each other better. Once the presentations concluded the whole team enjoyed a buffet of BBQ’d meats, salads and sides, pool tournament and games.

A few colleagues continued out into the nightlife of Exeter where a wonderful evening was had drinking cocktails at Dr Inks on Exeter Quayside!

 

The UK Government has recently announced that there are to be new rules applied on vat for COVID 19 related PPE. A zero-rate of VAT will apply to sales of personal protective equipment (PPE) for Covid-19 from 1 May 2020 until 31 July 2020, a move they said will save care homes and businesses more than £100 million.

This announcement comes after import duty was also removed from PPE used in the context of Covid-19.

Further information is available through this link.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/treasury-cut-taxes-to-reduce-ppe-costs?utm_source=5e6cb49d-28fc-44d1-82f0-a3b1bbcbb742&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

A huge ‘Thank You’ to everyone that donated towards the the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine at the TMB Gala Dinner.  All funds raised will go direct to the British Red Cross appeal to support those affected. 

Messages are currently being sent out to everyone that pledged on the night, as a reminder to complete donations via our GoFundMe page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tmb2022

Thank you so much for your generosity – we will be announcing the full figure raised very soon,  #strongertogether

Have your customers got a dream garage? Are they making the most of their space? Now, thanks to Draper Tools, you can offer your customers the ultimate storage solution. Draper Tools believes a simple storage upgrade can make all the difference when it comes to restoring order in the garage. This is the driving force behind BUNKER, the stunning new modular storage collection that’s built to protect.

Whether your customers are looking to protect and store vital tools or simply banish clutter for good, this is storage that makes an impact. BUNKER features four ready-made convenient combos (11, 14, 16 or 25 pieces) or 24 individual modular options, allowing your customers to design their own bespoke storage system.

Consumers and mechanics alike, can make the most of any space with an original and distinctive BUNKER set-up. There’s a choice of hardwood or stainless steel worktops, and each unit is made from premium quality steel, with a stylish matt black textured finish to protect against scratches, wear and corrosion. The lush foam-lined drawers are soft-close, and the doors have whisper-quiet gas struts. For added flexibility and usability, there’s versatile shelving on the cabinets, while the adjustable feet make BUNKER storage suitable for uneven flooring.

BUNKER is designed for flexibility, with functional, highly practical add-ons, including a built-in stainless steel sink, integrated bin and paper towel roll holder. And with the added reassurance of a 10-year warranty, your customers can confidently build a storage system to tackle every task on their own terms.

A serious storage upgrade that’ll give your customers an enviably smart and organised workspace doesn’t have to cost the earth either. BUNKER is incredibly cost-effective, with prices starting around £1,499.94 (inc VAT) RRP for an 11 Piece Modular Storage Combo.

See full details on the range at www.drapertools.com/bunker or speak to your Draper Tools Area Sales Manager for more. #AD

Energy purchasing can be a complicated task to fulfill, particularly when it comes to electricity. When considering your next business contract, it is important to understand the charging structure within the offer and what you are paying for. For many small businesses, not having the time or knowledge to review and implement the best energy contracts for their businesses can often lead to overpaying further down the line.

Breaking Down Bills
Interestingly, and often not well known, wholesales energy costs make up only approximately 40% of your total energy bills, the other part is made up from a mixture of additional 3rd party charges including government levies, which often focus on support for green energy incentives like Feed In Tariffs and the climate change levy. Further charges include payments for maintaining infrastructure, transmitting and distributing energy from power stations and across the national grid. Surprisingly the continuous upward trend in energy costs is due to the non-commodity elements of your energy bill, rather than the wholesale cost of energy. The chart below gives an example of this:

*Contracts for Difference
**Climate Control Levy

Finding the Best Deal
The price you pay for your energy depends on many factors, including the type of procurement contract you opt for, the length of that contract and your overall consumption. All of these will vary by supplier, meaning finding the best price can be quite confusing. Essentially there are 3 types of electricity contracts: Pass Through, Fixed and Fully Fixed.

Pass-Through contracts differ from fully fixed contracts in that only the wholesale part of your price is fixed for the length of the contract. All other non-commodity costs including transmission, distribution, government taxes and levies are passed through to the consumer via their supplier at cost and can change as these are a variable charge. In fully fixed contracts these charges are higher as they have a risk weighting applied to allow for price increases.

The benefit of this approach depends on small increase in the pass-through charges throughout your contract. If these charges don’t increase significantly during the contract period, you will benefit from lower overall costs, however the risk is that they will.

Fixed or Partial Pass Through,
This type of contract fixes the wholesale cost of the energy for the contractual period, and the 3rd party charges mentioned above will be set at this point. The suppliers are then responsible for any increases in 3rd party charges up to a certain point. If charges exceed a certain amount, which should be outlined in the terms and conditions they can then pass through these charges to the end user.
This type of contract Is less risky than a full pass-through contract and is aimed at businesses who would like slightly more security in their contracts but do still have a higher risk threshold.

Fully Fixed,
These types of contracts are aimed at businesses with little appetite for risk and those that want absolute budget certainty. The price of the unit rate, including all non-commodity charges is fully fixed for the duration of the contract. A a result the unit rates and standing charges tend to be higher, as the supplier must build risk of future increases to 3rd party charge into their offer. It must still be noted that these contracts can till be exposed to new taxes as well as increases to the climate change levy (CCL) and VAT.

Your choice

While for most SMEs outright cost will be the primary driver, in some cases different factors may come into consideration, depending on the nature of your business and your wider targets.

Working with an energy consultant can help your business find the most suitable contracts for your businesses needs based on your attitude to risk.

Get a fresh pair of expert eyes cast over your bills and see if efficiencies or errors can be identified.

Troy UK has vetted and approved consultants you can use to be sure of a great service.