• Cordless coffee maker
• Compatible with Makita LXT and CXT Lithium-Ion batteries
• Can be used with coffee pods and fresh ground coffee

The new Makita cordless coffee maker is expected to become the most prized possession of all construction trades and outdoor contractors.  The DCM501Z coffee maker is compatible with both CXT and LXT Makita Lithium-Ion batteries and features dedicated battery ports.

Weighing just 2.2kg, with an 18V Makita battery, and complete with carry handle, the DCM501Z can brew 260ml of coffee on a single CXT 10.8V – 12VMAX battery or a 3.0Ah 14.4V battery; 320ml of fresh coffee on an 18V 3.0Ah battery, and up to 640ml of coffee on an 18V 6.0Ah battery.  The coffee maker comes complete with a dedicated cup, with capacity of 240ml coffee, and is designed to fit in the machine without leaving a gap so protecting against splashing or entry of dirt and dust.  Commercial cups up to 90mm high will also fit the machine.

The DCM501Z is compatible with ground coffee as well as 60mm coffee pods for the most delicious brew.  Dependent on battery type and voltage a fresh 160ml cup of coffee can be brewed in just five minutes.  This coffee maker features a cover to protect the empty battery terminal and a boil dry function prevents the machine from burning out, so if the water empties and the temperature inside increases, the integral sensor will turn off the power supply automatically.

For more news and product information about Makita UK please visit www.makitauk.com.  Follow us on Twitter @MakitaUK, Facebook.com/makitauk and google.com/+makitauk

The Government has announced a zero-rating on VAT on the sale of PPE until 31^st October 2020 (Originally it was only to run until 31^st July 2020, however it was extended in early July). This took effect from 1 May 2020 and is directly linked to strategy of reducing the impact of COVID-19.

Products covered by the zero rate include;

• Disposable gloves
• Disposable plastic aprons
• Disposable gowns
• Surgical masks including IIR surgical masks
• Filtering face piece respirators
• Eye and face protection including face visors or goggles

Who does the ‘temporary zero-rating for PPE’ apply to?

• Businesses
• Charities
• Individuals in the UK
• Care Homes (It is expected to particularly benefit care providers, who are often unable to reclaim the 20% VAT incurred on PPE as they are fully or partially exempt businesses)

VAT in the UK is governed by EU Law, at least until Brexit 1^st January 2021, however the European Commission approved member states to introduce temporary VAT reliefs to mitigate the impacts of COVID 19 pandemic.

For further information please visit;

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-zero-rating-for-personal-protective-equipment/vat-zero-rating-for-personal-protective-equipment

Coronavirus Communication – Immediate Halt to Collections

Given the current situation and following government advice we have taken the decision to ban customer collections at all branch locations with immediate effect. This decision has been taken to protect our staff, and I’d like to thank you in advance for your understanding with regards to this matter.

Dowload the links below for more updates.

We are proud to announce that our very own Jenny Bicket, Senior Data Governance & Strategy Lead at Troy, was a Guest Speaker at The Modern Data Stack Conference EMEA that took place on the 25th May ’21.

Jenny Bicket was included in the expert line-up to speak at this year’s Modern Data Stack Conference last month. The online conference brought together data analysts, data engineers, and other data professionals from across the globe, to share the latest innovations, technology tools, and best practices.

Jenny discussed how to improve decision making across an entire business through data-driven decisions with other data experts from Biztory and KatKin during the day.

The online event was FREE, so if you’re looking to find out more about the event click the button below!

TIMco LAUNCH NEW GATE & FENCE HARDWARE RANGE UNDER THE BRAND TAURUS

TIMco, one of the UK’s largest independent suppliers of screws, fasteners, fixings and power tool accessories, has launched a new hardware range under the brand TAURUS. The new range is TIMco’s first venture into fence and gate hardware and will include a broad range of products for external use.

The TAURUS range has been designed and manufactured to meet the high standards associated with TIMco and items within the range are sold with TIMco’s quality fixings and fasteners to ensure a high-quality product throughout.

The new gate and fence hardware range has no officially launched, with the range consisting of hinges, gate catches, bolts, hasps, staples, chains and fence accessories.

TAURUS will be available in a range of different packaging options such as bulk and bags which are robust, clear and have consistent packaging throughout. The new packaging will also show the features and benefits of each of the TAURUS products with new labelling and clear product information including the corrosion rating as well as fitting instructions for the end user.

TIMco has strategised and developed the merchandising around the new range with bespoke TAURUS stands which are available for merchants and come completely branded to assist the end user with product selection.

The range and merchandising stands have been put together by Paul White, Ironmongery Products Manager at TIMco, who comments: “We’ve taken a lot of time and consideration over the launch of our new TAURUS range to ensure that the merchandising reflects the quality of the products within this range and is clearly identifiable to the end user in stores. We are ecstatic with the quality of the final products and branded merchandising stands.”

A brand-new TAURUS brochure also accompanies the new TAURUS range, suitable for merchant buyers to assist with the selection process to offer in store and is also available for end users to take away from TIMco stockists.

Simon Midwood, Managing Director of TIMco comments: “TAURUS is a natural extension to our existing ranges and allows us to branch into new areas and provide customers with an enhanced product offering.  We’re thrilled with the final products and innovative packaging and initial feedback from our customers has been extremely positive.”

TIMco is headquartered in Nantwich, Cheshire, imports and supplies more than 5,500 product lines from around the world to distributors throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe.  The company was established in 1972 and now employs 115 members of staff from its offices in the UK, Ireland and Taiwan.  For more information, visit www.timco.co.uk. 

TIMco, one of the UK’s largest independent wholesale suppliers of screws, fixings and power tools accessories, has developed a brand-new range of TIMco Multi-fix 9 in 1 Adhesives and Sealants with a ground-breaking formula.

The TIMco Multi-Fix 9 in 1 Instant Grab Adhesive has been developed to give superior rapid bonding strength to a wide variety of building materials, even in wet conditions. The instant grab formula can eliminate the need for permanent and temporary support and be painted over almost immediately. Furthermore, the Multi-Fix 9 in 1 Instant Grab Adhesive is capable of setting in as little as 15 minutes and provides superior strength, supporting loads up to 400kg.

The Multi-Fix 9 in 1 Universal Adhesive & Sealant has an advanced formula which provides a replacement for both traditional adhesives and sealants, giving a noticeably professional finish. Having also been ISEGA approved, the adhesive is suitable for use in food preparation areas.

Using a revolutionary hybrid polymer technology, the TIMco Multi-Fix 9 In 1 Universal Adhesive & Sealant, adheres to most traditional building materials, including; concrete, brick, stone, wood, MDF, metal, glass, plastic and ceramic. It has been developed for the use in a wide variety of trade and DIY applications.

Managing Director of TIMco, Simon Midwood comments: “Having recognised an increasing demand for multi-purpose adhesives and sealants, TIMco further developed our Multi-Fix range using proven high performance formulas which make them extremely versatile and highly effective in today’s demanding construction environments. The addition of this exciting new range demonstrates how TIMco is continuing to remain committed to meeting the demands of its customers and becoming a fully comprehensive supply chain solution.”

The new Multi-Fix Adhesives and Sealants range will be included in TIMco’s 2018/19 catalogue.

TIMco is head quartered in Nantwich, Cheshire and imports and supplies more than 6,500 product lines from around the world to distributors throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe.  The company was established in 1970 and now employs 150+ members of staff from its offices in the UK, Ireland and Taiwan.  For more information, visit www.TIMco.co.uk.

What an incredible come back – it’s fair to say that TMB 2022 was a real assault on the senses with record numbers in attendance and business generated on the day.  Bigger & better than before, for the first time ever TMB covered all 3 of the halls and a new supplier mezzanine at The Wing, Silverstone, accommodating 184 supplier stands – the quality of these and the TMB offers were second to none with the Troy Suppliers well and truly pulling it out of the bag.

TMB 2022 Summary …

• Superb Supplier Stands with product demos, deals & samples across 3 halls including …
• A New Supplier Mezzanine
• Impressive Demo Vehicles
• TMB 2022 Innovation Award – judged by our very own Troy Young Professional Panel
• Incredible Top Ten Deals
• Troy’s Very Own Experts, Giving Presentations on Dual Branding, Troy Solutions, Troy Commerce & More
• Product Data Support via Ez-base, Award Winning vending with Safe Stock Solutions, Fantastic Purchasing Opportunities via Trojan Tools, Manufacturing Excellence with TMG
• On the track racing in an Aston Martin & Ferrari
• Category Specialist Advice in PPE, Welding & more
• all generating unprecedented amounts of ££££ business

and that was just the day!

Gala Dinner & Entertainment Circus Style!

The gala dinner was housed in the impressive Big Top marquee at Whittlebury Park, which was awash with colour, lights and an electric atmosphere.  There was …

• Fancy Dress!!!!  Thank you to everyone who joined in the fun!
• Clowning around in the Carousel, Cannon & Car
• A Juggler, Magician, Mirror Men & Make-up artists
• Class Acts – who really didn’t need an introduction – the hilarious Rod Woodward, beautiful & talented Lisa Kelsey, and show stopping Nina Conti and up for a laugh volunteers from the crowd – not forgetting super clever compere & ring master Paul Martyn
• Delicious food served by Whittlebury Park’s very own clowns
• Wine a plenty on the tables – compliments of U-Power – Thank you for sponsoring!
• Exploding balloons – these were not for the faint hearted!
• & a fun filled Casino – sponsored by Europa – Thank you so much, this really did make the perfect end to an incredible evening!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT DONATED TOWARDS THE BRITISH RED CROSS APPEAL TO SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED BY THE UKRAINIAN HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, WE’LL RELEASE THE FULL FIGURE RAISED VERY SOON!

The Morning After The Night Before …

For the Troy Team it was back to business on Friday 18th March too, where we were back at Silverstone for the final breakdown – and the irony of it being World Sleep Day wasn’t lost on us either …

Let’s Talk About Brad!

Pre-show – on Wednesday 16th March – Whittlebury Park played host to a world class business seminar with the one and only Brad Sugars World #No1 Business Coach.  Whatever the scale, model or direction of the business everyone was able to take something incredibly valuable away from this once in a lifetime opportunity.  He talked passionately about the importance of a Mission, Management, Productivity, Strategy, Marketing, Business Development, Loyalty & much more …

Energetic, charismatic & inspiring – Brad expertly provided a plethora of real-life business experiences to demonstrate his proven principles of business success.  Brad’s ability to connect with the audience was effortless, generating many keen questions about relating his principles to specific scenarios from Members & Suppliers alike.

And There’s More … TMB 2022 VIRTUAL SHOW!

Troy Members – TMB 2022 didn’t end on Thursday for you either!  We’re delighted to confirm that the link to the VIRTUAL SHOW is now live on www.tmb-show.co.uk showcasing many of the fantastic TMB deals which will remain in effect until the end of March and beyond!

TMB 2022 was sponsored by:

Dormer Pramet – Draper Tools – Makita – Portwest – Stanley, Black & Decker & Toolbank

Thank you from Paul Kilbride & Board of Directors:

A huge thank you to all our show sponsors who’ve been incredibly supportive, our loyal members for attending on the day, and our superb suppliers that showcased their incredible products, brands and deals.  Not forgetting the Silverstone Events Team, New Image PR, Whittlebury Park, Creative Hire and everyone else involved in bringing this incredible show together – we really couldn’t have done this without you all #strongertogether.  Roll on 2023!

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.

Scott Thompson, National Account Manager at ToughBuilt provides a great introduction into the commercial opportunity, USPs and innovations Troy Members can access at ToughBuilt.

Scott shared a range of samples, highlighting their ClipTech toolbelt technology, Sawhorses and kneepads.

ToughBuilt will be exhibiting at TMB this Thursday the 17th May, so make sure to go and visit them at stand 149 in hall Monza and explore the wide range of products they have to offer. They also have some great offers and promotions running at TMB, take a look here.

Watch the full interview here and keep an eye out for their product demonstration video coming soon!

https://www.troyuk.co.uk/purchasing-hub/suppliers/toughbuilt-industries-uk-ltd/

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.

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!

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.

Big Wipes are now certified as Antiviral (EN14476) including effective at killing the enveloped virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes Covid-19. This transforms the Big Wipes range and offer, in that they are now the only industrial-strength wipe manufacturer that covers all three critical bases;

1.) Performance – 4 high powered cleaning solvents that can quickly and effectively remove even the most stubborn construction muck and grime faster than any other wipes on the market

2.) Safety – 4 skin conditioners to protect and nourish hands, plus dermatological tested, specifically designed to be safe for prolonged use on human hands. 

3.) Protection – Antiviral and antibacterial certification as recognised by British and European biocidal standards (EN14476 & EN1276) 

Big Wipes antiviral report 

All Big Wipe products are retrospectively upgraded to this anti viral status. Which means all Big Wipes in member branches are immediately antiviral. Big Wipes Dump Stack Displays are available to clearly communicate the antiviral message until the product starts coming through from the factory with the new antiviral labels.

Big Wipes Antiviral Dump Stack Display Option 

Read more from Big Wipes below…

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/

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.

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.

“My family and I are huge rugby fans so I’m delighted to be able to sponsor the Chiefs which we’ve supported and held season tickets with for many years.  Troy and the Exeter Chiefs share many of the same values – competitive, passionate, team focused and continued investment in home-grown talent.  I see my sponsorship as a fantastic boost for Troy.  Being affiliated with such a successful local sports club that is recognised nationally, and representing everything that Troy stands for, offers great brand awareness.  The Exeter Chiefs have proven that from humble beginnings it is possible to compete and win at the top level by developing local talent and creating the right culture”.  Paul Kilbride, Troy Group CEO

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.

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.

Troy supplier Dickies UK have launched their first ever Dickies global marketing campaign: “United By Inspiration, United By Dickies”.

The campaign juxtaposes ten makers from the Dickies global community, including two European makers; Johannes Rathmann, a carpenter from Germany and Rob Maxfield, a stone mason from the UK.  

This campaign will be spread on their website, social medias, via trade press, via digital and Youtube.  

You can get a sneak peak at the visuals and videos developed for the campaign here!

Click here for links to Dickies socials

Click here for the full story from Dickies

The UK Government through the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in conjunction with the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has now published guidance on the use of the UKCA mark. 

The guidance published by the Dept. relates 17 items of “EU” originated legislation which are now adopted into “UK” legislation.

These Regulations and Directives cover a large range of manufactured goods which will move from the CE regime to the UKCA regime, PPE is one of the 17.

Because of the wide range of goods, the guidance published is “high level” and general in nature and does not at this stage answer all the detailed questions necessary to effect a successful migration. The PPE regulations are arguably more complex than many of the regulations included in the guidance. The Team at BSIF have endeavored to explain the changes in this link…