The RingleaderBorders Machinery Ring Ltd. February Newsletter 2015

Galamoor House, Netherdale Industrial Estate, Galashiels TD1 3EY • 01896 758091

Main Office: Galamoor House, Netherdale, Galashiels TD1 3EY Tel: 01896 758091; Fax: 01896 757036 email: bmr@ringleader.co.uk

Manager: MicHaEL BaYNE mobile: 07968 224 302 email: michael@ringleader.co.uk

Training/ Business DevelopMenT: JiLL DicksoN mobile: 07866 538 347email: jill@ringleader.co.uk

accounTs: saNDRa HaMiLToNemail: sandra@ringleader.co.uk

aDMinisTraTion / Fuel: aNN McGREGoRemail: ann@ringleader.co.uk

laBour / FarM supplies: saRaH caLDERemail: sarah@ringleader.co.uk

Visit the BMR Ltd. website on www.ringleader.co.uk

We are…

B M R

In this issue:

Spring Report ................................1

Health & Safety / Vehicles ..............2

BMR News Updates ...................3/4

Photo: © Andreas Krappweis

Lambing and CaLving suppLiesBMR can supply great value lambing supplies, including ❚ flexothane waterproofs,

bodywarmers, rubber gloves❚ spray markers and crayons❚ strong iodine, ketosis drenches,

colostrum powder

❚ Osmonds calf & lamb colostrum powder

❚ Osmonds pre-lambing drench ❚ nitrile and long examination gloves❚ blue paper rolls, disinfectant

Call for a

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A t the time of writing, the winter has been fairly kind to date but the forecast is for

colder weather in the next few days so by the time this newsletter hits the doormats we may have had a few inches of snow! Heavy crops last year has resulted in large stocks of straw and forage still on farm with little demand nationwide at present. If things change and you do find yourself short, just let us know. We have plenty members who can supply ex-farm or delivered.

Demand for fertiliser has picked up in the new year. Contrary to expectations, prices continue to firm and the majority of spring product has still to be delivered on farm. This is undoubtedly going to put pressure on haulage firms, so give us a ring for a quote sooner rather than later.

We have been busy organising training courses through winter. It’s a great chance to put yourself or a member of staff through that course or refresher that you’ve been putting off for a while. Changes to the law mean that sprayer operators born before 31st December 1964 and currently operating under the so called Grandfather Rights exemption need to ensure that by 26th November this year, they are suitably qualified to continue to apply pesticides on their land, occupied or rented land, or land belonging to their employers. We would encourage you to contact Jill in the BMR office soon to book a course as places may become limited as the date approaches.

Thoughts are also turning to spring labour requirements and, believe it or not, silage and harvest! BMR is well placed to help you find the right person for the job. The more notice we have the better. For shorter term work, member to member contracts work well, so if you have surplus staff at certain times of year please let us know so we can update the database. We can also supply labour through our subsidiary Borders Area Services Ltd. Our payroll system is set up to deal with all the new requirements in terms of Real Time Information (RTI) and Auto-Enrolment to a workplace pension. We are also registered with the Gangmaster Licencing Authority (GLA) and take care of all training requirements. Increased HMRC interest in relation to self-employed status of workers means it is possibly worth reviewing your own business. Please get in touch if we can help in any way regarding staff and payroll. Michael Bayne, Manager

2 P L E A S E M E N T I O N B M R W H E N R E P L Y I N G T O A D V E R T S

H e a l t H & S a f e t y

Raising Awareness of Health & Safety at Work

W hen assessing h e a l t h a n d

safety aspects of your business, BMR would recommend a session with Brian Cherrie from Healthy Working Lives. Brian is very personable and has years of experience in many different industries. He can help you pin point the most important aspects of health and safety affecting your business and can often suggest what works elsewhere. He will plan a session for

staff and come back at your convenience to deliver this. This is not designed to catch you out, but to give a focus to working safely

and raise awareness with everyone involved. Brian covers the Borders, but colleagues may be able to help in the Lothians and Lanarkshire. I can make enquiries for Northumberland if anyone wishes. Visits will highlight any training required and BMR is pleased to help out with this.

BMR will be working with Brian to

highlight health and safety issues throughout the year. Short messages with advice or links to new guidance will be sent out by email or with invoices.

TRaininG cOURSeSSome businesses are completely reviewing staff training (including for business owners and self-employed operators). Please check staff certificates for refresher dates, training for new staff & training for new equipment to be used. All equipment to be used at work should be well maintained and a record of maintenance kept. Lifting equipment (forklifts) should have LOLER certificates which give a record of maintenance by an engineer, with advice. LOLER certificates last 1 year for forklifts used for goods and 6 months for lifts used for people. Please search the HSE website for more information.

Please contact Jill with any questions on 01896 758091.

Please contact your Border Toyota Dealerships

CarlisleTim Aspinall

01228 88200007748494640

Exclusive discounts for Border Machinery Ring members on new Toyota 4WDs

DumfriesGary Wilson01387 266064

St BoswellsMark Gaddie

0845 618 5382

Please contact yourBorder Toyota Dealerships

DumfriesGary Wilson

01387 266064

CarlisleTim Aspinall

01228 88200007748 494640

St BoswellsBill Mitchelhill01835 82638307585 225337

“And as a Ring member I even get a rebate”

Scottish Machinery Ring Association

Working in partnership with Case IH dealers and the SMRAsaves members up to £11/hp on all Case IH products.

The process is simple. Visit your Case IH Dealership to select your new Case IH tractor,

combine or baler and complete a deal. Ask your local machinery ring for details or

visit www.scottishmachineryrings.co.uk

To organise a demonstration click on www.bit.ly/caseih-dealer-locator

For more information call 00800 2273 4400 or see www.caseih.com Find us on Facebook

STRAW AVAILABLE4X4’S, Quadrants, Hesstons. Delivered or self pick-up

TRACTOR / FORKLIFT SELF HIRE Long & Short Term Hire. Contact the BMR office to discuss your 2015 requirements: 01896 758091

MOLE CATCHERS AVAILABLEBMR now has a number of Mole Catchers available. Book Now on 01896 758091

DRAIN JETTING SERVICEContact BMR for further details

DRAINAGE MATERIALSCompetitive Prices through BMR

BMR SeRViceS: YouR “one-Stop Shop”

P L E A S E M E N T I O N B M R W H E N R E P L Y I N G T O A D V E R T S 3

N e w S U p d a t e

Edinburgh based Soilutions were recognised as

a champion of business sustainability at the 15th annual Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards where they picked up the Circular Economy Award, sponsored by Zero Waste Scotland.

The VIBES Awards is Scotland’s leading environmental awards scheme. The Awards recognise businesses that contribute to the country’s sustainable development by taking significant steps to improve or reduce their impact on the environment.

Each of the 14 finalists were subjected to a rigorous judging process, including a programme of site visits which saw the VIBES judging panel travel across the country to assess the environmental practices of the named finalists.

The awards aim to encourage efficient use of resources, enhance business competitiveness, improve environmental performance and support wider sustainable development goals.

John Curran, Managing Director of Soilutions, said; “We are delighted to be recognised for our environmental achievements through this VIBES Award. At Soilutions we are committed to sustainability, from the projects we manage to the way we run our business. It is great to have this focus recognised by the VIBES judges.”

The VIBES Awards is a strategic partnership between Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Government, Scottish Water, Scottish Enterprise, Highland and Islands Enterprise, Zero Waste Scotland, Energy Saving Trust and the 20:20 Climate Group. The Awards are further supported by CBI Scotland, the Institute of Directors, the Federation of Small Businesses and Bright Green Business.

Edinburgh and West Lothian businesses recognised at 2014 VIBES Awards

CONTACT BMR

We have skilled

LaMbinG STaff & LaMbinG aSSiSTanTS Contact Sarah at: BMR 01896 758091

Ne

ed a helpiNg haNd at lambiNg time?

GRaSS Seed: Please call to discuss your grass seed requirements for 2015. We know quality recommended seed varieties are key to meeting your grass output targets, so call the office for best options.

BUY SURANGEDIRECT

NOWOrder SU cereal herbicides

direct from themanufacturer via BMR

USE PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS SAFELY. ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND PRODUCT INFORMATION BEFORE USE.

For further information with regard to warning phrases and symbols for this product please refer to the product label. Boudha, Ergon, Savvy Premium and Hiatus are the registered

trademarks of Rotam Crop Sciences Ltd

For next day deliveryE: bmr@ringleader.co.uk T: 01896 758091

• QUALITY • EFFICACY • VALUE

BMR workshopsBMR is your co-op. Staff and Directors are keen to provide services which you will get benefit from. As such we would like to gauge interest in running workshops covering topics of choice.

Please e-mail or call with your interest in:• Making better use of smart phones and tablet

computers• Understanding staffing issues – staff contracts,

pensions, employee disputes• Creating a safer working environment-raising

awareness of health & safety, including steps to deal with lone working

• Precision farming and fuel solutions• Any other suggestions?

Please let us know if BMR can help organise a workshop of your choice. Call Jill on 01896 758091 or email jill@ringleader.co.uk

Visit the BMR Ltd. website on www.ringleader.co.uk BO

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B M R M e M B e R S ' N e w S

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local bulk LPG supplier

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VL-1 TOweR LiGhT• 4 x 1000W HQI lamps• 8.5m mast height• 4 x stabilizers• Hydraulic lifting system• 340 degree mast rotation• Certified wind proof up to 80km/h• Photocell for automatic on/off control• On/off switches for each lamp• 16amp 240v socket• Self-running or mains-powered• 9Kva-230v super silent generating set• 3kVA-230V outlet with ELCB protection• 200 litre long-run, bunded fuel tank• Central lifting eye and forklift pockets

VT-1 TOwabLe TOweR LiGhT• Hydraulic telescopic mast to 9m• 340 degree mast rotation• Certified wind proof up to 80Km/h• Individual lamp switches• 4 x 1000W HQI lamps• Bunded fuel tank• 9kVA super silent generating set 90Lwa

1500rpm• 230V outlet with ELCB protection ideal

for power tools (or kettle )• Over 60 hours run time per tank

All enquiries to BMR

01896 758091

Fuel cards through BMRBp – esso - Shell

❚ Fixedweeklydieselpricenotifiedtoyouinadvancebye-mailortext

❚ Notransactionfees❚ Hmrcapprovedinvoicing–noneed

toworryaboutlostvatreceipts❚ Embossedwithdrivernameor

vehicleregContact Ann at Bmr for further

information 01896 758091

new tractor regulationsGovernment proposals to change tractor speed and weight regulations will come into force from spring 2015

Under the changes, the maximum combination weight limit for tractors and trailers will increase from 24.39 tonnes to 31 tonnes and a new effective speed limit of 25mph (40km/h), up from 20mph. Tractors allowed to exceed 25mph will continue to be subject to tighter design and regulatory requirements.

The second phase of changes will see a further consideration of increases in weight and speed limits and a roadworthiness test for some agricultural tractors and trailers by summer 2016. Please look for details through the year.

Mobile power, light and heat solutionsDoyouneedtemporaryorlongtermpower,lightorheatforsitesorevents?Bmrwillsourcethesolutionsforyou.

fertiliser,

seed & liMeH

don’t delay

get a quote

today!

H01896 758091