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Government minister opens new headquarters for UK export champion, Inciner8 

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports Gareth Thomas MP officially opens new manufacturing facility in West Lancashire

Burscough, UK – Inciner8, a global leader in sustainable waste management incineration solutions, has officially inaugurated its new purpose-built headquarters in Burscough, Lancashire, marking a significant milestone in the company’s continued expansion. 

The majority of sales (98 per cent) come from international markets with strong demand across medical, hazardous waste, animal & agriculture, mining, hospitality, and disaster relief sectors in emerging nations in Africa and island nations in the Asia-Pacific region. The new factory will create 50 new jobs in West Lancashire.

The new HQ was opened by Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Services, Small Businesses, and Exports) at the Department for Business and Trade. It positions Inciner8 at the forefront of innovation, sustainability, and enhanced customer service as it scales operations to meet increasing global demand. 

The new 36,000 sq ft facility more than doubles production capacity, enabling the company to manufacture multiple units simultaneously, streamline processes, and continue providing rapid, high-quality solutions to its diverse range of international customers. 

The new facility boasts cutting-edge features designed to reinforce Inciner8’s role as an industry leader in sustainable waste management, including: 

  • Advanced Manufacturing Technologies – Incorporating state-of-the-art production equipment to increase efficiency and reduce lead times. 
  • Dedicated Research & Development Hub – A space to pioneer new technologies, ensuring Inciner8 remains at the forefront of incineration innovation. 
  • Customer Experience Centre – Offering live product demonstrations, technical training, and industry insights to Inciner8’s customers.  
  • Sustainability Initiatives – Energy-efficient production systems and eco-friendly practices in line with the company’s sustainability goals. 

Beyond its global impact, Inciner8’s expansion strengthens the North West’s industrial sector, bring 50+ new employees to the area and supporting job creation and regional economic growth. Over the past year, the company has increased its workforce by 15 per cent, with plans for further recruitment in the coming months.

Founded in 2003, Inciner8 has established itself as a global market leader in incineration products and technology, designing and manufacturing systems for customers across 170+ countries in sectors including medical, agricultural, military, humanitarian aid, and industrial waste management. The company is trusted by leading international organisations such as the United Nations, WHO, NGOs, and governments worldwide.

Speaking at the official opening, Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Services, Small Businesses, and Exports) at the Department for Business and Trade, acknowledged Inciner8’s impact on UK manufacturing and exports: 

Gareth Thomas, Minister for Small Businesses and Exports said:

”It’s fantastic to see a small business like Inciner8 exporting around the world, growing their business, and supporting the regional and wider economy.

“We know that when smaller businesses export, the whole economy benefits, and that is why we want to help more small businesses export and export to more markets as part of our Plan for Change.”

Inciner8’s CEO, Darren Spencer, said: 

“The opening of our new headquarters marks a pivotal moment for Inciner8. This facility is not just a testament to our growth, but a statement of our commitment to delivering innovative, sustainable solutions to our customers worldwide. The expanded space enables us to enhance our R&D capabilities, boost production efficiency, and better support our global customer base.” 

“Investing in our people is just as important as investing in our infrastructure. This site not only increases efficiency and output, but also ensures we have the best talent working in an environment that fosters growth, collaboration, and innovation.” 

Roundhouse completes first phase of latest £10m Momentum site in Blackburn

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

Roundhouse has completed the first phase of its latest Momentum site in Blackburn and has only two available to purchase or let. 

Phase one saw 14 units being built, of which ten were 1,000 sq ft and four were 850 sq ft. When the site has been completed, it will see 68 new commercial units providing 24,000 sq ft of commercial space on a 1.56-hectare site.

The site lies adjacent to Guide Reservoir and opposite Shadsworth Business Park. It will be accessed off Haslingden Road close to Junction 5 of the M65 and includes provision for 193 parking spaces, motorcycle parking and cycle storage.

The Shadsworth site will be the fourth Momentum project and follows previous developments in Preston and Buckshaw Village, near Chorley. 

Managing director of Roundhouse Properties, Jeremy Lefton, said: “Despite the economic uncertainty over the past year, we have seen a healthy demand for units at our Blackburn site, and we’re now focussing on starting phase two that will see 20 units constructed by the end of May 2025.

“With the UK economy looking like it’s back on track, we expect that demand for phase two to be better than phase one, and once we have most of those units tenanted or sold, we’ll then look to develop the final phase of the site by 2026.

“We developed the Momentum concept to provide growing businesses with affordable and flexible space, and it’s an idea that has gone down very well with SMEs across the region.”

Danny Pinkus at Pinkus & Co. and Neil Weaver of Taylor Weaver are joint agents for the scheme.

How to improve your creative thinking in communications

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

Claire Stephenson takes a look at creativity and the crucial role it plays in effective communication and public relations campaigns.

Creativity is pretty much an essential skill in communications and public relations. You need it to create a buzz around a brand, structure a newsworthy story, connect strategy with actions, stakeholder management, turn bland content into something that has a spark, and social messaging that is both effective and garners interest…the list is long and wide.

What is creativity?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines creativity as the ability to produce or use original and unusual ideas. A brilliant book on the subject if you’re looking for inspiration – The Art of Creative Thinking by Rod Judkins – explores various strategies and techniques to enhance creativity. Through anecdotes, exercises, and examples from the lives of famous creatives, Judkins encourages readers to break free from conventional thinking patterns and embrace innovation. The book emphasises the importance of curiosity, risk-taking, and embracing doubt and failure as essential components of the creative process.

“Doubt is a key to unlocking new ideas. Einstein doubted Newton. Picasso doubted Michelangelo. Beethoven doubted Mozart.
That’s why they moved things forward.” 

Rod Judkins

Advertising great, John Hegarty – a founding partner of Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) – talks about the environment in which creativity can flourish. He reflects on chaos versus process and the need to find the right balance for the individual. Hegarty at BBH came up with the glorious poster ad and strapline for a Levi Strauss black denim jeans campaign: “When the world zigs, zag.” The line aimed to reinforce the angle of standing out from the crowd, not being one of the flock.

The 1985 poster kick-started the TV ads (and the career of the late model and musician, Nick Kamen) and the infamous launderette scene where Kamen made the Levi 501s into a coveted item, boosting sales by 800%.

Levi’s – A Stitch In Time by BBH

But how do you ‘get creative’?

Several methods can help you shift your mindset towards a more creative slant. Here are three tried and tested methods (by us!) to improve your creative thinking.

1. Mind Mapping

This was a technique created by the late education consultant and author, Tony Buzan. Mind Mapping is an excellent method of visually organising information. Buzan first became aware of the concept during his studying years, when he noticed that his neat and ordered paragraphs of notes were time-heavy to produce, compared with other students who achieved higher grades but with less tidy notes. Buzan noticed his peers used colour and drawings within their notes. Researching through history, he discovered that notable figures of creativity and academia used drawings and doodles accompanied by words to examine theories, further research and break down concepts into easier-to-remember formats.

Mind Mapping is an excellent method if you’re a visual person and you like to doodle ideas and thoughts on paper. This short video by Tony Buzan on YouTube explains the basic concept behind Mind Mapping.

2. Brainstorm

This is a great technique for idea generation that can be done solo or on a team level. It’s also good for team cohesion and driving a project forward. Even brainstorming can be broken down into different methods. Here are 10 brainstorming techniques to try as an individual or a team. If you’re brainstorming within a group, it’s best to have a structure as the conversation can rapidly digress off-topic and swiftly turn unproductive. An article in Harvard Business Review offered the advice of focusing on asking better questions rather than seeking answers.

Keeping brainstorming fun and fresh is the key – try moving out of your usual environment. Take a brainstorming session on a walk or to the park for lunch, for example! Shaking it up can help produce the best atmosphere for ideas generation.

3. Exercise

This is one of the most effective idea-generation methods for many people. It can help to free up mental clutter and refocus thoughts, unleashing creative thinking. Steve Jobs was a notable figure who used walking to brainstorm ideas and help formulate strategies. He also carried out meetings with colleagues while he walked.

There is a scientific element to exercise and creativity. The release within the body of endorphin hormones during workouts is known to improve mood and produce the neurobiological ‘runner’s high‘ phenomenon. A study by Steinberg et al in 1997 recorded a 25% improvement in mood following physical exercise, but the results also demonstrated that exercise had a marked improvement in creativity levels. A 2014 study by Oppezzo et al found a positive correlation between exercise and creativity, stating that “walking opens up the free flow of ideas” and creative thinking processes.

These are just three ideas of ways to boost your creativity if you’re not feeling the buzz. But if you’re looking for some extra power to your campaigns, contact us here for a chat to see how we can help you.  

Time to review your communication strategy? 

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

Need to relook at your communications strategy? The last few years have been – to put it mildly – an unfamiliar and messy upheaval for life and business as we know it. There have been huge global changes in how and where we work, along with how we interact with each other.  

On a work and business level, this means it’s a great time to reconsider communications strategy and messaging directed towards stakeholders. We’ve previously talked about stakeholder engagement here, and why it’s essential for your business. 

Reviewing existing strategies helps to ensure that stakeholders are kept informed and engaged in the best way possible. Claire Stephenson explores ideas for conducting a review of communications, as well as how to ensure that they remain current. 

Here are three ways you can approach and assess your communication strategy: 

Audit your current communications 

    Auditing your business communication channels is essential to ensure that you are delivering the right message to your target audience. Run through all of your existing communication channels – internal and external. These include earned media, social media, newsletters, print, website blog pages and so on. Check through available analytics for any performance points around engagement. Questions you could consider include: 

    • Which strategies have proved to be effective?  
    • Does the current strategy support your organisation’s goals and needs?  
    • Do your staff and stakeholders receive information and communications as intended?  
    • Regarding social media, are the channels currently in use working for you?  

    With the above in mind, you should be able to map out the current state of play of your communications strategy in a practical sense, and determine if there are any improvements that can be made. 

    By auditing your communications, you can ensure that your messages are consistent across all channels and that they align with the business goals and plans. This will help you maximise the impact of your communication strategy and make sure it reaches its intended audience. 

    Refresh your target audience objectives 

    Redefining your target audience and resetting communication objectives are good steps to take to make sure you’re still on course for the overall business goals.  

    Properly understanding your stakeholders and target audience is key to achieving your communication goals. It’s important to know who they are, what their interests and needs are, and how they consume content in order to create a message that resonates with them.  

    Once you understand who they are, it’s important to set clear communication objectives so that you can measure the success of your campaigns. With well-defined objectives, you can ensure that all of your efforts are being directed towards achieving the right results. 

    Communication channels and platforms  

    Now you’ve audited your communication output and you have a confirmed clearer picture of your stakeholders, you can work on assessing which channels of communication are correct for your business or organisation. Using the right channels, businesses can reach their target audience in a more efficient and cost-effective way. 

    Social media is one of the most often used channels to engage with audiences. Have you considered all communication options for your target audience? For instance, would internal newsletters sent to your employees improve their connection with the organisation? Is your earned media moving you in the right direction? Is your demographic using Twitter or have they changed their behaviour and Facebook is now the platform of choice? It’s worth digging deep and exploring a wider consideration of where your communications are directed.

    By establishing effective communication channels, businesses can create deeper relationships with their customers and build trust with them over time. This is why it’s important for businesses to identify the right channels for their business and use them effectively in order to maximise their success. 

    Work with Limitless? 

    If you’re looking for help with public relations, developing a communications strategy, and how to be known, please drop us a message. Contact Michael Gregory on 0845 625 0820 or use this  contact form here.