Whippet PR

23/07/2026

Thanks to Suffolk Business for coverage of Nigel Tyas Ironwork's forging of an excellent new Yorkshire-Suffolk alliance with Made by the Forge. Both these were advised to move their manufacturing operations abroad. Both said no, that's not what we're about.

Suffolk blacksmith Made By The Forge partners with Yorkshire blacksmith Nigel Tyas Ironworks to preserve the latter's production.

22/07/2026

So here is the news - not a 'new story' but 'new chapter' in the life of Nigel Tyas Ironwork. The artisan brand has been re-born under a possibly unique Yorkshire-Suffolk collaboration. Nigel and Elizabeth have passed the hammer on to Richard and Juliet of Made by the Forge. This means Nigel Tyas' chandeliers, wall and pendant lights are again being made by skilled blacksmiths - but in their workshop near Ipswich; alongside Made by Forge's own product range. Read more about this partnership between two entrepreneurial couples determined to keep handmade ironworking skills alive in the UK: https://www.nigeltyas.co.uk/pages/our-story.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqgW6hK5F2iDPt97QEHPLDKoFb2YtF0QwCikclViy3UNrRUNaqg in Juliet's blog.

18/07/2026

Thanks to Growth Yorkshire for coverage of Platinum Travel Barnsley .
As Alex says: “We want to grow, but first and foremost our priority to do things right. We drive all over the UK but remain, at heart, a Barnsley-based family firm...and we regard all our drivers and customers as part of that wider family ethos. We want everybody to be happy whether they’re working for us or using our services."
So that's proper, sustainable then...
https://growthyorkshire.co.uk/barnsley-brothers-accelerate-growth-of-taxi-business/

17/07/2026

We love writing a family business success story. A business that cares about its services, its customers, its drivers, its community... You only have to look at the comments on this post which (bar one stupid one - there's always one) show just how good they are. Honestly, the next time you need to go anywhere, book a taxi with Platinum Travel Barnsley!
(Home-grown Barnsley business supported on their way by The Business Village)

👏👏👏 BARNSLEY FAMILY PRIVATE HIRE FIRM BOOMS AS BROTHERS TAKE ON NATIONAL RIVALS

A family-run private hire firm in Barnsley has more than doubled in size after launching a 24/7 local service to compete with major national brands.

Platinum Travel, owned by brothers Alex and Ryan Elbourne, has seen its pool of licensed drivers shoot up from 35 to 140 and its operations team expand to 16 to meet surging demand.

The brothers originally launched the business in 2017 with their taxi-driving mother, Anne, initially focusing on long-distance trips.

However, after Barnsley’s largest local firm, Blueline, was bought out by a national company in 2023, the brothers saw a gap in the market. They launched their local service in 2024 and are now closing in on 500,000 total bookings.

“The speed of growth since the launch of our local taxi service has been phenomenal,” said co-owner Alex Elbourne. “We aim to offer a local alternative to the big taxi brands who operate across the region. We offer a friendly, reliable and independent local alternative, rooted in the Barnsley economy.”

To keep pace with its larger competitors, Platinum Travel has embraced modern technology. The firm works with leading industry software developers and has integrated navigation tools such as what3words to locate customers in remote areas. They are also preparing to launch a direct driver-to-customer chat feature. “We’re keen to be innovative and use the latest tech as much as the big companies,” Alex explained.

The business recently moved to larger, dedicated premises on Mottram Way in Barnsley town centre, having outgrown its initial startup space at The Business Village.

Kevin Steel, the business development manager at The Business Village, praised their rapid expansion: “Their success in an industry dominated by big name players is outstanding. They came to us as a small family enterprise and grew exponentially from the start.”

Despite their rapid rise, the brothers insist they are keeping their community-first values at the heart of the business.

“We regard all our drivers and customers as part of that wider family ethos too and want everybody to be happy whether they’re working for us or using our services,” Alex said. “We don’t rush phone calls and pick-ups – for some of our customers we’re the only person they speak to in the day. It’s a personal service and that matters to us.”

14/07/2026

Aha, here at Whippet PR we know what these four are talking about ... more details of their beautiful wrought iron collaboration to follow...

Enjoying a drink with Nigel Tyas and Elizabeth Stocker at where the beautiful rooms are full of Nigel’s stunning wall lights and Hartcliff chandeliers. View the full range at nigeltyas.co.uk

13/06/2026

Go Jacob!

11/06/2026

Our event on the 27th June is fast approaching! Part of the Woodland heritage Woodland to Workshop month. We're having an afternoon of speakers, and are pleased to announce OH Boyd, wood carver to the palace, will be joining us on the day and talking about his work.

Saturday 27th June 1pm - 6pm.

Tickets still available: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/woodlandheritagealbiontimber/2079864

More details on our website: www.albiontimber.co.uk

01/06/2026

We're so pleased to see the The Sheffield Tribune's new PRINT edition is now out and available to read in Sheffield pubs, bars and cafes. The Tribune's online news operation has been published for five years now - but we love this real page-turning, pass it on and flick-through innovation. Sign up to support their local news campaigns and investigative journalism here: https://www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/about/

30/03/2026

So many goood lines to be had when talking about an investment in solar energy powered forklifts … I liked ‘green energy uplift’ and ‘driving forward the business’. Good to see a family-run rural enterprise like Argo Feeds on the up. And, thanks to Net Zero Barnsley for an uplifting news story.

A RURAL business has invested in a green technology uplift with the support of a government-funded carbon reduction gran... Local News News Barnsley South Yorkshire

25/03/2026

Forklifts trucks work very hard at Argo Feeds’ warehouses. And now two of them are charged through their existing solar PV system. Good to write about another Barnsley business being supported to invest in cutting bills and carbon emissions.

A South Yorkshire rural business has invested in a green technology uplift with the support of a government-funded carbon reduction grant.

Argo Feeds in Pen*stone has replaced two of its diesel-fuelled forklift trucks with electric powered alternatives which will be recharged through the company’s existing solar PV system. The investment is set to save the family business £4,399 a year in diesel and reduce its annual carbon emissions by 11.6 tonnes.

The company received a Low Carbon Grant towards the investment of new Linde lithium-ion battery-powered forklift trucks. This funding was awarded through our Net Zero Barnsley programme, supported by the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) administered via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

Read more: barnsley.gov.uk/news/fifth-generation-family-business-invests-in-green-technology-for-future-thanks-to-low-carbon-grant