Tag: SCA Group

What defines good management accounting?

Taschenrechner und Statistk

CIMA CGMA members are qualified to work across an organisation, not just in finance. In addition to strong accounting fundamentals, CIMA teaches strategic business and management skills:

  • Analysis – they analyse information and using it to make business decisions.
  • Strategy – they formulate business strategy to create wealth and shareholder value.
  • Risk – they identify and manage risk.
  • Planning – they apply accounting techniques to plan and budget.
  • Communication – they determine what information management needs and explain the numbers to non-financial managers.

Picture 1

Now we have the worlds first management accounting standard.

BSI, the business standards company, has published PAS 1919:2016 Guide to management accounting principles. The guide which was sponsored by CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) also saw collaborative input from such organizations as Environment Agency, Fujitsu, NHS and Siemens.

Designed as a best-practice guide to management accounting, defining what “good” looks like, PAS 1919 provides organizations with a framework to support their decision making and contribute to overall improved performance and sustained success.

David Fatscher, Head of Market Development for Sustainability and Services at BSI said: “CFOs have much more reporting responsibility than they once did and the management accounting function is now an integral part of an organizations strategic planning. PAS 1919 outlines the key principles and activities they have to deliver on to assure stakeholders of sustainable business performance.”

The PAS sets out four outcome-based management accounting principles, and provides a basis on which organizations can set their own benchmarks for the management accounting function.

  • Communication provides insight that is influential – encouraging insightfulcommunication that drives better decisions across an organization
  • Information is relevant – reviewing past, present and forward looking performance management information
  • Impact on value is analysed – understanding an organization’s strategy and business model
  • Stewardship builds trust – balancing short-term commercial interests against long term value for stakeholders

Tony Manwaring, CIMA’s Executive Director, External Affairs, said: “This sets the standard for decision making around the world. The content of PAS 1919 represents best practice management accounting and enables organizations to take decisions that drive value in the short, medium and long-term.”

SCA group

SCA Group are now working with CIMA and taking part in the Global Management Accounting Principles:

1. Self-assessment Tool Pilot Community

2: Pioneer Advocates

The team at SCA are excited to be involved the project and to use the tools to improve their management accounting.

steve@bicknells.net

SCA Group Announce Acquisition of Access Scaffolding IOW

Businessman hand touching M & A - merger & acquisition concept

SCA have recently completed the acquisition of Access Scaffolding IW, and have formed a single division for our Isle of Wight operations that will become the largest provider of contract scaffolding on the island. Access Scaffolding IOW will exist as a wholly owned subsidiary of the SCA Group, with the existing owner, Ashley Palmer, excited to commit his future to the new venture.

Ashley Palmer’s scaffolding business, Access Scaffolding, has been a presence on the Isle of Wight for many years, and the business has undergone substantial growth under Ashley’s stewardship, forging some great partnerships and working relationships along the way. SCA recognises the potential in Ashley’s business, and the hard work that has gone in to creating such a fantastic company, and coupled with our resources, reputation and enhanced service provisions, we believe that we can further improve the offering to the Isle of Wight, and build upon some well laid foundations.

SCA also has vast experience of working on the Isle of Wight with local people and local businesses, and we can further establish the reputation of ‘SCA Access IOW’ through our accreditations and memberships, not to mention our network of contacts and customers. As full members of the National Access & Scaffolding Confederation, or the NASC (as one such example), we can demonstrate our dedication to high standards of workmanship, attention to detail, and ability to work to the highest levels of health and safety, something that can only bring additional benefits to the service we can provide.

Ashley’s focus in the past has been on delivering a high quality, access scaffolding service to his clients, which has served the market well. With SCA’s influence, we can expand on these capabilities, and offer a wider package including Rope Access and Industrial Painting as well, and we look forward to exploring these possibilities with Ashley on board.

With the formation of a single division now complete, it is essential to us that ongoing activities remain uninterrupted, and with this at the forefront of our minds, all existing customer contracts of Access Scaffolding will be fulfilled as scheduled as we look to not only maintain existing relationships, but build and strengthen them as well.

Should you have any queries or concerns or future requirements for the new division, please note all the relevant contact details below:

Mr Ashley Palmer
Contracts Manager
Mobile:                07917 132390

Mr Barry Westbrook
Divisional Director
Mobile:                07736 691184
Head Office:       01202 820820

SCA Group Lead Initiative to Create Local Jobs and Bridge Skills Gaps

Weymouth & Portland have the highest unemployment rate in Dorset with 3.8% of working age residents claiming benefits (September 2011). Many professionals living in the District commute out of the area and even out of the county to get to their place of work, and yet many trades, including engineering, remain in short supply of trained and qualified staff. The SCA Group, working with Weymouth College, intend to help bridge these skills gaps, while at the same time re-train existing staff at SCA and other local companies, and also local jobseekers.

SCA, a local company providing access solutions to the maritime industry, supported by Weymouth College, are leading a bid for £1m of funding from the UK Commission for Education and Skills. If funding is secured, this will mean Weymouth College can train the workforce needed to build and maintain a new offshore wind farm proposed locally but also meet the needs of a whole host of other local industrial and engineering positions.

Steve King (Managing Director SCA Group) said “We are very proud to be working with Weymouth College, re-skilling our workforce and the local community. With skills shortages in various engineering roles in the renewable market, the SCA Group are delighted to play a part in re-training local people.”

It is expected that thousands of jobs will be created during construction of the proposed wind farm project, with several hundred permanent positions becoming available once operational. SCA and Weymouth College, subject to securing this available funding, will help keep the labour force local, vital to Dorset in times of high unemployment and in keeping with a wind farm’s positive environmental impact.

Kate McGoey, Employer Engagement Lead from The Renewables Training Network, a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK’s leading trade association RenewableUK said “This is great news for upskilling Dorset’s workforce. The UK is leading the way in renewable energy with the creation of 1000s of jobs expected in the wind, wave and tidal industries over the next 10 years, both directly and across the wider supply chain. With a number of wind farms planned for Dorset and the surrounding counties, many specialist trades will be needed over the coming years”

Both the Local Enterprise Partnership and Portland Ports have a similar take. Dr Ross Kay (Dorset LEP’s Employment and Skills Board) said “This couldn’t come at a better time to help support Dorset’s unemployed and local businesses that are still suffering following the recession, and marine engineering and renewables are one of the key priorities for the Local Enterprise Partnership.”

 Sandie Wilson, Portland Port’s Environment and Planning Manager said “Marine renewables like wind, wave and tidal are most certainly the next big thing to watch out for with the environment off Dorset and the South West coast offering a globally significant energy resource.  The local area is very much in need of highly skilled and well paid jobs on an all year round basis, and we need to do everything we can to take this opportunity that the renewable industry has to offer. It is great to have something positive to look forward to that not only provides jobs but has environmental benefits too.”

Sandie Wilson and Steve King

Rob Jones, Vice Principal Enterprise and Employability at Weymouth College commented “The College is excited to be working on a project that could have such a positive impact on jobs in Dorset.  We’re confident that by working closely with SCA, we will be able to provide people with the skills to gain meaningful employment.”
 Rob Jones Weymouth College

Information

 

Statistics from Dorset for You, http://www.dorsetforyou.com/331625

 

Pictures taken 21st December 2012 at initial bid planning meeting:

Rob Jones, Vice Principal from Weymouth College

Sandie Wilson, Environment and Planning Manager and Steve King, Managing Director of the SCA Group

Are you looking to re-skill your work force? UKCES Employer Ownership of Skills Pilot

Wind park

SCA Group, Navitus Bay Wind Farm, Weymouth College, Portland Port and Dorset LEP are now progressing their bid proposal for £1m in funding from UKCES to re-skill workers to work on Wind Turbines.

During January 2013 other businesses with renewable energy training needs will be able to join the bid.

The £3bn proposed wind farm off the south coast will provide about 1,000 temporary jobs and 100 permanent posts.

A 1,000 temporary jobs will be created during the construction period, which would start in 2017.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19978951

There will be 218 Wind Turbines, it will be the largest offshore wind farm in the World but bigger wind farms are currently being planned.

There are almost 1,000 turbines being built in the UK offshore and onshore and a further 2,300 with planning consent.

Eventually the Government hope to have up to 6,000 onshore and 4,000 at sea.

UKCES Employer Ownership of Skills Pilot

The Employer Ownership of Skills pilot is a competitive fund open to employers to invest in their current and future workforce in England. Employers are invited to develop proposals that raise skills, create jobs, and drive enterprise and economic growth. Government will invest in projects in which employers are also prepared to commit their own funds in order to make better use of our combined resources.

http://www.ukces.org.uk/ourwork/employer-ownership

steve@bicknells.net

Press Release – Work-at-height specialist SCA scales up with auditor Smith & Williamson

The SCA Group,www.sca-group.com, has signed up the South Coast practice of accountancy and investment management group Smith & Williamson – www.smith.williamson.co.uk – for an initial two years.

SCA, which employs 120 people and is headquartered near Ringwood in west Hampshire/near Bournemouth in east Dorset, excels in scaffolding, rope access and containment for the commercial and military sectors, onshore and offshore.

Earlier this year the group, established 13 years ago, launched its rope access service to meet demands for safety and quality work on inaccessible structures such as oil platforms, wind turbines and high-rise offices.

Another division, SCA Pro-Tect, is now at the forefront of the UK and European shrink-wrap market, covering structures such as banks, bridges, oil rigs and art galleries with protective material.

Clients include defence contractor BAE Systems (www.baesystems.com), ships repairer and vessel conversion group A&P (www.ap-group.co.uk) and house builders Barratt Homes (www.barratthomes.co.uk) and McCarthy & Stone (www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk).

Steve Bicknell, SCA Group’s finance director, said: “A number of strategically shrewd partnering agreements have been achieved over time allowing for a prolonged period of continual growth and further expansion in to European and international markets.

“As such, SCA recognised Smith & Williamson as an ideal candidate for audit services, and the accountancy and investment management group was enlisted for this role.

“SCA has grown substantially with its client base, meeting exacting standards set by customers who rightly demand best-in-class safety performance and management for work-at-height projects.

“I have worked with Smith & Williamson previously and have always been impressed by the firm’s professionalism, intelligence and commercial awareness, so it made compelling sense to engage their services.”

Julie Mutton, a partner at the assurance and business services (ABS) arm of Smith & Williamson in Kings Park Road, Southampton, said: “The SCA Group is a leading player in southern England with its highly professional services to industry, and we look forward to providing advice and support.”

Steve added: “The SCA Group was established by the existing directors from fairly modest beginnings, and their drive and determination has brought about more than a degree of success.

“With unrivalled knowledge of the ship repair industry, SCA was soon at the forefront of this competitive and potentially perilous market.

“It’s skills, no-nonsense approach to health and safety and commitment to serving the client led to the award of long-term partnering agreements with prestigious ship repair companies such as BAE Systems and the A&P Group, fine recognition for the firm and the perfect grounding to expand operations.

“Safe in the knowledge that the marine scaffolding division was firmly established and recognised in this market, the SCA directors were not content with resting on their laurels and quickly addressed the further expansion of the business.

“Applying the same style of management to alternative sectors, and an irrepressible appetite for high standards and safe working practices, the SCA Group applied itself to the commercial markets and quickly achieved success through large, blue-chip firms such as Barratt David Wilson Homes and McCarthy & Stone.

“Contract scaffolding was clearly the ‘bread and butter’ for the SCA Group, but this is by no means the limit to our expertise.

“Through SCA Pro-Tect, the SCA Group offers a unique specialist containment system designed to provide weather protection or to contain harmful contaminants.

“The system has been in development for a number of years and served its infancy in the dock yards, but now with UK and Europe wide coverage, SCA ProTect can provide a superior level of protection, previously unobtainable, to a multitude of different projects and applications.

“SCA’s success in these fields has never allowed the directors to take their foot off the gas and there remains an unquenchable thirst for continued success and expansion into alternative markets.

“Earlier this year, SCA Rope Access was introduced as an alternative source of access to difficult-to-reach areas. The division uses the most advanced rope system available, as well as highly qualified technicians to carry out painting, paint inspections and non-destructive testing, to name but a few.”

Steve was previously the managing director and owner of Bournemouth-based Accounting 4 Business, one of CIMA’s largest practices, which became part of Bright Star Group two years ago.

He previously worked with a number of high-profile companies in Dorset, including luxury boats manufacturer Sunseeker.

SCA is headquartered at 7 Crane Way, Woolsbridge Industrial Park, Three Legged Cross, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 6FA.