January - Customer Service
Our company Axminster Tools & Machinery was recently selected to join the Google Certified Shops programme.
To help shoppers identify online merchants that offer a great shopping experience, the Google Certified Shops badge is awarded to e-commerce sites that demonstrate a track record of on-time despatch and delivery and excellent customer service. When visiting the Axminster website, shoppers will see a Google Certified Shops badge and can click on it for more information.
As an added benefit, when a shopper makes a purchase at a Google Certified Shop, they have the option to select free purchase protection from Google. In the unlikely event of an issue with their purchase, they can request Google's help. Google will then work with the company and the customer to address the issue. As part of this scheme, Google will back customer purchases up to the value of £1,000.
Online and SEO Marketer Paul Martin said "Customers that have never heard of or shopped with us before can now order online confident that they'll receive reliable despatch, excellent customer service and, should they choose it, free purchase protection from Google. To qualify for this badge, a business must process over a certain numbers of orders each month and, most importantly, maintain a minimum Certified Shops rating of 4 out of 5. Our rating is currently 5 out of 5."
Google Certified Shops is entirely free, for both shoppers and for online stores. The programme is designed to help online stores attract new customers, increase sales and show that businesses with this accolade are different by highlighting their excellent service via the badge on the website.
Our company Axminster Tools & Machinery was recently selected to join the Google Certified Shops programme. To help shoppers identify online merchants that offer a great shopping experience, the Google Certified Shops badge is awarded to e-commerce sites that demonstrate a track record of on-time despatch and delivery and excellent customer service. When visiting the Axminster website, shoppers will see…
Axminster Tools & Machinery, along with two other companies, was recently shortlisted for the Western Morning News Apprenticeship Award.
At a glittering awards ceremony and gala dinner, held at the Holiday Inn in Plymouth on Thursday 17 November, a total of 14 awards were presented to companies and individuals ranging from Manufacturer of the Year to Innovation of the Year and Young Businessperson to Green Achievement Award. A full list of the categories, shortlisted companies and winners has now been published.
Western Morning News editor Bill Martin said “Axminster Tools & Machinery is a great example of what can be achieved. This sets the bar high and this award is a well-deserved recognition of high standards and consistent achievement.
“Our region needs inspirational leaders, creative businesses and people who are not afraid of innovation or risk. We are proud of all of tonight’s winners and anyone who was shortlisted. They should all be very proud of themselves.”
Within the Apprenticeship category, Plymouth-based metalwork manufacturer Alderman Tooling was the winner with Redrow West Country also on the shortlist.
Axminster Tools & Machinery, along with two other companies, was recently shortlisted for the Western Morning News Apprenticeship Award. At a glittering awards ceremony and gala dinner, held at the Holiday Inn in Plymouth on Thursday 17 November, a total of 14 awards were presented to companies and individuals ranging from Manufacturer of the Year to Innovation of the Year and Young…
Wow! Last Friday evening at the 'On the Tools' awards ceremony in the Emirates Stadium, we were announced as the winner of 'Power Tool Supplier of the Year'.
'On the Tools' describes itself as the largest online construction community in the UK. Construction workers throughout the country nominated their favourite brands and companies for this year’s awards. A panel of judges then considered the nominations and narrowed them down to a shortlist of the best companies. The shortlisted companies then went forward to the final stage, with the outcome being decided by votes from the general public.
In our category, we were competing against Screwfix, Toolstop and ITS. We would now like to say a huge 'thank you' to everyone out there who voted for us and made us their 'Power Tool Supplier of the Year'.
Here is a full list of the winners of all categories.
Wow! Last Friday evening at the ‘On the Tools’ awards ceremony in the Emirates Stadium, we were announced as the winner of ‘Power Tool Supplier of the Year’. ‘On the Tools’ describes itself as the largest online construction community in the UK. Construction workers throughout the country nominated their favourite brands and companies for this year’s awards. A panel of…
Axminster Tools & Machinery has just been announced as the winner of the Living Wage Champion Awards 2016 for the South West region.
The awards celebrate Living Wage employers who have made great contributions to communities and industries by implementing and recognising the life changing importance of the Living Wage.
This year Living Wage Week takes place from 30 October to 5 November. This is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the Living Wage and celebrate the leadership of Living Wage employers. Employers all over the UK take part in events and media activity to celebrate with their staff and with the wider community.
Katherine Chapman, Director Living Wage Foundation said “Congratulations to Axminster Tools & Machinery on becoming a Living Wage Champion award winner. With 2600 employers now signed up, it is wonderful to have Axminster Tools leading the way in the South West. The leadership of responsible employers is making a profound difference to the lives of families and communities across the UK. Thank you very much for celebrating and championing the Living Wage in Axminster and East Devon.”
Warehouse Manager Phil Crabb said “The Living Wage makes good business sense to me. Our staff are happy and they feel valued. They like the sense of family culture where the Company looks out for its staff, supports them and recognises their efforts.”
It is reassuring to know that some employers support and put into practice the Living Wage. New payment levels were announced earlier today; the London rate goes up from £9.40 to £9.75 per hour and the rest of the UK from £8.25 to £8.45 per hour. These levels are reviewed annually and set by the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University.
The Living Wage Foundation offers a recognition mark for employers who commit to paying the Living Wage. Axminster Tools & Machinery was accredited with the Living Wage status in 2014.
Axminster Tools & Machinery has just been announced as the winner of the Living Wage Champion Awards 2016 for the South West region. The awards celebrate Living Wage employers who have made great contributions to communities and industries by implementing and recognising the life changing importance of the Living Wage. This year Living Wage Week takes place from 30 October…
If you’ve been happy with our products and service, please vote for us now. Voting closes on Thursday 27 October. Thank you in anticipation.
Guess what? ‘On the Tools’ have recently announced that we are on the awards shortlist for ‘Power Tool Supplier of the Year’. But we now need your help to become the winner of this category!
‘On the Tools’ describes itself as the largest online construction community in the UK, and construction workers throughout the country have been nominating their favourite brands and companies for this year’s awards. A panel of judges then considered the nominations and narrowed them down to a shortlist of the best companies.
The awards are sponsored by Jewson and a public vote will decide the winner. People are probably voting right now, so please vote for us. You can vote by visiting Shortlist – Vote Now.
Winners of all the categories will be announced at a glitzy dinner being held at the Emirates Stadium on Friday 11 November, hosted by Justin Moorhouse. Justin has appeared in Live At The Apollo, Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled and Coronation Street.
If you’ve been happy with our products and service, please vote for us now. Voting closes on Thursday 27 October. Thank you in anticipation. Guess what? ‘On the Tools’ have recently announced that we are on the awards shortlist for ‘Power Tool Supplier of the Year’. But we now need your help to become the winner of this category! ‘On the…
This year’s North of England Woodworking & Power Tool Show – affectionately known as the Harrogate Show – will be the largest since it began with more demonstrators and trade stands than ever before.
The show will be held in the newly refurbished Hall 1 at the Great Yorkshire Showground, where more than 40 top demonstrators will be in action each day and 100 companies and organisations exhibiting.
Under the direction of Product Training Manager Craig Steele, the Axminster stand should be an inspiring sight with many leading brands on show and being demonstrated. The line-up of demonstrators is equally impressive, headed by two of North America’s most experienced and popular hand tool experts.
Let us introduce you to our full team of demonstrators:
Vic Tesolin – Veritas Tools
Deneb Puchalski - Lie-Nielsen Toolworks
Colwin Way – professional woodturner
Jason Breach – professional woodturner
Alex Wade – High Wycombe store demonstrating Jet machinery
Craig Steele – Axminster HQ demonstrating Hobby and Trade Series machines and Axcaliber
Dave Jones – Warrington store power carving with Arbortech
Dave Kenwrick – Cardiff store demonstrating Axminster Precision and Rider planes
Hollie Wise – Sittingbourne store sharpening with Tormek
Mark Vincent – Axminster HQ with Axminster Woodturning Chucks
Rob James – Axminster store demonstrating Hobby and Trade Series machines and Axcaliber
Shaun Vincent – Axminster store demonstrating Leigh jigs
Stephan Parker – Cardiff store demonstrating UJK Technology pocket hole joinery
The show takes place from Friday 18-Sunday 20 November. For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit the show’s website or contact the organisers on 01474 536535.
The Axminster team look forward to meeting you at this year's 'Harrogate' Show.
This year’s North of England Woodworking & Power Tool Show – affectionately known as the Harrogate Show – will be the largest since it began with more demonstrators and trade stands than ever before. The show will be held in the newly refurbished Hall 1 at the Great Yorkshire Showground, where more than 40 top demonstrators will be in action…
Axminster Tools & Machinery are on the shortlist for the Living Wage Champion Awards 2016, compiled by the Living Wage Foundation.
The awards recognise Living Wage employers that have made great contributions to communities and industries by implementing and celebrating the Living Wage. The Living Wage Foundation offers a recognition mark for employers that commit to paying the Living Wage. There are now over 2,700 accredited employers.
The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living using the ‘Minimum Income Standard’ for the UK. Decisions about what to include in this standard are set by the public; it is a social consensus about what people need to make ends meet.
HR Director, Jane Boulton said “Our Shareholders and Board strive to be a quality employer. Just because we live in a rural area, does not mean that people cannot earn their market value. As a company we want to attract the best talent possible to support us in our growth. If your staff feel valued, then they will work harder and become more engaged in the company, increasing productivity and sales. It all makes good business sense.”
Employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The Living Wage enjoys cross party support.
Living Wage Foundation Director, Katherine Chapman said “I would like to offer huge congratulations to Axminster Tools & Machinery on being shortlisted for the Living Wage Champion Awards. The commitment of Living Wage employers like Axminster to responsible pay makes a life changing difference to families and communities across the UK. We look forward to celebrating this even more when announcing the winners of the regional awards during Living Wage Week which will begin on October 31st.”
The award winners will be announced during Living Wage Week, with one winner announced for each region of the UK: Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the East Midlands, the West Midlands, the East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, North East England, North West England, South East England, South West England and London.
The awards are judged by an independent panel of community leaders from Citizens UK, a national community-organising charity and home of the Living Wage campaign.
A full list of organisations shortlisted is now on the Living Wage website.
Axminster Tools & Machinery are on the shortlist for the Living Wage Champion Awards 2016, compiled by the Living Wage Foundation. The awards recognise Living Wage employers that have made great contributions to communities and industries by implementing and celebrating the Living Wage. The Living Wage Foundation offers a recognition mark for employers that commit to paying the Living Wage….
While continually enlarging and updating its range of woodworking tools and machinery, Axminster Tools & Machinery will be displaying some new and exciting products at the W16 show in October at the NEC Birmingham.
Held every two years, W16 is the national show for the Joinery and Furniture industries, showcasing the latest products and developments. New organisers Angus Montgomery describe the event as “The must-see show for manufacturers of all sizes working across a huge range of product sizes.”
As the UK’s leading dedicated industrial woodworking exhibition, formerly known as Woodmex and Asfi, W16 provides the opportunity to see woodworking machinery in operation together with components and materials all under one roof.
Axminster will be showcasing machines from its Industrial Series range including bandsaws, spindle moulders, radial arm and table saws and edgebanders. Over the four days of the show, there will be the chance to see demonstrations of the MAX 350 Edgebander plus innovative jointing products and methods from Swiss manufacturer Lamello.
Led by General Sales Manager Mark O’Halloran, the Business Services team will be on hand to offer guidance and advice on any Axminster machine. The team will also be able to talk through pricing and Axminster’s flexible and affordable finance options if required.
For more information about the show and how to register for entry, please visit W16 website.
While continually enlarging and updating its range of woodworking tools and machinery, Axminster Tools & Machinery will be displaying some new and exciting products at the W16 show in October at the NEC Birmingham. Held every two years, W16 is the national show for the Joinery and Furniture industries, showcasing the latest products and developments. New organisers Angus Montgomery describe…
‘In the Making’, Rycotewood's graduate show held earlier this month at the Furniture Makers’ Hall in London, proved to be a worthy showcase of work by students from the country’s sole remaining craft-focused undergraduate furniture course.
With an approach rooted in making, twelve graduating students from the BA (Hons) Furniture Design and Make programme exhibited a range of work displaying experimentation and creativity though a variety of materials and processes. The resulting furniture demonstrated exceptional craftsmanship; the result of their investment in practice over the past three years.
The work on display communicated each graduate’s design process and response to two separate briefs. ‘A Boardroom for Two’ was a live brief set by Hands of Wycombe (supported by the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers); responses ranged from uncomfortably tall meeting tables and a sculpted oak bench for two to a herd of rocking stools. The outcomes from the personal project brief highlighted a diverse range of inspirations and approaches to design and craft. Graduates investigated underutilised coppice wood, a collaborative design process and imperfection in craftsmanship, and asked the question “what is luxury?”
The evening event opened with Tony Smart, Senior Warden of the Furniture Makers, welcoming visitors to the hall and wishing graduates successful careers in the industry and pledging the support of the livery company. Rycotewood alumnus and renowned furniture designer Simon Pengelly followed with a passionate speech highlighting the key contributions the college makes to both the education of furniture students and industry as a whole.
The event was supported by close friends of the programme including Axminster Tools & Machinery, Y. Goldberg and Mundy Veneer who all generously provided sponsorship. Staff and graduates would also like to recognise the significant and ongoing support from the whole team at Hands of Wycombe.
‘In the Making’, Rycotewood’s graduate show held earlier this month at the Furniture Makers’ Hall in London, proved to be a worthy showcase of work by students from the country’s sole remaining craft-focused undergraduate furniture course. With an approach rooted in making, twelve graduating students from the BA (Hons) Furniture Design and Make programme exhibited a range of work displaying…
Hands-on woodturning was one of the crafts available for young people to try out at this year’s Gilwell 24, organised by the Scout Association for Explorer Scouts and Senior Section Guides. The event held at Gilwell Park in North London was attended by over 4,000 14-18 year olds and their leaders.
On behalf of the AWGB, East Herts Woodturning Club with the support of several other clubs and professional turners organised the woodturning activity. Master of the Worshipful Company of Turners Nicholas Somers and a former Master, Peter Gibson, were also present at the event.
Of the eleven lathes being used, five were loaned by Axminster Tools & Machinery. This enabled approximately 130 scouts and guides to try their hand at woodturning. After a short safety talk, each spent about half an hour making a small wooden item on the lathe under the supervision of an experienced turner.
As well as Axminster, the organisers and the AWGB would also like to thank Acorn Woodturning, Birchanger Wood Trust, Chestnut Products, Henry Taylor Tools, Staples, The Worshipful Company of Turners and members of Cambridge, Chelmer, SECB and East Herts woodturning clubs for their support and the loaning of equipment.
Hands-on woodturning was one of the crafts available for young people to try out at this year’s Gilwell 24, organised by the Scout Association for Explorer Scouts and Senior Section Guides. The event held at Gilwell Park in North London was attended by over 4,000 14-18 year olds and their leaders. On behalf of the AWGB, East Herts Woodturning Club…
Wales is riding high at the moment, with the success of the football team at the Euros, and Cardiff Racing (affiliated to the Engineering Department at Cardiff University) hope to follow in their wake. The team have launched their new racing car just in time for the competition taking place at Silverstone later this month.
Axminster Tools & Machinery is one of the team's sponsors, having supplied a CNC milling machine on a long term loan basis which has helped the team make parts for the car. Fresh from their launch event, watch this fully rendered assembly video of Cardiff Racing's newest car, CR12.
The event at Silverstone will take place from 14-17 July. The Class 1 competition has entries from 200 universities from 30 countries as far afield as Australia, India, Pakistan and South Africa. Unsurprisingly, there are several teams entered from German universities, who are renowned for their precision engineering skills.
Rivalry will be fierce and Axminster Tools & Machinery would like to wish Cardiff Racing all the very best for the competition at Silverstone.
For more background information on Cardiff Racing, take a look at an article we published earlier in the year.
Wales is riding high at the moment, with the success of the football team at the Euros, and Cardiff Racing (affiliated to the Engineering Department at Cardiff University) hope to follow in their wake. The team have launched their new racing car just in time for the competition taking place at Silverstone later this month. Axminster Tools & Machinery is…
This year Axminster Tools & Machinery is sponsoring the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen’s Furniture Prize for students and apprentice furniture makers.
In previous years the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen, together with Friends of Somerset Art Works, has set a challenge to the student furniture makers of Bridgwater College to create the finest piece of work for the year. Last year the competition was widened to include students from the City of Bristol College and the private school run by Williams and Cleal in Lydeard St Lawrence. This year the Guild is planning to expand the competition further to other schools and colleges.
Organiser and Guild Member Chris Tipple said: “Last year we put our toe in the water to try and expand the exhibition to students from additional furniture making courses, and this year Axminster Tools have agreed to sponsor and support the Exhibition, so we are able to offer more prizes to the exhibition winners.
“From our new gallery in Wells we’re trying to grow a big oak tree from a little acorn and, by taking a step at a time, develop and steadily expand the Guild’s Furniture Prize Exhibition to cover the South West and beyond. Through our Furniture Prize we hope to increase the profile of furniture design and making.”
Entries to the competition will be on view at the Guild’s Wells gallery from the end of June and throughout July. The judges are furniture maker Tom Kealy and Derek Jones, editor of Furniture and Cabinetmaking magazine, and they will decide the winners based on design and quality of workmanship.
Visitors to the gallery will be able to take an active part in selecting a winner for the Popular Choice prize.
Chris explained: “Students’ furniture will be displayed in the gallery and throughout the duration of the exhibition. The visiting public are invited to vote for their favourite piece and at the end of the exhibition all the votes are counted, and a prize awarded to the popular favourite. Quite separately, during the exhibition, the judges will arrive and do their completely independent assessment without any knowledge of how the public vote is going.”
The Somerset Guild also aims to build on its existing membership. Chris said: "What we're trying to do on the back of this furniture competition is introduce young craftsmen to the Guild and offer them a stepping stone to a big wide world. I regard the competition as the first step on the ladder. We also want to grow as an organisation on the back of the furniture prize, and there will be other similar exhibitions where we will seek to discover more new talent and introduce them to the Guild.”
The furniture exhibition will be held at the Gallery of the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen, Broad Street, Wells BA5 2DJ from Saturday 25th June until Saturday 30th July.
This year Axminster Tools & Machinery is sponsoring the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen’s Furniture Prize for students and apprentice furniture makers. In previous years the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen, together with Friends of Somerset Art Works, has set a challenge to the student furniture makers of Bridgwater College to create the finest piece of work for the year. Last year…
MACH 2016 is now officially history and, in its wake, the show’s organisers have described it as an outstanding showcase for advances in the manufacturing industry.
This year the show can proudly make reference to a number of famous faces seen within the halls of the NEC. Quite a coup was the presence of Britain’s greatest ever Olympian Sir Chris Hoy, who opened the show and who has a keen interest in production techniques for the manufacture of his own range of bikes. Also at the show was former Formula 1 driving ace Mark Webber. Mark, who now competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship as a Porsche works driver, was speaking on the stand of global company DMG Mori.
The 2016 show was the second time that Axminster Tools & Machinery had attended MACH, and with 100 square metres of stand space displaying their latest Engineer Series, CNC Technology and Jet Elite machines, the company looked every inch as good as many of the more seasoned exhibitors.
MACH’s organisers Manufacturing Technologies Association have released attendance figures quoting that over 23,300 visitors came through the door and, as a result, interest in the Axminster stand was at times overwhelming. Axminster Business Services Manager Mark O’Halloran said: "Jet Elite mills and lathes were the star attraction. We had interest from Mercedes Formula 1, Industrial Management Services from MoD South West, potential customers from the education sector and enquiries from companies in Iceland and mainland Europe."
Mark went on to say: “The hard task now lies ahead of following up the very important leads we have captured at the show to engage future new customers. We look forward to some very exciting times in the coming months which we welcome to our business.”
At the show the Axminster stand was also able to support Cardiff Racing, the team of engineering students from Cardiff University who build their own racing car and then compete in the undergraduate motor racing competition Formula Student. Later in the year, Axminster’s Business Services team will be attending Silverstone when Cardiff Racing competes at the circuit in Formula Student on 14-17 July.
Axminster would also like to thank BOTT and Flamefast for their valued support in the form of the supply of products and demonstrations at the show.
MACH 2016 is now officially history and, in its wake, the show’s organisers have described it as an outstanding showcase for advances in the manufacturing industry. This year the show can proudly make reference to a number of famous faces seen within the halls of the NEC. Quite a coup was the presence of Britain’s greatest ever Olympian Sir Chris…
A new educational partnership is to continue the legacy of preparing furniture designers and makers for their future careers.
The Rycotewood Furniture Centre has partnered with Oxford Brookes University to deliver the Furniture: Design and Make Foundation Degree and BA (Hons).
Rycotewood’s programmes have been validated by Oxford Brookes and will be delivered at City of Oxford College, which is part of Activate Learning (an education and training group which runs schools, further education colleges and work-based training across Oxfordshire and Berkshire, and delivers higher education and international study programmes).
Axminster Tools & Machinery has a strong relationship with Rycotewood going back many years and welcomes this positive news securing future furniture degree courses.
Joe Bray, higher education programme co-ordinator at Activate Learning, said: “The Rycotewood name has a rich heritage in furniture design and making. The centre has been training students in the design and craft of fine furniture since the 1930s.
“In recent years this has included university-level programmes which prepare graduates for careers with some of the biggest names in industry. Our students have gone on to work for companies such as Benchmark, Matthew Burt, Philip Koomen and Halstock as well as building their own enviable reputations as bespoke designers and makers.
“Students also achieve success in national competitions on an annual basis. In 2015 these included winners of the prestigious Alan Peters’ Award, The Mixology Student Furniture Designer of the Year, New Forest Trust Fine Furniture Competition, Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers Bespoke Student Awards and Art in Action Student Art and Design Competition.
“This new partnership with Oxford Brookes University will strengthen our programmes even further and we look forward to working with colleagues in the faculty of technology, design and environment to equip students with the creative skills demanded by industry.
“The commitment to the future of furniture design and craft degree programmes is particularly encouraging at a time when programmes have closed elsewhere. The overwhelming support and enthusiasm from the Oxford Brookes team bodes well for the future of Rycotewood and the wider industry.”
The Furniture: Design and Make Foundation Degree is a full-time two year course. On completion, students can choose to take a further top-up year to achieve the BA (Hons) qualification. The courses are now open for applicants wishing to start in September 2016.
To find out more visit the Activate Learning website or email he@activatelearning.ac.uk.
A new educational partnership is to continue the legacy of preparing furniture designers and makers for their future careers. The Rycotewood Furniture Centre has partnered with Oxford Brookes University to deliver the Furniture: Design and Make Foundation Degree and BA (Hons). Rycotewood’s programmes have been validated by Oxford Brookes and will be delivered at City of Oxford College, which is…
Axminster Tools & Machinery (AT&M) have just agreed a sponsorship deal with Cardiff Racing team which is affiliated to the Engineering Department at Cardiff University. The team currently hold the top spot in Wales and are third in the UK, and take part in the biggest global undergraduate motor sport competition, known as Formula Student.
AT&M are taking the Platinum sponsorship deal and part of the package involves supplying a milling machine which will make components for the car. Sales Director, Alan Styles said: "This is a new and exciting project for the company to become involved in, combining education with the fast moving world of engineering and motor racing. A new car being built by the students is still at the manufacturing stage. To support them in this process Axminster is supplying a range of tools and we are also giving them a CNC milling machine on a long term loan basis. We are looking forward to seeing the finished car and how it performs on the track."
Cardiff Racing team is composed of students from all year groups and disciplines providing a broad range of engineering backgrounds. The work carried out in the team complements studies and students can build a strong engineering background from it. Team members are able to gain valuable experience in many areas including business, design and manufacturing. Many Cardiff Racing graduates have gone on to take up key roles with engineering firms such as Rolls Royce, Dyson, McLaren and others.
Cardiff Racing Sponsorship Team Leader, Tom Murray said: "It's a hands-on project and we like to manufacture as much as we can ourselves. Our horizons have been expanded with the help of Axminster. The CNC milling machine they are providing will allow us to make parts previously beyond our capacities. It will give us, as engineers predominantly involved with project design, a greater understanding of the manufacturing stage of production and it will help us to become a more competitive team."
Formula Student UK is run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and is the most established and competitive global student motorsport competition, with Ross Brawn as its patron. The former motorsport engineer was Formula One team principal with teams Ferrari and Benetton.
Universities worldwide compete to design, build and race the best single-seater car. This demands inherently innovative ideas and attracts the most talented undergraduates in international, competitive and year-long events. These events are held all over the world, with the British event taking place at the Silverstone Circuit in mid July.
A series of rigorous static and dynamic events test both the team and the car to their limits. The dynamic events consist of a 75m acceleration test, a figure of eight skid pan, 1km sprint and a 22km endurance event. Hence, many parts of the car are intensively designed and tested for safety.
The competition also contains a business and marketing element to develop other valuable skills within graduates. The design is presented as a product for a business model, designing and building racing cars for the enthusiast within the UK. Company structure, management, facilities, marketing and finance must be considered to develop a complete understanding of the commercial side of engineering. Formula Student UK is supported by Airbus, Jaguar Land Rover, Shell and many other well known companies. Last year the international competition had over 130 teams from 30 different countries attend and is continuing to grow and be more competitive.
Axminster Tools & Machinery (AT&M) have just agreed a sponsorship deal with Cardiff Racing team which is affiliated to the Engineering Department at Cardiff University. The team currently hold the top spot in Wales and are third in the UK, and take part in the biggest global undergraduate motor sport competition, known as Formula Student. AT&M are taking the Platinum…
Take a look back at some of our most celebrated and viewed content of 2015. For more posts, pictures, videos and blogs make sure you follow us on our social channels, so you don't miss out on any of the fun!
In 2015, we finally got our act together and introduced dedicated customers service agents to support our growing Social Media channels.
Good morning Twitter. Gina from our @askaxminster team is online and ready to take your questions! #AskAxminster pic.twitter.com/JAxwJ7OLuw
— Axminster Tools (@AxminsterTools) January 14, 2015
We are now available Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm, across Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Youtube.
In February, we got busy inventing new ways to squeeze lemons for Pancake Day!
Happy #PancakeDay, here's 20% OFF the Axminster Lemon Squeezer http://t.co/ku6kxSeI7m pic.twitter.com/jpYxRCa15L
— Axminster Tools (@AxminsterTools) February 17, 2015
March saw the grand opening of our North Shields store, pet!
https://www.facebook.com/109442481547/posts/10152581659756548
On 1st April we introduced the revolutionary Rider Reversa Hand Plane... We genuinely had people phone up to buy this!?
In May, a huge earthquake hit Kent causing havoc at our Sittingbourne store! But don't worry, no tools were harmed!!
Business open as usual in our Sittingbourne Store! #KentEarthquake #WeWillRebuild pic.twitter.com/0FVxh53NS2
— Axminster Tools (@AxminsterTools) May 22, 2015
June was the start of Wimbledon and our attempt to tenuously marry a bad pun with a tool related fact!
https://www.facebook.com/axminstertoolcentre/posts/10152803137061548:0
We don't remember much from July!?
Axminster Pimm's, the only thing cooler than @andy_murray at @Wimbledon!! #MurrayMania #PimmsOClock #Friday... https://t.co/9BiiGg8alo
— Axminster Tools (@AxminsterTools) July 10, 2015
In August, we opened the Axminster Leftorium to support the very artistic, intelligent and occasionally cack-handed lefties out there!
https://www.facebook.com/axminstertoolcentre/posts/10152898793231548:0
During September we reintroduced DeWALT to our power tool range.
https://www.facebook.com/axminstertoolcentre/videos/10152935053351548/
When coming up with video ideas for how we could launch DeWALT we thought it would be really fun to have Charlie learn all the names of the DeWALT tools. However, this became quite tiresome after about the 50th take!!
There were some spooky goings on in October with our Skill Centre CCTV picking up some unusual footage!!
https://www.facebook.com/axminstertoolcentre/videos/10153027942621548/
After a very long time of waiting to get the shop ready, we finally moved into our new Cardiff Store!
https://www.facebook.com/atccardiff/posts/1027006937319431:0
Not that long ago in our very own galaxy we launched the Evolution Powered Respirator!
https://www.facebook.com/axminstertoolcentre/videos/10153098182096548/
Wow, we can't believe 2015 is over already as it just seems like yesterday we were putting out some of those posts! If you liked that content then please make sure you follow our social pages to stay up-to-date with the latest news, reviews and product releases. See you in 2016!!
Take a look back at some of our most celebrated and viewed content of 2015. For more posts, pictures, videos and blogs make sure you follow us on our social channels, so you don’t miss out on any of the fun! January – Customer Service In 2015, we finally got our act together and introduced dedicated customers service agents to support…
Axminster Tools & Machinery were eager to congratulate Assemble on the collective’s recent success in winning Britain’s leading contemporary art award, the Turner prize. Tools for the project were provided by Axminster.
The winner of the prize was announced on Channel 4 on 7 December, when the £25,000 prize was awarded to London-based architecture, art and design collective Assemble for their regeneration work in overhauling ten derelict houses known as the Granby Four Streets Project in the Toxteth area of Liverpool.
This year the exhibition displaying the winner’s work and that of the other three shortlisted artists is being held at the Tramway in Glasgow and is the first time the Turner Prize has been held in Scotland. Assemble recreated a workshop as part of the exhibition.
To give a little background information, the Granby Four Streets are a cluster of terraced houses that were built around 1900 to house artisan workers. Following the Toxteth riots in 1981, the council acquired many of the houses in the area for demolition and redevelopment. Hundreds of people were moved out the area and houses subsequently fell into disrepair. Local residents consistently fought plans against demolition and battled to save the houses. Over the past 10 years they have cleaned and planted their streets, painted the empty houses, organised a thriving monthly market, founded a Community Land Trust and shown their area in a different light.
Assemble worked with the Granby Four Streets Community Land Trust and Steinbeck Studios to present a sustainable and incremental vision for the area that builds on the hard work already done by local residents and translates it to the refurbishment of housing, public space and the provision of new work and enterprise opportunities. The approach is characterised by celebrating the value of the area’s architectural and cultural heritage, supporting public involvement and partnership working, offering local training and employment opportunities and nurturing the resourcefulness and DIY spirit that defines the four streets.
Those involved in the project have created mantelpieces using brick and rubble construction waste from the streets; ceramic door handles fired in barbecues fuelled by sawdust left over from building work; as well as hand-decorated tiles and hand-pressed terracotta lamps. These fixtures and fittings have been used to refurbish the ten derelict houses selected for the project.
Axminster’s Business Services Field Sales team member Donal Grogan said: “I would like to congratulate Assemble and Granby workshop on winning the Turner Prize. When I visited the project I was very impressed with the transformation that had taken place in the four streets and by the craft orientated way they achieved this. I am glad we were able to assist in a small way in setting up the Granby workshop which was used to make the unique crafted items to furnish the houses there.”
The exhibition will continue to be shown at the Tramway in Glasgow until 17 January 2016.
Axminster Tools & Machinery were eager to congratulate Assemble on the collective’s recent success in winning Britain’s leading contemporary art award, the Turner prize. Tools for the project were provided by Axminster. The winner of the prize was announced on Channel 4 on 7 December, when the £25,000 prize was awarded to London-based architecture, art and design collective Assemble for their…