03/04/13 - Radio Design MD, Eric Hawthorn, Promotes Yorkshire’s Burgeoning Export Push
A NEWLY launched campaign aims to ensure an additional £2.6bn is generated via exports from the Leeds City Region in the next five years.
The We Are International campaign, an initiative by Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, UK Trade & Investment and Chamber International, seeks to boost the regional economy by improving exporting performance.
The Export Network, an integral part of the campaign, was launched this month. A group of experienced exporters from a range of sectors will act as ambassadors, champions and mentors in the campaign.
Eric Hawthorn, MD of Shipley-based exporter Radio Design, who is part of the Export Network, said: “The Leeds City Region is currently running a £1bn trade deficit for its products and services which this campaign aims to turn into a £1.6bn surplus by 2018.
Continue to read at Yorkshire Post
25/03/13 - Radio Design Helps Prevent Blank TVs
Shipley, West Yorkshire: 25th March, 2013
Radio Design Ltd is pleased to announce it has been awarded a contract to supply high quality RF filters to at800 to help mitigate potential interference to terrestrial digital TV reception from soon-to-be-launched 4G mobile phone services operating at 800 MHz.
Based in Shipley, Radio Design continues to be a shining success story for Yorkshire. Launched 5 years ago, and capitalising on local expertise, the company specialises in supplying RF solutions to the international telecommunications industry.
New 4G services at 800 MHz might cause problems to terrestrial digital TV such as loss of sound, blocky images or loss of TV channels. Ofcom estimates that up to 10% of UK households may require help to ensure their TV signal remains clear when 4G services launch in their area. In the majority of cases, an RF filter will stop potential interference and enable viewers to carry on receiving and watching terrestrial digital TV as normal. 4G mobile services are expected to launch later this year following the recent ‘Digital Dividend’ auction.
Eric Hawthorn, Managing Director of Radio Design said, “This is a great opportunity to show that high technology manufacturing can be successful in the UK. We are very pleased to be able to support at800.”
The program for provision and distribution of the interference filters has been implemented extremely quickly to ensure the filters are available before any interference issues arise.
About Radio Design:
Headquartered in Shipley, West Yorkshire, and with international presence in China, Finland and India, Radio Design is an award-winning market leader in the provision of wireless infrastructure sharing solutions and RF filter design.
Media contact: Eric Hawthorn, Managing Director, tel: 07785 737277, eric.hawthorn@radiodesign.eu
www.radiodesign.eu
About at800
at800 is the consumer brand of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited (DMSL), the organisation responsible for ensuring people continue to receive free-to-air television broadcasts when 4G mobile services operating at 800MHz are launched. It is funded by the UK mobile operators with 800MHz spectrum allocations to provide 4G services - EE, Telefónica UK (O2), Three and Vodafone.
For more information, visit http://www.at800.tv
07/03/13 - Radio Design’s Eric Hawthorn Tells The BBC What Support Would-be British Exporters Really Need
From BBC 5 Live Drive show - Eric Hawthorn talking to BBC 5 Live
05/03/13 - Leeds City Region Export Network Goes Live
The LCR "We are International" campaign Export Network has gone live. The campaign is supported by Radio Design MD, Eric Hawthorn, who sits on the LCR Local Enterprise Partnership Business Innovation and Growth panel.
Please see the press release below and visit the Export Network website to find out more.
http://www.exportnetwork.co.uk
Export champions share tricks of the trade 
Experienced exporters from across Leeds City Region have joined forces through a new network to help more companies take advantage of opportunities in international markets.
The We are International Export Network brings together successful exporters from a wide range of sectors. They will be sharing the secrets of their success through a series of business networking events - starting on 12 March at DLA Piper, Leeds.
Read more 
28/02/13 - Radio Design MD Endorses Prime Minister’s Commercial Expedition to India
The boss of a Shipley electronics company which is launching a manufacturing operation In India has welcomed Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit to the sub-continent this week to drum-up trade for British business.
Eric Hawthorn, managing director of Radio Design Limited, said the visit was a welcome move and would hopefully help more UK firms to do business there.
Radio Design, which pioneered technology enabling mobile phone networks to share transmission masts, already employs around 30 staff in India providing technology services from a base in New Delhi.
“We have held off expanding into manufacturing until it was clear that there would be sufficient demand. Now that a 2G licensing scandal has been sorted out and operators know what licenses they will have, the time is right for us to move into manufacturing for the Indian market.
“The Prime Minister’s visit is welcome and will hopefully benefit more British companies in a market which is enticing but very difficult to develop,” said Mr Hawthorn.
John Roper, sales director at Ashtree Vision & Safety Ltd, Bradford, is also looking to build up trade in India where he recently completed its first order for construction equipment mirrors.
Mr Roper also hoped that its status as a supplier to UK manufacturer Optare, which is owned by an Indian company, would help pave the way to more business.
“We’re a small company and can’t easily justify getting on a plane to India, but we know there is a potential market there so will look at avenues which help us to develop business there. Hopefully Mr Cameron’s visit will help us and others to do just that,” John said.
For Bradford-based Shaw Moisture Meters India is one of its top six worldwide markets and the firm has exported its precision measuring equipment there for more than 30 years to industrial companies.
Managing director Tim Peters said: “It’s a growth market and we are seeing increasing levels of business. We have a strong presence there and it’s improving. We have a massive plus in India because of our pedigree. Our history of being an established British manufacturing company stands us in good stead.”
Saltaire e-based digital TV technology company Pace plc clinched three major contracts in India last year, where 80 million homes will be switched to digital TV services by 2015.
During his visit David Cameron said he wants Britain’s partnership with India to be “a really special relationship” for the 21st century.
“Britain wants to be your partner of choice,” said Mr Cameron in Mumbai. “We think there are huge ties of history and language and culture and business, but we think we have only just started on the sort of partnership we could build.”
28/02/13 - Eric Hawthorn, MD of Radio Design, Helps Launch the Region’s International Export Network
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Join us to celebrate the launch of the region's new export network and meet some of our export champions
John Chacksfield, Managing Director, Trio Healthcare Ltd
Five years after being founded, Trio Healthcare was awarded the prestigious Queen's Award for outstanding achievement in international trade after quadrupling their export earnings.
Christophe Bind, General Manager, Everbuild Building Products Ltd
After setting up a dedicated export department five years ago, overseas sales are now the fastest growing part of the business.
Eric Hawthorne, Managing Director, Radio Design Ltd
Businessman Eric is spearheading the strategy behind the next phase of Radio Design's global expansion while lending support to the "We are International' campaign.
Join our Linkedin group here |
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We are international is a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) initiative to help more businesses realise their growth potential by taking advantage of opportunities in international markets www.weareinternational.co.uk
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10/12/12 - Radio Design Supports Electronics Yorkshire and Leeds LEP Growth Initiative for the Local Electronics Sector
http://www.electronicsyorkshire.org.uk/m/Top-Menu/Electronics-Yorkshire-News.aspx?Listid=30&ListingEntryID=1029
14/11/2012 - Radio Design Spearheads Leeds City Region’s “We are International” Export Initiative
Photo from Paul Harness and Leeds City Region Partnership
From Left to Right
Neil Mclean: Chair, Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership
Sandy Needham: Chief Executive, Bradford Chamber
Eric Hawthorn: Managing Director, Radio Design
Nic Baird: Chief Executive, UKTI
Radio Design’s Managing Director, Eric Hawthorn, today helped Leeds City Region launch its exciting new export initiative “We are International” to help and encourage companies in the area to generate, and grow, their export business. The aim is to turn a current export deficit into a regional surplus over the next 3 years. The launch took place at the Leeds Doubletree Hotel, as part of the UK Trade and Investment ministry’s week-long roadshow “Export Week” and was enthusiastically received by all. Please see the following links for more information:
http://newsfeed.leedsvirtualnewsroom.co.uk/2012/11/lep-sets-its-sights-on-export-growth.html
Campaign launch press release:
http://business.leedscityregion.gov.uk/news/lep-sets-its-sights-on-export-growth
"We are International" landing page:
http://business.leedscityregion.gov.uk/international/international/
Promote export from Leeds City Region by becoming an Export Champion:
http://business.leedscityregion.gov.uk/international/international/become-an-export-champion/
07/10/2012 - Radio Design Participates in Lord Mayor of London’s Trade Delegation to China and India
The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman David Wootton, led a special business delegation to China, Hong Kong and India in September and October, and Radio Design played a prominent and supportive role in the mission
The delegation explored opportunities for increased interaction in areas including infrastructure financing, financial sector development, regulatory reform and dispute resolution. The 15-strong business delegation included senior representatives of major legal services firms, infrastructure experts, bankers, and financial and professional services specialists. The programme for the visit included meetings with key policymakers, ministers, regulators and business leaders
Radio Design was well represented in the mission, at various times and locations, by Eric Hawthorn, Geof Ashton and Gaurav Chauhan [pictured above with the Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman David Wootton, and the British High Commissioner to India, Sir James Bevan, at a dinner with senior members of the British Business Group in Delhi, India, 7th Oct 2012
The Lord Mayor stressed how growing participation of UK firms will help to facilitate economic development by introducing new products, services and expertise to the market, thereby enhancing economic growth and supporting the development of domestic companies
23/09/2012 - Radio Design Trio Achieve Podium in Ilkley Triathlon
Radio Design’s ‘experienced’ team of Eric Hawthorn, Geof Ashton and Martin Gostling surpassed expectations when they finished 3rd out of 27 teams in the recent Ilkley Triathlon. Indeed Martin was able to celebrate the arrival of new baby Benjamin in style by breaking the course record for the running leg
16/09/2012 - Radio Design Cricketing Daredevil!
Radio Design’s Wuxi general manager, Razaq Mahmood, has managed to keep his hand in, even in that unheralded cricketing heartland of China, by helping his local team [Daredevils] retain their title in the Shanghai Cricket Club Division 1 Championship.
13/07/2012 - Chinese Embassy Delegation Visits Radio Design
China delegation good for business, says Shipley firm
An expanding Shipley-based electronics business, which has launched a new operation in China, played host to senior trade officials from the Chinese Embassy in London. They were keen to learn more about how its products have revolutionised mobile phone technology.
Award-winning Radio Design Ltd, launched five years ago by managing director Eric Hawthorn, has developed products that enable mobile phone operators to share radio masts and save millions of pounds. The firm has started operating in Wuxi, near Shanghai, where it has a licence to manufacture, provide product support services, import, export and distribute. “Our objective is not to set up manufacturing in China for export back to Europe – we are there to address opportunities in the Chinese domestic market,” said Mr Hawthorn.
The visit to Radio Design’s Wharfe Street research and development centre and its UK manufacturing base in Salts Mill, Saltaire, enabled Mr Hawthorn to outline the company's plans for China. He said: “China is a land of opportunity but you have to be prepared to put in the effort. “Myself and operations director Paul Trigg went out there last year to search out potential locations from which to develop the new operation. “We settled on Wuxi, due to its location in central China and the fabulous high-speed rail link and lower costs than places such as Shanghai. “Anyone here who doubts the benefits of a high-speed rail link between London and this region should visit China and see what it’s done there. “We've had some hitches in getting the Chinese operation going but we’re up and running now with five employees at present and this will grow significantly over the next six months. “We see major opportunities, initially in providing specialised hardware repair services, and then creating demand for our customised products with the three main Chinese mobile operators. “Demand is growing rapidly in China with increasing pressure on networks from smart phones as people become more prosperous.”
The visit was organised by the China-Britain Business Council for Zhou Xiaoming, Minister Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy with responsibility for commerce, and his colleagues Pan Jiansheng and Jiang Tao. The party also visited the Spooner engineering plant in Ilkley where they were shown the Olympic Torch carried by the firm's UK director Steve Newell in Bradford last month. Spooner, which makes equipment including ovens, dryers and coolers and exports more than 50 per cent of its output, recently appointed a representative in Shanghai to help it develop more business in China. The CBBC delegation also visited luxury car customising specialist Project Kahn on Canal Road, Bradford, and historic textile firm Hainsworth in Pudsey.
Making News in China, Too…
http://news.hexun.com/2012-07-18/143725043.html
02/07/2012 - Radio Design Supports Local Business Development Initiative, and Features in Despatches…
Business support tool to help SMEs and boost investment
The Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has today launched a new online tool to help businesses find the resources they need to grow and develop. The LEP has developed its Business and Investment Portal in response to feedback from businesses on the difficulties of finding information about local business support.
The Portal has been produced primarily to help SMEs, and provides comprehensive information on topics such as international trade, recruiting and training staff, obtaining finance and public sector contracts. It also offers a platform to support the LEP's ambitions of attracting more investment into the region, and an opportunity to communicate more effectively with businesses on the LEP’s activities.
Chair of the Leeds City Region LEP, Neil McLean, commented: “Every time we talk to businesses – especially SMEs – about business support, they tell us how difficult it is to find information about local support provision. With this new online tool, the LEP has taken steps to fill this gap and provide information on a whole range of business support in one place. We will be doing further work to develop the portal, and would very much welcome feedback from businesses in the City Region on how we can make it even more useful for them.”
Eric Hawthorn, Managing Director of Radio Design – an award-winning electronics manufacturer, based in Shipley – and a member of the LEP’s Business Innovation and Growth Panel, added: “For smaller businesses and start-ups, external support can make a real difference to survival and future success. This new portal will be the ideal starting point for anyone looking to develop or grow a business in the City Region. I certainly wish this kind of tool had been available when I started my business five years ago.”
The LEP's Business and Investment portal can be found at: http://business.leedscityregion.gov.uk/support/casestudies/radio-design/
YORKSHIRE businesses should not be fearful of setting up operations in China but should be realistic about the timeframe and steps needed to make the move a success. That was the advice given at a seminar entitled 'Setting up in business in China' and hosted by law firm Pinsent Masons. Specialist lawyers based in the firm's offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong gave advice to delegates in Leeds, through a live video link, how to best go about launching in China.
And Eric Hawthorn, managing director of Shipley-based wireless infrastructure business Radio Design, told delegates how his business had opened an operation in China to capitalise on the company's expansion plans. Mr Hawthorn warned delegates planning to establish bases in China that the process could be a frustrating one. He said it had taken Radio Design more than six months to set up after encountering delays over issues such as VAT registration.
He also advised UK companies to post representatives in China on a permanent basis when launching operations to ensure complications were kept to a minimum. But he said setting up a base in China had moved away from accessing cheap manufacturing labour to taking advantage of growing consumer needs in the country.
The event was chaired by Pinsent Masons partner Alison Starr and Giles Blackburne of the China-Britain Business Council.
Manufacturing Future is Focus of New Campaign
Bradford’s Year of Manufacturing campaign kicked off by bringing together manufacturers and agencies that can provide them with specialist support – and help open up more opportunities for local suppliers to the district's producers. The event marked the start of a big push to highlight and boost Bradford's manufacturing sector, which provides one-fifth of local economic output.
It is hoped that collaboration between Bradford Council, Bradford Chamber of Commerce, Bradford and Airedale Manufacturing Alliance, the University of Bradford and the Advanced Digital Institute in Saltaire will lead to the establishment of a new Centre for Manufacturing Excellence in the city to provide a hub for technological innovation, inward investment and knowledge sharing. Stephen Wright, Bradford Chamber of Commerce president, said: “The Year of Manufacturing will provide a catalyst for raising the sector’s profile and will hopefully help to create jobs by developing the supply chain xo that more local firms are able to win business with manufacturers.
“It’s 18 months since we launched the Bradford and Airedale Manufacturing Alliance and it was felt that a series of events and activities would focus the spotlight on the sector across the district with the aim of providing useful networking opportunities and practical support to companies. We need to do more to make manufacturing in Bradford even stronger. “While local manufacturers overall are doing okay in the current climate, we believe that the programme we are planning will help more firms succeed and boost the district’s economy. “We’ve joined with Bradford Council’s Rising Stars enterprise programme to stage this launch event, including an exhibition of organisations that can provide advice and support to manufacturers. If this leads to the creation of a Centre for Manufacturing Excellence, it will be a big leap forward and provide a lasting legacy for local manufacturers.”
The event featured a Question Time session with panelists including Simon Malins, purchasing project manager for BorgWarner Turbo Systems; Eric Hawthorn, managing director of Radio Design; Zab Chughtai, director of Anzeck Plastics Ltd and Sohan Panesar managing director PEC Building & Shopfitting Ltd.
Eric Hawthorn launched Shipley-based Radio Design Ltd, five years ago and the firm had grown turnover to £25 million after launching a universal combiner unit, which enables up to three mobile phone operators to lower network costs by sharing antenna equipment without losing performance. Radio Design’s suppliers included companies in Otley and Keighley.
19/06/2012 - RADIO DESIGN ANNOUNCES 5-YEAR SPONSORSHIP OF RF SIGNAL PROCESSING RESEARCH CHAIR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEEDS UNIVERSITY AND THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING
The Royal Academy of Engineering, Radio Design Ltd and the University of Leeds, UK, have announced the establishment of a new Research Chair focussed on original research in the field of microwave signal processing. Professor Ian Hunter of the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering has been appointed to this position and will head up a Centre of Microwave Signal Processing at Leeds University.
Driven by the demand for increased data capacity, mobile communications systems operate at an ever increasing number of frequencies and must support many different, rapidly evolving, air interface standards. The programme of research will focus on new microwave signal processing technology to overcome the challenges facing radio frequency system designers in the field of wireless communication infrastructure.
Professor Hunter has held senior positions in both academia and industry and he was the General Chair of European Microwave Week when it was held in Manchester in 2011. He is an international authority in the field of microwave engineering and his work has been widely applied in the mobile communications, satellite communications and defence industries.
29/05/2012 - RADIO DESIGN LAUNCHES CHINA FACILITY
Wuxi, China, 29th May, 2012: Radio Design, world leading provider of wireless infrastructure-sharing technologies, is delighted to announce its first customer product shipments from its new China manufacturing facility
Having established Radio Design as a strategic supplier, and partner, for hardware services to a market-leading wireless equipment OEM, the company is proud to announce the opening of its new facility in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. On 29th May 2012, less than 6 months after Radio Design’s initial visit to find suitable premises, customers received their first product shipments. This laudable achievement was the result of truly globally coordinated efforts by team members from Radio Design’s UK, Indian and Chinese facilities.
The ‘China project’ has been a challenging task but, with the professional team Radio Design has in-place, the company is confident of success and growth in this exciting new market. The company would like to wish Razaq Mahmood [General Manager of China Operations] and his team every success in this strategically vital role
11/11/2011 - ROYAL VISITOR PRESENTS QUEEN'S AWARD TO RADIO DESIGN
The staff of Radio Design were honoured today, to welcome the Duke of Gloucester to their Shipley, UK headquarters. The Duke, accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Bradford, unveiled a plaque in the company’s research facilities to commemorate Radio Design’s achievement of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation, 2011.
The prestigious and internationally recognised Queen’s Award has been won just four years after Radio Design was founded, and acknowledges the pioneering work of the company’s engineering team. The award specifically recognises Radio Design’s universal RF combiner unit, which enables multiple wireless network operators to share infrastructure equipment and enjoy significant financial, technical and environmental benefits as a result.
During his visit, the Duke of Gloucester was given a tour of Radio Design’s R&D and manufacturing facilities by the company’s managing director, Eric Hawthorn, who commented, “The Queen’s Award is an internationally recognised symbol of quality and excellence and represents a fitting reward for all the team’s hard work to generate commercial success. For a relatively young company, it is a privilege to receive this award as recognition of what we have achieved in such a short time.”
04/05/2011 - RADIO DESIGN ON THE SHORTLIST FOR BRITAIN'S TOP ENGINEERING INNOVATION AWARD - Visit www.raeng.org.uk
Four of the country’s finest engineering teams are on the shortlist for Britain’s biggest engineering innovation prize – the Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award. The finalists for the £50,000 prize for 2011 are:
- Microsoft Research for the machine learning capability of the Kinect human motion capture system, used with Xbox 360, the Microsoft games console
- Radio Design Ltd for the radio frequency filter that allows telephone companies like Orange and T-mobile to share their networks
- Jaguar for the new lightweight aluminium XJ body, the first production car to be made using aerospace cold joining technology
- Defence Science & Technology Laboratory for a new modular ceramic armour system for armoured personnel carriers.
read more…
21/04/2011 - RADIO DESIGN WINS QUEEN’S AWARD FOR INNOVATION
Radio Design’s award is for outstanding innovation, with demonstrated commercial success, over at least 2 years.
Radio Design's MD, Eric Hawthorn, said, “our team are honoured and proud to have received this award which recognises engineering excellence and the hard work required to turn this into a commercial success. The Queen's Awards for Enterprise are an internationally recognised symbol of excellence which will greatly assist with the promotion of our business at home and abroad.”
07/12/2010 - RADIO DESIGN APPOINTS TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
"I am pleased to announce that Martin Gostling has been appointed to the position of Technical Director". - Eric Hawthorn MD
This appointment results from the continued successful growth of the company and the need to keep a strong focus on technology strategy. Radio Design has attained a market leading position and is committed to maintaining this through customer service, product quality, competitive pricing and technology leadership. Martin will have responsibility for the global technology strategy of the company.
Martin graduated in 1996 with an MA, 1st class, in Mathematics from Cambridge University. This was followed by a Master of Mathematics from Cambridge and a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Leeds University. Martin joined Radio Design after 7 years filter and systems design with Filtronic and was our very first employee.
Martin is married to Alex and has a one year old son, James. In his “spare” time he is a member of Leeds City Athletics Club and competes in their track & cross country teams at national events.
25/06/2010 - PHILIP DAVIES, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR SHIPLEY, VISITS RADIO DESIGN
Radio Design Managing Director, Eric Hawthorn, welcomed Philip Davies to the company’s headquarters in his constituency of Shipley, West Yorkshire. The visit followed Radio Design's success in the recent Innovator/10 awards where the company won in the “Young Innovative Business” category.
During the visit they discussed the recent emergency budget presented by The Chancellor of the Exchequer to Parliament on 22 June 2010. Mr Hawthorn agreed that concerns raised in his recent question to the Prime Minister regarding incentives and encouragement for entrepreneurs had been adequately addressed by the budget.
Radio Design is becoming recognised as the world leader in the design and manufacture of bespoke filter solutions for network sharing applications. The company currently supplies custom designed filter systems to leading cellular infrastructure OEMs and cellular network operating companies worldwide. Radio Design products are used in some of the biggest shared cellular networks. Radio Design operates from facilities in the UK, India and Finland.
29/05/2010 - MD ERIC HAWTHORN QUESTIONS PM DAVID CAMERON
Managing Director, Eric Hawthorn, poses a question to David Cameron on capital gains tax at 22 min 45 sec into the attached video clip.
20/04/2010 - NEXT GENERATION NETWORKS AND BASESTATIONS 2010
Radio Design was a silver sponsor of the Next Generation Networks & Basestations 2010 Conference, April 19th - 21st, 2010 Bath, UK. Systems Expert, Martin Gostling, presented a paper on “Network Sharing – Maximise Benefits With Innovative Filter Combining”.
Andrew Bateman (CEO Avren Events) stated “Radio Design’s perspective on network sharing complimented earlier operator and analyst presentations with their perspective on filter combiners as an essential part of optimally designed networks.”
Click here for "Avren Events: Next Generation Networks and Basestations 2010"
