Posted 13 November 2011 - 02:23 PM
I think this was covered before, I was a bit disheartened by some of the contributions at the time too.
When I started our place I had very little money, almost none actually. I do not think this is an impossible dream for anyone, here is what I did:
1. I explored every former military facility in the country - former air bases to be precise. I bought a book on RAF history and went out every evening looking. This was before Google Earth or indeed the internet so it involved rambling.
2. Out of 35 potential sites only two had real potential, one of those was spoken for (RAF Binbrook which is now a large storage facility for fireworks) and my own.
3. I tracked down the owner of the other, a homeless man living in an old vehicle on site led me to him.
4. I negotiated occupancy on the basis that I would get the place tidied up and licenced in advance of paying any rent.
5. I worked elsewhere to make a bit of money, ducking and diving I managed to establish an independent position in the business doing firework displays which didn't require a manufacturing licence, although this was my zenith.
6. I drafted the licence myself - I had been working in the pyrotechnics industry for the past 15 yeays and knew how to do this, I also knew people at HSE, I got no favours but was treated very fairly and sympathetically by inspectors no longer there - Dr Andrew Train was patient as I recall, Phil Wellings was my first inspector - an absolute gentleman. These two are not around not, Andrew was sadly made redundant recently and Phil very sadly died after retirement. I won't mention others who are still with the inspectorate, you get good and bad, but most certainly the vast majority are good believe it or not. They're not there to hurt you. I have had only one problematic inspector who I will not name, all the others have been completely fair and decent, my present inspector (again won't name him) is absolutely first class. No nonsense - if I make a mistake he will point it out in no uncertain terms, he has real experience in the business and is worth his weight in gold. Our last inspection was hugely beneficial, as we are not a COMAH site we didn't pay for the visit - but we would not have complained at a bill.
I have drifted a bit there......but....
7. The licence took 12 months to secure. I have to say this was down to experience, if you mess about it will go backwards and forwards and each deliberation will cost you money. Mine went like clockwork and ended up costing £400 application fee and a further £350 at the end (from memory, best recalled estimate)
8. Being a former explosives depot we were not much use for anything else and favoured by the local authority. Our landlord was and is a real gentleman too. He has become a very close friend over the years.
9. Money was always a bit of a stumbling block - you never have enough. We started with one building and one small magazine which was bought secondhand for £125. Traded from this position and then added another two sheds and two chemicals stores. Bought three of these secondhand and one new one. As things got better added more magazines and sheds, new sheds as and when finances allowed, the magazines came from Standard Fireworks when they were clearing out. Amended the licence twice to accommodate the expansions.
Within three years we were busy and established - it all started unbelievably with about £400 and a lot of negotiation and a decent landlord.
We did cover this years ago and I suggested that the society form a cooperative to do the same, this was misinterpreted as an offer of accommodation at our place - I wasn't against this actually at the time - but my comments were described as "unhelpful" by one member of the society who informed me - rather arrogantly I have to say - that negotiations with another facility were well under way and pretty much suggested that I was not wanted or needed. (I wasn't even trying to sell the idea!). I will repeat what I suggested then, with the best intentions, I don't want to come across as arrogant:
1. Get together and decide how many of you are really interested in getting a factory up and running - it ISN'T impossible, I proved that to myself.
2. Be aware that the costs can be considerable but by careful and prudent organisation they can be kept under control.
3. Be sure that you involve the right people - THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I have had disgusting people latch onto me in the past, real parasites. I am fortunate in that I work independently now and keep the rubbish at arms length, we will never again accommodate idiots on site, those around me are trusted and decent people and we operate in a way which is accountable, professional and democratic. Remember, if you have the wrong person on site you will ultimately be held responsible for their actions. No argument about it.
4. Don't load yourself down with negativity. It is easy for people to focus on the reasons why you will fail - be positive and you will succeed. I always think, by analogy, of the statistical costs of having a child. It is reported that a child, in the first 16 years of its life, will cost its parents umpteen hundred thousand pounds. Most people haven't got that sort of money, but a great many have children - I've got three but I'm not rich!
What I'm trying to say is that you simply manage.
To address some of the points raised in this thread: Outside safety distances. We are unnaffected, partly because the site is very large but also - and I may contradict some people here - because we were there first. A recent development by a neighbour was rejected by the plannings following intervention by HSE because they were too close to me. I didn't raise the objection, I actually tried to reverse it and offerred to reduce the weights in a proposed but as yet unbuilt magazine. I was thwarted and tole that even as licence holder, I couldn't prevent HSE from objecting to the neighbours plans!!
So don't get too concerned about the distances, limit your activities to the space available but of course, plan your location within an area which offers surrounding vacancy!
5. Preparations need to address the paperwork. I read with interest the ob jections raised by certain "competitors" about the raft of paperwork they have to crawl through to get anything done. What they are really saying is "we are incapable of handling paperwork, as required by the authorities". If you can't cope with academic responsibilities then you shouldn't be in this business I'm afraid. But it really isn't that bad. Again, HSE offer bags of guidance, you simply need to be literate and professional and, willing to invest a bit of time as required.
Having read the contributions made by members of the society and knowing the backgrounds of some, I do not see this as being a problem. Don't be put off.
When I posted on this subject some years back I made an offer to draft a template licence for the benefit of the society. I offerred to do so without charge and that offer remains in place. If you want my help ask, I will gladly provide it. I may upset some people but I do so with the very best and most sincere good intentions:
I don't agree with the manufacture of pyrotechnic materials or devices in domestic settings, to me this is fraught with danger - no matter how careful the practitioner feels he is being. It simply doesn't work in my mind and that, in a nutshell is why we have laws. I know this will come across as pompous and I don't mean to be like that. But knowing what a decent bunch you all are - and I mean that - it would upset me dreadfully to learn of an accident which could have been avoided had the events leading to the cause been conducted in a proper place.
My advice is: consider carefully and SERIOUSLY the setting up of a society factory. Talk to the HSE. Talk to each other. Formulate a sensible working framework. GET ON WITH IT!!
Paul M.
