Depots and equipment
Silvapower operates from depots in Barnsley (Ringstone Farm) and Sheffield.
At Ringstone we have the following equipment:-
Stock
As a group, Silvapower and Forest Fuels do not take on contracts which we don’t feel able to service well. We believe that supplying fuel on-time, in-spec is of absolutely crucial importance, and we would rather turn a contract down than not be able to service it well.
We hold high levels of stock (as a group, c £0.5million currently) and regularly review stock levels to ensure they are sufficiently high.
We have long-term relationships with a wide range of suppliers of feedstock material in the South Yorkshire area, with no one supplier providing more than 20% of our requirement. These relationships range from long term, high-profile Landowner Partnerships (eg Sheffield Wildlife Trust); close links to the South Yorkshire Forest’s AFO program for private forest owners; long term trading relationships with harvesting contractors, timber merchants and sawmills; and spot-buying of material as and when it is available. Silvapower is established as a core local market for chipwood grade timber.
Ordering and customer service
We do not have standard hours as such: deliveries are made to suit customer requirements.
At the beginning of a contract we work with the customer, including the site staff, to agree the best protocol for making deliveries and the timings. Because we already supply a large number of schools we understand the issues around timing (eg avoiding school drop-off and pick-up times).
Silvapower runs an online ordering system. Orders can be placed by the customer logging in and requesting a delivery, or by ringing our offices. The system can be set up to email the customer to confirm the order has been received and confirming it has been booked in, and then again to say the delivery has been made. This system has been operational for more than a year and customer feedback is very good.
Guarantee and responsiveness of supply
The Forest Fuels company culture has always been to focus on quality and customer service, and if there is a problem to admit it and work together in partnership to resolve it as quickly as possible. We do not try and cover up the problem, or “blag” our way out of it. This culture is being transferred to Silvapower, and will continue to be.