Lincolnshire firm’s industrial workwear business acquired

Tess Egginton
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Lincolnshire firm’s industrial workwear business acquired
Lindström Group, a textile service company, is acquiring Lincolnshire-based Micronclean’s industrial workwear business in the UK. This transaction is set to enhance Lindström’s position in the UK market and expand its customer base, particularly in the heavy industry sector. The deal is an asset transaction where Lindström acquires the customer contracts and related textiles, and transfers Micronclean’s on-site service personnel to Lindström. Micronclean are closing their Grantham site and to ensure uninterrupted service, the clients will transfer to Lindström. The company has been operating a workwear laundry in Grantham that serves currently over 180 customers mainly from heavy industry and food industry. The deal will grow Lindström’s customer base and market reach, especially in these industries. Micronclean is a family-owned textile service company focused on offering workwear and cleanroom services in the UK and India. The company employs altogether over 400 people. Lindström has been operating in the UK since 2001. The service offering covers workwear and industrial wipers, with over 4,400 customers. Lindström employs 140 people and operates service centres in Bedford, Bradford and Manchester, in addition to four others in the industrial wiper business. “We attach great importance on the brilliant customer service and offering great value. Micronclean has been known for its quality, innovation, and customer-centric approach — values that resonate with our own,” says Ian Muir, Managing director of Lindström Ltd.

Building Society calls for compulsory financial education in schools

Stuart Pearcey
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Building Society calls for compulsory financial education in schools
Yorkshire Building Society has told the Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review that financial education should be mandatory in all schools. It says research suggests money habits are formed by the age of seven, but in England, financial education is not on the national curriculum for primary schools. Financial education is currently on the curriculum for secondary schools across the UK. The Society’s investigations suggest only two-fifths of 16-27-year-olds had received financial education at secondary school despite it being on the national curriculum since 2014. Chris Irwin, director of savings at YBS, said “Our research into the financial resilience of young people has highlighted areas, such as debt, scams and budgeting, where many people are struggling and almost two fifths report that they don’t have the confidence to make important financial decisions. Worryingly less than half recall ever receiving any formal financial education at school – this is despite it being on the national curriculum for ten years. “We also found that most young people rely on family to learn about money, meaning those from less financially savvy families may be at a disadvantage. There is an opportunity for us to help future generations have the best start in life, by teaching them important life skills and core financial information at school. “Delivering financial education consistently in schools, from a younger age, and in a way that helps people have the knowledge to deal with real-life challenges, will help more people have a good start in life, and face the future, and its challenges, with confidence and optimism.”

New partnership launched to deliver new housing schemes across Yorkshire

Tess Egginton
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New partnership launched to deliver new housing schemes across Yorkshire
Placefirst and Sky-House Co have launched a new partnership for the delivery of new housing schemes across the Yorkshire region. The partnership has struck an initial deal to deliver 34 one and two-bedroom apartments and 14 two and three-bedroom houses at Sky-House’s Copper Street development, close to Kelham Island, following the granting of planning approval in October. With completion expected in 2026, the development will also offer communal space for residents in addition to landscaped gardens in the neighbourhood’s centre. Located within the area historically dubbed ‘Little Chicago’, the project will knit the development into the narrow and steep streets, forming a new characterful and contextual neighbourhood that will expand on developments in nearby Kelham Island over the past two decades. In line with all Sky-House homes, sustainability has been a core consideration of the Copper Street development from design to operation. As zero-gas homes with carbon reduction measures taken at every stage of construction, residents will benefit from high energy efficiency, keeping costs to a minimum. Furthermore, the fabric-first approach to heat loss, coupled with the latest eco-technology such as air-source cylinders, heat recovery and PV solar panels, will ensure its long-term sustainability. David Cross, Co-Founder and Director of Sky-House, said: “This is a superb deal for Sky-House and the City of Sheffield, providing us with the finance to move onto other sites in the region whilst also introducing a quality national PRS operator to Sheffield. “Our immediate focus is to complete site preparation works ahead of starting the build of the first home this side of Christmas. We’ll complete the build of all homes by the end of 2026, ready to handover to Placefirst for people to rent. “Placefirst has been an absolute pleasure to work with throughout the transaction and we look forward to this being the first of many between the two companies as we expand across the North of England.” Henry Marshall, Investment Director at Placefirst, added: “Our ambition to expand our portfolio is directly rooted in our commitment to increasing the supply of high-quality rental options, which is why partnering with SME housebuilders who prioritise quality without compromising sustainability is key to our growth strategy. “Sky-House’s approach to design and creating homes that offer long-term value to residents complements our people-first approach to renting. We believe that city centre living should deliver on both quality and affordability. “As we work together on this development with Sky-House, we look forward to building on the success of our Skye Edge and Gell Street neighbourhoods and continuing to improve the rental experience in Sheffield.”

Benchmark sells genetics business

Tess Egginton
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0
Benchmark sells genetics business

Sheffield-based Benchmark, an aquaculture genetics, specialist nutrition, and health business, has entered into a binding agreement to sell the company’s genetics business area to Starfish Bidco, a wholly owned subsidiary of Novo Holdings.

The deal, by way of the disposal of Benchmark Genetics Limited and Benchmark Genetics Norway AS and their respective subsidiaries, represents an enterprise value of up to £260 million, including an initial consideration of £230 million and additional contingent consideration of up to £30 million.

The disposal will enable the company to focus on its advanced nutrition and health business areas, and creates an opportunity to reduce complexity and streamline the current group structure to significantly reduce costs.

Trond Williksen, Benchmark CEO, said: “I am pleased to announce this agreement to sell our genetics business to Novo Holdings. The Transaction will unlock significant value and enable us to return capital to shareholders.

“The Disposal will also allow us to focus all our efforts on developing the significant potential of our continuing business areas, Advanced Nutrition and Health. In addition, it will enable us to reduce complexity and streamline the Group structure to significantly reduce costs.

“I would like to thank all our colleagues who have been working tirelessly this year to deliver a robust performance amidst difficult market conditions. Novo Holdings will be an excellent new owner of the genetics business and is in an ideal position to take the business forward.”

Aleks Engel, Partner at Novo Holdings, said: “We are very pleased to announce plans to acquire the Benchmark genetics business from Benchmark Holdings. Both animal and plant genetics hold immense potential to transform the global food industry, enabling more efficient and sustainable ways to feed a growing population.

“In particular, advancements in aquaculture genetics, such as those in the salmon industry, present significant opportunities to improve productivity, resilience, and environmental outcomes.”

Northern Gritstone leads £4m Seed investment into University of Sheffield spinout

Tess Egginton
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Northern Gritstone leads £4m Seed investment into University of Sheffield spinout

Northern Gritstone has led a £4 million Seed investment into the University of Sheffield spinout, Exciting Instruments, the single-molecule platform company.

Single-molecule microscopy is one of the most powerful tools to understand disease and develop targeted therapies, however it has often been limited by complex workflows and limited accessibility, restricting its use so far to select and specialist research environments.

Exciting Instruments has developed and delivers a practical and efficient new platform for single-molecule detection, opening up adoption to an unconstrained user base spanning pharma, healthcare and other industrial applications.

Its platform technology allows users to visualise and analyse individual molecules and their interactions, whilst also providing high throughput processing and automation of analytics, advancements that are critical for improved efficiency and productivity.

Early customers of Exciting Instruments’ platform are already using it to drive new discoveries in drug development, clinical diagnostics and a range of research applications in both the pharmaceutical industry and within leading research laboratories.

Where incumbent approaches have failed to scale, Exciting Instruments is demonstrating a new path that will totally redefine molecular analysis and transform global health outcomes.

Co-investors into the round include Empirical Ventures, NPIF II – Praetura Equity Finance, and serial entrepreneurs Stan Boland and Jonathan Millner.

Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, said: “Northern Gritstone is delighted to support Exciting Instruments’ internationally renowned team from the University of Sheffield. Their technology will open up a broad range of health-related research and discovery and will also support job creation in Sheffield’s thriving tech cluster.

“I’m particularly pleased that the funding round for Exciting Instruments has been over-subscribed which is another validation of the quality of deep tech investment opportunities that exist within the Northern Triangle.” 

Tim Craggs CEO and Rob Bell COO, Co-Founders of Exciting Instruments, said: “Our vision at Exciting Instruments is to bring the power of single-molecule detection to every academic and pharma lab across the globe.

“We’re not just building technology—we’re creating a new era where single-molecule insights become the foundation for breakthroughs that will redefine what’s possible in human health.”

Sheffield businesses get sharper focus on customer metrics

Stuart Pearcey
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Sheffield businesses get sharper focus on customer metrics
Sheffield Business Improvement District has launched the BID Barometer, a tool designed to provide comprehensive insights and trends around customer spending, sector performance, customer catchment areas, and demographics. This initiative is in direct response to feedback from our BID levy payers, who have expressed the need for more detailed and actionable data beyond traditional footfall metrics. While footfall data has been a useful indicator, it often serves as a blunt measure of city centre performance. To address this, Sheffield BID has partnered with Beauclair to bridge the data gap and deliver more nuanced insights. The BID Barometer will be a monthly report, providing summary metrics that highlight key trends. Additionally, the data can be analysed in greater detail to create tailored reports that address the specific needs of individual businesses and decision makers. Diane Jarvis, Head of Business Operations at Sheffield BID, said: “The BID Barometer represents a significant step forward in how we understand and support the economic health of Sheffield’s city centre. “By providing more detailed insights into customer behaviour and spending patterns, we can better support our BID levy payers and help them make informed decisions. “This tool will enable us to move beyond simple footfall counts and offer a richer, more detailed picture of city centre performance. It will also help to determine the impact of major events on customer spend, helping businesses to optimise their operations effectively.”

£200m project will protect more than 1,000 businesses from flooding

Stuart Pearcey
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£200m project will protect more than 1,000 businesses from flooding
More than 1,000 businesses and 33,000 jobs in and around Leeds will be protected from flooding of the River Aire thanks to completion of a £200m project featuring pioneering technology. It offers a one-in-200-year level of protection against extreme flooding along the River Aire, as experienced following Storm Eva at Christmas 2015 which caused up to £37million in direct costs of damage in Leeds and more than £500m in recovery costs to the wider region. Completion of the scheme was marked today with a celebration event at a new flood storage area by the riverside near Calverley in Leeds hosted by the Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor James Lewis joined by representatives of project partners the Environment Agency, BAM Nuttall and Mott MacDonald, along with technical advisors AECOM, Bradford Council and other key stakeholders. Stretching from Apperley Bridge to the source of the River Aire at Malham about 40 miles upstream from Leeds, the range of measures includes the planting of around 750,000 trees and soil and land management measures across 1,700 football fields’ worth of land  in the upper Aire catchment. This work, managed by the Environment Agency in partnership with Leeds City Council, White Rose Forest and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, will capture and slow the flow of water down the river and aims to reduce peak flows by up to five per cent, further enhancing the overall effectiveness of the flood scheme and allowing it to adapt to the impacts of climate change through to 2069. Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor James Lewis said: “This is a very important and proud day for our city as the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme can now help protect thousands of homes, communities, businesses and jobs across Leeds and beyond from the increasing threat posed by flooding and climate change.  We all remember the devastation and misery caused by Storm Eva and recent extreme weather events, and the confidence this scheme offers will be immeasurable in our city for decades to come. “This has been a mammoth project, one of the biggest ever undertaken in Leeds in terms of its importance, scale and ambition, and everyone involved in it can rightly be proud of the part they have played, especially all those who campaigned and worked so hard to ensure it would be completed in full as quickly as possible. As a city we say thank you to everyone who has helped make this scheme a reality, for the benefit of all those who live and work in Leeds and beyond.”  John Wilkinson, Chief Operating Officer, BAM UK & Ireland, and Richard Risdon, Mott MacDonald UK & Europe MD said:  “The BMMJV is proud to be part of this major engineering project that has been led by Leeds City Council and the Environment Agency to use innovative engineering solutions in combination with natural flood management. The combination of solutions delivered is the result of the partnership approach taken by everyone involved, to maximise the benefits to the city, while minimising the carbon and visual impact. “The impact of Leeds Flood Alleviation scheme extends far beyond our involvement over the last ten years. This enhanced flood protection provides climate resilient flood protection for the city, and helps further unlock Leeds’s immense regeneration potential in the years ahead.”

Government plans £140m spend to create construction apprenticeships

Stuart Pearcey
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Government plans £140m spend to create construction apprenticeships
Uo to 5,000 more construction apprenticeships could be made available every year thanks to investment of £140m in skills hubs for the industry. More than 30 Homebuilding Skills Hubs will deliver fast-track training to areas that need more housing, while giving apprentices vital skills to boost housebuilding in the UK and drive forward the government’s growth mission. Minister for Skills Jacqui Smith, said: “If we are to meet this ambitious target and fix the foundations of our economy, we need to ensure we have a skilled workforce, and give more apprentices a foot on the career ladder.” The purpose-built hubs will provide a realistic working environment for training for key construction trades, including bricklayers, roofers, plasterers, scaffolders, electricians, carpenters and more. The government is working with the Construction Industry Training Board and the National House-Building Council to launch them. Working hand in hand with Skills England to identify the areas that need construction workers the most, this will ensure employers and businesses have access to high quality apprenticeship training, kickstarting economic growth and creating jobs across England. The fast-track apprenticeships offered by the hubs can be completed in 12-18 months, up to half the time of a traditional 24-30-month construction apprenticeship. This means more construction workers can be trained quickly, unlocking economic growth by getting more people into highly skilled jobs.

Employers offered free advice to support abuse victims

Stuart Pearcey
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0
Employers offered free advice to support abuse victims

Lincolnshire employers are being offered free training and guidance to help them support staff experiencing domestic abuse.

More than 30,000 people as young as 16 and as old as 74 experience domestic abuse each year in Lincolnshire, creating significant challenges for businesses, with 1 in 5 employees saying they would stop going into work or take days off due to the impact of the abuse they were experiencing, with 1 in 10 quitting their job. The Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Partnership now offers training and advice packages to help employers to identify domestic abuse, assess risk and ensure positive, effective action is taken to support staff when they need it. Lincolnshire is believed to be one of the first places in the country to offer such in-depth support free of charge. Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell, executive member for community safety, said: “Over the last few years, the council has been working more closely with local businesses to tackle domestic abuse. These new support packages will build on that good work, helping businesses to do even more to improve the safety, mental health and wellbeing of their staff. “Employers can provide vital support to those impacted by domestic abuse and can help identify cases that might perhaps go unnoticed. We want to give them the tools and the confidence to support those that feel they have nowhere to turn for help, because a good response from an employer can make all the difference.” One business that has already benefited from support is Wilkin Chapman LLP Solicitors, for whom a spokesman said: “The Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Partnership delivered an awareness session to our HR and Wellbeing Ambassador teams. The session helped our teams to identify the signs and symptoms of domestic abuse and how to support and signpost individuals in our environment who may be experiencing difficult situations. “Although this is a very sensitive topic, it was delivered with great compassion and with an outstanding knowledge of the subject. We have no doubt that our human resources and wellbeing teams are now much better equipped with the knowledge to help and support those who may need it within our environment.”

Barnett Waddingham names new non-exec Chair

Stuart Pearcey
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Barnett Waddingham names new non-exec Chair
Leeds-based consultancy Barnett Waddingham has named Baroness Helena Morrissey, pictured above, as Non-Executive Chair of its Management Board, effective from 1 January 2025. She will work with Senior Partner Andrew Vaughan and four new managing partners who are future-proofing the firm by balancing a maintained excellence in pension schemes with a strengthened diversified offering across risk, insurance, and investment. As Non-Executive Chair, Helena will act as a strategic sounding board for the management team, promoting open dialogue and constructive challenge while championing the firm’s commitment to service innovation, technological advancement, and cultivating talent. She will provide valuable external perspective to help drive the firm’s continued evolution while preserving its core values and culture. She brings an abundance of experience to the role, including a 15-year tenure as CEO of Newton Investment Management, where she successfully grew assets under management from £20 billion to £50 billion. She currently chairs the Boards of Fidelis Insurance Group and Altum Group and has previously held a number of other non-executive roles, including Chair of the Investment Association from 2014 to 2017. Helena takes over the Non-Executive Chair position from Elizabeth Renshaw-Ames, who leaves the role after six years. Elizabeth has chaired the board with professionalism, enthusiasm, and skill, resulting in excellent service outcomes for clients and an impressive growth trajectory for Barnett Waddingham. She said: “BW is a hugely exciting company. Its impressive growth ambitions, strong culture, and high calibre of people and talent set it apart as a truly leading consultancy. I look forward to working with Andrew and his team to build on the firm’s growth and evolution.”
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