Speciality chemical manufacturer snaps up Brighouse-based firm
Speciality chemical manufacturer John Hogg Technical Solutions Limited has acquired Avocet Dye and Chemical Company Limited, a Brighouse-based manufacturer of textile flame retardants, dyes and high-performance auxiliaries.
This acquisition marks a significant milestone in Manchester-based John Hogg’s growth strategy, enhancing its product portfolio and expanding its market reach within the Speciality Dye and Chemical business segment.
The addition of Avocet’s dye and flame-retardant technology, including the CETAFLAM brand, enables John Hogg to offer a more comprehensive range of colour solutions across various industries.
“We are thrilled to welcome Avocet into the John Hogg family,” said Philip Double, CEO of John Hogg Technical Solutions. “This acquisition aligns with our commitment to growth and investment in both our product range and our market reach. Avocet’s innovative products and fantastic team will complement our existing capabilities and help drive our Speciality Dyes and Chemicals business unit forwards to a brighter future.”
Leeds housebuilder falls into administration
Leeds-based Camstead Homes has fallen into administration, with 20 members of staff made redundant.
James Clark and Howard Smith from Interpath were appointed joint administrators to Camstead Limited, Scotfield Group Limited and Yelcon Limited on 19 November 2024, together known as Camstead Homes.
The companies currently have three developments underway, comprising Blackberry Walk in Derwenthorpe, Tailors Green in Shepley and The Heath in Adel. Previous developments include Bradwell Springs in the Peak District and Green Lane Mills / Weavers Beck in Yeadon.
Like many companies operating across the construction sector, Camstead Homes had experienced sustained trading difficulties over 2024 due to various economic pressures, which in turn, led to cash shortages and increased pressure from suppliers.
While the directors sought to explore options to address these issues, unfortunately a solvent solution could not be found and the decision was taken to seek the appointment of administrators.
Following the appointment of the administrators, all work that was scheduled to be completed by the companies will be paused while the Joint Administrators seek to find solutions for all sites.
James Clark, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: “2024 has been another challenging year for the building and construction industry, with housebuilders continuing to battle with the impact of rising raw material costs, wafer-thin margins and the impact of high interest rates and rising mortgage costs on consumers.
“While the Government’s planning reforms have given hope to many across the industry, unfortunately, the trading difficulties encountered by Camstead Homes proved too challenging to overcome.”
James Clark continued: “We appreciate news of the administration will cause a great deal of concern for those homeowners and residents of sites where development work remains underway. Our immediate priority is to work with key stakeholders to find alternative solutions which may enable work across these sites to be completed.
“In particular, we will be working with our appointed agents to market the Blackberry Walk site at Derwenthorpe. We are hopeful for significant interest from this process and would encourage parties interested in acquiring this site to make contact with us and our appointed agents, Watling Real Estate, at the earliest opportunity.”
The joint administrators have retained two members of staff to assist them while they explore options for the sites. Regrettably, however, 20 members of staff have been made redundant. The joint administrators will be providing them with the support required to make claims from the Redundancy Payments Service.
Construction work to start on affordable homes scheme in Leeds
Construction work is set to start on a scheme that will ease housing pressures in Leeds by providing dozens of affordable council homes.
Leeds City Council secured planning permission last month for the scheme, which will see a total of 82 energy efficient homes being built on a former school site at Hough Top, in Swinnow, near Pudsey.
And, with work to prepare the site for development now well under way, it is anticipated that the main phase of construction could begin as soon as next month.
The scheme – which is being delivered via Leeds’ Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP) – will comprise 55 houses and 27 apartments, with a mix of one, two, three and four bedrooms.
They will be suitable for adaptation and fitted with air source heat pumps, a sustainable heating solution that will help cut carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty.
The properties will all be made available for affordable rent.
The development is due to be delivered for the council by construction and property services company Willmott Dixon and will benefit the wider community by creating a range of employment, skills and apprenticeship opportunities.
More than 500 hours of careers support are set to be provided for young people during the scheme’s construction phase, with one local school leaver having already secured a full-time apprenticeship with Willmott Dixon.
The company has been leading the pre-construction work at the 2.5-hectare site, which has lain empty since the demolition of the former Hough Side High School buildings in 2021 and 2022.
Located in an established residential area, it was earmarked for housing use in Leeds’ Site Allocations Plan, a key planning policy document adopted by the council in 2019.
The bulk of the funding for the scheme – scheduled for completion in late 2026 – is being provided by the council’s housing service via Right to Buy receipts and borrowing, with £1.64m of grant support due to come from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund.
Councillor Jess Lennox, Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing, said: “We are determined to ensure that everyone in Leeds is able to enjoy the stability and security that comes with a good-quality home, with the increased provision of affordable housing having a central part to play in that.
“It’s really encouraging news, therefore, that the main phase of construction work on the residential development at Hough Top is due to begin shortly.
“These affordable homes will make a hugely positive difference to people’s lives, and will bring back into use an allocated housing site that has good access to public transport, green space and local services.
“Schemes such as this one are particularly important in a ward like Pudsey, where we know there is a very high demand for affordable housing.
“The start of construction will be another landmark achievement for our Council Housing Growth Programme, which is working – with the support of partners – to change communities across our city for the better.”
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “I’m delighted we’re bringing more high-quality homes to west Leeds.
“We believe that having a safe and secure place to live is a fundamental right, which is why we’re investing vital funds to deliver thousands of much-needed homes across West Yorkshire.
“Together with our partners like Leeds City Council, we’re dedicated to building a greener, more secure region for future generations.”
Housebuilder to deliver over 200 new homes in Doncaster
Housebuilder Vistry Group has exchanged contracts for the delivery of over 200 mixed tenure homes on Waggons Way in Doncaster.
The 16 acre site, which was previously part of the Hatfield Colliery, will be transformed into up to 236 homes following the purchase of the land from Waystone Limited.
A full planning application will be submitted to Doncaster Council towards the end of this year. Subject to planning approval, it is hoped that construction will start at the end of 2025.
Rob Spittles, Managing Director of Vistry East Yorkshire, said: “We are delighted to have secured this land to deliver much-needed homes in a fantastic location in Doncaster. We’re committed to making home ownership accessible and our mixed tenure offering will suit people in a range of circumstances.
“We look forward to progressing our plans in the months ahead and delivering a new community of high-quality homes over the next few years.”
Alistair Mcloughlin, Joint Managing Director of Waystone Limited, said: “We are very pleased to be working in partnership with Vistry to deliver a substantial brownfield residential development and bring forward the next phase of Unity Energy site.”
Croda names new Audit Committee Chair
Ian Bull will take over as Chair of Croda’s Audit Committee on December 1st in readiness for the current Chair John Ramsay stepping down in March. and so lead the Committee over Croda’s 2024 year-end.
Ian has been a member of the Audit Committee since his appointment to the Board on 24 June this year. He is currently the Audit Committee Chair of Dunelm Group, Senior Independent Director at Domino’s Pizza Group, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
John will remain a member of the Audit Committee, as well as the Nomination and Remuneration Committees until his retirement from the Board.
Danuta Gray, Chair of Snaith-based Croda International, said: “John Ramsay has made an outstanding contribution to the Board and in his leadership of the Audit Committee. On behalf of the Board and colleagues in Croda, we thank him for all his advice, wise counsel and support over the past five years and wish him all the best for the future.”
Vuba Resin signs deal at Port of Goole
Associated British Ports (ABP) has welcomed Vuba Resin to the Port of Goole.
Listed in the Financial Times top 1,000 fastest growing businesses in Europe and with celebrity customers such as singer Olly Murs, Vuba is going from strength to strength after 15 years.
Their operation at the port will see them develop a port terminal facility for their production line, including storage, drying, blending and bagging.
Andrew Dawes, Regional Director of the Humber ports, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Sean and his team to Goole. They are an industry leader in their sector and we’re always looking forward to helping customers expand their operations.
“We have an extensive portfolio of warehousing and storage facilities within our ports, making them ideal for those businesses looking to locate themselves in the Humber gateway.”
Sean Scott, Founder of Vuba Chemical Innovations, said: “ABP have been very helpful and accommodating throughout this process. I feel they share our vision for us to create a world leading suite of aggregate and derivative production facilities at the dock.
“We’ve invested £3m in the ABP site on a state-of-the-art drying, screening and cooling process, with four bagging lines and three robotic palletisers. We have a further £2m planned investment next year.
“We have a great management team in place for this newly formed division of Vuba. Ashton Nottingham and Ewan Netherwood, both local to Goole, have worked their way up through the ranks at Vuba and are very excited to head up this new division, as well as support their local community.”
Inflation’s ‘uptick’ leads BCC to urge Government action on business rate cuts
The latest uptick in the rate of inflation has highlighted the continuing price pressures in the economy, according to the British Chambers of Commerce.
David Bharier, Head of Research at the BCC, said: “Electricity and gas costs have risen sharply, with households facing challenges as we head into winter.
“Our research shows that while concerns about inflation have been steadily declining, it remains a significant issue for many businesses. SMEs are now deeply concerned about rising costs on the horizon next year.
“The combined impact of national insurance and living wage rises and the Employment Rights Bill is likely to put strong pressure on labour costs. Ongoing geopolitical conflicts and a potential tariff war will also have impacts.
“To help mitigate cost pressures, the government should look to accelerate the permanent cuts in business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties – currently scheduled for 2026. Much also depends on the government’s strategies on industry, infrastructure and trade. We need these plans to deliver at pace and help drive forward business growth across the UK.”
Record number attend first Humber innovation day event
A record number of delegates attended the inaugural EVA Humber Innovation Day in Hull staged by ABP and innovation platform Plug and Play.
Organised as part of ABP’s Energy Ventures Accelerator programme, the event welcomed many stakeholders across businesses, academia, local councils and other partner organisations in the Humber region. This follows an EVA Inclusive Energy event organised last month, which provided a forum to discuss how businesses can work together to champion more inclusive growth and support founders and investors from under-represented backgrounds.
Addressing a packed audience at the Aura Innovation Centre, Max Harris, ABP Head of Strategy & Sustainability, said: “Through our EVA programme, ABP is on a mission to enable clusters of innovative ventures in the UK’s most important industrial hubs.
“We’re excited to foster these innovation ecosystems around our ports – whether that’s by direct investment or through facilitating connections across our network and it’s fantastic to see so many join us for the first step of this journey.”
As the UK’s energy estuary, the country’s biggest gateway for trade by volume and the home of four of ABP’s ports – Immingham, Grimsby, Hull and Goole – the Humber is central to the energy transition. Handling over £80 billion of trade every year, together with its partners, ABP supports over 90,000 jobs in the broader Humber and Yorkshire region.
Diana Taylor, MD of Future Humber, shared the “seven wonders of the Humber” and set out the case for why the region was more than a place, but was a powerhouse of change. “From its location at the heart of European trading routes to its leading infrastructure and connectivity and of course its secret weapon – the people, the Humber is the place to accelerate industrial decarbonisation.”
“The EVA Humber Innovation Day truly showcased the pioneering spirit driving change, and we’re especially proud of the resourcefulness shown by the organisers in involving students from Healing Academy and Ron Dearing UTC, inspiring the next generation of leaders.”, she said.
A further highlight during the day was a panel discussion titled ‘Ports and Partners: Enabling innovation at scale on the Humber’, moderated by ABP Group Head of Business Development, Ralph Windeatt and featuring Richard Gwilliam, Chair of the Humber Energy Board and Programme Director at Drax, Simon Green, CEO of the Humber Freeport and Phillips 66’s Humber decarbonisation manager, Duncan Hammond.
Simon Green, CEO of the Humber Freeport, said: “When looking at the best models to support startups and incubators, you can’t look past the triple helix approach – that is industry, government and academia working collaboratively together.
“Humber Freeport is keen to be seen as a gateway for companies looking to access knowledge transfer, networks and funding streams. We also have the sites across the Humber which provide a range of incentives for investors and several of ABP’s locations fall within these areas.”
ABP’s port estate provides a wide variety of strategic locations at the heart of industrial hubs, often benefiting from Freeport status. There are also opportunities outside the port boundaries, including a 182 ha prime development site at Humber International Enterprise Park– one of the largest development sites in Europe – and a 200+ acre Stallingborough Interchange site. Several of these locations benefit from Freeport status.
Raworths makes two promotions within Commercial team
Harrogate-based Raworths is culminating a year of strategic growth and industry recognition with the promotion of two Associate solicitors within its growing Commercial team.
Harjeet Nangla, who has more than 8 years’ experience as a specialist employment lawyer, has been promoted to Senior Associate. Harjeet, who is named an ‘Associate to Watch’ by Chambers UK and recommended in the Legal 500 UK, provides specialist legal advice to regional and national SMEs and large-scale organisations.
Harjeet regularly works alongside the firm’s Corporate and Commercial team on employment related aspects of corporate transactions, advising on complex areas of law such as holiday pay, TUPE, redundancy and discrimination.
Adam Colville-Robins has also been promoted to Senior Associate. Adam has 6 years’ specialist litigation experience and is rapidly building his reputation in this practice area, delivering exceptional results for clients on property disputes and commercial litigation.
Also recommended in the Legal 500 UK, Adam acts for a variety of commercial and private clients including SMEs and business owners, private membership organisations, high net worth individuals and both commercial and private landlords.
Matthew Hill, Head of Commercial Client Services and Head of Dispute Resolution, said: “We congratulate Adam and Harjeet on their very well-deserved promotions. They have both excelled in their roles, building trusted, long-term relationships with their clients and establishing strong reputations for the fantastic results they achieve.
“They have contributed enormously to the growth of our Dispute Resolution and Employment teams and their commitment has been rightly rewarded. These promotions are an important part of our ongoing business development and strategy for growth.
“Our people are our biggest asset and to attract and retain the best talent, we continue to nurture the wellbeing and development of our team. Investing in both their technical skills and emotional intelligence is what sets us apart as a business and in turn, means we can offer an exceptional quality of service to our clients.”
National Windscreens moves to new site in Saxilby
National Windscreens has moved to new premises at Riverside Enterprise Park in Sexily near Lincoln.
National Windscreens is the second national brand to secure premises at Phase 6 of Riverside Enterprise Park, where Screwfix was announced as the anchor tenant.
The new 2,000 sq ft workshop provides National Windscreens with a blank canvas in which to roll out new operational practices which, increasingly, need to accommodate Advanced Driver-Assistance System technologies.
The move is part of the company’s planned sustainable growth strategy which includes several new UK-wide workshop relocations.
Andy Rae, Operations Director, said: “In seeking new premises in Lincoln, the key requirements were high quality premises in an accessible location.
“The advance of ADAS in our automotive specialism means glazing work needs a formal workshop environment with integrated tech installations that no longer fit the previous mobile windscreen replacement model of the past.”
Cameron McRae of Eddisons’ Lincoln agency said: “Riverside Enterprise Park has fast become an established commercial trading location. National Windscreens, as the second large brand operator at this latest phase of the Park, gives another national covenant strength and that’s a testament to it being a sought after location by high profile occupiers.”
