Ørsted’s latest donations push community fund to £3m in grants

Stuart Pearcey
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Ørsted’s latest donations push community fund to £3m in grants
Wind farm developer Ørsted’s latest funding round sees the East Coast Community Fund hit the £3m milestone in grants awarded since launch in 2017. From creating live music alongside professional orchestra Manchester Camerata to over 700 volunteers being brought to action on Eastern beaches, seventeen organisations have been awarded a share of over £226,000 in the last quarter of last year. Ørsted operates six wind farms on the East Coast. The East Coast Community Fund is a legacy project from two of the wind farms: Hornsea 1 and Race Bank. These two windfarms have a combined capacity of nearly 1.8 gigawatts, meaning they can power electricity for 1.5 million UK homes. Imran Nawaz, Senior Advisor & Community Benefit Fund Manager for Ørsted, said: “It’s been a fabulous way to start 2025, hearing about all these incredible projects. Well done to the worthy organisations, we’re looking forward to seeing the impact of their efforts and continuing our commitment to supporting local communities.” Hannah Bester, Senior Manager, Volunteering & Citizen Science Team at the Marine Conservation Society said: “Funding will enable us to engage with over 700 volunteers across eastern England, from South Holland to the East Riding of Yorkshire. Many of our volunteers take part in citizen science activities, like Beachwatch where they collect, record, and remove beach litter. “Beachwatch positively impacts our marine environment by collecting valuable data evidence to influence policy change on problematic litter, like single use plastics and sewage related items, while also removing litter pollution and encouraging positive behaviours through volunteering in the outdoors.” The full list of organisations awarded grants in the latest round of the Community Benefit Fund are as follows:
  • Angle for the Community, Running Costs and Volunteer Training, £2,880
  • Samaritans of Boston, Being There for Listening and Outreach, £9,900
  • Wrangle Parish Hall, Internal LED Lighting Conversion, £2,800
  • Sussex Bowling Club, Second Rescue of Sussex Bowling Club in Cleethorpes, £5,000
  • The Boston Preservation Trust, Fydell House:Repairs, Improved Accessibility and Dedicated Volunteer Space, £33,000
  • Ren’s Rescue, Ren’s Withernsea Wildlife Hub, £3,224
  • Rock Foundation UK Limited, Heneage Road, Grimsby – Creating a Sustainable Future, £16,000
  • Shalom Youth Centre, Youth Worker East Marsh, Grimsby, £26,908
  • Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire, Cleethorpes – Backyard Nature Clubs, £5,000
  • Bells and Whistles Exercise Group, Paths & Potholes, £1,500
  • Boston Squash & Racketball Club, Energy Efficiency (Insulation) Improvements, £5,000
  • Favour Foundation Limited – Your Place – Oasis Garden Hub and Garden Volunteer/Buddy Scheme £20,878
  • Hornsea and District Indoor Bowls Club Ltd, Battery Storage System, £18,720
  • Orchestras Live, Intergenerational Music-Making Activities Engaging Community Groups in Withernsea and Hornsea, £15,000
  • Synergy Grimsby CIC, Woods, Waves, Walks and Workshops, £28,000
  • Marine Conservation Society, The Power of the East Coast Community for Ocean Conservation, £23,267
  • Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire, Rural Outreach, £9,810

Council to consider refurb plan for Sheffield Town Hall

Stuart Pearcey
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Council to consider refurb plan for Sheffield Town Hall
Next week Sheffield City Councillors will discuss protecting the long-term future of the Grade I listed Sheffield Town Hall, with a view to developing a plan and identifying the right people and companies to carry it out. If the proposals are approved by the Strategy and Resources Committee next week, the next stage would involve appointing a project delivery team to progress the design work, alongside developing a comprehensive engagement plan – but commercial uses such as conversion to a hotel have already been ruled out. Committee Chairman Cllr Tom Hunt said: “The Town Hall is at the heart of Sheffield’s democracy and public life. From council meetings and elections to weddings and citizenship ceremonies, the building has a unique place in the life of our city. “We are setting out a path to ensure that the Town Hall is fully restored and refurbished so that it can continue to serve everyone in our city. This is a significant opportunity and, if proposals are approved, we look forward to working with the public and heritage organisations to undertake this important work.” The proposed restoration plan includes:
  • Addressing critical building compliance and defects to enable the building to be used fully.
  • Preserving and celebrating the building’s historic and cultural significance.
  • Enhancing accessibility and safety for public use.
  • Introducing a sustainable maintenance model to ensure the building’s long-term future.
A key aspect of the project involves developing a shared vision through robust stakeholder and community engagement, ensuring the Town Hall remains a vibrant civic hub.

UK firms to be offered protection against ransomware attacks

Stuart Pearcey
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UK firms to be offered protection against ransomware attacks
UK businesses are set to be protected by new world-leading ransomware proposals to tackle the threat of cybercrime, which is estimated to cost the UK economy billions of pounds every year. Aiming to strike at the heart of the cybercriminal business model and protect UK businesses by deterring threats, proposals include banning all public sector bodies and critical national infrastructure, including the NHS, local councils, and schools, from making ransomware payments, in order to make them unattractive targets for criminals. This is an expansion of the current ban on payments by government departments. This is in addition to making it mandatory to report ransomware incidents, to boost intelligence available to law enforcement and help them disrupt more incidents. The proposals will help the government deliver on its Plan for Change by protecting the public services and infrastructure people rely on from disruption and huge costs. Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: “With an estimated $1 billion flowing to ransomware criminals globally in 2023, it is vital we act to protect national security as a key foundation upon which this government’s Plan for Change is built. “These proposals help us meet the scale of the ransomware threat, hitting these criminal networks in their wallets and cutting off the key financial pipeline they rely upon to operate.” Ransomware is malicious software which infects a victim’s computer and demands a ransom from them in order to give them back access to their system, for their data to be restored, and often for the hackers not to publish the victim’s data on the web. Carried out largely by Russian affiliated criminal gangs, ransomware attacks continue to pose the most immediate and disruptive threat to the UK’s critical national infrastructure, according to the National Cyber Security Centre’s Annual Review last year. They also cause more disruption and pose a greater risk than other cybercrimes.

York supports businesses in fighting domestic abuse

Stuart Pearcey
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York supports businesses in fighting domestic abuse

York businesses are being encouraged to help contribute to the fight against domestic abuse.

A free-to-attend Domestic Abuse: Awareness for Businesses session is being run by the City Council on th morning of February 4th at the Priory Street Centre.
The session, led by the council’s Domestic Abuse Engagement team, will help employers and public facing businesses recognise the signs of an abusive relationship and understand what they can do to support colleagues and customers who are experiencing this. Attendees will hear from speakers representing key organisations supporting victim-survivors of domestic abuse and will gain valuable insights into domestic abuse, its effects on local businesses, and how employers can support those affected. Cllr Lucy Steels-Walshaw, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care at the Council, said: “Whether as employers or public-facing spaces, businesses have a key role to play in promoting awareness and support available for victims and survivors of domestic abuse. “Going to work, or visiting a customer-facing business, might be one of the only opportunities where someone experiencing abuse can open up about what they’re going through. “It’s so important for colleagues and employers to be able to recognise the warning signs and to create a safe space at work where employees and customers alike can speak out about an abusive situation and access the support they need. “Domestic abuse is everyone’s business and I urge members of York’s business community to join us for this important session and learn how they can support victim-survivors and create safer spaces for those affected.”

Google to be put under the microscope in first-of-a-kind investigation

Stuart Pearcey
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Google to be put under the microscope in first-of-a-kind investigation
The Competition and Markets Authority has launched its first strategic market statusdesignation investigation under the new digital markets competition regime which came into force on New Year’s Day. The investigation will assess Google’s position in search and search advertising services and how this impacts businesses and consumers including advertisers, news publishers, and rival search engines. Google’s services have generated significant benefits in the UK. Its search services are a gateway through which millions of people and businesses access and navigate the internet. In the UK, Google accounts for more than 90% of all general search queries, and more than 200,000 UK advertisers use Google’s search advertising. Search is vital for economic growth. It facilitates businesses connecting with each other, with investors, and with their customers. And it generates a wealth of data that can be used to develop new AI products and services to foster innovation. The CMA says that given the importance of search as a key digital service for businesses and the economy, it is critical that competition works well. Effective competition ensures people benefit from greater choice, new and innovative services, and have control over their data. Search services are also important as a route to access the news. Effective competition could help ensure that people can access a wide range of content and that publishers are treated fairly for the use of their content. For businesses, effective competition could keep down the costs of search advertising, equivalent to nearly £500 per household per year, in turn lowering prices across the economy. An effective, competitive market could also allow businesses to innovate in a way which creates alternatives to traditional search services, including by, for example, ensuring that new AI start-ups can compete with Google and other existing players on an equal footing. Under the digital markets competition regime, the CMA may designate firms with SMS in relation to a particular digital activity. Once designated, the CMA can impose conduct requirements or propose pro-competition interventions to achieve positive outcomes for UK consumers and businesses. Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, said: “Millions of people and businesses across the UK rely on Google’s search and advertising services – with 90 per cent of searches happening on their platform and more than 200,000 UK businesses advertising there. That’s why it’s so important to ensure these services are delivering good outcomes for people and businesses and that there is a level playing field, especially as AI has the potential to transform search services.

“It’s our job to ensure people get the full benefit of choice and innovation in search services and get a fair deal – for example in how their data is collected and stored. And for businesses, whether you are a rival search engine, an advertiser or a news organisation, we want to ensure there is a level playing field for all businesses, large and small, to succeed.”

Chief Executive of Rotherham Council steps down

Tess Egginton
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Chief Executive of Rotherham Council steps down

The Chief Executive of Rotherham Council, Sharon Kemp, has announced that she will step down from the role in late spring 2025, after nine years at the helm of the authority.

Ms Kemp has led the authority since 2016, driving forward an improvement journey at the Council which saw the return of powers from Government, and the Council’s Children’s Services transformed from a failing service to consistently being rated Good by Ofsted since 2017. The organisation’s progress in recent years has been independently recognised, with an external corporate review in 2023 finding that “Rotherham Council serves the town well and is today an impressive organisation.” The endorsement coming on the back of the Council being named the ‘Most Improved Council’ in the country at the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards in 2022. Sharon said: “Rotherham is a great place. It’s been an honour to play a part in the Council’s journey here over the last nine years, serving the elected representatives and residents of the Borough. “I feel proud to be part of what the authority and the wider Rotherham partnership has achieved, and in working alongside such dedicated colleagues who care deeply about making a positive difference to the life of the Borough. “I remain committed to making significant progress on our ambitions in my remaining time in this role, and to ensuring a smooth transition to the new Chief Executive when they are appointed.” Cllr Chris Read, who has been Council Leader throughout Ms Kemp’s tenure, said:“Sharon will leave Rotherham Council this year in vastly better position than when she arrived nine years ago, in no small part because of the determination, integrity, commitment and values she brought to the role. “She is an exceptional public servant, recognised by the government’s request for her to support Nottingham City Council’s improvement journey. We are enormously grateful for her time with us and wish her every success for the future.”

Plan to grow West Yorkshire’s multibillion-pound visitor economy unveiled

Tess Egginton
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Plan to grow West Yorkshire’s multibillion-pound visitor economy unveiled
A new plan to grow West Yorkshire’s multibillion-pound visitor economy has been unveiled by tourism bosses in Leeds. It follows West Yorkshire achieving ‘Local Visitor Economy Partnership’ status from VisitEngland, which is a strategic partnership between the region’s five local authorities, chaired by Mayor Tracy Brabin. The new four-year strategy, developed by the partnership, sets out how the region aims to build a better and more productive visitor economy, attracting more visitors and inward investment to drive growth, create jobs and help businesses thrive. It comes as Bradford UK City of Culture 2025 kicked off its landmark year on the world stage this weekend, with a year of culture expected to attract over 15 million people and £130 million of visitor spend in the economy, supporting the creation of 7,000 new jobs. Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “This is going to be a truly iconic year for West Yorkshire, with Bradford UK City of Culture 2025 acting as a beacon to attract millions of people from around the world to our region. “This is just the start for West Yorkshire. With our bold plan, we’re going to build on our heritage to create a brighter future, ensuring these visitors come back for many more years to come. “We’re harnessing the legacy of this once in a generation opportunity, creating more opportunities through partnership and public investment, and driving forward our ambition for growth in a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.” Andrew Stokes OBE, VisitEngland Director, said: “Great destinations are great places to live and work as well as to visit and strong governance can drive place-shaping and shift local and wider perceptions of the place which can contribute to local pride. “Well run destinations can also attract new investment, increase income and create new jobs, and this new ambitious strategy for West Yorkshire will be central to achieving that. “At VisitEngland, we look forward to continuing to work with the West Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership, their board, and their partners, to help realise the ambitions set out in this four year growth strategy.” The new ‘Destination Management Plan’ outlines how West Yorkshire will build on its strengths to attract more visitors, by collaboratively promoting its vibrant cities, rural landscapes, national museums, a UNESCO World Heritage Site at Saltaire, and by continuing to harness the rise in film and television productions set in the region. Investment into new initiatives, and the development of new national cultural institutions like British Library North, The National Poetry Centre and Brit School North are also expected to turbocharge opportunities for the region. In 2023, West Yorkshire welcomed 71 million people to the region, adding £5.77 billion to the local economy and supporting 52,412 full time jobs.

New MD steps in at Henry Boot Construction

Tess Egginton
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New MD steps in at Henry Boot Construction
Lee Powell has assumed his role as Managing Director of Henry Boot Construction, part of Henry Boot, having previously served as CEO of GMI Construction. During his time at GMI, Lee led the company’s expansion in the Midlands and North of England, overseeing a range of large-scale projects for major clients such as Siemens, Bruntwood and Muse. He has also held senior roles at Wates Construction and Caddick Construction across a 28-year career in the construction industry. As Managing Director of Henry Boot Construction, Lee will focus on growing and expanding the firm’s order book while continuing to uphold the company’s strong values of health and safety, customer satisfaction and operational excellence. Lee said: “Joining a highly reputable and long-standing business such as Henry Boot Construction was an opportunity I couldn’t miss, and I look forward to working with a very talented and dedicated team. “The business has fantastic values and an outstanding reputation for quality. We will be looking to build on these strong foundations and continue expanding our reach further into the East Midlands and the north east of England. “We’ll also be diversifying our scope – creating a balanced private sector portfolio to complement our heritage in the public sector, alongside expanding into additional sectors such as purpose-built student accommodation. “As we face a rapidly changing construction environment, my focus will be on delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients, driving sustainable growth and ensuring we remain a trusted partner for both the public and private sectors. “We will also strive to be a leading example in proactive compliance under the Building Safety Act, while also championing carbon reduction and wider sustainability initiatives.” Tim Roberts, CEO of Henry Boot, added: “We are excited to welcome Lee Powell to Henry Boot Construction and I look forward to working closely with him. His extensive experience and leadership will be invaluable as we look to drive the business forward and build on our legacy of excellence. “Lee’s deep passion for delivering high-quality projects aligns perfectly with our values and vision for the business.” 2025 is set to be a positive year for Henry Boot Construction, with the company leading several key projects across the East Midlands, Humberside and Yorkshire, including the £36 million redevelopment of Rotherham Markets. The appointment of Lee Powell as Managing Director coincides with the addition of James Smith, who joins as Finance Director this month. These appointments build on the addition of Chris Weathers, who joined as Commercial Director last year. Chris has over 25 years’ experience in the construction sector. He spent 14 years at Caddick Construction before holding senior commercial roles within Tier 1 and Tier 2 contractors, including Wates Group and GMI. Chris is taking a hands-on approach, focusing on evolving the company’s processes and expanding its private sector portfolio. James brings a strong background in finance, having worked in practice before entering the construction sector with GMI in 2012, where he progressed to the role of Finance Director.

£4.7m grant secured for restoration of Canada House in Sheffield

Tess Egginton
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£4.7m grant secured for restoration of Canada House in Sheffield
Harmony Works Trust has secured a £4,677,306 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, contributing significantly to the proposed restoration of Canada House in Sheffield city centre. Harmony Works Trust, awarded official charitable status in August 2023, purchased the Grade II* Listed Canada House from Panache retail brand for £1.6 million last year and plans to transform the building into a music hub for the region. The grant, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, adds to the project’s growing support base, which also includes funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund, Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the UK Government’s Levelling Up Funding, and multiple local trusts and foundations. Originally built in 1875 as offices for the Sheffield United Gas Light Company, the iconic Canada House will be transformed into a central new home for music education, offering an all-in-one practice, rehearsal and performance destination. Located in the heart of Sheffield city centre, the inclusive hub can be easily reached via bus, tram and train from across the region. Once fully refurbished, it will become home to many organisations including the Sheffield Music Academy, Sheffield Music Hub, Brass Bands England, Music in the Round, Choir with No Name, Orchestras for All, and Concerteenies, while also working closely with The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University and The Sheffield College.  Emily Pieters, Project Director at Harmony Works, said: “We are incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting our ambitious project. While we are not quite over the line yet, this funding commitment is a major step in preserving the historic Canada House, and realising our long-term vision of creating a vibrant new music hub that will inspire and nurture the creative potential of young people and their communities.”  Reflecting on the building’s history, Pieters continued: “In the 1980s, Canada House was known as TurnUps nightclub, a popular spot for young music lovers. It’s amazing to think that in just three years time, these walls will again be filled with music – this time, created by young people for others to enjoy.”  Helen Featherstone, Director for England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It is fantastic news that we’re supporting the restoration of Canada House in Sheffield, a truly fantastic building. “Saving heritage is a priority for the Heritage Fund and thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, this project will safeguard the historic building by bringing it back into use as a music hub and providing exciting opportunities for young people and communities across South Yorkshire.” Cllr Martin Smith, Chair of Economic Development and Skills Committee at Sheffield City Council, added: “Culture runs through every community in Sheffield, and we are committed to putting it at the heart of everything we do. Harmony Works will be a home for inspirational music education and opportunity in our city. “Not only will this benefit young people across South Yorkshire, but this further funding will also allow us to protect an important heritage asset.”

Contract to build Whitby Maritime Hub to be considered for approval

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Contract to build Whitby Maritime Hub to be considered for approval
Plans to launch a multi-million pound development to place Whitby at the forefront of the maritime and offshore renewable energy sectors and help to boost job opportunities for local communities are set to be considered by councillors. Executive will consider proposals next week to approve a contract to build the Whitby Maritime Hub, which is aimed at providing a greater breadth of career paths in the historic port. Building on Whitby’s proud fishing and sailing heritage, the hub in Endeavour Wharf is set to address the need to develop a better supply of technical skills in the maritime sector and put the town at the forefront of the growing renewable energy sector. The hub would also provide accommodation for maritime businesses and service providers to support economic growth in the coastal area. Executive member for open to business, Cllr Mark Crane, whose responsibilities include economic growth and harbours, said: “We have long recognised the need to ensure that there is a diverse and sustainable range of job opportunities for all our communities, and especially those on the coast. “The plans for the Whitby Maritime Hub present us with a significant chance to achieve just that, opening the door to new economic growth and helping to create the next generation of skilled apprentices and professions by providing first-class training and facilities for a range of maritime industries. “The proposals to enter into a contract to start work on the development will be considered carefully by executive members to ensure that we provide the best value for taxpayers while also capitalising on the opportunity to create what we hope will be a landmark development on the North Yorkshire coast.” The funding for the project is set to come from the £17.1 million given to Whitby as part of the Government’s Town Deals programme. A total of £37.3 million was awarded under the programme to both Whitby and Scarborough in 2021. Planning permission for the development was approved by North Yorkshire Council in August last year and the executive will now be asked to approve proposals to enter into a £9.6 million contract with developers from Willmott Dixon. If the plans are approved by the executive, it is hoped that construction on the Whitby Maritime Hub will start early this year for the development to open in the spring of 2026. A report to be considered by the executive next week (January 21), has recommended that North Yorkshire Council initially remains as the operator of the building with the potential for a community interest company to be developed to take on the running of the facility. The chair of Whitby Town Board, Barry Harland, said: “This would be a major development for Whitby, and we want to ensure that the opportunities which it presents are felt by the local community as well as attracting some of the leading talent in the maritime sector. “Whitby has a proud maritime heritage, and we want to make sure that this continues throughout the 21st century.” The hub has been designed to blend in with the existing views of the town. There will be space for classroom-based training, engineering workshops and marine biology laboratories, offering opportunities for training and employment in areas ranging from marine biology to emerging industries, such as off-shore wind. There is also due to be an office space for marine-based start-up businesses and other maritime industries. The offices are intended to be occupied by local, regional and national businesses and organisations, making Whitby a hub of maritime activity. This would enable new and innovative commercial opportunities in the maritime and marine sectors to support growth in the local economy and reduce a reliance on seasonal employment, such as tourism. Cllr Neil Swannick, the member for the Whitby Streonshalh division, said: “The chance to provide a far greater range of job opportunities here in Whitby would benefit not just people living here in the town, but also across a far wider area. “The hub would give Whitby an economic boost and move the town away from a reliance on seasonal tourism and hospitality, which will provide us with a far wider economic base to increase job prospects on the coast.” Cllr Phil Trumper, who represents the Whitby West division, added: “The proposed development of the hub presents a significant opportunity for Whitby to place itself at the front and centre of the maritime and offshore renewable energy sectors. “There would be a more diverse range of jobs available in the town which would help ensure that local people, especially in the younger generations, can remain to pursue a career here.”
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