Sophie joins Richardsons in interior design role

Stuart Pearcey
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Sophie joins Richardsons in interior design role

Bradford-based office design firm Richardsons has appointed Sophie Powell as a new graduate interior designer.

Thornton-based Sophie will be supporting the company on day-to-day activities including space planning, interior design, creating technical visuals and offering customers design solutions at varying budgets.

Sophie said: “I was looking for an interior design job and keen to stay local to Bradford, so I was thrilled to come across the opportunity at Richardsons.

“It’s such a positive workplace, I’ve already gained so much experience from the team around me and had the opportunity to visit client sites, create design plans and learn about all of the different pieces of the puzzle that come together when we’re creating a space that is entirely tailored to the client’s needs. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into more projects and supporting the team at all the different stages of design.

“Everyone here embodies going above and beyond whether that’s sourcing a niche fabric from a specific manufacturer or working historic or nostalgic artefacts into modern design spaces – it’s a really exciting company to have started my interior design career with.”

Richardsons has designed spaces for organisations including Bradford Grammar School, Professional Security, Slimming World and Emerald Group, working closely with clients to manage design, fit out and furniture supply, creating welcoming, practical areas.

MD Steven Richardson said: “Sophie has already proven to be a wonderful asset to the team, bringing with her impressive design skills and a real aptitude for creative design proposals and ideas.

“We’re always keen to hire local talent and having Sophie join the team at such a pivotal time in the industry has been an incredible asset, as we continue to grow and develop our offerings. The common workplace has changed in so many ways over the last few years that it’s imperative we innovate alongside it and growing the team is an integral part of that.”

Wastewise signs ten-year contract with council to turn garden waste into compost

Stuart Pearcey
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Wastewise signs ten-year contract with council to turn garden waste into compost
Hull-based Wastewise has signed a ten-year contract worth about £4.5m with North Lincolnshire council to collect about 17,500 tonnes of garden waste a year and convert it into compost. This is the eleventh municipal contract signed by the company, and will involve kerbside collection and processing activities run in partnership with Biowise, Down to Earth Recycling Ltd and Brier Hills Recycling Ltd. Anything that can’t be converted will be sent for energy generation. Cllr Neil Poole, the council’s cabinet member for environmental operations, said: “This is another step forward in our plans to eradicate landfill waste. “This new partnership is with a company that shares our vision for a cleaner, greener future for everyone in North Lincolnshire. “This is all part of the bigger picture of A Green Future for North Lincolnshire, where everyone can make a difference, from companies like Wastewise to residents swapping their own bins for composters.” Bob Wilkes, MD of Wastewise, said: “We look forward to working with North Lincolnshire Council in helping them achieve their waste management goals. “The long-term contract will ensure that, together, we create clear, efficient processes to ensure an effective waste service for residents where as little as possible is wasted.”

Incommunities appoints new executive director of finance

Tess Egginton
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Incommunities appoints new executive director of finance

Bradford-based housing provider Incommunities has appointed John Wright as its new executive director of finance.

John joins from River Clyde Homes, where he is the executive director of group services overseeing finance, HR, communications, IT, governance, and procurement.

With more than 20 years of experience in the housing sector, John has extensive experience in finance, governance, and change management.

His previous positions include director of finance at landlord and developer Thirteen which manages 35,000 homes across Teesside and other parts of the North East and Yorkshire, and various other senior roles.

He is a board member and audit and risk committee member at Ongo Homes, and a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Chief Executive of Incommunities, Rachael Dennis, said: “I am delighted John is joining us. He will bring extensive experience in finance and leadership, along with an unwavering dedication to social housing, which will be of immense value as we continue on our journey to grow, drive change and improve services for our customers.”

John Wright added: “It is an exciting time to be joining and I am thrilled to embrace this new challenge at Incommunities. I am looking forward to working with the team and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to Incommunities’ mission of building thriving communities and enhancing lives.”

John will begin his new role in August 2023.

South Yorkshire becomes UK’s first investment zone with promise of 8,000 new jobs

Stuart Pearcey
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South Yorkshire becomes UK’s first investment zone with promise of 8,000 new jobs
South Yorkshire is to be the first Investment Zone in the UK, creating 8,000 new jobs and attracting £1.2bn worth of private investment by 2030. Using government support worth £80m, the new Investment Zone will use the region’s success in advanced manufacturing and will help make South Yorkshire the best place to start, scale or relocate businesses from around the world, boosting the UK economy. The first investment announced is a more than £80m Boeing-led research project into manufacturing lightweight structures for aeroplanes – a key part of making aviation more sustainable. Compass will be built as an extension to the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre’s Factory 2050.  It will be built with support from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield City Council and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “Our Investment Zone will help put South Yorkshire back where we belong; at the forefront of this country’s manufacturing-led growth. “Technology created in South Yorkshire built the modern world. Because in South Yorkshire we have always known how to deliver practical solutions to big challenges. Yesterday it was stainless steel and our coal industry, today it is AI, Robotics and creating lighter, stronger materials for Jet Zero. “That’s why this new Investment Zone status is so important. Because with the support of partners like Boeing, and working with the government, we’re showing we have the tools, the technology and the confidence to build on our strengths as not just the world’s first, but the world’s best Advanced Manufacturing District.” The Investment Zone – the first of 12 such zones built around universities and high-growth industries – will build on the success of South Yorkshire’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District, expanding it to incorporate Rotherham town centre and Sheffield city centre, with Opportunity Sites across Barnsley and Doncaster. Investors, developers and start-ups will be offered a combination of targeted support and financial interventions to start, scale up and relocate their businesses including: •    Help with relocating through funding for capital, infrastructure and feasibility work. •    Help unlocking barriers to planning, with support from dedicated Investment Zone planning officers throughout the process. •    Skills support schemes to upskill workforces and boost opportunities for graduates whilst tackling issues around economic inactivity. Supply chain funding to build the capability and competitiveness of suppliers to access regional, national and international growth markets. Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Leader Sir Stephen Houghton said: “Although the focus of the project covers Rotherham and Sheffield, the Investment Zone will bring strong benefits to the whole of South Yorkshire. The wider programme will provide us with new opportunities for growth and development in our borough. “It will enable us to attract new businesses, provide scale up support to those already here, and create new jobs, which will bolster our local economy through opportunity sites at J36, J37 and in Goldthorpe. “South Yorkshire’s Investment Zone will bolster the already attractive offer for innovative businesses looking to make the most of our pre-existing cluster of digital and tech companies and strengthen the growing reputation for Barnsley as a destination for digital businesses.”

Cash boost sees major renovation at long-standing Keighley community organisation

Tess Egginton
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Cash boost sees major renovation at long-standing Keighley community organisation
A major renovation is underway at a long-standing community organisation in Keighley, after almost a quarter of a million pounds worth of funding. The Sangat Centre received £230,000 from the Keighley Town Deal Board for essential refurbishments to its Marlborough Street premises. It has been based in the old Victorian building for more than 20 years and the venue was in urgent need of modernisation. The redevelopment will enable the association to continue to offer social day care, adult education activities, youth activities, holiday playschemes and other services to the hundreds of people it sees each week. Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, Councillor Alex Ross–Shaw, said: “Keighley residents deserve a building that reflects the character of the local community. “Through the Towns Fund, the Sangat Centre will be modernised to be energy efficient, meet the digital and online needs of service users and be an accessible, practical environment for an extensive range of crucial community services.” Ian Hayfield, Chair of Keighley’s Town Deal Board, said: “This renovation means the Sangat Centre can function more efficiently and effectively for the people it serves. It also means the building will be a sustainable, productive place for many years into the future.” The work is expected to take about two years and the centre will remain open as usual throughout. Refurbishment is already underway, with new flooring installed and a new roof having been fitted. The modernisation also includes some big projects such as a new IT suite and a mezzanine floor. Riasat Ali, Sangat Centre Manager, said: “The building needed constant repairs and we were continually having to patch up leaks such as water pouring through the roof, as well as dealing with ongoing heating, boiler and electrical issues. “It was so difficult and costly to make repairs on a piecemeal basis and we are so grateful to have this opportunity to properly upgrade the building. We’ve been using local tradespeople to do the work, to put the money back into the area. “The improvements we are undertaking have come from the feedback of our service users and our community, which is truly at the centre of our vision for the future. The refurbishment means we can expand our provision and welcome even more people to make use of our services.” In addition to this funding, the Sangat Centre has also received £140,000 of match funding towards the refurbishment from the Community Ownership Fund.

Leeds is first city outside London to join Open Finance Coalition

Stuart Pearcey
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Leeds is first city outside London to join Open Finance Coalition
Leeds has become the first city and local authority outside London to support a new coalition to open up financial data that, it’s claimed, will deliver better outcomes for SMEs and consumers. Launched this week by the Centre for Finance, Innovation and technology, it’s said the new Open Finance Coalition will demonstrate the power of leveraging financial data to deliver better outcomes and financial awareness for SMEs. The first coalition partners who have committed to progressing Open Finance in the UK have also been announced. Leeds is the first city and local authority outside of London to be involved with the project, working closely with others on the list including: the Association of British Insurers, Allen and Overy, Amazon Web Services, Experian, the City of London Corporation, EY, HSBC, IBM, Innovate Finance, iwoca, KPMG, Leeds City Council, Lloyds Banking Group, Mastercard, MBN Solutions, Monzo, Open Banking Limited, the Open Finance Association, Revolut, the Smart Data Foundry, and Zopa Bank; with the support of the FCA. The main focus for the coalition will be demonstrating the power of financial data to deliver better financial awareness for consumers and SME financing, giving SMEs the ability to better manage their savings, cashflow, investments, pensions and insurance and in turn lead to a positive outcome for the nation’s financial health. The idea comes from recommendations originally put forward as part of the Kalifa Review of UK Fintech, launched in Leeds earlier this year, which seeks to unblock barriers to growth for financial technology and position the United Kingdom as a global leader in financial innovation. Leeds was identified in the report as being part of one of the most established FinTech hubs in the UK. Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council said: “The ethos and work to be done as part of this project feeds perfectly into our inclusive growth ambitions, and therefore we were keen to take this opportunity to further work within the city to increase financial awareness and knowledge in collaboration with our thriving Fintech community.” Leeds is the UK’s second strongest financial and legal centre, with a flourishing FinTech sector and a GVA standing above £700m, having doubled in the last three years. The foundation for the flourishing FinTech sector is the region’s long-standing strength in financial services, combined with a vibrant and fast growing tech sector. More than 60 established financial services organisations have bases in the region, with recent additions including the Financial Conduct Authority, UK Infrastructure Bank, and Bank of England. In tech, 17 of the 100 fastest-growing tech companies in the North of England are based in Leeds , which is also home to Leeds Digital Festival, one of the largest and highest profile digital events in the UK.

Doncaster company secured accreditations and qualifications

Stuart Pearcey
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Doncaster company secured accreditations and qualifications
Doncaster-based Signum Facilities Management has passed its NICEIC assessment for the 11th year in a row and has also become the only accredited RPZ Valve Tester in Doncaster after securing WIAPS accreditation. The latter is one of the largest six UK approved contractors schemes and administered by Water Regs UK on behalf of the 15 UK Water Undertakers. Supporting the successful team accreditations are some important individual qualifications that have been achieved by Signum staff so far this year. Matthew Johnson, lead engineer/supervisor, has passed the Site Management Safety Training Scheme, which is a Construction Industry Training Board qualification. The course is part of his development to taking on more responsibility with team supervision and project management. Ryan Daines, engineer, has achieved the Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment which focusses on portable appliance testing and is part of a long term plan to develop Ryan’s skills and expertise as a multi skilled engineer. John Booth, senior electrical engineer and qualified supervisor, has also completed the NICEIC Electric vehicle charging installation course which means he is now qualified to complete installation and servicing of vehicle charge points. Steve Egbury, operations manager, has gained the NEBOSH General Certificate. MD Jill Wood said: “2023 has been an incredibly busy year for Signum as we look to continue to grow the business and develop our client base which now stretches across the country. “The commitment our team has made to our health and safety standards has been fantastic and we are all really pleased to have achieved the national accreditations we have as well as support our team members with their own qualifications as they look to develop their careers. “It really is an exciting time for Signum and the hard work of everyone involved has played a massive part in this success.”

Government increases pay for NHS doctors and dentists, and cranks up Immigration Health Surcharge

Stuart Pearcey
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Government increases pay for NHS doctors and dentists, and cranks up Immigration Health Surcharge
Most eligible dentists and doctors will receive at least a 6% pay rise, the Government has announced, which will see pay for junior doctors up by an average of around 8.8% backdated to April this year. Acceptance of the independent pay review bodies in full mean about 130,000 full-time equivalent doctors and dentists, including junior doctors and consultants, will see their pay rise in line with the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration’s (DDRB) recommendations. Pay for junior doctors will be increased by 8.8% on average. The agreement means pay for a first year junior doctor will increase by 10.3%. Pay for the most experienced junior doctors will increase by 8.1%. For consultants, this means a rise of 6%. As recommended by the DDRB, most dentists and doctors will receive at least a 6% pay rise. Junior doctor pay will be increased by 6% plus £1,250. Average basic pay for a first year junior doctor will increase from £29,300 to £32,300 and for a junior doctor in core training with 3 years’ experience it will increase from £40,200 to £43,900. For consultants and SAS doctors on pre-2021 contracts, this is on top of the 4.5% pay rise they received last year. Some staff will also benefit from performance pay, overtime, pay progression and pay rises from promotion, alongside the pay uplift. The government says it has been clear about the need for pay awards to recognise the hard work of the public sector whilst meeting the Prime Minister’s priority to halve inflation and managing public spending effectively. The government plans to increase the main rate of the Immigration Health Surcharge – to ensure it covers the full healthcare costs of those who pay it to at least £1,035, and the discounted rate for students, their dependents, those on Youth Mobility Schemes and under-18s to £776. The government will fund this pay award through prioritisation within existing departmental budgets, with front line services being protected. Last month a million NHS staff, including nurses and paramedics, received a 5% pay rise worth at least £1,065 to full-time staff as well as two one off payments worth at least £1,655. The pay announcement comes weeks after the NHS published its first ever NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, backed by over £2.4 billion government funding, will deliver the biggest training expansion in NHS history and recruit and retain hundreds of thousands more staff over the next 15 years.

Auctioneer Pugh appoints residential valuations specialist for Leeds office

Stuart Pearcey
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Auctioneer Pugh appoints residential valuations specialist for Leeds office
Residential valuations specialist Chris Jackson has joined property auctioneer Pugh as associate director and will be based in the firm’s Leeds office. With a decade’s experience in the Yorkshire property auctions market, Chris will take on a lead role in growing the auction business in the region. Pugh MD Paul Thompson said: “We are really pleased to welcome Chris on board and his appointment is a great strategic hire for us in Yorkshire. “We are seeing growing demand for auction services in Yorkshire as rising interest rates cool the market and increasing numbers of homebuyers and sellers look to auctions for a secure sale. Chris brings a wealth of experience as well as a great network of contacts across the region.”
Chris Jackson said: “This is an exciting time to be joining Pugh, which is a dominant force in the northern auctions market and has a well-earned reputation for customer service matched with strategic market insight and impressive geographic reach. I am looking forward to bringing my experience of the Yorkshire market to expand Pugh’s customer base in the region still further.”

Yorkshire Water to give £235,000 to Wildlife Trust after pollution incident

Stuart Pearcey
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Yorkshire Water to give £235,000 to Wildlife Trust after pollution incident
Yorkshire Water has agreed to give £235,000 to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust after polluting a Harrogate watercourse, following an investigation by the Environment Agency. The company breached its environmental permit with an unauthorised sewage discharge from Stray Road combined sewer overflow, which polluted Hookstone Beck. It submitted an Enforcement Undertaking to the Environment Agency, which has now been accepted. An Enforcement Undertaking is a voluntary offer made by companies and individuals to make amends for their offending, and usually includes a donation to a wildlife charity to carry out environmental improvements in the local area. Stray Road combined sewer overflow has an environmental permit which allows a discharge into the beck when the storm sewage facility is full due to rainfall or snow melt. On 27 August 2015, it discharged illegally during dry weather and sewage fungus was evident on the bed of Hookstone Beck. As part of the Enforcement Undertaking requirements Yorkshire Water has upgraded its telemetry to allow continuous monitoring of the storm overflow. Claire Barrow, Environment Agency Area Environment Manager, said: “Sewage pollution can be devastating to human health, local biodiversity and out environment. Storm overflows must only be used under strict permitted conditions that control their environmental impact. “We are holding the water industry to account like never before and while we will always take forward prosecutions in the most serious cases, Enforcement Undertakings are an effective enforcement tool to allow companies to put things right and contribute to environmental improvements. They allow polluters to correct and restore the harm caused to the environment and prevent repeat incidents by improving their procedures, helping ensure future compliance with environmental requirements.” Yorkshire Wildlife Trust will use the donation on environmental improvements in North Yorkshire including native crayfish conservation and reed bed management at Ripon City Wetlands.
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