Arla plans to close North Yorkshire dairy, putting 128 jobs at risk

April Lara
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Arla plans to close North Yorkshire dairy, putting 128 jobs at risk

Arla Foods has announced plans to close its Settle dairy factory by the end of 2026, putting 128 jobs at risk. The company intends to consolidate operations at its Lockerbie site in Scotland, where it plans to invest nearly £90 million and create 90 new jobs. Some production from Stourton, Leeds, will also move to Lockerbie, though no job losses are planned in Leeds.

The GMB union has called the closure a major blow to Settle’s workforce and local economy. Arla has begun a consultation process with employees, stating the move aligns with its strategy to modernise UK dairy production.

Bus company steps in with free service for college after minibus theft

Stuart Pearcey
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Bus company steps in with free service for college after minibus theft
First Bus has decided to make permanent a special free service to support students at Doncaster’s Harrison College after their college minibuses were stolen. It means the students will be collected from Doncaster interchange in the morning and returning them after school. The decision has been part of huge community effort to support the college after the theft of three minibuses in a nighttime raid on its locked compound in Heaven’s Walk. Zoe Hands, MD of First Bus said: “When we heard about the horrible situation Harrison College had been left in, everyone at First Bus wanted to help so we rallied around quickly to arrange a special free bus service for the students to use.  We’ll always step-up to help our communities where we can and we have been providing that service free of charge ever since. “Following the temporary route being put in place, First Bus has seen the social value in supporting Harrison College on a permanent basis so that students can access college and develop their independence.” Principal and CEO Gemma Peebles said: “After the burglary when our minibuses were stolen, we were overwhelmed by the extraordinarily kind and generous support from across the Doncaster business community. “Now, following the support that First Bus provided us following the theft of our vehicles they have agreed to offer the service on a permanent basis. This not only supports us financially but also encourages independence for our students and we are so grateful for it. “With the right interventions, support and opportunities, our young people can contribute enormously to society and support like this is incredibly helpful as we prepare them for internships, work experience, training and employment.” The college offers specialist business, enterprise and employability education provision for post-16 students with autism and special educational needs. The minibuses were used to transport them to college, to work placements and on trips.

Work begins on new care home in York

Tess Egginton
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Work begins on new care home in York
Work has started on a brand new £6 million 60-bedroom care home at Clifton Moor near York. Lime Trees is due to open in 2026 and will offer residential, dementia, respite and day care. Located off Shipton Road in Clifton, the new care home is being developed by Yorkshire and Lincolnshire-based construction firm Hobson & Porter for Yorkare Homes, whose headquarters is in Brough. This marks the ninth collaboration between the two companies, and the new facility will be Yorkare’s sixteenth care home to open across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Work to demolish the Lime Trees Medical Centre, which previously occupied the site, began at the end of 2024. As part of the development, Yorkare has gifted a parcel of land to the neighbouring York Sports Club, allowing for the creation of additional new pitches. Nicola Anderson, Marketing and Community Engagement Manager at Yorkare, said: “Breaking ground on Lime Trees is a significant milestone for us. Our development will transform a disused site into a vibrant space, providing much-needed residential care to people in the Clifton area of York and beyond, while also creating around 80 new jobs. “The fact that we’ve been able to contribute to the delivery of vital community sports facilities at the same time makes this a win for everyone.” Lime Trees will feature 20 en-suite rooms on each of its three floors. One floor will be dedicated exclusively to dementia care, ensuring specialised support for those who need it. The home will also include a variety of communal spaces and amenities. Nicola shared: “We aim to create a nurturing and comfortable atmosphere where everyone feels valued and cared for, making it a truly special place for both residents and the local community. “Our facility will feature two in-house bars, including one with a barista station, alongside restaurant standard dining rooms, a beauty and hairdressing salon, a cinema, a bowls green, a greenhouse with raised garden beds, and outdoor terraced balconies offering views of the grounds. “It will truly feel like a home away from home, complete with a wide range of exceptional on-site amenities.” Richard Hunter, from Hobson & Porter, said: “We are thrilled to be building our ninth home for Yorkare. Last summer we completed our eighth project for the company in less than 10 years – Haxby Hall. “The £10million, 63-bedroom care home in Haxby, that’s four miles north of York city centre, has proved so popular with residents and we are confident Lime Trees will be just as successful. “The home will have all the latest sustainable features, including solar panels and high-efficiency heating and hot water systems, and we plan to build an EPC ‘A’ and BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rated building. “All the rooms have en-suite wet rooms and emergency call systems, and the ground-floor bedrooms have doors leading out to private patio areas. It’s going to be a fabulous home which will become a landmark in Clifton Moor when work completes early next year.”

Secretary of State pledges to put more money into farmers’ pockets

Stuart Pearcey
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Secretary of State pledges to put more money into farmers’ pockets
New reforms to be announced today will make farming more profitable according to Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He’s due to speak to farmers at the NFU conference in Westminster, in a speech revealing a raft of new policies, including:
  • Extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years giving farms a pipeline of workers and certainty to grow their businesses
  • Requiring government catering contracts to favour high-quality, high-welfare products that local farms and producers can serve, as part of government ambition for at least half the food supplied into the £5 billion public sector catering contracts to be from British producers or those certified to higher environmental standards.
  • investing £110m into R&D for agri-technology for farmers, such as chemical-free cleaning for integrated milking equipment, which lowers energy costs and chemical use. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund provides grants of up to £25,000 to buy new equipment such as electric weeders to reduce chemical use.
  • Protecting farmers in trade deals
  • Setting up a new National Biosecurity Centre to transform the Animal and Plant Health Agency animal health facility at Weybridge, investing £200 million to improve resilience against animal disease to protect farmers and food producers.
Mr Reed is expected to say: “The underlying problem is that farmers do not make enough money for the hard work and commitment they put in. I will consider my time as Secretary of State a failure if I do not improve profitability for farmers across the country.

“My focus is on ensuring farming becomes more profitable because that’s how we make your businesses viable for the future. And that’s how we ensure the long-term food security this country needs.”

Lincolnshire district to receive £7.8m for tourism and woodland restoration

April Lara
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Lincolnshire district to receive £7.8m for tourism and woodland restoration

East Lindsey District Council has allocated £7.8 million to improve tourism and local infrastructure. The funding of the East Lindsey Investment Fund includes £1.8 million for tourism-related projects, such as road upgrades, car parks, markets, signage, and visitor facilities.

A significant portion of the funding will go to The Woodland Trust to purchase and restore the 483-acre Harrison Woodlands near Louth. The site, currently damaged and closed to the public, will undergo tree removal and regeneration before reopening.

The initiative aims to boost the local economy and strengthen East Lindsey’s position as a key tourist destination, further developing the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

ABP begins restoration of historic Grimsby port buildings

April Lara
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ABP begins restoration of historic Grimsby port buildings

Associated British Ports (ABP) has begun structural renovations on historic buildings at the Port of Grimsby as part of a long-term redevelopment plan. The project aims to make the buildings wind and watertight, with roofs, windows, doors, and brickwork repairs.

Surveys, including structural assessments and external mapping, are underway to determine the condition of the properties before interior inspections begin. ABP is working with North East Lincolnshire Council and Historic England to explore future uses for the area, with potential interest from industrial sectors and the film industry.

The renovation is part of a broader heritage regeneration initiative, with a second round of funding recently confirmed.

BCC meets ambassadors from across the EU

Stuart Pearcey
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BCC meets ambassadors from across the EU
Officials from the British Chambers of Commerce have met Ambassadors from across the EU to make the case for a trade relations reset that benefits businesses on both sides. Director General Shevaun Haviland, and Head of Trade Policy William Bain were joined at the German Embassy by Ambassador Miguel Berger. They were joined by the EU Mission and representatives from 16 other EU countries to review the BCC’s analysis and recommendations on the Trade and Co-operation Agreement. The TCA sets out the rules for trade between the UK and the EU after Brexit. It allows tariff-free trade with the EU, but requires British and EU firms to produce documentation and paperwork for all shipments. Services access is also limited by rules on business mobility.  BCC Analysis of the TCA on the fourth anniversary of its introduction found that:
  • Two fifths (41%) of UK exporters disagree the Brexit deal is helping them grow sales.
  • Only 14% of UK exporters think the deal is helping them to grow.
  • Almost half (46%) of UK businesses want the Government to make it easier for their staff to work in the EU.
  • More than a third (37%) want a reduction in VAT requirements to export to the EU.
  • And a quarter (25%) want the UK to align with rules and regulations with the EU in key goods sectors.
Companies say the biggest barriers to exporting to the EU are customs procedures and documentation, export documentation, regulations and standards, and tariffs (33%). Awareness of upcoming changes in trade rules and regulations being made by either the UK or the EU are also alarmingly low, with more than three quarters of firms knowing no details of much of the legislation. William Bain, said: “The shockwaves from last week’s US announcements on tariffs are still reverberating around the world, and both the UK and EU need to decide on their next steps. “Making trade between the UK and the EU easier, for businesses on both sides of the English Channel, is one option that can have an immediate impact. “If we reduce red-tape and simplify other processes that have added to costs for business then we all benefit. “The EU Leaders’ Summit with the Prime Minister won’t take place until May 19, and clearly a lot will happen in the next few months, but it was encouraging to see EU ambassadors being receptive to our suggestions.”

Harrogate tech company reaches reseller agreement with Canadian firm

Stuart Pearcey
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Harrogate tech company reaches reseller agreement with Canadian firm
Harrogate-based Mobile Tornado has entered a new market of Canada by reaching a reseller agreement with Prairie Mobile Communications, a Connected Technology provider there. Prairie Mobile Communications is almost 60 years old, was founded over 57 years ago, in Brandon, Manitoba and now has 26 locations from British Columbia out to Ontario. They work with a wide range of industries, including agriculture, mining, education, construction, healthcare, public safety and emergency services. Jeff Gawlicki, Director of Business Development at Prairie Mobile Communications explained “At Prairie Mobile Communications we are committed to delivering effective and meaningful connectivity solutions.  As mobile networks become stronger, more and more businesses are adopting push-to-talk over cellular technology and now feels like the right time to introduce it to our product range. Mobile Tornado’s PTX platform is extremely impressive. It has an outstanding range of add-on features, including a superb lone worker feature. I am confident that we’re offering our customers the best solution on the market”. Luke Wilkinson, Managing Director at Mobile Tornado said “We have been looking to expand into Canada so we are absolutely thrilled to have joined forces with Prairie Mobile. They are an exciting company with a clear vision and a commitment to great customer service. We are looking forward to working with Prairie Mobile to introduce our PTX technology to their customers to enable them to benefit from advanced communication capabilities and improved efficiencies among their workforce.”

North Yorkshire petrol station with shop and workshop listed for £485,000

April Lara
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0
North Yorkshire petrol station with shop and workshop listed for £485,000

Aysgarth Garage, a petrol station in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, has been put up for sale at £485,000. The property includes a filling station, a large convenience store with a Post Office, a spacious car park, and a jet wash.

The site also features a former car showroom with potential for redevelopment, a restoration workshop with space for three cars, and a two-post ramp. The business benefits from a prime location in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, attracting walkers, motorcyclists, and classic car enthusiasts.

The forecourt shop offers food, drinks, household goods, food-to-go options, and a large storage area. Additional facilities include a manager’s office, stock room, boiler room, and workshop. The forecourt has two pump islands, parking for 13 vehicles, and a jet wash bay.

The current owner, who bought the business seven years ago, is selling due to retirement. For the year ending February 2024, the business generated £697,736 in turnover (excluding VAT) and a gross profit of £173,497.

Major banks fined £104m for sharing sensitive bond data

April Lara
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Major banks fined £104m for sharing sensitive bond data

HSBC, Citi, Morgan Stanley, and the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) will pay a combined £104 million in fines after the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found they had exchanged sensitive information on government bonds. The violations took place between 2009 and 2013 through private Bloomberg chatrooms, where traders from the four banks and Deutsche Bank discussed details related to gilt auctions, asset swaps, and sales to the Bank of England.

Citi will pay £17.16 million, HSBC £23.4 million, Morgan Stanley £29.7 million, and RBC £34.2 million. Each bank received a reduced fine for cooperating with the investigation. Deutsche Bank was granted immunity for reporting the misconduct.

The CMA stated that all banks have since implemented compliance measures to prevent similar breaches. The firms have until April 22, 2025, to pay their fines.

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