Major industrial and logistics scheme gets go-ahead at Ferrybridge Power Station site
Mountpark has secured planning permission from Wakefield Council for the redevelopment of The Coal Yard at Ferrybridge Power Station in West Yorkshire.
The hybrid application includes detailed planning permission for site infrastructure works and outline approval for up to 1.64 million sq ft of industrial and logistics space on the 110-acre site. Extensive highway improvements from the adjacent A162 into the development are also included within the scheme.
The regeneration of the former Coal Yard site is expected to create upwards of 2,000 jobs as Brett Huxley, development director for Mountpark (UK & Ireland) explains: “This decision is the next step towards delivering a new future to this iconic site.
“Mountpark Ferrybridge represents one of the largest job creation projects in West Yorkshire in recent years, and we hope to attract significant inward investment by creating a high quality industrial and logistics campus for our occupiers.
“The project will generate a vast array of job opportunities for local people, bringing industry and economic prosperity back to Ferrybridge.”
Mountpark Ferrybridge will cater for requirements from 40,000 sq ft to 640,000 sq ft. Mountpark’s plans also retain the existing railway sidings that bound the scheme with enhanced landscaping, footpaths and cycleways reconnecting Ferrybridge with the local community.
Mountpark’s joint agents on the scheme are Carter Towler and JLL. The wider project team includes Oxalis Planning, SMR Architects, Markides Associates and Hydrock+CPD.
Abbeydale nursery proves apprenticeship funding is child’s play
Abbeydale Cottage Nursery is one of the first businesses in South Yorkshire to benefit from the South Yorkshire-wide Apprenticeship Levy Matchmaking scheme.
Based on Abbeydale Road South in Dore, the nursery employs 33 staff and looks after almost 160 children under four.
The matchmaking service enables larger employers to pledge their unspent Apprenticeship Levy funding to support smaller to medium sized businesses.
Small businesses usually have to make a contribution towards the training costs of apprentices, but if their application to the matchmaking service is successful, that cost is waived.
Emily Steele, Manager at Abbeydale Cottage Nursery, said: “This is an amazing and priceless opportunity to get apprenticeship training for free and incredibly valueable for our business. Given the significant demand for nursery places and the need to retain skilled staff, it was a no brainer – we couldn’t not apply to the fund.
“We run a busy and popular nursery. It is vital that we invest in our staff to develop and retain them, which in turn helps us to provide the best service for our customers.
“There are so many advantages to training apprentices. They bring fresh, new ideas and we can mould their training to suit our business skills needs. The fact that apprentices learn in the workplace really helps with the development of their knowledge and skills. There is no substitute for learning on the job.
“The process of applying to the Apprenticeship Levy Matchmaking Service was really straightforward and I would encourage any other small businesses to consider it.”
Keith Richardson, Manager, South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Hub, said: “We are committed to building the skills that South Yorkshire needs by ensuring that smaller employers get the support to grow their businesses.
“Scores of businesses and apprentices are benefitting from the hub including the transfer of levy funding to SMEs to support apprenticeship training costs.
“Apprenticeships are a great way to invest in the future of your organisation and we would encourage more businesses to get in touch and find out more.”
£60m set for West Yorkshire skills courses
West Yorkshire’s colleges, councils and education providers are primed to deliver over £60 million of training courses from September, funded through the devolved Adult Skills Fund.
The funding will help deliver a huge variety of courses catering for both school leavers and adult learners of all ages from across the region.
The announcement came as students collect their GCSE results (22 August), with regional Mayor Tracy Brabin promising that “regardless of grade, you can find your future here in West Yorkshire.”
With devolved responsibility over adult skills, Mayor Brabin has vowed to support people with basic skills like English and Maths, while also supporting people with more advanced technical education, helping them secure well-paid jobs in growing industries such as the green, digital and creative sectors.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “To anyone collecting a result, finding their first job or looking for better-paid work, my message is simple – you can find your future here in West Yorkshire.
“Because of devolution, we and our partners can equip you with the skills you need to succeed, with a laser focus on helping you secure a real, well-paid job in the local labour market.
“For our economy to succeed and thrive, we need everyone in it to succeed and thrive. That’s why we’re building a region of learning and creativity, where everyone can fulfil their potential.”
The multi-million pound investment follows a high-profile manifesto pledge to “build a region of learning and creativity,” with almost £50 million divided up between the region’s colleges, almost £7 million between the five district councils, and over £4 million between specialist training providers.
This £4.5 million of targeted contracts will tackle the specific labour shortages facing the region, with a focus on much-needed training for essential jobs including bus drivers, construction engineers and healthcare workers. To date, over 150 new bus drivers and over 400 new telecoms engineers have been trained and employed through targeted funds.
A recently withdrawn procurement will also be repurposed and sharpened, to provide a further £7 million to fill any emerging gaps in adult skills provision from January 2025.
Over the past academic year, over 40,000 learners were supported through funding from the West Yorkshire Mayor, helping to deliver thousands of vital jobs in the local labour market. Of those supported, there was a higher proportion of young learners, ethnic minority learners and disabled learners on the previous year.
Homebuilders’ golf day raises £11,000 for charity
A golf day arranged by Barratt and David Wilson Homes Yorkshire West has raised £11,000 for its charity of the year, Candlelighters, which supports families affected by childhood cancer.
Almost 80 golfers, including Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ employees and sub-contractors, took part in the tournament at Garforth Golf Club in Leeds.
Iain Blackwood Hobbs, Partnerships Executive at Candlelighters, said: “Thank you so much to Barratt Homes Yorkshire West for organising another incredible golf day for Candlelighters. The £11,000 raised on the Golf Day allows Candlelighters to continue providing vital, practical, emotional, and financial support to so many families in Yorkshire who are sadly affected by childhood cancer.
“We can’t thank the Yorkshire West Team enough for their support over the past six years and for doing so much in this successful partnership.”
Gavin Birch, MD at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Yorkshire West, said: “We’d like to thank everyone who participated in our annual golf day for another year. This day helps to support such a great cause and we hope everyone involved had a good day.”
Doncaster Chamber calls for shake-up in careers advice offered to school leavers
Doncaster Chamber believes a step change in both quality and quantity of careers advice for school leavers, and the number of private sector representatives involved in education governance.
Proposals to improve Doncaster‘s performance in both of these areas are included in the Chamber’s recently published Manifesto – Doncaster ’35: A Manifesto for a Winning City.
Congratulating those who’d received their results this week, Chamber CEO Dan Fell said “Last week, data was published showing that Doncaster is the best performing town or city in Yorkshire when it comes to the growth of our business stock. This, along with pending news about a new operator for our re-opening airport and the investment of flagships businesses such as Hybrid Air Vehicles into our city, shows that Doncaster is on the up.
“I would therefore strongly encourage young people receiving their GCSE and A-Level results to look at local training and employment opportunities and to seriously consider pursuing a career in Doncaster’s increasingly vibrant business community.
“However, despite many years of concerted effort by many talented people and organisations, we still hear too much dissatisfaction from employers about the way their industry or sector is promoted to young people, and too many employers fear that a hopeful message about Doncaster’s economy is not getting through to young people.
“That is why we have called, in our recently published manifesto, for a shake-up of careers advice in this country and for careers to have increased prevalence in the way schools are assessed by organisations like Ofsted.
“To help embed a demand-led approach to skills within our local education community, we are also encouraging more business leaders to put themselves forward for education governance roles. Being a school governor is a great way to use your skills to enhance peoples’ lives and to help ensure that the curriculum aligns with the needs of your sector. Many talented young people will be celebrating today, by closer aligning the education and business communities, we can ensure as many of those young people access exciting careers as locally as possible.”
University of Bradford has Small Business Charter extended for five years
The University of Bradford’s School of Management has been recognised for its work with small businesses by having its Small Business Charter renewed for a further five years.
Professor Sankar Sivarajah, Dean of the School of Management at the University of Bradford, said: “The five-year award is a testament to the growth and development of our engagement with entrepreneurs and small businesses within the region over the past few years, as well as the ongoing strength of the School’s business and community engagement offer.”
Tim Rogers, CEO of Bradford district-based firm Future Transformation, said: “With access to students, research and innovation the University of Bradford School of Management proves a vital resource for SMEs like mine and the wider business community locally, regionally and nationally to grow sustainably and increase our skills resulting in a strong and stable economy.” Flora Hamilton, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter and CEO of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, said: “We congratulate the University of Bradford School of Management for retaining their SBC status. “It is fantastic to see that the school has built upon the foundations of its initial application and continues to demonstrate impact in supporting small businesses and student entrepreneurs in their local economy. “We look forward to seeing the ongoing impacts of their work deliver for their regional economy.”
Professor David Spicer, Director of Business and Community Engagement at the University of Bradford, said: “As a civic institution our engagement with, and support for, the local community is a key tenant of our work.
“Our SBC award reinforces the importance of those links and recognises the value we create for businesses and entrepreneurs in the city and University.
“The five-year accreditation achieved this time is testament to the School’s team in extending our work in this regard.”
The School has been recognised for its contributions in three categories: Support for Growth of Small Businesses, Stakeholder Engagement to Support Growth, and Encouraging Student Enterprise and Entrepreneurship.
Private equity firm sells West Yorkshire-based Cutwel
NorthEdge has completed the sale of Cutwel, the cutting tool distribution firm serving the SME precision engineering sector, to Inflexion Private Equity Partners.
Cutwel, based in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, serves over 13,000 customers across a range of sectors through a disruptive sales model.
The exit was led by Andy Ball, Partner, and John Hammond, Director, alongside the Cutwel management team. The deal provides a strong return for NorthEdge Fund II, delivering over a 3x gross return.
Since the initial investment in May 2018, NorthEdge has supported Cutwel to refine and accelerate its disruptive commercial model, alongside building a scalable platform fit for future growth through investment in people, technology and operational infrastructure.
Alongside appointing a Chair and CFO to complete the Board, the business built out the operational leadership team with six critical hires. This included a Head of Operations, who has driven a process and technology transformation to improve efficiencies, deliver operational leverage and create a platform for growth, and a Head of Sales and Marketing, who has built out the marketing, sales and account management team from 15 to over 45 people.
Alongside headcount growth, the business has placed a significant focus on improving digital customer acquisition and embedding a data-driven account management culture – resulting in a resilient and re-occurring revenue model, which enabled the business to take market share and provides resilience through economic cycles.
The business also recognised the importance of ESG in supporting its long-term growth ambitions, becoming one of the first of NorthEdge’s portfolio companies to publicly commit to a net zero target and ensuring it remained an employer of choice in the region.
From a social impact perspective, the business contributed over £31m of GVA to the UK economy in 2023, with the majority of this contribution concentrated in Yorkshire and across the North of England, achieved Great Place to Work accreditation and won a Yorkshire BVCA Vision Award.
Adam Gillard, CEO of Cutwel, said: “With NorthEdge’s support we have built a platform that is fit for future growth and we are excited to build on this momentum with our new partners, Inflexion.
“Our growth plan is focussed on building deeper relationships with existing customers; utilising our digital and data capabilities to acquire new customers; continuing our focus on operational excellence and expanding our product range.
“It is thanks to NorthEdge’s belief in our team and our plan, alongside their local, practical and commercial support that we are in the position to take this business to the next level.”
John Hammond, Director at NorthEdge, added: “We are proud to have played our part in supporting Cutwel achieve strong top and bottom line growth, despite the challenging market conditions the business has faced since our initial investment.
“By refining and investing in its disruptive sales model and operational platform, the business has continually outperformed competitors whilst retaining its focus on being a great place to work for its people.
“Cutwel is a great example of a regional business creating local and national impact, ready for the next stage of its growth journey. We are delighted to have delivered another strong exit for Fund II and remain excited to see what Adam and the Cutwel team achieve over the coming years.”
Plant-based meat alternatives business, The Tofoo Co. acquired
Comitis Capital has acquired The Tofoo Co., a plant-based meat alternatives business with over 60% market share in tofu.
The Tofoo Co., headquartered in Yorkshire, was acquired in 2016 by David Knibbs and Lydia Smith. Beyond its core tofu portfolio, The Tofoo Co. offers a selection of value-added tofu products as well as other plant-based meat alternatives such as tempeh and seitan.
With a strong holding in major retail, the company is expanding its food service channel with restaurant chains such as Wagamama.
Nikolaus Bethlen, Managing Partner at Comitis, said: “The Tofoo Co. has firmly established itself as a leader in the plant-based meat alternatives market with a strong brand image offering high-quality products.
“David Knibbs and Lydia Smith have built a remarkable enterprise that is ready for the next phase of growth. The Tofoo Co. represents a great addition to our portfolio, covering the thriving plant-based food market.”
Felix Jauch, Investment Associate at Comitis, added: “We are thrilled to collaborate with visionary entrepreneurs who are eager to foster growth, and the team at The Tofoo Co. perfectly embody this spirit.
“Together, we share a unified vision of propelling The Tofoo Co. into a leading position in the international plant-based meat alternatives market. With our investment, expertise, and extensive network, we are committed to fueling the company’s dynamic expansion plan.”
Existing management David Knibbs and Lydia Smith will remain invested in the business and continue to steer the company’s growth in the UK and international markets.
David Knibbs, Managing Director of The Tofoo Co., said: “We chose Comitis as our partner to enter a new era of rapid expansion. Their deep understanding of our business model and entrepreneurial thinking has left us convinced that they are the right choice to bring The Tofoo Co. to the next level.
“Their value-based investment approach aligns perfectly with our vision, and we see significant opportunities for The Tofoo Co. ahead.”
“The Tofoo Co has plans to grow further, both with existing & new customers and channels, and needed a strong and proactive partner to help that growth journey. Comitis are a great fit as that partner for this next chapter of Tofoo Co’s growth journey,” said Lydia Smith Executive Director of The Tofoo Co.
Comitis was advised by MCF Corporate Finance (Buyside Financial Advisor), CADEN Strategy (Commercial), Eight Advisory (Financial, Tax and Operations), and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Legal).
Aptean expands global footprint with acquisition of Wakefield firm
Aptean, an AI-driven ERP solutions firm, has acquired SSG Insight, a provider of Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) solutions headquartered in Wakefield.
The acquisition of SSG immediately increases Aptean’s EAM geographic footprint. SSG also bolsters the capabilities of Aptean’s cloud-based EAM offerings, which are purpose-built for manufacturers, distributors, logistics providers, healthcare facilities, light rail operators and other asset intensive industries.
Founded in 1983, SSG provides Agility, a mission-critical suite of EAM solutions designed to manage complex challenges across global sites with a smart ecosystem of connected data. SSG delivers a scalable and integrated suite of CMMS and EAM solutions which give total control over asset lifecycle management, workflow automation, condition monitoring, contract / vendor management, and advanced analytics.
The team at SSG possesses deep industry expertise across Aptean’s core focus areas including food manufacturing, industrial manufacturing, light rail, retail distribution, and healthcare facilities, among others.
“SSG has a proven track record with over 40 years of experience delivering mission-critical enterprise asset management solutions across the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and North America,” said Duane George, President of EMEA and APAC at Aptean.
“SSG’s Agility product suite delivers robust software solutions specifically designed to manage complex enterprise asset management challenges and is backed by a team of seasoned industry experts. We are thrilled to welcome the SSG team and customers to Aptean.”
Mike Edwards, CEO of SSG, said: “We are delighted to join a global organization like Aptean, where together we can continue to develop and deliver innovative enterprise asset management solutions to the market.
“The combination of our businesses offer an exciting opportunity for SSG’s future growth given our shared commitment to the long term success of our products and customers. Additionally, being part of Aptean presents our customers and our team with exciting opportunities for growth and development and we can’t wait to get started.”
Works commence to support riverside development in Rotherham
Esh Construction has commenced public realm improvement works which will support further riverside development in Rotherham town centre.
Procured through YORhub’s YORcivil2 framework on behalf of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Esh will deliver upgrades on land just off Westgate, while highway upgrades will be actioned on Water Lane.
A new carriageway will be constructed at Water Lane to improve existing vehicular access and provide a link to a new riverside footpath which will reconnect Water Lane to Rotherham town centre. Cut and fill operations, deep drainage works, Japanese knotweed remediation, pavement construction and new fencing is required, while gabion baskets will be used to create a retaining wall feature along the new pathway.
Michael Sherrard, Construction Manager at Esh Construction, said: “We look forward to bringing our expertise to this project which will play an important role in improving and facilitating the connectivity of Rotherham Riverside for the future development of the town.
“Esh has vast experience in delivering public realm projects and we are thrilled to continue our working relationship with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.”
Esh’s civil engineering division will also carry out repairs and remedial works to the existing river walls, with 180m long sheet piles up to 18m in depth being installed to strengthen the river wall. A capping beam will also be added on top to secure the wall structurally and support a guard rail, while cosmetic repairs will be carried out to the existing masonry river wall by rope access trained personnel.
The project builds on the success of Esh’s recently completed active travel schemes for Rotherham Council, which include Wellgate and Broom Road, as well as Sheffield Road Cycleways and Maltby Bus Corridor.
Having acquired the land in December 2022 the project forms part of the Council’s continued investment into the town centre, bringing new homes, leisure uses and improved public realm.
Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, Cllr Robert Taylor said: “The access road and creation of a new walkway into the town centre will really complement the new housing developments and leisure scheme at Forge Island. The route will support us to continue to breathe new life into this side of the town by helping facilitate new housing developments in the future.”
Accountancy practice makes Leeds move
As part of its ongoing commitment and investment in Yorkshire, a longstanding firm of chartered accountants and business advisers is expanding into Leeds after signing a lease on new offices at Wellington Place.
Saffery, established in 1855, currently employs a 70-strong team in Yorkshire and has had a base in Harrogate town centre since 1992. In addition to its new 5,213 sq ft office at 10 Wellington Place, the firm will retain office space and meeting rooms in the spa town.
Providing a more spacious, modern and open plan office environment, the newly fitted out Grade A office space sits in the heart of Leeds city centre’s financial and professional services district.
Saffery partner and head of the firm’s Yorkshire office, Jonathan Davis, said: “We’re a partner-led and people-focused firm, that is wholeheartedly committed to our clients. For the last 32 years we’ve worked hard to establish a strong reputation in Harrogate and North Yorkshire, and we are proud of that heritage, whilst being firmly focused on the future.
“During this time, we’ve also successfully built up a quality client base in Leeds and across the wider Yorkshire region. Our clients want to work with an independent firm, that’s boutique in style and that focuses on achieving their aims with real expertise and a true commitment to relationships. We remain local in nature and style, but with the backing of a wider national and international support network when required.
“Moving to our new office space, very close to Leeds City Station, will significantly help with recruitment, as we look to invest further in our talented team of senior advisors and young, ambitious professionals. This move will also mean we remain very accessible for clients across the whole of Yorkshire and beyond.
“All this makes it the right place for our firm as we start the next chapter of our story, and we’re therefore delighted to sign this lease and look forward to moving to Leeds later this year.”
Paul Pavia, head of development at MEPC, the developer and asset manager behind Wellington Place, said: “We pride ourselves on being a leading destination for the professional services sector. It will be a privilege to welcome Saffery, a well-established firm with over three decades of history in Yorkshire, and a significant presence across the UK and beyond, to Wellington Place.
“Saffery’s new home at 10 Wellington Place will offer them the highest quality office space and a superb environment to deliver its services. The team will be joining an inclusive and friendly community with an exceptional food and beverage offer, an extensive events programme and many on site amenities, all just a short walk from Leeds train station. We look forward to supporting Saffery as they embark on this new chapter in Leeds.”
Wakefield automation business sold
Endless has successfully exited its investment in bespoke automation business Sewtec Automation to USA-headquartered Automated Industrial Robotics Inc (AIR).
Endless supported the management buy out of Sewtec in 2017, taking it out of founder ownership with Mark Cook joining the business as Managing Director at the time of the acquisition.
To support and enable growth, the business then relocated its entire operations in 2020 to a state-of-the-art 75,000 square-foot design and manufacturing facility in Wakefield and more recently opened a satellite office in Taunton.
Sewtec today has a team of over 170 employees, more than double the number at the time of the Endless acquisition, and now serves a range of brands across various sectors, including pharmaceutical, medical devices, food and beverage, personal care, pet care and e-commerce.
Endless investment partner, Andy Ross said: “It has been a real privilege working closely with Mark and the entire team at Sewtec over the last few years.
“We knew it was a special business from the start and our role was to provide guidance and support to the management team to help them take their unique capabilities to new customers and markets. The site move was a big positive step forward to allow the team to grow the business responsibly and sustainably.
“At Endless, we are only ever a temporary custodian of our businesses and whilst we are sad to see them go…we look forward to seeing what the Sewtec team can achieve as an integral part of the AIR portfolio in the future.”
Sewtec now joins Totally Automated Systems (TA Systems) and Modular Automation as a foundational asset of the AIR portfolio. With the acquisition of Sewtec, AIR now has over 400 employees and an automation hub footprint of approximately 275,000 square feet across the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
As part of the transaction, Mark Cook, now Co-Managing Director of Sewtec, was also appointed as Chief Operating Officer of AIR. He added: “This transaction represents an exciting new chapter in Sewtec’s long history. I believe AIR is the right partner for Sewtec as we look to grow our business with existing and new customers.
“We look forward to leveraging the skills and know-how across AIR to further our ability to invent innovative solutions that help our customers solve complex operational challenges.”
The investment in Sewtec was managed by Andy Ross and Stefan Nowakowski from Endless. Endless was advised on the sale by Tim Day, Josh Harvey and the team at Rothschilds (corporate finance) and Mae Salem and her team at Squires (legal).
Due diligence support was provided by Chris Stott and Chulanga Jayawardana and their team at KPMG (financial) and Tom Klouda and his team at EY (tax).
Professional services group appoints new chairman
Professional services group Gateley has appointed Edward Knapp as an Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair Designate. Edward becomes a Non-Executive Director with immediate effect and will become Chairman when Nigel Payne steps down from the board on 1 November 2024.
Edward is a global business leader with extensive experience in growth strategy design and delivery, technology, risk management and transformation with a particular focus on professional and financial services.
He has held executive and senior leadership roles in consultancy and professional services, high-growth technology companies and major financial institutions worldwide, including McKinsey & Company, Barclays, HSBC, Revolut and M&G, where he has most recently brought a particular focus on advisory, wealth management and talent.
As a member of the UK Endorsement Board he is accountable for influencing, endorsing and adopting standards for audit, accounting and professional services spanning UK PLCs.
He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of F&C Investment Trust plc and has extensive international private-equity backed and plc board and advisory experience, including Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee and Non-Executive Director of AIM company Ten Lifestyle Group plc and formerly as a Non-Executive Director of Mattioli Woods plc.
On appointment, Edward will become a member of the Remuneration, Audit and Risk and Nomination Committees. From 1 November 2024, he will take over the role of Chairman of the Board, and Chairman of the Nomination Committee.
Rod Waldie, CEO of Gateley, said: “On behalf of the board, I thank Nigel for his significant contribution to the Group throughout the nine year period since IPO. His experience, tireless commitment, clear perspective and support have been instrumental in growing the diverse and resilient professional services business that Gateley is today.
“I am delighted to welcome Edward to the board. He brings extensive and valuable executive and non-executive experience across a range of sectors, commercial acumen and strong and effective leadership. He will be an excellent chairman for the Group.
“I very much look forward to working with Edward as we continue to grow the Group, maximising the strengths and opportunities generated by the unique combination of professional services in our business.”
Edward Knapp, incoming Chair of Gateley, said: “It’s an honour to be appointed as the next Chairman of Gateley. Nigel and the whole team have achieved so much since IPO. The business has an extraordinary track record and heritage of delivering for clients across its legal and professional services capabilities.
“I am looking forward to engaging with our clients, colleagues, communities, shareholders and the whole board to help Gateley navigate the next chapter of outstanding client service, capitalising on its compelling talent proposition to deliver sustainable profitable growth and shareholder returns for the long term.”
Cranswick quartet wins place in world barbecue championship
For employees of Hessle-based Cranswick Foods have won a place in the Steak Cookout Association BBQ World Championships in Fort Worth, Texas.
They are members of the Hog and Beyond BBQ team, and earned the place in Texas by winning first place at the UK BBQ Championships at the Smoke and Fire Festival in Maldon. Our team consisted of Simon, Group Head of Innovation, Matt, Site Director, Ben, Senior Innovation Chef, and Connor, NPD Chef.
A company spokesman said: “This was an amazing achievement with some really tough competition from the other teams, which included some of the best European teams on the competition circuit and the previous world champions.”
Paloma Capital wins planning consent for four units at Sutton-on-the-forest
Paloma Capital has been given planning consent for four new industrial/warehouse units at its business park on the outskirts of York, which means the scheme now offers design and build opportunities for units up to 15,400 sq ft.
Formerly known as Green Park Business Centre, the 122,000 sq ft site on Goose Lane in Sutton-on-the-forest was acquired by Paloma Capital in 2022 and subsequently rebranded to become ‘York North’.
Jeremy Thiagarajah, Director for Asset Management and Investment at Paloma Capital said: “This site fits well with our acquisition strategy for investing in well located sites in under supplied areas. Whilst we have already committed to a major refurbishment programme of existing accommodation, the provision of four new state of the art units will help to fulfil current demand for purpose-designed, last mile logistics space where occupiers can influence the design.”
York North benefits from strong regional connectivity, just five miles from York Outer Ring Road at Clifton Moor.
Ports of Grimsby and Immingham form a vital link in UK’s food chain
The Ports of Grimsby and Immingham together are the leading UK ports for fish imports, and a vital link in the supply chain, according to ABP.
Leeds Museums add almost £42m to city’s economy
Council-run museums and galleries in Leeds have generated almost £42m for the local economy in the last year, a new report has revealed.
Compiled by Leeds Museums and Galleries, the impressive economic impact report shows the popular visitor attractions have also given a big boost to local jobs as well as supporting businesses and schools.
The stats show the service welcomed just under a million visitors in the last financial year, with more than 47,000 school pupils and 109,312 children taking part in activities and viewing some of the incredible 1.3 million objects which make up the city’s unique collection.
Innovative work to engage visitors online has also seen the service’s website amass an 3.9 million page views this past year, and grant funding applications have attracted £2,365,364 in external funding to Leeds.
Brought together by Leeds Museums and Galleries to assess the positive impact of their sites on the city and the region, the figures include factors such as overall spend on and off sites, employment impacts and spend on local goods and services.
Among the country’s largest services of its kind, Leeds Museums and Galleries operates eight sites: Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds City Museum, Temple Newsam House, Lotherton Hall, Abbey House Museum, Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds Industrial Museum and the Leeds Discovery Centre .
With an annual budget of around £5m, the new figures demonstrate that the service also generates around £8 for every £1 invested in it, and costs just £4.88 each year for every person in Leeds.
Councillor Salma Arif, said: “It’s well known that our museums and galleries give hundreds of thousands of visitors and families each year an unforgettable visitor experience and help raise the positive profile of our city as a cultural destination both regionally and internationally.
“But it’s also important to recognise the huge contribution museums, arts and culture make to the local economy, attracting not only visitors to the city, but inward investment, job creation and education and training opportunities.
“Add to that the positive impact these sites have on residents’ wellbeing in Leeds, through volunteering opportunities and a programme of free, community-based activities, and the wider benefits of having such a thriving and innovative museums and galleries service simply cannot be overstated.”
Environment Agency offers advice to landowners about dumping waste
The Environment Agency is warning property and landowners to be vigilant and secure premises against criminals who target their land and buildings to dump illegally collected waste – which costs the UK £1billion a year.
The Agency says networks of organised criminal gangs operating across the country are targeting privately owned property and land, particularly in rural locations, to dump rubbish collected through illegal means.
In 2023, the Environment Agency’s National Waste Crime Survey found 85% of the landowners and farmers who took part reported being affected by small-scale fly-tipping and 20% by large-scale fly tipping. This June, research conducted by the NFU also revealed 85% of respondents felt the problem of fly-tipping in their area had either not changed or become worse in the last five years.
If waste is dumped on privately-owned land, it is the responsibility of the property or landowner to clean it up at their own expense. Those affected can face costs of more than £200,000 to clear illegally dumped waste from their premises.
Waste crime costs the economy in England an estimated £1 billion a year through evaded tax, environmental and social harm, and lost legitimate business, with enough waste managed illegally across the country to fill 4 million skips annually – about 34 million tonnes.
The Environment Agency is taking action against these criminals, conducting site inspections and prosecuting guilty parties to the full extent of the law. But it’s essential that everyone affected works together to tackle this issue, which is why we are running an awareness campaign to educate, promote behaviour change and drive action amongst society to stop waste criminals for good.
Property and landowners are urged to follow these simple steps to protect themselves against waste criminals trespassing on their premises:
- Check any empty land and property regularly and make sure it is secure.
- Carry out rigorous checks on prospective and new tenants. Property and landowners are responsible for ensuring anyone leasing their property and land complies with regulations. They are committing an offence by allowing waste to be stored on land or property without the relevant permissions. This could leave them liable to prosecution.
- Be vigilant and report any suspected illegal waste activity to the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline: 0800 80 70 60.
“Waste criminals need access to places to dump the rubbish they illegally collect – but your vigilance can stop them. Shutting them out of property and land is just one tactic to scupper these rogues.”
Country Land and Business Association President Victoria Vyvyan said: “Fly-tipping is a crime that is blighting rural communities. Farmers and landowners bear the cost of removing rubbish and they pay on average £1,000 to remove waste. This is not a victimless crime – in some cases they have paid up to £100,000 to clear up other people’s mess or risk facing prosecution themselves.“It’s not just litter blotting the landscape, but tonnes of household and commercial waste which can often be hazardous – even including asbestos and chemicals – endangering farmers, wildlife, livestock, crops and the environment.”
Yorkshire Water volunteers create activity area for children
Volunteers from Yorkshire Water have created an activity area for children at Rockwell Community Centre in Bradford including a tyre balance beam, new benches, several new allotment vegetable beds and a mud play pit.
The Rockwell Centre is a local community centre for Thorpe Edge and surrounding areas. They offer different activities daily, including mental health groups, a singing group, tai chi, Bloomin’ Buds Theatre Company and a youth club.
The work, undertaken with Participate Projects, has provided the community with an outdoor area, particularly for children to play and learn to grow their own vegetables and herbs.
Katie Mahon, founder of Bloomin’ Buds Theatre Company, said: “It was incredible to see the centre as a hive of activity. We were very lucky to have 22 volunteers to help clear up our outside space.
“As a charitable organisation that is always short on funding and manpower, our outdoor space is often last to be sorted out, so this helped us massively!”
The volunteering comes as part of a wider partnership between Yorkshire Water and Participate Projects, a non-profit that aims to co-ordinate and increase delivery of colleague volunteering in communities across the county.
Anne Reed, social value and education advisor at Yorkshire Water, said: “Our colleagues are passionate about helping out in local communities and providing value beyond our water and wastewater services.
“Our partnership with Participate Projects is already increasing the frequency of our volunteering events and is providing meaningful support to organisations and people across Yorkshire.”
The partnership has already seen Yorkshire Water colleagues embarking on a range of volunteering projects, from decorating community spaces to building outdoor play areas for children, with more plans still over the next few months.
Anthony Waddington, CEO at Participate Projects, added: “We are really excited to see Yorkshire Water colleagues’ time and skills make a real impact in the communities where they operate. The passion and enthusiasm we have seen from them in supporting the people and places around them is a great match to the values and mission of Participate.”
Leeds property developer opens 6,000 sq ft office in Sheffield regeneration hotspot
Leeds-based Torsion Group – a developer and contractor of student accommodation and build-to-rent residential schemes – has taken over the first floor of Velocity Village at 2 Tenter Street, joining the likes of DLP Planning, Anytime Fitness, Ministry of Justice and Wake Smith Solicitors.
Torsion Group is working on a number of flagship projects across the UK, including Sky Gardens in Leeds and Hollis Croft in Sheffield.
The under-construction Hollis Croft – a 17-storey tower with 234 build-to-rent apartments – is located just a stone’s throw from Torsion’s new Sheffield base. The development also sits directly next to True Sheffield – a 27-storey student-residential tower that is currently being delivered by Aztec Construction.
Like Torsion Group, Aztec Construction has also opened a new office in the area and now occupies over 10,000 sq ft of space at the nearby Pennine Five campus, which has undergone a multi-million-pound refurbishment over recent years.
Both Velocity Village and Pennine Five are owned by RBH Properties.
Jeremy Hughes, Director at RBH Properties, said: “We are delighted to welcome Torsion Group to 2 Tenter Street and are looking forward to seeing them join the evolving business community in the area.
“Much like Aztec Construction over at our Pennine Five campus, Torsion has realised the huge potential of this area of Sheffield City Centre, basing themselves here while simultaneously developing a new residential scheme just metres away.
“We believe our own investment into the area has provided real confidence and acted as a catalyst for further growth. It’s incredibly exciting to see several new residential developments underway and new businesses moving in, helping to cement the area’s promising future.”
