ABP contracts JLL to promote its property portfolio
Associated British Ports has signed a strategic agency partnership with Jones Lang LaSalle to help promote the property portfolio across its 21 ports in England, Scotland and Wales.
As part of the partnership, ABP and JLL will raise market awareness of the strategic importance of ports in future-proofing the businesses of occupiers, as ABP continues to invest in acquisitions and regeneration.
Henrik L. Pedersen, ABP CEO, said: “When businesses choose to locate on ABP’s port estate, they are choosing the future. Our ports are at the epicentre of building a greener tomorrow, providing businesses with access to multimodal distribution links, urban skills centres and the ability to plug into a vibrant community of like-minded industry partners, committed to clean growth, decarbonisation and energy generation.”
Melinda Cross, Head of Industrial and Logistics at JLL, added: “This partnership with ABP represents a significant opportunity to bring cutting-edge industrial and logistics spaces to the market. JLL’s extensive network and understanding of occupier needs will help showcase ABP’s diverse portfolio, which offers businesses resilient, future-proof locations and emerging clean energy hubs. This collaboration aligns with our commitment to driving sustainable growth and supporting the evolving needs of modern supply chains.”
ABP is one of the largest commercial landowners in the UK, with a portfolio of 8,600 acres, over 2,400 acres of development land and a rent roll of £130m. ABP’s locations provide development options, including the recently-acquired 227 acre-Stallingborough Interchange at Immingham.
These locations provide the access to major distribution hubs via road, rail and sea. ABP is also leading the way in creating clean growth hubs, offering competitive, sustainable options to help prepare businesses located on port estate for the future.
Forgemasters welcomes agreements between Europe’s two biggest defence spenders
The signing of the Trinity House Agreement marks a fundamental shift in the UK’s relations with Germany and for European security, says Sheffield Forgemasters.
The agreement between Europe’s two biggest defence spenders aims to strengthen national security and economic growth in the face of growing Russian aggression and increasing threats.
A proposed, new UK Rheinmetall factory will see the UK manufacture artillery gun barrels for the first time in 10 years, with steel supplied by Sheffield Forgemasters.
The deal will see the UK and Germany work together systemically for years to come on a range of ground-breaking defence projects and across air, land, sea, space, and cyber.
Gary Nutter, CEO at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “I am delighted to confirm that Sheffield Forgemasters is working to reinstate gun barrels manufacture after a 20-year hiatus, to supply large-calibre gun-barrels to Germany’s Rheinmetall AG, servicing UK defence contracts and exports.”
Keepmoat subsidiary starts housing projects in Manchester
Keepmoat subsidiary MCI Developments has started on site at three developments in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, which will deliver 84 affordable homes across the region.
When complete the homes in Oswaldtwistle, Leigh, and Tyldesley will be made available through housing associations Places for People, Your Housing Group and Torus, representing a multi-million pound investment into the regeneration of the North West.
In Oswaldtwistle the developer is regenerating abandoned and derelict land, formerly home to Ryddings Mill. The site will be transformed into a 37-home development available for affordable rent in partnership with Places for People. MCI Developments will create 27 semi-detached and mews properties, consisting of two and three-bedroom homes, and 10 semi-detached town houses.
The developer has also started work with Torus on a site in Shakerley Road, Tyldesley, unlocking another important piece of land in the North West. MCI Developments will transform the 2.4 acre site into 37 affordable homes which will be managed by Torus.
In Leigh, 10 additional homes will be delivered on MCI Developments’s joint venture at Waterside Point with Your Housing Group. The additional plots make use of derelict brownfield land with the site formerly home to a closed nightclub and gym. The scheme will deliver a mix of one bedroom flats, two- and three bedroom homes.
Craig Murphy, Regional MD at MCI Developments, said: “Across these sites we are making a significant investment into creating fantastic communities, improving biodiversity and upgrading frequently used public footpaths. We’re proud to stand alongside our partners to mark the beginning of our delivery of new developments.”
Target date set for bus station reopening
A target date of January 5 has been set for the reopening of Bradford Interchange bus station.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is working to bring the facility back into operation ahead of a final decision on reopening, which will be made by members next week.
Rail passengers will be able to use the lower concourse of the Interchange after the morning commute on October 28th (from midday) as part of a phased reopening of the wider structure.
Combined Authority officers took a decision to close the Interchange on safety grounds after some concrete fell in the basement.
Following initial findings from structural surveys, the Combined Authority has been reassured that the bus Interchange could safely reopen with mitigation measures in place.
These findings have been backed by an independent expert.
Preparations for reactivating the bus station are already underway, including health and safety checks, staff training, deep cleaning and relocating the travel centre back to the bus station.
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: “I’m glad to see progress being made on our plan to safely reopen the bus station as soon as we can.
“In the meantime, access to and from the rail station will be made easier before the end of the month.”
Due to the need to complete carriageway waterproofing works which were underway before the Interchange closed, six bus stands out of a total 29 will stay out of action until at least April 2025, meaning some services will remain on-street until that time.
Which services will return is not yet confirmed.
Real time information will also be unavailable until at least February whilst new bus timetables are being developed for services moving back to the Interchange.
Extra staff will be deployed at the bus station, and printed information will be available at bus stops to keep passengers informed.
The lifts, escalator and toilets will all be in operation when the lower concourse reopens on October 28th.
At the same time, the rail station access ramp will close to allow for resurfacing and the installation of new lighting and artwork. Work to transform the former taxi rank into a new public plaza area is ongoing.
Sheffield looks to welcome more major events with development of new strategy
Sheffield could play host to more major events if plans are approved to develop a new city-wide events strategy.
Sheffield already has a reputation as a city of major events, festivals and conferences. The city has played host the Women’s Euros 2022 and the Rugby League World Cup, the 2024 MOBO Awards, and most recently, the third leg of the Tour of Britain. Sheffield was also shortlisted to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in solidarity with Ukraine.
Alongside successfully bidding for some of the most high-profile and internationally significant events, Sheffield has its own home-grown festivals, from DocFest, which has been in the city for over 30 years, to Tramlines, one of the UK’s longest running, city-based music festivals. Sheffield is also home of Off the Shelf and No Bounds, which was recently described by the Guardian as ‘dizzingly daring’ and ‘impressive’.
Earlier this year, a brand-new podcast festival, Crossed Wires, was also launched in the city, attracting talent from across the UK and beyond, to Sheffield.
The city also has a strong track-record for bidding for and hosting a range of world-leading conferences, including the International Coeliac Disease Symposium and the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons.
Esther Britten, Deputy Director and Head of Events at UK Sport, said: “Sheffield has been a supportive partner and host to UK Sport funded major events over the last decade.
“Their commitment to not only staging the very best events but maximising their impact on the local community has enhanced the city’s reputation through the UK as a recognised host of the very best major international sporting events, we see them as a key host city looking into the future.”
A new proposal from Sheffield City Council to develop a city-wide major events strategy would seek to take things a step further – attracting more events to the city, better events and by creating a framework to ensure events hosted have a lasting, positive impact on local people, local businesses, communities and the Sheffield economy.
If given the go ahead, a new major events plan will be developed, aiming to provide a clearer ambition for events in the city and an action plan to transform Sheffield into a recognised destination for home-grown, curated, commissioned, and nomadic events.
Councillor Martin Smith, Chair of the Economic Development and Skills Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “Events are big business, not just in Sheffield, but across the UK.
“Not only is the economic impact of events significant for the city, but events help us build our reputation and allow others to see and experience Sheffield on a different scale. Events bring people together, they celebrate our diversity and all of our local communities, helping to make Sheffield the vibrant place it is to live in and visit.
“Hosting more events, and more diverse events will help us attract more visitors to the city, generate more income, they will bring investment and help us to grow our economy.”
The idea behind the proposed plan is to create an approach that helps decision-makers identify the very best and most beneficial events for Sheffield and its people.
The plan would focus on ensuring events being held in the city are of a real benefit, with things like economic impact, community benefits and ensuring inclusivity and diversity always considered when bidding for and putting on events.
It will look to identify opportunities across sport, business and culture and find events that Sheffield is not only a good fit for, but that are also a good fit for Sheffield and the city’s ambitions.
Councillors will be asked to approve proposals to begin development of the Major Events Plan for Sheffield at an Economic Development and Skills Committee meeting on Thursday 31 October 2024.
If agreed, the first phase of development will involve engaging with experts in the field and local partners to help identify future opportunities for Sheffield.
This will be vital in ensuring the pipeline of events is right for the city and well positioned to attract wider investment.
Sheffield City Council snaps up former Salvation Army Citadel
A building which has stood in Sheffield city centre for well over a century, and now the former Salvation Army Citadel, has been acquired by Sheffield City Council.
The building, on Cross Burgess Street, opened in 1894 and was used by the Salvation Army for more than a century as their main church venue, before the charity moved out in 1999. Since then, the building, which includes a Grade II listed, red-bricked castle-style frontage, has remained empty.
The Citadel is surrounded by developments that have already transformed the city centre including the Heart of the City project, the award-winning Cambridge Street Collective foodhall, Leah’s Yard and several new shops, cafes and leisure venues including Pounds Park.
The building stands next to the brand-new Radisson Blu Hotel, a 4-star hotel with 154 rooms and rooftop bar and restaurant including an outdoor terrace overlooking the Peace Gardens.
Across the road is the former Cole Brothers department store, where regeneration company Urban Splash are currently putting plans together for the future of the building. Work is also nearing completion on Fargate to transform it into a new public realm area complete with ‘Grey to Green’ planting with the project linking in with the upcoming pedestrianisation of Pinstone Street and Surrey Street.
Sheffield City Council has already started the process of assessing the building and determining what the future usage of it could be with a further announcement expected in the coming months.
In a joint statement following the conclusion of the deal, Cllr Ben Miskell, chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council and Mr Robert Hill said: “Sheffield City Council and Tandem Properties Limited are pleased to have reached terms to settle court proceedings and at the same time the Council has acquired the property known as the Citadel.
“Sheffield City Council will now be progressing plans to see this important heritage building improved and both parties look forward to proposals then being progressed to see the building brought back into use. Neither party will be making further comment on this agreement.”
Make UK acquires Sheffield-based legal practice
Make UK has acquired fast-growing and dynamic Sheffield-based legal practice Bhayani Law.
As part of its portfolio of business services, Make UK is already one of the country’s foremost providers of employment law consultancy and advice to thousands of businesses across the UK, from FTSE100 companies and hallmark British brands through to innovative startups.
For Make UK, this acquisition forms part of an ongoing strategy to strengthen and grow Make UK’s employment law service regionally throughout the UK and to increase our customer base by acquiring one of the most exciting and dynamic specialist firms in the UK.
This acquisition gives Bhayani Law access to a wide range of support and resources available from Make UK to grow their HR and employment law business to even more effectively support the business community in the South Yorkshire region.
Streets Chartered Accountants’ golf day secures hole in one for Air Ambulance
Lincoln-based Streets Chartered Accountants, a top 40 accountancy practice, has hosted their eleventh annual Charity Golf Day raising a record amount of more than £7,500 for the Air Ambulance.
The total amount fundraised will be divided between three regional charities; East Anglian Air Ambulance, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
The winning team on the day was Bickford Ltd with Martin Sheardown coming in second and Fisher Motor Factors in third place. The winners of the Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin competitions were Scott Park (Mens) and Alice Gray (Ladies) and Rory Colhoun respectively.
Streets would like to say a huge thank you to all those people who sponsored, donated, gave their time and helped in some way, without whom the day would not be possible.
The event received fantastic support with 25 teams taking part and more than 30 local businesses sponsoring the day, including Business Link Magazine, which sponsored a hole at the event. There were Stableford team prizes as well as competitions such as Longest Drive, Nearest the Pin, Beat the Pro, All four hit the Green and Hole in One.
Commenting on the day, Streets Partner Mark Bradshaw said: “The support we have received has been truly overwhelming and has helped us raise a staggering £7,545 for our three local Air Ambulance services. We’re delighted to be able to support our local Air Ambulance Services, who are the true winners of the day.”
Streets’ 12th Charity Golf Day will take place on Friday 4th July at Lincoln Golf Club, Torksey. Once again this will be in aid of the three Air Ambulances for which Streets have raised more than £70,000 for over the last 11 years.
Bradford and Hull are UK’s most entrepreneurial cities, says report
A new report has revealed that two Yorkshire cities are the most entrepreneurial in the UK, with Bradford taking the top spot and Hull snapping at its heels in second place. Leeds is ninth on the list.
However, Sheffield and Leeds can out top for the highest levels of business confidence.
The report from Yorkshire-based marketing agency Wildcat Digital, compares four data sources across 30 of the biggest cities in the UK. Each data point represents a factor which is relevant to the city, based on its entrepreneurial credentials and business innovation.
Wildcat Digital have collated, analysed and ranked this data to reveal the top 10 cities which are the most entrepreneurial. These ranking factors include:
- A Higher Number of New Business Registrations (Business Births) per 100,000 people
- A Higher Business Confidence Score
- A Higher Number of Self-employed Workers per 100,000 people
- A Higher Number of Business owners on LinkedIn (based on profiles) per 100,000 people
Bradford performed well across all four categories, scoring:
- 45 points for new business registrations
- 100 points for business confidence
- 36 points for number of self-employed workers
- 56 points for number of business owners on LinkedIn Chaudhry Mobeen, founder of MealPro, a Bradford-based business that offers ready-made healthy meals, said: “Bradford is an amazing place to own a business because of the strong sense of community here. The togetherness and the support found in the area is unlike anything you’d find in other parts of the UK. If you took the same situation and compared how it plays out in London versus Bradford, you’d see completely different outcomes. “I can personally attest to the unmatched community spirit in Bradford, having grown up in London. This culture of togetherness is evident in how businesses here help each other out. Just yesterday, we ran out of grated cheese on an unusually busy night, and a neighbouring business immediately stepped in to help us out without hesitation.”
College of Building joins PIPES heating network in Leeds
Leeds College of Building’s North Street Campus is set to benefit from the latest expansion of the Leeds PIPES district heating network.
The network uses heat recovered from non-recyclable domestic waste to provide warmth and hot water to buildings in the city. The project is helping businesses and residents to move away from costly fossil-fuel heating systems to more reliable, affordable, and lower carbon heating.
Expansion into the South Bank area of Holbeck and Hunslet comes after £24.5m funding was secured to expand the network. This multi-million-pound investment will be key in delivering Leeds City Council’s ambition of becoming a zero-carbon city by 2030.
David Pullein, Leeds College of Building Vice Principal – Finance & Resources, said: “Joining the Leeds PIPES network was an easy decision to make, given the original gas boilers at our North Street Campus only operate at 75% efficiency. Switching over to the heat network brings several benefits, the most significant being a 3,800-tonne carbon saving over 20 years. “This low-carbon energy source will significantly reduce our costs and help to bring the site in line with our modern South Bank Campus, which already uses air source heat pumps and biomass pellets. “Moving to the district heating scheme is one of our largest environmental actions to date. It is a big step in supporting Leeds College of Building’s sustainability agenda and the city’s greener vision for the future.”Yorkshire Building Society Chief Exec leads sleepout team to raise charity funds
A team of 13 senior leaders from Yorkshire Building Society spent the night under the stars to raise money for the mutual’s charity partner, FareShare, as part of CEO Sleepout’s event at Elland Road Stadium in Leeds.
The group of colleagues, which included chief exec Susan Allen, CFO Tom Ranger and interim CCO Tom Simpson, raised more than £13,000. The group was joined by FareShare’s chief executive officer, Kris Gibbon-Walsh and network director, Gareth Batty.
CEO Sleepout is a nationwide event which sees business leaders sleep outdoors for a night to raise money and awareness for charities that fight homelessness and poverty.
Susan Allen said: “At Yorkshire Building Society, a core part of our purpose is helping people improve their financial wellbeing and find a place to call home. That’s why we’ve partnered with FareShare to support them in their mission to tackle the problem of food waste, and to help lift people out of financial hardship and into the world of work.
“Taking part in CEO Sleepout not only gave us a great opportunity to support FareShare, but also helped us to gain further insights into the challenges facing local people in the grip of financial hardship.”
“Sleeping out for the night was a powerful experience, with all the participants creating such a supportive atmosphere. As well as giving up our home comforts for a night, my colleagues and I learned more about the issues that so many people are facing and how businesses, like ours, can come together to help to overcome some of these challenges.”
Kris Gibbon-Walsh, chief executive officer of FareShare said: “We are hugely grateful to all the Yorkshire Building Society colleagues who took on the challenge of the CEO Sleepout in support of FareShare, and for all the generous donations received.
“I was delighted to be able to join members of the Yorkshire Building Society’s senior leadership team at Elland Road and contribute to raising awareness of homelessness. Through our work redistributing surplus food to thousands of frontline charities across the UK, we witness firsthand the scale of need in communities.
“This partnership with Yorkshire Building Society not only supports our mission to reduce food waste and provide vital meals but also makes a crucial contribution to our employability programme, which helps thousands of people find long-term employment in the food industry. Together, we are making a lasting impact on people’s lives and strengthening communities.”
Yorkshire Building Society’s partnership with FareShare began in November 2023. Through the partnership, the mutual aims to raise over £1 million to fund Building Skills for the Future employability programmes in seven of the charity’s 34 regional centres, including Yorkshire, London, Bristol, Milton Keynes, Merseyside, Edinburgh, and Cardiff. The programmes will offer coaching, support, practical workshops and work experience to help enable participants to secure full-time employment.
In addition, the partnership will fund an outreach programme offering free of charge face-to-face sessions and workshops helping participants overcome financial hardship by supporting the building of important skills such as CV writing, job searching and improving financial wellbeing. It is hoped that the two programmes will help 2,500 people improve their employability and help them become more financially resilient.
Yorkshire leaders meet in Parliament to share “blueprint” to close health and wealth gap that costs UK £180bn a year
Civic, business, and university leaders met in Parliament yesterday (Tuesday 22 October) to show how Yorkshire can provide a “blueprint” for the new Labour government, regional mayors, and businesses to address health and economic inequalities that cost UK plc at least £180bn a year.
The event, sponsored by Fabian Hamilton, MP for Leeds North East, heard how Yorkshire and the Humber makes the “perfect test bed” for new, devolved ways of working, as set out in a white paper – Empowering Local Places for Health and Prosperity – which calls on central government to devolve more health powers to local places.
Based on experiences of tackling inequalities in the Yorkshire and Humber region, which has both the third lowest life expectancy and third lowest employment rate in the country, the white paper also provides national, regional, and business leaders with 10 key recommendations to close such health disparities and build a more inclusive economy.
At last night’s event in the Commons, the white paper authors urged attending cross-party MPs, regional leaders, NHS executives, and representatives of influential national bodies to adopt the recommendations as “a valuable blueprint” to address “immediate challenges and unlock opportunity,” in line with Labour government’s five missions to rebuild Britain.
The white paper, originally launched in February and since updated to align with new government policy, aims to prompt action to kickstart growth through a focus on health and wellbeing, taking advantage of opportunities such as enhanced devolution to regional mayors, proposed NHS reforms, and the anticipated UK Industrial Strategy.
MP sponsor of the parliamentary event, Fabian Hamilton, MP for Leeds North East and author of the Building Homes for Britain report which examined how poor housing exacerbates social problems such as ill health, said: “Good health and wellbeing go to the heart of our government’s missions. Kickstarting economic growth, breaking down barriers to individual opportunity, and building an NHS fit for the future requires looking at the deep-seated challenges we face through a health and wellbeing lens.
“As a Yorkshire MP, I am pleased to see leaders in the Yorkshire and Humber region leading the way in putting forward practical recommendations, based on evidence from years of partnership-working, to close the health and wealth divide, not just in Yorkshire but across the UK.
“Our government has pledged a ‘devolution revolution’ and I look forward to seeing how the opportunities of further devolution in Yorkshire can help the region’s leaders go further and faster, while also offering examples from which other parts of the country can learn.”
Richard Stubbs, Chief Executive of Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber and one of the Empowering Local Places for Health and Prosperity white paper authors, said: “Our report focuses on People, Place, Partnerships, Purpose – the 4Ps that we believe can really support the current direction of travel, putting more tools in the hands of local leaders.
“With our diverse economy, and as one of only a handful of regions to be fully covered by mayoral devolution deals from next year, Yorkshire and the Humber offers the perfect test bed for trialling new devolved powers and ways of working that could close health and economic disparities and make a significant contribution to the government’s missions.”
Prof. Liz Mossop, Yorkshire Universities Board Member and Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, said: “Universities across Yorkshire are already driving collaborations to improve the health, productivity and prosperity in their places, working with key partners and academics to build capacity in skills, research, innovation, business support and community engagement.
“Our white paper is a call to action to build on this approach and forge much closer links between universities and policymakers. This will be critical in addressing both the NHS workforce crisis and population health challenges outlined in Lord Darzi’s independent review of the NHS.
“Today has been a fantastic opportunity to share our recommendations with national policymakers and we look forward to continuing these conversations.”
Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “There is compelling evidence that locally led interventions deliver better outcomes, which is why we have been calling for some time for government to let local leaders lead.
“Our white paper demonstrates the impact of purposeful partnership-working between the NHS and local leaders and how we can unleash the power of devolution to do even more. Now is the perfect time to help plot a path towards meaningful change and we hope our recommendations provide a useful starting point.”
As well as putting forward the recommendations to national leaders, the parliamentary event was also an opportunity for national policymakers to learn first-hand about how Yorkshire and Humber is leading the way on collaborative, cross-sector approaches to improving health and economic growth.
In a call to action the white paper concludes: “Despite encouraging signs and the firm commitment of regional partners, health and economic disparities between our region and the UK average continue to grow.
“Urgent action is needed, and we look forward to working closely with national, regional and business leaders to take advantage of accelerated devolution, growth investment, and proposed health service reforms. Together, we can begin to turn the tide on Yorkshire’s health and wealth divide and create a blueprint for other regions across the country.”
Work begins on new housing and independent living development in Rotherham
Leader of Rotherham Council, Councillor Chris Read has joined partner O&P Construction Services to break ground on the site of a new housing and independent living development.
Once complete, the site on Warden Street in Canklow will boast Council homes, assisted living accommodation, plus a new state-of-the-art day centre for people with support needs.
Following Cabinet approval in 2023, a total of £11m is being invested into the site, which includes a six-bedroom property and two two-bedroom apartments, both of which support independent living for people with complex needs.
Alongside the accommodation will be Castleview, a purpose-built day centre which will provide modern and accessible facilities for people with high support needs, in addition to 13 accessible properties which will be available for Council rent to people who meet the criteria.
The new council homes will comprise of 12 two-bedroom apartments for older people and those with a health need, along with a four-bedroom home suitable for a family with wheelchair users.
Together, the plans will help meet the council’s commitment to deliver modern, purpose-built facilities that more effectively meet people’s needs, within environments that are more conducive to maximising independent living and are closer to home.
Councillor Chris Read said: “The council is committed to developing services for people with complex and specialist support needs and this development will deliver just that, enabling better life outcomes for people to lead independent lives.
“In addition, we’re providing more new affordable council homes for local people to rent, helping support our pledge to deliver hundreds of new high-quality homes across the borough by 2026 through the Housing Delivery Programme.”
The properties will occupy land which has been unused since the clearance of unsuitable properties in 2009, with the development expected to complete in spring 2026.
Andy Marshall, Contracts Director at O&P Construction, said: “As a local business it’s a pleasure to partner with Rotherham Council on this development, working collaboratively, we can ensure the project meets the needs of the borough.
“We are certain that we can deliver an excellent project that will provide much needed facilities and housing to benefit the local community.”
The partnership with O&P will build on the Council’s work on social value to promote local employment through council spending. Throughout the works, the South Yorkshire-based builders have committed to employing 10 local people on the project.
In addition to Council investment in the project, the delivery of Council homes on the site has been supported by the Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF2), part of the One Public Estate programme.
Leeds retail park to be sold for £18m
A retail and leisure development in Leeds that includes Aldi and B&M stores, a Costa coffeeshop and McDonalds restaurant is now on the market, following its recent completion.
St Georges Retail Park – a partnership between Commercial Development Projects and Rothstone Estates – is located on Middleton Ringroad, Middleton, and has transformed this nearly six-acre brownfield site into a new retail-led destination.
Mason Partners and Savills are now marketing the completed development with a guide price of offers over £18 million for the freehold of the site, showing a return of 6.35 per cent.
A wide range of businesses are now based at St George’s Retail Park including B&M, Aldi, McDonalds, Costa, Greggs, Subway, Harrison Family Vets, Card Factory, The Extra Care Charitable Trust, Sbarro and Vendor Guarantee.
The development has regenerated the former Leeds City Council bus depot in Middleton and was granted planning permission in 2019. All the buildings have been built with sustainable features, with extensive landscaping across the site.
Mark Rothery from Rothstone Estates said: “We are proud to have delivered St Georges Retail Park and it’s testament to the great location and quality of the development that we have attracted these fantastic businesses here. It has regenerated a former derelict brownfield site and will provide a major economic boost to the local area.”
Freddie Guest from Savills added: “Savills is delighted to bring this prime convenience and food led retail warehouse investment to the market. The investment offers a highly attractive income profile with a weighted unexpired term of over 15 years and boasting excellent ESG credentials.
“We expect this opportunity to appeal to both the UK and global investor audiences, with the scheme perfectly positioned to take advantage of the strong rental growth prospects being witnessed in the retail warehouse sector at this time.”
New electronics group calls for removal of VAT on electrical repairs
A newly-formed coalition of electronics industry leaders, known as CLEAR – Circular Leadership for Electronics and Recycling – is urging the Government to remove VAT on electronic spare parts, repairs, and labour, ahead of the upcoming autumn budget.
The move is said to be part of a broader effort to promote sustainability within the sector and make repairs more accessible and affordable for consumers.
Chaired by James Rigg, CEO of Huddersfield-based Trojan Electronics, the CLEAR group aims to address the mounting issue of electronic waste and the barriers preventing consumers from repairing rather than replacing electrical items. He says removal of VAT on electronic repairs is a “crucial step” toward creating a more circular economy.
“With the upcoming budget, we believe it’s essential to focus on VAT reduction as the first step toward broader circularity measures. This will make repairs more affordable, reduce electronic waste, and promote sustainability.
“45% of consumers say that it’s cheaper to buy a new item than have their existing one repaired. Many hesitate to repair electronics when costs near the price of a new device. Removing VAT from repair services would make repairs more affordable, encouraging consumers to fix rather than replace their devices,” said Rigg.
CLEAR is advocating for the UK Government to follow the example set by countries like Austria and France, which have introduced subsidies for electrical repairs.
Rigg believes that by removing VAT on refurbished electronics, UK consumers would be more inclined to choose repair options, significantly cutting down on e-waste.
He said a recent survey revealed that 82% of consumers recognise their role in reducing e-waste, highlighting a growing demand for sustainable solutions. However, to make repair a viable option, the government needs to take action, he said. This means removing VAT and creating easy-to-use platforms for consumers to find local repair services.
He added: “Research highlights consumer frustration with the high cost of repairs. More than half of respondents said repair costs deterred them from fixing broken items, with 45% stating it was cheaper to buy new products. Additionally, 85% of consumers supported stronger government action on sustainability in the electronics sector, and 91% backed the removal of VAT on electrical spares and labour.”
Search is over for new owners of family business
A longstanding family business that rents out plant and machinery to many of the biggest events in the UK, as well as providing industrial air compressor solutions to manufacturers and businesses across the country, is now owned by its employees, after transferring into an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
William G Search Limited was established in Leeds in 1946 and employs a team of more than 120 people across offices in Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield.
Its clients include compressed air users, the construction industry and many major outdoor events such as Leeds and Reading Festivals and Aintree Racecourse – where it has supplied equipment for the Grand National for almost 50 years. The firm was advised on its EOT by Cathy Cook from Yorkshire-based LCF Law.
Richard William Search and his brother, Jamie have owned and run the business for the last 35 years. It was originally founded by their grandfather, Bill Search.
Richard said: “When it came to succession planning, our children already have successful careers elsewhere, so we were keen to find the right way to secure the future of our firm for the people that matter the most – our team and our clients.
“We had been approached several times to sell outright to competitors and other big operators in the sector, but we felt this option did not fit with our ethos. We are a family business at heart, and we wanted to do something our grandfather, who established the business 78 years ago would be proud of.”
Richard and Jamie began exploring the EOT option after discussing it with a fellow member of the Business Alliance, which is a local business leaders’ group. They had recently been through the same process.
Richard said: “Cathy and the team at LCF Law came highly recommended, so we decided to look into what it involved. The advice we were given was incredibly prudent and we felt it was the perfect solution for us.
“There are lots of benefits to the team, including tax free profit share, but most importantly they’re now all stakeholders in the company. By setting up the EOT, our team benefits from the firm’s financial success now and in the future, whilst also leaving a real legacy.
“Crucially, the EOT also safeguards the future of our people and clients for the long term. Our clients can be sure that we remain the safest and most reliable supplier to do business with – we have worked hard to build those relationships, and it was important to us that we retained our approach – so this was a big driver for us.
“The best people to maintain this culture are the people who have worked with us for years.”
Cathy Cook from LCF Law said: “EOT owned businesses are generally successful in terms of resilience, profitability and staff retention and one of their strengths is that the company can plan for the long term.
“The Search brothers needed a retirement strategy, but they didn’t want their business to be sold and split up – they didn’t feel at all comfortable with that. They wanted to leave the business in the best possible shape for the future, and as part of that process Richard will be working in the business for at least three more years to manage the transition.”
Richard added: “Of course it’s been an emotional time for us – we wanted to make the right choices and Cathy and her team made it a straightforward process that was delivered on time and within budget. We were delighted that everything went to plan.
“Our team are now starting to see what being an EOT means, and we are looking forward to a cracking future.”
South Yorkshire firm signs landmark deal with Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund
Sheffield-based FinLegal has become the first company in South Yorkshire to complete a deal with the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II since the fund’s launch in March.
The company has raised £2m to accelerate the growth of its client base internationally. The funding has come from NPIF II – Mercia Equity Finance, managed by Mercia and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), and Mercia’s own funds.
FinLegal’s platform is designed for managing class actions or large numbers of similar claims, where a law firm may be acting on behalf of thousands or even millions of claimants. It enables claimants to engage with lawyers more effectively while allowing law firms to benefit from automation and AI and reduce operating costs. FinLegal states that it can enable legal teams to handle up to six times more claims.
The company was founded in 2019 by Steven Shinn, an IT specialist who had been following the news stories about the Post Office group action and recognised the potential to use automation to make the process more efficient. Since its launch in 2020, the platform has processed over 2 million claims and is now used by the UK’s leading mass claims firm Leigh Day, the Australian market leader Maurice Blackburn and a growing number of mid-market firms in the US.
Mr Shinn said: “”The claims market is ripe for a platform like ours. Many claims are run on a no-win no-fee basis and increasingly there are fee caps, so operating costs are critical. Our solution reduces costs, automates but also improves client care and makes it possible to manage claims at a scale which might otherwise not be viable. It has already been adopted by the some of the leading claims firms and this investment will enable us to accelerate our international growth.”
Corporate campers rough it to raise charity funds
Corporate campers will be roughing it by sleeping outdoors to raise money for Dove House Hospice, Hull Homeless and Resettlement Project (HARP) and the Hull KR Foundation – and they’re paying well over any hotel rate in the region to raise charity funds.
Deb Oxley, founding director of Oxley Works Ltd and a Deputy Lieutenant of the East Riding, said: “Each charity is supporting local people at a time of real need in their lives. They are working with homelessness, end of life care, or helping people get back into the mainstream through education and employment. So even though I am dreading a night in the cold, I am happy to make that sacrifice to help, in my own small way.”
The Big Hull and East Yorkshire Sleepout 2024 will take place at Sewell Group Craven Park from 7pm on Thursday 7 November until 7am the next day. The event is the brainchild of Sean Henderson, MD of Sewell Facilities Management, who will be braving the elements with growing numbers of colleagues, clients and contacts including Paul Hamnett, chief executive of the Foundation, and Chris Sadler, chief executive of Dove House.
The participants will be stripped of all luxuries and left to sleep out in the cold terracing and seating of the stadium equipped with only a sleeping bag and some cardboard.
They are asked to raise a minimum of £500 to take part, and to sign up a companion as well. The Rooted in Hull project will provide a warming but simple meal of soup and bread, and there will be opportunities to donate more cash by bidding in a silent auction for such “luxuries” as a camp bed.
Jo Barnes, MDof Sewell Group, plans to draw on the experience of camping trips when her sons were young. She said: “I know it’s all about layers, a woolly hat, warm drinks and a few laughs along the way. The causes we are raising money for are all really important to our community, and, on the upside, it’s not like I’m running a marathon and have to have a training plan in preparation, so I think I’m getting away lightly!”
Chris prepared for the sleepout challenge by scouring the stadium for suitable locations to get his head down – stretching out on the terraces, bedding down between the seats and even nestling at the bottom of a stairwell.
He admitted: “I’m just not sure this is the right challenge for me to be involved in. I think I can just about contend with sleeping in a cardboard box in the middle of November but the big challenge for me as a lifelong Hull FC fan will be convincing colleagues to join me for a night under the stars – and doing it in the red and whites’ backyard!
“Raising the £500 target shouldn’t be seen as a hurdle. Start by reaching out to friends and family, and then tap into your network of clients, suppliers, or customers. Office-friendly activities, like a bake-off followed by a bake sale, a lunchtime quiz, or even raffling off a holiday day, can generate a substantial portion of your target. These events not only help raise funds but also create excitement in the workplace, energising meetings and offering opportunities to reconnect with people you may not have spoken to in a while.”
Deb added: “I’m doing this because local charities depend almost entirely on local support. It’s important that everyone that can, from time to time, donate some of their time, thought, energy or even money to organisations that exist because there is a need that the public or private sector can’t fill.
“I am really looking forward however to spending some quality time with other local leaders to hopefully discuss how we can do more for all of the charities in the area – and to seeing how each of us copes with the cold too!
“But having never done this I am out of my depth! Three things that I will take with me – and hopefully bring back – are my sense of humour, my stamina and a big hot water bottle!”
Drax to invest in ‘FastRig’ sail project to cut shipping sector carbon
Drax Group is to invest £1m into a partnership with Smart Green Shipping to develop and use innovative wind-assisted ‘FastRig’ technology, which will be used to help decarbonise the shipping sector.
The Drax £1m will be matched by funding from the Government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition grant, which will see Smart Green Shipping’s, lightweight, retractable wingsail installed on a vessel, with a view to demonstrating how the technology can reduce fuel consumption and resulting emissions by up to 30% per year.
Smart Green Shipping is currently undertaking sea trials of FastRig on one of Nuclear Transport Solutions’ specialist vessels, the Pacific Grebe – a purpose-built ship designed to carry nuclear cargo around the world safely. The sea trials will conclude by the end of October and will provide Smart Green Shipping with accurate, independently verified performance data.
The greenhouse gas emissions from shipping contribute around 3% of all global emissions, having risen 20% over the last decade. An earlier feasibility study conducted in partnership with Drax demonstrated potential fuel savings on ships equipped with FastRig of up to 30% per year on transatlantic routes.
If the latest demonstration is successful, work to install the technology on a commercial biomass vessel can begin, helping to decarbonise this hard-to-abate sector. The technology could also prove vital to further reducing supply chain emissions from the bulk transport of Drax’s sustainable biomass, which is used to produce around 8% of Britain’s renewable power.
Diane Gilpin, CEO and founder of Smart Green Shipping said: “Wind is abundant, free, and exclusively available to any ship equipped to use it. Modern 21st century easily retrofittable wing sails lower the cost of propelling ships, which reduces the dependency on commodity-based fuels – whether fossil or alternative fuels – and improves supply chain certainty. Smart Green Shipping shares a joint mission with Drax Group to use renewables to move renewables. We are immensely grateful for the support from Drax Group to create seamless and easy-to-access wind solutions for cargo owners and ship owners. The first commercial installation of FastRig is incredibly exciting and an important milestone as we derisk the transition to wind for the whole shipping ecosystem.”
Miguel Veiga Pestana, Chief Sustainability Officer at Drax said: “Smart Green Shipping’s technology represents a landmark moment for the maritime energy transition and Drax is proud to provide this funding, which re-affirms our commitment to becoming a carbon-negative business by 2030. We look forward to continuing our longstanding partnership as we work together on this exciting project, which could allow us to significantly reduce emissions from the shipping of sustainable biomass, and help to decarbonise a crucial part of our global supply chain.”
