Acquisition of coach companies expands Go-Ahead’s North & West Yorkshire presence
The Go-Ahead Group has acquired four regional coach companies, marking a significant expansion in North and West Yorkshire, and the North East.
The acquisition includes Procters Coaches in North Yorkshire, Compass Royston serving Stockton, Middlesbrough & Teesside, Esk Valley operating in North and East Riding of Yorkshire, and Fourway Coaches in West Yorkshire.
With 200 new employees and a fleet of 140 vehicles across five depots, this acquisition strengthens Go-Ahead’s foothold in the region and continues to build key relationships with local authorities and commercial partners.
Matt Carney, Chief Executive of Go-Ahead Bus, said: “This acquisition aligns seamlessly with Go-Ahead’s overarching mission to provide reliable, accessible, and sustainable transport solutions. We are committed to upholding our values of caring for our customers, our team, and our communities, while maintaining our position as trusted industry leaders.”
Ben Gilligan, Managing Director for East Yorkshire Buses, said: “We are excited to welcome these reputable companies into the Go-Ahead family, this acquisition represents a milestone in our growth journey, allowing us to expand our operations across a broader geography in Yorkshire.”
Kevin Procter, who founded Procters Coaches in 1990, said: “We’re proud of everything we’ve achieved in the past 30 years. I turned my father’s taxi company into Procters Coaches, starting with one minibus and one large coach.
“We have been on a journey of growth and innovation, and we are excited to hand over to the trusted Go-Ahead Group. We are fully supportive of Go-Ahead’s commitment to our team and their approach to driving positive change in the UK coach market, for local communities, customers, and the region.”
North Yorkshire insolvency practitioner appointed regional chair of R3
A well-known insolvency practitioner who has operated across Yorkshire and Teesside for over 25 years, Dave Broadbent, has been appointed as regional chair of R3, the insolvency and restructuring trade body.
Dave, who lives in Northallerton, began working in the insolvency sector in 1997, becoming one of the UK’s youngest insolvency practitioners when he began taking formal appointments at David Horner & Co in 2005. He assisted in growing the practice which was acquired by Begbies Traynor in 2007, before going on to establish his own firm, Broadbents, in 2010 which became part of Begbies Traynor five years later.
Since then, Dave, a partner at Begbies Traynor, has led the firm’s offices in York and Teesside, specialising in advising small to medium-sized owner-managed businesses as well as the pub sector, hairdressing franchisees and charities, across the full range of insolvency issues.
Dave has been a member of R3 for nearly 20 years and more recently has also served on the Yorkshire Regional Committee.
Dave takes over from Eleanor Temple, barrister at Kings Chambers in Leeds and recently appointed as King’s Counsel, who has been regional chair of Yorkshire and the Humber for the last seven years.
In his new role, Dave will continue Eleanor’s work, supported by new deputy chair Jodie Wildridge, an insolvency barrister at Exchange Chambers in Leeds. Together, they will work to raise the profile of R3 and its hundreds of members in the region, work with R3 to plan and deliver events and conferences for its members in Yorkshire and the Humber, and support the representation work it carries out on the profession’s behalf.
Dave says: “I’m very proud of the work I do as an insolvency practitioner, and, having practiced within the Yorkshire region for over 25 years, I felt it was time to give something back.
“It’s also a great opportunity to promote the positive role played by reputable professionals within the insolvency sector – we’re fortunate that Yorkshire is one of the largest and most dynamic centres for the profession and, together, we’re responsible for supporting hundreds of businesses every year, often in very difficult situations.”
Hessle-based SMS Towage acquired by Boluda
Boluda Towage has signed an agreement to acquire Hessle-based company SMS Towage Ltd.
The acquisition involves taking over the harbour & offshore towage services and marine operations, together with the management, office staff, crew, and fleet, based in the UK.
Operating in the UK since 1992, first as a ship management company and since 2002 as a towage operator, SMS has emerged as a major player in the UK towage market. Currently, the company is operating in the UK ports/regions of Tyne, Tees, Humber, Portsmouth, South Wales, and Belfast with a fleet of 20 tugs.
The addition of SMS will strengthen the position of Boluda Towage, already operating in the ports of Invergordon (Cromarty Firth), London, Liverpool, and Southampton, in towage and sustainable maritime services, with a broader scope in the UK.
After the official closing of the transaction, SMS will be part of Boluda Towage’s organization in the United Kingdom, and the new brand name will be Boluda Towage SMS. The local management team of Boluda Towage SMS will report to Philip Dulson, General Manager of Boluda Towage in the UK.
Commenting on the sale, SMS Towage owner Paul Escreet said: “The decision for us to accept the opportunity to sell SMS Towage to Boluda Towage came at just the right time, as we embark on a new chapter of business growth and development.
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the entire team for their unwavering dedication and hard work while working within SMS Towage. You have been the backbone of our success, and I am confident that under Boluda’s ownership, SMS Towage will continue to thrive. My best wishes go out to each one of you as you embrace this exciting transition.”
Vicente Boluda Fos, Chairman at Boluda Corporación Marítima, said that “to continue being leaders in the international maritime towing sector, our company needs to expand its scope of operations and we are proud that a professional company like SMS Towage wants to be part of our Group.”
Vice President executive, Boluda Towage, Mr. Vicente Boluda Ceballos, added: “The strong local team, with highly engaged colleagues, will bring a lot of experience and expertise to our company. Having exciting times ahead of us we certainly intend to deploy SMS Towage’s professional crews and experienced employees on future projects.”
Delegates encouraged to get their teeth into Humber Biz Week
Organisers of one of the Humber’s biggest corporate get-togethers are inviting delegates to eat their way through Biz Week as they count down to this year’s showcase.
A festival of more than 40 business events is guaranteed to test the staying power of even the most determined of networkers but Biz Week chair Pat Coyle promises there will be no shortage of refuelling options.
New to the programme this year is a Street Food Supper Club, a collaboration between one of Hull city centre’s most vibrant dining destinations, a business supper club marking its tenth anniversary, and the Hull Young Professionals group.
Expected to pull a big crowd, the Street Food Supper Club will bring a party atmosphere to Paragon Arcade on Monday June 3, the first day of Humber Business Week.
Food vendors including HullBID Awards winner Milchig and finalist Stretch Pizza plus Oishii Ne Asian street food restaurant will be selling their wares between 4pm and 8pm. Also planning to open are Out of the Attic record store and Artisan Flowers, with Paragon Arcade owners Allenby Commercial providing entertainment.
Charlie Allenby, Business Development Director at Allenby Commercial and a member of Hull Young Professionals, said: “We were approached by the organisers of the Monday Night Supper Club about hosting a joint event in Paragon Arcade and we recognised straight away it would be a great way to kick off Biz Week.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the businesses in the Arcade to reach new audiences and it also raises awareness of the Arcade itself as a potential destination for corporate events, whether that’s for individual organisations or a partnerships of networking groups.”
Pat, the Director of Marketing and Client Relations at Rollits LLP, said: “Paragon Arcade has become a hub for great food in the city centre and the laid back vibe lends itself perfectly to an event like this, which will bring people together to unwind after a hectic first day of Biz Week.
“People might need to pace themselves because there’s a placebrand breakfast with Future Humber followed by the Biz Week Launch Lunch with guest speaker Pete Waterman and then the Street Food Supper Club – and that’s just on the Monday!
“There are breakfast events galore and a busy programme of lunch events includes Chamber Expo on the Tuesday and a bit of a twist with the Hull Businesswomen’s Breakfast Club presenting a lunch session on the Thursday. HullBID has its Inspiring People dinner at The Deep on the Wednesday and the following evening the University of Hull will host the official Humber Business Week dinner.
“We’re expecting great coffee from Elevenses at Sewell Studio on the Tuesday and that afternoon Rollits will be serving top quality cake for our Embracing Excellence event at the MKM Stadium.
“The Business Day at Bridlington Spa on the Friday is the closing event and starts early with breakfast, continues through lunch and wraps up with a celebratory champagne finale. Hull Speakers, which is a branch of Toastmasters International, will present a session on the Tuesday evening which might be of interest to after-dinner speakers. Our top tip would be if you’re planning to eat your way through Biz Week make sure you have some Gaviscon with you!”
Night of celebration marks twenty years of business support – and arrival of a new Chair
Robert Drury has been named as the new Chair of Lincoln Business Club, which has celebrated its 20th Anniversary with an event held at the Charlotte House Hotel in Lincoln.
It was also the time for Nicola Ellwood to step aside as Chair and pass the baton to her replacement Robert Drury. She said: “As we celebrated our 20th anniversary, we were reminded of the incredible journey we’ve shared as a community of business leaders and entrepreneurs in Lincolnshire. This event was a testament to our collective triumphs and the enduring spirit of collaboration that defines us.
“Stepping down as Chair has been a bittersweet moment for me. I’ve cherished every moment leading this incredible club and look forward to seeing it thrive under Robert’s leadership.”
Robert said: “What a pleasure and privilege it was to be part of the wonderful Lincoln Business Club 20th birthday celebrations – how amazing was it to see all of our wonderful community out for the night and I just want to say how proud I am of our committee for pulling together what I believe will be remembered as one of the nights of the year for so many.
“And then there was that announcement! What an honour it is to become the new Chair of Lincoln Business Club, taking over from the irreplaceable Nicola Ellwood. I have been a member of this club for over five years, and I love how we as a community support, encourage and champion each other. It is the people that come to our monthly meetings that make this club so special and I look forward to working with my wonderful new vice-chair, Rachael Hunt, in taking the club onwards into a bright and wonderful future.”
The success of the event was made possible through partnerships and sponsorships with Stokes, Fizzco, The Lincoln Distillery, eComOne, Austen Hempstead, Wright Vigar, Business Bollox, Optimum Safety, Ruddocks, Make An Entrance, Petaurum HR, Uptech Ltd and Sheila Stamp – Travel Counsellors.
Shipley packaging company secures grant
A packaging company in Shipley has invested in new machinery and created three new jobs, following capital funding from the Shipley Towns Fund.
ASC Cartons Limited, based on Leeds Road, is a supplier of premium corrugated packaging across various industries. Clients can design custom-sized boxes tailored to their precise requirements, which both enhances efficiency and reduces waste.
The £25,300 grant from the Government-funded Shipley Towns Fund has enabled them to invest in three new pieces of machinery:
- Fully Automatic Midas Auto Gluing Machine – the new gluer will increase gluing capacity and increase efficiencies. It will also allow ASC to increase the range and size of products they provide.
- Fully Automatic Strapper – this machine is to automate a manual process, increasing capacity and quality.
- Midas MD Ultra Semi-Automatic Large Format Gluer/Stitcher – this will increase the range and size of products ASC can supply while also creating additional capacity to aid future growth.
Corporate and commercial law specialist Luke joins Wilkin Chapman
Corporate and commercial law specialist Luke Rees has joined the 18-strong corporate and commercial law team at Wilkin Chapman.
Luke has more than 15 years’ experience in law working with a wide range of commercial clients on company sales and purchases, private equity investments, corporate restructures, shareholder agreements, and a full range of commercial agreements.
Luke said: “It’s a great time to be working at Wilkin Chapman, joining fellow partner Ed Capes and the team in Lincoln while collaborating with the wider teams across Grimsby and Beverley. One of the things that attracted me to the firm was its excellent reputation for providing advice in the energy and renewables sector and I am keen to work with head of sector, Roly Freeman, to further develop our existing relationships with clients and intermediaries in this area.”
Ed Capes, corporate and commercial partner at Wilkin Chapman, said: “Luke’s appointment is a great boost to our well-established team. He has a strong reputation for offering pragmatic corporate advice which has seen him cultivate close relationships with intermediaries and clients both locally and nationwide. Add to that his extensive experience advising clients on a full range of commercial contracts, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to our team.”
Luke joins Wilkin Chapman’s Lincoln office having spent the last five years of his career in Lincoln and his appointment strengthens the firm’s growing corporate and commercial expertise across Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire.
Luke is married with a young family and he spends most of his time following his children’s various sporting endeavours, including helping out as a cricket coach.
Sir Roger Marsh joins Pexa as ambassador and adviser to the board
Digital property completions platfor Pexa has appointed Sir Roger Marsh as an ambassador and adviser to the board for the UK business as it looks to deepen its business relationships in Yorkshire and help grow the influence of the region’s tech hub across the UK.
He said: “Yorkshire – and the North more broadly – is a hotbed of innovation. It’s a really vibrant ecosystem boasting some big institutions as well as attracting start-ups and scale ups who want to use Leeds as a launch pad for their innovations. It is undoubtedly benefitting from significant international investment from important players like PEXA, not only in terms of it bringing proven technology to the market but also investing more widely in the growth of the tech ecosystem. I’m looking forward to working with PEXA to support its vision for the region, deepen its presence and help bring its benefits to the market.”As Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership between 2013 and 2022, Sir Roger was responsible for creating significant transformation in the area. He has played a substantial role in driving the Government’s vision for the development and levelling up of the North acting as Chair of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund Strategic Oversight Board as well as additional sub committees to raise funding for the region. Sir Roger was also the Chair for the NP11, which brings together the 11 Northern LEPs until 2023.
PEXA is already embedded in Yorkshire following its significant investment in the opening of its UK headquarters in Leeds and acquisition of the remortgage conveyancer Optima Legal, and it is involved in initiatives such as the Leeds Digital Festival, Legaltech Leeds, Fintech North and UKREiiF. It is now looking to deepen its ties to the business ecosystem and help grow the size and influence of the Yorkshire tech hub at a national level.
Glenn King, PEXA Group MD and CEO, added: “The north of England is home to some of the most exciting and innovative companies in the country, and Leeds’ business community is going from strength to strength. As an international property tech company, it has been a natural fit for our UK head office. It’s a pleasure to welcome Sir Roger, given his significant leadership experience and business expertise, and his passion for driving growth in the region through collaboration.”
Joe Pepper, UK CEO of PEXA, said: “Leeds has a really strong tech ecosystem that we are already embedding ourselves in, and we have had a tremendous level of support since we decided to base ourselves there. Now we’re determined to do more to help give these businesses a greater voice at the national level. Yorkshire is a thriving tech hub and the UK economy as a whole could benefit if only we work together to drive growth and further investment. With an extensive network and unrivalled experience, Sir Roger is the perfect person to help on this journey. We’re honoured he is coming on board.”
Build-to-Rent community acquired in Leeds
Starlight Investments, a global real estate investment and asset management firm, has exchanged on an acquisition to purchase 84 Kirkstall Road, a 111-suite Build-to-Rent (BTR) community in Leeds.
The nine-storey newly built residence features a range of suite layouts, including one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom suites with many featuring balconies as well as larger terraces on the top floor.
The property contains amenities including a co-working space, media room and a dedicated resident lounge. The building’s design also incorporates renewable energy systems and high-efficiency lighting.
“This new residence is a strategic addition to our UK portfolio and further complements our previously announced BTR acquisitions in Manchester, Liverpool and Ashford and will increase our overall portfolio in the UK to 1,038 suites with an additional 1,200 suites in our active pipeline,” said Daniel Drimmer, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Starlight Investments.
“We are pleased to establish Starlight’s presence in Leeds, a dynamic city that is among the fastest growing in the UK, to support the introduction of new rental housing to meet increasing demand.”
Ground broken on new neighbourhood of 99 council homes in Hull
Hull City Council and Caddick Construction have broken ground on-site to create 99 affordable homes at Dane Park Road, with handover due in Spring 2027.
Once complete, this new build neighbourhood will comprise 20 one-bedroom, 49 two-bedroom, 20 three-bedroom and 10 four-bedroom homes, all of which will be available for affordable rent.
The Dane Park scheme will incorporate Air Source Heat Pumps and Photovoltaic roof panels to all homes, as well as EV charging points to some properties. As well as green spaces around the site, there are over 250 trees being planted around the surrounding area.
Caddick was appointed to the project via a Direct Selection under the EN:Procure New Build Framework, to promote early contractor involvement and de-risk the project to bring greater value to Hull City Council.
Sister company Caddick Civil Engineering has also been appointed to deliver the groundworks ahead of the main construction work.
Paul Dodsworth, Construction Group Managing Director, says: “We are proud to be growing our presence on frameworks such as EN:Procure, which help to drive high standards in project delivery.
“Through early engagement between our team, our client and project stakeholders we can ensure that all public sector projects are delivered efficiently and with real value for money.
“With all aspects of the build included in this framework, from site preparation and remediation to civil engineering, we are able to create further efficiencies by working closely with our civils arm, Caddick Civil Engineering.
“We are pleased to have been appointed to the scheme at Dane Park, and we look forward to working closely with Hull City Council to bring these much-needed homes to families across the city.”
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, Hull City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Housing, said: “We welcome our new partner Caddick Construction and the opportunity to work together at Dane Park, one of the biggest council house new build developments to start in Hull for many years.
“As well as building 99 well designed, energy efficient, family homes, these much needed houses will enable the Council to play its part in tackling climate change and just as importantly, help our tenants save money with lower electricity and heating bills.”
Managed by social housing consortium, Efficiency North, EN:Procure is a specialist procurement body providing services designed to support the need for more investment in affordable new housing.
Emma Mottram, director of operations at EN:Procure, said: “The appointment of Caddick Construction via our New Build framework marks a significant step forward for this development, which will provide essential new build housing for the area.
“Our new build frameworks are developed to ensure efficient, reliable procurement is accessible for Members delivering affordable housing. It’s fantastic to see this achieved for Dane Park Road with added value around sustainability and delivery of apprenticeship through the EN:Able Futures Flexible Apprenticeship Services.”
Planning application submitted to revitalise Tetley building
Vastint UK, the developer behind Aire Park, the 24-acre mixed-use district on Leeds’ South Bank, has submitted its planning application for the future of the iconic Tetley building.
The proposals, which will not only guarantee the future of the 92-year-old building but also increase the building’s accessibility so that it can be used by all, include the retention of the art deco façade and opening up of new areas to the public for the first time.
Plans show that the basement, which previously connected the building with the wider brewery site, will be used as a speakeasy lounge/bar, whilst the ground floor features a market hall space and amenities including Changing Places facilities.
The proposal then looks to continue The Tetley’s long-standing connection with both culture and commerce through the upper floors which include areas earmarked for event space and 13,000 sq ft of office accommodation.
Alongside the application, a selection of new images has been shared, revealing a roof terrace and details of the proposed extension to the eastern façade of the building.
The application highlights how the historic building will be brought up to modern sustainability standards, whilst retaining important historic aspects of both the interior and exterior of the building, including the Tetley Boardroom on the second floor.
Simon Schofield, Head of Development North at Vastint UK, said: “The Tetley is an iconic building within Leeds, and we’re privileged to have it as a cornerstone of the Aire Park development.
“As custodians of this important piece of the city’s history, we have been working hard with our architects Supervene and Enjoy Design, Leeds City Council and others to look at how we preserve this beautiful building, ensuring it remains at the heart of the community for another century.
“Our plans aim to create a variety of spaces within the building including public amenities such as a Changing Places facility, food and drink opportunities and event spaces, which will be accessible to all. We also want to continue the building’s history of being a place of business, by creating new office space.
“Ultimately this project is unique in its scope, as it not only adds to the wider development but also ensures a major landmark continues to play an active role in the future of Leeds. We’d like to think that Joshua Tetley would be impressed by the ambition we have for the site he purchased for £402 in 1822 and grew to be the largest brewery in the North of England.”
Vastint UK acquired the Tetley Building from Carlsberg in 2022 and since then has been working on its plans to make the iconic landmark the crown jewel and focal point for Aire Park, Leeds’ newest mixed-use district, which includes a new 3.5-hectare city centre green park, up to 1,400 new homes and 800,000 sq ft of office space.
As part of this commitment to safeguarding The Tetley, the developer recently partnered with Kirkstall Brewery to reopen the building to the public whilst planning approval is sought from the council.
Wesley Dodds, director at Enjoy Design, said: “The recent partnership between Vastint UK and Kirkstall Brewery has provided a glimpse of what the future holds for The Tetley. The building has evolved constantly over its almost one-hundred-year history and we’re very proud to be a part of the next evolution of Leeds’ beloved Tetley.”
Michael Westlake, director at Supervene Architects, added: “To be given the chance to work on a building which holds such an important place within a city’s cultural history and be able to shape its next chapter is really exciting.
“We believe these plans will not only breathe new life into the building and open aspects which have never been open to the public before, but will also ensure the building can continue to act as a beacon to attract both locals and visitors to the area and the wider Aire Park.”
GRS Electrical Services Ltd named as winner in 2024 JTL Employer Recognition Awards
Louth-based company, GRS Electrical Services Ltd, has been named as the eastern region winner at the 2024 JTL Employer Recognition Awards.
JTL, a leading apprenticeship provider across England and Wales, runs its annual Employer Recognition Awards to celebrate employers that have shown outstanding levels of support and commitment towards their JTL apprentices.
GRS Electrical Services operates nationally across all fields in the electrical industry, from houses to factories, commercial buildings, schools and hospitals, providing apprentices with the opportunity to learn in a range of environments.
Clare Allen, representative for the eastern branch of GRS Electrical Services, was presented with a trophy at the company’s offices at Fairfield Industrial Estate. The employer was nominated by JTL Training Officer, Daniel Clifford, for the remarkable levels of encouragement and consideration provided for its apprentices.
GRS Electrical Services has been recognised at the awards along with four other winners, all of which stood out amongst the 3,800 employers that the training provider partners with to deliver apprenticeship qualifications.
Daniel Clifford, JTL Training Officer, commented: “GRS Electrical Services always gets very positive feedback from apprentices due to the ongoing support it provides, particularly in terms of building confidence levels ahead of apprentices’ end-point assessment.
“The business has also appointed newly completed learner, Charlie Benson, to liaise between the employer and apprentices helping them attain the required training for qualification completion.”
Retirement development on former Terry’s Chocolate Factory site sold
Henry Boot’s property investment and development arm, HBD, has agreed a conditional sale of a two acre development site at The Chocolate Works in York to McCarthy Stone, the developer and manager of retirement communities.
HBD and McCarthy Stone entered a partnership in 2019 and have subsequently promoted the site through the planning process together, achieving consent on appeal in March 2024 for a 72-home Retirement Living PLUS scheme.
HBD will now work with McCarthy Stone to finish preparing the site for development, in line with its remaining contractual obligations, which is anticipated to complete in Q4 2024. McCarthy Stone will solely lead on the development of the purpose-built retirement accommodation.
The new retirement community marks the final phase of HBD’s 27 acre development, which included the transformation of the former 160,000 sq ft Terry’s Chocolate factory into 163 premium apartments, delivering a total GDV of £110 million across seven schemes during the last decade. The wider site is also now home to the Brainkind Neurological Centre, which supports people recovering from complex brain injuries.
Tim Roberts, CEO of Henry Boot, said: “Securing planning permission and agreeing the sale to McCarthy Stone of the last remaining land site at The Chocolate Works will bring much needed retirement living in York, helping address the huge demand for specialist retirement accommodation that exists right across the country.
“By adding retirement accommodation, which will also offer tailored levels of care, alongside the residential and other uses we have developed at the site, helps achieve our goal of creating a deep and multi-generational community at this transformed former factory. In addition, it brings HBD’s award winning work on this significant project to a close while representing a strong outcome for our shareholders.”
Wakefield City Centre set for reimagination
Wakefield’s plan to redefine its city centre and attract inward investment has been set out at the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF).
Wakefield Council announced that they will be appointing a Strategic Regeneration Partner to realise the vision and accelerate growth in Wakefield City Centre.
This approach will bring forward mixed use developments for the city, ushering in a new era of development and growth.
Attendees at a UKREiiF panel session heard about new commercial, housing and cultural investment opportunities and how the Council is working with public and private sector partners to ramp up the latest phase of urban regeneration in the city.
“Exciting things are happening in Wakefield. We are taking some bold steps to reimagine our city centre and position ourselves for the future of our economy,” said Cllr Michael Graham, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Growth.
“By delivering a ground-breaking partnership, and bringing key influential partners together, we can continue to accelerate the pace of regeneration across our city centre.
“There are countless opportunities for investors, stakeholders and our community to come with us on this journey. We’re on the lookout for strategic partners who can help us innovate to unleash the full potential of our city.”
The UKREiiF panel also featured Clare Elliott, the Council’s Service Director for Economic Growth and Skills, and Paul Sargent, CEO of Queensberry Real Estate.
The Council’s plans include expanding as a centre for the creative industries, regenerating historic buildings in the city, building on award-winning work at Rutland Mills in the city centre, and improving the urban environment with major projects in Cathedral Square, Wakefield Exchange, and a new hotel near Westgate train station.
Complementing that ambition, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Homes England have Wakefield City Centre as an area of focus in the West Yorkshire Strategic Place Partnership. They are working with the Council on plans for a wider Strategic Regeneration Partnership in the city.
New preferred operator appointed for major Scarborough attraction
One of North Yorkshire’s leading leisure companies has been named as the preferred operator of Scarborough’s Alpamare Waterpark.
Officers are now working with managers at Flamingo Land, which is based near Malton, to agree terms to get the attraction reopened to the public in time for this year’s core summer tourism season.
Members of North Yorkshire Council’s executive made the decision to appoint Flamingo Land after a three-week exercise to search for potential operators.
Councillors were told that the business has committed to opening the park this summer until November when operating costs and plans for the winter season will be reviewed.
Deputy leader, Cllr Gareth Dadd, said: “We are delighted to be able to announce that Flamingo Land is our preferred operator.
“As a council, we never intended to run this ourselves but instead to find an operator with the right expertise to take it on and get it reopened for the summer season.
“It is a key visitor attraction on Scarborough’s North Bay and makes a telling contribution as a commercial tourism venture. It is great to be looking to work with a well-established, local and trusted operator.”
Flamingo Land’s chief executive and owner, Gordon Gibb, said: “This is an exciting new venture for us. It’s a big challenge for us but we are always up for a challenge at Flamingo Land. We aim to get Alpamare open to the public again in July.”
North Yorkshire Council took possession of the site in December last year when the waterpark’s tenant, Benchmark Leisure Ltd, went into administration. Now that a short-term operator has been found, work to find a permanent solution on the future operation of the site will begin.
The water park, which is located off Burniston Road, features a wave pool, a splash and play pool, four state-of-the-art slides, two outdoor pools, an alpine themed spa and treatment area, and a café and terrace bar. It was purpose-built in 2016 overlooking the North Bay in the seaside town.
Flamingo Land is based at Kirby Misperton near Malton with its theme park, zoo and holiday homes attracting thousands of visitors every year. The company has previously run Pleasure Island in North East Lincolnshire and is the preferred bidder for a new adventure holiday development at Loch Lomond.
AW Hainsworth hires Paul Dudley as Head of Engineering and Sustainability
AW Hainsworth, a British fabric manufacturer and vertical woollen mill based in Pudsey, has appointed Paul Dudley as its new Head of Engineering and Sustainability. This newly created role will focus on shaping AW Hainsworth’s Engineering and Sustainability strategy and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across the organisation.
Paul joins AW Hainsworth with an extensive engineering, environmental, and health and safety management background, having spent the last 28 years predominantly working in the furniture industry. He previously worked for a German textile machine manufacturer in Leeds and has a vast knowledge of textile machinery and processes. Paul has successfully led sustainability projects such as IS0 14064 accreditation and implemented energy-saving initiatives in his previous roles.
Paul comments: “Joining AW Hainsworth feels like returning to my roots in textiles. The company’s rich history, manufacturing excellence, dedication to its workforce and environmental impact align perfectly with my passion for sustainability. I’m excited to help embed a sustainable culture in all areas of the business and to be part of a company that heavily invests in the interest of the workforce while putting environmental impact at the heart of everything it does.”
In his new role, Paul will focus on several key sustainability initiatives to reduce the company’s carbon footprint, increase employee well-being, and enhance overall efficiency. His initial efforts will include benchmarking data to guide the company’s sustainability strategy and exploring energy-saving operations for various systems and processes.
Amanda McLaren, Managing Director at AW Hainsworth, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Paul to our team. His expertise and dedication to sustainability will be invaluable as we continue integrating environmentally responsible practices into our operations and making significant investments towards evolving into a more sustainable business while maintaining our heritage of quality textiles.”
Knight Frank establishes “finance centre of excellence” in Leeds
Global property consultancy Knight Frank has established a finance centre of excellence in Leeds for its UK Property Asset Management team.
The brand-new team will be based at Knight Frank’s offices at 9 Bond Court in the heart of the city’s professional quarter.
The new team members are: Jamie Thornton; Danny Gregory; Kyle James; Tatiana McDougall; Tracey Fakora; Daniel Clark; Nicky Chadwick; Adam Hellas; and Ryan Cook.
Ronan Gallagher, partner with Knight Frank and head of Property Asset Management Accounts (PAM), explained: “This major expansion of our operation in Leeds makes it the UK hub for Purchase Ledger, Treasury and Client Accounting for Shopping Centres and National Portfolios.
“The overall UK PAM team is growing, but this is a deliberate effort to centralise certain functions in Leeds, where we are focusing on building a centre of excellence. Leeds has been chosen due to the talent pool in the region and the city’s easy access from all parts of the UK.
“For Leeds, this provides exciting opportunities for the existing team to grow and to nurture and attract new talent. Having a team under one roof will benefit of clients and our team in terms of efficiency, response times and service levels.
“At Knight Frank, we have resisted the temptation to move our PAM operation offshore and we are keen to develop our PAM bases within the UK. This investment will also encourage other organisations to make a similar move to the Leeds area, thereby benefitting the region,” said Mr Gallagher.
Knight Frank has recently invested in refurbishing its offices in Leeds city centre with space for clients to come and interact and network together.
Stunning show village officially opens as The Greenways continues to grow
A stunning new Show Village showcasing prestige housebuilder Beal Homes’ luxury properties has officially opened at The Greenways development in Goole.
The Show Village was declared open by East Riding of Yorkshire Council Leader, Councillor Anne Handley, who cut the ribbon before guests were given guided tours of the show homes.
As a Goole Ward Councillor, Goole Town Deal Board member and resident of the town, Cllr Handley has been a passionate advocate for Goole’s exciting regeneration, working with businesses such as Beal which are investing millions of pounds to rejuvenate the town.
Speaking at the Show Village opening event, alongside Beal Chief Executive Richard Beal, Cllr Handley said: “As a local resident myself, I’ve watched The Greenways grow and grow and it makes me really proud to see it.
“It’s an outstanding and aspirational development and supports all the investment we have going on in the town, with more to come. It has put Goole firmly on the map.
“I can’t thank Richard and the Beal team enough. It’s wonderful what they have brought to Goole and it gives me great pleasure to officially open this Show Village.”
The Show Village enables prospective buyers o view a selection of East Yorkshire-based Beal’s thoughtfully designed house types. The four properties showcase the quality of new homes at The Greenways and the wealth of design options and upgrades available to homebuyers.
The Greenways is at the forefront of an ongoing wave of large-scale investments, alongside developments by other blue chip companies, which are creating hundreds of highly-skilled jobs in Goole.
Richard Beal said: “The opening of the Show Village marks a major milestone for The Greenways and signposts how this exciting development continues to grow.
“Behind the Show Village, the foundations are in place to enable more people to own their own home in one of Yorkshire’s most up-and-coming towns.
“We’re investing more than £200m here over more than a decade to deliver hundreds of much-needed, high-quality homes. With that investment comes highly-skilled jobs in construction and other disciplines, training opportunities and apprenticeships, and long-term work for our supply chain.”
Law firm with offices in Leeds and Sheffield makes 100 promotions nationwide
National law firm Freeths has today announced almost 100 promotions across the business as it continues to bolster its offering throughout the UK.
A total of 95 colleagues have been promoted across all legal and business support service areas within the firm’s 13 offices, including four partner and 73 lawyer promotions.
This year, over 50% of these promotions are women, demonstrating the firm’s ongoing commitment to gender equality.
Within the senior promotions, alongside 13 Legal Director promotions, there are four Partner Promotions: The Real Estate Team has seen Sarah Rowe achieve Partner; our specialist Environmental and Planning Team has welcomed Ben Derrington to Partner level; Henry Clappinson has become Partner in Freeths’ Restructuring and Insolvency Team, which was recently named as the most active in the High Court Review 2023, and the firm’s Family Practice promotions included Mark Heppinstall to Partner.
Karl Jansen, National Managing Partner of Freeths, said: “As a firm, we’re passionate about developing our homegrown talent and it’s imperative that our people feel properly supported in order to be able to progress their careers and provide the very best for our clients.
“I’d like to extend our huge congratulations to everybody at Freeths who has achieved promotion this year, and our thanks to all our colleagues for their hard work, commitment, and valued contributions throughout the year. These successful promotions recognise the breadth of our capabilities as we continue to build upon the strength of our offering.”
Government changes storm damage rules to help more farmers
Defra has updated the eligibility criteria of its Farming Recovery Fund so that farmers whose land has been severely affected by flooding and wet weather, and who are likely to need to do work to remediate land to make it possible to farm it in future, will be eligible. Payments will be made this summer.
The Farming Recovery Fund opened in April, with eligible farmers set to access grant support of up to £25,000.
The NFU raised concerns over the eligibility criteria after the fund opened, with support originally limited to land located within 150 metres of eligible rivers in regions hit hardest by Storm Henk. This rule has since been reversed to include all flooded land near an eligible river.
The scheme has now been expanded to include a wider geographical area of farmers who suffered river flooding. It now also includes those who experienced damage due to extreme rainfall.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “After months of discussions, it’s really good news that the government has listened to our calls for additional financial support for farm businesses.
“Against the backdrop of some of the most challenging commercial and weather conditions in living memory, which has resulted in plummeting business confidence, these measures will provide some critical relief to many member businesses which have been facing a very uncertain future because of exceptional cashflow pressures.”
The announcement follows the wettest 18 months since 1836, which has left vast swathes of agricultural land saturated and, in many cases, still under water. Many arable farmers have been unable to plant crops and have lost those that were in the ground, while livestock farmers have endured an incredibly difficult lambing season.
With farm business planning needing long-term stability, many farms will be dealing with the impacts for months and even years to come.
The government has now taken on board more of the NFU’s asks which will help more farmers and growers get the support they need to recover and rebuild. These include measures to improve on farm cash flow, with the second instalment (50%) of delinked payments moving forward to September rather than December, and reaffirmation that members will receive the first instalment (50%) in August. Furthermore, the scope of the Farm Recovery Fund has been extended to offer support to farms damaged due to extreme rainfall as well as river breaches.
