- Shopping (61% of respondents) and Food/Drink (47%) were the most common reasons cited for visiting the city centre followed by the Transport Interchange (36%), Leisure & Culture (33%), and the Market (30%).
- 65% of respondents said the quality and variety of the shopping and retail offer was extremely important to them.
- The biggest concern raised by people of all age groups was safety and security. When asked how safe people felt when visiting the city centre, 51% said they felt very or somewhat unsafe.
- However, people who visited the city centre regularly, or have visited more recently, were much more likely to feel safe there, with 86% of people who say they never visit the city centre saying they feel unsafe when visiting. 78% of people who have not been to the city centre for more than a year said that feelings of safety and security impacts their decision whether to visit.
Cabinet approves creation of new Doncaster city centre 25-year masterplan
Cabinet members at City of Doncaster Council have approved the creation of a new city centre masterplan and the submission of proposals to Government for the first three years of Long-Term Plan for Towns (LTPT) funding.
The strategy, which is due to be completed by the end of 2024 and will outline plans for the city centre until 2050, also includes the planned use of existing and potential funding opportunities, including the LTPT funding and Levelling Up Partnership (LUP) funding.
Since 2016, the city centre has been following the Urban Centre Masterplan, however a number of challenges, including COVID and the national issue around retail, as well as the positive impact of Doncaster becoming a city, have meant that a new masterplan to guide the future of the city centre is needed.
Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, said: “As the North’s newest city, and with the national challenges over the past few years, it became obvious that we needed to review the direction of the city centre and we now have the opportunity with funding, to tackle this head on.
“As part of this, we launched the ‘Big City Conversation’ a consultation survey aimed at residents and businesses to understand their views of the city centre and what they would like the city to offer. I want to thank over 8,000 people who took part as this has presented findings which will be fundamental to the creation and delivery of the strategy.”
The Big City Conversation, which was held as an online survey and face to face focus groups, had over 8,000 respondents and found the following headlines:
New Government must turn good intentions into action, says Doncaster Chamber Chief Exec
Doncaster Chamber has applauded the new Government for signalling that it’s listening to business, but adds it’s now vital to turn good intentions into action.
Dan Fell, Chief Executive of Doncaster Chamber, said: “Many of the measures announced in yesterday’s speech are sure to be welcomed by the business community, although the devil is, necessarily, going to be in the detail.
“Labour’s commitment to an Industrial Strategy, for example, should help to foster an environment conducive to business success and it feels like some of the groundwork for that has already been laid with some of the other headline announcements. In particular, the various bills related to planning reform, getting Britain building, and enabling big-ticket investments through the National Wealth Fund are all encouraging to see, particularly for sectors like construction.
“On the other hand, some pieces of the jigsaw seem to be missing. One notable omission is that we are still uncertain about how the Government plans to grow a stronger manufacturing base in our country, despite this being so obviously critical to the nation’s growth and to the future of places like Doncaster. Similarly, we do not yet have a clear sense of how the Government will work to support and encourage exporters.
“On the subject of changing employment rights, we would like to remind Westminster that most UK businesses are in fact SMEs, and typically very responsible ones at that. If they are over encumbered with too much red tape, then there is a real possibility that they could become risk averse when it comes to recruiting new employees, with this having a detrimental effect on the labour market. We therefore urge Government not to design agility out of the system and to make sure that employers still have the flexibility they need when it comes to recruiting talent.
“Elsewhere, we are hearted to see the King’s Speech putting a lot of stock in devolution — which will help regions like South Yorkshire take greater control of their economic destinies — and we hope this can be taken as a sign that Westminster is keen to develop more mature relationships with places. Of course, it is then incumbent on places like South Yorkshire to use those devolved powers effectively.
“I suspect many businesses will be agnostic about whether the UK’s buses and railways are privately or publicly owned. What is important — particularly for the legions of businesses and 15,000 workers in Doncaster’s rail engineering industry — is that there is a long-term plan to sustainably invest in the UK’s infrastructure, especially in the North of England, and an end to the prevarication that has characterised schemes like HS2 in the past.”
Leeds Rhinos sign up for partnership with digital marketing agency
Leeds Rhinos are to partner with digital market agency Spike to develop a new digital marketing strategy aimed at increasing attendance and attracting a wider fanbase to the Super League club’s fixtures.
Spike will deliver a cutting-edge digital strategy for the eight-time Grand Final winners, focusing on engaging a new generation of fans at AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium.
Over three months, the agency will utilise its bespoke strategy framework to enhance Leeds Rhinos’ digital marketing efforts towards connecting with younger, emerging audiences.
The agency will conduct workshops to identify fan goals, set ambitious marketing objectives aligned with business challenges, and provide tactical planning toolkits. These resources, along with the final strategy documents, will enable seamless execution of recommendations.
Rob Powell, director at Spike, said: “Our team is incredibly excited to collaborate with Leeds Rhinos. By leveraging our strategy framework and innovative segmentation approach, we aim to craft a fresh marketing strategy that will not only increase ticket sales but also build a stronger connection with younger fans. This project is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our expertise in sports marketing and to help Leeds Rhinos achieve their goals.”
Matt Adams, head of marketing at Leeds Rhinos, aded: “From our initial meeting it was clear they had a deep understanding of the unique challenges we face as a club. We are confident that their strategy will bring a new perspective to our marketing efforts and drive real results in attracting new fans to the stadium.”
York microscope pioneer wins financial support
York Probe Sources is leading the way in cutting-edge microscope technology thanks to support from City of York Council and the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub.
The Poppleton-based business makes parts for powerful electron microscopes, which use electron beams to generate high-resolution images of samples as small as viruses and nanofibres.
Since 2023, YPS Director Omar El-Gomati and his team have been supported by the council’s Business Growth Manager, Louise Saw, who has provided the business with advice on their next steps to growth – including taking on more staff and expanding into new premises – and helped them access finance and training.
Louise referred YPS to Mike Pennington, a Business Relationship Manager at the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub, who helped the business secure £20,000 in grant funding from the national Made Smarter scheme to scale up their business. The grant covered half of the cost of a new machine to automate making field emitters – the part of the microscope which produces and emits a beam of electrons. Until now, this process had been undertaken by older machines in a slow and delicate process which could only produce one unit at a time and which had a high failure rate.
Investing in the new machine has made the manufacturing process more productive and efficient, by allowing multiple units to be produced simultaneously whilst helping to reduce costly waste.
AESSEAL signs up with South Yorkshire football club to support children’s hospice
AESSEAL has signed up for a second year as a Diamond Partner of Rotherham United FC in helping support and publicise Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.
For the 24/25 season, the hospice will be featured on RUFC team shirts, in the space normally given over to commercial advertising or sponsorship, in a deal supported by AESSEAL and the club’s other Diamond Partners including Hughie Construction, IPM Group, Mears Group, and Steelphalt. AESSEAL will gift Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice all the hospitality and other benefits that are part of the sponsorship package. The hospice provides invaluable care and support to children and young adults with life-shortening and life-threatening conditions. Says Josie Lewis, IT and Project Manager of AESSEAL and a lifetime Rotherham supporter:“Rotherham United and its associated charitable arm, the Rotherham United Community Trust, are a great community asset it is for Rotherham, and AESSEAL is proud to associate our brand with them. “Through this partnership we aim to increase awareness and support for worthy causes like the hospice, ensuring they can continue to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.”AAB adds two members to its Leeds team
AAB has appointed two new team members based in Leeds, where Patrick Lynch joins as Corporate Finance Partner, alongside Harris Jones as Corporate Finance Manager.
They’ll be based in the Sagars office on St Paul’s Street after Leeds-based accountancy firm Sagars merged with AAB in 2021, in a move that deepened the breadth and depth of services they provide to businesses and individuals in the North of England and across the UK.
Patrick, who brings more than 14 years’ experience in professional services, spent almost a decade at an independent corporate finance firm based in Yorkshire. His experience encompasses both buying and selling roles on transactions, on behalf of SMEs and private equity firms based throughout the UK.
Patrick joins six other Partners and Directors in AAB’s corporate finance leadership team across the UK and Ireland.
Throughout the past seven years as a Corporate Finance Advisor, Harris has amassed significant experience in advising shareholders, management teams, and institutional investors within the mid-market, most recently in the M&A team of a global environmental consultancy group. He combines this role with being a Lecturer of Finance within the Accounting and Finance subject group at Leeds Business School.
Head of Corporate Finance Gordon Steele said: “Welcoming both Patrick and Harris to the team is another key milestone for us. The AAB corporate finance team is well-established in Scotland, and across the Island of Ireland, and we’re delighted to offer these enhanced services to the North of England. The experience and expertise of both Patrick and Harris will add significant value to our already market leading team.”
James Hunt, Head of Leeds, added: “Since Sagars joined the AAB Group we have introduced an enhanced range of services to support our clients across the North of England. With both Patrick and Harris joining our team here in Leeds we are excited about the addition of end-to-end corporate finance services to the expanding offering we deliver locally, to benefit our clients both now and in the future.”
Leeds agency appoints Beth in Account Manager role
Leeds-based communications agency Yasper has appointed Bethany Lunt as an Account Manager to help drive the business forward and lead on some of Yasper’s new accounts across multiple sectors, including property and construction, healthcare, and telecoms.
She joins the business as a strategic communicator with a wealth of agency experience in media relations, content, and digital, across a range of B2B industries.
The appointment coincides with Yasper’s recent client win with Manchester-based property firm BR2.0 to deliver a media and content brief across its group of companies, as well as a landmark new piece of work in the healthcare sector.
Julian Pearce, Founder and MD at Yasper, said: “This hire is of great strategic importance to Yasper’s growth, and I was immediately impressed with Bethany’s knowledge, experience and capability. Not only will she take a lead on delivery for a range of Yasper’s key accounts, but she will be integral to the future growth and direction of the business. She’s a great fit for the agency and will be a brilliant addition to the team.”
Beth will also be focusing on Yasper’s sub-brand, Y-content, with an aim to deliver a range of fixed-price content solutions, including social media, copywriting and web services.
Beth added: “My role with Yasper feels like the natural next step in my career. From my initial chat with Julian, it was obvious we shared the same ethos in terms of what it means to deliver true value-driven comms for clients.
“Getting under the skin of clients’ businesses and truly understanding the sectors they work in is the key to producing high quality and impactful communications. As Yasper continues to grow, I’m excited for my role to evolve, I’m looking forward to working alongside the team at Umpf too.”
Barnsley Chamber prepares for re-run of free Manufacturing Supply Chain Expo
Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce is to repeat the free Manufacturing Supply Chain Expo for 2024 on Wednesday, 9th October at the Holiday Inn, Rotherham.
The event will offer a unique opportunity for manufacturing contacts to explore a wide range of suppliers, creating a place for networking and contact building in a key industry for the Rotherham and Barnsley region.
Shane Young, Operations Director of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, said: “We are thrilled to host the Manufacturing Supply Chain Expo once again. This event is crucial in connecting local businesses, enhancing collaboration, and driving growth within our region’s manufacturing sector. By bringing together key players from across the manufacturing supply chain, we aim to create an event where partnerships can form, and local businesses can meet valuable new contacts.”
Visitors will also be able to gain insights from experts sharing their views on the latest trends, challenges, and innovations within the manufacturing supply chain. The expo will feature a variety of stands representing a broad spectrum of local manufacturing supply chain organisations. This setup will enable manufacturers to engage directly with suppliers, discuss potential collaborations, and discover ways to support each other in achieving business objectives.
Yorkshire food group gobbles up cheesecake maker
Yorkshire-based food group, Regal Food Products Group Plc is set to boost its chilled desserts offer with the acquisition of artisan cheesecake makers, Love Cheesecakes.
Based in Lancaster, Love Cheesecakes specialises in handcrafting over 100 premium cheesecakes for wholesale, food services and the hospitality sector.
Focusing on single serve and canapé style cheesecakes, the bakery also sells directly to consumers through event catering, attending festivals and other large outdoor events.
In 2020 Love Cheesecakes appeared on the popular television show, Dragons’ Den, giving the artisan bakery a step on the online ladder. The bakery now also holds a strong online presence through several ecommerce platforms in which it operates. With a strong focus on gifting, the service allows customers to indulge in doorstep desserts at home.
Since the acquisition of Just Desserts Yorkshire in 2022 and more recently Love Handmade Cakes, the Regal Group have strategically focused on growing and developing their desserts range in the food service and wholesale market.
Younis Chaudhry, CEO of Regal Food Products Group, said: “The acquisition of Love Cheesecakes will further strengthen our chilled desserts portfolio allowing us to give customers a solid offer across all ranges and price points.
“With a catalogue of over 100 products, there will be plenty of opportunities for new product developments, giving us the platform to bring a whole new range of exciting flavours and combinations to customers old and new.
“As a group we have the resources and infrastructure in place to bring Love Cheesecakes in line with our vision and family of dessert brands and look forward to integrating the bakery and its assets into one of our existing manufacturing sites.
“This strategic step will further strengthen our growth and open up opportunities in the chilled desserts category.”
James Asquith, founder of Love Cheesecakes, adds: “This acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for the Love Cheesecakes, promising tremendous growth and innovation. I am confident that Regal Food Products Group’s expertise and resources will take the bakery to new heights, reaching even more customers and continuing to deliver the quality and values we as a business stand for.”
The acquisition of Love Cheesecakes was advised by Mills & Reeve LLP.
Alex Kenworthy, Partner at Mills & Reeve LLP, said: “It’s a real pleasure to be part of the Regal story in helping them grow with the acquisitions of Love Cheesecakes and Love Handmade Cakes. You only have to follow them on social media to see the passion, pride and enthusiasm they have for their brands. Regal is a real gem in the Yorkshire food sector, and the food sector team at Mills & Reeve is delighted to be by their side.”
South Yorkshire IT and VoIP provider recruits director
South Yorkshire IT and VoIP provider Jibba Jabba has appointed Rich Davies as director.
Rich’s appointment comes after the Doncaster-based company has experienced a period of significant growth and new client wins.
Joining the firm with more than 30 years’ experience across several professional services sectors, Rich joins as director where he will be responsible for developing and executing a business development strategy, building long-lasting relationships with local organisations and utilising his networking skills to develop the company’s reputation.
As well as managing the team and overseeing day-to-day operations, Rich will be working alongside the company’s Managing Director Ashley Harris in their proposed expansion of the firm as they plan to open a brand-new office in the Sheffield and Rotherham area.
Rich has held senior business development roles at FluidOne (recently rebranded from Highlander) and The Sheffield Chamber of Commerce. Rich was also the owner of a social media business for almost 10 years where he executed campaigns for local non-league Football clubs Sheffield FC and Hallam FC as well as working with Sheffield based GB Boxing.
As a long-standing business leader in Sheffield, Rich has enjoyed several voluntary roles including being an ambassador at the Institute of Directors and The Archer Project. He also holds a dual position with the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce as a council member and the nominations committee vice chair.
Rich says: “I am genuinely excited to start my new role at Jibba Jabba. It’s an honour to be a part of an organisation that is truly going places and has an exciting future ahead of it.
“It’s a fantastic time to join as we look to further build on the firm’s recent growth, and we plan for our expansion.
“My vision is to make Jibba Jabba the brand name that people turn to for everything for IT, VoIP and Telecoms.
“I have more than 30 years of experience, and pride myself in my networking and business development skills. I am looking forward to further building my South Yorkshire network and bringing those contacts into the company.
“I feel like working at the firm has been a long-term plan in the making and I’d like to thank Ashley and the team for welcoming me. I look forward to my new role and building stronger relationships with South Yorkshire businesses.”
Ashley Harris, Managing Director at Jibba Jabba, said: “We are delighted to welcome Rich to the team. He is a fantastic addition and has already hit the ground running with implementing a strong business development strategy.
“We have an exciting future ahead, including an office expansion and more growth plans.
“Rich’s business development expertise and skills within the sector are exactly what we need to move the company forward and we look forward to working with him.”
Yorkshire plant-based firm expands HQ to keep up with demand
A plant-based firm’s factory has expanded only months after opening, amid “sensational” demand from consumers.
Myco has added another 3,000 sq ft to its production site in North Yorkshire, which will allow for a 600 per cent increase in production of the firm’s Hooba range of burgers and sausages.
The extension means Myco can vertically farm far more oyster mushrooms, which are converted into Hooba under that same roof.
Having recently brought the range to market, the company said it has proven so popular it had to expand to meet growing demand.
“Sales of our Hooba range have exceeded even our highest hopes, and the feedback we’ve had from customers has been superb,” said Myco CEO, David Wood.
“We had always planned on scaling up production over the next few years, but to be able to expand as quickly as this is incredibly exciting – and it is a testament to the quality of our product.”
Myco’s growth isn’t just limited to the number of mushrooms it can produce – with the team swelling thanks to two new vital appointments.
Business development consultant Will Marshall and Catherine Priestly, food service business development consultant, have joined the team.
With 18 years in the food industry, Catherine has worked for several notable names including Fable, Meatless Farm and Genius, while Will’s sales and marketing background has seen him in commercial director level positions for the likes of Xerox.
Construction and property consultancy expands footprint at Thorpe Park Leeds
Following a sustained period of new appointments, the Leeds office of Summers-Inman, a construction and property consultancy, is expanding its footprint at Thorpe Park Leeds.
Although established for 35+ years in Leeds city centre, the firm moved up to Thorpe Park in 2006. Now, due to winning several new projects, embarking on a long-term business plan and recruiting additional staff, Summers-Inman has taken a five-year lease on 1,550 sq ft of space only a short distance from where the office was previously, which will enable future expansion plans in the region.
To that end, two new additions have also been made to the team bringing the current total of staff in Leeds to twelve.
Ryan Kirk joins as a senior building surveyor. He has 15 years of experience gained at a national consultancy and has been working on Summers-Inman’s national client accounts providing due diligence, dilapidation reports and professional and project building surveying services.
The second new appointment is James Lee, a quantity surveyor, with six years of experience aiming to become MRICS later this year. James will be working closely with Director of the Leeds office, David Blakey, in providing Cost Management and Employer’s Agent services to many of the firm’s clients in various sectors.
Commenting on the new office and expanding team, David Blakey, said: “I am delighted by the success of the Leeds office. It has always been our intention to expand Summers-Inman in the Yorkshire area – our Leeds office falls within the northern region of our business, which also includes Newcastle, Teesside and Manchester – and we are finding that the wider Yorkshire, Humberside and Teesside markets are very receptive to our message and way of doing things.
“If you also factor into this, the enviable position Leeds enjoys as a strong financial centre and the inward investment proposition of this area as a whole, there have been many opportunities for us to win new work.”
Enable Therapy Services acquired by ExamWorks
ExamWorks UK, a provider of medico-legal services, health assessments and rehabilitation treatment, has acquired Enable Therapy Services (ETS).
Based in Leeds, but offering services both nationally and internationally, ETS was established in 2008 by Julie Kendall, an Occupational Therapist with over 30 years’ experience working within statutory and private healthcare settings.
ETS provides proactive Rehabilitation, Vocational Case Management and Occupational Therapy Assessment & Treatment Services through a team of 40 employed staff, together with an established network of over 275 Occupational Therapists. Following the acquisition, Julie Kendall will continue to work with ETS in a Non-Executive Director capacity.
Mike Cutler, Group CEO, said: “We are delighted to welcome Enable Therapy Services to the ExamWorks UK family. Under Julie’s stewardship, ETS has become a highly reputable and trusted operator in the case management market.
“Its emphasis on clinical excellence in the high value and serious injury space makes it a perfect fit for the group alongside our Premex+ and 3d Rehabilitation brands. ETS is well positioned to respond to the evolving case management landscape, and to pursue growth opportunities in the occupational health, loss adjuster and income protection markets.”
Enable Therapy Services joins Choose Occupational Health and Washington House Occupational Health, both of which were acquired earlier this year.
Julie Kendall, Managing Director at Enable Therapy Services, said: “I am thrilled that the next phase of ETS’ growth will be as part of the ExamWorks UK family. I am confident that the resources now available to the team will help achieve their growth targets.
“ETS has an established and highly experienced Senior Management Team, who will be an asset to the ExamWorks UK group. The synergies between the businesses are evident and I am delighted to continue to support the team in my role as a Non-Executive Director.”
ExamWorks UK received legal advice from Pinsent Masons and worked with Grant Thornton on the financial aspects of the deal. ETS was advised by Eclipse Corporate Finance (corporate finance), Lupton Fawcett (legal) and Gibson Booth (accountancy/tax).
Richmond hotel sold to local investor
The closed Fleece Hotel in Richmond, North Yorkshire has been sold by The Fleece Holdings Limited to a local investor.
The 13-bedroom town centre hotel was closed at the end of summer 2023 due to the owners’ desire to divest of the property and concentrate on other business interests. It was placed on the market by Colliers for offers in excess of £1 million, excluding two residential units within the property, however these have now been included in the sale.
In recent years the 135-year-old hotel has been fully refurbished to create 13 unique bedrooms, residential apartments and 100-cover ground floor bar and restaurant. Grade II listed, the property boasts a striking gothic-styled façade of brick and stone, with a number of original features including turrets, arrow slits and parapets.
It was sold with planning consent for eight additional bedrooms or conversion of the upper floors to residential use, and the new owners plan to re-open the hotel and restaurant in the next few months.
Chris Miles from The Fleece Holdings said: “We’ve been happy custodians of The Fleece Hotel and have enjoyed maintaining its unique look, while bringing it up to modern standards of hospitality.
“However now is the time for us to move on with our other business interests and we’re pleased to be passing the hotel on to a local investor who is able to give the business the attention it deserves and provide quality services to guests once again.”
Robert Smithson, associate director in Hotels Agency at Colliers handled the sale. He said: “We’re pleased to have managed the sale of another outstanding Yorkshire hotel asset. The former owners of The Fleece created an excellent venue and invested heavily in its refurbishment and planning.
“However, as hotel operations was not their business focus it is fantastic to see the property being passed on to a local investor and operator who is looking to forward and getting the Fleece back up and running.
“This is Colliers 30th UK hotel transaction this year, which is a 38% improvement on last year, highlighting that buyer confidence is returning on the back of improving economic indicators.”
Joint venture acquires 105 homes from Sheffield housebuilder
Gatehouse Investment Management has acquired 105 single-family build-to-rent (SFR) homes from Sheffield housebuilder MJ Gleeson for £18.5 million, as part of its joint venture with global investment firm Carlyle.
This is the second deal signed with MJ Gleeson by the joint venture, with the new homes located across the same 15 developments as the 288 units acquired from the housebuilder last year.
Located on successful sites, with strong transport links and local amenities, the two-, three- and four-bedroom homes will be handed over to the joint venture from early 2025 onwards. As part of Gatehouse IM’s commitment to sustainability, all homes will have an EPC rating of ‘B’ or higher.
The entire portfolio, including the new acquisitions, will be managed by Ascend.
John Coles, Director of Acquisitions at Gatehouse IM, said: “We are pleased to have completed this latest acquisition with MJ Gleeson, having been impressed with the homes it has already delivered, and are certain these further units will be an equally strong element of our wider portfolio. We have developed a productive working relationship with MJ Gleeson, and look forward to future deals.”
Anssi Halonen, Managing Director and Head of Acquisitions on the Carlyle Europe Realty advisory team, added: “The fundamentals underpinning our UK residential strategy remain compelling. These represent high-quality additions to our growing platform, providing SFR homes which we believe will be a key part of the housing mix.”
Steve McElroy, Group Sales Director at MJ Gleeson, said: “The addition of further units to the existing portfolio further strengthens the partnership we have developed with Gatehouse IM and Carlyle and allows us to work together to provide much needed high quality and affordable housing stock in the areas and for people who need it most.”
Lindsey Oil Refinery reaches exclusive crude oil supply deal with Glencore Energy
The Prax Group has reached agreement for exclusive crude oil supply for its Lindsey Oil Refinery with Glencore Energy UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Glencore plc, one of the world’s largest globally diversified natural resource companies.
Prax has selected Glencore as its supply partner to build on the substantial investment the Group has made since it acquired the refinery in 2021, including the first major Turnaround & Inspection of the refinery under Prax ownership.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Prax Group will purchase crude oil and refinery feedstocks from Glencore for Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery, near Immingham in the Humber estuary, and Glencore will use its extensive global reach in the international energy markets to source the optimal range of crude oil and other feedstocks for the refinery.
The Prax Group is committed to continue investing in Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery for the long term, and to transform it into a next generation, low carbon refinery that contributes to the UK’s energy security.
Former factory site in Leeds to be used for housing
Fifty new homes are being built on a brownfield site off Moorfield Road in the Armley district of Leeds that was formerly occupied by the Tower Works factory.
The scheme is being delivered by Yorkshire Housing and contractor Termrim Construction with support from Leeds City Council and Homes England.
By part-funding the work to the tune of up to £750k, the council says it will help ensure the success of a project that aims to make a positive difference to the lives of people in an area with significant housing needs.
The scheme will also help efforts to boost the city’s overall supply of new affordable homes, which – after record building levels in 2023 – is now forecast to rise by a further 750 this year, thanks to work by housing associations and the council through its own direct delivery.
It is anticipated that the first homes at the site – which has stood vacant and derelict for a number of years – will be ready next February.
Anthony Askew, head of construction at Yorkshire Housing, said: “We are committed to delivering a range of affordable homes across Yorkshire, especially in areas of high need such as Armley.
“We have an aim of delivering 8,000 new affordable homes across Yorkshire to help ease the housing crisis and this site takes us closer to achieving that target.”
Jason McGarvey, commercial director at Termrim Construction, said:
“We have made great progress with the installation of the new roads and sewers alongside foundations and retaining walls.
“Design and procurement for the superstructure elements has also progressed well with the superstructure masonry commencing imminently.
“As always, it is great to work with the Yorkshire Housing team on this important development delivering a mix of new affordable houses and apartments to the Yorkshire region.”
West Yorkshire brewery and Star Pubs unite to create beer to beat loneliness
Keighley-based Timothy Taylor’s Brewery has worked with Heineken UK’s Star Pubs to introduce a limited-edition cask ale called Marmalade Best to raise funds for loneliness charity the Marmalade Trust.
The Trust works to support of individuals experiencing loneliness, and will be on sale from now until the end of October, including during Cask Ale Week. For every pint of Marmalade Best sold, Star Pubs will donate 20p to the charity.
To create the ale, Star Pubs collaborated with Timothy Taylor’s and hops producer Charles Faram, who generously provided some of the hops for this special ale, knowing it was for a charitable cause.
Marmalade Best is a refreshing, golden beer brewed at 3.4% ABV. To deliver the distinctive warm, orange zest, spicy and resinous aroma and flavours, Emperor from the Charles Faram Hop Development Program and Admiral were selected to work alongside Timothy Taylor’s favourites Goldings, Fuggles and Savinjski Goldings.
Each firkin will come with a Marmalade Best pump clip featuring a QR code linking to Marmalade Trust’s website for more information on the charity and the support available.
Point-of-sale kits will also be distributed to participating pubs with conversation starter ideas to encourage pubgoers to talk to one another.
Says Star Pubs MD Lawson Mountstevens: “The bar is the focal point of any pub, so what better place to raise awareness of Marmalade Trust and the work it does to support people experiencing loneliness, than to have a dedicated charity ale? The launch of Marmalade Best will be a conversation starter between staff and customers. In addition to raising money for this great cause, it will also draw attention to this important subject and the charity.”
Amy Perrin, CEO and founder of Marmalade Trust said: “I am excited for the launch of the Marmalade Best, giving people a refreshing ale which they can enjoy in pubs across the country.”
So far, the funds raised by Star Pubs and HEINEKEN for Marmalade Trust have helped provide 222 Christmas lunches, doorstep visits, and hampers. The funds have also enabled 400 hours of telephone conversations between 115 volunteers and members through the charity’s companion scheme.
Firms offered free advice about cyber security
The Yorkshire & Humber Regional Cyber Crime Unit stages its next Police Cyber Clinic in Hull on the morning of August 29th.
The event will involve a series of short informative talks from cyber security professionals covering the Police-led cyber security products and services that you can access for free to protect businesses from cyber crime.
A spokesman said: “These engaging sessions will cover a range of topics, from the latest threats and vulnerabilities to practical steps you can take to safeguard your digital assets. Delegates will have the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, and network with other business owners who are equally committed to enhancing their cyber defences.
“This event is suitable for anyone including SMEs, businesses, charities, organisations, academia, and non-profit organisations who are looking to enhance their knowledge, awareness and skills in the ever-evolving world of cyber security.”
All Police Cyber Clinics are completely free, with free refreshments and a light breakfast meal included. The next event will be at Hull University Students’ Union, Student Central, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX. Booking are essential.
‘We can’t get the staff,’ firms tell BCC
Firms in all sectors are struggling to find staff, according to the latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook from the British Chambers of Commerce.
More than 4,700 UK firms of all sectors and sizes have been quizzed by the BCC’s Insights Unit, which revealed an in crease in hiring problems across all sectors.
The second quarter results for 2024 show that 59% of respondents said they had attempted to recruit in the last three months, slightly down from 62% in Q1. 80% of hospitality businesses attempted to recruit, whereas the figure for the retail sector was just 44%.
Of the firms who tried to hire in Q2, 74% reported recruitment difficulties, compared with 66% in the first three months of the year.
Construction and engineering firms are bearing the brunt of staffing issues, with 82% reporting problems in Q2, up from 69% in Q1. 79% of firms in the transport and logistics sector said they had faced difficulties (up from 69% in Q1). Meanwhile, in production and manufacturing, 77% of businesses trying to recruit faced problems, up from 70% in the previous quarter.
Almost three quarters of firms (71%) in the hospitality sector said they had faced recruitment problems in Q2 (Q1 64%), while 70% of retailers faced difficulties, up from 61% in Q1.
Although most businesses are still struggling to increase investment in workplace training, Q2 did see a slight increase. 28% of firms reported an increase in staff training investment, up from 26% in Q1, with 11% reporting a drop. 61% reported no change in their investment plans for training over the past three months.
Labour costs continue to be the main external pressure on businesses in Q2, with 67% of firms saying they could be forced to put up prices as a result. Concerns around labour costs are highest in hospitality (77%), followed by construction and engineering (76%), and production and manufacturing (72%).
Jane Gratton, Deputy Director Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “It’s alarming that recruitment difficulties have increased in recent months across all sectors. The very sharp rise in the construction industry is particularly worrying.
“People shortages and labour costs are ramping up pressure on firms and holding back growth. We need to prioritise help for people to get back into the labour market and remove the barriers to business investment in training.
“Better planning for skills is crucial. The new government must work at pace to outline a long-term national skills strategy, working closely with the devolved administrations.
“Building on Local Skills Improvement Plans will help develop strong partnerships between employers, training providers and others – to ensure people get the skills and support they need.”
