Rasen repairs restore frontage of flagship building
Specialist contractors have carried out repairs to the exterior 9-10 Market Place in Market Rasen town centre, the second major building to benefit from funding from the town’s Historic Building Grant Scheme.
West Lindsey District Council is funding a partnership with a local steering group made up of businesses, councils, and conservationists on the pilot project, which aims to unlock the potential of the town’s heritage assets by supporting the regeneration of significant buildings in the centre of Market Rasen.
The former bank at 9- 10 Market Place, has had a number of repairs made to it including repairing and decoration to the windows, installation of new doors and fan lights and repairs and redecoration of the render. Now completed, the building makes a significant contribution to the historic diversity of the marketplace.
Cllr Stephen Bunney, ward member for Market Rasen, has welcomed the completion of the work. He said: “We have been eagerly watching the work take place on the building and I am delighted to see the scaffolding has now been removed to highlight this historic building, refurbished and back to its former glory.
“These works not only give a visual boost to the area in terms of visual appeal, they also help conserve part of the town’s rich heritage and ensure they are an attractive proposition to be used in our wonderful town centre.”
The grant helps to fund work to improve and conserve historic buildings, using traditional materials and techniques in keeping with the heritage of the area. This includes work such as the repairing timber windows and shopfronts, removing unsightly paintwork, or repairing or renewing damaged render. It also can include new, traditional hand painted signage, which is more in-keeping with the properties.
Local heritage representative Neil Taylor said it was great to see the completion of the second building being developed as part of this scheme.
He said: “Local people will be happy to see this, and other buildings being transformed, vastly improving the visual appearance and improving the heritage of our much-loved town.”
The project will now turn its attention the former bank at 7 Market Place in the spring, followed by 5-6 Market Place.
Elsham firm gets £13,000 cash injection to boost productivity
Elsham-based speciality chemicals and gas supplier Blended Products is the latest North Lincolnshire business to benefit from Government cash to accelerate growth.
The company – which has a Europe-wide customer base – received a £13,000 cash injection to supercharge productivity.
The team at Blended used the cash to invest in a new Enterprise Resource Planning, revolutionising internal operations, increasing efficiency, and slashing costs.
Jayne Blenkin, the company’s financial director, said: “This grant has been a real game-changer for our business, enabling us to fast-track the implementation of the Enterprise Resource Planning software that is crucial to our continued growth.
“We would like to thank everyone involved in the delivery of this UKSPF funding for their commitment to developing skills and empowering organisations and driving growth within communities and businesses.”
The business is one of several dozen which have collectively invested more than £2.2m after being backed with £300,000 Government cash – creating and protecting more than 250 jobs locally.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “Blended Products is a North Lincolnshire success story – a family-run business which has grown year-on-year to become experts in the chemical gas industry, serving brands across the globe from their base at Elsham Industrial Park.
“With the hard work of businesses like Blended, and millions of pounds of Government investment, we are powering North Lincolnshire’s economy, creating well-paid, sustainable jobs and building a prosperous future.”
Other North Lincolnshire businesses which have benefitted from UKSPF funding include Trent Refractories, Sentex Hydraulix and Harlequin Office Furniture.
They are just some of dozens which have invested the £2.2m after being backed with £300,000 Government cash from the £2.6bn UK Shared Prosperity Fund – which is part of the levelling up agenda and is designed to boost productivity and tackle inequality.
More than 250 jobs were created and protected thanks to the scheme run by North Lincolnshire Council.
The businesses invested in new machinery, IT equipment, software, marketing support to attract new clients and a raft of green technologies including solar panels, LED lights and new efficient heating systems.
County Council builds six new industrial units in Skegness
Six new industrial units have been built at Skegness Business Park, as part of the county council’s continued commitment to supporting businesses of all sizes.
In the last few years, Skegness Business Park has undergone a £2.4m revamp and expansion, funded by the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and Lincolnshire County Council. As part of this, local company Manorcrest have developed six new industrial units at the site.
Up to nine acres of serviced land at the Holly Road site, is also now available for start-ups, growing businesses and business re-location to Skegness, supporting the year-round economy in the area.
Cllr Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy and place, said: “The county council plays a really important role in providing the right environment for business success and growth. We’ve been forward-thinking in developing sites ready to attract new enterprises and allow our local companies to grow. The purchase of land, its development and then onward sales takes time, but particularly where there will be new housing, we need to ensure there are jobs and business infrastructure to go alongside it.”
Ruth Carver, Chief Executive of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP stated, “These new industrial units will provide much needed business space for the area enabling new jobs and business expansion opportunities, but also supporting local ambitions for development of housing and community uses in the area.”
British Steel trials hybrid loco on Scunthorpe site
An ‘environmentally friendly’ 90-tonne, hybrid locomotive is currently shunting around the rail tracks at British Sterl’s Scunthorpe site as part of a new trial.
The Class 18 CBD90 loco, hired by British Steel from rolling stock lease hire suppliers Beacon Rail Leasing Limited, has been brought to North Lincolnshire from the West Midlands.
The loco, according to its manufacturers Clayton Equipment Limited, has ‘zero emissions, low noise, low maintenance and ease of operation’, running primarily on a lead acid battery which is charged up using a diesel engine battery charging system or on-site electrical supply.
With a maximum speed of 20kmph and a fuel tank capacity of 800 litres, the loco’s axles each weigh 22.5 tonnes with the capability to pull 2,500 tonnes.
Testing the Class 18 loco’s performance is part of the company’s Decarbonisation Strategy, and the team analysing its operations will look at its efficiency, reliability, availability of spare parts and the potential reduction in maintenance costs.
Site Operations Manager – Internal Logistics, Trev Charlton, said: “This is one of a number of options we are considering to reduce our carbon footprint, and we are currently searching worldwide for a suitable powered shunting locomotive alternative. This is the first time British Steel has trialled a hybrid loco on site as an alternative form of loco power.
“We are particularly interested in the duty cycle of the hybrid battery. From the specifications, the loco has sufficient power for our operations, and we are keen to establish how long it can be operated without being plugged in. This will help us establish how many we will potentially need to purchase – if they are the correct solution for the business. We are also extremely interested in how it performs in colder weather.”
Beacon Director – Commercial, Viren Walia, said: “This is a battery-powered 90-tonne shunting locomotive capable of hauling loads of up to 2,500 tonnes. The loco can be charged through a three-phase supply and has remote control capability.”
Land sale paves way for new pet hospital in Hull
Plans have been submitted to create a new state-of-the-art pet hospital in Hull following the sale of council land.
Pets Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) entered the proposals for land adjacent to Brunswick Avenue and Waterloo Street in Central ward after a Decision Record was published authorising the sale.
PDSA, a charity which offers free and low-cost veterinary care to poorly pets in need, as well as pet help and advice, services, and support, already operates an existing animal hospital on Brunswick Avenue which is old and considered out of date.
The current facility can no longer meet the increased demand for veterinary services and so PDSA declared interest in the council-owned open space nearby.
The site is that of the former Waterloo Street shop which was demolished some years ago due to persistent vandalism and arson attacks and is now overgrown and continues to be affected by anti-social behaviour.
Under the current Local Plan, the site is designated as Open Space and, if sale terms are agreed, would bring significant capital investment into the city.
It would also provide greater capacity to care for sick animals, as well as generate additional employment whilst helping to reduce anti-social behaviour.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration at Hull City Council, said: “The PDSA already does a very good job at its current location on Brunswick Avenue, but this proposed purchase of council land will allow it to further support animal owners in Hull access affordable veterinary care.
“The sale would also help address concerns about anti-social behaviour that have occurred on that land, something which residents and ward councillors have raised with the council.”
In 2022, PDSA supported around 7,000 households in Hull and carried out 14,700 consultation and 2,000 surgical procedures.
A spokesperson for PDSA said: “Our current site is now 38-year-old and is no longer compatible with the advances of veterinary medicine, causing operational difficulties and inefficiencies.
“We are proposing to acquire a site of 0.83 acres from Hull City Council immediately to the north of the existing site.
“This, combined with our existing site, will allow us to construct a new, much larger, purpose-built single storey veterinary hospital of 670sqm.
“The site will be landscaped to provide an attractive open environment which will help enhance the local area.”
Leeds to become “leading legal hub”
Court and tribunal capacity in Leeds is set to be boosted by the opening of new state-of-the art courts and tribunals in the city centre.
It comes as the Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk visited the new West Gate court and tribunal building in Leeds, funded through the government’s increased investment in the court and tribunal estate across England and Wales.
In a boost for the city’s legal infrastructure, a total of £6.2 million has been invested in West Gate to create capacity for 12 hearing rooms over 3 floors. This investment in the centre of Leeds expands the estate in the city to 53 court or hearing rooms within a 250-yards radius.
The building at West Gate includes the space for eight new, fit-for-purpose employment tribunal rooms.
In addition, construction work is underway to create four new Business & Property Court rooms. They will provide a dedicated space for cases to be heard from business disputes to evictions.
The Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk said: “These new state-of-the-art hearing rooms will be a hugely positive addition to Leeds city centre, positioning the city as a leading legal hub. By increasing capacity in the nearby Crown Court, we are also able to tackle more outstanding criminal cases, put victims first and bring more criminals to justice.
“This government is committed to delivering a modern court and tribunal estate that is truly fit for the future.”
The court will also support increased Crown Court capacity in the city, by moving the Business & Property Court work away from Leeds Crown Court, where it is currently situated, to help deliver justice swiftly for victims and defendants. The newly refurbished site in the city’s West Gate district is one of a number of sites in Yorkshire to benefit from part of £220 million funding. The two-year funding package is enabling improvement and maintenance works to courts and tribunals across the country, improving the resilience and accessibility of the court system.CPP Group disposes of minority interest in cyber risk firm
Leeds-based CPP Group, which provides assistance and insurance products, has disposed of its minority interest in KYND Limited to V Acquisition Limited, part of the Verisk Analytics, Inc. group, in a £2.6 million deal.
CPP said the investment in KYND is non-core to the Group following the announcement of its revised strategy and Change Management Programme (CMP) to transform the Group to
an InsurTech business, led by Blink Parametric and supported by CPP India and CPP Turkey.
In 2018 CPP acquired a 20% shareholding in KYND, a business which provides cyber risk management solutions, for £1.2 million. The Group’s shareholding in 2021 reduced to 13.3%, on a fully diluted basis, when the Group decided not to participate in a capital raise by KYND.
At 30 June 2023, the fair value of the Group’s balance sheet investment in KYND was £2 million. No profit or loss in respect of KYND was recognised in the Group’s income statement for the year ended 31 December 2022.
Simon Pyper, Group CEO, said: “The agreement we have reached with Verisk is consistent with our stated strategy and is another positive step as we simplify the Group and transform to an InsurTech business.”
Green light granted for Castleford Tigers stadium redevelopment and employment site proposals
Planning applications for a major upgrade to the Wheldon Road stadium and a significant new employment development on the Axiom site, at Junction 32 on the M62, have both been approved by Wakefield Council’s Planning & Highways Committee.
Mark Grattan, Castleford Tigers RLFC Managing Director, said: “Our historic Wheldon Road home has long been in need of significant modernisation. Today’s decision by the planning committee members marks another major hurdle cleared. We are grateful to Wakefield Council’s planning committee members for backing their officer’s recommendation today.
“We are also grateful to Wakefield Council for the £2 million of funding through their Rugby League Resilience Fund, which will be invested in Wheldon Road. In addition, the multimillion pound private sector investment provided by the Axiom proposals will deliver a stepchange for the club, enabling us to secure the long-term future of the club and place us on a more equal footing with other professional rugby league clubs.
“Castleford Tigers supporters have been hugely patient and we sincerely hope that patience will soon be rewarded, when we have high quality facilities to match our rivals.”
A spokesperson for Axiom Yorkshire, owners of the Junction 32 site, said: “Wakefield Council has been rigorous in their approach to these two planning applications, and we are grateful to both the planning committee members and the officers for the decision to approve both proposals.
“As the site is within the Green Belt, the Axiom application will be referred to the National Planning Casework Unit who will advise on whether the decision by Wakefield Council requires further scrutiny before formal planning approval is given.
“We would like to offer our sincere thanks to the thousands of people who supported the Wheldon Road and Axiom proposals. We will provide a further update in due course.”
The circa £200 million Axiom Yorkshire proposals will deliver around 141,000 sq metres of new employment, logistics and manufacturing floorspace, providing around 1,830 permanent full-time jobs in Castleford, with a further 365 ‘spin-off’ jobs created within the Wakefield Council area. During construction approximately 1,500 on and off-site construction jobs per year are likely to be generated at both Wheldon Road and the Axiom employment site.
Once fully operational, this significant job creation at the Axiom site is calculated to generate around £142 million of local economic activity per year. The Axiom site will also provide approximately £3.2 million per year of additional Business Rates when fully occupied.
The Axiom proposals will provide £12.2 million of funding towards major upgrades at Castleford Tigers’ Wheldon Road. A further £2 million is being provided by Wakefield Council’s Rugby League Resilience Fund.
Axiom will also deliver £17 million of highways improvements to the Junction 32 roundabout.
Wheldon Road will benefit from a new all-seater main stand. As well as much improved ‘back of house’ sporting facilities for players and officials, a banqueting suite and corporate hospitality function rooms will provide new opportunities for income generation.
Upgraded facilities at Wheldon Road will deliver major improvements to be enjoyed by all fans, including new catering facilities and toilets. Importantly, improved accessibility and much enhanced viewing areas will transform the matchday experience for fans with disabilities.
New accreditation means Greater Lincolnshire’s tourism sector can step up a gear
Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland have achieved Local Visitor Economy Partnership LVEP accreditation which is a major milestone in the evolution of Destination Lincolnshire after a four-year transformation to make sure it was perfectly positioned to support businesses, operators and councils after covid.
Charlotte Goy, Chief Executive at Destination Lincolnshire, said: “The accreditation is testament to the amazing performance of our team, the vision of our Board of Directors and the unwavering support of our partners.
“We’re just at the beginning, but already we can see where the step-change will be. With LVEP status secured, we’ll be invited to take part in national development and marketing activities with VisitEngland, which could unlock funding for marketing campaigns, destination development, data and insights, and business support with training.
“There will also be a regional strategy which will encourage East Midland LVEPs to collaborate with each other.”
Andrew Stokes, Director at VisitEngland, said: “The Local Visitor Economy Partnerships programme is transforming the visitor economy landscape in England.
“LVEPs are supporting sector growth in a more inclusive, accessible and sustainable way and I am delighted to welcome Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland. Working together, LVEPs are simplifying our tourism landscape, ensuring England continues to be a compelling destination for both domestic and international visitors. As Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland his established as an LVEP, VisitEngland will provide ongoing support including a dedicated regional lead.”
Spanish nuclear manufacturer joins University’s research centre
Spanish nuclear engineering group ENSA is joining the University of Sheffield’s Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre to develop new capabilities in electron beam welding.
The company manufactures large components for nuclear power plants, including steam generators, reactor pressure vessels and heads and heat exchangers, as well as fuel containers, racks and nozzles.
Thomas Dutilleul, welding engineer at the Nuclear AMRC, said: “We will work together to explore the use of electron beam welding to fabricate such components, and collaborate to assess the maturity of this new technology and understand where it fits and how it differentiates itself from other technologies, to help ENSA decide if it makes sense to adopt electron beam welding and what work is necessary to do so.”
The Nuclear AMRC is part of the UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult, and collaborates with companies of all sizes to help them develop and prove advanced manufacturing techniques.
ENSA has previously collaborated with the Nuclear AMRC on a number of projects, including international R&D projects funded by the European Horizon 2020 programme, in areas such as intelligent robotic systems for automated weld grinding, and addressing the root causes of stress corrosion cracking in reactor components.
Sheffield printer buys its own premises after ten years of renting
Later this year specialist school printer Ecclesall Print will move from its home in Sheffield’s Archer Road into its first commercial property – the former Tiles Direct building on the corner of Alderney Road in the Millhouses area of this city.
Founder and MD of Steve Durbin said: “Following a full refit, we aim to be in the building in March. We have been trading for 10 years; renting our current premises for nearly seven and building up our customer base and production process. We see the purchase of our own, bigger, commercial property as the start of a new, exciting expansion.”
As well as proving printing services for local business, Ecclesall Print also operate nationally through its School Print World brand, which provide personalised Christmas cards and printed products for hundreds of schools throughout the UK.
The company’s School Print World brand sees it recruit up to 10 seasonal workers each year to manage demand in the run up to Christmas.
Steve added: “Christmas is a year-round focus for us as more and more schools look to raise vital funds through selling bespoke Christmas cards. We are busier than ever and our new, larger premises on Alderney Road are instrumental in our growth plans for the future and recruiting more permanent members of staff to the team.”
Acting on behalf of Ecclesall Print, Mason Thomas Law completed the purchase of the building. Steve added: “Buying a commercial property was a completely new experience for us but Mason Thomas Law ensured the progress was smooth and kept us informed throughout. Sheffield has always been at the heart of manufacturing and production and for us to own our own piece of that heritage and secure our place in its future, feels very special.”
Cathy Thomas, director and solicitor of Mason Thomas Law, said: “We were thrilled to work with Steve with the purchase of his new premises. We are always excited to support local business owners to get their feet on the commercial property ladder in Sheffield.”
Dog rescue charity appoints new CEO
North Lincolnshire-based charity Jerry Green Dog Rescue has appointed Christina Marriott as CEO.
Christina’s appointment comes at a significant time for the charity, which operates centres at Broughton, Gilberdyke near Goole, Algakirk near Boston, and Blidworth in Nottinghamshire, says Chairman of Trustees Ian Cawsey.
He said: “The charity world faces many challenges, not least raising enough funds to do important work in difficult times when people are finding it hard to pay their bills.
“Christina’s experience and track record of delivery is impressive, and as we start the 63rd year of Jerry Green Dog Rescue, we look forward to working with her on the next chapter of our development, to build an organisation that can endure for many more years ahead.”
Exclusive Viewing Day: You’re invited to Ashfield Park, Lincolnshire
Tingdene Residential Parks are delighted to extend a special invitation to you for our upcoming viewing day at Ashfield Park, Scunthorpe, a vibrant community exclusively for the over 50s.Join us as we unveil a range of new plots and thoughtfully designed homes, whilst exploring the benefits of park home living firsthand. With brand new 1- and 2-bedroom homes available, starting from £139,500, our viewing day is your chance to explore the new opportunities available at the park and imagine the fulfilling lifestyle that can be achieved by making Ashfield Park your new home.Our friendly team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and help you get started on your journey.We look forward to seeing you.Date: Tuesday 20th FebruaryTime: 10am – 4pmLocation: Burringham Road, Scunthorpe DN17 2AL
Tickets can be booked on Eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/february-viewing-day-introducing-ashfield-park-lincolnshire-tickets-810758940817?aff=oddtdtcreatorOr call our team on 01933 837192 to book a place.
York project to boost green construction skills
A new initiative which plans to create new jobs in York, boost green construction skills and in turn help tackle the climate emergency will be discussed at a meeting next week, on 20 February.
City of York Council, with partners on the Retrofit One Stop Shop York (ROSSY) project, has been awarded £3.37 million from Innovate UK to support, promote and encourage retrofitting work to homes across the city, helping residents to save money and to move the city towards net zero, while upskilling the sector with the latest techniques.
The ROSSY project forms a key part of the council’s Construction Skills Initiative (CSI York), alongside two previously-announced UK Shared Prosperity Fund projects which help young people gain experience and skills in the construction sector, and supporting work to improve community venues in the city.
Councillor Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council said: “Under our Council plan’s ‘economy and good employment’ priority, we committed to a fair, thriving, green economy for all, and to developing green skills, quality qualifications and employment.
“We pledged to tackle the climate emergency and help people into well-paid ‘green jobs’. This is a significant step in delivering that pledge, and a milestone on the way to the ‘Green Construction Skills Village’ we promised.
“Initiatives such as CSI York are critical to this and have far reaching benefits, tackling a skills gap in the construction sector and upskilling residents so more of them can work in well-paid jobs in the exciting developments being built in the city.
“Retrofitting homes in York means warmer homes and cheaper energy bills with both better for the environment. I want to thank all the partners for their hard work on this so far and I look forward to continuing to work with them to make a real difference.”
Councillor Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities said: “While retrofitting has many benefits, we are aware of some of the barriers for residents, including the upfront costs, practicalities and lack of clear information.
“A key part of this new initiative would see us work to remove these barriers by offering advice and support and creating a ‘retrofit one stop shop’.
“In the long-term everyone benefits from homes being retrofitted. Better insulation will mean people can live in warmer homes while paying lower energy bills.
“A third of the carbon impact in York comes from our homes and retrofitting will help to reduce that number significantly. With the economic benefits too this means the impact of this work stretches far beyond each individual home.”
At the meeting Executive members will be asked to agree to accept the funding from Innovate UK. The Executive meeting takes place on Tuesday 20 February at 5.30pm.
Long-established Suzuki & Subaru dealer acquired by Leeds group
Colin Appleyard Limited, one of the longest established Suzuki & Subaru dealer groups in the UK, has been acquired by Leeds-headquartered D. M. Keith Motor Group.
Colin Appleyard Limited, which represents Suzuki in Bradford, Keighley, Ashton-Under-Lyne and Huddersfield, alongside Subaru in Keighley and Huddersfield, was initially founded by the late Colin Appleyard in 1971 and run by his son Robin Appleyard since 2010. The acquisition sees D. M. Keith’s first venture with Suzuki, giving it a scaled footprint from day one with the brand.
D. M. Keith has expanded substantially over the last decade, most recently acquiring Ringways Ford and Kia in Leeds back in 2021. It now operates 19 businesses across sites in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Greater Manchester. This acquisition sees the group grow to an anticipated 2024 turnover to be in excess of £300m.
On 14 February, all Colin Appleyard employees and assets were transferred to D. M. Keith Ltd, increasing the total number of D. M. Keith employees by 125.
The deal was brokered by David Kendrick & Ian McMahon of UHY Manchester, funded by Natwest Bank and the legal advice by Gordons LLP, Leeds.
Plans submitted for £3m health, well-being and community centre in Shipley
Plans have been submitted for a multi-million pound project in Shipley with a focus on Health, Well-being and Community.
The £3m investment from the Shipley Towns Fund will transform The Old School building on Farfield Road, owned by mental health charity, The Cellar Trust.
Plans, drawn up by local firm Rance, Booth and Smith Architects, include full refurbishment of the existing building, a new atrium at the front of the building and full landscaping.
The proposals for the grounds include the creation of a well-being garden which will be accessible to the public.
The new facility will continue to be run by well-established founding member charity, The Cellar Trust with input from strategic charity partner HALE, also based in Shipley. Its mission will be to provide health and well-being services by working with a range of services from the voluntary sector, public sector and social enterprise in one inclusive, welcoming and accessible place.
The Cellar Trust CEO Kim Shutler said: “We have an established track record of successfully delivering specialist mental health support. This building will give us new opportunities to work in partnership with other local organisations, who may not easily have access to such facilities.
“We’ll be making good use of the improved facilities with the access to green space and the opportunity for classes and activities. All with the aim of supporting even more people across Shipley.”
Services will be available for the whole community and will particularly focus on supporting vulnerable people. There will be large rooms for groups and events, smaller activity rooms, consulting rooms for clinical and non-clinical interventions as well as a multi-faith and contemplation space.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “This new community development will be invaluable, delivering improved access to mental and physical health services and will support the well-being of our community.”
Chairman of Shipley Towns Fund Adam Clerkin added: “We are pleased to support this incredible project, which will change people’s lives. It will provide a wide range of integrated support services, delivered by a skilled workforce and a team of volunteers who are trained in engaging, assessing, motivating and giving people the tools to improve their health and well-being. We are delighted to have been able to support it through the towns fund.”
Office and co-working space has been set aside for health and well-being providers and social enterprises. The atrium entrance space and welcome area will include an informal seating area and refreshments.
In addition to the £3m funding to be received through the Towns Fund, an additional £600k funding has been sourced through match funding, by way of building collateral from The Cellar Trust.
Goole invests in scooter fleet to help people get to work and training
Opportunity Goole – one of the eight strategic projects funded by Goole Town Deal – has subsidised the cost of 20 brand new scooters to help the town’s residents access training and job opportunities.
The new scooters will be managed by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s existing Kickstart vehicle loan scheme, but the Opportunity Goole-funded scooters are exclusively for the use of Goole residents. This latest investment takes the total number of scooters available to Goole residents up to 20, although 11 of these are already in use. Councillor Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The council’s Kickstart Scheme has been hugely successful and there are now 55 scooters available to residents across the East Riding. Thanks to this investment from Goole Town Deal, 20 of these are exclusively for the use of Goole residents. “We know that demand for these scooters in particularly high in the Goole area, so it’s wonderful to see Opportunity Goole linking up with the Kickstart Scheme to deliver even greater benefits for the town’s residents. I’d encourage anyone who would like to loan a scooter but needs help applying or is struggling to meet the start-up costs to have a chat with the Opportunity Goole team for support and advice.” Phil Jones, Chair of the Goole Town Deal Board, said: “It’s fantastic that there are now 20 scooters available to help residents of the town access work and training opportunities. As one of the eight strategic projects that the Goole Town Deal Board chose to allocate funding to, the Opportunity Goole team helps local people to gain the knowledge and skills they need to secure employment and ensures that employers can recruit local people with the skill set that they’re looking for. This is another fantastic example of the team – and Goole Town Deal funding – being used to make a tangible difference to local people.” Goole residents who are struggling to access work or training opportunities due to a lack of public transport or difficulties meeting transport costs can contact the Opportunity Goole team for more information or visit the Kickstart page on the East Riding of Yorkshire Council website. Eligible applicants are required to pay a monthly charge of £69 to cover rental fees, insurance, tax and servicing, but this is typically much cheaper than the cost of other forms of transport. There’s also a £115 start-up fee, but the Opportunity Goole team may be able to help any applicants struggling to make this initial payment to access grant funding. Pop in to chat with the team at Goole Library or email: opportunitygoole@eastriding.gov.ukNorth East Lincolnshire plans staff move to support Grimsby Town centre businesses
North East Lincolnshire Council this year will see the vast majority of its staff and partners, brought together to work in and support Grimsby town centre through its Doughty Road depot project.
When the refurbishment of Doughty Road is complete in late summer this year, 300 council and partner staff will be working from the completely refurbished major works depot.
It sits very close to the town centre and neighbours the Town Hall, the Municipal Offices and New Oxford House – together those buildings will then house over 1,000 employees of not only the authority, but staff of partners in both project delivery and health.
Council leader Philip Jackson said: “We have been clear about this authority’s efforts to support our town centre – our purchase of Freshney Place, and then the House of Fraser building is evidence of this.
“However, we have also considered how we need to make every effort possible to encourage and increase footfall to both Freshney Place and the surrounding town centre. Our plan to re-locate staff, where possible, into the town centre is a way of doing just that.”
The new Doughty Road depot will see the amalgamation of services from the current site and the Gilbey Road Depot. It will accommodate all teams that are currently housed at the sites as well as the council’s environmental fleet, bin wagons, education buses and associated vehicles.
Efficiencies will include savings associated with staff working together on one site with modern facilities and infrastructure, green energy from solar panels, battery storage, rainwater harvesting and an air source heat pump. All the hard core from the demolished buildings has also been used for the ground works, with all metal and wood from the demolition recycled.
Stewart Swinburn, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Transport added: “I’m delighted to see this approved by Cabinet. We feel strongly that this is a necessary development for the borough and one that will provide countless benefits to the teams working there and Grimsby as a whole.”
Grant helps packaging firm cut energy consumption
Scunthorpe-based international packaging company Skymark has used Government cash to help it install a smart metering system to cut its energy consumption and improve productivity.
Skymark Packaging International installed a £30,000 “full site submetering system” to improve energy consumption and efficiency by accurately determining where electricity is used during the manufacturing processes.
The investment has been backed with £5,000 Government cash – with Skymark one of several dozen firms to collectively invest more than £2.2m backed with £300,000 coming from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Shaine Gill-Ohrt, Skymark’s compliance and accreditation manager, said: “We found out about the opportunity during a business briefing at The Baths Hall back in early 2023 – although the timelines were tight, we embraced the challenge and applied for the funding.
“The project has been vital in us being able to accurately determine our energy consumption, calculating utilities and carbon levels more accurately and while we are still in the early phases it remains difficult to determine the full impact, it has opened several significant doors, not least in accurately determining costs.
“We would like to thank North Lincolnshire Council for their support and engagement in what has been a milestone project for Skymark.”
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “This Government cash is helping many businesses in North Lincolnshire improve and develop for the future.
“It is brilliant to see companies like Skymark implementing the funding to make technology investment which are driving real change.
The new system has seen several smart units and 54 individual monitoring stations installed which report real-time electricity consumption back to a cloud-based portal. As a result, the company candetermine the most efficient manufacturing processes, accurately cost each process and product range, assess the electricity impact of reducing machine work times, use the data to change behaviours, set reduction targets per machine and per department while also clearly demonstrating savings and productivity improvements.
Skymark joins the likes of Trent Refractories, Harlequin Office Furniture, Sentex Hydraulics and Blended Products along with several dozen others which have invested the £2.2m after being backed with £300,000 Government cash from the £2.6bn UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Government leaves food producers in the cold, says NFU
NFU Horticulture & Potatoes Board chair Martin Emmett said the government’s response had “missed the opportunity to grow the British horticulture sector”.
There was no reference to growing UK horticulture within the response, but instead a ‘commitment’ to broadly maintain the UK’s food self-sufficiency at the current level of 60%.
Martin warned that the industry was facing its third year of unprecedented and highly volatile costs of production, with growers having seen profits ‘all but wiped out for the last two years’, with profit margins unlikely to stabilise soon. “The risk and lack of reward is simply too high,” Martin added.
Fruit and vegetable shortages combined with ongoing global instability has left the supply chain “fragile” Martin said.
“We shouldn’t rely on imports to feed the nation. Instead we need government to match its own ambitions for the sector, alongside supporting our ornamental plant and flower businesses to achieve their environmental and biosecurity objectives.
“As a start, we need to give our British growers certainty by having a consistent plan for seasonal labour, including a five-year rolling Seasonal Workers Scheme, as well as sustainable returns and longer-term contracts with their key customers, the retailers and processors.”
