Leeds-based digital marketing agency Present Works is creating new jobs and expanding its services after receiving a six-figure funding investment.
Founded in 2018 by Brett Jacob and Peter Lowes, Present Works is a Business-to-Business communication specialist, delivering a wide range of marketing and media solutions to a range of clients.
The investment to support its growth has been provided from NPIF – FW Capital Debt Finance, which is managed by FW Capital and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.
This is the second round of investment secured from the Fund after Present Works received £100,000 in growth capital investment to fund a move to larger premises and create new jobs in Leeds in 2020.
This latest round of funding is helping to create two jobs and develop a new performance marketing service for the agency’s client base. This will enable clients to track and evaluate the effectiveness of their marketing activities.
Brett Jacob, founder and Managing Director at Present Works, said: “FW Capital have supported Present Works from our early days. Their financial and professional support have assisted in the development and broadening of our B2B marketing offer to our client base. We are excited for our plans for next year and beyond and grateful to FW Capital for their continued backing and belief in our business.”
Dave Hawkins, portfolio executive at FW Capital, said: “Present Works has a dynamic management team who are focused on driving forward the business and providing exceptional creative and digital marketing services to their impressive list of clients. I’m delighted to see the progress the business has made since the first round of funding from FW Capital and excited to continue to support their growth journey.”
Casa by Moda acquires 100 Doncaster homes
Casa by Moda has acquired 100 Doncaster homes which will now be available for rent as part of a wider mixed-residential masterplan with Albemarle Homes.
Casa at Westmoor Grange will have homes ranging from two to four-bedrooms. This family rental housing model differs to the traditional private landlord model, providing residents with long-term security and a range of lifestyle and wellbeing benefits.
The homes also include highly responsive home technology – including Utopi’s smart home sensors, which allow residents to control and monitor their living environment from room temperature, to air quality, to light pollution. The homes also benefit from additional sustainable elements, with solar PV panels and EV charging points available.
Casa at Westmoor Grange is located on the outskirts of Armthorpe.
Sarah Nelson, Director of Operations at Casa by Moda, said: “Casa at Westmoor Grange is our second neighbourhood in Yorkshire and will deliver the same high standard of renting as our previous neighbourhood at Casa, Abbey Court in Leeds – not only in terms of quality, but also being able to offer residents leases of up to three years, something unheard of in the traditional rental market.
“During the current period of economic uncertainty, we believe it’s important to be able to provide our residents a security of tenancy that can only come from our long-term approach.
“With demand for rental accommodation remaining high, our approach as a long-term owner and operator is to create not only high quality, sustainable homes, but new communities that go beyond bricks and mortar by actively supporting the wellbeing of our residents.
“As they join the existing Westmoor Grange community, we look forward to welcoming the very first Casa residents to the neighbourhood in the Summer.”
Darryl Barker, Managing Director at Albemarle Homes, said: “Our ethos, and the reason Albemarle Homes was established, is to provide quality built properties that become a home from the very start.
“Our Albemarle Standard is what sets us apart and we’re pleased that Casa by Moda has identified this and made the decision to incorporate a number of our Westmoor Grange homes into its unique private rented portfolio.
“We feel it is important that consumers are given a range of options to meet their own individual circumstances and support this alternative choice.”
AMRC forms partnership with Productive Machines
Productive Machines has joined the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) as a new member, with the aim of helping to increase productivity and reduce carbon emissions in manufacturing.
Productive Machines, a Software as a Service (SaaS) and AMRC spin-out company, specialises in AI-based technology designed to reduce waste and optimise machining processes through easy-to-use solutions replacing trial and error processes for big and small engineering companies.
The partnership between the AMRC and Productive Machines signifies a strategic alignment of expertise in the pursuit of precision engineering. As the newest Tier 2 member of the AMRC, Productive Machines brings its wealth of knowledge and disruptive technologies to the collaborative table, contributing significantly to the AMRC’s mission of driving net zero manufacturing.
Dr Erdem Ozturk, CEO of Productive Machines, expressed enthusiasm about joining the AMRC community. He said: “We have a special bond as a spin-out of the AMRC and we are thrilled to join this partnership and again become a part of the AMRC.
“This collaboration provides us with unique opportunities to promote techniques such as digital tap testing and to accelerate machine tool process optimisation contributing to shaping the future of advanced manufacturing.”
Matt Farnsworth, commercial director for the AMRC, said: “As a spin out from the AMRC’s machining dynamics research team, we are extremely proud of the success of Productive Machines and absolutely delighted to have them joining the AMRC’s industrial partner network.
“We feel they have unique technology differentiation within the field of machining dynamics optimisation and modelling that provides a huge opportunity for further collaboration within the AMRC network and perfectly compliments our other technology providing members in this space.”
Leeds’ 75Media acquires London-based iQ OOH
Leeds’ 75Media has acquired London-based iQ OOH, making it one of the fastest-growing out-of-home roadside networks in the UK.
75Media has incorporated iQ’s 81 digital panels into its own portfolio and all of its employees, including iQ founders Tim de Monte and David Peters, will transition into the newly expanded organisation.
iQ was founded in 2021, by De Monte and Peters, both former directors at Global. Specialising in digital billboards, the deal will see 75Media almost double its current offering of digital large format roadside locations.
The company will now operate over 200 digital billboards in a range of large and ultra large formats across the UK and moves the business towards its vision of becoming the number one roadside OOH network.
Alongside a growing portfolio of 300 large format classic paper billboards, 75Media now has over 500 sites spanning the UK, from Aberdeen in the North to Bournemouth in the South.
Paul Inman, Managing Director at 75Media, said: “We’re very excited to be welcoming Tim, David and the iQ team to 75Media. With their impressive expertise in the industry, and their track record working with the agency sector, it makes perfect strategic sense to bring iQ into the 75Media fold, as our skills, specialisms and sites ideally complement each other.
“This deal is significant as it firmly places 75Media within the top six OOH networks in the UK, and we don’t intend to stop there. Given where we started three years ago, we’ve worked hard to grow in a way that is sustainable, doesn’t compromise our levels of service, and drives significant value for our investors.
“We welcome working with businesses directly as well as with agencies, and that is demonstrated by our mission to become the number one network for brands in the UK.
“For us, that means high quality sites, strong customer service, supporting clients with planning and measurement and generally making the case for OOH as a hugely effective advertising medium for brands of all types. Bringing iQ on board takes us one step further on that journey.”
Tim de Monte added: “We can see the strength that combining our businesses will bring and look forward to connecting the teams together. Overall, we’re tremendously excited about the proposition we’re evolving in the market and I look forward to bringing an increasingly strong offering to our specialists and agencies.”
75Media now employs 35 people, with its HQ in Leeds and colleagues based in major cities across the UK.
East Yorkshire gets £4.3m to continue skills bootcamps
Skills Bootcamps will continue in Hull and East Yorkshire thanks to funding of £4.3m from government to support 1,603 individuals across different sectors.
Hull Training and Adult Education, leading and managing the programme, will work with employers and training providers to support local people to train up to better jobs in growing business sectors such as digital, transport and green skills.
Cllr Linda Tock, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for Hull Training, said: “This funding from the government allows us to continue our successful Skills Bootcamps programme.
“We want to help people gain the skills they need to meet the challenges of tomorrow and we can achieve this by working with training providers and businesses across Hull and East Yorkshire.
“A skilled workforce is a productive workforce and it is only through giving them the relevant skills, training and support, that they can play their part in driving forward the Hull and East Yorkshire economy.”
As well as supporting the council’s priority of in-work progression by improving skills and opportunities, it also ties in with Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Economic Growth Workforce Wellbeing Strategy.
James Newman, chair of HEY LEP, added: “This is an ambitious programme which will provide the higher-level skills needed for our region to become a stronger economy. We are delighted this funding has been secured for Hull and East Yorkshire.”
Skills Bootcamps provide flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving those who take part the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast track to interview with a local employer or acquire new skills to help their existing employer’s growth ambitions.
North Yorkshire pilot project aims to get businesses ready for investment
The York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub and Lifted Ventures have launched the ‘North Yorkshire Stars’ pilot project, an initiative aimed at making start-ups and early-stage businesses ready for investment.
Offering a pathway to pitch ideas and attract angel investment, the programme is a fully-funded 12-hour support initiative, with in-person and virtual events and workshops. Open to all sectors, the pilot project will support diversity and founders from all backgrounds.
Lifted Ventures, Co-Founded by Helen Oldham and Jordan Dargue, exists to increase the flow of early-stage capital for diverse founders outside London.
Helen Oldham said: “As ‘North Yorkshire Stars’ takes flight, we want to ensure that every business owner, with their unique vision and background, has a place to shine and thrive.”
Lifted Ventures will guide participants through the process of making their businesses investment ready. This includes specialist advice and finishes with in a unique opportunity to pitch to seasoned investors.
The comprehensive programme covers several key aspects for investment readiness. These include developing business plans, exploring options for funding, preparing financial projections, legal considerations, support structures, and governance.
Participants will create a winning elevator pitch and their own investor ‘pitch deck’. One-to-one coaching sessions will help refine this and prepare for investor meetings. The programme concludes with the opportunity to present to a panel of angel investors, featuring Q&A sessions and valuable feedback.
The overall goals of the project include introducing businesses to local investors, directly preparing them for investment, and boosting angel investment in North Yorkshire.
Simon Middleton, Delivery Manager for the Growth Hub, said: “I’m really pleased to be working with Lifted Ventures to deliver this first of its kind programme in North Yorkshire. We look forward to hearing from business owners when application open at the end of this month.”
Year will see increase in equity release schemes, says Legal and General
Legal and General predicts a year of renewed interest in equity release schemes and stabilisation of the property market.
A survey by Legal & General Home Finance shows that home improvements continued to be the main reason new equity release customers took out a lifetime mortgage last year – accounting for more than half of the new arrangements.
This includes adaptations to make sure a property remains suitable into retirement, alongside other types of home improvements. Analysis of English Housing Survey data by the Centre for Ageing Better suggests that 91% of homes across the country do not provide basic accessibility features, which presents particular challenges as people age.
Customers taking additional drawdowns, however, were more likely to use the value from within their homes to help supplement their income.
Craig Brown, CEO at Legal and General Home Finance, said: “Property wealth can be a valuable asset, and looking at the new customs who came to us last year we can se that home improvements continue to be the most popular use of equity release, helping people to improve rather than move.”
The company anticipates a renewed interest in lifetime mortgages as customers reconsider using property wealth as the market likely stabilises. Mr Brown added: “It’s worth bearing in mind that house prices are still significantly higher than pre-pandemic figures – up 18% up from the end of 2019 – so property still represents an important asset which homeowners are increasingly likely to draw on.
British Steel invests £10m in rail stocking facility at Scunthorpe
Stocks of rail for use by Network Rail currently held around the country are to be brought together in one central service centre, being built at a cost of £10m in Scunthorpe.
When complete this summer, the facility will contain about 25,000 tonnes of 108-metre long rails from which Network Rail can be supplied.
The investment is part of the company’s strategy to support the supply of rails for Network Rail, ensuring there is rail stock ready, as and when required, for its supply chain.
Rails stocked in the new facility will all have undergone the testing and QA checks so it can be sent out at once, or welded into 216m lengths.
All civils were are complete, and the main towers and gantry sections are currently being erected.
Future works include the installation of the hoist and permanent magnet systems, including electrical installation and integration, which will be used to lift and load the rails in packs of four in and out of individual rail pens..
Council fears Lincolnshire pylon plans will disfigure countryside and harm visitor economy
National Grid’s plans to install new overhead cabling on pylons through Lincolnshire between Grimsby and Wisbech in Cambridgeshire have shocked Lincolnshire councillors, who have pledged to oppose the plans.
They say the ‘Great Grid Upgrade’ won’t be great for Lincolnshire’s visitor economy as the proposed pylons, substations and overhead cables would ‘carve up the landscape’, and point out that they have no power to grant or refuse permission because the plans are deemed a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.
Cllr Colin Davie, executive councillor for economic development, environment and planning, said: “Alongside our seaside resort towns, a huge part of our coastal charm is the miles of unspoilt nature and beaches that make up the east of Lincolnshire. There are a string of nature reserves along the east coast, not to mention the Lincolnshire Wolds, the beauty of which would be severely impacted by these unsightly pylons.
“I understand the need for infrastructure to connect new sources of renewable energy to the grid. However, elsewhere in the country, National Grid’s plans involve burying these cables under the ground or under the sea; why can’t that be done in Lincolnshire too?
“And this isn’t power being brought in to supply Lincolnshire’s needs, necessarily. This wall of wires and pylons is ostensibly to take power down to London and the south east.
“We refuse to let Lincolnshire be seen as a place to dump unwanted infrastructure projects. But as these pylon plans are classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, permission won’t be determined locally.
“The council, as a statutory consultee, will be sure to make our views on the proposals clear to the relevant Secretary of State who will make the final decision to grant consent or not.”
New letting for Sheffield’s Heart of the City
Another new letting has been announced for Heart of the City – the flagship city centre development scheme led by Sheffield City Council and their Strategic Development Partner, Queensberry.
Independent fashion retailer, The Cream Store, is set to open a 3,000 sq ft flagship shop on the ground floor of Burgess House – positioned on the corner of Charles Street and Cross Burgess Street, fronting the evolving Five Ways junction.
With fit-out aiming to be complete this Spring, the store, which also boasts a raised mezzanine, will stock contemporary clothing and lifestyle accessories for both men and women. Premium brands – which are regularly refreshed and rotated – include the popular Carhartt WIP, Fred Perry, Edwin, Nudie Jeans Co, Gramicci, and many more.
It will be The Cream Store’s second dedicated shop in the UK following the long-term success of the company’s Nuneaton store, which opened in 2005.
Like Nuneaton, the store will also house its acclaimed ‘Sneaker Treat’ service, offering customers a range of sustainable cleaning and restoration solutions to bring their favourite trainers back to life.
Manish Patel, Director of The Cream Store, said: “We have chosen Sheffield for our next venture as it’s a fantastic city with a vibrant and diverse culture. We feel that there is a great opportunity to provide the local community with a ‘go to’ place to shop for quality, durable fashion.
“Customer service is at the heart of everything we do. We welcome and enjoy talking to our customers, sharing our advice and our passion. The store will offer a relaxed, ambient atmosphere for our customers to dwell and view our latest collections.
“It’s all about offering a great accessible experience. Our customer-first approach has allowed us to maintain a loyal customer base over the last two decades and we’re exciting to build something similar in Sheffield.
“We can’t wait to open our doors in the Spring.”
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “We are thrilled to welcome The Cream Store to Heart of the City. It’s another significant addition to the scheme’s growing fashion offer and builds on the likes of Weekday, Monki, and the recently signed Fjällräven and Yards Store.
“This is going to be a huge year for Heart of the City and the wider city centre, with the Cambridge Street Collective food hall, Leah’s Yard and Bethel Chapel all set to open in the coming months.”
Alex Hyams, Senior Asset & Leasing Manager at Queensberry, added: “The Cream Store is a contemporary independent menswear retailer, which epitomises the best of modern-day retail, housing premium brands in a clean and smart environment. This letting complements the emerging retailer line-up very well and continues to elevate the quality of the shopping experience in Sheffield city centre.”
Plans to transform former Tramways WMC site in York approved
Oakgate Group has secured planning permission to regenerate the former Tramways Working Men’s Club in York into 35 new homes, with linked improvements to the adjacent park where Dick Turpin’s grave is located.
City of York Council granted planning approval for the club site on Mill Street in York which closed in 2018, when it became commercially unviable and was sold by its members to Oakgate Group, part of the Caddick group of companies.
A thorough consultation was undertaken and various changes were made to the designs, in collaboration with the Council and other stakeholders. These changes included reducing the height and massing of the proposed building and amending the design. The new development has been named St George’s Terrace.
Richard France, Managing Director of Oakgate Group, said: “It’s great news that Councillors have recognised the benefits that these proposals will bring and approved the plans.
“Our proposals will replace an unattractive building to provide high quality new homes and will also bring major improvements to the vital green space, the Rest Gardens next to it – giving the grave of Dick Turpin the presence and profile it warrants, whilst delivering better amenities for the local residents.”
Work on the site is expected to start later this year.
Forge Island leisure destination celebrates final topping out milestone
Rotherham’s transformative Forge Island leisure-led scheme is coming to fruition with a formal ceremony to mark the final ‘topping out’ milestone held on site this week.
The hotel and cinema building structures have now been completed and ‘topped out’ at the landmark destination. This is a key construction milestone for the flagship town centre scheme, which is being delivered on schedule in partnership with Rotherham Council, nationwide placemaker Muse and contractor, Bowmer + Kirkland.
Set to open to the public towards the end of summer 2024, Forge Island will include an 8-screen boutique cinema, delivered by The Arc, alongside a 69-room Travelodge Hotel. All commercial space has already been let with six independent restaurants confirmed including Sakku Samba, The Rustic Pizza Co and Estabulo. This will all be set within attractive and accessible public spaces, designed by re-form Landscape Architecture.
Together with Rotherham Markets, the improvements are a key part of Rotherham Council’s large-scale regeneration plans aimed at breathing new life into the heart of the borough.
Councillor Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “It’s just over a year since we broke ground and here we are topping out these amazing buildings with more exciting milestones to come. Forge Island is the single biggest investment in our town centre for decades and it’s successfully transforming a disused retail site into a landmark family-friendly destination we can all enjoy and be proud to have on our doorstep.”
Raife Gale, Senior Development Manager at Muse, added: “We’re thrilled to have reached this significant and very visual milestone that shows just how far this scheme has progressed over recent months. We have been working closely in partnership with the Council to create something special for the people of Rotherham and this will undoubtedly help to bring families into the town centre and enjoy it as a leisure destination once again.”
The Arc Cinema will be Rotherham’s first movie theatre in more than 30 years and is a major part of the Forge Island’s family-friendly offer.
Brian Gilligan, Director of The Arc Cinema, who attended the topping out, said: “We’re very excited to open on Forge Island later this year and it’s fantastic to be here today and see our cinema taking shape. The Arc Cinema is known for their top-class facilities and we’re proud to say that the new location at Forge Island will be no exception.
“We also place a strong emphasis on building personal connections within the community – which includes recruiting locally – and our aim is to create a meaningful place that belongs to the people of Rotherham just as much as it belongs to us.”
Tony O’Brien, Travelodge, UK Development Director, added: “We can’t wait to open our new hotel later this year and it’s fantastic to witness this significant milestone in development. Rotherham is growing at pace and has one of the fastest growing economies in Yorkshire. Our 69-room Travelodge hotel will also have an on-site restaurant and car parking.
“With the railway station, the town centre amenities and Rotherham United’s AESSEAL New York Stadium within an easy walk, the Travelodge will be ideally located for business and leisure guests. This ground-breaking scheme is an excellent, new leisure destination that I’m sure will be of great benefit to the Rotherham community and visitors to the area for many years to come.”
Now that the external structures have completed, work will continue on the building facades ahead of the fit out of the independent food and beverage outlets, hotel and cinema complex in the spring and final works to the new public realm. The wider project team also includes Arup, Helm Consulting and Arcadis, with a new pedestrian bridge designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects.
Ground broken on £50m student accommodation scheme in York
GMI Construction Group has broken ground on a £50m student accommodation scheme on the site of a former cinema and bingo hall in York.
Developer Olympian Homes is naming the purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) Rialto House, after the cinema that once hosted a performance by The Beatles.
Spanning 80,000 sq ft, the four-storey building in the Fulford area will provide 275 beds alongside modern amenities, including a gym, yoga studio, games room, co-working spaces, group dining areas, integrated cycle parking, and landscaped courtyards. In a nod to its heritage, it will also feature a cinema.
The site of the Rialto Cinema, which opened in 1913 and demolished in 2003, is located within an area of archaeological importance and adjacent to the Centra Core Historic Conservation Area.
Latterly the site of the cinema became a car park for the adjacent Mecca bingo hall, which has also since been demolished and is within the scheme’s footprint.
GMI, which is utilising a predominantly local supply chain on the project, is highly active in the PBSA market, with Rialto House bringing the number of student beds it is building in the city to almost 600. This includes 303-beds at a scheme in James Street on behalf of York-based S Harrison Developments, which is currently under construction.
Andrew Hurcomb, GMI’s Regional Director for Yorkshire, said: “We are thrilled to begin construction on our on-going collaboration with Olympian Homes to deliver a cost-effective, and sustainable design that helps address a shortage of student accommodation in York.”
James Lindridge, COO & Development Director at Olympian Homes, added: “We are delighted to have now made significant progress on such a landmark site within York.
“We would like to thank York City Council for their ongoing support in delivering the scheme, and GMI for their professionalism and deft in getting to this stage. We look forward to showcasing a best-in-class student product to assist with the undersupply of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation within York.”
Land sales and affordable housing partnership agreed at Riverdale Park, Doncaster
Harworth Group’s Riverdale Park development in Doncaster is entering its final phase following a series of land parcel sales.
The transactions comprise the sale of three pieces of commercial land for a total of £5.7m, to Polypipe Building Products, a supplier of construction materials, JCT600, one of the UK’s largest motor retailers, and a private developer for the construction of a drive thru-unit, alongside the signing of a forward-funding agreement with Great Places as part of Harworth’s affordable housing portfolio that was launched in 2023.
Doncaster-based Polypipe Building Products, part of FTSE 250 constituent Genuit Group plc, has acquired a four-acre land parcel adjacent to its existing Neale Road Manufacturing site, which will be used to provide new facilities.
JCT600 has acquired a seven-acre land parcel to develop a new car showroom and forecourt, complementing its existing premises elsewhere in the area, while the private developer has acquired half an acre of land for the construction of a new drive-thru unit. Both land parcels benefit from direct frontage onto Wheatley Hall Road (A630), one of Doncaster’s main throughfares which connects directly to the A1(M) and M18 motorways.
Haworth has also entered into a forward-funding agreement with Great Places to develop 50 new affordable housing units as part of the residential element of the Riverdale Park development. The development will include a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom homes that meet the National Planning Policy Framework criteria for affordable housing. Under the terms of the agreement, Harworth has sold a land parcel to Great Places and will oversee the construction of the homes in return for a development management fee.
Riverdale Park is located on the site of the former McCormick Tractor factory. In 2015, the 112-acre site became one of Harworth’s first acquisitions, and the Group later secured an outline planning consent to deliver a mixed-use scheme comprising 600 new homes and 200,000 sq ft of employment space. While the employment space prioritises accessibility to Wheatley Hall Road, the residential element of the development is arranged around the River Don, creating a desirable new community for waterside living.
Prior to these transactions, Harworth sold employment space at Riverdale Park to Arnold Clark for a new 30,000 sq ft car showroom and to a private developer for the construction of two drive-thru units. The Group also directly developed a drive-thru Costa Coffee unit on the site, which has since been sold.
For the residential element of the scheme, land has so far been sold to Barratt, Taylor Wimpey and Harron Homes, which will collectively deliver over 500 new family homes. Harworth has also undertaken works to repair and restore period riverfront features to create an attractive riverside walkway for residents at the site. The development is expected to be fully built out by 2027.
Ed Catchpole, Regional Director – Yorkshire & Central, Harworth Group plc, said: “Our Riverdale Park development has transformed a brownfield site into a thriving mixed-use community, providing well-connected leisure and employment space as well as much-needed new family homes in a desirable riverside location.
“We are delighted to have transacted with a number of the region’s most successful businesses to help them expand their presence in Doncaster, supporting new jobs and investment in the area, as well as partnering with Great Places to deliver much-needed new affordable homes.”
James Crow, Director of Mixed Tenure, Harworth Group plc, said: “Our affordable housing portfolio is about working with selected partners to meet affordable family housing needs, in a large and underserved sector. We are therefore so pleased to have reached our first affordable housing agreement with Great Places, a highly-respected housing provider that shares our commitment to create vibrant, sustainable communities.”
Matt Williams, Managing Director, Polypipe Building Products, said: “We are delighted to confirm our commitment to the Doncaster area via this investment, which not only allows us to improve our operational efficiency but also opens the opportunity for expansion of our Neale Road facility in the future.”
Helen Spencer, Executive Director of Growth, Great Places, said: “We’re delighted to be part of the Riverdale Park development. Close work with Harworth Group has enabled us to unlock this important site to deliver 50 new affordable homes in the area where we know that demand is high. We’re committed to providing high-quality, sustainable, and affordable housing in the areas we operate and we look forward to working with Harworth Group and other partners to deliver this project.”
York Handmade supplies 10,000 bricks for two projects in Ireland
York Handmade Brick Company has supplied 10,000 specially manufactured bricks for two new state-of-the-art developments in Ireland.
The company, based near Easingwold, is providing bricks for a residential development by County Cork builders McCarthy Quality Homes, and for a large hi-spec new home in Cork city centre, built by Colm Desmond Construction.
The company is supplying the bricks through Finbarr McCarthy of Rubix Building Products in County Cork. He said: “Our company aims, where at all possible, to source and promote sustainable and natural products, which have a higher spec than you would normally find in a builders’ merchants.
“We are aiming to attract the discerning client, either architect or owner, who can see the value in natural products like slate, clay tile and clay brick. I have dealt with the excellent York Handmade Brick Company on and off over the past 20 years and this has given me the confidence in both the product and the people.
“York Handmade bricks have that kerb appeal, which make people go ‘Wow, that’s what I want’. We are not interested in volume-driven products – we much prefer York Handmade’s unique clay bricks. And so do our customers.
“When I started my own company in 2018, I knew that York Handmade were one of the manufacturers I wanted to work with, so I contacted them to see could we promote their products. These two splendid high-end Cork developments are the result.
“We are tremendously pleased with the results and are delighted that we have re-established a route into the Irish market for York Handmade again.”
David Armitage, the chairman of York Handmade Brick, said: “We are exceptionally pleased that our bricks have been such a success in the Republic of Ireland and thank Finbarr McCarthy and Rubix Building Products for their faith and confidence in us.
“York Handmade has been making award-winning bricks for over 35 years now and we have predominantly supplied customers in the United Kingdom. To re-establish a connection in the Republic of Ireland is magnificent news and we look forward to strengthening our relationship with Finbarr and making many more bricks for homes and developments in County Cork.
“I’d particularly like to thank Tim Bristow, a founding member of York Handmade and a superb salesman, for his work on securing these Cork contracts and ensuring they have been a success.
“In the past we have had great success across the border in Northern Ireland winning the Supreme Award in the Brick Awards, the Oscars of the brick industry, for supplying the bricks for St Brigid’s Church in Belfast.”
York Handmade has recently invested £1.5 million in brand-new machinery which has transformed how the company makes bricks.
David Armitage explained: “Over the years, we have undertaken significant technological improvements, culminating in this £1.5 million overhaul and renewal of our manufacturing process, which will speed up production, facilitate two brand-new products and increase efficiency.”
NFU speaks out for UK farmers over rising salmonella cases on imported poultry
The FSA is reminding consumers to take care when handling and cooking poultry products at home, because of a rise in Salmonella enteritidis food poisoning cases linked to some products imported from Poland. The advice covers chilled and frozen chicken and turkey drumsticks, breasts, thighs and chicken pieces.
More seats and more jobs result from Hull Trains’ extra carriages
Growing passenger numbers mean Hull Trains is running extended 10 carriage trains on a number of its services from Wednesday to Sunday, with 28% more passengers being carried than before the pandemic.
Louise Mendham, the company’s Service Delivery Director said: “Since the start of last year, we have been carefully monitoring our 10 car trials and reviewing the structure of our timetable as a result of a significant increase in demand, leading to this decision to introduce the new services.
“Introducing this extra capacity, especially on a Sunday, is something we’ve not been able to achieve before, and the additions will now bring an extra 4,000 seats per week for our customers. These changes will account for one of our biggest timetable transformations for capacity in our 23-year history.”
Introducing this extra capacity, especially on a Sunday, has been an aspiration of the operator for some time. The decision has also meant new jobs for extra On Board Managers and On Board hosts.
Sleaford pharmacist wins national award
Lincolnshire Co-op relief pharmacist Alex Scarbro from Ruskington near Sleaford has been name as Buttercups Outstanding Trainee Pharmacist 2023.
The award is a tribute to stand-out trainee pharmacists who have been nominated by their tutors for their exceptional behaviour and participation over the duration of their training programme.
Alex was commended for his empathetic and understanding character, his consistent professionalism, and demonstrating exceptional dedication to patient care.
Jo Higham, Professional Development Programme Tutor at Buttercups Training, presented Alex with the award at his workplace Ruskington Pharmacy in Sleaford.
Founded in 1988, Buttercups Training is the largest independent pharmacy training provider in the UK with over 35 years of experience in the industry. (See notes to editors)
Jo Higham, Professional Development Programme Tutor at Buttercups Training, said: “Alex has participated excellently with our programme, and others have found him a pleasure to work with.
“He’s displayed a real passion for pharmacy and patient-centred care. He should be very proud of his work so far. We look forward to seeing his future pharmacy achievements.”
Alex said: “I’ve worked so hard to get where I am today. As pharmacists, we commit to making a positive difference to people in the communities we serve, so it means the world to have received this award.”
Wilmott Dixon prepare to start work on Goole Hub project
Contractors and design partners Wilmott Dixon are preparing to start work on the site of the East Riding Leisure in Goole into readiness to transform it into the £17m Goole Hub after Council planners signed off on the scheme.
Plans include retention of the Sports Hall and a Health Suite will be added, as well as added, as well as Goole Library and Customer Service Centre moving in. It is hoped that work will be finished by summer 2025.
Councillor Nick Coultish, portfolio holder for culture, leisure and tourism, said: “This scheme is very exciting for Goole and will provide a wonderful new facility for the town, and for our East Riding Leisure members. I am absolutely delighted that work can now get under way on the site.
“We recognise the inconvenience that will be caused by the lengthy closure of East Riding Leisure Goole, but we promise that the wait will be worth it.
“A whole range of alternative arrangements are in place during the closure period, and we continue to work hard to ensure the best possible alternatives are made available. We will also communicate with residents and customers throughout the process.”
Redevelopment plans submitted for key building at York Minster Precinct
Plans have been submitted to renovate a key building at York Minster Precinct as part of its Neighbourhood Plan.
If planning permission and listed building consent are approved by City of York Council, much needed improvement and repair work will be made to the Grade II* listed Red House building at 6 Minster Yard.
As part of the latest low carbon retrofit project by the Chapter of York, the governing body of York Minster, a ‘warm roof’ with solar slates will be incorporated on the building’s south side.
The same system has been successfully introduced on the Precinct’s Refectory building with permission also granted at 2 Deangate, where work is set to commence in 2025.
In addition to the solar slates at Red House, a platform will be created in the roof space for an air source heat pump to be installed in the future when funding allows.
Other planned improvements include a new balustrade to the side external staircase, repairs to roof timbers and the removal of an unstable chimney stack.
Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct at York Minster, said: “These proposals will not only improve the existing roof at Red House but also prepare the building to remain in sustainable use for the lifespan of the new slate roof, in the face of growing climate change challenges.
“The redevelopment of Red House continues York Minster’s trailblazing approach to planning matters and creating a sustainable future for both the cathedral building and its surrounding Precinct through our pioneering Neighbourhood Plan.
“York Minster has already won two major awards for its Neighbourhood Plan which has created a planning policy framework to deliver significant changes within a heritage estate and is a shining example of best practice in managing complex heritage estates and how to secure their long-term environmental, financial and heritage sustainability for future generations to enjoy.”
Alongside plans for Red House, construction work is accelerating at the Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management, a world class campus facility for research, education and training in ancient craft skills.
The Centre of Excellence will bring benefits including continuing the craft of stonemasonry and encouraging global learning and knowledge sharing, as well as being a shining example of best practice in managing complex heritage estates.
The Neighbourhood Plan sets out a policy-led approach to creating a sustainable future for the Minster and its seven hectare estate.
