- A £7 million natural flood scheme to slow the flow of water by working with natural systems that boost wildlife.
- A £5 million scheme to help businesses implement new sustainability plans that guard against rising temperatures and water levels.
- A £10 million infrastructure scheme to build physical protections, as part of a wider programme which aims to better protect over 2,200 businesses, 2,500 homes, and vital infrastructure such as rail and road.
£22m funding to protect West Yorkshire businesses and communities from floods
Homes, businesses and communities at risk of flooding will benefit from millions of pounds worth of protection against extreme weather events.
The cash was announced by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and Calderdale Council Leader Jane Scullion, following a visit by the Mayor to Brighouse.
The town was ravaged by the Boxing Day floods of 2015, when the River Calder burst its banks. Other local towns including Mirfield, Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge, as well as large parts of Leeds and the wider region, were also badly hit.
In total, around 6,000 homes and businesses were damaged by the floods, costing West Yorkshire an estimated half-a-billion pounds.
Further serious flooding has occurred in Calderdale, including Storm Ciara in February 2020, with a number of ‘near miss’ events since that time.
In a bid to make the region resilient to future flooding, Mayor Brabin and Cllr Scullion have earmarked over £20 million to put up flood defences, slow the flow of water, and support at-risk businesses.
The announcement follows a letter from Mayor Brabin to government ministers, calling for better and fairer funding for areas that are geographically at greater risk of flooding through no fault of their own.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “As climate change worsens, and one in 100-year floods become more common, it’s vital we step up our support for businesses and communities and ensure our region is fit for the future.
“We want West Yorkshire to be more resilient to flooding so we can avoid the terrible devastation of the 2015 Boxing Day Floods.
“I am calling on the government to provide the further funding that we need to reduce the looming threat of flooding, and help us build a greener, brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.”
The multi-million investment follows the launch of the West Yorkshire Plan in June, which sets out five regional missions aimed at boosting progress on jobs, housing, transport, climate and crime.
One of these missions, ‘a sustainable West Yorkshire’, outlined plans to deliver warmer homes and greener businesses, protect communities from the harmful effects of climate change, and build a net zero carbon region by 2038.
Cllr Jane Scullion, Leader of Calderdale Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Climate, Energy and Environment Committee, said: “Although we’ve made incredible progress in our flood resilience work since the Boxing Day 2015 floods, people living or working in parts of Calderdale still live with the ongoing threat of serious flooding.
“This concern is shared in areas across West Yorkshire and sadly climate change is making extreme weather events, like flooding, more likely.
“The threat can never be completely removed, but we welcome this significant funding which will make a huge difference to communities across the region, supporting a variety of built and natural methods to prevent flooding and protect homes and businesses.”
The £22 million funding will be split across three priorities:
Telecoms provider welcomes Charter aimed at protecting the vulnerable
East Yorkshire-based KCOM has welcomed a national charter that will ensure vulnerable people are not left behind by the digital upgrade of phone networks across the UK.
The company has signed up to the charter, which was instigated by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, to ensure vulnerable people remain protected and connected as the nation’s phone networks are upgraded from old copper wiring to fibre.
A KCOM spokesperson said: “As a responsible provider we’re committed to ensuring that no customer is left behind as we continue upgrading our landline phone network and making it fit to face the future.
“We have already done a huge amount of work to ensure that vulnerable customers are informed about what the switchover means for them and are providing personal engineer visits to those who need extra help to ensure their phonelines and telecare lifelines are in full working order when they are switched.
“We have worked extensively with local councils and community groups to reach the most vulnerable in our communities and also partnered with Age UK Hull and East Yorkshire to make sure older people in our area are fully informed about the upgrade process – and have extra help available when they need it.
“We absolutely welcome this initiative from the Technology Secretary to enshrine protections for the vulnerable in a charter and we will continue to do everything we can to make sure that no-one is left behind by the switchover.”
Inflation falls more than expected offering “whisper of relief” to businesses
UK inflation has dropped more than expected, with annualised inflation rate, measured by the consumer prices index (CPI), dipping to 3.9% from 4.6% in October.
This is the lowest rate since September 2021, is below the expectations of analysts, and comes largely thanks to declines in motor fuel prices and recreation costs and a slowdown in food and drink inflation.
Annualised inflation had been forecast to come in at 4.4%.
Meanwhile, core inflation, which takes out volatile factors like energy, food, alcohol and tobacco to give a clear picture of underlying trends, was more stubborn at 5.1% in the 12 months to November 2023, falling from 5.7% in October.
Responding to the news, Martin McTague, national chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said: “The decrease in inflation is a whisper of relief to small firms as we end the year. The reduction marks a significant shift from the staggering 10 per cent figure this time last year at the peak of the cost-of-doing-business crisis.
“As inflationary pressures ease, small firms will be wanting the Bank of England to indicate when interest rates may start to fall – this would increase access to finance, drive economic growth and provide a fighting chance at avoiding a recession.
“Businesses will be hoping for a stable environment characterised by more predictable market conditions and lower costs in 2024.”
Collaborating bus companies get approval for plan to enhance city services
Hull’s Bus Alliance has welcomed the Department for Transport’s decision to approve its plans for an enhanced partnership to deliver better bus services for the city and its passengers.
The Alliance, bringing together Hull City Council bus operators Stagecoach East Midlands and East Yorkshire Buses, produced an enhanced partnership plan and scheme.
The plan outlines the delivery of the objectives within the bus service improvement plan, including bus user feedback and preferences and measures to promote bus travel.
Bus services in Hull have been impacted by a number of challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic and a shortage of drivers.
Stagecoach and East Yorkshire Buses have worked closely with Hull City Council to address these issues, and are excited about delivering enhanced bus services, as part of a joint commitment to public transport in the city.
Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways at Hull City Council, said: “It is vitally important that we deliver the bus services that the people of Hull deserve.
“Bus operators have faced significant and unprecedented challenges over the past few years, which have affected services.
“Through the new enhanced partnership, the Hull Bus Alliance is looking to the future and working even more closely together to help make bus travel more efficient, reliable and attractive.
“By encouraging more people to choose bus travel, we can reduce congestion on our roads and make travelling around Hull a better experience for everyone.”
Matt Cranwell, MD of Stagecoach, said: “We are pleased to see that our long-term bus service improvement plan for Hull has been approved by the DfT.
“Our partnership, in the past, has delivered a number of initiatives that have benefited bus users in the city, which has been supported by significant funding from Stagecoach.
“It’s now important that we work closely together to implement further measures that assist buses to move around the city more easily and that will help ensure we provide a punctual and reliable bus service, as well as reduce journey times for bus users.
“It’s vital that buses within the city are supported, as a thriving bus network helps reduce traffic congestion, whilst reducing harmful emissions.”
Ben Gilligan, MD of East Yorkshire Buses, added: “Buses play a critical role in the connectivity and prosperity of the city, allowing people to move around as well as opening up access to jobs, leisure and education.
“This collaborative effort between ourselves, Stagecoach and Hull City Council represents a commitment to overcoming previous challenges and helping create a better network across the city for our passengers.”
Fond farewell as Manningham Housing Association Chair steps down
The Chief Executive of Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has paid tribute to the Bradford-based organisation’s Chair, Barrington Billings, who is stepping down at the end of December after more than six and a half years in the role.
Mr Billings has more than three decades of experience in the housing sector and is currently Head of Asset Management and Development at Tuntum Housing Association in Nottingham.
He is a former President of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Lee Bloomfield said Mr Billings has played “an absolutely pivotal role in enabling MHA to establish a reputation as one of the most forward-thinking housing associations in the country.”
He continued: “Barrington joined us in 2017 following a regulatory downgrade. We needed a leader who could bring strength in governance and a unique blend of experience in both housing and non-executive roles. Barrington emerged as the beacon we sought, providing us with the guidance and expertise needed to navigate through challenges and steer MHA towards success.
“Under his direction, we have achieved the highest possible gradings from the Regulator of Social Housing and become the first housing association to be officially accredited for our work in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion – alongside numerous other awards.”
Mr Bloomfield added: “Barrington’s journey with MHA has been marked by a dedication to excellence, an unwavering commitment to governance best practices, and a wealth of experience that has truly enriched our organisation.
“We cannot adequately express our gratitude for Barrington’s dedication to MHA and the broader community. As we say farewell, we reflect on the positive impact he has had on our organisation and the countless lives touched by his leadership. His legacy of excellence, integrity and compassion will continue to inspire us in the years to come.”
Barrington Billings said: “Establishing our Community Investment Strategy and the range of community based initiatives that followed were proud highlights for me.
“Winning awards and accolades are always welcome, but these are merely recognitions of the critical grass roots work MHA have been doing in local communities.
“Of course, none of this success would have been possible without the solid and transformational leadership of our CEO Lee Bloomfield, Deputy CEO Ulfat Hussain and Director of Finance and Resources John Kent.
“Lee and Ulfat have both been there from the start of my time as Chair and stood with me shoulder to shoulder in the challenging early days of putting our house in order.
“The success of MHA could not have happened without our staff, our tenants and customers. The Customer Panel, led by MHA tenant Cath Bacon, has also been instrumental in scrutinising, reviewing and improving the services we provide.”
He added: “I am delighted to be handing over the reins to Rupert Pometsey our current Vice-Chair, who I regard as one of the best in the country.
“I will leave knowing that the organisation is in great shape and in good hands, ensuring that the vision and legacy of its founding members – in providing excellent housing and related services to local communities – will endure.”
Sheffield firm secures strategic home
Knight Frank’s Sheffield’s agency team, headed up by Peter Whiteley, has facilitated the strategic disposal of 10,000 sq ft of offices in the Meadowhall district.Located at the junction of Brightside Lane and Weedon Street, the 1980s-built Riverside Court complex, will become a new base for project leaders and associated contractors handling one of the city’s most important industrial developments. Purchased by Sheffield Forgemasters, teams working on the company’s new 13,000 tonne forging line and proposed new machining facility will take up residence in the two-storey building, relocating from the main site.
Peter Whiteley, partner and head of office at Knight Frank, said: “Sheffield Forgemasters is investing in the city of Sheffield through its recapitalisation project, bringing employment, commercial and property opportunities.
“It was important for the company to house the relevant staff on one site, also emphasising how crucial an office space with associated parking is in this type and scale of scheme.”
The engineering firm is undergoing a multi-million recapitalisation project which will see its work force almost double via on-site contractors, making space a premium at the 64 acre site.
Steve Marshall, Manufacturing Transformation Director at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “The purchase of offices at Riverside Court offsets demands that the recapitalisation programme will place on existing facilities.
“Our employee count is more than 600 and contractors are set to number almost 500, so additional offices and car parking are essential to maintain productivity without any impact on our major recapitalisation works.”
Knight Frank acted for the owners of Riverside Court, while JLL represented Sheffield Forgemasters on its expansion in the Don Valley.
Lindum starts work on new homes for Lincoln City Council
Lindum Group has started work to convert an old garage site into 11 new affordable homes for City of Lincoln Council.
The project will bring a range of family properties, comprising two and three-bedroom homes, to Hermit Street. It is hoped the new homes will fill the gap for family homes within the area and create a sustainable community.
Procured through Pagabo’s Medium Works framework, each property will be council rented accommodation, equipped with air source heat pumps, two parking spaces, and an electric vehicle charging point.
At a groundbreaking ceremony hosted by City of Lincoln Council, Freddie Chambers, Lindum Group MD said: “As a local contractor with more than 400 employees based in and around Lincoln, it’s great to be involved in a scheme that will provide quality, affordable housing to this part of the city. It is particularly pleasing to see family homes being built within walking distance of the city centre, too.
“As well as carrying out construction, Lindum is working to bring additional value to the community. We are helping to bring forward a landscaping initiative covering Hermit Street, Portland Street, and a green space on Monson Street.
“We will also be looking to engage with the local Nest Nursery and Preschool, donating some logs for their outside area and hopefully getting the children to come on a visit at the site. As a local construction company, we will always look to prioritise improving the local communities in which we are working.”
Landmark leisure destination in Rotherham forges ahead as build programme enters final phase
Building work is on track at Forge Island in Rotherham as the flagship development enters the final months of construction ahead of opening to the public towards the end of summer 2024.
The new landmark destination, which will bring a much-needed family-friendly offer to Rotherham as part of Rotherham Council’s regeneration vision for the town centre, is being delivered in partnership with the Council, nationwide placemaker Muse and contractor Bowmer + Kirkland.
Work began on site in November 2022 and construction has continued at pace, with all topping out milestones due to be reached early next year on the cinema, Travelodge hotel and retail buildings – set to house a mix of independent eateries. Once construction completes at the end of spring, the tenants will fit out their premises ready for the scheme opening.
Local resident, 30-year-old Sam Clarkson, whose apartment overlooks Forge Island, said: “We’re on the seventh floor so we have a bird’s eye view of the development; all of a sudden it seems to have sprung up out of nowhere. I’m getting married next year and we have 400 guests coming, and having a trusted name like Travelodge, that everyone knows, on our doorstep is really great.
“Hopefully the development will have a domino effect and help put money back into other local businesses by bringing footfall into the town centre. It will give people more choice socially and bring more people in from other areas.”
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.
Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy Denise Lelliott said: “These developments form the main cornerstones of the council’s multi-million-pound investment in Rotherham’s future.
“A number of major milestones have been achieved at Forge Island over the last 12 months, including the installation of a new pedestrian bridge, which connects to the town centre and which nods to the town’s rich engineering heritage and is inspired by the world-famous Bailey Bridge designed by Rotherham-born civil engineer, Donald Bailey, during the Second World War.”
Raife Gale, Senior Development Manager at Muse, said: “Developing a transformational scheme of this scale always comes with its challenges – not least the difficulties of building on an ‘island’ surrounded by water – so the fact we’ve remained on track is a testament to the hard work of the whole project team.
“It’s fantastic to see the impact Forge Island has already made on the town centre skyline, and we can’t wait for the community to come and enjoy all that it has to offer when it opens next year.”
Construction work on the £47m Forge Island scheme – which was announced as 100% let in October 2022 – is led by contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, working alongside the wider project team which also includes Arup, Helm Consulting, Arcadis and re-form Landscape Architecture. The new pedestrian bridge was designed by FaulknerBrowne Architects.
2024 Business Predictions: Gav Winter, CEO of RapidSpike
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Gav Winter, CEO of RapidSpike.
Everyday AI is revolutionising how we work by seamlessly integrating automation, data-driven decision-making, and personalised experiences into our personal and professional lives. This transformative technology streamlines tasks and empowers individuals with data-driven insights, enhancing their skills and efficiency across various industries. The first evolution of AI will not be AI taking our jobs; it will be those who can use AI effectively to do more people’s jobs and machine learning taking over logistics transportation.
For those who find themselves made redundant by AI, there is a need to reskill those people, so there is a considerable surge in the technology educational markets, especially in deprived areas. The drivers can become technicians for the new logistics sector, and those who found themselves out of a role will be reskilled to help create more AI integration; this is where we provide the basic universal income in the first instance to allow some of those people to follow a passion rather than a vocation.
Moving onto a subject closer to RapidSpike, changes in E-commerce and Online will be exciting. The future of websites themselves is poised for transformative change, focusing on immersive and interactive experiences, mobile-centric design for personalisation, and an unwavering commitment to enhanced data privacy and security. As technology evolves, websites will continue to adapt to meet users’ changing needs and expectations in an increasingly digital world.
Mobile-centric in the future doesn’t just mean your pocket device. It will be watches, glasses, TVs, intelligent walls and more. E-commerce platforms like Shopify and similar will provide technology to many leading brands, with less being done in-house on the basic structure and more 3rd party tools created to enhance small niche parts of the experience. Standing out will be about the online shopping user experience, zero tolerance for issues, expectation of speed and the product itself.
AR/VAR/AI combining to create a virtual fitting room. Advanced technology, including AI-driven virtual try-ons either on an avatar on a 3D model of yourself, haptic feedback for fabric feel, high-quality imagery, and AI-powered fit predictions and recommendations, will revolutionise the online fashion retail industry, offering immersive almost real world shopping experiences.
Voice commerce is gaining traction due to the growing popularity of voice-activated devices like smart speakers. E-commerce platforms must optimise their voice search capabilities to ensure customers can easily find and purchase products using voice commands. Creating voice-friendly shopping experiences will be essential to effectively tap into this emerging trend.
As we look to the future, sustainability is poised to take centre stage in the technology industry. Beyond addressing the environmental impact of devices and data centres, consumers and stakeholders will increasingly expect brands to take a comprehensive approach to minimising their carbon footprint. Online sustainability extends from managing energy consumption to optimising data centres and making eco-conscious website design choices. Keeping the per-user footprint low will be crucial, aligning technology with the growing global commitment to a sustainable future.
Croda’s Chief Financial Officer plans to move on
Croda’s Chief Financial Officer Louisa Burdett intends to leave the Snoath-based company next June to become Chief Financial Officer at Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc.
Anita Frew, Chair of Croda, said: “On behalf of the Board and all Croda colleagues, Steve Foots and I would like to thank Louisa for her contribution to the Company. Louisa will leave with our best wishes next summer and in the meantime, a search for her successor is under way.”
Croda confirms that trading is in line with previous guidance and Full Year 2023 Group adjusted profit before tax is still expected to be between £300m and £320m. Principally due to recent currency movements, notably in Argentina, PBT is expected to be towards the lower end of that range.
Supporting the vulnerable all adds up for audit specialists at RSM
Poverty-hit children will get help to keep warm this winter and bereaved families will be supported in coping with their loss thanks to the fundraising efforts of staff in the Hull office of global audit, tax and consulting advisers RSM UK.
The 100-strong team raised more than £25,000 from events ranging from food challenges to fitness training with Olympians and have handed it over to the Sailors’ Children’s Society, a charity founded in Hull over 200 years ago and now providing lifelines nationally to the families of seafarers in crisis; and Dove House Hospice, which is expanding its range of services. Natasha Barley, CEO of the Sailors’ Children’s Society, said: “What RSM did makes a massive difference. They raised a phenomenal amount of money and they had a lot of fun doing it. “The money will go towards our winter appeal, to provide winter coats and sturdy shoes for children across the country, which they would unfortunately not have without the support of the charity. If we have any extra it goes towards our winter heating grants as sadly there are a lot of children in this country who are cold and hungry.” Jonny Bottomley, Partnership Development Fundraiser for Dove House, added: “The money has come in at a really important time for us. The impact of Covid reduced our services right down to our bedded unit and we are working hard to reopen some of the provision that we had to close, and offer some new support. We have so far opened some outpatient services, community groups, and groups for child bereavement and general bereavement.” Andy Capes, office managing partner at RSM in Hull, said: “Our team in Hull, chose the regional charities to benefit as part of a nationwide fundraising effort. In total we raised £206,000 which was topped up by the firm to add another £100,000. Our local team took part in a charity race night, completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, hosted cake and bake events, launched a tuck shop, dressed up as celebrities and superheroes and even ran York marathon all in aid of two important charities.” Other businesses supported the campaign by donating prizes and four companies – Forrester Boyd, MKM, Rix Group and Williamsons Solicitors – paid for some of their staff to join an elite training session at the Village Hotel with Colin Jackson and Jamie Baulch, medal winners at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World and European outdoor and indoor championships. That event took place on the eve of the Society’s sportsman’s lunch, which broke all records for the charity by generating more than £75,000. All involved are aiming to set a new record in 2024. Andy said: “We teamed up with Forrester Boyd for the Olympic event and had a great time, so much so we’re planning on sponsoring next year’s event together. Not only did we have a lot of fun, but we raised a record amount of much-needed money, and set the bar high for next year’s fundraising efforts.”New chocolate factory plans to educate manufacturing engineers of the future
A new chocolate factory is to open in Barnsley to inspire and educate the next generation of UK manufacturing engineers.
The ‘JJA Snack’ facility is an initiative by South Yorkshire-based JJA Pack – a global supplier of industrial chocolate-handling equipment to the likes of Mondelez and Premier Foods. It’s teamed up with long-term partner Siemens to create the advanced, commercially-viable chocolate manufacturing line, which will give young people hands-on experience with the pioneering technologies used to manufacture chocolate bars.
Thousands of school kids will have the opportunity to learn about where chocolate comes from and how its harvested, with pupils able to design a bar and create it on the JJA Snack production line. A group from Outwood Academy Shafton will be among the first to visit the site in Barnsley.
Meanwhile, engineering students will be able to learn about data capture, streamlining manufacturing processes, and energy efficiency.
The Sheffield Steelers and Leeds Knights ice hockey teams are among JJA Snack’s first customers for branded bars, with the facility also set to manufacture chocolate under its own name.
The factory is set to open as Timothée Chalamet and Hugh Grant star in Christmas blockbuster release Wonka, which tells the story of how the beloved Roald Dahl character Willy Wonka become a world-famous chocolate maker.
Jamie Ashpole, director at JJA Snack, said: “It’s so important that we inspire more young people to pursue careers in manufacturing to enable the sector’s future success. Creating an opportunity for students of all ages to get a taste for modern, industrial chocolate-making, is our way of helping to address the UK’s current STEM skills gap.
“It’s exciting to bring this project forward in collaboration with Siemens, which provides a window for young talent to see how industries are advancing with the help of digital technologies.”
Andy Lane, business development manager at Siemens, said: “The modern chocolate factory may look worlds apart from any Roald Dahl creation. But they’re equally exciting – enabled by groundbreaking technologies, including data insight powered by artificial intelligence.
“Chocolate can be an extremely difficult substance to handle due to its inclination to set and become solid. This can damage equipment and bring down-time to production lines, causing big brands millions-of-pounds in losses a week.
“This is just one of the engineering challenges that budding Wonkas at JJA Snack will learn about – alongside how manufacturers are using smart digital technologies to spot and remedy problems before they occur.”
JJA Snack will use cloud-based AI solution Insights Hub to provide a comprehensive picture of the production line’s performance, which can be accessed both remotely and in situ. Through the power of AI, the data collected is used to avoid machine downtime by predicting and diagnosing issues remotely.
Grant funding will help to bring Hull’s Castle Buildings back into use
Castle Buildings LLP has been awarded more than £162,000 from Hull City Council’s government-backed fund towards bringing Castle Buildings back into use.
The Grade II listed building on Waterhouse Lane will be restored to offer city centre floor space, a nione-storey 150 room hotel, and public realm space. The funding represents just 8.2 per cent of a large-scale project expected to bring almost £2m of capital investment into Hull.
The grant award for Castle Buildings supports the wider site development, conceived and being delivered by Hull-based Wykeland Group, which includes reconstruction of the historic Earl de Grey public house building. Plans feature a nine-storey hotel with 150 bedrooms, as well as public realm works.
Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, the council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “Castle Buildings is a much-loved heritage building in our city centre, but one which has stood empty for some time. Castle Buildings is part of the wider, large-scale project which, once completed, will bring further work and leisure opportunities to the city centre.”
Jonathan Stubbs, Development Director of Wykeland, said: “We’re pleased this project has received the funding to support its delivery. It recognises the importance of restoring and bringing back into use this landmark building and we anticipate work beginning in early 2024.
“This will be another significant step in Hull’s ongoing regeneration, which Wykeland Group is proud to be playing a major role in.”
Bradford hydrogen production facility secures government funding
A hydrogen production facility, that will deliver low carbon energy in the heart of Bradford, has won government funding to take the project forward.
Clean energy pioneers Hygen and N-Gen are working in partnership to deliver the Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen (BLCH) production facility, which could achieve the decarbonisation equivalent of removing 800 diesel-fuelled buses a day from West Yorkshire roads.
The development will be built on the Northern Gas Network (NGN) Birkshall gas storage site in Bradford. It will deliver one of the UK’s largest low carbon hydrogen production facilities with the aim of using renewable energy to produce hydrogen.
Businesses and other users in West Yorkshire will be able to use the refuelling facilities, with distribution experts Ryze delivering hydrogen to industrial users across the region.
The project has been awarded money under the Hydrogen Production Business Model / Net Zero Hydrogen Fund.
Jamie Burns, Director of Hygen, said: “We are delighted that this project has been selected for government funding to take it to the next phase of development.
“This project will not just produce low carbon hydrogen for Bradford and the surrounding area, but will also provide a blueprint for how complex projects like this can be delivered, boosting the hydrogen and green economies of the UK.
“We very much hope that this project will be replicated in other cities across the UK to provide low carbon energy for generations to come.”
Gareth Mills, Managing Director at N-Gen, said: “This is an important and exciting project, not just for Bradford, but also for the wider area and the community that lives here, so we are delighted to now have financial backing from government to allow us to start work on the site.
“Bradford Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and we believe this facility will play an important role in helping the area deliver on its climate change ambitions.
“We know hydrogen can support decarbonising all energy types including transport, and producing green hydrogen is central to this, so we’re really excited to work with Hygen to deliver this development.”
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said: “It’s exciting to see Bradford at the forefront of embracing new energy solutions. Bradford has always been an innovator and we are delighted that we are now being recognised nationally in this space with Government investment in the scheme.”
This project is significant for Bradford’s future economic growth plans. It could be worth £900 million and create over 9,000 high-quality jobs by 2030.
Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said: “Hydrogen presents a massive economic opportunity for the UK, unlocking over 12,000 jobs and up to £11 billion of investment by 2030.
“Today’s announcement represents the largest number of commercial scale green hydrogen production projects announced at once anywhere in Europe.
“These 11 major new hydrogen projects across the UK will create over 700 jobs and deliver new opportunities from Plymouth in England to Cromarty in Scotland.”
Hull logistics firm acquires European road freight specialist
Hull logistics firm Good Logistics has acquired European road freight specialist Inter-Ways.
Inter-Ways, which is a family-owned freight forwarding business based in Doncaster, focuses primarily on road freight to Eastern and Northern Europe.
Alan Platt, Divisional Managing Director of Good Logistics, said: “Like Good Logistics, Inter-Ways has a solid focus on superior customer service. With its extensive European road freight network developed over 20 years, it is a perfect fit with Good Logistics.
“The acquisition of Inter-Ways will amplify our skills and knowledge, which, combined with digital innovation, help set Good Logistics apart from other logistics providers. Inter-Ways has a great team of people who are committed to the business and its customers and I am delighted to welcome them to the Good Logistics team.”
Justyna Polom-Wilkinson, former Director and owner of Inter-Ways, said: “I started Inter-Ways in 2003 and, with the support and dedication of a great team of people, the business has flourished to become a trusted logistics provider to our customers.
“I am proud to see Inter-Ways begin a new chapter. With its size, scale and, of course, strong family values, choosing Good Logistics as Inter-Ways’ new owner was a great decision.”
Ian Baker, Branch Manager of Inter-Ways, said: “At Inter-Ways, we have truly put our customers at the heart of our operations for the past 20 years.
“Becoming part of Good Logistics creates an exciting new dynamic for both teams, as we integrate Inter-Ways’ specialist road freight knowledge with Good Logistics’ existing road freight specialists which, combined with digital innovation, is a cornerstone of its service delivery.”
Inter-Ways will continue to trade under its own brand for the foreseeable future and operate from its offices at Doncaster Finningley Airport.
The Business Day adds another speaker for Bridlington event
Geoff Ramm has been added to the line-up of speakers for The Business Day at Bridlington Spa on Friday 7 June next year. He joins previously announced Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA as a speaker at the annual business event hosted by Gyles Brandreth.
Described by Forbes magazine as ‘A Game Changer’, Geoff is an inspirational keynote speaker and the creator and author of Celebrity Service and Celebrity Service Superstars.
Organisers say Geoff’s interactive keynote promises that not only will delegates discover out-of-this-world ideas but how to transform touchpoints to light up their business and excite customers. Renowned for his on-stage and on-screen presence, as well as his infectious enthusiasm and humour, Ramm will have delegates on the edge of their seat.
Throughout his career Geoff has challenged and inspired entrepreneurs, high performance teams and organisations across 49 countries to create award winning ideas to outperform competition
Stephen Parnaby, Event Director, said: “Geoff will bring some thought provoking insights having worked with companies such as Emirates, Warner Brothers, Specsavers and McDonalds.”
Mark Lonsdale, General Manager at Bridlington Spa and Producer of The Business Day said: “Following the announcement of Björn Ulvaeus as the keynote speaker Geoff will bring a fresh perspective on how successful businesses operate globally.”
Work completes on Sheffield’s new food hall
Henry Boot Construction has completed work on Cambridge Street Collective this week, handing the building over to the food hall operator for the final fit-out.
Cambridge Street Collective is a key development within Heart of the City – the transformative city centre regeneration scheme led by Sheffield City Council and their Strategic Development manager, Queensberry.
The new venue is located between Cambridge Street and Wellington Street, sitting behind the distinctive Henry’s Corner and Bethel Sunday School. Once the fit-out work is completed, it will be run by Blend Family – the same company behind Sheffield’s acclaimed Cutlery Works – and feature a contemporary food hall, cookery school and rooftop bar.
Construction of this unique development saw several historic building façades sensitively refurbished and integrated into a contemporary new structure behind. The new build elements are finished with an orange-coloured weathering steel façade.
Alongside the neighbouring Elshaw House development – also being delivered by Henry Boot Construction, the Cambridge Street Collective construction site was designated an ‘Ultra Site’ with the Considerate Constructors Scheme. This means it was recognised within the sector as a beacon of best practice, with everything from supply chain management to sustainability performance measured against the absolute highest standards.
The site, which is one of only three Ultra Sites in Yorkshire, has also delivered significant social value impact for the local community in Sheffield. During the lifecycle of the scheme, Henry Boot welcomed seven groups of visitors from local education partners, delivered 17 work experience placements and teams across the site hired six apprentices.
Tony Shaw, Managing Director at Henry Boot Construction, said: “Cambridge Street Collective has been an incredible project to be involved with and I’m incredibly proud of the team for delivering such an important and complex development.
“The final product is really striking, with an array of materials contrasting and complementing the restored original architecture. Inside is just as impressive and I look forward to seeing it become a thriving space for the city centre’s visitors to enjoy soon.
“As always with our projects, we are proud of the social value that the scheme has generated, using the Ultra Site status as a driver throughout the build to achieve incredible things – strengthening our position as market leader in this field.”
Councillor Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “It’s great to see the Cambridge Street Collective development reach practical completion. Henry Boot Construction has delivered a fantastic job, blending old with new and protecting the important heritage façade along Cambridge Street.
“The venue, with the impressive food hall space at its core, will be a hugely exciting addition to the city centre and provide a major footfall boost. We can’t wait to see the internal fit out coming together over the coming months. This is another fantastic example of Sheffield city centre on the up.”
Andrew Davison, Project Director at Queensberry, added: “The venue is looking stunning and has delivered a high quality, truly original piece of architecture for Sheffield. Once it opens to the public, we have no doubt it will become the leading social hub in the city centre, driving a critical mass of footfall to this area of town – further supporting surrounding businesses, encouraging new ones to open, and acting as a catalyst for further development.”
Yorkshire and the Humber struggles in difficult economic climate
Much of the UK showed a worsening economic picture in November with many regions and nations, including Yorkshire and the Humber, seeing the pressure of high interest rates continuing to take its toll as the number of start-ups fell since the previous month while levels of insolvency-related activity rose.
According to the latest research from the UK’s insolvency and restructuring trade body, R3, based on an analysis of data provided by CreditSafe, only four of the 12 regions and nations surveyed saw a rise in the number of new businesses last month. Yorkshire and the Humber’s performance ranked around the middle with a fall of 3.3% month-on-month, while Northern Ireland achieved the highest levels of new businesses (up 11%) followed by the West Midlands (up 2.9%) – all of the others saw either a small rise or a fall since October.
However, the figure of 4,744 start-ups in Yorkshire and the Humber last month was among the highest during 2023 with only March (5,315) and October (4,907) seeing significantly more new businesses. Looking at the year-on-year figures, November 2023 represented a 1.7% rise compared with November 2022.
In terms of levels of insolvency-related activity (which includes liquidator and administrator appointments and creditors’ meetings), two-thirds of the regions and nations saw a rise in November compared with the previous month.
Yorkshire and the Humber was among those with the greatest increases (up by 19.1%), closely followed by Wales (up 19%) and East Anglia (up 18.8%). The strongest performances were in the East Midlands (-8.7%), Northern Ireland (-7.4%) and the South East (-4.3%).
“Increasingly, GDP data is showing the UK as a ‘stagnation nation’ and it is concerning to see this being borne out with our latest analysis of the research revealing falling numbers of new businesses and growing insolvency-related activity here and across much of the country,” says Eleanor Temple, chair of R3 in Yorkshire and a barrister at Kings Chambers in Leeds.
“The economy appears to be flatlining with little sign of sustained growth, and the impact of inflation is continuing to hamper consumer spending and business activity in what should be one of the busiest periods of the year.
“There’s no doubt that the rapid rise in interest rates since late 2021 is taking its toll and it now looks like there is a real risk of the UK falling into recession next year. With January renowned as one of the most difficult trading months for many sectors, it is vital that directors approach the New Year with caution and enlist the services of qualified insolvency professionals as early as possible should any signs of financial problems appear.”
Two new lettings announced for Sheffield’s Heart of the City
Two new lettings, Fjällräven and Yards Store, have been announced for Heart of the City – the flagship city centre development scheme led by Sheffield City Council and their Strategic Development Partner, Queensberry.
Swedish fashion brand Fjällräven will open only its second dedicated UK store on Charles Street, operated by The Sporting Lodge Limited.
Set to sit alongside the Fjällräven on the corner of Charles Street and Pinstone Street, Yards Store is an independent men’s fashion retailer, owned by Parasol Retail Limited, offering some of today’s most popular British and International brands. This includes the likes of Carhartt, Patagonia, RRL by Ralph Lauren, Paul Smith and New Balance.
It will be the second Yards Store to open in the UK following the success of the company’s Manchester shop, which opened in 2019 off St Ann’s Square, and the company also recently opened its new store in Altrincham, Cheshire under the Parasol fascia.
Tim Gardiner, co-owner of The Sporting Lodge Limited and Parasol Retail Limited, said: “Firstly, in terms of the new Fjällräven store opening in Sheffield, we have been looking at the city as new opportunity now for some time and we’ve been very impressed with the plans for the re-invigorated city centre.
“Our partners at Fjällräven have been very supportive in our new store opening plans and we feel that Sheffield is the perfect place for our next stage of development.
“With regards to Yards Store, we feel the brand mix we now have will appeal to the people of Sheffield, with an exciting blend of heritage, outdoor and fashionable international brands that has proved to be a successful mix in our Manchester store.
“The appeal of Yards Store has seen us being approached by several up and coming and global brands, who want to be stocked in our stores.”
Councillor Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “To secure the second Fjällräven store in the UK is a clear reflection that Sheffield city centre is on the up. It shows the confidence that the market has in the future of our city, driven by the high-quality regeneration that the Council has led.
“I am thrilled to welcome both Fjällräven and Yards Store to the city centre. Plans for their new units are really impressive and I’m sure both will be hugely popular. We’re transforming the city centre into a vibrant destination where people can relax, shop, enjoy a drink, dine and work.
“We will be introducing many more popular fashion brands and trend-setting retailers to Sheffield – Weekday, Monki, Sostrene Grene and now Fjällräven and Yards Store is just the start. 2024 is shaping up to be an excellent year for the city centre, with many more businesses of a similar high calibre already expressing an interest.”
Alex Hyams, Senior Asset & Leasing Manager at Queensberry, added: “Both Fjällräven and Yards Store will bring stores of exceptional quality to Heart of the City. Fjällräven, along with the high-end labels that Yards Store stock, will offer Sheffield some of the most sought-after brands in the UK right now.
“For Heart of the City, these are milestone lettings, which are in line with the high benchmark Queensberry set when we were appointed on the scheme. We are continuing to curate an exciting mix of independent, national and international operators – that bring something new to the city centre.
“We are close on several more lettings and look forward to sharing more news in the new year.”
The design and development of Yards Store has been managed by One Fine Day.
Kevin Gill, One Fine Day’s Director, said: “We are thrilled to embark on this exciting journey with Yards Store as we bring their distinctive retail concept to life in Sheffield’s vibrant Heart of the City development, blending authenticity and function to create a truly exceptional shopping experience.
“One Fine Day are also working with Fjällräven’s international retail team, to ensure the brand’s distinctive and unique guidelines are adhered to, as they roll out more international partner stores.”
2024 Business Predictions: Louisa Harrison-Walker, CEO of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Louisa Harrison-Walker, CEO of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.
Without the assistance of a crystal ball it’s tricky to say what curve balls might come our way in 2024. I would like to think we have had our fair share of challenges with Brexit, the pandemic, energy price hikes, inflation, and the effects of long term austerity measures. We have tested businesses more in the last few years than we have in the previous fifty. If nothing else, let’s hope that 2024 is more of a return to normality and just a bit more ‘business as usual’ – please!
We look after private, public and third sector organisations within our roughly 1000 business membership, so we see the challenges and opportunities played out in micro-SME’s and huge anchor institutions, and across all sectors.
The one common denominator is people, skills, talent and access to good employees, and being part of a local business community can help you grow your people, your markets and your networks. We know it’s been tough to recruit in 2023 and I can see that trend continuing in 2024 for those that don’t get serious about competing for talent.
Prior to the pandemic and the rise in flexible working you were in competition with employers in your city or region, now, generally speaking, you could be in competition with employers anywhere in the world.
The organisations that offer flexibility in the hours people work, a broad range of employee benefits, healthcare, mental health support, genuine support for professional development implemented by a good manager, strong social values and a good CSR programme, will have a competitive advantage.
You don’t build a business, you build people and they build your business, and they have more choice now than ever before. That’s what we need to be careful about in 2024.
