Sheffield receives more than £19m for Parkwood Springs plans
Sheffield City Council’s plans for Parkwood Springs have been awarded more than £19 million as part of the latest round of investment from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
The plans will see Parkwood Springs, which has been under utilised for more than a decade, transformed – further enhancing the Council’s ambition to create a Country Park in the city.
The award from central Government will pave the way for a regional leisure destination and a valued amenity for Sheffield residents – especially those living in communities close to Parkwood Springs.
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee, said: “Sheffield is a city on the up and we’re looking forward to starting work on an exciting £19 million transformative regeneration to create a Country Park at Parkwood Springs
“These plans will open up access to the site, an obstacle that previously prevented developers from bringing forward plans for the redevelopment of the former Ski Village.
“We recognised that Parkwood Springs needed a new lease of life and have continued to push for the funding to support our ambition and to deliver for the city. Sheffield is the Outdoor City and our plans will turn Parkwood springs into a regional leisure destination that we can be proud of.”
Now the funding has been awarded for the project it will mean a number of key areas will be able to be delivered including:
Improved access to Parkwood Springs
Access to the site would be improved for all, with particular focus on increasing active travel and public transport. It will also see improved approaches to the site with ‘Grey to Green’ type investment used elsewhere in the city.
Site Clearance, clean up and enabling work
The area of the former ski slope would be prepared for future development as a regional leisure destination with all derelict remains from the previous ski slope removed.
Investment in trails and wayfinding
The new funding will be used to deliver new and upgraded existing walking paths and mountain bike trails. The council will also be able to extend the area of the site which can be accessed and make the whole site more accessible to people of all ages and abilities. A new visitor centre and bike hub along with information boards, event space and improved boundaries will allow Parkwood Springs to strengthen the appeal as a destination in its own right.
Cllr Ben Miskell added: “This project will be able to breathe new life into the landscape and return it to the people of Sheffield. Once all the work is complete Parkwood Springs will be a fantastic place for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities to enjoy and I’m really looking forward to seeing it start to take shape.
“There is still work to be done before the first spade can be put into the ground, including road and infrastructure planning but once all those vital elements are complete, the people of Sheffield will be able to see the area come to life once again.”
Waterline Summit returns to the Humber
November saw the return of The Waterline summit, the Humber’s largest decarbonisation event, where businesses large and small come together with academics, industry experts and young people to learn, discuss and tackle the climate challenge.
The year’s event closed with an informative panel discussion about shaping a sustainable Humber, featuring panellists from Humber Energy Board and the Humber Freeport. Hosted by Richard Gwilliam, UK BECCS Programme Director for Drax, speakers included our own Jo Barnes, Managing Director of Sewell Estates and board member of Yorkshire Energy Park and Humber Freeport, Katie Hedges of CATCH, Chris Gilbert of Phillips 66, Simon Green of Humber Freeport and Harry Jones, Freeports Programme Director for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Discussion centred around the Humber Freeport, which has three main roles: setting the environment for new investment, accelerating innovation and allocating seed capital to companies aligned with the Freeport.
Harry Jones, the UK’s Freeports Programme Director, was in the area to see the improvements that the Humber Freeport is already inspiring. He said visiting the Humber was an inspiration to his work across the country. “The path to net zero has to go through the Humber,” he said, adding that after working on decarbonisation papers in Whitehall, it was motivating to visit the Humber and see the work happening in practice.
One of the flagship projects highlighted was a Sewell Group investment project, Yorkshire Energy Park, a next generation energy and technology business park under development to the East of Hull. An 86 hectare site and £200m investment, attracting investment from the energy, data, technology and manufacturing sectors, the scheme has the potential to create 4,480 jobs, along with apprenticeship and training opportunities for local people. The project is aiming to be sustainable in its build, as well as the industries involved, with land set aside for wildlife and local community groups.
A lot of the conversation revolved around discussion of the skills shortage for many industries involved with decarbonisation, with all panellists keen to see further incentives for companies to take on apprentices and trainees.
Jo Barnes spoke about how Sewell Group has pledged to triple the company’s intake of graduates, apprentices, trainees and work experience participants through their GATEWay scheme. She said that any decarbonisation work by business and industry needed to reach out to the region’s more deprived communities, ensuring any opportunities for work and upskilling were made available to these sections of society.
Government picks West Yorkshire to be UK’s third Investment Zone
England’s third Investment Zone will be focussed on Huddersfield, Bradford, and Leeds, creating more than 2,500 new jobs across the region over the next five years, and unlocking up to £220 million in investment, the Government has announced.
The Chancellor is also confirming the Investment Zones programme in England will be extended from five to 10 years, with the envelope of government funding and tax reliefs on offer now doubled to £160 million.
Growing the economy and making the long-term decisions to deliver the change the country needs is a priority for the Prime Minister. The announcements today are part of wider plans expected in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement this week where he will reveal reforms to reignite growth by unlocking more private investment and getting people back into work.
West Yorkshire will host one of 12 Investment Zones across the UK. It’s based around the region’s universities in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield and the cluster of life sciences businesses thriving in the area.
This includes the pioneering health tech company, Paxman Scalp Cooling, which supports patients to minimise hair loss during chemotherapy by manufacturing specialist hair caps. It is investing £5 million to bring their innovative health tech products to global markets and alongside it, the digital healthcare company Dedalus is investing £21 million to deliver digital and diagnostic tools for the NHS.
As a result of the Investment Zone, revamped sites specialising in health tech and digital will open up around West Yorkshire, unlocking over 2,500 jobs and over £220 million of investment across the region over the next five years.
This can be used flexibly between spending on interventions such as skills, research and development and local infrastructure, dependent on local need, and tax incentives such as 100% Stamp Duty Land Tax relief, an enhanced structures and buildings allowance at a rate of 10% per annum, an enhanced 100% first-year capital allowance, employer National Insurance Contributions relief, and 100% business rates relief.
Alongside this, the window to claim Freeport tax reliefs in England will be extended from five to ten years until September 2031, providing greater certainty to businesses looking to invest, delivering growth and jobs, and levelling up the economy.
The UK Government will work with the Scottish and Welsh governments with the intention of delivering the same extension to Investment Zones and Freeports in Scotland and Wales and will continue to work with stakeholders on how best to support investment in Northern Ireland.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said: “We know that devolution is working for West Yorkshire and this new investment zone is further recognition of that from the government.
“Home to NHS England, our region’s digital and health tech businesses are driving forward innovation and transforming the lives of patients world-wide.
“This investment is a massive vote of confidence in our top-tier universities and talented graduates and will help our mission to build a stronger, brighter region that works for all.”
The West Yorkshire Life Sciences Investment Zone will benefit from a range of interventions which include skills training and business support to encourage more business investment. The plan will boost innovation in the area’s thriving healthcare sector and create a talent pipeline at the forefront of technological advances.
Pensana and Yorkshire Energy Park sign letter of intent for magnet metal site
Pensana and The Yorkshire Energy Park have signed a letter of intent for the site of a future permanent magnet metal facility within the park, alongside the Saltend Chemicals Park in the Humber Freeport.
By 2030 the UK is expected to have transitioned from being a major European producer of internal combustion engines to being a world leader in the manufacture of electric drive units, but without a secure magnet metal supply chain, this transition is under threat.
As part of its plans to establish an independent supply chain for magnet metals, Pensana is currently undertaking studies into the conversion of rare earth oxides into magnet metals using electric furnaces powered by offshore wind.
The letter of intent with YEP covers the proposed site as well as the supply of zero carbon electricity and a range of bespoke facilities for the processing of rare earths in magnet metals, R&D and supply chain activities.
The event was also attended by the Vice Chancellor of Lincoln University, which is working with Pensana and YEP to create a regional specialised centre of engineering excellence, training and higher education on YEP for the Humber region.
Paul Atherley, Pensana Chairman, said: ”The partnership between YEP and Pensana is part of a broader study being undertaken to demonstrate how the UK can draw on its chemical engineering heritage and by connecting to offshore wind to create resilient supply chains to support the UK’s automotive sector in its transition from a major producer of internal combustion engines to be a world leader in the manufacture of electric drive units.”
Chris Turner, YEP Chairman, added: “We welcome the opportunity to deepen our collaboration with Pensana and the University of Lincoln on this nationally significant project. It represents another milestone for YEP and the Humber Freeport in delivering a zero carbon/advanced technology industrial cluster on the Humber.”
Keighley and Doncaster to share in levelling up funding of £1bn
Keighley is to get £19.8 million to boost its strong manufacturing heritage iunder a new allocation of levelling up funding.
It will contribute towards a new Advanced Robotics and Engineering Institute to support the expansion of the advanced manufacturing and engineering industry.
The money is part of £1bn awarded to 55 transformational projects in communities across the UK, including breathing new life into treasured heritage and culture buildings in three former mining communities in Doncaster.
As part of this, £150 million will be allocated to develop better transport links across the country with £825 million to kick-start regeneration in town centres. This will create new jobs and opportunities, power economic growth and revitalise communities.
Levelling up Secretary Michael Gove said: “Levelling up means delivering local people’s priorities and bringing transformational change in communities that have, for too long, been overlooked and undervalued.
“This funding sits alongside our wider initiatives to spread growth, through devolving more money and power out of Westminster to towns and cities, putting in place bespoke interventions to places that need it most, and our Long-Term Plan for Towns.”
Funding is spread across all corners of Great Britain, with the North West receiving £128 million, the North East £59 million, Yorkshire and the Humber £169 million and the Midlands £171 million in total. The government has drawn on the impressive pool of bids which narrowly missed out on funding in round two but were assessed as high-quality and able to deliver quickly.New collaboration allows green breakthrough in powering holiday homes
Holiday homes manufacturer Willerby and technology pioneer Sunamp have revealed how they worked together to achieve a green breakthrough for the industry.
The two companies have collaborated to overcome a major barrier which has prevented holiday parks moving power supply from liquid petroleum gas to cleaner, greener electricity.
The partnership has played a vital role in the development of the ground-breaking Willerby All-E specification, which enables Willerby models powered solely by electricity to be sited on most holiday parks across the UK.
Development of the Willerby All-E system stems from teamwork between Willerby and Sunamp, a leader in thermal storage technology which this year received a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise for its excellence in innovation.
Sunamp‘s space-saving thermal battery stores heat from lower carbon energy sources, such as solar panels or a smart grid, before releasing it for mains pressure hot water.
Up to four times smaller than a regular hot water cylinder, Sunamp’s thermal batteries are typically installed in places where a traditional water tank would not fit, such as apartments and smaller homes.
That means they are also ideal to be accommodated in holiday homes where space is at a premium.
The Willerby All-E system has been developed by Willerby’s in-house technical and product development teams, with Sunamp’s technology playing a critical part in resolving a key challenge.
Boost for life sciences sector as West Yorkshire hosts England’s third Investment Zone
The government has today (20 November) launched England’s third Investment Zone in West Yorkshire focussed on Huddersfield, Bradford and Leeds, which will help to create more than 2,500 new jobs across the region over the next five years, and could unlock £220 million in investment.
The Chancellor has also confirmed the Investment Zones programme in England will be extended from five to 10 years, with the envelope of government funding and tax reliefs on offer now doubled to £160 million.
West Yorkshire will host one of 12 Investment Zones across the UK. It’s based around the region’s universities in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield and the cluster of life sciences businesses thriving in the area.
This includes the pioneering health tech company, Paxman Scalp Cooling, which supports patients to minimise hair loss during chemotherapy by manufacturing specialist hair caps. It is investing £5 million to bring their innovative health tech products to global markets and alongside it, the digital healthcare company Dedalus is investing £21 million to deliver digital and diagnostic tools for the NHS.
As a result of the Investment Zone, revamped sites specialising in health tech and digital will open up around West Yorkshire, unlocking over 2,500 jobs and over £220 million of investment across the region over the next five years.
This can be used flexibly between spending on interventions such as skills, research and development and local infrastructure, dependent on local need, and tax incentives such as 100% Stamp Duty Land Tax relief, an enhanced structures and buildings allowance at a rate of 10% per annum, an enhanced 100% first-year capital allowance, employer National Insurance Contributions relief, and 100% business rates relief.
Alongside this, the window to claim Freeport tax reliefs in England will be extended from five to ten years until September 2031, providing greater certainty to businesses looking to invest, delivering growth and jobs, and levelling up the economy.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said: “We know that devolution is working for West Yorkshire and this new investment zone is further recognition of that from the government.
“Home to NHS England, our region’s digital and health tech businesses are driving forward innovation and transforming the lives of patients world-wide.
“This investment is a massive vote of confidence in our top-tier universities and talented graduates and will help our mission to build a stronger, brighter region that works for all.”
The West Yorkshire Life Sciences Investment Zone will benefit from a range of interventions which include skills training and business support to encourage more business investment. The plan will boost innovation in the area’s thriving healthcare sector and create a talent pipeline at the forefront of technological advances.
2 Sisters makes historic pledge in Coronation Food Project
2 Sisters Food Group President and owner Ranjit Singh Boparan has joined senior leaders from the UK food industry this week in a historic pledge in support of the Coronation Food Project.
It encourages food manufacturers like 2 Sisters, which operates in Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Leeds and Sheffield, to join FareShare’s innovative “Alliance Manufacturing” programme to redistribute even more surplus food to charities.
Mr Boparan said: “This project is a testament to the King and signals a significant step-up in the way our sector can support those in need. We’re leveraging the power of a formidable alliance of manufacturers and retailers never seen before, and I am delighted to be able to play a big role in delivering meals for those who most need it.”
“It is astonishing to realise that in the UK in 2023 people are struggling to feed themselves at a level not seen before. This cannot be right. It’s our moral responsibility to come together and drive change at this difficult time. Nobody should be going to sleep on an empty stomach. This is just the start of a journey and I’ll be working with my partner customers, FareShare and the IGD to ensure we grow this initiative in the months ahead.”
The Project intends to provide even more food to support the 13 million people in the UK experiencing food insecurity by targeting all forms of waste in the food supply chain and building on the food industry’s existing initiatives to redistribute surplus food to charities.
The Alliance Manufacturing programme, a vital element of the Project, seeks to unlock more surplus food for redistribution by bringing project members together to share their surplus, underutilised and donated resources in all forms – food, packaging, labour hours, and factory/distribution capacity. The central idea is that each resource in isolation has a limited impact. Still, new food sources can be efficiently created by combining them across multiple businesses along all parts of the supply chain.
By joining forces to promote best practices and teamwork across the industry, the goal of the Coronation Food Project is to reduce and redistribute surplus food waste, unlocking even greater social and environmental impact.
George Wright, CEO of FareShare, said: “The response from the food industry leaders and their teams has been incredible. I shared the idea with them, and they’ve really taken it on, working together to make it a reality. The food is already getting to our charities – school clubs, community centres and a whole spectrum of support services – and with so many families impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, it is making a difference already. We are all incredibly grateful to them. And it’s just the start. If everyone in the food industry joins the alliance, no matter how large or small, the combined force would be game-changing. If you’re reading this and you want to join, please email ceo@fareshare.org.uk.”
Business leaders endorse North Yorkshire plans for economic growth
Plans to accelerate economic growth across North Yorkshire as part of a five-year Economic Growth Strategy have been endorsed by the county’s business leaders.
The strategy will see North Yorkshire Council establishing a leading role in proposals to create a carbon-negative economy, maximise investment, support business growth, increase innovation and productivity and fire up the jobs and skills agenda.
With delivery both by the council and by working with other agencies, the strategy aims to improve the quality of life for the county’s 615,000 residents and 32,000 businesses.
York and North Yorkshire Federation of Small Businesses development manager Carolyn Frank said: “Businesses will welcome the joined-up approach recommended in the strategy, and the ambitions outlined, but will be focused on the ‘making it happen’ steps to follow.
“There is widespread economic uncertainty and it is crucial that the council works in partnership with business owners of all sizes to make sure that North Yorkshire continues to be a great place to do business, with businesses and self-employed needs understood.
“There are many exciting opportunities ahead through devolution and these will only be realised by the public and private sectors working in partnership. In a turbulent economy and time of rapid change, a strategy can only make a lasting difference if the implementation is action-oriented, agile and impact focused.”
York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce President Sarah Czarnechi, added: “As we transition into a mayoral combined authority, we need to be bold and ambitious as a region. This will need both of our councils to harness North Yorkshire’s assets and forge new strengths to create a future-facing economy that works for everyone.”
The strategy sets out measures to equip town centres so they can thrive through the 21st century by investment in transport, housing, digital and energy infrastructure, and ensure residents have the skills needed to meet these aspirations.
Executive member for open to business, Cllr Derek Bastiman, said: “Adopting our economic growth strategy comes at one of the most exciting times in the county’s history – a new unitary authority has been created and devolution is approaching.
“With a range of factors creating economic uncertainty and inequalities across the new council’s geography it is a necessity that we have a clear, focused set of priorities to drive our economic development ambition.
“We have the opportunity to take the lead on tackling economic challenges and maximise investment from the private sector, government and funding agencies, as well as looking to improve the infrastructure of the county where we can. We are home to a vast array of businesses and want to see our specialisms grow – including renewable energy generation, agritech, food and drink, and, of course, our visitor economy.
“A clear strategic framework on which to build a fit-for-purpose delivery model for the new council means we will be well placed to proactively drive future economic growth across the area and the North.”
Cllr Bastiman said the strategy also outlines the key role that area constituency committees (ACCs) will play in its implementation. Engagement with local communities through these committees will help to develop local economic action plans to meet local challenges while contributing to the council’s overall aim to support communities to work together to improve their local area.
Unity Homes and Enterprise makes new board appointments
Four new members have joined the board of BME housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise, which manages almost 1,400 affordable properties for around 5,000 tenants in Leeds and Kirklees.
Mahara Haque has worked as a community development specialist for more than a decade and has a wide range of board experience including with housing associations and in the NHS.
Moreen Pascal has had a career in business support services, local government and the voluntary and community sectors mainly in London and Hertfordshire, where her focus has been on social justice initiatives in the community, leadership performance and workforce development.
Nasim Qureshi has been the chief executive officer at Inspired Neighbourhoods Group for 14 years, and brings considerable experience in the housing, health and social care and enterprise sectors.
Abdul Ravat has previously served on the board of Unity’s not for profit subsidiary company, Unity Enterprise, and has accumulated three decades of experience in housing and regeneration.
Abdul Hamied, Unity Homes and Enterprise interim chair, said: “I am excited to welcome our four new members who will each bring their own unique skillsets and experiences to the board table together with a shared commitment to Unity’s social purpose.
“We are proud of the work we do, not just as a provider of first class affordable homes but also in supporting local entrepreneurial activity and providing bridges to employment and training.
“Unity has exciting plans in place and in development which my new colleagues will have key roles in advancing in the months and years ahead.”
Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise chief executive, said: “One of Unity’s great strengths as a community-based organisation is our eagerness to listen to different voices and implement innovative ideas in the quest to improve people’s lives.
“The new board members will make significant strategic contributions to what we do and how we do it for the betterment of local neighbourhoods.
“They are excellent appointments and, on behalf of the senior management team, I look forward to working closely with them all.”
Climate tech firm receives support package from UK’s national innovation agency
Climate tech firm Pirta is receiving a package of support from the UK’s national innovation agency to accelerate the development of its revolutionary cooling paint.
Yorkshire-based Pirta is on a mission to combat climate change through the development of passive cooling technology. Founders Howard and Rob Atkin have created a radically innovative solar cooling paint which reflects more than 93% of total solar energy while averaging 99% reflectance in the visible spectrum.
The technology holds immense commercial potential across many sectors — including construction, shipping, logistics, agriculture and energy industries — looking to slash emissions from energy dependent cooling systems.
Following rigorous testing at the University of Leeds and Mahatma Gandhi University in India – involving more than 1,000 samples – Pirta is now ramping up activity with backing from Innovate UK EDGE, a key part of the UK innovation agency’s deep investment in pioneering businesses.
Pirta R&D director Rob Atkin said Innovate UK EDGE is playing an instrumental role opening up a global innovation ecosystem, and supporting it with finance mechanisms, strategic planning and internationalisation.
“We’ve received terrific support from Innovate UK EDGE for the last 18 months,” said Mr Atkin. “The collaboration enabled one of our major breakthroughs, after being introduced to the renowned CPI (Centre for Process Innovation) in Redcar.
“The CPI was set up by the UK Government to reposition the Northeast UK on the world stage for Research and Development. Essentially, it helps companies develop, prove, prototype and scale-up new products and processes by providing access to facilities, expertise and networks of public and private funders.
“Through this connection, we carried out foundational work, including a feasibility study exploring ideal materials and improved processes to take our product to market. This provided a springboard to our rigorous testing programme in the UK and India.”
Innovate UK EDGE has further introduced Pirta to a series of organisations including construction firm LNT Group, the Smith Institute, Energy Systems Catapult, Global Centre for Rail Excellence and Civil Water Management – while opening the floor to present their business case at the regional partner meeting for Innovate UK, the parent organisation for Innovate UK EDGE.
Earlier this year Pirta was also hand-selected by Innovate UK to join a special programme accelerating tech solutions capable of supporting Singapore’s net zero ambitions. The Harrogate firm joined 15 other British firms at the Global Business Innovation Programme (GBIP) Net Zero Singapore 2023. This included pitching sessions and high-level meetings with government officials, key industry players, NGOs and academia.
Senior innovation & growth specialist for Innovate UK EDGE, Chantelle Brandon Reeves said: “Pirta is an ideal case study perfectly illustrating the sort of innovative start-ups we want to support.
“It offers a creative solution to help tackle some of the greatest challenges of our time including the heat crisis, climate change, the energy transition and the race to net zero. As a technology it has huge scale-up potential across multiple industries and market segments worldwide.
“Throughout our coaching, we have seen Pirta growing from strength to strength. When our support tools are met with ambition and dedication we are able to maximise growth potential.
“For instance, we have had particular success helping Pirta with strategic planning through the use of our business model canvas tool, which compelled senior management to delve into vital elements of business such as cost structure, roles and responsibilities, sales channels, and strategic partners.
“It has also concentrated focus on the business’s vision, operational approach, and value creation for stakeholders. Together, we have broken down priorities into manageable segments to produce clear strategic pathways for growth.”
Plans revealed for 5,000-seater stadium in Sheffield
Sheffield FC, The World’s First football club, and Sheffield Eagles, the city’s professional rugby league club, have revealed detailed plans for a new 5,000-seater stadium as part of a joint venture between the clubs.
The new stadium, which will be based at the former Sheffield Transport Sports Club site at Meadowhead, will encompass professional football and rugby league facilities as well as a cricket pavilion, a football museum and an indoor community sports hall.
It is planned that the site will become an international visitor attraction for football and rugby league fans alike and provide an insight into the history and heritage of both clubs.
The comprehensive stadium development scheme will offer access to high-quality sporting events, educational opportunities, recreational facilities, social amenities, business prospects, and an array of community programmes.
Sheffield FC, which was formed in 1857, has submitted a planning pre-application to Sheffield City Council with a full application set to be submitted in January.
Sheffield FC chairman Richard Tims said: “Welcome to a new era of Sheffield FC, the world’s first football club.
“We are pleased to announce our vision for the future: a new stadium back in the Steel City, a joint venture with Sheffield Eagles and a world-class facility, which will benefit the whole community.
“Following years of discussions, we are finally starting to see our plans really gathering pace and have a fantastic project team who are totally committed to making our supporters’ dreams turn into reality.
“This will be somewhere to which the football’s three billion fans can make a pilgrimage and pay homage to the city which gave the world the beautiful game as well as a venue for the local community to utilise and enjoy a variety of sports.
“It doesn’t matter whether you support Sheffield United or Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield FC or Sheffield Eagles this is about being proud of the region’s sporting heritage and making it a hub for sporting excellence and community engagement in Sheffield and the South Yorkshire region.
“Our target is for the project to be ready for the start of the 2025-26 season. We need everyone to get behind this and once and for all put Sheffield sport well and truly on the map.”
Sheffield Eagles director of rugby, Mark Aston said: “Sheffield Eagles are very excited to be part of this joint venture with Sheffield FC and to be at the heart of this world-class development, which at the heart will have a stadium that meets the Super League criteria to assist us in our aim to return to the top flight.
“Sheffield Eagles have grown immensely in the last three years thanks to the work of the Eagles Foundation and the planned facilities will also be a home for our Women’s, Wheelchair, Learning Disability and Physical Disability teams. It will also allow us to further develop homegrown talent and provide a base for our already large community programme.
“The development will bring very valuable sporting facilities to the Sheffield sports scene and open up several opportunities for sports outside of football and rugby league to be involved and provide enjoyment as both spectators and participants.
“With Sheffield FC being the world’s first football club and Sheffield Eagles about to celebrate its 40th anniversary, both clubs have an enormous amount of heritage to bring together and I am pleased that the plans will see that history captured under one roof.
“With league positions making up only 20 per cent of the RFL’s Club Grading Scoring matrix, the development of facilities and the ability to improve our commercial footing and build a solid base for the community aspects of our operation are an absolute priority for us. This development gives us an opportunity to drastically improve our grading and we hope that the entire city can get behind and share in the initiative!”
Logistics warehouse specialist readies Wakefield site for 490,000 sq ft facility
Delin Property, the European logistics warehouse specialist, has started readying a 22.8-acre site in Wakefield Europort business park for the development of a 490,000 square foot cross dock facility.
Duncan Jarvis, Delin Property’s head of portfolio & asset managament, said: “Switch Wakefield is a signature project for us, showcasing all our strengths in value creation as an owner, developer and manager of logistics warehouses.
“The building will provide a best in class facility in Yorkshire’s premier logistics location. We’re very excited about a project that will be one of the largest for the industrial sector in Northern England.”
Contractors are demolishing the existing 375,000 sq ft building, previously occupied by
DHL, and clearing the Whitwood Common Lane site. Reserved matters planning permission
is in place for the construction of a cross-docked logistics unit of 490,000 sq ft.
Switch Wakefield will be constructed to Net Zero Carbon standards, a BREEAM “Excellent”
rating and an A-rated Energy Performance Certificate with 2.5 MVA power supply. The
warehouse will have up to 56 dock level doors, eight level doors, and truck yards of 50
metres and 35 metres.
Internally, the building will provide 15 metres clear height, and 22,500 sq ft of office space. The new facility will also provide parking for 62 trucks and 384 spaces for cars, including 79 EV charging spaces, as well as 110 covered cycle spaces.
CPP, Colliers and Knight Frank are the leasing agents for Switch Wakefield. The
development manager is Firethorn Trust.
More affordable housing announced for York
100% affordable, energy-efficient homes are to be delivered across York by the council and social housing partners.
Affordable housing is to be increased to 100% on the council’s Ordnance Lane Passivhaus site in Fishergate which the number of affordable homes can be doubled from around 50 to 100. 100% affordable homes have also been agreed for the site of the former Willow House on Walmgate homes where around 40 new energy-efficient homes are planned alongside improvements to the neighbourhood.
Other plots ready for development are at the former 68 Centre in Heworth and the former Woolnough House care home site. These will be offered to registered social landlords to deliver 100% affordable housing which aim to meet the emerging Future Homes Standard.
To influence the development of the type and number of affordable homes in the city and region, City of York Council has joined the York and North Yorkshire Housing Partnership and is working alongside the co-owners of York Central.
Also tackling homelessness, the report details how 10 homes will be bought using the Local Authority Housing Fund to support former rough sleepers into living independently, and to house Afghan refugees.
Cllr Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Housing and Safer Communities at City of York Council, said: “The average home in York currently costs 10.9 times the average earnings, rents have risen 10% in the last year and energy costs continue to rise.
“To tackle this, a core commitment of the new Council Plan ‘One City, for all’, is to increase the supply of good quality, affordable housing with high energy efficiency and low emissions.
“Creating 100% affordable homes meets that commitment. Now, on our Ordnance Lane site alone, we’re doubling the high-quality Passivhaus housing which will be affordable to rent, buy and run, from around 50 to 100 homes.”
Four get jobs with Andrew Jackson Solicitors
Andrew Jackson Solicitors has appointed four newly-qualified solicitors, who have taken up roles across the firm following successful completion of their training contracts.
With several years’ experience advising clients across a broad range of commercial property transactions, senior solicitor Yasmin Fenton, along with Emily Vint, remain in the real estate and property department. Rebecca Forder has worked in the shipping and transport department for several years and will continue to act on behalf of UK, European and international banks on ship finance transactions, including mortgages and flag registrations, as well as assisting the team on large scale shipping and transport projects. Jon Croft remains in his corporate role, advising clients across a range of due diligence procedures for company acquisitions and disposals, in addition to the preparation of ancillary documentation and advising on company formations. Managing partner Mark Pearson-Kendall said: “Yasmin, Emily, Rebecca and Jon have already developed strong client relationships and have shown their commitment to providing them with trusted, commercial legal advice. “I know they will continue to make a valuable contribution to Andrew Jackson and we are delighted to offer them these roles.”Finalists look forward to awards announcement
The Big Sky Beer Festival hosted by Wold Newton-based Wold Top Brewery has reached the final of the Event of the Year award in the Yorkshire Post Tourism Awards.
Director Kate Balchin said:”The Big Sky Beer Festival has gone from strength to strength over the years and is a great platform to showcase great beer from all over the UK plus local musicians and food producers. We’re very excited to have won a place in the final and look forward to the dinner next month.”
The Big Sky Beer Festival faces competition from HERD, ‘A Night Under the Stars’ – Yorkshire Children’s Charity and Grantley Hall, Harrogate Autumn Flower Show and JORVIK Viking Festival. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at New Dock, Leeds on 4th December. The judges include Wayne Topley, MD of the Cedar Court Hotels Group and Chef Consultant, Steph Moon.
Wold Top was founded in 2003 and is located on the Mellor family farm at Hunmanby Grange. The team use home-grown barley and water from the farm’s borehole to produce a range of award-winning cask, keg and bottled beers that are available throughout Yorkshire and nationwide.
Keep backing British farming, NFU tells Government in renewed call to action
The NFU has called for government to deliver on its promises to back British farming by ensuring fairness in food supply chains.
The Farm to Fork Summit was the result of months of campaigning on the part of the NFU, following a series of pledges made by the Prime Minister.
Key among the announcements made at the summit were commitments to hold reviews into the horticulture and egg supply chains. The latter of these was launched at the end of October.
NFU President Minette Batters says food security should always remain a top priority for any government and adding that a perfect storm of challenges currently facing farmers including, crippling input costs, volatile supply chains and extreme weather events, set against a backdrop of changes to farm support and agricultural policy.
She met the newly appointed Defra Secretary of State Steve Barclay the day after the Prime Minister’s cabinet reshuffle. Following the meeting she said: “I pressed the need for urgent action on the vitally important sector reviews taking place.
“They must have a tangible impact on the relationship with farmers and the supply chain. Currently farmers and growers bear the brunt of the risks and cost within the food supply chain and this is unsustainable for all involved.
“This reality is playing out in real time with a fractured sugar supply chain – an acute example of the burden put on primary producers.”
At the beginning of the month, British Sugar sent out a document to all growers which asserted to contain details of the 2024/25 Sugar Beet Contract Offer.
The NFU Sugar Board believes that this aggressive action – in circumventing NFU Sugar – was undertaken in the hope that individual growers will accept a contract that gives them significantly less value than they should receive given anticipated market conditions.
“It has been six months since I sat down at the Farm to Fork summit with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and I appreciate the positive steps that have been made,” Minette added.
“We called for a national food security summit and a government commitment to work towards 60% self-sufficiency, both of which have happened, as well as the new agri-food attachés to help sell more British food abroad.
“But I have urged the new Secretary of State to ensure Defra’s supply chain reviews within the dairy, horticulture and poultry sectors deliver much-needed improvements to the operation, fairness and transparency for all farmers and growers, so we can continue what we do best – provide high-quality, climate-friendly food for the nation.”
Siemens tests London Underground trains that will be built in Goole
New trains for London Underground’s Piccadilly Line are undergoing extensive testing by Siemens Mobility in Europe, both on the test track and in the climate chamber, in readiness for the company’s Goole factory to start building them.
Siemens Mobility is building 94 Piccadilly line trains for TfL, with around half to be assembled at the new train manufacturing facility in Goole, where work will start next year. Up to £200m is being invested in developing the rail village, which will create up to 700 skilled jobs, as well as up to 1,700 in the supply chain and 250 during construction. Some of the parts for the new trains will also come from local suppliers in Yorkshire, including LPA Lighting Systems who will provide the LED interior lighting.
The first-newly built state-of-the-art test train is at the Test and Validation Centre in Germany, where it is being put through its paces on the test track during dynamic testing to demonstrate acceleration and braking functionality along with noise and vibration trials. Intensive testing is taking place in the build up to the first train arriving in London next summer for further testing and integration before the new trains start entering service in London in 2025.
Meanwhile, a three-car formation of the Piccadilly line carriages has been put through testing in a special climate chamber to ensure the trains will be able to endure extreme weather conditions. Tests focused on the effects of extreme ambient temperatures from -15°C to 40°C, solar load of 600W/m2, ice and high wind speeds of up to 100km/h to check the train can still operate in extreme weather conditions. Monitors were used to understand what passengers would experience, measuring humidity and temperatures in the carriages.
The Piccadilly line trains are based on Siemens Mobility’s Inspiro family of metro trains and offer passengers an improved customer experience with walk-through, air-conditioned carriages and improved accessibility. The new metro trains will increase capacity by around 10 per cent and are also lighter than existing designs which will mean the trains are more energy efficient as well as providing a smoother ride for passengers. All trains will be fitted with CCTV in the carriages.
Sambit Banerjee, Joint CEO for Siemens Mobility UKI, said: “It is quite something to see the first of the new state-of-the-art Piccadilly line trains being tested. Although we are still in the early stage of testing, we are learning a lot about this test train and its future performance. As well as testing on the track, we have also been using our climate chamber to ensure the trains can operate safely in extreme weather conditions. These vital tests mark an important milestone for the project.”
Make UK welcomes news of Government financial boost of SME in manufacturing
The CEO of manufacturers’ organisation Make UK has welcomed news of a financial fillip for SMEs across the country with the government announcement of £4.5 billion in funding for British manufacturing to increase investment in eight sectors
He’s Stephen Phipson, who said: “Make UK has long campaigned for Made Smarter to be a fully national scheme so that all SME manufacturers can benefit from the expertise the programme delivers and we are delighted at today’s decision from government to commit to a national rollout.
“Made Smarter has already transformed thousands of companies in the North East, North West, West Midlands and Yorkshire & the Humber and now it can help turbo-charge industrial digitalisation in SMEs across the whole of the country.
“The end-to-end specialist support the programme delivers has successfully helped smaller businesses dramatically boost productivity, improve energy efficiency, drive growth, upskill roles and deliver new jobs in digital skills to create workforces of the future which will allow Britain’s smaller manufacturers to continue to grow and remain globally competitive.”
The funding will be available from 2025 for five years, providing industry with longer term certainty about their investments.
Over £2 billion has been earmarked for the automotive industry and £975 million for aerospace, supporting the manufacturing, supply chain and development of zero emission vehicles, and investment in energy efficient and zero-carbon aircraft equipment.
Alongside this, the government has committed to £960 million for a Green Industries Growth Accelerator to support clean energy manufacturing, and £520 million for life sciences manufacturing to build resilience for future health emergencies and capitalise on the UK’s world-leading research and development.
With the entire manufacturing sector making up over 43% of all UK exports and employing around 2.6 million people, this funding is targeted at the UK’s strongest, world leading sectors; including where the industry is undergoing fundamental changes to remain at the forefront of the global transition to net zero, like the move to zero emission vehicles in the automotive industry.
The Green Industries Growth Accelerator investment will support the expansion of strong, home-grown, clean energy supply chains across the UK, including carbon capture, utilisation and storage, electricity networks, hydrogen, nuclear and offshore wind. This will enable the UK to seize growth opportunities through the transition to net zero, building on our world-leading decarbonisation track record and strong deployment offer.
The funding forms part of the Prime Minister’s pledge to grow the economy, and his focus on making decisions for the long-term, ensuring this funding doesn’t just focus on the most successful sectors today but looks ahead to how to keep pace internationally and build the UK’s expertise for the industries of the future.
Quality Bearings Online wins Employer of the Year at the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards
Leeds based SME, Quality Bearings Online, was awarded Employer of the Year at the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards 2023. Held at London’s Grosvenor House on Tuesday 14th November, this prestigious event shone a light on businesses and entrepreneurs who have truly made an outstanding contribution to British Business.
The Employer of the Year award celebrates organisations that go the extra mile through all stages of the employee lifecycle, from recruitment to inclusion and development.
Sam Moss, Chief Operating Officer at Quality Bearings Online, commented on the win: “We were honoured to be shortlisted in the Employer of the Year category, standing among some exceptional UK Businesses. Going on to win the category, at these prestigious awards was truly remarkable! We are so proud of the whole QBOL team, who embrace our culture and values every day and share this incredible success.”
Founded in 2012, Quality Bearings Online are a multi-award-winning ecommerce business who supply precision bearings, engineering spares, and technologically advanced lubricants to customers in over 110 countries.
The company takes pride in offering trusted brands, expert knowledge, excellent customer service, and swift global delivery. Serving a wide array of sectors, ranging from Manufacturing, Aerospace and Defence to Oil and Gas, as well as Precision Engineering, Quality Bearings Online is a backbone of the UK business landscape.
Quality Bearings Online is constantly looking for ways to break barriers and drive change. The company encourages women to work in the engineering sector and employs new talent from Graduates and Apprenticeship schemes across Yorkshire. From a company which started with 2, the business now consists of 22 talented and driven individuals with 65% of the workforce being women.
Sarah Austin, Director of British Business Excellence Awards, commented: “Quality Bearings Online has created a culture of learning and personal development, not only nurturing ambition, but demonstrating how best use of technology can help employers to upskill for the future and scale profitability.
“They’re recruiting from outside the sector for diversity of ideas to drive innovation and also investing in talent for long-term loyalty and growth – this is why they are truly deserving of this honour.”
The Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards ceremony was one of pure delight and celebration. The star-studded ceremony was intertwined with entertainment and speeches from Sarah Austin, Director of the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards and the UK Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt. British news personality Naga Munchetty and A-list actor David Harewood also featured in the entertainment section of the evening, with The Lionesses receiving the honorary award for Inspirational Leadership off the back of their success at the Women’s Football World Cup.
Meghan Say, Digital Marketing Executive at Quality Bearings Online, said: “It was such an honour to go down to London and represent our amazing team back in Leeds. To be announced the winner of the Employer of the Year Award was the best surprise, and I’m so proud of everyone at QBOL for making it happen! Thank you to the judging panel for recognising our successes and to Saira Demmer CEO at SF Recruitment for presenting our award to us.”
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists of the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards 2023.
