A team of academic experts from Leeds Beckett University are driving innovation and boosting productivity in the region by supporting the development of new Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology with Wakefield-based Riverside Greetings, a supplier of greeting card solutions.

By embedding the new technology, the team are set to dramatically boost the performance of greeting cards in the convenience and forecourt sector. It has been developed as part of a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), part-funded by the Government through Innovate UK. Andrew Glen, Managing Director of Riverside Greetings, said: “Many small businesses struggle to access the resources they need to innovate effectively and at scale. By participating in a KTP we’ve been able to work closely with a team at Leeds Beckett University who have helped us to develop this initiative.” The team has created an automated inventory and category management system that combines AI with RFID technology to analyse and increase the performance of greeting cards – whilst significantly improving the productivity and effectiveness of Riverside’s merchandising service. The new, patent pending, technology, is now being piloted in several test stores in England. It will allow merchandisers to complete a full stock count of hundreds of cards by design in less than two minutes, with 100% accuracy – versus the current manual counting system which can take 30 to 45 minutes.

Riverside Greetings estimate that this new approach will grow sales with existing customers by more than 20%. Riverside’s operational model provides consignment stock for retailers who then only pay for what they sell, which means that they don’t have cash tied up in stock.

York and North Yorkshire’s devolution order has been laid in Parliament – marking another step towards the devolution deal becoming law in early 2024. The deal, which was announced in August 2022, will bring investment of more than £540 million over the next 30 years to the region. York and North Yorkshire councils and a new combined authority led by an elected mayor will have more decision-making powers over key local issues, such as adult education, transport, infrastructure, skills, jobs and housing. Work is already underway to maximise the impact of the deal. Last month, £7 million was allocated to 23 net zero schemes across York and North Yorkshire, funding that will be received should the combined authority be approved by Parliament. Alongside carbon reduction, funding will create a pipeline of net zero projects that will drive economic growth, create jobs, reduce energy costs for businesses and leverage further investment. The devolution order was laid in Parliament on Tuesday (7th). North Yorkshire Council’s leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: “The prospect of bringing more decision-making powers and millions of pounds in additional funding from the Government will bring real and tangible benefits for hundreds of thousands of people in York and North Yorkshire. “Devolution is about ensuring levelling up becomes a reality, tackling regional inequalities and bringing the prospect for more equal opportunities with better job opportunities and improved skills and training, more affordable housing and tackling the threat of climate change. “The announcement that the Government has laid the order before parliament, for the creation of a combined authority is very welcome, and the next significant step towards achieving the long-held ambition for devolution for both York and North Yorkshire. “The new combined authority will be a driving force behind the devolution process, overseeing major strategic projects and how funding will be allocated, and working closely with both North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council.” Cllr Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council, said: “Devolution and the creation of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority presents a huge opportunity for our region. “City of York Council committed, in our four-year council plan, to working in partnership to maximise the opportunities arising from devolution and we can’t wait to get started. The laying of the draft order is another key milestone as we work towards establishing the new combined authority. “This is a true partnership effort between York and North Yorkshire, and I want to thank everyone involved who has worked tirelessly to get us to this point. Devolution will allow us to bring significant new investment into York and the surrounding region. “It brings vitally important new opportunities to deliver sustainable, affordable housing and transport, to tackle the climate emergency and to grow our economy for the benefit of all our residents. These are all priorities that align with our vision and ambition for the city to be more equal, affordable, climate focussed and healthy.” The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 is a legal document which sets out the powers available to the incoming mayor and combined authority to deliver the content of the devolution deal. MPs are now expected to consider the draft order before Christmas. James Farrar, Interim Director of Transition for the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, added: “Subject to progress, a new combined authority could be operational in January and formally launched in February. A mayoral election would take place on 2nd May 2024.”

Hull City Council’s Cabinet will discuss a report detailing the design brief for the West Docklands area. The design brief would set a planning framework for development and regeneration of the area. The land is bounded by the operational Albert and William Wright Docks to the south, the A63 to the north, Daltry Street to the west and Commercial Road and Manor House Street to the east. The framework seeks to:

• Support existing local businesses in the area
• Promote further employment growth, in particular, a new medi-tech centre
• Secure an area of new housing to the south of Wellington Street West
• Retain and improve the ice arena
• Allow for the consideration of a cruise facility at the Albert and William Wright Dock, dependent on external funding

Following formal consultation earlier this year, the report seeks approval to finalise plans and to ensure that all interested parties are aware. Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration and housing, said: “The council sees real potential for positive regeneration and change in the West Docklands area and this new masterplan will help to make that a reality. “This plan aims to bring employment and economic growth to the area, as well as the retention of the ice arena and expansion of leisure activities. “The council has listened to local businesses and residents who’ve helped get us to this point. “Now, this new plan is an important stepping stone in getting the potential out of the West Docklands area and ensuring the rest of the city sees its huge benefits.”

Wakefield Council has welcomed two new specialist providers for some of its property and facilities functions. Robertson has been awarded the contract for the Council’s facilities management function. It is one of the largest family-owned construction, infrastructure and support services business in the UK. Gleeds will be handling the Council’s Professional Services functions. Gleeds is an international property and construction consultancy, with significant local government experience. The new approach began on 31st October, when the contract with Equans came to an end after seven years. Cllr Les Shaw, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources and Property, said: “We are pleased to confirm our new partnerships with Robertson and Gleeds. We welcome their expertise to help us deliver the transformation of our property and facilities management services. “This new approach will give us the control and flexibility we need, whilst also benefitting from the knowledge and expertise of specialists in these areas.” The Facilities Management contract awarded to Robertson refers to the physical structures and covers the building services for the Council’s estate, as well as providing a 24-hour facilities management Help Desk. This contract provides these services to schools, if they choose to buy them. Adrian Mole, Managing Director at Robertson Facilities Management, said: “As the selected delivery partner for all hard services, our focus will be on ensuring that Wakefield Council has an excellently maintained estate that will provide occupants with high-quality environments. “We are looking forward to welcoming the new employees, who will bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge of the council’s estate. This previous knowledge will be a huge benefit to Team Robertson as we deliver best in class, transformation services.” The Professional Services contract awarded to Gleeds provides the resources needed to deliver big infrastructure projects, like the ones in the Council’s capital programme. This contract provides the specialist services needed for this type of project: architectural design, project procurement, contract management. It can also be used for bigger building services jobs, but it is in the Council’s control to make this decision on a project-by-project basis which provides flexibility and value for money. Paul Mann, North England Regional Director for Gleeds, said: “Gleeds’ work in partnership with central and local government agencies such as DfE, Homes England, and locally, West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and North England will stand us in good stead to take on Wakefield Council’s Professional Services functions over the next three years. “Our focus will be on delivering value for money property solutions, with a significant commitment to social value for the local community. “Welcoming new employees means we can combine vital local knowledge and experience with Gleeds’ own expertise and strength in depth. We have embedded a PMO team into Wakefield One Council offices, and we look forward to getting started on delivering the first of the Capital Delivery Programme priority projects in the months ahead.” The services that have come back inhouse includes the soft facilities management services, which deal with the day to day running of buildings. This team also works on logistics, the delivery of planned projects and looks after the sale, leasing and tenancy of Council buildings and any acquisitions the Council makes.

Small businesses planning to grow continue to face a deep-rooted and unyielding skills shortage, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) research has found. The figures, taken from the business group’s latest Small Business Index (SBI) reveal that 22 per cent of small firms now identify the lack of skilled staff as a stumbling block for growth in the upcoming year. As digital technology continues to develop rapidly and businesses of all sizes feel the impact, 38 per cent of firms in the information and communication sectors report finding appropriately skilled staff as a barrier. This sector requires constant upskilling and amid a digital skills shortfall and vying with larger companies, small businesses find meeting their labour needs challenging. Similarly, with 45 per cent of construction sector businesses citing the skills gap as a significant hurdle, this poses a concern in light of the Government’s goal to build one million homes – a target small construction firms are essential to achieving. In other sectors, skills shortages were also an issue for:

• 28% of manufacturing businesses
• 23% in the professional, scientific, and technical activities sectors
• 14% in wholesale and retail trade

Previous FSB research shows that 83 per cent of small businesses have provided an average of seven days training for each employee – underscoring their commitment to maintaining skills to prevent a workforce skills gap. To make it easier for small firms to upskill, FSB would like to see the Government:

• Ensure all schools can provide GCSE and A-Level computer science or ICT courses.
• Ensure skills bootcamps – used by 76% of small firms – continue to play an important role in helping increase the digital skills.
• Continue to cover 95% of apprentice training costs for small businesses hiring apprentices, easing the upskilling process, and offering incentives for growth.
• Make training in new skills tax deductible for the self-employed, allowing them to pivot into new areas of business.

FSB Policy and Advocacy Chair Tina McKenzie said: “Small businesses are eager to grow but many find themselves at a standstill, with skills shortages putting a brake on their ambitions. At a time where the economy needs it the most, firms are left hamstrung. “This impact is especially sharp in construction, where small housebuilders are instrumental. As we shift to the digital age, too, it’s essential to support the self-employed to branch out and upskill without being held back by the tax system. “One of the main things we hear from our members is how difficult it is to recruit at all skills levels, which is why we need to invest in lifelong learning. This cannot happen overnight but will unfold over time and needs supply-side reforms to make it work. “The future of our economy relies on skills. Unless we create pathways for small businesses to tap into a readily available talent pool, the economy is at risk. This is more than just patching over a hole in the ceiling – it’s about empowering a workforce that can propel the economy forward.”

Northern ethical property investors are set to receive impressive rental yields in student accommodation, thanks to ethical property developer Integritas Property Group (IPG). The region is seeing a boom in demand for high-quality properties from its growing intakes of UK and international students following investment in higher education facilities, putting the region on the map as a go-to city for education and training. The housing challenge faced by students across the UK is a pressing issue, and ethical property developer IPG is at the forefront of addressing it. Through initiatives like Optima in Bradford and the completed Bijou student living project (the first phase of this development), IPG is leading the way in the student accommodation landscape and is reporting a boom in rental yields for property investors. The student population in Bradford is currently over 42,000, with 30% of students arriving from 130 countries, as the university offers 352 undergraduate courses and 213 graduate courses. With University of Bradford only having 1,004 units available for student accommodation, comprised of 2 managed halls of residence and 34 four-story townhouses, there is huge need for new, highly quality student accommodation across the city. Mitchell Walsh, CEO at IPG, says: “By providing students with first-class living options, IPG is offering investors a lucrative opportunity to invest in a growing metropolis.” IPG’s approach goes beyond just housing provision as it creates accommodation that is accessible, affordable, and conducive to learning. As it becomes increasingly more difficult for students across Bradford to find suitable accommodation, these luxury lets, currently on sale to investors, will soon be home to some of the city’s student population. Mitchell Walsh continued: “Decent student accommodation in a city near their place of study is often a challenge to find – as a result, students are then pushed further out into the suburbs, which adds extra pressure to their day whilst increasing social isolation. Our Optima development is strategically located in the heart of Bradford city centre, giving students easy access to the city centre, nightlife, and the university. “Optima, the high-spec property, offers exquisite finishes, stylish interiors, and modern appliances in each unit, ensuring a luxurious living experience for residents – a step up from the run-of-the-mill student digs most people think of.” The big driver in student accommodation demand is growth in PGT (Postgraduate Taught) international intakes, with the University of Bradford coming 15^th in the top increases in full-time PGT study numbers in the UK 2021-2022. In many localities, growth in demand is far outstripping growth in the supply of student accommodation. IPG’s Optima development comes after the success of its Bijou project, set within the residential scheme in Laisteridge Student Village, which saw 46 units snapped up by investors looking to provide accommodation for Bradford’s growing student population. The Optima development features 54 student pods and four accessible studios, with shared access to a fully fitted kitchen, a laundry room, and a large open-plan living space for student socialising and aims to be complete ahead of September 2024. Mitchell Walsh concludes: “Investing in the property market in Bradford right now is a wise decision as the rental yield is currently at an impressive 8.25%, 3% higher than the national average.” The last few units remain for investors to purchase, starting from £78,000, each with a 999-year lease. These units offer an 8.25% rental yield, and all units come fully furnished and managed.

More people are now travelling with Hull Trains than they did before the pandemic with the operator reporting the strongest recovery in UK journey levels. Not only has the operator recovered its passenger numbers to pre-pandemic levels, but it has surpassed them far faster than anyone else. Compared to this time last year alone, Hull Trains has increased its number of journeys by 31% having delivered 358,000 journeys in the last quarter compared to 270,000 on the same quarter in 2022. MD Martijn Gilbert said: “This remarkable achievement is testament to the great service provided by our team at Hull Trains. Since our investment in a brand-new fleet of trains in 2019, we have continued to focus on delivering a great value, low carbon, dependable and friendly way of travelling on our route. “It is no coincidence that all long-distance operators on the East Coast main line route are seeing growth thanks to the customer choice that Open Access operators such as Hull Trains provide. The ORR reporting shows that Long Distance Operators on the East Coast Mainline are now 18% higher than 2019, whereas the overall industry is still 11% below 2019 levels.” He added: “The long-distance rail market has a much greater leisure travel make-up compared to 2019, so we are committed to doing even more to meet this demand. We look forward to continuing to improve our offer to customers, including a new standard class food and drink refreshment option which will go live later next month, to make Hull Trains an even better choice for more customers.” The growth story of long-distance operators on the East Coast Mainline is complemented by Hull Trains’ sister Open Access operator, Lumo, which has introduced over 2 million new rail journeys to the East Coast route since launching in October 2021. This success underscores the commitment of operators to innovate and provide more sustainable transport options, reducing the environmental impact compared to domestic flying and travelling by road. For example, the agile nature of Hull Trains has enabled the operator to deploy more capacity with 10 carriage trains responding to customer demand, and even adding extra journeys for major sporting events such as the Rugby League Challenge Cup final to support local team, Hull KR.