York Minster breaks ground on Centre of Excellence
An official ceremony to mark the start of construction work on York Minster’s new Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management has been held.
The ceremony, which took place in the grounds of what will become The Heritage Quad, was attended by the Dean of York, the Very Revd Dominic Barrington, and Andy Gatenby, Managing Director of Simpson, the specialist heritage contractor delivering the works.
The first-of-its-kind project will see the creation of a world-class campus facility for research, education and training in the traditional craft skills required to preserve and maintain the Minster for future generations. It will also establish the Minster as an international example of best practice in managing complex heritage estates.
The Centre of Excellence includes the development of two sites, The Heritage Quad and The Works and Technology Hub. They will provide new facilities for craftspeople, including York Minster’s stonemasons, and house and deliver training in modern techniques and processes to apprentices and students from across the world, working with cutting edge digital technology.
Existing buildings within the Precinct will also be sustainably reordered, repurposed, and renewed to provide new workspace and associated facilities, enable greater engagement and interaction with the public around key crafts and trades, and allow improved links with education.
The Centre of Excellence is expected to be completed in summer 2024. It’s a key component of the York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Plan which sets out a policy-led approach to creating a sustainable future for the Minster and its seven hectare estate.
The Very Revd Dominic Barrington, Dean of York, said: “Start on site at the Centre of Excellence is a significant milestone in our journey to establish the Precinct as a leading destination for preserving and maintaining heritage craft skills.
“It also marks an important moment of our Neighbourhood Plan, which is the biggest programme of planned works at York Minster and its Precinct in 150 years. We’re incredibly excited to start watching the new sites and facilities become a reality over the next year.”
Andy Gatenby, Managing Director of Simpson, added: “As a proud-York based Construction company, delivering a project such as York Minster’s Centre of Excellence is a huge honour, as we’re not only helping to create exceptional new buildings and workspaces in the area, but it’ll also bring additional benefits, including preserving and developing ancient craft skills. We’re proud to be playing a role in maintaining York Minster and its Precinct for future generations.”
The funding for the Centre is being co-ordinated by the York Minster Fund, which recently announced a campaign to raise an additional £4m to support the completion of the project.
Neil Sanderson, Director of the York Minster Fund, said: “The sustainable benefits the Centre of Excellence will deliver long term are far reaching, not only financially, but for maintaining heritage skills at York Minster, the heritage community, and the wider city, so we’re incredibly excited to mark its start on site.
“Like many construction projects, we’ve encountered numerous challenges since we began our journey in 2018 through rising costs and supply chain issues, so we still have a long way to go. We’re therefore seeking further funding and donations to ensure this important project can be delivered on schedule, and we are grateful of the support we’ve had so far.”
The York Minster Neighbourhood Plan is an ambitious masterplan to secure a sustainable future for York Minster. Formally adopted by City of York Council last year, its delivery will signal the largest planned programme of works at the Minster and its surrounding Precinct since the Victorian era. It recently won a major award from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) for Planning Excellence.
£3.4m investment to help South Yorkshire businesses reduce carbon footprint
Businesses in South Yorkshire will benefit from a £3.4m investment to help them reduce their carbon emissions, improve resilience, and protect jobs.
Running until March 2025, the project will provide support to 260 small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham to help them understand the opportunities available to reduce their carbon footprint.
Businesses will benefit from a free energy audit to identify potential energy saving improvements such as low-energy lighting systems or insulation. Delivered by South Yorkshire’s local authorities, the project is part funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s Shared Prosperity Fund allocation.
Low carbon grants are also available to help businesses invest in solutions to reduce their energy consumption and costs, helping them to become more productive, resilient, and environmentally friendly.
As part of the package of support available, specialist advisors will provide comprehensive advice and support throughout the process.
Councillor Martin Smith, Chair of the Economic Development and Skills Committee, said: “We know many business owners want to reduce energy costs and do their bit for the planet but it can be difficult to plan how to reduce your carbon footprint and find the money to pay for carbon saving measures.
“Specialist advisors will help businesses identify where they can make changes that save budgets and tackle the climate crisis. Low carbon grants will bring ideas into action and give businesses the financial support they need to make changes that will reduce energy costs and carbon emissions whilst improving efficiency and resilience.
“This scheme will give owners the confidence and support they need to make sustainable changes to their business, something that is crucial if we are to look after our planet and let business thrive.”
ACAS reviews Code of Practice over home working requests
More than a third of employers have seen an increase in staff working from home after the rise in the cost of living and that’s not a surprise to ACAS Chief Executive Susan Clews.
Ahead of a review of the ACAS Code of Practice on handling home working requests, which takes place next month, she said: “The cost of living pressures are impacting many people and it is unsurprising that over a third of employers have seen an increase in staff working from home.
“For some workers, the cost of commuting is eating into their budgets, while for others, going to their workplaces saves on home energy costs.
“It’s important for businesses to work with staff to agree suitable ways of working for specific roles, taking account of individual circumstances and regularly review arrangements. Acas has good practice in this area that can help.”
Acas’s advice for employers includes:
- A company home, hybrid or flexible working policy should explain how someone can request it, how job roles will be assessed and how decisions will be made
- Decisions around whether to agree to a staff request for home working should be fair and transparent
- Other forms of flexible working could be discussed as possible alternatives if home working is not practical for a specific role
- Familiarise yourself with Acas’s consultation on its new draft Code of Practice on handling requests for flexible working that has been updated to reflect shifts to flexible working and upcoming changes to the law.
- Who should be allowed to accompany an employee at meetings to discuss a flexible working request
- The need for transparency about reasons for rejecting a request
- Making it clear that employers should proactively offer an appeal where a request has been rejected.
Sheffield Forgemasters appoints new CFO
Amy Grey has been appointed as Chief Finance Officer (CFO) on the board of Sheffield Forgemasters.
Amy joined Sheffield Forgemasters in May 2022 as Finance Director but has operated as interim CFO since April 2023 and is a UK qualified accountant (CIMA) with 21 years’ experience including 10 years at executive team level.
The announcement follows Julie Colgan’s appointment to the role of Non Executive Director and Shareholder Representative for the Government at Sheffield Forgemasters, replacing Lorna Gratton.
David Bond, Chief Executive Officer at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “We are delighted to welcome Amy and Julie to the Board of Directors.
“As CFO, Amy will be working closely with a highly talented senior team as we drive the business into new markets. Her role will focus on factors driving the long-term success of the company, including financing arrangements, people investment and plant upgrades.”
The Board at Sheffield Forgemasters includes a former Vice Chief of Defence Staff as Chair, a former CFO at Network Rail, a former CEO of Balfour Beatty, and an ex-Government Ministry Director.
David added: “Amy was selected by the Board following a series of interviews alongside external candidates, through her core skills and impressive track record in senior financial roles with global companies.
“Amy will join a highly capable and diverse Board at Sheffield Forgemasters as we continue to provide vital components for UK Defence and global Customers whilst transforming our business through a major investment programme.”
In a previous role, Amy acted as Vice President of Finance for multi-national Greenlane Renewables, a global provider of biogas upgrading systems, moving to Canada to prepare the company for floatation on the Toronto Stock Exchange Ventures market.
Other notable roles include UK Finance Director for Heras Perimeter Protection, a Dutch-headquartered company with a global presence, Finance & Commercial Director at Kelda Group, a water services provider for Yorkshire, and Senior Finance & Commercial Manager for international outsourcing company, SERCO.
Amy joins David Bond (CEO) and Gareth Barker (COO) as Executive Directors of the Board at Sheffield Forgemasters and takes up position with immediate effect.
Henley Group makes two new senior appointments
Wakefield-headquartered construction services group, Henley Group has added two new senior appointments to its growing team.
Mark Jennings joins as group financial controller, whilst Dave Cawley, formerly Henley specialists senior project manager, has been promoted to group construction director. Both moves come as Henley Group continues to establish itself as an integrated construction specialist services group.
As group financial controller, Mark Jennings will play an intrinsic role in the continued growth of the business. Mark, who is ACCA Qualified, brings over a decade of experience in accountancy practice.
He is looking to use his expertise in accountancy and investment finance to implement best practice across the business, integrate financial reporting, and provide financial input into future growth plans across the whole of Henley Group’s portfolio of businesses.
Commenting on his move, Mark said: “I’m delighted to be joining the Henley team at an exciting time in the company’s expansion. I look forward to supporting the business’s continued growth within the UK construction sector, overseeing the day-to-day financial operations and providing essential financial insights to ensure success.”
Dave Cawley’s key responsibilities as construction director will include overseeing projects end-to-end, focusing on maintaining the Henley focus of delivering high standards of quality and safety across all group businesses, and contributing to long term growth by fostering long-term client relationships through successful project delivery.
Dave brings vast experience of the construction sector with his impressive skillset. Commenting on his new position, Dave said: “I am thrilled to be starting my new role as construction director at Henley Group.
“I already know the team well after working alongside them but I’m now looking forward to an exciting new challenge and can’t wait to be overseeing some of our incredible projects. One of my key accomplishments so far is gaining knowledge of the various products and systems within the construction industry, so I’m excited to use all the skills I’ve learned to further develop the business.”
Henley Group was established by Shaun Henley in 2012.
Shaun added: “The addition of Mark to our team is essential for our continued growth trajectory – he’s bringing experience from a wide range of businesses across several sectors to assist in producing key financials, giving us increased visibility over performance to make decisions at both division level and group level for shareholders and directors.
“The promotion of Dave is very well deserved, and a strategic move for the company. Dave has vast experience in the sector and his management experience with us means he understands the workings of our company. I’m certain he’ll have a positive impact as he leads our operational delivery teams.”
Leeds-based digital change specialist appoints new head of engineering
Axiologik – the Leeds-headquartered advanced digital delivery firm – is bolstering its technical team with the appointment of David Sugden as the company’s new head of engineering.
With a career spanning over two and a half decades, David brings a wealth of experience and expertise in software development, architecture, and end-to-end delivery.
David’s journey in the technology industry began with a junior developer role at AXA after graduating from university. He subsequently joined Equifax in the late 1990s, where his passion for technology and interest in other areas started to flourish.
In his 26-year tenure at Equifax, David made significant strides, moving from developer roles on mainframe applications to exploring various positions, including senior developer and architecture roles across the company.Throughout his career, David’s focus evolved from what applications are to how they are built, particularly in the realm of full end-to-end delivery. His proficiency expanded to encompass requirements capturing, project management, development, testing, customer support, and overall service delivery.
During this time, he led engineering initiatives across the UK team, promoting best practices in a guild format and building ancillary systems to define and uphold excellence.David’s interests eventually gravitated towards the production space, where he thrived in supporting applications, managing customers, and overseeing 24/7 services.
Notably, five years ago, he established the Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) function at Equifax’s UK branch, crafting and nurturing the department from the ground up. Before departing, David also embraced a global role and led internal developer tooling efforts from the company’s Atlanta office.On returning to the UK, David joined Axiologik, wanting to seek fresh challenges that would allow him to maximise his potential. In his new role as head of engineering at Axiologik, David will be collaborating with practice leads and other heads of departments to define the scope and direction of the engineering space. While the team starts with one member — David himself — he is eager to expand and build a team that aligns with Axiologik’s future objectives.Commenting on Axiologik’s mission, David said: “My interest in enhancing development experience and productivity seamlessly aligns with Axiologik’s mission. The firm focuses on delivering effective and efficient solutions to businesses, ensuring they can roll out new features swiftly while maintaining cost-effectiveness. This area is currently a hot topic in the tech industry and I hope my expertise will be a valuable asset in achieving Axiologik’s goals.” Ben Davison, Axiologik’s director, concluded: “We welcome David to our team and look forward to the positive impact he will make in driving the engineering practice forward. We are excited about the innovative ideas and valuable insights that David will bring to the table, solidifying Axiologik’s position as a leading force in the digital delivery realm.” Construction underway on major new operations base for the Humber’s offshore wind industry
Power producer RWE has welcomed local MPs Lia Nici and Martin Vickers to its Grimsby Hub to mark expansion work, with a new operations and maintenance facility now under construction at the company’s site in Grimsby’s Royal Docks.
RWE is responsible for operating the existing Humber Gateway and Triton Knoll offshore wind farms from the Grimsby Docks as well as the construction of the Sofia offshore wind farm and the development of a further two offshore wind farms on Dogger Bank in the North Sea.
Once fully operational, the Grimsby Hub will be the operations base for Triton Knoll and Sofia as well as hosting RWE’s Centralised Control Room (CCR), where technicians will oversee the operation of the vast majority of the company’s UK offshore portfolio, further reaffirming the Humber’s role as a leading location for the UK’s offshore wind sector.
Humber-based firm Hobson & Porter is responsible for the construction of the multi-million pound facility, which is expected to accommodate around 140 RWE employees in total. The Grimsby Hub has the potential to bring around 70 new skilled jobs to the region, plus indirect jobs required in support.
Although still under construction, recruitment is well underway with the opening of over 20 technician roles in support of the Sofia offshore wind farm.
The location of the Grimsby Hub at the Royal Docks was chosen because of its proximity to existing and future projects and its deep-water quayside, which is suited to the use of Service Operations Vessels (SOVs).
Construction is due to complete next year and will include a joint control room offering 24/7 monitoring of multiple sites, new shared office space, and separate warehouse facilities.
Guy Middleton, RWE general manager for the Grimsby Hub, said: “It was fantastic to welcome Lia and Martin to the Grimsby Hub to discuss our investment plans for the local region, which will bring plenty of skilled roles and provide many opportunities for the regional supply chain.”
RWE’s newly appointed director for Net Zero East Coast UK, Corinne Barry, added: “It is a hugely exciting time for RWE in the Humber with all the new investment proposed, and I cannot wait to see our plans progress. The Humber has gained an enviable reputation in supporting the country’s net zero ambitions and RWE is proud to be a part of its future!”
During the visit, the MPs also discussed RWE’s plans for a new carbon capture CCGT power station near Stallingborough which could generate up to 800 MW of decarbonised, secure, flexible energy, enough to potentially power the equivalent of around one million homes.
The new power station would be fitted with carbon capture technology and would make a significant contribution to the UK’s energy security and support our transition to a net zero economy.
RWE is working with Harbour Energy to explore options for transporting and storing the captured carbon through its Viking CCS network from both its proposed new power station and its existing Staythorpe power station in Nottinghamshire.
Lia Nici MP said: “It was great to see RWE’s continued investment in its Grimsby Hub offshore wind base, which is set to be a central location for the management of many of the company’s offshore wind farms across the UK – bringing high-quality job opportunities to Grimsby and reinforcing the town’s position as a leader in the sector.”
Martin Vickers MP added: “The visit also gave us an opportunity to hear about RWE’s wider investment plans in the region, which includes not only further offshore wind projects, but carbon capture investments at its regional power stations, linked to the Viking Carbon Capture and Storage network, which was recently awarded Track-2 development status by the Government.”
Electric bus goes on trial between Hull and Hessle
East Yorkshire Buses has been lent a single-decker electric bus to run a three-week trial on one of its routes in Hull.
The vehicle has been tested on the 66 service between Hull and Hessle, clocking up more than 100 miles a day.
Andy Benstead, Head of Engineering at East Yorkshire Buses, said: “Hull’s not really in touch with the electric commercial vehicle trend yet. This bus was the first to hit service, and for me it was quite a big thing, experiencing and understanding this new technology and what it can do.
“Considering how complex the system is, the simplicity of it is fantastic. It’s very easy to operate and delivers an exceptionally smooth and quiet ride, the regenerative braking is especially clever.
“We’ve had really positive feedback from our drivers, and it’s created a buzz in Hull – with passengers asking drivers whether it was going to be the same bus that would be turning up every day!
“We already have a very close working relationship with Volvo, so the great support we’ve received during the trial was no surprise. We would really like to see this technology in our area in the future.”
City Council representatives Kerry Ryan and Mark Ieronimo have been impressed with the bus. Said Cllr Ieronimo: “We were very impressed by the performance and benefits of the electric bus. It is quiet, smooth, comfortable and eco-friendly. We are committed to improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions in Hull. Electric buses are a great way to achieve our long-term goals, as they can reduce pollution, noise, and greenhouse gases.”
Kerry Ryan added: “I had never been on an electric bus until the Volvo BZL Electric. The difference is astonishing, not only the sound but also the smoothness of the ride. We all came away very impressed, and it’s a good experience for us if an opportunity was to present itself in the future, particularly when it comes to discussing how we could support our commercial operators with infrastructure.”
SMEs are in the dark about best route to Net Zero, finds BCC
A new report by the British chambers of Commerce and Lloyds Bank, compiled with the help of businesses in Yorkshire, has highlighted three key changes needed to help business hit Net Zero:
- Government should review its support and advice to SMEs on moving to Net Zero
- Large businesses and institutions must continue to drive behaviour change in their supply chains
- Government should demonstrate commitment and consistency in its Net Zero plans
- More than two thirds of SMEs (69%) have installed LED lighting
- More than a third (34%) are investing in greener vehicles
- Just under a third (30%) are using solar panels
- Almost half (46%) are using recycling and waste reduction practices
- Over a quarter (28%) use renewable energy providers or tariffs
Little things mean a lot to employee satisfaction, advises HR specialist
Employers need to consider using more than pay rises as an incentive if they want to keep hold of their best employees.
That’s the view of HR specialist Laura Reilly of Lincoln-based Taurus HR Solutions, who says small pay rises or unobtainable bonus schemes aren’t effective motivators, but can actually have the opposite effect on employees.
She says employers would begetter advised to look at rewards that are intrinsic motivators, such as recognition, learning and development, and additional responsibilities.
She said: “Contrary to belief, money isn’t the best motivator – especially for individuals who are career focused. What’s more important to these employees is feeling valued, having their accomplishments recognised, and creating a path that helps them reach their goals.
“Companies that take the time to learn more about these motivators in their employees often find that their teams are more engaged, more loyal, and far more productive.”
Laura also points out that small rewards can have a big impact on employee motivation and job satisfaction too.
She said: “Little things can have the same effect as a grand gesture, too. For example, giving a box of chocolates as thanks to an employee who has really impressed a client will demonstrate that you’ve noticed their actions and value their work.
“And helping an employee to work towards their career goals with additional learning and development opportunities will show how invested you are, and that you hope to have this employee working with you for years to come. It all helps an employee feel valued, appreciated, and demonstrates that you’re as committed to them as they are to you.
“These are all things that are low cost to you, but make a big impression on your people. In the current climate where budgets are often smaller, rewards like these can make a huge difference on your ability to retain your best people, which is another big bonus!”
This is the reason we must take food security seriously, says NFU President
In a year which has already seen UK agri-food inflation rise to 19.2%, and global instability caused by the ongoing war in Ukraine, the recent bouts of extreme weather are further highlighting the frailties of the UK’s food system.
Defra statistics for 2022 showed the UK is 60% self-sufficient in all foods. NFU President Minette Batters has called on the Prime Minister to “put words into action” and introduce legislation to “ensure the UK’s self-sufficiency does not drop below its current level of 60%”.
She said: “I have never known such volatility in the global food system. Climate change is wreaking havoc on food production across the world, with farmers in Southern Europe literally fighting fires while farmers here are despairing as they now must spend thousands of pounds to dry sodden grain. At the same time, the conflict in Ukraine is putting pressure on the global grain market.”
The recent ending of the Black Sea grain initiative has caused more uncertainty for the global crop market and could generate large movements in grain prices due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Minette added: “Ongoing inflation of input costs such as energy and fertiliser have meant that, for many farmers and growers, this year has already been incredibly expensive to produce food and now the weeks of wet weather mean more money is needed to dry the harvest that’s being gathered.
“It is clear that our food supply chains need to be better prepared and more resilient to dealing with global shocks and the extremes of weather that are fast becoming the norm.
“While we will always be a trading nation in food, we cannot remain over-reliant on imports when other countries are also facing significant challenges economically and climatically.
“Our supply chains are too vulnerable. So, the government needs to take an active interest in the UK food chain resilience. The UK must be able to be able produce more of its own food at home. It starts and ends with food security.
“Now is the time to ensure policies are in place to support the production of quality, climate friendly, home-grown food. This government has statutory targets for the environment and Ministers need now to give the same status to our food production.”
York firm offers payment of £23,000 to Yorkshire Dales River Trust after illegal waste spreading
York-based farming business J E Hartley, which produces frozen vegetables to some of the country’s biggest retailers and manufacturers, has offered to pay £23,640 to the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust after spreading waste sludge on land illegally – even though no environmental harm was done.
The company, of Roth Hill Lane, Thorganby, repeatedly spread waste sludge on its land between March 2016 and February 2022 without permission.
Since March 2016 the company had held a permit for spreading its own waste on its land. It operates an anaerobic digestion plant on site which produces a proportion of the company’s energy, and it is the waste sludge from this plant that the company spreads on land.
Under the conditions of the permit, the company must make an application each time it wishes to spread waste, to say where it intends to spread waste, what type of waste, how much and when. Every application must also include evidence to show that there is an agricultural benefit from the spreading of waste.
The Environment Agency then considers each application and decides if there is agricultural benefit and whether it can go ahead.
Records showed that spreading took place every year from 2013 to 2021 in varying quantities from 2,664 tonnes to as much as 10,530 tonnes. However, only four applications for spreading were made during this period and all were refused, needing additional information.
Therefore, the company avoided paying applications fees which ranged from £760 to £1,718 each time.
No environmental harm has been identified from the spreading carried out by the company.
Claire Barrow, Area Environment Manager for North Yorkshire at the Environment Agency, said: “It is vital that companies are aware of their environmental obligations. In this case JE Hartley Limited recognised that they had failed to comply with their environmental permit and we deemed it appropriate to accept an Enforcement Undertaking offer, which ensured that all avoided application costs were donated to a project that will enhance, restore and protect England’s natural environment.”
Award-winning wedding venue goes into liquidation
The North Lincolnshire wedding venue named as one of the best in the country only two years ago has gone into liquidation.
Hirst Priory at Crowle near Scunthorpe has been run as a wedding and events venue for almost a decade, but Covid and the cost of living crisis have been blamed for its demise.
MD Hazel Wheatley instructed the voluntary liquidation of her business on Monday this week, handing the historic venue back to its owners the Hunt Group. She said: “Covid brought the wedding industry to its knees, with weddings being banned for the first time in history. This created huge uncertainty, and many suppliers chose to leave the industry altogether.
“Despite the best efforts of myself and my team, the current economic climate has proved one storm too many. Supply chain costs have rocketed and the dip in confidence caused by the cost of living crisis has seen new bookings plummet.
“With no end in sight this sadly forced the closure of the business as a viable entity moving forward.”
She said the building owners and landlord, Hunt Group Limited, had done their utmost to support Hirst Priory Limited, but had no choice but to take back control of the Hirst Priory building.
Pepperells Solicitors scores highly in mystery shopper exercise
Pepperells Solicitors have been recognised as one of the best in the industry for Customer Service by Conveyancer Insights.
Shuhel Ahmed, Head of Residential Conveyancing, said: “We have an amazing team here at Pepperells and it’s great to see that the hard work and high standards that we demand from ourselves does not go unnoticed.”
Stacey Marshall, Customer Service Manager, said “We have invested in many areas of the businesses and provided detailed conveyancing training to our call handlers, we have introduced a new electronic onboarding system for our clients and welcomed
trained customer service professionals from the hospitality and travel sectors into the firm. These changes, along with the high level of expertise that our legal teams offer mean that we regularly receiving 4* and 5* reviews from clients and agents alike.”
Conveyancing Insights pose as buyers to glean information from estate agents about their conveyancing relationships, as well as mystery shop firms offering a conveyancing service via telephone and web chat. They monitor how the firm engages with customers
and experience first-hand how a customer is made to feel, how actively they are listened to and if they were made to feel valued.
They also check for clear and concise pricing and how the customer is communicated to. They have very strict scoring parameters to ensure consistency.
Pepperells Solicitors has ten offices; eight in Yorkshire and The Humber, and one each in Newcastle and London.
Nicholsons Chartered Accountants reach food bank milestone
On 31 July, Nicholsons Chartered Accountants hit a milestone as they reached 500kg of donations to the Lincoln Food Bank and Market Rasen Food Bank since they started in January. The aim is now to get to 1000kg by the end of the year.
Nicholsons Chartered Accountants is supporting both the Lincoln and Market Rasen Food Banks as their chosen charities of the year for 2023.
Throughout 2023, the Nicholsons team has been helping to raise the profiles of the Food Banks, as well as providing vital funds and goods to keep the charities stocked.
Set up to ensure that no one in our community has to face going hungry, the food banks provide three days of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support.
Richard Hallsworth, director at Nicholsons Chartered Accountants, said: “Food banks are under extreme pressure at the moment as the cost of living increases has hit many families hard.
“We care about the local communities we work in and wanted to make a difference so supporting the food banks was an easy decision. It’s something that all of our team have fully embraced and we have got lots of different activities planned for 2023 to raise money and goods to support those most in need.”
Cat Middleton, project work at Lincoln Food Bank, said: “We are so grateful to Nicholson’s choosing us as their charity of the year, it has been such a difficult time for many people.
“Over the past year we have supported 8,381 people of which 3,047 were children. We could not do this without the generous support of local businesses like Nicholsons, and this next year we will continue to work hard to provide help to every person in need.”
Rhona Sheppard, one of the Core Leadership team at Market Rasen New Life Church, said: “The last two years has seen an unprecedented increase in the need for food banks nationwide and locally too.
“Whilst we have provided small scale food support for well over 30 years for families in need, the scale of operation has massively increased from 6-7 parcels a month to regularly packing over 130 food parcels a month.
“We are so grateful for all the ongoing provision we have received and the partnership with Nicholsons will really help us sustain ongoing work of the Food Bank for families and individuals in Market Rasen and surrounding villages.”
Emma Murray, director at Nicholsons Chartered Accountants, added: “For several years we’ve done the reverse advent calendar to provide goods at one of the toughest times of the year, so partnering with them as our charity of the year was a natural step.
“I have two girls who have always helped with the collections and the buying of donations and its helped them gain an appreciation of the pressures that so many families face and what they can do to help, even in a small way.
“Alongside supplying goods, members of the team and some of their families (including my two girls) will also be giving up some of their time to volunteer down at the food banks.”
Clegg Construction makes donation to Yorkshire food bank
Contractor Clegg Construction has handed over hundreds of pounds worth of food, toiletries, nappies and other items to Maltby Foodbank in Yorkshire.
The company is partnering with Maltby Learning Trust on a £5.9m renovation scheme to repurpose the derelict Maltby Grammar School near Rotherham.
As part of its commitment to the local community, Clegg Construction held a collection for Maltby Foodbank at its head office in Nottingham and at the site.
Clegg Construction pre-construction director, Ross Crowcroft, said: “Supporting the local community wherever we are involved in a project is very important to us.
“Our teams, sub-contractors and associates have been extremely generous with their donations, and I’d like to thank them for their kindness. We hope their support will make a big difference to families and individuals in the Maltby area who are in crisis.”
Approximately 3% of families in the UK – at least 2.1m people – used a food bank in the year ending March 2022. Maltby Foodbank gave out 391 three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis last year.
The donations from Clegg Construction – which weighed an impressive 212.5kg – were handed over at the foodbank, which is based at the Full Life Church in High Street, Maltby, and is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks supported by The Trussell Trust. They included £200 worth of donations from Linsco, a Nottingham-based recruitment company working in the building, construction and property sector.
Denise Cropper from Maltby Foodbank said: “Since 2015, Full Life Church has run our local food bank in partnership with Trussell Trust. Together, we serve around 516 families a year.
“We are extremely grateful for this generous donation from Clegg Construction, its staff and associates. Our local community is really struggling with the rising costs, and this will help so many families in their time of crisis.
“We want to make sure that no one in our local community has to go hungry, but we rely on the generosity of our supporters to help us. Donations such as these can make a real difference and we’d like to thank everyone for their support.”
The collection and donation from Clegg Construction is part of a wider commitment to the Maltby area, with the company also planning to support Maltby Academy students with careers advice.
Built in the early 1930s, Maltby Grammar School closed in 2012 and had fallen into a state of disrepair after being mothballed.
Maltby Learning Trust is now bringing the historic building back into use creating an incubator space for training and apprenticeships, bookable workspaces and serviced hot-desking, and start-up support for the leisure and hospitality sectors.
The re-purposed building – known for its impressive clock tower – will also extend Maltby Learning Trust’s Post 16 specialist facilities for students who attend Maltby Academy and Sir Thomas Wharton Academy sixth form. As part of the project, Clegg will preserve and repair the clock tower, which hasn’t worked for over 8 years.
Other members of the team on the project, which is being supported by £4.5m from The Levelling Up Fund, include Self Architects, engineer GCA Ltd and employer’s agent and project manager Cube.
York Racecourse reveals £5m transformation plans
York Racecourse has submitted a planning application to transform the area of the racecourse which lies to the south of the Knavesmire Stand.
This £5m investment will see improvements in facilities for racing fans with additional lawns, seating, catering outlets, toilets, bars, betting facilities and big screens, all landscaped to reflect the summer nature of the venue.
The ability to follow races live from both the Bustardthorpe Stand and Knavesmire Stand will be retained.
The vision is to create racegoer lawns beneath a high-level canopy, similar to the John Carr canopy which has been keeping racegoers at the Northern End of the venue dry since 2015.
Extensions and improvements to the food and drinks on offer, toilet facilities, betting and screen viewing also form part of the plan. In addition, back of house facilities for the raceday team, which can be up to 1,500 strong, are being transformed.
Highlights of the scheme include:
- Refurbishing and better presenting the 1913 Bustardthorpe Stand, which offers live viewing of the racing;
- Replacing the existing 1950’s single-storey extension to the rear of the Bustardthorpe Stand, with a high-quality extension to compliment the work of famous York architect, Walter Brierley;
- An improved Theakston’s Bar, William Hill betting shop, toilet facilities and food outlets;
- The creation of two new racegoer lawns with an overarching canopy similar to that covering the John Carr Terrace;
- A better arrival experience, including refurbished entrance with feature gateway and enhanced accessibility;
- Landscaping continuing York Racecourse’s award-winning flowers, indigenous hedges and tree planting;
- Conversion of the temporary Roberto Village Bar facilities into a permanent feature building offering food, bar and betting;
- Environmental and sustainability features designed throughout, including solar panels, rainwater harvesting, green living roof and infrastructure to support the Racecourse’s recycling initiatives – all in support of York’s “Green Knavesmire 300” Environmental Strategy to be net zero by 2040.
The aim of the scheme is to further improve the experience for racegoers, visitors and the York team, the scheme is not about growing attendance.
This scheme, developed by Yorkshire firm Dawson Williamson Architects, is to improve the facilities for York’s Grandstand and Paddock racegoers following recent multimillion pound schemes to improve the experience for both the County Stand racegoer in the Northern End Development (2014-15) and Clocktower Enclosure (2018).
Subject to planning approval, it is intended that the new Southern End Development would be open for the busy days in the 2024 season. Mindful of both new and old neighbours, a full plan will be developed with a trusted local contractor to best manage the site traffic and delivery of the development.
William Derby, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course, said: “The York Race Committee have a clear vision to ensure York remains one of the world’s best racecourses and it has a track record of investing in the facilities, race programme and visitor experience.
“This latest chapter aims to improve the facilities for racegoers in the Grandstand and Paddock area, following similar recent investments elsewhere. As a summer venue, we want to provide lawns to enjoy, however we are mindful of the Yorkshire weather so we are looking to repeat the success of the canopy that sits above the John Carr Terrace.
“Practical concerns around a better arrival experience, more toilets and easier access to both food and drinks and how we better support our raceday team, all form part of this ambitious scheme.
“Having launched our Green Knavesmire 300 Environmental Strategy earlier this year, this application embeds key sustainability aspects, notably solar panels, green roofs and rainwater harvesting. Of course, it remains subject to the proper planning process, however we are keen to deliver these improvements for the busy racedays of 2024.”
New knowledge transfer partnership with University aims to support Lincolnshire SMEs
Lincolnshire’s SMEs will be able to submit a free application to receive expert business support as part of a new scheme aiming to develop and implement Innovate UK-funded environmental, social, and governance accreditation for businesses.
The collaboration between the University of Lincoln and the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce will take the form of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership, within which businesses can grow by improving their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology, and skills. It offers an opportunity to collaborate with academic teams from the University to support the delivery of business initiatives.
The KTP is available in partnership with the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, to both members and non-members of the Chamber, supported by academic expertise from the University to embed the knowledge needed to create and maintain a digital self-assessment tool. This tool will enable businesses to evaluate and enhance their environmental, social, and governance performance.
Professor Simon Lilley, Acting Head of the Lincoln International Business School, said: “The Knowledge Transfer Partnership between the University of Lincoln and Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce exemplifies our commitment to supporting sustainable business practices and fostering economic growth in the region.
“Through cutting-edge tools and expert guidance, we aim to empower Lincolnshire businesses to thrive in the ever-changing business landscape.”
Simon Beardsley, pictured, CEO of Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “With this KTP, we look forward to equipping our business community with the resources and expertise they need to improve their sustainability practices and achieve long-term growth and success.”
To enquire about how your business could access the KTP funding, contact the University’s Research and Enterprise team: enterprise@lincoln.ac.uk.
Levelling Up Funding for new Hull city centre eatery
Visitors to Hull city centre will soon be able to enjoy a taste of both France and Taiwan thanks to Levelling Up Funding (LUF).
Crepes & Bubbles Whitefriargate Limited will receive £101,800 for the proposed conversion of a redundant unit to open as a takeaway food and beverage shop selling crepes and bubble tea.
The funding, from monies awarded to Hull City Council in 2021 by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), will help to bring back into use 33 Whitefriargate which has stood empty since 2021 when it was vacated by Thorntons.
It will aid Crepes & Bubbles to purchase business support equipment such as fridges and freezers and electronic menus, as well as installing preparation stations.
There will also be the creation of a new customer counter, internal and external decoration and the remodelling of stud wall partitioning.
The project is also predicted to create seven full-time equivalent jobs.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “This is an exciting project and one that will no doubt be popular in the city centre.
“Having stood empty since 2021, 33 Whitefriargate is in a fantastic location and Crepes & Bubbles will be a brilliant addition to the Old Town.
“LUF has already supported many hospitality businesses and I look forward to seeing another one completed.”
New late-night bar and restaurant gets levelling up boost in Hull
Hull city centre’s nighttime and hospitality sector has received a huge boost courtesy of Levelling Up Funding.
A grant of £750,000 has been awarded to Tokyo Industries (Yorkshire) Ltd, trading as Iron Lilies, bringing a new late-night bar and restaurant.
The funding is from monies awarded to Hull City Council in 2021 by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
Iron Lilies will occupy the former Virgin Megastore on Level 2 of Princes Quay Shopping Centre which has stood vacant for a decade.
The funding will also help to create 19 full-time equivalent jobs, as well as bringing back into use large, vacant floor space.
Other proposed works include installation of new toilets and a commercial kitchen, creation of a bar, purchasing furniture, fixtures and fittings, as well as fitting out sound, alarm and camera systems.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “Levelling Up Funding has already helped to bring huge improvements and unlock great potential in our city centre.
“This is a significant investment to what is an exciting project which will provide a boost to Princes Quay and the wider area’s evening economy.”
