Asda completes £2bn acquisition of EG Group’s UK business
Asda has completed its £2.07bn acquisition of EG Group’s UK business, accelerating its growth in convenience and foodservice.
Buying the EG UK business is key to Asda’s strategic plan to create a value-led convenience offer by rolling out Asda Express across EG UK’s 356 predominantly freehold sites – which include modern convenience stores on petrol filling stations (PFS), and benefit from high footfall and traffic flow.
This transaction builds on Asda’s acquisition of 119 convenience sites with attached PFS from the Co-op Group, which started to convert to the Asda Express fascia earlier this month, and the successful launch of three stand-alone Asda Express convenience sites since October 2022.
The EG and Co-op acquisitions, plus the three Asda Express stores currently open, give Asda 478 convenience stores today, with a commitment to opening a further 300 stand-alone convenience stores by the end of 2026. This is in addition to its existing estate of 580 supermarkets and 31 Asda Living stores, as well as 321 PFS sites.
Mohsin Issa, co-owner of Asda, said: “This is a great day for Asda and for millions of UK consumers. Asda is a much-loved brand that is instantly recognised for great value. I could not be more proud or excited that the iconic Asda sign is now coming to hundreds more communities.”
Asda’s growth strategy in the convenience sector is a key part of its long-term ambition to become the UK’s second largest supermarket. The acquisition also accelerates Asda’s move into the £62bn foodservice market, with the transfer of 462 Greggs, Burger King and Subway outlets as franchise agreements. Asda now wholly owns Leon, which it will also look to introduce to its stores.
The acquisition of EG Group’s UK business will create a group with expected combined revenues of nearly £28bn, serving some 21m customers every week. It will also bring together convenience, fuel, GM, grocery, foodservice and omni-channel retailing – under Asda’s heritage in value and ‘customer first’ retail.
Mohsin Issa, co-owner of Asda, added: “We have worked at pace over the last 12 months to deliver a compelling convenience proposition from a standing start – as well as investing more than £120m in lowering the price and further improving the quality of our food. With the deal complete, we can focus on delivering the growth opportunities.
“That means lowering the price of fuel for more motorists, bringing Asda’s great value and quality to more communities, offering greater opportunities to our supplier partners and creating sustainable job opportunities for colleagues in our stores and depots. I’d like to thank the teams at Asda for their efforts to bring this transaction to completion and welcome our new colleagues from EG UK who have joined the Asda family.”
Gary Lindsay, Managing Partner at TDR Capital LLP, said: “This transaction is all about growth – and bringing together the complementary strengths of Asda and EG UK. We are creating an enhanced and more diverse Asda business that delivers even greater value for its customers on a daily basis in stores and online.
“Becoming the number two UK supermarket again and delivering a stronger and more compelling proposition for UK consumers are the metrics we will judge the success of this transaction by.”
Lord Stuart Rose will continue in his role as Chairman of the new, combined business alongside Dame Alison Carnwath as Non-Executive Director as well as Mohsin Issa and Gary Lindsay as Directors of the combined business. The Board continues its recruitment process for a permanent Chief Executive.
It is the intention of the Asda Board to add new independent non-executive directors to the Board to ensure continued strong corporate governance.
Unity Enterprise makes three new board appointments
Mohammed Hussain, Amina Shann and John Jagger have joined the board of Unity Enterprise.
Mohammed Hussain is the founder and Managing Director of Pink Elephant Sales and Lettings Ltd. He also holds board-level positions with the Federation of Small Businesses, the Institute of Directors, the Northern Asian Power Think Tank Group and Shipley College.
Amina Shann is Wholesale Account Manager Bulk Purchase & Export at Morrisons Head Office. She has over eight years of experience with the Bradford-based supermarket chain, including two years as BAME Adviser alongside her day to day role.
John Jagger has accrued decades of private and public sector experience in the UK and abroad. He has particular expertise in finance, strategic development and business growth, and has overseen the turnaround of a range of small and medium sized enterprises.
Unity Enterprise – the not-for-profit subsidiary of BME housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise – provides more than 140 affordable units for over 80 diverse businesses in three locations close to Leeds city centre.
They include Leeds Media Centre, which recently completed a £1.8 million refurbishment scheme in partnership with Leeds City Council and the European Regional Development Fund.
Sharon Jandu OBE, Chair of Unity Enterprise, said: “It is exciting to have Mohammed, Amina and John join the Unity Enterprise board. “They bring a fantastic blend of differing experiences which will greatly benefit our work and complement the wide range of existing skills and perspectives offered by current board colleagues. “The new facilities at the revamped and revitalised Leeds Media Centre have opened the door to a whole host of additional opportunities for local entrepreneurs to step forward and achieve their business dreams. “Our new board members will each play a proactive part in enabling them to make that journey.”Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive, said: “I pay warm tribute to Abdul Ravat and Will Jennings for their years of service on the Unity Enterprise board, and welcome Mohammed, Amina and John to their new roles.
“Unity stands out amongst housing associations in our commitment to providing employment, training and entrepreneurial services to directly transform the life chances of local people.
“Empowering individuals to set up their own sustainable business is central to this work with the guidance and support of Unity Enterprise.
“Our new board members will add real entrepreneurial weight to this crusade.”
Work starts to turn historic water tower into visitor centre
Work has started to turn an historic water tower on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) into a contemporary visitor centre.
Scaffolding has now been built around the tower on platform four at Keighley Station as part of the £100,000 project funded by the Government-funded Keighley Towns Fund, with £42,000 additional funding from The Railway Heritage Trust.
A 30,000-gallon water tank sits on the roof of the historic industrial building, which still provides the water for the railway’s steam locomotives.
The development of the building will see its interior restored to create an accessible visitor centre providing information about the engines and the history of the line, without compromising the operational function of the water tower itself.
Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Transport and Planning Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw said: “This historic water tower is believed to be the last functioning one of its kind left nationally. It is a really important structure, and we are delighted it will have a new lease of life for the future while maintaining the crucial purpose for which it was built.”
Chairman of the Keighley Towns Fund Ian Hayfield said: “The KWVR is one of the leading educational, heritage and tourist attractions across the district. This project is part of a whole list of projects considered and planned by the KWVR which will see it modernise and transform its offer, so it can continue to delight passengers and visitors for many years to come.”
Remedial work has recently started on the tower, with vegetation being cleared and an access pathway being built at the back of the building. Minor repairs are currently being carried out on the tank and to fix the level indicator whilst fitting a new float valve. Work has also started on the interior, with the walls being fully cleaned, ready for a full white-wash repaint. Work on the new raised floor will start soon.
Aztec Construction to open new Northern headquarters at Pennine Five in Sheffield
Aztec Construction, a recently launched design and building specialist, is set to open its new Northern headquarters at Pennine Five in Sheffield City Centre.
Set up by Russell Sumner earlier this year, the team of construction professionals at Aztec have over 30 years of sector expertise behind them.
With one office already in London, the firm’s new 4,000+ sq ft space at Pennine Five will be home to around 30 construction professionals and support their construction projects in the North. This includes delivering True Sheffield, the major 27-storey student-residential tower bounded by Hollis Croft and Broad Lane – just a stone’s throw from Pennine Five.
Aztec Construction will take the ground floor of Pennine Five’s eight-storey block off Tenter Street, directly underneath Spaces – the recently opened coworking hub from IWG Group.
Jeremy Hughes, director at RBH Properties, said: “We are delighted to welcome Aztec Construction to Pennine Five. They are an extremely exciting and quickly growing contractor. The fact they are basing themselves in the same district as one of their flagship construction contracts shows a real confidence in the evolution and future of this area of town.”
Since taking ownership of the five office blocks that made up the former HSBC headquarters in 2019, RBH Properties has been injecting a new lease of life into Pennine Five.
Russell Sumner, Managing Director at Aztec Construction, said: “We’re very excited to be moving into the Pennine Five development and plan to be in by November. It is perfectly located for our projects and allows us to continue building our presence in the city and the wider region.
“We understand the importance of refurbishing the existing built environment. Sustainable and commercially viable regeneration cannot be delivered through new builds alone, and we were really keen to be part of Pennine Five’s ‘renewal’ story.”
Countryside Partnerships gets new MD for North-East Midlands
Lee Parry has joined Countryside Partnerships as MD for the North-East Midlands, bringing with him an ambitious vision for the region.
He’s come from Keepmoat Homes, where he worked as Construction Operations Director, before becoming Interim MD. In his new role he aims to unlock sites in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and North Derbyshire, working in partnership with local authorities, housing associations and private rented institutional investors to bring multi-tenure new housing to the region.
The North-East Midlands business has ambitious site acquisition targets for 2024, with a minimum target of at least six new sites with or without detailed planning permission in place. These sites will be located within bolstering our strong position in these areas.
Following its merger with Vistry, Countryside Partnerships business is now uniquely placed to secure and deliver sustainable developments, using its Timber Frame factories based in the East Midlands, on sites from 100 dwellings up to 1,500 dwellings in size. As well as delivering multi-tenure schemes, the business can also leverage the strengths of its three private for sale housing brands, Linden, Bovis and Countryside.
Adam Daniels, Divisional MD for the Midlands, said: “I am delighted to welcome Lee Parry to head up our North East Midlands team. He brings a wealth of experience and a clear vision to tackle the region’s need for high quality homes across a range of tenures. I look forward to working with him to further develop our partnership building division across the North East Midlands.”
Lee said: “I’m extremely proud to be taking the reins for North East Midlands. It’s a privilege to be working with such a great team and I look forward to continuing to grow the business. My focus is firmly on addressing the region’s chronic shortage of affordable mixed-tenure housing.”
The Harris Partnership strengthens management team
Wakefield-headquartered The Harris Partnership has made a series of senior promotions as the architectural practice continues its growth.
In recognition of their ongoing valuable contribution to the business, Iain Church, Ian Perrell, Russell O’Donoghue and Sarah Charlesworth are now Directors of parent company The Harris Group.
Other key figures across the group have also been recognised with Mark Hendy promoted to Director of the Harris Project Management business.
In the Manchester office, Sarah Rhodes is now Design Director at The Harris Partnership and Marisa Rigby has been promoted to Associate in Harris Project Management, further strengthening the group’s presence in the North West market.
Jonathan Wrynne has been made Associate in The Harris Partnership’s London office following a sustained period of expansion in the capital.
James Richmond, Joint Managing Group Director, says: “These promotions are thoroughly deserved, and we thank all those recognised for their ongoing hard work and dedication.
“We are committed to not only developing our people but fostering a positive culture across the business, which is reflected in the long service of many members of our team.
“These promotions also signify our ongoing confidence as a group as we invest for the future and look forward to the next phase of our growth.”
Humber Freeport approves £25m of investment for projects stimulating green economic growth
Humber Freeport has signed off a total of almost £25m of investment for projects to stimulate growth and create hundreds of jobs across the region.
The projects include major new facilities that will accelerate the decarbonisation of the Humber, which is critical for the Government to meet its net zero ambitions.
Each Freeport is granted up to £25m of seed capital funding by the Government and the Humber Freeport Board has now approved seven seed capital-funded projects, highlighting the game-changing role it has to play driving significant inward investment.
The projects have all been deemed by the Board to meet the Freeport’s key objectives, which include maximising the opportunities from the net zero transition to create skilled jobs and unlock the region’s economic potential.
They will reinforce the Humber’s status as the pre-eminent energy cluster in north west Europe and make a tangible contribution to levelling up the economy.
The seven projects that have been granted funding are:
· CATCH’s Humber Industrial Decarbonisation Centre (HIDC) in Stallingborough, North East Lincolnshire. The centre will be a regional decarbonisation hub, hosting research, events, conferences and networking to drive further inward investment.
· Humbergate Infrastructure, led by North East Lincolnshire Council, which will provide the necessary infrastructure to develop a brownfield site between the Ports of Immingham and Grimsby.
· Ideal Heating’s UK Technology Centre and wider developments at its headquarters on National Avenue in Hull. The research and development facility will support low carbon technologies, including heat pumps.
· Development of a derelict site in east Hull into an advanced manufacturing plant.
· RE:Group’s development of a facility for the treatment of waste oil on a currently derelict site in Air Street, close to the River Hull.
· South Humber Industrial Investment Programme (SHIIP). Funding has been granted for new industrial units for the ongoing programme by North East Lincolnshire Council to improve infrastructure at the Ports of Immingham and Grimsby.
· Development of a site in Hull for the production of low-cost, zero emission hydrogen.
The seven projects combined will lever in three times as much investment from the private sector and are expected to create hundreds of jobs across the north and south banks of the Humber.
Humber Freeport Chair Simon Bird said: “The Board is delighted to have approved a total of close to £25m of funding for these crucial projects across the region.
“This clearly demonstrates the vital role Humber Freeport has in securing and distributing significant funding to meet the region’s decarbonisation and economic growth ambitions.
“This funding will allow these projects to progress, creating and protecting jobs, and helping the region on its journey to a prosperous, net zero economy.
“However, this is just the start. Humber Freeport is working hard to attract hundreds of millions of pounds of inward investment and create thousands of skilled jobs.”
Humber Freeport comprises of three defined tax sites – Hull East; Able Marine Energy Park and Immingham, on the south bank of the Humber; and Goole – each of which offers incentives for businesses operating within the zones.
Benefits include land tax relief, business rate relief, enhanced capital allowances and National Insurance contribution relief for employers.
As the largest energy-related cluster in north west Europe, the Humber is often referred to as the UK’s Energy Estuary.
Decarbonisation is one of three key workstreams established by Humber Freeport, alongside skills and innovation, and will be a key focus for the freeport’s work.
Companies that have already announced plans to invest on freeport sites within the Humber region include rare earth exploration company Pensana and green hydrogen specialist Meld Energy.
Wellie brand bought by French footwear manufacturer
Wellie brand Evercreatures has been bought by French footwear company Rouchette as part of a deal for its parent company Astbury Collections.
It is a first overseas purchase for the French company, which had previously been a supplier to Evercreatures.
The purchase of the Lincolnshire-based business will bring significant inward investment of up to £500,000 from Rouchette as it looks to bolster its presence in the UK.
Tony Bailey, a co-director of Astbury Collections, will join Rouchette as its sales and marketing director in the UK. He said: “This is a great deal for both brands. Rouchette want to expand faster into the UK and approached us last year about a sale to use the infrastructure already in place.
“Now the deal has been completed, it will see considerable investment in new products, innovation, infrastructure and staff. For current UK customers, they will see the benefit with a new range of stock and new designs for Evercreatures.
“I am already engaged in talks with major retailers, predominantly garden centre chains, who are looking to secure stock in 2024.”
Evercreatures was founded in 2004 and has consistently produced eye-catching fashionable wellies for men, women and children as well as a range of accessories.
Rouchette, which is known for its robust rubber footwear in a range of designs for the garden, maritime and lifestyle sectors, was established in 1990 by Jean-Louis Rouchette.
Sébastien Rouchette, managing director and son of the founder, said: “I’m proud to announce our first overseas acquisition with the purchase of Astbury Collections and its flagship rain boot brand Evercreatures.
“It was quite natural for us to buy a well-known brand in the world of footwear. This is a new stage in the company’s life, which promises to be an exciting and extremely rewarding project.”
Rural West Yorkshire businesses start to benefit from new £2.5m fund
Small businesses across West Yorkshire’s rural communities are starting to benefit from a new £2.5 million Rural Fund, Mayor Tracy Brabin has announced.
With awards of up to £50,000 to help rural businesses develop new products, purchase machinery and improve facilities, Mayor Tracy Brabin has made her first award to Birkwood Plant Training in Crofton, Wakefield – a construction training business with a 20-year heritage.
On a visit to the family run business, the Mayor learnt how the investment will create two new jobs and a purpose-built training facility, with plans to work with local suppliers and appoint local tradespeople to make the improvements.
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin said: “Rural businesses are vital to our wider economy, and I’m thrilled that communities are starting to benefit from our fund.
“It’s fantastic that our support for Birkwood will allow more people to be trained in the construction sector and boost well-paid jobs. This will help us to build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.”
Managing Director, Birkwood Plant Training, Sally Ramskill said: “Birkwood Plant Training Ltd is a small but dynamic family business, and we have significant challenges to business growth, particularly in terms of space for training delivery, and the purchase and upkeep of plant and equipment.
“The fund has supported us to invest further in the business and provide excellent new enhanced training facilities and resources to strengthen our offering to our clients. The level of investment would not have been possible without this support.”
The Mayor has so far approved over £230,000 of grants through West Yorkshire’s £2.5 million Rural England Prosperity Fund, which will be distributed among seven businesses and is expected to create an additional 12 jobs.
With more set to be approved over the coming months and with applications still open, small businesses of up to 50 employees based in rural areas of West Yorkshire can apply for awards of up to £50,000.
These projects are part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and delivered in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, as part of Mayor Tracy Brabin’s ambition to make West Yorkshire the best place to live, work or run a business.
Chamber welcomes plans to scrap rail ticket office closures
The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the scrapping rail ticket offices, announced by Transport Secretary Mark Harper.
Chamber Chief Exec Ian Kelly said: “This was never a good idea and is one of the issues we raised when we met with the Rail Minister in the House of Commons a couple of weeks ago. I am pleased the Government has now cancelled these proposals and people will still be able to buy their rail tickets from a person, rather than having to battle with a ticket machine or an app.”
Train operators had come up with the plans as a way of saving money after the Government told them to cut costs after they had been financially supported through the pandemic.
Unions, passenger groups and the public complained loudly about the plans which would have left people largely reliant on ticket machines and reduced staffing levels at stations.
Dr Kelly had written to Rail Minister Huw Merriman to urge him to reconsider the proposals after “the limited time for consultation you have given us to feed back and consult our own members across the Humber economic sub-region for what appeared to be a plan to save money rather than a sensibly timetabled review of rail customer services across our area.
“These ticket office closure proposals appear to be very badly thought through, discriminatory towards older people and variously disabled people who currently use these services.
“Our business rail users in Hull, Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Scunthorpe have indicated valuable service from their ticket offices and we would therefore strongly urge you and the Secretary of State to review this decision to consult in this way, which appears to have little to do with public service/transport interest to business travellers and everything to do with cost cutting objectives in the department.”
Following today’s announcement, Trans-Pennine Express, which operates the stations at Brough, Cleethorpes, Grimsby Town, and Scunthorpe, among others, said it was not taking forward any of its proposals to change ticket office opening hours.
UK manufacturing sector risks falling behind international rivals on AI and automation
Britain’s manufacturing sector is warning the UK risks falling behind its international rivals in the race to embrace cutting edge technologies such as AI and other game changing automation seen as vital to Britain’s industrial future.
The warning was made on the back of a major survey published by Make UK and Infor.
The survey shows that companies are fully committed to investing in AI, Machine Learning and other automation to improve productivity, processes and efficiency. However, despite this, a majority of manufacturers believe the UK is falling behind competitors and hampered by access to key technical and digital skills, as well as short term policy incentives which do not match investment cycles or expected returns on investment (ROI).
In response, Make UK is calling on Government to reform the Apprentice Levy to help expand Britain’s technological skills base, roll out a widely proven scheme to help boost digital adoption by SMEs and introduce a better approach to the tax system with policies which match the average investment cycle of manufacturers and expected ROI.
Verity Davidge, Director of Policy at Make UK, said: “The adoption of AI, automation and other game changing technologies by manufacturers is rapidly accelerating and will provide vital pieces in solving the productivity puzzle. But, there is still more to be done to match our competitors, especially among SMEs who face far greater hurdles in adopting digital technology.
“As well as tackling the digital skills barrier which remains the biggest hurdle, Government should roll out the Made Smarter scheme across the UK. This has a proven success in delivering step change for SMEs on their automation journey.”
Andrew Kinder, SVP, Industry Strategy, Infor, added: “We are seeing a substantial shift in the adoption of digital automation as manufacturers seek to improve efficiency, instill agility and drive greater productivity. While generative AI is still in its relative infancy, intent to capitalise on it is incredibly encouraging with many companies saying they are ‘aware of and planning to use’ the technology.
“Actions, however, speak louder than words. While the government clearly has a role to play in supporting AI adoption, manufacturers have an opportunity to take control in bridging the gap between intent and value in creating first-mover advantage. The technologies are now widely available, affordable and come with a typically fast return on investment, which all help manufacturers compete in increasingly challenging conditions.”
According to the survey, more than half of companies (55%) have already implemented, or are planning to implement, AI and Machine Learning to automate decision making processes and improve operational efficiency. In addition, four fifths of companies have already introduced, or are planning to introduce, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality techniques in areas such as design and prototyping.
More than three quarters of companies (76%) have invested in automation, while almost six in ten (59%) plan to increase their expenditure this year compared to last. Furthermore, a fifth of companies plan to automate between a quarter and half of processes in the next two years, while a further quarter plan to automate between 10% and 25%.
These investments are aimed at improving manufacturing processes (65% of companies) and product design & development (49%) with companies seeing significant benefits of improved productivity (60%) greater labour efficiency (49%) and a similar number seeing better quality.
However, despite this positive picture, 40% of companies believe the UK is falling behind competitors in adopting automation. Robot density in the UK is currently at 101 units per 10,000 workers, below the average of 126 units globally. Overall, the UK ranks 24th globally and is the lowest of the G7 nations.
According to the survey, significant barriers to investing in automation are a lack of technical skills cited by almost half of companies (48%) and a similar number integration and data challenges (41%). More than a third of companies cite high costs and workplace culture (38% and 36% respectively) as barriers.
In addition, the survey shows a clear mismatch between policy incentives designed to boost investment and the expected ROI. More than eight in ten companies expect up to five years for a positive impact of investment. In contrast, more than half of manufacturers (56.4%) believe Government policies are not sensitive to the time needed to see a ROI.
To help address these barriers and boost further automation, Make UK has made the following recommendations:
- Roll out the successful Made Smarter scheme nationwide. This is a proven scheme to help with the adoption of new technology in manufacturing businesses. It should also extend the remit of Made Smarter to include industrial decarbonisation to aid energy efficiency and transition to net zero.
- Make full expensing capital allowances permanent to enable businesses to plan investment over long leads.
- Expand the R&D tax credit to include capital expenditure to spur further digitalised R&D.
- Government should work with business organisations and sector specific bodies to help SME engagement with the successful Catapult Centres. This is especially important given the geographic distribution of the centres and would help more SMEs take advantage of their world leading facilities.
Council forums to provide information on changes in property law
North Yorkshire Council is to run two forums to help private landlords, estate agents, estate landlords and people involved with private sector housing to gather information and updates on changing legislation.
The autumn forums take place on Wednesday, November 15, at 2pm at Mercury House in Richmond and Thursday, November 30, at 4pm at Ryedale House in Malton.
In Richmond, they will feature news from the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, North Yorkshire Police’s Community Safety team, the National Residential Landlords Association, the Department of Work and Pensions and our environmental health team. The session covers the Hambleton and Richmondshire area, although attendees from across the county are welcome.
The Ryedale House event will also cover legislative updates and damp and mould guidance.
The council’s executive member for housing, Cllr Simon Myers, said: “These forums build on the good work started by the previous district councils and aim to provide those in the private housing sector with updates on our work and that of partners agencies.
“They also provide a great networking opportunity with like-minded people and organisations – we encourage everyone to attend.”
To book a place at one of the events, please contact the council.
Hull Trains receives accolade as UK’s most reliable operator
Hull Trains has been recognised nationally as the most reliable operator in the UK.
Whilst other operators across the UK have struggled with cancellations resulting from a wide range of circumstances, Hull Trains has continued to maintain direct services to London King’s Cross from all stations including Hull, Selby, Retford, Howden, Grantham, and Doncaster.
Disruption over the most recent four-week period was so minimal that the Office of Rail and Road data named Hull Trains as the best-performing operator, following the publication of its recent statistics.
The ORR is a non-ministerial government department responsible for the regulation and performance of National Highways including rail.
Its most recent report, covering the four-week period to September 16th, showed that only 1% of Hull Trains’ services were affected by a cancellation; the lowest figure amongst all train operating companies in the UK.
Hull Trains MD Martijn Gilbert, said: “This an incredible achievement for Hull Trains. There have been so many circumstances that have affected the reliability of some rail services, many out of the operator’s control, so for Hull Trains to maintain vital transport links during the same period shows our commitment to delivering reliable and environmentally friendly services.
“It is testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Hull Trains team. Whatever the challenge, we continue to deliver for our customers. Whilst this is pleasing news, we will not rest on laurels and will continue to look for new ways to further improve the level of service.”
Drones, racing cars, and robot dogs: LEP demonstrates the future of business tech
Drones, racing cars and robot dogs will be at the heart of this year’s Greater Lincolnshire LEP conference showcasing the technologies that will shape the future of work.
For the first time the highlight of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership Conference on Tuesday 7th November will be a demonstration arena featuring future technologies and innovations in the world of work.
The agri-robotics team at the University of Lincoln will showcase the state of the art in crop care, selective harvesting and robotic phenotyping, including a strawberry-picking robot developed by Dogtooth Technologies, one of the industrial partners in its Agri-OpenCore project.
TIAGo will also be making an appearance, showing off her fully collaborative mobile manipulator robot skills used by the National Centre for Food Manufacturing test factory for future research.
Also on show will be the UK’s fastest 3D printer demonstrating speed, quality and precision, making 3D parts to complement other 3D-printed items that will be on display made from a variety of polymers.
Eagle Eye will be exhibiting a variety of different remote-piloted aircraft systems used to provide training and operational delivery.
VISR will demonstrate its narrative-based learning metaverse technology featuring XR developers, unity experts, 3D artists and logistic co-ordinators, creating immersive, narrative-driven experiences which help people and businesses grow in new and exciting ways.
And for many the highlight of the conference will be not one, but two Boston Dynamics quadrupedal dynamic sensing platform robots – also known as Spot dogs!
Spot is a dynamic sensing platform which can provide valuable insights into routine operations and potentially hazardous situations on factory floors, at construction sites and in research labs, and this will be the first time Construction Spot meets a robotic colleague working in the field of agri-tech.
Outside the Epic Centre where the conference will be taking place will be a chance to take part in a circuit race in an electric sports car built from recycled materials by pupils from the Baysgarth Northern Lincolnshire Greenpower Centre of Excellence.
Inside the hall the Greater Lincolnshire LEP Conference will feature panel discussions and a keynote speech by Paul Redmond, an employment guru at the University of Liverpool and an expert in the future of work.
There will be talks on the theme of the future workforce as well as an overview of the impact the Greater Lincolnshire LEP has had in the past year.
There will also be a buffet lunch and plenty of opportunities for networking and getting up close to the high-tech exhibits in the Demonstration Arena.
The Greater Lincolnshire LEP Conference takes place from 8.15am until 2.15pm at the EPIC Centre, Lincolnshire Showground, Lincoln on Tuesday 7th November.
Avant Skills Academy secures Department for Education approval
Grimsby-based Avant Skills Academy has been awarded Apprenticeship Expert Training Provider status by the Department for Education, making it one of only six independent apprenticeship training providers across the country and the only apprenticeship provider in the Humber.
The Department for Education’s decision is said to reflect Avant’s outstanding track record in providing high-quality apprenticeship programmes.
Entry criteria were strict, with only 13 apprenticeship providers being selected from over 1,000 currently delivering apprenticeships in England. Eligibility criteria included:
- • Judged ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted • Have an apprenticeship achievement rate of 51% or above • Have at least a 4-star employer feedback rating • Be in good financial health • Delivered apprenticeships for more than 5 years
Leeds Bradford Airport retains Dudleys to advise on £100m upgrade
Dudleys Consulting Engineers have been retained to advise on structural and civil engineering matters to support the £100 million upgrade plans for Leeds Bradford Airport.
LBA announced the investment last week with a view to improving the passenger experience and unlocking major economic growth potential for the airport.
The first phase, set to start on site imminently, will deliver a 102,000 sq ft, three-storey extension to the east side of the existing terminal. It will provide a new baggage reclaim hall in the basement, a new arrivals hall on the ground floor, and an extended departure lounge on the first floor.
LBA has also committed to a major refurbishment programme for the existing buildings with a new security hall and duty-free area. Significant improvements will be made to the seating, security, baggage reclaim and immigration areas as well as shops, amenity and food outlets with additional aircraft stands.
Dudleys has been supporting LBA for more than fifteen years, advising across the entire estate including airside aprons, building alterations, car parking areas, masts, and tunnels as well as the public buildings. The award-winning practice has worked with LBA since 2018 to specifically support design proposals for the extension through planning processes.
Dudleys is working alongside main contractor, Farrans Construction and Architect Millar Management & Design to deliver both phases using sustainable methods of construction.
Dudley’s MD Andy Walker said: “Having advised across the LBA estate for many years, our historic knowledge of previous plans and experience of the site constraints have proved invaluable in helping LBA and its team to navigate the many challenges for this highly publicised project. The repurposing of existing 1960’s 70’s and 80’s buildings support the important sustainability agenda, whilst the extension and adjoining improvements make way for a much improved, future-proofed airport of which Yorkshire can be proud.”
Vincent Hodder, the airport’s Chief Exec, said: “It’s fantastic to continue working with Dudleys and we are incredibly excited to get regeneration work underway at Leeds Bradford Airport. This investment will enable us to better our customer experience and create significant benefits to the local economy, by creating jobs and enhancing connectivity for businesses. Working closely with our contractors, including Dudleys, we have been able to keep sustainability and our 2030 Net Zero Carbon Roadmap at the heart of these regeneration plans. We look forward to continuing work with Dudleys on this regeneration and the future of the airport.”
Administrators appointed to Safestyle UK with redundancies made
Rick Harrison and Will Wright from Interpath Advisory have been appointed joint administrators to H.P.A.S Limited, trading as Safestyle UK, Style Group Holdings Limited and Style Group UK Limited.
Headquartered in Bradford, Safestyle UK is one of the UK’s leading retailers and manufacturers of PVCu replacement windows and doors for the homeowner market. The company has a large manufacturing facility in Wombwell, near Barnsley, and operates from a network of 42 sales branches and installation depots across the UK.
In common with a number of companies across the home improvement sector, Safestyle UK has had to navigate a number of pressures which have impacted trading, including high cost inflation, ongoing economic uncertainty and fragile consumer confidence. In recent months, these pressures have been exacerbated by an unseasonally warm September, which has dampened customer demand.
In response to these challenges, the Group engaged with stakeholders to explore a range of options to help strengthen its balance sheet, including a capital injection or new financing, a potential sale of the shares in the subsidiaries and/or a sale of the business and assets of the subsidiaries.
Unfortunately, despite interest being shown by a number of parties, a solvent solution was unable to be found, and the directors took the decision to seek the appointment of administrators.
The company directly employs circa 750 employees. With trading ceasing upon the appointment of the joint administrators, the majority of staff have been made redundant. Circa 70 members of staff have been retained by the administrators in the short term to assist with an orderly wind-down of the business.
Rick Harrison, Managing Director at Interpath Advisory, said: “These are really challenging times for companies across the home improvement market. After seeing strong sales during the COVID lockdown periods, many companies are seeing trading being impacted by the cost-of-living crisis and soaring costs.
“Unfortunately for Safestyle, and despite the tireless efforts of the management team over recent months, these challenges have proven too difficult to overcome. This will be particularly devastating for the company’s employees, as well as the many self-employed contractors who worked on behalf of the company.
“Our immediate priority will be to provide support to those impacted by redundancy, including supporting them in making claims to the Redundancy Payments Service where relevant.”
Final round of consultation launched on key planning document shaping Leeds’ future
Leeds City Council is encouraging residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to have their say in the final round of consultation on the Local Plan Update. This final round sets out new and updated planning policies, to help the council deliver its climate emergency commitments.
This third round of consultation is the last step, before the Leeds Local Plan Update is submitted to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for independent examination by a planning inspector.
The previous round of consultation, which took place between October and December 2022, saw a supportive response for the proposals, with many residents and local businesses seeing the value of updated planning policies on building low carbon developments, protecting nature and biodiversity, and preparing for the extremes of climate change.
There were, however, concerns raised by the development industry, regarding the capacity to implement proposed policies on net zero carbon developments from the initial adoption of the plan.
The council has carefully considered both the support received and the concerns expressed and are proposing a range of changes to the proposed Local Plan policies to address some of the concerns.
These include proposing a short transition period to the ambitious policy on net zero buildings. This would give the building industry until January 2027 to adjust to new building practices and technology, whilst still maximising energy efficiency and renewable energy generation.
A particular focus of the latest round of consultation will be on the proposed transition period, however comments are also invited on the proposed changes to policies covering the five key themes of carbon reduction, flood risk, green and blue infrastructure, placemaking and sustainable infrastructure.
Speaking about the Local Plan Update consultation Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for sustainable development and infrastructure, said: “The Local Plan Update will play a key role in meeting our climate emergency commitments, shaping our city’s planning policies for the long term, to help Leeds on that critical journey to becoming carbon neutral.
“It is really pleasing to see the amount of positive engagement with the previous consultation reflecting how engaged our city is with meeting the climate challenge. These policies will ensure that Leeds does all it can to mitigate carbon through new development and prepare our local communities for wetter winters and warmer summers.
“I welcome this latest round of consultation that seeks further feedback prior to the plan being submitted for review and I would urge everyone to have their say.”
Yorkshire business confidence highest in UK
Business confidence in Yorkshire rose 12 points during October to 52%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
Despite the uptick, companies in Yorkshire reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down one point at 46%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up 21 points to 58%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 52%.
Yorkshire businesses identified their top target areas for growth in the next six months as evolving their offer (41%), investing in their team (38%), and investing in sustainability (30%). The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide. A net balance of 41% of businesses in the region expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up two points on last month.
National picture
Overall UK business confidence rose three points in October from 36% to 39%, and firms’ outlook on the overall UK economy increased four points to 34%. Businesses’ confidence in their own trading prospects also continued the upward trend, rising four points to 45%.
Companies’ hiring intentions reached their highest level since May last year, with 32% of firms intending to increase staff levels over the next 12 months, up six points month-on-month.
Firms in the South West reported the biggest uptick in business confidence, increasing 26 points month-on-month to 47%.
Following a fall in confidence in September, the retail and service industries both saw an increase in business confidence, with retail business confidence increasing by five points to 37% and services rising seven points to 43%.
Levels are still lower than seen in August, however, when retail business confidence was at 44% and services at 42%. Manufacturing confidence was 36%, unchanged from last month when confidence rose to a three-month high. Construction fell for a second month in a row to 31% (down five points).
Steve Harris, regional director for Yorkshire at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “The jump in optimism among Yorkshire businesses this month is testament to both their resilience and innovative thinking. Our region has one of the most diverse economies in the UK and that’s one of the reasons we’ve been able to weather the economic turbulence that has affected other areas of the country more adversely.
“The back end of September saw the Leeds Digital Festival, with this epitomising some of the innovation and high-growth businesses that are now supporting Yorkshire’s increased optimism and confidence.
“It’s fantastic to see firms investing in sustainability as a route to growth, which is important both regionally and nationally. We are increasingly supporting businesses with their sustainable investments and have recently been able to broaden our offering to finance renewable and transition technologies alongside the discounted financing that we already have available.”
Hann-Ju Ho, senior economist, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Business confidence this month reflects a more positive outlook as we head into the important festive period, with trading prospects and economic optimism both at their second highest levels this year.
“The level also underlines the wider upward trend of steadily rising confidence in 2023. If you look at the year in quarterly time periods, confidence has steadily risen from 20% in the first quarter, 26% in the second and in September an average of 27% in the third.
“However, our data shows that firms are still safeguarding their profit margins in response to the possibility of interest rates remaining high, wage increase pressures, and the prospect of higher energy prices again this winter.
“Therefore, businesses will be keeping a keen eye on the forthcoming Autumn Statement and Bank of England policy announcements as they navigate through a challenging economic period ahead.”
NFU calls for swift return of HS2 land to its farming business former owners
NFU Vice President David Exwood has written to Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper highlighting the need for the government to develop a ‘transparent policy’ to ensure farmers and former landowners can purchase land back, with a first option of refusal.
He said: “Many farmers have been left with more uncertainty and delay after part of the HS2 project was cancelled. They must have a fair and swift resolution when it comes to land compensation and restoration.”
David also raised concerns around how the government is resolving issues surrounding HS2 disruption and the eventual phase 2 cancellation, urging them to “accelerate the process” as swiftly as possible.
The NFU is calling for land to be returned to its former condition where required, for outstanding crop loss payments to be finalised and paid out, as well as any outstanding compensation claims that have been made by farmers.
Where a Blight Notice has been served and accepted, the NFU asks that the notice is proceeded with unless the claimant prefers otherwise.
David also emphasised the importance that the Department for Transport acts quickly to understand the many different scenarios that landowners will find themselves in which need to be addressed, adding that this “will help to lead to a fair and equitable outcome for all parties involved”.
He added: “The current level of uncertainty surrounding the HS2 project is unsettling for many members and the broader community, and it’s essential that the many farm businesses already so badly disrupted by this project can start to rebuild their businesses and get back to doing what they do best – producing climate-friendly and nutritious food for the country.”
