Boston solar park to power Arla’s operations
Arla, the dairy cooperative, in partnership with ENGIE and Infinis, has announced the signing of two new solar parks – including one in Lincolnshire – under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which will supply around 20% of the energy needed to power Arla’s entire UK operation from renewable sources.
The new solar parks will be operational from Boston (Lincolnshire) and Offham (Kent) during 2024. Together the sites are set to generate around 23,000 MWh of energy and create savings of approximately 4,439t of CO2 a year.
Both solar parks are being created on sites previously used as landfill, which forms part of an initiative to generate more clean energy and make a positive impact on the environment.
Fran Ball, VP of production at Arla, said: “At Arla, we’re committed to working with our farmer owners to provide natural, nutritious dairy, that is made in the best possible way, and are proud to be committing to two new solar parks to help power our UK operations.
“We are on a journey to climate net zero by 2050, which means that we are taking steps to reduce CO2e emissions on our farms, as well as focussing on other areas, including our production and logistics operations.
“As part of our Climate Action Roadmap, we will be switching to 100% renewable electricity across production sites by the end of 2025, which will contribute 58% of the emissions reductions we need to make in production by 2030.
“Additionally, 100% recyclable packaging will be used across branded products by end of 2025 and will be helping our farmers to adapt more sustainable feed production practices.”
Graham Leith, chief operating officer at ENGIE Energy Supply UK, said: “ENGIE globally is committed to accelerated growth in renewables with a firm commitment to be Net Zero Carbon by 2045, for us and for our customers. We seek to understand the needs of our customers and working together with partners to create a solution that supports their ambitions in a timely manner.”
James Milne, chief commercial officer at Infinis, said: “We’re proud to be working with Engie and Arla to deliver clean renewable power and support their net zero commitment. Partnerships like this help to protect higher grade agricultural land from development – supporting both food security and energy security – and we hope will pave the way for many more such projects.
“Corporate PPAs combined with the CfD play a vital role in delivering subsidy-free solar power and achieving national net zero targets.”
Arla has also recently completed the installation of roof mounted solar panels on its Oswestry site, which during peak power can generate 800KW. This means it can generate 12% of the site’s annual electricity usage, which would remove 137,920kg of carbon emissions.
Future of Bradford heritage buildings being explored in plans for Heritage Action Zone status
The future of heritage buildings in the heart of Bradford are being explored in plans for Heritage Action Zone status.
Bradford Council has been awarded £50,000 by Historic England to develop detailed proposals for a Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) in the city centre.
The area surrounding City Hall, as well as Kirkgate, Hustlergate and Market Street are under consideration, which, if adopted, will provide grants to property owners to bring back into use empty and underused floorspace in some of the city’s ‘at risk’ heritage buildings.
This will be complemented by proposals to increase public access to City Hall, so more people can see this landmark building for themselves, along with the historic artefacts and photography on display.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “We welcome the opportunity to work in partnership with Historic England to develop detailed proposals for Heritage Action Zone Status in this historic part of the city centre.
“This is an exciting opportunity to find new and sustainable uses for our historic buildings, as well as potentially enabling improved access to City Hall, our core civic building, celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.
“The amount of quality heritage buildings here in Bradford is breath-taking. We are looking to the future, with City of Culture 2025 approaching, plus the massive programme of regeneration that will take place in the city, but this is always in harmony with our history.”
Richard Butterfield, Historic England’s partnerships team leader, said: “Bradford City Centre Conservation Area has an impressive array of grand Victorian buildings and a historic street pattern which goes back to the middle ages.
“This project development funding will enable the heritage to be better understood and inform plans to unlock its potential. We are delighted to be taking this initiative forward with Bradford Council and the City of Culture team.”
Work on the proposal will involve data collection, analysis and consultation with owners and key stakeholders how best to financially support property owners, developers and investors to make use of vacant or underused floorspace in the city’s heritage buildings.
Proposals for a HAZ in Bradford city centre will also explore how cultural events can be used to increase understanding of local heritage, raise awareness of buildings potentially at risk and to look at possible uses for buildings driven by the current market.
The Council will complete the work to develop a detailed proposal for the HAZ by February 2024.
Regeneration project for historic Whitefriargate building receives huge boost
A regeneration project for a historic building in Whitefriargate has received a huge boost thanks to significant grant funding.
Trinity House Charity, part of Hull Trinity House, has been awarded £198,171 from the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) and a further £56,620 funding through the Whitefriargate High Street Heritage Action Zone.
The LUF is funded through monies awarded to Hull City Council in 2021 by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
The funding is for the conversion of redundant, vacant offices at Custom House Building to the rear of 13-14 Whitefriargate.
The project will see the creation of three one-bed apartments, following planning approval being finalised.
Proposed works include a full re-roof of the property, internal refurbishment, upgraded electrical supply and structural and window repairs.
There will also be refurbishment of existing historic architectural features and new gates under an adjacent archway to incorporate a pedestrian access control system.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “Schemes such as Levelling Up Funding and High Street Heritage Action Zone have already helped unlock so much potential in places such as Whitefriargate.
“It is pleasing that the council is able to continue to support heritage projects and I look forward to see them come to fruition.”
All employees made redundant as administrators appointed to Leeds fibreoptic broadband infrastructure business
Neil Morley and Howard Smith from Interpath Advisory have been appointed joint administrators of Makehappen Group Limited.
Based in Leeds, Makehappen is a provider of civil engineering work which installs fibreoptic broadband infrastructure for its clients throughout the UK.
The company was originally founded from the coming together of individuals with specialisms from across the telecoms and plant and machinery rental industries, together with its corporate shareholder FibreNation Limited, which had been founded to build a fibreoptic broadband network across the UK.
In recent months, Makehappen experienced significant pressure on cashflow after a number of contracts were withdrawn by their customers. As a result, the company was unable to continue trading and service its liabilities as they fell due, so after considering their options, the directors sought the appointment of the administrators.
The company ceased to trade shortly prior to the appointment of the administrators. With no prospect of trade resuming, the joint administrators have made all of the company’s 165 members of staff redundant.
Neil Morley, director at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator, said: “There continues to be a number of opportunities, but also challenges for businesses involved in the building of fibreoptic broadband infrastructure across the UK and unfortunately, Makehappen was the latest casualty of these challenges.
“As we commence an orderly wind-down of the business, our priority will be to provide support to all of Makehappen’s employees, including providing them with all of the information they require to make claims from the Redundancy Payments Office.”
Harron Homes gets green light for more than 100 properties on former colliery site
Housebuilder Harron Homes has has been given planning permission to build 105 new homes on 12 acres of land which used to house Rossington Colliery.
The development is set to support the continued regeneration of the area and will benefit from the new bridge to be built over the River Torne, providing another access route.
The bridge will have a bus lane, cycle lane and pedestrian footpath which will connect West End Lane to the economically significant iPort, which will have six million square feet of business space once fully built.
Nick Hague, land director at Harron Homes North Midlands, said: “We are excited to receive the green light on this development. Rossington is a great area and being part of its growth and regeneration is fantastic. De Maulay Manor will provide a variety of new homes for all families looking to move to the area.”
Natalie Griffiths, sales and marketing director at Harron Homes North Midlands, added: “It’s great to see planning permission granted for De Maulay Manor. Rossington is such a vibrant area and we can’t wait to welcome new residents.”
Rethink rethinks location of its Doncaster base
Doncaster-based construction site hoarding company Rethync Ltd is moving to larger premises on Shaw Lane Industrial Estate.
The expansion comes as a result of the company’s continued growth and commitment to delivering exceptional services to its construction and house building clients.
The new premises provide a significantly larger space, offering increased storage capacity and ample room for holding stock. The enhanced facilities allow the company to better accommodate customer storage needs and ensure streamlined operations.
One of the key benefits of the relocation is the expansion of Rethync’s fabrication facilities. The increased space enables the company to meet the growing demand for its bespoke Multisite Hoarding solutions and deliver projects more efficiently.
MD Phil Chadwick said: “The move to the new premises consolidates all operations into one space, resulting in a leaner working environment, promoting better communication and collaboration between departments, leading to improved efficiency and customer satisfaction.
“In addition, the larger premises will provide the opportunity for us to create a dedicated demonstration area for customers. This space will allow clients to experience first-hand our innovative hoarding solutions and gain a comprehensive understanding of the company’s capabilities.”
Andrew Jackson Solicitors names new associate in shipping and transport team
Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP has appointed Andrew Coish as an associate in its shipping and transport team.
Andrew will undertake all aspects of shipping work covering both contentious and non-contentious matters, including carriage of goods by sea, freight forwarding, project cargo transportation, and charter party disputes. He said:“I am excited to return to Andrew Jackson where I began my career 26 years ago. I have been aware of how the firm has grown over the years and its continued reputation for maritime work and I’m looking forward to playing my part in ensuring that we continue to provide an outstanding service for our clients, which is tailored to their needs.” Dominic Ward, senior partner and head of shipping and transport at Andrew Jackson Solicitors, said: “Andrew shares our commitment to providing the highest standards of service and value to our clients. His proven knowledge and expertise of shipping and transport matters means he will be a real asset to the team.”Leeds law firm draws together interested parties to discuss investment in Kirklees
Leeds-based law firm Clarion has brought together businesses, the local authority and the university at an event to discuss investment in Kirklees.
A roundtable held at the University of Huddersfield saw the law firm joined by Yorkshire building and timer merchants Myers Building Supplies; Huddersfield pharmaceutical manufacturer Thornton and Ross; Birstall-based bathrooms business Cubico; Kirklees Council; Huddersfield Unlimited; West Yorkshire Combined Authority; the University of Huddersfield; and Handelsbanken.
The group discussed investment in Kirklees, including some of its key developments such as the ‘National Health and Innovation Campus’ and the ‘Station to Stadium Enterprise Corridor’, as well as the region’s skills gap and the regeneration of Huddersfield.
The National Health and Innovation Campus is a seven-acre plot on the site of the former Huddersfield Sports Centre in Southgate, which includes the new Daphne Steel Building, and will be home to the university’s Health & Wellbeing Academy, run by the School of Human and Health Sciences. The Creative Health Project will support people who are out of work, plus mental health projects, and will provide connectivity between job centres and the private sector.
In addition, the Station to Stadium Enterprise Corridor, located between Huddersfield train station and the John Smith’s Stadium, aims to bring highly-skilled jobs to the town. The corridor, centred around the University of Huddersfield’s £250 million National Health Innovation Campus, will have a high-quality urban design.
Steve Crow, business development director of Clarion, said: “With its central location between Leeds and Manchester, Kirklees has around 10% of the UK population within an hour’s drive, giving it a great opportunity to capitalise on its plans to invest over £1b in Huddersfield and Dewsbury.
“The ambition of those working, living and investing in in the region is further underpinned by its globally respected university and investment in a gigabit infrastructure as well as its diversity of businesses, particularly in the engineering, aerospace and chemicals sectors.
“While there are already a number of really innovative projects underway, collaboration on skills and innovation across the public and private sector is vital in order to enhance value and drive economic growth in Kirklees. In particular, the roundtable discussed ways of retaining talent and ensuring that exciting career opportunities are available to graduates in the region.
Together, we will be focusing on how we can build on the region’s world-class expertise in key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, health and technology, to help all those invested in Kirklees to achieve the region’s full potential.”
Another event to discuss investment in Kirklees will take place on 7 November.
New head chef brings experience from two-star Michelin establishment
The General Tarleton at Ferrensby has appointed Varun Khanna as its new Head Chef.
He joins The General Tarleton from Two Michelin Star Restaurant Sat Bains in Nottingham, before which he worked at One Michelin Star The Pipe and Glass in Beverley.
He said: “I am thrilled to take up the role of Head Chef at such a well-known culinary establishment. Being Yorkshire born and bred I am delighted to be returning home where the finest ingredients are literally on our doorstep.”
As new Head Chef, Varun has introduced a new menu using seasonal produce and engaging with local farmers and suppliers.
He added: “When the opportunity arose at The General Tarleton it felt like it was just meant to be. I have had the opportunity to work in some amazing establishments, learning from some of the country’s best chefs and I am now delighted to create my own menu drawing on all my experiences. The General Tarleton really embodies why I first fell in love with cooking, being able to enjoy fine food in a relaxed atmosphere with friends and family, is one of life’s highlights for me.”
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Tools stolen every 15 minutes, according to insurance company research
One in five tradespeople have had tools stolen from their vans during the last year, according to new research by Direct Line business insurance.
But the research also reveals that one in seven leave their tools in vans every night, and others do so on average ten nights a month.
Alison Traboulsi, Product Manager at Direct Line business insurance, said: “The frequency of tool theft is a growing concern, with recent research showing that tools were stolen every 15 minutes across England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2022. Our latest data reveals vehicles remain the primary target, with nearly two-thirds of all tools stolen from this location. Because of this, it’s important to consider tool security when getting insurance.”
Vehicles are the most frequent location where tools are stolen accounting for over half of thefts, with thieves breaking into vans parked directly outside the homes of tradespeople. Vehicles are targeted while parked in the street, on the tradesperson’s own drive, on site, in a garage or car park.
Tradespeople are taking measures to help secure their tools and deal with consequences of tool theft, with many installing additional security (28 per cent). Other steps include becoming a member of social media groups where other tradespeople post about stolen goods (27 per cent), keeping insurance up-to-date (21 per cent) bringing tools indoors to a securely locked building (20 per cent), keeping up-to-date information such as photos, serial numbers and identifying marks (18 per cent), engraving or using invisible ink to mark tools (16 percent) and using tracking devices (15 per cent).
Smart Works Leeds joined by local businesses in mission to invest in the women of Yorkshire
On Thursday, 14 businesses based across Yorkshire attended the launch of the Smart Works Leeds Collective, making a commitment to uplift jobseekers through supporting the charity with vital funds.
The Smart Works Leeds Collective is a network of forward-thinking, dynamic Yorkshire individuals and businesses who have pledged to help the charity support unemployed women across the county into work. Collective members stand for equality and inclusivity. They believe that employment is key to transforming women’s lives, that of their families, and their communities.
Members of The Collective donate either £150pcm or £1500pa, vital contributions needed to run the service. In 2022, Smart Works Leeds helped 630 women find work. This year, the charity are ambitiously aiming to support 1,000 women.
Kate Murphy, Centre Manager at Smart Works Leeds, said: “We were delighted to see so many existing, as well as new supporters at the event on Thursday. At Smart Works we help women with a carefully designed coaching and clothing service, which allows many clients to secure employment and succeed at work. We have a brilliant track record with 69% of Smart Works’ clients securing a job within a month of their appointment.
“The audience who attended our launch event were introduced to the service we offer unemployed women in Yorkshire and heard about how, with their support it will enable us to reach more women and help them gain not only financial stability, but the sense of purpose and identity that securing employment means.
“By joining The Collective, a business, or an individual demonstrates that they share in our mission to help women realise their potential and empower them in their professional pursuits.”
Smart Works Leeds Client Champion Fran spoke at the event about the impact Smart Works has had on her life. Fran is a 43-year-old single parent from Leeds, with a passion for supporting others.
She had been out of work for quite some time when she was introduced to Smart Works by Women’s Health Matters, a local women’s organisation where she completed a course focussed on freedom after domestic violence. Fran left everything when she fled an abusive relationship and has done tremendous work to change her life since.
Smart Works Leeds helped Fran pick a beautiful outfit ready for her interview with a local addiction charity as well as a dedicated coaching session tailored to the role. Following her successful interview, Fran was welcomed back for a Second Dressing where she picked out a capsule wardrobe to support her through her first weeks at work. She is now working with a local addiction charity, an organisation whose services she had previously accessed.
Fran said: “I didn’t know what to expect, but it was just brilliant. Smart Works really helped me. Coming out of a domestic violent relationship, I didn’t have many choices and I had a low opinion of myself.
“Hearing that I looked good, and getting input from my dressers made me feel so much better. I was able to present myself in a professional manner at the interview which helped me secure the role. My dresser just got me! It completely changed my perception of myself.
“My coach was so knowledgeable. She put questions to me that I was actually asked in the interview. I got loads of tips and invaluable advice. I was able to talk about my fears and this resolved a lot of my anxiety.
“Smart Works is empowering, lifechanging and a huge confidence builder. It’s an amazing, amazing service.”
Lincoln High Street store acquired for national card retailer
National card retailer Cardzone has acquired a store in Lincoln.
Occupying a prime location at 304 High Street, the property is in the heart of Lincoln’s city centre amongst numerous national retailers.
Tom Wragg, associate director at FHP, who acted for long standing clients Cardzone, said: “The property had been occupied by Paperchase until their insolvency in early 2023 creating an excellent opportunity for Cardzone to trade their fantastic new Mooch concept.
“I am proud to have played a part in identifying this opportunity and negotiating a new lease on behalf of my client.”
Peter Drewitt of Cardzone added: “I am pleased to have worked with FHP to secure this property, which will be an exciting additional to our new Mooch brand that is being rolled out in selected locations nationwide.”
G&H Group secures funding to help schools and council buildings move towards Net Zero
Leeds-based mechanical, electrical and public health service provider, G&H Group, will support 13 public sector buildings in Leeds, York, Middlesbrough and London, to move closer to Net Zero after securing £2.5m of funding from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, saving 8,000 tonnes of carbon.
G&H Group’s projects division secured the funding by working both directly with multi-academy trusts and in collaboration with building surveyors and energy consultants. Work on the 13 projects will be delivered by G&H Group and includes installing ground source heat pumps (GSHPs), solar panels, window and roof fabric upgrades, air source heat pumps (ASHPs) and LEDs. All projects will be delivered by 31 March 2024.
Marc Ambler, operations manager, G&H Projects, said: “We have extensive experience assisting both clients and building surveyors and energy consultants in navigating the PSDS applications process, securing funding and reducing their carbon emissions. Our experienced on-site team will deliver all 13 projects across multi-academies and local authority buildings with all work, on completion saving 8000 tonnes of carbon.”
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) launched the PSDS initiative in 2020, to provide grants for public sector bodies and fund decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures, to help meet the UK government’s Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions 2050 target.
As well as securing £2.5m through the PSDS, G&H Group recently secured eight school projects worth £2m through the government’s Condition Improvement Fund.
Caddick Group’s charity abseil raises more than £20,000
Caddick Group, the Yorkshire-headquartered property business, has raised over £20,000 for charity by abseiling down the face of Moda’s New York Square building at SOYO, Leeds.
The effort raised vital funds for three of the organisation’s charity partners, the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, Candlelighters Trust and Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.
The charity abseil brought together over 60 people including employers, partners and supporters, all eager to contribute to the important cause. Participants took on the exhilarating challenge of descending down the 148ft Moda building, located in the heart of Leeds’ cultural quarter.
Kairen Brown, head of CSR at Caddick Group, expressed her pride in the event’s success, stating: “This brilliant event has not only raised substantial funds for our charity partners but has also brought out team and community closer together.
“As part of our wider commitments as a business, we are dedicated to supporting charitable initiatives that have a real and tangible impact on people’s lives. This event perfectly encapsulates our dedication to making a positive difference and is another example of where we’re supporting our home city.”
Paul Caddick, founder and chairman of Caddick Group, added: “We are immensely proud of the funds raised through this charity abseil.
“Our commitment to giving back to the community is deeply rooted in our company’s ethos, and we will continue to support initiatives that create positive change and improve lives.”
Candlelighters Trust, one of the beneficiaries of the funds raised, expressed their gratitude for Caddick Group’s unwavering support.
Chris Salt, philanthropy manager at Candlelighters Trust, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Caddick Group for their continued support. The funds raised through the event will make a significant difference to the lives of children and families affected by cancer. This remarkable display of support underlines Caddick Group’s dedication to the community and their tireless efforts in making a positive impact.”
Caddick Group recently celebrated their major fundraising milestone of £100,000 with Candlelighters, as they continue to nurture a longstanding charity partnership.
Sheffield solicitor secures recorder appointment
A Sheffield lawyer appointed as a recorder to sit in the civil jurisdiction is believed to be one of the youngest solicitors to be given the role.Carl Jones, a partner at boutique firm MD Law and who specialises in insolvency litigation, begins his formal induction as a recorder this September and should begin sitting by the end of the year – all before he turns 35.Carl was surprised to learn of his recommendation for the position after deciding to apply on a speculative basis.The 34-year-old said: “I am so pleased to have been appointed. I was very surprised to learn I was being recommended for appointment. I’ll be 10 years qualified in September, so I thought it was more a speculative application. “It’s something I wanted to do, but applying was as much about getting experience and going through the process. To actually get appointed, I was very pleasantly surprised.”Carl was appointed a deputy district judge in 2020 and the following year was authorised to sit in the Business and Property Courts in Leeds and Newcastle. He added: “I see this appointment as a recorder as the next step in the judicial ladder. It’s my ambition to become a full-time judge eventually.”Matthew Dixon, founder and partner of MD Law, said: “We warmly congratulate Carl on his recorder appointment. Allowing our lawyers to pursue their judicial ambitions means they can broaden their knowledge and experience, and that can only help enhance the firm’s reputation.”
Manufacturing company fined after employees diagnosed with hand-arm vibration syndrome
A manufacturing company has been fined following reports that two of its employees had been diagnosed with hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).
The two staff members at Ross & Catherall Limited – a company that manufactures and supplies metal bars for the aerospace and automotive industries – worked at the firm’s Forge Lane site in Killamarsh, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, in 2019.
The two employees carried out a variety of tasks, which included the use of vibrating tools, throughout the company’s manufacturing process.
Both operators used these tools for extended periods of time, over a number of years, without adequate systems in place to control their exposure to vibration.
RIDDOR reports submitted by Ross & Catherall Limited in May 2019 revealed the employees had been diagnosed with HAVS.
The RIDDOR reports prompted a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation.
The HSE investigation found there was no hand-arm vibration risk assessment in place prior to, and at the time of the workers’ diagnoses, to identify what level of vibration the operators were exposed to. There were also no control measures in place to reduce exposure levels, with reasonably practicable measures only being implemented following HSE’s intervention.
Health surveillance was also inadequate. This was not carried out annually and there was no initial health surveillance assessment for new operators. Additionally, referrals were not carried out in a timely manner for those employees displaying symptoms of HAVS.
Ross & Catherall Limited, of Bretby Business Park, Ashby Road, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £200,000 and ordered to pay £7605.37 in costs at Derby Magistrates’ Court on 17 July 2023.
HSE inspector Lindsay Bentley said: “Those in control of work have a responsibility to assess the risk from exposure to vibration, put in controls to reduce this risk and ensure that health surveillance is adequate to identify symptoms in a timely manner.
“HAVS can be a life-changing condition which impacts all aspects of your life. Prevention of vibration damage is key and there is plenty of guidance available for employers to help them protect their employees’ health on the HSE website.”
This HSE prosecution was supported by HSE enforcement lawyer Nathan Cook.
West Yorkshire woman’s company aims to elevate the value of British wool
Fourth-generation farmer and wool champion Kate Drury has recently been named as one of 50 winners of Women in Innovation Awards for her attempts to increase market share for sustainable ropes for uses as diverse as dog leads, sheep halters, and offshore kelp farms.
Her Mytholmroyd-based company Sustainable Rope offers a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic rope, reducing microplastic pollution, by championing British wool and its value.
Kate is passionate about supporting British sheep farmers and championing wool and its value. She says not only does sourcing all her wool through the auction – where graders take about four years to learn their skill – give her both assurance and insurance, it also allows her to support all 35,000 sheep farmers as opposed to just one if she were to buy direct from the farm gate.
Kate, who was elected as a British Wool board member in 2021, is passionate that her rope can move from farm to consumer while being made solely in the UK, meaning she has oversight of the entire supply chain. The long-term aim is for her innovation to increase demand for wool, and, in turn, increase the return to Britain’s farmers.
She believes that in the face of tough wool prices and a difficult market the key is investing energy into innovation.
“Things must change because the market is not sustainable as it is. We know what we can head for but it’s the how we do it that is the issue. I want to empower farmers. Currently, their return is resultant of the market, so we’ve got to change that.”
The way to do it, she says, is to look beyond the traditional markets for wool and highlight the scope of innovation the fibre offers.
“There’s a lot of research around innovation within the product, but we need innovation in new markets that have never used wool, which is where I’ve positioned my company,” she adds.
Bowmer + Kirkland construction site first to power tower crane and heavy equipment with batteries
Bowmer + Kirkland believes it is the first construction company to use battery energy to power most of its equipment on site.
A project at West Bar, in Sheffield, is probably the first site in the country where the tower crane, mast climbers, hoist and temporary site supply to two buildings are all powered by only two batteries – this has saved 27 tonnes of CO2 in just the first two weeks of using this energy source.
The successful implementation of this sustainable energy is the culmination of years of research and development.
Initially B+K’s research and persistence recognised the carbon savings associated with the Punch Flybrid kinetic energy recovery system.
Developed for Formula 1 to recover energy from regenerative braking systems, the Punch Flybrid system uses a robust and durable flywheel energy storage system to significantly downsize generators powering tower cranes and other dynamically used equipment on site.
Construction site generators are inherently inefficient. Adding a flywheel to store kinetic energy, however, introduces efficiency, dramatically reducing fuel consumption and reducing carbon emissions.
Generators on construction projects are typically sized for peak loads. However, most of the time they run at low load factors, which results in poor fuel economy and high emissions. This is especially the case when running equipment like tower cranes, which oscillate between total idleness and full power.
On average B+K runs 20 tower cranes and 200 mast climbers on their sites at any one time; traditionally powered by generators. Bowmer + Kirkland conducted months of research into Flybrid feasibility and testing with their supply chain and instigated a first year roll out of the tech nationally across their construction sites ensuring B+K were the first UK contractor with multiple Flybrid units on one site.
From January – July 2023 using the Flybrid product alone, Bowmer + Kirkland saved 450 tonnes of carbon/172,000 litres of fuel.
Pushing the boundaries further led the team, in conjunction with equipment supplier Select, to investigate the possibility of battery power to enhance sustainability on site. As a result B+K was the first to power two tower cranes from one battery unit on trickle charge using a mains grid connection – this saved 98 tonnes of CO2 in just three months.
That pilot scheme was so successful that on their West Bar site in Sheffield, they are powering the tower crane, mast climbers, hoist and temporary site supply to two buildings via only two batteries on trickle charge. They are now looking into to using green renewable power to trickle charge the batteries – which would reduce carbon emissions even further.
To enable B+K to do this and change long-held attitudes and habits, they organised a number of pilot trials for the Flybrid and battery technology, involving all parties to demonstrate reliability and capability in reducing fuel consumption and realise carbon savings.
To support this, the team formulated a self-populating carbon spreadsheet and included all combinations of lifting equipment to demonstrate to site managers the fuel and carbon savings, which was instrumental in persuading them to adopt the technology. Equipment was tested to operating limits which was only made possible by the technical experience and dedication from B+K’s group crane team to drive innovation.
Flybrid and battery technology is now a standardised offering across Bowmer + Kirkland sites.
Bowmer and Kirkland director, Matthew Cruttenden, said: As the company strives for our zeroby40 target, our group crane team has been instrumental in changing attitudes and increasing awareness and understanding of sustainable energy sources available.
“Traditionally, construction sites have powered plant with diesel-guzzling generators. Our operational staff now understand the possibilities open to us to protect the environment, reduce our emissions and save money.
“Our development and collaboration with specialist suppliers has revolutionised the way we power our site operations – who would have thought we could power an entire site by plugging into a couple of battery units on trickle charge? Within the construction community we are leading the way with our research and innovations.”
Under new rules sellers of illicit cigarettes could face £10,000 fine
With more than 27 million illicit cigarettes and 7.5 tonnes of hand-rolling tobacco seized under Operation CeCe in its first two years, new powers have been introduced for anyone selling such products.
From now on penalties of up to £10,000 for any business or individual who sells illicit tobacco products. The sanctions will bolster the government’s efforts to tackle the illicit tobacco market and reduce tobacco duty fraud.
The new powers will also see Local Authority Trading Standards given the ability to refer cases to HMRC for further investigation. HMRC will administer the penalties and ensure the appropriate sanction is applied and enforced.
Operation CeCe is a joint HMRC-National Trading Standards operation which has been working to seize illicit tobacco since January 2021.
Nis Bandara, HMRC’s Deputy Director for Excise and Environmental Taxes, said “Trade in illicit tobacco costs the Exchequer more than £2 billion in lost tax revenue each year. It also damages legitimate businesses, undermines public health and facilitates the supply of tobacco to young people.
“These sanctions build on HMRC’s enforcement of illicit tobacco controls, will strengthen our response against those involved in street level distribution, and act as a deterrent to anyone thinking that they can make a quick and easy sale and undercut their competition.”
North Yorkshire Council pledges to level playing field for contract-seeking SMEs
North Yorkshire Council has pledged to give more support and guidance to SMEs to help them compete effectively with larger competitors to secure public sector contracts.
The council expects to spend more than £600 million spent on contracts with the private sector during the current financial year alone.
A small and medium-sized enterprise called Go4Growth was recruited in 2021 to design a programme to bridge the gap between smaller enterprises and the public sector. This work has helped smaller, local and diverse organisations to develop the practical skills to enable sustainable growth through accessing and securing opportunities with the public sector.
Go4Growth offers free support for companies aiming to work with the council and other public sector organisations. Through this partnership, 250 suppliers were supported in 2021/22, with 86 per cent categorising themselves as micro-businesses or sole traders and 14 per cent stating they are small businesses.
Go4Growth’s director Gill Askew said: “Since we were recruited in 2021, we have built strong and productive working relationships with the public sector in North Yorkshire.
“We have been able to deliver support to small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary and community and social enterprises across the county to hundreds of local providers.
“The single council will provide greater access to a broader marketplace of providers who want to secure growth within the public sector, both directly and indirectly with the authority.
“It means that we will be able to increase the breadth of support we are giving, ultimately supporting more local economic development.
“We’re really excited about what the future has to offer and we’re looking forward to providing more support to help North Yorkshire’s businesses and voluntary organisations to grow.”
The launch of a single authority to cover the whole of North Yorkshire will bring in millions of pounds of savings by having contracts for a single organisation, helping counter the challenging inflationary pressures amid the cost of living crisis.
Council leader Carl Les, said: “We recognise the important role that smaller businesses play in the success of North Yorkshire’s economy, bringing in vital investment and supporting tens of thousands of jobs.
“As a council, we have a firm commitment to helping these smaller enterprises flourish, and they are key to helping us deliver services to hundreds of thousands of residents across the county.”
North Yorkshire’s economy is heavily slanted towards smaller businesses and there is a total of more than 32,700 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises alongside 90 large businesses in the county.
Contracts with small and medium-sized enterprises worth hundreds of millions of pounds were signed by the previous eight authorities that merged to form North Yorkshire Council, which launched at the start of April.
The former North Yorkshire County Council alone spent £549 million on procurement during the last financial year, including £269 million with small and medium-sized enterprises – 55 per cent of the total figure.
Of the 5,021 suppliers which the county council worked with during 2022/23, a total of 2,765 were small and medium-sized enterprises and the ambition is to increase this number even further with the launch of the new authority.
In 2022/23, 55 per cent of the total spend was within the local economy, which resulted in the county council working with 2,145 local suppliers. A total of £62 million of the county council’s spend – the equivalent of 11 per cent – was with 703 regional suppliers.
By joining up services and maximising spending power in its first few years, North Yorkshire Council is set to recoup between £30 million and £70 million, which will become annual savings.
However, the high rate of inflation and growing demand for services such as adult social care will mean difficult decisions and creative solutions will be needed to realise the multi-million pound savings.
Deputy leader and executive member for finance, Cllr Gareth Dadd, whose portfolio includes procurement, said: “The opportunities that we have now as one council to provide efficiencies of scale by signing contracts for a single organisation are set to bring millions of pounds of savings.
“These will be especially important as we face such a challenging financial situation with the current level of inflation and the cost of living.”
In the past 12 months, one of the largest procurement exercises, the Social Care Approved Provider Lists which delivers support to people in residential settings, their homes or providing day services, has been secured.
The work involved in the exercise highlighted some of the barriers which the voluntary and community and social enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises report when trying to do business with councils.
A tailored engagement programme was developed to support providers through the application process and encourage more smaller enterprises to engage with the public sector. So far, 70 per cent of providers – a total of 216 – which have been appointed to the list in North Yorkshire are small and medium-sized enterprises.
The new Procurement Bill, which is due to be introduced by the Government within the next year, will provide more opportunities of making procurement quicker, simpler and more transparent while still delivering value for money and including specific criteria in deciding the award of contracts.
It is hoped that this will level the playing field for small and medium-sized enterprises and drive economic growth across the UK by reducing costs and making it easier for businesses which are bidding for contracts.
