Rotherham firm to enter administration
Reward expands Leeds headquarters in major office move
Following 12 years of continuous growth and in preparation to support future expansion plans, alternative finance lender Reward Finance Group has moved its national headquarters to new Grade A office space in the heart of Leeds’ business district.
Previously housed in Central House, Reward has relocated to the recently refurbished 12 King Street, where the team in Leeds now occupies 4,000 sq ft on the 1st floor. The landmark building underwent an £11m investment last year, to introduce a futuristic workspace with enhanced features such as a cycle spa, roof terraces and a sky lounge.
Reward’s group managing director, Nick Smith said: “We had a tremendous journey in our latest Leeds office for more than eight years. At Reward, we’re always looking towards the future, so this move is a major milestone in our expansion plans. The transition into state-of-the-art offices represents 12 years of continuous growth in Leeds and it sets the stage for our plans to further expand the team in the coming months.
“We outgrew our previous space due to rapid business growth across the UK, therefore the new office ticks every box. We also place a high priority on the wellbeing of all our teams, so the availability of breakout spaces, improved facilities and enhanced sustainability credentials allows us to provide the ideal environment for all our staff.
“Ben Johnson did a fantastic job with the interior design and fit out of the new space, we’re delighted to call 12 King Street our new Leeds home and very much looking forward to the next chapter for our business.”
Clarion adds to growing property litigation team
Kate Joss, Jessica Wager and Emily Brownsword are the latest recruits to join the seven-strong dedicated property litigation team within Clarion’s expanding real estate practice. All three join Clarion from international law firms.
Kate joins as a senior associate and has substantial experience of dealing with complex commercial and residential property disputes for a wide range of clients, including public sector clients, developers, social housing providers, portfolio managers and individuals.
Associate Jess has acted for a wide range of private and public sector landlords and tenants, advising on matters related to commercial and residential property including lease renewals, dilapidations, termination and possession, breach of covenant and rent/service charge arrears.
As a paralegal in the team, Emily will assist with a broad range of contentious matters covering all aspects of estate management.
The team has already seen expansion this year with the appointments of experienced legal director Lisa Stratford as well as Emily Hartley as a paralegal.
“Since founding the property litigation team six years ago, we’ve seen tremendous demand for our services and have established a reputation as one of the leading specialist teams in the region. We have experienced significant growth in the last year and are seeing that reflected in the quality of work a bigger team allows us to undertake,” says Sophie Morley, partner and head of the property litigation team. “We’re seeing an increasing number of referrals from all sorts of different types of work from clients ranging from national retailers to local authorities and residential and commercial developers.
“It’s fantastic to further boost the team with new talent as our workload increases alongside the continued growth of Clarion’s real estate practice. Kate and Jess bring a wealth of experience in all areas of property litigation, and Emily (Brownsword) provides further resource as our workload continues to increase. All of our new team members share Clarion’s values and have been attracted by the type of challenging national work we undertake.”
Kate says: “I am excited to be part of Clarion’s growth. I am looking forward to adding to the expertise of an already experienced and influential team with an outstanding reputation in the region.”
Jess Wager adds: “Clarion’s exceptional reputation for client service and its expertise has always stood out to me and I am pleased to be joining such a talented team, particularly given the continued growth and expansion of the firm. I’m really looking forward to forging strong relationships with our clients whilst working alongside such a well-respected, experienced team.”
Emily Brownsword adds: “I am excited to be working with such an ambitious and fast-growing specialist property litigation practice. It’s a fantastic opportunity to expand my legal knowledge and experience.”
Dacres appoints new office principal in York
An experienced property professional has joined Yorkshire estate agent, Dacre, Son & Hartley’s York office.
Claire Tiplady has been appointed as office principal. She has worked as a sales negotiator and sales manager at two leading Yorkshire firms over the last 13 years.
Claire said: “I was keen to join Dacres as it’s such a respected company with a great team. The office opened just over a year ago in York and the firm has made good inroads into the market, but I plan to grow the market share and bring a wide range of city centre properties onto the market, as well as those from the surrounding villages.
“With 42 estate agents operating in York, competition is fierce, but Dacres really does stand out from the crowd as one of the best, with a long history and offices across North and West Yorkshire.
“The firm sells everything from modern city centre apartments through to grand historic homes in York’s rural suburbs. My plan is to continue building up stock levels and appeal to all those buyers keen to live in the heart of York or within easy reach of this incredibly popular city.”
Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential at Dacre, Son & Hartley, said: “Claire is well known and respected in the marketplace and it’s a real coup to have her join our York team. We are hugely committed to the city and plan to expand and recruit further as we grow the business in York.”
Lupton Fawcett appoints new associate to employment team
Mortgage network to be snapped up in £12.9m deal
Closure of Young’s Seafood factory in Grimsby confirmed
£2.7m training centre to increase safety for rail workers
Leeds travel specialist continues to grow at Unity Business Centre
A Leeds travel agency specialising in tailored group trips to the Caribbean has celebrated five years in business by moving into larger premises at Unity Business Centre in Chapeltown.
Phun in the Sun was set up by its Chief Executive Jackie Walker in 2018 from a desk in the centre’s newly established incubator for start-ups and home-based enterprises seeking to expand.
Since then, the business has gone from strength and now has a staff of four.
Next month, Phun in the Sun and the St Kitts and Nevis Association will co-host a meet and greet reception at Unity Business Centre for Her Excellency Dr Christine Walwyn, the Diaspora Ambassador for St Kitts and Nevis, following her recent appointment by the dual-island nation’s Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew.
Unity Business Centre is one of three facilities managed by Unity Enterprise – the not-for-profit subsidiary of BME housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise – which currently provides 142 affordable business units for more than 80 diverse businesses close to Leeds city centre.
Adrian Green, Unity Enterprise manager, said he was delighted to see Phun in the Sun flourish over the past five years.
He said: “It feels like just yesterday when Jackie started her adventure with us, taking up a hot desk in our building. From the very beginning, her positive spirit and passion for creating unforgettable experiences for her customers and her unwavering commitment to achieve her dreams were clear.
“As her company expanded, so did her needs, and it did not take long for her to move from that hot desk to her own small office space within our premises. Jackie has continued to chase her dreams one step at a time.
“She has now expanded even further, moving into a larger office space to accommodate her ever-growing team and clientele. We could not be prouder of her accomplishments.”
Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive, said: “Jackie’s journey demonstrates the spirit of entrepreneurship – the willingness to take risks, the courage to dream big and the tenacity to overcome obstacles.
“She has shown us all that with a sharp vision and unwavering determination, no goal is unachievable.
“We are incredibly proud to have supported her business aspirations and look forward to working with her even more closely in the years ahead.”
Jackie Walker said: “I am excited to be expanding and to be able to do so at Unity Business Centre where Phun in the Sun has its roots.
“Adrian and his team have supported me in every possible way right from the beginning.
“It is wonderful that our shared success story will continue – bigger and better than ever before.”
Reckitt agrees sponsorship deal with ice hockey team Hull Seahawks
The Hull Seahawks have unveiled the locally based global health and nutrition company Reckitt as title sponsors for next season.
Reckitt, home to some of the world’s most recognised and trusted consumer brands, has partnered with the Championship National Ice Hockey League team on a one-year deal that will see the company take naming rights of the team – the Hull Reckitt Seahawks. Dr Bruce Charlesworth, Reckitt Chief Medical Officer and Hull Campus Lead said: “Ice hockey is growing in popularity, and, like Reckitt, our local team has a strong Hull heritage – ours being the Reckitt family and theirs the early Humberside Seahawks days. “We are very excited about the upcoming season and our new relationship. Ice hockey is a fast-paced game that’s great to watch and play at all levels, with a grass roots foundation that’s linked to healthy living and exercise. We believe this is a partnership that supports the city, helps a community venue, raises the profile of Reckitt, and provides a staff benefit.” Joe Lamplough and Matty Davies Hull Seahawks Directors said: “This opportunity allows the Hull Seahawks to expand the club and local community in a very exciting manner. “We’re very much looking forward to working together in expanding the Reckitt name as much as possible within the club as a lot of people are unaware of the global impact Reckitt has. We’re looking forward to welcoming Reckitt employees to our home games to enjoy and soak in the unique atmosphere at the Hull Ice Arena on a match night, trust us when we say there will be some very entertaining games next season.Groundbreaking ceremony kicks off Western Growth Corridor project in Lincoln
An official start has been made on Lincoln’s new Western Growth Corridor with representatives from the City of Lincoln Council, Lindum Western Growth Community Ltd, Lincoln City Council’s Civic Party, Homes England, and contractors celebrating a groundbreaking ceremony.
Yorkshire estate agent helps homeless charity
Yorkshire estate agent, Dacre, Son & Hartley has helped a charity that works with homeless people in Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield by collecting and donating food items.
The donation has enabled Homeless Hampers to give 40 additional food parcels out and the firm, which has 20 offices across North and West Yorkshire, also donated refillable water bottles for the homeless community.
Homeless Hampers aims to help and provide essentials and necessities to the homeless and less fortunate community and challenges the public’s perception of the homeless by promoting positive engagement with some of the most vulnerable people in the region. The charity provides essentials in the form of hampers to those who are in shelters or on the streets and boosts engagement with those in need.
Dacre, Son & Hartley’s personnel director, Rebecca Reeves, said: “We are always keen to work with local charities in our area and help wherever we can. The team at Homeless Hampers are an amazing group of people who volunteer their time and energy to get out onto the streets with their food parcels and they make a real difference to many people’s lives and we plan to continue supporting them in the future.”
Tina Suryavansi, from Homeless Hampers, said: “It makes a difference when companies like Dacres collect and donate food, as it means we can pull together even more food parcels than usual.
“We already have various companies that support us regularly, whether that be donating food and drink, offering drop-off points, or allowing us to store our donations in a secure place – but we are always keen to find more!
“Individuals can also help by attending the weekly outreaches or organising collections, and we are also always looking for people who are willing to spend time with our service users, filling in forms for example.”
Mansfield Pollard promotes Ewelina to Operations Director role
Yorkshire Building Society raises more than £1m to support Age UK
Yorkshire Building Society and its charity partner Age UK have said thanks a million to the Society’s colleagues and customers for helping to raise over £1 million to help Age UK be there for older people who are struggling most right now.
The two-and-a-half-year partnership generated £1,013,577 towards Age UK’s Building Better Lives programme, helping older people to become more financially resilient. Colleagues walked, cycled and ran over 18,000 miles to help Age UK during incredibly challenging times, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the current cost-of-living crisis.
Donations from customers and members of the public, combined with the launch of an innovative savings account and contributions from the mutual, also helped the partnership reach the milestone.
Age UK’s Building Better Lives programme supports older people through life events such as a health diagnosis, the death of a partner or a change in needs, with the funds raised enabling one-to-one support sessions with trained advisors. Over 4,600 older people were supported during the partnership and with more than 3,600 benefit claims made, Age UK unlocked £8.1 million worth of benefits for older people who were unaware they were entitled to claim.
Yorkshire Building Society also donated over £210,000 to Age UK’s national Advice Line, which is a free and confidential phone service that provides expert advice and impartial information for older people, their families, friends, carers and professionals. The funds raised could allow Age UK to answer more than 43,000 calls from older people during their time of need, and many who had no one else to turn to for help.
Susan Allen, chief exec at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “With more than two million older people in the UK living in poverty[i], our partnership with Age UK raised funds to help some of the most vulnerable in our communities. I can’t thank enough, anyone who supported the partnership to help us reach the million-pound milestone.
“The projects our support funded made a meaningful difference where it was needed most. Whether it was helping older people access unclaimed benefits, answering thousands of calls from people who wouldn’t otherwise know where to turn or using Digital Buddies to ensure older people don’t fall through the digital gap, our colleagues and customers supported the partnership with enthusiasm to improve the lives of older people in our communities.”
Paul Farmer, chief executive at Age UK, said: “We want to say a huge thank you to every Yorkshire Building Society colleague and customer for helping to raise over £1 million to allow Age UK to be there for older people. The cost-of-living crisis is impacting everyone, but it is unbelievably challenging for older people who have to make it week to week on such a fixed income. This is why partnerships like this are so vital for Age UK.
“The funds raised during this partnership have enabled Age UK to be there for older people during the pandemic and running through the current cost-of-living crisis, times when many older people didn’t know where to turn to for support. Thanks to Yorkshire Building Society’s support, Age UK has been able to provide vital support, advice and friendship to older people in communities across the UK. Thank you to every Yorkshire Building Society employee and customer who has helped us to raise a fantastic amount to help older people in their communities.”
Cycle retailer raises funds following triathlon store takeover
New facility boosts drug manufacturing capability in Hull
Stirlin plans new enterprise park in Lincoln
Councils urged to get pubs open earlier for Lionesses World Cup Final
“It’s been really positive to work with the Government to ensure everyone can get a chance to join in the celebrations. I’d echo the Government’s support for local authorities taking a pragmatic view to venues opening early to allow people to make the most of this momentous occasion.”
Businesses assured they’ll be no more than three miles from a source of cash
One in ten dairy farmers ‘likely’ to stop milk production within two years
- Increases in input prices such as feed (84%), energy (83%), and fertiliser (74%) are all particular areas of worry.
- Over one third (36%) of those ceasing production are doing so due to retirement, with almost a fifth (18%) handing over their farm to the next generation.
- Over half (52%) of producers stopping production are unable to keep up with the scale of investment required for their enterprise to stay compliant, such as slurry storage, a factor that is highlighted as a main concern for the majority (91%) when considering whether to increase production in the future.
- NFU Dairy Board chair Michael Oakes said it is obvious these factors are putting the long-term resilience of dairy farming “under threat”, leading to a “crisis of confidence” amongst British dairy farmers. The survey results identified that supply chain fairness was a key factor with almost 90% of dairy producers saying this was important to support future milk production. New industry-wide contract regulation expected to come in later this year must support fairer, more transparent and accountable supply chains, said Michael. “But regulation isn’t a silver bullet,” he added. “With increasing global demand for British dairy, we know that the long-term future is bright for our sector,” said Michael. “To ensure we maximise this potential, it’s imperative that government continues to work with us to ensure we have the right environmental, regulatory and trade framework in place to support the production of high quality, nutritious and sustainable food.”
