Britain needs a more flexible route for EU sub-contractors, says Bridlington firm

Stuart Pearcey
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Britain needs a more flexible route for EU sub-contractors, says Bridlington firm

Recommendations by the Construction Leadership Council intended to help businesses access the points-based immigration system will do little or nothing to address the industry’s skills shortage, says Bridlington-based Hudson Contract.

Hudson Contract MD Ian Anfield says the government intervention requested by the CLC will do little to solve the problem. “It has let the government off the hook by adding a few more builders to the shortage occupation list. The list means nothing to most employers or the skilled EU subbies they would like to be able to use.

“Most construction work in the UK is carried out by smaller specialist subcontractors which do not have the resources or the security of workflow to overcome the cost, risk and bureaucracy of the points-based immigration system. Becoming a sponsor, recruiting PAYE employees from abroad and monitoring those employees to make sure they comply with their visas is a non-starter.

“Moving specific trades from the skilled worker list to the shortage of occupation list does nothing apart from drop the minimum rate of pay an employer can offer from £25k to £20k. But given skilled EU operatives can earn double that, the figures are meaningless.

“The danger here is that as well as letting the government off the hook, this move could encourage the use of cheap exploited migrant workers from further afield – and that would be no good for anyone.

“Our clients tell us they want easy access to the highly skilled self-employed EU workforce they had before.

“We would urge the government to use CIS as the tool to reopen this labour market for them.

“Despite what some believe, CIS is not compatible with the current points-based immigration system: the choice is PAYE with all its cost and complexity or nothing. A new higher CIS deduction rate could be applied to overseas workers to ensure compliance with visas. Temporary skilled workers could be overtaxed with returns paid when they leave.”

Croda International names new non-exec director to start next month

Stuart Pearcey
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Croda International names new non-exec director to start next month
Snaith-based Croda International has appointed Chris Good as non-executive director, and he will take up the position on April 27th. He has spent his career in the consumer care industry, and recently retired after more than 20 years at Estee Lauder Companies, with the last five years as Group President of North America (Estee Lauder Companies’ home market) with responsibility for over 25 brands. Chris was also a member of Estee Lauder Companies’ Executive Committee. Before that he spent over 10 years at Unilever in senior marketing, executive and general management roles across Europe, North America and Asia. On joining the Croda Board, Chris will also be appointed to the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committees. Dame Anita Frew, Chair of Croda International Plc, said: “Chris’s deep understanding of the consumer care industry and in particular his insights into beauty care markets and consumers will be of great value to Croda and the Board. As well as having significant P&L experience, Chris also brings a truly international perspective to the Board, having lived and worked in the USA, Switzerland, Japan, Singapore, Russia and the UK with region wide responsibilities for EMEA, APAC and North America during his successful executive career. “His appointment strengthens the consumer care knowledge and experience we have around the Board table, which will support our continued transition to a pure play Consumer Care and Life Sciences business.”

Data mapping company product will shape health care delivery

Stuart Pearcey
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Data mapping company product will shape health care delivery
Data mapping company Parallel, part of the Hull-based Sewell Group, has developed a platform to host and analyse a national primary care database on behalf of NHSE. It’s called Shape, and has been enhanced to display information about primary care services and the current estate available to help inform decision making and drive efficiencies for future delivery. The NHS England General Practice Premises Policy Review 2019 identified the need for a more comprehensive primary care data set to support integrated clinical services and estates planning. Parallel’s data mapping tool, SHAPE, was used to aid understanding of the current estate available within primary care that could be used to deliver services, the quality of the estate and how it was being utilised. Jon Murphy of the NHS England Estates Directorate said:“SHAPE is enabling a data-driven approach to primary care estates planning. Having all of the estates and workforce information in one place, alongside easy to use analysis tools, is helping systems understand current capacity and how buildings could be best utilised to support future service demand.” SHAPE can show information such as NHS boundaries, practice list sizes, contract information and dispensing information, as well as population demographics and projections, deprivation, and disease prevalence to help give PCNs and ICBs a holistic view of their areas. Users can drill down to PCN or even practice level to better understand their estate, overlaid with patient, workforce and other health projection information to understand where demand for services is currently and could be in the future.

New use for worthless wool could protect against flooding and increase hill farmer income

Stuart Pearcey
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New use for worthless wool could protect against flooding and increase hill farmer income
A trial that could rejuvenate the trade in hill sheep fleeces began this week on a vast peatland on the Craven/Richmondshire border in the wake of the National Park Authority awarding a Farming in Protected Landscapes grant to Wensleydale textile entrepreneur Ruth Lindsey. The grant enabled her to work with four local farmers to produce ‘wool logs’ for use in peatland restoration. On Monday a total of 30 one-metre-long logs – each stuffed with scoured wool from three otherwise almost worthless Swaledale sheep fleeces – were laid across erosion channels at the Fleet Moss peatland. If the logs prove successful in holding back water and allowing the bare peat to revegetate, the production of wool logs could be massively scaled up. Yorkshire Peat Partnership, which includes the National Park Authority, has spent the past five years carrying out intensive restoration work on the Fleet Moss bog. Until now logs made of imported coconut husk have been used to block erosion channels. The logs, as well as other restoration measures, have seen the return of the sundew plant, mosses and native grasses to areas of bare peat. Peatland restoration is regarded as an urgent conservation priority in the National Park; functioning peat bogs can sequester huge amounts of carbon and provide a home to insects such as dragonflies and wading birds such as golden plover. One of the four Upper Wensleydale farmers who donated part of their wool crop to the trial was Andrew Kiely from Hardraw.   He said: “For decades fleeces have been worthless.  My last wool cheque was £35 for 500 fleeces – and it cost me that much to send the wool to the depot. “It’s pleasing to see this trial taking place and seeing our wool doing this job.  I think a lot of local farmers would be very happy to see our wool going to these peat restoration projects.” Textiles entrepreneur Ruth Lindsey said: “The wool in these logs have travelled only 150 miles from the farm to the processors in West Yorkshire and back to this peatland. That makes wool a lot more sustainable than the coir which has come across the world – and we think it is capable of doing as good a job, if not better. “We’re aiming to pay 30 pence a kilo of wool, if the trial is successful.  That’s still not enough, but it’s much more than the fleeces are currently fetching.” Mrs Lindsey said she had received enquiries that could lead to orders for many thousands of wool logs next year. Peat Restoration Officer at the Yorkshire Peat Partnership, Jenny Sharman, said: “I think we’ll know whether the wool logs work as well as the coir relatively quickly – perhaps as soon as six months.  We’ve tried using wool before put it hasn’t been packed properly like these logs.  I think they are likely to hold the water back. “The coir logs we use are a critical part of peatland restoration.  Before we put the logs in on Fleet Moss, all you could see was bare peat.  The vegetation has all come back within a couple of years.” “Wool would be a win-win.  It ticks all the boxes in terms of the environment and supporting local farmers and businesses.  Everything becomes a team effort.  We’re all working together.”

Director appointment for Leeds-headquartered Northern Accountants

Michael Fisher
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Director appointment for Leeds-headquartered Northern Accountants
Northern Accountants — a 25 strong practice with offices in Liverpool, Hull and its Leeds HQ — has announced the appointment of a new director. 29-year old Mark Alderson has been awarded an internal promotion to the board, six months after joining t the award-winning business. Having joined the firm as senior client manager in Q3 of 2022 — after spending 11 years with a boutique accountancy practice in the Yorkshire Dales — Mark has quickly demonstrated his ability to add value to clients’ organisations. So — in the year Northern Accountants celebrates its 15th anniversary — he has been promoted to this leadership role, for the benefit of the business and customers’ alike. The move follows Northern Accountants’ acquisition of two other firms last year, which extended the team’s geographical reach to the western tip of the M62 and strengthened its presence in Hull. Mark’s directorship also coincides with the definition of additional internal structure, which sees Anelya Tucker promoted to client manager and head of the newly-formed business division. Under her steer, this fresh department — which currently includes 350 organisations — is dedicated to the provision of agile accountancy support and guidance, for more autonomous customers.   “Some clients come to us because we can fulfil all their financial needs, with analysts and advisors on hand to drive business growth strategies too,” explained founding managing director Phil Ellerby. “This is where Mark excels, alongside Ricky Field who was appointed as our Hull director last year. They look beyond the numbers alone, to uncover other factors that can become real enablers of business success.   “Other clients don’t require that level of support, but the quality of service should still be stellar — that’s what Anelya ensures, as we continue to grow. It means we can efficiently take on more and more clients in this division too.”

RR Engineering becomes employee owned

Michael Fisher
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RR Engineering becomes employee owned
Azets, the Top Ten UK Accountancy firm, has advised RR Engineering Ltd on becoming employee owned. RR Engineering, based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, was set up over thirty years ago by Roy Hendry and Russell Beck. They are handing over 100% of the business to their employees. Karen Bulman, Jamie Thompson, Matthew Taylor and Jamie Dixon will take over the day to day running of RR Engineering. Since its formation in 1990, RR Engineering has established itself as a leading provider of high-quality products to a range of industries throughout the UK. Standing within a 25000 sq. ft. site, on Eastfield Industrial Estate in Scarborough, RR Engineering offers a complete service from large contracts to small bespoke orders, meeting customers exact requirements. The company provides sheet metal fabrication and design services working with stainless and mild steel, aluminium and specialised materials using state of the art machinery. Roy Hendry & Russell Beck, Joint Managing Directors are transferring 100% of their shares to the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) for the benefit of all its employees. Under the move, all employees will benefit financially from the future success of the company. Roy Hendry & Russell Beck, Joint Managing Directors, RR Engineering said: “It’s such a proud moment to be able to hand over RR Engineering. Selling the company we founded to our employees through the creation of the EOT ensures the stability of the business for the long-term and supports our desire for further continued growth. This move recognises the value that our fantastic team has delivered over the years, and it is a very exciting opportunity for each individual to take a pivotal role as the businesses progress. We’d like to wish Karen Bulman, Jamie Thompson, Matthew Taylor and Jamie Dixon all the best in their new leadership roles.  Creating a great place to work has always been fundamental to our business principles, and we’re very excited about the next stage of the journey.” RR Engineering was advised by Tariq Javaid, Corporate Finance Partner, Richard Weston, Corporate Finance Manager and Karen Sadler, Senior Tax Manager at Azets. Legal advice was provided by Chris Blantern at Tyr Law and Adrian Ballam at Ward Hadaway. Tariq Javaid, Corporate Finance Partner at Azets said: “RR Engineering is a business exceptionally well-suited for employee ownership, being an organisation with a strong culture, firmly established values, and an emphasis on the quality of its products and its people. It has been a privilege to work with Russ, Roy and the team in assisting them with this transition and I am confident that the company has a bright future as an employee-owned business”. ‘’Azets advised on 6 EOTs in Yorkshire in 2022 and we’ve already got several more in the pipeline this year. They are an increasingly popular option for the transition of ownership, given the wide range of benefits they can provide to the business, its owners and employees.”

New council promises to boost North Yorkshire businesses by promoting tourism

Stuart Pearcey
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New council promises to boost North Yorkshire businesses by promoting tourism
A strategy to promote tourism and to on world-famous heritage and culture is aiming to drive forward North Yorkshire’s economy and help support thousands of businesses. Already worth £1.5 billion a year from domestic visitors, tourism accounts for 11% of the county’s overall economy, and employs 41,200 workers, the visitor economy is a pillar of North Yorkshire’s economic prosperity. The new North Yorkshire Council, which launches on Saturday, will be instrumental in providing a co-ordinated county-wide plan to promote the visitor economy, while also ensuring the industry is centred around environmentally-friendly business growth. Council leader Carl Les, who will assume the leadership of the new authority, said: “By having one council we can join up and strengthen North Yorkshire’s cultural offer, lobby for a greater share of funding for arts and culture here and support a year-round visitor economy. “The new council will build on the globally recognised brand of North Yorkshire, advocating for the best possible opportunities for residents and businesses, while protecting and enhancing our landscapes and heritage.” The new council will launch when North Yorkshire County Council and the existing seven district and borough authorities, which are currently responsible for promoting tourism, merge in the biggest shake-up of local government since 1974 to pave the way for a devolution deal. Talks are already under way with politicians and other councils across Yorkshire after the Government announced in November that a national overhaul of destination management organisations, which promote tourism, will take place. The new council will be engaging with businesses, business networks and the leisure, culture and tourism sectors in the county in the coming weeks to help develop a strong partnership. Other schemes which will be overseen by North Yorkshire Council include work on High Street Heritage Action Zones in Northallerton, Selby and Skipton. These projects have unlocked more than £2 million in funding from the Government via Historic England to deliver a range of heritage, art and community projects, including engaging with young people through a digital recreation of Selby Abbey using Minecraft and a community and heritage hub on Northallerton’s High Street. Cllr Les said: “We want to strengthen our tourist and cultural offer, by ensuring there are year-round attractions, and increase visitor spend. “North Yorkshire Council will have a strong voice and will work with the county’s six MPs to ensure that the Government understands and acts on the issues that affect residents and businesses here. “Via devolution, we will have a real opportunity to lobby the Government to ensure North Yorkshire enjoys the benefits seen in urban areas, which have mayoral-led combined authorities.”

Rule change aims to enhance safety for whistleblowers

Stuart Pearcey
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Rule change aims to enhance safety for whistleblowers
A review of the whistleblowing framework – the laws that support workers who blow the whistle on wrongdoing in the workplace – has been launched by the Government today. The review will seek views and evidence from whistleblowers, key charities, employers and regulators. Whistleblowing refers to when a worker makes a disclosure of information which they reasonably believe shows wrongdoing or someone covering up wrongdoing.  Workers who blow the whistle are entitled to protections, which were introduced through the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA). Successive governments have taken steps to strengthen whistleblowing policy and practice. For authorities tackling corruption, fraud and other economic crime, whistleblowing is a crucial source of evidence, as these activities and their perpetrators can only be exposed by insiders. It also provides a route for employees to report unsafe working conditions and wrongdoing across all sectors. This was keenly felt during the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic, when the Care Quality Commission and Health and Safety Executive recorded sharp increases in the number of whistleblowing disclosures they received. Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:”Whistleblowing is a vital tool in tackling economic crime and unsafe working conditions, and the UK was one of the first countries in the world to develop a whistleblowing framework.

“This review has been a priority for me since joining government, and it will take stock of whether the whistleblowing framework is operating effectively and protects those who call out wrongdoing in the workplace.”

This review will cover central topics, key to the whistleblowing framework:
  • who is covered by whistleblowing protections.
  • the availability of information and guidance for whistleblowing purposes (both on gov.uk and that provided by employers).
  • how employers and prescribed persons respond to whistleblowing disclosures, including best practice.

Yorkshire Building Society signs pledge for responsible banking

Stuart Pearcey
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Yorkshire Building Society signs pledge for responsible banking
Yorkshire Building Society has become an official signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Banking – a single framework for a sustainable banking industry. The mutual has committed to identify and measure environmental and social impacts of its business activities, set and implement targets where it has the most impact and regularly report publicly on its progress. Developed through a partnership between banks worldwide and the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), the Principles ensure banks and building societies’ strategy and practice align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement. In signing the Principles, the Society joins the world’s largest global banking community focused on sustainable finance, sharing best-practice and working together on practical guidance and pioneering tools of benefit to the entire industry at a time when action is urgently needed to address the major planetary crises of climate change, nature loss, pollution and social issues. Susan Allen, chief executive at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “We’re committed to being a responsible business and playing our part in building a greener society. We want to ensure a better future for our members – providing practical support for the local communities we serve. Becoming a signatory of the Principles reaffirms this and underlines our drive to ensure a more positive tomorrow. “Working with fellow responsible banks and building societies we aim to accelerate the changes necessary to create a better future for all.”

Digital marketing experts prepare to unlock content ideas

Stuart Pearcey
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Digital marketing experts prepare to unlock content ideas
Digital marketing experts from across the region will assemble in Hull this week for the latest in the Power Hour series of events organised by 43 Clicks North (43CN). The event at Social, Humber Street, on Friday will bring together Leeds-based content specialists Ashley Liddell from the Sticky Eyes agency and Peter Lowes from Present Works. They will be joined by Marisa Crimlis-Brown, Senior Client Strategist at 43CN. Previous Power Hour events have attracted nearly 100 people for a free afternoon sharing ideas and eating pizza. For Power Hour 6 the focus will be on digital content and the audience is expected to include creators from other agencies and clients who want to connect more closely with their suppliers. Marisa, who held a number of senior marketing roles before joining 43CN in the autumn, will talk about how to persuade the people within an organisation to open up with the ideas that make great content. Ashley, the SEO Content Lead at Sticky Eyes who has returned to the University of Hull to study for his Masters, will explore how to maximise the impact of content and how to distribute it to achieve impact on more than one channel. Peter will draw on his experience with several leading agencies, including as Strategy Director at Present Works, which he co-founded nearly five years ago. Marisa said: “Content is one of the biggest frustrations for most brands because it sits inside the heads of the employees but they are so busy with their own day to day jobs. The challenge is to make it easy for them to share their ideas ready to promote across social media.” Mike Ellis, founder and Managing Director of 43CN, said Power Hour 6 will also showcase the company’s recent brand refresh as it continues build a digital community in Hull and strengthen links with partners across Yorkshire. Mike said: “We aim to present the Power Hour every three months but we delayed this one slightly because we have refreshed our brand and that will feed into this, but in a low key way. “It’s another stepping stone for us because we have now been going for five years and have evolved a lot. We refreshed our brand to better reflect our culture and the new aspects of performance marketing which we have brought into the business. We drew on the views of everybody in our 20-strong team in terms of what they think of the agency, because they are the agency. It marks a turning point for us as we continue to work to put Hull on the map in the digital world, and Power Hour is also a big part of that as we bring together people from some of the top agencies in the region.”

Doncaster company brings cancer diagnosis blood test to UK

Stuart Pearcey
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Doncaster company brings cancer diagnosis blood test to UK
A new blood test for cancer is being brought to the UK by Doncaster-based Accendo Supplies, believing it has finally found the right technology for early diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Accendo says it’s been amongst the first to recognise the diagnostic potential of this new technology. In a 1,000-subject clinical trial conducted in India, consisting of 500 cancer patients and 500 non-cancer patients, the HrC Test successfully detected who was who, with the 500 cancer patients encompassing 25 different types of cancer including: Breast, Liver, Ovarian, Lung, Leukemia, Renal, Bladder, Prostate, Pancreatic, Cervical, and Colon. Company Co-Founder & Director Steve Smith said: “When we first came across The HrC Test we were struck by the potential of having one test to detect all cancers. However, equally as important was to have a test that could definitively rule out cancer as a cause of illness, to definitively advise people that they are cancer-free. “We are currently working on arranging studies in the UK as to further evaluate the performance of this remarkable technology with a view to making the test available in the UK as quickly as possible. In our opinion, we have finally found the right technology to enable earlier detection & diagnosis of cancer.” The developers of the test claim that their technology can detect every type of cancer earlier than any other known technology, even prior to symptoms and tumour development. This makes The HrC Test the ideal test for cancer screening programmes in the UK. “The HrC Test offers us the opportunity to no longer be fearful of cancer as the disease can no longer hide from us, the challenge now is to turn this opportunity into reality for the benefit of all,” added Steve

Bridge repair specialist employs Grimsby people for Corporation Bridge project

Stuart Pearcey
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Bridge repair specialist employs Grimsby people for Corporation Bridge project
Hull-based Spencer Group’s work on Grimsby’s Grade II listed Corporation Bridge will involve companies from Grimsby, says Project Manager Ben Lorne. ““It’s always good to have local people working on a local structure such as this, which is why we’re using Grimsby companies in the delivery of this project.” Spencer Group will have a team upwards of 15 working on the project at any one time, as well as a local waste management company, to recycle redundant materials taken from the bridge and a Grimsby builder’s merchant and haulage company, as well as encouraging its own workforce to use nearby facilities to further boost the local economy. Mr Lorne said: “We’ll be safeguarding the bridge for future generations with structural, mechanical and electrical works, as well as painting to protect it from corrosion. “Much of the work will be done on the underside of the bridge, where we’ll be inspecting, repairing and replacing the structural beams that support the roadway. These works won’t necessarily be visible to the public, but are vital to keep it safe.” The Corporation Bridge restoration is a £5.1m scheme – funded by almost £3m from the Department for Transport, £1.83m set aside by the council and a further £320,000 from the Local Transport Fund. The Department for Transport funding is specifically ringfenced for these works. Diane Rowe, Customer Relationship Manager for Spencer Group, said: “It’s important with a project like this to engage with the community and employ local people wherever we can, which is what we’re doing.” “Anyone who wants to find out more about the project and how it’s progressing is more than welcome to get in touch with us for an update.”

Government seeks to boost tourism industry with grants of up to £100,000 for recreational sea fishing

Stuart Pearcey
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Government seeks to boost tourism industry with grants of up to £100,000 for recreational sea fishing
Up to £1 million has been made available for coastal communities across the UK to invest in new and improved infrastructure for recreational sea fishing. From today eligible applicants will be able to bid for between £10,000 and £100,000 for projects to upgrade recreational fishing facilities, reduce carbon emissions, support the protection and recovery of the marine environment, and provide training to help recreational sea fishermen operate in a more sustainable way. Recreational sea fishing involves fishing for the purposes of pleasure, tourism or sport. With an estimated two million recreational sea anglers taking to the water every year, recreational sea fishing contributes over £800 million to the UK economy annually and boosts local economies through activities such as fishing tournaments, boat rental, bait and tackle supply, and local tourism. Part of the £100 million UK Seafood Fund infrastructure scheme, this funding will ensure recreational fishing continues to prosper by backing projects which could enhance piers and harbours, create more accessible paths, floating walkways and pontoon dockings; and promote fishing tournaments.

Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said: “Recreational sea fishing is a small but mighty part of our fishing industry. It contributes to the economic growth of coastal communities and is a much-loved sport that can improve the health and well-being of those who take part.

“This new round of funding will encourage the development and expansion of the sport in coastal areas, promote and support more sustainable fishing practices, and ultimately make recreational fishing bigger and better for anglers across the UK.”

The £100 million UK Seafood Fund is supporting the long-term future and sustainability of the UK fishing and seafood industry by backing innovation, skills and job creation around our coastline. This funding is the latest from the UK infrastructure scheme and will be open until 19th June 2023. Applicants can apply here: Atamis Contracts Search (force.com). I

Government pumps more than £9m into farming to boost productivity

Stuart Pearcey
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Government pumps more than £9m into farming to boost productivity
Three projects are to share £9.13m of government funding for research and development on schemes to boost agricultural productivity, sustainability and climate resilience. The funding will support projects developing robotic crop harvesting for horticulture, an autonomous system to change cows’ bedding to improve their health, welfare and productivity, and a more environmentally-friendly approach to potato cultivation. The three projects are being supported through the Large R&D Partnership competition, which is part of the government’s £270 million Farming Innovation Programme, and a second round of the competition is currently open for applications. This is all part of the government’s commitment to spend around £600 million on grants to provide support for farmers to invest in productivity, animal health and welfare, innovation, research and development over three years. It will be funded from the £2.4 billion annual farming budget, which is being maintained at its current level for the rest of this current Parliament. Alongside the ongoing roll-out of the Environmental Land Management schemes, the grants will help to deliver long-term sustainable food production and support farmers to halt and reverse the decline of nature as set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan. Farming Minister Mark Spencer said: “It’s important that we fund projects like these – and those still to come in future rounds – as we support farmers to deliver sustainable food production and protect the environment.

“Innovation, research and development will help keep the sector at the cutting edge of technology as we look into the future.”

Raworths appoints Legal Director of Commercial Property team

Michael Fisher
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Raworths appoints Legal Director of Commercial Property team
Raworths in Harrogate has announced the appointment of Heather Roberts as Legal Director of its growing Commercial Property team. Heather is a commercial property specialist with more than 20 years’ experience acting for investors, developers, landlords, tenants and banks. Ranked in the Legal 500 – one of the UK’s leading independently researched guides to the legal profession – she offers a breadth of expertise from investment, development and asset management work to advising SME clients on their portfolio purchases and management. Heather joins from her previous role at McCormicks in Harrogate, bringing with her wealth of knowledge of the local and wider regional market. Comments Matthew Hill, Head of Commercial Client Services at Raworths: “We welcome Heather, whose specialist commercial property expertise will be a huge asset to our growing team which has benefitted from a raft of new client wins over the past few months. There are major opportunities for us to grow our business in this sector, driven by a stronger than anticipated market post-pandemic and growth more broadly across the region where the demand for space continues to surge. Heather’s appointment is part of a strategic recruitment drive for our commercial team as we look to grow our client portfolio across the region and nationwide.” Raworths offers exceptional integrated services for both commercial and private clients under one roof, offering a genuinely integrated approach which enables its teams work together on complex issues across its clients’ personal and business affairs. As part of her remit, Heather will also work closely with the wider commercial team including the dispute resolution, employment and corporate & commercial teams. Adds Heather: “I have been aware of Raworths’ reputation as a legal firm which builds lasting relationships with its clients, and at the heart of that is the unique way the team can draw upon the skills and expertise of their colleagues across disciplines. This approach really appeals to me, and I’m excited to add to the incredible pool of talent here to help grow the commercial property business. The firm proactively supports and nurtures the ongoing development of its team at all levels, and I also hope to play a key role in cultivating the skills of our expanding team going forwards.”

North Lincolnshire firms get behind Council’s fostering initiative

Stuart Pearcey
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North Lincolnshire firms get behind Council’s fostering initiative
A number of businesses have pledged their support to a new Fostering Friendly Scheme launched by North Lincolnshire Council. Businesses who have already committed their support include Deligraze, Hirst Priory, The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft, Mumaroo, The Islamic Centre and Belton Kitchen. Following the launch at the Baths Hall, a further 20 businesses want to find out how they can get involved and join the other flagship organisations driving the Fostering Friendly Scheme forward across North Lincolnshire. Hazel Wheatley, MD of Hirst Priory, said: “We look forward to supporting the scheme in any way we can. We will be reviewing our HR policy to include fostering friendly support, provide work experience for young people in care and a safe space for foster carers to gather for social events, offering sponsorship prizes as well as displaying information across our various platforms.” Cllr Julie Reed, cabinet member for children and families, said: “Our foster carers are the most amazing, resilient, and dedicated people who show love and empathy to all of our children. “Every child deserves the chance to live a full life, to reach for the stars and our foster carers support and enable them in achieving this into adulthood. “This scheme is an initiative that we as an existing Fostering Friendly employer are proud to be a part of and are looking to businesses and employers in our community to support the inspirational work that our foster carers do every day and empower them to continue to guide them into adulthood, transforming our children’s lives. “Many of our foster carers choose to foster alongside employment and it is refreshing to see so many local businesses pledging their support. It will ensure that our children can continue to grow up in their community, with local foster carers being supported by a Fostering Friendly County.” The Fostering Friendly Scheme is open to all types of businesses and organisations and will focus on two strands: helping employers to support and understand the roles of their employees who foster or who might be interested in fostering alongside raising awareness of and supporting fostering in the community. Ray Nolan, Director of Nolan Interiors Limited, said: “The whole event was extremely positive and highlighted the amazing work foster carers provide for children, especially in encouraging and supporting them to succeed in life. “These children are the employers and employees of the future and as a local business, I am more than happy to support this scheme however I can.” Members of the Fostering Friendly Scheme can engage and support in a variety of ways – all of which can be individualised to each organisation. The engagement could include raising awareness in the community and across social media, offering discounts for foster carers or children in care, providing work experience, offering space for training, or even putting in place a HR policy for all foster carers in their employment that offers flexibility to their employees. Those who join the scheme will receive comprehensive information, guidance, and support from the North Lincolnshire Council’s Fostering Team throughout the entire process and during their time as a member of the scheme. If you are interested in finding out more and signing up to this scheme, contact the team on 01724 297000, email fostering@northlincs.gov.uk or express your interest on the North Lincolnshire council website.

Yorkshire developer acquires site for commercial scheme

Michael Fisher
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Yorkshire developer acquires site for commercial scheme
Leeds based Wilton Developments has purchased the 33-acre Dynamo Park site on Cheltenham Road in Stockton-On-Tees for an undisclosed sum. The developer behind the recently completed Latitude logistics development on the M62 near Leeds and Enterprise Park in Barnsley, both for CBRE Investment Managers, and the successful 70-acre Turbine Business Park in Sunderland intends to capitalise on its extensive experience to deliver another high quality commercial scheme, as part of its commitment to logistics and industrial space in the Northern Power House. The scheme has the capability to deliver circa 600,000 sq. ft. of industrial, storage and warehouse space on a prime A19 frontage, adjacent to the junction for the popular retail and trade location at Portrack Lane. The site benefits from an outline planning permission for almost 400,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and reserved matters (detailed) permission for circa 220,000 sq. ft. Together this could foster more than 1,070 jobs on the site, with many more in associated supply chains linked to the scheme. Jason Stowe, Managing Director of Wilton Developments, said: “The scheme will deliver high quality employment space, job opportunities, inward investment and economic growth in the area, capitalising on the lack of available opportunities in the wider north east for businesses wanting to upgrade their facilities to new levels of design and ESG credentials. “The acquisition provides a great opportunity to deliver a variety of industrial, storage and warehouse space adjacent to the A19.” Wilton Developments is active across the north of England, where the company has delivered prime new build and refurbished commercial space, including the forthcoming Leeds 500, which is the largest single unit distribution scheme in the city of Leeds, with reserved matters consent providing approximately 500,000 sq. ft. of BREEAM Excellent logistics/industrial space alongside the M1 at Junction 47. The company also secured the largest single reserved matters planning permission in the UK for 1.15 million sq. ft. of industrial space at Doncaster North, as part of a 2.26 million sq. ft. of reserved matters consents in the first phase. These consents are part of Wilton’s wider 3.5 million sq. ft. industrial and logistics development close to the M62/M18 interchange which is set to create around 8,500 jobs for the region.

Project to boost female entrepreneurship in Leeds launches at Unity Business Centre

Michael Fisher
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Project to boost female entrepreneurship in Leeds launches at Unity Business Centre
Unity Business Centre has hosted the launch of a new programme designed to empower female entrepreneurs in Leeds to achieve their business goals. The Fund Her Leeds project – a combination of virtual and in-person events – has been developed by Fund Her North in partnership with the Yorkshire Asian Business Association (YABA) and backed by grant funding from Leeds City Council’s Innovation@Leeds programme. It aims to provide focussed support for selected female entrepreneurs, particularly those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, in areas including access to bespoke finance, readiness for growth and pitch deck preparation. The launch event included speeches from two senior elected members of Leeds City Council – Cllr Salma Arif, Executive Member for Public Health and Active Lifestyles, and Cllr Mohammed Rafique, Executive Member for Environment and Housing – together with contributions from YABA Board member Dally Purewal and Fund Her North co-founders Jordan Dargue and Helen Oldham. Welcoming participants, Jordan Dargue said: “To be able to grow a business successfully, you have got to bring investment in – whether that is grant-based investment, community investment or private equity.  However, for every pound that goes into a male-founded business in the UK, only one penny goes into a female-founded business which is clearly very unbalanced. “That is why it is so fantastic to see such see a diverse group of women in the room.  I am delighted we are doing this programme at Unity Business Centre.” The building is one of three centres operated by Unity Enterprise, the not-for-profit subsidiary of Leeds-based housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise, to support entrepreneurial activity in the city. Sharon Jandu OBE, Unity Enterprise Chair, told the gathering: “I believe in powerful business partnerships.  This is a fantastic partnership with Fund Her North, YABA and Leeds City Council who are all doing amazing things. “Unity Enterprise is proud to be teaming up with them to run this programme right in the heart of the local community.” Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive, said: “Fund Her Leeds is a first class initiative which we are really pleased to host. “Unity is wholly committed to inclusive growth by helping people set up and grow their own successful business.  Each new enterprise has the potential to transform life chances by boosting career opportunities, creating jobs and increasing local prosperity. “The outstanding speaker line-up and the impressive group of participants at the launch of Fund Her Leeds highlights the depth and quality of female entrepreneurs in the city and the collective determination to achieve even greater business outcomes.”

Digital health business secures £1m investment from Finance Yorkshire

Stuart Pearcey
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Digital health business secures £1m investment from Finance Yorkshire
Leeds-based digital health and AI business Medwise.ai has secured a £1m investment from Finance Yorkshire and other investors. Medwise.ai is a search platform for medical professionals and healthcare organisations which significantly reduces the time clinicians spend looking up information during consultations, enabling them to see more patients and improve care quality. Finance Yorkshire is investing £400,000 from its Seedcorn Fund and led the overall funding round of more than £1m, with participation from health-tech investors StartUp Health and CalmStorm VC and deep-tech accelerator and venture capital fund Deeptech Labs. Medwise.ai also has the backing of clinician investors Dr Michelle Tempest at Candesic and Dr Chris Kelly at Google Health. SFC Capital has made a follow-on investment after leading a previous round of funding for Medwise.ai. The company will use the investment to scale up operations and strengthen its sales and marketing activities in the UK. Stephen Cardwell, of Finance Yorkshire, will join the Medwise.ai board. The Medwise.ai search platform uses natural language processing and artificial intelligence technology to help clinicians quickly find concise and actionable answers at the point of care. It aggregates results and integrates with information sources such as national guidance websites and local guidelines documents. Dr Keith Tsui, the company’s chief executive and co-founder said: “I am thrilled to have secured our seed funding and excited to accelerate our mission to empower clinicians with AI and search technologies. “Our product provides clinicians with one search for clinical knowledge and local guidelines. Instead of Googling or going through outdated local websites or intranets, Medwise.ai enables clinicians to find the information they need to make decisions for patients rapidly at the point of care.” Alex McWhirter, chief executive of Finance Yorkshire, said: “Medwise.ai will empower clinicians to be more efficient, make better decisions and spend more time with their patients. We are pleased to lead this funding round and look forward to working with the Medwise.ai team as they scale up their operations and provide a further boost to the burgeoning healthcare technology sector in our region.” Finance Yorkshire’s Seedcorn Fund is part of a wider regional business fund which is expected to provide more than £50m to SMEs over five years. Investment is also available from its Growth and Business Loans Funds.

Young Yorkshire entrepreneurs share in £10,000 of business-boosting grants

Stuart Pearcey
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Young Yorkshire entrepreneurs share in £10,000 of business-boosting grants

Ten Yorkshire entrepreneurs under 30 years old have each been given thousand-pound grants from philanthropist Richard Harpin.

The grants were made after they’d pitched at a StartUp Saturday event attended by more than 60 ambitious local entrepreneurs, and organised by York City Council. The grants cash was provided by philanthropist Richard Harpin, co-founder and former CEO of home improvements and repairs firm HomeServe, via his York-based enterprise charity the Enterprise Trust. He said: “I’m passionate about supporting young entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses.  I was a keen self-starter in my youth and that early hands-on experience helped to shape the entrepreneurial career I’ve had ever since.  That’s why I believe we should do everything we can to introduce and nurture enterprise in the next generation. The grants were awarded to: •    York-based Ruby Willow, Femme Cacao (food and drink) •    George Lewis (York University),Sailia (tech) •    Leeds-based Martin Sabucha, Stag Strat (tech) •    York-based Joly Black, Four Wheel Drive York Ltd (creative) •    York-based Olivia Heppell, Skintelligence (beauty) •    York-based Ryan Willis, Open World Quests (themed walks) •    York-based Jessica Riley, Mind Body Beauty (beauty) •    York-based Josh Fowler, Clean & Restore (furniture restoration) •    Harrogate-based Olivia Kitteridge, Real Time Stories (education) •    Pickering-based Lyes Berkache, Yorloos (portable toilets) Cllr. Ashley Mason, Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning, said: “For centuries, York has been built on the kind of entrepreneurial spirit that was clear to see at this informative and inspiring event. “It was fantastic to welcome Enterprise Nation to the city and to hear about the range of exciting business ideas on show. I’d like to congratulate the ten grant winners, whose ideas stood out as particularly innovative and promising. “I’d encourage anyone with a new business in York, or who is looking for advice on starting one to take full advantage of the local support. This includes support from our Business Growth Managers, and our weekly business newsletter which will help you stay up to date with events, funding opportunities and the latest news from the council and beyond.” StartUp Saturday is part of the nation-wide StartUp UK initiative, a partnership between Enterprise Nation and Monzo Business. The event in York was facilitated by City of York Council and Enterprise Nation to help support the diverse range of small and independent businesses in the city. Emma Jones, CEO and founder of Enterprise Nation, guided attendees through every aspect of founding a start-up, from writing a business plan to navigating the world of finance.
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