New company offers firms solar energy benefits with no upfront costs
Global financial services group company Macquarie Energy Leasing Limited has launched a new rooftop solar business in Great Britain. OnStream Solar will fund, install and maintain onsite rooftop solar PV systems and offer Power Purchase Agreements to commercial and industrial customers.
OnStream Solar seeks to accelerate the uptake of solar by commercial and industrial energy consumers across Great Britain by offering to install onsite projects at no upfront cost in exchange for a PPA.
This offers medium-to-large businesses a capital efficient way to save on their energy costs whilst directly reducing their carbon emissions and contributing towards their ESG goals. Thanks to strong cost declines over the last decade, rooftop solar typically enables consumers to reduce and stabilise their energy costs, especially in the current environment of high and often changing grid electricity prices.
OnStream Solar is able to support installations of all sizes and will initially be working with businesses operating in sectors such as cold storage, warehousing, logistics, data centres, manufacturing, food and beverage and retail and tourism.
Neil Denley, MD of Macquarie Energy Leasing Limited said: “As more businesses focus on rising costs, the challenges around the energy transition are shifting. The launch of OnStream Solar marks an important milestone in our ambition to create a leading commercial and industrial rooftop solar development platform. An agile, flexible, development-focused business, backed by the global expertise, resources and reach of Macquarie, OnStream Solar is the perfect vehicle to help businesses retain competitiveness whilst delivering on their sustainability ambitions.”
OnStream Solar builds on Macquarie Energy Leasing Limited’s two decades of experience and expertise working in the UK on behind-the-meter energy solutions and aims to offer a broad range of financial, environmental and operational benefits to its customers. Macquarie Energy Leasing Limited continues to support energy suppliers with the roll-out of smart meters as one of the largest independent investors in meters in Great Britain.1
York offers free tech advice to city businesses
Businesspeople in York can boost their digital skills through at a business event set up in a collaboration between the city council and Google Digital Garage, provide three webinars and a free, in-person training and mentoring day.
Google Digital Garage provides online and live webinar digital skills training to businesses and to individuals in the UK to help people grow their skills, businesses or careers.
In addition to the training, each business that attends the workshops will be able to sign up to free 1-to-1 online mentoring with Google Digital Experts to ensure they can get guidance tailored to their specific digital needs – from building your brand on YouTube, Google Search and Maps to creating more ways to bring customers to your business.
The event will take place on Thursday 18 May at the Hospitium and is free to attend. Places are limited so people are advised to book ahead.
Councillor Ashley Mason, Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning, said: “We continue our work to empower and support our thriving local business community, enabling local entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and access advice and support.
“I’m delighted that our first event of 2023 was such a success, with so many attendees taking the opportunity to develop their skills. With the ‘Courageous Females’ course now fully booked, we hope it will support and inspire more local women in business.
“This event is open to anyone working for a York business. I’d encourage anyone in York’s business sector, whether leading an established business or thinking of starting one, to attend the event and boost their digital skills.”
Debbie Weinstein, MD of Google UK & Ireland, said: “Digital technologies are truly transformative and can help businesses and individuals across the UK to increase their earnings, boost their productivity and unlock their full potential.
“As a former business owner myself, I understand how tough it is to know where to turn to for advice. That’s why we’re providing hands-on support as part of our nationwide digital skills drive to help equip more people with invaluable skills that help to create jobs and economic opportunities.”
New law protects seafarers’ wages and blocks legal loopholes
Thousands of seafarers regularly entering UK waters should now enjoy better pay protections thanks to a newly-passed law boosting their rights and protecting working conditions while preventing firms from using legal loopholes to pay low wages.
It’s the Seafarers’ Wages Act, which has been given Royal Assent and is designed to protect those working on vessels operating an international service from being paid less than the National Minimum Wage.
The law change will also require authorities to charge operators of vessels who do not provide evidence they’re paying their seafarers the equivalent to National Minimum Wage and to refuse harbour access to those who continue to fail to comply.
Last year, P&O Ferries shamelessly sacked nearly 800 staff without notice or consultation. The UK government has acted swiftly to progress its 9-point plan in response to this disgraceful behaviour and remains committed to seafarers as a priority, both domestically and internationally.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “Our maritime sector is world-leading. That’s down to the thousands of hardworking seafarers working tirelessly to maintain supply chains and transport passengers safely across our waters.
“These workers deserve a fair wage and I’m therefore delighted to see our Seafarers’ Wages Act become law, helping improve pay and protect seafarers from exploitation.”
The government continues to engage with the UK’s near European neighbours to protect seafarers’ welfare and pay, and explore the creation of minimum wage equivalent corridors in our respective territorial waters. Earlier this month, during the UK-France summit in Paris, the Transport Secretary met his French counterpart Clément Beaune, with both nations pledging to continue working together to improve conditions for those working in the Channel and to protect them from exploitation.FET prepares for INDEX 23 Exhibition in Geneva
Fibre Extrusion Technology Ltd (FET) of Leeds, UK will shortly be exhibiting at INDEX 23, the world’s leading nonwovens exhibition in Geneva, 18-21 April.
As well as featuring its latest meltblown and spunbond technology, FET will focus on its new Fibre Development Centre. Construction and fit-out of this new purpose-built building is now fully operational and welcoming visitors. This modern two-storey development provides state-of-the-art facilities, including enhanced laboratory for client testing and product development.
FET designs, develops and manufactures extrusion equipment for a wide range of high value textile material applications worldwide, with nonwovens playing an ever-increasing role. Central to FET’s success has always been its ability to provide customers with advanced facilities and equipment, together with unrivalled knowledge and expertise in research and production techniques. The new Fibre Development Centre will further improve this service. Clients frequently spend several days on site participating in development trials and technical sales meetings, so the new Centre is designed to make their stay even more efficient and comfortable.
Resident equipment in the Fibre Development Centre reflects the wide range of fibre extrusion systems offered by FET to clients across the globe and will enable continued growth of the company through innovation.
Complementing FET’s highly successful meltblown technology, the more recent spunbond range provides unprecedented opportunities for the scaled development of new nonwoven fabrics based on a wide range of fibres and polymers, including bicomponents.
“FET has long been a leading exponent of sustainability in fibre technology and the company’s commitment to extending its range of systems that enable sustainability is clearly illustrated in our message at INDEX 23” says FET Managing Director Richard Slack. “We are celebrating FET’s 25th anniversary since incorporation and look forward to meeting customers old and new at the exhibition in Geneva, where we can discuss your nonwoven technology requirements in detail.”
Bank of England announces interest rate increase to 4.25%
The Bank of England has voted 7-2 to raise interest rates from 4% to 4.25%.
This marks the 11th increase in a row as the BoE struggles to get to grips with the country’s spiraling rate of inflation.
Grants of more than £300,000 offered to Keighley and Shipley businesses
Keighley and Shipley businesses are being invited to apply for grants of up to £315,000 to help them grow or develop – and several businesses are already benefiting.
The Keighley & Shipley Towns Fund Business Growth Programme is a capital grant to support businesses to develop and grow within the Keighley and Shipley Towns Fund Areas. The Programme is designed to help new start-ups and small, medium-sized and large businesses based in, or looking to move to the Keighley and Shipley Towns Fund areas. The funding can be used to either expand, increase productivity, create a new business, safeguard existing jobs and/or create new jobs.
The Towns Fund is a Government-funded support programme to boost the economies of towns across the UK. The programme is part of the Government’s Levelling Up plan. Decisions on grants are made by Towns Fund Boards for each town, which are made up of private sector representatives with support from Bradford Council.
The scheme has secured £33m for projects in Keighley and £25m for Shipley. The Business Growth Programme Capital Grant is a £4m fund to directly support businesses within these areas with £2m each allocated to the Keighley and Shipley Towns Fund areas.
The grant scheme was launched in the last quarter of 2022 and is now open for applications. Businesses can apply for grants of £1,500 to £315,000 at an intervention rate of ten to 30 per cent. Businesses will need to provide quotes for their capital projects and other supporting information, including financial details, proof of ownership of the property or of a minimum three-year lease.
The programme can also help businesses to invest in ‘greener’ measures, such as solar panels, double glazing and more energy efficient roofing, if such investments aid increased productivity, efficiency, growth and job creation or protection.
Projects already supported by the scheme include:
- Yorkshire Precision Engineering Ltd, Keighley had their application approved to fund a new type of lathe to increase production capabilities and allow the development of new products for the healthcare sector, a new market for the business.
- Pave Haworth Ltd, a deli and bistro in Haworth – funding to extend into empty premises next door. The money will part-fund work to expand seating capacity, and extend the kitchen and basement. The project will also create three new full-time jobs and a number of part-time and seasonal posts.
- Chef Akila Ltd, an Indian ready meal manufacturer, received funding to fit out their new premises in Keighley. They also bought new equipment, employed new kitchen staff and were able to work more closely with suppliers as productivity increased.
- Byworth Boilers Ltd, a manufacturer of industrial boilers, has had its grant application approved to help replace old bending rolls with a larger capacity new set of CNC Davi rolls which will allow the company to improve productivity and increase capacity. The investment will also create five new jobs.
Work starts on project to restore Hull building’s 1930s glamour
Major restoration work has begun on Hull’s landmark Grade II-listed Burton building to restore the crumbling granite façade and art deco windows to their 1930s grandeur by the end of the year..
The building’s modern shopfronts will be replaced with new frontages in keeping with the original style and design. The ground floor is being renovated to enable its use as a restaurant or retail outlet, with flexible space available on the upper floors.
The building, on the corner of Whitefriargate and Carr Lane in the city centre, has four floors, plus a basement, together covering 11,000 sq ft. The proposed retail or restaurant area on the ground floor will offer 2,400 sq ft of floorspace, with the first, second and third floors each covering 2,500 sq ft.
Regeneration specialist Wykeland Group is leading the project, working closely with Historic England and Hull City Council’s Conservation Officer.
The project is being carried out without occupiers lined up, underlining Hull-based Wykeland’s commitment to preventing a landmark building falling into dereliction and bringing it back into sustainable use.
Jonathan Stubbs, Development Director at Wykeland, said: “The start of restoration work marks the opening of an exciting new chapter for one of Hull’s most distinctive and recognisable buildings.
“Since acquiring the former Burton building, our priority has been to deliver a sympathetic, faithful restoration which will bring an important asset back into use.
“This project is an important part of our long-term commitment to the regeneration of the city centre and especially the gateway to Whitefriargate, which links the heart of the city with the Old Town and waterfront.
“It builds on our track record of successful regeneration in our home city, including our part in the transformation of the Fruit Market waterfront area from near dereliction into a thriving, mixed use community.”
As much as 80% of the granite cladding on the Burton building is damaged. Replacement granite has been sourced from the same quarry in Norway, matching the geographical origin of the original stone, which is in a poor condition.
The art deco windows, which have suffered heavily from corrosion and distortion, will be replaced with new windows which are sympathetic to the original style of the building.
The building’s shopfronts will be enhanced with a new design which reflects historical photos and drawings of the building, dating back to the 1930s, while the original entrance to the store will be reinstated. Three replica art deco-style Burton signs will also be installed in their original locations on the outside of the building, including parapet signage on the roof line.
Inside, significant restoration work has already seen the original lift refurbished, with the parquet floor extensive plasterwork to be undertaken in this next phase of work. The upper floors will see some walls removed to create bright, open-plan spaces.
Due to the extent of the restoration work and the building’s listed status, grant funding was essential to make the project viable. The project is being supported by £750,000 from the Levelling Up Fund Grant Scheme, with a further £450,000 grant from Historic England.
Fashion retailer plans ten-shop upgrade of its bricks-and-mortar high street presence
Leeds based fashion and homes retailer Joe Browns plans to open ten stores across the UK by the end of next year, creating 200 jobs.
The announcement significantly increases its bricks and mortar footprint from the two existing stores at Meadowhall and in York.
In terms of locations for the other ten stores, the retailer says it is actively researching the most suitable shopping centres, cities and towns across the UK.
Chief Exec Peter Alecock said: “Extending our bricks and mortar footprint is a key building block to growing future brand awareness and sales. In simple terms, it’s about getting the brand visible to as many potential customers as we can.
“We know from our two existing stores, that customers are returning to the High Street and are wanting a variety of ways to shop with us.
“The new stores will bring to life everything that is remarkable about Joe Browns in environments that are unique to us, backed up with engaging customer service from colleagues that live and breath the Joe Browns ethos.
“We are looking at a variety of locations that we can share when we have signed on the dotted line. We really can’t wait to get cracking – its exciting times for the evolution of Joe Browns and when better than in our 25th year.”
The retailer recently shared what it called a ‘robust Christmas’ with sales up 19.5%in the four weeks to last Christmas, with sales in Menswear up 35.2%, Womenswear up 8.2% and home up 27%.
LEP Chair fears government plans could silence the voice of business
The Chancellor’s announcement that he is minded to cease funding Local Enterprise Partnerships beyond 2023/24, raises serious questions about consequent costs and the role of business, according to LEP Network Chair Mark Bretton.
He says that by implication, the Growth Hubs that have helped support millions of small businesses will also lose funding.
He said: “The Chancellor’s statement was a further step in LEPs’ evolving role in the devolution agenda, if not managed well, it could significantly diminish or even silence the voice of local business and damage the unique convening power that gets projects delivered, acknowledged as the hallmark of LEP success for over a decade.
“We have now received the letter from Ministers and met with Officials. The letter included clear statements from Ministers that the “minded to” decision is not about performance, but is driven by political policy. Our meetings have revealed the full scale of the challenge and complexity facing Officials – most LEPs are incorporated companies, a structure insisted upon by Government. Unravelling this with the trailing liabilities and accountability for significant sums of money will not be simple, yet we need to do all of this whilst continuing to deliver for our local communities.
“What the 2000 business leaders, 350 FE and HE Principals and Vice Chancellors and, indeed, the 200 democratically-elected local politicians on our LEP boards want to be clear on is that:
- Whitehall recognises the transition will cost money, not save it, under the new burdens rule on Local Authorities, whereby any new functions must be funded by government, both LAs and government need to agree what these functions would cost to effectively deliver them. There is no money in the LEP system or core funding settlement to pay for this exercise which will only serve to divert scarce resources from where they should be focused, stimulating economic growth and supporting local enterprise;
- LEP directors cannot be expected to shoulder ongoing liabilities and going concern commitments. Government must provide full indemnities and take complete responsibility for the implications of their decisions;
- Business must not be silenced or made ineffective – it must retain a meaningful voice to ensure investment is relevant and that it enables the creation of jobs – after all it is business which creates jobs, not government;
- Lessons learned, especially in business case assessment, project execution governance and the delivery of committed outcomes are not lost. Government needs to avoid a “cookie cutter” approach and ensure solutions are locally tailored.
- Most importantly, that the 1000 people employed in our Executive teams are respected and their talent is not wasted.
Cottingham wins UK’s ‘top market’ accolade
Cottingham Market, held every Thursday in the town’s Market Green, has been named Best Small Outdoor Market at the annual Great British Market Awards.
The market is owned by East riding of Yorkshire Council, and run on licence by the Cottingham Market Traders Co-op.
The Great British Market Awards are run each year by the National Association of British Market Authorities.
John Dyson, one of the longest-standing traders at the market and a member of the co-op, was presented with the award at the ceremony in Birmingham.
He said: “It’s an achievement to win this national award. We’re only a small market and all the traders are friends.”
The market has around 25 stalls, selling a variety of food, clothing and other goods, and is known for its social media presence.
Councillor Jane Evison, the council’s portfolio holder for economic investment, growth, and tourism, said: “This is a great result for Cottingham, and for the East Riding, to win this national award.
“This market is a perfect example of a positive, proactive working relationship between traders and the council, and is vital to this village.”
David Preston, chief executive of NABMA, said Cottingham Market was chosen to win the award for a number of outstanding reasons.
He said: “It is the hub, and a focal point of activity, for its local community with a variety of traditional and modern stalls.
“The market is also renowned as a visitor attraction with many themed and special market events.
“It has excellent social media platforms, a huge trader buy-in and has positive leadership and supportive management that is an example for others to follow.”
More than 90 business leaders help with getting offenders into work
More than 90 business experts have been enlisted as prison employment advisors to help drive thousands of prison leavers into work and away from a life of crime.
Bosses from top firms including the Co-op, Greggs, Iceland, and Oliver Bonas have now been appointed as Employment Advisory Board chairs in all 92 resettlement prisons, which help prepare prisoners nearing the end of their sentence for release into the community.
The Boards link prisons to leading business figures who can offer their expertise on the skills, qualifications and training needed to help prisoners re-enter the workforce.
Using these insights, prisons can tailor their training and workshops to match local labour market demands so ex-offenders are job-ready when they walk out the prison gate.
The initiative was launched in March 2022 and will play a crucial role in boosting the UK economy while tackling the £18 billion annual cost of reoffending, with ex-prisoners in steady employment being nine percentage points less likely to reoffend.
Getting more prison leavers into work helps to protect the public and the number in employment 6 months after release increased by almost two thirds between April 2021 and March 2022, from 14 per cent to 23 per cent.
Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor Dominic Raab said: “Our innovative scheme is helping to get ex-offenders into work, keeping them on the straight and narrow while providing businesses with the staff they need to grow.
“We are already seeing the rewards with more prison leavers in work six months after release – helping them turn their backs on crime, contribute to society and saving the taxpayer money.”
Research from the Ministry of Justice shows that 90% of businesses that employ ex-offenders agreed that they are good attenders, motivated and trustworthy*. Harnessing the talent from those leaving the prison is already supporting employers to fill vacancies bringing benefits to businesses and the UK economy. Dan Whyte, former prisoner, founder and Co-Director of DWRM Consultants, said: “When I received my life sentence, I had no qualifications at all, but I was determined to use my time inside productively by studying and focusing on the career I wanted when I walked through the prison gates.“Having a job gave me the direction I needed to stay on the straight and narrow after my release, and I now run a successful business helping prisoners get access to university training and education.”
Richard Walker, Exec Chairman at Iceland Foods, said: “The rehabilitation of offenders back into the workforce can offer huge benefits to UK businesses and give those individuals seeking employment a much-needed lifeline. At Iceland we feel it’s the right thing to do, and although we’re at the beginning of this rehabilitation journey we are already seeing how it can offer real societal and business impact.“Employment Advisory Boards allow business leaders, including Iceland’s own Director of Rehabilitation Paul Cowley, an inside track to support ex-offenders, equipping them with much needed skills that employers like us will value both now and in the future.”
Inventive name earns £2,500 business development prize for Sheffield company
Sheffield-based ethical school chick hatching project business Eggucation has been crowned by the public as Britain’s Best Small Business Name for 2023, winning a £2,500 prize with which to support business growth.
The competition by SME insurance provider Simply Business was launched to celebrate the wit, creativity, and humour of the nation’s small business owners.
Eggucation picked up 21% of the total votes, beating competition from the likes of Grimsby’s It Started with a Stitch and Leaky Finders Ltd.
With more than 10 years’ experience enhancing science and STEM education with their ethical schools hatching projects, Eggucation provides high quality and ethically-sound enrichment experiences in schools right across the UK. A passionate team of rare-breed poultry breeders, the company looks to provide schools with ‘Conservation in the Classroom‘ experiences.
Company founder Deb Howe said:“It was a thrill just to be nominated as part of the Simply Business’ competition to find Britain’s best small business name, but to win is absolutely fabulous and I’m humbled by the support both from the public and my clients.
“The name is easy to remember, unique and most importantly, always brings a smile to people’s faces. The name has helped bring to life my ambition for the business which is to give young people the opportunity to make real and memorable links to nature, sustainable food and farming.
“I would love every school to share this eggsperience and the £2,500 prize money from Simply Business will really help me continue to educate students on a message close to my heart.”
Alan Thomas, UK CEO at Simply Business said: “We’re incredibly proud to provide tailored insurance to over 800,000 creative and diverse SMEs across the UK. The impact that a memorable name can have on your business is incredible – our research showed that people really warm to small businesses who have shown their personality through an imaginative name – and Eggucation is a worthy winner of our annual competition.”
“SMEs have been hit harder than most in recent years so it is nice to have an opportunity to celebrate them. With close to six million small businesses across the UK, they are the lifeblood of our communities and collectively provide trillions of pounds to the UK economy. It is a real pleasure to award Eggucation with a £2,500 grant to support their business journey.”
Hull Trains plans £1.2m spend to redevelop Howden Station’s platforms
Hull Trains intends to spend £1.2m on improvements at Howden Station, with platform levels will be raised to reduce the stepping distance on and off trains, with the money coming from the company’s £3m Passenger Infrastructure Improvements Fund.
Paul Jackson, Head of Customer & Stakeholder Engagement at Hull Trains, said: “Since the introduction of our sParagon train fleet, the stepping distance from platform to train has increased at the latter end of each platform at Howden. We therefore identified these improvement works as a priority and are confident that passengers of all mobility levels will benefit from greater accessibility when the installation is completed.”
Hull Trains will be working in close partnership with station operator Northern, as well as Network Rail and TransPennine Express, to make sure that disruption is kept to a minimum while the platform redevelopment is underway.
There will be no impact to customer walking routes as the installation will take place overnight, with the platforms and waiting shelters remaining open during the day. Noise blankets will also be used during construction to effectively manage sound levels so that nearby residents are not disturbed.
Tony Baxter, regional director at Northern, said: “All investment in rail infrastructure is to be welcomed – especially if it has a direct improvement on the customer experience and makes the railway more accessible. I would like to thank customers for their co-operation and patience while this work is carried out.”
Works will take place overnight, starting on 27th March with a mid-May completion date.
Hull Trains MD Martijn Gilbert added: “Improving accessibility at Howden is part of an ongoing investment in our services at Hull Trains, and follows the introduction of a brand-new train fleet and increase in services in recent years. The project is an important part of us continuing to provide reliable, affordable and low carbon train services that are easy for everyone to access along our route.”
Doncaster ‘dismayed’ at failing to be chosen as Great British Rail HQ
Doncaster Chamber Chief Exec Dan Fell says he’s dismayed that the city’s been passed over for this opportunity to be the HQ for Great British Rail, considering that it met every piece of criteria outlined by the government.
He said: “For over a century, rail has always been an inseparable part of our DNA. The iconic Mallard and Flying Scotsmen locomotives were built right on our very doorstep and today many key suppliers within the rail industry are based here in South Yorkshire.
“Not to mention, our region has got its act together when it comes to creating a skilled pipeline of future rail industry workers, thanks to specialist education providers like Doncaster University Technical College.
“For these reasons and many more, I believe that we were the clear right choice to host GBR. I lament the fact that government did not recognise this but also lament the fact that, as a region, we perhaps did not do quite enough to present an unassailable case to them.
“It would be easy to blame this decision on politics and that will, no doubt, have been a factor. However, local and regional partners — inclusive of the Chamber — also need to look themselves in the mirror and ask what we might have done better. Too many things are not going Doncaster and South Yorkshire’s way at present, and we need to forensically understand why that is.
“That said, our region did fight hard for this and put significant resources into the campaign. It is a shame that — in common with previous government-instigated competitions, such as Free Ports — that this effort has been largely abortive. We can only hope that, in the future, the government will not continue to leave its important decision-making up to resource-sapping competitions like this.
“While we may have missed out on this particular bid, it is important to remember that there are still other exciting opportunities on the horizon that we must seize. Looking ahead to the future, we will be campaigning for the establishment of a second UTC in Doncaster, after the first was such a resounding success, lobbying for a new hospital, and looking for other ways to drive growth in our region.
“Not to mention, it is imperative that we persist in the ongoing fight for Doncaster Sheffield Airport. If the government is truly serious about its commitment to levelling up, then backing these key projects would be a good way to compensate for overlooking South Yorkshire today.”
Wilkin Champan brings Louth and Horncastle teams together in new offices
Law firm Wilkin Chapman has opened a new office in Oxley House on Louth’s Fairfield Industrial Estate, welcoming more than 70 professional contacts across the region to the new premises.
The company has combined its Louth and Horncastle teams at Oxley House, where it will will occupy the first floor of the 10,000 square foot development, with the building’s owner, accountancy and business advisers Duncan & Toplis, due to move into the rest of it.
Claire Parker, Partner and head of the new Wolds office at Wilkin Chapman Solicitors, said: “The new development looks absolutely fantastic and provides us with a modern, flexible environment that’s better suited to hybrid working and the changing needs of our clients.
“The move represents our continued commitment to the Lincolnshire Wolds area, giving us a space that will allow for improved collaboration and communication between our colleagues and clients with the availability of plenty of parking, something which we weren’t previously able to offer.
“The new office will help us to support our clients, team members and the wider community for many years to come.”
Greater demand could fall on renewables to keep the lights on by the end of the decade, says Baringa
New research carried out by Baringa on behalf of renewable energy company Drax Group has shown that by the end of the decade biomass generation could play an increasingly critical role in ensuring security of UK energy supply.
The research highlights the critical contribution that biomass could play in late 2020s as coal plants and nuclear fleet close down. And in the meantime Drax is to pause this year’s investment in its carbon capture project as it waits for clarity of Government’s commitment – without BECCS support Drax Power Station could become unviable by 2027. Baringa’s research shows that by then, peak demand for GB electricity will increase by 4GW but at the same time the imminent closure of coal, older gas generation and nuclear power stations will remove up to 6.3GW of secure capacity from the grid. This will mean that the dispatchable capacity which supports GB energy security will fall from 93% to 85% at times of peak demand, increasing the risk of a supply shortfall. The system will need to rely on other forms of capacity, such as electricity interconnectors and intermittent renewable generation like wind or solar, to make up the 15% difference at times of peak demand, or steps may need to be taken to reduce consumption such as through voluntary demand reduction or forced turndown. Drax power station is currently the largest provider of dispatchable power to the GB electricity system, as well as being one of the only renewable sources of secure supply. Its renewable biomass generation provides 2.6GW of electricity, supplying millions of homes and businesses with dispatchable, reliable power. Whilst Drax welcomed the Government’s support for CCS in the recent Budget, it needs its BECCS project to gain Track 1 status, without which, Drax Power Station may become unviable and unable to contribute secure power at a time of such critical need. Until it receives this clarity, Drax has taken the decision to pause it’s multi-million-pound investment programme into the BECCS project at Drax Power Station. At times with the tightest margins, Drax’s biomass units provide up to 11% of total GB electricity generation and up to 70% of the renewable generation. The loss of Drax’s and other biomass units from the GB electricity system would further reduce the country’s dispatchable capacity to 80% of peak demand (from the already forecasted fall to 85%), increasing reliance on gas and power imports, generation from intermittent renewables, and increasing costs for consumers. Drax CEO Will Gardiner said: “Whilst we welcome the Government’s ambition to invest billions in carbon capture and storage, we need a firm commitment to BECCS before we commit to investing £2bn into installing this technology at Drax Power Station. “Until we have this clarity, we are pausing our multi-million pound investment programme in the UK BECCS project and urge Government to use the planned announcement at the end of the month to outline their support for this. Any further delays to this project could impact the UK’s security of supply, net zero and levelling-up ambitions and the viability of Drax Power Station.” The research also found that by 2027 no established technology can feasibly replace the security of supply provided by Drax’s 2.6GW of biomass capacity, without significantly increasing carbon emissions and relying more on imported fossil fuel from Europe.Hybrid Air Vehicles signs up as Doncaster Chamber’s latest patron
Having announced that it would build its revolutionary aircraft in South Yorkshire, Hybrid Air Vehicles has signed up as the newest patron of Doncaster Chamber.
Welcoming them aboard, Dan Fell, Chief Exec of Doncaster Chamber, said: “It is a tremendous honour to have such an innovative and cutting-edge business in our network, one that is doing really important work for the planet. Hybrid Air Vehicles is making huge waves in the world of aviation right now and is set to change the industry for the better with their forward-thinking approach.
“Now that they have become patrons, I am pleased to say that we will be working together even more closely. Their imminent expansion into Doncaster will have major economic benefits for the region — including the creation of more than a thousand highly skilled jobs — and will put us at the heart of an ambitious vision for a greener future. Suffice it to say, we are very excited to see what that entails.”
Headquartered in Bedfordshire, HAV is a pioneer in the field of green aviation technology and is currently making huge strides when it comes to sustainability. In particular, their trailblazing Airlander 10 vehicle — which is part plane and part airship — promises to revolutionise the aerospace industry by showing what can be done to reduce emissions.
Capable of boarding 100 people at a time (or ten tonnes of freight) the helium-filled craft is estimated to have a carbon footprint that is up to 90% less than that of a standard jet aircraft. It can also remain airborne for up to 5 days, offering high endurance.
It is therefore very exciting to know that these state-of-the-art vehicles will be built right here in Doncaster. Last week saw major progress on that front, as the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) approved £7m’s worth of funding that will ultimately pave the way for HAV’s plans. This loan will enable Hybrid Air Vehicles to begin investing in the region, paving the way for a £310m production programme which will lead to new facilities, job opportunities and supply chains for the manufacturing of Airlander 10.
UK manufacturers urged to ‘think outside the box’ to beat recruitment problems
Leading figures from the UK’s manufacturing industry are being encouraged to think outside the box in a bid to recruit more people and fill a slew of unfilled vacancies up and down the country.
That was the message from Laura Ibbotson, Head of HR UK at Doncaster-based Heras, when she addressed delegates at this year’s Make UK – a national conference for manufacturers in London.
Laura was one of a panel of experts discussing the topic of Talent: Recruiting Outside the Box, which was looking at ways to reignite the manufacturing industry’s recruitment strategies to overcome the current minute talent pool of candidates available to businesses.
Laura, a chartered fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development said that forging educational partnerships was fundamental for manufacturers to help create pathways into careers for local young people. “Building strong links with the local community has been one of the strategies that we have employed at Heras – with a focus on educational establishments because it is a great opportunity to showcase the careers available in our industry and create a future talent pipeline.
“We have worked extensively with one local academy in particular in Doncaster, which has been reciprocally beneficial in engaging with young people and showing them the vast array of opportunities that are open to them if they pursue a career in manufacturing.
“We are in the process of launching our latest initiative: teacher externships, providing teachers with work experience on site so that they can take their experience and learnings back to the classroom.’’
Laura also told the assembled group about how the company uses neuro-linguistic programming profiling to assess if a candidate is right for the role and the team and to ensure the business does not recruit mini-mes. Heras uses this profiling to manage teams to their full potential and to retain them.
She also discussed the importance of embracing and using emerging technologies such as Linktree – which allows users to share multiple links on social media. Heras is using this to clearly communicate with candidates and ensure they are fully informed and have a clear understanding of Heras before the interview process commences.
Laura rounded off the session by offering three insights:
- Manufacturers should work more closely with their HR teams. “Businesses need to change their approach to recruitment, and the best way of achieving this is working with the people experts – your HR department.”
- Leaders should drive diversity as a way to benefit from employing different people with different skills and experiences. “Many businesses have aspirations on issues such as diversity, but they have to free themselves from entrenched views and ‘if you always do what you always do’ approaches in order to be more accessible and flexible.”
- Don’t pay lip service to events such as International Women’s Day, ensuring that the drive for diversity happens continuously throughout the year if they want to attract and retain talent. She said: “Live it, breathe it and believe in it.”
British Steel products keep Welsh heritage railway on the right track
Another delivery of rails from British Steel at Scunthorpe is helping a North Wales heritage railway gear up for a new season.
The first delivery to the Llangollen Railway in the Dee Valley extended the track by more than two miles; the new delivery will replace two miles of existing track. And later this year, there are plans to start relaying further track, a project that will take around two years. That’s next to the line’s tunnel. It’s 40 years old and has corroded because of its location.
The chosen product is ‘Zinoco’ which are coated in zinc, which forms a protective barrier against corrosion, and thanks to latest advances, its super-hydrophobic finish also repels water.
Darren Cole, British Steel’s UK Account Manager for Rail, said: “Maintaining a facility like this is something of a labour of love, heritage lines by their very nature require ongoing care and attention and often rely on a handful of rail enthusiasts. I’m very proud Scunthorpe rail is playing its part in their ongoing story.”
Terry Pickthall of the Llangollen Railway said: “Our team, mostly volunteers, is putting the finishing touches to our fantastic new station at Corwen. This impressive facility will be a great asset to our operations and we’re really looking forward to it opening in the summer.
“Alongside this, our staff and volunteers are also working hard to keep our existing line in excellent condition. The recent delivery of British Steel 56E1 rail has allowed us to replace a sizeable section of worn rail between our Berwyn and Glyndyfrdwy stations. This part of the line is in the very heart of the Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the work has been completed in time for trains to run over new Scunthorpe-made rails during our busy Easter operations in April. We’re hoping the snow we’ve seen in March is replaced with spring flowers by Easter, but either way the valley always looks stunning!”
The former British Rail Ruabon to Barmouth line closed to passenger traffic in 1964 with goods traffic ending four years later. In 1975, the heritage railway was started by a group of enthusiasts who saw the potential for a scenic line through the Dee Valley. Terry said “When the line finally closed in 1968, the track, signalling and much of the infrastructure was removed or demolished quickly after. It’s taken a lot of hard work from our enthusiasts over many years and it’s their vision that has led to the fantastic service we offer today.”
Applications window opens for 2024 Countryside Stewardship payments
Farmers and land managers can now submit applications for the next year’s Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements which will reward them for their actions to protect and enhance the natural environment.
Countryside Stewardship gives farmers and land managers the opportunity to be paid for environmental work alongside sustainable food production, from restoring wildlife habitats and managing woodlands, to mitigating flood risks. 32,000 Countryside Stewardship agreements are now in place across England – a 94% increase in uptake since 2020 – including nearly 26,000 Mid Tier agreements.
Following farmer feedback, the scheme has continued to evolve and improve with:
- the removal of the limit on the value of capital items in the water or air quality, hedgerow and boundary, or natural flood management priorities
- a broadened offer to support natural flood management, create more areas of scrub, and reduce nitrogen inputs in groundwater;
- improvements to the application process to make it easier for farmers and land managers, with a new online application service, the removal of the need for farmers to request an application pack before starting their application, automatic checks to enable applications to be processed quicker, and an annual declaration.
- an average increase of 10% for revenue payment rates and 48% for capital payment rates, as announced in January.
