Yorkshire & Humber business activity growth slows in May, falling further behind UK average
The headline NatWest Yorkshire & Humber PMI® Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors – dipped to 50.6 in May, from 52.5 in April, signalling a growth slowdown midway through the second quarter.
Of the 12 monitored parts of the UK, only Wales recorded a worse monthly performance in business activity, with Yorkshire & Humber growth lagging behind the UK average by a considerable margin.
The volume of incoming new business dipped during May, marking the first contraction in demand since January. Weaker conditions in the markets key customers operate in reportedly weighed on new order inflows.
Of the 12 monitored parts of the UK, Yorkshire & Humber was one of three where new business fell. Although the drop in demand across the region was marginal, it was stronger than those seen elsewhere.
Private sector businesses in Yorkshire & Humber remained strongly optimistic towards the 12-month outlook for activity in May. Increased investment, new product launches and entry into new markets, as well as hopes of stronger sales performances underpinned growth forecasts. That said, the level of confidence dipped to a five-month low.
The level of employment across the Yorkshire & Humber private sector rose again in May, marking a fifth consecutive expansion in staffing capacity across the region. According to surveyed firms, extra workers were hired to fill vacancies, reduce the strain on existing staff and prepare for future growth. The rate of jobs growth slowed and was modest, but broadly matched that seen for the UK as a whole.
For a third month running, private sector companies across Yorkshire & Humber recorded a drop in the volume of outstanding work during May. The pace of decline was solid and unchanged from April’s four-month record. According to survey respondents, the catch-up of incomplete orders was enabled by falling intakes of new business.
Another sharp increase in operating expenses was registered by surveyed companies in Yorkshire & Humber midway through the second quarter, although the rate of inflation eased to a 28-month low.
That being said, trends diverged significantly by sector as a fall in input prices at manufacturers compared with a softer, but still steep rise in costs at service providers. While lower prices for raw materials and energy helped bring factory input costs down, wage pressures were behind the sharp rise in service sector expenses.
The seasonally adjusted Prices Charged Index remained well above the no-change mark of 50.0 in May, signalling a further sharp rise in prices charged for goods and services across Yorkshire & Humber. Firms that raised their fees commented on efforts to pass on higher costs to clients.
That said, selling prices were raised to the weakest extent since February 2021 as companies, particularly in the manufacturing sector, offered more competitive prices amid falls in their costs and difficulty securing new work.
Malcolm Buchanan, chair of the NatWest North Regional Board, said: “The NatWest Regional PMI data suggests Yorkshire & Humber faced a challenging period during May. Not only did growth slow to a marginal pace, but compared to its peers, this part of the UK was one of the worst performers. The region saw demand conditions weaken over the course of the month, affecting the rate of growth and impacting business confidence in some sectors.
“The latest report does offer grounds for optimism. Encouragement can be gleaned from sustained employment growth, which suggests that companies are filling vacancies and preparing themselves for future opportunities. Falling inflationary pressures also bodes well, and we’ve already seen reports of firms making their prices more competitive.
“That said, underlying data shows that price pressures are driven by services, with firms in these industries reporting higher wage costs. Therefore, the risk of inflation staying stubborn remains elevated for the time being.”
Yorkshire finance firm boss jailed for seven years over £20m fraud
A Yorkshire-based finance boss has been found guilty of a £20m fraud and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment at Leeds Crown Court.
The Insolvency Service found Liam Francis Wainwright, 61, from Leeds, had falsified documents to mislead investors and spend their money on ventures including a racehorse syndicate and his own failed private businesses.
These investors were victims of a classic Ponzi scheme, whereby the returns paid to them were funded by the capital injections from later investors.
Wainwright, who had been a director of Rawdon Asset Finance Ltd, was disqualified for 11 years in November 2020 after investigators at the Insolvency Service found he had falsified around £12 million worth of entries in the company’s loan book in the two years before the company entered administration in 2019.
After a further criminal investigation, the Insolvency Service brought the director to court on counts of false accounting, fraud, forgery, and acting as a director while bankrupt.
Julie Barnes, Chief Investigator for the Insolvency Service, said: “Liam Wainwright’s greed and selfish actions had a devastating effect on the people who had put their trust in him and his business.
“His victims included elderly and vulnerable people. Many investors lost most or all of the money they had entrusted to him, and some lost their life savings.
“His sentencing shows that the Insolvency Service will seek the toughest penalties for those who break the law, to help ensure that the UK is a safe place for investors and for businesses.”
The court heard that Wainwright had enjoyed a lavish lifestyle as a result of his offending, and that his actions had had a devastating impact on individuals and families who had invested money into the business. Wainwright told investors and shareholders that Rawdon Asset Finance was lending money to businesses with security on property, land or plant and equipment, but was in fact using the cash to pay returns to other creditors, buy into a racehorse syndicate and to fund other companies, including a Lincolnshire-based property development and a redevelopment company in West Yorkshire, both linked to himself. By the time the company went into liquidation, Rawdon Asset Finance’s creditors were owed more than £20 million. Liquidators have so far recovered £750,630. Wainwright admitted that he began to falsify accounts from around 2017, to hide the company’s true financial position from his co-directors and investors. He also admitted he had earlier forged a mortgagor’s signature on a legal charge to mislead investors and had – between April 2010 and April 2011 – breached the terms of a previous bankruptcy by acting as a director of the company the court’s permission. The court also heard that Wainwright had lied about the company’s accounts and the destination of funds in order to elicit £100,000 from one investor only weeks before the business collapsed, in the full knowledge that investors would not get their money back.Doncaster’s Grand Theatre gets green light to re-open, though funding and repair works needed
A feasibility study looking into the future of the Grand Theatre in Doncaster has found that the building could partly re-open over the next few years once repair works are completed.
The working group – made up of officers from City of Doncaster Council, Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust, local elected members, the Theatres Trust, the Friends of Doncaster Grand and building owners, The Frenchgate – commissioned the feasibility study in September 2022.
The study – looking into the future of the theatre – found that it would be economically beneficial for the city to work towards re-opening the Theatre but this must be done as a phased approach and urgent funding and repair works are needed first. The report also added that the theatre must add to the overall vitality of the city centre offer and complement existing city venues.
The study further determined that the building needed to avoid more deterioration to the building fabric and that certain works must be undertaken before opening in any capacity – with external funding needed to get the theatre back to full working use.
It is however suggested that the Theatre could get back to some small-scale performances, such as music gigs, comedy and business events, without the full amount of investment needed, but repair works to the parapet, valley gutters, interiors and downpipes are needed to avoid further decay and ensure public safety. These works are to be undertaken in the very near future once consents have been acquired. Exploration is now underway into bringing a special purpose organisation into the theatre, which would help take this to the next stage.
Capacity – without the full external investment needed – would be fairly limited, with developments around the theatre and limited escape routes reducing the theatre to a capacity of around 450-500.
The study concluded with a recommendation that a phased approach for the theatre be put in place, with funding helping the theatre re-open to small scale use first, such as business networking events, shining the spotlight on the theatre for higher levels of funding, to compliment rather than compete with, any other performance venues.
Cabinet member for Public Health, Communities, Leisure and Culture at City of Doncaster Council, Cllr Nigel Ball, said: “This is still relatively early days in this new journey for the Grand Theatre, but I am delighted that this study, which has involved lots of work and resulted in a very large and comprehensive report, has found that there is an opportunity for the Grand Theatre to be brought back to life, albeit in a safe and phased manner.
“The Grand Theatre is not a council building and the funding needed for the full restoration of this theatre is vast and given the above will need external support to help with this. I am confident however, and hopeful, that work can be progressed with the owners Frenchgate, to bring some of the building at least back into some form of use, in the near future.”
Ken Waight, Chair of the Friends of Doncaster Grand Theatre, said: “After so many years of inactivity, this report and its findings is very welcome, particularly that the Grand can be brought back into some use, relatively soon, leading eventually to full reopening. We accept that there is a lot of work needed and substantial funding to be found, but hopefully a proper plan for modern use of the theatre will now be established and that can only be good for all in our city.”
Siân Eagar, Theatres at Risk Adviser, at the Theatres Trust, said: “Theatres Trust welcomes the collaborative approach that is being taken to reviving Doncaster Grand, which has been on our Theatres at Risk Register since 2006 when we started the list. We believe the Grand has real potential to be restored and returned to cultural use but recognise that a phased approach will be the best way of securing its future. It will be a long journey, but it will be worth the investment to revitalise this wonderful building for the people of Doncaster.”
Law firm rradar appoints head of business development
Specialist legal enterprise and digital innovator rradar has appointed David Walsh as head of business development, a newly created role which is part of the firm’s strategic vision for further expansion.
This is a key appointment for rradar that will support its growth of services which transform how businesses access legal and other relevant expertise to proactively manage the risks they face.
rradar is a fast-growing national law firm, with offices now in Hull, Leeds, Birmingham, Leicester, Glasgow and Manchester.
David, who will report directly to rradar’s Chief Commercial Officer Davina Gillyon, will be responsible for driving forward and delivering rradar’s strategic business development programme.
This is closely aligned to the overarching commercial priorities that underpin rradar’s ambitious growth strategy over the next five years.
David will also scale rradar’s relationship-driven sales and business development strategy and proven model, maximising existing opportunities and identifying new ones for its products and services, working closely with key client partners and strategic brokers to achieve its revenue growth targets.
Davina said: “David has been operating in the financial, insurance and legal sectors for almost 30 years and joins us from Markel International, where he held a number of senior business development positions including head of new business (partnerships) and head of development (legal expenses).
“David is known for his abilities to drive a business forward through pro-active commercial development strategies which positively engage both his peers and his clientele. His experience has honed an impeccable skillset in building and nurturing strong partnerships to identify and deliver on new opportunities within new markets.
“He is especially proficient in sourcing and delivering large tender opportunities, featuring double and triple-digit business growth and high performance. We recognise that this is a critical role within our business, as we enter our next growth phase.”
Before joining Markel, David was operating in various management roles across some of the leading names in the national and international insurance, financial and brokerage markets, where he was responsible for managing large broker networks and teams of highly motivated sales executives and account managers.
David said: “I’m delighted to have joined rradar in such a pivotal role in the delivery of its vision and five-year business strategy. My priority is to expand our existing and well-regarded sales and business development team and enhance our customer engagement and client relationship framework and support our legal teams in driving forward private fee opportunities alongside our existing insurance business.
“Throughout my career, I have always advocated for the necessity of strong market intelligence, which I will drive forward in partnership with rradar’s senior leadership team, as part of our exciting growth strategies in new and existing markets.”
Summers-Inman’s specialist team secures £14m Knaresborough housing scheme
The specialist housing team at the Leeds office of construction and property consultants, Summers-Inman, has won a framework appointment by Yorkshire Housing to provide Employer’s Agent and Cost Consultancy services on a new housing scheme in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire.
The £14 million development comprising a range of 64 two, three and four-bedroom affordable family homes is being built by Yorkshire Housing in partnership with Countryside Partnerships, which only recently merged with Vistry Partnerships at the end of 2022.
Following planning consent in late 2022, the new homes, which will be available across a mix of tenures including social rent, shared ownership and affordable rent, will be built on the former Trelleborg Factory site on Halfpenny Lane, which closed in 2016.
Work started on site in January this year and if all goes according to plan, the scheme will complete in October 2024.
This is just one of several recent appointments secured by Summers-Inman and it follows hard on the heels of places won on further frameworks in the North of England and Scotland, including those of Wakefield District Housing, Thirteen Group, Tyne Housing Group, Bridge Homes and the Wheatley Group in Edinburgh.
Speaking about the consultancy’s recent spate of success, Summers-Inman director and specialist housing lead, David Blakey, said: “We have worked hard to secure places on many frameworks up and down the country in the capacity of Employers Agent, Quantity Surveyor, Project Manager and Principal Designer – all of which are familiar territory for our team. At the present time, the value of the schemes in which we are involved in one or more of these services is in excess of £170m.
“We are delighted with these appointments, many of which promise well for future work. It is a very active sector at a time when the need for affordable housing has never been more keenly felt and we are pleased to be working with Yorkshire Housing and Countryside Partnerships to be able to bring these houses to market.
“The existing Trelleborg factory was demolished some time ago and the new scheme is designed to create a community feel where residents will be proud to call home.”
Director of development, Yorkshire Housing, Sian Webster added: “It’s great to be teaming up with Countryside and Summers-Inman to deliver high-quality homes that over 60 families will be proud of. We’re committed to creating affordable and sustainable homes with cost effective heating and power at a time when it’s needed more than ever. The scheme also brings us closer to achieving our target of building 8,000 new homes across Yorkshire.”
Andy Poyner, Managing Director, Yorkshire, Countryside Partnerships, said: “Through our partnerships model we look to reuse land wherever possible, focusing on high quality mixed-tenure developments that deliver positive social impact for those communities with placemaking at the heart of what we do. We’re delighted to be partnering with Yorkshire Housing on this inclusive residential development, which will give local people the opportunity to buy the house of their dreams.”
Scunthorpe to host Women In Manufacturing and Engineering event
The Women into Manufacturing and Engineering careers event takes place at the Baths Hall in Scunthorpe on Wednesday June 21st between 4.30pm and 6.30pm.
The free-to-attend event happens shortly before the International Women in Engineering Day, annually on June 23rd.
Kirsty Clode, Chair of WiME, explains: “By meeting women working in manufacturing or engineering roles, we’re providing access to role models with a unique insight to offer to both aspiring young women and those who may be heading back to work after a break, or women who are considering a career change.
“At our WiME events, people of all ages and backgrounds can find out what industry jobs are really like from the women who do them, as well as the different routes there are into these careers – from on-the-job training to apprenticeships and degrees.”
With great pay, a high number of vacancies and attractive prospects, careers in manufacturing and engineering present a wide variety of interesting and exciting roles, which play an important part in the Humber’s economy.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We are thrilled to be hosting this event in Scunthorpe, supporting women into the manufacturing and engineering industry.
“Across the region millions of pounds of investment is creating well-paid, highly skilled jobs in these growth sectors – we are all passionate about ensuring these fantastic opportunities are available to everyone in our communities.
“I encourage women and girls across the area to come to The Baths Hall and see first-hand how they can benefit from the rewarding careers in industry on their doorstep.”
Kirklees Council’s Radisson RED plans for historic George Hotel get green light
Plans for a £20m refurbishment of the historic George Hotel in Huddersfield have been given the go ahead by Kirklees Council’s Planning Committee, with the hotel set to be operated by Radisson RED.
The approved plans for the 91-room boutique hotel form part of the wider Huddersfield Blueprint, a ten-year vision to create a thriving town centre boasting a diverse and exciting offer.
An important landmark adjacent to the Huddersfield Railway Station, The George Hotel was the first building on St George’s Square in 1851.
In March 2020, Kirklees Council purchased the Grade II* Listed building so it could secure its future and incorporate it within its long-term regeneration programme.
The new-look hotel promises a fashionable feel and will incorporate a basement, ground floor and four upper levels. Radisson RED, known for their stylish interiors and vibrant bars, will operate the premises.
As part of the refurbishment, the original building, which has a prominent location facing St George’s Square, will be refurbished almost entirely in its current state. The hotel’s historic façade will also be preserved along John William Street, but with a new structure replacing the existing internal structures behind.
A historically unimportant three-storey block, which faces towards the train station, is in poor condition and requires dismantling. It will be replaced by a similar sized and more sympathetic block using quality materials and a similar colour palette to the rest of the structure.
As part of remodelling, the ground floor will house the hotel’s reception lobby, lounge and a 70-seat restaurant and bar. There will also be a large conference-style room for hire and the lower ground floor will provide a 100-cover banqueting suite for business events, receptions and weddings.
Leader of Kirklees Council, Councillor Shabir Pandor, said: “Today is a significant milestone for the George Hotel and we’re delighted to have secured an exciting and long-term future for it. Huddersfield town centre has long needed a high-quality hotel and Radisson RED is a stand-out international hotel brand known for its eye-catching style and excellent customer service.
“Alongside our wider Huddersfield Blueprint plans and Our Cultural Heart, the George will act as an impressive gateway to the town centre and continue to grow our profile as an attractive destination for tourism and business.”
Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, added: “Our goal from the outset has been to do this historic building justice, not just as a key part of Huddersfield’s heritage but also as a major economic driver in the town. I’m thrilled that our plans have been approved.
“This is a hugely exciting project. We’ve gone to great lengths to make sure that, in delivering these plans, we’ll now be working with the best possible range of contractors to achieve our vision – reopening the hotel as an amazing new establishment with international hotel operators Radisson RED.”
Adela Cristea, Vice President, Business Development UK & Ireland at Radisson Hotel Group, said: “We’re proud to build on the success of Radisson RED and continue its UK expansion with this impressive project. We’re delighted to partner with Kirklees Council and bring a new chapter to one of Huddersfield’s most iconic buildings by introducing the bold and vibrant brand to the town.”
Kirklees Council have now appointed Morgan Sindall in a Pre-Contract Service Agreement, and they will be working on further designs for the building work over the coming months.
The council have also now appointed Queensberry as the project’s development manager, and Bowman Riley are the architect and heritage advisor.
Ben Hall, Yorkshire area director for Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “We’re thrilled to have been appointed to work on what will be a significant new addition to the town. Our business has strong local connections with Huddersfield having completed many projects here over the years, and we look forward to helping to grow the local economy and bring a skills boost to the area through our work on this fabulous new hotel.”
Andrew Davison, Project Director at Queensberry, added: “We are extremely pleased with today’s positive outcome. The building has significant history and this sympathetic redevelopment will secure its long-term future, whilst also acting as a catalyst for wider investment and regeneration in the great town of Huddersfield. The Raddison brand is a very fitting custodian to maintain this wonderful asset and we’re sure both locals and visitors to Huddersfield will enjoy it.”
Data consultancy raises £500,000 to support growth
A Yorkshire data consultancy that has more than doubled in size in the past two years has raised £500,000 from NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, to support its further growth.
Oakland Group Services has increased staff numbers from 33 to 80 since 2021 and plans to create 20 more jobs this year to meet the demand from customers. Oakland provides a full range of data services including strategy and governance, data analytics and insights and cloud-based platforms.
The Leeds-based company works with major brands including Vodafone, Blenheim Palace and Network Rail. It has recently completed a data platform for London-based Femtech company Elvie, which makes smart devices such as breast pumps. It is currently working on a large data programme with Yorkshire Water to help with customer engagement, leak management and other improvements, following a number of successful previous projects.
Oakland was founded by professor John Oakland from Bradford Management School, who is the current chair and who has over 35 years’ experience providing consultancy services to help companies with quality management and process improvements. Since 2019, the business has focused on data consultancy and demand has grown steadily.
Richard Corderoy, Managing Director, said: “We hear a lot about the value of data but unless companies can access it in the right way, they will never feel the benefits. At Oakland we can help them to bring their data together in one place, ensure it is good quality and analyse it to provide insights to improve customer engagement and efficiency. This funding will enable us to help more companies and create more jobs.”
David Wright, investment manager with Mercia, added: “Businesses now recognise that harnessing the power of data is key to their success because it provides the insights they need to adapt and thrive in the changing marketplace. Data platforms are becoming a ‘must have’ for many firms, but few have the ability to create them themselves.
“Not surprisingly, Oakland’s services are in growing demand. We are pleased to be able to support Richard and the team by providing additional working capital to help them take on new and larger contracts as they continue to grow the business.”
BlackDice establishes new UK headquarters in Leeds
BlackDice, a tech start-up that develops AI-driven cybersecurity solutions for global telecoms provider consumers and SME subscribers, has opened its new UK headquarters in Leeds.
By setting up its UK headquarters in Leeds, BlackDice aims to tap into the city’s diverse tech ecosystem, access top-tier talent, and forge strategic partnerships that will propel the company forward.
Situated within the Leeming Building – part of Wizu Workspace’s portfolio of serviced offices – BlackDice’s new headquarters will serve as a hub for the company’s technology operations, bringing together its growing workforce to provide an environment conducive to innovation and collaboration.
“We chose to establish our UK headquarters in Leeds because it’s a city that truly embodies the spirit of industrial ingenuity and technological innovation,” said Sarah Hague, Chief Operating Officer at BlackDice.
“Leeds offers a fertile ground for our growth plans, with its exceptional talent pool, supportive business community, and vibrant atmosphere. We believe that our presence here will enable us to forge valuable connections, collaborate with industry leaders, and solidify our position as pioneers in AI-powered cyber security solutions.”
As BlackDice continues to expand its global footprint, the new UK headquarters in Leeds is just the latest move for the business, which established its European HQ in Malaga, Spain – another flourishing ‘tech zone’ – last month, and will play a pivotal role in building the company’s presence in the EU cyber ecosystem.
“We aim to strengthen our commitment to the Leeds city region and create high-value employment opportunities. By nurturing local talent we want to become known for our culture of innovation, diversity and inclusion, contributing to the ongoing success story of Leeds as a burgeoning tech hub. We are confident that our presence in Leeds will bring significant benefits to the local community and enable us to chart an exciting path of growth and expansion,” added Hague.
First stage plans submitted for new urban district at Sheffield brewery site
Initial plans for a new urban district in Sheffield’s Neepsend have been submitted by social impact developers Capital&Centric.
Outline plans have been lodged with Sheffield City Council to overhaul the derelict industrial Cannon Brewery site. The blueprint is being developed in stages, with the aim to deliver a bold vision for a city centre district that stitches itself into the character of the surrounding area.
It details the plans for over 500 1, 2 and 3-bed apartments, planned to be delivered through a mix of contemporary new builds and retention of some of the existing buildings, namely the Water Tower and Brew House.
Nestled alongside the homes will be workplaces and spaces for independent shops, delis and café-bars, creating opportunities for local indie operators and new start-ups. A lush, green urban park will surround the water tower, whilst on Boyland Street a new public square surrounded by cafes and shops will be the perfect space for pop-up events, performers and installations.
The expansive Cannon Brewery site is seen as a massive opportunity to grow Sheffield’s city centre in sustainable way, with high-end architecture sparking the renaissance of the industrial area around Neepsend. It’s a chance to bring more people to the area and deliver new homes without displacing existing businesses.
Richard Spackman, development director at Capital&Centric, said: “We’ve set out to make Cannon Brewery a standout community that draws people to Sheffield – one that respects and reflects back the industrial heritage of Neepsend. It’s a really challenging site to work on, but we’re progressing at pace because we see such pent-up potential.
“Like many communities we’ve done before, we’re proposing a mix of old and new. Our contemporary homes will be real juxtaposition against some of the existing industrial buildings we’re aiming to keep and repurpose.
“We want the end goal to be that Cannon Brewery becomes Sheffield’s best address…a city centre district where people not only want to live, but spend their weekends, hang out with mates or locate their start-up business.”
Once home to Stones Brewery, the site – made up of two triangular plots bordered by Neepsend Lane and Boyland St – was the birthplace of the UK’s best-selling bitter at the time, before the doors closed for good in 1999. The place has been empty ever since and has become a magnet for street artists.
Capital&Centric’s outline application aims to set the initial parameters for the district, including the footprint of the new buildings, buildings to be retained, heights and access points. Whilst previous plans had proposed for all buildings at the site to be demolished, Capital&Centric is aiming to keep those that it’s feasible to retain and repurpose.
The submission follows a packed out consultation event at the neighbouring Heist Brew Co. that kick-started the conversation about Cannon Brewery. The session saw people voice support for transforming the site; as well as calls for use of greenery; a mix of homes; and a focus on securing a mix of independent operators to give the community a distinctly local vibe.
Following this application, it’s intended for detailed designs of the buildings to follow in stages – with style and materials set to take inspiration from the surrounding industrial warehouses and further consultation and discussion with the community.
Housing Association breaches economic standards, finds Regulator
South Yorkshire Housing Association Limited has breached economic standards over both its governance and financial viability, according to the Regulator of Social Housing, and as a result it has been downgraded to non-compliant G3 / V3 grades.
An investigation revealed weaknesses in SYHA’s internal controls framework and concluded that its board has not been managing the organisation with an appropriate level of skill, diligence, prudence or foresight.
Weaknesses in its financial governance has led to SYHA miscalculating its covenant compliance over a number of years. This has resulted in actual and forecast covenant breaches with one of its funders.
SYHA’s business plan demonstrates limited financial capacity in the short to medium term, and does not currently have adequate mitigation strategies in place to deal with plausible financial stresses.
In agreement with the regulator, SYHA is working to strengthen its financial capacity and improve its governance arrangements.
Harold Brown, Senior Assistant Director for Investigations and Enforcement at RSH, said: “Our investigation found serious issues of concern with SYHA’s financial processes and controls, resulting in breaches to its loan covenants. SYHA needs to address these issues promptly to ensure its long-term viability and covenant compliance, and we will continue to monitor the provider closely as it carries out this work.”
Lincoln cyber security firm sold
Lincoln-based cyber-security-as-a-service (CSaaS) provider Cyberlab Consulting Ltd has been sold to technology provider Chess for an undisclosed sum.
As part of a shared growth strategy, the acquisition will supercharge Cyberlab’s expansion, as well as add a unique product to Chess’s extensive suite of existing products and services.
Expanding its portfolio and solidifying its position as a leading technology service provider, the strategic acquisition will see Chess add Cyberlab’s innovative CSaaS portal as a new service to clients. The portal simplifies the oversight of security posture, identifying individual blind spots and providing tailored training programs to automate fixes.
Ryan Bradbury, founder of Cyberlab, has joined Chess’s team as part of the deal, taking on the role of CTO. He said: “We’re delighted to be adding something new, which fits perfectly into Chess’s existing incredible portfolio. There is huge potential for our portal and the backing of such a big player like Chess will help us to meet our ambitions for the Cyberlab brand.”
Chess employs more than 300 people across the UK and supports more than 1,000 UK blue-chip enterprise businesses, government departments, and household names. Its expanded capabilities now cover a wide range of services, including testing, assessment, discovery, consultancy, delivery, and hardening.
Michael Squirrell, partner at Shakespeare Martineau, who advised founders Ryan and Jessica Bradbury on the sale of Cyberlab, said: “There are clear synergies between the businesses and obvious wins from their union. We’re very happy to have supported Ryan and Jessica on the sale.”
The Shakespeare Martineau team involved in the deal also included corporate associate Ashley Taylor, corporate solicitor Nana Maisuradze, intellectual property partner Kerry Russell, and employment expert Oscar Ciaurro.
Antony Voakes and Amy Weston at Wright Vigar advised on tax and financial matters. Chess was represented by Nimbus Legal and Vector Tax Consultancy.
HMRC issues fines of more than £3m for money laundering rule breaches
Hundreds of businesses including a baker’s dozen from the East Midlands have been fined a combined total of £3.2 million for breaching anti-money laundering rules have been named by HM Revenue and Customs.
The 240 supervised businesses named today were fined between 1 July and 31 December 2022 by HMRC for breaching Money Laundering Regulations aimed at preventing criminals from exploiting illicit cash.
Certain types of business are required to register with HMRC which is a supervisory body for Money Laundering Regulations.
Xpress Money Services Ltd, based in London, was hit with a large fine of £1.4 million for failing to carry out risk assessments, not having appropriate anti-money laundering controls, and failing to conduct proper due diligence checks.
HMRC’s work with other enforcement agencies and government departments to tackle economic crime and crack down on breaches is working to drive non-compliant firms out of business. This means that the number of money service businesses has fallen by around a third from 1,508 in 2020 to 1,049 in 2023, and the number of money service business agents has reduced from 35,507 to 30,217 in the same period.
Nick Sharp, HMRC’s Deputy Director of Economic Crime, Fraud Investigation Service, said: “Money laundering is not a victimless crime. We are here to help businesses protect themselves from criminal attacks and will continue to tackle the minority of businesses which do not comply with the Money Laundering Regulations.
“Serious and organised crime costs the UK billions of pounds every year and our anti-money laundering supervision is a vital tool in combatting that.”
In addition to the named businesses, another 179 companies received smaller fines totalling more than £200,000 for rule breaches.Business communications specialist set for growth with multi-million pound investment
Wakefield-based business communications specialist NGC Networks is targeting £10 million turnover in the next year, backed by significant new investment from CloudClevr.
NGC Networks was established 20 years ago by joint Managing Directors Dean Harrop and Nikki Guest and has grown to be a leading player in its sector across the North of England.
The company employs 45 people and has more than 800 customers, providing them with telephony, unified communications, connectivity, mobile, contact centre solutions and managed services.
CloudClevr is a new venture with majority investment from specialist investment business Rigby Technology Investments (RTI), part of Rigby Group PLC, a £3.3 billion privately owned technology group and one of Europe’s leading technology investors.
NGC Networks will use the investment to drive its growth across Yorkshire and the North, increasing its customer portfolio, capability and creating jobs in the coming 12 months. CloudClevr will support NGC with enhanced cloud-based propositions and investment in sales and marketing, enabling NGC to concentrate on customer management, sales and technical leadership.
Dean Harrop, joint Managing Director of NGC, said: “We are delighted to secure the investment and support of Rigby Group and to benefit from the ambition and technology investment going into CloudClevr. It’s great for our colleagues who will benefit from being part of a growing, national business allowing them to develop and succeed in an ever-changing marketplace.”
Nikki Guest, joint Managing Director of NGC, said: “We are committed to remaining our customers’ trusted advisor, helping them navigate the growing complexity of converged IT and communications. I’m very excited about the market opportunity we have ahead and to continue building NGC as a powerhouse of the northern region as part of CloudClevr.”
Steve Harris, CEO of CloudClevr, said: “I am pleased to be working alongside Nikki and Dean. In NGC, they’ve created a fantastic business with strong potential. They have a brilliant team in place and I’m really looking forward to starting this new journey together.”
The investment in NGC is the first in a series of strategic investments which will see CloudClevr emerge as a next generation managed services provider focused on delivering converged Cloud, IT and communications services.
Sheffield becomes home to first-of-a-kind campus for Government employees
A first-of-its-kind campus for government staff in key policy roles has been launched in Sheffield, as new figures show Yorkshire and the Humber have benefitted from more than 2,400 relocated roles.
It comes as the Cabinet Office announced the pilot of a new regional fast stream, part of the government’s ambitious plans to bring jobs and drive local economic growth across the UK.
The scheme will prevent graduates having to leave the Yorkshire region to move into decision-making policy teams.
There are also plans for expanded policy apprenticeships and events to attract university-leavers within the city, providing greater opportunities for the young people of Yorkshire.
Traditionally most civil service teams based outside of London have been operationally-focussed, but the aim of the policy campus is to create a hub of core policy jobs, where people can advance their careers in key decision-making positions. Under these new plans, people will no longer have to move to, or work in, London to have a long and fulfilling career in the civil service.
This forms part of a broader strategy to ensure people from all regions and backgrounds are contributing to the creation of government policies. Levelling up the civil service in this way is key to ensuring it reflects the communities it serves, whilst delivering on the Government’s priority to grow the economy.
Latest relocation studies suggest a local economic benefit of £30 million per 1,000 roles relocated.
Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said: “This Government is delivering on its promise to level up across the country by ensuring that we create opportunities for people across the country.
“This policy campus is a commitment to the people of Sheffield that local people will have a central role to play in the development of major national policies.
“Relocating roles out of London and establishing skills clusters will provide a fantastic economic boost for the people of Yorkshire and the Humber, a region that has an immense array of talent and I’m delighted that we’re going to make use of it.”
Around 1,000 civil servants working a range of departments including the Department for Education, the Home Office and the Department for Work & Pensions are based at the site.
The Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Transport and the Cabinet Office have moved the most roles to Yorkshire and the Humber.
637 roles have relocated into Sheffield, primarily in the Home Office alongside more DWP, DfE and Ministry of Justice jobs which have moved to the city under the scheme. Sheffield also has 75 senior civil servants based in the city, one of the highest proportions outside of London.
Farming businesses can bid for share in increased funding for equipment to boost sustainable food production
Farm businesses can benefit from new equipment and technology to boost sustainable food production and reduce emissions and waste after a fund of £17m was upped to £31m in this week’s latest round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund.
Applicants can now claim for grants under the Productivity and Slurry budget to help cover the costs of over 90 pieces of equipment, from rainwater harvesting tanks to reduce water scarcity for farmers in the summer; tree shears to help stop the spread of pests and diseases; to equipment to minimise grass contamination and ammonia emissions when spreading slurry.
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund provides funding to farming businesses so they can invest in the tools they need to improve sustainable production across agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Productivity and Slurry grants will specifically support the procurement of equipment and technology that will help farmers use fewer inputs, reduce emissions and cut waste.
With more than 3,000 applications received for the FETF 2023 Productivity and Slurry grants, the government is matching this high demand by increasing the total funding offered from £17m to £31m. Twenty-one additional items have been added under the scheme in 2023, including camera-guided inter-row sprayers to help reduce herbicide usage, and mulchers for forestry, orchards and vineyards to help reduce input costs and improve carbon retention in the soil.
This will ensure as many farmers as possible can claim for the equipment they need to run a profitable farming business that delivers for both food production and the environment.
Secretary of State for Food and Farming Thérèse Coffey said: “The tremendous interest shown in the FETF 2023 Productivity and Slurry underscores the determination of our farmers to drive ever more productive and sustainable farming practices to keep food on our plates whilst protecting our important landscapes and habitats.
“By empowering farms to invest cash in new kit, we are ensuring our farmers, growers and foresters have the equipment they need to embrace innovation, protect the environment, and contribute to a thriving and sustainable agricultural sector.”
Items applied for in the FETF 2023 Productivity and Slurry budget include:
- Direct drill with fertiliser placement for precision drilling of arable and cover crops to help reduce crop establishment costs and increase efficiency of fertiliser usage. 250 applicants to be offered this grant worth £6.25m.
- Robotic drill and guided hoe – an autonomous robotic vehicle which can precisely place seed in the ground and return to mechanically weed – this helps to reduce herbicide usage and associated costs. Ten applications accepted with a value of £250,000.
- Rainwater harvesting tanks with a minimum capacity of 5,000 litres which will help to reduce water scarcity for farmers in the summer months. This equipment will now benefit 86 recipients with a value of £110,802.
- Tree shears with the capacity to fell 300mm diameter trees to stop the spread of pests and diseases across our woodlands. This funding helped 113 recipients with a total value of £363,747.
- Dribble bars with a minimum working width of 6m designed to apply slurry to the soil surface as accurately as possible to minimise grass contamination and ammonia emissions. This equipment was made accessible to 94 farmers, amounting to a value of £403,200.
- Direct drills with a width of 3m to conserve moisture and reduces soil erosion. This initiative assisted 129 applicants, totalling £1.555m in value.
Labour leader tours British Steel’s Scunthorpe steelworks
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has visited British Steel’s Scunthorpe site to discuss the significant challenges faced by Britain’s steelmakers.
British Steel is the UK’s only manufacturer of structural sections, which it supplies into three out of four major construction projects in this country, and is the only company in the UK which makes rail and special profiles. In addition to this, it provides thousands of highly skilled and well-paid jobs while an estimated 19,000 people are employed in its supply chain.
During its first three years of ownership, Jingye has invested £330 million in capital projects at British Steel.
The company says its decarbonisation strategy is underpinned by a Low-Carbon Roadmap which will help secure low embedded carbon steelmaking in the UK. A spokesman for the company said: “However, we need the UK to adopt the correct policies and frameworks now to back our drive to become a clean, green, and successful company. Governments in the countries where our major competitors operate have adopted such policies and the longer we wait for their implementation in the UK, the more impact this will have on our competitiveness and the country’s ability to meet its carbon objectives.”
Alun Davies, National Officer for Community, the steelworkers’ union, said: “It was good to meet today with Keir and discuss Labour’s plans to deliver a decarbonised steel industry at the core of an ambitious industrial strategy. Britain needs its steel industry and Britain’s steelworkers need government to do far more to support our steelmakers to go green and prosper. All us steelworkers ask is the chance to compete on a level playing field with EU producers.”
Sir Keir was joined on his visit by Ed Miliband MP, Shadow Secretary of State of Climate Change and Net Zero, and Sir Nic Dakin.
Sewell Construction joins ranks of firms to share in £305m of capital works
Sewell Construction has been chosen as one of the suppliers for procurement organisation Fusion21’s Refurbishment, Construction, New Build and Modular Buildings Framework.
The framework is designed to support public sector organisations to deliver up to £305m worth of housing, education and healthcare capital works programmes, including building and refurbishing schools and hospitals.
Sewell Construction Joint MD Chris Soper said: “We’re really pleased to have been awarded a place on this framework, which compliments our place on the Fusion21 Decarbonisation Framework. Our team have extensive expertise across the public and private sectors, but some of our highest profile projects have involved constructing and refurbishing schools, colleges, universities and healthcare buildings. We’re looking forward to working with partners across the North of England to ensure that education and healthcare professionals can deliver services in world-class facilities.”
Paul Towers, Framework Manager (Construction & Decarbonisation) at Fusion21 said: “We welcome Sewell Construction to the framework. The tender process was highly competitive and has identified the best contractors for our members to use for the delivery of a whole range of construction programmes.
“Members accessing this framework will benefit from flexible call-off options, UK-wide coverage, and the option to deliver social value to their communities, aligned to their organisational priorities.”
Sewell Construction, based in Leads Road in Hull, has more than 150 years’ experience in construction projects across Yorkshire and the Humber. Recent successes include the design and building of the new Broadacre Primary School, the construction of West Hull Health Hub (pictured above), the refurbishment of The Edge fitness centre at the University of Leeds and the ongoing conversion of the former Central Fire Station in Hull into a high performing, low carbon-impact extension of the Ron Dearing UTC, housing a renewables innovation lab, creativity hub and sixth-form centre.
Refurbishment programme leads to full occupancy for Rotherham business park
An extensive £1m refurbishment programme has led to full occupancy at a 112,000 sq ft Rotherham business park.New tenants Fourways Traffic Management, introduced to the industrial scheme by property consultants Knight Frank, have completed the line-up of 20 occupiers at Waleswood Industrial Estate, while two lease renewals have been agreed for a further five years.The well established MLI estate, comprising of 22 units across three terraces, was purchased in October 2021 for £9.95m by BCCIM, a joint venture between Barwood Capital Ltd and Caisson Investment Management, in their Urban Industrial Income LP, who undertook a substantial refurbishment of the development.Tenants have been attracted by the refurburbishment works which were recently completed, which included ESG works to improve the energy efficiency of the estate with new roof coverings, cladding and the replacement of windows and doors across the whole estate resulting in EPC upgrades, and also its ideal position within South Yorkshire, at the boundary of Sheffield and Rotherham allowing easy access into Sheffield and onto the M1 motorway.Harry Orwin-Allen, senior surveyor at Knight Frank in Sheffield which marketed the units with CPP, said: “The offer of modern refurbished units, tailored to occupiers needs, has satisfied the continued need for good quality accommodation, and subsequently achieved strong headline rent levels.”Fourways Traffic Management has joined the local and national occupiers at Waleswood including Yorkshire Crisps, Pollybrook Ltd and Xpress Sameday Ltd.
Engineering boss urges plastics manufacturers to be ready for new legislation
Doncaster-based precision engineering company Agemaspark is urging plastics manufacturers to get ready for the changes in legislation coming later this year and in 2024.
The company is keen to ensure that businesses are ready for October 2023, when the single use plastic ban comes into force in England and, for the July 2024 changes, requiring tethered caps and lids for plastic containers up to three litres across Europe.
Paul Stockhill, MD at Agemaspark said: “These are big changes that are coming into force in the UK and across Europe. They are important changes to help businesses find more environmentally sustainable ways of working. This is an opportunity for the industry to review and modify production processes to identify areas that may need modification to meet the new regulations.
“We want to make sure that all businesses working in plastics manufacturing are aware that the legislative changes are coming and that they have solutions in place to help them to continue to deliver their products in a way that meets the new requirements.
“Working together we can devise efficient and sustainable solutions that align with the legislation.”
The EU will implement a new regulation in July 2024 requiring all plastic containers up to three litres to have tethered caps and lids. This measure aims to reduce the number of caps and lids that become litter and contribute to plastic pollution.
“Plastics manufacturers must prepare for this change by modifying their manufacturing processes to incorporate tethered cap solutions. Ensuring these caps and lids remain attached to the containers throughout their lifecycle will not only comply with the regulation but also demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. This will impact not only on drinks bottle manufacturers but shampoo, shower gel and many make up products too.
“One thing is for certain, the plastic industry is on the verge of significant legislation changes that demand the preparedness of plastics manufacturers, by being proactive and embracing improved manufacturing processes they can help to reduce their environmental impact.”
