Keighley gets green light for health and wellbeing centre

Tess Egginton
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Keighley gets green light for health and wellbeing centre

Keighley has received Government confirmation of the funding it needs to proceed with building a new health and wellbeing centre.

The funding of £3.4million forms part of a Towns Fund grant from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

It means that building the centre can now get underway with the centre expected to open in the summer of 2026.

The new facility would include GP services, self-care and prevention, community care, mental health, dental care, a GP training hub and other healthcare services, at an accessible town centre location.

The scheme would also bring around 200 jobs to the town centre, 50 of them being new posts, helping bring extra footfall to local shops and other businesses.

The site on which the new centre will be built comprises two areas of brownfield land at the corner of North Street and Cavendish Street, previously occupied by Keighley College, which was demolished in 2017.

Ian Hayfield, Keighley Towns Fund Chair, said: “It is fantastic news for Keighley that we’ve been given the go-ahead by the Government for the Health and Wellbeing Centre. It is a project that will make a real difference and bring in much needed investment to help achieve real social and economic change for our community.

“I want to thank all the residents and businesses of Keighley, the project sponsors, my fellow board members and the council for the hard work that has gone in over the last few years.”

Professor Mel Pickup, place-based lead for Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, said: “The funding announcement is great news for the people of Keighley and for our whole health and care partnership. The new Health and Wellbeing Centre is much needed and will provide a ‘state of the art’ integrated health and wellbeing centre at the heart of Keighley.

“The centre will bring a wide range of services under one roof, and help ensure local people receive the care they need closer to home. This project is an exciting opportunity to construct a landmark building on the central site that enhances the town centre, provides value for money and, most importantly, improves the health and wellbeing of local people.”

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “The announcement today is a great result for Keighley. It will bring a brand new facility in the heart of Keighley, in easy reach of transport links and which will provide essential services to improve the lives of those living in the community.

“In addition it will be a great boost for investment and jobs for Keighley and the wider district. This is a partnership success and thanks must go to the Keighley town fund board and everyone involved in this bid who has made this happen.”

Humber is a land of opportunity for business, says KCOM CEO Tim Shaw

Stuart Pearcey
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Humber is a land of opportunity for business, says KCOM CEO Tim Shaw
The Humber region is a land of opportunity for its businesses, KCOM CEO Tim Shaw told delegates to the Humber Business Week launch event. The event, entitled Let’s Talk Place, was organised by Future Humber to energise the local business community and build momentum towards a shared prosperous future. Mr Shaw said there was enormous potential for the digital and tech sectors in the Humber, using KCOM’s  award winning full fibre broadband as a platform to build on. “Digital and tech are really key in the area,” he said: “There are many global companies  that are using the Humber as their base and lots of great start-up companies such as Vertual, which is developing world leading cancer treatment, at places such as C4DI Add to this the potential for remote working that was kickstarted by the pandemic and we have  a huge platform here to attract people to our region.” Mr Shaw added that the growing green energy sector led by companies such as Siemens had the potential to transform’s the area’s economy, while the region also had a strong pipeline of talent coming through from the strong science-teaching institutions such as the University of Hull, Hull College and Ron Dearing UTC. “If we can fix the carbon problem in the Humber we can take that right around the world,”  he said. Mr Shaw was part of a panel discussing the subject alongside Jane Stafford, CEO of Hull University Students’ Union, Charlotte Bowen, Founder of The Culture House and James Trowsdale, Strategic Lead for Culture, North East Lincolnshire Council.

Supply chain challenges continue to hold back business growth

Tess Egginton
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Supply chain challenges continue to hold back business growth
Continued supply chain pressures, including cost increases, delayed materials and shortages outrank workforce challenges and increasing business costs as a main concern for over a third (36%) of mid-sized businesses, according to latest research from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO. The bi-monthly survey – which looks at the challenges and opportunities facing mid-sized businesses – reveals over three quarters (77%) are facing persistent disruptions within the supply chain. Faced with these prolonged pressures, almost half (49.8%) of mid-sized businesses say they will be focusing on onshoring as much of their operations as possible in the next 12 months. This change in strategy is having the biggest impact for mid-sized businesses within the retail and hospitality, manufacturing and technology and media sectors with just over half (51%) planning to onshore operations, suggesting an urgency to reduce a reliance on imported goods and overseas suppliers. A quarter (24%) of businesses say their supply chain strategy is focused on reducing the impact of global geopolitical events on their business, whilst the same number wish to avoid complex post-Brexit customs regulation. However, despite many making attempts to onshore operations, over a fifth (21%) of businesses report that costs are too high in the UK. A further fifth (20%) say there are no UK-based suppliers capable of delivering the services they need. Motivated by access to more competition, almost a third (31%) hope to find lower costs in markets with a wider range of suppliers. Businesses are calling on government to incentivise more UK operations, in order to boost economic growth. When asked about what policies would help their businesses grow this year, a fifth (21%) want to see tax cuts for companies working with domestic suppliers and/or partners. Ed Dwan, partner at BDO LLP, said: “While the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit have fallen out of the limelight somewhat, the supply chain pressures we’ve seen over the past few years are far from easing. Our latest research shows that mid-sized businesses continue to face persistent chaos and disruption, both at home and abroad, with many choosing to onshore operations to the UK, but still facing major barriers in doing so. “These businesses should not be overlooked by policymakers who need to prioritise domestic partnerships and industry, as without the right support to help manage lingering supply chain challenges, they could see a knock-on impact on plans for improving productivity and UK market growth in the months ahead.”

Bradford housing association appoints director of development and growth

Tess Egginton
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Bradford housing association appoints director of development and growth
Bradford housing provider Incommunities has appointed Aimee Law to the role of director of development and growth. Aimee has more than 18 years’ experience in delivering large scale, mixed tenure, residential developments across both public and private sectors. She joined Incommunities in July 2022, as head of new business and programme compliance in the Development Team, where she has played a key role in the organisation’s growth. Incommunities, which owns 22,650 homes across Bradford and other parts of Yorkshire, sees Aimee’s appointment as a pivotal part of their ambitious growth targets, which include securing 2,000 new build homes by March 2026, with a goal of delivering 400 new starts per year. Aimee’s decision to join Incommunities was driven by her strong desire to deliver new affordable homes and have a meaningful impact improving communities. She said: “Having grown up living in social housing, I am passionate about ensuring people have access to good quality and affordable housing and I am excited to take on this new role at Incommunities. “This opportunity will allow me to use my skills and experience to develop more affordable homes for those in need. I am committed to driving our growth ambitions and making a lasting impact on the communities we serve.” Under Aimee’s leadership in her new role, Incommunities will focus on delivering larger-scale mixed developments, encompassing Affordable Rent, Social Rent, Rent to Buy, and Shared Ownership. The organisation’s geographic focus will span West and part of North Yorkshire, with specific emphasis on Bradford, Kirklees, and Calderdale. Graeme Scott, executive director of development and growth at Incommunities, congratulated Aimee on her promotion. He said: “I would like to congratulate Aimee in securing this role. With her substantial experience and vision, she will really help to drive our growth targets. She has already been instrumental in implementing new development processes, securing valuable development opportunities, and supporting the growth and development of the team.” To support its growth targets, Incommunities is also recruiting for key positions within the Development Team, including head of delivery, project manager, and new business manager.

Financial support welcomed for growing the rural economy

Stuart Pearcey
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Financial support welcomed for growing the rural economy

The government has unveiled a £7m fund to support the most remote areas in the UK and provide them with better access to wireless networks which will support the government’s wider mission of growing the rural economy.

The new fund will involve testing new ways of bringing together satellite, wireless and fixed line internet connectivity with the aim of providing fast and reliable connectivity to remote areas for the first time, helping to support the likes of farmers and tourism businesses.

The investment follows the government’s £8 million grant scheme that they announced earlier this year which committed to delivering improved, high-speed broadband via satellite connectivity to up to 35,000 homes in the most rural areas of the UK, speeding up broadband by 10 times.

Rural areas currently contribute 15 per cent to the UK’s economy and the government hopes to support these communities in all areas, including housing, transport, digital connectivity and jobs, with the goal of providing improved opportunities.

Elizabeth Anderson, Interim Chief Executive Officer at the Digital Poverty Alliance, said: “It is fantastic to see the government taking further steps to support the drive of providing connectivity and digital access for everyone. For some, access to wireless networks is an everyday norm, however, for millions, this is currently out of reach, leading to exclusion and acting as a key barrier when looking for jobs, or attempting to use services which are now commonly online as well as many other tasks that require digital access.

“The release of this new fund coincides with the DPA’s launch of the National Delivery Plan, which sets out 6 core missions to end digital poverty. Digital technology plays a huge role in individuals’ lives, affecting our ability to learn, participate and interact, highlighting the vital importance of proving everybody with digital access. While it is great to see the government making steps in the right direction, we must all do more to support those who lack access with the hope of a fully connected UK in years to come. We must also remember that digital inclusion is about more than just connectivity, with devices, skills and trust in online services all vital.”

Yorkshire Water plans £180m of improvements to cut storm overflow discharges

Stuart Pearcey
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Yorkshire Water plans £180m of improvements to cut storm overflow discharges
Yorkshire Water is to invest £180m in reducing discharges from storm overflows in the next two years.  More than 190 overflows have been earmarked for investment as part of the plan and work on the first batch of improvements is already under way, with work being carried out on overflows which discharge into all the major rivers throughout the region.   The investment is in addition to the £147m being spent as part of the utility’s current five-year business plan and the work being planned between 2025 and 2030, which will see the company’s largest environmental investment since privatisation.  Nicola Shaw, CEO of Yorkshire Water, said: “We did not act quickly enough to tackle the issue of storm overflows into rivers. Despite the number and duration of discharges from storm overflows in Yorkshire decreasing in 2022 we understand they happen more than our customers would like, and we are determined to tackle this issue and do our bit for river health.  “Tackling overflows, which were designed into the system as a relief valve, is a priority for us, but it is also a significant task. In Yorkshire, we have over 2,200 overflows and we know replumbing the whole of Yorkshire is not a quick fix as it would be both significantly disruptive and costly to customers. But, further investment from our shareholders is helping us tackle this issue.  “We’ve now launched a project that will see £180m spent on storm overflow improvements in the next two years. This will target the overflows we know are operating more frequently and for longer. Our teams are already on the ground working on the first of these overflows and the investment will help to reduce discharges by at least 20%, but in most cases, we’ll be going way beyond that and reducing them significantly.”  Projects will involve building additional storage tanks to retain more wastewater, holding it back, so it doesn’t go through overflows, redirecting rainwater away from sewers and into water butts or SUDs, removing water sources that shouldn’t be plumbed in the network and preventing water naturally seeping in and changing operations at the wider sewer network and pumping stations that could reduce the need for overflows to kick in to action.  Nicola added: “Storm overflows are a priority for us and that’s why we’ve funded these improvements. We’re going beyond the government’s storm overflow reduction plan and we’re already planning our largest ever environmental investment programme between 2025 and 2030, this is only the beginning as we embark on the biggest investment programme since privatisation.” 

Drax pumps almost £38,000 into more than 20 good causes

Stuart Pearcey
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Drax pumps almost £38,000 into more than 20 good causes

Renewable energy company Drax has donated over £37,500 from its Community Fund to 26 local groups and causes near to Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire.

Jane Breach, Drax UK Community Manager, said: “Drax has a long tradition of giving back to the communities we operate in, and this year we have stepped up our community funding to allow us to support even more good causes and ensure our business has a positive impact on people, nature and the climate. “We are pleased to announce that in the first round of community funding this year we will be awarding close to £60,000 of grants to 40 different organisations in the UK which support STEM education and skills or work to improve the local community.” Of the total, £37,530 has been awarded to 26 different community-led projects local to Drax Power Station near Selby. This includes developing an outdoor space for volunteering and educational opportunities at St John’s Church in Goole, purchasing equipment to deliver a STEM programme for children at Carlton Playgroup, helping Kellingley Juniors Football Club to purchase sports kit and the Stillingfleet Community Group to deliver a village playground project. Jonny Patton, Operations Director at St John’s Church, said: “As the only green space in the centre of the town, St John’s churchyard has the potential to make a significant contribution to the lives of the people of Goole, and play a key role in the rejuvenation of the town centre. This donation from Drax will help us to progress plans for our project ‘Life and Hope Gardens’, which will be an inclusive and accessible space for volunteering, community-led projects and school activities as well as create opportunities to reduce social isolation and improve health and wellbeing.” Drax’s Community Fund donations are awarded once a quarter to local projects in the regions where Drax operates which fit into the following categories:
  • STEM education, skills development, and employability
  • Improving green spaces in local communities
  • Improving our communities
Heather Palmer, Director at Carlton Playgroup, said: “We applied to the community fund because we wanted to deliver a new STEM educational programme which would give children the opportunity to develop the concepts and skills needed for these subjects later in life. This donation will allow us to purchase learning resources such as magnifying glasses, nature puzzles, counting blocks, wooden nuts and bolts and coding games all of which promote curiosity and innovation through active learning, playing and exploring.” Drax’s Community Fund provides donations of £500-£2,000 for community-led projects. In addition, the Drax Foundation was launched in March this year to award larger grants of up to £50,000 for established non-profit organizations. Organisations and initiatives that meet Drax’s funding and selection criteria are encouraged to visit www.drax.com/community to learn more about the Foundation and submit an initial expression of interest.

Private sector activity could be poised for a modest rebound, says CBI

Stuart Pearcey
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Private sector activity could be poised for a modest rebound, says CBI
After ten consecutive months of decline, private sector activity could be poised for something of a rebound, according to the CBI. It’s predicting a return to modest growth, with business and professional services expected to lead the recovery with an upswing in activity (+20%), while consumer services activity and distribution sales are expected to stabilise (-3% and -1% respectively). Only manufacturing output is expected to fall, but at a slower pace once again (-5%). All major subsectors saw activity fall over the last quarter. Services business volumes declined at a broadly similar pace to last month (-8% from -7% in April), reflecting a mild contraction in business & professional services (-4%) and a sharper fall in consumer services (-24%). Distribution sales resumed their downward trend after two flat months (-17% from +1% in April), falling at the fastest pace since November 2022. Likewise, manufacturing output continued to fall, but at a slightly slower pace than last month (-10% from -15% in April). Alpesh Paleja, CBI Lead Economist, said: “Amid the enduring headwinds of strong cost pressures and labour shortages, it’s clear that the private sector continues to face difficult trading conditions. However, the latest Growth Indicator shows that businesses remain hopeful of seeing activity rebound over the three months ahead. “Falling wholesale energy prices will eventually relieve some pressure on firms’ margins, while lower household energy bills from July will support consumer spending, in turn giving a boost to broader demand conditions.”

Groundbreaking new conference responds to farming crime wave sweeping rural Britain

Stuart Pearcey
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Groundbreaking new conference responds to farming crime wave sweeping rural Britain
The NFU, NFU Mutual, and representatives from 40 police forces came together for the first time to address the growing crime wave sweeping rural Britain. There has been a surge in machinery and equipment thefts, livestock rustling and industrial fly-tipping hitting the pockets of farming businesses of all sizes.
The NFU HQ at Stoneleigh hosted a major conference for the National Rural Crime Unit involving police forces from across the UK to discuss a coherent approach to rural crime, including sharing best practice, effective tactics and managing joint operations. NFU Vice-President David Exwood said: “Highly organised gangs of criminals continue to plague the great British countryside, stealing livestock and expensive GPS equipment, trespassing on private land and regularly fly-tipping tons of rubbish; their actions significantly impact farm businesses, farming families and rural communities, both financially and emotionally.” Following the first session of the event, almost every police force unit in the room confirmed they have a dedicated rural crime team; the few which still plan to develop these dedicated teams have already set up processes to ensure national police priorities on rural crime are addressed. Superintendent Andy Huddleston, Head of the NRCU, highlighted the recent upsurge in thefts of tractor GPS units, with every police force in the room indicating that they have dealt with such thefts. New research from NFU Mutual has revealed the cost of GPS theft in the first four months of 2023 exceeded £500,000, more than double compared to the same period last year. The Superintendent praised the wok of rural crime leads across the UK but acknowledged “the need and want to do more”. He said: “There is an urgent need to improve co-ordination and partnership problem solving, regionally and nationally. The newly-formed NRCU is designed to do this and support UK police forces to combat the organised crime groups that target rural communities”. Bob Henderson, NFU Mutual lead on Rural Crime explained how NFU Mutual has set up a dedicated agricultural vehicle theft unit and has collaborated with police forces to seize millions of poundsworth of stolen machinery. “This team is now part of the new Rural Crime Unit which will strengthen work at a national level so that specialist police resources can be targeted where they are needed most to protect farmers and the wider rural community. We are proud to be the primary funders of the new unit and wish it every success in its work.” Greg Smith MP discussed his Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill that aims to ensure security measures must be included on quad bikes at point of sale. The NFU has been working closely with the Home Office on the new Bill, along with NFU Mutual, and other key stakeholders. The Bill is currently passing through the Committee stage in the House of Lords.

Connecting with the world: business completes web translations for a dozen companies

Stuart Pearcey
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Connecting with the world: business completes web translations for a dozen companies
A company with premises in Boston and Nottingham is bringing business home by translating web sites into a range of languages and ‘localising’ them too. PAB Language Centres operates globally, and in the last quarter completed 11 website translations and localisations for clients, including into French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Swedish, and Japanese. Iwona Lebiedowicz, founder of PAB Languages Centre Ltd, said: “A multilingual website engages new audiences and opens the opportunity to become visible across international search engines. A properly localised website speaks directly to the consumer in their own language, enabling businesses and brands to compete with local and global players in their niche. “Localisation is a comprehensive process that entails not only text translation but also other factors to bear in mind. These include modifying your content to respect local market habits, addressing economic, historical, and sometimes political references, adjusting images, icons, and colours to local tastes and culture, changing dates, addresses, phone numbers, and other details to fit a local format, and converting to local currencies and units of measure. “The numbers are quite staggering – translating your website into English, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese and Italian enables you to reach 80% of the global online purchasing power – so it’s no surprise that an increasing number of businesses are looking to translate and localise their websites.” It has UK offices in the East Midlands as well as Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, and Essex. PAB works locally and internationally with clients from the UK and around the world. “Localisation is a complex process and one that requires a huge range of skills and specialist knowledge. For these reasons, the process of localising a website is best handled by a team of professionals,” added Iwona. Around 40% of internet users said they will never buy from websites that are not in their native language and 65% of non-native English speakers prefer content in their native tongue, even though they are highly proficient in English, according to CSA Research. And in a 2022 study by PayPal, 57% of online shoppers said that they shopped internationally. In fact, two out of five global shoppers had made a cross-border purchase in the previous three months.

Property auctioneers merge with combined auctions

Tess Egginton
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Property auctioneers merge with combined auctions

Two of the north’s largest property auction houses, North-West based Pugh and South Yorkshire based Mark Jenkinson, are combining their online property auction listings from this month.

Mark Jenkinson, which has been based in Sheffield for over 125 years, was acquired by Eddisons earlier this year, joining Pugh which was bought by Eddisons in 2016. Between them the two firms have sold a wide range of commercial, residential and land assets worth £94m in the last year.

Combining the lots of both auction houses, under the Pugh brand and as part of Eddisons, will provide a more extensive list of investment opportunities across the regions.

Pugh Managing Director Paul Thompson said: “This is an exciting development for our business and reinforces our strength and leading position in the northern property auction market. Combining the two very capable teams ensures we continue to deliver a high performing service to our selling and buying customers.”

Mark Jenkinson senior partner, Adrian Little, added: “Working with Pugh, as part of Eddisons, gives us a superb geographic reach, unrivalled market insight and a vast network of buyers and sellers.

“The personalised customer service our clients have always enjoyed will be backed by cutting-edge technology and strategic marketing support.”

Over £4m building improvements funding secured for Yorkshire schools

Tess Egginton
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Over £4m building improvements funding secured for Yorkshire schools

Property consultant Eddisons, which is headquartered in Leeds, has secured more than £20m of funding to improve buildings at schools across the UK, including more than £4m for Yorkshire schools, in the latest round of the Government’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF).

Education sector specialist Eddisons has raised more than £200m in school funding over recent years and the latest round of secured funding for projects in Yorkshire includes £350,000 for the Yorkshire Collaborative Academies Trust to carry out fire safety and roofing works, and over £700,000 to fund a roofing project and asbestos removal for the Brooksbank School in Elland.

Ian Harrington, head of Eddisons specialist education team, said: “This is another year of fantastic results for both our clients and the team. However, the success also highlights once again the fact that education is one of the more poorly funded sectors, with 2,000 projects unsuccessful in their bids in this round of funding alone.

“We will continue to work with those schools and academies that were unsuccessful, to offer guidance on future bids, as well as offering advice on other funding opportunities that are available. With the total CIF pot remaining unchanged on last year, despite base rate inflation being at 11% and construction inflation nearer 30%, it was one the most fiercely competitive rounds of funding we’ve experienced.”

The CIF programme is an annual round of bidding under which academy schools and colleges can apply for funding for the upkeep and improvement of their buildings and to fund expansion projects for schools that have been rated good or outstanding by Ofsted. In total, the Department for Education received funding requests for over 3,000 projects this year, with 1,033 projects across 859 academies being allocated a share of the £456m.

Mr Harrington added: “The CIF bidding procedure is highly complex and Eddisons’ education team have built up huge knowledge and experience over the years to help deliver successful bids and projects that make a real difference to schools and to the people who study and work in them.

“Every year the process of submitting a successful CIF bid becomes ever more competitive and we are really pleased to say that we have maintained our position as a key adviser to the education sector, with an excellent success rate for our bids.”

The successful projects will all get underway shortly and will be project managed by Eddisons.

Positive signs for Yorkshire’s retail sector as Leeds and Sheffield emerge in UK’s top 10 growth cities

Tess Egginton
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Positive signs for Yorkshire’s retail sector as Leeds and Sheffield emerge in UK’s top 10 growth cities

The Yorkshire region fares well in the retail sector with both Leeds and Sheffield ranked in the UK’s top 10 growth cities according to CBRE’s latest research report ‘Which City? Which Sector? Real Estate Prospects over the Next Decade’. Leeds is ranked fourth in the retail sector with Sheffield positioned eighth.

CBRE examined the growth prospects for 12 real estate sectors across the 50 largest regional towns and cities in the UK. Findings were informed by economic drivers (including GDP, employment and income growth), demographic trends and property market data such as supply pipeline, local universities and housing affordability. The top 10 performing cities and growth sectors were identified.

Ram Rasiah, senior director, CBRE said: “It’s great to see two Yorkshire cities in the top 10 list. Retail continues to adapt to changing consumer habits and repositioning the role of the store. Within this, the polarized performance of retail locations is becoming increasingly apparent. While small, local destinations continue to remain relevant through their convenience and regional schemes benefit from their critical mass, the performance of mid-sized locations has been more challenged.

“In contrast, larger locations deliver a greater catchment potential. And aligning these trends, population and expected population growth were among the metrics used in our analysis. Birmingham ranks strongest in this measure, followed by Leeds and Glasgow,” continued Rasiah.

Birmingham took the top spot for retail followed by Bristol and Manchester respectively.

Retail performance is not only driven by scale. CBRE’s research has shown that affluent cities see healthier property performance, have lower vacancy rates and experience higher rental and capital value growth. A review of average household incomes ranks Sheffield highly versus other locations. A comparison of cities highlights Bristol and Manchester with the strongest growth potential.

In addition, a critical driver of a retail location’s performance is the balance of supply and demand. Allowing for a shift of some spend online, CBRE estimates that the volume of retail floor space in the UK will need to decrease by 16% to reach average sales densities of 2015-2020. Ranking cities by floorspace per capita and a review of vacancy rate data, gives an indication of potential oversupply in locations. The majority of the top ten potential growth cities identified have a lower retail floor space per capita than the sample average, with Sheffield and Bristol in the strongest position.

Leeds ranked sixth in the office sector with Sheffield taking the eighth position for growth cities. Manchester, Bristol and Birmingham placed as the top three growth cities in this sector.

Alex Hailey, senior director in CBRE’s Office Agency team in Leeds, said: “It’s great to see both Leeds and Sheffield identified in the top 10 growth cities. The role of the office has changed over time to align with occupier requirements, as the way we use offices evolves.  The movement from cellular offices to flexible and agile formats has reduced the average space requirements per employee and hybrid working is challenging historic working norms.

“Occupiers focusing on talent attraction and retention are considering a range of flexible, amenity-rich spaces to curate the optimum user experience. But in tandem with these trends, demand for office space ultimately continues to be driven by the wider economic environment. Economic and demographic factors are fundamental when identifying key growth markets for office real estate.

“The size of the talent pool is a key factor used in forecasting office demand, with growth in those of working age and populations with qualifications at or above Level 4, could indicate the potential for employment growth by office-based sectors,” continued Hailey.

Supply factors are also key when considering a market’s ability to support future demand.  In the flight to quality office space, CBRE expects pre-letting of development space to continue. 29% of space under construction is already pre-let or under offer in eight of the top ten markets where CBRE tracks pipeline data.

Sheffield placed third behind Manchester and Bristol in the urban logistics sector with Leeds ranked ninth.

As supply chains diversify to keep up with accelerated online retail activity and consumer expectations, increased demand is being placed on smaller prime urban logistics facilities located in the UK’s major metropolitan areas. These provide more agile warehouses, accommodate numerous delivery vehicles, increase cost efficiencies and shorten delivery times for end consumers.

Online shopping is a major driver in the demand for urban logistics space and the report has identified locations with a high online penetration percentage, access to high-speed internet and a forecasted growth in population of age groups with a high online spend propensity. Sheffield, Manchester and Bristol ranked highly in the growth of 34-49 year olds at 13.52%, 10.63% and 9.86% respectively.

Sheffield also ranked fifth in the Single Family Housing sector with Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol taking the top spots. Sheffield has the most affordable rental market for houses in CBRE’s top five – the average rent for a house accounts for 37% of a single local income.

Jennet Siebrits, UK head of Research at CBRE, said: “Leeds, which has one of the most diverse economies in the UK, ranked particularly well in the office and retail sectors and Sheffield was ranked among the highest cities respectively for projected growth in the urban logistics sector, which has undergone a period of supply chain diversification to keep up with accelerated online retail activity and consumer expectations since the pandemic.

“The way towns and cities evolve is very much reflective of their local geographies, natural resources and cultural history. As a result, no two UK cities are the same and subsequently, different real estate sectors thrive in different locations. Real estate professionals need to be mindful of these differences to help inform their future strategies.”

Snaith-based Croda starts work on manufacturing plant in America

Stuart Pearcey
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Snaith-based Croda starts work on manufacturing plant in America
Snaith headquartered Croda has broken ground on its newest manufacturing facility in Lamar, Pennsylvania. The company is investing in the new 23,680 square-foot facility to make ingredients for drug delivery systems used in therapeutic drugs such as mRNA vaccines and gene editing therapies. The facility will support the production of lipids already used in therapeutics and vaccines, such as the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as supporting next generation therapeutics currently being developed, including lipids used for cutting-edge cancer treatments. As the U.S. looks to expand domestic manufacturing of critical vaccines and therapeutics, Croda’s new Lamar facility, a cooperative project between the federal government and Croda, will play an important role in supporting future medicine discovery. Bradley Cook, Vice President of Coda’s North American Operations, said:“There are rare moments that a team can contribute to such a significant betterment of humankind. The on-going collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services and its premier biomedical countermeasure development agency, BARDA, has afforded Croda and this team the opportunity and we are extremely excited and proud.” Construction will begin this year with the new capacity anticipated by 2025. This facility, part of an 80-acre multipurpose cGMP site, was purchased by the company in 2021, will bring up to 50 new jobs to Pennsylvania which will include engineering, administration, maintenance, operations and logistics roles. From inception, the vision of this site is to fully contribute to Croda’s sustainability goals.

Beverage systems company sold to Swedish group

Tess Egginton
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Beverage systems company sold to Swedish group
Stanwell Group Ltd has been sold to a leading Swedish-based group operating in niche technology markets, with KBS Corporate advising on the sale. Holmfirth-based Stanwell offers innovative solutions to the beverage industry, including fluid dispense pumps, valves and complete systems. The company has grown significantly since being founded in 1990 and now offers a turnkey manufacture, supply and refurbishment service. KBS was instructed by the sellers to facilitate their eventual retirement plans. The shareholders will retain active roles in the business for the immediate future. Fabio Rambelli, KBS Corporate associate director who oversaw the sale, said: “I recall my first meetings with Doug, Joanne and Jonathan from Stanwell and being very impressed with the business, the products and the innovation. “I could see how much the sellers cared about securing a buyer that would ensure the future success of Stanwell, to take great care of its staff and client base while maintaining the strong legacy of the brand.” Teqnion was the successful buyer, having been active in the M&A space for a number of years across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. The industrial group operates through multiple independent subsidiaries, acquiring scalable companies which can succeed in narrow technology niches. Teqnion is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and will continue to develop its decentralised subsidiary management philosophy. Doug Gorton, sales and technical director of Stanwell, said: “Teqnion shares the belief that the key to building a successful company is through the strength of its people and the enduring relationships they build and maintain. “Teqnion is exactly what we were looking for and Fabio was excellent throughout the process – a pleasure to work with.” Teqnion CEO Johan Steene is excited about the future of Stanwell under new leadership and the opportunities the business offers. “Since we love companies that supply products with long-term relevance, Stanwell is definitely for us,” he said. “The company’s customer relationships are solid and the enduring demand for its products is likely to persist through economic fluctuations.” Fabio Rambelli added: “It has been an absolute joy to work with Doug, Joanne and Jonathan from Stanwell, as well as Johan and Daniel (Zhang) from Teqnion. “I have no doubt Stanwell will have a bright and prosperous future under the Teqnion leadership and I wish all parties the very best of luck in their future endeavours.”

Fishermen’s Mission returns to Port of Grimsby

Stuart Pearcey
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Fishermen’s Mission returns to Port of Grimsby
The Fishermen’s Mission has returned to the Port of Grimsby, supporting fishermen and their families. The organisation has moved into a first-floor room within No 2 Auckland Road, given to the organisation by WE1 Heritage who have leased many of the buildings in the historic part of the port known as the Kasbah. Simon Bird, Director, ABP in the Humber said: “We’re pleased the Fishermen’s Mission have decided to relocate into the port of Grimsby itself. They offer a much-needed service to not only retired fishermen, but to those visiting the port.” Superintendent Suesan Brown, Mission Area Officer, said: “I am so grateful to Steve from WE1 Heritage for the work he is doing and the help he is providing, not just to us but to so many. Our wonderful new office is open to active and retired fishermen and their families.” Steve Ridlington, MDr of WE1 Heritage said: “When I heard that the fisher folk were struggling to get to see the Port Missioner following a change in their office, I offered analternative that allowed the access to return and for the Fishermen’s Mission to return to its home near the fishing quays on the docks.” Suesan and her team will be on hand to support working fishermen within the port and retired with welfare and care. Later in the year the first of the SeaFit programme welfare visits will be in the port. This is a joint initiative between the Fishermen’s Mission and the Seafarers Hospital Society.

Local authorities approve £3.1m funding package to save Doncaster Sheffield Airport

Stuart Pearcey
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Local authorities approve £3.1m funding package to save Doncaster Sheffield Airport
South Yorkshire’s Mayor and local leaders have approved a £3.1m funding package to support the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport. At the Board meeting of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the sum was agreed to help with the costs of building a case for the Compulsory Purchase Order process currently being undertaken by the City of Doncaster Council. Mayor Oliver Coppard and the leaders of the four South Yorkshire councils also agreed a funding package towards the purchase of the Airport, should the CPO ultimately be successful. Oliver Coppard said: “We haven’t given up on our fight to reopen DSA.  Since Peel announced their intentions to close our airport, I’ve been working alongside partners from across the region to first keep it open, and now to bring it back into use. We’re not going to stop until we’ve exhausted every option. “The Compulsory Order Process is our last, best hope to take back control of DSA, and that’s why today we’ve agreed £3.1 million from South Yorkshire’s MCA to support Doncaster in their pursuit of that CPO, and a funding package to purchase the site should the CPO – as we hope – be successful. “There are no easy or quick answers in this process. The CPO could take up to two years, and there are loads of hurdles in the way. But across South Yorkshire we are determined to do everything we can to bring DSA back into use, and to make it the thriving regional airport we know it can be.” Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones said: “Having an airport in Doncaster is vitally important to our city and the economic and growth fortunes of South Yorkshire.  Businesses and communities in the region want to see a thriving airport so I am thankful for the support from SYMCA in helping with our efforts to secure its future.” Doncaster Sheffield Airport was closed in 2022 after its owners Peel Group decided the airport was no longer financially viable. Research carried out as part of the region’s response to Peel Group’s review into the viability of the Airport found that DSA supported around 2,700 jobs and contributed more than £100m to the regional economy when it was operational.

East Midlands accountancy firm forges link with London-based private equity business

Stuart Pearcey
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East Midlands accountancy firm forges link with London-based private equity business
East Midlands accountancy, business advice and wealth management business Duncan & Toplis is accelerating its growth plans through external investment from private equity firm Blixt Group. Blixt is a pan-European private equity firm headquartered in London, with access to over €250 million of committed long-term institutional investor funding. An experienced investor in professional services, Blixt is committed to the UK accounting, wealth management and legal services sectors. Blixt focuses on growth-oriented businesses, helping its partners to build leading businesses. At the heart of the Duncan & Toplis growth strategy is the continued investment in its team, the expansion of its service proposition and the leveraging of technology to unlock new opportunities for the business’ team members, clients and communities. This will be complemented by acquisitive growth. Adrian Reynolds, MD at Duncan & Toplis said: “The core of our culture is based on doing right by our people, our communities and our clients and this will remain so. “Over almost a century, Duncan & Toplis has been a trusted partner to generations of people, businesses and communities and we’re always working to have a greater positive impact. Our new growth strategy will start the next 100 years as we mean to go on, accelerating our progress and protecting that which makes our business special, while taking it to the next level. “Blixt is an ideal partner for us because they share our focus on culture and growth for the right reasons. They also bring incredible expertise in strategic thinking, supporting us in the direction we want to travel in, helping us further along the path and accelerating our progress. “Fundamentally, their support means that in the next few years, we can achieve what we would have hoped to achieve in 10+ years, and that’s very exciting.” Carl Harring, CEO at Blixt said: “We have been impressed by the quality, track record and ambition of Duncan & Toplis, and its exemplary commitment to both its people and its clients. We really look forward to partnering with the team at Duncan & Toplis and other like-minded accounting firms to help accelerate growth.” Duncan & Toplis group was founded in 1925 in Nottingham before it relocated to Grantham and expanded across the East Midlands. It provides businesses and individuals with a range of services including accountancy, audit and assurance, tax and business advice, wealth management, legal services, payroll, marketing, HR, and international business services. All Duncan & Toplis board members, directors and team members will remain in their existing roles, with Adrian Reynolds continuing as managing director of Duncan & Toplis and Andy Severn as managing director of wealth management business Castlegate which is part of the Duncan & Toplis group. The agreement with Blixt is subject to regulatory approvals and is due to complete in Autumn 2023. Once approved, this investment will commence the most ambitious period of growth and expansion in the nearly 100 year history of Duncan & Toplis.

Chamber CEO to champion South Yorkshire in national skills debate

Stuart Pearcey
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Chamber CEO to champion South Yorkshire in national skills debate
Doncaster Chamber Chief Exec Dan Fell will be part of a panel discussion about skills this week when the Northern Research Group returns to the city bringing together Government Ministers,MPs and influential business leaders For the second year in a row, the NRG will meet at the city’s famous racecourse. The group’s annual conference, launched last year, is a forum for sharing insights and generating ideas that will ultimately contribute to northern prosperity. For the 2023 event, many of the confirmed delegates are high-profile speakers from the government, such as the Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Dehenna Davison MP, and former Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne. Mr Fell said: “We constantly hear from businesses about what they deem to be their greatest challenges and, across all different sectors, no single issue rears its head more often than that of skills. “Many local employers are finding it difficult to fill their outstanding vacancies and to attract the talent they need in order to grow, innovate and thrive. Meanwhile, a lot of South Yorkshire’s residents are simply not equipped with the skills they need to make themselves viable candidates for the best jobs available in the region. “While this is certainly a problem that we —   as a voice for business —   want to get on top of, there is a danger that we get too dispirited here and overlook all of the amazing programmes, institutions, and education providers in our region that are already delivering excellent skills activities. Indeed, the situation is not as bleak as we sometimes imagine it to be, and there are a lot of great things happening right on our doorstep in South Yorkshire. “For example, we have the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC). A world-class partnership between the University of Sheffield and various heavyweight companies — like Rolls Royce, Boeing and McLaren — this institution is creating plenty of opportunities and opening doors for those who want to get into the manufacturing industry. “Elsewhere, South Yorkshire is home to three brilliant University Technical Colleges (UTCs), the newest of which is over-subscribed twofold, owing to high demand for its excellent provision and well-established employer relationships. Not to mention, the rest of our region’s further education colleges are ranked Ofsted good or better as well. “In addition to boasting these exemplary providers, South Yorkshire has also negotiated an Adult Education Budget that — when coupled with our upcoming Local Skills Improvement Plan — will enable more agile and innovative skills commissioning. “In short, although it cannot be ignored that there are major skills-related challenges, both here and across the UK in general, we have some great practice and innovative solutions in South Yorkshire that should be acknowledged. “I am greatly looking forward to highlighting these at the Northern Research Group conference, to discussing how they can be built upon and replicated elsewhere, and to injecting a little more positivity into the skills debate.”

Leeds’ Globe Point almost fully let as fifth new tenant secured

Tess Egginton
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Leeds’ Globe Point almost fully let as fifth new tenant secured
CEG has secured a fifth tenant to the Globe Point development in Leeds in a matter of weeks. Specialist Computer Centres (SCC), part of the global Rigby Group headed up by Sir Peter Rigby, will move to the striking flat iron design building next month. Relocating from Wellington Place, SCC was attracted by Globe Point’s ESG credentials, location and design. Liam O’Keeffe, Rigby Group’s asset manager, said: “SCC has invested significantly in the occupational Real Estate portfolio in the last few years, following the refurbishment of the Global Head Quarters in Birmingham, the relocation of the London City office and the new Bracknell office, to name a few. Globe Point, Leeds is the latest in a series of exciting commitments by SCC, built upon the continued success and growth of its Northwest commercial business. “The South Bank area of Leeds has been utterly transformed over recent years. The Globe Point development, part of the wider Temple Masterplan, has phenomenal environmental credentials, a fantastic contemporary design and is only minutes from Leeds Train Station. Globe Point has provided another progressive acquisition for SCC.” The company joins global legal practice Reed Smith, which announced its relocation to the site this month, brand design agency Robot Foods, marketing and data science company Jaywing, and Butlers, which runs the 65-cover ground floor café bar. As a result, only 17,434 sq ft remains at the 40,430 sq ft seven-storey office development. Once fully occupied, the building will be home to more than 800 people. Knight Frank and Fox Lloyd Jones are marketing the building on behalf of CEG. Eamon Fox, partner and head of office agency at Knight Frank in Leeds agreed the deal with SCC. He said: “Yet again we have another tenant’s flight to quality. Globe Point is the result of focused design, innovation, appealingly dominate features, truthful expression, thorough to the last detail, and environmentally friendly. Design which understands our audience in Leeds for workspace, and which was clearly visible to SCC. “One of the highest specification offices on the market, Globe Point is now home to a diverse range of occupiers, from a global legal company to a pan European technology business.”

Olivia McDowell, investment manager at CEG, said: “It is fantastic to see SCC join the thriving business community within Globe Point. As a company with a wide range of public and private sector clients, the location, as well as the quality and design of the space appealed. Globe Point has fast become a success story delivering a new benchmark for the Temple district.”

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