One of the UK’s largest food wholesalers acquired by investment firm
London-based investment firm RDCP Group has acquired SOS Wholesale, one of the largest food wholesalers in the UK for an undisclosed sum.
RDCP has acquired Derby and Barnsey-based SOS Wholesale, a family run business founded in 1996 by Norman Beckett and his two sons Mark and Steven.
The business is one of the UK’s largest wholesalers of foods and beverages, employing 120 staff from its 70,000 sq ft warehouse and distribution centre in Derby and sales office in Barnsley. Its product range extends across 4,500 lines, selling top brands including Mars Bars, Walkers Crisps, Heinz, Nescafe, Colgate, and Fairy, delivering its products range in the UK, and exporting worldwide.
The existing management team led by Mark Beckett and Vipin Patara will work closely with RDCP founders, Sameer Rizvi and Iryna Dubylovska, on SOS Wholesale’s future growth strategy.
This latest deal is RDCP’s eighth acquisition in the last 18 months, following its most recent takeover of Intelling in October 2021. RDCP now controls $400 million of investments across multiple sectors in the UK.
Sameer Rizvi, founder & CEO of RDCP Group, said: “This is a major milestone for us at RDCP because the four acquisitions we completed last year combined with the organic growth of our existing portfolio companies has increased RDCP Group’s assets under management to $400 million.
“We were extremely impressed by SOS Wholesale and their track record of success and varied customer base which includes major national retailers as well as independents. We look forward to working closely with Mark, Vipin and their team to grow the business further and have plans to expand SOS Wholesale both organically via increased sales channels, but also by bringing bolt-on acquisitions of smaller competitors.”
Iryna Dubylovska, founder & chief strategy officer of RDCP Group, said: “This acquisition reflects our strong appetite to expand our presence across different sectors and I could not be prouder of our team and our advisors.
“We have ambitious plans to grow our assets under management to $1 billion by 2025 and will continue to invest our growing balance sheet capital into promising British businesses that have a consistent and profitable trading history, committed and ambitious management teams and a defendable and dominant market position within their respective sectors.”
Mark Beckett, Managing Director of SOS Wholesale, said: “Steven and I are proud to be a part of one of the UK’s fastest growing private conglomerates, RDCP Group. I am looking forward to continuing to work with Vipin Patara and our management team to grow the business further, whilst retaining the family values that have made us what we are today.
“It is very much business as usual for our staff, customers and suppliers. We have worked hard to build an excellent reputation of delivering exceptional service and this will continue to be a focus for SOS Wholesale moving forward.”
Vipin Patara, trading director of SOS Wholesale, said: “Over the past five years working with Mark and Steven, their passion and drive to grow the business has been contagious. It is a testimony to both Mark, Steven, and the SOS team to where the business has grown to today.
“The future potential is exciting for both organic growth as well as new opportunities. I am really looking forward to working collaboratively with Sameer, Iryna, Mark and the entire SOS team to take SOS Wholesale to the next level.”
Roy Farmer, corporate finance partner at Dains, added: “Having built a very successful business over the past 20 years, Mark and Steven decided approximately two years ago to create a succession plan in order to facilitate their retirement. Their goal was to realise the value that they had created to date and to ensure that the business was left in the hands of a buyer who would continue to further develop the business.
“We worked closely with Mark and Steven to develop their exit plan, and as part of this process spent a considerable amount of time identifying an appropriate purchaser. Having received strong interest in the SOS Wholesale business from both trade and financial investors alike, we were attracted to RDCP as a buyer for a number of reasons.
“RDCP’s model of being longer-term investors in businesses, backing strong incumbent management teams and retaining the stability and culture that is embedded within a business made them stand out from the more traditional private equity model, and we quickly realised the benefits of choosing RDCP as the long-term investor in SOS Wholesale.
“I am delighted with the outcome we have achieved for Mark and Steven, which allows Steven to retire immediately and Mark to work alongside Vipin for a period of time. I am confident that SOS Wholesale, under the leadership of Mark and Vipin and the ownership of RDCP, will go from strength to strength.”
Have your say on plans for the future of Sheffield City Centre
A consultation on the future of Sheffield city centre is now open, inviting people to share their views on how the city centre should be shaped in the future to adapt and thrive following the challenges of the pandemic.
A new Vision for the development of the city centre sets out the diverse role it plays as a hub of commerce and growth in the city, centre for shopping, leisure, and nightlife, as well as home to thousands of people.
The five-week consultation sets out our ambitions for the city centre over the next 20 years, focusing on key areas such as housing, regeneration, public transport, and green spaces.
Development work is already underway to transform much of the city centre, including the £470m Heart of the City scheme, as well as funding secured to revitalise the high street and Castlegate through the Future High Streets Fund and the council’s recent successful bid to the Levelling Up Fund.
The city centre Vision looks ahead to how city centre spaces can be best utilised to meet the needs of Sheffielders, including plans to create five new distinctive neighbourhoods with high quality, sustainable housing in Neepsend, Wicker Riverside, Castlegate, the Moor and Furnace Hill. More than 20,000 new homes would be created, relieving pressure on greenfield sites, and helping to meet housing demands for Sheffield’s growing population.
The new communities would offer direct access to all the amenities the city centre has to offer, mirroring established and popular neighbourhoods such as Kelham Island.
The consultation will also seek opinions on other important areas, including the ‘spine’ of the city centre, which runs from Castlegate to the Moor, plans for key areas such as Fargate and options for the future of the former John Lewis store.
The feedback provided in this consultation will be used to inform more detailed plans for different areas of the city centre and will help to create a shared Vision for the city’s future.
Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Executive Member for City Futures: Development, Culture and Regeneration, said: “We know how much interest there is in the future of the city centre and that people want a city centre they can feel proud of.
“Sheffield is an incredibly distinctive city, and we want to make sure that we develop a Vision for its future that incorporates our unique identity, heritage and culture, whilst making sure it is adaptable and able to face any challenges over the coming years.
“We know that Sheffielders are invested in and care about what happens next and that’s why we’ve launched this consultation to give everyone a chance to read the plans and have a say in what they would like to see.
“Through this consultation we want to create a plan for repurposing our city centre that will maintain Sheffield’s strong reputation as a place people want to come to live, work, study and succeed.”
The consultation will run until Friday 11th February 2022. People can view the plans and provide comments at www.ourcitycentre-shf.com, by emailing info@ourcitycentre-shf.com or by calling 08081965105.
New Director of Improvement and Integration at ULHT
The Trust which runs Lincolnshire’s acute hospitals has appointed a new director to lead improvements and innovation across its services.
Dr Sameedha Rich-Mahadkar will join the Executive Leadership Team and the Board of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) as Director of Improvement and Integration on Monday 10 January 2022.
She is taking up the role previously held by Mark Brassington, who is currently on a secondment with NHS England and NHS Improvement in the Midlands Region. Sameedha will be the Director of Improvement and Integration for the period of Mark Brassington’s secondment.
She joins the Trust from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, where she has been Deputy Director of Strategy for five years.
Dr Rich-Mahadkar has extensive experience in leading strategy design, planning, partnerships, service improvement and transformational business cases; with over 13 years’ experience within various healthcare leadership roles. She has a PhD in strategic healthcare planning and began her career with the Health and Care Infrastructure Research and Innovation Centre.
She said: “Times are difficult across the NHS at the moment and I know that working together with the teams at United Lincolnshire Hospitals we can continue to offer excellent patient care and look after each other. I am excited to be bringing my experience of supporting and empowering teams to make ULHT an outstanding place to work and an outstanding place in which to receive care”
ULHT Chief Executive Andrew Morgan said: “We are delighted that Dr Sameedha Rich-Mahadkar is going to join our Executive Leadership Team and Board, as she brings with her a wealth of experience which will truly benefit our patients and staff.
She will lead our improvement and strategy and planning teams, and will help us to take forward our Integrated Improvement Plan, transforming our services and making them fit for the future.
We are really looking forward to working with her.
I would like to thank Sarah Hall our Deputy Director of Improvement and Integration for covering the role pending Sameedha’s arrival.”
De Wint Court works set for completion next month
With Lincoln’s new De Wint Court Extra Care facility works set for completion early next month, the council’s Executive will now consider it proposed fees and charges.
At Executive on 17 January, members will discuss the proposed fees and charges for eligible residents for the new 70-apartment scheme on Bowden Drive.
The building for the new 50 one-bed and 20 two-bed apartment extra care facility on Bowden Drive is due for completion in early February, with an official opening and residents expected to move in later this year.
Jointly funded between City of Lincoln Council, Homes England and Lincolnshire County Council, the scheme will have care provision available, non-resident management and support staff, a wellbeing suite, changing places facility, restaurant and salon.
De Wint Court has been designed in such a way that allows it to respond to individuals changing care needs with on-site care support.
It will aim to enhance quality of life and give people the provision to stay within their local communities and access services close to home.
As part of the proposed fees and charges, each property will have a service charge of £88.33 plus an affordable rent charged on a weekly basis.
The service charge covers running costs for areas which will benefit all residents and will make the new De Wint Court a great place to call home.
If approved by Executive, this would bring the total average rent (including service charges) over 52 weeks for a one-bed property to £209.53 per week, and £223.33 for a two-bed property, dependent on size and location of each property.
This includes use of the garden and communal spaces, the outdoor gym equipment, the gardening area and staff being onsite from 7am to 10pm 7 days a week.
The service charge and rent are both housing benefit eligible; an application for housing benefit would contribute to either pay all or part of the total weekly charge depending on the individual’s income.
Individuals would fund their own element of care requirements, or this could be provided by Lincolnshire County Council or relatives.
Cllr Donald Nannestad, Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing at City of Lincoln Council said: “These new apartments will enable residents to maintain independence in their own homes as their needs change with care providers arranged by the county council.
Once complete, De Wint will play a vital part in our commitment to provide quality homes to meet the diverse housing need within the city. I look forward to discussing this next phase of the scheme with members of the Executive.”
Iconic Skipton childcare brand set to expand after multi-million pound cash injection
A British childcare brand is set to launch a selection of new products and expand its footprint in the UK and internationally, after securing a seven-figure finance facility.
Silver Cross, which is based in Skipton and was founded more than a century ago, designs and manufactures a range of prams, pushchairs and accessories, alongside a suite of baby products that includes car seats, nursery furniture, travel cots and textiles.
Over the past two years, it has been impacted not only by the pandemic, but the closure of Mothercare, formerly its biggest retail partner.
But now, with the support of a multi-million-pound invoice finance facility from Lloyds Bank, it has freed up cashflow to support investment in product development and expansion. Invoice finance helps bolster firms’ liquidity by allowing them to access up to 90 per cent of the value of unpaid invoices, often within 24 hours.
Over the past 12 months, the firm has already increased its headcount by 20%, and boosted turnover by 15% in the UK, and 40% internationally. And now, with new products set to be introduced to its core range in early 2022, turnover is set to jump by a further 25%.
Carl Walsh, chief financial officer of Silver Cross, said: “Like all brands, we were heavily affected by the impact of the pandemic – but through refocussing the business and taking steps to improve our working capital position, we are now ready to target substantial growth both at home and internationally.
“Our premium product range will feature a series of new and improved features that give our products true global appeal, ensuring they will be in high-demand across a spectrum climates and cultures. And there is more in the pipeline, too – we’re excited to work with our retail partners to expand our offering even further and help parents all over the world access the best products for their children.”
As well as expanding its core range, Silver Cross is investing in a ‘digital-first’ strategy to accelerate global growth and drive international brand awareness. It is also working closely with specialist independent nursery retailers across the UK as they invest in their in-store offerings to become more advisory-led and experiential, exploring new ways to showcase the brand for customers.
Mark Butterworth, relationship director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Silver Cross is one of the UK’s best-known brands, and we are excited to support their growth as they roll out new, quality products for their customers all over the world. They are a leading example of a local brand that has capitalised on market demand without sacrificing their commitment to manufacturing excellence, and are now one of the region’s top employers, as well as a household name.
“We look forward to supporting Carl and his team as they continue on their growth journey.”
Private equity firm’s Yorkshire team completes transactions valued at more than £470m in 2021
The Yorkshire team of mid-market private equity firm LDC completed transactions with a combined value of more than £470m in 2021.
In its annual performance summary, LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, said it will increase its support for mid-market businesses across Yorkshire, underpinned by a commitment to invest in at least 100 medium-sized businesses nationally over the next five years.
In 2021, the Leeds-based team invested in Texecom, the manufacturer of electronic security products and services, to support the existing management team to develop new products and target complementary acquisitions.
The firm also exited successful partnerships with a number of businesses including Knaresborough-headquartered pest control product manufacturer Pelsis. LDC supported the business to complete major international acquisitions and boost global sales from €87m to €150m in just four years. It also exited steel framing provider Sigmat which created more than 100 jobs and grew revenues by 75% over the five-year partnership with LDC.
In addition, LDC’s Yorkshire team helped its portfolio to grow through a series of ambitious buy-and-build strategies, including the acquisition of Thorn 3PL Services Ltd by Mosaic Fulfilment Solutions. The acquisition is enabling the business to roll out new products and expand its footprint across the North of England.
To support LDC’s commitment to increase investment in the region, the private equity firm recruited Will Scales as investment director in January 2021 and Anthony West as investment manager in November 2021. Both based in Leeds, Will Scales has more than a decade of experience working in corporate finance and spent eight years in the corporate finance team of Rothschild & Co, meanwhile Anthony joined from KPMG where he was a corporate finance manager for more than six years.
Dan Smith, partner and head of Yorkshire at LDC, said: “Business leaders across Yorkshire are as ambitious as ever and continue to identify new opportunities to grow. From speaking to the local business community, we know that management teams are now eager to push on with their growth plans but many could benefit from the additional support an experienced private equity partner provides.
“Yorkshire is an essential region for LDC, and we are committed to increasing our support for ambitious management teams to help them deliver on their growth ambitions in the coming year and beyond.”
Nationally, LDC backed 19 new management teams and invested more than £400m during 2021, despite continuing disruption caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. It also provided additional capital to existing portfolio companies to complete 65 acquisitions, helping them to scale and diversify.
Across the UK, LDC generated over £870m of proceeds from a total of 18 exits during the year with an average money multiple of 2.5x which it said underlined its value-adding approach. The companies it sold on average increased revenues by 64% and grew employee numbers by 60% during their partnership with LDC.
Commenting on LDC’s performance, LDC Chief Executive Toby Rougier said: “Despite the ongoing challenges in many parts of the economy, our teams increased investment into mid-market companies across all the regions of the UK.
“As the UK looks to recovery and growth, this army of medium-sized companies will be critical. It is the backbone of British business and the engine room of our economy, teeming with talent and packed with potential. Given their ability to scale, these are the companies that, with the right support, can turbo-charge the recovery.”
LDC has also committed to ensuring its investment activity makes a meaningful contribution to the UK’s environmental and social challenges. The firm has pledged to ensure its own operations are net zero by 2030 and to support portfolio companies to reduce emissions by 50% in the same timeframe.
Sheffield and Rotherham businesses targeted for health and safety inspection after sharp increase in incidents
Britain’s workplace regulator is set to clamp down on businesses in Sheffield and Rotherham after a sharp increase in the number of serious and fatal incidents noted by its inspectors within the last five years.
There were 12 worker deaths reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – under the “RIDDOR” regulations – in Sheffield and Rotherham between 2014 and 2021 and a further 594 serious injuries reported over the same period. Inspection teams will primarily focus on conducting inspections on businesses where workers regularly undertake welding and use metalworking fluids, a high proportion of which are based in the area.
In 2020 around 12,000 people in the UK died from lung diseases likely to be linked to past exposure from work. There is scientific evidence to suggest that exposure to welding fumes can cause lung cancer and exposure to metalworking fluids can cause a range of lung diseases.
From Monday 10 January 2022, 22 inspectors from HSE’s Yorkshire and North East field operations teams will visit more than 70 local business, identified by HSE’s targeting and intelligence team as operating in a high risk sector or performing poorly. The businesses span a wide range of sectors including metal fabrication, engineering, general manufacturing, waste and recycling. The operation will last for a week.
Andrew Denison, Acting Head of Operations, said: “It is estimated that each year 12,000 workers die in Britain from occupational lung disease and 17,000 new cases report suffering work-related breathing and lung problems. This part of South Yorkshire has a fine tradition in metal fabrication and manufacturing; we just need to ensure that the innovation continues to extend to safe working practice.
“Local inspectors have witnessed an alarming rise in the number of fatalities and injuries in the Sheffield and Rotherham area in the last five years. This initiative will ensure that inspectors are able to visit sites and speak with duty holders to ensure the appropriate controls are in place to protect their workers’ health and safety, particularly in relation to the risks from occupational lung disease.”
During the visits the companies will need to demonstrate that they have measures in place to manage risks to protect the health and well-being of their workers including health conditions such as occupational lung disease.
If an HSE inspector identifies any other areas of concern during an inspection, they will take the necessary enforcement action which in some cases may lead to an Enforcement Notice being served or, in the case of serious breaches, a prosecution.
Manufacturers more positive as they enter 2022
Britain’s manufacturers are more positive about the growth outlook as they enter 2022, with greater confidence in the prospects for their own companies than either the global or UK economies, according to a major survey published by Make UK and PwC.
The 2022 Make UK/PwC Senior Executive survey shows the scale of uncertainty facing business in the current turbulent global environment, with more than half of companies saying the biggest challenges facing them had changed in the last twelve months. Their optimism is also tempered by escalating inflationary pressures and access to, as well as retaining, talent and key skills which are by far the biggest issues companies are having to address.
In the face of these challenges, however, the majority of manufacturers have weathered the storm of the last couple of years with almost three quarters of companies (73%) now believing conditions for the sector will improve in 2022, with a similar number (73%) believing the opportunities for their business outweigh the risks. To date, the sector appears to have seen little or no disruption from the latest Omicron variant to alter this confidence.
Furthermore, almost two thirds (63%) of companies felt the UK to be a competitive location for manufacturing with just 13% believing it to be an uncompetitive place to do business.
To take advantage of these opportunities manufacturers are prioritising improving productivity, investment in their people as well as new product development, while the recent COP 26 summit appears to have accelerated investments in the drive to ‘net zero’.
However, one year on from leaving the EU, two thirds of companies said that leaving had moderately or significantly hampered their business, with over a half of companies (56%) fearing a further impact this year from customs delays due to import checks and changes in product labelling.
Make UK Chief Executive, Stephen Phipson, said: “It’s testament to the strength of manufacturers that they have emerged from the turbulence of the last couple of years in such a relatively strong position. While clouds remain on the horizon in the form of rapidly escalating costs and access to key skills, the outlook is more positive for those that remain adaptable, agile and innovative.
“To build on this we now need to see a Government fully committed to supporting the sector at home and overseas. This requires more than a Plan for Growth but a broader industrial strategy that sets out a long term vision for the economy and how we are going to achieve consistent economic growth across the whole country.”
Cara Haffey, PwC’s UK industrial manufacturing and automotive leader, said: “Despite facing an unprecedented combination of continued Covid pressures, cost inflation and supply chain issues, our manufacturers are responding with an impressive amount of agility and resilience, which will stand them in good stead for the year ahead.
“They have learned valuable lessons about their supply chain vulnerabilities and the resilience needed to respond to unforeseen international or domestic risks, and are strengthening their businesses digitally as well as continuing to focus on talent and skills.
“We are particularly pleased by the breadth of net zero ambitions reflected in the report. Across the UK we’re seeing an increasing number of businesses underpin their environmental, social and governance strategies with practical applications to decarbonise their operations and ambitions to build out their green skill base through the recruitment of ‘green’ jobs, a move that has already been flagged as outperforming the UK sector average in our recent Green Jobs Barometer.”
The more positive outlook for growth is reflected across all major markets with 40% of companies forecasting growth in exports to the United States, closely followed by the EU. Around a quarter (26%) are looking for growth in Asia and around one in five to the Middle East (21%). However, the EU market is set to see the biggest decrease in exports by 10% of companies.
The survey also provides encouraging indicators on the strategies manufacturers are adopting to build resilience and agility into their business by looking at their supply chain, investing in people, innovation and green technologies.
Up-skilling or retaining existing staff was the biggest priority for around two thirds of companies (67%) followed by new product development (60%) and capital equipment (54%), while almost four in five companies (78%) envisage a significant or moderate increase in their productivity this year.
Skills and talent also dominated the risk factors companies were facing with access to Labour seen as the biggest risk by almost two thirds of companies (58%), while almost nine in ten companies were not just worried about losing skills from their business but, the sector entirely. Encouragingly, despite the current financial challenges almost half (45%) of companies said they still planned to invest in Apprenticeships in 2022.
The need to build resilience into business models has been highlighted by supply chain shortages and the survey shows around a third of companies (35%) are planning to counter this by using British rather than international suppliers, while almost a third (31%) said they were planning to re-locate some or, more of, their production back to the UK.
The survey also shows the increasing drive towards ‘net zero’ for manufacturers. Half of companies (49%) said they plan to invest in green technologies or energy efficiency measures in 2022, with a third saying this investment has increased. A third also said the process to transition to ‘net zero’ had been accelerated by the recent COP 26 Conference.
Make UK has forecast that manufacturing grew +6.9% in 2021 and is predicting growth in 2022 of +3.3%.
The survey of 228 companies was conducted between 27th October and 22nd November 2021.
Lincolnshire homebuilder appoints hard-working Sales Executive at flagship development
Tia Bingham, from Mansfield, now takes up the role as full time Sales Executive at the developer’s flagship development Eleanor Gardens in Navenby.
Tia said: “Rippon Homes is the first house developer I have worked for, and I couldn’t recommend the company enough to people. I have learned so much in time here, and I look forward to growing my knowledge even further.
“I feel that everyone’s opinion is taken into account here, and that makes you feel really valued. We have a really good team spirit in our sales team and even beyond into the head office.”
After being with the company for over three years, Tia guides customers through their entire house buying journey from their first visit to site and reserving their home all the way through to move in day and afterwards too.
“I have two favourite parts to my job. One is showing the customer the choice’s options, it’s always nice to see different people’s tastes and what they would choose in their future home. My second favourite thing is key handover day. There’s nothing better than passing over the keys to excited new homeowners after building a relationship up with them for months.
“I have now taken on our Eleanor Gardens development in Navenby, and I am looking forward to taking on this new challenge. I have enjoyed getting to know all the customers already reserved here. I also like being out on site and seeing the difference just one day can make.”
Julie Johnson, Director of Sales and Marketing at Rippon homes, said: “Rippon Homes are so proud of Tia and how she has grown in confidence over the last 18 months and is a real asset to the company. She consistently delivers an amazing customer journey, and we know she has a long career ahead of her with us.
“We are delighted that she has decided to take responsibility for this prestigious development in Lincolnshire, and we know the purchasers already value her as much as we do from the customer feedback we are receiving.”
Workshop improves safety and saves time with heat inductor
A Land Rover specialist is improving safety and productivity after investing in a portable heat inductor.
Stonelake of Halifax is a family-run business based in West Yorkshire, specialising in the service and repair of Land Rovers. It was founded by brothers Ben and Luke Oughton in 2015, following in the footsteps of their father and grandfather, who ran the local Land Rover main dealership.
The company recently purchased a Josam JH400 lightweight heat inductor to reduce use of oxyacetylene torches in the workshop. Induction heating uses electromagnetic induction to heat metal components in a much safer and more efficient way than using torches with naked flames. Josam heaters include several market-leading features including energy-efficient adaptive frequency control for precision; noise-reducing automatic cooling technology; and a universal USB connector for easy installation of future software upgrades.
Ben Oughton, Service Manager and Director, who oversees the operations of the workshop, said: “The heat inductor has transformed how we perform certain repairs. We were previously using an oxyacetylene torch and finding that it wasn’t up to the task – for example, with a steering lock you can struggle on for hours. That’s much easier now with a heat inductor.
“However, the most important thing for us is that it minimises the risk of damage to the vehicle while you’re working on it. With a naked flame, there is always a risk that you will scorch or burn an area adjacent to the part you’re working on – that risk is now removed.” Ben adds that Stonelake had tested other heat inductors, but none matched the high standard of performance or robust design of the JH400.
As a hands-on manager and time served Land Rover specialist, Ben often applies his expertise in the workshop. “We are using the Josam for everything from suspension arms to steering locks and wiper arms,” he added. “It is probably saving us on average three to four hours per week, which is significant in a relatively small workshop like ours.”
Workshop safety was also a key factor in Stonelake’s decision-making. Lightweight electrical heating inductors significantly improve conditions for workshop technicians because they are not exposed to open flames, hot gases and the risk of fire or explosion. “Heat induction is much safer than having to use a naked flame and there are no concerns about gas pressure or running out of gas,” said Ben. “It is much easier to use; all of our team can use it safely and effectively.”
Stonelake purchased the inductor from AES UK, the family-run garage equipment supplier and authorised UK distributor for Josam. “It was important to us to not just buy a great product, but to get it from a company that shares our values,” added Ben. “AES is a family-run business like ours which truly understands the value of great customer service. They are accessible, professional, reply quickly to our calls and nothing is too much trouble. I honestly couldn’t ask for more.”
A vision for sport and leisure in Halifax
A brand new, top-class leisure centre and swimming pool for Halifax could move a step closer to construction, as Cabinet Members discuss the next stages of the ambitious project to bring major benefits to the whole community.
At Calderdale Council’s Cabinet meeting on Monday 17 January, Members will consider whether to recommend to Full Council that funding be allocated and prudential borrowing be used to progress the development of distinctive, new, state-of-the-art facilities for use across Calderdale’s diverse communities, to support health and wellbeing, economic recovery and climate action. This would enable construction of new, combined swimming and leisure facilities on the existing North Bridge Leisure Centre site in Halifax.
The project needs to be delivered to a tight timescale to reduce the impact of unprecedented increases in construction costs, following significant material, labour and energy price inflation, and to benefit from the money granted to Calderdale by Central Government from the Levelling Up Fund before its spend deadline.
Cllr Jane Scullion, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Strategy, said: “We’re really excited to be discussing plans to progress Halifax Leisure Centre, during one of the most ambitious and inspiring times for the town. This project is part of the unprecedented investment of more than £200 million into Halifax over the next decade, which we’re showcasing through our ‘Think you know Halifax?’ campaign.
“As well as providing modern, first-rate facilities to help people to be active and connected, the new centre is another stepping stone in the regeneration and sustainable future of Halifax and the rest of Calderdale, the fight against climate change and the reduction of inequalities in local people’s lives.”
Cllr Jenny Lynn, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, said: “The real beauty of the proposed new leisure centre and swimming pool is that it has something to appeal to every single person in Calderdale and beyond, regardless of their background, age or how fit they are. You could get active in the 25m pool, spinning studio or adventure climb, or take time out of your busy life in the sauna, steam room or café. All of this – and more – would have a great impact on health and wellbeing.”
The benefits of the proposed Halifax Leisure Centre include:
- Inclusion: the Council has consulted with community and disability groups, as well as an accessibility specialist, during the design process to ensure people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can enjoy and benefit from the facilities. The inclusion of a Centre for Independent Living would provide good-quality information and support to people living with a range of long-term health conditions, and the plans support the ambition to become an Age Friendly Calderdale.
- Health and wellbeing: the project would help to deliver the Council’s Wellbeing Strategy and Active Calderdale movement. It would create high-quality, accessible and sustainable sport and leisure facilities, which offer inclusive services for all and enable inactive people to become active and more residents to reach their potential by participating in sport and physical activity. This would improve long-term health and wellbeing and help people to live a larger life through the Vision2024 for Calderdale.
- Inclusive economic recovery: the location of the new leisure centre between Halifax town centre and Dean Clough would help attract more local people, visitors and workers from the large-scale development into the town centre. Increased footfall from this and other major projects would help to boost the area at a crucial stage of the inclusive economic recovery from the pandemic.
- A good start in life for Calderdale’s young people: swimming is an important life skill and vital for safety in Calderdale, where there are many rivers, canals and open water sites. The proposed new pool would provide high-quality facilities for the Council to offer swimming lessons to all primary school children. The centre would also provide leisure facilities for around 700 young people studying at the nearby Trinity Sixth Form Academy, which opened at Northgate in 2020.
- Climate: the Council has built a significant number of carbon-reducing features into the design of the building to help reduce the impact on the environment and help tackle the climate emergency. Proposed features include a microfiltration pool system to reduce water and chemical usage; natural ventilation and energy-efficient, air source heat pumps; wildflower planting and green roof areas to create a wildlife habitat and retain rainwater for gradual release into the drainage system; and bike racks to encourage more cycling to and from the centre.
Mtl advanced awarded new contract for supply of armoured steel for UK mod boxer armoured vehicle programme by WFEL and KMW
South Yorkshire-based MTL Advanced has been chosen to supply armoured steel for the production of the UK’s MoD Boxer Armoured Vehicle Programme, under a £-multi-million, multi-year contract awarded jointly by WFEL and parent company KMW. The armoured material will be used in the Boxer vehicle hull assembly, which will be fabricated at WFEL’s specialist Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Stockport.
MTL Advanced have invested in excess of £2m in new capital equipment to help support this project and meet increased demand. The new investments have been spread around the various manufacturing cells of the Rotherham business, to provide an enhancement in capacity, in line with the production schedules for the UK Boxer vehicles contract.
In a major boost to the local community, this contract award has contributed to the creation of 30 new jobs at MTL Advanced, who have also welcomed 12 new Apprentices to their Engineering & Welding Apprentice Academy during September, demonstrating MTL’s on-going commitment to train the next generation of Engineers. MTL Advanced says that investing in the next generation of talented engineers is critical to their ongoing success.
The company has also recruited an additional 4 young job seekers as part of the nationwide KickStart campaign and new Graduate schemes have also been brought forward, to upskill MTL’s staff and provide them with further education and career progression opportunities.
MTL Advanced General Manager, Karl Stewart, said: “We are really excited to have been awarded this major contract, which will give us the opportunity to work in partnership with WFEL and KMW on such an important UK Defence project. We look forward to engaging closely with WFEL and KMW’s engineering teams and leveraging our armour manufacturing expertise to help make this Boxer Vehicle programme a great success for the British Army.”
Mr Stewart added: “As a company located at the heart of the Sheffield-Rotherham Advanced Manufacturing corridor, the region that was the cradle of the Industrial Revolution, we are immensely proud to be able to bring such a prestigious multi-year contract to Rotherham for the benefit of our local community.”
This is the latest sub-contract to be awarded by WFEL, a key partner in the manufacture of the Boxer Armoured Vehicles for the British Army, under the $2.3 bn contract signed in November 2019 between ARTEC and the UK MoD.
The company will be attending a KickStart recruitment event on Wednesday 12th January at the Youth Hub at Rotherham United Community Sports Trust, New York Stadium. Local individuals will be presented with the opportunity to apply to one of the newly created positions and work on exciting contracts, such as the UK Boxer Programme.
MTL Advanced will also be hosting an open evening during National Apprenticeship Week 2022 on Thursday 10th February, where local school leavers and anyone interested in starting a career in engineering will be welcome to discuss the company’s apprenticeship opportunities for September 2022.
To find out more about MTL’s current vacancies, visit the company’s careers page –
www.mtladv.com/careers/
Leeds-based property investment operator has announces acquisition of Hampstead property
Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS) are pleased to announce the acquisition of 58-62 Heath Street, Hampstead for £7 million.
The 12,600 sq.ft mixed-use property, which is located in a prime retail pitch adjacent to Hampstead tube station, currently comprises four multi-level units let to Wagamama, Knight Frank and Cass Arts – a London based arts and craft retailer. TCS is already in advanced discussions with a potential occupier for the final vacant unit.
A 34-space basement level car park, prime office space on the first to third floors and eleven residential dwellings also form part of the scheme that was originally designed by influential architect, Ted Levy.
The strategic purchase forms part of TCS’s ongoing strategy to continue to diversify their portfolio and generate long term capital growth. CWM Investment acted on behalf of TCS.
Edward Ziff, Chairman and Chief Executive of TCS said: “This strategic acquisition in Hampstead further enhances our portfolio with a mixed-use property in one of the capital’s most revered suburbs. The asset management opportunities and valuable parking spaces makes this is a solid investment for TCS and aligns with our core strategy of acquisitions where long-term value can be added.”
Ben Simpson, Partner at CWM Investment said: “We are delighted to purchase this off market, mixed use property investment next to Hampstead Underground station on behalf of TCS. The acquisition offers significant value-added potential to improve the tenant mix and drive rental growth in the short to medium term.”
Yorkshire law firm Ison Harrison makes the move to being an employee owned business
One of Yorkshire’s leading law firms has become entirely owned by its employees after the three shareholder directors agreed to sell the business to an Employee Ownership Trust.
Ison Harrison, which has a network of sixteen offices throughout the region, was founded in 1978 as S.C Harrison & Co, merging a decade later with Ison Driver & Furness, to form Ison Harrison. Forty-three years later it now employs more than 230 staff across Yorkshire and offers the broadest suite of legal services in the region.
The firm, which has an annual turnover of £16 million, has become a well-known regional practice representing around 20,000 clients each year the vast majority of whom live in the region. Over the years the firm has represented clients in many high profile cases including several families at the inquest of those who died in the Hillsborough disaster.
The growth of the firm over the past decade has been primarily driven through the development of an extensive branch network with residential property, wills and probate and family work in particular taking the lead. The firm has always had a strong property work profile and now boasts one of the largest specialist teams in the country in acting for purchasers of New Build homes. The last two years has seen the firm focus further on diversification by expanding its commercial offering substantially, to include Corporate, Litigation, Employment and Commercial Property for an ever-growing commercial client base. As the firm has grown in size, breadth and depth its name has become a mainstay of Yorkshire’s legal landscape.
Directors of the firm opted against a traditional business sale or merger options, choosing an employee ownership trust instead with the workforce now owning 100% of the business.
Under the new ownership model, the management structure will comprise of eight directors with five new directors welcomed to the existing Board including James Thompson, Gareth Naylor, Jenny Bland, Sarah Laughey and Richard Coulthard.
Jonathan Wearing, who has been head of the firm for 15 years, remains Managing Director with Richard Timperley and Dominic Mackenzie, the other two shareholder Directors, remaining as Finance Director and Head of Private Client respectively.
Jonathan Wearing said: “Richard, Dominic and I have enjoyed many successful years in growing the business and strengthening the firm’s footprint across Yorkshire but given our size we felt a new structure was necessary for us to continue to grow. By becoming an employee owned business and extending the breadth and reach of the Board we feel that we are really well set up for whatever the future holds. The move offers stability, continued job security for all of our dedicated staff and a platform for further growth.
Employees will have a greater influence over the future direction of the firm, will financially benefit from the ongoing success of the business and continue to deliver unrivalled client service in the multitude of private and commercial arenas in which we operate. It will allow us to involve and reward everyone, attract talent in the region and demonstrate a genuine point of difference in a competitive market.
In short, converting into an Employee Ownership Trust is great news for every single employee of the firm and everyone now has a stake in the business and can share in the success and profits that are made going forward.”
Employee ownership is growing significantly in popularity, with many businesses opting for the model.
The employee ownership sector witnessed unprecedented growth in 2020, which continued throughout 2021. Over 250 new employee-owned businesses were created in the past 18 months, with 72 of those in the first quarter of 2021 alone, making a total of 730 employee owned businesses in the UK (as of June 2021).
Deb Oxley OBE, Chief Executive of the EOA, said: “We congratulate Ison Harrison on its transition to 100% employee ownership and its commitment to engaging its employees in its vision and sharing in its future success.
At a time when many similar businesses are challenged by the succession issues presented by more traditional structures, this move roots jobs for the longer term in the communities the business serves.”
Ison Harrison is the most accredited law firm in Yorkshire, with 13 Law Society accreditations including Conveyancing Quality, Clinical Negligence, Children Law, Family Law, Immigration & Asylum, and SRA Higher Courts Rights – civil and criminal.
Katie Saunders joins Devonshire Group as People Director
Katie Saunders has been appointed as Group People Director at the Devonshire Group, the company that represents the interests, charities and businesses of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.
Having been operating at board level for the past 15 years in High Street retail and during 20 years in the motor industry, including Volkswagen UK and Audi UK, Katie Saunders joins the Devonshire Group with responsibility for more than 1400 employees spread across 65,000 acres at Chatsworth in Derbyshire, Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire, the Compton estate in Sussex, and Lismore in the Republic of Ireland.
Katie Saunders said: “I’m genuinely excited by the challenge. My experience is very broad, which I think will be important given the Devonshire Group includes such a variety of businesses from visitor attractions, shops, restaurants and luxury accommodation to farming and forestry, and property development.
“Although there are many different job roles and responsibilities, it’s very clear that there is a strong, shared passion for the organisation and its values, at all levels. Part of my role will be to share my experience and expertise in Learning and Development, and particularly Management Development and Leadership, to enable everybody to make the very best of their skills and reach their full potential.”
“Some great work has been done to introduce young people and apprentices to the Devonshire Group through the Kickstart scheme and there’s more to come. To be an employer of choice we need to listen to our team and respond to their concerns so I’ll certainly be looking at issues like wellbeing and diversity to see what more we can do to further develop a modern, motivated and committed workforce.”
Brought up in Doncaster and now living in Chesterfield, Katie Saunders and her husband are frequent visitors to the Peak District and keen foodies. “We know Chatsworth well and often take walks across parts of the estate. For many years I’ve experienced first hand the professionalism, commitment and good humour of the people who work here – this really is my dream job,” she said.
Bespoke Centre in Bransholme is a haven for starter businesses after refurb
The Bespoke Centre located in Bransholme has undergone a major refurbishment to create a dedicated managed workspace centre offering 20 units for small and starter businesses.
Daren Hale, Leader of Hull City Council, ward councillors Anita Harrison and Jan Loft went to view the centre on Friday 17 December, along with several other local partners.
The centre was originally a community resource centre, developed and operated by the voluntary sector. The building transferred to the council several years ago and, following a review, has been integrated into the council’s portfolio of Managed Workspace Centres. The repurposed Bespoke Centre joins the Louis Pearlman Centre and the Craven Park Training and Enterprise Centre as the council’s third Managed Workspace Centre, aimed at providing workspace and support to small and starter businesses.
The building has been refurbished and additional units have been created in areas formerly used as council offices. The council has expended around £325k on the project, around £100k of this covered by grant support from the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (HEY LEP) as part of the government’s Getting Building Fund.
The centre now offers 20 business units with a further area continuing to be occupied by BrightStart Day Nursery.
Units are available in a range of sizes and are particularly suited to use as offices and professional services. The centre is staffed by the council’s Managed Workspace Team who provide on-site management, reception and meeting room services and business support and advice. Since the refurbishment works were completed, five new businesses have already moved in and several viewings are in progress with other potential occupiers.
Daren Hale, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “The refurbishment of the Bespoke Centre was part of the Managed Workspace Programme, a package of investment to improve our managed workspace offer with support from our partners at the HEY LEP.
“On our visit, I was delighted to see how this investment has made such a huge difference to a very important asset. The Bespoke Centre is the ideal facility for any small or starter business, with the added benefit of support from the council’s on-site business support team.”
James Newman, Chair of the HEY LEP said: ‘’It was brilliant to see how the refurbishment of the building could make such a difference to the space available for local small entrepreneurial businesses to take their first step from living room to proper office accommodation.
“As a LEP, our Growth Hub will continue to provide all the vital services to support these businesses and individuals and the Bespoke Centre will add to the office space, so much needed in this area of the city.’’
To find out more about the Bespoke Centre, visit the Hull City Council’s Managed Workspace Centres website.
Click here to visit the HEY LEP website.
Third new tenant for Leeds waterfront destination
Digital agency Tall is swapping the former Mills of Holbeck for Leeds’ original waterfront destination, as the 13 staff agency moves to Brewery Wharf.
The agency will move into 5A Brewery Place, a 2,500 sq ft workspace which was fully repurposed by Brewery Wharf developer Rushbond PLC, transforming a former restaurant into contemporary office space. Tall is currently based in Holbeck Urban Village and will make the move down the River Aire in February 2022.
Tall was founded in 2011 by Guy Utley with technical director Behrooz Saeed coming on board in 2017. Originally based in Brighouse, the agency moved to Leeds in 2013 and has worked on campaigns for the likes of SkyBet and the Provident Group, and closer to home Leeds Digital Festival and Express Bi-Folding Doors.
Guy Utley said: “The past three years have been record breaking for Tall. We’ve been on the lookout for new premises after outgrowing our current ones, and after visiting many new locations Brewery Wharf stood out head and shoulders above anything else we looked. Walking into the 5A space I immediately turned to Behrooz to say, ‘this is a bit of us’.
“It had a modern yet industrial feel with room to allow us to add our own stamp on the place. We are looking forward to moving in to the fully kitted environment with lots of agile work areas designed for maximum flexibility and the odd new luxury of course.”
Tall is the third new tenant for Brewery Wharf in the last three months, joining fine dining restaurant HOME and funeral planning company Rest Assured Funeral Plans.
Work is currently underway to make additional developments to the public realm, including new landscaping and greenspaces and additional cycle storage facilities.
Richard Baker from Rushbond says: “The creative community at Brewery Wharf is growing rapidly thanks to the flexible spaces on offer, closeness to the city centre and waterfront location – which is hard to beat in terms of mindfulness and fresh air. To have secured three new tenants in three months is a huge coup for this unique and thriving part of Leeds, and there are even more exciting announcements coming soon.”
Leeds City Council offers timely assistance to pandemic-hit local businesses
Businesses in Leeds are being encouraged to apply for fresh funding support to help them deal with the continuing financial challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leeds City Council has already distributed more than £290m worth of assistance to the business and charity sector since the start of the pandemic.
Now two grant schemes are set to deliver additional help as the local business community weighs up the impact of recently-imposed restrictions designed to slow the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.
One of the schemes being managed by the council is aimed at Leeds-based businesses in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sector, with one-off grants on offer worth up to £6,000.
Applicants must provide in-person services at their premises and have been registered as the current ratepayer on December 30 last year.
The application window for this fund is open now and will close on Monday, February 28.
The second scheme, which is also open now, is aimed at Leeds-based businesses and charities from any sector, with discretionary grants ranging from £1,000 to £15,000 on offer to help cover fixed overheads such as service charges and commercial vehicle leasing costs.
To qualify for support, applicants must fulfil a number of criteria, one of which requires them to demonstrate a drop from their pre-pandemic income of at least 25 per cent or £50,000 between April 1 and December 31 last year when compared to the same period in 2019.
The scheme is not open to businesses that have already received a discretionary grant towards their fixed overheads for the period from August 1 last year to March 31 this year.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, culture and education, said: “We are very much aware of the continuing pressures being placed on businesses in Leeds as a result of COVID-19 and remain determined – as we have been since the start of the crisis – to do everything we can to help them.
“Our business community has – like people across the city – shown truly remarkable resolve as it has coped with the unprecedented challenges that have come its way over the last two years.
“The spread of the Omicron variant has now presented many Leeds businesses with yet another challenge. Our message today, therefore, is simple: if you think you could benefit from one of these schemes, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.”
Other measures taken by the council during the pandemic include the distribution of grants to businesses that were forced to close during the various national lockdowns and payments to help with reopening costs as restrictions began to ease.
Eligible taxi and private hire drivers, meanwhile, can still claim free three-year licence renewals as part of a multi-million pound package of assistance for their trade that was announced in March last year.
For further information about the council’s COVID-19 business support programme, visit https://www.leeds.gov.uk/coronavirus/grants-for-businesses.
Renovotec acquires IT solutions firm
West Yorkshire-based supply chain hardware, software and services company Renovotec has acquired 100% of Jade Solutions Ltd.
Jade, based in Newton-le-Willows, has 30 years’ expertise in developing IT solutions. Its specialisms include the development of contactless retail environments; Jade customers in this high-growth market include Pret a Manger, Marks & Spencer, Nando’s and Bet Fred.
This latest acquisition will boost Renovotec’s annual turnover to more than £50 million and increase its headcount in the UK and continental Europe to more than 160 employees.
Giles Clegg and Danielle Gibbon from Lupton Fawcett’s corporate team advised Renovotec on the acquisition.
Renovotec CEO, Richard Gilliard, said: “Renovotec is now the largest consultative company in its industry. Our strategy of meeting our supply chain customers’ business needs with best-in-class technology is paying off.”
Giles Clegg who heads the corporate team at Lupton Fawcett said: “We are very pleased to have advised Renovotec on another acquisition. They are a pleasure to work with and are creating an exciting and dynamic group in the IT sector.
“It was also good to see a number of announcements of completed transactions from fellow Yorkshire corporate advisers in the first week of 2022 which is good for the whole Yorkshire corporate finance community.”
Jacky Buchsbaum of Wilds provided accounting and tax advice to Renovotec.
Sustainable British Library redevelopment granted planning permission by Leeds City Council
Leeds City Council has granted planning permission for the large-scale redevelopment of the British Library’s site at Boston Spa in West Yorkshire.
A major construction project will transform the 44 acre site – originally a World War II armaments factory, and for the past six decades the northern home of the UK national library – into a modern archive capable of storing its growing collection for decades to come.
The £95 million Government funded redevelopment will create much-needed storage capacity, with further work dedicated to improving facilities for staff and visitors and making significant improvements to the environmental sustainability of the site.
Following significant government investment announced in the March 2020 Budget, the Library is expanding and refurbishing the West Yorkshire facility just outside Boston Spa, near Wetherby. The Library’s team, supported by Carter Jonas, Project Management and Planning Consultancy teams, submitted a planning application to Leeds City Council last year.
The plans reflect the importance of sustainability within the development, which will see the creation of a low carbon archive and new green spaces designed to support biodiversity.
The Library’s design team will work alongside Wates Construction, architects, Carmody Groarke, building services engineers, Buro Happold, structural engineer, Price and Myers, and landscape architects J&L Gibbons to advance the aspirations for the site.
The Library has also secured a Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) grant. An additional £8.5 million in funding means a range of energy-saving initiatives are already being introduced at the Boston Spa site, including installing:
- Around 730 solar panels providing a minimum of 225 MWh per annum
- A new ground source heat pump system, which will help reduce the Library’s reliance on fossil fuels and will generate an anticipated 1MW of energy – the equivalent of powering 650 average homes
- Additional smart meters, better insulation and the replacement of low-energy efficiency fluorescent lamps within existing buildings
