Nationwide Platforms empowers employees through apprenticeships

April Lara
-
0
Nationwide Platforms empowers employees through apprenticeships

This National Apprenticeship Week (10th – 16th February 2025), Nationwide Platforms is championing the value of lifelong learning through employees like Yetunde Adefila, a 40-year-old HR Business Partner who’s using an apprenticeship to sharpen her leadership skills and shape company HR strategy.

With an engineering background and a degree in computer science, she began her career in the technical sector. However, she soon realised she missed the human interaction element in her work, leading her to transition into HR in her late 20s. Since joining Nationwide Platforms as an HR Advisor three years ago, she has progressed rapidly, being promoted to HR Business Partner within a year.

While transitioning into her new role, Yetunde sought guidance from a mentor outside of work who recommended an apprenticeship to strengthen her leadership and strategic HR skills. Already holding a Level 7 qualification in HR Practices, Yetunde opted for a career-adjacent route, enrolling in a Level 5 Coaching Professional apprenticeship through KnowledgeBrief. Her apprenticeship is focused on coaching and influencing and takes 12 months to complete, involving online learning, bi-monthly meetings with a skills coach, portfolio development, and a final exam. Now two months in, she is already seeing improvements in her approach to HR strategy. “I absolutely love my role,” says Yetunde. “Every day is different, and I enjoy the gentle strategising that comes with it. HR is often the first place people turn to when they’re struggling at work. I want to be able to guide them effectively, balancing emotional support with strategic decision-making. I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to level up. I describe myself as a ‘certification freak’, but this apprenticeship is more than a qualification. It’s about applying frameworks in real-time and developing the soft skills that make a real difference. Balancing work, studies, and family life is no small feat, and Nationwide Platforms’ hybrid working policy has been crucial to maintaining this balance while still enjoying precious family time.”

Charlie Stanley, HR Director at Nationwide Platforms, said, “Nationwide Platforms champions internal career development through apprenticeships. By providing employees with the tools, flexibility, and support to advance their careers, the company is fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth. As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, Yetunde’s experience is a testament to the power of lifelong learning and the impact of investing in people. Nationwide Platforms is proud to play a part in helping employees reach their full potential, proving that career growth is always within reach.”

New Procurement Act set to reshape business operations

April Lara
-
0
New Procurement Act set to reshape business operations

The UK government will implement the Procurement Act 2023 on February 24, 2025, introducing changes to increase small business participation in public contracts. The government spends £400 billion annually on public procurement and has set a target to direct over £120 billion to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Only around 10% of contracts are awarded directly to SMEs, rising to 24% when subcontracting is included.

A key change under the new Act is the introduction of a Central Digital Platform to replace and enhance the Find a Tender service. The platform will centralise supplier registration, store core business details for multiple bids, and improve visibility into public procurement opportunities. Suppliers can manage profiles, track procurement notices, and set up tender alerts. The platform will also capture procurement data for future analysis.

All suppliers seeking public sector contracts must register on the new platform, regardless of previous registration on Find a Tender or Contracts Finder.

Workplace supplier Slingsby seeks buyer amid falling sales

April Lara
-
0
Workplace supplier Slingsby seeks buyer amid falling sales

HC Slingsby, a workplace equipment provider with origins dating back to 1893, has announced it is seeking a buyer. The West Yorkshire-based company, which specialises in manufacturing and distributing industrial and commercial equipment, has launched a formal sales process and is inviting potential offers for its entire issued share capital.

Founded by Harry Crowther Slingsby, the company initially focused on producing handling and lifting equipment before expanding its product range. Slingsby became a publicly listed company in 1961 and moved to the AIM stock market in 2005. Today, it offers over 40,000 products for workplaces across various industries.

The decision to pursue a sale follows a strategic review of its options. However, the company stated that it is not currently in discussions with potential buyers and has not received formal approaches.

Slingsby has struggled financially, reporting lower sales and increased costs. In October 2024, the company revealed an 8% drop in revenue over the first nine months of the year. The decline was linked to reduced customer spending, rising operational expenses, and weaker demand for seasonal goods. Additional uncertainty around tax and regulatory changes further impacted performance, resulting in an unaudited pre-tax loss of £530,000 by the end of September.

Nicholas Associates Group acquires Hull-based Smart Temporary Solutions

April Lara
-
0
Nicholas Associates Group acquires Hull-based Smart Temporary Solutions

Nicholas Associates Group (NA Group), a talent management firm with an annual turnover exceeding £86 million, has acquired Hull-based recruitment agency Smart Temporary Solutions Limited. The move expands NA Group’s presence in the industrial and manual labour staffing sector and strengthens its nationwide service offering.

Smart Temporary Solutions specialises in temporary and temp-to-perm staffing for blue-collar industries. The acquisition aligns with NA Group’s strategy to enhance its workforce solutions across the UK.

David Kitney, founder of Smart Temporary Solutions, is stepping away from the business following the acquisition. He expressed confidence that NA Group’s leadership will continue to support the agency’s clients, candidates, and employees.

NA Group, headquartered in Rotherham, operates several brands, including Stafforce, The Apprentice Employment Agency, and Graduate Career Solutions.

Incommunities appoints new Director of People

Tess Egginton
-
0
Incommunities appoints new Director of People
Bradford-based housing provider Incommunities has appointed Dr Bilal Mohammed as its new Director of People. Bilal brings extensive experience in people and transformation leadership across a variety of sectors, including retail, e-commerce, technology, and higher education. He joins the organisation from University Academy 92 (UA92), a higher education institution based in Manchester co-founded by Gary Neville, where he served as Director of People and Operations. Bilal has also held senior positions at Asda, Apple, and Carwow, and has provided consultancy to major brands such as Lloyds, Gymshark, O2, Shell, and Sainsbury’s. He sits as a non-executive director on the board of Løci, a British urban-lux apparel brand. Bilal also serves as a board advisor to the Apple EMEA leadership board. Speaking about his appointment, Bilal said: “I’ve spent much of my career in highly commercial, high-growth organisations, where the focus was primarily on commercial success. My decision to join UA92 was a turning point in my career, as I began to align my work with organisations that prioritise social impact and purpose. “One of the key reasons the role at Incommunities appealed to me is because the organisation’s values resonate deeply with me – its commitment to delivering high-quality, safe homes with a strong social mission, and its work to make a difference in a region that is home to me. “The organisation is in an exciting position, having undergone a significant reset and built strong foundations upon which it can grow. I’m excited to join an energised and passionate team, and I’m looking forward to helping shape and deliver a sector leading experience for all our people, customers, and communities.” Sara Sheard, Executive Director of Business Operations at Incommunities, added: “Bilal’s wealth of experience in leading people strategies in complex organisations will be vital as we continue to strengthen and develop our workforce, ensuring that we meet the needs of our customers and communities, whilst creating a great culture and experience for our colleagues. “A key part of Bilal’s role will be leading the next phase of our EDI journey, working closely with our Board, colleagues, and customers to ensure we build a truly inclusive and empowering culture. His expertise will be invaluable as we continue our progress.”

Stove supplier secures £125k investment package

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Stove supplier secures £125k investment package

An investment package of £125k is supporting ambitious growth plans for Whitby and Guisborough-based Heritage Stoves, a family-run firm supplying wood burning and multi-fuel stoves.

This funding supports Heritage Stoves following the acquisition of Heritage Hearthstone Fires & Stones, which has been operating since 1997. Following the acquisition, Heritage Stoves will supply and install premium wood-burning and multi-fuel stoves from leading brands to domestic and business customers.

Founded in May 2024 by husband-and-wife duo Daniel and Stephanie Bird, Heritage Stoves brings together the couple’s skills. Daniel’s a qualified heating engineer, and Stephanie, with four years of experience managing the Guisborough office of Heritage Hearthstone Fires & Stones, was approached by its retiring owners to take over the business due to her deep familiarity with its operations.

Daniel said: “This investment marks an exciting new chapter for Heritage Stoves. Acquiring Heritage Hearthstone allows us to build on a trusted legacy while driving local economic growth. We’re committed to offering exceptional products and services to both consumers and businesses.”

The investment, provided by NPIF II – BEF Smaller Loans which is managed by the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), includes additional support from BEF’s Community Investment Enterprise Fund 2 (CIEF2), backed by Lloyds Bank and Big Society Capital, as well as the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme.

Antony Nicholson, investment manager at BEF, said: “Daniel and Stephanie’s vision, combined with their industry expertise, demonstrates the transformative potential of strategic investment in local businesses. This is precisely the kind of venture NPIF II is designed to support.”

Lizzy Upton, senior investment manager at British Business Bank, added: “Securing finance to accelerate growth is a key part of a business’ journey, and this funding from NPIF II will play a transformational role in helping Heritage Stoves expand its operations following the acquisition. While allowing the company to purchase new stock, it will also be used to create and protect jobs, adding further impact to the local economy.”

The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIFII) covers the entire North of England and provides loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.

BEF specialises in delivering smaller loans between £25,000 and £100,000 to businesses in Yorkshire and Humberside. Committed to breaking down barriers to finance, BEF ensures SMEs across diverse industries receive the support they need to thrive.

Yorkshire food group acquired

Tess Egginton
-
0
Yorkshire food group acquired
Karnova Food Group has been acquired by OSI UK, part of OSI Group. Karnova Food Group was created through the acquisition and integration of Yorkshire Premier Meat and Smithfield Murray by Endless LLP (Endless) in 2022 and 2023 respectively. The combined group created one of the UK’s leading value-add business-to-business protein ingredients suppliers with revenues of over £135 million. The buyer, OSI Group, is a privately owned global business, headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, with 67 manufacturing facilities, more than 20,000 employees operating out of 16 countries and supplying customers in 77 countries. Di Walker, Chair of Karnova, said: “Since Endless acquired both Yorkshire Premier Meat and Smithfield Murray we have delivered significant growth with new and existing customers and focused hard on quality and service. “Endless has been instrumental in helping us on this journey and we are very grateful for the true partnership and financial support they have given us. “I am absolutely delighted that OSI have decided to acquire Karnova as it is a great strategic fit and they will be a fantastic long-term owner for the business and its employees.” Katharine Haenelt, MD of OSI UK, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Karnova into the OSI family. We have been hugely impressed with how the business has developed under Endless’ ownership and see significant opportunities for further growth across the combined businesses.” Endless Investment Director James Warburton said: “We are very proud of what we have achieved with Karnova in a relatively short time period and have enjoyed working with the team. “We did not envisage selling Karnova this early but OSI made clear their ambitions for the business and they will be a fantastic long-term owner for the business with a market leading reputation. We wish the whole Karnova team all the best for the future.” Endless was advised on the sale by Paul Satchell of Spayne Lindsay (corporate finance), Giles Chesher of Squire Patton Boggs (legal), with vendor assist provided by Chris Stott of KPMG.

Management buyout completed at Leeds compliance solutions provider

Tess Egginton
-
0
Management buyout completed at Leeds compliance solutions provider
Product Partnerships Limited (PPL), a Leeds-based regulated compliance solutions provider, has successfully completed a management buyout (MBO) backed by a £10m funding package from Arete Capital and TDC’s Impact Fund. This investment marks a significant milestone in PPL’s growth journey, enabling the company to expand and enhance its specialist compliance services offering and proprietary technology platform. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Leeds, PPL provides outsourced compliance services to retailers offering consumer credit products covering both directly authorised firms and appointed representatives under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulations. Since its inception, the company has built an impressive portfolio of blue-chip clients, including Google, Aston Martin, JD Sports, Peloton, and Bensons for Beds. Today, PPL oversees more than £260m in credit transactions across its network. Arete played a pivotal role in structuring the MBO, securing a tailored private credit facility with TDC via its Impact Fund to facilitate the transaction and future acquisitions. As part of the deal, Arete has also helped to strengthen PPL’s board and leadership team, appointing Peter Cowgill as Chair, as well as a new Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Peter, ex-Executive Chairman of JD Sports, brings a wealth of retail experience to the role. Phillip Garlick, Chief Executive of PPL, said: “The investment from Arete and TDC is significant for our business. It provides us with the financial firepower to invest in compliance resources, accelerate organic growth, explore strategic M&A opportunities, and continue our expansion into high-potential sectors such as green energy. “We are also committed to further developing our proprietary technology into a fully-fledged SaaS solution, enhancing value for our clients.” Simon Lord, Partner at Arete, added: “PPL is a dynamic, growing business with significant untapped potential. The demand for compliance-based solutions in the retail sector is stronger than ever, and PPL is perfectly positioned to capitalise on these opportunities. We are excited to support Phillip and his team on this transformational journey.” Jon Petty, Investment Director at TDC, said: “Through our Impact Fund, we are committed to supporting high-growth northern SMEs. Phillip and the PPL team have demonstrated their ability to drive sustainable growth, and this investment will enable them to expand further, create new jobs, and contribute positively to the regional economy.” The deal was led by Simon Lord and Jamie Newall from Arete, with support from Hill Dickinson (led by Matt Noon/Alex Thow), Cortus (led by Ben Emmett) and Claritas Tax (led by Peter Hully) – that provided legal, financial and tax structuring expertise to Arete during the transaction.

£22.8m funding secured for holiday lodges at coastal wellness retreat on North Yorkshire Coast

Tess Egginton
-
0
£22.8m funding secured for holiday lodges at coastal wellness retreat on North Yorkshire Coast
OakNorth, the digital bank for entrepreneurs, has provided a £22.8m loan to support a joint venture between O’Shea Group and Galliard Homes. The £22.8m loan will be used to fund the next stage in converting the historic 19th century, Raithwaite Sandsend Estate. Located between the North York Moors National Park and Sandsend beach on the outskirts of Whitby, the 85-acre site will see the development of 179 luxury villas, lodges and cottages. This next phase follows the reimagining and reopening of the estate’s two hotels, Saltmoore House and The Beach House, in November 2024, totalling 78 rooms and suites. Stephen Conway, Executive Chairman & Co-Founder of Galliard, said: “We look forward to welcoming guests to our new wellness-led sanctuary, located along the picturesque North East coastline. The Raithwaite Sandsend estate has a unique and extensive history, so it is our privilege to be breathing new life into the site, whilst preserving its historical significance to the region. “OakNorth once again proved themselves to be a fantastic funding partner – we have worked with the team for years and keep going back as their flexibility, transparency, and entrepreneurial approach is second to none.” Mark O’Connor, Investment Director at O’Shea, said: “Over the past six decades, we’ve become a respected name in the property industry, with our long-standing relationships with developers, housing associations, and local authorities leading to many successful joint venture partnerships. “We were delighted to once again work closely with Stephen and the team at Galliard, with OakNorth being the clear funder of choice given their expertise in the sector and reputation for backing independent property developers such as ourselves.” Damien Hughes, Senior Director of Property Finance at OakNorth, added: “This deal presented an exciting opportunity for OakNorth to support two of our long-standing customers with their latest JV project. “The combination of the development expertise from both O’Shea and Galliard, alongside the well-renowned hotel management team that have been brought in, will no doubt be core reasons behind the project’s success. The location of the site and abundance of luxury offerings will also be a draw for not just UK staycationers, but international tourists too.”

Sheffield’s city brand to be given a boost

Tess Egginton
-
0
Sheffield’s city brand to be given a boost

Sheffield’s city brand is to be given a boost with the aim of supporting economic growth by attracting more tourists and trade to the city.

A city’s brand and identity play a crucial role in attracting visitors, investors, new residents and new talent by promoting a place’s unique assets to the world and giving a city a recognisable identity. In turn, this helps drive economic growth, bring in business and makes a city a better place to live and work for residents. Research suggests that by improving people’s perception of the city by just one decimal place, so for example, increasing it from 3.5 to 3.6, it is estimated this would equate to a rise in economic value of 5%. For Sheffield, this would mean an additional £70m for the city, in tourism alone. City branding also helps to foster a sense of pride and belonging amongst local communities and residents. Sheffield already has a strong visual identity, which has been developed over the past six years and has supported the city’s visitor economy by helping to raise awareness and profile of the city across the UK and beyond. But by refreshing the branding helping Sheffield to ‘stand out’ and ‘stand apart’, the team at Marketing Sheffield aim to gain the city recognition as one of the UK’s top five most attractive cities for trade, tourism and talent. Councillor Martin Smith, Chair of the Economic Development and Skills Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “We know from research the impact of place branding and perception on an economy. It suggests that a positive shift in perception equates to a significant rise in tourism and economic value. “The work to develop our city’s visual identity is nothing short of inspiring. I am confident this will have a positive impact on our city, local businesses and residents by helping us attract more visitors and talent and set Sheffield apart from the rest.” The Marketing Sheffield team, part of Sheffield City Council, have been working on refining and developing the city brand over the past 12 to 18 months, alongside partners, businesses and organisations across the city. The concept for the work is to highlight the impact Sheffield has on the world – how what has happened in the city over the years and continues to happen, inspires changes in the world elsewhere. Louisa Harrison-Walker, Chief Executive of The Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, said: “The development of the city’s place brand goes beyond just attracting tourists and visitors to come and visit the city. “One of our roles is to promote Sheffield as a place for investment. We want to promote the city to talent who might want to come and make Sheffield their home, to individuals that want to come here and open sustainable businesses that provide job opportunities. “Every single one of our sectors here in Sheffield can use this branding as it applies to so many of corners of our workforce and industry.” As part of the work, web content will be developed that will focus on a range of themes and messages that relate to how Sheffield has had an impact on the world. From Sheffield’s green credentials that have been recognised internationally, to Sheffield’s advanced manufacturing capabilities that have had a huge impact around the world. There will also be a new video/animation to launch the city brand and promote these key messages, which has been worked on by local creative talent. By commissioning local, Sheffield talent to bring the work to life, the team hopes to harness local pride and encourage the city and its people to get behind and support this proposition for the city. It will also be delivered by a range of stakeholders across the city, who will act as champions of the branding. At an Economic Development and Skills Committee on Thursday 6 February, Members endorsed the development of the branding work that had been completed so far and approved the ongoing work of Marketing Sheffield, alongside partners and stakeholders, to bring the brand to life for Sheffield through a range of campaigns and activities. The new branding is set to be launched in the coming weeks.

British Gas pledges 400 new apprenticeship roles this year

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
British Gas pledges 400 new apprenticeship roles this year

British Gas has used National Apprenticeship Week to announce it will have more than 400 apprenticeship roles available in 2025 to help accelerate the drive to net zero.

The new apprentices will be helping customers with energy efficiency advice, fixing boilers and installing net zero measures to help customers save on bills and reduce their carbon emissions. British Gas is aiming to attract more women into these roles to close the gender gap in engineering as well as people from underrepresented backgrounds. Training will take place at the Ofsted regulated and award winning British Gas Academies. It comes as new research by the company reveals a major shift in attitudes towards apprenticeships, challenging long-standing views on career and education choices. The research shows over half (55%) of UK adults said their view of apprenticeships has improved since they finished school, while only 2% report a negative shift. Additionally, nearly a quarter (23%) would now consider an apprenticeship to change careers, marking a shift in how we view work, training, and future prospects. When it comes to the reasons why, nearly three-quarters agreed apprenticeships offer a route to long-term job security, and two-thirds see them as means to build essential skills. Avoiding student debt (55%) and faster career progression than university (51%) also rank as key advantages. Chris O’Shea, CEO of Centrica, parent company of British Gas added: “It’s vital that we reflect the diversity of the customers and communities we support, and we’re committed to creating the workforce of the future that can deliver the UK’s net zero ambitions. Our apprenticeship programmes are a brilliant opportunity for anyone who is interested in pursuing a career, whether it’s their first ever job or they’re looking for a career change. Our schemes not only offer the chance to learn new skills, but also an entry point to a lifelong career, with plenty of opportunity to grow.”

North East Lincolnshire Council puts out tender request for way finding in Cleethorpes

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
North East Lincolnshire Council puts out tender request for way finding in Cleethorpes
A tender has been released to the market to find a company to help improve wayfinding around the main resort area in Cleethorpes. The recent Cleethorpes Masterplan development highlighted wayfinding as something that needed to be improved in the resort, and this was incorporated as part of the major bid to Government for project funding, which also resulted in funding being made available for the Sea Road, Pier Gardens and Market Place projects. This initial tender is for a company to create a strategy and design specifications for signage to help people navigate around the resort, as well as generating ideas for signage that holds interesting heritage or environmental information, and also live information on events and beach safety. Once the work has been completed, a separate tender will be released for the manufacture and installation of the signage at a later date.

Keighley cardboard tube manufacturer starts 2025 with £400K investment in solar power

Michael Fisher
-
0
Keighley cardboard tube manufacturer starts 2025 with £400K investment in solar power
A 150-year-old Keighley manufacturing business has committed to a further £400,000 investment in solar power generation. This adds a further 380KW generating capacity to the existing 120KW array, giving a 500KW array in total. 
This investment decision gives further justification to the positive conclusions drawn by their external ISO 14001 auditor following an audit in December. The report also highlighted the many other environmental improvements the business made in the last 12 months, such as reductions in electricity usage, raw material waste and compressed air usage.  
As a fifth-generation family-owned firm, Stell manufactures cardboard tube and core products, including reel tubes, label and tape cores. The firm supplies over 16,000km of cardboard tubes across the UK and Europe each year from its specialist 100,000 sq. ft facility in Keighley. 
Stell has a sustained track record of continuous improvement of its facilities and process to reduce its environmental footprint. The factory is heated from sustainable biomass, lit by latest generation LEDs and all waste streams are measured, managed and reduced. 
Director of Stell, Sam Stell says: “As a UK cardboard core and tube manufacturer, we take our environmental footprint very seriously. We’re ISO 14001 accredited and we invest heavily in clean tech, so we’re well underway in our net zero journey”.  
“Since our founding in 1872, our processes have evolved countless times, but our dedication to environmental responsibility has remained a constant. By thoroughly reviewing and refining our operations, we have aligned with globally recognised environmental benchmarks, providing our customers with the assurance that they are partnering with a manufacturer dedicated to promoting eco-friendly practices throughout its supply chain.” 
ISO 14001 is a globally recognised standard that provides a framework for implementing effective Environmental Management Systems (EMS).  
The accreditation sits alongside Stell’s ISO 9001 certification, which acknowledges the firm’s ongoing commitment to quality management systems in its end-to-end procedures.  

Cornhill Market regeneration earns plaudits for Lindum Group

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Cornhill Market regeneration earns plaudits for Lindum Group
Lindum Group’s regeneration of Lincoln Cornhill Market and its commitment to being a great employer have been celebrated at the Lincolnshire Construction and Property Awards 2025. Our innovative refurbishment and extension of the Grade II Listed 1930s market hall and refreshed City Square public realm won the Development Project of the Year (over £5 Million) category. We also won the Employer of the Year category in recognition of our positive and inclusive workplace culture, in the awards event hosted by Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce. Lindum Co-chairman Freddie Chambers said: “The recognition for our Lincoln Cornhill Market work demonstrates our commitment to working in partnership with clients on all our projects to deliver successful outcomes in terms of quality, craftsmanship and value for money. “As an employee-owned company of more than 600 people, we try to look after our staff, who go the extra mile for clients and their colleagues day-in, day-out. “We believe in apprenticeships and training, to support our colleagues and for Lindum to be an enjoyable and rewarding place to work. After all, our employees are at the heart of our business success, and it is thanks to them that we have won these awards!”

NFU urges Government to take strong stand to protect biosecurity

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
NFU urges Government to take strong stand to protect biosecurity
NFU President Tom Bradshaw is urging the government to ensure that goods brought into the country do not undermine biosecurity.
He says the latest foot and mouth outbreak in Germany provides a stark reminder of the importance of upholding biosecurity standards as an important part of national security. He said: “And while the government is investing in its border controls, reports of an upsurge of illegal meats being seized at customs demonstrates the need for a stronger deterrent to match the scale of the threat.” The NFU believes import controls have a vital role to play in upholding our nation’s biosecurity, food safety and international reputation. “Domestic producers, whether farmers, food companies or retailers, face a myriad of regulations and laws within the UK that ensure the food we eat is safe, consumers are not misled, and our environment, farmed animals and wildlife are protected. “British farmers must feel confidant that border checks and controls safeguard the nation’s food. The implications go beyond the direct threat to domestic livestock and farm businesses, impacting whole sectors that can find their ability to trade and export restricted. The UK exports over £9 billion worth of animal and plant products each year which rely on the UK’s reputation for high biological security.” The NFU would like to see the Border Force, working in partnership with our Port Health Authorities, to be given adequate resources to effectively stamp out illegal sanitary and phytosanitary activities. Alongside this, the government is creating a new UK Border Security Commander, whose responsibility will be to minimise threats to the security of the UK’s borders. Its focus is tackling organised immigration crime, but the NFU believes that threats to our food supply and biosecurity must also be prioritised. The farmers’ union says consequences for those undertaking illegal activity must be sufficiently severe as to act as a disincentive. It says more needs to be done including:
  • Routine recording of passport details of drivers sent from the Border to a BCP would encourage attendance.
  • Sufficient sniffer dogs to identify vehicles transporting meat and meat products prior to boarding and during crossings.
  • Vehicle X-ray machines (to identify consignments of meat (including bones) strategically placed within the curtilage of ports.
  • Seizure and destruction of vehicles and other equipment used in the transport of illegal products.
  • Effective and prominent communication (posters) at ports of entry and alerts provided during on-line travel booking systems.
The NFU would like to see information on new personal imports safeguards actively promoted to travellers coming into the UK. The NFU is also urging the government to set out a strict approach to personal imports typical of many other jurisdictions, preventing all forms of POAO entering from a third country, including from the EU (with limited exemptions such as infant formula).

Motorhome business takes new lease on Tritton Road site

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Motorhome business takes new lease on Tritton Road site
New business Lincoln Motorhomes has taken a new lease on a long-established motorhome sales & servicing site in Lincoln in an off-market deal. The company is already trading from the 2-acre site, with circa 5,000 sq ft of workshop & office accommodation on Tritton Road, with reports that business is ‘brisk’ at the beginning of the year. Although Lincoln Motorhomes was just established in October last year, the Tritton Road site has an association with motorhomes sales & servicing for almost three decades. Such longevity in the sector is a claim that Lincoln Motorhome’s founder and director, Iain Robertson is more than qualified to make. He has over 35 years’ experience in the sector and is widely acknowledged across Lincolnshire by those connected with the motorhome trade. In refreshing the sales and servicing offer to a national client base Lincoln Motorhomes has inherited through the Tritton Road connection, Iain Robertson and his team of twelve employees are keen – in addition to the pre-owned motorhomes and caravans sales side – to emphasise the extent of their vehicle servicing offer. That being ‘a top to toe, inside & out’ service covering all mechanical, body work, cab and living accommodation needs of their customers’ motorhomes. Will Wall, of Eddisons agency in Lincoln who acted on its client’s behalf in concluding the terms of the lease with Lincoln Motorhomes, said, “We’re glad to have played our part in securing the site’s long association with the motorhome sector. “We have no doubt Iain and his team will bring new vigour and revive the profile of the much-prized Tritton Road site to new and established members of the motorhome community far and wide.”

Business start-ups rise by a third as insolvency-related activity falls across Yorkshire and Humber

Tess Egginton
-
0
Business start-ups rise by a third as insolvency-related activity falls across Yorkshire and Humber
There was a significant increase in the number of new start-ups as well as a sharp drop in insolvency-related activity across Yorkshire and the Humber and the UK in the first month of 2025, according to the latest research from the UK’s insolvency and restructuring trade body, R3. The research, which is based on an analysis of data provided by Creditsafe, shows a 35% increase in new business start-ups in the region in January, with insolvency-related activity falling by 30% in the same month. The increase in business start-ups in Yorkshire and the Humber, from 3,235 new businesses established in December, to 4,375 in January, comes after a 16% fall in the number of new start-ups at the end of last year. Insolvency-related activity, which includes liquidator and administrator appointments and creditors’ meetings, also fell, following a small rise, of 5%, in December. Business start-up numbers increased significantly across every region of the UK in January: by 37% in the East Midlands and 36% in East Anglia. Northern Ireland saw the slowest rate of increase, at 14%, and was also the only region to see a hike in insolvency-related activity, which was up by 50% compared to December. Every other region experienced a decrease in insolvency-related activity, with the East Midlands seeing the largest drop at 43%. Dave Broadbent, chair of R3 in Yorkshire and partner at Begbies Traynor in York and Teesside, said: “This is certainly welcome news and it’s encouraging to see some signs of growth amid the economic uncertainty that businesses continue to face, with rising prices, increased employment costs and the threat of tariffs adding to the shockwaves from the pandemic and Brexit that are still hitting the economy. “Needless to say, many businesses are really struggling with all these challenges and the R3 data also shows that over 47,000 firms in Yorkshire and the Humber have invoices which have gone past their due date for payment, an increase on December’s figures. “While this month’s Bank of England interest rate cut should help to give businesses some much needed breathing space and make borrowing cheaper for those firms with plans for growth, we always advise clients that it’s essential to monitor their financial position carefully and seek professional advice as soon as possible as in a fragile economy like this, things can rapidly take a turn for the worse. “Help and support for businesses is out there and swift and decisive action is often what can save the day and help to turn a financially challenging situation around.”

Bridlington mental health care home sold

Tess Egginton
-
0
Bridlington mental health care home sold
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold The Lombrand care home in Bridlington, Yorkshire. The Lombrand is a residential care home registered for 21 service users in the category of mental health. It is located on Tennyson Avenue on the north side of Bridlington, a short walk from the town centre and to the North beach and cliff walks. It was sold through Jonathan Wickens at Christie & Co on behalf of Richard and Elaine Flowers who, after 14 years running the home, can now look forward to a well-earned retirement. The purchaser is Flying Angel Limited, which has provided residential care to male clients with mental health needs since 2016. Sudesh Bhunjun, Director at Flying Angel Limited, said: “We are delighted to have acquired The Lombrand Ltd from Richard and Elaine Flowers and look forward to working with the staff, residents, and relatives. We endeavour to provide holistic support to our residents, making their stay at Lombrand enjoyable and meaningful.” Jonathan Wickens, Director – Care at Christie & Co, said: “This sale highlights the continued demand for care homes across the region. We have a number of transactions due to complete in the first quarter of 2025, and there are still established operators looking to acquire similar homes across the region.” The Lombrand was sold for an undisclosed price.

Mayor partners with colleges to upskill students into local jobs

Michael Fisher
-
0
Mayor partners with colleges to upskill students into local jobs
A new partnership between West Yorkshire’s Mayor and seven Further Education colleges aims to upskill students into local jobs to support businesses and grow the economy. Announcing the Further Education partnership, which has been signed by the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges and every college Principal in the region, Mayor Tracy Brabin pledged to “put more money in people’s pockets” by ensuring that college courses better reflect local job opportunities. According to the agreement published today (10 February), every college across Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield will work to strengthen their relationships with local businesses to respond to their skills needs, including through the co-creation of courses to guarantee direct pathways into good jobs. The agreement follows the publication of the multibillion-pound West Yorkshire Local Growth Plan, which promises joined up action on skills, housing and transport to build an eco-system that supports small and medium-sized firms to grow and succeed. Through deeper devolution and partnership working with colleges, the Mayor aims to build a skills system that can support the region’s fastest-growing business sectors, including financial and professional services, advanced manufacturing and engineering, and health and life sciences. Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Here in West Yorkshire, we’re building a region of learning and creativity, with our seven excellent colleges equipping our residents with the skills they need to flourish. “But to realise the enormous potential of our economy, we must revolutionise our approach to skills training, with a relentless focus on the jobs and the sectors of the future. “By working in partnership with business, we’ll ensure that every college graduate has a clear pathway into employment, supporting them to put more money in their pockets and contribute to a stronger, brighter economy.”

Small firms call for £3k incentive to help them take on apprentices

Tess Egginton
-
0
Small firms call for £3k incentive to help them take on apprentices
Increasing the financial incentive for small businesses that employ an apprentice could help encourage more to do so, according to new data from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). To mark this year’s National Apprenticeship Week in England, which starts today (Monday 10 February), the business group has released statistics that found almost half (47%) of small business employers say reintroducing a £3,000 incentive would encourage them to take on apprentices. Of those small firms that currently employ an apprentice, almost three quarters (73%) say the financial incentive could mean taking on more in the future. Currently, employers are given £1,000 when they hire an apprentice under 19 years old. FSB is calling on Government to use the summer’s Spending Review to update this to a £3,000 incentive for those hiring an apprentice under 25 years old, exclusively for SMEs. FSB data also highlighted that 36% of small business employers who currently employ apprentices say reduced admin or paperwork would encourage them to take on more. FSB wants Government to introduce a standardised way of tracking both on and off the job training that apprentices do. This is currently done by apprenticeship providers, all of which have differing approaches, creating more work for employers. Latest Government statistics show that although the number of apprenticeship starts has increased overall, lower-level apprenticeships, which are traditionally done by smaller firms have fallen. More needs to be done to encourage more small firms to take on entry-level apprentices. FSB is calling on Government to set targets to increase the number of apprenticeship starts in small businesses across the parliament. Tina McKenzie, FSB Policy Chair, said: “National Apprenticeship Week is a great opportunity to shine a light on all the fantastic small businesses out there that currently employ apprentices – nurturing their skills, while at the same time growing their business. “Our members who employ apprentices often tell us how they help fill skills gaps in their team, and also bring in fresh new ideas. “We’d love to see the starts numbers increasing and more small firms taking on apprentices, particularly at the entry-level. Our research shows what a difference bringing back the £3,000 incentive, which was briefly introduced during the pandemic, would make to the numbers. The Government has an opportunity to make a difference on this at the Spending Review in June. “With so many struggling with the admin side of taking on an apprentice, it’s clear time and resources are in short supply for small businesses, most of which don’t have a separate HR team. Providing financial incentives would help to offset this.”
1...575859...488Page 58 of 488