Record-breaking movie director amongst trio of new board members and investors at Sheffield United
A trio of new board members and investors have been revealed at Sheffield United, including a famous director, as COH Sports pushes forward with its long-term plans for the club.
Joe Russo, Len Komoroski and Terry Ahern have all joined the board of directors of Sheffield United and become investors in COH Sports.
Joe, Len and Terry bring decades of experience in sports, entertainment and real estate and will support the ambitious agenda that COH Sports and co-chairmen Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy have for the Blades.
Joe Russo is a record-breaking director and producer who has been responsible for some of the most successful and culturally relevant global content. Through a quartet of movies within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Joe Russo raised the bar for blockbuster filmmaking.
Len Komoroski brings more than 40 years of sports and entertainment experience. He currently is senior advisor of Rock Entertainment Group, which is an umbrella entity of teams and venues including the Cleveland Cavaliers and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, previously having served 19 years as CEO.
Terry Ahern is a leading figure in real estate advisory and investment management as co-founder, principal and chief executive officer of The Townsend Group.
Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy, co-chairmen of Sheffield United, said: “We are delighted to welcome Joe, Len and Terry to the board of directors of Sheffield United Football Club.
“We want to see the Blades competing in the top-flight of English football consistently, not just on a one-off basis. An important element of this is ensuring Sheffield United Football Club has the highest quality team not just on the pitch but in the boardroom as well.
“Each of Joe, Len and Terry bring outstanding capabilities and decades of experience to the table as we plan for the long term, develop the brand and ensure we have the best infrastructure in place. As prospective board members and investors we know all Blades fans will give them a warm welcome at Bramall Lane.”
2025 Business Predictions: Eamon Fox, partner and head of development at the Leeds office of Knight Frank
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Eamon Fox, partner and head of development at the Leeds office of global property consultancy Knight Frank.
There is no doubt that this has been an interesting, if challenging, 12 months for the commercial property sector in Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region. However, the combination of a stuttering economy and political instability has not dampened investor enthusiasm and confidence in building and enhancing brand-new offices in Leeds, confidence based on continued strong letting activity, large relocations to Leeds by firms growing into Leeds for the first time and thinning pipeline of quality office space.
There have been some significant deals, including the recent x+why deal for 34,000 sq ft at Bridgewater Place, and the £80 million acquisition by Ashtrom Properties UK of M&G’s 230,000 sq ft Central Square was Leeds’ largest office investment deal for more than five years. The sale was described by my colleague Henrie Westlake as a deal that will “almost certainly be viewed as the bellwether deal of this cycle.”
It’s important to be optimistic. The iconic City Square House, next to Leeds Station, is now open for business with high-class occupiers such as DLA Piper and Markel having moved in, while Kinrise’s Trevelyan Square and 34 Boar Lane continue to set a high bar for superb office space. CEG’s Temple continues to be an exceptional success and Opus’s 12 King Street has big news coming in Q1 2025 on the final few lettings in the building.
As we look forward to 2025, it is highly likely that prime office rents, now hovering around £40 per sq ft, will rise to a £46 per sq ft high by the end of the first quarter. This is primarily because of a scarcity of quality office space, but also because Leeds is now regarded as the most successful and enterprising regional city, along with Manchester, in the UK. We are also blessed with a number of talented developers, such as CEG, Rushbond, Kinrise and Opus North. At Knight Frank, we expect to be busy, across all sectors, including investment and industrial, as well as office agency.
Team17 CEO “delighted” with “strong end” to 2024
Results are ahead of expectations at Team17 Group, the games developer with offices in Wakefield, Nottingham, and Manchester.
In a new trading update for the twelve months ended 31 December 2024, the business noted it had continued to trade well in the second half of the year, driven by an “improved” performance from new releases and “another excellent” performance in the back catalogue across the group. The Christmas period also saw strong trading, with this momentum continuing into January. As a result, Team17 expects to deliver 2024 revenues and adjusted EBITDA slightly ahead of market expectations. The business has also announced a rebrand of the company to everplay group plc, “reflecting the evolution of the business following its IPO in 2018.”Steve Bell, Chief Executive Officer, said: “I am delighted with the strong end to the year’s trading, and the momentum into 2025, which is further evidence of the success of our refocused strategic initiatives.
“I am grateful for the dedication of all our employees, whose continuing hard work has helped grow our revenues in 2024 to another all-time high. I look forward to sharing greater insight into our exciting plans for 2025 at the full year results in March.
“I am also excited to be unveiling our new Group brand today, which we believe better represents our business which has evolved greatly since the IPO and reflects our DNA to never stop playing.
“This rebrand not only creates an ideal backdrop to foster greater cross-collaboration internally, but also reflects our aspirations to expand our reach across complementary sectors within the broader indie market.
“Fundamentally, we want to create pioneering and captivating experiences that enrich and inspire players around the world, and I firmly believe everplay will become synonymous with creating games that deliver a lifetime of play.”
Goole buildings to be brought back into use in conversion project
Three large adjoining properties on Goole’s Boothferry Road shopping precinct are being fully refurbished and brought back into use with the help of a grant from Goole Town Deal’s Property Activation Fund.
The four-storey, period properties at 32, 34 and 36 Boothferry Road, best known to many local residents as the former site of the Boots store before it relocated to Wesley Square, are being brought back to life as part of a £2.4 million investment by Sunshine Vita Property Ltd, which owns all three addresses.
The Property Activation Fund has contributed £900,000 towards the cost of restoring the three properties, which together make up one of the largest and most prominent vacant buildings on Boothferry Road.
The largest of the two existing commercial units on the ground floor of the buildings is being subdivided, creating three newly-refurbished, modern commercial units in all. Meanwhile, the second, third and fourth floors of numbers 32, 34 and 36 will accommodate 14 self-contained residential flats.
Over the course of more than a century, the buildings have housed a host of different local businesses. Records show that number 32 was a chemist from as early as 1917, long before it was bought by the Boots chain, which also occupied number 34. Prior to that, number 34 was a draper’s shop and, later, a ‘house furnisher’ before becoming the Scotch Wool & Hosiery store. Records show that The Goole School of Music and Elocution was also based there in the mid-1930s.
A spokesperson for Sunshine Vita Property Ltd said: “Our conversion project will make effective re-use of the existing buildings, which sit vacant, under-utilised and partially derelict.
“This development focuses on providing sustainable residential accommodation to meet the needs of existing and future residents, as well as delivering cost-effective commercial floor space that will appeal to a much wider business market than the previous large, single expensive unit on the ground floor, which was vacant for years.”
Phil Jones, Chair of the Goole Town Deal Board, said: “Of the projects that have received financial support from the Property Activation Fund to date, this is a significant investment. It’s a large prominent building made up of three adjoining addresses, with a frontage that faces directly onto the shopping precinct and extends some way along it.
“The large commercial unit has remained empty for several years and the three properties were in an increasingly poor state of repair.
“As a Board, we’re committed to encouraging more interest in Goole town centre so we welcome the sizeable investment by Sunshine Vita Property Ltd, which will not only secure the future of these beautiful old buildings and bring them back into use, it will also make a genuine difference to the way Boothferry Road looks and feels.
“As well as three newly-refurbished commercial units, this project will also deliver high quality rental accommodation at the heart of the town centre.”
Modern construction methods and energy efficient products are being used wherever possible as part of the project. Sunshine Vita Property Ltd has been working in partnership with Doncaster-based construction firms Building Link Design Ltd. and R. Betts Property Ltd. on the project. Work began last year and is due to be completed by the summer of 2025.
Proposals approved to develop historic Estate Buildings in Huddersfield
Kirklees Council’s Cabinet has approved a proposal to spend £1.25m on Estate Buildings in order to prepare the site for future development.
This money has already been allocated for the development of the Estate Buildings, and is part of the One Public Estate Brownfield Land Release Fund – a government fund to support local authorities in transforming surplus land and buildings into new homes.
The Grade II Listed building has significant heritage value, and was identified as an important feature within the Huddersfield Blueprint during early planning stages. After careful consideration, focusing on the blueprint vision to increase the number of people living in the town centre, the historic building has been identified as an opportunity to create new housing in Huddersfield.
Estate Buildings is located right in the middle of millions of pounds’ worth of investment in Huddersfield town centre – through blueprint projects like the George Hotel, Huddersfield Market and improvements to the neighbouring Byram Arcade, and the multibillion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade which will further improve rail links to the nearby Huddersfield Railway Station.
Council teams have been working together to draw up a specification and tender package for these preparatory works which will see the Estate Buildings developed in the future. The aim is to provide new housing for those looking to base themselves in the town centre, including recent graduates from the University of Huddersfield, as other investment in the town centre makes Huddersfield a more attractive place to live.
Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance & Regeneration, says: “Our plans to prepare Estate Buildings for future development are a great example of how regeneration projects will future-proof key parts of Huddersfield’s history and protect the heritage of the building which dates all the way back to the 1800’s.
“I want to thank One Public Estate for the investment which will go towards repairs to help bring the building back to life. This partnership working is key to developing and restoring our historic buildings for a vibrant future use.
“The investment is a vote of confidence in our Huddersfield Blueprint and supports our aim to making the town centre a great place to live, work and play.
“Developing the current site will support our blueprint plans of Huddersfield becoming a vibrant and convenient place to live for the younger generation, with plenty of facilities nearby for people to travel and shop – increasing the footfall within the town centre.”
Enlarged conservation area adopted for Morley
Protection for Morley’s unique architecture and historic character was increased on Tuesday 21 January as a newly combined and enlarged conservation area and management plan was adopted.
The new conservation area will protect historic areas of Morley from harmful change and encourage high-quality new developments while also protecting trees within its boundaries. It replaces the previously separate Town Centre and Dartmouth Park conservation areas.
Morley’s town centre is dominated by dramatic nineteenth-century buildings that were a part of the town’s transformation from an agricultural village to an industrial powerhouse. Public consultation has repeatedly shown preserving the town’s rich architectural and cultural heritage, much of which is nationally recognised, is a high priority for residents and visitors.
Recognising the importance of the town’s heritage, the Morley Town Deal, funded through a £24.3 million grant from the government’s Towns Fund, commissioned Buttress Architects to create the Morley Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan.
Planning for the new conservation area and management plan looked at the historical development of the town and explored what makes up its local distinctiveness and sense of place to identify ways that this special character can be looked after and protected now and in the future.
The expanded conservation now includes five areas that were previously unprotected, including:
- The Morley Hole area, Victoria Road and Asquith Avenue to include historic back-to-back and through terraces.
- St Peter’s Church area and the station approach – Church Street, Victoria Road, Springfield Road and Lane, Rooms Lane, New Bank Street and Station Road.
- The mixed residential and industrial area of the historic town including development in the area of Ackroyd Street, Peel Street, Albert Road, the northern part of Clough Street, Lewisham Park, South Parade, South Street, Melbourne Street, Gillroyd Parade and Wide Lane.
- Fountain Street, to include historic back-to-back properties, industrial buildings and the former Grammar School.
- The historic back-to-back, through terrace and villa development on Bruntcliffe Road.
Plans to create Centre for Learning to be discussed for Hull
Plans to create a Centre for Learning in Hull will be discussed at cabinet next week.
Proposals are to refurbish the former Derek Crothall Building on Charlotte Street Mews to create a city centre training hub.
The Centre for Learning would complement Hull City Council’s wider investment in education and learning, as well as improving accessibility to more residents across Hull.
It would also enable the relocation of council corporate services, as Hull Training and Adult Education (HTAE) and Learning & Development (L&D) would call the site home.
The facility has stood empty since Hull Trinity House Academy relocated to the former Endeavour School site in September 2023 to address secondary school sufficiency shortages within the Hull boundary.
HTAE and L&D have since had temporary homes in the Avenues Centre and Brunswick House respectively, with HTAE’s engineering department based at Dane Park Road.
The council’s cabinet will discuss the plans and determine whether to allocate £2.4m of capital funding required for the £5.6m project to finalise designs and to enter into a contract with Hull Esteem Consortium LEP for the works.
Cllr Linda Tock, portfolio holder for learning skills and safeguarding children, said: “This refurbishment proposal would provide an opportunity for the relocation of HTAE and L&D to one central hub.
“In addition, it would also bring a range of learning, development and skills provision in a more accessible way.”
2025 Business Predictions: Laura Hill, commercial litigator specialising in AI at Ward Hadaway
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Laura Hill, a commercial litigator specialising in AI at law firm Ward Hadaway.
As we move into 2025, businesses across Yorkshire and the Humber will need to grapple with a changing landscape that incorporates artificial intelligence (AI). The 2024 budget highlighted a strong commitment to fostering AI innovation, with significant funding allocated to research and development, alongside promises to establish clearer regulatory frameworks. These measures are designed to position the UK as a global leader in AI while addressing ethical and operational concerns.
For businesses, particularly in strong regional sectors such as manufacturing, logistics and professional services, the implications are profound. Anticipated regulations will likely centre on transparency, accountability and the prevention of bias in AI systems. Firms using AI for decision-making, whether in supply chain management or client interactions, will need to ensure compliance with these standards to avoid potential liability and reputational damage.
Beyond compliance, AI presents a pivotal opportunity as businesses are increasingly embracing AI not just as a tool for automation but as a strategic asset to enhance efficiencies, reduce costs and gain competitive advantages.
In Yorkshire and the Humber, adopting AI could help businesses navigate economic pressures while contributing to regional growth. However, success will depend on proactive investment in technology, workforce training and a keen eye on the regulatory horizon. As legal advisors, we encourage businesses to act now to integrate AI responsibly, ensuring compliance with legal obligations, while being primed for innovation in the years ahead.
Halifax law firm moves into Dean Clough mill conversion
Ramsdens Solicitors has completed a deal on 5,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation at Dean Clough.
Ramsdens employs 280 people across 12 offices in Yorkshire, and is relocating to Dean Clough from existing premises in Halifaxto facilitate growth.
The new office is located in Bowling Mill, one of 16 Victorian stone heritage buildings at Dean Clough. Bowling Mill is one of the latest mill buildings to be repurposed providing 75,000 sq ft of Grade A workspace over seven floors, of which 53,000 sq ft is let or under offer.
Jodie Wielgus, partner at Ramsdens Solicitors and manager of the Halifax branch, said: “We are excited to move into our new home at such an impressive location. Our move to Dean Clough Mills marks an exciting new chapter for Ramsdens Solicitors in Halifax. The modern office space is designed to enhance our services through innovation and efficiency, providing greater flexibility for our team and a more convenient location for our clients.”
Dean Clough is already home to around 150 businesses employing over 3,000 people on site. Major office occupiers include Covea Insurance, Activate Group, Chadwick Lawrence, and Prestige Gifting with many having their headquarters on the site.
Expansion of airport capacity is vital, says BCC Director General
Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce says expansion of the UK’s airport capacity is vital to driving economic growth and it remains a top priority for business.
Responding to reports that the Chancellor is preparing to support expansion plans at three UK airports, she said: “We wholeheartedly support a third runway at Heathrow, Gatwick’s Northern Runway Project and Luton’s expansion of terminal capacity. All three projects will help boost trade, attract international investment and bring huge benefits to SMEs in supply chains across the UK.
“Any developments must be aligned to the government’s commitments on the environment. That will require the airports, the aviation sector and ministers to work together.
“At a time of increased costs for many businesses, speeding up infrastructure investment is crucial to boosting economic activity and unlocking growth. These airport proposals must form a key part of the UK’s long-term infrastructure strategy to help businesses grow, trade and thrive.”
Humber region set for clean energy job creation bonanza
The Humber is one of four areas to benefit from Government support to create jobs in the clean energy sector, with as many as 32,000 new places being available by 2040.
Government-backed training programmes will be offered for those in key growth regions for clean energy, with flourishing offshore wind, nuclear, and solar industries. Local partners will receive funding to identify the skills support that is needed in their area to deliver clean power by 2030 – which will protect households and businesses from unstable fossil fuel markets for good.
Funding could go towards new training centres, courses or career advisers – supporting local people into opportunities in industries such as welding, electrical engineering, and construction.
The announcement has been welcomed by North East Council Leader Philip Jackson, who said: “Empowering our residents to unlock their potential and achieve their goals is critical to the future of our borough – if we are to improve health and prosperity within our communities, we must work together to ensure our people are able to take the opportunities that exist here,” he said.
Recent evidence from Humber bank industry suggests that green energy creation, decarbonisation and hydrogen opportunities are likely to create more than 32,000 jobs across the Humber by 2040.
Cllr Jackson said the new Council Plan, to be released in April, talks of the authority’s commitment to supporting a ‘Stronger Economy’ and ‘Stronger Communities’ – and a crucial part of achieving this is to improve skills.
“As our plan outlines, our ambition is for our people to be equipped with the skills they need. We know the demand is here and we do have a skills gap that must be closed. I am pleased that this has been recognised and we have been presented with this opportunity.
“We now look forward to working closely with Midlands Net Zero Hub and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to look at things that will support our residents and the sector.”
British Steel invests £26m in support for forklift truck mast industry
British Steel has opened a £26m service centre that is says makes it one of the world’s leading suppliers to the forklift truck mast industry.
The investment has been made at the company’s Special Profiles business in Skinningrove, in the North East, which specialises in manufacturing steel profiles for the earth moving, forklift, construction, shipbuilding, and mining markets.
Richard Napier, British Steel’s Sales Director, Special Profiles, says it will enable the company to explore growth opportunities across the globe for forklift mast profiles, with the new warehousing and processing facility forecast to significantly increase throughput within the next two years.
He said: “This is the largest single investment in our Special Profiles business for more than 30 years, demonstrating our owner’s commitment to strengthening British Steel’s position at the heart of UK manufacturing.
“The new facility also firmly establishes us as one of the world’s leading manufacturers and processors of value-added profiles for the forklift industry. Our extended range of products are designed and manufactured to exact customer requirements, with the new milling capability offering profiles with tolerances of just 0.1mm – precision few global competitors can match.
“We have already had extremely positive feedback about this investment from current customers, and potential new ones, and although our primary product offering will be for forklift mast profiles, we expect to expand this to include other product applications too.”
British Steel’s milling capability will primarily service the demanding high-reach forklift truck market. These vehicles are typically used to move loads in warehouses and because they operate at heights of up to eight metres, exceptionally tight tolerances are needed for the mast sections – the moving parts which enable the truck’s forks to reach, collect and move items.
Hallam University appoints Dean of Research
Sheffield Hallam University has appointed Professor Sarah Pearson as Dean of Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange.
She has been at Hallam since 1997 and brings over 25 years’ experience of research leadership to the role, having overseen more than 30 projects in social policy research and evaluation and has led major evaluations of public policy across a range of agendas including anti-poverty, community regeneration and support for vulnerable groups.
Prof Pearson is currently Co-Director of the Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness, a £10m UK Research and Innovation-funded project led by Sheffield Hallam University which brings together partners from research, community, policy and civil society to develop and scale up successful community leadership approaches.
She said: “I am delighted to be taking up the role of Dean of RIKE and looking forward to leading us through the next phase of our RIKE strategy implementation, which will continue to reflect our ongoing commitment to sustainable and high-quality research with impact. My priority is to ensure that our operationalisation of the RIKE strategy supports our research communities to respond to both the opportunities and challenges that the current context presents.”
Ørsted launches plans for solar farm north of Beverley
Ørsted is asking residents for their views about a proposal to build the 320MW Kingfisher Solar Farm three miles north of Beverley.
An initial, non-statutory consultation will run from Monday 3rd February to Sunday 9th March 2025. Local residents, businesses and community groups can learn about Kingfisher and share their feedback online on the project website. They are also invited to attend any of Kingfisher’s four public events taking place throughout the consultation period, where they can discuss their questions with the Project team, which will help inform and develop the proposal for Kingfisher.
The events will be held at:
- Lockington Village Hall, Chapel Street, Lockington, Driffield YO25 9SN on Monday 10thFebruary from 3pm to 8pm
- Hutton Cranswick WI Hall, Main Street, Hutton Cranswick, Driffield YO25 9QR on Wednesday 12th February from 3pm to 8pm
- Cottingham Civic Hall, Market Green, Cottingham HU16 5QG on Friday 28th February from 3pm to 8pm
- Beverley Memorial Hall, 73-75 Lairgate, Beverley HU17 8HN on Saturday 1st March from noon until 5pm.
Labour market challenges lie ahead, says British Chambers of Commerce
The already-challenging labour market is going to get worse with the arrival of April’s significant rise in employment costs, says Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce.
Responding to the latest information from the Office for National Statistics she said: “However, there are also signs of further loosening as unemployment ticks up, vacancies continue to fall and economic inactivity dips.
“The full impact of the changes to national insurance and the minimum wage, announced at the Budget, won’t be fully seen until later in the year. However, the warning lights on recruitment, employment and training are already flashing.
“Our latest survey paints a worrying picture of weak workforce growth, persistent hiring difficulties and cuts in workplace training. It also revealed that 55% of firms are planning to put up prices, with labour cost the main driver.
“To grow the economy, we need businesses and the workforce to thrive. Government must ease the cost-pressures on firms so they can invest in people. Working proactively with employers to tackle the long running skills crisis is likely to become even more important in the months to come.”
Cranswick acquires East Yorkshire pig genetics company
Food producer Cranswick has acquired fellow East Yorkshire firm JSR Genetics from JSR Farms. The transaction includes the pig genetics and pig farming operations of JSR Farms.
JSR Genetics is a pig genetics company known for its innovative genetic solutions for cost effective pig production. Genetic improvement is centred around sustainability and efficiency. Extensive research and innovation deliver pig genetics with a continuous improvement in production efficiency, meat quality, animal health and robustness.
JSR Genetics is an existing, long-standing supplier to Cranswick.
Adam Couch, CEO of Cranswick, said: “I am delighted to announce the acquisition of JSR Genetics, a leading pig genetics supplier and commercial pig producer based in East Yorkshire.
“This acquisition increases the scale of our indoor pig production, further securing supply for our customers’ pork requirements.
“The addition of an integrated pig genetics supply chain will allow us to drive ongoing improvements in production efficiency, meat quality, animal health and robustness, for the long-term benefit of our customers and the UK consumer.”
Duo of speculative warehouse units reach practical completion in south Leeds
Two speculative warehouse units developed by Baytree Logistics Properties Ltd have reached practical completion.
The scheme totals 552,000 sq ft and is situated in Stourton, south Leeds.
Units 1 and 3, which comprise 76,231 sq ft and 145,454 sq ft, have now reached practical completion, while Unit 2 is available on a build-to-suit basis and benefits from detailed planning consent for a single 329,000 sq ft warehouse.
This development, which is the only speculative scheme in the Yorkshire region built to BREEAM Outstanding standards, showcases a host of wellbeing, sustainability and energy saving measures.
Efficient management and monitoring of the building systems is controlled by sensor suite technologies which are linked to highly efficient lighting and air handling systems in the offices.
There is, additionally, biophilia in the reception areas and a “City Tree” at the entrance to the development which removes harmful particulates from the air.
The scheme has been built to EPC “A” rated and WELL Ready standards.
Tom Goode, partner and specialist in industrial and logistics at the Leeds office of Knight Frank, said: “These measures mean that Baytree Leeds is setting a new benchmark for the logistics sector in Yorkshire which, combined with its prime West Yorkshire location and best-in-class specification, will ensure that this exciting new development will prove extremely popular. We are already experiencing strong interest.”
Casey Ferguson, development manager at Baytree, said: “We are proud to announce the practical completion of phase 1 at Baytree Leeds, our latest best-in-class logistics scheme. This development marks a significant milestone as the first BREEAM Outstanding speculative development in the north of England, setting a new benchmark in ESG for the region.
“The scheme also provides some much-needed speculative development in a prime Leeds location just 1 mile from both the M1 and M621 junctions. Given the location and leading-edge specification, we are confident this will attract a lot of interest from our customers.”
Knight Frank is marketing Baytree Leeds alongside JLL & DTRE.
Harmony Works secures further £3.5m for Canada House restoration
Harmony Works Trust has secured £3.5 million in funding from Arts Council England to transform the historic Canada House in Sheffield city centre into a vibrant new home for music education.
This latest pledge follows the successful award of £4.7 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, announced last week, and adds to the project’s growing support base, which also includes funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund, Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the UK Government’s Levelling Up Funding, and multiple local trusts and foundations.
Harmony Works Trust, awarded official charitable status in August 2023, purchased the Grade II* Listed Canada House from Panache retail brand last year. The combined £8.2 million investment from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England will help fund the building’s transformation into a new regional home for music education – creating a high-quality practice, rehearsal and performance destination.
“We are absolutely thrilled to receive such strong backing from Arts Council England,” said Emily Pieters, Project Director at Harmony Works.
“Alongside the funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are now in a very strong position to fully refurbish Canada House and deliver on our long-term vision of creating a new home to inspire and nurture the creative potential of young people and their communities.”
Cllr Martin Smith, Chair of Economic Development and Skills Committee at Sheffield City Council, joined Emily Pieters in welcoming this announcement, adding: “Culture runs through every community in Sheffield, and we are committed to putting it at the heart of everything we do.
“Harmony Works will be a home for inspirational music education and opportunity in our city. Not only will this benefit young people across South Yorkshire, but this further funding will also allow us to protect an important heritage asset.”
South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “From the Arctic Monkeys to Pulp, Yungblud to Kate Rusby, South Yorkshire has given music to the world for years. I couldn’t be prouder to build on our arts heritage by investing in projects such as the restoration of Harmony Works, giving exciting opportunities to young, aspiring musicians in our communities and a chance for them to stay near and go far.
“Not only do cultural institutions drive growth in our city centres, they also lead to happier, healthier lives for local people. That’s why I’ll continue to bang the drum for South Yorkshire and attract further investment into our culture sector, to create a happier, healthier, and wealthier region for all.”
Pete Massey, Yorkshire Director, Arts Council England, said: “Sheffield is a city with a rich history of musical excellence, so it’s great to see Harmony Works secure this vital investment from Government to create a fantastic new hub for music education.
“Yorkshire continues to produce musicians and bands that have received national and international acclaim, and we can’t wait to see the next generation of artists come through the Harmony Works doors to build on that success.”
With a history dating back to 1875, when it was originally constructed as offices for the Sheffield United Gas Light Company, Canada House is a cherished local landmark. In the 1980s, the building gained local popularity as TurnUps nightclub and was a hub for young music lovers.
“It’s amazing to think that in just three years, these walls will once again be filled with the sound of music – this time created by the young people themselves,” Pieters concluded.
The refurbishment of Canada House is expected to start later this year, with a view to opening the doors to Harmony Works late in 2027.
Once complete, it will become home to many organisations, including the Sheffield Music Academy, Sheffield Music Hub, Brass Bands England, Music in the Round, Choir with No Name, Orchestras for All, and Concerteenies, while also working closely with The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University and The Sheffield College.
2025 Business Predictions: Jonathan Morgan, partner at Zenko City Living
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Jonathan Morgan, a partner at Zenko City Living.
It’s fair to say that 2024 was an interesting year for the city centre property market in Leeds. The total number of rental enquiries we received was significantly down on the previous year, but the number of new rental contracts we agreed increased.
This drop off in enquiries was due to the decline in demand for premium city centre rentals from overseas students, following changes to immigration rules introduced in January 2024, combined with lingering concerns about the cost of living in the UK.
Overseas students have typically arrived in the city centre rentals market late in the season and many would choose to rent higher end apartments in locations such as Park Row and Wellington Street.
In addition, several of the larger build to rent (BTR) schemes in Leeds city centre have got used to seeing their overseas student occupancy rate at between 20 and 30%, so this decline has caused some consternation.
Looking ahead, we are focussed on targeting the tens of thousands of young professionals working in well paid jobs in Leeds, who crave the convenience of living in the city centre. To a certain extent, this group has been squeezed out of the market since before Covid and is now returning in significant numbers. As a result, we are confident that 2025 will be a good year for rentals.
In terms of sales, demand in the second half of 2024 was strong and we think 2025 could be the best year since before Covid for owner occupier activity. Inflation is much more manageable, the shock of political change is waning, interest rates are stable and five-year forecasts for house price growth are strong.
Most significantly in the city centre context, more and more buildings are being released from the cladding issues which previously made them unsellable. At the same time, significant infrastructure change is coming to fruition, making for a much more attractive environment.
In addition, we remain the only city outside London to have resident opera, theatre and ballet companies; our diverse and resilient economy is widely understood, our universities attract over 60,000 young people a year, our retail and leisure space is nicely balanced, we have a railway station which will deliver you to London in around two hours, a regional airport connecting directly to most European cities and, an hour’s train ride away, an airport which connects with the rest of the world.
The city’s skyline is currently peppered with cranes delivering new developments and we are excited and confident about the future of city living in Leeds and look forward to unlocking the next generation of city centre homes for sale and to rent in 2025.
Siemens Mobility partners with Samaritans
Siemens Mobility is to give £23,000 to Samaritans, the charity dedicated to providing emotional support to anyone in distress or at risk of suicide.
Rob Morris, Joint UK&I CEO and Managing Director for Rail Infrastructure said: “We are proud to partner with Samaritans, a charity that plays such a vital role in supporting mental health. Mental well-being has always been a priority for us, yet we know it is not always easy to talk about. By encouraging dialogue and challenging stigmas, we aim to create a culture where mental health is understood and supported.”
Gwen Grant, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Samaritans said: “We are thrilled that Siemens Mobility employees selected us as their charity partner this year, which recognises their commitment to promote better mental health and well-being. Support from partners like Siemens Mobility is invaluable to helping Samaritans continue to be there for anyone who is struggling to cope, and we look forward to seeing what we can achieve together over the course of our partnership.”
The new charity partner was chosen by Siemens employees, reflecting their drive to making a meaningful difference. As part of this partnership, employees will engage in fundraising and volunteering through the company’s volunteering policy, which offers two days a year for each employee to support charitable causes. Last financial year, employees completed over 4,300 hours of community volunteering.
