Dales’ five-year plan puts ‘nature-friendly’ farming businesses at its heart
The main thrust of a new five-year plan is to see that ‘nature-friendly’ farming businesses are supported across the Yorkshire Dales National Park, with the claim that hill farmers are now more important than ever.
That’s revealed in the newly-published draft set of objectives for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plan 2025-2030.
People and organisations are invited to have their say on it during a seven-week period of public consultation; there is a survey for members of the public and a separate survey for organisations.
The management plan is said to be the most important policy document for the National Park. It is being put together by a partnership made up of 15 local organisations, including representatives of business interests. The draft has been sent to more than 200 organisations that operate in the National Park.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is named as the potential lead organisation responsible for achieving 13 of the 40 objectives in the plan, with organisations such as Westmorland & Furness and North Yorkshire Councils, Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission leading on other objectives.
David Sharrod of Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, who is the Chair of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plan Partnership, said: “Supporting hill farming has been a long-standing priority for us but it’s more important now than ever. We need nature-friendly farming businesses to thrive in the National Park. That is critical for maximising the benefits that the National Park can provide for the nation, whether that is helping nature to recover, storing more carbon in our landscapes, reducing flooding downstream or producing fantastic quality food. Such farming will need support to be viable, and that’s what the partnership is planning to provide.
“People familiar with previous Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plans will recognise that some objectives have been updated and carried over, such as on broadening access to the National Park by the public and retaining dark skies at night. And yet some objectives are strikingly new and ambitious. For example, creating over 5,000 hectares of new wildlife-rich habitats; creating or restoring 60km of hedgerows, and supporting farmers to adapt to the challenges of climate change. Another new objective seeks to help tackle health inequalities in society and make the National Park a place of healing for more people.
“The proposed objectives have been shaped by national government policy, local organisations and public opinion – as well as by evidence on the state of nature and the local economy. The seven-week consultation is an opportunity to influence the final detail. I would warmly invite anyone with an interest in the future of this special place to examine the proposals, and have their say.”
VOA suspends business rates agents and urges firms to be cautious
The Valuation Office Agency has temporarily suspended business rates agents Rateable Value Experts and Re-Rates UK pending an investigation of a potential serious breach of agent standards.
The suspension means we will not work with, or accept any information from, these agents while we investigate the potential breach.
A spokesman for the VOA said: “We have written to affected customers, and cannot comment further while investigations are ongoing.
“Our VOA agent standards set out clear expectations for agents regarding their behaviour, their professional practice, and the service they provide to their customers.
“We take breaches of our agent standards very seriously and will always take action if we substantiate a breach of the standards.”
The VOA urges caution about any agent who:
- tries to pressure you to make a decision or sign a contract
- says they are acting on behalf of the VOA or forwards emails they claim are from the VOA
- demands large sums of money up front
- makes claims about ‘unclaimed credits’ or similar
Asbestos removal complete in Albion Square regeneration
Scaffolding is being removed from the former BHS building as Hull City Council’s Albion Square regeneration project prepares to move onto its next phase.
Asbestos removal from the derelict building is now complete, with more than 600,000 tonnes of contaminated waste, including concrete blocks containing asbestos, being taken away over almost two years.
The primary objective of Albion Square’s redevelopment is to transform a derelict, but strategically-positioned city centre site into a high-quality mixed-use scheme with a focus on residential and a mix of active uses on the ground floor.
This site is said to have a wider significance for the future economy of the city as a visitor destination.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration at the council, said: “I am pleased to see that the scaffolding on the former BHS building is now being removed, with preparations taking place for the next stage of the project.”
Hull company wins place on £800m procurement framework
Hull-based Sewell Facilities Management has been appointed to a new £814m framework meaning it can provide building management services to public sector organisations across the north of England.
The company was one of only 27 organisations nationally to be named on the new Total Facilities Management Framework, managed by procurement provider Pagabo.
The framework will provide a way for public sector organisations, including those in education, leisure, healthcare, emergency services and local authorities, to work with Sewell Facilities Management for soft, hard or total FM services, including roofing, mechanical work and decorating. The framework will run until January 2029.
Sewell Facilities Management MD Sean Henderson said: “We look forward to supporting the public sector to keep their buildings in day-one condition, clean, safe and compliant.
“Being appointed to the Pagabo framework gives public sector clients an easy and quick way to work with us, enabling them to ensure their buildings are looked after 24/7, so they can concentrate on their day-to-day roles.”
Jonathan Oram, director of frameworks at Pagabo, said: “While this framework is going live before the Procurement Act comes into force in late February, suppliers and clients will all benefit from the latest procurement best practice. The extensive offering that the Total Facilities Management Framework brings to our procurement portfolio here at Pagabo aligns perfectly with our overall aim across all our frameworks – to support a wide range of clients in providing value for money, while maintaining compliance.
“Over the tender period, we have seen significant interest in the framework and we’re eager to see the well-rounded offerings by the appointed suppliers at work. This all goes to highlight the demand we’ve seen for a specific facilities management framework, and we’re excited to see the framework, over the four-year period, make its mark, both for the clients that procure through it, and the suppliers that have been appointed to it.”
Sewell Facilities Management works with public and private sector clients across the north of England, providing bespoke and total facilities management services to keep buildings safe, compliant and maintained.
Their clients include NHS organisations, schools and colleges, manufacturers, charities and retail stores, and during the 30 years since they were founded, they have grown from providing straightforward facilities management to offering everything from water hygiene and fire safety compliance assessments to advice and guidance on making buildings more sustainable.
Electrical wholesaler plots further growth after management buy-out
A Hull-based electrical wholesaler has undergone a seven-figure management buy-out backed by funding from Mercia Debt.
AA Jones Electric, which was founded in 2009 and is now one of the region’s leading independents, supplies electrical equipment for domestic and commercial use, as well as industrial automation and controls.
The buy-out gives control of the business to co-founder Andy Moulds, the Sales Director, and long-standing employee Sam Lomax, who becomes Managing Director. It will allow for the retirement of one of the founders, Ian Wayman. The third founder, Tony Moore, will retain a stake in the business and continue in his role as Finance Director.
The company has secured a £1m funding package, with half coming from Mercia’s SME Loans fund to support the buy-out. NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), also provided £500k to support the growth of the business following the buyout.
AA Jones employs 20 staff at its premises on Venture Business Park and serves both the public and trade buyers. The company acquired an adjoining distributor, Seltec Automation, in 2022 which is now fully integrated. It currently stocks over 12,000 product lines and offers specialist advice on factory automation or for projects required to meet building or health and safety standards.
Having recently introduced new lines such as solar lighting, EV chargers and smart building technology, it now plans to further extend its range of renewables and industrial cables. The funding from NPIF II will provide additional working capital to enable it to increase stock levels and create around five new jobs in the next two years.
Sam Lomax, Managing Director, said: “Tony and Ian have built a very successful business with a dedicated and experienced team. Having joined the company 13 years ago, I am very grateful for all the support and opportunities they have given me. I am proud to be taking on the role of Managing Director and look forward to working with Andy and the team as we continue to grow the business.”
Rebecca Pickering and Mike Rogers of Mercia Debt worked on the deal.
Rebecca Pickering said: “AA Jones is well respected in the industry. It sets itself apart from the big chains by its customer service and knowledgeable staff and despite tough competition, has continued to grow revenues. We are pleased to have been able to be able to support the buy-out and provide funding for its future growth plans.”
Pierce Business Advisory and Accountancy Group of Blackburn provided corporate finance advice to the company, while WHN Solicitors of Bury provided legal advice.
Paul Bennett of Pierce said: “It was a pleasure to work with the team at AA Jones to structure a transaction that allows the management team to take the business forward and we look forward to seeing the business continue to grow over the coming years.”
Amey and partners rally over 160 volunteers to support military families
Catterick Garrison recently played host to one of Amey’s largest ever volunteer events bringing together over 160 individuals from Amey, e50K, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), supply chain partners, local industries, military spouses, and veterans.
This collaborative effort was part of the Move You In Pack impact initiative funded by Amey and developed in partnership with e50K, a spouse-led military social enterprise.
During the event, 2,525 boxes were packed with sustainable essentials sourced from veteran/spouse led organisations, ready to be delivered to Service families as they settle into their new homes across the North and Central regions.
Each pack is thoughtfully designed to support the transition process for military families ensuring they feel welcome and supported from the moment they arrive.
In addition to packing the boxes, the day featured a Christmas toy drive where generous donations from Amey employees brought holiday cheer to families in need. Volunteers also visited Bramble Woods, a 3.5-hectare green space developed in partnership with e50K.
This unique community hub continues to grow with the recent addition of a polytunnel enabling volunteers to plant, maintain and cultivate crops further supporting biodiversity and sustainability. Since Amey provided seed funding to begin the project, e50K have secured almost £75,000 of grants and additional funding to support the development of this important local asset.
Aligning with Amey’s Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, the Move You In Pack initiative and the Bramble Woods project demonstrates a shared commitment to enhancing well-being, sustainability and inclusivity within the defence community. Since the initiative’s inception in 2021, over 6,000 Service families have benefited annually from the packs, with a total of more than 18,000 boxes delivered to date.
Additional impacts include:
- 121 military spouses have gained economically via 9,600 paid employment hours – earning more than £97,000 in wages.
- Profits exceeding £103,000 has been reinvested into Bramble Woods transforming the site into a vibrant community space featuring allotments, wildflower meadows and bee hives with plans for building an outdoor classroom.
- Over 90% of pack materials are recyclable or sustainably sourced
Lupton Fawcett begins 2025 with duo of hires
Lupton Fawcett has recruited two new colleagues as part of its plans for growth in 2025.
Harjit Singh, senior associate in the firm’s commercial property team, and associate Jonathan Exall, who specialises in dispute resolution, both started the new year at the Yorkshire law firm.
Harjit qualified as a solicitor in 2016, and his role includes all aspects of commercial property alongside experience of complex transactions such as collective enfranchisement, right to manage, escheat, and bona vacantia.
He said: “I am excited to work with such a talented team and to contribute to the firm’s success. I am looking forward to helping clients achieve their long-term goals through innovative and effective solutions.”
Jonathan had roles with regional and national firms before joining Lupton Fawcett and deals with complex and high value commercial litigation including shareholder disputes and breach of commercial contracts alongside regulatory disputes relating to export controls, trade and logistics.
He said: “The firm has high profile clients in the region, and nationally, and I am eager to assist them. I am also excited to be joining a renowned dispute resolution team and continuing to maintain the highest standard of client care.”
The two new additions to the team are the first in a group of new hires in January which form part of the firm’s strategic plans.
James Richardson, managing partner, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Harjit and Jonathan to the team, strengthening our offering in commercial property and dispute resolution.
“Alongside further recruitment news, which we will be sharing in the coming weeks, these appointments bolster our position as we enter a new year, and we look forward to delivering the best results for our clients.”
Interior fit-out of Leeds Trinity University’s new City Campus completes
GRAHAM Interior Fit-Out has completed the refurbishment of Leeds Trinity University’s new City Campus at 1 Trevelyan Square, Leeds, enhancing its facilities to accommodate a growing student population and creating state-of-the-art learning environments that foster career-focused education and collaboration with key industry partners.
Located in the heart of Leeds, the City Campus complements Leeds Trinity University’s main campus in Horsforth.
The refurbishment has transformed 1 Trevelyan Square into a dynamic new educational hub, fitted out with modern spaces designed to inspire collaboration and learning. Key facilities include:
- Collaborative Active Teaching Spaces (CATS): Encouraging teamwork, curiosity, and purpose-driven learning.
- Specialist facilities: Including a boardroom, trading room, law court, custody suite, business engagement centre, and bespoke labs tailored for construction, built environment, and computer science courses.
- Flexible study and learning areas: Providing a supportive, technology-enabled environment to prepare students for their future careers.
2025 Business Predictions: Konrad Czajka, Managing Director, Czajka Care Group
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 Czajka Care Group’s Managing Director, Konrad Czajka, who is also Chair of the Bradford Care Association.
The Chancellor’s budget caused alarm and distress for the Social Care Sector with the announcements regarding the National Living Wage (6.7% increase), Employer NIC from April 2025 (increase from 13.8% to 15%), and the threshold decrease from £9,100 to £5,000.
The reaction from the Social Care Sector was swift and loud— it would threaten the future viability of the 11,544 Homecare Services and 14,970 Residential and Nursing Home Providers registered with Care Quality Commission (CQC).
In 2024 the report from Lord Darzi stated that Social Care is in a dire state. There have been cuts to Local Authority budgets, £8 billion since 2010, with fewer and fewer people funded while demand has risen, and older people are stuck on acute wards.
Social Care is a vital service and in 2025 the Government needs commitment to real change. There is a commitment to reform the NHS, and billions is being spent whilst only £600 million in grant funding is being allocated for Social Care in 2025-26.
It is vital that both sectors are reformed at the same time. Reforming the NHS without reforming Social Care is like rebuilding a house without mending the roof!
In 2025 investment in the Social Care workforce will be a priority. Social Care employs 1.5million people, that’s more than the NHS, and vacancies are running at 8.9% which equates to 110,000 vacancies. Domestic recruitment will remain a challenge as workers are attracted to higher paid and less demanding jobs. Social Care will need thousands more care workers with the right skills and values over the next 15 years (430,000 extra posts by 2035).
A workforce strategy in 2025 would be welcomed, but the staffing crisis in Social Care will not end until pay rates rises are aligned with the NHS. International recruitment will continue to be the main driver of the increase in filled posts and a possible fall in vacancies.
In 2025 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will face increased scrutiny over its inspection and ratings processes. Past issues raised have included inconsistent inspection outcomes, delayed reports, and questions about the assessments. People depend on CQC ratings to make informed decisions about care options. Hopefully, for 2025, due to the appointment of Sir Julian Hartley as Chief Executive, CQC will work with the Care Provider Alliance (CPA) to improve the inspection levels, clinical expertise among Inspectors, consistency in assessments and deal with the problems of CQC’S IT system.
Finally, failing to fix Social Care will mean failing to fix the NHS. Hopefully the Government will reassess the £600 million grant funding, develop a long-term financial strategy to account for inflation and will increase engagement with Social Care Providers and all stakeholders including the Local Authorities. In 2025 Social Care will continue to be a vital service but it needs the support it deserves.
Leeds-based green banking platform set to wind down
Leeds-based green banking platform, Tred, is winding down, with the business pointing to recent changes to financial regulations around Authorised Push Payment Fraud as the reason, significantly impacting smaller disruptors, which the firm is not equipped to sustain.
Tred was founded to tackle a lack of actors in the financial sector using their power for good.
In a statement on LinkedIn, the business shared: “This isn’t the post we ever wanted to write, but today we’re sharing the sad news that Tred will be winding down. After four amazing years, countless lessons, and an incredible journey, it’s time to close this chapter.
“When we started Tred, we had a simple mission: To make money work for the planet, not against it. From launching fossil-fuel-free accounts to raising awareness of the hidden carbon impact of finance, we’ve been part of some amazing conversations and moments of change.
“Recent changes to financial regulations around Authorised Push Payment Fraud (APPF) have significantly impacted smaller disruptors like Tred, which we simply aren’t equipped to sustain.
“But luckily, we wouldn’t change the journey for the world! We’ve been part of something amazing and built something groundbreaking with an incredible team of passionate, talented people. We couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved together and the community we’ve built.
“To everyone who supported us along the way, our team, our customers, and everyone who believed in Tred’s mission, thank you.
“This is the end of Tred, but it’s far from the end of the fight for sustainable finance. The mission continues, and I know that the seeds we’ve planted will grow into something even greater.
“Let’s keep pushing for a greener, fairer future.”
Focusing on business accounts and making money greener, the business offered current accounts that drive “growth and impact” with every payment on Tred debit cards leading to the donation of a portion of funds to reforestation projects.
Tred also avowed that clients’ money would never be invested into industries that fund climate change, cutting business’s carbon emissions.
Keepmoat plans £580k investment in ecology for West Yorkshire
Housebuilder Keepmoat is to invest more than £580,000 to support the council in a West Yorkshire town with the delivery of priority benefits for the local area, including a range of ecology incentives.
Keepmoat’s investment will aid Wakefield Council’s Countryside and Green Spaces (Street Scene) team, which is responsible for maintaining and improving the countryside in and around the city to help wildlife native to the area thrive.
The investment, which will be split across the housebuilder’s The Vale development in Upton and its Station View development in South Elmsall, will specifically focus on implementing Biodiversity Net Gain schemes in Pontefract, in line with council targets.
The Council’s team has been developing BNG incentives to support habitat management at the two developments, as well as producing monitoring plans for the local nature reserves in the district, the closest of which is the Former Upton Colliery – which the money invested by Keepmoat is helping to fund.
Following this, the housebuilder’s investment will be spent on the rollout of the habitat management strategies and monitoring works on the ground. Both developments are flagship schemes for the housebuilder, following the implementation of BNG regulation in the UK this year.
The new legislation requires developers to provide a BNG of at least 10 percent for new developments in England, with the aim to ensure that developments have a positive impact on the natural environment.
Regional Managing Director, Chris Clingo at Keepmoat, Yorkshire West, commented: “Keepmoat is delighted to be regenerating South Elmsall and Upton and transforming an area that was subject to anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping, into a vibrant community. The new developments will bring much needed, high-quality new homes and significant investment to the local area.
“Our BNG incentives are a testament to Keepmoat’s commitment to regenerating West Yorkshire towns and maintaining wildlife habitats and ecological priorities. We are proud to be working alongside local councils to make improvements to the local area for future generations.”
Avant submits plans for 108-home development at Great Houghton
Avant Homes has submitted plans and exchanged contracts on a 7.6-acre site in Great Houghton, Barnsley to deliver a £23.5m, 108-home development.
If given the go ahead by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, work at the development could start this spring, with the first residents expected to move into their new homes by the end of the year.
Subject to planning being granted, the development will be delivered by Avant Homes West Yorkshire. The operating company’s MD Richard Hosie, said: “We are pleased to have submitted our plans to deliver a multi-tenure residential development in Great Houghton.
“We now look forward to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council considering our plans for the development.”
Hull and Humber Chamber kicks off Business Week with a preview event this week
Hull and Humber Chamber is preparing for Humber Business week with a “Get Ready for Humber Business Week 2025” event at the MKM Stadium in Hull this Thursday.
It will bring the launch of a new website and lead the audience through the Biz Week event process and highlight the support available to help participants make the most of their involvement in the week.
The preview will also encourage more people to hold their own events by sharing advice and insight on how to get the best from Biz Week, and by offering guidance on how to make sure the activities are inclusive and accessible.
Students from Hull College will work with the Biz Week event team to gain experience of stewarding and catering, check-in and guest management, and media and PR tasks.
Pat Coyle, chair of Humber Business Week, said: “I was delighted with the level of involvement by businesses and other organisations at Biz Week 2024 but we didn’t want to wait 12 months until the next one so we decided to do something new to bridge the gap and to help people get ready for June 2025.
“By turning the annual stakeholder meeting into a preview and preparation event we’ve already had many more people sign up to attend than we usually attract for our stakeholder get-together, and we’re expecting more to register in the coming days.
“We’ve made a significant investment to make it easier for organisations to get involved in Humber Business Week, to help them raise awareness of what they do and to promote collaboration – all under the Biz Week banner of bridging business, showcasing excellence.”
Delegates at the half-day preview event will hear from Matt Scarr, head of sales and marketing at Reality Solutions, about the buzz his company enjoyed as first-time participants in Biz Week 2024.
Matt will be followed by Helen Thompson from Helen’s Wheels Disability Access Solutions, and Paul McCartan, who works for Yara International and is chair of the Equality, Diversion, Inclusion and Belonging network operated by CATCH from its national technical skills centre in Stallingborough.
A breakout session presented by Future Humber will explore how the new place brand values are reshaping perceptions, building pride, and positioning Humber as a leader on the global stage.
Hull Truck Theatre will harness its team’s writing and acting expertise to deliver a presentation skills masterclass.
Pat said: “With this event we’re raising the bar with bold changes, a refreshed Humber narrative, and a renewed focus on collaboration, inclusion, and excellence. This is an opportunity for every business to contribute, connect, and help shape a remarkable Humber Business Week 2025. Whether you’re a seasoned participant or a first-time organiser, this session will equip you with the tools, insights, and inspiration needed to make 2025 our best year yet.”
Humber Business Week will take place across the Humber region starting on Monday 2 June, and the programme will again feature the Future Humber Bondholder Breakfast, the Humber Business Week Lunch, Chamber Expo, the HullBID Inspiring People Dinner, Hull City Council’s Business Breakfast, the University of Hull Celebration Dinner and The Business Day at Bridlington Spa. The full programme will be announced at the official Humber Business Week programme launch at Hull Truck Theatre from 5pm until 6.30pm on Thursday 10 April.
The Get Ready for Humber Business Week 2025 event will take place on Thursday 23 January in the Circle Restaurant at the MKM Stadium in Hull from 8.15am until 12.30pm.
Chamber gears up to celebrate International Womens Day
Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with sponsor AESSEAL, plans to celebrate International Women’s Day 2025 with an event on Friday, 7th March at the AESSEAL New York Stadium in Rotherham.
Themed #AccelerateAction, this year’s campaign aims to advocate for change and showcase the voices of women in business throughout the Barnsley and Rotherham region. The event will feature speakers, a Q&A panel, and interactive discussions exploring the experiences and stories of women who have made significant strides in their fields.
Featured Speakers:
- Lindsy James – Founder and Director, Active Fusion Lindsy is a dedicated advocate for children’s health and wellbeing, inspiring countless young people through her charity, which has recently received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. As a record-holding athlete, she embodies resilience and passion, proving that ordinary individuals can achieve extraordinary outcomes.
- Alicia Hewitt – Managing Director, Secure Power Alicia’s journey from apprentice to Managing Director showcases her commitment to growth and innovation. Her focus on teamwork and opportunity creation reflects her belief that success is a collective effort. Recently recognised as the Businessperson of the Year at the 2024 Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards, Alicia continues to be an inspiring figure in the community.
- Ava Jones – Head of Marketing and Executive Assistant, AESSEAL Ava’s extensive career path at AESSEAL, beginning as an apprentice, highlights her dedication to sustainability and continuous improvement across various operations.
- Karen Thomas – Finance Director, ASD Holdings Ltd & Rotherham United FC With over 25 years of experience, Karen exemplifies leadership in both finance and sports, inspiring women to excel in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
Schofield Sweeney starts the year with six promotions
Law firm Schofield Sweeney has promotedsix colleagues for their outstanding contributions.
Pardeep Khela has been promoted to partner in the real estate team. His expertise include high value landlord and tenant matters, real estate finance, investor purchases, commercial developers and corporate support.
He said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my journey at Schofield Sweeney, from junior lawyer to partner. The firm truly invests time, effort and resource developing excellent lawyers. This in turn allows us to provide the best possible service to our clients and drive the business forward to ever greater heights.”
Pardeep was shortlisted for “Solicitor of the Year” by the recent British Asian Professionals Awards and has been recognised as a “Rising Star” by The Legal 500 for the past few years.
Tina Morris has been promoted to director in the commercial services team. She leads the education team, and project manages the academy conversion process, bringing significant experience with both single and multi-academy trusts.
Seema Gabbi has been promoted to director in the residential conveyancing team. She leads the team offering expertise and guidance throughout the house buying and selling processes.
She said: “‘I am grateful for the opportunity to grow within the firm and excited to take on further responsibilities to contribute to our success. I’m supported by a fantastic team and the guidance and mentorship received by the firm has been invaluable to me.”
James Farrell has been promoted to director within the corporate team. He advises on a wide array of matters, including M&A transactions, share buy-backs, management buyouts, and group re-organisations.
Alex Aitken has been promoted to associate in the corporate team. Having trained with the firm and qualified in September 2020, Alex has quickly established himself as a trusted advisor on a diverse range of corporate transactions.
Rajveer Basra has been promoted to associate in the employment team. She consults with clients on all aspects of day-to-day employee management and issues arising from recruitment through to termination.
Graham Sweeney, managing partner, said “Congratulations to all those who have been promoted. It reflects their hard work in helping the business grow and their dedication to excellent client service.”
Entrepreneurs boost skills at ‘storytelling’ workshops
Unity Enterprise hosts the second in a series of business workshops tomorrow designed to boost entrepreneurial skills in its 25th anniversary year.
Taking place from 10am-12pm at Leeds Media Centre in Chapeltown, renowned public speaking professional Pol Donald Nkana Nkana will lead a masterclass entitled ‘Storytelling for Business: What is Your Story?’ with participants learning how to harness storytelling to create narratives that connect with business audiences.
He will arrive fresh from his appearance at the same venue earlier this month when fronting a workshop titled ‘A Cup of Confidence’ which sought to unlock the public speaking potential of a packed room of attendees – fuelled by Coffenah coffee, which will be formally launched on to the market in the coming weeks.
Founded in 2000, UE is the not-for-profit subsidiary of BME housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise which manages over 1,386 affordable properties for tenants in Leeds and Kirklees.
Adrian Green, UE Manager, said: “Pol demonstrated his expertise as an outstanding public speaker to an audience of aspiring entrepreneurs with his ‘A Cup Full of Confidence’ workshop.
“‘Storytelling for Business: What is Your Story?’ will be equally compelling and places are rapidly filling up. The two workshops have kicked off our 25th anniversary year in the perfect way, with many more exciting events to be announced.”
Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive, said: “Pol’s back story is particularly interesting, and it was a pleasure to hear him share this at the first workshop and use the lessons he has learnt to demonstrate the power of effective public speaking.
“We are looking forward to the second event where attendees will be invited to share their own business experiences.
“Unity is hosting these gatherings, both to support new entrepreneurs and help people in hard-to-reach communities to gain new skills and establish their own business.”
£10m market refurb boosts footfall to 33% above post-Covid levels
Footfall at Leeds Kirkgate Market is up 33% from its 2021 post-Civid levels with almost six million visitors after a £10m refurbishment project.
Twenty new businesses have moved in – the most in a single year – and the number of outdoor casual traders also rose 34% in the year.
The first phase of the redevelopment saw 24 units renovated and improved with features such as new canopy fronts, electric roller shutters, extraction ducting, LED lighting and extra storage space.
Another 16 units are now due for completion in March as part of the scheme’s final phase. Five of these units have been pre-let.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor said: “We’re hugely proud of both Leeds Kirkgate Market’s past and the investment we’ve made to ensure it has an equally bright future.
“It’s extremely pleasing, therefore, to see footfall at the market continuing to grow and plenty of new businesses beating a path to its door.
“The transformation of the blockshops area is an important part of the current success story, with a really encouraging level of interest and take-up in the units that have been renovated to date.
“We are now aiming to maintain that momentum as further units are completed and made available for use over the course of 2025.
“The improvements at the market – coupled with its popular programme of events for all the family – mean that, more than ever, this is an asset the whole city can enjoy and take pride in.”
Powerhouse fund pumps £50m into northerner businesses in its first year
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II has made more than 130 investments totalling £50m into businesses in the North of England, following its launch in March last year.
The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II covers the entire North of England, providing 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.
The first Yorkshire business to receive funding from NPIF II was Sheffield-based Finlegal, which raised £2m help accelerate the growth of its client base internationally.
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II aims to build on the success of the first fund, with the purpose of driving sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the North.
Ken Cooper, MD at the British Business Bank, said: “From asset management firms contributing to a green economy, to AI-enabled LegalTech companies and underwater marine tech, NPIF II is already having an impact across all parts of the North of England. Our region is home to some truly innovative businesses, and we want to ensure that every ambitious entrepreneur has the right support and finance to help their business to thrive.
“The finance from NPIF II, and the work of our fund managers, is already boosting regional economies and creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs. We have supported some great businesses so far, and we look forward to seeing the continued impact of NPIF II as it approaches its first year in operation.”
Leeds business makes double acquisition as it seeks to consolidate industrial tooling distribution market
Helix Tool Company, which was recently backed by NVM Private Equity, has completed a double acquisition as it seeks to consolidate the industrial tooling distribution market.
The Leeds-based business has acquired Floyd Automatic Tooling and Nsert.
Floyd Automatic based in Hertfordshire is a highly specialist technical distributor of tools and consumables for the sliding head CNC market with deep technical expertise and several exclusive manufacturing partnerships.
Nsert is a regionally focussed cutting tool and industrial consumables supplier to a number of large customers in the North East of England.
The combination of the two businesses will enable the now enlarged Helix group to broaden its product range and offer enhanced value to clients in the precision engineering, automotive, aerospace and medical sectors. The new additions will also see the Helix team significantly expand both their existing locations and enlarge their geographical footprint.
“We are thrilled to welcome Floyd Automatic and Nsert into the Helix family,” said Matt Cattell, CEO of Helix Tool’s holding company, MRO+ Solutions. “The combined deep technical expertise in both companies complements our existing offer perfectly.
“Today’s announcement signifies a strong start to 2025 for Helix and we are confident that customers will see significant benefit both in terms of product offering and exceptional technical expertise.”
Charlie Pidgeon, Investment Partner of NVM Private Equity, said: “Consolidation of markets is an obvious driver of growth and with such a strong reputation for technical expertise we saw a clear opportunity for Matt to integrate these businesses into an enlarged Group.
“We are delighted to have supported them on their first two acquisitions and look forward to backing the team with more opportunities as they arise.”
University of Lincoln names Director of Barbican Creative Hub
The University of Lincoln has appointed Tamily Cookson as Director of the Barbican Creative Hub, which is due to open this spring as Lincolnshire’s future ‘home’ for the cultural and creative sector.
It’s said her appointment will play a pivotal role in shaping the Hub into a dynamic resource for cultural creativity in the region, supporting more than 3,000 businesses and freelancer
In 2024, Tamily founded COLLECTIVE., a community for creative, digital, and tech innovators across the East Midlands, supported by Nottingham Trent University. She has also worked as a creative industries consultant, collaborating with key organisations to develop regional strategies for creative growth and talent development.
She served as a UK Council member for Creative UK (2021-2023) and continues to support the sector as a trustee for Nonsuch Studios, an organisation dedicated to fostering creativity and cultural engagement.
Her commitment to fostering talent, reimagining urban experiences, and driving collaboration across cultural, educational, and business sectors aligns perfectly with the mission of the Hub.
She said: “I am thrilled to join the Barbican Creative Hub at such an exciting time for Lincolnshire’s creative industries. The Hub has the potential to transform the region’s creative landscape, and I’m looking forward to working with the community to unlock its full potential.”
