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.”

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.

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.”

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 Dr Edward Ziff, Chairman and Chief Executive at Town Centre Securities PLC. As we look ahead to 2025, I believe the property sector is entering a transformative phase, shaped by evolving work patterns, shifting consumer habits and the policies of the new government. At Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS) we are adapting to these changes with a focus on flexibility, innovation and sustainability. In the office market, it’s encouraging to see workers gradually returning to office spaces, though hybrid working remains the dominant approach. I think this reflects a growing recognition of the value of in-person collaboration, while maintaining flexibility. To respond to this shift, we’re focusing on creating high-quality, multi-functional spaces that meet modern needs. For older offices that no longer suit the market, we’re exploring creative alternatives, such as repurposing them for new uses, including student accommodation. The retail sector, long under pressure, is starting to reveal new opportunities. While some locations remain challenging, I believe essential retail, such as food, discount, and convenience stores, will continue to thrive. It’s clear that younger shoppers, with their preference for combining online and in-person experiences, are reshaping how we think about retail spaces. This shift excites me as it fosters innovation and reinvention. Leisure and food sectors have shown remarkable resilience, even in the face of cost-of-living pressures. I feel this demonstrates the strength and adaptability of these industries and their ability to contribute to economic recovery and growth. Sustainability is something I feel passionately about, and it’s becoming an ever more critical focus for consumers and businesses alike. At TCS, we are committed to reducing environmental impact through energy-efficient buildings, better waste management, and expanded EV charging infrastructure. I believe these efforts not only meet today’s expectations, but also lay the foundation for a greener, more sustainable future. Despite the uncertainties that come with political and economic change, I am confident that the property market will continue to adapt and thrive. With a willingness to embrace innovation and change, we are well-positioned to navigate the road ahead. Here’s to a successful and sustainable 2025.

Northern Trains has invited train manufacturers Alstom, CAF, Hitachi, Siemens and Stadler to begin negotiations for supplying up to 450 new trains to operate across the North of England.

The new trains will be introduced on a phased basis, replacing the oldest units in Northern’s existing fleet, most of which have been in service since the 1980s and 90s. about two thirds of the existing fleet is targeted to be replaced in the next ten years.

They will be a mix of electric and diesel/electric powered trains and prospective manufacturers have been asked to include battery-powered trains as part of their proposals.

Multi-modal units in the order will be capable of conversion to battery or electric-only operation during their lifetime, in line with the government’s commitment to deliver a cleaner, greener railway as part of its net-zero objectives.

By reducing the number of different types of trains, it will significantly simplify operations, help with staff training, and lower maintenance costs – all of which will help reduce taxpayer subsidy.

Northern’s MD Tricia Williams said: “Almost 60% of the trains in our fleet are between 32 and 40 years old and, while they’ve served the region well, it’s important we get the ball rolling on their replacement.

“It’s game-changing for Northern and will transform the look and feel of our fleet for millions of customers – and it also cements electric and battery as the long-term power source of choice for our fleet.”

It is expected the contract will be awarded to the successful bidder or bidders in 2026, with an aim to have first trains delivered by 2030.