2025 Business Predictions: Richard May, CEO of virtualDCS

Tess Egginton
-
0
2025 Business Predictions: Richard May, CEO of virtualDCS
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 Richard May, CEO of Leeds-based tech company virtualDCS and an expert in disaster recovery and cybersecurity.
  • Cyber resilience will continue to define disaster recovery in 2025
Traditional DR strategies anchored on natural disasters are no longer enough. In 2025, the continued rise of sophisticated cyberattacks like ransomware and data breaches will redefine disaster recovery entirely. Organisations must fully integrate cybersecurity into their DR plans, treating threats like data theft and exfiltration as top-tier risks. Recovery strategies will shift focus from downtime minimisation to comprehensive breach mitigation, ensuring businesses can recover data and rebuild stakeholder trust.
  • Survival hinges on the speed of recovery in 2025
In 2025, speed will become the ultimate differentiator in the face of cyber incidents. With breaches taking longer to detect and contain, organisations that fail to invest in rapid restoration technologies risk prolonged downtime, reputational damage, and client attrition. Advanced failover systems, automated recovery tools, and real-time monitoring will no longer be a luxury – they will be critical for businesses looking to maintain competitive advantage.
  • Closing the Microsoft 365 responsibility gap will become a top priority
Reliance on cloud platforms like Microsoft 365 will continue to grow, but 2025 will see organisations take accountability for their data protection under the shared responsibility model. Businesses can no longer assume their data is inherently safe. Instead, proactive measures, such as third-party backup solutions and robust configuration monitoring, will be essential to prevent accidental losses and counteract growing cyber threats.
  • Diversified backup strategies will be non-negotiable
As cybercriminals increasingly target both live systems and backups, the principle of geographic and provider diversification will become non-negotiable. In 2025, businesses must verify that backups exist in entirely separate environments to withstand worst-case scenarios. Those who fail to decouple backup storage from live operations will risk total compromise in the event of a breach.
  • Proactive preparedness will drive strategic resilience
From the NHS Synnovis breach to the British Library and Transport for London (TfL) cyberattacks, 2024 offered hard lessons on how unpreparedness compounds the fallout of cyber incidents. In 2025, businesses will no longer have the luxury of reactive planning. Comprehensive incident response plans must account for every stage of a breach, from containment to recovery, regulatory compliance, and customer communication.

Regal Foods CEO awarded MBE in New Year Honours List

Tess Egginton
-
0
Regal Foods CEO awarded MBE in New Year Honours List
CEO of Regal Food Products Group Plc, Younis Chaudhry has been recognised in the New Year Honours List with an MBE for his services to business and to the community of Bradford. For over twenty years Younis Chaudhry has excelled in British business and international trade, all whilst giving back to the Bradford community and beyond. Starting life from very humble beginnings, Younis has not only built one of the UK’s most successful food groups, Regal Food Products Group plc (home of Regal Bakery, Regal Foods, Yorkshire Baking Company, Just Desserts Yorkshire and Love Handmade Cakes), but has become a well-respected entrepreneur. Younis continues to contribute positively to the UK economy, is an ambassador for the value of export, and ‘gives back’ at every opportunity, from supporting community sporting clubs, feeding those in need in his local community, to working with charities overseas. Younis was recently recognised as one of The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders for 2024, in partnership with The Times. Younis Chaudhry MBE says: “When I started in business over twenty years ago, nothing would have prepared me for the journey I have been on, both in business and in life. The community in where I live and where I have built my business is everything to me and I am humbled to be a part of it. “Whilst I feel it is my duty to give back, I feel truly honoured to have received such recognition. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for my family, I would personally like to thank my parents for their prayers and blessings and for the guidance they have given me in life. A heartfelt thanks also goes to my wife, children, and brothers for the support they continue to give. “I am honoured to work with around 300 people who make up my brilliant team at Regal Food Products Group, I thank each and every one of them for joining me in my Regal journey and for working with me in building the great food group you see today. “And finally, my dear friends, friends who have stayed by my side throughout my journey both on a personal and professional level.” Shahid Afridi, Chairman of Shahid Afridi Foundation comments: “Younis is kind, generous and down-to-earth (despite his success), his generosity to the Shahid Afridi Foundation is so vital in helping disadvantaged communities access amenities that we take for granted in the western world. “It is because of individuals such as Younis, these people are provided with hope. He has a wonderful humanitarian spirit, and we are extremely grateful to him for his continuing benevolence.” The Rt. Hon. Baroness Warsi comments: “Younis demonstrated that the process of building and developing a viable commercial enterprise can be done with hard work and determination. He has become a role model to so many other business leaders. “Younis is a renowned philanthropist and well-known across Bradford and Yorkshire. And when it comes to ‘giving back’, he is everywhere! From supporting cricket clubs and youth teams in the local community, to funding clean water projects in developing countries, Younis can be found, supporting quietly without fanfare.”

Yorkshire business confidence rebounds in December

Tess Egginton
-
0
Yorkshire business confidence rebounds in December
Business confidence in Yorkshire and the Humber rose eight points during December to 28%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds. Companies in the region reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up 10 points at 47%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up seven points to 9%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 28% (vs. 20% in November). A net balance of 25% of businesses in the region also expect to increase staff levels over the next year, down five points on last month. Looking ahead to the next six months, Yorkshire businesses identified their top target areas for growth as investing in their team, for example through training (37%), evolving their offering, for example by introducing new products or services (35%) and entering new markets (35%). The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly and which has been running since 2002, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide. National picture Overall UK business confidence fell two points in December to 39%, although remained above the long-term average of 29%. While firms’ confidence in the wider economy strengthened five points to 31%, their confidence in their own trading prospects fell eight points to 47%. London was the most confident UK nation or region in November (53%) for a second month in a row, followed by the North West (50%). Sector insights Although confidence fell in the service sector, this was partly offset by rises in manufacturing and retail, with these sectors swapping places in December. Services fell from 46% to 35% in December – a fall of 11 points. In contrast, manufacturing and retail increased 10 points to 42% and 43% respectively, thereby taking manufacturing and retail above services for the first time in 4 months. Trading prospects for retail rose for the first time in three months, while construction confidence was steady at 41%, equalling last month’s result. Martyn Kendrick, regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber at Lloyds, said: “After a drop last month, business confidence in Yorkshire is rising again, driven by greater optimism from businesses around their own trading prospects. “With many companies planning to make investments in areas like upskilling their workforce and breaking into new markets, there’s a clear focus on further growth. We’ll remain by the side of the region’s businesses to support their plans and ambitions.”

Doncaster housbuilder to invest almost £22m in development near Coventry

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Doncaster housbuilder to invest almost £22m in development near Coventry
Doncaster-based house builder Keepmoat is working with with Walsall Housing Group whg and investing £21.9 million into Bedworth to deliver 95 new homes. The housebuilder is regenerating 6.92 acres of unused land in the town, between Coventry and Nuneaton, and will transform the site, now named Exhall Meadow, into a new community. Ben Leather, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat, West Midlands & South West, said: “The investment at Exhall Meadow will provide much needed eco-friendly, multi-tenure homes. We’re looking forward to working with whg to deliver what is set to be a fantastic community. Our partnership approach allows us to develop strong relationships and it’s a privilege to work together to supply much needed affordable housing stock.” With more than 65 percent of Keepmoat’s current developments on brownfield sites, the housebuilder says it is also committed to regenerating abandoned and unused land to transform areas that often suffer from neglect, breathing new life into local neighbourhoods and communities. Kirsty Powell, Assistant Director of New Business and Partnerships at whg, added: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Keepmoat on this exciting project. This development is a testament to our commitment to addressing the housing needs of local people. By providing a mix of affordable rental and shared ownership homes, we aim to offer more options for families and individuals seeking quality housing at an affordable price. “We look forward to seeing these homes come to life and making a positive impact on the lives of many in Nuneaton and Bedworth.”

Work starts on ‘transformative’ development in Lincoln

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Work starts on ‘transformative’ development in Lincoln
Work has begun on the first 52 energy-efficient homes at Charterholme, a landmark new neighbourhood predicted to transform the western side of Lincoln. The start of construction marks a significant milestone in the city’s largest development project in decades. Previously known as the Western Growth Corridor, Charterholme has been more than 100 years in the making and is the result of a partnership between the City of Lincoln Council and city-based construction company Lindum Group. The project will unfold over the next 25 years, delivering 3,200 homes alongside shops, a business park, a leisure village, community services, and enhanced transport infrastructure. Lindum Homes is part of the Lindum Group, a Lincoln-based construction business known for delivering high-quality developments and working closely with communities to create places where people thrive. Rebecca Hurst-Miller, Director of Lindum Homes, said that this first phase of 52 houses would play a key role in establishing the vision and character for the entire development.“One at Charterholme will combine thoughtful planning and sustainable principles to create a neighbourhood that benefits both its residents and the wider community.”

Yorkshire chemical company sold to Los Angeles buyer

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Yorkshire chemical company sold to Los Angeles buyer
Yorkshire-based Vickers Laboratories has sold its entire share capital to Calibre Scientific, based in Los Angeles. The company, with its based in Stanningley near Pudsey, has been serving the chemical industry for more than 50 years. Calibre Scientific is a global provider of life science reagents, tools, instruments, and other consumables to lab research, diagnostics, industrial, and biopharmaceutical communities. Extending to over 175 countries, this acquisition strengthens their UK presence. Vickers Laboratories’ directors Phil Constantine and Paul Bottomley started with Vickers as teenagers, and rose up the ranks to management and ownership. Vickers was advised on the sale by Schofield Sweeney, whose Jack Venable said: “This was a fantastic outcome for all parties.”

Acquisition sees Rix Petroleum strengthen Lincolnshire presence

Tess Egginton
-
0
Acquisition sees Rix Petroleum strengthen Lincolnshire presence
Family-owned business Rix Petroleum Ltd has strengthened its base in Lincolnshire with the acquisition of a Grantham-based fuel provider. The company, which is headquartered in Hull, has acquired EFuels Ltd in Gorse Lane for an undisclosed sum. The move brings the number of fuel depots Rix Petroleum owns and operates in the county to four, with others in Immingham, Gainsborough, and Spalding. The Grantham depot will remain branded as EFuels for the time being, and will continue to be headed up by existing depot manager Matthew Keightley, who moves to Rix under the deal. Duncan Lambert, Managing Director of Rix Petroleum, said the move would enable the business to provide a better service to farms, businesses and rural households across south Lincolnshire. Rix specialises in the provision of agricultural fuels and lubricants, standard diesel, and home heating oil for rural communities. Mr Lambert said: “We’re delighted to complete this deal. Lincolnshire is a famously agricultural county and acquiring this depot will enable us to support local farmers, businesses, and rural communities across the south of the county more efficiently and effectively. “As a sixth-generation family business, we pride ourselves on our values of fairness, great customer relations and service, and supporting communities, and it precisely these values we will bring to our newly acquired Grantham depot.” The deal completes the company’s coverage in Lincolnshire, with the combination of all four depots providing easy access to communities across the entire county. Depot manager Matthew Keightley, said he was delighted with the deal. He said: “Rix Petroleum is well known in the industry as a long-established family business that customers can rely on. “I know that our customers in and around Grantham will be very well looked after by myself and the wider Rix team, so I feel this is a fantastic opportunity to take the business forward.”

Council seeks business award winner from the East Riding

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Council seeks business award winner from the East Riding
East Riding of Yorkshire Council is on the lookout for the business that’s contributed to the economic prosperity of the region to receive the 2025 Chairman’s Award. The business award is one of four categories in a scheme designed to recognise outstanding contributions of individuals, businesses, and projects that have made a significant impact on our community. Last year’s winner was Hawk Furniture, based in Holme Upon Spalding Moor. The company said that bring nominated had been an honour, and winning was fantastic. A spokesman said: “It shows that our efforts to create a great culture and team have been recognised. Thank you for acknowledging our hard work over the past few years.” Council Chairman Linda Bayram will present the awards in May 2025. The awards celebrate excellence across four categories:
  • Community: Honouring groups and individuals who have improved the lives of East Riding residents through non-commercial projects.
  • Built Heritage: Celebrating private homes, new builds, or business premises that have been sympathetically renovated or restored.
  • Business: Recognising businesses that have contributed to the economic prosperity of the region.
  • Sport: Celebrating local talent and dedication to sports clubs and activities.

Housing Association ready to help deliver 1.5m homes challenge, says Chief Exec

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Housing Association ready to help deliver 1.5m homes challenge, says Chief Exec
The Chief Exec of Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association has said 2025 must be the year for the government to inject real momentum into its housebuilding plans if Ministers are to meet their pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament. In a New Year message, Lee Bloomfield reflected on what he called incredible milestones achieved by the MHA over the last year. Notable successes included being recognised as the first housing association worldwide to win the ISO 30415 accreditation for HR and diversity and inclusion, the launch of a greatly enhanced user-friendly website as part of its digital transformation agenda, and the upgrade of MHA properties with assistance from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. Mr Bloomfield stressed that MHA, managing more than 1,400 homes for 6,000 residents in Bradford and Keighley, was keen to deliver more new homes. He said: “Last month, we were privileged to host strategy and policy staff from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in Bradford and Keighley as part of the Social Housing Immersion Programme “We made clear that MHA stands ready to help in any way we can to help the government deliver its promise of 1.5 million new homes within five years. “Whilst Ministers have faced criticism for the direction taken in some areas of policy, I believe the tone and approach they have adopted in relation to housebuilding has been impressive. “But with the clock ticking, they must inject real momentum into the process by swiftly enacting the planning legislation they have talked up before getting actual shovels in the ground. “And signs of delivery must be visible this year, otherwise those who believe that the 1.5 million housing target is fanciful will have added reason to be sceptical. “A new year brings new hope, new aspiration and new energy – nowhere more so than Bradford UK City of Culture 2025. “The sincere wish of everyone in the housing sector must be that this new year will herald a new dawn in the delivery of new homes.”

Sheffield BID hails success of Christmas marketing campaign

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Sheffield BID hails success of Christmas marketing campaign
Sheffield BID’s Christmas marketing campaign, designed to promote the city centre festive offer, support local businesses and add additional activities to bring festive cheer to the city centre by engaging thousands of visitors, has been a success, say organisers. Diane Jarvis of Sheffield BID said: “We are thrilled with the success of this year’s Christmas marketing campaign. The engagement from the community and local businesses has been fantastic, and it’s wonderful to see so many people enjoying the festive activities in the city centre. We look forward to building on this success in future events. “The Sheffield Christmas Trail has been an annual favourite with visitors since 2018, and we are committed to continuing creating vibrant and engaging events for our community.” The festive marketing campaign achieved the following results across various platforms:
  • Social media reach: The campaign reached 230,936 people on Facebook and X, generating 15,498 engagements and 11,378 clicks.
  • Website traffic: The campaign drove 37,790 unique visits to www.sheffieldchristmastrail.com and www.sheffieldcitycentre.com.
  • Email marketing: Over 6,500 emails were sent to subscribers, with a notable 35% open rate, reflecting strong interest and engagement from our audience.

Align consultancy leads on regeneration of historic asset in Whitby

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Align consultancy leads on regeneration of historic asset in Whitby
A £1m scheme to restore one of Whitby’s most recognisable buildings and bring it back into public use is due to begin next month, led by Align Property Partners, the North Yorkshire Council’s multi-disciplinary building design consultancy. The managing director of Align, Ron Walton, said: “Our building design team of architects and engineers have worked closely with the council to ensure this important building is restored in the best way possible. “We are all looking forward to seeing the project come to life and work to be completed – to the benefit of everyone who lives, works in and visits Whitby.” The Old Town Hall building has been one of the town’s most famous heritage assets and a focal point for residents, visitors and traders since the 18th century. An outdoor market is currently held in the under croft of the building and Market Place – but the Grade II* listed premises is in a poor state of repair and the first floor has been unoccupied since 2017. The renovation will allow the building to be used as a public space for community, heritage and cultural activities all year round. Executive member for open to business, Cllr Mark Crane, whose responsibilities include economic development and regeneration, said: “The Old Town Hall is a crucial part of Whitby’s rich history and heritage. “Through this scheme we hope to restore, renovate and repurpose the building so it can be a thriving community anchor for local residents, businesses and visitors to enjoy and use. “Whitby is a place held in the hearts of so many people and we hope the project can help create and maintain a vibrant and bustling year-round market place, increasing crucial footfall into the town and providing a welcome boost to the local economy.”

BCC revises growth expectations downwards for the nest two years

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
BCC revises growth expectations downwards for the nest two years
The British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic Forecast has revised down growth expectations for 2024, but marginally improved GDP expectations for 2025 and 2026. Increased government spending is likely to boost GDP, but business investment and trade are likely to suffer this year through the impact of the national insurance rise and major global uncertainties. David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:    “Our forecast expects the national insurance hike, alongside other growing cost pressures on business, to impact on several economic indicators over the coming months. “GDP is expected to pick up slightly next year, but that’s likely to be down to more government spending. Our research continues to show that most SMEs are not increasing investment, amidst an array of rising costs and admin burdens. “The knock-on effect of rising business costs are likely to restrict wage growth in the short term and employment, as firms struggle to pass on costs and boost recruitment. With fears of a tariff war and continued trade barriers with the EU, international trade will be challenging for many firms. “Our surveys already showed a fall in business confidence before October’s Budget. While the full impact of the Chancellor’s statement is yet to be seen, businesses face tough decisions as bills rise. It’s vital that business rate reform is accelerated and much anticipated strategies on industry, infrastructure and trade deliver at pace in the months to come.” The QEF, winner of the 2024 FocusEconomics award for best GDP forecast, expects the UK economy to grow by 0.8% in 2024, a downgrade from the previous forecast (1.1%). Growth has been revised upwards for the next two years – with 1.3% expected in 2025 and 1.5% in 2026, higher than previous forecast (1.0% and 1.1%). Upgrades to 2025 and 2026 are driven by increased levels of government spending, but the overall growth landscape remains relatively weak. The rise in employer national insurance contributions, announced at the Budget, has had a small impact on the forecast – including average earnings and unemployment. Inflation is now expected to remain above the Bank of England’s target until the end of 2026, due to increased business costs and global trade uncertainties. CPI is forecast to be 2.2% in Q4 2025, unchanged from the previous forecast, and 2% in Q4 2026, slightly higher than the last forecast. As businesses face tough decisions on costs, unemployment has been revised upwards to be 4.5% by the end of 2025 before falling to 4.2% in 2026 (previously 4.4% in 2025 and 4.1% in 2026).

VOA shares details of business rate valuation plans

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
VOA shares details of business rate valuation plans
The Valuation Office Agency has published details about how it will improve the information it discloses on business rates valuations. This means that by 2026 ratepayers will be able to see more tailored information about their property, and by 2029, they’ll will be able to see more specific valuation information and evidence. Carolyn Bartlett, the VOA’s Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, said: “We understand the importance of greater transparency in business rates valuations. The consultation showed there are different views about what property valuation information should be disclosed. “We’ve balanced the desire for greater transparency from some with the concerns of others about the confidentiality of their data and a preference for simplified information.” This is all part of a wider set of changes are coming to business rates in England and Wales from 2026 to 2029. These changes are being introduced in stages. They will support the VOA to deliver more frequent property revaluations. The changes include a new duty on ratepayers to provide information about their property to the VOA. The new information duty on ratepayers is expected to be introduced after 1 April 2026. It will be tested with small numbers of customers in phases from that point so we can make sure the system works for all ratepayers. The duty will then be formally activated and mandated for everyone by 1 April 2029. There is no action you need to take now. We will tell you about the changes and when you will be affected. The new duty means ratepayers will have to tell the VOA within 60 days when there are changes to their property. These include changes to:
  • the occupier
  • their lease or rent
  • the property.
For a small number of ratepayers, they will also have to provide trade information once a year, if it is used to value their property. Once a year ratepayers will also be asked to confirm they have told the VOA of any changes to their property. Carolyn Bartlett added: “These changes will help us revalue properties every three years. More frequent revaluations mean fluctuations in the property market are reflected in business rates bills more quickly. This will make the system fairer.” Changes to speed up and simplify the Check, Challenge, Appeal process are planned for 2029, at the start of the new rating lists.

New Lincoln housing development wins praise from police

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
New Lincoln housing development wins praise from police
Police have praised the design of a new housing development in Lincoln, saying it will help to reduce the risk of crime and improve peace of mind for local residents. Hermit Mews has achieved Secured by Design Gold standard in recognition of the high-quality security measures it incorporates. Secured by Design is a police-backed initiative that promotes security and crime prevention in new developments. The Gold standard is its highest level, requiring stringent adherence to security principles. Hermit Mews was designed and built by Lindum Group on behalf of City of Lincoln Council. A former garage site in Lincoln’s Hermit Street was transformed, with the existing garage block and garages adjacent to the flats demolished. Lindum Design Manager, Mark King, said his team had worked in conjunction with Lincolnshire Police to achieve the standard: “Achieving Secured by Design Gold standard at Hermit Street required us to build homes that were not only aesthetically pleasing but also prioritised the safety and well-being of the community. “Examples of this include a new secure fence line to the rear of Portland Street which closes off public access through to alleyways and creates dedicated private access routes for residents. “We also reorganised the CCTV to provide more comprehensive coverage and installed motion-sensitive lighting, which reduces the kind of dimly lit areas which might attract anti-social behaviour.”

Lincoln company celebrate new year with renewal of Royal Warrant

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Lincoln company celebrate new year with renewal of Royal Warrant
Lincolnshire-based lubricant and paint manufacturer the Witham Group has been granted a renewed Royal Warrant of Appointment as suppliers to the King. Group MD Nigel R Bottom said: “We are immensely proud to have this Royal Warrant granted by His Majesty. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. We are committed to continuing to serve all our customers with the utmost care and professionalism, and we are honoured to continue our association with the Royal Household and Royal Estates.” Witham Group was first granted a Royal Warrant to The Queen in 1991. The Appointment was the start of a journey which has culminated in the company supplying lubricants and paints for the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, as well as other connected properties, estates and farmland. The Witham Group is one of the UK’s largest independent lubricant manufacturers and paint suppliers. It is a privately owned, family run business with its head office and lubricant manufacturing site based in Lincoln and a distribution warehouse, trade shop and paint decorating centre based in Soham, Cambridgeshire. Witham Group makes around 5,000,000 litres of lubricants and paint every year, and a litre of its products is sold somewhere within the UK every six seconds.

German family firm invests in hydrogen generation with South Yorkshire company

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
German family firm invests in hydrogen generation with South Yorkshire company
ITM Power has signed a contract to supply three of its NEPTUNE V hydrogen generation units, totalling 15MW, to a family-owned private German company.
The NEPTUNE V units will be build in Sheffield and deployed into three individual projects, with the first delivery expected in the first half of 2026. The electrolysers will provide green hydrogen to refuelling stations in Germany.
ITM Power CEO Dennis Schulz said: “We are establishing ourselves as the go-to partner for down-to-earth industrial companies and family businesses, for whom it matters that their plants work reliably, safely and efficiently. We are pleased to have signed yet another NEPTUNE V contract in just a few weeks. Customer interest continues to exceed our expectations.” Launched in May this year, NEPTUNE V is ideally suited for mid-sized projects. It utilises ITM’s leading and proven TRIDENT stack technology. NEPTUNE V is our full-scope 5MW containerised electrolyser plant. It provides reliable, flexible, and highly efficient hydrogen production capacity and the industry’s smallest footprint per MW.
 

Investment adviser joins Airlander team

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Investment adviser joins Airlander team
Investment advisor Jean-Michel Deligny has joined the Hybrid Air Vehicles Advisory Board to play a key role, providing fresh insight and supporting the company’s  onward financing strategy for its Airlander 10 production programme, which will happen at a site in South Yorkshire. He said: “As an aerospace fan, I have been looking at the airship industry for the past 30 years, and none of the Lighter-Than-Air attempts have been successful. The main reason is that they are expensive, delicate, and require considerable infrastructure on the ground. “HAV is a complete departure from LTA and provides the breakthrough the industry has been waiting for: comparatively inexpensive, robust, and flying from anywhere. To cap it all, HAV has a proven product which has already flown many times. Combined with the urgent need for aviation decarbonization, I believe HAV is ready for prime time. “The $2+bn worth of options and $10+bn pipeline, both civil and military, is a testament of the pent-up demand. Huge market, proven product, considerable momentum – that’s the sort of company investors want to invest in. I am delighted to bring my financing expertise to accelerate the company’s success.”  

NFU President reflects on a ‘wretched year’ for farming

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
UK farmers face a stark picture of the challenges faced by UK farming after a stitched year in he industry, says NFU President Tom Bradshaw. He says volatile input costs, commodity prices at record levels in some farming sectors and on the floor in others, a reduction in direct payments and one of the wettest periods in decades that resulted in a disastrous harvest, have left their mark and many farming businesses worse off.
“To cap a wretched year, we saw a Labour government, which, after 14 years in opposition, promised to reset its relations with British farmers and deliver a much-needed lift to farmer confidence. Instead, it delivered an inflationary Budget and all but removed the tax reliefs for agriculture property and business property. In all my years in the industry, I’ve never experienced the anger, despair and sense of betrayal following the Chancellor’s announcement to changes to inheritance tax, which has long protected farming’s ability to pass on the farm business to the next generation, thereby protecting food producing businesses and the nation’s food security.”
He said these raw emotions had played out at fermers’ mass lobby of MPs in Westminster, the farmer rally in Whitehall, and at the various tractor protests in London and around the UK, with tens of thousands of farmers passionately expressing how this tax will devastate their businesses, families, rural communities and national food security.
“Ultimately, this needs to be sorted out by the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves with a solution that will mitigate the extreme human impacts of this indefensible family farm tax policy on the current holders of those businesses, for whom, up until 30 October, the best tax advice was to hold their farm until death. Rest assured, we will keep fighting to find a solution.”

Private sector predicts fall in activity in next three months, says CBI

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Private sector predicts fall in activity in next three months, says CBI
Private sector firms expect activity to fall in the three months to March, according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator, which shows expectations are at their weakest in more than two years. This pessimism was shared across all sub-sectors. Business volumes in the services sector are anticipated to decline (-18%), driven by predicted falls in both business and professional services (-13%) and consumer services (-37%). Distribution sales are expected to fall steeply (-35%), and manufacturers also anticipate output to fall (-31%), with expectations at their weakest since May 2020. The disappointing outlook comes as private sector activity fell again in the three months to December, at a faster pace than in the three months to November (-21% from -13% in November). Activity has been flat or falling since August 2022. Alpesh Paleja, CBI Interim Deputy Chief Economist, said: “There is little festive cheer in our latest surveys, which suggest that the economy is headed for the worst of all worlds – firms expect to reduce both output and hiring, and price growth expectations are getting firmer. Businesses continue to cite the impact of measures announced in the Budget – particularly the rise in employer NICs – exacerbating an already tepid demand environment. “As we head into 2025, firms are looking to the government to boost confidence and to give them a reason to invest, whether that’s long overdue moves to reform the apprenticeship levy, supporting the health of the workforce through increased occupational health incentives or a reform of business rates. “In the longer term, businesses will be looking to the industrial strategy to provide the stability and certainty which can unlock innovation and investment – and provide that much needed growth for the economy which can deliver prosperity for firms and households alike.”

South Yorkshire company signs AI deal with Swedish manufacturer

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
South Yorkshire company signs AI deal with Swedish manufacturer
South Yorkshire tech company IntelliAM is to launch a commercial partnership with Swedish manufacturing powerhouse SKF to drive forward the global AI revolution. The agreement, announced this month to the Aquis Stock Exchange, is expected to see breakthrough machine learning platform created by Dinnington-based IntelliAM embedded into SKF’s products. SKF is a leading global supplier of products, solutions and services for the reduction of friction in rotation and one of the largest public companies in the world. The company is present in around 129 countries with over 17,000 distributors and has exposure to over 40 industries. A letter of intent between both companies will be a precursor to a partnership agreement for the provision of IntelliAM’s machine learning platform and SKF AI-ready products, for both IntelliAM and SKF sales teams. IntelliAM, which floated earlier this year on the specialist growth market Aquis, was created on the back of years of industry knowledge and domain expertise. Many of the world’s biggest manufacturers, including half of the world’s top ten food and drinks producers, use IntelliAM’s machine learning and AI solution to tap into billions of manufacturing data points to improve productivity. The SKF partnership will unlock new possibilities across industry, says Tom Clayton, CEO at IntelliAM. “This marks a pivotal moment in the partnership between SKF and IntelliAM. By embedding our machine learning platform into SKF’s exceptional products, we are not only enhancing their performance but also unlocking new possibilities for industry as a whole.” Erika Morichetto, Director SKF Lubrication Management Sales Europe, Middle East & Africa added: “Our ambition is that we can continue to grow together and explore this market with joint product and customer development, now also with the intention to extend this to include machine learning. “We see that machine learning will provide an opportunity to enhance the connected SKF products in application and support our clients with insights for their machines or processes and improve their maintenance practices.” The discussions between the two companies are built upon a long-term partnership. It is anticipated that detailed contractual discussions will be concluded in 2025.
1...767778...490Page 77 of 490