Harleyford Capital to upgrade Sheffield trade scheme

Harleyford Logistics Partnership, the joint venture between Tristan Capital Partners and Harleyford Capital, is to reposition part of the recently completed estate on Greenland Road in Sheffield. As one of the premier trade parks in the region, rebranded as Sheffield Trade Park, it offers rare opportunities for more occupiers to take space. Harleyford Capital has already commenced a programme of works to enhance roadside visibility, with landscaping improvements, larger signage zones and large illuminated totem signage alongside other on-site changes. The highly prominent scheme enjoys substantial high profile frontage to the busy A6102 Greenland Road, with over 29,000 vehicles passing daily, and is already home to Costa Coffee, Wolseley, Formula One, Auto Windscreens and Headlam Flooring. Destination operators such as Edmundson Electrical, Kwik-Fit, Lidl, McDonalds and Shell PFS are also close by. Four additional trade units, capable of accommodating requirements from 3,031 to 12,334 sq ft, are available on the scheme with Knight Frank and Ogle Property appointed by Harleyford to market the scheme to national and regional operators, post upgrade and rebranding. Thomas Mallindine, on behalf of the Harleyford Logistics Partnership, said: “Sheffield is the sixth largest city in the UK and is a key target location for our investment strategy. The high quality space at Sheffield Trade Park means we have already seen strong occupier interest in the few units available.” Harry Orwin-Allen, Associate at Knight Frank in Sheffield, added: “Sheffield Trade Park offers best in class trade accommodation based in a prime location with fantastic links to Sheffield City Centre, Meadowhall and the M1 Motorway, all within seven minutes journey time. “The units have been designed to a high specification with trade occupiers in mind offering flexible floor plates, 8 metre eaves, ground level full height loading doors, generous dedicated car parking, excellent road frontage to Greenland Road and strong environmental credentials with remaining units having EPC A and BREEAM ‘Very Good’.” Alfred Bartlett of Ogle Property also commented: “The scheme already possesses all the attributes sought by trade operators. The proposed works should reposition the park as one of the premier trade schemes in the region, that will appeal to both regional and national trades not already represented on the park, and to operators seeking additional representation in Sheffield.”  

Leeds period building welcomes five new firms following major refurbishment

Five businesses spanning accountancy to healthcare can now call No.1 King Street in the heart of Leeds city centre their home, after the Victorian building underwent a significant refurbishment. Strategic property and construction advisors, Fox Lloyd Jones and joint agents WSB have received high levels of interest in the contemporary workspace spanning 14,118 sq ft in total across lower ground, ground and three upper floors, situated in the professional district of Leeds on the corner of King Street and Wellington Street. The five firms acquiring offices to take advantage of its prominent location and open plan working environment are chartered surveyors Walker Singleton, Aysgarth Chartered Accountants, engineering consultants Joseph Gallagher, sleep aid app developer Sleepiest, and law firm Ison Harrison Solicitors, who have expanded from the neighbouring building. No.1 King Street has a rich historical legacy, with the building originally a textile warehouse before transitioning in the mid-20th century to accommodate a broader mix of businesses. The major refurbishment works recently completed include enhancing the façade, the introduction of a new main entrance and a Category A refurbishment of the office suites. Matthew Welsh, owner of No. 1 King Steet, said: “We’re delighted to welcome five businesses of this calibre to No. 1 King Street, following the hard work and investment that has gone into completing a refurbishment on this scale. “We feel we’ve created a vibrant working space that will immediately meet their needs, whether that’s needing to accommodate increased staff levels due to recent expansion through to accelerating growth plans in a more central location in Leeds.” Harry Finney, associate director at Fox Lloyd Jones, said: “The number of deals transacted in such a short space of time is testament to the quality of the refurbishment. “The building is perfectly positioned on the corner of King Street and Wellington Street with demand for high quality workspace particularly strong in this area of the city and we are delighted to have the building now 90% let. We look forward to seeing all five businesses thrive in their new working environment.”

Cosmetic Repair Company sold to property services group

0
Sam Moore, Managing Director of Cosmetic Repair Company (Northern) (CRC), envisages a bright future as part of integrated property services company MA Group after selling 76% of the business’s share capital. Based in Halifax, CRC, which began trading in 2016, provides a wide range of specialist property cosmetic services including damage repairs; brick and stone tinting and cleaning; UPVC, wood and aluminium spraying; and mastic sealant services. Operating in sectors which include housebuilding, general construction, commercial and retail buildings, and hotel and leisure, CRC will enhance the range of products and services MA Group can provide to insurers and their intermediaries, housebuilders, housing associations and build-to-rent specialists. KBS Corporate was instructed on a sale of the company in line with Sam’s aspirational plans to push major growth, and for CRC to become a leading operator in its industry throughout the UK. In a speedily executed transaction, led by Jacob Lord, KBS Corporate Deal Executive, a sale to MA Group was facilitated – and Sam is remaining involved in the business with strikingly positive plans to continue scaling and developing CRC. “I’m really looking forward to joining the MA Group team and to fulfilling the growth plans for CRC,” said Sam. “The company will now have the infrastructure to execute services for our clients at a higher level with the assistance and help of a wider group. “These are very encouraging times for CRC and I’m excited about what the future will bring as part of the MA Group. I’d like to thank everyone who has helped with the transition and we are all looking forward to building on the success so far.” MA Group, based in Aylesbury, has been trading since 1996 and is among the UK’s market leaders in its field, managing over 200 suppliers (building contractors, surveyors, specialist contractors and disaster restoration branches) nationwide, project-managing tens of thousands of claims each year. Paul Hayman, CEO of MA Group, said: “I’m delighted that we have completed this acquisition, bringing more scale, technical expertise and excellence to MA Group. “Our continued expansion into surface repairs complements our existing services and will bring more benefits to our clients and their customers. “We are excited to build a nationwide surface-repair solution in a fragmented industry. We look forward to bringing the same market-leading changes to the surface repair industry that we have brought to the restoration industry.” Jacob Lord praised the work of his KBS Corporate colleagues Carmen Wong (Document Writer) and Julia Gorska (Research Analyst) for helping to enable the transaction to be completed within six weeks of the initial Heads of Terms being signed. “The marketing documents were well prepared by Carmen and the buyer introduced by Julia,” explained Jacob. “MA Group were among the first buyers introduced as a result of Julia’s research efforts. We were quickly into negotiations following positive meetings. “MA Group were very impressed by what Sam had built. Sam’s ongoing role in the business was of vital interest as they recognised his talent and drive early in the discussions. “Sam has been a pleasure to deal with from start to finish – a very motivated and driven individual, which was ideal in this collaborative process. The buyers were also very professional, moved quickly, had the right people involved and focused on the aspects of the deal that mattered.” Jacob also expressed thanks to Richard Coulthard of the Ison Harrison law firm for the “exceptional job” he did in maintaining Sam’s best interests throughout the transaction.

Leeds co-living scheme given the green light

Leeds City Council has approved Watkin Jones’ plans for the conversion and re-purposing of Headrow House at 42 The Headrow, into 230 co-living homes. Headrow House is a vacant office block in the centre of Leeds. When completed in 2028, the project will deliver a supported communal living environment, offering managed homes for city centre living and will help to address the demand for rental accommodation that continues to outstrip supply in Leeds. The project is a prime opportunity to restore and repurpose an historic building and contribute to the regeneration of vacant buildings in the city centre. The scheme will retain retail units on the ground floor, helping to support local residents and businesses and Headrow House will only be a short walk from popular restaurants and shopping centres. The co-living design supports the Group’s ESG strategy, emphasising reuse and energy efficiency, and attaining BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification. The retrofit enhances thermal efficiency and air permeability, with electric heating for net zero carbon, energy-efficient windows, and air source heat pumps. Photovoltaic panels, efficient lighting, and energy-saving controls will optimise performance. By reusing the building, the scheme will reduce embodied carbon by 78% and Watkin Jones will use sustainable landscaping throughout. Importantly, the design will serve evolving residents’ needs and will include many social benefits. Headrow House will offer its occupiers a gym, shared kitchens and dining areas, a cinema, co-working lounge, library, laundry room and bicycle parking in addition to personal storage rooms. Iain Smith, Planning Director at Watkin Jones, said: “We are very excited to announce planning approval for Headrow House, our first co-living project in Leeds. Ranked the third largest city by population in the UK, Leeds is a vital commercial and residential centre, and we are committed to providing high-quality, sustainable co-living accommodation that will help to address the on-going demand for rental homes in Leeds city centre. “We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with Leeds City Council and our local communities to address this growing demand, while also supporting our ESG targets as a business.”

Austrian Ambassador visits Siemens’ Goole rail village

Austrian Ambassador to the UK Bernhard Wrabetz has visited Siemens Mobility’s state-of-the-art Rail Village in Goole. He said he was looking forward to riding on the London Underground’s new Piccadilly Line trains being built there, 80% of which were being built there, with the first 20% coming from Vienna. He said: “Thank you for the opportunity to visit the Siemens Mobility manufacturing plant and supply chain Rail Village in Goole where the new fleet of London Underground Piccadilly line trains are being built. The first of these trains were manufactured and tested by Siemens in Vienna, with the remainder to be completed at Siemens’ new facility here in Goole. “I am looking forward to riding on the new trains, knowing that the cooperation between the Siemens teams in Austria and the UK are making journeys on the London Underground smoother and more energy efficient.” Sambit Banerjee, Joint CEO at Siemens Mobility UK & Ireland, said: “We were incredibly honoured to welcome the Austrian Ambassador, His Excellency Bernhard Wrabetz, to our Rail Village in Goole. It was fantastic to see his enthusiasm for our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, where 80% of the new Piccadilly line trains will be assembled, complimenting the first 20% that are being produced in Vienna. “It was a pleasure to share the progress of the Goole Rail Village with the Ambassador and demonstrate how our facility continues to set the standards for British train manufacturing. We are proud to contribute to Britain’s rail network with the support of our skilled team, both here in Goole and across the UK. This visit provided an excellent opportunity to showcase our commitment to the rail industry, our mission to transform rail travel and transport as well as the substantial economic benefits our investment will bring to the East Riding of Yorkshire.” The visit comes only weeks after the official opening of the Goole Train Manufacturing Facility on 3 October. The Ambassador was taken on an in-depth tour of the site where Siemens Mobility recently announced a new investment of up to £40 million, in addition to the initial investment of up to £200 million in the Goole Rail Village.

South Holland celebrates business successes

More than 250 businesspeople gathered at Springfields Conference and Events Centre in Spalding for this year’s South Holland Business Awards. Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce Chief Exec Simon Beardsley said: “South Holland is brimming with talent and exceptional service, and these awards are a chance to highlight and celebrate the outstanding work being done here. We are proud to offer a platform for businesses to showcase their achievements and success.  “A huge thank you to our headline sponsor, FreshLink Bulk, for their invaluable support. This event wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of all our sponsors, and we’re excited to continue this journey with you in the future.”  TED Talk speaker and creator of the ‘Share a Coke’ campaign, Richard Askam, hosted the event, guiding guests through the categories and revealing the winners.  Award winners:  Business of the Year – sponsored by Woodhouse Farm Hotel & Spa: PSP IT  Businessperson of the Year – sponsored by South Holland District Council: Reinhard Biehler  Business Innovation of the Year – sponsored by Lincolnshire Field Products: Contained Technologies Ltd   Excellence in Customer Care – sponsored by Calthrops Solicitors LLP: The Woodlands Hotel  Food, Drink and Farming Business of the Year – S.E.L to the World (HM Government, Midlands Engine and The South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership): Worldwide Fruit  Small Business of the Year – sponsored by Charmed Interiors: Baytree Owl and Wildlife Centre  Supporting the Community – sponsored by Lightspeed Broadband: PSP IT  Young Achiever of the Year – sponsored by the University Academy Holbeach: Wiktoria Koscielniak & Daniel Nieuwenhuizen  Lifetime Achievement: David Norton  Sponsors were: FreshLinc Bulk, Charmed Interiors, Woodhouse Farm Hotel & Spa, South Holland District Council, S.E.L to the World (HM Government, Midlands Engine and The South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership), University Academy Holbeach, Lincolnshire Field Products, Calthrops Solicitors, Americold, Seagate Homes, Lightspeed Broadband, Quince Contracting Services, Davis-Wright Haulage Ltd.  

Trio of Lincolnshire firms named amongst nation’s ‘most impressive’

Three companies from Lincolnshire have been named amongst the nation’s 100 most impressive small firms by the Small Business Saturday UK campaign, kicking off a wider call to encourage public support for small businesses. They are Business Bollox, Reuseabox, and Stewton Stars Hideaway. Business Bollox is a specialist marketing strategy consultancy for B2B SMEs, founded by Emma Easton in 2020 after Covid redundancy. It helps small business create solid strategic foundations, while also mentoring for early career marketers, lecturing and keynote presentations. Reuseabox is a B Corp certified circular economy packaging company that encourages businesses to reuse cardboard boxes because it is better for the planet and your bottom line. The company was founded by Jack Good in 2015 shortly after he left school and in just 9 years with key investment in local people and becoming customer-centric in its approach, the company has rapidly grown into a multi-million-pound company. Stewton Stars Hideaway is a dream turned reality for female owner and founder – Jessica Ramshaw. Located in the pretty green hills of the Lincolnshire Wolds, Stewton Stars Hideaway offers a tranquil countryside retreat for couples and families who want to get away from it all and recharge amidst natures beauty. Following a nationwide search, all three firms have been selected as part of this year’s SmallBiz100 line-up, which showcases 100 of the most impressive independent businesses from across the nation as part of the count-down to Small Business Saturday on 7th December. Running in the UK for over a decade, Small Business Saturday is the UK’s most successful small business campaign, which takes place each year on the first weekend in December, celebrating small businesses and encouraging consumers to ‘shop local’ and to support businesses in their communities.

New financial offering will help foreign firms to buy British

0
UK Export Finance has introduced a new guarantee product to help British firms secure international contracts for engineering, design and technical services. The Early Project Services Guarantee is now available to overseas buyers who choose to use British services firms to scope and design their projects in the planning phase. The guarantee helps overseas buyers of UK services to access private finance by assuring lenders that they will receive payment, making the UK offer more attractive. Once the project services contract is complete, there is potential for the guaranteed loan to be refinanced alongside financing the wider construction project. The prospect of subsequent finance throughout the life-cycle of projects incentivises overseas buyers to select UK services firms for the early-stage work. Carl Williamson, Director of SME and Trade Finance, UK Export Finance, said: “This new export finance support will give international buyers even more incentive to tap into UK design and engineering expertise. Year-on-year growth in service exports shows that the demand is there for this country’s professional and technical services.

“The development of our Early Project Services Guarantee is a clear signal of UKEF’s commitment to helping the services sector to maintain its competitive edge and international renown.”

The EPSG addresses gaps in market provision for financing the preparatory stages of major projects. It also contributes towards UKEF’s objective of helping a broad range of businesses to export, driving growth across all regions of the UK.

Homebase operators go into administration; The Range steps in

Homebase brand operators HHGL Limited and Hampden Group Limited have gone into administration with Gavin Park, Gavin Maher, and Adele Macleod of Teneo Financial Advisory Limited being appointed as Joint Administrators. Homebase has c.3600 employees and 133 stores across the UK. Immediately after the appointment they completed a sale of up to 70 of the company’s 133 UK stores, the brand and IP to CDS (Superstores International), which trades as The Range and wilko. That move is expected to secure as many as 1,600 of the company’s 3,600 employees’ jobs. Homebase stores will continue to trade until handed over to CDS. This follows the sale of 11 UK stores to Sainsbury’s, with completion expected on a further three. The remaining 49 UK stores will continue to trade as normal whilst the Joint Administrators continue discussions with interested parties. There will not be any immediate redundancies whilst the Administrators assess the position of the Companies. All employee wages and benefits will be paid for their period of employment. Customer orders will still be fulfilled as far as possible, and arrangements will be put in place to allow gift vouchers to be used.

Let’s hear it for the guys: Northern partners with Andy’s Man Club

Unveiling its three-year strategy in 2023, the operator said it was committed to making men feel welcome and giving them a sense of belonging. Train operator Northern has formed a partnership with men’s suicide prevention charity Andy’s Man Club to raise the profile of men’s mental health on their trains and at Northern-managed stations. The company has also launched a buddy scheme to promote peer-to-peer support for fathers, and will be introducing neonatal, fertility and pregnancy-loss leave with pay for male colleagues. Lisa Leighton, people director at Northern, said: “As well as working hard to encourage more women and people from a wider range of ethnicities into the industry, it’s really important that we look after the large number of men that are already here. “Many of the men at Northern have given a significant number of years’ service to the railway – around 17 years on average. “The purpose of putting them front and centre of our Equlity, Diversity, and Inclusion  strategy is to ensure men feel welcome and included in the changes that we’re making and that they understand that we care about their health, wellbeing and future. “We want our male colleagues to feel confident acting as allies, challenging any inappropriate behaviour and using their voice to support underrepresented groups.” The train operator says it knows it has a long way to go when it comes to the diversity of its workforce. In addition to the work of its EDI strategy, Northern is actively working to attract more people from the LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse communities, as well as those with disabilities, into the business. Leighton added: “We recognise that the challenge in front of us is huge and we want to do more than pay lip service to making things better. “Our EDI strategy is all about what we think we can do in the next three years, before reflecting on our progress and deciding what our next equality, diversity and inclusion focus should be.”

Permanent placements in Yorkshire fell rapidly in October

0
The latest KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs: North of England survey saw recruitment trends diverge again in October. There was a steeper reduction in permanent staff appointments, while temp billings rose fractionally in October. There were signs that staff supply continued to outweigh demand. Staff availability rose substantially again, while vacancy growth remained subdued by historical standards. With that, October signalled only marginal increases in pay for both types of staff across the North of England. The KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs: North of England is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to around 150 recruitment and employment consultancies in the North of England. Sharpest decline in permanent staff appointments since June As has been the case in each month since July 2023, the number of staff placed into permanent roles in the North of England declined in October. The rate of contraction was not only marked, but the quickest seen for four months. Recruiters in the region blamed caution surrounding the impending Autumn Budget and fewer job vacancies. The drop in permanent hiring activity was widespread across all four monitored English regions. Only London recorded a slower decrease than that seen locally. After just a brief period of decline in September, the seasonally adjusted Temporary Billings Index posted above the crucial 50.0 mark in October, to signal a rise in billings received from the employment of temp staff in the North of England. Though the rate of expansion was only fractional, it compared favourably against the UK average, where a contraction was registered. Only the Midlands recorded a faster increase in temp billings than in the North of England. There were only fractional increases in job vacancies for both permanent and temporary positions across the North of England in October. October survey data showed that although permanent vacancy growth was sustained for an eighth successive month, it was indeed the slowest in the sequence. Though only fractional, temp vacancy growth rebounded after a month of decline in September. Permanent labour supply rises at softer, but still substantial rate There was a further sharp rise in permanent staff availability across the North of England in October, thereby extending the current run of expansion to ten months. According to anecdotal evidence, labour supply was pushed up due to subdued hiring conditions and increased redundancies. Although the rate of growth was the slowest seen since February, it remained faster than the UK average. October survey data pointed to a sustained increase in the availability of workers for short-term roles across the North of England. As well as steep, the rate of expansion accelerated to the strongest for nearly four years. The local increase in temp staff supply was largely in line with the UK-wide trend in October. Marginal rise in permanent starting salaries in October Recruitment consultancies based in the North of England recorded a further rise in salaries awarded to new permanent joiners, as has been the case since March 2021. The rate of inflation picked up slightly from September’s three-and-a-half year low, but was nevertheless only marginal. Though the North of England was the only monitored region to see starting salary pressures build, the upturn remained softer than the UK average. The seasonally adjusted Temporary Wages Index posted above the neutral 50.0 mark in October, to signal an eleventh consecutive monthly increase in temp wage rates across the North of England. That said, the rate of inflation was the softest in the aforementioned sequence and slightly slower than that seen at the UK level. Phil Murden, Leeds Office Senior Partner at KPMG UK, said: “Permanent hires have been declining for over a year, and the speed of contraction in October does paint some concern in the North. “Many firms in the region will have delayed their recruitment plans in advance of the Autumn Budget, which is likely to have prompted pause for thought. “The increase in National Insurance announced by the Chancellor provides a further cost consideration for management teams. Nonetheless we hope to see more Yorkshire firms now looking to enact their recruitment plans for 2025 benefiting from more certainty and clarity.” Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive, said: “These figures are a timely reminder that demand from employers for new staff has weakened since the election – though the overall picture in the UK remains resilient by comparison to pre-pandemic. “There is a positive sign for The North with temp vacancy growth rebounding after a month of decline in September and an increase in permanent vacancies. But things now stand in the balance – firms need to be persuaded to invest, with recent changes to NI thresholds, the minimum wage and prospective changes to employment law all causing concern. “Firms will be looking for the Government to deliver a clear, stable growth plan and detailed regulatory changes that enable firms rather than put them off over the next few months. Temporary work in particular is a fantastic way of helping people take steps out of inactivity, and the threat of new employment laws undermining opportunities for workers must be addressed. “The very marginal increase in salaries in October and weakest rise in temp wages for nearly a year in the North suggests the Bank of England should not step back from further cuts to interest rates, which will also boost business confidence. And data on shortage sectors across the UK is a timely reminder that delivering on a skill strategy that is aligned to business needs is one of the biggest things Government and businesses could achieve working together.”

Chameleon Business Interiors acquires furniture company

0
Hull-based Chameleon Business Interiors, the design-led interiors firm, has made a significant move in its growth strategy by acquiring Hunters Contracts North, a Cheshire-based office furniture specialist with over 20 years of experience in the North West. This acquisition not only enhances Chameleon’s portfolio but also brings in key members of the Hunters North team – including managing director Sarah Morriss and head of customer services Pip Bennett – to strengthen its presence in the region. Shaun Watts, Chameleon’s chairman, highlighted the strong synergy between the two companies, emphasising how Morriss and her team’s extensive experience and expertise aligns with Chameleon’s vision for development and brand enhancement. This acquisition marks a pivotal moment for Chameleon – which has been designing and delivering workspace interiors for 25 years – as it continues to expand its global footprint. Sarah Morriss, managing director of Hunters North, added: “We’ve built a fantastic business with a reputation for attention to detail and outstanding customer service. “Our clients include McDonald’s, TT Games, First Response Finance, Canal & River Trust and CBRE. They trust us to deliver projects that meet their needs and now, with Chameleon, we can offer even more comprehensive interior design, fit out and refurbishment solutions. We’re thrilled about this new chapter and excited to continue offering exceptional service to our clients.” The recent expansion of Chameleon’s sales team and the appointment of a new head of marketing are also part of its strategy to drive growth in the UK, US, and Canadian markets.

Free training set for East Lindsey businesses

0
PAB Sema4 has been allocated extra funding to support additional Lincolnshire businesses after the success of its Global Gateway Programme. The scheme – designed to amplify growth across Lincolnshire’s business community by equipping local companies with essential skills for international success – surpassed outcome targets and received fantastic feedback from customers. Now the programme is receiving extra funding to support businesses in East Lindsey – and organisers are calling for local companies to come forward to take advantage of it. E-commerce & Marketing Specialist Advisor at PAB Sema4, Nigel Garner, said: “Leveraging a rich foundation of academic insight, hands-on expertise, and cross-disciplinary research, this programme is designed to equip people with practical competencies required to excel in the international arena. “Ideal for professionals overseeing multicultural teams within logistics or manufacturing, those immersed in the intricacies of sales and marketing, or navigating the complexities of international markets, Global Gateway offers strategies and tools to enhance effectiveness in a global setting.” Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the programme is free to eligible businesses in East Lindsey and is designed to boost economic growth and community development. Intercultural Communication Trainer and Advisor at PAB Sema4, Iwona Lebiedowicz, said: “We are delighted to offer this exciting programme of courses for professionals, giving them the opportunity to harness the latest research, innovation and thinking that the PAB Sema4 team has to offer. “Across the UK, many people work in cross-cultural settings, engaging with remote or international teams. However, the messages we send are not always the messages received, as national culture influences our thoughts, behaviours, and communication methods.” Research indicates that poor customer service costs UK businesses over £37 billion annually, as dissatisfied customers switch to competitors or discontinue services. According to PwC, 59% of UK consumers would stop doing business with a company after several bad experiences, and 17% would switch after just one poor experience. Retaining customers is significantly less expensive than acquiring new ones, so poor service has a direct, negative impact on long-term profitability and customer acquisition costs. The Global Gateway Programme supports businesses in East Lindsey by enhancing their capabilities and ultimately driving regional economic growth and fostering strong community ties. Through comprehensive training in areas such as e-commerce localization, multicultural marketing, and intercultural communication, the Global Gateway Programme empowers professionals to lead diverse teams, engage effectively with international clients, and navigate the complexities of global markets. East Lindsey Councillors Steve Kirk, portfolio holder for The Coastal Economy, and Adam Grist, portfolio holder for Market Towns and Rural Economy, said: “East Lindsey District Council is excited to support PAB Languages in delivering this interesting programme of courses for professionals through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. “This programme will give those who access it the opportunity to grow and, in turn, aid many individuals to receive support, especially people who work in cross-cultural settings, enhancing their knowledge. “This has the intended aim of supporting those in employment to become confident in dealing with international trade and international markets, supporting East Lindsey’s drive to get our businesses exporting.” The training begins in December 2024.

Small Business Saturday roadshow rolls into town

The impact of Lincoln small firms has been highlighted by a visit Small Business Saturday’s national roadshow to the city.

Aiming to celebrate and support the nation’s small businesses, ‘The Tour’ undertook behind the scenes visits to small businesses in the Lincolnshire area, sharing their success secrets and future ambitions.

This included meeting Emma Haigh, who owns Jailhouse Frock, a 1940s/50s inspired vintage reproduction clothing shop.

Once again supported by BT, ‘The Tour’ is visiting more than 20 towns and cities across the UK during November, after starting up in Scotland earlier this month.

The roadshow is travelling across the UK for a month as part of the official countdown to Small Business Saturday, on 7th December. The campaign celebrates small business success, encouraging consumers to ‘shop local’ and to support businesses in their communities.

After its stop in Lincoln, Small Business Saturday’s roadshow will be travelling to Nottingham, Northampton, and Solihull, before wrapping up in London ahead of Small Business Saturday on 7 December.

Michelle Ovens, pictured above, Director of Small Business Saturday UK, said: It was fantastic to visit Lincoln and hear the ambition and passion of its local small businesses

“Small businesses make an invaluable contribution to the local community here and across the whole of the UK, and it’s so important we all support them on Small Business Saturday and beyond.”

Gainsborough company offers green support to protect UK data centres

Gainsborough emissions control specialists Eminox has a part to play in protecting UK data centres now that the Government has classified them as ‘critical national infrastructure’. The company’s Engineering Director Dr David Phillips has explained that data centres have emergency generators to ensure uninterrupted operation – but that from the beginning of January these would have to have controlled exhaust emissions. He said: “The announcement means data centres in the UK, which currently support over 40,000 jobs and have an annual projected growth rate of 20%, will now be supported by the government in the event of critical incidents. This will help to mitigate the impact of data centre failures or breaches on business, UK residents and the economy. “Undoubtedly, this is a pleasing development, and one which was necessary to acknowledge the importance of digital data, how it is stored, and the impact it has on the day to day running of business and the country. “As demand for digital services surges, data centres continue to be built enabling digital transformation across all areas of the economy. Eminox will remain a key partner in providing emissions compliance solutions to the data centre sector across the UK pertaining to backup power generator sets.” “Statistics show the UK has the highest number of data centres in Western Europe and this added level of security through CNI will support the crucial role of data centres sector as the backbone of the UK’s digital economy. “Therefore, as the data centre sector grows in response to projected demand for digital technologies, including the growing trend of AI use, it is important to ensure back up power supplies have the necessary technologies to prevent an increase in harmful NOx and PM entering the atmosphere. This will ensure air pollution does not negatively impact on public health of operatives within the data centre sector, as well as local communities in urban areas, such as Cardiff, London and Manchester which have seen major data centre developments.”

Princess Royal visits Yorkshire bed maker to present King’s Award

The Princess Royal has visited Yorkshire bedmaker Harrison Spinks to learn how it makes the beds which earned it the title of Bed Manufacturer of the Year at the 2024 and to present the King’s Award for Sustainable development. Her tour started with a visit to the company farm in North Yorkshire to see its sustainable farming practices, including its award-winning Wensleydale sheep and pioneering use of hemp and flax, all of which processed into mattress fillings.
Afterwards, The Princess Royal was taken on a tour of the Leeds manufacturing site, seeing a live demonstration of the traditional hand side stitching, tape edging and tufting techniques, which the company has used for 180 years.
Company Chairman Simon Spinks said: “We are deeply honoured and grateful to welcome The Princess Royal to our farm and factory, and to thank her for for taking the time to learn about our sustainable practices meet our hard-working team, and present us with the King’s Award for Sustainable Development, which is an incredible privilege.”

Middle East conflict impacts half of UK firms, says BCC

Half of the UK’s businesses now say they have been impacted by the conflict in the Middle East, almost double the proportion who said they were affected in late October last year. The main impacts cited by businesses are increased costs, shipping disruption and delays, and uncertainty on oil prices, and some firms report cancelling work in the Middle East because of the conflict. The findings, from the BCC’s Insights Unit, also show a rise in impact since February 2024, when firms were asked specifically about Red Sea disruption, and two-fifths (37%) were affected. Shipping container rates have fluctuated significantly since the current Middle East conflict began in October 2023. The cost of shipping a 40ft container from Shanghai to Rotterdam has risen from just over $1,000 then to just under $4,000 now, having peaked at over $8,000 in July. William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “Alongside the grim human impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the situation continues to have economic reverberations around the world. “The effect on businesses here in the UK has continued to ratchet up the longer the fighting has continued. “If the current situation persists, then it becomes more likely that the cost pressures will build further. “Certain sectors of the economy are obviously more exposed to this than others. But with the on-going war in Ukraine, wider geopolitical uncertainty, and the prospect of tariffs looming, the UK needs to think carefully about its trade strategy. “We need to seek out new deals with like-minded nations on critical raw materials, components and minerals to ensure their supply. And we must lean more heavily into the digital trade revolution to reduce costs and make exporting and importing simpler. “The use of economic diplomacy can also not be underestimated. The UK has a powerful brand and distinctive reputation around the world which we must harness to greater positive effect. “Overseas trade is vital to growing our economy. We must do everything we can to see businesses through these tough times, and then set a laser-sharp focus on expanding exports for the future.”

Keepmoat prepares for work on £65m project in Grimsby

Work on a major housing development in North East Lincolnshire at the former Western School site is a step closer this week, with the completion of the land agreement with Doncaster-based housebuilder Keepmoat. The housebuilder will regenerate the 22.9 acre brownfield site involving a £65m investment to create aboty318 properties, including affordable housing and retirement dwellings. Ben Hindley, Regional Land and Partnerships Director at the company, said: “It’s always an exciting time at Keepmoat when we’re able to commence construction on a new development, particularly when it leads to the provision of affordable housing to people who really need it. “We’re working closely with North East Lincolnshire Council and Ongo to develop the area and provide local people with a great place to live and work. The site is a great example of the public and private sectors working together, unlocking funding being obtained by the authority enabling the Council to obtain outline planning permission and complete key infrastructure. We look forward to obtaining planning permission and making a start on site.” The former school site was closed more than a decade ago due to falling numbers and an over-provision of places, with pupils reallocated at the time to other schools in the area. Funding to progress the site was obtained through the Homes England Accelerated Construction Programme, enabling North East Lincolnshire Council to prepare the site and complete key utility, site preparation and access works, as well as developing and securing the outline planning permission a few years ago. This was followed by Keepmoat designing the transformation of the site and securing planning permission earlier this year, subject to the signing of a Section 106 agreement.

2,000 farmers plan mass lobby of Government over farm tax changes

0
Next Tuesday almost 2,000 farmer and grower members of the NFU plan to turn up in London to ask the Chancellor to reconsider changes to Inheritance Tax.
They say they want to bring to life the impacts of this policy change on their farms, on British farming and on food supply, and to urge their MPs to ask the Chancellor to reconsider the new measures.
The NFU says that since the Autumn Budget was announced, it has been working flat out to make the case to Treasury and wider government that the decision it has made to change Agriculture Property Relief and Business Property Relief must be overturned, and to corral public and media support for farmers. NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “We believe the Treasury has built this policy on the wrong data, and the changes it proposes will not deliver what it wants to achieve. It will not protect family farms, it will destroy them. The shock and anger among members has been acute. And it’s been heard.” Within just four days of its launch, a campaign to stop the family farm tax won the support of more than 160,000 people, and millions more are expressing their concern across social media.
The NFU says there have been more than 2,500 stories across national and regional press, and broadcasters have carried the story strongly. Mr Bradshaw added: “Behind the scenes, we’ve represented members’ shock, anger and fear to ministers, along with the evidence of why this policy doesn’t work. Be in no doubt that ministers and MPs know how furious and betrayed people feel.”

New ‘cleanship’ vessels make their first calls at Hull

Shipping company Ahlmark Lines AB has invested in a pair of ships with a smaller-than-normal environmental impact, and they have made their maiden voyages to the Port of Hull. The M/V Mangen and M/V Unden were built by Royal Bodewes in the Netherlands earlier this year. They are general cargo 5050 Eco Trader ice class 1A mini bulkers, both with a gross tonnage of 2,999 tons. Both vessels have a CleanShip notation, meaning the vessels have been designed to control and limit emissions. The vessels burn less fuel compared to older vessels and generate fewer CO2 emissions. They have a new efficient bow form which allows for smoother sailings and LED lighting is used throughout as a further energy saving measure. Andrew Dawes, Director of the Humber ports said: “It’s heartening to see a company who were one of the first to move Swedish timber through Hull, and have been here for over 40 years, invest significantly in greener ships. “As we move to enable the UK’s clean energy transition, we fully support our neighbours in getting ready for tomorrow by acting today in their investments to help decarbonise the maritime sector with new technology.” Danny Carmichael MD Ahlmark Lines (UK) Ltd said: “This is a very exciting time for the Ahlmark Group in taking delivery of these fine vessels. It demonstrates the commitment being made to our customers by ensuring our tonnage is reliably up to the task, environmentally sound and performing efficiently to meet their requirements.” Ahlmark Shipping (UK) Ltd operates a terminal in King George Dock at the Port of Hull handling about 300,000 tonnes of goods every year. The company offers stevedoring, warehousing, customs clearance and ships agency services. The two new vessels were designed to supplement Ahlmark Lines’ liner services between ports along the east coast of Sweden and the UK. The company, one of the first shipping lines to move Swedish timber through Hull, sees the company ship 25% of Swedish timber to the UK, making the east coast port one of the largest for sawn timber imports.