Expansion of airport capacity is vital, says BCC Director General
Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce says expansion of the UK’s airport capacity is vital to driving economic growth and it remains a top priority for business.
Responding to reports that the Chancellor is preparing to support expansion plans at three UK airports, she said: “We wholeheartedly support a third runway at Heathrow, Gatwick’s Northern Runway Project and Luton’s expansion of terminal capacity. All three projects will help boost trade, attract international investment and bring huge benefits to SMEs in supply chains across the UK.
“Any developments must be aligned to the government’s commitments on the environment. That will require the airports, the aviation sector and ministers to work together.
“At a time of increased costs for many businesses, speeding up infrastructure investment is crucial to boosting economic activity and unlocking growth. These airport proposals must form a key part of the UK’s long-term infrastructure strategy to help businesses grow, trade and thrive.”
Humber region set for clean energy job creation bonanza
The Humber is one of four areas to benefit from Government support to create jobs in the clean energy sector, with as many as 32,000 new places being available by 2040.
Government-backed training programmes will be offered for those in key growth regions for clean energy, with flourishing offshore wind, nuclear, and solar industries. Local partners will receive funding to identify the skills support that is needed in their area to deliver clean power by 2030 – which will protect households and businesses from unstable fossil fuel markets for good.
Funding could go towards new training centres, courses or career advisers – supporting local people into opportunities in industries such as welding, electrical engineering, and construction.
The announcement has been welcomed by North East Council Leader Philip Jackson, who said: “Empowering our residents to unlock their potential and achieve their goals is critical to the future of our borough – if we are to improve health and prosperity within our communities, we must work together to ensure our people are able to take the opportunities that exist here,” he said.
Recent evidence from Humber bank industry suggests that green energy creation, decarbonisation and hydrogen opportunities are likely to create more than 32,000 jobs across the Humber by 2040.
Cllr Jackson said the new Council Plan, to be released in April, talks of the authority’s commitment to supporting a ‘Stronger Economy’ and ‘Stronger Communities’ – and a crucial part of achieving this is to improve skills.
“As our plan outlines, our ambition is for our people to be equipped with the skills they need. We know the demand is here and we do have a skills gap that must be closed. I am pleased that this has been recognised and we have been presented with this opportunity.
“We now look forward to working closely with Midlands Net Zero Hub and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to look at things that will support our residents and the sector.”
British Steel invests £26m in support for forklift truck mast industry
British Steel has opened a £26m service centre that is says makes it one of the world’s leading suppliers to the forklift truck mast industry.
The investment has been made at the company’s Special Profiles business in Skinningrove, in the North East, which specialises in manufacturing steel profiles for the earth moving, forklift, construction, shipbuilding, and mining markets.
Richard Napier, British Steel’s Sales Director, Special Profiles, says it will enable the company to explore growth opportunities across the globe for forklift mast profiles, with the new warehousing and processing facility forecast to significantly increase throughput within the next two years.
He said: “This is the largest single investment in our Special Profiles business for more than 30 years, demonstrating our owner’s commitment to strengthening British Steel’s position at the heart of UK manufacturing.
“The new facility also firmly establishes us as one of the world’s leading manufacturers and processors of value-added profiles for the forklift industry. Our extended range of products are designed and manufactured to exact customer requirements, with the new milling capability offering profiles with tolerances of just 0.1mm – precision few global competitors can match.
“We have already had extremely positive feedback about this investment from current customers, and potential new ones, and although our primary product offering will be for forklift mast profiles, we expect to expand this to include other product applications too.”
British Steel’s milling capability will primarily service the demanding high-reach forklift truck market. These vehicles are typically used to move loads in warehouses and because they operate at heights of up to eight metres, exceptionally tight tolerances are needed for the mast sections – the moving parts which enable the truck’s forks to reach, collect and move items.
Hallam University appoints Dean of Research
Sheffield Hallam University has appointed Professor Sarah Pearson as Dean of Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange.
She has been at Hallam since 1997 and brings over 25 years’ experience of research leadership to the role, having overseen more than 30 projects in social policy research and evaluation and has led major evaluations of public policy across a range of agendas including anti-poverty, community regeneration and support for vulnerable groups.
Prof Pearson is currently Co-Director of the Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness, a £10m UK Research and Innovation-funded project led by Sheffield Hallam University which brings together partners from research, community, policy and civil society to develop and scale up successful community leadership approaches.
She said: “I am delighted to be taking up the role of Dean of RIKE and looking forward to leading us through the next phase of our RIKE strategy implementation, which will continue to reflect our ongoing commitment to sustainable and high-quality research with impact. My priority is to ensure that our operationalisation of the RIKE strategy supports our research communities to respond to both the opportunities and challenges that the current context presents.”
Ørsted launches plans for solar farm north of Beverley
Ørsted is asking residents for their views about a proposal to build the 320MW Kingfisher Solar Farm three miles north of Beverley.
An initial, non-statutory consultation will run from Monday 3rd February to Sunday 9th March 2025. Local residents, businesses and community groups can learn about Kingfisher and share their feedback online on the project website. They are also invited to attend any of Kingfisher’s four public events taking place throughout the consultation period, where they can discuss their questions with the Project team, which will help inform and develop the proposal for Kingfisher.
The events will be held at:
- Lockington Village Hall, Chapel Street, Lockington, Driffield YO25 9SN on Monday 10thFebruary from 3pm to 8pm
- Hutton Cranswick WI Hall, Main Street, Hutton Cranswick, Driffield YO25 9QR on Wednesday 12th February from 3pm to 8pm
- Cottingham Civic Hall, Market Green, Cottingham HU16 5QG on Friday 28th February from 3pm to 8pm
- Beverley Memorial Hall, 73-75 Lairgate, Beverley HU17 8HN on Saturday 1st March from noon until 5pm.
Labour market challenges lie ahead, says British Chambers of Commerce
The already-challenging labour market is going to get worse with the arrival of April’s significant rise in employment costs, says Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce.
Responding to the latest information from the Office for National Statistics she said: “However, there are also signs of further loosening as unemployment ticks up, vacancies continue to fall and economic inactivity dips.
“The full impact of the changes to national insurance and the minimum wage, announced at the Budget, won’t be fully seen until later in the year. However, the warning lights on recruitment, employment and training are already flashing.
“Our latest survey paints a worrying picture of weak workforce growth, persistent hiring difficulties and cuts in workplace training. It also revealed that 55% of firms are planning to put up prices, with labour cost the main driver.
“To grow the economy, we need businesses and the workforce to thrive. Government must ease the cost-pressures on firms so they can invest in people. Working proactively with employers to tackle the long running skills crisis is likely to become even more important in the months to come.”
Cranswick acquires East Yorkshire pig genetics company
Food producer Cranswick has acquired fellow East Yorkshire firm JSR Genetics from JSR Farms. The transaction includes the pig genetics and pig farming operations of JSR Farms.
JSR Genetics is a pig genetics company known for its innovative genetic solutions for cost effective pig production. Genetic improvement is centred around sustainability and efficiency. Extensive research and innovation deliver pig genetics with a continuous improvement in production efficiency, meat quality, animal health and robustness.
JSR Genetics is an existing, long-standing supplier to Cranswick.
Adam Couch, CEO of Cranswick, said: “I am delighted to announce the acquisition of JSR Genetics, a leading pig genetics supplier and commercial pig producer based in East Yorkshire.
“This acquisition increases the scale of our indoor pig production, further securing supply for our customers’ pork requirements.
“The addition of an integrated pig genetics supply chain will allow us to drive ongoing improvements in production efficiency, meat quality, animal health and robustness, for the long-term benefit of our customers and the UK consumer.”
Duo of speculative warehouse units reach practical completion in south Leeds
Two speculative warehouse units developed by Baytree Logistics Properties Ltd have reached practical completion.
The scheme totals 552,000 sq ft and is situated in Stourton, south Leeds.
Units 1 and 3, which comprise 76,231 sq ft and 145,454 sq ft, have now reached practical completion, while Unit 2 is available on a build-to-suit basis and benefits from detailed planning consent for a single 329,000 sq ft warehouse.
This development, which is the only speculative scheme in the Yorkshire region built to BREEAM Outstanding standards, showcases a host of wellbeing, sustainability and energy saving measures.
Efficient management and monitoring of the building systems is controlled by sensor suite technologies which are linked to highly efficient lighting and air handling systems in the offices.
There is, additionally, biophilia in the reception areas and a “City Tree” at the entrance to the development which removes harmful particulates from the air.
The scheme has been built to EPC “A” rated and WELL Ready standards.
Tom Goode, partner and specialist in industrial and logistics at the Leeds office of Knight Frank, said: “These measures mean that Baytree Leeds is setting a new benchmark for the logistics sector in Yorkshire which, combined with its prime West Yorkshire location and best-in-class specification, will ensure that this exciting new development will prove extremely popular. We are already experiencing strong interest.”
Casey Ferguson, development manager at Baytree, said: “We are proud to announce the practical completion of phase 1 at Baytree Leeds, our latest best-in-class logistics scheme. This development marks a significant milestone as the first BREEAM Outstanding speculative development in the north of England, setting a new benchmark in ESG for the region.
“The scheme also provides some much-needed speculative development in a prime Leeds location just 1 mile from both the M1 and M621 junctions. Given the location and leading-edge specification, we are confident this will attract a lot of interest from our customers.”
Knight Frank is marketing Baytree Leeds alongside JLL & DTRE.
Harmony Works secures further £3.5m for Canada House restoration
Harmony Works Trust has secured £3.5 million in funding from Arts Council England to transform the historic Canada House in Sheffield city centre into a vibrant new home for music education.
This latest pledge follows the successful award of £4.7 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, announced last week, and adds to the project’s growing support base, which also includes funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund, Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the UK Government’s Levelling Up Funding, and multiple local trusts and foundations.
Harmony Works Trust, awarded official charitable status in August 2023, purchased the Grade II* Listed Canada House from Panache retail brand last year. The combined £8.2 million investment from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England will help fund the building’s transformation into a new regional home for music education – creating a high-quality practice, rehearsal and performance destination.
“We are absolutely thrilled to receive such strong backing from Arts Council England,” said Emily Pieters, Project Director at Harmony Works.
“Alongside the funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are now in a very strong position to fully refurbish Canada House and deliver on our long-term vision of creating a new home to inspire and nurture the creative potential of young people and their communities.”
Cllr Martin Smith, Chair of Economic Development and Skills Committee at Sheffield City Council, joined Emily Pieters in welcoming this announcement, adding: “Culture runs through every community in Sheffield, and we are committed to putting it at the heart of everything we do.
“Harmony Works will be a home for inspirational music education and opportunity in our city. Not only will this benefit young people across South Yorkshire, but this further funding will also allow us to protect an important heritage asset.”
South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “From the Arctic Monkeys to Pulp, Yungblud to Kate Rusby, South Yorkshire has given music to the world for years. I couldn’t be prouder to build on our arts heritage by investing in projects such as the restoration of Harmony Works, giving exciting opportunities to young, aspiring musicians in our communities and a chance for them to stay near and go far.
“Not only do cultural institutions drive growth in our city centres, they also lead to happier, healthier lives for local people. That’s why I’ll continue to bang the drum for South Yorkshire and attract further investment into our culture sector, to create a happier, healthier, and wealthier region for all.”
Pete Massey, Yorkshire Director, Arts Council England, said: “Sheffield is a city with a rich history of musical excellence, so it’s great to see Harmony Works secure this vital investment from Government to create a fantastic new hub for music education.
“Yorkshire continues to produce musicians and bands that have received national and international acclaim, and we can’t wait to see the next generation of artists come through the Harmony Works doors to build on that success.”
With a history dating back to 1875, when it was originally constructed as offices for the Sheffield United Gas Light Company, Canada House is a cherished local landmark. In the 1980s, the building gained local popularity as TurnUps nightclub and was a hub for young music lovers.
“It’s amazing to think that in just three years, these walls will once again be filled with the sound of music – this time created by the young people themselves,” Pieters concluded.
The refurbishment of Canada House is expected to start later this year, with a view to opening the doors to Harmony Works late in 2027.
Once complete, it will become home to many organisations, including the Sheffield Music Academy, Sheffield Music Hub, Brass Bands England, Music in the Round, Choir with No Name, Orchestras for All, and Concerteenies, while also working closely with The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University and The Sheffield College.
2025 Business Predictions: Jonathan Morgan, partner at Zenko City Living
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Jonathan Morgan, a partner at Zenko City Living.
It’s fair to say that 2024 was an interesting year for the city centre property market in Leeds. The total number of rental enquiries we received was significantly down on the previous year, but the number of new rental contracts we agreed increased.
This drop off in enquiries was due to the decline in demand for premium city centre rentals from overseas students, following changes to immigration rules introduced in January 2024, combined with lingering concerns about the cost of living in the UK.
Overseas students have typically arrived in the city centre rentals market late in the season and many would choose to rent higher end apartments in locations such as Park Row and Wellington Street.
In addition, several of the larger build to rent (BTR) schemes in Leeds city centre have got used to seeing their overseas student occupancy rate at between 20 and 30%, so this decline has caused some consternation.
Looking ahead, we are focussed on targeting the tens of thousands of young professionals working in well paid jobs in Leeds, who crave the convenience of living in the city centre. To a certain extent, this group has been squeezed out of the market since before Covid and is now returning in significant numbers. As a result, we are confident that 2025 will be a good year for rentals.
In terms of sales, demand in the second half of 2024 was strong and we think 2025 could be the best year since before Covid for owner occupier activity. Inflation is much more manageable, the shock of political change is waning, interest rates are stable and five-year forecasts for house price growth are strong.
Most significantly in the city centre context, more and more buildings are being released from the cladding issues which previously made them unsellable. At the same time, significant infrastructure change is coming to fruition, making for a much more attractive environment.
In addition, we remain the only city outside London to have resident opera, theatre and ballet companies; our diverse and resilient economy is widely understood, our universities attract over 60,000 young people a year, our retail and leisure space is nicely balanced, we have a railway station which will deliver you to London in around two hours, a regional airport connecting directly to most European cities and, an hour’s train ride away, an airport which connects with the rest of the world.
The city’s skyline is currently peppered with cranes delivering new developments and we are excited and confident about the future of city living in Leeds and look forward to unlocking the next generation of city centre homes for sale and to rent in 2025.
