A multi-million pound investment in the Harrogate Convention Centre has been unveiled to ensure that the venue can reach its full potential and provide a greater boost to the region’s economy.
The ambitious plans could see £7 million invested in new larger breakout rooms in the venue’s Studio Two, in a bid to ensure that the centre can thrive in the extremely competitive conference market.
Members of North Yorkshire Council’s executive will be asked to explore in more detail the possibility of introducing a more commercial operating model, which would reduce the financial subsidies from the authority and help to attract future investment.
Councillors will meet on Tuesday next week (17 December) when they will be told that the planned transformation of Studio Two, which would provide breakout conferencing facilities for about 1,300 delegates, could generate an extra £1.5 million annually.
The proposals also include developing a new business plan and actively looking for other funding opportunities.
North Yorkshire Council’s deputy leader, Cllr Gareth Dadd, whose responsibilities include finance, said: “The Harrogate Convention Centre is a venue that promotes the town and Yorkshire on a national stage, bringing in visitors from across the country.
“It is critical that we retain the benefits of the convention centre while at the same time finding opportunities to reduce our subsidy, improve the facilities and align the centre with our long-term vision for Harrogate.
“We want to take the convention centre forward while still protecting taxpayers’ money and promoting the economy of the town, and the proposals for the investment will be carefully considered during the executive’s meeting.”
Constructed in 1982, the centre has one of the largest purpose-built auditoriums in the UK. However, a lack of larger breakout rooms has hampered the venue’s ability to host larger conferences to maximise its impact on the economy for Harrogate and the wider region.
A subsidy of £1.9 million was provided for the venue by the council last year, although the figure had reduced from £2.6 million in the previous year after catering was brought in-house and revenue from lettings continued to grow.
Executive member for open to business, Cllr Mark Crane, whose responsibilities include economic development, said: “The Harrogate Convention Centre plays a vital role in Yorkshire’s economy and contributes more than £45 million every year through the retail and hospital industry.
“It is imperative that we look to ensuring that the venue remains at the forefront of the economy for both Harrogate and the wider Yorkshire region, and the proposals which will be considered by the executive are a means to ensuring this.”
A business strategy launched in 2019/20 has seen a 21 per cent increase in income from lettings at the convention centre and forward bookings indicate potential growth of more than £4 million each year.
With an initial investment of £7 million, the revamped Studio Two is projected to ultimately generate an additional £1.5 million in annual income. It is expected that this would reduce the annual operating subsidy to about £1 million, although a detailed business case would be required before the investment is approved.
A marketing exercise has since been undertaken by a consultancy firm called 31Ten, which has wide experience of the conference market, to highlight future opportunities for the convention centre.
The review identified five possible options which ranged from doing nothing to selling the building. The option to focus on the new studio development and a more commercial operating model is seen as the best way forward by the consultants.
The convention centre’s director, Paula Lorimer, said: “The proposals for Studio Two are very welcome and would significantly improve revenue opportunities for the Harrogate Convention Centre.
“This venue is integral to the visitor economy of Harrogate. Its conferences, exhibitions, corporate events, banquets and live entertainment create jobs and business to the town’s shops, bars, cafes, restaurants and hotels – worth more than £45 million a year to the local economy.
“In recent years, the centre’s performance has continued to improve, and the planned investment would help this trend to continue.”
Developers and other venue operators were consulted as part of the market testing, and partnerships that have been adopted elsewhere in the country were explored.
Partnership work in Harrogate could include looking at collaborations with universities, colleges and the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to unlock new opportunities and funding and widen the audience appeal of the centre.
The convention centre, which is situated in the heart of Harrogate, has a 2,000-seat auditorium and 13,000 square metres of exhibition space.
LNT chooses Dudleys for care home assistance
LNT Construction has appointed Dudleys Consulting Engineers to help develop planning and civil engineering aspects for a number of new projects across the UK.
As part of ambitious expansion plans, LNT was seeking to enhance its supply chain and approached Dudleys Consulting Engineers due to its care home project credentials.
Dudleys North West team is currently advising LNT on six new 66-bed care home projects with expert engineering advice and design information to support the planning and construction processes. These include projects in Coalville, Colchester, Diss, Gloucester, Ross-on-Wye and Shrewsbury.
Chris Brady, Technical Director leading Dudleys Manchester office, said: “We are delighted to assist LNT Construction with strategic advice through pre-planning stages, drainage strategy, flood risk assessments and subsequently provide engineering design to support construction processes.
“Timescales have been very tight for most of the projects, but our team has been very efficient in working with various drainage, highways and lead local flood authorities in each geographical location. Different planning policy requirements were also a key consideration and working within the policy framework of each area requires in-depth knowledge and experience of the technical challenges to be overcome. We have also assisted in designing off-site S278 highways works and off-site drainage outfall solutions, negotiating with highway and drainage authorities during the process.”
LNT Construction is a part of LNT Care Developments, currently the UK’s largest provider of carbon-zero, affordable and high-quality care homes. Established for more than 30 years, the Group has developed more than 230 sites with a built value exceeding £3.7 billion, providing over 15,000 beds so far.
Innovative first aid business secures investment for growth
Yorkshire-based Mini First Aid is expanding with investment from Finance Yorkshire.
The company was founded nine years ago by Kate Ball who has successfully grown the business which now operates more than 70 franchises covering most of the UK.
Mini First Aid provides first aid training and education to people of all ages with its original parent and carer classes proving most popular. Other classes are aimed at children and adults with workplace training available.
Kate started the business from her home after her brother died suddenly from heart failure. His student friends called the emergency services but the students did not know how to do CPR. Later, pregnant with her first child, she found there was little in the way of first aid training for parents-to-be.
A £100,000 investment from Finance Yorkshire’s Loan fund will support Mini First Aid in its growth ambitions which include new product development and staff hires including a marketing manager.
Mini First Aid’s parent and carer class covers all emergency situations including CPR, choking, bleeding and burns. On average, 1,000 families are trained each week. The company also sells branded first aid kits and has recently added a reuseable hot and cold gel pack to its product range.
Kate said: “My aim has been to build a brand providing first aid training which is memorable. All Mini First Aid classes are a brilliant learning experience – they are hands-on with skills taught in a way that people will remember should they need to put them into practice.”
Kate is joined in the business by her husband Matt who is operations and financial director. They have six children and Kate was named Yorkshire Businesswoman of the Year 2024.
The couple are now working with leading charities and the NHS to provide fully funded classes for low-income families. Kate added: “Only 10% of new parents are learning first aid so the opportunity to grow Mini First Aid in the UK is massive. There is also the potential for us to roll out our training model in other countries.”
Alex McWhirter, CEO of Finance Yorkshire, said: “Under Kate’s leadership, Mini First Aid has become a widely recognised brand delivering vital life skills to people of all ages. We are pleased to support the Mini First Aid team in their ambitions to grow further by reaching more people with their innovative style of first aid training.”
Leeds law firm strengthens team with six new appointments
Ward Hadaway, a Leeds-based law firm, has appointed six new team members as it continues to grow.
The appointments include an equity partner, two solicitors, two trainee solicitors and one paralegal across sectors including real estate, healthcare and commercial litigation.
Emma Digby, Executive Partner in Ward Hadaway’s Leeds office, said: “The expansion of our Leeds team is a clear reflection of our firm’s growing presence across Yorkshire and beyond. With new appointments across multiple roles, we’re enhancing our ability to provide high-quality, sector-specific legal services to our clients.
“Our new team members, representing a blend of emerging and experienced professionals, will play a crucial role in our wider growth strategy. Their expertise will enable us to continue offering agile, high-calibre legal support to our diverse client base, while maintaining the independence that is core to our identity.”
Based in the Leeds office, Laura Hill joins as a Partner in the commercial litigation team. She brings specialist expertise and experience in handling AI-related litigation.
Emma continued: “Enhancing our teams to meet changing demands is also essential to our growth. For instance, as AI innovation accelerates, we are seeing increasing demand to support businesses in navigating the evolving legal challenges it presents.
“We help clients design and implement AI solutions within a fragmented regulatory framework, while closely monitoring developing legislation to ensure compliance. Our growing expertise in this space ensures clients can innovate confidently while managing emerging legal issues.”
Partner Laura Hill added: “I’m excited to join Ward Hadaway, a firm that’s deeply committed to innovation and providing practical, client-focused solutions. As AI continues to transform industries, I’m eager to contribute to the firm’s efforts to help businesses manage the unique legal hurdles that arise in this space.
“With our strong track record in supporting tech companies, we’re well-placed to guide organisations through the complexities of AI, ensuring they can grow and innovate while managing risks and staying ahead of changing regulations.”
New South Yorkshire survey aims to unlock the secrets of effective business communication
Cannon PR is inviting businesses from across South Yorkshire to take part in a new research project, aimed at understanding how companies connect, communicate and engage with others.
Believed to be the first comprehensive review of its kind, Cannon PR’s business communications survey will explore how companies are responding to challenges posed by changing communications methods, and the techniques used to engage with different audiences.
For many businesses, there has never been greater choice when it comes to engaging with others. Yet at the same time the communications landscape has never been more complex, particularly when it comes to embracing the many different tools, channels and techniques to stand out from the competition.
Earlier this year, data published by Ofcom revealed significant changes in the way that adults consume news. The Ofcom survey revealed that 52% adults rely upon their social media feeds to keep up-to-date with current affairs, whilst seven in ten adults consume news primarily through online sources.
The survey also revealed that less than half of adults rely upon traditional news sources such as BBC news and ITV. 82% of 16-24 year olds rely upon social media feeds, with 41% turning to Instagram, 37% using YouTube and 35% relying upon their Facebook feeds. The aim of the Cannon PR business survey is to explore how businesses are responding to changing audience habits.
The survey can be accessed here: https://cannonpr.co.uk/pr-survey/. Cannon PR is also providing the opportunity for ten businesses taking part in the survey to receive a free mini communications audit.
Matthew Ridsdale, founder, Cannon PR, said: “Effective communication is the cornerstone of every business. Earlier this year Ofcom published its own findings which revealed some interesting trends in the way we all consume the news and information. Our survey aims to understand how businesses are responding to the challenges posed by a changing communications landscape.
“There are no right or wrong answers in the survey, our research aims to explore current practices, techniques and tools used by businesses to ensure their messages cut through and connect with their target audiences.”
Year of major investments for Sheffield Forgemasters
Engineering specialist Sheffield Forgemasters has published financial results for the period to 31 March 2024, highlighting £107m of investments and £286m in placed contracts.
The company secured orders worth £193m for the period, more than double its 2023 intake of £72.5m and in the face of challenging trading conditions, marked by a pre-tax operating loss of £3.9m (2023: loss of £4.4m) against turnover of £100m (2023: £99.4m).
Accounts show that the company committed £286m to contracts for its £900m recapitalisation programme, which will see the Brightside Lane site transformed through the construction of the UK’s largest open-die Forging Line and a world-leading machining facility.
Chief Executive Officer, Gary Nutter, said: “The 12 months to 31 March saw £107 million of investments into new plant and equipment to recapitalise defence-critical equipment and improve efficiencies, by increasing throughput and reducing incidences of downtime.
“This is in addition to £286m of contracts which have been placed as our recapitalisation programme builds pace. We expect this rate of investment to accelerate over the next three years, which will transform production capabilities on-site.
“The company’s recapitalisation programme is designed to secure long-term sovereign capability for the UK and its allies’ defence needs and will positively affect the company’s delivery performance, as older machinery is replaced, and new facilities are brought online.”
Recent developments include the installation of two new, ultra-large, five-axis vertical turning lathes, which were commissioned in Q1, to reduce bottle necks in the delivery of complex forged and cast components into the UK’s defence programmes.
The company also bought 21 acres of land, with the largest 16-acre plot earmarked for a brand-new machining facility, which will house 17 of the world’s largest and most advanced vertical turning lathes, to support the UK’s future SSN-AUKUS submarine programme.
Headwinds which have affected the company’s performance include high energy costs, increasing inflation, global effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and ageing equipment failures, which are being addressed through its radical investment in new plant.
Most of its revenues came from UK Defence orders, with commercial intake down from £38 million in 2023, to £28 million this year.
The business secured new orders from US Defence, steel processing sectors and engineering products and its geographical revenues show UK income of more than £83m, with £6.7m from North America, £2m from non-European countries, and £7.5m from Europe.
Sheffield Forgemasters’ strategic plan includes the development of a highly skilled and diverse workforce, driven by its apprenticeships programme, which sees approximately ten per cent of the 675-strong workforce in apprenticeships at any one time.
It also features a site-wide flood prevention programme, and a drive to secure commercial sector revenues in renewable energy markets such as offshore wind and civil nuclear power.
New Director of Operations appointed at Manningham Housing Association
Saqib Saleem is joining Manningham Housing Association (MHA) as Director of Operations.
Amongst a broad range of responsibilities, he will lead on the delivery of customer facing services and drive MHA’s asset management strategy, including overseeing its property portfolio.
Mr Saleem is currently Director of Strategy and Regulation at Altair where he leads a team that advises organisations on housing regulation, risk management, supporting for-profit providers and helping organisations become Registered Providers with the Regulator of Social Housing.
He arrives at MHA with more than two decades of combined experience in the public and private sectors, including previous roles at Homes England, KPMG and The Guinness Partnership.
With expertise in audit, assurance, governance and risk within the housing sector, Mr Saleem is a qualified Internal Auditor, Agile Project Management Practitioner and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Audit Management and Consultancy.
He said: “I am excited to join MHA as Director of Operations.
“Social housing has an important part to play in people’s lives and can be a stepping stone to a prosperous future for families and individuals.
“I understand the difficulties faced by many BME communities and deeply admire the work that Manningham Housing Association does for such communities in Bradford and Keighley.
“It is an immense task to not only maintain but raise the high standards MHA has set for itself over many years, including numerous award wins, but I am up for the challenge.”
Lee Bloomfield, MHA Chief Executive, said: “The role of Director of Operations is hugely pivotal to MHA’s continued success as one of the country’s leading BME housing associations, and we set the bar particularly high when launching the recruitment process.
“We were seeking a candidate with a sharp focus on customer experience and satisfaction, and a passion for delivering services to BME communities. Saqib vividly demonstrated these qualities.
“We look forward to him becoming a key member of the Senior Management Team.”
Rupert Pometsey, MHA Chair, said: “This is an ideal time to be joining the association as we seek to inject added momentum into our ambitious growth plans on behalf of the local communities in Bradford and Keighley, whose needs we are proud to serve.
“The Board was impressed by Saqib’s energy and drive, alongside his extensive experience of the sector.
“He is extremely welcome as the newest member of the MHA family.”
Mr Saleem will take up post on 6 January 2025.
34,000 sq ft deal sealed at Leeds’ Bridgewater Place
Martley Capital Group have agreed terms with premium commercial amenity and workspace provider x+why to occupy 33,990 sq ft in Bridgewater Place, the 30-storey office-led, mixed-use tower in central Leeds.
x+why, will occupy the first, second and ninth floors of Bridgewater Place and a new 5,000 sq ft roof top terrace on a ten-year agreement, in addition to the operation of a newly designed building reception and coffee bar.
This will add to their portfolio of over 430,000 sq ft of flexible office, receptions and food & beverage led clubspaces in sustainable buildings across London, Birmingham, Manchester and Milton Keynes.
Since purchasing the tower in 2022 following years of underinvestment, the current owners have raised £35 million to carry out a complete refurbishment, with the aim of creating a high quality, fully repositioned, energy-efficient building, to return Bridgewater Place’s best in class credentials and secure its continued status as a Leeds landmark.
x+why’s fully refurbished offering is due to open in late 2025 with available suites ranging from 4 desks to a 5,000 sq ft office which can be adjusted to member needs.
Eamon Fox, Partner and Head of Development for Knight Frank which represents Martley Capital, said: “Securing x+why is brilliant for the asset and the wider Leeds business community and our approach is to excel in the mandatory characteristics of best-in-class buildings. The baseline for the future office is being reset at Bridgewater Place.”
x+why’s offering will provide flexible working space, private enterprise suites, meeting rooms, event space, food and beverage, a clubspace and extensive roof terrace. x+why will also be running the main building reception, including a new coffee bar in the revitalised atrium.
x+why’s in-house design team, whydesign, will be leading on the interior design of the space.
When refurbished Bridgewater Place will have greatly improved sustainability credentials, including BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC ‘A’ ratings, aiming for net zero in operation by 2030 in the landlord-controlled areas.
Rupert Dean, CEO and co-founder of x+why, said: “We are building a national infrastructure of cutting-edge workspaces, designed to combine hospitality, design and sustainability, ensuring every city we enter is equipped with spaces that set the standard for the modern workforce.
“We plan to be in every gateway city in the UK, and want to be in the best buildings and locations, and so are thrilled to be launching in this exciting location in Leeds.
“We believe in creating a single hospitality platform across all amenities in offices to provide best in class tenant experience, and creating inspiring, sustainable spaces that not only support businesses but contribute meaningfully to their local environments and support what the office is all about today.
“We are passionate about driving impactful change with our spaces, and can only do so as a result of strong and transparent relationships with our landlords, so we are delighted to be working with the fantastic and forward thinking team at Martley on Bridgewater Place.
“Crucial to us is a shared vision for the future of work, sustainability and the role of amenity. We love Martley’s vision for the space and their commitment to re-imagining an existing asset in a highly sustainable way, which is a core value for our business.”
Jack Thoms, Executive Managing Director, Real Estate at Martley Capital Group, said: “We are delighted to be working with the team at x+why at Bridgewater Place to bring their dynamic offering to the building.
“Their innovative approach to workplace environments will set a benchmark in Leeds, with every aspect of the building serving not just as an office but as a destination, reflecting the evolving needs of local businesses.
“We believe that the vibrancy that the refurbishment of the atrium and common areas will bring, together with x+why being highly visible at Levels 1 and 2, and the unique offering at level 9, will enliven the building.”
Leeds office investment sold for over £10m
Acting on behalf of Bridges Fund Management and Evenacre, CBRE’s Leeds Investment team has completed the sale of 6 East Parade, a prime office building in central Leeds for in excess of £10 million. The building was acquired by STR Capital for a private client.
The prominent Grade A office building comprises 44,000 sq ft of space over 7 floors with 13 basement parking spaces and is multi-let to tenants including Dentsu, DLA Architects, Claranet, Iwoca, Muse, Overbury and ABS Limited.
Lewis Ellis advised STR Capital, a UK focused commercial real estate investment asset management company, acting on behalf of a private client.
Alex Whiting, Senior Director at CBRE who advised Bridges and Evenacre, said: “6 East Parade is a high quality refurbished building in a prime location and investor interest in the property was strong. This multi-million pound deal highlights the continuing improvement of the Leeds investment market.”
Guy Bowden, Partner at Bridges Fund Management, said: “With 6 East Parade, we saw an opportunity to bring a disused building back into economic use and address the clear under-supply of prime office space in central Leeds.
“Our investment enabled an environmentally-led refurbishment that has made the building an attractive location for local businesses, who recognise the value of sustainability features in cutting operating costs and reducing their carbon footprint.”
Marcus Langlands Pearse, Partner at STR Capital, added: “6 East Parade follows on from our recent acquisition of 2 office buildings in Tunbridge Wells.
“Bridges have done an excellent job of repositioning this Leeds City Centre office and we look forward to further enhancing the space. 6 East Parade complements our current strategy of buying well let, future proofed buildings in strong locations.”
Smiths Hire welcomed to Bradford business centre on decade-long lease
Towngate Plc, the specialist in commercial and industrial property letting and management, has welcomed Smiths Equipment Hire Ltd to its Bradford development.
Signing a 10-year lease on Unit 3 Towngate Business Centre, Windsor Street, the equipment and tool hire provider now has a third hub in West Yorkshire to support its ongoing growth in the region.
Smiths currently boasts one the largest independent fleets in the UK, offering nationwide service for powered access and plant equipment. The firm provides essential tool-based support to industries spanning construction and engineering to facilities management and maintenance.
With over 50 years of heritage and more than 18 depots – including Leeds and Castleford in West Yorkshire, incorporating nine construction training centres across the north west providing IPAF, PASMA, and a range of other industry-renowned qualifications – it continues to expand its footprint.
“We’re excited to occupy this new hub and further our relationship with Towngate as part of our ongoing expansion,” said David Smith, joint managing director at Smiths Hire.
Thomas Smith, also joint managing director, added: “Strategically located and with excellent features, the facility provides an ideal space to support our growing fleet and better serve our customers across the region.”
The detached trade counter and warehouse unit spans 7,469 sq ft, featuring an extensive frontage along Wakefield Road (A650), a secure yard area, ground-level loading, parking provisions, and ancillary offices.
“Situated within a mile of Bradford City Centre, two miles from the M606 motorway, and four miles from the M62, the unit provides excellent connectivity for Smith’s regional and national logistics,” said Tom Lamb, property director at Towngate Plc. “Beyond this proximity to the motorway network and main arterial routes, what sets this premium trade counter apart is its adaptability.
“Whether supporting large-scale equipment distribution or offering a centralised customer support hub, this facility lays a strong foundation for Smith’s continued expansion in the northwest. We look forward to working with the business over the next decade.”
Jake Pygall of Avison Young, who acted as Smiths Hire’s agent for the transaction, said: “We were delighted to represent Smiths Hire in acquiring this excellent location on their behalf – a testament to the strength and growth of the business. It was also a pleasure to work alongside Towngate and its agents in securing the facility, and I am confident both Smiths and Towngate will build a fruitful and lasting relationship together.”
Notable occupiers near Smiths Hire’s new lease in Bradford include Travis Perkins, James Hargreaves, GAP, Speedy Hire, CEF, and Toolstation.
