York Handmade secures hat-trick of National Trust commissions
York Handmade Brick Company has landed a hat-trick of prestigious commissions from the National Trust.
York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, is suppling bricks for Little Moreton Hall in Congleton, Cheshire, Dunham Massey in Altrincham and Goddards in Tadcaster Road, York.
The three Trust properties are currently being renovated.
Mark Laksevics of York Handmade said: “We are tremendously proud to be playing such a pivotal role in the appearance and construction of three of the National Trust’s most distinctive properties in the north of England.
“Our relationship with the National Trust has blossomed this year, which is allowing us to manufacture and showcase our finest special bricks. These bricks perfectly complement the unique character of all three properties and merge seamlessly with their historic appearance.”
Little Moreton Hall is an iconic moated and half-timbered Tudor manor house with a quirky character and gorgeous gardens. The National Trust has been restoring two historic chimney stacks this year, with the help of York Handmade.
John Evans of the National Trust explained: “The repointing of the chimney stacks at Little Moreton Hall required replacement bricks and, as York Handmade are widely known in the conservation sector for their handmade bricks, they were the obvious choice to help us with this project.
“The company provided four different blends and sizes of bricks for this project, which has been completed successfully. They have been very helpful and great to work with and I would heartily recommend them.”
Meanwhile Dunham Massey Hall is a magnificent 17th century English country house, near Altrincham, Greater Manchester. It boasts a walled garden for all seasons, an ancient deer park and a house filled with treasures from the last four centuries.
Paula Baron of the National Trust explained: “We are using York Handmade’s bricks on the chimney of the Coach House and on two barns on the wider 300-acre estate. The work will be completed by the end of this year, weather permitting. We have ordered a constant supply of York Handmade’s brick to ensure we don’t run out.
“The open texture of their bricks was a good match and perfect for this project. We have built up an excellent relationship and we had a wonderful behind the scenes tour of York Handmade’s factory when we came over to York for the day. They couldn’t have been more accommodating.”
Finally, York Handmade has just begun supplying bricks for the restoration of Goddards, one of York’s finest private houses, situated in Tadcaster Road, close to York Racecourse. An Arts and Crafts house, it was built in 1927 for Noel and Kathleen Terry of the famed chocolate-manufacturing family Terry’s. It was designed by the great York architect Walter Brierley and was acquired by The National Trust in 1984.
Mark Laksevics concluded: “It has been a joy to work with the National Trust on these projects. The role the Trust plays in conservation and enhancing the UK’s heritage is absolutely crucial and for us, as a company, to support the Trust in this role is both deeply satisfying and humbling. We hope this special relationship continues for many years to come.”
Adtran expands UK operations with York distribution center
Adtran has opened a new 20,000-square-foot distribution center in York.
The facility expands Adtran’s UK operations, supporting the deployment of its end-to-end fiber infrastructure solutions, including optical transport, Carrier Ethernet and access equipment.
By enhancing logistics capabilities, the new center will enable faster delivery of essential network components. It will support a wide array of services, such as testing, production and customization of hardware and software. The facility also underscores Adtran’s commitment to sustainability and the highest standards of environmental performance.
Paulus Bucher, senior VP of global operations at Adtran, said: “Our new distribution center is designed to meet the demands of the UK’s rapidly expanding fiber broadband network. For over 20 years, York has been central to our UK strategy, serving as a vital hub that allows us to efficiently support service providers across the country.
“This new facility builds on that strong foundation, enabling faster, more cost-effective and more sustainable deployments to ensure high-speed broadband reaches both major cities and remote rural areas across the UK.
“From our York campus, we’re providing service providers of all sizes with the tools they need to build and expand fiber infrastructure. Through our comprehensive portfolio of networking equipment, from optical transport and Carrier Ethernet to residential solutions, we’re ensuring they can deliver high-speed, reliable connectivity from the core and through the door.”
The new distribution center, Sovereign House, has earned an “excellent” rating from the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, highlighting its top-tier environmental performance.
“Sovereign House is part of our strategy to strengthen our supply chain and ensure resilience against disruptions. By centralizing logistics, we’re able to enhance efficiency and speed up the delivery of essential broadband technologies to our UK customers,” said Stuart Broome, GM of EMEA sales at Adtran.
“This facility will enable service providers to roll out multigigabit fiber and AI-driven solutions more rapidly, allowing them to seize new market opportunities and better serve their communities nationwide. With sustainability and power efficiency at the core of its design, Sovereign House also reinforces our commitment to environmentally responsible operations.”
Company importing through Humber docks takes space at East Yorkshire business park
A Hull company which imports products through the Humber Docks to be distributed to customers in West Yorkshire has taken space at one of East Yorkshire’s biggest business sites.
Humber Storage Solutions are now permanent tenants of Units 7 and 8 at Dianthus Business Park, in Newport.
It will see the business benefit from having 136,000 sq ft of industrial space, situated a short distance from Hull, Immingham and Goole Docks, and with immediate access to the A63 and onto the A1 and M62 across the country.
The deal to secure the property was handled by Garness Jones. Senior Surveyor Chris Hyam says: “This is a fantastic location for Humber Storage Solutions and will really aid their business activities as they store and distribute products imported through the Humber Docks, which are then transported down the motorway to a facility for a major international client in West Yorkshire.
“In terms of businesses operating in this kind of market, Dianthus Business Park is hard to beat for location, whilst also offering first-class facilities.”
Dianthus Business Park has been through significant development and expansion since it was first built as a home for JZ Flowers in 2010.
Leeds leather exporter welcomes Government’s new online insurance portal
The MD of a Leeds-based leather supplier Yarwood Leather has welcomed a new online Government portal for companies applying for government-backed export insurance.
Yarwood Leather, which has been supplying the automotive, aviation, and marine industries for more than 50 years, has been one of the first to secure government insurance through the new portal, using the support to help it deliver major new contracts supplying material to furniture makers in Vietnam.
MD Kate Dixon of said: “Yarwood Leather have been in business and exporting for over 50 years. The support from UKEF has opened up new markets for us in territories which are not covered by our usual credit insurer.”
The government’s export credit agency UKEF has launched the new online portal for credit insurance applications, which means that for the first time businesses can apply for government export insurancewithout having to complete a PDF form, improving access to international trading opportunities.
Its said that the new portal significantly shortens the application process, making it easier for businesses to apply for and ultimately get the support they need to export.
UKEF’s export insurance product has protected hundreds of exporters from non-payment risk, giving them the confidence to deliver high-value export contracts. This is particularly valuable for SMEs, which may face greater challenges securing private-sector finance. Around 75% of UKEF’s insurance policies last year supported SMEs, mostly in manufacturing, construction and retail sectors.
Gareth Thomas, Minister for Exports, said: “Exporting can help businesses to grow more quickly and is a driver of UK economic growth. This is why the new government is asking UKEF to take action to make exporting easier and more accessible.
“This new online service makes it easier than ever before for SMEs to apply for export insurance, giving them the confidence to take on new contracts around the world.”
Government should recognise tradesmen’s positive contribution to homebuilding, says boss of payroll firm
Ian Anfield, MD of Bridlington-based CIS payroll company Hudson Contract says his company’s latest figures show there will always be a demand for highly skilled, safe and productive tradespeople in construction – the self-employed subcontractors.
He said: “Several trades are seeing record earnings even when housebuilding activity is relatively flat and way below government targets. If the new government and its agencies are serious about boosting output to around 300,000 new homes every year, they should recognise the positive contribution made by self-employed tradespeople, and not get sucked into constant criticism of them or their clients.
“An increase in housebuilding activity does not necessarily mean increasing the number of tradespeople by hundreds of thousands over the next few years.
“Construction is cyclical with peaks and troughs in the market. Companies will adapt and reorganise their resources to maximise the skills available to them on site. To suggest we can train or import an extra 40,000 people a year is just pie in the sky, so whatever happens, skilled subcontractors will always be in demand.”
He says subcontractors enjoyed record earnings across key trades last month, with pay for self-employed tradespeople up by 1.2 per cent to an average of £1,028 per week in August, the second highest on record. Year-on-year, earnings increased by 1.6 per cent compared to the same month in 2023.
Insulation trades saw the strongest growth, with earnings rising 7.3 per cent to a record-breaking £1,218 per week last month.
They were followed by bricklaying (up 4.6 per cent to £1,032); demolition (up 3.5 per cent to £1,025); and scaffolding (up 2 per cent to £975) subcontractors; all increasing to record levels.
Hudson’s pay trends analysis is based on payments made on behalf of circa 2,600 construction SMEs across England and Wales.
Lindum Group makes six directorship appointments
Lindum Group has appointed six new divisional directors from amongst its existing workforce.
In Lincoln, Nigel Parker and Stephen Roberts have been made Directors of Lindum Construction division.
In York, Lester Fisher, Gary Allen, and Dominic Kidd have been been made Directors of Lindum York.
And Group Health and Safety Manager Rob Wright has been promoted to Director of Health and Safety.
Group Co-Chair Freddie Chambers said the promotions recognise the hard work done by all in guiding, promoting and delivering Lindum’s commitment to teamworks and looking after clients.
“Each of these new directors has shown an unwavering commitment to our company values and to delivering outstanding results for our clients. Their leadership will be instrumental in shaping the future of Lindum by driving our strategic objectives and enhancing the company’s capabilities to deliver high-quality, sustainable solutions for our clients.”
West Lindsey Council works with businesses to boost region’s tourism economy
Leisure and tourism businesses in West Lindsey are being offered free workshops designed to maximise the visitor economy in the district.
West Lindsey District Council is working with Unmissable England, who specialise in experiential tourism, to offer business support and training to tourism businesses across the country.
Two new free workshops are now available this autumn, via funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for West Lindsey businesses which are aimed at the leisure and tourism sector.
Cllr Lesley Rollings, Chair of Prosperous Communities and Corporate Policy Committee, said she is delighted that more free training has become available for businesses. She said: “Supporting our businesses is vital in stimulating the growth and development of the district. These workshops are a great opportunity to receive specialist advice from real tourism experts which in turn will add value to our visitor economy and further boost our fantastic offer”.
Chris Brant, Director & Experiential Tourism Advisor at Unmissable England, said: “I am thrilled to return to West Lindsey District to present these training workshops,” said Chris Brant, tourism advisor from Unmissable England. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to help local businesses enhance their marketing strategies and improve accessibility, ensuring a more inclusive and successful tourism experience for all.”
Full details of the workshop dates are on the West Lindsey District Council web site.
Yorkshire Water names contractors for £19.5m improvements near Keighley
Yorkshire Water is investing £19.5m in two schemes near Keighley to improve the water quality in the River Aire, alongside the resilience of the clean water network.
Marley wastewater treatment works is undergoing an £18m upgrade set to reduce the amount Phosphorus in the wastewater returned to the river Aire post treatment – improving the water quality of over 6.5km of the watercourse downstream of the works.
Contract partner Galliford Try is entering phase two of the project at Marley, which is a significant part of a £500m investment in Phosphorus reduction throughout Yorkshire, and work is expected to complete in early 2025. Phase one is being completed by Kier.
David Hobman, lead project manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “These are important projects for the Keighley area and the Aire and Calder catchment, and we’re pleased to be making progress on each of them.
“It’s essential that we look after our rivers and help them to thrive – these works, which make up part of our wider investment in Phosphorous reduction across Yorkshire, will have a positive impact on the River Aire.”
Phosphorus is a normal part of domestic sewage, entering the sewer system via domestic showers and washing machines due to products such as shampoo and liquid detergent containing Phosphorus. It can also wash off from agricultural fields after the use of fertilisers and be dissolved from soil which can be difficult to control.
While a small amount of Phosphorus is harmless and is an essential part of many ecosystems, it can become damaging to human and animal life when unmanaged.
Meanwhile, Ponden Water Pumping Station, part of the clean water network, will receive a £1.5m upgrade, subject to planning approval.
Contract partners Barhale Enpure will be completing the refurbishment at the pumping station, which pumps raw water from Ponden reservoir to Oldfield Water Treatment Works for treatment. The works will enable the Oldfield site to take more water from Ponden reservoir to improve the resilience of the network.
North Yorkshire builders to be offered free hands-on advice about energy efficiency
Builders in North Yorkshire are being urged to take part in free hands-on building workshops to train in energy efficiency techniques.
As part of North Yorkshire Council’s Local Energy Advice Demonstrator project, retrofit training is being offered to help builders transform their approach to building design and construction and conform to Part L Building Regulations.
Part L provides guidance on energy efficiency and covers the thermal performance of a building’s fabric and heating systems.
The two half-day sessions, in Ricall in October and Hutton Rugby in November, will focus on the critical role of airtightness in modern building practices that will shape housebuilding and renovation into the future.
Delivered by an industry leading airtightness company, Partel, the courses will offer practical experience with membranes, tapes, airtight components and tools, and provide expert techniques and troubleshooting tips from industry experts.
The workshop will cover:
- Why buildings need to be more airtight
- Condensation risk
- Airtightness and ventilation
- How to build an airtight structure
- Retrofitting airtightness
- Breathability
- Specifying the correct product(s)
Sheffield Chamber moves to new offices
Sheffield Chamber of Commerce has relocated its headquarters to an eighth-floor space of almost 3,500 sq feet at Westfield House, fronting Charter Row and set in the heart of Sheffield’s city centre.
It will house not only the core Chamber team, but also colleagues from Sheffield International Trade Centre. The aim is to ensure the whole team sits under one roof, to greater streamline operations and benefit SCCI members.
The soon to be 22-strong team says the new environment, with its central and accessible location, emphasises its long-term commitment to supporting Sheffield’s vibrant business community and will make it easier to engage with existing and prospective members.
Louisa Harrison-Walker, Chief Executive of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, said: “Our move to Westfield House marks an exciting new chapter for Sheffield Chamber. The new location embodies the energy and ambition of our city. Being positioned at Westfield House, near the very businesses and communities we support, is a testament to our commitment to driving growth and opportunity for all organisations here in Sheffield.
The move has been made possible with help from commercial property specialist Colloco, legal specialists Irwin Mitchell, IT infrastructure from ITS Technologies and FluidOne, and a generous donation of office furniture from Rider Level Bucknall and Westfield Health.
The Chamber is a not-for-profit organisation made up of a community of board members, council members, patrons, and champions. This community is where businesspeople from around the region can share their expertise and insight to shape what the Chamber has to say on prominent issues.
