Mayor calls for business leaders to help shape North Yorkshire’s economic future
York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith is seeking business leaders to join a new Business Board with the objective of shaping economic growth for the region.
He’s looking for ‘innovative and passionate’ business leaders to sit on the board and advise the Combined Authority on economic strategy and policy decisions. The board will also help the Combined Authority bid for fresh investment and engage with businesses, opinion formers and policy makers to help generate economic growth.
He said: “The business community will play a vital role in ensuring our region has a connected and thriving economy where we are reaching our full potential.
“The creation of the Business Board will enable me to understand and take action to best support businesses and create opportunity for all, across York and North Yorkshire. If you’re passionate about business and passionate about the future for York and North Yorkshire, your voice is important, and I want to hear from you.”
Sewell Estates Co-Owner Council releases report looking back at its first 18 months
Following its first 18 months of co-ownership, Sewell Estates Co-Owner Council has released its first annual report, which looks back at what’s been achieved so far and the impact becoming a co-owned business has had on its people and customers.
The report was co-written by two ‘voice champions’ from different parts of the business who sit on the Co-Owner Council; the body that represents the 280 people from across Sewell’s seven businesses.
Dieter Franks, Co-Owner and Site Manager at Sewell Construction, said: “It’s been fantastic to see our ideas and suggestions not only heard but implemented throughout the business. The positive feedback I’ve received has been so encouraging and has motivated me to share my thoughts and ideas even more.”
Since launching its employee ownership trust in January 2023, new governance arrangements have been put in place, which include a Trust Board and Co-Owner Council to represent the voice of its people. The team have attended events up and down the country to learn more about employee ownership and share examples of best practice, and Co-owners have had the opportunity to attend board meetings to directly input into the running of the business.
Stuart Verry, Co-Owner Council Member and Operations Manager at Community Ventures said: “I am extremely proud of what the Council has achieved so far. A group of people from varying roles across the group has developed into a cohesive unit who support each other as we navigated through the first year of employee ownership.”
Some of the achievements include launching a new Co-Owner Charter, which outlines the responsibilities of all employees to ensure the business is serving its customers in the best possible way and continuing to drive efficiencies and improvements.
New employee benefits have also been introduced, including enhanced cost of living pay increases, health screenings, a new payroll saving scheme and uplifts in holiday allowances.
Co-Owners have also been actively submitting ideas for developing the business through new or improved ways of working and identifying areas for making productivity gains and cutting waste.
Director of Halifax recycling company sentenced after worker loses leg
The director of a Halifax-based recycling company has been given a community order after a worker lost part of his left leg when it was crushed by machinery.
Daisy Ning Bai, 43, the director of BW Recycling Limited, was told she must complete 160 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to health and safety breaches. They related to an incident on 26 November 2019 at the company’s Cinderhall Works site on Sidall Top Lane.
The incident saw Nathan Bland, who was just 20 years of age at the time, have the lower part of his left leg instantly amputated. He also lost several toes from his right foot after his legs were crushed inside a waste baler – a piece of equipment used to compress waste products into a form that’s easy to manage for recycling or disposal.
In a victim personal statement, Mr Bland, who is now 25, said ‘every day was a struggle’ and that returning to work had proved to be very difficult due to the prosthetic leg he now has to wear.
“I can still have flashbacks,” he said. “I also struggle as my stump has issues fitting on my prosthetic leg. The incident has also affected my social life as it has given me PTSD and depression. I have had to get a support worker to help with my daily activities to help me with daily activities such as shopping and going to appointments.”
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Daisy Ning Bai introduced a working platform in front of the baler to make the job of filling the hopper easier for the operatives. The introduction of the platform in front of the hopper permitted easy access to the baling chamber including access to the dangerous moving parts of the baler itself.
Daisy Ning Bai, director of BW Recycling Limited of Ridge View Drive, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. She was given a 12-month community order and must complete 160 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £5,843 in costs.
BW Recycling Limited was not prosecuted by HSE after it was dissolved via compulsory strike off on 5 December 2023.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Sarah Lee said: “A young man has had his life changed forever as a result of this incident.
“Companies and individuals that use balers should not install working platforms or other devices in front of the hoppers on balers as it permits access to dangerous moving parts of the baler.
“This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.”
Supermarket fuel price margins are double 2019 levels, says CMA
Supermarkets are making twice as much on fuel sales as they did in 2019, according to the Competition and Markets Authority.
The CMA has updated its action to ensure that people can get the best possible choices and prices in the face of ongoing cost of living pressures. This new analysis highlights the persisting cost to drivers of weakened competition in the fuel sector.
It says retailers’ fuel margins are still significantly above historic levels, leaving supermarkets’ fuel margins roughly double what they were in 2019.
When the CMA published its road fuel market study report, it recommended development of a smart data driven fuel finder scheme be set up to make prices available to motorists across the UK in real time, such as through map apps and sat-navs. This will be backed up with ongoing monitoring by the CMA to hold the sector to account. This scheme could save drivers up to £4.50 each time they fill up, as it would make it easier to find cheaper fuel in their area.
Legislation – which is needed to establish the scheme fully – may take time to come into force. So that motorists can start to benefit from quicker, easier access to fuel prices through everyday apps sooner, the CMA encourages the government to introduce an enhanced interim voluntary scheme that is as close to the final scheme as possible.
90 new affordable homes set for Bradford
Social enterprise, Places for People, in partnership with Vistry Group, the provider of mixed-tenure affordable homes, is set to build 90 new affordable homes in Bierly, Bradford.
The site – Woodlands Edge – in Bierley, a suburb of Bradford, will provide areas of new open space, green corridors and landscaping. Existing pedestrian connections will be improved, and work will be undertaken to enhance nearby Brierley Hall Woods.
The new homes will include a range of two- and three-bedroom houses, offered in affordable rent and shared ownership tenures.
The development is expected to create 144 full-time construction jobs and almost 180 supply chain jobs across the build period, injecting £23m into the local economy.
As part of their commitment to social value, Places for People will also work closely with local schools and colleges to provide site visits, toolbox talks, and work placements, as well as supporting local schools’ own initiatives.
Nilam Buchanan, Regional Managing Director for Central and North of Places for People, says: “As the UK’s leading social enterprise, we have a long-term plan to help address England’s chronic shortage of homes and build sustainable communities, with a big focus on delivering much-needed affordable homes.
“We are delighted to work with Bradford Council and our strategic partners, Vistry Group to create 90 much-needed affordable houses for the local community. We’re also proud to provide significant employment opportunities and showcase the opportunities a career in the built environment can offer.”
Vistry secured planning permission for the development back in October 2023 and work is set to start on site this summer.
Andrew Poyner, Managing Director of Vistry, West Yorkshire, said: “Thanks to the engagement and support of Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, we’ve been able to work together with Places for People to unlock this site for development. It will now deliver 90 high-quality, affordable homes, making a significant impact on Bradford’s affordable housing supply.”
UK signs up to international digital trade agreement
The UK has today joined a groundbreaking agreement which is designed to grow the economy by boosting global digital trade.
After five years of negotiations, the UK and 90 other countries have finalised the E-Commerce Joint Initiative at the World Trade Organization, which will make trade faster, cheaper, fairer and more secure. It will help British businesses, workers and consumers seize the opportunities of global digital trade, which is estimated by the OECD to be worth around £4 trillion and growing.
Once implemented, the agreement will commit all participants to the digitalisation of customs documents and processes. This will in many cases end the need to print forms off and hand them over at customs – a slow, expensive and old-fashioned way of working.
The signatories to this agreement will also commit to recognising e-documents and e-signatures, reducing the need for businesses to physically sign contracts and post them around the world.
Global adoption of digital customs systems, processes and documents would increase UK GDP by up to £24.2 billion in 2023 UK GDP terms. Even partial adoption could represent a significant boost to UK GDP.
It also commits signatories to putting in place legal safeguards against online fraudsters and misleading claims about products.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “We are proud to play our part in securing the first ever global digital trade agreement, cutting costs for business and delivering on this government’s ambition to deliver economic growth.
“Britain is back and proudly playing her role as an outward looking trading nation. Global digital trade is already estimated by the OECD to be worth around £4 trillion and counting but no common set of global rules exist. This is a huge step forward in correcting that and ensuring British businesses feel the benefit.”
Science Secretary Peter Kyle said: “This global agreement aims to help people use technology safely by protecting them from fraud, while driving economic growth through the digitalisation of trade so it’s faster and more secure. We will leave no stone unturned in our work to share the benefits of technology and drive economic growth by working with partners around the world to achieve this.”
Acis Group steps up to manage Mablethorpe Campus for Future Living
The Acis Group is to be the operator of the Campus for Future Living in Mablethorpe, which has been created by East Lindsey District Council.
In partnership, the Council and Acis will bring the campus to life to deliver significant benefits to support the health and prosperity of the local community.
Greg Bacon, CEO of Acis Group, said: “This is an exciting opportunity that aligns perfectly with our commitment to enhancing services, skills and education within our communities.
“In proud partnership with East Lindsey District Council, we will bring our knowledge and skills of delivering for local communities that we have grown across the Group over the last 25 years. We work in Mablethorpe and surrounding areas already through Community Learning in Partnership (CLIP) which has delivered there for over 15 years, and which joined the Acis family in 2022.
“Acis are thrilled to lead this project in delivering future services and helping to make a bigger difference in these communities.”
The Campus for Future Living is the Council’s flagship project designed to bring transformational health, wellbeing, research and community services to this area of the Lincolnshire coast for the first time, thanks to £8.6m government funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The vision is about creating learning opportunities, new jobs, and support for the local community. Alongside a wealth of community-based services the campus will also offer a café facility for all to enjoy.
Proposed plans for the Campus by Acis include a range of activities, networking space and room hire, with each initiative designed to make a tangible difference in the community.
Sited close to the Marisco Medical Centre, Mablethorpe Children’s Centre, Platform Housing and Mablethorpe Community Hub, the campus is primely positioned to become a thriving centre that links services together, creates new services that support local need and offers opportunities for learning, research and wellbeing for generations to come.
This flagship and internationally significant campus benefits from the commitment of the University of Lincoln and the Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health to use the Campus as a base to conduct research and learning into health inequalities affecting coastal communities.
Parcel delivery company Evri to be acquired
Evri, one of the UK’s largest parcel delivery companies, based in Leeds, is set to be acquired by investor Apollo from Advent International.
Since relaunching as Evri in 2022, the company has grown to become a key leader in parcel delivery, with a strong national network purpose-built for third-party e-commerce parcels and a differentiated last-mile delivery model. Today, Evri reaches nearly every household in the UK and, on average, serves more than 12 million customers per week.
Apollo Private Equity Partner Alex van Hoek said: “Evri has built an enviable position in parcel delivery, with an innovative model, technology and infrastructure purpose-built for reliable, lower emissions delivery in the fast-growing e-commerce market.
“We are delighted to partner with Martijn and the management team to support and invest in Evri’s continued success and expansion as an Apollo fund portfolio company.”
Evri CEO Martijn de Lange said: “We are incredibly proud of the transformative changes that have enabled Evri to efficiently scale while maintaining our focus on on-time delivery and an environmentally responsible model.
“We want to thank the team at Advent for their partnership over the past five years and providing the business with a strong foundation for continued expansion. In this next chapter we are excited to partner with the Apollo team to execute on the compelling growth opportunities we see ahead.”
“There is strong momentum in Evri’s business and we are excited to leverage our capital and experience in logistics and transportation to serve as value-add partners in this next phase,” added Apollo’s Michael Saffer.
The Evri transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024.
Private equity firm invests into Hull occupational health service provider
Private equity firm NorthEdge has invested into Latus Group (Latus), an occupational health service provider, to support the business accelerate organic growth and deliver strategic M&A.
NorthEdge is backing the founders, Jack Latus (CEO), Sam Latus (COO) and Will Latus (CIO), alongside Alex Birkett (CFO) and their team of medical specialists and support staff, to deliver an ambitious plan.
Latus is headquartered in Hull and works with businesses across a range of sectors to deliver world-class health strategies to support regulatory compliance; improve colleague health & wellbeing and enhance employee engagement – in turn reducing absenteeism and relieving wider pressures on the NHS through a preventative approach to health.
The company’s mission is to improve access to high-quality, data-driven healthcare in the workplace. To achieve this, Latus provides a range of services across Occupational Health, Health Surveillance, Testing and Screening and Employee Wellbeing.
Over the last two years, as well as delivering strong growth, the business has completed two strategic acquisitions and launched its proprietary health platform, Yodha. The on-demand platform enables customers to access digital health surveillance services, streamlining the user experience and providing better data for leadership teams to make decisions about the health & wellbeing of their workforce.
NorthEdge’s investment will support the business to continue on this growth trajectory. The growth plan includes additional investment into people and the operational platform; improving commercial effectiveness; investing in customer success; and further investment into technology to support the shift to a digital health operating model.
In addition, the investment will support the business to execute an M&A strategy to facilitate end-market, service-line and geographical expansion.
Jack Latus, CEO of Latus, said: “We have been building our relationship with NorthEdge for two years, so the completion of this investment represents a significant milestone for us. As well as the clear cultural fit and sector experience, the NorthEdge team have already supported us to find an experienced Chair and M&A Director, alongside helping us to refine our organic growth plan and M&A strategy.
“This investment will allow us to accelerate our growth and further expand our reach – delivering more high-quality occupational health services for our clients that improve health outcomes, by ensuring employees across the UK have the health support they need, whenever they need it and wherever they are.”
Phil Frame, Partner at NorthEdge, said: “Latus is a leader in its field and the team have the ambition of building a business with strategic and social importance.
“The business operates in a large and growing market; has a track record of delivering growth; is committed to introducing new and innovative approaches in the sector to improve health outcomes; and the team’s approach aligns perfectly with NorthEdge’s culture and values – we are delighted to have another business with these characteristics in the NorthEdge portfolio.
“We are looking forward to working with Jack, Sam and Will over the coming years to support them to realise our collective ambitions and build a business that we are all proud to be a part of.”
The deal was funded from NorthEdge Fund III and was led by Phil Frame, Partner, alongside Matthew Mellon and Mike Craven, Investment Managers. Phil Frame will join the board on behalf of NorthEdge, alongside Non-Executive Chair Graham Ewart.
West Yorkshire leaders approve over £40 million for roads and homes
The first meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority since the General Election has seen over £40 million approved for new housebuilding and road improvements.
The meeting also saw progress towards a Local Growth Plan, outlining ambitions for deeper devolution and a single funding settlement for West Yorkshire, following a series of productive meetings between the region’s Mayor Tracy Brabin and Government Ministers.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “This multi-million pound investment in our cities, towns and villages will give us the building blocks of a stronger, brighter region.
“The backing of the new Government will be a gamechanger for our ambitions, allowing us to deliver more quickly and boldly through a single funding settlement.
“And our Local Growth Plan will give us the tools we need to grow our economy, create well-paid jobs and put money back in people’s pockets.”
In total, regional leaders agreed £43 million of new funding to support over a dozen projects. These include:
- £1.6 million to help build 63 new homes in Wakefield’s Civic Quarter.
- £2.2 million for a range of improvements at bus stations across West Yorkshire.
- £13.8 million to improve traffic capacity in Kirklees.
- £7.7 million to support cycling corridors across Leeds City Centre.
