Superyacht recruitment agency opens new northern office

Mycrewagency, a superyacht recruitment agency, has opened a new office in Skipton, located within the Yorkshire Dales at Broughton Hall Sanctuary. This expansion supports the company’s plans for future growth while enhancing its recruitment, content production, and crew support services.

The office, nestled within 3,000 acres of countryside, aims to promote well-being and work-life balance for the team. The move to Skipton also highlights the agency’s commitment to tapping into northern talent, offering opportunities to the local community, and setting a new precedent for recruitment in the superyacht industry.

In addition to supporting its core recruitment functions, the new office will serve as the base for The Superyacht Podcast. The agency plans to strengthen connections within the yachting sector, not just in the UK but internationally.

As Mycrewagency continues to grow, the new office will play a pivotal role in shaping its culture, promoting team cohesion, and fostering industry partnerships.

SUMMIT extends its business strategy services to North West Yorkshire

Business strategy consultancy, SUMMIT, has expanded its footprint into North West Yorkshire, marking a key step in its growth across the North of England. The company, which launched in 2024 following the merger of Forward Thinking Brand Strategists and Latitude Marketing, offers a robust combination of business planning, marketing strategy, and creative solutions.

To lead the expansion, SUMMIT has appointed Steve Hanson as Franchise Managing Director and Business Growth Guide for North Yorkshire. Steve brings a wealth of experience from his successful journey as the founder of Callidus Health and Safety, which he established and later sold in 2024. With his practical knowledge of scaling a business and overcoming the challenges faced by SMEs, he is well-positioned to help local businesses navigate growth using the firm’s Success GPS strategy framework.

Steve’s extensive background in both business and sport provides him with a unique perspective on decision-making, which he aims to share with entrepreneurs in the region. His focus will be on enhancing business agility and driving customer-centric growth for small and medium enterprises.

This expansion further strengthens SUMMIT’s regional presence and signals an exciting new phase for the business as it continues to foster impactful change in the UK’s business landscape.

Ambassador’s visit to Greater Lincolnshire boosts trade ties with Denmark

Joëlle Jenny, the UK’s Ambassador to Denmark, visited Greater Lincolnshire as part of a national roadshow aimed at strengthening economic links between the UK and key global markets. This initiative, led by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, is designed to support local businesses in accessing new growth opportunities and increase international trade across the UK.

The roadshow brings top British diplomats to regions across the UK, where they work closely with local businesses and leaders to build partnerships and identify growth prospects. Ambassador Jenny’s visit focused on expanding ties with Denmark, now the UK’s 23rd largest trading partner. In 2024, UK-Denmark trade reached £15.4 billion, with Greater Lincolnshire firms already benefiting from Danish investments, particularly in offshore wind power.

During her visit, Ambassador Jenny toured Ørsted’s operations in Grimsby, one of Denmark’s leading offshore wind developers, and met with Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Andrea Jenkyns and local business leaders at Immingham Docks. The roadshow is part of a broader strategy to enhance the UK Government’s international trade and investment efforts, in line with the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy and Trade Strategy.

Key sectors like food, advanced manufacturing, and logistics play a vital role in Greater Lincolnshire’s economy, making it an attractive destination for international investment. Local leaders are hopeful that this initiative will attract further growth and enhance the region’s global presence.

Build-to-rent provider acquires four new sites

Build-to-rent provider, Sigma Capital Group, has acquired four new sites with a gross development cost (GDC) of £100m, which will deliver 415 new homes through its partnership with Vistry Group. When completed the new developments will be wholly owned by Sigma Capital as well as being leased and managed by their internal Simple Life Team. The four sites include Top Wighay Farm (East Midlands) which will deliver 153 units, Ibstock, St. Helens (North West) comprising 120 units, Sutton Road, Maidstone (South East) with 87 units and Womersley Rd, Knottingley (Yorkshire) with 55 units. The homes will be built by Vistry Group as part of their ongoing partnership with Sigma Capital Group. Graham Barnet, CEO of Sigma Capital, said: “We recently celebrated a decade in single-family build-to-rent and this latest round of acquisitions shows that we are still consistently innovating and adding to our growing portfolio. “With these four new sites, we’re not only expanding our footprint across key regions, but also enhancing the quality of the homes we deliver, working with our trusted partners. Our current pipeline of opportunity now sits at over £5bn GDC throughout the UK, confirming our position as the leading single-family housing provider in the country. “As demand for high-quality family rental housing continues to grow, we’re proud to play a leading role in supporting housing delivery, offering a professionally managed, secure solution for our customers.” Stephen Teagle, chief executive, partnerships and regeneration, Vistry Group, said: “We’re delighted to see this further extension of our long-standing partnership with Sigma Capital to deliver high-quality, professionally managed rental homes across the UK. “These new developments reflect our shared commitment to accelerating housing delivery through diverse tenures, meeting local needs, and supporting the Government’s housing ambitions. Together, we’re creating thriving professionally managed communities with homes people are proud to live in.”

Bedmaker strengthens hospitality focus with new senior appointment

Fifth-generation Leeds bedmaker, Harrison Spinks, has appointed Jimmy Caines as national hospitality account manager, in a brand-new role created to support the company’s growth plans within the hospitality sector. With over 20 years’ experience in the furniture and mattress industry, including senior roles at well-established national mattress manufacturers, Jimmy joins Harrison Spinks as the company’s primary hospitality lead to further advance its strategy – representing the brand at key industry events, as well as building strategic relationships to support ongoing growth in this market. Commenting on his new role, Jimmy Caines said: “Joining Harrison Spinks presents an exciting opportunity to bring my years of field experience to a forward-thinking, innovative company renowned for its dedication to providing luxury, responsibly made beds and mattresses. “The hospitality sector holds immense potential for us, and I’m keen to ensure more guests across the country experience the exceptional comfort and high-quality craftsmanship of a Harrison Spinks mattress. “I’m proud to be joining a team who are incredibly passionate about the brand and its story, and are committed to enhancing the guest experience for our clients. While my primary focus is hospitality, I will be drawing on the strong relationships I’ve built over the years to support the retail side of the business too.”

Government unveils strategy to increase onshore wind capacity by 2030

The UK Government has announced plans to significantly expand onshore wind capacity, aiming to boost it from 14.8GW to 27-29GW by 2030. This initiative is a key part of the Government’s broader goal to transition to a cleaner energy system while stimulating economic growth, creating jobs, and reducing energy bills.

The strategy follows Labour’s decision to lift the ban on new onshore wind farms that was previously imposed by the Conservative government under David Cameron. With this policy shift, onshore wind is now placed on the same planning footing as offshore wind and nuclear, facilitating quicker project rollouts.

As part of the plan, the Government has outlined 40 actions to achieve its 2030 targets, including planning reforms, supply chain development, and workforce training. Additionally, the strategy includes repowering old turbines and addressing potential conflicts between onshore wind projects and aerospace infrastructure. The Government estimates the initiative will create up to 45,000 skilled jobs by the end of the decade.

Communities hosting wind farms will benefit from financial support for local projects, with a typical 25MW wind farm potentially generating £3.75 million in community funding over its 30-year operational life.

However, the plan has faced criticism from some quarters. Critics, including Conservative MPs, argue that it could drive up energy costs and increase reliance on imported energy from countries like China, particularly concerning wind turbine technology. Despite this, industry experts support the strategy, highlighting its potential to strengthen energy security and boost the UK’s clean energy credentials.

York IT services provider makes acquisition

boxxe, the York-based IT services and solutions firm, has acquired IT infrastructure provider CAE Technology Services Limited. The acquisition represents an opportunity for boxxe to acquire one of the UK’s leading Cisco partners. CAE is a market leader in networking and security renowned for its deep technical expertise. boxxe has seen rapid growth since Phil Doye acquired the business in 2019. The acquisition will strengthen its position as one of the UK’s largest providers of software, solutions and services to both the public and private sector. boxxe’s capabilities within networking and security are strengthened by CAE’s partner accreditations which include being a Cisco Tier One Gold Partner and a Microsoft Tier One Cloud Solution Provider (CSP). In addition to its presence in the private sector, CAE has a strong customer base in the public sector, particularly within healthcare and education, that will benefit from the additional framework access and public sector expertise that boxxe provides.

Phil Doye, CEO, boxxe, said: “I have followed CAE for many years and continue to be impressed by the organisation’s market-leading practices in networking, security, and cloud infrastructure.

“CAE sets itself apart from the competition with its focus on customer outcomes driven by innovative solutions and managed services. CAE Labs is a great example of this, adding in-house software development capability to enable customers to further transform their IT environments.

“boxxe has to deliver technology solutions that solve critical business challenges and propel our customers forward. This strategic acquisition enables us to do this more effectively. boxxe’s scale and broad portfolio of products and solutions will also bring greater value and relevance to CAE’s many customers.”

£5.85m acquisition of Dr Oetker UK headquarters in Leeds

Independent property consultancy Edwards has facilitated the acquisition of Centrum 4600, a prime office building in Thorpe Park, Leeds, for £5.85 million on behalf of a private investor. The four-storey, 21,433 sq ft property serves as the UK headquarters for Dr Oetker (UK) Ltd and features ground-floor retail and leisure space.

The building underwent a significant refurbishment, including mechanical and electrical upgrades, prior to Dr Oetker committing to a new 15-year lease in 2022. Additionally, the retail space on the ground floor, spanning 4,965 sq ft, is leased to Greggs and Franco’s.

This acquisition was driven by the building’s strong location in one of Leeds’ most accessible business hubs, combined with a robust tenant mix and recent capital improvements, positioning the asset for stable, long-term returns. Quasar Real Estate sold the building, with Newmark overseeing the transaction.

Leeds to host Reset Connect North, a major climate conference in 2026

Leeds is set to host Reset Connect North in 2026, a significant new climate conference aiming to attract major investors and drive forward green tech innovation. Positioned as the northern counterpart to UKREiiF, the event seeks to position Leeds at the forefront of the UK’s clean tech sector.

The conference will bring together key players from across the country, enhancing the city’s reputation as a green technology hub. It aligns with West Yorkshire’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2038, with the region already contributing £8 billion to the green economy and home to over 3,000 businesses.

The Reset Connect North event is part of a broader regional strategy that includes investments in electric and hydrogen transport, energy-efficient housing retrofitting, and the development of a new tram network. These efforts are backed by the government’s focus on clean energy industries as part of its green economy strategy.

Reset Connect co-founder Richard Mackintosh highlighted the ambition of West Yorkshire’s green initiatives, noting that Reset Connect North will further amplify the region’s progress in sustainable development. The event will be an important addition to the city’s growing slate of sustainability-focused conferences.

Doncaster businesses to receive boost from £1.6m Low Carbon Initiative expansion

Doncaster businesses will benefit from a £1.6 million investment aimed at supporting the region’s transition to a low-carbon future. The Low Carbon Project, which offers funding and tailored guidance, helps local SMEs reduce energy consumption, cut emissions, and improve operational efficiency.

In its first phase, the project supported 223 businesses with £3.2 million in funding. The second phase, which runs until March 2026, focuses on extending support to more small and medium-sized enterprises in Doncaster. Business Doncaster will play a key role in delivering this support, guiding businesses through the process from energy surveys to grant applications.

The initiative is part-funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, managed by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. The Low Carbon Project offers businesses fully funded support, including on-site energy surveys and grants for improvements such as low-energy lighting, insulation, and efficient heating systems.

SMEs benefit from one-to-one support from specialist business advisors, ensuring they have the guidance they need to identify carbon-saving opportunities, make informed decisions, and access financial assistance for improvements.

This expanded initiative not only supports sustainability but also offers businesses an opportunity to future-proof operations, reduce energy costs, and contribute to long-term environmental goals. With ongoing support and dedicated advisors, Doncaster businesses are encouraged to take full advantage of this opportunity for a more sustainable and cost-effective future.