Mia Allen is the first female ship to shore crane operator operator at Immingham, where she’ll work 110 feet above the ground. She already drives the tugs and rubber-tyred gantry cranes,  and is also looking to train in toplifts, also known as reachstackers at Immingham Container Terminal. Simon Bird, Regional Director said: “This is great news for ABP on the Humber. All credit to Mia who is very ambitious and wants to progress in her career with us. We’re proud that she has achieved this milestone and look forward to more to come. “We want to increase the number of women in the ports industry and are committed to promoting diversity and fostering inclusivity. We have initiatives aimed at improving recruitment to demystify what has been traditionally seen as a male operated world and have been the first port operator to introduce women’s PPE. Our message is clear – there are roles at the ports for women.” Mia, who has worked for ABP for over a year after leaving a job in a fish and chip shop, said: “I wanted to train on the ship to shore as there’s so much to learn about the crane and ship. The biggest challenge was the swing on the crane and going over the water, but it doesn’t scare me. “You must focus and look out for the ship’s crew and the deck tally, and it involves clear communication. It’s a heavy bit of kit and you must be prepared for the ship moving. I’ve thrown myself into this as I want to progress. I enjoy the fact I can do a few hours on the crane and a stint on the tugs.” She credits her father Mark, who has worked at the port for 20 years and trained Mia on how to use the crane, though another tester was brought in for the examination. Mia added “It was my dad’s dream that one day he’d train me, and I’d be working here alongside him. I always told him it would be too boring, but it’s not. I love it as I’ve got a great gang around me, and we all get on well. Dad was really delighted when I passed the test. I just want to keep growing and accomplish more things.”

Rural communities in the west of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire are to get lightning-fast broadband after the signing of a £58 million contract under the government’s national Project Gigabit rollout. The development will cover Wragby and Market Rasen, and are predicted to grow the economy and create jobs by making it easier to set up a business, and mean rural  Lincolnshire communities will have access to networks designed to meet people’s needs for decades to come. The work will be done by UK-based smart technology and digital provider Connexin, who will link up about 34,000 rural premises. The first of those could be on line by early next year. Data and Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said: “Thousands of people across west Lincolnshire are set to benefit from connectivity fit for the future, thanks to government’s Project Gigabit. We’re making strides in connecting communities in hard-to-reach areas across the country, and this latest investment will bring us one step closer to our digital transformation, opening up vast opportunities in rural areas.” Furqan Alamgir, CEO at Connexin said: “Through the award of this contract, we are delighted to be able to play our part in the UK government’s mission to level up and bring gigabit connectivity to our rural communities. “At Connexin our mission is not just about connecting people but also about how such connectivity can improve lives. We believe that everyone has the right to the same opportunities, and we firmly believe in digital inclusion and what it can unlock. “We look forward to working with BDUK to future proof the infrastructure and bring hyperfast broadband to the region.”

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, has announced that the region will take a major step toward re-opening Doncaster-Sheffield Airport (DSA) and allow for a 10-year plan to drive economic growth in Doncaster, subject to the decision of the Mayoral Combined Authority Board on 13 February 2024. Fifteen months since DSA was closed by owners Peel Group, the Mayor, City of Doncaster Council and the Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) have been working to find a way to re-open it that is legally and financially sound and protects the taxpayer. Last summer, the MCA awarded City of Doncaster Council £3.1 million to prepare an Outline Business Case to take control of the airport through a leasing arrangement, re-establish operations under a new business model, and use the asset as an anchor for growth at the wider Gateway East site to support economic regeneration and benefits to the city and region as a whole. The Outline Business Case, published yesterday, states that re-opening the airport provides the best opportunity to secure economic growth and well-being not just in Doncaster but will have wider benefits for South Yorkshire as a whole. City of Doncaster Council will have £138 million made available by the MCA via Gainshare to support economic ambitions including as outlined in the Doncaster Place Investment Plan which includes South Yorkshire Airport City and Gateway East. Elements of activity could also be supported from other MCA funding that has been set aside to support this project. Ultimately, significant investment is going into Doncaster to help it pursue the jobs, growth and opportunity it wants, and it will be local and regional residents and businesses who will benefit. Crucially, the Outline Business Case is built on creating a sustainable airport hub with the airport anchoring a sector specific focus on aviation-related advanced manufacturing, advanced engineering and the growing jet-zero and decarbonisation industries. Applied research is one of South Yorkshire’s core strengths as evidenced through McClaren, Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and Hybrid Air Vehicles choosing to locate in the region, and the opportunity exists to locate the next wave of advanced manufacturing at Gateway East connected to global markets through a reopened DSA. Linking the return of aviation to the UK’s first Investment Zone worth £160 million with a focus on advance manufacturing could present significant opportunities for businesses and communities in Doncaster and the wider region, helping address long term challenges in productivity, worklessness and low wages, and poor life outcomes that hold South Yorkshire back. The MCA Board is being asked to approve the recommendation to work up a Full Business Case which could be completed as soon as Spring 2024. If this happens and a suitable operator is found, South Yorkshire could be well on its way to seeing DSA re-open. City of Doncaster Council will continue to lead on the negotiation with airport owners and the procurement exercise to attract a new operator and public investment remains contingent on the successful completion of those negotiations. The MCA will continue to provide strategic advice and support to the council in relation to the wider regeneration of the development of the Gateway East site to support a reopened airport. South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “These proposals represent a major step towards re-opening our airport and delivering a 10-year plan for South Yorkshire Airport City at Gateway East; not only re-opening our airport but creating an internationally significant, sustainable aviation and advanced manufacturing hub in Doncaster. “This is part of our plan for growth across our whole region, delivering long term benefits for Doncaster and the whole of South Yorkshire, with a thriving regional airport at its heart. “Getting to this point has not been easy. I’ve always said reopening our airport would take time and huge amounts of hard work. “But the plans we are putting forward at next week’s MCA meeting are a significant step in the process of reopening DSA. “No ambitious plan is without risks, but alongside the other leaders in South Yorkshire, I believe the economic case is compelling. “That cannot mean a blank cheque or a bad deal, so we are rightly following a process that is underpinned by robust governance. We’ve seen in other parts of the country what can go wrong if we don’t put transparency, accountability and the interests of taxpayers at the forefront of our thinking. “I’m determined to get a good deal for our community, to do this work properly no matter the hurdles, so we can deliver a long-term plan for our airport and South Yorkshire Airport City. That’s exactly what this next step allows us to do.” Mayor Ros Jones, City of Doncaster Council, said: “Saving and reopening our airport is my number one priority, I am pleased to say that lease negotiations continue to progress positively, and I am confident that we can agree a deal, but we are not over the line yet. “Our airport represents incredible opportunities for Doncaster and South Yorkshire. City of Doncaster Council have entered the next stage of the procurement process, which is progressing as planned, with the aim of appointing an operator in the Spring. “I never wanted our airport to close, it did not have to be this way, as a council we did all within our power, including offering to purchase the airport from the current landowners which was rejected. “We are following our carefully managed plan; this is yet another step in the right direction for us to see planes flying again from our airport.”

York Golf Club expects a saving of £200,000 over the lifetime of a solar power system it has just had installed. The 65-panel solar array has been installed by Green Building Renewables, which has five offices in Yorkshire, and is predicted to save the club six tonnes of CO2 each year. Mike Wells, Managing Secretary of York Golf Club at Strensall, said: “The club had considered installing solar previously, but not progressed. However, escalating energy costs over the last year or two and the desire to reduce our carbon footprint led the board to proceed. The installation has been done without disrupting members or our operations, and Green Building Renewables was selected as the most appropriate installer for our needs.” The installation of solar technology at the club signifies its commitment to environmental responsibility but also sets an example for the broader community. Green Building Renewables’ MD Chris Delaney said: “Installing solar at such a well-known regional location is a real honour. Sports venues, like York Golf Club, use considerable amounts of energy, and solar systems allow them to make dramatic energy savings and reduce their energy bills.”