Little Mesters renovation brings life to Sheffield’s industrial spirit
Businesses and tradespeople from across Sheffield are bringing a Grade II* Listed former Little Mesters workshop back to life in the true spirit of its original occupants.
RF Joinery, together with a trusted local supply chain, is carrying out transformative work on the historic Leah’s Yard in Sheffield City Centre.
Leah’s Yard dates to the early 19th century and was once home to up to 18 Little Mesters workshops producing the finest cutlery, handles and silver stampers that helped to put Sheffield on the worldwide map.
Now, as part of the £470m Heart of the City masterplan, the complex is being redeveloped with its original cobbled central courtyard surrounded by small boutique retail units. The first and second floors will host around 20 independent working studios bringing the building’s rich heritage back to life.
Working on the historic project, together with new business opportunities arising from the prestigious appointment, has also been transformational for Sheffield-based RF Joinery. The business, which was founded in 2007, has seen turnover leap from under £1m to £6m.
Initially, RF Joinery was appointed to bring the Cambridge Street building back to a safe and viable condition. This included structural work, roofing, repointing and new windows throughout. The business was then extended to complete the final phase of the project.
“As a local SME contractor, the Leah’s Yard project has had a huge impact on our business,” said Director Paul Roberts, who runs the firm with business partner Ray Fowler.
“We’ve delivered specialist public sector projects in the past such as re-roofing work at Sheffield’s Kelham Island Museum over the working steam engine. We’ve got a love for interesting projects and our unique expertise helped us win a very competitive contract process.
“We have built up a team of multi-skilled people who are all so passionate about the project.
“As a small, dedicated team, we can stay very flexible and provide real continuity on site, which is so important on these kinds of restoration projects. Heart of the City has been a game changer for us and taken us to a new level. We are thankful to Sheffield City Council for giving us the opportunity.”
Seen as a key social and cultural anchor in Heart of the City – led by Sheffield City Council and its Strategic Development Partner, Queensberry, Leah’s Yard will also feature a complementary new-build structure to the southern side of the development, greatly improving pedestrian access.
The sympathetic extension includes a sloped ramp for wheelchair and pram users, lift access and modern accessible toilet facilities that couldn’t be incorporated in the old building.
Also working on the project is Masterfit based in Walkley. Together with RF Joinery they’ve installed 100 different types of heritage windows and even had to make special tooling to do the job.
A staggering total of 2,500 panels of glass were hand-putty pointed using traditional linseed oil putty by the in house RFJ skilled team.
Paul Roberts added: “Timber that was functionally sound had to be kept, regardless of appearance, and all but one of the five roofs re-uses the original roof trusses.
“We even had to make one new truss on site but have reused all the previous bolts and bracketry. It looks brand new, but the bolts are centuries old.
“The cobbles in the courtyard had to be removed one by one and the ground raised up, before all being re-laid again, providing improved level access whilst retaining the original historic values.
“With a building like this, new problems and challenges occur every day. It has been almost a daily negotiation between the structural engineer and the conservation team – ensuring we find the balance between the heritage and character, versus modern building regulations.”
Cllr Ben Miskell from Sheffield City Council believes the work of RF Joinery and their trusted supply chain of SMEs has been a real local effort and reflects the ethos of Leah’s Yard as a former Little Mesters space.
“This is one of the reasons we invested in Heart of the City,” said Cllr Miskell.
“Leah’s Yard brings the city’s rich history back to life and will be a stunning addition. But the impact goes beyond the aesthetic. Heart of the City is helping to stimulate economic activity in the region and helping companies like RF Joinery grow its supply chain and secure its future.
“Leah’s Yard is a unique scheme which reflects Sheffield’s identity. It’s a fascinating blend of creativity, heritage, and historic and modern craftsmanship.”
Once completed in the first half of 2024, the venue will be run by Tom Wolfenden, who manages the Cooper Buildings on Arundel Street, and James O’Hara, who runs acclaimed bars such as Public and Picture House Social.
The duo plan to breathe new life into the site by transforming it into an experience-led destination for local independent retailers and businesses, creative workshops and social events. A bustling central public courtyard will be surrounded by small boutique shops, while the first and second floors will host around 20 independent working studios.
Two Sisters Food Group plans donation of a million meals in the run-up to Christmas
Food manufacturer 2 Sisters Food Group has signed up to a ground-breaking new partnership with customer M&S and Fareshare, the food charity, with plans to donate a million bespoke, targeted meals for those in need in the run-up to Christmas.
In an industry first, the meals will be made and donated from three 2 Sisters’ factory locations across the UK to Fareshare directly. The meals have been prepared especially for this initiative and unlike previous schemes, do not come from surplus or waste, but have capitalised on under-utilised capacity in the 2 Sisters network.
It’s estimated that 13 million people are facing food insecurity in the UK, a figure which has doubled in the last three years. With a history of making great tasting, quality food, 2 Sisters has worked with M&S and Fareshare to carefully select three of their most popular, seasonal ‘Eat Well’ products, which hold the M&S “gold standard” seal of approval for health and nutrition.
The meals are made at 2 Sisters locations in South Wales (RF Brookes), Nottingham (Pizza Factory) and Grimsby (Recipe Dish).
Ranjit Singh Boparan, founder and President of 2 Sisters Food Group, said: “We’re very proud to take the leading role in manufacturing and donating meals for our partners M&S and Fareshare.
“Never before has helping to feed everyone in need with a nutritious meal been so important, and it’s very pleasing to see retailers, manufacturers and our supplier partners coming together to help make this possible.
“This powerful alliance and the goodwill of organisations for their flexibility, generosity in giving time and resource has made all this possible, and I applaud everyone for their efforts.
“This has happened against a backdrop in recent years where waste and surplus efficiency gains in food manufacturing have improved beyond measure, so it’s especially gratifying for us to use under-utilised capacity in our network and work with our supplier partners so we can donate bespoke, targeted products that will benefit those that need it most.”
Alex Freudmann, Managing Director of M&S Food, added: “Making great quality, delicious and nutritious food is what we do at M&S Food and its hugely important to me that we make this as accessible to as many families as possible. So I am hugely proud that we are coming together with our supplier partners and supporting FareShare by flipping our mindset from using food that is too good to waste to innovating to use capacity that is too good to waste.”
George Wright, CEO at FareShare, added: “We’re incredibly grateful for this support. Demand for our food has skyrocketed, and the 8,500 charities we provide food to have seen firsthand how more and more families and working people have been forced to seek help. Food insecurity, which currently effects one in four people, fuels both hunger and loneliness. The charities we support, which include homelessness shelters, afterschool clubs, and older people’s lunch clubs, will be working harder than ever this winter. We’re proud to be part of this partnership with M&S and 2 Sisters Food Group, helping get more food to people in need, strengthening communities across the UK.”
Rushbond appoints new Chief Executive
Yorkshire-based property company Rushbond PLC has appointed Ian Ball as its new Chief Executive.
Ball is a Chartered Surveyor by background and has strong banking and commercial experience having worked for a number of European private equity Real Estate funds in London and commercial banks in the regions.
Most recently he was the Chief Operating Officer of Harworth Group plc between 2019 and 2022, responsible for the management of four regional offices across the North of England and the Midlands to deliver some of the UK’s biggest land regeneration schemes alongside its commercial investment portfolio.
His appointment is a central part of the evolution of Rushbond’s strategy both to grow its business, including its development and investment portfolio, and continue to transform places and buildings.
Jonathan Maud, chairman, said: “This is a significant appointment for Rushbond and a real statement of our intent to sustainably grow the business across Yorkshire. Ian’s depth of commercial experience and relationships, coupled with his rigorous analytical approach, will ensure that we will continue to deliver great places and strong returns as we’ve done for a number of decades.”
Ian Ball, Chief Executive, added: “Opportunities to lead great businesses like Rushbond do not come about very often and I am thrilled to be part of a Yorkshire success story. I look forward to building on the company’s impressive track record in breathing new life into communities and cherished historic spaces across the region, ultimately creating great places that people want to live and work in.”
Beverley firm helps switch-on of world’s largest offshore wind farm
Beverley-based wind energy technical services provider Boston Energy has helped the world’s largest offshore wind farm generate its first power as part of the largest-ever single award in the offshore wind sector for technical manpower services,
The company is undertaking the onshore commissioning and completion, offshore mechanical and electrical completion and offshore commissioning elements of the Dogger Bank project for the wind farm’s turbine manufacturer GE Vernova. The Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be the world’s largest wind farm when operational, as it will be capable of powering up to six million UK homes. First power was achieved at Dogger Bank in early October, with the first 277 turbines installed. Each rotation of a turbine can produce enough clean energy to power an average home for two days. Located between 130km and 190km off the North East coast of England at their nearest points, each of the three phases, A, B and C, will have an installed generation capacity of 1.2GW based on GE Vernova’s Haliade-X wind turbine platform. Boston Energy has been awarded major multi-million pound contracts to support the installation programme, representing the largest-ever single award in the offshore wind sector for technical manpower services, and cementing Boston Energy’s position as the pre-eminent supplier in this field. At full scope, there will be in excess of 190 highly-skilled individuals on the project, all of whom will be UK based. Nathan Fahey, Project Director at GE Vernova, said: “We have been working with Boston Energy since the contract award for offshore commissioning of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm and I’m really pleased to have them as a trusted partner as we move into the operational phase of the project. “I trust the team will deliver the expected results, at the quality and execution standards we want to provide to our customer. “We are very much looking forward to working with Boston Energy to help us deliver this fantastic project utilising our Haliade-X turbines. Delivering this project will significantly enhance the UK’s net zero ambitions and help make a substantial dent in CO2 emissions.” Roles provided by Boston Energy for Dogger Bank include commissioning supervisors and technicians, vessel administrators, mechanical and electrical technicians and rope access technicians. Boston Energy is committed to supporting local employment, with more than 50 onshore workers and 90 offshore workers – plus an office team of seven – being employed in the North East and Teesside area. Boston Energy has provided high-quality services to the global wind industry, working onshore and offshore, since 2012, with experienced teams across the globe working under a one-team approach to provide on-time, in-depth support to reduce turbine downtime and maximise efficiency on site. With an already wide range of services including pre-assembly, construction and commissioning, service and maintenance, major correctives, blade works and technical training, Boston Energy is continuously expanding its offering to support clients’ requirements, with recent additions including heavy lift (MCE) and high voltage. Having successfully delivered more than 100 projects across the UK, Europe, North America, and Taiwan in that time, Dogger Bank Wind Farm is the latest project added to Boston Energy’s portfolio. Julian Cattermole, CEO of Boston Energy, said: “We’re thrilled that GE Vernova have entrusted us to deliver the onshore and offshore commissioning of this truly exciting, and transformative project. “GE has recognised that Boston Energy has a very strong track record of delivering exceptional quality on its projects as well as ensuring it delivers to budget and to the highest safety and environmental standards. “We now need to get on and deliver to those same exacting standards that GE Vernova expects.”Contractor appointed for makeover of former church in Scunthorpe
North Lincolnshire Council has appointed Burnley-based UK Restoration Services to undertake a dramatic makeover of St John’s Church – one of Scunthorpe’s most historic landmarks.
Using Government cash from the Towns Fund, UK Restoration Services will carry out extensive repairs to the Grade II listed building, paving the way for the development of Discover, a science and technology centre containing hands-on experiences that complement the venue’s arts and heritage exhibitions.
With the contractor now appointed, specialist repairs will take place at St. John’s Church in the coming weeks – including the rebuilding of roofs as well as the descaling, cleaning and repointing of stonework – with many of the church’s original features restored or renewed.
UK Restoration Services Director Phil Braithwaite said: “The project has an excellent team with a wealth of knowledge to deliver this project to the highest standard. There will also be opportunities for local employment.”
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council and Towns Fund Board Member, said: “I am delighted that the Board has been able to appoint UK Restoration Services to kickstart this transformation. It is great news that the makeover will create jobs too.
“High streets up and down the country need to adapt, and Scunthorpe is no exception. Retail will always form an important part of any town centre and this will not change, but we also need to drive footfall by bringing in exciting new experiences people cannot find anywhere else.
“That is where Discover comes in – its hands-on activities will spark the curiosity of our young people, attracting more families into the heart of the town.”
The transformation of St. John’s Church comes on top of the construction of Scunthorpe’s Enterprise and Innovation Hub, which continues at pace.
Last month Towns Fund Board members visited the landmark build to see the last brick being laid to the 46-unit accommodation block.
When completed, the ambitious build will provide more than 27,000 sq feet of premium office and collaborative space up to 200 workers, and a licensed café bar, as well as the accommodation.
Cllr John Davison, cabinet member for safer, stronger communities, Scunthorpe, Ashby and Bottesford, said: “St. John’s Church has been at the heart of the community for more than 130 years – many residents celebrated their marriage here – so it is only right we protect this historic asset for many more years.
“We are not just preserving the building though; we want to go further and bring it a new lease of life. We hope the new Discover centre will inspire many more families to enjoy this amazing place.”
The makeover is part of more than £80m of Government funding which has backed the council’s plans for creating a new future in North Lincolnshire. This includes cash for roads, new motorway junctions, enabling people to develop their skills and supporting communities.
Finances for almost 40,000 firms reach critical levels, report reveals
Almost 40,000 UK companies are in a critical financial situation as the pressure of higher interest rates, resilient inflation and weaker consumer confidence take their toll, according to the latest Begbies Traynor “Red Flag Alert” report.
The report, now in its fifteenth year, says these pressures are now clearly being seen beyond consumer facing sectors and are becoming widespread, particularly within the construction and property sectors.
Julie Palmer, Partner at Begbies Traynor, said: “Tens of thousands of British companies are now in financial dire straits now that the era of cheap money is firmly behind us.
“Businesses that had loaded up on debt at rock-bottom rates, and were only able to cling on during the pandemic thanks to Government support, must now deal with a financial reality check as higher interest rates hit working capital for the foreseeable future.
“Taken together with stubbornly high inflation and weak consumer confidence, many of these businesses will inevitably head towards failure.
“The construction industry, which has long been a bellwether for the health of the economy, looks particularly vulnerable with over 70,000 firms now in significant financial distress and circa 6,000 in much more serious critical financial distress – often a precursor to formal insolvency.
“These businesses must now struggle through a period of inflation-eroded margins, weak demand and a looming recession. It is likely to be an insurmountable task for many.
“This latest data highlights how the debt storm, which has been brewing for years, but had been held off by several measures to provide breathing space for companies, may very well break. Something that will send shockwaves through the whole economy.”
With many UK companies accustomed to years of near zero interest rates and access to Government-backed Covid support loans, the new world of elevated interest rates will continue to push many businesses the very edge of failure.
Evidence of the stress in the UK economy can be seen in the rapid quarter-on-quarter growth in the number of companies in critical financial distress, up 24.9% to 37,722. The sectors driving this increase were the Construction, Real Estate & Property Services and Support Services, up 46%, 38% and 28% respectively.
The Construction and Real Estate companies now account for almost 30% of all companies in critical financial distress as the slowdown in the residential housing market continues to bite. Rises in the retail sector, with Food & Drug Retailers up 33% and General Retailers up 14% quarter on quarter also contributed to the overall uplift in critical financial distress.
Additionally, it says, there has also been a marked acceleration in the number of companies experiencing significant financial distress with 478,176 businesses now affected, up 8.7% on the prior quarter (Q2 2023: 439,815). The Construction and Support Services sectors accounted for nearly 50% of the quarter-on-quarter rise, as they were up by 17.4% or 10,741 companies, and 11.1% or 7,584 companies, respectively.
Farmers and landowners to get more help with tree planting schemes
Updates to the England Woodland Creation Offer and Countryside Stewardship schemes will give land managers more flexibility and financial security.
Significant funding improvements to the biggest land management schemes for forestry – the England Woodland Creation Offer and Countryside Stewardship – have been announced by Defra and the Forestry Commission. The changes are designed help drive tree planting rates across the country and to support farmers and landowners to grow more trees.
The key changes will see an increase in funding for land managers and farmers, helping to support the creation of more resilient and better managed woodland; maintenance payments increased to 15 years; and an increase in the timeframe for capital works from two to three years.
Forestry Commission Chairman Sir William Worsley said: “As woodland creation increases across the country we want to make sure the trees we do plant are well managed and resilient against future threats such as climate change or tree pests and diseases. It’s vital that once planted, new woodlands are well looked after.
“We’ve listened to sector feedback on payment rates and timescales. The changes brought in today will give land managers two seasons to complete the planting and give longer term financial support to manage woodlands in the important early years of establishment. This will play an essential part in creating resilient forests and woodlands which improve our natural environment, help meet net zero carbon emissions, provide a sustainable source of home-grown timber and boost people’s health and wellbeing.”
The government has set stretching targets to increase tree canopy and woodland cover in England to 16.5% by 2050. Today’s changes will help get more trees in the ground at speed and will play an important role in halting nature’s decline by 2030 and meeting net zero emissions by 2050. Tree planting will also play a vital role in achieving wider priorities including improving water quality, reducing flooding, creating green jobs and better connecting people with nature.
Asda completes £2bn acquisition of EG Group’s UK business
Asda has completed its £2.07bn acquisition of EG Group’s UK business, accelerating its growth in convenience and foodservice.
Buying the EG UK business is key to Asda’s strategic plan to create a value-led convenience offer by rolling out Asda Express across EG UK’s 356 predominantly freehold sites – which include modern convenience stores on petrol filling stations (PFS), and benefit from high footfall and traffic flow.
This transaction builds on Asda’s acquisition of 119 convenience sites with attached PFS from the Co-op Group, which started to convert to the Asda Express fascia earlier this month, and the successful launch of three stand-alone Asda Express convenience sites since October 2022.
The EG and Co-op acquisitions, plus the three Asda Express stores currently open, give Asda 478 convenience stores today, with a commitment to opening a further 300 stand-alone convenience stores by the end of 2026. This is in addition to its existing estate of 580 supermarkets and 31 Asda Living stores, as well as 321 PFS sites.
Mohsin Issa, co-owner of Asda, said: “This is a great day for Asda and for millions of UK consumers. Asda is a much-loved brand that is instantly recognised for great value. I could not be more proud or excited that the iconic Asda sign is now coming to hundreds more communities.”
Asda’s growth strategy in the convenience sector is a key part of its long-term ambition to become the UK’s second largest supermarket. The acquisition also accelerates Asda’s move into the £62bn foodservice market, with the transfer of 462 Greggs, Burger King and Subway outlets as franchise agreements. Asda now wholly owns Leon, which it will also look to introduce to its stores.
The acquisition of EG Group’s UK business will create a group with expected combined revenues of nearly £28bn, serving some 21m customers every week. It will also bring together convenience, fuel, GM, grocery, foodservice and omni-channel retailing – under Asda’s heritage in value and ‘customer first’ retail.
Mohsin Issa, co-owner of Asda, added: “We have worked at pace over the last 12 months to deliver a compelling convenience proposition from a standing start – as well as investing more than £120m in lowering the price and further improving the quality of our food. With the deal complete, we can focus on delivering the growth opportunities.
“That means lowering the price of fuel for more motorists, bringing Asda’s great value and quality to more communities, offering greater opportunities to our supplier partners and creating sustainable job opportunities for colleagues in our stores and depots. I’d like to thank the teams at Asda for their efforts to bring this transaction to completion and welcome our new colleagues from EG UK who have joined the Asda family.”
Gary Lindsay, Managing Partner at TDR Capital LLP, said: “This transaction is all about growth – and bringing together the complementary strengths of Asda and EG UK. We are creating an enhanced and more diverse Asda business that delivers even greater value for its customers on a daily basis in stores and online.
“Becoming the number two UK supermarket again and delivering a stronger and more compelling proposition for UK consumers are the metrics we will judge the success of this transaction by.”
Lord Stuart Rose will continue in his role as Chairman of the new, combined business alongside Dame Alison Carnwath as Non-Executive Director as well as Mohsin Issa and Gary Lindsay as Directors of the combined business. The Board continues its recruitment process for a permanent Chief Executive.
It is the intention of the Asda Board to add new independent non-executive directors to the Board to ensure continued strong corporate governance.
Unity Enterprise makes three new board appointments
Mohammed Hussain, Amina Shann and John Jagger have joined the board of Unity Enterprise.
Mohammed Hussain is the founder and Managing Director of Pink Elephant Sales and Lettings Ltd. He also holds board-level positions with the Federation of Small Businesses, the Institute of Directors, the Northern Asian Power Think Tank Group and Shipley College.
Amina Shann is Wholesale Account Manager Bulk Purchase & Export at Morrisons Head Office. She has over eight years of experience with the Bradford-based supermarket chain, including two years as BAME Adviser alongside her day to day role.
John Jagger has accrued decades of private and public sector experience in the UK and abroad. He has particular expertise in finance, strategic development and business growth, and has overseen the turnaround of a range of small and medium sized enterprises.
Unity Enterprise – the not-for-profit subsidiary of BME housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise – provides more than 140 affordable units for over 80 diverse businesses in three locations close to Leeds city centre.
They include Leeds Media Centre, which recently completed a £1.8 million refurbishment scheme in partnership with Leeds City Council and the European Regional Development Fund.
Sharon Jandu OBE, Chair of Unity Enterprise, said: “It is exciting to have Mohammed, Amina and John join the Unity Enterprise board. “They bring a fantastic blend of differing experiences which will greatly benefit our work and complement the wide range of existing skills and perspectives offered by current board colleagues. “The new facilities at the revamped and revitalised Leeds Media Centre have opened the door to a whole host of additional opportunities for local entrepreneurs to step forward and achieve their business dreams. “Our new board members will each play a proactive part in enabling them to make that journey.”Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive, said: “I pay warm tribute to Abdul Ravat and Will Jennings for their years of service on the Unity Enterprise board, and welcome Mohammed, Amina and John to their new roles.
“Unity stands out amongst housing associations in our commitment to providing employment, training and entrepreneurial services to directly transform the life chances of local people.
“Empowering individuals to set up their own sustainable business is central to this work with the guidance and support of Unity Enterprise.
“Our new board members will add real entrepreneurial weight to this crusade.”
Work starts to turn historic water tower into visitor centre
Work has started to turn an historic water tower on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) into a contemporary visitor centre.
Scaffolding has now been built around the tower on platform four at Keighley Station as part of the £100,000 project funded by the Government-funded Keighley Towns Fund, with £42,000 additional funding from The Railway Heritage Trust.
A 30,000-gallon water tank sits on the roof of the historic industrial building, which still provides the water for the railway’s steam locomotives.
The development of the building will see its interior restored to create an accessible visitor centre providing information about the engines and the history of the line, without compromising the operational function of the water tower itself.
Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Transport and Planning Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw said: “This historic water tower is believed to be the last functioning one of its kind left nationally. It is a really important structure, and we are delighted it will have a new lease of life for the future while maintaining the crucial purpose for which it was built.”
Chairman of the Keighley Towns Fund Ian Hayfield said: “The KWVR is one of the leading educational, heritage and tourist attractions across the district. This project is part of a whole list of projects considered and planned by the KWVR which will see it modernise and transform its offer, so it can continue to delight passengers and visitors for many years to come.”
Remedial work has recently started on the tower, with vegetation being cleared and an access pathway being built at the back of the building. Minor repairs are currently being carried out on the tank and to fix the level indicator whilst fitting a new float valve. Work has also started on the interior, with the walls being fully cleaned, ready for a full white-wash repaint. Work on the new raised floor will start soon.
