Caddick delivers over 2 million sq ft of industrial space in 2023 following completion of St. Modwen Park, Lincoln

Caddick Construction has handed over St. Modwen Logistics’ newest sustainable warehouse, becoming the latest in a line of industrial buildings for the construction firm. The £8m construction contract saw the delivery of a steel portal framed warehouse, featuring 10 dock levellers with an eaves height of 12.5 metres, making it the largest unit at St Modwen Park, Lincoln. Totalling 111,000 sq ft, Lincoln 111 is the fourth phase at St. Modwen Park in Lincoln. Rated BREEAM Excellent, this scheme secured an EPC A+ rating, helping its new occupiers to save on utility costs and reach their own Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) targets. Paul Dodsworth, Caddick Construction Group Managing Director, said: “St. Modwen Park further demonstrates our skill set in the industrial market and has been built on time and on budget for our valued development partner, St. Modwen Logistics. “This flagship scheme has taken our industrial projects this year alone up to 11, totalling £165 million and amounting to 1,988,234 sq ft. It’s a huge achievement for the business and I look forward to extending this pipeline further as we take on exciting new projects.” Ian Martin, senior construction manager at St. Modwen Logistics, said: “We are always striving to develop industry-leading warehouses in fantastic locations for our customers and by enlisting Caddick Construction’s expertise we have been able to achieve this once again at Lincoln 111. Caddick’s experience in the industry has led to our development being delivered on time and to the highest level of construction standards.”

Lincolnshire insurance broker scores football club client

An independent insurance broker in Lincolnshire has been appointed by Lincoln City Football Club. Dallas Scott Davey will be providing independent insurance broking and risk management services to ‘The Imps’, as well as supporting the club as a business partner.

Dallas Scott Davey employs a team of seven from its office at Plowright House on the Riseholme Estate. The firm is headed up by insurance professionals, Ed Davey and Darren Scott, who have almost 50 years combined industry experience.

Dallas Scott Davey is part of the TL Dallas Group, which has 12 other UK offices. Its headquarters are in Bradford, from where the firm also manages Bradford City Football Club’s insurance needs.

Darren said: “As a huge fan of The Imps, it’s a real career highlight for me to be working with the club. Our wider group already has a similar relationship with Bradford City, where TL Dallas has supported the club for more than 45 years.

“Bradford City and Lincoln City have a massive affinity with each other as very sadly back in 1985, during the fire disaster at Bradford City’s Valley Parade, 56 fans lost their lives – 54 from Bradford and two from Lincoln. Many others were also injured, and since then both clubs hold dear the memories of these fans and hold events, like a recent veterans’ match between the two clubs to raise funds in their honour.”

Adam Chantrey, from Lincoln City Football Club, said: “We chose Dallas Scott Davey because Darren, Ed and the team are clearly very passionate about what they do and are based locally to us, so they can provide an in-person and highly experienced service.

“We have a number of complicated insurance risks which Dallas Scott Davey have run through in great depth, to make sure we are covered as comprehensively as possible, and we are confident that we are in safe hands.”

Progeny to acquire Chartered financial advice firm

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Multi-disciplinary professional services firm, Progeny, is set to acquire Chartered financial advice firm, Carbon Financial Partners.

The deal will add £600m to Leeds-based Progeny’s assets under management.

Carbon Financial Partners are a firm of Chartered financial planners, with a team of 45 staff across offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Perth.

They offer a personal service to clients with complex financial needs, business leaders and those approaching important life transitions, with a focus on making a meaningful impact on their lives.

Gordon Wilson, Managing Director, Carbon Financial Partners, said: “Progeny share our investment philosophy and our values. It was critical for the team that we found the right fit for our clients and we have achieved that.

“Combining with Progeny will help us to take our service and advice offering to new levels.”

Progeny CEO, Neil Moles, said: “We are highly purposeful in our approach to selecting the businesses we bring into Progeny.

“We apply a set of strict criteria, with a laser focus on high quality firms that add a great deal of value.

“Welcoming Carbon Financial Partners to Progeny will enable us to consolidate and strengthen our existing presence in Scotland and I look forward to what we can achieve together for our clients.”

A team from global law firm Squire Patton Boggs acted as legal adviser to Progeny during the deal.

York Handmade secures one of the most significant contracts in its 35-year history

York Handmade Brick Company has secured one of the most significant contracts in its 35-year history. The company, based at Alne, near Easingwold, is supplying 385,000 specially manufactured bricks for 3 Circle Square in the heart of Manchester’s innovation district. The contract is worth £580,000 and is a resounding endorsement of York Handmade’s decision to invest £1.5m in brand-new machinery earlier this year. 3 Circle Square, which is being master-minded by Manchester-based developer Bruntwood, will be a stand-alone brick-built block, close to Oxford Road. Designed by Bridge Architects of Manchester, it will offer flexible office space, helping creative, digital and technology businesses to start up and flourish. It will also feature a communal roof terrace. Work started on site last year and will be completed by February 2025. David Armitage, the chairman of York Handmade, said: “This is a massive project for us, especially in the context of these challenging economic times. It has been a tremendous boost for our factory and a great honour to contribute to a pioneering and innovative development which is redefining Manchester’s cityscape for the 21st century. “This has been a crucial year for us at York Handmade. We have invested £1.5 million in brand-new machinery which has transformed how we make our bricks. Over the years, we have undertaken significant technological improvements, culminating in this overhaul and renewal of our manufacturing process, which has speeded up production, facilitated two brand-new products and increased efficiency. “This has proved to be a transformational move, by far the biggest and most significant in our history. Our revolutionary new manufacturing line combines three different types of brick – the Handmade Style, as currently produced, together with Water Struck and Pressed Bricks. “Crucially, the bricks we have supplied are for 3 Circle Square are Waterstruck Thirkleby Blend, part of our Viking range and a stunning example of what we are able to manufacture with our brand-new plant. “Most of the Water Struck Bricks, which are currently very popular in London, are imported, so we are now fulfilling an important demand and supporting the sustainability agenda. We have an impressive track record in London, with iconic projects across the capital, and we can now build on this. “More generally, this investment will enable us to manufacture high-quality, UK-made bricks for many years to come and it reflects our commitment to the brick industry and the astounding architectural projects using bricks.”

Streets Chartered Accountants covers tax changes, mortgages, Foreign Exchange and more in new news roundup

Streets Chartered Accountants covers tax changes, mortgages, Foreign Exchange and more in its latest monthly news roundup. Basis Period Webinar – catch up Streets recently hosted a webinar about changes to the way the self-employed and those in business partnerships are taxed. It aimed to provide a clear understanding of what the basis period is, the recent changes, who it affects, when it takes effect and considerations for those affected. This presentation was recorded and is now available on demand for those who weren’t able to join live. Watch now to catch up. Mortgage mayhem… time for advice As of 6th October, we have seen multiple lenders fall below 5% interest charged on some fixed rate residential mortgages, with a rate war appearing to break out between the lenders and further announcements being made every day. The consequence is the difficult consideration for clients to decide whether they fix now or try and hold out whilst rates continue to fall. This month the base rate held for the first time after 14 consecutive months of increases, which has been a catalyst for rates falling. This gives cause for optimism of falling interest rates and inflation, which in turn should lead to mortgage rates falling further. Read more. The inflationary challenges of managing a businessManaging a business during a period of high inflation certainly brings its own set of challenges. For some younger business people and perhaps even older ones, this is something that has not been faced before. Perhaps explaining more about what inflation is might not be necessary as we are exercising the effects in our daily lives, but for context inflation is the sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services. It is a complex economic phenomenon that affects various aspects of an economy. Businesses, regardless of their size or industry, are not immune to the far-reaching consequences of inflation. Read more. Do you know the true cost of your FX/Foreign Exchange?One of the more complex and often overlooked areas for a business to manage is ensuring they know what their international payments are truly costing them. The good news is that help is on hand through Streets Banking & Finance’s long standing partnership with a global Foreign Exchange specialist. In tandem with their specialist’s help, Streets can assist clients with the provision and cost of Foreign Exchange. By completing a complimentary currency health check, Streets will be able to demonstrate whether you are on a ‘good deal’ or if in fact there are savings to be made. Read more.

John Good Group goes carbon neutral across its business portfolio

John Good Group has achieved operational carbon neutrality for all its businesses – John Good & Sons, Good Travel Management, Dan Shipping & Chartering, TEPS, and Bay Shipping.

The 190-year-old family business was supported by leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM to measure and report the carbon footprint for 2022 aligned to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and their Quantis tool for Scope 3 emissions. Adam Walsh, Chief Exec of the John Good Group, said: “It’s an important first step for the Group to achieve operational carbon neutrality, and I’m proud of the team that has worked on this. It’s something we’re all passionate about, but we’re fully aware we have a lot more to do. For our non-operational scope 3 emissions, which are more than 100 times greater than our operation emissions, we’re engaging with both customers and suppliers to look at solutions that are on the horizon and how they might meet our customer needs. A good example of progress in this area relates to the emissions relating to the flights we book in our travel business on behalf of our customers. We’ve introduced carbon insight at the point of booking for our customers, and all our team has undertaken sustainability training led by travel sustainability experts, Responsible Futures.” Walsh continues, “Reduction is our focus now, and whilst it might be our reality for several years yet, we know reliance on carbon offsets is not the answer to the climate problems we’re facing or to be relied upon by the Group for the answer to our responsibilities. Our businesses operate in industries that have material impacts on the environment, so reducing carbon output is essential. Our view is a pragmatic one, however, and we believe by engaging and collaborating within these industries, showing leadership and working with others to make a difference, we have the opportunity to challenge and influence the wider industries we operate in to help shape a greener future.” Achieving operational carbon neutrality is one of many steps in John Good Group’s sustainability journey. The Group has rolled out carbon reduction programmes across each of its businesses, including renewable energy generation, the introduction of Hybrid and EV vehicles, a review of suppliers, and the development of several people focussed initiatives aimed at carbon-contributing factors such as commuting miles. The reduction initiatives will continue at pace over the coming years to ensure the business is reducing its emissions as much as possible. However, the Group’s largest carbon-producing business, TEPS, is constrained by the pace of the industry’s technological developments. Progress on new fuelling solutions is slow and the availability of suitable vehicle alternatives is still several years away. Frustratingly for the Group, additional solar energy generation is also being limited by the national electricity grid – which is currently prohibiting the business from exporting surplus solar energy, which it could generate by making extra investment into solar panels on its warehouses. These are issues the Group hopes will diminish over the coming years. To offset the Group’s residual emissions for 2022, John Good Group partnered with Climate Impact Partners to purchase carbon credits. Working together, the two teams selected initiatives that make significant contributions to the communities they serve while also addressing the global issue of climate change by avoiding and reducing carbon emissions. The projects selected include Rural Clean Cooking in India, Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve REDD++ in Indonesia, Mudbrick Rocket Stoves in Malawi, and Degraded Grasslands Afforestation in Uruguay. James White at Climate Impact Partners explained: “Our collaboration with John Good Group is about delivering action on climate change and creating a more sustainable world. We worked together to identify projects that truly align with their ethos and support the UN’s SDGs in the most meaningful way.” These projects align with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals that John Good Group has committed to: No Poverty (SDG 1), Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG 3), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) and Climate Action (SDG 13).  

KCOM launches foundation scheme to connect communities in the Humber region

KCOM has announced first details of its foundation to help connect communities across the Humber, having joined forces with the HEY Smile Foundation.

The KCOM Foundation which will award grants of up to £25,000 during the next three years to promote online inclusion, build stronger communities, connect generations and help boost digital skills and awareness across the region.

CEO Tim Shaw said: “The KCOM Foundation which will play a huge role in connecting people and their communities right across the Humber region – from Hull and East Yorkshire to North Lincolnshire. “It’s hugely important to us that no-one is left behind in this digital age – either because they don’t have access to the internet or because their community doesn’t have the full fibre broadband, they need to make the most of the opportunities available online. “These grants will enable us to make a real difference with big projects such as connecting community digital hubs to provide online access for isolated or deprived communities, as well as funding smaller initiatives such as helping individual charities. “We want to hear from as many interested communities as possible who think The KCOM Foundation can help them transform lives and create a better connected, more vibrant region for us all to live in.” Funds will be allocated at the discretion of the assessment panel, supporting a number of projects of up to £25,000. There will be two windows to apply for the grants, between October and January and again between June and August, with the grant winners being announced in February and September respectively. Applications to the fund can be made through Beecan – HEY Smile Foundation’s online grant giving platform, which brings funders, community groups and charities together. Smile Chief Executive Jamie Lewis, said: “HEY Smile Foundation is proud to be working alongside KCOM as its trusted partner. This is a huge amount of money going back into the heart of the community, especially in the face of digital poverty and the cost-of-living crisis.” Smile aims to empower charities, people and communities and this funding will do just that. We recognise how important this funding is to communities and we will ensure funding goes to organisations that can make change happen and deliver the sort of transformation our partners at KCOM are determined to drive.” The KCOM Foundation is in addition to the KCOM Community Grants scheme which already distributes grants of up to £1,000 each year to local groups and also initiatives such as KCOM Kits, which in the past three years has donated more than 100 full team strips to children’s grassroots football teams. During the past 12 months, KCOM employees have also donated more than 1,000 volunteer hours to help out in the local community.

Building work on Goole business centre development to start next year

Less than 18 months since its launch, Goole’s £8.1 million RaisE Business Centre is now more than 60 per cent occupied by tenants from a broad cross-section of industries, and construction work on a second phase of development is due to start early next year.

This follows the announcement that the University of Birmingham, supported by Siemens Mobility, has been awarded £15 million by the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund to establish a new world-leading railway research and innovation centre next to Rail Accelerator for Innovation Solutions and Enterprise. Both developments form part of the new Siemens Mobility Rail Village being established at Goole, which is set to create at least 1,000 jobs. RaisE Business Centre opened in April 2022, offering dedicated office, workshop, meeting and conference space set across three floors and extending to 3,200 square meters. It also houses an onsite café, which is operated by Feast 78 and serves business based at RaisE, as well as the wider community. The second floor of the building is occupied by Siemens Mobility, which was the catalyst for the development of Goole Rail Village when it announced that its new £200 million rail factory would be located in the East Yorkshire town. The manufacturing site is situated directly opposite RaisE Business Centre and will create up to 700 new jobs when it starts building trains for the UK market next year. RaisE Business Centre was developed by East Riding of Yorkshire Council using grant funding of £1.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and £1 million from the Getting Building Fund, facilitated by the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership. Since its launch, RaisE has attracted small to medium enterprises (SMEs) from a variety of different sectors. The following tenants now have a presence within the centre:
  • Pace Technology UK, leading suppliers of vehicle tracking, GPS tracking, telematics, vehicle security, in-vehicle cameras and reversing systems.
  • First Avenue Training, specialists in delivering childcare and teaching assistant qualifications through work-based learning.
  • CWE, an independent supply, maintenance and logistics partner to the rail industry.
  • Argyll Drummond Financial Services, an independent mortgage and insurance brokerage.
  • CNC Recycling, a nationwide UPVC window recycling specialist.
  • Bel Esprit Social Care, a family-run business providing residential support to working age adults with mental health needs and/or learning disabilities.
  • DFDS Logistics Limited, a transport and logistics company.
  • Sure Healthcare, a provider within the healthcare and social care setting.
  • K&K (UK), a distributor of fasteners, industrial fixings and parts to a number of industries, including the rail industry.
  • Business Daily Group Limited, a multi-disciplinary marketing, communications, publications and advisory business.
  • Fox Red Wealth Management Ltd, a wealth management company.
  • 21 Transport Ltd, a transport services business.
  • HandB Commercial Projects Ltd, a principal contractor operating across the UK.
Councillor Anne Handley, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: “It’s wonderful to see so many businesses making use of the impressive facilities on offer within RaisE, which has quickly established itself as a real hub of commercial activity. “With a second phase of development expected to get underway at the Rail Village later this year, I’m delighted that Goole is one of just two sites in the country to have been chosen to be the home of world-leading railway research and innovation facilities. This exciting and significant project will create many jobs in the research and development sector, including administrative and office roles, as well as technical jobs. It will also give the next generation the opportunity of a brighter future in innovation and technology in rail.”

From today agri-food firms can tap into funding from new £7.5m pot

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From today agri-food businesses in Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland can apply for funding from a £7.5m pot to support innovation and growth.

A partnership of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, New Anglia LEP (covering Norfolk and Suffolk), and the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority has been awarded the funding from Innovate UK under the Launchpads programme. The programme SMEs in the region to apply for competitive grants for R&D and innovation projects that focus on agrifood. The grant funding available starts from £25,000, and up to £300,000 is available for projects that provide exceptional impact to the cluster. To be eligible, projects must make a significant contribution to one or more of the following:
  • enhancing the productivity of primary crops, the bioeconomy, livestock, aquaculture or ornamental plants
  • biotechnologies related to agriculture, food and nutrition
  • food that promotes safe, healthy and nutritious diets
  • resource-efficient production methods for low-emission foods
Projects can focus on one or more of the following:
  • sustainability in the context of environmental challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity
  • protecting, maintaining or enhancing animal welfare within current UK regulatory standard
  • nutritional composition, food manufacturing and processing, packaging, and safety
  • minimising negative effects such as pollution, food loss and waste
  • resilience and responsiveness in the supply chain, mitigating risks, interruptions or disruptions
Businesses applying for grant funding must either be based in Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland, Norfolk, Suffolk or Cambridgeshire, or be able to demonstrate how their project will significantly benefit those areas. Sarah-Louise Fairburn, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP’s Food Board, said: “The announcement of a Launchpad supporting SMEs in our agrifood sector is warmly welcomed. “This news comes just days after the announcement of a £4.9 million grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to help transform the Lincolnshire and north Cambridgeshire (LINCAM) region into a global innovation centre for agricultural technology. “The team at the Greater Lincolnshire LEP has worked hard over a number of months to secure one of only eight Innovation Launchpads in the country for the Lincolnshire food and agritech sectors. “Both announcements put us firmly on course to achieve the ambitious goal of the new UK Food Valley, which is to establish Greater Lincolnshire as a top 10 global food cluster.”

Humber businesses call for ‘transformational investment’ in the region

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Leading businesses in the Humber have presented a united front to a Government Minister calling for transformational investment enabling the region to lead the UK’s drive to net zero. Members of the Humber Energy Board, MPs, and council leaders met with Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, to push the case for game-changing investment to decarbonise the region and provide a huge stimulus to the economy. The Humber Energy Board is the collaboration of private sector businesses and public sector organisations leading on the energy strategy for the region and behind the Humber 2030 Vision, which is a prospectus of major decarbonisation projects that represent a potential £15 billion investment in the Humber. These include:
  • BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage) at Drax Power Station, which would be the world’s largest engineered carbon removals project.
  • Humber Zero, a world-scale CO2 reduction project to support the decarbonisation of critical UK industry, involving post combustion carbon capture, led by Phillips 66 and VPI Immingham.
  • H2H Saltend, Zero Carbon Humber’s low carbon hydrogen production facility with carbon capture at Saltend Chemicals Park, one of a number of major hydrogen projects in the region.
  • Refinery of the Future – large-scale investment at the Phillips 66 Humber Refinery, the only producer of speciality graphite coke used in lithium-ion batteries in Europe and the only UK refinery to make and supply sustainable aviation fuel at scale.
The Humber 2030 Vision details how, with Government support, these projects can establish the UK’s first low carbon industrial cluster in the region by that year, stimulating unprecedented private sector investment and creating and retaining tens of thousands of jobs. It also highlights why the Humber, as the UK’s largest carbon emitter, represents the country’s single biggest industrial decarbonisation opportunity. The event, at immingham, was chaired jointly by Richard Gwilliam, Chair of the Humber Energy Board and UK BECCS Programme Director at the renewable energy business Drax Group, and Hull North MP Dame Diana Johnson. It was attended by representatives from Humber Energy Board member companies Equinor, Harbour Energy, Humber Freeport, Phillips 66, Prax, RWE, SSE Thermal and Uniper. Members of the board and the region’s MPs are focused on working with the Government to find a solution to unlocking the £15 billion investment in the Humber, as a strategically important national asset. The business leaders stressed to Lord Callanan that decarbonising the region is critical for the development of the local and national economy, skills and job creation and retention, energy security, and for the Government to meet its target of the UK being net zero by 2050. Mr Gwilliam said: “Climate change is the defining challenge of our time, compelling us to decarbonise our economy, develop energy resilience and invest in new green technologies. “The Humber Energy Board is determined to make the Humber the world’s leading net zero industrial cluster. By working together under the shared banner of the Humber 2030 Vision, we’re ready to grasp this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and deliver the UK’s green revolution. “We have the platform, infrastructure and collective will to make this happen – but we need clarity and certainty from the Government, most urgently on pathways to deploy carbon capture and storage technologies. “It’s essential we have a pipeline network to remove CO2 from traditionally carbon intensive industries like power generation, steelmaking, chemicals and refinery, and deliver hydrogen to enable the switch from fossil fuels at scale. “The simple fact is that now is the time to deliver.”