Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce Shevaun Haviland has urged the Government to reconnect with business as firms see no progress on the barriers to growth.
At this week’s British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference she urged Government to put business at the heart of its plans to revive the UK economy.
And with a General Election less than 18 months away she set out the keys issues that matter most to firms, and that only by addressing these could business confidence be regained after being battered and bruised by the pandemic, the fallout from the war in Ukraine, and last year’s political chaos.
she said: “As we move forward into an increasingly digital age, it’s vital that we answer the crucial questions that firms are asking.
“How can we use AI to revolutionise the way we operate? What policies could help us embrace its benefits? And how can we safeguard against negative consequences and ensure no one is left behind in this new digital age?
“At the Chambers, we’re led by one of Britain’s true digital pioneers. Our President, Martha Lane Fox has been at the heart of digital innovation. [We must] harness the transformative power of technology, tackle the challenges ahead and redesign our future.”
Emphasising the importance of international trade in growing the UK economy, she said: “Post-Brexit, the UK is figuring out its economic role in the world. Both exports and inward investment are facing growing competition.
“But it’s a problem we are well placed to help solve. We know how to find opportunities and partners all over the world and give businesses the tools to break into new markets.
“We are working to ensure that the UK continues to be a great place to invest.
“So that when global investors are deciding where to put their money, they see in the UK the conditions, talent, and access to finance that make it one of the best places in the world to invest.”
She went on: “The UK is a leader in green innovation but with the lack of direction by government, we are seeing the US and the EU moving ahead, and fast becoming a far more attractive opportunity for those businesses.
“This is a huge economic opportunity for UK Plc. New global markets for low carbon products and services are worth an estimated £1trn to the UK by 2030. Let’s not turn our back on that.”
Are you due a tax refund? HMRC would like to help you get it
HM Revenue and Customs is reminding employed workers they can claim a refund on work-related expenses directly through GOV.UK.
More than 800,000 taxpayers claimed tax refunds for work expenses during the 2021 to 2022 tax year, but while the average claim was £125, more than 70% of claimants missed out on getting the full amount they were due because they used an agent to make their claim instead of claiming directly with HMRC.
It is quick and easy to claim a tax refund directly through HMRC’s online portal on GOV.UK, and the only way to guarantee receiving 100% of the repayment – with no small print and no middlemen taking a cut.
Victoria Atkins, Financial Secretary to The Treasury said: “Nobody should miss out on the full claim of a tax rebate – and by going straight to HMRC people can avoid being left out of pocket because of unscrupulous repayments agents.
“Thanks to our Spring Budget reforms if someone no longer wants an agent involved in their claim, they’ll be able to cancel it so any future rebates will go to the taxpayer in full.”
Jonathan Athow, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Strategy and Tax Design, said: “Every penny counts and we want to make sure employed workers are getting what they deserve – their hard-earned cash straight back into their pockets. To make a claim just search ‘employee tax relief’ on GOV.UK. It is the quickest way of getting a tax refund on your work-related expenses and ensures you get 100% of the money back.” Submitting a claim through HMRC’s online portal itakes about 15 minutes. Customers can use the handy online tool to check eligibility and a full list of work expenses they can claim including:- uniforms and work clothing
- buying work-related equipment
- professional fees, union memberships, and subscriptions
- using their own vehicle for work travel (excluding journey from home to work)
CMA gets involved in Medivet acquisition of Barton vet practice
The Competition and Markets Authority has outlined preliminary concerns that the purchase of a dozen independent veterinary businesses by the Medivet Group, including Barton Companion Animal Services at Barton on Humber, could lead to worse quality, a more limited range of services or higher prices for pet owners in affected areas across England and Northern Ireland.
The CMA opened its investigation into Medivet’s purchase of seventeen independent veterinary businesses in March this year. Medivet is a large multinational veterinary group with over 400 veterinary centres across the UK that offer veterinary services primarily to small animals, including at 24-hour centres.
This is the fourth CMA investigation into acquisitions in the veterinary sector in the last two years and comes against a backdrop of an increasing number of transactions in which corporate groups purchase small, independent veterinary services across the UK.
Medivet’s purchases took place between September 2021 and September 2022. Medivet did not sufficiently publicise the purchases and chose not to notify the CMA at that time. The CMA identified potential concerns as part of its ongoing monitoring of mergers and acquisitions and opened initial investigations in March 2023.
Following these investigations, the CMA found competition concerns in relation to 12 transactions regarding the supply of veterinary services for small animals (typically household pets) in 34 local areas across England and Northern Ireland. The CMA also found competition concerns in relation to two of these twelve transactions regarding the supply of out-of-hours veterinary services to small animals in five local areas in England.
In each of these deals, the CMA found that the combined businesses would account for a significant proportion of the veterinary services offered in each location of concern. The CMA found no competition concerns arising for three purchases (The Hollies, Canine Healthcare and Withy Grove) and in April found that two purchases (Monument Vets and Stanhope Park) did not meet the statutory requirements to be investigated further.
Sorcha O’Carroll, Senior Director of Mergers, at the CMA, said: “There are around 17 million pet-owning homes across the UK with consumers spending around £4 billion a year on vets and other services for pets. Particularly while household budgets are already stretched, it’s crucial that we ensure continued access to good quality pet care at a fair price.
“We continue to receive concerns that independent vet practices being bought out by a single company could lead to a loss of competition at a local level resulting in higher prices or lower quality services.
“We will continue to monitor the impact of these types of deals so we can take the necessary action to ensure reduced competition won’t reduce the overall availability and quality of local veterinary services.”
Medivet has five working days to offer legally binding proposals to the CMA to address the competition concerns identified. The CMA would then have a further 5 working days to consider whether to accept these instead of referring the cases to Phase 2 investigations.JCT600 scoops Retailer of the Year title from Mercedes
Family business JCT600 has been named as Retailer of the Year for 2022 by Mercedes- Benz as it recognises its best performing dealerships across the UK.
With Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Sheffield, Doncaster, Harrogate, York and Chesterfield, JCT600 won the coveted award based on its ‘outstanding performance in every area of the business, including new car sales, customer service, approved used car sales, workshop retail hours and customer retention’.
Gary Savage, chief exec and MD of Mercedes-Benz Cars UK, said: “JCT600 performed consistently strongly across all areas of the business and the team’s collaboration was nothing short of outstanding, with remarkable engagement and positivity.”
Michelle Caveney, Mercedes-Benz brand director for JCT600 said, “It is a fantastic achievement to be recognised in these prestigious awards which celebrate the very best of Mercedes-Benz’s partners throughout the UK.
“This accolade is testament to the hard work and passion of the 200-plus strong team across our five Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Derbyshire, South Yorkshire and North Yorkshire, demonstrating their customer-centric approach and continued ability to deliver exceptional service. Ensuring that customers have the very best experience when they visit us is at the heart of what we do – our thanks go to all of our colleagues who make this possible.”
JCT600 has grown from a single dealership into one of the largest privately-owned businesses in Yorkshire. With over 50 dealerships from Yorkshire and the North East to Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, the group represents 23 of the world’s leading car marques and has a team of 2,300 colleagues.
Rewards for efforts to make Lincolnshire apprenticeships work
Lincolnshire apprentices, trainers, and employers who have gone above and beyond to make apprenticeships a success, have been recognised at the Apprenticeship Champions Awards ceremony for 2023.
The overall winner of Apprentice of the Year was Declan Brown who has undertaken an apprenticeship at Scampton Church of England Primary School.
Headteacher Charlie Hebborn said, “The impact Declan has in the classroom helps children make good progress in areas such as reading, writing and maths. Pupils learn well because Declan inspires them and is a great role model.”
Apprentice Champions were also awarded in sector categories, with the winners being:
- Health and Care Apprentice Champion – Millie Brightman from Great Northern Physiotherapy Limited
- Education Apprentice Champion – Declan Brown from Scampton Church of England Primary School
- Government and Public Service Apprentice Champion – Abbie Beastall from West Lindsey District Council
- Food Manufacturing Apprentice Champion – Sophie Camm from Bakkavor
- Construction and Engineering Apprentice Champion – Ellie Wilds from Balfour Beatty
- Commercial Services Apprentice Champion – Leila Mae Hall from Masons (Louth) Ltd.
Distribution and manufacturers dominate Yorkshire first quarter industrial activity
Distribution and manufacturing companies continue to dominate Yorkshire’s industrial activity in Q1 of 2023, says commercial property agent Knight Frank.
The past year saw distribution firms reign in West Yorkshire, accounting for 80% of the annual total and up significantly from 13% over the comparable period last year.
While in South Yorkshire, the last 12 months saw a significant uplift in space taken up by manufacturing companies, accounting for 38% of the total. Demand has also continued from distribution occupiers, comprising a further 42% in the year, with retailers less active, at 12%.
This trend continues into 2023 as shown by figures revealed in Knight Frank’s latest LOGIC report covering Yorkshire.
A robust opening quarter saw 496,100 sq ft of industrial and logistics occupier take up in West Yorkshire & the Humber, across four deals (units over 50,000 sq ft) which is 25% higher than Q1 last year, and significantly ahead of the previous three months.
Two notable pre-let deals, logistics service provider Advanced Supply Chain pre-let at Tungsten’s Super B, Interchange 26 in Cleckheaton and IFCO’s pre-let of Equation’s 153,323 sq ft Unit 2 at Prism Park, Glasshoughton, boosted the quarterly total, setting new prime headline rents for the region.
Looking at West Yorkshire and the Humber, Iain McPhail, partner in the Leeds industrial and logistics team, said: “We have seen a welcome increase in take up so far in 2023, with new headline rents being achieved in the process. With the continued dearth of grade A, new speculative development, we are seeing further upward pressure on quoting / ‘guide’ rents.
“There is some 1.5 million sq ft of new space on site and to be delivered over the course of 2023 in the region, although the vast majority of the larger buildings are situated in traditionally ‘secondary’ locations. In the meantime, we expect the new, prime mid-box developments, located in more traditionally sought-after locations, such as in Leeds (Leeds Valley Park and Velocity Point) as well as Prism Park in Wakefield to push rents on further.”
Looking ahead Iain says take up is expected to improve as the year progresses and as new stock reaches practical completion.
“Despite the wider macroeconomic conditions, the first three months alone have already recorded almost 500,000 sq ft of take up, therefore a higher level of transactions is expected for 2023.
“New, high-quality development totalling approximately 1.5 million sq ft is currently under construction and second-hand stock totals circa 1.7m sq ft (units over 50,000 sq ft). Notably, there is only one brand new building available to occupy, and around 37% of the immediately available stock is now under offer.
“Rental growth across all size units has taken place with prime rents in Leeds for units over 50,000 sq ft rising by 10% in the quarter, and by 22% YOY, reaching a new headline of £8.25 psf, however this is forecast to rise again during the next quarter.”
The first quarter of 2023 recorded 247,600 sq ft of take up in South Yorkshire and North East Derbyshire (units over 50,000 sq ft).
Rebecca Schofield, head of the Yorkshire industrial team, looked at South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.
Occupier deals in quarter one in South Yorkshire included a 164,366 sq ft unit at Nimbus Doncaster, let to Bowker Transport and 83,237 sq ft unit at Phase 2 of PLP’s Bessemer Park, Sheffield, which has exchanged with practical completion expected in late 2023.
Rebecca said: “Development activity has boosted supply. At the end of Q1 2023, approx. 2.2 million sq ft of floorspace was immediately available across the region (units over 50,000 sq ft). This brings the vacancy rate to 3.7%, up from a low of 1.3% recorded a year ago, with the improvement largely owing to a number of development completions. A further 3.5 million sq ft is under construction, up 68% year on year.
“Demand for new units has led to prime rents in the region (units over 50,000 sq ft) growing by 14% annually, to stand at £7.95 psf, with average rents expected to rise but at a more modest rate.”
Summing up Rebecca said: “The region has a strong pipeline of speculative development on site, due for completion during 2023/early 2024. There has also been a number of second-hand buildings that have recently been vacated that have come back to the market, resulting in a healthy supply of buildings to cater for continued occupier demand.
“There are a number of active occupier requirements in the market considering space and also a number of buildings under offer therefore we expect good levels of take up over the coming quarters.”
Construction materials group acquires Doncaster and Lincoln firms
Breedon Group, the construction materials group, has completed three recent bolt-on transactions with a combined enterprise value of up to £19m.
In Great Britain Breedon has acquired two downstream businesses.
Broome Bros. Limited is a leading manufacturer of concrete blocks based in Doncaster, adjacent to one of the company’s existing ready-mixed concrete sites, and Minster Surfacing Limited is an award-winning regional surfacing business based in Lincoln with strong sustainability credentials delivering a diverse portfolio of works from the Midlands to London.
Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland the acquisition of Robinson Quarry Masters Limited, a family-run quarrying and concrete block business in Country Antrim, has further extended Breedon’s footprint North of Belfast and enhanced its aggregate reserves on the Island of Ireland. Robinson Quarry Masters has a well-established customer base with exposure to housing, commercial and infrastructure end-markets.
Rob Wood, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Many of our transactions come to us through our local knowledge and personal engagement with the owners. As a result, our active M&A pipeline has continued to yield high quality, earnings enhancing opportunities that will enable us to progress our sustainable growth strategy.
“Each of these independent family run businesses is aligned with our vertically-integrated operating model, providing further opportunity to pull through upstream building materials while extending our downstream footprint to deliver profitable growth. We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues to Breedon and look forward to working with them.”
Family owned care group builds on Shipley retirement offering
Czajka Care Group is making a multi-million-pound investment in its flagship Fairmount Park development in Nab Wood near Saltaire.
As part of the plans, Brookfield Care Home will also benefit from a major extension and improvements programme in order to merge with Fairmount Nursing Home, which will be demolished to make way for eight new purpose-built retirement houses and apartments.
The family owned and run Czajka Care Group was granted planning permission for the development in 2021 and has been liaising with the residents and families at Fairmount Park and Fairmount Nursing Home to plan for the expansion.
Czajka Care Group’s Managing Director, Konrad Czajka, said: “As always, we are putting the needs of our residents first and having regular meetings with our residents and their families to detail our plans, discuss how they would like to move forward and involve them in shaping our timescales.
“As part of the development, we will create an additional eight new and modern rooms with first class facilities at Brookfield Care Home and can’t wait to welcome people here.
“All the team at Fairmount Nursing Home will also be offered roles within Czajka Care Group at our other care and nursing homes. In fact, as part of this investment, we will also be creating at least a dozen new jobs, which is welcome news for the local economy.
“These exciting plans will help us meet the huge demand for purpose built, high quality, assisted living retirement homes in the area, whilst also providing invaluable residential care for 48 residents at our extended Brookfield Care Home.”
Currently there is no availability at Czajka Care Group’s existing purpose-built retirement homes at either Fairmount Park, which has 37 houses and apartments or at Currergate Mews, which has 14 houses. The two retirement developments both have long waiting lists, with some people reserving a property years in advance of their planned move date.
Konrad added: “We have long waiting lists for our retirement houses and apartments because people love their locations, property styles, leisure facilities and the support available.
“By delivering eight new homes for people over 55 at Fairmount Park, we hope to meet some of this demand and provide people with an individual home that gives them privacy and independence, but with all the benefits of being part of a wider community with assisted support as and when they need it.
“At Fairmount Park, another really popular pull is the crown green bowling and putting greens, and many of our residents are also members of our wonderful Clubhouse, where they can enjoy a host of services.”
Largest dedicated ambulance and police vehicle factory in the UK set for Bradford
WN VTech, a specialist vehicle manufacturer, is planning a major site move for VCS, the manufacturer of emergency services vehicles. The new site in Bradford will be the largest dedicated ambulance and police vehicle factory in the UK.
The new facility will house a dedicated R&D facility that doubles its engineering capability, enabling the company to maintain its reputation for creating the lightest vehicle conversions available while reducing emissions and increasing fuel efficiency.
The site move will also create more than 150 jobs and feature a dedicated training academy to provide a boost to the local community. To facilitate the expansion, VCS has appointed several senior hires. Paul Webb takes on the role of operational managing director, and Nick Withington becomes electric training lead.
Frank Barrett, CEO at WN VTech, said: “Our recent growth and expansion are a testament to the dedication and continuous innovation of our teams across the Group. We are thrilled to welcome our new hires, and to move VCS into its new facility.
“The new site will ensure we continue to deliver world-class emergency vehicles to our customers in the UK and beyond, and I’m personally incredibly proud of the opportunities for skills training it will provide.”
Raft of major agreements to help catalyse Bradford’s regeneration
Bradford Council has revealed a tranche of regeneration collaboration agreements with national partners at this week’s UKREiiF real estate conference, further supporting the ongoing transformation across the city centre.
Three major partnerships have been agreed this week involving Homes England, English Cities Fund, and UK Infrastructure Bank.
Bradford Council is set to collaborate with Homes England and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) to support the delivery of over 7,000 potential new homes across the district, after a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed at UKREiiF. The new agreement will help unlock infrastructure, resources and support to deliver affordable, good quality housing in major regeneration areas across the district and beyond.
Bradford Council also signed a pre-development agreement with Muse Places/English Cities Fund (ECF) – which brings together Muse Places, Legal and General and the Government’s levelling up agency, Homes England. This second agreement will begin the detailed preparation work to deliver the development of the City Village Regeneration scheme that will provide up to 1,000 further new homes in the heart of the City Centre which includes the former Kirkgate and Oastler Centre sites.
Additionally, a third partnership has been agreed with UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB), which will see UKIB provide technical assistance and strategic advice on the delivery, finance and options for the proposed new rail investments and landmark Southern Gateway regeneration.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said: “Bradford is very much open for business, we’re one of the country’s biggest regeneration opportunities and attracting a range of major national partners to help us achieve our commercial ambitions along with a quality housing pipeline to support Bradford’s future growth.
“This is a really exciting time for the District, we are enabling a number transformational projects which will boost the energy and vibrancy of the city centre and position it perfectly for the future. Many of these projects are now nearing completion such as Bradford Live, One City Park, Darley Street Market and North Parade public realm improvement schemes and we are preparing for Bradford 2025 which will further strengthen our investment offer.
“Through this Strategic Place Partnership – only the third of its kind to be launched in the country – Homes England has demonstrated its support for our vision and ambition to transform prime sites across the district.”
Kersten England, Chief Executive Officer, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, said: “City Village is one of our most significant developments, it will help set the tone for the future city centre residential offer and we are delighted to have secured this partnership with ECF to now take the scheme forward to delivery of 1,000 new homes in the City Centre.
“Housing plays an important role in the Bradford offer, and WYCA’s work with Homes England will go some way to helping us deliver the homes that we will need to shape a brighter future here in the district.
“Our collaboration with UKIB will help us look at investment options, funding models and the practicalities of market and state finance to realise our regeneration ambitions. Bradford has a pivotal role to play across the whole of the North of England – a successful North needs a successful Bradford!”
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said: “Our new, ground-breaking partnership with Homes England – only the third of its kind in England – will help us smash our housing targets across West Yorkshire.
“This couldn’t have come at a better time for Bradford. With City of Culture 2025 on the horizon, Bradford could be the shining beacon of ‘levelling up’, with a young diverse population and economic growth potential rivalling that of anywhere else in Britain.
“Working closely with Bradford Council and our private sector partners, we have ambitious plans to deliver safe, affordable and sustainable homes for all Bradfordians. Signing this historic agreement with Homes England today will help us considerably on that journey.”
