CATCH catches new employees for welding and pipefitting apprenticeships

Stuart Pearcey
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CATCH catches new employees for welding and pipefitting apprenticeships
Immingham-based Catch is to expand its apprenticeship provision to cover welding and pipefitting thanks to the appointment of two new employees. Joel Broddle and Lewis Bugg have joined the team within a Welding Pipefitting Hub, an employer-led project to fill a skills gap. Joel, who joins as Head of Welding & Pipefitting, will have the responsibility to drive the project forward and collaborate with industry partners whilst designing, developing, and delivering training and competency solutions to help bridge the skills gaps. Lewis joins the team as Pipefitting trainer and will ensure that the learners who come to the centre have the suitable knowledge, skills and behaviours to make the transition into industry. Lewis was an apprentice at the CATCH facility in 2007 and is returning back after time in industry and education. Joel and Lewis are joining CATCH from Grimsby Institute, where they have played a leading role in developing excellent training provision that is well regarded in the industry. CATCH Chief Operating Officer James McIntosh said: “Joel and Lewis coming to CATCH is a major coup for the organisation. They join us with an excellent reputation from employers and people in the training sector and I am excited to see how they can progress Welding & Pipefitting training in the region –  as it plays a critical role in ensuring our employers have a skilled and competent workforce.” Joel said: “I am really pleased to be joining CATCH, at the forefront of our regional training needs. The Welding and Pipefitting Hub is an exciting addition to CATCH and I am really looking forward to getting started and working with the employers to deliver exceptional courses. The area is going to need skilled people to close the growing skills gap and we want CATCH to be the place people think of first for their training needs.” Lewis added: “I am feeling very nostalgic having the opportunity to return to the place where it all began for me. I’m looking forward to stepping into the role and bringing my knowledge and skills after making this journey myself to the next generation of skilled tradespeople. “After working in the industry and with some of the companies we hope to have on board, I’ve seen how the skills gap that has grown within the sector and I am keen to start bridging this gap for the future of the industry.”

Charity’s race night helps fund numeracy and literacy training

Stuart Pearcey
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Charity’s race night helps fund numeracy and literacy training
A charity which focuses on raising the levels of literacy and numeracy across Hull and East Yorkshire has raised more than £5,500 to help fund its expansion. It comes after Run With It held a hugely successful Race Night at the MKM stadium in Hull, where one of its centres is based. Run With It works with schools and education providers, including special needs and adult learners, to provide bespoke lessons outside of the traditional classroom.  By bringing young people into more informal environments and teaching real-life experiences, their approach has become a proven method, making learning fun as well as transforming their understanding. Lisa Dawson, Director of Run With It, said: “We are so grateful to everyone who came along to our Race Night and gave so generously.  There must have been nearly 200 people in total and they all had a great time. “As a charity we rely on donations to help fund our work.  We know that the traditional classroom environment doesn’t suit all children and, since we began our work over twenty years ago, we have helped thousands with our programmes, all of which are designed to support the delivery of literacy and numeracy within the national curriculum. “Whilst we currently work out of three locations, including Hull’s MKM stadium, the Flemingate shopping centre in Beverley and Bridlington Town football club, we are continuing to grow. That’s why we are excited to open a fourth base in the region this year.”

Keyland to create over 5,000 jobs across five Leeds development sites

Tess Egginton
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Keyland to create over 5,000 jobs across five Leeds development sites

Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, aims to create 5,680 jobs and unlock up to £225m gross value added across the Leeds City Region through the development of five sites which will align and support Leeds City Council and its ‘Leeds Local Plan 2040.’

At the heart of the Leeds Local Plan 2040 sits meeting the needs of residents, communities and businesses through health and wellbeing, inclusive growth and environmental impact. The proposal submitted by Keyland for the development of these five sites will strive to deliver significant benefits to support these priorities from Leeds City Council.

The identified sites for development are Dunningley Lane in Tingley, Astley Lane in Swillington, Moor Road in Bramhope, Shadwell Grange in Roundhay and Hough Side Road in Pudsey.

Across the 97.3 acres that these development opportunities encompass, Keyland will look to deliver not only over 5,000 new jobs but also 560 new homes for approximately 1,288 new residents and over 1.1 million sq ft of commercial employment space whilst unlocking up to £225m gross value added.

The proposals for the five sites have been supported with figures facilitated by Keyland’s Valuation Tool which calculates the value each site adds across six different capitals. Keyland’s innovative approach to sustainable development aims to deliver more long term value using the tool’s six capitals. These capitals are:

  • Natural Value – growing a naturally better environment through enhancing biodiversity, green infrastructure and monitoring energy and water consumption and transport emissions
  • Social Value – creating communities that bring people together by good job opportunities and improving social connectivity as well as ensuring accessible and universally designed buildings with safe and secure neighbourhoods
  • Human Value – generating wellbeing through the creation of construction employment as well as local employment and increasing the opportunities available for recreation and physical activity
  • Intellectual Value – enabling everyone to thrive by providing strategies to enhance skills through apprenticeships and employment innovation
  • Manufactured Value – shaping places and buildings by creating high quality buildings as well as conserving and enhancing local heritage and increasing resilience through reducing flood risk
  • Financial Value – giving back to society and communities through investment and the local economy

The valuation tool indicates that Keyland could create an additional value of £606m, over the life cycle of these five developments, when compared to business as usual approaches. Keyland estimates that each capital will provide additional value of Natural £72m, Social £55m, Human £74m, Intellectual £10m, Manufactured £53m and Financial £342m.

Luke Axe, Land & Planning Director at Keyland Developments Ltd, said: “The purpose of our Six Capitals Valuation Tool is to deliver added value through creating exceptional developments. Traditional measures of value only take into account a proportion of the total impact of a development.

“Sustainable development is at the heart of everything we do, so we take time to thoughtfully understand, measure and manage the impact of our developments and how they can bring the most benefits and value to the region. The delivery of these five developments will significantly support Leeds City Council’s vision and strategic objectives for the region’s future.”

Dawsongroup EMC sweeps into new premises in Brighouse

Tess Egginton
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Dawsongroup EMC sweeps into new premises in Brighouse
Commercial lettings specialist and landlord, Towngate PLC, has agreed a three-year lease with Dawsongroup EMC for Unit AR1, Armytage Road – a 35,125 sq ft detached industrial warehouse in Brighouse. Established in 2006, Dawsongroup EMC is a supplier of self-drive municipal, industrial, and specialist vehicles for contract hire. 

Since its inception, the firm has nurtured a reputation for outstanding customer service and best-in-class maintenance across a range of sectors — including, but not limited, to environmental, municipal, and civil.

The property – ideally situated on the highly-regarded Armytage Road Industrial Estate and close to the M62 – comprises a high-bay detached industrial warehouse with a large power and gas supply, as well as a large, secure yard. The firm’s new space also benefits from three ground-level, electric loading doors, and exceptional two-storey office facilities.

Commenting on the move, Managing Director of Dawsongroup EMC, Glen Carruthers, said: “As the company continues its growth trajectory, it became time to seek larger premises from which to operate. The decision was made to rebuild on our current site, and source temporary accommodation. The unit on Armytage Road perfectly met our refined needs and we are extremely pleased the lease has been arranged so quickly. 

“The effort from the Towngate team to facilitate the move in such a short space of time was fantastic. We look forward to all the opportunities available to the business at this time and are truly appreciative of the help and assistance offered by Towngate PLC.” 

Tom Lamb, property manager for Towngate PLC, added: “We are happy to welcome Dawsongroup to our family of properties on Armytage Road. I can see that the location will work well for the business, boasting such close proximity to the motorway network, whilst they undertake the construction project at their existing site on Armytage Road, Brighouse.”

Towngate PLC was represented by Michael Steel & Co in Leeds.

Lupton Fawcett appoints head of dispute management

Tess Egginton
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Lupton Fawcett appoints head of dispute management
Yorkshire law firm Lupton Fawcett LLP has promoted partner Claire Moss to lead the dispute management team at its Leeds office. Claire has extensive experience in all aspects of dispute management, with particular expertise in property disputes. She regularly acts for both commercial and residential landlords and tenants and deals with a variety of claims such as lease renewals, dilapidations, forfeiture and possession, enfranchisement, trespass and breaches of covenant. Claire joined Lupton Fawcett as a trainee solicitor at its Leeds office in 2004, becoming a partner in 2021. In her new role as head of dispute management she will be responsible for managing a team of nine and collaborating with other departments in the firm to provide litigation support when required. She said: “No-one wants to be involved in a dispute but when issues do arise legal support is often vital to resolve things in a way that satisfies both parties. We already provide a bespoke dispute management service to clients of all sizes and I’m looking forward to helping to grow this area of the firm and supporting more clients to achieve the best possible outcome, regardless of the value of the dispute.” Lupton Fawcett managing partner James Richardson said: “Claire has a wealth of experience in her field and a well-deserved reputation for resolving clients’ disputes quickly and efficiently in what can often be complex claims. “She also exemplifies Lupton Fawcett’s values, delivering outstanding client care and continually seeking better ways to achieve clients’ goals. Her appointment to this role further strengthens our team and I am delighted to announce it.”

Fraudulently sold mattresses costing Yorkshire bed manufacturers over £40m annually

Tess Egginton
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Fraudulently sold mattresses costing Yorkshire bed manufacturers over £40m annually
With over 40% of the UK’s beds and mattresses manufactured in Yorkshire and the Humber, the region’s economy is being hit hard by rocketing levels of illegitimate trading across the UK, with sales of substandard mattresses reaching a new high. Research from the National Bed Federation (NBF), which has its national headquarters in Skipton, North Yorkshire, has revealed that every year up to 280,000 unsuspecting UK consumers are buying a mattress which may not be what it claims from a doorstep or ‘back of the van’ trader. This number has doubled in the last six months as consumers try to cut spending under the pressure of the cost of living crisis. The growing fraud is estimated to be costing the UK bed and mattress industry around £100m per annum, and Yorkshire and the Humber manufacturers are bearing the brunt of this cost as almost half of the industry’s reputable businesses are based in the region. The NBF is warning consumers that not only is buying a mattress in this way a false economy, as they are not the quality or brand of product they are labelled to be, but they may actually be unhygienic, second-hand mattresses or even unsafe due to the use of banned materials. Simon Williams from the National Bed Federation said: “Often, mattresses not purchased through a reputable retailer are cheaply manufactured products that are likely to be worth less than £100 – they may contain a very basic spring unit with a polyester fibre pad or a layer of cheap foam over it, all covered in a cheap outer covering material. What’s more, some of these products are actually dangerous as they almost certainly won’t have undergone testing to ensure they meet UK mattress flammability regulations that reduce the chance of fires in homes. “At worst, the mattress may contain an old, used spring unit along with dirty fillings, and the NBF has even come across cases where rogue traders have simply placed old mattresses inside brand-new covers and passed off the products as new.” The most recent consumer mattress buying surveys undertaken by the NBF, covering 1,000 people who had bought a mattress in the previous six months, showed that in October 2022, an alarming 4% reported buying their mattress from a doorstep or ‘back of the van’ trader whereas the previous survey a year earlier put the figure at just 2%. Mr Williams added: “Unfortunately, our latest research backs up the anecdotal information we’ve been receiving in recent months that this activity is on the rise as fraudsters look to prey on the most vulnerable in society who are struggling the hardest under the burden of rising costs. “We’ve also heard from retailers and recycling centres that they’ve seen an increase in requests from traders wanting to take old, used mattresses off them. We fear the cases we come across are only the tip of the iceberg with many of those scammed either blissfully unaware, or too embarrassed to complain – we estimate that around 280,000 mattresses a year may be being bought this way.”

Recruitment specialists appoint new CEO ahead of stock market flotation

Tess Egginton
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Recruitment specialists appoint new CEO ahead of stock market flotation

Former Gi Group Chief Operating Officer, Paul Smith has joined Aristotle Partnerships as Chief Executive Officer to direct and deliver strategy ahead of its flotation on The Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

Aristotle Partnerships is a workforce staffing solutions group formed in 2022 when recruitment entrepreneurs Nick Cragg, Craig Buckingham, Roger Frost joined together to create a business with a turnover in excess of £100m, comprising Nicholas Associates Group (NAG), Syntax and Red Rock Partnerships.

High profile brands within NAG include Stafforce, Ashley Kate HR & Finance, Nicholas Associates, The Apprentice Employment Agency, Olano, Erango, Mainboard and Cra-Cro Site Services.

Paul Smith is highly respected in the recruitment Industry and has over 24 years’ experience working across multi sectors for both global corporate and national independent agencies.

During this time, he has managed the integration strategy of several mergers and acquisitions, launched new brands, implemented process improvements and also delivered a number of recruitment outsourcing process (RPO) projects, including the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

As CEO, he will work alongside fellow members of the Aristotle Partnerships board and be responsible for all areas of the organisation. This will include building the culture and ensuring the sustainable profitability of the group, articulating and delivering the vision of growth to the management team and employees, and presenting the company to City institutions, investors, regulators, employees, customers, suppliers and external advisors.

Mr Smith said: “I am looking forward to leading the next phase of the journey for this incredible provider of apprentice to boardroom talent management solutions.

“To quote Aristotle ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’ and it is my intention to build on the company’s success by creating more synergy across all brands, fostering a culture which maintains our entrepreneurial and creative environment, ensuring continuous improvement and encouraging every colleague to fulfil their potential.” 

He continued: “I have been aware of the brands under Aristotle for many years and have come to respect them as being good, ethical and trustworthy businesses with a great reputation for excellent customer service and employee values.

“This impression was further enforced when I met other members of the board and listened to their clear vison for the business. Combined with the future potential of the brands I can see a very exciting future ahead.”

The brands within Aristotle Partnerships now boast a network of more than 33 offices and branches across the UK and the intention is to float on AIM in late 2023. The Group Head Office is in Sheffield.

Global law firm makes Leeds move

Tess Egginton
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Global law firm makes Leeds move

Global law firm Reed Smith is moving Global Solutions Leeds (GSL) to Globe Point, a new office development in the Temple district of the city, completed by longstanding client CEG.

In July, the firm will move just a five minutes’ walk away from its current base at Platform, to the striking flat iron building, Globe Point, which forms part of the wider Temple masterplan. Reed Smith will be based on the fourth floor comprising 6,479 square feet, a 37 per cent increase in size from its current space.

The building’s 40,430 sq ft is laid out over seven floors across dual aspect floorplates incorporating office space with ground floor break out space, as well as on site café, Butler’s.

In addition to Reed Smith, the building is home to Jaywing, Robot Food and Butlers café restaurant, with strong interest on the remaining floors.

The all-electric low carbon building uses 27 per cent less energy consumption than an average building. Its iconic design by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios makes it the first flat iron building to be built in Leeds since the design was conceived in the city in 1875.

GSL was first launched in 2018 at the Platform building near to Leeds train station, and was set up as a start-up environment where lawyers, analysts and business services professionals could collaborate with a shared services mentality in the open plan space on improvements to legal services delivery. Today the team comprises 111 staff, made up of 66 in business services and 45 in legal services.

Tamara Box, Reed Smith’s managing partner, EME, said: “I knew that Global Solutions Leeds would be a huge success from its inception and I’m delighted that in under five years we have outgrown our current space and are moving into a larger and purpose built space, designed with collaboration in mind, so that we can continue providing cutting-edge legal and business services to our global network and our clients.”

Barry Spenceley, GSL centre director, said: “We are extremely excited for the move to Globe Point. This iconic building will provide us with more flexibility to grow and innovate. We set up our first office in Leeds with the vision of creating a space that encourages collaboration, and while the current office has been a wonderful first home, Globe Point will provide more dedicated space to work together.

“With the move to hybrid working, we also understand the need to make the office a more attractive offering – Globe Point provides everything we are looking for. The vibrant space will complement the collaborative culture we have fostered here in Leeds.”

Antonia Martin-Wright, director, commercial development at CEG, said: “We are delighted to welcome Reed Smith to the fast-growing business community at Globe Point. It is fantastic to secure such a high calibre tenant to this exemplary development.

“Globe Point has been designed to set the highest quality benchmark for the Temple district. The business lounge, café and event space has created a buzz on the ground floor and the workspace captures all of the contemporary features occupiers and their staff are seeking. This unique flat iron building, so close to Leeds City Station southern entrance at Leeds City Station, has delivered a popular new landmark for the area.”

The development is within Temple, a new district within the city centre which forms a key part of the South Bank Regeneration Area of Leeds and includes the historic Grade I listed Temple Works.

Urgent call made to energy suppliers: renegotiate fixed contracts for small businesses on market-peak tariffs

Tess Egginton
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Urgent call made to energy suppliers: renegotiate fixed contracts for small businesses on market-peak tariffs
Hundreds of thousands of small businesses are trapped in contracts that mean their latest bills are at last summer’s peak market rate for energy – even though wholesale prices have fallen since last winter, new research shows. The Federation of Small Businesses is urging energy suppliers to allow small firms locked into fixed tariffs from last year to renegotiate contracts to better reflect the significantly lower wholesale energy prices we see today. This comes a month after massive cuts to government support on energy bills for businesses. Since 1 April 2023, the Energy Bill Relief Scheme has been downgraded to the Energy Bills Discount Scheme, which changes support to pennies that do not touch the sides of huge bills. The downscaled government support means small firms that signed up to fixed tariffs in 2022 will see their bills revert back to last year’s peak levels. This could be three or four times what they were paying when the more generous government support scheme was in place. FSB’s latest research shows more than one in ten (13%) small firms fixed their energy bills between 1 July and 31 December 2022, during which businesses were quoted up to £1 per kWh for electricity. Of this group, 13% say they could be forced to either close, downsize, or radically restructure their businesses, equating to 93,000 small firms across the UK. A significant proportion of small firms stuck in fixed contracts are from the accommodation and food sector (28%), and the wholesale and retail sector (20%). Four in ten (42%) small firms that fixed energy contracts in the second half of last year say it has been impossible for them to pass on costs to consumers who had to tighten spending and can’t afford further price increases amid the cost of living crisis. FSB is calling on energy suppliers to allow these small firms to extend their fixed contracts but at a blended and lower rate – between their original fixed rate and the current, lower wholesale rate. The option to renegotiate fixed contracts should be made automatically available to businesses which:
  • negotiated the new energy contract between July 1 and December 31 2022
  • can confirm the level of wholesale price on the contract is above the EBRS wholesale price cap
  • can confirm the end date of the contract to demonstrate the length of exposure to higher prices from April 2023 onwards
FSB policy chair Tina McKenzie said: “Having come out from a tough winter, this Spring is supposed to be the beginning of economic recovery, but tens of thousands are still very much in survival mode because they are tied-in to sky-high energy contracts. “Many small businesses agreed to lock in energy contracts last year to ensure they qualified for the maximum level of Government support. Now, with that support largely disappearing, they are once again faced with massive energy bill hikes as rates go back to pre-Energy Bill Relief Scheme level. “If ending the successful support scheme is on the basis that wholesale energy prices have gone down, then our research sheds light on just how many small businesses have been overlooked as they are entangled in high fixed tariffs. “It’s disheartening to see a significant proportion of small firms could be forced to close, downsize or radically restructure their businesses just when we look to grow our economy. Our community shrank by 500,000 small businesses over the two years of COVID; we shouldn’t now be adding any more to that gruesome tally. “The least energy suppliers should do is to allow small businesses who signed up to fixed tariffs last year to ‘blend and extend’ their energy contracts, so that their bills are closer to current market rates. We’d also like to see the Government and Ofgem support this initiative. “There are signs that small businesses may be about to turn a corner after last year’s downturn. Giving small firms a way out of last year’s market peak rates will accelerate the progress to recovery.”

Nottingham infrastructure company expands with specialist lighting design office in Bradford

Tess Egginton
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Nottingham infrastructure company expands with specialist lighting design office in Bradford
Nottingham infrastructure company McCann has strengthened its internal lighting design function with the creation of a specialist lighting design office in Bradford, West Yorkshire. It comes alongside the hire of new lighting designer, Rachel O’Connell. Rachel began her street lighting career in 2007 after securing a role with SSE – before gaining the necessary qualifications to become a qualified lighting designer while working across a range of PFI contracts for the national energy provider. Following 15 years with the business, Rachel recently saw the opportunity to join McCann as a lighting designer and work alongside the company’s design and technical manager Michael Walker. “McCann has always been seen as a great name within the industry, so to have the opportunity to join the business is not something you can easily pass up,” said Rachel. “McCann is renowned for continually investing in its people, and the business has committed to continuing my professional development by supporting me with attaining Engineering Council Status – something I’m truly grateful for. I’m really excited about this next chapter and to be working with such a passionate, innovative and customer-focused team.” Michael Walker is delighted to be welcoming Rachel to the team, and with the addition of the new office in Bradford he can only see this specialist business function going from strength to strength in the future: “The need for our services is always increasing, so as a business we must continue to invest in order to deliver the right solution each and every time,” said Michael. “Rachel is a fantastic designer. Her knowledge is unrivalled and together I know we will make a strong team with the ability to deliver solutions that exceed customer expectations, while solving complex problems. “At the same time, our new Bradford office is perfect, with good strategic road and rail connections to locations across the UK – making it easy for us to meet with clients in order to discuss their projects and understand their needs.”
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