Hull turbine blade factory to work on billion-pound contract for Scottish Power
Turbine blades for Scottish Power’s £4bn East Anglia TWO offshore windfarm will be built in Hull by Siemens Gamesa in a billion-pound contract.
The agreement will see Siemens Gamesa supply 64 offshore wind turbinesfor ScottishPower’s third offshore wind project in the southern North Sea. The turbines have a a rotor diameter of 236 metres – almost as tall as the observation deck at the Shard building in London.
Almost 33km off the Suffolk coat, East Anglia TWO will be capable of generating enough to power the equivalent of almost one million homes.
The 115 metres-long blades will be manufactured at Siemens Gamesa’s offshore wind blade factory in Hull, where the workforce has risen to about 1,300 people after recruitment of more than 600 new employees over the last year.
Keith Anderson, CEO of ScottishPower, said: “Today is tangible proof of the importance of Britain’s Clean Power Mission – our East Anglia projects are delivering UK jobs, UK supply chain contracts and UK green energy.
“Getting more projects like East Anglia TWO off the blocks quicker will turbo-boost the UK’s supply chain, giving companies like Siemens Gamesa the confidence to invest in facilities like this blade factory in Hull.
“Britain’s clean power targets are achievable but demanding. We’ve doubled our investment and are ready to play our part with Government as it gets barriers out the way to build more projects like this, alongside the electricity networks needed to ferry green, homegrown power across the country.”
Darren Davidson, UK and Ireland vice president for Siemens Energy and Siemens Gamesa, said: “The UK is the first leading industrial country to simultaneously phase out coal power and be a leader in offshore wind. If we’re to achieve our net zero targets, it’s mission critical this momentum is maintained.
“As well as delivering the blades to power the UK’s energy transition, our factory in Hull is acting as a catalyst for economic growth and green jobs across the region.”
The contract award comes just after ScottishPower confirmed it is doubling its investment in the UK – from £12bn to £24bn – between 2024 and 2028.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower will fire up our industrial heartlands and break down barriers to growth in our hard-working towns and cities.
“It will strengthen our national security – protecting our children and grandchildren from the climate crisis, and impact this will have on their future prosperity.
“By acting decisively and early, the UK has an opportunity to lead the world in the industries of the future – working in partnership with businesses like ScottishPower and Siemens Energy – creating real energy security, cutting energy bills and building jobs and supply chains in the UK.”
Investor acquires former builders’ merchant site in Lincoln
Castle Square Securities has acquired the leasehold of site and buildings on a 1.56-acre site on Chieftain Way of Lincoln’s Tritton Road for an undisclosed sum.
With 12,345 sq ft of warehouse and associated trade counter sales space, the compound was formerly occupied by the builders merchant chain Jewson, which moved last year. Addison’s incorporating Banks & Long acted for Castle Square Securities over acquisition of the site, which has been marketed with a guide price of £1 million. Nick Dawes of Brown & Co acted in the disposal of the site & premises.
Eddisons, on instruction from its client, has also now let 0.67 acres of storage area within the compound on a short term lease to a construction firm working locally on Lincoln’s Western Growth Corridor.
The agency has been instructed to market the built elements of the site following refurbishment.
Eddisons’ Will Wall, who led the acquisition on behalf of Castle Square Securities, said, “The location of the site and the opportunity for increasing yield potential were the drivers of the deal for our client.
“The site is next to Lincoln’s Western Growth Corridor on which construction is now under way – this makes the acquisition even more of a strategic investment for our client in looking to the long term.
“The transaction is a mark of confidence in the industrial property market and investor confidence in the enduring appeal of bricks & mortar as an asset class.”
Internal Drainage Boards to get share of £50m to protect rural businesses from flooding
Recognising the significant impact of flooding on farmers and rural communities , the government is to share £50 million amongst internal drainage boards, the public bodies responsible for managing water levels for agricultural and environmental needs in a particular area.
Drainage Boards that submit successful bids will be able to spend the £50 million on projects over the next two years to improve, repair or replace flood barriers, embankments and maintain watercourses. The funding will support projects which reduce risks and impacts from flooding to farmers and rural communities across England. The Environment Agency has begun work with IDBs to distribute the funding from today.
Floods Minister Emma Hardy said: “Farmers are the backbone of the nation, with their hard work helping to put food on the family tables across the country.
“More intense weather events are destroying homes, businesses and livelihoods across the country, with farming communities facing the heaviest consequences.
“That is why this Government is reforming how flood funds are distributed to protect businesses, rural and coastal communities as we invest over £2.4 billion in flood defences across the country.”
The government has also today confirmed payments to farmers impacted by last year’s severe weather through the Farming Recovery Fund. A total of £60 million will be distributed to eligible farmers, via recovery payments of between £2,895 and £25,000 to around 13,000 farm businesses. Payments are expected to land in farmers’ accounts from 21st November.CMA finalises new guidance for trader recommendation web sites
The Competition and Markets Authority has finalised advice for trader recommendation sites as it pushes the sector to ensure all businesses comply with consumer law.
This means all sites should have a clear idea of their obligations under consumer law, meaning they can offer their service responsibly and make sure they’re acting on the right side of the law.
And with the CMA set to receive stronger enforcement powers from next spring, trader recommendation sites that are not complying with their obligations risk facing a formal investigation.
The advice sets out the key principles sites should follow to make sure they stay on the right side of the law. Not only will this mean consumers are better protected, but it will help ensure there is a level playing field for qualified and reliable traders – who should no longer find themselves competing on recommendation sites with traders who are not properly vetted.
Mike Andrews, National Coordinator for the National Trading Standards eCrime Team, said: “Protecting consumers and honest business is at the heart of everything we do and we’ve welcomed the work CMA and partners have done to get this guidance in place. It marks the start of trader recommendation sites ensuring they vet and verify traders more carefully and take consumer complaints more seriously.
“With the guidance finalised and by following these tips, consumers can now be more confident about getting the right plumber, plasterer, or roofer for the job, while genuine traders will no longer miss out on jobs that might otherwise have gone to illegitimate ones.”
Former factory site changes hands ahead of new development in Stamford
Contracts have been exchanged in readiness for the planned transformation of the 15-hectare former Cummins site in Stamford.
It’s to be the site of the St Martin’s Park development, which will be made up of a designated commercial area; mixed-use area; retirement village; and a range of residential properties including affordable homes; and areas of green and open space.
South Kesteven District Council and landowner partner Burghley House Preservation Trust Ltd have reached purchase agreements with Morris Homes, Inspired Living and Burghley Land Ltd.
The Council bought the Cummins site in 2018 which, combined with adjacent land owned by Burghley House Preservation Trust, makes up the 14.7 hectare development site. The council bought the site in 2018 to ensure part of it would be used to provide jobs after the Cummins factory closed, and the designated commercial and mixed use areas will provide office space as well as a convenience store to serve the whole development.
Morris Homes will provide the residential development; Inspired Living the retirement village; and Burghley Land Ltd the commercial development.
SKDC’s Cabinet Member for Property and Public Engagement, Cllr Richard Cleaver, said: “This is a major development that will transform a derelict site into a thriving addition to the Stamford community. It will be a high-quality, well-designed and sustainable development with cycle routes and walkways into the town centre.
“It’s important to note that SKDC bought the former Cummins site in order to preserve employment use and we have remained true to that ambition.”
Outline planning permission for the site was granted in 2021 and the next stage in the planning process will see the three developers submit reserved matters applications early in 2025 for their parts of the development, along with an overall scheme to deliver joint infrastructure works on the site, including roads.
Cindy Cade, Group MD at Morris Homes, said: “We are pleased to be working with South Kesteven District Council to bring forward this exciting new development at St Martin’s Park in Stamford.
“This mixed-use scheme will offer a collection of premium and affordable homes ranging from two to five bedrooms. They will be designed to suit a range of demographics and lifestyles as well as some of the highest energy efficiency and sustainability standards.
“Following the success of our Cecil Square development, we are thrilled to continue our commitment to quality housing in the area, creating homes that will support the needs and aspirations of the whole community.”
Hull firm works with Siemens to develop production of clean hydrogen
Hull-based clean hydrogen producer HiiROC is working with Siemens on its hydrogen production technology, helping customers to decarbonise their operations and support their Net Zero ambitions.
Under the agreement, HiiROC will use Siemens’ control technology and factory and automation expertise to ensure the safe, efficient automation of hydrogen production and support in scaling.
HiiROC’s proprietary Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE) technology is designed to meet rising demand for low-cost, scalable solutions for clean hydrogen production at the point of use, which helps to significantly reduce costs by removing the need for specialised storage and transportation.
Mike Plant, Head of Engineering at HiiROC, said: “Partnering with Siemens has allowed us access to a wide product range of solutions for the hazardous and demanding environment we operate. Not only that, but the support and industry leading knowledge Siemens has been able to provide on topics such as cybersecurity and software development is crucial to the product development and future upscale and production of our technology, which ultimately makes hydrogen an economically sustainable fuel source for millions of businesses worldwide.”
Andy Lane, senior commercial manager at Siemens, added: “The costs to transport and store hydrogen remains prohibitively expensive for businesses to make the switch at scale. The UK is also many years away from having an expansive hydrogen pipeline network for industry to tap into, despite positive early progress in its development.
“Powered by Siemens technology, HiiROC’s compact, low-carbon, low-cost solution to producing hydrogen at the point of use is a game-changer for the energy transition. They’ll enable many fuel-hungry businesses to meet their decarbonisation targets.
“No single organisation can deliver Net Zero alone. And we’re proud to work alongside like-minded innovators like HiiROC to tackle the energy transition – one of society’s biggest challenges.”
The TPE process splits gaseous hydrocarbons into hydrogen and solid carbon without creating carbon dioxide. This highly efficient process, recognised under the UK’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard, requires only a fifth of the electricity of water electrolysis.
As a key technology partner, Siemens will collaborate with HiiROC to advance product development, while its global developer support community will help in achieving the hydrogen producer’s international expansion goals. Siemens, which has ambitious commitments to decrease carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable society, works with organisations across sectors to decarbonise using technology.
New roles for two at Wright Vigar
Accountancy firm Wright Vigar has appointed Steve Newman to its Board, and make Ollie Martin the Office Director at Sleaford.
Steve Newman has a strong background in leadership, having served as a Board Director at Hobsons for five years before Wright Vigar’s acquisition of the company in 2021.
MD Kevin Shaw said: “Steve’s promotion to the Board will significantly strengthen our audit offering. His expertise and leadership have been invaluable in driving our technical standards forward, and we’re confident his contributions at the Board level will further enhance our services.”
Ollie Martin joined Wright Vigar as a Business Services Manager in 2015 and has played a crucial role in the Sleaford office’s growth and success over the past nine years.
Mr Shaw said: “Ollie has been an integral part of our team, consistently demonstrating his ability to develop our services and win new clients. His promotion to Office Director of Sleaford is a well-deserved recognition of his contributions and leadership.”
Hull names urban design consultancy to develop vision for city’s future
Hull City Council has appointed urban design practice Planit to lead the development of a vision for the future of the city.
Creation of a new vision for the city centre will be a key milestone in building Hull’s role as a regional hub for enterprise, investment and growth.
Over the next six months, Planit and their wider team of regeneration experts, will engage with Hull businesses, residents and stakeholders to develop a plan designed to stimulate the economy, respond to climate change and develop sustainable neighbourhoods.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis said: “We want residents of our city to have a say in its future, a city they can feel proud of and a place where people want to live and visit.
“Alongside ensuring our communities thrive, our city centre must thrive alongside it. We have set out to create a new long-term vision for the heart of our city that makes the most of its assets.
“The new vision will build on existing plans to use the city’s strengths to create a thriving economy with job opportunities for everyone and a healthy place to live with access to affordable housing, green spaces and great opportunities to experience our culture and heritage.”
The master planning work is part of a £19.3m Government-funded programme to unlock key sites and regenerate areas of the city centre.
Andy Roberts, director of urban design at Planit, added: “It’s such an exciting time for this legendary maritime city which has great historical significance, not only for the UK, but the rest of the world.
“Committed to a regenerative future, we are passionate about preservation and building cities that can adapt. We’re delighted to play a central role in Hull’s development.”
Businesses urged to have their say on plans to change waste charges
The Environment Agency is encouraging the waste, water, and farming sectors to have their say on charges associated with waste activities.
The 10-week consultation, which runs until January, proposes introduction of new regulatory charges for specific waste activities, as well as updating existing charging regimes from April 2025.
The Environment Agency is consulting on four key proposals:
- A waste levy which will enable the Environment Agency to increase waste enforcement activity by around 30%.
- New and updated hourly rates to ensure continued recovery of costs of regulatory activities.
- A waste fee for intervention to recover the cost of regulation where operators lack authorisation.
- Registration and compliance charges for waste exemptions. For farmers, we are proposing a reduced compliance charge for a set of 15 common on-farm waste exemptions.
“Our proposals will see more investment in our services, which is crucial in protecting legitimate businesses, tackling waste crime and reducing environmental damage. We encourage interested parties to respond to help shape the future of their industry.”
South Yorkshire firms urged to share experiences of crime
Organisations across South Yorkshire are being asked to share their experiences with business crime via a new poll conducted by the three regional chambers of commerce.
Open until Monday 9th of December, the Business Crime Survey aims to find out how often local firms are targeted by shoplifting, burglary, theft from motor vehicles, fraud, assault and cyber-attacks, as well as the effect that these illegal activities can have on their day-to-day operations.
In addition to gathering said insights, the questionnaire will gauge respondents’ awareness of the various different support mechanisms that are out there to help them, while also asking them to rate how satisfied they have been with the response to any incidents that may have been reported in the past.
The South Yorkshire chambers promise to listen carefully to what the business community has to say, and plans to use the findings to better understand the scale of the problem; decide what more can be done to support firms with these challenges; and articulate to key partners (including the police) where improvements are needed most.
Chief Execs for the three South Yorkshire Chambers — covering Sheffield, Doncaster and Barnsley & Rotherham — issued the following joint statement: “From our regular interactions with members, we already know just how profound an effect business crime can have on an individual organisation; whether it takes the form of reputational damage, financial harm, customer loss or an impact on staff wellbeing. From SMEs right through to larger corporations, this is a major concern that spans all sectors and industries, which is why we are so keen to get under the bonnet of it via our new survey.
“By sparing just a few minutes to anonymously describe their experiences here, business-owners will be enabling us to fight more effectively in their corner. Indeed, we will be using the results to lobby for meaningful change, to make sure that the best possible support is available to firms on the ground when it comes to dealing with crime, and to hopefully make South Yorkshire’s private sector less vulnerable to such activity in the first place.
“To do this well, however, we need as many different perspectives as possible. After all, the greater the response to our questionnaire, the more authentically we will be able to represent businesses on this hot-button issue.”
The latest iteration of the South Yorkshire Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), the Business Crime Survey is sponsored by Clear Insurance Management and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard, added: “We need businesses to have the confidence to invest; but that means listening to businesses about what undermines that confidence. I know crime and security are huge concerns for our business community, from fraud to shoplifting. So, as I develop my first Police and Crime Plan, I’m determined to listen and to learn. That’s why I need businesses to fill in the Business Crime Survey, so I can understand their needs and priorities, and what they want to see in that Plan.”
