University of Bradford names new Chair for governing body
The University of Bradford has appointed Rod Bristow as new Chair of its governing body.
Mr Bristow brings a wealth of experience and expertise from the education sector to the role, having held senior executive roles at FTSE100 global learning company Pearson PLC.
He is a Visiting Professor at University College London Institute of Education. During his career he has put considerable energy into supporting learning pathways and technologies that help close the ‘disadvantage gap’, which aligns with the University of Bradford’s commitment to social mobility.
He currently chairs the Academic Advisory Board for Kortext, a UK-based E-Learning provider. He is an experienced non-executive, having been a member of the Confederation of British Industry President’s Committee, and a Fellow for the Royal Society for the Arts. He is respected in the education sector, having worked at Pearson UK in various roles since 1992, including his appointment as President in 2010.
He will take over as Chair of the University’s Council on 1 October, succeeding John Hinchcliffe, who has served as interim Chair since May 2023.
Mr Bristow said: “I am honoured to have been appointed by the University of Bradford as its Chair of Council.
“I share the University of Bradford’s commitment to transform lives and give people the knowledge and skills they need to succeed and to contribute to society.
“This is a challenging period for the sector, but the University of Braford is committed to social inclusion, social mobility and making a positive impact locally, nationally and globally through its research and knowledge transfer.
“In this role, I am looking forward to working with the Vice-Chancellor, her team and with members of the University’s Council, to support the delivery of the University’s important mission.”
Export advice goes on the road in Yorkshire next month
Businesses in North Yorkshire are set to benefit from a series of Export Support Roadshows, designed to drive growth across the region.
The show hits the road in October, visiting five locations across two weeks including Selby, Skipton, Northallerton, Harrogate and Scarborough.
Businesses attending will get practical advice from experts who will also provide routes for support beyond the event, including funding opportunities.
The free roadshows will also hear from local business owners who have already started their export journey with positive results.
Selby-based company Semperfli produces and exports specialist fly fishing equipment. The company has become a Northern Export Champion so will be heading to the first event in Selby to help other companies on the same journey.
Ann Kitchener, Semperfli’s CEO, is particularly keen on customer care as it grows business sales across the world. She said: “Building open and positive relationships is key, understanding and respecting everyone’s position. Keeping in regular contact, creating a global team mindset, generates long term success. Just keeping talking.”
Selby Civic Centre will host the first event on October 8, followed by the Skipton Hotel in Skipton on October 10, the Golden Lion at Northallerton on October 15, Co-Lab in Harrogate on October 16 and finishing at Scarborough Rugby Club on October 17.
North Yorkshire Council, the Department for Business and Trade and the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub are working in partnership to deliver the programme.
The partnership is working together to identify the regions’ future global exporters, who will drive growth for their businesses, which will in turn benefit North Yorkshire.
Interested businesses need to register as soon the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub website, where there is further information about the running order of the day, to ensure their place.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “It is time to be confident, ambitious and champion our region’s businesses so we can reach our full potential.
“I know from my personal experience running my business, just how important our small and high street businesses are. They are the core of our economy and at the heart of each one of our communities.
“They need our support, so I am pleased that the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub, the Department for Business and Trade and North Yorkshire Council are all working together to deliver the Export Support Roadshows.”
The project is funded by North Yorkshire Council through the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, so only businesses in the council’s area can attend.
Councillor Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council and chair of the Shared Prosperity Fund Local Partnership Group, said: “These Export Support Roadshows are a fantastic opportunity for businesses across North Yorkshire to find out more about how to engage with markets in other countries.
“We have so many great businesses in the county which play an important part in their communities and the wider region and exporting could give them the chance to share their products with the world and put North Yorkshire on the map.
“I encourage any businesses which are curious about expanding into this are to sign up and attend one of the roadshows to access the expert advice on offer.”
New office and senior leadership team for Yorkshire-based Strive Group
Harrogate-based agency, Strive Group, has appointed a new senior leadership team as part of its strategic growth initiative. The new appointments follow major client wins with the likes of Honda and Lotus.
Joining as Head of Customer and Operations is Gemma Johnson, who brings a wealth of experience from her previous position as Operations Manager at Ardent.
With 11 years’ experience within customer and operational roles, Gemma will lead the customer experience offering, focusing on improving operational efficiency and driving client performance across the agency.
Working alongside her is Ben Waterfield, promoted from Head of Brand Experience to Head of Brand and Strategy and Kate Riley, promoted from Employee Development Manager to Head of Organisational Culture.
Ben’s new position will see him leverage his branding expertise to oversee and lead the direction of Strive’s brand proposition. Ben will also continue to work closely with clients, driving creative projects and long-term strategies that support future growth ambitions.
Kate’s new role will be crucial in driving the agency’s people-focused strategy, fostering a strong organisational culture and supporting business growth through effective change and transformation initiatives that align with Strive’s core values.
Strive Group is an experience-driven growth agency based in Harrogate, specialising in transforming how businesses connect with their audiences.
Following rapid business growth over the past year, Strive Group is also celebrating an office expansion, almost tripling its office space. Situated at Harrogate Business Park, the new office will feature a coffee shop open to the public, large breakout spaces for meetings, focus time and collaborative working.
Alistair Grant, Director at Strive Group, says: “We are pleased to be in a position to accelerate business growth and the appointment of the new senior leadership team was pivotal in enabling us to do this. Kate, Ben and Gemma have a wealth of experience that will allow us to drive our expansion strategy forward.”
Darley Street Market maintenance contract win for G&H Group
Bradford Council has awarded mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) service provider, G&H Group, the maintenance contract for its new state-of-the-art, energy efficient Darley Street Market building.
The 12-month contract, awarded to G&H Group’s Maintenance division, will commence September 2024.
A dedicated team including a contract manager and specialist skilled engineers will deliver a planned preventative maintenance (PPM) programme, to ensure the optimum performance and compliance of the building. As part of G&H Group’s commitment to training the next generation, apprentices will also have the opportunity to attend site visits with the engineers.
G&H Group’s Maintenance team’s responsibilities include maintaining the heat pump and boiler systems, ventilation, EV chargers, air conditioning, heat recovery unit, solar PV, rainwater harvesting, and fire safety systems.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “This is another piece of the jigsaw in place as we move toward Darley Street Market opening in Spring next year. We’re pleased G&H Group shares our enthusiasm for the building and its future and warmly welcome them to the Darley Street Market team.”
David Ridsdale, G&H Group’s Maintenance Director, said: “G&H Group has been involved with Darley Street Market since main contractor Kier appointed our Building Services division to deliver an extensive MEP package. To be appointed to deliver the maintenance contract too, and service all aspects of the building installed by Building Services, reinforces our position as a complete MEP service provider.
“Darley Street Market is a magnificent, low carbon building and we are looking forward to working with Bradford Council in ensuring it performs optimally, all year round, for the comfort of traders and visitors alike.”
Multi-million pound turnover firm prosecuted for illegal trade in catalytic converters
Edvars Stancik and his Lincolnshire-based multi-million pound turnover company Platinum Group Metals Recycling Ltd have been found guilty of illegally trading in catalytic convertors.
Stancik formerly of St Thomas Court in Long Sutton didn’t attend a trial at Lincoln Crown Court which heard that between December 2019 and September 2021 Stancik, 30, acted as a director of Platinum Group Metals Recycling Ltd, trading more than 70 tonnes of catalytic converters achieving a turnover of millions.
A jury heard that neither Stancik nor his company had obtained an environmental permit before buying and selling thousands of catalytic converters. Stancik stored them in containers at his home address and at containers in Lime Walk, Long Sutton. The devices were stored in an irresponsible manner giving rise to an unacceptable risk to human health.
Prosecuting for the Environment Agency, barrister Barnaby Hone told the court that the agency had been investigating Stancik and Platinum Group Metals Recycling Ltd. The investigation found that Stancik and his company had been buying large quantities of catalytic converters and had sold at least 71 tonnes of them for recycling. Further investigations revealed that the business had turned over millions of pounds
A warrant was executed at the two Long Sutton addresses where Environment Agency officers, working with Lincolnshire Police, found a large number of catalytic converters. Many of these devices were damaged, exposing their dangerous innards.
It took the jury less than half an hour to reach unanimous guilty verdicts.
The case has now been adjourned for consideration of the confiscation of the proceeds of crime and the recovery of the Environment Agency’s costs.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Edvars Stancik, with him and Platinum Group Metals Recycling Ltd will be sentenced at a later date. .
Paul Salter, Senior Environmental Crime Officer for the Environment Agency, said: “Edvars Stancik and Platinum Group Metals Recycling Ltd crimes were not just illegal, but dangerous. Not only do we use environmental law to prosecute those who abuse the environment, but we also use the Proceeds of Crime legislation to ensure that criminals are deprived of the benefits of their illegal activity.”
Catalytic converters are components in car exhausts. They contain small amounts of precious metals contained within a metal case making them valuable. However, catalytic converters also contain carcinogenic fibres which, if ingested, can cause serious and irreversible lung disease.
The dangerous fibres can attach to shoes and clothing and be transported from one place to another. It is therefore extremely important that catalytic converters are handled only under the strict conditions of an environmental permit, supervised by the Environment Agency.
Flint Bishop strengthens national presence with strategic acquisition of Walker Morris’ Banking & Finance Recoveries division
Flint Bishop, a leading law firm, has made a significant move in the legal sector by acquiring the entire Volume Banking & Finance Recoveries division from the wider Banking & Finance team of Walker Morris LLP, welcoming 34 new staff to the business.
The strategic acquisition also marks Flint Bishop’s entry into the Leeds market and substantially enhances the firm’s capabilities in broader litigation and recoveries work, along with establishing a firm footprint to develop its full legal services offering across the UK.
The Walker Morris team, known for its national reputation and inclusion on several bank panels, was carefully selected by Flint Bishop for this strategic move into the financial services sector.
The acquisition propels Flint Bishop into the bank recovery and litigation arena, positioning the firm as one of the top legal providers to major banks and financial institutions. Flint Bishop has revealed plans for significant investments in staff, systems, and technology to further expand its national presence in this sector.
The acquisition brings numerous senior-level experts into the fold, increasing the firm’s total staff to over 280. As part of the transfer, Justin Coley will assume the role of Head of Recoveries, whilst Rebecca Calland and Ellen McLean have been promoted to the position of Partner. Other key figures joining from Walker Morris include banking litigation senior associates Georgina Davis and Olena Jarockyj.
Flint Bishop has also recruited banking litigation specialist Kate Hicks, currently with Yorkshire Building Society and formerly with DLA Piper and Walker Morris, to lead the Finance Dispute Resolution team, which will manage complex and contested banking litigation matters. Niall Gilhooley, former Chief Executive of Ascent, a division of Irwin Mitchell, who joined Flint Bishop two years ago, will serve as overall Debt Services Division Head.
Qamer Ghafoor, Chief Executive of Flint Bishop, said: “This strategic acquisition positions Flint Bishop as one of the UK’s top legal firms specialising in volume banking litigation and recovery-related work. It dramatically strengthens our Litigation, Debt and Property Services business by expanding our reach in the financial services market.”
Jeanette Burgess, Managing Partner at Walker Morris, said: “This strategic move allows us to focus on complex banking and finance litigation and other main practice areas, while ensuring the clients within our Recoveries division will continue to receive high-level service they are accustomed to. We wish the team great success in their new home.”
Ghafoor added: “The acquisition presents a prime growth opportunity and an excellent location for all our practice areas to capitalise on and have a presence. Not only will it grant us access to new markets and clients, but it will also introduce us to a thriving city for recruiting additional skilled lawyers to enrich our firm’s capabilities in existing and new practice areas.
“I am highly committed to growing the firm across all commercial and private client practice areas, providing opportunities for all, and ensuring our full-service offering thrives across all three locations: Derby, Birmingham, and now Leeds, with other planned locations on the horizon. With a fantastic team backing us, we’re in a prime position to introduce the Flint Bishop brand into new sectors across the UK and make a significant impact.”
This bold move signals Flint Bishop’s ambition to become a dominant force in the UK banking litigation and recoveries arena, setting the stage for accelerated growth and market leadership in the coming years.
Plans submitted to redevelop rugby stadium
Plans to redevelop a rugby stadium have been submitted to take a team into the future, while respecting its long-standing heritage.
The charity arm of the Keighley Cougars has submitted an application to fully redevelop The Danny Jones Stand. The existing 500-seater stand, which dates back to 1937, would be fully modernised under the new plans.
The proposals also include a two-storey extension – with an additional 1,065 sqm of floor space, which would see new men and women’s changing rooms, a heritage room and create new facilities that could be used by the wider community, including a community gym.
Steve Watkinson, Chief Operating Officer of the Keighley Cougars, said: “These plans include a major refurbishment of The Danny Jones Stand, which would retain its title, and bring our facilities up-to-date. We’re also proposing an extension which will not only house new changing rooms but a heritage room to showcase memorabilia and celebrate the club’s rich history.
“It’s so important to us that the space also provides for community involvement – we are nothing as a club without support – so it’s crucial that we can involve local people. Our community rooms, which will include a gym and health suite, will give everyone the opportunity to be part of the Cougars community here.
“We’ve explored various options in terms of potential redevelopment, and we are all very excited to have finalised these plans. They are the right balance of respecting where we’ve come from, while making a significant investment in the club’s long-term future and continued success.”
The plans will be part-financed by £2.25m from the Government-funded Keighley Towns Fund. Chair of the Keighley Town Board Tim Rogers said: “The Keighley Cougars have a celebrated heritage in the town and surrounding area, and these plans mark an important new chapter for the team. There is such pride in the team and we wish them every success for the future.”
Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Transport and Planning Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw added: “This is a significant moment for the club, and is a significant investment in its future. We are pleased to be able to support the redevelopment at Cougar Park because it’s so important for the Cougars to have modern, comfortable facilities going forward. These plans will bring benefits not only to the team but also to the wider community.”
Group swoops for Leeds cyber-security business
The GRC Group, a provider of software and tech-enabled services to manage business risks and regulatory compliance, has acquired Leeds-headquartered Pentest People Ltd.
The GRC Group is focused on building market-leading positions in select areas of the governance, risk and compliance market, and the acquisition of Pentest People represents GRC’s second acquisition in the cyber security risk management market following the acquisition of Bulletproof in June.
Pentest People will join Bulletproof (UK) and Target Defense (USA) as part of the newly formed cyber division.
Pentest People is a disruptive cyber-security business focused on bringing the benefits of penetration-testing-as-a-service (PTaaS) to UK clients, combining the benefits of consultant led penetration testing and continuous vulnerability scanning through its in-house developed software platform SecurePortal.
Pentest People provides services to over 1,200 clients – directly and through channel partnerships. In addition to pen testing and cyber consultancy, the business offers CHECK accredited testing and has a rapidly growing Incident Response service – widening the services offered by the Group.
Alex Dacre, Chief Executive of The GRC Group, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Andrew, Anthony and the Pentest People team to the Group.
“The addition of Pentest People following our acquisition of Bulletproof in June demonstrates our commitment to become an international leader in Governance, Risk and Compliance market, delivering tech-led compliance to SMEs alongside leading enterprise SaaS point solutions.
“We look forward to working with the Pentest People team in further accelerating our collective growth.”
Andrew Mason, Founder/Managing Director of Pentest People, said: “We were delighted to find a new owner for Pentest People that both shares our values and will be able to continue its rapid growth trajectory and focus on innovation.
“We look forward to extending the services we can offer, through a close relationship with our new sister company and the other businesses within the Group.”
Anthony Harvey, Founder/Managing Director of Pentest People, said: “We’re delighted to be joining The GRC Group to continue the development journey of Pentest People. It is clear that GRC is committed to developing an outstanding cyber security and that our capabilities will complement the services already offered.”
New homes get green light in Market Weighton
Persimmon’s plans for 193 new homes in Market Weighton have received full planning permission from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
Persimmon expects construction will commence in the next few months. The new homes will be built on land off Holme Road, which is allocated for housing in the East Riding Local Plan. Persimmon’s Bradley Park development will consist of a variety of house types suitable for local homebuyers, including bungalows and houses ranging from 1 to 4 bedrooms. All homes will be fitted with EV chargers and built to new building regulations, ensuring improved energy efficiency and helping to reduce energy bills for homeowners. Residents will benefit from over 2.2 acres of public open space, including the construction of an on-site children’s play area. This development represents a significant investment in Market Weighton. In addition to providing much-needed housing, the housebuilder will contribute close to £750k to local infrastructure improvements. Contributions include £366,921 towards outdoor sports, £320,000 towards primary education, and payments for two additional bus stops along York Road. This development will also remove the existing pig farm. Joel Frank, Land Director at Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, said: “We are thrilled to receive approval for 193 new homes in Market Weighton. “This project not only delivers high-quality new homes but also contributes significant investment into the local community. “We are excited to work with local stakeholders and East Riding of Yorkshire Council to bring this vision to life for local homebuyers.”Elland Rail Station project takes further step forward
Progress to deliver a new rail station in Elland has taken a major step forward after a contractor was appointed for the final stage of development work.
Surveys will take place on site over the coming months to develop the detailed design of the project. A full business case will follow, allowing the project to progress to final approval and construction.
Newly-appointed contractors Keltbray Infrastructure Services Limited are aiming to complete this stage of the project by next summer.
The new station will be added to the Calder Valley line and will improve the town’s transport links with the wider region and beyond, including Leeds, Huddersfield, Bradford and Manchester.
Proposals also involve a wider package of walking and cycling improvements around the station, including enhancing existing routes and installing two new pedestrian and cycle bridges.
The project is being delivered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in partnership with Calderdale Council.
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said: “Elland Rail Station will provide a vital new link for the transport network in Calderdale, improving access to jobs, education and other opportunities.
“This is an important step forward for the project, which will help us build a better-connected region that works for all.”
Calderdale Council’s Leader, Cllr Jane Scullion, said: “It’s great news that the Combined Authority’s plans for Elland Rail Station are moving forward, with the appointment of a contractor allowing development work to progress.
“The new station will be a key part of our Next Chapter for Calderdale, bringing huge benefits for the borough, improving access to the wider region and supporting local growth.”
Darren James, Group Chief Executive Officer of Keltbray Infrastructure Services Limited, said: “We are delighted to be given this opportunity to work with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in partnership with Calderdale Council and their design partners to deliver the new Elland Station to upgrade West Yorkshire’s transport infrastructure links.
“Our team is looking forward to delivering another critical infrastructure project to improve people’s lives, create growth, while decarbonising the local transport network for the future.”
Calderdale Council has also agreed to purchase the land needed for the site, which will be transferred to Network Rail prior to construction.
The project has already passed a number of key milestones that are essential for delivering a new station, including receiving planning approval, and preliminary design approval from Network Rail.
It is part of the Combined Authority’s ongoing work to create a modern, green, integrated transport network with a Mass Transit system, bus services under public control, and greater walking and cycling facilities.
