Leeds Beckett University has joined forces with Aquatrust Water and Ventilation Limited on an innovative new project to create a bespoke remote system to monitor water for Legionella bacteria. Aquatrust are a water hygiene and treatment business employing around 40 staff, based in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire. They will work with academic experts in water quality, robotics, and artificial intelligence at Leeds Beckett on a 32-month Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme, part-funded by the Government through Innovate UK. Aquatrust are experts in the field of water hygiene, water treatment, water regulations and Legionella control. They currently provide on the ground services to local authorities, housing associations, the care sector, schools, and the private sector across the UK. Reducing Legionella is the responsibility of every building owner and manager and Aquatrust are a key part of the process that mitigates risk against this potentially fatal form of pneumonia. Dr Martin Pritchard, Reader in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing and project lead, said: “Aquatrust are a visionary business who want to revolutionise the current industry practice of on-site measurement services to clients. “Through the KTP, we will create a novel remote management capability to enable Aquatrust to remotely monitor conditions to prevent the formation of Legionella in water pipework systems – but with the opportunity to expand into other monitoring areas. Using their own bespoke hardware monitor devices and integrated software, they will be able to report and analyse results and proactively mitigate risk for clients. This remote solution will be more cost-effective, less labour intensive, and far better for the environment.” As part of the KTP, new skills and capabilities will be introduced into Aquatrust, including hardware and software development and transitioning colleagues from on-site monitoring roles to more consultancy-led opportunities. Dr David Love, Course Director for Electronics and Robotics Engineering in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing, said: “Importantly, all current Aquatrust staff will be retained and will be upskilled. Supporting life-long learning is at the heart of what we do at Leeds Beckett University and this is a great example of a local company investing in the long-term skills of its staff as new technologies change the way an established business works.” The KTP aims to create a new, more sustainable business model for Aquatrust, where they become a solutions provider as well as a service provider, developing their own in-house products and services. Paul Kenny, Sales Director at Aquatrust, said: “I’ve been enthusiastic about introducing new innovations and improvements within the business for some time – for example, I’ve been introducing Internet of Things remote solutions for our compliance checks on water systems, and have been setting up a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to help support our sales team to be more dynamic. “I took part in the Help to Grow: Management programme delivered by Leeds Beckett last year. This really supported me with the ideas and know-how to improve the business further and develop my skills as a director. I was also connected to the KTP team and academic experts in our field through taking part in the programme.” Dr Pritchard has more than 20 years of experience working in water quality in industry and academia. His research includes the application and monitoring of novel water purification systems for developing countries. Jo Griffiths, Head of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships at Leeds Beckett University, added: “There is high demand for innovation in this field and this project directly aligns to the UK government’s agenda to foster a robust economy, boost innovation and productivity and for levelling up regional economies.” The KTP will begin with the recruitment of a full-time KTP Associate, who will be an experienced graduate, and will be embedded as a full-time member of staff at Aquatrust for the duration of the project. The Associate will lead the project, with the full support and input from the academic team at Leeds Beckett.

Arctic Monkeys’ two huge hometown gigs brought an estimated £4.1million economic benefit to b businesses in the city, new figures from Sheffield City Council reveal. The gigs saw 74,000 people visit Hillsborough Park for two nights of shows from the band, which became Sheffield music royalty after releasing five albums. Money spent on hotels, food and drink, and transport contributed to a boost for Hillsborough and Sheffield as people travelled from across the world to visit the city for the gigs. Councillor Martin Smith, Economic Development and Skills Committee Chair, said: “It was fantastic to welcome Arctic Monkeys home for two gigs at Hillsborough Park earlier in June. “The boost for local businesses is huge, with an estimated £4.1 million pumped into the city over the weekend. Businesses in Hillsborough, particularly food and drink venues, benefitted from fans enjoying the day and in the city centre, and we saw an uplift in hotel bookings and footfall during the weekend. “These events go to show how beneficial large-scale shows can be for Sheffield, bringing both entertainment and economic benefits to the city. It was brilliant to have the band back in the city and we’re looking forward to Tramlines at Hillsborough Park next month.” Janine Lawson from the Hillsborough Tap and the business group Hillsborough Together, said: “The recent concerts in the park were a great boost for us at Hillsborough Tap during what is historically a quiet period in the Hillsborough area. It’s great to see so many new visitors to the area and it allows us to showcase what an amazing area Hillsborough is. The feedback we received from visitors was fantastic and it was great that so many people loved our little business as much as we do! We hope that this will create repeat business for us in a time that is very difficult for independent businesses like ours.”

Innovate UK has backed a Knowledge Transfer Partnership between Sheffield Hallam and the charity Tempus Novo, with six-figure funding to continue the work of the charity working with serving prisoners and ex-offenders looking to change their lives by breaking the cycle of crime through employment. Tempus Novo is a charity based in Leeds set up to support ex-offenders into jobs after their release to reduce re-offending rates. The charity, founded in 2014 by two former senior prison officers at HMP Leeds with a combined experience of almost 60 years, mentors prisoners in the run up to their release and help to secure roles, and to date have secured jobs for 800 ex-offenders. This is the first Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme where Sheffield Hallam University has partnered with a charity or social enterprise. Sheffield Hallam’s contribution in this project is to embed financial modelling expertise and behavioural economics methodology to design and implement a novel revenue model supported by a scalable business model to help Tempus Novo achieve financial sustainability and successfully expand. Jia Liu, academic lead on the Tempus Novo partnership, said: “I think this project is necessary because of the massive societal benefits of Tempus Novo’s work. Scaling up Tempus Novo’s work (placing more ex-offenders into sustainable employment) leads to more savings on prison cost, less benefit payments, more national insurance contribution, more tax collected, safer streets, positive impacts on ex-offenders and their families. This project fits perfectly well with Sheffield Hallam’s civic agenda. “I’m keen to work with Tempus Novo because I share their view that people deserve a second chance, especially those who have never had a first real chance in life. Tempus Novo has achieved remarkable successes in a challenging area. We hope to build on the success and take it to the next level. There is a huge potential for Tempus Novo to grow to do more good.” Tempus Novo are the only prison officer-led charity in the UK, and the only charity that fills the void by focusing on employment working with both service users and employers simultaneously. Over 70% of service users placed into work with Tempus Novo retain that job for over a year and do not re-offend, and of the 800 service users placed so far, only 33 have been returned to custody (4%). Steve Freer, co-founder of Tempus Novo, says: “We are confident the KTP programme will assist with the growth of Tempus Novo, and this has the potential to unlock so many more opportunities both here in the UK and beyond.

“We hope to have a lasting relationship with Sheffield Hallam and see this as the first step of a journey that will create many more life-changing opportunities for many disadvantaged people. Using the power of good quality jobs is a successful model that reduces crime, creates safer streets and more prosperous communities.”

Entrepreneurs across the region will benefit from a new multimillion-pound fund to help them launch services and products made in West Yorkshire to sell to the world. As part of the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s £6 million fund for entrepreneurs, a third round of support has been launched. The programme aims to find the best and the brightest minds in the region, nurture their entrepreneurial skills, and turn their ideas into global businesses. With access to nine months of tailored support, coaching and mentoring, 75 creative minds will develop fresh business ideas and grow the skills they need to become successful entrepreneurs. Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said: “I’m committed to providing opportunities for everyone in West Yorkshire to pursue their goals, whatever their circumstances. “We have already helped thousands giving them the skills they need to start and run their own successful business. “Now, we will focus on best and the brightest minds in the region, catapulting them to the next level and turning their entrepreneurial ideas into the global businesses of the future. “Our talented entrepreneurs are absolutely central to our vision for a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire.” Cllr Shabir Pandor, Leader of Kirklees Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Business, Economy and Innovation Committee, said: “I’m delighted we’re able to provide support of this quality to individuals and businesses who have the potential to drive forward their innovative ideas. “Equipping the entrepreneurs of West Yorkshire with the skills they need to succeed will not just improve their personal circumstances. It will boost our regional economy through the creation of more high-skilled jobs and greater inward investment. “We’re building a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire where everyone can reach their full potential, and that includes our brilliant entrepreneurs with local solutions to global challenges.” This support from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, will be delivered in partnership by a twelve member-strong group of businesses and learning organisations from across the region. Of these, Nexus and the University of Leeds will head the group, using their world-class facilities and expertise to incubate the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs. Together, they will focus on tackling the regional, national and global challenges of the future. The programme builds on the success of the previous two support packages, which helped over 2,000 people to develop and pursue their ideas. The first supported people to turn their ideas and hobbies into fully fledged businesses, and the second helped entrepreneurs to focus on scaling up their start-ups. Of these cohorts, 58% were women, 38% were of an ethnic minority, and 10% identified as having a disability. The Mayor is now looking to find entrepreneurs with ambitions for rapid growth, to help bolster their resilience, boost their skills, and build businesses that could change the world. Dr Martin Stow, Pro Vice-Chancellor: Business Engagement and Enterprise at the University of Leeds, said: “We’re thrilled to be launching this programme, an initiative that demonstrates our firm commitment to making a positive difference to our region. “The programme is a fantastic opportunity for entrepreneurs seeking to accelerate the start of their innovation-based, purpose-driven new ventures by drawing upon the wealth of knowledge and experience of successful entrepreneurs and enterprises. “We’re excited to be working with local communities and their leaders to ensure this initiative is accessible to as broad a range of people as possible and are keen to work with more as we move forward. “Nexus and the University of Leeds are immensely proud to be leading this consortium, inspiring entrepreneurs to achieve their business ambitions and build a better tomorrow.”