Planning permission granted for Stacey West Stand development
Planning permission has been granted for Lincoln City Football Club’s development of the Stacey West Stand at the LNER Stadium.
This project will provide a range of infrastructure improvements to the LNER Stadium, including new power and mains water supplies as well as a pitch water recycling system.
Working closely with the Sports Grounds Safety Authority, the club have also submitted an application to trial safe-standing in a small section of the Stacey West Stand – with the intention of installing rail seats throughout the entire stand and into the GBM Stand should the trial be successful.
The project will create vital space for Lincoln City Foundation by providing a new Community Skills and Education Hub based at the stadium.
Building a new Community Skills and Education Hub will help tackle the growing skills gap in the city by providing the Foundation with a fit-for-purpose facility from which it can champion the delivery of education and employability skills, all under the brand of the football club.
Martin Hickerton, Chief Executive at the Foundation, said: “This is fantastic news for everyone connected with the Foundation – the work we do in Lincoln and the surrounding area has never been more important.
“This will help us unlock the real potential of the Foundation and we cannot wait to watch the new building take shape.”
The contemporary new-build will offer community space, offices and dedicated classrooms, enabling the club to increase its social impact value and improve the quality of life of local residents through its wide range of educational, health and wellbeing initiatives.
Funding for the development has come from the Be Lincoln Town Deal board as well as significant investment via the Stacey West Investment Bond.
The Be Lincoln Town Deal board are building on Lincoln’s strength as a centre for learning and research to promote and enable a tech-friendly environment to support the growth of the digital sector.
Charlotte Goy, Town Deal Board member and Chief Executive of Visit Lincoln, added: “The plans we have all been looking at over the last 18 months as Town Deal Board members are starting to come to life and we can begin to realise the positive impact they will make to Lincoln. We are delighted that the pledges included in the Town Deal original investment plan will be delivered for the benefit of the local community.”
East Yorkshire employers pool knowledge to tackle skills shortage
Employers across East Yorkshire are helping to tackle skills shortages by sharing their experiences of recruiting new people and training their teams.
Many large and small businesses have already responded to a survey from the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plans, and others are being asked to submit their feedback by the closing date of Tuesday 31 January. The findings, coupled with a programme of focus group events, will help to identify the business sectors which should be the top priorities for skills development in the region. The responses will also help the LSIP team complete the make-up of its board, with several places still to be allocated. The government has introduced 38 LSIPs nationwide under the leadership of various business support organisations, with Chambers of Commerce leading 32 of the new bodies. Hannah Crookes, Manager of HEY LSIP at the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, said experienced people from business organisations, local authorities and the education and training sector were already on the board, and representatives of private sector businesses would be added, one of whom would be appointed as chair. In addition to conducting the survey, HEY LSIP is inviting businesses to join a series of virtual events which will raise awareness of its work and explore priority sectors. The first event at 9am on Thursday this week will introduce the LSIP and give businesses the opportunity to discuss skills gaps and development. The second event at 1pm on Thursday 26 January will focus on transferable skills. Sector focus groups will begin next Monday with ports, logistics and warehousing, with a session for manufacturing, engineering and construction on Tuesday 31 January. The service sector including digital will be discussed on the morning of Wednesday 1 February with the rural economy and tourism the subject for that afternoon. Health and social care and medicare will be explored on Thursday 2 February. Businesses can find out more about the events and book their places by sending an email to Patricia Whiting at p.whiting@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk Hannah said: “The LSIP will only be successful if employers play as full a part as possible. That starts with sharing expertise and experience about the challenges around recruiting and training as well as opinions on what needs to change. “The survey, which can be completed electronically, gives a great opportunity to do that. We have received excellent insight from major employers and from small firms who make up the vast majority of our business community. We hope to hear from many more before the closing date and we will use their input to make our work as relevant as possible to their needs.” One of the first businesses to complete the survey was AA Global Language Services, which was formed more than 30 years ago in Worcester and expanded to Hull12 years ago. Kirk Akdemir, CEO of AA Global, said: “We completed the survey and we also had a discussion about the challenges faced by employers and employees alike following the pandemic and in the current economic climate, particularly the issues and opportunities around remote and hybrid working. “We also looked at the challenges faced by young people entering the world of work following the pandemic due to the reductions in their formal education in a classroom environment, and the impact of social isolation. “LSIPs have the potential to help employers tackle the problems presented by staff and skills shortages but it’s important that they are dealing with real-world experiences so it’s vital for businesses get involved.”The Imps post £2m loss despite rising turnover
The Imps have posted a £2m loss in annual results, despite turnover being on the rise with crowds returning to stadiums.
Lincoln City Football Club said turnover in 21/22, its first full season in League One with fans in attendance, was at its peak over the past four years, growing to £6.9m from £5.6m in the year prior on the back of significant increases in matchday and commercial/hospitality revenues.
While the football club incurred an increased loss, of £2m for the year, still affected by the aftermath of the pandemic and with all expenditure significantly increased, the Imps’ losses amounted to £186k less than the 2018/19 League Two promotion season.
Lincoln City Football Club finished the season in 17th position.
Construction firm takes 10,000 sq ft of industrial space in Sheffield
A regional construction firm has let two units totalling 10,000 sq ft on a Sheffield wholesale market site which forms part of the Parkway Industrial Estate, an industrial warehouse scheme within one of Sheffield’s largest industrial areas.
The units on this site are letting in quick succession with two other units now being placed under offer and only four units remaining ranging from 1,000 sq ft to 2,497 sq ft.
Fisher German graduate surveyor, Jonathan Butler said: “The recent letting of Units 7A and 7B shows the continued strength of the industrial market in Sheffield, with strong demand for warehouse accommodation across South Yorkshire still being experienced.
“Sheffield Wholesale Market offers high quality units for a variety of businesses, and it is pleasing to see a regional construction firm expand into the estate. We are very happy to achieve this letting for our client and look forward to bringing further tenants to the site soon.”
Sunny Landa, consultant at Banks Long & Co, said: “This letting shows that business confidence is still high, despite the challenges in the current climate, we only have a few units left at Sheffield Wholesale Market and these are getting a high volume of interest.
“The site is managed by our firm, and this location at Sheffield Wholesale Market provides a great place to run their businesses from.”
Minister gives energy suppliers a roasting over ‘mistreatment’ of customers
Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps says he’ll crack down on the mistreatment of energy users by suppliers, following reports showing some are doing nowhere near enough to support vulnerable customers.
He has written to energy suppliers calling on them to stop the harmful and anxiety inducing practice of forcibly moving consumers over to prepayment meters without taking every step to support consumers in difficulty.
The Business Secretary is asking suppliers to voluntarily commit to stopping this practice and holding their feet to the fire by demanding they share the number of warrants they’ve applied for in recent months.
He wants to see much greater efforts from suppliers to help consumers in payment difficulties before leaping to the extreme of forced prepayment switching, such as offers of additional credit, debt forgiveness or tools such as debt advice. In his letter, he has asked suppliers to discuss possible further action they can take to support customers and avoid forced fitting.
This action is part of a drive to increase transparency around prepayment meter installations, to track down the worst culprits and find out which energy companies are trigger happy in applying for them.
Courts are being overwhelmed with applications for warrants as they continue to mount, with reports that huge batches are being approved in a matter of minutes. The Business Secretary is working with Ofgem and the Secretary of State for Justice to ensure that the process by which suppliers bring these cases to court is fair, transparent and supports vulnerable customers.
He said: “Suppliers are clearly jumping the gun and moving at risk customers onto prepayment meters before offering them the support they are entitled to – I simply cannot believe that every possible alternative has been exhausted in all these cases.
“I am deeply concerned to see reports of customers being switched to prepayment meters against their will, with some disconnected from supply – and quite literally left in the dark.
“Rather than immediately reaching for a new way to extract money out of customers, I want suppliers to stop this practice and lend a more sympathetic ear, offering the kind of forbearance and support that a vulnerable customer struggling to pay should be able to expect.”
Meanwhile, Beverley MP and Minister for Energy and Climate Graham Stuart said:“Switching users onto a prepayment plan should only ever be a very last resort and suppliers have a duty to exhaust all other avenues. It cannot be right that, at a time when consumers need compassionate treatment more than ever, so many are being let down in this way.
“The Government will continue to do all we can to ensure families and households stay warm this winter and we’re taking urgent action to bring about greater transparency when it comes to bad energy supplier practice.”
It’s been reported that the number of customers switched to prepayment meters has soared in recent months, and in many cases unwillingly and without the offer of support. In some instances, this has led to vulnerable customers having their gas and electricity supplies cut off with little or no notice.
Prepayment meters allow customers to pay for gas and electricity on a pay-as-you-go basis and serve an important function by helping the avoidance of debt and court action. A moratorium on forced prepayment switching could lead to an increase in bailiff action and so the Government wishes to avoid going down this route.
Under Ofgem rules forced switching to prepayment must only ever be a last resort but, with the nation battling with energy prices, more have struggled to pay their bills and been forced installations and self-disconnection. In recognition of this, some energy suppliers are already taking steps to support consumers such as by pausing remote switching of smart meters to prepayment mode or providing additional credit to customers struggling to pay. The Business Secretary wants all suppliers to step up this kind of support to avoid resorting to forced fitting.
HD Group names new senior team to deliver growth strategy
A new senior team has been established at Doncaster-based HD Group with the objective of delivering its new proposition and growth strategy.
CEO Kerry Dusi has appointed Chris Pimperton as Head of Operations for the fulfilment division, Becky Stanewell as Head of Commercial Development for the Freight Forwarding Division, and Aiden Cook as Senior National Account Manager.
She said: “We have clear aims and objectives for the business, and it was necessary to strengthen our senior team to enable those objectives to be met in the time scale that we have agreed,” said Kerry. “Their experience in the delivery of objectives and goals will ensure that we continue to achieve our high service levels whilst integrating new clients into the business too.”
The business recently acquired a large warehouse facility in the Northwest which will allow it to bring warehouse and fulfilment operations in-house. This will allow the team to develop the businesses fulfilment proposition and give even greater control, better visibility and enhance the service the team gives to its clients.
“Being able to provide the full end-to-end supply chain solution including sea and air freight, general haulage, customs declaration and import documentation, warehousing and fulfilment and onward distribution and parcel delivery, will give us greater business dexterity and support to clients,” said Kerry. “They are a great team and I look forward to what we can achieve together.”
The HD Group is the preferred partner to many businesses due to its driven leadership team and experienced team who develop solutions in direct response to customer requirements.
Company seeks to expand choice for Doncaster’s radio listeners
Doncaster-based music and media services provider Higher Rhythm Ltd has launched an ambitious plan to expand choice for radio listeners tuning to digital radio in Doncaster. The plan has been launched in response to a call for proposals, by communications regulator Ofcom, to establish a digital audio broadcasting (DAB) multiplex service for Doncaster.
A DAB multiplex is a system hosting dozens of radio stations, allowing them to broadcast, over DAB, to the same geographic area. Doncaster DAB (DonDAB for short) is Higher Rhythm’s initiative focussed on operating the DAB multiplex for Doncaster.
Previously, DAB multiplexes have been licensed across large areas, such as counties. Ofcom are now offering licenses to run DAB multiplexes in smaller areas such as single cities and towns. This allows each area to have its own mix of different radio stations. This can offer media that is more representative and relevant.
Higher Rhythm is a social enterprise established in 2001. It manages Doncaster’s licensed community radio station, Sine FM, alongside two recording studios, a record label, events promotion, artist development programmes, training courses and volunteering opportunities.
Higher Rhythm Chief Exec Steve Mundin, said: “The DAB service for Doncaster will provide a great opportunity to increase the choice of digital radio channels available. We are now inviting digital radio services providers to join us in developing the new platform.”
Sine FM Station Manager, Chrissy Moog, said: “We are excited at the prospect of bringing Sine FM to digital radio listeners on DAB and supporting new radio services in Doncaster.”
Growth: CBI fires warning shot over Government’s bow
The Prime Minister and Chancellor ended 2022 by successfully stabilising the economy after fixing the economic fallout of last autumn. It has been a vital first step, executed very well. But as they try to get growth going in 2023, the Government cannot take small decisions: they need to take big ones to ensure the UK is not going backwards but forwards. The Government is likely to comfortably meet its economic targets this year, but sustaining growth thereafter depends on taking some very big decisions right now, not waiting until 2024.
In a major speech today (Monday) at UCL, the
CBI Director-General Tony Danker is calling on the Government to take some big decisions to sustain growth beyond this year.
In a speech at UCL he’s expected to acknowledge that the PM and the Chancellor ended last year by stabilising the economy, and that the year’s economic targets will be hit – but now’s the time for decisions that will keep sustain growth.
He’ll say: “Growth still matters. This is people’s livelihoods and life opportunities. The PM set out less than a year ago what is needed to transform our economy. The ideas are there. Let’s stop second guessing ourselves and get on because there is money on the table to capture right now.
“Our international competitors in Europe, Asia and the US are going hell for leather on green growth and getting firms investing. We are behind them now and seem to be hoping for the best.” Early data shows that the UK could stay stuck in a low growth trap as the major drivers of productivity grind to a halt. This makes the Chancellor’s Spring Budget a key point in the Government’s turnaround strategy. But there is grave concern that the Government could “shy away from the hard decisions that can reverse the UK’s trajectory’ with a General Election on the horizon.”
£12m funding boost for Batley town centre improvements
Transformational plans for Batley town centre have been given a major boost after a successful bid for a £12 million share of the Government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF).
The Batley Blueprint will be largely funded by the LUF, with an extra £3 million funding from the council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s ‘Streets for People initiative’, totalling approximately £15 million for the project.
Leader of Kirklees Council, Cllr Shabir Pandor, said: “This is great news for Batley. The successful bid will kick start our plans to transform the town centre and bring opportunities for the whole community.
“The bidding process has shown the very best of Batley. Our bid has been a true team effort between the council, our MP Kim Leadbeater, Batley councillors, the Fire Service and Police alongside local residents and businesses. Their hard work has paid off and I can’t wait to start delivering the project.
“We’ll continue to work with local businesses and residents as we deliver these major improvements.
“We submitted four Kirklees bids during this round of bids for Levelling Up funds. I want to thank all the MPs, businesses and local people who supported us to put some brilliant plans together. We will keep working to bring investment to all parts of Kirklees and we have a great selection of ambitious plans that will help us deliver the economic growth we all need.”
The bid means major improvements to Batley town centre, creating a more modern destination, and a safe and inviting environment for everyone who lives, works and visits the area. The council hope that the transformation could stimulate up to £60m of economic investment into Batley over the next few years.
The plans include making significant changes to Commercial Street, one of the main routes through the town centre. The route would move away from being a thoroughfare dominated by car traffic, with improvements to the public realm as well as sustainable transport routes, opening up the town centre for improved business and market opportunities.
A socialising space would be created, with the aim of increasing footfall to local businesses and improving access to the Tesco supermarket.
Improved pedestrian and cycle links to the park and better lighting along local routes are proposed, connecting several of the other proposed projects around Batley.
Catterick gets £19m to revitalise town centre
Plans to transform a neglected area of Catterick and develop the town centre have got the go ahead thanks to news that a £19 million funding pot has been awarded by central government.
Richmondshire District Council, in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council and the MOD, has been successful in its bid to the Levelling Up Fund.
It means ambitious proposals for the £21million initial phase of a regeneration programme to enhance the town centre – including the re-development of land around Shute Road – can get underway. The plans will provide more community facilities and space and to improve pedestrian connectivity, and pave the way for further improvements that will deliver extra retail and commercial premises and drive further investment into the area and the wider town centre for both the military and civilian communities.
“This is great news for Catterick and the wider Richmondshire community,” said District Council Leader, Councillor Angie Dale.
“We are now looking forward to working with our partners to bring the project to fruition and see the facilities improve within the town centre. It will also bring further investment into the district adding to the exciting plans already happening at Scotch Corner and along the A1 corridor.”
The leader of North Yorkshire County Council, Councillor Carl Les, added: “This is excellent news for the future of the Catterick community and will be welcomed by all those living and working in the area. These ambitious proposals are set to benefit everyone living and working in communities around the garrison, as well as the service personnel and their families who are stationed at Catterick and who play a vital role in the life of our county.”
Director of Basing and Infrastructure, Major General Richard Clements, CBE said: I am delighted that the bid for Levelling Up funds has been successful. Catterick is an important Garrison for the British Army and we look forward to working with our partners over the coming years to deliver the infrastructure necessary to provide improved facilities and services that will benefit our military colleagues and the wider Catterick community.”
The plans include:
- a new town square
- landscaping improvements – including upgrading Coronation Park and Shute Road by providing enhanced play/ active spaces and enhanced accessibility routes linking into the existing town centre
- enhance key footpaths and cycle ways through Coronation Park and on the approach to the town centre
- a new community and enterprise facility with glass pavilion and outdoor seating area
