Hull and East Yorkshire businesses are invited to visit the Bonus Arena next Wednesday to meet General Manager Darren Moore at its first business breakfast seven months after re-opening.
Guests will have the chance to network, grab a bite to eat, meet the new General Manager and learn about the Arena’s plans for 2022 and beyond.
Darren Moore started as General Manager of the Arena in March, taking over from Dan Harris who has moved to the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. Darren was previously General Manager at York Barbican.
Darren said: “We have had a very exciting start to 2022 with lots of fantastic events and I am looking forward to meeting with partners and local businesses to talk to them about the Arena and how we may be able to work together.”
Paul Savage, Head of Entertainment Sales and Marketing, and Laura Harrison, Conference and Event Sales Executive, will also be talking at the event about opportunities for local businesses.
Paul added: “We have hosted some incredible events so far in 2022 with sold out shows from Blondie, Simply Red, John Bishop, Texas and Bastille. We have lots more to come too with gigs from Bryan Adams and The Pet Shop Boys in May and then performances from Kaiser Chiefs, Katherine Ryan and Hull’s very own Calum Scott later in the year.
“With over 200,000 people expected to visit the Arena in 2022, we have lots to talk about and look forward to welcoming businesses to see how we can work together.”
The Business Breakfast will take place at the Bonus Arena, based on Myton Street, Hull, on Wednesday 18 May from 9am to 10:30am.
To register your place at Breakfast at the Bonus Arena, visit – https://www.universe.com/events/breakfast-at-the-bonus-arena-tickets-SHW3VQ
Mayor of West Yorkshire launches programme to drive international growth of games, TV, culture and arts businesses
The mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, and the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) have launched Export Lab, a new programme to support the region’s creative industries including games, TV, culture and the arts, and boost growth across the region.
The bespoke Export Lab programme will be delivered as a consortium led by Indielab as lead partner, with Yorkshire and Humber DIT (Department for International Trade), UKIE (the association for UK Interactive Entertainment) and Game Republic.
The programme will deliver a package of support to help SMEs across the creative industries, particularly businesses with little or no experience of selling to international markets, and targeting those with the ambition to explore and expand internationally, but who require support to realise their potential.
Applications for businesses to participate in the Games Export Lab programme are now open, with applications for businesses in the screen content and culture and the arts sectors opening later in the summer. Successful applicants to the Games Export Lab will also benefit from attendance at the industry leading Gamescom event in August.
Tracy Brabin, the mayor of West Yorkshire and chair of the Culture, Arts and Creative Industries Committee, said: “This is yet another fantastic example of the creative industries getting the support they need to help them thrive and I am pleased that West Yorkshire is able to extend its successful relationship with Indielab to deliver the Export lab programme.
“The ability to reach a wider audience will enable growth and create more jobs. If we harness this potential now, we will reap the rewards in the months and years to come.”
Sir Roger Marsh OBE DL, chair of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (the LEP) and NP11, said: “By giving business owners and directors the confidence to explore new markets we’re opening up channels not only for export, but also for investment into our region.
“In the context of economic recovery and EU exit, it is more important than ever to develop business objectives on a global scale. By arming the creative industries with the information, guidance and tools we’re helping individual businesses as well as the broader sector in the region to grow.”
Screen content businesses, whether games and TV, or the culture and the arts sector, which is increasingly merging into screen content, present the ideal opportunity to generate new revenue streams from highly profitable international markets.
West Yorkshire is home to a thriving games sector, including Rockstar Leeds, developers of the popular Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption series, Team 17, creators of the Worms franchise, and virtual reality pioneers XR Games.
Creative content makers will benefit from introductions to international distributors in order to extract value from existing products, alongside in-depth advice and guidance to exploring international markets.
The Export Lab programme forms part of the wider £1.5 million Creative Catalyst programme, developed by the LEP to overcome the barriers to growth for creative businesses across West Yorkshire.
It demonstrates the LEP’s dedication to the creative industries, as well as delivering on the Mayoral pledge to lead a creative new deal to ensure our creative industries are part of the region’s ongoing recovery and growth.
Earlier this year the LEP launched Indielab West Yorks: The Creative Catalyst Accelerator to help boost sector growth across TV production businesses and games studios and help them focus on their business and content vision, thus enabling them to become more successful on a more sustainable basis.
Now, with the same attention being given to exporting local content, it can only help to bolster the sector and the region’s position on the international stage.
Victoria Powell, Indielab’s programme director, said: “We are absolutely delighted to support the continued growth and success of West Yorkshire’s world-class creative industries. Following on from the successful launch of Indielab West Yorks, we’re excited to further develop our relationship with the LEP, and work together with some specialist partners in the region to help us realise the goals of this new Export Lab programme.
“By using in-depth market knowledge and territory insights, we can help develop bespoke internationalisation plans that are right and relevant to each business. Not only will this drive individual business growth but reinforce West Yorkshire’s position in the global market for its unique appeal, creativity, and brilliant content production.”
Flagship Leeds office building undergoing comprehensive refurb after £1.95m sale
A flagship office building in Lower Wortley, Leeds, which has recently changed hands in a deal worth just under £2m, is undergoing a comprehensive refurbishment.
Link Up House, formerly the headquarters of the Big Word Group, has been bought by Seneca Property and will be rebranded and renamed as Element.
The 21,630 sq ft building, which fronts the Leeds Outer Ring Road, is being transformed into high-quality and sustainable offices – with an emphasis on the wellbeing and comfort of its occupiers.
Work has already started on the seven-figure refurbishment of the building and is due to be completed next month, when suites will be available.
Elizabeth Ridler, partner with global property consultancy Knight Frank in Leeds, who sold the building to Seneca and has been retained to advise the new owners, said: “This is an exceptionally exciting project. The comprehensive refurbishment of Element will create some of the finest affordable occupier-friendly out-of-town office space in Leeds.
“Element will be available to lease as a whole or on a floor by floor basis, with the ground and second floors comprising 7,358 sq ft of space and the first floor 6,913 sq ft. There are also 84 on-site parking spaces. Rents will be in the region of £18 per sq ft.
“The key elements of the refurbishment are new VRF air conditioning, toilets and LED lighting throughout, with a major emphasis on the wellness agenda, including new showers, lockers, drying room, a business lounge, a coffee bar, cycle storage and outside seating.
“The ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) agenda is a key part of the ethos of Seneca Property, who also owns the popular and successful BizHub serviced offices at 1 City West,” added Ms Ridler. “The landlord’s commitment to creating the finest possible but also affordable workspace for occupiers will ensure that Element is a best-in-class building.”
IoD offers free memberships to firms in Harrogate
Thanks to support from Harrogate Borough Council using Government Covid-19 business recovery funding, the Institute of Directors is offering fully-funded memberships for businesses in and around the town.
Caroline Pullich, chair of IoD North Yorkshire, said: “The IoD exists to supports members to become better directors and develop their businesses. We do this by providing connections through our events, access to world-leading professional development courses and an influential lobbying voice to Government on the issues that matter most to businesses.
“During the pandemic, we helped to achieve important changes to insolvency rules and financial assistance for wage bills.
“We look forward to hearing from directors in the Harrogate district and welcoming them to our community. If you would like further information or would like to discuss any aspect of IoD membership, please get in touch.”
Trevor Watson, Harrogate Borough Council’s director of economy, environment and housing, said: “Helping business recover from the pandemic is important to the economy of the Harrogate district, and we’re pleased to be able to support IoD membership as part of that.
“Alongside our own and regional business support services, this new offer will help businesses to access advice that is tailored to their needs.”
To be eligible, directors must work for an SME business based in the Harrogate district and not have held an IoD membership within the previous two years from the date of enquiry. A maximum of two memberships are available per eligible business.
Applications are now open. Directors interested in taking up the fully-funded membership offer should contact senior branch manager Helena.drake@iod.com.
Hull-based translation specialist lands three-year contract with Transport for London
Hull-based AA Global Language Services has added to its list of major contract wins by landing the job of keeping millions of Londoners and visitors connected with vital information about the capital’s transport system.
The company will begin work in September on the three-year contract with Transport for London, providing written translation and transcription services for documents, signage, maps, posters, handouts, leaflets and more.
The company’s work will extend across all areas of TfL’s activities and operations including bus and tube, overground rail and trams, Docklands Light Railway, the Emirates Air Line cable car, taxis and the congestion charge system.
Kirk Akdemir, CEO of AA Global, said: “It’s a big responsibility for a service which is used by millions of people every day, and to win it we had to demonstrate we can meet the highest standards, working across a wide range of languages and providing sensory impairment services including Braille.”
Also covered will be the Santander Cycles bike hire scheme, London River Services, Victoria Coach Station, the London Transport Museum and the 580km network of main roads with 6,000 traffic lights.
Mr Akdemir said some jobs might be created, but much of the work could be absorbed by the expansion which has taken place over the last two years as part of a strategy of gearing for growth.
He said: “We will have people in London working on the contract but the bulk of the work will be done from our head office in Hull. Our workload has increased significantly during the last few years with the result that we have employed more people, with a total of about 30. We have also invested in technology to support our growth and these contract wins are the result of that.”
During 2021, AA Global Language Services overcame tough competition to be appointed to facilitate vital communications between the thousands of delegates who attended the COP26 summit in Glasgow.
The company also landed the repeat business of providing translation and interpreting services for the test and trace project, helping the NHS reach international communities throughout the UK.
In addition, AA Global secured a two-year contract to provide face-to-face services, phone, video and translation for the Equality and Human Rights Commission working in England, Scotland and Wales.
Kirk said: “The contract with TfL further cements our position as a top-tier provider of translation and interpreting services in the UK. We have built our reputation gradually over the last 30 years and have really made a breakthrough during the last 12 months by showing we can be trusted to deliver services of national and even international importance.”
£7m support as specialist manufacturer touches down at Doncaster Sheffield Airport industrial development
Business Doncaster and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority haver backed Industrial machinery manufacturer Lontra, allowing them to land at a newly-built business park at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, with a £17 million investment, creating 300 jobs.
The long-term letting on the 59,271 sq ft building, part of Avion Business Park, has been completed with Trebor Developments, with plans for a smart factory to be realised immediately.
The move is backed by a £7 million funding package from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
Steve Lindsey, chief executive of Lontra said: “We are thrilled to open our first factory in the region with the support of South Yorkshire MCA. This is a region that’s incredibly progressive and we are proud to be a part of their innovation story.
“We are honoured to bring a commitment of long-term innovation and economic growth, both for Lontra as a business and for South Yorkshire.”
Glyn Jones, Deputy Mayor, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Business said: “The high calibre of jobs that this investment brings is a welcome addition to our workforce. The signing of this deal marks the culmination of a huge amount of work between the SYMCA, Doncaster Council and Business Doncaster. Our Business Doncaster team have worked closely with the company on their recruitment and supply chain requirements and we look to continue our successful working relationship as they establish themselves here in Doncaster. This major investment will be truly transformational and we are thrilled to have been chosen as the place for Lontra to make their home.”
Lontra produce and manufacture specialist pumps for use across a variety of sectors including food and drink, pharmaceutical and water treatments.
New owners at Lincoln recruitment company
Two young local entrepreneurs, Peter Quittenton and Christian Salter, have bought specialist recruitment agency, Driver Hire Lincoln.
Peter (24) and Christian (24) already know the business well because they both worked for the previous owner.
“Over the last few years, at our appraisals, our boss asked us about our long-term plans,” says Peter. “We always said, when he decided to sell, we’d love to make the business ours. And now our dream’s come true.”
Before joining the Driver Hire Lincoln team, Peter, having successfully completed an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Level 4 diploma, was working on a farm and doing evening work in a bar. Christian joined Driver Hire in 2014 as a school leaver apprentice. Over the past eight years he’s learnt the recruitment business from bottom to top and is now eagerly looking forward to using that knowledge to take Driver Hire Lincoln to new heights.
“Our respective skill sets work really well together,” Peter continues. “We’ve got away to a flying start and there’s definitely more scope for us to develop the business further. We both love working for Driver Hire and now the business is ours it’s even more rewarding.”
Funeral Director breaks new ground as northern Lincolnshire’s only accredited ‘green’ funeral provider
A Scunthorpe-based Funeral Directorship has become the only one in northern Lincolnshire to be accredited by the Association of Green Funeral Directors.
Jason Threadgold Funeral Directors has premises in Scunthorpe Brigg and Barton, where independent funeral directors Jason, Lauren Quibell and George Woodbridge now hold the ‘green’ credentials.
Jason said: “Our commitment to Green Energy and sustainability has shone through by starting to change all of our vehicles over to electric or hybrid; fitting chargers at multiple locations, and making green funeral options available to all families and working towards renewable energy in everything we do.
“Our pledge is to provide eco-friendly/sustainable options for funerals as well as traditional services to our families.”
£6.5m investment delivers new and improved facilities for Lincolnshire special school pupils
A new £6.5m extension to Willoughby Academy in Bourne is set to be officially opened on Friday 6 May
The new building incorporates classrooms and hygiene suites, together with a dining hall and nurse and physio spaces. In addition, pupils can enjoy extensively remodelled outdoor play areas, while the school’s car park has also been extended under the Lincolnshire County Council project.
Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive member for children’s services, said:
“The council wants to ensure that all children can access high-quality education, as near to their family and local community as possible. To achieve that, we’re investing £86m in improving our special schools, meaning more pupils with SEND can attend a local school rather than having to travel large distances for their education.
“I’m delighted to see the improvements at Willoughby Academy completed, and I’m sure they will be of immense benefit to both current pupils and those of the future.”
Howard Gee, Chair of The Priory Federation of Academies Trust to which Willoughby Academy belongs, said:
“We are deeply grateful for the council funding which has created such positive and beneficial new facilities for our pupils. They have further enhanced the strengths of the school and will make a big difference to children’s lives for many years to come.”
The construction was carried out by Wilmott Dixon.
Forrester Boyd delighted with fundraising efforts for Humbercare
Forrester Boyd Chartered Accountants nominated the Humbercare charity as its annual beneficiary for 2021/22 and were delighted to present a cheque to the Pan-Humber charity for £3,183.25.
Throughout the year, Forrester Boyd and its staff have been raising funds through monthly dress down days where staff made donations along with the long-awaited return of the firm’s popular annual professionals’ quiz which took part on the 25th November 2021.
The professionals’ quiz, which was held at the Grimsby Golf Club, saw over 110 participants return in person to enjoy this annual event. Retired partner Alan Nesbitt returned to host the event expressing how great it was to once again be able to hold a physical event. Always the kick start to the Christmas festivities, once again, the generosity and support from the local professional community was outstanding.
Jenny Donnelly, partner at Forrester Boyd was delighted to present the cheque to Dale Thompson, Manager at Humbercare. Speaking of the donation Dale said “We are so thrilled to receive this amazing amount that Forrester Boyd has raised. Thank you so much to the staff and partners and those that have helped to raise these funds. For any charity, the past two years have been a struggle and we are no different so this money will really help to make a difference to some of the vulnerable young people and adults that we support.”
Humbercare was established in 1989 and is an enabling organisation dedicated to providing quality and innovative services to adults and young people. It is Humbercare’s belief that all people should have the opportunity to realise their full potential and improve their skills to optimise their life chances and help them to become responsible members of the community. The charity works across North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.
