Bradford College opens STEM building following £6.9m refurb

Tess Egginton
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Bradford College opens STEM building following £6.9m refurb
Guests from education, construction, and regional employers joined staff and students for the official opening of Bradford College’s Garden Mills building. A multimillion-pound renovation project has transformed the derelict mill on Thornton Road into a flexible digital, science, and allied health training facility for higher-level students.

The 1900s five-storey building opened after months of construction work, supported by £5.8 million in funding from The Office for Students (OfS) Higher Education Capital Fund and a £1.1 million College contribution.

The site is now Bradford College’s dedicated building for HNC, HND, and degree programmes in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), including digital and ophthalmic courses. The site supplements the extensive STEM facilities established across other College campuses. Contractors Tilbury Douglas led the Garden Mills project and installation of industry-standard equipment, including six digital IT labs, an ophthalmic dispensing suite, a prep room, a clinical suite, a real-life work environment with consulting and testing booths, a collaboration area, and academic teaching spaces. Bradford College Director of People Services, Sarah Cooper, addressed invited guests, which included employers from digital and ophthalmic industries, such as Specsavers and the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, as well as representatives from Bradford Council and the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Sarah said: “We are thrilled that this incredible new learning environment is now open to our staff and students, and I’m sure you’ll agree it is a wonderful new addition to both Bradford College’s estate and the resources available to the local community. “We’re delighted that Garden Mills is now ready for staff and students. It is an essential part of our estates strategy and perfectly demonstrates our ambition of opening up pioneering student careers that support regional growth.” After speeches, guests enjoyed a tour of the new cutting-edge Garden Mills facilities, which concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Bradford College CEO & Principal, Chris Webb.

Garden Mills is one of several current Bradford College capital developments. Over the last two years, Bradford College secured nearly £32 million in funding, which is being used to enhance, refurbish, and build aspirational new facilities in the heart of Bradford.

Other construction projects include newly completed vocational T Level facilities in the College’s David Hockney Building, overseen by Sewell Construction and funded by £3.5 million from the Department for Education (T Level Capital Fund – Wave 5). New facilities include a commercial barbering salon, nail bar, collaborative lecture spaces, TV studio, media editing and recording studios, and a remodel of The Grove training restaurant.

Work on the College’s purpose-built Future Technologies Centre is also well underway with Phase 2 of the scheme led by contractor Morgan Sindall. This new site will support the growth of technology and low-carbon skills capability within West Yorkshire and become the home of modern automotive and digital engineering curricula, such as electric/hybrid vehicles and advanced manufacturing.

The College’s Automotive, Digital and Engineering Department will relocate to the new premises once completed in 2026. Students will use industry-relevant facilities to gain skills in new technologies for careers in a fast-moving sector. The project was made possible by a £15 million investment from the Department for Education’s Further Education Capital Transformation Fund (FECTF), boosted by a £2m College contribution.

The Future Technologies Centre, Garden Mills, and T Level facilities all form part of Bradford College’s ambitious estates strategy. The capital masterplan centres around building facilities that open up pioneering student careers and support regional economic growth.

Management buyout completed at CTW Hardfacing

Tess Egginton
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Management buyout completed at CTW Hardfacing
A management buyout (MBO) has been completed at CTW Hardfacing. Based in Sheffield and established in 1972, CTW Hardfacing provides long term wear resistant solutions to a wide range of industries, including those in the power generation, steel production, oil and gas and food processing sectors. In a linked transaction, CTW Hardfacing also acquired the trade and assets of a larger supplier, which will further bolster the range of services offered by CTW Hardfacing. The transaction was led by Jack Ware and Peter Wilmer of the Hawsons Corporate Finance team. BRM Solicitors (led by Rory Conwill) provided legal advice on the transaction. NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland Invoice Finance supported the transaction with a funding package that included a term loan, a commercial mortgage and an invoice discounting facility. NatWest were advised by Clarion. This is the second MBO that Hawsons Corporate Finance have completed for CTW Hardfacing. The first was back in 2018 where Mark Hill and Adrian Carr bought out former owner Ken Cooke, and this transaction was also led by Jack Ware and Peter Wilmer. The purpose of the current MBO was for Adrian Carr to buyout his business partner Mark Hill to become the sole shareholder of the group. Mark Hill said: “I started my career here at 16 years old and have now served CTW for over 47 years in various manual and managerial roles. “Six years ago the company founder Ken Cooke passed Adrian and I a great opportunity to take CTW on to its next chapter and during this time Adrian and I are proud to have achieved good growth through such unprecedented trading conditions such as Covid-19, Brexit and the supply chain disruption. “I hope that Adrian and the wider team will continue to serve our clients well and help CTW move forward successfully for many years to come. “My thanks go to Jack Ware at Hawsons, Rory Conwill at BRM Law and Clarions (acting for NatWest) who have all worked very well together to ensure this transaction was completed on time.” Adrian Carr said: “Firstly I would like to personally thank Mark, it has been an absolute pleasure working side by side with you over the last 7 years, we have gone through ups and downs within the business but we have always come out at the end smiling. “We have pushed our limits to the highest standards to help set the foundations for CTW for many years ahead. I wish Mark a very happy retirement and wish you good health for the future. “Also, I want to thank Rory Conwill at BRM, Jack Ware from Hawsons & NatWest for completing the transaction on time.” Hawsons Corporate Finance Director, Jack Ware said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Adrian and Mark again following the MBO in 2018. CTW Hardfacing has gone from strength to strength since the MBO in 2018 increasing its turnover and profitability driven by the hard work of Adrian and Mark. “I have every confidence that CTW Hardfacing will continue its success following this MBO. It has been a pleasure to work with all parties involved.”
Rory Conwill, Corporate Director at BRM, said: “My colleagues and I are very pleased to have supported Adrian and Mark on this transaction. CTW Hardfacing is a high-quality, Sheffield-based business, and I wish Adrian and the wider CTW Hardfacing team every success for the future.”

Leeds startup behind fair pay app for hourly workers secures investment

Tess Egginton
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0
Leeds startup behind fair pay app for hourly workers secures investment

A mobile app that enables hourly workers to track their hours and easily raise pay disputes has been named among seven companies receiving a £200k investment from PraeSeed, a six-week cohort investing programme for early-stage businesses.

WAC helps workers across areas like hospitality keep better records of their hours worked and pay received, with tools to manage holidays, days off and extra shifts tailored to everyone from zero-hour contract workers to full-time staff. Founder and CEO George Fairhall launched WAC, which has over 350,000 downloads, after years spent working in hospitality, where she continuously encountered the issue of not being paid correctly – a problem WAC is actively tackling. In a bid to champion low-paid workers and ensure no shift worker experiences the frustration of missed hours and incorrect pay, Fairhall also stepped away from a potential career in law. In total seven businesses have secured investment from PraeSeed, an initiative founded by the Manchester-based VC Praetura Ventures and funded by NPIF II – Praetura Equity Finance, which is managed by Praetura as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II. Launched in May, PraeSeed’s mission is to identify startup and early-stage investment opportunities for NPIF II, while providing founders at the pre-seed stage with new opportunities for additional funding and support with investor readiness. Following the PraeSeed programme, WAC’s founder Fairhall says the business plans to prepare for a larger seed fundraising round and to explore partnerships with B2B companies, including large corporations within the service sector who are already employing existing users of the WAC app.
George Fairhall, founder and CEO of WAC, said: “The programme has been instrumental to our growth by helping us to refine our scaling strategy and establish essential governance, ensuring we are ready for seed institutional investment. “The £200,000 funding has been a key part of our currently active bridge round and has encouraged additional venture and angel investment, positioning us for a seed funding round in the new year. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead, as we continue to scale our business and we are so excited to have Praetura on the journey with us.”
Jessica Jackson, investment manager at Praetura Ventures and PraeSeed lead, said: “We love backing founders who have built a business to solve a problem they’ve previously encountered themselves, and WAC fits into that category perfectly. “We understood the vision and the problem George’s business is trying to solve instantly after receiving 200 applications for this year’s PraeSeed programme, which is providing investment to businesses who we believe have a golden opportunity to scale with the right support and funding.”
WAC was advised by Carly Gulliver, partner, and Gavin Smith, managing associate, at Addleshaw Goddard. Adam Kaucher, partner at Irwin Mitchell, acted on behalf of Praetura Ventures.

Tourism grows in Calderdale

Tess Egginton
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Tourism grows in Calderdale
Tourism is on the up in Calderdale. Visits to the borough added up to a massive 7.6 million in 2023, up nearly 5% from 2022. They were worth more than £600 million to the local economy, a 16% increase on the previous year, and supported over 5,500 full-time jobs – almost 10% more than in 2022. This is according to a report commissioned by the Council, from Global Tourism Solutions. The money spent by tourists during their visits to the area in 2023 spread far and wide, from towns and villages to rural areas. This benefitted hospitality, retail and entertainment businesses and the supply chain. To ensure the borough’s growing tourism offer continues to go from strength to strength, the Council’s visitor economy team is working with key partner organisations across Calderdale to put the new five-year Visitor Economy Strategy into action. Cllr Sarah Courtney, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, said: “We’re thrilled that visits to Calderdale are on the up, despite cost of living pressures. The borough’s towns, places, people, businesses and attractions continue to offer something distinctive to visitors and film crews. “We can see the lasting impact that TV and film tourism is having on our economy, with people still keen to see where favourites like Happy Valley, Gentleman Jack and Marvel: Secret Invasion were filmed. And venues like The Piece Hall are putting Calderdale on the international map as a cultural, heritage and music destination. “We are building on this success through our Visitor Economy Strategy, widespread regeneration to support thriving towns and places, and our iconic Year of Culture 2024. We want to protect and promote the qualities that make our borough special, for local people as well as visitors.” The Visitor Economy Strategy aims to generate more and longer trips to Calderdale, benefitting the local economy and leading to increased jobs. It also focuses on working in partnership with other organisations and local communities to showcase Calderdale, ensuring the borough remains competitive, compelling and attractive, and protecting the environment, such as by encouraging sustainable travel. This is underpinned by the Council’s priorities to develop thriving towns and create an inclusive economy where more people choose to visit, stay, work and live. In July 2023, Calderdale achieved Local Visitor Economy Partnership status from Visit England with its West Yorkshire partners, Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees and Wakefield, recognising its importance as a destination. This partnership enables Calderdale to reach a wider audience and raise its profile as a national and international visitor destination. Funding from the UK Government’s Rural Fund (part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund) is also helping to boost visitor numbers in rural parts of Calderdale. The fund supports businesses and communities in rural areas by providing grants to boost local economies and foster growth. Calderdale has seen significant success with this programme, having received the highest number of successful applications in West Yorkshire. So far, 21 businesses in Calderdale have been approved for funding, with 18 of them collectively receiving a total grant value of around £730,000. This is helping them to innovate, expand and contribute to the sustainable development of rural communities.

British pork’s back on the menu for customers in China

Stuart Pearcey
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British pork’s back on the menu for customers in China
British pork can once again be exported to the country’s biggest market – China – with the end of that country’s Covid-era restrictions on UK unprocessed pork exports meaning a potential revenue boost of £80m for the industry. China bought around £180 million worth of pigmeat in 2023 alone – making them the UK’s biggest non-EU customer. Now, with these restrictions lifted, even more British produce will be heading east. The development comes after talks during the Foreign Secretary’s recent visit to China. Representatives from Defra and the Department for Business and Trade have worked to get British pork back on Chinese menus in collaboration with industry, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board  and the UK Export Certification Partnership. Minister for Food Security Daniel Zeichner said:   ”This is a massive win for British pork producers who will now be able to send their high-quality products to one of our largest markets, worth £180 million.”

New tax director joins Saffery in Yorkshire

Tess Egginton
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New tax director joins Saffery in Yorkshire
A chartered tax advisor, who most recently headed up the tax transaction team of a well-known, top 20 accountancy firm in London, has joined chartered accounting and business advisory firm, Saffery in Leeds as a director. The strategic appointment sees Tony Dillow join the 14-strong corporate tax team in Leeds, which is one of the firm’s nine UK regional offices. With a wealth of tax advisory and transactional experience, Tony advises entrepreneurs, companies, search funds, and private equity investors on tax issues, with a particular focus around acquisitions, disposals and group restructuring. Tony said: “My role as an adviser is to support clients to achieve their commercial objectives with tax efficient solutions. I enjoy working with clients in a wide range of industries, including the renewables, software and recruitment sectors. “In recent years, I’ve also carried out transactional work for several specialist investment vehicles and private equity funds. “I’m looking forward to continuing with transactional work, as well as supporting Saffery’s existing client base, helping to navigate the challenges and opportunities throughout the business lifecycle. “Whether it’s implementing a tax efficient share scheme, facilitating a group restructure or helping with an acquisition or disposal, I’m keen to collaborate with ambitious entrepreneurs and the vibrant mergers and acquisitions community here in Yorkshire. “I moved to Saffery as it’s a partner led firm where you can draw upon experienced specialists within the team, not only here in Leeds, but across the UK.” Jonathan Davis, partner and head of Saffery’s Yorkshire office, said: “Tony is a great addition to our team, highly capable, likable and experienced and we are lucky he chose to make the move up north! “He will not only strengthen our offering in Yorkshire and the North West, where we have a team of more than 30 tax experts, but he will also work with national clients, putting his transactional skills to good use.” Tony’s areas of expertise also include implementing tax efficient equity incentives including EMI and growth shares, supporting clients with group reorganisations, and he also provides tax due diligence services for search funds and private equity, with a particular interest in supporting search funds with acquisition tax structuring.

Raft of promotions at Yorkshire law firm

Tess Egginton
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Raft of promotions at Yorkshire law firm
Yorkshire-based LCF Law has promoted 11 members of its team, in recognition of their contributions and commitment to the firm. Andrew Langton and Hana Gwyn have both become partners. Andrew, who leads the debt recovery team joined LCF Law in 2014 and has grown the department, increasing turnover 15-fold. He has secured several significant client wins, and has played a significant role in establishing LCF Law as one of the major players, nationwide, within the commercial debt market. Andrew said: “We offer clients a debtor funded recovery service, which can be invaluable for their business. We work with great people and great businesses, and I’m lucky to be a part of such a fabulous team at LCF Law supporting them to develop and grow in their careers.” Hana works with the 29-strong personal law team and has been with the firm since 2020. Her promotion reflects her aptitude for high-net-worth client work, enabling clients to protect their assets and tax plan efficiently. Hana also works with many clients who own successful businesses across the country. She will now lead the personal law team based in the Harrogate office. Hana said: “LCF Law has allowed me to grow in my own way, putting its confidence in me to do what I’m good at and supporting me to pursue an area of the law I’m passionate about. “Building long-term relationships with clients and working with other trusted advisers to ensure clients feel comfortable and knowledgeable about the future and mitigating any issues along the way is very rewarding.” Kelly Gilbert, Will Bates and Brad Stewart have all been promoted to senior associates. Both Kelly and Will are in the 26-strong disputes team and Kelly’s promotion comes just one year after joining the firm. Will joined LCF Law in 2022 and resolves commercial disputes. Recently he successfully defended an application for a summary judgment, as part of a three day hearing in London’s High Court. Kelly recently resolved a dispute for a multi jurisdiction estate worth several million pounds. Will said: “Obviously disputes can escalate and go to court, but often the most satisfactory results are achieved when we secure a positive outcome for a client via other avenues, including mediation.” Brad is a corporate lawyer who joined LCF Law seven years ago. He advises clients selling businesses of all sizes in every industry sector. Emily Hickling, Ryan Cotton and Thomas Taylor have all been promoted to associates. Both Emily and Ryan work in the 18-strong real estate team. Emily has been with the firm four years and one of her clients is an international charity. Ryan joined LCF Law in 2019 and works on property projects for national and international charities involving disposals, acquisitions and leases, as well a negotiating planning agreements and advising on liability risks. Thomas specialises in commercial and digital law and joined the firm in 2020. He said: “A recent project involved working with an IT consultancy that was expanding its global partner program. “I prepared a comprehensive suite of key documents, covering partner agreements, trademark licenses, data-sharing, and value-added reseller agreements. Playing a pivotal role in the firm’s growth strategy, my work strengthened partnerships and safeguarded the firm’s intellectual property, as it expanded globally.” A further three members of the team have also been promoted having passed their final exams and legal qualifications several months ahead of schedule. Holly Jordan, Jonathan Gardner and Melanie Parsons have all been promoted to solicitors. LCF Law’s managing partner, Ragan Montgomery, said: “We really appreciate what Andrew, Hana, Kelly, Will, Brad, Emily, Ryan, Thomas, Holly, Jonathan and Melanie bring to the business. Talented, dedicated and passionate about the areas of law they operate in, each one of them really does deserve their promotion. “At LCF Law we are firmly committed to supporting career progression and a number of our partners started at the firm as trainees. “Having been named as one of the UK’s best places to work in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list of medium sized companies last year, we know our 145-strong team are happy and feel rewarded for their work and we are committed to helping them all achieve their own personal goals, whilst delivering excellent client service.”

Rule revision planned for vessels taking workers offshore

Stuart Pearcey
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Rule revision planned for vessels taking workers offshore
New international maritime regulations will become law next year, aiming to improve safety standards for workers taken offshore to work on wind farms and oil and gas installations. In the wake of expansion of the UK maritime offshore energy sector a new chapter has been added to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, which includes the International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has today launched a consultation on requirements, which will sit within the proposed Merchant Shipping Regulations 2025. Ships operating in the offshore sector are by definition cargo ships, and because of this the number of passengers that can be carried is 12. The construction standards for passenger ships are more stringent than for cargo ships, in recognition of the larger number of people that these ships can carry. The IP Code sets a standard based on cargo ship requirements, enhanced by requirements applicable to passenger ships, enabling such ships to carry more than 12 offshore workers – which by definition are not passengers or part of the crew. The IP Code also sets out standards including medical fitness, personal survival, safety training and ship familiarisation, which industrial personnel must comply with. MCA Director of UK Technical Maritime Services Fraser Heasley said: “The offshore sector has a fundamental place in how the world operates today, and at the MCA we truly value the service and dedication of these industrial and special personnel, and their safety is a priority for us. “Implementation of the new SOLAS chapter, in particular the IP Code, will mean significant safety improvements for those working in the offshore sector.

“The code is recognised internationally so standards are set across the offshore sector, providing a global, level playing field. Please make sure your feedback is heard by taking part in our consultation.”

Luxury gift company gets £200,000 funding to support growth

Stuart Pearcey
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Luxury gift company gets £200,000 funding to support growth
Luxury food and drink gift company Imp & Maker has secured £200,000 in funding from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II to enhance its operations and sustain its growth. Founder Sarah Louise Fairburn, with over 20 years of experience in food retail and production, launched the company in 2020 to bring innovation and quality to the gifting industry. Sarah’s expertise and commitment to sustainability and social impact are central to the brand’s values. Beyond her business, she is an active advocate for sustainability and women’s empowerment, serving on the Greater Lincolnshire Food Board and UK Food Valley. The funding will be allocated toward stock, marketing, and staff costs, with a primary focus on enhancing operational efficiency and driving long-term growth. She said: “It was clear that my business needed additional finance to achieve the ambitious seasonal plans we had as Christmas approached. Whilst I had started discussions with banks, I wasn’t getting the result we needed. “FundingRound played a pivotal role in positioning our requirements, introducing us to First Enterprise and securing the funds which will support our success. Lenders like First Enterprise are much needed to support the backbone of UK businesses! And we will always be working with FundingRound moving forward as they are the best at understanding entrepreneurs.” Julia Wilkinson, Director, FundingRound Ltd added: “The current market requires lenders who will support expanding SMEs based on forecast-led growth, particularly bearing in mind the environment they’ve operated in over the past few years. CDFIs like First Enterprise play a crucial role in supporting businesses like Imp & Maker, and we are pleased  to have First Enterprise fund them and other clients.”

Planning rules could be by-passed as part of new Government proposals

Stuart Pearcey
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Planning rules could be by-passed as part of new Government proposals
Planning decisions could be fast-tracked in a sweeping overhaul of local planning committees as part of new measures set out by the government to stimulate economic growth and tackle the housing crisis. Under new plans to modernise the planning approval process, applications that comply with local development plans could bypass planning committees entirely to tackle, says the Government, chronic uncertainty, unacceptable delays and unnecessary waste of time and resources. The measures would see a national scheme of delegation introduced, the creation of streamlined committees for strategic development and mandatory training for planning committee members. Under the new plans, local planning officers will also have an enhanced decision-making role to implement agreed planning policy. A Government spokesman said: “The changes will mean greater certainty to housebuilders that good-quality schemes aligned with already-agreed local development plans will be approved in a timely manner to get spades in the ground. With it, kickstarting economic growth and raising living standards in every part of the country, putting money back in the pockets of working people.” Dr Victoria Hills, Chief Exec of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said: “It’s encouraging to see the government explore these options in such an open way. These are the right questions to ask, and it is good that the government is prioritising collaboration, transparency, and consistency. By empowering qualified planners to implement planning policies, locally elected councillors will have the time to focus on the more significant cases, effectively speeding up the planning process and reducing unnecessary delays.” “By requiring councillors to undergo appropriate training before joining planning committees, we can ensure planning decisions are made for the greater good of the communities while aligning with national policies. We would look forward to supporting this programme.” The measures set out in the working paper will seek views from a range of planning, housing and local government experts before finalising proposal details for planning committees. The government will then publish a formal public consultation on these detailed proposals to coincide with the introduction of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill next year. The government will also work closely with the sector to implement any changes from the paper, the first in a series of working papers aimed at informing policy development for the Bill.
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