York Biotech Campus-based Abingdon Health is expanding in the US after signing a lease to open a commercial office and laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin.

The site will commence operations in October 2024 and is expected to become fully operational in early 2025. This US footprint will enable Abingdon to provide additional CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organisation) support to its broadening international customer base and be closer to large customers in North America.

The USA is the largest medical device market in the world, comprising over 40% of the global medtech market and containing over 6,500 medtech companies. 30% of Abingdon’s revenues in the last financial year were derived from the United States.

The Group’s newly incorporated wholly owned subsidiary, Abingdon Health USA Inc, will operate from the University Research Park in Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin.

Chris Yates, CEO of Abingdon Health plc, said: “I’m looking forward to driving Abingdon’s worldwide commercial activities and, in particular, expanding our customer base in the US, the largest med-tech market globally.

“Our laboratory site in the US will mean we can offer US customers the opportunity to buy their services in the US; this is a first step for Abingdon to provide a broader CDMO proposition from within the US market.”

Lisa Johnson, CEO of BioForward Wisconsin, said: “On behalf of the biohealth community in Wisconsin, we welcome Abingdon Health to Madison. Abingdon Health is a leader in lateral flow diagnostic technology with a unique, end-to-end value proposition for its customers.

“As a publicly-traded UK company with a global presence, their decision to open a US office here in Wisconsin provides yet more evidence of our state’s growing stature in personalized medicine and biohealth technologies.

“We look forward to Abingdon Health complementing and strengthening our biohealth ecosystem, and bringing more economic impact and jobs to Wisconsin.”

JTL, apprenticeship providers in the building services engineering sector, recently welcomed John Healey MP to officially open its new training centre in South Yorkshire. The charity’s newest training centre located in Wath Upon Derne, will serve as a hub for electrical apprenticeships and training in green technologies. The state-of-the-art facilities are the result of a £2 million investment, highlighting JTL’s commitment to delivering high-quality, learner-focused training, addressing local skills shortages, and supporting the UK’s green skills agenda. The official opening event was attended by John Healey, MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, who unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion and addressed the audience of local employers, industry representatives, apprentices, school students from Wath Academy, careers advisors, and the JTL delivery team about the importance of fostering skills for the future. The South Yorkshire centre has electrical engineering workshops, classrooms, an End Point Assessment (AM2) preparation workstation, breakout areas, and is set to play a key role in helping the region meet its growing demand for skilled professionals alongside local businesses taking on an apprentice. Attendees had the opportunity to tour the new centre, meet the first cohort of apprentices, network and learn more about the technical skills being taught, which will include renewable energy systems and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The South Yorkshire Training Centre will be a flagship facility for JTL, contributing to the local economy and equipping future generations with the skills needed to meet the UK’s demand for sustainable homebuilding and energy infrastructure, through a specialist ‘Green Hub’ of training for renewable technologies. According to the South Yorkshire Trailblazer Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), future skills needs include addressing replacement demand for an ageing workforce and jobs linked to new technology and construction methods and the drive for net zero. With over £11.8 billion in planned projects for the sub-region – two-thirds (£8 billion) of which will be in the green economy – this includes low-carbon tech, electric vehicles, carbon capture and resilient utilities networks, and will all require highly-skilled electrical engineers. Across the North East region, where JTL has training centres in South Yorkshire, Hull and York, the industry charity is training approximately 1,800 apprentices in partnership with 1,200 employers. John Healey MP, who represents the local Rawmarsh and Conisbrough constituency, said in his remarks: “I am delighted that JTL has chosen Wath as the home of its new South Yorkshire training centre for apprentices to learn their trade. “The centre has already created 17 jobs locally through new tutors, administrators and supervisors and the plans are in place to train almost 100 new electrical apprentices from across the borough with an expansion into plumbing courses in the near future. “Apprenticeships provide our young people with a valuable pathway into critical sectors, allowing them to earn while they learn and develop the essential skills they need for their careers. Our community is full of skilled talent and we are eager for the next generation to be able to pick up a trade and get on in life.” Sir John Low, Chair of the JTL Board, said: “The opening of our South Yorkshire Training Centre marks an exciting milestone for JTL as we continue to expand our network of facilities to meet local, regional, and national skills needs. “This new centre will help to equip young people in the South Yorkshire area with the practical, hands-on experience necessary to succeed in the building services industry, particularly as we move towards a greener economy. We are thrilled to contribute to both the local community and the wider national agenda for skills development and net-zero commitments.”

Building work has started at Monk Fryston in North Yorkshire on SSE’s largest battery storage project. At 320MW, the project is SSE’s largest battery storage facility being built, and one of the largest of its kind in the UK. Once completed, the site could power over half a million homes for up to two hours at a time, during times of peak demand. SSE Renewables, Morrison Energy Services, and Sungrow have planted a ceremonial tree near the entrance to the site. Heather Donald, Director of Onshore Wind, Solar & Battery at SSE Renewables, said: “It’s fantastic to have construction under way on our largest battery storage project at Monk Fryston, and to have been joined by our project partners Morrison Energy Services and Sungrow to mark the occasion.

“To be building a battery project of this size and scale is a huge testament to how far we have come in such a short space of time, with our first 50MW battery asset at Salisbury already entering full operations earlier this year. “Battery storage projects like this one at Monk Fryston will be vital in reaching the UK’s net zero targets, providing flexibility to the grid when the sun isn’t shining, and the wind isn’t blowing.”

Yorkshire Water is partnering with Citizens Advice Leeds to support customers facing financial difficulties by making bill payments more manageable and offering extra assistance to those who are eligible.

Citizens Advice Leeds will refer customers struggling with their bills to Yorkshire Water support schemes, helping to make their payments more manageable and reduce debt. Yorkshire Water will also help eligible customers sign up to the Priority Services Register for extra assistance.

Claire Gott, community engagement field manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “We know that many people in the Leeds area are experiencing financial hardship. Unfortunately, not enough customers who are eligible for our support schemes are signing up.

“By partnering with organisations like Citizens Advice Leeds, we can better reach and help those in need. This is our third partnership with Citizens Advice, and we’re already seeing positive results with more customers getting the help they need.”

Julie Balfour, specialist services director at Citizens Advice Leeds, said: “We’re really excited to see how our partnership with Yorkshire Water will improve the debt advice process for our clients. We’re hopeful that having easier access to Yorkshire Water’s support schemes will improve outcomes for our clients and save time for our advisors.”

Yorkshire Water is looking to work with other organisations dedicated to supporting financially struggling communities. There are four digital awareness sessions available for companies wanting to learn more about the financial support available to customers