Firms offered free advice about cyber security
The Yorkshire & Humber Regional Cyber Crime Unit stages its next Police Cyber Clinic in Hull on the morning of August 29th.
The event will involve a series of short informative talks from cyber security professionals covering the Police-led cyber security products and services that you can access for free to protect businesses from cyber crime.
A spokesman said: “These engaging sessions will cover a range of topics, from the latest threats and vulnerabilities to practical steps you can take to safeguard your digital assets. Delegates will have the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, and network with other business owners who are equally committed to enhancing their cyber defences.
“This event is suitable for anyone including SMEs, businesses, charities, organisations, academia, and non-profit organisations who are looking to enhance their knowledge, awareness and skills in the ever-evolving world of cyber security.”
All Police Cyber Clinics are completely free, with free refreshments and a light breakfast meal included. The next event will be at Hull University Students’ Union, Student Central, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX. Booking are essential.
‘We can’t get the staff,’ firms tell BCC
Firms in all sectors are struggling to find staff, according to the latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook from the British Chambers of Commerce.
More than 4,700 UK firms of all sectors and sizes have been quizzed by the BCC’s Insights Unit, which revealed an in crease in hiring problems across all sectors.
The second quarter results for 2024 show that 59% of respondents said they had attempted to recruit in the last three months, slightly down from 62% in Q1. 80% of hospitality businesses attempted to recruit, whereas the figure for the retail sector was just 44%.
Of the firms who tried to hire in Q2, 74% reported recruitment difficulties, compared with 66% in the first three months of the year.
Construction and engineering firms are bearing the brunt of staffing issues, with 82% reporting problems in Q2, up from 69% in Q1. 79% of firms in the transport and logistics sector said they had faced difficulties (up from 69% in Q1). Meanwhile, in production and manufacturing, 77% of businesses trying to recruit faced problems, up from 70% in the previous quarter.
Almost three quarters of firms (71%) in the hospitality sector said they had faced recruitment problems in Q2 (Q1 64%), while 70% of retailers faced difficulties, up from 61% in Q1.
Although most businesses are still struggling to increase investment in workplace training, Q2 did see a slight increase. 28% of firms reported an increase in staff training investment, up from 26% in Q1, with 11% reporting a drop. 61% reported no change in their investment plans for training over the past three months.
Labour costs continue to be the main external pressure on businesses in Q2, with 67% of firms saying they could be forced to put up prices as a result. Concerns around labour costs are highest in hospitality (77%), followed by construction and engineering (76%), and production and manufacturing (72%).
Jane Gratton, Deputy Director Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “It’s alarming that recruitment difficulties have increased in recent months across all sectors. The very sharp rise in the construction industry is particularly worrying.
“People shortages and labour costs are ramping up pressure on firms and holding back growth. We need to prioritise help for people to get back into the labour market and remove the barriers to business investment in training.
“Better planning for skills is crucial. The new government must work at pace to outline a long-term national skills strategy, working closely with the devolved administrations.
“Building on Local Skills Improvement Plans will help develop strong partnerships between employers, training providers and others – to ensure people get the skills and support they need.”
Farming profitability slashed by almost 20%, says Defra
Published as part of Defra’s total income from farming figures – which measure the total profit from all UK farming businesses during the past calendar year – this drop translates to a fall of £1.1 billion from 2022 giving an overall total income of £4.5 billion for England.
The fall follows a spike in 2022 figures, driven by high global costs pushing up commodity prices following the war in Ukraine.
Farming’s overall contribution to England’s economy also took a dip of £1 billion or 8.7% compared with 2022.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said the last few years had demonstrated the “volatile environment” in which farmers and growers are trying to make a living.
“We have moved from high commodity prices and soaring production costs in 2022 caused by the tragic situation in Ukraine, to much lower income figures in a weather-affected 2023, as commodity prices fell but production costs remained high,” he said.
“Since the survey ended, we have seen record levels of rain and flooding the NFU President added, which has contributed to a huge drop in confidence among farmers, and put a real question mark over this year’s harvest.”
New figures have revealed a ‘dramatic decline’ in cereals and oilseed rape planted this year, down by 5% in 2024 to the lowest level for over two decades with the total wheat area estimated to be the second smallest since 1981.
Mr Bradshaw added: “While farmers are well used to dealing with variation year on year, the volatility we’ve seen in the last few years isn’t sustainable. Food security is national security, and that’s why we need the new government to be prioritising food production in its policy-making.”
BSI renews British Steel’s sustainability credentials
British Steel’s sustainable practices have been recognised by the British Standards Institution, which has renewed The company’s certification to the BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing standard following detailed auditing across our operations this month.
Simon Walker, Senior Environment Specialist, said: “This is a significant achievement and this independent verification demonstrates to our customers we’re committed to sustainable practices.” The BES 6001 certificate covers all steel products made in Scunthorpe, Teesside and Skinningrove. The audit was both demanding and comprehensive, said Simon, investigating a wide range of areas including material traceability and environmental management systems in the supply chain as well as supplier management systems, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and waste management. HE added: “Sustainable practices remain hugely important to us, our customers and stakeholders. They enable us to improve our social and environmental performance, meet regulatory requirements and meet our customers’ expectations. “Allowing customers to demonstrate they’re sourcing products from a responsible supplier and being able to benchmark our performance is particularly important, so it’s excellent news that we’ve maintained our score as a ‘good’ rating in this year’s audit.”Councils Partnership appoints Director of Economic Development
The South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership has appointed Pranali Parikh as its Director of Economic Development.
Her directorate responsibilities will be to deliver planning, economy and cultural development, and she will be instrumental in driving forward the growth ambitions and priorities for the Partnership.
In her previous role, Pranali was Director for Growth and Regeneration at Melton Borough Council for six years where she was pivotal in the council’s successful Levelling Up funding bid, enhancing regeneration and boosting the town’s reputation as the ‘rural capital of food.’
Partnership working has been a consistent theme for Pranali, having also worked as Regeneration Service Manager for Alliance of High Peak Borough Council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.
Her first role in local Government was Principal Regeneration Manager for Derby City Council and before that she was Urban Design Manager at Derby Cityscape Ltd and Urban Designer at Atkins Ltd.
Pranali said: “I am very much looking forward to getting really engrained into the sub-region, working with the Councils’ leaders, portfolio holders and stakeholders on their priorities as well as understanding local challenges and seeking solutions.
“I am really looking forward to bringing my expertise and insights to the delivery of projects and schemes which support growth and the local economy in south and east Lincolnshire.”
Rob Barlow, Chief Executive, said: “I am really pleased that Pranali has joined our Senior Leadership Team at what is an exciting time for the Partnership. By working collaboratively, the Partnership has been really successful in bringing in Government funding to support economic growth for the entire sub-region.
“This is a new role and was highly competitive so I am delighted the recruitment process has resulted in Pranali joining the team to help drive forward the ambitions of the Partnership.”
Inflation stays stable at Bank of England’s target
Inflation has held steady at the Bank of England’s 2% target, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), which rose by 2% in the 12 months to June 2024, the same rate as the 12 months to May 2024, it means prices in June increased at the same rate as May.
The largest upward contribution came from restaurants and hotels, where prices of hotels rose more than a year ago; the largest downward contribution came from clothing and footwear, with prices of garments falling this year having risen a year ago.
Core inflation, meanwhile, which takes out volatile factors like energy, food, alcohol and tobacco to give a clear picture of underlying trends, rose by 3.5% in the 12 months to June 2024, the same rate as in May.
Martin Sartorius, Principal Economist, CBI, said: “The fact that inflation is stable at the Bank of England’s target will be welcome news for many households as we start to see things return to normal after period of high price growth. However, it’s worth noting that many have yet to feel the benefit of lower inflation due to the high level of prices, particularly for food and energy bills.
“Today’s data paves the way for an interest rate cut next month, which would begin to provide some relief for firms and households that are struggling with high borrowing costs.
“Going forward, the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee will be mindful of potential upside risks to inflation in the near-term as the domestic growth outlook improves. They are also likely to move carefully as they assess the impact of the first rate cut in four years.”
‘Free from’ food brand secures £2m
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II) has completed its first equity investment in the Yorkshire and Humber region since the launch of the £660m fund in March this year.
Based in Harrogate, Kirsty’s, the ‘free from’ range of ready meals, has raised £2m from NPIF II – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.
With the funding from NPIF II, Kirsty’s will be able to launch new ‘food to go’ ranges and develop other new products. The investment is expected to add 15 new jobs to its 55-strong team in the next six months at the company’s Harrogate factory. As part of the deal Ian Kent, the former Commercial Director of Stateside Foods, has been appointed as Chair.
Created and launched by Kirsty Henshaw, Kirsty’s was founded in 2009 after discovering that her son Jacob had multiple food allergies, including to nuts, as well as dairy intolerance. With so few healthy and tasty food options available to her, she began experimenting with different recipes and started selling small batches of ice cream to health food stores.
Gaining in popularity and receiving interest from major retailers such as Tesco, she took her business to Dragon’s Den in 2010. After successfully securing backing from Peter Jones and Duncan Bannatyne, Kirsty subsequently bought back their shares three years later after launching her meals into supermarkets across the country in 2012.
In 2020, Kirsty’s opened a state-of-the-art 100 per cent allergen-free factory in Harrogate bringing all its manufacturing operations in-house.
The company supplies all the major supermarkets.
Kirsty Henshaw, founder of Kirsty’s, said: “Nothing beats fresh, home cooked food, however with modern life being busier than ever, we know that’s not always achievable, especially for those with allergies who have to prepare everything from scratch. We set out to create a range of healthy, convenience foods that everyone could enjoy whether they have an allergy or not.
“Our success is a real testament to our hard-working team. This funding will enable us to take the business to a new level and fulfil its true potential.”
Chris Borrett of Mercia Ventures said: “Kirsty is an incredible founder with a deep passion, an unstoppable drive and infectious personality. She has built a strong brand, a great team and a defensible platform for future growth.
“As our population becomes more aware of what they consume, and with busy lives and more dual income households, Kirsty’s is poised to truly lead the healthy convenience and allergen-free sectors. With strong relationships with all the major UK retailers and a roadmap of exciting new products, we are excited about the growth journey ahead.”
Detailed proposed routes for first phase of new West Yorkshire mass transit network released
Detailed proposed routes for the first phase of a new West Yorkshire mass transit network have been released by Mayor Tracy Brabin.
Phase one of the mass transit network aims to connect St James’ Hospital with south Leeds, with another line running from Bradford city centre to Leeds city centre.
Leeds and Bradford have been chosen as the hubs from which the West Yorkshire mass transit network can grow, as they are the region’s most concentrated centres of population, business, leisure and retail.
All potential phase one options for the Leeds Line run close to the White Rose Centre, with two route options also running close to Elland Road.
Some of the other places the proposed route options would aim to connect include Leeds General Infirmary, The South Bank, Holbeck and Beeston.
The Bradford Line will connect people between Bradford city centre and Leeds city centre with the proposed route options aiming to connect areas like Thornbury, Laisterdyke, Pudsey, Armley and Wortley.
Linking up these communities will enable more people to get to jobs and training and education opportunities, all while working towards tackling the climate emergency.
The Combined Authority wants to hear views from as many people as possible – a public consultation, open to everyone, will run until September 30.
Feedback from members of the public will help identify benefits and issues with the mass transit routes options for Leeds and Bradford, improve proposals and help decide which of these options will go forward to create a Leeds Line and a Bradford Line.
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: “West Yorkshire is a truly special place to live and work, but learning, earning a living or spending time with friends and family should not be limited by a difficult journey.
“A crucial part of our growth mission, Mass Transit will transform the transport options available to the people of West Yorkshire, as well as attracting investment into the region and boosting our economy.
“We want to create a better-connected West Yorkshire, with a Mass Transit system that is affordable, easy to use, and safe and secure for all.”
Once preferred routes have been developed, a further statutory consultation will follow in 2025. This consultation will include proposals for tram stops, depots, potential park and ride sites and engineering works.
In parallel with phase one, the Combined Authority will continue to work with Kirklees Council on the Dewsbury Line Development Project, as well as Calderdale and Wakefield councils for future phases, so no part of West Yorkshire is left behind.
Following this options consultation and the preferred route consultation in 2025, an application to the Secretary of State for Transport would be made for legal powers and planning permission to build and operate phase one.
This would be in the form of a Transport Works Act Order in the second half of 2026.
Work is expected to begin in 2028, with first lines operational by the early 2030s.
Work to start on council-backed housing scheme in Leeds
Work is set to begin on a new scheme that will deliver 28 affordable and sustainable homes in the Armley area of Leeds.
The properties will be built by 54North Homes on a brownfield site on Wesley Road, using funding provided by Leeds City Council and Homes England.
The £5.1m development will comprise 26 houses and two flats – 22 of which will be available for social rent and six for shared ownership.
An emphasis on sustainability will see the homes being built with air source heat pumps to provide heating and hot water. The scheme will also accommodate existing mature trees, along with individual gardens and open landscaped areas.
The homes have been designed by Brewster Bye Architects, the building contractor is Ashfield Projects (Yorkshire) Ltd and BWA has been appointed as the employers’ agent.
Up to £700,000 of the funding for the scheme will come from Leeds City Council. This money is being drawn from Leeds’ commuted sums funding stream, which supports affordable housing delivery using pooled financial contributions paid by developers as part of planning agreements.
All initial tenancies – and 60 per cent of subsequent lets – will be offered to people on the council’s housing register.
Joanna Chambers, director of assets and growth at 54North Homes, said: “We are delighted to be beginning work on this development very shortly which forms part of our ambitious growth programme to build around 250 new homes over the next three years.
“In Leeds this includes a £12m scheme to build 58 new affordable homes on Railway Street near the city centre and 40 homes within the new Kirkstall Place development – all of which will help to address the acute need for more affordable housing in the city.
“Wesley Road will be a great looking scheme, it has been designed to be sympathetic to the surrounding area and I am excited to see the plans become reality. It benefits from excellent local transport links to the city centre and will be the first development where 54North Homes is installing air source heat pumps, marking an important step on our sustainability agenda.
“As well as being committed to building energy efficient new homes, 54North Homes is also undertaking work to adapt some of the older homes we own to ensure they are as healthy, energy efficient and affordable for customers to run as possible.”
Councillor Jess Lennox, Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing, said: “We’re determined to ensure Leeds is a place that people are proud to call home, and one key way we can achieve that aim is through schemes such as the one at Wesley Road.
“These new properties will be high quality and energy efficient – and it’s particularly pleasing that so many of them will be available for social rents.
“The scheme will also bring a derelict piece of land within an existing residential area back into use to create a vibrant neighbourhood, and provides a great example of the benefits of collaborative working between the council and partners.
“We have seen an annual average of 550 affordable homes delivered in the city in recent years, with the figure for each of the next three years expected to rise to around 750.
“This isn’t just about numbers, however – every home, including the ones that will shortly be taking shape at Wesley Road, represents happiness and a welcome feeling of security for the people living in them.”
The site for the scheme was formerly owned by the Diocese of Leeds and is located at the southern end of Wesley Road, near St Bartholomew’s Church.
Lloyds Banking Group to convert former office and data centre in Pudsey into new social housing
To increase the supply of new social housing in the UK, Lloyds Banking Group has revealed intentions for the redevelopment of decommissioned Group data centres and former office sites into new social housing projects.
The construction of the first site in Pudsey, formerly an office and data centre, is set to commence in 2026.
Subject to planning permission, the redevelopment will create up to 80 new homes that could be available for social rent and help to increase the supply of good, affordable homes in the UK.
A full review of the Group’s legacy commercial real-estate portfolio is currently underway, with plans progressing to finalise additional sites that could also be developed by housing partners as social housing in the coming years.
Charlie Nunn, Chief Executive Officer, Lloyds Banking Group, said: “Everyone has the right to build a future from the foundation of a secure home. Social housing is part of this country’s critical infrastructure, and we need to direct and increase investment into the right homes, in the places they’re needed most.
“Lloyds Banking Group has provided £17 billion of support to the sector since 2018 and today we also have announced our plans to redevelop decommissioned Group data centres and former office sites for new housing projects – and I would encourage others to also consider this.”
