Management buyout sees change of ownership at Huddersfield firms
A management buyout of Huddersfield-based e-commerce retailer Interior Goods Direct and Green & Brown Ltd has been completed in order to further both company’s continued growth.
Led by MD Nigel Blakey, the buyout sees directors Job Brown (Operations), James Toase (Commercial), and Andy Thomson (Finance), taking a controlling interest in both companies. Darren Green who founded IGD in 2003, alongside its retail e-commerce business, BlindsDirect.co.uk, and G&B in 2010 will remain as Non-Executive Chairman for both organisations.
The buyout is said to underwrite ambitious plans for growth and provide greater employment and developmental opportunities for the 270 existing colleagues and future team members.
The buyout follows substantial multi-million-pound investments in both G&B, and IGD’s futures including the recent move to a new, 130,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Colne Bridge Road, Huddersfield. The business has also recently invested close to a quarter of a million pounds in sustainability initiatives including roof-mounted solar panels and energy efficient LED lighting.
Blinds Direct, IGD’s online retail ecommerce business, continues to grow its reputation as one of the UK’s leading blinds and home accessories specialists serving over 15 thousand customers per month.
Nigel Blakey said: “It is a very exciting time for the future of our companies. This buyout is a testament to our team’s hard work, dedication, and belief in the potential of our company.
We are proud to be one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of made to measure blinds, curtains and shutters, based in Huddersfield, the traditional UK heartland of textiles. Unlike many online retailers we have our own manufacturing facility in the UK, and we are passionate about doing all we can to help our UK textile industries thrive and survive, not losing the deep heritage and skilled people that make our fantastic products.
With the buyout now complete, and a strong and ambitious team in place, we can focus on our plans for growth and to continue to implement a range of initiatives that will further strengthen our operations. While developing both companies, we also look forward to providing greater employment opportunities for the region, developing our existing team members, and delivering exceptional value and service for our customers.”
Darren Green, founder and non-executive chairman, said: “Founding IGD and G&B, and steering them on paths that have seen both businesses become well established in their respective sectors, has been an incredible experience. With Nigel and the team now in position, it’s an exciting time for both companies and I’m certain of a bright future for not only the businesses, but also the dedicated staff that have been instrumental in building them up to this point.”
Well-known HR professional takes up new role at Yorkshire law firm
Experienced HR professional Brendan Bah, who has spent almost 30 years working in both large-scale public and private sector organisations, has joined Yorkshire-based LCF Law’s specialist employment law division.
He joins the firm’s Leeds office as an employment law advisor and will support LCF Law partner and employment law specialist, James Austin.
In his new role Brendan will provide guidance on all types of HR related matters including disciplinaries, grievances and redundancies and will also be able to conduct disciplinary, grievance and other hearings on behalf of clients. Brendan will also draft and update contracts of employment and HR policies and procedures, and explain legislative changes.
Clients will include businesses of all sizes, in all sectors, including retained clients of LCF Works, which is LCF Law’s expert employment law and HR advice package.
He will also be involved with LCF Law’s presentations, including mock employment tribunals, which are free to attend and give employers the chance to see first-hand how an employment tribunal hearing works in practice.
Brendan has worked in HR since 1995 and most recently worked as HR business partner at ivolve Care & Support, which is one of the largest adult social care providers in the UK. Prior to that he was a HR advisor at Premier Farnell in Leeds and he’s also worked for the likes of Leeds Arts University, Fox’s Biscuits, Asda and Leeds and York Partnership NHS Trust.
Brendan said: “HR legislation is continually evolving, and employers must be aware of the latest changes so they can be included in policies and procedures. However, generally these are similar across most industries, albeit tailored to specific roles and businesses.
“Many businesses don’t have a dedicated HR person and need advice on implementing their policies and procedures or even want someone else to conduct meetings or hearings for them. As an experienced HR adviser this is one of the areas where I can add value to a business.
“My ethos is always about doing things the right way and finding the middle ground between employers and employees, so that people are dealt with professionally and sensitively, whilst ensuring it’s fair for both parties.
“Ultimately this fosters good employer and employee relations and I’m looking forward to implementing this with LCF Law’s clients, which are all sizes and in all industries. It’s also this variety which makes the role such an interesting and exciting opportunity.”
James added: “Brendan is vastly experienced and will be a great asset to our team. He’s handled every day HR issues but has also carried out complex projects like large-scale redundancies, and can act as an in-house HR manager and advisor for businesses as and when they require it.
“When this is combined with our legal expertise for more specialist matters, it adds to our already very compelling offering for businesses.”
Bradford Manufacturing Futures names Arup as new business partner for decarbonisation project
The Bradford Manufacturing Futures partnership, led by Bradford Council, has awarded a contract to global sustainable development and engineering consultancy Arup to help manufacturing companies across the district of Bradford decarbonise and move towards net zero.
Arup will work with several project partners to produce a district-wide Decarbonisation Master Plan. This blueprint will offer pathways to energy efficiency and an energy strategy with feasibility assessments identifying where renewable energy sources can be matched with industry requirements.
The consultancy’s work with the partnership will also produce a Prospectus for Inward Investment based on Industrial Decarbonisation. The Prospectus for the Bradford District is aimed at realising lowest cost renewable heat and power, to increase inward investment. It is anticipated that investment in renewables would be accelerated by the Industrial Decarbonisation Roadmap set out in the Master Plan, encouraging businesses keen to decarbonise to locate in Bradford.
The partners in the project are Solenis UK Industries Ltd, Calbee Group (UK) Ltd, Produmax Limited, Texfelt Ltd, Teconnex Ltd, Denso Marston Ltd, Bradford Council, CR Plus Ltd, University of Bradford with support from the business-led District Sustainable Development Partnership. The project partners are carrying out manufacturer site and cluster specific energy efficiency surveys, identifying opportunities for energy efficiency, fuel switching, and localised alternative energy to support manufacturing energy cost reduction and decarbonisation.
Bradford Manufacturing Futures is a local partnership delivering a collaborative, progressive and investible approach to decarbonisation. The £1m+ project has received Local Industrial Decarbonisation funding of £726,729 from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
This Council led project identifies opportunities for decarbonisation across the Bradford district in some of the highest emitting sectors such as Chemicals, Food, Basic Metals, Mineral Products and Metal Fabrication, which produce 52% of the district’s CO2 emissions. Manufacturing, core to Bradford’s success over centuries, faces existential energy cost and decarbonisation challenges. The sector is diverse, with 1,220 businesses accounting for 12.6% of jobs in Bradford District, generating 0.7Mtpa CO2 emissions.
Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “We are excited to be leading this groundbreaking project with partners from industry that will provide a district-wide roadmap for decarbonisation, an investment prospectus for the district and shared learning across manufacturers in the district and West Yorkshire region.
“Tackling climate change is important to Bradford, reaching the District Net Zero targets by 2038 will only be achieved if all organisations in the district are working together building a sustainable and prosperous economy that works in the interests of everyone to minimise waste and the use of finite natural resources.”
Catherine Darby-Roberts, Arup’s Advanced Manufacturing and Energy Leader, said: “It’s exciting to join the Bradford Manufacturing Futures programme and work with the project partners to deliver a decarbonisation roadmap for the district. This project is significant as it is led by manufacturing companies and the public sector, working together and recognising that clustering and a system-led approach will support wider regional decarbonisation.
“The roadmap will be impactful for major manufacturers, support individual companies to hit their net zero goals and incubate the growth of smaller businesses to engage and benefit from local investment. We’re pleased to collaborate with Bradford Council, Bradford University and wider partners to consider the district challenges, develop investable propositions and help secure a sustainable future for manufacturing in the city.”
The Bradford Manufacturing Futures project will run until the end of December 2024 when the results of the project will be shared with businesses across the district and beyond.
Mayor welcomes nuclear energy company to South Yorkshire as it seeks home for new facility
Mayor Oliver Coppard welcomed senior representatives of American nuclear energy company, Holtec, to South Yorkshire as the firm looks to select a home for its new Small Modular Reactor (SMR) facility after a shortlisting process of four potential sites around the UK.
Earlier this year, Holtec Britain – who have been working at Sizewell B for over 15 years – shortlisted South Yorkshire as a potential location for its new SMR factory in the UK.
The factory would present a major £1.3bn investment and job creation opportunity.
South Yorkshire is already home to the UK’s largest clean-tech cluster and has unique strengths in SMRs, Hydrogen and Sustainable Aviation. South Yorkshire is aiming to become the natural home for these emerging clean energy sectors and engaging with Holtec on its new UK factory is a key part of this effort.
In May, Rolls Royce SMR chose South Yorkshire to become the home of its new multi-million pound facility which will manufacture and test prototype modules for SMRs, further strengthening the region’s clean tech credentials.
Representatives from Holtec and senior officers from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority visited three potential factory sites in the region. The Mayor and the Holtec delegation also met with senior business representative in the region to gain an insight into the region’s industrial heritage, strengths and potential for future growth.
Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, said: “South Yorkshire is already home of the largest clean-tech cluster in the UK and is at the forefront of nuclear tech, hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuels development. We’re leading the way on SMRs and have the talent, facilities and supply chains to go even further.
“I was pleased to welcome Baroness Brown and her colleagues from Holtec to South Yorkshire. We had the opportunity to highlight South Yorkshire’s world-class clean-tech and advanced manufacturing assets, and discuss our plans to maximise investment, jobs and supply chain development in this sector.
“Holtec’s plans to build a £1.3bn advanced SMR factory could support hundreds of high-paying jobs and their SMR Learning Academy would help to train the next generation of nuclear experts.
“Given our strengths in clean-tech and plans to lead the green energy transition, we believe we are perfectly suited to partner with Holtec and their project partners, Hyundai E&C and Balfour Beatty, to forge a new future together that benefits our communities and the planet.”
Holtec’s Senior Adviser, Professor Dame Julia King FRS FREng, Baroness Brown of Cambridge, said: “I’d like to thank the Mayor and his team for their gracious hospitality during our visit.
“South Yorkshire has world class higher education institutions, relevant skills base, great leadership, excellent connectivity and a proud history of advanced manufacturing. This really fills us with confidence as we move forward with our assessment of their bid.
“Holtec’s new UK SMR factory, wherever it is located, will be transformative – opening new export opportunities of £30bn over the next ten years. We already have agreements in place with Poland, Ukraine and the Czech Republic. Our investment will directly support 1,800 high paying UK jobs and approximately 16,000 in the UK supply chain in the decades to come.”
Libertine to engage insolvency practitioner
Libertine Holdings, a Sheffield-based developer of Linear Generator technology, is set to engage an insolvency practitioner following a failure to secure short-term funding.
The news comes after Libertine launched a strategic review in April, covering options including raising additional capital, sale of the company’s HEXAGEN technology platform and IP, and sale of the company. This was followed by news of a conditional investment offer from investors in India and the UAE of £2m. Should the proposed investment not complete as planned, the Board of the business noted it may seek the cancellation of admission of Libertine’s ordinary shares to trading on AIM and re-registration as a private limited company in order to attempt to undertake a solvent wind down of the business.This month (July 2024), the company announced that equity investors had concluded their due diligence and were in the process of depositing funds into either the company’s bank account or into a UK escrow account. Due to the timing of the processes required to transfer funds from UAE and India, however, the business was also seeking short-term funding from new or existing investors.
As of 29 July 2024, no funds had been received from the equity investors and Libertine had been unsuccessful in securing short-term funding.
Therefore, after consideration of the company’s current financial situation, the Board has concluded that Libertine should engage an insolvency practitioner to seek advice on next steps.
Trading in the company’s ordinary shares on AIM has been suspended.
Local authorities adopt joint approach to attract rail industry spending
Business Doncaster and Invest Goole, the economic development arms of their local councils, are working together to deliver an investment message for ‘Rail in Yorkshire’.
Victoria Poppleton, Sector Growth and Investment Team Leader for City of Doncaster Council, and Bekki Banks, Inward Investment Project Manager for East Riding of Yorkshire Council, recognised that working together collaboratively and developing a more strategic approach would help generate opportunities for private investors and create jobs for the growth of the local economy and the rail sector. Victoria said: “South and East Yorkshire already have a strong rail presence and, by working together, it can provide an even better base for investors to grow and develop.”
Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones said: “This new partnership will deliver enhanced local investment messages, support growth and innovation and help to influence further investment across the rail sector. There is great potential by working together, reflecting the geography of the area whilst also acknowledging the commonalities between both locations allowing us to attract new rail companies to invest in the region.
“It’s great for neighbouring authorities to be working together in this way. There are naturally strong rail ties between both Doncaster and Goole, and this gives us an opportunity to build on our shared heritage and look ahead to the future,” she added.
Councillor Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: “Goole and Doncaster share a postcode but also a can-do attitude to business and this mutually beneficial partnership will help develop the local economies of both areas. For international rail companies looking to invest in the UK, Goole and Doncaster combine to create a compelling offer that will help grow their business and support the exiting supply chains within the area.”
JPG Group wins further consultancy contract from Dakota Hotels
Leeds-based JPG Group has won a fourth consultancy contract to deliver civil and structural engineering services for the latest Dakota Hotels development, this time near Manchester Airport.
Last month Dakota Hotels announced that it had submitted a planning application for the delivery of a 154-bedroom hotel off Bailey Lane within the 60-acre MIX Manchester development. The £60 million scheme is expected to generate around £12 million a year to the local economy.
Designed by KPP Architects, the seven-storey new building will be a reinforced concrete frame structure supported on piled foundations socketed into Mercia Mudstone. The structure also contains reinforced concrete transfer beams at first floor level to ensure column positions do not adversely affect the proposed room layout. Construction will start on site later this year with completion expected in later summer 2026.
Liam Bower at JPG said: “It is great to be able to demonstrate our expertise on delivering luxury lifestyle projects as well as industrial for which we are well known for.”
JPG is the retained strategic partner for the ongoing Dakota portfolio providing full civil, structural, geo-environmental and highway engineering consultancy across the projects.
Construction is progressing on the Newcastle site where JPG is providing civil and structural services. Works include the transformation of a vacant 5-storey office building at St Ann’s Wharf into a luxury waterfront hotel ready for its grand opening in the spring of next year.
The structural works include a first-floor steel extension deck supported off a reinforced concrete raft foundation to provide additional floor space for the 115 bedroomed hotel. The main structural challenges on this project involved analysing the capacity of the existing structure and finding the most economical way to redistribute new loads to minimise strengthening requirements to the existing steelwork and foundations.
Established in 1988, JPG currently employs 45 people within its Leeds headquarters and provides civil and structural engineering consultancy services for clients throughout the UK. It covers all major development sectors with expertise in every aspect of civil and structural engineering from initial site investigation, detailed civil and structural engineering design and construction support. JPG also offers dedicated consultancy services in Geo-Environmental Engineering, Strategic Land Engineering, Geospatial Analysis and BIM Services.
Ikea staff renovate Sheffield space in ‘Safe Place To Sleep’ programme
IKEA workers have used company products to renovate a previously under-used council-owned space in Sheffield as part of its commitment to the South Yorkshire Beds for Babies: Safe Place to Sleep Programme.
The programme has been designed to tackle inequality in early childhood, with Gleadless Valley one of four pilot locations within South Yorkshire.
As part of the programme, IKEA is working alongside Sheffield Council, Sheffield Hallam University, Baby Basics UK, and Shelter to tackle child poverty levels, reduce pressure on public services, improve childhood development, and reduce infant mortality.
Having sought engagement with residents of Callow Place, 19 coworkers from IKEA Sheffield created a bright and inviting space for children to play, and their families to seek necessary support.
The retailer is also providing additional funding to frontline services making use of the centre, such as Shelter, so people can access resources and the support they need for a better life at home. The funding will enable provision of legal advice and drop-in clinics, such as housing rights awareness sessions and skills for employment.
Kiera Guinnane, Community Project Manager at IKEA Sheffield said: “IKEA’s vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. Better homes are integral to this vision, but we know many people in our communities can’t achieve a better home without support.
“Partnering with programmes like the South Yorkshire Beds for Babies: Safe Place to Sleep Programme allows us to look after our neighbours whilst helping to tackle child poverty in South Yorkshire and beyond. The Sheffield project is just one of the steps we are taking to help address these concerns across the UK.”
The Sheffield project will now provide a blueprint for IKEA’s work with the Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood – expanding its contribution of support, design expertise and products for babies and young children to six new locations across the UK to help families with young children experiencing the greatest disadvantage.
Cllr Dawn Dale, Chair of the Education, Children’s and Families Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “We always say that as a Council we are passionate about making Sheffield a city of hope and aspiration, where everyone can share in its success.
“In all we do we want children and young people, and their family members too, to feel loved, accepted and safe. Having safe spaces like this available to go and nurture those feelings and play and learn together is vital for everyone’s positive development.
“It’s great to see partners come together like this to create such a welcome addition to the community.”
Keltbray starts work on Phase 2 of Sheffield’s Castlegate project
Construction company Keltbray has started work on the second phase of development at Sheffield’s Castlegate site.
The company’s operations director Tim Barber said: “Keltbray said: “Keltbray is delighted to be awarded this second phase of work at Castlegate. During the first phase, we were able to learn more about the historic significance of this part of the city. We’re now looking forward to being able to provide recreational facilities, and investment opportunities for people living and working in Sheffield.”
The River Sheaf, which gives the city it’s name, will also be opened up as part of the phase 2 work, making it visible in the city centre for the first time since Victorian times.
Phase two work started in July 2024 with the whole project expected to be completed in early 2026.
Following extensive archaeological research at the former Castle Market site, including unearthing evidence of former steel works dating back to the 19th century and the remains of Sheffield Castle itself, the project now moves to redeveloping it into the park and events space.
During phase one of the project, Sheffield City Council has worked alongside construction company Keltbray with that partnership continuing with the engineering specialists continuing the transformation of the site for phase 2.
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “This is a hugely exciting project which has already grabbed the attention of thousands of people not only in Sheffield but right across the country. Unearthing the remains of the city’s history has been fascinating but the work to transform the area from an archaeological site into the finished park really starts now.”
Throughout the process, Wessex Archaeology, who have been uncovering the remains of the castle during phase one, will remain on site to ensure those remains are preserved and ready to go on public display once the project has been completed.
Once complete, the Castlegate site will be transformed into a public park area with remains of the 12th century Sheffield Castle on display for the first time since it was demolished in the late 1600s. A 500 people capacity events space will also be created on the site of a former 17th century bowling green, with heritage interpretation boards and public art giving further nods to the site’s historic past.
Study probing man-made fuel for steelmaking in the running for sustainability award
A University of Lincoln research study supported by British Steel and Lapwing Energy has been shortlisted in the Research with Impact category at the forthcoming Green Gown Awards.
The research is investigating whether a man-made charcoal or ‘biochar’ might be suitable as a coal replacement. British Steel is helping to steer the study and give a technical view on requirements to determine if biochar could replace injection coal and act as a future clean carbon source for electric arc furnace steel production.
Head of Research and Development Andy Trowsdale said: “Carbon is an essential element for steelmaking processes, both now and in our EAF future. The work, integrating land repurposing and sustainable crop production, has the potential to provide a circular supply chain for clean carbon sources with significant net CO₂ benefits within steelmaking and beyond.
“This is the second time the project, led by Amir Badiee, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Energy, has been shortlisted at the Green Gown awards, reflecting the quality of the study and its sustainability credentials.”
Judges have selected 133 finalists from 84 institutions who will now be invited to submit their stage 2 applications ready for the final judging in October. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony taking place on 13 November at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh.
The awards, now in their twentieth year, recognise exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges across the UK and Ireland.