Stav leads first franchise of Business Culture HEY as it branches into Lincolnshire
Eight years after being created in Hull, the Business Culture HEY is celebrating the onboarding of its first franchisee with the newly-launched Business Culture Lincolnshire.
It’s to be led by Stav Melides, who’s joined by his wife, Christine and two other directors, Sergiu and Rodica Celan.
Tony Bowler, MD of The Business Culture franchise, said: “This is a major milestone for our club, as it means that we’ve expanded our reach across the Humber bridge and further connected Yorkshire with Lincolnshire. We have absolute confidence in Stav, as he brings exceptional knowledge and valuable expertise to the table.”
Stav started his business career in 1980 in the fast food trade before moving on to create and direct his own group of businesses. The sectors covered in this group of companies included recruitment, IT, transportation, parcel delivery, security, food distribution, restaurants and event management. By implementing highly efficient sales processes and an innovative acquisitions strategy, Stav generated several million pounds of revenue for each of these businesses.
Star said: “I find it very rewarding helping business owners and directors to make the right connections and generate successful relationships. I strongly believe that together we will make The Business Culture Lincolnshire a reliable source of business connections that add value to its members, enjoyment for its owners, and a community that we will all be proud of.”
Michelle Bowler, Director, added: “Stav has been a huge supporter ever since we founded The Business Culture back in 2016. He approached us in November 2023 to open discussions about being part of our team and taking out a franchise. It was a no-brainer and we’re very excited about his strategy for national growth.
“Stav has the right attitude to carry on our ethos, direction and mission. We welcome him and his team with open arms and look forward to a long and lasting business relationship.”
Gainsborough firm signs up contractor for field support services
Gainsborough-based exhaust aftertreatment systems supplier Eminox has signed Paul Clark Services to provide field support services provider.
The contract with PCS, from Royal Wootton Bassett, starts this month, and will ensure Eminox customer fleets operate to the latest emissions standards.
Carlos Vicente, Retrofit and Aftermarket Director at Eminox, said: “PCS has more than 25 years’ experience in providing quality services to passenger vehicle operators and will be a great asset to improve our servicing capabilities. Our customers have been loyal to Eminox and this partnership is to help us provide a more flexible and responsive field support for their very demanding sector.”
The agreement will provide Eminox’s customers with fast response and support for on-going maintenance plans to ensure retrofitted exhausts fitted to their vehicles maintain Euro VI compliance.
“Having a fully functional exhaust aftertreatment system not only prolongs the life of a vehicle but, compared to buying new is a cost-effective solution to achieve compliance. The rigorous testing to attain retrofit accreditation by the Energy Saving Trust’s Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme protects public health and improves air quality,” he added.
Northern Rail training centres are key to building rail industry’s missing skills, says OFSTED
Northern Rail’s training academies in Leeds and Manchester are key to addressing the national skills shortage facing the rail industry, according to a new report by OFSTED.
The regulator made the statement following an inspection of both facilities in which the quality of the education provided and the behaviour, attitudes and apprenticeship offering were found to be ‘Outstanding’.
Personal development, leadership and management were, meanwhile, declared ‘Good’, which was also the grade awarded for ‘overall effectiveness’.
OFSTED’s report goes on to say that apprentices at Northern benefit from a wide range of career and development opportunities for those who aspire to become managers and leaders within the company.
Lisa Leighton, people director at Northern, said: “I would like to pay tribute to my colleagues who support with on-the-job operational training, helping hundreds of apprentices graduate every year.
“Each and every one of those graduates has the potential to be an industry leader of the future – bringing their skills, talent and ideas to the table.
“The rail industry is an exciting sector to be a part of and there’s no better grounding for a successful career than an apprenticeship, which combines classroom learning with on-the-job experience.”
Northern was officially recognised by OFSTED as a ‘Main Provider’ on the national register of apprenticeships in July 2022. That status enables Northern to train other train operators’ newcomers in the fields of train driving and passenger transport.
In addition to classroom learning, Northern is increasingly using virtual reality technology to provide ‘real world’ scenarios from the safety of the classroom.
In 2023, Northern became a patron of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance (Powered by Pathway Group) – an organisation that strives to promote social mobility, diversity, inclusion and equity in apprenticeships.
For more information about apprenticeships available with Northern, please visit: www.northernrailway.co.uk/careers/early-careers/apprenticeships.
Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.
Multi-billion pound cost of gender inequality in workplace revealed by new report
New analysis by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) and the Women’s Budget Group (WBG) has found that the cost of the barriers to paid work encountered by women – such as caregiving responsibilities, gender bias in recruitment and attitudes towards ageing – has risen by seven per cent in the last year, meaning that nearly £100bn GVA is lost to the economy in England, Scotland and Wales annually.
The analysis was released to coincide with the publication of findings from a joint research project from the two organisations, which was launched (Friday, March 22) during an event at the Platform building in Leeds city centre.
At the event, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, shared her thoughts on the findings of the report, Women’s Work, hailing them “important but terrifying.”
Women’s Work has seen CLES and WBG partnering with Leeds City Council to conduct quantitative analysis on the outcomes for women in the city. This was supplemented by focus groups and interviews with diverse groups of women to better understand their lived experiences and the ways in which they can be prioritised in the development and implementation of economic strategies.
Dr Zubaida Haque, deputy director and head of research and policy at WBG, said: “Women are often overlooked in local economic decision-making and the local labour market. This report not only highlights the economic and social cost of this exclusion, but also how a gender inclusive approach to local economic decision-making improves both the economic prospects of women and the local and national economy.
“Recent reports and data on gender and economic inactivity, and gender and insecure work, also underscore the importance of taking into account the type of work available to women, especially those who are carers.
“Low pay, the lack of guaranteed hours and flexible work and ill-health are holding back women’s labour market participation, taking a toll on their mental health, wellbeing and on the economy. You can’t have a healthy economy without healthy people.”
Dr Sarah Longlands, chief executive of CLES, said: “For too long we’ve been talking about gender equality as if it wasn’t relevant to the question of how we build strong local economies. This report is about asking a simple question: what more could we achieve in terms of economic inclusion if we put the needs and potential of women at the heart of our decision-making processes?
“The analysis we have released today speaks for itself – progress on gender equality has stalled and we need a national effort to reverse the growing level of economic exclusion for women and their families, particularly for women with disabilities, women living in poverty and women of colour.
“There is still some way to go on addressing the multiple causes of economic exclusion for women. However, through this work we have been witness to powerful examples of what local authorities and their partners can do, even despite the current challenges they are dealing with.
“We hope that this is the start of a new conversation about how we put the needs of, not just women but all marginalised communities, at the centre of economic policy.”
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, culture and education, said: “We are pleased and proud to have partnered with the Centre for Local Economic Strategies and the Women’s Budget Group on this important project, which will help ensure that Leeds has an economy which is not only thriving but also works for everyone.
“The council has long been determined to tackle the employment challenges that many women face, with our Inclusive Growth Strategy and existing initiatives such as the Future Talent Plan and Innovation@Leeds funding programme underlining our commitment to removing social, cultural, political and economic barriers of all kinds.
“We recognise, however, that there is still much to do when it comes to closing the gender pay gap. Women in Leeds earn an average of £10,000 less per year than men and are seven times more likely than men to be economically inactive due to family caregiving responsibilities.
“These issues are not unique to Leeds, but that does not lessen the need to address them. By taking the findings of today’s report and using them to inform our future actions and decisions, we aim to do exactly that.”
The paper makes a number of recommendations for local and regional authorities, focused on the strategic approaches needed to underpin an agenda for change, including to commit to placing gender equality at the core of their economic approach, to underpin strategies with detailed baseline analyses and measures of success on gender equality and to establish mechanisms for meaningful engagement with, and accountability to, women.
To deliver on these strategic aims, the paper recommends actions on caregiving support, flexible employment, education and progression, community connections and wellbeing support, wealth and autonomy, and representation in leadership.
Finally, the report looks to Westminster and points to the significant additional powers to narrow gender inequalities that sit with national government.
Council takes ownership of hotel in Sleaford
In a move which will secure a prestigious hotel business, protect jobs and broaden its economic and social benefits, North Kesteven District Council has taken ownership of the Carre Arms Hotel in Sleaford.
The purchase of both the hotel and its operating company has been finalised following a decision by Full Council on February 29, 2024, with Members agreeing that there were significant advantages to the community in protecting this key local infrastructure asset, which could otherwise be lost as a viable business.
Acquisition of the Carre Arms also assists the Council significantly in advancing its ambitions around expanding the local visitor economy – being one of only two hotels in the immediate area with more than 10 rooms – and the regeneration of Sleaford Town Centre.
The move also protects an historic, landmark building and introduces opportunity to enhance its viability as an accommodation, conference and functions provider.
Council Chief Executive Ian Fytche said the realisation of this opportunity to move forward a number of the Council’s strategic aims around Sleaford’s regeneration and the potential for growing the local visitor economy was something the Council could not afford to pass over.
“For more than 12 years we have recognised the need for expanded hotel provision in order to meet existing and growing demand for business and visitor accommodation, but that is something that the private sector has not been able to provide,” he said.
“That reality, allied with the broader aspirations of the Sleaford Masterplan and the Council’s wider strategic interests in redevelopment opportunities in the immediate area of the Carre Arms, have led to the Council taking this proactive intervention.
“It is an action entirely consistent with legal and financial frameworks and will ultimately support the Council in both delivering on its objectives and maintaining its own ongoing viability, just as its established Lafford Homes housing company does.
“Customers of the Carre Arms will see no immediate difference as there is no change to the operations of the hotel or the circumstances of the employees.
“Along with the retiring owners, who have run a successful business for more than 20 years, we thank them for their goodwill both now and over the years in providing a much-needed multipurpose venue in the heart of Sleaford.”
Lindum Group starts work on office block project for DFDS
Lincoln-based Lindum Group has started to build a £3m regional office at Peterborough for international shipping and logistics company DFDS, and expects to have it finished by February next year.
Matt O’Dell, MD of DFDS Logistics UK&I Cold Chain, said: “We’re thrilled to begin work on the state-of-the-art office facility at DFDS Peterborough. This project is the result of meticulous planning by our dedicated internal project team, working in collaboration with our partners at Lindum Group, who have been very generous with their knowledge and expertise.
“The new building represents our business principles and hits the core pillars of our recently launched strategy. It shows our dedication to innovation, growth, and most importantly, providing our colleagues with a high-quality work environment.”
Lindum will also deliver a warehouse for incoming deliveries attached to the new offices, which will eventually link to a further warehouse facility to be built when the existing offices come down.
Lindum Peterborough MD Darren King said: “It’s great to see this project getting off the ground and marking the start of what will be a large project for a valued client.
“Having worked with DFDS to develop the scheme over the past two years, we have built a good relationship with them which will only be strengthened by this exciting project to help them modernise and expand their business.”
The three-storey building will feature a ground floor reception and facilities, first floor office space and a second-floor open terrace. There will also be solar panels installed on the roof to help reduce the running costs of the building.
Sustainable aircraft firm and City of Doncaster Council agree terms on production site
The City of Doncaster Council and Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd, the sustainable aircraft technology firm, have agreed to locate the production programme for Airlander 10 at Carcroft Common.
Carcroft Common is a 50-hectare site identified by the City of Doncaster Council for development to unlock new economic growth. The freehold for the site will be acquired by Hybrid Air Vehicles under the terms of the agreement.
Hybrid Air Vehicles will now initiate activities leading towards a planning application, working with the local community and other stakeholders as part of the planning and preparation process.
Subject to planning approval, Hybrid Air Vehicles will develop new flagship facilities for Airlander 10’s production, testing, and certification operations, capable of producing up to 24 aircraft per year at the site. It will house cutting-edge aerospace production equipment, such as new assembly lines for Airlander’s composite-based airframe, propulsion systems, and electrical and avionics systems.
Airlander 10 is a new type of ultra-low emissions aircraft capable of carrying 100 passengers, or ten tonnes of payload. The reserved orderbook for Airlander 10 stands in excess of £1bn, with the first aircraft set to enter service from 2028 with the likes of Air Nostrum Group, the launch airline customer.
In partnership with the City of Doncaster Council, Hybrid Air Vehicles will establish Carcroft Common as a hub for advanced manufacturing and sustainable aviation in South Yorkshire, creating over 1,200 new jobs and thriving supply chains. Hybrid Air Vehicles will also work closely with important regional partners like the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, and the Doncaster UTC.
The announcement marks important progress toward the City of Doncaster’s Economic Strategy 2030, and the success of the South Yorkshire Investment Zone, which is focused on advanced manufacturing. The Carcroft Common site is part of the Investment Zone, launched by the Chancellor of Exchequer in July 2023, which aims to improve investment through planning, development, and skills support.
In February 2024, the City of Doncaster Council and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority published ambitious plans for South Yorkshire Airport City, re-opening Doncaster Sheffield Airport alongside a focus on new green advanced manufacturing and sustainable industrial innovation, including Hybrid Air Vehicles investment into Carcroft Common.
The announcement of a production site builds on a previous agreement with the Mayor of Doncaster and the Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard, in March 2023. Underpinned by a £7m investment by the region, this included a commitment to collaborate on skills and supply chain development.
Ros Jones CBE, Mayor of Doncaster, said: “Doncaster already has strong clusters across various sectors such as rail, advanced manufacturing and engineering and I am delighted to soon be able to add this exciting new sector to our industries, to be based at the Carcroft Common Employment site.
“The City of Doncaster is at the forefront of embracing new technology to drive growth and this proposed Hybrid Air Vehicles site is not only part of our ambitious growth strategy but also our pioneering climate change ambitions, focussing on new green advanced manufacturing and sustainable industrial innovation.
“The Heads of Terms agreed are the culmination of years’ worth of lobbying, planning and collaboration that I am incredibly pleased to see coming to fruition. Hybrid Air Vehicles in Doncaster is truly an exciting opportunity, bringing high skilled and well-paid jobs to Doncaster.”
Tom Grundy, CEO of Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd, said: “Airlander 10 will transform what’s possible for sustainable air travel, and Carcroft Common will deliver the flagship production centre we need to do that, creating over 1,200 jobs and a £1bn per annum export.
“Our vision to rethink clean flight has been met with robust support at every step of the way by City of Doncaster Council and South Yorkshire region. We look forward to working closely with the community as we launch our production programme and progress this extraordinary project.”
Preferred operator confirmed for new Leeds Kirkgate Market food village
Plans for a new food village at Leeds Kirkgate Market have taken a significant step forward with the confirmation of a preferred operator for the ‘container-style’ venue.
Leeds City Council invited initial expressions of interest in April last year from private operators keen to develop and run the attraction proposed for part of the market’s outdoor trading area.
Now, following a robust selection process conducted over the course of 10 months, the council has announced STACK as its preferred operator.
STACK specialises in creating sustainable leisure destinations that offer a mix of street food and beverage outlets as well as events and entertainment.
More than 2.5 million people have flocked to STACK Seaburn – constructed from repurposed shipping containers – since it opened on the North East coast in 2020.
Work is now under way on two new STACK venues in Newcastle city centre, one of which will be a ‘fan zone’ next to Newcastle United’s St James’ Park ground.
STACK also has sites at various stages of development in Lincoln, Bishop Auckland, Middlesbrough, Whitley Bay, Durham, Carlisle, Northampton, Manchester, Wigan and Sheffield.
STACK was one of three private operators that submitted formal bids to the council in relation to the Leeds site.
Its selection as the preferred operator was based on both its rental offer and detailed proposals showing how the project would complement the market and generate new custom for existing traders.
The start of any work is subject to the scheme securing the necessary planning and licensing approvals.
The cost of building the food, beverage and entertainment venue would be met by the operator, with rental payments generating a new income stream for the council.
The development would, it is hoped, boost footfall across the whole market site and help attract a new customer base to this historic jewel in the city’s retail crown.
It would also create jobs and deliver increased opportunities for independent traders thanks to a seven-days-a-week operation that would extend into the evenings.
The outdoor market currently has room for a total of 185 stalls, with around 85 of those being filled on its busiest days.
Under plans first announced by the council in late 2022, the number of outdoor pitches would be reduced and the freed-up space used as the location for the new container village.
The reconfigured area would still be able to comfortably accommodate all existing traders – as well as new arrivals – and would also remain one of the largest sites of its kind in the region.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, culture and education, said: “We are delighted to be able to confirm STACK as our preferred operator for what will be, subject to the necessary planning and licensing approvals, a really exciting addition to Leeds Kirkgate Market.
“STACK’s track record and proposals make it an ideal fit for a scheme that would complement other major improvements at the market – improvements that recently helped push monthly visitor numbers past 500,000.
“Our ongoing investment in this important and historic retail destination means it is now well placed to play its part in powering the further regeneration of the eastern side of the city centre.
“The council is also committed to continuing to work with the market’s existing traders to ensure they can reap the maximum benefit from the proposed food village.”
Neill Winch, STACK’s chief executive officer, said: “We at STACK are thrilled to be selected as the preferred operator for the new food village at Leeds Kirkgate Market. Our passion for creating vibrant, community-focused destinations aligns perfectly with the council’s vision for regeneration and cultural enrichment.
“STACK’s approach is all about sustainability and synergy with local businesses. We’re excited to bring our unique blend of street food, beverage offerings and entertainment to Leeds and to integrate with the historic and bustling market environment.
“This opportunity not only allows us to contribute to the city’s dynamic growth but also to create a space where the community and visitors can enjoy a diverse and engaging experience.
“We’re committed to ensuring that the new container village will be a place where both existing and new traders can thrive, enhancing the overall market and ensuring it remains a key attraction in Leeds. We look forward to working closely with the council and local stakeholders to make this vision a reality.”
Recent improvements at the market include an ongoing £10m project to repair, conserve and enhance the 1875 ‘blockshops’, the oldest surviving structures on the site. Phase one of this scheme was completed in August last year, with the second and final stage now under way.
The blockshops work followed the creation of the popular Market Kitchen street food hall and event space as part of a £14m refurbishment.
The council has also secured planning permission for a new hotel and gym on the George Street side of the Grade I listed market building.
Digital compliance leader secures significant investment
SmartSearch, a provider of digital compliance and anti-money laundering (AML) software, has signed an agreement to receive a significant equity investment from Triple Private Equity.
With its investment, Triple will now take a majority share in the Ilkley-based business and will work alongside the existing management to deliver on the company’s next stage of growth, with SmartSearch founders and existing shareholders also retaining a minority in the company.
Founded in 2011, SmartSearch is trusted by more than 7,000 client firms and 60,000 users in a diverse range of regulated markets including legal, accountancy, property and financial services. Its customer base includes over 1,000 property firms, one in two of the top 100 accountancy firms and one in three of the top 200 legal firms.
Guy Harrison, CEO of SmartSearch, said: “Triple are an excellent match for SmartSearch in its ambitious next phase of growth. The business is especially looking forward to calling on their deep expertise in scaling mission critical, B2B risk and compliance software.”
Martin Cheek, co-founder and managing director of SmartSearch, said: “Having founded the business with John Dobson, I am incredibly proud of what we have built at SmartSearch, the world class technology we have developed and the talented team we have created.
“In a little more than a decade, SmartSearch has grown from a Regtech start-up, to a trailblazing technology company that is driving the digital compliance revolution. This major investment from Triple is a true testament to the hard work of our nearly 200-strong team who, alongside Triple, will be instrumental in this next stage of growth.”
Mads Hansen, head of investments and managing & founding partner at Triple, said: “We are pleased to announce Triple Private Equity’s first investment in SmartSearch. SmartSearch is a market leader in GRC in the UK, a key investment space for Triple.
“The company has shown consistent growth and profitability and provides a high-quality software platform for its clients. We look forward to partnering with the SmartSearch team to pursue the Company’s next stage of growth.”
Ben Shepherd, head of value creation and founding partner at Triple, added: “We are excited to partner with SmartSearch, its exceptional team and clients to continue their strong growth and quality products and services.
“Leveraging Triple’s expertise and network, we are confident in our ability to support SmartSearch’s growth opportunity as the leading UK compliance platform.”
SmartSearch were advised on the deal by Rothschild (corporate finance), Squire Patton Boggs (legal), KPMG (financial and tax), Park Place (founders advice) and Liberty (management advice).
Brand activation and creative content production business acquires agency group
Ride Shotgun has acquired Volume Group, an agency group made up of global B2B marketing agency Volume, and people performance and learning and development specialist, Shine.
This strategic acquisition further builds Ride Shotgun’s reputation as one of the fastest growing independent brand activation and creative content production businesses in the UK. Together with Ride Shotgun’s existing expertise in strategy, creative, digital, photography, CGI and video, this further strengthens the agency’s commitment to deliver joined up brand journeys, ensuring a team of experts at every step.
The acquisition brings the Ride Shotgun team to over 200 people, adding offices in Reading, the US and Sri Lanka to the existing portfolio of offices in Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester in the UK, as well as Bulgaria and Portugal. The combined annual turnover will be c.£15m.
Mark Mallinder, CEO of Ride Shotgun, said: “The brilliantly talented teams at Volume and Shine are a welcome addition to Ride Shotgun, bringing with them a wealth of experience in technology driven solutions to client challenges, particularly in the tech sector.
“In addition to the teams’ skills in delivering digital content and immersive experiences in VR and AR for global organisations, we’re delighted to be adding the expertise in People Performance through innovative learning and development solutions.
“In a world of AI, boosting human performance in business will be the differentiator and we’re looking forward to working with our clients to solve their challenges in this area, both now and in the future.”
Chris Sykes, Volume Group CEO, added: “It’s exciting to join the Ride Shotgun team and this is the next evolution for Volume. Our businesses are truly culturally aligned and together we will continue to deliver success for clients by delivering innovative technology driven solutions.”
