Lease renewal secures 11 jobs and paves the way for £500k refurb project
Sheffield Kitchen Outlet’s Hillsborough Trade Point showroom is to undergo a £500,000 refurb in the wake of agreement on a new ten-year lease on the property.
The renewal of the lease on the property, handled by Sheffield property law specialist Mason Thomas Law, has also secured 11 jobs at the site, home of the family-owned business since 2013.
Stuart Hattersley, Operations Manager of SKO said: “Our site at Hillsborough Trade Point is a very important location for us. We have been trading here for more than 10 years and it has been instrumental in growing the business.
“Thanks to the determination of Mason Thomas Law and our surveyors, SMC Brownill Vickers, we were able to secure a further 10 years on the lease on fair terms. This has enabled us to invest significantly in the site and secure the jobs of everyone based there.
“We’re very proud to be a Sheffield business and also to be a member of Made In Sheffield, which recognises the quality and Yorkshire pride of the products that we manufacture. The lease renewal secures our future in the city,” added Stuart.
Cathy Thomas of Mason Thomas Law said: “It was a particularly tricky lease renewal, but we are all delighted with the outcome, particularly as it has secured jobs and SKO’s presence in Sheffield for many more years.”
The 47,350 sq. Hillsborough Trade Point multi-let trade counter business park is owned by Hepp Logistics.
H2H Saltend project gets planning permission from East Riding Council
The H2H decarbonisation project at Saltend has been given planning permission by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, strengthening its case in forthcoming Government competitions.
Equinor’s H2H Saltend is a 600-megawatt low carbon hydrogen production plant with carbon capture, one of the first of its kind and scale to be granted planning permission in the UK, helping to establish the Humber as an international hub for low carbon hydrogen whilst significantly reducing carbon emissions. The decision comes as the project prepares for a potential application into the Government’s forthcoming ‘Cluster Sequencing Track-1 Expansion’ process, is expected to launch this year to select decarbonisation projects in both the Humber and Teesside that can connect to the East Coast Cluster’s carbon capture transport and storage infrastructure by around 2030. Due to be operational around the end of the decade and sited at the energy intensive Saltend Chemicals Park, to the east of Hull, H2H Saltend will help to reduce the park’s emissions by up to a third. To achieve this, low carbon hydrogen will be used in chemical processes by both Saltend-based and other nearby companies, as well as directly replacing natural gas in several industrial facilities reducing the carbon intensity of their products. The project also forms part of Equinor’s ‘Hydrogen to Humber’ ambition to deliver 1.8 gigawatts of low carbon hydrogen production within the region, nearly 20% of the UK’s national 2030 target. These proposals seek to develop a hydrogen transport and storage hub network linking key sites primarily on the north bank of the Humber including Saltend, Easington and the Aldbrough Storage facility, via dedicated hydrogen pipelines. The H2H Saltend planning application was submitted to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council in July 2023. There have been three public consultation events in East Yorkshire and Hull since 2021 to present the project throughout the planning process, in addition to regular dialogues with local authority and parish councillors. No objections to the application were raised by any statutory body. The UK Government is expected to launch the Track-1 Expansion competition from 2024. It is the next step of the Cluster Sequencing process, following selection of the East Coast Cluster as a Track-1 Cluster and subsequent selection of a first phase projects in March 2023, when Humber projects were unsuccessful. Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Lord Callanan said: “CCUS clusters will be the starting point for a new industry in the UK, which is why we’ve committed up to £20 billion in early support and expect to bring forward 4GW of low carbon hydrogen production by 2030.” Derek Ho, H2H Saltend Project Director, said: “Receiving planning permission for this key project could help to kick-start multiple decarbonisation initiatives in the Humber, a vital region with a long-standing history for Equinor. It is an important first step in creating a low carbon hydrogen economy and achieving net zero in the Humber, safeguarding local industries and creating greater opportunities including new jobs and skills, whilst helping the UK to tackle climate change. “This decision comes at a very opportune moment, as we await the launch of the Government’s next phase of the Cluster Sequencing process for the Humber, and it puts H2H Saltend in a strong position, should we submit a bid.”Government names more than 500 companies who’ve paid below minimum wage
A number of employers in our region are amongst a list of more than 500 employers named by the government for failing to pay the minimum wage.
The 524 employers were found to have failed to pay their workers nearly £16 million in a clear breach of the National Minimum Wage law, leaving more than 172,000 workers out of pocket.
Employers being named today include Sheffield’s Tuffnells Parcels Express which went into administration last June, 2 Sisters Food Group from Wakefield, Morrisons Produce Ltd from Bradford, Cranswicj Country Foods from Hessle, and other major high street brands, in a clear message from government that no employers are exempt from paying their workers the statutory minimum wage.
The businesses have since paid back what they owe to their staff, and have also faced financial penalties of up to 200% of their underpayment. The investigations by HMRC concluded between 2015 and 2023.
Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business Kevin Hollinrake said: “Employees deserve to get paid properly for the hard work they put in.
“While the majority of businesses already do the right thing and pay their staff what they are owed, today’s announcement sends a message to the minority who aren’t – that there are repercussions to undercutting hard work from their staff.
“Not all minimum wage underpayments are intentional, but the government has been clear that anyone entitled to be paid the minimum wage should receive it, and that enforcement action will be taken against employers who do not pay their staff correctly.” Independent Commissioner at the Low Pay Commission, Patricia Rice, said: “Since its introduction nearly twenty-five years ago, the national minimum wage has played a vital role in protecting the earnings of the lowest-paid workers in the UK. At a time when the cost-of-living is rising, it is more important than ever that these workers receive the pay to which they are entitled.“NMW underpayment not only cheats workers of their rightful due, it leaves compliant firms undercut by those who do not abide by the law. By naming the firms responsible for significant underpayment, we raise awareness of the nature and the scale of underpayment and encourage all employers to ensure that they fully comply with the law.”
University of York launches £45m institute focusing on safety of autonomous systems
The University of York has launched the Institute for Safe Autonomy, a ‘living lab’ that provides research and development space for autonomous systems operating on the ground, underwater and in the air.
The £45 million facility, the first UK research Institute to focus on the safety of autonomous systems, combines a range of experimental laboratories in robotics, advanced communications and quantum communications.
It aims to provide research that demonstrates how to minimise the risks associated with these technologies, while exploring their potential to deliver impactful solutions for the benefit of society, the economy and the planet.
The building will be officially opened by Dr Ruth Boumphrey, Chief Executive of Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a keystone funding partner aligned to the Assuring Autonomy International Programme, which aims to provide industry, regulators and researchers with guidance in assuring and regulating robotics and autonomous systems.
Professor Miles Elsden, Director of the Institute for Safe Autonomy, said: “Safety assurance is key to underpinning public trust in these new technologies and is one of the key barriers to the take-up of Autonomous Technology, such as AI, in many sectors.
“To do this right we need to consider a whole range of ethical, legal, regulatory and legislative dimensions as well as risk management and harm minimisation, which are the very areas we are focusing on here at the Institute for Safe Autonomy.
“These technologies are already a big part of our daily lives, whether it’s part of your mobile phone, Smart TV, or vacuum cleaner, and yet there is a significant number of people that are wary of their development, and we have to ask why that is and how we can address those concerns by evidencing how safe they are for everyday use.”
The purpose-built facility provides collaborative work and test spaces for more than 100 researchers across a variety of disciplines, including Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Law, Management and Philosophy.
Its safety experts work in partnership with academia, industry, government and civil society to research safe, ethical, real-world applications for autonomous systems.
Researchers at the Institute are working on a range of projects, including how robots might be safely integrated into triage procedures in emergency hospital departments; how robots can be used in social care for basic domestic tasks; the safety assurances of beyond-line-of-sight drone use, and the security of long-range underwater quantum communications.
The Institute is also home to a new £1.5m solar farm project, which aims to enable the Institute to become energy self-sufficient by 2025, generating approximately 170 MWh of power annually.
Funded through the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF) and constructed by Siemens, the solar farm will enhance the Institute’s research capabilities to develop and use autonomous robots and drones to independently inspect and maintain solar arrays.
The Institute will provide work space for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from both the UK and internationally, operating in the field of autonomous systems.
Witham Group ball raises £8,000 for four charities
Witham Group, a lubricant manufacturer with its head office in Lincoln, has raised £8,000 for four charities during its annual charity ball.
The event, held in January at the Hilton Double Tree Hotel, brought together team members, customers, and suppliers in a collective effort to make a positive impact.
“We are thrilled to announce that our annual charity event was a tremendous success,” said Nigel R Bottom, Witham Group MD. “This achievement is a testament to the generosity and dedication of our team members, partners, and supporters who have wholeheartedly contributed to these fantastic charities.”
The £8,000 raised has been equally distributed among the following four charities: Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, Teenage Cancer Trust, Help For Heroes, and Lincolnshire Rural Support Network.
Witham Group has been fundraising for charities and supporting local communities for many years, and this latest event brings the total raised to £130,000.
Investment supports data protection specialist’s expansion
Investment from Finance Yorkshire is supporting a company specialising in data protection to grow its portfolio of clients.
ProvePrivacy, based in Bradford, is a secure, digital platform designed for data protection and information governance professionals to manage data protection compliance in their organisations.
A £74,200 investment from Finance Yorkshire’s business loans fund has enabled the business to drive marketing to gain more public and private sector clients. The investment is also supporting further development of the platform.
ProvePrivacy founder Mark Roebuck developed the platform after a career in data protection consultancy, leading large scale organisational data-led projects for blue-chip clients. It was clear during this time that there was a need for a solution to help organisations manage and monitor data protection compliance.
The introduction of GDPR led Mark to concentrate on his expertise in data protection and how organisations assess and minimise risks in the use of personal data.
Mark said: “My work in advising on GDPR led to the creation of the ProvePrivacy platform – I was working with organisations who were improving their systems to cope with GDPR and the risks associated with it.
“The platform supports organisations in the management of data as well as assessment to identify and minimise risks and demonstrate compliance, removing the need for a multitude of spreadsheets and allowing data champions of all skill levels to complete the necessary information.”
Mark carried out a proof of concept at Bradford City Football Club where he was previously an associate director. The platform was developed through the Covid 19 pandemic and launched 18 months ago.
Mark added: “I have been focussed on developing the product and now is the time to drive our marketing and build up our work particularly in the private sector. Finance Yorkshire’s investment enables us to do this while at the same time continuing to develop and enhance the platform’s features and functionality in line with data protection requirements and user needs.”
Alex McWhirter, chief executive of Finance Yorkshire, said: “Mark has brought his wealth of experience in the field of data protection to develop an intuitive product which responds to the needs of organisations where the use and governance of personal data is paramount. We are pleased to support him in the development of his innovative platform and the growth of the business.”
Luxury homeware retailer expands at iPort
Verdion has leased a further unit at iPort to a luxury homeware retailer.
Dusk has taken iP2f, a total of 174,381 sq ft including a 169,317 sq ft warehouse plus offices and welfare space, for immediate occupation. It took the adjacent 119,060 sq ft iP2g facility in April 2021.
Jamie Young, development surveyor at Verdion, said: “Dusk’s decision to increase its space at iPort is great news. Creating a logistics hub where occupiers can easily expand as their businesses grow has been part of our vision from the start and our asset and facilities management teams work closely with tenants to understand their requirements.
“This is the third company based here that has taken further space. At the same time, we remain focussed on bringing new names to Doncaster, with immediate opportunities and build to suit capacity.”
Gent Visick, CBRE and Colliers are the retained leasing agents for iPort. Blacks Solicitors advised Dusk.
Agilio Software secures strategic growth investment
Agilio Software, a Sheffield-headquartered frontline healthcare operations software provider, has secured strategic growth investment from Five Arrows, the alternative assets arm of Rothschild & Co., and TA Associates, a global private equity firm, to support the next phase of the company’s expansion plans.
Founded in 2019, Agilio offers a suite of products that help healthcare professionals automate and optimise critical operational functions, such as workforce management, compliance and clinical assets tracking.
“In the four years since our inception, with support from founding investor August Equity, we have realised our vision of introducing professional, integrated solutions into frontline healthcare settings,” said Dr. Sati Sian, Agilio Chairman. “We are now ready to scale up further and are delighted to welcome two world-class investors in the form of Five Arrows and TA to support us on the next stage of our journey.”
“Our user-friendly, integrated systems are helping thousands of under-pressure frontline healthcare providers work more efficiently every day,” added Neil Laycock, Agilio CEO. “This partnership with Five Arrows and TA will help us deliver new products and services for our core UK and Netherlands markets as we continue to expand into new customer sectors. We also plan to expand into multiple new countries where we believe there is strong demand for our solutions.”
TA and Five Arrows’ investment will support Agilio to bolster product development and innovation, expand into new verticals beyond primary care, dental and veterinary, and accelerate international growth, following its first expansion into Europe with an acquisition in the Netherlands in 2022.
“We have tracked Agilio for several years and have been deeply impressed by the company’s journey thus far. Through several strategic acquisitions and a continued commitment to innovation, Agilio has built a market-leading software platform that improves patient care and meets the evolving needs of healthcare providers,” said Naveen Wadhera, Managing Director at TA.
“Agilio is well-positioned to further strengthen its suite of solutions and expand its geographic footprint. We are delighted to support the company on the next chapter of its growth as it looks to further enhance its user experience,” added Kunal Pandit, Managing Director at Five Arrows.
“The leadership team at Agilio has done a fantastic job in growing the business into the UK’s leading healthcare operations software provider,” said Mike Biddulph, Partner at August Equity. “It has been a privilege to support them on their initial journey and achieve such strong and dynamic growth. We are confident that the business will continue to thrive under the stewardship of Five Arrows and TA.”
New Leeds home for professional services organisation
EY has chosen Wellington Place as its new Leeds home. The global professional services organisation will take over 25,300 sq ft in 12 Wellington Place.
The move signifies the firm’s continued investment in its growing Yorkshire business following record UK revenues in 2023. It now employs over 480 people including 39 partners, and also welcomed 34 graduates and apprentices to the Leeds office in September 2023 as part of the firm’s student recruitment programme.
EY’s new office at 12 Wellington Place will provide a modern workspace with more areas for both in-person collaboration and independent working, in support of the firm’s approach to hybrid working.
EY’s move signals that a total of 228,986 sq ft of office space in 11 & 12 Wellington Place is now fully let just 12 months after the building completed in February last year. Lettings included Lloyds Banking Group, who took 124,400 sq ft of space, and marked the largest occupier deal to be completed across all of the major UK regional cities last year.
Plans lodged to transform Goole’s historic Market Hall
Plans have been lodged seeking approval to transform Goole’s historic Market Hall into a food, drink and events venue.
One of the eight strategic projects allocated a share of Goole’s Town Deal funding, the refurbishment of the Market Hall is seen as an ‘anchor’ project that will significantly increase footfall and spend in the town centre.
It’s hoped that it can also become a central part of what’s considered to be Goole’s ‘cultural quarter’ by collaborating with Junction Goole and Goole Museum.
As well a resident food and drink offering, the refurbished Market Hall would also provide flexible space for local creative and craft businesses and host events of both a commercial and community nature. A boxing event held there recently was just one example of the many different types of activities that the venue could host in the future.
Subject to planning permission being granted, a third party operator will be appointed to run the site and manage the resident operators, as well as any pop-up stalls and events.
The reinvention of the Market Hall has been made possible by a Goole Town Deal grant funding award of £3.6 million, some of which has already been spent on work aimed at making the building usable in the short-term. This involved repairing the leaking roof, levelling the floor and upgrading the electrics.
