New bus station gets go-ahead in Heckmondwike
Plans to build a new bus station in Heckmondwike have been given the green light by West Yorkshire leaders.
The existing “bus hub” in the town centre will be given a major upgrade, with more bus stands and improved facilities for passengers.
The current traffic island will be demolished, with a new bus station building with indoor waiting facilities built in its place.
The project aims to improve journey reliability and times, as well as reduce congestion and improve air quality.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “We want to improve bus services for people in West Yorkshire – so that public transport is reliable enough to make it the first choice for travel.
“This new station is a big step towards that goal and will make it easier to walk, cycle and wheel in the area too.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the project come to life as we build a better-connected region that works for all.”
This £8.6 million project is being delivered in partnership with Kirklees Council.
The new, fully accessible station will also include extra seating, better footways, cycle parking, solar panels, a “green roof” with plants and more green space for people to enjoy. New toilet facilities will be created, including a “Changing Places” room with extra features for people with a range of disabilities.
It will also improve safety by introducing more CCTV cameras and better lighting.
The new station will make it easier for people to use the bus, cycle, wheel or walk in and around Heckmondwike.
Cllr Cathy Scott, Leader of Kirklees Council, said: “As we unveil the new Heckmondwike Bus Station, we embark on a transformative journey that goes beyond bricks and mortar.
“This station is not just a transportation hub; it’s a catalyst for positive change within our community. With an unwavering commitment to sustainability and accessibility, this project is part of plans to regenerate the town centre and is part of our Heckmondwike Blueprint regeneration initiatives.
“Our vision encompasses a future where bus travel becomes a preferred choice, reducing our travel-based carbon footprint and congestion. By enhancing reliability and attractiveness, we invite more residents to embrace sustainable transport, making strides towards our sustainable and inclusive growth ambitions.”
The scheme is being delivered through the Combined Authority’s Transforming Cities Fund programme, which is aimed at making it easier to walk, cycle and use public transport.
Construction work is due to start in January 2024.
East Yorkshire High Street businesses urged to ask for grants
Businesses on High Streets across East Yorkshire are being given an opportunity to enhance their business premises by accessing ‘Love Your High Street’ grant funding.
The Invest East Yorkshire team, which is part of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, can help business owners to access funding to revamp their premises, increase footfall in the town in which they’re located and boost customer engagement. The team is able to help eligible local businesses access grants though the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). Advisers work closely with business owners to help them identify projects that will help their business grow and evolve, as well as identifying any sources of grant funding that may be available to help them cover the costs. Dawn Hall of the Invest East Yorkshire team said: “Whether you’re planning to upgrade your storefront or workspace, or want to attract more customers and boost local foot traffic, our knowledgeable and friendly team is here to help and advise you. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make a meaningful impact on your business and community; give the team a call today to discuss your ideas!” For more information or to discuss your project, contact the Business Support Team on 01482 391622 or email business.support@eastriding.gov.uk.Second business incubation hub opens in Rotherham
A second business incubation hub has officially opened in Rotherham.
Rotherham Council has invested £5.4 million to create 20 new workshops, 16 offices and two laboratories at Century 2 Business Park.
Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, Cllr Denise Lelliott said: “Our investment will create more better paid jobs and increase spending in the local economy as a result.
“We’re building on the existing success story at Manvers by creating a new vibrant workspace where more entrepreneurs and small businesses can get the support they need to grow. These are exciting times for small businesses who can tap into the specialist expertise offered by Rotherham Council.”
Micro and start-up businesses will benefit from the serviced spaces now available at Rotherham Council’s fifth business hub.
The neighbouring Century Business Park has supported over 400 businesses since it was set up 22 years ago.
Century 2 will feature a central reception and lettable conference facilities for large meetings and functions. Externally, the site will include car parking, cycle storage and electric car charging points.
A fabric first approach has been taken towards creating a more sustainable building and renewable heating will be incorporated within the office spaces via air source heat pumps.
The site is located just off the A6195, with links to M1 and A1. It will be managed by the Council’s Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO), which manages similar facilities across the borough.
Esh Construction was appointed to deliver the scheme as design and build contractor on behalf of Rotherham Council.
Esh’s Operations Manager, Andrew Schofield, said: “This development will provide an important facility for local businesses to operate and grow from, therefore we are pleased to celebrate the official opening.
“Throughout our time on site we delivered a number of social value initiatives within the local community, including careers and employability workshops for young people in nearby schools and colleges, site visits for college students, and apprentice training on site.
“We collaborated with the Better Learners Better Workers programme and RNN Group’s Dearne Valley College to deliver tailored, meaningful engagement within the area.”
Action plans to help regenerate towns set to be approved
Proposals have been drawn up for Knottingley, Ferrybridge and Pontefract that will help towards their economic regeneration and a better quality of life for residents.
The new plans build on the existing work that has already been achieved in providing improved leisure facilities, skills, training, and jobs.
Cllr Michael Graham, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Regeneration, said: “The regeneration of these historic towns is important to the district’s future success and for everyone who lives and work in them.
“I’m pleased that we’ve made progress in achieving the goals we set out in 2018, but there is much more still to do and I’m really looking forward to what we can accomplish in the next few years.
“We will continue to work with residents, businesses and partner organisations to do more to support the growth and prosperity of the towns and attract more investment into Knottingley, Ferrybridge and Pontefract.”
Since 2018, 31 projects have been completed in Pontefract and, from 2019, 82 in Knottingley and Ferrybridge.
The completion of most of the targets led the Council to undertake a review, in consultation with local organisations and partners, and decide on other priorities that would transform the towns.
Improving road safety outside primary schools, implementing works to Monkhill station, and supporting the growth of tourism in the towns are just some of the new targets in the new action plans.
£170,000, from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund, has already been allocated to new schemes in the plan for Knottingley and Ferrybridge.
A number of projects will benefit, including upgrading the Great North Road underpass in Ferrybridge and improvements to the play equipment at Simpson Lane on the Warwick estate.
In Pontefract, the Council is working with Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, alongside other organisations including WYCA, Homes England and Historic England, to find a new use for the 19th century Old Dispensary and secure the future of the Hermitage.
Planning guidelines that will shape the built environment in Knottingley and Ferrybridge are also set to be approved, alongside the action plans, by Cabinet members at their next meeting on Tuesday 12 December.
2024 Business Predictions: Steve Adams, CEO, Mattress Online
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Steve Adams, CEO of Mattress Online.
From a retail perspective Google local search will continue to be an important tool for businesses – making sure the page is updated and correct is key – and having reviews feeding in to elevate local visibility. It’s essentially free exposure, and I see brands making the most of that in 2024.
Along with that, I predict that we will see more hybrid retailing in the coming year, primarily online businesses coming offline and taking steps to invest back into the highstreet through bricks and mortar roll-outs.
For e-Commerce I think we’ll see AI and PMAX almost running online paid visibility by the end of 2024 and working to maximise content for Google’s EEAT policy (Enterprise, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness). The two need to work in harmony, so I see teams placing focus and capacity on those elements of their strategy, as it will be crucial for online businesses to get both right.
Administrators sell Hull firms as a going concern, saving 70 jobs
The business and assets of modular building construction Module-AR have been acquired out of administration, safeguarding more than 70 jobs. The £30 million turnover firm and its assets have been sold to a third party as a going concern.
Dean Watson and Paul Stanley of Begbies Traynor were appointed as Joint Administrators of the Hull-based company alongside Rikki Burton of Anderson Brookes at the end of October, after which they ran a marketing campaign and negotiations with various parties.
Dean Watson, partner at Begbies Traynor, said: “We are pleased to have completed a going concern sale of the business, which safeguards the jobs of a loyal and skilled workforce. These are particularly challenging economic times for everyone in the construction sector but this acquisition saves jobs and enables operations to continue. We have been assisted by Rob Turner of Brabners and Paul Pilling of Hilco Valuation Services with the transaction.”
11-storey apartment scheme tops out in Leeds
Contractor Clegg Construction has held a topping out ceremony at an 11-storey apartment complex being built for property developer Rise Homes in Leeds.
Spinners Yard is a 185-apartment, U-shaped, build-to-rent scheme in Regent Street in the Mabgate area of Leeds City Centre.
It is the second build-to-rent project Clegg Construction has undertaken in partnership with Rise Homes and follows the recent completion of The Ironworks – a £28.7m, 11-storey apartment development in Sheffield.
Featuring a mix of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, Spinners Yard is due to be completed in 2025.
Clegg Construction operations director, Darren Chapman, said: “We are very pleased to have reached the key topping out stage for this development. This will allow us to continue adding the external walls and glazing up the building, followed by the internal fit-out.
“Spinners Yard is regenerating brownfield land and will breathe new life into the area, providing a desirable residential development with a range of properties to rent.”
The ground floor of Spinners Yard will incorporate a plant room, enclosed parking for cars, motor bikes and cycles to one half with the other containing the entrance lobby and reception, the centre management office, a lounge, break out and work spaces, and a gym. Two staircases/lift areas provide access to upper residential floors. The first floor will incorporate a residents’ garden space with another spacious roof garden on the tenth floor.
Once completed, the development will feed into the Leeds PIPES District Heat Network.
Nigel Rawlings, CEO of Rise Homes, added: “We are delighted with Clegg’s progress at Spinner’s Yard and we are very much looking forward to the completion of this sustainable development linked to the Leeds City energy from waste plant offering high-quality, spacious apartments at both affordable and market rents featuring many other environmental benefits.”
During construction work on the Spinners Yard site, Clegg Construction has been hosting groups of Leeds College of Building Trade and Management students, aged 16 to 19, to provide them with valuable insight into the sector. The students have also been visiting the site next door, where Clegg Construction is building The Fabric Works, a 402-bed student accommodation scheme.
In addition, Clegg Construction is sponsoring a local Army Reserve (formerly the Territorial Army) squadron in Leeds by providing T-shirts worn as part of the uniform and during physical training, and is currently collecting food, toiletries and other items for the Blessed of the Father Food Bank, part of Leeds Food Aid Network, at its Spinners Yard and The Fabric Works sites.
Galliford Try lands contract for work at the home of the Red Arrows
Galliford Try has won contracts to create new and refurbished infrastructure for the Red Arrows at their new home of RAF Waddington near Lincoln.
The contracts also include work to build or refurbish facilities at three other RAF stations. The Red Arrows moved to RAF Waddington in October last year. New facilities are now required for the team and their distinctive red Hawk fast jets.
Jon Marston, MD of Galliford Try Building East Midlands, said: “We are delighted to be signing these contracts and look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the MOD to successfully deliver these projects for the RAF and defence. The project team are set to deliver a combination of refurbishments, new build facilities and single living accommodation across the sites.”
The project is part of the MOD’s wider Defence Estate Optimisation Portfolio, which is investing £5.1bn in the infrastructure needed by service people through construction activity, unit and personnel moves, and the release of sites that are no longer suited to the needs of our modern military.
Air Officer Airbases, Air Commodore Portlock welcomed senior leaders from DEO, Defence Infrastructure Organisation and representatives from Galliford Try to RAF Waddington. They signed four contracts to deliver a project which spans RAF Leeming, RAF Saxton Wold, both RAF Boulmer sites and Waddington.
He said: “This significant milestone marks an exciting transition into the much-awaited design and build phase of the project. Providing this essential infrastructure will enable the RAF to make best use of its estate, whilst also delivering our capabilities which are critical to defence.
“Earlier this year, multiple contractors from the construction industry were awarded packages of work across the DEO Portfolio in a landmark move to speed up project delivery. The move will also provide a more collaborative way of working, and a consistent approach to sustainable building practices.”
Director of Major Projects and Programmes for DIO, Charles Hoskins said: “Our first DEO project for Air Command under the new contracting mechanism is embarking on a journey to turn vision into reality. Today we sign the design and build contracts and look forward to collaborating with Galiford Try to deliver all capabilities within this project.
These contracts, which have enabled the disposal of RAF Scampton, will now see Galliford Try design and deliver the required infrastructure for Battlespace Management Force’s Deployable Air Surveillance and Control System, the Mobile Meteorological Unit,and the Red Arrows.”
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Rule change will give more small firms support in energy disputes
More than 200,000 businesses in disputes with their energy supplier could for the first time get access to specialist support under new Government plans.
Under new proposals, companies with up to 50 employees would qualify for support from the Energy Ombudsman – with issues ranging from disputes over bills and energy supply, to how an energy product or service has been sold, or wider customer service issues – support until now available only to businesses of up to 10 employees.
Making this move will enable these companies to settle disputes with their energy supplier without facing costly court fees – ultimately saving them money.
It follows a survey conducted by regulator Ofgem, which found that 94% of the total respondents, which included businesses organisations, consumer groups, and suppliers, said they would welcome this move.
Minister for Energy Consumers and Affordability Amanda Solloway said: “This government has always stood by businesses, and we want to ensure they are getting proper support and service in dealing with energy suppliers.
“That’s why we’re proposing expanding the reach of the Energy Ombudsman to cover an extra 200,000 businesses, allowing them to access free, impartial advice and resolve issues with their supplier without the need for an expensive trip to court.”
Nuclear submarine crew signs bond of friendship with Sheffield Forgemasters
Commander David ‘Bing’ Crosby and crew members of the UK submarine HMS Agamemnon have signed a Bond of Friendship with Sheffield Forgemasters which will see both parties work together to promote joint aims and share news of the submarine’s progress.
HMS Agamemnon is the UK’s newest of seven Astute Class nuclear submarines, scheduled to launch at enterprise partner BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness next year. The submarine’s friendship agreement with Sheffield Forgemasters recognises our continuing importance within the Royal Navy supply chain and in the delivery of these extremely complex and highly capable machines.
Commanding Officer, David ‘Bing’ Crosby, Captain of HMS Agamemnon, said: “It was a privilege to tour the Sheffield Forgemasters site and to see at first hand the incredible work that the company delivers on behalf of the UK’s defence programme.
“We are reliant on the impeccable safety requirements and high-end product quality that our suppliers must meet to ensure that our vessels can head out to sea safely, often for considerable periods, as we work to provide support to the Country’s Continual at Sea Nuclear Deterrent, a submarine-delivered National endeavour.
“This Bond of Friendship means that we will always be linked with this great Sheffield company. We will share news of each other’s progress and collaborate on various events when we are back in dock.”
HMS Agamemnon has strong Yorkshire connections with its formal affiliation to the City of Wakefield, supporting many regional Mayoral events, and is also affiliated with the Yorkshire University Royal Navy Unit, based in Leeds.
Sheffield Wednesday fan Bing, and many members of his crew, also live in or come from Sheffield and the Yorkshire region, making football derbies a hot topic of conversation onboard!
Richard Bell, Sales and Business Development Director said: “It is a great honour to have signed The Bond of Friendship with HMS Agamemnon and its crew and we look forward to learning much more about the team and their lives at the forefront of our defence strategy.”
The Astute Class submarines are nuclear-powered vessels and capable of spending almost limitless time at sea, restricted only by food rations. These highly capable boats, with a crew of around 120 men and women, produce their own drinking water and oxygen.
