px Group’s Saltend Chemicals Park, in Hull, has been selected as the site for the build of a Green Hydrogen facility and an investment of between £180m and £240m by Meld Energy, the green hydrogen industrial developer.
Meld Energy is an international hydrogen development company and is working with the global energy management company, World Fuel Services Corporation, to develop green hydrogen supply chains. World Kinect Sustainability Ventures, a subsidiary of the publicly listed US Fortune 500 company, acquired a 50% stake in Meld in late 2022.
Meld is currently bidding for development support from the UK’s Net Zero Hydrogen Fund. Should the bid win government backing, FEED (Front End Engineering Design) is expected to begin in November 2023 and would run concurrently with planning application processes. Building would commence less than a year later with a target operation in 2026.
The facility would be the UK’s largest green hydrogen production facility (if built today), with an initial installed capacity of 100MW and the potential to increase its capacity to over 200MW in a second development stage.
The green hydrogen would be produced at the facility using electrolysis, which involves using electricity to split water into its constituent elements: hydrogen and oxygen. Through using renewable electricity for this process, the hydrogen produced would be “green” hydrogen, as compared to grey and blue hydrogen, which is more carbon-intensive. Meld would utilise PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) with renewable energy suppliers.
The hydrogen produced by Meld would be used to provide energy on-site at Saltend, helping to switch over from more carbon-intensive fuels and chemical feedstock to emissions-free green hydrogen. The Humber is the UK’s most carbon-intensive region.
The UK Government considers hydrogen to be a vital component in the UK energy transition and its journey to Net Zero. Hydrogen has the potential for use in a variety of applications, from powering transport and industry to energy storage, with its only emission being water or steam when consumed.
Geoff Holmes, CEO of px Group, says: “Meld Energy’s decision to invest at Saltend Chemicals Park proves once again that Saltend is the go-to location for industrial decarbonisation and the UK energy transition.
“Meld’s plans are on a scale that will make a significant impact on domestic decarbonisation – it is a project that the government should find impossible to ignore. We have a host of world-class industrial companies on site at Saltend and this potential major investment shows once again the strength of the Saltend offering.”
Chris Smith, CEO & founder of Meld Energy, says: “Saltend Chemicals Park is the perfect site for our green hydrogen facility. Saltend has a rich knowledge of decarbonisation projects and, importantly, has future users of the hydrogen to be produced already in place.
“This project can be online within three years and would deliver an immediate reduction in emissions once production commences. The facility will have the potential to double its production as demand for hydrogen increases in the future to meet Net Zero targets.”
Pure Block Management takes on estate management for Immingham housing development
Hull-based property firm Pure Block Management has won a contract to provide estate management services for a new housing development near Immingham in North East Lincolnshire.
The company, which is part of property specialist Garness Group, has taken on the management of the open spaces on the Peter Ward Homes Lindofen View development on the outskirts of the village of Habrough.
Under the contract it will maintain the site’s large, landscaped tree belt as well as four lagoons created to manage water drainage and reduce the risk of flooding.
It will also provide company secretarial duties for the development, which, when complete, will be made up of over 130 three, four and five-bedroom homes.
Pure Block Management director Liam Parker said: “We’re very pleased to add this popular housing development to the portfolio of properties we manage.
“Most of our clients are based in Hull and East Yorkshire so this contract is important for us not just because we are working with one of the best-known housebuilders in the region, but also because it represents our expansion south of the Humber.
“The contract also reflects the breadth of the services we provide to developers, who can rely on us to take care of any aspect of property or estate management on their behalf.”
Edward’s pill dispenser idea wins £5,000 development prize
University of Lincoln student Edward Pitts-Drake has won £5,000 to support development of his idea for an automatic pill dispenser.
The first-year paramedic science student won the money in a Dragons’ Den style competition run by the University’s Student Enterprise service.
Inspired by his grandma who has dementia and struggles to remember to take her medication at the correct dose and timing and Edward’s business, Pills 365 Ltd, designed, manufactured and programmed a machine to help with this.
Edward’s invention could be used in a range of clinical settings, including care homes, hospitals, as well as domestically. The design holds several weeks’ worth of tablets and is equipped with an alarm to alert the patient to their next timed dose. Should they forget to take their pills, the motion sensor will detect nearby movement and re-sound the alarm reminder. Additionally, there is the option to send an email alert to a designated person.
To prevent medication being tampered with, the device can only be accessed with specific tools. It also houses an internal battery which will switch on in the event of a power cut and is equipped with an internal 4G Wi-Fi modem.
Edward said: “The Swans’ Den competition presented me with a unique and challenging competition to win funding as part of a business grant through Student Enterprise and the University of Lincoln Student’s Union. The competition has guided me in business planning and challenged my decision making to create a robust business plan that will allow my design to succeed for many years to come.
“Pill Dispenser v3 is in the prototype stage and built on the successes of version two, it will be the next level of automated medication dispensing management, as well as being an extremely easy device and ecosystem for the device user and carers. The funding has enabled me to speed up the process of prototyping and testing, which will allow the product to come to market in a shorter timeframe than I’d previously planned.”
European retail leader calls for fairness for front line workers
Debbie Robinson, the Central Co-op CEO and European Vice President of Euro Co-ops, has rejected talk of “levelling up” and said what the north needs is to get its fair share back, as well as fairness for front line workers.
She said: “When I hear that the Bank of England is worried that an increase in the minimum wage is going to impact inflation it’s just ridiculous, so the pay thing is crucial. It’s got to be significantly higher than where it is today.”
Debbie was speaking at the latest in the series of Elevenses interviews, launched by Paul Sewell at the 2021 edition of Humber Business Week. During the interview, which is available to watch in full on the Humber Business Week website, Burnley-born Debbie demonstrated how her career decisions have been influenced by her childhood and her role as a mother and grandmother.
She also underlined the values of fairness which inspired the Co-op even before its formal launch in 1863 and which are still at the heart of an organisation employing over 7,500 people across 21 counties.
She said: “I think people are a bit fed up at the moment. When you’ve got your nurses and your doctors and your rail strikes going on it’s a strong indication that people have had enough.
“Something I really believe in is pay and entry-level workers, and we just need to pay people a bit more money to help them through. Central Co-op is trying to lead the way on finding ways that we can improve the terms and conditions for all of our colleagues.
“You should be able to earn the money to buy your own food. I don’t think anybody down the food chain should be supplementing it for anybody else. If somebody isn’t being paid enough to put food on your table how are they going to be able to afford food? Surely people deserve to earn enough money to be able to buy their own food, heat their own homes and have a decent life? Make work pay!”
Debbie added that she sees young people as particularly hard hit by the cost of living crisis. “The idea behind the Co-op was that people were working really, really hard and they couldn’t get by. Does it sound familiar? Here we are in 2023. Working was not enough to pay for your food and your housing.
“My heart bleeds for young people. It might have been difficult in terms of unemployment in the 70s and the 80s, and it really was, but the challenges now are absolutely immense.”
Debbie also demanded fair treatment for workers from their customers, revealing that her biggest fear is for the welfare of her team.
She said: “Now times are really hard financially and the levels of abuse that people are facing in that environment are really shocking. I think of what people have to face every single day. Everybody has a right to go to work and return home safely.”
Engineering consultancy prepares for further growth following management buy-in
Leeds engineering consultancy, RWO is preparing for further growth and expansion following a management buy-in.
Current directors Alex Erskine and Reece Kesson have each taken a 25% stake in the holding company of the RWO Group as part of an undisclosed deal. Founder and current Managing Director Ross Oakley retains a 50% stake in the business.
Alex will look to build on his position as group director for civils while Reece will continue to develop his role as group director for structures.
Both will have responsibility for each of their disciplines within the business as part of an overall strategic plan to take the business forward and drive growth in national construction, building, infrastructure, leisure, healthcare and residential sectors.
The move also ties the business closer together, facilitating greater collaboration and improved client service across the civils, structures and its geotechnical departments which form the core services RWO provide.
Managing Director Ross Oakley said: “I believe the future is extremely positive for the company and we look forward to developing further the range and quality of the services we offer and supporting our clients as they too invest in developing their operations despite the challenging times.
“We have in place a growth strategy for the business and several strategic partnerships, which will help progress the business further and bring even greater opportunities. I’m already extremely proud of what RWO has become and look forward to us achieving even more success in the future.”
Bradford mermaid washes up on Yorkshire beach to highlight plastic waste issue
The Yorkshire-based co-founder of social enterprise Be The Future has ‘washed up’ on the shores of Runswick Bay as a reclaimed waste mermaid, to highlight the sheer amount of plastic waste in the sea for World Ocean Day.
Helen Hill from Bradford created her costume, weighing in at 6kg and four metres long, using hundreds of plastic bottles, a broken tent, broken toys and other waste products. She says 42 such costumes would be needed to reflect the amount of plastic that’s tipped into the sea every second.
Be The Future is set to crowdfund to raise £18,000 to help launch ‘EDUtainment’ kits aimed at young children to engage them on the topic of climate change. The “EDUtainers” are about to launch a crowdfund to raise £18,000 to help them launch new ‘EDUtainment’ kits combining learning with fun activities. Featuring a new book, game and activity pack aimed at young kids (age 4 to 7) bursting with hope, wit and playful action to engage them on the topic of climate change.It comes as a survey of 2,000 people in the UK by Be The Future shows over a third of parents (37%) would love to teach their kids more about climate change if they had the right tools or ideas. Two in five parents (42%) said they aim to teach their kids as much as they can about climate change and a similar number (38%) said they’re not worried about sharing the realities of it with their children – even if it might scare them.
Helen Hill said: “As David Attenborough famously said, “what happens next is up to every one of us” – but crucially this doesn’t have to be a scary fact. Our collective fear, anger and paralysis won’t turn this climate beast around – nurturing a reaction of active hope rather than despair is the only way forward. Our reclaimed waste mermaid tails symbolise the fact that one of the best ways to engage and teach kids about climate change is through play.
“The new Little Mermaid film has been released by Disney – and with UNESCO saying that by 2050, plastic will likely outweigh all fish in the sea, it’s the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about the sheer amount of plastic pollution in the sea for World Ocean Day.”
Government pledges £7m to support internet connectivity for businesses in rural areas
The new fund aims to bring together satellite, wireless and fixed line connectivity to help farmers and businesses take advantage of the latest agricultural technologies on offer by improving the connectivity on farm.
This is in addition to a number of government pledges to boost rural digital connectivity announced within the last year, which included an £8 million grant scheme to offer internet connectivity by satellite to the most remote homes of the country, and ‘Project Gigabit’, the government’s flagship £5 billion programme to improve internet speeds in rural areas.
The new plans were formally announced at the Future Countryside Conference by Defra Secretary of State, Thérèse Coffey.
The new announcement comes off the back of the NFU’s campaigning for better digital infrastructure in rural areas. The NFU’s recent Digital Technology Survey highlighted that more than a fifth of members believe their broadband speeds are a barrier to their further use of digital technology.
Over a third of members also said that if their business had faster broadband speeds, they would use this to improve their speed, efficiency, and frequency of business tasks.
The new announcement means that there is more opportunity for businesses in remote areas to make use of new technologies for agriculture and tourism that may require internet connectivity on farm.
NFU Vice President David Exwood said: “We have been campaigning for further investment in the country’s rural digital technology infrastructure for some time, so we welcome the government’s £7 million funding package which will help make farming businesses more productive and efficient.
“The NFU’s recent Digital Technology Survey revealed fewer than half of our members have broadband speeds adequate for their business needs. Fibre is often too expensive for farm businesses to install and the rollout is not happening fast enough.
“The government’s commitment to invest in alternative broadband solutions will be vital to enable farmers and growers to access good broadband speeds, regardless of where they live.
“With UK food security high on the political agenda, there is an urgent need to produce more of what we do well here. That means providing our farming businesses with the tools they require like decent broadband to enable them to meet their huge potential in producing food for the nation, helping tackle climate change and deliver on our net-zero ambitions.”
University of Bradford gears up to launch first-ever management summit
Some of the UK’s leading business minds will help launch the University of Bradford’s first ever MBA Management & Leadership Summit starting on Friday June 16th.
Nicola Thompson, ex-CEO of MADE.com, who has also worked with fashion brand ASOS, will join alumni Ian Adams, a director with NHS Resolution, and Paul Donovan, Chair of Eku Energy Group & action.ai, to launch the summit.
The summit will be hosted by the University of Bradford’s School of Management, as it ventures into a year celebrating 25 years of the Distance Learning MBA, as well as the School’s 60th Anniversary.
Professor Amir Sharif, Dean of the Faculty of Management, Law & Social Sciences, said: “This is a very exciting time for the School of Management, as we venture into a year celebrating 25 years of the Distance Learning MBA, as well as the School’s 60th anniversary.
“We are pleased to offer alumni from the MBA programme an opportunity to join us in our home city of Bradford, for our first Management and Leadership Summit. This is a great opportunity for our global MBA peers, alumni, and Bradford academics, and to take advantage of a free programme of talks and activities. MSc and DBA alumni would also benefit from attending.”
Throughout the summit, speakers and guests will explore a range of activities relating to the latest developments in leadership and management.
Businesses warned about using rogue business rate agents
The Valuation Office Agency is urging businesses to protect themselves from rogue business rates agents who’ve started to operate since new rateable values for business properties came into effect in April 2023.
Councils used these new values to calculate business rates bills, but businesses can challenge their valuation if they think it’s incorrect. They can use a rating agent do this.
Alan Colston, Chief Valuer at the VOA, said: “Be cautious of anyone who guarantees they can secure big business rates reductions. The vast majority of agents are reputable and provide a good service. But there is a small minority promising big reductions in business rates, based on incorrect information.
“These rogue agents often charge substantial fees for providing poor quality submissions using our online Check and Challenge service, which is free to use.
“We strongly advise businesses do their own research and explore different options before appointing an agent. Make sure you choose your own agent – don’t let an agent choose you.
“And remember, you can manage your business rates yourself by creating a Business Rates Valuation Account on GOV.UK.”
The VOA offers a checklist to help businesses intending to use an agent:
- Anyone can call themselves an agent, but this does not mean they are a member of a professional body. Check an agent’s background before signing a contract.
- If an agent is a member of the Rating Surveyor’s Association (RSA), Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), or Institute of Revenues, Rating, Valuation (IRRV), they must follow rating agent standards. This provides business owners with extra reassurance.
- Check the length of a contract before signing. Rogue agents have been known to tie business owners into costly, long-term agreements.
- Make sure you read the small print and fully understand the services you are paying for. Legitimate agents should not pressure you into signing a contract, or demand large sums of money up front.
- Familiarise yourself with the VOA’s Check service and create a Business Rates Valuation Account to manage your property and view correspondence between the VOA and your agent.
- It is your responsibility to ensure the information your agent provides to the VOA is correct.
British Steel secures four-year contract to supply Belgian rail network
British Steel’s Scunthorpe-based rail business has signed a four-year contract with Belgian railway infrastructure manager Infrabel to supply 40,000 tonnes of rail in various profiles for the maintenance and renewal of track across the Belgian rail network.
Jérôme Bonef, British Steel’s Export Sales Manager, Rail, said: “Deliveries are scheduled to start this month, and we look forward to working in partnership with Infrabel over the next four years.
“We operate in a highly competitive market so it’s extremely pleasing that Infrabel has selected us to supply rail for the Belgian network once more. It’s a great endorsement of our proven technical record, ability to develop products to meet demand, superb logistics solution and excellent delivery performance – securing another contract with a national network operator is a source of enormous pride.”
The 100-metre-long rails will be manufactured at British Steel’s Rail and Section Mill in Scunthorpe, before making their way by rail to Infrabel’s welding facility in Belgium.
Today’s announcement comes a short time after British Steel announced it had secured a contract to supply the Guinea Bauxite Company with 244,000 steel sleepers – its largest ever order for rail sleepers.
Jérôme said: “By working in partnership with our customers we can offer superb value for money by reducing the need for costly and time-consuming maintenance and replacement works. The less disruption to a network, the greater the flow of traffic – major benefits felt by passengers and freight operators.
“We look forward to continuing to work together collaboratively with Infrabel as we deliver high-quality products into this partnership.”
