Delivery solutions provider swoops for 15 Tuffnells sites
DX, the provider of delivery solutions, including parcel freight, secure courier, and logistics services, has reached agreement over 15 UK sites that were previously operated by Tuffnells Parcels Express Limited, the Sheffield business placed into administration on 12 June.
DX has signed an agreement with Interpath Advisory, the administrator of Tuffnells, for an initial licence-to-occupy 13 former Tuffnells sites and agreed terms to purchase for £1 million cash the freehold of a further site. The initial licences are a precursor to entering into direct lease agreements. The company has also agreed terms directly with a landlord for a long lease over a fifteenth site.
DX has hired over 250 former employees of Tuffnells since the administrator was appointed.
The company has also engaged with former customers of Tuffnells to provide continuity in delivery solutions and, so far, has taken on over 550 customers on mutually agreeable commercial terms.
These developments provide a significant opportunity for both the group’s divisions, DX Freight and DX Express.
Paul Ibbetson, Chief Executive Officer of DX (Group) plc, said: “We are very pleased to have reached agreement over 15 former Tuffnells sites, including the outright purchase of a freehold site. This exciting development gives us significant additional capacity and will enable us to accelerate growth while also driving further operational efficiencies and maintaining our high service levels, which is critically important.
“We have already taken on a significant number of former Tuffnells employees and look forward to providing further employment opportunities.”
Insurance group makes tenth acquisition of 2023
Leeds-headquartered JMG Group is marking its tenth acquisition this year as it completes a deal with Cheshire-based Blackfriars Group.
Blackfriars Group employs 20 people at offices in Sandbach and Gibraltar and specialises in liability and business insurance for small to medium-sized businesses across the UK. Steven Lewis, director of the £7m premium business, says it will be ‘business as usual’ for the firm, the team and their clients as the business embarks on its next phase of growth as a JMG Group company.
“One of the many benefits of joining the JMG Group is that the majority of the administration, business management and compliance functions will be centralised, which will free up more of my time to focus on clients and supporting the team here to develop their roles and careers with us,” he says.
“For anyone dealing with us, it will be business as usual. The company will continue to trade as Blackfriars, clients will deal with the same people in our team, and we will continue to specialise in liability and business insurance for businesses UK-wide.
“We wanted to ensure the business would be in the best hands moving forward, and I can safely say that my experience of the JMG Group has left me in no doubt that we are doing exactly that. I’m looking forward to working more closely with the JMG team to continue growing our business.”
JMG Group CEO, Nick Houghton says: “I’m delighted to welcome Steven and his team to the group, and we look forward to supporting them as they continue to build on the company’s success. Having them on board further strengthens our presence in the North West, and the team’s track record of generating online leads will add another dimension to business development within the group.”
Sheffield Hallam reveals Health Innovation Campus vision
Sheffield Hallam University has launched new plans for a Health Innovation Campus based at the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, announced at the Northern Powerhouse Education, Employment and Skills Summit (NPEESS).
The Sheffield Hallam Health Innovation Campus builds on the University’s existing presence at the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park and will support the University’s ambitions to explore investment and partnerships for future development opportunities, including:
- An Advanced Health and Care Skills Centre: Meeting the challenge of creating a modern health and care workforce with cutting edge training facilities and expertise
- A Nursery of the Future: A national and global beacon for advanced ideas, technologies and best practice in early childhood education, family support and health, including a community-based research and teaching nursery
- Sheffield Hallam Health Acceleration Programme (SHAPe): A holistic business accelerator proposition which offers pre-revenue, start-up and SME accelerator activity and expertise to participating companies
Simple customs declarations top trade priorities for Government as majority of small firms outsource paperwork to intermediaries
A majority of small international traders do not have the dedicated manpower required to handle complex customs paperwork and need to turn to high-cost intermediaries, according to new research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
FSB’s Customs Clearance report finds that the smaller the businesses, the less likely they are to have in-house resources for customs and trade – only 9% of small firms have a dedicated staff member or team. Of these firms, four in ten (38%) have more than 50 employees.
Seven in ten (71%) small exporters and importers say they use an intermediary for at least some of the process of handling customs declarations, compared to just a quarter (24%) that handle the entire process in-house.
Fast parcel operator (60%) is the most widely used type of intermediary by small international traders, followed by freight forwarder (50%) and customs agents/broker (26%).
As businesses are adjusting to the new UK-EU trade relationship, small international traders say they have been asked to pay fees attributed to post-Brexit paperwork, but in many cases there is a lack of clarity from intermediaries on what exactly these extra costs are for.
A third of respondents cite high intermediary fees as a challenge for overseas trade.
Despite facing higher costs, many small businesses say they will continue to rely on intermediates to export and import. Four in ten (39%) explain this is because they do not have the expertise required to handle customs declarations, while over half (57%) say footing the extra bill would free up their time for other tasks.
FSB sets out a list of recommendations to bring down the costs and barriers of international trade in the report, including:
- Building a small business-friendly Single Trade Window, an online portal delivering a ‘once and done’ approach to Government data collection.
- Targeting business support towards those with high export potential, and those in sectors that say they find a lack of guidance particularly difficult.
- Monitor potential anti-competitive behaviour resulting from supply chain disruption via the Competition and Markets Authority Five Eyes working group.
- Adopting a ‘think small first’ approach to customs policy development, including robust piloting and staggered implementation timelines. Government should also commit to raising the de minimis customs duty threshold to £1,000.
Government climate targets must be backed by specific policy, says Drax CEO
The Drax Group has welcomes the Climate Change Committee’s recommendation that if Government wants to deliver on its climate targets it must deliver specific policy which supports the development of carbon removals projects in this country.
And the call became even more focussed because Drax is continuing the decommissioning of its two remaining coal units at Drax Power Station, which won’t be available to generate power this winter after almost 50 years of keeping on the UK lights.
This confirmation follows a recent request by National Grid ESO to explore the possibility of extending coal generation at Drax Power Station but concluded that due to a combination of technical, maintenance and staffing reasons, the extension of coal over this winter was not possible.
Group CEO, Will Gardiner, said: “The CCC’s report is welcome as it is a holistic view of the scale of the challenge facing us all in reaching Net Zero, as well as acknowledging the vital role that carbon removals technologies like BECCS will play in getting us there. We support its recommendation that faster progress is needed to reach the UK’s ambitious carbon removals targets.
“With the right support from the UK Government, we plan to invest billions into delivering BECCS at our power station in Yorkshire. Our formal discussions with the UK Government on BECCS deployment and parallel discussions about a ‘bridging mechanism’ to support the transition to BECCS have been productive and we are looking forward to continuing these in the coming months.
“We also await the publication of the UK Government’s biomass strategy, which we hope will reinforce the critical role that BECCS will play in energy security and decarbonisation, as well as timelines for the deployment of initial BECCS projects in the UK.”
Business Growth Programme creates 35 new West Yorkshire jobs
Thirteen Keighley and Shipley businesses have benefited from Keighley & Shipley Towns Fund Business Growth Programme funding, allowing them to expand and create 35 new full-time jobs.
Since the scheme was launched in the last quarter of 2022, ten businesses in Keighley have received more than £180,000 between them, and just under £50,000 has been awarded to three businesses based in Shipley.
Funding has been spent on a wide-range of projects such as expanding and modernising premises, as well as replacing older equipment with more efficient, up-to-date systems.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “It’s so positive to see how this funding is already translating into growth for the businesses who have received it so far and the welcome creation of new jobs for the area.
“It is a huge boost for the economies of Keighley and Shipley in an increasingly difficult economic climate. I hope other business will take advantage of the opportunity.”
Chair of Shipley Towns Fund, Adam Clerkin, said: “These grants are providing businesses with a catalyst to invest and grow. Shipley has a thriving business community and it is fantastic to see businesses benefit from the support. I would encourage local businesses planning capital investment to contact the team to see how they can help.”
Ian Hayfield, Chair of Keighley Towns Fund, said: “We are delighted to have made such a significant difference to these local businesses in a relatively short space of time. The funding will have an impact for years to come and the successful growth of our business community will help drive real social and economic change for the whole area.”
Grants from £1,500 to £315,000 are still available for businesses within – or looking to move to – the Keighley and Shipley Towns Fund Areas, and other businesses are invited to apply. The funding is available for start-ups, small, medium-sized and large businesses and can be used to either expand, increase productivity, create a new business, safeguard existing jobs and create new ones. The funding is available up to March 2026 or earlier if it is spent prior to that date. Further information: https://www.investinbradford.com/business-support/keighley-and-shipley-towns-fund/
Bringing it home: Regenerated Cole Brothers building stays in the family
Regeneration company Urban Splash has been selected as the preferred bidder for Sheffield’s former Cole Brothers building – and they’ll work with an architect with a close personal connection to the iconic structure, because his father designed the original.
He’s Simon Allford, co-founder of AHMM Architects, and the son of David Allford, who designed the building sixty years ago. Simon said: “My connections with Sheffield, and this building, run deep and far back. My family is from the city, my father was born there, and we both studied architecture at the University of Sheffield. I am looking forward to working in the city to help the client team reinvent this Sheffield icon, which was designed over sixty years ago by a son of Sheffield, my father David Allford!
“The refurbishment of the Grade 2 Listed Cole Brothers building is perhaps the key project in the ongoing reinvigoration of the Sheffield city centre. We have worked with the Urban Splash team for many years and we look forward to collaborating with both them and the City of Sheffield.”
The Urban Splash vision is to transform the building into a mixed-use space with substantial areas of the building reopening for the public, with the ground floor filled with retail, food and drink and the upper floors providing flexible workspace for Sheffield’s growing business base.
The plans will see Barker’s Pool and Cambridge Street entrances opened up to allow for outdoor on-street dining areas, similar to the popular seating introduced on Division Street. The lower ground floors will be used for leisure purposes; the upper ones as workspaces, studio spaces, a gym and rooftop offices together with a publicly accessible pocket park at the top of the former car park.
The developers plan to keep the existing car park structure but with fewer parking spaces for use by the tenants of the building only.
Mark Latham, Regeneration Director at Urban Splash, said: “We know how important this building is to so many Sheffielders and look forward to sharing and developing our ideas for its future together with the city.
“This scheme bears all of the hallmarks of an Urban Splash project; from Park Hill, to similar urban and civic listed buildings in cities all across England, our portfolio is filled with award-winning schemes that have been transformed through working with an original building, keeping the best of the old , while adding new design ideas and new life.
“We will adopt a similar approach in our plans for Cole Brothers – engaging with local people as we immerse ourselves in the heritage and emotional connections many have here. There’s a lot of hard work ahead, but we are excited to get started as we take on another Sheffield icon.”
Cultural Heart development in Huddersfield to move into delivery phase
Kirklees Council’s Cabinet have approved the next stage of funding for its flagship development, Our Cultural Heart, as it moves toward the delivery phase.
Planning was approved for Our Cultural Heart – the centrepiece of Kirklees Council’s ten-year Huddersfield Blueprint vision – earlier this year and work to fine-tune the design has been progressing since then.
On 27 June, cabinet agreed to release a further £5.6m from the project’s allotted funds to trigger the finalisation of a robust delivery programme.
Plans for Our Cultural Heart will see the refurbishment of the former Queensgate Market and Huddersfield Library buildings to house a vibrant food hall and a modern museum and gallery respectively. These new offers will sit alongside a new community-focused library, live entertainment venue and a 350-space car park – all of which will be connected by a series of world-class public spaces.
In addition to approving contract extensions for the project’s architects, engineers and project managers, cabinet gave the green light to the proposed phased delivery programme plus the appointment of BAM Construction Ltd as the lead construction contractor for phase one.
Phase one of the works will concentrate on the major refurbishment of the historic Queensgate Market site, which will be transformed into a new food hall and modern library along with a brand-new outdoor public square. There will be various site surveys and preparation works completed throughout 2023, with work getting underway in earnest early in 2024.
The first phase of the scheme is expected to complete in the winter 2025.
Plans for future phases of the development were also considered by cabinet including the proposal to bring the museum and art gallery under one roof in the Grade II Listed building that formerly housed the town’s library.
This move allows for the new building being developed on Queen Street, which was originally earmarked for the art gallery, to have another complementary use. The council is currently in early discussions with The Conway Education Trust, set up by Greenhead College, about the potential for a dedicated Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) facility.
Councillor Shabir Pandor, leader of Kirklees Council, said: “In times of financial challenge, like the ones we are facing now, it is vital that we don’t lose sight of the investment that will safeguard our economy in the future.
“Our Cultural Heart is testament to our commitment to bringing a prosperous new era to Kirklees along with vital community services like the library, museum and gallery that will all be free to visit.
“I look forward to seeing this important regeneration project come to life and see the positive effect it will have on Huddersfield town centre for generations to come.”
Councillor Graham Turner, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “I’m thrilled that we have been able to update cabinet on the significant progress we’ve made on the Our Cultural Heart project and that we now have all the resources in place to enable us to carry the project forward to construction next year.
“Our Cultural Heart is going to deliver multiple long-term benefits for Huddersfield and the wider borough. It will increase the number of visitors to our town centre, safeguard key heritage assets, create new job opportunities, enhance our green credentials and act a catalyst for further investment and economic growth.
“These are exciting times for Huddersfield town centre. The impact of our ten-year Blueprint vision is really starting to be felt and we were also delighted to see refurbishment plans for the George Hotel unanimously approved by the Planning Committee recently.”
Paul Cleminson, BAM’s project director for Our Cultural Heart, added: “This is an exciting scheme for Huddersfield and its wider regeneration. As a resident of Kirklees, I hope that this will be another vital piece of the plan, to attract people back to the town centre.
“The chance to build something special for the town brings with it an obligation, as a responsible business, to use this opportunity to add value to the local economy and community.
“For BAM, it will allow us to build on the work we are doing at Huddersfield Station and the new Daphne Steele Building for the University, where we are working to leave a positive community legacy, as well as delivering outstanding new buildings and infrastructure.”
Sheffield Hallam University city campus development tops out
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has joined Sheffield Hallam University and partners to celebrate the ‘topping out’ of the University’s new city centre campus development.
The topping out ceremony, which took place yesterday (Tuesday 27 June), marks the milestone of reaching the highest point in the construction of the multi-million-pound development on Howard Street. The first phase of the development is due to be completed in Spring 2024.
The mayor was invited to visit the construction site alongside the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Chris Husbands, design and construction partners BAM, CBRE and BDP Arup, as well as and Sheffield Hallam students and apprentices currently on placement with construction partners BAM and CBRE.
The first phase of the campus plan will deliver state-of-the-art facilities for students and staff, as well as enhancing a major gateway to Sheffield City Centre and creating a vibrant site for the wider community to share.
Three new net-zero ready buildings will be set around Hallam Green, a new green public space at the heart of the campus.
The buildings will provide a new home for the Sheffield Business School; the College of Social Sciences and Arts including SHU Law, the University’s not-for-profit teaching law firm, and a South Yorkshire Institute of Technology site as well as providing several food outlets and social spaces.
Hallam Green will provide more than 400 square meters of new greenery and spaces for up to 150 people to sit and relax. The University has invested significantly in biodiversity as part of the development with green roofs and roof terraces, and green corridors, an integral part of the plans.
Designs include the latest technology and measures to make the new buildings zero carbon ready. They include the use of sustainable energy solutions such as heat pumps, maximising the use of photo voltaic panels and provisions to support and promote sustainable travel.
Sheffield Hallam University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Chris Husbands, said: “Delivering this first phase of the campus plan represents a significant investment in our University and our city, and we’re proud to have reached this milestone in the construction.
“This development is one of the pledges in Sheffield Hallam’s Civic University Agreement and we are committed to delivering outstanding facilities for the university community, modelling zero carbon ready construction, and to working with local partners to ensure that we maximise the benefits for Sheffield and the wider region.”
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “I’m delighted to see the development of Sheffield Hallam University’s new city centre campus, which is a significant investment not just in the future of its students but into South Yorkshire itself.
“The facilities being created for Hallam’s next generation of student’s are genuinely state-of-the-art, offering first class teaching facilities and doing it in a way that’s carbon neutral. This is yet more evidence of South Yorkshire’s ambition and drive to build a new future; a future I’m proud to be working with Sheffield Hallam University to help create.”
Campus plans are being developed by a number of key partners as part of collaborative ‘Hallam Alliance’. The first of its kind in the UK for a university building programme, the Alliance involves all design, construction and facilities management partners working collaboratively with the client through all stages of design, construction and operation.
Members of the Alliance include Sheffield Hallam University, BDP ARUP (Design), BAM (Construction) and CBRE (Facilities Management).
Paul Cleminson, Preconstruction Director at BAM, said: “The topping out ceremony at Sheffield Hallam is an exciting step towards the completion of these three highly sustainable buildings, which will form a stunning new gateway to Sheffield city centre.
“We are delighted to be delivering the development as part of the Hallam Alliance, a delivery model in which collaboration delivers efficiencies, standardisation and long-term value, and an inspiration for change in the construction industry.”
Sue Emms, principal and north region chair at BDP, said: “As part of the Hallam Alliance, we are edging close to the realisation of a place that promotes civic engagement in innovative, sustainable, and inspiring buildings. The new campus will foster collaboration, creativity, a shared sense of belonging, and will work to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century.
“The social impact of this new development will be transformational for Sheffield. It creates a new gateway to the city, and it is already bringing staff, academics, students, local businesses, partners, and communities closer together. It highlights the importance of Sheffield Hallam University as a leading institution in the region and we look forward to celebrating the next milestone as the campus opens in 2024.”
Stage set for Halifax theatre improvements
Plans to improve the facilities and visitor experience at the Victoria Theatre in Halifax are moving forward, with planning approval granted and a contractor for the works due to be appointed this autumn.
The Victoria Theatre is an impressive Grade II listed building in Halifax town centre, and one of the top events venues in the region. Funding from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund is set to enhance the experience for those visiting and ensure that more people can enjoy all that the theatre has to offer.
Plans for the theatre include a new box office on Commercial Street, with independent opening hours. The current box office and part of the foyer area would become a new café/bar which will provide new food and drink opportunities and could hold small performances.
Access improvements are also included in plans, with a new lift taking visitors to the Green Room Bar for the first time in the venue’s history and two new accessible toilets being installed. This would vastly improve the visitor experience for those with access requirements.
Planning approval, including listed building consent, for the project was granted earlier this year and now the process of appointing a contractor to carry out the works is underway. Following this appointment, it’s estimated that work will start in mid-October.
Throughout the works, the theatre will be open as normal, with performances unaffected. However, the building will look different while the work is taking place and some facilities may be temporarily disrupted.
The work will be complete by summer 2024, in time for celebrations for the borough’s Year of Culture, with the theatre due to play a key part in the planned major events programme recognising the importance of culture to the local economy and communities.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Towns, Tourism and Voluntary Sector, Cllr Sarah Courtney, said: “Revitalising the stunning Victoria Theatre is a key part of the £11.7 million Future High Streets work.
“This is an exciting time for Halifax, with the fund also supporting other projects in the town, including contributions to completed works at Northgate House, ongoing improvements at Halifax Borough Market and the planned creation of new welcoming spaces and better connections between existing attractions around the town.
“The Future High Street projects also complement further works in Halifax, including the new bus station and other improvements to the transport network. The wider plans ensure that the town continues to be a thriving place for people to live, work and visit, with good connections and improved access to our wonderful attractions.”
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, Cllr Jenny Lynn, said: “The Victoria Theatre has proudly stood in Halifax for over 120 years, delighting its audiences and over its long history hosting some of the biggest names in entertainment.
“The planned works, using Future High Streets funding, will support improvements to transform the foyer and box office area, creating new and improved facilities, including enhanced accessibility and new food and drink options.
“The works have been carefully designed to ensure that we retain the wonderful heritage features of the iconic Grade II listed building. The fantastic programme of events planned at the theatre during the works will go ahead as normal and work will be complete for celebrations as part of the planned Year of Culture in Calderdale in 2024.”
