Work completes on new SEN learning centre in Leeds
Henry Boot Construction has completed work on a new £9m Special Education Needs (SEN) learning centre on Buckingham Road in Headingley.
Located in the Ford House building on Buckingham Road, the venue is to be known as Headingley Learning Centre and is the third SEN campus of West Oaks School.
Established in 1977, the Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ SEN school also has campuses located in Woodhouse and Boston Spa and delivers accessible learning environments for 500 pupils aged between 2 and 19.
Having started the project back in November 2021, Henry Boot Construction completed phase one of the work in time for the start of the school year in September, before completing the final phase of work earlier this month.
Purchased by Leeds City Council in 2020, Ford House is an 1850s Grade II Listed manor house set within leafy grounds. Leeds City Council partnered with West Oaks School and Henry Boot Construction to complete the necessary work to transform the facility into a contemporary SEN campus – significantly furthering the SEN provision in the city.
The modernisation of the 2,800 sq m building, which included new heating systems and insulation throughout, had to be carefully balanced with the restoration of the building’s attractive heritage features.
All lime plastered walls, roof tiles, woodwork, sash windows, staircases and ceiling cornicing had to be reviewed and then carefully repaired or replaced – utilising the exact materials and construction methodology defined in the Listed status.
The building’s two striking tower turrets, located approximately 50 metres from ground level, had to be removed via crane lift and then refurbished and recoated off-site by a specialist heritage contractor.
The new campus is now home to around 120 West Oaks pupils, who have access to the very latest therapeutic and training services. The new facility includes high-quality classrooms, curriculum-focused outside play areas, a multi-use games area, interactive activity zones and exhibition space.
A ‘morning mile’ activity path was also created around the site perimeter, providing an important outdoor walking and running track for the pupils.
Andrew Hodkinson, principal of West Oaks School, said: “We strive for excellence. We are proud to be an outstanding Leeds-based SEN provider and are excited by our new campus in Headingley. We are looking forward to the academic year ahead and integrating with the local community over the coming months and years.
“Headingley Learning Centre is an exceptional facility. I would like to thank all the teams involved in supporting us with the challenging project. Due to this further expansion, West Oaks in now one of the largest SEN schools in Europe, with 500 pupils and 240 staff across our three sites.”
Henry Boot Construction director, Craig Finn, said: “We are delighted to have successfully handed over Headingley Learning Centre to West Oaks School. Given the tight programme, it was a real team effort to get the campus in a position to welcome students for the new school year.
“All our projects are rewarding and contribute to the communities in which they are located. However, working on a development that delivers such valuable support to young people in Yorkshire is something that the team is incredibly proud of.”
Yorkshire-based Henry Boot Construction and West Oaks School worked closely with Leeds Local Education Partnership to deliver this project.
Self-employed get two-year reprieve over switch to Making Tax Digital
Self-employed individuals and landlords will have more time to prepare for HMRC’s switch to Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment, following a government announcement that its introduction won’t happen until April 2026, rather than April 2024.
From April 2026, self-employed individuals and landlords with an income of more than £50,000 will have a mandatory duty to keep digital records and provide quarterly updates on their income and expenditure to HMRC through MTD-compatible software. Those with an income of between £30,000 and £50,000 will need to do this from April 2027. Most customers will be able to join voluntarily beforehand meaning they can eliminate common errors and save time managing their tax affairs.
The government has also announced a review into the needs of smaller businesses, and particularly those under the £30,000 income threshold. The review will consider how MTD for ITSA can be shaped to meet the needs of these smaller businesses and the best way for them to fulfil their Income Tax obligations. It will also inform the approach for any further roll out of MTD for ITSA after April 2027.
Mandation of MTD for ITSA will not be extended to general partnerships in 2025 as previously announced. The government remains committed to introducing MTD for ITSA to partnerships in line with its vision set out in the Tax Administration Strategy.
Louth and Horncastle MP Victoria Atkins, who’s also Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said: “It is right to take the time to work together to maximise the benefits of Making Tax Digital for small businesses by implementing the change gradually. It is important to ensure this works for everyone: taxpayers, tax agents, software developers, as well as HMRC.
“Smaller businesses in particular should be able to experience the benefits of increased digitalisation of Income Tax in a way which meets their needs. That is why we are also today announcing a review to establish the best way to achieve this.”
Jim Harra, Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary, HM Revenue and Customs, said: “HMRC remains committed to the delivery of Making Tax Digital as a critical part of our strategy for digitalising and modernising the tax system, but we want to make sure we get this right and deliver it effectively.
“A phased approach to mandating MTD for Income Tax will allow us to work together with our partners to make sure that our self-employed and landlord customers can make the most of the opportunities this will bring.”
Sheffield councillors aim to improve highway contractor’s resurfacing schedule
Sheffield City Council wants to improve the schedule of resurfacing being delivered by its highways contractor, Amey.
IN a report they’re due to present today, highway officers will present a report to the Waste and Street Scene Policy Committee outlining shortfalls and delays to some areas of Amey’s resurfacing and drainage schedule, which is part of the wider PFI Streets Ahead contract.
In recent years, the programme has been impacted severely by Covid 19, but the council now want Amey to do more to ensure they are meeting targets and delivering for the people of Sheffield.
Councillor Joe Otten, Chair of the Waste & Street Scene Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council said: “Since 2012, when the Streets Ahead contract started, Amey have delivered an enormous amount of resurfacing across the city, which has not only made our roads and pavements safer, but also helped to reduce journey times and attract inward investment for Sheffield.
“The condition of our roads is incredibly important and, disappointedly, there are areas where Amey have not delivered on schedule or to the standards that are outlined in the contract.
“Where they are not meeting requirements, we will work through these issues with them, robustly, to ensure improvements are made.
“This is a huge PFI Highways maintenance contract, the biggest of its kind in the UK, and we need to ensure that, throughout the entire term of the contract, Amey are delivering what they promised, within the agreed timescales.
“There’s already been promising progress in terms of reducing the surfacing works backlog and getting the highway network to a state which is contract compliant. Importantly, both the council and Amey remain fully committed to working together on the improvement plan and delivering the high standards set out in the contract.”
Improvements are already being actioned by Amey and council officers, working in the Highway Maintenance service, will now focus on tracking the delivery of the improvement plan before a performance update is given in six months.
Simultaneously, a new street scene and waste customer charter, outlining what level of service customers should expect, will be published on the council’s website in the new year. The charter will summarise how the two services promise to work with its customers along with providing insights into operational activities across the different areas of work.
Andy Denman, Highways Service Director at Amey, said: “Since the Streets Ahead contract started 10 years ago, we have delivered a significant amount of resurfacing across Sheffield, making improvements to roads and footpaths that have led to the Sheffield network being recognised amongst the highest standard in the country. This is due to the initial capital investment as well as the ongoing extensive maintenance regime.
“Despite the significant quantity of resurfacing, our ‘whole streets approach’ has resulted in increased levels of defects on untreated roads and footpaths. In agreement with Sheffield City Council, we have developed a robust improvement plan to ensure that this position is rectified quickly. We have already made significant progress addressing over 80% of the road and footpath defects, with the remaining to be addressed by the end of March 2023.
“The PFI Highways maintenance contract is complex but we are confident and determined, that by working together with Sheffield City Council, we will deliver to the high standards expected.”
Since the beginning of the Streets Ahead contract, Amey have resurfaced over 920 miles of road, 1,800 miles of pavement and cleaned around 50,000 gullies across Sheffield.
In addition, Amey continues to support community projects in all areas of the city, working with school, voluntary and environmental groups to improve the overall street scene.
Beverley MP signs landmark agreement over energy co-operation
The UK’s Minister for Energy and Climate Graham Stuart has signed a landmark MoU on renewable energy cooperation with EU and North Seas countries.
The Memorandum of Understanding with the North Seas Energy Cooperation means the UK to work with NSEC members to develop renewables projects in the North Sea – specifically projects linking electricity interconnectors and windfarms. The countries involved include Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and the European Commission, signalling a new phase in UK-EU cooperation.
The MoU sets out the terms for future cooperation between the UK and NSEC and enables closer cooperation in the development of offshore renewable energy, including offshore grids in the North Seas.
The initiative is expected to support the UK’s ambitious targets to increase offshore wind fivefold to 50GW, and deliver 18GW of electricity interconnector capacity – up from 8.4 GW today – by 2030.
Mr Stuart, who’s also the MP for Beverley and Holderness, said: I’m pleased to agree even greater energy co-operation with our North Seas neighbours, which will be vital in helping the UK meet it ambitious renewables target, including increasing offshore wind fivefold to 50GW by 2030.
“The development of renewables in the North Seas is critical for accelerating our clean transition and boosting energy security for the UK and our European neighbours.
“The UK currently sends and receives electricity through cables that link us with neighbours like France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The agreement bolsters the mission to facilitate further interconnection.” Analysis by National Grid Electricity System Operator shows that a well-integrated grid linked to offshore wind farms can deliver savings to consumers of up to around £3 billion.Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber names Chief Executive’s successor
Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce has announced Carrie Sudbury as successor to Chief Executive Andrew Denniff, as part of the organisation’s future plans.
Carrie’s appointment was confirmed by Chamber directors at a recent board meeting, following a competitive and rigorous recruitment process. She will take up her new role next year, ensuring a smooth transitional period, ahead of the planned retirement of outgoing CEO Andrew Denniff, in June.
In her new role, Carrie will be responsible for representing the interests of more than 1,100 members based within South Yorkshire, helping to ensure the voice of local businesses are heard, as well as collaborating with Board Members, Council Representatives, and regional strategic partners to help build and strengthen the local business economy.
Carrie is no stranger to the influence of the Chamber in South Yorkshire. Since joining the member-led organisation in 2013, she has worked as an integral part of the Chamber’s team, and overseen Chamber Skills Solutions, which provides specialist training to businesses. More recently, she has helped local businesses to prepare for Brexit and supported local companies to navigate their way through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Carrie will become just the third Chief Executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber and the first woman in the role, following the merger between the two town Chambers in 2007.
Reflecting on her appointment, Carrie Sudbury said: “Chambers of Commerce are imperative in representing, supporting, and helping businesses to overcome the challenges they face. Being appointed as Chief Executive is an incredible honour, and I am looking forward to building on the success Andrew has delivered, by helping Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber to play a vital role in developing a strong local economy.
“Over the next few months, Andrew and I will work together closely to provide a smooth transition period ahead of his well-deserved retirement next year.”
Matthew Stephens, president of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, said: “On behalf of all our members, I would like to wish Carrie every success in her new role. Carrie is no stranger to the local business community, and under her leadership the Chamber will go from strength to strength, continuing the significant results Andrew has delivered over the past 12 years.
“More recently, our Chamber has recorded some of the highest levels of membership retention in the UK, as well as continuing to grow as an organisation. This is due to the hard work of both Andrew and Carrie, and under Carrie’s leadership the Chamber will continue in its mission to provide support and representation to the local business community and help make both Barnsley and Rotherham great places to do business.”
WANdisco signs $31m agreement with global telecommunications supplier
WANdisco, the data activation platform with its UK HQ in Sheffield, has signed an agreement worth $31m with a second tier 1 global telecommunications supplier. Half of the $31m will be paid in advance following the commencement of the project.
The telecommunications sector is a key strategic target market for the company as it supports a number of industry verticals with their own Internet of Things (IoT) use cases. In this case, the client is one of the largest global service suppliers of IoT applications. Initial use cases are expected to include smart meter, automotive, manufacturing and natural gas related data.
WANdisco was chosen as the preferred provider because of its ability to migrate data at scale without requiring any system downtime, along with its capacity to automatically migrate data changes as they occur, ensuring data consistency.
David Richards, CEO and chairman of WANdisco, said: “This is the second tier 1 global telecommunications company to choose WANdisco’s solutions this year, underpinning our unique ability to seamlessly and securely migrate large scale data from edge platforms to the cloud. This contract represents a record initial agreement for our business, with the potential for this value to grow further as we have seen with other customers.
“The IoT use case of moving data from edge platforms to the cloud, is continuing to drive a significant pipeline of opportunities for our business. Companies across multiple industry verticals face significant challenges in successfully executing this data movement and unlocking the full capabilities of the cloud. Our unique solutions and proven experience in the IoT market make us well placed to continue winning market share and supporting global clients in these use cases.
“Following this agreement, bookings for FY22 are now expected to be significantly ahead of market expectations.”
Advanced automation and robotics specialists join AMRC
Advanced automation and robotics specialists, Loop Technology has become a member of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), following collaborations on a number of key automation technology projects.
Loop Technology specialises in state-of-the-art industrial automation technology and undertakes projects aimed at high-value manufacturing sectors including aerospace, automotive and renewable energy, aligning with the AMRC’s key strategic focus research areas.
Over the past six years, Loop Technology has worked with the AMRC on various research and development (R&D) programmes, including advanced automation projects for the aerospace industry and most recently, robotic ‘Distributed Automatic Cutting System’ – or DACS as it is known – to develop novel automation technology for the construction industry.
Gary Ottley, business development manager at Loop Technology, said: “We see the AMRC as a very proactive and capable organisation. In this formalised relationship, we are keen to develop an open working environment between our engineering teams to benefit us both.
“We look forward to supporting them with our experience in technology implementation, and working collaboratively with the AMRC and fellow members in the future.”
Loop Technology has joined as a Tier 2 member at the AMRC, which is part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult network of research centres. The new partnership allows Loop Technology to participate in, and obtain the results of all generic research projects, as well as being represented on the AMRC’s industrial board.
Ben Morgan, research director for the AMRC, said: “Robotics and automation are critical technologies that will help the UK solve its productivity challenges. Loop Technology is at the forefront of the UK response to that challenge, specifically in the high value sectors such as aerospace.
“The AMRC and Loop Technology have a strong history of working well together and I am thrilled that through this partnership, it will create even more opportunities to collaborate with the team.”
Cheers! Government plans longer pub opening hours for the Coronation
Pub licensing hours are set to be extended under proposals published by government to mark King Charles’s Coronation.
A consultation exercise will propose extending licensing hours from 11pm to 1am from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 May in pubs, clubs and bars in England and Wales.
The Home Secretary, under Section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003, can make an order relaxing licensing hours to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance”, and the Coronation is an occasion which will see our country united in celebration across the Bank Holiday weekend.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “His Majesty the King’s Coronation will be a historic moment that will see our great nation and the entire Commonwealth joined together in celebration.
“Our country, and in particular our hospitality industry, has faced many challenges in recent years and the King’s Coronation is an opportunity to give a boost to our local businesses, and celebrate with our local communities.
“Over the Bank Holiday weekend we can raise a glass to our new monarch, and with our friends and families wish him a long and successful reign.”
The extension of licensing hours for the Coronation will be subject to public consultation, and follows the government’s announcement of an additional Bank Holiday on Monday 8 May, with public events and local community celebrations being planned across the country to mark the historic occasion.Yorks & Humber sees SME share of innovation funding balloon
SMEs in Yorkshire and the Humber have greatly increased their share of Innovate UK grant funding in the past year, at a time when the economic contribution of smaller businesses is under the spotlight.
A study by innovation funding specialist Catax shows that, of all innovation grant funding that went to business projects started in the region this year, the proportion awarded to SMEs rose to 98.5% — up 31 percentage points from 67.4% in 2021.
For projects begun in 2022, Yorkshire SMEs were awarded £17 million while larger companies in the region were awarded £264,000.
For 2021, SMEs in Yorkshire secured £31.4 million, while larger firms were awarded £15.1 million.
On a national basis, the proportion awarded to UK SMEs rose to 88.2% in 2022 — up 16.4 percentage points from 71.8% in 2021, itself little changed on 2020.
Innovate UK is the UK’s national innovation agency. The way SMEs are handed the lion’s share of business funding is testament to the important research and development they undertake.
And yet it is SMEs that have recently come under attack from the Government. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in the Autumn Statement last month that the amount of tax relief SMEs receive would be reduced for expenditure incurred from 1st April 2023.
SMEs are currently allowed to deduct an extra 130% of qualifying costs from their profits but this will reduce to 86% (plus the normal 100% deduction). For loss-making companies, SMEs will be entitled to a tax credit worth up to 10% of the total surrenderable loss, instead of the current 14.5%. Conversely, the Research & Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC) scheme for larger companies was made more generous.
Laura O’Neill, grants manager at innovation funding specialist Catax, said: “These results show very clearly how smaller companies are fundamentally important to the drive for innovation taking place in the UK. The vast majority of innovation grant money awarded to businesses is won not by large corporations but by SMEs.
“Yet the contribution SMEs make to the UK economy is at serious risk of being overlooked. Many of them are the larger companies of tomorrow, whose journey to success and growth is often obscured by the inevitable interest of other companies and subsequent acquisition.”
Innovate UK also awards grants to charities, public sector organisations, academic institutions, Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs), Research & Technology Organisations (RTOs) and catapults. These were excluded for the purposes of the study.
Yorkshire companies collaborate on clean energy supply project in Paraguay
Doncaster-based green hydrogen technology and manufacturing company CPH2 has bought shares worth £1.5m in Leeds company ATOME Energy.
In March this year the firms entered a purchase order for the sale of a 1MW MFE220 electrolyser to be deployed in ATOME’s Paraguay mobility project. The two companies also entered into a non-binding collaboration agreement in respect of potential future orders of electrolyser units for ATOME’s international hydrogen and ammonia projects, and to investigate and discuss a potential joint venture for the future production of electrolysers in-country to serve the Latin American market using CPH2’s technology and know-how.
This investment in ATOME accelerates both ATOME’s and CPH2’s roll out of green hydrogen electrolysers across South America, and is a demonstration of CPH2’s commitment to ATOME’s Mobility Division, which is expected to be the first commercial production of hydrogen for transport in Paraguay when it starts next year.
ATOME is an international company focused on green hydrogen and ammonia production with advanced plans for up to 500MW of projects located in Paraguay and Iceland with a signed Power Purchase Agreement with ANDE, the Paraguayan National Power Company, for a 120MW dedicated green ammonia facility. In the 12 months to 31 December 2021, ATOME recorded a loss for the period of US$2.2 million.
Jon Duffy, CEO of CPH2, said: “Today’s announcement marks an extension of our ongoing collaboration with ATOME for the use of CPH2’s electrolyser units in ATOME’s international hydrogen and ammonia projects. The Company’s investment in ATOME is expected to accelerate ATOME’s plans for the commercial production of hydrogen in Paraguay employing CPH2’s MFE220 electrolyser and therefore accelerate the roll out of our electrolysers across South America.”
