Hull Prop Tech firm raises further £575k
A Hull Prop Tech business whose software helps companies to meet new building safety rules has raised a further £575,000 from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.
The latest funding round for Bimsense follows the introduction earlier this year of the Building Safety Act, which is designed to improve standards in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire. Bimsense’s software Operance helps building owners meet the so-called ‘golden thread’ requirement and show that safety has been considered at every stage of a building’s lifecycle, from design and construction to management.
The latest funding will enable the company to develop new modules to meet other parts of the Act – in particular the need to register high-rise residential buildings (HRBs) and produce a safety case report.
Bimsense was founded in 2016 by Ian Yeo and Scott Pilgrim as a consultancy specialising in building information modelling (BIM). They developed Operance in 2020 with the help of an initial investment from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance. It has since won multiple industry awards and is now used by well-known industry names such as GallifordTry, REDS10, Algeco, Morrison Construction and RLB.
Scott Pilgrim, chief product officer at Bimsense, said: “The new Building Safety Act has introduced the most sweeping reforms in living memory for the construction and residential property sectors. By bringing building intelligence together in one place, Operance can help them meet the challenge. NPIF and Mercia have backed us from the start and the latest funding will allow us to add new features and provide further support for the property industry.”
Maurice Disasi, investment manager at Mercia, said: “The Bimsense team have created the world’s first purpose-built ‘golden thread’ solution and we are pleased to have been able to support them. Operance will play a key role in helping building owners to comply with the rules and creating safer, more efficient buildings for everyone.”
East Riding dental practices pair with Dentex in latest deal
Two East Yorkshire dental practices – Hedon Dental Practice and Edward House Dental Studio – have been sold to Dentex.
Hedon Dental Practice is a four-surgery, mixed income practice situated in a prominent high street location in the market town of Hedon in East Riding. Edward House Dental Studio is a predominantly private practice with four surgeries and a fifth in development. It occupies an attractive period property and enjoys a prominent central location in the market and minster town of Beverley, also in East Riding.
The two practices were owned by Principals Dr Jason Spence and Dr Claire Shipley who relocated to Claire’s hometown of Beverley to live and work. In 2000, they set up East Yorkshire Dental Studios.
Following the sale of their other practices which were in partnership with Dr Christopher Maher, Brough Dental Studio and Grimsby Dental Studio, to Dentex last year, they decided to market their remaining two.
Hedon Dental Practice and Edward House Dental Studio have now also joined Dentex in a partnership that brings the group to four practices within the Dentex group.
Chris Lekkas, partnership & acquisition manager at Dentex, says: “In September 2021, we were delighted to welcome two outstanding practices from the East Yorkshire Dental Studios (EYDS) group into Dentex.
“Our ambition was to create an environment where both the principal owners and their teams felt supported in every way by Dentex, so they could continue delivering excellent patient care.
“Over the last year, Dentex have delivered on its promise and, after creating a successful working relationship together, we have agreed to acquire the two remaining practices of the EYDS group. Having now completed on Edward House Dental Studios and The Hedon Dental Practice, this completes the EYDS journey and reunites all four practices.
“Dentex have enjoyed a productive experience working with the teams at Brough Dental Studio and Grimsby Dental Studio over this last year, and we are now looking forward to also collaborating with the teams at the two new locations that have recently joined.”
Tom Morley, associate director – Dental at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, says: “It has been an absolute pleasure to act for Jason and Claire in this successful sale and to have completed the circle of all four sites.
“Many congratulations to them both for their excellent work over the years and to Dentex, too, for completing on the entire EYDS portfolio. I would also like to thank Chris Lekkas and Tom Laybourn at Dentex for their hard work in reaching a successful conclusion and Jonathan Tyson and his team at Knights who expertly acted for the sellers.”
Hedon Dental Practice and Edward House Dental Studio were sold for an undisclosed price.
Forgemasters takes on 15 apprentices
Sheffield Forgemasters has recruited 15 apprentices for its latest intake, all of whom will get fully-funded training, working towards a professional qualification whilst getting paid.
The positions, across a wide range of disciplines, were filled during the summer and include roles ranging from Accounts, Project Management, Moulder/Coremaking, Patternmaking, Steel Production, Machining, Metallurgy (Degree Apprenticeship) and Mechatronics, but earlier this month was the first time they have been assembled on site after terms at college.
Rick Franckeiss, learning and development manager at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “This is very positive time in the company and it offers significant career development for our apprentices as we adopt the latest technologies and shift to Industry 4.0 manufacturing to deliver one of the country’s most advanced manufacturing businesses.”
Sheffield Forgemasters is a major employer in the Sheffield City Region, with 600 employees and an apprenticeships programme which makes up around ten per cent of its workforce at any one time.
Rick added: “Most of our apprentices remain with the company and many go on to further education after initial training, due to our continued investment in the development of our people.
“We consider apprentices to be the future leaders of the business and can proudly boast that our chief operating officer and board director, Gareth Barker, started out at Sheffield Forgemasters as an apprentice and worked his way up through the company to one of the most senior positions.”
2023 Business Predictions: Luke Gidney, Managing Director at HOP
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 Luke Gidney, Managing Director at Leeds estate agent HOP.
HOP is predicting a slowdown in the housing market in 2023, rather than a crash, and expects property values to fall by approximately 8% due to increased interest rates, which follows several years of high price growth.
The company also manages one of West Yorkshire’s largest rentals portfolios, worth more than £245 million, and expects rents to increase by 7% in 2023, slightly lower than the 10% year on year increases over the last few years.
Rising interest rates have disrupted the property market in recent months and although further increases are likely, we don’t expect them to go as high as some forecasts. We predict interest rates will peak at around 4% in 2023.
The property market is very much linked to confidence in the economy, as well as employment, interest rates and the supply of housing stock. Employment rates are high with more job adverts than workers available, and there’s still a shortage of property available for sale, which will help to support prices.
Although the cost of fixed price mortgages soared following the mini-budget, they are now falling again and should stabilise early next year as more products become available, which will give borrowers a greater degree of certainty. Borrowing costs will still be higher than what we’ve become used to over the last 15 years or so, and with 300,000 fixed term mortgages coming up for renewal each quarter, it will be an anxious time for those who are re-mortgaging.
Therefore, after several years of rapid house price growth, it’s likely that this spring, sold prices will be approximately 8% lower than they were at the same point 12 months ago, but it will be a slowdown in the market, rather than a full-blown crash. There will be a small drop in transaction volumes and this will mean a slight reduction in asking prices, down around 5% in 2023.
The growth we’ve seen in recent years will give sellers more room to negotiate on their asking price though and we will see a shift to an environment that favours buyers. This could be good news for some, including cash buyers and first timers, especially now that the Help to Buy scheme has come to an end.
Ultimately, things will be calmer, and the market will level out in 2023, making the role of an experienced estate agent, with strong local knowledge and accurate marketing advice, more important than ever for sellers looking to negotiate an evolving market.
Bradford cleaning and hygiene specialist acquires Irish firm
Christeyns UK, the Bradford-based cleaning and hygiene specialist, has completed the acquisition of Gannon Chemicals based in Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland.
Already a key player in the Irish marketplace, this acquisition provides a firm footing to further build Christeyns’ Irish business and forms part of the company’s strategic plans to become the supplier of choice in all markets in which they operate.
Dave Aveyard, who takes up the position of Managing Director for Christeyns Operations in Ireland, said: “We are delighted to conclude this strategically important acquisition, of Gannon Chemicals.
“Christeyns already has a strong presence in Ireland with business in the Food and Beverage, Commercial Laundry, Hospitality and Construction sectors and this acquisition will provide us with a manufacturing and warehouse base as well as increasing our share of the cleaning and hygiene market. Our goal is to become the dominant player within Ireland and this acquisition is a key step in achieving this ambition.”
Gannon Chemicals was founded in 1972 and has a proud tradition of supplying hygiene products to businesses across a number of sectors with an established reputation in the hospitality and food and beverage sectors.
A family run business headed up by Paul Gannon, the firm is an expert producer of sustainable cleaning solutions and performance measurement systems using evidence-based approaches in its design and manufacture of cleaning chemicals.
With sustainability a key element of Christeyns operating practices, both in its chemical manufacturing and its water and energy saving technology, Gannon Chemicals is a natural fit and sits well in the portfolio of sister companies under the Christeyns UK umbrella.
Paul Gannon, Managing Director of Gannon, said: “The coming together of Christeyns and Gannon is great news for our customers and employees. The combined strength of our heritage and the huge portfolio and technical expertise Christeyns possesses will position the newly combined business as the supplier of choice.”
Neil Jones, Managing Director for Christeyns U.K. & Ireland, said: “We are thrilled to conclude this acquisition which demonstrates our commitment to growth and investment in Ireland which we believe will bring benefits for our customers, our partner distributors and our employees.”
Paul Gannon will transfer with the business and continue his leadership role.
Yorkshire firms help with environmental project on Lincolnshire river
Companies from Doncaster and Wakefield have worked with the Environment Agency to ‘reset’ a stretch of the River Witham above Grantham to capture of more than 100 tonnes of carbon, help drought and reduce flood risk downstream.
Breheny Civil Engineering, which has a base in Doncaster, and Ebsford Environmental from Wakefield have worked with a landowner and the Environment `agency own the scheme.
The restoration is in a rural river valley where there are no properties or roads within the confined valley floor that can be impacted by the wetter landscape.
The project involved infilling the river channel with soil to allow water to spill out and choose the direction it takes. This will create wetlands and smaller streams. Fallen timber has been added to slow the flow of the water leaving the site.
The wetlands act like a sponge, they encourage water to spill out onto the flood plain during wet periods but also release water back into the river in low flow periods. This means the wetlands will help support wildlife during drought as well as reducing flood risk downstream. The wetlands will also help to trap nutrients and fine sediment resulting in cleaner river water downstream, benefitting fish and other animals.
The works have already raised groundwater levels across the site by 1.5 metres, creating a wetter environment that may not have existed for 2,500 years. This work has combated the historical drainage that took place for land drainage and milling purposes.
Project Manager Katie Murphy from the Environment Agency, said: `”These works link to other projects across the UK and the US where this technique was developed. The project also links to a wider catchment-based floodplain restoration approach led by East Mercia Rivers Trust and the Wild Trout Trust. They have been instrumental in supporting delivery of projects on the Upper Witham.
“It will be fascinating to watch the site, river and wetlands develop and evolve over time. This is especially true now that the river has the freedom to choose its own shape and form without human interference.”
Storage and distribution business names new transport operations director
Boroughbridge-based temperature-controlled storage and distribution business Reed Boardall has promoted Norman Hartley to transport operations director.
Previously head of transport operations, Norman joined the business in 2006 and has progressed through various positions including operations shift manager and planning manager.
In his new role, he will be responsible for reviewing and developing processes to drive efficiency and achieve organisational growth.
Chiefg Exec Marcus Boardall said: “Norman is a confident leader who has constantly demonstrated his ability to manage, motivate and develop teams to deliver operational excellence.
“He’s a fantastic example of one of our many long-serving colleagues who, through hard work and talent, has built a career with us. This latest promotion is well-deserved recognition of his commitment to the company and we believe he will make a valuable contribution in his new role.”
Norman said: “Reed Boardall is a great family-based business to work for and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last 16 years here. I’m looking forward to this exciting and challenging new role and the opportunity to use my knowledge and experience to help drive the company forward to continued future success.”
Reed Boardall is one of the largest temperature-controlled food distribution businesses in the UK, storing and delivering frozen food from manufacturers across Britain, Europe and further afield to all the UK’s best-known supermarkets. It operates round the clock seven days a week, and has 200-strong fleet of vehicles moving an average of 12,000 pallets a day. It employs more than 800 staff.
Lindum Group wins £8.5m contract to build project in Mablethorpe
East Lindsey District Council has appointed Lindum Group to build its £8.5m Campus for Future Living in Mablethorpe.
The signing of the build contract is a significant milestone for the Council, marking the first council-led Town Deal project moving to the delivery stage in 2023.
The flagship project for the Lincolnshire coast and wider East Lindsey has received £8.5m from the Mablethorpe Town Deal funding from the Government’s Levelling Up agenda, supported by the Connected Coast Board.
Work will now begin on site in January with turf cutting scheduled for early February. The build is scheduled for completion and handover to the Council in 2024.
Led by a coalition of local, regional, and national partners, the Campus for Future Living offers significant potential in reducing health inequalities in Mablethorpe as well as across the district.
It presents an opportunity to put Mablethorpe at the forefront of medical technology and innovation, offering a centre for health and care related teaching, training, research and development.
Accommodation, a coffee hub and parking facilities are also part of the scheme.
Cllr William Gray, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Better Ageing at East Lindsey District Council, said: “The signing of the construction contract is a milestone for the Campus for Future Living and I am delighted the council has Lindum Group on board.
“The possibilities the Campus of Future Living offers residents and the opportunities it will bring to people in Mablethorpe and our communities are truly exciting.”
Lindum Group MD Freddie Chambers said: “This is a great project for Lindum to be involved in, not just because it’s the area’s first Towns Fund scheme but also because it should have a positive impact on local health care, which as a large employer of Lincolnshire people, is important to us too.
“We have been working closely with the council to develop the design of the building which also has many ‘green’ credentials. Using BREEAM Excellence guidelines as a benchmark, it will incorporate air source heat pumps, solar panels and battery storage systems. There will also be electric charging stations for mobility scooters and lots of natural ventilation. All these elements will help to reduce the running costs and operational carbon impact of the finished building.
Julian Free, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Lincoln said: “We are very excited about the Campus for Future Living and are confident it will have a positive impact on the people of Mablethorpe and beyond.
“It is fantastic to have the Campus for Future Living construction contract with Lindum signed. We are now firmly advancing to the delivery of what will be a transformative project in Mablethorpe driving better health and social care outcomes for the local community. The University is pleased to have played its part in getting to this stage and looks forward to being an active participant in the completed Centre.”
HSH Cold Stores to acquire fellow Grimsby firm
Grimsby-headquartered HSH Cold Stores, part of Constellation Cold Logistics and a provider of temperature-controlled storage and distribution solutions across the UK, has reached agreement to acquire fellow Grimsby firm Associated Cold Stores & Transport Limited (ACS&T), a subsidiary of Camellia.
The transaction is expected to close on 10 January 2023.
The acquisition of ACS&T will expand HSH’s strategic presence across the UK, increasing the company’s storage capacity to include ACS&T’s facilities in Grimsby, Tewkesbury, and Wolverhampton, and grow the company’s storage offering to around 140,000 pallet positions.
In addition, the acquisition will boost HSH’s offering of temperature-controlled distribution services, which grows to 75 LGV lorries when including HSH and ACS&T’s existing fleets.
Anthony Howard, Managing Director at HSH, noted the strategic benefits of HSH’s acquisition of ACS&T: “We are enormously proud and excited to welcome ACS&T to the HSH family, the acquisition will provide a unique opportunity for HSH to expand its storage and distribution services for our new and existing customers.
“Having co-founded HSH nearly 20 years ago, I am extremely proud to see how our company has grown over the years and would like to extend my gratitude to our team on reaching this milestone. I look forward to collaborating with the team at ACS&T to accelerate our growth and develop new high quality cold chain solutions.”
Government’s seasonal worker visa scheme welcomed by the NFU, but may be too late for some
Defra has confirmed that 45,000 visas for seasonal workers will be available for horticultural businesses in 2023, as part of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Scheme. The announcement also includes the potential to increase this figure by a further 10,000 if necessary.
Responding to Defra’s announcement, NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw said: “This increase in visas is a positive step forward and will be a relief for many growers who are currently struggling to find the skilled workforce needed to continue producing the nation’s fruit, vegetables and ornamentals.
“For some growers, this announcement will have come too late with some already having made the difficult decision to reduce production in the coming season.
“Growers have faced a really tough year with soaring energy and fertiliser costs only adding to the pressure caused by significant workforce shortages, which resulted in £60 million of fruit and vegetables being wasted in the first half of 2022 alone. And we expect the coming 2023 season to be equally challenging.”
Through the Seasonal Worker visa route, businesses can recruit foreign workers to come to the UK for up to six months.
Defra has confirmed that the first 4,000 visas will be made available to operators in time to ensure that daffodil growers have the labour available for their harvest at the start of 2023.
