Hybrid work solutions provider takes 30,000 sq ft of office space in Sheffield
Spaces, the modern flexible workspace brand, has signed up to take over 30,000 sq ft of office space in Pennine Five – making it the largest commercial deal in Sheffield city centre since 2019.
Spaces will take all upper floors of an eight-storey building on the Pennine Five campus. They will deliver a wide range of workspace solutions including private offices, coworking access, meeting rooms and collaborative spaces – all set within a creative and design-led environment.
Since taking ownership of the five office blocks that made up the former HSBC headquarters on Tenter Street in 2019, RBH Properties has been injecting a new lease of life into the site and are in the midst of transforming it into a bustling and inclusive business campus, suitable for 3,500 professionals.
The ongoing work includes creating a £1.5 million outdoor central plaza designed to offer people a place to relax, socialise and collaborate. Event space and art installations will also be incorporated to help widen the appeal to the public and neighbouring businesses.
Spaces, who will join the campus’ first three occupiers – First Intuition, Department for Work and Pensions and Sheffield College, are part of IWG, who also operate brands including Regus, Signature and HQ.
Jeremy Hughes, director at RBH Properties, said: “The offer and culture of Spaces really complements what we’re trying to achieve at Pennine Five and can help us create a melting pot for firms of all sizes and sectors. The campus will be a meeting point for knowledge-sharing and creative thinking.
“Many occupiers are also buying into our bold approach to sustainability. By repurposing this huge site, Pennine Five is now a blueprint for how regeneration can help lower carbon emissions today, not decades down the line. In addition to saving huge quantities of embodied carbon, we are creating a 280-space cycle hub and introducing significant EV charging facilities in the existing car park.”
Nigel Barnes, UK development director for IWG, said: “We are establishing a stronger and much-needed footprint in Sheffield with this latest opening. As an important business hub, Sheffield is a fantastic place for us to boost our expansion plans. The need for high-quality flexible workspaces continues to soar as hybrid working becomes the new normal.
“Our opening in Sheffield comes at a time when more and more companies are discovering that hybrid working boosts employee happiness and satisfaction, while helping the environment. Our workplace model is also proven to increase productivity and allows for a business to scale up or down at significantly reduced costs.”
Tim Bottrill of Colloco added: “We are delighted to welcome Spaces to Pennine Five. It’s a major coup and will become a key anchor on the campus for many years to come. The influx of extra footfall Pennine Five will deliver will be hugely valuable to growing this area of town over the coming months and years.
“With a dynamic mix of workspace and lease solutions, we can flex to anticipate the needs of any commercial tenant at Pennine Five. With the likes of Spaces now in place, a company can mature from a one-person start-up to an international market leader – all on a single campus.”
Fit-out is already underway on Spaces and they are expected to open their doors to the local business community in Spring 2023.
‘Spend Christmas funds with small firms to keep them afloat’, shoppers are urged
Almost three in five small business owners in the UK expect to make less money this Christmas than they did last – when Covid-19 restrictions still dominated lives.
The survey of over 600 small business owners, commissioned by business insurance provider Simply Business, revealed just how fundamental the festive period is for SMEs – with one in five making over 20% of their annual revenue during this period alone.
And one in 10 owners say they’re at risk of shutting permanently. Meanwhile, one six say they’d need to consider taking up additional employment.
Despite the UK not having any Covid-19 restrictions in place this Christmas, the majority of owners still expect to take less, as consumers around the UK feel the impact of a cost of living crisis. One in three predict losses of up to £1,000, and a tenth believe their profits will shrink by up to £5,000.
According to the survey, the reliance on the festive period is forcing many to work throughout the holidays despite a fifth rating their mental health as ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’.
More than one in three are set to not take any real break in December – with one in 10 working the whole of the festive period, and 23% needing to check emails, take calls, and process orders throughout.
Ahead of Christmas, Simply Business is urging people to spend their money with small businesses.
Alan Thomas, UK CEO at Simply Business, said: “Amidst a cost of living crisis, when so many are still in recovery mode from the £126.6 billion impact of the pandemic, this Christmas is – quite simply – a lifeline for small businesses.
“The self-employed are feeling the pressure from the current economic climate more than most, so it’s worrying that the majority of owners expect to take less money than previous Decembers. They are inevitably feeling the squeeze as they struggle to pass on rising costs to their customers. What’s more, the cost of living crisis is having a clear impact on consumer purchasing behaviour, which is another blow to the pockets of small business owners.
“Small businesses account for 99% of all British businesses, contributing trillions of pounds a year in turnover. The recovery of our economy and communities is directly linked to their success. We must support small businesses all year round, and there’s no better time to start than during this incredibly important festive period.”
Lincolnshire dairy farm secures funding to invest in carbon efficient cowshed
Lincolnshire-based dairy farm, White House Farm, has significantly increased its productivity after investing in a new carbon-efficient cowshed, using £1.05 million of funding from Lloyds Bank.
Located in Bourne, the fourth-generation, 800-hectare dairy and arable farm is owned by the Dorrington family and its herd of nearly 300 cows produces milk exclusively for Arla.
The seven-figure loan from Lloyds Bank has supported the construction of a new 2,700-metre square cowshed and will significantly improve the farm’s natural slurry filtration by using deep channels to move liquid manure below ground quickly and without the need for electric pumps.
The large, open-plan pitched-roof building uses natural ventilation and LED lighting in a further boost for the farm’s net-zero credentials, while its passages are wide enough for an electric robot slurry scraper to operate, helping to further improve cow welfare by reducing the number of mastitis cases and the need for antibiotics treatment.
Investing in the new state-of-the-art cowshed supports Dorrington Farm’s long-term sustainability commitment on both the dairy and arable side of the business. The shed’s new slurry separator has allowed the farm to move separated manure away more efficiently and use it to reduce the artificial fertiliser needed to grow the crops, with fields of maize grown entirely from slurry and solid manure applications this year.
Zara Dorrington, who’s great-grandparents moved to White House Farm in 1924, runs the business along with her father Ross and uncle Simon. Commenting on the investment in the new cowshed, she said: “Slurry management was a key area we wanted to improve when designing the new shed. We knew it was where we could significantly strengthen our sustainability agenda, turning what was historically a waste product into a useable asset with many benefits.
“With Lloyds Bank’s support, we’ve taken great lengths to make sure its design and build is as carbon-efficient as possible, whilst also providing a comfortable and nurturing environment for our herd.”
The finance package comes via Lloyds Bank’s Clean Growth Finance Initiative, which provides discounted funding to help businesses transition to a lower-carbon, more sustainable future.
Steven Withers, agricultural relationship manager at Lloyds Bank, added: “Every industry is under pressure to improve sustainable practices, and with agricultural land making up 70 per cent of the UK’s land area, farming has a particularly crucial role to play.
“Our Clean Growth Finance Initiative is designed to support businesses with their environmental and sustainability goals, and so the build of the new cowshed at White House Farm will not only improve efficiency and production levels, but allow Zara and her family to operate more sustainably. We will continue to be by the side of land-based businesses like this to help them thrive in the most carbon-efficient way.”
Leeds firm creates ‘last mile’ delivery base for food logistics company
Leeds-based property group Eddisons has completed a renovation project to create an 18,500 sq ft ‘last-mile’ delivery hub in North West London for pan-European tech logistics business Stuart Delivery.
Eddisons director Nick Galloway and building surveyor James Barker of the firm’s building and project consultancy team acted on behalf of Stuart to undertake a pre-lease schedule of condition for the firm’s new premises at Standard Road in London’s Park Royal area.
Eddisons also developed a bespoke space plan together with a repair and fit out specification, commissioning new fencing, automatic barriers and gates, and superfast EV charging stations for Stuart’s electric delivery fleet.
New fire alarm installation, LED lighting, corporate signage and electrical enabling works for conveyor systems were also incorporated. Organising building regulations approvals via an approved inspector, the firm also undertook full contract administration and principal designer duties.
Mr Barker said: “Stuart’s management team shared our enthusiasm for bringing the property back into use, maximising the sustainability features of the premises and bringing them into a compliant state for the new business operation.”
Stuart retail logistics director Marcus Hurd said: “Eddisons took time to understand our business vision and the resulting priorities for this operating site and how it might be developed.
“We received fantastic advice, allowing the plans for the site to be streamlined and costs controlled, whilst at the same time ensuring the renovations had maximum positive impact on both the environment and the people using the site.”
Since it was founded in Paris in 2015 Stuart has transformed rapid urban delivery and focuses on state-of-the-art technology and both environmental and social sustainable logistics practices. It is part of DPD Group, and provides scheduled and on-demand food, grocery and retail deliveries to urban areas using a managed fleet and local independent couriers.
Company collaboration leads to nomination for building award
Lincoln-based double glazing specialist Tradeglaze and Lincolnshire developer Wilcox Homes have been shortlisted for the Greater Lincolnshire Construction and Property Awards for work on a new homes development on Electric Station Road in Sleaford.
The Electric Station Road project’s objective was to help address the shortage of starter homes in Sleaford town centre in a price bracket affordable to the younger generation. It has transformed the derelict brownfield former home of an electricity sub-station to six starter homes, designed and built using latest environmental improvements and resulting in superior energy efficiency.
This much welcomed news follows on this year’s success of Tradeglaze in the 2022 Greater Lincolnshire Construction and Property Awards where the company earned the ‘Product Supplier of the Year’ award, having accelerated their growth plans and invested several six figure sums in the business.
Brian Pearson, Senior Accounts Manager at Tradeglaze said: “To have one of our projects shortlisted for the Greater Lincolnshire Construction and Property Awards is such brilliant news. It’s not an easy time for UK businesses at the moment and local companies need to support each other. Wilcox Homes employ local trades wherever they can and we are very proud to supply our products to their beautiful homes. They have certainly earned their place on the shortlist and we wish them best of luck at the awards ceremony.”
Small firms fear this Christmas will be their last if energy support ends post-March
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is warning that discontinuing government energy support at the end of March would force tens of thousands of small firms to close or downsize.
This comes ahead of the publication of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme review, which is due imminently – when the government will decide whether current energy support for small firms will continue after the six-month coverage ends on April 1, 2023.
Latest FSB research shows that one in four small firms (24%) plan to close, downsize or restructure if energy relief comes to a sharp end in April next year.This rises to 42% of firms in the accommodation and food sector, followed by the wholesale and retail (34%), and manufacturing sectors (29%).
A third (30%) of small firms expect to cancel or scale down planned investment if the government ends support on energy, while more than four in ten (44%) consider raising prices to cope with soaring bills, although it will be impossible for them to pass on full costs to consumers tightening their belts amid the cost of living rises.
FSB has proposed through the Government’s review that there should be significant support for small businesses for at least the next 6-month period, based on a fixed wholesale price. There should however be further controls added on energy suppliers to prevent them cutting vulnerable small businesses off who fall into arrears, hiking their standing charges and enabling them to offer Time To Pay in the same manner as HMRC with tax debts.
Continuing to apply support directly to bills, as in the current scheme, will ensure that there is no deadweight cost, and will minimise the chances of small businesses who should be entitled to support missing out. The current delivery mechanism is therefore preferable to local authority-based grants, or loans that small businesses who are steeped in debt since COVID, with low cash reserves, cannot afford to repay.
FSB development manager Natalie Gasson-McKinley said: “After two long years of Covid, this Christmas was supposed to the one bringing back that small business spirit – but many small firms are now worried that they might have to shut their doors for good in a few months, if not weeks.
“More than 16 million jobs are in small firms. Our members are telling us their businesses as well as their staff are dependent on government support in this energy price crisis.
“We’d like to see the upcoming publication of the review taking business size into account, acknowledging the fact that small firms have typically lower margins and are least able to deal with skyrocketing energy costs – a purely sector-based decision will lead to deadweight and unfairness.
“At the same time, Government must intervene when energy suppliers find routes to inflate prices, raise standing charges, and ask for disproportionate upfront payments – these heavy-handed practices defeat the whole purpose of the multi-billion-pound relief scheme and will drive more small firms to go under.”
CTS UK makes key senior appointment
CTS UK, the North Yorkshire-based business supply chain specialist, has strengthened its team with a significant management appointment.
Rhys Davies joins the CTS UK group, which includes Safeguard Supplies UK Ltd and Corporate Technology Solutions Ltd, as group finance director at a pivotal stage in the Northallerton company’s development.
Rhys, originally from Skipton and now living in Marton, near Middlesbrough, began his career with accountancy and business advisory firm Armstrong Watson, where he had worked for 10 years and progressed from graduate through to audit director by the age of 30.
Rhys, who is a graduate of Newcastle University, said: “The opportunity to join the management team of a young, hungry, vibrant, and fast-growing company was too good to turn down. I am excited to be joining a board with a clear vision to which I can add value and support the strategic needs of the business. I am proud to be helping to build on CTS’s reputation as one of the leading business supplies companies in the UK.”
CTS’s annual turnover figures underline the company’s growth. In 2020, turnover was £500,000; in 2021 it was £4.5 million; and this year it will be around £9 million. The projected figure for next year is between £14 and £15 million.
The company has already embarked on several strategic projects for 2023; expanding its volume of supply from overseas/Far East procurement to meet strong customer demand, as well as looking to complement its organic growth with further successful acquisitions.
AJ Swinbank, founder and chairman of CTS UK, said: “This is a very significant appointment for us. Rhys is a first-class accountant and business adviser. He is a superb addition to our management team and has already added an alternative value perspective to the group.
“Rhys arrives at an important time for CTS as we build upon our substantial progress during the past two years since incorporation. We are expanding quickly, with increased turnover and profits in 2021 and 2022, new premises in Northallerton, new clients and brand-new state-of-the-art machinery.”
He added: “The journey of the group is a long-term project, which demands the fullest commitment from all our staff. Rhys, with his experience and expertise, is perfect for this challenging and pivotal role.”
Howard Gill, Managing Director of CTS UK, added: “Our diverse sectors include PPE, uniform, consumables, warehousing and fulfilment. We are looking to grow through e-commerce channels, offering warehousing and fulfilment. With online retail booming, we have also seen an opportunity to launch seasonal and reactive clothing on Amazon and fulfilling through in-house production. Rhys will be crucial in supporting and overseeing these opportunities.”
CTS UK’s clients include Sports Direct, Bunzl Retail Supplies, Sainsbury’s Supermarkets, Wm Stobart Limited, WS Transport and Heck.
Clean Air Zone grant scheme now open for applications
From today businesses can apply to upgrade vehicles and receive financial support ahead of the introduction of Sheffield’s Clean Air Zone, which goes live at the end of February next year.
If you own a vehicle that would be charged, you might be eligible for support. Private vehicles will not be charged.
Financial support (which won’t be needed by private vehicles, which are exempt) will be available in the form of a grant, an interest subsidised loan or a mix of the two.
Councillor Julie Grocutt, Co-Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said: “I want to encourage everyone to check their eligibility online and apply for the financial support wherever they can. There is a pot of money for people to apply for and we want people to use these funds whilst they are available.
“The Clean Air Zone is there to protect people in Sheffield from the effects of exposure of NO2 emissions. We know this is vital going forward for our current and future generations. We are committed to doing all we can to limit the public health implications that the effects of NO2 create such as lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. I know the Clean Air Zone will benefit our city hugely, we are thinking about the now and long-term benefits which I know we will all be very grateful for.
“The financial package available is one of the best of any local authority, and I want Sheffield residents and businesses to use it.”
Information on when charging starts and which vehicles will be charged is online.
For full information, please visit the dedicated Clean Air Zone website.
Dynamic leader brings wealth of experience to Unity
Sharon Jandu, Managing Director of the Northern Asian Power policy think tank, has been appointed as chair of Unity Enterprise and a board member of Unity Housing Association.
Amongst other leadership positions, Ms Jandu, a co-founder of Yorkshire Asian Business Association, also serves as the Federation of Small Businesses Area Leader in Yorkshire, the Humber and the North-East, and is a Confederation of British Industry Regional Council Member for Yorkshire and the Humber.
Unity Enterprise and Unity Housing Association are part of the Unity Homes and Enterprise Group based in the Chapeltown area of Leeds.
Unity Housing Association was formed in 1987 to address the needs of black and minority ethnic communities in Leeds, and now manages over 1,350 properties for tenants from all communities and ethnic backgrounds.
Unity Enterprise was established in 2000 as a not-for-profit subsidiary company to support local entrepreneurial activity. It currently provides 142 affordable units for more than 80 diverse businesses across three centres in Leeds. That number is set to increase next summer following the completion of a £1.8 million Leeds Media Centre redevelopment scheme which will create 12 new units and a bespoke business hub.Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Sharon to Unity. She is a highly respected, dynamic leader with a wealth of experience gained in the private, public and third sectors.
“Sharon also has a deep appreciation of the issues affecting the communities we are privileged to work with every day.
“The revitalisation of these communities is not just about providing high quality affordable homes, but also stimulating social and economic regeneration, improving life opportunities and addressing inequalities within sustainable neighbourhoods.
“In her dual roles, Sharon will enable Unity to further advance these objectives.”
Sharon Jandu said: “I lived in Chapeltown for nearly 10 years, know the area well and how it feels to live in a challenged community.
“Unity has earned a reputation as one of the country’s most successful and forward-thinking housing associations, driven by its social purpose to fight inequality and empower BME people.
“Unity Enterprise is a key component of this work through its support for local businesses including initiatives to identify and develop local entrepreneurs. The upgrade of Leeds Media Centre will provide a major boost to these efforts and increase economic activity in Chapeltown and surrounding areas.
“As chair, I look forward to being at the heart of delivering a winning strategy to help many more people fulfil their business potential and live better lives.”
Siemens boost Golle’s festive cheer by £5,000
Siemens Mobility in Goole has donated toys and treats worth £5,000m and staff have volunteered their time to bring festive cheer to underprivileged children and families there.
The company provided £5,000 to buy toys for children of all ages, as well as dozens of chocolate boxes and crackers to brighten Christmas for those who need it most in the East Yorkshire town and surrounding area.
More than 30 staff also volunteered their time at the Two Rivers Community Pantry in Goole, helping to distribute bags of cereal, sweets, sugar and more to support more than 1,500 households who access the service’s “social supermarket” and food bank.
The pantry was set up following the first lockdown in March 2020 to provide food parcels to individuals and families hardest hit by the economic impact of Covid-19. It then expanded to include the “social supermarket”, where major retailers donate surplus stock which can be bought by anyone at discounted prices, with the money raised helping to fund the food bank.
Residents accessing the food bank will benefit from the toys, chocolates and crackers donated by Siemens Mobility.
The donation comes as the community pantry has seen a significant rise in the number of households accessing its services over the past 12 months.
Siemens Mobility is investing up to £200m in creating a rail village in Goole that will create up to 700 skilled jobs, as well as up to 1,700 in the supply chain and 250 during construction.
Sambit Banerjee, MD of Rolling Stock and Customer Services at the company, said: “We’re delighted to be able to support the community and bring some festive cheer to children and families this Christmas.
“We’re wholeheartedly committed to continuing our support for the local area and I’m really proud of our staff for volunteering their time to make a difference this Christmas.”
Households in Goole, Old Goole, Snaith, Cowick, Rawcliffe, Hook, Swinefleet, Reedness and Howden access the “social supermarket” and food bank.
Natalie Thornton, Senior Project Coordinator for Siemens Mobility in Goole, said: “We’ve really enjoyed volunteering and staff who weren’t able to give their time helped by donating additional toys to the appeal.
“It’s great to see such enthusiasm from so many team members at every level of the business. Many hands make light work and it’s also been a great team building exercise as we continue to put our roots down in Goole.”
Several staff from GMI Construction Group, the main contractor for the rail manufacturing facility, also volunteered to help to pack donated food.
Construction Director Martin Watson said: “We were pleased to join our colleagues at Siemens Mobility for a second year running to support the essential work of this food bank.
“Like Siemens Mobility, GMI is committed to making a difference in the communities in which it operates, whether that’s by creating local jobs, investing in skills or becoming involved in worthwhile causes, which, especially at this time of year, make a huge difference to the lives of so many people.”
Siemens Mobility has supported the local community in several ways during recent years, including donating fridge freezers, luxury hampers and bags of Christmas treats to the pantry, volunteering and making financial donations to buy much-needed items alongside GMI, donating selection boxes to children in Goole and supporting the first Goole Pride event earlier this year.
Councillor Anne Handley, Deputy Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council and ward councillor for Goole North, who supported the Christmas volunteers with refreshments, said: “We’re so grateful to Siemens Mobility and GMI staff for volunteering their time to help.
“What Siemens Mobility has done for Goole, especially the community pantry, is nothing short of outstanding. They can’t do enough for the local community and their kindness and generosity is making a huge difference during these very challenging times. Nothing is ever too much trouble and we can’t thank them enough.”
