Office refurbishments – four key things to consider
An office refurbishment is a great opportunity to breathe life back into your workspace. It allows you to change up your office without having to move to a new building, therefore saving significant amounts of time and money. Lincolnshire-based office design and fit out company, APSS believes there are four key things to consider to help you kit out your office with a new design:
Hull Trains awarded reliability accolade
Hull Trains has been named ‘Best in Class’ at a national awards ceremony to recognise the most reliable fleets in the railway industry.
The Golden Spanner awards, organised by trade publication Modern Railways, celebrate the best of rolling stock maintenance and practices, paying tribute to those companies making the greatest strides in train reliability on behalf of passengers.
Three categories of trophy are awarded: Gold for best in class, Silver for most improved over the last year, and Bronze for the lowest impact on the customer of failures.
Hull Trains was awarded a Gold – the highest accolade possible – in the Second Generation new inter-city category.
Martijn Gilbert, MD of Hull Trains, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and testament to the commitment and hard work of our Fleet team, working in partnership with Hitachi. They always go above and beyond in their duties to make sure our customers benefit from some of the most reliable services in the country. I would like to thank our teams for making this achievement possible and know they will not rest on their laurels in continuing to make improvements to the reliability of Hull Trains’ services.”
Sara Holland, Fleet Director at Hitachi Rail said: “Receiving this prestigious award for reliability is the best way to celebrate the three-year anniversary of the Paragon fleet. The Hitachi intercity fleet has consistently ranked inside the top 10 on the UK reliability table, often being three times more reliable than the industry average.
“This award is tribute to the collaboration between Hitachi and Hull Trains, as we look to improve reliability, so passengers continue to feel the benefits of these high performing trains.”
Government grant paves way for development of brownfield site in Grimsby
North East Lincolnshire Council has been given a £50,000 from Government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund to clear a disused site in Grimsby.
The site, on the former Weelsby depot site, off Weelsby Avenue near the crematorium, will be subject to initial groundwork to help prepare it for future development.
Work on the site is likely to entail demolition of the existing buildings, and clearing the site.
The groundworks will be commissioned in the coming months, and subject to costs coming within budget, initial clearance and remediation works could start in 2023. Once the groundworks have been completed, this site will likely be issued to the market as a small housing site for approximately 25 houses.
Council leader Philip Jackson said: “I’m really pleased to see our bid for funding for this site backed by Government – for the good of the environment, using brownfield sites has to be our preference where we can.
“We continue to work with Homes England on trying to secure the funding for other brownfield sites in the borough.”
Once the work is commissioned, local residents will receive further information regarding the works.
The project has been developed with the support of the Brownfield Land Release Funding (BLRF2) and the One Public Estate programme.
Business optimism slides for the third consecutive quarter, says CBI
Business optimism has deteriorated for the third consecutive quarter across the service sector as a whole, the decline was particularly sharp in business and professional services where sentiment fell at the fastest pace since May 2020, says the CBI.
Business volumes were mixed in the service sector with unchanged volumes in business & professional services while consumer services saw a further fall in volumes. With cost and price growth remaining well above average in both sub-sectors, profitability continued to drop in the three months to November
Next quarter, volumes and profitability are tipped to fall across the service sector with strong cost and price pressures expected to persist. That’s according to the latest CBI Service Sector Survey, based on responses from 297 service firms. The survey was conducted between 28 October and 16 November.
Charlotte Dendy, CBI Head of Economic Surveys said: “Strong cost and price pressures are continuing to hurt services firms, damaging optimism and investment intentions and hitting profitability.
“While firms welcomed aspects of the Autumn Statement, the sector is looking for longer-term measures from Government to spur business investment and bolster confidence into 2023 and beyond. In particular, firms want Government to focus on growth by fighting inflation and the recession together.
“Zero-cost growth levers like regulatory and planning reform, using existing flexibility in the immigration system, and providing greater tax clarity could all help ease the current handbrake on growth.”
Spencer Group chooses York for third office location
Engineering business Spencer Group has opened a new office 16 Toft Green in York.
Toft Green will be home to Spencer Group’s design, project management, commercial and planning teams, providing a modern and comfortable space for users. The new office will also support Spencer Group’s talent acquisition strategy, providing access to a wider pool of jobseekers both locally and nationally. The office is the company’s third regional location, complementing its headquarters at Hull’s Humber Quays and Barrow Upon Humber site. Gary Robson, Engineering Manager (Design), said: “Expanding our presence into the York region will bring new opportunities for both our business and the local population, with a range of new roles that require filling. “We’re currently looking to expand our team with talented individuals for a range of roles and we believe the opening of a new base in York will help us attract a wider pool of candidates looking to either begin or develop a successful career in the engineering sector.” Rob Marshall, Engineering Manager (Civils), added: “With excellent transport links and a central location, 16 Toft Green will be a welcome addition to our business and provide an ideal base for our teams to continue servicing our blue-chip client base operating in the rail, bridges and industrial sectors.”Lincolnshire health and safety specialists acquired
PIB Group has acquired health and safety specialists Emprocom, who bring complementary services and expertise to the group’s risk management proposition.
Based in Lincolnshire and servicing clients further afield across the East Midlands, Emprocom will form part of the PIB Risk Management division.
The two businesses enjoy an existing relationship, which has led to the new collaboration. Carl Gryniewicz will continue in his role as director on completion of the deal, working closely with Adrian Robinson, Managing Director for PIB Risk Management.
Adrian Robinson said: “I have deep respect for Carl and his talented team, and I’m absolutely delighted to give them all a warm welcome to PIB Group. Their knowledge, expertise and passion for servicing clients will be a real credit to us.
“It’s very exciting to be able to join forces and work together along with our existing colleagues to continue building our market-leading risk management proposition.
“The team’s presence in the East Midlands will give an extra boost to our regional footprint and expand our client base, while providing them with access to an even broader range of products and services across our PIB Group family.”
Carl Gryniewicz, director for Emprocom, said: “This is an exciting step for Emprocom as we become part of PIB Group. Joining a like-minded organisation with a similar ethos and culture was an important characteristic in selecting a new home for our future.
“We were attracted to PIB because of their stability as well as a good alignment in long-term visions, customer focus and pride in achieving true satisfaction in helping clients. We look forward to the many opportunities ahead to leverage the expertise and scale of PIB, and also bringing our complementary skills to the ongoing success of the PIB Risk Management division.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to our loyal customer-base for their support, and we look forward to enjoying those relationships for many more years to come.”
Plan now to avoid 2023 drought, Environment Agency tells water companies
Water companies must start planning now to avoid potentially significant water supply and environmental impacts next summer, National Drought Group members have been told.
At its latest meeting, chaired by Environment Agency Executive Director John Leyland and joined by Water Minister Rebecca Pow, the National Drought Group discussed how significant risks remain for water supplies and impacted sectors next year, despite an improving water resources situation in some parts of the country.
Above-average rainfall in October and November has been beneficial in wetting up soils and improving river flows, which is recharging groundwater and refilling reservoirs across the country. As a result, reservoir stocks across England are now around 68% capacity. This has led to some water companies revoking drought permit applications and removing restrictions such as hosepipe bans.
Normally at this time of year water resources start to recharge as rainfall increases river flows and refills reservoirs, groundwater and winter storage on farms. The start of the recharge has taken longer this year because soils that need to be re-wetted first have been so dry. This means that above average rainfall is still needed to fully replenish stocks and prevent drought conditions in some areas next year. As a result, many farmers and growers are likely to experience the effects of drought into next year and environmental impacts are expected to continue as ecology and habitats take longer to recover from drought stress.
EA Executive Director and NDG chair John Leyland said:
“We cannot rely on the weather alone – if we are to avoid a worse drought next year, it will require action by us all. Early and precautionary planning must start now to manage the risks that this would bring.”
“Building on the work of the EA, water companies and NDG members this year – from implementing drought plan measures such as Temporary Use Bans and drought permits to helping customers use less water – we must keep up our preparations for the worst-case scenario.
“Over winter we expect water companies to fix and reduce leaks, identify new sources of water and work with farmers, growers and other sectors to protect our precious water resources should drought remain next year.”
Sheffield Chamber completes new-look all women leadership team
Sheffield Chamber of Commerce has welcomed a new permanent Chief Executive, Louisa Harrison-Walker, with her appointment seen as the final piece of the jigsaw in its leadership team.
Following its recent AGM, members took the opportunity to give thanks to James Needham who has completed his term as chair of Board and Antony Davis who has completed his term as chair of Council.
Going forward, alongside Louisa, the Chamber has welcomed Rachel Storey as chair of Council and Emma Marshall as chair of the Board with Grace Brierley as chair of the Nominees Committee and Karen Mosley continues as Chamber president.
Leadership in the city has grown and changed further afield too, as Kate Josephs sits as Chief Executive at Sheffield City Council, Victoria Brown continues in her role as South Yorkshire chair of the Institute of Directors and recently, Dame Julie Kenny DBE DL was installed as The Master Cutler for 2022 – 2023 – only the second woman to be installed in almost 400 years.
What a way to end the year – but there’s still plenty going on for the Chamber as the organisation heads into 2023.
New additions include strategic cabinets to bring together expert voices to discuss vital topics such as transport, health and wellbeing, investment, and innovation to encourage real change in the region.
Chamber bosses insist these cabinets will not stand still. They will proactively strive not just to be a place to talk about what’s going on in the region but be a place for action too, driving real change to support business.
“The Chamber is rapidly becoming the place where business leaders gather to shape the voice of Sheffield’s business community and this isn’t going to stop as we enter the new year,” added Chief Executive Louisa Harrison-Walker.
Yorkshire door business secures multimillion pound support for growth plans
Distinction Doors, the composite door manufacturer, has secured a multimillion-pound funding package from Shawbrook, to support its ambitious growth plans.
Beginning as a wholesale supplier before transitioning into manufacturing and the retail market, Yorkshire-based Distinction Doors has been supplying composite doors to the UK market for over 15 years.
The multi-million-pound deal with Shawbrook will help the team to grow Distinction Doors and the bespoke working capital package includes invoice discounting, an inventory facility and a cash-flow facility to support the business’s short- and long-term ambitions.
Andrew Fowlds, CEO of Distinction Doors, said: “Our success has largely been down to maintaining good relationships with our customers and we felt that Shawbrook shared the same culture. Not only was the team interested in our business, but they explored solutions that we hadn’t thought about, and that really impressed us. They were a natural partner for us.
“This funding has allowed us to invest in our machinery and increase our inventory in the short-term, but also enabled us to begin thinking about our longer-term growth too, and sustainability will play a large role in this.”
Nick Salmons, director, corporate lending at Shawbrook, said: Distinction Doors is an impressive business, and I am confident our support will enable the team to power up its innovation and ingenuity to fully embrace its potential. I’m looking forward to seeing the business go from strength to strength.”
BHP Corporate Finance acted as financial advisor to Distinction Doors. BHP partner, Don Gray said: “It was clear from the beginning of the relationship that Shawbrook and Distinction Doors were a good match. Shawbrook’s ability to provide a bespoke package that suited Distinction Doors’ needs was key, and I look forward to seeing Distinction Doors’ growth following this funding injection.”
Rob Fawke of Gunnercooke acted for Shawbrook, and Paul Trudgill from Knights acted for Distinction Doors. Matt Milnes of Hentons Corporate Finance provided financial due diligence.
Yorkshire glazing specialist hits 1,000-tonne recycling milestone
A Leeds-based manufacturer of glass units for windows which feature integrated blinds has saved 1,000 tonnes of post-consumer waste glass from landfill in two years, and instead diverted it into the production of new glass in a scheme which has provided funding of more than £60,000 for local environmental and community schemes.
Morley Glass, which employs 110 people at its factory in Morley, is one of Europe’s biggest manufacturers of double glazed units that have built-in Venetian or pleated blinds, producing an average of 16,000 units every month. These are sold to window installers across the UK.
In 2020, the company invested in reducing its own process waste and providing a post-consumer glass recycling service to customers by installing machinery that could crush waste glass into what is known as cullet. This can be fed directly into the manufacture of new glass which not only reduces needless landfill waste, but it also cuts the volumes of virgin raw materials needed to make glass and saves energy as turning cullet into new glass requires less energy.
The scheme, which is run in conjunction with international glass manufacturer Saint-Gobain Glass, who make window and door glass at their factory in Eggborough near Selby, is continuously audited. This means Morley Glass can see exactly how much waste glass is being collected and the benefits it delivers.
The data shows that in two years, the amount of glass cullet produced by Morley Glass is equivalent to the weight of 150 elephants, saving around 325,000kg of CO2, as every tonne of glass cullet prevents 300kg going into the atmosphere. Over 920,000kg of sand, the main raw material for glass, has also been saved and the overall energy saving to Saint-Gobain Glass is calculated at 541 ‘energy years’ – that is the energy used by an average UK household in 12 months.
In addition to saving resources and energy, the recycling scheme has another important benefit for communities in West Yorkshire. All the money raised by the sale of the recycled glass material to Saint-Gobain Glass goes into a fund set up by Morley Glass called GreenVision.
This offers £500 one-off grants to charities, individuals and community groups who are located in West Yorkshire and dedicated to providing environmental or social improvements in their local area.
The type of initiatives that GreenVision can support is extremely diverse. Amongst those who have benefited to date is Roundhay School, who used their grant to set up a system for collecting school uniforms that children have outgrown, so that parents of children newly transferring to the school can take anything they need free of charge. And at Longroyde School in Brighouse, teachers accessed GreenVision funding to support a project for the children to create and cultivate green spaces as part of an ‘Easter Garden Project’.
Ian Short, Managing Director of Morley Glass, said: “What started out as a simple business improvement idea has snowballed into an initiative that is delivering far-reaching benefits at a time when environmental and social sustainability have become priorities. We are thrilled to reach our 1,000 tonne milestone in just two years, which clearly demonstrates how popular the recycling service is with our customers who can save money on waste disposal costs too.
“And of course, the more waste glass we are able to collect and process, the more support we can provide through GreenVision to local people and groups who are giving up their time to improve their local environment or deliver social benefits. Applying for a grant is quick and easy, so if this is you, please go to our website and submit a GreenVision application today!”
Morley Glass is also offering a free collection service to any window installer located in the Leeds area who would like them to turn their post-consumer waste glass into funds for the community. This can be arranged by calling 0113 277 8722.
