Plans to bring back lost rail services and restore closed stations in South Yorkshire are gaining momentum, as the region moves forward with bids to level up and reconnect left behind communities. Cases for funding have been put to Government to reopen the Don Valley Line, between Sheffield and Stocksbridge, and the Askern Line, between Doncaster and Knottingley, for local passenger services. If given the green light, proposals will go to the next stage of the national ‘Restoring Your Railways’ programme to provide better access to jobs, homes and education. South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “There is huge support for our plans to reopen the Askern and Don Valley railway lines, because of the chance it gives us to level-up communities currently left behind because of poor public transport links. “Fixing South Yorkshire’s public transport system has to include reopening our railways and better joining up our train, tram and bus networks. Because our communities rely on these links to access the work, education and social opportunities that everyone deserves. “The government have set a timeframe for levelling up transport connectivity across our region by 2030, but in order to achieve that goal we need them to deliver the full Northern Powerhouse Rail and match our energy and ambition for upgrading services. Projects such as ‘Restoring Your Railways’ offer a good starting point.” South Yorkshire’s Askern and Don Valley Lines are two of 13 schemes shortlisted in October 2021 to progress to the next stage of the Government’s £500 million Restoring Your Railway fund, designed to reinstate local rail services and restore closed stations. Sheffield City Council, Doncaster Council, Derbyshire County Council, Northeast Derbyshire District Council, Chesterfield Borough Council and Network Rail will play a leading role in the delivery of the schemes. Councillor Julie Grocutt, co-chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee, and Local Member for Stocksbridge, said: “There is no doubt that restoring passenger rail services between Stocksbridge and Sheffield on the Don Valley Line would provide significant economic and social benefits to Stocksbridge, Deepcar, Oughtibridge, Wadsley Bridge and Neepsend, as well as neighbouring communities. “Existing transport connectivity in this area is poor. Stocksbridge is less than 10 miles from Sheffield City Centre but on current bus services, journey times are taking as long as around one hour. “The key to enabling our communities to grow and prosper is to connect people to opportunities, in a sustainable and inclusive way. That can only be done with an efficient and reliable public transport system that people trust. Whilst buses are a critical part of our transport network, and we will continue to fight for better services, a rail link is essential for long-term growth that helps to meet our net zero targets.” Further plans to restore services on the Barrow Hill Line between Sheffield and Chesterfield are being developed by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Network Rail. It could see stations reinstated at Sheffield Victoria, Beighton, Killamarsh, Eckington/Renishaw, Barrow Hill/Staveley and Whittington, and the return of a regular service, linking Sheffield, Northeast Derbyshire and Chesterfield. Proposals for opening a new station at Waverley have also been submitted for Government review.

Businesses are being asked their opinions in an additional stage of targeted consultation on proposals for Gate Burton Energy Park. In a six-week consultation window open until December 13th developers Low Carbon businesses can learn more about the localised changes for Gate Burton Energy Park. Low Carbon is specifically seeking feedback on a number of minor additions it has made to the project boundary – known as indicative Order Limits – which result in a small increase in land allocation.

Mike Rutgers, Development Director at Low Carbon said: “The minor nature of the changes does not have any material impact on the proposals we consulted on over the summer, but we’re keen to give people living near to the additional areas the opportunity to provide their views and comments on the changes.

“Our next steps will see us continue to refine the indicative Order Limits for the project in response to comments we receive during this stage of targeted consultation ahead of submitting our application for a Development Consent Order to the Planning Inspectorate.

This is likely to be the last time Low Carbon consults on its proposals for Gate Burton Energy Park before submitting its DCO application to the Planning Inspectorate. However, people will still have the opportunity to contribute to the development process.

Anybody wanting to find out more and submit their views can go to the project website – www.gateburtonenergypark.co.uk – to submit their feedback to the consultation

Business confidence in Yorkshire rose one point in November to 3% according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking – the first time confidence has increased this quarter. The survey was conducted between 1st-15th November, before the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement announcement on Thursday the 17th November. Companies in Yorkshire reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up seven points at 19%.  When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, down three points to -12%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 3%. Yorkshire businesses identified their top target areas for growth in the next six months as evolving their product or service offering (37%), investing in sustainability (29%), and growing their workforce (28%). The Business Barometer, which questions 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide. A net balance of 23% of businesses in the region expect to increase staff levels over the next year. Overall UK business confidence fell five points during November, but remained positive at 10%. Firms’ outlook on their future trading prospects was down two points to 25%, and their optimism in the wider economy dropped four points to -2%. Despite a seven-point dip, UK businesses remained positive about hiring intentions with 14% of firms aiming to create new jobs in the next 12 months. All UK regions and nations, apart from the South East, reported a positive confidence reading in November, with seven recording a month-on-month increase in confidence. Of those recording an increase in confidence, Scotland (up 19 points to 24%), Wales (up 12 points to 17%) and the South West (up nine points to 5%) saw the largest monthly changes, with Scotland now the most optimistic overall. Steve Harris, regional director for Yorkshire at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Yorkshire firms have not been immune to recent issues, and have faced a particularly challenging few months with rising costs and wide turbulence in the economy. Despite this, it’s good to see businesses remaining optimistic about their own trading prospects as we head into one of the busiest periods of the year. “In the current economic environment, keeping margins on tight reins while closely monitoring cashflow will allow firms to plan ahead and carefully consider which opportunities they capitalise on.” Business confidence in retail increased to 15% (up from 9%), perhaps reflecting a renewed confidence in trading prospects ahead of the festive season. However, business confidence in the manufacturing sector fell for the sixth month in a row, to 4%, down 9 points, the lowest confidence level since early 2021. The construction sector held gains made in October, remaining unchanged at 20%, although this level still remains weaker than in the first half of the year. Hann-Ju Ho, Senior Economist, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Given the recent political and economic landscape, it comes as little surprise that economic optimism and business confidence have fallen this month. Pay growth expectations remain high by historical standards, which could signal ongoing difficulties ahead for businesses to fill vacancies. “Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see if the clearer policy picture provided by the Autumn Statement will lead to business confidence moving in a more positive direction as we go into 2023.”

A former investment broker who quit his job to set up a street food company in Leeds is on track to turnover £1m this year. James Ooi, who is half Chinese, set up Little Bao Boy after becoming disillusioned with his job, which involved regular travel to Hong Kong. Little Bao Boy makes and sells bao buns through its own outlets in Leeds, to wholesalers and to franchisees. It has three outlets in the city, three trucks to go to festivals and franchise partners in London and Scotland. James had moved to the city to study media at university from his home town of Middlesborough and stayed on after his degree to join the investment brokerage company, where he lasted five years before finding the job ‘soul destroying’. A chance conversation with his sister about what to do next led to the creation of Little Bao Boy, which has been helped by business support programme AD:VENTURE. “Our parents ran a restaurant in the north east, so we were brought up in hospitality. And all through uni I worked in hospitality. I went to see my sister in London and she said ‘have you thought of street food?’ And that really was the start of it all,” said James. He quit his job and spent a year in a less demanding role, so he could start Little Bao Boy. In November 2018 North Brew Company, who were opening a tap room in Leeds, asked if Little Bao Boy would join them to do the food. “We’ve never left,” said James, “And it has gone from strength to strength.” And lockdown turned out to be a busy time, for the company, “We won an award for being the most sold product in Leeds via Deliveroo. And all that from a 7ft by 7ft kitchen, and just me and my partner, as everyone else was on furlough,” said James. To keep up with demand James needed to expand manufacturing, so he turned to AD:VENTURE for a grant. The business support programme, which is part-funded by the European Development Fund,  helps businesses in North and West Yorkshire that are up to three years old. As well as the grant of £25,000, which helped create five new jobs, James was given help with creating a business plan. Each week now Bao Boy makes 10,000 bao buns for their outlets and another 10,000 for wholesalers. The plan is to increase the number of outlets in Leeds from three to five, and to have about 50 franchisees, all buying supplies from them. The core staff team consists of eight people, with plans for that to rapidly expand too. And sales have shot up four times in the last year, with turnover expected to top £1m this year. James said: “The grant was pivotal. It was a crucial part of us being able to do what we do. It would have been a big financial risk for us to take in our early thirties, so it relieved a bit of stress and pressure and allowed us to have more breathing space.” And he says he has no regrets about changing direction. “If you go into hospitality as a career, it’s a way of life. I like being in the mix in the kitchen.  I like cooking the food, I like tasting the food and I like cooking people new food. You also make good friends too.” As well as the ERDF, AD:VENTURE’s funding and delivery partners include Leeds City Council and the region’s eight other local authorities, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Trinity University, the Business Enterprise Fund, and the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership. Cllr James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “James has created a very successful company from his passion for great food and hospitality. And by doing that he has brought jobs to the region, and I am sure there will be many more to come. “The growth of Little Bao Boy shows that with the right support, a good business idea can become a reality and a huge success, even in these difficult economic times.”