British Steel products support extension of Australian gold mine

Scunthorpe-based British Steel is sending its biggest order of special sections for a decade to Australia to help expand Newmont’s Tanami underground gold mine. The first shipment – 250 tonnes of special profiles – has just set out on its journey to Australia where the profiles will help construct a 1,460m shaft for the Tanami gold mine expansion. This will be quickly followed by two more shipments later this year to complete the order. David Waine, Commercial Director at Special Profiles, said: “Winning this order for 700 tonnes of tophats is great news. To date, most of our tophat profiles have been used in mining applications in South Africa with some also supplied to projects in Canada and Finland. To be growing sales in to the Australian market is very encouraging.” Tophats, so called because their cross-section resembles a top hat, are used as shaft guides, guiding cages and skips in mineshafts, and offer much-enhanced performance compared to alternative products. The Tanami mine is owned and operated by Newmont and is situated in the Tanami desert in Australia’s Northern Territory. Production first started in 1983 and the mining operations have since produced more than 10 million ounces of gold. The sections will play a central role in the mine’s second expansion with the new shaft reaching 1,460m below the surface to facilitate ore recovery. Due to be commissioned next year, the mine extension is expected to increase ore production from 2.6mtpa to 3.5mtpa. David said: “We’ve worked closely with WorleyParsons, the company appointed by Newmont to design and install the new shaft. We have a strong track record with Worley, having collaborated with them on multiple mines in South Africa. For them, tophats are a tried and tested product that will deliver an effective solution.”

York online instrument retailer sees revenue expand while profit contracts

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Gear4music, the York-based online retailer of musical instruments and music equipment, has seen a slight uptick in revenue and a decrease in profit, according to unaudited financial results for the six months ended 30 September 2022. Revenue at the business grew to £66.3m from £64.7m in the same period of last year. This is despite UK revenue being down 3%. International revenues were 10% ahead of last year. Gross profit, meanwhile, dipped to £17.4m from £18.1m. Andrew Wass, Chief Executive Officer, said the FY23 H1 trading results reflected challenges including inflationary pressures on the firm’s cost base, the cost-of-living crisis affecting consumer confidence, unusually hot weather during the summer months, and comparison to the last of the business’s Covid-enhanced figures in FY22 Q1. He added: “Whilst we have adapted to the challenges of the last six months, we have also remained focused on our longer-term growth strategy, delivering a wide range of customer centric improvements throughout the business. “Progress has included several website upgrades, such as the ability for customers to create their own customised audio packages and cables, extending evening cut-off times for next day delivery, improving our consumer finance proposition, and upgrading our digital downloads sales platform. “I am pleased to report that we have seen a consistent improvement in trading momentum during the last two months, despite continuing macro volatility. We are also well prepared for our peak seasonal trading period. The board therefore remains confident that results for the full financial year will be in-line with current consensus market expectations.”

Housebuilder teaches over 350 Lincolnshire students about construction

Over three days, The Lincoln Group Training Association, in partnership with The EBP and Construction Industry Board, gave around 1,500 local school children, ranging from year six to year 12, the chance to get involved with a number of construction challenges, from designing a lighthouse to building a bridge. Students from schools across the county participated in four activities each, and were guided through the events by professionals working in the industry. Allison Homes took part by setting up a series of construction-themed activities for students to enjoy, such as planting flowers and shrubs in specially-donated flower beds, helping them to learn about the different careers available in the housebuilding sector. One challenge focused on teamwork, and saw the developer commission for five of its Holly house types to be made of out LEGO. In groups, the children worked together to see who could build their home the fastest. Allison Homes also hosted a special session for students aged over 16, allowing them to speak one-on-one to members of the Allison team about their careers. Rob Crossland, Construction Director at Allison Homes, said: “We were thrilled to take part in this three-day event and teach Lincolnshire students all about our fantastic industry. “We put a lot of importance on encouraging young people to consider construction as a viable career option, and pride ourselves on our apprenticeship scheme and training opportunities. “We were delighted to offer our expertise and help students complete their construction challenges. Our hope is that we ignited a passion for housebuilding amongst the children and teenagers who took part, and we look forward to seeing some of them join the industry one day.”

University of Bradford names TV presenter as Chancellor

Bradford-born television and radio presenter, Anita Rani, will become the University of Bradford’s Chancellor next spring.

As Chancellor she will play a key role in the University’s life and will be an ambassador for the institution, in the UK and internationally. Her official duties will include conferring degrees on graduating students and chairing the University’s Court. Anita said: “I am thrilled that this is happening. Who would have thought that a girl from a Punjabi family who grew up in Bradford would one day hold this position? I am honoured to become the University of Bradford’s Chancellor and to be able to give back to the city that gave me so much. As Chancellor I will be encouraging students to soak it all up, make the most of opportunities and then to be brave, ambitious, and resilient when they graduate – confident that they have what they need to succeed. I am passionate about education; the people and experiences I encountered at university made me the person I am today. “The University of Bradford is committed to preparing the next generations of leaders, entrepreneurs, employees and maybe even broadcasters… What I love is that it is really making a difference while staying committed to being inclusive and enabling people from disadvantaged backgrounds to reach their potential. I’m looking forward to supporting the whole University community to thrive.” Professor Shirley Congdon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford, said: “Anita is our perfect choice as Chancellor: bold, witty and fiercely independent, she represents our University’s values and ambition – plus being a proud Bradfordian she is as passionate about this great city as we are. As someone who has managed to reach the heart of the establishment in ways that no Asian woman has done before, Anita will be an inspirational role model to our students and an excellent ambassador for the University of Bradford. We cannot wait to welcome her onto the team.”

Wind energy generator teams up with wildlife trust for seagrass restoration project

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Orsted’s Hornsea Project Four offshore wind farm are teaming up to develop what could become the largest seagrass restoration project in the UK and Europe, aiming to restore up to 74 acres of lost meadow in the Humber Estuary. Seagrass is a valuable habitat for the marine food chain and able to sequester large amounts of carbon. This makes it one of our most important natural solutions to the climate crisis. The Humber Seagrass Restoration focuses on Spurn Point and is funded by Orsted’s Hornsea Four – a proposed new offshore wind farm. This large-scale restoration would be a resilience measure for the offshore wind farm, providing potential new and improved nursery habitat for prey species that seabirds, specifically kittiwake, guillemot and razorbill depend on. As part of an initial phase, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has been commissioned to collect and plant seagrass seed across a 9.8 acres pilot area which will be completed by early 2023. A second phase large-scale seagrass restoration of up to a further 74 acres has been designed and will be funded if Hornsea Project Four secures development consent early next year. If fully implemented the restoration programme could span the next seven years and would see specialists from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust sustainably collect seeds from areas of healthy seagrass, growing them in their seagrass nursery and replanting them in carefully selected restoration areas. The Trust will liaise closely with statutory agencies, eNGOs and local stakeholders during both project development and delivery, in addition to monitoring and evaluating the restoration project throughout, to assess and quantify a wide range of environmental benefits. The Humber Estuary once supported vast seagrass meadows across both banks, with records of dwarf seagrass covering over 500 hectares at Spurn Point, and vast swathes from Grimsby to Cleethorpes. Due to industrialisation of the estuary, and subsequent decline in water quality, disease and coastal squeeze, the expansive beds deteriorated, almost completely, between the 1930s and 1980s. The Humber Seagrass Restoration project provides the foundation for Orsted’s flagship Seascape Restoration Programme, which in collaboration with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is working on a wider programme to restore nature around the Humber Estuary, including native oysters, saltmarsh and seagrass. Orsted has set an industry-leading ambition that all new renewable energy projects it commissions from 2030, at the latest, should deliver a net-positive biodiversity impact. Dr Sarah Randall, Environment Manager at Orsted, said: “Hornsea Project Four will be one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms, providing a significant source of low-carbon energy to UK homes and businesses. Throughout development of the offshore wind farm, we have been working alongside a range of stakeholders and the local community to ensure that the project is built sensitively and sustainably. We are delighted to be working with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust on this ambitious seagrass restoration project and hope that this will provide the foundation for future success and innovation.” Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has been leading on seagrass conservation in the Humber since 2007, introducing protections for the remaining fragments of seagrass meadow, piloting and developing restoration techniques and expertise. Dr James Wood, Fisheries and Research Manager for the North Sea Wildlife Trusts, said: “This pioneering project is a crucial step for seagrass in the Humber Estuary, and the wider marine environment, it’s an incredibly exciting partnership and could be the largest seagrass restoration project in the UK and Europe. Over time, we expect to see huge improvements to water quality, marine habitats, and related species within one of the most important conservation sites in the UK. Following a series of successful restoration trials, the time has come for bigger, bolder action on seagrass restoration.”

ITM Power JV company names new CEO

Motive Fuels, an equal joint venture between Sheffield-based clean energy company ITM Power and Vitol, has appointed Jean-Marc Gales as CEO from the end of January next year. Jean-Marc has spent 30 years in the automotive industry and brings a wealth of technical, design, engineering, commercial and sales experience as a very senior executive, most recently serving as Chairman of Williams Advanced Engineering before its sale to Fortescue. In a distinguished career, Jean-Marc led the successful turnaround of Lotus as CEO. He was a former CEO of Peugeot and Citroen, where he delivered a new product portfolio, and CEO of CLEPA, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers.
Sir Roger Bone, Chairman of Motive Fuels and of ITM Power, said: “Jean-Marc’s experience in the sale of Williams Advanced Engineering to Fortescue demonstrate his passion for hydrogen mobility. ITM Power and Vitol look forward to working with Jean-Marc, a true automotive expert, in transitioning large vehicle mobility towards a cleaner, greener future.” Sir Alan Duncan, Co-Chair of Motive Fuels and Business Development at Vitol, said:“Motive Fuels is very fortunate to have been able to appoint Jean-Marc as its CEO. His great wealth of experience in the automotive sector, and his track-record of building up companies, are perfect for developing Motive. As we pioneer hydrogen for heavy transport, his appointment puts the company in a strong position to succeed and establish itself as a leading force in the sector.” Mr Gales added: “The interest in green hydrogen has been rising across the globe and the clean energy transition away from fossil fuels is rapidly gaining pace. The best hydrogen fuel potential in the future is the transportation sector, specifically medium and heavy duty trucks. I am looking forward to working with the teams of Motive, ITM Power, and Vitol to accelerate the transition of heavy transport to clean renewable hydrogen fuel, and lead the company into the next chapter of development and growth.”

Hull leader calls for businesses to join support for families most in need

Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, has joined forces with a local charity to set up a new fund to provide support to the families of children attending primary schools in the city who are in most need this winter. Hull City Council is sponsoring Hull and East Yorkshire Children’s University to establish the fund, which aims to reduce barriers to children in primary school engaging in education, by helping their families with some of the challenges that they will face over this period. Councillor Ross has kick-started the fund by allocating £10,000 towards the new Children’s University’s Hardship Fund called Helping Hands. Businesses from Hull, Sewell Construction, KCOM and Northern Gas Networks, have also made donations, along with a philanthropic donation and a grant from the Angus Lawson Memorial Trust. The leader of the council, Councillor Mike Ross, is now calling on other businesses to add to the fund to increase its impact. Leader of Hull City Council, Mike Ross said: “We know this winter is going to be particularly hard for a lot of families. The work of Hull and East Yorkshire Children’s University is so important in supporting those most in need. “We also know that schools are often best placed to identify the families who most need support, and so we will be working with the Children’s University as part of our approach to alleviate the impact of the Cost of Living crisis. The fund will complement other activity within our approach to support people in need in the city.” Throughout November businesses and philanthropic organisations are asked to consider making donations, to raise the current funding of £60,000 to an initial target of £100,000. In December, schools will refer families most in need of support linked to access household devices that will help reduce their need for energy (such as energy-efficient light bulbs, electric blankets, hot water bottles, winter clothing) and provide warm clothing and supermarket vouchers. Support will be tailored to the needs of each family. The Thrive Co-operative Learning Trust has agreed to provide administrative support to assist the activity required to enable the Hardship Fund to be applied to help those most in need. Natasha Barley, of Hull & East Yorkshire Children’s University, said: “Many families were struggling to make ends meet before the cost of living crisis started. So we knew that it was imperative that we did something to support families this winter.” Jonathon Roe, CEO, Thrive Co-operative Learning Trust, said: “Schools know their families well and are keen to support those most in need through this difficult winter, when the cost of living is having such an impact. The support that will be given will help children with basic needs – food and warmth – and this will also impact positively on their education.” Businesses that are able to donate can contact Hull City Council on 01482 615071.

New award commemorates landmark work of Hull businessman

A prominent businessman who died recently is to be remembered for his innovation and his support for young people with an award in his name to mark Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW). The Malcolm Scott Award will be presented to the business or organisation considered by the judges to have done the most to support young entrepreneurs or enterprising pupils. Initiated by Hull City Council and sponsored by the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank , the award will be presented by Cllr Christine Randall, the Lord Mayor of Hull, and Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy at the GEW celebration event at Hull Guildhall on Friday this week. Charles Cracknell, founder of JCYEB, said: “Malcolm did so much for the city of Hull at a high level but was always interested in the success of the individual. He was a true gent. “He would always take time to chat to any young person I was mentoring and he was recognised as a legend who had a real commitment to Hull and its people. We are proud to name this award in his memory and we look forward to welcoming members of his family to the awards celebration.” Malcolm was the founder of Scotts Chartered Surveyors and his desire to help others in business led to him becoming a key figure in the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce, where he was president from 2007 until 2008. In 2022 he approached the government with an audacious bid to buy the Humber Bridge because he was so frustrated at the impact of the cost of tolls on business and the wider community. The government refused to sell but as a result of his initiative the tolls were halved the following year to £1.50 for cars, a figure which still stands. Malcolm also served for a time as a director of Hull Kingston Rovers and helped with the club’s acquisition of its stadium. His commitment to improving the city centre – and in particular the evening economy – saw him play an influential role in establishing Hull Business Improvement District, which in 2006 became the first BID in Yorkshire and such a success that Leeds, Sheffield and York are among the cities to have followed in its footsteps. In 2016 Mal was the first winner of the lifetime achievement category at the HullBID awards. Malcolm retired early from Scotts and launched a series of cultural projects to support young creative and technical talent in the region. He opened the Fruit Trade Music recording studio in 2013 and then the Kardomah 94 arts and culture hub in 2014. After treatment for a brain tumour, Mal was unable to continue with Kardomah and the venue closed in 2019. Always a very private person for all his high profile in the community, Mal then dropped out of the public gaze. His death in September after a short illness brought a wave of testimonials and tributes.

Managers in small businesses face mental health ‘balancing act’

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Managers in small and micro-businesses in the UK face major challenges in supporting employees with mental health difficulties, according to a new study. The study, by researchers at the University of York’s School for Business and Society and the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health at King’s College London, reveals a picture of managers, many with little training or experience of dealing with mental health issues, “juggling on a tightrope” as they navigate a delicate balancing act between support and performance management. In a series of in-depth interviews with managers, researchers found that one employee’s mental ill-health could have a swift impact on co-workers in small and microbusinesses and quickly permeate the entire workforce. The close-knit social and physical proximity of small workplaces intensified the impact on colleagues. The researchers identified tensions for managers in balancing the individual employee’s needs with the impact on performance and wellbeing of the workforce as a whole. Those who had some experience of managing mental health issues adopted a more confident approach to addressing these challenges, while inexperienced managers were often more cautious. Managers also grappled with the dilemma of whether to approach an employee’s mental health issue informally or through more formal procedures. The study revealed that small and microbusiness managers rarely had access to advice and guidance from occupational health or human resource management departments, which is the norm in larger organisations. Similarly, the option of redeploying an employee struggling with a mental health problem to other duties or perhaps another team, which is routinely available to larger firms, was not an option in small and microbusinesses. Dr Jane Suter, from the University of York’s School of Business and Society, said: “When dealing with a colleague’s mental health challenges, managers can often feel incredibly isolated. It can take an emotional toll on the managers themselves. Some feel that balancing everybody’s needs is like juggling on a tightrope. “Many managers were very close to their employees, some viewed them more like friends and family. They were often worried that being too heavy-handed in dealing with mental health issues could impact the entire workforce.” A vast amount of online support was available for managers to address employee mental health issues, but some small and micro-business managers found the challenge of seeking appropriate support overwhelming. Dr Suter said: “It is important to point out that many of the problems around mental health in small and microbusinesses don’t have straightforward solutions. An employee’s mental health problem doesn’t necessarily stem from within the workplace and a manager just cannot resolve it. But he or she still has to manage it. “More needs to be invested in management and leadership skills. In a small organisation of, say, 10 employees, it is just the owner-manager shouldering all the management responsibilities.” The study, which is published in International Small Business Journal, involved interviews with managers in 21 UK-based small and microbusinesses and focused on 45 individual employee cases.

South Yorkshire’s Supertram on track for £8.6m upgrade

An £8.6 million funding package for South Yorkshire’s Supertram system has been given the green light by local leaders, to pay for urgent renewal work on the tracks and trams. A further £4.3m has been approved to make the case to Government for significant additional investment in Supertram, as parts of the system come to the end of their working life. Last month South Yorkshire’s leaders voted to take Supertram back into public ownership when its current contract with Stagecoach ends in 2024. South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “Supertram is a huge asset to South Yorkshire and is critical to the work we’re doing to fix our public transport system. This money will make big improvements for passengers with brand new trams and upgraded tracks. “Supertram is part of South Yorkshire’s heritage and this money will help keep it on track into the future, as it becomes a publicly owned, publicly operated venture. While significant work has already taken place to replace sections of track, parts of the system are coming to the end of their working life. So we’re also putting a case to Government for the investment we need to keep the system going for future generations. “Fixing our public transport system will not be quick, cheap or easy. But we have started the important journey that we need to take to build the system that our region deserves; one that meets the needs of our communities and delivers a faster, smarter, greener public transport network that South Yorkshire can be proud of.” The funding forms part of a £100 million Government grant to modernise the system, including track and infrastructure improvements and better facilities for passengers. Results of a 2018 consultation showed strong support from the public for a proposed investment scheme in the Supertram system.