South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership awarded NPO status and £2m funding
The South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership is delighted to have been awarded National Portfolio Organisation status for the first time – securing just under £2m to support art, culture and creativity across the Partnership.
The prestigious status awarded by Arts Council England has seen funding of £1,955,799 allocated for 2023-2026 to help support arts and cultural organisations across South Holland, East Lindsey and Boston.
It will also support the creation of cultural centres at The Guildhall in Boston, Ayscoughfee Hall in South Holland and the Colonnade in Sutton on Sea and fund a programme of art and culture across the Partnership centred on the rich heritage and stories from each district. Education, research and skills programmes will also be developed, giving more people access to culture on their doorstep.
The NPO comes after Boston and East Lindsey adopted a new cultural framework which sets out an ambitious vision for culture, connecting heritage and the visitor economy while recognising the health and wellbeing benefits culture brings to people’s lives. The Partnership is committed to extending the Cultural framework into South Holland too.
Competition for the status was extremely high, with 1,700 applications made nationally from organisations, venues and providers.
In total, 990 organisations will receive a share of £446 million (each year) ensuring that more people in more places have access to fulfilling art and culture.
As well as the NPO for the Partnership, The SO Festival, Magna Vitae Trust for Leisure and Culture’s flagship cultural event in East Lindsey has also been awarded Arts Council England funding and secured its place as a National Portfolio Organisation for the third time running https://www.sofestival.org/so-festival-npo-2022/
Cllr Craig Leyland, Leader of East Lindsey District Council said: “Achieving NPO status and almost £2m for our communities to better access culture is genuinely a monumental achievement for the Partnership.
“The Partnership has a proven track record of working collaboratively, including in the arts and culture sector across our three districts. This funding will help support them, as well as the health and wellbeing of our residents who will have more access to events and culture and support the local economy.”
Lord Gary Porter, Leader of South Holland District Council said: “Being part of the National Portfolio investment programme and the funding awarded will create new opportunities for our residents, community groups and organisations and support Ayscoughfee Hall in Spalding as a central hub.
“The heritage of South Holland is what shapes this district and we should all celebrate the stories which have built our communities. Going to any event, whether it be a drama group, show or festival, can really help improve health and wellbeing. I am pleased this funding will help our residents access even more things to do on their doorstep.”
Cllr Paul Skinner, Leader of Boston Borough Council said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the Partnership and Boston. The town is built around its history and has so much to offer for local and international visitors.
“This funding will help tell those stories to a wider audience and support our community-driven cultural providers as we lead up to the milestone of Boston 2030 and the internationally opportunities that will present to celebrate the town’s heritage.”
Work begins on £2m children’s care home in Lincolnshire
Lindum Group has started work on a £2m children’s care home designed by Kier Construction, Design & Business Services on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council.
The council is looking to create additional places in the county for children aged between 12-18 that require a safe place to stay. The project will involve the creation of a two-storey, six-bedroom traditional brick and block property, with PV solar panels on the roof to improve energy efficiency. The proposed building aims to appear as domestic as possible, providing a safe, homely feel.
The home will also include staff accommodation, a dining room, kitchen, and lounge. It will also be fully accessible for those with disabilities. In addition, the building will be fully soundproofed, with acoustic floor, ceiling, and panels under the roof.
The grounds will feature landscaped gardens, a new car park and a gated entrance, and will be protected by a six-foot fence. Lindum will also be taking on improvement works to the road leading up to the house, benefitting both the children’s home and the nearby theatre.
The scheme will cost over £2m and is being jointly funded by the county council and the Department for Education. The works contract was awarded through the Pagabo Medium Works Framework. The project will create 15 new jobs.
Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive member for children’s services at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Over the last few years, we’ve seen a rising number of young people needing care, so it’s important we have enough accommodation here in Lincolnshire for those who need it. To that end, the council has earmarked funding for the creation of two new children’s homes at sites in Louth and Lincoln.
“The new homes will provide high-quality facilities for children in care and will mean that fewer children will need to be placed in homes outside the county. This will ensure these children remain close to their local community and existing support networks, leading to better outcomes.”
The Louth home will be located behind the Riverhead Theatre, on the site of the former Pilgrim School. Work to demolish the existing building is due to start on 7 November, with the home expected to be completed in late summer 2023, with the first residents arriving in autumn 2023.
East Riding council pave the way with first solar carport
East Riding of Yorkshire Council recently completed a first-of-its-kind installation of a solar carport in Driffield.
The installation is thought to be the first solar carport within the East Riding and certainly the first of its kind undertaken by the local authority.
The carport houses 52.4-kilowatt peak (kWp) of solar photovoltaics (pv) along with two 7.4kW dual electric vehicle charging units. Solar pv is the generation of electricity using energy from the sun.
The installation is expected to generate around 52,200-kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity, reducing the carbon emissions associated with the site by 9 tonnes and reducing the centre’s electricity bills by almost £20,000 per year.
The installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers will also support residents of the East Riding in the transition to EV, minimising the range anxiety that can often be felt within a rural area. Range anxiety is the driver’s fear that a vehicle has insufficient energy storage (fuel and/or battery capacity) to cover the distance needed to reach their destination.
The council’s asset strategy team was successful in securing funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) towards the installation of solar pv, a solar farm, a solar carport and EV charging units across the authority.
The final strand of this scheme is the installation of a solar carport at East Riding Leisure Driffield. The leisure centre uses significant amounts of electricity, and the roof has already been subject to solar pv installations.
The solar carport is seen as an innovative solution to allow the council to add additional renewable energy generation to supply the site. The scheme also includes two dual EV charging units which are available for users of the facility to charge their electric vehicles.
The scheme cost in the region of £300,000 with almost 50% of the funding coming from ERDF.
The council’s infrastructure and facilities team along with contractor JP Developers ensured the scheme was delivered on time, on budget and with minimal disruption to the centre users.
Councillor Chris Matthews, portfolio holder for environment and climate change at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “It is fantastic to see the installation of what is thought to be the first carport in the East Riding and certainly the first provided by the council.
“This innovative solution allows us to continue to work towards realising the council’s net zero ambitions whilst also allowing ERL Driffield to reduce their electricity bills during this cost-of-living crisis.
“I’m really pleased this work has been achieved with minimal disruption to our residents and now the people of Driffield have further EV charging units on their doorsteps.”
Darren Jackson, general manager at ERL Driffield, added: “The solar carport is a really innovative way to generate green energy, tackle climate change and reduce our environmental impact. It’s a fantastic design that delivers on the environmental benefits without impacting on car park provision for our customers.”
Yorkshire warehouse sector heading for supply slump
A lack of consented development land, coupled with rising construction costs and increased borrowing costs for developers, is likely to result in fewer big box developments coming through the development pipeline, according to the latest data from Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH).
The company has found that the Yorkshire industrial property market is on course for a supply slump in 2023, with only 3.5 million sq ft of new space to be delivered across the region in the next 12–24 months. With developers facing rapidly rising construction costs and a further 5.5 million sq ft of industrial space likely to be put on hold, there is likely to be upward pressure on rents across the region.
Q4 of 2022 is unlikely to offer any respite, with only a further 1 million sq ft of space to be delivered and just a couple of second-hand existing units available in the market.
Scott Morrison, a director in LSH’s industrial & logistics team, said: “Unless a large wave of second-hand stock comes to the market, there is likely to be a marked drop off in supply. Annual requirements for large-scale (100,000 sq ft plus) industrial space throughout the region typically stands at around 5 million sq ft, so the current supply pipeline is falling well short of typical market demand.”
Like most sectors, the industrial and logistics sector is likely to face challenges and some headwinds in the next 24 months with the economic background and rising costs. However, occupiers are warned to act now if they have lease events or need to upgrade or expand their facilities, or face increased competition and potentially higher rental values in the coming years.
We have recently been appointed on Firethorn’s S42 scheme at Sherburn in Elmet which will deliver four units comprising 660,000 sq ft of new space. This comes on the back of being appointed on Arrow Point in Barnsley, which is nearing completion in December 2022, providing a combined 451,000 sq ft to the market across two modern units. Both schemes providing much needed stock to the market with high ESG credentials.
Doncaster sofa group sees demand bounce back
DFS the Doncaster-based sofa group have seen revenues bounce back since their September statement over buyers remaining cautious, due in part to fears over disposable incomes and uncertain economic conditions.
Since early September the company report a more positive trend, with Group order volumes growing relative to FY22 and also relative to the pre pandemic FY19 financial year.
The company report that overall performance is in line with their “mid-case scenario (c.£36m PBT) for the full year”
Tim Stacey, Chief Executive, commented :“We are pleased to report that since mid September we have seen positive year-on-year order volume growth. While we continue to be watchful of the macro economic environment, we continue to take market share and our market leading position, inherent scale and proven strategy give us confidence in our future prospects.”
Revenues soar at East Yorkshire Kitchen Group
East Yorkshire-based trade kitchen group Howden Joinery Group has seen profits rise in the second half of 2022 according toits latest trading update.
As one of the country’s largest specialist trade kitchen suppliers, trading has seen revenues soar by 24.5% than the same period in 2021 translating into a 6.6% year-on-year revenue growth in the UK depots.
Commenting on Howdens’ performance Andrew Livingston, Chief Executive said: “Howdens achieved a record performance in our important peak trading period. We continued to gain market share supporting our customers with a strong product line-up, high stock availability and outstanding service. Trade customers have remained busy into the Autumn with a good pipeline of work, as consumers continue to invest in and improve their homes. Our kitchen and joinery markets are large and attractive, and we are prioritising investment for future growth through our successful strategic initiatives.”
Royal appointment kicks off double celebration for Sewell Group
A family-grown business which dates back to 1876 and now employs 500 people celebrated in style after receiving two major awards on the same day.
Sewell Group enjoyed a royal breakfast with the monarch’s representative in East Yorkshire as the Lord Lieutenant presented the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity.
A delegation from the company then travelled by executive coach to London to make their sixth appearance in The UK’s 100 Best Companies to Work For Awards, this year being listed at 45.
HM The Lord Lieutenant, Jim Dick OBE, said: “This is one of those moments when we give an award to a company which absolutely deserves it. I know from working with Sewell Group in other ways that promoting opportunity is in your DNA.
“You help people develop and it’s fantastic. This is an award from the monarch and there’s no higher award than that.”
Dr Paul Sewell OBE, Chair of the business which he joined in 1978, said: “These are the sort of milestones which make you realise how far you have come.
“We had never won a Queen’s Award before and although we’ve been very successful in the Sunday Times Top 100 over the last 14 years, we are now in the large company tier. We’ve grown the business in terms of adding new disciplines and geographically and this tells us we are going in the right direction.
“We had a lovely morning and a great night but then you wake up and it’s the next morning and you have to reset and go again. We don’t rest on our laurels.”
Sewell Group rolled out the red carpet at its headquarters in Geneva Way, Hull, to welcome the Lord Lieutenant, Vice Lord Lieutenant Christopher Oughtred, the High Sheriff of the East Riding of Yorkshire Jacky Bowes and the Leader of Hull City Council Cllr Mike Ross. The guests of honour also included over 50 Sewell Group employees drawn from across every business in the group.
The Lord Lieutenant revealed he had won two Queen’s Awards as a member of the senior management team at Smith & Nephew in Hull. The Vice Lord Lieutenant also won a Queen’s Award with the William Jackson Bakery in Hull.
The Lord Lieutenant said: “The awards had a big effect on our business. In terms of credibility of the company, it certainly helped sales and it’s great for staff morale as well. It comes from the monarch. It’s very prestigious and should be seen so.”
Mr Dick presented the group with a Queen’s Award trophy and an official citation signed by Her Majesty and Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister at the time the honour was announced in 2021.
Mr Dick said: “It’s a very significant moment and I would like to congratulate all of you because I know the way that Sewell Group works. Everyone is important in getting this award. It’s the team that all make Sewell Group the company that it is.”
Paul added: “It sets the bar and we are now judged by that bar, as a Queen’s Award holder.
“We are united behind the principle that talent is spread equally within our community but opportunity isn’t and we have a great team here because they come from very different backgrounds.
“Just because you have had a disadvantaged start in life it doesn’t mean you can’t get to the top and if you are given the opportunity your duty is to pass that opportunity on to others. It’s not a do-good thing, it’s a business strategy and when you see the people you know it’s the right strategy.”
Paul and the Lord Lieutenant were joined in stage by Emily Jones, Retail Manager at Sewell on the go, and by Dieter Franks, Construction Site Supervisor, as other colleagues followed the proceedings on a live stream.
Dieter said: “One of the main things that attracted me to come into the company was the award. When I came for the interview I was looking into the award and what Sewell Group does in the community and how they work.”
Emily added: “I’m really touched that I’ve been invited here as it’s such a special occasion. I know everyone back at our site is watching the live stream and celebrating. We have flags flying and it’s really nice for customers to be able to see that and for them to ask us about it. I work for a place that’s been given an award by the Queen!”
Helmsley brings The Alchemist to York
Helmsley Group has announced that leading bar and restaurant The Alchemist is set to open at its The Coach House building in York.
The property investment and development specialist has agreed a letting to The Alchemist. Subject to planning and licensing approvals, it will be The Alchemist’s first venue in the city.
Helmsley has also revealed that it is accelerating plans to redevelop the upper floors of the three-storey building, located on the corner of Nessgate and Ousegate, for residential use following planning approval.
The move comes as Helmsley finalises its vision for the regeneration of neighbouring Coney Street through its Coney Street Riverside masterplan and follows it securing other prominent leisure operators in the area, including Rosa’s Thai Café.
The Alchemist, which has more than 20 bar and restaurant venues in prime city centre locations across the UK, is set to take the ground and basement levels of The Coach House which offer almost 5,000 sq ft of open-plan floor space.
Tom Riddolls, development surveyor at The Helmsley Group, said: “The Alchemist is a fantastic brand to welcome to York and it is testament to the strength of The Coach House’s offer that it has chosen the location ahead of other venues in the city.
“When we acquired The Coach House, we said it offered a rare and exceptional leisure opportunity for a forward thinking and prominent leisure operator to open a significant bar and / or restaurant in the heart of York’s thriving retail core. The Alchemist fits both these criteria entirely and we are delighted to have them on board.
“This is another positive addition to Coney Street and neighbouring areas and complements our exciting vision to revitalise this part of the city centre, including opening up the riverfront for the enjoyment of all.”
Pudney Shuttleworth and Reesdenton are joint agents at The Coach House. Harlow Property Consultants and Westmark Estates acted on behalf of The Alchemist.
360 Foundation championing grassroots sports granted charitable status
360 Chartered Accountants is delighted to announce its new charity has received official registered status.
The 360 Foundation has been formed with the specific remit to promote participation in grassroots sport for under privileged children in the HU1 to HU9 postcode areas, with plans to extend this geographically in time to other areas where 360 has a physical presence.
Andy Steele, Director of Hull and East Yorkshire-based 360, said: “Grassroots sports clubs play a vital role in bringing our communities together and we want to make sure that every child has the opportunity to take part. A recent report found that the Covid-19 pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis has brought real financial difficulties for many. 2,600 grassroots clubs have shut down across the UK, with thousands more still at risk. More than half of parents said affordability got in the way of playing and the number of families who couldn’t afford kit almost doubled. We don’t want families to be unable to pay subs or buy sports kit for their son or daughter because they need that money to buy food and other essentials.”
360 Chartered Accountants has a strong history of supporting grassroots and professional sporting organisations in the city and has a series of fundraising events planned over the coming year.
Managing Director Adrian Hunter, who has been appointed Chair of the charity, said: “We have been working hard over the last year to get everything in place and are thrilled to finally have official registered charity status for the 360 Foundation. We are looking forward to working with local sports clubs and agencies as well as with Hull City Council to reach as many young people as possible.
“Playing sport benefits both their physical and mental wellbeing. They also learn the importance of being part of a team which gives them a sense of belonging as they make new friends, helping increase their self-esteem and confidence. There are so many plus points, we don’t want anyone to drop out for financial reasons. Similarly, if there are young people who want to play a sport but haven’t been able to afford it up to now, we are here to help them too.”
More than 80% of UK SMEs want to switch to electric vehicles
Most UK small businesses want to switch to electric vehicles but are held back by rising vehicle costs and electricity bills, new data from NatWest shows.
Despite the research revealing that 81% of SMEs want to transition to green transport, the current economic conditions are delaying plans rather than causing them to be abandoned entirely. Of those looking to take their first steps into greener transport, only 40% plan to start within the next 2 years, highlighting the need for greater support to allow businesses to fulfil their climate ambitions sooner.
SMEs are reporting that the price of electricity is a barrier for more than a quarter (28%), whilst vehicle costs are deterring a further third (32%). However, the business case for adopting electric vehicles appears to be the main motivator for SMEs looking to electrify their fleet (44%), however emissions reductions (40%) and sustainability concerns (36%) are also found to be key drivers in the move to greener transport.
Recognising the barriers preventing SMEs from taking action to improve their sustainability, NatWest Group, through Lombard, has launched Green Asset Finance which gives businesses a way to finance assets that help to make their businesses more sustainable, such as electric vehicles. Since July 2021, Lombard has provided £1.3billion in climate and sustainable funding, to businesses transitioning to electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and other renewable assets, including those in the Agricultural sector.
Commenting on the findings, Ian Isaac, Managing Director at Lombard, NatWest Group, said: “It’s clear to see there is appetite among UK small businesses to transition to electric vehicles in order to both lower fuel costs, and make a significant contribution towards the nation’s climate targets.
“However, the current economic climate and immediate cashflow concerns means that many SMEs feel they need to put plans on hold. We’d encourage any business looking to take that first step in their own sustainability journey to research the support measures available.
“The first step on this journey is the hardest and it’s a big decision for businesses. But our research shows the intention to transition is there, and the sooner businesses take that first step, the sooner they will be able to see the benefits. At NatWest and Lombard, we can help them make sense of their business case even against the backdrop of increasing energy costs.”
The bank is also working in partnership with energy tech company Octopus Energy to offer businesses EV charge points at discounted rates, and last year partnered with EV8 Technologies to launch the EV8 Switch app, which uses real world data to help drivers understand if switching to an EV makes economic sense for them.
If it does, the bank can then offer funding to SMEs to allow them to spread the cost of transition to EV, through options such as contract hire. This allows businesses to have certainty around vehicle operating costs over a fixed period, as well as the option to regularly refresh their vehicles and adapt their fleet to meet changing business needs and guard against the risk of technology obsolescence.
NatWest has recently begun offering Green Loans and Green Asset Finance to SMEs from £25,000, ensuring that more businesses can access funding to help transition to more sustainable practices such as electric vehicles, in turn reducing costs in the long term, all whilst supporting UK net zero targets.
NatWest has also created a new Carbon Planner, a free to use digital platform designed to help UK businesses manage their fuel and operational costs and reduce their carbon footprint to help them go and grow greener. This includes providing a cost of transport overview that businesses can then use to build a business case for investing in their transition to net zero. Since launch around two-thirds of businesses that have used the NatWest Carbon Planner have produced a carbon reduction action plan for their business.
The bank has recently also launched one of the UK’s biggest EV car parks at its Scotland headquarters at Gogarburn in Edinburgh, investing in 264 chargers for colleagues and visitors to charge their electric vehicle. The launch forms part of the bank’s aim to halve its own operations emissions by 2025.
